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This week's best iPad deals have arrived

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 12:20

If a new iPad is high up on your back-to-school shopping list, you're in luck. This week at Amazon, several iPad models are at their best-ever price, or clocking in at a very close second. Check out this week's best Apple iPad deals.

This week's best Apple iPad deals: Best iPad Mini deal Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation) $529.99 at Amazon (save $119.01) Get Deal Best budget iPad deal Apple iPad (9th Generation) $224 at Amazon (save $105) Get Deal Best large-screen iPad deal Apple iPad (10th Generation) $319.99 at Amazon (save $29.01) Get Deal

This week at Amazon, the iPad Mini (6th Generation) is only 99 cents more than its lowest-ever price according to Amazon price tracker site camelcamelcamel. Meanwhile, the Apple iPad (9th Generation) is on sale for a budget-friendly $224 - which also happens to be its lowest price. Whether you're shopping for school, work, play, or all three, these deals have got you covered.

Best iPad Mini deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation) $529.99 at Amazon
$649.00 Save $119.01 Get Deal Why we like it

With an 8.3-inch screen, the iPad Mini is designed to fit right in the palm of your hand. Its compact size makes it the ideal iPad for travel - whether you're heading out on vacation or trekking to school or the office. Though it is small, it is powerful: with an A15 chip, the iPad Mini is powerful enough to fuel super-fast graphics and videos. Plus, it has an all-day battery life for those long days spent completing projects. As of today, it's only 99 cents above its lowest-ever price, so we recommend jumping on this deal while it's still around.

Best budget iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iPad (9th Generation) $224.00 at Amazon
$329.00 Save $105.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With a sale price of $224 (its lowest ever!), the Apple iPad (9th Generation) makes an ideal budget iPad pick. With a 10.2-inch screen and 64 GB, it's your standard everyday tablet. It's powered by an A13 bionic chip, which means it's not as powerful as the A15, but it still packs quite the punch that's worthy of your favorite games. You can run multiple apps at once on this model, and it's also compatible with the Apple Pencil.

Best large-screen iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iPad (10th Generation) $319.99 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Today, the Apple iPad (10th Generation) is 8% off at Amazon. This brings the price down from $349 to just $319.99. With a large 10.9-inch liquid retina display screen, this is the ultimate iPad for playing immersive games, watching movies, and creating your own graphic art. Plus, its 12MP front-and-back cameras leave it well-equipped for Facetime dates with family and friends. Available in the classic Silver or three fun, eye-catching colors, the Apple iPad (10th Generation) is a solid buy for anyone looking to upgrade their current tablet setup without breaking the bank.

More Apple iPad deals:

Amazon deal of the day: Slash 20% off the sleek Fitbit Inspire 3

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 12:00
Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal BEST BLUETOOTH TRACKER DEAL Tile Mate $16.95 at Amazon (save $8.04) Get Deal BEST BLUETOOTH SPEAKER DEAL Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 $169.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Soundcore Space A40 noise-cancelling earbuds $49 at Amazon (save $30.99) Get Deal

The deals are off to a slow start this week at Amazon, but there are still savings to be had. You just have to do a little digging.

If deal hunting isn't on your résumé, we've got you covered. We already did the hard part and scoured the mega retailer's listings to handpick the deals that are worth your cash on Aug. 12.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these catch your eye, stay tuned this week as we select new deals every day.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $20.00 Get Deal

The Prime Day 2024 Fitbit deals left a lot to be desired, so we're pretty pumped to see this deal on the Inspire 3. As a Mashable Choice award winner, we're big fans of the Inspire 3's intuitive design, impressive app suite, workout insights, and slim and sleek build. "For anyone new to fitness or any dedicated gym rat, the Fitbit Inspire 3 gets you more than you pay for," our reviewer writes. As of Aug. 12, you can snag it on sale for just $79.95 instead of its usual $99.95 — that's 20% in savings and just $10 away from its all-time low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Mate $16.95 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $8.04 Get Deal

The Tile Mate typically hovers right around a 30% discount, but as of Aug. 12, it has surpassed its usual savings and dropped to $16.95. While that's not its lowest price on record, it's still an impressive 32% in savings on one of our favorite Bluetooth trackers. Attach the Tile Mate to anything you'd rather not lose — your phone, keys, wallet, suitcase, camera bag, tools, etc. Upon testing, we found that these tiny squares excel as Bluetooth item finders for both iOS and Android users. And if you opt into a paid Tile Premium subscription, you can unlock extra features, like notifications when you leave an item behind. Plus, perhaps the best part, you can qualify for item reimbursement if you aren't able to recover your lost items.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 $169.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 offers 360-degree sound with impressive bass for a speaker of its size. It's also virtually indestructible, thanks to its IP67 waterproof rating and one meter drop protection. Jam out to your favorite tunes for up to 20 hours on a single charge no matter where you are. While we haven't tested this particular speaker, its pint-sized sibling (the Wonderboom) is one of our absolute favorites. It's regularly $199.99, but as of Aug. 12, it's on sale for just $169.99. That's its first discount since it made its debut in June.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Space A40 noise-cancelling earbuds $49.00 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.99 Get Deal

Our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) tested the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds and found that they "fit securely, deliver strong audio performance, and offer excellent battery life." They also noted that the buds "ultimately outshine both of Anker's older top-rated models." With 50 hours of audio playback, adaptive noise cancellation you can customize in the app, and a fast-charging feature that gives you four extra hours of battery life in 10 minutes, it's hard to beat these earbuds at full price. On sale, they're practically a steal. Snag 'em for just $49 as of Aug. 12 — that's the lowest price they've ever been.

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

Tons of tablets are on sale at Amazon this week

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 11:39
Our top picks: Best iPad deal Apple iPad 9th gen 10.2-inch (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $224 at Amazon (save $105) Get Deal Best Samsung Galaxy Tab deal Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 11-inch (Qualcomm Snapdragon 695, 64GB, WiFi) $179 at Amazon (save $40.99) Get Deal Best budget tablet deal Lenovo Tab M8 4th gen 8-inch (MediaTek, 32GB, WiFi) $77.71 at Amazon (save $12.28 ) Get Deal

Our lives revolve around screens — most of us switch between our laptops, desktops, and smartphones throughout the day, and some people opt for tablets as an alternative or complementary device. (I have two iMacs, a MacBook, an iPad, and an iPhone.)

SEE ALSO: The best tablets: iPads are great, but have you tried literally anything else?

Although not necessary, tablets make working or just watching a show or movie easier in on-the-go situations. It’s way more convenient to whip out a tablet on the subway than it is to pull out a laptop.

If you’re on the lookout for a new tablet, we’ve rounded up the best deals on Amazon right now.

Here are our top picks:

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iPad 9th gen 10.2-inch (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $224.00 at Amazon
$329.00 Save $105.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple iPad (9th gen) is Mashable’s top pick for the best tablet “for most people.” What this means is that you don't need to be a power user or have lofty expectations for a tablet to get great value out of the standard iPad.

This model has a 10.2-inch Retina display, 64GB of storage, and an all-day battery life for long commutes or late-night scroll sessions. The A13 Bionic chip means it can handle daily tasks and light gaming without crashing, and the iPadOS software lets you run multiple apps at once.

The iPad (9th gen) is compatible with the Apple Pencil (1st gen) and Smart Keyboard, which makes it a decent laptop alternative in a pinch, though we wouldn’t recommend it for serious work.

If you’re looking for a tablet for light web browsing, streaming, e-books, and casual gaming, this iPad is a solid choice.

More iPad dealsBest Samsung Galaxy Tab deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 11-inch (Qualcomm Snapdragon 695, 64GB, WiFi) $179.00 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $40.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If you prefer Android, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 11-inch tablet is on sale for $179. That’s a pretty good deal for a larger, high-res display and entertainment-focused tablet.

The Galaxy Tab A9+ has an 11-inch screen for streaming movies or playing mobile games. It also features Dolby Atmos speakers, so you can really get into what you’re watching. If this tablet is for your little one, the Samsung Kids app is a built-in feature that provides a safe, curated space for them to play.

This tablet is slim, durable, and lightweight enough to hold comfortably for hours. The Quick Share feature makes sending and receiving files between devices easy in case you’re trying to move things around on the go.

More Samsung Galaxy Tab deals Best budget deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Our pick: Lenovo Tab M8 4th gen 8-inch (MediaTek, 32GB, WiFi) $77.71 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $12.28 Get Deal Why we like it

OK, we know Lenovo isn’t exactly a powerhouse when it comes to tablets. But if you need a super cheap tablet for basic tasks, the Lenovo Tab M8 (4th gen) is currently on sale for just $77.71.

This tablet only has 32GB of storage, but if you’re not saving a ton of apps and games, that should be enough for occasional web browsing, streaming, and reading. It has an 8-inch HD display, so the screen quality won't blow you away, but it's decent enough for casual use. And with 16 hours of battery life, it should get you through a long flight or just a quiet night at home.

For the price, it's a good option if you need an affordable tablet that can handle basic tasks.

Elections Officials Battle a Deluge of Disinformation

NYT Technology - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 11:20
County clerks and secretaries of state are overwhelmed this year, as they stare down a “perpetual moving target” of new conspiracy theories, political pressure and threats.

Google Chrome is killing one of the most popular ad blockers around

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 11:00

An update in Google Chrome's browser extension support is bad news for uBlock Origin.

According to PCWorld, Chrome's shift from Manifest V2 to V3 is deprecating certain features that the popular ad-blocker relies on. The Chrome update "aims to... improve the privacy, security, and performance of extensions," by changing the way it manages API requests. That means with the upcoming Chrome update, uBlock Origin will be automatically disabled.

SEE ALSO: This ad blocker and data privacy tool is only $30 for life

Google has been cracking down on ad-blockers across many of its products, like YouTube. It's a real buzzkill for the majority of internet users who try and curtail ads. But it also makes a lot of sense since that's how the tech giant gets revenue by offering free services. That said, some ad-blockers aren't safe or compliant with Google's policies, so you can't blame the company for enforcing that.

The popular ad-blocker, which has over 30 million users, reportedly still works. But a disclaimer at the top of extension page says, "This extension may soon no longer be supported because it doesn't follow best practices for Chrome extensions."

Developer Raymond Hill who makes uBlock Origin has scrambled to deploy a fix and now offers uBlock Origin Lite, which is compliant with Manifest V3. It already has 200,000 users, and still has standard ad-blocking capabilities, but is less dynamic in the sense that it requires the user to allow or block permissions on a "per-site basis." In a GitHub post about the new extension, Hill explained that it isn't intended to be a replacement for the original.

"I consider uBO Lite to be too different from uBO to be an automatic replacement," said the developer. "You will have to explicitly find a replacement to uBO according to what you expect from a content blocker. uBO Lite may or may not fulfill your expectations."

uBlock Origin still works on other browsers, so you could always switch to a Chrome alternative like Firefox or Edge. But if you want to stick with Chrome, you have to play by Chrome's rules, and that means getting a different ad-blocker.

Upgrade to a cheap QLED TV on sale before football season starts

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 11:00
Best TV deals the week of August 12 Best 55-inch TV deal Amazon 55-inch Omni 4K QLED Fire TV $449.99 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch Q6 QLED 4K Fire TV $348 at Walmart (save $150) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal Samsung 75-inch QN90D Neo QLED TV $2,599.99 at Best Buy (save $700) Get Deal

Football season has a way of influencing the TV deals market. While the weeks surrounding playoffs are the absolute best football-related time to buy a TV on sale, the weeks surrounding the kickoff to that season are home to some pretty good deals, too. With less than a month left until the first official NFL game of the 2024-2025 season on Sept. 5, there are plenty of options on sale to set yourself up for a more vibrant, less laggy sports watching experience at home.

We've pulled the TV deals worth your consideration during the week of August 12, including a better version of our absolute favorite Prime Day TV deal (plus several other cheap QLED TVs), as well as discounts on 2024 OLED and QLED models from Samsung and LG.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch Q6 QLED 4K Fire TV $348.00 at Walmart
$498.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Our favorite Prime Day TV deal is still around almost a month later — it's just at Walmart instead of Amazon now, and *checks notes* got cheaper. As of the second full week in August, you can score the 65-inch TCL Q6 QLED for $348 at Walmart (compared to $389.99 at Amazon during Prime Day).

Less than $400 (or $350, even) is an absolutely stellar price for a QLED of this size. No, TCL's Q6 series aren't the most premium QLED TVs on the market, but they're also not the most basic QLED TVs out there. The Q6 gets brighter than TCL's ultra budget Q5 model, making it one of the rare budget QLEDs that actually gets bright and colorful enough to make HDR worthwhile. If you're looking for an affordable way to level up your football watching experience this season, this is it.

More TV deals this week

43- to 50-inch TVs

55- to 58-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

The world's first tri-fold phone has reportedly been spotted

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 10:51

Foldable phones have been on the market for roughly five years now, and in that time, there's been plenty of concern about how long the hinges in their screens will hold up. Now imagine a foldable phone that has two hinges.

You may not have to imagine it for too much longer, because what could be the world's first tri-fold foldable phone was spotted on an airplane in China, per Gizmochina. The photo appears to show Huawei executive Yu Richard holding an unusually large foldable phone that appears to have two hinges instead of just the one that you would get in something like a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Google Pixel Fold, or OnePlus Open.

SEE ALSO: 'Google is a monopolist’: Google loses huge antitrust case over search

The existence of the device was corroborated by Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station, who said it resembled a prototype they had seen. The display is reportedly around 10 inches in size, which would be bigger than any current foldable on the market. However, there are downsides to this. For starters, the phone will likely be more bulky than a regular foldable, while it would certainly be more expensive, too.

There's no evidence that this device will reach mass production anytime soon at the moment, but if you start seeing two-hinge foldables, now you know where it started.

Yung Miami finally speaks on relationship with Diddy and the City Girls breaking up

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 10:51

The season two premiere of Yung Miami's podcast Caresha Please was shocking and tea was spilled as the former City Girls star uncharacteristically broke her silence regarding her past relationship with controversial music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs and other controversies.

Yung Miami, whose legal name is Caresha Brownlee, opened up about all the controversy of this year with guest host, and long-time friend, rapper Saucy Santana. The 33-minute long episode opened with a short monologue from Brownlee teasing the information that's about to come, saying “I wanted to tell my truth, my story, on my platform where I feel safe.” 

The podcast formally started with the City Girls rapper addressing her mental health — expressing feelings of isolation and a lack of support from people who she expected to have her back amidst all of the controversies with ex-boyfriend Combs.

"So mentally, one minute I’m happy, one minute I’m sad," she said. "One minute, I’m kinda like, ‘Fuck this shit.’ And then the next minute, I’m looking at my kids, like I didn’t bring us this far to go backwards."

Yung Miami on her relationship and split with Diddy 

As the podcast continued, Brownlee spoke about how she believed fans took issue with how she portrayed herself in her relationship with Combs, saying that her fans thought she made her City Girls brand more about Combs than the group.

"I never thought I was bigger than the program,” she said. Emphasizing that she was still heavily involved in the group and putting out music with her then-rap partner JT, real name Jatavia Johnson. 

Fans also took issue with her silence regarding the slew of allegations against Combs for various sex crimes and drug smuggling. Many fans assumed Brownlee must have known about the crimes but she denied it.

"I can’t speak on these allegations because I wasn’t around at that time," Brownlee stated. "I don’t know that person and that wasn’t my experience."

She went on to say that she did not experience domestic violence at the hand of the denounced rapper and that she does not stand for it, having survived two past relationships where she experienced that.

Finally, Brownlee said she believed that the relationship was mutually beneficial but it was not a relationship solely based on business. While she admitted she had things she wanted to learn from the mogul, they were in love. Brownlee says she stepped back from the relationship because she needed a moment to pour into herself and that she did not want to get caught up in the allegations.

Where do the City Girls stand today?

“Shit ain’t all good, but it ain't all bad,” said Brownlee when asked about her relationship with ex-group mate JT. 

According to Brownlee, fans only saw a portion of what transpired when the two clashed in an argument on X (formerly Twitter) when Brownlee accused JT of "sneak dissing."

Unsurprisingly, Brownlee hinted at some behind-the-scenes drama. The coastal divide wasn’t the only thing pulling them apart. Brownlee spills that JT was secretly juggling projects she had zero clue about, and the spark that once sizzled between them was starting to fizzle out. You could see it in their studio sessions and interviews— they grew apart.

"I don’t know what was the moment that separated us but I just felt like it because a time when we were getting together it just wasn’t connecting."

Despite the difference in their relationship Brownlee said they will always look at each other as family. 

What’s next for Yung Miami?

It’s safe to say that the podcast host is back with a mission to expand her brand. Fans should expect a full season of Caresha Please, a reality show, a new card game in the “Resha Roulette” series, and new music.

This week's best Apple Watch deals are here

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 10:44

Whether you want an Apple Watch for all of the swankiest health monitoring features that Apple has to offer, or you simply want to be able to take texts and calls without having your phone in hand, there's a smartwatch for everyone's needs. Plus, with today's limited-time deals at Amazon, there's an Apple Watch for every budget, too.

This week's best Apple Watch deals: Best Apple Watch SE deal Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) $189 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Series 9 deal Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 45mm) $329 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Series 7 deal Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm) $207 at Amazon (save $322.99) Get Deal

Today at Amazon, you can score an Apple Watch for less than $200 when you shop today's Apple Watch SE deal. Meanwhile, you can get a totally renewed Apple Watch Series 7 (with GPS and Cellular) for over $300 off its regular list price. These deals only scratch the surface. Check out the full list below.

Best Apple Watch SE deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) $189.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're shopping for a new Apple Watch and trying to be mindful of budget, then today's deal on the Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) offers top value. At just $189, the second-generation Apple Watch is 24% off — only $20 above its lowest price on record. The Apple Watch SE tracks your physical activity and sleep data so you can gather insights into your overall health. While it doesn't have as robust a host of features as the Series 9, it has all the essentials and it doesn't lack for safety features. It has crash and fall detection, plus it's waterproof so you don't have to worry about it failing you in a rainstorm.

Best Apple Watch Series 9 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 45mm) $329.00 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For the full spectrum of health tracking features, opt for the Apple Watch Series 9. Today, the smartwatch is on sale for $100 off, bringing the price down to $329. Like the SE, it's only $20 above its lowest-ever price, making this a good time to buy. With the Series 9, you can take your own ECG and receive notifications whenever you have an irregular heart rhythm. It even has features that help you track your emotions and mental state, so you can build more mindfulness and resiliency. On top of the health features, the Apple Watch Series 9 boasts a brighter display and the ability to interact with your watch without having to touch its screen.

Best Apple Watch Series 7 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm) $207.00 at Amazon
$529.99 Save $322.99 Get Deal Why we like it

With both GPS and cellular connectivity, this Apple Watch has a higher listing price. However, today's limited-time deal saves shoppers $322.99. That's 61% off the Apple Watch Series 7. This watch has officially been renewed by Amazon, which means it has been inspected, tested, and refurbished to be fully functional as if it were bought new. Like the Series 9, it offers health tracking features for your heart and emergency safety tools.

More Apple Watch deals:

All the best robot vacuum deals we could find for the week of August 12

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 10:40
Our top picks: Best iRobot vacuum deal iRobot Roomba j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal Best Shark robot vacuum deal Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 $149.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best Roborock robot vacuum deal Roborock Q7 Max+ $379.99 at Amazon (save $490) Get Deal

Not to be dramatic, but my robot vacuum is the best purchase I’ve ever made. With two beagles and a never-ending battle against pet hair, dirt, and dog food lodged into the side of my couch cushions (guess they’re saving those pieces for later), I honestly don’t know how I was getting on before.

SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The guide to deciding which Roomba to buy (2024)

Whether you’re a pet parent like me or just want to keep your floors clean without having to lug out an upright vacuum every day, a good robot vacuum can make all the difference.

Here are our top picks for the best robot vacuum deals this week:

Best iRobot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Our pick: iRobot Roomba j9+ $999.00 at Amazon
$1,399.00 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Roomba Combo j9+ is one of our favorite iRobot vacuums on the market right now, but it’s kind of expensive at its regular price. This week, however, it’s $400 off at Amazon and Best Buy.

This Roomba vacuum and mop combo has three levels of suction power and an automatic Carpet Boost to make sure your carpets are getting a deep clean. The Auto-Fill Dock automatically empties the dustbag and refills the mop tank, and the Auto-Retract Mopping System automatically lifts the mop when it's not in use to avoid leaving water marks.

What’s even cooler about this little gadget is that it’s smart enough to mop the bathrooms last to avoid spreading germs to other rooms.

Read our full review of the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+.

More iRobot vacuum dealsBest Shark robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Our pick: Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 $149.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop combo is a Mashable Choice winner, and it's on sale this week, too. For just $149.99, you can snag one of the best hybrid robot vacuum and mop models we’ve tested. (It’s at its lowest price ever, according to CamelCamelCamel.)

The Sonic Mopping scrubs hard floors 100 times per minute, while the Matrix Mop feature (via the app) targets spills and stains for an extra-deep clean. Its LiDAR vision system maps your home so you can clean the rooms you want and avoid the ones you don't. This particular model doesn’t come with a self-emptying base, but even without it, this is still a really good deal. (With the base, it's $429.99.)

Our reviewer Timothy Werth called this robot vacuum “absolutely one of the best robot vacuums for sale in 2023,” and we’re still impressed a year later.

Read our full review of the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1.

More Shark robot vacuum deals Best Roborock robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Our pick: Roborock Q7 Max+ $379.99 at Amazon
$869.99 Save $490.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Roborock Q7 Max+, an $869 vacuum, is currently on sale for $379.99 at Amazon (that's a $490 discount). This is the lowest price we’ve seen on this model since July 2023.

This robot vacuum and mop combo comes with a self-emptying base, so you can go up to seven weeks without having to touch the dustbin. It also has an all-rubber brush that's great for pet hair and won't get tangled. Plus, its battery lasts for up to 180 minutes on a single charge.

More Roborock robot vacuum deals

Get Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones for their lowest price ever

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 10:34

SAVE 43%: This week find major markdowns on headphones including the Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones for $198. That's 43% off for $150 in savings.

Best headphone deals Best headphone deal Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones $198 at Amazon (Save $150) Get Deal Best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort headphones $249 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal Best earbud deal JBL Tune Flex earbuds $49.95 at Amazon (Save $50) Get Deal

A new week brings a fresh round of deals that are guaranteed not to last. Last week, we saw AirPods Max dip just $5 above their lowest price ever, and while that deal is no longer live, it has made room for new sales. Ahead of back-to-school season, browse all the deals on headphones including Sony's exceptional noise-cancelling headphones for under $200.

This week, we've spotted deals the lowest price ever on headphones and earbuds from Sony, Bose, and more. Here are the best deals of the week.

Best headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones $198.00 at Amazon
$348.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Having tested the Sony WH-1000XM5 here at Mashable, we're thoroughly impressed by the brand's flagship headphones. And while they are fantastic, they're only a slight upgrade over the previous WH-1000XM4, which are currently on sale for $198.

Down to their lowest price ever, this deal on the Sony WH-1000XM4 is hard to beat. You'll save $150 for 43% savings, and get exceptional sound quality. While we haven't officially tested them at Mashable, our sibling publication, PC Mag, has and they note that it strikes the perfect combination of noise cancellation and audio quality.

Now that they're under $200, it's hard to find a better pair of headphones at a lower price.

More headphone and earbud deals

John Oliver gleefully mocks JD Vance's very odd laugh

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 05:47
John Oliver has mocked JD Vance for his unusual laugh on "Last Week Tonight".

Brands Love Influencers (Until Politics Get Involved)

NYT Technology - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 05:02
Marketing firms are using artificial intelligence to help analyze influencers and predict whether they will opine about the election.

Why does everyone think Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are feuding over 'It Ends With Us?'

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 05:00

It's a tale as old as time: boy directs movie adaptation of best-selling novel, boy hires girl to play lead role, boy and girl have creative differences, boy and girl promote the movie together while pretending the other one doesn't exist.

That's a simple summation of the perceived drama brewing between It Ends With Us leads Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. The pair have been attending premiers of the movie — which opened this weekend — separately and rumors are swirling about how the stars went from playing lovers in the movie to avoiding each other IRL.

What is It Ends With Us?

It Ends With Us is a movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 2016 No. 1 New York Times best-selling novel of the same name. The novel follows Lily Bloom, a florist, and her romantic relationship with Ryle Kincaid, who becomes physically and sexually abusive. The story is loosely based on Hoover's own mother. In 2020, Baldoni first announced he'd be developing and directing the film, and in 2023, in a video posted to Instagram, Hoover announced that Blake Lively would play the lead role of Bloom and Baldoni would play Kincaid.

The movie began production in May 2023 and opened Aug. 9. Lively is a co-producer on the film.

Why are Baldoni and Lively supposedly at odds?

The Hollywood Reporter says it spoke to sources who reported that there had been "a fracture among the filmmakers in the postproduction process" that led Lively to commission a cut of the movie from editor Shane Reid, who worked with her on Taylor Swift’s "I Bet You Think About Me" music video. But other sources that The Hollywood Reporter spoke with said it was no uncommon for a film to have multiple edits made in post-production.

Still, online sleuths say they've found several forms of evidence to back up the rumored bad blood between co-stars. For example, none of the cast follows Baldoni on Instagram. (As of publishing, Baldoni follows Hoover, Lively, and It Ends With Us actress Jenny Slate on Instagram. None of the three women follow him back).

Baldoni has also not appeared in any of the film's red carpet photos with Lively, Hoover, or the rest of the cast, instead opting to walk the carpet on his own or with his wife.

In one red carpet interview, Slate dodged a question about what it was like to work with Baldoni as both a director and scene partner, telling Deadline, "What an intense job, to have to do so many things. I just felt myself being like, 'Wow I really just want to have one job at once.'"

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Some have speculated that a creative power struggle is to blame for the awkwardness, especially after Lively told E! News that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, stepped in to help write a pivotal scene from the movie despite not having any formal involvement in its development. Reynolds has also participated in the movie's promotion, bringing Deadpool & Wolverine co-star Hugh Jackman to the New York City premiere of It Ends With Us and interviewing one of Lively's character's love interests (notably, not Baldoni).

On Aug. 9, Page Six reported that, according to insider sources, Baldoni made Lively feel "uncomfortable" about her postpartum body during filming and created an "extremely difficult" workplace environment on set.

What have Baldoni and Lively said about each other?

Lively has been pretty quiet about her thoughts on working with Baldoni, opting instead to praise the support of her husband throughout production. But, like Slate, she chose to dodge a question posed to her Yahoo Entertainment about working with Baldoni, talking instead about the character of Ryle and Hoover's depiction of him in the novel.

Baldoni, for his part, has been publicly gracious about Lively and hubby Reynolds, telling Today, "You can’t summarize Blake’s contribution in a sentence because her energy and imprint is all over the movie and really, really made the film better, and from beginning to end. Ryan (Reynolds) was so generous... he’s a creative genius... His gift is levity, and her gift is levity." When asked if he would work with the pair again, he said, "If they’d have me."

Earlier this week, Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight that, when it comes to directing the sequel It Starts with Us, "I think there are better people for that one. I think Blake Lively is ready to direct."

What else is the film under fire for?

The film's team, including Lively, have been criticized for their light-hearted promotion of what is ultimately a depiction of domestic violence. Lively has used the film to promote her brand Betty Buzz by selling "Betty Blooms," a limited series of bouquets housed in Betty Buzz bottles, as a tie-in to her character's love for flowers. Lively's red carpet and street styles have taken inspiration from the character, too; Lively has consistently stepped out in colorful, floral, frilly dresses befitting the interests of her character, yes, but perhaps not the seriousness of the role.

These choices have been part of what Rolling Stone's CT Jones calls a "glossy marketing campaign is proving that Hollywood hasn’t found a respectful way to market movies about domestic violence." Instead, "It’s prioritized selling a romance by covering up the themes of abuse at almost every opportunity."

Create human-quality AI text in seconds with this no-subscription tool

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: The Undetectable Humanizer Pro Plan can transform AI-generated content to sound more human for a one-time payment of $139.99.

AI-generated content is everywhere, but it often lacks the nuance and overall feel of human writing. Undetectable Humanizer bridges this gap by transforming AI-generated text into engaging, human-like content. This tool can help your content stand out, whether it's for a blog post, essay, or social media update, potentially boosting your SEO and increasing engagement and conversions.

Pay only once for lifetime access to Undetectable Humanizer with this deal on a Pro Plan for $139.99.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/K-QGDlT2Y38

Using the Undetectable Humanizer is simple. Just input your AI-generated content, select the desired tone and style, and let the tool work its magic. Within seconds, you'll have polished, humanized content ready to captivate your audience. Whether you’re crafting a persuasive blog post, an insightful essay, or a catchy social media caption, this tool adapts to various content types effortlessly.

The benefits of humanized content are plentiful. By improving the readability and relatability of your text, you'll not only engage your audience more effectively, but also possibly enhance your site's SEO performance. Search engines tend to favor content that keeps readers on the page, and the Undetectable Humanizer helps you hit the mark.

This lifetime subscription is a one-time investment in making your AI-generated content more impactful and authentic. With the Undetectable Humanizer, your content will no longer feel robotic—it's your secret weapon for creating content that truly connects.

For a limited time, get a lifetime subscription to an Undetectable Humanizer Pro Plan on sale for $139.99.

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Don't pass up on top-tier online security and performance with Norton 360 for $18

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Score a subscription to Norton 360 Standard 2024 for $17.99 and enjoy 15 months of premium security and performance.

Ready to take control of your online security? Norton 360 Standard 2024 is here to provide you with 15 months of reliable protection for only $17.99, so you can browse with confidence. Whether you’re streaming, working, or just catching up on emails, Norton’s comprehensive security suite helps keep your device safe from malware, phishing, and other digital threats. 

With a fast VPN service, you can browse securely and privately. Its password manager keeps your login details organized and easily accessible, making online life simpler. Plus, the secure cloud backup acts like a digital vault for your important files, ensuring they're always safe and sound.

Stay one step ahead of the digital curve with Norton’s automatic updates and dark web monitoring, ensuring you’re always protected without lifting a finger. Whether you're streaming, gaming, or working, Norton 360 Standard ensures your digital experience is smooth and worry-free.

Get Norton 360 Standard 2024 with automatic renewal for just $17.99 for a limited time and enjoy 15 months of unbeatable digital protection.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Norton 360 Standard | 1 Device (2024 Ready) | 15-Month Subscription with Auto Renewal $17.99 at The Mashable Shop
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Psst! You can get a secret second phone number for a one-time payment of only $20

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Through September 3, get a Hushed Private Phone Line Plan for $24.99 with promo code SAVENOW and enjoy lifetime access to private calls and texts.

Need an extra layer of privacy? The Hushed Private Phone Line Plan lets you make private calls and send texts from a second phone number, perfect for managing personal and business communications. Ideal for freelancers, small business owners, or anyone looking to keep their primary number hidden, this app gives you the freedom to juggle multiple numbers with ease.

For just $19.99 with coupon code SAVENOW until September 3, you'll get lifetime access to a private phone line, 1,000 minutes of talk time, and 6,000 text messages.

Choose from hundreds of area codes across the US and Canada to create a number that suits your needs. This app simplifies communication by allowing you to manage everything from a single interface, and it provides lifetime access to one number per account. You can even customize your voicemail and set up call forwarding to ensure you never miss an important call, giving you the flexibility and privacy to keep your primary number under wraps.

Privacy is the name of the game with Hushed. Use it to separate work and personal life, or even to keep your online interactions anonymous. The app's clean interface and user-friendly features make it simple to switch between numbers without missing a beat.

Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a second phone number and keep your primary line reserved for those who matter most.

Take control of your privacy and streamline your communication with this lifetime subscription to a Hushed Private Phone Line Plan, on sale for $24.99 when you enter code SAVENOW at checkout.

Looking for more privacy-related deals? Check them out here.

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Go back to school with 52% off a refurbished MacBook Pro

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Save 52% with this back-to-school MacBook deal: Get a Refurbished Pro model with an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

Think these refurbished MacBook deals are too good to be true? We don’t blame you. After all, it seems unlikely that you can get an Apple MacBook Pro for under $500. But the truth is, you just have to set your expectations realistically. 

For example, this 2017 MacBook Pro won’t perform as well as brand-new models with the latest Apple silicon, but you might not need top-of-the-line performance for your school or creative projects. Plus, it’s only $429.99, compared to prices for new MacBook Pros starting at $1,599 on Apple’s website (yeah, yikes). And we have them in space gray and silver.

This MacBook Pro has an Intel Core i7 and 16GB of RAM to support demanding programs and apps. Creatives can run Adobe apps, coders might open Microsoft Visual Studio, and gamers will love playing online.

A 15.4-inch Retina display is also easier on your eyes in terms of size and aesthetics, and you’ll get the interactive Touch Bar with shortcuts that change with each app you open. This also has Touch ID for logging into your laptop or paying via Apple Pay using your fingerprint.

Refurbished devices won’t always look brand-new — but this grade “A” MacBook Pro isn’t far from it. You can expect near-mint condition and light signs of wear. We should also note that older devices eventually stop receiving OS support from Apple. This MacBook Pro cannot upgrade past macOS Ventura, but its most recent update was July 2024, so you’re set for the foreseeable future.

If the pros (catch that pun?) outweigh the cons for you, grab one of these 2017 refurbished MacBook Pros for $429.99 (reg. $899) — an impressive 52% discount — while supplies last. These refurbished models are limited in inventory, so jump on this back-to-school MacBook deal while you still can.

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Sam Soar just wanted free books. So she became an influencer.

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 05:00

Growing up in Thailand, Sam Soar immersed herself in comics that fueled her imagination. One series, in particular, captivated her. It was "about a family that is so hardcore about saving money that they would do anything possible," she shared with Mashable. "They rent a one-bedroom apartment, and all sleep in one room, so they only have to turn on one [air conditioner], and they'll go around the shopping centers putting all the trolleys back to get the coins."

Inspired by these stories, Soar found her own inventive ways to earn and save money, like growing vegetables and cycling around town to sell them.

We discussed this over coffee on the second floor of Waterstones Piccadilly in London. The city was in the middle of a heat wave, and the bookstore — with its air conditioning and eight sprawling floors, six of which are dedicated to books — was bustling. But it’s not Soar’s favorite. While Waterstones is a well-known retailer, she gravitates toward the charm and community of small businesses, something evident in her TikTok content, where she highlights local gems like Round Table Books. 

But she humored me, a tourist eager to see the biggest bookstore in Europe. Remarkably, her vibe is exactly what you'd expect: warm, giddy, and thoughtful. As a micro-influencer with roughly 51,300 followers on TikTok, Soar has found what some might call a sweet spot in the world of influencing. She doesn’t have enough to quit her day job — though she’s perfectly happy with that — but she has enough of an audience to cultivate a sense of community with her followers and fellow BookTokkers. The pressure to post is there, but not so overwhelming that it takes away the joy. Plus, she gets to enjoy one of the perks of her passion: free books from publishers, which she reviews on her page — a fitting benefit for someone raised on comics about frugality.

Free books were one of the main reasons she started book blogging at just 11 years old. After moving to the UK when she was young, she launched her own blog, Sam Falling Books.

"Back then, when I had a blog, the community around that was so cute," she said. "There would be blog tours, and the bloggers would become friends."

Blogs, at the time, offered a kind of refuge. While some bloggers made it bigger than others, the blogging community felt safer and more intimate than other social media spaces. Soar didn’t want to put her face online because, as she admits, she was "so scared and embarrassed" — understandable for an 11-year-old. Blogs provided the perfect solution: a static, personal space without algorithms or the pressure of today's content-driven culture. It was just her, other like-minded people, and the books they loved.

Soar's passion for reading led her to spend countless hours borrowing books from the library, but there was one downside — the wait. Often, she found herself stuck on waiting lists, hoping the person ahead of her would return the book she was eager to read. Rather than wait, she took matters into her own hands and began emailing publishers directly: "My name is Sam, and I am a UK teenager who loves book blogging! I was wondering if you had any review copies of [insert book name here] that I could review."

And it worked.

"I'm so proud of my blog," she said, laughing. "I got so many free books."

When she went off to university, her book blog fell by the wayside. But eventually, she noticed the buzz around BookTok and decided to jump back in.

SEE ALSO: Drew Afualo is more vulnerable than ever in her debut book 'Loud'

"I saw everyone, and I was like, 'Oh, people are just like normal readers who post,'" she said. "You could have your face in it, but you didn't have to have your face in it. People are just recommending books. And I thought, There are lots of recommendations that I'd love to throw on this list. My only wish is that I'd started earlier."

Her success in obtaining the books she wanted sparked another consideration: the implications of overconsumption in the literary world. There's a growing trend where people want to be seen as readers, whether they actually are or not. Every celebrity has a book club, and the aesthetic of a well-stocked bookshelf is gaining noxious traction online, reminiscent of trendy decor styles like "coastal grandmother" or "Nancy Meyers core." It's not that people should read less or even buy fewer books, but when piles of unread books start accumulating in a corner of your apartment, it might be time to rethink how — and why — you got there. BookTok, with its focus on the latest editions and special releases, only amplifies this consumption.

"When I was younger, I couldn't afford books," Soar said. "I would just borrow from the library and hustle the publishers. To have people showing these massive book hauls with 20 or even 30 books and seeing that as a young person, you might think you have to have all of those books to be a real reader. I'm becoming more wary of that."

That doesn't mean Soar is entirely immune to the temptation of book collecting. She admits to feeling "a little bit of shame" when she looks at her overflowing shelves. For now, she's focused on buying less and tackling the growing stack of books on her TBR (to-be-read) shelf.

Beyond her reflections on overconsumption, Soar uses her platform to engage with important causes. She has posted about Operation Olive Branch, a grassroots collective that amplifies Palestinian voices and supports their needs. She’s also part of a group chat called "BookTok Union," where about 60 creators come together to support each other, discuss upcoming events, and share insights on how much to charge for sponsored posts.

For the most part, BookTok is just fun for Soar. She reads a lot of fantasy and romance, shares reviews, posts videos of her emotional reactions to the material, and highlights her favorite quotes for her audience of fellow bookworms. She started her page with the hope of reading more, and that's exactly what her account has allowed her to do.

She's still learning to balance collecting and consuming, but she remains driven by the same passion that started it all — a genuine love for stories.

CrowdStrike accepts Pwnie Award for Most Epic Fail in person

Mashable - Mon, 08/12/2024 - 03:39

CrowdStrike has accepted the 2024 Pwnie Award for Most Epic Fail, with president Michael Sentonas delivering an acceptance speech in person. Sometimes the best course of action is to simply suck it up, admit your mistakes, and take the L.

This year's Pwnie Awards Ceremony was held on Saturday at the DEF CON hacker convention in Las Vegas. Now in its 17th year, the Pwnie Awards recognises some of the most outstanding achievements in technology security over the past year — as well as the greatest failures. 

SEE ALSO: CrowdStrike outage 3 days later: Where does everything stand now?

As such, it was obvious that CrowdStrike would take home an award this year. Over 8.5 million Windows computers went down in July after the cybersecurity company pushed out an update to its software, bringing numerous companies and services across the world to a sudden halt. Businesses impacted included banks, airlines, mail carriers, supermarkets, and telecommunications companies.

The CrowdStrike outage was a massive global event, which has now been recognised with a massive Pwnie Award trophy. The two-tiered trophy awarded to CrowdStrike dwarfed the smaller pony-shaped ones for other categories, as befitting the eclipsing size of its blunder.

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"Definitely not the award to be proud of receiving," Sentonas said in his acceptance speech, taking the stage to laughter and applause. "I think the team was surprised when I said straight away that I'd be coming to get it. We got this horribly wrong, we've said that a number of different times. It's super important to own it when you do things well, it's super important to own it when you do things horribly wrong, which we did in this case."

Accepting the large golden trophy, Sentonas stated that he intended to display it at CrowdStrike's headquarters in Austin, Texas. His hope is that it will serve as a reminder to CrowdStrike's staff to prevent such mistakes from happening in the future.

"The reason why I wanted the trophy is I'm heading back to headquarters," Sentosas continued. "I'm gonna take the trophy with me, it's gonna sit pride of place, because I want every CrowdStriker who comes to work to see it. Because our goal is to protect people, and we got this wrong, and I want to make sure that everybody understands these things can't happen, and that's what this community's about. So from that perspective I will say thank you."

Sentonas' in-person acceptance of CrowdStrike's Pwnie Award was widely well-received, with social media users praising him for accepting accountability with humility, class, and good humour.

CrowdStrike was the sole contender for 2024's Most Epic Fail Pwnie Award

Though CrowdStrike's Most Epic Fail trophy was only awarded this weekend, its win had already been announced alongside the Pwnie Award nominations in late July. This was within mere days of the infamous global outage that took down numerous companies and services worldwide. 

In a post to X at the time, the Pwnie Awards stated that it was granting the early award due to "extenuating circumstances." Said circumstance was likely the fact that CrowdStrike's fail was so epic that no one was likely to match it unless they deliberately tried. Even then, it would still be a difficult task.

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While all other categories at the 2024 Pwnie Awards had three finalists, CrowdStrike had no competition for the' Epic Fail Award. Instead, nominee details for the category simply read, "Lol. Lmao even."

"This award is for the defenders who dared to wonder, 'What could possibly go wrong?'" reads the Pwnie Awards' description of its Most Epic Fail Award. "This award will honor a person or corporate entity’s spectacularly epic fail – the kind of fail that lets the entire infosec industry down in its wake. It can be a singular incident, marketing piece, or investment – or a smoldering trail of whale-scale fail."

Last year's Most Epic Fail winner was the Transport Security Administration (TSA), after a hacker discovered their no-fly list on an unsecured server. Though at least the TSA can say its mistake didn't take out IT systems across the globe.

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