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TL;DR: Through July 21, jump on limited-time summer savings and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more tools for £31.47. 

It's not just that PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and all their friends are popular. They're also incredibly useful. The downside is that normally Microsoft 365 isn't something you just buy once. Paying for a subscription just means you're renting your productivity. If you want to own it, you have to get a license that doesn't expire. 

Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows has a few years on it, so this version might not have all the bells and whistles of the latest Microsoft 365 update, but you also don't have to pay for it every year. Once you've got it, you've got it for good, and it only costs £31.47 (reg. £173.20). That price is actually marked down a little extra, so hop on it while it's here. 

How to avoid paying yearly for MS Office

Here's what you get with this Office license: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and the free version of Teams. You can use these apps however you want, whether it's at work or at home.

If you're used to Microsoft 365, Office's look may be different, but the important parts are all there. Word still has some great templates and Publisher is still an easy way to make flyers and posters. The big difference is you don't have to pay for them every month or year, so there's finally time to figure out what all the buttons in Excel do. 

Just remember that once your apps are installed, that's where they live. This license only allows you one installation on one computer, but then it's yours for life. That's what makes this such a good gift for office workers and students. The software you buy today could still be useful for years to come. 

Marked down for a limited time

Don't miss your chance to get lifetime access to essential productivity programs at a discount. 

July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows for just £31.47. No coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License £31.47 at the Mashable Shop
£173.20 Save £141.73 Get Deal

If you can count on the Targaryens for anything, it's incest.

SEE ALSO: Rhaenyra Targaryen needs more dragonriders. Here are the three most likely candidates.

The family at the heart of House of the Dragon has a longstanding tradition of marrying sibling to sibling, cousin to cousin, and, in the case of Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith), niece to uncle. However, Season 2, episode 5 takes us fully into Oedipal territory, with Daemon having a sex dream about — drumroll, please — his own mother, Alyssa (Emeline Lambert).

The dream is yet another installment in Daemon's mysterious Harrenhal visions. But while those previously centered young Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) or his late wife, Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell, who also makes an appearance in this episode), this one focuses on someone we've never seen before in the show.

At the start of the vision, we don't know the woman Daemon is kissing and caressing is actually Alyssa. She's clearly a Targaryen based on her hair, but otherwise we don't have much to go off of.

She hypes Daemon up in voiceover while putting Viserys (Paddy Considine) down, telling him, "You were always the strong one. The finest swordsman. The fearless dragonrider. Your brother had great love in his heart, but he lacked your constitution. Viserys was unsuited for the crown, but you, Daemon, you were made to wear it. If only you'd been born first."

SEE ALSO: How 'House of the Dragon' staged Daemon's Harrenhal invasion

At this point, you're probably thinking, "wow, this unknown woman seems to know a lot about about the relationship between Viserys and Daemon. I wonder who she could be? Wait. Surely not..."

That's when House of the Dragon delivers an incestuous elbow drop right to the gut. "My favorite son," the woman declares, and the details of Daemon's vision fall into place. This is Alyssa Targaryen, daughter of Jaehaerys I. She was also the first rider of Meleys, meaning that her appearance in the episode following the deaths of Meleys and Rhaenys (Eve Best) carries extra weight.

Gayle Rankin and Matt Smith in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Alyssa married her brother Baelon, and, according to Fire & Blood, had three children: Viserys, Daemon, and Aegon, who died before he even turned a year old. Alyssa died not long after that last childbirth. However, based on the blood on Daemon's hands and on Alyssa's body as the vision ends, it seems like House of the Dragon is implying that Alyssa died while giving birth to Daemon. (Or the blood, when coupled with the distorted screams in the background, is yet another gesture to the violent acts that have haunted Daemon during his time at Harrenhal, and the violence he sanctions the Blackwoods to commit against the Brackens this episode.)

Of course, if Alyssa did die during Daemon's childbirth in the show's canon, there's no way she would really know anything about Daemon being a fierce dragonrider or fighter. Even by the book's telling, she died when he was around two years old. As in all of Daemon's prior visions and dreams, Alyssa's words are just a magical projection. It's telling, then, that she only has good things to say about him.

Characters Daemon knew and was married to for years, like Rhaenyra and Laena, haunt him with tales of his worst insecurities and actions. But since Daemon never had a relationship with his mother that he can remember, the forces at play in Harrenhal warp her into someone he can take comfort in. (Maybe a little too much comfort.)

The Alyssa in his vision seems to boost Daemon's ego, as he later reveals to Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) that he plans to take King's Landing for himself. Rhaenyra, he says, can choose to sit at his side. That Harrenhal DIY project is starting to look a little treasonous there, buddy!

Luckily, we can always count on Alys to put Daemon in his place. "It's a pity, don't you think, that you never knew your mother?" she asks.

This isn't the first time that Alys has seemed to know what's going on in Daemon's visions. In episode 4, she hinted at how much he must have hated losing out on the Iron Throne to an adolescent Rhaenyra — something his vision of Rhaenyra brought up that very same episode. Here, the reference to Alyssa is no coincidence either: Alys is aware of the dreams haunting Daemon. But is she directly responsible? (That drink from episode 4 did look pretty suspect.) Or is this fully the curse of Harrenhal at work, with her just hearing whispers of the dreams on the wind?

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

House of the Dragon Season 2, episode 5 ends with the promise of a possibly game-changing gambit from Team Black.

Following the loss of Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) and her dragon Meleys, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and her son Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) realize that their only hope of winning this war is to bring more dragons to their side. As of now, Dragonstone's riderless dragons include Vermithor, Silverwing, and Seasmoke, who was Laenor's (John MacMillan) previous dragon.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2's Targaryen family tree: How everyone connects

But dragons need riders if they are to be of any use in a war effort, and said riders need the blood of Old Valyrian dragonlords if they are to survive claiming a dragon. Right now the list of possible Targaryen recruits is unfortunately thin. Rhaenyra's other children and their dragons are too young to even be options, while Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) almost died during her previous attempts to claim dragons. So, who can Rhaenyra and Jace look to next?

As Jace reminds his mother, Targaryens have married into other houses before, meaning there are people out there who have Targaryen blood, even if they don't bear the Targaryen name. The two decide to start their search there, with the family records. Realistically, though, they could also find dragonrider candidates among the Targaryen bastards — some of whom we've already met in the show.

With that in mind, here are the three characters most likely to be joining Rhaenyra on dragonback.

SEE ALSO: Daemon's strange sex vision in 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 5, explained 1. Ulf the White Tom Bennett in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

House of the Dragon introduced us to Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), our first confirmed Targaryen bastard — or "dragonseed" — earlier this season. In episode 2, he took a good long look at the hanged ratcatchers. Then in episode 3, he told new acquaintances in a King's Landing tavern that he is the bastard son of Baelon the Brave, making him the illegitimate brother of Viserys (Paddy Considine) and Daemon (Matt Smith). Of course, that could all be a load of posturing on Ulf's end. But why brag about something that could get you beheaded? Plus, his graying hair could once have been Targaryen silver.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 4: What's with the dogs at Harrenhal? 2. Hugh Hammer Kieran Bew and Ellora Torchia in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Blacksmith Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) has been one of our windows into the lives of King's Landing's smallfolk for much of Season 2 so far. But as George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood tells us, he's a dragonseed as well. Look no further than his hair — it's not quite Targaryen pale, but it's close enough to make you wonder. Before he gets to Dragonstone to claim a dragon, though, he'll need to get out of King's Landing. And given that Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) has ordered it to be closed off, that could be quite a challenge.

3. Addam of Hull Clinton Liberty and Abubakar Salim in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Like Ulf and Hugh, Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) is another character we've spent a tiny bit of time with this season, and his role is only about to get bigger. In episode 4, his brother Alyn (Abubakar Salim) was all but confirmed to be the bastard son of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), meaning Addam is likely Corlys' son as well. That means the Old Valyrian blood of House Velaryon runs in Addam's veins.

SEE ALSO: How 'House of the Dragon' staged Daemon's Harrenhal invasion

Now, it's a common belief that only dragonlords can ride dragons, and House Velaryon was not a dragonriding house in Old Valyria. But as Jace points out to Rhaenyra, the focus on dragonlord blood comes from Valyrian histories that were "written to gild [dragonlords] in glory." If these legends were just attempts to keep Targaryen supremacy alive, there's a chance that anyone — including Velaryons with no trace of Targaryen blood, like Addam — could be a dragonrider. Factor in the scene from episode 2 where Seasmoke wheels above Addam's head, and you're looking at a compelling argument for Addam being one of the next top dragonriders of Westeros.

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

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for July 15's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A faint and dreamy feeling.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle...

SWOON.

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

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

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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 15'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: Taken at face value

• Green: Lie

• Blue: Setting up a TV

• Purple: Liquor measurements

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: Regard as True

• Green: Facade

• Blue: Ways to Secure a TV

• Purple: Liquor Bottle Sizes

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 #400 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Regard as True: ACCEPT, BELIEVE, BUY, TRUST

• Facade: BLUFF, FRONT, SHAM, SHOW

• Ways to Secure a TV: BASE, BRACKET, MOUNT, STAND

• Liquor Bottle Sizes: FIFTH, HANDLE, LITER, PINT

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

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• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $189.99 (List Price $249.00)

• Eero 6 Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (Router + 2 Extenders) — $149.99 (List Price $199.99)

• Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm, Midnight, S/M, Sports Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

The search giant’s negotiations to buy Wiz, a cybersecurity start-up, for $23 billion, come as the Biden administration has taken a hard line against consolidation in tech and other industries.

The deal to acquire the cybersecurity company would easily be Google’s most expensive acquisition.

SpaceX can't launch its busiest rockets following a rare mishap during a routine flight late Thursday night. The flight was supposed to place 20 new Starlink satellites into space, which provide internet access to some of the most remote places in the world.

One of the company's Falcon 9 rockets experienced a failure, after lifting off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 11. The beginning of the flight was livestreamed on X, the social platform owned by SpaceX's billionaire founder Elon Musk, but the broadcast apparently ended before the incident happened. 

Though Musk originally said the rocket's upper stage engine had experienced a "RUD" — slang for a vehicle breaking apart or failing. In a statement, SpaceX said that the rocket had survived, but the Starlink satellites it carried weren't delivered correctly to orbit. 

The botched mission means the satellites will inevitably burn up or crash back to Earth, according to the statement posted on the company's website on Friday. SpaceX did not say when or where they were expected to return.

SEE ALSO: Here's the real deal with Boeing's Starliner right now A screenshot from a SpaceX Falcon 9 flight shows the upper stage of the rocket before it experiences a failure on July 11, 2024. Credit: SpaceX / X screenshot

As of Sunday, about three days after the Falcon 9 failure, the status of the satellites was still unclear, despite Mashable inquiries to SpaceX, the U.S. Space Force, and the Federal Aviation Administration. An FAA spokesman said in an email that someone would respond to the request on Monday. 

SpaceX's orbital data, which comes from onboard measurements, stopped sometime on July 12, said Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center, who is also well-known for tracking spacecraft and debris in Earth's orbit. The company insisted the satellites would not "pose a threat to other satellites in orbit or to public safety" in its Friday statement. 

"I believe all the objects have very likely now reentered," McDowell said in an email on Sunday, "but we don't know for sure."

Tweet may have been deleted

The above X post contains a video of the troubled Falcon 9 rocket before its mishap.

The Falcon 9, dubbed SpaceX's "workhorse" because it launches the most frequently, has had an unblemished record for years. It has blasted off over 350 times, carrying thousands of Starlink satellites and commercial payloads into low-Earth orbit. 

It is also the rocket that takes NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. The vehicle's last major failure was an explosion on the launchpad in 2016 — four years before it began flying humans. 

So far the company has said it believes the problem was a liquid oxygen leak, rendering the upper stage unable to perform a necessary engine burn. Flight controllers attempted to send commands to the satellites to adjust their positions, but it likely wouldn't be enough to keep the hardware from falling back to Earth. 

Tweet may have been deleted

The FAA is requiring SpaceX to investigate itself to determine what went wrong and how to fix it. Federal officials will then determine when the company can resume Falcon 9 launches.

It's not yet known how the investigation will disrupt SpaceX's overall launch schedule, including for flights carrying people. 

"We are tracking to do more Falcon flights this year than [NASA's Space] Shuttle did in 30 years, the vast majority of which are uncrewed," Musk said on X. "A major advantage of this super high flight rate is that we can identify and resolve problems that may only occur once every 1000 flights. This is impossible on a low flight rate vehicle."

Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is embroiled in trending conspiracy theories after former President Donald Trump was shot at during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennslyvania. After the shooting on Saturday, X CEO Elon Musk took to the platform to "fully endorse" the former President, having donated a "sizeable amount" to a Trump Super PAC to help with his re-election a day before the rally.

According to The Verge, in the wake of the shooting, the platform has promoted tags such as "false flag" and "staged" on its list of trending topics. Several posts on X have claimed that Trump faked the assassination attempt or that the shooter, a registered Republican, was a secret ANTIFA/CIA operative sent by President Joe Biden. There is evidence of neither. These posts have several thousand likes, like this one, claiming Trump's sniper team had already seen the shooter and purposefully let them get closer.

As The Verge notes, other major social media platforms responded more effectively in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. YouTube highlighted news clips and steered search results toward credible news reports and verified creators. Facebook predominantly showed results from news outlets, having eliminated its trending topics section in 2018. On Threads, conspiracy-related posts sometimes appeared at the top of its trending topics for the incident, however, these were not consistent.

X did not return a request for comment, its email address automatically replied “Busy now, please check back later.” However, the official account for the platform did post, simply saying "global town square" — a reference to Musk's initial goal of free speech absolutism when buying Twitter in 2022.

Tweet may have been deleted

Given the current news about the Trump assassination attempt, the lack of moderation for rampant misinformation is unsurprising. Musk has, politically, moved further right since buying X, including the reinstating of right-wing accounts like Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate.

Because of its moderation problems and the spread of conspiracy theories, several high-paying advertisers have left the site as well. However, since Musk has told fleeing advertisers to "go fuck yourself," it doesn't seem that X's misinformation problem is being solved anytime soon.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 14 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 14

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, July 14, 2024:

AcrossTV character who says "Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals … except the weasel"

• The answer is Homer.

Windy City airport

• The answer is Ohare.

The only one in the song "Tequila" is "tequila"

• The answer is Lyric.

Crypto lead-in to coin

• The answer is Doge.

Take to court

• The answer is Sue.

DownWaits for a customer service representative, say

• The answer is Holds.

"Don't make me blush!"

• The answer is Oh you.

TV character who says "I forgot to clean the lint basket in the dryer. If someone broke into the house and did laundry, it could start a fire"

• The answer is Marge.

Shallowest of the Great Lakes

• The answer is Erie.

Video camera button

• The answer is Rec.

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

Rental car firms are offering temporary deals on electric cars, which they are selling after they lost value more quickly than expected.

Microsoft’s all-in moment on artificial intelligence has been defined by billions in spending and a C.E.O. counting on technology with huge potential and huge risks.

Battery life and detection

Most Apple Watches have similar battery life, and the Apple Watch Series 8 and the SE each have about 18 hours of juice. Both watches support low-power mode, but the Series 8 has faster charging. Both have access to 32GBs of memory.

The Series 8 has crash detection and temperature sensors, accelerometers, GPS, and a heart rate monitor. The SE, on the other hand, only comes equipped with a second-gen optical heart.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 8

Health features

I use my Apple Watch almost exclusively for fitness tracking. I need to close my circles, I need to track my runs, and I simply must reach 10,000 steps a day. The Apple Watch SE has everything I need to do just that: notifications if your heart rate is high, low, or irregular, cardio fitness levels, cycle tracking, and sleep tracking. For me, that's plenty. But if you're really into tracking, the Apple Watch 8 offers more, like blood oxygen, nighttime wrist temperature deviations, and retrospective ovulation estimates.

SEE ALSO: The best fitness trackers of 2024: Tested and reviewed

For me, the Apple Watch SE wins this round, but for those who are more health data-obsessed, the Series 8 might come out on top because it simply has more to offer.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 8

Screens

Both watches are available in two sizes. The Apple Watch Series 8 has a 904 sq mm display area or a 1,143 sq mm display area, while the SE has either a 759 sq mm or a 977 sq mm display area. Put more simply, Series 8 watches can be way, way bigger if that's what you're looking for.

Personally, I have great eyesight (20/20) and prefer the way a smaller watch looks on my wrist, so I prefer the cheaper SE. However, others with bad eyesight and other fashion preferences might have differing opinions.

Winner: Apple Watch SE

TL;DR: Through July 21, master the much-loved, much-hated Microsoft app with this Microsoft Excel training bundle. It's on sale for just £23.60 (reg. £314.14) for a limited time.

In many different types of business environments, proficiency in Microsoft Excel is more than just a skill on your CV; it’s a necessity. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the basics or a more experienced user hoping to refine your knowledge of pivot tables, this Excel online learning bundle provides comprehensive training to boost your abilities and confidence in this essential tool. You can get it on sale for £23.60 through July 21.

This bundle includes 16 courses totaling almost 99 hours of learning content. Beginners can start with the Microsoft Excel 2021/365: Beginners Course, which has 100 lessons to get newbies up to speed on these versions of Excel. There are also multi-lesson intermediate and advanced courses on Excel 2021/365 as well.

Tap into Excel with ground-up learning that shows you how to create and navigate workbooks. You'll also learn to work with dates, enter text and numbers, and understand essential functions and formulas. The advanced Excel 2019 course takes things a bit further, showing you how to use detailed formatting tools, understand advanced charting and graphing, and connect to other databases outside of Excel.

Other courses cover a wide range of topics, including MS Excel 2019 for Mac, Pivot tables (both beginner and advanced), using the software for business and data analysis, advanced formulas, VBA, and more.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your professional skills from the comfort of your own space.

Until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT, check out The 2024 Ultimate Microsoft Excel Training Bundle on sale for just £23.60.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: StreamSkill The 2024 Ultimate Microsoft Excel Training Bundle £23.60 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Get a three-year Windscribe VPN Pro Plan subscription for just $79 (reg. $207) through August 31.

We all want online privacy and the ability to enjoy a seamless browsing experience. Lucky for us, VPNs are virtual private networks made for that exact reason. They are designed to enhance and protect your online activity. This three-year Windscribe VPN Pro Plan subscription is on sale for just $79 and has many features to make your online life more enjoyable.

With an extensive network of servers in over 69 countries and 112 cities, Windscribe ensures you can always find a fast and reliable connection. A VPN is ideal for those who travel or work remotely and want secure access while on public servers. Windscribe also allows you to access a wider range of movies, TV shows, and games.

This VPN has advanced encryption for security and automatically connects you to the best available server for optimal speed. It also features unlimited downloads and simultaneous connections. Windscribe's ad blocking also enhances your browsing experience by hiding intrusive ads and trackers, leading to faster load times and a cleaner interface.

Other more advanced features of this VPN include split tunneling, which allows you to choose which apps or websites use the VPN and which don’t. The R.O.B.E.R.T feature works to block IPs and domains on all devices and creates a proxy server on your network for other devices.

This VPN deal gets you a Windscribe Pro subscription with a browser extension for three years. One- and two-year plans are also available starting at just $49.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your internet security and browsing experience.

Through August 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a three-year Windscribe VPN Pro Plan subscription for just $79 (reg. $207).

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TL;DR: Through July 21, you can get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone for $151.99 with the coupon code SAVENOW.

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The amount of errands and running around you do on a weekly basis is exhausting. Why haven't they invented more hours in a day yet? You probably have a long to-do list, but you may have a list of things you want to do, too. For example, if you've ever thought about picking up a new language — whether you're preparing for an international trip, for a new job, or just for fun — it's never been easier.

A well-known leader in the language-learning industry, Rosetta Stone is here to help. With this app, you can learn up to 25 languages without even having to get up off the couch. Until July 21, you can score a major discount on lifetime access to Rosetta Stone for $151.99 (reg. $399) with promo code SAVENOW. We've seen this app go on sale before, but this is a new low price for the lifetime pass.

Rosetta Stone guides you through languages with short lessons you can fit into your schedule or between episodes of your latest binge-watch. As an interactive language app, it uses speech-recognition technology to help you with pronunciation. You'll learn useful topics and phrases you'll actually need when traveling — like ordering food, asking for directions, and shopping. Throughout your lessons, you'll move on to more advanced topics until you become fluent.

This Rosetta Stone deal gives you lifetime access to all 25 languages in the app: Spanish (Latin America), French, Italian, German, English (American), Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English (British), Filipino, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish (Spain), Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

You can download Rosetta Stone on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or higher, Mac OS X 10.9 or later versions, or access it online using Internet Explorer 11, Safari 10 and 11, and the current and previous two versions of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Learn a new language right from home.

Regularly $399, you can get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone on sale for $151.99 when you enter promo code SAVENOW until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Looking for more ways to learn a language? Check out the language collection from the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Watch Apple TV content more easily with this Function101 button remote for Apple TV and Apple TV 4K, on sale for $23.97 through July 21.

Opens in a new window Credit: Function101 Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV $23.97 at the Mashable Shop
$29.95 Save $5.98 Get Deal

It's become a known fact that the Siri Remote that comes with Apple TV is not user-friendly at all. Between the awkward shape, confusing design, and non-raised surface that makes it really annoying to use, it's a major pain. Even if you master the learning curve, you may long for actual buttons. If you're into shows like The Morning Show, Severance, and tons more, you might want to find an Apple TV remote alternative that doesn't make you want to cancel your subscription.

This raised-button remote does the trick by bringing incredible content and functionality together in one affordable package. Until July 21, you can get it on sale for $23.97 (reg. $29.95).

Thanks to its infrared (IR) technology, you can quickly sync the remote with your TV to manage power, volume, and mute functions. This thoughtful design provides a user-friendly alternative to the Siri Remote, enhancing your Apple TV experience.

While the IR technology requires a clear line of sight to the Apple TV, it offers a robust range of up to 12 meters. This Apple TV remote alternative is fully compatible with all Apple TV models, including the Apple TV 4K, and works with most TVs. Without needing voice commands, all the necessary buttons are conveniently located, making this remote an easy and reliable choice for your entertainment setup.

Take your Apple TV experience up a notch with the Function101 button remote for Apple TV and Apple TV 4K, now on sale for $23.97 until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Only through July 21, you can get this grade-A refurbished Apple iPad 6th Gen and renewed Beats Flex headphones bundle for just $159.97 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 6th Gen (32GB, Refurbished) + Beats Flex Headphones Bundle $159.97 at the Mashable Shop
$249.99 Save $90.02 Get Deal

Staying connected and entertained is at the top of almost everyone's priority list. Whether for work, school, or leisure time, having the right tech can make all the difference. This bundle is an excellent way to enjoy Apple gadgets without breaking the bank.

This bundle includes a grade-A refurbished Apple iPad 6th Gen and renewed Beats Flex headphones for just $159.97 (reg. $249.99). The 2018 iPad 6 has a grade A refurbished rating, which means it is in near-mint condition with only minor cosmetic blemishes possible. The 2020 Beats Flex headphones are considered a renewed open-box return.

Opting for refurbished and renewed products is a smart way to enjoy high-quality tech at significantly reduced prices. These products have been thoroughly inspected, tested, and restored to ensure they meet strict quality standards, offering performance and reliability comparable to new items. Plus, you’re contributing to sustainability by giving these devices a second life.

The iPad has 32GB of storage and a powerful A10 Fusion chip to deliver smooth and efficient performance for all your apps, games, and multitasking needs. It also has a 9.7" LED-backlit touch-sensitive Retina display. It has Bluetooth and WiFi and comes with iOS 16, which can be updated to the latest operating system.

The Beats Flex headphones have an Apple W1 chip for optimal compatibility with the iPad. These in-ear headphones also feature on-ear controls, audio sharing, and up to twelve hours of playtime.

The bundle also comes with an iPad case, stylus, and screen protector.

Whether you need a new tablet, are back-to-school shopping, or want a secondary device for travel, consider this bundle.

Get this grade-A refurbished Apple iPad and renewed Beats Flex headphones for just $159.97 (reg. $249.99) through July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get an Angle Pro Knife Sharpener with angle gauge while it's on sale for just $49.99 (reg. $199) for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Angle Pro Sharpener Angle Pro Knife Sharpener with Angle Gauge $49.99 at The Mashable Shop
$199.00 Save $149.01 Get Deal

A kitchen isn't a kitchen without at least one really good knife. Whether you rely on a whole set or just one chef knife, the precision and sharpness of your knives can make all the difference in your day-to-day meal prep. However, maintaining that perfect edge on your favorite knives can be a daunting task, which is why the Angle Pro is a game-changer. 

The Angle Pro Knife Sharpener isn't just another sharpener. It's designed to be the ultimate solution for maintaining and sharpening a variety of kitchen knives. Unlike many knife sharpeners, it can match multiple blade angles to create a more precise sharpening experience. For a limited time, it's on sale for just $49.99 (reg. $199). 

First, you'll use the angle gauge to determine the knife's precise angle. Then, you can hone, sharpen, and re-edge your knives to keep them at their best for longer. 

This knife sharpener actually has three different tools in one. The ceramic wheels straighten the edge, while the diamond-coated wheels quickly restore the blade to its original sharpness, which allows for a clean and precise cut every time.

The sharpener's other function is via the tungsten carbide rods. These rods are excellent for restoring extremely dull or damaged blades. They remove a small amount of metal from the knife edge, creating a new, sharper edge that’s ready for action.

Keeping a quality knife sharpener on hand will help create a safer cutting environment and is a cost-effective way to prolong the life of your favorite knives.

Take advantage of this limited-time offer and get your Angle Pro Knife Sharpener with angle gauge for just $49.99 (reg. $199).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

I’ve been a lover of books for as long as I can remember. Junie B. Jones was my icon in kindergarten, helping me develop both my vocabulary and my backsass. Even still, my book collection is expansive and my greatest ambition is to one day have an entire library with one of those sliding ladders (assuming I eventually have the funds to buy my own house). Regardless, I buy books almost as often as I buy clothes, but surprisingly have never used an e-reader of any kind. Paper copies have always had so much value to me, and I never thought a screen would be able to beat it. After reviewing Amazon’s latest Kindle, I can say that there are a lot of perks that come along with the device, such as reading in the dark (and one-handed) with no problem. For only $100, I now consider it a fantastic addition to my ever-growing library, not its replacement. 

The base Kindle model is small, lightweight, and comes with double the storage of the previous version. It also has the longest battery life of any model, claiming to last up to six weeks. The image resolution is 300ppi, the same as the Kindle Paperwhite, but for a fraction of the cost. The 2022 release is the 11th generation of the basic Kindle model, and has some differences compared to the 10th generation released in 2019. 

The new Kindle is a nice upgrade from the 2019 model. Credit: Mallory Minich / Mashable Kindle (2022) price and specs

As I mentioned, the standard Kindle retails for $99.99, though we'll almost certainly see that price drop for Prime Day. If you want to get rid of lockscreen ads, the price bumps up to $119.99. Here's what the Kindle is working with in terms of specs:

• 6-inch glare-free display

• 16GB of storage

• USB-C charging port

• Up to six weeks of battery life

• Weight: 5.56 ounces

• Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches

Phone setup isn’t that simple  

The Kindle was relatively easy to set up. All I had to do was press the power button until the screen lit up, and then the device prompted me to select a language and region. It then gave the option to set up on the Kindle device or my phone via the Kindle app. At first, my phone wouldn’t connect to the Kindle, but after I plugged my phone into the charger, it worked fine. My phone then made sure it was on the same WiFi network as the Kindle and my Amazon account was transferred to the Kindle. There’s a “kid-friendly” setting, which seems like a good option for parents to have during setup. After that, my library immediately popped up on the device and the Kindle ran me through a quick user tutorial. I also reset the device and tried the “set up on Kindle” option, which actually took less time because all you had to do was login to Amazon versus going through extra steps using your phone. 

SEE ALSO: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review: The upgrade is worth the money An elevated reading experience 

As soon as I finished setting up, I downloaded Jeannette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died. It’s been in the top 10 for weeks and consequently, on backorder as well. I knew that with the Kindle, I could read it without having to wait or search for it in a store. To download the book, all I had to do was click on the Kindle Store icon and search for it. Then, since my Amazon account is already linked to the device, I just clicked “buy” and downloaded it to my library and began reading. The download was super fast, and I started reading before the download was even finished.

Kindle's e-books let you read sold-out bestsellers without having to wait. Credit: Mallory Minich / Mashable

I must admit, I was glued to the couch reading for the next few hours. Even when I was ready for bed, I took the Kindle with me and kept reading. At night, the light in my room is a pink LED lamp, which provides very little light for reading books. Normally, my eyes strain too much to read in there for a long time, but the light of the Kindle made it easy. I adjusted the brightness and switched to night mode, feeling virtually no eye strain after hours (seriously, I could not put this book down). You can feel from using it in low light how much better it is for your eyes than your phone, which can cause major eye strain from blue light.

While reading a book on the Kindle, there will be a percentage at the bottom of the page that indicates how far along in the book you are. For some reason, I think this motivates me to keep reading. It goes up one percentage every few pages or so (depending on the book) and it just made me want to keep going. If I was at 72 percent, I would think OK, I’ll put it down at 75 percent. You know how some people need the TV volume to be an even number or an increment of five? Same vibe. Currently, I am on my third Kindle read. I also read Drew Barrymore’s memoir Wildflower and am almost finished with the best-selling fantasy novel A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Which one is for you? What makes this Kindle the best Bezos has to offer? 

Compared to the previous versions of Kindle, the 2022 release is the smallest and most lightweight model yet. At only 158 grams, it weighs less than my iPhone, so I am able to read one-handed for a pretty long period of time without any discomfort. Also, the screen measures six inches diagonally, making it the smallest screen available for a Kindle. I really like the size of the device — it’s super easy to carry around and fits in a lot of my smaller purses. 

The Kindle is nice and compact for convenient transport. Credit: Mallory Minich / Mashable

The resolution of the 2022 Kindle screen is 300ppi, while the 2019 Kindle model only has a resolution of 167ppi. Book covers and pictures appear very clearly, but keep in mind they are always black and white to keep up the “paper and ink” aesthetic. Not great for books that are mostly photos. It also comes with 16GB of storage instead of 8GB, letting you download way more to your library at a time. So far, I have five or six books downloaded to my library and haven’t run into any storage issues. I’m interested to see how many books I can have downloaded at a time (it's supposedly thousands). The battery of this device does last for a while. Fully charged, I read two and a half books over the course of three weeks or so before the device reached 10 percent battery and prompted me to charge. I think Amazon’s “six weeks of battery” claim is a bit of a stretch, because it obviously depends how much you’re reading. Three weeks is still a long time for how much I was using it. 

Images appear clearly on the Kindle's screen. Credit: Mallory Minich / Mashable She’s even Earth-friendly

I’m pretty proud of Amazon for this one. The website states that the new model is made with 90 percent recycled magnesium. It’s also made with 75 percent recycled plastics for the black model and 30 percent recycled plastics for the denim model. It comes in 100 percent recyclable packaging, which lessens plastic waste. Amazon actually has a whole program dedicated to recycling old Kindle models, and they will offer you Amazon gift cards and discounts on a new Kindle device in exchange. For a company that has a large carbon footprint, it’s nice that they’re using old materials to make new Kindles, as well as giving customers incentives to return their old ones.

Why do e-books have to cost so much? 

Amazon offers Kindle Unlimited, which is $11.99 a month for access to more than 3 million book titles on Kindle. New Kindle users can get a three-month free trial of the service. However, nothing I had been gunning to read was available through Kindle Unlimited. There were a few from some authors I knew, but it seems like the Kindle Unlimited selection is for people who are okay with reading whatever. I am not that person. I have a list of the next 15 books I want to read on deck at all times. I wish more than anything that Amazon had some type of deal where you could buy the printed and Kindle versions bundled together. That way, I could own the printed version while still using the Kindle for nighttime reading or traveling. My book collecting habits are against me on this one. I’m not going to spend $15 on a Kindle copy of a book that I already own on paper. 

Is the Amazon Kindle worth it? 

If you’re looking for a basic e-reader, this one has everything you could need. While some of Amazon’s other releases, like the Kindle Scribe or Kindle Oasis, come with bells and whistles, they cater to a specific audience. The basic Kindle is really all you need if your goal is to read for pleasure. It’s only $10 more than the previous version of the basic Kindle and comes with way more storage, battery life, and pixel resolution. This review is coming from the perspective of someone who has never owned an e-reader, so I’m not sure how worth it these upgrades are for someone who owns an earlier version. If you are a book fanatic like me, I highly recommend adding it to your collection. For only $99, it has genuinely made me read more than I have in months. 

Kindle (2022 release) $99.99 at Amazon
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