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It's your last chance to snag some cheap AirPods from Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 16:11

Prime Day may be officially over, but Apple didn't get the memo. Here are some great deals on AirPods that are available on Amazon the day after Prime Day:

Best last-chance AirPods deals for Prime Day 2024 Best overall AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) 168.99 on Amazon (Save $80) Get Deal Best deal on over-ear AirPods Apple AirPods Max 394.99 on Amazon (Save $155) Get Deal Best deal on great Apple earbuds that technically aren't AirPods Beats Fit Pro 149.95 at Amazon (Save $50) Get Deal

Even with Amazon Prime Day 2024 firmly in the rearview mirror, some deals still persist. That's particularly true for Apple's various in-house brands of wireless headphones, namely AirPods.

Apple has dropped prices on its main noise-cancelling earbuds, its high-end over-ear cans, and even the secret best wireless earbuds the company makes in the aftermath of Prime Day. The second-generation AirPods Pro (with USB-C charging!), AirPods Max, and Beats Fit Pro are all well-regarded Apple headphones that will work seamlessly with any iPhone, and they're all relatively cheap right now.

Best overall AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) $168.99 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $80.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Apple's active noise cancelling AirPods could be a steal at the sale price of $168.99. Our reviewer Stan Schroeder noted improved battery life on this model, claiming he got seven hours of use out of a single charge. He also commended the ANC, saying he was "in awe" the first time he turned it on out in public. They may not actually be the best wireless earbuds Apple has to offer (more on that later), but by all accounts, this is a good deal regardless.

Best deal on over-ear AirPods Apple AirPods Max $394.99 at Amazon
$549.00 Save $154.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Anytime you can shave more than $150 off the sticker price for an Apple product, you almost have to do it. The AirPods Max were considered truly excellent over-ear headphones when we initially reviewed them a few years ago, but even then, reviewer Brenda Stolyar noted that the $549 price tag was just too dang high. Negotiating it down below $400 makes the prospect of owning Apple's highest-end headphones, with lauded audio quality, much more feasible.

Best deal on great Apple earbuds that technically aren't AirPods Beats Fit Pro – True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds – Apple H1 Headphone Chip, Compatible with Apple & Android, Class 1 Bluetooth®, Built-in Microphone, 6 Hours of Listening Time – Black $149.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Beats Fit Pro may not be AirPods by name, but they are made by Apple, and in some ways, are even better than the AirPods Pro. I reviewed them when they came out and noted the enhanced stability of the rubber wingtip that goes in your ear, as well as the fantastic audio quality and active noise cancelation. These may be better-suited for more active earbuds users, as they're less likely to fall out while on the move.

Prime members: Spend $50+ on Amazon Basics products and score 15% off

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 15:41

Prime Day might officially be over, but Amazon is still dishing out the deals. If you could use a full re-stock on household essentials and you're a Prime member, today is a great day to load up your cart.

As of July 18, Prime members can get 15% off purchases of $50 or more of select Amazon Basics goods. The deal extends to hundreds of Amazon Basics products like bathroom essentials, cleaning supplies, and paper products. To simplify the math, if your total comes to $50, you'll be saving $7.50 thanks to the 15% off, spending a total of $42.50 instead of $50.

Here are some of our favorite Amazon Basics products included in the deal:

Best Amazon Basics products to save 15% Best home deal Amazon Basics Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent (82.5 oz) $15.05 at Amazon (save $2.65) Get Deal Best back-to-school deal Amazon Basics Woodcased #2 Pencils (30 count) .84 at Amazon (save $5.60) Get Deal Best deal for dog owners Amazon Basics Dog Poop Bags With Dispenser and Leash Clip (lavender, 270 count) $8.26 at Amazon (save $1.45) Get Deal

Amazon is not only a haven for finding great deals, the brand itself has come out with some stellar products that are always cost-effective solutions. On their own, the prices shine but thanks to today's deal exclusive to Prime members, the savings gets even better. Get ready to stock up on household essentials, clothing basics, and pet supplies during this deal.

Best home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Basics Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent (82.5 ounces) $15.05 at Amazon
$17.70 Save $2.65 Get Deal Why we like it

Super concentrated and free of perfumes or dyes, the Amazon Basics Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent is ideal for stocking in your laundry room. The 82.5-ounce jug should take care of cleaning 110 loads of laundry, and it's compatible with both standard and high-efficiency washing machines. With the 15% discount, you'll be spending $15.05 on the laundry detergent which comes to just 14 cents per load of wash.

Best back-to-school deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Basics Woodcased #2 Pencils (30 count) $0.84 at Amazon
$5.69 Save $4.85 Get Deal Why we like it

Can a student ever have too many pencils? Unlikely. If you need 30 more, grab the Amazon Basics Woodcased #2 Pencils box for a mere 84 cents thanks to the Amazon Basics sale. That comes out to just less than 3 cents per pencil, so if you loan one out to a classmate and they don't return it, no sweat.

Alternatively, if you have teachers in your friends or family circle, gift them a couple boxes that'll help tick off the classroom-needs list.

Best deal for dog owners Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Basics Dog Poop Bags With Dispenser and Leash Clip (lavender scented, 270 count) $8.26 at Amazon
$9.71 Save $1.45 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're a dog owner, you understand there's nothing worse than reaching to grab a poop bag and realizing there are none left. Save your own bum by stocking up with 270 bags in the Amazon Basics set which includes a dispenser and leash clip. To score this deal, you'll want to get the lavender scented version of the leak-proof bags that measure 13 by 9 inches.

More Amazon Basics products included in the promo:

What the Mashable staff bought over Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 14:41

For the tech and shopping experts that make up the Mashable staff, Prime Day is An Event. For weeks, we track deals from Amazon and its competitors, meaning that once the big day(s) finally arrives, we've already seen more deals than the human brain should be able to reasonably process.

It also means we have our shopping lists ready.

SEE ALSO: Last chance to shop hundreds of Prime Day deals: Our shopping experts have spoken

So what does the team that turns out over 100 deals posts over Prime Day actually buy? We're so glad you asked.

A tried and true face mask

Rather than use Prime Day to splurge on big-ticket items, I find the best deals to be on skincare products I want to restock or finally try out. I picked up an old favorite, the Mario Badescu Azulene Calming Mask. It’s a clay mask that comes in a gorgeous blue shade, that’s admittedly quite fun to wear, but it works wonders too. It’s far gentler than other clay masks, simultaneously clearing out my pores while toning down any redness. — Sam Mangino, Shopping Reporter

Opens in a new window Credit: Mario Badescu Mario Badescu Azulene Calming Mask Shop Now And a new hydrating face mask

The new skincare product I decided to try out thanks to Prime Day deals is the Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask. Recommended by several beauty influencers I trust, this mask promises to hydrate, minimize pores, and firm skin. It’s loaded with ingredients my skin loves like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and I can’t wait to throw one on after a long day out in the sun when my skin is parched. — SM

Opens in a new window Credit: Biodance BIODANCE Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask Shop Now A Blu-ray box set of an absolute classic

This box set includes all three seasons of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender (books Water, Earth, and Fire), and all four seasons of Avatar: The Legend of Korra (books Air, Spirits, Change, and Balance)

Sure, with the Netflix live-action remake, you may have recently revisited this fan-adored franchise from Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. But with one buy, you'll have these Blu-rays for any time the urge hits to revisit this sensational series. Or, hey, introduce it to the next generation, who will revel over the antics and adventures of Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Zuko, Korra, Bolin, and many, many more. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Avatar & Legend of Korra Complete Series Collection Shop Now Upgraded travel gear

I bought this toiletry bag during Prime Day. I have some travel coming up later this year and instead of digging through all of the old, free bags I’ve gotten over the years (most of which are falling apart), I decided it was time to officially buy one. The bag has a double zipper that opens fully and has tons of compartments for organization. I’ve seen the BAGSMART brand all over TikTok and it has great reviews, so that definitely influenced me as well. It also helps that the bag was almost 50% off for Prime Day. I may not be having a European Summer, but getting new travel gear makes me feel like I am. — Lily Kartiganer, Senior Social Media Editor

Opens in a new window Credit: Bagsmart BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Shop Now The third in a line of Echo devices

I was slightly disappointed with this year's Prime Day deals, honestly. I had two big-ticket items on my list going into the shopping holiday. One was a Kindle Paperwhite for my boyfriend, but the e-reader only dropped down $15 and he said he wanted to wait and see if the Black Friday deal would be better. The other was the new Echo Spot, which I did buy for myself.

I have an Echo Show 5 on my desk and love being able to check the time and weather at a glance and connect it to my Echo Show 10 to play music through my entire apartment. To complete my trifecta of Echos, I got the Spot to go on my nightstand and act as a bedside clock and additional speaker. I'll probably stick with my iPhone as my alarm clock, though, because the Echo alarm sound is strikingly haunting. — Miller Kern, Deputy Shopping Editor

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Spot Shop Now A restock of dog treats

Maybe not the most exciting purchase, but I always stock up on these Full Moon dog treats during Prime Day and Black Friday. They’re consistently 50% off (or more), so I just buy a bunch of bags to hold the dogs over until the next shopping holiday. This year I bought three 1.5 pound bags, which should last us until the next Prime Day rolls around in the fall. — Jae Thomas, Shopping Editor

Opens in a new window Credit: Full Moon Full Moon Chicken Jerky dog treats Shop Now A top-notch rice cooker

My best friend has been meaning to replace a lost rice cooker (tragic) for a couple of years now, and because she knew I'd be living and breathing deals over Prime Day, she asked me to give her a heads up if I saw any good ones on sale. Because she is my best friend and her birthday is just a couple of weeks, I decided to just buy her an early present when I spotted that this Cuckoo six-cup rice cooker got a nice $35 price cut.

I have another Cuckoo rice cooker in my apartment, but I got this model for my mom over Christmas and I now receive some version of the text "This is perfect rice" from her once or twice a month, so I feel confident that I'm giving my friend the gift of gloriously fluffy rice (and really, what better way to say I love you?). — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

Opens in a new window Credit: Cuckoo CUCKOO Micom rice cooker Shop Now An Apple Pencil replacement part

The Apple Pencil (1st gen) is the only model compatible with my 9th generation iPad, but unfortunately, its cap constantly falls off. I finally lost the cap during some recent travel (it was a long time coming), so during Prime Day I picked up this Jelanry pack of replacements that come with silicone holders. I’m hopeful these will make the cap of my Apple Pencil more secure, preventing future losses. — SM

Opens in a new window Credit: Jelanry Jelanry Magnetic iPencil Cap Replacement Shop Now A summertime essential for dogs and humans alike

I bought this Ryobi fan package during Home Depot’s Ryobi Days sale, which happened to line up with Prime Day. The bundle saved me like $60, and the fans are great for keeping my dogs cool in the car during the summer and for keeping me cool during hot summer camping trips. — JT

Opens in a new window Credit: Ryobi Ryobi fan package Shop Now Some moving essentials

I also went the boring route and stocked up on moving supplies for my move in September. I'm going to need packing tape, Lysol wipes, and a mattress bag anyway, so I figured I'd buy them at a slight discount. — MK

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Basics Heavy Duty Packaging Tape Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Coldwind Coldwind mattress bags Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Lysol Lysol Disinfectant Wipes Bundle Shop Now

What is GPT-4o Mini, OpenAI's newest launch?

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 14:31

Even a baby spider is cuter than its adult counterpart, so when OpenAI debuted a mini version of its most powerful model, you'll have to excuse my instinct to say "Awwww!"

That's probably not always the right response, instincts be damned. Because there isn't very much about this new mini version of GPT-4o that we'd describe as "cute."

SEE ALSO: It’s not just ChatGPT. A new AI chatbot is coming to iPhone, according to new report.

OpenAI's new AI model, GPT-4o mini, is the AI startup's latest effort to make its chatbot the biggest in the game — even if it's tiny. The company says it is its "most cost-efficient small model."

"We expect GPT-4o mini will significantly expand the range of applications built with AI by making intelligence much more affordable," OpenAI said in a press statement.

OpenAI went on to specify that the tool currently only supports "text and vision in the API," but said that "support for text, image, video and audio inputs and outputs" will be integrated in the future. It did not specify when that integration will take place.

"I think GPT-4o Mini really gets at the OpenAI mission of making AI more broadly accessible to people. If we want AI to benefit every corner of the world, every industry, every application, we have to make AI much more affordable," Olivier Godement, who leads the API platform product, told The Verge.

On Thursday, most ChatGPT users — those who use it on a free, plus, or team plan — will be able to use GPT-4o Mini instead of GPT-3.5 Turbo. Enterprise users will gain access to the mini model next week.

How Elon Musk Came to Support Trump and the GOP

NYT Technology - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 13:32
The world’s richest man, once deeply skeptical of Donald J. Trump, has now endorsed him and has emerged as a central character in the presidential race.

Apple breaks silence on claims it used 'swiped YouTube videos' to train AI

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 13:24

A new report claimed that tech giants including Apple, Nvidia, Anthropic, and Salesforce used data from "thousands of YouTube videos" to train AI. The investigation, performed by Proof News and published on Wired, alleged that subtitles from 173,000 YouTube videos were swiped for the companies' AI models.

Called "YouTube Subtitles," the dataset contains video transcripts from educational channels like Khan Academy, MIT, and Harvard, as well as the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and the BBC. Material from YouTube stars like PewDiePie, Marques Brownlee, and MrBeast were discovered, too.

We haven't heard from Anthropic and Salesforce yet after reaching out for comment, but Apple has issued a response to Wired's report.

SEE ALSO: 5 most useful features of iOS 18 public beta — and how to use them Will Apple use this data for Apple Intelligence and other AI services?

The short answer is no, but here's the longer response for those who don't identify with the "TLDR" crowd:

In an email to Mashable, Apple said that its open-source language model, OpenELM, indeed used the dataset, but not in the way some may be thinking.

The OpenELM project is a part of Apple's ongoing effort to benefit the broader research community. In other words, according to Apple, the OpenELM model was created for research purposes only and will not underpin any of Apple's machine learning-powered hardware or AI services, including Apple Intelligence.

For the uninitiated, Apple Intelligence is the company's new suite of AI features, which were revealed at WWDC 2024 (Apple's annual event where the company spills the beans on what's to come with its software offerings, including iOS and iPadOS).

Apple Intelligence, for example, can help summarize text, whether it's an email or text message, for quicker interactions with friends, loved ones, coworkers, and more. It will also underpin more entertainment-focused features like Genmoji, which generates new iOS emojis with a prompt. There's also Image Playground, which lets users create AI-generated images on the fly.

New Genmoji feature coming to iOS 18. Credit: Apple

When it comes to AI utilities for its consumers, Apple highlighted that it offers websites an option to opt out of having their content used for AI training. Apple assured that its generative models are built and fine-tuned using high-quality data, including licensed content from publishers and stock image companies, alongside publicly available data on the web.

To put it succinctly, Apple doesn't deny that its open-source language model, OpenELM, used the dataset, but wants to make clear that it will not underpin any of its AI services, including Apple Intelligence.

What does Nvidia have to say?

We also reached out to Nvidia for comment, but the company, known for bringing AI to many of its gaming hardware and services, declined to issue a statement.

We will update this article if we hear anything from Anthropic and Salesforce.

The Revlon One-Step is still more than half-off on Amazon right now

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 12:22

SAVE $39: The price on our budget choice an all-in-one hair tool, Revlon One-Step, just got even better. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Revlon One-Step $30.87 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $39.12 Get Deal

This may be your last chance to take advantage of this post-Prime Day deal which lists the original Dyson AirWrap dupe at $30.87 – a 56% discount off retail price. Amazon seldom reveals the end date for sales and Prime Day technically ended July 17, so you may want to act fast. 

SEE ALSO: 6 of the best hair styling tools: Dyson Airwrap, Revlon One-Step, and more

How good is the Revlon-One Step? Mashable’s lead shopping reporter Bethany Allard rated it a 4.25/5 in her review. It has a few advantages over others of its kind like the $600 Dyson Airwrap, both in price and quality. 

Some notable qualities
  • Beginner-friendly with a minimal learning curve

  • Quick styling time 

  • Works with curlier hair

  • High heat setting (be sure to use heat protectant to avoid heat damage)

  • Bulkier than its competitors but is a fraction of the price

As usual, you need to be an Amazon Prime member to reap these benefits. If you don’t already have a membership, sign up for a free trial before purchase. Students can get a six-month free trial and non-students get a one-month free trial. 

Donald Glover manifests a dream coyote for his 'Hot Ones' journey

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 12:19
Donald Glover took on First We Feast's "Hot Ones" spicy wings challenge and he went on a journey.

The Bene Gesserit take control in 'Dune: Prophecy' teaser

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 12:00
Premiering November on HBO and Max, "Dune: Propehcy" unveils the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.

Senators press AT&T on why it stores call records on a third-party 'AI data cloud'

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 11:41

U.S. senators are starkly questioning AT&T's data storage practices after a serious data breach.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) — the chair and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law — wrote letters questioning the telecom giant and its practice of storing call and text records with a third-party platform called Snowflake.

The lawmakers demanded more info regarding the hack in which the company said "nearly all" text and phone records were stolen in mid-to-late 2022. The letters demanded answers from the CEOs of both AT&T and Snowflake.

AT&T's security practices face scrutiny

"Why had AT&T retained months of detailed records of customer communication for an extended amount of time and why had AT&T uploaded that sensitive information onto a third party analytics platform?" the senators asked. "What is AT&T policy, including timelines, concerning retaining and using such information?"

SEE ALSO: New AT&T data breach impacts 'nearly all' customers

Blumenthal and Hawley also pressed the fact other Snowflake clients — such as Ticketmaster, Advance Auto Parts, and Santander Bank — have announced breaches of information hosted by the company. The lawmakers suggested the AT&T breach was a result of basic cybersecurity failures, centering on malware infections and passwords that had gone unchanged for years.

"Disturbingly, the AT&T breach appears to have been easily preventable," the senators wrote.

Not long after the news of the breach broke, it was reported that AT&T had actually paid a hacker roughly $370,000 to delete the stolen information — though that does not actually guarantee the data is actually fully gone.

Several Fitbit deals are lingering after Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 11:29

We rounded up the best Fitbit deals still hanging around after the official end of Prime Day 2024:

The best live Fitbit deals after Prime Day 2024: BEST FITBIT FOR KIDS DEAL Fitbit Google Ace LTE Kids $179.94 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal BEST FITBIT DEAL Fitbit Versa 4 $159.95 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal BEST GOOGLE PIXEL DEAL Google Pixel Watch 2 $289.99 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day 2024 is dead and gone — but not really. Deals are lingering a day after the official event wrapped, including on several Fitbit models.

Fitbit held off on releasing deals on its products until the actual start of Prime Day. Honestly, though, the deals leave a lot to be desired. We definitely saw better deals overall during Black Friday season 2023 and Prime Day 2023, with many models dropping to record-low prices. Regardless, there are still a handful of Fitbits on sale, and these may very well be the best prices we'll see on Fitbits until the holidays. If you're in the market for a fitness tracker, now's a great time to grab one and save some money.

We've rounded up the best Fitbit deals still live following Prime Day 2024. Since Google acquired Fitbit back in 2019 and Google Pixel watches utilize Fitbit's health and wellness tracking, we included Google Pixel watches on this list as well.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a , while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day Fitbit deal still live Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Google Ace LTE Kids $179.95 at Amazon
$229.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Released just last month, the new Fitbit Ace LTE gives kids a fun way to get active and feel independent. The smartwatch combines video games with exercise and encourages and rewards movement and play throughout the day. Parents can call, text, and voice message their kids on an Android or iOS phone, as well as see their real-time location and control who their child contacts. Gaming access can also be restricted during specific time frames. It's a great option for parents wanting their kids to ditch screens but stay in touch.

Regularly retailing for $229.95, the fitness tracker's on sale for $179.95 following Prime Day. That makes the fact that you have to purchase a Fitbit Ace Pass data plan in order to unlock all the features of the Ace LTE (either $119.99 annually or $9.99 per month) a bit more palatable.

More Prime Day Fitbit deals still live

Ford Will Make Gasoline Trucks Not Electric Vehicles in Canada Plant

NYT Technology - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 11:22
Ford will build large pickups at a Canadian factory that it had previously slated to produce electric vehicles, sales of which have slowed in recent months.

Carlos Espina is a One-Man Telemundo on TikTok

NYT Technology - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 11:03
Carlos Espina is among a new kind of social media personalities whom politicians, especially those in the Biden White House, view as modern-day broadcasters.

Get the Beats Solo 4 at a record-low price in this last-chance Amazon Prime Day deal

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 10:51

SAVE $80: The Beats Solo 4 headphones have reached a record-low price of $119.95 in the aftermath of Prime Day

Opens in a new window Credit: Credit: Mashable Photo Composite Beats Solo 4 $119.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Prime Day is technically over but there are still deals left for you to snag. 

The Beats Solo 4s are available at a 40% discount on the listed retail price, which is a $10 drop from the previous record in June. The price applies to all three colors: cloud pink, matte black, and slate blue. 

Features to consider
  • No noise cancellation 

  • Up to 50 hours of battery life

  • Fast Fuel feature 

  • Crisp sound 

How to snag this deal

While Beats go on sale often, this is the lowest price we’ve seen yet on the new Solo 4s — but it’s only available for a limited time and is exclusive to Amazon Prime members.  

If you’re not a Prime member, you can sign up for a trial membership for free. Students get a six-month free trial and non-students get a one-month free trial. But be sure to cancel before your subscription ends if you don’t want to incur that membership fee. 

Winona Ryder says those 3 damned words in the 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' trailer

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 10:17
"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" is almost upon us, and Warner Bros. dropped a new trailer with Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega and Catherine O'Hara.

3 surefire dating sites that'll help you find your person

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 09:48

If you’re feeling lonely and opt for online dating to find love and companionship, you’re certainly not alone. By 2028, an estimated 452 million people will attempt to find "the one" through online platforms — and if you’re on Social Discovery Group’s dating sites, you might have better luck.

Whether you feel like you’re missing out on life, feeling isolated, can’t seem to find eligible folks in your age bracket, or are just looking to watch new sparks fly, Social Discovery Group has a dating option for every person: Dating.com, DateMyAge, and ZenDate.

Aging and dating made easy Opens in a new window Credit: DateMyAge DateMyAge Mature singles young at heart Learn More

For example, if you’re single and over 40, you may want to try your hand at DateMyAge. As the name would suggest, using the site will not only connect you with a ton of matches worldwide, but they’re all going to be folks in your preferred age range. After all, some of us would rather stay clear of the 20s crowd and find someone with our own life experiences or similar goals and interests. After all, dating should only get better with time.

Safe ways to meet other singles IRL Opens in a new window Credit: Dating.com Dating.com Meet anyone, anywhere Learn More

If age isn’t as big of a concern, try out Dating.com. With over 65 million single people worldwide from 120 countries, Dating.com provides singles with the opportunity to explore dating in a fun, safe, and special way.

Meeting someone for the first time can be awkward and lowkey stressful. The site provides video dating, live streaming, and virtual reality features to properly meet before you ever do IRL. This is a solid safety-first move to ease those first-date nerves.

Celebrating cultural connections Opens in a new window Credit: Zendate Zendate Connecting singles to their ideal partner Learn More

Suppose you prioritize sharing your Chinese heritage over global dating or age-specific matches. In that case, Zendate is a specialized platform designed for Chinese singles seeking love, romance, and like-minded connections. Whether you’re Chinese and living in China or elsewhere, you can find a potentially serious match that understands your cultural background while building a deep connection. Plus, using the site’s video and voice messaging system can get you deeper even quicker, so you can find what you’re truly looking for in a partner.

Social Discovery Group addresses the widespread issue of loneliness by creating a new digital reality where individuals can fulfill their need for communication and attention. Check out their dating platforms and join in shaping a more connected future.

This is your last chance to get bladeless fans at Prime Day prices

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 09:44

Check out the best bladeless fan deals that are still live after Prime Day:

A look at the best bladeless fan deals at Amazon: Best air purifier and fan combo deal Dyson Purifier Cool™ TP07 Smart Air Purifier and Fan $499 at Amazon (save $150.99) Get Deal Best Dyson splurge deal Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde™ TP09 Air Purifier and Fan $647 at Amazon (save $102.99) Get Deal Best bladeless desk fan deal CONBOLA Desk Fan $37.79 at Amazon (save $4.20) Get Deal

Prime Day may have ended yesterday, July 17, but there are plenty of deals left over from the sale that are still live at Amazon, including deals on some of the best bladeless fans from Dyson and more.

All across the country, this has been the summer of heatwaves. If getting a top-notch fan has been on your to-do list, take advantage of these low prices while they're still here.

Best air purifier and fan combo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 Smart Air Purifier and Fan $499.00 at Amazon
$649.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're going to shell out a couple-hundred dollars for a bladeless fan, it might as well be one that can tackle two jobs at once. The Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 Smart Air Purifier and Fan cools your space and cleans the air, making your home a more comfortable, healthier environment. Not only is the filter fully sealed away for your protection, but the whole machine is sealed, so what the Dyson clears from the air stays out for good. When you do need to change the filter, the process is simple; you even get a notification when its time is up. This year's Prime Day price is only $30 above the fan's lowest price ever, so it's a smart time to buy.

Best Dyson splurge deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 Air Purifier and Fan $647.00 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $102.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're willing to spend a little extra, the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 Air Purifier and Fan takes air purifying and cooling to the next level. It destroys the formaldehyde in the air that can get released from household items, leaving your air safer and cleaner than it was before. We also love that the fan has 350-degree oscillation, and a Night Mode that reduces noise even further so you can sleep comfortably.

More bladeless fan deals:

KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty break down their musical inspirations for Dandelion

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 08:07
Actors KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty discuss their inspirations behind the music in Dandelion.

Microsoft has let its AI-powered Designer app out of preview mode

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 07:53

Microsoft's AI-powered Designer app has been unleashed from preview mode, with the Canva rival now available for free to everyone with a Microsoft account. And though it's an impressive productivity tool for those without major creative skills, it's not likely to be super welcome news for designers, artists, creatives, and those concerned about AI-generated artwork.

Announced in a post on Microsoft's blog and available on its website, the tech giant's design platform has officially launched on iOS and Android, for mobile and desktop. Designer is a template-based editing app that lets users create and edit images, make greeting cards, invitations, posters, and other basic design work, and spruce up Word documents with AI, using Microsoft Copilot.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT and Copilot both shared debate misinformation, report says The Designer homepage. Credit: Screenshot: Designer

The app channels a similar offering to Australian unicorn Canva, which launched Magic Studio, a suite of AI-powered tools, last year.

Designer notably has a feature called Restyle Image, which can turn your photos into an AI-powered avatar using different styles like pop art, cubism, and stylised 3D — exactly whose art the AI has been trained on is unclear. It's similar to the offerings from other tech giants like Samsung. TikTok has introduced AI-generated digital avatars, WhatsApp is working on a personalized AI image generator, and there was that whole thing with Lensa.

Pretty cute. Credit: Microsoft

It takes under a minute to generate. Here's a couple I generated using a photo of myself, and while they really look nothing like me, they're pretty cute and make me feel deeply guilty:

The AI really loved my glasses I guess. Credit: Shannon Connellan / Microsoft Designer

If you have one of the expensive $20 per month Copilot Pro subscriptions, you can integrate Designer with Microsoft 365 software like Word and PowerPoint to enliven your documents and presentations with prompt templates and sticker generators. The app also connects with the Microsoft Photos app, so you can edit photos to erase and replace backgrounds, apply filters, and frame, or markup images. Copilot detects the subject in the photo and automatically highlights it like this for editing:

Credit: Microsoft

There's also something called Boosts available in Designer, which apparently "create or edit AI-powered images and designs faster" according to Microsoft. Users get 15 free Boosts a day; Copilot Pro subscribers get 100.

The platform might ring a few alarms for graphic designers, artists, creatives, and others concerned over the rise in AI-generated creative work. AI graphics tools like Microsoft's own Bing Image Creator using DALL-E 3 is just the tip of the AI-generated iceberg — Midjourney, Google's SGE, MediaTek, Adobe's terrifying tools, the list goes on. There is a tool call Nightshade that can protect artists' work against being trained with AI image generators.

In its blog post, Microsoft highlighted "stewarding responsible AI use" and included the following:

"At Microsoft, we are focused on building tools that harness the incredible potential of generative AI while providing a safe experience for our users. We are committed to ensuring that our systems are used in a responsible and ethical manner."

When is the next Prime Day? Here's how long you have to wait

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 07:33

With Amazon's 2024 Prime Day sale in our rearview mirror, you may be wondering: When is the next Prime Day sale? Whether you didn't think this week's deals were good enough to drop some cash or you simply like to shop sales, it's always smart to plan ahead.

SEE ALSO: 380+ expertly-curated Prime Day deals that are still available as of July 18

As it turns out, another Prime-centric sale may not be that far off. Amazon technically only hosts one official "Prime Day" per year (and always in mid-summer). But according to Mashable's team of shopping experts, it's gotten in the habit of hosting a second similar event for Prime members later on.

When is the next Prime Day?

"Prime Day 2" will likely happen in October — though it probably won't go by that name.

Amazon has hosted a fall Prime event that month for the past two years. It was called the Prime Early Access Sale in 2022 and Prime Big Deal Days in 2023. The sales were two-day affairs that ran from Monday, Oct. 10 to Tuesday Oct. 11 and Tuesday, Oct. 10 to Wednesday, Oct. 11, respectively.

SEE ALSO: What Mashable readers bought on Prime Day

If we assume Amazon will stick with that early-month, early-week time slot, we'll go out on a limb and predict that the October Prime event will happen sometime between Oct. 7 to 9 this year. Either that, or right after Indigenous People's Day on Monday the 14th.

Amazon will likely use this October Prime event to kick off the Black Friday shopping season extra early, so it'll be a good time to start looking for holiday gifts and year-round lows on certain items. Plan your shopping list accordingly.

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