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SAVE $200: As of Sept. 13, the already budget-friendly Acer Aspire 3 laptop with an Intel Core i5 processor, 12GB RAM, and 512GB of storage is on sale for just $299.99 at Target. That's 40% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Aspire 3 (Intel Core i5, 12GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $299.99 at Target
$499.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

There's nothing wrong with splurging on a fancy laptop if you have the money to blow, but for everyone else, budget-friendly models like the Acer Aspire 3 will do just fine.

As of Sept. 13, the 15.6-inch Acer Aspire 3 with an Intel Core i5 processor, 12GB RAM, and 512GB of storage is on sale for just $299.99 at Target. That's 40% off its usual cost of $499.99.

If you're looking for a machine that can power complex tasks like editing video or gaming with high-end graphics, look elsewhere. The Acer Aspire 3 is for folks who need a basic laptop that can handle basic tasks with ease — from browsing the web to streaming a Netflix show to answering work emails. Our sister site PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed the older AMD model with lower specs their favorite budget laptop. The version on sale at Target gets you a better processor, more memory, and four times the storage on sale for the same price.

This model also packs three USB ports and an HDMI 2.0 port, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and a lightweight body (just 3.75 pounds). The battery life could definitely be better at about nine hours, but that's still plenty of time to complete basic tasks, play games, watch a few episodes of your favorite series, complete an online course, and send a few emails.

A new laptop doesn't need to cost as much as your rent — especially if you're only using it for everyday tasks. Snag the specced out Acer Aspire 3 for just $299.99 while you can.

Whether you’re a seasoned digital nomad with a favorite internet café in every corner of the globe or you’re planning your first trip, working while roaming the world is awesome — and tricky. While your next flight, train, or bus will be late more often than not, your work always has to arrive in your boss’s inbox on time.

Being a successful digital nomad is hard work, and if you want to make enough money to keep traveling, you’ll need to buckle down and, well…work. Let’s get to it with these insider tips on how to get your digital workload done while living the lifestyle you’ve always wanted. Who knows? You might even get paid to travel the world as Shift’s Chief Nomad Officer.

Navigate your WiFi connections

International mobile data plans can be costly. That said, when traveling, your best bet for staying connected with your work team via phone or laptop is almost always a public WiFi connection. 

Before you leave, contact your hotel or coffee shop where you’ll be traveling to confirm they have solid WiFi. Asking about the download speed (100 Mbps should be enough for video calls, FYI) is also smart.

Keep your devices juiced up

Outlets can be hard to find while exploring faraway beaches and jungles, so you’ll want to charge your devices between 80 and 100 percent as much as possible. Packing a lightweight, portable power bank as a backup will also save you a few headaches if you’re venturing off-grid. One with 20,000mAH capability should charge your phone up to three or so times and your laptop at least once, in a pinch.

Use tools that boost productivity

Utilizing digital work tools like Shift, a browser designed to streamline your digital to-do list, allows you to spend more time exploring while on the road. According to The Harvard Review, you can lose up to four hours a week just from toggling between different apps, tabs, and email accounts. 

But when you download and use Shift as your browser, your productivity kicks into high gear. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Shift Shift Browser Free 14-day advanced trial Learn More

The productivity browser allows you to seamlessly access over 1,500 apps, connect all your emails and accounts, and manage everything you need for work, life, or travel from one centralized window. Shift also syncs all your calendars into one streamlined view, so you’ll always know when your next meeting or call from home is across time zones.

Protect your devices from the elements

Safeguarding your phone and laptop with impact-proof covers is a no-brainer, but if you’ll be spending a good chunk of time in a tropical climate, it’s also a good idea to bring silica gel packets, the same ones that get packed into many boxed items. Place the bead packets and your devices into an airtight container at night to absorb moisture and keep your electronics from swelling up.

Get paid to travel as Shift’s Chief Nomad Officer

The best way to dial in the remote work lifestyle from abroad is to get out there and be a digital nomad. Shift is currently looking for one adventurous person to travel the world for a month as the brand’s Chief Nomad Officer, using Shift as their power browser. Shift will pay the Chief Nomad Officer up to $10,000 for travel expenses, and in exchange, the Chief Nomad Officer will create and post content that shows the world how Shift streamlines and empowers their on-the-go lifestyle. Get your passport ready and apply here. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Shift Chief Nomad Officer Get paid to travel the world on behalf of Shift Learn More

Just remember, working while traveling requires thoughtful preparation — but with the right digital tools, like Shift, you can turn any location into a productive workspace. Whether you're managing multiple accounts or balancing work across time zones, Shift streamlines your workflow so you can focus on what matters most: exploring the world while staying on top of your game.

And if you're lucky enough to be Shift’s Chief Nomad Officer, you'll be living proof that with the right setup, the world truly can be your office.

In 'The Killer's Game', Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella have to survive an onslaught of the world's best assassins, including one played by Terry Crews. So we played 'Slash or Pass: Assassins' with them to see who they feel their characters could out-assassin.

Girlhood, in all its pain, wonder, and perplexity, is a complicated business to accurately capture on screen. It's so confusing some times. Relationships between mothers and daughters during adolescence? Same deal. From Lady Bird to Mermaids, coming-of-age films about girls often explore the awkwardness of early sexual experiences alongside the tense, precarious relationships between girls and their mothers.

The debut feature and Sundance Film Festival hit from Indian writer-director Shuchi Talati, Girls Will Be Girls explores this complex time through understated, intense performances from Preeti Panigrahi and Kani Kusruti, respectfully intimate cinematography and editing, and a minimalist, loaded script. It's a stunning, poignant film that lends agency and inquisitive empowerment to its young protagonist, whose "no bullshit" philosophy brings a fresh perspective to portrayals of adolescence.

SEE ALSO: 'Girls Will Be Girls' trailer teases a tale of teen awakening

It's a period of conflict, anxiety, miscommunication, pressure, and misdirected angst. Don't act like you don't remember.

What is Girls Will Be Girls about? Preeti Panigrahi as Mira. Credit: Modern Films

At the core of the film is 16-year-old Mira (Panigrahi), a studious, determined girl whose burgeoning exploration of sexual desire and first love is thrown into confusing, infuriating disarray by her mother Anila (Kusruti), whose own adolescence wasn't as full of such awakenings.

Set in the 1990s, the film introduces Mari as a model student at her conservative boarding school in the Himalayas. She's head prefect, a stickler for the rules, acing her grades, and pulling up other students on their uniform errors. Teachers even trust her with the school keys. But she's quite a solitary person, favouring studies over friendship. When Mira develops a crush on 17-year-old classmate Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron), she's resolved to follow her physical impulses — importantly, on her terms. However, her mother's constant presence frustrates her, impeding her yearning for maturity and experience with Sri (and remember, this is the '90s, so they've got no social media to chat after school on, only parental landlines).

But it goes further than pure supervision. Anila's strange closeness and (let's be real) flirtation with Sri triggers Mira's jealousy and unease, driving an awkward, loaded wedge between mother and daughter. With Talati's simmering script in the hands of the film's extraordinarily talented leads, director of photography Jih-E Peng uses elegant cinematography to amplify both the tension and tenderness between them.

Preeti Panigrahi and Kani Kusruti are magnificent Kani Kusruti as Anila and Preeti Panigrahi as Mira. Credit: Modern Films

Girls Will Be Girls paints an exquisite portrait of complicated mother-daughter mechanics in the teen years, with exceptional performances from Panigrahi and Kusruti. As Mira, Panigrahi imbues her character with confidence, determination, and an unwavering stare. She privately defies societal expectations of teen girls while operating well within their parameters publicly. Meanwhile, Kusruti conceals a dynamic force of a woman within Anila, one protective of her daughter while seemingly mourning a teen awakening of her own.

Despite the main narrative concerning Mira's coming-of-age, the constant tension between her and Anila proves the heart of the film. Mira covertly attempts to buy time for sexual experimentation with Sri, frustrated by her lack of freedom. Anila, craving attention within her own marriage to Mira's perpetually absent father, begins to strangely compete with her daughter whenever Sri is around. A subtle and deeply resentful battle of access and maturity is weighed between mother and daughter, in which Anila constantly takes up the space Mira yearns for.

The thing is, both Mira and Anila know exactly what each other are doing. Every time. They don't directly say what they're thinking about each other, but anyone who's had a mother-daughter relationship will know those looks. Their charged interactions, edited to perfection by Amrita David, radiate with annoyance, loaded comments, and fierce glaring, not directly acknowledging their issues but making their disdain or defiance clear. Panigrahi and Kusruti's performances range from playfulness to suspicion to suppressed rage, all without ever screaming at each other. It's impeccable, and a different kind of anger than explored in Everything Everywhere All At Once but just as palpable. 

Girls Will Be Girls gently explores early sexual experiences without judgment Director of photography Jih-E Peng uses elegant cinematography. Credit: Modern Films

Amid this tension over space and maturity, Girls Will Be Girls gives Mira ample time to embrace and investigate her sexual awakening, an awkward, relatable journey performed with bold courage by Panigrahi and Kiron, and sensitively handled by Talati, Peng, and David.

A true academic, Mira is determined to explore her newfound desires with all the scrutiny of an exam to study for. She's both fascinated by all of it and self-conscious of Sri's experience. Captured with handheld, intimate close ups and sound design, Mira's exploration feels non-judgmental. Talati doesn't seek to either glorify or vilify, letting the camera simply sit on minuscule moments of analysis, closeness, forgiveness, and betrayal.

In a confident, considerate performance from Kiron, Sri channels a maturity beyond his years, unfussed by Anila's concerns and easily assuaging her. And in a world saturated with teen dramas and coming-of-age films where girls are robbed of their agency, Mira's confidence and Sri's respect for her boundaries are incredibly refreshing.

Girls Will Be Girls demonstrates how boys are protected, girls are blamed

Though it's not the main storyline, one of the persistent realities underlining the film is the double standard of how boys and girls' behaviour is considered within the school environment, a place which fosters misogynistic actions when it should be a vital base for unlearning them. Talati contrasts the strict conservatism of the boarding school — the left-right-left marching orders over the opening credits, wide shots of students standing to attention in perfect order at assembly — with both the burgeoning sexual tension between teenagers and the rampant harassment girls suffer from their male classmates.

Male students' abhorrent behaviour is largely allowed to run by the school while female students are blamed — especially for their skirt length. "Be careful with boys," the girls are instructed by their teacher. "Don't talk to them more than necessary. You're getting older, you need to be careful." Talati wields sound as an important tool here, thanks to sound team Carole Verner, Laure Arto, and Colin Favre-Bulle; boys' whispering is easily audible in the silent classrooms and halls, with only the sound of a camera snapping unmasking the act of upskirting.

Whe Mira rejects the advances of her classmate, his vengeance is supported not only by his male peers but the school environment itself. Mira is shamed by her teacher as being "inappropriate" for hanging out with Sri. When Mira endures a terrifying experience, she doesn't call the police or the teachers, she calls Alina. It's through Mira's experiences that Girls Will Be Girls shows how vital education institutions are to fighting these systems of oppression. As Rachel Thompson writes for Mashable, "Tackling male violence means fighting misogyny on a societal level. That means educating boys and men about masculinity, gender roles, male entitlement, and their behaviour towards women and girls in all contexts, public or private."

Ultimately, the film isn't a lecture on this, but instead uses showing not telling to make it clear. Girls Will Be Girls manages to gently but authentically explore the complexities of girlhood through excellent performances, a minimalist script that trusts its actors, and superb, close cinematography. It's a tough job, to find unique ways to explore teen sexuality in cinema, but Talati defines a new perspective with a truly mesmerising film.

Girls Will Be Girls hits cinemas in the U.S. Sept. 13 and in the UK and Ireland on Sept. 20.

Laverne Cox, Joey King, Brianne Tju, Keith Powers and Chase Stokes break down the themes of privilege and choice presented in their new film, 'Uglies.'

"Daily Show" host Jordan Klepper has broken down the hypocrisy of Republican reactions to Taylor Swift's endorsement of Kamala Harris.

This review discusses sexual violence, abuse, and mentions eating disorders. 

Five years after the publication of Lisa Taddeo's bestselling non-fiction book, Three Women, its TV treatment has finally hit the small screen.

Starring She's Gotta Have It's DeWanda Wise, Big Little Lies star Shailene Woodley, GLOW's Betty Gilpin and In My Skin star Gabrielle Creevy, the series — just like Taddeo's book — looks not just at the relatively unexplored and often oversimplified world of female sexuality, but also how women are punished for these desires in a patriarchal world. Taddeo co-wrote the series with Tell Me Lies' Chisa Hutchinson, with House of Cards producer Laura Eason as showrunner.

SEE ALSO: Author Lisa Taddeo on 'Three Women,' sexual desire, and how we judge other women

Similar to the painstaking reportage Taddeo undertook to write her book, Three Women's 10-episode run (each running at roughly an hour) takes a really deep dive into the story, with mixed results. 

What is Three Women about?  Shailene Woodley as Gia (based on Lisa Taddeo). Credit: Starz

The series brings to our screens the stories from the near decade Taddeo spent interviewing three American women about their sexual desires, how society has impacted the way they manifest, and how they feel about expressing them. 

The book was released in 2019 during the height of the #MeToo movement. Taddeo's incredibly in-depth study into three real women – Maggie, Lina, and Sloane — and their bodily, emotional, and sexual desires aligned perfectly with a wider narrative of women demanding to be heard. 

Who plays the Three Women? Gabrielle Creevy as Maggie. Credit: Starz

Creevy plays Maggie, who reflects on an abusive, coercive relationship between herself and her teacher years prior. The series covers said real-life teacher Aaron Knodel's trial, and the misogyny embedded in the justice system, especially when it comes to crimes of sexual violence. Creevy carries the story with a steely innocence, knowing that what happened to her was wrong but often feeling silenced and bullied in response to her efforts to seek justice. 

Wise is striking as Sloane, a restaurant owner and mother who deviates from her husband Richard's (Blair Underwood) rules when it comes to their polyamorous relationship; he predominantly chooses her matches. Sloane struggles with feeling limited without choice, especially when she meets Will (Blair Redford) and forges a new connection — only to be met with slut-shaming comments from different people in her life, including her husband. Wise navigates this performance with warmth, grace, and humour, but balances it with incredibly precise fury when needed — and boy, is it needed. Though Sloane's story is relatively underserved throughout the series, she delivers of the show's most impactful lines about the stigma, guilt and shame around desire: "If [it] makes me a bad person, even if it makes me the worst person, I still want what I want." 

Featured Video For You What hooked Blair Underwood to work on 'Three Women'?

The character of Indiana homemaker Lina is brought to life with soft vulnerability by Gilpin. Lina is left wanting due to the lack of intimacy in her marriage, and starts to seek it elsewhere as desire starts to eat at her. Additionally, she harbours intense, complicated feelings for her high school boyfriend, who neglected her after she was raped as a teenager.

Lina's friendship with writer Gia (a character played by Woodley and based on Taddeo, who is expanded upon considerably in the TV series) is fraught, intense, and dysfunctional — a source of support but also codependence. Woodley's Gia is compelling, as she navigates grief from losing her parents at a young age, as well as other fertility and health issues while fighting to finish her book before she runs out of money. Her portrayal of these issues is important, and devastating at points, but ultimately detracts from the stories of the three women that Taddeo so carefully and artfully portrayed in her book.

How does the Three Women TV adaptation hold up? DeWanda Wise and Blair Underwood as Sloane and Richard. Credit: Starz

In the book, Taddeo switches perspectives between chapters to hear from the different women, but in the show, the hour-long episodes make the switching difficult to follow and for the viewer to feel close to each story. Each woman’s account requires time and sensitivity, and these jarring roadblocks don't allow time to sit with the complexities of their sex lives. A key issue with Three Women is honouring the dramatisation of these true stories without veering into documentary territory, or stretching out the narrative too much. Three Women is, unfortunately, at times guilty of the latter.

It makes sense to flesh out more of Taddeo’s book in a 10-episode TV series, but it also results in us spending episodes away from each story, meaning narratives as intense as Maggie's disappear from our screen for too long. Maggie's story explores a much darker area of grooming, consent, and abuse. We witness her teacher's use of love-bombing and manipulation in haunting scenes in episode 8 (fittingly named "Twilight"), where the show explores the role of novels like Stephenie Meyer's romanticise abusive power dynamics.

We also see the appalling ways that survivors are treated when they report such abuse, with Maggie being asked what she wore when she was around Knodel, as well as endless interrogations around her own morality. Like the 2020 TV series A Teacher, which also offered a nuanced portrayal of teacher-student grooming, Maggie's story stands as a poignant example of how feelings of desire can be manipulated.

Three Women covers myriad aspects of female health issues, sexuality, and desire on screen Betty Gilpin as Lina. Credit: Starz

That being said, while the pacing and characterisation choices might detract from the wider story, and the show is still ultimately limited in whose story gets to be told, Three Women does try to cover more variation on the female sexual experience than shows that precede it.

Through the series' many, many sex scenes, we see examples of stealthing (an act of sexual violence when someone either lies about putting a condom on or removes it without the other person's permission), period sex, as well as masturbation. It brings into sharp relief the acute, overwhelming nature of desire, causing us to reflect on the ways that society often shames women for these feelings. By seeing these cravings up close, as well as the way women are often violated by men's desire, we are confronted with the realities of the female sexual experience – both the liberating and the damaging.  

When it comes to the duty Three Women pays to the stories told about women's bodies, we also see the debilitating impact of endometriosis pain and the dismissive nature of both Lina's husband and medical professionals about it. We also see Sloane's grappling with an eating disorder as well as the aftermath of a miscarriage. 

So often, the stories told around women’s bodies, as well as on-screen portrayals of female desire, feel either sanitised, romanticised, or one-dimensional, leaving out the nuance, messiness, and guilt that come with living in a patriarchal society. Three Women hits back against this norm.

Three Women is ultimately an empowering watch Shailene Woodley as Gia. Credit: Starz

What's refreshing about Three Women isn't just its close look at so many areas of the sexual and desire spectrums for women, but also its focus on different women's walks of life. While Sex and the City and Girls, for example, portrayed sexual exploration from a specifically metropolitan, New York City-centric, white point of view, Taddeo's characters are based on real-life women from middle parts of America, including North Dakota and Indiana. The result is a more holistic portrayal of women's sex lives — though it must be pointed out, three of the four lead actors are white women.

Ultimately, Three Women is about feeling heard and hearing others. All three women express the empowerment they feel at telling their story to someone, and Gia is empowered by hearing them. As Sloane tells Gia, "I'm tired of stories of women not winning." 

It's debatable whether any of the women "win" in a wider sense – but perhaps their stories being told, and the people the TV series will touch as a result, is a victory in itself.

How to watch: Three Women is now streaming on Starz.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

If you feel like you’d like to talk to someone about your eating behavior, text "NEDA" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected with a trained volunteer or visit the National Eating Disorder Association website for more information.

In Season 5, Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries" is looking into one of the biggest cases of all: the Roswell incident.

I don't know what Sabrina Carpenter put in her "Espresso" tune to make it so addicting, but on the new AirPods 4, it sounds like it's been brewed to perfection.

To give you some background, the entry-level AirPods have always been sans active noise cancellation (ANC). If you wanted to block unwanted noise, you'd have to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2.

But then, the Cupertino-based tech giant dropped the fourth-generation AirPods on Sept. 9 at the "Glowtime" Apple event. In other words, the new AirPods 4 are now more "Pro" than ever. Not only do they have ANC, but they also have Conversation Awareness, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive Audio.

You may be wondering, "Is the ANC on the new AirPods 4 any good?" Let me walk you through my brief experience with them.

SEE ALSO: Apple gets FDA green light on AirPods Pro hearing aid mode Apple AirPods 4 hands-on

I had an opportunity to demo the new AirPods 4, and before I popped the earbuds in, I feared that they wouldn't fit.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I was one of those 'Is there something wrong with me?' AirPods users who had to purchase ear hooks to supplement my first-generation AirPods Pro because they kept falling out. (It seemed like everyone else had their AirPods Pro secured, but because my ears are an anomaly, I had trouble keeping them in.)

However, to my surprise, the AirPods 4 fit super snug. Shaking, tilting and bobbling my head, the AirPods didn’t move an inch. How could this be?

Secure fit

Apple said that it analyzed thousands of ear shapes and over 50 million data points using advanced technology to design a more secure and precise fit (for most people) on the AirPods 4. And let me tell you, whatever Apple did during its analysis, it worked — for me at least.

I've got a set of unusual ears, and despite their weird, atypical shape, the AirPods 4 had a tight fit in my canal without taking a tumble.

Active noise cancellation is surprisingly good

Next, I fired up one of my favorite songs of the year: Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso." There was a white noise simulation in the demo room, similar to the drone of an airplane, and then I turned on active noise cancellation.

Whoa!

It was as if the noisy world around me disappeared, allowing Carpenter's sugary sweet vocals to take center stage. Even if you're not in a crowded room nor a noisy street, you don't realize how cacophonous your surroundings are until you turn on ANC. From the tick-tock of a nearby clock and distant traffic to the hum of an air conditioner to the buzz of a refrigerator motor, these environmental sounds negatively affect the immersion of your listening experience.

"Espresso" already sounds like a warm vanilla brew with a frothy finish, but with ANC on, it felt like Carpenter was serenading me in a cozy soundproof café while I sipped on a pumpkin spice latte.

Why was I blown away? Well, for starters, it's darn-near unheard of to find ANC in an open-ear design like the entry-level AirPods. The AirPods Pro 2, for example, have silicon tips that create a tight seal in consumers' ears, making it easier to block external sounds alongside ANC technology.

But open-ear designs like the AirPods 4 are tricky because they don't fully seal your ears, leaving 'em somewhat exposed. However, Apple managed to pull it off, thanks to a mélange of upgraded microphones, the H2 processor, and cutting-edge computational audio.

I'm eager to put the AirPods 4 to the test in more challenging environments, like airports, for example. The AirPods Max, in my opinion, are the best active noise cancellation headphones. It's unlikely that the AirPods 4 will be able to compete with the AirPods Max, but I'm curious to see whether it could be a portable alternative with some trade-offs.

The AirPods 4 come in two models: one with ANC and one without. AirPods 4 with ANC costs $179 via Best Buy while the model without it will set you back $129.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly gedeon / Mashable Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $179.99 at Best Buy
Pre-Order Here

Apple's Vision Pro has a way of showing the world a virtual version of you while you interact with others in virtual reality. Unfortunately, this very feature – called Persona – could've been used by hackers to steal a Vision Pro user's sensitive data.

The security flaw was discovered by a group of six computer scientists from the University of Florida's Department of Computer Science, and it was first reported on by Wired.

The GAZEploit attack, as it was dubbed by the researchers, works by tracking the eye movements of a user's Persona to identify when they're typing something on the Vision Pro's virtual keyboard. The researchers discovered that users tend to direct their gaze onto specific keys that they're about to click, and were able to construct an algorithm that identified what the users were typing. The results were quite accurate; for example, the researchers were able to identify the correct letters of users' passwords 77 percent of the time. When it came to detecting what people were typing in a message, the results were accurate 92 percent of the time.

The researchers disclosed the vulnerability to Apple back in April, and Apple fixed it in visionOS 1.3, which came out in July. In the release notes, Apple says that the flaw enabled inputs to the virtual keyboard to be inferred from Persona.

"The issue was addressed by suspending Persona when the virtual keyboard is active," Apple wrote in the release notes. Vision Pro users who haven't yet updated to the latest version are advised to do so as soon as possible.

While simply disabling Persona while the user is typing was a pretty simple fix, the flaw does raise the question of just how much info a malicious hacker could infer just by observing a virtual version of you.

SEE ALSO: Apple Vision Pro: I watched a Billie Eilish concert in Bora Bora — and I didn't need to spend a penny

The researchers said that the attack hasn't been used against someone using Personas in the real world. But what makes this attack particularly dangerous is that it only requires a video recording of someone's Persona while the person was typing, meaning an attacker could still use it on an older video. It seems that the only way to mitigate this issue is to erase any publicly available videos where your Persona is visible while typing; we've reached out to Apple for clarification on what can be done to protect your data.

Welcome to our 100th episode!

As threats to his personal safety have become graver, the world’s richest man has barricaded himself behind a phalanx of bodyguards that operates like a mini-Secret Service.

Foldable phones aren’t exactly new on the market, but — as an iPhone user gradually being lured over to Android — I was pretty excited when I first heard about the Motorola Razr+. Previous editions of the Razr caught my attention when they were first announced, but lackluster reviews had me hesitating. Yes, I used (and loved) my Razr V3 back in high school, but a foldable phone in 2024? It seemed more like a gimmick than genuinely useful, but the updated Razr+ had me intrigued, so I decided to try it out for myself. 

Using a foldable phone for the first time is weird

Straight out of the box, the 2023 Motorola Razr+ was a bit bigger than I expected. It’s more elongated than other smartphones I’ve seen — it’s over an inch longer than my iPhone 11 Pro, despite being nearly identical in width — which makes it feel slightly awkward in the hand. It’s also longer than other foldable phones I’ve seen on the market, like the 5.67-inch Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, despite having similar widths and identical thicknesses. 

This phone is loooong. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

Folded, however, the Razr+ is a portable dream. It’s a slim 0.59 inches closed, making it easy to slip into any pocket, and I was shocked by how much I liked the form factor from the get-go. Is it weird the first time you fold it? Absolutely. But is it sturdy and durable? Surprisingly, yes. 

The external display is also an immediate win, especially given its upgraded size. The 2023 Razr+ boasts a 3.6-inch pOLED display along with a 6.9-inch FHD+ flexible AMOLED main display, both of which are colorful, bright, and responsive. The device itself runs on Android 13, and — with 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM — the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor makes this phone fast and fun. 

The Motorola Razr+ helped me cut down my screen time

When I first heard about foldable phones, I had a sneaking suspicion that I would like them. Using the Motorola Razr+ proved me right…and then some. Not only is it incredibly portable and convenient, but the external display changed how I interacted with my phone on a regular basis. While you can customize the apps on the external display, I chose to limit what I placed on that screen, and I basically turned it into a modified “dumb phone.” 

Look at that pink!! Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

I could read text messages, make calls, view my calendar, listen to Spotify, and check the weather…but anything else required opening the phone itself. As a result, my phone usage plummeted. I wasn’t scrolling on social media, watching YouTube videos, or playing games as much as I used to, which made the Razr+ a much-appreciated companion to my work-from-home life. 

The external display has clutch benefits

Even for those who aren’t trying to cut down on their screen time, the upgraded external display is wicked cool for a few other reasons. Not only is it almost a full inch bigger than the 2022 Razr, but that extra space actually makes sense. You can watch videos, play games, make payments, check email, and more — and it’s easy to customize the external display to your own preferences. 

No more finding a ledge or scrounging for a book to prop your phone up for photo ops. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

Beyond that, one of my favorite features was the ability to use the external display as an image preview for the back camera. Not only did it make taking selfies a breeze, but — as someone whose partner isn’t the best at taking flattering photos — I loved being able to pass him the phone, view the photo before he captured it, and adjust accordingly. Add in the ability to bend the phone at a 90-degree angle and place it on any surface without needing a stand or tripod? I can absolutely understand how a foldable phone is worth the hype, especially for content creators on the go. 

The camera left something to be desired

While I loved how the external display changed the game when it came to taking photos or recording video, I found myself disappointed with one major area: the camera quality itself.

First things first, I’m definitely not an expert in this area. I have a background in portrait photography, so I know how to capture a great photo, but camera specs definitely aren’t my forte. However, I did some research and found that other users were similarly frustrated with the Razr+. It’s not that the camera quality is bad, but it’s just…OK.

The Motorola Razr+ (2023) comes with two rear cameras — a 12MP (f/1.5, 1.4µm) primary camera with optical image stabilization, as well as a 13MP ultra-wide (f.2/2, 1.12µm) — and a 32MP (f/2.4, 0.7 µm) front camera. There’s also an overwhelmingly large amount of camera software built in — including dual capture, live filters, auto night vision, pro mode, Google Lens integration, and more — but while some of it was fun to play with, none of it really wowed me. 

Are the photos better than my old iPhone 11 Pro? Absolutely. But are they anywhere near as good as other smartphones on the market? Not in my opinion. 

The video quality, in particular, was my biggest gripe. Even in good lighting, none of the cameras did a great job of capturing detail on my face, so my features were ever-so-slightly blurred. I tried switching to 4K — and snapped a quick selfie in the same lighting, which looked fantastic — but nothing seemed to work. Did it have great color balance? Yes. Was the sound quality better? Absolutely. However, I still found myself reaching for my iPhone to record video, especially if I was posting on TikTok.  

I’m not sure the Razr+ can replace my iPhone

Unfortunately, those weren’t my only issues with the Razr+. The phone runs a little hot, the built-in speakers aren’t great, and the 3800 mAh battery doesn’t quite last as long as I’d hoped with heavy use. That being said, I did find myself using this phone less than normal — which was a huge plus in my book — so I was able to make the battery life stretch simply because I wasn’t on my phone as often. 

For me, flip phones aren't fully back. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable Is the Motorola Razr+ worth it?

For casual users — or diehard fans of foldable phones — it’s definitely worth considering. Retailing at $999 (and frequently on sale), it’s definitely a better phone than any of its predecessors, enough so that it feels like a worthy opponent to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5. The upgraded external display is fantastic, the phone itself is reliable and easy to use, and it comes in super fun colors, like the iconic viva magenta. 

If you’re on the fence, or if you’re looking for a fantastic camera, then you might want to look elsewhere. It’s not that the 2023 Motorola Razr+ is bad, it’s just…not great, either. It’s a solid phone with some solid specs, but it’s solid — not spectacular. If solid is OK with you? Go for it. If you’re looking for spectacular, this probably isn’t it. 

Motorola Razr+ (2023) $599.99 at Amazon
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There's a deceptive simplicity to Flow. The premise of this animated film seems familiar: A motley band of animals join together to survive a terrible threat. But part of what makes co-writer/director Gints Zilbalodis' outing so sensational is its gentle rejection of American cartoon cliches. 

While the premise of this movie might sound like Madagascar, Ice Age, A Bug's Life, or Zootopia or any number of cutesy, kid-focused animated adventures, Flow refuses to turn its animals into wacky characters, perfectly suited for lunch boxes and plush toys. Zilbalodis' hairy heroes don't have big googly eyes or sport spiffy clothes. They aren't voiced by A-lister actors. They don't speak a human language at all. This gaggle of critters mew or moan or cluck or chitter. And they move not with an anthropomorphic flare, but with a realistic anatomy and act as their real-life cohorts might. 

While Zilbalodis strives for authenticity in the physicality of his creatures, he rejects the photorealism of — for instance — Disney's "live-action" remake of The Lion King. Instead, he creates Flow with a digital painting style that leans into the abstract. Every hair or feather or scale will not be dedicatedly rendered to awe the audience with the endeavor. His animals are made up of splotches of color that shift in light and shadow, effectively grounding them in an uncertain world that is wondrous, dangerous, and all theirs. 

A breathtakingly beautiful to behold film, Flow tells a story that might well enchant children with its cuddly heroes, but it will rattle grown-ups who can understand the cause for their deadly dilemma. 

Flow is a wordless tale of climate crisis. 

This gorgeous film, which has been selected as Latvia's submission for the Best International Feature Oscar, begins following a little black cat as it putters around a forest looking for food. Little clues suggest this has not always been an outdoor cat, like the cozy cabin surrounded by lovingly carved wooden statues of the feline's likeness. But like the discarded tools and empty bed, the cat has been abandoned by whatever human once lived here. And in this regard, he's not alone. 

SEE ALSO: How do we navigate climate disinformation online?

A pack of dogs made up of a mix of breeds frolic around the forest, learning how to clumsily catch fish in a nearby stream. It's as if a dog park party went stray. But as Flow progresses and its animals come upon more and more handcrafted trinkets and architecture in ruins, it becomes clear this beguiling film is set in post-human times. Another major hint to this setting is the massive wall of water that forces the animals of the forest to flee to higher ground, and eventually onto deserted boats. 

Flow is a parable of reluctant teamwork.  Credit: Courtesy of TIFF

The little cat scrambles onto a battered sailboat, where it is riled to discover a resting capybara. Reluctantly, the cat realizes this big but gentle rodent is no threat, and a motley crew of sailors begins to come together. A yammering lemur, whose tendency toward gathering baubles can be a risky compulsion, joins up. A majestic crane takes hold of the rudder. A tongue-wagging Golden Retriever hops aboard, eager to make new friends. 

There's an elegant pleasure in watching these unlikely animal friends grow close, and it's impossible to overlook Zilbalodis' dedication in keeping true to their natures. He doesn't cheat these moments of growth; there's pleasantly predictable bickering as the animals collide with each other's quirks. For instance, the lemur lovingly lays out his loot on the boat's seat, which attracts the cat, who naturally swats a treasure to the ground, much to the lemur's annoyance. But as moments of crisis — be it a predator on the horizon or an obstacle in their path — arise, these animals snap to attention and slowly but surely learn to trust each other. 

Visually, it's richly rewarding, as Zilbalodis paints a pretty world destroyed and yet alive with hope and hard-won harmony. It's heart-warming, as we witness these creatures (who are in some cases natural enemies) band together not just for a common goal, but ultimately a common bond. And because Zilbalodis rejects so many expectations of animated animals — from their appearance to their movements and their noises — Flow has an exciting spontaneity, as if truly anything could happen. And what ultimately does is epic and emotional. 

Refusing to pander to its audience, Flow is an animated adventure that is poignant, unique, absolutely gorgeous, and a must-see. While it should safely snag that Best International Feature spot, the American studios should be more worried about its chances in Best Animated Feature. 

Flow was reviewed out of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will open in theaters in the U.S. on Nov. 22.

The most volcanic world in our solar system has sprouted a new volcano. And its lava flows are enormous.

Jupiter's molten moon Io has been surveyed by a number of passing spacecraft, allowing planetary scientists to see changes on the surface. Recently, NASA's Juno mission made the closest swings by Io in two decades. The 2024 views show a dynamic volcano where, just decades ago, there was a featureless region.

"Our recent JunoCam images show many changes on Io, including this large, complicated volcanic feature that appears to have formed from nothing since 1997," Michael Ravine, the advanced projects manager at Malin Space Science Systems, which operates the spacecraft's JunoCam instrument, said in a statement. The discovery was just presented at the 2024 Europlanet Science Congress.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Prodigious amounts of lava have clearly poured from this new volcano; you can see it running to the left of the vent in two potent streams some 100 kilometers (62 miles) long. The lava, overlain over a map of the city of Berlin in another graphic below, would dominate a large swathe of Germany. Where the lava flows end and have pooled, intense heat from the molten rock created those two gray circles when frozen surface material vaporized into space.

NASA's Galileo spacecraft captured the black and white image in 1997, and Juno's views are from February 2024. The entirety of the volcanic feature sprawls over an area about 180 km by 180 km (112 miles by 112 miles).

On left: Galileo spacecraft imagery from 1997. On right: Juno spacecraft imagery from 2024. The feature on right is the new volcano with accompanying lava flows. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS The new volcano recently spotted on Io's surface. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Europlanet

Io is blanketed in erupting volcanoes because it's relentlessly locked in a tug-of-war between nearby objects, including the colossal Jupiter. "Not only is the biggest planet in the solar system forever pulling at it gravitationally, but so are Io’s Galilean siblings — Europa and the biggest moon in the solar system, Ganymede," NASA explained in a statement. "The result is that Io is continuously stretched and squeezed, actions linked to the creation of the lava seen erupting from its many volcanoes."

The new Io volcano and lava flows overlaid on Berlin, Germany. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Europlanet / Google Maps

This volcanic world, an object a little bigger than Earth's moon, is blanketed in hundreds of volcanoes and ceaselessly erupting. The first-ever observations of Io, captured by the pioneering Voyager 1 craft, spotted at least eight different active volcanoes. The most recent flybys in 2023 and early 2024 spotted nine plumes from volcanoes.

It's a vicious world, inhospitable to life. And beneath its volcanic surface, it may harbor a sea of magma.

TL;DR: Watch Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next WNBA fixture is coming up and the latest teams to the court are the Connecticut Sun and the Phoenix Mercury. Both teams have secured postseason spots, and will be looking to improve their positioning in the remaining matches.

To watch the Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.

When is Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury?

Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Sept. 13. This fixture takes place at the Footprint Center In Phoenix, Arizona.

How to watch Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury

You can watch Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury with the WNBA League Pass. But keep in mind that the WNBA League Pass might not live stream locally televised games in the participating teams' local areas.

However, you can get around this with just a few simple steps. You'll need to use a VPN, a tool that works by hiding your real IP address and connecting you to secure servers in other locations. This means you can watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 free from throttling

• 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 Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next WNBA fixture is coming up and the latest teams to the court are the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx. Both teams have secured their postseason spot and will now be looking to improve their positioning.

To watch the Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.

When is Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx?

Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 13. This fixture takes place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

How to watch Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx

You can watch Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx with the WNBA League Pass. However, it's worth keeping in mind that the WNBA League Pass might not live stream locally televised games in the participating teams' local areas.

You can get around this with just a few simple steps, however. You'll need to use a VPN, a tool that works by hiding your real IP address and connecting you to secure servers in other locations. This means you can watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 free from throttling

• 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 Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Seattle Storm vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next WNBA fixture is coming up and the latest teams to the court are the Seattle Storm and Dallas Wings. The Seattle Storm have already clinched their playoff spot, and are currently in fifth position. However, it's all over for the Dallas Wings who have been eliminated from the post season.

To watch the Seattle Storm vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.

When is Seattle Storm vs. Dallas Wings?

Seattle Storm vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 13. This fixture takes place at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

How to watch Seattle Storm vs. Dallas Wings

You can watch this latest fixture with the WNBA League Pass. But keep in mind that the WNBA League Pass might not live stream locally televised games in the participating teams' local areas.

You can bypass these restrictions with just a few simple steps. You'll need to use a VPN, a tool that works by hiding your real IP address and connecting you to secure servers in other locations. This means you can watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 free from throttling

• 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 Seattle Storm vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Get this comprehensive ethical hacking bundle on sale for $39.97 (reg. $1,098) through September 29 and learn everything from Python to social engineering.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle $39.97
$1,098.00 Save $1,058.03 Get Deal

Cybersecurity is a fast-moving field, and ethical hacking is your gateway to understanding how to protect systems from real-world attacks.

This all-encompassing ethical hacking course bundle is packed with expert-led courses designed to take you from beginner to pro — all while staying hands-on and practical. From building your own tools in Python to testing wireless networks, this bundle covers all the bases for a budding ethical hacker. Through September 29, you can score lifetime access to all of it for just $39.97.

One course worth mentioning is Hacking Wireless Networks. You’ll dive deep into WiFi hacking techniques used by professionals, uncovering vulnerabilities in wireless networks and learning how to secure them. With more than 50 lectures and access to all the necessary tools, you’ll be equipped to understand the vulnerabilities of modern WiFi environments and how to mitigate them.

If you’re curious about how to break into secure systems, the Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing course gives you a hands-on approach to finding and exploiting weaknesses. You’ll work through everything from cracking passwords to taking control of vulnerable systems, all while learning the theory behind each attack — making it easier to apply these skills in real-life situations.

Another course, Hack People, Systems and Mobile Devices, offers an in-depth look at social engineering. You’ll use tools and techniques that professionals rely on, getting the full picture of how to protect against these crafty attacks.

Whether you’re new to the field or looking to sharpen your skills, this comprehensive collection will help you become an ethical hacking pro.

Priced at $39.97 until September 29, this extensive ethical hacking course bundle is packed with value for anyone serious about cybersecurity. 

Curious about other privacy and security deals? Shop here.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a 3-pack of RGB LED app-controlled floor lamps for $139.97 (reg. $299.97) through September 29 and bring custom lighting to your home for less.

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 56-inch RGB LED App-Enabled Remote Floor Lamp (3-Pack) $139.97
$299.99 Save $160.02 Get Deal

After a long day, the last thing you want is harsh lighting ruining the vibe of your relaxing evening. Or maybe you’re hosting friends and need your space to feel a bit more lively — either way, basic lamps might not cut it anymore.

Through September 29, get three 56-inch RGB LED app-enabled remote floor lamps for just $139.97 (reg. $299.99) to help you create a space that fits your style, mood, and activities.

With over 16 million colors to choose from, these floor lamps let you set the mood exactly how you want it. Whether you’re going for a relaxing evening vibe, an energizing workout atmosphere, or a fun, party-ready glow, these lamps do it all. Control the lights through a smartphone app or a handy remote, making adjustments as easy as a tap.

The lamps also offer customizable brightness and lighting effects, so you can switch from soft, subtle tones to dynamic, pulsating colors to suit any occasion. Sync the lighting to your music for a next-level experience, or choose from preset modes for quick customization.

Designed to be sleek and minimal, these lamps fit into any corner, making them perfect for apartment-dwellers or homeowners looking to avoid permanent fixtures.

At $139.97 for three, these RGB LED floor lamps gives you full control over your home’s ambiance without the hefty price tag.

StackSocial prices subject to change.