Feed aggregator

As one of Mashable's senior shopping reporters (but more importantly, the resident robot vacuum expert), I'll be the first one to tell you that there are way too many robot vacuums on sale for Prime Day.

A ton of the models on sale this year have been under my roof at some point. I have at least three in my apartment at any given time, relying on them for my every day cleaning, comparing them to others I've used, and writing about the experience. My knowledge also extends to price points — I could probably rattle off the MSRP and record-low sale price for any given 2023 or 2024 model from sheer memory. I love being normal.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

So naturally, I was subconsciously scanning the long list of Prime Day options for the one or two deals that could be crowned the absolute best bang for your buck — the deals I'd tell a friend or family member about if they asked which robot vacuum they should get. Spoiler alert: It's not a Roomba.

If you're also in the market for a robot vacuum this Prime Day and are experiencing decision fatigue, I got you.

My favorite Prime Day robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy X10 Pro Omni $599.99
$799.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why I like it

The very best Roomba might be at its best sale price yet, but it's still not the best robot vacuum deal during Prime Day. There are simply other robot vacuums that can do more for less money — namely the Eufy X10 Pro Omni, which is sitting beside me as I type this.

Of the robot vacuums announced at CES 2024 in January, I was most excited to try the Eufy X10 Pro Omni. Not because it does anything particularly unique on its own, but because it took a stab at self-washing and self-drying mopping pads at a price point much lower than any other CES release that offers this feature

SEE ALSO: Top 6 robot vacuum and mop combos to look for on Prime Day

Back to the Roomba Combo j9+ comparison: Both have pretty powerful suction, recognize objects like phone chargers, empty themselves, and mop with force. But after mopping, only the Eufy X10 Pro will self-wash and dry its own mopping pads, prepping it to scrub the next floor with a clean slate. Having tested both in my apartment, not having to deal with soggy mopping pads made me subconsciously reach to open the Eufy app over the iRobot one for pretty much every task.

In terms of actual cleaning, the X10 Pro Omni is just about as meticulous as you could ask for. 8,000 Pa suction power isn't far from the most powerful suction power on the market, and is especially powerful for a robot vacuum under $1,000. I also appreciated Eufy's decision to arm the X10 Pro Omni with dual spinning mopping pads rather than a single stationary cloth. I trust that active scrubbing more, and can visibly see the performance on dusty cat paw prints by the litter box, shoe prints by the door, and dried mystery splatters by the kitchen counter.

A cheaper honorable mention

If you're laughing manically at the thought of spending more than $500 on a robot vacuum, I also have a stellar budget pick for you.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 $399.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is the most advanced of Shark's latest line and it impressed me way more than I thought it would. It gets where it needs to go via accurate smart mapping and did a solid enough job of vacuuming and mopping that I wasn't constantly grabbing my Dyson for touchups. This thoroughness can mostly be attributed to Shark's Matrix mode: a cleaning mode that triggers the vacuum to go over a desired spot (with heightened scrubbing or suction power) multiple times from different angles, upping the likelihood of picking up hair or debris that couldn't quite be grabbed on the first pass.

While this model does self-empty, it's no full-fledged self-cleaning station, so you do have to rinse the mopping pads and let them dry before clicking them on for another mopping run. However, this Shark pick still gets credit for nailing the holy trinity that is smart mapping, self-emptying, and mopping on a budget — less than $400 on Prime Day.

The first day of Amazon Prime Day 2024 has brought with it several goodies: tons of sales, daring discounts, and superior sales. While that includes savings on big-ticket items like tech, it also spans smaller items like home goods and – surprise! – board games.

If you're looking for a good way to gather the whole family or wrangle your friend group, consider a board game or two. One great option is Catan, a bestseller that's going to end up selling more now that it's been discounted. Pick up a copy for your own, but don't forget to check out what else is in store.

Below, find some of our favorite picks for Prime Day board game deals.

Best Prime Day board game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Catan Base Pack $37.49 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $22.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Catan is a massively popular strategy game that you won't want to skip out on now that it's discounted so heavily. Previously known as Settlers of Catan, this board game finds you gathering resources like lumber, wool, and grain to help expand settlements. Collect points for each city and other achievement along the way and claim victory for all your successes. It's a challenging yet satisfying adventure that's a blockbuster for a reason. Don't miss out on adding the base pack to your board game collection.

More Prime Day board game deals under $50:

• Ticket to Ride — $37.49 $54.99 (save $17.50)

• Arkham Horror: The Card Game — $42.99 $59.95 (save $17)

• 7 Wonders — $40.36 $59.99 (save $19.63)

• Pandemic — $24.99 $39.99 (save $15)

• Azul — $28.99 $39.99 (save $11)

• Splendor — $20.99 $44.99 (save $24)

• Mysterium Board Game — $29.99 $54.99 (save $25)

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 17'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.

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: Types of businesses

• Green: Get in the way

• Blue: A bunching of animals

• Purple: Maybe heads of state?

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: Buildings Around Town

• Green: Hinder

• Blue: Animal Group Names

• Purple: Starts of U.S Presidents

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 #402 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Buildings Around Town: BANK, LAUNDROMAT, POST OFFICE, SUPERMARKET

• Hinder: CHECK, CURB, HAMPER, INHIBIT

• Animal Group Names: PACK, PRIDE, SCHOOL, SWARM

• Starts of U.S Presidents: BIDE, CART, NIX, WASHING

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

• Shark RV2310 Matrix Vacuum With Self-Cleaning Brushroll — $179.99 (List Price $299.99)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet — $142.49 (List Price $219.99)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $168.99 (List Price $249.00)

• Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker With 6-Months Membership — $99.95 (List Price $159.95)

• Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm, Midnight, S/M, Sports Band) — $279.99 (List Price $399.00)

Want to shop Prime Day deals, but don't want to spend an arm and a leg? Check out some of our favorite Prime Day deals under $50 you can shop right now.

Best Amazon Prime Day Deals Under $50 Best Prime Day Deal Under $50 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $34.99 at Amazon (Save $25) Get Deal Best Earbuds Deal Under $50 Amazon Echo Buds with Wireless Charging Case $44.99 at Amazon (Save $95) Get Deal Best Prime Day Video Game Deal Under $50 'Super Mario RPG' $39.99 at Amazon (Save $20) Get Deal

Prime Day 2024 is in full force, and that means round-the-clock deals are flying by across just about every category of item. While that includes TVs and smartphones and other big-ticket items, it also counts when it comes to smaller, more affordable goodies, too. You don't have to be rolling in the dough to snag some great Prime Day deals.

Right now, you can score some excellent deals under $50 that you'll be glad you pounced on. From great earbuds to reliable streaming sticks and much more, you can add these deals to your cart and check out now to scoop up the savings. Below, find some of our favorite discounts.

Best Prime Day Deal Under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $34.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the latest and greatest addition to Amazon's roster of streaming options. It's quicker than the previous model and supports Wi-Fi 6E. Plus, with double the storage, it's capable of additional feats, like displaying artwork that can essentially turn your TV into a Samsung Frame display and provide you with plenty of apps to use, since streaming content is spread all over the place these days. Saving 42% off this streaming stick is a great deal, especially if you enjoy a lot of shows and movies online.

Best Earbuds Deal Under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with Wireless Charging Case $44.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

You'll rarely find a better deal on noise cancelling earbuds outside of the realm of Apple AirPods than the Amazon Echo Buds with Wireless Charging Case for less than $50. They deliver crisp, dynamic audio, and audio personalization so you can better adjust your music (and podcasts if you choose) to fit your listening profile. They're IPX4 sweat-resistant, can switch between multiple devices at the same time, and last up to 15 hours per charge with the charging case. Getting them for this price is an absolute steal.

Best Prime Day Deal Under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Super Mario RPG' $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Nintendo Switch exclusive "Super Mario RPG" is a whimsical remake of the classic SNES title. It follows Mario and the gang while they track down the Smithy Gang, who's wreaking havoc on the Mushroom Kingdom. Form a party, fight in turn-based isometric battles, and save Princess Peach (and Star Road) with modernized graphics and mechanics to bring this '90s classic back to the forefront of gamers' minds – and to new players who had no idea Mario was more than a platforming darling.

More Prime Day deals under $50:

• Sony SRS-XB100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker — $38 $59.99 (save $21.99)

• Roku Streaming Stick 4K— $29 $49.99 (save $20.99)

• Sony InZone H3 Gaming Headset — $48 $99.99 (save $51.99)

• Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

• Blink Mini 2 security camera — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Echo Pop — $17.99 $39.99 (save $22)

• LectroFAN Sound Machine — $32.99 $59.95 (save $26.96)

SAVE $50: This apple isn't rotten right to its core. Apple AirPods (third-gen) are on-sale for a record-low price on Amazon for Prime Day. Usually costing as much as $169.99, today you can get them for $119.99. That's a nearly 30 percent discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon AirPods (third-gen) $119.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

AirPods (third-gen) have a battery life of six hours, are comfortable, and have great sound quality for headphones that don't come with noise-cancelling capabilities. They also feature Apple's Personalized Spatial Audio which aims to surround you in sound for an immersive experience. The AirPods (third-gen) also limit background noise when you're on call. Not to mention their sleek design.

Your purchase comes with a Lightning Charging Case with up to 30 hours of battery life.

While Mashable found that the Beats Fit Pro outperform the AirPods (third-gen) in features, battery life, comfort, and sound quality, we know that there are AirPods loyalists out there. If you've been waiting to take the leap from wired headphones to AirPods, now just might be your time.

Perhaps photo dumps aren't scratching the same in-the-moment itch that they once were, or maybe your phone's storage is begging you to let it breathe.

Whatever the case, if you're in the market for a camera this Prime Day, you have a few good deals to choose from. We're not seeing the selection of instant cameras on sale that we're used to seeing on Black Friday. (They do make great gifts, so the holiday timing makes sense.) But we've pulled the ones that are worth looking at, including instant cameras, action cameras, regular mirrorless cameras, and some portable instant printers that can link up to your phone — that's basically a camera.

SEE ALSO: Gift card promos are our favorite underrated Prime Day deals

Be sure to check back through the end of Prime Day on July 17, as it's very possible that Fujifilm, Canon, and Polaroid will drop new camera deals. Other Prime Day categories have way more deals that you can shop right now, and we're keeping track of those, too.

Note: All newly-added deals are marked with a ✨, while anything marked with a 🔥 has dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kodak Kodak Mini Shot 2 ERA (60 sheets bundle) $127.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $62.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The simultaneous nostalgia and modernity of having an instant camera in 2024 is just plain fun. The best one to grab during Prime Day is this bundle from Kodak, which comes with 60 extra printing sheets. This version of the Kodak Mini Shot sports a Y2K-esque film camera look and use tools like auto-focus and face detection to capture your moment in high quality. The photo will pop out in just a few seconds.

The Kodak Mini Shot 2 also doubles as a portable printer that can sync up to your phone and print physical versions of memories in your camera roll.

Other cameras on sale for Prime Day

Instant cameras

• Kodak Memo Shot ERA Kids — $55.99 $69.99 (save $14) 🔥

• Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro (60 sheets bundle) — $123.49 $179.99 (save $56.50)

Portable printers

• Kodak Mini 2 Retro (60 sheets bundle) — $85.49 $139.99 (save $54.50)

• Fujifilm Instax Link Wide Printer — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50) 🔥

• Kodak Dock Plus 4PASS (90 sheets bundle) — $119.99 $199.99 (save $80) 🔥

Action cameras

• GoPRO HERO11 bundle with head strap and QuickClip — $249.99 $379.99 (save $130) 🔥

• GoPRO HERO12 — $299 $399.99 (save $100.99) 🔥

Mirrorless cameras

• Panasonic Lumix S5 — $1,497.99 $2,099.99 (save $602)

SAVE $22.50: As of July 16 (AKA day one of Prime Day), the popular board game, Catan, is on sale for $37.49, down from the retail price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Catan Base Pack $37.49 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $22.50 Get Deal

If you've been waiting to purchase your very own Catan set, now is your chance. Formerly known as Settlers of Catan, the blockbuster board game is on sale for an impressively low price for Prime Day as part of a limited-time lightning deal.

The game challenges players to collect resources — brick, lumber, grain, wool, and ore —to expand their settlements and cities. Along the way players collect victory points for each settlement, city, and other accomplishments like having the longest road. Whoever reaches 10 victory points first wins the game.

The base pack comes with all the Resource Cards, Development Cards, and Settlements you need to get started to play with three to four players. If you're playing with a bigger group or become a fanatic, you can always purchase expansion packs.

Ultimate Ears Prime Day deals: Our top pick Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 56.99 at Amazon (Save $43) Get Deal Best new release deal Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 79.99 at Amazon (Save $20) Get Deal Upgrade pick Ultimate Ears Epicboom $269.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal

Do you hear that? It's the sound of a sale on some of our favorite Ultimate Ears speakers for Amazon Prime Day.

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3, Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, and the new Ultimate Ears Epicboom are all at record-low prices.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 $56.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $43.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Named one of Mashable's 6 best Bluetooth speakers on sale for Prime Day, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is a powerful, durable, and portable speaker. It boasts a battery life of 14 hours, excellent sound for its size, and is available in a bunch of fun colors. Today you can purchase it for the absurdly low price of $56.99. It previously cost $99.99.

Best new-release deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The newer model, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, which Mashable has yet to review and test is also on sale for $20 off at $79.99. It features 14 hours of battery life, and waterproof 360-degree sound in a tiny package.

Upgrade pick Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Epicboom $269.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ultimate Ears Epicboom is also on sale. In Mashable's review, SaVanna Shoemaker praised its durability, power, and how hard it is to destroy. Our main criticism of the product was its steep price, but you're in luck as it's a full $80 off for $269.99.

SAVE $40.99: As of July 16, the Amazon Xbox Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Wireless Controller bundle is on sale for $78.99 at Amazon. That's a 34% discount off its retail price of $119.98.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Xbox Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Wireless Controller bundle $78.99 at Amazon
$119.98 Save $40.99 Get Deal

Gaming has changed a lot in recent years. In the early days, you couldn't get by without some serious hardware, like a gaming PC or a console, versus now you can game on nearly any device with a screen, provided you're connected to the internet. Xbox recently announced that it's launching with the Amazon Fire TV stick. The Amazon Xbox Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Wireless Controller bundle that that collaboration birthed is now on sale.

As of now, you can get the Amazon Xbox Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Wireless Controller bundle for $78.99 at Amazon. That's 34% (or $40.99) off the list pricing of $119.98. Since it's a new bundle, we don't have old deal pricing to compare it to. The bundle includes an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, a Robot White Xbox Core Wireless Controller, and a one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for new members.

If you consider the current pricing of these products, the controller is going for $44, while the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is available for $35, which pretty much puts the price on bar with the bundle. You get a month of Game Pass Ultimate for free, which otherwise costs $15, which should sweeten the deal.

SEE ALSO: The best Prime Day gaming deals, from consoles to accessories and beyond

You can use this bundle to immediately get started with streaming the many games in the Game Pass catalogue right on your TV, without the need to buy a dedicated gaming console. Note however, that this is game streaming and not native gaming, which means it's susceptible to the usual bunch of internet problems, causing visual artifacts, buffering, and input lag.

A new investigation claims that tech companies used subtitles from more than 48,000 YouTube channels — including from top creators like MrBeast and Marques Brownlee and higher learning institutions like MIT and Harvard — to train their AI models, even though YouTube prohibits the harvesting of platform content without permission.

The investigation, conducted by Proof News and published in conjunction with Wired, found that companies like Anthropic, Nvidia, Apple, and Salesforce used a dataset of 173,536 YouTube videos including those from Khan Academy, MIT, Harvard, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, the BBC and late night shows like The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT now saves chat history even if you've opted out of sharing training data

Marques Brownlee posted an Instagram Reel noting that, in his opinion, "the real story is Apple and a whole bunch of other tech companies are training their AI models using data that they buy from third party data scraping companies some of which get their data in slightly illegal ways... Apple can technically say they're not at fault for this."

View this post on Instagram

Wired says that representatives for the non-profit AI research lab that scraped and disseminated the YouTube dataset, EleutherAI, did not respond to the publication's requests for comment. The dataset is part of a compilation the nonprofit calls The Pile, which also includes material from the European Parliament, English Wikipedia, and emails from the employees of the Enron Corporation released during the federal investigation into the company in the early 2000s.

Wired reports that most of the collections that make up The Pile are accessible to "anyone on the internet with enough space and computing power to access them." These include Apple, Nvidia, Salesforce, Bloomberg and Databricks, all of which have publicly acknowledged their use of The Pile to train AI models.

Jennifer Martinez, a spokesperson for AI startup Anthropic, said in a statement that while the company had used The Pile to train its generative AI assistant, "YouTube’s terms cover direct use of its platform, which is distinct from use of the Pile dataset. On the point about potential violations of YouTube’s terms of service, we’d have to refer you to the Pile authors."

In his Instagram Reel, Brownlee added, "The double whammy is that I actually pay for more accurate manual transcriptions on every video that we put out... so that means the stolen transcriptions specifically are paid content that's being stolen more than once."

His concerns echo those of creators across the world who are concerned that their work will be consumed or exploited by AI without compensation or permission. Many are currently suing tech companies for unapproved use of their work.

Wired reports that The Pile is still available on file-sharing services but has been removed from its official download site. Proof News has created a tool to search for creators in the YouTube AI training dataset.

The iOS 18 public beta is finally here, giving beta testers a chance to try out new iPhone features poised to officially release later this year. The new tweaks that Apple added to the next big update appear to be countless — but we've condensed the list to the top five most useful features.

From Tap to Cash to RCS messaging, allow us to walk you through how to use the best features of the latest iOS 18 public beta. But first, you'll need to install it. (We have a guide on how to install the iOS 18 public beta here.) Keep in mind that the iOS 18 public beta is still quite unpolished and raw, so make sure you have an iPhone backup handy before installing it.

iOS 18 public beta: Top 5 most useful features

Now that you've got iOS 18 public beta on your iPhone (and you hopefully have a backup because it's a risky install), let's dive into the top five most useful features.

1. QR Code for Wi-Fi password sharing

If you often have loved ones over, and you can never seem to remember the Wi-Fi password, you can generate a QR code for easy sharing. You can print it, too, so trusted users can always have access to it.

To get this feature, go to Passwords and tap on Wi-Fi. Next, tap on the credentials you'd like to share and tap on Show Network QR Code.

2. RCS messaging

Perhaps after some pressure from big-tech companies like Google and Samsung, Apple is finally offering RCS messaging support to iPhone users. In other words, the feature gap between Android and iPhone messaging will be significantly narrowed. High-resolution media sharing should go more smoothly, and typing indicators and read receipts should be a thing, too.

You can enable RCS Messaging by going to Settings > Apps > Messages before tapping the toggle next to RCS Messaging. (If you don't see this option, your carrier may not support it.)

Now, texting an Android user won't feel as different as it usually does, but you'll still see the green bubbles.

3. Tap to Cash

You can easily send money from one iPhone to another with the new Tap to Cash feature.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Go to Apple Wallet and tap on the "Cash" card. Hit the Send or Request button. Finally, type in the name of the recipient.

4. Satellite text messaging

Satellite connectivity is no longer for reserved for emergencies. You can now send messages to friends and loved ones without a Wi-Fi and cellular connection. You can do this by swiping down on your iPhone to reveal the Control Center. Next, tap on Satellite before hitting Try Demo.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Next, tap on Messages followed by Satellite Connection Demo. You'll then be prompted to temporarily turn off cellular. Next, you'll have to stand in a location with a clear view of the sky and wait for satellite connectivity. (I had to wait three minutes.)

5. Voice Memo transcription

Did you know that, with iOS 18, all your recordings can get transcribed? All you need to do is navigate to the Voice Memo app, record a message, and tap on the triple-dot icon on the top-right corner of your recording.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Tap on View Transcript to see iOS 18's speech-to-text capabilities in action.

Hoping to see Apple Intelligence on this list? Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence features aren't available in the latest beta. In fact, many Apple Intelligence features may not appear until 2025.

The social media and rocket companies are headquartered in California, which the billionaire criticized for its recent transgender legislation.

Prime Day isn’t just good for saving on electronics. You can also save on groceries, but you have to be a Prime member to reap these benefits. 

Eligible Amazon Prime members can get $40 off Amazon Fresh orders of $100 or more (pre-tax) on delivery and pick-up orders with the code PRIMEFRESH40 during Prime Day. Note that this deal is only available until July 17 at 11:59 PT, so snag it while you can.

Opens in a new window Credit: unknown Amazon Fresh save $40 on orders of $100+ with code PRIMEFRESH40 Don’t Have Amazon Prime?

If you're not a current Prime member, you can sign up for a free trial for Amazon Prime. If you’re a student, you’re eligible for a six-month free trial, if you’re not a student then you can unlock the one-month free trial offer to take advantage of Prime Day deals.

SEE ALSO: The best Amazon Prime Day deals for 2024 – live now What is Amazon Fresh?

Amazon Fresh is the grocery subsection of the mega-retailer. While AmazonFresh does have some physical locations in some cities, you may only be able to use this code through delivery depending on where you live, if an AmazonFresh store isn’t near you.

Note that this discount only applies to the Amazon Fresh grocery service and not the Whole Foods Market service that's also owned by Amazon.

If you simply can't find that old photo you swear used to be on your iPhone, Apple may have a fix for that when iOS 18 officially drops later this year.

According to MacRumors, the next big software update for iPhones will have a new feature in the Photos app that will let you recover lost or damaged photos and videos that may not properly appear in your other albums like they should. You can find these photos by opening the Photos app, going to Albums, and scrolling down until you see Utilities.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro may finally get a pink-ish color with new 'rose' color rumor

Of course, that feature won't work for anyone who is not currently using the iOS 18 public beta, so don't bother trying if you're working with iOS 17 or older. You'll also need to actually have some damaged photos or videos lying around on your device, otherwise the options to recover (or destroy) them won't show up at all.

These kinds of images or videos can be lost or damaged for many reasons. As MacRumors pointed out, some third-party apps don't save things to the photo library properly — or databases get corrupted. In these instances, if iOS 18 can intelligently identify photos with problems (and give users a way to restore or destroy them), it could arguably be one of the most impactful features for the Photos app in quite some time.

We'll find out together later this year when iOS 18 drops.

With the rise of AI and ChatGPT, nothing seems too unthinkable and futuristic in the world of tech anymore. Moreover, products that once seemed advanced (read: the Amazon Echo when it was first released in 2015) don't seem to be all that advanced anymore. This means companies have to constantly innovate to continue attracting buyers, which is what Amazon did in 2022 when it released its 5th Generation Echo Dot. Since then, the corporate giant has unveiled even newer products (in the Echo Show and Echo Pop families).

This is great and all, but when the time comes to actually invest in a new Echo device for your home — thus upgrading it to "smart home" status — it can be hard to decide which one to get. Do you want to be able to video call your family with Echo Show 10's sleek swivel screen? Maximize affordability with the Echo Pop? Or upgrade your kids' rooms with an Echo device just for kids?

SEE ALSO: 245+ Prime Day deals our shopping experts think are worth it: Save on Apple, Echo devices, TVs, headphones, and more

With this technology boom though, it can be hard to transition your home from “basic” to “smart-home” status. Establishing a tech-friendly home isn’t always easy, but there is hope. Smart speakers like Amazon's Echo family of products are a great starting point because they're affordable, require minimal effort to operate, and help you easily complete small tasks around the house. They take voice-recognition technology to the next level by playing music, finding binge-watch-worthy flicks, reading news, and adjusting room settings. They’ll do the work for you, so you can relax and take care of stuff that actually matters sans interruptions.

A common dilemma many specifically face is "to Echo or to Echo Dot?" Among its robust lineup of smart speakers, the Echo (Fourth Generation) and Echo Dot (Fifth Generation) are eerily similar, despite the former being almost twice as big as the latter. Given that the latest Dot was released in 2022 and the 4th Gen Echo came out two years before that, there are obvious technical upgrades in the Dot that don't exist in its bulkier predecessor. At least on paper.

The Echo (Fourth Generation) and Echo Dot (Fifth Generation) fall in the middle of the whole Echo line-up. The Echo Show, is at the top of the range, with it's motion-tracking screen, while the Echo Pop is even smaller and more budget-friendly than the Dot.

Bad at making uninformed choices? Same here. To help you out, here’s everything you need to know if you’re deciding between the Echo and the Echo Dot.

Good things come in colorful packages. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Difference between Echo and Echo DotAmazon Echo smart speaker review (4th Gen) Amazon Echo (4th Gen) $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00 Shop Now

The Echo weighs 34.2 ounces and its dimensions are 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 inches. On its round exterior, you'll find an action button, volume buttons, a mic-off button, a light-up ring, a power port, and a 3.5-millimeter audio output. With three distinct color options currently available at Amazon, this under-$100 device is sure to fit your home decor seamlessly.

Setting up the Echo is also seamless and you can use it within minutes. Indeed, the only things inside the package are the device itself, a power adapter, and two guides. The setup guide is highly visual, which is always a perk. To begin, you have to download the Alexa app and sign in. No, you don't need to have a Prime account to use an Amazon smart device (though its range of possibilities surely increases for those of us who are Prime members). Plug in the included power adapter into the Echo and then plug the Echo into a wall outlet. The light ring on the Echo will turn blue when it’s on and then orange when Alexa greets you. Next, connect the Echo to your home WiFi network. The Alexa app will then walk you through the rest of the setup process, including customizing your "wake word," mastering the pronunciation of your name, allowing access to phone contacts, and more.

SEE ALSO: These are the best Echo devices to gain hands-free control of your smart home, and more

Once all that is ready, you're good to go. Give your newest smart home companion a warm welcome: After all, it will be your go-to from now on for blasting music, waking you up in the morning, providing news and weather reports, calling loved ones, and so much more.

Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker review (5th Gen) Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 Shop Now

The Echo Dot takes smart living to a new level. Though this device is two years newer than the aforementioned Echo (4th Gen), it's actually $50 cheaper if you don't get it with an LED clock display. Use that info as you will.

The Echo Dot weighs 10.7 ounces (much lighter than the Echo, clearly) and its dimensions are 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches. This baby can thus easily fit on countertops, shelves, or nightstands. Similar to the Echo, it boasts an action button, a microphone-off button, volume controls, a light ring, and a power port. It pretty much comes with the same color options as the bigger Echo, except for its deep sea blue shade being slightly darker than the Echo's twilight blue shade. Potayto, potahto.

Setup is also a breeze with the Echo Dot. First, plug it into a wall outlet and open the Alexa app to start setup. (You’ll need to download the Alexa app on your smartphone beforehand.) Once you open the app, select “devices” and then select the “+” icon. Follow the on-screen instructions from that point on and personalize the device to your liking.

What you get when you order an Amazon Echo Dot. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Smarter, easier living featuresEcho

The Amazon Echo functions as your personal butler and best friend. Since it's a smart speaker that connects to the Alexa Voice Service, you use it to do everything from playing the latest hits to purchasing some kitchen staples to killing your boredom with a round of Jeopardy! Advanced sound technology helps the Echo immediately respond to you and recognize your voice. In fact, during the setup process on the Alexa app, Echo learns your voice's cadences and pitch by making you repeat some sample prompts. Impressive.

You can tell Alexa exactly what to put on your grocery list and manage the items on your Alexa app. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Prompt response: Beamforming technology, noise-cancelation, and seven microphones will enable the Echo to hear you from your nearby location. Just speak the wake word and say commands like “Alexa, find an Amazon Music playlist,” or “Alexa, call Dad” for immediate assistance. Something to note: Your speaker does not by any means have to be called Alexa. Other fun options include Echo, Ziggy, or Santa. Referring to your device as that last option unlocks a whole new Ho-Ho-Ho personality for it. Another thing to note: Amazon is getting better about accessibility, in the form of Adaptive Listening. This feature, when enabled, essentially gives you more time to finish speaking — Alexa's way of accommodating speech patterns like stuttering.

Beats master: Of course the Echo can play music, but it’s more than a basic speaker. It comes with Dolby premium sound that fills a whole room — with deep bass and clear high notes alike. If you have two Echo devices in one room, you can actually tell one of them to "play music everywhere," which will amplify sound to even higher levels and make for an actual at-home clubbing experience. Word of caution, however — Alexa didn't cooperate with me, strangely, when I tried to test out this feature. For those of us who are highly picky about music streaming services, Amazon lets you set default options which you can change at any time. Do you want Alexa to pick music from Apple Music but podcasts from Spotify? No problem, there's an option for that.

Hands-free communication: If you need to message or call loved ones, the Echo has your back. You can use Alexa to communicate with people via phone or text on the Echo, without grabbing your smartphone. Plus, Alexa can also make household announcements across Amazon Echo devices at home, so your family knows if dinner is ready or guests are arriving. Use the Drop-In feature to connect to other Amazon Echo devices or the Announcement feature to record cute messages in your own voice (accompanied by a range of sound effect offerings, including dinner bell, kiss, trumpet, as well as, a bit alarmingly, toilet flush and fart).

Control smart devices: If you have other smart devices that work with Alexa, you can easily control them with Echo's Zigbee smart home hub. Just ask Alexa to dim the lights, adjust the room temperature, or turn on a compatible smart-plug-connected appliance. The best thing about this? You don’t have to press any buttons, and you can even engineer routines for yourself ahead of time to set these processes in motion at a certain time in your home.

The Echo can double as a night light Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Echo Dot

Making the smart living switch isn’t always budget-friendly, but the Echo Dot is affordable and provides great voice control features. These features aren't all that different from what you get with the Echo. The only true upgrades are new motion sensors that let you touch-control the device, the 1.73-inch front-firing speaker (versus a woofer and tweeters), and "Eero mesh network support so the Echo Dot can serve as a node for your Eero network if you use one," according to our sister site, PCMag. Use the Dot to receive reminders, save cookie recipes to your app for future reference, bask your room in a night light glow, communicate with friends and family, soothe yourself with some white noise, and beyond.

Listening companion: We’ve all tried the conventional speaker setup, which typically involves too many outlets and wires. Echo Dot offers the opposite experience for all your listening needs. You can use your voice to play music through streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify. Plus, Audible and other media forms are available on the Echo Dot. Ask Alexa to find the perfect playlist or podcast, and you’ll have something to listen to when you cook in the kitchen, lounge on the couch, or work out in your living room. Another extra-cool feature? The Dot will start playing deep sleep music when it detects sounds of snoring — if you enable it to do so.

Task help: There are times we wish that we had a personal assistant for little things, including making lists and scheduling calendars. The Echo Dot helps make your everyday routine (and entertainment) more seamless with voice control. Try saying: "Alexa, set a timer for five minutes," "Alexa, play the Reuters news briefing," "Alexa, open my daily horoscope," or "Alexa, find my phone." The possibilities are endless. Be sure to reference the "more" tab on the Alexa app to browse through all of the Echo Dot's offerings.

Use the Dot to send messages to houseguests, remind you of tasks, and more! Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Converse with and check in on loved ones: Like the Echo, the Echo Dot allows you to send messages, make phone calls, and use other Echo devices as intercoms. Enjoy hands-free communication with loved ones and make announcements via Drop-In to keep everyone in touch at home. If you have elderly parents at home, you can also take advantage of Alexa Together — Amazon's remote caregiving offering that does cost extra but allows you to connect compatible fall detection devices to the Echo Dot, see snapshots of your loved ones' daily interactions with Alexa, get 24/7 access to trained agents who can call 911 in case of an emergency, create gentle reminders such as "take your pills," and more.

Monitor your smart home environment: The Echo Dot also offers the option to monitor smart devices at home. If you have light bulbs, thermostats, or streaming media players that are compatible with Alexa, you can control their activity with the Echo Dot. Just speak to Alexa in your room of choice, and you can easily monitor lighting, temperature, and more with verbal commands. Also, if you enable sound detection routines, you can program a particular sound (dog barking, oven dinging, door opening) to trigger a certain Alexa Routine. This feature has an accessibility bonus since it can be used as a way to provide visual cues to those with hearing challenges. For instance, "if Alexa detects running water for a period of time... she can trigger the living room smart lights to flash on and off, serving as a visual reminder to shut off the faucet," as reported in USA Today.

Don't let the Dot's size fool you — it's mighty smart. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Price and competitionEcho

At $99.99, the Echo is moderately priced, but it comes with benefits that go beyond other smart speakers. With its high-tech sound features, including Dolby audio, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite beats at the right volume. When you’re entertaining guests, you can engage the multi-room music feature to turn your pad into a dance floor (adjusting bass settings accordingly). In addition to playing music, the Echo allows you to control smart devices and communicate with loved ones via voice control. It also comes with a skills range so extensive that it might take you months to try them all out.

The Echo comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship. If you would like additional protection, you can buy an extended warranty separately at Amazon.

In terms of competition, the $99.99 Apple HomePod mini can be considered a pretty close match (at least price-wise). It's teeny compared to the Echo, though, and a larger/more advanced Apple smart speaker — the HomePod — will cost you $299 (see our full review of the Apple Homepod). While this competitor might be a better choice for Apple fans, due to its easy iOS compatibility, Siri isn't as smart or loyal of an assistant as Alexa in our opinion.

Echo Dot

For those on a technology budget, the 5th Gen Echo Dot delivers all the smart speaker benefits at a fraction of the price. At $49.99, it’s more affordable than other Amazon Echo devices (despite being the newest Dot) and still has desirable features like advanced voice recognition, smart device control, and assistance with small tasks via Alexa. For $59.99, you can get the Echo Dot with an LED display, which allows you to display the current time in style. That's pretty much the only added benefit the extra $10 will give you.

Unlike the Echo, the Echo Dot only comes with a 90-day limited warranty. It’s applicable to defects in materials and workmanship and you can contact Amazon’s Customer Service for assistance. This warranty, too, can be extended to a one-year, two-year, or even three-year plan for an additional fee.

If we're talking about what's available on the smart speaker market that can compare to the Dot, the Google-Assistant-powered Nest Mini (2nd Generation) immediately comes to mind, as it also costs $49.99. The Nest Mini is cute as a button (and weighs almost as much). It's compatible with streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, and iHeart Radio, as well as Youtube, has smart home pairing with Arlo, Nest, Ring, and other appliances, and it allows you to voice-purchase essentials from storefronts that aren't limited to Amazon. Still, with the Dot's new-and-improved front-firing speaker, there's no question that it wins the contest when it comes to quality audio. Also, with its upgraded temperature and movement sensors, the Dot seems to be leading the smart home game. I mean, what other speaker will listen for the sound of broken glass and immediately alert you to a potential robbery happening when you're MIA fr

Clearly, the Echo is way bigger than the Echo Dot (reflected in their price difference). Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable Privacy concerns

With all Amazon Echo devices comes concern about privacy. In the past, according to what reporter Jack Morse wrote for Mashable a few years back, "Alexa has been known to record people and rooms even when there's no wake word spoken intentionally — or spoken at all." The fact that it can be listening in on your most private conversations — or else sneakily gather info like a credit card number you say when purchasing something over the phone — is legitimately scary.

Amazon has realized that tons of people have been turning away from their Echo product line because of this very risk. That's why now, on the Alexa app, you can review your daily voice history and delete anything you don't vibe with, manage the access to data certain skills have, and more. On the exterior of both the 4th Gen Echo and 5th Gen Echo Dot, you can also find a mic-off button that will prevent any audio input from reaching Alexa. For more information about how Amazon handles user privacy, check out its Q&A on the matter.

So, to Echo or to Echo Dot?

If you want a large smart speaker that delivers high-quality sound, allows you to engage in hands-free control, and use your voice to communicate with loved ones, the $99.99 4th Gen Echo is a good call. Another perk of this device is that it’s customizable: You can choose a decorative shell to compliment your home decor vibe. Plus, it works with other Amazon Echo devices for the ultimate sound setup whenever you need it.

If you don’t want to fork over a lot of cash for a smart speaker, the Echo Dot is a great pick — especially considering it's newer than the 4th Gen Echo. At only $49.99, it’s a steal compared to other Amazon-connected devices and offers the same smart speaker benefits... and then some.

SAVE UP TO $20: During Prime Day, Prime members can either get direct savings or receive a promotional credit when they shop gift cards at Amazon.

Sure, the main draw of Prime Day is the savings you can get on big-ticket items like headphones or robot vacuums, but one of the most underrated Prime Day deals is Amazon's selection of gift cards. You're already planning on ordering from Doordash or seeing a movie at Regal; might as well save some money now for future purchases.

Gift card deals at Amazon work one of two ways: There's a direct savings promotion on the gift card, or you buy the gift card at full price and receive an Amazon promotional credit after you purchase. Just apply the deal code at checkout and make sure you're meeting the spend requirements — some promos require you to buy gift cards of a certain amount to qualify for the deal.

There is a limit of one gift card per brand per customer for these deals. Once you purchase, you should receive your promo credit in one to three days and it will automatically apply to future eligible purchases.

Food and restaurant gift card deals

• Chipotle — receive $10 in promotional credit on $50+ with on-page coupon

• Doordash — receive $20 in promotional credit on $100+ with code DASH

• Instacart — save $15 on $100+ with code INSTACART

• Let's Eat (The Cheesecake Factory, Chili's, Cracker Barrell, Red Lobster, Panera Bread) — receive $10 in promotional credit on $50+ with on-page coupon

Shopping gift card deals

• Adidas — save $10 on $50+ with on-page coupon

• Bath & Body Works — save $10 on $50+ with code BATHPD

• Best Buy — save $10 on $100+ with code BESTBUY

• H&M — save $10 on $50+ with code HMUSPD

Entertainment gift card deals

• Google Play — receive $10 in promotional credit on $100+ with code GOOGLEPD

• Razer Gold — receive $20 in promotional credit on $100+ with code RAZER

• Regal Cinemas — save $10 on $50+ with code REGAL

• Vudu — save $10 on $50+ with code VUDUPD

Travel gift card deals

• Lyft — save $20 on $100+ with code LYFTPD

• Uber — receive $10 in promotional credit on $100+

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shop all gift card deals at Amazon Get Deal

SAVE $102: The Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones are one of our top picks for the best headphones. This Prime Day deal brings them down to $298 at Amazon, from the list price of $399.99. That's 25% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $298.00
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal

While wired headphones can still be elite, wireless headphones have gotten really good in recent years. Sony has made some excellent ones, and its latest flagship pair of noise-cancelling headphones is an easy recommendation. The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have made it onto a few of our headphone recommendation lists, and they're on sale today at their lowest-ever price.

As of July 16 you can snag the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for just $298 at Amazon. That's $102 off the hefty list price of $399.99, making for a 25% discount. This price tag makes these headphones much easier to recommend, and a great value for your money. This is the lowest price we've seen these headphones at, beating the previous all-time low price of $299.99 by a whole two bucks. You can get this price for all three colorways: Silver, Black, and Midnight Blue.

SEE ALSO: Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones review: New design and improved sound quality

Miller Kern, Mashable's deputy editor of shopping and reviews, enjoyed these headphones as she notes in her review: "I was truly impressed by the sound quality and noise cancellation in the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones." She gave them an exceptional 4.7/5 rating. Mashable's East Coast Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon also tested the Sony WH-1000XM5 in a head-to-head battle against the Apple AirPods Max, to see which ones have the better noise cancellation. The Sony WH-1000XM5 won that race, and currently hold the title of the "best sound-first headphones" on our best headphones rundown.

SAVE $400: The Robotrock S8 Max Ultra robot vacuum and mop with self-emptying base is on sale during Amazon Prime Day for $1,199.99, down from the usual price of $1,599.99. That's a 25% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock S8 Max Ultra robot vacuum and mop with self-emptying base $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $400.00 Prime exclusive deal Get Deal

When it comes to house (or apartment) keeping, two things are certain — the laundry hamper will never be empty and the floors could always use a sweep. If you dread the chore of cleaning the floors or stepping on cookie crumbs in the kitchen, Amazon Prime Day has something special in store today.

As of July 16, the Robotrock S8 Max Ultra robot vacuum and mop with self-emptying base is on sale for $1,199.99 for Amazon Prime members, marked down from the standard price of $1,599.99. That's a savings of $400 or a 25% discount.

It's no longer Jetson-era technology — you really can have a robot vacuum that does it all for you. The Roborock S8 Max Ultra can vacuum, mop, and dry your floors. And thanks to its self-emptying base, you won't have to constantly empty debris or refill it with water.

The Roborock S8 Max Ultra adds in some technology that makes it an ideal floor-cleaning machine, like a FlexiArm side brush that can tackle cleaning corners and obstacle avoidance so your slippers won't get pushed into the other room. With 8000Pa suction, the robot vacuum and mop combo is designed to clean both hard floors and carpets. You can also set it on a deep-cleaning cycle which vacuums in a zig-zag pattern instead of taking a single pass.

When it comes to mopping, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra can heat water to up to 140 degrees F to wipe away kitchen floor spills or messes under the dining room table. It also uses warm air to dry the freshly-mopped floors, so you won't have to come home to wet floors. Through the companion app, you'll be able to control the robot's schedule or select custom settings.

Keep in mind you'll need to be signed up and logged in as an Amazon Prime member to score this discounted price. If you're not already a Prime member, you can sign up for a monthly membership for $14.99 or an annual plan for $139. Not only will this give you access to tons of Prime-exclusive deals during Prime Day, but you'll also be eligible for any future invite-only Prime deals.

If you've been eyeing a robot vacuum that can also mop and comes with a self-emptying base, the sale price on the Roborock S8 Max Ultra puts it in line as a solid contender. Both your schedule and your clean floors will appreciate the upgraded.

The tech community, led by Sam Altman of OpenAI, has funded programs that give people unconditional cash. Some say it’s time to scale up.

Are you going to Paris this summer to watch the Olympics? No? How about back home to the midwest to visit family, or to the nearest body of water to relax? A town away to visit your best friend?

Wherever you're traveling this summer, Uber may have just made financial planning for your trip just a bit easier. Now, you can search average fares and wait times in more than 10,000 cities.

SEE ALSO: 'Uber Tasks' is like Uber Eats, but you get completed chores instead — 7 jobs the app can do Uber's new feature should make trip planning easier

"Riders will now be able to see insights into the average wait time and cost of a ride from all local airports and within a given city," Uber said in a press release. "Plus, you’ll have the option to reserve rides for upcoming trips. Just tap 'where to?' and select 'search in a different city' to get started."

Uber also introduced other features that might pique the interest of those lucky enough to be in Paris this summer. Flying Blue gives users points with Air France-KLM Group if they use Uber in France and the Netherlands; Uber Bubbles, a champagne tour bookable through the Uber app, has more open reservations; and Uber Cruise allows people to book a private cruise on the river Seine.

"With Summer in full swing, and a record number of Americans taking to the skies for their long awaited vacations, these updates are meant to help customers more easily plan for – and save on – their summer travels to Paris and beyond," the company said in a press release.

The new feature will start rolling out on July 16.