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Kamala Harris Faces a Faster, Uglier Version of the Internet

NYT Technology - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:37
Politicians have long faced racist and sexist attacks online. But Ms. Harris is being attacked on more platforms, with new technologies and in front of bigger audiences than Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were.

Clean up with these Bissell vacuum and carpet cleaning deals at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:36

It's time to tackle those tough messes. Scoop up some great Bissell deals for less at Amazon to hoover up dirt and debris and clear carpet messes.

Best Bissell Deals at Amazon Best Bissell Deal Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Lift-Off Vacuum $188.99 at Amazon (Save $91) Get Deal Best Bissell Wet-Dry Vacuum Deal Bissell CrossWave Floor and Area Rug Cleaner $136.49 at Amazon (Save $93.50) Get Deal Best Bissell Cordless Vacuum Deal Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum $108.74 at Amazon (Save $20) Get Deal

It may be hard to believe, but your spring cleaning hustle happened months ago. That's right, spring was months ago. We're on the precipice of fall now, and your home is likely in dire need of another good scrubdown. Get everything sparkling clean with a new Bissell appliance, whether you're looking to rid your living space of pet hair and debris with a vacuum or tackle old stains with a wet-dry vac or mop.

Amazon has several great markdowns now on a variety of Bissell products, so if you're ready to go ahead and lock in a purchase, now's the time to do it before these deals expire. You'll find deals on a variety of Bissell vacuums, mops, carpet cleaners, handheld vacuums, and more.

We've curated some of our favorite deals that we think are well worth investing in. It's time to get down and dirty and get that house spotless once more. Below, shop our favorite Bissell deals.

Best Bissell deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Lift-Off Vacuum $188.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $91.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Lift-Off Vacuum is has powerful suction and a self-cleaning brush roll that can cut through pet hair like it's nothing. It uses a special comb to break up hair and fur to prevent hair wrap, which makes it a great option for pet owners or anyone who deals with hair fall in their home. It's lightweight and versatile and can switch from an upright vacuum to a detachable canister machine. It's no slouch when it comes to dirt either, and when you're finished vacuuming it only takes a few minutes to empty the canister and get back to work. Plus, its retractable cord makes it easy to put away without tangles when you're finished.

Best Bissell wet-dry vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bissell CrossWave Floor and Area Rug Cleaner $136.49 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $93.50 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bissell CrossWave Floor and Area Rug Cleaner is is a multitasker that can vacuum and wash multiple surfaces at the same time. Use it on tile, linoleum, area rugs, and more with its two tanks. Clean water and cleaning solution are kept separately until you release it so you can tackle small or large messes and save on solution until you need it. It uses an antimicrobial filter to keep you from spreading germs while you clean, and it's simple and lightweight to cart around your home. Just because it splits duties between vacuuming and surface cleaning, however, doesn't mean it's not good on its own as a vacuum. It can clean carpeting and flooring effectively without ever breaking out the water, but its 2-in-1 capabilities make it well worth snagging.

Best Bissell cordless vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum $108.74 at Amazon
$128.74 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum is an extremely lightweight and effective cordless option that's perfect for smaller homes. It's powered by a 10.8V lithium-ion battery that gives you 20 minutes of vacuuming time that charges to full capacity in 4.5 hours. It's a fun electric blue color and has a two-way folding handle so it'll be easier to reach all the nooks and crannies that need the most attention. But if you need to get closer, you can use the included upholstery brush and crevice tool or remove part of the vacuum to use as a hand vac. Plus, with quick and easy emptying, you can get back to cleaning in no time.

Spend $50 on school supplies at Amazon and save $10

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:22

SAVE $10: Spend $50 or more on select back-to-school items at Amazon and automatically save $10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Spend $50 and save $10 Get Deal

Ready or not, it's back-to-school time. You might be lucky and have your first classes on the calendar for September, but for some kids, the school year will start in just a few weeks. If you're shopping for your kids' supplies to head back to school or stocking up on college essentials, you'll want to listen up to this deal.

As of July 30, Amazon is offering a $10 discount when you spend $50 or more on eligible back-to-school items. The discount will automatically appear during checkout, so you don't need to enter a code to save.

Eligible back-to-school supplies at Amazon Best pens deal Paper Mate Colorful Gel Pens (14 count) $13.39 at Amazon (save $18.60) Get Deal Best school supplies deal Elmer's Disappearing Purple Glue Sticks (12 count) $4.47 at Amazon (save $8.12) Get Deal Best lunch-packing deal Ziploc sandwich bags (280 count) $9.77 at Amazon (save $2.71) Get Deal Best home cleaning deal Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Value Pack (2-pack) $9.68 at Amazon (save $1.81) Get Deal

Back to school can be a super exciting time, but it can also come with the financial burden of needing fresh supplies. But thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you'll be able to save $10 when you spend $50 or more on some essentials.

We listed some of our favorite deals above, but you can also score savings on other back-to-school essentials like pencils, index cards, Post-it sticky notes, and spiral notebooks. This means the sale could also be a great time to stock up on office supplies or to replenish your work-from-home stockpile.

But the deal extends to more than just classroom-worthy supplies. You can also grab some household essentials like Kleenex tissues, trash bags, and cleaning supplies.

If you're a teacher, you'll also find this Amazon back-to-school sale full of educational classroom decor.

Browse the full list of eligible sale items at Amazon and save $10 when you spend $50 or more. You'll be back-to-school ready for less thanks to today's deal.

How YouTube Became the Most Popular Streaming Service on TVs

NYT Technology - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:08
The platform first known for viral videos now attracts more viewers on TVs than Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video.

Movie Editors and Animators Fear A.I. Will Kill Jobs

NYT Technology - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:03
Actors and writers won strict limits on artificial intelligence in last year’s contract negotiations, but other workers face a growing challenge.

'Star Wars Outlaws' preview: Fine but forgettable

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:00

Previewing a video game prior to its release is a bit like dipping your fingers in cake batter. You can get a fair idea of the flavour, the ingredients, and what it's aiming to be, but any impressions come with the caveat that it still hasn't been baked.

Star Wars Outlaws is like a cake mix in a box. There's nothing inherently wrong with this. The beauty of a box mix is that it's specifically designed to deliver enjoyable, commercially safe results without demanding much effort on your part. However, while pleasant enough, such confections are rarely memorable beyond the point of consumption.

If all you want is to turn your brain off and enjoy some fairly generic gameplay with a Star Wars skin, Star Wars Outlaws may have you covered. But if you were hoping for something richer with a bit more heart, you'll have a better time if you readjust your expectations now.

Sneaking through Star Wars Outlaws Kay Vess and her pet merqaal Nix. Credit: Ubisoft

Developed by Ubisoft Studio Massive Entertainment, Star Wars Outlaws follows Kay Vess, a space scoundrel whose creation was clearly inspired by her more famous predecessor Han Solo. Left with a bounty on her head after a job gone wrong, Kay assembles a team to pull off a massive heist in hopes of paying off the syndicate of space criminals pursuing her.

Mashable didn't get quite that far in the four hours we spent previewing Star Wars Outlaws, which is set between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Instead, we explored the savannah moon Toshara and snuck around the snowy planet of Kijimi largely solo — barring Kay's furry, axolotl-like, alien pet Nix (and yes, you can pet the alien).

Stealth features significantly in Star Wars Outlaws' gameplay, befitting Kay's occupation as a space thief. While my blaster was certainly required at times, I preferred and was largely encouraged to avoid battles where possible. Instead, I crouched behind boxes and crept outside of sight lines to pilfer equipment or information, accessing encrypted files via a Wordle-like symbol deduction minigame.

Stealth features significantly in 'Star Wars Outlaws' gameplay, befitting Kay's occupation as a space thief.

Nix was invaluable to these criminal escapades, and a clear highlight of Star Wars Outlaws' gameplay. Capable of attacking or distracting enemies, stealing items, and even activating panels, Kay's merqaal companion makes it much easier to sneak through areas undetected. I enjoyed sending Nix to latch onto peoples' faces so I could knock them out without raising the alarm. He also seemed to have fair self-preservation instincts, so I never had to worry about his safety in a firefight.

My sneaky efforts were further assisted by my enemies' frequently questionable peripheral vision, situational awareness, and ability to detect downed colleagues. This made covertly taking down enemies much easier than it could have been, making me feel relatively accomplished, though I got the impression that I wasn't exactly contending with the brightest stars in the galaxy.

Into the air vent, flyboy Access denied. Credit: Ubisoft

I appreciated that Star Wars Outlaws sometimes offers multiple avenues through which you can achieve your set objective. For example, I could try to rustle up enough credits to pay for access to a restricted area, or simply find a way to sneak in. I initially went for the former, but the gambling mini-game cut me off after I'd only bet on a few space horse races, leaving me without enough for the buy-in on space cards.

Fortunately, I ended up finding a handy dandy Kay-sized air vent leading to the area, which allowed me to save my meagre stash of credits. You'll likely spend a notable amount of time searching for and crawling through vents in Star Wars Outlaws, which are rather useful for infiltrating places you aren't authorised to enter. Seasoned criminal organisations should really have tighter security.

SEE ALSO: Check out the gameplay debut for 'Star Wars Outlaws'

Vents are also a good indicator that you're probably going in the right direction. I had notable difficulty with navigation in Star Wars Outlaws' open world. Despite the direction markers at the top of the screen, there's a relative lack of visual prompts, and it was often unclear exactly how to get where I needed to go. More than once I found myself wandering in circles. While Star Wars Outlaws does use colour to signify climbable surfaces, I found the slight yellow hue so subtle that it often blended with the rest of the scenery, especially when the lighting is also yellow. As a result it's easy to miss areas you can climb, or erroneously attempt to climb surfaces that are merely decorative.

I further found the boundaries of where I was and wasn't allowed to go weren't always clear. Occasionally I found myself unceremoniously thrown out of areas with no warning, having wandered too close to its entrance guards. Not only was this annoying, it also cost me reputation points with the affronted criminal faction.

Star Wars Outlaws makes you the most important outlaw in the galaxy Kay Vess, you'd better choose a side. Credit: Ubisoft

Though the Zerek Besh are Star Wars Outlaws' primary antagonists, Kay will also encounter other criminal organisations such as the Pyke Syndicate and Crimson Dawn. These space gangs do not get along, so you'll have to balance your relationships. Taking on jobs, sharing information, and getting caught infiltrating gang territory can all impact your standing with each faction, and sometimes you'll have to pick a side. This in turn affects your access to quests, areas, and gear from these syndicates.

Fortunately for you, it isn't difficult to begin earning these criminals' approval. There's a lot of talk about suspicion and betrayal, yet everyone seems largely happy to trust Kay immediately. Maybe not with larger jobs, which you'll only be able to access once you've built up a good reputation. Yet warring criminal factions will still entrust Kay with sensitive missions and confidential information despite her being a complete stranger.

The effect is jarring considering that almost everyone around you speaks as though you're embroiled in an environment of deep suspicion. It feels distinctly like playing pretend, which doesn't help with immersion.

Yet it all makes sense if you simply remind yourself: this is very clearly a video game, and Kay is very clearly the protagonist.

A flat Star Wars universe revolving around you A penniless outlaw and rebel with a lowercase R. Credit: Ubisoft

The conceit of Star Wars Outlaws is that you are a criminal living on the fringes of polite society, taking what jobs you can. The Empire is a constant presence, but much in the same way the police are. Intergalactic battles, politics, and power struggles may be occurring, however they don't concern you. You aren't a Skywalker, or even a Solo. You're a nobody.

Despite this, the game's universe constantly reinforces that you, a penniless outlaw and rebel with a lowercase R, are in fact the main character and thus the most important person in the universe. 

You aren't a Skywalker, or even a Solo. You're a nobody.

A mechanic you meet immediately after crash landing inexplicably forces his help on Kay despite her clear hostility toward him. A job broker singles her out and offers her work instantly. Non-player character conversations feel like little skits performed specifically for Kay to overhear, concerning either information specifically relevant to her, or quests she might elect to take up.

Star Wars Outlaws' dialogue frequently felt akin to the stories in mathematics problems, offering a thin veil of narrative to convey a new mechanic or quest. This isn't uncommon in video games, however I found Star Wars Outlaws' stage curtains more sheer than expected or typical. Characters felt like tools for conveying quest information rather than living organisms, which wasn't helped by the lack of realistic reasoning to their actions. 

Meanwhile, enemies wandered around blankly repeating empty, rote lines such as "I can do more than this," "What are we doing here?" and "The boss knows what is best for us." 

It made Star Wars Outlaws' world feel underbaked, especially when compared to more lifelike NPC interactions found in other modern games. Not every NPC needs a deep, rich backstory, but it would be great if they could at least vaguely pass for sentient.

Star Wars Outlaws' appeal lies in being able to explore the universe that so many have come to love since it was first introduced in 1977. Sadly, much of the world felt disappointingly flat. There were pockets of interest, such as in the fantastical yet vaguely familiar cantina food (I was amused to see comically oversized mangosteen in my ship's kitchen). Yet all of the game's elements failed to coalesce into an engaging, rich universe, feeling more like theatre staging.

I must also note that I was disappointed not to hear any jatz (or jizz) in the cantinas. Though the Mos Eisley Cantina's band was an iconic part of A New Hope, Toshara's denizens eschew live music in favour of an uninspiring jukebox. My fingers are crossed that the full release will include a few jatz tunes, but I'm not holding out hope.

Star Wars Outlaws is an empty playground in a galaxy far, far away

A good way to approach Star Wars Outlaws is to think of it as a Star Wars-themed amusement park filled with actors guiding you through a script that centres you as the hero, kind of what Disney's Star Wars hotel intended (and failed) to be. Whether you enjoy yourself will depend on if you can turn off your brain and just lean into the fantasy.

Despite how obviously shallow it was, I still had an inoffensively pleasant four hours previewing Star Wars Outlaws. After all, you typically play a game to play a game. A box cake is still cake. Sometimes you're just in the mood for empty calories. So as long as you aren't expecting anything more, you'll likely have an adequate, forgettable time exploring this galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars Outlaws arrives Aug. 30 on Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Get Apple AirPods at $70, almost down to their all-time low price

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:56

SAVE $59: As of July 30, grab a pair of Apple AirPods (2nd generation), on sale for just $70 at Amazon. That's a 46% discount on their list price of $129 and very close to the all-time low price. Best Buy is matching the deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) $69.99 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $59.01 Get Deal

Earbuds are great. You get wireless audio without the bulk of large headphones. That being said, it's difficult to find good ones at an acceptable price. Apple AirPods are the segment leaders, but they can often come with a hefty price tag. However, with this deal, you can get the second-gen AirPods at a big discount even post Prime Day 2024.

As of July 30, you can get Apple AirPods (2nd gen) for just $70, which is $59 off the listing price of $129. That's a discount of 46% and just $1 higher than the lowest price we've seen. If you've been looking to grab these, now is a good time to do it.

There are several models in the AirPods family. These are the base, "vanilla" ones, now in the second generation, which debuted in 2019. Don't let that fool you, though, because these are still pretty feature-loaded, and an especially good value at this discounted price. You get up to five hours of battery life, and an excellent sound signature. However, these miss out on noise cancellation. As part of the Apple ecosystem, you get Siri support for voice commands as well.

'Futurama' voice legends John DiMaggio and David Herman recreate iconic movie lines with their most popular characters

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:55
John DiMaggio and David Herman unleash their most famous 'Futurama' characters, like Bender and Wernstrom, to recreate iconic movie lines from Titanic and The Big Lebowski in 'Say, Action!"

Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav are Team USA's biggest hype men at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:49

What's the Olympics without a little celebrity? The 2024 Paris Olympics has seen all the stars come out to support Team USA, but no one's been a bigger fan than Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav.

The iconic rappers have made their presence known around the City of Lights, becoming two of the biggest hype men for our Olympians than anyone in attendance. They're loving it, social media has been loving it, and NBC definitely loves it, nabbing over 34 million viewers on the first day of Olympics coverage alone.

It's crazy what old age and wisdom can do to someone, especially now that the most iconic gangsta rappers of the '90s have basically become wholesome girl dads.

That said, even before the Games started, X (formerly Twitter) was set alight when Snoop brought out the Olympic torch during the opening ceremonies.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

There also needs to be a shout-out to Public Enemy founder Flavor Flav, who has been sponsoring the U.S. women's water polo team. It's a pairing you never knew you needed to see until now, with Flav signing a five-year sponsorship deal to help the team's financial woes — thus becoming the team's biggest and official hype man.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

The internet and all the Team USA fans in the country love the vibes they've brought to the events and the sweet, sweet memes that have been created in their wake.

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Meta Reaches $1.4 Billion Settlement With Texas Over Privacy Violations

NYT Technology - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:34
The parent company of Facebook and Instagram faced allegations that it had collected facial identification information on millions of users in violation of a state law.

How women’s gymnastics is scored at the Olympics, and how Simone Biles pushes those boundaries

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:26

Here we go, folks! Team USA's awe-inspiring women's gymnastics team is gearing up for the podium at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the team finals kicking off today at 12:15 p.m. ET. And all eyes are on Simone Biles as she and her teammates Sunisa Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles go for gold.

Gymnasts will then compete for individual medals later in the week — and every point counts.

SEE ALSO: When is Simone Biles competing at the Olympics today?

That's because artistic gymnastics — the version of the sport you most commonly see on TV screens, different from its equally beautiful sister sport, rhythmic gymnastics — is scored to the near decimal point, with nail-biting finishes and routines that can come down to single foot out of place.

It's all based on a gymnastics scorebook known as the "Code of Points."

But the judges and their scores are historically fickle, and viewers should be used to live commentators capping off jaw-dropping routines with phrases like, "We'll see what the judges say." (Fans of the 2006 cult classic Stick It are all too familiar.)

Even so, there's a basic formula every routine abides by. And the way global competitors, in particular, win medals has its own system. Here's a general overview of how Team USA goes from on the mat to the top of the podium.

How an Olympic gymnastics routine is scored

Gymnasts compete in different events based on apparatuses: Vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor (tumbling). Each routine begins with a base difficulty score of zero, with points added to their difficulty as they include more and more complicated elements, from flips to twists to the order of elements and even the way they're facing when they land. Certain events also have "composition requirements," or skills every gymnast has to complete.

SEE ALSO: Stephen Nedoroscik's pommel horse performance for Team USA gymnastics generates online buzz

During the competition, an athlete can elect to adjust their difficulty score by adding or subtracting elements (like an additional half twist or alternative landing). On a beam routine, for example, this may mean getting on the beam in a simpler way to eliminate an early mistake. Small elements may only cost a few decimal points.

If an athlete attempts all elements in their routine, their difficulty score will be set to its max, decided by the "difficulty panel" of judges. It's the baseline for scoring.

That's just part one. Athletes are then scored by their execution of said routine, rated on a scale of 10. Here's where the confusion lies: Judges on the execution panel are keeping a careful watch on the smallest details as an athlete competes and deduct points for what they deem errors. These can be things like extra steps, bobbles on the beam, flexed feet, bending knees, a hunched posture, and more. You'll see these marked under "penalty score."

Execution scores are then added to the difficulty score for a final total.

Tweet may have been deleted How teams score at the Olympics

Each event feeds into a larger push for a medal, and that includes the team at large. National teams compete in two rounds. During the qualification round, each country elects four athletes to compete per event. Full teams compete in all events, with scores for each gymnast being added together for a total amount of points per event.

You might have seen just one or two athletes from a country during a qualification round — they're going for individual medals, not a team win.

The team will then drop one of its four scores from the total amount for the event, submitting just three valid entries into the final scoring. At the end, all of the event totals are added together for a final, all-encompassing score and, thus, their ranking going into finals.

SEE ALSO: How AI is trying to medal at the Paris Olympics

Team USA ended the qualification round with a grand total of 172.296 points — nearly six points ahead of second place. They will now do it all again heading into the final, alongside the other top seven scorers, but with just three athletes competing per event.

Team USA selected Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles to compete in all four events again. Sunisa Lee will compete on the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor. Jade Carey will compete on the vault. Hezly Rivera, the youngest American delegate at the Olympics, will not compete, but she'll still qualify for a medal if Team USA takes the podium.

How individual gymnasts score at the Olympics

As Team USA and its competitors racked up three-digit point totals, judges were also keeping track of each individual gymnast, with a final all around score given to each competitor.

Individuals can win medals in two ways: As an all-around champion with the highest total amount of points or as a winner for a specific event or apparatus (or both). For example, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Team USA walked away with a silver medal in the team competition. Lee took away the all-around gold medal and the bronze in uneven bars, while her teammates brought in gold for floor (Carey), bronze for vault (Mykayla Skinner), and bronze for beam (Biles).

After Sunday's qualification round, Biles, Lee, and Chiles scored the top three spots in total points across all competitors. A country can only send two athletes into the all-around competition, however, and Team USA selected Biles and Lee to compete for the all-around spot.

Tweet may have been deleted Simone Biles is creating her own scoring system

The sport's scoring code has evolved over the last century, picking up speed after the millennium as athletes become faster, stronger, and more daring. Team USA has repeatedly showcased record-breaking scores across events, but Biles has blazed a trail never before seen. Since her debut at the 2016 Olympics, Biles' routines have ramped up their difficulty scores — she even has multiple moves named after her.

Her baseline difficulty scores are so high that scoring a "perfect 10" in execution is often unnecessary. But the added pressure of being the first woman in history to attempt what she does is a hurdle in itself, as judges have routinely "shortchanged" her total scores because there's simply no comparison.

With the finals, maybe the points are finally meeting her where she's leaped ahead.

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Switch to select Verizon mobile or internet plans, get free NFL Sunday Ticket

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:23

Save $449: Through December 10, new Verizon mobile and home internet customers (on select plans) and current Verizon customers who upgrade to select mobile Unlimited plans can get a free year of NFL Sunday Ticket (up to a $449 value).

Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon / NFL / YouTube NFL Sunday Ticket at Verizon
Free with select mobile or home internet plans Get Deal

Watching every NFL game live is an Olympic sport in itself — unless you have NFL Sunday Ticket, that is.

Memorizing which streaming services air games on which networks on which days is no way to live, considering even mastering that schedule still bars most games that aren't in your network. Rather than settling for the $6.99/month NFL+ plan and watching all of those out-of-network games after they air, Verizon is offering to cover the cost of a full year of NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV — a $449 value.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the gymnastics at Paris 2024 online for free

The deal, which dropped on July 24, is available to new Verizon mobile customers when they buy a select new phone on an Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate line (starting at $55/line), new Verizon internet customers with select Home Internet plans (starting at $45/month), and existing mobile Verizon havers when they upgrade select devices to an Unlimited Plus plan.

Upgrading to one of Verizon's mobile or home internet plans also unlocks other streaming perks, like included Netflix and Max or a discounted Disney bundle, depending on which plan you choose. And, for a limited time, new Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate mobile customers also get six free months of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.

If your new phone purchase involves trading in an old one, you might just be able to get that new phone for free. During this promo, Verizon will also cover the cost of your new phone when traded for a Samsung Galaxy S24 or S24+ 5G, S24 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold6 or Flip6, Google Pixel Fold or Pixel 8 Pro, or any iPhone 15 model.

This new tool can tell you whether AI has stolen your work

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:20

AI models scraping copyrighted work off the internet is a very real problem. Some researchers may have found a solution.

Per MIT Technology Review, some folks at Imperial College London have released research pertaining to "copyright traps," a method they've devised that could help creators figure out if AI has stolen their work. The code for these traps, which is available on GitHub, can hide bits of hidden text throughout copyrighted works that would, theoretically, later show up as smoking guns if AI models were trained on that content.

SEE ALSO: Instagram now lets you create an AI version of yourself

The idea of a copyright trap isn't new to the world, having previously been used for other types of media — but it is new to AI. The nitty-gritty technical details are kind of a lot to parse, but the idea is that strings of gibberish text would be hidden somewhere on a page — like in the source code, for instance — and would be detectable if used to train large language models.

The researchers admitted that this is imperfect. Someone who knows to look for the traps could find and remove them, for instance. But with copyright arguments constantly happening around generative AI, it only makes sense that people would work on ways for creators to fight back.

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is back down to its Prime Day price of under $80

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:04

SAVE 20%: The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 portable Bluetooth speaker is on sale at Amazon for just $79.99, down from the usual price of $99.99. That's a savings of $20 which also matches its discounted price during Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 portable Bluetooth speaker $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

Summer is a busy time for all of us. Whether you're trying to keep the kids entertained over summer break or jetting off on a European holiday, we're often looking at packed calendars. If you were too busy to shop the great deals during Amazon Prime Day in mid-July, you're still in luck. An ideal summer speaker is back on sale for it's Prime Day price again today.

As of July 30, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 portable Bluetooth speaker is just $79.99 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $99.99. That's a 20% discount or a savings of $20. This sale price matches its Prime Day pricing.

When it comes to a portable Bluetooth speaker that's worthy of summer activities, you want something that's both durable and waterproof. Enter the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, which not only carries those two accolades, it comes with an impressive battery life of up to 14 hours.

SEE ALSO: Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn

The Wonderboom 4 also excels when listening to tunes in the backyard thanks to the Outdoor Boost mode. Or bring it inside and Podcast mode which focuses on clear and rich vocals.

It's pool and beach worthy, thanks to waterproofing that can withstand submersion in water up to one meter deep for 30 minutes. This also means it's a great speaker for the shower.

If you're looking for a new Bluetooth speaker to accompany you to end-of-summer barbecues or the last visits to the beach, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 could be prefect. Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, you'll be getting it for 20% off, which matches the discount we saw during Prime Day in mid-July. A win for sound quality and a win for sale price.

Stop letting pests bug you with 28% off the Thermacell Mosquito Rechargeable Repeller

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 10:58

SAVE $11.02: As of July 30, get the Thermacell Mosquito Rechargeable Repeller for $28.97 at Amazon. That's a discount of 28%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Thermacell Mosquito Rechargeable Repeller $28.97 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $11.02 Get Deal

The weather's warm, the sun is shining, and the mosquitos are out in full force. Sure, you can slather yourself in mosquito repellent or light a candle. But why do that when you could buy a device that helps repel the pests in the first place? Stop letting these winged beasts infiltrate your domain while you're trying to have a pleasant evening in your backyard. It's time you added a mosquito repeller to your home, and time for mosquitos and other insects to buzz off.

As of July 30, the Thermacell Mosquito Rechargeable Repeller is just $28.97 at Amazon. That's $11.02 off its normal price of $39.99 and a 28% discount.

This simple device can keep mosquitoes up to 20 feet away. It's small, perfectly portable, and comes with a battery that lasts up to 5.5 hours. Just place it wherever you find it'll be the most effective, whether that's on your porch, your deck, poolside, or patio. It can diffuse repellent for a 20-foot zone of protection from mosquitoes without DEET and even distribution so the mosquitoes don't even have a chance to get around you.

This isn't a zapper, you don't need extra bug spray to supplement it, and there's no scent, smoke, flames or harmful chemicals emitted as it's been tested and reviewed by the EPA for safety. Just sit back, relax, and let it do all the work. And kiss all those mosquito bites goodbye.

This package comes with the repeller, which has a rechargeable battery, a 12-hour refill, and a USB charging cable. If you find mosquitoes are regularly bugging you, it might be time to bring out the big guns.

How the Kids Online Safety Act Was Dragged Into a Political War

NYT Technology - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 10:53
The Senate was set to pass the Kids Online Safety Act on Tuesday, but the legislation faces an uphill battle in the House because of censorship concerns.

When is Simone Biles competing at the Olympics today?

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 10:35

Gymnastics legend Simone Biles — perhaps the biggest star at the 2024 Paris Olympics (sorry, Pommel Horse Guy) — is set to compete for gold on Tuesday, a welcome return to the world's biggest stage for perhaps the best to ever do it.

Biles is scheduled to compete in the women's gymnastics team final, which begins at 12:15 p.m. ET. If you tune in, expect to see lots of Biles. She's expected to compete in the all-around, vault, floor, and beam events.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Simone Biles Rising' is essential Paris 2024 viewing

This is a big deal for Biles to return for the team final. She withdrew from the last Olympics in Tokyo just before the team finals after suffering an injury and having a case of the "twisties," which are effectively the yips for gymnastics. It has been an amazing journey of growth for Biles. She went from a mental block preventing her from doing what she does best all the way back to the world's biggest stage on Tuesday.

Tweet may have been deleted How to watch the women's gymnastics team finals

There are a few ways to watch Biles compete on Tuesday.

You can tune to NBC starting at 12:15 p.m. ET to watch the team finals. If you have Peacock, you can also stream the broadcast there. If you have a cable log-in with NBC, you can also stream most events on NBC's Olympics website.

The competition will also reair on NBC's prime-time broadcast of the 2024 Paris Olympics, starting at 8 p.m. ET.

Microsoft says CrowdStrike outage affected many more devices than reported

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 10:30

Believe it or not, it's been 10 days since a global computer outage took down some of the world's biggest companies.

The issue was caused by an error in a software update from CrowdStrike, a third-party cybersecurity company. Since all of the affected devices were Windows-based PCs, Microsoft faced criticism for the outage, too.

In a new blog post over the weekend, Microsoft shared its own analysis of the CrowdStrike situation and offered solutions to ensure an outage of this scale doesn't happen again.

However, one interesting piece of information in the blog post, as noticed by TechRadar, is that Microsoft claims that the number of reported affected devices was vastly underestimated.

CrowdStrike outage impacted more devices than initially reported

One day, after the CrowdStrike outage, Microsoft reported that 8.5 million Windows machines were affected by the error in the cybersecurity company's software update. 

Now, in its latest update, Microsoft has shared that the 8.5 million number is just a small "subset" of devices actually affected. Microsoft did not share the actual estimated number of affected Windows devices. But, it clearly seems to be many millions more than it previously revealed.

According to Microsoft, the 8.5 million figure that was shared came from devices that shared crash reports with the company. Crash reports are an optional feature, which automatically lets Microsoft know when a system encounters an error. If a consumer or company decides not to share crash reports with Microsoft, the company isn't pinged with the issue. As such, they would not be counted in the affected devices estimate.

While most of the millions of Microsoft computers have been fixed at this point, the industry is still gripping with how this could have been allowed to happen.

Microsoft's next steps

The reason why the CrowdStrike update error caused so much damage was because it runs at the kernel level, which is the core part of the operating system. This is why when the update error occurred, it didn't just affect CrowdStrike's software. It took the whole computer system down, too, resulting in the dreaded Windows blue screen of death.

Microsoft explained in its post the reasons why cybersecurity software tends to operate at the kernel level, but clearly, after this latest debacle, that approach needs to be reconsidered.

According to Microsoft, the company is currently looking at "reducing the need for kernel drivers to access important security data." Along with that, the company will also be working with third-party vendors to ensure they follow the best practices when rolling out updates. so that they can catch issues before they go live.

According to CrowdStrike, as of last Thursday, 97 percent of affected devices are back online.

House of the Dragon Season 2, episode 7: Why is House Beesbury at war with the Hightowers?

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 10:25

With so much focus on Team Black and Team Green in House of the Dragon Season 2, it can sometimes be tricky to keep track of all the other Houses and their allegiances.

Take the brief Small Council meeting in King's Landing in episode 7, for instance, during which an update on the war effort gets quickly derailed by the arrival of a visiting dragon. Just before Prince Regent Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) goes charging off on Vhagar, Lord Jasper Wylde (Paul Kennedy) gives the following info on the Hightowers.

"Lord Ormund Hightower makes slow progress," he says. "There is great concern that his host is threatened on two fronts by armies allied with House Beesbury."

This comment is easy to miss or forget, but it will likely prove crucial further down the line. The Hightowers — one of Team Green's main allies as Queen Dowager Alicent's (Olivia Cooke) lot — are having difficulty joining the war effort because another House is at their throats: House Beesbury.

But who exactly are House Beesbury, and why don't they like the Hightowers?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 7: Did Rhaenyra know Vermithor would do that? Why is House Beesbury at war with the Hightowers?

House Beesbury has a pretty good reason to hate the Hightowers, but we have to jump back to House of the Dragon Season 1 to find it.

Basically, back when the war was about to kick off in Westeros following King Viserys' death, then Master of Coin Lord Lyman Beesbury (Bill Paterson) was one of the few Small Council members to protest against Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) being placed on the Iron Throne over Viserys' named heir, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy).

Featured Video For You House of the Dragon Season 1: Everything you need to remember about Season 1 in 60 seconds

Lord Beesbury's resulting death wasn't the goriest in House of the Dragon, but it was certainly a memorable one: Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) shoved him so hard back into his seat that his head was crushed against the little marble of office that everyone in the Small Council has.

Lord Beesbury, moments before having his head caved in. Credit: HBO

That's right: The reason House Beesbury now hates the Hightowers, and Team Green are having to fight a war on a whole other front, is down to Westeros' very own public enemy number one, Criston Cole. Yet another piece of evidence to add to the "men's egos causing wars" list.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Best Buy just dropped the price of the Amazon Kindle Scribe to lower than we've ever seen at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 07/30/2024 - 10:25

SAVE 31%: The Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB, basic pen) is on sale at Best Buy for just $234.99, down from the usual price of $339.99. That's a savings of $105 and a better sale price than we've ever seen offered at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB, basic pen) $234.99 at Best Buy
$339.99 Save $105.00 Get Deal

Amazon has truly revolutionized the way we shop. Through the mega-retailer we can order just about anything to our doorstep, and it often arrives within just a few days (or hours). Amazon also offers some incredible discounts, especially during Prime Day sales. However, we occasionally find a deal from another retailer that blows Amazon's sale price out of the water. A solid case in points come today on an Amazon product sold at Best Buy.

As of July 30, the Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB, basic pen) is on sale at Best Buy for just $234.99, marked down from the list price of $339.99. That's a 31% discount or a savings of $105. It's also lower than the best sale price we've ever seen at Amazon.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe is first and foremost an e-reader, allowing you to carry dozens of downloaded or borrowed books on a single device. If you have travel in your future, packing the Kindle Scribe instead of several books to read pool-side will save you big time when it comes to precious suitcase space.

But the Kindle Scribe goes beyond basic reading. It's also a notebook, annotating device, and document viewer. You can use it as a personal notebook to write down thoughts, daily journal, or use it as a virtual sketch book.

SEE ALSO: The Kindle Paperwhite made me enjoy reading books again

If you love to read book-club novels and take notes in the margins, this is the Kindle for you. Plus, you can also load up documents or PDF files for review, with marking up optional. In Mashable's review of the best Kindles, the Scribe earns the title of the best for taking notes.

The Kindle Scribe has a 10.2-inch screen which makes it the largest Kindle model available, and it comes with the stunning Paperwhite display and a glare-free screen.

Included with the deal, you'll get the Kindle Scribe device itself which comes with 16GB of storage, the Amazon basic pen for taking notes on the Scribe, a UBC-C charging cable, and five replacement tips for the pen.

If you've been eyeing the Kindle Scribe or you're heading back to school soon, today's deal at Best Buy marks the lowest price we've ever seen. So if you've been on the fence, now is a great time to make the call and upgrade your reading experience.

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