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Moving into a dorm room is exciting — and a little intimidating. It marks the beginning of a new academic year and represents the opportunity for a fresh start. Keep in mind that fostering a comfortable dorm room isn’t as simple as pinning a few posters and rolling out fresh sheets. The rise of smart technology has made it easier than ever to ensure your study and sleeping space is as optimized as possible.

“Making your dorm room smarter does not need to be hard — you can begin with small, affordable changes and add to them over time,” says Markus Schaal, managing director and COO at PLITCH, a PC mod software company.

“I know all about trying new tech things since that is something I like doing and I have learned it is better to choose devices that work well together and help you out in simple ways without messing anything up. Your dorm is supposed to make each day easier, not harder. So focus on optimizations that flow naturally from one task to the next.”

Why should I invest in my dorm room?

Living in a small dorm room can be a big change. And while you might not expect to spend a ton of time in your new space, you’ll still want a comfy environment that’s inviting for sleeping and studying. “Having technology that makes everyday life easier is life-changing when you're juggling classes, clubs, and friends,” says Schaal.

What do I need to make my dorm room ‘smart’?

You don’t need to go overboard to achieve a smart and functional dorm room. You’ll want to think about the items that’ll save you the most time while optimizing your comfort and productivity. It’s also a good idea to consider products you’ll be able to use long after you move out of your dorm room rather than just looking for short-term solutions.

The following gear will help you get started on creating a ‘smart’ dorm room — one that’ll actually make studying, sleeping, and living in a small space simple and comfortable. Here are a few key items that you’ll be glad to have when you’re knee-deep in deadlines and assignments:

It is not uncommon for young adults to experience significant stress during college. So if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed just know that you’re not alone. Far from it.

Think about it like this: college students may be adjusting to new responsibilities, managing their classes, as well as navigating the newfound pressures of young adulthood. This 180-degree turn in terms of transitioning from childhood to adulthood is objectively stressful. Learning how to manage stress and unwind in college will benefit you well into your journey to adulthood.

Why is managing stress so important?

“While college is an exciting time, it is also a time where stress awareness and management is crucial,” explains Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, Psychologist and Hope for Depression Research Foundation Media Advisor. “College students are at heightened risk of developing anxiety and depression during this time and managing stress can be a good way to mitigate these mental health concerns.”

How do I manage stress in college?

There are a variety of ways to manage stress and it can be helpful to think about them across physical and emotional dimensions. “Physically, this includes taking care of your body through exercise and food and nutrition. Make sure you have enough water throughout the day and that you are keeping up with any medical concerns,” says Lira de la Rosa.

“Emotionally, you may want to consider having a good support network you can reach out to for support. This can include friends, family, or seeing a mental health provider. Additionally, it can also be good to start and maintain a meditation, yoga, or breathwork practice to alleviate stress.”

What gear could help me manage stress in college?

When you first get started with building stress management habits, it can be challenging to find what works for you—but according to Lira de la Rosa, consistency and patience are key.

For example, there are some good meditation apps and devices that help you practice and maintain a meditation routine. If you want to use physical activity to manage stress, you can check out fitness tracker apps or devices to help you get started. These apps and devices can help you with accountability and ensure you are maintaining a routine.

“Overall, you want to take inventory of what types of stress management techniques resonate with you,” says Lira de la Rosa. “Then, you can start by practicing these techniques and work towards building mastery.”

If you're just getting started, here are some of the best essentials that’ll ensure you’re managing stress in college the best way that you can:

Wondering how to install the iOS 18 public beta? We don't blame you. After all, you'll have the opportunity to try out the new features Apple revealed at WWDC 2024.

Be careful, though. This is beta software, so it could cause trouble in daily use or even loss of data. That said, we've been running the developer betas for weeks now without major issues, and the public beta should be slightly more polished than that.

For a preview of what's coming, check out Apple's detailed introduction. Key new features include massive customization improvements, allowing you to completely change the look of your app icons, an overhauled, far more powerful Control Center, an AI-infused, improved Photos app, and new, animated effects in Messages.

Want to try all of that out? Here's what you need to do.

Step 1: Back up your iPhone Back it up. Just in case. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Beta software is for testing purposes, and you should expect to run into issues. To mitigate more serious problems, such as potential loss of data, you should back your phone up before installing iOS 18 beta. To make sure your phone is updated, go to Settings and tap on your account name on top of the page. From there, navigate to iCloud > iCloud Backup.

Make sure "Back up this phone" is checked. Additionally, you can tap on "Back Up Now" to make sure you do a backup of all your data as of right now.

Step 2: Enroll in the Beta Software Program Once you've logged into Apple's beta software portal, this is what you'll see. Credit: Apple

If you haven't installed a beta update before, you'll need to sign up for Apple's beta program. Enroll your iPhone by going to https://beta.apple.com/ and signing in with your Apple ID. This involves accepting the terms and conditions of joining an Apple pre-release program. Once you've enrolled, you'll get a notification on your iPhone that the public beta is available. If you're already enrolled, skip on down to the next step.

Step 3: Open Software Update

All set? Good. Now, it's time to make sure you're installing the right version. Go to Settings > General before tapping on Software Update. Tap on Beta Updates and choose iOS 18 Public Beta. If you're enrolled with Apple as a developer, you'll probably also see an iOS 18 Developer Beta option in there, but it's the Public Beta you want in this case.

Step 4: Download and install the iOS 18 public beta Congrats, you're running iOS 18 beta. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Go back one step to Software Update. You'll be able to download and install the update. Don't do this unless your iPhone is at least 50% charged. Once the process is started, you'll see the familiar Apple logo and a progress bar. After an automatic reboot, your phone should be all set and running the iOS 18 public beta, which you can check by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

Step 5 (Optional): Provide feedback Tell Apple how you really feel. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Want to make the final iOS release better? You can provide feedback to Apple on the stuff you like, or don't like, about the new features. To do so, open the Feedback app (it's already installed on your iPhone), log in with your Apple ID credentials, and fire away (by tapping on the icon in the lower right corner). In the app, you can also check the release notes for Apple's latest software releases.

OpenAI whistleblowers are calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to open a probe into the AI giant.

In a letter from the whistleblowers obtained by the Washington Post, the whistleblowers allege that OpenAI broke federal laws by prohibiting them from speaking out about safety issues concerning the technology.

The letter shares even more about OpenAI's startling lack of transparency. The company has been scrutinized over the past year by critics, as well as former executives, who have called for greater government regulation over the company and the AI industry as a whole.

The OpenAI whistleblowers letter

Obtained by the Washington Post, the seven-page letter alleged that OpenAI threatened employees for taking part in legally protected whistleblower actions.

According to the letter, OpenAI forced employee agreements on its workers, requiring staff to inform the company if they wanted to speak to federal authorities as a whistleblower. In addition, if an OpenAI employee chose to go this route, the company required that they "waive their federal rights" to any whistleblower compensation entitled to them. 

Government agencies often reward whistleblowers with financial compensation. For example, the IRS and the SEC both offer a double digit percentage of whatever money is collected by the agencies as a result of the information provided by the whistleblower. OpenAI's employee agreement stipulated that employees could not collect such compensation.

While perhaps one can see OpenAI's concerns regarding the protection of its proprietary technology, the letter goes on to share that OpenAI's employee agreement didn't even provide exemptions regarding whistleblower disclosures to the SEC for securities violations.

The whistleblowers' letter comes just months after it was revealed that OpenAI threatened former employees with the potential loss of millions of dollars if they spoke out against the company. Previously, when an OpenAI employee was exiting the company, they were provided with nondisclosure and non-disparagement agreements. OpenAI stipulated that those employees would “lose all vested equity they earned during their time at the company" if they did not sign the documents.

While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed these reports, he said that the company did not enforce it and would be removing these stipulations from the documentation. However, these latest revelations in the whistleblower letter shows that the exit paperwork issue was not a one-off for the AI company.

Save $139: You can score a 2-in-1 deal on an Echo bundle ahead of Amazon's Prime Day. Snag an Echo Pop and the third-generation Echo Frames for $169.99 at the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen) + Echo Pop 🔥 $139.99 at Amazon
$309.98 Save $169.99 Get Deal

On their own, the Echo Pop and third-generation Echo Frames would cost $39.99 and $299.99 respectively, but with this rare bundle deal you get both for just over $300 and a total savings of $139.99.

The glasses come in five different styles and are equipped with access to Alexa. We particularly love these glasses for their ability to play music, podcasts, and phone calls without the need for a separate pair of headphones. When synced up with Alexa, the Echo Frames allow you to operate other smart devices as well and they have a battery life of up to 14 hours.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day Echo deals: Amazon's smart home devices are falling to record-low prices

While we typially recommend the Echo Dot over the Echo Pop (you get more features for only a little more money), the Echo Pop boasts a near identical sound quality and functions similar to other Echo devices that make this deal worth considering.

Google Gemini is a multimodal AI service that's built into Google products, like Gmail, Docs, and Sheets and works to do everything from summarize info to create pitch materials and generate images on the fly. 

Theoretically, you have to give Gemini and Google permission in order for it to read your Google Workspace content. According to Google's data privacy policy, "your Google Workspace content (emails, documents, etc.) will not be shared with other users without permission. This commitment covers all of our Google Workspace products for personal and business use, including Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Calendar, Meet, and Chat."

But last week, a user on X said Google Gemini summarized some of his private documents.

Tweet may have been deleted

"I just pulled up my tax return in @Google Docs--and unbidden, Gemini summarized it. So...Gemini is automatically ingesting even the private docs I open in Google Docs? WTF, guys. I didn't ask for this. Now I have to go find new settings I was never told about to turn this crap off."

The user, Kevin Bankster, said this could have just been a glitch for him. A Google spokesperson told Mashable over email that you have to proactively enable Gemini in Google Workspace and, once you do, Google has access to that information.

"Our generative AI features are designed to give users choice and keep them in control of their data," a spokesperson said. "Using Gemini in Google Workspace requires a user to proactively enable it, and when they do their content is used in a privacy-preserving manner to generate useful responses to their prompts, but is not otherwise stored without permission."

It's not entirely clear what's going on here. Tom's Hardware argues that there could be a couple of reasons behind the result — AI could be "hallucinating (lying)," Google's internal systems could be malfunctioning, or it could be a third, more elusive reason. 

"For Bankston, the issue seems localized to Google Drive, and only happens after pressing the Gemini button on at least one document. The matching document type (in this case, PDF) will subsequently automatically trigger Google Gemini for all future files of the same type opened within Google Drive. He additionally theorizes that it may have been caused by him enabling Google Workspace Labs back in 2023, which could be overriding the intended Gemini AI settings," Tom's Hardware suggests.

No matter what caused the slipup, it's not a great sign for AI in general, since there are already some privacy issues related to how data is collected, stored, and used by the generative systems.

A decade ago meme culture on the internet was hardly even a thing. There were memes, sure, but the collective internet didn't meme events as constantly and ruthlessly.

In 2013, when the last NCAA Football video game was released, Doge and Grumpy Cat were the hottest memes around. But now EA Sports' College Football '25 is set to be released this week and it's already inspiring tons of great, and modern, memes.

The game has been long awaited. EA stopped making it all those years ago due to legal issues surrounding NCAA rules, but, now that players can be paid for their likeness, the game is back. And, as Mashable covered in depth, it is a huge deal for a generation of gamers who loved the franchise.

SEE ALSO: Why 'College Football '25' means so much to its long-suffering fans

That sort of passion led to good jokes. One genre was thanking NCAA '14, the last iteration of the game, for its decade of service to college football gamers.

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There were also jokes about the sheer excitement folks are feeling about having this game back in their lives. For a certain demographic, it's the biggest piece of media to drop in a long time.

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

The best sports video game franchise is back. And now we can make memes out of it. 2014 meets 2024.

Sneering skeptics who had zero faith in Apple’s gaming ambitions were likely taken aback after the Cupertino-based tech giant announced Game Mode on macOS Sonoma at WWDC 2023.

What, exactly, does Game Mode do? Let's say you're playing Resident Evil: Village on your 14-inch MacBook Pro. Without Game Mode, some background tasks may be consuming too much of your precious resources, including the CPU and GPU, which may affect the game's performance. With Game Mode, however, your game's access to the internals is prioritized. This should lead to smoother, more consistent frame rates.

Resident Evil 7 on a MacBook Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It's also designed to reduce latency on AirPods, as well as Xbox and PlayStation controllers.

Apple took it one step further, announcing at WWDC 2024 that Game Mode is coming to iOS 18 (and iPadOS 18), too. Like macOS, iOS 18 Game Mode wags a finger at your background tasks for their excessive demand on the CPU and GPU — and does something about it.

Since the WWDC 2024 announcement, there are three little-known new enhancements coming to the next big OS updates that gamers may perceive as a green signal that Apple is ramping up support for gaming on its devices.

Game Mode tweak on macOS Sequoia

To clear up a common "Game Mode" misconception, it's not designed to give you a boost in frame rates per se. Instead, the frame rates should be more stable with Game Mode on. In other words, Game Mode aims to give gamers a steady experience, not necessarily a performance spike.

Not-yet-released macOS 'Palworld' port on a 13-inch MacBook Air Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Secondly, you can't turn on Game Mode manually. Instead, the utility automatically detects that a game is playing, and Game Mode kicks in to ensure that your background tasks aren't a resource glutton.

I played Zenless Zone Zero on an iPhone 15 Pro Max, with iOS 18 Game Mode turned on, of course. I also played the not-yet-released Palworld on a 13-inch MacBook Air.

With Game Mode on, while playing Zenless Zone Zero, the stunning visuals were more fluid on the iPhone 15 Pro Max (compared to my iPhone 14 Plus sans iOS 18). Plus, the controls feel smoother, too, while I whooped enemies' butt in colorful, visually addictive combat.

'Zenless Zone Zero' on iPhone Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Similarly, compared to Palworld sans Game Mode, Palworld on macOS Sequoia was a tinge more responsive with steadier visuals as I ran around the rugged terrain with my red-headed protagonist. By the way, Game Mode on macOS Sequoia got a slight update; it should now be more effective at minimizing background activity than the previous iteration.

New AirPods feature for gamers

Apple is bringing Apple AirPods' personalized spatial audio feature to games now. However, it will only be available on the AirPods Pro 2, and will offer 16-bit, 48kHz high-quality sound, specifically for the "voice chat" use case. As such, while you're streaming on Twitch, for example, or having a row with your gamer friends, audio should sound more crisp than ever.

AirPods Pro 2 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Gamers will also experience reduced audio latency with this feature (on top of the lower latency you already get with Game Mode). This update will make your games feel more immersive and true-to-life.

Reduced storage requirements via Mac App Store

The downside of being a gamer is that many of the games you download can take up so much of your storage, leaving you with dwindling space for your day-to-day workflow.

Now, when it comes to installing mega-sized games, the space requirement has been significantly reduced, so gamers will have the opportunity to save more storage space than usual.

Gamers can also choose to install their game on an alternate disk.

Future of gaming for Mac users

All of these aforementioned new gaming-focused tweaks are expected to roll out this fall with the official launch of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia (likely alongside the expected iPhone 16 series).

Apple is also working on expanding its gaming portfolio for players. Some upcoming macOS games include Palworld, Frostpunk 2, Prince of Persia: The Last Crown, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Sniper Elite 4, and RoboCop: Rogue City, and more.

Amazon Prime Day 2024 is practically here. If you don't want to miss out on the best deals of the season, there are a few things you might want to know. For starters, when does the official shopping event begin? With deals flooding your feed for weeks already, it's easy to get your wires crossed. We've got you covered with all the nitty-gritty details.

What time does Amazon Prime Day 2024 start?

While early birds have already started saving, Prime Day proper doesn't kick off until July 16 at 3:01 a.m. ET (12:01 a.m. PT). The deals run for 48 hours, with new deals dropping as often as every five minutes throughout the event. If you don't want to get up before the sun to snag deals, you'll have plenty of time to shop.

When does Amazon Prime Day 2024 end?

The 48-hour Prime Day shopping period officially closes at 3:01 a.m. ET (12:01 a.m. PT) on July 18, but some deals tend to linger for days (weeks, even!) after. If you're in the market for a hot ticket item, however, we recommend grabbing it during the official Prime Day event.

What are the best early Prime Day deals?

Prime Day is a great time to buy things like Apple products, robot vacuums, fitness trackers, TVs, headphones, and of course, Amazon's own devices. But that doesn't mean you should splurge on something you don't need. And it also doesn't mean every deal is worth it. Need help deciphering what deals are actually worth grabbing? Check out our guide on what to buy and what not to buy on Prime Day. Better yet, follow along with our live blog to know what's worth adding to your cart in real time.

Less than 24 hours ahead of the official Prime Day 2024 kickoff, there are plenty of early deals you can already shop.

The best early Prime Day 2024 deals at a glance: BEST LAPTOP DEAL Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $898.89 at Amazon (save $200.01) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Bose QuietComfort Ultra $349 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal BEST AMAZON DEVICE DEAL Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation $34.99 at Amazon (save $85 with Prime) Get Deal BEST SMART SPEAKER DEAL Amazon Echo Spot $44.99 at Amazon (save $35 with Prime) Get Deal BEST ROBOT VACUUM DEAL iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ robot vacuum + mop $799 at Amazon (save $600) Get Deal BEST OUTDOOR DEAL Coleman Skylodge 12-person Camping Tent $194.99 at Amazon (save $195) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL LG 55-inch 85 Series QNED 4K TV $599.99 at Amazon (save $800) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Chefman TurboFry Touch Air Fryer $69.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal

We'll be tracking all of the best deals throughout the 48-hour event and beyond, so be sure to check out all of Mashable's shopping guides for Amazon Prime Day. Want to shop like a pro? Here's an insider's look at how to find the best deals.

It's almost hard to recall Instant Pot's reign as the star of Prime Day kitchen deals when Ninja deals are going as hard as they are in 2024.

Regardless of the corner of your kitchen you're looking to spruce up — whether it's the empty countertop slab where an air frying indoor grill could go or the cabinet where dusty, rusty pots and pans are begging for replacement — Ninja is making sure it catches your eye when you drop it into the search bar on Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: TikTok's newest obsession is coming — meet the Ninja Slushi

Ninja has become such a force in the realm of kitchen gear, mainly due to its Foodi line. This goes far past the pressure cookers that are often pitted against the Instant Pot: There are Foodi air fryer ovens, Foodi blenders, Foodi grills, and even several Foodi nonstick cookware collections. Past that, Ninja is behind several other viral kitchen products like the Ninja Creami ice cream maker and the Thirsti, Ninja's version of a SodaStream. And they're all on sale the day before Prime Day, which officially kicks off on July 16.

We're keeping track of all the Ninja deals at Amazon during Prime Day week, as well as live deals in just about every other product category you could think of — so check back often through July 17. For now, all newly-added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 XL Pro Indoor Grill and Griddle with Air Fry (IG651) 🔥 $199.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The juiciest discount we're seeing on any Ninja multicooker so far this Prime Day season is a 46% price slash on the Ninja Foodi Smart XL indoor grill and air fryer combo. This 7-in-1 flat top griddle can take your dinner from frozen to BBQ-ed (complete with grill marks) in 25 minutes, searing at temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit — use the included meat thermometer to check your work. The lid, which can grill open or closed, can also air fry and dehydrate.

More Ninja kitchen deals

Pressure cookers, air fryers, and other countertop cookers

• Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster (ST101) — $79.95 $129.99 (save $49.05) 🔥

• Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Possible Cooker Pro (MC1101) — $89.99 $119.99 (save $30) 🔥

• Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Dual Zone Air Fryer (DZ071) — $115.99 $179.99 (save $64)

• Ninja Speedi 12-in-1 Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer (SF301) — $129.99 $199.99 (save $70)

• Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 XL Indoor Grill with Air Fry (DG551) — $159.95 $279.99 (save $120.04) 🔥

• Ninja Foodi 13-in-1 Dual Heat Countertop Convection Oven (SP351) — $179.99 $329.99 (save $150)

• Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Countertop Convection Oven (DT201) — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)

Coffee makers, blenders, and more drink makers

• Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)

• Ninja Programmable XL Coffee Maker Pro — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• Ninja Hot and Iced XL Coffee Maker — $111.99 $149.99 (save $38)

• Ninja Nutri Ninja Blender (BL642) — $129.99 $179 (save $49.01)

• Ninja Thirsti Soda and Sparkling Water Maker — $149.99 $239.99 (save $30) 🔥

• Ninja Foodi Blender and Food Processor — $149.95 $179.95 (save $90)

• Ninja Espresso and Coffee Barista System (CFN601) — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)

• Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream Maker — $199.99 $249.99 (save $39.49 with on-page coupon) 🔥

Cookware, cooking irons, and more

• Ninja Foodi NeverStick 4-quart Possible Pan — $79.99 $129.99 (save $50) 🔥

• Ninja Foodi NeverStick 8-piece Cookware Set — $199.99 $269.99 (save $70)

• Ninja Foodi NeverStick 12-piece Cookware Set — $26.99 $399.99 (save $130)

SAVE $101: Sony's ZV-1F vlogging camera can be yours for $398, a 20% discount from its usual price of $499, with this early Prime Day deal.

Sony ZV-1F $398.00 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal

Are you dreaming of making it big on YouTube or TikTok? If you or someone you know wants to give being a content creator a real shot, Sony's ZV-1F portable vlogging camera could be the way to go, thanks to this early Amazon Prime Day discount.

As of July 15, Sony's ZV-1F vlogging camera can be yours for just $398, a 20% discount from its usual price of $499. This early Prime Day deal saves you $101.

With a 20MP sensor and a 3-inch LCD display that you can use to line up your shots perfectly, the ZV-1F could be an ideal way to learn the basics of shooting and editing for online video. It shoots in up to 4K resolution with support for WiFi and Bluetooth and has a USB-C port.

SEE ALSO: Get the GoPro Hero11 bundle for $130 off this Prime Day

In his review for PCMag (our sister site owned by Mashable's parent company, Ziff Davis), Jim Fisher, the lead analyst for cameras, called the ZV-1F "a killer performer" for video, but noted that the autofocus effect can be a distraction. But with this sharp discount, the ZV-1F is a quality deal for the aspiring vlogger in your life.

A sex worker and a Russian oligarch's son fall in love in director Sean Baker's "Anora," starring Mikey Madison and Mark Eidelstein.

SAVE $130: As of July 15, you can get a GoPro Hero11 Black Bundle for $249.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 34%.

Opens in a new window Credit: GoPro GoPro Hero11 Black Bundle $249.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is almost here, and that means we're about to see some serious discounts on high-ticket products. If you've been looking to get a new GoPro for your summer travels, we've got great news for you.

As of July 15, you can grab a GoPro Hero11 Black bundle for just $249.99 at Amazon. That's $130 off, or a discount of 34%. This bundle includes the Hero11 camera, but also throws in a lot of essential accessories that you don't have to purchase separately. You get a head strap, two rechargeable batteries, a curved adhesive mount, a mounting buckle with a thumb screw, a USB-C cable, a head strap, and a carrying case. Note that this deal is an Amazon Prime exclusive, so you'll need to sign up for Amazon Prime to be able to check out with this bundle with this discount.

SEE ALSO: Walmart vs. Amazon: Which retail giant has the best deals?

The GoPro Hero11 Black is capable of filming 5.3K resolution video, making it one of the most hi-res action cameras on the market, second to only the newer GoPro Hero12 Black. The Hero11 has a 27-megapixel sensor that captures high-quality videos at up to 60 frames per second. It can also pull 24.7-megapixel stills from any video you capture.

Additionally, the GoPro Hero11 can capture 2.7K240 video that you can play back in 8x slo-mo. If you're taking this little powerhouse adventuring, this is a nifty feature to capture every passing detail. This GoPro also boasts HyperSmooth 5.0 stabilization that helps ensure your video will be smooth viewing no matter what wild activity you're up to.

Critics of Gen Z women in the workplace found a new target: a playful video posted by tbh skincare on Instagram and TikTok.

SEE ALSO: Internet Princess Rayne Fisher-Quann left TikTok in search of something beyond the algorithm

The video is a part of the "Boots and a slicked back bun" trend — started by @maisieisobel on June 29 — where a group of people film themselves in a circle chanting two qualities about themselves twice with simple corresponding dance moves. Several female employees at tbh skincare participated in the trend calling out, "Gen Z boss and a mini" followed by "itty bitty titties and a bob" and "5'3 and an attitude."

According to Know Your Meme, the video garnered around 2 million views on Instagram within the first two days after posting it. It now has nearly 5.5 million views on Instagram and over 3.5 million views on TikTok. While the video appears to have resonated with its target audience, once it escaped to the wider internet people began to poke fun.

The comments on TikTok included messages like, "they should make marketing degrees more expensive," "this is so millenial core," and "The HR department after laying off most the engineering team."

The video got reposted on X where sexism runs rampant. One user posted it with the caption, "Is this the longhouse," a reference to the concept of a woke, matriarchal society popularized in alt-right spaces.

People are quick to attack videos of young women having anything to do with the workplace. Last year, there was the harsh conversation around the Gen Z woman who complained about working a 9 to 5 and even before that was the project managers working from the pool.

GET A $10 GIFT CARD: On July 15, Prime members can get a free $10 Amazon gift card when they make a $25+ Grubhub order using the code GRUBPRIME before 11:59 PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon $10 Amazon gift card Free with $25+ Grubhub order using the code GRUBPRIME Get Deal

In May, Amazon announced that Prime members could get food delivered right to their door via Grubhub+ with $0 delivery on orders of $12+, lower service fees, and other perks.

Now, Grubhub and Amazon are offering a special early Prime Day deal to members who spend $25+ on Grubhub by midnight: a free $10 Amazon gift card. Just use the code GRUBPRIME at checkout.

That’s right, you can get $10 off your next Amazon purchase by indulging in a Grubhub order tonight. But you have to order by 11:59 p.m. PT on July 15 and spend at least $25 to get the free gift card.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime members can order Grubhub delivery right from the app. Here's how it works.

If you’re not already a Prime member, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial and take advantage of this offer while it lasts. Just be sure to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to pay the $14.99 per month fee.

SAVE $50: The Xbox Series X is on sale at Best Buy, priced at $449.99, down from its normal $499.99. That's a 10% discount during Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Xbox Series X 1TB Console $449.99 at Best Buy
$499.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

You can grab the Xbox Series X from Best Buy for the relatively low price of $449.99. The Series X is the most premium offering from Microsoft's Xbox family, equipped with more storage and faster speeds.

This might not be the best deal you'll ever see on a Series X — the price dropped to $350 last Christmas — but 50 bucks off isn't bad. Retailers worldwide are ramping up deals this week in anticipation of Amazon's Prime Day on Tuesday. Best Buy kicked off its Black Friday in July event on July 15, the day before Prime Day's official launch.

There's a compelling reason you might want a new Xbox, especially this week. EA Sports' long-awaited College Football '25 is set to return this week after a decade-long hiatus. For folks who grew up on the franchise, but drifted away from gaming, they might need to upgrade their console since the game is available only on the Series X or Series S and the PS5.

Whatever the reason, now might be the time to grab a Series X.

GET $200 OFF: As of July 15, Prime members can get the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $898.99, down from $1,099. This 18% discount saves you $200.01 and beats the previous all-time low price by $1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $898.99 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $200.01 Get Deal

We’re all for discounts and deals, but this one is a bit of an eye-roll. To compete with (itself?), Amazon has dropped the price of the M3 MacBook Air to a whopping $1 below the all-time low. Yes, you read that right — a single dollar.

As of July 15, the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $898.99, down from $1,099. This is the lowest price we’ve seen since June 10, when it dipped to $899. Ridiculous as it is, you can’t find this deal anywhere else — it’s still listed at $1,099 on the Apple website and the old all-time low of $899 at Best Buy and other retailers.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day laptop deals: Apple MacBooks and LG grams are the stars of the show

So, I guess Amazon is competing with the rest of the market by offering an almost comically lower price, undercutting even its own previous record-setting discount.

Pettiness aside, the M3 MacBook Air is still a pretty impressive machine. Its M3 chip offers solid (and fast) performance, is lightweight, less than one-half-inch thin, and has up to 18 hours of battery life. While the $1 discount may not be enough to sway everyone, it's hard to deny that this is an unprecedented deal you won't find anywhere else.

If you need a larger screen, the 15.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $1,099, down from $1,299 — the lowest price we’ve seen on this model. You can also get the 16.2-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1,999, down from $2,499. That’s a $500 price cut!

THREE MONTHS FREE: As of July 15, Prime members can get a three-month free trial of Wondery+. After the trial, the subscription will automatically renew at $5.99/month or $44.99/year, plus tax, depending on the plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Wondery Our pick: Wondery+ Get three months free with Prime Get Deal

Even though Prime Day hasn't started just yet, Amazon is handing out early Prime Day deals like candy, including free trials for streaming services like Audible, Kindle Unlimited, and Amazon Music.

As of July 15, Prime members can get three months of Wondery+, a podcast subscription service with exclusive shows and early access to popular series, for free — a pretty substantial discount considering the $5.99 per month (or $44.99 per year) regular price tag.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best podcasts of 2024 (so far) 

Wondery+ is the premium subscription tier of Wondery. It gives you ad-free listening, early access to new episodes, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, and access to Wondery's full library of original podcasts, including faves like Even the Rich and American Scandal. Wondery+ members can also snag a 15% discount on Wondery merch via the Wondery Shop.

This Wondery+ deal is only available to new Wondery+ subscribers. Once the free trial period ends, your subscription will auto-renew at the regular $5.99 per month/$44.99 per year price unless you cancel.

Note: You'll need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of this offer. If you're not already a Prime member, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial to get the Wondery+ deal.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Echo Buds with ANC (2nd gen) $34.99 at Amazon (save $85 with Prime) Get Deal BEST LAPTOP DEAL MacBook Air 13-inch (M3 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) 898.99 at Amazon (save $200.01) Get Deal BEST CAMPING DEAL Yeti Tundra Haul portable wheeled cooler $297.50 at Amazon (save $127.50 with Prime) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Blink Mini 2 $19.99 at Amazon (save $20 with Prime) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY TECH DEAL Dyson Airwrap Amazon exclusive bundle $549.99 at Amazon (save $125 with Prime) Get Deal

The countdown is on. We're merely hours away from Prime Day proper, but the deals are already hella impressive. There's really no point in waiting if you see something you want — we're seeing record-low prices on top brands like Apple, Dyson, and Amazon's own Echo and Blink devices. We've rounded up some of the best deals you can add to your cart on July 15 to help you out on your shopping excursion.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. And if you want to keep tabs on all of the best deals this Prime Day, follow along with our shopping coverage.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with ANC (2nd gen) $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85.00 with Prime Get Deal

While the first rendition of the noise-cancelling Echo Buds was kind of a dud, Amazon redeemed themselves with the second generation. "If you've been looking for a device-agnostic pair of wireless earbuds that will drown out the world around you, look no further," Alex Perry writes in his review. Originally released in 2021, these buds offer effective noise cancellation, solid sound quality, and a pretty comfortable design. The battery life isn't anything to write home about, but for budget earbuds with ANC, they're basically a no brainer — especially when you take the early Prime Day price drop into consideration. Snag a pair for a record-low $34.99 with Prime and save a whopping 71%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $898.99 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $200.01 Get Deal

With a 15% faster processor (compared to the M2), WiFi 6E, and support for up to two 5K, 60Hz external displays, the M3 MacBook Air is truly a beast of a laptop. We haven't had a chance to test the 13-inch model, but we did review its larger sibling and were blown away. Mashable reviewer Kimberly Gedeon writes that it "continues to blur the line of the Air and Pro models, providing ample “oomph” for creatives, professionals, and students who need robust performance that can handle their multifaceted workflows." The day before Prime Day, you can grab the base model M3 Air (with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD) for a record-low $898.99. That's a savings of 18%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Tundra Haul portable wheeled cooler $297.50 at Amazon
$425.00 Save $127.50 with Prime Get Deal

If you're looking for a cooler that's practically indestructible and can keep ice for days, the Yeti Tundra is the one to beat. And if you want to bring that legendary insulation and toughness on the go, you'll want the Tundra Haul — which is the first-ever Yeti on wheels. Don't worry; the wheels are a single-piece, puncture-resistant material, so you'll never have to worry about changing them or getting a flat. Prime members can score the ultimate Yeti cooler on sale ahead of Prime Day for just $297.50 — that's not only a rare 30% in savings, but a record-low price. The only catch is that the deal is limited to one colorway: cosmic lilac.

Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Mini 2 $19.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $20.00 with Prime Get Deal

Released earlier this year, the Blink Mini 2 offers better performance in low light settings, a wider field of view, a built-in LED Spotlight for night view in color, and just an overall enhanced image quality. Plus, with the purchase of the Blink weather resistant power adapter, it can now be used both indoors and outdoors. Ahead of the big day, you can get the Blink Mini 2 for only $19.99 with Prime. That's 50% in savings and its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap $549.99 at Amazon
$674.99 Save $125.00 Amazon exclusive bundle Get Deal

An official early Prime Day deal, the Dyson Airwrap Amazon exclusive bundle is on sale for just $549.99. That's nearly a 20% price drop for Prime members looking to snag the versatile hair tool. In addition to the Airwrap itself, the bundle includes a storage case, travel case, detangling comb, filter cleaning brush, and six attachments: two long barrels, two smoothing brush attachments, Coanda smoothing dryer, and round volumizing brush. That's plenty to achieve tons of different hairstyles with a single tool. As for whether the discounted price is worth it, we'll leave it to personal preference. If luxury in your beauty routine is something you crave, we say go for it.

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

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of the most unique games of 2024, blending various different gameplay genres into a cohesive package.

The real-time action, real-time strategy, and tower-defense mechanics work surprisingly well together. With its gorgeous classic Japanese folklore aesthetic, it’s just as pleasing to look at as it is fun to play.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess plot

The game follows two characters: Soh, the warrior, and Yoshiro, the Maiden of Mt. Kafuku. One day, monsters called "The Seethe" take over the top of Mt. Kafuku and overpower both of them, prompting them to have to make their way down the mountain and purify areas along the way.

Path of the Goddess is relatively light on story aspects and feels more like background in order to focus on the gameplay. In fact, there’s absolutely no spoken dialogue whatsoever, and any story bits are told through synopsis. It’s a nice change of pace to not be bogged down with dialogue and just let Soh and Yoshiro’s body language do the talking.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess characters

Soh and Yoshiro are really the only characters that have any sort of personality at all, with Soh protecting her as she makes her way down the mountain. Both of them don’t really go through any character development, and the villagers that they rescue are literally faceless minions.

Credit: Capcom

However, the absence of characterization didn’t bother me in the long run due to the game’s unique gameplay loop. The Japanese yokai inspired bosses are a big highlight, too. What they lack in personality, they make up for grand spectacle and artistic design.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess mechanics

In Path of the Goddess, gameplay is split into two day time and nighttime parts. During the day, Soh prepares for battle by rescuing villagers and turning them into their own soldiers. Along the way, you find crystals that help Yoshiro forge a path for her to slowly walk to the end of the map and purify the exit. 

Credit: Capcom

Even the preparation has an air of tension because Soh is on a clock, and you have to prioritize whether you want to find all of the villagers first or purify different side areas of the stage first. More villagers means more allies to fight with, but unlocking side areas leads to finding more equipment and items. It’s a great way to keep players on their toes throughout the entire time — not just the battles.

The villagers can be changed into different roles, such as healer or marksman, by spending crystals found throughout the stage. The roles you pick are crucial to your success at night when the monsters come out. The process is fun because you can switch their roles on the fly and experiment.

At night, Soh’s goal is to guard Yoshiro and fight off the monsters until sunrise. What makes Path of the Goddess different from other tower defense games is that Soh isn’t a passive observer. While the villagers auto-attack incoming enemies, Soh is free to run around and join in the fights. He can also give commands to villagers to either gather around Yoshiro to protect her or individually place them throughout the stage. All of these different mechanics kept me engaged in every single stage in a way that similar games haven’t. I was actively playing a role rather than just sitting back and letting the auto-attacks do all the work for me.

Credit: Capcom

After purifying a stage, Soh can visit them in person and rebuild the village in that area to earn rewards such as more Musabi, which are skill points. It’s a great way to slow down and reset the game’s pacing in between battles. I also appreciate how simple the progression is. You can use skill points you’ve earned to upgrade roles, such as giving your Sumo more attack power — or even have Soh learn new moves, including the ability to use a bow and arrow to hit flying enemies. It’s an incredibly straightforward system that keeps Path of the Goddess fun to play without unnecessarily complex mechanics

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess graphics

Path of the Goddess has gorgeous art direction inspired by Japanese folklore. The monster and boss designs are memorable, with plenty of variety to boot. You fight everything from ghosts to giant frogs, and the distinct Japanese folklore style makes Path of the Goddess distinct.

Credit: Capcom

However, some of the game’s environmental graphical textures have low quality and resolution. They aren’t very detailed and it looks like I was playing a Nintendo Switch game rather than a PS5 title.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess soundtrack and audio

Since Path of the Goddess features no spoken dialogue, it’s up to the game’s audio and music to do a lot of heavy lifting. Thankfully, the soundtrack sounds great with its emphasis on flutes and drums. This can be heard most prominently during the battle theme, where the drums go into overdrive, making me feel like I’m commanding an army.

Credit: Capcom

The soundtrack also strays away from modern day instruments, like electric guitars, in order to keep the authentic Japanese folklore aesthetic. My personal favorite track is the one that plays while Soh is attending to bases in between missions and rebuilding them. It's incredibly stripped back and bare with simple piano melodies, and it really stands out amongst the rest of the tracks that feature heavy instrumentation.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess challenge and difficulty

Path of the Goddess isn’t particularly difficult as long as you prepare for the upcoming night.

Credit: Capcom

Whether you succeed is all dependent on where you position your villagers to fight back against the monsters. If you’re having trouble, sometimes just picking the right class might make the difference between winning and losing.

Some of the optional objectives in stages can be difficult to achieve during your first time playing them, but you can always come back with stronger units later on and complete them.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess performance

Path of the Goddess runs well with very little performance issues. The loading screens take a bit more time to load up then I’d like (around 9-10 seconds), but it’s not really worth worrying about too much.

Is Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess worth getting?

For the main story, you’re looking at around 10 to 15 hours to reach the end. A $50 price tag may sound hefty, but Path of the Goddess has plenty of replay value as you can go back to previous stages to complete optional objectives. There’s also a New Game Plus when you finish the game for the first time, and there are rewards that can only be unlocked when replaying it.

There are a few tech issues here and there, but with its great art direction and strong gameplay loop, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a standout title in 2024.