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TL;DR: Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2024 IPL season is in full swing, and as we approach the fifth week of matches, the next fixture will see the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants head to the pitch.

Hooked on the action? Don't worry, you can watch all the IPL games including Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants for free from anywhere in the world. Scroll on to find out how.

When is Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants?

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants starts at 3 p.m. BST on May 8. This fixture will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, India.

How to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants for free

Want to watch free live streams of the IPL? Look no further. JioCinema is offering live streams of every IPL cricket match this season. Just use the app to catch the games in 4K resolution.

Technically, JioCinema is geo-restricted to India. However, you can unblock this free streaming service with a VPN. VPNs allow you to hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can access JioCinema from anywhere in the world.

Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)

5. Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

Most of the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking JioCinema, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including India

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: As of May 6, Pagico 10 is an organizing platform hub for all of your work, school, or personal projects that's on sale for $29.99 (reg. $65).

We all have a lot going on. From juggling multiple projects at work to what feels like a thousand moving parts at home, it can be a lot to keep in your head. It can be helpful to find some support. This Pagico platform acts as a central hub for you to manage all of it so you can stay efficient and on-task. It's currently on sale for $29.99 (reg. $65) for a limited time.

This offer is for new Pagico 10 users only. Once you sign up, you'll get updates for one year. After that, you can use the platform and its current features for life.

Use this platform to organize tasks, notes, checklists, documents, projects, and clients from one central place. You can also keep track of and manage your schedules. If you are more of a visual person, you can utilize interactive flowcharts to stay on top of everything and visualize project status for efficiency.

Create custom dashboards, see your daily schedule easily, and quickly go through all your tags to find the project you need. And if you need to collaborate with others on the team or household, Personal Cloud and the public share option allow you to sync across computers and mobile devices to make it happen.

With this platform, you can say goodbye to scattered sticky notes, cluttered calendars, and multiple to-do lists. Check it out for yourself and see if it can help streamline your life and keep you on task.

Pick up the Pagico 10 organizing platform for $29.99 (reg. $65).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Notes 17 Pagico 10: Lifetime License $29.99 at the Mashable Shop
$65.00 Save $35.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: As of May 6, check out this lifetime subscription to Design Wizard Pro for $39.99 (reg. $179) if you're looking for help with graphic design.

Those who have creative visions sometimes find it challenging to create the content they need to realize them. This is especially true if you own a small business or you're just starting out with graphic design. If you need help bringing your designs to life, Design Wizard Pro could be of service. A lifetime subscription is on sale for $39.99 (reg. $179).

According to Forbes, visuals are essential to branding and storytelling. However, getting access to affordable (or free) high-quality images poses an issue for many. This software gives users access to over a million quality images, illustrations, and graphics that are licensed to be used commercially. This means you don't have to worry about copyright issues while you're busy being your most creative self.

You don't need to be a professional designer to use Design Wizard. It's made to be easy to use for beginners and seasoned creators alike. Use it for logos, eye-catching social posts, website pages, and more.

The Pro Plan allows you to create stunning graphics, marketing materials, social media posts, and more. Using the vast library of images, 30,000 design templates, and 120 free fonts, users can have fun creating just the visual they imagine. You can also set color palettes to further customize the look.

You can even upload images and fonts to use in the software. Tools like the instant resize feature make for efficient creation. You can publish your designs straight to social media to make things even more streamlined.

Don't miss the opportunity to get this design tool at a reduced price.

For a limited time, a lifetime subscription to Design Wizard Pro is on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $179).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Design Wizard Design Wizard Pro: Lifetime Subscription $39.99 at the Mashable Shop
$179.82 Save $139.83 Get Deal

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 May 7'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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Crimson hues

• Green: Sip

• Blue: Gold medal

• Purple: Keeping clean

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: SHADES OF RED

• Green: LITTLE BIT OF A BEVERAGE

• Blue: CHOICEST

• Purple: ___ BATH

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 Connections #331 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Yellow - SHADES OF RED - BRICK, CHERRY, ROSE, RUBY

• Green - LITTLE BIT OF A BEVERAGE - DROP, SPLASH, SPOT, SPRINKLE

• Blue - CHOICEST - BEST, CREAM, PICK, TOP

• Purple - ____ BATH - BIRD, BUBBLE, MUD, SPONGE

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for May 6'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.

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

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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:

How you smell after the gym.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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 Wordle #1054 is...

PIOUS.

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.

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

Reddit’s first earnings report as a public company showed a loss from expenses related to its initial public offering, along with leaps in users and advertising revenue.

The social media company and its Chinese parent, ByteDance, sued to challenge the new law, saying it violated users’ First Amendment rights.

The U.S.'s major wireless carriers are preparing to challenge the FCC over a fine totaling $200 million.

In statements provided to Mashable, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile signaled their intent to appeal the FCC's fine, which was doled out to the companies for allegedly mishandling customers' sensitive location-based data. 

SEE ALSO: The FCC is reviving net neutrality. But what does that mean?

Earlier this week, the FCC announced that it was fining AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile for allegedly selling access to its own customers' location data to "aggregators." The aggregators then resold this access to other third-party, location-based service providers. 

In one specific case, one of these aggregators, a prison communication service company called Securus, provided access to a Mississippi sheriff who in turn used this data to track the location of people through their cell phones.

AT&T, Verizon, & T-Mobile challenge the FCC

According to the three big mobile carriers, the FCC is wrongly holding the big telecom companies responsible for the improper use of their customers' data.

"The FCC order lacks both legal and factual merit," said an AT&T spokesperson in a statement provided to Mashable. "It unfairly holds us responsible for another company’s violation of our contractual requirements to obtain consent, ignores the immediate steps we took to address that company’s failures, and perversely punishes us for supporting life-saving location services like emergency medical alerts and roadside assistance that the FCC itself previously encouraged."

Verizon echoed AT&T's statement in an email correspondence with Mashable.

"In this case, when one bad actor gained unauthorized access to information relating to a very small number of customers, we quickly and proactively cut off the fraudster, shut down the program, and worked to ensure this couldn't happen again," a Verizon spokesperson said. 

T-Mobile, which has since merged with Sprint, also provided a response to Mashable's inquiry.

"We take our responsibility to keep customer data secure very seriously and have always supported the FCC’s commitment to protecting consumers, but this decision is wrong, and the fine is excessive," T-Mobile said.

It should be noted that each of the companies did appear to confirm that a third-party misused the location-data that T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T had shared with aggregators. The disagreement on the part of the telecommunications companies seems to be over whether they should be held responsible. The FCC's decision clearly states that the government's position is that they should be.

In their statements to Mashable, both T-Mobile and Verizon also mentioned how they no longer run the program that FCC is fining them over. According to Verizon, "FCC's order concerns an old program that Verizon shut down more than half a decade ago." T-Mobile stated that the "industry-wide third-party aggregator location-based services program was discontinued more than five years ago."

AT&T also told Mashable that the program was "terminated in early 2019."

All three companies told Mashable that they intend to appeal the fine.

Where to preorder the Apple iPad Pro (2024): 11-INCH MODEL Apple iPad Pro Starting at $999 Get Deal 13-INCH MODEL Apple iPad Pro (2024) Starting at $1,299 in the Apple Store Get Deal

The new iPad Pro got announced at the May 7 "Let Loose" event — and it's got the highly anticipated OLED display that Apple is calling "Tandem OLED" for an "Ultra Retina XDR" screen.

Why is it called Tandem OLED? It's got two OLED displays put together, which outputs a super high contrast screen for true, deep blacks. Plus, the Tandem OLED display yields incredible brightness, too (1,600 nits peak brightness, to be specific).

If you're not a screen snob, you may be wondering, "Why should I care about an OLED display?" That's a fair question, so let's run down the benefits of an OLED display so that you can make a decision on whether the new iPad Pro is right for you.

SEE ALSO: iPad Pro 2024 now has 'Tandem OLED': 5 reasons this is a big deal What is an OLED display?

OLED, which stands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes, consists of organic electroluminescent materials that glow when electricity passes through them. Each pixel on an OLED display has its own individual light source. In other words, as PCWorld puts it, each pixel can be turned off completely, "providing a deep, inky, perfect black level."

This is what makes an OLED display more advantageous than, say, the mini-LED display featured on the previous-generation iPad Pro. Instead of per-pixel lighting, mini-LED displays have about 3,000 lighting zones (compare that to the OLED's eight million).

TechRadar explained it perfectly:

"Imagine the whole screen entirely black, save for a single pixel out of eight million in pure, bright white – because that’s totally doable on an OLED. On a Mini LED set, it’s not even close: in a 4K panel with around 3,000 lighting zones, each backlight zone would actually drive around 2,700 pixels."

As you'll find out in the next section, this provides OLED displays with more benefits compared to the mini-LED screen on the last-generation iPad Pro (and the LCD panel on the iPad Air).

New OLED iPad Pro: 5 benefits

Streaming is one of the many reasons people purchase an iPad. It's a comfortable way to cuddle up at night and watch your favorite shows without an uncomfortable keyboard jutting out in front of you.

As such, if streaming is a use case for you, there's a good chance that having a tablet that's the equivalent of eye candy is important. If so, you'll appreciate the benefits of an OLED display on an iPad.

Featured Video For You Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro 1. No 'halo effect'

Some users of the iPad Pro 2022, which features a mini-LED display, experienced something called "blooming" or the "halo effect."

You can see it happening around the Apple logo in Josh Teder's X post below.

Tweet may have been deleted

To put it succinctly, blooming is light leakage. This phenomenon occurs when non-black UI elements are illuminated from behind via a backlight, causing the light to seep into the surrounding black UI, as 9to5Mac explained.

New iPad Pro with "Tandem OLED" display. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, with OLED, this shouldn't be an issue because, again, when something needs to be black, those pixels will be turned off entirely — not dimmed.

2. True blacks The new iPad Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As aforementioned, OLED displays can completely extinguish light from pixels, allowing the screen to achieve perfect black levels when it's appropriate — something mini-LED and LCD displays can't do.

3. Better contrast

Thanks to self-lighting pixels that, again, can be totally turned off independently, OLED displays should deliver better contrast than mini-LED screens.

New iPad Pro with the new Magic Keyboard Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This provides a stark distinction between the true blacks and the other colors that are being emitted on the screen.

4. Better viewing angles

This won't matter much when you're using an iPad for yourself, but if your partner is peering over to see what you're watching, they may get a better viewing angle on an OLED display compared to mini-LED and LCD screens.

New 13-inch iPad Pro with Apple Pencil Pro. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Why?

According to PCWorld, an LCD screen, for example, can control specific pixels by using liquid crystals to block their light. This can cause images to look different from different angles because liquid crystals do not obstruct light evenly.

Plus, they "require a few milliseconds to respond to a charge, causing blur or ghosting in rapidly changing image."

5. Superior motion performance

With the new iPad Pro, we expect better motion performance. OLED displays offer smoother, more seamless transition between frames compared to LCD technology. As such, they're known for delivering zippier response times and better motion-blur management.

We don't know whether the OLED iPad Pro, indeed, has a leg up over its predecessor in these five areas, but we'll let you know when we get the tablet in for review.

One thing, however, we must warn you about when it comes to OLED displays is that they are known for causing burn-in, a permanent issue in which a faint image from the screen is "burned" into the panel — even though the image isn't being displayed anymore.

Let's hope that Apple has found a way to mitigate this risk by employing some clever techniques.

The new 2024 iPad Pro got unveiled at Apple's "Let Loose" event on May 7. Coming in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch models, the new iPad Pro made a splash with an M4 chip that jumps a generation (i.e., from the predecessor's M2 chip to the current M4 processor).

Apple boasted that the new iPad Pro is really thin — like "iPod Nano" thin. I got a chance to briefly play around with the new iPad Pro models — and yeah — these tablets are surprisingly slim. And they're very featherlike, too.

iPad Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

But what really caught my eye was the nano-texture glass model, but more on that later.

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro The new iPad Pro's slimness blew me away

When Apple said that the iPad Pro is "impossibly thin," pointing out that the 11-inch and 13-inch variants are 5.3mm and 5.1mm thick, respectively, I couldn't wrap my mind around it — until I held them for myself.

While being showcased on display, I walked around the iPad Pro models and they seem to disappear as I looked at their sides.

You see that iPad Pro in the middle? You can barely see it. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

And then I held them in my hands. How could something so powerful be such a featherweight?

The new iPad Pro in my hands Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The 13-inch iPad Pro is only 1.28 pounds while the 11-inch variant is just under a pound (i.e., 0.9 pounds).

The new nano-texture glass model

If you're sick and tired of dealing with your iPad display not cooperating in challenging lighting situations, you can grab the nano-texture glass model for a nice matte finish.

I was standing in a brightly lit area and noticed that the nano-texture glass model, only available in the 1TB and 2TB storage options, significantly reduced glare.

Here are two iPad Pros, but the nano-texture glass model is on the right Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Keep in mind, though, that this model is best for users who need to have a highly visible screen at all times while they're on-the-go. As such, the nano-texture glass model targets professionals (hence why you'll have to shell out at least $1,699 for the 11-inch model and $2,099 for the 13-inch variant).

The nano-texture glass model is on the right in this shot. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As you can see in the photo, there are trade-offs with the nano-texture glass model. The one without it has a richer panel.

The 'Tandem OLED' iPad Pro is gorgeous

The iPad Pro has a new "Tandem OLED" display, which means that Apple layered two OLED displays on top of each other. The result? A super high-contrast, immersive display with top-notch brightness (1,600 nits peak brightness, to be exact).

11-inch iPad Pro on the Magic Keyboard Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Called an "Ultra Retina XDR display," the iPad Pro's screen was pure visual candy in person.

The 'Space Black' iPad Pro is stunning

When I saw the Space Black MacBook Pro in all of its glory last October, I was crossing my fingers that this gorgeous, rich onyx color would come to more Apple devices.

iPad Pro in Space Black Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Answering my prayers, there's now a "Space Black" iPad Pro. (Now, I just need Space Black to come to the iPhone 16.)

There's a "Space Black" Magic Keyboard, too, by the way, which now has a larger haptic trackpad, a full function row, and an aluminum palm rest.

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts $999 while the 13-inch model will set you back $1,299. As mentioned, they come in Space Black, but there's also a Silver colorway.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPad Pro $999.00 at Apple
Get Deal

TikTok fired back at the U.S. government's ban with a lawsuit.

Today, it was reported that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has sued the federal government to constitutionally block the new law from going into effect.

SEE ALSO: Here's how the TikTok ban will likely play out in the courts

TikTok's court filing says, "For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than one billion people worldwide." It calls the ban "unconstitutional" under the First Amendment.

The law requires ByteDance to divest TikTok within 270 days or face a ban in the U.S. App Store. It passed as part of a foreign aid package sending 95 billion dollars to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

The lawsuit argues that selling TikTok isn't "commercially, technologically, or legally feasible," saying that the law will result in a shutdown. It details how TikTok and its competitors are global in nature, how it's impossible to transfer the social media platform's "millions of lines" of code to a new owner, and that the Chinese app will not sell its recommendation algorithm.

Congress sees TikTok as posing a national security threat, arguing that its ties to the Chinese government put American user data at risk. TikTok denies that it shares American user data with the Chinese government. Ultimately, the lawsuit will require Congress to back up its claims.

It's time for an iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air face-off.

In the last couple of years, Apple's been strongly positioning its most powerful tablet as a capable laptop replacement. Now that the new iPad Pros are here, it's time to once again take a closer look into the inevitable comparison: iPad Pro or MacBook Air?

Before we begin, we need to set the stage a little bit. Yes, the iPad Pro is primarily a tablet, and by default, it comes without a mechanical keyboard. But Apple's Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro is getting better (more on that in a bit), and the iPad does have a touchscreen and Pencil, whereas the MacBook Air does not, which makes it a little more powerful in certain workflows.

Finally, the iPad Pro comes with Apple's new M4 chip, making it more powerful (in theory) than the MacBook Air.

Big caveat here: Until we thoroughly test the new iPad Pro, we won't know exactly how well it behaves as a laptop replacement. Keep in mind that this article merely compares specs based on publicly available data.

SEE ALSO: How to pre-order the new iPad Air

Regardless, the last iteration of the iPad Pro wasn't a good replacement for the MacBook Air, due to price, minor bugs, and numerous workflow issues. Has this changed with the new iPad Pro? Let's dive in.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Price

The MacBook Air is considerably cheaper than the new iPad Pro. It starts at $1,099, while the 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,299. The iPad comes without a keyboard, and for a fair comparison, we must add the Magic Keyboard, which costs an additional $299, bringing the total costs for the iPad Pro to $1,598. A pretty big win for the MacBook Air.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Specs

Here's where it becomes complicated. No matter what Apple or anyone else says, the MacBook Air is probably more suited for laptop tasks. But when it comes to pure processing power and display prowess, it's lagging behind.

Pfft, the keyboard doesn't even come off. Credit: Apple

This is because the MacBook Air comes with Apple's M3 chip, whereas the new iPad Pro has Apple's latest and greatest M4 chip. We can't be sure how it performs, though. Spec for spec, the M4 is more powerful. The 13-inch iPad Pro with 256 GB of storage (starting model) has an M4 chip with a 9-core CPU, with 3 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural engine. The starting MacBook Air comes with an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU (with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), an 8-Core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Starting storage is the same for both models, at 256GB.

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro

The display on the MacBook Air is also a distant second here. The Air has a 13.6-inch IPS LED display with a 2,560x1,664 pixel resolution and 500 nits of brightness. The iPad Pro's display blows it away: It's a Tandem OLED display with a 2,752x2,064 pixel display and 1,000 nits of max brightness (1,600 nits when watching HDR content).

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Design

Well, one is a tablet, the other one is a laptop. Easy, no?

In reality, if you deck the iPad with Apple's new Magic Keyboard, it's quite laptop-like. And here is where we have to give an advantage to the iPad Pro, which can be turned into a beautiful, uninterrupted slab of...well, content. It can also be had in Apple's cool new Space Black color, though MacBook Air does have a wider option of colors, with four on offer - Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver.

Could fool you for a real laptop...from a distance. Credit: Apple

If we dove into functionality, we'd probably get very different opinions from users: Some would prefer the iPad's versatility, while others (me included) like the fact that the MacBook is just a laptop that cannot be turned into anything else.

Still, based purely on aesthetics, we must give this one to the iPad Pro.

Oh, and you should also take into account just how lighter the iPad Pro is than the MacBook Air: 0.98 pounds vs. 2.7 pounds. We don't know the exact weight of the Magic Keyboard, which you must add to the weight of the iPad, but we're pretty sure it doesn't weigh 1.7 pounds.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Features

We're sorry, Mac lovers, but the iPad Pro wins this one, too. It has a touchscreen display, Apple Pencil Pro support, and a 12-megapixel camera on the back. The MacBook Air has...well, it has an attached keyboard.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Battery life

We don't have real-life figures for the iPad Pro, so we won't stray further than Apple's official figures: Up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing for the MacBook Air, and up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video for the iPad Pro.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Which is best for you?

We'd like to give you a definitive answer, but for that we'd need to test the iPad Pro (we will), and we'd have to know what kind of user you are. If you need the touchscreen and if you like to jot things down with a Pencil, you should consider the iPad Pro (if you don't mind the additional cost).

For a lot of users, it boils down to one thing: Whether it has an always ready, attached keyboard or not. Oh, and the software. Credit: Apple

Based on specs, design, and features alone, the iPad Pro is a pretty clear winner here: It has a more powerful chip, more features, a far more advanced display, and is just overall a cooler device to have.

The elephant in the room when it comes to comparisons like these is always the software. So far, Apple's iPadOS isn't as good for most work-related tasks as the macOS. Maybe, just maybe Apple will change that with the next iteration of iPadOS...but we'll have to wait until June and Apple WWDC to find out.

My 2019 iPad Pro had a pretty good run, all things considered.

Outwardly, the nearly 5-year-old Apple tablet is in good shape. The Magic Keyboard still makes for a useful mini-laptop, especially with the magnetic Pencil. Yet on the inside, its heart seems heavier (literally heavier with that Magic Keyboard, compared to the 2019 iPad Pro keyboard). The battery is still functional, but drains out overnight if I don't plug it in, even with the power hog "background refresh" feature turned off.

This doesn't feel like planned obsolecence, not exactly. More like a tired workhorse whispering in my ear: "I've had a good life. It's OK if you put me out to pasture now. You'd probably get a good trade-in price, you know."

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro

And right on time, here comes Apple with its slimmest, lightest, most powerful iPad Pros yet (unveiled, mercifully, in the company's shortest event yet). Now here I am, lusting after the iPad Pro 13-inch, which just got significantly lighter than its 12.9 inch predecessor, and way faster. I'm wondering just how many digital comics I could store in a 2 TB version. I'm intensely curious about the new squeezable Pencil Pro. Who doesn't want to squeeze their Pencil?

Here I am, in other words, seriously contemplating an iPad Pro package that will top out at more than $3,000 (including Pencil Pro and the newer, lighter Magic Keyboard). For comparison, that's $2,000 more than you'd pay for a 13-inch Macbook Air, and $700 more than the last time we called Apple brilliant jerks for their high-end iPad package plan.

Some owners might balk at such an upgrade, no matter what the trade-in credit. (For the record, Apple's trade-in estimator says I can have $285 for my old workhorse). But let us just say that creating and feeding such owners is not how Apple became the wealthiest tech company on the planet.

The iPad's best ally is and always has been aspirational creativity — what I described in that previous iPad Pro analysis as "living your best life." You may not actually use this tablet to make movies at a climbing gym, as we saw in that 40-minute Apple event, but you could. If you're using an audio editor like Logic Pro it probably makes more sense to do so on a Mac, but you'd look cooler walking around the home studio, editing your future hit track on a tablet.

You may not always use the top-notch art app that got star billing at the event, Procreate, but surely when you do, the Penci Pro will squeeze the Picasso-like genius out of you. And you may not actually need that super-powerful M4 chip for a device most often used to read digital comics or magazines, or a new Magic Keyboard if you're already toting a Macbook Air in your bag, for Pete's sake. (No, I'm not calling myself out here, why do you ask?)

But you might! Maybe the extra screen real estate and faster load times will be all it takes to tip you over into finally finishing that novel, and wouldn't you feel bad if inspiration struck and all you had was your iPad and you had to type on an actual screen? The horror!

And there's the rub: Apple knows our income is always a little more disposable if it can appeal to our wannabe genius. Life is short; who doesn't want to unleash their inner artist/musician/climbing gym videographer? Credit card debt is nothing next to living your best creative life.

Whisper it low, but the old workhorse doesn't stand a chance.

Let's dive into an iPad Air vs. iPad Pro face-off. Apple showed off two new iPads on Tuesday at the May 7 "Let Loose" livestream, but you're unsure which is best for you.

We're more than happy to give you the deets to help you make a decision. The new OLED iPad Pro and the new iPad Air are different products that serve different audiences. However, the differences aren't that self-explanatory. One is more expensive with more features, and the other is cheaper, but also has a couple of benefits of its own.

Here's how the two new iPads compare to each other.

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Specs and price The Air can do almost as much as the Pro. Credit: Apple

As I said earlier, these two device serve slightly different audiences, so their specs are going to look a little different. Before we get to that, though, let's talk about price. The iPad Air starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. The iPad Pro comes in the same two sizes, but at price points of $999 and $1,299, respectively.

Here are the iPad Air's basic specs:

• M2 processor

• LED Liquid Retina display with 2360x1640 resolution

• Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

• WiFi 6E

• 5G LTE support (optional)

And here are the specs for the iPad Pro:

• M4 processor

• OLED Ultra Retina XDR display with 2420x1668 resolution

• Up to 120Hz refresh rate

• Storage options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB

And interestingly, the iPad Pro has a slightly hidden difference under the hood depending on how much storage you get, per Apple's specs page. The 256GB and 512GB variants have one fewer CPU core than the 1TB and 2TB variants. It's hard to say what, precisely, that means in a practical sense, but hey, it's worth noting.

Anyway, the iPad Pro clearly wins on specs, but that's because it's more expensive. You get what you pay for.

Winner: iPad Pro

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Design Look at how thin that thing is. Credit: Apple

There isn't a ton to say about the designs of these two iPads. They look like iPads.

If you want to get down into the nitty-gritty, though, there are a few things to comb through. For starters, the iPad Air has a more varied and frankly better selection of colors. Here's what's on offer for the Air:

• Blue

• Purple

• Starlight

• Space Grey

While iPad Pro customers only get the measly choice between silver and black. Boring!

One other thing worth pointing out here is that, despite the "Air" part of the iPad Air's name, both new versions of the Pro are actually thinner and lighter. Both new models of the Air are 6.1mm thick, while the 11-inch Pro is 5.3mm and the 13-inch Pro is even smaller at 5.1mm. The difference in weight is less than a tenth of a pound, though, so that doesn't matter all that much.

Oh, and both iPads got a repositioned front-facing camera. It now sits on top of the device when placed in landscape mode, for more natural video calls.

Winner: iPad Air for color choices

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Features Multiple cameras, one tablet. Credit: Apple

This category isn't super fair, but let's talk about it anyway.

Obviously, the Pro has more features than the Air. It's more expensive and has better hardware inside of it. That doesn't mean the Air doesn't bring anything new or interesting to the table, though. Apple's in-house M2 chip enables some AI features, like Live Text, which recognizes and even translates text in images.

The only problem is that the Pro can do all of that and more. A new version of the Final Cut Pro app for iPad Pro allows for seamless blending of multiple camera angles from different devices, for example. It can also use AI to more easily scan documents using the rear-facing camera. Neither of these devices blow the doors off the tech world with amazing new features, but the Pro can do a little bit more than the Air, so it wins.

Winner: iPad Pro

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Battery life

We can't definitively tell you which device has better practical battery life until they're in our hands, but we can at least look at the specs. Here are the battery sizes for each new iPad model:

• iPad Air: 28.93-watt-hour battery (11-inch model) or 36.59-watt-hour battery (13-inch model)

• iPad Pro: 31.29-watt-hour battery (11-inch model) or 38.99-watt-hour battery (13-inch model)

Those numbers tell us what we could have already guessed, which is that the iPad Pro generally has a bigger battery than the Air. However, Apple's specs pages rate both devices for "up to" 10 hours of general use, so it's hard to say which has a distinct advantage right now, if any.

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Which should you buy?

It all comes down to cash.

Do you have money to spend on a new iPad Pro? Then you should get the Pro. It has a better display, a better processor, a bigger battery, and more features. That was always going to be the case, so no surprises here.

That said, maybe you have the cash but don't have the desire to do serious workflow stuff on an iPad. Maybe the iPad exists for doing crossword puzzles and watching YouTube videos in your life. If that's the case, go with the Air.

PRICE DROP: With the release of the 2024 iPad Air and iPad Pro, the iPad 10th Generation now starts at $349. Shop the tablet at its new price today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (10th Generation)
The Apple iPad 10th Generation now starts at $349. Shop Now

At Apple's "Let Loose" event on Tuesday, May 7th, the company debuted their new iPad Air and iPad Pro in addition to an upgraded Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil Pro. But among the exciting new product launches is the news that the Apple iPad 10th Generation now starts at $349. This is no temporary deal — the Apple iPad has a new affordable price.

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro

The base iPad model comes with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. It's outfitted with the A14 chip and a landscape ultra-wide front camera. It comes in four different color ways: Blue, pink, yellow, and silver. For $349, the iPad starts at 64 GB of storage but is also available in 256 GB for $499.

Our friends over at PC Mag (owned by Mashable's parent company, Ziff Davis) tested the iPad 10th generation, saying it's an excellent model for most people. While the iPad Air and Pro may be the more suitable option for creatives with its superior processing speeds, the 10th generation iPad handles HD content for all your daily streaming needs.

PC Mag's managing editor Eric Zeman's main complaint about the iPad 10th generation was its price jump to $449 at its time of release. With its updated starting price of $349, the iPad solidifies itself as the best tablet under $500.

PRE-ORDER NOW: As of May 7, new Magic Keyboards for both sizes of the new iPad Pro are available for preorder through the Apple Store. The 11-inch Pro keyboard costs $299 and the 13-inch Pro keyboard costs $349, and both will begin shipping the week of May 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro starting at $299 Pre-Order Here

If you couldn't quite justify buying one of the new MacBook Pros that came out in the fall, forget that FOMO — the 2024 Magic Keyboard pushes the iPad Pro experience closer to that of a MacBook than ever.

Apple announced a new Magic Keyboard during its iPad-centric event on May 7. You can now pre-order either the 11-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro Magic Keyboard for $299 or $349, respectively. The Pros themselves can also be pre-ordered now, and the whole setup can all be in your hands as soon as May 15.

The changes to the Magic Keyboard aren't as revolutionary on paper as the ones seen on the other Apple accessory upgrade, the new Apple Pencil Pro. However, they're certainly not nothing: First and foremost, the Magic Keyboard finally has a function row, and a 14-key one at that. That alone brings the iPad into real laptop territory.

SEE ALSO: iPad Air 2024: 3 new features that iPad Air 2022 doesn't have

The 2024 Magic Keyboard is also outfitted with a larger glass trackpad with haptic feedback and compatibility with Multi-Touch gestures, backlit keys, an aluminum palm rest, and a scissor mechanism with 1mm travel. No, it still doesn't need to be charged.

There's actually an argument to be made that the 2024 iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard combo create a more powerful experience than that of the MacBook Pro released a few months ago. That's because the new iPad Pros are the sole Apple devices (so far) to wield the M4 chip, coined (by Apple) as the most powerful neural processing unit of any personal computer on the market. With the immersive Apple Pencil Pro also on hand, the iPad Pro and its accessories form an intimidating laptop competitor.

Google Pixel 8a preorders 128GB model Google Pixel 8a $499 at Google Store (Get $100 credit to the Google Store) Pre-order now 256GB model Google Pixel 8a $559 at Google Store (Get $100 Google Store credit) Pre-order now

It looks like Google isn't waiting for its I/O conference next week to make all its big announcements.

On May 7, the day of Apple's iPad event, Google swooped in and put the Pixel 8a up for preorder, starting at $499 for the 128GB model. Google has also released a 256GB Pixel 8a for $559, but at the time of writing, it was only available in the Obsidian colorway. Fans have been waiting for the more affordable phone to drop since the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were released last fall, and once again, it looks like Google has made the budget Android to beat.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro: Every single thing we know so far

When the Google Pixel 7a hit the market in 2023, we thought the rumors that it could be the last of the A-Series Pixels made sense: it was a pretty darn close recreation of the Pixel 7 for about $100 cheaper. We're glad Google didn't decide to throw in the towel, and instead is offering even more of an attractive deal — while the Pixel 8's price increased $100 over its previous generation to $699, the Pixel 8a is available at the same $499 starting price as the Pixel 7a started at. Basically, the Pixel 8a gets you a similar product to the Pixel 8 for $200 less.

Price-wise, that's not the only exciting news. Google is offering $100 of Google Store credit through May 19 when you buy a Pixel 8a. The official release date for the 8a is May 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 8a (128GB) $499.00 at Google Store
Pre-Order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 8a (256GB) $559.00 at Google Store
Pre-Order Here How the Pixel 8a compares to the Pixel 8

Based on its spec sheet, the Pixel 8a shares quite a bit in common with the Pixel 8, including:

• Tensor G3 chip

• 24+ hour battery life

• Magic Editor and Magic Take camera tools

• 128 and 256GB options for storage

• 8 GB RAM

• Up to 120Hz refresh rate (up from 90Hz on Pixel 7a)

The Pixel 8a will come with a slightly less powerful battery than the Pixel 8, one less microphone, and no spatial audio. It also comes in the same colorways as the Pixel 8 Pro: Obsidian, Bay, and Porcelain, plus one additional color, Aloe (there's less overlap with the Pixel 8, which comes in Obsidian, Rose, Mint, and Hazel).

SEE ALSO: New iPad Air announced — here's everything you need to know

The Pixel 8a is barely smaller than the Pixel 8, with just a 0.1-inch difference in the display size. It also houses the same 64 MP Quad PD wide camera, 13 MP ultrawide rear cameras, and 13 MP front camera that the 7a does. Considering the 7a marked a significant improvement over previous generations, it isn't surprising that Google didn't opt for big changes just one year later.

Best deals at Amazon Pet Day 2024 Best pet tech deal Tractive GPS tracker and health monitoring for dogs $29.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best pet bed deal Furhaven cooling gel dog bed (iceberg green) $38.20 at Amazon (save $6.79) Get Deal Best pet toy deal Chuckit! dog ball launcher (sport, 25 inches) $8.69 at Amazon (save $5.30) Get Deal

It's hard to find something in life that's more enjoyable than spoiling our pets. Giving us unconditional love, pets deserve all the treats in the world all the time. And thanks to the Amazon Pet Day sale, you can spoil your furry friends for less.

When is Amazon Pet Day 2024?

While the name implies just one day of sales, Amazon Pet Day actually spans two days, May 7 and 8, with deals expiring at 11:59 p.m. on May 8. But keep in mind that some deals will be Amazon Lightning Deals which means they could be gone in a flash.

Amazon Pet Day deals are the perfect excuse to stock up on toys, pet accessories, tech, and treats. This could be an ideal time to pick up your pet's favorites.

What to expect from Amazon Pet Day

While this isn't a massive sale like Amazon Prime Day, you'll find tons of deals for pets like self-cleaning litter boxes, the Furbo dog camera + treat dispenser, dog food, and toys to keep your dog or cat entertained all day.

Unlike some Prime Day deals, Amazon Pet Day sales are open to all shoppers, even those without an Amazon Prime membership.

The best Amazon Pet Day deals

We've compiled our favorite pet deals below, and we'll continue updating this page as the sale continues.

Here are our top recommendations so far:

Best pet tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Tractive Our pick: Tractive GPS tracker and health monitoring for dogs $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's top choice for a budget-friendly GPS dog tracker is the Tractive GPS tracker and health monitoring system. The tracker slips onto your dog's collar and through the associated app, you'll be able to keep tabs on your dog 24/7. With no distance limitations, the tracker gets about 15 days of battery life before it needs a recharge. You can also set up a custom area where your dog typically hangs out, like inside of the house and the backyard. If the dog leaves this area, you'll automatically be alerted, which can help give you peace of mind while you're not at home.

More pet tech deals:

• Petkit stainless steel cat water fountain — $52.99 $89 at Amazon (save $36.01)

• Petcube Play 2 Wi-Fi pet camera with laser for cats and dogs — $63.99 $79.99 at Amazon (save $16)

• PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart front-entry self-cleaning cat litter box — $249.95 $299.95 at Amazon (save $50)

• Petkit PuraMax self-cleaning cat litter box — $399 $596.99 at Amazon (save $197.99)

Best pet bed deal Opens in a new window Credit: FurHaven Our pick: FurHaven cooling gel dog bed (iceberg green) $38.20 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $6.79 Get Deal Why we like it

Soaring summer temps are just a few weeks away and if your pet tends to overheat, the FurHaven cooling dog bed could be perfect for warmer months. Designed for small or medium dogs, the bed has a removable and washable cover. While it's made for dogs, who's to say a cat wouldn't love to nap on the cooling gel foam too? It's designed for cushioned support in dogs that weigh up to 35 pounds while the L-shaped chaise design gives pets a cozy pillow to relax on.

More pet bed and furniture deals:

• Kitty City large cat tunnel bed (white) — $33.58 $39.50 at Amazon (save $5.92)

• Happy & Polly Fruit World cat tree — $87.77 $109.99 at Amazon (save $22.22)

• Bedsure XXL orthopedic dog bed — $92.79 $139.99 at Amazon (save $47.20)

Best pet toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: Chuckit! Our pick: Chuckit! dog ball launcher (sport, 25 inches) $8.69 at Amazon
$13.99 Save $5.30 Get Deal Why we like it

Some dog toys are absolutely essential, and the Chuckit! ball launcher is certainly at the top of this list. If your throwing arm is lacking, the Chuckit! turns almost every toss into an award-winning throw, giving your dog the ball-chasing experience they dream of. The 25-inch length of this model is said to be ideal for dogs between 20 and 60 pounds, and it includes a medium ball. Not only does the Chuckit! allow you to launch the ball like never before, its handy cup design means you no longer have to touch a slobbery tennis ball that's rolled through the dirt.

More pet toy deals:

• Chuckit! Paraflight Flying Disc dog toy — $4 $16.99 at Amazon (save $12.99)

• Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Puzzle — $8.38 $12.99 at Amazon (save $4.61)

• Disney for Pets Pixar’s Finding Nemo cat play tunnel — $15.99 $19.99 at Amazon (save $4)

• Petlibro Interactive Cat Toy — $18.99 $26.69 at Amazon (save $7.70)

More deals on essentials for dogs and cats:

• Save up to 21% on Fresh Step cat litter

• Save up to 40% on Frontline flea and tick for cats and dogs

• Save up to 48% on dog food and treats

• Save up to 54% on Purina cat food and treats

Look in on your pets when you're away with a reliable pet camera. Here are some of our top picks on sale during Amazon Pet Day as of May 7:

Best Pet Camera Deals Best Pet Camera Deal Eufy Security Pet Camera $129.99 at Amazon (Save $70) Get Deal Best Treat-Dispensing Pet Camera Deal Furbo 360° Dog Camera $69 at Amazon (Save $30) Get Deal Best Pet Camera with Laser Pointer Deal Petcube Play 2 $63.99 at Amazon (Save $16 ) Get Deal Best Budget Pet Camera Deal Petcube Cam 360 Camera $33.58 at Amazon (Save $8.41) Get Deal

What are your pets up to when you're away? If you leave your dog or cat to roam the house when you have to step out, that's probably a frequent question on your mind. Are the cats shredding the sofa cushions? Is the dog sneaking treats from the treat stash? Put all those questions to rest with a pet camera. Whether you want to check in here and there to let your pup know you're on your way home, or you need peace of mind that your pets aren't destroying your home, these cameras are absolute necessities for pet owners.

It's a great time to grab one right now, too. During Amazon Pet Day, you can save up to 35% off top pet camera brands to help you stay in the loop with what your furry friends are doing at any given time. We've chosen some of our favorites during the sale that you can bring home today without spending a paw or a tail. Below, find different pet cameras for different needs and budgets that you can shop through Amazon Pet Day depending on availability.

Best pet camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Eufy Security Pet Camera $129.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Eufy Security Pet Camera is a feature-rich camera that comes with on-device AI tracking, a 360-degree field of vision, and 1080p video quality. It also has plenty of local storage to keep all the footage of your pets on board should you need it for any reason. Fortuitously, it doesn't require a monthly fee for all of those goodies. It can follow your pet automatically so you don't have to deal with looking at the side of your fur baby or a sliver of them off-screen, and you can toss treats to them from time to time as well. Set up notifications when motion or noise is detected and get them on your phone via app, and you're set to keep track of every single move your pet makes.

Best treat-dispensing pet camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Furbo 360° Dog Camera $69.00 at Amazon
$99.00 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Furbo 360° Dog Camera is a treat-dispensing camera that tosses treats like you would, far enough from the device so your dog or cat doesn't come sniffing around where they don't need to be. It also comes with a variety of other goodies, like a 360-degree wide angle lens, 4X HD zoom, selfie alerts, and more – though you do need a paid subscription for all of these extras, which starts at $6.99 monthly. But it's a sleek and simple pet camera that packs everything you need into one easy-to-use device, with motion and sound detection, app alerts, and more, including a video history to check what your pet was up to anytime during your absence.

Best pet camera with laser pointer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Petcube Play 2 $63.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $16.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Petcube Play 2 is one of our favorite pet cameras, especially if you have cats. Its built-in laser toy will keep them busy when you can't, and that means a lot fewer opportunities for your feline friends to get into mischief. Beyond that, this affordable camera has built-in support for Alexa in its compact frame, so you have plenty of options when setting it up to align with your smart home devices. It records in 1080p with a 160-degree ultra wide angle view, and it also has night vision. It's the perfect mix of affordable and functional, and no subscription is required.

Best budget pet camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Petcube Cam 360 Camera $33.58 at Amazon
$41.99 Save $8.41 Get Deal Why we like it

The Petcube Cam 360 Camera is a budget-priced camera that you won't have to spend too much on to get quality out of – it offers full 1080p video and a 360-degree view with pan and tilt rotation. With its 8x zoom and night vision, there isn't much that'll get past you, either. It offers real-time AI alerts to your phone as well with an optional Petcube Care subscription if that's important to you, and its ultra-fast setup means you can be out of the house with a mechanical nanny for your pets in minutes.

In J.G. Ballard's 1962 story "The Garden of Time", a count and his wife reside within the walls of their extravagant villa, surrounded by flower-laden groves. Their verdant home appears to be an oasis from the outside world, but suddenly the couple waits with bated breath as a vast mob approaches. The prestige and glamour of the house and their own lofty social status then crumbles as the people sweep through the villa and destroy it.

Ballard’s story served as the theme and dress code for the 2024 Met Gala, which fell again on the first Monday of May and welcomed a throng of celebrities to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The event took place at a volatile and harrowing moment in history, bringing into question, for many, the significance of both the gala and its chosen theme: a dystopian story symbolizing a dystopian time.

SEE ALSO: Katy Perry and Rihanna's Met Gala looks went viral. But they weren't real.

That's why, perhaps, many people online have drawn parallels between this year's Met Gala and The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins' YA franchise that famously examines class divide, privilege, and the revolutionary fight for survival. It seems that social media users have harnessed, increasingly, the gist of The Hunger Games to capture the dystopian state of the world.

After all, facets of the series are not far from the reality in question. In the series' core republic of Panem, fashion functions as a socio-political weapon. It's used by the wealthy Capitol to distinguish itself from the state's oppressed, heavily surveilled, poorer districts. Powerful people wear extravagant outfits that intentionally outshine the more modest clothing worn by the masses. But this facade of glitz and glamour is also used to mask government-mandated brutality. Katniss Everdeen, the story's heroine, is made to wear a custom flaming gown in a public "tribute parade" before the titular Hunger Games, where she'll fight young people from other districts to the death. Here, pure spectacle mutes reality.

SEE ALSO: On TikTok, 'The Hunger Games' is a metaphor for our modern dystopia

The Met Gala drew comparisons to The Hunger Games quickly online on Sunday. As social media flooded with reactions to the spectacle of the red carpet, others were acutely aware of the scenes unravelling outside the prestige of the gala. Just about a mile away from the Met, hundreds of pro-Palestine activists demonstrated in protest of the war, with many blocked from entering the gala itself. And miles away, Israeli armed forces carried out an assault on the city of Rafah, resulting in dozens of casualties and injuries.

Simultaneously, the student movement across college campuses in the U.S. has resulted in thousands of arrests and cancelled commencements, as university goers protest in solidarity with Palestine, despite efforts to suppress their demonstrations.

The circumstances surrounding both the Met Gala and the ongoing devastation of violence in Gaza, and the subsequent link with between Ballard's story and the protests outside the event, was almost too clear. The Met Gala itself has not changed: it is always a chance for extravagance, an overt display of opulence, and a moment for the cult of celebrity. But the timing, this year, has raised different questions.

It's less surprising then, that users on X (formally Twitter), turned to The Hunger Games as an apt metaphor. The line between fiction and dystopian reality, say these users, has been blurred.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

It's unclear whether the Met Gala's organizers and attendees recognize the irony in this year's choice of theme, and in the lack of expression towards a harrowing humanitarian crisis. But it would be hard not to.