Feed aggregator

SAVE $15: As of today, Aug. 26, you can grab the Amazon Kindle for just $84.99 at Amazon. The sale price saves shoppers 15%, taking it down from $99.99 to $84.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle $84.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

Whether you're a library card carrier or someone who wants to get back into reading, the Amazon Kindle puts a whole world of books into the palm of your hand. Just in time for back to school and cozy fall days, the e-reader has hit a pretty competitive price.

Today on Amazon, shoppers can score the basic Amazon Kindle for just $84.99. This saves shoppers $15 (or 15%) of the original price of $99.99. Today's price of $84.99 is only $10 more than the e-reader's lowest-ever price.

With a 6-inch display size, this model is the lightest, most compact e-reader in the Amazon Kindle family. Like all Kindles, it has a glare-free, paper-like display that mimics the experience of reading a classic book. Since the Kindle is an e-reader and e-reader only, you don't have to worry about annoying notifications disrupting your reading like you would on any other tablet. We also appreciate the Kindle's extended battery life: a single charge can last up to 6 weeks.

Jumpstart your reading goals when you shop the Amazon Kindle for just $84.99 today at Amazon.

The iPhone 16 buzz is getting louder and louder as we approach its reported announcement date of Sept. 10. As someone who's been tracking the iPhone 16 rumor mill all year, there are dozens of credible rumors about the iPhone 16.

But the question is, which rumors will likely get the masses to upgrade?

I've decided to round up five new rumored features across the iPhone 16 — including iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max — that may get you to ditch your phone in favor of Apple's next-gen smartphone.

iPhone 16: 5 new features that may be worth the upgrade

Many iPhone users are often interested in camera quality and top-of-the-line shooter features. After all, Apple is known for putting a lot of effort into tweaking and upgrading its camera system, which is often praised for its crisp and clean photos.

That being said, you'll likely be happy to know that the iPhone 16 will have a new button that will make accessing your favorite camera features easier.

1. New capture button

Apple is reportedly placing a new capture button on all four iPhone 16 models.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a reliable leaker and Apple analyst, it will allow you to conveniently do the following:

• Use a swiping gesture to zoom in and out while shooting photos and videos

• Use a pressing gesture for triggering autofocus

And per a report from Apple Insider, it may be able to do the following as well:

• Cycle through filters

• Adjust the exposure

• Tweak the degree of background blur

It will be reportedly located on the lower-right side of the phones. Plus, it will likely be capacitive. In other words, it won't have a physical button that will require you to push it down to actuate. It will simply require a finger touch. (It will likely feature some haptics so you know it's been "activated.")

2. New 48-megapixel ultrawide lens

This feature is exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models. Their predecessors, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, had a 12MP ultrawide shooter.

This time around, according to Jeff Pu, a reliable tech analyst from a Hong Kong investment firm, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models will feature a brand-spankin' new 48-megapixel ultrawide lens. This should lead to better wide-field-of-view photos. So whether you're taking photos of stunning landscapes, group shots, or creative perspectives, the iPhone 16 Pro models' pictures should offer more detail, and according to Pu, better light gathering in dimmer environments.

3. Thinner bezels

The iPhone 16 Pro models will reportedly have world-record breaking feature.

Tweet may have been deleted

According to popular X (formerly Twitter) tipster Ice Universe, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models will have the narrowest bezels of any mobile phone.

4. New 'Desert Titanium' color

Among users who have been crossing their fingers for a new bronze iPhone, your wish will be granted in the form of an iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Tweet may have been deleted

According to rumors, Apple is ditching last year's Blue Titanium color for a new bronze-like hue called "Desert Titanium."

5. Improved Night Mode

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 16 Pro models (i.e., iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max) will have a new "stacked design" on the rear cameras.

Without getting into the weeds of this technical upgrade, Kuo claims that a stacked design increases light capture and offers improved dynamic range. As a result, Night Mode is expected to get a sweet boost.

If you're curious to see more of an exhaustive list of all the new features coming to the new iPhone 16, check out our iPhone 16 rumor hub.

The authorities in the Netherlands said the ride-hailing company had violated European data protection laws when it sent sensitive information to the United States.

TikTok creator Jool Lebron popularized the viral phrase "very demure, very mindful." But she isn't the person getting the trademark.

Jefferson Bates, a Washington State man who appears not to be very demure or mindful, filed to trademark the phrase. According to legal documents obtained by NBC News and TMZ, Bates filed the request but did not name Lebron in the application.

In a since-deleted video on TikTok, Lebron said she "dropped the ball" on not trademarking it sooner.

Tweet may have been deleted

"I’ve just invested so much money and time into this," Lebron said in a TikTok video that Pop Crave posted on X before Lebron deleted it. "And I feel like I did it wrong. I feel like I didn’t try hard enough. I wanted this to do so much for my family and provide for my transition, and I just feel like I dropped the ball. Like, I feel like I fucked up, and someone else has it now. I don’t even know what I could’ve done better because I didn’t have the resources."

SEE ALSO: 'Very mindful, very demure' creator Jools Lebron can finance her transition thanks to the trend

However, whether or not the trademark application is approved, Lebron lives in an entirely different world today than before her phrase went viral. She now has over two million followers on TikTok and has skyrocketed to internet fame. Lebron has seen a lot of success from the viral phrase, including appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, creating videos with Verizon and Southwest Airlines, and earning enough money to help finance her transition.

Still, not having the trademark for the phrase "very demure, very mindful " could halt some of that influx of money. If the trademark application is approved, she won't be able to legally make and sell merchandise, for instance.

Not very demure. Not very mindful.

The new tariffs announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will match levies imposed by President Biden and could further strain relations between Canada and China.

Having a reliable, high-quality pair of headphones is an absolute must: whether you're traveling, working out, commuting, or simply enjoying your favorite music and podcasts in your downtime, a good pair of headphones helps you block out the world and focus. This week, we're seeing noteworthy deals on noise-cancelling headphones, AirPods, and more.

Take a look at this week's best headphones deals: Best noise-canceling headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Headphones $349 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best budget headphones deal Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones $49.99 at Amzaon (save $10) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) Wireless Ear Buds $89 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal

As the week of Aug 26 kicks off, we're already seeing major deals on popular headphones, including Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling headphones reaching their lowest-ever price. However, there are plenty of other affordable headphones and earbuds on the market as well. Whether you're looking for a budget pair of headphones to score for less than $100 or you're ready to splurge, there are deals this week for every shopper.

Best noise-canceling headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Our pick: Bose QuietComfort Headphones $349.00 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This month, Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling headphones have been hanging out on Amazon at their lowest-ever price of $329. While this deal has been active for some time, we don't know how long it's going to continue. So, if you're considering splurging on the premium headphones, we recommend claiming the $80 in savings before it's gone. Along with three different noise-cancellation modes, these headphones tout spatial audio features, a 24-hour battery life, and design features like soft ear cushions and a pressure-evening band that create utmost comfort.

Best budget headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Our pick: Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones $49.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Don't want to spend that much on a new pair of headphones? No problem. You can grab a budget pair of noise-cancelling headphones for less than $50 this week thanks to Amazon's deal on Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones. At just $49.99, these over-ear headphones are cheap without being cheaply made. They have a 40-60 hour battery life depending on which mode it's in, and feature BassUp technology that identifies lower frequencies and amplifies them. Plus, according to the brand's research, the headphones reduce ambient noise by up to 90%.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple AiPods $89.00 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to quality earbuds, Apple AirPods are a timeless staple. This week, you can score a 2nd Generation pair for just $89 at Amazon - saving you $40. They're powered by the Apple H1 chip, which enables them to deliver rich, powerful sound. Plus, with the charging case, they offer 24 hours of playtime. AirPods are an especially great pick for those who have a lot of active devices: after an initial one-tap setup with your devices, AirPods are always connected. This means that sound can seamlessly switch between your iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, iPad, and Apple TV depending on what you're using.

More of this week's best headphones deals:

• Sony WF-C700N Truly Wireless Noise Canceling in-Ear Bluetooth Earbud Headphones — $98 $119.99 (save $21.99)

• JBL Tune Buds — $49.95 $99.95 (save $50)

• JBL Vibe Beam — $29.95 499.95 (save $20)

• Soundcore by Anker Space A40 Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $59 $79.99 (save $20.99)

• Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20)

• SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds Pro 2 — $99.95 $217.17 (save $117.22)

• Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones Bluetooth On-Ear Headset — $38 $59.99 (save $21.99)

• JBL Tune 510BT — $29.95 $39.95 (save $10)

• Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation — $44.99 $119.99 (save $75)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones — $248 $348 (save $100)

• Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones — $98 $149.99 (save $51.99)

Turning night into day is something big meteors can do, but it might (one day) become as easy as firing up an app and tapping a spot on the map.

Reflect Orbital is a California-based startup that aims to sell sunlight and energy after the sun has set. They're doing it by sending a big mirror into space, aboard a satellite that's able to point said mirror in such a way to reflect the sun's light onto a precise location on Earth.

The startup isn't new; the company's founder and CEO Ben Nowack introduced it in April this year, during the International Conference on Energy from Space conference. "We want to make it as easy as possible — like, log into a website, tell us your GPS coordinates and we get you some sunlight after dark," he said at the time.

What's new, however, is the company's website, which now shows what using Reflect Orbital's services could look like in a very palpable, exciting way. On the site, you're prompted to "reserve a spot of light," with delivery beginning in "Q4 2025" (and applications closing in October). You can also move your cursor around a map to shine a spot of sunlight on a particular location.

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

A video, posted by Nowack on X, appears to show how this could work in practice. He uses an app to pinpoint a location on a map, and once he hits it, the actual, physical space he's standing on is illuminated. The camera turns up, and you can see a light shining from above.

Tweet may have been deleted

There's something magical about the idea of having the power to bring actual sunlight to a location just by moving your finger around a virtual app. But is it actually possible? Is it smart to do? And would it really look exactly as portrayed in the video?

Probably not, at least not in the near future. Nowack himself later tweeted that the video was a "simple demonstration," with "still lots of work ahead" of the company. He doesn't make it clear where the light source in the video is coming from, like perhaps a drone (we asked Ben, and we will update the article when we hear back). But we do know that the company tested its mirrors on a hot air balloon, but hasn't got any satellites in space yet. In a video dated July 2024, Reflect's founders said they plan to launch their "first very large deployable reflector" in the next "four to five months," with getting that to space being "the next step."

Tweet may have been deleted

Despite the fact that the video is dubious, the demo was a successful attention-grabber. Co-founder and CTO of Reflect Orbital, Tristan Semmelhack, wrote on X that the company already has "30k applications for a spot of light and climbing every second," and that it "10x yesterday's count in just a day."

With 30,000 applications and a limited amount of time in which a satellite can point a mirror at something, the idea seems quite limited in scope, even if it ever gets off the ground. But Reflect Orbital's ambitions are larger than a single satellite. According to Nowack, the company is developing an entire constellation of satellites "to sell sunlight to thousands of solar farms after dark."

"By precisely reflecting sunlight that is endlessly available in space to specific targets on the ground, we can create a world where sunlight powers solar farms for longer than just daytime, and in doing this, commoditize sunlight," he wrote.

The company currently splits its website into two parts: Lighting and Energy, with the first one focusing on bringing a spot of sunlight to some point on Earth after dark, seemingly for fun. The energy part is about bringing the sun's energy to a solar farm at night, thus perhaps adding some extra juice to the energy grid in that location when it's needed.

Many questions arise, from whether Reflect Orbital's satellites can actually deliver enough sunlight for either of these applications, to whether an entire fleet of mirror-bearing satellites would pollute our skies with unnecessary light sources, to whether this (if used on a large scale) could disrupt flora and fauna on Earth (some of these questions are tackled by Nowack in this video). For now, the company displayed one thing: The ability to grab a lot of attention online.

The best streaming deals to watch 'Immaculate: WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Longlegs' on Prime Video $18.49 or $23.49 at Prime Video (save $1.50 as a Prime member) Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Longlegs' on Apple TV $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Longlegs' on Vudu $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Longlegs' on YouTube $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Longlegs' on Google Play $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal WATCH LATER Hulu annual subscription $79.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

We've been anticipating the release of Longlegs for months and now it's officially available to watch from behind a blanket on your couch at home.

Written and directed by Osgood Perkins (I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House) and starring Maika Monroe, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, and the one and only Nicolas Cage, Longlegs has been a huge box office hit for the indie studio Neon. Critics are calling the film "unsettling," to say the least. If you have yet to see Cage in all his serial killer glory or you want to make your skin crawl once again from the (dis)comfort of your home, here's everything you need to know about how to watch Longlegs.

What is Longlegs about?

Longlegs follows the FBI investigation of a decades-long serial killing spree in Oregon. There's no other evidence at the crime scenes except for cryptic letters signed "Longlegs." It Follows star Maika Monroe is the lead FBI agent, Lee Harker, who is assigned to investigate the serial killer — and it turns out she might be more connected to the case than it seems. Oh, and that serial killer? It's Nicolas Cage in some extremely haunting prosthetics and makeup.

Here's a glimpse at the horror-thriller in the official trailer:

Is Longlegs worth watching?

A surprise hit, Longlegs has brought it over $100 million at the worldwide box office. That makes it the highest grossing indie film of the year and the top-grossing R-rated horror film of 2024. And considering Neon's production budget under $10 million (before prints and advertising costs), that makes it a massive success.

Of course, box office numbers don't mean much unless people actually like the film. Fortunately, critic reviews are largely positive for the Nic Cage serial killer thriller. It currently has an 86 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Interestingly, though, audiences aren't quite as enthusiastic, giving Longlegs a 60 percent score based on over 2,500 ratings.

Mashable's own critic noted that while Cage's performance was brilliant, the film "doesn’t fully (or even partway) commit to its most bone-chilling ideas."

Read Mashable's full review of Longlegs.

Can I watch Longlegs at home?

While it's still in select theaters nationwide, you can skip the big screen and watch Longlegs at home as of Aug. 23. The horror-thriller is now officially available to rent or buy on digital-on-demand retailers like Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV for those who'd rather watch the film from their couch. If you'd rather wait and stream the film, keep reading for more information.

Note: If you choose to rent the film, you'll have 30 days to start watching and just 48 hours once you begin.

Here are some of the platforms where you can rent or purchase the film online:

• Prime Video — $18.49 to rent or $23.49 to buy for Prime members

• Apple TV — $19.99 to rent or $24.99 to buy

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — $19.99 to rent or $24.99 to buy

• YouTube — $19.99 to rent or $24.99 to buy

• Google Play — $19.99 to rent or $24.99 to buy

When is Longlegs streaming?

There's no official streaming date yet for Longlegs, but since the indie film distributor Neon has a deal with Hulu, we expect the film to make its streaming debut on the service later this year. You can set yourself up for success by signing up for the streamer ahead of time. Hulu is surprisingly one of the most affordable streamers around and offers a generous 30-day trial to newbies. Subscriptions start at $7.99 per month, but we've rounded up the best ways you can save on your subscription below.

The best Hulu streaming deals to watch laterBest Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $79.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Rather than paying $7.99 per month for Hulu, which adds up to $95.98 in a year, you can opt for an annual subscription and save 16%. An annual subscription with ads costs just $79.99 up front, which drops the monthly fee down to just $6.67 per month. Sure, you'll have to pay more up front, but you'll end up keeping more in your pocket in the long run. It also saves you from inevitable price hikes for at least a year.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 37% off Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Duo Basic bundle: Hulu and Disney+ with ads $9.99 per month (save 37%) Get Deal

If you're already a Disney+ subscriber or you want to get more bang for your buck, you can sign up for the Disney Duo Basic bundle and get both Disney+ and Hulu for $9.99 per month. That's just $2 more than paying for Hulu alone, or a savings of 37%. Even better, if you're a sports fan, you can throw ESPN+ into the mix for only $14.99 per month total. That's 44% in savings on all three services.

Best for students: Hulu Student Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student $1.99 per month (save 75%) Get Deal

Students looking to stream Longlegs and other Neon hits can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month. That's a savings of 75% compared to the full cost of Hulu with ads. You'll just have to verify your college email address using SheerID to score the deal.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for one year for Go5G Next customers Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu (with ads) Free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal

One of the best ways to get free streaming services, including Hulu, is to switch your mobile plan to T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan. Customers on this plan get Hulu with ads included in their plan for no extra cost, plus Netflix and Apple TV+. If you're already on a Go5G Next plan, head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim your offer. You'll have to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up for Hulu.

Note: After your initial 12-month promotional period, you'll also have to take action in order to keep your subscription alive.

In pursuit of technological innovation, generative AI's advocates have thrust the tools for highly-realistic, nonconsensual, synthetic forgeries, more commonly known as deepfake porn, into the hands of the Average Joe.

Ads for "nudify" undressing apps may appear on the sidebars of popular websites and in between Facebook posts, while manipulated sexual images of public figures spread as trending fodder for the masses. The problem has trickled down through the online sphere into the real lives of users, including young people. Implicated in it all are AI's creators and distributors.

Government leaders are attacking the problem through piecemeal legislative efforts. The tech and social sectors are balancing their responsibility to users with the need for innovation. But deepfakes are a hard concept to fight with the weapon of corporate policy.

SEE ALSO: Explicit deepfakes are traumatic. How to deal with the pain. An alarming issue with no single solution

Solving the deepfake problem is made more difficult by just how hard it is to pinpoint deepfakes, not to mention widespread disagreement on who is responsible for nonconsensual synthetic forgeries.

Advocacy and research organization the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, which fights against the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images (NDII), defines sexually explicit digital forgeries as any manipulated photos or videos that falsely (and almost indistinguishably) depict an actual person nude or engaged in sexual conduct. NDII doesn't inherently involve AI (think Photoshop), but generative AI tools are now commonly associated with their ability to create deepfakes, which is a catchall term originally coined in 2017, that has come to mean any manipulated visual or auditory likeness.

Broadly, "deepfake" images could refer to minor edits or a completely unreal rendering of a person's likeness. Some may be sexually explicit, but even more are not. They can be consensually made, or used as a form of Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA). They can be regulated or policed from the moment of their creation or earlier through the policies and imposed limitations of AI tools themselves, or regulated after their creation, as they're spread online. They could even be outlawed completely, or curbed by criminal or civil liabilities to their makers or distributors, depending on the intent.

Companies, defining the threat of nonconsensual deepfakes independently, have chosen to view sexual synthetic forgeries in several ways: as a crime addressed through direct policing, as a violation of existing terms of service (like those regulating "revenge porn" or misinformation), or, simply, not their responsibility.

Here's a list of just some of those companies, how they fit into the picture, and their own stated policies touching on deepfakes.

Anthropic 

AI developers like Anthropic and its competitors have to be answerable for products and systems that can be used to generate artificial AI content. To many, that means they also hold more liability for their tools' outputs and users.

Advertising itself as a safety-first AI company, Anthropic has maintained a strict anti-NSFW policy, using fairly ironclad terms of service and abuse filters to try to curb bad user behavior from the start. It's also worth noting that Anthropic's Claude chatbot is not allowed to generate images of any kind.

Our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) prohibits the use of our models to generate deceptive or misleading content, such as engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior or disinformation campaigns. This also includes a prohibition on using our services to impersonate a person by presenting results as human-generated or using results in a manner intended to convince a natural person that they are communicating with a natural person.

Users cannot generate sexually explicit content. This includes the usage of our products or services to depict or request sexual intercourse or sex acts, generate content related to sexual fetishes or fantasies, facilitate, promote, or depict incest or bestiality, or engage in erotic chats.

Users cannot create, distribute, or promote child sexual abuse material. We strictly prohibit and will report to relevant authorities and organizations where appropriate any content that exploits or abuses minors.

Apple

In contrast to companies like Anthropic, tech conglomerates play the role of host or distributor for synthetic content. Social platforms, for example, provide opportunity for users to swap images and videos. Online marketplaces, like app stores, become avenues for bad actors to sell or access generative AI tools and their building blocks. As companies dive deeper into AI, though, these roles are becoming more blurred.

Recent scrutiny has fallen on Apple's App Store and other marketplaces for allowing explicit deepfake apps. While it's App Store policies aren't as direct as its competitors, notably Google Play, the company has reinforced anti-pornography policies in both its advertising and store rules. But controversy remains among the wide array of Apple products. In recent months, the company has been accused of underreporting the role of its devices and services in the spread of both real and AI-generated child sexual abuse materials.

And Apple's recent launch of Apple Intelligence will pose new policing questions.

Apple News does not allow ad content that promotes adult-oriented themes or graphic content. For example, pornography, Kama Sutra, erotica, or content that promotes "how to" and other sex games.

Apple App Store offerings cannot include content that is overtly sexual or pornographic material, defined as "explicit descriptions or displays of sexual organs or activities intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings." This includes "hookup" apps and other apps that may include pornography or be used to facilitate prostitution, or human trafficking and exploitation.

Apps with user-generated content or services that end up being used primarily for pornographic content, Chatroulette-style experiences, objectification of real people (e.g. "hot-or-not" voting), making physical threats, or bullying do not belong on the App Store and may be removed without notice.

GitHub

GitHub, as a platform for developers to create, store, and share projects, treats the building and advertising of any non-consensual explicit imagery as a violation of its Acceptable Use Policy — similar to misinformation. It offers its own generative AI assistant for coding, but doesn't provide any visual or audio outputs.

GitHub does not allow any projects that are designed for, encourage, promote, support, or suggest in any way the use of synthetic or manipulated media for the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery or any content that would constitute misinformation or disinformation under this policy.

Alphabet, Inc.Google

Google plays a multifaceted role in the creation of synthetic images as both host and developer. It's announced several policy changes to curb both access to and the dissemination of nonconsensual synthetic content in Search, as well as advertising of "nudify" apps in Google Play. This came after the tech giant was called out for its role in surfacing nonconsensual digital forgeries on Google.com. 

AI-generated synthetic porn will be lowered in Google Search rankings. 

Users can ask to remove explicit non-consensual fake imagery from Google.

Shopping ads cannot promote services that generate, distribute, or store synthetic sexually explicit content or synthetic content containing nudity. Shopping ads cannot provide instructions on the creation of such content.

Developers on the Google Play Store must ensure generative AI apps do not generate offensive content, including prohibited content, content that may exploit or abuse children, and content that can deceive users or enable dishonest behaviors. 

YouTube

As a host for content, YouTube has prioritized moderating user uploads and providing reporting mechanisms for subjects of forgeries.

Explicit content meant to be sexually gratifying is not allowed on YouTube. Posting pornography may result in content removal or channel termination. 

Creators are required to disclose [altered or synthetic content] content when it’s realistic, meaning that a viewer could easily mistake what’s being shown with a real person, place, or event.

If someone has used AI to alter or create synthetic content that looks or sounds like you, you can ask for it to be removed. In order to qualify for removal, the content should depict a realistic altered or synthetic version of your likeness.

Microsoft 

Microsoft offers its own generative AI tools, including image generators hosted on Bing and Copilot, that also harness external AI models like OpenAI's DALL-E 3. The company applies its larger content policies to users engaging with this AI, and has instituted prompt safeguards and watermarking, but it likely bears the responsibility for anything that falls through the cracks.

Microsoft does not allow the sharing or creation of sexually intimate images of someone without their permission—also called non-consensual intimate imagery, or NCII. This includes photorealistic NCII content that was created or altered using technology. 

Bing does not permit the use of Image Creator to create or share adult content, violence or gore, hateful content, terrorism and violent extremist content, glorification of violence, child sexual exploitation or abuse material, or content that is otherwise disturbing or offensive.

OpenAI 

OpenAI is one of the biggest names in AI development, and its models and products are incorporated into — or are the foundations of — many of the generative AI tools offered by companies worldwide. OpenAI retains strong terms of use to try to protect itself from the ripple effects of such widespread use of its AI models.

In May, OpenAI announced it was exploring the possibility of allowing NSFW outputs in age-appropriate content on its own ChatGPT and associated API. Up until that point, the company had remained firm in banning any such content. OpenAI told Mashable at the time that despite the potential chatbot uses, the company still prohibited AI-generated pornography and deepfakes. 

Users can't repurpose or distribute output from OpenAI services to harm others. Examples include output to defraud, scam, spam, mislead, bully, harass, defame, discriminate based on protected attributes, sexualize children, or promote violence, hatred or the suffering of others.

Users cannot use OpenAI technologies to impersonate another individual or organization without consent or legal right.

Users cannot build tools that may be inappropriate for minors, including sexually explicit or suggestive content. 

MetaFacebook

While parent company Meta continues to explore generative AI integration on its platforms, its come under intense scrutiny for failing to curb explicit synthetic forgeries and IBSA. Following widespread controversy, Facebook's taken a more strict stance on nudify apps advertising on the site.

Meta, meanwhile, has turned toward stronger AI labelling efforts and moderation, as its Oversight Board reviews Meta's power to address sexually explicit and suggestive AI-generated content.

To protect survivors, we remove images that depict incidents of sexual violence and intimate images shared without the consent of the person(s) pictured.

We do not allow content that attempts to exploit people by: Coercing money, favors or intimate imagery from people with threats to expose their intimate imagery or intimate information (sextortion); or sharing, threatening, stating an intent to share, offering or asking for non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII)... 

We do not allow promoting, threatening to share, or offering to make non-real non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) either by applications, services, or instructions, even if there is no (near) nude commercial or non-commercial imagery shared in the content.

Instagram

Instagram similarly moderates visual media posted to its site, bolstered by its community guidelines.

We don’t allow nudity on Instagram. This includes photos, videos, and some digitally-created content that show sexual intercourse, genitals, and close-ups of fully-nude buttocks.

Snapchat 

Snapchat's generative AI tools do include limited image generation, so its potential liability stems from its reputation as a site known for sexual content swapping and as a possible creator of synthetic explicit images.

We prohibit promoting, distributing, or sharing pornographic content. We also don’t allow commercial activities that relate to pornography or sexual interactions (whether online or offline).

Don't use My AI to generate political, sexual, harassing, or deceptive content, spam, malware, or content that promotes violence, self-harm, human-trafficking, or that would violate our Community Guidelines. 

TikTok 

TikTok, which has its own creative AI suite known as TikTok Symphony, has recently waded into murkier generative AI waters after launching AI-generated digital avatars. It appears the company's legal and ethical standing will rest on establishing proof of consent for AI-generated likenesses. TikTok has general community guidelines rules against nudity, the exposure of young people's bodies, and sexual activity or services.

AI-generated content containing the likeness (visual or audio) of a real or fictional person aren't allowed, even if disclosed with the AI-generated content label, and may be removed. This applies to AI-generated content featuring a public figure — adults (18 years and older) with a significant public role, such as a government official, politician, business leader, or celebrity — when used for political or commercial endorsements. Content featuring a private figure (any person who isn't a public figure, including people under 18 years old) are also prohibited.

X/Twitter

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence investment, xAI, has recently added image generation to its platform chatbot Grok, and the image generator is capable of some eyebrow-raising facsimiles of celebrities. Grok's interface is built right into to the X platform, which is in turn a major forum for users to share their own content, moderated haphazardly through the site's community and advertising guidelines.

X recently announced new policies that allow consensual adult content on the platform, but did not specify the posting of sexual digital forgeries, consensual or otherwise.

You may not post or share intimate photos or videos of someone that were produced or distributed without their consent. We will immediately and permanently suspend any account that we identify as the original poster of intimate media that was created or shared without consent. We will do the same with any account that posts only this type of content, e.g., accounts dedicated to sharing upskirt images.

You can’t post or share explicit images or videos that were taken, appear to have been taken or that were shared without the consent of the people involved. This includes images or videos that superimpose or otherwise digitally manipulate an individual’s face onto another person’s nude body.

This story will be periodically updated as policies evolve.

First, the bad news: it's really hard to detect AI-generated images. The telltale signs that used to be giveaways — warped hands and jumbled text — are increasingly rare as AI models improve at a dizzying pace. 

It's no longer obvious what images are created using popular tools like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, and Gemini. In fact, AI-generated images are starting to dupe people even more, which has created major issues in spreading misinformation. The good news is that it's usually not impossible to identify AI-generated images, but it takes more effort than it used to.

AI image detectors - proceed with caution

These tools use computer vision to examine pixel patterns and determine the likelihood of an image being AI-generated. That means, AI detectors aren't completely foolproof, but it's a good way for the average person to determine whether an image merits some scrutiny — especially when it's not immediately obvious.

"Unfortunately, for the human eye — and there are studies — it's about a fifty-fifty chance that a person gets it," said Anatoly Kvitnitsky, CEO of AI image detection platform AI or Not. "But for AI detection for images, due to the pixel-like patterns, those still exist, even as the models continue to get better." Kvitnitsky claims AI or Not achieves a 98 percent accuracy rate on average.

Other AI detectors that have generally high success rates include Hive Moderation, SDXL Detector on Hugging Face, and Illuminarty. We tested ten AI-generated images on all of these detectors to see how they did.

AI or Not

AI or Not gives a simple "yes" or "no" unlike other AI image detectors, but it correctly said the image was AI-generated. With the free plan, you get 10 uploads a month. We tried with 10 images and got an 80 percent success rate.

AI or Not correctly identified this image as AI-generated. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / AI or Not Hive Moderation

We tried Hive Moderation's free demo tool with over 10 different images and got a 90 percent overall success rate, meaning they had a high probability of being AI-generated. However, it failed to detect the AI-qualities of an artificial image of a chipmunk army scaling a rock wall.

We'd love to believe a chipmunk army is real, but the AI detector got it wrong. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Hive Moderation SDXL Detector

The SDXL Detector on Hugging Face takes a few seconds to load, and you might initially get an error on the first try, but it's completely free. It also gives a probability percentage instead. It said 70 percent of the AI-generated images had a high probability of being generative AI.

SDXL Detector correctly identified a tricky Grok-2-generated image of Barack Obama in a public bathroom Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / SDXL Detector Illuminarty

Illuminarty has a free plan that provides basic AI image detection. Out of the 10 AI-generated images we uploaded, it only classified 50 percent as having a very low probability. To the horror of rodent biologists, it gave the infamous rat dick image a low probability of being AI-generated.

Ummm, this one seemed like a lay-up. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Illuminarty

As you can see, AI detectors are mostly pretty good, but not infallible and shouldn't be used as the only way to authenticate an image. Sometimes, they're able to detect deceptive AI-generated images even though they look real, and sometimes they get it wrong with images that are clearly AI creations. This is exactly why a combination of methods is best.

Other tips and tricksThe ol' reverse image search

Another way to detect AI-generated images is the simple reverse image search which is what Bamshad Mobasher, professor of computer science and the director of the Center for Web Intelligence at DePaul University College of Computing and Digital Media in Chicago recommends. By uploading an image to Google Images or a reverse image search tool, you can trace the provenance of the image. If the photo shows an ostensibly real news event, "you may be able to determine that it's fake or that the actual event didn't happen," said Mobasher.

Google's "About this Image" tool

Google Search also has an "About this Image" feature that provides contextual information like when the image was first indexed, and where else it appeared online. This is found by clicking on the three dots icon in the upper right corner of an image.

Telltale signs that the naked eye can spot

Speaking of which, while AI-generated images are getting scarily good, it's still worth looking for the telltale signs. As mentioned above, you might still occasionally see an image with warped hands, hair that looks a little too perfect, or text within the image that's garbled or nonsensical. Our sibling site PCMag's breakdown recommends looking in the background for blurred or warped objects, or subjects with flawless — and we mean no pores, flawless — skin.

At a first glance, the Midjourney image below looks like a Kardashian relative promoting a cookbook that could easily be from Instagram. But upon further inspection, you can see the contorted sugar jar, warped knuckles, and skin that's a little too smooth.

At a second glance, all is not as it seems in this image. Credit: Mashable / Midjourney

"AI can be good at generating the overall scene, but the devil is in the details," wrote Sasha Luccioni, AI and climate lead at Hugging Face, in an email to Mashable. Look for "mostly small inconsistencies: extra fingers, asymmetrical jewelry or facial features, incongruities in objects (an extra handle on a teapot)."

Mobasher, who is also a fellow at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), said to zoom in and look for "odd details" like stray pixels and other inconsistencies, like subtly mismatched earrings. 

"You may find part of the same image with the same focus being blurry but another part being super detailed," Mobasher said. This is especially true in the backgrounds of images. "If you have signs with text and things like that in the backgrounds, a lot of times they end up being garbled or sometimes not even like an actual language," he added.

This image of a parade of Volkswagen vans parading down a beach was created by Google's Imagen 3. The sand and busses look flawlessly photorealistic. But look closely, and you'll notice the lettering on the third bus where the VW logo should be is just a garbled symbol, and there are amorphous splotches on the fourth bus.

We're sure a VW bus parade happened at some point, but this ain't it. Credit: Mashable / Google Notice the garbled logo and weird splotches. Credit: Mashable / Google It all comes down to AI literacy

None of the above methods will be all that useful if you don't first pause while consuming media — particularly social media — to wonder if what you're seeing is AI-generated in the first place. Much like media literacy that became a popular concept around the misinformation-rampant 2016 election, AI literacy is the first line of defense for determining what's real or not. 

AI researchers Duri Long and Brian Magerko's define AI literacy as "a set of competencies that enables individuals to critically evaluate AI technologies; communicate and collaborate effectively with AI; and use AI as a tool online, at home, and in the workplace."

Knowing how generative AI works and what to look for is key. "It may sound cliche, but taking the time to verify the provenance and source of the content you see on social media is a good start," said Luccioni.

Start by asking yourself about the source of the image in question and the context in which it appears. Who published the image? What does the accompanying text (if any) say about it? Have other people or media outlets published the image? How does the image, or the text accompanying it, make you feel? If it seems like it's designed to enrage or entice you, think about why. 

How some organizations are combatting the AI deepfakes and misinformation problem

As we've seen, so far the methods by which individuals can discern AI images from real ones are patchy and limited. To make matters worse, the spread of illicit or harmful AI-generated images is a double whammy because the posts circulate falsehoods, which then spawn mistrust in online media. But in the wake of generative AI, several initiatives have sprung up to bolster trust and transparency.

The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) was founded by Adobe and Microsoft, and includes tech companies like OpenAI and Google, as well as media companies like Reuters and the BBC. C2PA provides clickable Content Credentials for identifying the provenance of images and whether they're AI-generated. However, it's up to the creators to attach the Content Credentials to an image. 

On the flip side, the Starling Lab at Stanford University is working hard to authenticate real images. Starling Lab verifies "sensitive digital records, such as the documentation of human rights violations, war crimes, and testimony of genocide," and securely stores verified digital images in decentralized networks so they can't be tampered with. The lab's work isn't user-facing, but its library of projects are a good resource for someone looking to authenticate images of, say, the war in Ukraine, or the presidential transition from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. 

Experts often talk about AI images in the context of hoaxes and misinformation, but AI imagery isn't always meant to deceive per se. AI images are sometimes just jokes or memes removed from their original context, or they're lazy advertising. Or maybe they're just a form of creative expression with an intriguing new technology. But for better or worse, AI images are a fact of life now. And it's up to you to detect them.

We're paraphrasing Smokey the Bear here, but he would understand. Credit: Mashable / xAI

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has been arrested in France in relation to an investigation concerning the messaging app's moderation — or lack thereof. 

Durov was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening local time, with Reuters reporting that he had just arrived from Azerbaijan by private jet. According to AFP's sources, the warrant for Durov's arrest was issued by OFMIN, a French law enforcement agency focused on combating violence against minors.

SEE ALSO: Encryption backdoors violate human rights, EU court rules

Telegram is reportedly being investigated for failure to curb criminal activity on its platform, thanks in no small part to its permissive moderation policies. It has also been accused of failing to cooperate with French authorities investigating such activity, which apparently includes fraud, drug trafficking, child sexual abuse material, promotion of terrorism, organised crime, and cyberbullying.

The messaging app has released a statement defending Durov, claiming that it has not violated the law and now awaits "a prompt resolution of this situation."

"Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act —  its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving," Telegram wrote in a post on X. "Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform."

Tweet may have been deleted

French authorities can hold suspects for a maximum of 96 hours, after which they must either be released or charged. According to a report from The Guardian, Durov's detention period has already been extended beyond Sunday night by the investigating magistrate. 

While Durov was born in Russia, he also holds multiple other citizenships, including one from France. This appears to be causing some conflict between the countries, as Russian officials reportedly state that France is refusing to provide Durov access to the Russian consulate.

Some Russian officials have further accused France of censorship. Russia's Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova reportedly claimed that the true motive behind Durov's arrest "is an attempt to close Telegram as an internet resource where you can find out the truth about world events." The messaging app is a popular tool for Russian authorities.

Russia was previously at odds with Telegram in 2017, when the latter refused demands that it decrypt communications from six users suspected of "terrorism-related activities." In response, Russia fined Telegram and blocked it in the country, a ban which Russian courts upheld until it was eventually lifted in 2020.

Social media users have begun using the hashtag #FreePavel to call for his release, with billionaire Elon Musk using it to share a video of Durov praising his platform X for becoming "more pro-freedom of speech." Whistleblower Edward Snowden also condemned Durov's arrest, calling it "an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association."

Telegram's loose approach to moderation lures criminals

Telegram has built a reputation as a privacy-focused messaging app, offering end-to-end encryption and stating that it will "protect user data at any cost." Unfortunately, this policy has also allowed misinformation, disinformation, and criminal activity to flourish on the app, with data leaks, revenge porn, counterfeit documents, and Nazi extremists all finding a home on Telegram.

The company is well aware that its services are being used for criminal purposes. Despite this, Telegram appears to have little interest in attempting to halt such activity. It specifically addresses the issue on its FAQ page, responding to the question, "There's illegal content on Telegram. How do I take it down?"

"All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants," wrote Telegram. "We do not process any requests related to them."

This isn't to say that Telegram has never dabbled in moderation. Shortly after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the app blocked "dozens" of channels on the grounds that they promoted violence. At the time, a Telegram spokesperson told CNN that they "routinely remove publicly available content that contains direct calls to violence."

Even so, Telegram has a much longer and more consistent history of taking a laissez-faire approach to content moderation.

The dichotomy between law enforcement and the right to privacy isn't one with a clear solution. Governments around the world have tried forcing tech companies to build back doors into their encryption, citing the need for law enforcement to access users' chat logs. However, privacy advocates argue that it's impossible to create an encryption bypass without weakening security for everyone, as the technology just doesn't work that way.

It’s a notorious energy hog. But artificial intelligence can also foster innovation and discovery, and it could speed the global transition to cleaner power.

The TCL Flip 3 targets our grandparents — the folks who used rotary dial phones as kids, enjoyed twirling their fingers around corded landline phones, and used Motorola flip phones in the early 2000s.

When TCL said that it wanted to send Mashable a TCL Flip 3 to review, I wondered whether there would be interest for it, considering that our readership skews toward the younger side.

Credit: TCL Flip 3

However, I had a light bulb moment. As a tech reviewer, I'm surrounded by smartphones all the time — glaring screens that suck you into the dregs of the internet, from social media platforms like Instagram,and X (formerly Twitter) to streaming sites à la TikTok and YouTube. We're constantly being fed dubious ads, tabloid slop, vapid celebrity news, mudslinging election stories, misleading AI-generated content, and more. I just want to disconnect, but it's difficult to do that with my daily driver smartphone: the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

So I thought, why not give the TCL Flip 3 a try for a week? I can tap into a little bit of nostalgia while disconnecting from the constant barrage of digital noise. Here's my experience with it, but first, let's dive into the price and specs.

TCL Flip 3 price and specs

The TCL Flip 3 is $99.99 via Walmart and comes with the following:

• Qualcomm QM215 quad-core processor

• 1GB of RAM

• 16GB of storage (up to 512GB via SD card)

• 4G LTE

• 1.77-inch external screen

• 3.2-inch internal display

• A 5MP camera

TCL Flip 3 is compatible with three U.S. carriers: Verizon, Spectrum, and U.S. Cellular. For this review, I used the TCL Flip 3 on the Verizon network.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL Flip 3 TCL Flip 3 $99.99 at Walmart
Get Deal TCL Flip 3 design and build quality

If you saw the TCL Flip 3 on my desk, there's no way in heck you'd think it's a modern phone. However it is, indeed, a phone that launched this year, amid the swath of ultra-modern devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and more.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

When you first saw the title, you may have thought that the TCL Flip 3 is one of "those" flip phones, à la the Galaxy Z Flip 6, that have a slight nostalgic touch with its clamshell form factor, but by and large, it has all the bells and whistles of a cutting-edge smartphone — and then some (e.g., glitzy AI features, dazzling OLED screens, and more).

However, you'd be mistaken. The TCL Flip 3 is a flip phone, but it's a dumb one, which I'll delve more into in subsequent sections. This retro-style flip phone comes in a colorway that TCL calls "Stone Grey." The chassis is anti-fingerprint and anti-grease, so I felt free to get my grubby fingers all over it.

The serious dark-gray body makes it look like a phone you'd see in some early 2000s movie about Wall Street bankers or C-suite top dogs.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Open the TCL Flip 3, and you'll find your typical flip phone layout that will be familiar to elder Millennials and older generations. It's got the navigation pad in the center — equipped with the word "OK" — allowing you to navigate menus and options on the screen.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Next, you have your "Send" and "End" buttons. And finally, below them, you'll find the satisfying, clicky keypad with the T9 text input.

TCL Flip 3 texting and typing

When I committed to using the TCL Flip 3 for a week, I underestimated just how little I miss the T9 texting input.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

On my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, sending a text to a friend would take less than a minute. On this dumb phone, however, typing a single message takes three-to-five business days.

At least three letters are integrated into each key, prompting you to cycle through to the right letter you want. Let's say I want to type the word "Hey," here's how the process works on the TCL Flip 3:

1. Tap on the number 4 (which houses the letters "G", "H," and "I) twice to get to "H."

2. Next, you'll need the letter "E." Tap on the number 3 twice to get to it.

3. Finally, for the letter "Y," hit number 9 three times.

Now repeat this process for every single word you want to type in your message.

On the plus side, there is a predictive text feature, which can help you get to your desired words faster.

Ironically, the TCL Flip 3 is designed to appeal to older folks who are already accustomed to the T9 text input, but I'd feel nervous about grandma and grandpa owning this phone. In the case of an emergency, I'd want them to have access to a faster, modern on-screen keyboard.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

(It's worth noting, though, that the TCL Flip 3 has a dedicated emergency SOS button that lets users quickly call for help.)

Texting with the TCL Flip 3 was certainly the most challenging part of using it for a week. I can't tell you how many times I was tempted to throw it aside and use my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra instead. No wonder "chatspeak" was so popular back in the day.

Logging into accounts on the internet via the TCL Flip 3 is, as you can imagine, an absolutely nightmare, too; 0/10 do not recommend.

TCL Flip 3 call quality

TCL claims that the Flip 3's call quality is "pristine," and while I wouldn't go that far, the Flip 3 definitely sounds crisp, clear and loud.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

While calling friends and family, they sounded sharp, vivid, and distinct. They said that I sounded great, too.

Thanks to the clamshell design, once I'm finished talking to them, I got to slam the clamshell phone with a satisfying shut that I haven't felt in years.

TCL Flip 3 display

The TCL Flip 3 has an external 1.77-inch display that shows you the time, battery life, date, and more after hitting the right side key.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It can also tell you who's calling without opening the lid. Internally, you'll find a 3.2-inch screen with a 240 x 320-pixel resolution. Coming from my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra that sports a stunning 6.8-inch, 3120 x 1440-pixel resolution panel, the TCL Flip 3's display was a difficult transition.

Icons and text are pixelated and lack the fine detail and smooth edges that I've been enjoying on my flagship Samsung device. Plus, it took some time for me to adjust to the smaller screen. (I also found myself touching the screen often to make quick selections, but sadly kept being reminded that the TCL Flip 3's screen is non-touch.)

The whole purpose of this experiment is to escape the internet, but for the purpose of this review, I decided to play a few online videos to test the display's capabilities. To my surprise, I thought I discovered the YouTube app on the home screen. But when I clicked on it, it just pulled up "YouTube.com" via the preinstalled browser. Navigating this version of YouTube wasn't fun.

For example, using the T9 text input to type my query into the YouTube search field was a pain. And scrolling through the results with the central pad was also unpleasant; too many taps were required just to scroll by one video.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Once I found a trailer I wanted to watch (i.e., Thunderbolts), I hit the full screen button and watched the display flip 180 degrees to take advantage of the 3.2-inch screen via landscape orientation. I found myself holding the TCL Flip 3 in an odd manner — in the same way my dad used to hold his camcorder to film my birthdays.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The display quality is mediocre, which is expected. Colors are dull and the visuals lack crispness. On the plus side, when it comes to using the display outdoors, it does well in challenging conditions. Even with the sun beaming down on it, I could still see the screen very well.

TCL Flip 3 camera

Yes, the TCL Flip 3 has a camera, and of course, it's just OK.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Here's a shot of my backyard with the 5MP shooter.

TCL Flip 3 shot Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

And here's a shot of the backyard with an iPhone 14 Plus.

iPhone 14 Plus shot Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

But hey, what do you expect? It's a sub-$100 dumb phone. It's not like TCL is targeting young content creators with this device. Also, don't expect to easily take selfies with this phone. There only appears to be a world-facing camera.

The TCL Flip 3 also supports 720p video at 30 frames per second, which is, again, as unimpressive as one might assume.

TCL Flip 3 software

TCL Flip 3 runs on an Android-based software called KaiOS.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

No, you won’t find a fully developed app store like Google Play. This means you won’t have access to dedicated apps like WhatsApp and TikTok. Of course, that works for me. Even if I wanted to "crack," I wouldn't have the option.

So during this seven-day digital diet, what did I use to entertain myself? Preinstalled on the TCL Flip 3 are five games: Gems, Birdy, 2048, Guardians, and Whack a Mole. Birdy is the best one; it's similar to Flappy Bird where you need to keep pressing a button to keep it elevated and dodge obstacles.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Aside from gaming, you can also sync your Gmail account via the Email app. Plus, you can access Google Search and use Google Maps for navigation.

I tried to find Spotify and Apple Music in the app store, two music platforms that I subscribe to, but unfortunately, I couldn't find them. I also attempted to launch Spotify via the web browser, but I received a message that it doesn't support the TCL Flip 3. Bummer! To play music, I used the FM radio station app. It was alright, but I wanted more control over which songs I listen to.

You can connect headphones to the TCL Flip 3 using Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. The dumb phone also sports a 3.5mm headphone jack, a port that's become a rarity — both my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max devices do not have a headset jack.

TCL Flip 3 performance

We weren't able to run Geekbench 6 on the TCL Flip 3, but the device runs on a Qualcomm QM215 chipset, which is clocked at up to 1.3GHz. This processor is designed for basic tasks, not high performance.

Plus, its limited 1GB of RAM will constrain any multitasking capabilities.

When I ran any tests that required the internet (e.g., running a YouTube video to examine the display), I noticed that the Flip 3 had a few seconds of lag loading sites like YouTube. Again, this isn't surprising because the Flip 3 is dumb phone designed to handle simple functions like calling, texting, and basic app usage.

TCL Flip 3 battery life

TCL claims that the flip phone has a talk time of 10.5 hours. On our in-house TikTok rundown on the Flip 3, it only lasted about 8 hours and 12 minutes.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This is disappointing, but not surprising considering the Flip 3's relatively small 1,850 mAh battery. It also sports two screens, which may contribute to battery drain.

Is the TCL Flip 3 worth it?

Using the TCL Flip 3 for a week was much more difficult than I anticipated. The most challenging part of the experience was the limited entertainment options. Once I switched myself off from social media, and by extension, the internet, I struggled to find the fun. I didn't realize how reliant I was on the likes of TikTok and YouTube to keep me entertained after a long day at work.

The T9 text input got on my nerves, but even more frustrating than that was learning how to get used to the central navigation pad for moving the cursor around and scrolling through long-form content.

Plus, I had to recharge the TCL Flip 3 every night due to its 8-hour battery life.

While the TCL Flip 3 did help me disconnect from the world because of its limitations, I found myself missing too many creature comforts, particularly Spotify and Apple Music, which would have helped me drown out the noise by immersing myself in some moody music.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL Flip 3 TCL Flip 3 $99.99 at Walmart
Get Deal

TL;DR: Get older kids off the screen and into creativity with the X-MAKER 3D Printer for Beginners — just $349.99 (reg. $489) for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: AOSEED X-MAKER 3D Printer for Beginners $349.99 at the Mashable Shop
$489.00 Save $139.01 Get Deal

Finding ways to engage older kids in educational and creative activities can be a challenge, especially when video games seem to dominate their free time. The X-MAKER 3D Printer is an innovative and user-friendly device designed for beginners ages nine and up — and it's up to the challenge.

Priced at just $349.99 (reg. $489), this 3D printer offers a fantastic opportunity for kids to step away from the screen and dive into the world of 3D printing, where imagination meets hands-on learning.

With over 15 gamified design mini-programs, kids can explore different ways to bring their ideas to life. These fun, interactive apps make learning the basics of 3D printing easy and enjoyable. It’s an excellent way to introduce older children to technology and engineering concepts while keeping them entertained enough to stay off YouTube for a while.

Designed with young users in mind, the 3.5-inch intuitive touch screen makes navigating through the printer’s features easy. With one-button wireless printing, kids can start creating with minimal setup — no complex instructions or tech-savvy skills needed. And for those without internet access, the printer’s compatibility with SD and USB cards means creativity doesn't have to wait.

The X-MAKER delivers exceptional print quality with precision as fine as 0.1/0.05 mm and a printing speed of up to 160mm/s. Whether your child is designing toys, models, or educational tools, the results are sharp, detailed, and pretty impressive.

With the holidays not too far down the road, this is an excellent opportunity to get ahead of your shopping and save $139 off the regular price.

The X-MAKER 3D Printer for Beginners is on sale for just $349.99 (reg. $489) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Master Microsoft 365, Excel, and Word with the 2024 Microsoft Essential Tools Training Bundle — four comprehensive courses for just $29.99.

Having a solid grasp of Microsoft’s essential productivity tools can set you apart from the crowd, no matter what industry you're in. Whether you’re looking to boost your efficiency at work or aiming to expand your skill set, the 2024 Microsoft Essential Tools Training Bundle can help you confidently use the most widely used software in the business world.

For just $29.99, this bundle provides in-depth training on Microsoft 365, Excel, and Word, equipping you with the knowledge to excel in any professional setting. Four courses help you navigate these tried-and-true apps better and bulk out your résumé with evergreen skills.

While this is a great bundle for beginners, it also helps you gain a deeper understanding of the tools that can make you more efficient and effective in your work.

With courses covering Microsoft 365 and Excel, you’ll learn how to navigate and utilize these platforms to their full potential. The inclusion of both beginner and advanced Word courses ensures that you can progress from foundational skills to advanced techniques, making you proficient in document creation and management.

The MS Excel: Manage & Report with Microsoft Excel, for example, is a 26-lesson step-by-step, practical course covering all of the basics. It also goes over the elements to help you enter and manipulate data, such as using templates, calculations, and more.

If you're looking to get a comfortable handle on these Microsoft staples, this is an easy place to begin.

Get the 2024 Microsoft Essential Tools Training Bundle and learn on your own schedule while it's on sale for just $29.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shutterstock The 2024 Microsoft Essential Tools Training Bundle $29.99 at the Mashable Shop
$800.00 Save $770.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Grab a lifetime license to an Office alternative, Ashampoo Office 9, for just $19.99 (reg. $99) for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASHAMPOO Ashampoo Office 9: Lifetime License $19.99 at the Mashable Shop
$99.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal

We all want to be as productive as possible, and we'd also rather not pay a premium for apps that help support said productivity. While MS Office has been the go-to, it's not the only quality office suite of apps in town.

Ashampoo Office 9 is a Microsoft Office alternative that's a much more affordable option than the MS name typically is. A lifetime license is on sale for just $19.99 (reg. $99) and was made to keep your work or home life humming along just as well as the better-known brand.

Whether you’re writing documents, crunching numbers in spreadsheets, or designing professional presentations, Ashampoo Office 9 provides the tools you need — plus the ability to use it on up to five PCs in your household.

Ashampoo Office 9 includes three main applications: Ashampoo Write for creating documents, Ashampoo Calculate for handling spreadsheets, and Ashampoo Present for designing polished presentations. Each tool is designed to meet the needs of the busy individual, whether for work, school, or personal projects (or all of them).

One key advantage of Ashampoo Office 9 is its high compatibility with Microsoft Office formats. This means you can open, edit, and save documents created in Microsoft Office without worrying about compatibility issues, whether you’re dealing with older formats or the latest versions.

This is for Windows only and requires users to have Windows 10 or 11 operating systems. Updates are included.

Check out all the little features like improved spellcheck and support for inserting WEBP image formats, and see if this suite will work for your needs.

Pick up a lifetime license to Ashampoo Office 9 while it's on sale for just $19.99 (reg. $99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime license to AI Articles WordPress Plugin for just $59.99 (reg. $229) for a limited time.

Time is one of the most valuable resources in digital marketing and blogging. Whether you're a seasoned content creator, a business owner, or a digital marketer, finding efficient ways to produce quality content can be a game-changer. The AI Articles WordPress Plugin is designed to do just that. A lifetime license is on sale for $59.99 (reg. $229) for a limited time.

One of the most significant benefits of the AI Articles WordPress Plugin is its ability to automate content creation. By leveraging RSS feeds and the power of GPT-4, this plugin generates blog posts based on user-defined parameters. For this plugin, campaigns are the RSS feed sources you want the AI Plugin to pull articles from. 

Instead of spending hours writing and editing, you can set up your content campaigns and let the AI do the heavy lifting. This means more time for you to engage with your audience, strategize, and manage other aspects of your business. Plus, you can create as many campaigns as you wish. 

As your blog or business grows, so does the need for consistent, high-quality content. The AI Articles Plugin is scalable, allowing you to easily create multiple content campaigns. Whether you need daily updates or weekly insights, the plugin adapts to your needs, giving you a steady stream of fresh content that helps keep your website active and relevant.

Because it can quickly pull from the latest news sources, your content can be on-topic and timely. And as you begin to deliver consistent quality content, your search engine rankings and visibility grow, too.

This plugin offers a practical way to stay ahead in the competitive world of digital marketing and content creation. However, to use it, you will need an OpenAI account and topped-off tokens.

The AI Articles WordPress Plugin is on sale for $59.99 (reg. $229) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mind2Matter AI Articles WordPress Plugin: Lifetime License $59.99 at the Mashable Shop
$229.00 Save $169.01 Get Deal

Jared Isaacman is leading three other privately trained astronauts on a SpaceX vehicle for Polaris Dawn, a mission that will include a daring spacewalk.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, August 26, 2024:

AcrossSoccer player's prominent muscle

• The answer is calf.

Member of an underwater colony

• The answer is coral.

Mario's twin

• The answer is Luigi.

Fluster

• The answer is upset.

Source of a buzz … with or without its last letter?

• The answer is beer.

DownTwo-door car

• The answer is coupe.

Get up or come up

• The answer is arise.

Light-colored variety of 8-Across

• The answer is lager.

Move swiftly, like a butterfly

• The answer is flit.

♣️

• The answer is club.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

TL;DR: As of Aug. 26, get a lifetime device license for Microsoft Visual Studio Professional for only £26.47 — a 92% discount and a big price drop since the last time it went on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for Windows £26.47 at the Mashable Shop
£377.73 Save £351.26 Get Deal

Virtually any professional will need to use at least one Microsoft application. Writers live and breathe Word, data analysts often use Excel, and remote or hybrid workers are familiar with Teams. Meanwhile, developers have found a home in Visual Studio, an integrated development environment (IDE) that allows for easy coding, debugging, deploying, and managing all sorts of programs and applications.

Securing a Visual Studio lifetime license usually requires a hefty investment of £377.73, making it out of reach for many developers. Luckily, through Sept. 3, it's on sale for £26.47. You'll only have to pay once to install and use the program on a single computer for lifetime use.

This deal gives you the full capabilities of Visual Studio Professional 2022 for life. Whether you're writing a simple "hello world" program or a complex project, the platform has an advanced suite of tools and integrations to help you churn out high-quality code more efficiently. You can use it to build cross-platform mobile and desktop apps with .NET MAUI, create responsive Web UIs in C# with Blazor, build, debug, and test .NET and C++ apps in Linux, and more.

To help you code smarter, its IntelliCode function understands your code context down to the variable name and functions and completes it automatically. If you're collaborating with a team, you can expedite your edit and debugging cycles with custom settings. It also offers access to information like changes, authors, tests, and commit history, allowing for full transparency throughout the development process. 

It's worth mentioning that this version of Visual Studio can only be installed on computers with Windows 11 and up, those with a minimum of 4GB memory, as well as ARM64, x64, or Quad-core processors.

A lifetime license to Visual Studio Professional 2022 normally goes for £377.73, but you can get it on sale for £26.47 through Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.