TL;DR: Get creating with this lifetime subscription to the EbookMagic Starter Plan and make all your book ideas come to life for just $39.99 (reg. $149).

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EbookMagic Starter Plan: Lifetime Subscription

$39.99
$149 Save $109.01

 

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Some people collect books, but do you collect book ideas? If you’re filled with concepts but short on time, you need EbookMagic. This AI-powered tool turns your book concepts into completed manuscripts in minutes, and right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to the EbookMagic Starter Plan for only $39.99.

Finishing a book is an impressive endeavor, one that used to take months, if not years. It also used to involve outsourcing numerous tasks — from designing a cover and editing the manuscript to hiring someone to record the audiobook — but EbookMagic makes the process easier than ever.

If you have lots of book ideas, EbookMagic is ready to make them a reality. Just provide a title, genre, and a few key details, and let this tool take over. It supports 15 different genres, from fiction and non-fiction to romance, self-help, and more.

Pick from 12 professional writing styles with different tones to vary up your project. If you’re inspired by a certain author’s style, it can even adapt your content to their writing, too.

Once you’ve created your book, it’s time to customize it. Design a custom cover image, turn it into a professional-sounding audiobook powered by AI voices, and export a ready-to-use file for publishing, sharing, or use in a personal project.

Your lifetime subscription lets you create five eBooks every month, with up to 500,000 words per book. You will also get up to 50 cover generations, commercial usage rights, and no watermarks.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to the EbookMagic Starter Plan for only $39.99 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Professional 2021 is down to $32.97, giving Windows users lifetime access to the essential Office apps for about $187 less than the usual price.

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Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License

$32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02

 

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Let’s talk about a rarity in life: software you can pay for once and actually own for life. That’s what you’re getting with Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows — a full productivity suite with no monthly fees, no auto-renewal traps, and no relying on the cloud to get things done.

For just $32.97, you’ll unlock lifetime access to the entire lineup of essential Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, Publisher, and Access. Whether you’re a student, small business owner, side hustler, or spreadsheet enthusiast, it’s all here — without the bloat and recurring costs of other productivity services.

And yes, you can use these offline.

rom that charming Airbnb in the woods, your tools are still at your fingertips. The interface is familiar, but optimized — think faster load times, smarter layouts, and an updated ribbon design that actually helps you find what you’re looking for.

There’s no subscription, no “basic” tier, and no nagging alerts reminding you to “upgrade.” Just a one-time license installed on your device that gives you what you need — permanently.

Also worth noting: this version is not linked to your Microsoft account, so everything lives locally on your machine. Translation? Less fuss, more function.

So if you’re tired of renting your software or counting down the days until your trial expires, grab this deal and get back to doing what matters — at home or at work — with tools you actually trust.

Pick up a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows while it’s just $32.97 (reg. $219.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: ChatOn AI Assistant Premium gives you access to GPT, Claude, Gemini, Sonar, and more in one app for $69.99 (regularly $119.99).

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ChatOn Multi-AI Assistant Premium Plan (3-Year Subscription)

$69.99
$119.99 Save $50

 

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Most people paying for AI tools in 2026 have quietly ended up with two or three subscriptions running simultaneously. ChatGPT for one thing, Claude for another, maybe Gemini on top of that. It happens gradually, and then suddenly you’re spending $60 a month just to have the right tool for whatever you’re working on. The ChatOn AI Assistant Premium three-year subscription is $69.99 right now (regularly $119.99) — roughly what you’d spend in a single month across those three subscriptions separately.

To be straight with you about what you’re getting: ChatOn isn’t a direct replacement for a ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro account. You won’t get day-one access to every lab-specific feature. What you do get is paid-tier access to GPT-5, GPT-4o, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and Perplexity Sonar in one app — more capable than the free versions, without the tab switching. Most users report never hitting the daily usage caps in normal use.

It’s also worth noting how ChatOn differs from other consolidation apps. Unlike credit-based platforms, where unused monthly credits just disappear, ChatOn runs on a flat subscription. Your access doesn’t shrink based on how much you used last Tuesday.

All AI features on a single platform:

• Real-time web search with cited sources

• AI image generation and video creation

• Document summarization and PDF support

• OCR text extraction from images

• Translation tools and voice input

• 100+ pre-built prompts for common tasks

• Dedicated native iOS and Android app with cross-platform sync

• Lovie Award winner for Best User Experience

• 100 million+ downloads, 4.7 App Store rating across 268K reviews

Three years of confirmed access from an app that 100 million people actually use is a pretty solid guarantee. When something has a 4.7 App Store rating across 268,000 reviews, it’s not because the marketing was good, it’s because the product works and people keep coming back to it.

Get the ChatOn AI Assistant Premium three-year subscription for $69.99 right now (regularly $119.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Iran vs. New Zealand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here. We've got weeks of top international football from the best sides in the world to enjoy. What a time to be alive.

Iran face off against New Zealand in Group G. Belgium and Egypt make up the rest of this competitive group, so if Iran and New Zealand want to push towards the knockout rounds, they'll need a positive result in this opening game. Every game in this prestigious tournament is important, but the stakes are particularly high at the SoFi Stadium.

If you want to watch Iran vs. New Zealand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Iran vs. New Zealand?

Iran vs. New Zealand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 15. This fixture takes place at the SoFi Stadium.

How to watch Iran vs. New Zealand for free

Iran vs. New Zealand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Iran vs. New Zealand for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Iran vs. New Zealand for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Iran vs. New Zealand (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Iran vs. New Zealand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Best Prime Day deals on noise-cancelling headphones:

---

Best headphones deal

Sony WH-1000XM6

$398 (save $61.99)

Get Deal

---

Best earbuds deal

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 (save $70)

Get Deal

---

Cheapest option

CMF By Nothing Buds 2

$23.27 (save $25.73)

Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is (nearly) upon us once more, but the retailer isn't making you wait for savings if noise-cancelling headphones are on your wishlist. In fact, some of our favorite noise-cancelling audio products are already at record prices.

The four-day sale doesn't officially kick off until June 23, but as of June 15, deals on flagship models from Sony, Bose, and Apple are already available. And it's not just the $400+ flagship headphones getting discounts. The mid-range Nothing Headphone (a) are down to $151, while one of our budget-friendly favorites, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC, is just $10 away from its record low price.

Earbuds have an impressive showing too, with the AirPods Pro 3 down to a record-low price ahead of the sale's start, plus markdowns on the newer Sony XM6 buds. You can also pick up the CMF by Nothing Buds 2 for just $23.27, making them the cheapest option on our list.

All this to say, if you're looking to shop early, there are some early Prime Day deals we can genuinely recommend. We'll be updating this guide as we approach the sale, but for now, check out the top deals so far.

Best ANC headphones deal

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Credit: Sony

Sony WH-1000XM6

$398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99

 

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Why we like it

The Sony XM6 headphones aren't a must-upgrade if you already own the XM5s — in fact, we find the two quite similar. That said, the XM6 headphones are a much more palatable upgrade at a sub-$400 price range, and bring the added convenience of folding ear cups, which is especially handy if you anticipate using them for travel often (which their excellent ANC does make them a great candidate for). At the time of writing, this sale price applies to all five of their colorways, including the newly released sandstone.

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

More ANC headphones deals

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

• CMF BY Nothing Headphone Pro — $65 $99 (save $24)

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

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

• Nothing Headphone (a) — $151.05 $199 (save $47.95)

• Beats Studio Pro — $169.95 $199.95 (save $30)

• Nothing Headphone (1) — $213.75 $299 (save $85.25)

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

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra — $329 $429 (save $100)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra, 2nd gen — $379 $449 (save $70)

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

Best ANC earbuds deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

The AirPods Pro have long been a great choice for any Apple power user, and the third generation of the earbuds is no different. In fact, it fills even more gaps than its predecessors. In addition to its solid sound quality and top notch ANC, these earbuds come in with live translation features, and a built-in heart rate monitor. At their full price, they're already on the cheaper end of premium flagship earbuds, but at $179, they're both at their lowest price ever and a nearly unbeatable value.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

More earbuds deals

• CMF By Nothing Buds 2 — $23.27 $49 (save $25.73)

• Nothing Ear (3) — $128.25 $179 (save $50.75)

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

• Technics EAH-AZ100 — $232.99 $299.99 (save $67)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) — $249 $299 (save $50)

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

• Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 — $449 $499 (save $50)

Corporate leadership changes rarely come without internal shakeups, reorganizations, and layoffs, and Xbox appears to be going through that right now.

Just a few months after longtime Xbox head Phil Spencer left the company and former AI executive Asha Sharma was put in charge, the gaming world received a duet of news stories from Xbox that paint a bleak picture of the internal state of Microsoft's gaming division. To start, news came on Monday morning that Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O'Connor had departed the company, per The Game Business. Then, a few hours later, Kotaku reported that Compulsion Games, developer of 2025 critical darling South of Midnight, was going through the process of being shut down.

It should be noted that this is very much a developing situation. Xbox has not officially confirmed the shutdown of Compulsion, and Kotaku reporter Rebekah Valentine noted on social media that studio leadership is in some sort of "negotations" with Microsoft over the fate of the development team. However, at least one Compulsion employee posted on social media today that they are looking for work.

Still, even with as much as we don't know right now, it doesn't feel like speculation to say things are difficult at Xbox right now, despite company leadership painting a more rosy picture publicly in recent months. For example, Xbox has been teasing its next console, dubbed "Project Helix," since March. The device was first hinted at in an interview with Mashable last year, and more recently, Xbox has sent Project Helix merch to some influencers and content creators. Xbox also recently started walking back its policy of allowing some first-party games to release on competing platforms, which could arguably be seen as a way to win the hearts and minds of longtime Xbox devotees.

Those gestures suggest that Microsoft is serious about the future of the Xbox brand, but more layoffs are also widely expected to come in the near future, per Bloomberg. Broadly speaking, Xbox has had a difficult time maintaining a steady cadence of game releases in recent years, and studio closures and layoffs are unlikely to help with that in the short term. There's also the longer-term question of the company's reputation among consumers; between game cancelations, studio closures, and Xbox's prominent place on the BDS boycott list due to Microsoft's relationship with the Israeli military, anecdotally I can say several people I know have sworn off of Xbox products for the time being.

It will be interesting to see if anything that happens over the next year or two can change that trend.

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is going to be absolutely electric. Most of the drama will be reserved for the knockout rounds, but that doesn't mean we aren't getting huge games in the group stage.

Take France vs. Senegal, for example. It's one of the favorites to win the competition against a special Senegal team that some argue won AFCON earlier this year. Could Senegal turn back the clock and beat France in the group stage like they did in the opening match of the 2002 tournament? What a story that would be.

If you want to watch France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Senegal?

France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 16. This fixture takes place at the MetLife Stadium.

How to watch France vs. Senegal for free

France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream France vs. Senegal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch France vs. Senegal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream France vs. Senegal (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Group H in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is likely to be dominated by Spain and Uruguay, but don't count out Saudi Arabia. In this expanded tournament, the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockouts rounds. That very much opens the door to Saudi Arabia.

Uruguay will be relying on star names likes Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Darwin Nunez. That's the sort of talent that could take Marcelo Bielsa's side into the latter stages.

If you want to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay?

Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on June 15. This fixture takes place at the Hard Rock Stadium.

How to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay for free

Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

A federal judge has denied Meta's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit claiming it violated copyright law by torrenting (illegally downloading) porn to train its AI.

On June 11, U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee filed the order, stating that porn holding company, Strike 3 Holdings, and Counterlife Media (in which Strike 3 has a majority ownership interest), "have plausibly alleged that [Meta] is liable for direct, vicarious, and contributatory copyright infringement based on the torrenting of their films."

Strike 3 Holdings, which owns several popular porn sites like Blacked, according to 404 Media, first filed the lawsuit in July 2025. Strike 3 Holdings and Counterlife Media alleged that, between 2018 and 2025, Meta infringed on more than 2,300 copyrighted pornographic movies by downloading them to train its AI models. Meta is alleged to have used the popular torrenting program BitTorrent.

IP addresses that trace back to Meta's corporate offices acted "consistently in non-human patterns," the suit states, "involving mass infringement beyond what a human could consume." The companies are seeking damages up to $359 million.

Meta filed the motion to dismiss against the Strike 3 lawsuit in Oct., denying the claims and stating that they were "nonsensical and unsupported" and that the porn downloads were for "personal use." But in the order denying the motion, Lee remarked on the download patterns, such as the IP addresses torrenting similar files with the same name, all in one day, from cartoons to porn. "It strains credulity to suggest that these correlations are mere coincidence and the product of individual human selections," Lee wrote.

Now, the lawsuit can proceed.

Strike 3 and Counterlife Media became aware of Meta's BitTorrent activity through press coverage of the Jan. 2025 lawsuit against Meta. Discovery in that case revealed that the company pirated books for AI training. In June 2025, Meta won the case. However, as Mashable reported at the time, the judge in that case wrote that the plaintiffs may have been successful if they had made different legal arguments, leaving the door open for suits such as this one.

Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

Levi's, the iconic 153-year-old denim brand, is going viral over a bizarre incident at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA rules forced a cover-up the Levi's logo, which is part of the name and signage of a California stadium, before a World Cup match.

And now Levi's is covering up its logo on its Instagram profile, too. 

Levi's is going all in on the coverup and has covered its logo on its Instagram profile too. Credit: Mashable screenshot

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, hosted its first World Cup match between Switzerland and Qatar this past Saturday. However, during the World Cup, it's not known as Levi's Stadium. It's temporarily called the "San Francisco Bay Area Stadium." As part of FIFA's requirements for stadiums hosting the 2026 World Cup matches, Levi's was forced to cover the logo on the 68,000-person venue. FIFA required any brands found in the stadiums to be covered up if they aren't official sponsors of the World Cup.

However, unlike the other 11 NFL stadiums that were required to do the same, Levi's got creative with its forced cover-up.

Unlike, say, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which just put up banners over the MetLife logo, Levi's instead wrapped a tight-fitting white tarp over its logo, which is still recognizable even though the name is obscured.

The brand also poked fun at the move in an Instagram Reel.

View this post on Instagram

"Welcoming the world to the beautiful [redacted] stadium!" Levi's said in a Reel posted to their Instagram account on Sunday. The video shows the covered-up Levi's Stadium logo using the viral TikTok audio, "Nobody's Gonna Know."

But Levi's just took it a step further, too. The company has now also digitally covered the Levi's logo in its Instagram profile picture with a white tarp.

So for now, whether it's on Instagram or at the World Cup stadium in Santa Clara, Levi's will go by [redacted], the iconic denim jeans brand that everyone knows.

"Staid." That’s how the Washington Post recently described the job market — not specifically in crisis, but the labor force is shrinking, and hiring is relatively anemic compared to the incredible growth seen after the ebbing of COVID. The unemployment rate in the U.S. ticked up from the 3-4 percent range in 2022-2024 and settled at around 4-5 percent in the last few years, with outside shocks like tariffs, wars, and the AI revolution hammering many industries. Silicon Valley has seen over 123,000 layoffs this year, according to Forbes, with generative AI cited as the main reason behind the cuts.

If AI is one of the problems bedeviling the job market, it's also seen by some as a solution. More than half of jobseekers utilize AI to write their resumes and cover letters, according to a LinkedIn survey. Employers are even more keen on using AI to screen candidates, with nearly 90 percent using it to rank or filter resumes, according to the World Economic Forum.

Making your resume and cover letter attractive to AI is much simpler than trying to slip in hidden words or prompts as some jobseekers have done (many employers now have software that catches those tricks, reports the New York Times).

Mashable connected with a handful of career experts on how to (ethically) get your resume to the top of the algorithms' piles. Our first expert, Jasmine Escalera, PhD, is a career coach who advises recruitment companies like Zety and Bold. Escalera said to keep it simple when it comes to your resume — and don't forget that human eyes will eventually be looking at your CV and cover letter.

So many people assume AI is doing the first pass on resumes. Is that true?

It's likely the case. We know the job market is very flooded. We know it’s a very challenging job market. We’ve seen jobs posted on LinkedIn, and within hours, they have hundreds of applicants.

AI, if it’s used by a company, is a first-round filter — to essentially be able to say, out of these hundreds of applicants, which no HR human could really go through on their own, how can we find the applicants that match the position the best?

So, in the second round, humans, individual eyes, can come onto the best talent within this pool and really see who can move forward with the interview process.

So, yes, and I know that can be very frustrating for job seekers, but we also want to understand the recruitment process. Because of the job market and how challenging it’s become, HR and recruiters are using [AI] to really filter through a very large applicant pool.

Is there an argument to be made that AI levels the playing field? Instead of a human sifting through a pile of resumes and seeing someone who went to their alma mater, it’s a computer without those biases.

Well, I remember when I was a jobseeker back in the day, when these kinds of AI tools didn’t necessarily exist — there were applicant tracking systems, but they didn’t work the way they do now. We were told, “Apply for a job on a Monday morning or even a Sunday night, so your application is at the top of the list." Or, "Don’t apply on these particular days." We were trying to come up with workarounds to get ourselves seen.

Now, the inherent bias sort of gets taken out of the occasion. Because every jobseeker now knows they have to get through the [Applicant Tracking System] and is using AI to help support them in resume building, it’s made it that much more complicated because now everybody knows what a keyword is, everyone knows what skills they need to put on a resume, everybody can use AI to help generate the most stellar bullets to stand out with quantifiable metrics. It’s made it much more challenging, and that’s why AI can be most helpful in filtering through this [for HR professionals].

But, ultimately, it is a filter. When you get to that human who’s looking at your resume, they’re likely going to be looking for something completely different than what the AI was looking for. Baseline, [at that point] they know the applicant pool is going to be stellar, that these applicants likely have all of the experience and skillsets they set [the AI to look] for. Now, what they’re looking for is differentiators. What differentiates resumes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G? And those differentiators are typically the things AI can’t create for you.

Does AI have a bias against resumes created with AI?

It’s very dependent on whatever system the employer is using, and I don’t have enough knowledge to know if these AI systems these employers use have triggers for AI-created resumes. However, there are AI tells.

There are specific ways AI creates resumes that tell whether AI just completely generated this. It’s a lot of amplification of the experience. They have so much jargon there; [the job descriptions make] you sound like you went to the moon. There’s a lot of extra words and verbiage.

So we want to make sure that if you are using AI, and I believe every jobseeker should use AI to support them in resume building — support is the key word — you have to go through and make sure this sounds like a human created it, there’s that human element to it, there’s storytelling involved in it. You can’t create a story-based resume that focuses on why you’re specifically perfect for this mission because, at the age of 10, you were baking cookies and selling them, and now you want to work for the Girl Scouts and sell and market their cookies.

There are so many sites that claim to help jobseekers optimize their resumes for AI. Can those websites be trusted?

It’s really about the research and looking into the different platforms you’re interested in and making sure other jobseekers have used it and had success with it. Just like if you were to purchase any kind of product, you’re going to want to know if that product is going to give you the best bang for your buck. A jobseeker should do the same due diligence when it comes to the platforms that help them build their resumes.

The great things about Claude, ChatGPT, and AI in general, outside of the AI resume builders, are that they can help you create these bullets of experiences and skill sets. Some of these other AI resume builders are really built to help you create the layout, the architecture, the design of the resume. That’s one thing to consider.

Any tips for making resumes stand out to the algorithms?

The number one thing is to make sure you’re using the job description as the template for your resume. You want to make sure the job description in your resume matches very closely, meaning the term they’re using, you’re using.

If you’re applying for a client success manager position, but you’re using "customer success manager," even that small keyword switch is going to make a difference. Follow the job description to a T. Typically, whatever bullets they have at the beginning of the job description are usually the most high priority items for this position, in terms of experience, knowledge, and showing you’re capable of doing those tasks.

A great thing to do is to take that job description and put it through a Claude or a ChatGPT and ask it specifically, "What are the key words I should make sure are in the resume? What are the top experiences or work tasks this job is asking me to focus on?"

We’re talking about resumes, but one of the biggest things that people often ask me is, “Do you really need a cover letter?” People hate cover letters. And now, because resumes can be so well-crafted and so well-generated with AI, I believe cover letters are even more important because that’s the opportunity to tell a story. That's the opportunity to say why this organization matters to you so much.

You also want to think about those differentiators — what’s going to make me stand out in the resume? Where can I add specific elements that will really connect with this organization’s mission, and how can I use my cover letter to tell my story as well?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Blurry restaurant photos, Amazon case listings, and leaked specs are providing an early look at Samsung’s next foldable phone. While nothing is official yet, the available information is starting to paint a clearer picture of what the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could bring when it launches.

Prime Day 2026 is nearly upon us — and so is one of the best times to get a deal on a MacBook. I've covered Amazon's flagship summer sale for seven years straight now, and I've noticed that Apple's laptops always fall to extra-low prices as part of the festivities. (If they don't hit record-lows, they at least get close.)

Every current MacBook is already on sale ahead of Prime Day, which runs from June 23 to 26, but I wouldn't recommend grabbing one just yet. Amazon likes to save its best deals for Prime Day proper, meaning their discounts will likely increase once the sale starts next week. We could even get our first big discount on the new budget MacBook Neo; this is its first Prime Day ever.

Read on for my predictions for the best Prime Day MacBook deals, from the Neo to the M5 MacBook Air and the M5 MacBook Pros. Now is also a good time to check out my separate MacBook buying guide if you're not sure which model is right for you.

Prime Day MacBook Neo deals to look for

Amazon hasn't been totally resistant to putting the Neo on sale — it's been $9 off for several weeks now — but it doesn't get the same big price cuts as Apple's other laptops. (This is probably because it's already a bargain at full price.) With that in mind, I wouldn't count on Amazon matching Apple's $100 student discount on Prime Day; it's still the best way to buy the Neo if you're eligible. But I could see Amazon dropping the base model to $549, or $50 off, luring back-to-school shoppers who don't quality for Apple's education pricing.

Read our review of the MacBook Neo.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Neo deals for now:

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Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)

$589.99 (save $9.01)

Get Deal

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Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$689.99 (save $9.01)

Get Deal

Prime Day MacBook Air deals to look for

Last year's 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs got $150 discounts for Prime Day 2025, but we've already seen the newer M5 models go on sale for $200 off this spring. While those deals weren't still live at the time of writing. I expect Amazon to revive them once Prime Day begins next week. Look for records low of $899 for the 13-inch configuration and $1,099 for its 15-inch sibling.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Air.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Air deals for now:

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Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$949.99 (save $149.01)

Get Deal

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Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,149.99 (save $149.01)

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Prime Day MacBook Pro deals to look for

The base 14-inch MacBook Pro features an M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage. Amazon is currently selling it for $1,549, or $150 off, but I wouldn't add it to my cart just yet. It fell to $1,499 earlier this month, and that all-time low will likely return come Prime Day. You might have to be a little patient, though: Last year, an identically configured M4 MacBook Pro didn't get a $200 discount until the fourth (last) day of the sale.

If you need even more power for professional creative or AI work, there's also a 16-inch MacBook Pro that's configurable with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip. If anything, the starting M5 Max model is a relatively safe buy right now: It's currently on sale at its record-low price of $3,349, or $250 off. (The M5 Pro base model is still $60-ish away from its own record low of $1,983.94, which would save you about $215.) However, its M4 Max counterpart also got much cheaper as Prime Day progressed last year — to the tune of over $400 off. When you're dropping this much cash on a new laptop, I think it's wise to wait and see if prices drop even further.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Pro.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Pro deals for now:

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Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$1,549 (save $150)

Get Deal

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Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$2,045 (save $154)

Get Deal

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Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD)

$3,349 (save $250)

Get Deal

The RTX Spark laptop platform is a big deal for AI developers and power users working with giant models on Windows, but its impact on the PC market will be longer-term. PCMag's John Burek explains.

Best Early Prime Day Amazon Device Deals

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Best Amazon Fire TV Deals

Toshiba 43-inch Class C350 LED 4K Smart TV

$139.98 (Save $160.01)

Get Deal

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Best Amazon Home Security Deal

Blink Outdoor 4 XR 6-Camera System

$146.99 (Save $273)

Get Deal

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Best Amazon Smart Home Deal

Amazon Eero Pro 6E Mesh WiFi System

$329.99 (Save $120)

Get Deal

The countdown is on for Prime Day. Amazon's annual flagship sale runs June 23 to 26, but deals are here already. We always expect some of the best deals during Prime Day to be on Amazon's very own devices, and that's certainly the case ahead of the sale. Prices have been slashed on Amazon devices with discounts up to 65% off.

Some of the biggest savings are on Amazon Fire TVs. Every size and a variety of brands are all on sale, saving you hundreds of dollars on 4K TVs. But there are also some big savings on home security and smart home devices, too.

So what's not on sale right now? Unfortunately, Kindles. That's not to say they won't be, we just expect those deals to drop once Prime Day actually starts. Echo devices are also not on sale at the moment (besides the Echo Glow) so we're patiently waiting for more.

Here are all the early Prime Day deals on Amazon devices to start shopping now.

Best early Prime Day Amazon Fire TV deals

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Credit: Toshiba

Toshiba 43-inch Class C350 LED 4K Smart TV

$139.98 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $160.01

 

Get Deal

There's nothing better than a smart TV that provides access to all your favorite streaming services, no extraneous streaming sticks or devices needed. Ahead of Prime Day, the Fire TV sales are plentiful. The best deal is on the Toshiba 43-inch Class C350 LED 4K Smart TV, which is down to $139.98, saving you over $160 off. This 4K TV comes equipped with Dolby Vision Atmos for clearer sound and picture for the best possible viewing experience.

TV deals move fast during big sales so if this deal looks good to you, buy it quick before it sells out.

More Amazon Fire TV deals

• Insignia 24-inch F40 Series LED Smart Fire TV — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)

• Insignia 32-inch F20 Series LED Smart Fire TV — $69.99 $129.99 (save $60)

• Insignia 40-inch FE Series LED Smart Fire TV — $99.99 $149.99 (save $50)

• Amazon 40-inch 2-Series Smart Fire TV — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K Smart Fire TV — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)

• Amazon Ember 55-inch 4-Series Ultra HD Smart Fire TV — $279.95 $459.99 (save $180.04)

• Amazon Fire 55-inch Omni QLED 4K Smart Fire TV — $279.99 $499.99 (save $220)

• Insignia 65-inch QF Series LED 4K Smart Fire TV — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

• TCL Amazon Exclusive 85-inch QM64L Series QLED Smart Fire TV — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)

Remote and soundbar deals

• Amazon Fire TV Voice Remote Pro — $22.99 $34.99 (save $12)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $79.99 $119.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus — $144.99 $249.99 (save $105)

Streaming stick deals

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $15.99 $34.99 (save $19)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $39.99 (save $22)

Best early Prime Day home security deal

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Credit: Amazon

Blink Outdoor 4 XR 6-Camera System

$146.99 at Amazon
$419.99 Save $273

 

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Looking to boost your home's security? Well ahead of Prime Day, find major savings on Amazon's Blink security cameras. Right now the Blink Outdoor 4 XR is down to $146.99. That saves you $273 off the six camera system. The XR cameras in this bundle provides a 70% more reliable wireless connection with fewer disconnections to WiFi so you can feel more secure in your security system. Plus, the cameras have a two-year battery life.

More Amazon home security deals

• Blink Wired Floodlight — $29.99 $99.99 (save $70)

• Blink Outdoor 4 5-Camera System — $104.99 $299.99 (save $195)

• Blink Outdoor 2K+ Wireless Security Camera — $156.99 $349.99 (save $193.99)

Best early Prime Day smart home deal

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Eero Pro 6E Mesh WiFi System

$329.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $120

 

Get Deal

If your WiFi isn't cutting it, it might be time to optimize with Amazon Eero system. Ahead of Prime Day the Eero Pro 6E Mesh WiFi system is down to $329.99, saving you $120 off its $449.99 price tag. It supports over 100 devices over 6,000+ square feet. Even if you're not the most technologically savvy, set-up will be a breeze thanks to the step by step guide in Eero's app.

More early Prime Day smart home deals

• Amazon Smart Plug — $12.99 $24.99 (save $12)

• Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Smart Thermostat — $57.99 $79.99 (save $22)

More early Prime Day Amazon device deals

Fire tablets

• Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55)

Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Glow — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)

Kindle deals

• Amazon Wireless Charging Dock for Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition — $29.99 $44.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Kindle Scribe Premium Pen — $51.99 $79.99 (save $28)

TL;DR: Live stream Belgium vs. Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage fixtures has thrown together some really interesting matchups, but Belgium vs. Egypt stands out in the schedule.

These sides are probably favorites to progress from Group G into the knockout rounds, but only one team can finish top. This will be a fascinating battle between two teams stacked with talent, with all eyes on the likes of Mohamed Salah and Jérémy Doku. We've already seen some really intense contests from this competition, and this looks like one of the most difficult games to predict ahead of kick off.

If you want to watch Belgium vs. Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Belgium vs. Egypt?

Belgium vs. Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 15. This fixture takes place at Lumen Field.

How to watch Belgium vs. Egypt for free

Belgium vs. Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Belgium vs. Egypt for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Belgium vs. Egypt for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Belgium vs. Egypt (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Belgium vs. Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Keeping a close eye on the players of the 2026 FIFA World Cup means you get to watch some excellent soccer, but lately, it also means getting tuned into the latest audio release ahead of everyone else.

As reported by AppleInsider, three players have been spotted wearing a mystery pair of over-ear Beats headphones. The headphones appear different from everything Beats has released before, featuring new colorways, ultra-thick ear cushions, and a slim outer speaker section.

The new headphones didn't come entirely out of left field, with an FCC filing from March showing that Apple had an unreleased pair of Bluetooth over-ear headphones in the works, as reported by MacRumors.

Who's been spotted with the new Beats headphones?

So far, we've seen three World Cup players don the headphones. The first tease came from Spanish player Lamine Yamal, who was spotted stepping off the plane in Tennessee on June 5 with not one, but two pairs of the Beats headphones — one that was entirely light pink, and one that was entirely cream.

The Spanish soccer star stepped out with two pairs of the unreleased Beats headphones. Credit: Getty Images / Coral Scoles-Coburn

He later posted the light pink pair of headphones on June 11, with the cans slung around the handle of his bag once more. This time, the picture was buried deep in an Instagram carousel.

U.S. player Antonee Robinson was the next to post the headphones, posting a picture on June 14 of him wearing a two-toned pair of cans with a white exterior and dark blue ear cups. Zooming into the picture also shows what looks like a glint of metal on the adjustable part of the headband.

Robinson wore the Beats headphones ahead of the June 12 match up between the US and Paraguay. Credit: Getty Images / Credit: John Dorton/USSF

Finally, South Korean player Kang-in Lee also included two photos of himself wearing the headphones around his neck in a June 14 Instagram post. This time, the headphones had the same white exterior as Robinson's pair but featured neon yellow-green ear cushions. Once again, zooming in on the photo shows a glint of a metal-like adjustable arm of the headband.

Discerning eyes can spot the bright ear cushions of Lee's headphones under his hood as he heads to the June 11 match up of South Korea and Czechia. Credit: Getty Images / Credit: Julian Finney/ FIFA

Everything we know about the headphones so far

It's unclear so far whether these headphones are an updated design or limited-edition of an existing Beats product, or entirely new headphones. What we do know is that the brand's only pair of over-ear headphones, the Beats Studio Pro, were released in 2023, so an update isn't out of the question.

That said, it remains possible that Beats expands its lineup, possibly with a more premium pair of cans. It's a move Sony just pulled with their Collexion headphones. Plus, with the Studio Pros being $349.99, Beats has the room to grow — noise cancelling flagships from Sony, Bose, and Apple all sit in the $450 and up range.

As for the design of these headphones, there's some speculation as to whether the two-tone colorways spotted on Lee and Robinson indicate some kind of customizability for the headphones (which we have seen before). The headphones also feature USB-C charging and at least one on-ear tactile button. The possible metal section of the headband might suggest these headphones aren't foldable, which would be a deviation from the design of the Beats Studio Pro.

Beats loves to cater to a more athletic crowd (hence the venue for the tease out of these headphones), so it's also possible we'll see some built-in health features like the heart-rate monitoring included on last year's Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.

We've reached out to a Beats representative for comment and will update this article if we recieve more information.

SAVE $60: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE) is on sale at Amazon for $369.99, down from the list price of $429.99. That's a 14% discount.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE)

$369.99 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $60

 

Get Deal

A smartwatch has become part of our daily tech arsenal. We use them to track fitness, sleep, keep an eye on the time, and write quick replies to text messages. Apple Watches have become a standard among iPhone users, but for those who have Android devices, there's the lineup of Samsung Galaxy Watches. Before the Galaxy Watch 9 launches, the Galaxy 8 is seeing significant discounts.

As of June 15, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE) is on sale at Amazon for $369.99, marked down from the list price of $429.99. That takes $60 off the price thanks to the 14% discount.

Mashable's review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 praised its bright display, attractive looks, and smart health features. Reviewer Adam Doud mentioned one of the only negatives is its battery life, which lands somewhere in the 33 to 35 hour range.

Otherwise, Doud left impressed by the watch and wrote, "I really like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, despite the battery life. I love the classy look, the software is really tight, and the Google Gemini integration is a big perk."

The Galaxy Watch 8 has a slimmer profile compared to previous models, meaning it'll lie flatter on your wrist. This is the first Samsung Watch to have Google Gemini on the watch face. It also runs Samsung Health which can help out with fitness goals, sleep, energy, BMI, and more.

For those hoping to have an active summer, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has a built-in running coach that can give you real-time feedback and help with analyzing performance.

For anyone looking for a new smartwatch, consider today's sale price on the worthwhile Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE). It's down to under $370 at Amazon in both silver and graphite colorways.

TL;DR: Pop Mart's Labubu World Cup 2026 collection is available on Amazon and through select retailers. You can grab the "Catch the Win" plush and keychains right now with Prime shipping.

Where to buy Labubu World Cup 2026 collectibles:

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Pop Mart The Monsters × FIFA Series "Catch the Win" Vinyl Plush Doll

$149.99

Shop Now

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Pop Mart The Monsters × FIFA Series Vinyl Plush Keychain

$32.99

Shop Now

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Pop Mart The Monsters X FIFA Series Bottle Opener Fridge Magnet

$15.99

Shop Now

If you tuned into the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Mexico City last week, you probably noticed giant, pointy-eared plush figures running around and stealing the spotlight. That's Labubu — the mischievous, cult-favorite character from Pop Mart's "The Monsters" series. Pop Mart and FIFA collaborated on a limited-edition "The Monsters x FIFA Series" to celebrate the tournament.

Between the viral World Cup cameo and making history as the very first Chinese IP to make an appearance at the event, fans and collectors are currently clearing out inventory wherever they can find it.

If you want to get your hands on one before they sell out, your best bet right now is Amazon. Pop Mart recently opened an official storefront on the site, so you can grab the "Catch the Win" Vinyl Plush Doll for $149.99, plus a handful of themed World Cup keychains.

Word of caution: If Amazon sells out and you end up buying from an authorized third-party retailer (like BoxLunch, Hot Topic, or Walmart), make sure to check the box when it arrives. Every legit Labubu comes with a holographic security sticker and a QR code that links directly to Pop Mart's database for verification. You can also just count the teeth — a real Labubu has nine.

President Donald Trump is threatening to impose 100 percent tariffs on French wines and champagne unless France eliminates its digital services tax on American tech companies, according to an exclusive interview published Sunday by the New York Post, a conservative-leaning outlet.

Trump told the Post he delivered the ultimatum personally to outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron, giving him a straightforward choice: scrap the tech tax or lose access to the U.S. market, which the Post reports accounts for roughly a fifth of the French wine industry's global sales.

France's digital services tax — known as the GAFAM tax — has been in place since 2019, applying a 3 percent levy on local revenues generated by companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple. According to the French finance ministry, it generated roughly $700 million last year.

The threat lands ahead of Monday's G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, and directly contradicts claims from Macron's office last week that the dispute had been quietly resolved. A U.S. official reportedly dismissed that characterization as inaccurate, according to the Post.

France appears increasingly isolated on the issue. Canada dropped its own digital tax in 2025 under U.S. pressure, and Italy is reportedly weighing a similar retreat with the Italian digital services tax.

SAVE $550.02: The Aiper Scuba V3 robot pool cleaner is on sale at Amazon for $849.97, down from the normal price of $1,399.99. That's a 39% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

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Credit: Aiper

Aiper Scuba V3

$849.97 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $550.02

 

Get Deal

It's time to enjoy pool season. A morning dip, an afternoon cool-off, or an all-day pool party are all on the schedule for the summer. There's just one thing sitting in the way — cleaning the pool. If you dread the wind that bring leaves, sand, and dirt into the pool because it means extra cleaning, check out this deal.

For a limited time only on June 15, the Aiper Scuba V3 robot pool cleaner is on sale at Amazon for $849.97, marked down from the normal price of $1,399.99. That's a 39% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon. Plus, it comes with free Aiper micron ultra-fine replacement filters which usually sell for $59.99.

The Aiper Scuba V3 would like to take over the chore of cleaning the pool this summer. It uses AI vision to navigate the pool while scrubbing and filtering. The multi-layer filtration is designed to capture large items like leaves, twigs, and insects. But it's also capable of ridding your pool of sand, hair, algae, and even microorganisms.

From the Aiper app, you'll be able to schedule a cleaning calendar for the Scuba V3. Tell it to clean the floor every other day and tackle the walls twice a week. There's also the option for it to clean up the waterline. After its cleaning session, the Aiper will park on the waterline, making for easy retrieval. Place it on the included wireless charging dock, and it'll be ready for the next cleaning session.

Aiper equipped the Scuba V3 with dual LED lights so the AI vision system can clean at any time, even in the dark of night. That same AI vision is designed with obstacle avoidance, so the robot pool cleaner will navigate around toys, bricks, and even frogs.

Plus, the Aiper is designed to clean all pool shapes, from rectangular to customized. It's capable of cleaning pools made of concrete, fiberglass, tiles, and vinyl liners.

While it's still at the lowest price we've seen, upgrade the summer with the Aiper Scuba V3. But move quickly because the sale price is set to expire today.

The 2026 World Cup is very much up and running. The group stage has only just started, but it already feels like we've been treated to some epic clashes between star-studded teams. And the atmosphere in the stadiums has been great, despite the heat.

Today, June 15, is another huge day with four matchups in the U.S.. The action starts at 12 p.m. ET. The schedule is hectic and it can feel overwhelming, so we've broken down the details for you below. Here's what you need to know to tune in live today.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 15

• Group H: Spain vs. Cape Verde (Atlanta Stadium) — kickoff at 12 p.m. ET

• Group G: Belgium vs. Egypt (Seattle Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• Group H: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (Miami Stadium) — kickoff at 6 p.m. ET

• Group G: Iran vs. New Zealand (Los Angeles Stadium) — kickoff at 9 p.m. ET

How to livestream FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Spain vs. Cape Verde

Spain are one of the favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They will be expected to progress from Group H with ease, but they'll be anxious to start well against a Cape Verde side. Kickoff is at 12 p.m. ET, and live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Belgium vs. Egypt

These sides are probably favorites to progress from Group G, but only one team can finish top. We're expecting a real battle. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET, and coverage will be on Fox and Fox One, with Spanish-language coverage on Peacock.

Watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay

Uruguay will be favorites to win this one, but don't count out Saudi Arabia just yet. This matchup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET and live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Spanish-language coverage will be streaming on Peacock.

Watch Iran vs. New Zealand

OK, this isn't the most exciting matchup on paper, but this game is vital. Belgium and Egypt are favorites in this group, so a defeat here would be disastrous for these teams. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m ET, and live coverage is on FS1 and Fox One, with Spanish-language coverage on Peacock.

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Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-Month Subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

 

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Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish Language)

Starting at $10.99/month

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More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. You just need a VPN.

We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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Between the New York Knicks winning the NBA championship to FIFA World Cup fever currently running rampant in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been all over the place lately. It's hard to imagine that there's someone who doesn't know who he is.

Well, apparently, there is at least one person who wouldn't recognize Mayor Mamdani if he was, say, sitting right next to him at a World Cup game.

YouTube megastar IShowSpeed attended the first World Cup 2026 game at NYNJ stadium, aka MetLife Stadium, between Brazil and Morocco on Saturday. Naturally, Speed livestreamed from the match for 2 and a half hours.

At around the 2-hour and 11-minute mark, Speed moves to a new section and takes a seat. His viewers in the livestream chat immediately erupt as they realize that Mayor Mamdani could be seen in the background, sitting just two seats away in the same aisle as Speed.

"Mayor? You the Mayor?" Speed says as he checks his livestream chat two minutes after taking his new seat.

In a now viral video clipped from the livestream, Speed turns to Mamdani and asks if he's the Mayor. Mamdani confirms that he is indeed the Mayor of New York City and Speed shakes his hand.

This wasn't a case of Speed not realizing he was sitting next to Mamdani. Incredibly, Speed did not seem to know who Mamdani even was once he saw him.

But it did make for yet another amazing moment at the 2026 World Cup.

TL;DR: All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer/ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, which recently announced it's an Official Tournament Supporter of the event in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

It feels like the world has stopped for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are welcoming 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. We're still making our way through the first round of group-stage fixtures, but the likes of Mexico, USA, and Australia have already secured big victories. There's some big names still to start their campaign, and you can watch it all without spending anything.

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 knockout 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 livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

If you're looking for the best VPN to stream the FIFA World Cup, ExpressVPN recently announced that it's an Official Tournament Supporter of the event in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. ExpressVPN was already our go-to recommendation for sports streaming, and now it's also the exclusive VPN supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Livestream 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 the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

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 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 sports 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 sports 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 a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $350: As of June 15, the ASUS 34-inch ROG Strix Ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitor is on sale for just $649 instead of $999 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That's 35% in savings and its best price ever.

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Credit: ASUS

ASUS 34-inch ROG Strix Ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitor (XG34WCDG)

$649 at Amazon
$999 Save $350

 

Get Deal

Upgrading your gaming monitor to an OLED model can completely transform your experience. With extremely high contrast, true blacks, and a wide color gamut, an OLED monitor is basically like eye candy. The market is wide and varied, but we're here to offer a little advice: grab this ASUS 34-inch ultrawide OLED monitor while it's the cheapest it's ever been.

As of June 15, the ASUS 34-inch ROG Strix Ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitor (XG34WCDG) is only $649 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That's a massive $350 or 35% discount and beats its previous record-low price by about $50. If you want to upgrade without emptying your wallet, this is a hard deal to pass up.

This monitor features a 3440x1440 OLED display with a subtle 1800R curvature and 21:9 aspect ratio. Unlike a more aggressive curved display, it won't take a lot of time to get used to. It will subtly wrap the action around you and make your games feel more immersive while actually increasing your eye comfort.

Other perks are a 175Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compatibility, and ROG gaming AI tech, all of which enhance your gaming experience. Plus, as I mentioned, the OLED panel has an extremely high contrast ratio that'll make your gaming visuals pop.

If your gaming setup is feeling a little lackluster, the ASUS XG34WCDG monitor will give you the ol' razzle-dazzle. And if you snag it ahead of Prime Day, it'll cost you significantly less than usual.

The world of streaming just got a big corporate makeover.

In a press release on Monday, Roku, a major streaming company, announced it would be acquired by Fox for $22 billion. The idea, per the press release, is to combine Fox's extensive media empire (which includes lots of live sports and news content) with Roku's enormous reach as a streaming platform and hardware provider.

Fox and Roku said that Roku's streaming platform, whether it's through built-in operating systems on smart TVs or external hardware, reaches 100 million households globally.

This deal will give Fox the third-largest share of the U.S. television market, per the release.

This acquisition makes a lot of sense for Fox, as the media giant has a huge audience across live sports and news, but aside from Tubi (which it acquired in 2020), Fox's streaming footprint hasn't been especially large to this point. Many people use Roku's operating system and devices, and Fox might be able to drive viewership to things like baseball games, NASCAR races, or live news coverage using its newfound streaming reach.

However, between this deal and the still-in-flux merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, it does increasingly feel like everything is owned by a total of three or four companies.

Let's face it: Season 2 of House of the Dragon promised fire and blood, but its baffling finale felt more like a puff of smoke.

The season fizzled to an ending with zero catharsis, forced Game of Thrones references, and a highlight reel of what was to come. In some ways, that structure mirrored the season's core conflict. For all of Season 2, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) tried everything they could to prevent all-out war. But while their stalling to prevent the inevitable was rooted deeply in the story, the show's own reluctance to leap into the next phase of George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood felt more like it was spinning its wheels until Season 3.

Now, the third season of House of the Dragon is finally here, and its first four episodes manage to make up for Season 2's finale and then some, delivering jaw-dropping spectacle and somber truths about the cost of war.

House of the Dragon's Battle of the Gullet is spectacular.

Steve Toussaint in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Remember how barely an episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 went by without a mention of Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Toussaint) naval blockade in the Gullet? We finally get the payoff for that blockade at the top of Season 3, as the Triarchy's fleet bears down on the Sea Snake's forces. The ensuing clash, known as the Battle of the Gullet, is one of the defining fights of the Dance of the Dragons — the royal succession civil war between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).

Given that so much of Season 2 was building to this point — hence the fan frustration that it wasn't included — the pressure on House of the Dragon to pull off this battle is immense. Thankfully, the series more than delivers, with a sequence that had me yelling and pacing around my living room while also thinking, "We're so back."

A dazzling set piece involving ships, human soldiers, and multiple dragons, the Battle of the Gullet sets a new bar for Westerosi action. Every element is honed for maximum impact, from long takes of sailors boarding enemy ships to sweeping shots of dragons dive bombing the fleet. The battle, directed by Loni Peristere, wrings epic terror and awe from those big moments, but it also strikes gold in quieter moments, like a suspenseful boat chase that quickly becomes a stealth highlight of the episode.

Oh, and did I mention that this all takes place during the day, so you can make out every ounce of action taking place onscreen? For a franchise whose biggest battles have often been marred by darkness (looking at you, Battle of Winterfell), the Battle of the Gullet is a welcome adjustment. And, based on the first four episodes sent to critics for review, it's only the beginning for House of the Dragon Season 3's big action sequences.

House of the Dragon Season 3 pushes Rhaenyra to the brink.

Emma D'Arcy in "House of the Dragon." Credit: HBO

The Battle of the Gullet isn't just an emphatic statement to open Season 3. It's also a major turning point for the Dance of the Dragons, and for Rhaenyra in particular. All throughout House of the Dragon, she has balked at violence, worried at the havoc dragon warfare would wreak on the wider realm. By Season 3, though, Rhaenyra has lost so much to this conflict that she needs to do whatever she can to see it through. Only by taking the Iron Throne can she justify the pain she's experienced. That means making impossible choices and committing to violence she once would have shunned, sometimes carrying it out with her own hands. As she does, House of the Dragon asks, even after all this, will victory be worth it?

It's a haunting question, one that House of the Dragon teases out with tinges of psychological horror in the aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet. D'Arcy has always been magnificent as Rhaenyra, but here, they reach new heights with their raw portrayal of the queen's grief and rage. Their trembling hands and wracking sobs were just as wrenching as some of the Battle of the Gullet's most devastating moments, proving that House of the Dragon can match its biggest set pieces with pure human drama.

While the first half of House of the Dragon Season 3 manages to atone for Season 2's ending, it still commits its share of familiar sins. Threats of sexual violence towards women abound unnecessarily in these episodes, a trend that harkens back to Game of Thrones' worst moments. (Although thankfully nothing here is nearly as graphic.) Elsewhere, several plot threads feel stagnant, with once major players like Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) getting so little to do they may as well be set dressing. Their decreased roles may wind up paying off down the road, though, just like the many, many changes the show makes from Fire and Blood. While the latter reportedly strained the relationship between Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal, these changes do muddy the Targaryens' already very complicated relationships in intriguing ways, to the point that I'm more fascinated at how the writers came to these new arcs than mad at not getting a precise adaptation.

Despite the occasional low point and my misgivings following Season 2, House of the Dragon Season 3 flies high. Instead of spinning its wheels, it roars into the Targaryens' bloody future with action and creeping dread to spare, and that assurance and forward momentum turns out to be exactly what the show needs.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

SAVE 34%: As of June 15, you can get the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) series curved gaming monitor for $664.99, down from $999.99, at Amazon. That's a 34% discount or $335 savings.

Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) series curved gaming monitor

$664.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $335

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Prime Day is still a week away, but Amazon's been discounting random tech since the beginning of June. (We're definitely excited to see just how low they're willing to go once the sale begins.) And, if you're looking for a new gaming monitor, now might be the time to get one.

As of June 15, you can get the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) curved gaming monitor at Amazon for $664.99, down from $999.99. That's a 34% discount or $335 savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked on this model to date.

If you've never used a 49-inch monitor before, it essentially replaces a dual-screen setup without the plastic bezel cutting down the middle. This model has a 32:9 aspect ratio and a 1000R curve, which means the screen curves to match your field of view so you don't have to crane your neck to look at the edges.

Spec-wise, it offers a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time to reduce lag, and it uses AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to help prevent screen tearing. Just make sure you already have an HDMI cable lying around; this specific discounted listing only includes a DisplayPort cable. (If you select the bundle that includes both the DP and HDMI cables, the price jumps to $1,234.99.)

TL;DR: Live stream Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Spain are one of the favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They will be expected to progress from Group H with ease. Sure, Uruguay are tough opposition, but Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde will need to do something special to get anything from the Euro 2024 winners.

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are not likely to feature at this stage, with both returning from injuries recently. It's not like Spain are short of top-quality replacements. It's going to be an exceptionally tough matchup for Cape Verde, but anything is possible in the World Cup.

If you want to watch Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spain vs. Cape Verde?

Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on June 15. This fixture takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

How to watch Spain vs. Cape Verde for free

Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Spain vs. Cape Verde for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Spain vs. Cape Verde for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Spain vs. Cape Verde (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

We're always looking for new and inventive ways to hit you with big savings on popular items. We cover hundreds of deals every month. You can find these deals on site, on socials, and on our newsletter. We've also launched a Mashable Deals text group. The daily deals that we send to this group are researched and assessed by the team with the same level of care that we dedicate to the rest of our shopping content.

You can find a live hub for those deals right here.

SAVE $37.25: As of June 15, the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro is on sale for just $61.75 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That's a savings of 38% and its lowest price ever.

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Credit: Nothing

Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro

$61.75 at Amazon
$99 Save $37.25

 

Get Deal

It's hard to believe there's a smartwatch on the market that costs less than $100, let alone one that performs as well as the CMF Watch 3 Pro. It's the best smartwatch you've probably never heard of and one of Mashable's favorites from last year. And now it's down to its lowest price ever ahead of Prime Day, making it an absolute steal.

As of June 15, Nothing's CMF Watch 3 Pro is just $61.75 in every color. That's a 38% or $37.25 discount and the first time every color option has dropped to a price this low. To put that in perspective, you could buy 3.5 of these CMF smartwatches for the cost of one Apple Watch SE 3 (Apple's cheapest smartwatch).

Mashable's reviewer Lauren Allain said the CMF Watch 3 Pro "looks, feels, and functions like a smartwatch that costs hundreds more." She tested the watch last fall and still wears it daily. It offers a surprising amount of features for the price, including stress tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, precise heart-rate monitoring, dual-band GPS tracing, and in-depth sleep tracking. But where it really beats its competitors is in battery life. As Allain writes, "it just would not die." She had to toggle on some extra features just to wear it down in testing; it finally died after 16 days. Thats 15 more days than the Apple Watch lasts per charge.

If you're in the market for a new smartwatch and don't want to empty your bank account, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is a revelation. And ahead of Prime Day, you can get it for under $65. No need to wait.

SAVE $815.99: The Sunseeker S4 robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $984, down from the list price of $1,799.99. That's a 45% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

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Credit: Sunseeker

Sunseeker S4 robot lawn mower

$984 at Amazon
$1,799.99 Save $815.99

 

Get Deal

Prime Day is over a week away, but that doesn't mean the deals are dry this week. We're spotting record-low prices on some excellent options at Amazon, and that includes some ideas that could be great for Father's Day. If you're considering a robot lawn mower, check out today's deal.

As of June 15, the Sunseeker S4 robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $984, marked down from the list price of $1,799.99. That's a 45% discount that shaves $815.99 off the price. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Early Amazon Prime Day deals include some great options if you're looking for a last-minute Father's Day gift. If the Dad in your life doesn't love mowing the lawn but enjoys a well-manicured yard, a robot lawn mower could be fantastic. The Sunseeker S4 is designed to mow lawns that measure up to 0.25 acres and can handle slopes of up to 42%.

Using LiDAR navigation, the Sunseeker robot will take off to mow the grass to your preferred height between 1.6 and 3.2 inches. It also uses a floating cut deck, so it'll keep the cut even when the ground isn't. You can also customize yard zones, setting up to 100 zones and five maps.

A robot lawn mower might also be much quieter compared to a traditional mower. Sunseeker says the S4 robot lawn mower operates at about 60 decibels. At that level, you should be able to have a conversation nearby without needing to speak louder than normal.

For those who don't enjoy mowing, deal with allergies, or have to beg the neighbor to come mow, considering upgrading to a robot lawn mower. The Sunseeker S4 is on sale at Amazon for the lowest price we've ever seen which means this is a great time to make the move.

TL;DR: Stay powered up with a GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.97 (reg. $49.99) now through June 28.

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Credit: GoCable

GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable

$21.97
$49.99 Save $28.02

 

Get Deal

Want to make your bag a little lighter? The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable replaces eight different gadgets, so you have a whole lot less to toss in your bag. Right now, this handy tool is even on sale for only $21.97 until June 28.

Whether you’re jetting off on an exotic vacation or just heading to work, you likely need multiple chargers to keep your go-to gadgets powered up. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable lets you keep a Type-C, a Type-C+, and an Apple Lightning connector handy at all times.

The GoCable fits right on your keyring, so you never have to leave home without it. Magnetic cables make sure you aren’t left with a mess of cords in your bag, and all you need to do is add a power bank or wall adapter and power up your devices.

Not only are these cords organized, but they also offer 100W ultra-fast charging and high-speed file transfers. You’ll also be able to see the real-time charging status thanks to an LED power display.

This gadget doesn’t just keep your devices powered up; it’s also equipped with some other handy tools. You’ll have a bottle opener and a safe-proofed hidden cutter to open packages. A carabiner clip can attach to anything to make sure it’s always within arm’s length.

Snag this GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable for only $21.97 until June 28.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

Netflix loves a twisty sci-fi in which regular folks get suddenly trapped inside their home with no means of escape. Brick blew our minds, and now another mysterious sci-fi snare is set to to arrive in The Last House, with a tense new trailer out today.

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star in this thriller from director Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me), with the Past Lives and The Secret Agent stars playing couple Ann and Jason, who find themselves and their kids sealed inside their house. Like the Ultrahouse 3000 from The Simpsons, the house appears to have a mind of its own, pushing its inhabitants into survival mode within their own home.

Gabriel Barbosa, Emma Ho, Noah Alexander Sosnowski, and Riley Chung also star.

The Last House is streaming on Netflix on Aug. 7.

Want more of the latest entertainment news, reviews, trailers, and interviews? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

TL;DR: Amazon has cut the price of preorders on the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box to $114.94, a $50+ cut from $167.76.

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

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

$114.94 at Amazon
$167.76 Save $52.82

Pre-order Here

Marvel Super Heroes is shaping up to be one of Magic: The Gathering’s biggest crossovers in a packed year for the trading card game, and Amazon has now made one of its easiest boxes to play even cheaper before launch. 

As of June 15, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box is available to pre-order at Amazon for $114.94. This listing is shipped and sold by Amazon directly, with free delivery and the retailer’s preorder price guarantee included — so if the price dips again before release, you should pay the lowest Amazon price offered between checkout and launch.

This is a 31% discount from Amazon’s $167.76 list price, and is also the cheapest Amazon has listed the box so far — confirmed via price tracker camelcamelcamel. 

Amazon is even undercutting the Jumpstart Box’s market price of $116.13 determined by TCGplayer. Furthermore, it’s beating listings from the dedicated trading card marketplace — with listings only as low as $115.19 with shipping included.

Inside the box, you’ll get 24 Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Boosters, each containing 20 cards. Every pack comes built around one of 51 possible Marvel Super Heroes themes, and because the Land cards are already included, you can just open two packs, mash them together, shuffle, and play. 

If you’re catching up on other recent MTG crossover expansions, the 24-pack Avatar: The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is also on sale for just under $75. Plus, Magic: The Gathering’s 30-pack Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box is now $11 at Amazon. 

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box on sale for $86.95, down from its usual $93.99 list price.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box

$86.95 at Amazon
$93.99 Save $7.04

 

Get Deal

Perfect Order Booster Bundles and ETBs have been some of the most reliable when it comes to protecting your budget compared to other Pokemon TCG expansions, and Amazon has just delivered more price cuts.

As of June 15, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box listed from $86.95, cutting $7.04 off the $93.99 list price. Sold and shipped by San Diego Cards, price tracker camelcamelcamel has confirmed this is the lowest price the Perfect Order ETB has seen from a third-party seller on Amazon.

Walmart is slightly cheaper at $78.30 — sold by DealDudes and fulfilled by Walmart. Against the Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box’s market price of $73.68, TCGplayer is going even lower with one listing available for $71.99, and other listings available for $73.98 and upwards. 

Inside the Perfect Order ETB, you’re getting nine Pokémon TCG booster packs from the Mega Evolution expansion, one full-art foil promo card featuring Tyrunt, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector’s box with six dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Among the well-designed singles available in the Mega Evolution mechanic-focused expansion, you can still pull plenty of valuable chase cards (available to buy individually on TCGplayer) including SIR Meowth ex, Mega Hyper Rare Zygarde ex, SIR Mega Clefable ex, SIR Rose’s Encouragment, and SIR Mega Starmie ex.

To get even more from this expansion, you can still buy the Pokemon TCG’s six-pack Perfect Order Booster Bundle on Amazon for under $50. Plus, you can grab the new Chaos Rising Booster Bundle below $50. 

It’s the New Moon, so the Moon is basically invisible from Earth. With no light reflecting back, the sky is at its darkest right now, with no chance of doing any Moon gazing.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, June 15, the Moon phase is New Moon. Tonight, 0% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.

What are Moon phases?

NASA notes that the Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth once, and throughout that time it passes through eight distinct phases. Although we always see the same face of the Moon, the portion illuminated by the Sun changes as it moves along its orbit. This variation in sunlight is what creates the familiar progression of lunar shapes, from thin crescents to half-lit phases and the fully illuminated Full Moon. Together, these stages form what’s known as the lunar cycle.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

SAVE $220: As of June 15, the Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That's a 44% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire TV 55-Inch Omni

$279.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $220

 

Get Deal

Looking for a new TV to watch the rest of the World Cup in high definition? Meet the Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni. As of June 15, it's currently on sale for $279.99. Normally priced at $499.99, that's more than $200 in savings and its best-ever price.

This TV benefits from 4K Quantum Dot quality, so everything you watch has richer color, from movies to live sports. It's also supported by advanced HDR including Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive, with additional HDR10 and HLG compatibility. It even features Adaptive Brightness, which uses a built-in sensor to automatically adjust picture brightness based on the lighting in the room.

This TV also has the Fire TV Ambient Experience. This means you can transform the screen to display artwork or personal photos when the TV is not in use. And with Fire TV, you'll get access to streaming content through apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more.

You can also connect other Amazon devices with the Alexa Home Theater function. Pair Echo speakers or other soundbars to create bigger, more surround sound.

Head to Amazon to score this TV deal.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you follow astrology.

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: Energy

• Green: GNO

• Blue: Astrology

• Purple: Flora

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Staying power

• Green: Get ready for a night out

• Blue: Chinese Zodiac animals

• Purple: Flowers

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 #1100 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Staying power: LEGS, MOMENTUM, STAMINA, TRACTION

• Get ready for a night out: ACCESSORIZE, CHANGE, PRIMP, SHOWER

• Chinese Zodiac animals: DOG, DRAGON, HORSE, SNAKE

• Flowers: ANEMONE, LARKSPUR, MONKSHOOD, PHLOX

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 the latest Connections.

SAVE OVER $300: As of June 15, the Anker Solix C1000 is on sale for $449.99 at Amazon. That's a 44% discount on the list price.

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Anker Solix C1000

$449.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $349.01

 

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Looking for a portable power station at a great price? As of June 15, the Anker Solix C1000 is back on sale at Amazon. If you've been wanting to upgrade, now is a pretty good time to do it. Normally priced at $799, this unit is currently down to $449.99, saving you just shy of $350.

This power station has a 1,024Wh capacity with a 2,000W output and 3,000W peak, and it's capable of powering up to 10 devices at once. It supports ultra-fast recharging in 49 minutes using 1,600W HyperFlash technology via the Anker app, and can also be solar charged in around 1.8 hours with up to 600W input (solar panels are sold separately).

It's also designed to be compact and portable, with Anker stating that it is 14% smaller and 11% lighter than comparable models, so it's a lightweight option to carry around the home or to take with you on camping vacations.

For longevity, it uses InfiniPower technology with the battery retaining at least 80% capacity after 4,000 cycles. This translates to around 10 years of use.

Head to Amazon to score this portable power station deal now.

TL;DR: A deal that’s selling fast on Amazon, Magic: The Gathering’s Jumpstart Booster Box from the Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion is now only $73.70 on Amazon.

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box

$73.70 at Amazon
$91.99 Save $18.29

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In the steady build-up to Prime Day, Amazon is delivering some all-time trading card deals, including Magic: The Gathering expansions like the Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

As of June 15, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is on sale at Amazon for $73.70. That’s 20% off its typical $91.99 price, and the lowest price we’ve seen for the 24-pack display box — confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel. This also greatly undercuts the Avatar Jumpstart Booster Box’s market price of $81.72 on TCGplayer.

Although this is being shipped and sold by Amazon (meaning no third-party sellers), there is no return option for this Jumpstart Box — unlike other products usually sold directly by the retailer. That said, the value you get with this price is still well worth pulling the trigger. Not only can you get free delivery as soon as June 16 if you’re a Prime member (at the time of writing, or June 20 if you’re not a Prime member), but you’ll also only be paying the equivalent of $3.07 per pack. 

In each of those 24 MTG packs, these Avatar: The Last Airbender Boosters contain 20 cards. Compared to other types of boosters, Jumpstart Boosters are an amazing way to start playing the game as soon as possible: grab two boosters, shuffle them together, and you’ve got an instant deck with the land cards already included. 

There are 46 Avatar: The Last Airbender themes to find across these packs, built around the show’s characters, scenes, and elemental flavor. This makes the box especially useful if you’re buying for casual play, teaching someone Magic, or just want a fast way to mix Avatar decks without building from scratch.

Among other MTG deals available right now, you can also buy the 30-pack Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box at over $10 off. You can also score the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Display Box on sale for under $100 at Amazon. 

With Apple's WWDC behind us and the first iOS 27 developer beta out, you'd think that we now know about all of the major features that are coming to Apple's mobile platform when it properly launches this fall.

However, there still may be several pretty major, yet-to-be officially announced features that are on the way.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, one of these is a simplified Modular Ultra watch face for Apple Watch. The Modular Ultra is a high-tech, snazzy watch face that's exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra, so getting even some sort of simplified version on the other Apple Watch variants would be pretty cool. Apparently, the simplified variant will have one fewer row of customizable complications than the version on Apple Watch Ultra.

Another feature that Apple hasn't announced at WWDC, despite rumors that it's coming, is a customizable Camera app. As is, the Camera app does come with a new Siri mode, but Gurman previously said Apple would include the option to customize the interface with widgets.

Finally, Apple was rumored to add third-party chatbots to Siri, but only ChatGPT made the grade in the iOS 27 developer beta. Gurman claims that other models, including Gemini and Claude, might still make an appearance come fall.

We've checked the latest developer betas for iOS 27 and watchOS 27, and none of these features are available right now. Gurman isn't sure why Apple decided to leave them out, but he's pretty confident that the company will include them once the new iPhones and Apple Watch devices launch, likely in September.

Knicks fever remains sky high this week with the NBA Champions set to take over The Tonight Show.

Following a historic win that essentially broke the internet, the New York Knicks will join Jimmy Fallon for a special episode on Monday night.

In a press statement, Fallon called it "a booking 53 years in the making."

After 53 years, the Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973 on Saturday night, beating the San Antonio Spurs. Following alleged curses and one hell of a comeback, the Knicks sealed their Game 5 victory 94-90, prompting celebrations in the streets of New York City and across social media.

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On Monday night, the entire Knicks team will appear on The Tonight Show, with NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges set to be interviewed by Fallon. Knicks head coach Mike Brown and the Knicks City Dancers will also join the show.

To seal the celebrations, New York icons Wu-Tang Clan will perform on the episode.

Tickets to the Knicks Tonight Show special have already been allocated to "Knicks fans who were unable to attend the Finals in person," according to a press release. Guests previously locked in for the June 15 Tonight Show — Lin-Manuel Miranda, Britt Lower, Rhett and Link, and Zarna Garg, per Variety — will be moved to another date.

The Tonight Show Knicks special will air Monday, June 15 at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC, and will be streaming Tuesday on Peacock.

SAVE $250: As of June 15, the Breville Barista Touch is on sale for $749.95 at Amazon. That's 25% off the list price.

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Credit: Breville

Breville Barista Touch

$749.95 at Amazon
$999.95 Save $250

 

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Prime Day is just over a week away, but early deals have already started trickling in. And if you take your coffee seriously, you'll love this deal on the Breville Barista Touch. As of June 15, it's dropped in price by $250, bringing the price down to $749.95. According to camelcamelcamel, this is its lowest price since the end of 2025.

If coffee making is an art for you, this machine is your ideal model. It comes with dose control grinding with a precision conical burr grinder that automatically delivers the right amount of coffee. It uses a low pressure pre-infusion to gradually increase pressure at the start of extraction to help achieve balanced flavor, while the digital temperature control ensures water is delivered at the correct temperature for optimal espresso extraction.

The ThermoJet heating system reaches the ideal extraction temperature in around three seconds (perfect for quick coffees before heading out the door in the morning), and an automatic steam wand lets you make all your favorite milky coffees, from lattes to cappuccinos.

There's even a touchscreen display that makes the process nice and easy, simplifying it into three steps: grind, brew, and milk. It also lets you adjust the strength of coffee, the milk texture and the temperature, and you can save up to eight personalized drinks so that all you have to do is press a button for your drink of choice.

Get this coffee machine deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $22: As of June 15, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $17.99 at Amazon. That's a 55% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select

$17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00

 

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Looking for an early Prime Day deal on streaming? Well as of June 15, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select has dropped to its lowest-ever price, saving you over $20.

With this Fire TV Stick, you'll get streaming in 4K Ultra HD with HDR10+, as well as access to a huge range of streaming services like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, and more.

Setup is simple too, and you'll only need a connection to the TV and WiFi network. You plug the Fire Stick into your TV's HDMI port, then power this via a wall outlet. Connect the device to your internet network and that's it, your TV is now able to stream from the Fire TV platform. It also comes with an Alexa Voice Remote that allows you to search for and launch content using voice commands. Plus, this remote will become the single control for your TV, letting you power on and off and change the volume.

For gamers, this Fire Stick also supports Xbox cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass, allowing you to stream supported games directly to your TV when paired with a compatible controller and subscription.

Get this Fire TV Stick deal from Amazon now.

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 Monday, June 15, 2026:

Across

Postponed, with "off"

• The answer is Put.

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

Mini-golf stroke

• The answer is Putt.

Silly ___ (classic toy)

• The answer is Putty.

Syndicate of drug dealers

• The answer is Cartel.

"Inside Out" emotion whose head bursts into flame

• The answer is Anger

Corona or Coors

• The answer is Beer.

Down

Aimlessly spend time around the house

• The answer is Putter.

Say

• The answer is Utter.

Texter's sign-off

• The answer is TTYL.

Completely get rid of

• The answer is Purge.

Window section

• The answer is Pane.

Alternative to the subway

• The answer is Cab.

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 the latest Mini Crossword.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you can get through anything.

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: Moving mountains

The words are related to trials and tribulations.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe getting through obstacles.

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 You've Got This.

NYT Strands word list for June 15

• Vanquish

• Surmount

• Overcome

• You've Got This

• Quash

• Conquer

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 the latest Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a good cook.

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:

An oven setting.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

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...

BROIL

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 the latest Wordle.

TL;DR: Watch Love Island UK for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Forget all about sunning yourself on a picture-perfect beach this summer. Love Island UK is back on our screens for the forseeable future, so cancel all your plans.

Prepare yourself for weeks of cringey pickup lines, awkward breakups, and massive meltdowns. There's also a slim chance that contestants will find love, but that's not really what Love Island is about. It's all about the drama, and we really can't get enough.

If you're interested in watching Love Island UK in 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Love Island UK in 2026?

The 13th season of Love Island UK starts on June 1. Love Island seasons typically run for eight weeks.

How to watch Love Island UK for free in 2026

The 13th season of Love Island UK is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

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

Live stream Love Island UK for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream Love Island UK for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the latest season of Love Island UK without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to watch a large chunk of the season before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight 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 Love Island UK for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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: As of June 15, Proton Pass is offering the first month of its Pass Plus plan for just $1, before going back up to $4.99 per month. This exclusive deal only lasts until Aug. 31.

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Credit: Proton

Proton Pass Plus

$1 at Proton
$4.99 Save $3.99

 

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Online security is an important thing to keep in mind if you're someone who spends a lot of time on the internet. Passwords, in particular, are always worth your attention, as they can be an easy cracking point if you're not too careful.

If keeping track of all of your different logins feels like it's taking up too much space in your brain, a password manager comes in handy. Proton even offers a premium version through its Pass Plus plan that includes some valuable extras, and you can sign up for your first month right now for just $1.

Normally the Pass Plus plan is $4.99 per month, which it will go back to after this first month, but this is an excellent opportunity to test out the service for a month for just $1 and see if it works for you. The offer only lasts until Aug. 31, so be quick to jump on it. Alongside keeping your passwords sorted, it's stacked with additional security features to help keep some of your online activity protected.

With Proton Pass Plus, you'll get to enjoy advanced privacy and security features like integrated 2FA authentication, dark web monitoring for keeping an eye out if your personal information has been leaked, secure password sharing, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, and more. Plus, all of your passwords and information are protected with end-to-end encryption under Swiss privacy laws.

In general, we think very highly of Proton. They currently sit as our top VPN pick, with Mashable's Haley Henschel writing that it's "the most privacy-forward VPN I've tried, with open-source apps, a no-logs policy that's held up in court, and a history of supporting digital freedom efforts." So why not give their password manager a try?

Enjoy your first month of the Proton Pass Plus plan for just $1.

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

The UK has become the latest country to announce a social media ban for children under the age of 16.

Last week it was Canada, six months earlier it was Australia, and on Monday the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology confirmed that social media companies will soon be blocked from allowing under-16s to use their services.

Platforms on the ban list include TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The government is also planning to block livestreaming and "stranger communications" for under 16s. Messaging services like WhatsApp will not be included in the ban.

"This is a line in the sand," UK prime minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. "Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations."

The government is planning to use the same age assurance criteria that it introduced in 2025 with its age verification law on pornography. This means that social media platforms will be required to use things like "open banking, photo ID matching, facial age estimation, mobile network operator age checks, credit card checks, digital identity services and email-based age estimation" to ensure a user meets the required age. The government is saying their plan has the backing of 9 in 10 parents, but its worth noting that online age verification is a complicated topic that draws its own criticisms.

As for when this ban will come into effect, according to the announcement the first set of regulations could come into effect in spring 2027.

Enemies-to-lovers is a common and often hot romance trope. But what if what makes you enemies is your love? 

Being raised queer and religious can be a minefield, as all your worth and goodness might be cast aside by your community because of who you desire. In such homophobic settings, queer people are told we must deny our desires or risk being ostracized, attacked, and damned. The new Australian horror movie Leviticus explores the agony of this experience through a supernatural horror story that thunders over a tale of first love. 

Australian writer/director Adrian Chiarella makes his sensational feature directorial debut with Leviticus, a title that refers to a book of the Bible in which homosexuality is declared an "abomination." However, rather than being a film that condemns the queer boys at its center, Leviticus empathizes with their yearning and the terror caused by the parents who should love them. Brewed with equal parts desire and dread, this Australian horror thriller explores how homophobia can be the real monster in the closet. 

Leviticus is a possession tale with a unique twist. 

Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen star as two boys in love and trauma in "Leviticus." Credit: NEON

Talk to Me's Joe Bird stars as Naim, a high school boy who's new to a town that's quiet, conservative, and deeply Christian. He has no friends, and is intrigued when a beautiful, curly-haired blonde boy named Ryan (Stacy Clausen) invites him to hang out. And before the afternoon is over, they've flirted, wrestled, and made out on the floor of an abandoned mill. 

Heated Rivalry fans will note a similar dynamic to Ilya and Shane, minus the hockey rivalry. Like Ilya, Ryan is cocky, showing his interest through playful barbs, and even some physical aggression. Similar to Shane, brunette Naim is excited by this muscled blonde's attention, even if he's not ready to recognize what that excitement might mean. But where the wildly popular TV show has being outed as a storm cloud that resolves relatively brightly, Leviticus goes dark, pitting the boys against each other. 

It all begins with a "deliverance healer," called to exorcise the evil out of the queer members of the church. The conversion ceremony is first conducted on Ryan and another boy. But before long, Naim is also subjected to this strange ritual. From then on, he is followed by a mysterious creature that looks and sounds like Ryan. But if they give into their desire for each other with a kiss, this Ryan lashes out, violently assaulting Naim. And he soon learns Ryan is being stalked by a doppelganger of Naim. In both cases, no one else can see their seductive assailants. No one — not the cops nor Naim's recently widowed mother (producer Mia Wasikowska) — believes him as he seeks salvation from this seeming demon. 

Leviticus awes with its ambiguity, but is ruthlessly scary.  

Tyallah Bullock plays Marnie in "Leviticus." Credit: NEON

Surely, horror fans will point to It Follows as an inspiration point, as that film also dealt with a strange, stalking demon who is passed on by sexual contact. Both films certainly reflect the fear of sex and death common in horror. But where It Follows uses nude bodies to shock and repulse its audience, Leviticus only shows how Naim sees the demon — as Ryan, a handsome boy with lust in his eyes. This perspective urges audiences to understand what it is to look upon someone and both desire and fear them. This clever creature has no tells that suggest he is not Ryan, until he attacks. 

"This is what they wanted," the real Ryan seethes, "us to be scared of each other." And in this, Leviticus reveals its aching heart. Here are two boys falling in love. But their story becomes a nightmare, not because of wicked desires but because of a viciously conformative community that would rather see them dead than queer and happy. This revelation makes all the scenes that follow not just frightening but also stomach-churning. Naim desperately wants to reconnect to Ryan, the only person in this "shithole" who sees him for who he is and accepts him as he is. But because of this ritual, he can never be sure it's Ryan's eyes he's looking into or his kiss he's accepting, until the possibility of violence arises. 

By focusing on Naim's perspective exclusively, we too can't be certain of what's real. And one particular jump scare — which had me full-throated screaming — suggests that isolation is no answer either. But what to do when your community and your family reject you? This place is both home and not home. Chiarella reflects that through elegant choices in sight and sound. Cinematographer Tyson Perkins paints this small town in pale but warm hues of pinks, blues, and golds. This does not seem the kind of place where a teen boy would be ripped to pieces with a shrug from the community. But it is. Here, the score by Jed Kurzel bolsters this shudder-inducing truth, giving an eerie echo of percussion that sounds like a racing heart, running down a long, endless hallway. And yet…

Leviticus is defiant in its queer joy, despite the bleak setup. 

Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen star as two boys in love and trauma in "Leviticus." Credit: NEON

While Chiarella's script does follow the supernatural horror trope of having his heroes try to chase down a solution to best their monster, Leviticus is not really about that quest. At its core, it's about Naim and Ryan and what they will choose. There is no ceremony that will magically convert their parents to compassion. If they can't fare better with a mysterious demon, what path is left? 

Some might be frustrated with Chiarella's answer. But I found it awesome. Leviticus won't give an easy answer, just as it won't lay out simple rules of how this vicious monster operates. The movie never even declares it a demon. But based on genre tropes and my own Catholic upbringing, I'm calling it a demon. 

Instead, Leviticus relies not so much on rules or rituals to build its world and message, but on the performances of Bird and Clausen. As in Talk to Me, Bird has a riveting vulnerability onscreen. Here, his eyes flicker with lust, fear, jealousy, and bliss. His slightness compared to Ryan makes him seem fragile, whether he's risking a kiss or running for his life. He is alive, and how could an audience not fall under the skin of his experience, getting goose bumps in arousal and horror right alongside him? 

Joe Bird in "Leviticus." Credit: NEON

As to Clausen, he has two roles, Ryan and the demon version of Ryan. The former is mercurial, code-switching at school to perform hetero masculinity, even as he steals a glance at his crush. When they are alone, mischief sparkles in his eyes, then joy. His self-assuredness is an invitation for Naim to join him, which makes the demon wearing his face and openness as a mask all the more harrowing. This version of Ryan switches seamlessly from provocative lover to dead-eyed terror. When idle, the demon Ryan evokes Michael Myers in his Halloween mask, standing on a once-quaint lawn. When he attacks, his smile vanishes into a ruthless sneer or an inhuman wail. And each time, I felt my breath catch in my throat, until I finally let loose a scream so loud it alarmed even me. 

All this is to say that Leviticus is a religious horror movie about being queer, but one that, despite its demon, does not demonize queerness. Nor does this thriller drown in the bleakness of religious trauma. Instead, Chiarella expertly coaches his cast to plunge into the depths of such pain, so that their characters can surface gasping for air. And because he does so with such immersive intensity, we're left gasping too. 

Supremely suspenseful, smartly done, and ultimately rebellious, Leviticus is an absolute stunner. 

Leviticus opens in theaters on June 19. 

TL;DR: Live stream Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Spain are one of the favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They will be expected to progress from Group H with ease. Sure, Uruguay are tough opposition, but Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde will need to do something special to get anything from the Euro 2024 winners.

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are not likely to feature at this stage, with both returning from injuries recently. It's not like Spain are short of top-quality replacements. It's going to be an exceptionally tough matchup for Cape Verde, but anything is possible in the World Cup.

If you want to watch Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spain vs. Cape Verde?

Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on June 15. This fixture takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

How to watch Spain vs. Cape Verde for free

Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Spain vs. Cape Verde for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Spain vs. Cape Verde for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Spain vs. Cape Verde (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

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Live stream Spain vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

EV manufacturer XPENG will begin the global rollout of its VLA 2.0 autonomous driving system next year, the AI-powered model marking an important step in the company's efforts to develop driverless cars. Unfortunately, this tech won't be arriving in the U.S., with high tariffs continuing to keep the Chinese automakers out of the country.

Yet despite this, XPENG continues to maintain its Silicon Valley R&D centre, as well as develop its tech to account for U.S. drivers. Speaking to Mashable, XPENG's General Intelligence Center head Dr. Xianming Liu explained that, while it isn't in the U.S. market and doesn't test its cars in the country, having an R&D centre there remains invaluable for ensuring it's familiar with driving habits and conditions across the world.

"We need to make sure we and our R&D team understand the regulations, the traffic rules, but also the customer needs or customer habits. Once you have people locally drive [their cars] every day in Europe, in the U.S., you will know what people will like," said Liu. "How people are using [their cars] and how the regulations are different. I mean, the traffic rules are different, the traffic signs, everything is different."

XPENG has also established an R&D centre in Munich, Germany, Liu telling Mashable that each of these locations offer the company specific individual advantages. While Silicon Valley has a lot of talent and innovation, Germany excels at manufacturing and is home to several successful automotive companies. By conducting R&D in these areas, XPENG aims to both utilise and learn from these resources.

"Once you have an R&D centre in all the areas of the world, you can combine all the talent, all the thoughts together, and you can just make sure everyone is complementary to each other," said Liu.

EVs: the future of the automotive industry

XPENG showed off the technology in its cars at the Beijing Auto Show. Credit: XPENG

This includes tapping into China's resources as well. Like the San Francisco Bay Area, Liu stated that there's an abundance of talent in China's Greater Bay Area, including in Guangzhou where XPENG is headquartered. The widespread acceptance of EVs in China certainly helps autonomous car development in the region as well.

"We have people, we have freedom, we have flexibility to build the innovations," said Liu, speaking on the advantages of their Chinese R&D centre. "But also in China, the application of the AI system is pretty fast… People accept the concept of AI, accept the concept of [autonomous] driving, and also are willing to use it. So this gives us big room to keep iterating on the product."

Over half of all new cars sold in China are New Energy Vehicles (NEV), meaning that they are primarily or entirely powered by electricity. This April, that number rose above 60 percent. China isn't the only country embracing EVs either, with global electric car sales rising by over 25 percent in 2024. Almost all new cars sold in Norway during 2025 were EVs, while regions such as Latin America and Africa saw EV adoption double. In comparison, U.S. EV uptake has slowed significantly over the past two years, although they still account for approximately 10 percent of new car sales in the country.

"The new energy revolution is changing the world," said Liu. "It's not only happening in the U.S., not only in China, but also in other countries. South America, Central America, and even Europe, South Asia. So we will see the number keep increasing. And this can be very beneficial to the economy and also to the environment."

These aren't the only advantages to widespread EV adoption. Liu also explained that NEVs have better compatibility with autonomous driving systems than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.

"The New Energy Vehicle is more suitable for intelligent car systems or smart driving because the control chain is shorter," Liu said. "The signal is an electric signal instead of the power train using the gas."

As such, it is far simpler to develop a fully autonomous EV than an ICE vehicle. If fully self-driving cars are to not only become a reality, but tech that is commonplace, it will require people —  and governments — to embrace electric cars first.

Creating a safe self-driving car

Autonomous driving systems are better suited to EVs than traditional combustion engine cars. Credit: XPENG

Liu previously worked at U.S. self-driving car company Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors. When asked to compare development approaches in the U.S. and China's autonomous car industries, he said he found them to be the same: with safety as paramount. 

"One underlying principle or philosophy that is not changing across different areas is safety," said Liu. "That's the first principle. No matter where you're working at, no matter U.S., Europe, or China, or even Southeast Asia, the problem is the same."

Secondary to this is to ensure the car feels safe as well, offering a smooth, comfortable experience that drivers can enjoy with peace of mind. 

"We have four axes to evaluate our system. We call it CCES: comfort, compliance, efficiency, and safety," said Liu. "So you can make sure the car is safe enough, but a lot of hard breaks [are] just not [comfortable]."

For Liu, controlling the car's speed is key to ensuring both safety and comfort. To deliver this, XPENG trains its VLA 2.0 autonomous driving model to identify and adjust to real-time road conditions, as well as recognise road marks and signs, rather than rely on map data to determine the car's behaviour.

"We don't use any kind of rules or external information to say you have to drive this speed," said Liu. "Of course, people can control the wheel, control the scroll to set up the speed limit [of the car]. The model tries to learn what kind of typical speed people will drive in this kind of situation, because we need to make sure the car is safe enough and also [isn't] too slow." 

Autonomous cars for the world (except the U.S.)

Though VLA 2.0 is expected to hit the global market in 2027, XPENG hasn't released any details about its international release schedule. At present, which country it will arrive in first will largely come down to whose regulations and standards XPENG can satisfy first.

"We're trying to work on different areas, different regions of the world, but we work with local governments to [ensure] we meet all the requirements," said Liu.

The U.S. may not be one of these regions, but being shut out of that market hasn't slowed XPENG's ambitions. The company is continuing to invest in R&D to ensure it can meet the different needs of new markets wherever they are. 

"We are seeing the trend [of increasing EV adoption] is changing the entire industry. All the cars selling now in China, if you don't have the smart driving system, usually people will not consider it," said Liu. "That's why we keep pushing hard on the physical AI. Because we believe this is going to be the next big thing, and this is going to be invaluable in the next decade."

The auto industry is evolving at a rapid pace, with EV acceptance and adoption accelerating across the globe. XPENG is working to ensure they're prepared for this future, and will be ready if the U.S. decides to join in.

This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.

Disclosure: Mashable travelled to China as a guest of XPENG.

EV manufacturer XPENG is targeting a 2027 global rollout for its next-generation VLA 2.0 autonomous driving system. Announcing its launch plans in March, XPENG stated that VLA 2.0 is the first AI driving model with L4 potential in China, marking a significant step toward the dream of the self-driving car.

XPENG's cars aren't completely driverless just yet. But speaking to Mashable, XPENG's General Intelligence Center head Dr. Xianming Liu explained that VLA 2.0 may be key to finally achieving that goal. 

What is L4 autonomous driving?

Autonomous driving systems are commonly categorised into one of six levels, as defined by global automotive standards organisation SAE International. These range from no driving automation at Level 0 (L0) to full driving automation at Level 5 (L5).

Most of the currently available cars with such systems operate at L2, offering partial driving automation. Despite its name, Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is a L2 system. The company changed up the system's branding earlier this year after the term "Full Self-Driving" was found to be misleading, adding the suffix "(Supervised)" as well as axing the name "Autopilot." (The feature was rebranded again to "Tesla Assisted Driving" to comply with regulations for its Chinese launch in May.)

Some other automakers have reached L3, with Mercedes-Benz becoming the first automaker to offer U.S. customers conditional driving automation in 2024. However, this L3 autonomous driving system only works in very narrow circumstances, such as on specific freeways during clear daytime weather, which limits its practicality.

L4 marks the next high watermark of driving automation, just one step away from not needing a driver at all. Now XPENG claims its AI-powered VLA 2.0 system — standing for Vision-Language-Action — is all but there. 

Mashable took a test ride in an XPENG P7 with VLA 2.0 enabled, and found it a difficult claim to dispute. The car was able to smoothly navigate Beijing's large city roads, rough rural streets, and busy pedestrian and scooter traffic with minimal driver intervention. It even could park by itself after everyone had exited the vehicle.

The driver did need to take over at a couple of points, demonstrating that VLA 2.0 isn't a completely autonomous system just yet. Self-driving robotaxi companies such as Tesla and Waymo have suffered concerning safety incidents after removing humans from behind the wheel, and XPENG doesn't claim it's ready to take that leap. But overall, VLA 2.0 felt safe, efficient, and even luxurious.

From autonomous driving to physical AI

According to Liu, VLA 2.0 is a fundamental change when compared to XPENG's previous L2 Navigation Guided Pilot (NGP) system. While NGP focused on developing autonomous driving, VLA 2.0 is focused on solving physical AI problems.

"Once you work on the AI problem, everything changes," said Liu.

Autonomous driving systems such as NGP typically operate on a framework of perception, prediction, planning, and control. In such a system, the vehicle uses onboard sensors to detect its environment and abstract it into data, such as using boxes to represent other cars. It then predicts what these obstacles will do, plans a course of action, and controls the car to execute that plan. 

"The NGP is a traditional autonomous driving system where we do the perception first and then do the planning secondly. This is a very old paradigm of autonomous driving, or even currently in robotics," said Liu. "There's a lot of limitations in these kinds of algorithms. Once you work on autonomous driving or AI for more than 10 years, you'll see the limitation. You can never scale up or generalise enough of the entire system to different kinds of scenarios."

To create an L4 autonomous driving system, and eventually a completely self-driving robotaxi, the car must be able to identify and respond to unexpected situations that haven't been specifically accounted for in its programming. The problem, Liu explained, is that developers don't necessarily know what these problems might be.

"We call it unknown unknown," said Liu. "There's so much unknown unknown problems. You can never solve them one by one. So you need to change the paradigm, and try to change the system to be generalised enough and scalable enough to solve all the problems."

XPENG's Dr. Xianming Liu has worked in AI and autonomous driving for almost a decade. Credit: XPENG

For XPENG, the solution was to shift its entire approach to autonomous driving, switching to instead focus on physical AI — the integration of AI software with tangible hardware such as cars or robotics. Unlike digital AI such as chatbots ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Claude, physical AI is capable of directly interacting with the physical world. It's also able to ingest and adjust to a constant stream of information, breaking away from the sequential structure of previous autonomous driving systems.

"Physical AI is totally different from digital because the signal input is not structured, it's continuous," Liu said. "The information load is much higher than structured data like text or voice. And also the control signal requires high latency and high efficiency. That means your latency needs to be very small."

Turning to physical AI enabled XPENG to scale up, widening their model parameters and feeding it large amounts of data to learn from.

"We just take all the camera sensor input and directly train the model. We enlarge the model capacity, make it into billion parameters, and train the model using an even much larger data scale compared to large language models, and [then] ask the model to make a decision," said Liu.

"We changed the paradigm of auto driving, and luckily we see the result. The model is generalised enough to be ready for L4 autonomous driving."

How autonomous cars are linked to humanoid robots

Rather than focusing solely on autonomous driving, XPENG is developing the foundation AI model behind VLA 2.0 to be applied across a variety of use cases — including robotics. The company went viral when it debuted its uncannily lifelike humanoid IRON robot last November, even cutting it open to dispel speculation that it was a real person in a suit.

Though the connection between the two projects may not be immediately apparent, Liu told Mashable that many of the challenges facing autonomous car and humanoid robot development are very similar. As such, innovations are transferable.

"A lot of our R&D budget is spent on the AI or the training infrastructure, the data, the modeling itself," said Liu, noting that XPENG views itself as both an EV and physical AI company. 

A significant focus of XPENG's ongoing R&D is the AI model's ability to recognise and respond to increasingly complex verbal instructions. This is an important function for both humanoid robots and autonomous cars.

"Robots not only need to understand the environment, which is the world, [but] need to reconstruct the world," said Liu. "But also sometimes [they] need to understand how to communicate with humans or even with other agents in the world."

The XPENG X9 EV can seat up to seven people. Credit: XPENG

While VLA 2.0 navigates using vision input from the car's camera sensors, it's able to take verbal instructions as well. This functionality is currently limited to executing straightforward, immediate instructions, such as telling the car to turn left in 300 metres or change to the right lane. Eventually, XPENG aims for passengers to be able to simply climb in the car, verbally tell it where to go, and relax as they're ferried to their destination. 

"You ask the car, 'hey, just pull over in front. I want to buy a coffee so you need to pull over in front of the Starbucks.' The car needs to understand your instruction, needs to translate your instruction into some actions," said Liu. "We want to make sure the model can understand not only the world, which is the sensor [data from its cameras], but also the instruction and human intent."

XPENG and Tesla are driving toward the same destination

XPENG's work with autonomous EVs and humanoid robots have prompted frequent comparisons to Elon Musk's company Tesla. Liu acknowledged such parallels, noting that Tesla is also building a similar AI model aimed at achieving L4 driving.

"I think there is only one way to solve the problem entirely: you need to rethink the problem from the very beginning," Liu told Mashable. "[XPENG and Tesla are] doing something on the same trajectory. We want to solve the problem following the first principles [i.e. breaking it down to its most basic elements]. Directly go to L4, try to solve the problem not using rules, only using AI models. I think this is a similarity."

Humourously, Liu noted that where XPENG distinguishes itself from Tesla is in the sheer volume of data it has on bad driving. Using this data, XPENG has been able to develop its model to respond to such scenarios, ensuring it's better prepared for any unexpected events that might occur on the road.

"For XPENG, we have a lot of data in China which is terrible driving. So you will meet a lot of corner cases, [i.e. rare, unexpected situations outside the norm]," said Liu. "So every day, the problem we are facing is not that we don't have enough data to solve the corner cases, but we have too many corner cases. So we need to solve it. And that's our advantage, and also difference, compared to Tesla."

Ditching the roadmap

Rather than ingesting and relying on road map data, VLA 2.0 has been trained on human driving behaviours. This is to ensure it's capable of appropriately responding to a limitless, non-prescriptive variety of situations. For example, it can look at a live scenario and determine the typical, safe speed limit for that type of environment and conditions. 

"Sometimes, even though the road is limited, it's like 80 [speed limit], but it's pretty crowded, you need to slow down and pay attention. Or during inclement weather, for example, raining or foggy, people will slow down because of the situation, because of the environment," said Liu.

"So in these cases, you cannot ask a car to follow instructions from the speed limit from the map, or from all the signs. You need to make sure the model is aware of the risk and understands how to drive safely and how to control the speed."

Importantly, drivers are able to manually adjust the car's maximum speed as well, so it won't travel at a pace that makes them uncomfortable.

"For safety and comfort, the key is to control speed," said Liu. "People can control the wheel, control the scroll to set the speed limit. But the model tries to learn what kind of typical speed people will drive in this kind of situation, because we need to make sure the car is safe enough and also not too slow."

XPENG has numerous car models available in China, but none have entered the U.S. Credit: XPENG

Though VLA 2.0 is trained on a large amount of general data, XPENG hopes to eventually offer a more customised experience. Liu confirmed that the company is developing the ability for individual cars to learn from and adjust to their specific owners, adjusting to suit their personal driving habits. (Significantly, VLA 2.0 does not transfer data to the cloud, with all necessary processing done locally on the car.)

"We're working on that," said Liu. "Definitely customised driving behaviours is one of the things we're working on, so hopefully sometime later you will see it."

Exactly what sort of timeline that feature might be on isn't clear. What is clear is that XPENG has grand ambitions —  and maybe even the technology to back it up. Liu acknowledged that VLA 2.0 isn't yet perfect, still requiring driver intervention at times. Even so, there's no denying that it's an important advancement toward the ultimate goal of creating safe, fully autonomous vehicles.

This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.

Disclosure: Mashable travelled to China as a guest of XPENG.

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

Cleans the teeth.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

FLOSS

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A handbag.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PURSE

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Annoyance.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

PEEVE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Magnitude.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SCALE

Final Hurdle hint

A spice.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

CUMIN

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require soccer 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: Positional soccer

• Green: Emerald City sports

• Blue: Ballpark Tim

• Purple: Golf

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Soccer Positions

• Green: Seattle Teams

• Blue: Baseball Tims

• Purple: Golf___

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 #630 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Soccer Positions: FULLBACK, GOALKEEPER, MIDFIELDER, STRIKER

• Seattle Teams: KRAKEN, REIGN, SEAHAWKS, STORM

• Baseball Tims: LINCECUM, RAINES, SALMON, WAKEFIELD

• Golf___: COURSE, POLO, TEE, UMBRELLA

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 the latest 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 15 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 15 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 15 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

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

TL;DR: Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has started with a number of really entertaining games. The tournament is still very much taking shape, with opening games giving fans their first impression of where everyone stands.

Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador is a particularly interesting opening round game from Group E. Germany and Curacao are the other sides in this group, so Ivory Coast and Ecuador will both fancy their chances of advancing (particularly as the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockouts rounds).

If you want to watch Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador?

Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on June 14. This fixture takes place at the Lincoln Financial Field.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador for free

Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador for free from anywhere in the world

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Netherlands vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage fixtures includes some fascinating matchups, but Netherlands vs. Japan might be the best of the bunch.

This contest is really difficult to predict, but it's vitally important for both sides to get a result. Sweden and Tunisia make up the rest of Group F, so there really isn't a weak link. Every team will be gunning for the knockout rounds, which is exactly what fans want from this tournament.

If you want to watch Netherlands vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Netherlands vs. Japan?

Netherlands vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on June 14. This fixture takes place at the AT&T Stadium.

How to watch Netherlands vs. Japan for free

Netherlands vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Netherlands vs. Japan for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Netherlands vs. Japan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Netherlands vs. Japan (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Netherlands vs. Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

The New York Knicks just won their first NBA championship since 1973, ending one of the longest title droughts in professional sports, and both New York City and the internet have erupted in response. But you don't need to be a basketball fan to appreciate what just happened. In fact, we would argue that last night represents one of the finest storybook endings in sports history, something so picture-perfect that you would think it was scripted. 

Skeptical? Hear us out first. 

The 'Nova Knicks win big

Last night, three college best friends came together to repeat their improbable 2016 NCAA March Madness run on an even bigger stage.

Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges were all teammates at Villanova University 10 years ago, where they helped to defeat a heavily-favored North Carolina team 77-74 in one of the most celebrated NCAA tournament games of all time. 

And the friendship they forged a decade ago is simultaneously a major reason for their incredible team chemistry today and the single reason the Knicks have the roster they currently have, because it required team captain and certified superstar Jalen Brunson to take a $113 million pay cut in the summer of 2024 to clear up the necessary cap space.

Two years ago, NBA analyst/savant Adrian Wojnarowski called that move "largely unprecedented," but last night it paid off in a big way, as Brunson has been crowned the King of New York, and he and his college buddies are now NBA champions.

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The redemption of Karl Anthony Towns

It's hard to think of an NBA superstar who has been more unfairly maligned than Karl Anthony Towns. Former Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Jimmy Butler famously called him "soft" all the way back in 2018, and the insult has stuck ever since — until last night. 

Not only did KAT put up fantastic numbers throughout this series, averaging over 15 points, 11 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, he did it while taking on the toughest defensive matchup, guarding Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, a 7'4" center with a silky-smooth jump shot and superhuman agility (they don't call him "the Alien" for no reason).

But it's the behind-the-scenes drama, so often overlooked by casual fans, that makes KAT's victory so meaningful. In 2020, his mother and biggest supporter passed away from complications from COVID-19. Unlike many superstar athletes and celebrities, or famous men in general, Towns was extremely open about sharing his grief. In an emotional YouTube video entitled "The Toughest Year of My Life," he went into detail about his mother's difficult upbringing, her unwavering support for him, and their pre-game rituals, and in a post-game interview after game one of the Finals, he spoke about what she still meant to him: "I felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It felt like a certain presence that was very comforting and very loving and I felt like I could have fun out here in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which is the weirdest thing because you would expect to have the pressure at the highest.

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From that great sadness, though, good things have emerged, including his engagement to long-time girlfriend Jordyn Woods.

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Instead of "soft," the internet will now refer to him as NBA Champion Karl Anthony Towns, and that's as it should be. 

Brunson burns his haters

If Jalen Brunson wasn't a household name before this NBA Finals, he certainly will be now. But before he balled out on the game's biggest stage, he had to put up with a lot of criticism. In fact, the 6'2" point guard has been overlooked and underestimated for his entire career. In 2023, former WNBA superstar-turned-analyst Becky Hammon famously dismissed him as too small to be a "1A" player on a winning team, and Stephen A. Smith, the NBA's most famous talking head, described his signing with the Knicks as "nothing," a disaster move destined not to pan out. 

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Not only did Brunson deliver the first NBA title to New York in more than half a century, but he also did it while averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, and 45 points in the close-out Game 5 on the road, en route to his winning Finals MVP. And it gets better: his father, Rick Brunson, a former Knicks player and current assistant coach for the Knicks, got to share the moment with him.

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Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing cast reunion

For decades, the Los Angeles Lakers had A-list actor Jack Nicholson sitting courtside, cheering on the Showtime Lakers, the Shaq-Kobe three-peat, and the Kobe-Pau era, an absolute fixture of Lakerdom. In the entire NBA, only one other celebrity matched that level of dedication: Spike Lee. 

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The celebrated director can be seen in Knicks highlights from decades past, harassing refs, taunting Reggie Miller (when he was a Pacer, not an analyst!), and generally showing support. But ironically, his biggest moment as a Knicks fan would occur not in Madison Square Garden, but in San Antonio, where he reunited with Giancarlo Esposito and John Turturro, major cast members of his breakout film Do the Right Thing, to cheer on the Knicks together. 

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In hindsight, it's pretty fitting that a film director would be the headline fan of this Knicks' run, because there were enough fantastic storylines here to make a movie about — maybe the next Spike Lee joint?  

If you're not a gamer, it's difficult to describe just how much anticipation has built up over the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6, some 13 years after the release of GTA V. The prior entry in the series sold more than 230 million copies worldwide, generating over $6 billion in revenue, which makes it the most profitable entertainment product of all time, ahead of every single Star Wars movie or any individual Pokemon game. And while parent company Take-Two Interactive has been tight-lipped about the budget, credible estimates range from $1 billion to over $3 billion, which is comparable to what Marvel spent on the entire MCU.    

Knowing all that, startup founder Ziwen Xu is taking on the monumental challenge of vibe coding his own version of Grand Theft Auto 6 using Claude Max 20x, Anthropic's most powerful generative model available to the average person. He began just four days ago, announcing his intentions on X: 

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Since then, he's been posting updates about Claude's progress and even sharing the code on GitHub in case anyone else wants to pick up from where he leaves off. "The goal: beat the real GTA 6 to launch," he wrote on X. "Ambitious, probably stupid, doing it anyway."

Are GTA developers Rockstar Games likely to feel threatened by his efforts? Absolutely not. But from day two to day three, there has been undeniable progress made, with the nondescript oval character from day one gradually morphing into a recognizably human figure and the background gradually taking shape into something vaguely approximating Miami, the inspiration for Grand Theft Auto's fictional Vice City.

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Sure, there are some glaring omissions as well: the slick cars, massive arsenal of weapons, and iconic GTA soundtrack, for starters. But if the November release holds (and that's a big if, if you're at all familiar with the history of Grand Theft Auto history), he's still got months of vibe coding left, which makes Xu's experiment a fantastic showcase of Claude's abilities and a great litmus test for how relevant AI coding currently is in the world of game development.

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Barcelona-Catalunya GP for free with the Prime Video app.

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Apple TV Prime Video Channel

Watch the Japanese GP for free with a 7-day trial

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The Monaco GP is obviously a special race weekend, but the actual racing can be lame. I'm glad we're returning to a circuit that actually allows for the occasional overtake.

The big question is whether any team can bridge the gap to Mercedes this season. Could we start to see the tide change at the Barcelona-Catalunya GP? I'm hoping we get some competitive performances from McLaren and Ferrari.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Barcelona-Catalunya GP?

The Barcelona-Catalunya GP is the seventh race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya:

• Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on June 12

• Practice 2 — 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on June 12

• Practice 3 — 6:30-7:30 a.m. ET on June 13

• Qualifying — 10-11 a.m. ET on June 13

• Race — 9 a.m. ET on June 14

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Barcelona-Catalunya GP for free

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I gladly hand over my cash for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. The access to Prime Video is not all that important to me. I occasionally watch the Champions League and NBA, but it's not a priority.

That was until I found out about F1 coming to Apple TV.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this automatic renewal at any time.

By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the Barcelona-Catalunya GP this weekend without spending anything.

I already pay for Amazon Prime, so I understand the argument that I'm not really watching for free. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

Already used this hack to watch a race this season? It's not your only option right now.

My recommendation is you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on upgrading to something from the Apple lineup in Memorial Day sales, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026

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Best Apple TV Deal

Apple TV

7-day free trial

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Best Prime Video Deal

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

7-day free trial

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Best Apple One Deal

Apple One

30-day free trial

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How to live stream 2026 F1 for free at a glance:

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Best Apple TV Deal

Apple TV

7-day free trial

Shop Now

---

Best Prime Video Deal

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

7-day free trial

Shop Now

---

Best Apple One Deal

Apple One

30-day free trial

Shop Now

This season of F1 is unlike any other. Every season of F1 has a number of fascinating storylines to follow, but due to a major set of regulation changes, there's so much uncertainty right now. And uncertainty can lead to exciting racing.

Lando Norris secured an incredible title victory on the final day of last season. Now the pressure is on McLaren to defend that title against a long list of talented drivers and motivated teams. Expect the likes of George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris, and Lewis Hamilton to challenge for race wins this season. Mercedes look like the team to beat this season, but there's still a lot of racing to come.

If you are interested in watching F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

Lando Norris is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2025.

When is F1 in 2026?

The 2026 F1 season is the 77th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix events held all over the world between March and December:

1. Australian Grand Prix — March 8

2. Chinese Grand Prix — March 15

3. Japanese Grand Prix — March 29

4. Miami Grand Prix — May 3

5. Canadian Grand Prix — May 24

6. Monaco Grand Prix — June 7

7. Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14

8. Austrian Grand Prix — June 28

9. British Grand Prix — July 5

10. Belgian Grand Prix — July 19

11. Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26

12. Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23

13. Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6

14. Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13

15. Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26

16. Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11

17. United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25

18. Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1

19. São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8

20. Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21

21. Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29

22. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 6

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. The Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, and Singapore GPs will host a sprint race.

How to watch F1 for free

In the U.S., F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV. An Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year, but it's possible to gain access to Apple TV without spending anything.

Apple TV

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Credit: Apple TV

Apple TV (7-day free trial)

Apple TV comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. This is a sneaky trick, but you could sign up to watch the next F1 race and then cancel your subscription before you need to spend anything. This obviously isn't a long-term fix, but it does give you the opportunity to live stream select F1 race weekends for free.

Shop Now

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

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Apple TV Prime Video Channel (7-day free trial)

Already an Amazon Prime member? You're in luck. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. This lets you watch select F1 races live with the Prime Video app. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch select races without actually spending anything.

Shop Now

Apple One

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Apple One (30-day free trial)

Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. Time it right and this trial could provide access to up to four race weekends for free. You do need to be a new or returning subscriber to each of the included services to get the free trial.

Shop Now

It's worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple TVs. This special offer goes live for 90 days after the new device is activated — that's a good chunk of the season.

After the action kicked off on Thursday, June 11, Matchday 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has arrived. Don't worry if you missed the first few days; there are plenty more to go, with 48 teams competing in the largest World Cup tournament in history. Groups A through D have already got the ball rolling, and today will see Groups E and F do the same.

Today, June 14, is another busy day with four matchups in the U.S. and Mexico. The action kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. There's a lot to keep up with, especially if you're new to the World Cup madness, so we've broken down the details for you below. Here's what you need to know to tune in live today.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 14

• Group E: Germany vs. Curaçao (Houston Stadium)— kickoff at 1 p.m. ET

• Group F: Netherlands vs. Japan (Dallas Stadium) — kickoff at 4 p.m. ET

• Group E: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (Philadelphia Stadium) — kickoff at 7 p.m. ET

• Group F: Tunisia vs. Sweden (Monterrey Stadium) — kickoff at 10 p.m. ET

How to livestream FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Germany vs. Curaçao

Group E kicks things off on Sunday, June 14, with a first-ever meeting between Germany and Curaçao at Houston Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. ET, and live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Netherlands vs. Japan

Group F's first matchup will see the Netherlands take on Japan at Dallas Stadium on Sunday, June 14. The Netherlands has the edge in the all-time series between the two teams, but both teams bring strong tournament experience. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET, and coverage will be on Fox and Fox One, with Spanish-language coverage on Peacock.

Watch Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador

A fresh matchup on the global stage, dark horse Ecuador takes on the Ivory Coast at Philadelphia Stadium. The Group E matchup kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Spanish-language coverage will be streaming on Peacock.

Watch Tunisia vs. Sweden

Group F teams Sweden and Tunisia will go head-to-head on Sunday, June 14, at Monterrey Stadium. The two teams have never faced each other at the FIFA World Cup, making this a fresh matchup on the tournament stage. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m ET, and live coverage is on FS1 and Fox One, with Spanish-language coverage on Peacock.

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More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

Rather than a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock, you can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. These options have a cable-like format, with over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus tons of other popular networks. They can get pretty expensive, but most offer a free trial and a discounted introductory rate. Here are a few options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch for free on ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and more with a VPN

Don't want to sign up for yet another streaming service? Consider subscribing to a VPN and streaming the World Cup matches for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for the sporting event. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're new to VPNs, our global World Cup watch guide will help you nail down the details.

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On March 11, Apple dropped the MacBook Neo like a bomb on the laptop market. I was at a New York City launch event to see its big unveiling, and the colorful budget laptop made a strong first impression. As I wrote at the time: If I were a Windows laptop that cost under $1,000, I'd be shaking in my boots.

Well, after spending an extra three months with this laptop on my desk, I'm updating my initial review. After months of RAMageddon price increases in the Windows world, the MacBook Neo is doubly impressive.

The Neo brings premium MacBook features — Liquid Retina Display, the intuitive macOS, a sleek aluminum design — to an entirely new market segment: the budget laptop.

The laptop starts at $599 — a version with Touch ID and 512GB costs $699 — and if you qualify for the $499 education price, this is truly a laptop with no viable competition, full stop.

Who is the MacBook Neo for?

The MacBook Neo in citrus and indigo at the Mashable office. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The MacBook Neo is Apple's first MacBook without an M-series chip since 2020. For that reason, the Neo is not a laptop for professionals like myself. If you need to do heavy-duty photo or video editing, work with 3D modeling programs, or run open-source AI models on your device, you'll want that MacBook Air or Pro with the latest M5 chips.

The Neo has an all-aluminum design; Apple matches the color of the keys to the aluminum. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Instead, the MacBook Neo is meant to be baby's first laptop, and I mean that as a compliment. It's a starter laptop you might buy for a high school or college student who will eventually graduate to the Air or Pro, depending on their needs. But I also foresee another popular use case for this device — the party laptop.

Lots of people, including myself, use two laptops on a daily basis. You have your work laptop — in my case, a MacBook Pro — and then you have what I call the party laptop. It could be a simple Chromebook, an old work laptop, a gaming laptop, or even a tablet. When your workday is done, you put away the work laptop with your email and calendar, and fire up your party laptop for streaming, music, casual browsing, and retail therapy.

The MacBook Neo would be a perfect party laptop or Chromebook alternative, and while it lacks storage and RAM, Apple definitely didn't skimp on the entertainment features.

MacBook Neo design: We gotta talk about the colors

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

No tech brand does design better than Apple, at least, not for the mass market. And in the under-$1,000 laptop category, the Neo stands out for its premium design. Lately, we've seen many Windows laptops imitating the MacBook's metal body and rounded edges, but those are typically Ultrabooks that cost quite a bit. The Neo offers a budget price without compromising on Apple's signature all-aluminum build quality.

Let's look at the competition: Our No. 1 budget Windows laptop in 2026 is the Acer Aspire 16 AI, which costs $699. It's a good laptop, but it also has a flimsy hinge and plastic components. With the Neo, you get an aluminum chassis, plus it's $100 cheaper, plus it comes in fun colors, plus it has Dolby Atmos speakers.

The MacBook Neo comes in four colors: silver, indigo, citrus, and blush. Now, I will say, the blush is a very subtle pink. I say, if you're going pink, go pink. But in person, the citrus and indigo really pop. Apple also color-matches the keys to the aluminum finish, and it's those little details that elevate the design. The Apple team has been having a lot of fun with this product launch, and I think shoppers will, too.

MacBook Neo: Performance and battery

Be honest, did you notice the home screen artwork says "MAC"? Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When Apple unveiled the Neo, two competing opinions spread in the tech world. The MacBook Neo, with its fun colors and killer price, would either disrupt the entire Windows laptop market, or it would be an underpowered waste of space with its old iPhone chip and a measly 8GB of RAM.

In this case, the optimists were proven right.

To be sure, you're not going to edit a professional music video, mix a song, or work on an animation project with 8GB of RAM and the A18 Pro chip, first introduced for the iPhone 16 Pro. But don't believe what the haters are saying online: You can still do a lot with 8GB of RAM.

Here's what people are forgetting: Over the past few years, Apple has quietly made its MacBook Air and Pro laptops way overpowered for the average user. (The same is true for the iPad Air and Pro, as I explain in my M4 iPad Air review.) The original M1 MacBook was a legendary laptop that truly changed the category for good. Six years later, I know professional film editors who are still working on M1-era MacBook Pros and have zero complaints about performance or speed.

Apple M-series silicon changed the laptop market for good. Credit: Mashable

As you can see in this chart, ever since Apple launched the M1 chip in 2020, the company's M-series silicon has progressed by leaps and bounds. At one point, it seemed like Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chip might finally offer some true competition for Apple silicon, but then Apple released a new M chip.

Apple's M series chips have made such massive leaps in performance that you have to be a serious superuser to tax these devices to their limits. So, a simpler MacBook with less firepower makes sense for a ton of reasons. You don't need 16GB of RAM and an M5 chip to stream Netflix, make Word documents, and send emails.

But let's get specific. Let's talk benchmarks.

MacBook Neo review: Geekbench performance and stress tests

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When testing a new laptop, Mashable runs a series of standardized tests, including the latest Geekbench 6 benchmark. The MacBook Neo received a multi-core score of 8,770, nearly identical to the 8,783 we recorded for the M1 MacBook Air. We also assessed its single-core performance, since that's a good measure of what we call snappiness, or how quickly it responds in everyday use. And this is where it gets interesting. The MacBook Neo achieved a single-core score of 3,484, significantly higher than most other laptops.

For reference, the Razer Blade 18 with an Intel Core i9-275HX processor scored 3,057 in single-core testing. So, it's no wonder I've been able to do a surprising amount with the A18 Pro Chip.

I was able to edit a simple, cheesy video in Final Cut Pro using the MacBook Neo without struggling against the spinning wheel of death. Even when I layered video clips on top of each other and added a series of totally unnecessary transitions, the Neo handled the tasks just fine, as you can see for yourself:

For my MacBook Neo review, I also set up multiple Apple Shortcuts to perform complex tasks. I set up one Shortcut to automatically convert raw image files into JPEGs, crop them into a 16:9 aspect ratio, auto-adjust the color balance, hue, and saturation, and then save them in a specific folder. Using this Shortcut, the Neo edited a dozen massive image files with ease in under 30 seconds.

I set up another Shortcut to automatically convert all my video files into GIFs, also without problems.

The MacBook Neo does have one big flaw

The lack of Thunderbolt 4 ports is a big drawback. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

In stress-testing the Neo, I found its kryptonite, which won't be a surprise. Because the Neo lacks a Thunderbolt 4 port, it can only offer transfer speeds of up to 10Gb/s, compared to 40Gb/s with the latest MacBook Air. Likewise, the A18 Pro chip offers 60GB/s memory bandwidth, compared to 153GB/s memory bandwidth on the M5 Air.

The A18 Pro chip offers:

• 6-core CPU (2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores)

• 5-core GPU

• 16-core Neural Engine

The only time I encountered the spinning wheel of death? When importing or exporting large files. M-series MacBooks can multitask while doing this, but as you can see in my screen recording, the Neo really struggled to multitask while transferring large video files.

MacBook Neo battery life

Apple promises "all-day" battery life with the Neo. Specifically, the company promises up to 16 hours of battery for video streaming (and 11 hours for wireless web browsing). In our battery rundown test, we got exactly 14 hours and 50 minutes of battery performance.

If you want the MacBook Neo to last for an entire day of classes or a long travel day, I think it will be up for the challenge. And once again, it compares very favorably to Windows laptops under $1,000. In Mashable's testing database, the media battery life for this category is only 10.5 hours. So, once more, the MacBook Neo can do more for less money.

MacBook Neo: Display and speakers

The headphones jack and side-firing speakers. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The MacBook Neo has the same Liquid Retina display tech that you'll find on the $1,099 M5 MacBook Air and other Apple laptops. (The Neo's Display is 0.9 inches smaller than the Air, however.) It can offer up to 500 nits of brightness on its 13-inch, 2,408 x 1,506 resolution display. The color, clarity, and sharpness are as impressive as ever, particularly when you compare them to the average Windows laptop in this price range. It's a premium display in a budget laptop.

The MacBook Neo isn't simply a MacBook Air with a bunch of performance sacrifices, however. Apple actually improved the speaker system for the Neo (further solidifying it in my mind as the party laptop). Apple added two side-firing speakers, which you might mistake for SD card readers at first. The result is a speaker system that's surprisingly loud, clear, and compatible with Dolby Atmos.

MacBook Neo: What's missing?

The MacBook Neo has the MacBook's signature all-aluminum design. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The MacBook Neo does make both performance and hardware sacrifices to keep its price low, of course. Before buying the Neo, you need to understand what you're not getting:

• No 12MP Center Stage Camera (the Neo has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera)

• No True Tone technology

• No fast-charging capabilities

• No Thunderbolt 4 ports (it has one USB-C 3 and one USB-C 2 port)

• Only supports one external display

• $599 version only has 256GB of memory and no Touch ID (the $699 version has 512GB and Touch ID)

The MacBook Neo has a Magic Keyboard, but it's not backlit like you're used to. It also features a different trackpad. While it's extra-clicky, it's not quite as nice as a standard MacBook. That's hardly a breaking point, though.

Will Siri AI work with the MacBook Neo?

At WWDC 2026, Apple finally introduced Siri AI, which will be coming with macOS 27 Golden Gate. Even though the Neo lacks M-series silicon, Apple says it will be ready to support the new OS, the updated Siri, and new Apple Intelligence features.

For now, these features are only accessible on the Neo via the macOS 27 developer beta, but they will be widely available starting in the fall.

Final thoughts: Is the MacBook Neo worth it?

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

My verdict: The MacBook Neo is 100 percent worth it for budget shoppers. Unless you need a Windows laptop, it will be hard to find a Windows PC under $1,000 than can go head-to-head with the Neo.

I will continue to update this review for as long as I'm using the Neo. But as someone who works with a lot of video, photography, and AI tools, the MacBook Neo can handle quite a bit of my daily workflow. First-time buyers will also appreciate how easily it works with the iPhone and iPad. As per usual, your files can instantly sync across devices, and AirDrop fills any gaps.

As I said, if you're comparing the $599 MacBook Neo with a similarly priced Windows laptop or Chromebook, it's going to be really hard to say no to the Neo, especially as Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo, and Acer raise prices. And if you qualify for the $499 education pricing (unfortunately, Apple has cracked down on the requirements), don't overthink this one.

Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)

$589.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$689.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

UPDATE: Mar. 11, 2026, 11:18 a.m. EDT We’ve replaced one of the images in this review to correct a photo-editing mistake.

Earlier this week, Anthropic released its most powerful public model yet: Claude Fable 5. This model is the "safe" version of an even more powerful model, Mythos, that Anthropic has yet to release to the public due to potential dangers.

Just days later, the Trump administration issued an export control directive barring the use of Fable 5 from foreign nationals. As a result, Anthropic was forced to disable Fable 5 for all its customers to comply with the order.

In a statement, Anthropic said it believed the order was issued by the U.S. government to use a method to "jailbreak" Fable 5 to identify vulnerabilities. Anthropic claimed in its statement that other AI models could do the same without a bypass. The company specifically named GPT 5.5, the latest AI model from its biggest competitor, OpenAI, as one such model.

There are currently too many unknown variables to determine if this is accurate. However, Mashable was preparing a piece comparing Anthropic's Claude Fable 4 and OpenAI's GPT 5.5 prior to the Trump administration's order.

It appears the U.S. government's concerns could be related to just how powerful Claude Fable 5 appears to be, even with its safeguards.

Here's how Fable 5 stacked up against GPT 5.5.

Claude Fable 5 vs GPT 5.5: Feature set

According to Anthropic, "Fable 5’s capabilities exceed those of any model we’ve ever made generally available." 

"It is state-of-the-art on nearly all tested benchmarks of AI capability, showing exceptional performance in software engineering, knowledge work, vision, scientific research, and many other areas," Anthropic says. "The longer and more complex the task, the larger Fable 5’s lead over our other models."

When GPT 5.5 rolled out in late April, OpenAI said that the model had improved on its "agentic coding, computer use, knowledge work, and early scientific research" capabilities.

Both are very similar when it comes to their feature set and stated purpose. These aren't images or videos. generation models. These are large language models used for document analysis, data interpretation, and advanced coding and development. Both are definitely competitors when it comes to use cases.

The difference between the two competing models will be how they perform.

Claude Fable 5 vs GPT 5.5: Leaderboards and benchmarks

On the popular Arena leaderboard, Fable 5 far and away leads all of the other AI models.

Claude Fable 5 currently sits at the top of the Arena leaderboard with Claude Opus 4.7 Thinking and Claude Opus 4.8 Thinking taking the second and third spots. The top three are all Anthropic's models, with OpenAI's GPT 5.5 coming in fourth. 

Fable 5 also leads in Artificial Analysis, Simple Bench, and practically every other leaderboard that has ranked the AI model.

Credit: Anthropic

According to Anthropic's own comparison chart, when it launched Fable 5, the AI model simply blows GPT 5.5 away across multiple benchmarks, from agentic coding and knowledge work to cybersecurity.

While it may be accurate that other models can also identify these alleged vulnerabilities, perhaps the U.S. government calculated that Claude Fable 5 was just too dangerously good at it based on the data.

Claude Fable 5 vs GPT 5.5: Availability and pricing

Before Anthropic pulled Fable 5 due to the U.S. government's order, Fable 5 was available to paid subscribers on Pro, Max, Team, and seat-based Enterprise plans at no additional cost until June 22. Anthropic planned to remove Fable 5 from these plans on June 23 and temporarily move to a usage-based paid add-on model until demand for Fable 5 dissipated. 

Fable 5 was priced on its Claude API and consumption-based Enterprise plans at $10 per million input tokens and $50 per million output tokens.

Fable 5 is no longer available for any of Anthropic's users.

OpenAI has made GPT 5.5 available to OpenAI Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users in ChatGPT and Codex. Usage-based API pricing for GPT 5.5 starts at $5 per million input tokens and $30 per million output tokens.

GPT 5.5 is currently available for OpenAI's users.

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Curaçao in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kick-started with a number of really interesting matchups. Germany vs. Curaçao doesn't look like the most evenly-matched contest on the schedule, but anything can happen in tournament football. Germany must win to avoid embarrassment in front of the eyes of the world.

If you want to watch Germany vs. Curaçao in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Curaçao?

Germany vs. Curaçao in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on June 14. This fixture takes place at the NRG Stadium.

How to watch Germany vs. Curaçao for free

Germany vs. Curaçao in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Germany vs. Curaçao for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Germany vs. Curaçao for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Germany vs. Curaçao (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Germany vs. Curaçao in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $35:97: Get three months of free access to Kindle Unlimited as part of Amazon's early Prime Day special offers. In total, that's a savings of $35.97 for the three-month duration. Current and past Kindle Unlimited members aren't eligible for this deal.

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Credit: Amazon

Kindle Unlimited

$0 at Amazon
$35.97 Save $35.97

get 3 months for free

Get Deal

Prime Day is officially on the calendar. Instead of July, Amazon is hosting Prime Day between June 23 and 26 this year, but the deals have already started. One of the best offerings applies to those who plan to spend the summer reading. Here are all the details.

For a limited time, Amazon is offering a free three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited, which usually comes with a bill of $11.99 per month. In total, that works out to a savings of $35.97. You'll need to be new to Kindle Unlimited to be eligible for this deal, and it'll auto-renew at $11.99 per month until canceled.

You have the Kindle, but you've been waiting in a Libby line for your titles to become available. We've all been there. Instead of waiting, consider upgrading for the summer by snagging this free deal from Amazon that'll give you three months of access to nearly unlimited book titles.

Kindle Unlimited has more than 5 million digital titles, audiobooks, and magazines. The Kindle Unlimited subscription is a bit like a library hosted by Amazon. Members can borrow up to 20 titles at a time, and magazines don't count in this title total.

If you have a Kindle, that'll be great for reading your Kindle Unlimited books, but it's not a requirement. You can use Kindle Unlimited on any device with the Kindle app. That includes your phone, tablet, computer, or any web browser. But if you're wondering, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is Mashable's favorite Kindle.

If you've never tried out Kindle Unlimited, but you're interested in reading more for the next three months, hop on this free deal.

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

Hotel option.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SUITE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Grey.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ASHEN

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To sit upon.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

PERCH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A stand.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

KIOSK

Final Hurdle hint

Part of a ship.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

BILGE

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

TL;DR: Live stream Sweden vs. Tunisia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here, and the start of this famous tournament has already delivered loads of huge moments. We're expecting more of the same from Sweden vs. Tunisia.

These sides will battle it out with Netherlands and Japan for places in the knockout rounds. On paper, it's a really difficult group to predict. We could see any of these four sides taking control of the group, so these opening games could prove pivotal.

If you want to watch Sweden vs. Tunisia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Sweden vs. Tunisia?

Sweden vs. Tunisia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on June 14. This fixture takes place at the Estadio BBVA.

How to watch Sweden vs. Tunisia for free

Sweden vs. Tunisia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Sweden vs. Tunisia for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Sweden vs. Tunisia for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Sweden vs. Tunisia (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Sweden vs. Tunisia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're from Boston.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Rotates

• Green: Comedic aids

• Blue: A popular children's story

• Purple: A US state

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: Things that spin

• Green: Classic slapstick props

• Blue: Featured in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"

• Purple: What "MA" might refer to

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 #1098 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things that spin: GLOBE, GRINDSTONE, GYROSCOPE, ROULETTE WHEEL

• Classic slapstick props: BANANA PEEL, CREAM PIE, RUBBER CHICKEN, SELTZER BOTTLE

• Featured in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland": CATERPILLAR, POCKET WATCH, RABBIT HOLE, TEA PARTY

• What "MA" might refer to: MASSACHUSETTS, MASTER OF ARTS, MILLIAMPERE, MOTHER

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 the latest Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're royalty.

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: Peer group

The words are related to titles.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe high positions.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Nobility.

NYT Strands word list for June 14

• Duchess

• Marquess

• Baron

• Nobility

• Lady

• Viscount

• Lord

• Earl

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 the latest Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like editing photos.

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 brown filter.

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 S.

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...

SEPIA

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 the latest Wordle.

It's shaping up to be quite a big summer for the big action camera brands.

GoPro recently released its new Mission 1 Pro cinema camera. Insta360 just dropped its new Luna Ultra gimbal camera. And DJI is preparing to launch its new Osmo Pocket 4 Pro gimbal camera.

However, it seems things are heating up beyond just new product launches for the latter two competitors, DJI and Insta360.

DJI sues Insta360

Earlier this week, as PetaPixel reports, DJI filed two patent lawsuits against Insta360 over the company's Luna series of cameras, such as the Insta360 Luna Pro and the new Insta360 Luna Ultra. DJI filed the suits the same day Insta350 released the new Luna Ultra for sale in the U.S.

“Insta360’s new Luna line of gimbal cameras, including but not limited to the Luna Ultra, supporting accessories, and the Insta360 mobile application (collectively, the “Accused Products”) blatantly copy DJI’s patented inventions wholesale,” says DJI

DJI is seeking a permanent injunction against Insta360, which would force the company to stop selling its Luna line of cameras, as well as monetary damages. 

The first lawsuit from DJI alleges two design patent violations from Insta360. DJI claims that Insta360 is clearly infringing on its patents by copying the design of its DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera.  According to DJI, "the Accused Products are handheld gimbal cameras with integrated optics—the same product architecture pioneered by the DJI Osmo Pocket—and Insta360 markets them expressly as competitors to DJI’s Osmo Pocket line."

In the second lawsuit, DJI alleges that Insta360 committed four utility patent violations. The violations relate to patents covering the gimbal aspect of the camera, the tracking feature, and its operation. 

Insta360 strikes back

In response to DJI's lawsuits, Insta360 countersued, alleging five patent infringement claims against DJI.

"The company asserts that DJI infringed its patents relating to gimbal stabilization, gimbal directional control, camera smooth stabilization, telemetry overlay, and panoramic video stabilization," says Insta360.

According to Insta360, DJI is violating its patents with multiple products, such as the Osmo Pocket series, Ronin/RS series, Osmo Mobile series, and Osmo 360.

What's going on?

There's no doubt that the Insta360 Luna Ultra and the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Pro are very similar. As DPReview points out, both cameras are marketed as handheld vlogging cameras with "two lenses and integrated gimbals, and a similar form-factor."

However, it's not the first time this year that DJI sued Insta360 over its patents. 

In March, DJI filed a lawsuit in China against Insta360, claiming that six drone-related Insta360 patents were developed by Insta360 employees who left DJI within one year. Under Chinese patent law, the timing of the employee's departure from the company and the development of the patents may mean the patents actually belong to DJI. (And it should be noted that Insta360 announced a new drone brand shortly before the Trump administration's ban on DJI drones went into effect.)

The timing of DJI's lawsuits is significant.

DJI is unable to sell its DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Pro, along with a number of its other products, such as drones, in the U.S. because the U.S government, under President Donald Trump, has classified it as a "Chinese military company."

With Insta360 launching the Luna Ultra this week, DJI is unable to actually compete with its biggest competitor in the niche gimbal camera industry that it essentially led over the years. Insta360's Luna Ultra is filling a void in the U.S. that DJI is unable to fill. In response, DJI appears to be hoping patent law could bail them out from falling behind in the U.S. market.

OpenAI is facing a multistate investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported that the company received a subpoena on Friday seeking documents related to its business practices and impact on users.

The Journal, which says it viewed the subpoena from New York's attorney general, reports that investigators are asking about OpenAI's advertising practices, user engagement and retention, data handling, and how the company manages interactions with minors and senior users. The AGs are also reportedly asking about model sycophancy — a growing concern in the AI industry around chatbots that tell users what they want to hear rather than what's accurate.

An OpenAI spokesperson told the Journal the company takes the concerns seriously and plans to work constructively with the attorneys general.

What triggered the investigation isn't clear, but OpenAI has been accumulating legal and regulatory headaches for a while. Florida's attorney general opened a criminal investigation into the company in April following reports that the suspect in the 2025 Florida State University mass shooting had used ChatGPT.

The company has also faced wrongful death lawsuits tied to chatbot interactions. All of this comes just days after OpenAI filed paperwork with the SEC to go public.

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.

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 13 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 13 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 13 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this red space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

Just days after rolling out its latest AI models, Anthropic has been forced to remove Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 due to an order from the Trump administration barring foreign use.

Anthropic pulled the AI models on Friday evening after sharing a statement about the U.S. government issuing an export control directive "to suspend all access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 by any foreign national, whether inside or outside the United States, including foreign national Anthropic employees." 

As a result, Anthropic has disabled Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for all its customers in order to ensure compliance with the government's order. 

This order is the latest development in the ongoing feud between the Trump administration and Anthropic. Earlier this year, the U.S. government designated Anthropic as a "supply-chain risk" to national security. The dispute began after Anthropic requested a guarantee that its AI technology wouldn't be used for mass surveillance or for certain weapons of war, following the signing of a $200 million contract with the government. 

Anthropic says it received the export control directive order from the U.S. government on Friday at 5:21pm ET. The company says the Trump administration cited national security authorities as the reason for the order barring foreign use of the AI models. However, the letter did not include any specifics about the national security concerns from the government. 

The AI company says that it believes the government is aware of a method to "jailbreak" Fable 5. Anthropic says it "reviewed a demonstration of this specific technique being used to identify a small number of previously known, minor vulnerabilities." 

However, Anthropic is describing these vulnerabilities as "relatively simple" and it says other AI models, such as OpenAI’s GPT-5.5, are able to discover these vulnerabilities as well without requiring a bypass.

Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 are promoted as its most powerful models yet. Anthropic rolled out Fable 5 to the public earlier this week. Fable 5 is a version of its Mythos model, which has been deemed too "dangerous" to launch to the public, with safety guardrails built in. In addition, Anthropic also released Claude Mythos 5, but only to its trusted test partners.

However, both models are now unavailable following the Trump administration's directive.

Taskmasters Alex Horne and Greg Davies are no strangers to discomfort. In fact, they've made quite a career creating scenarios, or tasks, placing the funniest people in the world in the most uncomfortable situations to create hilarious television. Horne and Davies recently sat down with Mashable Executive Producer, Mark Stetson, to dive deep into Series 21: the pranks, Kumail Nanjiani being brave sharing his internet history, and defining once and for all the true definition of a worm.

The premiere episode of Taskmaster Series 21 kicked off with a task challenging the contestants to find a worm and bring it to Alex Horne for points. This task sparked much online debate as to whether or not some of the contestants actually found an acceptable worm. Amy Gledhill and Kumail found mealworms while Joel Dommett presented the Taskmaster with a gummy word he procured from the kitchen. Finally, Armando Iannucci made the case that his being "a bookworm" would suffice. Davies "caught a lot of flack online" due to his decision to accept all of these as "worms." His response, probably won't surprise any fans of the show:

"What those people don't realize is that every bit of flack makes me more powerful. It's absolutely what keeps me going. I'm actually 150 years of age, and it's purely because every time I make a call that might not be accurate and people get cross about it, I'm fueled. I take the game very seriously. But we're we're not dealing with life or death here. And the definition of a worm will not haunt me."

Davies and Horne also reminisced about bringing back the crowd-favorite, Prank Task, with Joel Dommett this series. Tasking Joel with keeping an egg with Greg's face on it safe for the entirety of the series, Joel was unaware that he was the only one given that task until the studio tapings. "You'll notice he was in no way aggrieved," mused Greg. "And I found that remarkable because, you know, my feeling was if it had been done to me, I would be incandescent at the reveal. But he's like, 'Okay, I guess that's life.' Adorable." It wasn't until the final taping, that the other contestants joined in as well. "He really didn't know the others had their eggs, so he was so touched by that."

When asked what moment from Series 21 was most surprising, the Horne's answer was very clear: "It was Kumail being brave." Kumail shocked the Taskmaster community by voluntarily allowing Horne to see his online browsing history. A search that revealed such patterns as, "Ghostbusters, watch porn, and Bluesky," sent gasps throughout the studio.

"I was one of the gaspers," disclosed Davies.

The entire Taskmaster Series 21 is now live on the Taskmaster YouTube Channel.

Amazon is hosting its 2026 Prime Day sale from June 23 to 26 instead of mid-July like usual, throwing the summer retail calendar for a loop. What gives?

The company isn't sharing many details about its reasoning. But based on what it has said, and what it's prioritizing lately, it's fairly easy to deduce an answer: There's a lot happening this July already, and shoppers will want to stock up for the festivities.

"This year, we have the [FIFA] World Cup," Jamil Ghani, worldwide VP of Amazon Prime, told Reuters earlier this month. The international soccer tournament, which is being hosted across North America this year, runs through July 19.

"We've got also the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence [on July 4]," Ghani added, "and so we thought ​this week [in late June] was the best week for us to hold Prime Day."

An Amazon spokesperson previously told Mashable that the company "felt holding the event earlier in the summer was the right choice for our customers." When asked how an earlier Prime Day would benefit shoppers, exactly, they declined to elaborate. But as Reuters pointed out, Amazon is likely positioning its June Prime Day as an opportunity to save on groceries and household goods for July's celebrations.

A bigger focus on grocery savings

Grocery delivery has become a massive part of Amazon's business. In January, the company said it was the second-largest grocer in the U.S., with everyday essentials now representing one out of every three units it sells online. Amazon introduced same-day delivery of fresh foods in thousands of U.S. cities last August. And earlier this month, it expanded its 30-minute delivery service for groceries and essentials in dozens of locations.

Prime member benefits include free same-day grocery delivery on orders over $25, exclusive discounts at Whole Foods (which Amazon also owns), and 5% cash back on groceries with a Prime Visa card. Notably, Amazon is running a free grocery sweepstakes ahead of Prime Day 2026.

Amazon has shifted Prime Day's schedule before

Technically, this isn't the first time Prime Day has fallen outside of its regular time frame since it launched in 2015. Back in 2020, Amazon pushed its members-only sale to October because of supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year, it moved up Prime Day to late June — its earliest slot thus far — before returning it to July from 2022 to 2025.

Amazon had similar reasons for moving Prime Day to June in 2021. CFO Brian Olsavsky cited "a number of factors" for the shift in an earnings call that year, per ZDNet, including July being "a big vacation month" and the timing of the 2020 Olympics, which had been rescheduled to that summer.

Olsavsky framed the 2021 June move as a test at the time. "It might be better ... for customers, sellers, and vendors to experiment with a different time period," he said. That seemed to have panned out: Prime members "shopped more and saved more" on Prime Day 2021 than any Prime Day prior, per a company earnings report.

Prime Day 2021 also saw record-breaking sales for third-party sellers on Amazon, but its earlier timing probably wasn't the only contributing factor. Amazon funded a "Spend $10, Get $10" promotion on products sold by small businesses that year.

Other major retailers usually run their own sales alongside Prime Day in mid-July, and this year, they've all adjusted their calendars accordingly. Walmart is hosting a Summer Deals event from June 22 to 28; Target is having a Circle Week Deal Days sale from June 23 to 26; and Best Buy is running a Tech Fest sale from June 22 to June 28.

Jalen Brunson's postgame comments are increasingly being treated like life advice.

After the Knicks completed their historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, commentator Shaquille O'Neal asked the obvious question: When the team was down by nearly 30 points, did any doubt creep into his mind?

Most athletes would have given some version of the standard answer. No doubt. No fear. We believed the entire time.

Brunson went a different direction.

"I thought about it," he replied. "You're allowed to think about the worst possible scenario, but you gotta go out there and do something about it."

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The quote quickly spread across social media, because it felt deeply on-brand for Brunson. Fans praised his mentality. Others framed it as a lesson in leadership or resilience. Once again, the internet became fascinated by Jalen Brunson's mindset.

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This isn't exactly new. For years, fans and creators have treated Brunson's approach to basketball as something worth studying. Following the Knicks' stunning Game 4 comeback, TikTok creator @duttybwoys described Brunson as someone who plays "like he's always down 30 even if he's up 50," arguing that years of being overlooked have given him a mentality that sets him apart from other stars, like Spurs golden boy Victor Wembanyama. "Brunson plays like he has to take greatness for himself, because he knows nobody will give it to him," he said.

It's a compelling theory. But I have another one. Jalen Brunson, born Aug. 31, 1996, is a Virgo. And the more I thought about his answer to Shaq's question, the more it sounded like peak Virgo behavior. Say what you want about astrology, but sometimes the stars absolutely nail it.

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The stereotype of Virgos is that they're perfectionists, but I think that misses the point. (I'm saying this as a Virgo myself.) Virgos aren't blindly optimistic people who never think about what could go wrong. If anything, they're usually imagining every possible thing that could go wrong. The difference is that they immediately move into problem-solving mode.

That's essentially what Brunson described. The Knicks captain didn't say he never considered losing. He didn't claim he was immune to doubt. He admitted that the thought crossed his mind, then immediately pivoted to action.

Think about the worst-case scenario. Now figure out what needs to be done.

It's the same mentality that has come to define Brunson's career. A recent New York Times article explored how Brunson still draws motivation from being selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft, despite becoming one of the NBA's elite point guards. Even after transforming the Knicks into real championship contenders, Brunson continues operating with the mindset of someone who has another level to reach.

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That relentless self-improvement has made him one of basketball's most reliable stars. His game is built on preparation, discipline, consistency, and attention to detail rather than flash — all pretty classic Virgo traits. He approaches basketball like a problem to solve, which is why the internet keeps treating his quotes like motivational wisdom.

People hear leadership and resilience. They hear a blueprint for handling pressure. Virgos hear someone openly acknowledging the worst possible outcome before immediately creating an action plan. Where the internet sees a philosophy, Virgos see a checklist.

Brunson isn't the only Knick being interpreted through an astrological lens. Following the team's historic Game 4 comeback, astrologer and creator Chani Nicholas shared a video analyzing the Knicks' birth chart as if the franchise itself were a person.

Nicholas pointed to the recent Venus-Jupiter conjunction boosting the team's natal Saturn — Saturn being associated with discipline and delayed gratification — and an eclipse-like quality in the chart that suggested the team was capable of pulling off seemingly impossible feats. As she put it, a "wildcard is baked into their identity," and "they eclipse everything."

In other words, there are already people looking to the stars for an explanation of how the Knicks keep pulling this off.

The nightmare that can be modern dating proves a strong jumping-off point for a film involving a blind date that ends up in the path of a cold-blooded murderer. It's a real mood-killer. Set over one snowy night in a tiny town in British Columbia, Canada, All Night Wrong thrusts two ordinary people into extraordinary, frankly terrifying, often hilarious circumstances — the type that really bond, people, you know?

Directed by Jason James and written by Jason Filiatrault, All Night Wrong leans into the surrealism of such wild events through the art of genre-mashing, where indie rom-com meets neo-noir. Here, we find two romantic leads you'll genuinely barrack for: Severance's Zach Cherry and The Apprentice’s Maria Bakalova, whose quest for one night of fun gets them into all sorts of trouble. Together.

All Night Wrong holds all the characteristics of a sweet romantic comedy (or "platon-com," as Cherry referred to it onstage at its SXSW London premiere, keeping things on the platonic side). It's a formula. Two people turn up to a blind date. Things escalate. Hijinks ensue. However, the film takes a thrilling turn into myriad other genres, with compelling performances, unexpected action sequences, and a core mystery the characters can't help investigating to the end. And that body needs to be buried.

All Night Wrong wears its cinematic influences on its bloody sleeve.

Always time for a meal while running from a killer... Credit: Goodbye Productions

James' film starts where all good rom-coms start: two strangers on a date, awkwardly getting to know each other. Cherry's Gary is a painfully polite, unpretentious guy with a sensitive heart. Bakalova's Eli is an unpredictable, dynamic woman who's just here to have some fun. When they decide to get out of here and make for a dodgy roadside motel, things seem to be escalating. However, just like in Martin Scorsese's After Hours, things get weird, and Gary's keen to take himself home. And with all the accidental witness stakes of Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot, Gary and Eli make discoveries they can't unsee.

Now, there's the tiny issue of a stolen car, a dead body, a suitcase full of money, a mysterious woman in distress (an atmospheric wild card in Emily Hampshire), and a killer on their path (an outlandishly good Tyler Labine) — all of which they'll have to contend with if they don't want to end up in jail or six feet under. And they just wanted to have a night out! 

All Night Wrong is near impossible to pin down, genre-wise, seamlessly mashing up elements of '80s road thrillers The Hitcher and Blood Simple to up the tension, while leaning into '30s screwball comedies like It Happened One Night for sweeter moments of connection. It's a film as playful as it is bloody, with a perfectly threatening Labine finding his own No Country for Old Men-style pre-kill monologues with utter conviction, as a tired, jaded man who just can't understand why anyone would want to live in freezing cold Canada.

Despite being set in the present, Tiana P. Gordon's production design is the stuff of '70s and '80s small-town dreams, from the dingy, heart-themed Lido Motel to the fluorescent-lit petrol station Gasoline Alley. Director of photography Byron Kopman deploys dreamy slow zooms to amplify the unease or romance of scenes, though he's also equipped with an arsenal of fast zooms for comedic effect. One of the unsung characters of the film is the music, with a grimy synthwave score woven between the film's Canadian '70s and '80s hair metal needle drops, the ultimate effect being an endless night, stuck in time. 

Zach Cherry and Maria Bakalova are perfect rom-com leads in All Night Wrong

Like modern versions of Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith in Something Wild, these two complete opposites find themselves careening around town trying to piece together this increasingly dangerous puzzle, finding their True Romance-level confidence along the way. 

Cherry brings delightfully flustered good intentions to Gary, constantly wringing his hands with real "I've got a bad feeling about this" energy, while Bakalova shines as utter "live a little" chaos in her silk bomber jacket. Their contrasting dynamic propels them further down a road of no return, and as bumbling amateur sleuths, they're a delight to watch. Eli is a fearless rookie investigator fuelled by a need for closure while Gary, who admittedly watches a lot of cop shows, tentatively enters rooms declaring, "I'm a good person! I collect action figures!" to avoid injury. Both of them leave their fingerprints over everything, especially murder weapons that could incriminate them, and make more than a few terrible decisions.

However, as the film progresses, we learn more about just why Gary and Eli came here at all, to a random bar on a dark winter's night, for one evening of throwing caution to the wind. Why is breaking and entering easier for Gary than confronting his real-life problems? Why does Eli need to solve this mystery and deliver a final message of love from a dying man? As the film's dialogue says, "You should get to know the person you're burying a body with." And even though they just met, they might surprise each other.

All Night Wrong makes the case that strangers might see us more clearly than we see ourselves; carrying years of emotional baggage can make self-reflection foggy. Over one wild night, Gary and Eli learn what they're capable of and what they deserve in a relationship, whether it be romantic or platonic. Somehow, somehow this is the lesson I took from this film, one that includes multiple scenes involving grisly violence with garden shed tools and cassette tapes blasting Canadian '80s hair metal. Seems right.

All Night Wrong was reviewed out of SXSW London, with North American release dates to be announced.

Later this year, assuming nothing goes wrong, Apple and Samsung will officially be competitors in the realm of foldable devices. What will that look like?

It's hard to say at this point because neither the iPhone Fold nor the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has officially been announced yet. It's widely expected that Apple will unveil its first foldable in September alongside the iPhone 18, while Samsung is said to be planning a July 22 launch for its next batch of foldables. In the meantime, we have a decent number of rumors and leaks that paint enough of a picture for us to compare these two devices prior to their unveilings.

iPhone Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design differences

While these two devices will technically be competitors, they won't necessarily look or feel the same, according to everything we've heard. To be more specific, Apple and Samsung are going to adopt entirely different display form factors in these two book-style foldables, at least if every leak is to be believed.

For starters, it's expected that Samsung will retain the Z Fold 7's display sizes with a few minor changes. That means it'll probably have a 6.5-inch outer display and an 8-inch inner display when unfolded. When it was released, the Z Fold 7 was the best foldable we'd ever tested up to that point (and might still be), especially thanks to its extreme thinness. It measured in at 8.9mm when folded and a mere 4.2mm when unfolded. One Korean news report indicated the Z Fold 8 could actually be slightly lighter than the Fold 7, so it could be downsized even more.

Backing up all of this was a leaked image of some dummy cases posted by prominent leaker Sonny Dickson earlier this year. One of them is clearly meant to be a successor to the Z Fold 7.

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As for the iPhone Fold (which is also rumored to be named the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Ultra Fold), Apple is taking a different approach with screen real estate. Reported specs include a 7.8-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 5.5-inch outer display. In other words, it's a shorter, wider phone than Z Fold devices. Apple's foldable will also reportedly be a little thicker, at 9.5mm of thickness when folded and 4.5mm when unfolded. This is all backed up by dummy case photos posted recently by Majin Bu on X.

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Given the success Samsung and others have found with the traditional book-style design over the past few years, it's interesting that Apple is going with something that's more squat and book-shaped in comparison. We're not the only ones who have noticed, as Samsung is reportedly planning a Z Fold 8 Wide model that will go head-to-head with the iPhone Fold.

Don't forget about the all-but-confirmed Galaxy Z Fold Wide

We'd be remiss not to mention the rumored "Wide Fold" phone Samsung is working on. According to various leaks and rumors, it would have similar dimensions to the iPhone Fold, perhaps making it a more direct competitor to that device.

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Some reports have even suggested that the wider phone will be called Z Fold 8, while the successor device to the Z Fold 7 will adopt the "Z Fold 8 Ultra" moniker. For now, we're operating as if the taller, skinnier phone is the Z Fold 8, simply because it's more like the Z Fold 7. If Samsung does indeed go along with this very confusing name change, we'll accept it, begrudgingly.

We should also note that if the rumors are true, Samsung will have a flip-phone style Z Flip 8, a tablet-style Z Fold 8, and a new, book-style Z Fold Wide. That means Android users will have a trio of options for foldable form factors, whereas iOS users will be limited to a single option.

iPhone Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Other rumored differences

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was remarkably thin. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

As for other differences you can expect between the Z Fold 8 and the iPhone Fold, many of them are either very minor or are educated guesses. For example, we can say with some confidence that the iPhone Fold will run on iOS 27, while the Z Fold 8 will run on Android. That one is easy.

We don't have official price points for these phones yet, but neither of them will be cheap. It's expected that the iPhone Fold will cost somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500. Meanwhile, last year's Z Fold 7 was $2,000, a $100 price increase over the year before. Given the state of RAMageddon, one has to imagine that Samsung might have another price increase set for the Z Fold 8, though that hasn't been confirmed yet. These two devices might cost around the same amount of money, but it won't be a small amount, either way.

One other interesting difference to note is that Apple is apparently only planning two rear cameras for the iPhone Fold, while the Z Fold 8 is said to have three, just like the Z Fold 7 did. One report said Samsung will include a 200MP main shooter, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with the Z Fold 8. Meanwhile, the iPhone Fold is said to have two 48MP shooters on the back. Megapixel counts only amount to so much, so we'll need to do some proper testing before we say which camera array is better.

As for batteries, leaker Instant Digital said in February that the iPhone Fold would have the biggest battery capacity in iPhone history, though they didn't share a specific numerical size. Meanwhile, the Z Fold 7's biggest disappointment was its 4,400mAh battery, so it's encouraging to hear from the same Korean news report that told us the Z Fold 8 would be lighter that it will have a much bigger 5,000mAh cell inside of it.

It won't be long now before we have more information about both of these devices. By the end of September, we should be able to do a full, official comparison, so stay tuned.

The other night, I was swiping through Bumble, and I came across a profile that made me laugh: "Not hot enough to have no bio." But, here's my take: No one is too hot to make a total absence of effort look enticing. Even celebrities on Raya have bios (even if it's just one sentence).

If there's one thing guaranteed to make me swipe left immediately, it's when someone has patently put zero effort into their dating app profile. But, swiping on the apps, I see it all the time — a Hinge profile full of prompts, each completed with one lone punctuation mark: "." Or a solitary emoji. I see Bumble, Tinder, and Feeld profiles left blank — sometimes with only one photo as an accompaniment (talk about heavy lifting!).

I get that it takes a bit of time to put some thought into responding to the prompts or crafting a witty bio. But that's the only real way to show prospective matches a bit of personality. Photos can only take you so far.

I don't care how good-looking you are. How cool you look in your photos. How tall you are or how good your job is. No bio, no swipe right. Your profile is your chance to show who you truly are.

But it's not just about showing off your stellar personality and unparalleled wit. It's about demonstrating that you're willing to invest. "The profile itself is one of the earliest relationship skills that a person will demonstrate," says Janee Young, licensed therapist and clinical director of Wellness Detox of LA.

What no dating app bio says about you

The amount of effort you put into your profile is very telling, in my view. If you can't be bothered to answer simple prompts or to write even one sentence for a bio, what does that tell me about the kind of partner you would be? Seeing those incomplete prompts or the empty bio, I ask myself: If I were in a relationship with this person, would they remember to buy me a birthday card? Would they put effort into our relationship? Would they do kind and thoughtful gestures without being prompted? Would they meet my needs?

It's perfectly possible that, despite your unfinished profile, you'd actually make a great partner. In which case, you're doing yourself a disservice by not taking the 5-10 minutes, tops, to write a little bit about yourself. First impressions count. So, show us who you actually are, rather than letting us make assumptions based on what's not on your profile.

Paul Brunson, Tinder’s global relationship expert, says, "When you leave your bio blank, you're missing an opportunity to connect."

"It doesn't offer a sense of who you are, and makes it harder for people to start a conversation," he adds. The same rule applies to relying on one emoji in your bio. As Brunson says, it "forces the other person to make assumptions, and makes it feel like work."

"A simple, genuine line about yourself or what you're looking for goes much further. A little effort at this stage will go a long way to creating better connections," he adds.

Sixty-one percent of daters on Hinge say they want to look at someone's profile and gauge what a partnership with a potential match would look like, the app emailed Mashable. That means users are looking to learn details about lifestyle, interests, and hobbies.

Avoid negative comments in your bio

As well as empty bios, I've also seen people write negative (and sometimes ignorant) things in theirs. Comments like "no drama please," "looking for someone sane," or "no pronouns please" are straight-up red flags, in my view.

I've also seen bios bemoaning dating culture, or making fun of clichés in people's bios or messages.

"Please don't message me asking about my weekend," or "Does anyone even message on here?" Brunson says he understands why people do this, but "leading with negativity almost never gets you the results you want." He adds: "A profile should draw people in, not push them away."

"Think of your bio as the handshake before the conversation — you want it to be warm, inviting, and confident," he says. "You want someone to feel comfortable messaging you, not worried they'll say the wrong thing. So focus on setting expectations through clarity and positivity, not restrictions and bad vibes."

Why photos alone are not enough

What do therapists say about the habit of leaving your profile blank?

"Leaving your profile blank means that you are requiring the other user to take a leap, while you are unwilling to take said leap yourself," says Brian Lutz, licensed therapist and chief clinical officer at Blume Behavioral Health.

"The amount of effort you put into your initial introduction will provide the other person with information about your emotional availability, reflective of your seriousness about this process and respect for their time," he adds.

Young echoes this. "When individuals create blank profiles, they typically expect their photos alone will provide enough information about themselves to others viewing their profiles," she says.

"Blank profiles also require other individuals (the 'other' party) to perform unnecessary emotional labor," she adds. "When an individual cannot discern another person's personality, intent(s), lifestyle choices, etc., they are far more likely to assign those characteristics based upon their own perceptions, which can result in incompatibility and ultimately mismatches."

Give us something to talk about

Don't forget, we're also living in the age of dating app fatigue. We're dealing with constant unmatching, ghosting, and unanswered opening messages. Daters (myself included) are frustrated by the absence of actual conversation going on in their inboxes. So, why make it harder for someone to start a chat with you? Giving nothing away in your bio basically makes it impossible to come up with a decent icebreaker. Believe me, I've tried. To those frustrated with the constant "hey, how are you?" openers on the apps, ask yourself if your profile has any conversation starters. Please don't make me send another "nice moustache" message.

So, if you're reading this and thinking, "Oops, guilty as charged," I beseech you: just give your profile a sprinkle of personality, a light dusting of detail, a pinch of wit. Your matches will thank you for it. And your profile will have that certain je ne sais quoi that'll make prospective dates think: "Immediate swipe right."

TL;DR: Amazon is currently offering a four-month free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited for new subscribers — a $47.96 value. The offer runs through June 29 and includes ad-free music and podcasts, plus one monthly Audible audiobook.

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Amazon Music Unlimited

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Amazon's early Prime Day deals are rolling in, and the retailer is cutting prices left and right on everything from small kitchen appliances to streaming subscriptions, including Amazon Music Unlimited.

Right now, new subscribers can get four months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free. (The standard free trial is only good for a month, so this is a pretty sweet deal.) You'll get access to 100 million songs (ad-free), along with HD and spatial audio streams. Plus, you get to pick one free audiobook from the Audible catalog every single month.

Since this is an introductory offer, it's only available to first-time Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers. Once the four-month trial ends, the subscription auto-renews at $11.99 a month if you have Prime, or $12.99 a month if you don't.

If you just want the free streaming and don't plan on keeping it long-term, you can go into your Amazon Music settings and cancel the auto-renewal before you ever get charged. (We won't tell!) Just make sure to claim the promo before it expires on June 29 at 8:00 a.m. PST.

TL;DR: Live stream Australia vs. Turkey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues with another batch of exciting group-stage fixtures, including Australia vs. Turkey from Group D. Hosts USA and Paraguay make up the rest of this competitive group, with every team firmly believing that they can advance to the knockout rounds.

All eyes will be on Kenan Yildiz and Arda Güler as Turkey attempt to make a strong start.

If you want to watch Australia vs. Turkey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. Turkey?

Australia vs. Turkey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 12 a.m. ET on June 14. This fixture takes place at BC Place.

How to watch Australia vs. Turkey for free

Australia vs. Turkey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Australia vs. Turkey for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Australia vs. Turkey for free from anywhere in the world

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Australia vs. Turkey (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Australia vs. Turkey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway. All three host nations have kicked off their campaigns, and now the 40-something others will get their time to shine. The action begins live at 3 p.m. ET today on Fox.

Matchday 3 is the busiest day so far for the tournament, with four different matchups in the U.S. and Canada. We know there's a lot to keep up with — especially if you're new to the World Cup frenzy. That's why we've broken down the details for you below. Here's what you need to know to tune in live today, June 13.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 13

• Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland (San Francisco Bay Stadium)— kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• Group C: Brazil vs. Morocco (New York New Jersey Stadium) — kickoff at 6 p.m. ET

• Group C: Haiti vs. Scotland (Boston Stadium) — kickoff at 9 p.m. ET

• Group D: Australia vs. Türkiye (BC Place Vancouver) — kickoff at 12 a.m. ET

How to livestream FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Qatar vs. Switzerland

Qatar takes on Switzerland to get things started on Saturday, June 13, with a Group B matchup at San Francisco Bay Stadium. This marks the first meeting between the two nations on the tournament stage. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. ET, and live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Brazil vs. Morocco

Group C's first matchup will see Brazil take on Morocco at New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday, June 13. Brazil is one of the tournament favorites, but Morocco claimed the W in the most recent meeting between the nations in 2023. The match kicks off at 6:00 p.m. ET, and live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One with Spanish-language coverage on Peacock.

Watch Haiti vs. Scotland

Haiti and Scotland will both be aiming to get the early advantage in Group C in this first-ever World Cup matchup between the nations. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One, with Spanish-language coverage on Peacock.

Watch Australia vs Türkiye

Group D teams Australia and Türkiye will go head to head on Saturday, June 13, at BC Place Vancouver. The two teams have not met before at the World Cup, so it's bound to be an interesting matchup. Kickoff is set for 12 a.m ET (9 p.m. local time), and live coverage is on Fox and Fox One, with Spanish-language coverage on Peacock.

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Peacock (Spanish language coverage only)

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More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

Want more bang for your buck? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. These options feel like cable, with over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus tons of other popular networks. They can get pretty expensive, but most offer a free trial and a discounted introductory rate. Here are a few options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch for free on ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and more with a VPN

If you'd rather not sign up for another streaming service, you might consider subscribing to a VPN and streaming the World Cup matches for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. We recommend ExpressVPN, an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, as our VPN of choice. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, fast connection speeds, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're a VPN newbie, our global World Cup watch guide will help you nail down the details.

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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

Intelligent.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SMART

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Reup.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

REARM

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Seething.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

LIVID

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Unimportant.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

PETTY

Final Hurdle hint

Filler.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

FLUFF

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

TL;DR: Live stream Haiti vs. Scotland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is stacked full of incredible matchups. Is Haiti vs. Scotland top of the schedule for neutrals? Almost definitely not, but who really cares?

This is all about Haiti and Scotland, competing in a very tough Group C with Morocco and Brazil. If Scotland want to advance to the knockout rounds, they must get a positive result here. It's only going to get tougher after this opening game.

If you want to watch Haiti vs. Scotland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Haiti vs. Scotland?

Haiti vs. Scotland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 13. This fixture takes place at the Gillette Stadium.

How to watch Haiti vs. Scotland for free

Haiti vs. Scotland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Haiti vs. Scotland for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Haiti vs. Scotland for free from anywhere in the world

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Haiti vs. Scotland (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Haiti vs. Scotland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of teams that have a realistic chance of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Are Brazil in that group? They're usually one of the favorites, but even the most dedicated Brazilian fans have doubts about this group.

Brazil start their campaign against Morocco, a team that made the semi finals of the last World Cup and just won AFCON in controversial circumstances. It's going to be a real battle between two sides that will expect to progress from Group C.

If you want to watch Brazil vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brazil vs. Morocco?

Brazil vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on June 13. This fixture takes place at the MetLife Stadium.

How to watch Brazil vs. Morocco for free

Brazil vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Brazil vs. Morocco for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Brazil vs. Morocco for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Brazil vs. Morocco (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Brazil vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a hot cuppa.

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: A good cuppa

• Green: Top tune

• Blue: Film FXs

• Purple: Classic films

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: Seen at a tea service

• Green: Enduring song

• Blue: Used in movie practical effects

• Purple: Words before "Story" in movie titles

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 #1097 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Seen at a tea service: SAUCER, SPOON, TEACUP, TONGS

• Enduring song: CLASSIC, HIT, OLDIE, STANDARD

• Starting with Synonyms for "Repeat": COPY EDITOR, ECHO PARK, MIRROR SELFIE, QUOTE UNQUOTE

• Starting with Parts of a River: BANK TELLER, BED HEAD, DELTA AIRLINES, MOUTH GUARD

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 the latest Connections.

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

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: Track event

The words are related to music.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe singing.

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 Karaoke.

NYT Strands word list for June 13

• Queue

• Song

• Music

• Karaoke

• Loudspeaker

• Lyrics

• Microphone

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 the latest Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always holding it in.

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:

To suppress.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L 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 Q.

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...

QUELL

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 the latest Wordle.

Amazon Prime Day season is upon us, and the mega-retailer isn't waiting until the sale proper to drop the best pair of AirPods down to their best price ever.

While Prime Day usually takes place in mid-July, it got bumped up in the schedule this year: the four-day sale will now take place from June 23 to June 26. With a little over a week to go until the sale, Apple products are starting to get marked down, but the AirPods Pro 3 are by far the standout.

That's due to their price dropping to $179 — their lowest price to date — on a random Thursday ahead of the sale. We'll have more info on just how good a deal this is below, but the bottom line is, we wouldn't be surprised if this is the best, or nearly the best, price you can grab these earbuds at during Prime Day.

It makes up for a somewhat lackluster showing from other AirPods models. As of June 12, the AirPods Max 2 are down to $499.99 in select colorways. It's not a bad price, but as Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel wrote in her guide to finding the best Apple deals on Prime Day, the first-gen USB-C Maxes got a $100 markdown on their first Prime Day, so we're hoping to see Amazon follow its own precedent. The AirPods 4 are in a similar situation: We've seen them as low as $69 in the past, and so far, they're only down to $99. Not bad, but we can do better.

Below, find all the best early AirPods deals ahead of Prime Day 2026.

Best early AirPods deal

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Apple AirPods Pro 3

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Why we like it

The AirPods Pro 3 have a lot going for them. They're a good $50 cheaper than other flagship noise-canceling earbuds, they come with live translation and heart rate monitoring features, and of course, they sound great and have some of the best noise cancellation available. Then there's the top-tier Apple integration, which makes these some of the best earbuds for anyone who's deeply invested in the fruit brand's ecosystem. Major cons of these earbuds come in the form of no companion app — that means no manually adjustable equalizer or ANC, but for what you do get, and for under $200, those are flaws worth living with.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499.99 $549 (save $49.01)

TL;DR: Live stream Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage is now well underway, with a string of high-profile games for fans to enjoy.

Qatar vs. Switzerland is an interesting matchup from Group B. Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina make up the rest of this ultra-competitive group. It's difficult to predict which teams will advance, but what's obvious is that every side will be desperate to make a strong start.

If you want to watch Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Qatar vs. Switzerland?

Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 13. This fixture takes place at the Levi's Stadium.

How to watch Qatar vs. Switzerland for free

Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Qatar vs. Switzerland for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Qatar vs. Switzerland for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Qatar vs. Switzerland (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Best early Prime Day Ninja deals

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Best Ninja Deal

Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer

$249.98 (Save $130.01)

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Best Ninja blender deal

Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender

$69.99 (Save $30)

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Best grilling deal

Ninja ProChef Wireless Meat Thermometer

$69.95 (Save $30.04)

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Ninja makes some of our favorite kitchen appliances. The Creami is the buzziest of Ninja's appliances, but the brand also makes top-notch espresso machines, air fryers, blenders, and cookware. With Prime Day coming June 23 to 26, we're looking out for all the best home and kitchen deals, and Ninja has some standout early deals.

We're still a couple of weeks out from Prime Day, but right now you can save over $100 on Ninja appliances. The big stuff like the Ninja Creami and Slushi aren't on sale yet, but if you want an air fryer, you've got plenty of options. Here are all the best early Prime Day deals on Ninja appliances.

Best early Prime Day Ninja deal

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Credit: Ninja

Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer

$249.98 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $130.01

 

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Your air fryer should be doing a lot more than air frying. With a combo machine like the Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer, you're basically getting a second oven. In addition to air frying, you can bake, broil, toast, and roast all in one machine, plus it comes with a built-in thermometer so you always know when your food is done — aka no more undercooked meat anxiety.

Ahead of Prime Day, the Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer is the best Ninja deal to shop. Normally $379.99, get it for just $249.98, saving you $130.01. And there are plenty of other great deals, including 30% off the Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender and Ninja ProChef Wireless Meat Thermometer.

Early Prime Day Ninja blender deals

• Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• Ninja UltraCrush Professional Blender — $89.98 $109.99 (save $20.01)

Early Prime Day Ninja air fryer deals

• Ninja DZ071 Foodi 6-in-1 Air Fryer — $159.98 $199.99 (save $40.01)

• Ninja DZ550 Foodi 6-in-1 DualZone Air Fryer — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Ninja SL451 DoubleStack XL Smart Air Fryer —$229.98 $269.99 (save $40.01)

Early Prime Day Ninja coffee maker deals

• Ninja PB051ST Single Serve Coffee Maker — $99.98 $129.99 (save $30.01)

More early Prime Day Ninja deals

• Ninja ProChef Wireless Meat Thermometer — $69.95 $99.99 (save $30.04)

• Ninja Ceramic Pro 10-Piece Cookware Set — $239.99 $299.99 (save $60)

• Ninja EverClad 12-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set — $279.98 $329.99 (save $50.01)

• Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Outdoor Grill — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)

If you've ever wanted to meet your favorite creator, attend a live podcast, learn how influencers make money online, or get a glimpse into the future of the creator economy, that's exactly what VidCon is for.

The annual convention has become one of the largest gatherings for internet culture, bringing together creators, fans, platforms, brands, and industry professionals under one roof. What started as a YouTube-focused event has evolved into a three-day celebration of the creator economy, spanning everything from TikTok and Snapchat to podcasts, gaming, AI, and digital entrepreneurship.

This year's event takes place June 25–27, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Here's what you need to know.

What is VidCon?

VidCon is an annual convention dedicated to online creators and the communities that surround them. Founded in 2010 by brothers John and Hank Green, the event brings together digital creators, fans, industry leaders, and technology companies to celebrate and discuss internet culture.

Over the years, VidCon has grown alongside the creator economy itself. While early editions were heavily centered on YouTube personalities, today's convention reflects a much broader creator landscape that includes TikTok stars, livestreamers, podcasters, educators, entrepreneurs, and independent media companies.

When is VidCon 2026?

VidCon Anaheim 2026 takes place June 25–27 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Registration and some pre-event activities begin on June 24.

The convention is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026 and features three days of panels, meet-and-greets, live shows, workshops, networking events, and industry programming.

Who attends VidCon?

VidCon attracts three primary groups:

Fans

For many attendees, VidCon is a chance to meet creators they've followed online for years. Fan-focused programming includes creator panels and games, meet-and-greets, live podcasts, performances, community meetups, and interactive experiences.

Creators

Aspiring and established creators attend to learn about audience growth, monetization, content strategy, production, and brand partnerships. Creator-focused programming often includes workshops, networking opportunities, and discussions with successful influencers and industry experts. If you're looking for tips on breaking through the internet noise, VidCon is for you.

Industry professionals

Brands, platforms, talent managers, marketers, agencies, and media executives use VidCon to track trends in the creator economy and build partnerships. In fact, the convention has increasingly become a major business event for the digital media industry.

What happens at VidCon?

VidCon's schedule includes a mix of entertainment, education, and networking.

Attendees can expect:

• Creator panels and Q&A sessions

• Meet-and-greets with featured creators

• Live podcast recordings

• Workshops and educational sessions

• Expo hall activations and brand experiences

• Industry keynotes and presentations

• Community meetups

• Evening events and performances

The event also features an opening celebration and the VidCon Hall of Fame ceremony, which honors creators who helped shape internet culture.

As creator businesses become increasingly sophisticated, VidCon's 15th anniversary event will be sponsored by POP.STORE, a creator monetization platform that plans to unveil ECHO-ME, an AI-powered commerce platform designed for creators. The sponsorship marks a notable change from last year, when the convention's title sponsor was YouTube, underscoring how conversations around creator industry infrastructure and monetization have become increasingly central to the event.

Who is attending VidCon 2026?

VidCon has announced hundreds of featured creators for its 2026 event across gaming, comedy, lifestyle, education, and entertainment. The official creator lineup continues to expand leading up to the convention. Here are the featured creators attending this year's VidCon:

• Aaron Burriss

• ACookieGod

• Adam McIntyre

• Adrian Vazquez

• aimsey

• Alberta Tech

• Alex Ojeda

• Alex Wassabi

• Allen Pan

• Andrew Wassabi

• Andrew Wave

• Anna DeGuzman

• Anna G

• Anna McNulty

• Annoying Orange

• Anthony Gomes

• anthpo

• AnythingAlexia

• Audity

• Auntie Charli

• Austin Evans

• Austin Sprinz

• Bailey Sarian

• Beth Cast

• Blaza Plays

• Brandon Rogers

• Brianda Deyanara

• BrodyAnimates

• Carter Sharer

• Cash

• Caylus

• Cenk Uygur

• Chad Wild Clay

• CheapPickle

• Cheeky Boyos

• Christina&Amber

• CircleToonsHD

• Cory Siu

• Coy Piso

• Creebus

• cuptoast

• Doyeong

• DangMattSmith

• Death Battle

• Derek Xiao

• Dimucc

• Doris Jocelyn

• Drex Lee

• Elliott

• Emmy Combs

• Eret

• estabr0k

• Fiizy

• Foltyn

• FunkyFrogBait

• Gabee Girl

• Gianna Marie (@G.Wizzle)

• GingerPale

• GloZell

• Gohar’s Guide

• Haminations

• Hannahxxrose

• Harley Morenstein

• Hew Moran

• IBella

• Inbora

• Infamous Swoosh

• itsjamesseo

• Jeyu

• JT Casey

• Jalin Siu

• Jeffrey Bui

• Jenny Hoyos

• Jeremiah Brown

• Jeremy Hutchins

• Jessica McCabe

• jmancurly

• Joely Live

• John Casterline

• Juju Wonder

• Kaido Lee Roberts

• Kasey Esser

• Kat Buno

• Katarina Mogus

• Kelsi Davies

• Kenzie Yolles

• Kina Siu

• Kyland Young

• LOL Podcast

• Lana’s Life

• Law by Mike

• Let Me Explain Studios, Rebecca Parham

• Lisi Shops

• Lyanna Kea

• MOVIEKIM

• Manny

• Matthew Beem

• McKenzi Brooke

• MeganPlays

• Mellomelt

• Merrick Hanna

• Mikey Angelo

• Muffin Juice

• Nathan Kessel

• Nevaaadaa

• NichLmao

• Nick Kosir

• Nick Wilkins

• Nico

• Nico Grigg

• Nicole O'Rourke

• Old Ball

• Paco de Miguel

• Paultooreall

• Peet Montzingo

• Prajakta Koli

• RJ Siu

• Rachel OCool

• Rae Plays

• Rebecca Zamolo

• Reza & Puja Khan

• Rosanna Pansino

• SML

• SSSniperWolf

• Sambucha

• Samuel Donner

• Sava

• Shut Up I'm Talking

• Siow Wei

• Socksfor1

• Sophi Balerdi

• Stanzi Potenza

• Steak

• Steven He

• Sydney Morgan

• Tayla Santos

• The Aspie World

• The Besties

• The Goddess Boys

• The Mannii

• The Professor

• The Valentine Brothers

• The Yuh Family

• TheOneShu

• Tonio Guajardo

• Tony Talks

• Trixshot

• Tubbo

• Tubby Nugget

• Unsighted

• uwucutesingle

• VMT

• Valerie Lepelch

• Vy Quaint

• Wallibear

• Yikes

• yoangelolo

• ZHC

• Zach Justice

• al1craft

• jacknjellify

• tinymacdude