Apple is finally giving iPhone users the ability to adjust their ringtone, alarm, and alert volumes independently — a feature Android has offered for years, according to Android Authority.

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For users with access to the iOS 27 developer beta, the controls live in Settings > Sounds & Haptics, where users can also toggle "Match Ringtone Volume" to unlock separate sliders for alarms and system alerts. Android Authority notes that the alarm slider won't affect the Wake-Up alarm, which is managed separately through Bedtime settings. Users who prefer a single unified slider can keep the toggle on.

The addition is a small but meaningful quality-of-life improvement that iPhone users have wanted for years, and one that arrives quietly. Apple made no mention of it during Monday's WWDC 26 keynote, which was dominated by the unveiling of Siri AI, sweeping Apple Intelligence updates across core apps, and a revamped Photos AI editing suite.

iOS 27 is currently available to developers for testing, with a public beta expected next month. The full release is slated for this fall and will be compatible with devices as far back as the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation), though some AI features will be limited to newer phones.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

OpenAI has officially filed for an IPO, setting the stage for a blockbuster year of IPOs, as both SpaceX and Anthropic are also going public

On Monday, OpenAI published a statement on its website announcing that it had confidentially filed for an initial public offering, or IPO, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

"We recently submitted a confidential S-1," OpenAI said. "We expect it to leak so we’re just announcing it."

OpenAI did not share any specific details regarding the terms or size of the IPO. However, the company did explicitly address the timing of the IPO, in that there is no timeline for when OpenAI plans to go public.

"We have not decided on timing yet; it may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company," reads OpenAI's statement. "But it’s a complicated set of tradeoffs and this gives us the option to go public sooner if that ends up being best."

While the company isn't sharing much, it's been previously reported by Reuters that OpenAI is eyeing an IPO as early as September at a valuation of $1 trillion.

While OpenAI may be seen as the AI industry leader, one of its biggest competitors, Anthropic, beat the company to the punch with its own IPO plans. Anthropic announced last week that it filed to go public with the SEC. Like OpenAI, Anthropic has not yet shared any details regarding share price or timing.

Anthropic's own IPO filing statement came just days after the company announced a fundraising round that valued the company at $965 billion, more than OpenAI's $852 billion. Anthropic also shared revenue numbers that surpassed OpenAI's reported revenue.

OpenAI and Anthropic are far and away the most valuable privately held AI companies in the world, along with xAI, which recently merged with SpaceX. However, once OpenAI and Anthropic go public, they will find themselves multiple trillions of dollars behind tech giants within the AI industry like Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Early Prime Day outdoor deals at a glance:

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Best portable power station deal

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2

$799.99 at Amazon (save $699.01)

Get Deal

---

Best cooler deal

Coleman Classic Cooler (100-quart, twilight)

$87.99 at Amazon (save $22)

Get Deal

---

Best solar lights deal

Govee Outdoor Solar String Lights (33 feet)

$79.99 at Amazon (save $20)

Get Deal

---

Best robot lawn mower deal

Ecovacs Goat 01000 RTK

$699 (save $300.01)

Get Deal

---

Best outdoor speaker deal

JBL Charge 6

$159.99 at Amazon (save $39.96)

Get Deal

---

Best fire pit deal

Solo Stove Mesa XL

$81.99 (save $18)

Get Deal

---

Best campsite deal

Yellow Leaf Hammocks Adventure Parachute

$39 at Amazon (save $13 with on-page coupon)

Get Deal

---

Best outdoor grill deal

Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Outdoor Grill and Smoker

$399.99 at Amazon (save $100)

Get Deal

---

Best mosquito repellent deal

Thermacell E-Series Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller

$43.99 (save $11)

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Welcome to the season of summer fun. The scheudle is getting crowded with camping, trips to the lake, barbecues, the neighborhood block party, and the kids heading off to summer camp. If you recently went through your outdoor gear and noticed some items should head to the garbage, it's time for a refresh.

Like every year, Amazon Prime Day is an ideal opportunity to snag fresh outdoor gear. Plus, moving Prime Day to the end of June this year means we'll have even more time to enjoy the new gear before the weather turns cold.

Prime Day doesn't kick off until June 23, but Amazon already has excellent options for outdoorsy folks. Snag some early deals and you can browse the sale with your feet kicked up on a new cooler in the backyard while playing tunes on your new outdoor speaker and admiring your new backyard solar lights.

Here are the best early Prime Day outdoor deals to shop today.

Best portable power station deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Anker Solix

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2

$799.99 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $699.01

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

After testing dozens of portable power stations, the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 is the model I take on every camping trip. I like to slightly overestimate my power needs while camping (what if I decide to stay an extra night?), so I prefer the 2,048Wh offered by the C2000 Gen 2.

Anker made this as lightweight as possible and despite landing in 2k Wh category, it only weighs about 42 pounds. That'll be a manageable weight for camping trips where the campsite is near the car. It's also perfect for powering up the outdoor projector in the backyard for movie nights this summer.

The best early Prime Day deals under $100

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Best Tech Deal Under $100

Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

$87.95 (Save $92.04)

Get Deal

---

Best Kitchen Deal Under $100

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6QT ClearCook Air Fryer

$89.99 (Save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best Home Deal Under $100

Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

$86.65 (Save $13.34)

Get Deal

There are already plenty of reasons to start shopping at Amazon, thanks to a slew of early Prime Day deals rolling out ahead of the main event. Plenty of categories are seeing fantastic markdowns and some real steals, and we've been keeping a close watch on the biggest standouts. The official Prime Day kickoff is just a couple of weeks away, so consider this your head start to get shopping.

A surprising number of these early deals are clocking in at just under $100. Items like these Sony WH-CH720N headphones, for example, are an absolute must for under $100, as are many of the other gems we've uncovered thus far. You'll also find deals on kitchen appliances, home and cleaning goods, and more.

Keep scrolling to have a look through the best early Prime Day deals under $100 on Amazon right now.

Best tech deal under $100

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

$179.99 at Amazon

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

These excellent over-ear headphones are one of our favorite pairs thanks to their near-flagship sound quality, impressive noise cancellation, and lengthy battery life. Not only do they sound fantastic when you're listening to your favorite album, but they're comfortable, lightweight (despite not being foldable) and perfect for taking all your calls and meetings as well. If you're looking to invest in great headphones that take you from morning check-ins at work to bopping to all your playlists at night, these are a steal for under $100.

Best kitchen deal under $100

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6QT ClearCook Air Fryer

$89.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $50.00

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

This air fryer will quickly become a staple in your kitchen, especially since it's efficient, preheats quickly, and has plenty of room in its 6-quart basket to cook a meal for the entire family. It can get dinner out on the table in record time, save you money and time, and provide a bit of a healthier way to cook some of your favorite dishes. And with its six unique cooking functions, you can do everything from air fry to roast, with a visible window that lets you check on the food without having to open the basket and let the heat out.

Best home deal under $100

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

$86.65 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $13.34

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

This lightweight portable carpet and upholstery cleaner can go anywhere you do. It's perfect for handling tough stains on everything from your carpets to your couches and all those stubborn places in between, including your car. Its 4-inch Tough Stain Tool is perfect for handling even the most frustrating, ground-in messes, and if you have pets, it's essentially a godsend for making it look like, to the outside world, they don't exist. And with its small size, it's easily stored until you need it again.

More deals under $100

• Keurig K-Iced Coffee Maker — $85 $129.99 (save $44.99)

• Hydro Flask water bottle — $35 $37 (save $2)

• Ember Smart Mug — $84.47 $129.95 (save $45.48)

• Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go — $23.99 $34.99 (save $11)

• JBL Go 3 — $29.95 $39.95 (save $10)

• Anker Soundcore 2 — $29.99 $44.99 (save $15)

• JBL Go 4 — $39.95 $49.95 (save $10)

• TempPro digital meat thermometer — $9.99 $19.99 (save $10)

• Indoor Garden hydroponics growing system — $56.99 $59.99 (save $3)

• Google TV Streamer — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Hoto Laser Measuring Tool — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• SKIL Corded Multi-Function Detail Sander — $39.99 $44.99 (save $5)

• Dreo 36-inch Tower Fan — $69.96 $79.99 (save $10.03)

• Etekcity Smart Scale — $63.99 $79.99 (save $16)

• Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker — $89.99 $109.99 (save $20)

• KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper — $79.99 $89.99 (save $10)

Steven Spielberg is likely the most iconic American filmmaker living today. He's gifted audiences with the Indiana Jones movies, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, and Jurassic Park. Now, with Disclosure Day, he may have made his most Spielberg movie yet — yes, even more Spielberg than his thinly veiled autobiography The Fabelmans. 

With Disclosure Day, I experienced the distinctive thrill of watching a master filmmaker do what he does best. The film, which focuses on a band of people's struggle to release secret information about extraterrestrial contact on Earth, is a dizzying mix of action, humor, adventure, sci-fi, and wonder. Naturally, I laughed, cried, and gasped. But more than that, Disclosure Day made me feel like I better understand the whole of Spielberg's work, and him as a person. 

What's Disclosure Day about? 

Josh O'Connor plays mathematician Daniel Kellner. Credit: Niko Tavernise / Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

The answer might sound dry: a power struggle at a military-industrial corporation called Wardex risks exposing the truth about extraterrestrial life to the wide world, which is on the brink of nuclear war (again). However, in the hands of Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Death Becomes Her, Presence) this is not a dry tale of corporate espionage and stiff whistleblowers. For one thing, it begins with us, their audience, getting stomped in the face. 

Disclosure Day unexpectedly opens in the middle of a vicious grudge match between two bulky pro-wrestlers. And the POV-shot that kicks things off is under the foot of one as he trounces on the face of another. From the start, Disclosure Day is about conflict.

However, as the view of this arena pulls back — exiting the thrashed fighter's perspective — we see our hero in the stands. A meek figure sitting among roaring fans, American mathematician Daniel Kellner (Challengers' Josh O'Connor) is silent and stressed. 

Colin Firth is Wardex head Noah Scanlon. Credit: Niko Tavernise/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

Swiftly, Disclosure Day reveals he's on the run from Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth) the head of Wardex, because Daniel's backpack contains 78 years of documentation of UFO sightings, alien crash landings, and testing on live survivors. He and a small group of defectors led by a dashing Colman Domingo, wish to reveal this news to the world, believing that the truth is our right. But Scanlon and his army of gun-toting minions believe the world can't handle the truth. 

Into this struggle, others will be pulled in, by fate or chance. Daniel's Catholic girlfriend Jane (a wide-eyed Eve Hewson) is used as an emotional pawn by Scanlon, forcing the couple to go to unusual lengths to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, far off in Kansas City, Missouri, a weather presenter named Margaret Fairchild (a multi-faceted Emily Blunt) has begun speaking in other languages and psychically understanding those around her, all because a bird flew into her exposed-brick loft apartment. Her musician boyfriend Jackson (Thunderbolts*' Wyatt Russell) is understandably perplexed. Especially as she insists — in an urgent whisper — they must evade the men in suits who claim they're from the FBI. 

In a rollicking road trip full of action set pieces, sci-fi spookiness, and deeply humane bits of comedy, Margaret and Daniel will come together and fight for not just the future of humanity, but also humanity's understanding of the universe.

Disclosure Day is about the battle between fear and empathy. 

Daniel (Josh O'Connor) and Margaret (Emily Blunt) are on the side of empathy. Credit: Niko Tavernise / Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

Snarling and deeply British, Firth feels almost a vintage villain, dusted off from so many '80s action movies. Cheers to the actor best-known for romances like Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary, and Love Actually, he's pretty damn intimidating as a man who has little faith in mankind. In sneering speeches, Scanlon demands that Daniel understand that people are ruled by fear. Secrets are essential to maintaining societal peace. 

Other arguments are offered across Disclosure Day about why humans might not be ready to understand we're not the center of the universe or even God's creation. But Koepp's dialogue — always rooted in a place of earnest understanding — pushes back with compassion. Daniel, Margaret, and their band of rebels believe in empathy over fear. 

And through this lens, every character's motivations become clear. And frankly, a clear distinction across heroes and villains in Spielberg's filmography. Villains choose fear; heroes choose empathy. In Disclosure Day, Scanlon fears a world where he cannot be in control, in this case of the secrets of the universe. He argues that others will fear these aliens, who do not look like us or speak our language. But their first message to us? "Don't be afraid of what you don't know." 

Emily Blunt plays weather reporter Margaret Fairchild. Credit: Niko Tavernise / Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

This becomes the plea of Disclosure Day. Not just as we consider what could (and likely does) exist beyond our planet, but in how we consider each other. Empathy is presented not just as a virtue but also as a crucial tool of evolution. If we can overcome our own fears and dare to empathize with those we don't see as like us, what might we achieve? 

The final act explores this in a way that bristled with my suspension of disbelief. Bear with me.

Disclosure Day offers out-of-this-world spectacle and one of the most thrilling action sequences of 2026. 

Steven Spielberg embraces action here. Credit: Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

Disclosure Day functions like a companion piece to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Like Spielberg's 1977 film, the story of alien life's existence focuses on how two average white Americans, one male and one female, comprehend it. But more importantly, the production design and creature design of that classic film carry over here, suggesting a narrative continuum without any characters in common. 

What sets Disclosure Day apart is that Spielberg embraces action here. While Daniel and Margaret aren't soldiers, they face off against plenty. That means car chase scenes, fleeing gunfire, stand-offs over alien tech, and one particular chase scene involving a train. The latter was so tense I held my breath, only letting it out to scream in excitement. 

All of this to say, Spielberg had me deeply hooked. I believed in this world, and in these people. In particular because Disclosure Day — in its runtime of two hours and 25 minutes — remembers to take time to establish its heroes through simple, almost mundane actions. In Jaws, it's the scene where Chief Brody plays a simple game of mimicry with his young son over the dinner table. We understand him not as some invincible action star, but a dad who has to do something outrageously risky to protect his family and his home. 

Steven Spielberg on the set of "Disclosure Day." Credit: Niko Tavernise / Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

In Disclosure Day, this scene is about smashing a cellphone for security. It's a trope in a bunch of espionage movies, typically executed with a casualness that befits a smooth secret agent. But when Margaret gets a call from a stranger who warns her to destroy her cell, she reacts to it with the expertise of a weather reporter. She tosses her phone out the window and directs her baffled boyfriend (Russell is hilarious in this role) to run it over. He tries and fails, leading to some couples bickering that is relatable, but also brilliantly funny because they are fumbling their escape in this awkwardness! 

Which brings me back to the film's final act. Like with Jaws, I wanted to be so hooked by Spielberg's storytelling that I never questioned if a shark even can be blown up that way. But the final act of Disclosure Day isn't asking me to excuse movie science silliness. It's asking me to trust that in a time of crisis, humanity will choose empathy over fear. And while I relished watching Margaret and Daniel's collaboration toward their hard-fought disclosure day, I realized to my own ache that my suspension of disbelief rattled because I don't trust that things would play out as they did. I wish I did. I wish life were like a Spielberg movie. 

On its surface, Disclosure Day is about aliens. But beneath that, it's about us — or more specifically, how Spielberg sees humanity itself. And while he has more faith in us than I do, I hope he's right. 

Disclosure Day opens in theaters June 12. 

The best Walmart Summer Deals at a glance:

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Best Apple deal

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

$429 (save $120)

Get Deal

---

Best gaming deal

Xbox Series X gaming console

$573 (save $76.99)

Get Deal

---

Best TV deals

TCL 55-inch QM7K Mini LED QLED 4K TV

$598 (save $352)

Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day 2026 lands June 23 through 26, which means Walmart's competing sale is also on its way. Walmart announced its anti-Prime Day Deals Event will overlap Amazon's (shocker) and run a full week from 12:01 a.m. ET on Monday, June 22 through 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 28. You can peruse all the deals both in stores and online, whichever you prefer.

But because none of these retailers like to color inside the lines, deals started popping up weeks ahead of the actual sale. After some digging, I've rounded up the best early discounts on Apple gear, TVs, gaming peripherals, and more ahead of the Walmart Summer Deals Event.

Best Walmart Apple deals

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 $249 (save $30)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) — $329 $429 (save $100)

• Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $429 $549 (save $120)

Best Walmart TV deals

• Hisense 65-inch R6 UHD 4K TV — $295 $378 (save $83)

• TCL 65-inch S4 UHD 4K TV — $338 $378 (save $40)

• Vizio 75-inch Quantum QLED 4K TV — $428 $548 (save $120)

• TCL 55-inch QM7K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $598 $950 (save $352)

• TCL 98-inch QM7K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,998 $2,799.99 (save $801.99)

Best Walmart gaming deals

• Logitech G733 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset — $110.99 $159.99 (save $49)

• Xbox Series X gaming console — $573 $649.99 (save $76.99)

• Alienware 15.3-inch gaming laptop (AMD Ryzen 5 220, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GDDR6, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $849 $1,299.99 (save $450.99)

• Lenovo Legion 5a WQXGA laptop (AMD Ryzen 7 250, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,299 $2,099.99 (save $800.99)

Best Walmart headphones deals

• JBL Tune 520BT — $39.95 $59.95 (save $20)

• JLab JBuds Lux ANC — $49.95 $79.99 (save $30.04)

• Sonos Ace — $299 $399 (save $100)

Best Walmart outdoor deals

• Mainstays 19.5-inch Smokeless Fire Pit — $147 $177 (save $30)

• Blackstone 36-inch Original Outdoor Griddle — $297 $344 (save $47)

• Blackstone 2-Burner 28-inch Outdoor Combo Griddle — $397 $497 (save $100)

Nintendo just concluded a very beefy Nintendo Direct livestream. Without wasting any more time, let's dig into all the biggest announcements from the show, including the long-rumored The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

An updated version of the excellent action RPG Dragon's Dogma 2 is coming to Switch 2 on Oct. 9.

Orbitals

This cool-looking co-op adventure inspired by 80s anime is coming out on Sept. 3.

Big Walk

This unique co-op adventuring game based on proximity voice chat launches on Aug. 4.

One Piece Grand Gourmet

This is a cute pixel-art cooking game based on the popular One Piece manga and anime series, out Oct. 23.

Pokémon Pokopia DLC

Pokémon Pokopia is getting some free and paid DLC starting this August, including a new underwater town.

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave

The next game in the revered tactics RPG series is out on Sept. 17.

Lies of P

The popular Pinocchio-themed action game is out on Aug. 6.

Devil May Cry 5

One of the best action games of the last few years is out on Switch 2 on June 23.

Muramasa: Revenant Blades

A remastered version of an underrated Wii classic is out in early 2027.

Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy Switch 2 upgrades

The incredible Xenoblade Chronicles RPG trilogy is getting paid Switch 2 updates throughout the rest of this year.

Xenoblade Genesis

And there's also a new Xenoblade game coming in 2027.

Final Fantasy Resonance

A new 2D turn-based Final Fantasy based on a previously existing mobile game is out on Oct. 22.

The Duskbloods

The new game from the developers of Elden Ring is getting a closed network test this summer, but we still don't know a lot about it.

Splatoon Raiders

A single-player take on Splatoon is launching on July 23, and there will be a dedicated Direct for it on June 30.

Deltarune Chapter 5

The fifth chapter of the acclaimed Deltarune RPG is out on June 24.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

One of the best RPGs of the past few years is out on Switch 2 on Nov. 12.

Kingdom Hearts IV

The long-awaited Kingdom Hearts IV got a fresh new trailer, and a confirmation that it's coming to Switch 2.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

And finally, the Ocarina of Time remake is real, and it's coming this year, though the trailer doesn't show off much.

Nintendo saved the best for last. The company closed out its latest Nintendo Direct with the first look at a full remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — and it's coming in 2026, right in time for the holidays.

The reveal caps off months of speculation. Prominent voices in the gaming rumor community had been pointing to an Ocarina remake since April, and Nintendo delivered exactly what fans were hoping for.

If you somehow haven't played the original, Ocarina of Time is widely considered one of the greatest video games ever made. Released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, it was the first Zelda game to make the leap to 3D and set a template for action-adventure games that still holds up nearly 28 years later.

With the Switch 2 now out in the world and bringing a bold new visual direction with it, this is without a doubt the perfect time to revisit one of gaming's greatest stories. And it'll keep you more than warm until the previously announced Zelda movie adaptation eventually arrives.

Some dads are notoriously hard to shop for, which is exactly why we did the legwork for you. We combed through this year's Father's Day sales so you don't have to, pulling together the discounts that are actually worth checking out in 2026.

Whether he's the type to live in the garage, fuss over his coffee setup, or covet a better pair of headphones, there's something here that Dad will absolutely love. A bunch of our favorite Father's Day gift picks for 2026 happen to be marked down right now as well, and these were already the ones we'd recommend at full price.

We'll keep adding to this list right up to Father's Day itself, which falls on Sunday, June 21 in 2026. For more budget-friendly gift ideas, check out our guide to some of the most unique gifts you can get for under $50.

Deals on gifts in our Father's Day gift guide

• Keurig K-Iced Coffee Maker — $85 $129.99 (save $44.99)

• Hydro Flask water bottle — $35 $37 (save $2)

• Ember Smart Mug — $84.47 $129.95 (save $45.48)

• Cubii Pro under-desk elliptical — $169.99 $279.99 (save $110)

• TempPro digital meat thermometer — $9.99 $19.99 (save $10)

• What I Love About Dad book — $7.57 $10 (save $2.43)

• Indoor Garden hydroponics growing system — $56.99 $59.99 (save $3)

Tech deals

• Beats Studio Pro — $169.95 $349.99 (save $180.04)

• Sonos Roam 2 — $134 $179 (save $180.04)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $299 $399 (save $100)

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Google TV Streamer — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• HP Omen Transcend 14 — $1,299.99 $99.99 (save $20)

Tool deals

• DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill/Impact 2 Tool Combo Kit — $159 $239 (save $80)

• Hoto Laser Measuring Tool — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• SKIL Corded Multi-Function Detail Sander — $39.99 $44.99 (save $5)

Home deals

• iRobot Roomba 105 Robot Vacuum — $248.98 $449.99 (save $201)

• Dreo 36-inch Tower Fan — $69.96 $79.99 (save $10.03)

• Ecovacs Goat O1000 RTK Robot Lawn Mower — $699 $999.99 (save $300.99)

Fitness deals

• Garmin Vívoactive 5 — $198.98 $299.99 (save $201)

• Etekcity Smart Scale — $63.99 $79.99 (save $16)

• Fitbit Sense 2 — $197.90 $249.95 (save $52.05)

Kitchen deals

• Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker — $89.99 $109.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker — $139.99 $159.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 FlexBasket air fryer — $159.98 $199.99 (save $40.01)

• KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper — $79.99 $89.99 (save $10)

• Nespresso Vertuo Next — $189 $229.95 (save $40.95)

TL;DR: The Walmart Summer Deals event spans June 22 to 28 this year. The seven-day event will offer savings of up to 50% on home goods, toys, and tech. Walmart+ members are in for special savings and early access to deals.

Now that Amazon moved Prime Day to the end of June, every major retailer is following suit. Walmart just announced the annual Walmart Summer Deals event will run from June 22 to 28, beginning an entire day ahead of Amazon's sale.

While Prime Day doesn't kick off until June 23, Walmart's Summer Deals gives shoppers access to discounts of up to 50% off beginning at 12am ET on June 22. Walmart+ members get special access to early deals online, so it might be worth signing up before the deals drop.

A 30-day trial of Walmart+ costs just $1 or you can sign on for a yearly membership for $98.

Best sales to shop during Walmart Summer deals

We don't yet have specific sale details from Walmart, but we do have some general information. Here's what to expect during the Walmart event:

• Up to 50% off home items

• Up to 40% off floor-care

• Up to 40% off toys

• Up to 50% off pet items

• Up to 40% off TVs

• Up to 40% off patio and garden

• Up to 50% off sports and outdoors

Looking for Apple tech? Walmart might be your best option

Checking out the offerings from last year's Walmart Summer event, Apple sales were excellent, especially in the wearables and accessories categories. We saw AirPods sink to record low prices, as well as the USB-C Apple Pencil. Some of Walmart's Apple deals beat the sales offered from both Amazon and Best Buy.

We'll keep this page updated as we get more details about Walmart's Summer Deals event.

Nintendo has some big announcements to make, and you can watch comfortably from your own home.

The video game giant has a Nintendo Direct livestream on Tuesday morning, its first since last September. Nintendo says this Direct will be 50 minutes long, with an additional 95 minutes of live game demos from its Treehouse team. We're expecting plenty of new Switch and Switch 2 game announcements. That's pretty beefy for one of these Nintendo livestreams.

You can watch the Nintendo Direct live on June 9 at 10 a.m. ET on Nintendo's YouTube channel.

We don't know exactly what to expect from this one. The rumored The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake could show up here, but aside from that and other known quantities like Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and The Duskbloods, there's a real air of mystery around this particular Direct.

And that's what makes it exciting. You probably won't want to miss it.

All of Apple's devices will have a new layer of AI this year. Here's what it could mean for devices to come.

Back in the 1990s, comedian Conan O'Brien set the bar for deepfaking celebrities the old-fashioned way: by putting his lips on their face.

The popular gag got lots of laughs, but little did O'Brien know the skit would set him up to cash checks in 2026 as a spokesperson for U.S. cybersecurity company Adaptive Security.

O'Brien made a series of 15 training videos on cybersecurity awareness for Adaptive Security's employees and clients, launched Tuesday, with previews available on the company's website.

"I creeped out an entire nation," says O'Brien in the series intro video. "Back then, making a deepfake took hours. But today, AI can clone a person's voice and face in seconds."

O'Brien covers the pitfalls of AI-powered attacks, including deepfakes, voice cloning, and AI impersonation. He also reviews the bread and butter of corporate security training: email and SMS phishing, QR code scams, passwords, and in-office and remote work risks.

Adaptive Security wisely let O'Brien co-write the scripts and improvise on set, with the comedian using a fake mustache, dark lighting, and different camera angles to play "Joe," a nefarious scammer posing as an IT colleague.

Just hearing O'Brien say "Linux server" in a raspy voice is a reminder of how he's exactly the right man for the job.

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At WWDC 2026, Apple relaunched its AI efforts with iOS 27, featuring Siri AI that is more powerful, helpful, and conversational, while protecting your privacy. Here are the top three iOS 27 features you should know.

Suddenly, the Milky Way's central black hole is starting to look a little less like a weirdo. 

Astronomers have discovered a large cone-shaped void in gas surrounding Sagittarius A*, the galaxy's supermassive black hole, that could solve a longstanding mystery. 

All active black holes should blow winds or jets of material back into space while they're feeding, according to theory. That process is how supermassive black holes shape the galaxies around them. But no matter how hard astronomers have looked, they haven't seen our black hole, dubbed Sgr A* for short, pushing anything back out. 

New images from a Northwestern University-led research team now suggest this cone tunneling through a fog of cold gas is evidence of that missing wind. It was almost literally an arrow pointing back at the black hole, said Mark Gorski, who co-led the study.

"This is the first time we've had a clean enough view to see the wind's imprint," Gorski said in a statement. "We looked at the data and said, 'There it is. There is the thing that everybody's been looking for for 50 years.'"

In reality, the discovery wasn't that straightforward of an a-ha moment. Only after the team had overlaid their picture with data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory did their observations begin to make sense. That gave them confidence the odd cone wasn't just an imaging artifact, they said. 

"When you find something that no one has seen before, the first thought that runs through your mind is not 'Oh my God, we made a discovery,'" said coauthor Elena Murchikova, in a statement. "It's 'Oh my God, what's wrong with my analysis?'" 

Astronomers combined radio and X-ray data from the ALMA and Chandra-X telescopes to study the cone-shaped void near the Milky Way's central black hole. Credit: NASA / CXC / Northwestern / M. Gorski / ESO / NAOJ / NRAO / ALMA / K. Arcand and P. Edmonds

Scientists believe virtually all large galaxies have a supermassive black hole at their core. These are regions millions to billions of times more massive than the sun. In fact, so much mass is packed into these small spaces that gravity becomes strong enough to prevent anything from escaping — even light. 

These black holes don't just sit around, waiting for gas, dust, and stars to fall in, but they influence how their galaxies evolve around them by sucking in material and also blowing material that comes near their boundary — called the event horizon — back out.

By taking high-resolution observations with Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array in Chile over about five years, the team was able to map cold gas near the black hole in unprecedented detail. This ALMA image is 100 times deeper and 80 times sharper than previous maps, according to the researchers.

The cone stretches one to three light-years away from the black hole. The simplest explanation after careful consideration, according to the team's findings published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, is that a fast, energetic stream of hot material has launched out of the black hole's region, shoving colder gas in its path out of the way.

The ALMA radio telescopes in Chile spent five years observing the Milky Way's central region to create high-resolution maps of surrounding cold gas. Credit: ALMA /S. Longmore et al. / ESO / D. Minniti et al.

The team determined it would take more energy than could be provided by all the stars in that area to create the conic gap. The researchers estimated the wind has probably been blowing for 20,000 years or more.

Based on the image, the direction of Sgr A*'s wind seems somewhat tilted and uneven, which suggests it may be weak and mangled by surrounding gas as it travels.

How this feature has escaped the notice of previous researchers is not too surprising, the researchers said. In order to see into our own galaxy's center, astronomers have to look through the plane of the Milky Way, which is thick with gas, dust, and ionized structures. Sgr A* may also be in a quieter lull, making the distant activity harder to spot.  

Some scientists have previously suggested that the lack of wind or jets could mean Sgr A* is an exotic black hole — an outlier among hundreds of billions of others like it. If anything, Murchikova is now convinced of the opposite. 

"It shows that our black hole is not unique, and our place in the universe is not unique," she said.

Tech editors from CNET, Mashable, and PCMag share their first impressions of Apple Intelligence and Siri updates and news from WWDC 2026. Do these updates make the iPhone more desirable and where have seen these features before?

Tech Experts from CNET, PCMag, and Mashable discuss the vibes we felt from WWDC 2026. Was there a passing of the torch from Tim Cook?

NASA's X-59 jet has broken the sound barrier for the first time, a major milestone in the effort to build a quiet supersonic aircraft for civilians. 

The sleek, needle-nosed airplane exceeded the speed of sound for the first time on Friday, June 5. NASA test pilot Jim "Clue" Less took off in the plane at 11:08 a.m. PT and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California about 81 minutes later. At the aircraft's top speed, it went Mach 1.1 — about 713 mph — at an altitude of 43,400 feet. 

The X-59 is experimental, part of the so-called QUESST mission to transform passenger air travel over land. Because existing supersonic aircraft produce loud sonic booms at high speed, the U.S. government bans routine supersonic flights over populated areas. But the X-59, designed by NASA and its contractor Lockheed Martin, is expected to tame the boom into a mere thump. 

NASA captured the achievement from the vantage point of a chase plane, which kept pace with the speedy experimental jet to monitor the test. You can watch the historic moment when it clocked supersonic speed in the video below. 

"X-59 goes through the number!" NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said on X. "We are rebuilding our X-plane portfolio and getting NASA back in the business of radical airframe and engine flight test!"

An X‑plane is a U.S. aircraft designed to test new flight technologies and ideas. The goal of the X-59 is to provide regulators and the airline industry with the evidence needed to reconsider restrictions on supersonic aircraft.

Most people think of NASA as the gateway to space, but the organization is first and foremost the nation's civil aeronautics agency (quite literally, the A comes before the S). The U.S. government legally requires NASA to lead such research — the kind private companies can't do. 

Future tests will see the X-59 go even faster. NASA wants the plane to ramp up to 925 mph. At that rate, a nonstop flight from New York to L.A. would take less than three hours. That would cut current flight times in half. Today's commercial airlines typically cruise at 550 mph, getting their passengers across the country in about 5 to 6 hours.

If you were expecting to see the X-59 zip through the sky, the video might feel underwhelming. Because the chase plane, a NASA F-15, followed the flight at the same speed, the jet didn't rush headlong out of frame. Instead, it appeared to serenely revel in the clouds. 

Thanks to the chase plane, the video also didn't capture the X-59's signature thump. The F-15 filled the air with a cacophony of its own sonic booms. 

Reaching supersonic speed is a crucial milestone, but the most critical test has yet to come. Soon the aircraft will surge to Mach 1.4, which should get it up to that 925 mph goal while flying at 55,000 feet. After crossing that hurdle, the test campaign will shift to a new phase focused on validating the shushed boom. 

A sonic boom happens when a plane flies faster than sound because pressure waves condense into a single shock that hits the ground like a sudden air explosion. To mitigate the sound, engineers designed the X-59's long spear-like nose to spread out the pressure shifts along the aircraft. The concept should turn the single shock into a series of smaller pulses.

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One tradeoff in the new silhouette is that the slim nose doesn't allow room for a traditional cockpit window. Instead, the pilot flies with a high-definition display screen that combines images from cameras. Test pilot Less spent hundreds of hours in a simulator using the unconventional vision system before flying the actual plane. 

After Less made his first flight at the controls of the X-59 in March, he said the lack of a windscreen didn't make him feel like he was flying blind. If anything, he felt he had better "visibility" because the image processing on his display reduces glare and improves contrast. 

"It really felt comfortable," he said during a news conference after the March flight. "Even though I wasn't seeing out the front, I could see out the sides and match that up."

These days, it's not uncommon to see new generations of tech launch with higher prices than their predecessors.

Yet Marshall announced its latest Bluetooth speaker, the Stockwell III, on June 9 with a price of $249.99 — the same as the price of the Stockwell II. This decision is even more exceptional considering the older speaker launched seven years ago.

Despite the decision to keep the speaker at the same price point, Marshall is rolling out some significant improvements. Below, we break down what to expect from the speaker.

Marshall Stockwell III: Price and specs

The Marshall Stockwell III will be available for purchase on Aug. 4 on Marshall's website and at Costco for $249.99. Spec-wise, here's what to expect from the speaker:

• Battery life: 40 hours

• IP rating: IP55 rated

• Drivers: One three-inch woofer and two 1.75-inch wide band drivers

• Sound features: True Stereophonic 360-degree all-around audio

• Charging: USB-C

• Materials: Silicone sleeve, PU leather strap with velvet lining, brass control panel, metal front and back grilles

• Size: 7.1 x 5.9 x 2.8 inches

• Weight: 2.9 pounds

• Extras: Modular and replaceable parts, including the battery, grilles, silicone sleeve, and carrying case

• Colors: Black, brass and cream

Better battery and options for longevity

The headline news with this upgrade is the battery life, which Marshall doubled from 20 hours on the Stockwell II to 40 hours on the Stockwell III.

The IPX4 water- and dust-proof rating of the Stockwell II gets boosted to IP55 on the Stockwell II, and the control panel gets a cosmetic upgrade with the brass detailing. Still, you can adjust bass and treble settings directly from the speaker as you could with the past generation, in a design choice that feels very aligned with Marshall's branding. Newly added is the M-button, which allows you to access your presets directly from the speaker.

The brass panel is a design upgrade that elevates the Stockwell III. Credit: Marshall

Another major update is the replaceable parts, which have the potential to add some serious longevity to this speaker's battery life. This isn't the first time Marshall has pulled this move: the newly released Milton headphones also come with the option to buy and replace your own battery. In addition to the Stockwell III's battery, you can also replace the strap, front and back grilles, silicone sleeve, and carrying case.

The Stockwell III versus other Bluetooth speakers

When our sister site PC Mag reviewed the Stockton II back in 2019, they called out the impressively well-rounded sound with "rich bass and bright highs." While the reviewer appreciated the performance of the Stockton at the time, they did mention it was on the pricier end.

That's not unusual for Marshall, and though we can't speak firsthand to the experience of the Stockwell III, it is notable that there are options to replace parts on this speaker. The 360-sound feature also boosts this speaker's value prop, especially as it delivers in performance. That said, there are more affordable Bluetooth speaker options, including from Marshall (if the design is what draws you in most).

Marshall Stockwell III: How to buy

The Stockwell III speaker isn't yet available, with its official launch slated for Aug. 4 on Marshall's website and at Costco.

Donald Trump made the decision to attend game three of the NBA Finals at New York's Madison Square Garden on Monday, where he was roundly booed — and Seth Meyers was just as unimpressed as Knicks fans.

"Come on, man, why you gotta ruin everything?" asks the Late Night host in the clip above. "Can you just let us have this one thing without making it all about you? Do you even care about the NBA? As far as I can tell, your only connection to the sport is the similarity between your complexion and the surface of a basketball.

"By the way, Trump going to a Knicks game makes it 100 times funnier that he did not go to his own son's wedding," Meyers added. "What a knife twist. I bet when Don Jr. was little, Trump would play catch with the neighbor's kid."

The host goes on to play a clip of Trump responding to a question about the high price of tickets to see the New York Knicks vs the San Antonio Spurs, saying "it's sort of, semi-free to watch it on television" and "it's the way life goes."

"Next time you're wondering why the president hasn't fixed the economy, just remember he uses terms like 'sort of, semi-free,'" says Meyers. "Second, 'that's the way life goes' is such a funny thing to say when you were elected to change how life was going."

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CNET's Bridget Carey and Scott Stein share their first impressions immediately following Apple's WWDC 2026 event. What stood out? What fell flat? And what felt left out?

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box available from $119.94 through marketplace sellers, knocking $47.82 off its $167.76 list price. Although, you can also preorder for as low as $114.43 with TCGplayer and $114.99 with Walmart.

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box (24 Packs)

$119.94 at Amazon
$167.76 Save $47.82

Pre-order Here

If you’ve been waiting for a cheaper way to jump into Magic: The Gathering’s big Marvel crossover, Amazon has now shaved nearly $50 off one of the easiest products in the lineup to crack open and start playing.

As of June 9, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box is available on Amazon from $119.94, with the lowest-priced listing currently sold by Collectors Expedition and including free delivery between June 30 and July 1 — getting to your door slightly after its June 26 release date. 

If you prefer to buy your trading cards from Amazon directly, the Jumpstart Booster Box sold and shipped by Amazon currently costs $123.93. That’s a 26% discount, saving $43.83, with free delivery currently set for Monday, June 29. 

More importantly, this version comes with Amazon’s preorder price guarantee, meaning if the price drops again before release, you should pay the lowest Amazon price offered between checkout and launch. 

Amazon isn’t technically the lowest overall storefront, though it’s close. Walmart currently has the box for $114.99 through third-party seller Cataclysm Games, while TCGplayer listings start at $114.43 with shipping included. At that lowest price, you’ll only be paying $4.76 per pack.

Inside the box, you’ll get 24 Jumpstart Boosters, each containing 20 Marvel Super Heroes-themed cards. Every pack features one of 51 possible Marvel themes, and because each one includes the lands needed to play, you can just grab two packs, shuffle them, and start battling right away.

Among other MTG deals going on Amazon right now, you can also grab the 24-pack Avatar: The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box on sale for just over $85. For more from the Marvel Super Heroes expansion, though, you can preorder the 30-pack Play Booster Box for $139.55.

If you’re also a Pokémon TCG fan, although currently not available on Amazon, the newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.

SAVE OVER $100: As of June 9, the Beats Studio Pro are on sale for $169.95 at Amazon. This is $180.04 off their full price of $349.99.

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Credit: Beats

Beats Studio Pro

$169.95 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $180.04

 

Get Deal

Before its big Prime Day sale starts, we've already spotted some excellent early deals at Amazon. Among them are some great headphone deals. If you've been looking for a new pair to keep you company this summer, the Beats Studio Pro are a good option that's popped up at the retailer with a stellar discount.

As of June 9, every available color of the Beats Studio Pro headphones has dropped to $169.95. This is a massive 51% discount from their full price of $349.99. That's a mighty nice offer to take advantage of, especially on a pair of headphones that Mashable's Alex Perry described in his review as "excellent on most of the levels that matter."

That's not the only high praise the Beats Studio Pro have received, either. They're the top pick in Mashable's roundup of the best Beats headphones; writer Alex Bracetti highlights their sound quality and lossless audio, explaining that Studio Pros "come with custom 40-millimeter drivers and a built-in DAC that enables lossless audio when connected with a USB-C cable." He also notes that the headphones' Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) compares with Apple's AirPods Max. That's great news for those looking to have a reliable pair of headphones for their next trip or commute into work, who want to zone out from people or traffic noise around them. On top of that, the Beats Studio Pro also boast up to 40 hours of battery life.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to save on the Beats Studio Pro headphones at Amazon.

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TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box is available to pre-order for $159.99 at Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price at the retailer.

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box

$112.99 at Amazon
$124.75 Save $11.76

 

Get Deal

We're busy keeping tabs on all the new Magic: The Gathering collections set to launch. Partly because what's to come is seriously cool, but also because we're waiting for the best deals to drop. We've already highlighted the upcoming release on the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box, but there's more to come in the early stages of 2026.

The Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box is set to release on March 6. As of Jan. 7, this booster box is available to pre-order for $159.99 at Amazon. That's close to market value compared to listings on TCGplayer, but we'd still like to see Amazon's price come down a little more. So are we saying you should wait for a better price? No, actually.

Amazon's pre-order price guarantee protects you against missing out on a better deal. Whenever you pre-order a product with it, the price you get charged when it ships will be the lowest price offered between the time you placed your order on Amazon and the end of the day on the release date. So there's no risk in buying early.

The Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box is perfect for building decks and playing Limited games with friends, and they're just a lot of fun to open up. Each booster contains 14 cards, 1-4 rares or mythics, 3-6 uncommons, 6-9 commons, and a chance of pulling Full Boarderless or Mythic Rare Turtles. Feeling lucky?

Secure Amazon's best price on the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box before it launches in March, 2026.

In this special live edition of One More Thing, tech editors from CNET, PCMag and Mashable break down Tim Cook's final Worldwide Developers Conference and ponder whether or not there was enough meat on the bones to satisfy Apple fans and developers.

SAVE $700: As of June 9, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is on sale for $799 at Amazon. That's a 47% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Jackery

Jackery Explorer 2000 v2

$799 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $700

 

Get Deal

Prime Day will be kicking off later this month (June 23–26), but if you’re searching for a great deal on a portable power station before then, you’re in luck. As of June 9, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is back on sale at Amazon, now with a $700 discount. This brings the list price down from $1,499.99 to $799.

The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is a high-capacity power unit with 3 AC ports giving you a total of 2200W output and a 2042Wh capacity. It’s a great all-rounder power solution, ideal for home backup, camping, or even small business use. 

It's a lightweight option too, with the unit weighing just 39.5 pounds. According to Jackery, it's actually 41% lighter and 34% smaller than similar units, so this is a great choice for moving around different rooms.

It supports fast and flexible charging, reaching 80% in just 66 minutes via AC fast charging or a full charge in 102 minutes using emergency super charging through the app. And the battery is built to last. It’s a LiFePO4 battery, designed for up to 10 years of daily use, and features a silent charging mode with smart temperature control to reduce fan noise. 

Head to Amazon to score this Jackery deal.

SAVE $400: As of June 9, the iRobot Roomba Max 705 is on sale for $499 at Amazon. That's a 45% discount on the list price.

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Credit: iRobot

iRobot Roomba Max 705

$499 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400.99

 

Get Deal

Prime Day is just around the corner, but you don't have to wait to score a robot vacuum deal. Amazon's Daily Deals are still packed with discounts, including this latest offer on the iRobot Roomba Max 705 robot vacuum. As of June 9, it's currently down to its best-ever price, with $400 off the list price. This takes the price down from $899.99 to $499.

This Roomba robot vacuum uses dual rubber brushes that flex and allow it to adjust to different floor types. It has power-lifting suction, an edge-sweeping brush, Carpet Boost, and anti-tangle technology that helps it collect dirt and pet hair, so it's a great option for homes with furry friends.

It navigates and maps your home with ClearView Pro LiDAR technology, and it also has built-in sensors that help prevent falls on stairs. Paired with the PrecisionVision AI technology which helps it to recognize and avoid common household obstacles (cords, socks, etc), this device can safely move around your home on its own.

This model also comes with an all-in-one docking station, where ut automatically collects debris into an enclosed bag that can store dirt for up to 75 days, minimizing the manual effort required from you.

Head to Amazon to score this robot vacuum deal.

SAVE $250: As of June 9, the Google Pixel 10 Pro is on sale for $849 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Google

Google Pixel 10 Pro

$849
$1,088 Save $239

 

Get Deal

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is available at its lowest-ever price right now at Amazon, a couple of weeks before Prime Day gets underway. As of June 9, the smartphone has dropped from its usual $1,099 price tag to just $849. Better yet, every color option is included in the discount, so you can choose from moonstone, obsidian, porcelain, or jade. Each is designed with an aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, so it's robust as well as slick.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is a powerful smartphone, running on the Google Tensor G5 chip and built with Gemini AI features designed to assist with everyday tasks. This deal is for an unlocked version of the phone, so it's compatible with major carriers, allowing you to pick whichever works best for you.

It has a seriously advanced camera system too. It has support for advanced AI-powered photography, low-light image capture, up to 100x Pro Res Zoom, 50MP photos, and 8K video recording with video stabilization features to make sure clips are nice and steady. Who needs a professional camera with all this?

It also includes Gemini Live, an AI feature that enables conversational voice interactions and allows users to point the camera at objects to ask questions.

Get this Google smartphone deal at Amazon right now.

Trump has been getting angry at journalists again, this time clashing with NBC Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker after she challenged him over his comments about various primaries being rigged.

"This interview, first of all, it was interrupted several times by rain, and I don't know if he was worried about the cotton candy on his head getting wet or he just didn't like the fact that he was being taken to task by a woman," says Jimmy Kimmel in the clip above. "Either way, their talk ended in a full-blown Trumper tantrum."

Kimmel then plays the clip of Trump storming out of the interview, with his trousers edited out and replaced by a diaper, and baby noises added in post.

"Can you imagine any other president in the history of any other place doing that?" the host asks. "That was a hissy fit."

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SAVE OVER $50: As of June 9, the blue mist/pale gold Fitbit Sense 2 is discounted to $197.90 at Amazon. This is $52.05 off its list price of $249.95.

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Credit: Fitbit

Fitbit Sense 2

$197.90 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $52.05

 

Get Deal

If you're hoping to hit some new fitness goals this summer while you're spending time outside, a fitness tracker is worth looking into. The Fitbit Sense 2 is one option that can help you keep an eye on your efforts, and it's even on sale right now at Amazon. No need to wait for Prime Day to add it to your shopping cart.

As of June 9, the blue mist/pale gold Fitbit Sense 2 model is on sale for $197.90 at Amazon. Overall, this is just over $50 off its full price of $249.95. It's not the only color discounted, either. If you're interested in the lunar white/platinum or shadow grey/graphite trackers instead, they're marked down to $199.94, so just a tiny bit more than the blue mist/pale gold model.

The Fitbit Sense 2 includes a range of tracking features, so no matter if you're looking to focus on fitness or health, it can cover a lot of bases. When it comes to your activity, it includes a built-in GPS, all-day activity tracking, 24/7 heart rate tracking, and a Daily Readiness Score, to name a few. On the other hand, for health, it includes sleep tracking, irregular heart rhythm notifications, all-day stress detection, and much more.

These health features caught the eye of Mashable writer Lois Mackenzie. In a piece about the Fitbit Sense 2, Mackenzie explains, "It prioritizes things like stress, sleep, and recovery just as much as steps and heart rate, which makes it stand out in a market that often focuses purely on smashing PRs."

Cross off your summertime fitness goals this year with the help of the Fitbit Sense 2. Act fast to save on it at Amazon.

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Archer, the gay dating app launched by Match Group during Pride Month 2023, is shutting down just three years later.

Michael Kaye, the app's director of brand marketing and communications, announced the end of Archer in May, soon after the parent company announced a $100 million investment in Sniffies, a gay hookup app.

"We're incredibly proud of what we built with ARCHER and grateful to the community, partners, and supporters who helped make it possible," Kaye told Mashable in an emailed statement. "While ARCHER will be winding down, we're thankful for the impact it had and the connections it fostered over the years."

Archer sought to make gay dating more intentional, focusing more on building relationships than finding flings. In 2024, TechCrunch reported that Archer had been downloaded over 685,000 times within a year of its debut. But Grindr, arguably the most well-known gay hookup app, was downloaded 10 million times in the year preceding TechCrunch's reporting. As Mashable states in our gay dating app roundup, Grindr is still king.

In recent years, however, users have complained that Grindr is paywalling its best features and that its interface is buggy. Competitors have popped up, including Archer, and also Sniffies, Scruff, and Jack'd. The cruising site Squirt, which pre-dated Grindr, just launched an app this April.

Now, it appears that at least in the gay dating space, Match Group will focus on Sniffies.

"We look forward to partnering with Sniffies to continue fostering meaningful queer connections and building for the future of the community," Kaye stated.

Archer will officially shut down on June 17.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a musician.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today'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.

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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.

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

• Yellow: Pure

• Green: Hush hush

• Blue: Caveat

• Purple: Play a tune

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Symbols of innocence

• Green: Things you're not supposed to reveal

• Blue: Things represented in superscript

• Purple: Slang for musical instruments

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 today's Connections #1094 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Symbols of innocence: ANGEL, BABE, DOVE, LAMB

• Things you're not supposed to reveal: PASSWORD, SECRET, SPOILER, SURPRISE

• Things represented in superscript: ASTERISK, DEGREE, EXPONENT, TRADEMARK

• Slang for musical instruments: AXE, BONE, KEYS, SKINS

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love cruises.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Dramamine, anyone?

The words are related to ships.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe cruises.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is I'm on a Boat.

NYT Strands word list for June 9

• Snacks

• Dancing

• Waves

• Drinks

• I'm on a Boat

• Seasickness

• Deck

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love to sail.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today'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.

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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

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.

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

A pier.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

The Wordle answer today is...

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 today's Wordle is...

WHARF

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. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG: Mega Moonlit Tin (Mega Clefable ex edition) marked down to $47.29 ahead of its June 12 release, taking 21% off its usual $59.95 price. Walmart is slightly cheaper at $46.77, though TCGplayer has unopened listings going as low as $29.37.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG: Mega Moonlit — Mega Clefable ex Tin

$47.29 at Amazon
$59.95 Save $12.66

 

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Getting packs from the recent Mega Evolution in the Pokémon TCG at a reasonable price is still a pretty tough task. However, this is where price drops on collection boxes like this Mega Clefable tin are among the best ways to score trading cards on a budget.  

As of June 9, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG: Mega Moonlit Tin — Mega Clefable ex edition available to preorder for $47.29. That’s a 21% cut from its typical $59.95 price, saving you $12.65 on the moonlit-themed collector tin, and it's the lowest price we’ve seen with the seller yet, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel. 

Shipped and sold by Crooked Cart, delivery is estimated for June 18-25 at the time of writing, at least six days after its June 12 release date. However, for just a penny more, at $47.30, you can preorder the Mega Clefable ex Tin from the seller Boxed Vinyl — giving you faster delivery for June 17. 

Inside, you’ll get one very pretty Mega Clefable ex foil promo card, four Pokémon TCG booster packs (two Chaos Rising, one Perfect Order, and one Phantasmal Flames — according to product imagery), and one code card for Pokémon TCG Live. 

This means that even before you take the promo card and TCG Live card into account, the $47.29 price will have you paying only $11.82 per pack. Since single boosters for all three Pokémon TCG expansions usually cost between $12 and $16 on Amazon, you’ll be saving around $4 per pack. 

On the other hand, those who are willing to shop outside of Amazon can save a lot more. Walmart’s third-party listings for the Mega Moonlit Tin go slightly lower at $46.77, but unopened listings on TCGplayer go far cheaper at $29.37 each — even a small amount higher than its market price of $27.64. 

For even more Pokémon TCG backs at a more tolerable price, you can grab the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box on sale for just over $92. To get the lowest cost per pack, though, the Pokémon TCG’s 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box, selling for under $265, means you’re paying around $7.36 per pack. 

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.

SAVE OVER $200: As of June 9, the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. This is $270 off its full price of $549.99.

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Credit: Roborock

Roborock Q10 S5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop

$279.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $270

 

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We're counting down the days to Prime Day, but until then, Amazon has some excellent early deals to shop. If you've been thinking about dropping some cash on a robot vacuum this year, we've spotted a select few on sale right now, including the Roborock Q10 S5+. This model even landed on our list of the best robot vacuums, so it's one we think is worth your time and money.

As of June 9, the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum and mop is down to $279.99 at Amazon. Considering it's usually listed for $549.99, this is a great opportunity to save $270 on it, but you'll want to act fast to grab it. It's currently marked as a 'limited time deal', so the clock is ticking to score it at this price.

If summertime has you spending more time outside, a cleaner like the Roborock Q10 S5+ can be a worthy addition to your home. Its vacuuming, which boasts 10,000 Pa suction, can lift up any dirt, crumbs, or pet hair that's gotten stuck in your carpets. Plus, its JawScrapers Comb main brush and anti-tangle side brush help prevent hair from getting caught up inside and slowing it down.

Its mopping system is plenty powerful as well, as it scrubs up to 3,000 times per minute to tackle annoying stains on your harder floors. It also features obstacle avoidance technology and has a quieter operation, which is why Mashable ranks it among the best robot vacuums, earning the title of 'Quietest robot vacuum'.

Mashable senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart writes the Roborock Q10 S5+ "has reliably completed all missions in my apartment for weeks, and isn't nearly as obnoxious when self-emptying as most other robot vacuums I've tested — it barely reaches 70 decibels, which isn't much louder than competitors while they're just cleaning."

If it sounds like the perfect fit for your home, don't miss out on this great deal on the Roborock Q10 S5+ at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Jon Stewart has always been game for a tough interview, and though Elmo might be safe, 'Elmo' is not.

In the clip above the Daily Show host recaps a controversial X post from the beloved Sesame Street character's official account. On June 4, Elmo made a neutral comment on the NBA finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, writing, "Elmo hopes both teams have fun!" In response, Knicks fans demanded the New Yorker "pick a side" — and on Monday night, that included Stewart.

To scrutinise the post, Stewart interviewed a knockoff 'Elmo' — one The Daily Show has wheeled out during previous X post debacles. Suffice to say this is not the Sesame Street Elmo you know. It gets dark.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Apple's iOS 27, now available as developer beta, lets users tweak the Liquid Glass appearance more precisely than ever.

Previously, you could either set the Liquid Glass to either Clear or Tinted. Now, there's a slider that lets you adjust transparency from Ultra Clear on the one side, all the way to Tinted Glass on the other.

I've tried it out in the new iOS 27 developer beta, and (of course) I immediately set it to Ultra Clear. Not everyone is thrilled with so much transparency in the interface they use every day, so you might want to go the other way, or anywhere in between; the choice is yours. I also did the same thing on the iPad, which has the same setting.

To access this feature, you'll have to download and install the iOS 27 developer beta. We've got instructions on how to do that over here; just have in mind that it's unwise to install a developer beta on your primary device, and if you do so, make sure you've backed up your device first.

Once you have the iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 developer beta installed, you'll find the feature under Settings - Appearance - Liquid Glass. From there, you can move the slider freely, and immediately see the result in a nifty viewer that shows you how a text input box will interact with other elements of the interface.

That's it! Have fun with the slider.

Note that this isn't the only change Apple has done to Liquid Glass. The company says it updated app icons to be sharper and more defined, and improved contrast as well as more uniform refraction should help with readability.

Mel Mitchell isn’t afraid of a hot take. 

The Atlanta-based stand-up comedian, actor, and content creator caught our attention this year for her sharp commentary and quick wit. She’s also been named one of the Mash101 — our list of the voices shaping digital culture right now.

“Whether she's breaking down a pop culture moment or reenacting a familiar online interaction, the throughline is the same,” writes Mashable’s Crystal Bell. “The joke lands because the observation is precise.”

Mitchell has us cracking up with “the black mom on ‘The Magic School Bus’” and her loving caricature of director Ryan Coogler. With her impression of “the black muggle mom,” Mitchell continues an ongoing content stream that riffs on the Harry Potter universe.  

Mitchell’s Potter-inspired comedy really took off after a video of her as a black teacher at Hogwarts went viral. Subsequent videos, like the muggle mom at the Hogwarts Parent/Teacher conference, have also gained widespread adoration. (Book 3 — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — is Michell's favorite, in case you were wondering.)

Credit: Zooey Liao/Mashable/Google Images/Mel Mitchell

Mitchell has also added "actor" to her resumé this year, appearing on KevOnStage's "Churchy," "The Hospital," and "The Airport."

We recently caught up with the 31-year-old comedian to talk about her love for comedy, being a pastor’s kid, and which products she relies on for recording content.

Mel Mitchell's creator essentials:

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Credit: Apple

AirPods

"For when I'm doing multiple creators."

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Credit: Apple

iPad

"So I can see my scripts."

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Credit: InShot

InShot (Video Editor)

 

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Credit: DJI

DJI Mimo (Video Editor)

 

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Credit: UBeesize

Ring Light

 

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Credit: Liphisy

Tripod

 

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You often feature your natural hair as a topic of conversation in your content – what are your go-to hair products?

I love the Camille Rose setting foam, the Bask & Lather edge control, a spray bottle of water, and the green Eco Style gel.

How has being a “pastor’s kid” (as you say) influenced your comedy?

I say all the time that being a comedian is ministry. Comedy and preaching are the same skillset, so I believe it was passed down genetically! That and my hilarious life experiences have set me up for success in comedy. 

Who is your ideal audience?

My ideal audience consists of Black women and the Black LGBTQIA community; they just get me!

What do you love about what you do?

I really enjoy making people laugh and spreading joy. My favorite is when I make a SUPER niche joke, and it reaches the few people who would actually understand it. 

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage and meet The Mashable 101 to discover the internet’s most exciting voices.

So what exactly does one bring to the 15th anniversary of an iconic conference for online content creation? With VidCon 2026 just around the corner, it's a question you'll want to start asking now.

When it comes to content creation essentials, there's more to it than bringing along an iPhone and your MacBook (even though those make for a great camera and editing machine, respectively).

This knowledge comes firsthand: Mashable's team turned out plenty of content of our own at VidCon 2025, interviewed the biggest creators there about what tools they couldn't live without, and of course, kept our eyes peeled on the convention center floor. Beyond VidCon, our team also spoke with plenty of creators to learn more about the products they consider essential when they're filming, editing, and for all the moments in between.

That's why we decided to come up with a checklist — a starter pack for content creators. Below, you'll find our top five VidCon essentials for content creators.

Best early Prime Day portable power station deals at a glance:

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Best overall deal

Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2

$449.99 (save $349.01 at Amazon)

Get Deal

---

Best small-model deal

Bluetti Elite 10

$119 at Amazon (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best durable deal

Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra

$999 at Amazon (save $300)

Get Deal

---

Best power station + solar panel bundle

EcoFlow Delta 3 + 220W solar panel

$669 (save $330)

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---

Best deal for content creators

DJI Power 1000

$399.99 at Amazon (save $299.01)

Get Deal

Summer 2026 is in full swing now. Barbecues, camping trips, vacation, and avoiding mosquitos are all on the agenda. But something else big happens every summer — Amazon Prime Day. This year, Amazon is hosting the annual sale earlier than ever with dates set for June 23 to 26. But if you know Amazon, you know you don't necessarily need to wait.

We already have excellent deals happening on portable power stations: from a tiny model that'll keep your phone charged up for a weekend off-grid to major power that can keep your refrigerator cooling for days. Having reviewed dozens of power stations, these are the models I would consider buying before the chaos of Prime Day begins.

Best overall deal

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Credit: Anker Solix

Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2

$449.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $349.01

 

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Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2.

If you're looking to buy your first portable power station, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is an excellent all-around model. It offers a respectable 1,024Wh capacity, which is a bit like a Goldilocks amount. That's a good amount of power for a weekend away, but it doesn't go overboard. It's also easy to transport, coming in at under 25 pounds. It has excellent recharging ability, going from dead to 100% power in under 50 minutes. It's a summer essential for me, and it's also excellent during a power outage.

Best deal on a small model

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Credit: Bluetti

Bluetti Elite 10

$119 at Amazon
$169 Save $50

 

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Why we like it

If you don't need heaps of power, consider the Bluetti Elite 10, one of my favorite small portable power stations. It comes with 128Wh of power, which is enough to keep your phone, earbuds, or Kindle charged up during a camping trip or when the power goes out. Plus, the green colorway option is undeniably special.

In addition to its small size, the Bluetti Elite 10 is lightweight and great for people to carry from room to room during a power outage. Before Prime Day, it's on sale at Amazon for $119.

Best durable model deal

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Credit: Jackery

Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra

$999 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $300

 

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Why we like it

The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra has a unique feature when it comes to portable power stations — it's resistant to water and dust. As you can image, it's not wise to add water into the mix with most portable power stations, but the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra has an IP 65 rating and a level nine seismic shockproofing. All of that means this model is ideal if you'll be in harsh conditions. Bring this model camping in the rain or take it to the job site. It's also ideal if you'll be working in a shed with wood shavings.

Before Prime Day, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is on sale at Amazon for $999, which is a savings od $300 compared to the list price of $1,200 at Jackery.

Best bundle deal with a solar panel

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Credit: EcoFlow

EcoFlow Delta 3 + 220W solar panel

$669 at Amazon
$999 Save $330

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

A huge benefit to choosing a portable power station is its ability to recharge via sunlight. Of course, in order to do that, you'll need a solar panel. The EcoFlow Delta 3 with a 220W solar panel is a great deal to hop on. For $669, down from the normal price of $999, you get the EcoFlow Delta 3 and a 220W solar panel for recharging.

The EcoFlow Delta 3 itself comes with 1,024Wh with an impressive 3,600W surge. EcoFlow states the 220W solar panel can recharge the Delta 3 back to 100% in about six hours. Take the power station and solar panel camping this summer and you might be in for unlimited power.

If you're heading to VidCon this year, prepare to hear certain words repeated over and over again.

Some of them will come from creators. Others will come from executives, talent managers, startup founders, and brand marketers. Together, they offer a surprisingly useful snapshot of where the creator economy stands in 2026.

A decade ago, the dominant vocabulary of creator culture revolved around virality. Conversations centered on views and subscribers, maybe the occasional algorithm hack. Success was often measured in audience size alone.

This year's buzzwords tell a different story. The creator economy has grown up, and so has the language surrounding it. Increasingly, the industry's biggest conversations aren't about getting attention. They're about keeping it, monetizing it, and building sustainable businesses around it.

Here are the creator buzzwords you're guaranteed to hear at VidCon 2026, which kicks off June 25 in Anaheim, California.

Community

If there's one word likely to dominate VidCon this year, it's community. For years, creators were encouraged to focus on growth above all else. Now the emphasis has shifted toward cultivating audiences that feel invested, connected, and engaged — aka building a fandom.

Whether that means Discord servers, livestream chats, membership programs, or in-person events, creators increasingly want audiences that participate rather than simply watch.

Translation: Followers are nice. Communities are valuable.

Superfans

Closely tied to community is the rise of the "superfan."

These are the people who buy merch, subscribe to memberships, attend live events (like VidCon), and show up every time a creator posts. As platforms become less predictable and ad revenue fluctuates, many creators are discovering that a smaller, highly engaged group of fans can be more valuable than a much larger, passive audience.

Translation: A thousand devoted fans can sometimes matter more than a million casual viewers.

Audience Ownership

Ask enough creators what keeps them awake at night, and eventually someone will mention platform dependency.

Audience ownership refers to building direct relationships with fans through newsletters, text lists, memberships, Discord communities, and other channels that creators control. The goal is to reduce reliance on algorithms and platform decisions.

Translation: Don't build your entire business on rented land.

Creator Infrastructure

One of the fastest-growing conversations in the creator economy isn't about content at all. It's about everything happening behind the scenes.

Creator infrastructure refers to the tools and services that help creators run their businesses, including storefronts, payment systems, analytics platforms, community management tools, and monetization software. If the first decade of the creator economy was about building audiences, this phase is increasingly about building the systems that support them.

Translation: Creators aren't just influencers anymore. They're small businesses.

Creator CEO

Many creators now employ editors, producers, managers, marketers, and operations staff. The most successful creators increasingly resemble startup founders more than traditional influencers.

As creators expand into merchandise, media companies, product lines, and subscription businesses, discussions about leadership, hiring, and operations have become just as important as discussions about content.

Translation: Being a creator increasingly means running a company.

Creator-Led Brands

The creators of yesteryear simply endorsed products. Now, creators are launching them.

From beverages and beauty brands to clothing lines and consumer products, many creators now view content as the top of a much larger business funnel. The goal is no longer simply monetizing attention through sponsorships, but building businesses that audiences actively buy into.

Translation: The endgame isn't always a brand deal.

Multi-Platform Strategy

The era of being "just a YouTuber" or "just a TikToker" is largely over.

Today's creators often publish across multiple platforms simultaneously, combining short-form video, long-form content, podcasts, newsletters, livestreams, and social media. Diversification has become both a growth strategy and a survival strategy.

Translation: No creator wants all of their eggs in one algorithm.

AI Tools

No VidCon buzzword list would be complete without AI.

From video editing and caption generation to thumbnail design, research, translation, and content ideation, creators are experimenting with AI across nearly every part of the production process. At the same time, creators are grappling with a growing list of questions: When should AI use be disclosed? How much automation is too much? And if audiences can no longer tell what's human-made, what happens to trust?

Whether creators embrace it enthusiastically or approach it cautiously, expect AI to be part of nearly every major conversation at VidCon this year.

Translation: Everyone is trying to figure out where AI fits into the creative process.

Sustainable Creation

After years of burnout discussions, creators are becoming more vocal about longevity.

Rather than chasing growth at all costs, many are focusing on healthier publishing schedules, diversified revenue streams, and businesses that don't depend on posting constantly. Sustainability has become one of the defining conversations of Creator Economy 2.0.

Translation: Hustle culture isn't quite as fashionable as it used to be.

Niche Communities

The internet keeps getting bigger, but creator success often looks smaller.

Many of today's fastest-growing creators aren't trying to appeal to everyone. Instead, they're building loyal audiences around highly specific interests, hobbies, fandoms, and expertise.

Translation: Being deeply relevant matters more than being broadly famous.

Authenticity

Perhaps the most enduring creator-economy buzzword of all.

Everyone talks about authenticity. Few people define it the same way. Yet despite years of debate, authenticity remains one of the industry's favorite explanations for audience trust and loyalty. Whether it's genuine transparency or simply the appearance of it, expect to hear the word repeatedly throughout VidCon.

Translation: Everyone uses it. Nobody fully agrees on what it means.

If there's a theme connecting all of these buzzwords, it's that creator culture is becoming less obsessed with scale and more focused on sustainability. The language of the industry has shifted from virality to ownership, from audience growth to community building, and from internet fame to long-term businesses.

In other words, the biggest buzzwords at VidCon 2026 aren't actually about content creation at all. They're about business.

Mashable will be on the ground at VidCon 2026, covering the creators, trends, and conversations driving internet culture, from breaking news and creator interviews to industry insights and live updates.

TL;DR: Handle PDFs like a professional with some help from this lifetime subscription to PDNob Pro PDF Editor for just $49.99 (reg. $349.95)

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Credit: PDNob

PDNob Pro PDF Editor: Lifetime Subscription

$49.99
$349.95 Save $299.96

 

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Whether you work with PDFs daily or try to avoid them at all costs, PDNob Pro PDF Editor simplifies the process. This AI-powered editor works with even the busiest modern workflows on both Windows and Mac, so you can use it across all your devices.

Right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to PDNob Pro PDF Editor for only $49.99 (reg. $349.95).

Stop groaning every time a PDF comes across your desk, thanks to the power of PDNob. This speedy editor uses AI to simplify the PDF process, helping you with quick or advanced edits, OCR, conversion, annotation, and batch processing all in one workspace.

Edit PDFs as easily as you work with Word documents. From changing the text, fonts, and colors to tweaking the layouts and hyperlinks, it’s all just a few clicks away with PDNob. You can also add, crop, rotate, replace, or delete images in documents, and insert headers, footers, watermarks, page numbers, and more.

PDNob helps preserve your document’s formatting during conversion. The conversion process doesn’t sacrifice your document’s formatting with PDNob. You can convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TXT, BMP, TIFF, and image formats, or create PDFs from Office files, images, screenshots, TXT, or scans. It’s also a breeze to annotate PDFs, organize PDF pages, and compress them.

PDNob includes AI-powered tools that help streamline your workflow — like a chat with PDFs to summarize long documents and speedy translation and rewriting. You can also just have the key points extracted without reading every page, and you can ask questions about reports, manuals, research papers, or contracts easily.

This lifetime subscription gives you permanent access to all the features, with free updates included. You’ll also get 20GB of secure cloud storage and free tech support when needed.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to PDNob Pro PDF Editor for just $49.99 (reg. $349.95)

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Pro 2019 + Windows 11 Pro for a one-time $25.99 and refresh both your productivity setup and your operating system in one purchase.

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Credit: Microsoft

The All-in-One Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle

$25.99
$428 Save $402.01

 

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Software upgrades usually happen in one of two ways: intentionally, or after your computer starts politely suggesting it every day.

No matter why you decide to upgrade, you can get Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 and Windows 11 Pro together for just $25.99 (reg. $428), which makes this feel less like buying software and more like checking two tasks off your list at once.

This version of Office still covers the things people actually use every day: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. Office 2019 also adds useful improvements like stronger Excel analysis tools, better PowerPoint presentation features, improved Outlook organization, and updated inking across apps.

Then Windows 11 Pro takes over.

You get a cleaner interface, stronger security features like TPM 2.0 and Smart App Control, productivity upgrades like Snap Layouts and improved search, plus pro tools including BitLocker, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and Azure AD support.

There’s also built-in Copilot access for quick answers, writing help, summaries, and AI assistance directly inside Windows.

This Microsoft bundle is ideal for students, professionals, home offices, and anyone who prefers one-time decisions over recurring subscriptions.

Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 + Windows 11 Pro for a one-time $25.99 (reg. $428).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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 Tuesday, June 9, 2026:

Across

Where bats hang

• The answer is ave.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Rickman who played Snape

• The answer is Alan.

Is totally awesome

• The answer is Rules.

Image that might accompany the words "That feeling when ..."

• The answer is Meme.

River of the Greek underworld

• The answer is Styx.

Down

Jaguar or Mustang

• The answer is Car.

College reunion attendees

• The answer is Alums.

Parker at a ritzy hotel

• The answer is Valnet.

Adversary

• The answer is Enemy.

Awkward topic of discussion with a teenager

• The answer is Sex.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require southern football knowledge.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

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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: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: NFC

• Green: Bayou sports

• Blue: Trojan receivers

• Purple: Golf courses

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: NFC South Teams

• Green: Louisiana Schools

• Blue: USC WRs in NFL

• Purple: Locations of this Year's Men's Golf Majors

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 today's Connections: Sports Edition #624 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• NFC South Teams: BUCCANEERS, FALCONS, PANTHERS, SAINTS

• Louisiana Schools: LOUISIANA SCHOOLS

• USC WRs in NFL: LONDON, PITTMAN, SMITH-SCHUSTER, ST. BROWN

• Locations of this Year's Men's Golf Majors: AUGUSTA, NEWTOWN SQUARE, SOUTHAMPTON, SOUTHPORT

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 9 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 9 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 9 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A forest.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

GROVE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Frequently.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

OFTEN

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Tells time.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

CLOCK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Sarcastically.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

DRYLY

Final Hurdle hint

Orangey-yellow.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

AMBER

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

To understand how Tim Cook has transformed Apple — and why the launch of Siri AI was designed to entice Main Street more than Wall Street (or techies, for that matter) — compare Monday's WWDC 2026 keynote, Cook's last, to his very first.

Cook delivered his first keynote Oct. 4, 2011, weeks after he became CEO and one day before Steve Jobs died. Cook, at this point, dressed like Jobs (black shirt replacing black turtleneck), tried to talk in the same authoritative, conversational way as Jobs, and delivered a very Jobsian message of Apple Stores and Apple products (iPod included; Cook and the audience were squeezed into the intimate Infinite Loop campus theater where Jobs unveiled his hit MP3 player 10 years earlier).

By June 8, 2026, everything has changed. For one thing, the keynote was outdoors, in the Spaceship campus that Jobs fought to break ground on in his last year of life. For another, it was pre-recorded instead of live. Cook made Apple keynotes virtual during the pandemic, and even when audiences came back to Apple's campus, he only appeared before those audiences once (for the original launch of Apple Intelligence).

Clearly never comfortable on stage or in the spotlight, Cook had ceded the majority of his keynote to other executive presenters even before the pandemic. A smart move in more ways than one — not only did Cook quit the hopeless task of sounding conversational (he could just about muster authoritative), this can also be seen in retrospect as a 15-year audition for a CEO with good (but not too outlandish) keynote charisma.

John Ternus, the winner of that contest, didn't even appear during Cook's keynote. Weirdly, Apple employees (or were they extras?) populated the background of every scene for the first time in a keynote — particularly distracting when they sat still as automatons during scenes at Apple's real-life coffee bar. You'd be forgiven for thinking everyone on campus except Ternus was on screen.

Ultimately, this too seems a sensible move from Cook — let the new guy keep his powder dry, and don't implicate him in what may count as Cook's riskiest keynote maneuver since he took the stage in 2011.

The Tim Cook school of Apple Intelligence

It's no secret that Cook is Silicon Valley's biggest skeptic when it comes to AI hype.

It's not just that Apple has (mercifully) never approached the kind of technobabble or dubious AGI predictions on display at Google I/O or Microsoft Build. You could make a drinking game out of an Apple keynote, but it might involve taking a shot for every Craig Federighi joke rather than every mention of "tokens" or "superintelligence."

Notably, Cook tapped Federighi, veteran Apple daddy and the joker in the executive announcement pack, to officially unveil the highly anticipated Siri AI. Federighi did this right after unveiling the new MacOS name, Golden Gate, via an incense-filled VW bus that featured his bobblehead on the dash.

In case that order of business didn't make it clear, Federighi delivered Apple's clearest take on AI yet: "Some appear to be racing forward, seemingly pursuing AI for the sake of AI, without clear regard for the people — all of us — that it’s ultimately meant to serve."

This was not a line designed to appease consensus investors on Wall Street, for whom no level of AI technobabble is too much. But Cook's company is a $4 trillion behemoth now, 16 times the size it was in 2011, so Wall Street can go whistle. Apple made its trillions pleasing customers as many times as possible, not bilking investors for a short-term stock bump.

And in case you're inside the AI bubble and haven't gotten the memo, the backlash out there in America — against AI in everything, as well as against data centers — is getting intense. Cracks are starting to show even within the bubble. Federighi's "AI for the sake of AI" line was almost word-for-word what an Amazon executive wrote last month in an email begging employees to stop spending so many tokens: "don't use AI just for the sake of using AI."

The Siri AI demos that followed were pretty basic as far as AI-heads are concerned. But Apple customers were repeatedly reassured about the privacy and security of Apple Intelligence (translation: the other guys make money capturing your data). They were also assured that every use case made sense. Searching for World Cup fixture details is a pain in the ass, and Siri's instantly returned lineup looked pretty appealing to this soccer fan.

Meanwhile, the Visual Intelligence feature called Spatial Reframing, which allows users to move a photo around as if it were in a 3D space, may not thrill the technically proficient, but it is exactly the sort of thing you can imagine parents or grandparents playing around with for hours.

This, in short, is your mom's AI. Apple is betting that boomers, Gen Xers, and at this stage even most 40-plus millennial iPhone customers, don't want to have to think about prompts, hallucinations, or tokens. They don't care if they're using ChatGPT or Gemini, or what the model number is. They just want to pick up the phone, press a button, ask Siri a question, and trust that they'll be pleasantly surprised by the ease of the answer.

And this is the sense in which Tim Cook has carried forward Steve Jobs' legacy from that dark day in October 2011. Apple, then and now, is at its best when it makes products that follow Jobs' mantra and just work.

This article reflects the opinion of the author.

Every year, Apple hosts the Worldwide Developers Conference to reveal the latest updates to its operating systems (and occasionally drops some hardware surprises, too). And this year, Apple had a lot to cover.

WWDC 2026 is Tim Cook's last big event as CEO, and the tech world has been waiting for a torch-passing moment to CEO-in-waiting John Ternus. We also learned all about iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, and a ton more Apple products, including the revamped AI version of Siri, during the opening keynote.

WWDC 2026 kicked off with a live "special event" at Apple Park at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, June 8. That keynote has now ended, but you can still watch the livestream and catch up on all the biggest announcements.

Keep checking back, as we'll be updating this page repeatedly throughout WWDC 2026, which officially runs through Friday, June 12.

visionOS wasn't the least-mentioned of Apple's operating systems at WWDC — that would be tvOS — but it was hardly a headliner.

Usually, the WWDC keynote includes a dedicated segment for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. But this year, Apple focused on upgrades to the new Siri AI experience, Apple Intelligence, and cross-device functionality.

However, we did learn some new details about visionOS 27. Reading between the lines, I think we also learned why the Vision Pro has value for Apple, even if few people are actually using the $3,499 headset. The Vision Pro has famously struggled to find a user base.

As Mashable's tech editor, I am one of the few people still using this head-worn computer. Apple sent me the headset for testing, and I'll have a full review coming soon. So, as a Vision Pro user, here's everything I gleaned from WWDC about visionOS 27 and the future of the Apple Vision Pro.

Siri AI is coming to visionOS 27

Credit: Apple

The Vision Pro got the most attention during the beginning of a segment on Siri AI, the new Gemini-powered version of Siri coming to Apple devices this fall. To show off Siri AI's visual intelligence, Apple showed a video of the visionOS 27 experience.

Vision Pro users will have a 3D visualization of Siri that will live in their virtual space as a floating, glowing bubble. Users can start talking to Siri at any time. In the example, the floating Siri AI could answer questions about a Safari page on the screen as well as objects in the user's view.

Credit: Apple

In addition to Siri AI, a new suite of Apple Intelligence tools will also be available to Vision Pro users. Now that it's powered by Gemini, Apple users will be able to talk to Siri and quickly generate text, images, and transcripts. Users will also benefit from contextual awareness. So, if you're reading a message about an upcoming flight, Apple Intelligence will automatically pull up your flight details.

Custom Environments

Credit: Apple

Environments are one of the coolest Vision Pro features. These 360-degree spatial computing environments make it seem like you're on the surface of the moon or a cliff in Hawaii. Browsing the internet can be fun, but have you ever browsed the internet from one of Jupiter's moons?

With visionOS 27, users will be able to turn their own panorama photos into custom environments. This is a feature I'm definitely excited to test out for myself.

Environments are a 360-degree spatial computing experience. Credit: Apple

Developer environments

In addition to turning your own photos into custom Environments, third-party developers will also have this ability. The Apple website states, "Developers can render 360-degree backgrounds that completely surround your physical space and make browsing more immersive."

How visionOS benefits other Apple products

Credit: Apple

Almost all of the AI features Apple talked about at WWDC are already widely available on Android devices or via AI chatbots like Gemini, with one notable exception.

When discussing updates to the Camera app, Apple also introduced "Spatial Reframing." This tool is unique to Apple devices, and it lets users adjust the angle, perspective, or zoom of photos using on-device spatial models. Apple specifically credited the spatial and visual intelligence technology that powers visionOS as the genesis of Spatial Reframing.

So, while this AI editing tool isn't specific to Vision Pro headsets, it shows how visionOS technology may still be useful to Apple, even if the product lacks widespread adoption.

As a related note, Mike Rockwell, the former head of Vision Pro at Apple, has since been tapped to lead the Siri AI and Apple Intelligence efforts, which can't be a coincidence. With Apple smart glasses rumored for 2027, the new visual intelligence features emphasized at WWDC 2026 could be setting up Apple's next big device launch.

General improvements

The new Siri AI tool will appear as a floating AI widget. You can start talking to it at any time. Credit: Apple

During the keynote, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, said that general improvements were a major focus of the new generation of operating systems. And on its website, Apple says that visionOS 27 includes "tons of refinements that make your Apple Vision Pro even more responsive, reliable, and delightful to use."

This will include the ability to expand notifications with your eyes and a new look for the control center.

In a press release, Apple said that "connecting to Wi-Fi is up to 3x faster" in visionOS 27. There's not much else to say about that.

Is there a future for Apple Vision Pro?

The new Siri AI interface in Apple Vision Pro headsets. Credit: Apple

I hope so! I've loved testing the Vision Pro headset, even if I can't quite give it a full recommendation thanks to its $3,500 price tag. However, it still has a small base of dedicated users, and Apple has introduced some really cool immersive sports experiences over the past few months.

A potential follow-up, the Vision Pro 2, may arrive in 2027 or 2028, but the lack of sales may ultimately lead Apple to give the product the axe.

However, WWDC showed that even if Vision Pro doesn't generate a ton of sales, the underlying technology could have downstream benefits for a host of current and future Apple devices.

visionOS 27 is available as a developer's beta now, and it will be available for all Vision Pro headsets in the fall.

Tim Cook is still Apple's CEO for the time being — and WWDC 2026 failed to give us our first glimpse of the post-Cook future.

CEO-in-waiting John Ternus did not take the stage during the annual Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on Monday, meaning the new era of Apple leadership will have to wait.

Cook is still CEO until Sept. 1; still, Apple watchers were expecting a "passing of the torch" moment for the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.

"It's been the honor of a lifetime," Cook said as he wrapped up the event without mention of Ternus.

Ternus was at the event venue in Cupertino, hobnobbing and taking selfies with content creators and student developers.

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Ternus, 50, has been at Apple for 25 years, gradually working his way up the ladder until becoming a top hardware executive in 2021. He's perhaps best known for shepherding Apple's transition to its in-house silicon, among other achievements.

Since WWDC is a software-focused show, Ternus usually isn't a major presence.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

TL;DR: Work on self-growth with this five-year subscription to Nibble All-Around Knowledge App, on sale now for just $39.97 (reg. $449.95) through June 14.

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Credit: Nibble

Nibble All-Around Knowledge App (5-Yr Subscription)

$39.97
$449.95 Save $409.98

 

Get Deal

Want to turn your mindless scrolling into something productive? Nibble All-Around Knowledge App makes it possible, serving up bite-sized lessons designed to teach you something new in just 10 minutes.

Right now, you can lock in a five-year subscription to Nibble for just $39.97 (reg. $449.95) until June 14.

Building a new learning habit doesn’t have to take much time. With Nibble, you just need a few minutes to start working towards self-improvement, thanks to their 10-minute learning bites.

Learn about everything from art and AI to history and personal finance with Nibble. There are over 20 topics to choose from, with audio episodes that let you learn on the go.

Nibble offers flexible learning paths — you can choose a guided learning journey or jump around as your interests change. Once you listen to the bite-sized lessons, you can dive in deeper with an interactive AI experience, like chatting with historical figures. You can also check how much you’ve retained with learning games.

Learn at your own pace with Nibble, hopping in and out with no prior knowledge required in any topic. You’ll also be able to enjoy content tailored to your interests and pace.

Choose between the app and web access to Nibble. Your account keeps track of your progress as you go. Your five-year subscription provides unlimited library access, with new content added every month so you’ll never run out of lessons to explore.

Lock in a five-year subscription to Nibble All-Around Knowledge App for only $39.97 (reg. $449.95) now through June 14.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Shortly after the big WWDC keynote wrapped, Apple rolled out the first betas for its latest generation of operating systems.

If you want to try the new Siri AI, Spatial Reframing, or any of the other new features announced at WWDC 2026, then you'll need to download the developer beta versions of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and tvOS 27, available now.

Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Sign up for the Apple Developer Program

First, you'll need to be enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. If you're not already in it, don't worry. You can sign up right now.

Just go to the Apple Developer Program enrollment page or the Apple Developer app and sign in with your Apple ID. From there, you'll need to fill out some basic information, such as your name and contact info, and then accept the program agreement. Apple may direct you to a payment page, as this is the same process required for developers looking to sell apps in the App Store. However, if you're just looking to download the betas, no payment is required.

Now, you're ready to download the betas.

Step 2: Back up your device

Before doing that, though, make sure you back up your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. By definition, beta versions can have bugs and other issues that may require you to restore your device's backup

Step 3: Download the developer beta

To do this, simply go to the Settings app, followed by the General option, and then tap on Software Update.

Next, select the Beta Updates option on that screen, followed by "iOS 27 Developer Beta." Finally, you should see the latest developer beta version available to download. Tap on that and follow the prompts to download the beta. Once downloaded, the beta will install. This could take awhile, so be patient, and your device will reboot when it's finished.

Downloading the macOS 27 Golden Gate beta follows a similar process.

After backing up your Mac, head to System Settings. Then go to General, followed by Software Update. Next to the Beta Updates option, there's a small "i" icon. Click that, and a dropdown menu will appear. Select the "macOS Developer Golden Gate Beta" option and then "Done."

The macOS 27 Golden Gate beta will download and install.

The instructions are similar for the other operating systems, so go to the software update section of the Settings app to get started.

What if you don't want a developer account?

As of June 8, this is the only way to access the first iOS 27 beta, and the same goes for the rest of Apple's new OS-es. However, Apple will likely make a public beta available in late July ahead of a public release in the fall.

The best early Prime Day speaker deals at a glance:

---

Best budget pick

Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go

$23.99 (save $11)

Get Deal

---

Best splurge

Sonos Move 2

$399 (save $100)

Get Deal

---

Best overall

Sonos Roam 2

$134 (save $45)

Get Deal

If you plan on hitting the beach, hosting friends, or heading out on a camping trip this summer, having a quality speaker in tow is a good idea. And lucky for you, plenty of fantastic options are on sale to kick off the season, thanks to Amazon Prime Day.

Prime Day formally falls on June 23 through 26 this year, but as per usual, Amazon started dropping deals on speakers weeks ahead of time. Top brands like Sony, Sonos, and JBL are already seeing steep discounts, but we expect the list to grow as we inch closer to the big day(s).

We'll be tracking the best Bluetooth speaker deals throughout Prime Day and updating this page with the absolute best pricing. If nothing catches your eye quite yet, check back as the official sale nears.

Best early Prime Day speaker deal

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Credit: Sonos

Sonos Roam 2

$134 at Amazon
$179 Save $45

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

The Roam 2 packs Sonos' epic sound, but in a package small enough to actually carry with you. While the Bluetooth speaker market is a crowded place, we love the Sonos Roam 2 for its impressive audio performance, dependable voice assistance, and waterproof body. "The market for waterproof speakers with voice activation is incredibly small," writes Mashable's reviewer. "If you’re looking for one, the Roam 2 answers the call with striking sound and unique features that appeal to Sonos users." It's down to just $134 from $179 ahead of Prime Day, which is its best price ever. While there's a chance it could get even cheaper on Prime day proper, you'll still be getting a great deal if you shop early.

More early Prime Day speaker deals

• Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go — $23.99 $34.99 (save $11)

• JBL Go 3 — $29.95 $39.95 (save $10)

• Anker Soundcore 2 — $29.99 $44.99 (save $15)

• JBL Go 4 — $39.95 $49.95 (save $10)

• Sony SRS-XB100 — $43 $64.99 (save $21.99)

• Ultimate Ears Miniroll — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)

• JBL Grip — $69.95 $99.95 (save $30)

• Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• JBL Flip 7 — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)

• Beats Pill — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)

• Ultimate Ears Boom 4 — $114.99 $149.99 (save $35)

• JBL Charge 6 — $159.95 $199.95 (save $40)

• Sonos Era 100 SL — $169 $189 (save $20)

• Sonos Era 100 — $189 $219 (save $30)

• Sony ULT Field 5 — $198 $349.99 (save $151.99)

• Sonos Move 2 — $399 $499 (save $100)

From the smart new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence upgrades to the fresh Liquid Glass interface redesign, here are the top highlights you need to see.

Computex 2026 was loaded with new laptops, from gaming beasts to slick ultraportables and flexible two-in-ones, alongside the momentous launch of Nvidia's RTX Spark. Check out our 10 fast favorites we met in Taipei.

If you're still rocking an Intel-powered MacBook, it's officially time to upgrade to an M-series model.

Apple announced the latest version of its operating system for Mac laptops and desktops on the first day of its WWDC conference on Monday. macOS 27, aka macOS "Golden Gate," will add support for the next-generation Siri AI assistant, updated Apple Intelligence features, and new child safety tools. Additionally, its Liquid Glass design is getting more polished and more customizable.

A new macOS update always means that a batch of older Macs, iMacs, and MacBooks will lose support for the latest features. Last year at WWDC, Apple said that macOS 26 would be its final software release for Intel-based Macs, and it stayed true to its word. macOS 27 will only be compatible with the newer M-series models, according to the company's website.

Every Mac that supports macOS 27

Liquid Glass will look nicer on M-series MacBooks in the near future. Credit: Apple

The list of Macs that work with macOS 27 includes any model with the M1 chip or later:

• MacBook Neo, 2026

• MacBook Air with Apple silicon, 2020 and later (M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 models)

• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon, 2020 and later (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max, M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max, M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max models)

• iMac with Apple silicon, 2021 and later (M1, M3, and M4 models)

• mac Mini with Apple silicon, 2020 and later (M1, M2, M2 Pro, M4, and M4 Pro models)

• Mac Studio with Apple silicon, 2022 and later (M1 Max, M1 Ultra, M2 Max, M2 Ultra, M3 Ultra, and M4 Max models)

• Mac Pro with Apple silicon, 2023 (M2 Ultra model)

In addition, Siri AI and Apple Intelligence will also be available for any Mac device with M1 or newer silicon.

There are a couple of Intel Macs that can currently run macOS 26 but won't work with macOS 27. If you have one of these machines, you should get about two more years of security updates, but you won't be able to use any of the new software features.

• 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2019

• 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, 2020

• 27-inch iMac, 2020

• Mac Pro, 2019

Members of the Apple Developer Program can try macOS 27 starting today, and a public beta will follow next month. Its official launch will happen sometime later this fall.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Apple used its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday to unveil a sweeping set of AI-powered updates to its software platforms, headlined by a ground-up rebuild of Siri. The new assistant, branded Siri AI, is the centerpiece of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27 — and represents Apple's most ambitious push yet to make artificial intelligence central to how people use its devices every day.

But the announcement came with a significant caveat: Users in the European Union won't get the full experience on iPhone or iPad, at least not yet (or ever), thanks to an ongoing standoff with European Union regulators over the Digital Markets Act.

You'll have to wait until the fall for Siri AI, iOS 27, and new Apple Intelligence features to make their public debut, but here's everything we learned at WWDC 2026.

Siri's AI rebuild is finally here

Credit: Apple

Apple has completely reimagined Siri from the ground up. Now called Siri AI and powered by Apple Intelligence, the assistant is designed to be more conversational, more context-aware, and far more capable than its predecessor. According to Apple, it can draw on a user's personal messages, emails, and photos to surface relevant information — finding a restaurant a friend mentioned in a text, for instance, or pulling a hotel confirmation number out of an old email.

The rebuilt assistant also taps into broad web knowledge to answer questions on virtually any topic, and users can extend any response into a back-and-forth conversation with follow-up questions.

Siri AI gets a dedicated app for the first time, which syncs conversation history across devices via iCloud — so a conversation started on a Mac can be picked up on iPhone or Apple Watch. It also gains deeper Visual Intelligence capabilities, with the feature expanding beyond iPhone to iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. On iPhone, a new Siri mode built directly into the Camera app lets users point their phone at something and get information or take action on it — including splitting a bill via Apple Cash or getting nutritional info about food. On Mac, a keyboard shortcut lets users select anything on screen and query Siri about it directly.

You can change the expressiveness and pace of Siri AI. Credit: Apple

Voice customization gets an upgrade, too, with new pace and expressivity sliders that let users tune how Siri sounds. The assistant is also expanding to CarPlay and AirPods, and Apple Watch users can initiate conversations from their wrist.

Siri AI will enter developer beta today and roll out to users later this year, initially in English, on devices running Apple's latest software across iPhone 16 and later, iPhone 15 Pro, M1-and-later iPads and Macs, and Apple Vision Pro.

New parental controls and child safety tools

Credit: Apple

Apple also used the keynote to preview a significant expansion of its parental control features, framing the updates as tools to help families build healthier digital habits rather than simply restrict access.

At the center of the update is a revamped child account setup experience. According to Apple's press release, parents can now choose exactly which apps a child can access from the start, beginning with just a few essentials and expanding over time. A new Ask to Browse feature extends the existing Ask to Buy system into Safari, requiring kids to get parental approval before visiting any new website across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Communication controls are getting an upgrade, too. Parents can now require approval before their child connects with any new contact over Messages, FaceTime, or Phone. The existing Communication Safety feature, which detects and blurs nudity in messages, will now also flag and block gore or violent content in shared images and videos.

Screen Time has been redesigned with a cleaner dashboard, giving parents an at-a-glance view of their child's device usage and most-used apps, with the ability to make adjustments on the fly — extending time in an app, or locking things down during dinner. New Time Allowances let parents set category-level limits, with age-based guidance informed by expert research built in as a starting point.

Apple also launched a dedicated child safety website at apple.com/child-safety to help parents navigate the tools.

The announcements come as the broader debate over how to protect minors online continues to intensify across the industry. Age verification laws are proliferating at the state level, and a broader fight is playing out in Washington over who should bear responsibility for keeping kids safe — app stores (Apple and Google), developers (Meta, Spotify, X, etc.), or both. Apple's move to deepen its own parental infrastructure adds another layer to that conversation, even as the legal and regulatory landscape remains unsettled.

A design refresh and under-the-hood speed bumps

Credit: Apple

Apple also spent time on the fit-and-finish improvements coming to its software platforms this fall.

Liquid Glass, the translucent design language Apple introduced last year, is getting a readability-focused tune-up. The material now diffuses light more effectively, and a new slider in Settings lets users dial the effect anywhere from fully clear to ultra-tinted. Toolbars have been unified across apps, sidebars now stretch edge-to-edge on Mac, and icons have been sharpened with a new refracted look throughout the system.

On the performance side, Apple says the numbers are significant. According to the company's press release, apps on iPhone and iPad launch up to 30 percent faster, photos load up to 70 percent faster after being taken, and AirDrop transfers are up to 80 percent quicker. Browsing and transferring files between external drives and iPad is now up to five times faster — on par with Finder on Mac. Search in Spotlight, Photos, and Mail has also been rebuilt for better stability and more relevant results, with Mail getting a new ranking system to surface better Top Hits.

Apple Intelligence spreads across core apps

Apple Intelligence is no longer a standalone feature set — it's woven into nearly every major app in the iOS 27 ecosystem. From browsing to messaging to home security, the throughline is the same: describe what you want, and the system figures out the rest.

Safari

Safari is getting new AI tools. Credit: Apple

Safari gets some of the most practical upgrades in the bunch. The browser can now automatically group open tabs by topic — if you've been researching a weekend trip, for instance, it'll pull those tabs together without being asked.

A new Notify Me feature lets users set Safari to monitor a specific webpage for changes, such as a product restock or price drop, and send a notification when something shifts. The Passwords app gains a related capability — it can now automatically navigate to websites and update compromised or weak passwords on a user's behalf. And with Describe an Extension, users can generate a custom Safari extension just by explaining what they want it to do.

Messages, Mail, and Phone

Contextual suggestions are getting smarter across Apple's communication apps. Messages can now surface one-tap actions based on conversation context — if someone mentions needing photos, it can help find the right ones from your library. Mail's suggestions can now trigger actions in third-party apps, and Smart Reply in both apps can now match a user's personal writing style. A new Phone app feature called Call Context automatically surfaces relevant information — like a confirmation number from an old email — when you call a business, and does so entirely on-device.

Calendar and Shortcuts

Calendar can now create and modify events through natural language input, automatically identifying contacts, locations, and generating a title as you type. Shortcuts gets a similar treatment with Describe a Shortcut — users can explain what they want to automate in plain language, and the app assembles the required steps on their behalf.

Home

The Home app gets a pair of meaningful AI upgrades for HomeKit Secure Video users. Related notifications from cameras are now batched into a single updating alert rather than a flood of individual pings. The app can also generate text descriptions of video sequences and let users search through camera footage by describing what they're looking for.

Photos gets a powerful editing overhaul

Apple Intelligence is also making significant inroads in the Photos app, with a new suite of editing tools that Apple says are designed to enhance images while preserving the integrity of the original moment. Photos edited with AI will automatically carry a hidden SynthID watermark identifying them as altered.

Credit: Apple

The most technically ambitious of the new tools is Spatial Reframing, which lets users recompose a photo after the fact by dragging to shift perspective — as if they had moved the camera before taking the shot. Apple says the feature draws on spatial modeling work developed through Apple Vision Pro, and it will only generate new content in areas where the perspective has actually changed.

The Extend tool lets users expand the borders of an image to add breathing room around a subject, fix a crooked horizon, or adjust aspect ratio — with Apple Intelligence filling in whatever's missing at the edges. The existing Clean Up tool, which removes unwanted objects from photos, gets a significant quality upgrade with more realistic results even in complex scenes.

Image Playground, Apple's AI image generation tool, is adding photorealistic output for the first time, powered by a new generative model running on Private Cloud Compute. The app also gains more flexible editing — users can describe changes or use touch to select and modify objects directly. Generated images now include a hidden SynthID watermark, and the tool has expanded beyond Messages to support Lock Screen wallpapers and Contact Posters.

When can you try the new tools?

The developer beta of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 are available now to users with an Apple Developer account, to be followed by a public beta in July. You can look for the public launch of the new generation of operating systems in the fall, following the annual iPhone launch event in September.

Keep in mind that not all iPhones and MacBooks will support iOS 27, macOS 27, and the new Siri AI.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Apple is building a better shopping experience in the Safari browser with its new Notify Me feature.

Announced during the fruit company's WWDC keynote, a slew of new features bring Apple Intelligence to the Safari web browser. New features include an intelligent tool to upgrade compromised passwords, Describe an Extension, and Notify Me. The latter was on display during the pre-recorded keynote. Notify Me sets up alerts on selected web pages for any changes. In the demonstration, Apple displayed Notify Me in action, setting a reminder for when camp registration goes live. But an even better use is for online shopping.

When an update is found, Safari will send a push alert so you can take action. Credit: Apple

In a press release, the company says, "With Notify Me, users can ask Safari to monitor a web page for changes, like product restocks or price drops, so they can stay on top of updates they care about. Users can tell Safari what they’re looking for, and when Safari detects a change on that web page, they’ll get a notification so they can take action."

For savvy shoppers, Notify Me lets you add a notification on any page you're browsing, including retailer websites. Unlike current price tracking tools such as Camelcamelcamel, which only monitors Amazon prices, Notify Me works across any site. Notify Me is more diverse than other price tracking extensions, as it can execute and monitor a variety of actions; it's not just limited to price tracking.

But price tracking will be a popular tool, especially for smart shoppers looking to save a penny and wanting to receive push notifications when a sought-after product goes on sale. Notify Me and the other new Safari features will go live in Fall 2026, at which point we'll see just how effective Notify Me is as a price tracker.

It was a big day for Apple Intelligence, Apple's distinctly branded suite of AI tools, at the company's annual WWDC event for developers. And of all the AI tools seen at WWDC 2026, the most interesting might have been a new photography tool called Spatial Reframing.

A revamped Siri, powered by AI and now known as Siri AI, was definitely the spotlight of the show. However, most of what Apple's new AI assistant can do has been seen before on other devices. Because Apple Intelligence and Siri AI will be powered by Google Gemini, many of the new tools are already available on Android devices or in the Gemini app. To be fair, Apple has a habit of rolling out features that have already been done by competitors, even if Apple sometimes does them better.

Even so, Apple did show off a unique AI feature that has people buzzing. The real showstopper of WWDC was Spatial Reframing.

What is Spatial Reframing in Apple Intelligence?

While discussing updates to the Camera app, Apple showcased a new spatial computing experience that allows users to change the angle, perspective, or zoom on photos.

Spatial Reframing grew out of Apple's spatial computing and visual intelligence technology on visionOS, the operating system for its Apple Vision Pro headset. The reframing feature is powered by on-device spatial models and Apple's Private Cloud Compute.

With Spatial Reframing, Apple Intelligence scans a photo, and then the user can drag their finger to change the angle or perspective and pinch to zoom in and out. Spatial Reframing keeps as much of the original photo intact as possible, showing the user, via a blurring effect, exactly where it will utilize AI to fill in the gaps that will be needed for the new photo.

Apple adjusts the photo during Spatial Reframing demo at WWDC. Credit: Apple

When a user finds that perfect angle, they just need to tap on the "Reframe" button and Spatial Reframing will make the AI-powered updates to the photo.

The new photo created by Spatial Reframing during the WWDC demo. Credit: Apple

There are similar AI features out there, but Spatial Reframing is unique in how it shows the user in real-time as they're using the touchscreen how their changes affect the original photo.

In addition, Spatial Reframing can be used on any picture, not just ones taken by the iPhone camera.

Spatial Reframing is just one of the new AI photo editing tools coming to Apple's Camera and Photos apps. Users will also have new tools for editing, extending, and cleaning up photos.

New AI photo editing tools available in iOS 27. Credit: Apple

Spatial Reframing will be available in the fall when iOS 27 is released to the public.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

On Monday, Apple surprised the iPhone world during its WWDC 2026 keynote... just not in the way you might think.

In a show full of detailed demonstrations of new features coming to iOS 27, including the new AI-fueled Siri upgrade, one of the biggest surprises involved which iPhones will actually support the new OS update. Rumors ahead of the show indicated that the iPhone 11 lineup would be excluded from software updates this year, effectively forcing obsolescence on anyone who owns an iPhone from that generation.

Well, the rumor mill had this one dead wrong.

Every iPhone that will support iOS 27

Before we get to the full list, yes, your iPhone 11 model will be able to install iOS 27. Apple made it a point to emphasize this fact during the WWDC keynote. Whether those rumors were flat-out wrong or Apple managed to figure something out at the last-minute, we'll probably never know.

Anyway, here's the full list of phones that will be able to install iOS 27 when it's available this fall:

• iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone 12 Mini

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 13 Mini

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Plus

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 17e

• iPhone 17

• iPhone Air

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

However, there is one big asterisk on all of this. If you want to use the new Siri AI and the other new Apple Intelligence features being introduced in iOS 27, everything older than an iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max will be excluded. Even in the iPhone 15 family, the base and Plus models will seemingly not support Siri AI, according to Apple's press release.

What iPhones will support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence?

Credit: Apple

With the new version of iOS, Apple will have a two-tiered system where some people will have iOS 27 with AI, and others will have iOS 27 with a whole lot less AI. This is because many Apple Intelligence and Siri AI processes will happen on your device, and phones with older chips won't be able to support these features.

So, if you want to use the new Siri AI and the full suite of Apple Intelligence upgrades coming to iPhones in the fall, you'll need one of the following devices:

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 17e

• iPhone 17

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

• iPhone Air

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

At WWDC 2026, Apple announced the official name for the next macOS operating system: macOS 27 Golden Gate.

During the keynote address, Craig Federighi, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, outlined a lot of new features coming to macOS 27, including new child and teen safety tools, new Siri AI functionality, changes to Liquid Glass settings, and updates to Apple Intelligence.

The tongue-in-cheek announcement poked fun at macOS's long history of California-themed names, with trippy visuals and a Volkswagen van driveby.

Credit: Apple

Along with the official macOS name, Apple shared that its new generation of operating systems will revolve around three priorities: Platform improvements, trust and safety, and a big leap forward for Apple Intelligence.

Here's everything we learned about macOS 27 Golden Gate at WWDC 2026.

Siri AI comes to macOS

Ask Siri AI via Spotlight Credit: Apple

Apple finally announced its new assistant, Siri AI, a revamped version of the old Siri. The new Siri will have a standalone app and will be deeply integrated into the new macOS 27 UX as well.

Siri AI appears on macOS 27 as a small chatbot window on the screen. Users can start typing questions in Spotlight, and the feature will automatically realize that this is a prompt to hand off to Siri AI. Users can right-click a file or even multiple files, and the new context menu will include a prompt box to ask Siri questions based on the content of those files.

Siri AI will also be able to help users write and proofread documents across platforms in apps like Mail, Messages, and more.

That's not all when it comes to new AI features coming to macOS 27 either.

Custom Sarari extensions

Monitor changes via Safari Credit: Apple

Mac users can utilize Siri AI to create their own unique custom Safari extensions as well. Users can just describe what they want an extension to do using natural language. The same can be done with creating new Shortcuts too. These "Describe a Shortcut" and "Describe an extension" features could bring these tools to more casual users who have never used them before.

Notify Me is another new AI-related Safari feature. Users can monitor anything across the web, like keeping tabs on when websites change. They'll receive a notification on their devices when whatever they're tracking occurs.

So, for instance, users could have Apple Intelligence automatically purchase a product once it's released.

Notify Me Credit: Apple

Changes to Image Playground

Image Playground is getting an update, too, with photorealistic images and the ability to transform photos into multiple styles. The Photos app will also be able to utilize AI to clean up, extend, and reframe any photos right within the app.

The new Image Playground experience. Credit: Apple

Like many of the new features announced at WWDC, the new Image Playground won't be exclusive to macOS, but will also be availablea cross Apple's ecosystem of devices. This cross-device functionality was a big theme at WWDC 2026, with the company emphasizing how Apple Intelligence could work across devices and apps.

General improvements, new Liquid Glass settings, and more

Ask Siri AI about files from the context menu Credit: Apple

Apple also announced a slew of small, yet significant improvements to macOS. For example, the company is adding a more uniform toolbar at the top of apps on macOS 27 to answer user complaints about Liquid Glass. Users will also have a slider tool allowing them to choose between Ultra Clear on one end of the spectrum and Tinted Glass at the other.

In addition, Apple will be introducing new child and teen safety tools to all of its operating systems. (Learn more at a new dedicated safety hub at apple.com/child-safety/.)

Finally, Apple Intelligence will offer more contextual awareness on MacBooks. So, for instance, Apple Intelligence could create a calendar event based on a conversation, or set a reminder when you visit a website about an upcoming event.

Credit: Apple

This piece will be updated with more macOS 27 news as Apple announces it.

When can you try macOS 27 Golden Gate?

As per usual, the macOS 27 developer beta is available to download now if you have an Apple Developer account. This will be followed by a public beta later this summer.

Tim Cook confirmed at the end of the keynote that macOS 27 Golden Gate, along with the other new OS updates, will be available to all users in the fall.

This is a developing story...

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Hey, Apple fan! Check your wrist. That thing on it, the Apple Watch, also deserves an upgrade, and it just got it in the form of watchOS 27.

Apple barely mentioned watchOS during its WWDC 2026 keynote, though it's probably because the news just couldn't fit into the tight schedule. But the company did send a press release outlining the new features and yes, there is a healthy number of new features present on watchOS.

The most important among these is Siri AI, which will be available on the Apple Watch (unless you're in the EU); when you need answers in a slightly more lavish format, you'll be able to continue the convo on a different Apple device.

The new dynamic app grid features five apps you've recently used, with a special spot for Siri itself. Credit: Apple

Also new is the dynamic app grid which you can access buy pressing on the Digital Crown, with the spotlight being on the five Siri-suggested apps, based on your recent usage.

Other improvements include support for perimenopause and menopause in the Health app, Workout Buddy now being available in Spanish, a new Find My app which consolidates Find Devices, Find Items, and Find People (it was never quite clear to me why Devices and Items are separate), and the ability to open a new widget in the Smart Stack with a new tap gesture.

Apple's watchOS 27 is available as a developer beta now, and it will arrive to end users this fall. Look for a public watchOS 27 beta in July.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Apple finally showed us what's up with iOS 27.

At WWDC 2026, Apple officially unveiled iOS 27 after months of rumors. To no one's surprise, an AI-enhanced version of Siri (along with other Apple Intelligence bonuses) was the star of the show.

Siri AI comes to iOS 27

Make calendar reminders using AI. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

The big thing everyone anticipated going into WWDC was Apple's long-awaited Siri upgrade, dubbed Siri AI, and Apple delivered lots of news on that front. Powered by Gemini, the new version of Siri is better at natural language conversations and can be summoned by holding down the power button (like always), swiping down from Dynamic Island, or via a brand-new dedicated Siri app with a chatbot-like interface.

It can see what's on screen and use your personal context to answer queries or create reminders for the user. In general, this looks very similar to what AI assistants like Gemini can already do on competing smartphones, but we'll need to test it ourselves to see if that's really the case as soon as it's available later this year... in the United States, anyway. Siri AI's debut in the EU and China has been delayed by regulatory procedures in those two territories.

Some other AI features

Use Spatial Reframing to make images look like you wanted them to without having to take them again. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Apple Intelligence seems to permeate iOS 27, even when you're not using Siri. For example, AI will generate one-tap suggested responses in Messages, or will give you a similar ability to quickly create Notes or Reminders for yourself based on context. Image Playground has been updated with additional image-generation tools, including the ability to create photorealistic AI images. However, there will be limits to how much you can do this, depending on the iCloud storage tier you pay for.

One of the more useful-sounding AI features here is the ability to use natural language to describe and create Shortcuts for yourself. The Photos app has also gotten an update, with features including improved image cleanup so you can erase unwanted elements from photos, a new Extend feature that can create more photos around the subject using AI, or a new Spatial Reframe tool to create better framing in images without taking another photo.

Other goodies coming to iOS 27

Parental controls seemed to be a major focus at WWDC. Apple is adding enhanced tools for parents to its software suite, including more screen time controls and app permission requests. And, in what might be exciting news for some, Apple confirmed that every iPhone from the iPhone 11 onward will support iOS 27. Previous rumors indicated the iPhone 11 family would be phased out of software support this year.

Apple also showed off a new customization slider for Liquid Glass, letting users slide between Ultra Clear on one end and Tinted Glass on the other. Other nuggets included menopause and perimenopause cycle tracking in the Health app, custom equalizer controls for AirPods, and a huge visual makeover for flyover mode in Apple Maps.

Liquid Glass is here to stay, folks. Credit: Apple

Aside from Siri AI and those other AI bonuses described above, iOS 27 isn't quite as bold and striking as iOS 26 was when it introduced Liquid Glass. But maybe a year from now, we'll all be using Siri AI every day, and I'll look silly for saying that.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

At WWDC 2026 on Monday, Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior VP of Software Engineering, announced a suite of new updates to Apple Intelligence. It powers Siri AI, Apple's revamped AI assistant, which is more conversational, more expressive, and now available in its own standalone app. Apple Intelligence also adds new features to apps like Photos, Messages, and Mail, which some users can start trying today.

"Truly helpful AI must be centered on our users' needs, deeply integrated into the products they rely on every day, grounded in personal context, and built with privacy at every step," Federighi said. "That is our vision for Apple Intelligence."

During today's WWDC keynote, Federighi said that next-generation Apple Foundation Models would be at the heart of new Apple Intelligence tools. These models will run on private servers using cloud compute and will be powered by Google Gemini models.

The new models will deliver visual intelligence capabilities, improved language understanding, and enhanced transcription. In many respects, these Apple Intelligence tools bring Apple in line with its competitors, Google and Samsung, whose devices already offer similar AI tools. 

Apple Foundation Models will be powered by Google Gemini models. Credit: Apple

Federighi emphasized the importance of privacy to Apple Intelligence: "Privacy in AI is non-negotiable," he said. The new Apple Intelligence tools will use a combination of on-device processing and cloud compute, and Federighi said that users' conversations would not be used for AI training.

Siri AI will be able to access the web and draw on real-world knowledge, as well as some of the apps on a user’s phone. It will even be able to analyze the screen to understand the app a user is currently using.

Apple originally announced a Siri overhaul powered by Apple Intelligence way back in 2024, but it hasn't delivered on that promise until now.

Apple Intelligence is getting upgraded. Credit: Apple

Here's the full list of all the Apple Intelligence features coming to iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro. Members of the Apple Developer Program can test them starting today. They'll arrive in a public beta next month, before launching publicly as a free software update this fall.

Photos

Photos' new "Extend" tool can expand a picture and fill in the newly created space. Credit: Apple / Mashable composite

New AI photo editing tools are coming in iOS 27. Credit: Apple

Images edited with Apple Intelligence will have a hidden SynthID watermark. A new Spatial Reframing tool will let the user adjust a photo's composition after it's been taken. A new Extend tool will let the user expand a photo, then fill in the newly added space to match the rest of the image.

Additionally, the existing Clean Up tool is being improved.

Safari

Safari's new Describe an Extension feature can create custom extensions right in the browser's toolbar. Credit: Apple

Apple's web browser will be able to organize tabs on the same topics. A new Notify Me feature makes it capable of monitoring web pages for changes (like price drops). A new Describe an Extension tool can generate custom Safari extensions in its toolbar.

Passwords, Safari's built-in password manager, will be able to fix weak passwords with a tap.

Image Playground

AI-generated Lock Screen wallpapers and Contact Posters are coming to Image Playground. Credit: Apple

Apple's AI image generator is getting a new photorealistic style option and an aspect ratio selection option. Users will soon be able to generate Lock Screen wallpapers and Contact Posters.

Once the new Apple Intelligence update launches, any images made with Image Playground will also have a hidden SynthID watermark.

New messaging and scheduling features

Apple Intelligence's new Call Context tool puts helpful info in the Phone app when you call a business. Credit: Apple

Apple Intelligence will be able to examine the context of users' conversations in Messages, then offer one-tap suggestions based on what it sees. (If someone asks you for a photo, it can help you find the right one, Apple said.) Suggestions in Mail will work with third-party apps. Smart Reply in both Messages and Mail will be able to produce responses in the user's writing style.

A new Call Context feature will pull up relevant information right in the Phone app when the user calls a business, such as reservation numbers. This will happen on-device for privacy.

In the Calendar app, users will be able to add and edit events just by describing them to Apple Intelligence.

Shortcuts

Apple's Shortcuts app will add a new Describe a Shortcut tool that can create automated tasks using natural language.

Home

The Home app will condense multiple related notifications from HomeKit Secure Video cameras into a single alert. It will also add generated video descriptions and make camera clips searchable.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Apple's new Siri AI will, once again, be a little late, especially in some regions.

The company originally announced that a new, smarter Siri would return in 2024. It took two years for those vague promises to take the form of Siri AI, which the company announced during the WWDC 2026 keynote.

Alas, Siri still won't be equally distributed at launch. According to Apple's SVP of engineering, Craig Federighi, Siri AI in beta is now available to developers, and it's coming to end users "this fall."

But not for users in the European Union and China. In both cases, Siri AI will be available at an undefined time in the future, as Apple works through regulatory hurdles. This isn't a huge surprise, given that Apple Intelligence was initially unavailable in these regions, but it's still a disappointment to millions of Apple users.

Apple explained the issues in a blog post published on Monday.

"Unfortunately, due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple will not be able to ship Siri AI in the European Union with the release of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. Over the past several months, EU regulators did not accept any of Apple’s proposed solutions to bring Siri AI to the EU while safely supporting other virtual assistants," the company wrote.

The issue, it seems, is not so much with Siri itself, but with other virtual assistants, which don't get the same playing ground as Siri. "Under EU regulators’ extreme interpretation of the DMA, Apple would have to give any virtual assistant direct access to users’ private data — and the ability to directly control other installed applications," wrote Apple.

Apple says it did figure out a solution. Called the Trusted System Agent, it's an "intermediary that would allow virtual assistants to safely access the same features and capabilities as Siri AI for devices in the EU." The plan was to gradually release Siri in the EU over an (ouch) 18-month period. But once again, according to Apple, "the European Commission did not agree to any of Apple’s proposals."

The bad news is that, according to Apple, "there is currently no timeline for Siri AI’s availability in the EU on iOS and iPadOS."

Not great, but we're hoping for a solution, and we bet Apple is, too.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Siri is coming to the iPhone Camera app, the company announced at WWDC.

Back in May, Mashable reported on Camera upgrade rumors, including an integration with Siri AI, and it was confirmed today. With Visual Intelligence, Siri Mode will be able to "see what you see" and be able to tell you more information about it. You can translate text and identify plants, or even get nutritional insights when you point your Camera at a plate of food (and also split the check that way, too).

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Some Camera rumors didn't pan out, though — at least not on the first day of WWDC. These included that the Camera would soon have widgets and be customizable in iOS 27. Default controls (like Night Mode, Flash, and Live Photos) won't go away, but the leak hinted that advanced options would also be available.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

It's almost time to try out the next evolution of Apple's iOS.

Apple finally pulled the veil off iOS 27 on Monday, after months of anticipation. It to includes a brand-new AI-powered Siri, as well as plenty of other little quality-of-life improvements across the iPhone experience. The announcement happened during Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference keynote at 1 p.m. ET, and we have a live blog you can follow to keep track of the latest news.

WWDC keynote day almost always heralds the release of the first new iOS beta. Here's when you can expect it to be available and how to get in on the action.

Apple iOS 27 beta: Release time and how to download

Apple will launch iOS 27 this fall. You can expect the first developer beta for iOS 27 to be available sometime Monday afternoon, following the WWDC keynote. Apple also confirmed that there will be a second public beta later, and that distinction matters for how you experience these betas.

For the beta that's releasing on Monday, you'll need to register for developer betas. That probably sounds more daunting than it actually is; Apple doesn't charge any money for access to developer betas or anything like that. All you have to do is register on Apple's developer website with your Apple account and device. Once you're all registered and set to go, here is a quick set of instructions for how to get the beta on your iPhone:

1. Restart your iPhone

2. Open Settings

3. Go to General, then Software Update

4. Tap Beta Updates

If you correctly registered for developer betas and the beta itself is available, you'll see it there for download. Just remember that this is an unfinished beta intended primarily for developers, so installing it on your phone might carry some risk. It's best to create a backup in advance.

When can I get the iOS 27 public beta?

Apple confirmed the public beta will be available later in June.

Apple unveiled a new suite of child safety tools and family experiences at this year's WWDC, spending significant time highlighting the new features as the tech industry grapples with age verification and online safety.

The company's new Child Accounts features, which are available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, include parental monitoring tools like Ask to Browse, a feature that requires minor users to get permission to surf the internet or go on specific websites.

Parents have already had the option to set up child accounts under Apple's Family Sharing experience, which includes age-appropriate content tools, screen time oversight, App Store controls, and communication limits.

Apple is also building upon the existing features with new ways to manage your children's time online, as advocates and experts increasingly warn about the long-term effects of social media and screen time. During the WWDC announcement, Apple acknowledged growing guidance to keep children under 13 offline.

Credit: Apple

With the parental control upgrades, parents can now more easily adjust communication limits and see recommended screen time controls for child users. Parents can fine tune device usage with new time-of-day app limits and screen time settings. Apple's existing content blurring feature, which censors nudity automatically, will expand to content depicting graphic violence or gore, as well.

Credit: Apple

Many of these features already exist on child-specific devices, such as the Bark phone.

While Apple took WWDC attendees on a tour of its new child safety features, a group of child safety advocates led by the nonprofits Heat Initiative and UltraViolet staged a demonstration in front of Apple's headquarters. The group unfurled a large banner with the words "Apple is powered by child sexual abuse. John Ternus, what will you do?" calling on the incoming CEO to address the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Apple devices. The group staged a similar protest at last year's event ahead of the iPhone 17 launch, building on previous calls to introduce CSAM detection on Apple products.

"Today marks the fifth time since 2023 that advocates have come to Apple to demand they remove child sexual abuse images and videos from iCloud–unfortunately, in those three years Apple has continued to make money off of storing and sharing illegal videos and photos," said Sarah Gardner, CEO of Heat Initiative. "Apple no longer just hosts these images and videos on iCloud, it profits from apps in its App Store that can be used to deepfake, undress, and create AI child sexual abuse material of any child. Tim Cook took Apple from bad to worse, but John Ternus can pick a different way forward–it’s time for him to choose if he stands with children and survivors."

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Apple's longtime flagship web browser got a facelift at WWDC 2026.

At its annual software keynote in Cupertino, Apple took some time to showcase what's new in Safari. The first thing to note is that Safari can now use Apple Intelligence to sort your dozens of open tabs into distinct topics and even automatically add new tabs to those topics. It can also automatically monitor pages using a feature called Notify Me; tell Safari what you're looking for using natural language, and you'll get a notification later if something happens.

Users can also use natural language to describe browser extensions, with one example being a way to save recipes on-screen. There's also a new security feature that will notify you of compromised account passwords and let you update them all at once using AI.

Apple didn't spend a ton of time talking about Safari, but these updates are sure to be useful to someone.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Apple's Siri used to be the bleeding edge of what smart assistants can do, back in 2011 when Apple originally integrated it into the iPhone. That was a long time ago, and things have changed.

Once ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude launched and showed the world what a truly smart chatbot can do, Siri felt very basic in comparison. Apple promised an overhaul back in 2024, and it still hadn't happened prior to today, despite constant promises that the company is working hard to improve its smart assistant.

Siri can actually chat with you now. Credit: Apple

Ahead of WWDC 2026, a bevy of reports and rumors gave us an outline of what we can expect from the new Siri, including a standalone app, a redesign, a Google Gemini-based AI brain (with options to invoke other third-party chatbots), all with a focus on privacy.

Now, during the opening WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple officially introduced the new Siri. So what has changed?

Well, Apple did team up with Google to build new versions of what it calls "Apple Foundation Models," which is the company's lingo for AIs that are good at different things, including speech recognition, image, and video generation.

The most important thing this new architecture "unlocks" is the new Siri. It's telling that Apple literally talked about privacy before it even started showing us any new Siri features, ensuring the users that their data is never stored by Apple.

Siri can tap into your conversation and other personal context on your iPhone to get you more relevant answers. Credit: Apple

Privacy is great, but what can the new Siri actually do? Mike Rockwell, VP of Siri engineering, revealed a new name for the AI-infused Siri: It's called Siri AI (slow clap).

Yes, it includes a dedicated Siri app, a more conversational Siri, with a brand new design. If you ask Siri something, it will pop out of the iPhone's Dynamic Island with an answer, and the answer might include a Reminder, or a song, or a map (with driving directions to a destination) web search result.

In Apple's ecosystem, Siri is everywhere, and the same goes for Siri AI. In one example Apple provided, the macOS version of Siri is asked for help on building a shed. It returns a nicely laid out selection of helpful advice, while drawing from personal context present on the computer.

Siri can pull data from your previous emails, and help you draft new ones. Credit: Apple

Siri AI will work on iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS, and even visionOS, and you'll also be able to start on one device, such as the iPhone, and finish the work on a different device, like a MacBook.

That's Siri, over there on the right, when you have a Vision Pro. Credit: Apple

The visual representation of Siri on visionOS is one cool highlight: Siri appears as a translucent ball, and you can ask her things just by looking at her avatar and uttering a question.

Dining with friends? Take a photo of the bill and your iPhone will help you split it. Credit: Apple

It looks nice, neat and tidy in Apple's examples, but it'll take some actual usage to know whether this new Siri is up to par with other smart assistants of today.

Siri AI will initially be available in English, but it will "quickly" expand to more languages, Apple said.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

Apple just announced several Liquid Glass design updates at WWDC, and as Mashable predicted months ago, Liquid Glass isn't going anywhere soon.

For one, a new slider lets users adjust transparency from Ultra Clear at one end to Tinted Glass at the other. This expands on existing Liquid Glass settings of Clear and Tinted, but previously, users can only choose between those two. Now, you'll be able to slide between Ultra Clear and Tinted Glass and customize just how liquid you want Liquid Glass to look.

Toggie between Ultra Clear and Tinted Glass. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Given the mixed response to Liquid Glass, it makes sense that Apple is updating it so quickly. But it's not the only design update Apple has announced at WWDC. As you might know, Liquid Glass is also on other OS systems, including Mac. Now, Apple is also adding a more uniform toolbar at the top of Mac apps. The left-side navigation will reach the end of the window.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

SAVE 35%: As of June 8, you can get the Amazon Kindle Scribe Premium Pen for just $51.99, down from $79.99, at Amazon. That's a 35% discount or $28 savings.

Amazon Kindle Scribe Premium Pen

$51.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $28.00

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If you use a tablet for note-taking (specifically the Kindle Scribe), then you've probably misplaced the stylus a time or two or have had to replace it after losing it in a bag or between the couch cushions. This little game of lost and found can get expensive quick, so if you're looking for a stylus now, I just found a limited Prime deal worth looking into.

As of June 8, you can get the Kindle Scribe Premium Pen for $51.99, down from $79.99 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount or a $28 savings. It's also the lowest price recorded for this Kindle accessory, according to our trusty price-tracker CamelCamelCamel.

This stylus is designed exclusively for the Scribe and features an "eraser" on the top (you just flip the pen upside down to rub out your mistakes) and a physical shortcut button on the side. You can set that button to automatically toggle between standard pen strokes, a highlighter, or a pencil tool, depending on how you like to organize your journals and lists.

It's battery-free, so you never have to plug it in or pair it to the tablet before you start writing. It also has a flat edge with a built-in magnet that lets it snap right onto the side of the Kindle frame. Plus, the box includes five replacement tips and the tool you need to swap them out when the original nib starts to wear down.

Best early Prime Day headphones deals

---

Best headphones deal

Sony WH-1000XM6

$459.99 (save $61.99)

Get Deal

---

Best earbuds deal

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)

$249 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best open earbuds deal

Sony LinkBuds Clip

$198 (save $31.99)

Get Deal

Amazon's annual Prime Day sale is back for the 12th year running, but this year, it's a few weeks early.

The sale, which usually takes place in mid-July, is back from June 23 to June 26. Though it's still a few weeks away, Prime Day-worthy deals are already rolling out, with a strong showing from premium and budget headphones brands alike.

Some early standouts at Amazon include the Bose QuietComfort Ultra line on sale (both earbuds and headphones), Sony's flagship earbuds and headphones, and two of our favorite open earbuds options. Soundcore also has a solid early selection, with the budget-friendly Space One headphones and dual-form open/ANC earbuds, the AeroFit 2 Pro, also on sale.

Below, you can find 16 of the best early headphones and earbuds deals. If nothing catches your eye just yet, check back — we'll be updating this list of deals leading up to, and through, Prime Day 2026.

Best headphones deal

Sony WH-1000XM6

$398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

In the face-off between the Sony XM5 vs XM6 headphones, most times I'd recommend the XM5s, especially if you don't care about folding ear cups. However, while both headphones are on sale at the moment, the XM6s are currently down at their lowest price ever, while the XM5s are sitting a good $35 away from their record low. If you're looking to buy sooner rather than later, the new headphones are the better bet — and you'll get the best blend of sound quality and noise cancelling available on the consumer market.

Read our full review on the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

More headphones deals

• Sony WH-CH520 — $38 $69.99 (save $31.99)

• JLab JBuds Lux ANC — $49.95 $79.95 (save $30)

• Soundcore Space One — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Sony WH-CH720N — $98 $179.99 (save $81.99)

• Sony ULT Wear — $144.95 $249.99 (save $105.04)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 — $278 $399.99 (save $121.99)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra, 2nd gen — $399.99 $449 (save $49.01)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499 $549 (save $50)

Best earbuds deal

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)

$249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are some of the best I've tried, but even at their sale price, they're a hefty investment. While the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds don't quite match up in sound quality, they still have some of the best noise cancellation available, and are the most comfortable earbuds I've ever tried. For roughly $50 less, they're the deal to beat leading up to Prime Day.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) earbuds.

More earbuds deals

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $199.95 $249.99 (save $50.04)

• Technics EAH-AZ100 — $234.99 $299.99 (save $65)

• Sony WF-1000XM6 — $298 $329.99 (save $31.99)

Best open earbuds deal

Sony LinkBuds Clip

$198 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $31.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Bose was the near-undisputed champion of open earbuds with top notch sound — that is, until the Sony LinkBuds Clip came along. In my head-to-head testing of the earbuds, I found that while the Bose buds can get louder (an important feature in open earbuds), the clarity and detail of the sound in the Sony buds surpassed that of the Bose. Even though the $70 price discrepancy is smaller with both buds on sale, the sub-$200 price point on the Sony earbuds is hard to pass up.

Read our full review of the Sony LinkBuds Clip.

More open earbuds deals

• Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro — $149.99 $179.99 (save $30)

• Bose Ultra Open earbuds — $229.99 $299 (save $69.01)

Early Prime Day Father's Day gifts that are on sale:

---

Best Bluetooth speaker deal

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

$69.99 at Amazon (save $30)

Get Deal

---

Best portable power station deal

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2

$799.99 at Amazon (save $699.01)

Get Deal

---

Best kitchen deal

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

$66.99 (save $23)

Get Deal

---

Best water bottle deal

Owala FreeSip (32 ounce)

$27.97 at Amazon in select colorways (save $7.02)

Get Deal

---

Best Lego deal

Lego Star Wars R2-D2 (75379)

$79.99 at Amazon (save $20)

Get Deal

---

Best fitness earbuds deal

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

$199.95 (save $50.04)

Get Deal

---

Best robot lawn mower deal

Ecovacs Goat O1000 robot lawn mower

$699 at Amazon (save $300.99)

Get Deal

The question of what to gift dad for Father's Day is back again. Year after year, it never gets easier to find the perfect gift. Whether you're shopping for Dad, Grandpa, a stepdad, or the nice guy down the street, take note that Father's Day is June 21 this year.

We're not in the chaos of last-minute shopping yet, but snagging something this weekend means you'll likely have reassurance that your gift will arrive on time. Ahead of Prime Day, Amazon has a major selection of sales that'll work great for Father's Day. Below are some of our favorites to shop this weekend.

Best Bluetooth speaker deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ultimate Ears

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

$69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Sitting at a solid 30% discount, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 will make for a great Father's Day gift. In Mashable's guide to the best Bluetooth speakers, the UE Wonderboom 4 earns the top spot as the best option under $100. Thanks to this early Prime Day deal, it's on a significant discount. Mashable's review explains, "This speaker's small (and rugged enough) to take along for a hike, while traveling, and for tossing next to the pool." Since it's waterproof, it's also a great option for using as a shower speaker.

Best portable power station deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Anker Solix

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2

$799.99 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $699.01

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Over the past few years, I've tested dozens of portable power stations, and the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 is the one I use the most. I'd rather overestimate my power needs than run short, which is why I head out with 2048Wh of battery capacity with the C2000 Gen 2. It's still portable enough to take for a weekend of camping without being too heavy to carry around. I also love the dual high-powered USB-C ports that can reach 140W. It's also quick to recharge, taking under one hour to go from totally dead to full power. Since I tend to decide last-minute to go camping (I'm a fair-weathered camper), the quick charging is super useful if I haven't planned in advance.

Dad is sure to find uses for the Solix C2000 Gen 2, from camping to yard work or for keeping the house powered up during the next storm. Shop today at Amazon and you'll be saving 47%.

Best kitchen deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Cuisinart

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

$66.99 at Amazon
$89.95 Save $22.96

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Summer is all about cool treats. If your dad loves a bowl of ice cream for dessert every night, the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is a perfect gift. On sale for only $66.99, dad will be able to make every flavor imageable without hassle thanks to the ease of the Cuisinart. It can make ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, sherbet, and even frozen drinks. And while it would technically be a gift for dad, you know that you'll benefit, too.

Best water bottle deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Owala

Owala FreeSip (32 ounces, select colorways)

$27.97 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $7.02

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

For the dad who's always forgetting to drink water, gift him Mashable's favorite water bottle. The Owala FreeSip allows for both tipping the water bottle up to take a big glug or sipping through the built-in straw. In Mashable's review of the Owala FreeSip, Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino said, "The FreeSip's insulation really is impeccable, offering 24 hours of cold. I've filled mine up with ice and water to come back a day later and still find the jingle of full ice cubes. Plus, the two-part locking lid can also double as a loop for easy carrying. Cleaning is also easy with the FreeSip."

The 32-ounce version of the FreeSip usually sells for $34.99, but Amazon has select colorways on sale for $27.97 or $27.99.

Best Lego deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego

Lego Star Wars R2-D2 (75379)

$79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

If the father figure in your life is a Star Wars fan and also enjoys building a Lego set, it's a win-win to snag the Lego Star Wars R2-D2. The build will look great on a bookshelf or on a desk, and the 25th anniversary edition features a Darth Malak minifigure.

Best fitness earbuds deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Apple

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

$199.95 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50.04

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 sports earbuds.

If the dad in your life likes to head to the gym, takes the dog on walks, or goes for runs, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are perfect. They're Mashable's favorite earbuds for working out and they happen to be on sale for 20% off ahead of Father's Day. The noise-cancelling earbuds get up to 45 hours of listening time with the included charging case. Of course, they're sweat and water-resistant, and they come in a few fun colorway options.

Best robot lawn mower deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ecovacs

Ecovacs Goat O1000 RTK Robot Lawn Mower

$699 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300.99

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

If dad is in charge of mowing the lawn but doesn't love the chore, he might love upgrading to a robot lawn mower. None of these come cheap, so perhaps this can be a group gift, but the Ecovacs Goat 0100 robot lawn mower is on sale for $699. It can cover yards up to 0.25 acres and it also comes with automated mapping, similar to what we're used to with robot vacuums. Its narrow body of 2.3 feet is great for passing through small areas and you can select the ideal mowing height between 1.2 and 3.1 inches.

UPDATE: Jun. 8, 2026, 4:36 p.m. This article has been updated with a statement from Reddit.

Scammers are running sponsored ads on Reddit that impersonate major news outlets, including the BBC, the Financial Times, and The Guardian, to push fraudulent AI-powered investment schemes, according to new research from cybersecurity firm Bitdefender Labs.

The campaign, uncovered by Bitdefender researchers Andrea Olariu and Emanuel Puscasu, promotes fictitious AI platforms such as Wencoin STX, Warrior Coin AI, and Nevo Coin. The promoted posts redirect users to cloned news websites designed to closely mimic the appearance of legitimate publishers, where fabricated articles, invented testimonials, and fake profit screenshots are used to build false credibility.

This is hardly the first time this tactic has been deployed on Reddit, but there's an increased interest in AI investment opportunities as Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX (which recently merged with xAI) prepare for IPOs.

A Reddit spokesperson provided the following comment to Mashable:

"Maintaining the integrity of our platform is a top priority. Reddit’s Ad Policies prohibit advertisements that are deceptive, untrue, or misleading. Our Ad Review teams leverage human review and sophisticated automated tooling to help identify and reject this type of ad content from running on Reddit. In addition, we also encourage users to report ads they may find misleading through the “Report an Ad” function. We always strive to improve our tools and have brought on a third-party vendor to validate the authenticity of ads on Reddit, ensuring goods, services and claims made in ads are verifiable."

Some ads appeared in video form, with Bitdefender describing them as a deepfake BBC news segment featuring a fabricated anchor delivering invented financial headlines. Others incorporated footage of political figures and references to international summits to lend the content an air of geopolitical legitimacy.

The scam pages used classic high-pressure tactics, including countdown timers, claims of limited registration spots, and conspiracy-laden narratives suggesting banks and governments were suppressing access to the platforms. Users who submitted their contact details were told a "personal advisor" would follow up within 24 hours.

Bitdefender warned that the campaign bears strong structural similarities to a Meta-based investment fraud network the firm documented in March 2026, with threat actors recycling the same social engineering methods across platforms.

Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

Microsoft is about to let users turn off one of the most annoying features on Windows 11.

Currently, whenever a PC user wants to perform a local search for files on their computer, Windows 11 also pulls up Bing-powered web search results. In fact, many times, users have reported that the search function prioritizes web results over local results.

The best example of this issue came from a viral post on X last year when a user looking to pull up the terminal in Windows 11 was instead provided with a web search result for the 2018 Margot Robbie film Terminal.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

However, according to a new report by our colleagues at PCMag, Microsoft is about to provide users with the option to turn web search off in local search. (Disclosure: PCMag and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

At a Windows Insiders Program meetup in San Francisco, right before Microsoft's big developer conference Build, the company provided a teaser showing that users will have the option to shut off web search in Windows 11's settings, under Privacy & Security > Search.

A toggle to turn off web searches will appear under the section called "Show suggested search results."

A photo from the Windows Insiders Program meetup showing the update. Credit: Michael Kan/PCMag

According to the report, Microsoft also seems poised to add an option where users can turn off Microsoft Store suggestions in Windows 11 search as well.

While Windows 11 users can technically turn off web results in search right now, it requires that they go into the Windows registry and manually make this change. This requires some technical know-how, as users will actually be going in and editing system files.

Soon, everyone will be able to turn off Bing web search on Windows 11 with the click of a toggle. Microsoft has not yet announced when this update will roll out.

June is here, and Apple fans know what that means: It's time for the annual Worldwide Developers Conference, better known as WWDC.

While most of the event is catered to developers, the opening keynote address is traditionally way more consumer-oriented than most of Apple's competitors' developer events. Apple usually saves its big software announcements for WWDC (and also announces some of its most powerful desktop computers, like the Mac Studio, during the event).

So, if you want to watch Tim Cook's final WWDC as Apple CEO — and the potential debut of iOS 27, an all-new Siri, and potentially some new Mac devices — here's how to watch the keynote live.

Watch Apple WWDC 2026 live

WWDC 2026 takes place from June 8 to June 12. The big keynote, however, opens up the show on Monday at 10 a.m. PT (or 1 p.m. ET).

Apple fans will be able to watch the keynote live at Apple.com, on Apple's YouTube channel, and the Apple TV app. You can also join Mashable at the CNET WWDC livestream watch party, where tech editors from Mashable, CNET, and PCMag will break down the biggest announcements after the event wraps.

This will be Tim Cook's final WWDC as CEO

Held in Cupertino, WWDC is shaping up to be even bigger than usual. Apple is expected to announce details of the next operating systems for its entire hardware lineup, which should include iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27.

Apple hasn't provided any information about what to expect. However, the long-awaited relaunch of Siri as a full-fledged AI assistant has been rumored to make its debut at this year's WWDC.

Also, beyond Apple's products, this is expected to be Apple CEO Tim Cook's very last keynote as head of the company. Apple's current Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will become Apple CEO just in time for its big iPhone event in September.

Gone are the days when people balk at you if you say you met your partner online. Dating apps have irrevocably changed the way we date — much as social media platforms have changed how we interact with each other. In fact, Mashable recently interviewed several married couples, all of whom met on dating apps, so it's absolutely possible to find your person.

According to 2023 findings from the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults (married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship) met their partner on a dating app or site. If you're a younger adult and/or LGBTQ, you're more likely to have met your significant other online: one in five adults under 30 and nearly one in four for LGBTQ adults.

The same study found that almost half (44 percent) of dating app users said a major reason for using them was to meet a long-term partner. So, if that's you, you're certainly not alone, despite what you might see people lament on TikTok. 

But with so many apps, from Bumble to eharmony, it can be challenging to determine which ones to invest in. And the discourse on dating app culture can be unrelenting. In 2025, singles told Mashable they'd rather meet a potential partner in person, but they're begrudgingly on the apps. Some, like Tinder, have seen their revenue decrease in recent years, while Hinge is growing. Even then, though, daters bemoan even the most popular of apps. A Kinsey scientist recently told Mashable where daters are going wrong: use dating apps as a tool, not to let them run the show — and stop self-optimizing, already.

Despite the frustration over The Apps™, it's undeniable that if you want to date from the comfort and safety of your home, they're the way to do it. If you're, say, introverted or have difficulty approaching someone in person, an app can still be useful.

What is the #1 best dating app?

Considering the variation in experiences on all the dating apps, it's difficult to quantify which ones are the "best." Some people find their spouses on Tinder, while others are disappointed that their matches are only looking for hookups. 

That being said, if you're looking for something serious, your best bet is likely an app with a large user base, options for you to indicate what you're looking for in your bio, and filters to weed out who you really want to partner with. There are also apps whose branding is geared towards finding one's ultimate match — like eharmony and Match, both decades-old sites with reputations for helping users find their spouse. Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel also have a reputation for more "serious" connections.

Depending on the type of relationship you're seeking, you may also benefit from a more niche app. Take one app on our list, SilverSingles, for people over 50. Sure, there are older adults on apps like Tinder and Bumble as well, but you may have more luck finding someone age-appropriate if you're in a space meant just for you.

Which dating site is best for serious relationships?

Mashable has researched to pick out a few from the plethora of dating sites (and apps) out there. These options are available for both Android and Apple users, so the type of phone you have won't determine your options. In terms of monetary investment, you can use some of these for free (like Tinder and Bumble), while others are more pay-to-play. We've also included some "niche" options, like the aforementioned SilverSingles and Elite Singles, so you have more than the standard buffet of dating apps.

Here are the best dating apps for serious relationships:

TL;DR: Best Buy just emailed us the details for its upcoming Summer Tech Fest sale, which runs from June 22 to June 28. The week-long event will offer up to 50% off major tech alongside extra cash-back rewards for members.

Whenever Prime Day rolls around, competitor retailers scramble to build an even bigger and better "anti-Prime Day" sale of their own. Target just announced its Target Circle Deal Days, which conveniently start on June 23, and the Walmart Deals event kicks off on June 22. So, it's no surprise that Best Buy is jumping in with a sale of its own.

According to the details they shared with us, Best Buy’s week-long Summer Tech Fest is officially set for June 22 (a full day before Amazon's event) through June 28. The retailer's pitching this as one of its biggest shopping events of the summer, promising up to 50% off on laptops, TVs, gaming gear, headphones, and small appliances.

The best part? You don't need a paid membership just to shop the discounts. Unlike Amazon Prime Day, these deals are open to everyone online via BestBuy.com, through the Best Buy app, and in physical stores. There'll also be new rotating "Deal of the Day" flash offers dropping each morning of the sale.

Of course, members will get extra perks

With that said, if you do happen to have a paid My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, the retailer is sweetening the pot with some extra incentives:

• Exclusive discounts: Members will get access to exclusive offers (e.g., better price cuts).

• A $25 reward bonus: If you drop $600 or more on a big upgrade during Tech Fest, you'll automatically earn an extra $25 in rewards.

• Cash back: New for this year's event, members will also earn 1% back in rewards on all eligible purchases throughout the week.

With Best Buy, Target, and Walmart all launching sales on the exact same week, late June is going to be tough on your wallet. But if you know where to shop and plan ahead, you can score some pretty good deals and save a few bucks.

TL;DR: Amazon is using its early Prime Day hub to showcase its new Alexa+ ecosystem, but all first-party Echo devices are currently listed at full retail price. Hold off on buying until June 23 or check out the live sales on Sonos and Bose gear instead.

It's only June 8, but Amazon is pushing its upcoming Prime Day sale hard (as it does every year, though it feels like the sale starts earlier and earlier each time). The company's using flashy blue banners to make it look like the event's already underway, but if you look at the actual price tags, you'll see all of the Echo devices are still listed at their original list price. (Some things on the site are on sale, just not these.)

Instead of offering discounts, Amazon is using this early window to lure customers to the site and get some eyes on its new generative AI assistant, Alexa+. While access is included for free with Prime, non-subscribers will eventually have to cough up $19.99 a month for the standard plan.

To help you plan out your shopping cart ahead of time, here's a quick breakdown of what these full-price devices are going for right now versus how low we expect them to drop when the sale officially kicks off:

Smart displays to watch

• Amazon Echo Show 11: The Amazon Echo Show 11 is Amazon's newest Echo Show model, so we're not expecting a huge discount on this one, but it was listed for $169.99 on May 1, so if you're looking for a new smart display, there's still hope. Right now, it's still listed at its full $219.99 retail price.

• Amazon Echo Hub: Right now, the Amazon Echo Hub will run you $179.99. But, if you're patient, we expect it to drop $60 by the time the sale starts. It hit $119.99 during Amazon's October Prime Day sale last year, so $60 is our minimum discount expectation.

Smart speakers and bedside clocks

• Amazon Echo Dot Max: The Amazon Echo Dot Max is still sitting at its full retail price of $99.99, but like the Amazon Echo Show 11, it had a substantial price drop on May 1. We expect to see this device get down to $74.99 during the sale to match that previous all-time low.

• Amazon Echo Spot: The Amazon Echo Spot is full price at $79.99 right now, so we advise waiting. We've seen earlier iterations of this clock hit $44.99 during past savings events, which is a much fairer price for a bedside display.

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids: The cartoon-themed editions of the Amazon Echo Pop Kids are holding firm at $49.99 right now. These models usually drop to half off during actual site-wide sales, so hold out for the $24.99 mark.

What you can buy on sale today

If you just can't wait until June 23 to buy a smart speaker, there are a few Alexa-enabled devices on sale right now, including:

• Sonos Roam 2 — $134 $179 (save $45)

• Sonos Era 100 — $189 $219 (save $30)

• JBL Authentics 200 — $199.95 $379.95 (save $180)

• Bose Portable Smart Speaker — $299 $399 (save $100)

• Sonos Era 300 — $379 $479 (save $100)

The main takeaway here is to not let early promotional banners rush you into paying full retail price for an Echo speaker. Bookmark your favorites, build your cart, and wait for the real first-party price cuts to drop later this month.

What would you do if you find out your best friend of 20 years was an international assassin?

That's the dilemma at the heart of Ride or Die, an upcoming action comedy series starring and executive produced by Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham. The Oscar winner and Emmy winner join forces as longtime besties Debbie Claybourne (Spencer) and Judith Burton (Waddingham).

After two decades of friendship, Debbie thinks she knows everything there is to know about Judith. But as it turns out, Judith has been living a double life. She's actually an international assassin who takes down bad guys for money. Now, though, a mysterious figure from her past has resurfaced, putting her in more danger than usual. And since Debbie is Judith's ride or die, that means she's in the crosshairs too.

The first trailer for Ride or Die teases what follows in this (literally) explosive tale of friends on the run. Waddingham gets to go full action hero mode, shooting enemies and kicking butt in hand-to-hand combat. While Debbie is newer to this world of international intrigue, she gets in on the action too. She takes the wheel during a serious car chase, takes down a man using a fire extinguisher, and even jumps off a moving train. Is there nothing these BFFs won't do for one another?

Ride or Die also stars Ed Skrein, Calam Lynch, Savannah Steyn, Jamie Parker, Jacky Ido, Sylvia Hoeks, and Bill Nighy.

All eight episodes of Ride or Die premiere July 15 on Prime Video.

TL;DR: Amazon has Magic: The Gathering's Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box on sale for $85.43, with $9.03 taken off its $94.46 list price. As a  24-pack display box, this means you’ll be paying around $3.56 per Jumpstart Booster before tax.

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box

$85.43 at Amazon
$94.96 Save $9.53

Get Deal

Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion is still one of the most fun crossovers with the Magic: The Gathering trading card game in recent memory, and you can now grab two dozen packs for the equivalent of just over $3.50 each. 

As of June 8, Magic: The Gathering's Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is on sale at Amazon for $85.43. That's 10% off its usual $94.46 price, saving you $9.03 on a sealed display shipped and sold by Amazon. 

This even undercuts other sellers on the site with the next-lowest pricing listed for $94.33. At $85.43, this 24-pack box equates to you paying only $3.56 per pack. 

If you want to save as much money as possible, however, TCGplayer goes even lower — with listings as low as $82.65. That’s actually $1.01 below its market price of $83.66. 

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In each of the box’s 24 packs are 20 Avatar-themed Magic cards. For those newer to Magic: The Gathering, the whole point of Jumpstart is speed: take two boosters, shuffle them together, and you have a playable deck with all the Lands already included. 

The Avatar expansion even has 46 themes altogether, letting you mix scenes, characters, and elemental ideas from the show into different quick-play combos. The boosters are compatible with other Jumpstart packs as well, so you can keep the mash-ups going once you have worked through the Avatar box.

For more boxes of MTG packs, you can preorder the 30-pack Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box for under $140. What’s more, the anticipated Magic: The Gathering's Reality Fracture Play Booster Box is available to preorder for $154.99 — still on sale at Amazon, too. 

If you’re also a Pokémon TCG fan, although currently not available on Amazon, the newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution — Ascended Heroes Mega Feraligatr ex Box on sale for $69.79, with a 15% slice off its base $81.89 price. With that $12.10 saving included, you’ll be getting a sealed box with four valuable Ascended Heroes Booster Packs, one foil Mega Feraligatr ex promo card, and one oversize lenticular card.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes Mega Feraligatr ex Box

$69.79 at Amazon
$81.89 Save $12.10

 

Get Deal

Ascended Heroes is still one of the most pricey expansions in the Pokémon TCG right now, but you can get a lower cost per pack by taking advantage of grabbing one of the coveted ex Boxes on sale right now. 

As of June 8, Amazon has cut the Pokémon TCG’s Ascended Heroes Mega Feraligatr ex Box to $69.79 — $12.10 down from its current $81.89 price. This 15% discount, with the listing shipped and sold by Collectors Expedition, also comes with free delivery estimated for June 12-15 at the time of writing, while the fastest delivery option is currently shown for June 9. 

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At $69.79, the box works out to about $17.45 per Ascended Heroes Booster Pack before you even factor in the playable foil promo card or oversize lenticular card. 

Compared to buying single Ascended Heroes Booster Packs, currently as low as $18.94 on Amazon, you’re saving at least $1.49 per pack — saving you $5.96 in total for all four, with the Feraligatr promo trading cards as essentially a free bonus. 

TCGplayer is still cheaper overall if you’re comfortable buying from marketplace sellers. Its lowest unopened listing is $20.01 plus $29.99 shipping, while higher-feedback sellers are closer to $54 with shipping included — all fitting well within the range of the box’s $53.74 market price. 

Scarce since launch, Ascended Heroes still packs some amazingly valuable chase cards you can pull (or buy individually on TCGplayer) — including SIR Mega Gengar ex, SIR Pikachu ex, and SIR Mega Dragonite ex. 

If you’re also hunting cards from the newest expansion, you can buy the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for $91 in its newest sale.  For an even lower cost per pack, you can grab the 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box for under $265 — equal to around $7.35 per pack.

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.

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The 2026 World Cup is drawing closer, and scams are on the rise.

With people scrambling to buy tickets, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has issued a public service announcement about the number of fake websites out there. The short version? There are a lot. And they're after your data and money.

"Threat actors create a deceptive version of a legitimate website (www.fifa.com) with the goal of tricking users into believing they're interacting with an official brand," the FBI release states. "The FBI has identified actors engaging in this activity to collect personal information, sell fake World Cup tickets and hospitality products, and to possibly facilitate other malicious activity. If a threat actor gains access to a victim's PII, they can create new accounts in a victim's name and ultimately defraud the victim."

Here's a list of scam websites the FBI has identified so far:

• www.fifa[.]cab

• www.fifa[.]pink

• www.fifa[.]blue

• www.fifa[.]pub

• FIFA[.]city

• Fifa[.]bio

• fifa[.]beer

• fifa[.]click

• fifa[.]cam

• fifa[.]ceo

• fifa[.]help

• filfa[.]org

• fifa-online[.]com

• https://fifa-2026[.]xyz

• jobs-fifa[.]com

• fifa-hr[.]com

• fifa-careerhub[.]com

• fifaworldcup-careers[.]com

• fifa-hiring[.]com

• fifahiring[.]com

• fifa-ticket[.]live

• fifastore.us[.]com

• fifaworldcup26[.]sale

• fifaworldcup26.xcover-staging[.]com

• worldcup2026-tickets.com[.]mx

• worldcup26ticket[.]com

• 2026fifaworldcuptickets[.]online

• fwc2026[.]net

• fwc2026.web[.]app

• www.fifa2026p[.]com

• fifa2026fworldcup[.]com

• wvvw-fifa[.]com

• ww-fifa[.]com

• fifa-com[.]com

• www.fifa-com[.]services

• quiniela-fifa-2026.pages[.]dev

How to safely buy World Cup tickets

There's only one way to do it: through FIFA's official website. The URL is www.fifa.com, and you need to watch out for typos — often scam sites will target speedy typers who've swapped out a character by mistake.

The FIFA site has a hub for ticket sales, which currently has three options: last-minute sales, marketplace (this allows ticket resales), and hospitality packages. Users must sign in to book.

If you'd rather watch the World Cup games at home for free, though, then we've got you covered.

SAVE $101: As of June 8, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is on sale for $198.99 at Amazon. That's a 34% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Garmin

Garmin vívoactive 5

$198.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $101

 

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Looking for a new fitness tracker to assist your workout and lifestyle goals? Look no further than the Garmin vívoactive 5. This is an ideal offering from Garmin that gives you both advanced fitness tracking stats and health, wellness, and lifestyle features. And it looks good, too.

As of June 8, this smartwatch is currently on sale for $101 off the list price, bringing it down to $198.99. This deal is for the ivory colored watch, but you can browse other colors, too (although currently this is the only option on sale).

This Garmin has a bright and colorful AMOLED display that offers up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode (or up to 5 days with the display always on). It is controlled both by a touchscreen and buttons, which makes use during workouts nice and easy.

With this watch, you'll get access to advanced Garmin features like Body Battery (a stat that monitors your energy levels), sleep tracking with a sleep score, personalized sleep coaching, and other metrics, including HRV (heart rate variability) status.

It also includes more than 30 indoor and GPS sports apps, ranging from walking and running to cycling and HIIT. It also includes a wheelchair mode, which tracks pushes instead of steps and provides tailored workouts and activities for wheelchair users, including strength and cardio.

Health monitoring is another big plus, with features like wrist-based heart rate, stress tracking, morning reports, fitness age, and menstrual cycle all included.

Find this Garmin deal at Amazon now.

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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love being by the water.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today'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.

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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.

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

• Yellow: By the sea

• Green: Noggin

• Blue: Pointed

• Purple: Popular films

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Landforms by water

• Green: Slang for head

• Blue: Things that can be spiked

• Purple: "The ___ Man" movies

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 today's Connections #1093 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Landforms by water: DELTA, ISLAND, ISTHMUS, PENINSULA

• Slang for head: COCONUT, DOME, MELON, PATE

• Things that can be spiked: MOHAWK, PUNCH, SEA URCHIN, VOLLEYBALL

• "The ___ Man" movies: COCONUT, DOME, MELON, PATE

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a gamer.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Play time

The words are related to gaming.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe popular games.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Game Night.

NYT Strands word list for June 8

• Spinners

• Tokens

• Dice

• Game Night

• Cards

• Tiles

• Boards

• Chips

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're part of a clan.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today'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.

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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

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.

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

A gang.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter A appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

The Wordle answer today is...

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 today's Wordle is...

MAFIA

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. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

SAVE $10.99: As of June 8, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus is on sale for $29 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Roku

Roku Streaming Stick Plus

$29 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.99

 

Get Deal

Streaming devices are a simple and affordable way to make your entertainment setup easier. Whether you have an older TV that doesn't have built-in streaming options, or you travel a lot and don't want to sign in and out of unfamiliar devices, a streaming device can be the way to go.

And as of June 8, one of the most popular models, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus, is on sale at Amazon. Right now, you can save $10.99 on the list price, which is currently down to $29.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus gives you 4K streaming with HDR support in a compact device that plugs directly into the TV’s HDMI port. Unlike many streaming devices, this one doesn't need a wall outlet to run. It's powered directly through the TV, so there is far less cable clutter to endure.

It comes with a remote that lets you control both the TV and streaming device so you don't need lots of remotes hanging around, either.

And, of course, with this TV stick you'll get access to a huge range of streaming apps (including Netflix, Prime Video and more), and you'll find them all together in one place, on a home screen that is designed for easy navigation.

Get this streaming deal online at Amazon now.

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TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution — Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box starting at $91 through a third-party seller, down from its $119.99 list price. This saves you $28.99 on the ETB’s lowest Amazon listing yet, while the Elite Trainer Box sold and shipped directly by Amazon is only slightly higher at $92.55 with faster delivery. 

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box

$91 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $28.99

 

Get Deal

Chaos Rising prices have been steadily falling in the Pokémon TCG market since launch, and Amazon’s latest listings have now taken the expansion’s Elite Trainer Box to its lowest price with the retailer yet.

As of June 8, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution — Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box is available at Amazon from $91 via Prime Picks, with free delivery currently listed for June 13-15. With this 24% discount from its $119.99 list price, you'll save $28.99 on the sealed collector box. 

As confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is indeed the lowest price we've seen for the ETB on Amazon so far.

If you’re willing to put up a slightly higher amount for faster shipping, the Chaos Rising ETB is sold and shipped directly by Amazon itself and is priced at $92.55 — with free delivery scheduled for June 14, with its fastest option currently listed for June 12, at the time of writing.

However, you can save more by buying your trading cards outside of Amazon, if you’re willing. TCGplayer has unopened Chaos Rising ETB listings starting from $83.99, which is only 44 cents higher than its market price of $83.51.

Inside the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box, you’ll get nine titular booster packs, one full-art foil promo card featuring Fennekin, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, one plastic coin, a collector’s box with six dividers, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

Among this expansion, themed around Mega Floette descending Lumiose City into chaos, you’ll have the chance to pull valuable chase cards (also available to buy separately) like Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dragalge ex, and Mega Floette ex itself. 

For even more packs from the expansion, you can also grab the Pokémon TCG’s six-pack Chaos Rising Booster Bundle for under $60. 

To get the lowest cost per pack, though, you can score the 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box for under $265 — equalling $7.35 per pack. 

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

As governments and tech companies shape the future of online privacy, sex workers around the world are organizing to push back against threats to our freedom of speech and data ownership.

"We know from experience that sex workers are the beta testers for taking away people's digital rights," says Ana Ornelas, digital policy officer at the European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance (ESWA). ESWA represents more than 100 member organizations in 30 countries in Western, Eastern, and Central Europe and Central Asia.

Take FOSTA/SESTA, twin laws in the U.S. passed in 2018 to ostensibly stop online sex trafficking, but in actuality, made it harder for sex workers and others who work in adult industries to exist online. Big Tech platforms cracked down on sexual content, resulting in bans and shadowbans that persist today. Multiple studies have found that this makes adult workers less safe.

Today, age-verification laws (that require users to give their identity over to tech companies before accessing adult content) have led to sex workers losing income, all while initial studies suggest that they don't actually work to keep minors off porn sites.

Sex workers, unionized and not, continue to fight against bad tech policy. Ornelas, for instance, recently met with an official working on new EU regulations about artificial intelligence that are "simpler" and "innovation-friendly." Ornelas brought up how the proposal leaves room for tech-facilitated gender-based violence. 

"I'm very worried about the exceptions," says Ornelas, referencing the allowances the package makes for generating non-consensual deepfake sexual content for artistic reasons or when subjects are unidentifiable. "Images can be scraped from someone's Instagram bikini pictures. I think that we should be focusing a lot more on transparency around the big tech companies and what's in their databases. You don't need to be completely nude for this technology to be dangerous."

Five thousand miles away from ESWA's campaign, workers at Sheri's Ranch, a legal brothel in Nevada, are fighting a battle on another digital frontier. In Dec., the brothel workers received a contract from management, which included turning over ownership of their likeness and intellectual property to their workplace. In response, the workers reached out to the Communication Workers of America for support and began the process to form a union.

"The language was big enough that the Ranch could argue that they own anything that we've ever created," says Adalind Gray, one of the seven workers at Sheri's Ranch who were fired since they began their union campaign. The newly founded United Brothel Workers (UBW) has filed unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of Gray and the other workers. 

"I have big dreams with my band. I worked at the Ranch in order to fund the studio costs," says Gray. "That is the reason why I do what I do. I think there would also be potential for them to argue they own my online sex work as well, the content I make for OnlyFans."

The use of workers' digital likeness for profit or AI training sets a dangerous precedent for workers in any industry. "Anybody that has cultivated an online following, or has a podcast, substack, any independent work that they care about at all, should be worried that their employer wants to own a piece of all of anything that they do in perpetuity," says Scott Goodstein, a spokesperson for the UBW. "These types of contracts need to be stopped immediately."

"I worked at Sheri's so that I can chase my dreams, but that shouldn't mean they own those dreams too," says Gray.
"No employer is entitled to a slice of my entire community that I spent years building solely because I work there."

The fight against age verification

In the UK, Australia, and the United States, sex workers are leading the fight against age-verification legislation, too. According to the Age Verification Providers Association, nearly 30 countries have introduced age-verification legislation, with at least four more countries on track to introduce legislation in the next one to two years.

"Regulations in one country impact the web for everyone," says Mish Pony, the CEO of Scarlet Alliance, the national peak body representing sex workers across Australia. "When tech companies are creating their terms and conditions, they are developing those based on the regulatory environment that they are based in. So legislation in the U.S. and EU have disproportionate power globally." 

"Our government once issued a fine to X, which doesn't have a physical presence in Australia. How can we actually force them to pay that fine?" Pony asks.

Tech companies are incentivized to play it safe relating to powerful countries' regulations, fueling censorship of not only adult content, but health and education content related to sexuality as well. 

"We've developed a community response every time somebody has a profile taken down," says Kitt Turner, the external communications officer for the UK Sex Workers' Union (SWU). "Everybody rallies around to try and like file reports and try and push to have them reinstated. Sometimes that's effective, sometimes it's not. But we kind of share any knowledge that we can pick up in terms of what makes it more likely for someone to have their profile."

"We've spoken with [Australia's] eSafety commissioner, and we've done a postcard campaign with health professionals who are concerned about the impact of these regulations on people's access to information online," says Pony. "We're just trying to make sure that people are aware of these harmful consequences."

In the United States, Sasha Bee, an organizer for the Sex Worker Action Alliance and Erotic Professionals & Allies United, currently leads campaigns in multiple states to educate and push back against age-verification legislation. Age verification laws are now in effect in over half the states in the United States. "We're fighting against what is fundamentally a free speech violation," says Bee.

Why we must listen to sex workers

Dating back to the earliest days of the internet, sex workers are credited with driving technological adoption and innovation, with contributions including the first online credit card verification systems.

"Adult content creators created the internet," Bee confirms, and research supports this claim. "If you like the fact that you have fast bandwidth, can stream Netflix and Hulu on the same WiFi, thank a sex worker. The demand for their work created the internet that we see today," says Bee.

In the age of Big Tech like X and Meta, however, it's difficult to contest what they do, Turner says.

But that hasn't stopped sex workers from campaigning and collaborating to change the tech landscape. SWU works closely with Decrim Now UK, a coalition fighting for the decriminalization of sex work in the UK. For around the last two years, Decrim Now has been trying to organize a sex worker strike against AdultWork, a platform where they can advertise their work, due to increased costs and reduced profit, says organizer Audrey Caradonna. Decrim Now has also participated in sex work strikes during International Women's Day since 2018.

In Dec., Scarlett Alliance published a study on the Impacts of Online Regulation. One of their findings was the negative impact that Australia's Online Safety Act had on youth and marginalized people by restricting access to critical sexual and reproductive health education and drug harm reduction information. Decrim Now UK, ESWA, and industry research firm SWR Data are also currently engaged in collecting similar data to observe the impacts of new tech policies on sex workers. Using their data on sex workers' lived experiences, these organizations are able to inform policymakers how their legislative decisions could impact everybody else on the internet.

"So much of what we're seeing happen to activists and marginalized people in countries like the United States and Germany are taken straight out of the playbook of how sex workers have been treated for the past years," says Ornelas. "We've seen that come true with digital rights activists here in Germany who were put on a no-fly list to the U.S. It's exactly how sex workers have been treated — they've been denied entry in the U.S. based on the fact that they are sex workers or performers. Border control has the data, and suddenly they find themselves taken into a private room to explain themselves."

With their digital privacy on the line, sex workers have strategies on how to mitigate these risks and leverage the community to protect each other, Ornelas says. Amongst other resources, ESWA offers recommendations for social media platform accountability and will soon publish the results of a survey on sex work and deepfake technologies. Mashable also has a breakdown of top digital security tips from sex workers.

Civilians, or non-sex workers, should learn from the community how to protect themselves online, Ornelas says. "Because the way things are headed, it's gonna come in handy."

TL;DR: Stop struggling against PDFs forever with this lifetime subscription to PDFToolKit Starter Plan, on sale now for $39 (reg. $204).

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PDFToolKit - Starter Plan: Lifetime Subscription

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Imagine a world where it’s easy to work with PDFs — and you can do it all in your browser window without any extra apps. That’s what PDFToolKit delivers, letting you conquer this pesky file format once and for all.

Right now, you can snag a lifetime subscription to a PDFToolKit Starter Plan for just $39 (reg. $204).

Don’t let PDFs derail your workflow. PDFToolKit lets you conquer these files once and for all, making it easy to convert, edit, and sign them instantly.

Unlike most PDF editors on the market, PDFToolKit is a browser tool that runs entirely in your browser, so you don’t have to hop around different apps to get help. You don’t have to download anything, and since everything is processed locally, your data stays private and secure.

PDFToolKit gives you access to a fleet of AI-powered tools, so you can modify text and images, merge and split files, and sign documents quickly. You can also convert file types in a few clicks, including Word, PowerPoint, JPG, and PNG.

This tool is built to handle larger files efficiently, and if you need to work with multiple files, there’s speedy batch processing available. Working with sensitive information? PDFToolKit offers password protection and makes it easy to redact information if needed.

Compatibility isn’t an issue with PDFToolKit; you can access it on any browser. This Starter Plan lets you enjoy it for life, with updates included and five PDF uploads available per month.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to PDFToolKit Starter Plan for just $39 (reg. $204).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pok Pok’s lifetime subscription is down to $44.97 through June 14, giving families ad-free, Montessori-inspired educational play without another recurring subscription.

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Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription

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If you’ve ever handed your toddler a tablet and instantly regretted it, Pok Pok might just restore your faith in screen time. This innovative, Montessori-inspired app turns digital play into something that actually feels okay for both kids and parents.

Designed for ages 2 to 8, Pok Pok replaces those noisy, overstimulating apps with calm, open-ended play that encourages creativity, independence, and curiosity.

Kids explore a beautifully hand-drawn world filled with toys that grow alongside them — from early cause-and-effect puzzles to more advanced STEM-style challenges. It’s like a digital game sandbox for little minds.

Every sound, color, and motion in Pok Pok is crafted to feel soothing and natural — no flashing ads, no pressure to “win,” and no hidden purchases. It’s also fully COPPA-certified, meaning it meets strict safety standards for children’s digital content. Parents can relax knowing their kids are learning, not zoning out.

Perfect for travel, quiet time, or rainy afternoons, Pok Pok runs offline, so playtime never depends on Wi-Fi.

At this low price, this lifetime subscription is the kind of tech investment that doesn’t come with a side of parental guilt — giving your child a fun, educational start in a calm digital space built just for them.

Get lifetime access to Pok Pok while it’s on sale for just $44.97 (reg. $250).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Go from beginner to advanced with this Claude AI Professional E-Degree, now for just $19.99 (reg. $49).

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Claude AI Professional E-Degree

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AI models aren’t created equal. You’ve probably been hearing a lot about Claude AI, but if you’ve yet to master this model, you’re in luck. The Claude AI Professional E-Degree is packed with four courses ready to school you on everything from agentic coding to workflow animation.

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Let the Claude AI Professional E-Degree school teach you about this rising AI model. These four courses are taught by Eduonix Learning Solutions, a team of industry professionals who teach technology the way it’s actually used and are ready to walk you through over 8 hours of video content.

This hands-on eDegree’s four modules show you how to use Claude beyond your basic conversations. It’s great for beginners, and helpful for everyone from developers and entrepreneurs to creators and freelancers, taking them all from novices to experts.

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An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal using their independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for the consumer, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: HelloFresh is offering 10 free meals plus a free Zwilling Dragon Wok when you sign up for an active subscription with the exclusive discount code CNET10WOK.

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HelloFresh: Get a free Zwilling Dragon Wok + 10 free meals with code CNET10WOK

 

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If you have a busy schedule and planning out food for the week feels too stressful, a meal kit delivery service can be a helpful investment. These take the worry out of prepping and planning out meals every day, and HelloFresh does that and more.

For a limited time, Mashable readers can score 10 free meals plus a free Zwilling Dragon Wok with the exclusive discount code CNET10WOK. This is an excellent way to test (and taste) the service and see if it's a good fit for you and your household. However, there's a few important things to keep in mind when applying this discount.

The first is that this offer is only valid for new customers who have a qualifying auto-renewing subscription. The second is that the 10 free meals are based on a total discount that's applied over a one-week period for a four-person, five-recipe subscription. If you purchase a plan of greater value, you'll get more than 10 free meals, whereas if your plan is of lesser value, you'll receive fewer than 10. And third, it also expires 21 days after purchase.

The other exciting element of this deal is the free Zwilling Dragon Wok. Normally this 12-inch carbon steel wok costs $179.99, so this is an excellent offer to jump on that nets you a fancy new pan for your kitchen. You'll have to wait a little bit before you can use it, though. After paying for your fifth box, you'll receive a link via email within 14 days of receipt that will allow you to redeem. Because it's tied in to the fifth box, that box must be ordered before 11:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 4 and the wok redeemed by Sept. 19.

This HelloFresh deal won't last for long. You've got until July 31 to use code CNET10WOK to take advantage of this 10 free meals plus a free Zwilling Dragon Wok offer.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world will stop this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will welcome the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Lamine Yamal are likely to steal the spotlight, but new stars always shine brightly in this prestigious competition. It's going to be a wild ride.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockouts rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for accessing live sport on free streaming platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $200: As of June 8, the Google Pixel 10 is on sale for $599 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

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Google Pixel 10

$599
$799 Save $200

 

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If you'd rather upgrade your smartphone without committing to a two-year contract, you'll want to keep an eye out for a great deal on an outright purchase. And right now, you're in luck, because as of June 8, the Google Pixel 10 is on sale at Amazon for $200 less. Normally priced at $799, you can make it yours now for $599. And it's unlocked too, so you can use it with the network provider of your choice.

It's a powerful phone (check out our review for a full breakdown), powered by the Google Tensor G5 chip and with built-in features including Gemini AI. It also includes Gemini Live, a function that allows conversations with AI, including using the camera to ask questions about what you are seeing or using your voice to help complete tasks across different apps.

If a strong camera system is an important feature for you, this phone won't disappoint. It has a triple rear camera system with a new 5x telephoto lens with up to 20x Super Res Zoom. It also benefits from Night Sight, a feature designed to take clearer low-light photography.

And if you're someone who drops their phone a lot, no judgment here. The phone is built with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has an IP68 rating for both water and dust resistance.

Head to Amazon to grab this Google deal.

SAVE $120: As of June 8, the Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV is on sale for $179.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

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Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV

$179.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $120

 

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The World Cup kickoff is just days away, so if you've been looking to upgrade your TV in time for the games, you better act fast. But you're in luck: Amazon has some incredible TV deals available, like this latest on the Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV. As of June 8, this TV is down to $179.99 from $299.99, saving you $120.

The TV gives you a 2160p resolution with HDR10 support, and can also upscale lower-resolution content to make it closer to Ultra HD quality. The sound quality is impressive, too, thanks to DTS Virtual:X, which creates a more immersive audio experience.

On the inside, you'll get the benefits of Fire TV. This means you'll have access to streaming services like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and more. It also comes with Alexa built in, ideal for searching through different streaming catalogs or researching queries online.

The TV can also function as a smart home hub, supporting other smart home devices for features such as viewing live camera feeds or even just controlling lighting and thermostats.

Find this TV deal at Amazon right now.