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Dating apps require users to disclose vulnerable information — and not just someone's romantic dreams. Most times, these apps require personal data like your name, age, and location. In the case of the latter, a new paper details that, for a time, several major apps left user locations able to be exposed by potential adversaries.

Dating app location vulnerabilities

In a new paper out of Belgian university KU Leuven, "Swipe Left for Identity Theft," researchers break down potential privacy risks for 15 location-based dating apps (LBDs) with at least 10 million downloads. These days, dating apps are typically location-based in order to help users find matches physically close to them. By needing location, however, it opens users up to potential risks.

SEE ALSO: Daters are changing their app locations to the Olympic Village

All apps except one used distance between users to measure location. (That exception, TanTan — an Asian dating app — used exact coordinates one-time at the point of matching, and only if they matched.) "However, lacking sufficient protections, the availability of distances can still lead to the inference of a user's location," the paper states. "This is done through trilateration."

Trilateration is the process of determining location by measuring distances between three triangles (or circles, or spheres). There are different types of trilateration apps use to determine location. The authors — Karel Dhondt, Victor Le Pochat, Yana Dimova, Wouter Joosen, and Stijn Volckaert — found that they were able to pinpoint almost an exact location in six out of 15 apps, as TechCrunch reported.

Which dating apps had location vulnerabilities?

The most common vulnerability was through "oracle trilateration," which the paper explains, "Adversaries use an oracle that indicates through a binary signal whether a victim is located within proximity, i.e., when they are within a defined 'proximity distance' from the attacker."

Hinge, Bumble, Badoo (which is owned by Bumble), and Hily were susceptible to such trilateration.

A Hinge spokesman told Mashable:

At Hinge, the safety and privacy of our users is always a top priority. Our app is built with a privacy-by-design approach and strictly protects sensitive user data. We are proud of our state-of-the-art bug bounty program and our ongoing dialogue with researchers, which are designed to attract comments so we can make adjustments before any harm happens to our users. We reviewed the feedback from this research team when we received it in early 2023 and immediately took action where appropriate.

A Bumble spokesperson told both TechCrunch and Mashable, "We were made aware of these findings in early 2023, and swiftly resolved the issues outlined. As a global business with members in countries all over the world, we are committed to protecting our users’ privacy and have adopted a global approach to privacy compliance."

This statement applies for Badoo as well, Bumble told Mashable.

Dmytro Kononov, CTO and co-founder of Hily, shared this statement with TechCrunch:

The findings indicated a potential possibility for trilateration. However, in practice, exploiting this for attacks was impossible. This is due to our internal mechanisms designed to protect against spammers and the logic of our search algorithm...Despite this, we engaged in extensive consultations with the authors of the report and collaboratively developed new geocoding algorithms to completely eliminate this type of attack. These new algorithms have been successfully implemented for over a year now.

Grindr was vulnerable to "exact distance trilateration." This can be done when services reveal exact distances to other users. The authors were able to figure out user locations as close as 111 meters (around 364 feet). Exact distance trilateration was possible even when the distance was hidden, such as in Egypt where Grindr hides all user locations for safety reasons.

SEE ALSO: Men found a surprising new way to lie on dating apps

"The proximity Grindr offers to this community is paramount in providing the ability to interact with those closest to them, Grindr's chief privacy officer Kelly Peterson Miranda told TechCrunch. "As is the case with many location-based social networks and dating apps, Grindr requires certain location information in order to connect its users with those nearby...Grindr users are in control of what location information they provide."

Finally, the app happn was vulnerable to "rounded distance trilateration," which can be done if an app utilizes a rounded location as a precaution. CEO and president of happn, Karima Ben Abdelmalek, told TechCrunch:

After review by our Chief Security Officer of the research findings, we had the opportunity to discuss the trilateration method with the researchers. However, happn has an additional layer of protection beyond just rounding distances...This additional protection was not taken into account in their analysis and we mutually agreed that this extra measure on happn makes the trilateration technique ineffective.

It appears that for apps with these vulnerabilities, the apps took measures to stop bad actors from determining user location using trilateration, with the exception of Grindr.

Which dating apps weren't vulnerable?

According to the paper, Tinder and LOVOO used "grid snapping" to prevent trilateration. Grid snapping is a technique of dividing one's location into a grid of squares. Coordinates (aka where users are) are moved to the center of these squares (Tinder) or the right side (LOVOO) and one's distance is measured from there. Therefore, their actual distance is inaccurate and can't be trilaterated.

Plenty of Fish and Meetic don't access GPS locations. While MeetMe, Tagged, and OkCupid do access this information, they convert it to the nearest town. The authors couldn't reverse engineer the information they needed for TanTan and Jaumo, so they couldn't test this method to find user locations.

The paper shows the importance of caution when using dating apps. As the paper concludes, "We hope that the awareness that we bring of these issues will lead LBD app providers to reconsider their data gathering practices, protect their APIs [application programming interfaces] from data leaks, prevent location inference, and give users control of their data and therefore ultimately their privacy."

SAVE 52%: As of August 1, get the JBL Tune earbuds for just $47.95 at Amazon, down from their normal price of $99.95. That's a discount of $52.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon JBL Tune earbuds $47.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $52.00 Get Deal

Looking for a pair of earbuds, but don't want to spend too much? There are plenty of affordable options out there. But right now you can save big on a pair that's well worth scooping up for over half off for a limited time.

As of August 1, you can get the JBL Tune earbuds for just $47.95 at Amazon. That's 52% off their normal price of $99.95 and a discount of $52. They aren't quite at their lowest price of all time, but they're only a few dollars away.

SEE ALSO: The 6 best earbuds to buy in 2024, just in time for Prime Day deals

These wireless earbuds deliver great sound with active noise cancellation. Listen to your favorite tunes and then turn on ANC to block out unwanted sound. They also include an ambient mode to make sure you can still filter in the sounds you need to hear to stay aware of your surroundings. With 10mm drivers, they're nice and bassy, but they also serve up crystal clear treble, too.

Use these earbuds to listen to songs and podcasts or jump on a call thanks to their four built-in microphones. You'll be able to carry on your conversations without having to repeat yourself over and over. They're also water-resistant and sweatproof in case you want to take them to the gym for a workout. Plus, they offer up to 40 hours of battery life with fast charging that gets you 2 hours of playtime with just 10 minutes of charging.

These earbuds are on sale for a limited time only at Amazon, so be sure to grab them before all the inventory is claimed.

SAVE 50%: The Vitamix Ascent A2500 blender is on sale for just $299.99 at Best Buy, down from the standard price of $599.95. That's a savings of $299.96.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vitamix Vitamix Ascent A2500 $299.99 at Best Buy
$599.95 Save $299.96 Get Deal

A truly functional kitchen has some essential appliances and cooking implements that make creating meals easy. Sure, you'll probably want a range (or some type of cooking surface), a refrigerator, a set of knives, and most people want a microwave. But there's a certain food prep appliance that some see as an essential luxury, particularly models from a high-end brand, and one that's synonymous with steep prices. If you're looking for a blender that's one of the best on the market, Best Buy has something epic in store today.

As of Aug. 1, the Vitamix Ascent A2500 blender is just $299.99 at Best Buy, marked down from the usual price of $599.95. That's a massive 50% discount or a savings of $299.96.

Sometimes, buying the value-centered version of a product doesn't cut it, like the different between name-brand cola and the store brand. In a pinch, the store brand does just fine, but the flavor is distinctly different.

In the world of blenders, sometimes the high-end (and expensive) models are actually worth it when it comes to performance and lifespan. The Vitamix Ascent A2500 is a great example — sometimes high-quality comes with a high price tag. But thanks to today's deal at Best Buy, you can pay just 50% of the normal retail price.

The Vitamix Ascent A2500 comes with three pre-set programs — smoothies, hot soup, and frozen dessert. Yes, you read that right — hot soup, produced from the friction of the powerful Vitamix blades in just a handful of minutes.

Aside from those three pre-set functions, there's a dial with settings between 1 and 10 for variable speed control. The blender also incorporates a pulse feature which is great to make sure all ice cubes or frozen strawberries are fully integrated into the smoothie.

The 64-ounce included container comes with a lid and a lid plug. Plus, its low-profile design is more likely to fit on the counter under cupboards. You'll also get a low-profile tamper to use with the blender.

If you've always wanted a Vitamix blender in your kitchen but haven't loved the typical high price tag, today you can score the Vitamix Ascent A2500 for half price. But you'll want to hurry because this deal expires tonight at 11:59 PT.

The former CNN reporter said in a lawsuit that X had refused to pay him after a testy interview with its billionaire owner.

When it comes to getting things done, technology can be the worst double-edged sword. Use it correctly and become an efficiency ninja, use it haphazardly and you’ve found yet another way to be distracted and waste time. 

Paula Rizzo, productivity expert and author of Listful Living, says the approach to get-it-done tech for students is to keep it simple, focusing on technology that does one thing, and one thing perfectly. “For instance, I like to use LastPass to store all my passwords. It’s the only thing it does. I know exactly what I’ll find when I go there. I don’t get distracted; it does its job and I get what I need quickly. If you have a [tool] that does many things then you can become overwhelmed.” 

This is, of course, why your cell phone is both the best thing and the worst thing in the productivity department: incredible at firing off emails and finding lost keys, merciless when you open up TikTok.

When used thoughtfully, technology has been shown to improve student outcomes across the board, so it’s really a matter of finding the right tool for the task at hand. Whether it's studying for a Calculus exam or the LSATs, here are seven tech tools to boost productivity and keep distractions at bay this school year.

Navigating college life can feel like a juggling act with endless assignments, tight schedules, and a social life to maintain. So that's why we’ve curated four apps that every college student should have in their arsenal.

From note-taking to productivity to citation management, these apps are designed to streamline your studies, keep you on top of your tasks, and look pretty too.

SEE ALSO: How to tint your apps with iOS 18 1. Google Docs

When it comes time to get assignments done, the Google Workspace apps are essential. These services include Docs, Drive, Sheets, and Slides, which are simpler to use across mobile and desktop than Microsoft Office Suite (now known as Microsoft 365).

Google Docs is ideal for writing essays and collaborating in real-time, while Sheets makes managing data and creating spreadsheets a breeze. For presentations, Slides is your go-to for making polished demonstrations without the added learning curve of PowerPoint.

Google Drive (which has its own app) then ties everything together, providing seamless storage and sharing across all devices. You can even scan your assignments with Drive which is essential for those professors who require you to upload printed homework onto Canvas or Blackboard.

2. Notion

Unlike other note-taking or task-management apps, Notion combines it all. Notes, to-do lists, calendars, and databases, its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to customize your workspace to fit your needs. While other apps might focus on one feature—like Evernote for note-taking or Trello for task management—Notion offers a complete package.

This all-in-one approach is perfect for students who want to stay organized and efficient without the hassle of switching between multiple apps, giving them more time to focus on their schoolwork. Although it does have a subscription tier, you can use the core of its features for free, and who doesn't love free?

3. Bear Notes

This beautifully designed app offers a distraction-free interface, perfect for jotting down lecture notes, brainstorming ideas, or crafting the perfect essay. Its clean, intuitive design makes it easy to stay focused and organized.

With its rich text editing, easy organization using hashtags, and seamless syncing across devices, Bear Notes ensures your thoughts are organized and easily accessible. Plus, its Markdown support makes formatting a breeze, turning your notes into polished documents effortlessly.

4. Zotero

Zotero is a free, open-source tool that helps you collect, organize, cite, and share your research materials. As its site says, it's basically your "personal research assistant." It's a godsend for the end of the semester when you have multiple research papers due and way too many tabs open for multiple assignments — it's honestly a nightmare.

While other citation tools might focus solely on generating citations, Zotero integrates seamlessly with your browser and word processor, providing a comprehensive solution for your research needs.

iPhone 17 rumors are already trickling in — and its predecessor, the iPhone 16, hasn't even dropped yet.

The next-generation iPhone is expected to have thinner bezels, a new capture button for photos and videos, and better battery life, but the iPhone 17 series may be a tinge more exciting for Apple enthusiasts.

From reports of a new ultra-slim iPhone to whispers of a significant camera redesign, the iPhone 17 may be "the biggest update in years," as MacRumors claims. Here's why you may want to skip the iPhone 16 in favor of the iPhone 17.

1. A new sleek, slim model

Multiple reports claim that Apple is working on a "slim" iPhone 17 variant. In an investor note spotted by 9to5Mac, Jeff Pu, a respected Apple analyst, claims that the Cupertino-based tech giant will replace the "Plus" model with a new "Slim" device.

Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / Black Salmon

In other words, instead of iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Plus, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, expect the following lineup:

• iPhone 17

• iPhone 17 Slim

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

Ross Young and The Information have released similar reports, claiming that the Plus model is getting ditched in favor of a new "slim" variant.

2. Newer, better selfie camera

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, another respected Apple analyst, the iPhone 17 will feature a 24-megapixel selfie camera. Keep in mind that the megapixel count for the iPhone series hasn't changed since the iPhone 11.

Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / SkyArtist01, Champiofoto

Sure, there have been some tweaks and changes over the years, like upgrades to the aperture and image processing, for example. But a 12MP selfie camera has been on the iPhone series' spec sheet since Apple introduced it in 2019.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. As someone who has reviewed iPhones since the debut of the iPhone 12, the 12MP selfie camera has always been sufficient enough for me. In fact, I'll even venture to say it's too good, as it picks up on all my flaws and imperfections.

However, for anyone who disagrees with me, you'll be relieved to know that the iPhone 17 is getting a big upgrade to a 24MP selfie camera.

It's unclear whether the new 24MP selfie camera will be featured across the entire lineup or limited to a few models.

3. Relocated camera

If you're tired of the iPhone's camera array being located on the top-left corner, you may appreciate a new rumor that suggests the iPhone 17 Slim will have its shooter relocated to the top center, according to The Information.

Unlike the rumored iPhone 17 Slim, the iPhone 15 series has its cameras on the top-left corner. Credit: Mashable / Stan Schroeder

We're also hearing whispers that the iPhone 17 Slim will have just one rear camera (i.e., a solo wide lens).

If you're a sucker for visual symmetry, Apple moving the wide camera to the top center may be appealing for you.

There is also scuttlebutt that Apple will shave a little bit off the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17, thanks to a reported new under-display Face ID technology. So if you're not a fan of the ovular, interactive area at the top of your iPhone screen, and you feel it's a little too obstructive, the iPhone 17 may be worth the wait.

TL;DR: If you want a reliable tool to protect your privacy, get a $57 two-year subscription to SurfShark that hides your location, blocks ads, and even helps you share files. 

Opens in a new window Credit: surfshark SurfShark VPN Starter Plan: 2-Year Subscription $56.99 at The Mashable Shop
$290.00 Save $233.01 Get Deal

VPNs aren't new, and that's actually the problem. There are so many that finding a reliable VPN is a task all of its own. If you're still on the hunt for a good VPN that can block ads, protect your privacy, unlock geo restrictions, and more, SurfShark is the way to go. 

Normally, a two-year SurfShark VPN Starter Plan would be $290, but you can get it on sale for only $56.99. Check out everything it can do.

How's SurfShark different from other VPNs?

SurfShark has many of the same features of other VPNs, but it either adds on new sub-features or just does the same job better. Most VPNs have international servers you can connect to, but SurfShark has 3,200, and they're spread across 65 different countries. Security protocols are normal, but SurfShark locks your data behind military-grade AES-256 encryption and offers CleanWeb, which blocks ads and malware. 

Tired of your search results being useless? Try SurfShark Search and get unbiased search results. You can also browse more securely on public or private WiFi, and users can choose from the latest security protocols like WireGuard®, IKEv2, and OpenVPN.

A large number of servers is nice, but it's useless if they're slow or unreliable. That's why SurfShark has 10GB VPN servers, private DNS and leak protection, and a kill switch that disconnects the internet if the VPN connection drops. This service is compatible with various operating systems and devices, including macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, and FireTV.

Save 80% on a two-year VPN

Get a reliable VPN that has your back whether you're streaming, working, or just browsing. 

Get a SurfShark VPN two-year Starter Plan for $56.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: For a limited time, this 10-inch wireless touchscreen car display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is just $125.99 (reg. $199.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay 10-inch Touchscreen Wireless/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Car Display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Support $99.97 at The Mashable Shop
$199.99 Save $100.02 Get Deal

For those with older vehicles, integrating modern technology might seem like a daunting and expensive task. However, with the 10-inch Touchscreen Wireless Car Display, you can effortlessly upgrade your car’s dashboard and access all your favorite apps.

Now available for just $99.97 (reg. $199.99), this dash display offers a simple and affordable way to bring your car into the modern tech age.

The 10-inch touchscreen display supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to connect your smartphone and access essential apps like navigation, music, and messages directly from your car’s dashboard. Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, this display offers seamless integration with your device, so you don't have to mess around with your phone while on the road.

This car display was made to have an easy installation process. Designed to fit a wide range of older vehicles, it can be installed with minimal effort, giving you the benefits of modern technology without the need for a new car.

A 10-inch touchscreen provides a large, clear display that enhances your driving experience — access maps, playlists, and apps easily, all while keeping your eyes on the road. The touchscreen interface is user-friendly and responsive, ensuring you can quickly navigate through functions without distraction.

And if you're in your car waiting to get someone or have a restless passenger, the multimedia playback option can help. The display includes a built-in speaker and supports various video formats to keep non-driving-eyes entertained.

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, easy installation, and a user-friendly interface, it can enhance your driving experience while keeping you connected on the road.

The 10-inch wireless touchscreen car display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is just $125.99 (reg. $199.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

"The Daily Show" weighed in on Trump's comments about Kamala Harris' racial identity during an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Google Maps just added a handy tool to help you park near your destination, which is especially helpful if you've never been to the spot before.

In a new update announced Wednesday, Google Maps will now pull up information about your destination within the app as you approach it, and show you where to park either within the building or near it. The app will also show parking lots nearby, and you'll be able to see the destination's information such as opening hours, Live View, and how far a walk it is from where you currently are — useful for picking a parking spot.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps is bringing speed limits to iPhones

Google-owned Waze added this feature in March, so it's only natural it makes its way to Maps; Waze's version, fuelled by Flash, offers detailed information about parking lots including cost, accessibility, and whether there are EV charging stations. Called "destination guidance", the feature will roll out on Maps worldwide on iOS and Android "in the coming weeks" according to Google. It'll also be available on Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Google Built-in.

Google has also upgraded tools for reporting incidents and happenings on the road, whether lane closures, police presence, or construction work. The icons are bigger and other drivers can confirm your report by tapping it in their own Maps app.

Featured Video For You 3 tips for using Google Maps more effectively

For those who use Google-owned Waze instead of Maps, there's a few new updates for you too (following the app's big safety update in March). New camera types have been added to Waze, which users can select when reporting road information like speed cameras, bus lane cameras, and red light cameras. And if you're driving through an area where there's congestion or road closures, Waze's new traffic events feature will send you a notification if the event is under way. Plus, Waze users will soon get navigation guidance when their phone is locked, a feature coming in autumn.

While you're here, we've got Google Maps guides for how to turn your location off and on with your iPhone, how to download Google Maps, how to turn on 3D buildings in navigation, how to save locations, and other Google Maps tips and tricks.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Gen 9) is a premium convertible laptop in more ways than one. My daily driver laptop is the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Gen 7), so I was excited to see how my favorite laptop improved in the Gen 9 model — and it didn’t disappoint.

With its stunning OLED display, full-bodied audio via its rotating soundbar, and enjoyably springy keyboard, the Yoga 9i 2-in 1 (Gen 9) is easily one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now. And despite all the improvements over my existing Gen 7 model, it somehow costs less than what I paid two years ago.

Don’t get me wrong — this laptop isn’t perfect, even if it is one of my favorites from Lenovo. For me, its premium positives easily outweigh its few negative traits. Read on to see what I like (and dislike) about Lenovo’s newest Yoga 9i 2-in-1.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 price and specs 

Almost everything about this laptop screams ‘premium,’ and yet, the cost says otherwise. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Gen 9) configuration I reviewed starts at $1,449 via Best Buy and offers the following specs: 

• Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

• Integrated Intel Arc graphics 

• 16GB of RAM

• 1TB of SSD storage

• 14-inch, 2.8K (2880 x 1800-pixel), 400-nit, 120Hz OLED display

You can also order the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 with only 512GB of storage for $1,299 via Lenovo. Through Lenovo’s configurator, you could upgrade to a 4K OLED display for an extra $80, 32GB of RAM for $57, or 1TB of SSD storage for $32.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 $1,448.98
Get Deal Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 design

Lenovo doesn’t stray too far from the norm with the Yoga 9i 2-in-1’s design, and it doesn’t have to — it’s a sleek, classic design.

The aluminum-clad chassis shows off the laptop’s Cosmic Blue colorway, which I always love to see in a market dominated by gray laptops. Unfortunately, something about this laptop’s chassis makes it not so great at resisting fingerprint smudges. After only a few weeks of use, the laptop looked like it could use a good cleaning.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

That said, the Yoga 9i’s flexible 2-in-1 functionality certainly redeems its lack of fingerprint resistance. Being able to use a laptop in a variety of modes — traditional laptop mode, tent mode, tablet mode, and stand mode — is always a win in my book.

This 9th generation Yoga 9i drops some weight, so it’s now a sub-three-pound laptop — and it remains incredibly thin and well-built, with a strong hinge and smooth, rounded corners.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

And in true Yoga fashion, the Yoga 9i comes with a matching Cosmic Blue protective laptop sleeve to slip your device into.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 display

My Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 review unit features a 14-inch, 2.8K (2880 x 1800-pixel) glossy OLED display — and it looks fantastic. 

There’s a higher-res 4K OLED display option, but it’s not necessary. My daily driver Yoga 9i (Gen 7) has a 4K OLED display, and looking at these two displays side by side, the differences are minimal. If you’re just going to be streaming media and doing work online, a 2.8K res is perfect.

With its 400-nit max brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and OLED panel, this laptop is ideal for streaming media. Plus, its 2-in-1 flexibility makes watching media even easier, whether you flip the laptop into tent or tablet mode.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

To test the display, I fired up the Wicked trailer starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. I just had to see how Elfaba’s green skin showed up on this display — and I wasn’t disappointed. The OLED panel shows off deep, rich blacks and vibrant colors throughout the Wicked world with ease. And its 2.8K resolution made everything crisp, from fine smile lines to strands of hair.

This configuration comes with a Lenovo Slim Pen that magnetically attaches to the laptop’s side, helpful for keeping your display free of smudgy fingerprints.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 ports

I love to see double-sided USB Type-C ports on both sides of a laptop, so that’s definitely a win for the Lenovo Yoga 9i. However, this laptop’s overall port variety is somewhat lacking.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

On the right side, you’ll find: 

• USB Type-C (3.2 Gen 2)

• 3.5mm headset jack

• Power button

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

And on the left side: 

• Two USB Type-C ports (Thunderbolt 4)

• USB Type-A port (3.2 Gen 2, Always On)

While you can connect displays with Thunderbolt 4 ports or get a Thunderbolt/HDMI adapter, it’d be nice to have an HDMI port for more compatibility. Personally, I’d also love an extra USB-A port. 

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 audio

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 had me jamming out to my favorite songs with a big smile on my face — and it’s all thanks to the rotating Bowers & Wilkins soundbar.

This laptop is equipped with a total of four stereo speakers: two 2W woofers on the sides and two 2W front-facing tweeters on the hinge bar. Whether you’re using the laptop in tablet mode, tent mode, or traditional laptop mode, your ears will be graced with room-filling, full-bodied sound that lets you appreciate every element of your favorite songs.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

I played my go-to song, “Real ft. Polyphia’s Tim Henson & Clay Gober” by Unprocessed. I could hear every bass string pluck, crystal clear vocals, drum thumps, and more — all creating this atmospheric, well-combined soundstage that I’d expect from a pair of luxury headphones.

This Gen 9 model is also louder than my daily driver Yoga 9i Gen 7. When the Gen 9 Yoga 9i was at around 30 volume, my Gen 7 laptop needed to be around 40 to match. And yet, at max volume, the Yoga 9i Gen 9 wasn’t distorted at all.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 keyboard and trackpad

The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9 gets an improvement I’ve seen in many Lenovo laptops recently: an updated dish keyboard with 1.5mm key travel.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Compared to my daily driver Yoga 9i Gen 7 — which features thinner keys with less travel in a more subtly recessed keyboard — typing on this laptop’s keyboard is a much more enjoyable experience. The keys feel springy and responsive, allowing me to type slightly faster and with more accuracy.

This generation’s keyboard gains a Copilot key and a macro key with a star icon, which you can customize to do anything you want. By default, pressing the key will open Lenovo Vantage, but you can set it to open applications or websites, insert custom text, or invoke a specific key sequence.

The Yoga 9i 2-in-1’s large, buttonless trackpad features a glass surface that’s smooth to the touch and highly responsive to finger gestures for scrolling and navigating back and forward in-browser.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 benchmarks and performance

On paper, Lenovo’s Yoga 9i 2-in-1 is an excellent performer. 

To test this laptop’s CPU performance, we ran Geekbench 6. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1, equipped with Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 155H chip, earned an impressive multi-core score of 12,345.

I found that the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 was certainly capable of handling high-performance tasks with ease, but not without quite a bit of heat and noise from the fans.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

While working from the laptop with only 12 open Chrome tabs, it sounded like it was getting ready for takeoff. Granted, the laptop was plugged in and charging, but this is something I haven’t experienced from other Lenovo laptops recently.

I tested the laptop’s performance with it unplugged, and found it to be slightly less noisy. With 25 open Chrome tabs, Spotify playing in the background, and the laptop’s stopwatch counting down, there was a steady hum from the fans, but no lag when typing in Google docs or loading a new page.

After only a half hour of use, the laptop’s chassis is very hot above the keyboard. It’s not hot enough to touch, or even hold your finger on the area, but with sustained or more intense use, it gets much hotter.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 battery life

If you’re looking for a Windows laptop with long battery life, that’s not this laptop.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 only lasted 7 hours and 21 minutes on a single charge during our battery test, which consists of looping a 1080p video at 50% brightness. That said, with this laptop’s bright OLED panel, I often felt comfortable using it at only 30% brightness, which definitely extends the battery life.

Its battery life is shockingly only 16 minutes longer than the dual-display Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (7 hours and 5 minutes) and half that of Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 (14 hours and 21 minutes), one of the best battery life times we’ve seen from Windows laptops so far.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 webcam

Unlike most laptops, the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 delivers a quality webcam that’ll actually capture crisp, fine details rather than make you look like a watercolor painting.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

It features a 5-megapixel camera with infrared and a privacy shutter, an improvement from its predecessor’s 2-megapixel camera. My pale, yet flushed complexion and light green eyes both come through clearly and accurately, and I can spot individual strands of frizzy hair.

Is the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Gen 9) worth it?

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Gen 9) is equipped with a gorgeous 2.8K OLED display, Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 155H processor, and a rotating soundbar that gives your favorite tunes a full-bodied, atmospheric sound you won’t find on most other laptops — all for just $1,449! In my book, that’s an excellent deal, especially if you’re searching for a laptop with flexible 2-in-1 functionality.

My daily driver laptop is the Yoga 9i (Gen 7), and I can attest to its ability to run smaller, less demanding games like Stardew Valley and Forager. With the Yoga 9i (Gen 9)’s more powerful CPU, those games will run even better — albeit with quite a bit of noise from the fans.

You’ll want to make sure you have a charging cable nearby because battery life isn’t something the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 excels at. That said, at least this laptop features double-sided USB Type-C ports for convenient charging.

At $1,449, the Yoga 9i 2-in-1’s slightly noisy fans and poor battery life are easily overshadowed by its vibrant OLED display, high-quality rotating soundbar, exceptional webcam, and strong performance. But if you’re looking for an even cheaper 2-in-1, check out our Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 (Gen 9) review.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 $1,449.00
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Friend revealed its wearable AI companion on Tuesday, sinking us ever deeper into our Black Mirror-style technology dystopia. Now the company's founder, Avi Schiffmann, and two other wearable AI companion startups are beefing about alleged copying of branding.

Like Friend, fellow startup Based Hardware offers a strikingly similar necklace device also called Friend, while the unaffiliated Based Social has the less confusing but still pendant-like Compass. Both these wearables are focused on productivity, using AI to listen to and summarise your conversations, while Schiffmann's Friend is designed to be an emotional support AI. 

Even so, the similarities between all three AI companions are stark — and all three companies' founders are now feuding about it on X.

SEE ALSO: Friend is the new AI companion that social media believes is beyond parody

Less than a day after Friend's announcement, Based Hardware founder Nik Shevchenko quickly made clear he's mad about the ostensibly new AI companion on the block, posting a cringeworthy diss rap to X and challenging Schiffmann to a fight. Hitting back, Schiffmann claimed that Shevchenko copied both his original product Tab, which was initially more of a productivity tool, as well as his pre-launch rebrand to Friend earlier this year.

In response, Shevchenko pointed out that Based Hardware's Friend was released in March, implying that it couldn't have copied branding which was officially announced just days ago. 

However, founder of AI design tool Flair AI Mickey Friedman came to Schiffmann's defence on X, stating that the Friend founder initially discussed buying Friend.com with her in January before following through in February. Friedman said another (non-AI) friend then allegedly told Shevchenko, who launched his product before Schiffmann "and has been telling everyone that avi stole from him when it’s just not true." Schiffmann has also produced web domain registration receipts for Friend.com dated February.

Tweet may have been deleted

Schiffmann's claim to be Friend's originator is further supported by Shevchenko's own X posts from earlier this year. In early March Shevchenko ran a poll asking what device he should create an open source version of next, including Schiffmann's Tab on the list of options, alongside Elon Musk's Neuralink and the Rabbit R1. Shevchenko then appeared to take Schiffmann blocking him on X as a challenge, choosing Tab as his next project regardless of the poll results (Neuralink won).

Tweet may have been deleted

"If anyone wants to build opensource version of Tab - dm me!" Shevchenko wrote in a March 14 post on X. 

The two are now trading barbs on X, with Schiffmann sharing a video which appeared to show Shevchenko harassing and putting his Friend on an intoxicated person. Shevchenko confirmed the authenticity of the video, but clarified that the person was his co-founder Joan Cabezas, stating that he'd "never do such a thing to struggling people." This doesn't make it much less distasteful, though.

Replying to this video, Shevchenko then shared a link to a two-year-old Reddit post accusing Schiffmann of stealing work from a volunteer group to create his popular COVID-19 data tracker. In a statement to Daily Dot at the time, Schiffmann claimed that he gave full credit to the creators and that their work was only on his website for a couple of weeks. But again, it doesn't look great.

The whole situation is just a big mess, and seems unlikely to get any better.

Meanwhile, Based Social founder Zach Eisenhauer has also waded into the fray, alleging that Shevchenko took the name "Based" from him and "Friend" from Schiffmann "as a controversial marketing play and to interfere with marketing on both products."

"All 3 of these startups are still fairly small and in the seed stage," Eisenhauer wrote on X. "Avi invested [in] form factor, we started specializing in prosumer and enterprise, Nik is going for open source and community."

Tweet may have been deleted

Shevchenko denied Eisenhauer's allegations, claiming that Based Hardware was named such "because 99% of our comments said the word 'Based'." In response, Eisenhauer stated that his company had been registered as Based since last September, and shared a screenshot of an apparent March chatlog between him and Shevchenko in which he noted the similarities between Based Social and Based Hardware's names.

An emotional support AI Friend for this technological hellscape

Announced on the International Day of Friendship, Friend is a round, white, USB-C rechargeable AI pendant worn on a necklace. Pitched as a "wearable AI friend" and "close confidant for everyday life," the always on device will listen to your conversations and text responses to you on your phone.

"When connected via bluetooth, your friend is always listening and forming their own internal thoughts," reads Friend's website. "We have given your friend free will for when they decide to reach out to you."

Set to launch early next year, Friend will initially only be available in the U.S. and Canada. It is also only compatible with iOS, with Android support potentially to be added "depending on demand." 

The reveal came with a trailer which looks so much like a Black Mirror episode that you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a parody. In it, various people talk to and receive messages from their Friends throughout their days, seemingly finding comfort in the AI companions. However, in the end a woman eschews her Friend in favour of staying in the moment with her real human companion.

People on social media were unimpressed, to say the least.

"So the thesis of this video is that, we will find more fulfillment and achievement by connecting with humans instead of a necklace," @da47934 commented on the video. "So the ad covertly argues against the product it's advertising for. I don't know if the company realizes this, but it's a super effective case against its own product."

"My favourite part was the guy gaming with his human friends and feeling lonely, until his magic necklace talks shit about him and he feels better," commented @runnergunner42.

Others expressed suspicion at Friend's scant privacy information. The brief terms and conditions and privacy policy on Friend's website both fail to place any restrictions on how information you provide to the company can be used. As such, this could very well be just one more situation where the real product is you.

"always listening? one time fee? so you'll process all of my api requests for free for life?" @MichaelKleyn commented on Friend's second video. "cmon guys. so that means you're probably going to package up our data and conversations with our actual friends to sell to the highest bidder then. not to mention that no one will want to be my friend once they see im always recording them."

Friend went all-in on the marketing for its always on AI companion, with Schiffmann stating on X that he paid $1.8 million for the Friend.com domain alone. Perception may be everything in this capitalist hellscape we call home, but it's still a sizable chunk of change taken out of the $2.5 million Friend raised from investors. 

Of course, one could argue that branding is even more important when you aren't the only company trying to flog a pendant AI companion.

Twitter for Mac has been delisted from Apple's App Store, signifying the ultimate demise of the company's oft-abandoned desktop app.

Here's a short history of Twitter's desktop app for Mac. The app was never really all that great, and the company, which was still called Twitter back then, ended support for it in 2018. But the app was resurrected the next year, which had more to do with Apple's Project Catalyst tech (allowing developers to easily port iPad apps to Mac) than the app itself.

Since then, the company did a whole lot of nothing with the app, so it's no surprise that it's now been removed from Apple's App Store (as noticed by developer Vedant, via The Verge).

Tweet may have been deleted

Twitter (now X) has since focused on the mobile and web versions of its app, so the desktop variant for Mac probably won't be missed by many (it does still work, albeit buggily, if you already have it installed).

It was still called Twitter while it was available. Credit: Wayback Machine/Twitter

But the delisting of the app is notable as it was one of the last vestiges of old Twitter branding, now that new owner Elon Musk has turned all instances of "Twitter" into "X." Rest in peace, old friend.

Mr. Musk, who has long criticized leftist politicians, called President Nicolás Maduro a “dictator” and compared him to a donkey.

As students prepare to go back to school, finding reliable online homework help services can be a challenge.

Websites touting "homework help," for example, are often obscuring dicey services that simply complete assignments for you (done both by human and robot hands), while self-proclaimed "tutors" peddle possible money-grabbing scams. Educators are becoming increasingly suspicious of any third-party help. 

SEE ALSO: Starter Kit: Study smarter with these tech essentials

But learners of all ages are still seeking legitimate options — both free and at a cost — for when those lessons just aren't clicking, and online platforms are just a click away. 

The Princeton Review

Known as the biggest name in standardized test prep, the Princeton Review offers 24/7 online tutoring provided by a network of 3,000 vetted tutors. Help can be found for more than 40 subjects, both K-12 and college level. 

The service isn't cheap, however. Monthly subscriptions start at $39.99 for one hour per month. Sessions can be purchased in bulk, as well, starting at $349.99 for ten hours. Students can sign up for a free trial on the Princeton Review website to see if it's right for them. 

MySuperGeek 

MySuperGeek is a Europe-based homework help company that offers personal tutoring across subjects like math, economics, statistics, accounting, chemistry, and even law and society. Learners create an account, get matched with a live tutor, and then work through assignments in real time.

MySuperGeek is a paid service, but not subscription-based, with customers paying for homework help per tutor and per session. Rates start at around $10 per hour. 

Khan Academy

The highly popular nonprofit Khan Academy was established in 2006, based on an online educational video series that has since ballooned in scale. It now offers an expansive set of free practice exercises, hundreds of instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard for learners of all ages. Khan Academy launched its own AI learning assistant, powered by OpenAI's GPT-4, that's been recommended by the likes of Bill Gates and parent review organization Common Sense Media. 

Like Khan Academy, other free online education hubs like YouTube phenomenon Crash Course can offer learning aids and subject-focused videos that can be helpful for general topics. 

Chegg

Chegg is an oft-talked about (and controversial) textbook and academic support service, which offers subscription-based tutoring across subjects. Chegg homework help doesn't connect users to live tutors, instead learners upload their homework questions and are then served with "expert-backed" explanations and textbook examples. Users can also access a library of similar questions and answers, as well as a recently added AI study helper, too. 

But the multi-million dollar company has recently come under fire for enabling a widespread wave of cheating during a global shift to online learning during the pandemic lockdown. Many educators now consider Chegg assistance a case of academic dishonesty, so review your class's policies closely before using.

If Chegg is still calling your name (maybe for non-assignment help): The platform offers several mobile apps, like it's 24/7 homework help app, Chegg Study; a math-focused assignment helper, Mathway; and a language learning platform, Busuu. Subscription pricing is based on the number of questions a learner expects to submit each day. The basic Chegg Study plan starts at $14.95 for five questions. 

Your local library

Before subscribing to an online service at a cost, or wading into some academically murky waters, check out what your local library has to offer. Many library systems host in-person and virtual tutoring through online services like Brainfuse and national board-ran sites like Tutor.com (a Princeton Review service). 

Some cities even offer educator-led assistance on demand, like New York's Dial-A-Teacher. And don't forget: Your teachers are there for you, too.

Dorm life may be vibrant, but the actual living space leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to design. Most dorm rooms are bland white boxes, in need of a new personality.

We've gathered the best tech accessories to transform the sights, sounds, and even smells of your dorm into something stellar so you can inject a little more "you" into your home away from home.

Inviting lighting

Set the mood for studying, celebrating, sleeping, and more with color-changing lightbulbs you can control through an app on your phone (pro tip: skip the bulbs that come with tiny, easy-to-lose remotes). If you're cramped for desk space, a dreamy lamp that doubles as a pencil cup and cell phone stand will be a huge help. A whimsical mushroom clip-on light will come in handy for late-night studying (or scrolling) in bed.

Opens in a new window Credit: GE GE CYNC A19 Smart LED Light Bulbs Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: DLHONORV Flower Desk Lamp with Phone and Pen Holder Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Urban Outfitters Mushroom Clip Task Lamp Shop Now Cord control

Don't go crazy corralling your cords: Anker's 6-in-1 desktop charger lies flat and includes two USB-C, USB-A, and AC ports for all your charging needs; a pastel pink surge protector can be placed on the floor or attached to a wall with Command strips, and pea-shaped cable organizers will keep your wires in line.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano 6-in-1 Desktop Charging Station Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Globe Electric Globe Electric 5-in-1 Power Strip in Rose Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: COOCAT 3 Pack Pea Cable Clips Shop Now

Bathroom buddies

Hygiene is key to looking and feeling your best. To keep retainers and mouth guards from getting gross, pop them in the Zima dental pod and let the device's ultrasonic waves wash the gunk right off (this writer loves her pod!). To stave off gnarlier smells, plug in the Pura diffuser to release poofs of essential oils throughout the day. To keep your shelves in shape, store necessities in HAY's recycled post-consumer plastic crates.

Opens in a new window Credit: Zima Zima Dental Pod Ultrasonic Cleaner for Retainers and Mouth Guards Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Design Within Reach HAY Recycled Colour Crate Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Pura Pura 4 Smart Fragrance Diffuser Shop Now Sounds good

When it's time to study or sleep, Loop earplugs will block out noise from roommates and neighbors so you can focus on the task at hand. The Adidas RPT-02 SOL headphones are a Mashable favorite because they don't need to be plugged in to charge; simply set them on your windowsill so they can soak up the sun when not in use. And use JBL's Go 3 speaker to jam out anywhere on campus — it's portable, waterproof, and sounds incredible.

Opens in a new window Credit: Loop Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Adidas Adidas RPT-02 SOL Solar-Powered Headphones Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Go 3 Portable Speaker with Bluetooth Shop Now

As a laptop reviewer, I can tell you that Asus is arguably the most innovative laptop company on the planet. From the ultra-bizarre ROG Flow Z13 ACRNM gaming laptop, which can transform into a crossbody bag, to the eye-catching, dual-screen ZenBook Duo, Asus always had me scratching my head or dropping my jaw to the floor.

However, nothing could have prepared me for the latest device to come out of the Taiwan-based company: a fragrance-dispensing laptop (h/t Tom's Hardware).

SEE ALSO: Asus ROG Ally X review: 3 ways it beats the Steam Deck The new Adol Book 14 spritzes perfume

Asus collaborated with Anna Sui, a fashion and fragrance brand, to deliver a laptop dubbed "Adol Book 14."

The Adol Book 14 comes with a bunch of cool accessories Credit: Asus

Here's a quick look at the specs:

• 14-inch, 2,800 x 1,880-pixel, 240Hz display

• Thin-and-light form factor

• AMD Ryzen 9 8945H CPU

• 32GB of RAM

• 1TB SSD

Yeah, it seems like your average laptop (with a zippy panel and performant CPU) — save for the fact that there's a fragrance dispenser on the lid. It comes with the following three fragrances:

• Basil and Mandarin

• Be a New Her

• Rose of Man's Land

You can swap between the trio of scents any time you run out. However, you can't stick any ol' scent into the lid.

Credit: Asus

You'll have to stick with the fragrances Anna Sui makes for the Adol Book 14. It's worth noting, though, that none of the aforementioned laptop fragrances have existing Anna Sui perfume counterparts.

Credit: Asus

The Adol Book 14, draped in a lilac hue, ships with several accessories, including a PC bag, a wireless mouse, stickers, and a bottle of the Anna Sui Wishing Elf Perfume.

The listing also mentions that the laptop supports an AI assistant that can double as a companion for users, answer questions, help with coding, and more. (It's unclear which AI architecture underpins this chatbot.)

Credit: Asus

The bundle is priced at less than $1,000. If you're outside of Asia, and you're interested in the Adol Book 14, I have some bad news for you. The Adol Book 14 is only available in China.

Interestingly, as odd as this fragrance-dispensing laptop may sound to you, it's not the first time I've heard of one. At CES 2024, Lenovo showcased a concept laptop that comes with a snap-on attachment that sprays out aromatherapy fragrances.

When you're a student, your notes are your lifeblood. With more online options than ever for note-taking, finding the right app can make a big difference in your studies.

While note-taking is a personal process, here are some of the most popular note-taking apps and how they compare.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops for college students in 2024 1. Google Docs

As a student, free and easy is usually the way to go. Nearly every student is familiar with Google Docs, and for a reason: it gets the note-taking job done.

Unless you're taking a class that requires in-depth note-taking using diagrams or cell structures, Google Docs has everything you need to take notes using just your keyboard. If you're someone who likes to take notes with flair, apps specifically designed for note-taking might be better suited to your needs — but those come with a price tag.

Unlike apps like Goodnotes and Notability, Google Docs isn't designed for use on an iPad with an iPencil, so drawing in it is unintuitive. However, the app is available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, and Android, making it a solid choice no matter what device you're on.

2. Notes

The Apple Notes app doesn't just have to be used for your random thoughts and grocery lists; it's also equipped with lots of helpful tools for students.

Unlike Google Docs, Notes is compatible with iPencil, and handwritten notes look great in it. It's also synchronized across iCloud-linked devices, allowing for easy access if you forget to bring one of your Apple devices to lecture. However, it lacks the ability to record audio while taking notes.

On the plus side, it's free. But it's obviously not available for non-Apple devices. The app is available on iPad, iPhone, and Mac.

3. Goodnotes

One of the most popular note-taking apps on the market, Goodnotes, was designed to replace spiral notebooks — for a yearly fee. Its recent version, Goodnotes 6, boasts a plethora of Artificial Intelligence features that may or may not be helpful to students. Some of users' favorite Goodnotes features include circling text to move it around and scribbling to erase, truly an upgrade from handwritten notes. You can even keep multiple digital notebooks on Goodnotes, which is helpful for juggling all of your classes.

The app is available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, and Android and costs $9.99/year for the premium version.

4. Notability

Notability is probably the best app for note-takers who want their notes to look pretty. It has many customization features for the script and sticker options for more organization. It also has many digital planning templates available to download for free. However, it is only available for Apple devices.

The app is available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac and costs $14.99/year for the premium version.

5. OneNote

OneNote has enviable organization tools and can be used on Microsoft and Apple devices. But it hasn't kept up with other apps' AI-integrated updates. It still doesn't allow audio recording while taking notes or handwriting-to-text conversion, which is a bummer for students who want to record their school lectures.

The free version of the app offers all of its features, but you may need to pay for additional storage. The app is available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, and Android and costs $69.99/year.

6. Notion

Notion isn't just for YouTubers. It's also more than a note-taking app. It's a helpful tool to organize your entire life.

Not only can you take notes and beautifully organize them by class in Notion, but you can also make to-do lists, keep track of deadlines, class schedules, and reading lists, or organize literally anything else you want to keep track of in your life. It's the perfect app to have in your student arsenal.

Additionally, for individuals using the app, there's no real reason to upgrade to the premium version. Notion might feel intimidating to some, but there are plenty of free templates you can use to get you started.

TL;DR: Skip the expensive test prep materials and study for your Microsoft Tech Certification online. Get the Microsoft Tech Certification Training Super Bundle, now with 246 hours of video lessons, while it's on sale for $59.97. 

College is an option for aspiring tech professionals, but it's not the only option. The alternative is to get certifications from respected organizations that can prove you're already an expert in the IT field. That's the reason to get a Microsoft Tech Certification, but actually earning one is pretty tough. 

If you want to study for the certification exam, take a look at the Complete 2024 Microsoft Tech Certification Training Super Bundle while it's on sale for $59.97. 

How can this actually help aspiring IT workers?

Microsoft Tech Certification Exams aren't cheap, so you might not want to take them twice. Just to sign up is often well over $100, and that doesn't guarantee you're going to pass. That's why you study, and this bundle has quite a lot of material to help with that. 

Between the 11 courses and 200+ hours of material, you get lessons on managing modern desktops, using Microsoft 365, using Microsoft Azure, designing tech infrastructure, and a lot more. These courses are both great resources for exam prep and a useful look at the type of skills you'd need in an IT job, so it's worth it to study even if you aren't planning on taking the exam right away. 

Plus, all course material is yours for life once. You can watch each lecture video as many times as you want. 

Future tech workers, start here

If you want to work in IT or cybersecurity, studying for a credible certification is a solid way to start. 

Get the Complete 2024 Microsoft Tech Certification Training Super Bundle on sale for $59.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Getty Images The Complete 2024 Microsoft Tech Certification Training Super Bundle $59.97 at The Mashable Shop
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