Mashable

How to watch Spain vs. Cape Verde online for free

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

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.

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:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Spain vs. Cape Verde for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

How to watch Netherlands vs. Japan online for free

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

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.

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

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Netherlands vs. Japan for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

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

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

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:21:44 +0000

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free 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.

The world will stop this summer 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.

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:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)
Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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

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

Social media reacts to Knicks storybook NBA Finals win

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:38:46 +0000

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador online for free

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

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:

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

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

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

An AI startup founder is trying to vibe code his own Grand Theft Auto game

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:24:46 +0000

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:

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.

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.

Im watching the Barcelona-Catalunya GP for free this weekend — how to live stream F1 for free

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:14:08 +0000

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.

Credit: Amazon

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

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

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

Best Apple TV Deal

Apple TV

7-day free trial

Best Prime Video Deal

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

7-day free trial

Best Apple One Deal

Apple One

30-day free trial

How to watch F1 live streams online for free

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:13:56 +0000

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

Best Apple TV Deal

Apple TV

7-day free trial

Best Prime Video Deal

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

7-day free trial

Best Apple One Deal

Apple One

30-day free trial

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:

Australian Grand Prix — March 8
Chinese Grand Prix — March 15
Japanese Grand Prix — March 29
Miami Grand Prix — May 3
Canadian Grand Prix — May 24
Monaco Grand Prix — June 7
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14
Austrian Grand Prix — June 28
British Grand Prix — July 5
Belgian Grand Prix — July 19
Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26
Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23
Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6
Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13
Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26
Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11
United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25
Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1
São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8
Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21
Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29
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

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.

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

Credit: Amazon

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.

Apple One

Credit: Apple One

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.

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.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for June 14

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:04:58 +0000

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.

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-month subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

only for a limited time

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish language coverage only)

Starting at $10.99/month

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.

Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-month plan)

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

MacBook Neo review: 3 months later, I love this laptop even more

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:00:26 +0000

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

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

$689.99 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.

Claude Fable 5 vs GPT 5.5: Is this why the Trump admin banned one and not the other?

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

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.

How to watch Germany vs. Curaçao online for free

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

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.

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

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Germany vs. Curaçao for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

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

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

As an early Prime Day treat, Amazon is offering 3 months of free access to Kindle Unlimited

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:59:04 +0000

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.

Credit: Amazon

Kindle Unlimited

$0 at Amazon
$35.97 Save $35.97

get 3 months for free

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.

Hurdle hints and answers for June 14, 2026

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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.

How to watch Sweden vs. Tunisia online for free

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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.

Live stream Sweden vs. Tunisia for free by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Sweden vs. Tunisia for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

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

Live stream Sweden vs. Tunisia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 14, 2026

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000

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.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a 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 yesterday's Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for June 14, 2026

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000

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 yesterday's Strands.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 14, 2026

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000

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 yesterday's Wordle.

DJI and Insta360 go to war in the U.S. over its action gimbal cameras

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 18:37:47 +0000

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.

A group of state attorneys general are investigating OpenAI

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:55:05 +0000

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.

NYT Pips hints, answers for June 13, 2026

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:39:21 +0000

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.

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.

Anthropic pulls Claude Fable 5, Mythos 5 after Trump admin order

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:09:45 +0000

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 react to the explosive Series 21 finale

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:32:31 +0000

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.

Why did Amazon Prime Day shift to June? Heres what the company has said (and not said).

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:01:25 +0000

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 Brunsons mindset is peak Virgo behavior

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

All Night Wrong review: Dating is hard enough without a killer on the loose

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

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.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Apple iPhone Fold: How the rumors compare

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

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.

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.

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.

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.

Putting no effort into your dating app profile is unattractive

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

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."

Amazons giving away 4 free months of Amazon Music Unlimited ahead of Prime Day

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 08:45:28 +0000

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.

Credit: Amazon

Amazon Music Unlimited

Get 4 months free

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.

How to watch Australia vs. Turkey online for free

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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.

Live stream Australia vs. Turkey for free by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Australia vs. Turkey for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

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

Live stream Australia vs. Turkey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for June 13

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:01:00 +0000

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.

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-month subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

only for a limited time

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish language coverage only)

Starting at $10.99/month

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.

Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-month plan)

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

Hurdle hints and answers for June 13, 2026

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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

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.

How to watch Haiti vs. Scotland online for free

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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.

Live stream Haiti vs. Scotland for free by following these simple steps:

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

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

Live stream Haiti vs. Scotland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Brazil vs. Morocco online for free

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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.

Live stream Brazil vs. Morocco for free by following these simple steps:

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

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

Live stream Brazil vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 13, 2026

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a hot cuppa.

What is Connections?

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.

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 today's Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for June 13, 2026

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000

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

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 today's Strands.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 13, 2026

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always holding it in.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

What happened to the Wordle archive?

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

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

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

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

The AirPods Pro 3 are at a record-low price, plus more of the best AirPods deals ahead of Prime Day

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:17:16 +0000

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

Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70

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)

How to watch Qatar vs. Switzerland online for free

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

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.

Live stream Qatar vs. Switzerland for free by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Qatar vs. Switzerland for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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.

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

Live stream Qatar vs. Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Best early Prime Day Ninja deals: Save over $100 on a 10-in-1 air fryer

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:31:49 +0000

Best early Prime Day Ninja deals

Best Ninja Deal

Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer

$249.98 (Save $130.01)

Best Ninja blender deal

Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender

$69.99 (Save $30)

Best grilling deal

Ninja ProChef Wireless Meat Thermometer

$69.95 (Save $30.04)

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

Credit: Ninja

Ninja Foodi DT251 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fryer

$249.98 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $130.01

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)

What is VidCon? Everything to know about the 2026 creator convention

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:01:53 +0000

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

Among this year's biggest attractions is the second class of VidCon Hall of Fame inductees, which includes creator pioneers Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Phan, and Cassey Ho.

Why does VidCon still matter?

The creator economy has changed dramatically since VidCon launched in 2010, but the convention remains one of the few places where the internet exists in physical form.

Creators who spend most of their careers communicating through screens get to meet their audiences face-to-face. Fans who spend years participating in online communities can experience those communities in real life. And industry leaders gather to discuss where digital culture is heading next.

SEE ALSO: Why VidCon still matters in 2026

In many ways, VidCon serves as an annual snapshot of the internet itself, revealing which creators are breaking through, which platforms are gaining influence, and what trends will shape online culture in the year ahead.

How can you attend VidCon?

Tickets for VidCon Anaheim 2026 are available through the convention's official website. Pass options range from fan-focused experiences to creator- and industry-access tiers, depending on what attendees hope to get out of the event.

For the latest information on featured creators, schedules, and ticket availability, attendees can visit VidCon's official website ahead of the big weekend.

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

As SpaceX IPO blasts off, Elon Musk becomes a trillionaire

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:13:40 +0000

Some SpaceX launches have failed, some have succeeded — and the company's IPO certainly fell into the latter category Friday, turning CEO Elon Musk into the world's first trillionaire.

The company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, and SpaceX shares (the official shortened form, in case you were wondering, is SPCX) quickly rocketed upwards from the initial price of $135 a share. At time of writing, shares had reached the stratospheric heights of $170 — making it the biggest IPO in history.

That values SpaceX, which recently merged with Musk's xAI, at above $2 trillion. To put that in perspective, the New York Times reports that's more than Walmart and General Motors combined, though both Google and Nvidia have surpassed the $4 trillion threshhold. And so long as SpaceX trades above $138 per share, Musk is officially the world's first trillionaire — with none of his former peers in the billionaire category coming anywhere close.

It may be the largest IPO in terms of money, but not in terms of the number of shares offered: 555.5 million. That's a relatively small number, which means the stock is getting a bump from investors who are all in on Musk and willing to offer higher prices.

The price is expected to rise and fall as the market absorbs SpaceX and ponders whether its merger with xAI — the reason the combined company has recorded $5 billion in losses so far this year — is worth it. The SpaceX IPO literature promised the company would make money from AI data centers in space, admitting it was a completely unproven concept.

Musk, who has not steered away from political controversy during the so-called quiet period, needs the stock to stay above $138 to retain his trillionaire status. (He already has an unusual amount of control over SpaceX, with more than 80 percent of voting shares.)

That looks simple now — but the ongoing AI backlash, which has finally reached Silicon Valley, could complicate matters. As the first major AI company to IPO, SpaceX is uniquely exposed to shifts in the AI wind.

We'll know more about the way it's blowing when Anthropic has its IPO later this year — and we see what the market thinks about an AI company when it comes without Musk's star power.

Meta outage: Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp experience downtime

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:31:34 +0000

Updated on Friday, June 12 at 4:22 p.m. ET — Meta's status page indicates that all disruptions have been restored and all disruptions are now concluded.

Updated on Friday, June 12, at 1:26 p.m. ET — Andy Stone, Meta VP of Communications, posted an update on X that stated Meta services were being restored.

The Meta status page for its business services listed most of the June 12 disruptions as resolved. "We have recovered from an earlier outage impacting Ads Creation and Editing, and services have now been restored. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused." However, the WhatsApp Business Platform still showed "High Disruptions" as of this writing.

Updated on Friday, June 12 at 1:15 p.m. ET — As of this writing, the outages for Meta's services appear to be on their way out, at least according to DownDetector. Meta has not provided an official cause for the outage yet, however.

Some of Meta's products had a hard time on Friday morning.

Services like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp all experienced temporary service outages to start the weekend. The cause is unknown at this point in time, but Meta's VP of Communications, Andy Stone, acknowledged the outage on X.

Stone said Meta's engineers are working on it.

That's not good. Credit: Screenshot: Downdetector

In addition, the platform DownDetector recorded spikes in user error reports for Meta products on Friday. A peak of 10,000 users reported problems accessing Instagram, with the majority reporting problems with the app.

According to DownDetector users (Disclosure: Mashable and Down Detector have the same parent company, Davis), Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp all experienced problems starting in the late morning on Friday. On top of that, Meta's status page for its business applications also noted "High Disruptions" on Friday morning, too.

Anecdotally, multiple Mashable staff members have had a hard time posting or sending messages on Instagram during this outage. It's unclear exactly when the problem will be resolved, but at the very least, Meta is aware of it and is doing something about it.

This is a developing story...

We found the best Apple Watch deals ahead of Prime Day — shop the Series 11 for $100 off

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:59:41 +0000

Best early Prime Day Apple Watch deals

Best Apple Watch Deal

Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS)

$299 (Save $100)

Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm) Deal

Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm, GPS)

$329 (Save $100)

Best Apple Watch SE 3 Deal

Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS)

$219 (Save $30)

Warmer weather means more time outside, and when you're in the great outdoors, a fitness tracker or smartwatch helps track all of that activity. Whether you're headed out on a European vacation or have a list of summer hikes to tackle, an Apple Watch is one of our favorite ways to stay connected and track activity, and with Prime Day on the horizon, we're hunting for deals on the smartwatch.

Amazon's biggest sale of the year, which spans four days from June 23 to 26, is almost here. Early deals are already dropping, and while there are some gems like the lowest price ever on the Apple AirPods Pro 3, most of the deals are just OK. Apple Watches are on sale, and you can find one for its lowest price ever, too, but we're still holding out for more deals.

Best early Prime Day Apple Watch deal

Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS)

$299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100

The Apple Watch Series 11 is down to $299 ahead of Prime Day, which, according to Camelcamelcamel, is its lowest price ever. So while we know this is the best price on the latest smartwatch from Apple, we also know that it's been sitting at $299 for several months now. With Prime Day coming up, it feels like it's due for another price cut.

But that doesn't take away from the Apple Watch Series 11's $299 price, which saves you $100 off its $399 price tag. We rate it our favorite smartwatch for fitness tracking, and it has an impressive battery. With improved battery life compared to the Series 10, you don't need to charge the watch midday for battery life to last you all night. So if you've been thinking about upgrading, grab it now for its lowest price ever.

Apple Watch Series 11 deals

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

Apple Watch SE deals

Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) — $219 ~~$249~~ (save $30)
Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm, GPS) — $249 ~~$279~~ (save $30)

The World Cups breakout star is a duck in a tiny Mexico jersey

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:58:15 +0000

The FIFA World Cup is less than 24 hours old, and the internet has already found its main character.

Not a striker. Not a goalkeeper. Not even one of the tournament's many celebrity attendees.

A duck.

Following Mexico's 2-0 opening-day victory against South Africa, social media users quickly became obsessed with a video of a duck waddling through crowds in Mexico City while wearing a tiny Mexico jersey. (And no, it's not AI.) In a tournament known for producing unforgettable moments, the bird's appearance immediately earned it an unlikely place in the online conversation.

The clip spread across social media, with fans crowning the feathered supporter everything from the "most famous duck in Mexico" to the tournament's MVP. Given that El Tri opened its World Cup campaign with a win, it's hard to argue with the duck's track record so far.

The tiny jersey-wearing mascot emerged amid a day of celebrations that stretched far beyond the action on the pitch. As Mexico supporters flooded the streets after the victory, videos of fans from different countries celebrating together quickly became some of the tournament's most wholesome moments.

Clips circulating online showed Mexican fans welcoming South Korean supporters with chants of "BTS," impromptu rounds of "Gangnam Style," and plenty of tequila. In one viral video, fans from both countries could be seen raising shots together, turning a World Cup game into an international friendship summit.

All in all, the vibes were undefeated.

The cultural exchange between Mexico and South Korea also produced the World Cup's very first meme, featuring a Korean fan wearing a sombrero.

The camaraderie between South Korea and Mexico wasn't limited to the stands. During the tournament's opening ceremony, EJAE, the singer behind KPop Demon Hunters' Oscar–winning hit "Golden," performed the World Cup anthem "DNA" alongside Italian singer Andrea Bocelli.

That's one of the reasons the World Cup remains such a uniquely online event. Every tournament produces its share of highlights and heartbreak, but it also creates viral side stories that take on a life of their own. Sometimes it's a fan. Sometimes it's a celebration. And sometimes it's a duck wearing a soccer (sorry, fútbol) jersey.

With more than a month of matches still ahead, the internet will almost certainly find new heroes. For now, though, the World Cup belongs to one very fashionable duck.

These are all the best iPhone 17 Pro deals live right now

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:10:33 +0000

TL;DR: You need an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max to use Apple's newest Siri AI features. Here are the best deals running right now from Apple, Amazon, and major carriers to help you save up to $1,100 on an upgrade.

If you missed out on buying the iPhone 17 Pro when it launched last September, procrastination may have worked in your favor. Apple just announced that its newest and most advanced Siri AI features will only be available to 17 Pro and Pro Max users. (Though the company has confirmed that iOS 27 may run on devices as old as the iPhone 11.)

So, if you want the full experience when the update drops this fall, you'll need the newest hardware. Here are the best places to buy the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max today:

The best iPhone 17 Pro deals available right now

Amazon (Renewed): If you're not too worried about whether your phone is brand spanking new or not, Amazon's got an unlocked, refurbished iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) for $1,027.74. It's a small savings off the original $1,099.99 retail price, but you can get an additional $600 discount with an eligible trade-in.
Apple Store: If you want to buy directly from the source, Apple is offering up to $1,100 in trade-in credits when you swap out an iPhone 13 or newer. If you finance with Apple Card Monthly Installments (ACMI), you can get 0% APR, but you have to choose one of the big four carriers at checkout.
AT&T: AT&T is offering up to $1,100 back in bill credits spread over a 36-month installment plan, but your trade-in phone must be valued at a minimum of $290 to get the maximum discount. You also have to activate or upgrade to an eligible unlimited plan.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile is running a "no trade-in needed" promo where you can get up to $1,100 back via 24 monthly bill credits by switching over to an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.
Verizon: New business and individual accounts can score up to $829.99 off the iPhone 17 series at Verizon by adding a new line on an eligible plan, or up to $830 off via standard trade-in credits spread over a 36-month installment plan.
Best Buy: If you'd rather not deal with a carrier directly, Best Buy's offering up to $1,100 off via AT&T bill credits or up to $830 off via Verizon bill credits when you activate a line and trade in an eligible device.

Siri AI is not into you, Apples Craig Federighi says

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:06:20 +0000

Feeling lonely? Having trouble with your love life or lack thereof? Were you hoping the new AI-powered Siri could fill those voids?

Unfortunately, you may have to look elsewhere for companionship. Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi says Siri is just not that into you – and Apple purposefully designed it that way.

At WWDC this week, Federighi and Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak sat down for an interview with Laurie Segall of the tech YouTube channel Mostly Human.

During the interview, Segall pointed out that the features showcased during WWDC focused on Siri AI as a utility and not as a companion.

Federighi responded by explaining that this was a very purposeful move by Apple.

"I think that utility is at the foundation of human creativity and ultimately time for connection, right?" Federighi said. "I think the unlock around all of this is that you get to live the rest of your life and you get to feel really empowered doing it. I guess that's where the sexy part comes in, right? I don't think the sexy part actually belongs in the computer. It belongs in your life and so that's our focus. The idea of AI as a solution for loneliness, I mean loneliness is about a lack of connection to real people, you know, real humans."

Federighi's discussion around AI as a solution for loneliness is significant. Numerous AI companies have been sued over the past few years due to AI chatbots and assistants attempting to have a human-like relationship, platonic or romantic in nature, and that connection resulting in real-life injury or death.

Apple's view seems to be in stark contrast to the approach of some of these other AI companies.

"Many of the existing chatbots, they're really focused on engagement to a large degree and sycophancy, right?" said Federighi. "They kind of want to pull you in. They might encourage you to reveal things about yourself and then use that as a basis to establish a connection. We view it quite the opposite. The way that we have designed Siri, Siri really wants to say, 'Listen, that's not what I'm here for, right? I'm here to I'm here to help you. I can help you get things done. I can help you learn about the world.' But if you try to engage Siri as a romantic partner, Siri's not up for that. Siri's 100 percent not into that."

So, there you have it. Apple says no funny business with the new Siri. And that seems to be the safe approach.

The latest iPhone Fold rumors, leaks, and renders: Everything we know so far

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:59:03 +0000

The long-awaited foldable iPhone should arrive in 2026; all signs point to a fall or winter 2026 release. Apple kept a very tight lid on its first-ever foldable phone right up until dropping the iOS 27 developer beta, which includes some direct and indirect references to the iPhone Fold (also rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Ultra Fold).

Early adopters already love foldables — and they have plenty of options — but Apple's been notably absent from the genre. However, don't count Apple out. The company has a history of showing up late to the party and then absolutely cornering the market, as it did with AirPods and iPhones.

So, as we await official details, here's everything we know about the first foldable iPhone, including the latest rumors, specifications, release date, and pricing.

When will the iPhone Fold be released?

We think the iPhone Fold will arrive in fall 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Numerous rumors pointed to this over the last year. However, while Apple traditionally releases all of its new iPhones in September, the Fold might not be ready by then.

A tech analyst named Tim Long recently claimed that shipments of the iPhone Fold will begin in December of this year, not September, though Bloomberg's Mark Gurman threw cold water on this rumor. And Gurman seems to have a crystal ball looking right into Apple headquarters these days.

Still, given the ongoing global memory shortage, last-minute delays are always possible, so we'll have to wait and see.

What's the iOS 27 beta telling us about the iPhone Fold?

The iPhone Fold isn't (yet) an official device. We do know a lot about it, but mostly via rumors, whispers, and reports coming out of Apple's supply chain.

But now, with the first iOS 27 developer beta, we have some actual clues about the iPhone Fold's existence. Software researcher M1Astra dug through the code (via Bloomberg), and found code that determines whether a device is folded or unfolded. Strings like “mechanicalAngleDegrees” and “angleDegrees" point to Apple fine-tuning the experience depending on how widely a foldable device is open. Researcher Sam Henri Gold found similar clues in the code.

That's not all. Certain widgets, such as Music, News, and Weather, can now be configured to take up the majority of the iPhone's display. Doesn't make a ton of sense on a regular iPhone (you'd probably just want to have the Music app open instead), but on an iPhone Fold, such a widget could occupy one side of the display while you do something else on the other.

Apple seems to be preparing developers to handle a larger variety of form factors. Credit: Apple

Then, at WWDC 2026, Apple's Senior VP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, pointed out a developer-specific feature called the Device Hub, which allows developers to simulate their apps in different screen configurations.

Finally, Macworld found references in the code suggesting a device that has both the Dynamic Island and a Touch ID; such a device does not exist today, but the iPhone Fold is rumored to have both.

What will the iPhone Fold specs look like?

What would you want to see in a foldable iPhone design? Let us know in the comments. Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

The iPhone Fold remains a mystery to some extent, of course, but we do have a very rough idea of what it could offer. Based on all the rumors and leaks, the iPhone Fold will have a wider design than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and the impressive Motorola Fold.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman predicts that the foldable iPhone will be a book-style foldable with four cameras — two on the back, one on the inside, and one front selfie camera. Gurman also predicted it would use Touch ID like the iPad Air and Pro, even though iPhones typically use Face ID. All the recent leaks back up Gurman's reporting.

In fact, the smartphone market is already adapting to the expected size of the iPhone Fold, and a Samsung Z Fold 8 Wide model recently leaked. Huawei was the first to market with a wide foldable, though the new Pura X Max is only available overseas.

The iPhone Fold specs could look something like this:

Displays: 7.8-inch inner OLED display, 5.5-inch outer OLED display
Thickness: 9.5mm unfolded, 4.5mm when folded
Security: Touch ID
Processor: A20 processor
Cameras: Dual rear cameras (48MP), dual inner/outer front cameras
Price: $2,399
Battery: At least 5,088 mAh

We've seen several reports claiming that Apple is committed to making the iPhone Fold's display the best it can possibly be. It should be very durable, super thin, and without a visible crease. Samsung Display is reportedly producing the OLED displays for the iPhone Fold, as Samsung's got the best flexible display tech in the game. There's a reason Samsung released the Galaxy TriFold while the world is still waiting on the first foldable iPhone.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported earlier this year that the iPhone Fold would have a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, and measure in at just 9 to 9.5mm of thickness. We heard another rumor in September 2025, which claimed the iPhone Fold would look like two iPhone Airs put together, with a similar thickness of 5.6mm. Why the discrepancy between the two reports? It could be the difference between the device's thickness when folded and unfolded.

There's also talk about Apple using innovative tech to make the iPhone Fold lighter and more durable than most foldables. These rumors include a report that the company is using liquid metal for the phone's hinge, which should improve durability.

What will the foldable iPhone be called?

Up until now, most of the tech world has simply called the unannounced device the "iPhone Fold." However, since it's not a confirmed product yet, it's very possible that the phone will have a different name at launch. Some outlets, such as 9to5mac, have lately taken to calling it the "iPhone Ultra" or "iPhone Ultra Fold."

While that would be a cool name (and may actually be the name when it comes out), we're going to stick with "iPhone Fold" for now, just for the sake of simplicity.

How much will the iPhone Fold cost, and will people buy it?

A hypothetical rendering of the rumored iPhone Fold. Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

The iPhone Fold is likely to be expensive. An early estimate from research analyst Arthur Liao suggested the price tag for the Fold — gulp — could come in around $2,399. That's in line with expectations in a new report from International Data Corporation (IDC). Last year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone Fold is likely to retail between $2,000 and $2,500.

Despite the sizable cost (the flagship Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is priced at $1,999.99), sales expectations remain high. The IDC report estimated Apple would siphon one-third of the spending in the foldable market in 2026.

"But the real game-changer for the category comes at year-end when Apple enters the foldable space, projected to capture over 22% unit share and a staggering 34% of the foldables market value in its first year, thanks to an expected average price point of $2,400,” read the report.

In March, Mark Gurman claimed that Apple could classify the iPhone Fold as an "Ultra" product, putting it in a higher price tier than other devices in its portfolio alongside other high-end machines like the Apple Watch Ultra. If the phone ends up costing at least $2,000 as expected, this would make sense.

The latest iPhone Fold leaks

In December 2025, we saw lots of alleged iPhone Fold renders circulating on social media, which all share a similar design. We'd take these with a grain of salt, of course.

In February, a leaker known as Instant Digital posted some alleged renders of the iPhone to the Chinese social media site Weibo. Like most leaks, especially the ones pertaining to Apple, we can't confirm their authenticity. However, they line up with earlier reports of the overall look of the phone.

More recently, Apple leaker Sonny Dickson shared another potential iPhone Fold render in March 2026.

Dickson shared more purported dummy units of the iPhone Fold in April, giving those renders a bit more physicality than they had before.

April has been fairly bounteous in terms of iPhone Fold leaks. Aside from Dickson's dummy units, YouTuber Vincent Zhong got his hands on the newly released (in Asia) Huawei Pura X Max Wide. This Chinese phone is one of the first real "wide foldables" that we've seen hit the market, and its screen dimensions are almost exactly the same as the alleged dimensions of the iPhone Fold.

While the iPhone Fold will almost certainly look different from Huawei's device, Zhong's hands-on video gives us a decent idea of what to expect from the iPhone Fold as a physical object in your hands.

We've also gotten some interesting dummy photos from tech leaker Majin Bu on X in April. In these photos, the dummy units look very similar to what we've seen in other recent leaks. In other words, it looks like a shorter, more book-style foldable than previous foldables. It looks like it'll also support MagSafe cases.

What about the cameras and battery?

Instant Digital makes some interesting claims. Most notably, the report says the iPhone Fold will have the largest-ever iPhone battery. (For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is estimated to have a roughly 5,088 mAh battery.)

"The volume buttons are not on the left side," reads a translation of the post. "Instead, they are placed directly on the top of the right-side frame (similar to the volume button layout on the top of the iPad mini). This may take some getting used to for users’ typical phone habits."

The post also stated, "The rear dual camera + right-side microphone + flash are arranged horizontally. The camera module appears to be fully black and does not match the body color. Currently, the only confirmed color is white, but it is expected that Apple will launch two color options."

What else do we know about the iPhone Fold?

Beyond physical design, another recent report suggested you'll be able to run multiple apps side-by-side when the phone is unfolded, sort of like multitasking on iPadOS 26. However, by all accounts, this device will run iOS, not iPadOS, so you won't exactly get a full iPad experience from the iPhone Fold. (Apps that are designed to run natively in iPadOS, for example, would not be compatible.)

Finally, even though the iPhone Fold is still in the realm of fantasy, there are already rumors about a follow-up, clamshell-style foldable from Apple, potentially called the iPhone Flip. That one probably isn't coming until next year, though.

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FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for June 12

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:33:55 +0000

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off yesterday with an opening match between host country Mexico and South Africa. Mexico was able to pull out the W in front of a fiery home crowd. Fellow host nations United States and Canada start their World Cup campaigns today, June 12. Can they follow Mexico's lead? The pressure is on.

World Cup Matchday 2 is upon us, and live coverage of the tournament starts at 3 p.m. ET today as host country Canada welcomes opponent Bosnia-Herzegovina. With 48 teams in the mix, there's a lot to keep up with. So we've broken down everything you need to know to tune in live on June 12.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 12

Group B: Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Toronto Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET
Group D: United States vs. Paraguay (Los Angeles Stadium) — kickoff at 9 p.m. ET

How to livestream FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina

Canada, one of the tournament's co-hosts, begins its World Cup campaign in Toronto today against Bosnia and Herzegovina, looking to take advantage of a home crowd. The Group B matchup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, and live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch United States vs. Paraguay

The United States is the last of the host nations to kick off its World Cup campaign. The U.S. Men's National Soccer team is hoping for a strong opening against Paraguay in front of a West Coast crowd. The Group D matchup will kick off at 9 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Stadium, and live coverage will be on Fox, Fox One, and Tubi. Peacock will also carry the Spanish-language coverage.

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-month subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

only for a limited time

Credit: Tubi

Tubi (United States vs. Paraguay only)

Watch for free

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish language coverage only)

Starting at $10.99/month

More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

If you'd rather get 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 give you access to 100+ live channels via WiFi connection, including Fox and FS1, for a monthly fee. They can get pretty expensive, but most offer a free trial and 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 another streaming service? I don't blame you. Instead, 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.

Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-month plan)

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

Where to score FIFA World Cup food deals this summer: Grubhub, Buffalo Wild Wings, McDonalds, and more

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:19:35 +0000

Nothing pairs better than food and football (er, soccer). So, now that the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, why not indulge in some tasty treats to celebrate? Restaurant chains across the country are getting in on the global tournament with special food and drink items and even some deals.

Whether you're a dedicated soccer fan, new to the sport, or just like delicious food deals, here are all the spots you can score some World Cup food specials this summer.

Auntie Anne's

Auntine Anne's launched a Pitch Pack built for game day. Through July 31, customers can match up any two Pretzel Nugget flavors or Mini Dogs, along with two dips. Plus, it comes in a cute soccer-themed snack box.

The chain is also dropping some limited-edition World Cup merch online, called the Nug Cup Collection. Loyalty members can get $3 off plushies and scarves with the code PRETZELFAN.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Sports and wings are built for each other, and Buffalo Wild Wings knows it. Thus, it's serving up a limited-time Matchday menu inspired by global flavors. The lineup includes six new dipping sauces with flavors from around the world: Peri Peri (South Africa), Yuzu Wasabi (Asia), Maple Sweet Chili (Canada), Sweet Curry (Europe), Smoky Elote (Mexico), and Creamy Chimichurri (South America). The chain is also introducing two new signature cocktails (Red Card Punch and Yellow Card Margarita) and Michelob Ultra Beer Towers.

Chipotle

Chipotle released a limited-edition soccer jersey (there are only 53 available) that reward members have a chance to win. You'll have to use 10 of your rewards points for an entry into the raffle between June 10 and 24.

Crumbl

Through June 13, Crumbl is offering new flavors inspired by the international World Cup teams, including: Blue Raspberry Sports Drink Cookie, American Brownie Sundae Cookie, Mexican Tangy Mango Cookie ft. Tajín, Canadian Nanaimo Bar Cookie, Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookie, and Soccer Field Dubai-Style Cheesecake.

Grubhub

Grubhub is loaded with deals this summer in honor of the World Cup.

From June 29 through July 5, customers can take advantage of the following offers:

BOGO 2-piece Chicken Combo from KFC, $15 minimum
BOGO Whopper Jr. from Burger King, $15 minimum
Free Bacon Cheeseburger from Shake Shack, $25 minimum
$15 off orders over $50 from Primo Hoagies

From July 6 through 12, there's a new round of deals:

BOGO 4-piece Signature Chicken or Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes, $15 minimum
BOGO Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut, $35 minimum
Free 10-piece wings from Wingstop, $30 minimum
BOGO Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Wendy’s, $20 minimum

Finally, from July 13 through 19, the offers switch to:

BOGO Chicken or Cheese Quesadilla from Taco Bell, $20 minimum
Free 6-inch Tuna, Turkey, Spicy Italian, or Sweet Onion Teriyaki sub from Subway, $20 minimum

Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe is launching a new Messi Legendary Burger, alongside Lionel Messi, which consists of two smashed patties topped with provolone, tomato, chorizo jam, pickles, and roasted pepper aioli. It's only available for a limited time during the World Cup.

Stop in the Rock Shop for special Hard Rock x World Cup merch as well, including jerseys, hoodies, T-shirts, and more.

Insomnia Cookies

In honor of the World Cup, Insomnia Cookies introduced the Goal Game Pack, which gives fans 16 classic cookies for the price of a dozen. The offer is only available through June 30 at participating bakeries nationwide.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is keeping the deals rolling after National Donut Day with a new offer for the World Cup. Meet the Matchday Dozen, available between June 11 and June 14 at participating U.S. locations. It includes:

Kickoff Donuts: unglazed, Cookies and Kreme-filled donut with green cookie dough icing, as well as soccer field lines and a soccer ball piece
Soccer Rainbow Donuts: Original Glazed donut with vanilla icing, dipped in rainbow sprinkles with a soccer ball piece
Fan favorites: Original Glazed and Iced Chocolate with sprinkles

Customers can also score a $2 Original Glazed dozen when they purchase another dozen or the 16-count Minis through June 14.

McDonald's

McDonald's launched a FIFA World Cup meal on June 4, which includes limited-edition collectible cups featuring Grimace or any of the following soccer stars: Christian Pulisic, David Beckham, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Thierry Henry, Son Heung-Min, Lamine Yamal, Alphonso Davies, and Santiago Gimenez. The meal costs between $10 and $12, depending on location, and customers can choose between a Big Mac and a 10-piece McNugget box for lunch/dinner or a Sausage Biscuit with egg or a Sausage McMuffin with egg for breakfast.

The chain is also letting kids get in on the action with a Happy Meal version. It includes 23 options of Squishmallow plushies, including World Cup mascots.

Subway

On the days the U.S. plays its Group Stage games (June 12, June 19, June 25), Subway is offering Sub Club members a 40% discount on any footlong if the U.S. wins. The offer will be added to Sub Club accounts the following day.

TGI Fridays

On the longest Friday of the year, June 19, TGI Fridays is offering Matchday Bites starting at $8.99, Matchday Platters starting at $14.99, Red and Yellow Card margaritas, $5 GOOOAL Shooters, $5 drafts, and $20 buckets.

Should you buy a robot vacuum before Prime Day? I test them for a living and found some early deals to eye.

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:43:07 +0000

A quick look at the best robot vacuum deals ahead of Prime Day

Best robot vacuum on sale overall

Dreame L60 Ultra FE

$849.99 at Amazon (save $250 at Amazon)

Best mid-range robot vacuum deal

Eufy C28

$529.99 at Amazon (save $270 at Amazon)

Best budget robot vacuum deal

Roborock Q10 S5+

$329.99 at Amazon (save $270 at Amazon)

Don't ask ChatGPT which robot vacuum you should buy on Prime Day — ask the person who has tested nearly 40 robot vacuums in their own home. Most of the best robot vacuums of the past few years, including new 2026 models, will be on sale for Prime Day between June 23 and June 26. But if your floors need automated cleaning earlier than the end of the month, I found a handful of worthwhile robot vacuums on sale to buy ahead of Prime Day.

That doesn't just refer to the models with the biggest discounts. I've further whittled down the list to the robot vacuums with the best ratio of cleaning specs and smart features compared to their sale price.

For example, the Roborock Saros 10R that I loved last year is $500 off, now back at its record-low price of $999.99. That sounds like a steal until I remind you that you can get significantly more suction power for $749.99 with the Dreame L60 Ultra FE. The self-emptying Shark Navigator for $246.95 sounds great until you realize that just $30 more can get you mopping and small obstacle avoidance with the Roborock Q10 S5+. (If you're shopping for a really high-end robot vacuum, I'd wait for the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete or Narwal Flow 2 to go on sale.)

So, here are the early Prime Day deals on robot vacuums that are worth your time so far:

Best Amazon robot vacuum deal ahead of Prime Day

Dreame L60 Ultra FE

$849.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $150

Why we like it

Not to rope the Roborock Saros 10R back into it, but it really does make the Dreame L60 Ultra FE's value stand out. This model was just released at the end of April 2026, and its 30,000 Pa suction power isn't too far off from the 35,000 Pa of the most powerful Dreame robot vacuum. With accurate AI obstacle avoidance and heated self-washing mopping pads thrown in, this is a really solid vacuum for less than $800.

I can personally attest to the L60 Ultra FE's cleaning power for the price — it's currently sitting in my living room. I'm a sucker for the corner mopping of a spinning mopping pad, which still squeezes into 90-degree angles better than roller mop robot vacuums that can slide out to clean edges. This Dreame model has done a commendable job with cat litter, crumbs under the kitchen counter, and cat scratcher flecks stuck in the rug.

Deals on robot vacuum mop combos (+ self-washing mopping pads)

Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 — $379.92 ~~$589.99~~ (save $210.07)
Mova P10 Pro Ultra Gen 2 — $498.99 ~~$599~~ (save $100.01)
Eufy C28 — $529.99 ~~$799.99~~ (save $270)
Narwal Freo Z10 — $649.99 ~~$899.99~~ (save $150)
Ecovacs Deebot T90 Pro Omni — $699 ~~$899.99~~ (save $200.99)
Roborock Qrevo CurvX — $849.99 ~~$1,499.99~~ (save $650)
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 — $949.99 ~~$1,299.99~~ (save $350)

Budget robot vacuum and mop deals

3i G10+ — $199.99 ~~$249.99~~ (save $50)
Roborock Q7 M5+ — $249.99 ~~$359.99~~ (save $90)
Roborock Q10 S5+ — $279.99 ~~$549.99~~ (save $270)
Shark AI Ultra — $289.99 ~~$599~~ (save $309.01)

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop these early deals, but that will change come the official Prime Day kickoff on June 23.

Spotify adds editor videos to New Music Friday. We asked its curators why.

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:02:37 +0000

For years, Spotify's New Music Friday has been one of the app's most influential playlists, helping millions of listeners discover new releases every week. But starting today, the platform is making a subtle change to one of its biggest products: It's putting the actual people responsible for curating it front and center.

Listeners in the U.S. will now find short-form videos from Spotify's editorial team embedded directly within New Music Friday. The clips feature editors explaining why they're excited about certain releases, highlighting emerging artists, and sharing the stories behind songs they think listeners should know about.

The new experience combines New Music Friday with The Drop Weekly, Spotify's editor-led video series that launched last year. According to the company, listeners have responded strongly to those more personal recommendations, generating more than double the engagement through saves and likes.

The move arrives at a moment when music discovery is increasingly shaped by algorithms. Streaming services like Spotify can instantly generate playlists based on listening habits, while AI tools promise increasingly personalized recommendations. According to Spotify's music editors, that's exactly why human perspectives matter more than ever.

"I would argue that they want that more and demand more of that," Alaysia Sierra, Spotify's head of R&B editorial, told Mashable when asked whether listeners still value hearing directly from human curators. "I think there's no better time to remind people that humans are here and still doing the work. Connection is something we're all deeply craving, and that's why humanizing recommendation and discovery feels especially important."

It may also be worth noting that human-curated playlists are less likely to surface AI-generated music, since editors tend to prioritize artists and stories they find meaningful and worth championing.

For Spotify's editorial team, the goal is bigger than simply recommending a song. It's providing the context that turns a casual listen into a lasting connection.

"We live in an era where anyone could listen to any song at any moment," said Cecilia Winter, editorial lead for Global Hits. "It's the act of both sifting through and actually finding the great stuff, but also moving into a space where we're sharing more context around it that's really going to create that stickier connection."

That idea came up repeatedly during Mashable's conversations with Spotify's editors. In their view, discovery isn't just about surfacing music; it's about helping listeners understand why a song matters. It's not so much about who you should be listening to but why. That's a role music media has traditionally filled. Publications like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork connect artists to larger cultural conversations and give audiences a framework for understanding what's worth paying attention to and why.

"The context is the discovery in a way," said Carla Turi, Spotify's senior editor for Folk & Indie. "Knowing that a song came out of a specific moment or that an artist was responding to something or someone in their lyrics, I think it completely changes how you experience music."

For Sierra, that work is especially important in R&B, a genre they describe as "cultural and rich and evolving" but one that can still be overlooked in broader music conversations. The challenge, they said, is identifying artists before everyone else catches on. While Spotify's editors have access to listener data and trend signals, Sierra often trusts a simpler metric: whether they can't stop replaying a song herself.

"If I keep going back to the song and wanting to replay it and it's making me feel this way, then I know that—or hope that—other people will feel the same way too," they said.

One of the biggest shifts they're watching right now is the globalization of R&B. Sierra pointed to a growing wave of artists emerging from the UK, including Cleo Sol, Elmiene, Sasha Keable, and Kwn, as evidence of the genre's continued evolution beyond traditional geographic boundaries.

"You just get these constant markers that something is obviously happening," they said. "All of these artists from this space are being loved and received and growing."

The new videos also pull back the curtain on a process most listeners never see. The New Music Friday playlist is assembled through a highly collaborative editorial process. Throughout the week, genre specialists and cultural experts from across Spotify meet to discuss upcoming releases, share songs they're excited about, and debate which should be included on the playlist.

Spotify isn't alone in this approach. Major streaming competitors, including Apple Music and Amazon Music, also employ editorial teams to curate playlists and shape music discovery. These videos offer a rare look at how that process works inside the world's largest music streaming service.

"When it comes to what makes it onto the list, there are many factors we balance," Winter said. "Obviously, we want to reflect the major news stories and moments that will be interesting to a broad audience. But we also want to showcase artists across genres that we’re especially excited about as editors and music experts."

That work extends well beyond listening sessions. Editors track audience behavior on Spotify, follow online communities, attend concerts, and maintain relationships with labels. They also regularly compare notes with colleagues around the world to identify emerging scenes before they reach the mainstream. The approach has more in common with traditional music journalism than the purely data-driven image often associated with streaming platforms.

Turi pointed to conversations with Spotify's international editorial teams as one example. A few years ago, editors in the Nordic region began highlighting a growing underground dream-pop and alt-pop scene emerging from Copenhagen. Before long, those sounds started spreading across markets and influencing artists elsewhere, and Spotify launched Cph+, its own dedicated playlist to the scene.

The example underscores how Spotify's editorial operation can function as more than a mirror of listener behavior. The company's biggest playlists—including New Music Friday, RapCaviar, mint, and Lorem—have become influential tastemakers in their own right, capable of introducing emerging artists to millions of listeners and helping shape what breaks into the mainstream.

Still, the editors insist there's no shortcut to discovering what's next.

"We're listening to music pretty much all day," Winter said. "There isn't really any shortcut to listening to music all day and identifying, OK, I'm starting to hear a lot of the same trend, or a lot of the same use of an instrument, or the same style in a way that I wasn't hearing six months ago."

The editors are also paying close attention to the next wave of sounds. Turi highlighted the post-hyperpop, alternative scene emerging around artists like 2hollis, MGNA Crrrta, and Ninajirachi, while Sierra said they're excited about the growing role music videos could play in music discovery on Spotify.

As for what they're listening to right now? Sierra recommends the rising artist nomi's "Sweet Talk"; Turi has Chanel Beads' "Song for the Messenger" on repeat; and Winter picked "L.U.C.K.Y" by New York duo Fcukers as one of her songs of the summer.

"It's a really nice song for walking around and feeling like the main character," Winter said.

Adding editor videos to New Music Friday won't fundamentally change how Spotify recommends music. But the feature speaks to something bigger.

More and more, platforms are realizing that people don't just follow recommendations; they follow people. It's why creators matter. It's why newsletters have become more personal. It's why publications increasingly ask reporters to step in front of the camera and build direct relationships with audiences, rather than hide behind the byline.

Spotify's editors aren't all that different. The recommendation itself still matters, but increasingly, so does knowing who's making it. The person behind the playlist becomes part of the discovery experience. And in the age of AI overviews and automated discovery, the value of a recommendation often comes down to the person making it.

As Sierra put it, it's a reminder that there are still humans behind the headphones.

Dell’s 16-inch XPS revival is a return to form for the beleaguered US PC maker

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:24:06 +0000

Dell's revivified XPS 16 is a pricey, premium laptop for well-heeled shoppers. Its sleek chassis, peppy performance, and attractive extras (notably, an OLED touch screen) justify the expense if you're shopping for a high-end desktop replacement.

Daily Shows Desi Lydic has a brutal response to Trump seeing 22 medical specialists

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:39:20 +0000

Despite frequently bragging about his health, as Donald Trump nears his 80th birthday he certainly seems to be meeting with a lot of healthcare professionals — and Daily Show host Desi Lydic shared her thoughts on the matter.

"This weekend is his birthday, and he made it to 80 — with a little help," said Lydic during Thursday's show, before throwing to a Washington Post article about Trump reportedly being seen by 22 different medical specialists. "No wonder I can't get a doctor's appointment, half the medical profession is busy duct-taping together the world's healthiest man."

Ouch.

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Elon Musk seemingly found the cheat code for capitalism. The SpaceX IPO proves it.

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:26:38 +0000

Elon Musk, who has effectively admitted cheating at video games, may have found the ultimate cheat code that will turn him into the first trillionaire in the global game of capitalism.

That may well be the story of the SpaceX IPO, for which the company filed its SEC-mandated S1 form Thursday. The document was stuffed with eye-poppingly dubious claims about SpaceX's future as an AI company, as well as eye-wateringly embarrassing admissions about SpaceX, its new subsidiary xAI, and Grok.

And yet, none of these pokes in the eye seem to stop SpaceX from eyeing a record $1.75 trillion valuation.

What's in the SpaceX IPO?

SpaceX's Starship at Orbital Launch Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, on May 21, 2026. Credit: Joe Marino / UPI / Shutterstock

To explain how bizarre the filing really is, and how deeply it might sink other offerings, let's first ignore the words Spacex xAI, Grok, Elon and Musk. Instead, just imagine you're telling your financial advisor you want shares in a new-to-market space launch company.

This company lost nearly $5 billion last year, on $18 billion of revenue. The revenue makes it look tiny, and its losses are increasing. But so is its revenue, so you have high hopes for its future.

OK, says your financial advisor, raising a quizzical eyebrow. A risky bet, but those can pay off big sometimes. What's the angle?

Well, you reply, the CEO is all in on AI. This space launch company is actually an AI company now, since it merged in a hurry earlier this year with one of the CEO's other companies, one he described as "the smallest" of the major AI players. The merger was a millstone, the cause of most of the combined company's losses.

Who's the creator you tell everyone to follow? Vote for them in Mashable's Fan Fav.

Still, AI's connection to the space launch business makes total sense. The CEO says he's going to launch AI data centers in space starting in 2028. And you totally believe that, despite this guy having a long history of making bold space-based predictions that don't come to pass.

Do space AI data centers even make sense? Who knows! "The conditions of space on such AI infrastructure have not been tested, by us or anyone else," notes the IPO. "Any component failures could result in permanent capacity loss" — since there are no IT guys up there to fix them.

But hey, what could make sensitive data center components fail in space? I mean, apart from the list in the company's S-1 filing: geomagnetic storms, solar flares, cosmic radiation, micrometeorites, orbital debris, as well as the vibration and thermal shock from launching them in the first place. Oh, and "the useful life of our satellites is inherently shorter than that of the information technology systems and infrastructure they host," the filing also says, but you're trying not to think about what that means in a data center business.

Eh, regulatory filings can be such Debbie Downers! What matters is this guy really believes in his AI product, right? So much so that SpaceX's IPO claims a $26.5 trillion addressable AI market (compared to the space launch and Starlink connectivity market, for which it only claims a total potential of $2 trillion). That AI product, by the way, comes in "Unhinged Voice mode" and "Spicy Imagine mode." The IPO notes its "heightened risks" of "reputational harm," not to mention regulatory and legal harm, thanks to "potentially explicit content ... misinformation ... exploitative imagery, intellectual property infringement," or "harmful, harassing, abusive, or discriminatory" content.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, apart from the international investigations that have opened up into whether this company's product was used to make nonconsensual deepfakes of minors, as the IPO is also required to note. (You can almost hear the deep sighs of the lawyers who wrote this — but at least they didn't have to mention the whole MechaHitler thing.)

Speaking of legal harm, you also have no problem with the $3 billion in new data center gas turbine purchases revealed by the IPO, even though this is doubling down on harm for which the company already faces a huge lawsuit from environmental groups. After all, this guy has a history of winning most of his legal battles! Just pay no attention to the last one, where he flouted a court order by skipping off to China, and a jury found he had no right to bring the case in the first place.

Given all that information in the abstract, many financial advisors would advise you the company isn't worth the risk — if they don't advise you to get your head checked.

The cheat code at Tesla

Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, Germany. Credit: Joko / imageBROKER / Shutterstock

In the case of SpaceX, however, your financial advisor may be rushing to invest before you do. The IPO sets 30 percent of shares aside for so-called "retail investors," an unusually high percentage; arguably they're more likely to bet on a name, a personality, a legend, than a company's fundamentals.

The reason, essentially, amounts to five words: "never bet against Elon Musk." First uttered by fellow Paypal billionaire and friend Peter Thiel, then SpaceX investor Peter Diamandis, this rallying cry has been taken up by the CEOs of Morgan Stanley and Breyer Capital. It is an article of faith — literally, in articles that use it to wave away Musk's more baffling moves, from the design of the Cybertruck to the overpriced Twitter purchase. (Which, given that Musk turned Twitter into the less popular X, then folded it into xAI, and then folded that into SpaceX, may go down as the most buried sunk cost in business history.)

Musk long ago mastered the razzle-dazzle of business showmanship. He has learned to dance on ever-higher tightropes of promised futures. At a crucial moment in the early days of Tesla, he offered preorders for the Model S when its prototype didn't even exist yet. That lesson has come in handy in Tesla's Cybertruck era, when the company has been saddled with an odd looking, low-selling EV that is becoming ever more of a joke with every wheels-could-fall-off recall and watery misdirection, dogged by cheaper Chinese rivals, and boycotted by much of Europe.

In response, Musk simply squeezed billions more out of the company for the honor of having him stay, then pivoted Tesla towards another, bigger promised future. That future — one filled with humanoid robots and robotaxis — is about as airy, as unproven, and as full of pitfalls (literally, the Optimus robots fall over) as AI data centers in space. But at this stage, Musk can simply insist it's going to happen, then sit back and dare Tesla investors to bet against him.

The Optimus robots, like the SpaceX data centers, "allow for near term demonstrations that look impressive but aren’t meaningfully revenue-generating, while allowing Musk to make long term projections of 'infinite' revenues that can be (nearly) infinitely postponed," noted Tim Farris, president of satellite and telecom industry research firm TMF Associates. The Rorschach test works for investors who want to believe in the "never bet against Musk" myth.

Never mind that "never bet against Musk" is far from literally true. In 2026, you can make money from short-selling (that is, betting against) Tesla stock, which is down just under 5 percent from where it was on Jan. 1. You could also have made a more than 30 percent return on the prediction markets in the past year, as one canny investor did, by predicting Musk's DOGE side quest would ultimately fail.

There are signs of cracks in Wall Street's wall of belief in Tesla. Last year was the company's first ever revenue decline on the books. Tesla investors are reportedly nervous that the SpaceX IPO is going to cost them — SpaceX, one major Tesla investor groused to Fortune, will become Musk's "new baby."

But Musk only has to dance ahead of the Tesla wave a little while longer. If all goes according to plan, and the AI bubble doesn't burst before he can bring his shiny new space AI baby to market next month, a Musk army of retail investors will help turn airy promises into a trillion dollars of net worth for their hero.

And then...we're boldly going where no economist has gone before. With access to that much capital and that much voting power — Musk will control 85 percent of the vote at SpaceX, making him virtually impossible to dislodge as CEO — there's no limit to the height of the tightrope he could dance on. It's not beyond the bounds of reason to imagine Musk folding a failing Tesla inside SpaceX, then dazzling investors by spinning ever more unproven plans for humanoid robots maintaining space data centers.

In the game of global capitalism, becoming a trillionaire may be the ultimate cheat code.

This article reflects the opinions of the author.

Roommate Therapy with Sesame Streets Bert and Ernie

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:11:30 +0000

Sunny day! Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie came to Mashable's Say More studio for a visit with Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. Together, they talked about the importance of compromise when it comes to being a good roommate and ordering a pizza that can make everyone happy.

In this segment, which we're calling "Roommate Therapy," Mashable's Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards and Senior Editor Shannon Connellan called in with questions for Bert and Ernie. They've been roommates for ages. So, who better to ask about how to handle sharing space and the best way to ensure some quiet time to yourself?

Bert and Ernie were happy to help, as you can see for yourself.

For more from Bert and Ernie and the whole Sesame Street family, check out Sesame Street: Volume 2, now streaming on Netflix.

Exclusive: Nothing headphones and smartphones are now available at Best Buy in the US

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Nothing, the London-based brand behind retro-inspired tech like the Headphone (1) and Phone (4a) Pro, is making its way to brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. Beginning June 12, the Phone (4a) Pro, Headphone (a), Phone (3), and Ear (3) are available in more than 500 Best Buy stores across the country.

According to data from Canalys, Nothing achieved a 120 percent boost in unit sales and a 175 percent revenue increase in the U.S. alone in 2025, making it one of the world's fastest-growing consumer technology brands. Nothing debuted in Best Buy Canada last year and has now made its way to the States.

We've tested Nothing's headphones, smartphones, and watches, and have come away impressed every time. Now, shoppers in the U.S. will be able to go hands-on with Nothing's products before purchasing.

"Nothing exists to challenge the status quo in consumer technology," said Carl Pei, Chief Executive Officer at Nothing, in a press release. "We’re here to remind people that tech can still be fun, rebellious, and different. As more U.S. consumers are drawn to this ethos, we are excited to make our products more accessible to show them first-hand what makes Nothing special."

Nothing products have distinctive designs that set them apart from other brands on the market. The Nothing Headphone (1) earned a spot on our list of the most stylish headphones. See Nothing's audio and mobile offerings for yourself in person at select Best Buy stores and online at BestBuy.com.

Shop Nothing at Best Buy

Nothing Headphone (a)

$299 at Best Buy

Nothing Ear (3)

$179 at Best Buy

Nothing Ear (a)

$79 at Best Buy

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro

Starting at $499.99 at Best Buy

NYT Strands hints, answers for June 12, 2026

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:33:59 +0000

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're good with essays.

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: Something to talk about

The words are related to making an argument.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are used to create a speech.

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 Parts of Speech.

NYT Strands word list for June 11

Hook
Body
Conclusion
Problem
Topic
Point

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

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

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

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 12, 2026

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:33:50 +0000

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like animals.

What is Connections?

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.

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: Spellcasting
Green: Animals
Blue: Over and over again
Purple: Running water

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: Starting with Incantations
Green: Starting with Animal Group Names
Blue: Starting with Synonyms for "Repeat"
Purple: Starting with Parts of a River

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 #1096 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

Starting with Incantations: CHARM BRACELET, CURSE WORD, HEX KEY, SPELL CHECKER
Starting with Animal Group Names: MURDER MYSTERY, PACK RAT, PRIDE ROCK, SCHOOL DAYS
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 today's Connections.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 12, 2026

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:33:41 +0000

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like taking things apart.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

What happened to the Wordle archive?

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

Separate in parts.

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 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...

BREAK

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

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

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

Legos Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set gets a $14 discount at Amazon ahead of Prime Day

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:24:57 +0000

SAVE OVER $10: As of June 12, the Lego Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set (#21357) is discounted to $55.99 at Amazon. This is $14 off its full price of $69.99.

Credit: Lego

LEGO Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. (#21357)

$55.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $14.00

In what feels like perfect timing with Toy Story 5 coming out soon, the delightful Lego Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set (#21357) has been discounted at Amazon before the retailer's big Prime Day sale. As of June 12, this Lego set is marked down to $55.99.

This saves $14 over its full price of $69.99, but it's also just pennies away from its lowest-ever price at the retailer. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, it was $55.95, so why not take this opportunity to scoop it up for a Pixar fan in your life? Again, with Toy Story 5 releasing soon, the timing couldn't be better to build it.

This Lego set - comprised of 613 pieces and recommended for adults ages 18 and up - brings to brick-built life adorable Luxo Jr., the little lamp who first appeared in Disney Pixar's animated short of the same name, back in 1986. Luxo Jr. is fully poseable, too, so you can display it however you like once it's fully pieced together. You'll also piece together the ball that Luxo Jr. knocks around, which is a very fun touch.

If the Lego Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set has been on your radar, now is a fantastic time to scoop it up at Amazon and save.

If you're curious what other Lego sets are worth picking up right now, check out our rundown of the 10 best Lego sets of 2026 so far to see some of our favorites.

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

New, anti-algorithm gay dating app Goose is coming

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:27:18 +0000

A new gay dating app will soon enter the crowded landscape: Goose.

Its founder, Derek Chadwick, is a model, actor, and founder of Chaddy Cosmetics. He teased the app on his Instagram in May with a selfie video lamenting, "How come there's no cool gay dating apps in 2026?" Last week, he posted photos declaring that it's "Goose boys summer."

Goose proclaims to be an "anti-algorithm gay dating and lifestyle platform," according to information sent to Mashable. Its tagline is "for the boys," leaving no ambiguity about its target audience.

The app will be "intentionally social-first," offering something different than its hookup-focused competitors like Grindr and Sniffies. Goose also promises a "curated community" and will have an application-based membership, harking to "exclusive" dating apps like Raya.

"It's encouraging men to date how they actually live, sans swiping, born from the mind of someone who's been there, and wanted better," an email to Mashable states. Goose doesn't have matches; users can "wave" to each other, though, and if both people do it, they're connected. But you don't have to connect to match — users can match anyone, while waving signals interest.

Goose will have a live map that shows where people are, so users can discover who's around them. But they can also scroll to meet new people. Profiles will have photos, videos, and ongoing updates; you also won't have to say what you're looking for upfront. Chats can also disappear, as well, and screenshots will apparently be protected, though information sent to Mashable is vague.

Goose doesn't appear to be on the App Store yet, nor does it have a website, but an Instagram account has popped up and already has 12,000 followers at the time of publication.

The news of Goose's launch comes shortly after the announcement that Match Group's "intentional" gay dating app, Archer, will shut down on June 17.

Bose Ultra Open earbuds already at lowest-ever prices before Prime Day

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:57:42 +0000

SAVE $100: As of June 12, select colors of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are back to their lowest-ever price at Amazon of $199. This is $100 off their full price of $299.

Credit: Bose

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

$199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are among our favorite early Prime Day earbuds deals at Amazon right now. If you've had your eyes on them, there's no need to wait for the sale event to officially start to save. As of June 12, Amazon's slashed the price of most colors of these earbuds down to $199.

Compared to their list price of $299, this is a huge $100 discount and a return for some colors to their lowest price point so far at the retailer. If you're curious which colors have dropped to this price, you can save on the white smoke, black, desert gold, driftwood sand, midnight violet, and moonstone blue earbuds.

If you're someone who prefers to be aware of the world around you while listening to music rather than completely tuned out through noise-canceling, open earbuds like the Bose Ultra Open are worth looking into. Writer RJ Andersen gushed over these earbuds in Mashable's review, saying they're "extremely comfortable and score top marks for battery life, spatial audio, and sound quality."

To really emphasize how comfy the Bose Ultra Opens are, they've even landed as our top pick for comfort and sound in our overall roundup of the best open earbuds. Mashable's Bethany Allard notes that they "stood out as the most comfortable pair of open earbuds we tested." On top of that, "they simply sound way better than any pair of open earbuds has a right to."

With a battery that can last up to seven hours on a charge, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are great to have on-hand for a workout or commute in the day. If you've had your eyes on them, now is the time to pick them up while they're still on sale at Amazon.

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

Beats Pill drops below $100 for a limited time

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:53:51 +0000

SAVE $50: As of June 12, the Beats Pill speaker is on sale for $99.95 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on the list price.

Credit: Beats

Beats Pill

$99.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $50.00

If you’ve had your eye on the Beats Pill speaker, it’s just dropped back down to $99 on Amazon as of June 12, saving you nearly $50 off the usual $149.95. There are three colors to choose from too, including matte black, champagne gold, and statement red.

With this speaker you'll get an impressive battery life, with up to 24 hours of listening time on a single charge. It's a robust device, rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so it's made for a range of outdoor situations. For portability, it even comes with a removable lanyard and soft-grip silicone backing.

Beats audio is always one you can rely on, and it's no different with the Beats Pill. It features a larger racetrack woofer that displaces 90% more air for deeper, fuller bass. It also benefits from high-resolution lossless audio, supported when connected via USB-C to compatible devices. And for a bigger sound, two Beats Pill speakers can be paired together in Amplify or Stereo mode.

It is also compatible with both Apple and Android devices, as well as Find My or Find My Device support, so you'll always be able to find it.

Get this speaker deal from Amazon now.

Waymos new membership program gets you a bunch of perks. For a price.

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:51:46 +0000

Are you using Waymo so much that you'd pay thirty bucks per month to get a 10 percent cashback and some fancy perks on top? If so, you're in luck.

On Thursday, the robotaxi company announced Waymo Premier, an invite-only membership program that Waymo says its users asked for.

The highlight perk of the program is the cashback, with users earning 10 percent Waymo Cash on every trip, and "even more during busy times."

Other perks include priority pickups that allow you to skip the waiting line, early access to Waymo in new cities as the company expands coverage, and up to five free ride cancellations per month.

The price is pretty steep: $29.99 per month. In comparison, Uber and Lyft have similar programs (Uber One and Lyft Pink), both of which cost $9.99 per month. Uber One cashback is only six percent, so the math favors Waymo Premier, but only if you ride very, very often.

Waymo Premier will initially be offered to "select riders" in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. The program will be expanded to more cities sometime in the future, the company said.

Jimmy Kimmels reaction to Elon Musk being worlds first trillionaire is exactly what youd expect

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:40:04 +0000

Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO has reportedly made him the world's first trillionaire (or at least very close — there are some mixed reports), and nobody's happier for him than Jimmy Kimmel.

"What makes that even more unsettling is that this man, our first trillionaire, the richest man in the world, is also one of the weirdest people we've ever seen on this planet. This obscenely wealthy weirdo has the ability and means to blow up the moon if he chooses," the host says in the clip above. "Wasn't he supposed to be going to Mars? Can't we chip in to help speed that up?"

Kimmel then uses a graphic to show exactly how much stuff Musk could buy with all his money, before going on to speak a little about the SpaceX CEO's personal history.

"Elon musk came to the United States from South Africa in 1995, the son of a humble emerald mine owner, and he is so grateful to this country that allowed him to become a trillionaire, Tesla paid almost no federal income tax over the past three years," says Kimmel. "You know, for a guy who has been openly cheering immigrants getting kicked out of the country for stealing from us, sure seems like an immigrant who's been stealing from us to me."

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

Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) have dropped below $100 at Amazon

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:24:23 +0000

SAVE $30: As of June 12, the Apple AirPods 4 are on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 23% on list price.

Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods 4

$99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30

Looking for a new earbuds deal? As of June 12, the Apple AirPods 4 are back down to $99, saving you $30. And with Prime Day still over a week away, this is a nice little early deal if you need to upgrade now — especially as getting the timing right with Apple deals is a whole exercise. This price is for the earbuds without active noise cancellation, however these are available at a reduced price too, down from $179 to $148.99.

You'll get a great listening experience with these AirPods, which are powered by Apple's H2 chip. Both music and calls will sound great quality, and the Voice Isolation feature helps make sure you're heard nice and clearly too.

The earbuds include Siri support, so they make listening and hands-free tasks easy. You can use voice commands such as playing music or checking schedules, along with Siri Interactions that enable simple head gestures like nodding or shaking to respond. They also feature automatic pairing and in-ear detection for playback control.

They're also compatible with the Find My app, helping you locate both the earbuds and the case should you misplace them. Plus, the battery life gives you up to five hours of listening time per charge and up to 30 hours total with the case.

Head to Amazon to secure this Apple deal.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 12, 2026

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:22:14 +0000

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.

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.

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: Same second word
Green: Legendary players
Blue: Legendary locales
Purple: Legendary maneuvers

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

Yellow: Boards
Green: Hall of Fame Spurs
Blue: Locations of famous auto races
Purple: Soccer skill moves

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 #627 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

Boards: SKATE, SNOW, SURF, WAKE
Hall of Fame Spurs: DUNCAN, GERVIN, GINOBILI, PARKER
Locations of famous auto races: DAYTONA, INDIANAPOLIS, LE MANS, MONACO
Soccer skill moves: NUTMEG, OLIMPICO, RABONA, STEPOVER

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.

Sony WH-CH720N headphones drop to half price ahead of Prime Day

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:20:06 +0000

SAVE OVER $90: As of June 12, the Sony WH-CH720N headphones are on sale for $87.95 at Amazon. That's a 51% discount on list price.

Credit: Sony

Sony WH-CH720N

$87.95 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $92.04

If you're looking for a quality pair of headphones, without needing to spend a fortune, this deal on the Sony WH-CH720N headphones is perfect for you. As of June 12, this Sony model is down to just $87.95 from $179.99, so you're saving over $90. Not only that, this is the best-ever price for these headphones, so you're really getting a great deal.

These also happen to be Sony’s lightest wireless noise-cancelling headphones, with whole thing weighing just 192 grams including the headband. This doesn't mean it sacrifices on performance, however. Dual Noise Sensor Technology and the Integrated Processor V1 work together to enhance noise cancellation for a more immersive listening experience. They also include adjustable Ambient Sound Mode and Adaptive Sound Control, which automatically tailor audio based on your environment.

The battery life can last up to 35 hours, and you'll also get a quick charging feature that provides an hour of playback from a three-minute charge. And for calls and voice notes, these headphones benefit from Precise Voice Pickup Technology with beamforming microphones that help make sure your voice is recorded nice and clearly.

Get this headphones deal online at Amazon now.

7 gadgets to help keep your home clean, from robot vacuums to electric scrubbers

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:15:02 +0000

Having a clean and tidy home is a joy. Cleaning and tidying said home is less of a joy. Though there are some elevated beings among us who find scrubbing their stovetop a meditative experience, most people consider such tasks exhausting, reviled chores only undertaken with reluctance.

Fortunately, the steady march of technological advancement continues to lighten the burden of domestic labour. The popularisation of washing machines and dishwashers revolutionised everyday chores in the '50s, freeing up precious time for millions of people. New devices are now furthering the cause, seeking to become the next ubiquitous household cleaning essential.

Here are seven gadgets to help keep your home clean with minimal effort.

SEE ALSO: How to clean your laptop screen

1. Roborock Saros 20 robot vacuum

Its threshold clearance just keeps getting better. Credit: Mashable composite: Roborock

Roborock's flagship Saros 20 robot vacuum is one of the most tricked out models in its current lineup (with the exception of the Roborock Saros Z70 and its robotic arm). Boasting 36,000 Pa, the Saros 20 has over 60 percent more suction power compared to the previous Saros 10, while its FlexiArm Design side brush can literally reach out to sweep up corners and under low furniture.

The Saros 20's docking station offers all the features you'd expect from a premium robot vacuum, capable of automatically emptying its dust bin, refilling its water tank, topping up its detergent, and drying its dual spinning mops. These mops automatically detach in vacuum only mode as well, so you don't have to worry about it getting your bedroom carpet wet.

In addition to this, one of the Saros 20's most notable features is its improved threshold clearance. While the Saros 10 requires multiple steps to climb 1.57-inch (4-centimetre) thresholds, the Saros 20 is capable of clearing 1.77 inches (4.5 centimetres) in one go. If taking multiple steps, it can climb a further 1.69 inches (4.3 centimetres), for a total of 3.46 inches (8.8 centimetres). Of course, taking full advantage of this would require your home to include a threshold of two tiny ledges. However, the Saros 20's initial 1.77-inch clearance should be enough to let it navigate many homes.

All these features will cost you, as the Roborock Saros 20 is one of the pricier robot vacuums currently on the market. But if you have the cash to spend, a few small thresholds to navigate, and are after a set-and-forget floor cleaning solution that can both vacuum and mop, the Saros 20 may be an option to consider.

Roborock Saros 20 robot vacuum

$1,599.99 at Amazon

2. Wolfbox MegaFlow 200 compressed air duster

Blow away dust with ease. Credit: Wolfbox

Dusting off your electronics is one of those cleaning chores that you know you technically should do, but it's just so easy to overlook. There's never a compressed air canister on hand when you want to clean, and going to buy one feels like a hassle. The Wolfbox MegaFlow 200 compressed air duster makes it much easier to keep your electronics clean, turning dusting from an occasional chore to a regular part of your routine.

Blasting air at a maximum speed of over 190mph, the MegaFlow 200 weighs less than 1lb and charges by USB-C, making it easy to keep on hand for a quick clean at any time. While its four interchangeable nozzles are too wide to really reach into the nooks and crannies of electronics, the MegaFlow also comes with two brushes to help with that job, allowing you to dislodge debris while the powerful fan blasts it away.

The MegaFlow 200 isn't just intended for dusting off electronics either. It can also tackle tasks such as clearing away sawdust in your workshop, helping light campfires, or blowing up inflatable mattresses — basically any job that requires a concentrated blast of air. Instead of handling a myriad of disposable air canisters and air pumps, you can do it all with just one gadget.

It is worth noting that the MegaFlow 200's considerable power does come with a drawback. The fan is incredibly loud, enough that it may hurt users' ears while in operation. Mashable's testing found that the noise from the MegaFlow 200 was over 100dB, as measured by Apple Watch Ultra's environmental noise detection. According to Apple, just a few minutes of sound at this volume per day can cause temporary hearing loss. As such, you'll definitely want to wear earplugs or noise-cancelling earphones while using the MegaFlow 200.

Wolfbox MegaFlow 200 compressed air duster

$85.49 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $44.50

3. Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix steam cleaner

A powerful and versatile cleaning gadget. Credit: Mashable composite: Kärcher

Steam cleaners are severely underrated cleaning gadgets, sanitising surfaces and blasting away grime that would otherwise take extensive scrubbing to remove. If the grout in your bathroom is perpetually mouldy or you hate scouring your stovetop, you should seriously consider investing in a steam cleaner.

The Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix steam cleaner is a versatile household steam cleaner which heats up in less than a minute, so you can quickly get to cleaning before your motivation evaporates. Relatively compact at around 14 inches long, the SC 3 EasyFix has a 33 oz (1L) water tank which can easily be topped up even during operation, no stopping and depressurising required. Its replaceable descaling cartridge removes limescale from the water to lengthen the steam cleaner's lifespan as well.

The SC 3 EasyFix comes bundled with several attachments and accessories, including a floor nozzle, cleaning cloth, and extension tubes so you can steam clean your floor without getting on all fours. Kärcher also has various other accessories to expand your unit's versatility, such as a carpet glider, handy replacement brush sets, and a power nozzle for reaching into narrow areas.

It isn't entirely magic — you will still have to scrub a little. But scrubbing with a steam cleaner as opposed to without one is like pushing a tricycle instead of a truck.

Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix steam cleaner

$207.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $52

4. Roborock F25 Ultra wet and dry vacuum cleaner

Roborock claims it can even steam wood floors. Credit: Roborock

While robot vacuums are great at maintaining general floor cleanliness, sometimes a deeper manual clean is required. The Roborock F25 Ultra wet and dry vacuum cleaner is a versatile option for such occasions, offering mopping, steam cleaning, 187°F (86°C) hot water cleaning, and sponge functionality all in a convenient upright cordless gadget. It can also lay completely flat, allowing you to reach those difficult spots underneath furniture for a satisfyingly thorough clean.

Boasting 22,000Pa suction power, the F25 Ultra features tight edge-to-edge cleaning on either side, mopping right up next to furniture and walls without missing spots. While its auto and sponge modes are suitable for standard cleaning and sucking up spills, the F25 Ultra's hot water and steam modes deal with oiler, more stubborn stains. The F25 Ultra also has a separate onboard compartment for detergent, which automatically dispenses in appropriate modes. This means you can switch between the steam and non-steam functions on the fly without having to worry about detergent interfering with the internal mechanisms.

Significantly, Roborock claims that the F25 Ultra's steam mode safely be safely used on wood floors. Many other wet and dry vacuums advise against such use due to fears that the hot steam may cause the wood to warp. In contrast, Roborock states that tests on the F25 Ultra included using its steam mode on a solid wood floor, which didn't result in any damage even after 18,000 strokes.

The F25 Ultra comes with a charging base and self-cleaning mode, which makes maintenance fairly simple. All you need to do run the self-clean, then empty out the dirty water tank and brush away the accumulated debris. While clearing out a dirty water tank is never an enjoyable task, the convenient lever handle on the F25 Ultra's tank helps make it as quick and easy as possible.

Roborock F25 Ultra wet and dry vacuum

$499.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $300

5. Dremel Versa electric scrubber

Scrubbing made way easier. Credit: Dremel

Keeping a home clean unfortunately often necessitates scrubbing for hours on end until your fingers are permanently, painfully stuck in a clawed position. The Dremel Versa is an electric scrubbing device designed to make this chore much easier, replacing your elbow grease with 2,200 RPM.

The Versa has a slew of attachments available to suit a variety of scrubbing needs, whether you want to clean steel, grout, or glass. While its brushes screw in, the sponges adhere to the Versa via a Velcro-like pad, keeping them firmly attached while also making them ridiculously easy to swap out.

Dremel has a handy chart to help you determine the appropriate sponge for a variety of tasks, though it's still fairly nerve-wracking at first. As someone who has inadvertently scratched shower glass with a drill-powered scrubbing brush, you don't want to be applying such power unless you're absolutely sure you have the right attachment. You should consider wearing hearing protection as well, especially if you're using the Dremel Versa in an enclosed space such as a shower. After all, it is essentially a drill.

Though once you've figured it out, the Dremel Versa can go a long way to making home upkeep less taxing.

Dremel Versa electric scrubber

$59.99 at Amazon

6. Coway Airmega 200M air purifier

A good air purifier can be vital to the comfort of a home. Credit: Coway

As someone who lives in a fairly suburban area, I used to think air purifiers were largely unnecessary gadgets. Having now been through several dire bushfire seasons which smothered my home in smoke, I now know better.

Whether you're dealing with wildfire smoke or city smog, a good air purifier can be vital to the comfort of a home. After all, it's difficult to relax if you can't even get a lungful of good, clean air. The Coway Airmega 200M is a relatively unobtrusive workhorse that can maintain clean air in a 361 square foot area, whether you're binge-watching Netflix in your living room or optimising your sleep in your bedroom. The result is an environment that feels undeniably fresher and more peaceful.

The Airmega 200M has four stages of filtration: a pre-filter for larger particles such as hair and dust; a deodorisation filter to capture smells; a True HEPA filter for ultra fine particles like pollen, viruses, and germs; and a vital ioniser to catch any ultra fine particles the previous filters missed.

Operating at a whisper-quiet volume, Coway's air purifier has a timer which can be set to one, four, or eight hours, as well as three different fan speeds. It also has an Eco Mode, which will save you energy by turning the fan off if the Airmega 200M doesn't detect pollution for half an hour, then turning it back on when it does.

Coway Airmega 200M air purifier

$161 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $68.99

7. Bosch GlassVAC Solo Plus window vacuum

A gadget that aims to simplify window washing. Credit: Bosch

Having an abundance of windows can make a home feel refreshing and bright, allowing in natural light to transform an otherwise gloomy space. Unfortunately, these benefits are significantly diminished if you can't keep said windows clean.

Bosch's GlassVAC Solo Plus window vacuum aims to simplify this chore, squeegeeing and sucking up liquids for a tidy, streak-free finish. Bundled with a spray bottle affixed to a microfibre cloth head, this handheld gadget is designed to clean windows, mirrors, shower screens, tiles, and other such surfaces. Just turn it on, squeegee as usual, and watch as dirty water collects in its 100mL tank instead of on your window sill.

The vacuum isn't quite as effective when running the GlassVAC Solo Plus horizontally across surfaces as opposed to vertically, and it may not get every last drop. Depending on how wet your window was, you may still need to give the sill a quick wipe. Even so, the GlassVAC Solo Plus does an excellent job of substantially minimising mess, and is particularly handy when dealing with morning condensation on bedroom windows.

The Bosch's GlassVAC Solo Plus also doesn't make that grating squeaking sound that most standard squeegees do, which is an undeniable bonus.

Bosch Glass VAC Battery Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

$89.90 at Walmart
$110 Save $20.10

UPDATE: Dec. 8, 2025, 4:43 p.m. AEDT This article was originally published July 2024, and was most recently updated in June 2026.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for June 12, 2026

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:13:15 +0000

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, June 12, 2026:

Across

Vertical post in a doorframe

The answer is Jamb.

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

What "E" stands for in the musical mnemonic EGBDF

The answer is Every.

6:7, e.g.

The answer is Ratio.

Rap or tap

The answer is Knock.

Quick puff on a joint

The answer is Toke.

Down

Kind of seasoning for Jamaican-style chicken

The answer is Jerk.

___-garde

The answer is Avant.

"That makes two of us!"

The answer is Me too.

Badly missed jump shot, in hoops slang

The answer is Brick.

Oxen's harness

The answer is Yoke.

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.

Hurdle hints and answers for June 12, 2026

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:06:44 +0000

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

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

To ignite.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SPARK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An important part of diet.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FIBER

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The hedgehog.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

SONIC

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Open.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

AGAPE

Final Hurdle hint

To squeeze.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

PINCH

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

Fitbit Charge 6 plummets to lowest-ever price ahead of Prime Day

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:01:46 +0000

SAVE $60: As of June 12, the Fitbit Charge 6 is on sale at Amazon for $99.95, marking a return to its lowest-ever price at the retailer. Overall, this is $60 off its full price of $159.95.

Credit: Fitbit

Fitbit Charge 6

$99.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $60.00

Amazon Prime Day's next sale starts in just over a week on June 23, but there's already some exciting early deals available to shop. In the world of fitness trackers, Fitbits have been popping up with some excellent discounts at the retailer recently. This includes our favorite mid-range fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 6.

As of June 12, every available color of the Fitbit Charge 6 has been marked down to $99.95 at Amazon. This is $60 off its full price of $159.95, but it also marks a return to its lowest price point so far at the retailer. It's currently sitting as our favorite Fitbit deal ahead of Prime Day, so why wait to grab it?

From all-day activity tracking to 24/7 heart rate tracking to sleep tracking and more, the Charge 6 is a great option for those who want a variety of features for keeping an eye on health and fitness stats without a premium price tag. It's one we actually said is "a shining example of what a mid-budget fitness tracker can be" in Mashable's roundup of the best fitness trackers, where it landed as our favorite mid-range pick.

This is because, as Mashable's shopping team writes, the Charge 6 "offers fantastic value for what you pay, and packs in a lot of the features you'd expect from more high-end fitness trackers like a built-in GPS, 40 exercise modes to choose from, and heart rate connectivity with select exercise machines, just to name a few." However, if you're a trail runner, it is missing an altimeter. Mashable writer Lois Mackenzie wrote about this, but still expressed that the "Fitbit Charge 6 has many great qualities, and if tracking elevation isn't necessary for you, it's a fantastic option."

No need to wait for Prime Day. Don't miss out on this chance to save on the Fitbit Charge 6 at Amazon.

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

How to watch Knicks vs. Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:38 +0000

How to watch the Knicks vs. Spurs, Game 5 at a glance:

ESPN Unlimited

$29.99/month

YouTube TV

free 10-day trial

Hulu + Live TV

free 3-day trial

Fubo TV Pro

free 5-day trial

Fortunately for New York fans, the alleged Trump curse was lifted for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, and the Knicks took a 3-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs after a historic comeback. I'm not even a basketball fan, and I thought the game was pretty dang electric. The teams will now head back to San Antonio for Game 5.

The Spurs are desperate for a win to stay in, but the Knicks could take it all this weekend for the first time in over 50 years. Even if you're not a huge fan of either team, Game 5 is sure to be epic. Here's everything you need to know to watch the action unfold live.

When is Game 5 of the NBA Finals?

Game 5 of the NBA Finals will take place Saturday, June 13, in San Antonio at Frost Bank Center, with tip-off scheduled at 8:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Knicks vs. Spurs, Game 5 live

Game 5 will air live on ABC for cable subscribers on Saturday. For cord-cutters, you'll either need an ESPN Unlimited subscription, which gives you access to live sports on ABC, or you'll need a live TV cable replacement service like YouTube TV or Fubo.

Credit: ESPN

ESPN Unlimited

$29.99/month

ESPN Unlimited costs $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year (save $59.89/year), and unfortunately, there's no free trial. You can also bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu ($35.99/month for all three) or Fox One ($39.99/month for both) for the ultimate streaming package. The good news is that an ESPN Unlimited subscription will give you access to Game 5, plus any other games that may be necessary in the NBA Finals, as well as the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, NFL Monday Night Football, select college football games, and more.

ESPN Unlimited deals:

ESPN Unlimited annual subscription — $299.99/year ~~$359.88/year~~ (save $59.89/year)
Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle — $35.99/month ~~$53.97/month~~ (save $17.98/month)
ESPN Unlimited and Fox One bundle — $39.99/month ~~$49.98/month~~ (save $9.99/month)

Credit: YouTube TV

YouTube TV Sports plan

free 10-day trial, then $54.99/month for your first year

We're big fans of YouTube TV's massive 100+ channel lineup, which includes all of the networks you'll need to tune into the Stanley Cup playoffs live. We're even bigger fans of the 10-day free trial offer. With 10 days of free streaming, you'll be able to watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals on ABC, as well as any other games necessary in the series, plus so much more across over 100 different channels.

Should you choose to keep your subscription going, it will cost you $67.99 per month for your first three months of the YouTube TV Base Plan ($82.99/month thereafter) or $54.99 per month for your first 12 months of the new YouTube TV Sports plan ($64.99/month thereafter).

YouTube TV deals:

YouTube TV Sports — free 10-day trial, $54.99/month for your first year ~~$64.99/month~~ (save $120)
YouTube TV Base — free 10-day trial, $67.99/month for your first 3 months ~~$82.99/month~~ (save $45)

Honorable mentions:

If you've already exhausted your YouTube TV free trial offer, check out one of these honorable mentions to watch the Knicks vs. Spurs Game 5 for free this weekend.

Fubo TV Pro — free 5-day trial, then $58.99 for one month ~~$73.99/month~~ (save $15)
Hulu + Live TV (includes ABC) — 3-day trial, then $82.99 per month
DirecTV My Sports (includes ABC) — 5-day trial, then $44.99/month for two months ~~$64.99/month~~ (save $40)

The best robot vacuums of 2026 so far: Ive tested 10+ new models since January, but these 4 stood out

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:32 +0000

The best robot vacuums of 2026 so far at a glance

Most well-rounded robot vacuum of 2026 so far

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

$1,599.99 at Amazon

Best roller mop robot vacuum of 2026 so far

Narwal Flow 2

$1,499.99 at Amazon

Best budget robot vacuum of 2026 so far

Eufy C28

$499.99 with coupon at Eufy

Prettiest robot vacuum of 2026 so far

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Luxe Collection

$1,299.99 at SharkNinja

The pool of 2026 robot vacuums so far is significantly more diverse than it has been in years past.

Previously, it's been the same old battle of suction power or a corner cleaning competition between five or six bots with near-identical mopping functionality. This year, though, robot vacuum brands like Dreame, Shark, Roborock, Eufy, and Narwal seem to be more concerned with genuine yet realistic innovation. All of the biggest robot vacuums of the year have one or two cool cleaning features that are unique to that brand. We've seen three or four totally different mopping pad designs, AI mess detection and UV light-driven mess detection, and a refreshing variation in the aesthetics of dock designs.

This time a year ago, I had just wrapped up testing the flop of a robot vacuum with a mechanical arm. I then wrote a thinkpiece about how robot vacuum companies were losing the plot with half-baked high-tech features that aren't all that appealing to the average consumer. People just want a robot vacuum that works without intervention, and then maybe they'll be down to pay a more premium price. And that's just what we got this year: A robust selection of robot vacuum advancements at surprisingly generous price points. The most expensive robot vacuums in 2026 cost between $1,499.99 and $1,699.99 — the same price point as their weaker counterparts from 2025.

Since CES in January 2026, I've tested more than 10 of those 2026 robot vacuums in my own home. Here are the four robot vacuums that have impressed me the most so far this year:

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

I like the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete for its impressive suction power and hot-water mopping. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is the most well-rounded robot vacuum of 2026 so far. Its 35,000 Pa of suction power is nearly the most powerful you'll find this year, and I appreciate the fact that it actually lives up to its specs. Cat hair pickup on multiple rug piles was consistently solid, and I found the X60 Max Ultra Complete to have more reliable debris pickup than the Roborock Saros 20's 36,000 Pa. Though it's a beast in terms of suction, it's quite humble in terms of presence in your home. It's pretty quiet and extremely slim at just 3.1 inches tall.

At $1,699.99, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is also tied for the most expensive robot vacuum of 2026 so far with the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic. That's still steep in my eyes, but your money would be spent on premium features that actually improve the experience. Hot water is used during mopping (not just when washing the pads in the dock), and I think that helped a lot to prevent a greasy residue left behind after wiping up a liquid spill. The X60 Max Ultra Complete's AI cameras perform some of the most perceptive mess detection that I've seen this year — if it notices a spill during a casual clean, it automatically makes multiple passes over the extra-dirty area until the job is done.

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

$1,599.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $100

Narwal Flow 2

The Narwal Flow 2's suction power and mess detection make it the best roller mop robot vacuum of 2026 so far. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Narwal Flow 2 is the best roller mop robot vacuum of 2026 so far. The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is a close second here, but Narwal's latest pulls ahead with 31,000 Pa of suction power (compared to the Roborock's 20,000 Pa) and incredibly perceptive AI mess detection. The Narwal Flow 2 had a great track record of identifying large piles of debris or large spills bigger than a droplet or two. Its forward-facing camera snaps a before picture before conducting intensive spot cleaning on the area.

Roller mop robot vacuums are known for rinsing their mop as they clean, making them better at preventing smearing a spill or dragging dirty water across the floor. Narwal takes it a step further with heated mopping — and as I've learned over the past few months, hot water usage is a critical mopping feature that any flagship mopping robot vacuum should have by 2027. Hot water loosens the bonds that make grease slimy and tricky to lift off hard surfaces. Since roller mop robot vacuums are particularly geared toward soaking up liquids, they're bound to deal with a lot of greasy, oily, or just plain sticky kitchen spills. To keep hard floors residue-free, those stubborn consistencies need to be dissolved with heat (rather than relying on scrubbing alone). Despite some quirky settings, I'm wickedly impressed with the Narwal Flow 2, and would recommend it to any spill-prone household.

Eufy C28

The Eufy C28 is my favorite budget robot vacuum that I've tested in 2026 thus far. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Eufy C28 is the best budget robot vacuum of 2026 so far. The $799.99 MSRP isn't bad as it is, but the C28 can almost always be found on sale between $499.99 and $549.99. You won't find a robot vacuum in that price range that handles liquid spills as well as the C28's self-rinsing roller does. (In fact, you're unlikely to stumble across another roller mop robot vacuum this cheap at all.)

In my apartment, the C28's mop also came in handy for wiping up super-fine debris and dust, like kitty litter and pet hair, on hardwood. On rugs, the C28's 18,000 Pa suction power was far more effective on cat hair than I ever expected. I'm not sure that it's the best robot vacuum for homes with multiple shedders, but for one or two animals, the C28 would be more than enough. I appreciated how seriously the Eufy C28 took spot cleaning, especially when it came to straddling rug edges to get the debris that hides near the flaps. The dock and robot itself aren't the sleekest, but the C28 has too stacked a skillset to ignore.

Credit: Eufy

Eufy C28

$499.99
$799.99 Save $300

Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1 Luxe Collection

The new Luxe Home Collection from Shark includes the most chic vacuums you can buy right now. Credit: Shark

I'm obsessed with Shark's UV stain detection. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The new Luxe Home Collection shades make the Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1 the prettiest robot vacuum of 2026 so far. Before these four earth tones came out, I tested the UV Reveal 2-in-1 at home and was floored by the blacklight detection of invisible dried stains on my hardwood floors. Now, this unique robot vacuum and mop comes in evergreen, ivory, espresso, and deep harbor (navy-ish blue). I haven't seen these colors in person, but I'm sure they're just as stunning as the green Shark PowerDetect Speed cordless vacuum that I'm testing at home.

If you want to automate sweeping and mopping at home, chances are that you're hoping for more frequent cleaning because you care about the state of your home. Ironically, that often means that you're forced to disrupt the state of a room's cohesiveness with a big plastic black or white box that simply looks cheap or too techy. Robot vacuums and their big self-empty docks aren't designed to be hidden under furniture anymore, so Shark's realization that robot vacuums have every right to be stylish is just as innovative as the cleaning itself.

It pains me to remember that the Shark UV Reveal's flat mopping pad isn't really built for dealing with large spills while they're still wet. However, Shark's innovative use of science-backed cleaning tech is refreshing amid the race to have the best AI stain detection cameras. I can see the UV Reveal inspiring a new wave of mopping robot vacuums that react to messes in real time more accurately than ever before, and for that, Shark deserves a spot in the best of 2026 list.

Credit: Shark

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Luxe Collection

$1,299.99 at SharkNinja

Little red dots in the early universe may be a little less mysterious

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Astronomers now have stronger evidence that mysterious "little red dots" found in the early universe could come from black holes wrapped in thick clouds of gas disguising their light.

Little red dots have puzzled astronomers since their discovery in 2022. Initially, some researchers thought they "broke cosmology," unsure how unusually mature galaxies could have formed so fast after the Big Bang, forcing scientists to rethink their understanding of the dawn of time.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has taken a deep look at one of these strange objects, a distant source called GLIMPSE-17775. It appears so small, so compact, and so red that it defies standard classification. By studying the space object's light, a team of researchers teased out more than 40 distinct chemical features. Taken together, they gave scientists a model for what the environment inside the object must look like.

The verdict: GLIMPSE-17775 behaves like a voracious supermassive black hole, gobbling up a meal while encased in layers of gas. The team's study was published in The Astrophysical Journal.

"Everything fits, nothing is broken, and I think that makes the puzzle that is our universe even better," said Vasily Kokorev, lead author of the paper, in a statement. "Looking ahead, I'm eager to dive deeper and learn about what is powering the central engines of little red dots."

Earlier studies suggested perhaps these little red dots were ordinary galaxies, just heavily altered in appearance by surrounding dust. Others proposed something more radical: supermassive black holes feeding inside dense balls of gas. The concept became known as a "black hole star."

Scientists based the idea on broad clues, like the objects' compact size and unusual hydrogen patterns. But those alone couldn't tell them what physical processes were occurring to shape their light.

The James Webb Space Telescope observes GLIMPSE-17775, south of the Abell S1063 galaxy cluster, the bright white light in the center of this image. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / V. Kokorev / A. Pagan

Kokorev's team created a spectrum of GLIMPSE-17775, which existed about 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang, by splitting its light into its component colors. The technique can reveal the presence and absence of different elements and conditions. These new observations allowed them to test the idea of a black hole star from several different angles.

One of the clearest clues came from the way the little red dot's light behaves. Instead of traveling directly into space, it appears to have ricocheted. That only happens in a dense cocoon of gas — far denser than what astronomers would see in an ordinary galaxy.

At the center of that gas shell likely sits an actively feeding black hole, aka a quasar, according to the paper. As matter falls toward it, it releases energy. But instead of making a clean getaway, much of that energy gets absorbed and recycled by the surrounding gas.

That process would naturally explain why the object appears very red and very compact. The gas changes the light before it ever reaches us.

Some researchers think the "little red dots" in the early universe may be supermassive black holes, feeding inside dense balls of gas. Credit: T. Müller / A. de Graaff / Max Planck Institute for Astronomy illustration

"When we saw the spectrum for the first time, it was like having all the pieces of a puzzle scattered on the floor," said Kokorev, an astrophysicist at the University of Texas at Austin. "Maybe a few pieces looked like nothing at first, but then a couple of them came together, and we realized that there was something there."

The study also discusses the masses of these objects. Because earlier estimates relied on measuring how fast gas moves around the black hole, those figures may be unreliable, according to the paper. In an environment of dense gas such as this, the light could become extremely distorted before it reaches telescopes.

If that's the case, then some early-universe black holes may be smaller than they seem — just growing very quickly and shrouded in gas. That could resolve one of the biggest problems with little red dots: how something so early in cosmic history could grow to be so seemingly large.

Among Us creator Owen Dennis reveals how he chose the shows Impostors

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Whenever you play a game of Among Us, the Impostor's identity is completely random. Red could just as easily be the culprit as Blue, and there is no narrative reason why any character in particular gets chosen.

But when Among Us made its jump from video game to TV show , the choice of Impostor had to be intentional and character-driven. So, how did series creator Owen Dennis decide that the show's Impostors would be (spoiler!) eager unpaid intern Green (voiced by Elijah Wood) and overly peppy HR rep Orange (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown)?

The answer was rooted in murder mystery tropes.

"If you think about the various tropes that come with murder mysteries, you end up with the classic: The butler did it," Dennis told Mashable in a video interview. "Why did the butler do it? Why is that the idea? It's because the butler is the person that's always there. At the time period that these sort of mysteries were written, they're basically the lowest on the totem pole."

Who, then, is the lowest person on the totem pole on Among Us' spaceship, The Skeld? None other than the unpaid intern.

While Green gets taken over by the Impostor alien parasite, Dennis views the harm as also coming from MIRA, the mining corporation behind the Crewmates' mission. After all, their nefarious pursuit of Ore+ — otherwise known as the alien eggs — is what caused this mess in the first place.

"The entire ship is just like this negligent corporation," Dennis said. "Who would the negligent corporation hurt first and hardest? It would be the person who has the least power, and that would be the intern."

The aliens' parasitic nature acts as a stand-in for MIRA and its wrongdoings, which is why Orange, the company's main presence on the ship, also wound up as an Impostor.

"The first person to turn in this [situation] would be the one who is the most pro-corporation, who, of course, would give themselves willingly to this horrible machine that they're a part of," Dennis explained.

Anti-corporate, anti-capitalist messaging was one of the last things I'd expect to see from an Among Us adaptation, but for Dennis, the idea jumped out at him from the sheer isolation of the game's Crewmates.

"Why isn't there anybody to help them?" Dennis asked. "There's so many systems that seem to fail them over and over again throughout this whole process. There's no government system that can help them. There's no corporate system that seems to help them. Even when they follow their own rules that are given to them by the corporation, where you have to do a vote, it's still an extremely imperfect system that can get a lot of innocent people killed."

Among Us' combination of murder mystery tropes and anti-corporate rhetoric became a potent fuel for its Impostor choices, and Dennis wouldn't have it any other way.

"If there's anything that I'm always happy to push out into the light of day, it's how shitty corporations are," Dennis said.

Among Us is now streaming on Paramount+.

The EcoFlow Power Hat lets you wear a solar panel on your head to recharge your phone

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Gather ‘round, witches and wizards. One of my favorite portable power station brands has made a hat for those who dabble in the dark arts. Jokes aside, there’s no denying the EcoFlow Power Hat looks like it’s something out of Harry Potter. But it’s actually a well-designed hat for anyone who spends time outside, and it might be the best way to keep your phone charged up when you’re adventuring off-grid.

The EcoFlow Power Hat uses eight mini solar panels on the brim. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

In my quest for the best way to keep devices online while outdoors, I knew I needed to test out the EcoFlow Power Hat, which is genuinely a solar panel you wear on your noggin. I spent days wearing the hat in my backyard, while out on walks, and generally while living out my life to see just how functional it was. My niece, who’s 16 months old, gave me a judgmental and unapproving look every time she saw me wearing the hat. She clearly didn’t like it, but did I? Here’s what I experienced while testing out the EcoFlow Power hat, which sells for $129.

EcoFlow Power Hat

$129 at Amazon

Wearing a solar panel on my head recharged my phone at a surprising speed

We’ll talk about the looks of the hat later, but what matters most is that the EcoFlow Power Hat recharged my phone at a speed that I wasn’t expecting. To test the Power Hat’s abilities, I set it outside in direct Georgia summer sun for half an hour. I did my best to position the hat so all eight mini solar panels were getting full sun. It took my Google Pixel 8 from 83 percent to 93 percent charge. With those metrics, I was getting about 20 percent charge per hour, or five hours to get my phone from dead back to 100 percent charged. That’s not bad for a clothing accessory.

Testing the EcoFlow Power Hat to recharge my phone. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I used a USB-C power meter to take a reading of the power input the hat was giving my phone. EcoFlow says the hat can get up to 12W of power, but I only reached a max of 7W, and it mostly hung out near the 6W range. Still, I was impressed that my phone recharged by 10 percent in just 30 minutes of full sun. Here's some useful technical info about the solar panel hat.

Spec teardown on the EcoFlow Power Hat

Size options: M/L (22 to 22.8 inch head circumference), L/XL (23.2 to 24 inch circumference)
Rated power output: 12W
Hat weight (M/L): 13 ounces (0.8 pounds)
Input options: 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A
Includes: Solar-panel hat, adjustable hat strap, carrying case

A hat built for function, not fashion

Not that I thought wearing a solar panel on my head would be fashionable, but the hat has a distinctly unfashionable vibe going on. The upper part is a trucker hat design, with a structured front panel and a mesh back for breathability. The brim consists of eight mini solar panels. There’s also an adjustable chin strap you can add to the hat for extra functionality.

The solar panel brim is stiff and stays in a semi-bent-up position, no matter how long I set it on a flat surface to relax. Wearing it for more than half an hour at a time left indents on my forehead, presumably because it’s pretty heavy. The medium/large size I tested weighs about 0.8 pounds. Another downside I noted is that the solar panels get hot to the touch; hot enough that it was uncomfortable to touch for more than a few seconds when sitting in full sun.

An underside view of the hat with the included strap. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The hat has one USB-C and one USB-A port. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

But looks aside, the hat serves its intended function very well. Wear it around during a day outside, and you’ll get power into your small electronics. In terms of sun protection, this hat is incredible. The brim is wide and offers 360-degree coverage. If you’re out on a multi-day hiking excursion, this is the exact type of sun protection you’ll want.

Who should own the EcoFlow Power Hat

After wearing the hat around for a few weeks, I’m convinced certain people will love the functionality of the Power Hat. If you head out on fishing trips, spend the day cruising on the boat, or love to spend the summer at festivals, recharging your phone via a hat is a genius move. Plus, you’re getting sun protection.

It’s also a great idea for people who take multi-day backpacking trips and are trying to keep weight as low as possible. The hat removes the need to pack a power bank and a hat, combining the two. You could also wear the hat for a day at Disneyland, which is a notorious situation for dead phone batteries because you’re not gonna not take endless pictures of Minnie Mouse.

Why the EcoFlow Power Hat might not be right for you

Despite being a cool gadget, I’m not convinced the EcoFlow Power Hat is right for most people. Consider this: The EcoFlow 45W Portable Solar Panel costs $99 at full price, making it cheaper than the Power Hat and significantly more powerful at recharging small devices. That hat maxes out at 12W, according to EcoFlow, but I never got that much.

While testing the hat, power output maxed out at about 7W. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The super portable EcoFlow 28W Ultra-Light Solar Panel is also less expensive than the Power Hat when both are at full price. The 28W solar panel sells for $119 and could easily hang on a hiking backpack or sit on a boat deck. Comparing those prices to how much solar power they can harness, the EcoFlow hat only makes sense if you prefer the hat design. Otherwise, you can get more power for less money. And not have to wear a solar panel on your head.

Where to buy the EcoFlow Power Hat

The EcoFlow Power Hat is listed at $129, but it’s currently on sale for $89.99 at Best Buy, and it’s gone as low as $79 at Amazon. If you don’t dig the hat design, I’ve included two solar panel options I’d consider to be solid alternatives.

Where to buy the EcoFlow Power hat and solar panel alternatives:

EcoFlow Power Hat

$129 at Amazon

EcoFlow Power Hat

$99 at EcoFlow (M/L) (save $30)

EcoFlow Power Hat (L/LX)

$89.99 at Best Buy (save $39.01)

EcoFlow 45W solar panel

$99 at Amazon

EcoFlow 28W solar panel

$99 at Ecoflow (save $20)

Stop! That! Train! review: Its Airplane! with drag queens. What more could we ask for?

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

You don't need to be a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race to enjoy Stop! That! Train!, but it certainly helps.

The disaster spoof penned by Hazbin Hotel writers Christina Friel and Connor Wright is broadly funny in the way of The Naked Gun or Airplane!. The jokes are more about embracing sublime stupidity than references to the long-running drag queen competition. However, headlined by the queen of drag RuPaul Charles, and RuGirls like Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Symone, and Marcia Marcia Marcia (aka Marty Lauter), Stop! That! Train! has more to give to audiences who know the show, or at the very least embrace its zany brand of queer humor.

Stop! That! Train! delivers Heathers, underdogs, and a "stormaganza."

Ginger Minj and Jujubee play Stank Rail attendants Tess and DeeDee Credit: Bleecker Street

For years on RuPaul's Drag Race, the eponymous host and her panel of distinguished judges have challenged drag queens to become actors in a cascade of outlandish scenarios. There have been spoofs of science fiction, horror, and Shakespeare, to varying degrees of hilarity. But few of these concepts felt capable of supporting a feature-length plotline. Stop! That! Train! solves this problem by creating a totally outlandish scenario that — like most disaster movies — depends on leaping from one batch of could-be survivors to another. In this case, that allows for a nonstop ride of rollicking silliness.

Stop! That! Train! begins with an ad for Glamazonian Hyper Speed Rail, a big, long, pink (and yes, very phallic) bullet train that promises a luxury experience, complete with a trio of high-class attendants (Hytes, Symone, Lauter). To work on such an illustrious train line is the dream of the tragically unchic besties Tess (Minj) and DeeDee (Jujubee), who are attendants at the far less prestigious Stank Rail.

That is, until Stank Rail pulls a Spirit Airlines and closes without warning. From there, a twist of fate and a little help from a friend named Barbra (Latrice Royale) gives Tess and DeeDee their chance to be Glamazonians. But head attendant Amber (Hytes) won't make it easy on them.

Meanwhile, in a control room for trains nationwide, mousy and bespectacled Donna Dusk (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Rachel Bloom) warns her boss that a collision of natural disasters called a "stormageddon" is set to collide with this big, pink bullet train! Not only could it endanger the lives of everyone on board, but a train wreck of this magnitude could also threaten a nuclear power plant, a children's hospital, and the home of beloved character actress (and recent Tony winner) Laurie Metcalf!

So, on top of proving themselves to the haughty Heathers of Glamazonian Hyper Speed Rail, Tess and DeeDee will have to face their fears, and team up with President Judy Gagwell (RuPaul, of course) to save the day — and Laurie Metcalf's house!

Stop! That! Train! is stuffed with celebrity cameos.

RuPaul Charles as President Judy Gagwell in "Stop! That! Train!" Credit: Bleecker Street

In the tradition of spoofs, this one is bursting with famous faces playing deeply ridiculous roles. Comedians like Matt Rogers, Nicole Sullivan, Chris Parnell, Natasha Leggero, Drew Droege, Guy Branum, Missi Pyle, Joel McHale, and Riki Lindhome pop up, along with Drag Race alums like Monét X Change and Drag Race judge Michelle Visage.

However, my favorite cameo was Sarah Michelle Gellar, who plays herself as a celebrity who keeps thinking people recognize her, only to be horrendously scoffed at for petty reasons. It's a runner that made me laugh in shock every time. (Imagine not recognizing SMG!)

And yet, for all the big names in the ensemble, Minj and Jujubee prove a terrific double act. Minj shoulders the role of the smart bestie, blinded by ambition, and shows her growth from glamor toad to showgirl with a kicky dance number. By contrast, Jujubee is a divine as a ditzy blonde. As was the case on Dungeons and Drag Queens, she's radiant in her enthusiasm, even when she's utterly confused. And Stop! That! Train! gives her a romantic subplot that's funny and satisfyingly sexy.

Stop! That! Train! is brilliant in its stupidity.

Ginger Minj performs with Marcia Marcia Marcia and Symone in "Stop! That! Train!" Credit: Bleecker Street

Disenchanted director Adam Shankman helms this sensationally silly spoof, which is essentially a bunch of sketches stitched together with a manic pacing. In that way, Stop! That! Train! feels like a throwback to the '80s, when raunchy and unapologetically dumb comedies could thrive.

Rather than making the film feel like an antique, this devotion to the audaciously goofy feels timeless. Whether it's fumbled flirting with a side of nosebleed, an overwrought flashback of a comically tragic backstory, or the reveal of some DIY Glamazonian uniforms, this movie understands its audience wants outrageous. And Stop! That! Train! delivers.

Fans of Drag Race will also recognize callbacks to the show, like the catchphrase "Look over there!" — coined by Season 12 champion Jaida Essence Hall. But even if you're not versed on reading being fundamental, this movie is so stuffed with jokes, pratfalls, and visual gags that you'll have plenty of opportunity to laugh yourself silly.

Stop! That! Train! was reviewed out of Newfest; the movie opens in theaters on June 12.

Your lifetime access to Babbel will feel super useful when you’re ordering dinner overseas

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Babbel Language Learning is down to a one-time $159 through June 22 with the StackSocial code LEARN, giving you lifetime access to human-created lessons across 14 languages.

Credit: Babbel

Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)

$159
$299 Save $140

Travel gets easier the moment you stop relying entirely on real-time translations. Reading signs, ordering food, or asking directions becomes less of a performance and more of a conversation — which is exactly what Babbel was designed to teach.

Lifetime access to all 14 Babbel languages is just $159 (reg. $299) with StackSocial’s limited-time code LEARN.

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The platform focuses on practical communication rather than memorizing vocabulary lists. Lessons are short — about 10–15 minutes — and structured around real situations: transportation, dining, shopping, introductions. You learn the sentences you actually need instead of academic filler.

Courses were developed by professional linguists, and it shows in the pacing. Each concept builds logically, then repeats through guided conversation and review sessions, so phrases stick long enough to use them on a real street, not just a quiz.

Speech recognition helps with pronunciation, while offline downloads let you practice mid-flight or during a commute. Progress syncs across phone and desktop, so learning doesn’t depend on one device. Instead of cramming a phrasebook before departure, you build familiarity over time — enough to understand replies, not just deliver rehearsed lines.

The result isn’t fluency overnight (though it’s pretty close). It’s language confidence in the moment.

Get lifetime access to all Babbel languages for just $159 (reg. $299) with the StackSocial code LEARN at checkout through June 22.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Best movies of 2026, and where to watch them now

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

2026 cinema has been a wild ride from the very start.

January gave us jaw-dropping action and musical mayhem with Greenland 2: Migration, The Rip, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. February brought spicy tales of love for better and worse with Pillion and "Wuthering Heights." March delivered a big hit with Project Hail Mary and the electrifying box office bomb The Bride! April presented provocative indies like Mother Mary and The Drama, as well as the tedious studio tentpole The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Then, came May with devils, witches, and Hutts in The Devil Wears Prada 2, Hokum, and The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Some of these are sensational. Some are major misfires. Below, we'll break down the must-sees of 2026. Whether you go wild for horror, live for comedy, thrive on sci-fi, or adore a genre mashup, this year has got something great for you.

Here's the best movies of 2026 so far.

15. The Bride!

As writer and director, Maggie Gyllenhaal took a big swing with The Bride!, a dizzying reimagining of the Universal monster from The Bride of Frankenstein. Critics were mixed on it, and despite starring Academy Award winners Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale as the Bride and her monster mate, this epic horror offering tanked at the box office.

But the world is wrong. Set in 1936 Chicago, The Bride! offers up a gangster's moll (Buckley) who is fatefully possessed by Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, who's long dead but still has things to say. So begins a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style crime spree with a besotted creature who loves movie musicals. The result is fitful, deranged, and uniquely beautiful.

Apparently, The Bride! is not for everyone. But to me, it was sensational. As I wrote in my review, "Gyllenhaal and her cast don't just dust off a classic tale for a safe money grab. (Looking at you, Disney live-action remakes!) They tear various Frankenstein iterations to bits, then create an exquisite corpse of the pieces, festooning it with elements from other films about violence, revolt, and violation. The result is a film that is utterly electrifying, sure to spark something in hearts young and old." — K.P.

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz

How to watch: The Bride! is now streaming on HBO Max.

14. Sound of Falling

Director Mascha Schilinski weaves strands of girlhood across generations in Sound of Falling, a magnificent, quiet, and powerful epic. Co-written with Louise Peter, the German director's second feature takes us into the lives of four characters living in the same German farmhouse over a century: Alma (Hanna Heckt) in the 1910s, Erika (Lea Drinda) in the 1940s, Angelika (Lena Urzendowsky) in the 1980s, and Lenka (Laeni Geiseler) in the 2020s.

Each performance is interior and complex, with Schilinski giving these women and girls deserved agency in contexts that refuse to — and their experiences are framed by a magnificent production team. As I wrote in my review, "Capturing the unpredictable, complex tempest that is girlhood onscreen is a challenge many films have wrestled with, and Schilinski assembles a deeply talented production team to make Sound of Falling feel as intimate and private as a diary." — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, Laeni Geiseler, Susanne Wuest, Luise Heyer, and Lea Drinda

How to watch: Sound of Falling is now streaming on MUBI.

13. Rose of Nevada

If you relished in the eccentricity of The Lighthouse and crave another salt-encrusted voyage into surrealism, get aboard Mark Jenkin's Rose of Nevada. In the third chapter of the filmmaker's Cornish trilogy (after Bait and Enys Men), time becomes a fickle friend for men of a small coastal village. When an enigmatic fishing trawler shows up 30 years after it disappeared, its sea-wisened captain (Francis Magee) is recruiting able (read: desperate) seamen. Valuing financial stability over a bit of folklore, locals Nick and Liam (George MacKay and Callum Turner) sign up as the Rose of Nevada's skeleton crew.

Not your average commercial fishing trip, the film takes the crew and the audience on a strange, harrowing ride. Jenkin weaves a captivating net that traverses time, all captured on a 1976 wind-up Bolex camera with 16mm film. It feels like something found in the trunk of an old seaside cottage, somewhat inexplicable at times but hypnotising all the same. — S.C.

Starring: George MacKay, Callum Turner, Rosalind Eleazar, Francis Magee, and Mary Woodvine

How to watch: Rose of Nevada opens in theaters on June 19.

12. Exit 8

Months after escaping from Exit 8, I remain ensnared in it. Genki Kawamura's haunting adaptation is more than an ode to Kotake Create's acclaimed 2023 game; it's an impeccable thriller that will have you actively participating in its labyrinthine puzzle. You'll genuinely root for Kazunari Ninomiya as a frantic man trapped in a nightmarish looping subway hallway beneath Tokyo, his only chance of escape being his ability to identify "anomalies" within this wretched corridor. A rare triumph among video game adaptations, Exit 8 is a masterpiece of production, from the meticulous sets to the dynamic cinematography and nerve-racking sound design.

As I wrote in my review, "While video game adaptations come in a range of sublime to mediocre, Exit 8 is a triumphant realisation and expansion of the original concept. Kawamura's punctilious direction and his incredibly talented cast and crew amplify this contained hallway in satisfying, chilling ways. You'll remain in this hallway long after you've left the cinema — we're all still staring blankly at that Exit 0 sign." — S.C.

Starring: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, and Nana Komatsu

How to watch: Exit 8 is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

11. Send Help

Some movies are just so weird that it feels like a miracle they exist at all. Send Help is such a wonder, as it pairs A-list actress Rachel McAdams with much, much, much, much glop.

Directed by Sam Raimi, Send Help is a genre mash-up that combines tropes from adventure and romance, horror comedies, and survival thrillers with an eat-the-rich edge. McAdams stars as a mousy office worker whose hotshot boss (Dylan O'Brien) treats like a pimple that needs to be popped. But when they end up stranded on a desert island, the power dynamics are dramatically flipped. There will be blood. And vomit, and muck, and more blood. And it will be hilarious. As I declared in my review, "It's also a rip-roaring, no-fucks-to-give good time." — K.P.

Starring: Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien

How to watch: Send Help is now on Hulu.

10. Disclosure Day

Steven Spielberg has brought audiences epic movies about extraterrestrial life touching down on Earth, from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to E.T. to War of the Worlds, and now Disclosure Day. With a screenplay from David Koepp, this sci-fi thriller stars Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor as two strangers who are united in their quest to get the truth about alien life out to the world.

As I celebrated in my review, "With Disclosure Day, I experienced the distinctive thrill of watching a master filmmaker do what he does best. The film, which focuses on a band of people's struggle to release secret information about extraterrestrial contact on Earth, is a dizzying mix of action, humor, adventure, sci-fi, and wonder. Naturally, I laughed, cried, and gasped. But more than that, Disclosure Day made me feel like I better understand the whole of Spielberg's work, and him as a person... On its surface, Disclosure Day is about aliens. But beneath that, it's about us — or more specifically, how Spielberg sees humanity itself. And while he has more faith in us than I do, I hope he's right." — K.P.

Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo

How to watch: Disclosure Day is now in theaters.

9. Mother Mary

Written and directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight, A Ghost Story), Mother Mary is a velvety journey of heartache, hauntings, and healing.

Anne Hathaway stars as a pop icon known as Mother Mary, who's fallen out of the spotlight — hard. Readying for her comeback, she reaches out to Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), the fashion designer and friend who helped her craft her pop persona. While much of the film is a tense conversation in a crumbling barn repurposed as Sam's design studio, Lowery weaves in surreal flashbacks to reveal not only what came before but also how it hangs over both like a shroud they can't escape.

Rapturous visuals are bolstered by original music performed by Anne Hathaway and written and produced by Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX, and FKA twigs. But the best bit of all are the dueling performances of Hathaway and Coel, who are mesmerizing even in a simple scene of arguing over fabric. (The Devil Wears Prada, who?)

As I declared in my review, "Mother Mary is not only slippery, riveting, unnerving, and haunting, but also one of the most enthralling films 2026 is likely to reveal." — K.P.

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, and FKA twigs

How to watch: Mother Mary is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video or Apple TV.

8. Pillion

One of the most buzzed-about films of the year earned every minute of the attention. Based on Adam Mars-Jones' book Box Hill, Harry Lighton's tender, funny, and spicy debut Pillion sees Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling delivering formidable performances. Melling is a delight as demure and polite parking ticket officer Colin, who meets burly, stoic, and furiously handsome biker Ray (an outstanding Skarsgård) on Christmas Eve, of all eves.

Instantly connecting, Colin and Ray enter a Dom/sub relationship; we join them navigating kink and sexual boundaries — and attempting to explain it all to Colin's parents. Siddhant Adlakha writes for Mashable in his review, "Led by a pair of fine-tuned performances from Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, the movie walks a fragile tonal tightrope with remarkable flair." — S.C.

Starring: Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård

How to watch: Pillion is now streaming on HBO Max.

7. Hoppers

Who knew that one of the most bonkers movies of the year (complimentary) would come from Pixar? The animation studio's latest original, Hoppers, introduces technology that "hops" human consciousnesses into fake animal bodies, allowing scientists to study wildlife up close and personal. But when animal lover Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda) uses hopping to try to save a glade near her house, she finds herself caught in an adventure wilder than she could have ever imagined.

How wild, you might ask? That would be spoiling the fun of Hoppers' third act, which is the most audacious thing Pixar's produced in years. Let's just say there's an assassination plot, a killer car chase, and a juicy riff on Invasion of the Body Snatchers that will have you thinking, "Man, they're really going for it!" (Again, complimentary.) Of course, there's some classic Pixar sprinkled in there, like a sob-worthy grandmother-granddaughter relationship and a sweet message about community. But it's Hoppers' riskiness and inventiveness that lingers, a welcome change after Pixar's last few films and sequel-heavy slate have too often played it safe. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, and Dave Franco

How to watch: Hoppers is now available for purchase on Prime Video.

6. I Love Boosters

Writer/director Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You and I'm A Virgo) is back with an unabashedly anti-capitalist satire that's star-studded and outrageously fun.

I Love Boosters centers on a clever quartet of shoplifters (aka boosters), known as the Velvet Gang. Let by aspiring fashion designer Corvette (Keke Palmer), they steal from the stores of fashion titan Christie Smith (Demi Moore) to sell the hot goods at low prices. But like his previous works, Riley brings much more to this Afro-surrealist wonder, including skin-crawling conspiracies, a sci-fi MacGuffin, and a sexy demon in the form of LaKeith Stanfield.

Out of the film's SXSW premiere, I enthused, "Like the fashion in the film, Riley blends whatever fits his vision without apology. By delivering something this messy and marvelous, Riley makes a statement about the glory to be found outside the box. And make no mistake: I Love Boosters is glorious." — K.P.

Starring: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, and Demi Moore

How to watch: I Love Boosters is now in theaters.

5. The Sheep Detectives

From the director of Minions: Rise of Gru and the creator of the hit TV drama The Last of Us comes a crime story about a slain shepherd (Hugh Jackman), whose homicide case must be cracked by his flock of fluffy and brave sheep, voiced by the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, and Chris O'Dowd.

This movie sounds like a 30 Rock joke, parodying the absurdity of Hollywood movies. However, this cozy crime thriller set in a quaint English village is not just a fun murder mystery, but also a feel-good family film and a mindful meditation about grief.

As I cheered in my review, "Incredibly, The Sheep Detectives is a real movie. Frankly, it could have been a deeply stupid movie with bad CGI animation and a predictable solution, and I still would have been pleased that it even existed at all. I just love a big swing for its bonkers ambition. But props to Balda and his kooky cast, because The Sheep Detectives is so much more than silly fun. It's a smart parody of the detective stories with a cheeky sense of humor, a sensational ensemble, and an ending so poignant that I actually teared up!" — K.P.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Emma Thompson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby

How to watch: The Sheep Detectives is now in theaters.

4. Hokum

To date, the scariest movie of the year is Hokum. The latest from Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy (Caveat and Oddity) stars Adam Scott as a misanthropic American novelist who falls down a rabbit hole of folklore and horror.

You see, Ohm Bauman (Scott) has traveled to a remote hotel in Ireland for some grim business, including scattering the ashes of his deceased parents. But when a bartender who was kind to him goes missing, Ohm can't resist the urge to find her, even if he thinks the talk of a witch plaguing the hotel's honeymoon suite is "hokum."

In my review, I called Hokum "a seriously scary masterpiece," explaining, "It's a nerve-shredding, bone-rattling, scream-pulling good time, and an absolute blast to see in a theater." And in case you're on the fence, know this: This movie made me scream myself hoarse while watching it. —K.P.

Starring: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Michael Patric, Will O'Connell, Brendan Conroy, and Austin Amelio

How to watch: Hokum is now in theaters.

3. Is God Is

In a strong position to be the greatest feature directorial debut of 2026 is Is God Is. Playwright Aleshea Harris adapted her award-winning play of the same name into a scorching thriller about twin sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) on a vengeance-fueled road trip.

Tasked by their long-lost mother (Vivica A. Fox) to slay their vicious father (Sterling K. Brown), these sister set off on a violent journey, where they encounter wild character, horrid secrets, and an inner strength that could be the death of both of them. Beyond its engrossing story, Is God Is is swamped in rich visuals, blisteringly poetic dialogue, and performances so electric that you can feel them in your spine.

As I raved in my review, "Is God Is delivers filmmaking that is so mythic, mesmerizing, and menacing that it's easily one of the best movies of 2026." — K.P.

Starring: Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson, Josiah Cross, Vivica A. Fox, and Sterling K. Brown

How to watch: Is God Is is now in theaters.

2. Project Hail Mary

When Ryan Gosling hosted Saturday Night Live in March to promote Project Hail Mary, he said, "People are saying it's like E.T. meets Interstellar, which is crazy, because those are like, what, two of the best films of all time? So they're kind of saying it’s like, what, double that?"

While it might take a bit more time to determine Project Hail Mary's all-timer status, this sci-fi blockbuster absolutely earned its spot as one of the best movies of 2026, winning over crowds and critics alike. Based on the novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary lures you in with an apocalyptic premise: Earth is launching a last-ditch space mission to save our sun. Soon, though, it morphs into a rich, hopeful tale of friendship between middle school science teacher Dr. Ryland Grace (Gosling) and alien Rocky (voiced and puppeteered by James Ortiz). Thanks to their heartwarming connection, some epic set pieces, and even more epic sweaters, there's really only one word that can truly sum up Project Hail Mary: Amaze! — B.E.

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, and Lionel Boyce

How to watch: Project Hail Mary is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

1. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

One of the great crimes against cinema of 2026 is that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple flopped at the box office.

Critics went wild for Hedda director Nia DaCosta's bold and brilliant sequel to Danny Boyle's resurrected zombie thriller. But audiences didn't turn out in the droves this heady blend of horror, heart, and heavy metal deserved.

Picking up the story of runaway Spike (Alfie Williams), The Bone Temple plunged us deep into the cult of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), whose bizarre introduction at the end of the last film had fans freaking out with theories. A self-styled Satanist with a fixation on torture, Jimmy Savile, and the Teletubbies, Jimmy was an instant icon in horror. But even he was awed by the uncanny stage presence of Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). The gentle doctor spent most of the movie getting stoned with the Alpha undead Sampson (Chi Lewis-Parry), in sequences that were tender and funny. But the climax of this movie had theaters cheering, as Kelson embraced his inner demons with a fiery performance of Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast." And it was one of the most riveting and surprising things I've seen in a movie, ever. It was magical, chaotic, and unforgettable.

As I cheered in my review, "This horror offering — like its prequel and also like 2025's other smash horror hit, Sinners — transcends the grimier aspects of the genre to unearth something gnarly and sublime." —K.P.

Starring: Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry

How to watch: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now streaming on Netflix.

How to watch USA vs. Paraguay online for free

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream USA vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Tournament Supporter of the event.

The USA is the last host nation to start its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, and it's probably got the toughest matchup. Mexico battled it out with South Africa in the opening game, Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina, and now USA meets Paraguay in Group D.

Australia and Turkey are the other sides competing in this group. It's a really difficult group to predict, but it feels like there's a genuine chance that the team doesn't even qualify for the knockout rounds. They'll need to be at their best to take anything from a decent Paraguay team.

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

When is USA vs. Paraguay?

USA vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 12. This fixture takes place at the SoFi Stadium.

How to watch USA vs. Paraguay for free

Credit: ExpressVPN

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

And luckily for World Cup viewers, ExpressVPN recently announced that it's an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Live stream USA vs. Paraguay for free by following these simple steps:

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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 USA vs. Paraguay (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 sports 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 sports 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

Live stream USA vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina online for free

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 starting with a number of huge matchups, including Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.

All eyes will be on hosts Canada as they look to secure a positive result against a team that beat Italy to qualify for this competition. Qatar and Switzerland are the other sides in Group B. There isn't really a favorite to qualify for the knockout rounds, so every contest is absolutely vital for securing all-important points.

If you want to watch Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 12. This fixture takes place at the BMO Field.

How to watch Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina for free

Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

Live stream Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina for free by following these simple steps:

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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 Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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

Live stream Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Dreame L10s Ultra robot vacuum hits lowest-ever price at Amazon

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:58:24 +0000

SAVE OVER $200: As of June 12, the Dreame L10s Ultra is on sale for $379.92 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount on the list price.

Credit: Dreame

Dreame L10s Ultra

$379.93 at Amazon
$589.99 Save $210.06

Prime Day is still over a week away, but Amazon has already started releasing early deals and discounts on a number of products. Like this latest deal on the Dreame L10s Ultra, for example. As of June 12, this robot vacuum has dropped to its lowest-ever price, now priced at $379.92. This deal saves you over $200.

This robot vacuum is a powerful one, designed to clean hard-to-reach areas, including under furniture and in tight spaces. It delivers 10,000Pa Vormax suction for deep cleaning, and it also has a floating rubber brush that helps detangle hair. There’s also a pet care mode that identifies areas for more intensive cleaning.

It comes with a mopping function too, with the DuoScrub mopping system using two high-speed rotary mops to apply pressure while cleaning, helping to lift stubborn dirt and spills.

After cleaning your floors, the robot vacuum will return to its docking station where it will hold up to 75 days of dirt. It also washes and hot-air dries the mops, refills water, and automatically dispenses cleaning solution.

And you won’t need to manually guide this vacuum either. It uses Smart Pathfinder and 3DAdapt technology to navigate and avoid obstacles.

Get this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

Apples touchscreen MacBook is definitely happening, report claims

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:49:24 +0000

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once famously said a touchscreen MacBook was never going to happen, but that was a long time ago, and things are changing.

A leaker known as Instant Digital, known for some eerily accurate Apple-related predictions, seemed certain about it in a recent Weibo post (via MacRumors).

"It's 100% confirmed that the MacBook screen will be touch-enabled," he wrote.

The leaker did not add any other details, so we don't know which version of the MacBook is getting the touchscreen, nor when this is supposed to happen. But the post builds on previous reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, with both previously stating that Apple is working on a touchscreen variant of the MacBook.

Rumors about such a device have circulated for years, though, and nothing ever came to fruition. Gurman's report dates February 2026, and back then he said the initial batch of touch-enabled Macs are coming "this fall." Gurman said the company would be pretty lax about the touchscreen, allowing the users to use it as much or as little they'd like, instead of positioning the Mac as a better version of the iPad.

Apple is also rumored to launch a high-end "MacBook Ultra" later this year; this top-of-the-line device should come with Apple's most powerful chips, an OLED display, and it might be the first one to be touch-enabled.

NYT Pips hints, answers for June 12, 2026

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000

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.

How to play Pips

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 12 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 12 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 12 Pips

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 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.

Elon Musk shares anti-immigrant posts before SpaceX IPO

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:13:52 +0000

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and one of the loudest voices of the internet, made numerous X posts Wednesday and Thursday in support of deporting immigrants from the United Kingdom, perhaps under violent conditions.

His comments and reposts, shared on the eve of SpaceX's initial public offering, channeled outrage over a knife attack against an Irish man in Belfast on Monday evening. A 30-year-old Sudanese refugee and legal resident allegedly committed the stabbing and has been charged with attempted murder, according to officials.

What did Elon Musk say about the Belfast stabbing?

Among his posts, Musk amplified Rupert Lowe, a member of the British Parliament and founder of the anti-immigrant Restore Britain movement.

In one video clip Musk shared, Lowe calls for the deportation of migrants who can't financially support themselves. Musk reshared a post from Restore Britain announcing that the movement would "reverse the third-worldification of our country." Musk also replied "Yes" to an X post of Lowe's in which he declares, "Britain doesn't have a racism problem, it has an immigration problem."

Musk used the same single-word affirmation to reply to an X user's post quoting Lowe's support of "reverse mass migration" and adding the commentary, "Deport the invaders. Imprison the government." Lowe said on X earlier this week that "[m]illions and millions need to leave or be made to leave."

Anger over Monday's attack led to riots in Belfast and other locations in Northern Ireland. The protesters set cars, garbage cans, and a city bus on fire, according to the New York Times. They also appeared to target the homes of immigrants, the Times reported. Firefighters aided families when their homes were set on fire Tuesday night.

The victim, who was hospitalized with serious injuries, called for calm in a statement shared by his family, the New York Times said.

The UK regulator Ofcom will not reprimand X for surfacing or promoting posts that incited violence against immigrants for at least two months, according to the Guardian.

Musk denied that social media contributed to the riots and instead blamed "murderous migrants" as the source of people's anger.

Will Elon Musk's comments affect the SpaceX IPO?

When SpaceX filed for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, it acknowledged the chances that Musk's public commentary could influence the company's business.

"The actions and statements of Mr. Musk and his affiliated ventures, whether or not directly relating to us, may draw significant public attention and scrutiny to us and could potentially have a positive or negative impact on our business, relationships with customers and regulators, or stock price," the SpaceX filing read.

Musk's company xAI, which became part of SpaceX earlier this year, is also facing a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of plaintiffs whose real photographs were allegedly used to create child sexual abuse material via the AI chatbot Grok.

Ahead of the IPO, a 40-foot tall inflatable effigy of Musk appeared in New York City's Times Square as a reminder of those cases. The inflatable's torso had an unmissable message tying SpaceX and Grok to the creation of child sexual abuse material. It was placed there by Safe AI Now, or SANE, a coalition of groups concerned about AI safety, according to Wired.

SpaceX announced Thursday that it will make 555,555,555 shares available for purchase at $135 per share. The IPO is scheduled for Friday, June 12. SpaceX is on track for a $1.75 trillion valuation.

Musk's endorsement of forcibly removing millions of immigrants from the United Kingdom hasn't yet appeared to affect investor appetite for SpaceX stock. Retail traders have reportedly ordered $100 billion in SpaceX stock ahead of the public offering, according to Forbes.

The IPO is expected to make Musk the world's first trillionaire.

The Death of Robin Hood review: Hugh Jackman leads a bleak, brutal, and boring re-imagining of the outlaw

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:03:07 +0000

It's impossible to watch The Death of Robin Hood and not think of Logan. Both films star Hugh Jackman, and both mar his leading-man good looks with old age makeup, scars, and mangy facial hair. In each, he plays an anti-hero whose legend is one of noble heroism but whose reality is a trail of senseless carnage. And in both, his withered humanity is revived by protecting an orphaned girl. In this comparison, The Death of Robin Hood only suffers.

Logan co-writer and director James Mangold created an emotionally rich drama, punctuated by breathtaking action sequences that showed new potential for superhero films viewed through a revisionist lens. The Death of Robin Hood's writer/director Michael Sarnoski, who has previously made the superb slow-burn thriller Pig and the awful horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, pursues a similar goal in re-interpreting the folk legend renowned for robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. But his interpretation lacks complexity, offering in its place much brooding, after a first act overstuffed with truly repulsive onscreen violence.

There is an attempt at balance, as Sarnoski introduces female characters meant to be a soft and compassionate foil to Robin and his not-so-merry men's brutality. But that feels frustratingly reductive and shallow.

What is The Death of Robin Hood about?

Credit: Aidan Monaghan / A24

Set around 1247 A.D., this trudging drama begins on the side of a mountain, where cold winds roar across a treacherously frozen terrain. There, a haggard old man lives determinedly alone. This is Robin Hood (Jackman), an outlaw whose thievery has been praised because of the tales of how he redistributed the wealth to aid the poor. But — as the tagline for the film declares — he was no hero.

Over and over, any chance this Robin Hood gets, he will grumble that those were lies. He and his Little John (an equally grumbly Bill Skarsgård) robbed, maimed, and murdered so many men, women, and children that he cannot remember their names or faces. So, now, he hides in isolation, apathetically fending off would-be killers who are seeking vengeance for crimes he cannot recall. It's a grim beginning, and it will only get grimmer.

When Little John returns to him, asking for help in fighting off a family that has stolen his land and kidnapped his wife, Robin begrudgingly agrees, noting they both might die. His tone even suggests that's Robin's wish, to just be over with it all. Still, he'll battle hard for his friend, slaying not only the invading men but also employing his legendary archery skills to shoot a fleeing child through the back of his skull and left eye.

The sound effects chosen for such moments of violence pull no punches, offering sharp cracks of bone, wretched tearing of flesh, and the squish of internal organs ripped asunder. It's stomach-churningly effective in hitting home how efficient Robin is at delivering carnage. By the end of the first act, not only have Little John's foes been felled but Robin himself has too, following a gross and grisly battle of blood, muck, and fire. To the credit of cinematographer Pat Scola, such scenes of violence are both beautiful and horrid. His shots make clear the agony and injury, but play these fights off a backdrop of blazing fire and night sky. The contrast is dizzying and exciting. But soon, this contrast and conflict will be moved to a far-off island, the colors shifting from brown and orange to grays and radiant blues.

At an ancient priory, a gorgeous nun called Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer) offers aid to the ailing. She's taken in Robin Hood, unaware of his identity. (He tells her his name is Randolf). As his wounds heal, Little John's only child, Little Margaret (Faith Delaney), arrives on the island, orphaned and traumatized. Though at first Robin only wished to die, and failing that, to escape this blissful place of restoration, he is slowly enchanted by Brigid's compassion and by Little Margaret's thirst for a father figure. Reluctantly befriending a persistent leper (Murray Bartlett), Robin begins to consider if this might be "another life" for him — when yet another vengeance-seeking stranger turns up at the priory.

The Death of Robin Hood is an unpleasant and cynical slog, despite a promising cast.

Credit: Aidan Monaghan / A24

Like Logan, The Death of Robin Hood functions like a revisionist Western, wherein the lifelong gunslinger looks back on his journey and wonders if all the blood he's spilled can ever be washed clean. Put another way, can a man of violence ever become a man of peace?

Intellectually, there's something interesting in this cliche. However, Jackman's portrayal in The Death of Robin Hood feels like an echo of his achingly poignant work in Logan, but with less rage and thus less energy. Plus, Sarnoski's approach is dull and episodic. Again and again, someone will ask Robin if he recalls a particular act of violence, and he shrugs his heavy shoulders in response, his expression world-weary. And then the person explains how Robin's actions hurt them personally, to which Robin gives an inscrutable stare in response, over and over.

It's a tedious way to establish Robin's cruelty. More irksome, he only starts to care about the consequences of his actions once he falls for the lovely nun. While Comer is a critically acclaimed actress thanks to her bold and brilliant performances in Killing Eve, The Bikeriders, and The Last Duel, she — like Jackman — cannot elevate Sarnoski's shallow script, which reduces men and women to archaic archetypes. For instance, to illustrate that Sister Brigid has desires beyond being a loving nurse to the sick and mother to the orphaned, Sarnoski includes a bizarre scene where she sneaks off at night to a cave to masturbate by candlelight. How else could he possibly show a woman could be spiritual and sexual?

Little Margaret is similarly underwritten, existing chiefly to follow Robin like a sullen shadow with the sad eyes of a Margaret Keane painting. Noah Jupe, who earned praise last year for playing Hamlet in Hamnet, is compelling in a brief role as a boy on the brink of a pivotal decision. To Bartlett's credit, he brings some levity as a leper who talks with fearless sass, even though he knows Robin's true identity and wickedness. But with much of his face covered by bandages and, later, rotting prosthetics, his charisma is almost completely swallowed. Essentially, though most of the other characters exist to balance Robin's unrelentingly grim brooding, the balance is off. So, much of the movie is a muck of unrelenting maudlin reflection, undercutting any attempt at hope of rising above.

Most frustratingly, from beginning to end, I couldn't get a grip on the why of it all. Not why in terms of Robin Hood's cruelty or ruefulness, but why re-imagine a figure upheld as a rebel for fairness and community as one of careless violence, unchecked cruelty, and selfishness?

Sarnoski's past films were a more successful mix of darkness and light, offering hardened heroes who fought for joy or love, even as they understood full well the world around them was merciless and cruel. Here, however, we start with a protagonist who is merciless and cruel, and the only reason we are given to follow him, to invest in his journey, is that he is played by Hugh Jackman. Beyond that, this deeply cynical spin on the legend of Robin Hood has no discernible message beyond some trite platitude of the power of second chances. Despite its star-studded cast, and a powerful blend of hard-hitting sound effects and jolting on-camera violence, The Death of Robin Hood feels politically, spiritually, and emotionally hollow.

The Death of Robin Hood opens in theaters on June 19.

All of Apples iPads are on sale ahead of Prime Day, but were waiting for bigger savings

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:21:26 +0000

Best early Prime Day iPad deals

Best iPad deal

Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi)

$299.99 (Save $49.01)

Best iPad Air deal

Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi)

$559 (Save $40)

Best iPad Pro deal

Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi)

$936.50 (Save $62.50)

Is your summer travel booked? If you're getting ready to jet set or hit the road but don't want to lug your laptop around, then it might be time to consider a tablet. Our favorites for performance and overall value are Apple's iPads. So with Prime Day quickly approaching, running from June 23 to 26, we're looking for the best deals on Apple's tablets.

We're still about two weeks out from Prime Day, but iPads are already on sale. Don't get too excited, though. While we found deals on every single iPad model, the markdowns are pretty minor. The good news is, if you need an iPad before Prime Day, you don't need to buy one at full price. Bad news is, you should probably wait until Prime Day for the best savings.

But if you need an iPad now, here are the best deals to shop ahead of Prime Day.

Best early Prime Day iPad deal

Credit: Apple

Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi)

$299.99 at Amazon
$349 Save $49.01

While we love the iPad Air and think it's the best tablet money can buy, the basic iPad with A16 chip is still a stellar tablet. The 11th-generation model is a speedy tablet perfect for streaming, internet browsing, reading, and gaming. It's a great value at full price and even better when on sale.

Right now, get the 11th-generation iPad with A16 chip for just $299.99, bringing the tablet under $300. It's not the best price on the iPad, but it is just $25.99 away from its lowest price, so not bad. Need something more advanced? Well, there are more iPad deals on the Air and Pro to explore, too.

iPad Mini deals

Apple iPad Mini, 8.3-inch (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) — $474 ~~$499~~ (save $25)

iPad Air deals

Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) — $559 ~~$599~~ (save $40)
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) — $749 ~~$799~~ (save $50)

iPad Pro deals

Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi) — $936.50 ~~$999~~ (save $62.50)
Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi) — $1,220 ~~$1,299~~ (save $79)

Get a monitor mount for under $20 with this exclusive discount code

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:03:42 +0000

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: Mashable readers can get the HUANUO FlowLift Pro Monitor Arm for $15.89 after clipping the Amazon coupon and applying code OFORSXRF.

Credit: HUANUO

HUANUO FlowLift Pro Monitor Arm

$15.89 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $34.10

Use code OFORSXRF

Prime Day is rapidly approaching, and it's a great time to stock up on new tech. Level up your desk setup with a new monitor arm that's heavily discounted.

The HUANUO FlowLift Pro Monitor Arm typically retails for $49.99, but Mashable readers can snag it for just $15.89 by clipping the on-page Amazon coupon and using the code OFORSXRF at checkout.

The FlowLift Pro is compatible with 13-inch to 32-inch screens and has a max load of 19.8 pounds. It features smooth adjustment and positioning without any sagging. Find a view that's comfortable for you with a max height of 16.5 inches, 90-degree rotation, 90-degree swivel, and +85-degree/-25-degree tilt. It has a quick-release design, so popping your monitor into place is a breeze.

Reddit rolls out video comments

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:08:17 +0000

Do you prefer recording a quick video to writing a text? If so, you'll really like what Reddit just unveiled.

Reddit announced the launch of video comments for all of its users on Thursday. The feature allows any Redditor to upload or record a short-form video reply right in the comments of any post in Reddit communities or subreddits.

Reddit users were already able to comment with text, images, and GIFs. Now, they can reply with video too.

“We are continually evolving Reddit to deliver a more immersive and authentic human experience," said Reddit's Chief Product Officer Maria Angelidou-Smith. "The ability to reply with video gives users more creative ways to engage in communities they love."

SEE ALSO: AI is fueling Reddit's spam problem

With the new feature, Reddit users will see a video icon alongside the existing image and GIF icon options in the comment box. Clicking on the video icon will allow users to either upload an existing video or record a new video right there in the comment box.

According to Reddit, videos in comments will not play automatically. Reddit's safety systems will also check video comments before they are posted.

The company says a community must be listed as public and "suitable-for-work (SFW)" to be eligible for video comments.

Unlike other social platforms, Reddit has a large number of users that prefer complete anonymity. However, there's no requirement that the video posted in a comment be created by a user — so the feature can easily become simply yet another way to post a meme response, this time in video form.

As an example, Reddit shared a link to a video AMA with Mel C. from the Spice Girls that was conducted two months ago on the platform. The AMA utilized the video in comments feature before it rolled out to all users. In other words, Reddit is promoting at least one way they hope the feature is used.

OpenAI may slash subscription prices to compete with Anthropic

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:05:31 +0000

OpenAI is considering massive product-wide price cuts to address industry concerns and keep up with the rising popularity of competitor AI companies, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Speaking to anonymous insiders, the publication reported that the Sam Altman-led company is debating reducing subscription usage costs to retain its customer base — competitors like Anthropic are reportedly debating the same move.

According to those close to the company, this may include lowering costs for ‌highly sought after tokens, a response to an ebbing trend among tech companies known as "tokenmaxxing" or the burning out of processing tokens (and entire corporate budgets) in order to boost the productivity of their AI products.

According to the Wall Street Journal, business executives across the industry have criticized AI costs. Altman recently said that high prices are a "a huge issue" for the company, but the decision hasn't been finalized just yet, insiders told the Journal. Meanwhile, investors are also beginning to cool on AI, amid ebbing stock market numbers from major players like Nvidia.

Still, OpenAI is making moves to become a more profit-driven company. On Monday, OpenAI officially announced it was filing for an IPO, with a yet-undetermined timeline. Industry rumors suggest OpenAI could go public as early as September and could be valued at $1 trillion. Anthropic also recently filed for public status, suggesting the AI price wars are only just getting started.

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.

The Knicks historic comeback broke the internet

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:53:42 +0000

For roughly two hours Wednesday night, Knicks fans collectively prepared for heartbreak.

By halftime of Game 4, Madison Square Garden was on edge, social media was melting down, and the Spurs looked poised to even out the score of the NBA Finals.

Then the Knicks pulled off the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

New York erased a 29-point deficit, beat San Antonio 107-106 on an OG Anunoby tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining, and moved one win away from its first championship since 1973.

The result transformed social media from a digital wake into a rolling highlight reel of celebration, as videos of Knicks fans screaming in bars and on city streets flooded timelines.

Here are some of the biggest moments from Game 4, both on the court and online.

OG Anunoby's game-winner instantly became the play of the night

For most of the fourth quarter, social media was busy trying to process how the Knicks had climbed back into the game. Then Anunoby gave everyone something else to talk about.

With seconds remaining, the Knicks forward tipped in the go-ahead basket, sending Madison Square Garden into a frenzy. Within minutes, timelines were full of every possible angle of the play, from television broadcasts and slow-motion replays to fan-shot footage captured from the upper deck — and Ben Stiller's courtside iPhone.

Celebrities had their own viral moments

The Knicks' playoff run has turned Madison Square Garden into one of the internet's recurring characters, and Wednesday night was no exception.

As the comeback gained momentum, cameras repeatedly cut to celebrity fans sitting courtside, including Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Swift, Spike Lee, and Mariska Hargitay, who collectively lifted Donald Trump's curse. Their reactions quickly became viral content in their own right, with clips spreading across social media almost as quickly as game highlights. Who will ever be able to forget Taylor Swift's white-girl dancing to Jalen Brunson's three-pointer? Or Larry David's near heart attack over Josh Hart's missed layup in the fourth?

Madison Square Garden completely lost its mind

MSG quickly became the center of the internet's attention. Fans posted videos from every level of the arena, capturing everything from the mounting stress before the Knicks' comeback to the chaos that followed Anunoby's game-winner. While television cameras focused on the court, fans documented the comeback from every imaginable angle, creating a crowdsourced record of the historic night.

The celebrations spilled out into New York City

The final buzzer marked the beginning of another wave of viral content.

Videos posted throughout the night showed fans — like New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani — erupting inside bars, chanting in the streets, and celebrating well after the game ended. For a few hours, timelines became a live feed of New York City's collective joy.

The memes arrived almost immediately

No major sports moment is complete without memes, and Game 4 produced plenty. Social media users compared Anunoby's game-winner to everything from classical works of art to scenes from the viral thriller Obsession, while others turned Victor Wembanyama's reaction into an instant meme format. Knicks fans also resurfaced years-old posts from Josh Hart to spur up some momentum.

In the hours after the final buzzer, timelines became a mix of celebration, disbelief, and attempts to explain the inexplicable through increasingly absurd references.

The Knicks still need one more win to secure their first NBA championship in more than five decades. But regardless of what happens next, Game 4 already feels destined to live on as one of those rare internet moments that transcends sports.

Prime Day is less than 2 weeks away: Here are 20+ early deals to start shopping now

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:39:38 +0000

Best early Prime Day deals

Best Apple Deal

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 (Save $70)

Best headphone deal

Sony WH-CH720N

$87.95 at Amazon (Save $92.04)

Best speaker deal

Sonos Era 300

$379 at Amazon (Save $100)

Best portable power station deal

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station

$799.99 at Amazon (Save $699.01)

Best TV deal

Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV

$1,297.99 (Save $400)

Best robot vacuum deal

Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop

$529.99 (Save $270)

Best home and kitchen deal

Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer

$59.95 (Save $30)

Best Lego deal

Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box

$39.49 (Save $20.50)

No matter what type of shopper you are, whether you use sales to stock up on household essentials like dish soap and paper towels or as a time to splurge, the time is nigh because Prime Day is coming.

Usually taking place in early July, Amazon has decided to shake things up this year and run the sale in June. Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs from June 23 to 26, and while the timing may have changed, we're still expecting the same great savings.

Even though we still have about two weeks until the official start of Prime, the deals kicked off as soon as the sale was announced. Each day we get closer to the sale, more deals go live. Look for early savings on Amazon devices, toys and games, kitchen appliances, and gadgets from Sony, Sonos, and Apple.

So if you're eager to start saving, we rounded up the top early Prime Day deals to start shopping now — including the lowest price ever on the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

Best early Prime Day Apple deal

Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70

Leading up to Prime Day, we're obviously hunting for the best Apple deals, and a major one just dropped. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are down to $179, which saves you $70 off its $249 price tag. According to Camelcamelcamel, this is the new lowest price ever on the earbuds.

This is the type of deal we normally see during Prime Day, so the fact that it's coming two weeks early is something to celebrate.

Apple Watch deals

Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 ~~$249~~ (save $30)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $299 ~~$399~~ (save $100)

AirPods deals

Apple AirPods 4 — $99 ~~$129~~ (save $30)
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499 ~~$549~~ (save $50)

iPad deals

Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) — $299.99 ~~$349~~ (save $49.01)
Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) — $474 ~~$499~~ (save $25)

Best early Prime Day headphone deal

Credit: Sony

Sony WH-CH720N

$87.95 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $92.04

When Prime Day actually starts, our attention will be on the big names in headphones: the Sony WH-1000XM6s and the Bose QuietComfort Ultras. But leading up to it, those big brands still have lots of savings to give. Right now, the best deal on headphones is on the Sony WH-CH720N, an affordable pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Normally $179.99, the WH-CH720N just dropped under $100 ahead of Prime Day. Snag them now for as low as $87.95 and save $92.04.

More headphone deals

Sony WH-CH520 — $38 ~~$69.99~~ (save $31.99)
Soundcore Space Q45 — $139.99 ~~$149.99~~ (save $10)
Logitech G735 — $142.53 ~~$259.99~~ (save $117.46)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $219.99 ~~$299.99~~ (save $80)
Sony WH-1000XM5 — $278 ~~$399.99~~ (save $121.99)
Sonos Ace — $299 ~~$399~~ (save $100)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — $329 ~~$429~~ (save $100)
Sony WH-1000XM6 — $398 ~~$459.99~~ (save $61.99)
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499.99 ~~$549~~ (save $49.01)

More earbud deals

Soundcore V20i Open-Ear Headphones — $29.99 ~~$49.99~~ (save $20)
Sony WF-C510 — $48 ~~$69.99~~ (save $21.99)
Technics AZ100 Earbuds — $234.99 ~~$299.99~~ (save $65)

Best early Prime Day speaker deal

Credit: Sonos

Sonos Era 300

$379 at Amazon
$479 Save $100

Whether you're hosting summer movie nights or dinner parties, if you want to upgrade your home's audio, early Prime Day deals are coming in clutch. The advanced Sonos Era 300 is equipped with Dolby Atmos and powered by six drivers for surround sound. Right now, grab it for just $379, saving you $100 off its $479 price tag.

More speaker deals

Sonos Roam 2 — $134 ~~$179~~ (save $45)
Sonos Era 100 SL — $169 ~~$189~~ (save $20)
Sonos Era 100 — $189 ~~$219~~ (save $30)
Sonos Beam Gen 2 — $369 ~~$499~~ (save $130)
Sonos Move 2 — $399 ~~$499~~ (save $100)

Best early Prime Day portable power station deal

Credit: Anker

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station

$799.99 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $699.01

Ready for summer adventures? If you're gearing up to pack the car and head into nature, don't forget to invest in a portable power station to keep your campsite powered. Plus, it can serve as an at-home power backup in an emergency.

Right now, there's an outstanding deal on the Anker Solix C2000, which is 50% off. That takes it from $1,499 all the way down to $749. Ahead of Prime Day, that saves you $750.

More portable power station deals

Jackery Explorer 1000 — $449 ~~$799~~ (save $350)
Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 — $449.99 ~~$799~~ (save $349.01)
Bluetti Elite 200 V2 — $799 ~~$1,070~~ (save $271)
Anker Solix F3800 Plus — $2,299.99 ~~$2,699.99~~ (save $400)

Best early Prime Day TV deal

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV

$1,297.99 at Amazon
$1,697.99 Save $400

Getting ready for the World Cup? If you want to watch every heart-racing moment in 4K and your TV isn't up to par, then shop the early Prime Day deal on the Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV. Normally $1,697.99, it's down to $1,297.99, saving you $400. That also means it's just $50 away from its lowest price ever. It's an exceptionally crisp TV with deep contrast and built-in AI.

More TV deals

Google TV Streamer — $79.99 ~~$99.99~~ (save $20)
Roku 65-inch QLED 4K Smart TV — $399.99 ~~$449.99~~ (save $50)
TCL 75-inch T7 QLED 4K Google TV — $739.99 ~~$899.99~~ (save $150)
Hisense 65-inch U7 ULED 4K Google TV — $947.99 ~~$1,499.99~~ (save $552)

Best early Prime Day vacuum deal

Credit: Eufy

Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop

$529.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $270

Mashable in-house vacuum expert Leah Stodart named the Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop the best affordable vacuum-and-mop combo. Despite its budget price, Stodart says it's the most heavy-duty robot mop you'll find, and delivers spotless cleans. Ahead of Prime Day, get the Eufy C28 for just $529.99. That's just $30 above its lowest price ever, but still provides $270 in savings.

More robot vacuum deals

iRobot Roomba 105 Robot Vacuum — $248.98 ~~$449.99~~ (save $201)
Shark AV2501AE AI Robot Vacuum — $289.99 ~~$448~~ (save $158.01)
Dream X50 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop — $849.99 ~~$1,049.99~~ (save $200)
Roborock Saros 10R Robot Vacuum and Mop — $999.99 ~~$1,599.99~~ (save $600)

More vacuum deals

Bissell Little Green Mini — $86.65 ~~$99.99~~ (save $13.34)
Shark HV343AMZ Rocket Corded Stick Vacuum — $119.99 ~~$179.99~~ (save $60)
Shark IZ363HT Cordless Vacuum — $219.99 ~~$349.99~~ (save $130)
Bissell PowerClean FurGuard Cordless Vacuum — $229.99 ~~$299.99~~ (save $70)
Kenmore 600 Series Canister Vacuum — $284.99 ~~$349.99~~ (save $65)

Best early Prime Day home and kitchen deal

Credit: Cuisinart

Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer

$59.95 at Amazon
$89.95 Save $30

Here's a summer hack to keep your house cool: Don't turn on the oven. That doesn't mean only eating cold salads all summer. What you really need is an air fryer. My air fryer has saved me countless times in the summer, letting me cook dinner without breaking a sweat. Ahead of Prime Day, grab the Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer for just $59.95 and save $30.

More home deals

Levoit 36-inch Tower Fan — $54.95 ~~$74.99~~ (save $20.04)
Dreo 36-inch Tower Fan — $69.96 ~~$79.99~~ (save $10.03)
Lasko 42-inch Tower Fan — $75.99 ~~$88.99~~ (save $13)

More kitchen deals

Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender — $69.99 ~~$99.99~~ (save $30)
Instant Pot 6-Quart Vortex Plus Air Fryer — $79.99 ~~$149.99~~ (save $70)
Ninja UltraCrush Professional Blender — $89.98 ~~$109.99~~ (save $20.01)
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker — $89.99 ~~$109.99~~ (save $20)
Ninja Pod and Grounds Single Serve Coffee Maker — $99.98 ~~$129.99~~ (save $30.01)
Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker — $139.99 ~~$159.99~~ (save $20)

Best early Prime Day Lego deal

Credit: Lego

Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box

$39.49 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.50

While novelty Lego sets are fun, there's something special about a set that gives you full creative control. The Lego Classic Large Brick Box has 790 pieces to build the neighborhood of your dreams. Just in time for summer break when kiddos need some entertainment, this box set is on sale for 34% off. Grab it now for under $40 ahead of Prime Day.

More Lego deals

Lego Botanicals Happy Plants — $18.39 ~~$22.99~~ (save $4.60)
Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid — $23.95 ~~$29.99~~ (save $6.04)
Lego Botanicals Bonsai Tree — $39.98 ~~$49.99~~ (save $10.01)
Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants — $39.99 ~~$49.99~~ (save $10)
Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon — $67.99 ~~$84.99~~ (save $17)
Lego Art Mona Lisa — $79.99 ~~$99.99~~ (save $20)
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle — $136.99 ~~$169.99~~ (save $33)

FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for June 11

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:27:47 +0000

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking over the airwaves this summer, and it all starts today, June 11. The 23rd and biggest edition of the global tournament to date is hosted by three different countries for the first time (United States, Mexico, Canada) and features more competing teams than ever (48 teams across 16 different host cities). It's going to be epic and you won't want to miss out on the action.

The first day of the tournament opens with live coverage of Group A starting at 1 p.m. ET today, as host country Mexico welcomes opponent South Africa. We've broken down everything you need to know to tune in live.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 11

Group A: Mexico vs. South Africa (Mexico City Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET
Group A: South Korea vs. Czechia (Guadalajara Stadium) — kickoff at 10 p.m. ET

How to livestream FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Mexico vs. South Africa

Mexico welcomes South Africa to Mexico City today to start the entire tournament. While the game doesn't officially kick off until 3 p.m. ET, live coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET on Fox and Fox One. Tubi will also be streaming the match for free, and Peacock will have the Spanish-language coverage.

Watch South Korea vs. Czechia

South Korea will take on Czechia in what could prove to be an early switch match in Group A on June 11. It kicks off at 10 p.m. ET at Guadalajara Stadium, and live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will also carry the Spanish-language coverage.

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-month subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

only for a limited time

Credit: Tubi

Tubi (Mexico vs. South Africa only)

Watch for free

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish language coverage only)

Starting at $10.99/month

More live streaming options:

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

Visa is connecting with ChatGPT to let AI agents automatically make purchases

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:23:30 +0000

Is it too time-consuming for you to search for and buy products you need on the internet? ChatGPT and Visa have a solution.

OpenAI and Visa, the world's largest non-Chinese payment network, have worked to integrate Visa into ChatGPT, per the Associated Press. Thanks to this integration, users can now have ChatGPT operate as a shopping agent of sorts, scouring the internet for products based on natural-language queries and making purchases on the user's behalf.

“As AI agents become active participants in the economy, Visa's focus is to ensure transactions are trusted, secure, and seamless,” said Visa executive Jack Forestell.

To get an idea of how this works, one example given involved asking ChatGPT to find a new pair of headphones under a certain price threshold. Ideally, the chatbot would quickly search the internet for one, present options to the user, and complete the purchase if the user asks it to. According to Visa, some of the guardrails in place to prevent fraud or out-of-control spending include spending limits and a list of approved merchants, in addition to the basic requirement of user approval.

If you trust AI to make purchases for you, this could be a godsend. If you don't, well, nobody is making you use it.

The AirPods Pro 3 are the cheapest theyve ever been ahead of Prime Day

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:19:48 +0000

SAVE $70: As of June 11, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 have dropped to a new best price ever of $179 at Amazon, Walmart, and Target — down from their usual $249. That's 28% or $70 in savings.

Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70

Just the mere mention of Amazon Prime Day has sent prices into a tailspin. Though the shopping event of the season doesn't officially kick off until June 23, we've already got mad deals to shout about. The Apple AirPods Pro 3, in particular, have never been this cheap.

As of June 11, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 are down to just $179 at Amazon, Walmart, and Target (mysteriously, Best Buy has them at full price). That's $70 or 28% off their list price of $249 and a new all-time low price.

"The AirPods Pro pop up on most best of lists, and though we've always been fans, the third generation takes these earbuds to a new level," writes Mashable's reviewer. The Pro 3's noise cancellation is twice as good as the Pro 2's. They have even better battery life at eight hours with ANC and 10 hours in transparency mode. Plus, they added the heart rate monitoring tech from the Powerbeats Pro 2 (our favorite workout earbuds), a live translation feature, and new foam-infused tips that come in various sizes for the right fit.

If you already own a pair of AirPods Pro 2, you probably don't need to upgrade to the 3s. But if you're buying AirPods for the first time or need to replace ones you lost, this price drop should seal the deal. There's always a chance they could get even cheaper for Prime Day, but $179 is already the cheapest they've ever been.

The biggest panels and events scheduled for VidCon 2026

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:42:39 +0000

VidCon 2026 kicks off in less than two weeks in Anaheim on Thursday, June 25, with three days of panels, events, creator meetups, and festivities.

While some sessions are open to all VidCon attendees, most are organized by a ticket holder's track and pass level: the Fan track (VidCon pass), the Creator track (Creator pass), and the Industry track (Pro pass).

SEE ALSO: Why VidCon still matters in 2026

The Fan track focuses on more interactive events and IRL meet-ups, while the Creator and Industry track passes are geared towards networking events and informative sessions for creators and industry professionals.

Think of this as your guide to the events you need to keep on your radar heading into this year's VidCon.

The VidCon Hall of Fame

VidCon's second annual Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for 6 pm on Thursday, June 25, and is open to all attendees, regardless of ticket tier.

The 2026 Hall of Fame inductees include Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Phan, and Blogilates founder Cassey Ho.

"The objective is to recognize legacy and impact with creators that have sustained high-performance over time and continuously innovated to set new creative standards in our industry," VidCon said on its website.

GorillaCon

VidCon attendees need to purchase a separate ticket to attend GorillaCon, described by VidCon as the "first-ever official live event celebrating the world’s largest virtual reality game, Gorilla Tag."

GorillaCon attendees will have the opportunity to meet their favorite Gorilla Tag creators, purchase limited-edition merchandise, enjoy concerts and trivia, and more.

GorillaCon is set to take place throughout all three days of VidCon.

Mentorship Series

VidCon's Mentorship Series, described as a "fast-track to insider knowledge," is open to Creator and Pro pass holders.

Top digital creators and industry leaders — including Mashable! — will lead small-group sessions on specific topics, such as how to turn AI into a creator system, building a sustainable career as a creator, and turning views into revenue.

The sessions, scheduled throughout all three days of VidCon, have a maximum capacity of 19 people and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Featured hosts include senior vice president of Shorthand Studios, Jared Naylor; co-head of Community at Fixated, Kai Plunk; Evan Frasca and Sean Henderson of the Spotify Content Partnerships team; YouTube audience development and optimization expert Jamie Rawsthorne; and former lead vertical editor at MrBeast, Spencer Hileman.

Creator pass holders also have access to other sessions hosted by companies like Kineto and YouTube.

Think Tank 20 and VidCon Speed Networking

Pro pass holders have exclusive access to Think Tank 20 sessions, the VidCon networking app, and VidCon speed networking.

Think Tank 20 sessions are similar to the Mentorship Series sessions but are focused more on topics affecting the creator economy.

There are two Think Tank 20 sessions scheduled for Thursday: one focusing on the new rules of music licensing and one on what it takes to build a business that attracts buyers. The sessions are led by Soundstripe CEO Jeff Perkins and RockWater founder Chris Erwin, respectively.

VidCon is also holding speed networking sessions on Thursday, June 25, and Friday, June 26, during which Pro pass holders can meet with fellow industry executives.

Pro pass holders also have access to other sessions hosted by companies like Chartbeat, iFLYTEK, Soundstripe, and Dots.

Opening Day Keynote presented by POP.STORE

Creator pass and Pro pass holders also have access to the Opening Day Keynote on Thursday, presented by POP.STORE.

Creator and journalist Jon Youshaei and POP.STORE CEO Gautam Goswami will discuss ECHO-ME, a new AI business tool for creators, and the use of AI in the creator industry.

Other events open to all VidCon attendees

All VidCon attendees have access to Meet-and-Greets with featured creators, Expo Hall events, VidCon's inaugural Pickleball Creator Tour, the Live Podcast Studio, and VidCon After Dark.

The weekend will conclude on Saturday with Creator Xplosion, a live art crossover event between FAN EXPO comic creators and VidCon artists, and the VidCon Street Fest, a festival full of food trucks and booths.

The full schedule and session details are available on the VidCon website. Here's how to purchase tickets.

Mashable will be on the ground at VidCon 2026 from June 25-27, covering the creators, trends, and conversations driving internet culture, from breaking news and creator interviews to industry insights and live updates.

The Trump Phone is mostly a rebranded HTC phone

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:03:24 +0000

Now that the Trump Mobile T1 phone is available for purchase, we finally have a chance to see what's it really made of. And, as suspected, it's not a very original device.

The folks at iFixit have torn down the Trump Phone (as it's colloquially known), and found that it's very similar to HTC's U24 Pro phone. Very, very similar. OK, they're the same phone, with some very minor differences.

If you're unfamiliar with HTC, it's a Taiwanese consumer electronics company that used to be a big smartphone player, but these days it's a company with shrinking revenues that focuses on VR and niche Android phones. The HTC U24 Pro came out in 2024; it's a 6.8-inch smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip, 12GB of RAM, 256/512GB of storage, a triple, 50/50/8-megapixel camera, and a 4,600mAh battery.

The similarities between HTC's phone from 2024 and the Trump Phone were apparent after the two devices were scanned with an industrial x-ray CT scanner (see image below).

They're the same picture. Credit: iFixit/Lumafield

Of course, the proper teardown, as well as the similarities between the two devices' specs confirmed the suspicions (the Trump Mobile T1's official specs are here). The visual changes between the two devices boil down to a slightly different chassis, the gold paint on the Trump Phone and the shape of the holes in the speaker grille.

Inside, the components are either the same or very similar, but there are certain differences, including a slightly larger battery on the Trump Phone. It also appears that several components of the Trump Phone were made in the Phillipines, in an apparent move to avoid components made in China (where phone batteries are typically made).

How to tweak Instagrams algorithm to show you the content you really want

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:10:39 +0000

Ever felt like social media sites don't really care about your interests anymore, instead showing you random stuff you don't even like? Instagram is taking some steps to change that.

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri announced the change on Threads on Wednesday, with Instagram adding a new feature called Your Algorithm.

"As software gets better at predicting what we want, our sense of agency gets smaller. The main feed on every major app is now mostly accounts you never decided to follow, surfaced by algorithms rather than your explicit choices," he wrote. No s***, Sherlock.

The way to remedy that is through the Your Algorithm tool, which allows you to choose which topics you want to see in your Instagram feed. While this sounds like the same thing you go through when signing up for a new social site, Your Algorithm is a welcome change as these topics previously weren't explicitly visible on Instagram. It also gives you the option to choose the topics you don't want to see.

When I checked my Instagram to see which topics the algorithm was serving me, I've found several that were off the mark. For example, a topic that was included for me was "Muay Thai," and while I have nothing against this type of content, it's not something I actively want to see more of in my feed.

Drum solos? OK, I'll allow it. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

How to personalize your algorithm on Instagram

The Your Algorithm feature is easy to tweak, but it is buried pretty deep in Instagram's settings. Here's how to access it on your iPhone:

Open the Instagram app and tap the profile icon in the lower right corner.
Tap the three lines icon in the top right corner, scroll down, and tap on "Content preferences".
From here, tap on Your Algorithm, and pick the topics you want or don't want to see.
You'll notice that Instagram is surfacing several suggestions for you, but you're also free to tap "+ Add" and pick any topic you want.

Mosseri says that this is "the start of something bigger than a feature," and that more features are coming in the future, including setting moods, vibes, content types, and more.