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Beverly Hills Cop 4 is a terrible idea on paper. Sure, the 1984 action-comedy and its sequel Beverly Hills Cop II were massive hits, proving Saturday Night Live's Eddie Murphy had made the leap to leading man. But 1994's Beverly Hills Cop III was a flop with critics and audiences, effectively knocking the franchise out of commission for 30 years. On top of that, the funny franchise's conceit is now potentially problematic: A cocky cop solves crime while cracking rude jokes and breaking all the rules. With countless news headlines about police brutality and insensitivity, how do you bring back Axel Foley for a modern audience? Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is how. 

I myself was deeply dubious about the possibility of a Beverly Hills Cop 4 being anything but groan-inducing. So, it is with great pleasure that I tell you I was wrong, and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is outstanding. 

Eddie Murphy is as good as ever as Axel Foley.  Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Netflix

Axel still knows how to outfox crooks and land a punchline. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F proves this efficiently with a rousing opening sequence at a hockey arena. Sitting with a white colleague, Axel talks hockey with the irreverent jokes that play to his signature speedy patter. The difference here is that this Axel only punches up, mocking white fragility instead of employing tired stereotypes. Rather than feeling like a compromise in fear of so-called cancel culture, these jokes support the undercurrent of his journey. Axel has always pushed back on power structures, be it wealthy white men who felt they were above the law or police commissioners who felt public relations was more important than public safety. So it makes sense that as he grows older, his humor grows toward bolstering this previously established ideology. 

Screenwriters Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten set up the pins with this sharp self-awareness, and Murphy knocks them down with the brute force of that trademark smile and expert comedic timing. Five minutes into Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, I was already grinning ear to ear, and there hadn't even been any action yet. Incredibly, the screenwriters have a sophisticated strategy for this too. 

In many action movies featuring aging stars, awkward cuts are employed to avoid showing how their bodies or their mobility may have changed, but Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is too smart to be slowed down. The 63-year-old Murphy isn't going to be running around like he did three decades ago, so the screenwriters came up with a clever and comedic accommodation: commandeering increasingly ridiculous vehicles. Axel leaps from snow plows to meter maid trolleys to helicopters, and each setup isn't a dodge but an opportunity for visual gags — like being maced by a meter maid. Plus, each of these choices reaffirms how Axel still thinks on his feet. Lucky for us, Murphy's not the only one radiant in their return. 

Axel F reunites us with Paul Reiser, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, and Bronson Pinchot.  Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix

The premise of this fourth installment follows a familiar framework: An unsolved crime puts one of Axel's loved ones in trouble, pulling him to Beverly Hills to investigate on his own. This cozy setup allows for Reiser, Ashton, and Reinhold to reprise their role as Axel's embattled cop buddies. The former two have risen through the ranks and are now the desk-bound blowhards Axel rails against. Meanwhile, Billy (Reinhold) is a private detective who is chasing a lead that leads to him going missing. 

The nostalgic thrill of seeing this band back together is undeniable. Ashton is once more gruff but lovable, Reinhold sweet with a twang of chaos, and Reiser practically radiates with a tooth-gritting affection, even as Axel gives him hell. But the return that had me literally squealing with excitement is Bronson Pinchot as Serge. The unexpected breakout character has grown to be more than a cheap gag about a certain brand of flamboyant LA man. 

Director Mark Molloy has laced in terrific montages that deftly establish the luxurious lunacy of Los Angeles, including a pearl-wearing dog being hand-fed sushi at an outdoor eatery. But Serge is a celebration of all this absurdity rolled into one loud, beloved package with plenty of panache. Pinchot's inexplicable accent and crackling comedic chemistry with Murphy makes for one of the movie's funniest sequences, aided by Nasim Pedrad as an over-sharing real estate agent. Here, the energy in a garish mansion has a spontaneity that turns the silly scene into a tennis match, with jokes coming so hard and fast you might be left breathless from laughing. But Pedrad is not the only new addition making her mark on Axel F. 

Taylour Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt ground Axel F's crucial dramatic arc.  Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Netflix

Amazingly, what sets this fourth movie apart is a plotline that sounds achingly cliche: Axel comes to the aid of his grown child, who is facing deadly criminal forces in pursuit of justice. But far from some sloppy attempt to hand the franchise off to a younger generation, the screenwriters introduce Jane (Taylour Paige), Axel's defense attorney daughter who is working pro-bono for an alleged "cop-killer." The tension between this cop dad and his public defender daughter often runs at a high pitch — a weakness that's played like a fiddle by Axel's antagonist, a slick and snarling LA cop (Kevin Bacon). But what's most moving about this is not their ideological differences but the father-daughter frustrations that are almost achingly common. 

Where Axel might be the best when it comes to finding clues, he's clueless with how to reconnect to his estranged daughter. Instead of playing her role as a pale imitation of Murphy's iconic character, Paige lays out a headstrong heroine of her own — one whose soft spot is her dad. Arguments over who's to blame for the distance between them are charged in authenticity, recognizing not only the careless ways family members can wound each other but also the difference in how millennials and their boomer parents communicate about feelings. Where Axel is quick with a joke, Jane is unblinkingly direct, as is her ex-boyfriend, a young detective (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who calls Axel out with a firm yet empathetic tone. 

Where the villain of this movie will snark about how the "current landscape" is a place where you can't say anything anymore, these characters all prove it's not what you say but how you say it that matters. And it's frankly exhilarating to see a comedy nail this distinction while still being incredibly funny. Better yet, these new kids on the block aren't treated as finger-wagging nags in regards to the movie's action or comedy. While they often play the straight man to Axel, Paige and Gordon-Levitt shine alongside him, whether glowering at an enemy or giving a sheepish reaction that is laugh-out-loud funny. 

All this comes together piece by piece, forming a cleverly constructed sequel that manages to plumb the best bits of the original trilogy while working in new elements that give it renewed life and relevance. Even the soundtrack does this, mixing in classic rock tracks like "The Heat Is On" and "Shakedown" with newer jams like Coi Leray's "Players" and Lil Nas X's movie theme "Here We Go!" The combination of all this makes for a movie that is classically fun but freshly exciting. 

In the end, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F isn't just a great sequel, or an awesome action-comedy, it might just be the most entertaining movie of the year. If you can see it in a theater, do it. If you — like most of us — watch it at home, turn up the volume, so that theme song swallows you up and welcomes you back to the world of Axel Foley and friends. 

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F premieres on Netflix July 3 and in limited theaters.

When Chet Hanks first used the phrase “white boy summer,” it seemed to be done ironically. Now it has been appropriated around the world by white supremacists and other hate groups.

Did you purchase a MacBook with the defective butterfly keyboard between the years 2015 and 2019?

If so, you may finally be getting a payout from Apple.

As first noticed by MacRumors, the website for the MacBook Keyboard Litigation Settlement has finally been updated with news that the court issued a payment order last week.

"Payments will be issued for approved claims by August 2024," the updated statement said.

Apple's butterfly keyboard settlement

In 2022, Apple agreed to a $50 million settlement as part of a class action lawsuit over its faulty butterfly keyboard design that it built into MacBooks from 2015 to 2019. 

MacBook owners with butterfly keyboards experienced issues that required keycap replacements, keyboard deck repairs, and sometimes even full keyboard replacement. Apple responded by launching a repair program in 2018, but this didn't fix the issue entirely. Some MacBook owners found themselves repeatedly returning to Apple for repairs.

As part of the settlement, eligible MacBook owners will be receiving up to $50 if they had a keycap replacement, up to $125 if they had a keyboard deck repair, and up to a maximum of $395 if they had at least two keyboard deck replacements from Apple.

To be eligible, consumers must have filed a claim by March of last year. Unfortunately, if you were the owner of a MacBook with a butterfly keyboard, and did not file a claim in 2023, the deadline has passed.

The court approved the settlement in May 2023. It's unclear why it has taken until August 2024 to send out payments. Still, those who experienced the dreaded butterfly keyboard can breathe a sigh of relief knowing a payment is on the way to compensate them for their troubles.

A European Commission (EU) investigation is spelling bad news for Facebook and Instagram.

The EU has notified Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, that its "pay or consent" personalized advertising model violates the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

"Our investigation aims to ensure contestability in markets where gatekeepers like Meta have been accumulating personal data of millions of EU citizens over many years," said the European Commission's Margrethe Vestager in a statement on Monday. "Our preliminary view is that Meta’s advertising model fails to comply with the Digital Markets Act. And we want to empower citizens to be able to take control over their own data and choose a less personalized ads experience."

The EU now puts the ball in Meta's court. The social media giant now has the right to mount a defense to the findings and send a reply to the EU as the investigation continues. As per the law, the EU must conclude the DMA investigation within 12 months of the date, which started on March 25, 2024.

If the investigation finds that Meta was in non-compliance with the DMA, the Commission can fine Facebook and Instagram's parent company a whopping 10 percent of its total worldwide turnover.

Meta's "pay or consent" model

In March, Mashable reported about a number of EU investigations into Big Tech companies to determine their compliance with the newly enacted DMA. The DMA basically forces "gatekeeper" companies to open up their platforms to third-parties in order to spur competition.

One of those investigations was into Meta for its "pay or consent" model implemented on Facebook and Instagram.

Gatekeeper companies must receive consent from its users in the EU when sharing user data between their core platforms. This means that if Meta wants to share a Facebook or Instagram user's account data so that it can serve personalized ads, it must get explicit permission to do so. Just entering their account details on a social media platform does not give the company consent for the secondary use of that user's data via another one of its platforms.

However, Meta has run its business under the belief that the "pay or consent" model adheres to the DMA rules. Basically, Meta argues that the company offers a paid subscription to users on Facebook and Instagram, which provides an ad-free experience. If a user does not subscribe to its paid offering, according to Meta, then they have chosen to consent to their data being used for advertising purposes.

The European Commission's preliminary findings have determined that Meta's "pay or consent" model does not comply with the DMA.

"Under Article 5(2) of the DMA, gatekeepers must seek users' consent for combining their personal data between designated core platform services and other services, and if a user refuses such consent, they should have access to a less personalized but equivalent alternative," the EU's statement said. "Gatekeepers cannot make use of the service or certain functionalities conditional on users' consent."

To be clear, the EU is saying that Facebook and Instagram cannot serve personalized ads to a user, even if they aren't a paying subscriber to the platforms, unless they have received consent from that user.

It will be interesting to see Meta's response to the EU's findings. If the final investigation rules against the company, it must comply with the DMA or face even further fines, which can climb to as much as 20 percent of total global turnover for repeated infringement. According to the Commission, "systemic non-compliance" can lead to further actions, including banning the gatekeeper company from acquisitions or requiring it to sell all or part of its business.

Netflix subscribers clinging on to the streaming service's cheapest ad-free plan will need to upgrade or lose access to their favorite movies and TV shows.

Social media users subscribed to Netflix's since-discontinued "Basic" plan are being told that their subscriptions will end — unless they move to a new plan. 

Reddit

"Your last day to watch Netflix is July 13th," reads a on-screen message displayed to Netflix's Basic subscribers. "Choose a new plan to keep watching.”

The message goes on to tell users that the Basic plan has been discontinued and that new plans start at $5.99. The Verge first noticed the uptick in users on Reddit sharing posts regarding Netflix's prompts about their subscription.

The end of Netflix's Basic subscription

Mashable previously reported last year about Netflix sunsetting its cheapest ad-free tier.

In June 2024, Netflix tested out removing the Basic subscription option in the UK and Canada. Netflix then removed the Basic tier from the U.S. offerings last July.

At the time, Netflix allowed users who were already subscribed to the $9.99 per month Basic plan to keep their subscription as long as they did not cancel nor let it lapse. The Basic option provided users with the least costly ad-free experience, provided they only use the service on one device at a time.

In October, Netflix hiked prices across the board, including for users who were still subscribed to the grandfathered Basic plan. At $11.99, the Basic plan still provided the cheapest ad-free Netflix experience.

Earlier this year, Netflix did warn that it was planning on ending the Basic plan for even grandfathered subscribers, starting with those in the UK and Canada. It seems that Netflix is now finally ready to pull the plug on the Basic subscription entirely.

Those looking to save money will have to settle for the ad-supported version of Netflix, which costs $6.99 per month. The lowest-priced ad-free tier is the $15.49 per month Standard plan.

Biden administration officials hope the money will help propel technological innovation in areas that have historically received less government funding.

Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, and in usual Prime Day fashion, the savings are already starting to trickle in. Lots of deals are ready to shop as we speak, especially when it comes to Apple's beloved MacBooks (including the new M3 models).

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner — here's how to find the best deals

Below, we've put together a list of all the early Prime Day MacBook deals that you can scoop up right now. We expect these prices to get even lower, but if you need one as soon as possible, you can still save up to $220.

Best early Prime Day MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3) $1,299.00 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch M3 Apple MacBook Air.

Apple's latest iteration of the MacBook Air is undeniably the best version of the portable powerhouse we've seen to date. Equipped with the new M3 chip, the Air has never been faster, and can tackle demanding tasks with ease (great news for those of us who constantly have one million tabs open). The M3 Air also adds in support for up to two external monitors, as well as WiFi 6E. Pick one up ahead of Prime Day and save $100.

More early Prime Day MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $849 $999 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,099 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,449 $1,599 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (Apple M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,779 $1,999 (save $220)

A favorite of early personal computer users, his company was eventually overtaken by Microsoft Word. He later came out as gay and became an L.G.B.T.Q. activist.

Self-care looks different for everyone, so it can be a little difficult to find just the right gift for someone with this goal in mind. There is no one-size-fits-all here.

As with any type of present, keep your recipient's specific priorities and interests in mind as you search. If they're into art, you might get them an art kit or coloring book. Or maybe they're a dedicated homebody and would prefer an air purifier, essential oil diffuser, or plant.

We've found more than 40 gifts ideal for anyone into self-care, whether that's your boyfriend, girlfriend, mom, dad, or anyone else on your list. (Hey, it could even be yourself. That's the beauty of self-care, baby.)

Best AirTag deals Best AirTag 1-pack deal Apple AirTag $24.99 at Amazon (Save $4.01) Get Deal Best AirTag 4-pack deal Apple AirTag, 4-pack $79.99 at Walmart (Save $19.01) Get Deal

Apple AirTags have benefitted from quite the flattering news cycle recently. And while you might not be looking to crack a case of theft, AirTags still help you find your belongings. Attach them to your keys, wallet, or anything else you might frequently misplace, and you can see their location on the Find My app.

Ahead of Prime Day 2024, which runs July 16 and 17, we're keeping our eyes peeled for the best tech deals, and that includes AirTags. Amazon is selling singular AirTags at a 14% discount ahead of Prime Day, but the best deal comes from a different retailer. Get a jumpstart on AirTag deals now.

Best AirTag 1-pack deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Best AirTag 1-pack deal $24.99 at Amazon
$29.00 Save $4.01 Get Deal Why we like it

AirTags sell as singles or in packs of four. Not sure if you're ready to commit to a pack? Dip your toes in with a singular AirTag, currently marked down at Amazon. Normally priced at $29, they're on sale for $24.99, saving you $4.01. This is the lowest recorded price for AirTags on Amazon, however, we're eager to see if they drop further come Prime Day.

Best AirTag 4-pack deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag, 4-pack $79.99 at Amazon
$99.00 Save $19.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The most affordable way to shop AirTags is to purchase them in a pack of four, which has an MSRP of $99, making each one $24.75 — cheaper than when you purchase them individually. However, right now you can find them for $79.99 at Walmart. Historically, we've seen the best price on AirTag packs at Amazon; back in April they dropped down to its lowest price of $74.99. However, ahead of Prime Day, we're not mad about this deal at Walmart, which saves you $19.01.

Haliey Welch, a.k.a. Hawk Tuah Girl, did her first big interview on the Plan Bri podcast. It seemed to go well, and she was pretty funny.

UPDATE: Jul. 2, 2024, 1:00 p.m. EDT This list has been updated with the few Roomba deals live at Amazon in the first week of July. It will be updated accordingly as Amazon inevitably releases more Roomba deals leading up to Prime Day.

The tea that is the failed acquisition of iRobot by Amazon must not have been too scalding, because Amazon still has a soft spot for Roomba deals.

On and off throughout the year, Amazon drops prices on top Roombas (among other competitive robot vacuums) by up to 50%, whether that's during a shopping holiday like Black Friday or during a random week.

SEE ALSO: How to choose a robot vacuum in 2024: Consider these 5 features before buying

Prime Day certainly isn't random, though Amazon is quiet on the Roomba front so far this Prime season after dropping a ton of Roomba prices in June. But if they're willing to do that just for the sake of it, we're likely in for a flood of Prime Day Roomba deals ahead of actual Prime Day (July 16 and 17). The iRobot fleet will likely severely outshine the measly deal or two on Shark robot vacuums.

Specifically, our eyes will be peeled for potential 50% off discounts to match the 50% slash we've been seeing on the Roomba j7, and hopefully a drop below $900 for the Roomba Combo j9+. As soon as any of those drop, we'll refresh this list. While a handful of mediocre Roomba deals are live now, we'll only be highlighting the ones worth your time.

Best Roomba deals at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j7 $379.00 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $220.99 Get Deal Why we like it

It's not the 50% price cut we've seen on and off for the past few months, so hold tight. But on the off chance that you absolutely need this Roomba in your life immediately, the current 37% discount on the Roomba j7 is still pretty good, considering its smarts.

Even without mopping or self-emptying capabilities, the Roomba j7 is still one of the most solid Roombas — and robot vacuums in general — that you could bring home, and that's all due to small obstacle avoidance. On top of room-to-room smart mapping, any j series Roomba steers clear of things like phone chargers, pet waste, and socks.

More Roombas on sale at Amazon

• iRobot Roomba i4 — $249 $399.99 (save $150.99)

We'll drop more Roomba deals at Amazon here when we find any that are actually noteworthy.

We've been begging for a pink iPhone for years around here, but Google may have just lapped Apple in that regard.

Of course, that's only if you believe in video leaks. This latest one comes courtesy of @habibioud on X, who posted a 13-second clip purporting to show the upcoming Google Pixel 9. Seeing a not-yet-announced device is always exciting, but this time, it's especially so because of the alleged Pixel 9's vibrant hot pink colorway.

SEE ALSO: Is iOS 18 available for iPhone 11? Tweet may have been deleted

There's no knowing if the clip is real until Google's Aug. 13 event where the Pixel 9 is widely expected to be revealed. However, the video is convincing, especially since the phone shown in the clip bears some similarities to modern Pixels, but with a glossier back and a slightly different horizontal camera bar on the rear. In other words, it looks like an incremental evolution of the Pixel 8, so it may well be real.

Let's all hope this is real so Apple finally has the guts to do the right thing.

Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, and in usual Prime Day fashion, the savings are already starting to trickle in. Lots of deals are ready to shop as we speak, especially when it comes to Apple's beloved MacBooks (including the new M3 models).

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner — here's how to find the best deals

Below, we've put together a list of all the early Prime Day MacBook deals that you can scoop up right now. We expect these prices to get even lower, but if you need one as soon as possible, you can still save up to $220.

Best early Prime Day MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3) $1,299.00 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch M3 Apple MacBook Air.

Apple's latest iteration of the MacBook Air is undeniably the best version of the portable powerhouse we've seen to date. Equipped with the new M3 chip, the Air has never been faster, and can tackle demanding tasks with ease (great news for those of us who constantly have one million tabs open). The M3 Air also adds in support for up to two external monitors, as well as WiFi 6E. Pick one up ahead of Prime Day and save $100.

More early Prime Day MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $849 $999 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,099 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,449 $1,599 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (Apple M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,779 $1,999 (save $220)

The UK General Election is set to take place this week, and there's an exciting digital partnership playing to election content: Roblox and the BBC.

The BBC is bringing Larry the Downing Street Cat — iconic Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office and pet-in-residence at the official home of the UK Prime Minister — to Roblox for this election.

Larry, along with digital avatars of BBC presenters like Laura Kuenssberg, Clive Myrie, and Jeremy Vine, will appear in a game that requires players to track down ballot boxes outside 10 Downing Street. If you find enough boxes, Larry will become your pet (whether or not you share Larry with the PM is unclear). While playing, Roblox users will also be shown facts about UK elections.

SEE ALSO: The world of Roblox accessories is betting big on young, Black creators

The game will be a part of the BBC’s Wonder Chase experience, which has been around on Roblox since April of this year. Wonder Chase, a free experience on Roblox, features a range of areas dedicated to BBC shows like Doctor Who, EastEnders, and The Next Step.

"I’ve never imagined being a gaming character before," says Kuenssberg, long-time political presenter at the BBC, "but like never before, in 2024 the BBC’s coverage of the election really IS getting everywhere." Fiona Campbell, controller of youth audience for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer says that the game is "an engaging and fun way to learn more about the country’s election whilst interacting with our top political experts."

The UK's General Election will take place on July 4, with millions of people in the country headed to the polls to vote despite "mass apathy" towards the presiding political parties.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Amazon 75-inch Omni Fire TV $699.99 at Amazon (save $350) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet with wireless charging dock $84.99 at Amazon (save $84.99) Get Deal BEST VACUUM DEAL Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Handheld Vacuum $69.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal BEST SECURITY DEAL Blink Outdoor 4 (4th gen) 4-camera system $132.99 at Amazon (save $207) Get Deal BEST LAPTOP DEAL Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Book4 Pro (Intel Core 7 Ultra Processor , 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal

Amazon has already hit send on some of the biggest price drops of the year. Between its 4th of July sale and early Prime Day savings, the deals are overflowing this week. On July 2, we're seeing record-low prices on Fire devices, Blink cameras, and more. There's really no need to wait for Prime Day if you're in the mood to do some deal shopping.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check back at our deals from July 1 — many of those are still live. Then come back tomorrow for all-new picks.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni Fire TV $699.99 at Amazon
$1,049.99 Save $350.00 with Prime Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new TV and you're a Prime member, you can snag a 75-inch Omni Fire TV for only $699.99 ahead of Prime Day. That's 33% in savings and its lowest price on record. As the second-best TV in Amazon's lineup, the Omni offers 4K everyday entertainment, hands-free Alexa control, Dolby Vision, Dolby Digital Plus, and a slimmer bezel for the ultimate home theater experience. It even comes with a six-month subscription to MGM+.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet with wireless charging dock $84.99 at Amazon
$169.98 Save $84.99 Get Deal

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is a solid option if you're looking for a basic tablet that won't break the bank. As PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) wrote in its review of the tablet, "It won't wow you, but it doesn't need to." It'll last up to 13 hours on a single charge, offers USB-C charging support, and features a strengthened aluminosilicate glass display and hexa-core processor (which is 30% faster than the previous model). The Plus model also adds an extra gigabyte of RAM, improves its rear camera from 2 to 5MP, and supports wireless charging. With this bundle, you'll get both the tablet and wireless charging dock, which allows you to set it up as a countertop smart display in Show Mode. As of July 2, the bundle is down to just $84.99 — that's a savings of 50% and a new record-low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Handheld Vacuum $69.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

In your battle against pet hair, you're going to need quite a few weapons in your arsenal. The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus makes a good addition, as its cordless, lightweight design makes it a breeze to slide into hard-to-reach places. It features two ultra-powerful cyclonic air streams for intense suction, plus a detachable self-cleaning Pet Power Brush that eliminates hair wrap from the floor, upholstery, and the brushroll itself. It's usually $89.99, but you can save 22% and pick it up for $69.99 as of July 2. That's just $2 away from its all-time low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 (4th gen) 4-camera system $132.99 at Amazon
$339.99 Save $207.00 with Prime Get Deal

One of our top picks for a security camera, the Blink Outdoor 4 is an affordable home addition for pet owners, frequent travelers, or just about any homeowner or renter looking to keep an eye on things that go bump in the night. Its battery life is hard to beat — just pop in some AAs and you won't have to worry about changing them for two whole years. The fourth-generation Blink Outdoor also works seamlessly with other Alexa-enabled devices, comes with customizable motion zones without the need for a subscription (although, a Blink subscription will unlock even more features), and features 1080p HD live view, infrared night vision, and crisp two-way audio. A four-pack is usually $339.99, but you can save 61% ahead of Prime Day and snag it for only $132.99 with Prime — practically a steal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Book4 Pro (Intel Core 7 Ultra Processor , 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 at Amazon
$1,449.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

Released in February this year, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro is back down to its record-low price of $1,149.99. That's $300 off the 14-inch model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. It's a traditional clamshell-style laptop with all the bells and whistles — an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU with Intel Arc Graphics, a 3K AMOLED touchscreen, AKG Quad speakers, a new Knox security chip, and 18 hours of battery life per charge. Plus, it only weighs 2.71 pounds.

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

Best iPad deals Best iPad 10th generation deal Apple iPad 10th generation, 10.9-inch (A14, WiFi, 64GB) $324 at Amazon (Save $25) Get Deal Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 1TB) $1,024 at Amazon (Save $75) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) $928.99 at Amazon (Save $70.01) Get Deal

Ahead of Prime Day, which runs July 16 and 17, deals are sneakily sliding in. The next two weeks are a bit of a waiting game to see what sought-after products will go on sale. Luckily for you, we're on top of our game finding the early deals, including on the latest iPads from Apple.

These discounts might not seem like much, less than $100 off each model, but these are the lowest prices ever on iPads. The spring release of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro brought noteworthy tech, creating tablets with as much power as the best laptops we've tested. So while these deals seem subtle, we can confirm they're the best prices on iPads.

However, we're not so patiently waiting to see what Prime Day brings. We'll be updating this article with the latest prices as we get closer to the main event.

Best iPad 10th generation deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 10th generation, 10.9-inch (A14, WiFi, 64GB) $324.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $25.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The iPad 10th generation saw a price drop this spring, becoming the most budget-friendly iPad. It doesn't have the flashy M-series chips that the iPad Air and Pro possess, but the A14 chip has all the processing power you need for streaming, reading, and working. Normally priced at $349, it's down to $324, officially its lowest price ever. So while it's just $25 off for 7% savings, we can guarantee it's the best price yet.

Best iPad Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 1TB) $1,024.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $75.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Loaded with the M2 chip, the iPad Air is a tablet with the power of a laptop. It's our best overall iPad, as it goes beyond just entertainment, and can be a professional workspace too. The M2 chip powers creatives who want to illustrate and with 1TB of storage, you won't run out of space when starting new projects. This iPad Air usually starts at $1,099, but it's currently down to $1,024, knocking $75 off the price. Those 7% savings bring it down to it's lowest price, unbeatable for the amount of power and storage you're getting.

Best iPad Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) $928.99 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $70.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The iPad Pro is not only the most advanced tablet we've ever seen, but maybe the most advanced computing power period. If you need an iPad for professional use, something that can accomplish all your work, from photo to video editing, look no further than the iPad Pro which scored a 14,586 on the Geekbench 6 test, better performance than both the M3 Macbook Air and M3 Macbook Pro.

Ahead of Prime Day, you can get the latest iPad Pro for $928.99, saving you $70.01. Like the test of the tablets on this list, those 7% savings might seem minor, but it's the lowest price we've ever seen.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad 10th generation, 10.2-inch (A13, WiFi, 256GB) — $379 $479 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Mini, 8.3-inch (A15, WiFi, 64GB) — $468.99 $499 (save $30.01)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M2, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,024 $1,099 (save $75)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,198.99 $1,299 (save $100.01)

Astronomers say they've confirmed that three little red dots observed at the dawn of time by the James Webb Space Telescope are in fact galaxies, flouting theories about the early universe.

Not only that, but researchers say those galaxies seem to host enormous supermassive black holes — perhaps 100 to 1,000 times more massive than the one occupying the center of our own Milky Way. Normally, black holes of this maturity and scale would not be found within young galaxies. 

The dots now hold the record for the earliest signatures of "old" starlight — meaning the galaxies, formed shortly after the Big Bang, brim with stars that could already be considered old, said Bingjie Wang, a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State. 

"These appear to be packed with ancient stars — hundreds of millions of years old — in a universe that is only 600 to 800 million years old," said Wang, lead author on the new research about the galaxies, in a statement. 

The team took measurements of the light sources to determine what's generating them and discern the distances of the objects. They published the findings in Astrophysical Journal Letters.

SEE ALSO: Astronomers just witnessed a whole galaxy 'turn on the lights' in real-time A Penn State-led research team took spectroscopic measurements of the little red dots to determine what's generating them and discern the distances of the objects. Credit: Bingjie Wang / Penn State / JWST / NIRSpec

The universe is believed to have started some 13.8 billion years ago, shortly thereafter forming the first stars and galaxies in space. Astrophysicists say the light of those initial galactic neighborhoods is still burning, albeit stretched by time and expansion.

The ancient wavelengths exist in infrared, a form of light that human eyes can't see, but that Webb, a collaboration of NASA and the European and Canadian space agencies, was built to detect with its highly sensitive instruments. In that sense, Webb is a time machine, giving scientists a glimpse of the past. 

But these compact galaxies are perplexing to astronomers because they don't comfortably fit in the models for cosmic evolution. They would be about 1,000 times smaller than the Milky Way yet be crowded with about the same number of stars. 

A Northwestern team of scientists believe early galaxies of the universe may appear bright due to irregular bursts of star formation. Credit: Aaron M. Geller / Northwestern / CIERA + IT-RCDS illustration

The galaxies' stars must have formed rapidly, in a way that's new to scientists, in order to be so close together and exist in such an early period, said Joel Leja, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State.

"For whatever reason, the universe stopped making objects like these after just a couple of billion years," he said in a statement. "They are unique to the early universe."

The little red dots were first discovered in 2022. Since then scientists have pored over the data to wring out as much information about the systems as possible. Last October, a separate team led by Northwestern University researchers used advanced computer simulations to assess whether the galaxies could be "bright" without being extremely massive. 

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Their study suggested that small, less-developed galaxies could undergo irregular bursts of star formation, referred to as — and this is not a joke — "bursty star formation." Rather than making stars at a steady clip like the Milky Way does, for instance, these galaxies churn out stars inconsistently, with a proliferation all at once, followed by stagnant periods sometimes stretching millions of years before another so-called burst.

"For whatever reason, the universe stopped making objects like these after just a couple of billion years."

Bursty star formation is common in low-mass galaxies, said Claude-André Faucher-Giguère, a professor of physics and astronomy at Northwestern, though it's unclear why. The thinking is that a burst of stars, all of the same generation, form, then die off in supernovas a few million years later at about the same time. The gas may then get recycled to form new stars. 

But the case is far from closed. The Penn State-led team plans to collect more spectral data from Webb to better understand the star emissions and the potential supermassive black holes, hunting for the specific light signatures that would come from each. 

"We have all these puzzle pieces," Leja said, "and they only fit if we ignore the fact that some of them are breaking."

The official trailer for action comedy "Jackpot!" shows John Cena fight to protect Awkwafina after she becomes a bounty target.

You may be wondering, "Is iOS 18 available for iPhone 11?" As luck would have it, if you have an iPhone 11, your device does, indeed, make the cut for iOS 18.

Of course, iOS 18 is available for newer devices like the iPhone 15, 14, and 13 and 12 series. However, phones like the iPhone 11 series, the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone XR are getting iOS 18 support, too. Plus, if you have an iPhone SE, you can upgrade to iOS 18 — but only if you have the second-generation model or newer.

Still, just because you're getting iOS 18 doesn't mean you're getting all the new features.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: What are the differences? Is iOS 18 available for iPhone 11?

As mentioned, iOS 18 does, indeed, support iPhone 11. But there is a catch.

While you may get iOS 18 features like the redesigned Control Center and the new Dark Look perk, you won't get Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji and ChatGPT integration. These will be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

iPhone 11 will also not get Messages via Satellite, Audio Transcription in Notes, the new eye-tracking accessibility feature, and more. However, if there's any solace, iPhone 11 users will receive the updates to Messages (e.g., tapping back to texts with any emoji and scheduling messages). You can also program certain apps to trigger Face ID authentication with the new ID-authenticated app lock feature.

There are plenty other features that iPhone 11 users can enjoy with iOS 18 — and you can play around with them when Apple officially rolls out the major update to compatible devices later this year.