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TL;DR: As of February 9, get Microsoft Office 2021 for Windows or Mac for life for just $69.99 (reg. $219.99).

How many subscription services do you currently have? Don’t forget streaming, cloud storage, and Microsoft 365. The amount that we all pay in fees seems like a sick joke, but we aren’t laughing — we’re switching to alternatives that we can actually own. 

First up is swapping our Microsoft 365 subscription to Microsoft Office 2021, a lifetime license that only requires a one-time payment for lifelong use on one computer. Normally $219.99 or more, you can grab the Windows or Mac version here for $69.99. This affordable price is made possible by a Microsoft-verified partner.

Own six to eight Microsoft Office apps for life

Microsoft Office 2021 is the latest lifetime license offered by Microsoft, making it an excellent first-time download for your computer or an upgrade for devices running on older versions. Take a look at everything that’s included:

• Word: Create and edit detailed text documents from reports to letters.

• Excel: Use spreadsheets and visualization tools to manage and analyze data.

• PowerPoint: Craft visual and interactive presentations.

• Outlook: Organize emails, calendars, and contacts.

• OneNote: Take digital notes with easy multimedia integration.

• Teams: Communicate seamlessly with chat, video meetings, and file sharing.

Windows users also receive two additional apps, Publisher and Access. Publisher is a design tool for creating assets like brochures or newsletters, while Access is a database manager with tools for reporting and analysis.

Credit: NERDUSED Just a one-time payment for lifelong use

Let’s hit on Microsoft Office 2021’s lifetime value one more time: You only have to pay once to use all of the above apps for life. No renewals. No fees. Just a lifetime of productivity. While you will likely eventually upgrade your computer or want newer versions of these apps, you can use the license as long as you want on that computer.

Save on the ultimate productivity powerhouse for your Windows PC or Mac:

• Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license for Windows, $69.99 (reg. $219.99)

• Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license for Mac, $69.99 (reg. $219.99)

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: NERDUSED Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license for Windows $69.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: NERDUSED Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license for Mac $69.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: Through February 15, get the Dreamscreens 4K TV art gallery for only $32.97 — that's 34% off.

Decorating your home with beautiful art isn't cheap, at least if you take the traditional approach. If you're looking for a low-cost way to elevate the aesthetics of your home, then it's time to turn on the TV. When you aren't watching your favorite shows, your TV could provide a unique artistic accent in your home with a little help from Dreamscreens. 

Dreamscreens is functionally a portable art gallery you can plug into smart TVs and digital picture frames. Instead of a blank black box, you could be viewing high-quality images of famous paintings. Get it for $32.97 through February 15.

Your own TV art gallery

Put your TV to work as an art gallery. Dreamscreens gives you access to a 4K collection of over 500 iconic paintings you might have seen already in museums or textbooks. But you don't have to battle a crowd to see Starry Night this time. Just plug in the USB drive into your Smart TV and start customizing your art experience. 

You can choose how many images are displayed, whether you view in standard or widescreen, or even if you want to turn it into a video with background music. If you don't have a TV or like to play shows for background noise, you aren't missing out on the art. Just plug Dreamscreens into a digital picture frame. 

Simple and classy home décor 

There's still time to turn your TV into a beautiful artsy accent for your home instead of just more lost wall space. 

February 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get Dreamscreens for just $32.97. No coupon needed. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreamscreens Dreamscreens: Turn Your TV into a 4K Digital Art Gallery $32.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of February 9, get the Creative Aurvana over-ear headphones for only $34.99 — usually $49.

If you're looking for a fun and functional gift for a music lover, how about a pair of headphones that might add some new life to their old favorite songs? The Creative Aurvana Live are ergonomic over-ear headphones with super high-quality sound fidelity and a comfortable fit. Normally, these high-quality earphones would cost $49, but you can get them for a reduced price of $34.99. 

Elevate your listening experience

Whether you're shopping for yourself or for another music lover, these high-performance over-ear headphones sound as good as they look. They feature neodymium magnet drivers for clear highs and deep bass tones. These headphones have been tuned by acoustic experts, so they might bring back some of the magic of a live performance, but don't worry you don't need to pay for a concert ticket. 

Love relaxing with some music after a long day? These headphones have an ergonomic design that's fully adjustable, and even the headband is padded. Plus, the earpads are made from super soft leatherette material. Get that snug fit for immersive sound without the discomfort. 

These headphones are Super X-Fi certified, which is why your music might feel a bit more like the sounds you hear in real life. 

Over-ear wired headphones for a low price

For a limited time, get these Creative Aurvana Live SE Wired Over-Ear Headphones on sale for $34.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Creative Creative Aurvana Live SE Wired Over-Ear Headphones $34.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Want to kick back with your gal pals for a much needed movie night? We hear you. No matter if you're able to hang in person or are opting for a video-chat virtual hang, the choices for what to watch together can be overwhelming! That's why we've dug through Netflix's current selection of rom-coms, buddy comedies, tearjerkers, and female-focused fun to single out the very top of the crop. Whether you want something sweet, snarky, sentimental, suspenseful, silly, or savage, we've got you covered.

Here are the top 10 best options for a Gals Night In, all of which are now streaming on Netflix:

1. To All The Boys I've Loved Before Credit: Masha Weisberg / Netflix

Based on Jenny Han's YA novel of the same name, this teen rom-com centers on wistful wallflower Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor), who spends her school days steering clear of mean girls, then her nights dreaming of epic romances with various crushes. Her active imagination not only leads to whimsical fantasy sequences, but also to penning a series of love letters that she never intends to send. Naturally, the letters get out, leaving Lara Jean's most secret desires exposed! To dodge the reaction from one crush in particular, she conspires with kind-hearted jock Peter Kavinsky (It Boy Noah Centineo) to be her pretend boyfriend. Amid shared scrunchies, love-dovey lock screens, yogurt drinks, and one steamy hot tub tryst, things get complicated as their fake romance sparks real feelings. (For a DIY double-feature, pair Susan Johnson's praised pic with its love-triangle sequel, To All The Boys, P.S. I Still Love You.)

How to watch: To All The Boys I've Loved Before is now streaming on Netflix.

2. 13 Going on 30

If you haven't watched 13 Going on 30 yet, what exactly are you doing? An absolute staple of the rom-com genre, the film follows Jenna Rink, an awkward 13-year-old girl whose only birthday wish is to be "30, flirty, and thriving." Well, lucky for Jenna, her wish surprisingly comes true, and she wakes up the next day to find that she's now her 30-year-old self (played by the incomparable Jennifer Garner) in the ripe year of 2004. From timeless quotes to swoon-worthy romance and some of the most memorable scenes to ever bless a rom-com, 13 Going on 30 is a must-see. Plus, it'll give you the biggest crush on Mark Ruffalo ever.* — Yasmeen Hamadeh, Freelance Contributor 

How to watch: 13 Going on 30 is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Carol

Want to swoon as a crew? Turn to Todd Hayne's glamorous adaption of Patricia Highsmith's novel The Price of Salt. Rooney Mara stars as a wide-eyed shop girl with ambitions of becoming a photographer. Yet, her path seems set and small, even amid the dazzling possibilities of 1950s New York City. She'll probably marry some man, have kids, and then become like the vacuous women who swan around the department store where she works. That is until she meets Carol, an elegant vision of womanhood, who catches her eye and calls her a girl "flung out of space." What begins as a fascination fast blossoms into an intoxicating romance. Brimming with color, lust, and texture, this critically adored drama embraces audiences with the thrill, threat, and freedom of forbidden love. Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, John Magaro, and Kyle Chandler co-star.

How to watch: Carol is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Always Be My Maybe Credit: Netflix

What if the one who got away got a second chance? Back in the day, Sasha and Marcus were tight as a slap bracelet. But one fumbled night in a sweaty backseat seemed to shatter their future together. 15 years later, she's a world-renowned chef and he's — well — he's working for his dad's HVAC business and playing with his band on the side. Still, fate arranges for them to reconnect, which could mean Marcus (Randall Park) has a shot to show Sasha (Ali Wong) how he feels. However, the stakes get high when Keanu Reeves crashes the party, being all weird and hot and having the audacity to be Keanu Reeves! This Nahnatchka Khan-helmed laffer also boasts appearances by James Saito, Charlyne Yi, Karan Soni, Daniel Dae Kim, and Michelle Buteau.

How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix.

5. The Lovebirds Credit: Skip Bolen / Netflix

Want a romantic comedy with a solid streak of action? Michael Showalter, the helmer behind such envelope-pushing rom-coms as The Big Sick and The Baxter, offers a thrilling adventure of mistaken identities, murder, and mayhem. Smoke-show comedians Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani star as Leilani and Jibran, a couple who started out hot and heavy but have witnessed the passion slowly bleed out of their relationship. Then, what starts off as another night of mandatory fun and beleaguered bickering derails when they are framed for a hit-and-run homicide. Fleeing from cops and crooks, these two will have to team up to clear their names. Along the way, they rediscover their spark…as well as how good Rae looks in a unicorn onesie.

How to watch: The Lovebirds is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Lady Bird

Being a teen girl is a unique hell. Few films capture this frenzy of hormones, angst, obstinacy, insecurity, and recklessness as deftly and humorously as writer/director Greta Gerwig's coming-of-age dramedy. Saoirse Ronan stars Lady Bird, a self-named 16-year-old girl who views her Catholic high school, working class constraints, and hovering mother as insufferable obstacles to her inevitable greatness. Ravenous to carve out her own identity, she throws herself at boys, into fights with her exasperated mother (Laurie Metcalf), and out of a car! Yet even in her most outlandish moments, this gonzo girl's journey feels achingly relatable. If you're game to feel 16 again, check out this critically heralded stunner that is specific, insightful, and achingly vulnerable. Tracy Letts, Beanie Feldstein, Lucas Hedges, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Timothée Chalamet co-star, sprinkling in humor, heartbreak, and f*ckboi-style hotness.

How to watch: Lady Bird is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Do Revenge Credit: Kim Simms / Netflix

Looking for a revenge flick that pays tribute to teen classics like Mean Girls, Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and more? Then check out Do Revenge, a dark comedy sure to join the canon of iconic high school movies. Students Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) couldn't be more different... apart from the fact that both have major bones to pick with people who ruined their reputations. They decide to team up and execute one another's revenge plans, which leads down a winding road of morally dubious choices, snappy one-liners, and excellent outfits.

Mendes and Hawke have great chemistry, but it's Sophie Turner who damn near steals the show in a bit part that simply must be seen to be believed.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Do Revenge is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room

Want to crack up and commiserate about the joys and trials of being a mom? Turn to sparkling stand-up comic Katherine Ryan. Bedecked in a bedazzled floral top with crisp red lipstick, she's a smirking vision of feminine beauty as she unfurls dirty jokes that'd make your father blush. The audience of her comedy special is welcomed in with a conspiratorial tone and invitingly mischievous grin, as if we're all girlfriends gathered for an all-you-can drink brunch. Her stories come fast, furious, and savagely funny, thanks to her cutting candor, feminist edge, and outrageous punch lines. Whether you want to chuckle over dating, parenting, Celine Dion, or Hamilton, Katherine is your girl.

How to watch: Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room is now streaming on Netflix.

9. The Breaker Upperers

This hidden gem comes from New Zealand, the fertile comedy ground that gave us Taika Waititi, Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do In The Shadows. Waititi collaborators Jackie van Beek, James Rolleston, and Jemaine Clement team up for a deeply quirky buddy comedy about two long-time besties with a bonkers — but brilliant — business model. Need someone to dump your partner so you can avoid a messy confrontation? Call on Jen and Mel (co-writers/co-directors/co-leads van Beek and Madeleine Sami). For a reasonable fee, these fearless Breaker Upperers will impersonate police officers, play pregnant, or even fake your death to help you ghost an ex. Whatever the shenanigans, van Beek and Sami sparkle. Booming with wild humor and big heart, this comedy is guaranteed to leave you cackling.

How to watch: The Breaker Upperers is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Mamma Mia!

ABBA is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only did the Swedish pop supergroup bestow such bangers as "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance On Me," and this movie's titular track, they also inspired the wildly popular Broadway jukebox musical on which this film is based. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, Mamma Mia! offers a barrage of love stories, starting with Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried), a bride-to-be who is determined to meet her long lost dad. The trouble is her mirthful mother Donna (Meryl Streep) played the field, so there are three contenders for the man who might walk Sophie down the aisle. But all is fun in love and weddings as the guests arrive ahead of the big day. Stuffed with sing-along songs, giddy humor, lots of love and an embarrassment of stars — including Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, and Julie Walters — Mamma Mia! is a crowd-pleaser, sure to thrill on a night in with the friends. Well, friends who have great taste anyway.

How to watch: Mamma Mia! is now streaming on Netflix.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Sign up for a Netflix subscription! Get Deal

UPDATE: Feb. 8, 2024, 1:40 p.m. EST This list was updated to reflect Netflix's latest offerings.

TL;DR: A one-year subscription to FreeCast Value Channels is on sale for £31.61, saving you 52% on list price.

With nearly everything streamable, it makes sense to look at what you're currently getting from your TV and see how you can save money and time while opening up new worlds of entertainment with other companies. And FreeCast should be on that list of comparisons, especially since a one-year subscription is on sale for just £31.61.

Access lots of different content to switch up the usual choices. With FreeCast, you get over 500 included on-demand movies and shows in addition to an array of hundreds of channels where nearly anyone can find something interesting. Looking for a channel to enjoy in your jammies with the family? Check out the Game Show Network. And if you like non-fiction and keeping your mind engaged, the Curiosity Channel can help you there.

FreeCast gives you varied and plentiful content to keep you entertained on these cold winter nights. You also have unlimited DVR and the ability to link up all of your other streaming services, making FreeCast an entertainment hub to dig into documentaries, classic movies, sports, kids' programming, and much more.

At this reduced price and the instant digital download, you can gift it to that person on your list who has almost everything. Pick up a one-year subscription to FreeCast Value Channels for just £31.61.

Opens in a new window Credit: FreeCast FreeCast Value Channels (1-Year Subscription) £31.61 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

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 Feb. 9'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:

Cheat (someone) out of something.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter F appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 #965 is...

STIFF.

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.

The teaser trailer for Late Night With the Devil is here, offering a glimpse at a very '70s found footage horror — and the worst talk show guest ever.

Set in 1977, Late Night With the Devil is framed as an analog recording of a late night talk show, complete with glitches common on old VHS tapes. In an attempt to revive his ratings after a personal tragedy caused them to dip, charismatic host Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian) organises a special Halloween show featuring both a psychic (Fayssal Bazzi) and a skeptic (Ian Bliss).

However, he also invites Lilly (Ingrid Torelli), the last surviving member of a Satanic cult, and her doctor (Laura Gordon). Predictably, things soon go disastrously wrong, as supernatural forces turn the live television event into a true horror show.

Late Night With the Devil arrives in theatres Mar. 22.

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 February 9'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: Buttons on a DJ deck

• Green: TV production

• Blue: Basic children's drawings

• Purple: Out of place numbers

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: Music Player Buttons

• Green: Broadcast

• Blue: Things You Can Draw

• Purple: Number Anagrams

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 #243 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Music Player Buttons: REWIND, SHUFFLE, SKIP, STOP

• Broadcast: AIR, RUN, SCREEN, SHOW

• Things You Can Draw: BATH, CARD, CURTAIN, PICTURE

• Number Anagrams: EON, EHTER, NET, TOW

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.

Apple's App Store review team is notoriously fickle about the software it approves for sale. Some companies have found themselves needing to tweak, change, or even totally remove certain features in order for their app to make it through the process.

Yet, somehow, a fake LastPass app made it past this very review team. Even worse, the fraudulent version of LastPass was available for weeks before it was eventually taken down, and only after it was noticed by the LastPass team themselves.

"LastPass would like to alert our customers to a fraudulent app attempting to impersonate our LastPass app on the Apple App Store," LastPass wrote on its company website on Wednesday. 

The statement points out that the imposter pretending to be the official LastPass app listed an individual by the name of "Parvati Patel" as its developer, instead of LastPass parent company, LogMeIn.

SEE ALSO: What are password managers and how to pick the right one

"The app attempts to copy our branding and user interface, though close examination of the posted screenshots reveal misspellings and other indicators the app is fraudulent," LastPass pointed out. Most notably, the fake LastPass app is listed as "LassPass Password Manager" — note the "Lass" in place of "Last."

According to TechCrunch, the LastPass team reached out to Apple to find out more about how "LassPass" survived the iPhone-maker's usually stringent App Store review process. While Apple has not provided any information publicly on this matter, the company has since removed "LassPass Password Manager" from the App Store.

It's unclear, at least for the moment, how many people fell for this scam, just as it's not yet confirmed that the fake app was a phishing attempt, though that would be the most obvious reason to masquerade as a password manager app.

An ironic time for an App Store misstep

Recently, Apple's app distribution policies have been headline news following the company's release of new rules created in response to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). This new regulation was instituted in order to loosen Apple's control over how third-party apps are distributed on iPhones, allowing users to download apps on alternative marketplaces that are not bound by Apple's App Store content rules or revenue share policies.

In response, Apple engaged in what one critic called "malicious compliance," formulating new, DMA-compliant policies for these alternative marketplaces and the apps distributed on them, including scenarios in which developers potentially pay Apple more than they would have if they just released their apps through the official App Store. Apple's move was roundly condemned by developers big and small. CEOs from companies like Xbox, Epic Games, Spotify, and even Meta's Mark Zuckerberg criticized Apple, accusing the company of trying to profit off the DMA.

Why this so-called act of "malicious compliance"? That's the ironic part. The iPhone-maker had opposed the DMA in the first place, taking the position that its walled-garden approach with the App Store keeps consumers safe from bad actors. As TechCrunch highlights, Apple even wrote as such in its own post about its new DMA compliant rules.

"The new options for processing payments and downloading apps on iOS open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats," Apple said in its Jan. 25 blog post. And yet, at the time Apple released that statement, "LassPass Password Manager" was already available for download in the official App Store, having been approved four days earlier.

Big Tech and other AI stakeholders have officially been tapped by the Biden-Harris administration to address the safety and trustworthiness of AI development.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the creation of the AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC). The consortium, which is housed under the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is tasked with following through on mandates laid out in President Biden's AI executive order. This includes "developing guidelines for red-teaming, capability evaluations, risk management, safety and security, and watermarking synthetic content," said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in the announcement.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI and Google will be required to notify the government about AI models

The list of over 200 participants includes major tech players that have been developing AI tools. This includes OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta, NVIDIA, Adobe, and Salesforce. The list also includes stakeholders from academia, including institutes from MIT, Stanford, and Cornell, as well as think tanks and industry researchers like the Center for AI Safety, the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Responsible AI Institute.

The AI consortium is an outcome of Biden's sweeping executive order which seeks to tame the wild west of AI development. AI has been deemed a major risk for national security, privacy and surveillance, election misinformation, and job security to name a few. "The U.S. government has a significant role to play in setting the standards and developing the tools we need to mitigate the risks and harness the immense potential of artificial intelligence," said Raimondo.

While the European Parliament has been working to develop its own AI regulations, this is a significant step from the U.S. government in its effort to formally and concretely reign in AI. The full list of AISIC participants can be found here.

Apple's Vision Pro could very well be the most important new product Apple will launch this decade. It's a whole new product category for Apple and there's so much to cover about the spatial computer. Here's a breakdown of the tech and specs.

Surprise! Moana 2 will be sailing into theaters on Nov. 27, 2024.

In an earnings call on Wed. Feb 7, CEO Bob Iger announced that Disney would be turning an in-development television series about the Polynesian teen into a feature film that will serve as an official sequel to the original 2016 hit. They released a short, 15-second teaser to tide us over until more information becomes available.

If a six-month turnaround for a feature film seems a bit tight, that's because it is. Multiple details about the project suggest it may be a last-minute attempt by Disney to recoup the disappointing financial performance of its latest full-length film Wish.

The most significant is the glaring omission of composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote original hits for Moana like "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome," which each have more than half a million streams on Spotify. Miranda would not only cost the studio a pretty penny to retain but would probably also need more than six months to craft another set of bangers.

Instead, the music will be penned by Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina — both collaborators of Miranda's on Moana — as well as Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, the masterminds behind TikTok's unofficial Bridgerton musical.

Longtime Disney directors and animators John Musker and Ron Clements, who helmed Moana, will also not be returning for her next adventure. Dave Derrick Jr. will make his feature directorial debut with the sequel. But don't worry: He was a story artist on the original film.

Moana stars Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson took to social media to celebrate the announcement of Moana 2 — and to take a deep breath, knowing they no longer have to keep this a secret from their friends and family.

Tweet may have been deleted

Overall, there seems to be a bit of chaos bubbling under the surface over at Disney. Here's what the internet had to say about the surprise announcement and the potential of Moana 2, out this November.

The Moana 2 team right now: FIRE EVERYTHING, CHEF Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted On Moana 2 missing that Miranda magic: Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted On Barbenheimer 2024: Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted On how we should be grateful for a sequel at all Tweet may have been deleted But not too grateful Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Super Bowl 2024 weekend is nearly here, so you better get prepared. No, you don't need to research the teams or even Taylor Swift's entire discography. But you do need to plan a menu.

Forget commercials. Football is fun enough. For my money, the best thing about the Super Bowl is the excuse to engorge yourself with game-day food.

The beauty of tailgate-esque food is that it doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, much of its deliciousness lies in its simplicity. If you're looking for a quick and easy way to make Super Bowl snacks, then we here at Mashable have you covered. Through our long-running series AirFryDay, we tried many recipes to determine which to add to your gameday menu.

SEE ALSO: How to stream Super Bowl LVIII for free, without cable

And the air fryer might be the perfect tool for an event like the Super Bowl. It's effectively a compact, easy-to-clean convection oven. That means your food will get crispy fast, while also not leaving a mess. When making a lot of food — as you might be on Super Bowl Sunday — you can also use the air fryer to open up space in your oven or on your stovetop.

So here are some of our favorite air fryer recipes that could work on Super Bowl Sunday, and you can check out the entire series for more options.

SEE ALSO: Essential deals to help you host the Big Game like an MVP, from a 4K TV to an air fryer Chicken wings

As an extreme wing enthusiast, I was surprised that the air fryer could make wings about 90 percent as tasty as the deep fryer with about 10 percent of the hassle.

This AirFryDay recipe calls for a few steps that make a difference: two cooks (low and high heat), a rest period, and some flour for added crispiness.

Wings, in my humble opinion, are an absolute must-have for the Super Bowl. And you'd be hard-pressed to find a better recipe that doesn't involve a huge vat of oil.

SEE ALSO: The only recipe you need for air fryer chicken wings Pigs in a blanket

Mini glizzies are a fantastic choice for the Big Game. You can eat a dozen of these things and not even notice it.

This AirFryDay recipe will give you a great quality appetizer in less time and with less mess than using the oven.

Fried chicken

Yes, we made fake fried chicken in the air fryer. I created this recipe and, frankly, I'm proud of it. It's not as good as actually deep-frying chicken. (Sorry, nothing is.) But it'll give you a really tasty result.

If you shrink the AirFryDay recipe by cutting thighs in half, then you could make perfect little sliders for the Super Bowl.

French fries

Fries rule. I'm sorry, but if you can't agree with that, then you're just dead inside. Fries are delicious and should be welcome at any Super Bowl party. You could always just chuck a bag of frozen fries in your air fryer — it's a great tool for cooking frozen food — but our AirFryDay recipe for homemade French fries is tasty as well.

Burgers

Let's face it: For a lot of the country, it's pretty chilly outside, and you might not want to grill. Our AirFryDay recipe for cheeseburgers will give you a nice final product without needing to wear a jacket. It uses soy sauce to keep the meat moist and add a bit of flavor. And, much like the fried chicken recipe, you could always shrink the patties down for sliders.

Pizza rolls

Listen: You could just chuck a frozen bag of pizza rolls in the air fryer, and it's going to be wonderful. But if you want to ramp things up, a TikTokker came up with this AirFryDay recipe for making pizza rolls inside a wonton.

SEE ALSO: The best air fryers for making crispy food faster than the oven Mozzarella sticks

I love mozz sticks. Even a bad mozzarella stick is pretty good. Again, frozen mozzarella sticks would work here. But you could also make the homemade version that might just be a bit crispier and flavorful. We have an AirFryDay recipe for traditional sticks and an AirFryDay recipe for Babybel wheels. You can't go wrong with either.

FREE $20 E-GIFT CARD: As of Feb. 8, get a $10 e-Gift Card when you pre-order 'Skull and Bones' at Best Buy for Xbox Series X|S or PlayStation 5.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy 'Skull and Bones' Get $10 e-Gift Card with pre-order at Best Buy Get Deal

Have you ever wanted to be a pirate? Do you annoy everyone you know during Talk Like a Pirate Day with "arrrrs" all day long? You too can sail the high seas by plunking down some of that hard-earned cash of yours for Ubisoft's upcoming Skull and Bones. If you've had your eye on this game that's been promising to give you an adventure set in the golden age of piracy since, uh, 2017, rejoice! The open beta is going on right now from Feb. 8 through Feb. 11, so you can jump in and try it with all your friends (mateys?). If you end up liking it, you can also save a bit of cash on it right now by shopping at Best Buy.

As of Feb. 8, you can get a free $10 e-Gift Card when you pre-order Skull and Bones on either Xbox Series X|S or PlayStation 5 at Best Buy. The game is $69.99 on both consoles, so you'll effectively be getting it for $10 less. The gift card will be added to your cart automatically and will be emailed to you after Skull and Bones releases on Feb. 16. Of course, you'll have to spend that $10 at Best Buy, but you can always put it toward another game pre-order if you'd like.

Skull and Bones lets you sail to the heart of the Indian Ocean to seek fortune and fame as a pirate. You can go it alone or team up with other players to explore the land, clash in naval battles, and more, all with your own customizable pirate and pirate ship. Though it's been delayed multiple times since its original announcement, it looks like it's finally going to be hitting retail shelves. So if Sea of Thieves hasn't been scratching that pirate itch for you, this more realistic iteration on the pirate's life just might. Check it out and snag that extra $10 while you still can.

SAVE $12: As of Feb. 8, get a digital copy of Alan Wake II for Xbox Series X/S for $47.99, or $12 off the original price of $59.99. That's a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox 'Alan Wake II' (Xbox Series X/S) $47.99 at Xbox (save $12) Get Deal

Remedy Entertainment has consistently released some of the most exciting experiences in gaming in the past few years. The gritty yet kitschy Control was a unique, surrealistic adventure in every sense of the word, and the company's most recent release, Alan Wake II, is the trippiest detective story since Rust Cohle waxed poetic about how time is a flat circle in the first True Detective series. It's so good, in fact, that we named Alan Wake II our 2023 Game of the Year. If you haven't yet had a chance to play it, or were waiting for the game to go down in price a bit before snagging it, today's your lucky day.

As of Feb. 8, you can get a digital copy of Alan Wake II from Xbox for just $47.99. That's $12 off its normal price of $59.99 and a discount of 20%. Plus, you can get the Deluxe Edition as well for $63.99, which is $16 off its normal price of $79.99. The Deluxe Edition comes with the Alan Wake II Expansion Pass, which brings additional story content, and a variety of in-game items for protagonists Alan and Saga. Plus, if you haven't yet tried the original Alan Wake, you can get the reworked Alan Wake Remastered on sale too. It's just $9.89, marked down from its original price of $29.99. That's $20.10 off and a discount of 68%.

SEE ALSO: Best gaming deals this week: 'Alan Wake 2' and 'Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora' have record-low sale prices

Alan Wake II is the sequel to 2010's Alan Wake and continues where the first game left off. It's a psychological thriller that feels much more like an episode of your favorite detective drama with a hefty dose of LSD sprinkled in. It wears its Twin Peaks inspiration proudly and experiments with horror in a way we don't often see in the genre.

Set 13 years after the original game, it follows FBI Agent Saga Anderson on a trip to Bright Falls, Washington in an attempt to shed some light on the murders and disappearances that have happened in the sleepy little town. On the other side (literally), Alan Wake fights to find his way out of the terrifying Dark Place (an alternate reality, not Garth Marenghi's) at the bottom of Cauldron Lake. The narrative finds you swapping between both characters as it unfolds, and you both must take on horrifying, dark versions of people and characters you know, all in a bid to solve the mystery at the heart of the game.

It's a great opportunity to experience the Alan Wake saga and save plenty of money while you're at it. Just be sure to carve out plenty of time to be terrified while you play.

SAVE $150: As of Feb. 8, get the HP Envy Move all-in-one PC for just $749.99 at HP. That's a discount of 21%.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Envy Move (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.99 at HP (save $150) Get Deal

It's one thing to pick a laptop to handle some small tasks here and there on your daily commute. It's another to take your entire office setup with you on the go so you can really get down to business. With an all-in-one PC, that's exactly what you can do, and with some serious panache. If you're the type of person who needs to take a hardier setup with you from place to place, an all-in-one PC is just what the doctor ordered — and HP has a great deal on one of our favorites today.

As of Feb. 8, the HP Envy Move (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is just $749.99 at HP, which is a $150 discount and 21% off its normal price of $899.99.

SEE ALSO: The best laptop deals for February 2024: Three generations of Apple MacBooks are on sale

The HP Envy Move looks like a small, off-white briefcase, but it's a complete computer setup that easily goes where you go. It's meant for you to pick it up (literally, with a handle) and take it with you, with a "kangaroo" pouch on the outside for your keyboard and other small accessories. It's essentially an impressive 23.8-inch display with "magic feet" that pop out when you set it down. Portable like a laptop and hardy like a desktop PC, it's everything you need to get things done while traveling or away from home.

Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon put this mobile PC through its paces in her review and came out pleasantly surprised, calling it one of her "favorite tech products" of 2023. She praised its "spacious 24-inch display that has the mobility of a laptop, but the large footprint of a desktop."

This particular model is the cheapest variant on offer, with an Intel Core i3 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for storage. While this is a great deal for the base model, keep in mind that the souped-up Intel Core i5 iteration is set to be featured next Tuesday as a Best Buy drop deal. It will likely dip to a sub-$800 price then, so if you're thinking you might need the extra power, it could be prudent to wait. Still, if you need and want this PC now, it's a good buy on a piece of tech that almost claimed our Mashable's Choice award.

Say goodbye to Google Bard, and say hello to Google Gemini.

On Thursday, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the company will be rebranding its AI model Bard as Gemini. The company launched Gemini late last year, calling it its "largest and most capable AI model," and Bard and Gemini existed side-by-side for a while. But now, the entirety of Google's public-facing AI universe is being rolled into different variants of Gemini.

"In December, we took a significant step on our journey to make AI more helpful for everyone with the start of the Gemini era, setting a new state of the art across a wide range of text, image, audio, and video benchmarks. However, Gemini is evolving to be more than just the models. It supports an entire ecosystem — from the products that billions of people use every day, to the APIs and platforms helping developers and businesses innovate," Pichai wrote in a blog post.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps: It's getting a new generative AI feature

Moreover, Google is also folding Duet AI features in its Workspace under the Gemini umbrella of products, with Duet AI now becoming Gemini for Workspace. Finally, Duet AI for Cloud will also become Gemini "in the coming weeks."

Google says that Gemini is now available in 40 languages on the web. There's also a new Gemini app on Android, as well as the Google app on iOS. All of these are free, giving you access to the basic version of Gemini, which is called just that and is based on the Pro 1.0 AI model.

For those who require more from their AI assistant, there is Gemini Advanced, based on Google's largest AI model, Ultra 1.0 (yes, even when consolidating things under one brand, Google still finds a way to make it complicated). Google says that Gemini Advanced is "far more capable at reasoning, following instructions, coding, and creative collaboration." To use Gemini Advanced, you'll have to subscribe to the new Google One AI Premium Plan.

That plan costs $20 per month in the U.S. or €22.99 per month in the EU, though for the price you do get 2TB of storage and other Google One Premium perks.

Rye Lane's Vivian Oparah and Extraordinary's Bilal Hasna lead Prime Video's upcoming UK series Dead Hot, which dropped a wild, fun trailer on Thursday.

Set in Liverpool, the series introduces best friends Jess (Oparah) and Elliot (Hasna), who are united in grief and partying hard to avoid processing it all. Five years ago, Jess' twin brother Peter, also the love of Elliot's life, went missing. But when Elliot meets someone new, Will, who appears to be hiding something, and Jess gets contacted by someone claiming to be Peter, chaos and mystery ensues.

Created and written by Charlotte Coben (Harlan Coben's daughter, who worked on the TV adaptations of The Stranger, Stay Close, Shelter, Fool Me Once), Dead Hot looks like one strange ride.

Dead Hot is streaming on Prime Video March 1.

We've been staring at the edge of the water, long as we can remember, never really knowing if there'd be a sequel to the glorious adventure that is Disney's Moana.

In the company's earnings call on Wednesday, along with some less great news, Disney announced the coming of Moana 2, the follow-up to the 2016 film. The sequel is set to be released in cinemas on Nov. 27.

In the call, CEO Bob Iger said Moana 2 had originally been developed as a TV series for the company's streaming platform Disney+ but the company pivoted to a theatrical release instead. Popularity is on Moana's side here, as Iger said the original film had crossed 1 billion streams on Disney+ and was the most streamed movie on any platform in the U.S. for 2023.

SEE ALSO: I hated 3D movies, until Disney's live action 'Little Mermaid'

While details on the story are skint, Moana 2 will be set again in Polynesia, and see Moana and demigod Maui on another seafaring adventure with a new crew, probably beyond the line where the sky meets the sea. According to Disney's press release, "After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced."

The cast has yet to be revealed, so it's unclear whether Mean Girls star Auliʻi Cravalho will reprise her role as Moana herself, or whether Dwayne Johnson will be back as Maui. The film is being directed by Dave Derrick Jr., who was a story artist for the original film, and the music is in the hands of Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina (both of whom worked on Moana with Lin-Manuel Miranda) as well as Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear.

Here's a tiny, wah-fer thin mint of a 16-second teaser, which shows Moana standing on the shore blowing into a conch shell:

And here's the first, very pretty image released by Disney, showing Moana, Maui, and their yet-to-be-revealed new crew — of course, accompanied by Pua the pig and Hei Hei the rooster:

Credit: Disney

That's all we get for now, but I'll take it.

Stephen Colbert undertook a far-ranging interview with Christopher Nolan on Wednesday's Late Show, speaking extensively to the film-maker about the likes of Oppenheimer and Tenet.

But they also took time to clear up a few rumours. Namely, does Nolan have an email address (he does not), and does he own a smartphone (also no, although he does "carry a pay-as-you-go, dumb phone thing" when he needs to).

Finally, Colbert brought out the big guns: Is it true that Nolan doesn't allow Uggs on set? The answer, it would appear, is yes — but it's only a rule that applies to him and the actors.

"Even though we're all engaged in this absurd process where this wall is real but there's lights and a guy with a microphone, you're asking the actor to focus in on the reality," explains Nolan. "So everything you can do – like wearing the correct shoes, or not changing your trousers [...] anything we can do to keep that reality, that bubble intact."

"So the crew can have warm feet?" chimes in Colbert.

"The crew can have warm feet, yes," laughs Nolan.