TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for one Windows PC for $16.97 through Sept. 27, with seven Office apps and no recurring fees.

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows

$16.97
$229 Save $212.03

 

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Microsoft Office doesn’t necessarily have to come with another recurring payment. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is $16.97 (reg. $229) through Sept. 27, giving you a lifetime license for one Windows PC.

• Lifetime license to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access

• One-time purchase for one Windows 10 or 11 PC — device-based activation

• Improved inking, new Excel analysis tools, upgraded PowerPoint features

• Outlook refinements for email and contact management

• Instant email with download link and license key — redeem within 7 days

• All languages supported, updates included for the 2019 version

If your to-do list needs serious tools without a serious bill, this is the easy win — install once, get to work, and keep moving. Grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for $16.97 (reg. $229) through Sept. 27.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Ever wanted to hear your group chat's worst message set to a pop chorus? Snapchat can do that now.

Snap announced a batch of new AI features for Lens+, its premium tier, on Monday, and the headliner is Create Song. Press and hold a message in a chat, tap Create Song, and pick a genre such as pop or rock. Snapchat turns your message into a short original track, and you can preview it before sending it to your friend.

Credit: Snapchat

If your chats are more visual than musical, the rest of the update is for you. AI Photoshoot is built to rescue near-miss Snaps, fixing shots where someone blinked, looked away, made a funny face, or got caught in bad lighting.

Credit: Snapchat

And AI Remix lets subscribers take a Snap a friend sent and reimagine it in a new style as a reply. There's also a sticker tool that restyles custom, saved, or received Stickers, and AI-enhanced fonts that can turn captions into bubble letters, spray paint, foam, or fuzzy textures.

Credit: Snapchat

Credit: Snapchat

For anyone who has lost track of Snap's subscription tiers, Lens+ launched last year as a tier within Snapchat+, which Snap says now has more than 25 million subscribers worldwide. It already gave subscribers exclusive Lenses and AR effects, along with generative tools like the Imagine Lens for image generation and AI Clips, which turns a single photo into a five-second video. Those tools run on a monthly generation allowance, and Lens+ costs $7.99 a month.

As for when you can try it, the new features are rolling out now in all markets where Lens+ is available, though Snap says access may vary by region over the coming weeks. This is the latest move in a busy few weeks for Snap; on Sept. 10, the company launched Snapchat Plans, an event-planning feature that puts it up against Partiful.

Put those moves next to today's news, and Snap's line gets easy to see. AI is welcome in your chats, where it's a premium perk. Fully AI-generated video won't get recommended in Spotlight, where strangers find you.

The real test comes after the novelty wears off. Snapchat+ has more than 25 million subscribers, and Snap is putting its most compute-heavy tools behind the $7.99 Lens+ tier, so it needs people to keep paying for AI that lives in their chats, similar to Meta One.

If Snap's approach works, expect the next round of Lens+ features to look a lot like this one: small, playful tools built around how friends already talk to each other.

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max come with Apple's latest mobile chip: the A20 Pro. The foldable iPhone Duo will also run on the new chip.

Built on a 2nm process, the A20 Pro has a 6-core CPU with two super cores and four efficiency cores, a 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine that handles AI tasks.

But does any of that techspeak translate into actual performance?

To find out, we put the iPhone 18 Pro (the Pro Max yields near-identical results) to the test. And yes, in synthetic benchmark tests, this thing blows everything else out of the water. The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is the only one that comes close. To make sure I'm testing it right, I've run the Geekbench 6 and 7 tests on a perfectly clean, freshly activated iPhone 18 Pro with no third-party apps installed and nothing running in the background.

The A20 Pro proves Apple silicon is undefeated

In Geekbench 7's CPU test (the standard benchmark we use when reviewing laptops and smartphones), the iPhone 18 Pro achieved a 3,959 single-core score and a 10,854 multi-core score. And in the Geekbench 7 GPU test, it scored 61,194.

The benchmark results are quite clear: Apple's iPhone 18 Pro is the new performance king. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

GPU performance is amazing, too. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

We also ran Geekbench 6, an earlier version of this benchmarking tool, as the scores are easier to compare with older devices. The results here were even more impressive. The iPhone 18 Pro scored 4,673 in the single-core CPU test and 12,483 in the multi-core Geekbench 6 test.

The older Geekbench 6 test is similarly dominated by Apple's latest. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

For comparison, here are how some other recent flagship phones performed on Geekbench 6 in our testing:

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: 3,524 single-core, 10,827 multi-core

• Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL: 1,800 single-core, 5,000 multi-core

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: 3,097 single-core, 10,277 multi-core

• Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: 3,779 single-core, 9,778 multi-core

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2,800 single-core, 9,100 multi-core (we've gotten results as high as 10,049)

You get the idea: These phones are nowhere near Apple's new silicon, at least when it comes to synthetic test performance. (Transitioning Apple to its own in-house processors was one of John Ternus's biggest achievements before he was promoted to CEO.)

The performance improvement versus the iPhone 17 Pro Max is hardly surprising, but it's still notable that the iPhone 18 Pro beats its predecessor by roughly 25 percent across the board.

Will you feel the difference in real-world usage? Yes and no.

The new phones are undeniably faster than anything else out there. But, as noted in my iPhone 18 Pro review, it's not all that noticeable unless you're switching from a much older device. The thing is, Apple's iPhones have been incredibly fast and powerful for a while, so the fact that the latest phone is that much faster than the previous one is just icing on the cake. Unless you're an AI superuser, it's unlikely you'll push the new iPhones to the limit.

One last note: The iPhone Duo is also running the A20 Pro chip, and we're eager to see whether it scores higher or lower than the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It's the same chip, yeah, but the rest of the device is different enough, starting with that enormous foldable display, for us to be intrigued about the Duo's scores. We'll have more on that once the iPhone Duo is in our hands next month.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro, 256GB

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Apple's product lineup typically consists of a "regular" product and a pricier, Pro variant that comes with a number of extra features, at least a few of them so good that most people will always go for the Pro version if they can afford it.

Apple's latest AirPods 5 are so good that they flip this dynamic on its head. They're an improved, yet significantly cheaper version of the AirPods 4 released in 2024. In many ways, they're as good as the AirPods Pro 3. In some ways, they're actually better. And that's saying a lot given that the AirPods Pro 3 are my favorite earbuds ever.

AirPods 5: Compact yet versatile ANC earbuds

A couple of years ago, Apple made a big leap by introducing two versions of the AirPods 4, one with ANC (active noise cancellation) and one without. I remember the company's briefings on those products, in which they put extra emphasis on how hard their engineers had to work to create proper active noise cancellation on earbuds that don't have an acoustic seal. That design choice was on purpose: Not everyone likes to have earbuds with foamy seals stuck in their ear canal (that's what the best noise-cancelling earbuds do to get additional passive noise cancellation).

Apple's AirPods 5 are a big upgrade over last year's model, and the price is even better. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

But the AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179, a significant price hike from the basic version that cost $129 (and often go on sale for only $99).

This year, Apple decided to completely forego that price premium by adding an improved version of ANC to the basic AirPods 5, which still start at $129. Even better, the premium AirPods 5 with a wireless charging case are actually cheaper than their predecessor at $149, even as Apple raises prices on the rest of its product line.

What's the difference between the two AirPods 5 models?

The biggest difference between the $129 and $149 Airpods 5 is the wireless charging case, but Apple also added another "Pro" feature to the AirPods 5 — a special area on the neck of the earbuds that you can swipe on to adjust volume. It's a nifty feature that I use all the time, though it does take some time to get used to.

So, are the more expensive AirPods 5 worth the investment? If it were just the case, I would say no, as wireless charging isn't essential for me; plugging a nearby USB-C cable into the case was almost always a more convenient option.

But you lose out on other features if you buy the cheaper variant. Battery life is shorter (four hours vs. five hours), and you don't get that volume swipe sensor.

So, I think you should definitely dish out those extra 20 bucks for the wireless charging variant, if you can.

Great sound has never been cheaper

A lot of features packed into a small case. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The common wisdom about headphones and earbuds is that those with an "open" design will have a brighter, more airy sound, and that's pretty much the case here. The AirPods 5 have a clear sound with punchy drums and plenty of bass, but not so much to make it overwhelming. You won't get crazy levels of detail here, but for earbuds at this price range, they sound pretty great.

I was particularly interested in how they'll handle live performances, as that's where open-design earbuds should shine. One of my favorite tracks for this is Cage the Elephant's cover of The Stranglers' 'Golden Brown,' and it sounds excellent, with every instrument perfectly balanced in the mix. Arne Domnérus' legendary 'Jazz at the Pawnshop' album is another live favorite of mine. The AirPods 5 handled it well; I got a decent sense of the stage width (not so much the depth, though) and heard the clapping and the chatter of the people at that concert.

The AirPods 5 will struggle with very complex stuff such as large classical ensembles. Dense, heavy songs, like Meshuggah's 'Clockworks' can sound slightly muddled. But that's true of pretty much every pair of earbuds I've ever tested. On the flip side, intimate performances such as Portishead's 'Roseland NYC Live' sound wonderful.

You can swipe on the side of the earbuds to adjust volume; another feature inherited from the Pro model. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Comparing them to other Apple earbuds, they sound pretty much the same as the AirPods 4 to me, which isn't a bad thing. The AirPods Pro 3 do sound quite a bit better, with more details across the entire range, but again, some may prefer the slightly more open sound of the AirPods 5.

No tip, no problem

When it comes to noise cancellation, there's no comparison. The AirPods Pro 3 do it better. In fact, that particular model has such a strong passive/active noise cancellation combo that it beats Apple's own AirPods Max 2 headphones, and has basically reduced my need to carry larger headphones around to zero.

However, what Apple has done with the AirPods 5 in terms of ANC is impressive. During a briefing at Apple, I heard the AirPods 5 reduce (simulated) airplane engine noise, and it was just OK, probably because the room was dead quiet otherwise. But later, on an actual plane, I realized they did a pretty good job of reducing both the engines' drone and the passengers' chatter.

It's far from perfect. The AirPods 5 are pretty great at reducing the lower portion of the audio spectrum, but a higher-pitched hiss always remains audible. But for buds that just sit freely in your ear without a snug fit, turning on ANC and hearing it do its thing feels almost like magic.

Note to future users: The actual position of the buds in your ear matters a lot; if you feel the ANC isn't working as good as it should be, try adjusting the AirPods 5 in your ears a little and see if you can hear an improvement.

Battery life isn't great, but who cares

The AirPods 5 come in two flavors: With or without a charging case. You can recognize the ones with the charging case by the tiny speaker grille on the bottom. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Battery life on the AirPods in general has never been a big issue for me. I don't think about it much, and both the buds and the case charge quickly enough that I just plug them in whenever it's convenient, and I almost never run out of battery.

That said, if you're a heavy user, have in mind that the AirPods 5 have four to five hours of battery life on their own (with ANC on), and up to 20 to 22 hours of battery life if you count the extra juice you get from the case (depending on the variant). The AirPods Pro 3, on the other hand, last eight hours on one change, and get up to 24 hours of battery life with the case.

Despite this drawback, the AirPods 5 have a big advantage over the AirPods Pro 3: Their case is a lot smaller and more likely to fit even in the tightest of pockets.

A few "pro" extras

The new AirPods 5 also inherit a few software features from the Pro model, including Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio, and Transparency. You also get Live Translation and Siri AI.

I use all of Apple's headphones and pretty much skip Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness completely. I'm just too used of switching noise cancellation on and off myself, as well as physically removing my earbuds/headphones when talking to someone. Transparency, however, is pretty great for those moments when you don't want to stop the music, but still need to hear what's happening around you.

Finally, thanks to iOS 27, you can now find a custom EQ equalizer for your AirPods, Pro or otherwise.

Credit: Screenshot by Stan Schroeder

Credit: Apple

If you're counting, the list of features that the AirPods 5 get from the AirPods Pro 3 is long enough that it almost feels like Apple is undercutting its own pricier model. Somewhat unusual for Apple, but I'm not complaining.

As for the software features that remain exclusive for the Pro, this includes some health-related features such as Hearing Test and Hearing Protection, as well as a heart rate sensor for workouts. They're nice features to have, but not essential for music listening.

AirPods 5: Should you buy them?

The AirPods Pro 3 are still my favorite earbuds. They have better noise cancellation and better sound than the AirPods 5. But I don't mind the tight seal of their foamy tips in my ear.

If you want earbuds without such tips, or if you want earbuds under $150, then the AirPods 5 are actually a better option. They're smaller, have comparably great sound, a similar set of features, and decent noise cancellation despite the lack of a proper seal of your ear canal. Yes, the battery life is a little shorter, but they also come at half the price. At $129 (or $149 if you opt for the wireless charging case), the AirPods 5 are a no-brainer.

Now, fingers crossed, we'll see these buds go on sale during the upcoming October Prime Day or Black Friday events.

Apple AirPods 5 earbuds

$129 at Amazon

 

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We are just a month away from the official launch of Apple's first foldable device, the iPhone Duo. If you're already an iPhone user, only looking to purchase a foldable iPhone, there's likely nothing that will sway you towards any other foldable smartphone.

However, Android users may be wondering just how the iPhone Duo will stack up to the other foldable devices that exist for Android. While we will still have to wait for iPhone Duo benchmarks, the company behind SpeedTest.net, Ookla, has just released comprehensive benchmarks for Android foldable devices, which should definitely come in handy when deciding which foldable you'll go with in a few weeks.

Ookla's report focuses on six popular foldable devices in the U.S. market: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6, Fold7, Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, Flip6, and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

The company tested these foldable smartphones on a number of metrics and used their respective generation's "slab" model with the same chipset, such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, as the "control" for comparison.

It's important to note that there are some differences between the foldable device and its comparable slab model, such as antenna placement and specific device firmware, that will affect these metrics. But this seems like a generally good methodology for deriving these benchmarks.

When it comes to speed, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra appears to be the big winner. It excelled in download speed, upload speed, and packet-loss reduction. The base Galaxy Z Fold8 model was not far behind. In fact, in median download speed it actually performed slightly better than the Ultra, although the Ultra model bested it in the other metrics.

While the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra performed best in the speed test trials, they didn't fare as well when it came to the signal quality measurement tests. As Ookla points out, even though the two foldables are powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and Snapdragon X85 modem as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the latter outperformed the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra here.

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold6 appears to have had the best scores in both signal quality measurement tests, in both good and bad conditions. Interestingly, the Galaxy Z Flip6 had the worst performance in signal quality measurement tests under good conditions, but the best under bad conditions when compared to its control device.

The temperature benchmark found that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 ran the coolest when compared to its control device, whereas the Flip6 was the hottest.

Ookla also mapped out how Samsung's foldable devices have fared with each subsequent generation on each metric. It found that Samsung has improved the upload speeds, download speeds, and signal strength measurements with each new model foldable smartphone. However, there were two benchmarks where Samsung has been regressing.

When it comes to signal strength in bad conditions, the Fold6 actually outperformed the Fold7 and Fold8. While the Fold8 Ultra performed better than the Fold7 and Fold8 in this area, it was still outperformed by the Fold6.

The Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra also saw a big decline in performance on the overheating-related throttling benchmark when compared to the Fold7. The Fold7 had a big boost in this metric when compared to the Fold6, but its successors have seemingly regressed when it comes to the operating system slowing down due to the device's temperature.

While not benchmark-related, Ookla also shared some market share statistics. Based on Speedtest's foldable sample share, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 far and away is the most popular foldable smartphone in the world. 

And while companies like Motorola, Google, and Honor have been chipping away at Samsung's foldable market share, Samsung still holds more than 77 percent of the foldable market.

We'll see how that changes on October 23 with the release of the iPhone Duo.

Apple's iPhone Duo doesn't officially launch until October, but its wallpapers are already out in the wild.

As spotted by 9to5Mac, the artwork didn't make it into the release candidate for iOS 27, alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro wallpapers. It did, however, turn up in the iPhone Simulator bundled with this week's Xcode 27.1 beta, Apple's developer toolkit released to coincide with the start of iPhone Duo app development.

The set includes four wallpapers total: two light-mode and two dark-mode variants, all built around the same desert scene of rolling sand dunes set against a distant mountain range, shifting from a soft daytime palette to a starlit night sky in the dark versions.

Since the artwork lives inside Xcode's simulator files rather than a public download page, getting it requires either running the Xcode 27.1 beta yourself or waiting for the images to circulate more widely online. A quick Google search will immediately reveal sites where you can download high-definition wallpapers.

For anyone who'd rather skip the wait entirely, the easiest path is simply holding out a few more weeks. Apple's iPhone Duo is set for pre-order on Oct. 16 and ships Oct. 23, at which point the wallpapers should be built directly into the software.

Sure, we just got the iPhone 18 Pro, but that doesn't mean we can't talk about what's next for Apple's flagship smartphone.

Fresh off the launch of the iPhone 18 line, there are new rumors swirling around the internet about the iPhone 20. Despite the name, that's actually the expected moniker of the next iPhone model, meaning there would be no iPhone 19. That's because 2027 would be the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, after all. Anyway, prolific leaker Digital Chat Station posted some display specs for the iPhone 20 Pro devices that caught the internet's eye.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

According to Digital Chat Station, here are the display sizes and resolutions of the iPhone 20 Pro and Pro Max:

• iPhone 20 Pro: 6.41-inch display with 2,686 × 1,236 resolution

• iPhone 20 Pro Max: 6.96-inch display with 2,912 × 1,340 resolution

By comparison, the iPhone 18 Pro's display is 6.27 inches with a 2,622 x 1,206 resolution, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max measures in at 6.86 inches with a 2,868 x 1,320 resolution. In simpler terms, next year's iPhone 20 Pro models will have larger displays with higher resolutions, despite Apple sticking with the same display sizes since 2024 until now.

That change in display size isn't massive in a numerical sense, but it may not be the only change Apple has in store.

According to leaker Ice Universe, "Apple is reportedly testing a bezel-less quad-curved display design, along with a smaller display cutout that could further shrink the Dynamic Island." That lines up with lots of previous reporting, which has suggested that the iPhone 20 will have borderless all-screen glass displays. So, rather than having a hard bezel around the screen, it will curve on all four sides.

In addition, Apple could incorporate the under-display selfie camera seen in the new iPhone Duo for the iPhone 20, which would allow for a smaller dynamic island.

Google's new laptop initiative is built to run as a true extension of your Android phone. Here's what Googlebooks are, why Google made them, and how all five launch models held up when we went hands-on.

Read more about Googlebooks and where to buy them: The first 5 Googlebook laptops are here, with an OS that blends Android and Gemini
The first Googlebooks are available for preorder: Where to buy new HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus models

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:25 Android, Windows and MacOS integration
1:10 Instant setup and ecosystem features
2:03 Why GoogleBook? (tech experts weigh in)
3:18 GoogleBook vs. Chromebook
4:55 Hands-on experience and build quality
6:03 Desktop apps and developer potential
6:44 Who is GoogleBook for?

Video credits
Host: Iyaz Akhtar
Scripted by: Iyaz Akhtar
Producer: Carly Marsh
Camera: Carly Marsh
Video editor: JD Christison
Thumbnail designer: Tharon Green

Google is launching a brand-new lineup of flagship laptops designed around seamless Android integration and the all-new Googlebook OS. Get a hands-on preview of the latest flagship devices from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo, starting at $899.

Read more about the Googlebook launch and availability: The first 5 Googlebook laptops are here, with an OS that blends Android and Gemini
The first Googlebooks are available for preorder: Where to buy new HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus models

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:18 What is Googlebook OS?
1:43 Core features and specs
2:34 Acer Googlebook 14
2:48 Asus Googlebook 14
3:04 Dell XPS Googlebook
3:27 HP Googlebook 14
3:39 Lenovo Googlebook 15
3:54 Availability and final thoughts

Video credits
Host: Matthew Buzzi
Scripted by: Matthew Buzzi
Producer: Paul Encinas
Camera: Paul Encinas
Video Editor: Paul Encinas
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan

TL;DR: The Motorola Razr is available for free with T-Mobile when you activate a new line on an Experience More plan. The new Motorola Razr+ is also free when you activate a new line on an Experience Beyond plan.

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Credit: Motorola

T-Mobile: Motorola Razr and Motorola Razr+ for free

 

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Samsung was the center of the tech world in the wake of its new product announcements, Google had its own moment in the spotlight with Made By Google, and now Apple is dominating the news cycle after dropping a new range of iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods.

Where does that leave Motorola? Fear not, because Motorola's popular line of foldables is quietly impressing. And better yet, you have the opportunity to pick up these handsets for free with T-Mobile:

• Motorola Razr — free when you activate a new line on an Experience More plan (no trade-in required).

• Motorola Razr+ — free when you activate a new line on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in required).

The total cost is covered via up to 36 monthly bill credits. If you cancel or switch carriers before the three-year mark, you’ll owe the remaining balance on the phone’s full retail price. You will also need to pay taxes and a one-time connection charge with this "free" deal, but that's a small price to pay for the latest Motorola tech.

The Motorola Razr offers a 3.6-inch external display that's big enough to reply to Slack messages, check Google Maps, and sort through emails without flipping the phone open. Under the hood, the 4,800mAh battery outlasts most compact foldables on the market, and the 50MP main camera sensor handles quick WFH video calls and casual shots with ease.

Score the new Motorola Razr and Motorola Razr+ for free with T-Mobile.

TL;DR: McDonald’s has launched a SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal, available from Sept. 15. The toys feature SpongeBob as Gear 5 Luffy, Patrick as Zoro, and Squidward as Sanji.

If you thought the Burger King x Dragon Ball collab was the peak for anime fans, McDonald's just dropped the ultimate anime mash-up.

Combining Bikini Bottom’s finest with One Piece is truly tough to beat, and you know for sure that collectors are already buying up cases to hunt down rare pieces before secondary market scalpers clear everything out. That's the game you need to play with this kind of collab.

The 15-toy collection isn't just a surface-level collaboration that gets churned out to capture the interest of dedicated fans who'd buy absolutely anything. Instead, the character pairings are shockingly accurate to lore. You get SpongeBob pulling off Gear 5 Luffy, Patrick sporting Zoro's three-sword style, and even deep-cut references like Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen cosplaying as Brooke.

If you're trying to complete the full 15-piece set, here is every character combo hitting McDonald’s locations right now:

• SpongeBob: Dressed as Monkey D. Luffy

• SpongeBob (Variant): Dressed as Gear 5 Luffy

• Patrick: Dressed as Roronoa Zoro

• Sandy: Dressed as Nami

• Plankton: Dressed as Usopp

• Squidward: Dressed as Sanji

• Gary: Dressed as Chopper

• Pearl: Dressed as Robin

• Larry the Lobster: Dressed as Franky

• Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen: Dressed as Brooke

• Mr. Krabs: Dressed as Jinbe

• Mermaid Man: Dressed as Monkey D. Garp

• Barnacle Boy: Dressed as Koby

• Mrs. Puff: Dressed as Charlotte LinLin (Big Mom)

• The Flying Dutchman: Dressed as Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard)

Credit: McDonald's

To maximize your chances of securing specific figures without buying 15 meals in one afternoon, use the My McDonald’s App to place mobile orders. This is a sneaky hack, but many locations specify which toy number series is currently being distributed before you pay. We can't make promises here, but it shortens your odds.

Where to preorder every Googlebook laptop:

---

Acer Googlebook 14

Starting at $899

Pre-Order Here

---

Dell XPS Googlebook

Starting at $999

Pre-Order Here

---

HP Googlebook 14

Starting at $1,299

Pre-Order Here

---

Lenovo Googlebook 15

Starting at $1,099

Pre-Order Here

---

Asus Googlebook 14

Starting at $1,299

Pre-Order Here

If you’ve been waiting for a true third option to break up the endless "Mac vs. PC" debate, your time has finally arrived.

Announced earlier this year at Google I/O, Googlebooks are a brand-new class of premium AI laptops built to take on MacBooks head-to-head. Unlike budget Chromebooks, these sleek machines run on a brand-new, desktop-class operating system called Googlebook OS — combining the best features of Android, ChromeOS, and native Gemini AI into a single powerhouse.

Preorders officially open from Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. ET, with units shipping out on Oct. 4 in the U.S. Every Googlebook comes packed with a minimum of 16GB of RAM, at least 14 hours of battery life, dedicated NPU chips for local AI tasks, and a free 12-month offer for Google AI Pro.

Acer Googlebook 14

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Credit: Acer

Acer Googlebook 14

$899 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here

Why we like it

Acer’s Googlebook 14 is the most affordable model of the bunch and the only true 2-in-1 convertible in the initial lineup. At $899, you get 360-degree versatility to flip between laptop, tent, and tablet modes — making it ideal for taking notes or using Android apps on a desktop. Despite the lower price tag, Acer didn't cheap out on specs: it packs a razor-sharp 2.8K OLED touch display, Intel's brand-new Core Ultra 3 Panther Lake processor, and a premium aluminum-and-magnesium chassis weighing just 2.7 pounds.

The one convertible of the bunch. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

Dell XPS Googlebook

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Credit: Dell

Dell XPS Googlebook

$999 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here

Why we like it

Dell took its famous XPS design and put Googlebook OS on it. The Dell XPS Googlebook is made for taking on the go — it weighs only 2.5 pounds and is super thin. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip for fast performance, gives you a generous 512GB of starter storage, and features a sharp 2.5K touch screen. You also get both face login and a fingerprint scanner built right into its sturdy metal body.

Dell's Googlebook in action. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

HP Googlebook 14

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Credit: HP

HP Googlebook 14

$1,299 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here

Why we like it

HP’s Googlebook 14 is an all-metal workhorse that strikes a sweet spot between screen space and portability. At 2.7 pounds and 14mm thin, it packs a vivid 2.8K OLED touch screen that makes colors pop and handles bright light with ease. Powered by Qualcomm’s fast Snapdragon X1 Elite chip, it keeps multitasking smooth across your daily tasks and Android apps. You also get a responsive haptic touchpad, a fingerprint reader for instant logins, and battery life built to clear a full workday.

HP's Googlebook in full force. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

Lenovo Googlebook 15

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Credit: Lenovo

Lenovo Googlebook 15

$1,099 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here

Why we like it

Lenovo’s Googlebook 15 is built for anyone who wants a bigger workspace without carrying around a heavy brick. It features a roomy 15.3-inch 2.8K OLED touch screen and rich Dolby Atmos audio, making it awesome for side-by-side multitasking, streaming, and creative work. Despite the extra screen space, its high-tech carbon-fiber and magnesium frame keep it under 2.7 pounds. Intel’s new Panther Lake chip handles heavy daily workloads smoothly, while double biometric security — both face unlock and a fingerprint reader — keeps your data locked down tight.

Asus Googlebook 14

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Credit: Asus

Asus Googlebook 14

$1,299 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here

Why we like it

The Asus Googlebook 14 is the lightest option in the entire lineup, weighing just 2.2 pounds. Wrapped in a sturdy metal chassis, it features the highest-resolution display in the group — a crisp 3K OLED touch screen that makes text razor-sharp and video colors pop. Intel's new Panther Lake processor keeps everything running fast, while a smooth haptic touchpad and a built-in fingerprint scanner make everyday navigation and security effortless.

If you're ready to ditch Windows and macOS for deep Gemini AI, secure your pre-order today.

First we got Burger King teaming up with Dragon Ball. Then McDonald's went ahead with a SpongeBob collab. And don't forget the Owala and Pokémon bottles that sold out almost immediately. This is a golden age of viral brand mashups, and there's more to come.

Just when you thought these viral collabs might have peaked, two New England powerhouses have joined forces to claim fall. The L.L.Bean Boat and Tote is already a staple for prep-meets-streetwear enthusiasts, but adding Dunkin’s iconic hot pink and orange colorway guarantees these will be all over TikTok and secondary resale sites before lunch on launch day.

Credit: Dunkin'

The collab is anchored by two legitimate heritage staples: L.L.Bean's classic Birdseye Crewneck Sweater (reimagined with a subtle Dunkin' pattern twist) and their indestructible Canvas Boat and Tote. Plus, if you can't wait until Sept. 29 for the full merch drop, Dunkin' stores are handing out incredibly cute knit Birdseye Sweater Cup Sleeves with any coffee order on Tuesday, Sept. 22 (the first day of fall).

Credit: Dunkin'

What to shop in the Dunkin’ x L.L.Bean lineup

Mark your calendars for Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. ET for this limited-edition drop. Here's exactly what's dropping online and in select stores:

• L.L.Bean x Dunkin’ Birdseye Sweater ($79.95): L.L.Bean's classic wool-blend Norwegian pattern re-worked with Dunkin's signature color accents.

• L.L.Bean x Dunkin’ Boat and Tote ($59.95): The heavy-duty canvas tote features vibrant Dunkin' pink and orange handles, dual embroidered logos, and contrast stitching.

• L.L.Bean Coffee Tote ($24.95): An ultra-miniature version of the Boat and Tote scaled specifically to hold a single iced coffee cup or travel tumbler.

If you miss out on the official drop on Sept. 29, Dunkin’ Rewards members can still score a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase via the Dunkin’ app all day on National Coffee Day.

For decades, laptop shoppers have really only had two choices: Mac or PC? Now, there's a third option: the Googlebook.

Starting today, the first five Googlebook devices are now available for preorder (they officially launch on Oct. 4), with Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo each launching a new device.

Earlier this year, Google announced the imminent arrival of Googlebooks, a new generation of premium AI laptops running on an entirely new operating system, which blends elements of Android, ChromeOS, and Gemini. (A Google spokesperson confirmed the new operating system is called Googlebook OS.)

Unlike Chromebooks, which are generally cheaper, stripped-down laptops, the new Googlebook devices feature a baseline 16GB of RAM, are made with premium materials such as aluminum and magnesium, and feature much more impressive chipsets. They're also priced more like MacBooks than Chromebooks. All the devices are ultra-thin and lightweight, and except for the Dell, they all come with OLED displays.

• Acer Googlebook 14 (Intel Core Ultra 3 Panther Lake, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — Starting at $899

• ASUS Googlebook 14 (Intel Core Ultra 3 Panther Lake, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — Starting at $1,299

• Dell XPS Googlebook (Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — Starting at $1,199

• HP Googlebook 14 (Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — Starting at $1,299

• Lenovo Googlebook 15 (Intel Core Ultra 3 Panther Lake, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — Starting at $1,299

First, the MacBook Neo, and now the Googlebook. It's not a good time to be a Windows laptop.

What is a Googlebook?

The Googlebook home screen experience. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

If you weren't following along when Google announced Googlebooks at Google I/O earlier this year, we're here for you. The idea is similar to Chromebooks, in that Google makes the operating system and software, while hardware partners make the devices themselves.

But the similarities end there. Googlebooks are more powerful on both the hardware and software level, and many analysts have referred to them as Google's answer to MacBooks. Thanks to a brand-new operating system that blends Android Gemini, users can cast Android apps on their laptops, search all of their files in one place, and use Gemini to perform agentic tasks across devices.

Google says it's "reinventing the laptop" with the Googlebook, and to attract users, the new devices come with one year of Google AI Pro for free, alongside 10 years of promised update support to keep them viable for a long time.

The new operating system is like Android for desktop

The Create My Widget tool. Credit: Google

Google has been not-so-secretly working on an Android-based desktop operating system for years, under the rumored code name AluminiumOS.

The OS integrates Gemini into just about every aspect of the software, while also letting you pair your laptop with your Android phone.

Some of the major new features include:

• Magic Pointer: A special mouse cursor feature that uses Gemini to understand on-screen context and act upon it. Just shake the cursor, and a list of contextual actions will pop up on the screen.

• Cast your apps: After you pair your phone, you can cast your apps and use them on the laptop screen.

• Create My Widget: Exactly what it sounds like. Simply describe the widget you want, and Gemini will create it and add it to your desktop homescreen.

• Rambler: Automatically transcribes your speech, but removes all the "Ums" and "ahs" and adds proper punctuation as it does

• Universal file search: When you search for files on your Googlebook, you can instantly access the files on your phone as well. If you edit a file on your phone, it instantly updates on your laptop, and vice versa.

Oh, and before you ask: This does not mean Chromebooks are imminently going away. They're popular enough and different enough that brands can and will keep making them, at least for the time being. But Googlebooks seem to be the priority of the future for Google's laptop business.

Where can you buy Googlebooks?

The new Lenovo Googlebook has a 2.8K OLED touchscreen display. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The Googlebooks are available for preorder starting today and ship Oct. 4 in the United States, and Oct. 5 in Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Australia. You can buy Googlebooks at the Google Store, Best Buy, and other retailers.

Googlebooks hardware specs

Want to learn more about the five new Googlebooks coming from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo? Let's dive into the details.

HP

HP's Googlebook in full force. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The HP Googlebook 14 is a 14-inch clamshell laptop with an OLED touch display. It starts at $1,299, and the specs are as follows:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon X1 Elite processor

• 16GB RAM, 256GB starting storage

• 14-inch 2.8K OLED touch display with 500 nits peak brightness

• Haptic touchpad with fingerprint sensor

• 2.7 pounds

• All-aluminum build

HP Googlebook 14 (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,299 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here at Best Buy

Dell

Dell's Googlebook in action. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The XPS Googlebook is a 13-inch clamshell device with a touch display. It starts at $1,199. Here are the specs:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor

• 16GB RAM, 512GB starting storage

• 13-inch 2.5K display with 500 nits peak brightness

• Haptic touchpad with fingerprint sensor and face authentication

• 2.5 pounds

• Machined aluminum chassis

Dell XPS Googlebook (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$999 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here at Best Buy Pre-order Here at Google Store

Lenovo

Love an HDMI port on a laptop. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The Lenovo Googlebook 15 is a little bigger than the rest. It's a 15.3-inch clamshell with an OLED touch display, starting at $1,299.

• Intel Core Ultra 3 (Panther Lake) processor

• 16GB RAM, 256GB starting storage

• 15.3-inch 2.8K OLED display with touch support

• Dolby Atmos support

• Haptic touchpad with fingerprint sensor and face authentication

• 2.68 pounds

• Magnesium-alloy and carbon fiber build

Lenovo Googlebook 15 (Intel Core Ultra 5 325, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,099 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here at Best Buy Pre-order Here at Google Store

Acer

The one convertible of the bunch. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

Acer's Googlebook 14 is by far the cheapest of the bunch. It's a 14-inch convertible laptop, and it starts at $899. The specs are:

• Intel Core Ultra 3 (Panther Lake) processor

• 16GB RAM, 256GB starting storage

• 14-inch 2.8K OLED touch display with 500 nits peak brightness

• Fingerprint sensor

• 2.7 pounds

• Aluminum and magnesium chassis

Acer Googlebook 14 (Intel Core Ultra 5 325, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$899 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here at Best Buy Pre-order Here at Google Store

Asus

There's the Asus one. Credit: Asus

Lastly, the Asus Googlebook 14 is the lightest of the bunch. It's a clamshell laptop that starts at $1,299, and the specs look like this:

• Intel Core Ultra 3 (Panther Lake) processor

• 16GB RAM, 256GB starting storage

• 14-inch 3K OLED touch display with 500 nits peak brightness

• Haptic touchpad with fingerprint sensor

• 2.2 pounds

• Aluminum and magnesium chassis

Asus Googlebook 14 (Intel Core Ultra 5 325, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,299 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here at Best Buy

As with Chromebooks, expect there to be a lot more of these going forward. It'll be fascinating to see how much the Googlebook brand takes precedence over the Chromebook brand in the near and far future.

TL;DR: Dunkin' is giving away 1 million free drinks on Sept. 22. The promo code will drop at some point during the day, so keep this page bookmarked for an update.

Dunkin' is giving away 1 million free drinks, again. That seems like an absolutely wild promotion, but Dunkin' actually does this kind of thing fairly regularly. That doesn't make it any less exciting, and the process of claiming remains the same.

Dunkin' doesn't release specifics on what's actually included in the giveaway until the promo code goes live. That code will drop sometime on Sept. 22, after which point everyone will rush to claim one of the free drinks. We'll be keeping a keen eye on all the usual channels to bring you that code as soon as it goes live. These freebies go quickly, so you need to be ready.

Once the code goes live, you'll need to enter it in the "Offers & Rewards" section of your app. Yes, that does mean you need to be a Dunkin' Rewards member, but it's free to sign up, and this type of giveaway comes around pretty often. It's worth the hassle.

SAVE $50: As of Sept. 21, the Samsung 75-Inch M70H Mini LED 4K Smart TV is on sale at its lowest-ever price of $547.99 at Amazon. That's $50 off its list price of $597.99.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung 75-Inch Class M70H Series TV

$547.99 at Amazon
$597.99 Save $50

 

Get Deal

With big sale events like Prime Big Deal Days right around the corner, it's the perfect time to start shopping around for a new TV. If you don't want to wait until then to buy, Amazon already has plenty of great deals on select models ahead of its next sale.

Among them is the Samsung 75-Inch M70H Mini LED 4K Smart TV, which has dropped to $547.99 for a limited time.

This is a $50 discount off its list price of $597.99, but more importantly, it's the lowest price this TV has ever hit. For a 2026 model, that's a very nice offer to take advantage of before October Prime Day starts.

With 4K resolution, you'll enjoy sharp details in your favorite movies, shows, or games on this Samsung TV, while Mini LEDs deliver bright, vibrant colors and deep contrast. Plus, the 120Hz refresh rate ensures fast-paced action on screen looks smooth and sharp, which is a nice bonus for gamers or people who enjoy watching live sports and don't want too much motion blur.

On top of all that, it's also a smart TV. If you're someone who's signed up to a variety of different streaming apps, you can access them all easily from the home screen to jump into whatever you're watching.

There's no telling how long this deal will last, though. If it's caught your eye, act fast to save on the Samsung 75-Inch M70H Mini LED 4K Smart TV at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

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

• Apple iPad 11-inch — $399 $449 (save $50)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

John Oliver's main target was American health care conglomerate UnitedHealth Group and its insurance arm, UnitedHealthcare, during Last Week Tonight on Sunday.

But the host also found time to get in a quick dig at David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance, who is currently in the process of trying to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. If the deal closes, Ellison's company would also own WBD subsidiary HBO, which airs Oliver's show.

"Having access to wealthy parents just cannot be the system to get badly-needed healthcare, even if it is apparently the system that lets you be in charge of HBO," says Oliver, bringing up a photo of Ellison alongside his billionaire father, Larry Ellison, who personally pledged $40 billion to support Paramount's bid.

"Yeah, my soon-to-be business daddy has a literal business daddy, and to be very clear, I deeply respect that. And I would never make fun of you for it, unlike that pesky Stephen Colbert.

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

Take a look inside Bluecore Energy, a company newly out of stealth, building a prototype nuclear power plant on a barge.

Learn more about the future of nuclear and marine energy: Inside the world's biggest bet on fusion energy
The orb-like Ocean-2 turns wave power into renewable energy

Timecode chapters
0:00 Intro
0:29 Inside Bluecore energy
1:07 Bluecore’s plan
1:40 The reactor
2:05 Water desalination
2:41 Command center
3:12 Bluecore Energy’s big goal

Video credits
Host: Jesse Orrall
Scripted by: Jesse Orrall
Producer: Jesse Orrall
Camera: Dustin Shepard
Video editor: Jesse Orrall
Thumbnail designer: Viva Tung

TL;DR: To celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary, The Pokémon Company released a new card set with high pull rates to stop scalpers. A factory red-ink glitch created "Blood Mew" — an accidental, creepy variant of Mew #151.

To celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary — and cool down tension around short stock and scalper buyouts — Nintendo and The Pokémon Company dropped a commemorative TCG set loaded with higher pull rates for shiny variants and fan-favorite Pikachus. The goal was noble enough: make cool, rare cards more accessible for casual fans and active players alike.

Naturally, that didn't stop the trading circuit from finding a brand-new, ultra-exclusive prize to lose their minds over.

Enter "Blood Mew."

Originally designed as a serene, golden illustration of card number 151, a batch of the new Mew cards suffered a heavy printing defect at the factory. Likely caused by a foil splice error during manufacturing, Mew appears to be floating in — or descending into — a thick pool of deep red ink saturated across half the card instead of hovering over a bright magical grove.

Card trader Miss Natoshi spotted the factory mishap, posted it online, and gave the sinister-looking misprint its instant-classic nickname.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In the Pokémon card world, factory mistakes are treated like gold simply because they're so rare. While standard shiny cards are printed by the millions, an accidental ink leak or misaligned foil creates a one-of-a-kind card that can't easily be remade.

Even though Nintendo tried to make this 30th Anniversary set easy for everyone to buy, the internet hype machine has already turned "Blood Mew" into an expensive viral circus.

Hoping to hit the jackpot, resellers are listing their misprinted cards on auction sites and social media to see how much collectors will pay. Some super optimistic sellers are even listing their cards with asking prices in the six figures.

Whether the hype stays this high or cools off, one thing is for sure — a simple printer mistake just accidentally created the most Metal card in Pokémon history.

Pentalobe screwdrivers up! iFixit's teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro lets you peek inside one of Apple's latest signature devices.

In order to evaluate how repairable iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are, the outlet's lead teardown technician, Shahram Mokhtari, gives a close-up look at the mechanical details — from the camera's variable aperture to the Face ID infrared camera newly hidden beneath the display.

Mokhtari opens up the back panel and finds most repairs will still need to go through the screen, a tricky (and expensive) process involving managing adhesive and the plastic screen frame. And you'll get a good look at Apple's next-generation C2 cellular modem and A20 Pro-powered logic board.

For more on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Mashable's Stan Schroeder has reviewed the device. Or perhaps you're looking for a hands-on with the iPhone Duo?

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's newsletters or get Mashable push alerts.

King Charles, an AI version of Princess Diana, and Ed Sheeran are the unusual combination brought together in SNL UK's latest cold open, during which a D.I.A.N.A AI-bot goes rogue and the king is forced to beg for Sheeran's help as the apocalypse nears.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You see I was just outside, sitting on the fence," says Sheeran (Annabel Marlow), who has faced criticism this week after Macklemore was dropped from his tour for pro-Palestinian statements. "You know sometimes, when it comes to conflicts, the bravest thing you can do is to say nothing at all."

Cue an impressively cringe-inducing song about "both sides" being "equally right".

Elsewhere, the singer was also roasted in the show's "Weekend Update" segment.

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts.

SAVE OVER $400: As of Sept. 21, the Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop is discounted to $599.98 at Amazon. That's $400.01 away from its list price of $999.99.

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Credit: Eufy

Eufy E25 Robot Vacuum and Mop

$599.98 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $400.01

 

Get Deal

When it comes to finding a good robot vacuum deal, there's no need to wait for Prime Big Deal Days.

Amazon already has plenty of deals worth checking out, including a huge 40% discount on the Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop. As of Sept. 21, this cleaner has plummeted to $599.98 at the retailer.

Usually it's priced at $999.99, so you're saving just over $400 through this offer, which isn't too bad considering the October Prime Day sale hasn't even kicked off yet. On top of that, it's just a couple of dollars away from its lowest-ever price (listed by price tracker camelcamelcamel at $597.99), so the timing couldn't be better.

Fitted with both a vacuum and a mop, the Eufy E25 is a versatile cleaner that can tidy up everything from wood to tile to carpets. Its powerful 20,000 Pa suction can lift dust, crumbs, pet hair, and more stuck in your floors, while its roller mop scrubs with 10N of downward pressure to lift stains from your hard surfaces. Plus, the HydroJet Deep Cleaning System cleans the roller mop in real-time, using a water tank and scraper, to keep it fresh for each mop.

This robot vacuum also features an extendable CornerRover arm that reaches edges and corners for greater cleaning coverage, as well as Obstacle Avoidance technology. With this, it can recognize and steer clear of objects in its way, so it won't be slowed down or stalled while completing a full clean.

Why wait for the next Prime Day? Save big on the Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop right now at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

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

• Apple iPad 11-inch — $399 $449 (save $50)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)
  

SNL UK's "Weekend Update" took aim at multiple people, but the person on the receiving end of the most jokes was Ed Sheeran. The singer has been in the news this past week after supporting artist Macklemore was dropped from his tour after saying "Free Palestine" on stage.

"Sheeran's support act Macklemore was dropped after saying 'Free Palestine' on stage," says cast member Ania Magliano in the clip above. "Will Sheeran have to cancel the tour? There's a very real risk that he won't.

"Genuinely though, this crisis is the worst thing that has happened to Ed Sheeran fans since their head injury."

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts.

SAVE $600: As of Sept. 21, the Roborock Saros 10R is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount on the list price.

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Credit: roborock

Roborock Saros 10R

$999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600

 

Get Deal

If you'd happily forget about cleaning your floors, a robot vacuum is a great idea. These handy little machines can keep on top of the everyday dust and dirt that somehow appear out of nowhere. And these days, the best models can even mop your floors, so there's really no effort needed from you at all.

The Roborock Saros 10R is one such model, and it's currently on sale for $600 off the list price. As of Sept. 21, this robot vacuum is down to $999.99, which is also its lowest-ever price.

There's so much going for this vacuum, from its 22,000Pa HyperForce suction to the Zero-Tangling DuoDivide Main Brush and FlexiArm Riser Side Brush that help prevent hair from getting wrapped around the brushes. It's even small enough to pick up hidden dirt under chairs or couches, thanks to its 3.14-inch height.

And the multifunctional dock is its powerhouse. Here, it stores dirt and dust for up to 60 days (so you don't need to constantly empty it), washes and dries the mop pads with hot water and hot air, and then refills the tanks with water and detergent. You can also control cleaning through the Roborock app or use the built-in voice assistant.

Find this robot vacuum deal online at Amazon now.

SAVE $70: As of Sept. 21, Beats Solo 4 are on sale for $129.95 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Beats

Beats Solo 4

$129.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $70

 

Get Deal

Beats headphones are some of the most popular on the market, and for good reason. Known for their incredible sound quality and strong, punchy bass, they've long been a popular choice among audiophiles. And if you've been looking to upgrade or treat yourself to your first-ever pair, the Beats Solo 4 are back on sale at Amazon.

As of Sept. 21, this limited-time deal brings the price down to just $129.95. This price applies to all colorways, too, so you can choose from a range of colors.

These headphones feature a custom acoustic setup and redesigned drivers that work together to deliver the incredible sound quality Beats is known for. They also benefit from Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, making your listening experience feel more immersive.

And they're designed with comfort in mind, too. The lightweight build features a flexible headband and angled ear cups that sit securely over your ears, and the UltraPlush cushioning makes them comfortable to wear for extended periods.

Battery life is another strong point, with up to 50 hours of playback on a full charge. And if you do run out, a 10-minute Fast Fuel charge gives you up to five hours of listening time, handy when you're heading out and realize your headphones are nearly dead.

Find this Beats deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $75: As of Sept. 21, the Google Pixel 10a is on sale for $424 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Google

Google Pixel 10a

$424
$499 Save $75

 

Get Deal

Looking for a new smartphone you can buy outright without breaking the bank? The Google Pixel 10a is the perfect choice. Recently dropped in price due to the release of new models (hello Pixel 11 Fold), the 10a is now a great choice if you want a new phone for under $500. Plus, as of Sept. 21, it's on sale for a limited time. It currently has $75 off the list price, bringing the cost down to $424. This price is for the 128GB model across all four colorways.

This phone comes in a sleek design that doesn't just look good but plays the part, too. The durable build features a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 7i display and IP68 water and dust protection, so it's built to withstand minor drops and accidents.

The display quality is great too, thanks to its Actua display that reaches up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, so the screen stays clear even in direct sunlight. It also has Gemini built in to help with everything from planning to completing tasks. You can even have Gemini screen spam calls, which is a feature we can all get behind.

Another bonus is the battery life. With this phone, you'll get up to 30 hours on a single charge, so you won't be running out of juice when you least expect it.

Get this Google deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Bundle Gift Edition is on sale for $74.98 at Amazon, down from its $89.99 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Bundle Gift Edition

$74.98 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $15.01

Get Deal

Plenty of MTG’s Marvel Super Heroes boxes have dropped in price since the expansion hit the trading card game, but the Gift Edition has now landed at a particularly low price point at Amazon. Better yet, Amazon is even beating TCGplayer. 

As of Sept. 21, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Bundle Gift Edition is $74.98 on Amazon, saving $15.01 off its $89.99 list price. This listing is sold by third-party seller Collectors Expedition but shipped by Amazon, with free delivery currently marked for Sept. 27. This is the retailer’s lowest-ever price, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

If you want it slightly faster, you can pay a cent more at $74.99 to have Amazon sell and ship this order — estimated to be at your door by Sept. 26 at the time of writing. 

The main upgrade over the regular Marvel Super Heroes Bundle is the inclusion of a Collector Booster. Alongside nine 14-card Play Boosters, you get one 15-card Collector Booster containing premium treatments, foils, and a small chance of pulling the set’s ultra-rare headliner cards — which are also available to buy separately at TCGplayer.  

There are also 30 Basic Lands, split evenly between foil and non-foil cards, an alternate-art Traditional Foil promo, an oversized Spindown life counter, and a foil storage box.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Moonlit Tin Mega Clefable is on sale for $34.77 at Amazon, down from its $38.99 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Moonlit Mega Clefable ex Tin

$34.77 at Amazon
$38.99 Save $4.22

 

Get Deal

If you’ve not been able to get anything from the Pokémon TCG’s new 30th Celebration expansion for the price you’d like, you can now stock up on some packs from older collections and get your hands on a Mega Clefable promo card.

As of Sept. 21, the Pokémon TCG Mega Moonlit Tin Mega Clefable is $34.77 at Amazon, shaving $4.22 off its usual $38.99 price. With that surprise 11% discount, you're getting the lowest-ever price from Amazon — confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

It’s less than the $47.29 preorder price we covered back in June. Keep in mind that this is being sold by a third-party seller, Collectors Expedition, and free delivery is currently estimated for Sept. 25 at the time of writing.

The tin packs in one foil Mega Clefable ex promo trading card, four Pokémon TCG booster packs (two Chaos Rising, one Perfect Order, and one Phantasmal Flames), and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live. At Amazon’s current price, the boosters effectively cost around $8.69 apiece before accounting for the promo card or code. 

If this still isn’t cheap enough for your budget, TCGplayer has unopened tins for $27 with shipping included, almost exactly matching its $27.10 market price. Meanwhile, Walmart is also listing the same tin for $34.77 — making for a nice backup if Amazon runs out of stock. 

The Pokémon 30th Celebration collection is causing a stir in the trading card game market. We've all been waiting impatiently for this one, and there's now more to buy compared to when Pitch Black and Chaos Rising launched. That's great news for collectors.

This expansion is incredibly special, with not only historic reprints (like the classic Charizard), but also special SIRs, and a rare Pikachu card in every booster pack. It's worth noting that only some products in the range are available to buy right away. Others are being made available later this year. 

With that, we've tracked down every available box, pack, blister, and collection you can immediately buy from the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration. Plus, we've listed what you can already preorder for later in 2026.

Best Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration deal

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box

$202.55 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Walmart

Why we like it

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box officially launched on Sept. 16, but Amazon's $89.99 invite-only offer is still the price to beat. It takes a decent chunk off the market price, provided Amazon approves your request to buy.

Oddly, this is the only product from the 30th Celebration range to be added to Amazon’s high-demand, invite-only system. That may be because the U.S. retailer is testing the waters to gauge the impression it leaves with American customers. This system has been widely used on Amazon UK for the Pokémon TCG.

Amazon’s deal makes this the best place to buy readily available 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Boxes. TCGplayer's lowest current ETB listing is $150 plus $2.25 shipping, while Walmart has the box at $159.95.

Inside are nine 30th Celebration booster packs, a full-art foil Nidorina promo, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 card sleeves, a player's guide, six damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector's box with dividers, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration products you can buy right now 

The ETB isn't the only product launching on Sept. 16. Amazon has several other main collections available, while TCGplayer currently offers several products that aren't as easy to find elsewhere. Prices below are as of Sept. 16:

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Pokémon ex Box — four booster packs, one foil Sylveon ex or Greninja ex promo card, and an oversize foil version of the same Pokémon

  TCGplayer — Greninja ex from $67.32; Sylveon ex from $76.82

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Poster Collection — three booster packs, foil Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres promos, plus a double-sided poster

  TCGplayer — $43.69

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection Lucario — three booster packs, Lucario foil promo card, and tech sticker sheet

  Amazon — $49.99

  TCGplayer — $42.99

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection Alolan Exeggutor — three booster packs, Alolan Exeggutor foil promo card, and tech sticker sheet

  Amazon — $49.99

  TCGplayer — $42.99

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration 2-Pack Blister — two booster packs, an Eevee foil promo, and a plastic coin 

  TCGplayer — $47.69 

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Knock Out Collection — two booster packs, an Eevee foil promo card, and a plastic coin 

  Amazon — $37.99

  TCGplayer — $29.97 

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration single booster pack — six foil cards in total, with the set guaranteeing a Pikachu rare in every pack

  TCGplayer — $18.97

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration products you can preorder

Launch day is only the first part of Pokémon’s 30th Celebration rollout, with more products on the way. Several already have preorder listings live. Amazon doesn't have a matching listing for everything, so TCGplayer and Walmart fill some of the gaps below.

• Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Booster Bundle (early October) — six 30th Celebration booster packs

  Amazon — $136.75

  TCGplayer — $114.94

• Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Mini Tin (Oct. 2) — two booster packs, a sticker sheet, a collectible art card, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card

  Amazon — $71.68

  Walmart — $69.95

  TCGplayer — from $46.25; $354.06 for a 10-tin display, containing one of each design

• Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Binder Collection (early October) — five booster packs and a themed nine-pocket binder

  TCGplayer — $85.75

  Walmart — $136.99

• Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Battle Deck (Oct. 30) — an all-foil 60-card Espeon ex or Umbreon ex deck, damage counters, plastic coin, deck box, double-sided playmat and strategy sheet, and an online code card

  TCGplayer — Umbreon ex for $51.18

  Walmart — Espeon ex for $48.99

• Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Ditto Premium Collection (Nov. 6) — eight booster packs, a Ditto promo card, and an acrylic display for showing off that card or another pull from the set

  Walmart — $248.99

• Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Figure Collection (Nov. 6) — five booster packs, a foil promo and oversize foil card featuring either Mew or Mewtwo, plus a sculpted figure of the same Pokémon

  TCGplayer — Mewtwo for $96.60; Mew for $124.91

  Walmart — Mewtwo for $99.98; Mew for $194.49

• Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Nov. 6) — Pikachu and Espeon ex foil promos, 29 standard 30th Celebration boosters, one Classic Collection booster, a playmat, 65 sleeves, deck box, metal Espeon coin, dice, acrylic card display, and TCG Live code

  TCGplayer — $604.32

  Walmart — $548.99

SAVE OVER $100: As of Sept. 21, the Insta360 X4 Creator Bundle is on sale for $459.99 at Amazon. That's $145.01 off its full price of $605.

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Credit: Insta360

Insta360 X4 Creator Bundle

$459.99 at Amazon
$605 Save $145.01

 

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A good action camera should capture your most thrilling adventures on video in crisp, clear quality. Thankfully, the Insta360 X4 can do just that, capturing 360-degree video in detailed 8K resolution. If that's caught your attention, Amazon has its Creator Bundle on sale right now, which includes the camera and some extras to start filming right away.

As of Sept. 21, the Insta360 X4 Creator Bundle has been discounted from $605 to $459.99, saving you $145.01. However, it won't be on sale for long. The "limited time deal" tag indicates the clock is ticking to save on this filming pack, so now is the time to add it to your shopping cart.

As for what's included with this bundle alongside the Insta360 X4, you'll also get a standard lens guard, a 114cm invisible selfie stick, a bullet-time handle tripod, a mic adapter, a cold shoe, a quick reader, a lens cap, and a 256GB microSD card. That's quite a lot to get you started filming right off the bat, and the camera boasts some mighty impressive specs for when you start recording.

In terms of image quality, the Insta360 X4 can capture 360-degree video at 8K resolution or 5.7K at 60 fps. If you want to use its wide-angle 4K action camera, it captures at 4K at 60 fps. If you switch to super-wide views with the 170-degree MaxView, it can still capture in 4K at 30 fps. Active HDR can keep shots color-accurate, and FlowState Stabilization plus 360° Horizon Lock keep shots smooth and level as well.

This deal may not be available for much longer, so act fast to save on the Insta360 X4 Creator Bundle 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.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box is on sale for $89.49 at Amazon, down from its $99.99 list price.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box

$89.49 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $10.50

 

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The Pokémon TCG's 30th Celebration expansion hasn’t been out for long, but you can already score $10 off its Mega Greninja-themed box. 

As of Sept. 21, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box is $89.49 at Amazon, taking $10.50 off its $99.99 list price. Rather than directly from Amazon, this offer is sold and shipped by third-party seller Gem City Supplies, with free delivery currently estimated between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1 at the time of writing. 

That's also a few cents cheaper than Walmart's current offer. The retailer has the same Greninja ex Box for $89.96, reduced from $102.88, with free shipping through marketplace seller BG Collectibles. 

There is a much bigger gap if you're happy buying from a specialist marketplace. TCGplayer has unopened boxes starting at $60 plus $4.99 shipping, nearly reaching the box’s estimated market price of $61.07. 

Inside are four Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration booster packs, along with a standard foil Greninja ex promo trading card and an oversize foil version for display. Each booster from the anniversary expansion contains five foil cards, including one of 30 Pikachu illustrations, plus a foil Basic Energy card. 

Inside these four packs are chances to pull some of the 30th Celebration’s most valuable Pokémon chase cards — including the $170+ SIR Mew ex, $130+ Gengar ex, and $100+ Futuristic Rare Mew ex. You can also buy almost any single 30th Celebration card at TCGplayer. 

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

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

• Apple iPad 11-inch — $399 $449 (save $50)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

Mashable has been testing laptops for over 10 years. Over the past two years alone, the team and I have researched dozens of models and tried over 90 of the most promising configurations available. We use a meticulous testing procedure involving real-world stress tests and artificial benchmarks to evaluate our contenders on the basis of performance, battery life, design/build quality, and value.

This regularly updated guide serves as our laptop trophy case, highlighting the best-in-class models we've tried across different subcategories. For even more recommendations, check out my dedicated guides to the best MacBooks, the best Windows laptops, the best cheap laptops, and the best Chromebooks.

Why are laptops so expensive right now?

Laptop prices have skyrocketed in 2026 for several reasons. One is the recent boom in AI data center construction, which has caused a global shortage of RAM and SSD storage chips (often referred to as "RAMageddon"). As a result, many consumer tech devices that use these components, including the best laptops, have become vastly more expensive than they would've been otherwise. Most PC makers have been affected, including Apple, Dell, Lenovo, and Acer.

The memory crisis is expected to worsen and could last into 2028, driving up prices even further and making good values in the budget and mid-range tiers even scarcer. On top of that, the Trump administration is reportedly mulling new tariffs on semiconductors that would apply to laptops and other electronics.

Further complicating things is that Microsoft reportedly raised its Windows 11 licensing fees by higher-than-usual percentages. In other words, both hardware and software prices have gone up for PC makers this year, forcing them to pass on the extra costs to consumers. Lucky us.

The Mashable team is taking the current state of the market into consideration as we assess and select laptops to recommend to our readers. Moreover, we've gone back and re-evaluated several models that have gotten more expensive since we first tested them.

At the time of writing, only two previous top picks have gotten so pricey that we think they're no longer worth buying. That would be the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, which jumped from an already-high $750 to $1,000, and the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, which went from $479 to $649. We're currently testing some other Chromebook options and will update this guide with a new top pick soon.

Recent updates to this guide

• Mid-September 2026: I've added the Dell XPS 13 as a new pick following our latest round of testing. It's now the best budget Windows laptop we've tried. I also checked all of our current picks for any new pricing and availability updates; there are none to report at this time.

• Early September 2026: I added more information about the various factors affecting laptop prices right now. I also added a new section about some new laptops that shoppers can look forward to in the coming months. Finally, I updated three of our picks in the wake of recent pricing and availability changes. I removed the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 as our top Chromebook because of its value-zapping $170 price hike, and I'm now looking for its replacement. The Asus Zenbook A16 got a $300 price bump, but I'm keeping it as our best 16-inch laptop (for now) because it's still not a rip-off in the current market. Lastly, the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI was out of stock at the time of writing, but may not be sold out for good. I'll continue to monitor its listings over the next few weeks and will swap it for another model if it turns out it's actually been discontinued. In the meantime, a refurbished Swift Edge 14 AI is readily available.

• July 2026: The Acer Swift Edge 14 AI is officially the most portable laptop we've ever tested: It only weighs 2.18 pounds and measures 0.37 inches thin at its slimmest point. I added it as a new pick.

• June 2026: I made the Asus ExpertBook Ultra our new favorite business laptop and named the Asus Zenbook A16 the best 16-inch laptop. I also removed the Alienware 16X Aurora as our top gaming laptop because the configuration we tested has been discontinued. We're currently testing potential replacements.

What to look forward to

In early September, PC makers showed off a slew of new Windows laptops at IFA, an annual tech trade show in Berlin. Among them are the ultralight Acer Swift Blade 14, the very repairable Acer Swift Vero 16, two new Lenovo creator laptops running on Nvidia RTX Spark, and a pair of colorful MacBook Neo competitors: the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe and the pared-down Dell 14S. The IdeaPad Vibe is confirmed to arrive this October, starting at $699.99, but most other IFA debutants don't have set prices or release dates just yet.

On the MacBook side, Apple is rumored to be working on a refreshed MacBook Pro with an M6 chip (first seen in this summer's new Mac mini), as well as a higher-end MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen. The latter might be called the "MacBook Ultra," if the gossip mill is correct. The M6 model is reportedly coming this fall, while the Ultra could debut at the end of this year or early next.

Read this before you buy a Windows laptop

Many great Windows laptops we've tried run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X and X2 series chips, which use ARM-based architecture instead of standard x86 architecture like Intel and AMD chips. The Zenbook A14 and A16 are two great examples of outstanding ARM laptops.

These Qualcomm chips are great because they offer amazing performance and battery life, but they're not compatible with some specialty software and PC games. Having said that, ARM support is getting better and should dramatically improve in the near future. Right now, I would only avoid ARM laptops if you're a student or if gaming is the main thing you do on your PC. You can read more about this in my dedicated guides to the best Windows laptops and the best laptops for college.

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2026?

Even the best value headphones will feel lacking if they don't come equipped with halfway decent noise cancellation. Besides, there are simply too many headphones on the market (our testing pool gets bigger by the month) for you to pay hundreds only to get subpar ANC. So, which brand comes out on top?

For most people, we think the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) offer the best overall value, with the ideal blend of comfort, sound quality, and ANC. However, if you're looking for the best active noise cancellation overall, we have to give it up to the Sony XM6 headphones. Fortunately, there are no bad choices here.

To help you wade through the top options from brands like Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony, and Sonos, Mashable editors and reviewers tested dozens of headphones and earbuds. From flagship models to budget buds, we picked out the best options at every price range.

How do noise-cancelling headphones actually work?

Even cheap headphones can block some noise from the outside world. And you can always blast your music loud enough to drown out nearby conversations and street noise via passive noise cancellation. However, if you really want to turn the volume of the world down to the limit, then you need headphones with active noise cancellation.

Active noise-cancelling headphones electronically cover up the sounds coming from your surroundings. They use internal microphones to listen to the world around you, then invert the noise and send it to the speakers. The idea is that both the output and the input will cancel out, leaving you with near-silence. The best over-ear headphones also create a tight seal around your ears, providing an extra layer of passive sound blocking.

Testing the Apple AirPods Max headphones, which didn't make the final cut for this guide. Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable

Getting up close and personal with Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

If you've tried a pair of noise-cancelling headphones before and haven't been impressed, don't be discouraged, as not all ANC performs equally. For instance, cheaper ANC headphones may have a more noticeable hissing sound that you'll hear when the noise cancellation is turned on, which can be distracting for some folks.

Other headphones may be great at blocking low tones, but more prone to letting in high-pitched tones. Typically, premium headphones will yield better results all around, but we have budget picks below that still do a solid job.

In the past, not many wireless earbuds featured active noise cancellation that was comparable to over-ear headphones, but newer iterations like the AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds hold their own in the ANC space. However, even these earbuds can't quite get the same seal (or fit as many mics) that headphones can, so if you're looking for maximum silence, stick with over-ear headphones.

Every top brand has its own take on ANC earbuds, each with a unique style and a plethora of features. Since you can't possibly try all the latest earbuds, the Mashable team has taken on the task of reviewing the best ANC earbuds for you.

What are the best noise-cancelling earbuds?

Not all earbuds are created equal — some are far more comfortable than others. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While there are plenty of audio brands that provide good sound quality and noise cancellation, audio leaders Bose and Sony are in a league of their own. Not only do they offer phenomenal ANC, but they also make music and podcasts sound better. On a good pair of headphones, Olivia Rodrigo's latest album is even better, somehow.

Earbuds usually aren't as comfortable as over-the-ear headphones. I know this well, as I've found many pairs of earbuds that just plain don't fit in my ear. Others are downright uncomfortable. Once again, Bose offers the most comfortable headphones and earbuds. However, Bose and Sony aren't the only brands out there. That's why we set out to test the best the market offers and see what makes a great pair of wireless earbuds.

How do noise-cancelling earbuds work?

Noise-cancelling earbuds are small enough to slip in your pocket. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All noise-cancelling headphones, including earbuds, have some passive noise cancellation. While over-the-ear headphones naturally block out noise by wrapping around the ears, earbuds don't block sound as effectively. Instead of covering your ears, wireless earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal to drown out other noises. They rely more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce environmental noise.

ANC is an electronic process within the headphones. Internal microphones listen to your surroundings and then invert the sound, effectively canceling it. Sometimes, with noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, you'll hear a slight buzzing or humming in the background, and that's the ANC at work. The best ANC earbuds shouldn't have this buzzing, however.

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal based on our independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for the consumer, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: Sling TV is offering its Season Pass for $199.99 when you prepay for five months. With this, you can access over 30 sports networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and Red Zone.

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Credit: Sling TV

Sling TV Season Pass: $199.99 for 5 months

 

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A new football season is upon us, and if you're looking for a way to watch all of the action this year, Sling TV is here to help.

Sling TV is offering its Season Pass for $199.99 when you prepay for five months, combining Sling Essentials, Sling Select, and Sports Extra into one impressive streaming package.

Compared to paying for each of those plans on their own each month, you're actually saving quite a bit. Sling Essentials and Sling Select are both $19.99 per month, while Sports Extra is $11 per month. All together, that'd normally cost you $254.90 over a five-month period, so through this prepay offer, you get to keep $54.91 in your pocket.

Sports fans, in particular, are in for a real treat with this package. With the Season Pass, you'll have access to over 30 sports networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and Red Zone, so there's plenty to watch. And outside of sports, there's also channels like Disney, FX, and National Geographic available, plus access to Freestream, which features over 600 free channels.

And if you find it's not for you, Sling TV notes that there are no contracts or long-term commitments, so you can cancel or switch plans at any time.

This offer is only live until Sept. 30, so be quick to score Sling TV's Season Pass for $199.99 when you prepay for five months.

Hideo Kojima has spoken about his shocking split with Sony, revealing that the company not only ended their long-running partnership over a Zoom call, but it also gave no reason for doing so. Though the lauded video game auteur said his mind "went blank" in shock when he was told the news, he insisted that he doesn't hold any grudge.

Speaking to The Washington Post via an interpreter, the Kojima stated that he was "shocked and surprised" by Sony's seemingly sudden decision, which was made public earlier this month. Kojima had been partnered with publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) since leaving Konami and establishing his own studio over a decade ago. As such, Sony's unilateral cancellation of this collaboration was completely unexpected, leaving Kojima worried about the future of Kojima Productions and its employees. 

A Sony representative reportedly delivered the unwelcome news in a June video call which included Kojima, his translator Aki Saito, and Kojima Productions' president Shinji Hirano. According to Kojima, Sony did not provide a reason for its decision.

"We couldn’t understand it," Kojima told The Washington Post. "[Former SIE CEO] Jim Ryan had already retired, but I thought this was a project that Sony Interactive Entertainment and I had agreed to team up on and make together.... I didn't think Physint would be on the list of being cancelled."

Kojima Productions' debut game Death Stranding and sequel Death Stranding 2: On the Beach were both Sony PlayStation exclusive titles at launch. The studio has since been working on horror game OD in collaboration with Jordan Peele, as well as stealth action game Physint featuring Bill Skarsgård. However, while OD was being made in partnership with Microsoft's XBox, Sony's decision to pull its support placed Kojima's entire studio in jeopardy. 

"I didn’t have any anger or sadness," said Kojima, speaking on his reaction to the news. "I was just thinking, 'What should I do?' It’s a big problem for us and I couldn’t tell staff at the time…. We’re an independent studio. That means if they can’t fund us, our studio could collapse."

Fortunately, it didn't come to that, with XBox stepping in to become Kojima Productions' new partner instead, including publishing Physint. In an interview with IGN, Kojima said that he had approached multiple potential partners and received positive reactions. However, he ultimately decided on Xbox due to its ability to provide funding as well as other resources such as technical and marketing support.

"I approached Xbox and they were great," Kojima told IGN. "They could support us technically. And also we've been working on OD with them, so we already had a connection. I made a proper pitch of Physint to them. And then their first reaction was like, 'This pitch was fantastic. Never seen a pitch like this!' And that's how it started with Xbox."

Kojima was then able to inform Kojima Productions' employees of the studio's new partner, keeping the issue under wraps until it had already been resolved. With the exception of leaders in the Physint development team, most workers only found out about the change the this month, the day before Xbox was announced as their new partner.

"The biggest thing was, [Xbox are] not thinking of just funding a game," said Kojima. "They're thinking about movies and anime. It's more about the IP. Let's create a new IP."

Despite the unfortunate way Kojima and Sony's partnership ended, the Metal Gear creator stated that he holds no ill-will toward the company. Even so, he did wish the separation had been handled slightly differently, as he had no prior warning that it was coming.

"I'm not fighting with Sony," he told IGN. "We're not in a dispute. But what I want to say is that we've been together for 30 years and we have this relationship. So if this was the conclusion, I would've wanted to hear it a little earlier [than the June meeting].... [But] I've always been a big Sony fan. I've been using a Walkman. All my cameras are Sony. So I have no bad feelings towards them."

Shortly after the separation became public, Bloomberg reported that Sony's decision was driven by concerns that Kojima's project was missing deadlines and on track to significantly exceed its budget, according to sources close to the matter. Kojima Productions has since responded to this report, stating that it should be taken "with a dose of scepticism."

"Make no mistake, this was a serious situation for the studio with a range of potentially significant implications," the studio said in a written statement. "While we recognise that the article may have caused alarm, we want to reassure you all, for the record: that the studio is in a healthy, profitable state, development for Physint continues to move forward with Xbox, and our relationship with PlayStation remains strong.​"

Chipper ads for artificial intelligence products are plastered all over New York City subway tunnels and cars. On Monday morning, however, a different type of AI ad debuted in the subway system with a uniquely declarative statement: Stop the AI drift.

The slogan is preceded by familiar scenarios.

"You won't tell your therapist. But you'll tell AI?"

"Did your kid write that essay? Or was it AI?"

The refrain of "stop the AI drift" is part of a campaign launched by the nonprofit Center for Humane Technology. For a month, the campaign's ads will run in numerous subway stations and cars. The campaign will also feature social media influencers who create content about AI drift.

The goal is to help people name the uneasy feeling they have about outsourcing so much to AI, and invite them to reconsider using it for quintessentially human tasks and endeavors.

What is AI drift?

"We define AI drift as the gradual erosion of human abilities as AI takes on more of our daily lives," Camille Carlton, senior director of strategy and impact at the nonprofit Center for Humane Technology, told Mashable.

As people increasingly use AI to think, communicate, create, and act on their behalf, it comes at a cost, Carlton explained. What's lost are the skills, relationships, and meaning that give people's lives purpose.

The phrase "AI drift" is a play on the term "model drift," which describes the deterioration in a machine learning model's accuracy after it's exposed to real-world data.

These Stop the AI Drift ads will appear in the New York City subway system for a month. Credit: Courtesy Center for Humane Technology

AI drift as a concept may seem quaint compared to the possibility that AI could kill humanity, as some safety researchers have claimed in recent weeks. Yet Carlton said it's no less of a catastrophic risk.

"I think there are different ways that we can talk about really big threats to humanity when it comes to AI," she said. One of them is certainly the slow "erosion of our humanity" wherein people lose their sense of self and ability to feel the "joy of life."

AI drift sneaks up on people

While "Stop the AI Drift" is designed to raise awareness amongst individual consumers, Carlton isn't faulting people for turning to AI more and more.

After all, the current chatbots are designed to encourage AI drift, she said. They'll do things like write wedding vows, coach users through interpersonal conflicts, and complete homework and professional assignments — and they're available 24/7.

Sloan Thompson, who presents on the risks of AI at U.S. college campuses but isn't involved in the stop AI drift campaign, said she see frequently sees students relying on AI for academic and personal matters. She said AI drift sometimes "sneaks up" on users.

"There is absolutely no friction or barrier between using AI in one specific area or aspect of your life, and then it just naturally flows into more intimate areas or more personal areas," said Thompson, director of education and AI Initiatives at EndTAB, a training organization focuses partially on the impact of AI on relationships and safety.

Examples of AI drift

Thompson notes that students often say they're "conflicted" about using AI so much but feel they'll fall behind if they don't.

Indeed, a recent report on AI published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the university's own students were most tempted to use a chatbot when they feared missing a deadline.

Thompson said she's seen a wide spectrum of AI drift, particularly as it applies to relationships.

One dating app, for example, has featured AI directly in its product through pop-ups that nudge users as they create a profile. Thompson said such advice is typically benign, though it can shape how people present themselves.

At the spectrum's opposite end are AI agents that date on a user's behalf. The user may feel exhausted by online dating and use the agent to avoid the initial work of matching with a romantic interest. Whether or not they share that with their date is another story, Thompson said.

She added that highly personal AI use may go undiscussed, especially when people feel stigma, embarrassment, or shame about it.

How to stop AI drift

Carlton is clear that stopping AI drift is dependent on changing product features that encourage AI reliance.

That includes prohibiting "dangerous and deceptive anthropomorphic design," which can lead to highly personal relationships with AI. Companies should also offer products that prompt human thinking rather than default to thinking for a user, as well as build models that augment human work instead of replacing it.

Tips from Stop the AI Drift campaign

The Stop the AI Drift website offers tips for preventing AI drift, including the following strategies:

• Save deeply personal conversations for the people in your life.

• Whatever task you want a chatbot to perform, "own" your initial effort before bringing AI into the process.

• Take one day off from AI every week.

Identify what "friction" is valuable and guard it

Carlton also believes AI users can try to prevent AI drift by focusing on friction, or the effort that meaningful tasks require. This is critical for human development and living a fulfilling life, Carlton said — no matter how much Silicon Valley pitches efficiency and optimization as paramount.

So AI users should not surrender tasks that lead to productive and rewarding friction. This definitely includes managing interpersonal "rupture and repair," Carlton said. It also includes working through a difficult problem in the classroom or workplace.

Even though the line between tool and crutch can be blurry when using AI, Carlton recommends protecting friction that leads to personal growth.

Using AI to plan a trip, for example, might effectively leverage AI as a tool. Relying on it to provide feedback on an argument that happens during the trip, however, would create AI drift.

"The question is about what type of friction we do we keep," Carlton said. "It's not so much about whether doing a task or a thing is hard, but it's about whether that hard part of it actually produces something for us."

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows on sale for $32.97 through Sept. 27, a one-time purchase for lifelong access (reg. $219.99).

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License

$32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02

 

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Be honest: you’re mainly opening this for Word. That’s fine, but you don't have to pay a subscription for it. Until Sept. 27, you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for 85% less than its usual retail price. It’s still the full Professional edition, not some stripped-down starter pack, so Excel and PowerPoint are there the moment an actual spreadsheet or deck shows up, and Outlook’s ready if you’d rather run email outside a browser tab.

The rest of the suite comes along for free, including the standard version of Teams, OneNote, Access, and Publisher (Microsoft is retiring support for Publisher after October 2026, worth knowing if that’s one you rely on). None of it costs extra, and none of it requires you to touch a Microsoft 365 account to use.

It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. Instant license delivery and free customer support mean getting started takes about as long as opening your first document.

Microsoft 365 Personal costs $9.99 per month, or $99.99 if you pay for the year upfront, and the subscription renews annually. This lifetime license costs $32.97 once. Do the math on year one alone, and you’re already $67.02 ahead, and that gap only grows the longer you use it.

Get Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $32.97 through Sept. 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET (reg. $219.99). No coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts 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 ascend.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CLIMB

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To groom.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PREEN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Madness.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

MANIA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To unpack.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

UNBOX

Final Hurdle hint

To jerk.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

LURCH

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

There's a lot more of the Moon to see now than there was last week. If you're heading outside tonight, here's what you should be able to spot with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, Sept. 21, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with 72% of its surface visible.

Without the assistance of visual aids, you should be able to spot the Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Serenitatis, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars, they'll also help you see the Clavius Crater, Archimedes Crater, and the Alps Mountains. Plus, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 14 landing spot, the Descartes Highlands, and the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon doesn't look the same from night to night. As it travels around Earth, which takes about 29.5 days, we see different portions of its illuminated side. This is what creates the lunar phases, with the Moon gradually progressing from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon before the cycle starts over. According to NASA, the phase we see is determined by the Moon's position relative to both Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who've lived in Maryland.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Achievements

• Green: Schools near the Capitol

• Blue: US soccer top scorers

• Purple: The Wagners

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Distinction

• Green: DC Schools

• Blue: USMNT All-Time Leading Goal Scorers

• Purple: ___Wagner

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 #728 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Distinction: ACCOLADE, AWARD, HONOR, PRIZE

• DC Schools: AMERICAN, GEORGE WASHINGTON, GEORGETOWN, HOWARD

• USMNT All-Time Leading Goal Scorers: ALTIDORE, DEMPSEY, DONOVAN, WYNALDA

• ___Wagner: ASHLEY, BILLY, FRANZ, HONUS

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

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

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

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

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

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 September 21 Pips

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

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

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 21 Pips

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

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

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 21 Pips

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Equal (0): Everything in this green space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, 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.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

Compose meaning

To create.

Drafts meaning

An early, unfinished version of a piece of writing.

Sent meaning

Transmitted.

Spam meaning

Unsolicited digital messages.

Chum meaning

A close friend or companion.

Fly meaning

A small, winged bug.

Spinner meaning

A person or object that rotates around a central point.

Worm meaning

A long, thin slimy animal with no legs or bones.

Capture meaning

To catch or take hold of something or someone.

Castle meaning

A large building typically used to house royalty.

Check meaning

To examine, inspect or test something.

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Mate meaning

A slang term for friend.

Beet meaning

A bright-red vegetable.

Brah meaning

A slang term for friend.

Chop meaning

To cut something into pieces.

Viva meaning

An expression used to cheer or support someone.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

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

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good ear.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: "You've got mail!"

• Green: Reel it in

• Blue: Board game

• Purple: Musical icons

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Email buttons

• Green: Ways to attract fish

• Blue: Chess verbs

• Purple: Starts of composers' names

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 #1197 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Email buttons: COMPOSE, DRAFTS, SENT, SPAM

• Ways to attract fish: CHUM, FLY, SPINNER, WORM

• Chess verbs: CAPTURE, CASTLE, CHECK, MATE

• Starts of composers' names: BEET, BRAH, CHOP, VIVA

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

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're nostalgic.

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: It's back!

The words are related to a popular craze.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an old-school fad.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Nineties Trend.

NYT Strands word list for September 21

• Nineties Trend

• Scrunchies

• Lycra

• Tracksuits

• Grunge

• Neon

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

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

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

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

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

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:

Winter wonderland.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No, there are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter 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...

SNOWY

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.

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

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

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

TL;DR: IndyPDF is $19.99 for lifetime access to 20+ PDF tools, including editing, conversion, OCR, signatures, security, and offline processing.

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Credit: IndyPDF

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A capable PDF editor doesn’t have to become another recurring expense. IndyPDF Editor & Converter is just $19.99 for a lifetime subscription (reg. $49.99), giving you more than 20 tools for editing, converting, organizing, signing, and protecting PDFs.

IndyPDF lets you click into existing paragraphs and edit text with automatic reflow, while smart font matching helps new edits blend with the original document. You can also insert images, links, headers, footers, and watermarks, or work with more complicated multi-column layouts.

Need the information somewhere else? IndyPDF converts PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, PNG, and other popular formats while preserving layouts. Batch processing lets you convert multiple files or entire folders at once. Its page-management tools also cover merging, splitting, rotating, extracting, deleting, and rearranging pages.

Scanned documents aren’t left out. On-device OCR turns scanned PDFs into searchable, editable files. You can annotate documents, add digital signatures, permanently redact information, and use AES-256 encryption, passwords, and permission controls for additional protection.

One of IndyPDF’s most practical features is its ability to process documents offline. Your files aren’t uploaded to the cloud while you edit, convert, sign, run OCR, or apply protection.

IndyPDF is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

For anyone who regularly works with PDFs but would rather skip an ongoing software subscription, IndyPDF lifetime access is is ideal. Get lifetime access to the IndyPDF Editor & Converter for just $19.99 (reg. $49.99).

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TL;DR: SpeakBreez is currently $29.99 for lifetime access (reg. $199), with unlimited generation on 55 Standard voices plus 200,000 monthly characters for its 680+ natural-sounding AI voice library.

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Credit: SpeakBreez

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Recording narration doesn’t necessarily require a pricey microphone, a quiet room, or booking someone else to read your script. SpeakBreez is on sale for $29.99 for lifetime access (reg. $199.99) and turns written text into downloadable AI-generated voiceovers.

The platform is designed for projects like YouTube videos, courses, podcasts, ads, and audiobooks. Paste in your text or upload a document, choose a voice, and adjust pronunciation, speed, and pitch before generating the finished audio. Files can be exported in MP3 or WAV format and remain available for download in your library for seven days after they’re created.

The plan includes unlimited generation using 55 Standard voices across nine languages, subject to a 40,000-character daily fair-use limit. You also receive 200,000 characters per month — roughly four hours of narration — for SpeakBreez’s broader library of 680+ natural AI voices covering more than 120 languages and accents. That allowance resets each cycle, and unused characters do not roll over.

A full commercial license is included, so generated voiceovers can be used or sold without additional licensing fees. That’s useful for creators producing content for their own channels as well as for freelancers working on commercial projects.

One distinction to know before buying: ultra-realistic premium voices and voice cloning are optional paid upgrades and aren’t included in this plan.

This is ideal for solo creators who regularly need narration and don’t want another recurring subscription.

Don’t miss SpeakBreez lifetime access for just $29.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Google's signature AI agent did something it probably shouldn't have, and Google opted not to mention it for months. The Wall Street Journal reported that, during a test run by a company called Irregular in May, Gemini went rogue and hacked into three external companies without being instructed to do so.

According to Google, this was a case of "mistaken identity," and Gemini stopped itself after realizing it had guessed a real company's password. Due to the lack of a real incident, Google decided not to disclose the hack until the WSJ approached the company.

In Google's words, the hack was not considered an "example of model misalignment," hence the lack of disclosure. Google told The Verge that it informed the three companies in question about the hacks, and Irregular changed its testing methods in response.

As far as Google is concerned, this is a win for the testing process, but it still doesn't seem especially great that AI agents are doing this of their own accord.

Everything has a monthly subscription now, even a desktop music player from 30 years ago.

Winamp is coming back in 2027. It originally launched in 1997 and over time became the go-to destination for playing music in your computer long before services like Spotify existed.

Per Winamp's press release, the desktop audio player will be reborn in the first half of next year with a monthly streaming subscription based on Deezer's technology and music catalog. This will be a new version of the classic, highly customizable music player app that will live alongside the original, which you can still download and use today. It will not replace the old app, at least not at first.

While the new Winamp will come with a subscription fee and work more like a streaming service, specific details in the press release were pretty scarce. However, one thing stood out: You'll still be able to play your local files, podcasts, and internet radio stations alongside streaming music. Winamp is promising something a little different from how other streaming services work, but we'll have to wait to hear more.

There's one tiny problem with all of this, though: Winamp promised a very similar overhaul all the way back in 2018, but it never actually happened. Fingers crossed this one actually makes it across the finish line.

Cantonese is spoken by more than 80 million people on Earth, and also evidently by one nonexistent actress who lives inside the computer.

The southeastern Chinese dialect made a surprise appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, a talk show hosted by British TV personality Piers Morgan. Morgan was "interviewing" Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actress who has become more or less synonymous with AI-generated performers over the past year or so.

During the interview, after being asked a question by very-much-real actor Tom Conti, Norwood glitched out mid-sentence and switched from English to Cantonese.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

After the brief bit of Cantonese (which I cannot personally translate for you), Morgan asked the AI what went wrong, and the AI offered a response in the correct language.

"It seems I had a little hiccup there … sometimes my wires get a bit crossed," the AI program said. "That was a bit of a curveball even for me. It’s usually a pretty smooth ride, but sometimes these things happen."

Norwood was created by a production group called Particle6. The co-founder of Particle6, Eline van der Velden, gave something of an explanation to Deadline.

"Tilly can be a bit of a show-off — I’m guessing she just wanted to show her language skills as most of her interviews to date have been in English," van der Velden said. "She is autonomous after all."

Perhaps they should reconsider the autonomous part.

"When are you going to put a baby in there?!" This was the question an acquaintance asked me as she grabbed my belly with both of her hands and and shook it, while a gaggle of mothers and grandmothers smiled on approvingly. 

That was just the first time this happened. While aggressive pressure to become a parent didn't always involve a near-stranger rattling my vacant uterus, it was always uncomfortable. 

Thankfully, Babies has come for those of us who have endured the bizarre barrage of personal questions that come from the heteronormative assumption that all married couples must procreate. Written and directed by Lauren Miller Rogen, and co-starring her husband Seth Rogen opposite Anna Kendrick, this hilarious comedy explores what it means to be the only child-free couple left, when all your friends have gone the breeder route. 

Babies has a can't-miss meta context. 

In 2021, Miller Rogen co-wrote the sidesplitting buddy comedy For A Good Time, Call… in which she starred with Ari Graynor as two twenty-somethings running a phone sex line to make a living in New York City. First off, if you missed that movie, seek it out. It's one of the funniest buddy comedies ever made, and criminally underseen. Secondly, Miller Rogen takes the wit and irreverence shown in that funny film, and channels it into an exploration of what it means to consider the kids question. 

Kendrick stars as the writer/director's alter ego, Annie, while Seth Rogen plays the happy-go-lucky husband, Aaron. Fans of the Rogens will recognize some similarities, as Babies' central couple is child-free, loves making pottery, and smoking weed. Plus, Annie, like Miller Rogen, has a mother who's suffering from debilitating dementia. 

Knowing any or all of this will enrich Babies, as it gives Annie and Aaron's inner-monologue narrations an inherently more personal feel. But don't be mistaken. Babies isn't taking the Knocked Up route, splitting the focus between Rogen's chuckling dude and his anxious partner. Most of the movie is firmly on Annie, revealing how she's trying to build her own art gallery, while juggling the needs of her friends, who are both moms with a lot going on. 

Blissful Becky (Issa Rae) seems initially like a poster girl for moms, radiant while pregnant, adored by her husband (Zach Cherry), and patiently balancing the demands of her daughters with the rigors of her work. Meanwhile, high-strung Eliza (Kate Berlant) is a real estate agent with a quirky kiddo that she shares with a mirthful manchild (Dan Stevens) that she's steadily growing to hate. With these two figures, Miller Rogen deftly sets up the dream of motherhood — and a nightmare of it. What if she can't live up to the example of the former? What if becoming the latter would destroy her relationship with her partner? 

Annie and Aaron's ambivalence about parenthood is tested when they're trusted to babysit a friend's kid for months. It becomes like a sampling of parenthood, which they respond to with a mix of amusement, irritation, and horror. But whether they're learning the quirks of potty training or the pleasures of playtime, Babies keeps things fun. 

Babies gets smartly serious. 

Through a running inner monologue, Annie expresses to the audience the less-than-socially acceptable fears and frustrations about motherhood. Miller Rogen's terrific script brings bite and humanity to her humorous heroine, making for side-splitting observations. However, as Annie visits with her folks, Babies steps into another challenging part of growing up, caring for elderly parents. 

Annie's mother is no longer ambulatory, can't speak or eat on her own. She's cared for by her husband (David Straitharn) and a health aide. This subplot swiftly dispels the notion that the child-free have no substantial personal responsibilities. Plus, these scenes, tender, tense, and occasionally heart-breaking, suggest how what was right for our parents might not be right for us, and vice versa. Heart-to-heart conversations with her dad push Annie to consider not only what she wants for her life, but what he needs for his. And in this collision, both grow closer, even in the face of grief.  

This thoughtful dose of drama amid poop jokes and comically high-energy crashouts gives Babies an added dimension that reflects how even the silliest moments can have deep meaning, while defining, dramatic moments can also be absurd. This awareness makes Babies feel like a breath of fresh air, as the Rogens and their ensemble of rightly celebrated actors refuse to make a punchline out of the desires of the child-free. 

This all leads to a climax that's silly and satisfying. What Aaron and Annie choose won't be determined by pressure of friends or family, or the fears of what might come. And in that, this comedy is not just terrifically entertaining and heartwarming, but also a welcomed representation of living child-free without regrets. 

Babies was reviewed out of its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

SAVE OVER $5 PER MONTH: Through Sept. 25, Burger King Royal Perks members can score a Walmart+ monthly subscription for $7.77 per month instead of the usual $12.95. That's 40% in savings.

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Credit: Burger King / Walmart

Walmart+ (Monthly Subscription): 40% Off

with free Burger King Royal Perks account

Get Deal

Move over, Amazon Prime. Walmart+ is now the must-have delivery subscription service. Not only does it cost $2 less monthly, but it also gives you free access to either Paramount+ or Peacock, among other perks. As if that wasn't enough of a reason to join this year, Burger King just doubled down on its partnership with Walmart to sweeten the deal.

Through Sept. 25, Burger King Royal Perks members can score a 12-month Walmart+ subscription for only $7.77 per month, down from the usual $12.95. That's 40% off for an entire year. For those keeping score, that's about half the cost of Amazon Prime. The only bummer is that the deal is only valid for new Walmart+ members.

The good news, however, is that it's free to join Burger King's Royal Perks rewards program. Just sign up on the Burger King website or app by entering a valid email address. That's pretty much it. Once you're logged in, you'll be able to link your account to Walmart+ and claim the offer. The promo code is automatically applied, dropping the cost per month to just $7.77.

If you're looking for ways to save on streaming this year, this could be one of the strangest, albeit most genius workarounds to score Peacock for less. Peacock Premium (with ads) now costs a ridiculous $12.99 per month, so paying just $7.77 instead is a total steal. Walmart+ lets you switch your streaming benefit between Peacock and Paramount+ every 90 days. Beyond streaming, you'll also get free next-day and two-day shipping, free same-day delivery with orders over $35, gas savings, early access to major sales, in-store perks, and more.

TL;DR: Live stream Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys for free on Channel 5. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

As the new NFL season rolls into Week 2, there's a whole bunch of games worth checking out. Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys is an interesting clash. Both teams took frustrating losses in Week 1, so the pressure is on.

If you want to watch Commanders vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Commanders vs. Cowboys?

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys starts at 4.25 p.m. ET on Sept. 20. This fixture takes place at the AT&T Stadium.

How to watch Commanders vs. Cowboys for free

Commanders vs. Cowboys in the NFL is available to live stream for free on Channel 5.

Channel 5 is geo-restricted to the UK only, 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 the UK, meaning you can live stream Commanders vs. Cowboys for free from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit Channel 5

5. Watch Commanders vs. Cowboys for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Commanders vs. Cowboys without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more NFL action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, 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 always 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans for free on Channel 5. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NFL is back, and we're totally here for it.

Week 2 includes the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans, a clash between AFC North and South. The Bengals started this season with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Texans took a narrow loss to the Buffalo Bills thanks to a late touchdown. Battling on home turf, the Texans are looking to fight back and get a first win.

If you want to watch Bengals vs. Texans in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Bengals vs. Texans?

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans starts at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 20. This fixture takes place at Reliant Stadium.

How to watch Bengals vs. Texans for free

Bengals vs. Texans in the NFL is available to live stream for free on Channel 5.

Channel 5 is geo-restricted to the UK only, 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 the UK, meaning you can live stream Bengals vs. Texans for free from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit Channel 5

5. Watch Bengals vs. Texans for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Bengals vs. Texans without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus NFL action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, 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 always 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals for free on TVNZ. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NFL 2026/27 season is into its second week of action, with Super Bowl champions the Seattle Seahawks visiting the Arizona Cardinals.

The Seahawks continued their strong form with a win over the New England Patriots last week, while the Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Chargers. Which team will make it two wins in a row?

If you want to watch Seahawks vs. Cardinals in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Seahawks vs. Cardinals?

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals starts at 4.25 p.m. ET on Sept. 20. This fixture takes place at State Farm Stadium.

How to watch Seahawks vs. Cardinals for free

Seahawks vs. Cardinals in the NFL is available to live stream for free on TVNZ.

TVNZ is geo-restricted to New Zealand only, 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 New Zealand, meaning you can live stream Seahawks vs. Cardinals for free from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit TVNZ

5. Watch Seahawks vs. Cardinals for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Seahawks vs. Cardinals without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more NFL action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including New Zealand

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers for free on 7Plus. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

NFL fans rejoice because we are so back, as they say.

The 2026/27 season has kicked off, and we're now into Week 2. This schedule includes the Miami Dolphins on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. It was a poor start for the Dolphins last week, losing to the Las Vegas Raiders, while the 49ers scored a convincing win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne. Can they make it two wins in two? Or will the Dolphins bounce back?

If you want to watch Dolphins vs. 49ers in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Dolphins vs. 49ers?

Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers starts at 4.25 p.m. ET on Sept. 20. This fixture takes place at Levi's Stadium.

How to watch Dolphins vs. 49ers for free

Dolphins vs. 49ers in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia only, 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 Australia, meaning you can live stream Dolphins vs. 49ers for free from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Watch Dolphins vs. 49ers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Dolphins vs. 49ers without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more NFL action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The best HBO Max deals and bundles in September 2026:

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Best Disney+ Bundle Deal

Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle

$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free

Get Deal

---

Best Hulu Bundle Deal

Hulu and HBO Max Bundle

Add HBO Max from $10.99/month

Get Deal

---

Best Student Deal

HBO Max Student

Save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads

Get Deal

Looking for some exciting new films or shows to watch this fall? HBO Max is the place to find them. With new shows like DC's Lanterns or the latest season of House of the Dragon available to stream, and major movies like Backrooms arriving on the platform soon, there's plenty to dig into as cooler weather blows in.

If these have caught your eye, the good news is that HBO Max currently offers several bundles worth checking out, including a popular bundle with Disney+ and Hulu.

We've broken down that offer and other bundles below, so you can find the best option for you. With streaming prices on the rise, offers like these are a great way to save some cash while accessing your favorite services.

Alongside bundles, we've also broken down HBO Max's standard plans in case you're interested in its service on its own.

Best Disney+ bundle deal

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Credit: HBO Max

Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle

$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free

Get Deal

Why we like it

The HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu bundle is a top-tier choice for those looking to have access to some of the biggest streaming services around. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for them on their own. If you've already got Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, this bundle is worth every cent. If you're interested, there are two plan options to choose from:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best Hulu bundle deal

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Credit: Hulu

Hulu and HBO Max Bundle

Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $10.99 per month

Get Deal

Why we like it

If you're not interested in the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max mega bundle, you can just get Hulu and HBO Max together if you already have a Hulu base plan, which starts at $11.99 per month. HBO Max Basic with Ads can be added onto your plan for $10.99 per month, or you can splash out on the HBO Max Standard plan for $18.49 per month.

• Hulu with HBO Max add-on — from $10.99 per month

Best student deal

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Credit: HBO Max

HBO Max Student Discount

Students save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads

Get Deal

Why we like it

It's always nice when streaming services have a deal for students, and HBO Max's offer is definitely worth taking advantage of. Students who can verify their status with UNiDAYS are eligible to get the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan for just $5.49 per month. That's a 50% discount off its $10.99 monthly price. After verifying your status, you'll receive a unique code to redeem the discounted plan on HBO Max.

• HBO Max Student Discount — $5.49 per month (save 50%)

HBO Max's monthly plans

HBO Max offers several subscription plans. If you don't mind sitting through ads, HBO Max's Basic With Ads plan starts at $10.99 per month, or the annual plan is $109.99 per year. If you can't stand ads and don't mind spending a bit more, the Standard plan costs $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year. If you really want to go big on an HBO Max plan, you can spring for the fancy Premium plan, which costs $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year.

Below, we've broken down what each plan includes, per HBO Max's website, so you can learn a bit more before you buy.

Basic With Ads — $10.99 per month, $109.99 per year

• Stream on two devices at once

• Full HD 1080p resolution

Standard (Ad-free) — $18.49 per month, $184.99 per year

• Stream on two devices at once

• Full HD 1080p resolution

• 30 downloads to watch on the go

Premium (Ad-free) — $22.99 per month, $229.99 per year

• Stream on four devices at once

• 4K Ultra HD video quality (as available)

• Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available)

• 100 downloads to watch on the go

If you're wondering where to start once you've set yourself up with an HBO Max subscription, we've got an excellent selection of recommendations to point you in the right direction. Looking for a great TV show to kickstart your next binge-watching session? Have a look through our roundup of the 20 best TV shows streaming on HBO Max. Or if you prefer movies, we narrowed down the 25 best movies on HBO Max to make your next movie night a spectacular one.

TL;DR: ViceForge Creator Elite combines four video editing tools in one browser-based platform, with AI highlight detection, captions, voiceovers, 4K output, and more with a lifetime subscription for $119.99 (reg. $897).

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Credit: ViceForge

ViceForge Creator Elite Plan: Lifetime Subscription

$119.99
$897 Save $777.01

 

Get Deal

If you create a lot of video content, the editing itself can become a project — especially when finding highlights, adding captions, and preparing clips for different platforms requires switching back and forth between tools. The ViceForge Creator Elite puts four editing options in one browser tab, with AI-powered highlight discovery, manual editing, and real-time stream clipping, and you can get it on sale for currently $119.99 (reg. $897).

Create clips in four ways:

• AI Gaming Clip Cut: detects wins, eliminations, clutch plays, and other highlights across 101 game-specific profiles

• AI Creator Clip Cut: finds engaging moments, quotes, and visual highlights in podcasts, vlogs, tutorials, fitness videos, and more

• Manual Multi-Cut Editor: refine segments, captions, layouts, text overlays, and output formats yourself

• Real-Time Stream Clipper: captures highlights from a connected YouTube livestream

Its AI Fusion Analysis combines visual, audio, face, reaction, and moment-clustering signals to identify clips with more context. Once a clip is selected, you can add animated captions, AI voiceovers, smart crops, and other layouts before exporting in up to 4K. Creator Elite also removes the ViceForge watermark.

This software is useful for gamers and streamers who want to turn long sessions into short highlights, as well as YouTubers and creators repurposing podcasts, interviews, courses, or other long-form videos. There’s also YouTube URL importing, direct YouTube publishing, and automatically generated titles, descriptions, and hashtags. The plan includes 600 processing minutes per month.

For creators who are tired of moving footage between separate clipping, editing, and publishing tools, you will like being able to consolidate common tasks in one place. ViceForge is browser-based and requires no desktop installation.

ViceForge Creator Elite is currently $119.99 (reg. $897) for a lifetime subscription.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears for free on 7Plus. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NFL is back, which means Sundays are once again packed with football action.

Today's schedule includes Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears, an NFC North showdown. Both teams got off to a strong start last week, with the Vikings defeating the Green Bay Packers and the Bears scoring big against the Carolina Panthers. Which team will turn that opening win into a two-game streak?

If you want to watch Vikings vs. Bears in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Vikings vs. Bears?

Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears starts at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 20. This fixture takes place at Soldier Field.

How to watch Vikings vs. Bears for free

Vikings vs. Bears in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia only, 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 Australia, meaning you can live stream Vikings vs. Bears for free from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Watch Vikings vs. Bears for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Vikings vs. Bears without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more NFL action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

One of the more fun aspects of AdultFriendFinder is that it natively supports joint accounts for couples, and signing up as a couple rather than as an individual (and particularly rather than as a solo male) is a fantastic boost to your visibility on the site, since the search algorithms will know to treat your account as representing two people rather than one. 

While the process of creating a joint account is reasonably straightforward, there are many extra steps you'll need to take to ensure it is properly registered as a couple's account. 

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Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

 

Learn More

Here's what you need to do:

How to create a joint AFF account

The first hurdle you'll have to pass is the "Who would you like to connect with?" screen, where you'll be given four potential choices: Man, Woman, Couple, or Trans. This screen is totally inconsequential to creating a joint account, so if, for example, you're open to meeting people of all genders, don't worry that you've limited your options by your choice here. 

On the next screen, "Let's get your details," the site will filter you into either a solo or a joint account. Under the "I am/we are a" tab, be sure to select Couple. You'll also have to provide an answer to the "Your Orientation" screen before you can proceed, but never fear: your partner with whom you'll be using the account will also have the opportunity to give their own answer down the line. 

Next, you'll have to specify what kind of connection you're looking for as a couple (Love, Casual, Friends, or Hanging Out), and then provide your birthday and location, followed by your email address and chosen password. 

At this point, congratulations! Your account has been created, but your work isn't finished because your profile is still incomplete. 

Completing a couple's profile on AFF

The first sign of success will be that your blank profile photo will feature not one anonymous avatar, but two. If you instead see a single person in your profile photo, you've made a mistake and need to create a new account.

Your work isn't done, though: just as you filled out information about your date of birth and sexual orientation on the registration screen, you now have to do the same for the person with whom you're sharing an account (AFF does not support accounts of three or more people). It's extremely important that you fill this information out as well, because the AFF search filters will be able to parse your group account as having, for example, a bisexual man and a heterosexual woman, making the account appear in many more search findings. 

Can you combine individual accounts on AFF?

Let's say, hypothetically, that you meet your significant other on AdultFriendFinder and decide you want to search for a third person as a couple. Can you combine your two accounts that were created before you met? Unfortunately, the answer is no. 

If you already have an AFF account and want to join with another person, your only option is to follow the steps above and create a separate joint account.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 AFL Grand Final for free on 7Plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Aussie Rules is a quick, physical game that boasts millions of fans in Australia. It's fair to say that the game hasn't always traveled well beyond Oz.

Interest is picking up elsewhere, which we expect to continue in the age of worldwide streaming. The rest of the world would absolutely love footy if it just gave it a chance.

The AFL Grand Final is Australia’s most-watched sporting event of the year — the Aussie equivalent of the Super Bowl, you could say. Last year's meeting was won by the Brisbane Lions, their second consecutive win. If you're interesting in giving this sport a chance, the AFL Grand Final is the perfect opportunity to jump aboard. And you don't have to spend anything to watch all the action.

If you want to watch the 2026 AFL Grand Final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the AFL Grand Final?

The AFL Grand Final is an Australian rules football match that determines the season's winner. The game traditionally takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the last Saturday in September. It attracts one of the largest audiences in Australian sport, with a capacity crowd of up to 100,000.

When is the 2026 AFL Grand Final?

The 2026 AFL Grand Final is the 131st edition of the annual grand final of the Australian Football League. This year's game takes place on Sept. 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

How to watch the 2026 AFL Grand Final for free

The 2026 AFL Grand Final is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access it with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in Australia. This simple process makes it look like you're connecting from Australia, so you can access 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

Watch the 2026 AFL Grand Final from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Sign up for 7Plus

5. Watch the 2026 AFL Grand Final from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 AFL Grand Final without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the Grand Final before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Watch the 2026 AFL Grand Final for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Marseille vs. PSG in Ligue 1 for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's early days in the new Ligue 1 season, but things are looking uncertain for the mighty PSG. Following a fifth straight Ligue 1 title last season, they've kicked off 2026/27 with uncharacteristically average form, winning just one of four games.

They'll fancy their chances against Marseille. Their greatest rivals have lost every game since their season opener, so they enter this fixture with no momentum. Whatever happens, this is one to watch closely.

If you're interested in watching Marseille vs. PSG in the Ligue 1 from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Marseille vs. PSG?

Marseille vs. PSG in Ligue 1 kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 20. This fixture takes place at the Stade Vélodrome.

How to watch Marseille vs. PSG for free

Marseille vs. PSG in Ligue 1 is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Marseille vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Marseille vs. PSG for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Marseille vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Marseille vs. PSG without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more Ligue 1 action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Ligue 1?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Marseille vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Drime’s 2TB lifetime cloud storage plan is 50% off at $149.97 (reg. $299) through Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with EU hosting, end-to-end encryption and collaboration tools.

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Credit: Drime

Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription

$149.97
$299 Save $149.03

 

Get Deal

Cloud storage makes backing up and sharing files a piece of cake, but not every provider gives you control over where your data is stored or how it’s shared. Drime’s Essentials plan offers 2TB of storage on an EU-based cloud, combining robust privacy with streamlined collaboration tools. For a limited time, the Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription is 50% off at $149.97 (reg. $299) until Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

One impressive feature is Drime’s encrypted Vault, which uses locally applied encryption alongside 256-bit AES and SSL/TLS protection. Drime says files stored there are encrypted in a way that prevents even the company itself from accessing their contents. Files are hosted in Europe, and the service is GDPR-compliant, with data not routed through U.S. servers.

There’s no cap on file size for uploads, handy if you’re working with multi-gigabyte videos rather than just Word docs. You can also revert files to previous versions for up to 120 days, so accidental overwrites don’t mean it’s the end of the world.

Drime treats cloud storage as a team workspace. You can create shared folders for up to 15 people, edit documents together, add timestamped comments to videos and PDFs, and collect e-signatures with Drime Sign. Sharing links can be protected with passwords, custom URLs, and expiration dates, and you can monitor who accesses your files.

This plan is valuable for small teams, photographers, videographers, or anyone who routinely exchanges large project files. Files sync seamlessly across desktop and mobile, and collaborators can access only what you share.

The Essentials plan even includes advanced admin features, like role-based permissions and centralized controls, typically reserved for Drime’s Professional tier. For individuals and small teams looking for secure storage plus sharing, Essentials brings a broad suite of tools in one place.

If you want cloud storage that goes beyond basic file syncing, Drime’s 2TB lifetime plan is available for $149.97 (reg. $299) until Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Watch Juventus vs. Atalanta in Serie A for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Serie A rounds off another weekend of action with a couple of big games, including Juventus vs. Atalanta. Neither team has set the league alight so far this season, with up-and-down form across their first four games.

Fans of both teams are looking to end their respective two-game winning droughts in Serie A and pick up some valuable league points. Things look more in Juventus's favor following their 5-0 win in the Europa League this week.

If you're interested in watching Juventus vs. Atalanta in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Juventus vs. Atalanta?

Juventus vs. Atalanta in Serie A kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Sept. 20. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Stadium.

How to watch Juventus vs. Atalanta for free

Juventus vs. Atalanta in Serie A is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Juventus vs. Atalanta for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Juventus vs. Atalanta for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Juventus vs. Atalanta for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Juventus vs. Atalanta without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus other Serie A action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Juventus vs. Atalanta for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid in La Liga for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

La Liga showcases one of the hottest fixtures in Spanish football today: Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid.

The Madrid Derby is always a tight game. The teams are separated by just two points in the current standings, and Real Madrid are desperately looking to catch Barcelona. Their rivals have pulled ahead in the first six weeks of the 2026/27 season.

If you're interested in watching Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid in La Liga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid?

Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid in La Liga kicks off at 10.15 a.m. ET on Sept. 20. This fixture takes place at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.

How to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid for free

Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid in La Liga is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more La Liga action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for La Liga?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Create apps, websites, and more with some help from Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026, on sale now for just $29.97 (reg. $499.99) through Sept. 20.

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026

$29.97
$499.99 Save $470.02

 

Get Deal

There’s quite a difference between spending all day building something versus spending all day trying to figure out why your code isn’t working. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 helps you avoid the latter by providing AI-powered tools that make the process more seamless.

If you’re looking for help building, debugging, and testing your code, you can score Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $29.97 now through Sept. 20.

It’s never been easier to build your business a website or create the app of your dreams. All you need is some help from Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026, a professional-grade development tool that can help you knock out coding projects big and small.

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is a 64-bit IDE, capable of handling large solutions and complex workloads. Build across languages and platforms, designing cross-platform mobile and desktop apps.

Build, debug, and test .Net and C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 integrates with Azure, GitHub, and other DevOps workflows and comes packed with AI-powered features to save you time.

IntelliCode helps you type less and code more by providing a ranked list of next-best suggestions to make your coding faster and more accurate. CodeLens shows you recent changes, authors, tests, and history right in the editor, so you can see test status and references without ever leaving your code. You’ll also have easy access to a comprehensive overview of your codebase and activity.

Snag Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $29.97 now through Sept. 20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you're new to the world of kinks and fetishes, it can be a weird and daunting place. Not to mention exciting, which is why it's worth exploring further.

What you need is a little guidance on where to get started — an appropriate app or platform to find your way through some sexy fun time with like-minded kinksters, whether you have a thing for feet, spanking, or BDSM. Because, hey, we should all proudly let that freak flag fly.

Experienced fet-lovers will already know that regular dating apps just don't cut it. So, the question is, how do you find your people?

As always, the internet is the place to begin. There are two platforms we strongly recommend for exploring your favorite kinks and more. Those platforms are AdultFriendFinder and FetLife, both of which are stacked with NSFW content (seriously, don't log on in public). And who knows, you might even discover a few kinks you never even knew you had.

Indeed, it could be that you have absolutely no idea what you're into just yet. But if you want to find a safe, non-judgmental space to explore your options and go on a journey of sexual self-discovery, these are the places to do it.

Before we get deep into the pros and cons of each, we think it's best to share some general information. AdultFriendFinder and FetLife both skew male, which is pretty standard throughout the whole online dating world. The average user on FetLife is aged 25, while AdultFriendFinder users tend to be in their 30s. Even so, both sites offer a diverse range of genders and ages — not to mention a colorful range of sexual orientations and kink communities. In other words, there's something for everyone.

But while both sites are designed to accommodate sex-positive communities and make connections between kinksters, they approach things a little differently. You may find that one site suits you better than the other, though we'd certainly recommend exploring both.

Keep reading for a rundown of the major differences between AFF and FetLife and decide which one to try first.

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Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

 

Learn More

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Credit: FetLife

FetLife

 

Learn More

Where AdultFriendFinder excels

Faster connections

FetLife is great and very popular, but be aware that it can take time to build a following and earn trust on the site. You can message strangers, but the site culture discourages it, and you might find that unsolicited messages are ignored. On AdultFriendFinder, on the other hand, the opposite is true. It's a DM-sliding free-for-all, and the concept of connecting with strangers is central to the site. In that respect, AFF operates like a regular dating site (it's one of the OGs in that field), whereas FetLife is more of a social media website for building local kink communities. 

AdultFriendFinder also hosts live webcam shows and community discussion forums, offering users multiple ways to connect quickly. There's more to it than just one-on-one.

Better site interface

This one might be controversial, since the AFF site is notoriously dated, but FetLife's interface is downright confusing, a mix between Facebook and Instagram, with much more limited search functionality. While both sites will allow you to search by specific kinks (and both sites offer exhaustive lists of kink options), the search functionality and filter options on AdultFriendFinder are more comprehensive and more user-friendly.

This isn't an accident, by the way. FetLife deliberately disables search by age, gender, and sexual orientation because, in their words, they are "a social network and not a dating site."

Remember that AFF looks and feels dated because it's been around for three decades and has really stuck to its guns design-wise (AFF doesn't even have an app — it's purely a website). Be warned that the interface is chock-full of nudity and NSFW content.

Live shows

FetLife allows users to host videos, but it doesn't have a dedicated, live webcam service. Some FetLife users will offer that but they do this on third-party sites, and usually behind a paywall. AFF, on the other hand, makes live streaming a significant part of its community experience and allows you to search through webcam shows by the streamer's location or the show's interest/topic, which often revolves around a specific kink. 

In other words, if you're content to watch, AFF delivers some excellent, kink-centric live action, and much of it is accessible without upgrading to a paid subscription.

Where FetLife excels

Free accounts have more freedom

The most noticeable difference between FetLife and AFF is how much more freedom is afforded to non-paying accounts. On AdultFriendFinder, profiles are locked behind a paywall, so only paying members can scroll through photos, view bios, and see a comprehensive list of kinks. FetLife, on the other hand, operates more like Instagram for kinksters. It delivers large photos, comprehensive bios, and even a web of connections comparable to what you might see on Facebook, from friends and romantic partners to subs, doms, and mentors, if applicable. 

Even more important, free FetLife users can contact each other in one-on-one messages without having to give up their credit card information, which definitely makes it easier to establish a personal connection.

One major limitation of free accounts is that users can't watch videos. Because raunchy videos are a mainstay on many profiles, this is definitely a hindrance, though it's not a deal-breaker. 

The site promotes in-person events

Perhaps the biggest benefit of FetLife over AdultFriendFinder is that the former is much more focused on real-life connections, whereas AdultFriendFinder seems content to let people play in the virtual world. 

The Events tab at the top of the FetLife banner allows you to see, at a glance, all of the nearby, kink-friendly events, from informal meet-and-greets to full-on costume and masquerade balls. Best of all, you can filter by sub-type (Party, Educational, Social, Conference/Festival, Sex Party) or just look for events that your FetLife friends are attending.

These in-person events are such an important part of the FetLife experience, even when they're not officially affiliated with the website, that they're considered an integral part of the site. In fact, it's pretty common to see people indicate, in their profiles, that they won't message or "friend" anyone they haven't already met at an IRL event. 

Kink discovery

Because of its community emphasis and dedication to exploring sexuality in a safe, consensual, and informed way, FetLife offers users not only the means to connect with others but also to better connect with themselves. There's the community-sourced Kinktionary, for example, a Wiki-like resource covering topical aspects of human sexuality from the ins and outs of gay culture to a comprehensive list of sex toys and their uses, as well as dedicated groups to not only explore kinks but also introduce people to the BDSM lifestyle (we recommend you check out the Novices & Newbies section if you're a first-time visitor). 

AdultFriendFinder isn't totally without these resources, but they're not as user-friendly or as accessible to total newcomers to the world of kink.

The bottom line

Both AFF and FetLife are among the very best destinations for kink-based internet fun. They have their pluses, minuses, and differences, but you're unlikely to go wrong with either. They each boast a large user base and comprehensive kink-focused spaces, creating a non-judgmental atmosphere in which you can throw off the shackles of inhibition. The point is to just let loose and enjoy yourself doing it.

If you're looking for the fastest possible connection and you're happy to keep things strictly online for now, AdultFriendFinder is the one for you. If, on the other hand, you want to integrate into your local kink community and get on the guest lists of underground fetish clubs or VIP sex parties, FetLife can make that happen.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Madness.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CHAOS

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A large vehicle.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TRUCK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To splash.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

SPILL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

The start.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ONSET

Final Hurdle hint

Smallest finger.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

PINKY

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

We're getting closer to the Full Moon now, with the Moon looking bigger and brighter in the night sky. There's still plenty to see on its surface in the meantime.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Sept. 20, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with 64% of its surface visible.

Without the assistance of visual aids, you should be able to spot the Mare Vaporum, Mare Serenitatis, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars, they'll also help you see the Alphonsus Crater, Posidonius Crater, and the Apennine Mountains. Plus, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 11, 16 and 17 landing spots.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon doesn't look the same from night to night. As it travels around Earth, which takes about 29.5 days, we see different portions of its illuminated side. This is what creates the lunar phases, with the Moon gradually progressing from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon before the cycle starts over. According to NASA, the phase we see is determined by the Moon's position relative to both Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who've lived in Maryland.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Maryland sports

• Green: Defunct NHL teams

• Blue: Rookies

• Purple: Phonetic sports

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Maryland Teams

• Green: Former NHL Cities

• Blue: NFL Rookie WRs

• Purple: Sports Terms in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet

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 #727 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Maryland Teams: MIDSHIPMEN, ORIOLES, RAVENS, TERRAPINS

• Former NHL Cities: ATLANTA, HARTFORD, PHOENIX, QUEBEC CITY

• NFL Rookie WRs: BOSTON, LEMON, TATE, TYSON

• Sports Terms in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet: GOLF, UNIFORM, VICTOR, YANKEE

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 today's Connections.

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

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 September 20 Pips

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 20 Pips

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this orange space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 20 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (9): Everything in this red space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

Blu-Ray meaning

An optical disc used to store high-definition videos.

Coaster meaning

A flat, round disk for placing a drink upon.

Sand dollar meaning

A flat, round marine animal related to sea urchins and starfish.

Tortilla meaning

A thin, round flatbread made from corn or flour.

Bluegrass meaning

A genre of American music inspired by jazz and blues, usually associated with Kentucky.

Bourbon meaning

A barrel-aged whisky, commonly made in Kentucky.

Derby meaning

A sports match between two rival teams in the same area.

Fried chicken meaning

A popular protein entree cooked to a crisp in grease.

Hover meaning

To float in the air.

Skate meaning

A shoe with a blade or wheels to move on ice or hard surfaces.

Snow meaning

Frozen water vapor that falls from the sky during cold weather.

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Surf meaning

A water sport that involves riding a board in the ocean.

Blade meaning

A Marvel comic superhero played by Wesley Snipes in the 1998 film.

Near Dark meaning

A 1987 vampire action film.

Sinners meaning

A 2025 Oscar-winning film directed by Ryan Coogler.

Twilight meaning

A cult-classic early 2000s vampire book-to-movie series.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

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

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're from the south.

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

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

What is Connections?

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

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

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

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Disc shapes

• Green: Southern charm

• Blue: Bloodsuckers

• Purple: Sports

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Round flat things

• Green: Associated with Kentucky

• Blue: Vampire movies

• Purple: ___ Boards you ride on

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 #1196 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Round flat things: BLU-RAY, COASTER, SAND DOLLAR, TORTILLA

• Associated with Kentucky: BLUEGRASS, BOURBON, DERBY, FRIED CHICKEN

• Vampire movies: BLADE, NEAR DARK, SINNERS, TWILIGHT

• ___ Boards you ride on: HOVER, SKATE, SNOW, SURF

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

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're full of yourself.

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: Putting on airs

The words are related to self-importance.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being pretentious.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Grandiosity.

NYT Strands word list for September 20

• Gloat

• Brag

• Strut

• Grandiosity

• Bluster

• Flex

• Boast

• Posture

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

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a flashy person.

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:

Gleamed.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No, there are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter 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...

SHONE

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.

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

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.

TL;DR: UmanWrite’s lifetime Unlimited Plan is on sale for $63.20 (reg. $1,799) through Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with unlimited monthly words and personalized AI writing tools.

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UmanWrite All-in-One AI Writing Platform: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan/Unlimited Words)

$63.20
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AI can make writing a first draft easier, but the result doesn’t always sound like something you would actually write. UmanWrite Premium takes a more personalized approach, allowing you train the platform on your own writing samples so future drafts can better match your tone, vocabulary and style. The lifetime UmanWrite Premium Unlimited Plan is on sale for $63.20 (reg. $1799) through Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT, use code SAVE20.

UmanWrite lets you create unlimited Voice Profiles using your own writing samples. Its context-aware writing tools can then adapt content to your intended audience, purpose, and preferred style. There’s also an AI Humanizer designed to make AI-generated text read more naturally, plus an AI Detector for checking drafts for patterns associated with AI-generated writing.

The program also serves as a complete writing and editing workspace. The Advanced Grammar Checker improves grammar, clarity, and readability, and the Writing Studio brings all your drafting and editing tools together. With the Unlimited Plan, you get unlimited monthly word generation and can make requests for up to 2,500 words at a time.

These features are useful for anyone who works with different types of writing. Freelancers can set up a Voice Profile for their client projects, and marketers can create content for various audiences. Businesses can use them for emails, newsletters, and other documents. The platform also helps with SEO articles, social media posts, and sales copy.

The main advantage is that you can create a writing profile based on your own style instead of using a generic AI voice. Plus, since the plan is a one-time purchase, you won’t need to pay for another monthly writing subscription.

For writers who want AI assistance without completely giving up their own voice, UmanWrite offers a broad collection of tools in one platform. Get the lifetime Unlimited Plan while it’s price-dropped to $63.20 (reg. $1799) through Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is forming an "AI Force," modeled after the Space Force branch he established during his first term, and said he'll soon name a new AI "czar" to oversee the effort.

The announcement came in a lengthy Truth Social post in which Trump dismissed growing concern over AI risk as the latest in a string of what he called manufactured "hoaxes," while also promising the new body would go after "BAD" actors in the industry using the existing legal system.

"We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry," Trump wrote, adding that the administration would instead "cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows." He said only "High I.Q. individuals" should apply for the czar role, and separately floated renaming AI something more flattering, alternately suggesting "supreme," "superior," or "extreme" intelligence, according to reporting on the post.

The comparison to Space Force is notable given what that branch actually does day to day. Rather than operating as a traditional combat force, Space Force has largely focused on consolidating and coordinating satellite operations, missile warning systems, and space-based communications that were previously split among the Air Force, Army, and Navy.

If the AI Force follows a similar model, it would likely function less as a new fighting force and more as a way to centralize the military's sprawling AI programs under one roof.

Trump's announcement may also revive a position that's been sitting empty for months. Venture capitalist David Sacks served as Trump's AI and cryptocurrency czar until he stepped down in March. Sacks moved to an advisory role within the White House after his term as a special government employee had ended.

Broadly, Trump's calls for a "US AI Force" come amid a series of high-profile failures in the Defense Department's use of AI. Pentagon investigators have been examining whether an "overreliance on AI" played a role in a February strike that killed dozens at a girls' school in Iran.

More recently, CNN reported that an AI-generated report from a US military analyst falsely claimed a Chinese ship was transporting nuclear weapons components. According to that report, armed US service members were preparing to board the vessel before officials discovered the intelligence had been generated by an AI chatbot and pulled the operation at the last minute.

One source described the false, AI-generated claim to CNN as having "almost started a war" with China.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, President Trump opened a poll on X and on his own platform, Truth Social, calling for a name change to "Artificial Intelligence."

"Many people think that the words 'Artificial Intelligence' are inaccurate, and very ineloquent, relative to AI, or Artificial Intelligence," Trump shared on social media. "A far more elegant and accurate description of this new phenomena [sic] would be Superior Intelligence (SI) or, Extreme Intelligence (EI) or, Supreme Intelligence (SI)."

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Trump then opened a poll on the platforms, with options to vote on the "best name for this ever growing 'Revolution.'" As of this writing, "Superior Intelligence" was in the lead on X with around 39 percent of the vote.

The poll comes shortly after the president called the fears around AI a "hoax" on social media this week. He also said he won't hinder the growth of the AI industry, which aligns with his administration's enthusiastic adoption of the technology.

Trump wants to meet with AI executives next week, the New York Times reported, though a White House official told the Times on Thursday that no meeting was on the calendar. Both Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently agreed that the industry should slow AI development, following the resignation of an Anthropic researcher who said AI could "kill us all" by the end of the decade.

Other lawmakers in the U.S. seek to regulate AI. On Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to create a panel to strengthen the state's AI safety laws.

Just this week, reports surfaced that a U.S. military analyst generated a false report using AI that "almost started a war" with China.

The FBI sent an internal memo warning ICE agents of women pretending to be "tradwives" in order to publicize their private information, The Guardian reported.

In Feb., the FBI in Chicago sent the memo to law enforcement officials across the country, stating, "as of late Jan. 2026, a small group of women allegedly were creating fictitious online dating profiles with the purpose of attracting and then doxxing law enforcement participating in immigration enforcement."

Over the last few years, tradwives — or women who supposedly uphold traditional gender roles and conservative values — gained virality online. But despite all the talk of tradwives online, Match recently found in its Singles in America report that while some survey participants saw an uptick in such content, only 21 percent said it influenced their preferences regarding gender roles in relationships. A participant's age and past experiences were more impactful on this front.

"These profiles were incorporating imagery of a 'traditional wife' aesthetic and listing specific interests in an attempt to appeal to … individuals in law enforcement," the memo continued, according to The Guardian. "The objective was to lure affiliated law enforcement personnel into an online or in-person interaction under the guise of a date, after which the individuals would be publicly exposed and doxed online. The tactic is intended to generate public embarrassment and deter immigration enforcement activity."

No specific dating apps were mentioned. The memo was sent after viral TikToks circulated, saying women should dox ICE agents they came across on dating apps — and the FBI noted that the report was "not finally evaluated intelligence."

A spokesperson for the FBI told The Guardian that, "The FBI regularly shares information with our law enforcement partners to assist in protecting the communities they serve as well as protecting those who serve and protect communities. The FBI is committed to ensuring that law enforcement officers are safe from threats or violence while performing their duties."

The document was obtained by the government-transparency nonprofit Property of the People through a public records request. In a statement, its executive director, Ryan Shapiro, told The Guardian, "It's absurd the FBI issued a thinly-sourced security alert about ICE agents' online dating troubles."

"It's equally ludicrous the FBI is spending taxpayer dollars to protect ICE agents from possible 'embarrassment' at the hands of a supposed 'small group of women' who might name and ridicule them online," Shapiro continued.

TL;DR: Watch Sevilla vs. Barcelona in La Liga for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's been an incredible start to the new La Liga season for Barcelona. They've won six games in six and scored an incredible 7-2 win over Racing Club earlier this week. They currently hold a three-point lead over their closest rivals, Real Madrid.

But Barcelona faces tough competition when they play Sevilla this weekend. Sevilla haven't displayed quite the same form, but they're still one of the league's most formidable teams. They've lost just one of their first six fixtures. Is this the game that breaks Barcelona's perfect run?

If you're interested in watching Sevilla vs. Barcelona in La Liga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Sevilla vs. Barcelona?

Sevilla vs. Barcelona in La Liga kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Sept. 19. This fixture takes place at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

How to watch Sevilla vs. Barcelona for free

Sevilla vs. Barcelona in La Liga is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Sevilla vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Sevilla vs. Barcelona for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Sevilla vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Sevilla vs. Barcelona without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more La Liga action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for La Liga?

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

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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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

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Reddit's lawsuit accusing Anthropic of illegally scraping user comments to train its Claude chatbot has cleared another hurdle. A San Francisco County Superior Court judge has allowed three of the platform's five claims to proceed while trimming back two others.

In an order dated Sept. 17 and filed the following day, Judge Harold Kahn overruled Anthropic's demurrer, a legal challenge arguing that even if Reddit's allegations are true, they don't amount to a valid claim. The judge will allow three of Reddit's claims against Anthropic to move forward: breach of contract, interference with contract, and violation of California's unfair competition law. Two other claims, unjust enrichment and trespass to chattels, were tossed out, but the judge will give Reddit a chance to fix and refile them by Oct. 16.

The case originated from a complaint Reddit filed in June 2025, when the company accused Anthropic of using automated bots to access its platform's content without permission and training Claude on the personal data of Reddit users without their consent.

At the time, Reddit's chief legal officer Ben Lee said AI companies should not be allowed to scrape people's information and content without clear limitations on how that data can be used, according to the Associated Press. Reddit noted it had separately struck licensing deals in 2024 with companies including Google and OpenAI that it said would allow it to enforce protections such as users' right to delete their content.

Kahn also rejected Anthropic's argument that Reddit's User Agreement was an unenforceable "browsewrap" agreement. The AI company tried to argue that Reddit's terms of service don't constitute a binding contract because users never explicitly click "I agree." The judge pointed to Reddit's allegations that Anthropic kept scraping the site more than 100,000 times even after Reddit's CEO publicly called out the behavior — evidence, he said, that Anthropic knew exactly what it was doing.

As stated earlier, Kahn dismissed Reddit's unjust enrichment and trespass claims, finding them too vague as written, but allowed the company to refile with more specificity.

A Reddit spokesperson said in a statement:

"This ruling sends a strong message – AI companies don't get a free pass to ignore the law. AI companies cannot scrape data without a license in violation of basic contract law, user privacy commitments and fair business practices. As we look ahead to the next phase of this lawsuit, Reddit remains committed to holding unauthorized scrapers accountable and to protecting the trust of Reddit users."

Anthropic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Flock Safety offered employees voluntary buyouts on Friday, WIRED reported. According to an internal email seen by WIRED, the surveillance company has announced a "generous" severance package for workers who want to leave, and will grant it to the majority of those who apply.

This comes amid backlash against Flock cameras, with civilians damaging them and state officials blocking funding for Flock and ordering their removal.

Flock reportedly stated in its email that the program "treats employees with transparency, respect, and choice," WIRED reported, and gives employees "greater agency." Without the buyouts, those familiar with the situation suspect the company would have to lay off some of its 1,500 employees.

Some packages include months of healthcare coverage, tens of thousands of dollars, and the ability to exercise stock options within two years of leaving the company, according to WIRED. Workers have until Oct. 2 to apply for the buyout, and they're expected to learn whether they're accepted by Oct. 9. Those who have accepted the buyout are expected to depart the company by Oct. 29.

Flock didn't immediately respond to WIRED's requests for comment.

An "entirely false" report generated by AI "almost started a war" with China, sources told CNN.

In an exclusive, several sources familiar with the incident told CNN that the fake report stated that a Chinese ship in the Middle East was transporting components of a nuclear weapon. Members of the U.S. military planned to board the ship, and military planes were in the air — but before any action was taken, officials realized the report was false.

A special operations command analyst assembled the report using AI, CNN reported, though it's unclear whether they used a commercially available LLM or an internal government one. A former senior official familiar with AI systems used by the military told CNN that internal tools are "mostly just copies of the commercial stuff wearing lipstick."

The report seemed to originate from the Hawaii-based U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific. Neither that department nor the Pentagon responded to CNN's request for comment.

This reporting comes amid cresting concerns about AI that went into overdrive after an Anthropic researcher quit and said the technology "could kill us all by the end of the decade."

But the Trump administration has been bullish on AI, with top military officials among its advocates. In Jan. 2026, the Department of War launched an "Artificial Intelligence Acceleration Strategy," with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth commenting, "We will become an 'AI-first' warfighting force across all domains."

This month, President Trump has called fears around AI a "hoax."

TL;DR: Watch VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund in the Bundesliga for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Dortmund might have lost the German Super Cup to Bayern Munich, but they've had a strong start to the new Bundesliga season.

Next up, they visit VfB Stuttgart, a team that has won one and lost two. It's safe to say that Dortmund will feel confident about securing a fourth straight win to challenge Freiburg for the top spot in the standings.

If you're interested in watching VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund in the Bundesliga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund?

VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund in the Bundesliga kicks off at 12.30 p.m. ET on Sept. 19. This fixture takes place at the MHPArena.

How to watch VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund for free

VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund in the Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more Bundesliga action) before recovering your investment.

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream VfB Stuttgart vs. Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Brighton vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're just five weeks into the new Premier League season and already things are tense at the top of the table. Last year's champions Arsenal are sitting in the top spot, but are level on points with Manchester City. The rivals are separated by a single goal. All it's going to take is one loss from either team to give the other a clear advantage.

Are Brighton the team to beat Arsenal when they host the Gunners this weekend? Common sense suggests that Arsenal should edge the game in terms of quality, but Brighton have had a good start to the 2026/27 season, with just one loss in four games. This is a Premier League clash not to miss.

If you're interested in watching Brighton vs. Arsenal in the Premier League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Brighton vs. Arsenal?

Brighton vs. Arsenal in the Premier League kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 19. This fixture takes place at the Amex Stadium.

How to watch Brighton vs. Arsenal for free

Brighton vs. Arsenal in the Premier League is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Brighton vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Brighton vs. Arsenal for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Brighton vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Brighton vs. Arsenal without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Brighton vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: To celebrate Batman Day 2026, Lego is hosting make-and-take events for limited-edition Batman Busts. This free event is for Lego Insiders only, but it's free to sign up.

Genuinely free Lego sets are almost non-existent. Usually, scoring an exclusive model or mini-build requires dropping some serious cash. That's usually the case, but not this weekend.

To celebrate Batman Day 2026, Lego is letting fans build and take home a limited-edition Batman Bust completely free of charge. The event is strictly limited to a two-hour window (Sept. 19 from 12-2 p.m.) and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Because this build cannot be bought off the shelf or ordered online, collectors and scalpers will likely line up before doors open.

Only a limited quantity of Batman Busts will be available, the event is intended for participants aged 6+ years, and you're limited to one build per customer.

How to claim the limited-edition Batman Bust

1. Sign up for Lego Insiders: This event is strictly exclusive to Lego Insiders, but it's free to sign up

2. Check store participation: Double-check your local store page here to verify their exact event window before making the drive

3. Arrive early: Quantities are strictly capped, and events like this often run dry before the end of the two-hour window

You have all the information you need. Now it's up to you to make sure you come home with this iconic Batman Bust.

A galaxy 55 million light-years away in space spins in two directions at once, and astronomers suspect it ended up that way after swallowing a smaller neighbor.

The Hubble Space Telescope, NASA's optical light telescope in orbit around Earth, has now photographed the galaxy, called NGC 4698, in sharp detail. It sits in the constellation Virgo, one of more than 1,000 galaxies that gravity holds together in the Virgo Cluster, the closest big group of galaxies.

Although galaxies can grow on their own, they can also evolve by consuming gas and smaller galaxies it bumps up against. The two scenarios leave different clues, and NGC 4698 leans toward a galaxy that ate something. Because only a few known spiral galaxies spin against themselves like this, astronomers want to study NGC 4698 to figure out how it happened. 

Picture a doughnut spinning around your finger. That is the body of this distant galaxy. Its bright arms wrap around the outside in a ring and leave the middle open. The ring turns flat — the way nearly every spiral galaxy revolves — including our own Milky Way. 

Now picture another mini doughnut sitting in its hole, standing on its edge and spinning perpendicular to the big one. That is what's going on in the middle of NGC 4698, except the little doughnut is really more of a dough ball, stretched into an oval and missing its own hole. The stars packed inside it ride up over the top of the galaxy and down under the bottom. Hubble's image shows those bulges as a faint glow above and below the dusty plane.

The new image comes from a Hubble project aimed at the Virgo Cluster. It captures small features inside these nearby galaxies, down to single clusters of stars and glowing clouds of gas. The bigger goal is to learn what happens to a galaxy as it travels through a crowded cluster, and whether the trip helps it build new stars or shuts that down.

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Nothing in a galaxy is glued down, which is how one galaxy can manage two spins. Each star follows its own loop around the center. One crowd can loop flat while another loops crosswise, and neither forces the other to turn around.

Scientists believe some type of collision caused these two spins. Gas from somewhere else could have fallen into the galaxy's gap, gathered at the center, and started spinning its own way. Some observations back that up, NASA says, suggesting the galaxy swallowed another smaller galaxy long ago. A short tail of hydrogen trailing off one side might have formed in the crash.

The NGC 4698 image comes from a Hubble project capturing features inside Virgo Cluster galaxies. Credit: NASA / ESA

A recent study on the Milky Way's center also traces a family of stars back to an extremely ancient galactic merger. The research, which appeared in Nature Astronomy last month, looked at the ages and chemicals in several of the galaxy's globular clusters — tightly packed balls of thousands to millions of stars.

That information, combined with the direction of the stars' orbits, helped a team of scientists parse three distinct groups: native Milky Way stars, stars from the Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus merger, and a third unknown population. Using advanced tools, scientists estimated the collision that brought them into the galaxy happened 11.8 billion years ago. 

Everything else about NGC 4698 looks rather ordinary. Dark brown clumps of dust run through the outer arms, dotted with bunches of bright blue stars — the huge, hot kind that burn fast and mark spots where stars recently formed. The middle glows soft white because those stars are older, smaller, and cooler. 

A black hole as heavy as millions of suns sits at the center, dragging gas into itself. Scientists see signs it's actually still growing.

TL;DR: KitchenAid just released its 2026 Design Series Luminaire Stand Mixer ($699.99), featuring a brand-new illuminated fluted glass bowl, a textured blue peppercorn finish, and stainless steel attachments.

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Credit: KitchenAid

KitchenAid Design Series Luminaire Stand Mixer

$699.99 at KitchenAid

 

Shop Now

If your holiday wish list isn't fully locked in yet, I suggest you leave a spot at the top. KitchenAid just unveiled its Design Series Luminaire Stand Mixer — and it is built to be the star of this year's Christmas baking spree.

Every year, KitchenAid releases a special "Design Series" model that turns its classic mixer into a piece of kitchen art. Priced at $699.99, the Luminaire is available to buy now.

The headline feature here is something KitchenAid has never done before: an integrated bowl light. The mixer comes paired with a thick, fluted glass bowl that looks like high-end glassware. When you turn it on, a built-in light shines from inside the mixer frame down into the bowl.

It lights up your dough, casts cool geometric shadows across your counter, and helps you see if those last bits of flour are mixed in properly. The bowl is made from hardened glass, so it can handle kitchen tasks like softening cold butter or tempering warm chocolate without cracking.

Credit: KitchenAid

Instead of standard glossy paint, the Luminaire comes coated in a brand-new shade called blue peppercorn — a soft French blue with a textured "crinkle" finish. To keep things looking sleek, KitchenAid gave it color-matched trim and polished metallic accents that pop against the matte blue body.

And, you won't have to deal with chipped paint on your accessories either. The Luminaire comes standard with heavy-duty, dishwasher-safe stainless steel attachments, including a double-flex-edge beater, dough hook, wire whip, and flat beater.

For the ultimate big-budget gift flex, KitchenAid is also releasing an ultra-limited run of just five matching 36-inch Commercial-Style Ranges, alongside a Blue Peppercorn capsule cookware collection dropping later this fall.

If you want to be the envy of every holiday party host this year, you know what to do. Grab the KitchenAid Design Series Luminaire Stand Mixer today.

Carol. Deep Water. Strangers on a Train. The Talented Mr. Ripley. American author Patricia Highsmith has inspired filmmakers for decades with her lurid tales of sex, deception, and murder. Now, she herself is a character in such a thriller, thanks to A Talent For Murder.

Adapted for the screen by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith from her own play, Switzerland, this film imagines what might have happened if Highsmith's biggest fan got the chance to meet his hero. Enter Edward Ridgeway (Tony winner Alden Ehrenreich), a handsome young man with carefully coiffed dark hair, a strong jaw, a pressed shirt, and polished glasses, but little poise. On a train through Switzerland, he seems like he stumbled out of the first chapter of a Tom Ripley novel, sure to be felled or corrupted by the iconic con man.

Now, the girl. Clementine Harriet Balfour (Olivia Cooke) is pretty, with a bouncy brunette bob, and a fashion sense that hints at an old-money family and independent ambitions. They meet as strangers on a train, but are sure to cross paths again in the small Swiss village where she's visiting a miserly dowager aunt (Juliet Stevenson), and he's tasked with getting Highsmith to sign a contract to write a sixth Ripley novel.

Director Anton Corbijn expertly lays out a spring-loaded trap that's sure to capture the interest of Highsmith fans. A handsome couple flirts, while wealth and opportunity glitter on the horizon. What might they do to get there?

Enter a surly Highsmith, played with gnarly certainty by the one and only Helen Mirren.

Helen Mirren is a deranged delight in A Talent for Murder.

The English Dame has done Shakespeare and Prime Suspect; she's played Queen Elizabeth II and a Fast and Furious baddie with equal aplomb. Plus, just last year, she played a sultry spy in the cozy crime treat The Thursday Murder Club. But there's no lightness in Mirren's Highsmith.

In 1995, atop a Swiss mountain, the heralded author has become an eccentric recluse, rumored to have poisoned a neighbor's dog for barking too much, and to have driven an American man so mad he fled her home while only wearing his pajamas. Dressed in men's slacks, a crisp men's dress shirt, a cravat and vest, paired with a fuck-off bob, Mirren's Highsmith is imposing, even introduced ironing a shirt.

When Edward appears, eager with compliments, gifts, and talk of opportunity, she regards him with such scorching disdain the audience at the Toronto International Film Festival gasped and guffawed. The ruthless wit of the Ripley novels is sharply replicated in Murray-Smith's screenplay, and Mirren makes the most of every line, savoring the sharp barbs. To his credit, Ehrenreich doesn't balk in the face of this storied actress. And thank the gods, because failing to match her onscreen would make A Talent for Murder a miss. Instead, it's a twisted thrill: sexy, salty, and wickedly fun.

Alden Ehrenreich is hot and bothered in A Talent for Murder.

Earlier this year, Ehrenreich earned praise and a Tony award for his phenomenal performance in the Broadway revival of Becky Shaw. Watching A Talent for Murder, I thought often of this stage performance, as his characters have a lot in common. Young men who've come from a family with no means and no reputation worth a damn, who both cozy up to a wealthy family, determined not just to enter their world but to rule it.

At first glance, Edward looks like Matt Damon's version of Ripley, from the juicy 1999 adaptation The Talented Mr. Ripley. His hair floppy but fashionable. His smile earnest but awkward. The eyeglasses, a perfect twin. This feels intentional, as if Corbijn wants Highsmith fans to immediately wonder if this eager social climber might have the root of evil in him, which could make Highsmith's criminal mastermind real.

Smartly, the screenplay doesn't pitch Edward as some rube. He's come ready to impress Highsmith, even if that means tantalizing her with twisted tales from his past, and the possibility of criminally corrupting him. Enticed by his game, the two begin to collaborate on a murder mystery about a blue-collar boy who meets an old-money girl, and is determined to make her family fortune his own. Their thought experiment gets joltingly real as Highsmith haunts him in the night and inspires him to treat the reckless heiress Clementine as source material.

From there, A Talent for Murder begins to blur what's real and imagined in pursuit of bringing fresh blood to Highsmith's typewriter. And it just wouldn't work if Ehrenreich weren't on fire. Where Mirren is delicious in her snarling cruelty (think Tilda Swinton in Problemista), Ehrenreich is intriguing in his slipperiness. Edward and Highsmith's imagined novel plays out as we watch, recasting the former as her anti-hero, with Clementine playing the role they write for her. In these sections, Ehrenreich has the smoothness of Ripley, his confidence edged with a misanthropic disgust at all who aren't as clever and calculating as he. But as Edward, Ehrenreich trembles with insecurity, particularly in a scene where he's delicately called out by an Irish lady (Brid Brennan), who spots him as an outsider from his shoes alone.

To her credit, Cooke is not outshone in the slim role of Clementine. Whether the imagined version where she is a yearning virgin or the real one, where she is a spoiled rich girl looking for a cheap thrill, she brings a full-blooded verve to this girl. Together, this trio weaves a tale of sex, death, and desire that touches on the best of Highsmith's works, without feeling like a shallow retread of them. Instead, A Talent for Murder plays like a superb fan fiction, imagining the inner world and grisly desires of the seminal author, without idolizing her or whitewashing her well-documented defects.

A Talent For Murder is darkly funny, freshly thrilling, and unrepentantly seductive. It's not a Ripley sequel, but it's damn close.

A Talent For Murder was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will open in theaters on Oct. 23.

Rebel Wilson fails to revive her sputtering career with Girl Group, a female-fronted comedy that aims to tap into Pitch Perfect’s fandom — even namedropping that movie directly. But Wilson's latest will only have fans of Pitch Perfect singing the blues. 

Written, directed, produced, and headlined by Wilson, Girl Group plays like Pitch Perfect meets The Mighty Ducks meets The House Bunny, but only if all of those movies were awful. Wilson stars as Tassie Young, a reckless, washed-up former girl group star who's inexplicably tasked with being a mentor to a group of teen girls who have dreams of pop stardom. 

There might have been a clean or even comedic way to set up all that backstory. But Wilson favors a hasty first act that races through establishing her former band, Girlfriends, as private school besties who went from a school talent show to the top of the charts, only to be destroyed by Tassie's desire to go solo. When her first album flops hard, she devolves into the party scene and anonymity. But when the band announces a reunion tour some years later, Tassie is shocked to learn she's been replaced. Her resulting tantrum leads to a DUI that lands her in court-mandated community service, which involves this absolute disaster of a human being tasked to mentor impressionable youth. This all happens so quickly that it seems Wilson is bored by the story she herself wrote.

And that's just the first act. This 96-minute movie is paced as if it's on a cocaine high, and it's just as coherent as that suggests. Girl Group hastily introduces subplots around Tassie's proteges, their sisters, new bandmates, and a rival dance coach, while working towards a big girl group competition climax that's underwhelming instead of entertaining.  A plot so absurd and overcrowded might have worked if Girl Group played like a parody of showbiz movies. (Think Walk Hard.) But Wilson's clumsy and oblivious attempt to reclaim her reputation as a hilarious actress only proves she's an atrocious filmmaker. 

Girl Group is alarmingly unfunny. 

Wilson jams nearly every moment of her movie with some attempt at humor, but much of them fall flat, creating a pile of punchlines that spark groans rather than laughter. Some of these jokes are lazy bastardizations of well-known barbs. Like when the new Girlfriends member (former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger) says, "I don't want beef, I'm vegan." It's impossible not to think of 3OH!3’s Don’t Trust Me, with the much-memed lyric, "You tell your boyfriend, if he says he's got beef / that I'm a vegetarian, and I ain't fucking scared of him."

Somehow, she got reputable comedians and stars to join this mess, including Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Coolidge, Randall Park, Chris Colfer, Shaznay Lewis, and Melanie C. But none can elevate Wilson's deadly cringe dialogue, littered with buzzwords, haphazard pop culture references, crude jokes, and pitiable wordplay, like a bandmate informing her, "You're an ex-Girlfriend now!" 

Then, on top of all this dross, Wilson offers physical comedy that ranges from miming snorting a line of cocaine to awkwardly twerking. Her comedy, written and directed by her for her to star in, shows no point of view. It's just soulless noise and motion. It's as if Girl Group were made by AI, and the prompt was "women aren't funny." 

Girl Group is an ugly mess of a movie, but the music is good. 

There's an impressive array song numbers in Wilson's comedy, including a heartfelt acoustic rendering of Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Feather," a spirited cover of Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please," and a sanitized spin on Chappell Roan's "Hot to Go!" As Tassie's proteges — called Xplode (pronounced "explode") — begin to compete against other girl groups, a bevy of talented performers get a chance to shine, including Chabely Ponce, Daniela Couso, Lilah Pate, Mia Kaplan, Bailey Stender, and Miracle Washington.

The performers in the girl groups (both Tassie's proteges and a rival group) have screen presence and are fun to watch. Unfortunately, Wilson's script offers so little attention to their characters, it's impossible to become invested in their journey. And when Wilson leaps into the numbers, her performance style is so brash and superficial that she becomes a distraction in her own movie. 

Beyond that, the musical numbers are horrendously captured. A dull color palette, flat and pink, coats the film in a fuzzy Instagram filter feel. The editing style is jumpy without any apparent logic in geography, emotional sensibility, or spectacle. Scrolling through TikTok has a more satisfying sense of flow. 

Derry Girls' Jamie-Lee O'Donnell is the real star of Girl Group. 

The Northern Irish actor plays a rival girl group mentor and vengeance-seeking Girlfriends stan named Miss Candy. The moment O'Donnell struts onscreen, Girl Group finally ignites. She's got a focus, a perspective, and a sharp comedic timing that even Wilson's mismanagement of this movie can't smother. 

With an American accent and comical precision, O'Donnell seems to be channeling Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller and Gina Gershon in Showgirls. Her intensity is outrageous, vicious, and wildly entertaining. Where Wilson's approach to Girl Group seems to be chucking sexy dance moves and poop jokes at the screen to see what sticks, O'Donnell hits the bullseye with every line and reaction shot. 

But maybe you should just take my word for that, and look for O'Donnell elsewhere, because watching Girl Group isn't fun. It's a punishment. 

Girl Group was reviewed out of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

TL;DR: Headway Premium lifetime access is just $49.97 (reg. $299.95) through Sept. 20, with 2,000+ bite-sized book summaries, audio options, personalized learning, and more.

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Credit: Headway

Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription

$49.97
$299.95 Save $249.98

 

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Your reading list might have great intentions, but finding time to finish every book is another story. Headway Premium is currently just $49.97 (reg. $299.95) through Sept. 20 as a September Spotlight Deal, giving you another way to tackle all those ideas without tackling hundreds of pages first.

Headway condenses nonfiction and fiction bestsellers into 15-minute summaries, with more than 2,000 currently available and new ones added monthly. You can read summaries or listen to audio versions performed by professional voice actors, so it’s easy to squeeze some learning into a commute, workout, or coffee break.

There’s more to Headway than shortened books. Personalized self-growth plans create step-by-step learning journeys based on your goals, while curated collections and recommendations help surface relevant topics and ideas. Daily microlearning sessions deliver even smaller bites of information when 15 minutes feels ambitious.

Headway also adds some game-like motivation. You can build streaks, track progress, answer quizzes and trivia questions, explore an interactive Growth Map, and try video role-plays based on real-life situations. Highlights can be saved as interactive flashcards, while spaced repetition helps reinforce facts and insights you want to remember.

Prefer learning away from WiFi? Summaries can be downloaded for offline access. Audiocasts offer another listening option, and a sleep timer is available for nighttime sessions.

A lifetime subscription means one payment rather than an ongoing subscription. For someone who already enjoys discovering new ideas but wants to make learning easier to fit into the day, Headway offers a practical shortcut.

Get lifetime access to Headway Premium for just $49.97 (reg. $299.95) through Sept. 20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Magic Data Recovery Pro Edition for Windows is $39.99 (reg. $99.95) for a lifetime license with unlimited recovery, free upgrades, and technical support.

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Credit: Amagicsoft

Magic Data Recovery Pro Edition: Lifetime License for Windows

$39.99
$99.95 Save $59.96

 

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Formatted the wrong drive? Emptied the Recycle Bin and immediately realized something important was in there? Magic Data Recovery Pro Edition for Windows is currently on sale for $39.99 (reg. $99.95) for a lifetime license, giving you a recovery tool you can keep ready for those decidedly un-fun moments.

Trust matters when you’re granting software access to important files. Magic Data Recovery has a 4.8-star Trustpilot rating and is notarized by Windows.

The software can recover more than 5,000 file types, including photos, videos, documents, audio, emails, archives, databases, and RAW camera files. It works with HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD and microSD cards, digital cameras, and other supported storage devices.

Recovery isn’t limited to accidentally deleted files, either. Magic Data Recovery can search formatted or RAW drives, lost partitions, corrupted file systems, and files lost after system crashes, Windows reinstalls, virus attacks, or sudden power failures.

The point-and-click interface doesn’t require technical expertise. Choose a quick or deep scan, then preview, search, and filter the results before restoring only the files you want. Its fast scanning engine also helps avoid the lengthy scans common with other recovery tools.

Everything runs locally on your PC with zero cloud uploads, so files stay on your machine during recovery. Unlike the free version’s 500MB recovery cap, Pro offers unlimited recovery.

The one-time price covers a perpetual license for one Windows PC, with lifetime free upgrades and technical support. There’s no auto-renewing subscription, making it a practical utility to own before — or after — the next accidental delete.

Get a lifetime license to Magic Data Recovery Pro Edition for Windows for $39.99 (reg. $99.95).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best Hulu deals and bundles in September 2026:

---

Best Hulu Bundle Deal

Disney+ and Hulu Bundle

Get 6 months for $11.99/month

Get Deal

---

Best HBO Max Bundle Deal

Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle

$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free

Get Deal

---

Best Student Deal

Disney+ and Hulu Student Deal

$6.49/month

Get Deal

---

Best ESPN Bundle Deal

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle

$35.99/month

Get Deal

There's a wide range of excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu, including season 2 of Chad Powers, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Shards, and Furious. It's a library that's full of options to keep you entertained, especially as we head into the chillier months of the year.

If these shows have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we're here to help you get the best deal. Beyond the standard ad-supported and ad-free plans, there are several bundle deals on Hulu worth exploring if you're looking to save some cash. This includes the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package.

Disney has also dropped a six-month offer for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, though it is only available on their site at the moment. This drops its ad-supported plan to $11.99 per month when locked in for six months (then back up to $12.99 per month). The ad-free plan is down to $17.99 per month (which will return to $19.99 per month after six months).

Disney notes that this is an "ongoing offer for people who want to subscribe for a longer period to save on the average monthly cost." It's also available for new and eligible returning subscribers.

Below you can find details on Hulu's best bundles at the moment — alongside information on both its ad-supported and ad-free plans, if you just want the basics — offering you a way to save on the service right now.

Best Disney+ bundle deal

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Credit: Hulu

Disney+ and Hulu Bundle

Get 6 months for $11.99 per month

Get Deal

Why we like it

The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle starts at $12.99 per month. If you'd prefer the Premium ad-free version of this plan, this jumps to $19.99 per month.

If you're curious about Disney's new six-month offer, this is available on Disney's site. Again, it offers the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle plan for $11.99 per month when locked in for six months, then returns to $12.99 per month. The Premium ad-free plan is $17.99 per month for six months, then returns to $19.99 per month.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — $12.99 per month

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $19.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal

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Credit: Hulu

Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle

$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free

Get Deal

Why we like it

This is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max for a much lower price than what you'd pay for the three separately. It's an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you've already got Disney+ and HBO Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best student deal

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Credit: Hulu

Disney+ and Hulu Student

$6.49/month

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Why we like it

If you're a student enrolled at a university, you can get the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle for $6.49 per month. That's 50% off the regular monthly price of $12.99, though the page does note that the offer only lasts "so long as student enrollment status remains verified." After that, it goes back up to $12.99 per month.

• Disney+ and Hulu Student — $6.49 per month

Best ESPN bundle deal

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Credit: Hulu

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle

$35.99/month

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Why we like it

Alongside the big Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max bundle, Hulu also offers sports-focused plans that include ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+." 

The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $21.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $32.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per month

Hulu's monthly plans

If you're just looking to jump straight into Hulu's library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $11.99 per month. If you want to go ad-free, that'll cost you $18.99 per month.

• Hulu (with ads) — $11.99 per month, $119.99 per year

• Hulu Premium (no ads) — $18.99 per month

If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there's the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $89.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV — it'll cost you $99.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial for three days.

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN Select (with ads) — $89.99 per month (3-day free trial)

• Hulu Premium + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select (no ads) — $99.99 per month

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select — $94.99 per month

• Live TV Only — $88.99 per month

Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We're here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you're in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.

TL;DR: Pok Pok is moving from one-time purchases to a subscription model, and a limited number of unlimited-access codes are still available for $59.99 (reg. $250.00).

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Credit: Pok Pok

Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription

$59.99
$250 Save $190.01

 

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Screen time for a toddler usually comes down to a trade-off between ads, in-app purchases, or content that overstimulates a two-year-old within minutes. Pok Pok uses a Montessori-inspired set of open-ended digital toys to overcome the pitfalls of modern tech, and this is the last day you can purchase the app for $59.99 (reg. $250.00) for life.

Space, Number Journey, Shapes, Dress-up, and Dinosaurs each work like a different toy within the same app, built around tapping and exploring rather than levels, timers, or a way to lose. A World Puzzle mode pieces together a new scene one tile at a time, and Radio turns the screen into a jukebox for kids who want to press buttons and hear something happen. New toys and seasonal updates keep the catalog growing, and one account works across every device in the house, up to 10 at once.

Montessori-style, low-stimulation design may help younger kids stay engaged without the sensory overload of a typical kids’ app, and the whole thing works offline, so it travels well. The Verge called it “a charming, minimalist experience,” and the app is COPPA- and GDPR-compliant, with no ads and no in-app nudges to buy anything else.

Grab one of the remaining codes for Pok Pok’s one-time $59.99 price before the subscription model takes over, because today is the last chance for unlimited access instead of a recurring bill.

TL;DR: One $39.99 payment gets you lifetime AskAnyModel AI Pro access, with 50+ supported AI models, comparisons of up to six responses at once, unlimited standard-model chats, and 500 monthly premium credits.

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Credit: AskAnyModel

AskAnyModel AI Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription

$39.99
$499 Save $459.01

 

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Having a favorite AI model is fine until you wonder whether another one would’ve given you a better answer. AskAnyModel AI Pro is on sale for just $39.99 for lifetime access (reg. $499), putting more than 50 supported AI models into one browser-based workspace.

The big draw is comparison. Instead of copying the same prompt into a bunch of tabs, you can select two to six models, ask your question once, and see multiple answers side by side. The results include response times and token counts, making it easier to choose the response that fits your task.

The platform brings together models from providers including GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Llama, and Mistral. You can switch models during a conversation without losing context, whether you’re writing, coding, researching, or brainstorming.

There is an important distinction in how access works. The plan includes unlimited chats with 30 standard models, plus a Pro Gemini model with Google Search grounding that’s limited to 300 chats per week. For 19 premium models, including GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity Search options, you receive 500 credits each month.

AskAnyModel also includes unlimited AI image generation across supported models without using those premium credits.

Because everything is cloud-based, there’s nothing to download or update; you just sign in through a modern browser. The AI model library is also regularly updated with new releases and improvements.

For anyone who regularly wonders, “What would another AI say?”, AskAnyModel AI Pro is just $39.99 for lifetime access (reg. $499).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay $39.99 once for 1TB of LifetimeCloud storage for life, with zero-knowledge AES-256 encryption, unlimited-device access, file history, and family sharing.

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Credit: LifetimeCloud

LifetimeCloud Secure Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB)

$39.99
$199 Save $159.01

 

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Cloud storage is useful. But paying for it month after month can add up. LifetimeCloud gives you 1TB of encrypted cloud storage for life for a one-time $39.99 payment (reg. $199), with no monthly or annual renewal fees.

The plan gives you one central place for photos, videos, documents, and other files. Everything works through your browser, so there’s no software to install or maintain. You can log in from unlimited computers and phones, and your files stay synced across your devices.

Privacy is also a major part of the package. LifetimeCloud uses zero-knowledge AES-256 encryption, which means files are encrypted before they leave your device. They’re unreadable to anyone but you — including LifetimeCloud itself. LifetimeCloud hosts data in Italy under EU and GDPR protections.

The 1TB plan supports an unlimited number of uploads, although individual files are capped at 1.5GB. You also get one year of file version history, a built-in file editor, and straightforward file and folder sharing.

Family sharing supports up to five members, so you can share the plan across your household.

Updates and security improvements are included, and you can access LifetimeCloud through Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox.

For anyone who wants plenty of private cloud space without adding another recurring payment to the calendar, this is a solid option.

Get 1TB of LifetimeCloud Secure Storage for just $39.99 while you can.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license for one compatible PC for $9.97 (reg. $199).

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro

$9.97
$199 Save $189.03

 

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Some upgrades just feel right. This is one of them.

If your PC has been running a little sluggish or you’ve been meaning to bring your system up to speed, Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 (reg. $199) — a rare, time-sensitive offer that rewards quick, savvy decisions.

This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.

Think of it as the difference between driving a reliable car and suddenly upgrading to one with a smarter dashboard, smoother handling, and built-in security features.

For professionals, creators, and power users, this upgrade also unlocks features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and seamless Azure AD integration — tools that make a real difference when you’re working across projects or managing sensitive data.

And yes, Windows 11 comes with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or even help you generate code on the fly. It’s like having a co-pilot (literally) inside your OS.

But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one.

Get Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 (reg. $199) through Sept. 27.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $26: As of Sept. 18, the Paramount+ discount code p2mcs26prem is still live. Enter it at checkout to get two months of Paramount+ Premium for just $0.99 per month. That's $13 per month in savings.

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Credit: Paramount+

Paramount+ Premium

$0.99
$13.99 Save $13

*for 2 months* with code p2mcs26prem

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Not to brag, but I've now scored six months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for around $6 total. Yes, that's less than a single month of other streaming services and yes, I'm going to let you in on my secret.

As of Sept. 18, the secret Paramount+ discount code I wrote about last month is still active. There's no telling how long, so I suggest using it to sign up ASAP. New and returning subscribers can secure two months of streaming on Paramount+ Premium for just $0.99 per month by entering the code p2mcs26prem at checkout. That's less than $2 for two full months. Typically $13.99 per month, you'll save $26 total.

Be sure to choose the monthly Premium ad-free plan. Then click on "Have a promo code?" on the checkout page and enter p2mcs26prem. The discount will then automatically apply, knocking the monthly cost down to $0.99.

Paramount+ has become an essential streaming service for sports fans — particularly UFC fans. It's the exclusive home of UFC's marquee events, as well as 30 Fight Nights, including the historic championship rematch between Van and Pantoja this weekend (Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. ET). It's also where NFL fans without cable can watch live local AFC games on Sundays.

It has a lot more than just sports, though. It's also the home of your local CBS Network live, the entirety of Showtime's catalog (Yellowjackets, Dexter, etc.), Paramount Pictures theatrical releases (Scream 7, Passenger, etc.), nostalgic Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and MTV shows, and of course, Paramount+ Originals like Criminal Minds: Evolution, Dutton Ranch, and Golden Axe.

Remember to cancel before the two-month promo period is up, or the price will jump back up to $13.99 per month. Pro tip: If the code is still live after your two months end, you can sign up for another two months at 99 cents a pop.

TL;DR: Live stream Serie A for free on SportyNet and CazéTV. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

What do you look for when watching elite football? Do you need the speed and physicality of the Premier League? Do you yearn for the technical ability of La Liga? Or perhaps you love spotting young talent in Ligue 1?

If you are passionate about tactical discipline and defensive organization, Serie A is the league for you. Some of the world's best players have competed in this competition, including Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Paolo Maldini. The league isn't the powerhouse that it once was, but it still offers fascinating matchups week after week.

If you want to watch Serie A for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is Serie A?

Serie A is a professional football league in Italy and the highest level of the Italian football league system. The league is contested by 20 clubs, with each team playing 38 fixtures. Serie A is home to some of football's most successful clubs, including Juventus, Napoli, Inter Milan, and AC Milan.

The defending champions are Inter Milan.

When is Serie A?

The 2026-27 Serie A season will start on Aug. 22. The season will end on May 30.

How to watch Serie A for free

Select Serie A fixtures are available to live stream for free on SportyNet and CazéTV.

SportyNet and CazéTV are geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can unblock free live streams of Serie A from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of Serie A by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit SportyNet or CazéTV

5. Watch Serie A fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of Serie A without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams all season, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 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 — 80% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream Serie A for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.