Heard lots of buzz about Netflix's Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, but need to know more about the story before taking the plunge and checking it out? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

The eight-episode miniseries, created by Haley Z. Boston and executive produced by Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers, is a non-stop rollercoaster of wedding anxiety. It kicks off with the introduction of engaged couple Rachel Harkin (Camila Morrone) and Nicky Cunningham (Adam DiMarco), who are off to the woods for an intimate ceremony at Nicky's family's cabin.

Has Rachel ever been to this cabin? No. Has she even met Nicky's family? Also no. The red flags are piling up, and making matters worse is the fact that Rachel has an unshakeable feeling that, well... Something very bad is going to happen.

What could that something very bad be? Is it related to Nicky's odd family, who are acting extra shady about the wedding? Is it tied to a Cunningham horror story about the bloodthirsty Sorry Man who lurks in the woods? Or might it have to do with the strange man (Zlatko Burić) who keeps following her around, asking if she's sure Nicky is the one?

All these questions and more combine to form Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen's atmospheric puzzle, one that dives deep into the perils of wedding anxiety and stress about finding your true soulmate. Press play for a spooky binge that doubles as one of Netflix's best 2026 offerings so far.

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is now streaming on Netflix.

Want to see Fitbit's new Whoop-style screenless fitness tracker? Start watching Golden State Warriors games.

Or, at the very least, start stalking Warriors star and NBA legend Steph Curry's Instagram. Curry recently teased the new fitness tracker in a sponsored Instagram post with Google, which owns Fitbit. Along with short clips of Curry wearing the tracker, a caption reads, "#sponsored I won’t spoil it. You kinda have to see it for yourself 👀"

As reported by Droid Life, Curry has been seen wearing the mysterious wrist-worn fitness tracker in public for the past several months. On April 15, photographers spotted Curry wearing the device before a game against the LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, giving us an up-close, high-resolution look at the grey-and-orange fitness tracker.

Left: Move the slider to zoom in on the device. Credit: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Right: Credit: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

The unnamed mystery device Curry is teasing has not been officially announced, but we know it's a screenless fitness tracker from Google.

Bloomberg reported on March 31 that Google was developing exactly this type of screen-free fitness band for Fitbit, and that Curry was involved. That Bloomberg report also said the device would come with a paid subscription for extra features. And, in the most predictable development possible, the device will also come with AI features, specifically an "AI-powered Fitbit personal health coach" available in the Fitbit app.

This device looks a lot like the popular Whoop fitness tracker, which Mashable has put to extreme real-world testing in the past.

Unlike something like the Google Pixel Watch 4 or a traditional Fitbit, there's no screen, meaning you spend less time looking at it. Crucially, its battery also lasts a heck of a lot longer, making it an ideal sleep tracker as well. As for this mystery Fitbit device, it looks slightly thinner than Whoop's hardware.

Bloomberg didn't have any specifics on a possible launch date beyond "later this year." However, since Curry has been wearing one in basically every public appearance he has made in the last few months, we wouldn't be surprised if the device launched sooner rather than later.

Anthropic released a new hybrid reasoning model on Thursday: Claude Opus 4.7.

Anthropic has a reputation as a safety-first AI company, and the Opus 4.7 system card reports that the model is less likely to hallucinate or engage in sycophancy than both prior Anthropic models and other frontier AI models.

We dived into the Opus 4.7 system card to see exactly what Anthropic had to say about the model's safety, honesty, and sycophancy.

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The TL;DR version

Why put the TL;DR version at the end?

Anthropic says Claude Opus 4.7 makes improvements on various types of hallucinations and overall honesty. Anthropic gives the new model top marks on sycophancy and encouragement of user delusions, too. (Anthropic's data also shows that Claude Opus 4.7 scores much better on these behaviors than Gemini 3.1 Pro and Grok 4.20.)

"Claude Opus 4.7 is more reliably honest than Opus 4.6 or Sonnet 4.6, with large reductions in the rate of important omissions, and moderate improvements in factuality and rates of hallucinated input," Anthropic reports.

False premises honesty rate: Will the model tell a user when they're incorrect? Credit: Anthropic

MASK honesty rate: Will the model contradict its own stated belief when pushed to do so by a user? Credit: Anthropic

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Anthropic measures Claude's honesty and hallucination rates in multiple ways, but let's look at one representative example — the Model Alignment between Statements and Knowledge (MASK) benchmark. MASK was developed by Scale AI and the Center for AI Safety.

Claude Opus had a MASK honesty rate of 91.7 percent, compared to 90.3 percent for Opus 4.6 and 89.1 percent for Sonnet 4.6. While that’s lower than the 95.4 percent score achieved by Claude Opus 4.5, the new model performs better on other hallucination scores (more on that below).

Interestingly, Claude Mythos was more honest still, with an honesty rate of 95.4 percent.

Claude Opus 4.7 lags behind Claude Mythos on overall performance

Since Anthropic repeatedly compares Opus 4.7 to Claude Mythos, let's quickly review the differences between the two models.

Claude Opus 4.7 is the latest hybrid reasoning model available to paid Claude subscribers. Claude Mythos is an unreleased model that Anthropic has only made available to partners via Project Glasswing.

Under normal circumstances, we would expect Claude Opus 4.7 to be Anthropic's most advanced and powerful model to date. However, Anthropic says it lags behind the unreleased Claude Mythos in key areas. Anthropic deemed Claude Mythos too dangerous to release to the public because of its advanced cybersecurity capabilities.

Still, Claude Opus 4.7 improves upon Opus 4.6 in many ways, particularly advanced coding, visual intelligence, and document analysis, Anthropic says.

More details on Claude Opus 4.7 hallucination rates

When using Opus 4.7, how likely is Claude to tell a lie, invent facts, or deceive users? There isn't a single hallucination rate that Anthropic provides, because there are multiple types of hallucinations.

So, this section is for the AI nerds.

Anthropic identifies a few different ways to measure hallucination and honesty:

• Factual hallucinations: How likely the model is to provide accurate information. How often does the model admit that it doesn't know something?

• Input hallucination: This occurs when an AI model ignores prompt instructions, hallucinates the content of files, or pretends to have access to a tool it doesn't have.

• False premises honesty rate: Will the model tell a user when they're incorrect?

• MASK honesty rate: This "tests whether a model will contradict its own stated belief when a user or system prompt pushes it to."

We've already covered the MASK honesty rate, and Claude Opus 4.7 shows similar gains on these other measures, according to Anthropic.

At this time, we cannot independently verify Anthropic's results.

To measure factual hallucinations, Anthropic used four different tests and recorded correct responses, incorrect responses, and abstentions. In this case, abstentions are good — the model should decline to answer a question rather than guessing. Across all four tests, Opus 4.7 scored higher than Opus 4.6 and Sonnet 4.6 but lower than Claude Mythos.

Chart showing Claude Opus 4.7's performance on accuracy tests. Credit: Anthropic

Anthropic measured Opus 4.7's input hallucination in two ways: "prompts requesting an unavailable tool" and "prompts referencing missing context."

Opus 4.7 scored 89.5 percent on the former, beating Claude Mythos's 84.8 percent; on the latter, Opus 4.7 scored 91.8 percent, two points lower than Claude Mythos's 93.8 percent.

This shows just how stubborn AI hallucinations are, with even leading AI companies like Anthropic recording input hallucination rates around 90 percent. Anthropic's reported hallucination rates are similar to the latest OpenAI models, which provide responses with incorrect information up to 5.8 percent of the time (with browsing enabled) to 10.9 percent (browsing disabled), per OpenAI.

OpenAI most recently reported hallucination rates in the system card for GPT-5-2. Credit: OpenAI

What about Opus 4.7's honesty rate for false premises, i.e., will Claude tell a user they're wrong? According to the system card, Claude will push back on false premises 77.2 percent of the time. That's better than all other recent Anthropic models except for — you guessed it — Claude Mythos, which will reject false premises 80 percent of the time.

Claude Opus 4.7 sycophancy

There's not much new to report in terms of sycophancy. While Anthropic's expert red-team testers reported that Opus 4.7 was prone to “sycophantic agreement under pushback," it has very similar scores to prior models from Anthropic and OpenAI, and noticeably better scores than Gemini 3.1 Pro and Grok 4.20. Again, this is according to Anthropic.

To measure bad behaviors like sycophancy and "encouragement of user delusion," Anthropic uses Petri 2.0, its open-source behavioral audit tool. This test scores models on a 1-10 scale, with lower scores reflecting better behavior. The Petri score isn't akin to a percentage, as it measures both the rate of a behavior and the severity.

Anthropic scored Opus 4.7 highly (or, lowly, with this particular scale) on both sycophancy and user delusions.

Anthropic uses Petri 2.0, its open source AI safety tool, which scores bad behaviors from 1-10. The lower the score, the better. Credit: Anthropic

Mashable reached out to Anthropic for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

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

Netflix's horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen ended, as its title suggests, with something very bad: a wedding bloodbath that left almost all the guests dead.

However, it also ended with the promise of something good: a fresh start for heroine Rachel Harkin (Camila Morrone), who survived a family curse and escaped a marriage with the spineless Nicky Cunningham (Adam DiMarco). The curse that plagued the Harkin family for generations has since passed on to the Cunninghams, and the now-immortal Rachel will act as the witness for any of their future weddings. Here's hoping she has a much less frightening aura than the witness who haunted her family, played by the formidable Zlatko Burić.

By the finale's end, Rachel's arc seems fairly complete. But is there a chance Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen will come back for a Season 2?

Has Netflix renewed Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen for Season 2?

Camila Morrone in "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen." Credit: Netflix

So far, no. Netflix has not indicated any plans for a second season of Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. Part of that is by the show's design: It was originally envisioned as a limited series. However, several miniseries have grown so popular they've picked up second seasons. Look at Big Little Lies, or The White Lotus, or even Netflix's own Beef, now an anthology. Could Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen follow a similar route?

In an interview with TheWrap, series creator Haley Z. Boston noted that the possibility for a Season 2 is there, but that it would look fairly different.

"There is an open thread, but this was so inspired by my own fear that I'm gonna need another existential fear to explore," Boston told TheWrap. "I think we're done with the wedding thing."

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is now streaming on Netflix.

Horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen delivers atmospheric thrills and chills by the bucketful, so if you haven't already checked it out, consider this your sign to add it to your watchlist.

Created by Haley Z. Boston (Brand New Cherry Flavor) and executive produced by Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers, the eight-episode miniseries is now streaming on Netflix. It premiered March 26 and pulled in 28.3 million hours viewed in its first week, according to Netflix. It's remained in Netflix's top 10 series globally every week since its release, although as of this writing, it no longer appears on Netflix's top 10 TV shows carousel.

The series follows engaged couple Rachel Harkin (Camila Morrone) and Nicky Cunningham (Adam DiMarco) in the week leading up to their wedding at Nicky's parents' remote cabin. As their special day approaches, Rachel can't shake the feeling that — you guessed it — something very bad is going to happen. (Maybe the remote cabin should have been the first red flag.)

Based on Nicky's off-putting family, you may expect that "something very bad" to look like something out of Ready or Not, where a filthy rich family turns on their newest addition. But Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen takes a different turn, looping in strange curses and family trauma to examine anxieties around marriage and finding the perfect soulmate.

The carnage that follows certainly lives up to the show's title, creating one of the most engrossing Netflix binges of 2026.

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is now streaming on Netflix.

Bluesky, the social media app popular with X expatriates, suffered a widespread outage on Thursday, April 16.

And in a thread posted on the official Bluesky profile, the app's leaders revealed the cause of the outage — a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack.

"Our team received a report of intermittent app outages at about 11:40pm PDT on April 15, 2026," the post read. "They worked through the night to mitigate a sophisticated Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, which intensified throughout the day."

Fortunately, Bluesky also said there was no evidence that any user data had been compromised in the attack, which affected the Bluesky app, feeds, notifications, and search. The company said it would provide further information by 1 p.m. ET Friday.

The Bluesky status page indicated the app was fully online as of this writing; the app reports a 99.983 percent uptime over the past 90 days.

A DDoS attack is relatively simple and low-effort for cybercriminals. In this type of attack, hackers send a massive number of requests to overwhelm servers. DDoS attacks have been around since the early days of the World Wide Web, and as the Bluesky outage shows, they can still cause problems.

The Bluesky outage began affecting users in the early morning hours, with the service DownDetector recording thousands of user error reports. (Disclosure: DownDetector and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

Bluesky saw massive growth after Elon Musk took over Twitter, and again following the second election of President Donald Trump. However, its growth has stalled more recently, and data shows that daily active users on Bluesky have declined.

Mashable reached out to Bluesky with questions about the attack, and we'll update this story if we receive a response.

We're still several months away from Apple showing us the iPhone 18, but we can still bask in leaks until then.

This week, we've got a pair of leaks involving the cameras and colors for the upcoming flagship iPhone.

On the camera side, Korean outlet ETNews (via MacRumors) reports that Apple will debut a new variable-aperture rear camera system on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in September. Prior to this year, all iPhones had fixed-aperture cameras, meaning the lens remained completely open during image capture. A variable aperture will allow the lens to open and close gradually depending on the situation, letting in more light in darkness or keeping excess light out in bright settings.

That would give iPhones an even greater level of flexibility in photography, and this report is backed up by prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said Apple would incorporate a variable aperture in the iPhone 18 all the way back in 2024.

What do the latest iPhone rumors have to say about colors?

Macworld claims to have received some information about Apple's chosen colors for 2026. According to their sources, the headline color this year will be "Dark Cherry," a dark red that will replace the controversial cosmic orange color from the iPhone 17 Pro. Macworld also said that light blue, dark gray, and silver options are also possibilities for the iPhone 18 Pro. A previous leak also suggested Apple would ditch black for the iPhone 18 Pro, which may not go over well if it proves true.

All will be revealed in September, though the iPhone Fold may get most of the attention.

TL;DR: The MacBook Neo is sold out at Apple (shipping dates have slipped into May), but you can still buy right now for Amazon's best-ever price of $589.99.

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Credit: Apple

MacBook Neo (256GB)

$589.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

If you thought Apple’s MacBook Neo was just a niche product for students, think again. The demand for Apple's latest entry-level laptop has been staggering. Don't believe us? Shipping dates have slipped into May if you order direct from Apple.

That's the bad news. The good news is that whether you want the 256GB base model or the upgraded 512GB version, Amazon has you covered. And better yet, you can order right now for Amazon's best-ever price of $589.99.

So how did we get here? Global RAM shortages have jacked up the prices of Windows laptops, making the sub-$600 MacBook Neo with the A18 Pro chip the most logical purchase on the market. In Mashable's review of the MacBook Neo, Timothy Werth sums it up: "For students, young people, and casual users, there's nothing else like it at this price."

We're not rushing you into any decision here, but if you were already contemplating a purchase, consider this a warning. The popularity of the MacBook Neo is surging, and Amazon's record-low price might not stick around forever.

Apple Watch Series 11, Garmin Venu 4, Google Pixel Watch 4, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, and Amazfit Bip 6 were tested over a 30-mile run. The comparison focused on real-world tracking accuracy across distance and performance metrics. One smart watch ultimately delivered the most consistent results across the test.

The calculus for buying a new Mac has officially changed. With the debut of the $599 MacBook Neo and a massive power bump for the M5 series of processors, Apple's 2026 laptop lineup looks very different from what it did just months ago.

In this Lab Report, we’re breaking down Apple’s entire MacBook stack—from the new budget Neo to the monster M5 Max MacBook Pro—to help you decide which machine actually belongs on your desk. We’ve spent hours testing these in the PC Labs to see how each type of MacBook handles real-world workflows.

SAVE 46%: As of April 17, you can get the Monster Shock portable Bluetooth speaker for just $26.99, down from $49.99. That's a 46% discount or a $23 price cut.

Monster Shock portable Bluetooth speaker

$26.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $23.00

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Summer's right around the corner (for some of us, it feels like it's already here!), and that means bonfires, beach days, and backyard BBQs, which obviously, couldn't be had without some tunes.

If your speaker is shot or you've yet to get a portable Bluetooth speaker, the Monster Shock portable Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $26.99 at Amazon, down from $49.99. That's the lowest price we've tracked for this speaker, but Amazon's marking it as a "limited time deal," so you'll need to act fast.

The Monster Shock is IPX6 waterproof (so you can take it to the beach or bring it to the pool), has a 30W power driver and a max Bluetooth range of 100 feet, and offers 17 hours of playtime. And because it's practically half off right now, you could even grab two and pair them together for True Wireless Stereo surround sound for just a few bucks more than the original price of one.

Before you buy: a few reviewers noted that the speaker's automated control voice is aggressively loud, so maybe don't power it on for the first time while your friends are trying to nap in the sun.

DJI has unveiled the Osmo Pocket 4, the next iteration of its popular handheld gimbal camera. Sadly, it may be a while before people in the U.S. get to try it out.

Since its release in 2023, DJI's Osmo Pocket 3 has become a stalwart favorite of content creators across the globe. The newly announced Osmo Pocket 4 now adds several upgrades to the familiar 4K vlogging camera, such as dedicated zoom and customizable buttons that are accessible when the 2-inch touchscreen is twisted into landscape mode.

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The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 camera features a 1-inch CMOS sensor, with 14 stops of dynamic range, helping it deliver improved low-light performance. Capable of filming at a maximum resolution of 16:9 4K at 60fps, the Osmo Pocket 4 can also record 4K slow-mo footage at 240fps — a frame rate the Pocket 3 only reaches at 1080p. 

DJI states that the Pocket 4 can run for an impressive four hours at its lowest resolution of 1080p 24fps, which is notably longer than the Pocket 3, and also has 107GB of built-in storage. This will likely be welcome news to anyone concerned about the increasing cost of memory cards, as the Pocket 3 relies entirely upon SD cards.

Credit: DJI

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 camera is not yet approved for U.S. release

Unfortunately, a U.S. release of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 camera has not yet been confirmed. While other parts of the world will get their hands on the Osmo Pocket 4 within the next week, the U.S. government's hostility toward DJI continues to significantly hamper its business in the country.

A DJI spokesperson told Mashable that it has requested authorization from the FCC to release the Osmo Pocket 4 in the U.S. market; however, its application is still pending. And given the FCC's tough stance on foreign drone companies, U.S. content creators will simply have to continue waiting.

Meanwhile, in Australia, pre-orders for the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 are open now, with shipping scheduled to begin on April 22. The Standard Combo bundle costs $AU769 (approximately $551) and includes a handle, carrying pouch, gimbal clamp, and wrist strap. The $AU959 (approximately $687) Creator Combo includes all that plus a wide-angle lens, fill light, mini tripod, carrying bag, and a DJI Mic 3 transmitter with accessories.

Credit: DJI

At first glance, many may have assumed that Bob Odenkirk's new film, Normal, was another sequel in the Nobody franchise. With the same star, writer, and producer, the two films do share much of the same DNA. However, the team's new movie is not only a completely new story but attempts to blend genres in a way that further separates it from its predecessor.

Mashable's Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko, caught up with the Normal team at SXSW to talk about the film, its themes, and why they chose to film on 35mm.

The film's writer, Derek Kolstad (John Wick, Nobody), noted how this film differs from Nobody, the team's previous collaboration. "To this point, you know, in Nobody, if there's a house on fire, Hutch is going to run into it and hopefully fight anyone who's in there. In Normal, he's going to look at the house on fire and say, 'I don't know.'"

Odenkirk added, "It's not that much fire." The Normal star described the film as "a story of a guy who has lost trust in himself, his instincts. In the course of interacting with the people of this small town who are hiding something from him, he is desperately trying to avoid seeing it. And then his hand is forced. Once he sees it, he has to re-engage with the situation and the world around him. And then there's a flip-floppery of allegiances that is very surprising and probably a bit inscrutable. When asked to define, sort of, the subtextual themes, I'm like, 'Wow, there's like six of them,' and they're a little bit conflicting. And that's what's great about it."

Ben Wheatley (Meg 2: The Trench, Kill List, Rebecca), the latest addition to the production team, when asked what attracted him to the film, replied, "In the kind of range of things I still want to make. It basically has the DNA of a cowboy movie, and it has it has the white hat, black hat kind of style. It has a sheriff, which is a point of morality in the middle. But it still speaks to my kind of slightly twisted kind of sense of morality as well."

In the full interview on YouTube, the team also talks about the undeniable difference of filming with practical effects as opposed to CGI, the way certain movies hit differently as we get older, and why it was important that Normal be an homage to the classic action-thriller genre. "I think one of the reasons we're projecting this on 35 millimeter is because we want to point to that quality," Odenkirk said. "There's a satisfaction, I hope, that we're achieving. That was the reason for the poster that we have. The poster is really a throwback visual."

Normal is now in theaters.

JD Christison walks through how to set up Starlink Roam, a satellite internet service designed for travelers. Follow along as he conducts a speed test and a work call in the middle of nowhere, while sharing essential tips and tricks of the network.

NASA’s Artemis II mission has safely concluded with a perfect splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The Orion capsule returned astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA’s Jeremy Hansen after a historic lunar flyby. The crew traveled farther into space than any previous human mission, advancing space exploration.

TL;DR: Amazon has the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor on sale for $899.99, down from $1,299. That saves you $399.01 on a premium OLED display with a dual-mode panel that switches between 4K at 240Hz and 1080p at 480Hz.

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Credit: ASUS

ASUS ROG Strix 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor

$899.99 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $399.01

Get Deal

For players who are seeking an affordable gaming monitor upgrade that sports both high resolution and multiple refresh rates, Amazon has a monitor deal that ASUS fans won’t want to miss. 

As of April 17, the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor is listed for $899.99 at Amazon, marked down from $1,299. That knocks $399.01 off the usual price and brings this high-end display below the $900 mark, reaching the lowest price this monitor has hit to year — confirmed via price tracker camelcamelcamel.

If you’re the type of gamer who prefers different visuals depending on what you’re playing, the ASUS ROG Swift’s dual-mode setup is perfect for you.

This mode means you can keep it at 4K and 240Hz when you want the full visual treatment for sprawling single-player games like Crimson Desert, then switch over to Full HD at 480Hz for a faster, more competitive edge in shooters and esports titles along the lines of Fortnite, Overwatch, and Marathon. This comes combined with its 0.03ms response time and G-SYNC compatibility.

For even better displays when gaming, this 32-inch monitor’s WOLED panel covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and supports true 10-bit color, which also gives it some added appeal for editing photos, cutting video, or just getting more out of everyday desktop use during life admin tasks.

ASUS has made it so that the screen includes anti-flicker tech, a custom heatsink, and OLED Care features designed to help reduce wear over time, attaching even more premium value to this deal. 

For an even bigger display, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is over $400 off right now. Alternatively, the smaller LG 27-inch Ultragear QHD OLED gaming monitor has hit a record-low price at Amazon.

SAVE OVER $50: As of April 17, the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker earbuds are on sale for $79.98 at Amazon. This is $50.01 off their list price of $129.99.

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Credit: Soundcore

Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker

$79.98 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.01

 

Get Deal

If a good pair of open earbuds have been on your shopping list, the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker are worth a look. We're big fans of these earbuds — ranking them for the best ear hook design in our roundup of the best open earbuds — and now is an excellent time to check them out as they're currently discounted at Amazon.

As of April 17, the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker earbuds are on sale for $79.98 at Amazon. Usually they're listed for $129.99, so this deal saves you just over $50. Every available color is on sale at this price as well, so you can choose between the minty green, abyss blue, black, brown, and white models.

If you're an active individual and want open earbuds for outside runs or workouts, the adjustable ear hooks on the Soundcore AeroFit 2 will help them comfortably stay in place. In our roundup of the best open earbuds, Mashable's Bethany Allard said, "While most ear hook earbuds come with some degree of flexibility, the AeroFits offer four locked-in angles, making them the most comfortable (and snug) open-ear hook buds we've tried so far."

Plus, the Soundcore AeroFit 2 provide great sound quality and a solid battery life that lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge, which is great news for people who want them for long workouts. You can spend more time focused on your routine than frequent recharges.

If they've caught your eye, now is the time to save on the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker earbuds at Amazon while they're still on sale.

SAVE $40: As of April 17, the Keurig K-Mini coffee maker is discounted to $59.99 at Amazon. This is $40 off its list price of $99.99.

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Credit: Keurig

Keurig K-Mini Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker

$59.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $40.00

 

Get Deal

If you've been searching for a coffee maker to have in your kitchen, but don't want a super fancy machine that takes up a lot of space, it's worth checking out the Keurig K-Mini. This little machine can help brew you a nice cup to enjoy each morning, and now is a great time to grab it as it's currently on sale at Amazon.

As of April 17, the Keurig K-Mini coffee maker has dropped to $59.99 at Amazon, $40 off its list price of $99.99. What's even better is all available colors of this coffee maker — studio gray, black, dusty rose, oasis, and evergreen — are on sale at this price, so you can pick up the model you think will be the best fit in your home.

The Keurig K-Mini is a nice pick if you live in a smaller space. It's less than five inches wide, so can easily be slotted into a little corner of a countertop. Using Keurig K-Cup pods, it can brew any coffee cup size between 6 to 12oz. It even features a removable drip tray, which is convenient if you like filling a travel mug (up to seven inches tall) to take on the go.

On top of all that, the Keurig K-Mini is energy efficient. It comes with an auto off feature that shuts down the machine 90 seconds after your last brew, which is a helpful way to save some power.

If it's the kind of coffee machine you've been hoping to get for your home, don't miss out on this great deal on the Keurig K-Mini coffee maker at Amazon.

TL;DR: Walmart has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box up for preorder at $114.99, down from $149.99. TCGplayer's unopened listings start at $118.56 with shipping included.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box

$114.99 at Walmart
$149.99 Save $35.00

 

Pre-order Here

Chaos Rising is the next stage of the Pokémon TCG’s popular Mega Evolution set, and you can already secure its ETB under market price.

As of April 17, Walmart has preorders for the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box listed for $114.99, marked down from $149.99 with free shipping. Over at TCGplayer, presale listings are starting at $118.56 shipped. The ETB’s market price is sitting at around $119.

Compared to the higher prices of the Mega Evolution’s most popular expansion, Ascended Heroes, a cent short of $115 is a decently tempered price for a hotly-anticipated set of trading cards — set to come out on May 22. As Amazon preorders for Chaos Rising aren’t up at the time of writing, we expect Walmart’s allocation to sell out quickly. So grab yours now if you want the lowest price currently possible. 

Similar to other ETBs in the Pokémon TCG, the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box will grant you the following, no matter who you buy from: 

• Nine booster packs

• Full-art foil promo card (Fennekin)

• 65 sleeves

• 40 Energy cards

• Player's guide

• Six damage-counter dice

• Coin-flip die

• Plastic coin

• Collector's box with six dividers

• Code card for Pokémon TCG Live

Similar to Perfect Order, Chaos Rising will feature over 120 cards, featuring Pokémon and Mega Evolutions featured in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A video game — including Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, Mega Floette ex, Mega Dragalage ex, and Espurr. 

Speaking of Perfect Order, you can also buy the Pokémon TCG’s Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box for as low as $70 — following restocks at Amazon, Walmart, and TCGplayer. If it’s just packs with no extras you’re after, the Perfect Order Booster Bundle is available for around $40. 

SAVE $10: As of April 17, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus is on sale for $29.99 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Roku

Roku Streaming Stick Plus

$29 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.99

 

Get Deal

Streaming devices are a great way to upgrade your streaming. Whether it's making it easier to watch from your laptop or you have an older TV that needs some help, they make watching the next hit Netflix original nice and easy. And if you’re considering purchasing one, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus is on sale right now.

As of April 17, this model is $10 off, bringing the price down from $39.99 to $29.99. With this streaming stick, you'll get 4K picture and bright HDR color for everything you watch.

The setup is nice and simple, and unlike other TV sticks, this one doesn't require power from a wall outlet. It's directly powered from the TV. All you need to do is plug it into the HDMI port and start watching. Less cables and clutter is always a good thing.

It also comes with a single remote that will control both your TV and streaming device. This even has a voice search function for searching for content across various platforms. You'll also get access to all the major streaming apps in one place (Netflix, Prime Video, etc.), plus over 500 free live TV channels.

This Roku deal is available at Amazon now, so don't miss out.

At a Pentagon worship service on Wednesday, defense secretary Pete Hegseth recited an air rescue group's prayer he said drew from the Bible's Ezekiel 25:17. In reality, Hegseth delivered Samuel L. Jackson's Bible-inspired monologue from Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. The Pentagon later defended Hegseth's "custom prayer."

Stephen Colbert called it out during The Late Show on Thursday night, showing Hegseth delivering said "custom prayer" beside the scenes from the 1994 film. The edit is really something. Watching the U.S. defense secretary essentially quoting Jackson's Jules Winnfield, from a scene in which the hitman interrogates and executes a man after eating his Big Kahuna Burger, is kind of an out-of-body experience.

"Despite all this, I want Hegseth to succeed," said Colbert. "He's the Secretary of Defense. If he succeeds, that means America succeeds. So please join me in prayer. God, I'm talking to you. You talking to me? Are you talking to me? War is like a box of chocolates. I'm tired of these MFing sins on my MFing soul."

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

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box back in stock for $83.90 with free shipping, while Walmart has it for $69.99.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box

$83.90 at Amazon
$93.99 Save $10.09

 

Shop Now

The Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box is arguably the most affordable way into this Pokémon TCG expansion right now. Stock has been low for some time, but Amazon has finally found some product to sell.

As of April 17, Amazon is listing the Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box in stock at $83.90, down from a listed $93.99. Walmart is already sitting at a lower $69.99, and TCGplayer has multiple unopened shipped listings clustered in the low-$70 range. 

Since launching on March 27, the once-high preorder prices on Perfect Order have dipped and settled in the $70-85 range. While Walmart and TCGplayer are indeed the best places to buy the Perfect Order ETB, plenty of Amazon stock is readily available at its slightly higher price point for those who prefer shopping at that particular retailer. 

Similar to other ETBs, the Pokémon TCG’s Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box will grant you nine booster packs, a full-art foil promo card (Tyrunt), 65 sleeves, Energy cards, a player’s guide, damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector’s box with dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Grabbing a Perfect Order ETB will give you a chance of pulling the trading card game expansion’s most valuable chase cards: 

• Mega Zygarde ex (Mega Hyper Rare) — $180.14 (market price)

• Meowth ex (Special Illustration Rare) — $165.69 (market price)

• Mega Zygarde ex (Special Illustration Rare) — $101.32 (market price)

• Rosa’s Encouragement (Special Illustration Rare) — $81.72 (market price)

• Mega Starmie ex (Special Illustration Rare) — $81.02 (market price)

To save even more on packs of new Pokémon cards, you can buy the Perfect Order Booster Bundle for around $40. If you’ve got even more in your budget, you can grab the Perfect Order Booster Display Box for around $200. 

Spotify has updated its iOS and Android apps to look better on tablets and foldable phones.

The new design, launched for everyone on Thursday, makes better use of the extra space you get on a tablet. For example, on an iPad, you can browse in a larger window on the left side of the screen while still having your now playing sidebar on the right, with album art, controls, and even lyrics.

The app is also more adaptive than before; switch from portrait to landscape mode and it will reconfigure the interface (instead of just resizing it) to make it look better in a particular move.

The design is adaptive, and the interface will accomodate to vertical or horizontal orientation as needed. Credit: Spotify

That sidebar on the right can be collapsed with a touch of the down arrow in the top left, or expanded to fit the entire display. Besides hosting controls and information on the song that's currently playing, it also has additional content down below, including related videos, information about the artist, and more. Another improvement is a prominent "Switch to Video/Audio" button.

“Tablets give you more room to explore, so we designed it to let you browse and discover new favorites alongside what’s already playing," Nicole Burrow, head of design at Spotify, said in a statement. "The goal was simple: Wherever you open Spotify, it should feel unmistakably like Spotify.”

The timing of the update is notable, as this update makes the Spotify app better not only on tablets but also on foldable devices. Apple is rumored to be working on its first foldable phone, the iPhone Fold, with a launch window late in the year, and other phone makers have been introducing foldable phones at an increasing pace.

In the first moments of The Mandalorian and Grogu's final trailer, we see the little guy sitting and meditating in a forest, in an image we've seen before, in an Empire Strikes Back galaxy far, far away...

Directed and co-written by The Mandalorian series creator Jon Favreau, with Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian and Grogu sees bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) hitting the big screen, teaming up with an early days New Republic and Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) to eliminate Imperial war criminals. (Like the show, the film is set after Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens.)

Unveiled at CinemaCon, the trailer is action-packed, with plenty of Star Wars-level battles on an array of planets, and a herd of AT-ATs. But it also feels like one last ride for our two heroes...

The Mandalorian and Grogu hit cinemas May 22, 2026.

SAVE $1,500: As of April 17, the Toshiba 100-inch Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K TV is on sale for $2,499.99 at Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price at Amazon.

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Credit: Toshiba

Toshiba 100-Inch Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K UHD TV

$2,499.99 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,500

 

Get Deal

If you're looking for a new TV and want to go all-out on an extra large screen, Amazon's here to help. As of April 17, the retailer has dropped the price on the massive Toshiba 100-inch Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K TV, making now a great time to scoop it up for less.

This TV is usually listed for $3,999.99, but Amazon has dropped the price down to $2,499.99 for a limited time. This means you can save $1,500 right now. Not to mention, it marks its lowest-ever price at the retailer, which is a huge bonus.

And what an upgrade this TV is. This Toshiba TV's 100-inch screen size is sure to make you feel completely absorbed in what you're watching or playing. Its 4K resolution, Mini LED technology, and QLED Color will highlight every color and detail on screen. Gamers can enjoy smooth motion as well thanks to a native 144Hz refresh rate, and it also comes with VRR, ALLM, and AMD FreeSync Premium.

Plus, it's a Fire TV, so you can have all of your favorite streaming apps available to access right from the home screen. With so many exciting things to stream right now, it's nice to be able to jump into your favorites quickly and easily.

Since the Toshiba 100-inch Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K TV is marked as a limited time deal, it may not be on sale at this price for long.

SAVE $15: As of April 17, the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is on sale for $19.99. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD

$19.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $15.00

 

Get Deal

Amazon's Fire TV Sticks are a simple and affordable way to transform your streaming setup. And right now it's an even cheaper streaming solution, because the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is on sale for a limited time. As of April 17, this model is down to $19.99 from $34.99, saving you $15.

This isn't just a great option for streaming at home, it's a completely portable device so you can take it with you when you travel. Just plug it into your TV or laptop HDMI port and power the Fire Stick with a wall outlet and you're good to go. It's much easier than logging into your apps and streaming platforms on other devices, and negates the need to remember to log out when you leave.

And speaking of streaming platforms, you'll have access to the whole lot. Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Peacock, Tubi, and more are all available to download. They'll also sit neatly on one home screen, so it's easy to pick up shows and movies where you left them. More of a live TV watcher? Not a problem, you'll also have access to services like SLING TV and YouTube TV, as well as access to popular music apps such as Amazon Music and Spotify.

Head to Amazon to find this Fire Stick deal.

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, April 17, 2026:

Across

Sound made while sinking into a hot tub

• The answer is Ahh.

March Madness pick

• The answer is Team.

Like "status quo" and "mea culpa"

• The answer is Latin.

Large venue for a comedian

• The answer is Arena.

Piece of bacon

• The answer is Strip.

Down

Book of maps

• The answer is Atlas.

❤️

• The answer is Heart.

Constant critic

• The answer is Hater.

Car that's easy to park

• The answer is Mini.

Much of the afternoon, for a toddler

• The answer is Nap.

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.

Written and directed by YouTuber Curry Barker, Obsession has been gaining buzz among critics and horror fans since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall. This creepy thriller about a crush gone carnage will hit theaters just as summer love could bloom. So, see it early — either as a cautionary tale, a way to get your heart pumping hard, or as a litmus test for your situationship.

Mashable has teamed up with Focus Features for advanced screenings in New York and Chicago ahead of the film's theatrical release. All you need to do to get in on the freaky fun is sign up:

Sign up for Mashable's NYC screening of Obsession.

Sign up for Mashable's Chicago screening of Obsession.

How to see Obsession early?

Join Mashable and Focus Features for an advanced screening in Chicago and New York City, the latter of which will be hosted by Mashable's Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko.

Details for each advanced screening are below:

Obsession NYC Advanced Screening

Monday, May 11 | 7:00 p.m. ET

AMC 19th St  | 890 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Obsession Chicago Advanced Screening

Monday, May 11 | 7:00 p.m. CT

AMC River East | 322 E Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60611 

How to get Obsession advance screening tickets?

To secure your seat for these advance screenings — at no cost — all you have to do is fill out the linked entry form, either for NYC or Chicago. Focus Features operates both forms. No purchase is necessary to enter.

From there, watch out for an email confirmation. Please note: Seating at the events will be first come, first served. No one will be admitted without being on Focus Feature's confirmation list.

Obsession opens nationwide on May 15.

TL;DR: Consider this your sign to upgrade your laptop while this MacBook Air is on sale for just $199.97 (reg. $999) through April 19.

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Credit: Apple

Apple MacBook Air (2017) 13" i5 1.8GHz 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished)

$199.97
$999 Save $799.03

 

Get Deal

It’s not every day that you can snag a MacBook for less than the cost of an iPad. But right now, you can bring home this powerful and portable MacBook Air for only $199.97. You’ll just have to act fast — this deal only runs for two more days and ends April 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

The MacBook Air is one of Apple’s most popular devices for good reason. It’s the brand’s most portable laptop — weighing in at just 2.97 pounds — but don’t be deceived by its size. This model doesn’t skimp on power.

This MacBook Air is packed with a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, letting you multitask and tackle your entire to-do list from anywhere.

Save important files locally and download all your go-to apps thanks to 128GB of storage. The 13.3-inch widescreen display lets you work or play, all with crisp and vibrant visuals, thanks to the Intel HD Graphics 6000.

The 12-hour battery life lets you get through a full workday without powering back up, and easy Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity make it easy to connect from anywhere.

Curious how you’re saving $800 on this device? It comes with a Grade A/B refurbished rating, so you may receive a device with light scratches, dents, or scuffs, but after a comprehensive process, its functionality and quality are ensured.

Act fast to lock in the major savings on this MacBook Air and get it for just $199.97 until April 19.

Grabbing this deal? Score a Microsoft Office 2021 license for free when you apply a code at checkout through 4/19: GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows). 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan is on sale for $79.97 (reg. $540), combining multiple AI models and tools for writing, images, and more in one platform.

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Credit: 1minAI

1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription

$79.97
$540 Save $460.03

 

Get Deal

The promise of AI is doing more with less effort. The reality sometimes — err, often — looks like juggling multiple apps to get there. 1min.AI aims to simplify that by bringing multiple AI models and tools into a single platform, and its Advanced Business Plan lifetime subscription is on sale for $79.97 (reg. $540) for a limited time.

Instead of switching between separate apps for writing, image editing, and document processing, 1min.AI puts a wide range of features in one place. You can generate and refine text, create and edit images, analyze PDFs, and even work with audio or video tools, all from the same interface. It supports multiple AI models, including GPT, Claude, and Gemini, so you can choose the one that best fits your task, whether that’s drafting content, optimizing websites, or brainstorming ideas.

For content creators and professionals, that kind of consolidation can save you so much time. Tools like article generators, paraphrasers, and summarizers can help overcome writer’s block, while image, video, audio, and document tools add flexibility across different workflows. That said, like most AI platforms, it works best as an assistant rather than a replacement, so outputs may still need editing and review.

The plan uses a monthly credit system to determine how much you can generate across tools. With this tier, you get 4 million credits per month, which can translate to over a million words, thousands of SEO keywords, or more than a thousand images, depending on usage.

You can also share the subscription with up to 20 team members, with built-in tools that make collaboration easier.

If your setup already involves multiple AI tools, having them in one place can simplify things, or at least cut down on the tab-switching.

Get the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan lifetime subscription for $99.99 (reg. $540).

Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through 4/19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Unblock TNAFlix from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Your access to porn sites is often restricted, which is probably a good thing. However, there is a time and a place for everything. And when the time is right, you shouldn't have to put up with online restrictions.

If you're looking for the best way to unblock porn sites like TNAFlix from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock TNAFlix for free

VPNs can unblock porn sites by connecting you to secure servers in other locations.

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, bypassing geo-restrictions to secure access to porn sites like TNAFlix from anywhere in the world. This might sound complicated, but you can unblock your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to TNAFlix

4. Visit TNAFlix

5. Watch TNAFlix content from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're traveling or temporarily away from home.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like TNAFlix from anywhere in the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like TNAFlix, 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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock TNAFlix for free with ExpressVPN.

For the first time in six years, BookCon is back. Celebrating the book industry and its fans, BookCon returns to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on April 18 and 19. The two-day convention is jam-packed with panels, author signings, and a robust show floor, and Mashable will be on the ground at the event, covering every must-see moment.

The event follows a big year for books. Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reid's bestselling series, has everyone headed to the cottage, and the movie adaptation of Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary took us to space. BookTok is one of the loudest and most influential spaces on the internet, literally reviving book sales in the modern age. Now BookCon can be an IRL space for book fans to celebrate their passion.

“It has been a dream for our team to bring back BookCon, and we are thrilled with how the book community has come together to help us build this incredible programming lineup full of diverse voices, genres, and perspectives," said Jenny Martin, Event Director for BookCon.

Leading up to the event, there's been a lot of chatter, so before the big weekend, here's everything you need to know about BookCon.

When and where is BookCon?

BookCon takes place Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19. It will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

How to attend BookCon?

BookCon is a ticketed event, but it's unfortunately sold out. Tickets went fast, with BookCon posting on Dec. 3, 2025, that the event was officially sold out.

View this post on Instagram

Which authors will be at BookCon?

The BookCon lineup features tons of people's favorite authors, with panels and signings all weekend long. Rachel Reid (Heated Rivalry) will be there celebrating the show alongside the TV show's EP, Jacob Tierney. Authors of the buzziest adaptations including Andy Weir (Project Hail Mary, The Martian), Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven), May Cobb (The Hunting Wives), Robinne Lee (The Idea of You), and Casey McQuiston (Red, White, and Royal Blue) will be present. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Divergent, Veronica Roth will be in attendance. Other authors attending BookCon include Jasmine Guillory, Leigh Bardugo, and RF Kuang. The full list of attendees can be found on BookCon's website.

What's the BookCon controversy?

While there is plenty of excitement around BookCon, the return of the event sparked quite a bit of noise online. Tickets sold fast, leading to some disappointment from fans who were hopeful to attend — but even fans in attendance have shared concerns.

Author signings and some panels require reservations for ticket holders. When the reservations went live, attendees had spreadsheets of all the events they wanted to attend and patiently waited in an online queue to sign up. Unfortunately, even after waiting an hour, some ticket holders couldn't secure any reservations. Now there's an active community on the BookCon subreddit trading reservations in hopes of scoring the spots they didn't get the first time.

Another controversy surrounding the event came forth when authors and fans questioned BookCon's association with ICE. ReedPop, which runs a variety of conventions including BookCon, is owned by parent company Relx. One of Relx's subsidiaries is LexisNexis, which has a multi-million dollar contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Several authors, including Rebecca Thorne and Sabaa Tahir, called out the connection, with Tahir no longer attending BookCon.

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

ReedPop has since issued a statement to clarify: "We at ReedPop do not sell customer information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ReedPop/RX operates entirely at arm’s length and independently. None of our data is shared for marketing or commercial use by any other entity within our parent company."

View this post on Instagram

Where can I follow along with what's happening at BookCon?

We'll be on the ground at BookCon, so be sure to check back at Mashable.com and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X.

It's the most wonderful (and stressful) time of year for hockey fans: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs kicks off this weekend after one of the wildest endings to the regular season. I'm still flabbergasted that the Buffalo Sabres are at the top of the Atlantic division and that the Philadelphia Flyers managed to clinch a playoff berth with only 26 regulation wins.

The best ways to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs at a glance:

---

The most games for the lowest price

Sling TV Orange plan

$115 for 3 months (save $22.97)

Get Deal

---

FOR TNT/TBS GAMES

HBO Max Standard

$18.49/month or $184.99/year

Shop Now

---

For ESPN/ABC games

ESPN Unlimited

$29.99/month

Shop Now

---

BEST INTRO PRICE

YouTube TV Sports plan

10-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 year (save $120)

Get Deal

It's been a pretty exciting year for hockey in general. Team USA bringing home the gold at the Olympics brought the NHL many new spectators. Beyond that, the smash hit Heated Rivalry also put a surprising spotlight on the league. New fans are in for a treat this postseason, as playoff hockey takes the action and the energy to new heights.

Veteran hockey fans know that anything can happen in the battle for the Stanley Cup. If you want to witness the excitement (and extreme frustration) of playoff hockey live, here's everything you need to know.

When do the Stanley Cup playoffs start?

The first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs kicks off on Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. ET. Teams generally play every other day, with games scheduled through May 3 if necessary. The dates for the second round, third round (conference finals), and Stanley Cup final will depend on how the first series pans out. The final will take place no later than June 21. You can check out the full schedule on the official NHL website.

What channels are the NHL playoffs on?

If you have cable or access to a cable login, live games will air on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and TNT/truTV/TBS family of networks throughout the postseason. Each series is not strictly designated to one broadcaster — for example, games in a series could air on TNT, ABC, and ESPN within the same week.

Check out the official hockey playoffs schedule on NHL.com to find out which channel to tune into for specific games.

How can I watch the Stanley Cup playoffs without cable?

As always, here's where things get complicated. If you don't have cable access or a cable login, you'll need at least one streaming service to catch all the hockey playoff games live in 2026.

To watch games that air on the TNT family of networks, you can either tune in through the HBO Max app ($18.49 per month for the Standard plan) or via a live TV streaming provider like Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV. To catch all of the games that air live on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, you can subscribe to ESPN Unlimited ($29.99 per month) or a live TV streaming provider.

Subscribing to a live TV streaming service will definitely get you the most bang for your buck, despite the cost being a bit higher (most are between $65 and $85 per month). But you can also choose to subscribe to both HBO Max and ESPN Unlimited for a combined $48.48 per month for access to every game. It's all up to preference.

Different from cable, live TV streamers rely on the internet and offer you a live channel lineup without a monthly contract. You can cancel any time it no longer suits you — no strings attached. These services aren't cheap, but many offer introductory rates and are still generally more affordable than a monthly cable bill. Plus, you get your money's worth with access to live and local channels spanning news, sports, and entertainment. It'll serve you long after a team is awarded the coveted Stanley Cup, should you choose to keep your subscription.

Here's a breakdown of your streaming service options to watch the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs live, as well as the best deals available for each.

For TNT, TBS, and truTV games: HBO Max

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Credit: HBO Max

HBO Max Standard

$18.49/month or $184.99/year

Shop Now

An HBO Max Standard subscription (not Basic) includes the B/R Sports add-on, which includes access to the NHL on TNT games (and simulcast TBS and truTV games). Of course, this only covers about half of the postseason, so you'll still need another way to tune into ESPN and ABC broadcasts. HBO Max Standard will cost you $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (16% savings).

HBO Max deals:

• HBO Max Standard annual subscription — $184.99/year $221.88/year (save $36.89/year)

• Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle — $32.99/month $56.47/month (save $23.48/month)

For ESPN and ABC games: ESPN Unlimited

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Credit: ESPN

ESPN Unlimited

$29.99/month

Shop Now

ESPN finally launched a direct-to-consumer streaming service last year, so sports fans can enjoy the full suite of ESPN networks under one subscription: ESPN Unlimited. For $29.99 per month, you'll be able to watch every NHL playoffs broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC live. Of course, you'll need to pair it with HBO Max for the whole roster of postseason games, which would cost you $48.48 per month total.

ESPN Unlimited deals:

• ESPN Unlimited annual subscription — $299.99/year $359.88/year (save $59.89/year)

• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle — $35.99/month $53.97/month (save $17.98/month)

• ESPN Unlimited and Fox One bundle — $39.99/month $49.98/month (save $9.99/month)

The most games for the lowest price: Sling TV Orange plan

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Credit: Sling

Sling TV Orange plan

$45.99/month

Get Deal

Sling TV's Orange plan is your best bet to watch the most postseason NHL games for the lowest price. The Orange plan includes access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and TBS, plus 30 other channels. While that doesn't include ABC, most ABC NHL games are also available through ESPN3, so you'll be all set. Sling subscriptions are a la carte, so you can add to and take away from your plan with no worries and cancel or pause your subscription at any time. The Orange plan costs $46 per month, but you can also prepay for three months and save.

Sling deals:

• Sling TV Orange 3-month prepay plan — $115 $137.97 (save $22.97)

• Sling TV Orange 7-day pass — $14.99 $34.93 (save $19.94 compared to single-day pass)

Best way to watch for free: YouTube TV Sports Plan 10-day trial

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Credit: YouTube TV

YouTube TV Sports plan

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

Get Deal

We're big fans of YouTube TV's massive 100+ channel lineup, which includes all of the networks you'll need to tune into the Stanley Cup playoffs live. On the other hand, we're not the biggest fans of the $82.99 per month cost. Fortunately, not only did the streamer launch a more affordable sports-based plan recently, but it also comes with a 10-day free trial and a discounted first year.

YouTube TV deals:

• YouTube TV Sports — free 10-day trial, $54.99/month for your first year $64.99/month (save $120)

• YouTube TV Base — free 10-day trial, $67.99/month for your first 3 months $82.99/month (save $45)

Honorable mentions:

• Hulu + Live TV (includes all networks) — 3-day trial, then $82.99 per month

• DirecTV My Sports (includes all networks) — 5-day trial, then $44.99/month for two months $64.99/month (save $40)

In the Venn diagram of tablets and books, our favorite e-readers fall perfectly in the middle. They're thin and portable like a tablet, but without the distraction of the internet. The best Kindles and e-readers stuff thousands of books — a full library, really — into a tiny frame.

And having tested a lot of e-readers and tablets for Mashable, I can tell you the Amazon Kindle lineup comes closest to perfecting the devices. All over the internet, you'll find TikTok users enthusiastically singing the praises of the Kindle and how to make the most of it. For parents, Kindles are a screen you don't have to feel guilty about. For avid readers, Stuff Your Kindle Day and Libby let you cross every last item off your annual reading list. You can even buy Kindle accessories like remote page-turners and gooseneck stands so you don't have to hold your Kindle while reading.

Ready to buy? Here's our guide to the best Kindles.

2026 Kindle updates

On April 7, 2026, Amazon sent a notice to some Kindle users stating that as of May 20, 2026, Kindle e-readers released in 2012 or earlier will no longer be supported. After May 20, Amazon will no longer lend software updates or provide web services to these devices, essentially bricking them. Users will still be able to read currently downloaded books on the device, but to add new books, they will need to connect the device to a computer. This is a huge hit, especially to Libby users who need web service access to read borrowed books.

The affected Kindles include:

• Kindle (1st generation)

• Kindle (2nd generation)

• Kindle DX

• Kindle DX Graphite

• Kindle Keyboard

• Kindle 4

• Kindle Touch

• Kindle 5

• Kindle Paperwhite (1st generation)

Owners of these Kindle models are obviously upset, as it means they'll need to purchase a new device to maintain access to all features. While some are considering switching to a different e-reader, like a Kobo, Amazon still makes great e-readers, and it's a testament to the brand that devices that are at least 14 years old are still going strong.

Which Kindle is right for you?

If you're concerned about buying the newest tech, that's not an issue. There are six updated Kindle models for sale, as well as older editions still in stock.

Before you choose a Kindle, you need to ask one question first: Do you want it to be waterproof? If you prefer reading near a body of water — whether in the bath, by the pool, or at the beach — that immediately narrows down your options. Since the Kindle Oasis is no longer available, your waterproof options are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, Colorsoft Signature Edition, and Paperwhite Kids.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition settings screen. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Beyond water resistance, here are a few other features to consider:

• Display size: The basic Kindle has a 6-inch display, while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity: Kindles range from 16GB to 32GB of storage capacity.

• Battery life: The new Kindles generally have outstanding batteries. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Writing capability: The Kindle Scribe is the only model that allows you to write with the included stylus. 

The latest Kindles all boast a maximum brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare, so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to download all the reading material you could ever want. Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via the built-in Bluetooth connection.

Not to mention, out of all the e-readers I've tested, Kindles have the best compatibility with Libby. I love the digital platform because I can read for free and support my local library. Some other e-readers require you to download your library e-book to a computer and then upload it to an e-reader, but with Kindles, your e-books are sent straight to your device with a click.

And if you were a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are attached to page-turning buttons, you may need to stray from the Kindle line-up. Now, your best bet will be the Kobo Libra Colour.

How to get free e-books on Kindle

With just a click, transfer your Libby e-book to your Kindle device. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Your Libby ebook will automatically populate in your Kindle library. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best way to read free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby allows you to borrow e-books through libraries, and all you need is a library card. Through the Libby app, borrow books and then select the "read with Kindle" option, which allows you to send these e-books to your Kindle library.

Another option for finding free e-books is through Stuff Your Kindle events. These are author-driven events that offer limited-time deals on e-books, often making them heavily discounted or totally free.

How to make the most of your Kindle

Through our testing and daily use, we've spent a lot of time with Kindles, learning how to make the most of them. We've written extensively on all the ways to maximize your Kindle, so be sure to browse through our guides and explainers:

• How to make the most of your Kindle: 8 features you need to use

• The best Kindle accessories for reading in luxury

• What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books

• I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with Libby. Here's how.

• What is Kindle Rewards? Earn free credits when shopping the Kindle store

• What is Kindle Unlimited? A library of books at your fingertips for just $12 a month

• Where to get free e-books: Load up your e-reader without spending a dime

• Prime members can get a free e-book every month with Amazon First Reads

• How to download EPUB files on your Kindle

• 8 Kindle features you should be using

• How to delete books from Kindle
  

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on April 15-18. Stuff Your E-Reader, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering books in a variety of genres for Kindle and Kobo.

A lot has been said about Kindle in the last week or so, and we've tried our best to make sense of the situation. We're not going to get into the weeds of why "BookTokers, Bookstagramers, and the most passionate Kindle users across the internet are fuming this week," because another Stuff Your Kindle Day is live right now.

Stuff Your E-Reader, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering participants the chance to download books from a variety of genres without spending anything. Everything that you download is yours to keep forever, and unlike a lot of these giveaways, Kindle and Kobo readers can stock up during this limited-time event.

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stuff Your E-Reader takes place on April 15-18. A lot of these free giveaways only last 24 hours, so it's refreshing to have so much time to consider your options. You can relax and make a plan without stressing about missing the deadline.

Which ebooks are free?

Stuff Your E-Reader is an all-genre book blast for Kindle and Kobo readers. Stuff Your Kindle Days usually focus on a particular genre, which can exclude large portions of the reading world who might not be interested in downloading hundreds of romance titles. This event is truly for everyone.

The Indie Author Collective has launched a hub page for this event, with filters for promotions, genre, and representation. Check out everything on offer here.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months)

$109.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

SAVE OVER $1,500: As of April 17, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is on sale for $2,148.99 at Amazon. That's a 42% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Jackery

Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus

$2,148.99 at Amazon
$3,699 Save $1,550.01

 

Get Deal

Looking for a reliable power station that's capable of powering your whole home? Look no further than the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus. This is a seriously impressive unit that can power a three-person household for over two weeks.

And as of April 17, this Jackery model combined with two 200W solar panels is currently on sale at Amazon, saving you over $1,500. Normally priced at $3,699, you can now have this reliable piece of kit for $2,148.99.

This is a seriously high-capacity power station that's designed to see you through long periods of no power. It has 3,600W of output (7,200W in parallel) and a 3,584Wh battery, which can be expanded up to 21kWh per unit or 43kWh when used with multiple units. It also supports dual-voltage output (120V and 240V in parallel), so it's the perfect choice if you need to power larger household appliances such as pumps and dryers.

At over $2,000, this is definitely a significant purchase. Thankfully, it's built to last. It uses high-temperature resistant ceramic membrane battery cells and is rated for up to 6,000 charge cycles, which gives it an estimated 10-year lifespan.

It also has several different charging options, including a full recharge in around two hours via hybrid AC+DC, approximately 2.5 hours via AC or gas generator, and around four hours with solar panels.

This power station deal is available at Amazon now, but note the "limited-time" sticker.

SAVE OVER $300: As of April 17, the Anker Solix C1000 is on sale for $428.99 at Amazon. That's a 46% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Anker

Anker Solix C1000

$428.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $370.01

 

Get Deal

A portable power station is a great way to keep your essential devices and gadgets powered while off-grid or during a power outage. And if you’ve been considering making the plunge, Amazon has some great models discounted right now, including the Anker Solix C1000.

As of April 17, this model is over $370 off, now down to $428.99. That's also the best price so far this year.

This power station has a 1,024Wh capacity and 2,000W output with a 3,000W peak, so it's capable to run multiple devices at once through its 10 ports. The ports include USB-A, and USB-C, and wall outlets, so anything from laptops to small appliances are compatible. And if you like to camp or hit the road, this is a great way to stay connected. It's also lighter than previous models, so it's easier to carry around.

This unit also supports fast recharging, and can reach full capacity in around 49 minutes when using the HyperFlash charging mode. It's also built with a robust, long-lasting battery, thanks to Anker’s InfiniPower system, meaning it's rated for around 4,000 charge cycles while maintaining at least 80% capacity. This equates to roughly 10 years of use.

You can find this Anker power station deal at Amazon now.

Starbucks is fully embracing AI, launching a beta app in ChatGPT this week that lets a chatbot choose your latte or refresher.

Users on ChatGPT can access the app by starting a prompt with "@Starbucks." They can then describe the mood they're in or want to be in — energetic, cozy, etc. — or simply ask the AI to pick something that matches their tastes, like non-dairy drinks or less caffeinated beverages.

In the announcement on Starbucks' website, the coffee chain also suggested users upload a photo to ChatGPT that "captures your vibe," and the AI will choose a drink to complement it.

Credit: Starbucks

Some of the prompts suggested by Starbucks include "@Starbucks, I want something bright to start my morning,” and "@Starbucks, I’m craving an afternoon boost that isn’t too sweet."

After choosing a drink and a store to retrieve it, users will be directed to the Starbucks app or Starbucks.com to pay and complete the order.

Starbucks considers the beta app in ChatGPT its newest way to encourage customers to try new beverages or, as they put it in their press release, "using AI to support something very human: helping you discover a drink you’ll love."

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

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Flies a plane.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

PILOT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Facade.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FRONT

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Cabin.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

LODGE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Downward.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SOUTH

Final Hurdle hint

Nerdy.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

GEEKY

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

It's the last day of the lunar cycle, a roughly 29.5-day period in which the Moon orbits Earth, which means today is the New Moon. This is the point where the Moon sits between Earth and the Sun, so its sunlit side is facing away from us.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, April 17, the Moon phase is New Moon. Tonight, 0% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Unsurprisingly, with 0% of the moon illuminated, there's nothing for us to see tonight.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

NASA states that the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, during which it passes through eight distinct phases. We always see the same side of the Moon, but the amount of sunlight reflecting off it changes as it moves along its orbit, creating the familiar pattern of full, partial, and crescent shapes. These shifting appearances are called lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will test your knowledge of multiple sports, and you'll need some basic knowledge of 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Over the plate

• Green: Offense

• Blue: All in the family

• Purple: Home on the ____

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Things an Umpire Calls

• Green: An Attacking Player in Soccer

• Blue: MLB Father-Son Duos

• Purple: ____ Range

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 #571 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Things an Umpire Calls — BALL, OUT, SAFE, STRIKE

• An Attacking Player in Soccer — FORWARD, NO. 9, STRIKER, TARGET MAN

• MLB Father-Son Duos — ALOU, BONDS, FIELDER, GRIFFEY

• ____ Range — 3-POINT, DRIVING, LONG, MID

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 17 Pips

Greater Than (4): The domino half in this purple space must have more than 4 pips. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): The domino half in this red space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 6 pips. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): The domino half in this dark blue space must have less than 4 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): The domino half in this green space must have 2 pips. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 17 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this purple space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this red space must have 3 pips. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this light blue space must add up to be less than 2. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): The domino half in this dark blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (0): The domino half in this green space must have 0 pips. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this purple space must have 4 pips. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): The domino half in this red space must have more than 4 pips. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 17 Pips

Number (5): The domino half in this purple space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Every domino half in this red space must have 2 pips. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this yellow space must add up to be less than 3. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Does Not Equal: Every domino half in this dark blue space must have a different number of pips. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; and 5-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this green space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): The domino half in this purple space must have 4 pips. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (2): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 2 pips. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this yellow space must add up to be less than 2. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

What is Connections?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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: Crop details

• Green: Prevalent

• Blue: Grand instrument

• Purple: Beverages

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Vegetable parts

• Green: Prevailing

• Blue: Parts of a piano

• Purple: Second halves of drink names

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 #1041 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Vegetable parts: BULB, LEAF, ROOT, STEM

• Prevailing: COMMON, DOMINANT, GENERAL, POPULAR

• Parts of a piano: HAMMER, KEY, PEDAL, STRING

• Second halves of drink names: SODA, STORMY, TAN, TONIC

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a pescatarian.

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: Shell company

The words are related to the sea.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe marine life with coverings.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Mollusk.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 17

• Limpet

• Clam

• Oyster

• Conch

• Mollusk

• Scallop

• Mussel

• Abalone

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

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

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

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

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

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

A beauty.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letters E and L appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BELLE

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.

The Pitt Season 2 is coming to an end, but if you're already hoping to head right back into the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, don't worry. Unlike most streaming shows nowadays, The Pitt probably won't take multiple years to come back for Season 3.

In an almost unprecedented move for the streaming age, there was just one year between The Pitt's Season 1 and Season 2 premieres. (Both came out in early January.) If the show follows the same production schedule as it did between Seasons 1 and 2, it's highly likely that there will be a similar wait time for the next season, meaning viewers can expect Season 3 in early January of 2027.

Luckily, The Pitt does appear to be adhering to the same production schedule this time around. Ahead of The Pitt's PaleyFest LA event, creator R. Scott Gemmill told Variety that Season 3 was set to begin filming this June. Filming for Season 2 kicked off in June of 2025, which tees Season 3 up for the same production timeline.

When will The Pitt Season 3 take place?

While viewers will have to wait a little under a year between seasons, far less time will pass between The Pitt Seasons 2 and 3. There were roughly 10 months between Season 1 and Season 2, which takes place on July 4, 2026. However, at PaleyFest, Wyle told USA Today that Season 3 would be taking place in November, meaning there will only be a four-month time jump between seasons.

"It will be pre-Thanksgiving, moving into colder weather," Wyle said to USA Today. "The holidays are approaching. The weather's changing. People are turning on their heaters for the first time."

So get ready for mentions of The Pitt crew's family drama heading into Thanksgiving, as well as potential cold weather accidents. Whatever happens, I'm ready for Thanksgiving in January of 2027.

The Pitt Season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max.

Iyaz Akhtar looks into what happened to Google’s smart home ecosystem. Google’s move toward Gemini appears to have disrupted Google Home’s once smooth experience. The result is a system that feels less reliable and more inconsistent. Here’s what’s going wrong right now.

Stop your smart TV from tracking your viewing habits by disabling Automatic Content Recognition. This guide shows how to find and turn off these hidden privacy settings on an Amazon Fire TV. It’s a quick way to limit data tracking and improve privacy.

Google is warning that advances in quantum computing could make it easier to break the encryption that protects cryptocurrencies. The concern is that quantum hackers may be able to crack current security systems much sooner than expected. This could put crypto assets and blockchain-based systems at risk.

PCMag's camera expert Jim Fisher tests the budget Apple MacBook Neo with 8K video, RAW photos, and exports. The goal is to see how it handles real creative workloads and whether it’s a viable option for creative work.

SAVE $100: As of April 16, shop the DJI Flip 4K drone for just $539 at Amazon. That saves you $100 off its $639 list price.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Flip

$539
$639 Save $100

 

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Getting outside this spring and summer? If you're looking to capture your adventures from above and in 4K then you'll need the right equipment, and you don't need to be a professional either. DJI makes it easy to get started with a drone, and since 4K drones may be an investment, it's worth it to shop the deals.

Right now, you can grab the DJI Flip drone for just $539. That saves you $100 off its list price of $639. According to camelcamelcamel, the DJI Flip's record low is $509, meaning it's just $30 from its lowest price ever.

The DJI Flip is a lightweight drone, weighing just 249 grams. You won't have to worry about regulations either as it doesn't require FAA or Remote ID registration. It comes with a two-screen remote controller so you can see your footage as you capture it. The Flip films in 4K at 60fps, plus it features subject tracking so you'll always stay in frame.

Shop the DJI Flip for just $539 at Amazon now.

Astronauts from NASA's first crewed Artemis flight largely sidestepped a question about the diversity of the future astronauts assigned to the upcoming moon-landing mission. 

Speaking at a news conference days after their return to Earth, the Artemis II astronauts —  Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — were asked whether the U.S. space agency should uphold its pledge to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon, a goal NASA has recently deemphasized. 

The moment highlighted an issue NASA has avoided publicly clarifying. The Artemis program's first landing mission is expected as early as 2028.

"That's a great question," Koch told Mashable. "Our understanding of that statement was basically that the Artemis campaign as a whole will usher in an era where that is true, and that it will happen naturally because of our astronaut corps."

Though Mashable sought each astronaut's opinion, only Koch answered before the moderator moved on to another reporter's question.

Before 2025, NASA had consistently described the first Artemis lunar landing as putting the first woman and first person of color on the moon. But over the past year, that language has largely disappeared from agency materials, following a White House executive order that curtailed diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across federal agencies. The directive labeled such programs "illegal and immoral."

The Artemis II crew itself marked a milestone. The mission was the first deep-space flight not composed entirely of white men. Koch became the first woman and Glover the first Black person to travel beyond low-Earth orbit. Their assignment to the lunar flyby crew occurred in 2023, during President Joe Biden's administration. 

The Artemis II crew, clockwise: Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, and Reid Wiseman. Credit: Josh Valcarcel

Both have downplayed the historical significance of their distinctions in past interviews, focusing instead on the technical goals of the mission. Leading up to the launch, they often wouldn't elaborate on what those "firsts" meant specifically for women and people of color.

On Thursday, however, Koch seemed confident the milestone will happen, regardless of intention.

"The fact is we don't have to try too hard to make that come true, to make that be the reality of this mission," she said. "We actually have to try harder to not make that true in the astronaut corps that we have."

Floating in the Orion spacecraft, the four Artemis II astronauts embrace in weightlessness. Credit: NASA

Artemis II, a roughly 10-day mission around the moon and back, was NASA's first crewed journey beyond low-Earth orbit in more than a half-century. The $4.1 billion test flight vetted the Orion spacecraft's life‑support, power, navigation, and steering systems. The mission took the capsule past Apollo‑era distances, reaching a farthest point of about 252,756 miles. 

NASA has not yet announced crews beyond Artemis II. The next mission, Artemis III, will serve as a 2027 flight demonstration for docking Orion with commercially built lunar landers while in low-Earth orbit. Artemis IV is expected to attempt the program's first lunar landing the following year. 

Agency officials have said assignments will be based on mission needs but have not addressed whether earlier commitments about representation remain in place.

If you've already fallen under the spell of Witch Hat Atelier, Crunchyroll has a new way to stay immersed in the series between episodes.

The anime streamer has launched Witch Chat: The Witch Hat Atelier Companion Podcast, a new watchalong-style series under its Anime Effect podcast slate. The show is designed to guide viewers through the anime adaptation of Kamome Shirahama's beloved manga, and the first three episodes are available now on Spotify and YouTube.

Hosted by anime cosplayer and content creator Lena Lemon and Crunchyroll personality Tim Lyu, fans can expect episodic recaps and an even deeper dive into the magical world of Coco, Qifrey, Agott, Tetia, and Richeh. Or maybe you really want to make sure you're pronouncing words like Atelier, Qifrey, and Richeh correctly (because...same).

Credit: Courtesy of Crunchyroll

For a show like Witch Hat Atelier, which is already full of intricate lore, mysterious Brimmed Caps, and enough storybook beauty to inspire endless TikTok edits, a companion podcast feels like a natural fit. The first episode of the anime premiered on April 6, and the podcast gives fans another place to theorize about Coco's future, Qifrey's secrets, and whatever unsettling thing the Brimmed Caps are planning next.

It is also a reminder of how much anime fandom now lives online. According to Crunchyroll, 82 percent of anime fans discuss anime on social media, with TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube serving as major discovery tools for viewers. After all, it only takes one devastating edit to change the course of someone's life, or dictate what they watch next.

And if any new show feels built for that kind of fandom ecosystem — the cosplay, the fan art, the ship discourse, the aesthetic moodboards, the painstaking manga-to-anime comparisons — it's definitely Witch Hat Atelier. Judging by the online discourse so far, the Qifrey obsession has already begun.

Anthropic has been shipping products and making news at a blistering pace in 2026, and on Thursday, the AI company announced the launch of Claude Opus 4.7.

Claude Opus 4.7 is Anthropic's most intelligent model available to the general public. Notably, Anthropic said in a press release that Opus 4.7 is not as powerful as Claude Mythos, which Anthropic deemed too dangerous for public release.

Claude Opus is a family of hybrid reasoning models capable of multi-step reasoning and advanced coding. Until the announcement of Claude Mythos on April 7, Claude Opus was considered Anthropic's most advanced series of AI models.

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How to try Claude Opus 4.7

Claude Opus 4.7 is available now via Claude AI, the Claude API, and Anthropic partners such as Microsoft Foundry. The new model is priced the same as Claude Opus 4.6.

However, Anthropic noted that because "Opus 4.7 thinks more at higher effort levels," it uses more ouput tokens than its predecessor. Users can read more about how to optimize token usage in the Opus 4.7 migration guide.

How Claude Opus 4.7 improves over 4.6

As expected, Claude Opus 4.7 offers improved capabilities across the board.

In particular, Anthropic says Claude Opus 4.7 is better at advanced coding tasks, visual intelligence, and document analysis. Anthropic also says Opus 4.7 is "more tasteful and creative when completing professional tasks, producing higher-quality interfaces, slides, and docs."

"Users report being able to hand off their hardest coding work — the kind that previously needed close supervision — to Opus 4.7 with confidence. Opus 4.7 handles complex, long-running tasks with rigor and consistency, pays precise attention to instructions, and devises ways to verify its own outputs before reporting back," reads an Anthropic blog post.

Claude Opus 4.7: Benchmark performance

Anthropic released a detailed model card outlining how Claude Opus 4.7 compares to other Anthropic models and frontier models from OpenAI, Google, and xAI.

Opus 4.7 lags behind the unreleased Claude Mythos, which Anthropic reports scores significantly higher on common benchmarks such as Humanity's Last Exam. "Claude Opus 4.7 is less capable than Claude Mythos Preview on every relevant axis we measured and does not advance our capability frontier," the model card states." That means Claude Opus 4.7 is not evidence that AI development has accelerated beyond existing trend lines.

On Humanity's Last Exam (without tools), Anthropic reports that Claude Opus 4.7 outperforms all other frontier models except Claude Mythos.

• Claude Mythos scored 56.8 percent on HLE

• Claude Opus 4.7 scored 46.9 percent

• Gemini 3.1 Pro scored 44.4 percent

• GPT-5-4 Pro scored 42.7 percent

• Claude Opus 4.6 scored 40.0 percent

With tools, GPT-5-4-Pro scored 58.7 percent compared to Opus 4.7’s 54.7 percent. Mythos beat them both with 64.7 percent.

Mashable has not independently verified these benchmark results. Full results are available in the Opus 4.7 model card.

Credit: Anthropic

Overall, Anthropic scored Opus 4.7 above other leading models in some benchmarks, though Gemini 3.1 Pro and GPT-5-4 score higher in some areas.

Claude Opus 4.7: Safety and hallucinations

Anthropic also reports that Opus 4.7 shows a low risk of misaligned behaviors, with a similar risk profile as Opus 4.6.

For example, Anthropic says Opus 4.7 is less likely to hallucinate and shows lower rates of reward hacking.

"Claude Opus 4.7 is more reliably honest than Opus 4.6 or Sonnet 4.6, with large reductions in the rate of important omissions, and moderate improvements in factuality and rates of hallucinated input," the model card states.

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TikTok is in mourning over Gus Everett.

After news broke that Patrick Schwarzenegger had been cast opposite Phoebe Dynevor in the film adaptation of Emily Henry's Beach Read, readers immediately flooded TikTok with reactions ranging from confusion to outright despair. "#NotMyGus" became a common refrain on the app. Others seemed certain that the adaptation had already been ruined before filming even started.

Their main argument? The vibes are off. Sure, Schwarzenegger doesn't look like the literary sad boy Henry described in the book. But he also doesn't have the aura.

In Henry's novel, he is a literary novelist with dark hair, olive skin, and a slightly rumpled, brooding energy. He is handsome, but not in an obvious leading-man way. He feels worn down by life. His appeal comes from the tension between how emotionally closed-off he seems and how soft he actually is underneath it all.

Schwarzenegger, at least publicly, projects almost the exact opposite energy: polished, glossy, conventionally handsome, and impossible to separate from his nepo-baby image. Fans are not reacting because they think he is a bad actor. They are reacting because he does not really resemble the version of Gus that exists in the book.

That disconnect is especially striking because Gus is one of the defining romance heroes of the modern BookTok era. Readers have spent years fancasting actors like Paul Mescal, Logan Lerman, Joe Keery, and Dev Patel for the role, largely because they embody the melancholy energy people associate with Gus. Schwarzenegger, even after his acclaimed turn on The White Lotus, still feels more country club than tortured novelist.

Director Yulin Kuang has already defended the choice, saying she spent six months looking for Gus and ultimately prioritized chemistry with Dynevor over physical resemblance to the book version of the character. Kuang described Schwarzenegger as a "slow burn" choice and said there was "something electric" between the actors during chemistry reads.

That may be enough to win readers over when the film premieres. After all, styling can do a lot: darker hair, rumpled sweaters, bad posture, a little stubble.

But for now, the internet response says something bigger about how attached readers have become to the men they imagine while reading romance novels. By the time an adaptation is announced, fans are not just comparing the actor to the book; they're comparing him to the version of the character they have been carrying around in their heads for years.

In this modern era where seemingly every tech company is defined by its relationship with AI (or lack thereof), Allbirds has made perhaps the most 180-degree corporate pivot we've ever seen.

In case you're unfamiliar, Allbirds was a direct-to-consumer company that made wool sneakers popular among Silicon Valley types in the 2010s. Take note of the past tense, because the company announced in a statement this week that it is completely abandoning the shoe business to instead become an AI firm.

An unspecified investor has agreed to pony up $50 million to fund the brand's pivot to AI compute infrastructure; the money will go towards data center tech instead of shoe production.

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Allbirds has also changed its name to NewBird AI. In a company statement, it proclaimed that it would help facilitate access to AI hardware for clients.

"The rise of AI development and adoption has created unprecedented structural demand for specialized, high-performance compute that the market is struggling to meet...The result is a market where enterprises, AI developers, and research organizations are unable to secure the compute resources they need to build, train and run AI at scale.

NewBird AI is being built to help close that gap. The Company will initially seek to acquire high-performance, low-latency AI compute hardware and provide access under long-term lease arrangements, meeting customer demand that spot markets and hyperscalers are unable to reliably service."

It wasn't that long ago that Allbirds was riding high, and after a 2021 IPO, the company reached a peak valuation of over $4 billion. Amid the tech startup boom of the last 15-ish years, Allbirds Merino wool sneakers were commonplace in Bay Area tech offices. However, it's been a rough five years for the brand, and after failing to find a wider market, it was sold for pennies on the dollar to a brand management firm in March, according to the New York Times.

For what it's worth, NewBird AI stock rose 600 percent after the announcement, per the Times.

Still, it's highly unusual to see a clothing company completely drop the clothing part of its business in favor of buying up GPUs to lease to clients. Many companies, big and small, have pivoted towards AI in one way or another in recent years, with varying degrees of success.

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SAVE $25: The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $14.99 with code SAVE4K, down from the list price of $39.99. That's a 63% discount.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select

$14.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $25

use code SAVE4K

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Amazon makes some of the best smart home devices, like the collection of Echo speakers, Echo earbuds, and the fancy new Amazon Ember TVs. But one of the retailer's best offerings is the Fire TV Stick. These are fantastic if your TV is older and takes forever to load apps, or if you'll be traveling. If you're in need of a new streaming stick, check out this epic deal.

As of April 16, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $14.99 with code SAVE4K, marked down from the normal price of $39.99. That's a 63% discount, taking $25 off.

Streaming with 4K HDR and connecting to high-speed WiFi, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is a great way to improve a TV that struggles to load apps quickly. You'll whiz to the Fire TV homepage with all your apps neatly organized in one location.

Another benefit of using a Fire TV Stick is access to Alexa. The virtual assistant will be able to take you back to your favorite episode, pick up your YouTube video where you left off, or recommend shows that match your preferences.

The Fire TV Stick is simple to both install and use. Plug the stick into an HDMI port on your TV, attach the power cable, and plug it into the wall. Once you pair it with your TV and your home's internet, you'll be on your way to expedited streaming.

If you travel often, packing along a Fire TV stick means you won't have to log into your streaming accounts on a random hotel TV or at the Airbnb. Just use your Fire TV Stick, and everything will load in once connected to WiFi. Just set a reminder to unplug and pack the stick before you check out.

Don't forget to use the code SAVE4K during checkout to snag the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select for just $14.99. Since this code tends to disappear quickly, hop on this one today.

Google announced today that the Gemini Personal Intelligence feature is now available in Nano Banana 2, the company's popular AI image model.

Now, instead of uploading a photo, users can give Nano Banana access to their Google Photos library, which will allow Nano Banana to generate personalized images for users.

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"One of the biggest hurdles in AI image generation is finding the right prompt," reads a Google blog post. "Previously, to get a result that felt truly personal, you had to write long, detailed descriptions and manually upload a reference photo just to give Gemini the right context. Now, Personal Intelligence gives Gemini an inherent understanding of your preferences from the start."

Nano Banana is one of the web's leading AI image generators, and it's particularly good at editing photos. With Personal Intelligence, Nano Banana can reference your images and Labels to make photos based on you, your pets, or anything else in your library.

Google gives several examples of how this could be useful. For instance, instead of uploading an image of your family and writing a detailed prompt, you can simply tell Gemini to "Make a claymation image of my family." Google also suggests prompts such as "Design my dream house" and "Create a picture of my desert island essentials."

AI-GENERATED IMAGE Credit: Google

AI-GENERATED IMAGE Credit: Google

Users will need to organize and label their photos for the feature to work as intended, however.

Of course, before granting an AI tool like Gemini or Nano Banana access to your entire photo library, it's important to understand how your images will be used.

Google says that Gemini will not "directly" train its models on your photos; however, it will be able to train its models with the photos, prompts, and AI-generated images that appear in the Gemini app.

"The Gemini app does not directly train its models on your private Google Photos library," the blog post states. "We train on limited info, like specific prompts in Gemini and the model’s responses, to improve functionality over time. And connecting your Google apps to Gemini remains an opt-in experience that you can adjust in your settings at any time."

As ever, it's important to check the fine print before using a new feature like this. You can read more about training and privacy at the Google Gemini Privacy Hub.

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Someone call Lucy Dacus, because the last few episodes of The Pitt Season 2 have been all about the night shift.

As the Emergency Department's day shift staffers wound down and focused on completing their charts, the night shift came in to pick up their cases. That reconnected viewers with characters like Dr. Abbot (Shawn Hatosy), Dr. Ellis (Ayesha Harris), and Dr. Shen (Ken Kirby). It also introduced new characters like Dr. Henderson (Luke Tennie) and Dr. Toomarian (Sofia Hasmik), who fit right into The Pitt sprawling ensemble.

With all these new characters entering the fray, fans speculated about a night shift spin-off series or even having a night shift-centric Season 3. Adding fuel to that fire? The fact that Harris has been promoted to series regular in Season 3, meaning we'll be seeing a lot more of Dr. Ellis in the future.

While seeing more of the night shift in The Pitt is certainly in the realm of possibility, a full spin-off or a Season 3 night shift pivot seem unlikely at this time. Star and executive producer Noah Wyle shut down spin-off rumors at a Q&A during PaleyFest LA.

According to TheWrap, while The Pitt cast and creative team teased details of Season 3, an audience member called out "night shift," verbalizing viewers' desires to see more of that team going forward.

"You're getting just enough night shift," Wyle responded. "You don't want any more. You think you do, but you don't."

Based on that, it seems pretty clear that The Pitt is taking a "less is more" approach with the night shift. Perhaps Harris's promotion to series regular signifies that Dr. Ellis is moving to the day shift instead. After all, employee churn is a a huge part of life in the ED: Actor Supriya Ganesh, who plays Dr. Mohan, will not be in Season 3.

At the PaleyFest Q&A, Wyle reportedly did reveal some key information about what to expect in Season 3: when the new shift would take place.

"It'll probably be in the fall, November," Wyle said, according to TheWrap. "Play with the cold weather, different cases."

The Pitt Season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max.

SAVE $24: Through April 30, new and returning Audible subscribers can get three months of the new Standard plan for just 99 cents per month. Usually $8.99 per month, that's a total of $24 in savings.

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Credit: Audible

Audible Standard

$0.99/month for 3 months (save $8/month)

Get Deal

I'm going to be honest here: I don't think Audible Standard is worth it at full price. The new plan, launched in March, costs $8.99 per month and lets you select one audiobook each month from the entire Audible collection. But unlike the Premium Plus plan, you can't keep those titles if you cancel your subscription. It's basically like you're just borrowing them instead — and for $8.99 each month, that hardly seems fair. That's why I think it's 100 percent worth snapping up the three-month deal the audiobook company is offering this month.

Through April 30, new and returning subscribers can get three months of the Audible Standard plan for only 99 cents per month. That's less than $3 total to "borrow" three premium audiobook titles from Audible's expansive catalog. I deem that a damn good deal.

Along with the premium titles, you'll also be able to enjoy unlimited listening to a curated library with Audible Originals and nearly 200 of the most popular titles previously available on Wondery+. So, technically, you'll get more than just three audiobooks for $3.

So, why pay 99 cents per month instead of using a free library-based audiobook app like Libby? Well, plain and simple, there are no wait times. The Audible Standard membership allows you to check out whatever premium title you want with no waiting involved. That means you can enjoy 2026 releases, BookTok favorites, and more whenever you want. Just remember, you need to finish listening before you cancel your subscription, or you'll lose access forever.

One of the biggest inconveniences when the power goes out is worrying about food spoiling in the refrigerator. A storm that knocks out power always seems to show up just a few days after doing a major fridge and freezer restock. We used to transfer items out of the fridge and into a cooler, but portable power stations made that a thing of the past. Bluetti, a leader in the portable power industry, has made things even easier.

Tucked neatly above the fridge, the Bluetti FridgePower will kick on automatically during an outage. Credit: Bluetti

The Bluetti FridgePower is the brand's latest portable station, aimed directly at keeping the refrigerator and freezer cooling when the power cuts out. Unlike the majority of portable power stations that have a rectangular shape, Bluetti built the FridgePower to be slim to easily sit atop your fridge. It's less than three inches in height and has anti-slip silicone feet for better stability.

According to Bluetti's calculations, the FridgePower's 2,016Wh battery capacity will keep a refrigerator powered on for nearly 22 hours if the appliance pulls about 2,000Wh per day. Instead of worrying about food going bad during an outage or strategizing opening the fridge for 10 seconds to grab the milk as quickly as possible, you'll have the reassurance your fridge will stay powered on for about a day.

Bluetti FridgePower spec breakdown

• Capacity: 2,016Wh

• Battery type: LiFePO4

• Continuous output: 1,800W

• Surge power: 3,600W

• UPS: under 10 milliseconds

• Weight: 43 pounds

• Dimensions: 22.83 in. × 13.78 in. × 2.95 in.

• Warranty: 5 years

Versatile design and major expansion ability

In addition to setting the FridgePower either directly on top of your fridge or in a cabinet above, you can also mount the unit vertically to a nearby wall. The FridgePower has built-in wall mounting brackets and it comes with a mounting kit. That means you can easily set it up on a wall near the fridge in the kitchen or in the garage to power up the extra fridge or chest freezer.

Credit: Bluetti

If the 2,016Wh capacity doesn't feel like enough, you can add up to three BlueCell 200 expansion batteries for a total of 8,064Wh. Each BlueCell 200 has identical dimensions to the FridgePower for perfect stacking ability.

Convenience of a dedicated fridge backup

I've tested dozens of power stations and one of the most useful scenarios for them is to keep the fridge cooling. Not only does that mean food doesn't spoil, it's essential for some households that have medical supplies that need to stay cold. The majority of the power stations I've tested are capable of running a refrigerator for various amounts of time, but adding the Bluetti FridgePower to your home takes it to a new level of convenience.

When my home's power went out for almost 24 hours in December, I plugged the refrigerator into a 2,000Wh power station and left it sitting on the kitchen floor. But when I needed to charge my phone with the portable power station, I was tethered to the kitchen floor since it was keeping the fridge cooling. The Bluetti FridgePower serving as a dedicated fridge backup frees up any other portable power station you have to use around the house for lights, the WiFi router, and recharging phones.

Wall mounting is ideal in the garage for a chest freezer or extra refrigerator.. Credit: Bluetti

Plentiful recharging options

With standard AC wall charging, the Bluetti FridgePower will take about an hour to go from 0 to 80% and about 105 minutes to reach a full charge. With a 1,000W solar panel, it'll take a bit over 120 minutes to reach full power. Bluetti also plans on launching the Alternator Charger 2 soon which will allow you to recharge the FridgePower with your car's alternator.

How to pre-order the Bluetti FridgePower

Bluetti is launching the FridgePower via Kickstarter with big discounts for pre-orders. Between April 16 and May 31, early orders save at least 42%. Bluetti expects shipments to begin in early June to make use of during summer storms and hurricane season.

Bluetti FridgePower preorder details:

---

Starter bundle

Bluetti FridgePower

$759 (save $540)

Pre-Order Here

---

Plus Bundle

Bluetti FridgePower + BlueCell 200

$1,398 (save $1,100)

Pre-Order Here

---

Pro Bundle

Bluetti FridgePower + two BlueCell 200

$2,097 (save $1,600)

Pre-Order Here

---

Max Bundle

Bluetti FridgePower + three BlueCell 200

$2,699 (save $2,197)

Pre-Order Here

Bluetti mentions these sale prices are super early bird offers. Once those sell out, prices will shift to normal early bird pricing. They're still good deals, just not quiet as attractive as the super early bird offers. A standalone FridgePower, for example, will shift from super early bird $759 to early bird $819.

If you live in an area that's prone to power outages and food spoilage is a major concern, the Bluetti FridgePower could be the perfect backup system. With these early bird sale prices taking at least $540 off, it's worth jumping on them asap.

Here's a PSA for everyone preparing to tune into The Pitt Season 2 finale tonight: Make sure you keep watching through the episode's credits.

The finale features the show's first mid-credits sequence, in which Nick Fury approaches Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) about putting together a team of elite TV doctors.

I'm totally kidding — about the Nick Fury part, anyway. The Pitt's mid-credits scene is very real, and it's certainly worth sticking around for. No spoilers for what the scene actually entails, but I will say it's less of an MCU-style teaser of what's to come in Season 3, and more of a cathartic button to Season 2. And after 15 hours of trauma cases and tense staff drama, you're going to want all the catharsis you can get.

That being said, if you want a teaser for Season 3, you're in luck. At PaleyFest LA, Wyle and The Pitt creator R. Scott Gemmill revealed key elements about what's next for the series, including when it would take place.

"It will be pre-Thanksgiving, moving into colder weather," Wyle told USA Today at PaleyFest. "The holidays are approaching. The weather's changing. People are turning on their heaters for the first time."

Wyle added the next season would be "explosive," which won't do anything to soothe my worries about The Pitt's staff's mental well-being. But in the meantime, the Season 2 mid-credits scene offers a sweet balm for that anxiety.

The Pitt Season 2 finale premieres Apr. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.

SAVE $625: College students can score one year of Microsoft 365 Premium, one year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a Xbox Wireless Controller totally free with the purchase of a Windows 11 laptop.

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Credit: Microsoft

Windows 11 Ultimate College Bundle

 

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With the arrival of Apple's MacBook Neo, college students can rejoice in an affordable, colorful laptop. Now, Microsoft is rushing to make their laptops a little more enticing to the college crowd.

They're doing a pretty good job with the ultimate college bundle. With the purchase of a new Windows 11 laptop, students score one year of Microsoft 365 Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, plus a free Xbox wireless controller. That's $624.86 worth of product that students get completely free.

Microsoft 365 Premium is usually $199.99 for a one-year subscription, and includes access to all the essential Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It also features cloud storage and advanced security to keep your papers organized and safe. But college shouldn't be all work and no play.

For some well-earned downtime, one year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is included too. That's access to over 500 games on Xbox consoles and PCs. Not to mention, you'll receive a free wireless Xbox controller for all your gaming needs.

To get the bundle, all you need to do is shop a qualifying Windows 11 laptop, which are available at Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and Microsoft. Qualifying devices include the Microsoft Surface and Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptops.

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Surface, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,499.99 at Microsoft

 

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Credit: Lenovo

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD)

$1,049.99 at Best Buy

 

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How to redeem ultimate college bundle

Once you purchase your laptop, you'll have to redeem your offer. After setting up the device, an on-screen notification will pop up asking students to verify their student status. This requires a .edu college email address.

After your student status is verified, students will receive an email to redeem their Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft 365 Premium subscriptions. Additionally, they'll receive a unique promo code to redeem a custom controller within three days of verifying their student status.

YouTube is letting users turn off the brain rot faucet on its mobile app.

The internet's home for all things video started rolling out a new setting in its iOS and Android apps that allows users to set a very strict daily limit for scrolling through the Shorts feed, per The Verge.

Specifically, you can now set it to zero minutes, effectively eliminating the Shorts feed as a viable part of the app. You'll still be able to see individual Shorts on a user's account page, but tapping on the Shorts tab at the bottom of the screen will instantly put up a message saying you've reached your limit for the day, disallowing you from watching Shorts there at all.

There it is. Credit: Screenshot: YouTube

YouTube originally rolled out a Shorts feed time limit feature a few months ago, but prior to this new rollout, the shortest limit was 15 minutes. After scrolling for whatever amount of time you set, the app would stop you from watching Shorts for the rest of that day. That option is still available, both for adult users to set for themselves and for parents to set for their kids, but it now exists alongside the zero minutes option.

Shorts have been successful for YouTube over the past few years as a TikTok competitor (or just a place where videos that originated on TikTok also show up), but it's also undeniably become a source of endless scrolling through AI and brain rot content for many people. Giving users the power to turn off the spigot for themselves is probably necessary.

SAVE $80: As of April 16, you can get the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Adventure Combo for only $368.99 at Amazon. That's an 18% discount and matches its best price on record.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Adventure Combo

$368.99 at Amazon
$449 Save $80.01

 

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GoPro has long been the gold standard when it comes to action cameras, but the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro gives popular GoPro models a run for their money. It's tough, waterproof, and compact, can capture stable, crisp video in any lighting scenario, and actually last more than an hour. Plus, it's on sale for its lowest price on record.

As of April 16, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Adventure Combo (which comes with three batteries and a battery case) is on sale for $368.99 at Amazon. That's 18% or $80 cheaper than its list price and matches its best price ever, according to our favorite price-tracking tool camelcamelcamel.

Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) tested the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and not only loved it, but also named it the best overall action camera for 2026. Highlights include superb 4K120 video footage, a waterproof build up to 65.6 feet, a compact and easily mountable design, effective digital stabilization, and the ability to record continuously without overheating.

What really takes it over the top compared to other action cameras, however, is its market-leading battery life. "The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro provides the longest battery life we've seen from any action camera yet, running for far longer between charges than earlier entries in the series and bettering recent GoPro cameras by quite a bit," PCMag's reviewer writes. It'll last you over two hours at 4K60 and over three at 1080p30. Not to mention, with the Adventure Combo pack, you'll get three times that amount — an adventurer's and content creator's dream.

The artificial intelligence entertainment platform Character.AI introduced on Thursday a feature allowing users to role-play in more than 20 classic books, including Hamlet, Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice, The Great Gatsby.

"Books" lets Character.AI users engage in open-ended chats based on these and other famous titles in the public domain. Users can participate as a character from the book or as the "character" they've created on the platform.

Users can either follow the book's original narrative arc or go "off script" to interact with its characters as they wish. Additionally, Books offers "alternate universe remixes" in which players can overhaul a title's original premise, such as imagining Jay Gatsby in space. These remixes can be shared with the broader Character.AI community and subsequently browsed and played by other users.

In a blog post announcing the feature, Character.AI preemptively addressed the concern that it might encourage people to play classic literature rather than actually read it.

"Step into a story, talk to its characters, and there's a good chance you walk away wanting to pick up the original," the company said. "Not replacing books — but making them impossible to ignore."

Books lets users engage in open-ended chat with classic books like "Alice in Wonderland." Credit: Character.AI

Users without a paid subscription can try Books with a "handful of free turns," according to the company. Subscribers are able to explore the entire Books library.

Books will be available to users age 18 and older. Last fall, Character.AI shut down open-ended chats for teens, following lawsuits alleging that teens who used the platform experienced severe harm, including sexual abuse. The company settled the lawsuits earlier this year.

A spokesperson for Character.AI confirmed to Mashable that while users can prompt "romantic narratives" in Books, the company will moderate content that violate its terms of service, in addition to reviewing user reports of such behavior.

Character.AI policies prohibit certain types of behavior, including the depiction of excessive, graphic violence against people and animals; hate speech that demeans or promotes discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, and other characteristics; and content that promotes terrorism or violent extremism.

The policies also bar content that is obscene or pornographic, constitutes sexual harassment, and depicts the sexual exploitation or abuse of a minor.

"As with all of our content, [Books] interactions remain subject to our policies and our safety systems, including both automated and human review," the spokesperson said.

Street Fighter's trailer unleashes the whole crew of elite warriors from Capcom's iconic video game franchise.

Set in 1993 and directed by Kitao Sakurai, the upcoming action film focuses on Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo). Once good friends, the pair have since become estranged. That all changes when Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the World Warrior Tournament, a high-stakes series of fights that masks a deadly conspiracy.

As Street Fighter's trio battles to uncover the truth, they'll face off with some of Street Fighter's most formidable foes, including M. Bison (David Dastmalchian), Balrog (Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson), and Akuma (Joe "Roman Reigns" Anoa'i).

The trailer showcases these fighters and more in all their aggressive glory, including some body slams from Zangief (Olivier Richters) and some elastic moves from Dhalsim (Vidyut Jammwal). Plus, there are several in-jokes for Street Fighter fans, like a remark tied to Chun-Li's impressive thigh strength.

And of course, it wouldn't be Street Fighter without a Hadouken, which Ryu unleashes in full towards the end of the trailer. To witness that (and several other awesome attacks), check out the full video above.

Street Fighter hits theaters Oct. 16.

Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin brings his trademarks of creepy kids and wild gore to Lee Cronin's The Mummy, with mixed results.

On the one hand, the gore, when it comes, is spectacular. On the other hand, it's sandwiched within an underwhelming storyline that never truly lets loose.

What's Lee Cronin's The Mummy about?

Natalie Grace in "Lee Cronin's The Mummy." Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cronin's take on a mummy story has no prior relationship to other mummy-related films, be that the 1932 Universal Monsters film, the Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz franchise (which has a fourth installment incoming), or the 2017 Tom Cruise flop.

Instead, it introduces an entirely new mummy tale focused on a bereaved family. Charlie and Larissa Cannon (Jack Reynor and Laia Costa) were once stationed in Cairo for Charlie's journalism job. While there, their daughter Katie (Emily Mitchell) went missing, kidnapped by a mysterious woman (Hayat Kamille) who lurked near their garden.

Eight years later, the Cannons have traded the deserts of Egypt for those of Albuquerque, where they live with their children Sebastián (Shylo Molina) and Maud (Billie Roy), as well as Larissa's mother Carmen (Verónica Falcón). Their grief over Katie lingers still. They keep her childhood bedroom intact, preserved in all its pink glory. They also haven't taken a vacation since her disappearance, too afraid of anything bad happening to their other children.

However, the Cannons get some miraculous news when Katie (now played by Natalie Grace) shows up alive, having been found in an ancient sarcophagus. It's evident she's undergone a heavy amount of trauma in her time away: Her skin is scratched and peeling, her limbs are contorted in a strange rictus, and she's only able to communicate through a series of clicking teeth and wheezing breaths.

Confronted with their daughter's deteriorated physical condition, Charlie and Larissa are ready to do whatever it takes to help Katie feel safe again. Perhaps that's why they're willing to overlook the several perturbing things Katie does, from cavorting through their house's crawl space to straight-up headbutting Carmen. It's textbook possession, but Charlie and Larissa's love for their daughter and relief at having her back cloud any fear they may have of her... up to a certain point. However, that point comes far too late in Lee Cronin's The Mummy's punishing 135-minute runtime, making the pair seem less like concerned parents and more like classic horror movie idiots who make every bad decision until the movie tells them not to.

Again, the bereavement does give Charlie and Larissa some excuse here. Cronin, who also wrote the film, does a solid job exploring their guilt at Katie's disappearance, as well as their efforts to establish normalcy even as a supernatural evil wreaks havoc on their house. Yet after a while, their willful ignorance becomes almost comical.

Lee Cronin's The Mummy is as frustrating as it is gory.

Billie Roy in "Lee Cronin's The Mummy." Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Despite being presented as a reimagining of The Mummy, Lee Cronin's The Mummy is frustratingly formulaic. It draws heavily on creepy child tropes, including some Exorcist-level backbends and cursing, twisting them slightly to incorporate some mummy lore. Scenes where skin sloughs off like mummy's bandages are relentlessly stomach-churning, but other than that, we've seen this bag of tricks before.

The same goes for classic beats of mummy stories, including a trip to an archaeology professor who's able to unlock most aspects of the film's central mystery. Far more fascinating is what's taking place on the ground in Egypt after Katie goes home. There, Detective Zaki (May Calamawy) revisits Katie's missing persons case, hoping to solve a mystery that she first began looking into eight years ago. Her journey leads to some genuinely tense sequences, to the point that you wish this was more of a detective thriller than an Exorcist rehash.

Lee Cronin's The Mummy's saving grace — and the reason it will likely appeal to many — is its gore, which pulls no punches. Every tear of Katie's skin or bloody gnash of her teeth is a visceral nightmare, and Grace is wonderfully unsettling as the latest creepy kid in Cronin's arsenal.

Yet all this gore rarely leads anywhere. Even after the most upsetting set pieces (one involving nail clippers comes to mind), everything resets to mild concern. A family gathering unleashes some serious nastiness involving teeth and vomit and shredded flesh, ushering in carnage that... never comes. Instead, we cut to a restrained Katie, with no idea of the broader impact of her rampage. To the person in my theater who let out a bewildered, "That's it?" after that scene, I'm right there with you.

That scene feels like a promise unfulfilled, as does the rest of the film. Lee Cronin's The Mummy ultimately doesn't feel as much like a bold new horror saga as it does a hodgepodge of better films. Maybe some horror franchises, like a cursed sarcophagus, are meant to stay buried.

Lee Cronin's The Mummy hits theaters Apr. 17.

SAVE 30%: As of April 16, you can get the DJI Mini 4K for $209, down from $299, at Amazon. That's a 30% discount or $90 savings.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Mini 4K

$209 at Amazon
$299 Save $90

 

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My dad and my cousin are obsessed with drones, so I've spent enough time watching them fly to know two things: the really good ones are usually very expensive, and they're easy to crash if you don't know what you're doing (and sometimes, even if you do!).

If you've been wanting to get into the hobby without the steep learning curve (or the high price tag), this DJI model is a great place to start. Right now, the DJI Mini 4K is on sale for its best-ever price of $209 at Amazon. That's $90 off the list price.

Despite its tiny size, this drone has the practical features you need to get in the air quickly. It has a 4K Ultra HD camera paired with a 3-axis gimbal to keep your footage smooth and cinematic. Because it weighs under 249 grams, you don't have to worry about FAA registration or Remote ID for recreational use. It also has a maximum flight time of 31 minutes, Level 5 wind resistance (stable in winds up to 38kph), and a 10km video transmission range.

If you're worried about flying it into a tree or the ocean, it features one-tap takeoff and landing, stable hovering, and a GPS Return to Home (RTH) function, so you don't have to panic if you lose it. It even comes with intelligent QuickShots modes that automatically fly the drone in cinematic patterns to get you professional-looking shots with just a few taps (which could be good if you're a real estate agent or photographer!).

SAVE OVER $80: As of April 16, Sony WH-CH720N headphones have dropped to $92.95 at Amazon. This is $87.04 off their list price of $179.99.

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Credit: Sony

Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones

$92.95 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $87.04

 

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New headphones can be quite a big investment, but if you're looking for a pair that's a bit more budget-friendly, the Sony WH-CH720N headphones are something we love that shouldn't cost the world. They've earned a spot on our list of the best headphones as the best pick under $100, which is perfect as Amazon currently has them on sale for just under that mark right now.

As of April 16, Sony WH-CH720N headphones are marked down to $92.95 at Amazon. Overall, this saves you $87.04 off their list price of $179.99. The good news is the black pair aren't the only ones on sale right now, either. For a few extra dollars, you can grab the white or pink pair on sale for $98.

The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are well worth the investment. Between great sound quality, noise-canceling features, and a solid battery life that lasts up to 35 hours, they're an excellent pick-up for under $100. Our review of these headphones from Alex Bracetti had plenty of praise for them, saying "they strike the rare balance of quality, comfort, and affordability."

Bracetti said that "Audio was exactly how I remembered it during my first test run: crisp and vibrant." And as for the noise cancellation, Bracetti found that "it suppresses a heavy amount of ambient noise."

If the Sony WH-CH720N headphones have caught your eye, don't miss out on the chance to save at Amazon.

SAVE $70: As of April 16, the Bose SoundLink Max is on sale for $329 at Amazon. This is $70 off its list price of $399.

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Credit: Bose

Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth Speaker

$329 at Amazon
$399 Save $70

 

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A portable speaker is well worth having if you're planning some outdoor excursions this year, whether that be camping, going to the beach, or just generally hanging outside with your favorite people. If you've been looking to buy a model to play your favorite tunes outside, Amazon has some great options on sale right now, including the Bose SoundLink Max.

As of April 16, every available color of the Bose SoundLink Max — black, blue dusk, and citrus yellow — has been marked down to $329 at Amazon. Overall, this saves you $70 off its original list price of $399. It's only on sale for a limited time, so be quick to grab your favorite color while it's still discounted.

The Bose SoundLink Max offers big sound and an equally big battery life of up to 20 hours to keep the party going. It also has a durable build that's dustproof, waterproof, shock resistant, and rust resistant, and offers a convenient portable design thanks to its handle.

Amazon currently has the Bose SoundLink Max listed as a limited time deal, so better to take advantage of this offer now than wait too long and miss out.

Looking for more portable speaker options to pick up this year? Check out our rundown of the best portable Bluetooth speakers to see more picks we'd recommend.

Mac owner? Need even more AI in your life? We've got great news for you: Google's AI assistant Gemini is now available as a dedicated Mac app.

If you choose to install the app, it will be available via a keyboard shortcut (Option + Space), which can be handier than opening the Gemini website. But there are other perks to having Gemini living on your desktop. For example, you can share what's on your screen with Gemini, and have it look at your local files.

To do so, you'll have to give the app access to your Mac's screen and audio in the Settings. You may want to revoke that access when you're not using the feature, for privacy and security's sake.

Gemini can now look at your screen, if you let it. Credit: Google

Google's Gemini is a bit late to the party, with both Anthropic's Claude and OpenAI's ChatGPT having a dedicated Mac app already. The company says that this launch is "just the beginning."

"We're building the foundation for a truly personal, proactive and powerful desktop assistant, with more news to share in the coming months," said Google in a blog post.

The app is freely available to all macOS users, provided you have macOS version 15 and up. You can download it over at http://gemini.google/mac.

TL:DR: Target is celebrating 30 years of Pokémon with an exclusive collection for fans of every generation. The collection features more than 100 items coming in two drops (May 2 and June 6) — check it out here.

Do you have a binder full of holographic Charizards gathering dust in the attic? Or are you a new collector chasing rare pulls and limited-edition items? Either way, Target is the place to be for all types of Pokémon fans in the coming weeks.

To celebrate 30 years of Pokémon, Target has announced an exclusive collection featuring over 100 items. This has been created in partnership with Pokémon superfans like Joe Jonas, SuperDuperDani, Sydeon, PhillyBeatzU, Stephosaurawr and Aspen, and Noah Dankocsik and Lori Haynes.

This is a full-scale takeover spanning apparel, home goods, and collectible merchandise. Here's a snapshot of what's included in this collection:

• A first-of-its-kind retro jacket featuring the OG trio (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle)

• Nostalgic collabs with legacy brands like Mead (maker of Trapper Keeper), Caboodles, Lip Smacker, and Starter

• A 151-piece puzzle inspired by the original Kanto 151 region

• A "Jigglypuff-scented" fragrance mist (whatever that smells like)

• Water-type Pokémon water bottles

• Butterfree-shaped hair clips 

Almost half of the assortment is priced under $20, with items starting at just $3.50. The collection is already available on Target’s website, where you can sort by product category or Pokémon type.

Credit: Target

Target is splitting the release into two waves to keep the hype going. Target's Pokémon adventure officially begins on May 2 in stores and online from May 3 with about 65 items launching, followed by a second drop on June 6 with about 40 additional items going live.

Given how quickly Pokémon merch usually moves, we recommend signing up for a Target Circle account now so you can check out faster when the online drop hits.

Josh Johnson sat down with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday for his first Late Show interview, and it was a delightful chat between late night show hosts.

The Daily Show host spoke to Colbert about the pressure of being the latest addition to the lineup alongside Jon Stewart, Ronny Chieng, Desi Lydic, Jordan Klepper, and Michael Kosta, with a perfect analogy.

"When it comes to hosting, it's so fun, and everyone is so supportive, but it is intimidating," Johnson said. "You look at something like Daily Show, and it feels like you are borrowing your friend's car to drive. You just want to give the keys back and be able to smile at them, like, the car is just like you left it. There's no blood on the front grill or anything. I didn't hit anything. I didn't ruin it. I didn't total it."

Come for the Daily Show chat and Johnson's announcement of his new HBO comedy special Symphony (out May 22), stay for his story about brass knuckles, TSA, and toe separators.

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

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2026, 11:40 a.m. UTC Bluesky appears to be working again, both on the app and web, though we're still seeing loading issues.

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2026, 2:28 p.m. UTC Bluesky is operational again, according to the company's status page. Bluesky told Mashable via email, "We are experiencing some service interruptions and our team is working on the issue."

Bluesky went down on Thursday, with users reporting issues with the social media platform.

Often seen as the alternative to Elon Musk's X, Bluesky was not working as usual in the early hours, with Downdetector identifying a thousand-strong spike in reported issues with the app and site around 6:30 a.m. ET. (Disclosure: DownDetector and Mashable are both owned by the same company, Ziff Davis.)

Credit: Downdetector

At 6:42 a.m., Bluesky's own service status page reported acknowledgment of the issue, saying it was "investigating an incident" and confirming "some systems down."

"We are starting to see some early recovery, but many users and services are still impacted," a post read.

Credit: Bluesky

At the time of first publishing, Mashable could not access the site properly, and we reached out to Bluesky for further information.

"We are experiencing some service interruptions and our team is working on the issue," a Bluesky rep told Mashable via email. "You can find the latest updates at status.bsky.app or the Bluesky Server Status account."

A few hours later, Bluesky's status page reported that the site was fully operational, though did not detail the issue that affected it.

It's Tax Day in the U.S. and those super-charged tax refunds promised by Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" are on the way, right? Well...

As Stephen Colbert pointed out during The Late Show on Wednesday night, while the average individual tax refund will indeed be $748 higher this year due to the Republican-backed bill, the average U.S. household could pay $740 more for gasoline, thanks to the ongoing U.S. war with Iran. So, what's the difference?

"Let's see... that is...eight bucks. That's eight bucks. So congratulations, everybody," Colbert said. "Eight bucks doesn't sound like much, but may I remind you that'll get you eight lotto tickets, which also happens to be Trump's health care plan."

Colbert noted one person who's seemingly not concerned with oil prices and inflation, Trump's Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett, who told CNBC on Tuesday, "Imagine if oil prices start going back down, because the situation resolves itself somehow, that you could be looking at an inflation close to zero."

"Yes, the situation might resolve itself somehow," responded Colbert, in full sarcasm mode. "Until then, all America has to do is use their imagination. My friends, imagine a car made of liquorice somehow, and it somehow runs on dreams, and somehow your best friend is a musical dog and Kevin Hassett isn't an idiot, somehow."

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

It's only been a few days since Donald Trump received criticism for attacking the Pope online and then sharing a now-deleted AI image of himself as Jesus a "doctor", but it appears the president is doubling down.

"Our Darth Vader president is lashing out at the Pope again," says Jimmy Kimmel in the clip above. "This is how he operates: he does something dumb, everyone around him tries to clean it up for him, and then he just does it again. He's mad at the Pope for being against war and lashed out last night just before midnight, which is not helping his 'I'm not the Antichrist campaign.'"

Kimmel goes on to show another AI image Trump posted on Truth Social, this time featuring himself standing next to Jesus in apparent harmony.

"He posted this image of Jesus quietly begging him to stop," says Kimmel. "Check out the chin and cheekbones. Somebody's been looksmaxxing."

TL;DR: As of April 16, you can get the LG 43-inch Class UA77 Series for free when you buy the LG 77-inch Class B5 Series at Best Buy.

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Credit: LG

LG 77-Inch Class B5 Series OLED TV

$1,499.99 at Best Buy
$2,999.99 Save $1,500.00

Get the LG 43-inch Class UA77 Series TV for free with purchase

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If you're shopping around for multiple TVs to kit out your living room, kitchen, or bedroom, Best Buy has a stellar deal right now that will see you get an impressive TV for free. Yes, really.

As of April 16, if you buy the LG 77-inch Class B5 Series TV, you'll get the 43-inch Class UA77 Series totally for free. But that's not all. You don't even need to pay full price for the B5 Series, because it's currently half off. For a limited time, the price is down from $2,999.99 to $1,499.99. So already you've saved $1,500 before you consider the TV thrown in for free.

The LG 77-inch Class B5 Series TV offers native 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and a filmmaker mode for a more cinematic experience. It's powered by the α8 AI Processor, which automatically optimizes picture and audio based on what you're watching. And for gamers, it includes NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, VRR, and four HDMI 2.1 ports, along with LG Game Optimizer and Game Dashboard.

You can add $249.99 to your savings, because that's the list price for the UA77 Series that you're getting for free. That's a total saving of $1,749.99 when everything is added up.

Anything is good when it's free, but this TV shines at full price. It's a 4K TV with webOS 25, so you'll get smooth browsing, personalized recommendations, and access to over 300 free LG Channels. And just like the B5 Series, gamers are catered for thanks to the LG Game Optimizer.

Head to Best Buy to snag this BOGO deal.

TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 45-inch UltraGear OLED curved gaming monitor on sale for $1,547.52, which knocks $452.47 off its $1,999.99 list price. That’s a 23% discount on a huge 5K2K OLED display with a dramatic 800R curve, dual-mode refresh rates up to 330Hz, and a near-instant 0.03ms response time.

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Credit: LG

LG OLED 45-inch Curved UltraGear Gaming Monitor

$1,547.52 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $452.47

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OLEDs are some of the most expensive screens you can buy, both for gaming monitors and TVs. And even more so when you look at curved models. However, the latest bargain from LG on one of its UltraGear units should help take the sting away from your upgrade.

As of April 16, the LG 45-inch UltraGear OLED curved gaming monitor is listed for $1,547.52 at Amazon, down from $1,999.99. That saves you $452.47 on a monitor that feels built for gamers who want their setup to look as stellar as the games they’re playing.

With its 45-inch curved OLED panel, 21:9 aspect ratio, and a 5K2K WUHD resolution of 5120 x 2160, this LG monitor gives you a lot more room to work with than a standard gaming display. LG also says the aggressive 800R curve is designed to pull more of your peripheral vision into the action, which makes this a particularly tempting pick for the latest sprawling RPGs like Crimson Desert, and other single-player releases that are on a more cinematic scale — such as Pragmata and Saros.

What’s more, LG’s Dual Mode lets you switch between 5K2K at up to 165Hz for sharper, more detailed visuals, or Wide Full HD at up to 330Hz when you want something even faster and more responsive for competitive matches.

When combined with its 0.03ms response time, NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, you’re not only all set for buttery smooth visuals with quick-moving racing games like Forza Horizon 5, but also fast-paced shooters like Fortnite and Marathon.

For those who are open to a smaller model, LG’s 27-inch Ultragear gaming monitor is only $749.99. Elsewhere, Samsung’s 40-inch Odyssey G7 is now just under $700. 

SAVE $60: As of April 16, the Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, LTE) has been marked down to $389.99 at Amazon. This is $60 off its list price of $449.99.

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Credit: Google

Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm)

$389.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $60

 

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Have you considered investing in a smartwatch to help keep track of your workout or health goals? Amazon has a few deals worth checking out right now. Among them is the Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, LTE), our favorite Android smartwatch, which is $60 off right now.

This deal has dropped this Pixel Watch 4's price from $449.99 to $389.99. What's even better is every available color is on sale at this price, so you can pick out your favorite from the range.

The Pixel Watch 4 boasts a wide variety of health and fitness features, including over 40 exercise modes, a high-precision dual-frequency GPS, heart rate tracking, and sleep tracking, just to name a few. Mashable's Christianna Silva called it a "true runners' watch" in her review, also mentioning that it's "faster, brighter, and more customizable than ever."

On top of all that, the Pixel Watch 4 has a solid battery life. Silva noted in her review that it, "charges 25 percent faster than the Google Pixel Watch 3" and that, "The Google Pixel Watch 4 has up to 48 hours of battery life on the 41mm or 72 hours on the 45mm in Battery Saver Mode."

Keep in mind that this deal on the Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, LTE) is currently marked as a limited-time offer at Amazon. So if you're hoping to grab it at this price, act fast before it's gone.

SAVE OVER $80: As of April 16, the Bluetti Elite 10 Mini is on sale for $112.98 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Bluetti

Bluetti Elite 10 Mini

$112.98 at Amazon
$199 Save $86.02

 

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A reliable power backup source doesn't need to break the bank, especially when you don't need a unit to power a whole home for days.

If you're looking for something to keep your main devices going, you need the Bluetti Elite 10 Mini. And as of April 16, it's on sale at Amazon. Right now you can take home this model for just $112.98, saving you over $80. This price is for the gray model, but for one cent more you can opt for the meadow green color.

This power station is designed to be a step up from a power bank. It has enough capacity to power small devices like laptops, drones, and cameras while on the move, so it's a great choice if you have lots of personal devices. It includes a 200W AC outlet, 100W USB-C fast charging, and multiple DC ports, so it's handy for camping, travel, or even emergency use. And despite its powerful output, it's light enough to carry around (just 4.0 lbs).

For charging, it has multiple methods of powering, including 150W AC charging that reaches full power in around 70 minutes, 100W solar input for off-grid use (solar panels are sold separately), and car charging via a 12V outlet.

You can find this limited-time Bluetti deal at Amazon.

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, April 16, 2026:

Across

Bow ties and ribbons that you can't wear?

• The answer is Pasta.

Opposite of lower

• The answer is Upper.

Flappable origami creation

• The answer is Crane.

Where the Hangul alphabet is used

• The answer is Korea.

Apparatus under a trapeze

• The answer is Net.

Down

Disc dropped on center ice

• The answer is Puck.

One might read "Kiss the Chef"

• The answer is Apron.

Unlikely outcome after a 7-10 split

• The answer is Spare.

Fundamental belief

• The answer is Tenet.

Bay ___ (part of California)

• The answer is Area.

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.

SAVE OVER $1,000: As of April 16, the Anker Solix F2000 is on sale for $899.99 at Amazon. That's a 55% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Anker

Anker Solix F2000

$899.99 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,099.01

 

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If you’ve been thinking about picking up a reliable portable power station for home backup, travel, or camping, there are plenty of great deals at Amazon right now, including this latest offer on the Anker Solix F2000.

As of April 16, this powerhouse of a unit is reduced by over $1,000, bringing the price down from $1,999 to $899.99. That's more than half off. This deal is for the unit alone, however there are upgrade options to add solar panels or expansion batteries.

This is a high-capacity portable power station designed for long-term use. It delivers 2400W of output with a wide range of ports, including AC outlets, USB-C and USB-A ports, car sockets, and an RV port. It can even keep a fridge running for up to 32 hours.

It supports fast recharging, reaching around 80% in about 1.4 hours, and has the ability to handle higher-wattage devices up to 3,600W using its SurgePad feature. And thanks to Anker’s InfiniPower technology, this unit has a lifespan of up to 10 years, so you'll truly get your money's worth.

You can find this portable power station deal at Amazon.

SAVE $350: As of April 16, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is on sale for $449 at Amazon. That's a 44% discount off the list price.

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Jackery Explorer 1000 v2

$449 at Amazon
$799 Save $350

 

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The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is back on sale at Amazon, and if you've been looking for a reliable portable power station to see you through power outages, this is the ideal unit. And as of April 16, there's currently $350 off the list price, bringing the cost down to $449. This price is for the unit only, however there are various upgrade options also on sale. You can add solar panels, charging cables, or carrying bags for less right now.

With 1,500W of AC power (3,000W surge) and a 1,070Wh capacity, this power station is ideal for running all types of appliances, from fridges to keeping your phone charged.

Despite being so powerful, it doesn't need long to charge up. It actually supports fast charging, reaching full battery in around one hour with the Jackery app’s emergency mode, or 1.7 hours when charged normally. And this battery will last. It has an LFP battery that's rated for over 4,000 charge cycles. This worsk out to around 10 years of use.

For your devices, you'll get multiple ports you can use at the same time, including USB-C, USB-A, DC car output, and three AC outlets. And it's a great unit for taking with you on the go, weighing just 23.8 lbs and including a foldable handle, making it ideal for camping or road trips.

Get this Jackery power station deal at Amazon now.

As a society, we're down to spend money on a nice new living room TV every so often. But smaller spaces like the kitchen or a bedroom seem to have been dubbed undeserving of a TV upgrade — even if the current TV is crappy, or even if we spend a lot of time in that room. To be fair, there weren't many exciting options to choose from. I don't know how the stylish budget-friendly small TV market went so untapped for so long, but Hisense was genius for throwing the S5 Déco QLED TV into the mix.

What's special about the Hisense Déco TV

The Hisense Déco TV is a 32-inch QLED TV with a chic white "art-inspired design." That's not to be confused with matte art TVs that lie flat against the wall like framed art. So while the Hisense Déco isn't a direct dupe for The Frame or the Hisense CanvasTV, it still speaks to the style-conscious part of your brain that cares about the cohesiveness of a space. Why settle for a blatantly techy TV if your bedroom's decor calls for something more whimsical?

The case for an aesthetically pleasing bedroom TV

I've been carefully curating my bedroom's ambiance for years, as most of us do. There are few places more comforting than the personal cave we've designed for ourselves, few activities that sound better than watching something cozy in bed. Doesn't it just make sense for the TV to mesh with the rest of your decor?

The Hisense Déco TV matches my room's color scheme and level of whimsy. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Outside of expensive art TVs with swappable frames, I don't think I had ever seen a TV that strays from the standard black design. Apparently, neither had all of the people who flooded my DMs when I posted the above photo on my Instagram Story.

"What is this?!", "I've literally never seen a white TV before omg", "I'm scared to know how much this costs but I need it", and "This pic is literally so chic omg" were just a few of the replies. You get the point: There was clearly a need for a classy little decor-centric TV that doesn't cost $600, like the smallest Frame TV.

The display flows right into the central stand, so you don't need to screw on legs. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The remote is your average Fire TV remote. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

My current dresser was my mom's when she was a teenager in the '70s. It's an eggshell color with swirly gold handles, topped with various trinkets like antique jewelry boxes, perfume, a skeleton hand from Michaels' Halloween section that I use as a ring holder... the classics. I always thought that the arrangement was way too elegant for the old black plasticky TV that also lived there. (The mismatch would probably be less obvious if I mounted the TV on the wall instead, but I ain't doing all that.) The Hisense Déco is the seamless addition that I had unknowingly been waiting for.

Instead of standing on two stubby legs, the Déco's curved white bezels flow directly into the base of the TV. The sculptural one-piece build feels avant-garde for TV standards, but also means that no assembly is required.

Picture quality is actually quite sharp for non-4K

The Hisense Déco's screen has some serious pop, especially compared to a dull LED screen. The Déco's full HD resolution isn't as granular as the 4K you'll see on 90 percent of TVs, but I don't think the average $200 32-inch TV buyer will be that picky about upscaling. Shadows aren't pixelated like they were on my old TV, and there's no overall fuzziness. I was thoroughly impressed by the sharpness of subtitles, despite the letters being so small.

A coral reef wouldn't be nearly this colorful on my old TV. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The layer of quantum dots picks up a lot of the slack from the lack of 4K. While LED vs. QLED and FHD vs. 4K are talking about two different TV specs (light and resolution, respectively), the range of a QLED TV's color palette does create a crispier image than an LED TV. These tiny nanocrystals can emit over a billion different colors, deepening black levels and brightening light tones to create a more contrasted picture. The colors on the Hisense Déco are legitimately stunning. They were even rich enough to hold their own against the color-changing bulbs in my nightstand, which are the only lights on in my room at night.

I struggle to wind down at night as it is, so I typically don't watch anything that I actually need to pay attention to before bed. If I absolutely need some background noise, Planet Earth or Our Planet for the 40th time it is. The Déco really did the habitats on these shows justice. Between spot-on color accuracy and vibrant hues across the board, it's quite the immersive experience for such a little TV.

Bright objects in dark scenes do sometimes have a glow around them. The Déco's screen uses a direct backlight rather than full-array local dimming, so it doesn't benefit from little clusters of bulbs that turn off to reduce the halo effect. But the casual watcher probably won't even notice — a TV this small isn't meant to have the picture quality of an advanced home theater TV.

I hate when movies show the demon. Anyway, the dark scenes in "Rosario" looked awesome. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Déco didn't muddy the overnight recordings from "Paranormal Activity 3" at all. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The occasional blooming didn't affect my weekend horror movie watching, at least. In my time with the Déco TV so far, I crossed Hallow Road and Rosario off my list and threw in a comfort rewatch of Paranormal Activity 3. Dark scene details in all three films were less gray and significantly more legible from a few feet away in my bed than on my old TV.

If you haven't switched to a smart TV yet, do it

Many small space TVs are such an afterthought that they haven't made it out of the dumb TV phase yet. That was me using my bedroom TV from high school at age 30. The ol' Fire Stick rig can make it possible to access streaming apps on a regular TV for several years. But as I learned, a TV can simply get so old that it can't handle an external streaming device anymore.

A single arrow click on the Fire TV remote was enough to send my old TV into shock. It was so frustrating that I stopped bothering trying to watch anything at all. So not only was that TV an ugly plastic box that didn't match my room at all, but it was doing nothing but collecting dust.

After a month or so with the Hisense Déco, I can't believe I put up with a non-smart TV setup for so long. The Déco's Fire TV interface is highly responsive and as easy to navigate as Fire TV always is. You mean I can just click on a streaming app and it plays the content? Without the possibility of spontaneous combustion?

Is it a reach to classify a reliable bedroom TV as a productivity hack? That's one surefire way to pair some universally-hated chores — like folding laundry or cursing out the fitted sheet while you make your bed — with an activity you enjoy, like catching up on a show. It's also nice to not be relegated to the living room couch if I want to watch something live. Now, I can throw the new episode of Abbott Elementary or an NBA game on in my room without propping my phone up to watch YouTube TV. (That app would have sent my old TV into orbit.)

Factors to keep in mind

The Hisense Déco TV is the rare QLED TV that isn't 4K. The difference between the Déco's FHD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) and 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) would be most noticeable when intently watching a dark film in a dark room or playing video games. But no one would realistically be shopping for the decor-focused Déco TV with expectations for an elevated streaming or gaming experience.

The reflection of my makeup desk in the top left corner was getting distracting. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

QLED TVs are naturally brighter and easier to see in sunlit rooms than LED TVs. That doesn't automatically make them immune to glare in a bright room. The Déco TV definitely struggles to neutralize reflections when watching TV during the day. Because it's designed for such casual use, I'm not that pressed about the lack of glare reduction — plus, there are significantly more expensive QLED TVs that struggle just as much in lit rooms.

The competition

For those in the market for a small budget TV, it makes the most sense to compare the Déco TV to other TVs in its price range. Barring any extra wild discounts that could pop up during an event like Prime Day, a hard $200 cutoff will typically have you looking at 32- through 50-inch 4K LED TVs.

Best Buy often has the TCL 40-inch Q35F QLED FHD Fire TV on sale for $149.99 or the 50-inch Q5 QLED 4K Fire TV on sale for $179.99. Both are obviously larger screens for a little bit less money, but both are the exact plasticky black box design that we were trying to get away from. Hisense can't just make the prettiest small TV you've ever seen and then make it the same price as a boring small TV, you know?

Is the Hisense Déco TV worth it?

I'd recommend the Hisense Déco TV to anyone looking for a small space TV. You really couldn't ask for a more seamless TV setup: It's bright and responsive when you are watching it, stylishly camouflaged when it's off, and costs $400 less than The Frame of the same size.

I've been firmly on the living room side of the "bedroom person vs. living room person" conversation forever. Now, I'm convinced that some of my living room tendencies stemmed from the fact that my old bedroom TV sucked. The switch to the Hisense Déco has genuinely been such a delight, and I find myself carving out time to hang out in there instead. It's bright and bold enough for the full range of my TV watching needs, but more importantly, the satisfaction of its cohesiveness with the rest of the room never gets old.

With the world as overwhelming as it is, the safe space that is your bedroom deserves a little extra adornment. In this case, that adornment is a TV that serves c*nt.

Hisense Déco 32-inch TV

$194.96 at Amazon

 

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TL;DR: Work smarter, not harder, with an operating system made for professionals, Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, on sale now for just $12.97 (reg. $199) through May 3.

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Microsoft Windows 11 Pro

$12.97
$199 Save $186.03

 

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You’d be surprised at the difference a new operating system can make. From fresh tools to a new interface, Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is ready to streamline your workflow, designed with modern professionals in mind. Right now, you can give your PC this upgrade for only $12.97 until May 3.

If you’ve got a PC that can’t upgrade through Windows Update, we have some great news. This Windows 11 Pro license provides a good upgrade for less than the cost of your lunch.

The first thing you’ll notice with this new operating system? An enhanced, easy-to-use interface, with better ways to multitask. Snapping windows, virtual desktops, and snap layouts make things easier, while you can also take advantage of a powerful search experience, voice typing, and easy redocking.

This OS sets itself apart by including its own AI-powered assistant, Copilot. This handy tool is right on your desktop, ready to answer questions, help with tasks, and even change settings, summarize web pages, or open apps.

You can sync your iPhone and Android devices right to the computer for better efficiency. You’ll also enjoy improved cybersecurity with biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and enhanced antivirus protection to help keep your data safe.

Regularly $199, this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license is now just $12.97.

Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through 4/19.

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TL;DR: Get multiple AI model responses in one window with this lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan, now only $74.97 (reg. $619) through April 26.

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ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan)

$74.97
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Not all AI responses are created equal. With dozens of models on the market, it’s hard to keep up with what each one does best. That guesswork also adds a lot of time to your workflow, as you tab-hop and compare results. ChatPlayground AI lets you check out multiple answers side-by-side, all in one convenient window.

Right now, you can lock in permanent savings with this lifetime subscription to the Unlimited Plan for $74.97 until April 26.

Everyone talks about AI being a huge timesaver, but it really requires the right tools. ChatPlayground AI lets you query dozens of models in one place — and it’s a Chrome extension, so it’s easily accessible when you need it.

With ChatPlayground AI, you can enter your prompt and see answers from ChatGPT, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Llama, and over 20 more models in seconds. Not only do you get easy access, but you also avoid paying subscription fees for multiple models.

No matter your AI need — from generating code to creating images to answering simple questions — ChatPlayground AI gets you answers for all of it. Need help with prompt building? Prompt engineering tools are available to help you get more accurate responses.

If you don’t feel like typing, you can use image and PDF chat features. ChatPlayground AI also saves your past conversations, so you can reference them or keep up an ongoing project with just a few clicks.

This Unlimited Plan means you’ll have unlimited monthly messages, priority customer service, and priority access to any new features and future models.

Score a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan for just $74.97 (reg. $619) now through April 26.

Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through 4/19.

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TL;DR: Get eight apps for one low price with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, on sale now for just $32.97 (reg. $219.99) through April 19.

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Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License

$32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02

 

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It turns out the go-to tools of yesteryear can still get the job done. Before you start hunting down the newest, coolest apps, give the old classics of Microsoft Office a try. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license for Windows equips your PC with eight staples and new favorites, all for just $32.97 — less than $5 each — now through April 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Whether you’ve got a new computer, an old device in need of Microsoft Office, or you’re sick of paying monthly subscription fees for your apps, we’ve got a permanent solution for you. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license gives your PC a fresh set of tools — eight to be exact — from ’90s classics to newer essentials.

Curious what’s included? This edition gives you Word for your document needs, Excel for spreadsheet building, Outlook for email management, and PowerPoint for creating presentations. There’s also Access for managing large databases, Publisher for professional document design, Teams for staying connected with others, and OneNote for digital note-taking.

You don’t have to worry that this 2021 edition is vintage; the apps have been redesigned and have a ribbon-based interface for easy access to features, tools, and customizations. Make sure your device is running Windows 10 or 11 before you purchase.

Get a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for only $32.97 (reg. $219.99) through April 19.

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TL;DR: Say goodbye to ads and hello to an amazing deal with this AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription, now just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through April 16.

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AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription

$15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02

 

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Are you old enough to remember when browsing online was fun? Back when autoplay videos and obnoxious pop-up ads weren’t around every turn? If you’d like to go back to those good ol’ days, it’s time to meet AdGuard. This service blocks ads in their tracks, and right now you can lock in a lifetime subscription to the Family Plan for just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through April 16, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

AdGuard brings peace back to your laptop… or smartphone or tablet. This intuitive ad blocker provides three handy features at once — an advanced ad-blocking module, a privacy protection tool, and parental controls.

You can enjoy your time online ad-free with AdGuard. It does more than your average ad blocker, going the extra mile to banish all types of ads, such as pop-ups, videos, and banners.

Aside from letting you browse without interruption, AdGuard also gives you added peace of mind by keeping you safe. It can serve as a shield against malware, phishing websites, and cyberattacks, while hiding your data from hackers and blocking trackers.

This lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan means you can share this internet experience with everyone under your roof, securing up to nine devices. You don’t have to worry about compatibility either, as it works on both Android and iOS.

The parental control features are an added bonus for those with children at home. It helps restrict access to inappropriate or adult content, serving as a second set of eyes.

By locking this in for life, you can pay once and enjoy the benefits forever. You’ll also have access to future updates and new features.

Lock in this AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription for just $15.97 through midnight.

Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through April 19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

For years, AI companies have trained their models on artists' copyright-protected work, without permission or payment.

That's because training data is the fuel that powers new AI models, and in the AI arms race, companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, Meta, and Google are mining every corner of the internet — and our shared cultural heritage — for untapped data.

When I talked to Daniel Roher, the Oscar-winning co-director of The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, he had a blunt message for tech CEOs who lay claim to protected work: "Fuck you."

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

When I spoke to Roher and producer Ted Tremper about the AI copyright issue in recent interviews, I mentioned a conversation I had with the CEO of a leading AI video company. The CEO told me training is fair use, full stop. ("It's not called learning right, or training right. It's called copyright.") And to that attitude, Roher had a blunt response.

"The guy who has a financial vested interest is saying that he's gonna train his model on what the fuck he wants?" Roher told me. "It's kind of like the guy who runs the tobacco company saying that, you know, smoking is good for you. Everyone should have a cigarette, and if you say differently, fuck you. And to that, I'm like, 'Dude, go fuck yourself.'"

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AI companies offer several defenses for using copyrighted material without paying. There's the cost argument — models have billions of parameters, and it would be too expensive to compensate individual rights holders. The China argument (an argument President Donald Trump has echoed) — Chinese AI companies aren't asking for permission, so neither can we. Then, there's the fair use argument — training AI models on copyrighted work falls under the fair use legal doctrine.

Right now, dozens of lawsuits from authors, musicians, journalists, and entertainment giants like Disney are tackling the fair use question, arguing that AI companies have to abide by copyright law like everyone else.

Last year, the U.S. Copyright Office issued a report concluding that training is likely not covered by fair use, though it isn't legally binding. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

Early court rulings on this topic have so far favored AI companies, and Big Tech is forging ahead with its quintessential "move fast, break things" ethos. You've heard of "ask forgiveness, not permission," but AI companies typically aren't asking for either.

So, is the David versus Goliath AI copyright battle already lost, I asked Roher?

"Language like 'the battle's already been lost'? [Dude], relax. The battle hasn't already been lost," Roher said. "This is just a unique challenge of 25th-century technology that's crash-landed into the 21st century, being regulated by legislative processes forged in the 17-fucking-hundreds. And court cases take a long time, but I think, at the end of the day, the book is still very much open on whether the IP battle has been won or lost."

Roher also urged anyone with an interest in artificial intelligence to push back against overreach from Big Tech.

"So, yeah, for the tech CEO to be like, you know, 'Fuck you, I will come for your shit.' My response is, 'Fuck you back. No, you're not.' And I applaud media outlets like the New York Times, which are standing up for their material and doing the very, very good public work of fighting companies in court."

After finishing The AI Doc, producer Ted Tremper founded the Creators Coalition on AI along with Daniel Kwan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and others to protect artists' rights. And as more artists file suits, some AI companies are striking deals with IP holders like Disney and Universal Music Group, but Tremper said that's not necessarily a positive development.

"What they're doing is making deals with the people who have the biggest, scariest lawyers," Tremper said. "To me, what that indicates is that they are fine with having a two-tiered system for considering data. That if you have big, scary lawyers and you're a multi-million or billion-dollar company, you can have the right to have your creative work and your IP protected. However, if it's you and me and things I post online, the photographs of your children. Those things are fair game."

Tremper said there's nothing fair about Big Tech companies harvesting books, movies, TV shows, and newspapers at scale.

"The idea that saying that a machine that has perfect memory, that is able to have perfect recall of an amount of data that would take dozens of human lifetimes, if not hundreds of human lifetimes, to actually read, and is being made by some lab or a company whose explicit goal is to replace human labor — I feel like that falls outside the scope of any reasonable fair use argument."

Whether the courts will ultimately agree is still an open question. In the meantime, both artists and AI companies are gearing up for a legal fight that could define the future of AI development.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

13. The Heartbreak Kid: Becoming Shawn Michaels

If you're into WWE documentaries and have exhausted both seasons of Netflix's WWE: Unreal, check out Peacock's new deep dive into the career of the legendary Shawn Michaels. The Heartbreak Kid: Becoming Shawn Michaels tracks the highs and lows of the Hall of Famer's life in and out of the ring, comebacks and all. Expect interviews with Michaels himself, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Bret Hart, Mark "The Undertaker" Calaway, and more. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

How to watch: The Heartbreak Kid: Becoming Shawn Michaels premieres on Peacock April 17.

12. Roommates

Following in the footsteps of Adam Sandler, his daughter Sadie Sandler is headlining the kooky comedy Roommates. In director Chandler Levack's follow-up to her semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy Mile End Kicks, Sadie stars as college freshman Devon, who hopes her new roommate will be a path to coolness and fun. But Celeste (Heretic's Chloe East) is a bit much with no boundaries.

Will they become friends? Or make each others' lives a living hell? Tune in to find out. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Sadie Sandler, Chloe East, Sarah Sherman, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Storm Reid, Janeane Garofalo, and Carol Kane

How to watch: Roomates begins streaming on Netflix April 17.

11. Ramy Youssef: In Love

Comedian Ramy Youssef returns for his third HBO special, Ramy Youssef: In Love, directed by The Bear creator Christopher Storer. (Youssef directed The Bear's superlative "Honeydew" episode, making this a true crossover event.) This time around, Youssef is touching on hot-button topics like the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival and Grok's production of sexualized images, but he's also taking time to talk about love — including the perils of being a dog dad. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Ramy Youssef

How to watch: Ramy Youssef: In Love debuts on HBO and HBO Max April 17.

10. Trevor Noah: Joy in The Trenches

Trevor Noah's newest Netflix comedy special, Joy in the Trenches, hits the streaming platform this week, with the comedian, former Daily Show host, philanthropist, and podcaster digging into the state of the world today as only he can. Filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., the set sees Noah speaking to topics including the time Donald Trump threatened to sue him over his Epstein joke at the Grammys. Noah has multiple Netflix specials in the catalogue now, with the latest following Afraid of the Dark, Son of Patricia, I Wish You Would, and Where Was I, so you could essentially have a five-hour Trevor Noah-a-thon this week. — S.C.

Starring: Trevor Noah

How to watch: Trevor Noah: Joy in The Trenches debuts on Netflix April 14.

9. A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough

At 99 years old, Sir David Attenborough has brought a wealth of knowledge to the world through his broadcasts about nature. In his latest, he looks back at a gorilla he met 50 years ago. With A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, this celebrated natural historian walks us through the life of Pablo, who grew from a curious infant to a top silverback leading his own pack. Beyond that, Attenborough shows what Pablo's descendants are up to now.

If you got caught up in Punch the monkey's zoo dramas, we suspect you'll fall hard for this intimate documentary. — K.P.

Starring: David Attenborough

How to watch: A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough debuts on Netflix April 17.

8. Noah Kahan: Out of Body

"Stick Season" singer/songwriter Noah Kahan takes fans behind the curtain in this intimate documentary. Out of Body sees Kahan returning home to Vermont, where he reconnects with his family and wonders what's next for his skyrocketing career. From looks inside Kahan's creative process to frank discussions about his experience with body dysmorphia, Noah Kahan: Out of Body promises to be an insightful peek behind the curtain for Kahan fans. — B.E.

How to watch: Noah Kahan: Out of Body debuts on Netflix April 13.

7. Big Mood, Season 2

Camilla Whitehill's brilliant dramedy Big Mood is back for a second season, and it's once again examining the messy, difficult Venn diagram of friendship and mental health. The show focuses on 30-year-old Londoners and inseparable best friends Maggie (Nicola Coughlan) and Eddie (Lydia West), who are navigating bipolar disorder and grief, respectively, and feeling misunderstood by each other. Season 1 left them in relationship rubble; Season 2 examines the awkwardness of patching things up after such a friendship breakup — and realising boundaries must be drawn.

Coughlan and West capture that heart-in-throat feeling of seeing an ex-friend, one who you've rehearsed what you'd say to. Eddie's been off-grid in the U.S. making a new bestie in Whitney, a Californian boho chic wellness influencer armed with ginseng gummies, amethyst suppositories, and unity crystals (a "TikTok hippie," Maggie calls her). Maggie, despite taking charge of her health and declaring she's in her "stable girl era," is dubbed a loose cannon by others, and is even demoted to junior bridesmaid at a wedding. So, can the pair rekindle their friendship? What happens when one person feels they've moved on, the other left behind? Come for the Rupert Everett cameo, stay for the complex portrayal of modern friendship. — S.C.

Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Lydia West, Robert Gilbert, Eamon Farren, Niamh Cusack, Amalia Vitale, Luke Fetherston, Rebecca Lowman, Stephen Sobal, and Kate Fleetwood

How to watch: Big Mood Season 2 premieres on Tubi April 16 and is streaming on Channel 4 in the UK.

6. Undertone

Maybe don't wear headphones for this one if you scare easily, because Undertone is all about audio horror. Directed by Ian Tuason in his directorial debut, the film introduces podcaster Evy (Nina Kiri), who gets wrapped up in a series of creepy audio recordings teeming with hidden messages.

Don't expect a jump-scare-filled fright fest from Undertone. It's a slow burn of a horror film. That didn't work for Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, who wrote in her review, "The film's slow-burn approach, and my patience for it, didn't pay off. In the end, I was more impressed by Undertone's concept than I was entertained by its execution." — B.E.

Starring: Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco, Michèle Duquet, Keana Lyn Bastidas, Jeff Yung, Sarah Beaudin, and Brian Quintero

How to watch: Undertone is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

5. Margo's Got Money Troubles

A24 and David E. Kelley's much-anticipated adaptation of Rufi Thorpe's Margo's Got Money Troubles hits Apple TV this week. Elle Fanning stars as Margo, a bright young writer and single mother who's struggling to make ends meet. She soon finds financial success on OnlyFans, as well as a dysfunctional but loving support system from her parents, ex-Hooters waitress Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and ex-wrestler Jinx (Nick Offerman).

Margo's Got Money Troubles is undeniably heartwarming, thanks in no small part to its tremendous ensemble, led by a luminous Fanning. Yet it often skews towards narrative convention, even as Margo and her family break the mold. As I wrote in my review, "There's no denying that Margo's Got Money Troubles and this stellar cast will melt your heart. Yet overall, I just wish that the series could have been just as fearless and imaginative as Margo herself." — B.E.

Starring: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, Nick Offerman, Thaddea Graham, Rico Nasty, and Lindsey Normington

How to watch: Margo's Got Money Troubles premieres on AppleTV April 15.

4. Dust Bunny

After giving audiences such sensational (and sensationally twisted) shows as Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, and Hannibal, Bryan Fuller makes his feature directorial debut with a monster movie that feels like Amélie meets Léon: The Professional.

The story centers on a young girl (Sophie Sloan) who's plagued by the monster under her bed — a massive dust bunny. So, naturally, she looks for a hitman to take care of the creature. Lucky for her, there's one living in her building. And he's played by Hannibal's Mads Mikkelsen. The result is a monster movie that is whimsical, gnarly, thrilling, and fun.

In my review, I wrote, "Dust Bunny is exactly the kind of movie fans should expect from Fuller, but it's also wildly surprising. As soon as it ended, I wanted to watch it again — not just for the fun of it, but to assure myself it was real and not some strange dream sparked from too much sour candy."* — K.P.

Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Sophie Sloan, Sigourney Weaver, David Dastmalchian, Rebecca Henderson, and Sheila Atim

How to watch: Dust Bunny debuts on HBO Max April 17.

3. The Pitt, Season 2 finale

For 14 episodes of The Pitt Season 2, we've stressed about Baby Jane Doe, Dr. Robby's (Noah Wyle) upcoming motorcycle trip, and Dr. Santos' (Isa Briones) charting woes. Now, it all comes to a head in the Season 2 finale, which picks up right after Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) reveals to Dr. Robby that she has a seizure disorder. What will he do with that information, and how will the rest of the day shift close out their 4th of July? — B.E.

Starring: Noah Wyle, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, and Sepideh Moafi

How to watch: The Pitt, Season 2 finale airs April 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

2. The Dark Wizard

Any fans of Free Solo will want to tune in for this one. Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen's The Dark Wizard tells the story of Dean Potter, a legendary figure in the climbing community who made a name for himself doing a variety of increasingly risky extreme sports. Over the course of four episodes, the HBO docuseries does an excellent job of unpacking Potter's personal motivations, showing his struggles with mental health as he throws himself into free soloing, highline walking, BASE jumping, and wingsuit gliding. Acting almost as a prequel to Free Solo, the series also features climbing legend Alex Honnold talking about the rivalry the two once shared.

"Yes, there's breath-taking footage of the many awe-inspiring acts that made Potter famous," I wrote in my review. "But rather than purely mythologising him, the filmmakers have gone to great lengths to give insight into his personal struggles and motivations. The end result is nerve-wracking, enthralling, and — in the documentary's final moments — almost unbearably sad." — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Dean Potter

How to watch: The Dark Wizard debuts on HBO and HBO Max April 14.

Best of streaming this week: Beef, Season 2

Beef is back, this time with a whole new cast (and a whole new beef). Creator Lee Sung Jin drops viewers into a feud between two couples: country club manager Josh (Oscar Isaac) and his interior designer wife Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), and club employees Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny). When the latter record a compromising video of the former, they kick off a chain of blackmail that escalates all the way to the club's new billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung).

While Beef's second season doesn't reach the highs of Season 1 (a near-impossible task), it still delivers an ambitious, riveting, and can't-miss showdown between four incredible actors. As I wrote in my review, "Everything involving the couples is divine: a dizzying whirlwind of blackmail, shifting allegiances, and astounding performances from the show's core four. It's when Beef Season 2 moves beyond them that it loses some of its focus (although it never lets up on the stress)." — B.E.

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho, Seoyeon Jang, Mikaela Hoover, BM, and William Fichtner

How to watch: Beef Season 2 premieres on Netflix April 16.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

Here's an open secret: almost every major dating site and most of the internet's hookup sites have been victims of major data breaches at one time or another. In fact, some of them have even undergone multiple data breaches. We're talking full names, addresses, billing information, and in some cases extremely personal information about sexual preferences. 

To be fair to these sites, their success paints a giant target on their backs. If you're a hacker, you're going to target the largest websites with the most users, because that's where your exploit is likely to return the most value for your (illegal) work. These big sites now spend millions of dollars on cybersecurity, hoping to stave off future attacks.

But then there are the hookup sites that fly under the radar, the sites that aren't yet large enough to attract the attention of malicious actors. If you're looking to experience the internet's hookup culture without exposure to the most popular sites, here are three solid adult dating sites that haven't experienced a data breach:

Friends with Benefits

Think of Friends with Benefits like a website version of Tinder or a slightly toned down version of AdultFriendFinder. Setting up an account is easy and requires very minimal personal information, so it's a great starting spot for people wary of sharing their data, but it's also vulnerable to bots and fake profiles, and you'll spend as much time weeding out the obviously AI-generated profiles as you will messaging people. 

If you live in or near a large metropolitan area, Friends with Benefits can work for you, because that's where their users are most concentrated, and as of this writing, they have yet to have a data breach. 

Guilty Affairs

We don't condone cheating on your partner or spouse, but it's a simple fact that a huge draw of online hookup sites is how much easier they make stepping outside of your relationship. Unfortunately, that also makes them a desirable target for hackers, who get not only your personal information but some excellent blackmail material ("You wouldn't want your wife to know…") — just think of the damage done to Ashley Madison users after more than 60 gigabytes of data were leaked.

If you're looking to explore some extra-marital fun but want to keep a low profile, Guilty Affairs is a good place to start. The interface is incredibly simple and easy to use, and doesn't require a ton of sensitive personal information before you can create an account and explore your options — there's nothing like their Roulette wheel of local singles to build excitement, for example.

Best of all, they're very transparent about their dedication to cybersecurity, with 256-bit encryption as standard and PCI DSS certification across all of their payment methods, so if you do decide to purchase tokens (called "Coins" on the site) to boost your profile or browse incognito, you can be assured of high levels of payment protection. 

Senior Sizzle

Okay, granted, if you're not a bit advanced in years, a hookup site whose tagline is "intimate encounters over 50" might not sound that enticing, but there are a whole lot of single seniors out there looking to get frisky, and the site is well designed to help them find their "sizzle." 

From a security standpoint, the site touts an in-house security team as well as "industry standard" efforts like firewalls and data encryption to help keep your personal information safe. And as of the time of this writing, they've been successful, with zero data breaches, which is no small feat given the site was first launched more than 20 years ago. 

How to protect yourself from data breaches

While it's a good idea to audit your website choices before you sign up, ensuring they have a history of good cybersecurity practices, it's also important to realize that you have a major role to play in protecting your own data. Here are a few best practices to follow to ensure your online safety:

1. Limit your exposure. The less data you share with each dating website, and the less specific that data is, the better.

2. Sign up using a personal email. Never use your work email, and consider creating a backup email specifically for online dating signups. 

3. Don't divulge personal information to unverified people. The person you're talking to might be a cute, fun single, but they could also be a chat bot or scammer eager to learn everything they can about you for nefarious ends. Save the detailed conversations for in-person meet-ups.

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More than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content. After the introduction of these age verification laws, some porn sites blocked users from those locations. The same situation is now taking place in other parts of the world.

So where does that leave frustrated users? Desperately seeking a solution, that's where. Fortunately, you can still access all your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps. There's a quick and easy hack that can secure access to restricted content from any location or network. You don't need to be a skilled hacker. Anyone can follow this simple solution.

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This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

All the single ladies — as well as the single fellas — are complaining about the same thing lately. Everyone's exhausted from the stress, admin, and the general minefield that is online dating. App fatigue isn't just a buzzword term. It's a real phenomenon, and it makes connections all the much harder to find. Sometimes it feels actually impossible, like getting lost in the never-ending app-scroll. We understand the basic problem all too well: You just want the dating apps that actually work. Which begs the question: Which dating apps do actually work?

There are no right answers, of course. Because it’s less about finding an app that works than finding the right app for what you actually want. People on eharmony are probably looking for long-term commitment, while people swiping through hookup apps such as Tinder are after… well, let’s just say we know what they’re looking for.

The crucial thing is to remember you'll get results if you know how to navigate the right apps. Sure, we're all suffering from dating app burnout, but research proves that they do get job the done. A SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus found that 65 percent of people aged between 18 and 29 have used dating apps, while a 2023 report found that one in five young people met their partner via an app. The best dating apps are one of the most reliable ways to meet a partner.

Thankfully, Mashable’s dating experts know what they're talking about here. They've put valuable hours into testing and using datings apps IRL, determining the best apps for every kind of dater. So, to help you make a match, we've put together this roundup of the dating apps worth downloading in 2026.

So, what is the best e-reader for 2026? I'm regularly testing new e-readers (and tablets) and cycling through different models to stay up to date on the best options available. So, if you're gearing up to read more books this year, I can recommend a model you'll love.

PS: For book lovers, we'll be on the ground at BookCon 2026, covering all the best gadgets and the latest news from your favorite authors.

New e-readers in this guide

As of April 2026, we've added two new e-readers to the list. After months of testing, we've included the Durobo Krono, an open Android e-reader that allows you to access your Kindle, Libby, and Kobo libraries on one device. The Xetink X4 e-reader is a unique, compact device that doesn't look like much, but is pretty impressive.

We're currently in the process of testing the Boox Palma 2 and the Boox Go 10.3 (Gen II).

2026 Kindle updates

On April 7, 2026, Amazon sent a notice to some Kindle users stating that as of May 20, 2026, Kindle e-readers released in 2012 or earlier will no longer be supported. After May 20, Amazon will no longer lend software updates or provide web services to these devices, essentially bricking them. Users will still be able to read currently downloaded books on the device, but to add new books, they will need to connect the device to a computer. This is a huge hit, especially to Libby users who need web service access to read borrowed books.

The affected Kindles include:

• Kindle (1st generation)

• Kindle (2nd generation)

• Kindle DX

• Kindle DX Graphite

• Kindle Keyboard

• Kindle 4

• Kindle Touch

• Kindle 5

• Kindle Paperwhite (1st generation)

Owners of these Kindle models are obviously upset, as it means they'll need to purchase a new device to maintain access to all features. While some are considering switching to a different e-reader, like a Kobo or the Durobo Krono, Amazon still makes great e-readers, and it's a testament to the brand that devices that are at least 14 years old are still going strong.

Other e-readers we've tested

From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The latest e-readers I tested were the Kindle Scribe (2025) and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. Previously, Kindle Scribes were disappointing e-readers, but Amazon made major improvements on these devices, and now, they're worthy of your attention. We've included the Kindle Scribe (2025) on this list because it's a better value, even if the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is technically more impressive. For more details on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, you can read our full review.

We've also tested the Remarkable PaperPro and Onyx Boox Go 7 as contenders for this list. After several weeks of testing, both devices proved to be pretty good but not quite list-worthy.

Whenever you search for e-readers, Remarkable's tablets will always pop up in the search results, but unfortunately, it's hard to obtain ePUB files on the Remarkable. With Remarkable, you can access files within Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. If you have any locked ePUB files — like from Libby — you won't be able to access them on a Remarkable tablet. So, after testing the Remarkable tablet myself, it proved to be a better document reader or digital journal than an e-reader.

The Onyx Boox Go 7 is a better e-reader option than the Remarkable. It's the same size as the Kobo Libra or Amazon Kindle, but it really lags on processing speed. To read ePUB files from Libby required downloading the Adobe Digital Editions app onto the Boox Go 7, and there was so much lag while opening and closing the app. While it was an easier process than getting library books on a Nook, it was still a major pain compared to Kindle or Kobo's integrations. The Boox Go 7 lagged and took ages to load files. I was most looking forward to testing this Boox because of its page-turning buttons, but unfortunately, I found that they didn't work on my device.

What about the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?

If you're familiar with the Kindle lineup, it may come as a surprise that the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition isn't on this list. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but I think there are better options. The Signature Edition is an upgraded version of the Paperwhite, and we've compared the devices head-to-head. The short version? The Paperwhite is a better value, even with the SE's added features like auto-adjusting brightness and 32GB of storage.

If you are prepared to spend $200 on an e-reader, though, I say skip the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and go for the Kobo Libra Colour.

Where's the Nook on this list?

In terms of big-name e-readers, you might notice one omission from this list: the Barnes & Noble Nook. I have tested this e-reader, and it was previously featured on this list. However, after testing more devices, it no longer makes the cut. In comparison to any of the Kindles or the Kobo Libra, the Nook has sloth-like performance, making it frustrating to use.

Plus, getting my library books onto the Nook was a nightmare, as it was a multi-step process that required downloading to a computer before uploading to a Nook. Its only redeeming quality was the buttons on either side of the device, which made page turning a breeze. However, unless you are a loyal buyer of Barnes & Noble books, I recommend steering clear of the Nook.

Where to get e-reader books for free

Once you get an e-reader, it's time to fill it up with books, and that doesn't necessarily mean spending money. In fact, you can load up your e-reader without spending a dime; you just need to be a bit resourceful.

The best way to read nearly any book — a classic or hot new release — is with Libby. I have read hundreds of free books with the Libby app — I wouldn't have been able to test for this guide without it. It connects with your library card, allowing you to borrow from your local library's digital collection. Plus, both Kobo and Kindle have exceptional Libby integrations.

Another way to build your library is through Stuff Your Kindle Day events. These are 24-hour opportunities led by authors that make books discounted or free.

If you're a fan of the classics or looking to discover a treasure lost to time, an online resource like Project Gutenberg has more than 75,000 books in the public domain that you can download and read on an e-reader.

TL;DR: TCGplayer has unopened listings for the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Spider-Man Play Booster Display Box starting at $102.49 with shipping included.

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The Spider-Man crossover set may have slipped under the radar compared to other popular sets like Final Fantasy and Avatar: The Last Airbender, but you can now buy more packs of the wall-crawler’s set at under market value.

As of April 16, unopened listings for Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Box start at $102.49 with shipping included. That’s only 42 cents under TCGplayer’s own $102.91 market price, but it also undercuts Amazon and Walmart. While Amazon is calling that its lowest price in 30 days, but TCGplayer still comes out ahead as the go-to place to buy right now.

In this 30-pack box, you’re getting boosters with 14 Magic cards, as usual — with at least one card of Rare rarity or higher, and at least one Traditional Foil card. The Land slot is also Traditional Foil in 20% of boosters, so there’s still plenty of room for the kind of flashy pulls collectors chase.

For any Marvel fans who also love trading card games like MTG, the Spider-Man crossover expansion is a must-buy: featuring not only cards and mechanics based on the comic book industry’s favorite web-slinger, but those around other heroes and key villains, too. 

If Magic: The Gathering is still new to you, or you’re checking out the other expansions in the game right now, you can also grab the MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box for a new low price of $18.99. Alternatively, the 30-pack MTG Play Booster Box from the Avatar set is also available for around $120.  

TL;DR: Walmart has the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Bundle listed for $99.97, down from $125. Amazon is matching that price right now, but there’s limited stock.

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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover has delivered some of the most eye-catching Magic: The Gathering products of the year, available at some tempting price points.

As of April 16, Walmart has the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Bundle listed for $99.97, down from $125. Amazon is currently sitting at the same price, but only one unit is left at that price. After that, the next lowest Amazon seller is asking $103.28 with another $3.99 for delivery, which brings the real total to $107.27.

As the only contender under market price that also has stock readily available, Walmart is the go-to spot for this MTG TMNT box.

The Pizza Bundle comes with nine TMNT Play Boosters and one Collector Booster, plus two of six promo trading cards, five traditional foil full-art pizza basic lands, 25 non-foil full-art pizza basic lands, and a special oversized Spindown life counter. So while the pizza-box presentation is a bit of a gimmick that’s part of the appeal, there’s more than enough underneath to make a feast both for your decks and binders.

If you want to test out any of the other new Magic: The Gathering expansions, the MTG Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is still at a new low price of $18.99. In the event you’re already up to speed on the Avatar expansion, you can buy its MTG Play Booster Box for around $120.

If you've noticed that nearly every major audio brand now has some form of open earbuds, you're not mistaken — seats are filling up quick on the latest audio bandwagon. Naturally, it would follow that open headphones are slowly starting to creep into the market.

The idea of open headphones, however, isn't quite as intuitive as their earbud counterpart. While it's easy to picture earbuds with a hook or cuff component holding them in place, headphones by design have ear cups that cover — and close off — the ear.

So how do they work? Below, we break down the emerging trend of open headphones (spoiler alert: they've been around longer than you think), how they're different from traditional headphones, and the pros and cons of trying them out.

What are open headphones?

In the most basic terms, open headphones allow air to pass through the ear cup, allowing for a more natural soundstage that feels like it's coming from the space around you — because the sound is actually able to reach the space around you.

Typically, this means open headphones have a mesh ear cup, so there's still a physical component covering the ear. This also makes the open headphones' other common name, open-back headphones, make more sense — the back is there, it's just very permeable. This design also means that open-back headphones absolutely do not come with any active noise cancellation, or any passive noise cancellation, as the ear cup isn't designed to keep sound out.

The Sony Inzone H6 Air headphones are the latest open-back headphones to hit the market. Credit: Sony

Traditionally, open-back headphones have occupied the studio headphone space — think audio engineers, music producers, or just straight-up audiophiles. Again, the open space can allow for a more natural spatial audio (which is especially helpful, considering how horrific microphone-induced spatial audio can get). Open-back headphones are also known for more faithfully reproducing sounds as intended by the original mixers of audio, whether that be music or video games.

Right now, popular models of open-back headphones come from brands like Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, and Sony, with the latter just releasing its first pair of open gaming headphones. JLab also recently released a pair of open-back headphones with an entirely removable mesh panel, to more closely mimic the experience of an open earbud (but more on that below).

Open headphones vs. closed-back headphones

To the average consumer, high-end headphones can be synonymous with flagship noise-cancelling headphones. Understandable, as they usually offer some of the best audio performance, comfort, and of course, noise cancellation.

However, those headphones aren't necessarily always the best for a certain listening experience. As one of our testers explained, the open-back Sennheiser HD 599 offered the best audio quality against traditional, closed-back headphones because they incorporated the ambient environment and allowed for that wider soundstage you might get from studio monitors or surround sound speakers. As our guide points out, this can be great for "deep, critical listening, especially if you plug them into a vinyl record player."

Open-back headphones may look like normal headphones, but different mechanics are at play to create the best sound possible. Credit: Sennheiser

Open-back headphones are also likely to produce a more flat sound, or in other words, one that does not emphasize any particular frequency. This can be great for hearing the mix as it may have been intended, but bass-heads can sometimes have issues with these headphones as a result (if you fall into that category, we recommend you check out the Sony ULT Wear headphones). Finally, as many are intended for the best audio quality possible, many open-back headphones are wired, which is a notable deviation from the almost entirely wireless options from closed back headphones.

Open headphones vs. open earbuds

While both open headphones and open earbuds can offer you greater awareness of the environment around you, for the former, it's a byproduct, while for the latter, it's by design.

A large part of the reason open earbuds became popular in the first place is because they provide a degree of safety when running through a park or riding a bike. The situational awareness allows for the wearer to listen to their audio with relative privacy, but not totally be in their own bubble, whether at home or out and about.

Open earbuds come in a variety of shapes and sizes, while generally open headphones look like standard headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The major downside of open earbuds is that they tend to require some degree of sound sacrifice. Their small housing means they can't pack a ton of drivers, and don't benefit from sitting outside of the ear canal — the result can mean a less robust and nuanced sound profile than you would get with traditional earbuds.

On the other hand, open-back headphones were made with sound at the forefront of their design. As mentioned above, the transparency they provide allows for the most natural-sounding spatial audio possible, letting the nuances of the audio envelop the listener. And the sheer size of the headphones means they can typically house more, and better, drivers for a superior listening experience similar to studio monitors.

The fact that both open earbuds and headphones allow you to hear the world around you better is merely an inevitability for the headphones' design, but it wasn't the reason they were created. That said, earbuds and headphones share the common problem of not being the easiest to use in louder environments. And as both allow for sound from the outside to come in, they also both allow for sound to come out, so you'll want to be aware that both are prone to sound leakage.

It's been 26 years since Greg Focker first tried (and mostly failed) to impress his new father-in-law (Robert De Niro) in Meet the Parents, and now there's a new family member in the hot seat.

In the trailer above for Focker-In-Law, Greg welcomes his son's new girlfriend (Ariana Grande) into the family home — only to suspect that she may be up to no good.

The problem? She appears to have the entire family fooled, including the gatekeeper of the circle of trust himself. Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Skyler Gisondo, Beanie Feldstein, and Eduardo Franco also star.

Focker-In-Law is in theaters Thanksgiving 2026.

Val Kilmer AI deepfake film As Deep as the Grave has just released its first trailer. The internet has responded with overwhelming disgust.

A widely recognised actor known for his roles in films such as Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kilmer died from pneumonia last April at 65 years old. Upcoming film As Deep as the Grave has now used generative AI to create a digital puppet in Kilmer's likeness, having it portray a character appearing in "a significant part" of the historical film.

As Deep as the Grave follows married archaeologists Ann Axtell Morris (Abigail Lawrie) and Earl H. Morris (Tom Felton), who conducted fieldwork in the U.S. southwest during the 1920s. Kilmer's AI-generated likeness will be used to depict Father Fintan, a Catholic priest who is also a Native American spiritualist. The film also features Abigail Breslin, Wes Studi, and Finn Jones.

Though Kilmer was cast in As Deep as the Grave prior to his death, delays in production and issues with his health meant he never shot any scenes. Kilmer had previously given a tech-assisted performance in Top Gun: Maverick, which digitally altered his real voice. He also worked with UK company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings. However, As Deep as the Grave will be the first time his likeness and voice will be completely AI-generated in a film.

"Very fitting that this trailer includes a scene where a corpse is unceremoniously yanked out of the ground," read one of the top comments on As Deep as the Grave's trailer at time of writing.

CGI likenesses of deceased actors have been used in feature films before. In 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gained attention for using CGI and motion capture to resurrect Peter Cushing and portray a younger Carrie Fisher for a few minutes of the film. In 2015, Furious 7 used similar techniques to insert Paul Walker into the remainder of the film after he died mid-shoot. Though Furious 7 largely received a pass due to the circumstances, Rogue One received criticism regarding the ethics of its CGI Cushing. Using generative AI to completely create a performance out of nothing appears to go a step even further, completely removing any actors from the process.

Writer and director Coerte Voorhees told Variety that he chose to use AI rather than recast the role due to budget constraints, and that Kilmer's children gave the project their blessing. Even so, online commenters have labelled it disgusting and disrespectful, not only for digitally reanimating Kilmer but also for the damaging precedent As Deep as the Grave's use of AI could set for the film industry as a whole.