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Sonos apologizes for horrible, terrible, no good app rollout

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 03:55

In April, Sonos unveiled a new version of its mobile app, promising more flexibility, improved customization, and ease of use.

But when the app was actually released to customers on May 7, the result was very different, with customers experiencing numerous issues, and many of them unhappy about certain functions (some quite obvious, like "play next") being removed. For Sonos users, this was a big deal, as the Sonos app is an important way to interact with a home audio system and music library.

At first, Sonos was defensive, claiming that the app overhaul took "courage." Now, in an open letter published on the company website, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence admitted that the app overhaul has been a disaster.

"We know that too many of you have experienced significant problems with our new app which rolled out on May 7, and I want to begin by personally apologizing for disappointing you," he wrote. "I assure you that fixing the app for all of our customers and partners has been and continues to be our number one priority."

According to Spence, the numerous fixes the company has released since May have "enabled the majority of our customers to have a robust experience using the Sonos app."

He then lists a number of planned updates to be released from July to October and, frankly, one look at the items on that list and it's easy to understand just how botched this app update has been. The updates include "improving the stability when adding new products," "improving Volume responsiveness," "user interface improvements based on customer feedback," and "improving overall system stability and error handling." For a full list, check here.

SEE ALSO: Sonos Ace headphones review: Hands-on with the first headphones from the audio giant

Sonos plans to release software updates on a bi-weekly schedule, and asks for patience as it continues rebuilding its app.

How AI is trying to medal at the Paris Olympics

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 03:49

As the 2024 Olympic Games commence, the world's top athletes will float down the Seine, walk under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and compete in the 33rd iteration of the centuries old competition. Backing their push for the podium — resting in the technologically adept hands of coaches, athletes, and viewers, alike — is a more modern player: AI

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) published its "Olympic AI Agenda" earlier this year, a "holistic approach to explore the great potential of AI, while mitigating the risks," the organization explained. The agenda set out a future-forward list of goals, which include game optimization, talent detection, and the "reduction of human bias." Many of those are being tested for the first time in Paris.

Intel, an Olympic Partner since 2017, is the event's 5G, Process, and AI platform partner, with the former title more relevant than ever at the 2024 games. The company has spent the last five years building out their established line of hardware and software offerings to aid the IOC's vision of bringing AI into sports. 

SEE ALSO: How to make the most of the Olympics on Peacock

Sarah Vickers, head of Intel’s Olympic and Paralympic program, told Mashable that she believes AI will have its biggest Olympic impact in areas like event operations, the data-hungry world of broadcasting, and the fan experience itself. 

"The Olympic ecosystem has had a rough couple of years," Vickers said outside of the company's on-the-ground AI Lab in Paris. "Now, if you think about it, all of the dynamics of the traditional games are back. There’s fans in the stands, there’s lots of people moving around, there’s a lot of operational challenges. The other thing is that the expectations of the user and of athletes have changed. They are used to having information at their fingertips. It’s this perfect timing for us to be able to demonstrate how we’re showing AI everywhere.”

Intel isn't the only company fulfilling Olympic dreams through AI. On Monday, Google, Team USA, and NBCUniversal announced an official partnership that named the tech giant Team USA's "Official Search AI Partner." The deal will see Google's AI offerings combined with live NBC coverage, game explanations, and user Olympic searches. 

The IOC is revving up its AI game in a period of intense growth across the tech industry, with the hope of bringing back historic viewer numbers and, more subtly, cutting costs — but even they have to consider the wider implications of AI. In conversation with Vickers on Intel's Technically Speaking podcast, Ilario Corna, Chief Information Technology Officer at the IOC, said that the IOC is thinking as intensely about trust as it is innovations, which may soon mean building their own "OlympicGPT."

As the IOC and its partners dive head first into AI, many of the games' biggest swings may go undetected by its audience, operating behind-the-scenes at the world's most historic sporting event. 

AI is helping digitize the competition

Intel has been leading the game's growing technology investments for years, including the opening ceremony show at the 2022 Beijing games, which featured hundreds of Intel Premium drones. Those games also saw the arrival of artificially intelligent platforms. But the Paris games offer the first time many of Intel's tech will be deployed at scale. 

SEE ALSO: 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony: Celine Dion comeback performance reported, igniting the internet

Generative AI, for example, will make its opening appearance in the hands of athletes, far away from viewers, as part of the Games' Athlete365 app. A brand new IOC Assistant Chatbot, powered by Intel's Gaudi 2 generative AI platform, can answer match and regulation questions for participants. Machine learning, meanwhile, is being used to create a safer environment for athletes. Both the IOC and Intel are hailing new AI-boosted tech used to detect cyber abuse and online harassment thrown at athletes from online hecklers — an issue highlighted by Simon Biles' frank conversations about mental health following the 2020 Olympics. 

Speaking at the IOC's AI Agenda launch, American skier Lindsey Vonn told attendees that this could be life-changing: "The fact that AI will be able to, in real time, take these comments down, and not only that, but also be able to help them prosecute people… that is huge. Because that will, I think, change the dynamics of social media."

The IOC's larger AI plans include platform support for anti-doping organizations and athlete education on health, safety, and technology. Intel's computer vision and other data visualization tech will also offer teams individualized analysis of performance that can build out better, safer recovery plans and even predict potential injuries, Corna explained — in addition to what many contend could be medal-winning coaching and training assistance and improved judging.

AI is finding ways to make the games more accessible 

AI and AR are stepping in to assist guests and athletes with disabilities, as well. Intel has launched new wayfinding tech, powered by onsite LiDAR devices and the company's OpenVINO technology, to provide turn-by-turn, real-time indoor navigation for those who are blind or have low vision. It's based on an ongoing Intel indoor navigation partnership with GoodMaps. The same gamut of Intel AI tech at the Olympic games are also supporting athletes at the Paralympic games, with Vickers and others seeing future potential for AI support in rapid on-site translation and accessibility needs. 

AI is now being used to even out the playing field for Olympic hopefuls, too, through AI-supported scouting. The technology is known as 3D Athlete Tracking, or 3DAT, which captures computer vision data of athletes, processed on Intel's AI platform, and spits out 3D biomechanical reports. The IOC has tested this in areas with historic gaps in resources and funding, like athletes in Senegal. 

"The possibilities for the deployment of AI within sport represent a ground-breaking opportunity for the global accessibility of sport," wrote the IOC in the release of this year's AI Agenda. 

AI is leading the Olympics into a data-enhanced future 

Advancements in AI are bringing the Olympics up to par with other sectors. Vickers hailed the use of AI to create highly tailored highlight reels, selected and cut together based on the preferences and interests of viewers themselves, as one of the foremost ways AI will revolutionize the games. That's because it'll cut down on issues of speed and access, especially for broadcasters, and appeal to the growing desire for personalization among AI proponents. 

SEE ALSO: Snoop Dogg can't wait to 'shake it up' at the 2024 Olympics

There's industry-changing potential here, too. Intel's Deep Learning Boost is creating the Olympics' first end-to-end 8K live streaming experience for online audiences, and making mass data sets available to reporters and broadcast teams in real time. Meanwhile, Intel's volumetric capture technology is quite literally changing how athletes may appear on screens in the future.

Housed in the athlete Olympic village, Intel is powering a 360, 3D image generating studio that can scan athlete's likenesses and render 3D versions of themselves — it's a fun AI-powered gag for athletes to send back home, but also the most likely way we'll engage with holograms on live TV.   

"The AI experience is not changing what’s at the heart of the games, which is the athletes." - Sarah Vickers

“You’ll capture the athlete in the 3D studio, and that can be sent to anywhere in the world," Vickers explained. "It could be a virtual broadcast studio in the U.S., India, anywhere in the world. And it will look like the athlete is on stage with the host. It’s going to look real, that they’re standing side by side.”

The IOC sees digital advancements like these as cost-cutting moves to make the game and its athletes more accessible to all, while also decreasing its "broadcast footprint," or the environmental impacts of live broadcasting at scale; That's, of course, ignoring AI's hotly debated environmental impact. 

As viewers keep an eye on medal counts, the new Team USA and Google partnership will see Olympic information integrated into the search platform's new AI Overviews and generative AI assistant, Google Gemini. Actor and "Chief Superfan Commentator" Leslie Jones is set to use Gemini during her coverage of the games on NBC's Peacock. 

The popularization of human-like AI assistants at large is joining with the tradition of Olympic commentators in other ways, too. Announced last month, NBC is offering customized, 10-minute long Olympic updates for Peacock users, all done in the AI voice of famous sportscaster Al Michaels. As NBC clarified again in a later press briefing, viewers don't need to worry in the age of nonconsensual deep fakes: Michaels gave full consent for the use of his voice and likeness. 

SEE ALSO: 'Spotlight on Paris' is NBC's latest bid for Gen Z Olympic attention

And AI's being used before, during, and after the games' run. New, highly-detailed 3D models of Olympic facilities (known as "Digital Twins") allow broadcasters, event planners, and teams to navigate their Olympic experience ahead of time, or even design entire coverage plans virtually. This can make it easier to envision potential navigation hurdles for attendees and logistic coordinators considering accessibility. Looking to the future, this could involve a model for making real-time adjustments for those with disabilities, Vickers explained.

The list is far from over: AI is also powering Olympic archive digitization, so that the memorabilia of the games can live on forever in virtual repositories. 

"The AI experience is not changing what’s at the heart of the games, which is the athletes," Vickers said. "We’re trying to improve the experience for everyone, whether that be the athlete or the fan, but it’s not going to change the fun of the sport. It’s only going to make it better."

AI's Olympic efforts raise more questions of security and privacy 

But concerns about the integration of AI around the games remain. The French government has noted its plans to use private sector AI technology to "conduct pervasive and persistent surveillance before, during, and after the Games," FastCompany reported, as the growing Olympic stage spurs more and more security risk. In April, France's office of the Prime Minister negotiated a decree allowing the government expanded abilities to wiretap; collect geolocation, communications, and computer data; and capture even more visual and audio data from civilians. This adds to a far-reaching, experimental video surveillance system that uses AI-powered cameras to flag potential security risks. 

Privacy advocates raised heads about similarly pervasive surveillance, as well as digital security risks, at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Vickers says the French government's AI plans have no overlap with what's happening inside the games. Intel's Responsible AI team is navigating a world of data privacy laws and internal security to keep their systems controversy free, she says, working in tandem with the Olympic planning committee.

As the multifaceted investments of the Paris games make clear, AI is all around us. “It is everywhere," agreed Vickers. "But the athletes are core to what we’re doing, and that’s going to remain the same.”

Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 26

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 03:37

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for July 25's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 26 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A covered outdoor area of the house.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle...

AWASH.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 26

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 03:34

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for July 26's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 26 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Konami Code members

  • Green: Providing a boost

  • Blue: Not a plus

  • Purple: Sounds like sounders

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Basic directions

  • Green: Advocate for

  • Blue: Drawback

  • Purple: Instrument homophones

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #410 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Basic directions: DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, UP

  • Advocate for: BACK, CHAMPION, ENDORSE, SUPPORT

  • Drawback: CON, DING, MINUS, STRIKE

  • Instrument homphones: BASE, LIAR, LOOT, SYMBOL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Prime Day deals you can shop right now

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

NYT Strands hints, answers for July 26

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 03:25

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 26

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Go for the gold

The words cover a variety of events.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The hint describes Olympic sports.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Olympics.

NYT Strands word list for July 26
  • Karate

  • Track

  • Golf

  • Olympics

  • Swimming

  • Archery

  • Equestrian

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 26

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 03:22

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 26 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 26

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

AcrossHighly praises
  • The answer is lauds.

Admit (to)
  • The answer is ownup.

___ Lakshmi, longtime host of "Top Chef"
  • The answer is Padma.

Just barely make it through
  • The answer is ekeby.

"Goose eggs"
  • The answer is zeros.

DownTabloid partner of Affleck
  • The answer is Lopez.

Not sleeping
  • The answer is awake.

___ Armour (athletic brand)
  • The answer is Under.

Disney elephant with oversized ears
  • The answer is Dumbo.

Neuters
  • The answer is spays.

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

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

How to livestream the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 00:01

TL;DR: Watch the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony on NBC, Peacock, and NBC platforms, including NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, and the NBC Olympics app.

The Olympics is the biggest sports event in the world, an elite showcase that unites nations from all around the globe. Winning an Olympics medal — gold, silver, or bronze — truly is the pinnacle of athletic competition.

This Olympics 2024 are hosted by Paris, France, with opening ceremony set to take place along the River Seine — right in the heart of the city. The opening ceremony is a must-watch spectacle that kicks off the very best in track, field, and indoors sports.

This marks the first time in Olympics history that the opening ceremony will be held outside of a stadium. It will include 10,500 athletes, who are joined by around 3,000 actors, dancers, and musicians. It promises to have something for everyone. You don't even need to be a sports fan to enjoy it.

Don't miss the celebrations — the entire world will be watching

When is the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony?

The Olympics 2024 opening ceremony takes place from 1:30 p.m. ET on July 26. The ceremony will last for more than three hours.

Athletes will begin the parade at the Austerlitz Bridge, then travel east to west along the River Seine in boats, before finishing at the Trocadéro.

How to watch the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

The Olympics 2024 opening ceremony is available to watch on NBC and live stream on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, and the NBC Olympics app.

A preview will begin on NBC at 12.00 p.m. ET, with an enhanced prime time encore shown at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Get a lifetime subscription to an iOS scanner app for 85% off

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Through July 28 only, you can get a lifetime subscription to the iScanner app for iOS on sale for £23.31 (£155.80), saving you 85% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: BP Mobile iScanner (Lifetime Subscription) £23.31 at the Mashable Shop
£155.80 Save £132.49 Get Deal

Whether you need a digital copy of a book or to send in some late homework for uni, a scanner can be a great tool. But with your laptop, smartphone, earbuds, and other gadgets, not everyone has the budget for a dedicated scanner. iScanner is an iOS app that turns your iPhone into a scanner, letting you create high-quality scans and PDFs in seconds. 

This is your chance to get a lifetime subscription to iScanner while it’s 85% off. As of July 22, this app has been marked down to just £23.31. And in addition to the app itself, you'll also get 200 MB of cloud storage included with your purchase.

It can't do your homework for you, but this app can at least make it easier to submit, make digital copies of readings from class, and quickly share files with your mates and teachers. iScanner is an OCR scanner, meaning it can recognise text from almost any scannable object. The benefit here is that you can basically take a picture of a page and turn it into a searchable document. 

Once a document is scanned, users can edit, e-sign it, or even add stamps. iScanner’s editing features are great for refreshing an old document into a new print. Colour correct, remove curves and warps, and minimise noise with a few clicks. Store scans as multipage PDFs or JPEG files that are easy to share, or add a password and protect confidential scans behind a PIN.

Documents aren’t the only thing iScanner can read. Point it at a passport or ID and get a digital copy in moments. iScanner even counts similar objects and can solve typed or handwritten math equations. Use the area measurement feature to find out just how much room there actually is in a dorm or flat. 

Scan a paper or a room with this versatile iOS app. Get a lifetime subscription to iScanner for your iPhone or iPad for just £23.31 (reg. £155.80) — no coupon needed. 

'Deadpool and Wolverine's foul-mouthed end-credit scene, explained

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 21:00

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) is no stranger to the art of the end-credit scene. Take his Ferris Bueller cosplay in Deadpool, or his time-travel rampage in Deadpool 2. Yeah, he's already a pro at this.

For the Merc with a Mouth's first end-credit scene as an official part of the MCU, Deadpool & Wolverine doesn't tease any upcoming Marvel movies or unveil wild new cameos. Instead, it pays off a gag from earlier in the movie — complete with some next-level foul-mouthed language.

SEE ALSO: All Marvel Cinematic Universe movies ranked worst to best What happens in the Deadpool & Wolverine post-credits scene? Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Jay Maidment 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

After the credits roll on Deadpool & Wolverine — accompanied by behind-the-scenes footage from prior Fox Marvel projects — we rejoin Deadpool at the Time Variance Authority's headquarters. He tells us he's had it with the accusations that he got Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) killed in an encounter with Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin).

Remember, in that first meeting, Deadpool told Cassandra that Johnny went off on a nasty tirade about her. The insults sound like something straight out of the Deadpool playbook, so of course it seems like Deadpool is throwing Johnny under the bus.

Turns out, Deadpool did not utter a single lie.

SEE ALSO: There's a new Deadpool Xbox controller — and it has butt cheeks

In the post-credit scene, Deadpool uses TVA technology to revisit his journey to Cassandra's lair with Johnny and Wolverine. We see Johnny deliver the anti-Cassandra rant word for word, including a bit at the end about how she could rip his skin off and reduce him to a pile of organs. Looks like he got his wish!

Even though Evans is playing Johnny Storm in this moment, Deadpool & Wolverine is banking on audiences primarily associating him with the role of Captain America to get the biggest laugh here. Remember the guy who called out Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) language? Now he's saying someone can "lick [his] cinnamon ring." What a difference several years and a billion-dollar acquisition makes.

But wait, what happened to Thor in Deadpool & Wolverine?

This is a fairly straightforward end-credit scene, but it is somewhat confusing that Deadpool & Wolverine chooses to revisit this moment instead of paying off a gag from the first half-hour of the movie.

When Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) first shows Deadpool scenes from the MCU at the TVA, we get a glimpse of a crying Thor (Chris Hemsworth) holding a fallen Deadpool in his arms. Deadpool asks about it, but Paradox orders him not to get ahead of himself. Surely that means we'll get a Thor scene later, right? Right?

Wrong! Thor is nowhere else to be found in the rest of Deadpool & Wolverine, not even in the end-credits scene. Is there a deleted scene out there? Is this 4D chess, teasing what's to come in a future Avengers movie? Or did Deadpool & Wolverine just forget to give one of its many jokes a punchline? For now, we're going to guess the latter.

Deadpool & Wolverine is now in theaters.

A guide to all the 'Deadpool and Wolverine' cameos, from Ladypool and beyond

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 21:00

If you thought Spider-Man: No Way Home or Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were the most cameo-filled an MCU movie could get, think again. Deadpool & Wolverine has gone all out to claim the cameo crown.

The cameos here are only possible thanks to Disney's $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, which granted the MCU access to everything from Deadpool to the X-Men to the Fantastic Four. We've seen some of these characters pop up in other MCU projects before — shout-out to WandaVision for really getting the ball rolling — but not to this extent. In Deadpool & Wolverine, we're not just seeing the return of beloved X-Men. We're also seeing MCU actors reprise characters from other franchises, or even offer viewers a glimpse of how some of our favorite fancasts could have gone down.

Deadpool & Wolverine's cameo fest can be a lot to take in, just because of how much is going on, but we've got you covered.

Here's your guide to the biggest cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine, in chronological order.

Jon Favreau returns as Happy Hogan. Jon Favreau in "Iron Man 3." Credit: Marvel / Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

The honor of First Cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine goes to Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), head of security at Stark Industries (and former chauffeur) who's appeared in the Iron Man movies, the Spider-Man movies, and Avengers: Endgame.

In a 2018-set scene, he rejects Wade Wilson's (Ryan Reynolds) application to become an Avenger. Sure, Deadpool wanted to meet Happy's boss. But Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) doesn't do cameos — sorry, meetings — anymore. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

The returning Deadpool crew includes Vanessa, Peter, and Shatterstar. Rob Delaney in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Jay Maidment

Several supporting characters from the first Deadpool movies are back, but in such a small capacity they're basically glorified cameos. Coming together to celebrate Wade's birthday are his beloved Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), former X-Force wild card Peter (Rob Delaney), recurring roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), X-Men recruit Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), her girlfriend Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna), X-Men member Colossus (Stefan Kapičić), cab driver turned aspiring killer Dopinder (Karan Soni), and Buck (Randal Reeder), a regular at Deadpool's old haunt, Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Children.

SEE ALSO: All Marvel Cinematic Universe movies ranked worst to best

Also back is Shatterstar (Lewis Tan), who died in the X Force debacle of Deadpool 2. Presumably, Wade revived the arrogant alien with Cable's (Josh Brolin) time machine (not that we saw that in the post-credits!) Where's the rest of the team, Wade? Did you pick and choose who lived and died? And where is Domino (Zazie Beetz), who survived the whole thing with luck on her side? — B.E.

Chris Hemsworth makes a brief and perplexing appearance as Thor. Chris Hemsworth in "Thor: Love and Thunder." Credit: Jasin Boland

Our first real Avenger in Deadpool & Wolverine is none other than Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the god of thunder himself. Deadpool sees him on one of the screens at the TVA, holding a wounded Deadpool in a scene that looks remarkably similar to Loki's (Tom Hiddleston) death in Thor: The Dark World.

The TVA's Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) shuts the screen off before we can see more of the scene, telling Deadpool not to get ahead of himself. But the movie never revisits that moment — not even in the end-credits scene! — leaving us without closure on Thor and Deadpool. — B.E.

Blink and you'll miss The Incredible Hulk.

On Deadpool's quest across the multiverse to find a new Wolverine, he runs across a Logan who is mid-fight with The Incredible Hulk. Since we see so little of this version of the Hulk, it's unlikely to be any iteration we've seen in Marvel's films. Instead, this moment pays tribute to the classic match-up between Wolverine and the Hulk, which we've seen in comics like the Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk miniseries, and even the 2009 animated film Hulk Vs. — B.E.

Henry Cavill is Wolverine (aka Cavillerine).

The DCEU's former Superman crosses over into the MCU in Deadpool & Wolverine, with Henry Cavill briefly showing up as a Wolverine variant. (This is the only one Jackman doesn't play in the film.) He shows up during Deadpool's hunt for a new Wolverine, and while nothing comes of this particular partnership, his presence is a bit of a mic drop for the rivalry between DC and Marvel. (The real question: Is his Wolverine more of a Man of Adamantium or a Man of Steel?) — B.E.

Chris Evans is back as Johnny Storm, The Human Torch. Chris Evans in "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer." Credit: 20th Century Fox / Marvel / Kobal / Shutterstock

While at TVA headquarters, Deadpool sees Captain America in action on their screens, where snippets of past Avengers movies play out. But Chris Evans makes his first MCU appearance post-Endgame as his very first Marvel superhero outing.

With one "Flame on!" Evans' take on Johnny Storm (first seen in 2005's Fantastic Four) roars back to life. Sure, he's not around for long, but from the second he appears in the Void, it's clear Fox's Marvel characters are all back in play. Turns out that visiting the TVA's cosmic trash heap has some billion-dollar perks. — B.E.

Cassandra Nova's crew includes Sabertooth, Pyro, Azazel, and more. Emma Corrin in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

The Void is where the TVA pitches variants it doesn't want mussing up its sacred timeline. In Deadpool & Wolverine, that means a motley crew of past X-Men foes, all united under the skull-probing fist of Charles Xavier's evil twin Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). Riding up on the dumped Deadpool and Wolverine all Fury Road-style are X-Men's snarling Sabretooth (Tyler Mane) and tongue-slinging Toad (Ray Park), X2's fire-flinging Pyro (Aaron Stanford) and razor-fingered Lady Deathstrike (Kelly Hu), and X-Men: First Class' demonic Azazel (Jason Flemyng). Plus, they've got a version of the Juggernaut (not the one who got anally electrocuted in Deadpool 2). — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Giant Man is there too! Or he was... The Giant Man suit in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Screenshot: Marvel

Occasionally Ant Man uses his Pym Particles to grow massive, like Scott (Paul Rudd) did in Captain America: Civil War. And apparently sometimes Giant Man gets pitched into the Void, where he dies and his husk of a supersuit becomes the fort of the nefarious Cassandra Nova. — K.P.

What is Alioth?

Oh, hey, Alioth's here! You know, the Guardian of the Void first introduced in Loki Season 1, episode 5? No worries if you're not already an Alioth-head — all you need to know is that it's a big, smoky beast that eats whatever it comes across in the Void. Think of it as a very spooky trash disposal system. — B.E.

Jennifer Garner returns as Elektra. Jennifer Garner in "Elektra." Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Though this casting news was announced back in 2023, it was no less thrilling to see Garner dual-fisting twin sai in Deadpool & Wolverine. Long before Black Widow flirted with Tony Stark in the ugh that was Iron Man 2, Garner was a sexy superheroine who kicked butt with style. Back in the 2000s, Garner teamed up with Ben Affleck for Daredevil, where she co-starred as his tough-as-nails love interest, before headlining her own spin-off movie Elektra a few years later. While Affleck eventually joined the DCEU as Batman, Garner gets to throw down with a way less grim group of super friends. — K.P.

Wesley Snipes is back as Blade. Wesley Snipes in "Blade." Credit: Bruce Talamon / New Line / Kobal / Shutterstock

The Void isn't only for bad guys. When Deadpool and Wolverine battle to a breaking point in the wilderness, they're taken in by a kindly crew of four. And among them is the baddest vampire slayer the MCU has even known.

Beginning in 1998, Wesley Snipes played the eponymous dhampir across three movies: Blade, Blade II, and Blade: Trinity (in which Ryan Reynolds co-starred as Hannibal King!). Fans have been hoping for Blade to rise again for years. In 2019, the MCU promised a reboot that would recast the title role to Mahershala Ali. While Snipes publicly supported the move, affirming Ali would "do great" in the part, there's no denying the thrill of seeing Snipes himself back in the sunglasses and leather cloak. And while the reboot is still ostensibly set for 2025, it's been hitting snags along the way. — K.P.

Dafne Keen is all grown up but still our Laura/X-23. Dafne Keen in "Logan." Credit: 20th Century Fox / Everett / Shutterstock

As the teeny but ferocious clone/daughter of Wolverine in Logan, Laura awed audiences. Child actress Dafne Keen matched Jackman's intensity on-screen, whether she was pummeling goons or spitting out the names of her long-lost mutant friends. The actress went on to star in His Dark Materials and Star Wars series The Acolyte. But it's good for the soul to see her back with Jackman, growling and sharing hard truths over a campfire. — K.P.

Channing Tatum is Gambit at long last.

The sheer chaos of this! The card-slinging hottie with a heavy Cajun accent has been a fan favorite in the X-Men animated series, but he kept being excluded from the movies. While Tatum has been rumored to be attached to the part since the 2000s, it just never worked out. In 2009's loathed X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Gambit finally made the cut — but the role went to Taylor Kitsch.

For years, a Gambit solo movie was talked about but never came together. Perhaps it's fitting that Deadpool & Wolverine is where Tatum finally stepped into the X-Men's cowl. After all, Origins was also where Reynolds debuted as Deadpool, albeit a version fans loathed who'd get killed off in the post-credits shenanigans of Deadpool 2. So, why not use this Deadpool sequel to right the wrong of missing out on Tatum's take on that accent, thicker than a granny's gumbo? — K.P.

Blake Lively stars as Ladypool. (And Kidpool, Dogpool, and more are along for the ride.) Blake Lively in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Screenshot: Marvel

Being Deadpool is a family business: Look no further than the casting for Deadpool variants Ladypool and Kidpool. Blake Lively, who is married to Reynolds, takes on the role of Ladypool, while their daughter Inez Reynolds plays the foul-mouthed Kidpool.

These are far from the only Deadpool variants on display in the film. We also meet Nicepool (Reynolds), Dogpool, Headpool (aka Zombie Deadpool), Babypool, and so, so, so many more. Perhaps this movie should have been called Deadpool(s) & Wolverine, the way the third act throws every Deadpool variant and their mother at us. — B.E.

Wunmi Mosaku returns as Hunter B-15. Tom Hiddleston and Wunmi Mosaku in "Loki." Credit: Gareth Gatrell

Alioth isn't the only Loki star spotted in Deadpool & Wolverine, as TVA agent Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) shows up during the movie's climax to investigate Mr. Paradox's illicit activities. While she's not around for long, she does inform Deadpool that his universe is no longer doomed. We love a cameo who also doubles as the bearer of good news! — B.E.

Taylor Swift, Emma Stone, and Zazie Beetz are not in Deadpool & Wolverine.

After charming as Domino in Deadpool 2, Zazie Beetz dipped to the DC side of superhero movies to play Arthur Fleck's caring neighbor in Joker. She's also set to appear in the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. But sadly, Beetz didn't make the birthday party in Deadpool & Wolverine.

When images of Ladypool hit the web, fans were quick to speculate on who could be behind that mask and high ponytail. Lively was a popular pick, as was the couple's noted bestie, Taylor Swift, who's been known to walk with a slo-mo swagger in her music videos. Some speculated that Reynolds himself could be Ladypool, given Deadpool's dexterity in high heels as seen in the Deadpool 2 music video "Ashes."

The last actress at the center of fans' Ladypool speculation was Emma Stone, who played Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man movies. Some pondered if Marvel might look to their Spider-verse for inspiration and bring Stone in as a nod to the comic book character Gwenpool. Sure, the colors for that merc are pink and white, but don't let things like simple facts stand in the way of your fancast dreams. — K.P.

Deadpool & Wolverine is now in theaters.

'Deadpool & Wolverine' producer and Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige reveals his go-to movies

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 17:46
Marvel Studios president and 'Deadpool & Wolverine' producer, Kevin Feige, reveals to Mashable Entertainment Reporter, Belen Edwards his go-to comfort movies.

OpenAI Is Testing SearchGPT, an AI-Powered Search Engine

NYT Technology - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 17:21
The prominent A.I. start-up said it planned to eventually fold the new technology into its popular online chatbot, ChatGPT.

Actors’ Union to Go on Strike Against Video Game Companies

NYT Technology - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 16:14
The SAG-AFTRA union wants higher pay for the use of voices and images and protection from losing jobs to artificial intelligence.

Reddit no longer showing in search results – unless it's Google search

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 15:55

Over the past few years, Reddit has experienced surges of traffic from search engines. Why? Many internet users have adopted the practice of adding "Reddit" to the end of whatever they are searching for so they can find conversations and opinions from real people. Whether it be product reviews or travel recommendations, many people are looking to search within Reddit's archives of discussions to find what they want.

Now, however, there seems to be only one search engine where users can actually do this.

As first discovered by the tech outlet 404 Media, Reddit has started blocking the vast majority of the internet's search engines from crawling and indexing their website. This means that Reddit posts are no longer coming up in search results for users on these platforms.

There is one exception though where users can still search Reddit – and that's Google.

SEE ALSO: Reddit is cracking down on AI bots Which search engines are affected and why?

Searching Reddit now on popular search engines like Microsoft's Bing and DuckDuckGo turn up scant recent results from Reddit.com. As 404 Media reports, more recent Reddit links aren't turning up because they weren't crawled and indexed before Reddit made the change.

A Mashable attempt to search Bing for any result from Reddit.com using "site:reddit.com" over the past week turns up zero results.

Reddit announced it was making a change to its Robots Exclusion Protocol (robots.txt) on its website on June 25. At the time, the company noted that it was making the change due to a surge of bots scraping its website. It did not seem from the statement at the time that this meant that organizations and platforms that legitimately help the broader internet and its users would be affected.

"Reddit believes in an open Internet, but not the misuse of public content," Reddit's protocol reads.

Blocking search engines entirely from Reddit would certainly be a controversial move on its own. However, there is one search engine that is pulling up recent search results from Reddit: Google, the search engine that has a financial relationship with the Reddit.

Google and Reddit's relationship

Earlier this year, Reddit and Google entered into a $60 million deal that allows the search giant to use Reddit's content to train its AI models.

In statements provided to multiple outlets, Reddit states that its recent changes aren't related to its partnership with Google 

"We block all crawlers that are unwilling to commit to not using crawl data for AI training, which is in line with enforcing our Public Content Policy and updated robots.txt file," Reddit said in a statement provided to Engadget

Engadget also claimed a source indicated that Reddit was excluded from search because Microsoft would not agree to the platform's terms regarding AI.

Reddit's move — if the speculation is true — seems fairly unprecedented, and highlights the hazards of a potential future where search engines become pay-to-play for even organic search results. Mashable has asked Reddit for comment, and will update this story if we find out more.

Is it 'Kamala' or 'Harris'? The answer is complicated.

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 15:20

Kamala Harris is brat. She is the horticulturist of the communal coconut tree that we did not just fall out of. Or just as much the harvester of the apple tree that we did spawn from, if you live by the philosophy of British icon Charli XCX. It's a Kamalaminomenon, in the words of skyrocketing pop star Chappell Roan.

When President Biden announced he'd be stepping off the campaign trail, he threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, pegged as the best choice to replace him in the 2024 presidential election. It was clear that Harris' team was poised and ready for the shake-up. Almost immediately, the Biden/Harris HQ social media branding was transformed into the newly "chartreuse" green Kamala HQ, and a spot blasting the inspiring notes of Beyoncé's "Freedom" hit screens days later. She broke fundraising records in the first 24 hours after Biden's announcement

It seemed the presidential hopeful was making a new claim in direct response to what the Biden administration represented: An aging ticket, against a similarly aged opponent, that simply wasn't up to speed with what the under-34 vote demanded. Brats and femininomenons and coconut trees were Kamala's — sorry, Harris' — weapons. They were Harris' — no, Kamala's — new PR strategy.

Therein lies the problem (or one of them, anyway). Past the memes and pop music, how were supporters supposed to refer to the Vice President now? "Vice President" surely wasn't pulling in the viral likes. Is it "Kamala HQ"? Or the "Harris campaign"? Is "Momala," as Drew Barrymore tried to make happen, ever appropriate?

SEE ALSO: CNN's embarrassing 'Kamala is brat' segment shows why we should take Gen Z and millennial voters seriously

"Now is a good time to pay attention to the way people are referring to her. Are they referring to her as Kamala? If so, this is a common practice which de-legitimizes a woman in politics. Making a more casual and informal reference to the politician, makes them appear softer and less of a contender. We see this very commonly throughout politics in the United States," said Maggie Perkins in the caption of a viral TikTok video from July 22. Posting "Kamala 2024" is very different from "Harris 2024," said Perkins, drawing parallels to the use of acronyms like "AOC" and "RBG" and the marketing of the Stacey Abrams campaign. "If you think I am overreacting, I would encourage you to pay attention to the way that the media refers to her and the way that other politicians refer to her."

Non-Black creators flocked to the note, fearing that they were playing a part in the denigration of a potentially history-making campaign and forcing another woman of color into the trappings of respectability politics. As writer Charles M. Blow wrote in a New York Times opinion piece from May, following backlash to Barrymore's use of the term "Momala," "Black women and girls spend their entire lives in flight from a society insistent on de-individualizing and dehumanizing them, insistent on forcing them to fit broad generalizations... In this case, the stereotype at play is that of the mammy — the caretaker, the bosom in which all can rest, the apron on which we have a right to hang." 

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

But others online, predominantly Black women and women of color, felt differently. Several pointed to a 2020 YouTube video of actor Mindy Kaling and Harris making dosas together, in which Harris asked to be referred to as "Kamala." Her own campaign branding uses "Kamala," they pointed out, and, in many ways, it is a reclamation of her heritage to use her first name — especially as her own peers refuse to learn its proper pronunciation, decades into her political career. This was the least of our worries, they noted, and unhelpful virtue signaling. 

Popular creators, like childhood educator @mrs.frazzled, began referring their followers to a series of videos posted by Erika Harrison, also known as @blackgirlswhobrunch. "We call [politicians] by their most distinct name. With Kamala, her last name Harris is not very distinctive, but her first name is," Harrison said in one video. "Y'all are trying to defend her in this way that she never asked for, and it is ironic because she has always campaigned around her first name. I get what y'all are trying to do here, but I'm gonna be very direct here: White women, this is a waste of your time."

Harrison was one of nearly 44,000 Black women who attended a post-announcement virtual call with Win With Black Women earlier this week — a record-breaking meeting that saw nearly Black women organizers convening to game-plan the Harris campaign and discuss the path forward. 

In the span of just three days, online sentiments shifted: What started as a call to action that using the name "Kamala" was a form of systemic misogyny or even misogynoir, became the idea that using her first name is a sign of cultural and political respect. As it turns out, both ideas can be true.

Sexism on the campaign trail, and within elected government bodies, is still a pressing issue. A recent study of 60 women in politics conducted by Cosmopolitan and Melinda Gates' Pivotal Ventures showed that sexist biases pervaded things like committee assignments and even salary figures, as well outright harassment in the workplace. Ghida Dagher, CEO and president of New American Leaders, told Cosmopolitan, "Elected positions were created in the image of white landowning men. And these jobs continue to be arranged in a way that supports and reinforces that structure of power."

Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance is currently under fire for saying "childless women," including Harris, should not be in politics.

View this post on Instagram

In 2015, the Atlantic referred to the trend of "mononymy" (or single name usage) as a trap created by an "informal age of unearned familiarity" in society at large, but especially among voters. For the author, political candidates, who were ever more inclined to use their first names (Take "Jeb" for Jeb Bush, "Bernie" for Bernie Sanders, even "Beto" for Beto O'Rourke), were worryingly shifting into marketing themselves like celebrities. But voters have long clamored for the personalization of their elected leaders (as well as their families), and politicians, both men and women alike, seem to view the "first" versus "last" decision as a question of marketing. Long before the aughts trend and the Harris campaign's "meme army," there was a lineage of acronyms (JFK, RFK) and nicknames ("Ike" and "Teddy") that feel, in many ways, just as informal and just as famous.

All politicians are making carefully crafted branding choices, handpicked for the electorate that will put or keep them in power. When made by women leaders, and especially women of color, those decisions may just have father reaching implications.

When former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ran in 2016, her "I'm With Her" and "Hillary for President" branding leaned into the familiarity, and femininity, of her first name; neither of these were the official slogan, "Stronger Together." There was debate even then: Was "Hillary" an important differentiator from her husband's presidential term, or yet another way to minimize her bid for leader of the free world?

Days after the announcement, Harris' and Clinton's campaigns were already under comparison. Parallels to other notable female historical figures trickled through headlines, including Shirley Chisholm, the first Black candidate for a major party nomination and first Black woman to run for the Democratic nomination. In 1972, Chisholm campaigned on just her last name and the slogan "Unbought and Unbossed." While much is the same, Harris is operating in a different world than Chisholm was, or even Clinton, one in which she is dividing her time between appealing to the honor-driven American masses and the fickle online contingent, not to mention her current duties as VP. 

And many worry that institutionalized sexism and the rise of white supremacy in mainstream politics still create insurmountable odds for a progressive female President.

Harris is a seasoned politician, backed by a galvanized supporter bloc, and she has clearly drawn her own boundaries: According to her campaign's brand, Kamala is fine; in fact it might help her chances at the polls, and Harris is the professional title she'll don on stage and in session. "Brat," according to her cheeky Charli XCX-themed posting, is also fair game, as her campaign kicks off and pundits scramble to understand the "youth vote." But personal monikers, like "Momala" and even "Auntie," in her words, are a step too far

The internet has received a pass on the discourse for now. The history of racism, sexism, and misogynoir in our country's politics, and the inequitable ways many of our nation's leaders have come into positions of power, aren't fodder for TikTok. And the name debate says more about our political landscape, now at the whim of online sentiments than ever before, than it does anything about the Harris campaign.

SearchGPT is OpenAI's new search engine. Here's how to try it.

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 14:57

SearchGPT is here. OpenAI's quest to integrate its artificial intelligence tools into even more people's lives got a boost on Thursday.

The company behind ChatGPT announced on its website that it would start taking signups to test out an early version of SearchGPT, an AI-fueled search engine. OpenAI stressed that this is a prototype — and the "best features" from the test period will eventually be integrated directly into ChatGPT.

How to try SearchGPT

Users who want to try SearchGPT can sign up now, but the feature is not yet available for testing.

As for how SearchGPT works, it's similar to ChatGPT. You type in a query, the AI scours the internet, and then tries to bring back a variety of helpful results in a visually clean and appealing way. Users can allegedly respond to results with conversational follow-ups to get even more specific results.

Tweet may have been deleted

As always with OpenAI, there will be concerns about accuracy and sourcing, even before the product has launched. For instance, CNBC's Kif Leswing pointed out on X (formerly Twitter) that some of the example search results given in the announcement post are inaccurate, misleading, or not helpful. OpenAI also promises "clear links to relevant sources" in results, but that can't be judged until the product is available.

OpenAI has a long way to go before it can reasonably call itself a Google competitor, but this may be a promising first step.

Yellowstone eruption, Lisa Kudow's 'Friends' confession, and 'Love Island' tea: Top 10 YouTube videos this week

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 14:29

Curious about the top trending YouTube videos of the week? From the geyser explosion in Yellowstone National Park to Fortnite's inclusion of the controversial Tesla Cybertruck, this week's popular videos are a reflection of eye-catching events that have captivated millions.

We're also getting a sneak peek into some nostalgia, with Lisa Kudrow from "Friends" telling Conan O'Brien that she has renewed interest in watching the famed sitcom after Matthew Perry's passing.

Team Coco: Lisa Kudrow Started Watching 'Friends' After Matthew Perry’s Passing

Lisa Kudrow admitted that she avoided watching "Friends" — until the death of her co-star Matthew Perry changed her mind. In an 12-minute interview with Conan O'Brien, Kudrow reminisced about her time as an actress on arguably the most iconic TV sitcom of our time.

Fox Weather: Geyser explodes in Yellowstone National Park

On Tuesday, July 23, the sudden explosion of a geyser near a pedestrian walkway had Yellowstone National Park visitors running to escape the hot water and debris. 

SEE ALSO: Billie Eilish, College Football 25, and 1,000 basketballs: YouTube videos to watch this week Jaiden Animations: So it’s been 10 years huh…

If you’re into "storytime" YouTube videos and animations, you’ve likely stumbled upon a Jaiden Animation video or two. In this 22-minute video that is currently #4 on YouTube's trending list, the channel creator and animator celebrated her 10-year anniversary while over five million viewers tuned in.

Call Her Daddy: Rob’s 'Love Island' Tell All

The Love Island USA season may be over, but tea is still being spilled. If you’re a fan of Love Island USA, and have five minutes to spare, you might want to check out this interview with Rob Rausch. Nearly a half a million viewers tuned in. Sitting at the 13th spot on YouTube's trending list, it's clear that fans of the popular reality show are loving the inside scoop.

Warner Bros. Pictures: 'Joker: Folie À Deux' Trailer 

Why so serious? Villains deserve love, too, and this trailer for the newest film in the Joker franchise shows that Gotham’s most notorious villain is getting just that and more. With over 14 million views and holding the 6th spot on YouTube's trending list, it’s safe to say that fans will likely be rushing to theaters on Oct. 4.

PlayStation: 'Helldivers 2' trailer

Calling all PlayStation fans. A new update is dropping on Aug. 6 for Helldivers 2. Get ready for new enemies, new missions, and a more challenging difficulty setting. 

Gordon Ramsay: Gordon Ramsay, Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman Compete in a Chimichanga Cook-Off

Gordon Ramsay, Marvel’s Deadpool and Wolverine actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and a cooking competition. What could go wrong?

National Rugby League: Maroons vs. Blues Match Highlights

Are you a fan of rugby, but didn’t get to watch the Maroons vs. Blues game? Don’t worry. You can catch the highlights curated by the NRL in under five minutes. 

Perfect Score: How to Unlock The FREE Tesla Cybertruck in Fortnite!

Fortnite fans, did you know you can upgrade your ride to a Tessy? You can figure out how to do that in this quick one-minute video.

Donut - Giving Our Broken BMW The Engine It Deserves

Gear heads, this video is for you. This build-a-long shows the process of upgrading an engine.

'Spotlight on Paris' is NBC's latest bid for Gen Z Olympic attention

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 14:28

"We're trying to reach everyone in the United States," Josh Noval, the SVP of Olympic Sales at NBCUniversal, told Mashable.

The network's latest bid to draw in viewers to the 2024 Paris Olympics is Spotlight on Paris, a roughly one hour TikTok Live show debuting daily throughout the Games at 4:45pm ET. 

SEE ALSO: Who will appear in the Olympics Opening Ceremony?

Presented in partnership with Toyota and hosted by Savannah Sellers, the co-Anchor of NBC News' Morning News NOW, and TikTokker and radio host Josh "Bru" Brubaker, the show goes live Saturday. 

"Our entire distribution strategy, whether it's linear streaming or social, is to make sure that we're reaching every American that we possibly can and giving them content on platforms in a voice that they're accustomed to hearing from," said Noval. Spotlight on Paris is just one piece of that. It's also hitting all its bases by sending 27 creators, known as "The Paris Creators Collective" to capture content in partnership with Meta, Overtime, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

"In the last few years with the different games, [NBCUniversal] has focused on putting content out where young people already are. With [Spotlight on Paris], we want to bring the Olympic Games to them on [TikTok]," Sellers told Mashable.

Sellers says the episodes will be made with the idea that the show may be viewers' only engagement with the Olympics. "We want to make people feel like they're getting a slice of Paris, in addition to getting them to understand what's happening within the games and the events." Episodes will be filmed in front of a live audience of American fans and athletes' family members at Team USA house.

Past social partnerships, like a show run on X, weren't filmed on location but in NBC's studios in Stamford, Connecticut. Spotlight on Paris will lean heavily into the experience of being on the ground in Paris with an emphasis on culture, nightlife, food, and fashion.

Brubaker said he was brought on to bridge the gap between traditional broadcasting and the people who use their phones as their main screens. It's both Brubaker and Sellers first time covering the Olympics, and they say they are very excited about the opportunity.

"It's the Olympics, so it's gonna be gold medal standard," said Brubaker.

Uber and Lyft Drivers Are Gig Workers, California Supreme Court Rules

NYT Technology - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 14:21
Passed by voters in 2020, the ballot measure classifies Uber and Lyft drivers as independent contractors rather than as employees.

How to dispose a mattress

Mashable - Thu, 07/25/2024 - 13:33

Are you shopping around for a new bedroom set, but unsure of how to dispose a mattress or box spring? Don’t worry; you have options for getting rid of your old bed — and we’ve listed them for you. 

Whether your mattress is beat down, or you’re just looking to upgrade, it’s important to know how you can properly dispose your mattress.

SEE ALSO: Eight Sleep's Pod 3 cooling mattress cover is clearly amazing, but it was as frustrating as it was functional How to dispose a mattress

There are several approved ways to dispose of mattress, starting with putting it out with the trash, but there are specific ways to do so without violating local disposal regulations.

Put your mattress out with the trash

In some cities like New York City, you can dispose of your mattress or box spring with your trash, but it must be sealed in a plastic bag of any color except red or orange. If you don’t seal your mattress, it won’t be picked up. However, it's imperative that you check out your local sanitation department website for region-specific guidelines on how to dispose a mattress. For our U.S. readers, click here to find your state's point-of-contact that will answer all your questions regarding mattress disposal and how to do it right.

Donate your mattress

Mattresses can last for 10 years depending on the fabric, so if you’re getting rid of yours before then, it may still have some life left in it and be worth donating. Charities that accept mattress donations include the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity Restore (make sure location accepts mattresses), and Furniture Bank Association of America. You can also check churches and charities near you you. 

Recycle 

Recycling isn't just a trend — and it's lot easier than you may think. You can recycle your old mattress by getting in touch with a mattress recycling company that services your area. Some well-known ones are A Bedder World and Bye-Bye Mattress. 

(Try contacting the furniture manufacturer; they just might recycle your mattress for you if you’re purchasing a new one from them.)

Resell 

A little extra cash never hurt anyone, so why not resell your mattress if it’s in decent condition? You can use platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or post an ad on your social media account that could potentially intrigue a follower who may be interested in purchasing a new mattress from you. (People do it all the time, so don't think you're alone.)

Repurpose

You can get creative with the old parts of your mattress and turn them into something new. Use the foam for additional padding on things like carpets and pet beds; use the wood to make some kind of box or bin to store things; use springs and screws to make trinkets. 


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