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The best sex toys for men

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 00:00

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

Men, your solo sex game is very much on the up. That's because the world of men's sex toys has more options than ever before — a whole manner of toys and gadgets that help get you off. From regular old masturbation aids to sex toys designed to satisfy your geekier side, there's a wide range of options. That means something for everyone. 

While it may seem sometimes like male sex toys are getting left out of the current sextech revolution, that’s far from true. Real sex positivity applies to everyone, which is why we’re excited about sex educators and smart companies working to buck the stigmas associated with male masturbation and backdoor experimentation.

If you're looking for a new sex toy but don't know where to start, here's a quick guide.

Are there different types of sex toys for men?

We've checked out everything on offer, and helpfully organised the primary types of sex toys you are likely to encounter:

  • Bondage gear So you might not think about bondage gear as a sex toy, but you should. Bondage toys are all about pushing boundaries and trying something new, and that sounds like a sex toy to us.

  • Cock rings We don't need to explain this. It's in the name. But why would you want to use a cock ring? These sex toys are used to help maintain longer and harder erections, which may result in penetrative sex lasting longer. Sounds good, right?

  • Dildos and plugs These sex toys can be used by just about anyone. They come in all shapes and sizes, and are simply used for penetration. They are also extremely versatile, and can be used for solo play or for spicing things up with a partner.

  • Massagers Interested in experiencing a super intense full-body orgasm? Who isn't? This might seem obvious, but prostate massagers are sex toys designed to massage the prostate. Stimulation of the prostate can be a game-changer.

  • Masturbators The masturbation sleeve is a manual kind of sex toy into which the user inserts their penis. It is supposed to mimic the feel of a vagina, mouth, or anus, depending on the model you purchase. It's a simple idea with impressive results.

You might come across something that doesn't quite fit into a category, but the vast majority of sex toys for men will fall into these areas.

What is the best sex toy for men?

Thinking about experimenting with anal play? Ready to size up from plugs to prostate massagers? You’re in luck. We've scoured the web to find the best male-oriented sex toys for every need — all built to heighten sexual pleasure and explore new realms — whether you’re looking to go solo or pair up with a partner.

These are the best sex toys for men in 2024.

Note: For the purpose of this article, we are looking primarily at toys that are intended for use by people who are assigned male at birth, which means they are recommended with the same enthusiasm for anyone with a penis/prostate regardless of gender identity. We’ve also included a couple of products suitable for trans men.

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 24

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 22:00

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 24's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

done or shown openly.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter O.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1040 is...

OVERT

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

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

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 24

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 21:00

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 24's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Street taco add-ons

  • Green: Units of measurement

  • Blue: Small hip dresses

  • Purple: Hill___

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

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

  • Yellow: Taco Toppings

  • Green: Metric Prefixes

  • Blue: Kinds of Skirts

  • Purple: Words with "Hill"

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #318 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Taco Toppings: CILANTRO, LIME, ONION, SALSA

  • Metric Prefixes: KILO, MEGA, MICRO, PICO

  • Kinds of Skirts: MINI, PENCIL, POODLE, WRAP

  • Words with "Hill": CAPITOL, FAITH, FOOT, MOLE

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

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

Sustainable laptops to make every day Earth Day

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 16:33

We all want to make greener choices, but shopping for sustainable tech products isn’t quite as easy as choosing greener fashion or furniture, partly because high-performance second-hand tech is almost impossible to come by.  

Dell and Intel have set out to change that with their Advancing Sustainability action plan, which aims to drive sustainability across the entire product lifecycle. Part of this initiative is a large and growing range of sustainable Dell laptops and desktops — and whether you’re gaming, studying, or working, there’s a device to suit your needs. 

Greener gaming

Greener gaming is possible with the Alienware m18 R2 gaming laptop, a high-performance, feature-rich laptop that ships in 100 percent recycled or renewable recyclable packaging.

It has all the tech specs gamers look for, including an Intel Core Processor, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and 2TB of internal storage. Thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX Laptop GPU, you know the graphics will be top-notch, and rest assured, the advanced thermal design will keep your laptop cool when gameplay heats up.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Alienware m18 R2 Gaming Laptop $2,799.99 at Dell
$3,099.99 Save $300.00 Intel® Core™ i9, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080, and 32GB DDR5 RAM Shop Now A more eco-friendly way to work

When your work demands peak performance and all-day productivity, you need a laptop that can keep up and even outpace you. 

The Precision 7780 Workstation is designed for scalable performance that can handle the workloads of AI, ML, or VR demand. With high-functioning NVIDIA graphics and up to UHD 120 Hz on a 17.3-inch 16:9 aspect ratio display, everything you do will be visually stunning and efficient. 

All this is housed in a design made from 18 percent recycled plastic and shipped in 100 percent recycled or renewable packaging. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Precision 7780 Workstation $3,959.00 at Dell
$4,449.00 Save $490.00 Intel® Core™ i7 processor, 32GB RAM, and 1TB NVMe SSD Shop Now Make your study more sustainable

The Inspiron 16 Laptop is a reliable, lightweight laptop that's perfect for studying. It has a 13th Gen Intel Core to exceed performance and Dolby Atmos spatial audio to make music, podcasts, or remote classes sound clearer. 

Plus, it’s one of the most sustainable options out there: designed with 24 percent recycled plastics, ships 100 percent recycled or renewable packaging, and is Energy Star certified. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Inspiron 16 Laptop $699.99 at Dell
$1,099.99 Save $400.00 Intel® Core™ i7 processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB NVMe SSD Shop Now

Visit Dell’s Sustainability Deals hub to see the full collection of sustainable laptops, desktops, and accessories.

A TikTok ban would probably also take down CapCut, Lemon8, and more

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 15:58

The U.S. government is inching closer and closer to a TikTok ban, a move that would impact more than just TikTok. 

As Mashable reported over the weekend, the House passed an updated version of the ban with bipartisan support. If or when it makes its way to President Biden's desk, Biden has signaled he will sign it into law, and effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform.

SEE ALSO: What is TikTok Lite and why is the EU concerned about it?

However, it's not just TikTok users who will be affected by such a ban. This bill paves the way for the U.S. to potentially ban many other foreign-based apps or platforms too. As Axios points out, the wording of the bill bans any app that the U.S. government deems to be a "foreign adversary controlled application" and includes apps "operated, directly or indirectly (including through a parent company, subsidiary, or affiliate)" of those "foreign adversaries."

Last month, Mashable shared some examples of apps that could potentially be affected by this bill if it became law such as WeChat or even shopping platforms like Temu or AliExpress. While the broad language of the bill does mean an array of companies and apps could find themselves affected, TikTok and its corporate parent ByteDance are the only parties specified.

And, as Axios reports, it seems pretty clear that if TikTok is banned in the U.S., ByteDance's other catalog of app offerings are likely to go down too.

Goodbye to CapCut, Lemon8, Lark, and more?

While TikTok is the app that ByteDance is most known for, the company has been launching a multitude of other platforms and applications over the years that have become pretty popular within their target markets too.

For example, CapCut has become a very popular video editing app on both mobile devices and desktop computers. Many viral videos on TikTok and beyond are created using CapCut. Creators looking for a quick and easy video editing tool have utilized CapCut for longform videos too. However, CapCut is owned by ByteDance and could very well be banned if TikTok is. And the same goes for ByteDance's photo editing app Hypic.

Lark is a productivity suite of apps for businesses that includes documents, chats, messaging, and more. It's basically ByteDance's version of Google Workspace and the company even uses it internally for its own business. However, under the U.S.'s TikTok ban bill, Lark could be banned too.

In addition to its extremely popular social video platform, ByteDance runs a Pinterest-like social media platform called Lemon8 which is fairly popular within the lifestyle and wellness community. Out of all of ByteDance's apps, Lemon8 is likely the closest to TikTok, which could lead to it being barred in the U.S. 

Other ByteDance apps available in the U.S. such as its "AI study companion" app Gauth and SoundOn, a music distribution and royalty platform for artists, could also be prohibited.

If the TikTok ban bill does become law, its unclear exactly what would happen next. ByteDance, under the law, would have to basically divest from TikTok and sell the company off within the year. But, TikTok is reportedly gearing up for a legal battle to fight the law if it does pass so it could be quite a while before ByteDance has to sell the app if it does eventually have to do so.

Adobe unveils AI features for Photoshop — but not everyone is happy about it

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 15:16

Adobe has new generative AI features for rookie Photoshop users, but there are concerns from creative professionals.

On Tuesday, Adobe announced a beta version of Photoshop with new features to generate and edit images from text prompts. Generative AI capabilities are powered by Adobe's Firefly Image 3 model which was also released today.

New to the photo-editing software is a Generate Image tool that creates an image from a text prompt, giving people feeling daunted by a blank page a jumping off point.

In Adobe Photoshop, users can now generate entire images from a text prompt. Credit: Adobe

Generative Fill, a preexisting tool that fills out the background or expands an image with a broader scene, now includes the ability to build off of an image with a Reference Image feature. So if you want to create an image with a specific aesthetic you can upload an image and nudge the tool to work off that aesthetic or motif.

Reference Image lets users prompt AI-generated images from existing images. Credit: Adobe

For Photoshop novices (and pros for that matter) these tools make it incredibly easy to bring their ideas to life. Especially now that Firefly Image 3 is capable of amazing photorealistic detail and improved understanding of prompts. But Adobe has pushed ahead with generative AI features despite controversy around its training data and backlash from creative professionals.

SEE ALSO: Adobe's new generative AI tools for video are absolutely terrifying

The issue of training data for AI models is a murky one that isn't going away any time soon. Companies like Google and OpenAI have been sued for training their models on copyrighted works, and that's just for text outputs. The unveiling of OpenAI's Sora (which isn't available to the public yet) and AI video generators like the one Adobe just released have expanded the issue to other mediums. While companies are charging forward with AI advancements to meet their competitors, many creatives like @Rahll on X, are outraged by the lack of oversight over technologies that threaten to replace or overhaul their vocations.

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Adobe has been adamant about Firefly being safe for commercial use, and has touted its model as the ethical alternative to competitors like Midjourney or Stable Diffusion that have been accused of training their models on copyrighted works without credit and compensation. Yet a recent Bloomberg report found that Firefly was trained on AI-generated images derived from Midjourney and other rivals, meaning Adobe's purported "commercially safe" model contains training data drawn from works perceived by many as having been infringed upon or stolen.

A spokesperson said Adobe's generative AI models are trained on "licensed content, such as Adobe Stock, along with public domain content." But, according to Midjourney enthusiast Nick St. Pierre, around 13 percent of Adobe's stock library is AI-generated content which is part of the data used to train Firefly.

That said, the spokesperson said "the training data must comply with our IP guidelines and pass our multi-layered, continuous review and moderation process," so there is ongoing moderation of unlicensed AI-generated content that might slip through the cracks.

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Particularly when it comes to the Reference Image tool, X users have pointed out the issue of creating an image based on a photographer or artist's work. "Awesome. Steal 'reference images' from real photographers who went to great lengths and great expense to make them," posted @notbrodyjenner. "Then pick an artist who spent their career creating a unique style, rip it off wholesale and make whatever ai garbage you want. Awesome."

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The spokesperson said Adobe compensates contributors through Stock royalties and through a bonus program that incentivizes users to contribute to Firefly training.

The case for Tesla without Musk

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 14:40

Pop quiz, Tesla fans. Who at the EV automaker made this memorable assessment of the company's latest product: "we have dug our own grave with the Cybertruck"? Was it some cowardly VP who doesn't believe in Dear Leader's glorious vision? Perhaps Drew Baglino or Rohan Patel, two top execs who joined the ten percent of Tesla employees getting pink slips this week?

No, it was Elon Musk himself — making a prediction that, for once, may come true in the near term.

The CEO made his grave comment in an earnings call in October 2023 (see the full transcript here). "In general," Musk added in response to a question about the production woes behind this stainless steel vehicle, "nobody digs a better grave than themselves." It was an odd joke, even by Musk's standards, which may be why he pivoted to repeating how great he thought the $80,000-plus Cybertruck was.

Fast forward to April 2024, and it's looking like less of a joke for Tesla. Every Cybertruck on American roads is now subject to a recall, not to mention major mockery, over a poorly-glued accelerator pedal pad that could could come off and cause the pedal to be jammed against the floor. The firings and the price cuts that followed the recall seemed a desperate Band-Aid on a bigger wound, especially given a sleight-of-hand trick where the company advertised a price that was not the sticker price (because it had estimated gas savings built in).

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The wound is this: With more competitors than ever, Tesla's EV market share has been slipping for years. The much anticipated low-end $25,000 Tesla Model 2 has failed to materialize. A Reuters report citing internal documents suggests it has been killed, though Musk denies this. Musk's two-pronged solution to the slip — Cybertruck and cybertaxis — seems increasingly like whistling past the graveyard. Some of Tesla's biggest boosters are pushing the panic button over the self-driving cybertaxi concept Musk is planning to unveil in August.

And the Tesla board's response to all this? They're pushing for a $50-plus billion stock package payday for Musk, one that a Delaware judge already struck down as "unfathomable." The vote is in June, and major shareholders are already coming out against.

The market is electric

Seen from one angle, Tesla is facing the same headwinds that are hitting all EV manufacturers this year — especially EV truck manufacturers in the U.S., where gas-powered auto sales are annoyingly tenacious. Ford has had to scale back production of the F-150 Lightning. Rivian had a disastrous earnings report that just sent its stock tumbling to a new all-time low. EV sales just declined quarter-on-quarter, the first such decline since 2020.

On the other hand, that's not the whole market picture. People are still buying more EVs than ever, and they still comprise a greater-than-ever share of the U.S. fleet. Comparing Q4 sales (the holiday season) with Q1 sales (when fewer of us buy anything) is rarely a good idea. Year-on-year, Q1 EV sales are still rising, even in the U.S. Growth was so strong during the pandemic, a brief slowdown in growth is to be expected; it doesn't mean the market is maturing. Nor does confusion over which cars qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, a list that includes the Tesla Model 3 and Y. Rivian doubled production and deliveries in 2023; its problem is that it is selling those electric trucks at a loss. Tesla isn't.

The fundamentals aren't what is hurting Tesla stock, which just saw a whole year's worth of gains wiped out under this distracted, X-obsessed, conspiracy theorist CEO. Musk doesn't seem to have noticed (but the Wall Street Journal just did) that his far-right lurch is demonstrably turning off the Democratic-voting would-be Tesla customers just when the company needs them. Tesla's earnings call Tuesday looks likely to contain even worse news, with profits off 40% and the first revenue decline in four years expected. Many analysts believe the stock is still overpriced and has much further to fall.

Tesla shareholders could be forgiven for seeing a freshly-dug six-foot hole opening up in front of their investments. The previously unthinkable — that Musk has no real plan, that Tesla might actually make more money in the long run without Musk and his pliant board at the helm — is gaining currency.

"When you’ve been right in the beginning, you think you’re right forever,” entrepreneur and educator Steve Blank told The New York Times. “You run by whim rather than strategy." Since 2018, Blank has been gathering converts to this comparison between Musk and Billy Durant, the erratic entrepreneur who lost control of General Motors (twice!) a century ago. "Durant's one man show was damaging the company," Blank wrote then. "The company had no financial controls other than Durant’s ability to raise more money."

Sound familiar? It's pretty much the same guy we saw in Power Play, a 2021 book on Musk's Tesla by Wall Street Journal tech reporter Tim Higgins, which still counts as the most unvarnished portrayal to hit bookshelves. "While Musk's vision, enthusiasm and determination carry Tesla," Higgins wrote, "his ego, paranoia and pettiness threaten to undo it all."

As does his insistence on a stainless-steel truck that looks, in the words of one car designer, like a "low-polygon joke."

(Don't) Keep on Truckin'

The Cybertruck wouldn't be such a problem for Tesla if it was just the CEO's vanity project. But the R&D costs are likely to be extraordinary, experts say — enough to require 300,000 sales a year just to break even. That "inherently high-cost product" presents a "tough challenge," analyst Ed Kim of market research firm AutoPacific told Wired last year. "Vehicles that sell in volume tend to be much more palatable to mainstream tastes." The mere 3,800 Cybertruck sales so far, or less than 1,000 a month, would seem to bear that out.

But it's not as if Musk is the kind of guy who can backtrack when he has a bad idea. By all accounts, Tesla's gigafactories have been doubling down on Cybertruck production, all to meet the demand that the CEO insists is there. Musk has been firing off screed-filled emails about getting his Blade Runner-inspired vehicle machined with incredible accuracy down to the micron level, because soda cans and Lego bricks are made that way. (Of course, they're made out of aluminum and plastic, respectively, not the notoriously difficult stainless steel.)

So it is no exaggeration to say that Cybertruck sales are the battleground on which Tesla's entire future is being fought. And to quote the frustrated Musk seen in Power Play, "sales suck donkey dick." More than a million people paid a $100 deposit to get in line for a Cybertruck, but they're not converting into buyers yet. There are viral TikToks of Cybertrucks getting stuck in snow, of its windshield getting smashed by hail, of its software simply shutting down. Experts' concerns about the design and its safety in crash tests have gone unanswered.

Good news, though: the report from one owner that taking it through a car wash turns the car into a software-less brick has not been replicated. Meanwhile, yes, there are spots that look like rust (actually iron deposits in debris picked up when you drive), but Tesla is at pains to point out that you can just get rid of them with isopropyl alcohol. So, just carry a few bottles of that while you drive around, buff it up every time you stop, and you're good to go in your blindingly shiny steel ride.

Are there enough Blade Runner-loving Musk fans in the world to help Tesla turn a profit on the Cybertruck yet? Perhaps. Then again, if the idea of an electric-powered massive hunk of metal with questionable environmental value was appealing, the Hummer EV wouldn't have been one of the worse-selling cars of last year.

More importantly, are there enough Tesla shareholders not blinded by Musk's one-man show? Can they, or anyone else, shock the EV maker's board out of its complacency? If not, then Tesla may have made itself many thousands of large, angular, steel headstones for its corporate grave.

This column reflects the opinion of the author.

ChatGPT Plus can exploit zero-day security vulnerabilities — why this should concern you

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 13:38

GPT-4, OpenAI's latest multimodal large language model (LLM), can exploit zero-day vulnerabilities independently, according to a study reported by TechSpot.

The study by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers has shown that LLMs, including GPT-4, can execute attacks on systems by utilizing undisclosed vulnerabilities, known as zero-day flaws. As part of the ChatGPT Plus service, GPT-4 has demonstrated significant advancements over its predecessors in terms of security penetration without human intervention.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT got an upgrade — and OpenAI says it's better in these key areas

The study involved testing LLMs against a set of 15 "high to critically severe" vulnerabilities from various domains, such as web services and Python packages, which had no existing patches at the time.

GPT-4 displayed startling effectiveness by successfully exploiting 87 percent of these vulnerabilities, compared to a zero percent success rate by earlier models like GPT-3.5. The findings suggest that GPT-4 can autonomously identify and exploit vulnerabilities that traditional open-source vulnerability scanners often miss.

Why this is concerning

The implications of such capabilities are significant, with the potential to democratize the tools of cybercrime, making them accessible to less skilled individuals known as "script-kiddies." UIUC's Assistant Professor Daniel Kang emphasized the risks posed by such powerful LLMs, which could lead to increased cyber attacks if detailed vulnerability reports remain accessible.

Kang advocates for limiting detailed disclosures of vulnerabilities and suggests more proactive security measures such as regular updates. However, his study also noted the limited effectiveness of withholding information as a defense strategy. Kang emphasized that there's a need for robust security approaches to address the challenges introduced by advanced AI technologies like GPT-4.

Apple event May 7: Every iPad and product we expect to be revealed

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 13:09

Apple announced a May 7 livestream event, giving us a strong indication that the Cupertino-based tech giant is set to reveal a new iPad Pro and iPad Air — and a few other accessories to go along with them.

As someone who has been keeping a sharp eye on rumors and leaks regarding the iPad Pro and iPad Air, I've got a pretty good idea what Apple purportedly plans on revealing at the May 7 event.

SEE ALSO: iPad Air 2024: No OLED, but it’s tipped to get this big display upgrade May 7 event: What will Apple reveal?

As mentioned, Apple is reportedly planning on releasing a new iPad Pro. According to scuttlebutt from Apple bean spillers like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, it will have the following new features:

  • New OLED display for a sharper, brighter screen

  • New location for the webcam (moving to landscape orientation)

  • New M3 chip

  • Slimmer chassis

  • Thinner bezels

For a more in-depth look at what to expect from the next-generation top-tier Apple tablet, check out our oft-updated iPad Pro 2024 rumor hub.

We're also expecting a new iPad Air. Here's what the rumor mill is saying:

  • New miniLED display

  • Two sizes as opposed to one: the traditional 10.9-inch variant and a new 12.9-inch size

  • New webcam location

  • New M2 chip

If you crave more information, sink your teeth into all the leaks and rumors surrounding the cheaper Apple tablet in our iPad Air 2024 rumor hub.

Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil

Along with new iPads, Apple is reportedly planning on unleashing a new Magic Keyboard as well as a new Apple Pencil with a new "squeeze gesture" perk.

Mashable will be covering the highly anticipated livestream event, so stay tuned for our coverage on the rumored new iPads.

Yes, 'You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me' is a Taylor Swift lyric

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 13:04

Despite mixed responses to Taylor Swift's behemoth double album The Tortured Poets Department, its cultural impact is undeniable. It officially birthed its first meme: "You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum that raised me."

Of all the lyrics — and there are so, so many — the line from "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me," track 10 of 31, is the run away hit with X / Twitter users. Swifties and non-Swifties alike are posting the lyric with images of the places that raised them.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's brand is mightier than her pen

In "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me," the pop star complicates her relatable underdog narrative by drawing on the dark side of child stardom and urging listeners to fear her, going so far as to describe herself as "wretched" and "wrong."

Throughout the album, Swift utilizes asylum language and imagery making the meme somewhat representative of the themes she explores. The physical album features a summary poem penned by Swift where she "pleads temporary insanity" and declares, "In summation, it was not a love affair" but "a mutual manic phase" and "self-harm." The music video for "Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)" shows her chained to a bed in a sterile facility, where she's only released after taking "forget him" pills. Later, she's seen receiving electroshock therapy.

According to Know Your Meme, the lyric was first quoted on X when The Tortured Poets Department leaked on April 17. It gained popularity after one user captioned a photo of the choir room in Glee with "You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum that raised me." The meme grew from there. As always, the more the place caters to extremely online sensibilities, the better it performs.

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Some posted other television "asylums" like Carrie Bradshaw's apartment floor plan in Sex and the City, the pool house in The OC, and Marnie Michael's acoustic performance of "Stronger" in Girls.

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Others reference online moments like 2014 Tumblr, A Very Potter Musical, and YouTuber drama. Then, of course, there were the actual physical places like Aeropostale.

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The Swifties were Swiftying this whole time, posting about Ticketmaster queues and that era where people thought Swift didn't have a belly button.

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What lyric will grab the internet's attention next? Perhaps, "I'm so depressed, I act like it's my birthday every day?"

Celebrate World Book Day by saving up to 80% on Kindle books at Amazon

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 12:55

SAVE UP TO 80%: To honor World Book Day, Amazon has marked down the price on hundreds of Kindle ebooks by up to 80% as of April 23. But you'll want to hurry to grab your favorite titles because this deal expires at 11:59 p.m. PT tonight.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle ebooks save up to 80% on Kindle ebooks Get Deal

Reading is one of life's greatest gifts. A good book can bring us into worlds we would have never otherwise experienced. We gain new friends, learn lessons, take off on adventures, and dive into historical events. If your collection is running low, stock up today in honor of World Book Day while saving some serious money thanks to Amazon's sale.

As of April 23, hundreds of Kindle ebooks are up to 80% off to celebrate World Book Day. Chose your favorites quickly though, because this deal is over at 11:59 PT tonight.

Spring and summer reads are some of the most memorable. Find a great bench at the park and get lost in the latest novel or take your Kindle on that tropical vacation for some perfect poolside reading. Whatever you prefer, you can load up on new Kindle ebooks today at Amazon for a hefty discount.

If you don't already own a Kindle device, now would be an ideal time to snag one since you'll be saving on loading it up. (Mashable rates the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition as the very best Kindle model). From there, snag deep discounts from authors we know and love like Liane Moriarty, Ann Patchett, and Alice Walker.

If you're keeping up with the Bridgerton saga, score the eighth book, "On the Way to the Wedding: Bridgerton: Gregory's Story" for just $1.99. Or if memoirs are your favorite, score "Pageboy" by Elliot Page for just $2.99.

The deal also includes books for kids, health and wellness reads, and cookbooks. With hundreds of Kindle ebooks included in this deal, you're sure to find a great stack of books to read throughout the spring and summer. While you're on this reading adventure, be sure to sign up to earn free credits through Kindle Rewards.

You have until 11:59 PT tonight to score up to 80% off hundreds of Kindle ebooks at Amazon, so hop to it and start turning pages.

Grab 'Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order' for $5 at PlayStation ahead of May the 4th

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 12:40

SAVE 90%: As of April 23, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Deluxe Edition) is on sale for just $4.99 at the PlayStation Store. That's $45 off of its usual price of $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Respawn Entertainment "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" (Deluxe Edition) for PS4 and PS5 $4.99 at PlayStation Store
$49.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

We're nearing the first anniversary of the release of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, but its 2019 predecessor is actually the game in the spotlight.

Fans who somehow didn't fall into the trance when Fallen Order first changed the game in 2019 have no excuse not to try it now — because it's $5. A hidden gem of the PlayStation Store's Spring Sale (as well as a likely anticipatory Star Wars Day deal), PS4 and PS5 owners can score the original Star Wars Jedi installation for 90% off of its usual $49.99.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars: Tales of the Empire' trailer brings you over to the dark side

It's the Deluxe Version, too, which includes extras like assorted Crimson skins, a digital art book, and over 90 minutes of behind-the-screens footage from the making of the game.

Five years after what went down in The Revenge of the Sith, you'll be in the shoes of Ian from Shameless Cal Kestis, an Order 66 survivor on the run. As one of the few remaining Jedi Padawans, you have several jobs: master new Force abilities, fend off Vader-trained villains, and, you know, casually rebuild the entire Jedi Order. It's simultaneously a deeply personal story and a riveting challenge that come together to create one of the best games of 2019 — and one of the best Star Wars games ever.

Level up your listening with refurbished AirPods Pro at Best Buy

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 12:18

SAVE $100: As of April 23, get a pair of refurbished Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) for $149.99. That's a discount of 43%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Refurbished Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) on white background $149.99 at Best Buy
$249.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Summer's just about here. If you're planning on walking around, enjoying the warm weather and listening to your favorite songs or podcasts, you've got to have the right equipment. A great pair of earbuds should do the trick, and you can't go wrong with Apple AirPods Pro. Of course, those can be a bit pricey. Luckily, if you've got your eye on them and want a great pair of buds to enhance your summer listening, Best Buy has a deal right now that you won't want to miss.

As of April 23, you can get a pair of refurbished Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) for just $149.99. That's $100 off their normal price of $249.99 and a discount of 43%. These are Geek Squad Certified Refurbished, meaning they've been tested and guaranteed by Best Buy, so you can trust that the buds work like new – and you can get a refund if not.

These earbuds are absolutely fantastic, and the best of Apple's lineup of audio products. They fit snugly in your ear and come with a variety of replaceable tips to get you the best fit possible. They have excellent noise cancellation to help you immerse yourself in your favorite tunes, so if you're trying to block out the world, they can help you achieve that. Plus, they're water-, sweat-, and dust-resistant. You can wear them while swimming, working out, or handling other physical activity without having to worry about them malfunctioning.

With a battery life of 30 hours, they'll be your constant companion just about everywhere you go. Add in spatial audio and adaptive audio support, and you've got a can't-miss package, especially at the $149.99 price point. If you need some earbuds this summer, don't miss this deal – the refurbished part won't mean a thing when you're grooving along this season.

Snag the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 for 50% off at Best Buy

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 11:43

SAVE 50%: As of April 23, get the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) for $349. That's a savings of $350.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) $349.00 at Best Buy
$699.00 Save $350.00 Get Deal

Ready to buy a laptop, but don't need anything too fancy? You might be able to get away with buying an older Chromebook. These machines may not be the souped-up powerhouses you'd expect from Apple's lineup or more expensive Windows laptops, but they're still useful for those with light workloads or just for surfing the web and checking email.

A cheap Chromebook is a more affordable option than a regular laptop for popping in your bag for "emergency" computer use on vacation or even a main internet machine for elderly users. No matter your use case, most older Chromebooks are perfect for casual usage. There's one especially great Chromebook you can get on sale today that should tick all the boxes.

As of April 23, get the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) for just $349 at Best Buy. That's a 50% discount and $350 off its normal price of $699.

This is an older model, as previously stated, so don't expect it to be the zippiest machine — it relies on an older Intel Core i3-10110U processor from August 2019. While the Chromebook will get 10 years of automatic updates from Google, it's important to understand that it will be quite slow in comparison to some of the more expensive Chromebooks on offer right now. But it's still very much capable of handling a variety of tasks if you're fine with remaining in the Google ecosystem.

This flame red Chromebook with touchscreen capabilities can handle smaller tasks with less bandwidth: browsing the internet, word processing, simple presentations, and streaming media. Just don't expect it to be super fast. It's still plenty viable to toss in your bag and go if you need something on hand to get work done, but be aware that you will need an internet connection to utilize it to its fullest.

Amazon deal of the day: Our favorite Roomba is $400 off

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 11:28
Amazon deals of the day at a glance: Our top pick iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal Best budget-friendly headphone deal Soundcore Anker Life Q20 (black) $39.98 at Amazon (save $20.01) Get Deal Best laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,241.33 at Amazon (save $558.66) Get Deal Best photo editing deal Photoshop Elements 2024 and Premiere Elements 2024 $99.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best speaker deal Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speaker (black) $21.99 at Amazon (save $8) Get Deal

Once again, Amazon has delivered when it comes to great deals. Sure, today's deals aren't quite as plentiful as major shopping holidays like Black Friday or Prime Day, but Amazon still appreciates a random price drop on a Tuesday. We've found some noteworthy deals for today, April 23, that are worth checking out if you're in the market for some home upgrades or the latest tech.

Below, we've listed some of our favorite deals to shop at Amazon today. And if you missed our top Amazon deals from yesterday, April 22, some are still live and worth looking into.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999.00 at Amazon
$1,399.00 Save $400.00 Get Deal

If you've been meaning to hand off the task of vacuuming to someone else, Amazon has just the robot for the job. The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is a do-it-all floor cleaning solution and now it can be yours for under $1,000. Mashable named the Roomba Combo j9+ as the very best Roomba in our review of the best robot vacuums and mops, noting it's a combination of some of Roomba's best functions like better suction power and a water tank that only needs refilling about once every 30 days.

One of the only negatives the review points out is the robot vacuum and mop's high price tag, which is significantly reduced thanks to the sale price of $999 at Amazon today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Anker Soundcore Anker Life Q20 (black) $39.98 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal

If you have upcoming travel plans, this deal is the one for you. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones are on sale for just $39.98, marked down from the normal price of $59.99, which means you'll save $20.01.

Mashable named these the best budget pick for noise-canceling headphones that are ideal for flying. The Life Q20 don't have top-of-the-line noise cancellation, but they pack a punch for the price tag. Plus, they come with about 60 hours of battery life and memory foam cushioning, so they should be plenty comfortable for wherever your travels take you.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,241.33 at Amazon
$2,799.99 Save $558.66 Get Deal

With a 14.4-inch touchscreen display, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a great option for creative minds or anyone who wants a portable and durable laptop.

Mashable's East Coast Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon reviewed the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and noted its exceptional build. "If the Surface Laptop Studio 2 were a fictional character, it’d be Optimus Prime. It is one burly, brawny, sturdily built machine," she writes. She also notes artists will especially enjoy the model's easel-capable positioning.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 can also be great for traveling since it weighs just over four pounds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Photoshop Elements 2024 and Premiere Elements 2024 $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Whether you're brand new to photo editing or a seasoned professional, Adobe photo editing software is often the top choice. Thanks to today's deal, you can grab a code for digital access to both Photoshop Elements 2024 and Premiere Elements 2024 for $99.99, which is a 33% discount from the normal bundle price of $149.99.

For those new to Adobe's editing suites, follow along with 88 editing guides that'll cover the ins and outs. You can also use templates for creating photo reels, video reels, and animated social media posts, and you have access to companion mobile apps for editing on the go.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speaker (black) $21.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $8.00 Get Deal

Summer is on its way, and if you're prepping for backyard hangs, the Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speaker could be perfect. Thanks to today's sale price on the black colorway, the portable speaker can be all yours for just $21.99, which is 27% off the normal price of $29.99.

With up to 24 hours of playtime on one charge, your summer gathering will never be without tunes. The wireless speaker can pair with Android or iOS devices for streaming through Bluetooth 5.0 which'll stay connected up to 66 feet away from the speaker. It's also waterproof, so you won't have to worry about bringing it along to the beach or for an afternoon spent poolside.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Watch out, Apple Vision Pro. An ‘Xbox-inspired’ Meta Quest VR headset is in the works.

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 11:15

Finally, Xbox is getting into the VR game! Kind of.

Nestled into a larger blog post featuring multiple big announcements, Meta revealed on Monday that it is working with Microsoft on an Xbox-branded VR headset. To be more specific, it's a "limited-edition Meta Quest, inspired by Xbox."

Ah, ok. So it's not actually a full-fledged Xbox VR headset. Instead, it seems like it'll just be a branded version of an existing Quest headset, ideally the Quest 3 since it's the newest one. It's not clear if it would have any unique hardware or software features, but I wouldn't count on it, personally.

SEE ALSO: A batch of updates from Meta puts AI front and center when you use its apps

That said, the partnership still makes sense. As pointed out in the blog post, Xbox Cloud Gaming is available on Meta Quest, so you can play Xbox games on a Quest right now. In an Instagram post, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed the new headset would come with Xbox controllers and access to Xbox Game Pass, both of which are prerequisites for using Xbox game streaming.

This news more or less leaves PlayStation as still the only one of the "big three" gaming hardware manufacturers to embrace VR. Nintendo is likely never going to do it (again), but Microsoft said in 2016 it had plans for an Xbox headset, only to back down on those plans two years later.

Bummer for the people who insisted VR was the future of gaming ten years ago, I guess.

The 4 most advanced Roombas are at their lowest prices ever

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 11:12

SAVE UP TO 44%: As of April 23, several j Series Roombas have dropped to record low pricing at Amazon:

Best Roomba deals this week Most advanced Roomba iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400.99) Get Deal Next best mopping Roomba iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ $699 at Amazon ($400.99) Get Deal Most powerful Roomba under $600 iRobot Roomba j9+ $599 at Amazon ($300.99) Get Deal Cheapest mopping Roomba with obstacle avoidance iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $449 at Amazon (save $350.99) Get Deal

Many robot vacuum deniers are of the mindset that you shouldn't have to babysit your robot vacuum. And we don't blame them — the need to tidy up any rogue personal items before sending your robot vacuum out to clean is definitely a case for going the cordless vacuum route altogether.

SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The 2024 guide to deciding which Roomba to buy

Amazon's current Roomba deals are your answer to that problem. As of April 23, four j Series Roombas with obstacle avoidance technology have dropped down to record-low pricing — one of them hitting this low for the first time ever. (This is all according to Amazon price tracker Camelcamelcamel.)

All of your options are less than $1,000, with the most affordable robovac dipping below $450. If you're on the fence about which one to buy, we're unpacking the differences between the Roomba Combo j9+, Roomba Combo j7+, Roomba j9+, or Roomba Combo j5+ below:

Most advanced Roomba Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999.00 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400.99 Get Deal

Why is it such a big deal to be able to score the best Roomba under $1,000? Let's unpack. While the Combo j9+ keeps the best parts of the older Roomba Combo j7+ that we loved during hands-on testing, like the retractable mopping pad that never needs to be removed or the ability to avoid small, pesky obstacles like cords and socks, the Combo j9+ also solves several gripes that we had with the Combo j7+.

First, it's simply better at cleaning: its new four-stage cleaning system delivers 100% stronger suction than the i Series Roombas, while its mopping pad scrubs back and forth with pressure to eat away at stubborn stains. Besides stellar cleaning, we'd also be remiss not to mention the dock — it's a chic end table on the outside and a home for self-emptying rubbish and a self-refilling water tank on the inside. It's got function and style.

Next-best mopping Roomba Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ $699.00 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $400.99 Get Deal

If you'd rather save yourself an extra $300, the Combo j7+ will still be a solid addition to most homes, especially ones that don't have a ton of carpeting that needs to be deep cleaned. With the OG true hybrid Roomba, you're still securing iRobot's two best features: the mop that knows to levitate when it senses carpet and the technology that knows to steer clear when it senses small obstacles that it would get stuck on.

(Admittedly, the record-low pricing on the Combo j7+ is $698.99, so feel free to wait until Black Friday if you want to save an extra cent.)

Most powerful Roomba under $600 Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j9+ $599.00 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $300.99 Get Deal

Or maybe your home does have more carpeting than hard floors that would need to be mopped. In that case, your best bet is the Roomba j9+. Like the Combo j9+, this one vacuums with iRobot's strongest suction power yet — unlike the Combo j9+, it skips the water tank and mopping pad system completely to save you several hundred dollars.

Cheapest mopping Roomba with obstacle avoidance Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $449.00 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $350.99 Get Deal

The most affordable j Series Roomba in our list also happens to be the one at a price we've never seen before. For the first time, you can bring home iRobot's obstacle avoidance and mopping for less than $450.

The main differences between the Combo j5+ and the other mopping Roombas we just mentioned are that the Combo j5+ is a Swap and Mop model that requires you to manually click a water tank on and off to differentiate between mopping mode and regular vacuuming mode. The obstacle avoidance technology here is also slightly less meticulous, though the big pests (cords and pet waste) are still in the clear.

Cheating has become the ultimate crime online

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 10:59

In the leadup to Taylor Swift's latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, online stans did what they arguably do best: theorize. One Swiftie narrative about TTPD, partly fueled by Swift's "stages of heartbreak" playlists for Apple Music, speculated that her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn cheated on her. As Mashable's Elena Cavender summed up, Alwyn became the "bad guy" to Swift's "good guy," a common thread in her albums.

For months, fans dissected Swift's actions in videos that amassed thousands of views. They drummed up an unsubstantiated rumor that Alwyn cheated with his Conversations with Friends co-star Alison Oliver based on…sex scenes in the show (this video has nearly one million views). The TikTok search "joe alwyn cheating theory" results in a flurry of videos.

SEE ALSO: The wildest lyrics on Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' from 'Grand Theft Auto' to Charlie Puth

The rumor that Alwyn cheated with Conversations with Friends co-star Alison Oliver isn't only unfounded, but also turned out to be irrelevant to TTPD. The album is indeed about Swift's breakup with Alwyn (like that she still has his location), but it's arguably more about The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, with whom Swift reportedly had a brief post-breakup fling.

There are occasional mentions to cheating on the album ("My husband is cheating, I wanna kill him" on "Fortnight"; "They said I was a cheat, I guess it must be true" and "All my girls got their lace and their crimes / And your cheating husband disappeared" on "Florida!!!") — but it's not a central theme. Still, the frenzy around Alwyn and Oliver reached such a fever pitch that some Swifties continued to pester Oliver on Instagram after the album came out. Some Swift fans maintain that Alwyn did cheat.

The "cheating scandal" is pervasive in celebrity culture, and social media fuels the fire. From The Try Guys to Scandaval to these Swift-Alwyn rumors, online fans become furious at the thought of such betrayal. This is driven by our societal feelings towards cheating, yes, but also the nature of parasocial relationships.

This makes sense on several levels: Cheating is a transgression, one that usually involves a multitude of lies. Our culture is dominated by monogamy, and infidelity is considered one of the worst things one can do in a relationship. Even with non-mongamy on the rise (and one can still cheat even if a relationship is non-monogamous), cheating is considered heinous by society at large. And if you think your favorite celeb's partner cheated on them? It's the ultimate crime.

Did Joe Alwyn cheat on Taylor Swift?

As Mashable's Cavender and Chase DiBenedetto pointed out during Swift's Midnights era, the singer is known for her conspiratorial fans and album Easter eggs. Swift has "taught her fans that there are always hidden meanings in everything she does, and that means they're always theorizing," said Dr. Georgia Carroll, a sociology PhD who's studied Swift's fandom. 

When Swift announced TTPD, fans realized it would be a breakup album, Carroll continued, so theorizing about reveals was the obvious next step. While Swift didn't explicitly encourage speculation over why her and Alwyn's relationship ended, she let narratives develop based on clues she left — like song titles, lyric snippets, and the stages of grief playlist.

"More broadly, fans theorize because they — by the nature of being a fan — spend a lot of time thinking and talking about things they like, and eventually those discussions will spiral out into theories," Carroll said. "That's true whether you're talking about music, or a TV show, or even a sports team."

This all goes down on social media. Rather than being confined to a few fellow fans you know in your community, Swifties have a widespread community on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Reddit. 

"There's the element of group agreement strengthening your willingness to believe in a theory," Carroll said, and even if they know their theories likely aren't true, they can revel in "clowning" or being "delulu." 

Carroll continued, "Social media also has the additional element of encouraging attention-seeking behavior, so people may be deliberately hyperbolic in the hopes of getting engagement, and this furthers the snowballing by creating a more widespread buzz."

The parasocial pull of cheating scandals

You don't need me to tell you cheating is wrong. It can even be considered a form of emotional abuse if it's done with the intent of harming one's partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline and Love is Respect. An example is if someone cheats on their partner then blames their partner for it; that's a form of emotional abuse.

People can cheat on their partners without rising to the level of abuse, however. It can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship, as cheating breaches trust. (Love is Respect has a relationship spectrum featuring behaviors of healthy vs. unhealthy vs. abusive relationships).

Infidelity isn't a crime under law, but to stans, it's evil — it's a reason to harass someone. In the lead-up of TTPD, Swifties "flooded" Alwyn with hate, and extended the hate to Oliver, the rumored "other woman."

SEE ALSO: How to track your partner's location like Taylor Swift in 'Black Dog'

"Cheating is obviously an act of betrayal, which to a fan committed to supporting someone becomes the ultimate sin and is almost taken on as a personal attack," Carroll said. A lot of fandom boils down to supporting your faves, and so when you spend time and effort supposing them, a defensiveness against mistreatment develops, she continued — even if the mistreatment is only perceived. 

"It becomes a 'how dare they' moment, despite not actually knowing the reality of the situation," she continued. Fans think that they know Swift — something she has encouraged over the years — so they feel betrayed on her behalf.

This is where the parasocial element comes in. Swifties don't know the singer and they don't know what really went down in her past relationship (from TTPD, it sounds like a sad breakup). So, they make up what they think might be true, and social media algorithms are the accelerant. The most outrageous possibility rises to the top.

Swift has songs that allude that she herself has cheated, with titles like "illicit affairs" (from Folklore) and "High Infidelity" (from Midnights), among others from her discography. "Guilty As Sin?" from TTPD is speculated to be about emotional infidelity. To be clear, fans have speculated about this too, but she doesn't receive the same vitriol fans throw to her exes. But of course she wouldn't, because it's not about the act itself: It's about the act against their favorite celebrity. And if that's not the ultimate crime, what is?

Apple confirms May 7 event: We're expecting new iPads and 2 other products

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 10:53

Our long national nightmare is over: iPads may be finally launching in two weeks.

In an invite image sent to press on Tuesday, Apple confirmed it will hold a livestreamed product announcement event on May 7 at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET. The event, titled "Let Loose," is advertised with an image of a hand holding an Apple Pencil, all but confirming that this will center around iPads.

SEE ALSO: How to cancel your Apple TV+ subscription from your desktop or your phone Yeah, this is for iPads, alright. Credit: Apple May 7 Apple event: What we're expecting

Of course, that's not terribly surprising. There have been rumors circulating about new iPad Pro and Air models for months. Currently, we expect to see four new iPads, two in each style. The big innovations we plan to see include big display upgrades on both ends. For instance, the new iPad Pro is said to have an OLED display for the first time in an iPad, while the new iPad Air has been upgraded to mini-LED, at least on the larger 12.9-inch variant.

Plus, there is scuttlebutt that Apple will be revealing a new Magic Keyboard and a new Apple Pencil.

The good news is we won't have to rely on iffy rumors for much longer.

Netflix's 'Atlas' trailer sees Jennifer Lopez hunting AI Simu Liu

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 10:44

As Mashable's Amanda Yeo wrote of Netflix sci-fi thriller Atlas: "If AI wrote propaganda, this is probably what it would look like."

Keep that in the back of your mind as you watch the second trailer for the film, with Jennifer Lopez out front as the titular Atlas Shepherd.

A data analyst and agent with a grudge against AI, Atlas finds herself on a mission to retrieve a rogue robot (Simu Liu), one she's met before. As the film progresses, it seems our protagonist might be coming around to the idea of AI when she finds herself lost on an inhospitable ice planet with only an AI for company in her gigantic robot power armor.

From Rampage and San Andreas director Brad Peyton, and written by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite, this seemingly action packed film has a big cast alongside Lopez and Liu, with Sterling K. Brown, Lana Parrilla, Mark Strong, Abraham Popoola, and Gregory James Cohan.

Atlas premieres May 24 on Netflix.

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