Mashable

DeLonghi has expanded its espresso machine lineup — where to buy Classic Matte Black and Classic Stainless Steel

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:26:26 +0000

Credit: De'Longhi

$149.95 at De'Longhi

Credit: De'Longhi

Classic Stainless Steel Espresso Machine

$179.95 at De'Longhi

De’Longhi has expanded its Classic Espresso Machine lineup with two new finishes: Matte Black and Stainless Steel. Both models build on last year’s launch, continuing the brand’s push to make café-style espresso more approachable for everyday home setups.

At the core, they’re designed around the same idea — simple, compact machines that aim to bring espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, and more into reach without a steep learning curve.

Classic Matte Black Espresso Machine

Credit: De'Longhi

Classic Matte Black Espresso Machine

$149.95 at De'Longhi

The De’Longhi Classic Espresso Machine in Matte Black is the more affordable way into making café-style coffee at home. Priced at $149.95 in the U.S., it has a matte black finish and a steam wand that froths milk or plant-based alternatives.

It uses 9-bar pressure to pull espresso shots and heats up quickly with thermoblock technology so it’s ready to brew fast. You can choose single or double shots with preset buttons, and save your preferred drink size. With an adjustable tray, 57 oz water tank, and included tamper and filter baskets, it’s an easy, no-fuss setup.

Classic Stainless Steel Espresso Machine

Credit: De'Longhi

Classic Stainless Steel Espresso Machine

$179.95 at De'Longhi

The De’Longhi Classic Espresso Machine in Stainless Steel is designed as a step-up option for anyone who wants café-style drinks with a bit more control. It’s priced at $179.95 in the U.S. and $229.95 in Canada. The classic espresso machine pairs a premium stainless steel finish with versatile 2-setting steam wand for milk-based drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, and iced americanos.

Credit: De’Longhi

Inside, it uses a 15-bar pump that delivers consistent 9-bar extraction with auto-stop for repeatable espresso shots, along with a thermoblock system that heats quickly and maintains stable temperature. You can pull single or double shots at the press of a button, then adjust drinks using the steam wand, which produces everything from steamed milk to microfoam — and also dispenses hot water for americanos and tea.

Keke Palmers podcast interview with Michelle Buteau is pure joy

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:17:55 +0000

If you're looking for a brilliant interview between two icons at the top of their game, watch Keke Palmer interviewing Michelle Buteau.

On the latest episode of Baby, This is Keke Palmer, the podcast host (and Mashable 101 alumnus) chats with the Survival of the Thickest and Babes star and it's simply glorious to watch. The pair talk about the latest and final season of Buteau's Netflix show, her history-making Radio City Music Hall show, motherhood, growing up in Central Jersey with Caribbean heritage, the worst interview questions ("What would you ask your younger self?"), and they play a chaotic game of Password.

Best bit?

Palmer and Buteau's conversation about body confidence and the exhausting shaming comments Buteau's been told about by people in her life, from her family to producers.

"I always say representation is so important, because if you don't see yourself, how do you ever know that you could be it? And how do you learn about anybody else, if you're just seeing the same type of people all the time, the same type of bodies?" says Buteau, explaining how she found her now-signature sense of self love and confidence despite these negative comments.

"I was angry for a while, and comedy really saved me because I was able to talk about it, make it funny, yell, and eventually go the therapy," Buteau later adds. "But I'm thankful for those experiences, because when people say we fight for joy, I fight for it, within myself, for everybody else. And now I know how to love my children and how to raise them. Because I'm like, it ain't about even me, it's you, this is your body. The most important relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself.

"So I am actually thankful for those experiences because they really have taught me how to live in an unbridled, joyful way where nobody can fucking touch it."

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

Legos Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit has dropped below $65 at Amazon — save over $10

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:48:08 +0000

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 1, the Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit (42179) is on sale for $61.99 at Amazon. That's $13 off its list price of $74.99.

Credit: Lego

Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit (42179)

$61.99 at Amazon
$74.99 Save $13.00

This year's Prime Day sale was a great time to stock up on Lego, but just because it's over doesn't mean the deals have all disappeared.

We're still finding some offers worth taking advantage of at Amazon, like this discount on the Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit (42179). As of July 1, it's had $13 slashed off its price tag at the retailer, bringing it down to $61.99.

Amazon's store page notes that this is a 90-day low price for this set and according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, it's just over $2 away from its lowest-ever price of $59.95. If you've had your eye on it, now is an excellent time to grab it for less.

The Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit comes with 526 pieces that create a very cool build of the earth, sun, and moon in orbit. And since it's a Technic build, it has mechanical elements as well. Those elements appear through a crank that, when turned, shows how the earth and moon orbit around the sun. That's cool.

It may be recommended for ages 10 and up, but this set looks like something every age can enjoy.

If you've been hoping to add the Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit to your collection, don't miss out on this great deal at Amazon.

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

How to watch Sierra vs. Gauff online for free

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:45:33 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Sierra vs. Gauff in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

While the World Cup takes over the USA, one of the country's biggest stars is in action at Wimbledon. Coco Gauff takes to the court to face Argentinian youngster Solana Sierra in the second round.

For Gauff this could prove a huge challenge. The 22-year-old has previously won the U.S. and French Open but she's never progressed beyond the fourth round of Wimbledon. A convincing victory over Sierra could put Gauff on track for a good run at the Wimbledon title.

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

How to watch Sierra vs. Gauff for free

Sierra vs. Gauff in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

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

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for Wimbledon, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections

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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of Wimbledon.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Kessler online for free

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:44:19 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Kessler in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Wimbledon is sure to give the World Cup a run for its money over the next few weeks.

Today's Wimbledon action features Aryna Sabalenka in a second-round match against American opponent McCartney Kessler. Women's top seed Sabalenka is aiming to bounce back from disappointment at the French Open and claim her first-ever Wimbledon title. It's the one Grand Slam final she's never played. Is 2026 the year the Belarusian star goes all the way?

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

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Kessler for free

Sabalenka vs. Kessler in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections

How to watch Tsitsipas vs. Djokovic online for free

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:42:54 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Tsitsipas vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

As the World Cup continues to take over North America, Wimbledon serves up a third day of world class tennis action. Today sees top stars take to the court including Jannik Sinner and the one-and-only Novak Djokovic, who plays unseeded Greek opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Serbian superstar Djokovic has slipped down the rankings — he enters Wimbledon as the No. 7 seed — and he was one of many top names who took an early exit at the French Open. But the 39-year-old is still one of the GOATs of tennis and wants to claim another title to add to his incredible career record of 24 Grand Slams.

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

How to watch Tsitsipas vs. Djokovic for free

Tsitsipas vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections

How to watch Sinner vs. Borges online for free

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:41:40 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Borges in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

After a nervy first round for Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon — a match that unexpectedly went to five sets — the world No. 1 is back in action against Portugal's Nuno Borges.

Italian superstar Sinner is looking to dominate his unseeded opponent and prove that his shock exit from last month's French Open was just a blip. With most eyes on the World Cup it's easy to overlook just how exciting the action is from this Grand Slam.

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

How to watch Sinner vs. Borges for free

Sinner vs. Borges in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections

The latest green flag? Not using AI, survey states.

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:10:10 +0000

Daters are a bit fickle with their feelings on AI, with some saying companion AI is a dealbreaker but still using it to conjure up messages to a potential date. But a new survey from the dating app Hily suggests that it's sexy to be a Luddite.

Sixty percent of Gen Z and 54 percent of millennials would find someone extremely attractive if they admitted to never using AI to make personal decisions, according to a Hily survey of 3,500 American Gen Z and millennial daters.

Meanwhile, 64 percent of Gen Z and 56 percent of millennial daters wouldn't date someone who does. Even more (75 percent of Gen Z and 68 percent of millennials) would be immediately turned off if a date used AI to decide whether they should go on a second date.

Among Gen Zers who wouldn't date someone who regularly used AI to make decisions, the top three dealbreakers are using AI to analyze a relationship conflict (75 percent), processing emotions like a therapist (69 percent), and seeking career advice (56 percent).

Asking AI about private matters is also a red flag, this survey suggests. Sixty-two percent of Gen Z and 53 percent of millennial daters in the U.S. wouldn't date someone who asks AI whether something in their sex life is healthy. The numbers jump up slightly (66 percent of Gen Z and 54 percent of millennials) when it comes to being uncomfortable if a date discusses their sex life with AI.

If you look at the full survey responses, you'll see that respondents were made to respond on a gradient of "completely agree" to "completely disagree" on sentences like, "I wouldn't feel comfortable if someone I was dating discussed our sex life with AI."

So it's not as if all the respondents came to these conclusions totally on their own, but the results are still telling. As people, including singles, continue to adopt AI, there's a growing contingent opposed to its use — so much so that it's a red flag.

OpenClaw is now available on iOS and Android, but tread carefully

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:57:20 +0000

OpenClaw, the AI agent formerly known as Moltbot, formerly known as Clawdbot, is coming to a smartphone near you.

On Tuesday, the company announced in a post on X that its AI agents are now available on iOS and Android.

"Native mobile apps, finally," reads the post. "Agents in your pocket. Channels, tasks, replies on the go."

OpenClaw is essentially an AI personal assistant. Created by developer Peter Steinberger (who later joined OpenAI), it runs locally on your device and completes tasks — like checking emails and flagging high priority ones — on your behalf. The tool went viral earlier this year due to stories about Moltbook, a supposed social media platform for AI agents. Unsurprisingly, though, there were risks to letting an AI personal assistant loose on your device, and a couple of months back a critical security flaw in OpenClaw was discovered.

All of which is to say, you may want to do your research before you rush to install OpenClaw on your smartphone.

Netflixs Wonka reality show will use AI-generated voice of Gene Wilder

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:49:12 +0000

Netflix has announced a new reality competition show based on the beloved film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, as well as the novel it's based on. The company is also using AI to recreate the voice of deceased actor Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka in the 1971 movie.

And people are mad.

Wonka's The Golden Ticket (no, that isn't a typo) will feature 12 pairs competing in a series of Wonka-themed challenges and "temptations," which are designed to push the contestants "physically, mentally, and morally." Judging from the trailer, the duos won't be lucky golden ticket-wielding children accompanied by semi-responsible adults as in Roald Dahl's 1964 story. Instead, adult ticketholders with equally adult companions will be entering Wonka's candy emporium, which has slightly more sinister vibes than its inspiration.

Interestingly, Netflix states that only one contestant will win Wonka's The Golden Ticket's "life-changing prize," which raises questions as to how the ticket winners' plus-ones factor in. Considering that Netflix describes the series as a "high-stakes social experiment," it seems possible that betrayal could be on the cards.

The staff of Netflix's fantastical chocolate factory will include an Oompa Loompa who appeared in Mel Stuart's classic film: English actor Rusty Goffe. However, the Netflix series will also feature the AI-generated voice of Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka. Wilder died in 2016 at 83 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Gene Wilder at An Evening With Gene Wilder in New York on June 13, 2013 in New York City. Credit: John Lamparski / WireImage

Netflix worked with AI company ElevenLabs to digitally recreate Wilder's voice for Wonka's The Golden Ticket, which can be heard in the series' teaser trailer:

The project, according to Netflix, has the blessing of Wilder's estate, with Wilder's wife Karen stating that Wonka's The Golden Ticket "celebrates the warmth and imagination that he brought to the role." Even so, using AI to digitally resurrect deceased actors hasn't been well-received in the past, regardless of whether their family or estate agrees.

Earlier this year, upcoming film As Deep as the Grave made headlines for using a completely AI-generated deepfake of deceased actor Val Kilmer in a prominent role. Kilmer died from pneumonia at 65 in April last year. Though his children consented to the film's use of Kilmer's likeness, reactions online were overwhelmingly negative, some calling it "disgusting and disrespectful."

Alien: Romulus also faced backlash in 2024 for using generative AI and production effects to bring the late Sir Ian Holm back into the Alien franchise. Mashable's Belen Edwards wrote at the time, "the result lives in the depths of the uncanny valley," noting other films that have brought back late actors: The Flash (Christopher Reeve's Superman) and Rogue One (Peter Cushing's Grand Moff Tarkin).

"No matter what permissions an estate may grant, a late actor cannot consent to having their likeness used in a movie," Edwards wrote. "Doing so is an immediate violation of their personhood. In reviving them for the screen, you're creating a performance in a film they might never have agreed to do, with acting choices they might never have made."

Reactions to Wonka's The Golden Ticket using Wilder's AI-generated vocal likeness have also been scathing, with social media users labelling it "digital necromancy."

While he was alive, Kilmer had worked on a separate project with UK company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings. However, rather than being completely controlled by others, this was for his own use after he lost his voice to throat cancer.

Wonka's The Golden Ticket will premiere Sept. 23 on Netflix.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for July 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:35:40 +0000

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, July 1, 2026:

Across

"Down, doggy!"

The answer is Sit.

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

When doubled, kid's term for a train

The answer is Choo.

Tunisia, Haiti, Ecuador, Uruguay, Norway

The answer is Theun.

Wriggly swimmers

The answer is Eels.

Niners, Falcons, Lions

The answer is NFL.

Down

Beachcomber's find

The answer is Shell.

Debtor's notes

The answer is IOUs.

2,000 pounds

The answer is Ton.

Professional who might win a James Beard award

The answer is Chef.

Lionel Messi's jersey number

The answer is Ten.

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

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

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

FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for July 1

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:35:30 +0000

The 2026 World Cup knockout stage continues following a big day that saw France, Mexico, and Norway all advance from the Round of 16.

Today, July 1, USA and England are among the teams looking to progress. And if the knockout games so far are anything to go by, expect goals and drama. It all kicks off at 12 p.m. ET, with three games played across the afternoon and evening.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 1

England vs. DR Congo (Atlanta Stadium) — kickoff at 12 p.m. ET
Belgium vs. Senegal (Seattle Stadium) — kickoff at 4 p.m. ET
USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (San Francisco Bay Stadium) — kickoff at 8 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch England vs. DR Congo

England want to prove they're a top contender to win the tournament but they've struggled to find a way through the robust defenses of smaller teams. Will that happen again against DR Congo? Or can England put on another blockbuster display like their opening win over Croatia?

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Belgium vs. Senegal

Belgium hammered New Zealand 5-1 in their last group game — an emphatic victory after two frustrating draws. Senegal will prove tough competition in this knockout match, having also scored five goals in their final group game. This could be an exciting contest.

Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

USA are looking to get back on track after a loss in their last group game. USA looked very good up to that point, but don't count out Bosnia and Herzegovina — they're the kind of team that can unexpectedly sting a bigger opponent.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-Month Subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish Language)

Starting at $10.99/month

More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

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

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

YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months
Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month
Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

OpenAI movie Artificial has a new home after Amazon dropped it

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:35:01 +0000

Luca Guadagnino’s OpenAI movie Artificial may have been dropped by Amazon MGM Studios, but it has a new home.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Neon has picked up the film, which stars Andrew Garfield as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. It's set in the company's turbulent 2023, when Altman was fired from OpenAI and rehired days later.

Amazon pulled out of the film's production in June, with the decision reportedly made by Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios chief Mike Hopkins after $40 million had already been spent on it. Months earlier in February, Amazon announced a $50 billion investment in OpenAI, with the partnership to see Amazon Web Services as core infrastructure for OpenAI.

According to THR, Neon picked up Artificial after studios including A24, Focus Features, and Netflix passed.

Mashable has reached out to Neon and Amazon for comment.

Written by Simon Rich, Artificial not only stars Garfield as Altman, but also The Studio's Ike Barinholtz as rival Elon Musk, A Complete Unknown star Monica Barbaro as OpenAI's former chief technology officer Mira Murati, and Anora's Yura Borisov plays OpenAI co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever.

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

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:33:17 +0000

TL;DR: All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer/ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The world is watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are welcoming the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are leading the charge, but there's so much more to come from the knockout rounds. It's going to be a wild ride as top teams start to get dumped out of the competition.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Australia — SBS
Austria — ORF and ServusTV
Belgium — RTBF and VRT
France — M6
Germany — ARD and ZDF
Ireland — RTÉ
Italy — RAI
Norway — NRK
Netherlands — NOS
Spain — RTVE
UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

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

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

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

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:32:26 +0000

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

The USA continue their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with their first knockout match. USA looked fantastic in the first two group games, dismantling Paraguay and Australia, but lost the final group-stage game to Turkey. Now they face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.

USA are hoping that the Turkey loss was just a blip. They're still looking to go further than ever before in a World Cup tournament. Can they do it tonight with a decisive win against Bosnia and Herzegovina? It's a winnable game but the European squad could surprise USA — particularly with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line.

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

When is USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina?

USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on July 1. This fixture takes place at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

How to watch USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina for free

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

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

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

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

Live stream USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Capture summer moments with this delightful Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 bundle at Amazon — now over $10 off

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:30:10 +0000

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 1, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 bundle is on sale for $88.95 at Amazon. That's $17 off its usual price of $105.95.

Credit: Fujifilm

Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Green Bundle

$88.95 at Amazon
$105.95 Save $17

Summer is the perfect time to go on adventures with people you care about, whether that be a road trip, camping, or a vacation somewhere new. If you want a way to capture all of those memories, instant cameras are an excellent way to do it. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is one option worth checking out, and you can even score a bundle with print film on sale right now at Amazon.

This Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 bundle — which comes with the instant camera alongside a 10 pack of Instax Mini instant print film, a hand strap, user manual, two AA batteries, and a one-year limited warranty — is normally listed for $105.95, but you can grab it on sale for $88.95 right now at Amazon. You can choose between two camera colors at this price: mint green and blossom pink.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 has a compact design that's easy to bring along on your adventures in a bag or backpack. It's also easy one to operate — all you have to do is twist the lens to turn it on, twist it some more for Close-up mode, and twist it again to turn it off. It even has a built-in selfie mirror to make sure you capture your best angles.

On top of that, it also features automatic exposure and flash control if you're taking a photo in brighter areas, so you don't end up with a washed out image. And after capturing your favorite shots, you'll get a 2-inch x 3-inch instant photo that you can hang up as a reminder of those moments.

Amazon currently has this tagged as a limited-time deal. Now is the time to save on this Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 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.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:16:07 +0000

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch international soccer.

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

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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

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

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

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: Ticket zones
Green: Nations
Blue: Similar casual names
Purple: Same first name

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

Yellow: Stadium seating sections
Green: CONCACAF teams in World Cup
Blue: Teams with lion nicknames
Purple: Ryans

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 #646 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

Stadium seating sections: BLEACHERS, MEZZANINE, SUITE, UPPER DECK
CONCACAF teams in World Cup: CANADA, CURACAO, MEXICO, UNITED STATES
Teams with lion nicknames: COLUMBIA, DETROIT, ENGLAND, PENN STATE
Ryans: CROUSER, DAY, FITZPATRICK, POLES

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.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is back on sale at Amazon — runners can save over $50

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:15:49 +0000

SAVE OVER $50: As of July 1, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is on sale for $395 at Amazon. That's a 12% discount on the list price.

Credit: Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 265

$39 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $410.99

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is currently on sale at Amazon. If you're looking for a fitness tracker to monitor everything from sleep, cadence, step count, floors climbed, and so much more, this is a great choice.

The Forerunner range is Garmin's collection of smartwatches aimed at runners, which is why it includes more advanced running metrics along with highly accurate GPS tracking plus structured training and performance stats.

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This Garmin combines a bright AMOLED touchscreen with the traditional button controls, so it's nice and easy to check stats while out on a run. If you're training for a big goal, like a long race, this watch offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode, so you won't find yourself running out of juice when you need it most.

Lifestyle stats include a detailed report covering sleep, heart rate monitoring, HRV status, weather, and more, while you'll also get performance data like training readiness and training status.

As of July 1, this watch is down to $395. Find this deal at Amazon now.

The 50-inch Roku Smart TV is still as its Prime Day price — act fast to save $70

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:13:22 +0000

SAVE $70: As of July 1, the Roku 50-inch Smart TV is on sale for $229.99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Credit: Roku

Roku 50-inch Smart TV

$229.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $70

If you missed out on last week's Prime Day, all is not lost. There are still a number of live discounts. If you've been looking to upgrade to a new TV, the Roku 50-inch Smart TV is still on saler for $70 off the list price.

It combines impressive picture quality with an easy-to-use smart TV experience, so it's easy to dive straight into your latest binge-watch or comfort movie. Its 4K resolution, QLED display, and HDR10 support deliver bright, vibrant colors and the Roku Smart Picture automatically optimizes picture settings based on what you're watching.

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Unsurprisingly, it runs on the Roku OS, so you'll have quick access to all the major streaming platforms, plus a range of apps and free TV channels. You can even customize the home screen so that your most used apps are easiest to launch.

Not to mention, it has a whole host of smart features like voice control through Roku Voice, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, as well as Apple AirPlay for sharing content from compatible Apple devices. The voice remote even comes with a lost remote finder.

Get this Roku TV deal at Amazon.

The Bose SoundLink Flex speaker is $50 off right now — get it for under $100 at Amazon

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:11:05 +0000

SAVE $50: As of July 1, the Bose Soundlink Flex is on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's a $50 discount on the list price.

Credit: Bose

Bose Soundlink Flex

$99 at Amazon
$149 Save $50

The Bose SoundLink Flex is on sale at Amazon. This Bose speaker is down to $99 for a limited time, saving you $50 on list price. There are several colors to choose from, including sandstone, black, blue dust, and more.

It uses PositionIQ technology to automatically adjust the sound based on how the speaker is placed, whether it's standing upright, lying flat, or hanging from a hook. You can even create a bigger sound by pairing additional Bose devices through Stereo or Party Mode.

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It's robust too, and built for taking with you on the go thanks to its IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. It even has a durable silicone-wrapped body, so it's designed to withstand drops and rust.

This Bose deal is available at Amazon right now.

Backup your home for less — the Anker Solix F3800 power station is $300 off at Amazon

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:03:32 +0000

SAVE $300: As of July 1, the Anker Solix F3800 portable power station is available for $1,699.99 at Amazon. That's down from $1,999.99 — a 15% discount.

Credit: Anker

Anker SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station

$1,699.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $300

The Anker Solix F3800 is meant for running household gear, not just keeping a few small devices alive. It has enough output to handle larger appliances and enough battery capacity to keep essential home systems running longer when you need them.

And while the current $1,699.99 price is about $100 higher than its Prime Day-exclusive low, it’s still sitting near the lowest pricing we’ve seen for this model since launch,. That makes this an interesting deal for anyone who’s been waiting on a large-capacity power setup for the summer.

The Anker Solix F3800 is also designed to scale if your power needs get bigger. You can add extra battery packs to increase the total capacity, giving you more runtime for longer outages or heavier-use setups. The unit can also directly support EV charging and RV connections without needing extra accessories.

Anker says the system uses LFP batteries, lasting longer and holding up better over years of regular use compared with many standard battery systems. There’s also app support over WiFi or Bluetooth, so you can check battery levels, track power usage, and adjust settings remotely instead of walking over to the unit every time.

Grab the Anker Solix F3800 at Amazon.

Shark PowerDetect Speed Luxe review: My favorite stick vacuum for cat hair comes in pretty colors now

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Vacuums aren't designed to be stored out of reach anymore. If you want to take full advantage of the most convenient modern feature — a self-emptying charging dock — your vacuum kind of has to be stored out in the open, not shoved in a closet. In a sea of gray and black cordless stick vacuums that scream "I'm made of plastic," the Shark Luxe Home Collection brings you one of Shark's top cordless stick vacuums in four chic earth tones that will actually match your home decor.

I'm not sure how it took until 2026 for stick vacuums to get cute, but as a member of the cliché Green Velvet Couch Club, I needed the sage green Shark PowerDetect Speed vacuum in my space immediately. Here's how my first week with it has gone.

The Luxe Collection PowerDetect Speed comes in walnut, oatstone, sagewood, and harbor slate. Credit: Shark

The Luxe models have a metallic sheen that doesn't look plasticky. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

What's special about the Shark PowerDetect Speed?

The Shark PowerDetect Speed is a sleeker, lighter version of the original Shark PowerDetect cordless vacuum that I had crowned the best stick vacuum for carpet and rugs since 2024. Weighing around seven pounds, the PowerDetect Speed weighs about a pound less than the original and has a more compact self-empty charging dock.

The sagewood colorway high-key matches my living room rug. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Sansa pestering a dried bouquet — demonstrating why I need to vacuum every day. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Shark's Dirt Detect and Floor Detect technologies sense the debris level and floor type at hand, automatically adjusting suction power and brush roll speed for the most streamlined clean. (You can also manually switch between Eco, Detect, and Boost modes using the button and screen.) The PowerDetect Speed cleans with full power going forward or in reverse.

The PowerDetect Speed's pricing is special in itself. The 2024 PowerDetect Clean & Empty was already generously priced at $549.99, and Shark knocked off $50 for those who wanted to downsize a bit with the Speed model — $499.99 is an incredible value for such a mighty stick vacuum that also empties itself. I wouldn't have been shocked if Shark was charging a tiny bit more for the stylish shades and premium finishes, but nope — the Shark PowerDetect Speed Luxe Collection costs the exact same $499.99. You really can't go wrong.

Shark PowerDetect Speed on carpet: Vigorous with visible proof

As expected after using the original PowerDetect vacuum, the PowerDetect Speed sucks the life out of the three main rugs in my apartment. It's one of those vacuums that feels like it's truly digging past the surface — like you can feel the cyclonic oomph as you guide it across the floor. Stick vacuums this powerful do require a little bit of muscle to push and pull, but I haven't experienced the PowerDetect Speed being so sucky that it jams like the new Dyson V16 Piston Animal.

The first test was my tufted living room rug. With the never-been-used dustbin, I did a single lap of back-and-forth sweeping around the 9 x 12-foot area. The PowerDetect Speed put in some serious work in that two-minute window.

Before vacuuming... Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

...after one pass on my living room rug Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The rug pattern makes it hard to see how thick the layer of cat hair really is, and it's generally harder to tell how well a vacuum is working on a rug or carpet than on hard floors. So it was equally satisfying and sickening to see how much fluff the PowerDetect managed to pull out when the rug truly didn't look furry to the naked eye.

This tangible proof is exactly why I love the transparent dust bin and self-emptying dock combo. When a vacuum automatically empties its dustbin every time it hangs up to charge, you start each new cleaning session with a clear bin. Whatever the size of the dust bunny in the bin when you're done, you know for a fact that it came from the most recent room.

The Shark PowerDetect Speed's self-empty cycle lasts for less than 30 seconds. The whoosh alternates a few times between a deeper roar and a higher-pitched hiss, but none of it is any louder than other self-emptying vacuums I've tested. Shark says that the dock bin should last at least 45 days before you have to manually empty it.

The patterned Ruggable rug in my kitchen is also really good at camouflaging crumbs, often even when the vacuum's headlight is shining. The PowerDetect Speed's debris sensor really comes in handy. The ring around the edge of the screen switches from white to purple when heavy debris is encountered, so I know to make a few extra passes over those spots until the light goes back to white.

Shark PowerDetect Speed on hard floors/hardwood and tile

The first thing I noticed when vacuuming my hardwood floor with the PowerDetect Speed was the headlight. When a hard floor is sensed, the light automatically switches from the classic bright white LED to a deep blue. And that deep blue is much better at illuminating dust and debris in its path than the constant white light on the older PowerDetect model.

The purple ring always lights up near the Litter-Robot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The hinged wand makes it easy to sweep under my bed. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Dyson's green laser is still elite in my book, especially when it comes to lighting up hair. I also prefer the full microfiber roller of Dyson's Fluffy Optic cleaning head for sweeping up microscopic dust and dander off of hard floors.

But that's just me splitting hairs — the PowerDetect Speed is still really effective on hardwood and tile. The automatic boost in suction power is audible when gliding over the litter tracking zone near the Litter-Robot or crumbs in the kitchen, including giant pieces of pita crackers that were stepped on. My cat, Sansa, refuses to leave this one vase of dried flowers alone, continuously making a mess of leaves and crunchy petals on the credenza top. I just push them on the floor, and the PowerDetect Speed grabs 'em in two seconds.

Left: The Shark PowerDetect Speed's debris illumination is decent. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Right: The Dyson V16 Piston Animal's debris illumination is better. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I've gotten so much use out of the PowerDetect Speed's hinged wand. Rather than getting down on the floor to make the vacuum parallel to the floor, there's a button on the side that allows the wand to bend for easy cleaning under furniture.

I can't really see what's being swept up under there when I do this — all I know is that the suction power sensor went wild the first time I cleaned under my bed and the TV stand.

Considerations: The one annoying design flaw isn't a dealbreaker

Any cordless Shark vacuum that charges upright on a dock has a tendency to lock into its standing position during vacuuming. The rest of the internet and I were annoyed when that happened with the old 2024 PowerDetect model, and it's unfortunately still the case with the 2026 model.

In my regular back-and-forth vacuuming motion, if I pull the PowerDetect Speed backward even before it passes my leg, it clicks into the L shape. Sometimes, I don't even realize the cleaning head isn't touching the floor for a minute. Surely there should be an easy way to lock the ability to lock when the vacuum is in use.

Shark's furniture and fur attachment isn't motorized like Dyson's. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

This happens multiple times during every single cleaning session. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The PowerDetect Speed comes with two handheld attachments: a long crevice tool and a bristled device for furniture. The furniture tool has worked pretty well on the velvet couch so far. It's not as thorough on thick layers of cat hair on the pet tree as Dyson's anti-tangle screw tool, which has a mini motor that I swear is powerful enough to clean a whole rug.

I'm always initially shocked that Shark doesn't include its motorized pet tool in the box as Dyson does, but then I remember that Shark's tool is literally less than $40. Add that to the $499.99 PowerDetect Speed cost, and you're still looking at a cheaper setup than most Dyson vacuums — and none of those come with self-empty docks yet.

Shark PowerDetect Speed — Luxe Collection

$399.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $100

How to watch Belgium vs. Senegal online for free

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Belgium vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage was frustrating for Belgium — at first, anyway. They drew against Egypt and Iran before thrashing New Zealand 5-1.

Now Belgium face Senegal in the Round of 32. Senegal had a similarly frustrating run of group games, taking losses against France and Norway before also scoring five goals in their final group match. That was a convincing win over Iraq.

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

When is Belgium vs. Senegal?

Belgium vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on July 1. This fixture takes place at Seattle Stadium.

How to watch Belgium vs. Senegal for free

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

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

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

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

Live stream Belgium vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

How to watch England vs. DR Congo online for free

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

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

The last day of 2026 FIFA World Cup action saw France and Mexico cruise to the next round. Norway also advanced thanks to a late winner from Erling Haaland. That was special, but there's more to come from the next instalment of top games.

England are one of the favorites but struggled to break down lower-ranked teams Ghana and Panama in the group stage. DR Congo are likely to employ a similar defensive strategy as England look to score a statement win and put themselves in the conversation with the likes of France. The winner will face Mexico in the next round.

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

When is England vs. DR Congo?

England vs. DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on July 1. This fixture takes place at the Atlanta Stadium.

How to watch England vs. DR Congo for free

England vs. DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

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

Live stream England vs. DR Congo for free by following these simple steps:

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

Live stream England vs. DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

I would like Elle better if it wasnt a Legally Blonde prequel

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The simple truth about Prime Video's Legally Blonde prequel series Elle is that it shouldn't exist in the first place. It's an IP grab of the highest degree: a prequel to a beloved movie that really doesn't need one.

In Legally Blonde, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) proves herself as a Harvard Law student without sacrificing an ounce of her bubbly pink femininity. To get to that point, she has to push beyond her cushy Los Angeles comfort zone and brave an unfamiliar environment. That she does this is the defining element of her story. What came before was simply the status quo the movie is so eager to break from.

Now, Elle posits, Elle (Lexi Minetree) actually went through a similar fish-out-of-water experience in her high school years. That repetition winds up cheapening the value of Elle's decision to attend and eventually thrive at Harvard Law, meaning this prequel winds up clashing with its source material instead of complementing it. That's a shame, because there's a lot of bubbly teen drama fun to be had in Elle, if you can only get past the forced Legally Blonde connection.

What's Elle about?

Lexi Minetree and Zac Looker in "Elle." Credit: Jessica Brooks / Prime

If Harvard Law is the last place people would expect to find a pink-loving, fashion-idolizing person like Elle Woods, then Elle drops her in the second to last place you'd expect to find her: Seattle, circa 1995. Grungy and perpetually rain-soaked, Seattle is the Woods' new home after Elle's plastic surgeon father, Wyatt (Tom Everett Scott), botched up a high-profile nose job.

A new home means a new school, and Elle has quite a bit of fun stranding its cheery lead in a sea of flannel. One scene riffs nicely on the high school cafeteria clique trope, with everyone from nerds to popular kids sporting the school's unofficial plaid uniform.

Elle treads too-familiar ground.

Lexi Minetree in "Elle." Credit: Jessica Brooks / Prime

From here, Elle spins a familiar story of Elle Woods trying to fit in while still standing out, which we've already seen executed to the best of its abilities in Legally Blonde. It doesn't help that Elle is hell-bent on reminding us of the original film. (Every episode is named after a classic Elle Woods quote.) At one point, Elle tells her new teacher that she wasn't aware of the school's summer reading list, an echo of her failure to do the required reading for her first day at Harvard Law. At another, she shows up to a party in a wildly different outfit than everyone else, recalling Legally Blonde's infamous Playboy Bunny incident. Instead of these being cute tributes, they cause confusion. If Elle has faced these kinds of problems before, why hasn't she grown and learned from them by the time Legally Blonde rolls around?

There are still some bright spots in Elle. Minetree, for one, is stellar. She manages to embody the effervescence of Witherspoon's original turn without simply aping her mannerisms, which helps make this younger version of Elle her own. Elsewhere, Elle's burgeoning friendships with ultra-cool loner Liz (Gabrielle Policano) and fellow fashion enthusiast Shannon (Danielle Chand) offer genuinely sweet moments of bonding. And while a love triangle between Elle, boy-next-door Miles (Jacob Moskovitz), and impassioned activist Dustin (Zac Looker) is predictable, it's not without its fair share of squee-inducing teen romance. (Of course, it's all for nothing given that we already know who Elle marries, and it's neither of these guys!)

Elle's relationship with her mother, Eva (June Diane Raphael), is another highlight, as Elle dives into how Eva feels as penned-in by the Seattle move as her daughter. Do the pair fight to escape their new lives, or embrace the change? The ways in which Eva and Elle overlap or differ here wind up creating some of Elle's most emotionally resonant beats.

These story threads of friendship, romance, and parental connection are foundational building blocks of any good teen drama, and Elle pulls off them off solidly without needing the Legally Blonde connection to resonate. In fact, I felt myself enjoying the show more whenever it wasn't referencing the original movie and was just letting Elle exist as her own person, not the predecessor to a now-iconic character. (Her parents and L.A. friends keep telling her that she's Elle freaking Woods, but these pep talks feel less rooted in the show and more like reminders of Elle's legend status within pop culture.)

With that in mind, it's tough not to imagine what Elle could have been were it not tied to preexisting IP. Maybe we could have had the beginnings of our next fun high school series, complete with an exciting new heroine for viewers to obsess over. (And, you know, a love triangle with actual endgame stakes.) Instead, we're stuck with an uneven mix of great performances, solid high school dynamics, and too many shoehorned Legally Blonde references for the show's own good. Try not to think of it as a Legally Blonde companion piece, though, and you might actually have a lovely time.

Elle is now streaming on Prime Video.

How to save 50 cents per gallon at the gas pump during 4th of July weekend

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

SAVE 50 CENTS PER GALLON: Amazon Prime members can save 50 cents per gallon at BP, Amoco, and participating ampm and Thorntons gas stations. Here’s how to claim your fuel discount.

Credit: Prime / Earnify

Save 50 cents per gallon at select gas stations

If you're an Amazon Prime member, the perks don't end just because Prime Day is dead and gone. The party continues this 4th of July weekend with fuel savings.

From July 2-5, Prime members can save 50 cents per gallon at over 7,500 participating BP, Amoco, ampm, and Thorntons gas stations across the country. The discount is only valid on one purchase throughout the weekend, so choose wisely which car you want to fuel up.

Credit: Amazon

So, how do you lock in the savings? Well, obviously you'll need a Prime membership (if you're not already a member, sign up here). Next you'll need an Earnify account (don't worry it's free to create). You must link your accounts through the activation landing page, which will give Earnify your Prime membership status, name, and email in order to redeem the offer. While not required, the Earnify app can help you locate participating gas stations nearby as well.

Even better, once your accounts are linked, not only will you save 50 cents per gallon this weekend on gas, but you'll continue to save 10 cents per gallon at participating stations throughout the year. It may not be the most exciting task on your 4th of July to-do list, but it's certainly one that will pay off when your Monday commute rolls around.

4th of July 2026 deals: Score free food from Krispy Kreme, Jack in the Box, TGI Fridays, and more

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Restaurant chains across the country are celebrating America's 250th birthday with July 4 food deals, discounts, and freebies. These are a few of our favorite things.

If you don't want to tend to the grill or babysit the barbecue all day during 4th of July weekend, we've rounded up plenty of spots you can score some food specials. The usual suspects like Burger King, Krispy Kreme, and Firehouse Subs are on the list, along with some wildcards like Fazoli's, Jack in the Box, and Jason's Deli. In other words, there's a deal or a freebie for whatever you're craving.

Arby's

Arby's is offering $1.99 sliders in restaurants, online, and in the app for a limited time. Slider options include Roast Beef, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken, and Ham.

Burger King

Burger King Royal Perks members can get a Whopper Jr. for just $2.50 on July 4 only — exclusively in the BK App or on BK.com.

The burger chain is also offering limited-edition Firecracker Cookie Pies while supplies last.

Carl's Jr.

From July 3-5, Carl's Jr rewards members can get a Double Cheeseburger for just $2.50 in the Carl's Jr. app, at Carlsjr.com, or by scanning the QR code in stores.

Checkers & Rally’s

Checkers and Rally's are offering an All-American $2.50 Duo on July 4 only, which includes an All-American Hamburger with pickles, ketchup, and mustard plus a warm apple pie.

Fazoli's

Purchase any Family Meal at Fazoli's from July 3-7 and get a free Whole Pizza using the code FIREWORKS26.

Firehouse Subs

From June 29 through July 4, customers who purchase a small or medium sub can get a second for just $2.50. Note that the offer excludes Steak & Cheese Melts and Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket subs.

Hardee's

Hardee's rewards members can score a free Star-Spangled Biscuit in the Hardee's app from July 3-5.

The Greene Turtle

Select Greene Turtle locations will have $2.50 domestic pints available on July 4 only. The offer is available for dine-in customers who purchase an entrée or handheld.

Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box is offering its Jack Pack Rewards members a free fry (any size/shape) with any in-app purchase of $1 or more from July 3-5.

Jason’s Deli

Jason's Deli is offering its Deli Dollars Rewards members a free slice with any purchase from July 1-5. Plus, the chain has a limited-time Red, White, and Blueberry Cake available.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme customers who rock the country's colors in stores on July 4 get a free Original Glazed donut (one per guest). Plus, customers can score an Original Glazed dozen for only $2.50 with the purchase of any dozen or 16-count Minis at regular price from July 2-5.

Krystal

Get a free Bomb Pop on July 4 with any in-store purchase at Krystal while supplies last. The fast-food chain is also offering rotating daily deals for members of its Club Krystal loyalty program in the Krystal app all summer long.

Logan's Roadhouse

Logan's Roadhouse is offering $25 digital gift cards for only $17.76 exclusively online from July 3-5. You can also grab a limited-time Red, White, and Blue Cake in stores and get complimentary Red, White, and Blue Butter served with the signature rolls when you dine in.

Sonic

Sonic has a limited-time $2.50 menu through July 12 that includes an All-American 6-inch Hot Dog, medium Onion Rings, Jr. Double Cheeseburger, and Red, White, and Blue Slush Float. The discount applies automatically online, in the app, or at the restaurant itself.

TGI Fridays

On July 4 only, TGI Fridays customers can get a free dessert with the purchase of any entrée.

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: All fixtures of the 2026 Nations Championship are available to watch for free on ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be a special year for sport.

The schedule has been ridiculously busy this year. We've hardly had time to breathe between the Winter Olympics, T20 World Cup, and World Cup, and now the world of rugby has dropped a totally new competition to grab its share of the spotlight.

The Nations Championship is changing the game. This fresh tournament promises to deliver six rounds of elite matchups between top international sides followed by a blockbuster Finals Weekend. It feels like the Rugby World Cup without the filler.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is an international rugby union competition featuring 12 men's teams. The teams are divided into two pools of six (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere). Over two international windows, each team plays all the teams in the opposite pool once. Every team plays three games at home and three away.

After six rounds, a finals series will be contested over three days with each team matched against the same ranked team in the other pool to decide final placements.

When is the 2026 Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is the first edition of this competition. This year's tournament runs from the first round of fixtures on July 4 to the final on Nov. 29. The first round of fixtures is as follows:

New Zealand vs. France — 3:10 a.m. ET on July 4
Japan vs. Italy — 4:40 a.m. ET on July 4
Australia vs. Ireland — 6:10 a.m. ET on July 4
Fiji vs. Wales — 9:10 a.m. ET on July 4
South Africa vs. England — 11:10 a.m. ET on July 4
Argentina vs. Scotland — 3:10 p.m. ET on July 4

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free

The 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

Servers in 105 countries
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 (after FIFA World Cup)

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 the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

Today only: Get ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for life for $70

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: 1min.AI gives you lifetime access to AI models like GPT, Gemini, and Claude, and it’s only $70 for life through the end of the day today.

Credit: 1minAI

1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription

$69.97
$540 Save $470.03

Paying separate monthly fees for ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, and Gemini Advanced runs about $60 a month, and that’s basically just for generating text and basic images. 1min.AI bundles dozens of major AI models into one platform that you only have to pay for once. During Deal Days, a lifetime subscription is only $69.97 (reg. $540).

1min.AI gives you access to a wide range of AI models so you’re not locked into one tool’s strengths or blind spots. On the writing side, you’ll get access to AI for blog generation, keyword research, rewriting, summarizing, paraphrasing, grammar checking, and social media comment generation across LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Image tools go well beyond a basic generator, with editing and manipulation capabilities that cover tasks even a professional designer would reach for a separate app to do. Audio handles voice, music, and translation work. Video covers both creation and editing, including tools specifically for YouTube content. Documents can be chatted with, translated, or turned into presentations without leaving the platform.

This plan includes 4,000,000 credits per month, plus the option to earn up to 450,000 additional credits each month for free by logging in daily, leaving reviews, or referring people. That works out to roughly 1.1 million words generated, around 1,186 images, and 37 videos per month, with team sharing for up to 20 members.

Stop paying a different subscription for every AI model you use. Through July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription on sale for $69.97.

Remember to browse the rest of the Deal Days catalog.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

This is the last day to get a Microsoft Office lifetime license for just $30

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Get a lifetime Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license for $29.97 (reg. $219.99) through July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License

$29.97
$219.99 Save $190.02

This is your last chance to ditch Microsoft 365’s subscription fees for good. Until tonight at 11:59 p.m., you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for much less than its usual retail price. This is part of our extended Deal Days event. Simply pay once, download the full software suite, and never worry about renewals again.

We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, the lifetime version of Microsoft Office has you covered.

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It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.

No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.

Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $29.97 until July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $219.99). No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

This extended Deal Days offer gets you a MacBook Pro for just $395 through today only

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Get a near-mint Apple MacBook Pro (2020) with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for $394.97 (reg. $1,799).

Credit: Apple

Apple Macbook Pro 2020 (Refurbished)

$394.97
$1,799 Save $1,404.03

Could your laptop use an upgrade? If you’re tired of limping along an old device, let this deal be your sign to treat yourself to a new (to you) MacBook Pro. This sleek model offers impressive power and performance, and right now you can grab it for only $394.97 — over $1,400 off the usual price — until July 1.

There’s a reason MacBook Pros have amassed such a cult following. Apple‘s most powerful and portable device lets you tackle your workload from anywhere without slowing down. This particular model offers a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with a 2GHz base speed and Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz, so it can keep up with your daily multitasking and heavy-duty tasks, too.

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This model offers some awesome Apple features, like a Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar, which provides comfortable typing and easy access to shortcuts. You’ll also have boosted security with Touch ID, so you can log in with just your finger.

Four Thunderbolt 3 ports offer plenty of connectivity options. And speaking of connecting, you can get through a full workday without needing to find an electrical outlet, thanks to the 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.

You’re saving big thanks to this model’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with minimal to zero scuffing, while you enjoy the deep discount.

Get this MacBook Pro for just $394.97 (reg. $1,799) until July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is now under $20 at Amazon — buy for below market price

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:52:36 +0000

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for $19.17 at Amazon, down from its $34.99 list price.

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box

$19.17 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $15.82

Magic: The Gathering can be a lot to take in if you’re just starting out, but the Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box is built to make that first step much easier. What makes said box even better right now is that Amazon has dropped it under $20.

As of July 1, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for $19.17 at Amazon. That's 45% off its $34.99 list price, saving you $15.82 on this starter-friendly two-player box.

That price puts Amazon well below TCGplayer’s current market price of $25.64. By comparison, the lowest TCGplayer listing is $25.80 with shipping included, which means Amazon is now more than $6 cheaper than both the market value and the lowest available listing on the dedicated trading card marketplace.

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The Beginner Box is designed for two players — starting with a guided Aang versus Zuko match using two 20-card tutorial decks. Each deck comes with a step-by-step guide, so you can learn Magic’s basic flow without needing to build your own deck first.

Once that first game is done, the box opens up into eight more 20-card Avatar-themed half-decks. These cover Firebending, Earthbending, Waterbending, Allies, Big Creatures, Counters, Spells, and Attacking. Combine any two, and you’ll have a 40-card deck ready for another casual match.

You also get two playboards, two Spindown life counters, five double-sided tokens, two learn-to-play guides, and a rules reference booklet, so there’s enough here to sit down and start playing without buying anything else first.

You can also grab the 30-pack Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box for only $125.95. As for what’s coming soon, you can pre-order the 30-pack Reality Fracture Play Booster Box for $154.99.

The Samsung Odyssey G6 gaming monitor is $200 off at Amazon — buy now for under $400

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:47:15 +0000

TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon, down from its $599.99 list price.

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey OLED G6 (G61SH) Gaming Monitor

$399.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $200

OLED gaming monitors are among the priciest peripheral upgrades you can buy, but you can save $200 on a top-level Samsung model right now.

As of July 1, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon. That's 33% off the $599.99 list price of this QD-OLED display.

This is the 240Hz Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G61SH model, with a 27-inch QHD screen, 2560x1440 resolution, and a rapid 0.03ms response time. In layman’s terms, I’d recommend this as a fantastic OLED boost for PC players who understandably want fast-moving visuals without paying more for the 360Hz version.

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For competitive games like Fortnite, League of Legends, or even a round of Fall Guys, the 240Hz refresh rate gives you much smoother motion than a standard 60Hz or 144Hz display, while AMD FreeSync Premium helps keep the monitor and GPU in sync to reduce screen tearing, lag, and choppy-looking action.

As for the Odyssey G6’s OLED panel, the QD-OLED display is built for high brightness and a wide colour range, with HDR10 support adding brighter highlights and more detailed shadows. It’s also Pantone Validated, with support for over 2,100 colours and more than 110 skin tone shades — making all manner of visuals pop when you’re playing cinematic adventure games like Pragmata or the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.

For those who are worried about potential drawbacks of OLED, Samsung has even included OLED Safeguard tech, which uses a thermal modulation system to help reduce the risk of burn-in.

If you’re shopping for other brands, LG’s Ultragear QHD monitor is on sale at $300 off. For another option from Samsung, the 27-inch G5 monitor is now $100 off.

I found the Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box for under market price at Amazon

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:40:55 +0000

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $182.55 at Amazon, down from its $191.13 market price.

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box

$182.55 at Amazon

Prismatic Evolutions has remained one of the Pokémon TCG’s most stubbornly expensive Scarlet and Violet expansions, thanks in no small part to its Eevee-heavy lineup and continued demand from collectors since its launch in January 2025. However, Amazon has now dropped the Elite Trainer Box to under its market price.

As of July 1, the Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box from the Scarlet and Violet set is available at Amazon for $182.55. Compared to TCGplayer’s current $191.13 market price, that saves you $8.58 on the sealed nine-pack collector box.

Walmart is the cheapest of all, now only $174.88. That's $55.07 off its original $229.95 list price.

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Inside the Pokémon TCG’s Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box, you’ll get nine titular booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet expansion, one full-art foil promo card featuring Eevee, 65 card sleeves featuring Eevee as a Stellar Tera Pokémon, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, two plastic condition markers, a collector’s box with four dividers, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

Since launching early last year, Prismatic Evolution has become one of the most expensive and sought-after expansions both in the modern Pokémon TCG and wider trading card market. A large reason for this is its incredibly valuable Eeveelution chase cards that are now worth up to $1,500 (available to buy separately on TCGplayer) — including Umbreon ex, SIR Sylveon ex, SIR Leafeon ex, SIR Espeon ex, SIR Glaceon ex, SIR Flareon ex, SIR Jolteon ex, and SIR Eevee ex.

You can now buy the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for under $90 on Amazon. You can also grab the six-pack Chaos Rising Booster Bundle for just over $50.

DeLonghis Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine hits best-ever price at Amazon — save over $250

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:31:28 +0000

SAVE OVER $250: As of July 1, the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine is on sale for its lowest-ever price of $249 at Amazon. That's $250.95 off its full price of $499.95.

Credit: De'Longhi

De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus Espresso Machine

$249 at Amazon
$499.95 Save $250.95

If the rising summer sun has you getting up earlier these days, a tasty cup of espresso can help boost your energy. If you've been thinking about buying a machine to handle that, the good news is Amazon still has some solid discounts available on select models post-Prime Day.

The De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon, so there's no better time to grab it.

As of July 1, the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus is down from $499.95 to $249. You'll want to be quick — it currently has a limited time deal tag, so this excellent offer may not be around much longer.

If you're worried about how much countertop space the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus takes up, the good news is it's actually quite compact. This model comes in at 8.15-inches wide, so you don't have to worry about a chunky new addition to your kitchen.

It features a 15 bar professional pump that provides optimal pressure for brewing, and thanks to Advanced Thermoblock technology it works quickly. Plus, it comes with an automatic steam wand which helps create milk foam for drinks and latte art, if you enjoy that.

Now is your chance to score this great deal on the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine at Amazon.

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Anthropic is restoring Fable access today

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:22:35 +0000

Fable and Mythos are back, baby.

Anthropic has announced it will restore access to its most powerful models, Claude Fable 5, and Claude Mythos 5, to users worldwide on Wednesday July 1.

The decision comes after the U.S. government lifted the worldwide export ban on the models, as it deemed them too powerful to be used by foreign nationals.

"We’ve received notice that the Department of Commerce has lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5. We'll begin restoring access tomorrow (...) We’re grateful to our users for their patience, and to everyone who worked with us on redeploying the models," the company said in a tweet.

In a blog post published late on Tuesday, the company said Fable 5 will be available for users globally on the Claude Platform, Claude.ai, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork. For Pro, Max, Team, and select Enterprise team, Fable 5 will be included for up to 50 percent of weekly usage limits through July 7; after that, it will be available via usage credits. Fable 5 will not be immediately available on AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Foundry, but Anthropic says that's coming "as quickly as possible."

Mythos 5, which is exceptionally good at finding security vulnerabilities, was never widely available, with Anthropic giving access only to select companies and organizations. Those, too, were cut off after Trump's administration intervened. Anthropic restored access to Mythos 5 following the government's approval on June 26. The company says it's coordinating with the government to expand access to more partners, both domestic and international, through its Glasswing program.

In its post, Anthropic once again provided a timeline of events which led to the government ban. It all started with a vulnerability, found by Amazon researchers, which enabled users to bypass Fable 5 safeguards, prompting the U.S. government to ban the models altogether. Anthropic says this vulnerability could not have been used to provide Mythos-level hacking techniques, but it's now fixed with a new safeguard that blocks any dangerous requests.

"The new classifier also comes at the cost of flagging benign requests more often during routine coding and debugging tasks. As with all our safeguards, we’ll continue to refine this to better distinguish genuine misuse from legitimate requests and reduce false positives," said the blog post.

NYT Pips hints, answers for July 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:19:09 +0000

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

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

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

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

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

Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 3-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

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

Hurdle hints and answers for July 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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

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

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

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Foreshadow.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

AUGUR

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To delete.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ERASE

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

A long, pointy weapon.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

SPEAR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Lotion.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CREAM

Final Hurdle hint

Unsectured.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

LOOSE

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

Why managing a family’s digital footprint requires a holistic strategy

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 03:51:30 +0000

It should come as no surprise, but modern Australian households have long evolved past the point of a ”family computer”. That relic of a bygone millennial era – the family’s sole access point to riding the information superhighway. Back when people used to say things like “surfing the web” and for that matter, the phrase “riding the information superhighway”. Today, your typical Australian family manages an entire ecosystem of connected infrastructure: smartphones, remote work laptops, school-issued tablets, gaming consoles, and an expanding list of smart home IoT (Internet of Things) devices. This can make creating watertight digital security for an entire household tricky. As these multi-device ecosystems scale, they introduce a wider attack surface for external threats while complicating internal privacy management.

This is why at PCMag, we recommend trying to consolidate your household’s digital security into a single suite as much as possible. Look for trusted security suites that offer specialised family plans. Something with parental controls, preferably a VPN, room to grow as new devices are added, and a tiered account system that allows administrator privileges. You want your entire family to have access to essential services such as antivirus, password managers, identity theft protection and encrypted backup. But you also need to be conscious of the dangers of a single access point holding the “keys to the kingdom” when it comes to your entire family's personal information. Having a single administrator avoids needing to leave passwords just laying around the house, and a high device-count limit means you don’t pay for countless different individual subscriptions for everyone.

Managing the multidevice household ecosystem

On top of your standard personal devices, as more and more smart home technology integrates into local networks, securing the whole home requires more than just antivirus on your laptop. In a modern home, every single device connected to your Wi-Fi is a door. Bitdefender handles this by providing high-volume licensing via their Family Plans — covering up to 15 or 25 devices under a single subscription, depending on the selected tier. Dedicated local clients provide automated threat detection across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android systems, preventing a compromise on a single mobile device from pivoting laterally across the home Wi-Fi network.

Maintaining individual digital spaces

A common point of contention in shared household security plans is data overlap. When multiple family members share a single account configuration, personal data boundaries can become blurred. For this, we need security software that treats household members as distinct digital entities. Rather than forcing the family to share a single administrative profile or master password, each member should receive their own isolated digital space.

As an example, Bitdefender Family Plans generally handle this well. With a structural isolation ensures that a teenager's personal logs, search queries, and credentials remain private, utilising unique vaults within the Password Manager and separate Anti-Tracker configurations. Concurrently, parents can secure sensitive work emails, financial profiles, and banking credentials using the isolated, sandboxed Safepay browser environment without exposing administrative keys to the rest of the household.

Content and screen time management

The modern internet can be a hostile environment for a child, filled with social media pressures, cyberbullying, explicit content, and algorithmically optimised apps designed to maximise screen time. No parent has the time or the energy to hover over their child’s shoulder every minute they are using a screen. It ruins the relationship and is practically impossible when kids need devices for schoolwork. Instead, modern digital parenting requires a shift toward automation—setting healthy, invisible boundaries that run passively in the background.

For example, Bitdefender integrates a Parental Control module directly into its central management console, Bitdefender Central, allowing parents to configure distinct rulesets customised to each child's age group. The objective is to create a safe digital playground. You want a system that automatically filters out explicit web categories, enforces a hard bedtime by pausing internet access, and flags suspicious links or phishing scams before a child can click them, all while giving them the freedom to explore the web safely within those borders.

Finding the right solution

When you look at this massive list of requirements—protecting smart TVs, isolating work from play, giving teens their privacy, and keeping children safe—doing it manually on a device-by-device basis is a recipe for burnout. This is exactly where a centralised system like what is found within the Bitdefender Family Plans comes into play.

Rather than buying individual antivirus licenses or trying to configure separate parental control apps, Bitdefender’s Family Plans (available across Total Security, Premium Security, and Ultimate Security tiers) scale up drastically, offering high-volume licensing that covers up to 15 or 25 devices under a single subscription. This allows you to protect the main computers, every family member's phone, the school tablets, and importantly, use Network Threat Prevention to stop threats trying to exploit unsecured smart home IoT hardware at the traffic level. A Bitdefender Ultimate Security Family plan gives your entire household access to:

Parental Controls
Scam Protection Pro
Unlimited VPN traffic
Encrypted Password Manager
Continuous Dark Web Monitoring
Security Advice from Bitdefender Experts
Licencing for up to 25 devices (Windows, macOS, Android and iOS)

Ultimately, securing a modern home in the digital age is about building a resilient infrastructure that silently handles the heavy lifting of network security and content filtering in the background, giving everyone in the household the freedom to navigate the digital world safely. As a PCMag Editors’ Choice, we can safely recommend Bitdefender to solve many of these key issues facing larger households. But for more information, check out our entire guide to the Best Security Suites in 2026.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a good drink.

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

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

What is Connections?

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

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

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

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: Found on a map
Green: Famous films
Blue: Drink up!
Purple: Nations

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

Yellow: Things named after places
Green: Best Picture winners/nominees
Blue: Places in cocktail names
Purple: Starting with countries

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 #1116 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

Things named after places: CHAMPAGNE, CHINA, COLOGNE, LIMERICK
Best Picture winners/nominees: CASABLANCA, CHICAGO, FARGO, MUNICH
Places in cocktail names: CUBA, LONG ISLAND, MOSCOW, SINGAPORE
Starting with countries: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, GUINEA-BISSAU, INDIANAPOLIS, NIGERIA

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

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

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

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

NYT Strands hints, answers for July 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you have a hunch.

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: Not a red herring

The words are related to pointers.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe tips.

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 Telltale sign.

NYT Strands word list for July 1

Hint
Indication
Clue
Telltale Sign
Intimation
Evidence

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

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

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

Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're unsure.

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

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

To hesitate.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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...

DEMUR

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

Friendship Island is back as Love Island USA romances collapse

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:20:08 +0000

Love Island USA may still be predominately a show about dating. But as Season 8 has unfolded, viewers have cared less about romantic pairings than usual. According to online chatter, they're invested in something that has long been controversial in the show: friendships.

We're not talking about a huge shift in the dynamic. Peacock's reality series, which airs every night except Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET, still has all the usual ingredients: bombshells, recouplings, public votes, and the kind of villa drama that turns one conversation into a full internet investigation.

And season 8's Casa Amor episode, where couples get the chance to cheat mid-season, did still revolve around couples drama. Cast member KC returned from Casa Amor with Tierra, a.k.a. “Titi” — leaving his previous partner Aniya single. Aniya broke down in front of the group, telling KC she had picked him every time, and he had not picked her back. KC's response was filled with attitude.

But the part of the confrontation fans remembered? How fellow islander Melanie stayed by Aniya’s side as she cried.

Melanie helped Aniya away from the fire pit, and tried to pull her out of the spiral. Melanie reminded Aniya that KC did not fit in the life she wanted.

Finally, Melanie told Aniya that even if they did not find love in the villa, they had found each other.

Fans pointed to other heartwarming displays of female friendship. After the heart rate challenge, the women got a rare night and morning to themselves, and viewers noticed how much softer the villa felt without the men taking center stage.

Specific fan favorite moments: the women cooking grilled cheese together, practicing dances, and hyping each other up with confidence-boosting speeches.

And after the June 30 episode, in which Trinity and Bryce became boyfriend and girlfriend, the internet couldn't help but fall in love with how the other Girls reacted when Trinity shared the good news.

Melt!

These are the moments that stick, even after getting dumped. Former cast member Beatriz — booted off the island June 12 — has said that despite her earlier drama with Melanie (a scene that contained Melanie's iconic walking away line, "give me 10"), she saw the conflict as part of a real friendship.

“Friends go through their own little discussions or quarrels," Beatriz told Variety. "But at the end of day, we squash it."

She also added that viewers miss plenty of off-screen conversations and deeper connections because the show is edited down to one hour. Despite appearances, Trinity and Kayda were her closest friends in the villa, Beatriz explained. She was more sad about leaving them than leaving the show itself.

In short, female friendships feel like this season's more reliable love stories. Indeed, there's not much contest — given KC brushing off Aniya’s hurt via another hurtful reference to the "good family" he's been extra interested in (Aniya's father is former NBA player Donnell Harvey), Corbin describing the Girls team in the Casa “college Girls” while the Girls back in the villa are "high school," and Sincere continuing to test Melanie’s patience.

What about the bromance?

It isn't just the Girls that are getting friendly. Season 8 has also had a bromance, one that social media adores.

After the Paradise Cove twist in episode 2 put Kayda, Zach, and Bryce in a separate hut for 24 hours, fans started paying just as much attention to Zach and Bryce as they did to the intended love triangle.

Viewers have compiled weeks worth of edits of the two — noting that the real chemistry in Paradise Cove might not have been between Kayda and either man, but between the Boys themselves.

Their connection has since developed into one of the villa's most talked about storylines—whether romantic or platonic.

"Friendship Island" is not a new term. It has been a part of Love Island USA fandom since Season 6, when JaNa was saved from elimination by her friends despite not having one of the villa’s strongest romantic connections at the time. "This isn’t 'Friendship Island,' this is 'Love Island,'" fellow islander Aaron insisted at the time.

Since then, fans have used "Friendship Island” as both criticism and compliment. Sometimes the phrase is used the way Aaron used it, to argue that Islanders are playing it too safe because they do not want to step on their friends’ toes.

Sometimes, however, it is used to celebrate the friendships that make the show work even when the couples do not. And this season, friendship seems to be the highlight of each episode.

The women are still competing within the structure of a dating show; navigating jealousy, rejection, and public judgment isn't easy. The scenes that resonate most with audiences are when islanders are honest about the difficulty of the show. They remind each other, and us, that Love Island (like life) isn't always about finding the right partner.

It could actually be about the friends we make along the way.

The best TVs of 2026 so far: RGB TVs were the talk of CES, but theyre not the only exciting releases

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:15:36 +0000

The best TVs of 2026 so far at a glance

Best RGB TV so far

Samsung R95H Micro RGB 4K TV

starting at $3,199.99

Best OLED TV of 2026 so far

Samsung S95H OLED 4K TV

starting at $2,499.99

Brightest TV of 2026 so far

TCL X11L SQD Mini LED QLED 4K TV

starting at $3,999.99

Best budget TV of 2026 so far

Hisense U6 Pro Mini LED 4K Fire TV

$529.99 at Amazon

Best art TV of 2026 so far

LG Gallery TV with Frame Mini LED QNED 4K TV

starting at $1,299.99

I've been tracking TV deals and new releases at Mashable for years. My friends and family have watched me scramble to compare the new models during CES in January, and then scramble to see which of those models got a big discount during Prime Day or Black Friday. And I always hear some iteration of this question: "How much can TVs possibly change over the years?"

That's a valid question most of the time. If you're not a serious gamer or someone who tests TV specs for a living, the difference between an OLED TV model from the current year vs. the same model from the year prior probably isn't all that riveting. But I promise you, the best TVs of 2026 so far are quite literally built different.

2026 is the year of the RGB TV. What is that?

The conversation about the best TV for whatever situation has been a dichotomous battle between QLED and OLED forever. As a refresher, QLED TVs typically get brighter but sometimes struggle with black levels and blooming. OLED TVs rule the world of contrast and picture quality in dark rooms, but aren't as vibrant in bright rooms. RGB is kind of the best of both worlds, and it was easily the biggest TV trend at CES 2026.

RGB doesn't automatically knock OLED and QLED to second and third place. The big TV brands that dropped an RGB TV or two, like Samsung, LG, and Hisense, also unveiled new OLED or QLED models that are still highly competitive, depending on your typical streaming or gaming situation.

Halfway through the year, let's stop to organize all of the new models before even more come out. Whether you're watching the World Cup or a marathon of the best movies of 2026, these are the best TVs of 2026 so far that will truly do them justice.

Samsung R95H

Credit: Samsung

The Samsung R95H is the best RGB TV of 2026 so far. No, this isn't the 115-inch Samsung RGB TV that costs $30,000. Samsung extended its Micro RGB technology into a much more palatable size and price range.

It seems like anyone who has seen the Samsung R95H in person can agree on one thing: The color palette is so vivid and so realistic, it almost feels... unreal. The R95H covers between 95 and 100 percent of the BT.2020 color spectrum, reproducing more than 2,000 Pantone-validated colors. Samsung uses artificial intelligence to adjust shades scene by scene and manages to deliver very precise contrast with virtually no blooming.

Compared to the cheaper R85H RGB line from Samsung, the R95H dishes out a clearer, more responsive picture with a native refresh rate of 165Hz and support for Samsung's newest HDR format, HDR10+ advanced. The R95H adds to the premium experience with features like the Wireless One Connect Box and Samsung's phenomenal glare-free coating, plus an art TV-esque No Gap Wall Mount.

The Samsung R95H only comes in four sizes. Here's the price breakdown:

Samsung 65-inch R95H — $3,199.99
Samsung 75-inch R95H — $4,499.99
Samsung 85-inch R95H — $6,499.99

Credit: Samsung

Samsung R95H Micro RGB 4K TV

starting at $3,199.99

Need something smaller than 65 inches? Sony does get credit for extending its True RGB technology to some smaller sizes. You can grab the 2026 Sony Bravia 7 II in 55 inches, or 50 inches later this summer.

Samsung S95H

Credit: Samsung

The Samsung S95H is the best OLED TV of 2026 so far. Though a single letter differentiates the S95H's title from the R95H, the S95H OLED serves a much different purpose. Due to its pixel-by-pixel dimming, OLED still provides the most elite contrast out of any type of TV backlighting.

The S95H's contrast ratio is as close to infinite as you could ask for. The black levels are deep and the shadows are sharp to the point of feeling lifelike. Naturally, this is a great option for cinephiles watching in dark rooms. In lit rooms, the S95H's peak brightness of up to 2,500 nits fares better than the vast majority of other OLEDs. (PCMag's Will Greenwald calls it "OLED's new benchmark breakthrough.")

When it was released in April, I referred to the S95H as a "curiously Frame Pro-like OLED TV." I mean, it checks off several art TV boxes: an anti-glare screen, a floating wall mount that lies flush with the wall, an artsy bezel that's silver instead of black... oh, and it's the first Samsung OLED to feature the Samsung Art Store.

The Samsung S95H comes in four sizes. Here's the price breakdown:

Samsung 55-inch S95H — $2,499.99
Samsung 65-inch S95H — $3,399.99
Samsung 77-inch S95H — $4,499.99
Samsung 83-inch S95H — $6,499.99

Credit: Samsung

Samsung S95H OLED 4K TV

starting at $2,499.99

TCL X11L

Credit: TCL

The TCL X11L Google TV is the brightest TV of 2026 so far. Released in January, TCL didn't take the RGB route that most of its competitors did. Instead, TCL's new SQD (Super Quantum Dot) backlight absolutely beams at up to 10,000 nits of peak brightness. That unprecedented number is fueled by thousands and thousands of acute local dimming zones: 11,520 zones in the smallest 75-inch model or up to 20,000 in the 100-inch model.

Such a high zone count allows for extremely precise darkening around bright objects, cushioning against haloing. If you don't mess around when it comes to HDR, the TCL X11L would be a supreme choice for a heavy-duty home theater. The X11L would also fare well in rooms where the TV will be competing with lots of windows and direct sunlight.

The X11L's size range is limited to just three options. Here's the price breakdown:

TCL 75-inch X11L — $4,999.99 ($3,999.99 on sale)
TCL 85-inch X11L — $7,999.99 ($5,999.99 on sale)
TCL 98-inch X11L — $9,999.99

If you need something smaller than 75 inches, TCL also dropped two more budget-friendly SQD TV tiers: The QM7L and QM8L.

Credit: TCL

TCL X11L SQD Mini LED QLED 4K TV

starting at $3,999.99

Hisense U6 Pro

Credit: Hisense

The mini LED Hisense U6 Pro Fire TV is the best budget TV of 2026 so far. It was released in March, wedged comfortably between the entry-level Hisense U6 and the higher-tier Hisense U7.

The U6 Pro has quite a robust full-array local dimming setup for the price: the 65-inch model features 240 dimming zones and reaches 1,200 nits at peak brightness. Early reviewers note its vibrancy and deep black levels (for being a non-OLED TV, that is). Further adding to the U6 Pro's visibility in the daylight or in a lit room at night, the screen is coated with an anti-glare finish to minimize reflections and preserve shadows — a nice touch not often seen on the affordable end of the spectrum.

Its native 144Hz refresh rate, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, and two HDMI 2.1 ports make it an unbeatable choice for gaming or watching sports.

The U6 Pro also gets points for its size range. Here's the price breakdown:

Hisense 55-inch U6 Pro — $849.99 ($597.99 on sale)
Hisense 65-inch U6 Pro — $1,099.99 ($749.99 on sale)
Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro — $1,399.99 ($848.99 on sale)
Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro — $1,999.99 ($1,197.99 on sale)
Hisense 100-inch U6 Pro — $3,499.99 ($2,297.99 on sale)

Hisense U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV

$529.99 at Amazon
$849.99 Save $320

starting at $849.99

LG Gallery TV with Frame

The LG Gallery TV with Frame is the best art TV of 2026 so far. As a matte mini LED TV with interchangeable frames, this is the most direct competitor to The Frame or The Frame Pro that LG has ever released. If you're a fan of LG's Magic Remote, you finally have a true artsy non-OLED option that won't risk burn-in if left on all day.

Granted, the LG Gallery TV makes up most of the big art TV news of the year thus far. In the spring, Samsung made negligible updates to The Frame Pro, and Hisense added a 50-inch model to the CanvasTV lineup. We know that the TCL A400 Pro, a long-awaited update to the original NXTVISION TV, exists — it just hasn't been released in the U.S. yet.

It's a bummer that LG only offers the Gallery TV in two sizes as of June, but at least they're practical. Here's the price breakdown:

LG 55-inch Gallery TV with Frame — $1,299.99
LG 65-inch Gallery TV with Frame — $1,799.99

Credit: LG

LG Gallery TV with Frame Mini LED QNED 4K TV

starting at $1,299.99

Enola Holmes 3 review: Sherlocks sister takes over the game

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Sherlock Holmes' sharp, fearless sister Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) is all grown up and headed for sunnier European shores, as Enola Holmes 3 throws an international case on her desk and a wedding date on her calendar.

Based on Nancy Springer's The Enola Holmes Mysteries and adapted by Jack Thorne, the Netflix films have seen the British detective solve the case of the missing mum and the case of the missing sister. Now, with Adolescence director Philip Barantini on a much more upbeat project, Enola Holmes 3 sees her off to Malta. And Enola's got a lot on her plate: She's conflicted about tying the knot, and her famous brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) has been kidnapped, leaving behind only cryptic notebooks for Enola to decipher.

With another playful performance from Brown and her accomplished co-stars, and a Victorian narrative that surprisingly acknowledges Britain's bloody colonial legacy, Enola Holmes 3 files another satisfyingly twisty case for the franchise. And this time, we finally get to hang out properly with Dr. John Watson (Himesh Patel).

Enola Holmes 3 sends Victorian London's heroes to sunnier shores.

Louis Partridge and Himesh Patel in "Enola Holmes 3." Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Leaving the perilous alleyways of Victorian England behind, Enola Holmes 3 sends our young sleuth to sun-drenched Malta, where another adventure awaits: marriage. Despite Sherlock's grumblings about losing that all-important Holmes name to an aristocrat, she's engaged to her dear Lord Ernest Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge). However, Enola's increasingly cold feet lead to something much more chilling: missing family members and a sinister plot.

But while Sherlock's sister may be in a completely new setting, the elements of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work have followed her to Malta — as have the charming Enola Holmes-style collage animations and sketches. Though it's not set on Baker Street, watching Enola teaming up with Watson or in hand-to-hand combat with Moriarty is a pure Sherlockian delight, with the young heroine really getting to step into her brother's shoes this time around — with hand-drawn CSI effects highlighting clues and forensic detail.

Sharon Duncan-Brewster is truly chilling in her unnerving interpretation of the villainous Moriarty. Henry Cavill ruffles his debonair version of the famous detective. And Helena Bonham Carter seems to have a ball as Enola's vigilante mother, Eudoria. Thankfully, we get much more time with Patel as the Watson, as the actor brings charm, elegance, and care to Sherlock's future companion — and watching Enola and Watson bitch about Sherlock's worst habits is long overdue.

Millie Bobby Brown's Enola remains on the case.

Millie Bobby Brown in "Enola Homes 3." Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

As the titular heroine, Brown has plenty to balance. While bringing that Holmes-style energy, wit, and curiosity to her investigative side, the star also embraces Enola's struggle with societal expectations, of choosing her now-established career as a Holmes or her marriage as the future Lady Tewkesbury. Enola's Fleabag-style fourth-wall breaking remains an engaging tool for Brown to lean on, though it does have a cheesy "you're probably wondering how I got here" effect at times. Nonetheless, she also kicks ass with impressive stunt sequences, jumping across balconies in burning buildings, firing guns from speeding carriages, and doling out some brutal hand-to-hand combat.

Brown also makes a sweet pair with Partridge, as the film crafts an adorable grown-up romance for the detective and the viscount. And Brown and Cavill's now worn-in relationship as the Detectives Holmes feels authentic, as Enola relies on her brother's teachings to track him down.

Barantini and editor Tommy Boulding weave Enola's memories from the first two films into her present, providing a handy recap of character bonds. But there's still plenty to reveal, secrets which lead Enola Holmes 3 into delicate territory.

Enola Holmes 3 acknowledges British colonialism within its twisty mystery.

Henry Cavill in "Enola Holmes 3." Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

It's not the first thing you'd expect in a teen adventure movie, but as an adaptation of Victorian literature, Enola Holmes 3 acknowledges the painful legacy of British colonialism in theme and narrative.

Set within the late 1880s in the Victorian era, the Enola Holmes series has already successfully dabbled in real events, with the Matchgirls Strike fuelling the narrative of Enola Holmes 2. In the third film, the reach of Empire is no abstract concept and instead a present reality, with the Anglo-Afghan Wars factoring into the storyline, and the film's Malta setting as a Crown Colony proving loaded territory for the characters.

The Malta we watch Enola in — as she trawls through crime scenes and chases leads through a carnival — is one of beauty, but also British sovereignty. Maltese characters are openly deemed second-class citizens, and Enola becomes enlightened, especially when she teams up with Mikiel Mizzi (a great Joe Azzopardi) of the real Partito Anti-Riformista, who resist the Crown. This does hinge on virtue-signalling for the heroine, but it's an acknowledgment by the franchise of the realities of the romanticised period.

Exactly how far characters would go "for queen and country" becomes an underlying consideration. Watson reflects on his father's role during British Raj, and Enola realises her wealthy British privilege. However, Enola Holmes 3 is not a history lesson, merely a reflection of the context it's set within.

As the third chapter in this mystery history trilogy, Enola Homes 3 gives our young detective a high stakes case to crack, a sweet, enduring love story, and real-world context to consider.

Enola Holmes 3 is streaming on Netflix July 1.

Replace Photoshop with a lifetime to this award-winning editor, only $80 for life

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Luminar Neo is part photo editing app, part quick AI editor, and it’s only $79.99 for life.

Credit: Luminar Neo

The Award-Winning Luminar Neo Lifetime Bundle

$79.99
$332 Save $252.01

Good photo editing software usually means a monthly subscription that never stops, even in the months you barely shoot. Luminar Neo works differently. It’s a full photo editor for Windows and Mac, the kind you’d use to retouch portraits, fix landscapes, or clean up a busy shot, except it leans on AI to do the slow parts for you. You pay one time instead of every month, and right now this bundle pairs the editor with a course and a stack of add-ons for $79.99 (reg. $332).

What can you do with Luminar Neo?

The AI tools are the reason people switch to Luminar Neo. SkyAI detects the sky in your photo and replaces it in a couple of clicks, so a washed-out gray afternoon becomes a sunset without any masking. RelightAI separates the foreground and background so you can brighten a face without blowing out everything behind it. The Erase tool removes a stray tourist or a power line and fills the gap automatically, and SkinAI smooths and retouches a portrait without making anyone look plastic. If you don’t know where to start, the built-in AI Assistant reads the image and recommends edits based on the objects and colors it finds.

You’ll also be getting a landscape editing course with 20 lessons and nearly three hours of video, plus 35 practice photos to edit along with. On top of that are eight creative packs: Wanderfilm and Fujinon Says presets for film color, Blue Mood and Minimal Nature LUTs for grading, and four sky and overlay sets.

Right now, it’s only $79.99 to get the full Luminar Neo Lifetime Bundle, but it won’t stay that way.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Amazon has travel-worthy cameras from GoPro and Insta360 on sale — save up to $200

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Travel-worthy camera deals at a glance:

Best Insta360 deal

Insta360 X4 Air Travel Bundle

$416.49 at Amazon (save $73.50)

Best GoPro deal

GoPro MAX2

$299 at Amazon (save $200.99)

We're just a few days away from July which means it's time for summer travel. From a (warm) trip to Europe, a road trip through national parks, or a weekend away at an Airbnb, it's time to think about how you'll capture the highlights of summer vacations.

Prime Day ended last week, but deals on travel-worthy cameras are still going strong. These compact cameras come packed with features that make them ideal for carrying on a day of adventure, leaving your phone's battery topped up.

If you could use a travel-worthy camera before departure, check out these deals at Amazon.

Best Insta360 deal

Credit: Insta360

Insta360 X4 Air Travel Bundle

$416.49 at Amazon
$489.99 Save $73.50

Why we like it

If you're looking for a frustration-free travel camera, the Insta360 X4 Air is an excellent choice. And the travel bundle adds to the convenience. For starters, the camera itself weighs only 165 grams, and it records in 8K with a 360-degree view. The travel bundle adds in an invisible selfie stick for extra easy filming.

Best GoPro deal

Credit: GoPro

GoPro Max 2

$299 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $200.99

Why we like it

On sale for only $299, the GoPro MAX2 is ready to come along on vacation. It's capable of filming a 360-degree view in 8K resolution. From the app, you'll be able to edit footage to find the best angle. Plus, selfie mode automatically does the technical work of capturing a 180-degree view. If you travels will take you near water, the GoPro MAX2 has a durable design and it's waterproof up to 5 meters.

More travel camera deals at Amazon

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Essential Combo — $288 ~~$339~~ (save $51)
Insta360 X4 Air Starter Bundle — $324.99 ~~$439.99~~ (save $115)
DJI Osmo 360 Essential Combo — $389.35 ~~$479~~ (save $89.65)

Anthropic finally, officially launches Claude Sonnet 5

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:39:08 +0000

Anthropic released Claude Sonnet 5 on Tuesday, confirming months of speculation about an upgrade to its mid-tier AI model.

According to the company's official announcement, the new model is designed to be its "most agentic Sonnet model yet." Meaning it is capable of planning, using tools like browsers and terminals, and operating autonomously — all at a level previously reserved for larger, pricier systems.

Anthropic says Sonnet 5 is a substantial improvement on its predecessor, Sonnet 4.6, across reasoning, coding, and knowledge-work benchmarks, and performs close to the company's flagship Opus 4.8 model while costing significantly less to run.

And in an industry increasingly plagued by sticker shock over the price tokens, Sonnet offers a brief respite. The model launches with introductory pricing of $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens through August 31, after which the standard pricing of $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens takes effect.

On safety, Anthropic reports Sonnet 5 shows lower rates of hallucination, sycophancy, and other undesirable behaviors than its predecessor, along with improved resistance to prompt-injection attacks. The company noted the model's cybersecurity capabilities remain well below those of its Opus-class and Mythos-class systems, and Sonnet 5 has launched with cyber safeguards enabled by default as a precaution.

Notably absent from Anthropic's announcement: specific figures on those improvements in hallucination rates. The company offers only a general claim of "lower rates" compared to Sonnet 4.6, rather than benchmark data.

The release also made no mention of the model's energy consumption or environmental footprint, a real problem for the AI industry as models grow more capable and computationally intensive.

Sonnet 5 is now available across all Claude plans, including Free, Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise tiers, as well as via Claude Code and the Claude Platform via the API under the model name claude-sonnet-5.

The release follows weeks of anticipation in the tech press. As we reported in February, reports have been circulating for some time that Anthropic was preparing a Sonnet update positioned to rival Opus-tier performance at a steep discount — a forecast that tracks with Tuesday's official rollout.

How to watch France vs. Sweden online for free

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Sweden in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Just days into the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and we've already been served up some shocking fixtures. And there's more to come, including France vs. Sweden.

France are one of the favorites to win the whole tournament and looked superb in the group stage, winning all three fixtures and scoring a total of 10 goals. Kylian Mbappe and his teammates look unstoppable.

Sweden have been promising under new coach Graham Potter but results at the World Cup have been inconsistent. France will fancy themselves to win this but Sweden have something to prove and boast world-class players in Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres.

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

When is France vs. Sweden?

France vs. Sweden in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on June 30. This fixture takes place at New York New Jersey Stadium.

How to watch France vs. Sweden for free

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

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

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

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

Live stream France vs. Sweden in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Best 4th of July sales 2026: Deals on Ninja appliances, TVs, pool inflatables, tools, bedding, and much more

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:35:02 +0000

A quick look at our favorite 4th of July sales so far

SharkNinja

save up to 30% on kitchen appliances, vacuums, and more

Bear Mattress

save 35% sitewide

Oru Kayak

save 20% sitewide

Home Depot

save up to 30% on appliances, furniture, grills, and more, plus get free tools

Funboy

save 25% sitewide

It doesn't matter if Prime Day runs for a singular day or nearly 100 hours like the 2026 sale last week — it's easy to get overwhelmed and forget to buy something. Luckily, Prime Day 2026's unusual timing means we get to flow directly into 4th of July sales.

If there are any items still lingering on your summer shopping list, you have quite the host of July 4th sales to shop in the days preceding July 4th on Saturday. As always, home gear like bedding and mattresses, countertop appliances, and tools are major 4th of July themes, as well as the outdoor items that come to mind when you think "fun in the sun": inflatables, kayaks, fire pits, and more are on sale.

Below, we're tracking the best 4th of July deals through the holiday weekend. More will be added to the list as sales go live, so check back before your festivities start.

Home deals

AirDoctor: Save up to $709 on air purifier bundles
Buffy: Save up to 25% sitewide
Caraway Home: Save up to 15% on cookware and bakeware
Cozy Earth: Save 20% when you buy three or more items
Crate & Barrel: Save up to 60% on dinnerware and drinkware, 35% on kitchen brands, and 30% on furniture
Ecobee: Save 25% on smart home thermostats
Home Depot: Save up to 30% on home appliances, living room and patio furniture, up to $165 on power tools, and up to $250 on grills
IKEA: Save up to 50% on furniture and storage, home textiles, pillows, and more
Joybird: Save up to 45% off on bestselling furniture and 35% sitewide
KitchenAid: Save up to 25% on select countertop appliances
Lovesac: Save 40% sitewide
Lowe's: Save up to 45% on select major appliances, up to 40% on lighting and ceiling fans, up to 30% on gardening products, and more
Mellow Sleep: Save up to 50% sitewide
Michael's: Save 50% on all red, white, and blue party decor, up to 60% on summer party and craft supplies, BOGO frames and shadow boxes, plus save 30% on all regular price purchases
Nest New York: Save 25% sitewide on Limited Editions
Nutribullet: Save up to 44% on blenders and ice cream makers
Pluto Pillow: Save $25 on a custom pillow + pillow case set
Pottery Barn: Save up to 70% on select outdoor furniture, bathroom accessories, quilts, and more, plus an extra 20% on select styles
Revival Rugs: Save 20% sitewide
Rugs Direct: Save up to 80% sitewide on brands like Safavieh, Chris Loves Julia, Loloi, Rifle Paper Co., and Rugs USA
SharkNinja: Save up to 30% on Ninja kitchen appliances and Shark vacuums, hair tools, and fans
Target: Save up to 25% on sunscreen, up to 20% on inflatable pools and water toys, and more
Wayfair: Save up to 70% on indoor and outdoor rugs, umbrellas, gazebos, mattresses, pillows, and more

Mattress deals

Avocado: Save up to 15% on organic mattresses
Bear: Save 35% sitewide
Brooklyn Bedding: Save 30% sitewide
DreamCloud: Save up to 60% on mattresses and 66% on bundles
Eight Sleep: Save up to $500 on Pods and accessories
Tuft & Needle: Save 25% on all bundles
Purple: Save up to $800 on a mattress and base
Saatva: Save up to $650 on mattresses or up to $750 on bundles
Zinus: Save up to 60% off, plus get an additional 20% off

Bedding deals

Baloo: Save $30 on weighted throw blanket + cotton duvet cover bundle
Brooklinen: Save 25% sitewide
Coyuchi: Save up to 40% sitewide
Cozy Earth: Save 20% on bedding bundles
Ettitude: Save up to 25% sitewide and up to 70% on final sale
Naturepedic: Save 20% on organic bedding + get a free muslin blanket
Silk & Snow: Save 20% on all sheets

TV deals

For even more 4th of July TV deals, check out our story of the best Prime Day TV deals — almost every model is still at its Prime Day price as of June 30.

Insignia 55-inch F50 Series 4K TV — $179.99 ~~$349.99~~ (save $170)
LG 55-inch 75B QNED 4K TV — $379.99 ~~$599.99~~ (save $220)
Hisense 50-inch E7 Cinema Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $398.99 ~~$699~~ (save $300.01)
Hisense 55-inch U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $529.99 ~~$849.99~~ (save $320)
Hisense 50-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K Art TV — $649.99 ~~$1,299.99~~ (save $650)
Samsung 55-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $997.99 ~~$1,397.99~~ (save $400)
Hisense 65-inch U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $698.99 ~~$1,099.99~~ (save $401)
Hisense 65-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K Art TV — $799.99 ~~$1,299.99~~ (save $500)
TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $997.99 ~~$1,499.99~~ (save $502)
Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $1,199.99 ~~$2,499.99~~ (save $1,300)
Hisense 65-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $1,299.99 ~~$1,999.99~~ (save $700)
LG 75-inch 75B QNED 4K TV — $699.99 ~~$999.99~~ (save $300)
Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $848.99 ~~$1,399.99~~ (save $249.01)
TCL 75-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 ~~$1,999.99~~ (save $602)
Hisense 75-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K Art TV — $1,398.99 ~~$2,499.99~~ (save $1,101)
Hisense 75-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $1,699.99 ~~$2,499.99~~ (save $800)
LG 77-inch C5 OLED 4K TV — $1,999.99 ~~$3,699.99~~ (save $1,700)
Insignia 85-inch QF QLED 4K TV — $659.99 ~~$1,099.99~~ (save $440)
Hisense 85-inch QD6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $749.99 ~~$1,099.99~~ (save $350)

Beauty deals

Dyson: Save up to $130 on the Dyson Airwrap i.d., Airstrait, and Supersonic Nural
FabFitFun: Get a free Bonus Box worth $250 when you sign up for a membership
L'ange: Save up to 50% sitewide

Outdoor deals

Bote: Save up to 20% on Hangout inflatables, kayaks and paddle boards, and more
Diadem Sports: Save up to 50% sitewide on pickleball paddles, grips, and more
Dick's Sporting Goods: Save up to 50% on bikes, running shoes, kayaks, swimsuits and swim trunks, and more
Funboy: Save 25% sitewide
HOVERAir: Save up to 50% sitewide
Oru Kayak: Save 20% sitewide
Solo Stove: Save 20% on select fire pits and pizza ovens
TGW: Save up to 50% on select golf cart bags, golf stands, clothing and shoes, and drivers

Tech deals

Garmin: Save $50 on the Venu 4, $100 on the Forerunner 70, $40 on the Vívofit Jr. 3, $100 on the Tread 2 Overland Edition, and more
Best Buy: Save up to 45% on select TVs, up to $400 on select MacBooks and iPads, up to $600 on select Windows devices, and more
HP: Save up to 72% on OmniBook laptops, Omen gaming PCs, All-in-One desktops, and more
LG: Save up $1,300 on wall ovens, washers and dryers, and more
Tile: Save up to 30% on trackers

House passes KIDS Act, advancing child online safety legislation

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:26:23 +0000

The House passed sweeping kids' online safety legislation Monday night in a 267-117 vote (with 47 members abstaining), but the bill's path forward is far from settled.

The legislation, known as the KIDS Act (Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act), emerged as a bipartisan compromise out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, according to POLITICO. It would, among other policies, restrict minors' use of disappearing messages, require AI chatbots to disclose that they aren't human, and mandate age verification for platforms hosting pornographic content. Age-verification mandates typically require proof of age, such as submitting one's government ID or a facial scan.

The KIDS Act packages portions from 14 digital safety bills, The Hill reported, including the long-debated Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). This version of KOSA omits the "duty of care" provision central to the Senate's version, which would require platforms to actively prevent and mitigate harm to minors related to issues like self-harm, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Child safety advocates and senators from both parties are critiquing the absence, including the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, and the original KOSA co-sponsor, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, POLITICO reported.

KOSA itself has long been a flashpoint. In 2023, Blackburn said in an interview that protecting children from "the transgender [sic] in this culture and that influence" should be a top conservative priority, comments made shortly before she discussed KOSA — fueling concerns from LGBTQ advocates that the bill could be used to target queer content online even without saying so explicitly. Digital civil liberty groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have also argued for years that KOSA endangers online rights. EFF's Jason Kelley called KOSA's age-verification mechanism a "giant censorship machine that also is privacy invasive" at the time.

In May 2026, a coalition of 45 state attorneys general also warned that the broader House package could limit states' authority to enact stronger child safety protections of their own, a concern that "weighed heavily" on Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who ultimately voted against the bill, according to POLITICO.

Age verification in the KIDS Act

Beyond the political fight over KOSA's text, the KIDS Act's reliance on age verification faces a more fundamental challenge.

Initial data suggest that age-verification laws simply don't accomplish what lawmakers intend. In a 2025 working paper (since published in the Journal of Law & Empirical Analysis), researchers analyzed Google Trends data across several states with age-verification laws already in effect. Researchers found a 51 percent drop in searches for Pornhub, the largest platform complying with such regulations. But that decline didn't reflect reduced demand — it reflected migration. Searches for XVideos, a major non-compliant platform, rose 48.1 percent in those same states, while searches for VPNs, commonly used to bypass geographic restrictions, climbed 23.6 percent.

Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, told Mashable at the time that traffic in Louisiana, one of the few states where it still operates while complying with verification rules, dropped roughly 80 percent. "These people did not stop looking for porn," the company stated. "They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content."

Its authors acknowledged limitations, including an inability to isolate the search behavior of minors specifically — the population the laws are actually meant to protect — but another study published in Nov. 2025 reached similar conclusions.

As POLITICO notes, with the House and Senate still divided over which kids' safety proposal to advance, and Aug. recess narrowing the legislative window, it remains unclear whether the KIDS Act will pass in the Senate in its current form — or if concerns over its missing duty-of-care provision and its age-verification approach will force further changes.

The most controversial LGBTQ movie of the year is now streaming

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:05:58 +0000

The most acclaimed LGBTQ movies of the 2020s — All of Us Strangers, I Saw the TV Glow, Fire Island, Leviticus, even Tár — have little in common with Blue Film. Yet writer/director Elliott Tuttle’s Blue Film holds a 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, even with two very flawed characters and a subject matter most audiences would run from.

Unlike most of the aforementioned films, Blue Film contains no romance or sweetness. While Blue Film's characters are as complicated as Lydia Tár, they are not exceptional performers like she is, nor do they have any of the trappings of success, like money, partners, or kids. Blue Film is about one person who has done unspeakable things and another who humiliates lonely people for cash. Not only are the characters difficult to identify with, but their disclosures and interactions throughout the movie make it intentionally uncomfortable for the audience.

While Blue Film was adored by critics, it hasn't yet found a wide audience. Now that it's been released on streaming, it may find more people willing to confront its difficult story.

I recently connected with Tuttle and the movie's stars, Reed Birney and Kieron Moore, about Blue Film. One thing I wanted to know was what Birney and Moore thought of Tuttle's script. Both actors said they were fascinated by the characters, thought of them as challenges, but weren't sure anyone would actually see such a movie.

"What are the odds of a low-budget movie about a pedophile having an audience?," Birney, a Tony winner who also executive produced Blue Film, said. "For it to come out and be greeted so rapturously and so seriously, I'm still in complete disbelief... even when people don't like it, I understand why they don't like it."

What's Blue Film about?

The movie's protagonist, Aaron Eagle (Moore), is an LA-based queer camboy who performs for a gay male audience. He’s hostile to his online audience, peppering them with slurs, which seems to be what they want. A pathological liar, Aaron refuses to be honest about his life before he became a cam boy. He's also insecure, posturing an extreme version of masculinity by taking up as much space as possible and using his formidable size to intimidate. He’s pretty hard to like, at least in his current incarnation.

Aaron may have been more endearing before heartbreak — and life in LA — hardened him. The movie’s plot kicks into gear when Aaron heads to the home of a fan who's offered $50,000 for a night with him. Answering the door in a ski mask is Hank (Birney), and just like that Blue Film shifts into horror-thriller territory. The shocks will soon arrive, but there are no weapons, per se.

See, Hank is no stranger. He was one of his teachers back in Maine. Recently released from prison for trying to sexually assault one of his students, Hank is now in Los Angeles specifically to see Aaron, whom he believes he was in love with. That's news to Aaron.

What follows is an all-night conversation between the two men as Hank works to break down Aaron’s defenses and extract some truths from him. Hank is hiding a lot, too, but he seems more adept at opening up and offering up some version of his past, even if it’s filled with delusional thinking and bullshit justifications. Hank is a pedophile, and he seems too oddly comfortable with that fact. Some viewers will recoil at that, others will stay to see what happens.

Blue Film is a dark movie, with a hopeful ending.

Hank is a deeply damaged man who has hurt children, but is superficially a much nicer person than Aaron — while Aaron broods and deflects, Hanks smiles and inquires. Thanks to Aaron's youth and the fact that he’s never done anything remotely as evil as Hank, the younger man seems salvageable in comparison. Because the movie is bookended with Aaron, Tuttle seems to indicate his Blue Film is not about redeeming Hank or making the audience sympathize with a pedophile. Yet Hank is an unexpected force for good to grown Aaron.

At one point, Hank talks about the two men as children and asks Aaron if he ever feels pity for his younger self. It’s a question at the heart of the film — do we ever offer compassion to our earlier versions, our innocent childhood selves eventually beaten into cynicism by life? Can we ever drop our adult armor and get back some of that joy and wonder? Hank reminds Aaron of the earlier self he's discarded; a likable kid who loved to sing. At the end of the encounter, Aaron is humming to himself in the shower and then napping peacefully, with the weight of his double identities seemingly sloughing off his shoulders. This suggests Aaron may have a chance at reclaiming some of his more innocent, joyful self.

Tuttle says he began journaling before the script came together. He was writing about his own adolescent sexuality and the story "became this whole other thing about loneliness and the way we explain ourselves to ourselves," he told Mashable.

Blue Film offers no easy answers.

The conversation that constitutes the majority of Blue Film is occasionally interrupted by beer guzzling, weed smoking, and flashes of sex that end almost as fast as they begin; in that regard, there are some similarities between Blue Film and the 2011 gay classic Weekend, which explored how a short, chance encounter between two men can lead to a deep connection; maybe even a relationship. But, unlike Weekend, there is no climactic kiss in Blue Film, or even an indication its characters will ever see each other again.

Still, both movies speak to the queer experience of adopting personas to shed identities that no longer suit us. While Weekend used a sexy, confident twink as a foil for its repressed/depressed protagonist, Tuttle utilizes a pedophile to the same end. It’s a bold choice, and certainly not for everyone.

"It gave me a great reassurance of how intelligent audiences are," Moore said of the response to his film debut. "People want to watch things and pick them apart and decide how it makes them feel rather than being told how to feel."

Blue Film is available to stream on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Google launches Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash. How to try them now

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:04:07 +0000

Google has some new AI tools for users to mess around with.

The company announced in a blog post on Tuesday that Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash are now available. These are a couple of new toys that live within Google's suddenly very expansive AI ecosystem, both serving a different purpose.

For starters, Nano Banana 2 Lite is a speedy, cost-effective image generator that Google says is designed for people who currently use the original Nano Banana model. It can apparently spit out images four seconds after text inputs, making it ideal for prototyping. According to Google, this model is now available in Google AI Studio, other developer-centric tools like Gemini API, and consumer-facing places like the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search.

On top of that, Gemini Omni Flash is now available in a public preview in Google AI Studio and Gemini API, as well as in the Gemini app and Google Flow. This tool is designed for video generation and editing, allowing users to use natural language, video, and text inputs to get the results they want with Omni Flash. However, there are limitations: Videos can only be 10 seconds long, and Google says character consistency in scene changes is problematic at the moment.

Feel free to go check these out whenever you have a moment.

Watch: Obsession cast talks about the creepy perfection of Nikki

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

The U.S. has gone wild for Obsession. Writer/director Curry Barker's twisted horror movie about a wish gone wrong is not only a box office hit, but also the highest-grossing Focus Features release of all time. Audiences have screamed, critics have raved — especially over the impeccable performance of leading lady Inde Navarrette.

While the film centers on an aimless young man called Bear (Michael Johnston), it's Navarrette's cursed girl Nikki who's become the internet's obsession. When Bear wishes for his crush to love him more than anyone else, Nikki becomes a horrifically distorted version of herself, who lives only for his attention.

Today, Obsession comes to digital, and with it comes a featurette clip, in which the film's cast looks back on how Navarrette brought this harrowing portrait of being trapped by male desire to such vivid life.

As seen above, Johnston and fellow castmates Cooper Tomlinson and Megan Lawless share what it was like to be on set as Navarrette created Nikki. For her part, the heralded actress credits Barker with helping her work on finding the physicality for Nikki and her "uncanny valley" look. And he marvels that this scream queen was new to letting loose with a good yell.

Obsession is available for now available for purchase on digital. Obsession will be released on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-Ray and DVD on July 14. These options include more behind-the-scenes footage and a commentary track from Barker.

How to get your resume to the top of AIs pile

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:55:13 +0000

After a tough 2025, the news about the U.S. labor market has been trending positive, at least for the second quarter of 2026. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the week ending June 20 fell by 12,000 to 215,000, the Labor Department reported recently. That number beat analyst expectations of around 225,000 new applications, according to the Associated Press.

Even with the good news, around 7.3 million are still looking for work, according to May numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For many, the hunt for work begins with polishing one's resume and cover letter — and using AI to do so.

Employers and HR directors are also using AI to screen their large piles of CVs. So, what does AI want to see on your resume and cover letter? In the second edition of our series on making AI love your resume (check out the first story here), we connected with Shaun Pichler, Ph.D., a professor at the Department of Management at the College of Business & Economics at California State University, Fullerton. Pichler, also the senior editor of the Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology and co-editor-in-chief of Human Resource Management, walked us through the realities of the modern job search.

Many people assume AI does the first pass on most resumes and applications. Have you found that to be true?

Pichler: This really depends on the type of job and the employer. AI screening is more likely among entry-to mid-level roles as compared to, for instance, executive roles. It is also more commonly used among large employers of choice that receive high volumes of applications per vacancy. I wouldn’t say that AI does the first pass on most resumes and applications because recent survey data indicates that a little less than half of responding organizations use AI for recruiting in general. And it is common for recruiters to selectively review applications from referrals and other priority applicants without using AI whatsoever.

Does AI have a bias against AI-constructed CVs/resumes/cover letters?

This is an interesting empirical question. Since LLMs tend to prefer self-generated content, there is reason to posit that AI actually has a positive bias in favor of AI-constructed resumes. While there is one conference paper that found large language models prefer resumes created by themselves, there just haven’t been enough studies done on this topic to draw any meaningful conclusions, at least not yet — but give it a couple of years.

There are many websites that claim to help job seekers optimize their CVs for AI. With AI changing and adapting so quickly, can those sites still be trusted to know what AI wants?

There is very little verifiable evidence to suggest that a third-party vendor can meaningfully help a candidate optimize their resume for AI. My suggestion to job candidates is to use multiple LLMs, like ChatGPT and Claude, to help them with their resumes instead of paying money to a third-party vendor. My personal opinion is that this is a waste of money in most cases.

Any tips for people trying to retrofit their resumes for AI and make them stand out within the algorithm?

Yes, but my suggestions apply whether the resume is being reviewed by AI, a human, or both, which are to mirror the language of the job posting/description, highlight important keywords, quantify one’s experience when possible, and focus on job-relevant information. The key here is tailoring the resume to the job posting, something that can take a lot of time and can be streamlined by using AI, so long as the applicant gives an LLM adequate information, such as their resume alongside a narrative of their accomplishments, as well as the job posting.

RAM prices are about to rise nearly 50 percent. And it gets worse.

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:33:17 +0000

If you're planning to upgrade your computer's memory or buy a new device soon, now may be the time to do it.

That's according to tech analysts who are sounding the alarm: RAM prices are about to rise by nearly 50 percent in the coming weeks.

According to a report from Jefferies Equity Research analysts, memory chip pricing is expected to rise between 40 and 50 percent in the third quarter of 2026 — between July 1 and September 30, in other words.

Hoping that relief is on the horizon, in the form of increased supply to meet the demand? Alas, that doesn't seem likely anytime soon either.

Memory prices are expected to rise even further, between 30 and 40 percent more, in the fourth quarter (October through December). And it only gets worse next year; analysts project memory price hikes will continue with a year-on-year increase of 40 to 45 percent in 2027.

Memory chip manufacturers, like Samsung and Micron, have already sold a good portion of their output to companies building out AI data centers. That means fewer chips for consumers in the form of PCs, smartphones, and video game consoles. Demand from AI companies is skyrocketing, going far and beyond what the manufacturers can keep up with.

As Mashable previously reported, Micron has warned that RAM shortages could last into 2028. In February, hard drive manufacturer Western Digital shared that its "top 7 customers" had bought out all of its storage supply for the year. In addition, the company said that these companies were already buying up its supply into 2028.

As a result of AI-driven shortages, consumer products have skyrocketed in price. Apple recently raised the price of its MacBooks by as much as $500. Gaming companies have also struggled with the shortages. Microsoft recently raised Xbox gaming console prices by as much as $150.

Recent leaks suggest that Sony will either have to sell its upcoming PlayStation 6 console at a minimum of $960 or push the launch date back into 2028 or even beyond that.

In short, RAMaggedon is well and truly here.

Prediction markets have entered the Love Island USA villa

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:29:37 +0000

Love Island USA has become one of the internet's biggest reality TV obsessions over the past couple of summers, and its fans are doing a lot more than watching hot twenty-somethings couple up.

The reality dating show, which airs every night except Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock, gives viewers a near-daily stream of developments to analyze, from bombshell arrivals and public votes to recouplings, shifting loyalties, and the small villa moments that can turn one Islander into a fan favorite or send another into the internet's crosshairs. Fans track, post, and debate every change in the villa like it is a sport (with better swimwear).

So maybe it was only a matter of time before someone tried to put a market around all that forecasting.

Kalshi, the prediction market platform, has been offering Love Island USA contracts this season, giving users a way to trade on outcomes connected to the show, including which couple will win, which Islanders might be eliminated next, and which couples could finish in second or third place. They have also partnered with creators to launch a breadth of TikTok and Instagram ads.

"Because the fandom around Love Island is so popular, we knew our traders would be excited about getting in on the action," Kalshi spokesperson Clarissa Bronfman tells Mashable. "Trading on the outcome of shows like Love Island allows fans to feel like they're part of these moments."

According to Kalshi, Love Island USA markets brought in more than $20 million in trading volume across the first two weeks of the season, a major figure for an entertainment market. For comparison, the most recent Oscars race for Best Picture, one of the biggest awards-season betting events, drew about $25 million in volume. Kalshi’s Week 2 elimination market closed with $3.3 million traded, more than the $2.8 million traded on the winning couple market at the time.

The demand was not limited to an early burst of curiosity. Bronfman said trading has been "exceptionally popular," with total trading volume for Love Island U.S. and UK markets reaching nearly $40 million as of Monday, June 29. She said trades crossed $1 million in cumulative volume within the first week around the premieres and reached a single-day peak of nearly $3 million traded on June 11.

Currently, Kalshi's winning couple market has Trinity Tatum and Bryce Dettloff as heavy favorites, with an 80 percent chance of winning (both Melanie and Sincere and Zach and Kayda have a 33 percent chance of landing in the top three). There are also weekly elimination contracts — Amora and Kenzie were both priced around 56 and 37 percent in the Week 5 market.

Kalshi is not the only prediction market platform turning Love Island USA into something tradable. On Polymarket, users have also been able to trade on Season 8 outcomes, down to even what might be said during a specific episode (for example, the word "red flag"). A spokesperson from Polymarket declined to comment on their Love Island trading platform.

Love Island is different from a traditional awards show or sporting event, though, because fans are not only watching from the outside. Sometimes, they shape what happens next.

Often, the producers prompt fans to vote for their favorite (or least favorite) cast members on the Love Island app, and each time, the fandom certainly mobilizes: The Love Island USA app crashed during both a June 9 and June 16 vote and later climbed to the top of the App Store.

When asked about the ethics and integrity of markets where users can influence outcomes through public voting, Bronfman says, "We draw a hard line against insider trading — it's prohibited on Kalshi."

She also says it has safeguards in place to detect suspicious activity on its platform. Kalshi uses Know Your Customer checks for everyone who trades on the platform, which Bronfman describes as "very similar (and more extensive) than signing up for a bank."

"When people trade, we use advanced AI surveillance technology that tracks for any irregular trading and investigates suspicious trading activity," Bronfman adds. "We go beyond looking at individual households and look at people’s social connections as well."

Prediction markets are expanding just as sports betting has become a massive part of American digital life. Americans legally wagered nearly $167 billion on sports in 2025, according to the American Gaming Association, and online betting has transformed how many fans experience games. Some states — like Illinois, Nevada, and most recently Michigan (as of June 29) — have placed bans or taxes on prediction markets as state governments debate whether to classify them as financial exchanges, gambling platforms, or something in between.

The sports gambling world has been built, for the most part, around men. Men are nearly twice as likely as women to report gambling-related problems, and sports betting has become one of the clearest examples of how quickly gambling products can move from occasional entertainment to an everyday phone habit.

So when prediction market companies start using pop culture, influencers, and reality TV to reach more women, it raises a question: Is this just another way for fans to engage with the shows they love, or is it opening a new pathway to betting addiction for an untapped market?

According to Bronfman, there are "3x more female traders" in Love Island markets compared with other Kalshi markets, and "2/3 of new Love Island traders are women."

Kalshi and Polymarket have both experimented with pop-culture contracts and social media strategies that look different from a sportsbook ad during a football game, setting wagers on — for example — Taylor Swift's wedding venue, Dancing with the Stars cast members, or the Bachelor drama.

It doesn't mean every fan trading on these outcomes is treating Kalshi and Polymarket like a sportsbook. Prediction markets differ from betting platforms; their contracts are described as "event-based trading," where users buy and sell positions against each other rather than placing bets against the house. In that framing, a Love Island contract is less like a traditional sportsbook wager and more like a stock price fluctuating around a future event.

But for users, the actual experience can still feel familiar, potentially hooking a new prediction-market audience one recoupling at a time.

How well does the Beatbot Sora 70 robot clean your pool?

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:15:56 +0000

Beatbot's Sora 70 robot pool cleaner is a high-tech way to clean your swimming pool. CNET Video Producer, Stephen Beacham, tested it out for a week and shares his thoughts on what it's like to use the app-connected cleaning device.

Not Alone trailer: Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez find love and aliens

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:56:55 +0000

Timothée Chalamet has caught the sci-fi bug. Following the release of Dune: Part Three, the Oscar nominee will remain in the realm of space and aliens with Illumination's upcoming Not Alone.

The film, out in April of 2027, marks Chalamet's animation debut. He stars alongside Selena Gomez, herself no stranger to animation thanks to roles in the Hotel Transylvania movies. The pair voice Joe and Fran, employees at Space Burst, a company working on a revolutionary rocket launch.

Not Alone's first teaser trailer highlights the budding romance between the two, complete with flirting, blushing, and the promise of a dinner date. However, Joe and Fran's love story gets derailed when Space Burst's rocket collides with an unknown object and begins hurtling back to Earth — and it's bringing aliens with it.

Up until this point, Not Alone's teaser is quietly sweet, with even a hint of melancholy at the threat of the rocket colliding with Earth. With the aliens' introduction, though, the trailer reminds us that this is an Illumination movie. And Illumination loves nothing more than its weird little guys. (See: the entire Minions franchise.)

Not Alone's weird little guys are a crew of Gumby-looking aliens. Unlike the Minions, they speak English — and they're all voiced by UK comedy royalty. Named Dunk (voiced by Rob Brydon), Welly (voiced by Diane Morgan), and Shirm (voiced by Jamie Demetriou), this alien trio is on the run from their home planet's zealous Officer Zandro (voiced by Brett Goldstein). They wind up hiding out in Joe's home. Will their presence help or hinder his chances with Fran? And how will this first contact end up impacting the rest of Earth?

Not Alone hits theaters in April of 2027.

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is free right now with T-Mobile — how to qualify for this promo

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:10:08 +0000

FREE PHONE: As of June 30, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26+ from T-Mobile when you activate a new line or trade in an eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

Credit: Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S26: Free with T-Mobile

If you're in the market for a new smartphone, your best bet right now is T-Mobile.

Whether you're looking to trade in your old device or want to start fresh with a new carrier, you can snag 2026's Samsung Galaxy S26+ for free. There are a couple of ways you can go about taking advantage of the deal, but either way you slice it, you're getting a phone that's normally $1,099.99 without having to nickel and dime yourself to death.

As of June 30, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26+ from T-Mobile when you activate a new line or trade in an eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. That means you can take your old device and trade it in (after consulting the list of eligible trade-in devices, of course) or simply opt to start up a new phone plan on either eligible option. Additionally, if you're already on Go5G Next or Go5G plans at T-Mobile, you'll qualify for the free phone.

But you don't just walk in and get a free phone or place a $0 order for the device. There are some fees that will apply. You'll receive 24 monthly bill credits for the device when adding a line or trading in an eligible phone on the qualifying plan of your choice. The only catch is, you'll need to pay taxes and a $35 device connection charge to complete the deal.

You can complete the deal online or in-store, so if you want the phone sooner rather than later, that's an option. Just be advised that you will need to pay a bit of cash in return for the spoils. If that sounds like a great deal to you (and really, it is), you can sign up right now and have your phone ASAP. And who doesn't want a free phone this summer?

I vetted the 17 best deals live at the REI 4th of July sale

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:07:32 +0000

Best REI 4th of July deals at a glance:

Best camping deal

REI Half Dome 2 Tent with Footprint

$246.69 (save $82.31)

Best Yeti deal

Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler

$260 (save $65)

Best water sports deal

Bote Aero Inflatable Paddle Board

$399.99 (save $179.01)

Prime Day ended last week, but we have plentiful 4th of July sales on the agenda this week. One of the most shoppable sales right now is the REI 4th of July sale. This annual event marks one of the retailers best sales of the year, and the timing couldn't be better now that we've realized what gear doesn't deserve to come along on this summer's camping adventures.

REI is a membership co-op that specializes in outdoor gear, but unlike retailers like Amazon, there's only a one-time lifetime membership fee of $30. Plus, if you sign up for a membership now, you'll get a free $30 member bonus card to spend on a purchase of $50 or more. The membership comes with great benefits like exclusive discounts, free shipping, and access to local events.

As someone who spends as much time as possible outside, I've scrolled the endless pages of REI's 4th of July sale to find the best deals I'd buy myself. Here are my top recommendations to shop during the sale. Keep in mind prices jump back to normal after July 6, so shop early to get the best selection.

Best camping deal

Credit: REI

REI Half Dome 2 Tent with Footprint

$246.99 at REI
$329 Save $82.01

Why we like it

Every great camping adventure needs a great tent. With over 45 years of design, the REI Half Dome tent proves its worth in the outdoor. This model is designed to sleep two people during three seasons. It weighs a bit over five pounds packed, and it comes with an included rainfly and footprint. Durability includes using 7000-series aluminum poles, ripstop nylon for the rainfly, and breathable 75-denier polyester taffeta for the upper walls.

More camping deals

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System — $48.69 ~~$64.95~~ (save $16.26)
Dometic GO Hydration Water Jug (11 Liters) — $55.99 ~~$70~~ (save $14.01)
Marmot Sawtooth Sleeping Bag (Regular) — $144.73 ~~$299~~ (save $154.27)
Hest Foamy Sleeping Pad (Regular) — $263.19 ~~$329~~ (save $65.81)
Nemo Dragonfly Bikepack OSMO 1P Tent — $362.73 ~~$519.95~~ (save $157.22)
Big Agnes Wyoming Trail 4 Tent — $499.93 ~~$999.95~~ (save $500.06)

Best Yeti deal

Credit: Yeti

Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler

$260
$325 Save $65

Why we like it

As a special deal for REI members, the 4th of July sale gives you access to 20% off any one Yeti item. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler. With the REI member discount, the cooler drops to just $260 in your choice of nine colorways. Yeti is well known for their durable coolers, and the Tundra 45 is large enough to hold 54 cans without ice or up to 37 pounds of ice. Plus, it has one removable dry goods basket.

If you're not in need of a large hard cooler, check out the rest of the Yeti selection that's also eligible for a one-item 20% discount during the sale.

Best water sports deal

Credit: Bote

Bote Aero Inflatable Paddle Board

$399.99
$579 Save $179.01

Why we like it

It's hard to match the serenity of a calm summer evening spent out on the water. The Bote Wulf Aero inflatable paddle board with a paddle is on sale during the REI sale for $399.99, down from the standard price of $579 for a great 30% discount. At over 11 feet long, this SUP is great for beginners, and it's suitable for anyone who weighs up to 315 pounds.

When you're finished with chilling out on the water, the Bote deflates and easily stores in the included carrying backpack. That's great news for easy storage during the off season.

More REI 4th of July deals

Fjallraven Pocket Bag — $30.93 ~~$45~~ (save $14.07)
Thermacell E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller — $37.39 ~~$49.95~~ (save $12.56)
Helinox HeliDrop Game — $59.89 ~~$79.95~~ (save $20.06)
Osprey Zealot 30 Pack — $83.73 ~~$130~~ (save $46.27)
Nemo Vantage 20 L Endless Promise Everyday Adventure Daypack — $97.73 ~~$179.95~~ (save $82.22)
Chaco Rapid Pro Sandals — $97.49 ~~$130~~ (save $32.51)
Coleman Snap 'N Go 55-Quart Collapsible Hard Cooler — $179.99 ~~$240~~ (save $60.01)
Cannondale Quick CX 3 Bike — $679.19 ~~$849~~ (save $169.81)

Meccha Chameleon: Xbox and phone release plans, where you can try it now

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:01:35 +0000

Meccha Chameleon has become one of the breakout indie hits of the summer, racking up over 10 million copies sold since launching on Steam earlier this month, according to the developer lemorion_1224.

The newest and hottest friendslop game on the block sees players tackle a hide-and-seek party game that tasks "Hiders" with painting their bodies to blend into colorful stage backgrounds while "Seekers" race to find them before time runs out — a simple premise that's proven to be a hit for friend groups looking for chaotic multiplayer fun.

Meccha Chameleon is currently only available on PC via Steam. There is no confirmed release on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or mobile devices.

Is Meccha Chameleon on Xbox?

No. Meccha Chameleon is not available on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, and it is not part of Xbox Game Pass. No release date or porting plans have been announced.

Is Meccha Chameleon on mobile (iOS/Android)?

No. There is currently no mobile version of Meccha Chameleon, and no announcement has been made regarding a future release on iOS or Android.

Nvidia resurrects older graphics cards as RAM demands impact tech prices

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:58:59 +0000

Nvidia has reintroduced some old hardware to the market, but not at an especially agreeable price.

Tom's Hardware reported that Nvidia has quietly begun restocking the RTX 3060 graphics card series at some online retailers, such as Newegg. The 12GB card first launched in 2021 but had been off the shelves for some time as the company shifted its priorities to the newer 50-series cards. The only problem? This five-year-old card costs $339.99, which is not much less than a newer, more powerful RTX 5060.

This is obviously meant to reduce the strain on the GPU market a bit by offering a PC component that, while not capable of supporting all the latest technical bells and whistles, would still be plenty good for playing most PC video games. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company would consider doing this back at CES earlier this year, and it has apparently made good on that promise. It just hasn't done so in a way that will save gamers very much money.

That is, unfortunately, just how things will go for the foreseeable future, as we suffer the consequences of RAMageddon.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Norway online for free

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:58:26 +0000

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

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage rolls on with another action-packed day from the Round of 32. First up is Ivory Coast vs. Norway, a fixture that's tough to predict.

Ivory Coast showed real guts in the group stage, taking a fight to Germany and beating both Curacao and Ecuador. Norway had two impressive performances in the group stage against Iraq and Senegal largely thanks to Erling Haaland, who netted four across those games. But Haaland was benched for their last group game against France and Norway took a 4-1 loss. He'll be back for this all-important clash.

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

When is Ivory Coast vs. Norway?

Ivory Coast vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on June 30. This fixture takes place at Dallas Stadium.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Norway for free

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

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

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

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Wimbledon 2026 schedule: When Serena Williams is playing today, how to stream it

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:34:57 +0000

Serena Williams is back at Wimbledon, which is not exactly a normal sentence to read in 2026.

The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion returns to Centre Court on Tuesday, June 30, for her first professional singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open. Williams, 44, will face 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint in the first round, marking one of the biggest early moments of this year’s tournament before she has even played a point.

Williams last played a Wimbledon singles match in 2022, when she lost in the first round to Harmony Tan. A few months later, she stepped away from tennis after the U.S. Open, describing the move as “evolving” away from the sport rather than retiring in the traditional sense.

Now, after easing back into competition through doubles earlier this month, she is returning to the singles draw at the All England Club. And this time, she has made it clear that the goal is not to recreate the pressure of her prime.

“As of now, I’m not nervous,” Williams said ahead of the match, adding that her expectation is to stay calm, take it easy, and have fun.

Read below for how to watch, match timing, and what to know about Williams’ Wimbledon return.

Where to watch Serena Williams at Wimbledon

Serena Williams’ first-round match against Maya Joint is airing on ESPN in the United States.

Viewers can also stream Wimbledon coverage through the ESPN app, with individual court streams available through ESPN Unlimited. ESPN coverage is also available through select live TV streaming services that carry the network.

Outside the U.S., Wimbledon coverage varies by country. In the U.K., matches are available across the BBC, including BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sport. International viewers can check Wimbledon’s official TV coverage guide for the broadcaster in their region.

What time does Serena Williams play at Wimbledon?

Williams is scheduled to play Maya Joint on Tuesday, June 30, as the third match on Centre Court.

Centre Court play begins at 8:30 a.m. ET with Taylor Townsend vs. Iga Świątek, followed by Alexander Blockx vs. Alexander Zverev. Williams vs. Joint will begin after those two matches are finished, so the exact start time depends on how long the earlier matches run.

As of now, the match is expected around midday ET, but Wimbledon scheduling can shift quickly.

Who is Serena Williams playing?

Williams will face Maya Joint, a 20-year-old Australian player who turned pro in 2021.

Joint is part of the younger generation that grew up watching Williams dominate tennis, which adds an obvious layer to the matchup. For Williams, it is a return to a court where she has made history. For Joint, it is a first-round match that suddenly became one of the most-watched of the tournament. No pressure.

When was Serena Williams’ last singles match?

Williams’ last professional singles match came at the 2022 U.S. Open, where she lost to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round.

Her last Wimbledon singles match came earlier that same year, when she lost to Harmony Tan in the first round. Since then, Williams has had a second child, expanded her business life, and largely moved into a post-tennis chapter before this comeback.

How many times has Serena Williams won Wimbledon?

Williams has won seven Wimbledon singles titles, with victories in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2016.

She has also won six Wimbledon women’s doubles titles with her sister Venus Williams. The sisters are expected to reunite in doubles at Wimbledon later this week.

Bose portable speakers drop to new low prices at Amazon — Bose SoundLink Max and SoundLink Micro on sale

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:24:54 +0000

SAVE UP TO 40%: As of June 30, get the Bose SoundLink Max and Bose SoundLink Micro portable speakers at Amazon for their lowest-ever prices.

Credit: Amazon

Bose SoundLink Max

$279 at Amazon
$399 Save $120

Credit: Amazon

Bose SoundLink Micro

$79 at Amazon
$129 Save $50

Looking for a portable speaker to carry around to all your favorite places this summer? Here's the good news: you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get a great one. In fact, you're in luck even now that we're post-Prime Day. You can get some incredible prices on a couple of Bose's best portable speakers, with two options up for grabs at the lowest prices we've seen, in fact.

As of June 30, get the Bose SoundLink Max for $279 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399. That's a discount of 30% and $120 off. Alternatively, you can snag the Bose SoundLink Micro for $79, down from its usual price of $129. That's a discount of 39% and $50 off.

These are two speakers in two different sizes for your convenience, essentially. The Max is the larger option with bigger, more satisfying sound that's perfect for larger areas where you need rich bass and music to project. It has 20 hours of battery life and it's waterproof and dustproof as well, so whether you're heading to the beach or just someone's house, you don't have to worry about ruining it. It's large and rugged, with bombastic audio and a built-in AUX input to play tunes from a variety of sources.

Alternatively, the smaller SoundLink Micro is for taking to smaller areas, and it's ultra portable. It has a utility strap that you can use to slip into a pocket, play it straight from your hand, or attach it to a bag. It has 12 hours of battery life and a rugged, durable design that's also waterproof and dustproof, so it's also great for taking on the go. Plus, it has an extended Bluetooth range of up to 30 feet.

No matter which option you choose, there's a lot of audio power here for on-the-go listening, so be sure to grab one before the sales end.

Whats dating in 2026 like? Single women tell all.

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:54:44 +0000

Of the four single women Mashable spoke to about dating in 2026, three had one thing in common: They're not on dating apps.

Or, at least, they're not active on them.

"I have Hinge," Kayleigh, a 23-year-old dancer living in Brooklyn, told me. "Do I use it, though? No." Kayleigh, like some other daters, opted to go by their first name only for privacy reasons.

"I went on one Hinge date, and I was like, 'You're the most boring person I think I've ever met,'" she said. "Haven't been on one since."

None of the four daters I spoke to is thrilled about dating apps, including the one who is active on them. Daters, especially those looking for a long-term partner, are frustrated with the dating apps. That's nothing new, said dating coach Erika Ettin. But it seems the more technology meddles in our love lives, the more disconnected people feel.

"There's never been more apps than we have today. There's never been more choices than today. We're so connected, but so disconnected," Mehak, host of the Love-ly podcast, told me. Love-ly is a podcast about dating, relationships, identity, and culture through the lens of immigrant identity.

Despite the obvious burnout, though, there is hope for dating — including on apps.

Want our dating and relationships stories and more in your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today.

The great opt-out of dating

In recent years, relationship and online dating expert Dr. Jess Carbino has seen more people "solomaxxing" or "self-partnering" — aka, staying single.

"This is consistent with larger trends related to loneliness, as well as relational cutoffs altogether," said Carbino, a PhD in sociology, who used to work as a sociologist for Tinder and Bumble. Americans have been reporting increased loneliness since before the COVID lockdowns, and the isolation and change in daily life afterward didn't help. Estrangement from family has also risen in recent years.

Carbino attributes opting out of dating to skepticism and cynicism. Men and women are wary of each other, she says. There's also a trend towards moralization, or the classification of certain behaviors as right or wrong.

But why are young daters skeptical and cynical? Carbino believes that Gen Z hasn't dated before, doesn't know how to do it, and isn't dating as a result of their anxieties, preoccupations with technology, and the precarious financial position they find themselves in.

The socioeconomic status of young people (and older people) definitely hinders dating. Last month, WIRED declared that people can't afford to date, and the New York Times recently reported that rising costs are stopping people from having children, too.

"They're not perceiving themselves or others as being viable options."

Young adults are bowing out of marriage and partnership at a younger age "because they don't feel like they have the capacity to do that," Carbino explained. "They're not perceiving themselves or others as being viable options, and I think that's really consistent with demographic data we see in terms of the increased age at first marriage and childbearing."

Between 1980 and 2023, the median age of an American woman when she first marries has increased by 29 percent from 22.0 to 28.4, according to Bowling Green State University.

And then there are the cultural reasons behind going solo. Having a boyfriend has been deemed "embarrassing"; heterosexual women are pessimistic about their options, and they're not afraid to say so on social media. And that doesn't even touch growing political polarization between young men and women.

And daters continue to be frustrated by dating apps — and now AI is added into the mix. For several years now, the most popular dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble) have been adding more AI features, such as Tinder's AI matchmaker, Chemistry.

"Nobody is for it," Ettin said of AI. "With it being so hard to make a connection in general these days, the last thing people want is more AI intervention to make it less personal, to make it less human."

Then there are the daters using chatbots to come up with messages for them (if not dating a bot itself). If someone is using AI to swipe and chat for them, "it doesn't bode well for a good partnership if someone's not putting in the work up front," she said.

26-year-old dater Moena, a PR professional, said AI in dating "kind of kills authenticity." As a Bumble user, she's curious about what the app plans on doing with AI in the coming months as it removes the swipe feature. But plenty of users have expressed their discontent with the move to AI online.

Even without AI, though, the disdain towards dating apps has been growing steadily. Looking at financial performance, Hinge has consistently increased direct revenue and paying users, but the same can't be said for Tinder and Bumble. The latter is considering even apparently considering a sale amid declining downloads.

Overwhelm and underwhelm

For Mehak, who's not on apps right now, dating is simultaneously overwhelming and underwhelming.

Dating is simultaneously overwhelming and underwhelming.

It's "overwhelming because you know the apps never stop, you're constantly swiping, you're having the same conversation, you're going on first dates that do go somewhere," she explained, "but then they don't go somewhere, but it's also underwhelming, right?"

After awhile, dating all starts to feel the same. She enjoys dating — she loves people and is curious about them — but she's burnt out by the process.

Mehak, who's in her early 30s, said the difference between dating now and ten years ago is the amount of choice. She's also struggling with ambivalence: She wants to find her person, but she can't rush the process.

"I've spent a lot of time trying to answer six-month questions on date two," she said. She asks herself questions like, Do I see a future with them? Is this my person? "As I'm saying this, I just laugh at myself, because I'm like, how would I possibly know?"

And while she sometimes goes out with friends to meet new people, she doesn't enjoy speed dating events, as they feel manufactured.

Kate Sime, who's in her early 50s, said dating apps have removed the human element of dating, and they foster an environment where everyone's disposable. Before she met her ex-husband at 27, she met her boyfriends through friends, at work, or by locking eyes with someone across a bar. But dating doesn't seem to work like that anymore.

Sime also said a lot of singles events in London consist of throwing people in a room and giving them alcohol, so she wants to do something different.

She's launching a business this autumn, Kasalyst, for heterosexual singles 35 and older in London. Kasalyst will host events with activities, be it wine tasting or a dinner party, and pair it with talks to help people through different elements of relationships, such as emotions or finances. She also plans on vetting people to weed out catfishes.

Just looking for hookups

"Even at our age, people just want to hook up," Sime said. She and her friends have been on Hinge and Bumble, and when they share stories, they realize they've seen the same men on and off those apps over the past three years.

"They're not actually seriously looking for relationships," she said. What she and her friends discovered is that the men brave enough to hit on them in bars tend to be married, and they're open about the fact that they're having affairs and have no intention of leaving their partners. And when they do leave — or get left — they download the apps right away.

"Women do the work, we do the therapy, we hang out with our girlfriends, we take time out, we heal, we go it alone, we grieve, we do things the right way, whereas men don't bother with that, and they just jump straight into the next relationship," she explained.

What's missing from these conversations? Tinder.

Moena said she's not currently on Tinder (she's on Bumble, Hinge, and Raya instead), due to its hookup reputation — which is exactly what its current CEO, Spencer Rascoff, wants to move away from. The other three aren't on Tinder, either. Tinder does have the largest market share among popular U.S. dating apps, though, according to Business of Apps. Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower also found that Tinder's mobile user base is on average 2.5 times the size of Bumble's.

Is there hope for daters?

Despite some young people solomaxxing for now, Carbino believes it's temporary. They're not resigned to being single forever. She'd like people to be more optimistic, "because there are many people out there who are looking and who are eager to meet someone."

And Mehak told Mashable she is optimistic — but she's noticed she gets fulfillment and confidence from her life, not from men's attention. She tries to make sure she pours into other aspects of her life so "dating takes up a very normal amount of space in my brain."

Kayleigh, the dancer, said she often meets people through the dance projects she does. She then knows she has shared interests, and finds it easier to start being friends with someone and seeing where it takes her.

And despite the ire toward dating apps, Ettin believed people would complain if they went away. Meeting someone isn't easy, she said — it takes a lot of time, energy, and sometimes money. A dater's attitude makes a difference.

"The apps aren't keeping people single," she said. "It's how people use them."

Some of Ettin's dating app tips include:

Don't exchange phone numbers until you plan a date, so you don't fall into the pen pal trap.
Treat your initial conversation like a funnel: Start broad and go more narrow. No "how's your day going?" That's boring.
Meeting up sooner rather than later, in case they're a catfish or just a dud.

Carbino also encourages daters not to just drop someone due to imperfections, as "dump him" social media culture might suggest. Never tolerate abusive behavior, but there's a wide gap between a pet peeve or an ick and something truly harmful.

"Many people who have been in romantic partnerships, whether they're heterosexual or not, know that people act in ways that are unattractive at times," she said. "Sometimes your partners are going to do things that you don't like and that are not pleasing to you, but that doesn't mean that they're a bad person."

"Honestly, the imperfections are what's really nice, because that's where you know the growth and introspection happens," she continued.

And if you really don't want to deal with another person's faults — or your own, let's be real — then maybe you should take a break from dating. You can always come back when you're ready. When asked if she had anything else to say about dating in 2026, Kayleigh said, "It's OK to be single."

Legos Olivia Rodrigo collab just dropped: Where to buy, preorder details, price

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:28:19 +0000

Where to buy Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo collection sets:

Olivia Rodrigo’s Vinyl

$34.99 at Lego

Olivia Rodrigo's Concert Moon

$49.99 at Lego

Olivia Rodrigo’s Secret Storage

$79.99 at Lego

Olivia Rodrigo's Dual Guitar

$119.99 at Lego

Olivia Rodrigo's Flower Bouquet

$49.99 at Lego

Lego is basically handing Livies a whole new way to experience Olivia Rodrigo’s universe, brick by brick.

The brand-new Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo collection delivers five collectible sets inspired by her "Sour," "Guts," and "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love" eras. The three-time Grammy Award winner is the first musician to receive multiple dedicated Lego sets and the first partner to collaborate on a personalized Lego Botanicals set.

The full Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo collection officially launches globally on Aug. 1, but fans don’t have to wait to order. Preorders are already live, including Olivia Rodrigo’s Dual Guitar, Olivia Rodrigo’s Concert Moon, and the Lego Botanicals x Olivia Rodrigo Flower Bouquet.

Olivia Rodrigo isn’t just fronting another celebrity merch collaboration here. Rodrigo also played an active role in refining the designs. The collection is filled with details pulled from her world — from red megaphones and handwritten lyric notebooks to iconic performance moments and nods to her Filipino heritage.

If you're ready to get your hands on the new collection, here are all the details you need.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Vinyl

Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego Editions

Olivia Rodrigo’s Vinyl

$34.99 at Lego

The Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Vinyl turns Olivia’s music world into a collectible build with details fans will recognize right away. The 360-piece set includes signature symbols like her red megaphone, red lips, and butterfly motifs, along with an Olivia Rodrigo minifigure wearing a silver outfit inspired by her "Sour" tour look. There are also hidden references and little callbacks sprinkled throughout the build, and fans can spin the center of the vinyl to reveal extra stars and butterflies.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Concert Moon

Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego® Editions

Olivia Rodrigo's Concert Moon

$49.99 at Lego

The Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Concert Moon recreates one of the most memorable moments from Olivia’s "Guts" World Tour — the viral scene where she floats above the crowd on a giant moon. The 670-piece set includes a purple record player, spinning vinyl, and a brick-built crescent moon inspired by the live show.

Fans can turn a handle to make the vinyl and moon rotate, open hidden drawers for small keepsakes, and use a built-in holder to display things like concert tickets or Polaroids. It also comes with an Olivia Rodrigo minifigure wearing a glittery black outfit inspired by her stage style, making it feel like a mini concert display for your shelf.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Secret Storage

Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego® Editions

Olivia Rodrigo’s Secret Storage

$79.99 at Lego

The Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Secret Storage gathers some of Olivia’s most recognizable symbols in one display-packed build. The 1,085-piece set is designed like a concert touring case and opens to reveal hidden compartments with items tied to her career, including a red guitar, a lyric notebook, a microphone, vinyl, and the signature red megaphone from her "Guts" era.

Fans will also spot a fun reference to the "Good 4 U" music video, with an Olivia Rodrigo minifigure in her iconic cheerleader outfit appearing inside a TV screen. Between the hidden Easter eggs and display-friendly design, this one feels like a mini scrapbook of Olivia moments in Lego form.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Dual Guitar

Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego® Editions

Olivia Rodrigo's Dual Guitar

$119.99 at Lego

The Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Dual Guitar turns Olivia’s music into a bold split design that reflects her softer and edgier sides in one build. The 1,228-piece set is shaped like a combined acoustic and electric guitar, inspired by her GUTS world tour and festival performances. It opens up to reveal hidden stage moments, backstage spaces, secret compartments, and Easter eggs tucked throughout the build for fans to find. Inside, there are two detailed Olivia Rodrigo minifigures complete with mini guitars, tour-inspired outfits, and new hair pieces.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Flower Bouquet

Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego® Editions

Olivia Rodrigo's Flower Bouquet

$49.99 at Lego

The Lego Botanicals x Olivia Rodrigo Flower Bouquet turns the singer’s music and visual identity into a buildable floral display. The 400-piece set includes 11 Lego flowers, such as a purple rose, daisy, hellebore, and verbena, all built in her signature purple color palette.

Scattered throughout are small Easter eggs tied to her songs, visuals, and stage moments, including guitar-shaped petals, red cherries, butterflies, stars, and black heart details.

Preorders are now live. Waiting until Aug. 1? Bad idea, right?

Want to beat RAMageddon? Score a 1TB Samsung PRO SSD for over $100 off at Amazon.

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:56:22 +0000

SAVE $133: As of June 30, get the Samsung 1TB 9100 PRO SSD for $206.99 at Amazon. That's down from its usual price of $339.99, saving you over $100.

Credit: Amazon

Samsung 1TB 9100 PRO SSD

$206.99 at Amazon
$339.99 Save $133

Storage is expensive. You can add that to a veritable treasure trove of other pricey PC parts and components that cost too much, especially RAM.

And it's only getting pricier, so the best time to get a hard drive, especially if you plan on playing some of the year's biggest video games, is now. Though Prime Day may be over, we still found a great deal on an SSD you can use to make sure you're ready for any game that comes your way, as well as photos, videos, or whatever you like to store on your computer.

As of June 30, get the Samsung 1TB 9100 PRO SSD for $206.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $339.99. That's $133 off and a discount of 39%.

This internal SSD is a whopping 1TB, so it offers plenty of storage space for gaming, photos, videos, files, or backups. It boasts read speeds of up to 14,700MB/s as well as random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS, which means it's zippy enough to recall files and help load content that'll serve you better than an external hard drive, if that's what you're in the market for.

The only downside here is, if you aren't as savvy with computers as you wish you were, you do have to install this SSD. So if you're uncomfortable with popping your case open and putting it in yourself, you may want to opt for an external hard drive instead. If that doesn't bother you though, this is an excellent offer for an SSD that will serve you well, especially if you're planning on future-proofing your setup.

Samsungs new wide foldable phone revealed in leaked images

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:05:25 +0000

Samsung is preparing a true onslaught of foldable phones this July, and now we've gotten our first detailed look at all of them.

Android Headlines posted the images on Tuesday, and even though these are technically images of cases that will be offered with these phones at launch, some of them do show the phones inside the case.

Perhaps the most interesting in this bunch is Samsung's rumored wide foldable phone. According to the outlet, this phone will actually be called the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. The successor of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and it will be positioned as the most advanced foldable phone Samsung has to offer. Finally, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the compact, flip-style foldable that follows the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

In the images, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a dual camera system on the back, and a punch-hole style selfie camera on the front. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 also has a dual camera on the back, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with a triple rear camera.

The cases on offer include a dark grey one with a kick-stand and aramid fiber-style pattern (this one comes in several color combos), several solid color cases including a white and a purple option, and a couple of joyful ones with cartoon character prints. The options are similar for all phones, though the aramid fiber cases are missing for the Flip phone.

As for what these phones will actually be like, check out our overview of rumors and reports for both the ultra-wide Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop is down to best-ever price at Amazon — last chance to save over $150

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:26:57 +0000

SAVE OVER $100: As of June 30, the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop (Core Ultra 7 Processor 256V, 16GB Memory, 1TB Storage) has returned to its lowest-ever price of $999.99 at Amazon.

Credit: Lenovo

Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition

$999.99 at Amazon
$1,155.64 Save $155.65

If buying a new laptop has been at the top of your mind — whether for work, school, or fun — Amazon still has some solid discounts available after Prime Day. The Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop (Core Ultra 7 Processor 256V, 16GB Memory, 1TB Storage) is one of the best, down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

As of June 30, this Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon. That's just over $150 off its typical price of $1,155.64, but it won't be at this price for long. A timer has already begun on the store page that's counting down through June 30, so now is the time to take advantage of this deal before it's gone for good.

If you enjoy the portable feel of a laptop, the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition is the perfect fit for those on-the-go. It starts at just 2.82 pounds and features a thin design, which makes it nice and easy to slip into a bag or backpack to take with you on the commute. This particular model comes with 16GB of memory, a Core Ultra 7 processor 256V, and 1TB of storage, alongside up to 17 hours of battery life.

That's certainly not all, though. The Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition also has a beautiful screen, whether you're watching something or scrolling through a project for work. It boasts DisplayHDR True Black 500, 600 nits peak brightness, and WUXGA resolution at 60Hz so you can experience a smooth, sharp, and colorful picture.

This deal on the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop (Core Ultra 7 Processor 256V, 16GB Memory, 1TB Storage) runs out after June 30. Act fast to save at Amazon.

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The 27-inch LG UltraGear gaming monitor gets a $300 price cut at Amazon — buy now for under $700

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:10:53 +0000

TL;DR: The LG 27GX790B-B 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon, down from its $999.99 list price.

Credit: LG

LG 27-Inch Ultragear QHD OLED Gaming Monitor

$699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300

OLED gaming monitors are rarely where you go looking for budget upgrades, but Amazon’s latest LG UltraGear deal gives you a pretty serious price cut on one of the fastest 27-inch screens in LG’s current lineup.

As of June 30, the LG’s 27-inch UltraGear QHD OLED gaming monitor (the 27GX790B-B model) is on sale for only $699.99 at Amazon — with a limited-time deal cutting $300 from its $999.99 list price.

Shipped and sold by Amazon directly (instead of a third-party seller), free delivery is set for July 5 at the time of writing, or as soon as July 2 for Prime members. Amazon also shows a used “Like New” option for $664.99 through Amazon Resale, if you want to save as much as possible. Anyone wanting the new model directly from Amazon will want to stick with the $699.99 listing.

This UltraGear is built around a 27-inch QHD OLED panel with a 2560x1440 resolution, giving you a sharper picture than 1080p without asking your PC to push full 4K. If you’re either new to PC gaming or upgrading from a much older rig, this is a very nice middle ground.

If you’re the type who plays a lot of competitive games, you’ll be a big fan of LG’s Dual Mode: letting you switch between QHD at up to 540Hz or HD at up to 720Hz, depending on whether you care more about sharpness or pure reaction time. Add in the 0.02ms gray-to-gray response time, and games like Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League, Fortnite, and Valorant should feel seriously quick.

The OLED panel should also help with more cinematic games and streaming, with LG listing 335 nits of typical brightness, DisplayHDR True Black 500, UL Verified Perfect Black, and a 1.5M:1 contrast ratio.

That means if you’ll be playing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced or Grand Theft Auto VI in the future, you’ll be getting richer blacks, stronger contrast, and better detail in darker scenes than you’d expect from a more standard gaming monitor.

For keeping frames extra smooth, the monitor also supports NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. DisplayPort 2.1, dual HDMI 2.1 ports, USB-C, three USB ports, DTS Headphone:X support, and height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments round out the package — so you have all the versatility you need to complete your new immersive setup and then some.

If you fancy an extra QHD monitor, the 27-inch Odyssey G5 is now only $149.99 at Amazon. As for OLEDs, you can still grab the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 curved gaming monitor for its lowest-ever price.

The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box hits record-low price at Amazon — over $80 off

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:05:42 +0000

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box is on sale for $125.95 at Amazon, down from its $209.70 list price.

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box

$125.95 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $83.75

Magic: The Gathering and Marvel fans have already seen this Play Booster Box bounce through a few decent discounts, but now that the expansion is officially out, Amazon has pushed even harder with a new record low price for this sealed 30-pack display box.

As of June 30, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box has been cut in price at Amazon to just $125.95. Compared to its $209.70 list price, that saves you $83.75 and takes 40% off the box — its lowest-ever price confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel. Shipped by Amazon directly, you can get standard free delivery for July 5 (at the time of writing), or as soon as July 1 for Prime members.

That price brings the box down to about $4.20 per Play Booster before tax, which is a pretty big drop from the launch day and preorder prices we were seeing just a few weeks ago.

Walmart has the same box listed for $125.95 through marketplace seller Cataclysm Games and fulfilled by Walmart itself, with some other seller listings starting slightly lower. TCGplayer is even cheaper on paper, with listings as low as $119.99 plus $4.99 shipping. That’s a total of $124.98, only $1.24 above the trading card selling platform’s estimated market price of $123.75.

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If you’re only just learning about this new set of cards, the Marvel Super Heroes expansion brings Marvel’s roster into Magic: The Gathering, with heroes and villains jumping from the comics to the battlefield. Players can build around their favourite characters, equip them with recognisable gear, and lean into MTG’s usual strategy-heavy battles across casual games, drafts, and Limited play.

Inside the box, you’ll get 30 Play Boosters, with 14 Magic cards in each pack. Every pack includes one Traditional Foil card and one to four cards of rare or higher rarity, plus a mix of uncommons, commons, and a land card. There’s also a small chance of finding a Foil Borderless Mythic Rare, while Traditional Foil Land replaces the regular land in 20% of boosters.

Preorders for Magic: The Gathering's Reality Fracture Play Booster Box are on sale for $10 off at Amazon. What’s more, the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Box is on offer for under $100.

Slurpee Day is coming soon — how to grab a free drink (plus more treats) on July 11

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:01:12 +0000

TL;DR: Slurpee Day is back this summer, landing on Saturday, July 11. Customers can grab a free small Slurpee drink from participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores nationwide.

Summer is quite literally heating up, but 7-Eleven is here to help you stay cool with the return of its mega-popular Slurpee Day. And better yet, the iconic drink is turning 60 this year, so 7-Eleven has a couple more surprises in store for customers.

Landing on Saturday, July 11 (that's 7/11, by the way), Slurpee Day will kick off at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores nationwide, with each handing out free small Slurpee drinks to celebrate. If you want to get in on the fun earlier, you can actually score a free large Slurpee drink on July 10 if you make a minimum $20 purchase through the 7NOW delivery app.

There's also a brand new flavor to enjoy this year: Mountain Dew Confetti Chill. If you're curious what that tastes like, 7-Eleven says it "blends bright citrus flavor with notes of sweet vanilla icing, giving fans a zesty lemon cake treat in frozen drink form." It's only available until Aug. 29, so summertime will be your big opportunity to taste this chilly new release. The fun certainly doesn't stop there, though.

Select 7-Eleven and Speedway stores will also be hosting a Slurpee Date experience on Slurpee Day. Whether you're planning to share a Slurpee with a partner or grab one with a friend, this experience will include a photo-op bench, commemorative keepsakes, and limited-edition, bedazzled Slurpee “S” double straws that are "inspired by the brand's diamond anniversary," per the press release.

Romantic, right? Credit: 7-Eleven

What better way to spend a summer day? Don't miss out on all the fun of Slurpee Day on July 11.

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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic just hit its lowest price since launch — save over $100 at Amazon

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:49:04 +0000

SAVE $165: As of June 30, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is on sale for $334.99 at Amazon. That's down from $499.99 — a 33% discount.

Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

$334.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $165

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has dropped to $334.99 at Amazon, marking the lowest price since its launch — a rare dip that puts it well below its usual retail range and makes this one of those “don’t think too hard, just grab it” smartwatch deals.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic keeps a traditional watch look while packing in modern smart features. It has a bright display that’s easy to read in different lighting, and a rotating bezel that lets you move through apps and menus without constantly swiping.

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The watch also focuses on everyday health tracking that’s easy to follow. It can monitor sleep more closely, give you a daily Energy Score based on rest, activity, and heart rate, and guide runs with coaching that adjusts to your stats like heart rate and oxygen levels. It also supports blood pressure tracking when calibrated with a cuff.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic includes a built-in AI assistant that lets you handle simple tasks using voice commands, so you don’t always need to pull out your phone. Overall, it’s built to handle a full day of use while keeping the experience simple and practical on the wrist.

Grab the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic at Amazon while it’s still $334.99.

Celebrate Pokémon turning 30 with this epic Pokémon G-SHOCK collab — how to pre-order

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:47:14 +0000

Pokémon fans are some of the luckiest when it comes to fun merch, collectibles, and all-ages toys. Earlier this year, we got the first ever Pokémon Lego sets, and in celebration of the little studs turning 30, we have the Pokémon G-SHOCK watch from Casio.

The watch, case, and outer box are all collectible-level of goodness. Credit: Casio

Unlike some themed merch, G-SHOCK went with an excellent but subdued look with the new watch. That's pretty awesome if you're hoping for a fun watch that's also suitable to wear to work. Here's everything we know about the new collab that celebrates Pokémon's 30th birthday.

Features of the new Pokémon G-SHOCK GA110PKM

Let's start with the looks of the Pokémon G-SHOCK. In terms of celebrating the franchise, the watch has a handful of excellent details. There's the Poké Ball inspired inset dial sitting at 9 p.m. with a Pikachu indicator hand, engraving on the back of the watch face, and Pokémon adorned on the watch band.

Engraving on the back case. Credit: Casio

Pokémon adorn the watch band, including Mew, the Mythical Pokémon. Credit: Casio

As if we needed things to get even better, the watch comes in its own packing shaped like a Poké Ball that's well worth displaying on its own, and the outer box features all 30 Pokémon.

Specs of the Pokémon G-SHOCK GA110PKM

Pikachu on the inset dial is arguably the most adorable feature. Credit: Casio

The LED light is perfect for dark conditions. Credit: Casio

If you're interested in some technical information, G-SHOCK made this edition with the same quality and attention to detail we've come to rely on from the brand. It's both shock resistant and magnetic resistant. It's also safe to take in water up to 200 meters deep. Casio says expected battery life is about two years, and it uses a CR1220. In total, it comes in at a lightweight 72 grams.

How to pre-order the Pokémon G-SHOCK GA110PKM

Starting on Wednesday, July 1, you can pre-order the new Pokémon watch from Casio for $270. If you can't wait that long and you live in New York, you can snag the watch from the G-SHOCK SOHO flagship store. Casio also says the watch will be available at select jewelers.

Casio's press release doesn't indicate whether this is a limited edition watch. But given the brand's popularity and the fandom behind Pokémon, we wouldn't be surprised if stock sells out quickly. Be sure to set yourself an alarm for Wednesday if you're hoping to wear one of the best Pokémon collabs to ever drop.

Credit: Casio

Pokémon G-SHOCK (GA110PKM)

$270 at Casio

A clip of Erling Haaland eating has gone viral. Its not real.

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:48:07 +0000

Erling Haaland has been one of the most popular players so far this FIFA World Cup, both on the pitch and off it.

But with the Norwegian striker's Snapchat already going viral, another video recently started doing the rounds that looked set to top all memes that came before it. In the clip, Haaland is sitting in a restaurant at a table by a mirror, eating. He turns to his left, sees himself in the mirror, and appears to give himself a jump scare before quickly going back to his food.

It's a clip so perfect it seems to good to be true, which is exactly what it is.

The viral clip of Haaland eating isn't real

Judging by the comments, and the number of shares that clip has had on other platforms, a lot of people seem to think it's real. But as one person pointed out, the footage appears to be an AI edit of this video from TikTok comedy duo Jin Long and Qui Qui.

That video, in which Jin Long plays a character (you can see multiple examples of him playing the same character on their TikTok page), was uploaded on June 15.

It appears that someone has edited the video — likely using AI — to superimpose Haaland over Long.

The Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Bundle gets price cut at Amazon — spend just over $50

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:45:07 +0000

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle is on sale for $50.26 at Amazon, down from its $59.99 list price.

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle

$50.26 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $9.73

Chaos Rising prices have been all over the place, but what's new with the Pokémon TCG? Now you can pay just over $50 to buy its coveted box of six packs.

As of June 30, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Bundle is on sale from $50.26 at Amazon. Compared to its $59.99 list price, that saves you $9.73 and takes 16% off the sealed box.

The lowest Amazon listing is sold by Collectors Expedition and shipped by Amazon, with free delivery listed for July 17-29 at the time of writing. If you’d rather buy directly from Amazon, the next listing is only one cent more at $50.27, sold and shipped by Amazon directly with faster delivery showing for July 9-12.

Whichever way you go, you’ll still be getting six titular packs from the Mega Evolution set’s Chaos Rising expansion — working out to about $8.38 per pack before taxes, based on the $50.26 price.

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That isn’t the cheapest Chaos Rising price across the whole trading card market. TCGplayer currently lists sealed Booster Bundles from $38.95 plus $2.99 shipping, totalling $41.94 (four cents under market price). Walmart is another backup, selling the box from $45.84. We should note that the third-party seller in this case has a poor record, so buy at your own risk.

For the best pulls you can get in Chaos Rising with your Booster Bundle, this expansion has plenty of high-value single cards you can get out of any of these packs (or buy individually from TCGplayer): SIR Mega Greninja ex, Mega Hyper Rare Mega Greninja ex, Cinccino ex, Mega Dragalge ex, and Mega Floette ex.

For even more from this expansion, you can still grab the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box on sale at Amazon. Plus, preorders for the upcoming Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister are now $5 off at Amazon.

Dont wait — Bose QuietComfort headphones are just $179 after Prime Day

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:40:39 +0000

SAVE $180: As of June 30, Bose QuietComfort headphones are on sale for $179 at Amazon. That's down from $359 — a 50% discount.

Credit: Bose

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

$179 at Amazon
$359 Save $180

The Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to $179 at Amazon, dropping from $359 for a 50% discount that saves you $180. This is also the lowest price we’ve seen this year.

Available for a limited time, this deal is for anyone looking for premium noise-canceling headphones at a low price.

In Mashable's review, Samantha Mangino says the Bose QuietComfort headphones became her daily go-to, noting she’s used them “daily since I got them” for over a year. Her biggest praise goes to comfort — she says she can wear them all day with no ear fatigue, even with glasses and earrings, and finds them just as comfortable as the more expensive Ultra model.

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In Mashable’s Bose headphones roundup, the QuietComfort headphones were named a runner-up, highlighted as a strong value option in Bose’s lineup. Our team says they deliver “top-tier sound in a more affordable package,” making them a solid choice if you don’t want to spend over $400 on the Ultras.

Grab the Bose QuietComfort headphones on Amazon — because silence hits different with ANC this good.

Samsungs 48-inch S90F OLED TV just hit its lowest-ever price — buy now for under $800 at Amazon

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:37:51 +0000

SAVE $600: As of June 26, the Samsung 48-inch S90F Smart TV (2025) is down to $797.99 at Amazon. That's down from $1,397.99 — a 43% discount on list price.

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 48-Inch Class S90F Smart TV

$797.99 at Amazon
$1,397.99 Save $600

The Samsung 48-inch S90F has dropped to $797.99 at Amazon, down from $1,397.99. That cuts $600 off its regular price for a 43% discount. That also marks the lowest price we've seen so far for Samsung's 2025 OLED model. Considering this is an OLED model with premium features and a sub-$800 price tag, this deal is well worth considering.

The Samsung S90F focuses on making everything you watch look cleaner, brighter, and sharper without making you think too much about settings. The TV automatically adjusts picture and sound depending on what’s on screen, whether that’s movies, sports, live TV, or gaming, so you spend less time tweaking default settings.

The smart TV also helps improve lower-quality content, helping older shows and everyday streams look sharper on a 4K screen. Samsung also puts a lot of emphasis on brightness and contrast here, so darker scenes retain more detail while brighter parts of the image stand out without washing things out.

For gaming and sports, the TV is built to keep fast movement looking smooth. The 144Hz refresh rate helps fast-moving scenes look smoother and less blurry, making sports, racing games, and quick camera movements easier to keep up with. Gaming features can also help reduce screen tearing, so gameplay feels cleaner and more responsive.

Grab the Samsung 48-inch S90F on Amazon if a premium TV has been sitting on your wishlist for a while.

The Sony 50-Inch 4K Bravia 3 TV has never been cheaper at Amazon — save over $80 after Prime Day

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:35:15 +0000

SAVE OVER $80: As of June 30, the Sony 50-Inch 4K Bravia 3 TV is on sale for $518 at Amazon. That's $81.99 off its list price of $599.99.

Credit: Sony

Sony 50-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD Bravia 3 LED TV

$518 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $81.99

Even though Prime Day is done, Amazon still has some great deals floating around.

In fact, there are some new record lows on TVs. We've spotted some options worth checking out post Prime Day, including the Sony 50-Inch 4K Bravia 3 TV. As of June 30, it's back to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

This Sony 50-Inch 4K Bravia 3 TV is normally listed for $599.99, but Amazon has knocked its price down to $518. Ultimately, this saves you just over $80, but you'll want to be quick to grab it at this price. Since it's marked as a limited time deal, it won't stick around for long.

It's a great time to grab a new TV. There are so many exciting shows dropping on streaming services this summer. This Sony Bravia 3 TV is sure to make them shine, with support for 4K HDR and Dolby Vision for a crisp, colorful visual boost, alongside Dolby Atmos to treat your ears. And since it's a Google TV, you can access all of those new shows on streaming services right from the home screen.

On top of that, this Sony Bravia 3 TV even has special features for PlayStation 5 users: Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. These help optimize picture quality when gaming or streaming.

Don't miss out on this limited-time offer on the Sony 50-Inch 4K Bravia 3 TV.

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

The Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save over $100

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:28:32 +0000

SAVE OVER $180: As of June 30, the Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum is on sale for $269.99 at Amazon. That's a 41% discount on the list price.

Credit: Shark

Shark AV2501AE AI

$180.57 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $469.42

Looking for a robot vacuum deal that’s actually a good deal? How about this latest Amazon discount on the Shark AV2501AE AI. Normally $450.56, it's down to a new low price of $269.99 at Amazon This deal saves you over $180.

It has a powerful suction designed to pick up everyday dirt and debris across all floor types. It also has a feature called Matrix Clean Navigation, helping it take multiple passes over areas to make sure tough dirt is fully lifted, and that no area is left uncovered.

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It uses 360° LiDAR vision to map your home accurately, letting it navigate methodically around furniture and obstacles while being able to adapt to changes in your space. It also comes with a self-emptying base that holds up to 60 days of dirt and debris, and a HEPA filtration system captures and traps 99.97% of dust and allergens.

And there’s no need to hesitate if you have pets at home. This robot vacuum is designed with pet owners in mind. Strong suction partners with a self-cleaning brushroll to help pick up and detangle embedded pet hair.

You can find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon right now.

The Dyson Airstrait is $100 off at Amazon — buy now for its best-ever price

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:24:25 +0000

SAVE $100: As of June 30, the Dyson Airstrait is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Credit: Dyson

Dyson Airstrait

$399.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $100

Dyson is famed for its Airwrap, but the brand makes far more styling tools than just its beloved blowout dryer. If you prefer a straight look, meet the Dyson Airstrait. This styling tool uses high-pressure airflow to dry and straighten hair simultaneously.

As of June 30, it's $100 off at Amazon. That brings the price down to $399.99. This is also the lowest-ever price for this device according to camelcamelcamel.

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So, how does it work? Instead of relying on traditional hot plates, this Dyson tool uses high-pressure airflow to straighten hair as it dries, with precisely heated air distributed evenly through strands for a smoother finish.

It's designed to protect hair health, and is engineered to style without extreme heat damage when used in wet-to-dry mode. The airflow is intelligent too, automatically adjusting depending on how you’re using it. For example, it produces a higher airflow when styling and then senses when hair is not between your arms. It then reduces airflow when not in use for a quieter experience.

This Dyson deal is available at Amazon now, but only for a limited time so don't miss out.

The 55-inch Samsung Frame TV is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $400

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:17:09 +0000

SAVE $400: As of June 30, the 55-inch Samsung Frame TV is on sale for $697.99 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount on the list price.

Credit: Samsung

55-inch Samsung Frame TV

$697.99 at Amazon
$1,097.99 Save $400

Prime Day has been and gone, but there are some great deals lingering if you're still looking for a bargain.

If a new TV is on your wishlist, you'll be pleased to know that the 55-inch Samsung Frame TV is currently at its lowest-ever price at Amazon. Normally $1,097.99, right now you can score $400 off the list price. That brings this popular TV down to $697.99.

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This TV's main selling point is its ability to blend seamlessly into your home. It's not just a regular TV, because when it's not in use it can take the appearance of a piece of artwork. The slim design mounts flush against the wall like a real picture frame, with interchangeable bezels that allow you to customize the look to suit your décor.

When you are watching the TV, it gives you incredibly vibrant picture quality with AI-enhanced picture and sound. It also supports smooth motion and gaming features including VRR and refresh rates of up to 4K 144Hz, so it's a great choice for fast-paced sports, films, and gaming.

Get this TV deal at Amazon now.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for June 30

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:01:03 +0000

The 2026 World Cup knockout stage has kicked off in style. Already we've seen a dramatic late goal from Canada to eliminate South Africa, tense action from Brazil, and shock exits of Germany and Netherlands.

Today, June 30, showcases another batch of exciting fixtures, including the likes of France and Mexico.

It all kicks off at 1 p.m. ET, with three games across the afternoon and evening.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 30

Ivory Coast vs. Norway (Dallas Stadium) — kickoff at 1 p.m. ET
France vs. Sweden (New York New Jersey Stadium) — kickoff at 5 p.m. ET
Mexico vs. Ecuador (Mexico City Stadium) — kickoff at 9 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Ivory Coast vs. Norway

Norway's superstar striker Erling Haaland was benched for their last game, but he'll be back in full force for this Round of 32 match. Haaland's powerful presence means Norway are as good as they've ever been, but Ivory Coast are one of those teams that can sting anyone unexpectedly.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch France vs. Sweden

France have looked better than any team in the tournament so far, even when they took their foot off the gas in the last group game against Norway — a patchy effort that still saw them win 4-1. Sweden could prove tricky competition though. They have major firepower in Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres and determination to overcome their 5-1 loss to Netherlands.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Mexico vs. Ecuador

Co-hosts Mexico won all three group games and haven't conceded a single goal so far. With electric support in Mexico City, they'll be fired up for another win. But Ecuador have tenacity and guts — as we saw when they scored a shock late winner against Germany in the group stage — and they'll be sure to take the fight to the Mexican squad.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-Month Subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish Language)

Starting at $10.99/month

More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

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

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

YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months
Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month
Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

How Mikey Angelo turns the internets chaos into catchy pop songs

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Mikey Angelo has experienced VidCon from both sides of the camera.

The creator attended his first convention as a fan, idolizing early YouTube stars like Fred and dreaming about one day making videos of his own. Now, five VidCons later, Angelo is walking the convention floor as one of the featured creators and reflecting on how dramatically the internet has changed since those early days.

In this VidCon edition of Creator Playbook, Angelo opens up about building a career by documenting the unfolding of internet culture. His monthly musical recaps have become a staple for followers looking to catch up on everything that happened online, but behind each song are hours of scrolling, note-taking, and deciding which moments deserve a place in the final cut.

"It's basically me regurgitating my own For You Page," he tells Mashable in our VidCon studio.

That constant internet connection comes with its own challenges. Angelo speaks candidly about creator burnout, why he struggles to disconnect from social media, and how he balances keeping up with trends without simply chasing them. Rather than participating in every viral moment, he says he'd rather document them in his own voice — a strategy that's helped him stand out in an increasingly crowded creator economy.

The conversation also explores his hopes of returning to long-form YouTube, his ambitions as a songwriter beyond internet recaps, and why the word "creator" no longer fully captures what many online personalities do today.

Watch the full Creator Playbook interview above.

How to watch the 2026 Tour de France online for free

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free on SBS on Demand. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know there's a lot of sport taking place right now and your schedule is probably stacked with live action from the World Cup and Wimbledon, but can we suggest making a little time for the Tour de France. It is the world's most prestigious cycling race, after all.

This edition of the Tour de France is shaping up to be pretty special. Tadej Pogacar is seeking a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title, but he's going to face stiff competition from his rival Jonas Vingegaard and new star Paul Seixas. It's going to be a fascinating ride over the next few weeks.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Tour de France for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is an annual men's multi-stage bicycle race held in France (and often passing through nearby countries). This famous race forms part of the Grand Tours (alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España).

The defending champion is Tadej Pogacar.

When is the 2026 Tour de France?

The 2026 Tour de France is the 113th edition of the event. This year's event takes place from July 4-26.

How to watch the 2026 Tour de France for free

The 2026 Tour de France is available to live stream for free on SBS on Demand.

SBS on Demand is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2026 Tour de France from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN )
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Connect to SBS on Demand
Stream the 2026 Tour de France from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Tour de France without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to follow the 2026 Tour de France before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for Tour de France?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams from around the world, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers
Strict no-logging policy
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Fritz vs. Draper online for free

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Fritz vs. Draper in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of Wimbledon includes some really interesting matchups, but Fritz vs. Draper might be the best of the bunch. It's harsh on Fritz to be matched up with a player like Draper at this early stage, but Draper is still trying to come back from a long-term injury. Draper has missed the Australian Open and French Open this year, so he's bound to be a little rusty.

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

How to watch Fritz vs. Draper for free

Fritz vs. Draper in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections

How to watch Blockx vs. Zverev online for free

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Blockx vs. Zverev in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Wimbledon has started with a number of really entertaining contests, and we're expecting more of the same from Blockx vs. Zverev. The German finally won a Grand Slam at the French Open earlier this year. Will that open the door to more trophies?

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

How to watch Blockx vs. Zverev for free

Blockx vs. Zverev in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections

The smartest Windows OS upgrade costs just $10 through July 1

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for $9.97 (reg. $199) through July 1 and save roughly $189 while getting advanced security, productivity, and business features.

Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro

$9.97
$199 Save $189.03

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) through 11:59 p.m. PT on July 1 as part of this Deal Days extension — a rare, time-sensitive offer that rewards quick, savvy decisions.

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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 (MSRP $199) through July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The internet isn’t getting any safer — this $30 VPN and cybersecurity combo can help

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Lock in a year of safer internet with this NordVPN Standard 2026 VPN and Cybersecurity 1-year subscription, on sale now for just $29.99 (reg. $69.99) with code SECURE.

Credit: NordVPN

NordVPN Standard 2026: 1-Year Subscription (10 Devices)

$29.99
$69.99 Save $40

Free Wi-Fi is super convenient… until you realize who else might be using the network. You can’t see hackers and cybercriminals stealing your data, but it can certainly happen. Give yourself peace of mind with this NordVPN Standard 2026 VPN and Cybersecurity one-year subscription. It gives you VPN protection and a few other security features, all for just $29.99 with code SECURE.

If you want to take control of your cybersecurity, it’s time to check out NordVPN Standard. It makes protecting yourself online as easy as one click.

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This NordVPN Standard VPN lets you enjoy a safer internet experience wherever life takes you — from home to work to vacation. An encrypted connection keeps your data hidden from hackers and thieves. You can also enjoy browsing without borders by choosing from more than 7,000 servers in over 100 countries.

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

How to watch The Devil Wears Prada 2 at home: When and where the sequel is streaming

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The best streaming deals to watch "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at a glance:

Watch now

Buy or rent "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at Prime Video

$24.99 or $19.99

Watch later

Hulu annual subscription

$119.99 per year (save $23.89)

Watch later

Hulu and Disney+ bundle

$11.99/month for 6 months ($12.99/month thereafter) (save $11.99/month)

Watch later

Hulu Student

$1.99 per month (save $10 per month)

Watch later

Hulu (with ads)

free for select T-Mobile customers (save $11.99 per month)

Two decades after Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway stepped into their groundbreaking roles as Runway editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly and assistant Andy Sachs, the two are back with what Mashable's reviewer calls a "perfect sequel."

The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites the core cast from the original, which also includes Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling and Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton, as well as director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna. It also adds a killer supporting cast and a revolving door of star-studded cameos. The result is a glitzy and glamorous sequel that follows the lead of the beloved original.

As Mashable's Shannon Connellan puts it, "It's unmistakably The Devil Wears Prada, but make it 2026."

It hit theaters in May and folks flocked to see it on the big screen. If you haven't seen it yet or you can't wait to see it again, you can officially watch The Devil Wears Prada 2 at home. Here's what you need to know.

What is The Devil Wears Prada 2 about?

In general, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is about the state of journalism in 2026. But specifically, it follows Andy's return to Runway magazine 20 years after her time as Miranda Priestly's assistant following a mass layoff from her newspaper. Miranda's facing hardships herself in the new publishing industry and Andy's spark is just what Runway needs.

Check out the full trailer:

How to watch The Devil Wears Prada 2 at home

Credit: 20th Century Studios

The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened in theaters nationwide on May 1, 2026. If you missed out, no biggie; it's now officially available to watch at home in a couple of different ways. As of June 30, 2026, you can buy it or rent it on digital and on July 31, you can stream it. I've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

The Devil Wears Prada sequel officially makes its at-home debut via video-on-demand retailers on June 30, 2026. You can purchase it for your digital library for $29.99 or rent it for $5 less. Pro-tip: If you wait about a month to buy or rent it, those prices will likely drop significantly.

Here are some quick links to buy the film on digital:

Apple TV — $29.99 to buy, $24.99 to rent
Fandango at Home — $29.99 to buy, $24.99 to rent
Prime Video — $29.99 to buy, $24.99 to rent

Stream it on Hulu

The Devil Wears Prada 2 will make its streaming debut on Hulu on July 29, 2026, about a month after its digital release. Despite its $678 million box office success, that three-month window from the theater to streaming is right on par with other 20th Century Studios films.

Hulu subscriptions start at $11.99 per month (thanks to a late 2025 price hike), but there are a few different ways you can save. We've rounded up the best ongoing Hulu streaming deals below.

The best Hulu streaming deals

Best Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription

Credit: Hulu

Hulu (with ads) annual subscription

$119.99 per year (save $23.89)

An annual Hulu plan is your best bet for cutting back on the cost of a subscription. You'll pay for a year up front for $119.99 (which breaks down to $9.99 per month) instead of $143.88. That's about 16% or just shy of $24 in savings. It's not the biggest discount ever, but every dollar counts.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 50% off

Credit: Hulu / Disney+

Hulu and Disney+ (with ads)

$11.99 per month (save $11.99 per month) for six months

The Disney bundle plans are the best deals in the streaming world, hands down. For a limited time, you can sign up for a six-month subscription to both for only $11.99 per month (reg. $12.99 per month). That means you'll get one streaming service completely for free for six months. After the six-month promotional period, you'll pay just a dollar more per month — still a damn good deal if you ask me.

Best for students: Hulu Student

Credit: Hulu

Hulu Student (with ads)

$1.99 per month (save $10 per month)

College students can slash 83% or $10 per month off a Hulu with ads subscription. Sign up through the Hulu Student promotional page and verify your college email address via SheerID, and the price will drop from $11.99 to just $1.99 per month. The deal is valid as long as your student status can be verified.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) free for select customers

Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu

Hulu (with ads)

free for select T-Mobile customers

The only way you can get Hulu for free in 2026 is through T-Mobile's Go5G Next and Experience Beyond plans (you'll also get Netflix for free and Apple TV+ for $3). If you're already on one of these plans, head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim the offer. Just enter your T-Mobile number and account details to sign up for Hulu.

How to watch Mexico vs. Ecuador in the FIFA World Cup online for free

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:57:22 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage continues with Mexico vs. Ecuador, an exciting matchup that could go either way.

Tournament co-hosts Mexico have looked really strong so far, winning all three group games in convincing fashion. Ecuador have real fighting spirit, demonstrated when they pulled off an unexpected win against Germany.

Can Ecuador do it again and secure a spot in the Round of 16? Or will Mexico continue their dominant run?

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

When is Mexico vs. Ecuador?

Mexico vs. Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 30. This fixture takes place at Mexico City Stadium.

How to watch Mexico vs. Ecuador for free

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

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

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

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

Live stream Mexico vs. Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for June 30, 2026

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:27:42 +0000

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, June 30, 2026:

Across

Big party

The answer is Bash.

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

Pricey variety of beef that translates to "Japanese cow"

The answer is Wagyu.

Unwelcome sound at 7 a.m., perhaps

The answer is Alarm.

Really make excited

The answer is Revup.

Get ready (for)

The answer is Prep.

Down

Farm machine that bundles hay

The answer is Baler.

Plant used to make mezcal

The answer is Agave.

Pancake topper

The answer is Syrup.

Prominent feature of a camel

The answer is Hump.

Bend out of shape, as wood

The answer is Warp.

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

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

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

Apple iPhone 18 Pro leaks are about to get a lot more intense

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:38:26 +0000

Despite the huge interest in its yet-unannounced products, Apple has traditionally done a pretty good job keeping its secrets under wraps until launch day.

That may change this year, as hackers made off with photos of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, lists of components used in the device, as well as supplier data.

According to Reuters, a ransomware group stole data from Apple's Indian supplier Tata Electronics.

Tata disclosed the hack last week, as more than 200,000 files started circulating on the dark web, including component design papers for older iPhones, and Tesla parts (Tesla is also one of Tata's partners).

The new documents, which have been reviewed by Reuters, could prove far more damaging, as they contain supplier info on "hundreds" of iPhone 18 Pro components, including details on chips, batteries, and cameras.

The leaked files also have photographs of iPhones undergoing drop tests, including, most likely, those of the iPhone 18 Pro. Reuters say the images show a "slab-shaped, grey handset with a three-rear-camera setup and an Apple logo," though the agency says it was unable to identify the model number of the device with certainty.

Over the last couple of years, Apple shifted a big chunk of its iPhone production to India in an effort to become less reliant on China. The freshly leaked files coming out of India will likely put a strain on Apple's relationship with Tata, though neither Apple nor Tata officially commented on Reuters' findings.

Anthropic to provide California government with AI tools

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:35:01 +0000

Anthropic has partnered with California to provide state government agencies a discount on its AI tools such as chatbot Claude. Announced on Monday, the agreement will see state workers use Claude for a "wide range of tasks," including analysing information and drafting documents, in an effort to increase efficiency.

"AI should not replace the human work of government; it should help our workers move faster, solve problems more effectively, and deliver better results for Californians," California governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

Under the partnership, Anthropic will provide Californian state agencies and local governments with access to Claude at a 50 percent discount. The Californian AI company will also offer government workers free training, as well as support and advice from Anthropic's developers on how to use AI in their work.

California's partnership with Anthropic is intended to facilitate increased adoption of AI by its government workers. Claude is just the first "AI productivity tool" that will be offered to all California state agencies though a new shared portal, which will gather multiple such tools for government use.

"CDT [California Department of Technology] is partnering with departments across the state to leverage the state’s purchasing power to make it easy to procure new tools, fast and for the best price," said California State Chief Information Officer and CDT director Chris Given.

California state government agencies have already been using Claude prior to this week's deal. The state government previously used Claude to facilitate its surveying of Californians' views on AI, though exactly what role it played in this is unclear. Claude was further used to develop the AI tool Poppy, created specifically for state workers dealing with common business needs. California's DMV is using Claude as well, apparently to "improve customer service and lower wait times."

"As state employees, our goal is to provide our fellow Californians with the best possible service," said Government Operations Agency Secretary Nick Maduros. "To do that, we need to make sure our teams have access to the best modern tools, including Claude and other emerging technologies."

Some AI algorithms can have practical uses, such as ones designed to identify patterns in given datasets for further examination by humans. However, generative AI chatbots are notorious for hallucinating false information, landing users in hot water after failing to independently verify the output. Multiple legal professionals have faced severe penalties after being caught using generative AI to draft documents which are riddled with errors.

Anthropic has admitted that its AI models aren't infallible or completely accurate all the time. As such, it stands to reason that anyone using Claude should double-check all its output by researching and factchecking it themselves, especially if it's being used for important government work. However, considering that such diligence could very well reduce efficiency and increase employees' workloads rather than lessen them, the question is whether anyone will actually take such care.

Anthropic's rocky recent history with the Trump administration

Despite California embracing Anthropic, the AI company has recently had a much frostier response at the federal level.

In February, President Donald Trump claimed Anthropic was run by "Leftwing nut jobs" and ordered all federal agencies to stop using its technology. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stated that the rift was because the company refused to comply with demands from the Department of War that it remove safeguards against using AI for mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. (OpenAI stepped in to take on the contract instead, sparking significant backlash online.)

The Trump administration subsequently labelled Anthropic a "supply chain risk" and potential national security danger in March, making it the first U.S. company to receive such a designation. Earlier this month, the U.S. government further ordered Anthropic to suspend access to its recently released Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 AI tools by anyone who is not a U.S. entity (including foreign nationals residing in the U.S.), forcing the company to take them down altogether.

Trump's ire against Anthropic appeared to ease less than a week later, after the U.S. president encountered Amodei at the G7 summit and found him "a nice guy." Even so, as the relationship between Anthropic and the Trump administration currently stands, a federal partnership seems unlikely in the immediate future.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 30, 2026

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:40:03 +0000

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch international soccer.

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.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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

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

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

Yellow: Basketball moves
Green: Inside the arena
Blue: Baseball champions
Purple: Unfinished movie

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

Yellow: Actions with a Basketball
Green: Found at the Top of an Arena
Blue: World Series MVPs
Purple: First Words of Football Movies

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #645 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

Actions with a Basketball: DRIBBLE, PASS, PIVOT, SHOOT
Found at the Top of an Arena: BANNERS, CATWALK, LIGHTS, SPEAKERS
World Series MVPs: DENT, KNIGHT, SPRINGER, VIOLA
First Words of Football Movies: FRIDAY, GRIDIRON, REMEMBER, VARSITY

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.

NYT Pips hints, answers for June 30, 2026

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:24:00 +0000

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

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

How to play Pips

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

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

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

Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 30 Pips

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

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

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

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

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 30 Pips

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 30 Pips

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

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-2, 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.

Hurdle hints and answers for June 30, 2026

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

To tweak.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

ALTER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A leg workout.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SQUAT

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Put into place.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

AFFIX

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Large fruit.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

MELON

Final Hurdle hint

A parody.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

FARCE

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

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 30, 2026

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an environmentalist.

What is Connections?

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

Yellow: Partitions
Green: Cold sports
Blue: Reduce, reuse...
Purple: Sports recruitment

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

Yellow: Dividing structures
Green: Participate in some winter Olympics
Blue: Common recyclables
Purple: What "Draft" might refer to

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1115 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

Dividing structures: FENCE, GATE, HEDGE, WALL
Participate in some winter Olympics: CURL, LUGE, SKATE, SKI
Common recyclables: BOTTLE, BOX, CAN, NEWSPAPER
What "Draft" might refer to: BREEZE, ON TAP, RECRUIT, SKETCH

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

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

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

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