Mashable

SAVE $70: The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet is on sale for $99.98. The Amazon wireless charging dock is included in this deal, which means you're paying $55 less than if you were to buy these two items separately. This bundle is 41% off its regular list price of $169.98.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet and Amazon wireless charging dock bundle $99.98 Get Deal

Finding a budget-friendly tablet that can meet your entertainment needs can be challenging. Today's, deal, however, can help you finally check that off your list.

As of today, Jan. 26, you can score the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet and the Amazon wireless charging dock for just $99.98. That's $70 (or 41%) off the bundle's regular price of $169.98, and $55 less than the cost of buying each item separately. This bundle is only $10 above its lowest price ever, so today's savings are a good deal.

When Mashable's RJ Anderson reviewed the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet in 2023, he praised it as an affordable tablet for folks who are looking for basic entertainment features. Anderson described it as "a great introductory tablet for anyone interested in entertainment functions like streaming, social media, and reading on the go." That said, he also warned that it was no replacement for an iPad. Therefore, shoppers need to get clear on what they're looking for in a tablet before they buy. However, with a price as low as $99.98, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus makes a great value buy.

Take advantage of the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet bundle deal at Amazon and give yourself the gift of having your favorite entertainment with you on the go.

If you've ever wanted to see Dev Patel deliver a John Wick-style beatdown, then Monkey Man is the film for you.

Directed by Patel and produced by Jordan Peele, Monkey Man is inspired by the legend of Hanuman, a Hindu god who appears in the Ramayana. The film introduces us to Kid (Patel), an anonymous, gorilla mask-wearing street fighter with a dark past. But when Kid manages to infiltrate the inner circle of the corrupt leaders who killed his mother and suppress the poor, he'll embark on an explosive quest of retribution.

From the looks of the trailer, said quest will be one bloody ride, with Patel turning everything from mirror shards to pots and pans to aquariums into deadly weapons.

Sign us up for this Patel-Peele team-up!

Monkey Man hits theaters Apr. 5.

SAVE $17: As of Jan. 26, get an Amazon Echo Glow smart lamp on sale at Woot! for just $12.99. That's a discount of 59%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Glow $12.99 at Woot! Get Deal

It's hard enough to pull yourself out of a warm, cozy bed in the morning as an adult. It's not exactly a cakewalk for kids either, even if they seem like boundless little balls of energy. Still, school and other obligations await, and you've got to get the kids up and out the door each day with relative ease. That starts with getting them to bed on time. If that seems like a monumental task some days, the Amazon Echo Glow smart lamp may be able to assist.

As of Jan. 26, you can get an Echo Glow at Woot! for just $12.99. That's $17 off its normal price of $29.99, or what it's currently available for on Amazon, and a discount of 59%. It's also the lowest price we've seen the Echo Glow since September's Woot! sale.

SEE ALSO: Make your home smarter this winter for up to 43% off at Amazon

These refurbished items have been thoroughly tested and vetted by Amazon to ensure they still work like new. You may see some blemishes on the product (scuffs or scratches), and it might be repackaged.

This smart lamp is the perfect solution to help your rugrats form better sleep routines while offering a more gentle way to wake them in the mornings. They can use the lamp's calming rainbow of colors as a sweet wake-up call or drift off to sleep easier with the help of content that's perfect for getting some shut-eye. You can adjust the brightness and play music for a dance party as well.

The unit also has a Rainbow Timer to help your kids complete tasks like getting prepared to leave home in the mornings or brushing their teeth for the recommended two minutes at night. Beyond that, it's the same Echo device you know and love, all for under $15.

If you don't have kids, it can work for you as well. Just be sure you have a main Echo device to sync it with, as this unit will not work solo.

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Best for affordability Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The Indiana Hoosiers and Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a Big Ten Conference contest at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois, on Saturday, Jan. 27. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT. 

Indiana comes into the matchup 12-7 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten. Most recently, Wisconsin beat the IU Hoosiers 91-79 on Jan 19. After the first 19 games, Malik Reneau is the top scorer for Indiana with 16.5 points per game.

Illinois, ranked No. 10 in The Associated Press poll, enters the contest 14-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Ten. On Wednesday, Northwestern beat Illinois 96-91 in overtime. Marcus Domask has scored the most points this season for Illinois with 287 points in 19 games for the Illini, and it gives him an average of 15.1 points per contest. Terrence Shannon Jr. is leading Illinois with 20.5 points per game, and he has played in 13 of the team’s 19 games.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college basketball without cable

Mike Woodson is the Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball head coach. Brad Underwood is the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball head coach. 

Indiana vs. Illinois basketball game time and network

The Indiana Hoosiers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT start on FOX on Saturday, Jan. 27. The FOX broadcasters are scheduled to be Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst). 

Without cable or satellite TV, some options to watch the IU Hoosiers vs. Illinois men’s basketball game via online live stream include FuboTV and Sling.

Best streaming services for the Illinois vs. IU basketball game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college basketball without cable or satellite TV. Here are the best streaming services to consider for the Illinois Fighting Illini vs. IU Hoosiers basketball game on FOX.  

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month Get Deal

FOX is available on Sling TV in select markets. Those include Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Gainesville, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. 

If you’re not in one of those markets, getting Sling TV won’t help you watch the IU vs. Illinois men’s basketball game. 

If you’re in one of those markets, getting Sling TV for Illinois vs. Indiana basketball would work for you. You’ll need the Blue Plan, which comes at $20 for the first month and $40 for subsequent months.  

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

FuboTV offers more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the FOX broadcast. If you’re in luck, then you can get FOX with the FuboTV Pro plan at a rate of $79.99 per month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Orange Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The Kentucky Wildcats and Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a Southeastern Conference contest at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, Jan. 27. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT. 

Kentucky, ranked No. 6 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 14-4 overall and 4-2 in the SEC. Most recently, South Carolina defeated the UK Wildcats 79-62 on Tuesday. After the first 18 games, Antonio Reeves leads Kentucky in scoring with 19.2 points per game. 

Arkansas comes into the contest 10-9 overall and 1-5 in the SEC. On Wednesday, Ole Miss beat Arkansas 77-51. Tramon Mark is Arkansas’ top scorer with 17.8 points per game through the first 18 contests.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college basketball without cable

Eric Musselman is the Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball head coach. John Calipari is the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball head coach.  

Arkansas vs. Kentucky basketball game time and network

The Arkansas Razorbacks vs. UK Wildcats men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 27. ESPN broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Jess Sims (reporter). 

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live-streaming platforms such as FuboTV and Sling offer alternatives for enjoying the game.

Best streaming services for the Kentucky vs. Arkansas basketball game 

If you’ve gotten rid of cable and satellite TV, you'll need a streaming platform. To see Saturday’s Kentucky Wildcats vs. Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball game, here are the top streaming solutions available to you.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month Get Deal

Sling TV's $55/month package includes 46 channels, catering to the needs of college basketball fans and includes ESPN coverage of showdowns like the Arkansas Razorbacks vs. UK Wildcats men’s basketball game. Newcomers to Sling TV enjoy a $27.50 rate for the first month. 

If you’re looking to mainly watch the Arkansas vs. Kentucky game, the Orange Plan includes ESPN and is available at $20 for the first month, followed by $40 monthly.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

FuboTV gives you the opportunity to try it free for seven days and explore its extensive selection of more than 250 live TV channels. If you’re a college basketball fan, the Pro package costs $79.99 per month with channels like ESPN to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball game.  

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

SAVE UP TO $44: As of Jan. 26, both of Xbox's two best controllers — the Elite Series 2 and Elite Series 2 Core — are on sale. Save up to $44 on the Core version and $29 on the standard version for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Xbox Elite Series 2 controller $150.99 at Microsoft (save $29) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller $95.99 at Microsoft (save $44) Get Deal

If you have an Xbox Series X or S, you already have a controller. While you may think that one is good enough — and maybe it is, Xbox's standard controllers aren't bad by any means — indulge us while we tell you why you should probably upgrade.

For a limited time, Xbox's two best controllers — the Elite Series 2 and Elite Series 2 Core — are on sale for up to $44 off the usual price. These pro-style controllers are some of the best on the market, so don't let the chance to save some money on one pass you by.

SEE ALSO: The best handheld gaming consoles of 2023

The Elite Series 2 is everything that's great about the standard Xbox controller but with more features, customization options, and an overall premium feel. The controller comes with a suite of swappable parts, including multiple thumbstick options, an additional D-pad, and four back paddles that can be key-mapped however you want. You'll also have the ability to adjust the tension in each thumbstick, choose from three different trigger settings, and switch between three custom button configuration profiles on the fly. As a bonus, the controller comes with a hard carrying case to store all the parts, and it has a charging dock on the inside. (Did we mention it has a 40-hour battery life?)

The Elite Series 2 Core is a budget-friendly alternative to the regular Series 2 and also has its fair share of great features. It's a bit stripped down, but you'll get those adjustable tension thumbsticks, trigger settings, button mapping profiles, rubberized grip, and the same battery life at a much more affordable price. You'll have to forego the swappable parts and carrying case, but if that's fine with you, it's a great deal at just $95.99 (while it's on sale, at least).

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Orange Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The Duke and Clemson men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, on Saturday, Jan. 27. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET. 

Duke, ranked No. 12 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 14-4 overall and 5-2 in the ACC. Most recently, Duke defeated Louisville 83-69 on Tuesday. After 18 games, Kyle Filipowski leads Duke with 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. 

Clemson comes into the contest 13-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC. On Jan. 20, Clemson beat Florida State 78-67. PJ Hall is Clemson’s top scorer with 19.7 points per game after 18 contests.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college basketball without cable

Jon Scheyer is the Duke men’s basketball head coach. Brad Brownell is the Clemson men’s basketball head coach. 

Duke vs. Clemson basketball game time and network

The Duke vs. Clemson men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 27. ESPN broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Dave O’Brien (play-by-play) and Cory Alexander (analyst). 

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live-streaming platforms such as FuboTV and Sling offer alternatives for enjoying the game.

Best streaming services for the Clemson vs. Duke basketball game 

If you’ve gotten rid of cable and satellite TV, you'll need a streaming platform. To see Saturday’s Clemson vs. Duke men’s basketball game, here are the top streaming solutions available to you. 

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month Get Deal

Sling TV's $55/month package provides 46 channels, catering to the needs of college basketball fans and includes ESPN coverage of showdowns like the Duke vs. Clemson men’s basketball game. Newcomers to Sling TV enjoy a $27.50 rate for the first month. 

If you’re looking to just watch the Duke vs. Clemson game, the Orange Plan includes ESPN and is available at $20 for the first month, followed by $40 monthly. 

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

You can try FuboTV free for seven days and explore its extensive selection of more than 250 live TV channels. If you’re a college basketball fan, the Pro package costs $79.99 per month with channels like ESPN to watch the Clemson vs. Duke men’s basketball game.  

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The Iowa Hawkeyes and Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a Big Ten Conference contest at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday, Jan. 27. The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT. 

Iowa enters the matchup 11-8 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Most recently, Maryland beat Iowa 69-67 on Wednesday. After 19 games, Ben Krikke leads the Hawkeyes with 16.1 points per game.

Michigan comes into the contest 7-12 overall and 2-6 in the Big Ten. On Tuesday, Purdue defeated Michigan 99-67. The top two scorers for the Michigan Wolverines are Dug McDaniel at 17.4 points per game and Olivier Nkamhoua with 16.5 points per game through their first 19 contests. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college basketball without cable

Fran McCaffery is the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball head coach. Juwan Howard is the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball head coach. 

Michigan vs. Iowa basketball game time and network

The Michigan vs. Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on FS1 at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 27. FS1 broadcasters are scheduled to be Dave Sims (play-by-play) and Nick Bahe (analyst). 

Discover live streaming possibilities with platforms like FuboTV and Sling to enjoy Saturday’s game without the need for cable or satellite TV. 

Best streaming services for the Iowa vs. Michigan basketball game

Watching college basketball is possible without a cable or satellite TV subscription by opting for a streaming service. Ready for Saturday’s Michigan vs. Iowa game? Here's a list of the top streaming platforms you should consider.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month Get Deal

If the Michigan vs. Iowa men’s basketball game is your reason for choosing Sling TV, the Blue Plan is your go-to option, featuring FS1. Enjoy a discounted rate of $20 for the first month, with a standard charge of $40/month thereafter. The Sling TV Blue Plan enhances your viewing experience, permitting three concurrent streams and providing 50 hours of complimentary DVR space. 

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

You can get FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period, providing more than 250 channels of live TV and the convenience of watching 10 screens concurrently. FS1 coverage for games like Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball is available through FuboTV’s Pro tier, which has a rate of $79.99 per month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

It was around episode 7 of the second season of The Traitors UK, where I had a weird realisation: I was getting just as excited about new episodes as I did about Succession Season 4, back when that was all people were talking about.

My initial reaction to this thought? Shame. Was I even thinking about comparing one of the best TV shows of 2023 (probably of all time) with a reality competition show? Was I just forgetting how much I'd loved Jesse Armstrong's Emmy-winning series? Was it just a one-off, really good episode of The Traitors that caught me by surprise?

SEE ALSO: 20 of the best reality shows on Hulu for when you need an escape

The honest answer to both those questions, now that Season 2 of the BBC's The Traitors is almost over, is no. The show really is just that good. Though I'm doing just that for a moment, you can't directly compare it to Succession, because — although the backstabbing and treachery is high in both — the format and genre are so different. But you can compare how a show makes you feel. And The Traitors is the kind of show that sinks its hooks into you and doesn't let go until you've binged everything there is to binge.

What's The Traitors about?

In a nutshell, it's a Mafia-style murder mystery game show set in a Scottish castle, in which a group of contestants compete to reach the final and win a cash prize. The Traitors is based on the Dutch series De Verraders, and has seen spinoffs in the U.S. and Australia.

In the first episode, the 20-odd contestants are blindfolded and a small group of titular "traitors" are picked by host Claudia Winkleman (in Peacock's U.S. version of the show, which is filmed in the exact same castle. the host is Alan Cumming). This essentially divides the players into two teams: the traitors, whose mission is to "murder" (not literally) the rest of the contestants known as "faithfuls" and make it to the final without being caught, and said faithfuls, whose mission is to identify and banish the traitors before they're picked off themselves.

If all faithfuls make it to the end of the game, they split whatever money they've accumulated during the daily missions. If there's a traitor hiding among their number who hasn't been unmasked, though, then they take all the money for themselves.

One of the missions in Season 2 involved this very creepy field of scarecrows. Credit: BBC/Studio Lambert

It sounds simple enough, and simplicity is a major strength of the show. Each day in the castle is broken up into key stages. There's breakfast, where the contestants nervously wait to see who's been killed off (i.e. evicted from the game via signed decree) by the traitors overnight; there's the daily missions, in which the contestants have to put their differences aside and complete a host of physical and mental challenges to try and bulk up their prize pot; and then, finally, there's the show's best bit — the nightly roundtable where the faithfuls have the chance to try and banish a traitor. This is typically the time when tensions bubble over, accusations are wildly thrown, and emotions reach boiling point. Each day ends the same way, with the remaining traitors donning black cloaks and meeting in a creepy little room to discuss who's going to get the chop before everyone wakes up and the cycle starts over again.

Why is The Traitors UK so good? Because of the people.

While the U.S. version of The Traitors included some TV celebrities as contestants, The Traitors UK relies solely on members of the public. In Season 2 this tactic has worked phenomenally, as the people involved — and the relationships they form — are every bit as entertaining as anything a scripted show might conjure up.

Without going too far into spoiler territory, this season has seen some hero and villain arcs that Shakespeare himself would be proud of, from the intense scheming of business manager Paul to the practically prophetic traitor-hunting abilities of account manager Jaz (a contestant social media has subsequently dubbed "Jazatha Christie", a title that is very much earned).

The contestants are what make the show. Credit: BBC/Studio Lambert

The people involved are from a diverse range of backgrounds, and their own stories form a backdrop to the main game. There's Andrew, the burly Welshman who was told he'd never walk again after a near-fatal car crash; Mollie, a 21-year-old disability model who is keen to advocate for people, like herself, that have limb differences or a stoma bag; and the aforementioned Jaz, who had to rebuild his family after discovering that his father had another secret family somewhere else ("I know a traitor when I see one," he says after telling the story.)

As the series progresses, and we get to know more about the people involved, we become more and more attached to them, raising the emotional stakes at the roundtables and murder meetings. Popularity can secure a traitor's safety from banishment, and the lack of it can see a faithful sent home. At its heart, The Traitors is a social experiment, perhaps revealing more about internalised biases than the players may have thought.

The Traitors is a masterclass in tense viewing.

When I first started watching The Traitors, I was a little confused by the decision to show us who the traitors are from the beginning, unlike a show like The Mole that has viewers yarn-walling it until the final reveal. Where would the suspense come from if we already knew which people to trust?

As I kept watching, though, I realised how wrong I was about this. The show works precisely because we know their identities. There's nothing more tense — and sometimes more funny — than watching the faithful desperately trying to work out who a traitor is while we're smugly sat at home knowing whether they're right or wrong. Sometimes I find myself rooting for the traitors in this scenario (who do, in fairness, have a very stressful job to do), and other times I want the faithfuls to catch them. Once again, it's all to do with the people involved.

So much scheming. Credit: BBC/Studio Lambert

But will the people I want to win emerge with the money in Season 2? It's a testament to how unpredictable the show can be that I really don't know. With one episode left, it could still go either way. But regardless of who ends up taking the money I'll be watching, hooked, before eagerly waiting to discuss the end results with anyone who'll listen. That's the kind of show it is.

How to watch: The Traitors Season 2 is currently streaming on BBC iPlayer. If you're based in the US, you can watch it using a VPN. It's worth it.

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal Most channels FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The Kansas Jayhawks and Iowa State Cyclones are scheduled to meet in a Big 12 Conference contest at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday, Jan. 27. The game is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. CT. 

Kansas, ranked No. 7 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 16-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12. Most recently, KU beat Cincinnati 74-69 on Monday. Through the first 19 games of the season, Kevin McCullar Jr. leads the Jayhawks with 20 points per game. 

The No. 23-ranked ISU Cyclones come into the contest 15-4 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12. On Wednesday, Iowa State defeated Kansas State 78-67. Tamin Lipsey with 14.1 points per game and Keshon Gilbert with 13.6 points per game are the top two scorers for ISU after 19 games.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college basketball without cable

Bill Self is the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball head coach. T.J. Otzelberger is the Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach. 

Kansas vs. ISU Cyclones basketball game time and network

The KU Jayhawks vs. Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS at 12:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 27.  

Cable and satellite TV are no longer necessary for enjoying live sports. Consider live streaming options to watch Saturday’s game via services like Paramount+ and FuboTV.

Best streaming services for the Iowa State vs. KU basketball game

Watching college basketball requires a streaming service if you don’t have cable or satellite TV. For the ISU Cyclones vs. Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball game on Saturday, here are your top streaming options.

Most affordable: Paramount+ Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal

If you want to watch just CBS or just the Iowa State Cyclones vs. KU Jayhawks men’s basketball game, Paramount+ offers a solution. 

New subscribers to Paramount+ get a seven-day free trial. Then for the Paramount+ plan that includes live streaming CBS, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, which is $11.99/month. If you choose the annual plan, it is $119.99 for a year, saving about $1.99/month. 

For students, Paramount+ will give you a 25% discount.

Most channels: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

With FuboTV, new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial and more than 250 live TV channels, along with the ability to simultaneously stream on 10 devices. College sports fans who want access to CBS for matchups such as the Kansas Jayhawks vs. Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball game will want the FuboTV Pro tier, which has a rate of $79.99 per month. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

SAVE $100: The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is now on sale for $799, down from $899, at Amazon for a limited time. That's a discount of 11%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar $799 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

You don't need to go to the movie theater to feel like you're part of the action in your favorite films. With the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, you can experience fully immersive sound from the comfort of your living room.

As of today, Jan. 26, the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is on sale for $799. That's $100 less than its usual price of $899. This marks a return to the soundbar's lowest price, which we first saw over the holiday shopping season. While the soundbar is still an investment even with the 11% savings, if you're ready to pull the trigger you'll want to act on this limited-time deal now before it jumps back up to full price.

SEE ALSO: January 2024 TV deals include a ton of Samsung QLEDs that keep getting cheaper and cheaper

The powerful soundbar is equipped with Dolby Atmos and Bose TrueSpace technology, which work together to fill your room with sound by separating sounds and directing them to different parts of the room. All the while, the sound keeps its integrity and is ultra-clear — especially when it comes to dialogue, which is balanced by the A.I.-supported dialogue mode.

Despite its sophistication, the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is easy to use. There's no complicated setup; simply connect to your TV with Bluetooth or the included audio cable and start rediscovering your favorite shows and films immediately.

Upgrade your home entertainment system and save $100 when you shop the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar today.

SAVE $150.99: Dyson's slimmest hard-floor vacuum, the Omni-Glide, is on sale for just $199 at Amazon as of Jan. 26. That's a 43% discount and its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Omni-Glide cordless vacuum $199 at Amazon (save $150.99) Get Deal

If you've always wanted a Dyson vacuum, but scoff at the typical prices, we've found a deal for you. The brand's slimmest hard-floor cordless vacuum is currently sitting at less than $200 at Amazon just waiting for you to nab it.

Typically $349.99, the Dyson Omni-Glide is on sale for just $199 at Amazon as of Jan. 26. Not only is that a 43% discount from its MSRP, but it's also the lowest price we've ever seen on this model. It previously dropped to $216.99 around the holidays, but this is the first time it's broken through the $200 barrier. You can also pick up the vacuum for just 99 cents more at the Dyson website at the time of writing.

SEE ALSO: This week's best robot vacuum deals include almost every Roomba and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

The Omni-Glide certainly isn't the biggest and baddest Dyson on the block, but it does the job. It weighs just over four pounds and is designed to swivel in all directions. Plus, its compact form allows it to lie flat, so you can reach all those nooks and crannies your bulkier vacuum can't get to. Its soft nylon brush bars capture large debris, while the anti-static, carbon fiber filaments take on the finer dust and allergen particles, making it a solid match for hard floors. It may not be the best for deep cleaning, but it's a gem for quick pick-ups.

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Orange Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The North Carolina Tar Heels and Florida State men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, Jan. 27. The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET. 

UNC, ranked No. 3 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 16-3 overall and 8-0 in the ACC. Most recently, the Tar Heels defeated Wake Forest 85-64 on Monday. Through the first 19 games of the season, RJ Davis leads North Carolina by scoring 21 points per game. 

FSU comes into the contest 12-7 overall and 6-2 in the ACC. On Tuesday, Florida State beat Syracuse 85-69. Jamir Watkins leads FSU in scoring at 13.9 points per contest after the first 19 contests. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college basketball without cable

Hubert Davis is the North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball head coach. Leonard Hamilton is the Florida State men’s basketball head coach. 

UNC vs. FSU basketball game time and network

The North Carolina vs. Florida State men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 27. ESPN broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (analyst).

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, online live-streaming platforms such as FuboTV and Sling offer alternatives for enjoying the game.

Best streaming services for the FSU vs. North Carolina basketball game 

If you’ve gotten rid of cable and satellite TV, you'll need a streaming platform. To see Saturday’s Florida State vs. North Carolina men’s basketball game, here are the top streaming solutions available to you.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month Get Deal

Sling TV's $55/month package provides 46 channels, catering to the needs of college basketball fans and includes ESPN coverage of showdowns like FSU vs. North Carolina men’s basketball. Newcomers to Sling TV enjoy a $27.50 rate for the first month. 

If you’re looking to just watch the UNC vs. Florida State game, the Orange Plan includes ESPN and is available at $20 for the first month, followed by $40 monthly.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

You can try FuboTV free for seven days and explore its extensive selection of more than 250 live TV channels. If you’re a college basketball fan, the Pro package costs $79.99 per month after the free trial, with channels like ESPN to watch the UNC Tar Heels vs. Florida State men’s basketball game.  

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

Honor's Magic V2, the super-thin foldable smartphone that launched in July 2023 in China, is now available in Europe.

While the wait has been a long one, the Magic V2 still has the honor (no pun intended) of being the world's thinnest inward-folding smartphone, at just 4.7 millimeters of thickness when unfolded and 9.9 millimeters of thickness when folded. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 measures 6.1 millimeters when unfolded, and 13.4 millimeters when folded.

Honor was able to achieve this feat by using a new generation silicon-carbon-dual-battery, which holds a capacity of 5,000mAh in a body that's just 2.72 millimeters thick, on average.

Honor Magic V2 will initially be available in Europe in two colors: Purple and Black. Credit: Honor

The rest of the specs are top notch as well. On the back, there's a triple camera system with a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 20-megapixel telephoto camera. There's also a dual, 16-megapixel camera setup on the front.

The display is a 7.92-inch OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1600 nits of brightness, and a 2,156x2,344 pixel resolution. It's coupled with a 6.43-inch, OLED cover display with 2500 nits of brightness and a 2,060x2,376 pixel resolution.

Honor was able to make the Magic V2 very slim by using a new generation, super-thin battery. Credit: Honor

The Magic V2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, coupled with 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage.

Other notable specs include a stereo speaker system, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and 66W wired charging.

The price matches the specs, unfortunately. The Honor Magic V2 will be available starting today through Honor's website, in Purple and Black colors, for €1,999.

SEE ALSO: Apple takes the smartphone market crown for the first time

There will also be a more luxurious, Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR variant. We don't have the pricing for that one yet, but will update this article when we do.

Another day, another recall for Tesla, but it's also another one of those recalls which don't really require the customers to do anything besides update their car's software.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla is recalling up to 199,575 Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles. In particular, these are 2023 models equipped with Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) 4.0 system, and running software versions 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk confirms: Tesla to build new, cheap model in 2025

The culprit is a software instability that could prevent the rearview camera image from displaying, which can be quite an inconvenience. "If the condition is present, the rearview camera display will appear blank when the vehicle is shifted to Reverse," the NHTSA's Safety Recall Report says. "Unavailability of the rearview camera display upon starting a backing event may affect the driver’s rear visibility and increase the risk of a collision."

The NHTSA says, however, that Tesla has already released a free software update that fixes the issue. Affected customers will get a notification by mail starting March 22. Yes, that's two months from now. No, it doesn't make a lot of sense.

According to NHTSA's document, Tesla users started sending complaints about the issue in December 2023, and the company decided to do a recall on Jan. 12, 2023. Per the report, Tesla claims it is not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths related to this particular bug.

Tesla recalls happen quite often; the last big one we remember was the company recalling more than 2 million cars in December over autopilot issues. Most of these, however, were due to software issues which Tesla was able to fix remotely, with an over-the-air software update.

Being a woman online is scary. In the digital world, as in the real world, harassment and abuse affects women and people of marginalised genders every day.

What happened to Taylor Swift this week is a prime — and terrifying — example. AI-generated, pornographic images of Swift went viral on X (formerly Twitter), with one such post garnering over than 45 million views. Outraged fans quickly intervened, flooding the platform with positive posts and images of the singer attached to search terms like "Taylor Swift AI" and "Taylor Swift deepfake". Swift's dedicated fanbase also got the hashtag #ProtectTaylorSwift trending, with thousands of posts condemning the nonconsensual images.

Tweet may have been deleted

The incident certainly isn't an isolated one. Swift, one of the most recognizable figures on the planet, is the latest to have deepfakes weaponized against her. This has happened to K-pop stars, TikTok creators, journalists, and high school girls.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez deepfakes used in Le Creuset giveaway scam What is deepfake porn?

Deepfake porn is artificially-created images or videos generated by a specific kind of machine learning. These synthetic visuals depict people's likenesses superimposed into sexual acts without their consent. The act of sharing it is a form of image-based sexual abuse, and has been criminalized in some countries. Much like revenge porn, deepfake porn has caused harm for those it depicts, whether psychologically, personally, or professionally.

A 2023 study from Home Security Heroes, a research firm focusing on identity theft and digital harm, found that deepfake porn makes up 98 percent of all deepfake videos online. Further, 99 percent of deepfake targets are women.

Where does the law stand on deepfake porn?

When it comes to nonconsensual sharing of explicit images, some countries worldwide have or are implementing laws to protect survivors.

In England and Wales, sharing deepfake porn has been criminalized since June 2023, with the UK government announcing a crackdown on "abusers, predators and bitter ex-partners who share intimate images online without consent of those depicted."

In the U.S., 48 states and the District of Columbia currently have anti-revenge porn laws. Some states have been working to update their language to include deepfake porn under this umbrella, including Illinois, Virginia, New York, and California. However, regulations vary by state and, as some have pointed out, certain laws don't include the pressing issue of technology's role in the creation and proliferation of such images and videos.

However, many governments are failing to tackle the problem. "Most governments aren’t taking action. Most don’t have laws, or their laws are full of loopholes," according to #MyImageMyChoice, a campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of those who have encountered image-based sexual abuse. "Most countries don’t have a framework around who is responsible for policing online spaces."

How has Big Tech approached this problem?

X, where the pictures of Swift have been distributed widely, explicitly forbids sharing "synthetic, manipulated, or out-of-context media." This includes content that deliberately intends to "deceive people" or those that falsely claim to depict reality. The company says it has a "a zero-tolerance policy towards such content", according to a post from its official safety account.

Tweet may have been deleted

Other platforms, like Reddit, also have policies preventing the sharing of intimate or sexually-explicit media without a person's consent.

Social media platforms and Big Tech have been put to the test when it comes to detecting and preventing deepfakes, despite policies. In 2021, Meta implemented a new tool to do so, partnering with the UK Revenge Porn Helpline's platform StopNCII.org. More recently, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram announced that any digitally-altered images pertaining to social, electoral, and political issues must be labelled — a policy intended to protect upcoming elections that some of the world's biggest democracies are gearing up towards.

SEE ALSO: Google's new AI video generator is great — but what about deepfakes?

Many platforms struggle to contain such content. The images of Swift, notably, were created and spread on a Telegram group chat, as discovered by 404Media. Telegram has failed to prevent this kind of content in the past. Others have too: just this month, NBC News found that nonconsensual deepfake porn featuring the likeness of female celebrities appears at the top of search engines like Google and Microsoft’s Bing.

Here's the real question: how does this keep happening? The alarming reality is that AI-generated images are becoming more pervasive, and presenting new dangers to those they depict. Exacerbating this issue is murky legal ground, social media platforms that have failed to foster effective safeguards, and the ongoing rise of artificial intelligence. International women's rights organization Equality Now detailed these factors in a January 2024 report, calling for "urgent and comprehensive responses from technological innovation, legal reform, and societal awareness" to tackle the undeniable rise of deepfake porn.

The circumstances surrounding Swift's case highlights the reality that this can happen to just about anyone – and before this kind of digital crisis worsens, it's time for a change.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, if you are based in the U.S., call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org. If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

If you are based in the UK and have experienced intimate image abuse (aka revenge porn), you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline on 0345 6000 459. If you have experienced sexual violence and are based in the UK, call the Rape Crisis helpline 0808 802 9999.

The estate of late comedian George Carlin is suing the creators of a comedy "special" that used AI to recreate his persona.

Posted on YouTube in early January, the AI-generated George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead was scripted and presented by comedy AI Dudesy, steered by humans Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen. The hour-long video doesn't actually feature the real comedian, who died in 2008. Instead, it's an AI-generated impersonation of Carlin talking about "the topics I think the comedy legend would be talking about today." Currently, the video has over half a million views.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in federal court in Los Angeles, accuses the video's creators of copyright infringement, saying they didn't have permission to use Carlin's likeness or material, including his albums and comedy standup specials, which the AI was trained on. The lawsuit describes the video as "computer-generated click-bait which detracts from the value of Carlin’s comedic works and harms his reputation."

"It is a casual theft of a great American artist’s work," it reads.

SEE ALSO: AI George Carlin releases comedy special that real George Carlin would've despised

In the filing, Carlin's estate also said the AI-generated video "may also deter younger audiences, who are unfamiliar with George Carlin, from engaging with his real work that is his legacy," and that the creators also infringed on copyright in their promotion of the "special" on the Dudesy podcast and its social media accounts.

The estate is suing for damages and demands the creators take down the video from all platforms and destroy any copies.

"The Dudesy Special is a bastardization of Carlin’s real work and his legacy," reads the filing. "George Carlin, if he were alive today, may well have commented upon the topics discussed in the Dudesy Special, but he would have had control over what those comments were."

"The Dudesy Special is a bastardization of Carlin’s real work and his legacy."

In the video in question, the AI claims the impersonation is "developed in the exact same way a human impressionist would...I listened to all of George Carlin's material and did my best to imitate his voice, cadence, and attitude as well as the subject matter I think would have interested him today." As Mashable's Tim Marcin writes, "The Dudesy special is a voice-accurate copy of Carlin, not adding context but rather trying to resurrect a ghost. It's a weird, less funny version of Carlin."

Carlin's daughter, Kelly, posted a thread on Twitter/X following the video's release. "My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain and imagination. No machine will ever replace his genius," she wrote.

Tweet may have been deleted

The lawsuit is just the latest fiasco in AI and copyright and follows the major conversations around AI and writers sitting at the heart of the recent Hollywood strikes.

Sydney Sweeney has taken on intense high school drama, intense vacation drama, and intense convent drama — so it's really no surprise that isn't too phased by a few spicy wings.

Appearing on First We Feast's Hot Ones, the actor munches through increasingly spicy wings while casually chatting about everything from the outfits in Euphoria to her favourite books.

Admittedly she does hit a bit of a wall with Da Bomb, but this only proves that she's human after all.

A photo of Japan's robotic moon lander shows that though the spacecraft did make the quarter-million-mile journey to the lunar surface, it landed upside down.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency — NASA's Japanese space counterpart known as JAXA — released the image Jan. 25, five days after it descended onto the moon. Shortly after touchdown, the mission team for SLIM — short for Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon — realized the spacecraft's solar panels weren't making electricity.

Seeing the golden ship in such a precarious position, yet somehow not shattered into pieces, comes as perhaps a startling reminder of just how difficult it is to get on the lunar surface, even 60 years after the first uncrewed moon landings.

SEE ALSO: Here are the 2024 space moments you won't want to miss Tweet may have been deleted

Face-planting on the moon wasn't part of the plan, but the JAXA team said data confirms the spacecraft achieved its main goal of a so-called "pinpoint landing" — that is, a landing with an accuracy of less than 100 meters, or under 100 yards. Given that most landing targets are many square-miles in scope, this demonstrates an unprecedented level of precision. The lander was at most 10 meters off its mark, according to space agency officials, which is comparable to 11 yards or less.

"The pinpoint landing performance was evaluated to be at approximately 10m or less, possibly about 3 - 4m," according to JAXA in a statement.

Japan is the fifth nation to land on the moon, following the former Soviet Union, the United States, China, and India. But JAXA controllers soon realized after the landing that their mission was in peril, with the spacecraft quickly losing battery life.

The SLIM spacecraft's navigation camera snaps a photo of the terrain. JAXA rotated the image so that it would appear right side up. Credit: JAXA

Because of the lander's now-apparent inverted position, its solar panels weren't oriented correctly to generate power, according to the space agency. The team elected to conserve power by shutting down the spacecraft about 2.5 hours after landing.

What's perhaps as surprising as the photo of the lander is how it was taken. Two small rovers separated from the crewless mothership just prior to touchdown. It was one of these baseball-sized robots that was able to snap the image of the spacecraft with its head in the moondust.

The rover, built with the help of Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy, is a sphere that splits in half to expose a pair of cameras that point front and back. The two hemispheres also become the rover wheels.

An onboard rover camera scans the lunar surface. Credit: JAXA / RITSUMEIKAN UNIVERSITY / THE UNIVERSITY OF AIZU

"The company is perhaps most famous for originally creating the Transformers, the alien robots that can disguise themselves as machines," said Elizabeth Tasker, who provided commentary on the moon landing in English on Jan. 20.

The space agency still isn't entirely sure what went wrong. At about 55 yards above the ground, the spacecraft performed an obstacle avoidance maneuver, part of the pinpoint-landing demonstration. Just prior to this step, one of the two main engines stopped thrusting, throwing the lander's orientation off. JAXA is continuing to investigate what caused the engine problem.

Landing on the moon remains onerous, with less than half of attempts succeeding. The moon's exosphere — an extremely thin atmosphere of gasses barely held by the moon's gravity — provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. Furthermore, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot.

In a close-up view of lunar ground, rocks are labeled with names, including "Bulldog" and "Toy Poodle," to help differentiate them. Credit: JAXA

For the pinpoint landing, the SLIM spacecraft was outfitted with photo-matching technology to determine its location. The matching algorithm only requires a few seconds to figure out where the spacecraft is and whether it needs to correct its course.

Despite the fact that the spacecraft is now sleeping, the SLIM team hasn't lost hope for a recovery. With solar panels facing west, the lander still has a chance of catching some rays and generating power. If the angle of sunlight changes, SLIM could still be awakened, mission officials said.

That would have to happen soon, though. Night will fall on the moon on Feb. 1, bringing about freezing temperatures. The spacecraft was not built to withstand those conditions.

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

We love a good party as much as anyone, but the logistics of trying to get to know someone in a packed basement over thumping tunes while everyone is doing shots in the corner are a bit challenging. It's not exactly the prime environment for romance.

Dating apps are the saving grace of university students everywhere. Whether you’re serious about finding someone, or just looking for a quick hookup, you may just need the right app.

After all, everyone’s doing it. 

Why should you consider using dating sites?

Yes, you can still find love in the real world, because meeting in bars, clubs, parks, and other romantic locations still happens every day. By subscribing to a dating site, you're simply shortening your odds of finding someone special.

Dating sites and apps let you put your information out there to a massive network of potential dates. Plus, you can save a lot of time, energy, and cash by testing out a potential relationship on an app before meeting in real life.

Do you need to pay for the best dating apps?

The good news is that are absolutely loads of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are seriously popular options with students. Most of the biggest and best dating sites also have free versions with limitations on certain features. So you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps. For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, the best option is probably not a free app. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap. Of course you can still find a date with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What should you consider before using a dating app?

It probably seems obvious, but the first rule of online dating is to just be yourself. It's all too easy to pretend to be someone you're not online, but that kind of catfishing game won't garner you a true connection. By being yourself and presenting yourself accurately and honestly, you open yourself up to the possibility of a great relationship with someone who likes you just the way you are. And isn't that the whole point of dating?

Don't be afraid to make the first move. Forget all those outdated rules that say a man is supposed to make the first move or that a woman can't pay on a first date. Instead, focus on finding an equal partner who helps support your goals, wants to see you succeed, and has dreams of their own.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

Get a bit more creative with your messaging than the standard "Hey." If you're looking to connect with someone on campus, then open up the conversation with a question about them and a little bit about yourself. Messaging someone is more discussion group than lecture hall — it's about passing the conversation back and forth. 

Once you decide to meet up — which is the entire point, after all — stay open. We often come up with an idea for how someone will be after meeting them online, and it's rare that your expectations sync up with reality. Allow yourself to really get to know this person for who they are rather than who you thought they would be before you make up your mind.

That said, it's crucial that you're honest. If you really don't feel a connection, then do the right thing and tell them. A good line to use is something like, "I've really enjoyed meeting you but I think there are probably better people out there for both of us." Not only will they appreciate your direct approach, but it will alleviate that post-date awkwardness of wondering where you stand. Ghosting sucks for everyone. Just be up front and save each of you a lot of discomfort.

On the other hand, what if you really do like them after finally meeting in person? Then what? Set up your next date while you're still hanging out. That old rule about waiting three days to call? It's dead. RIP outdated dating rules. Make plans to do something low-key, and for the first few dates make sure the plans are to meet in a public place. The benefits of making a date to do an activity cannot be overstated. It provides you with ample conversation starters and gives you an opportunity to get a little competitive and joke around. Some playful teasing goes a long way. And remember: It's all about having fun.

What is the best dating app for university students?

At this point there are dating apps for every niche you can think of, whether you're into gaming, geek culture, or focusing on your career — there are people seeking the same things you are. As a university student, you have specific needs and probably don't want to wade through all the older people trying to get married. You need dating apps that are specifically good for uni-aged people.

To help you find the perfect dating app, we’ve tracked down the best options for whatever kind of university experience you want, including leading sites like eharmony, Match, and AdultFriendFinder.

These are the best dating apps for students in 2024.