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In 2020, Apple banned the popular video game Fortnite from the App Store. The game's publisher, Epic Games, attempted to get around paying Apple its 30 percent commission for in-app purchases of the game's V-Bucks currency. In response to Fortnite's workaround that sent users outside of the App Store to make a purchase, Apple kicked the game out of the App Store.
Fast forward to 2024 and it looks like TikTok has now deployed a similar tactic in its iOS app. The question now though: is TikTok breaking Apple's rules?
As first reported by TechCrunch, developer David Tesler shared screenshots on X on Tuesday showing that TikTok was urging users to purchase coins through the app, but not via Apple's in-app store purchase system which would provide the iPhone-maker with a 30 percent commission. These screenshots show that TikTok is explicitly asking its users to make a purchase via its website, which it then sends users to within the app so that they can buy coins.
Tweet may have been deleted"Try recharging on tiktok.com," reads the TikTok app pop-up prompt shown in the screenshot. "You can save the service fee and get access to popular payment methods."
TikTok users purchase these coins in order to send tips to their favorite creators.
SEE ALSO: Apple already unbans Epic Games, will allow Fortnite on iPhone in EUWhen a user selects a coin purchase option, TikTok informs users that making this purchase through the website will enable them to save around 25 percent due to a "lower third-party service fee." Of course, TikTok means it's able to pass on the savings it makes to consumers due to not having to share 30 percent of its revenue with Apple.
Now, as previously mentioned, Fortnite was famously banned years ago from the App Store due to similar tactics from Epic Games. However, numerous lawsuits and policy changes over Apple's App Store rules have occurred between the nearly 4 years since Fortnite was given the boot. Since then, Apple has softened its rules pertaining to apps sending users to alternative payment methods.
As TechCrunch points out, certain "reader" apps can provide digital products without having to go through Apple's in-app purchase system with approval from Apple. However, if an app does this, it cannot also provide in-store purchases through Apple too. TikTok is currently still doing the latter.
Furthermore, as 9to5Mac reports, Apple has another fairly new policy which allows such external linking to alternative payment systems. However, this program still provides a commission to Apple, albeit, with a commission that drops from 30 percent to 27 percent for an app like TikTok — a savings on commissions for TikTok, if this is indeed what it's doing, but not a very impressive one.
Apple and TikTok did not offer any statement on this, but Mashable will update this piece if we hear back.
As Tesler explained, TikTok's prompt circumventing in-app purchases is not currently showing for all users. Is this a test from TikTok? Did it get permission from Apple? Or do we have another Fortnite situation on our hands? For now, it's unclear exactly what's going on here.
But, one thing is surely happening: TikTok is, in at least some cases, avoiding Apple's 30 percent commission fees.
Anthropic's Claude is arguably the best consumer-facing large language model at the moment, with its top-tier version having bested OpenAI's GPT-4 in at least one major benchmark test and on a popular LLM user evaluation site. So it's only natural that Anthropic would take advantage of the halo effect by releasing a Claude iOS app.
After all, if Anthropic had kicked this can down the road a few months, it most likely would have been releasing an app to promote a language model that had just been beaten up and shoved in a locker by GPT-5.
The app, called Claude, was released on the App Store on Wednesday, May 1, and it works with both free and paid versions of Claude. The experience of using it is hampered a bit by the experience of trying to download it, which requires you to navigate through a swamp of spammy off-brand Claude apps. If you find the one from creator "Anthropic PBC," you've found it.
SEE ALSO: Anthropic introduces Claude 3: Haiku, Sonnet, and OpusAfter messing with it a bit, Mashable can officially report that the Claude app is pleasant to use, but, as with all AI apps, its limitations will become clear almost immediately. It's also a little less feature-rich than OpenAI's ChatGPT app, even if you're giving Anthropic money for access to Claude Pro.
The overall app experience with Claude is nice Credit: Mashable screengrab from Anthropic's ClaudeJust like the browser version of Claude, the mobile version clearly wants you to feel like you're dealing with a concierge, not a word-barfing robot. I wouldn't be the first person to point out that Claude is just a hair more personable than ChatGPT as an LLM, and thanks to the little time-based greeting it provides when you fire it up, the app has nice vibes, too. It also makes a difference that there's a slightly lighter, earth-tone-tinted aesthetic that makes ChatGPT's austere black-and-white seem antiseptic.
Still, to be clear, we are comparing two soulless machines and praising one for its superior paint job.
You'll notice Claude's rate limit more easily than on desktop Credit: Mashable screengrab from Anthropic's ClaudeClaude seems to change its rate limits from time to time, but it's never bothered me in the past. Even as a paying user, I had never found the current limit of 30 generations per day with Claude 3 Opus to be a particularly onerous restriction. I'm a big fan of toying around with AI, but before I had access to Claude on mobile, I never reached the limit. Testing the app out today, however, I crashed into the limit pretty quickly and had to switch from the elite Opus model to the slightly inferior Sonnet model.
Such are the hazards of testing an app for a hands-on article, but I'm positive I'll bump up against this problem in the near future as well. Joking around with chatbot apps in social situations is a different experience from using one in a desktop browser, leading to profligate (and sometimes chemically enhanced) usage. A mobile app practically guarantees that people will take Claude to happy hours and birthday parties and go wild with it. This will lead to frustration as Pro users downgrade to the free-tier models, and free users find themselves locked out completely.
Prompting Claude with images is seamless and quick, but...Unlike unpaid ChatGPT users, free-tier Claude users can prompt the model with images on the go. This is far and away the most fun you'll have using the Claude app, and a good reason for everyone to give it a try.
Credit: Mashable screengrab from Anthropic's ClaudeClaude's friendly writing voice aims to delight, and even I occasionally fell prey to its charms, like when I asked it do evaluate my dog for physical beauty. Yes Claude, my dog does indeed have a "sweet face and inquisitive gaze." Thank you for noticing.
By prompting the chatbot with smartphone images, you can ask Claude to help you navigate the world, and it can occasionally be genuinely helpful, like when I asked it if I could throw a pair of AirPods into my garbage bin.
Credit: Mashable Screengrab from Anthropic's ClaudeYou're not supposed to do this because AirPods have batteries in them, and Claude got that right.
However, when you ask it to combine an image with its knowledge of the world and demand that it also throw in a bit of logic, it may fall on its face, as when I asked it if I could park in a spot that, according to this sign (which is cropped out by the app in this image) had become fair game a few minutes earlier.
Credit: Mashable screengrab from Anthropic's ClaudeClaude correctly ascertained that it was Wednesday, the day parking is partly forbidden on my street. Unfortunately, even though it was able to figure out that the sign said no parking was allowed from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., it couldn't seem to glean that it was 10:15 a.m. at that moment, and erroneously told me that "parking is prohibited on this street at the current time." Bad Claude.
Other minor gripes about ClaudeMuch as the app could, if the developers chose to allow it, base its response on information pulled from my phone's system clock, it could also, in theory, act like a wearable AI assistant and pull in my GPS location. It could then incorporate that into an answer, allowing users to prompt it with questions like, "What are some tourist attractions nearby?" or "Where is the nearest playground?" This isn't really a complaint, but it's a noticeable limitation.
After all, if we aren't supposed to use these apps as competitors for more robust "AI assistants," then what are they for? On the other hand, AI assistant devices like the Rabbit R1 and the Humane Ai Pin are generally regarded as junk, at least for the time being, so the big AI companies probably don't feel an urgent need to incorporate their fancier features.
Another thing the Claude app doesn't have — and probably doesn't need: the option to have answers read out loud, like ChatGPT. It also doesn't have anything like ChatGPT's fun but odd "ChatGPT Voice" feature, which allows you to have a spoken conversation with the bot. Again, it's just as well.
Claude is nice to use, and it puts Anthropic's top-of-the-line multimodal language model on your smartphone. It doesn't do anything else, and that's fine.
Claude, Anthropic's ChatGPT competitor now has a free iOS app.
The artificial intelligence company shared the announcement on its blog today, in addition to a new Teams plan — a paid subscription with strict safety and privacy guardrails and collaborative features.
SEE ALSO: Anthropic releases Claude Pro, a paid version of its ChatGPT rivalWhile OpenAI's large language models have held ChatGPT at the top of the leaderboard since the start of the generative AI craze, Anthropic's Claude models shouldn't be underestimated. Anthropic was founded by former OpenAI employees including siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei who are now the CEO and President respectively. The Anthropic founders reportedly left OpenAI over "differences over the group’s direction" after taking investment from Microsoft in 2019 and founded Anthropic as the reliable and safe alternative that balances profit and purpose with its organizational status as a public benefit corporation. For the record, Anthropic has investment from Google.
But how do the Claude models stack up against ChatGPT? In a comparison conducted by Anthropic, the lightweight Claude Haiku, medium Claude Sonnet, and powerful Claude Opus scored similarly to GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 on common benchmarks. Claude Sonnet which is included in the free plan — and now available on iOS surpassed GPT-3.5 on all benchmarks.
The Claude Pro subscription, which costs $20 will also get you access to Anthropic's most powerful model Claude Opus.
Specs for the iOS app include syncing across mobile and desktop and vision capabilities, which means it can understand, analyze, and contextualize images shared with the app. Unfortunately, the Claude iOS app lags behind ChatGPT in image generating. For ChatGPT Plus subscribers, users can access DALL-E 3 on mobile and desktop, whereas Claude doesn't offer those capabilities yet.
iOS users can download the Claude app through this link. Good luck trying to find it otherwise, because there are a lot of other copycats on the app store. You'll know you've found the right one if it says it's by Anthropic PBC.
SAVE 24%: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (64GB) is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $329.99. That's a savings of $80.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (64GB) $249.99 at AmazonA tablet used to mainly be a way to watch your favorite show on a screen that was bigger than your phone. But today's tablets are fully capable of serving as a portable and compact laptop. If you're looking to upgrade your tablet to be more work- and gaming-ready, Amazon has a great deal today.
As of May 1, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (64GB) is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $329.99. That's a 24% discount or a savings of $80.
SEE ALSO: The best tablets: iPads are great, but have you tried literally anything else?Last month we saw Amazon essentially mark down the price of this tablet by offering it with a free $100 Amazon gift card. May's deal looks a bit different with a savings of $80 instead of a gift card, but what remains is the functionality of the Samsung tablet.
With a 10.4-inch screen, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite focuses on power and portability. With Samsung's DeX platform, you can include the Galaxy S6 Lite in your workstation by sending windows across Samsung devices, then control them from the Tab S6 Lite. This model comes with 64GB of storage and 4GB of memory, but you can add more storage space if desired thanks to the MicroSD capable of a 1TB expansion. The battery is also designed to impress, getting up to 14 hours of use on one charge.
Samsung mentions this model is also great if you want to use a tablet as a streaming device thanks to its clear display and Dolby Atmos surround sound. The included S Pen means you can add notes to documents, sketch your latest idea, or highlight important text.
If your tablet current tablet needs an upgrade or you're ready for a more portable workstation, save $80 today on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and enjoy ultimate portability and function from a reliable tablet.
Substack has been consistently building on its chat function, a way for newsletter creators to chat directly with their subscribers. Now the feature is expanding with a slate of new updates.
SEE ALSO: Substack finally has DMsThe main updates include the possibility of a paywall for the chat feature. Newsletter publishers can now put in a paywall so that chat features are exclusive to paid subscribers only, or to founding members of said newsletter. Free subscribers or non-subscribers will be asked to upgrade if they want to access a newsletter's chat.
Credit: SubstackSubstack is also introducing improved navigation and usability, including a chat search on the web and iOS versions of the platform, easier access to notifications, and an upgrade to real-time messaging so people can participate in chats about live events in real-time. The search feature will also be coming to Android soon.
Tweet may have been deletedThe point of chat is to engage directly with newsletter writers, allowing writers and their followers to converse about a range of subjects. It's one of the features that is allowing Substack to expand, like its Notes feature that mimics the functions of X (formally Twitter), and the addition of DMs.
The Rabbit R1 may not be able to do much of anything useful right now, but at least it should stay alive longer thanks to a new software update.
The pocketable AI-powered handheld assistant device, which made waves at CES earlier this year, was apparently having trouble holding onto battery charges once it got into people's hands in April. According to an X post from the parent company, however, the new update (which downloads as soon as the device is powered on and connected to WiFi) should extend battery life by as much as "5x."
SEE ALSO: Rabbit R1 review: I can't believe this bunny took my money Tweet may have been deletedThe other patch notes are fun, too. For instance, the device will now put you in the right time zone based on GPS. Bluetooth connectivity and music playback have both been improved, as well.
This update alone is unlikely to sway any skeptics towards the Rabbit R1, which costs $200 and still can't browse the web or communicate with friends in any meaningful way. But for those who are swept up by the concept of a handheld assistant that handles basic everyday tasks through AI, the R1 just got a little bit better.
Retail therapy is just what the doctor ordered to get you through the week. Amazon has some pretty impressive deals on brands like Samsung, Logitech, and JBL to kick off the month of May. No, there's no big shopping event going on. These are just deals for the sake of deals — and there's certainly nothing wrong with that.
We've rounded up the top Amazon deals of the day for May 1 below to help you decide what's worth your hard-earned cash. And be sure to check out our picks from April 29 and April 30 as well — some of those are still live.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Amazon deal of the day: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (WiFi, 64GB) $249.99 at AmazonJust released at the end of March as an Amazon-exclusive upgraded tablet, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is on sale for just $249.99 — that's 24% off and its biggest discount to date. While the new iteration of the S6 Lite has the same basic design, S-Pen, screen, and RAM as the previous version, its processor has been updated to the new Exynos processor and it comes with Android 14 out of the box. The previous iteration is one of our favorite tablets for kids — and we can only expect that the extra boost of processing power will make it even better. Both the 64GB and 128GB versions are on sale, but the savings are bigger for the former.
Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Xtreme 3 portable Bluetooth speaker $179.99 at AmazonYour summer soundtrack deserves to be heard through a top-notch speaker and the JBL Xtreme 3 makes a sweet companion. Thanks to its waterproof design and massive 15-hour battery life, you can prop it up poolside and blast your tunes all day and night. It packs four improved drivers and two bass radiators, which help to deliver a bolder, more immersive stereo sound than the previous generation. Plus, it's PartyBoost-compatible, so you can pair it with other speakers to really get things bumping. As of May 1, the JBL Xtreme 3 is just $179.99 at Amazon — that's 53% in savings and the lowest price to date.
Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech G305 LightSpeed Wireless Gaming Mouse $29.99 at AmazonIf a reliable mouse that won't break the bank is on your wishlist, check out this deal on the Logitech G305. Technically a gaming mouse, the G305 is super quick and responsive and lasts up to 250 hours on a single AA battery. Even though it's built for gaming, it also serves as a solid mouse for your everyday WFH tasks. Plus, it's totally wireless, so you can easily bring it on the go without worrying about an annoying cord tethering you to one spot. As for gaming features, there are six programmable buttons, a hero sensor, and a lightweight design (only 99 grams) for swift maneuverability. Usually $49.99, it's on sale for just $29.99 at Amazon as of May 1 — that's 40% in savings and only the second time it's dropped this low in the past year.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung T9 portable SSD (4TB) $319.99 at AmazonSick of deleting your old content to make space for new content? You need a portable SSD — and this deal from Samsung gives you the opportunity to grab one at 42% off. The Samsung T9 portable SSD packs a massive 4TB of space in a lightweight (4.3 ounces) little box (just 0.3 by 3.5 by 2.4 inches). While we haven't had a chance to test it for ourselves, our buds at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) awarded it a 4.5-star "outstanding" rating. "The Samsung Portable SSD T9 achieves blazing throughput speeds when connected to a compatible PC, making it a go-to external SSD for content creators," the review concludes. Typically $549.99, you can snag the T9 on sale at Amazon for just $319.99 as of May 1 — that's a savings of 42% and its lowest price since February.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Breathe a little easier with deals on air purifiers that can remove pet dander, allergens, and other irritants from your living space. Here are some of our top picks as of May 1:
Best Air Purifier Deals Best air purifier deal Coway Airmega 1512HH Air Purifier $159.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best quiet air purifier deal Levoit Air Purifier $84.95 at Amazon (save $15.04) Get Deal Best air purifier for large rooms deal GermGuardian Air Purifier $79.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get DealSummer is right around the corner. If you've already been struggling with high pollen counts or your spring cleaning session didn't quite eliminate all that pet dander in your home, an air purifier may be just the ticket for some relief. These small but mighty units can filter stagnant air and remove all the irritants and other nasties in your home that cause respiratory problems as well as viruses and other microbes that make you sick.
If you're ready to grab an air purifier to see how it can make a difference in your home, there's never been a better time to snag one. Amazon has several great models on sale right now that you can place around your home in even your largest areas to help you breathe in cleaner air, with some of the biggest names in the space receiving discounts.
Best air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Coway Airmega 1512HH Air Purifier $159.99 at AmazonDon't have a lot of space to add an air purifier to your home? The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH is a small but powerful option that can accommodate up to 361 square feet. With its 4-stage filtration system, it boasts the ability to clear the air of up to 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger, including pollen, pollutants, and other allergens. It has a real-time pollution sensor and three different fan speeds as well as an auto shutoff feature so you can run it in bursts without leaving it on while you're gone or sleeping.
Best quiet air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Levoit Air Purifier $84.95 at AmazonIf you'd prefer not to hear your air purifier running, this Levoit model has you covered. Despite its larger size, it's surprisingly quiet, and can still cover larger areas up to 1095 square feet. It can freshen air in just minutes, with a light indicating real-time air quality. It can cleanse up to 99.97% of particles in the air and uses a variety of different filters based on your unique needs. Sleep Mode can keep it running at a near-silent 24dB as well so you can slumber in peace.
Best air purifier for large rooms deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon GermGuardian Air Purifier $79.99 at AmazonHave a large area that you'd like to clean the air in? The GermGuardian Air Purifier is a great choice. It can clean up to 743 square feet by circulating once an hour, and 153 square-foot areas nearly five times an hour, meaning it can efficiently clean the air in a short amount of time. It also uses UV-C light technology to help reduce airborne viruses and trap allergens.
TL;DR: Live Nation will release $25 all-in tickets to over 5,000 summer shows in the U.S. and Canada as part of its annual Concert Week promotion. Tickets will be available at LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek from May 8 to 14.
Opens in a new window Credit: Live Nation Live Nation Concert Week tickets $25.00 at LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek from May 8 to 14Sometimes — rarely ever, but sometimes — you've got to hand it to Live Nation.
Ticketmaster's parent company has announced the return of its annual Concert Week promotion for the tenth year in a row, giving fans the opportunity to snag $25 all-in tickets to over 5,000 shows across the U.S. and Canada this summer. ("All-in" means all fees are included, though you still might have to cough up some local taxes.) These ultra-cheap tickets will be available for purchase from Wednesday, May 8 to Tuesday, May 14 while supplies last.
SEE ALSO: You're not getting old, concerts are weird nowConcert Week 2024 will also feature its first-ever "global expansion" to over 20 countries outside of North America in honor of its tin anniversary, according to a press release. Fans abroad will be treated to "special offers, promotions, and giveaways" in May. (Check your country's Live Nation page for more info.)
Who's participating in Concert Week?This year's Concert Week lineup includes over 900 artists across a wide range of genres, including 21 Savage, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, blink-182, Bret Michaels, Cage The Elephant, Chicago (with Earth, Wind, & Fire), Creed, Dan + Shay, Dashboard Confessional, Dierks Bentley Janet Jackson, Kings of Leon, Korn, Lainey Wilson, Maggie Rogers, Maren Morris, Maroon 5, Meghan Trainor, Missy Elliott, The National (with The War on Drugs), New Kids on the Block, Niall Horan, P!nk, Peso Pluma, RuPaul's Drag Race, Sarah McLachlan, Sean Paul, Tim McGraw, and Vampire Weekend. A little something for everyone, truly.
To see the full lineup, head to LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek. You can sort it by events, artists, and venues or filter it by local participating shows.
How to buy Concert Week ticketsOnce Concert Week begins, simply select a show at LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek, choose the "Concert Week Promotion" ticket tier, and add seats to your cart before heading to checkout. If the experience is anything like Ticketmaster's usual ticket-buying shtick, you'll want to be speedy.
Concert Week's general onsale will start at 10 a.m. ET on May 8 and run through 11:59 p.m. local time on May 14 while supplies last, but there are a few ways to get access even sooner:
Subscribe to T-Mobile: T-Mobile customers can get a full day's worth of early access to Concert Week tickets starting on Tuesday, May 7 at 10 a.m. ET (again, while supplies last) by requesting a code via t-mobile-reserved-tickets.com.
Sign up for Rakuten: Rakuten members will receive 14-ish hours of early access from 10 a.m. ET to 11:59 p.m. ET on May 7. They can also earn Cash Back on ticket purchases. Join for free.
Visit Live Nation's Concert Week FAQ page for more early access tips.
Score up to 30% off gaming monitors from brands like Sceptre and ASUS at Amazon.
Our top picks: Best 24-inch gaming monitor deal Sceptre 24-inch curved gaming monitor (C248B-FWT168) $109.97 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best 27-inch gaming monitor deal ASUS 27-inch TUF gaming monitor (VG279QL3A) $169 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best 32-inch gaming monitor deal ASUS 32-inch TUF gaming monitor (VG32VQ1B) $229 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best budget pick Sceptre 24-inch curved gaming monitor (C248W-1920RN Series) $84.97 at Amazon (save $15 ) Get DealWhether you're a hardcore gamer or you like to blow off steam with an occasional Sims session (there's nothing quite like building a virtual home you could never afford in real life), having a reliable monitor is a must.
SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2024 for every budgetGaming monitors double as entertainment and productivity hubs, so you can switch between work and play without compromising on performance, and you can usually find them at a pretty affordable price point.
There are a ton of gaming monitors on sale at Amazon right now. Here are our favorite gaming monitor deals as of May 1:
Best 24-inch gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sceptre Our pick: Sceptre 24-inch curved gaming monitor (C248B-FWT168) $109.97 at AmazonThe Sceptre 24-inch curved gaming monitor (C248B-FWT168) will take you into the game with its immersive 1500R curved display and 99% sRGB color gamut. Meanwhile, the blue light shift helps reduce eye strain during long gaming sessions. (You can also watch movies, browse the web, and do other tasks on this versatile monitor.)
With its fast response time and 165Hz refresh rate, the Sceptre C248B-FWT168 provides a smooth and responsive gaming experience, giving you a competitive edge in fast-paced games.
Best 27-inch gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS Our pick: ASUS 27-inch TUF gaming monitor (VG279QL3A) $169.00 at AmazonThe ASUS 27-inch TUF gaming monitor (VG279QL3A) doesn't have a curved display, but it makes up for it with its impressive features.
This monitor offers a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms (GTG) response time to deliver ultra-smooth gameplay with minimal motion blur. The FreeSync Premium and G-SYNC compatible technology brings your gaming experience to a new level by synchronizing the monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering.
Bonus: You'll get access to three month's worth of Adobe Creative Cloud on the house.
Best 32-inch gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS Our pick: ASUS 32-inch TUF gaming monitor (VG32VQ1B) $229.00 at AmazonThe ASUS 32-inch TUF gaming monitor (VG32VQ1B) is larger, with 31.5 inches of screen real estate, making it perfect for gamers who prefer a bigger display. It also features a 1500R curved display, so you can see everything in detail.
The 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time of the ASUS VG32VQ1B ensure a smooth and responsive gaming experience, while the FreeSync Premium technology eliminates screen tearing.
Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: Sceptre Our pick: Sceptre 24-inch curved gaming monitor (C248W-1920RN Series) $84.97 at AmazonThe Sceptre 24-inch curved gaming monitor (C248W-1920RN Series) is on sale for just $84.97, making it the most affordable option on our list.
This monitor features an 1800R curvature that gives the illusion that the screen wraps around you, making gameplay even more immersive. It also includes a VESA wall mount back plate so you can free up space on your desk.
While this monitor isn't as fast or feature-rich as the higher-end options, it still offers a 75Hz refresh rate and has a good stack of reviews (around 21,000) to back up its performance.
Even more gaming monitor deals:Sceptre 27-inch gaming monitor (E275W-FW100T) — $99.97 $119.97 (save $20)
Acer Nitro 23.8-inch gaming monitor (KG241Y) — $109.99 $172.99 (save $63)
AOC 27-inch gaming monitor (27G15) — $124.99 $139.99 (save $15)
Sceptre 30-inch curved gaming monitor (C305B-200UN1) — $199.97 $249.97 (save $50)
SAVE UP TO $258.40: Buy two Kindle Scribe devices and get $40 off on top of already discounted prices. Get two Kindle Scribes (16GB) for $449.82, or $230.16 off the normal price of $679.98. Or, get two Kindle Scribes (32GB) for $521.58; that's $258.40 off the normal price of $779.98. Those are discounts of 33%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Two Kindle Scribes (32GB) $521.58 at AmazonReading a good book is one of the many simple joys of life, but physical books can be hard to carry around and tough for doodlers and note-takers to resist writing in. If you're ready to upgrade to a digital reader and expand your home library options, Amazon has a great deal on the Kindle Scribe today.
As of May 1, you can get two Kindle Scribes (16GB or 32GB) for $40 off on top of already discounted prices. Get two Kindle Scribes (16GB) for $449.82, or $230.16 off the normal price of $679.98. Or, get two Kindle Scribes (32GB) for $521.58; that's $258.40 off the normal price of $779.98. Those are discounts of 33%.
SEE ALSO: The best Kindles for every type of readerMashable's review of the best Kindles to buy in 2024 lists the Kindle Scribe as the best option for taking notes thanks to the included pen. With the Kindle Scribe, you're free to create a journal entry, sketch your latest inspiration, jot down a grocery shopping list, or take notes in the margin of a book. You can even convert your handwritten notes into text and send your notes to colleagues as an email.
The Kindle Scribe's 10.2-inch screen allows you to read two side-by-side pages of a book while in landscape orientation, which could be great if one of your issues with ebooks is the constant page turning. The screen is also designed to be glare-free so enjoying a book in the summer sun won't be an issue.
As for battery life, Amazon says you can get up to 12 weeks of use on one charge, but this varies based on your usage and the screen's brightness settings.
If you need a new e-reader and you happen to know someone else who does too, today's deal could be perfect for sharing the literary love. It could also be a great graduation gift for two kids who have summer reading goals or teens heading off to college in the fall.
Regardless of your intended readers, the Kindle Scribe is a multi-functional device that gives you the freedom to mark up and sketch on ebooks, texts, and PDFs. Thanks to today's deal, you'll save a total of $40 when you buy two Kindle Scribes at Amazon.
ChatGPT now saves your chat history, even if you've opted out of sharing your data to train the model.
On Tuesday, OpenAI posted on X, saying the update was available for ChatGPT Free and ChatGPT Plus users. If you had opted in to sharing your chat history with OpenAI, you can toggle this setting off, and your chat history will remain saved in the sidebar. On the flip side, if your sharing setting was toggled off, ChatGPT will save your conversations going forward. The update is available on desktop and coming to mobile soon.
Tweet may have been deletedOpenAI also released a Temporary Chat option, a kind of incognito mode for ChatGPT, which doesn't show up in your chat history.
This is welcome news for the privacy-minded. Previously, your chat history was only saved if you allowed OpenAI to use your conversations to improve the model, which forced users to decide between keeping their data private and unrestricted functionality of the app. Initially, OpenAI didn't offer a way to opt out of sharing data with the model, but that put users at risk of sharing personal or confidential information that could leak out in ChatGPT responses. Samsung learned this the hard way last April when some of its workers inadvertently revealed trade secrets when using the model to check code and draft presentations.
SEE ALSO: Anthropic introduces Claude 3: Haiku, Sonnet, and OpusSoon after that, OpenAI deployed the opt-out setting, and later released ChatGPT Enterprise, a closed-loop version for businesses that doesn't share data with the model.
OpenAI has been busy this week with ChatGPT upgrades. It also announced widespread rollout of a Memory feature for ChatGPT Plus users that was in testing earlier this year.
Tweet may have been deletedWith Memory turned on in settings, ChatGPT will remember specific characteristics it has picked up from your conversations, for example, the names and ages of your children. If this sounds a little terrifying, Memory can be toggled off. You can also delete specific "memories" that you don't want ChatGPT to keep tabs on.
The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with the states in a case questioning the constitutionality of age verification requirements for adult entertainment sites.
On April 30, the court justices dismissed an emergency appeal that sought to block age verification mandates outlined in Texas House Bill 1181. The bill outlines fines and liability for site owners that allow minors to visit their pages, including a $10,000 minimum and $250,000 maximum fine per violation by a minor. The appeal was filed by the Free Speech Coalition, an adult entertainment industry advocacy group.
SEE ALSO: How to stop students from making deepfakes of each otherAge verification bills, also known as "porn passport" laws, require sites that host certain percentages of adult content to institute commercial age-verification systems (AVS's) to keep minors out. These gates require users to provide government-issued identification to prove that they are over 18. In the eyes of proponents, clicking "I am over 18-years-old" isn't enough.
The Texas bill applies to sites in which "one third" of its posted content contains "sexual material harmful to minors," but other states outline a variety of rules and regulations. A Utah bill mandates an AVS for sites with a "substantial amount" of pornographic content. Virginia's statute mandates the verification of government-issued IDs or biometric scans, or require users to age verification software for adult sites with "harmful" content. In the Texas case and others, states have also inserted requirements that adult sites post warnings to users, including that porn can be addictive.
Beyond the outcry from free speech groups and adult entertainment industry investors, which call such requirements a form of "intrusive government oversight," experts generally believe age verification bills won't work. "These statutes are difficult to enforce and easy to get around," Mashable's Anna Iovine reported last year, amid a wave of state bills. "These bills...can cascade into an online privacy and censorship nightmare that hurts sex workers and other internet users."
Experts worry such a cascade of state-level laws, all with sporadically decided requirements, would push young people onto more harmful and dangerous sites, open up users to threats of identify theft, and set a precedent for a less accessible internet. Others say its not the most effective way to protect children from explicit content online.
Beyond, age verification bills have been suggested by Big Tech leaders as a solution to a variety of digital concerns, including the mental and emotional wellbeing of young people on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
TL;DR: Stream Taylor Fritz vs. Francisco Cerundolo in the 2024 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Madrid Open is not a Grand Slam, but it's probably the next best thing. The clay tournament regularly attracts the best players in the world as everyone looks to prepare for the French Open, so a win means something. And at the quarter-final stage, every remaining player will believe that they can win the whole thing.
If you want to watch Taylor Fritz vs. Francisco Cerundolo in the 2024 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Fritz vs. Cerundolo?Taylor Fritz vs. Francisco Cerundolo will meet in the 2024 Madrid Open at around 3:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. BST on May 1.
How to watch Fritz vs. Cerundolo in the 2024 Madrid Open for freeThe 2024 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain. This process makes it look like you're connecting from Spain, so you can access RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Unblock RTVE by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Stream Taylor Fritz vs. Francisco Cerundolo for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to RTVE without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream the 2024 Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
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TL;DR: Stream Andrey Rublev vs. Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The story of the Madrid Open was the emotional farewell of Rafael Nadal, but with his exit at the round of 16, the attention has turned to the remaining players in the quarter finals. There are plenty of interesting matchups, but the battle between Andrey Rublev and Carlos Alcaraz might be the best. Alcaraz is seen by many as the heir to Nadal's throne, after all.
If you want to watch Andrey Rublev vs. Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Rublev vs. Alcaraz?Andrey Rublev vs. Carlos Alcaraz will meet in the 2024 Madrid Open at around 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST on May 1.
How to watch Rublev vs. Alcaraz in the 2024 Madrid Open for freeThe 2024 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain. This process makes it look like you're connecting from Spain, so you can access RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Unblock RTVE by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Stream Andrey Rublev vs. Carlos Alcaraz for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to RTVE without actually spending anything. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream what's left of the 2024 Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Andrey Rublev vs. Carlos Alcaraz for free with ExpressVPN.
FKA twigs delivered a powerful testimony before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property on Tuesday, discussing the threat of artificial intelligence when it comes to the livelihoods of artists like herself.
Alongside Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl, twigs – whose real name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett – testified about better regulating AI and deepfakes, but also revealed that she's developing her own deepfake and can see the benefits in leveraging the technology.
"My art is the canvas on which I paint my identity and the sustaining foundation of my livelihood. It is the essence of my being. Yet this is under threat. AI cannot replicate the depth of my life journey, yet those who control it hold the power to mimic the likeness of my art, to replicate it and falsely claim my identity and intellectual property," the singer-songwriter read from her written testimony.
The subcommittee is currently discussing the "Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act" – or "NO FAKES Act" – a bipartisan bill asking for stronger legal protection around AI for recording artists, particularly when it comes to non-consensual deepfakes that use the voice and visual likeness of an individual. The legislation would hold anyone producing a "unauthorized digital replica" liable.
View this post on Instagram"This prospect threatens to rewrite and unravel the fabric of my very existence. We must enact regulation now to safeguard our authenticity and protect against misappropriation of our inalienable rights," twigs continued in her statement.
She then revealed that she has been developing her own deepfake for a year: one that is "trained" in her personality and can also use her "exact tone of voice to speak many languages." She says she plans to use "AI twigs" to extend and handle her social media interactions while she focuses on her art. She pointed out that the likes of deepfakes and AI technology can be "highly valuable tools both artistically and commercially when under the control of the artist."
SEE ALSO: 'AI poses enormous threats': Billie Eilish, J Balvin and more sign open letter denouncing AI in music.The artist told the committee on Capitol Hill that "careers and livelihoods are in jeopardy, and so potentially are the wider image-related rights of others in society."
"Our creativity is the product of this lived experience overlaid with years of dedication to qualification, training, hard work and, dare I say it, significant financial investment and sacrifice," twigs said. "That the very essence of our being at its most human level can be violated by the unscrupulous use of AI to create a digital facsimile that purports to be us, and our work, is inherently wrong."
AI continues to be a subject of note for actors and artists, with many calling for stringent regulation and guardrails to better protect those in the industries. The music industry continues to spur conversations about the looming threat of AI, with more than 200 artists just recently signing an open letter denouncing the use of AI in music.
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