Mashable

Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs have made it to the end game. Following Sunday night's AFC Championship victory, the Chiefs are officially headed to the 2024 Super Bowl — and for Swifties, it's the start of something new.

Taylor Swift became a mainstay at Chiefs games back in September, and Sunday night was no exception. After clinching their Super Bowl spot, the tight end and the pop star celebrated on the field with a kiss, much to the delight of people with parasocial relationships everywhere.

Of course, fans had a lot to say.

Fans were quick to point out how packed the next two weeks are for the couple. Swift is set to perform at the Grammys next Sunday, then she kicks off the next leg of her international Eras Tour dates in Tokyo, and the next day is Super Bowl Sunday. Her jam-packed schedule led to much speculation about whether she'd make it from Tokyo to Las Vegas in time to cheer on Kelce.

One Swiftie wrote on X / Twitter, "The fact that Taylor actually has plenty of time to make it to the Super Bowl because her final Tokyo Dome show on The Eras Tour is the previous night AND she’s on the correct side of the international date line to arrive AND be rested is the closest I’ve felt to believing in god." Another said, "grammys > tokyo shows > superbowl is gonna be wild. my girl better be resting up in that private jet i’ll plant the trees for you queen."

Others were less concerned about the logistics and more obsessed with what the couple represents.

Fans called the couple "the closest thing to American royalty" and their relationship "the plot of a rom com." Many likened the pair to High School Musical high school sweethearts Troy and Gabriella. An X user wrote, "Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce having the Grammys, the Eras Tour Tokyo and the SuperBowl all in one week is literally the plot of high school music but if Gabriella had a jet." Another posted the lyrics to Troy's most iconic song, "Get'cha Head in the Game."

High School Musical lyrics weren't the only verses shared in celebration. Fans pulled from Swift's extensive catalog to refashion lines to fit the moment.

Images of the pair celebrating the Chief's win on the field have been steadily circulating on social media with Swift lyrics as captions. There's "Flash forward and we're taking on the world together" from Speak Now; "Our secret moments in a crowded room" from Reputation; and Midnights' "Do I really have to tell you how he brought me back to life," to name a few.

Fearless hit "You Belong With Me" got its time in the spotlight as well as the images were reminiscent of the song's football-centric music video. One user referred to Swift as a "manifestation queen" for going from "on bleachers" to the field.

And what does it mean that the Super Bowl date (Feb. 11) adds up to Swift's lucky number, 13? Whatever it may be Swifties are...ready for it.

It's almost new iPad season, reportedly.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a prominent Apple prognosticator, doubled down on a previous report, stating that Apple will launch new iPads by the end of March. Beyond that release window, Gurman added that this could be the "biggest revamp ever" for Apple's tablets.

As for what that specifically means, we have only a few crumbs of information to go on at this point. Gurman has said since last year that Apple is planning on making 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros with new M3 chips, and for the first time, OLED displays. There may also be a new 10.9-inch iPad Air and a larger 12.9-inch Air, which would put it on par size-wise with the Pro. However, those will likely not have OLED displays.

We could also see the new iPad Pros ditch the current camera orientation (the front camera sits on top if you hold the iPad Pro vertically right now). Some stray code found in iOS 17.4 more or less confirms that Apple is planning on putting the front camera on the tablet's longer side so it'll be more conducive to video calls. We may also see a new Magic Keyboard accessory, per Gurman.

If you've been waiting for a new iPad upgrade, you may not have to wait much longer.

Here's the TL;DR: Taylor Swift can probably make it to the Super Bowl to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, take on the San Francisco 49ers. It'll just take some effort.

Swift is scheduled to stop in Tokyo to perform her Eras Tour show from Feb. 7 through Feb. 10. The Super Bowl, meanwhile, is scheduled to take place Sunday, Feb. 11 in Las Vegas. It's roughly a 12 or 13 hour flight from Tokyo to Vegas, which would make you think it'll be hard to get to Vegas in time for the big game.

But now I'm going to do my best to explain time zones in writing.

Essentially, Tokyo is in the future compared to Las Vegas. It's 17 hours ahead. So, assuming Swift hops on a plane right after the show, she should actually be able to arrive in Vegas the night before the big game.

However, that is — in laymen's terms — a long-ass day. And there are often complications in traveling like bad weather, traffic getting to the airport, delays at the concert, etc.

But still, it seems likely Swift should be able to make it the Super Bowl. After all, she's been along for the ride with Kelce and the Chiefs for weeks now. At this point, if you're a Kansas City fan, you'd have to be worried the vibes would be off is she didn't attend the championship game.

SAVE $20: As of Jan. 29, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 noise-cancelling headphones are down to just $39.98 at Amazon instead of the usual $59.99. That's a savings of 33% and their lowest price to date.

Looking for a solid pair of travel headphones that won't break the bank? The Anker Soundcore Life Q20s are our favorite budget headphones for flying and they're down to a new all-time low price.

As of Jan. 29, you can snag a pair of Soundcore Life Q20 noise-cancelling headphones at Amazon for only $39.98 instead of $59.99. That's a savings of 33% and the lowest price we've seen on these bad boys. That price is only available on the black pair, however. If you prefer the blue or silver options, you'll have to pay a few more bucks. They're sitting at $43.99 at Amazon, down from $65.99 — that matches their previous all-time low.

You're not going to get top-quality noise cancellation on a budget pick like the Life Q20s, but that doesn't mean they're bad headphones. As Mashable's Bethany Allard wrote in our best noise-cancelling headphones roundup, "Overall, these headphones epitomize the word decent — but that's not a knock against them at all."

The built-in ANC can block out some background noise, but extreme highs and lows will most likely break through. But what it lacks in ANC power, it makes up for in actual power. With 40 hours of playtime in ANC mode and a comfortable fit, the Q20s make a superb flying companion.

The latest trailer for Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire is a parade of familiar faces.

Not only do we get the return of OG Ghostbusters Bill Murray, Dan Akyroyd, and Ernie Hudson — we also get more Slimer, a bunch of teeny tiny Stay Puft Marshmallow Men, and Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz (this time all suited up).

They've teamed up with the new generation of Ghostbusters from Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace) to stop an icy new threat known as the Death Chill — described by Murray's Venkman as "tall, dark, and horny." As the streets of New York City freeze over in a second Ice Age, will these Ghostbusters, new and old, be able to save the day?

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire hits theaters March 29.

Looking back on the moment in time that The Greatest Night in Pop captures is a dizzying thing. Even in 1985, the recording of the single "We Are The World" was inexplicable. Out of nowhere, some of the biggest recording artists in contemporary American music were joined in a chorus for charity. Thinking back on the music video, the collection of famous faces seems like a fever dream more than a memory: Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, for some reason Dan Aykroyd, and many, many more. 

They'd come together to create a fundraising single to fight famine in Africa, and they achieved awe-inspiring success in collaboration and philanthropy. But looking back, it feels even more impossible to imagine something so sincere and star-stuffed coming together at all. 

The documentary The Greatest Night In Pop is fueled by this sense of awe. Director Bao Nguyen offers interviews from a long list of the single's contributors alongside behind-the-scenes footage that takes us into the recording session that was as stressful as it was surreal. The result is a documentary that is undeniably enchanting — even if willfully naive. 

Lionel Richie, who serves as a talking head as well as a producer here, returns to the recording studio where they all convened on January 25, 1985. With the help of colleagues like Kenny Loggins, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Smokey Robinson, Sheila E., and Dionne Warwick, he constructs the incredible story of how the song came together. 

Each of the interview subjects brings interesting perspectives and engaging anecdotes, many of them painting a picture of music producer Quincy Jones — who does not participate in the doc — as brilliant, patient, and inspiringly ambitious. But as Richie was involved with the single early on, co-writing it with Michael Jackson, he shoulders much of the story. 

Far from having a Behind the Music vibe, The Greatest Night in Pop is not interested in the scandals and shocks that would come later in some of these musicians' careers. There will be no dramatic music stings as someone says something shady. No syrupy narrator will thread in foreboding or stoke drama from a vague comment. Nguyen keeps the story relatively focused and easy to watch by keeping to the topic at hand, with little to no interest in the future. This gives Richie the space to play storyteller comfortably; he regales us with details about what an eccentric Jackson was, busting out stories about how the King of Pop's animal menagerie became an unwelcome distraction during the writing phase. Aside from being a dynamic storyteller, Richie also proves a solid mimic. His impression of Jackson is as good as that of the large python who intruded on a brainstorming session. 

Richie is our charismatic tour guide through titular historical event, offering winsome stories and an attitude that we're being allowed beyond the velvet rope. In this space far from fans and paparazzi, the stars are not just glamorous — they're geeking out to meet their idols. Charming anecdotes and matching archival photographs are shared of artists exchanging their sheet music to be autographed like a high school yearbook. Several interviewees recall how in awe they were to be in the same room as the living legends on this track. 

Here, Huey Lewis proves a standout, acknowledging that he was a relatively new kid on the block, drop-jawed to be in the same session as Billy Joel, Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. His arc within the story is among the most satisfying, both sweet and grateful. Elsewhere, Springsteen has a great line trying to sum up Bob Dylan, whose folk stylings struggled in this group setting. Where technicians from that night give structure to how everything came together, talent like Dionne Warwick provides colorful commentary that is gleeful fun, as if told in a conspiratorial cackle over cocktails. 

In general, these interviews paint The Greatest Night in Pop to be a magical moment where a bunch of big stars overcame their egos for the betterment of the world — in a time when that didn't earn derision. The film's joyful tone invites us to join in on the lovefest, though there is a frisson of drama that threatens to overshadow everything else.

The closest the film gets to drama is Prince. Though the iconic artist chose not to participate in the event, the will-he-won't-he of it all becomes an intriguing theme. Specifically, the drama tangles around Sheila E., Prince's then-girlfriend and musical colleague as well as the Queen of Percussion. She was really excited to be involved with "We Are the World." However, in her interview, she recalls how the producers on the night of the recording repeatedly pushed her to call Prince and invite him to come. "The Glamorous Life" singer began to feel that she wasn't invited on her own merit, but only because of her famous lover. All these years later, that feeling of rejection clearly still stings as she hangs her head in her interview.

To Nguyen's credit, the documentarian does not dismiss Sheila E.'s experience, but he doesn't press the other producers and musicians on this point either. And so, Sheila E. is left to dangle on a sullen note. Though this arc does give the film a low moment, it doesn't so much detract from the overall enjoyment of the film. However, her story does push us to wonder about the other angles that are not explored — troublesome behavior that was laughed off or whispers that won’t be spoken of.

This is not the kind of documentary that digs particularly deep, looking for the dark corners of the shiny pop story. As its title suggests, The Greatest Night in Pop is a celebration, full of nostalgia for a supposedly simpler time when star power might sweetly combat the evils of the world. The final act notes cheerily how this single inspired benefit concerts like Farm Aid and Live Aid. So, this is propaganda for the power of pop music — popaganda, if you will. And sure, what the artists accomplished that night should be lauded, as they donated their time and talent to the greater good. On reflection, there's something uneasy in only calling upon participants to proclaim the night's greatness. But it’s something that won’t be explored in this documentary.

In the end, The Greatest Night In Pop is a good documentary for Netflix viewing. Fun and fluffy with famous faces, brisk pacing, and plenty of playful tales, it's something you could put on casually while folding laundry. And it is very satisfying on that front.

The Greatest Night in Pop was reviewed out of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival; the documentary debuts is now streaming on Netflix.

If you've been doing your usual mindless scrolling through your TikTok 'For You' page lately (I know I have), you may have seen some interesting accusations thrown Ariana Grande's way. 

The drama all started last summer, when Ariana Grande was reported to be dating her Wicked co-star, actor and singer Ethan Slater. The problem online fans had: Ethan was just married to someone else, whom he'd recently had a kid with. With the release of her new song "yes, and?," the ire has only escalated. TikTok is up in arms, accusing Grande of having a thing (like, a kink) for pinching people's partners.

This is known as a "homewrecker kink," which is exactly how it sounds. It's when people are turned on by the thought or act of tempting people who are already in a committed relationship, and/or having sex with them. 

We don't know that Grande has a homewrecker kink, and none of the rumours about her extramarital affairs have proven to be true, but they've spread so far and wide that Grande addresses them directly in "yes, and?" She gives a metaphorical middle finger to the conversations about her love and sex life online with the lyric, "Your business is yours and mine is mine, why do you care so much whose dick I ride?" 

The song has not been received well by a lot of social media users, but Grande's message (that it's none of our business) is loud and clear. 

Regardless of whether or not the singer-songwriter does have a thing for people in relationships, the discourse surrounding her relationship certainly says a lot about how we view these kinds of situations. So, speaking to sex and relationship therapists, we explored why these situations provoke such visceral reactions, why you're not actually a bad person if you fancy someone else's partner, and how a homewrecker kink (if you do have one) can be explored ethically. 

Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, who has a PhD in relational and sexual communication, tells Mashable that people may get off on sleeping with other people's partners, or the idea of it, because it's a taboo act, which can be "very exciting and sexually stimulating." 

Gigi Engle, sex therapist, educator at LGBTQ+ dating app Taimi, and Mashable contributor, says that, for some people, a homewrecker kink also links to the appeal of "being so incredibly desired that someone would cheat on their partner for you, like they'd risk everything for you."

Suwinyattichaiporn says that homewrecking is a pretty niche kink. "There are some surveys that show a large number of people enjoy the act of infidelity, though. So that could potentially mean a lot more people are enjoying homewrecking, but they're not saying it," she tells Mashable. 

Engle notes that her personal research shows it's mostly straight people engaging in homewrecker kinks, and there's "not much of it happening in queer communities."

"This isn't to say that [queer people] couldn't be involved, or within other communities, but heterosexual relationships seem to be where it's most prevalent," she adds. 

This is possibly due to heteronormative scripting, which is very present in the way we talk about homewrecker kinks, according to Engle. Scripting refers to the ways we articulate cultural norms. For example, the ideas that men are supposed to be strong and unemotional and women should be nurturing are written into our cultural "script." This relates to homewrecking, and by extension homewrecker kinks, because the way we talk about cheating is very gendered. "Homewrecker" is an insult usually directed at women, while men are usually forgiven, and not as often accused of homewrecking on purpose. 

Plus, gay, lesbian, and bisexual people are less likely, according to one study, to conform to gender roles in their lives, including archetypal ideas about marriage. They're also more likely to experiment with consensual non-monogamy, according to a study in The Journal of Bisexuality. So, it may just be that the danger of homewrecking is less of a big deal in these spaces. 

For obvious reasons, people hold a lot of anger over the mere idea of homewrecker kinks existing, but Suwinyattichaiporn and Engle believe this anger is often misplaced. 

"[Homewrecker kinks] go against the mainstream belief that the only valuable type of relationship is a monogamous long-term relationship of marriage. So, I can see why people who subscribe to that belief get super angry with homewrecker kinks," Suwinyattichaiporn says. 

Gender roles also play a big part in this. Fearing other women and seeing them as competition is also built into women and girls' cultural scripting from a young age, and the idea that another woman could take your partner away from you is something we're told to not only fear, but manage by ourselves. Meanwhile, Engle notes that men are often forgiven for cheating, or expected to do it. Often, men cheating on women is seen as a failure on one of the women's part (his partner or the so-called homewrecker). 

This turns into misplaced anger towards those who sleep with married people, especially women who sleep with heterosexual men, and what doesn't help is the deep-seated myth that those women are automatically bad people. 

If you're someone with a homewrecker kink, Engle says it's important to understand that it does not make you a bad person. Cheating often, of course, involves lying and deceit so it's understandable that this desire to sleep with people in relationships would make people's stomachs uneasy.

However, it's not your fault who you're attracted to, nor is it your responsibility if someone who promised their partner (who you don't know) monogamy crosses that boundary with you. It's worth noting that, when it comes to heterosexual relationships specifically, women are consistently told through societal messaging that this is their problem; men are rarely at fault for cheating, instead it's the female partner's and the affair-partners' burden to bear.  

The way we look at cheating, in general, is also often blown out of proportion and this leaks into the way we look at people — especially women — with homewrecker kinks. Engle says, "We put cheating on the same moral level as murder in society. If you cheat, you're considered to be the worst person in the whole world, and it's unfair."

She also believes this relates to wider conversations we've been having culturally about non-monogamy. Statistics from dating app Flirtini say half of men and one in three women are open to polyamory. Yet, a lot of people have received this rise in interest badly, with some social media users referring to polyamory as "allowing cheating to happen." 

Engle says, "It's an unrealistic expectation for humans to only ever be attracted to one person, yet we act like you're a bad person if you're not," which is steeped in capitalist and heteronormative ideas — systems that suppress us and can really put a downer on our sexual exploration. With all of this in mind, it's no wonder some people with homewrecker kinks might find themselves internalising shame.

If you're concerned about exploring this kink because of the feelings that could get hurt, there are ways to play with it without actually getting involved in someone else's relationship. 

Suwinyattichaiporn says that exploring connections with people who are in open relationships or polyamorous relationships could help explore a homewrecker kink, without the so-called homewrecking part. "Communicate up front that this is what you're into so they know, and if they're into the idea, you can pretend that it's an affair while you and their partners know that you're having sex," she explains. This way, no one gets hurt. 

It does require some imagination though, so you'll need to pop your role play hat on. Engle recommends talking to your sexual partner about being interested in this kink and seeing if you can incorporate it through role play. "You could pretend the person you're sleeping with has a partner and that you don't want to get caught," she says. 

She explains that there's all kinds of methods you can try to really make this convincing for you, like asking them to post pictures of them with another person on a fake dating profile you can match with, or talking about their fictional partner during sex. Try lines like, "Oh God, I hope your husband/wife/partner doesn't find out about this," to create some excitement. 

"It's the same as any other role play. You both know that you're not actually doing the act, but it's fun to pretend and can be a huge turn on," Engle adds. 

There are plenty of ways to explore homewrecker kinks ethically, and you need not be branded with a scarlet letter if you do choose to play with it the old fashioned way. Maybe we ought to change the name of the kink to clear that up. 

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, Jan. 29, 2024:

• The answer is red.

• The answer is adopt.

• The answer is miner.

• The answer is store.

• The answer is rue.

• The answer is rams.

• The answer is edit.

• The answer is donor.

• The answer is Peru.

• The answer is tree.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

For some, mowing the lawn is a leisurely pastime. For most of us, however, that's not the case. Or the lawn for that matter. Mowing the lawn sucks.

If you fall into that latter camp, a robot lawn mower may be the answer. It's a worthwhile investment that will make cutting the grass a wholly relaxing experience. Think of robot vacuums, like the ever-popular Roomba, but for the garden.

Deciding to invest in a robot lawn mower is easy. But choosing the right model for you is a job as arduous as pushing a petrol mower up an especially steep garden path. That’s why we’re here to help. Here’s some need-to-know robot mower info.

Robot mowers are battery-powered and, for the most part, run automatically based on a pre-programmed schedule, which the user sets up via an app. When they're not running, they sit safely docked in a charging port plugged into an outdoor outlet.

When it's time to mow, they cut your grass to a predetermined height and generate grass clippings so fine that they essentially become mulch. Whereas you’d take a traditional mower to the lawn when the grass gets a bit long, a robotic mower will usually run daily to cut just the top of your lawn and keep it at a set level. The cutting height options may vary model to model.

Robot mowers learn where to mow based on a perimeter wire, which you'll lay around the edges of your lawn to form a boundary. It’s like an invisible forcefield that the mower automatically detects. Setting up your perimeter wire can be a bit of a headache. In fact, the majority of negative user reviews involve the perimeter wire in some way. The companies featured in this roundup offer fairly comprehensive installation guides on YouTube in addition to the instructions in the package.

Robot mowers are an example of fairly new technology in the grand scheme of things, so the category still has a few kinks to work out. It's possible, for instance, that the mower will miss a spot or two and you'll need to go back over it with some clippers.

Consider at least three basic categories: garden size, hills, and budget. The mowers on this list are generally better suited to gardens under one acre. Each mower also lists the maximum incline it's able to climb while still achieving a successful cut. In general, you'll pay more if you want more ground covered and higher hills climbed.

Other things to keep in mind include integrated rain sensors, companion app quality, weather resistance, and GPS, which are addressed in the recommendations below. You might also want to consider the ability to navigate narrow passages, adjust to weather conditions, or the ability to cut to the edges or around tricky areas.

That will depend on your garden and gardening requirements. The decision has to be yours, but we recommend checking out this selection of impressive models from top brands like Flymo, Bosch, and Worx.

These are the best robot lawn mowers in 2024.

Apple's upcoming iOS 18, likely to be announced during the company's WWDC event in June, might be one of the biggest in the company's history.

This is according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who talked about the upcoming release in the subscribers-only portion of his newsletter (via 9to5Mac). He claims that iOS 18 is "seen within the company as one of the biggest iOS updates — if not the biggest — in the company’s history."

The fact that Apple considers iOS 18 to be very important isn't new; Gurman himself wrote about it in November 2023, while also reporting that Apple then took the unusual step of pausing development of iOS 18 to focus on ironing out the bugs.

One thing that makes the upcoming version of Apple's mobile platform is probably the focus on generative AI. According to Gurman, this means a smarter Siri and far more AI integration into basic iOS features including Messages and Apple Music.

But Gurman now says that there's a "lot more" coming with iOS 18, although details on what, exactly, are absent.

Macrumors pointed out that Apple announced support for cross-platform messaging standard RCS on the iPhone sometime later in 2024, which might coincide with the launch of iOS 18. For users, RCS support means that Android users will have a better experience when exchanging messages with iPhone users, and vice versa.

In any case, with so much on the line, this year's WWDC will probably be exciting. Apple's developers-centered conference hasn't officially been announced yet, but it typically takes place in June.

"I like to manipulate the tears out of people with...sexiness."

You know when an interview features Paul Mescal saying a line like that it's going to be a banger, and the Chicken Shop Date above by no means disappoints.

Sitting opposite host Amelia Dimoldenberg, the All of Us Strangers star talks about everything from his newfound love of Guinness to his flirting techniques.

It's every bit as hilarious and awkward as we'd hope it would be.

If you love coffee, it's not a question of "do I need a coffee machine?" It’s a question of “which model?” Yes, coffee lovers seriously love coffee. This much we know. But buy the right coffee machine and you’ll fall in love with that as well.

That being said, it’s not easy buying a coffee machine. Coffee drinking is more than a pastime. It’s a whole subculture of specific tastes. Give it a quick google. The number of websites dedicated to coffee drinking will make your eyes spin like a double shot of espresso. There’s so much to get your head around before making an informed decision. That’s why we’re here to help with some need-to-know information.

So which coffee machine is right for you? It's the ultimate question of taste.

Between various styles and functions, coffee machines make pretty much any coffee you want — espresso, cappuccino, americano, lungo, latte, or straight-up black. The trick is choosing a machine that makes coffee exactly as you like it.

Whatever your taste or lifestyle, there’s a coffee machine for you:

• Pod machines — Sometimes called capsule machines, these are automatic contraptions that make espresso, lungo, or ristretto coffee with the push of a button. They use pods, which are packed with perfectly measured ground coffee beans. Just stick the pod in the machine and push the button for delicious coffee. These machines are compact and affordable, and easy to use. Buying pods can mean ongoing costs, but there's a huge selection of flavours, blends, and strengths available.

• Bean-to-cup machines — For those who like their coffee to feel a bit more authentic, the bean-to-cup machine is like having your own barista in the kitchen. Pop your beans in the grinder and adjust your settings. It works by blasting the beans with hot water to make a perfect cup of coffee. These are often bigger, pricier models.

• Semi-automatic machines —The semi-automatic is somewhere between the above models. It gives you some control over the coffee-making process. It’s up to you to grind the coffee, load it up, and tamp. But once you press the button, it takes care of the pressure and temperature. You may also have some control over the water flow. 

Keep these machines in mind when shopping, and you should be able to navigate your way to something that works for you.

It’s worth learning the jargon, or you’ll soon get blinded for coffee-based science. A bar is a metric unit of pressure — so a way to measure the amount of pressure you put on coffee beans. The higher the pressure, the faster the coffee is extracted. Serious bean-heads (AKA coffee experts) will tell you that 9 bars is the optimum pressure for espresso, for instance. Though some machines go all the way up to 19.

These are self-explanatory. It’s a little bonus contraption that froths up milk in just a few seconds, which you can add to your coffee for that more authentic coffee shop taste. It can be added to all types of coffee, from espresso and lungo to cappuccino and americano. Simple, yes. But the question is, does your new coffee machine come with a milk frother or do you need to buy one separately? Machines might come with a steam wand instead. These are a more traditional option. Simply add milk to a separate jug and then use the steam to froth up your milk.

We’ll leave that question up to you and your tastebuds. Not to mention whichever machine best suits your kitchen and lifestyle. All we’ve done is grind our way through the internet and filter out the very best options for you to consider.

These are the best coffee machines in 2024.

The spirals have been on an ongoing mystery in True Detective: Night Country, popping up on episode 2's frozen corpsicle as well as the roof of Clark's creepy trailer — and it looks like we'll be seeing more of them in episode 4.

In the one-minute teaser above we see the symbol carved on a small rock and daubed in what looks like blood on the wall of a dark room. The creepy closing words, as police chief Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and state trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) stand facing something unseen in the middle of nowhere? "You're all in the night country now."

How to watch: True Detective airs Sunday nights on HBO/Max at 9 p.m ET/PT.

TL;DR: As of January 29, get the Poly Studio 4K Video System Speaker Bar on sale for $449.99 — usually $484.99.

We live in a whole new era of remote and hybrid work. Because of our incredible tech and digital access, we can easily collaborate virtually, which is a different playing field than years ago. This also means that having a reliable and high-quality video conferencing solution is essential. The Poly Studio 4K Video System Speaker Bar will cover your audio and video conferencing needs in one convenient low-profile package. And it's on sale for just $449.99 (reg. $484.99).

The Poly Studio Bar has a plug-and-play design. This means there's no need for complex installation time or technical expertise. You won't need the IT department to ensure your presentations, discussions, and collaborations are conveyed in clear 4K resolution right when you need it. The 120-degree field of view and digital zoom offers a way to include every detail of what you and your team are working on. 

As far as the audio, the powerful stereo speakers offer clear sound, while the NoiseBlockAI technology works to intuitively block out unnecessary sound that could distract from your meeting. It also features a six-microphone array to ensure everyone's voice is heard loud and clear. Plus, an acoustic fence makes sure just the voices in a particular space are picked up.

This audio-video solution offers an easy-to-use professional meeting experience that can be relied on day in and day out. It is also compatible with nearly all platforms, including Skype and Microsoft Teams. It also comes with a remote, wall-mount kit, and table stand.

Give your virtual meetings a professional polish with this audio-video conferencing system.

Pick up the Poly Studio 4K Video System Speaker Bar while it's on sale for just $449.99 (reg. $484.99) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Lavisha Cashmere-Blend Shawl is price-dropped to $15.97 through February 4 — that's $34 off the regular price of $50.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so it's time to start brainstorming what to get your partner or Galentine. Or, you can be your own Valentine this year — we love an excuse to treat yourself to something nice.

If the weather has been chilly, you or your valentine could benefit from a warm and elegant cashmere-wool blend shawl. This cold-weather accessory offers total comfort as it fashionably drapes over your shoulders and adds some spark to your ensemble — which could be exactly what you need to cocoon yourself in warmth during the winter months. Just be sure to order it by February 4 to receive it before Valentine’s Day.

Embrace the luxurious feel, warmth, and style of the Lavisha Cashmere-Blend Shawl this winter season. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, this six-foot long shawl comes with other great benefits. Its soft fringe adds a touch of sophistication to any outfit, making you stand out in style. Ideal for those with sensitive skin, the shawl is hypoallergenic, providing the wearer with a comfortable feel that won’t itch or irritate the skin. Moreover, it’s fade-resistant, preserving the bold red color of this cashmere-wool blend shawl over time (it also comes in other colors).

Act now to take advantage of the special pricing, and get this cashmere-wool blend shawl for just $15.97 (68% off) until 11:59 p.m. PT on February 4, with no coupon required.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: As of January 29, get the ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree courses for only $29.99 — a 96% discount.

You may have used AI tools like ChatGPT, but that doesn't mean you already know how to get the best results out of them. If you've spent hours editing results and refining your prompts and still haven't gotten the exact response from AI that you want, it might be time to study up with the ChatGPT and Automation E-Degree. 

This online learning opportunity is made up of 12 lectures on everything from tailoring ChatGPT to your industry, streamlining business processes with automation tools, and even exploring how AI and data visualization can intersect. Get the whole bundle on sale for $29.99. 

There's a lot more to ChatGPT than asking it to write your emails or summarize the articles you don't have time to read. This bundle gives you the chance to learn more about using AI to amplify your own creativity, contribute to different parts of your existing projects, and visualize data for you. Keep in mind that access to AI software isn't included in this bundle, but you may be able to use your own free OpenAI membership for some lessons. 

Each course is taught by a professional from Eduonix Learning Solutions, and you can progress at your own pace. All course materials are yours for life and can be viewed or re-viewed as many times as you'd like. 

Make sure to check out each lesson on using automation to make your own job easier. You might be wasting time on repetitive tasks you could delegate to AI. 

See what AI and automation tools can do to make your life easier when you get the ChatGPT and Automation E-Degree course on sale for $29.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: As of January 29, get this iRobot Roomba 675 Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum (Open Box) for just $149.99 — a savings of 16%.

With the use of AI on the rise, it might be time to enlist it for another sector of work: household chores. If you want a robot to sweep your hardwood floors and vacuum your carpets, you should get an iRobot Roomba. While these can be spendy, this open-box model is only $149.99 (reg. $179.99).

Just turn the robot on and it’ll clean your home all on its own. The Roomba 675 uses a three-stage system and multi-surface brushes to lift dirt, dust, and pet hair from all rooms of your house — hardwood kitchen floors, carpeted living and bedrooms, and tiled bathrooms. It also has an edge-sweeping brush to get into nooks and crannies.

Control your Roomba from anywhere with the iRobot HOME iOS or Android app. You could set custom schedules to have it run while you’re working or running errands, select an area of focus if there’s a particularly messy room, track its progress, or control it with voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

If you’re worried about your Roomba doing something crazy when you’re not around — like falling down the stairs or sucking up a rug — you can rest assured with intelligent object sensors and cliff detection that help prevent these issues. 

These devices were purchased and returned (literally meaning their box has been opened). While it’s not brand-new and might have some cosmetic imperfections, your Roomba is reset to factory settings and includes all of its original accessories.

Enlist this open-box iRobot Roomba 675 to keep your house tidy at just $149.99 (reg. $179.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

So, you have an old laptop and you're wondering, "What do I do with it?"

E-waste is a concern and priority for manufacturers and consumers alike. There are now many measures in place to help prevent a device like a laptop from ending up in a landfill. As you may be looking to get rid of an older laptop, consider recycling, donating or repurposing the device.

If you’re aiming to recycle or donate your old laptop, it’s essential that you factory reset your device ahead of time. To maintain privacy and security, wipe the device of all personal information.

Ensuring old pieces of tech are properly recycled and reused, users can find free services within their community. This includes services like Earth911.

To find the most convenient location, be sure to check out Google for the closest drop-off as well as the hours of operation.

Depending on the state of your old laptop, donating it may be a great option. You may have a family member or friend who needs a laptop. There may also be local organizations that are willing to accept a donation. In many cases, donated devices are then given to students or families in need.

The great thing about these non-profit services is that they’ll usually repair and restore older laptops, so rest assured they’ll do their best to have them in working order.

In the event you want to hang onto an old laptop, you can always repurpose it.

Depending on its age and performance, an older laptop can be used as a streaming device. Netflix, Disney+, etc. don’t require much in terms of hardware, making an older laptop a fantastic device for streaming at a cottage.

You can also look at upgrading the device’s RAM and other components. Because it's an older device, this a good way to familiarize yourself with upgrading internals if you’re not already well-versed.

If you’re aiming to recycle or donate your old laptop, it’s essential that you factory reset your device ahead of time. To maintain privacy and security, wipe the device of all personal information.

Step 1: Type ‘reset’ into the Taskbar.

Step 2: Click ‘Reset this PC’ and ‘Get Started.'

Step 3: Select ‘Remove everything’ and then hit ‘Local Reinstall’ to initiate the factory reset.

Step 1: Navigate to the Apple icon in the top left-hand corner.

Step 2: Select ‘System Preferences.’

Step 3: Verify everything is backed up using the Time Machine.

Step 4: Hit ‘Continue’ and ‘Erase All Content and Settings.'

There you have it; three fantastic options on what to do with an old laptop. Just because a laptop isn’t the fastest or flashiest anymore, doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. Plus, each option above helps to contribute to cutting down on e-waste.

We all claim to love the planet, but do we really? It’s easy to love something when it’s lavishing you with refreshing hikes, clear lakes, and gorgeously glowing sunsets. It’s much harder when the object of your affections asks for something in return — such as your toilet paper.

It isn't news that pollution and climate change are threatening our planet. Scientists have been screaming that our lifestyles are unsustainable for decades, begging people to be more mindful in their consumption. Yet habit and convenience has caused us to largely ignore these dire warnings, continuing to use paper coffee cups and burn fossil fuels like there’s no tomorrow. At this rate, there might not be.

There are of course limits to individual action (and carbon footprints are a sham). Wider policy changes and changing company behaviour are essential to achieving true sustainability, with a 2019 report finding that just 20 companies were responsible for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions. A 2017 study found that 71 percent of global emissions were generated by just 100 companies, highlighting the importance of pressuring companies to go green. Sadly, almost no progress had been made in the years since.

Even so, if you're looking for tiny ways to show big companies that people do actually care about not destroying the planet, we can help. Here are six embarrassingly simple ways you can dial up your own sustainable lifestyle and lessen your personal impact, but which you still won’t do because they're bothersome.

Many of us are comfortable wiping our asses with toilet paper, smearing our feces across tissue like disgusting abstract expressionists. However, if we are open and willing to learn, there is a better way. Muslims, Asians, and Europeans have been way ahead on bathroom hygiene for ages, and it’s time everyone else caught up — for both the environment and our buttholes.

Not only do bidets give you a more thorough, hygienic clean than toilet paper, they’re also more sustainable. Exactly how much water is used to manufacture toilet paper depends upon the method, with estimates ranging from six to 37 gallons for a single roll. However, most conclude that bidets consume significantly less, at around one eighth of a gallon per use.

Further, toilet paper requires plant matter and chlorine, a negative environmental impact bidets don’t share. As of 2010, the equivalent of roughly 270,000 trees were being turned into toilet paper every day, significantly contributing to deforestation. Growing demand for softer roll has since seen the number of trees cut down for our butts grow, as manufacturers use less recycled paper.

Overall, bidets seem like a much less wasteful choice. However, Prof. Tommy Wiedmann, professor of sustainability research at UNSW Sydney, noted that the positive impact of the bidet would depend on how people use it. Blasting your anus like a fire hose for an hour is unlikely to do anyone any good.

As a citizen of perpetually drought-stricken Australia, learning that people leave the tap running while brushing their teeth was like learning people fertilise their lawns with wagyu beef. The EPA states that leaving the faucet on can waste eight gallons of water per day. That’s a ridiculous amount of precious liquid literally going down the drain.

It’s hard to break habits, but there’s absolutely no reason to continue this one. Both Wiedmann and sustainability researcher Dr. Lisa Heinze told Mashable you should definitely turn off the tap while taking care of your dental hygiene. Though water is technically a renewable resource, there's a limited amount that's fresh and unpolluted, and it isn’t always available everywhere. Saving what we have is important.

With U.S. groundwater being depleted, climate change prompting less rainfall and more evaporation, and population growth increasing demand, an American water crisis is an impending reality. The EPA predicted at least 40 U.S. states would experience water shortages by the mid-2020s, while Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, California, and Idaho continue to use more water than they receive every year. Half the global population will be under severe water stress by 2030, so it’s vital to conserve what’s available now.

Saving water will save you money, too, in case you need a more capitalist motivation to care about the world.

Complaining about public transportation is a universal experience that unites us all. Buses are always late, trains are unspeakably filthy, and both are packed with coughing strangers who don’t believe in personal space. We jump at the chance to avoid public transport whenever we can. Unfortunately, embracing that contemptible subway is one of the best things you can do to save the planet.

"Transport is still the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, after the electricity and energy sector, representing 15 percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions," Dr. Chris De Gruyter told Mashable. De Gruyter is a research fellow at RMIT University’s Centre for Urban Research in Melbourne.

"In the United States, half of all trips are three miles or less, but 72 percent of these are by car; for trips of one mile or less, 60 percent are by car," De Gruyter said.

Wiedmann considers using public transport "the most beneficial to help with curbing climate change" out of all the actions on this list, "especially when combined with having no car at all." Research published in 2020 found living car-free has some of the highest potential to mitigate a person’s carbon emissions, even better than switching to a vegan diet. According to the EPA, the average car emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year.

If you absolutely must drive, Heinze advised using a car-share program rather than owning your own. Babet de Groot, a Ph.D. candidate studying ocean governance and waste management at the University of Sydney, further suggested carbon offsetting when such travel is unavoidable.

"Carbon-offsetting is the purchase of compensation for emissions generated, which is used to fund emissions-reduction elsewhere," de Groot said. "Plant trees to offset your carbon emissions via Offset Earth [now known as Ecologi] or Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund."

Filling a bottle with tap water and carrying it with you only requires a tiny bit of forethought and prep. Even so, countless people still refuse to do this bare minimum, preferring to buy single-use plastic bottles of water they’ll throw in the trash by nightfall. This is the type of hedonism that will doom humankind, and we will deserve it.

"Annual production of plastic bottles is projected to reach 600 billion by 2021," de Groot told Mashable. "That is 600 billion bottles, in addition to almost all plastic produced to date, that will virtually persist in the environment forever."

According to de Groot, humans produced over 7,800 million tons of new plastic by 2015. Of that, approximately 79 percent has gone into landfill or the natural environment. It takes over 500 years for plastic to degrade into smaller particles, but it continues to destroy the environment even then. "These microplastics risk being ingested by wildlife and transferred up the food chain where their effects on human health are yet to be known," de Groot told Mashable.

You don’t need plastic bottles of Himalayan spring water blessed by a 108-year-old monk who doesn’t use YouTube. If you’re really concerned about purity, just boil and filter your tap water.

Eating food past its manufacturer mandated “best before” date feels like dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight. Food poisoning is never fun, and defying those authoritatively stamped numbers may seem too close to spitting at the gastrointestinal gods. However, strict adherence to these dates is actually unnecessary, and only serves to create equally unnecessary food waste.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that, with the exception of infant formula, food is still safe to consume after the provided date passes — as long as it shows no signs of spoilage such as "an off odor, flavor or texture." Eat, drink, and be merry. There is no uniform standard regarding product dating in the U.S., so the numbers largely mean nothing. "Use by" and "best before" dates only indicate when food is at its best quality, not when it is safe to eat.

"Confusion over the meaning of dates applied to food products can result in consumers discarding wholesome food," says the USDA.

"The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that industrialised countries generate approximately 95 to 115 kgs [209-254 lbs] of consumer food waste per capita," de Groot told Mashable. "This contributes to climate change in the form of methane emissions emanating from landfills and carbon emissions associated with production, processing and transport."

Learn to trust your senses rather than uncritically obey "best before" dates, and you can help reduce some of that waste.

Voting is a chore, and not one that feels particularly rewarding in the moment. Standing in line for hours just to tick a few little boxes might seem irritating, like lost time that might have been spent working or binging the latest Korean drama. However, just like any other chore, it’s important that you do it anyway — especially if you want to keep your environment habitable.

"If we want the right conditions, policies, rules, and support structures to be able to live sustainably, we need our leaders to be part of the solutions," Dr. Simon Lockrey told Mashable. A sustainable design researcher at RMIT University, Lockery is also a board member of the International Sustainable Development Research Society. "Our votes matter, so we should be using that mechanism to send them a message. The old way is not necessarily the best way. By voting, or when we really need to, protesting, we can send these types of messages."

Practically all government policies impact the environment in some way, but Lockery notes some of the most significant issues concern energy, waste, forestry, water, and agriculture. These affect "big ticket items for living sustainably," such as climate change, threats to habitats or certain species, and environmental toxicity.

"What we should be pressuring governments to support are policies that build energy systems that are clean; that drive less greenhouse gas production in industry; that protect flora and fauna; and eradicate toxic materials/chemicals from our biosphere," said Lockery.

"Policies need to do this internationally, at an industry level, as well as support us as individuals to contribute, such as supporting household renewable energy, or enabling a waste system that goes beyond household recycling to being regenerative or truly circular," he added.

Of course, voting isn’t easy for everyone. Voter suppression remains a widespread problem in the U.S., with many potential voters unable to access polling booths on election day (which isn't even a national holiday). However, if you're privileged enough that you can cast your ballot with ease, it’s one of the most important things you can do to save the planet.

"Voting and protesting are benefits of a democracy, and thus are good ways to call for change," said Lockery. "We should cherish these activities, as many don't have these options available to them."

"Overall, we in the developed world are simply consuming too much; too many products we don’t really need, too many holiday flights, et cetera," Wiedmann told Mashable. "Therefore, in addition to doing these 'easy' things, we should generally look at reducing our overall consumption, by buying less stuff, flying less, living in smaller houses, maybe growing our own food."

Of course, not everyone will find these suggestions feasible. As Heinze notes, "You can't realistically take public transportation if your commute will take three-times as long."

"This does not mean we should not embrace individual changes, but that they should be a starting point to increased action in our communities, governments, schools and workplaces," Heinze continued. "If you're looking to make the biggest impact on the climate for the least amount of effort, a great place to start is divesting your [retirement fund] from fossil fuels, and encouraging your institutions to do the same."

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2024, 4:27 p.m. AEDT This article was originally published in July 2020, and has since been updated in Jan. 2024.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Micmonster AI Voiceovers is on sale for £47, saving you 49% on list price.

While you may have the magic touch for posting on social media or telling stories, you might not have a voice like Morgan Freeman. When it comes to content creation, having a clear and compelling voice is key, but hiring professionals can get expensive.

Some AI tools sound overly robotic, but Micmonster has customisable tools for pronunciation and inflections that make the range of voice options sound more natural. You can get a lifetime subscription to Micmonster for just £47.

No matter what kind of content you’re producing — TikTok posts, Instagram Reels, or self-publishing a book — adding a voice element can increase your reach while engaging your audience on a deeper level. You could record your own voice, but that has its own limitations like sound quality and versatility.

Micmonster opens up a whole new world of possibilities with over 600 AI-generated voices in 140 languages. Choose one that sounds similar to your own, or select distinctly different feminine and masculine voices to use in the same project.

Creation is simple — write or paste in your text transcript and select a voice. Use built-in tools to adjust the tone, rate, pitch, or emphasis, or add pauses, whatever you need to make the audio adapt to your content. And, if the AI is mispronouncing names, you can also fine-tune pronunciation.

This Micmonster lifetime subscription includes a commercial license, which means that you can use it in content that you profit from. With the ability to convert 12,000 characters to speech at once, you could turn a voice-over into a video narration, podcast episode, or audiobook.

Make the content of your dreams with a lifetime subscription to Micmonster AI voice-overs, now only £47 — the lowest price online — no coupon needed.