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TikTok bad actors are using AI to churn out political misinformation, new report shows

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 13:17

TikTok view bait has gotten a boost from AI over the last year, including content spreading political falsehoods ahead of the election, according to new data from misinformation watchdog NewsGuard.

In a new report detailing the use of AI tools among TikTok's bad actors, the organization discovered at least 41 TikTok accounts posting false, AI-enhanced content in both English and French. Between March 2023 and June 2024, the accounts posted 9,784 videos totaling over 380 million views, coming out to an average of one to four AI-narrated videos each day. Many of the videos used identical scripts, hinting at a coordinated effort. Several of the accounts also qualified for monetization on their videos, under TikTok’s Creator Fund.

Much of the content included essay or fun-fact style videos sharing false narratives about U.S. and European politics and the Russia-Ukraine war, NewsGuard explained, such as the incorrect claim that NATO had deployed combat troops in Ukraine and that the U.S. was behind the March Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in Moscow.

SEE ALSO: FTC bans 'ask me anything' app for teen use

The research was conducted in partnership with AI detection tool TrueMedia.org.

Last year, NewsGuard documented the rise of a small network of TikTok accounts using AI-facilitated text-to-speech tools to spread celebrity conspiracy theories. The short form videos used AI to instantly generate narration and additional voices across a mass of videos sharing false information. In total, the accounts garnered 336 million views and 14.5 million likes in a span of three months.

The latest report shows a substantial increase in similarly AI-boosted content on the app, this time with political motivations. The trend hints at an increasingly incentivized and growing AI content farm on the app — defined by the organization as "entities that generate large volumes of low-quality content, typically to attract views and ad revenue."

The spread of AI-facilitated misinformation and disinformation hasn't gone unnoticed by TikTok, with the platform pledging to more effectively label and even watermark content using generative AI. But political misinformation, backed by the efficiency of AI features, has continued to proliferate.

Meanwhile, on July 9, the Justice Department announced it had identified and taken down an AI-powered Russian bot farm running at least 1,000 pro-Kremlin accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and backed by Russia's KGB successor. A few months prior, OpenAI announced it had terminated accounts of confirmed foreign state actors attempting to use its AI technology to support potential cyber attacks.

The U.S. itself has harnessed AI technology and bot farms to spread its own counter narratives and even outright disinformation campaigns, including a 2020 initiative to curb foreign influence by spreading misinformation about COVID-19.

As the election nears (and voter turnout and candidate trust comes under question) watchdogs and advocates continue to monitor both targeted disinformation and AI-boosted misinformation spread on social media platforms.

'Anger Foot' review: Brings my inner kid out, but that performance though

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 13:00

Anger Foot will have you kicking and screaming as you make your way through its grimy levels and colorful enemies. And it’ll always be through pure rage, whether you’re on an unstoppable rampage or dying suddenly to a stray bullet.

The game is a speedrunner and first-person shooter, with plenty of gameplay variety through its many weapons, shoes, and objectives. However, Anger Foot is held back by its poor technical performance on PC, as well as some control issues.

Anger Foot plot

One night, you’re just chilling at your girl’s place getting ready to watch a movie. All of a sudden, someone breaks into your apartment and steals your best pair of sneakers.

Credit: Free Lives

The four of your sneakers are divided amongst Shit City’s gangs: Violence, Pollution, Business, and Debauchery. It’s up to you to kick your way through four districts in order to reclaim your sneaker collection. 

It’s obvious that the story in Anger Foot isn’t deep, but that’s not the game’s core focus. It’s the perfect and simple setup that gets straight to the point in order to focus on its main strength: gameplay.

Anger Foot characters

The characters in Anger Foot are rather one dimensional, but just like the story, the characters aren’t really the biggest focus here.

Credit: Free Lives

Enemies are just there to kick down, but the bosses are uniquely designed and have personality. For example, the first boss is a helicopter and it’s insanely funny to see your character just constantly kicking it down.

Anger Foot mechanics

Anger Foot is a first-person shooter, but with the extra hook of using your left foot to kick down enemies. It’s incredibly chaotic and fun, and it feels like I’m playing as John Wick, trying to avoid getting shot while shooting myself and kicking enemies everywhere.

Credit: Free Lives

Every level in Anger Foot has two optional objectives, such as completing the level in a certain amount of time or completing the level without killing anyone. They’re worth doing as fulfilling them earns you stars that unlock Sneakers. Each Sneaker has a special ability that can drastically change how you play, and help you gain an advantage in certain situations. It’s a smart form of progression that doesn’t rely on grinding.

For example, my favorite is the Holy Shoe, which is designed after Christ’s sandals. With them, I get a second chance at life after dying one time. This particular one really helped me complete levels I otherwise had trouble finishing.

Not only are there a huge number of Sneakers to equip, but the guns come in a good variety as well. There’s your standard pistol, as well as machine guns and even a toilet plunger grappling hook. This item made me feel like I was playing Doom Eternal or Halo: Infinite sometimes, as it would pull enemies towards me and I could kick them back. While you can only pick up guns from dead enemies, the mix and matching between your weapon and Sneaker is incredibly fun as that constantly switches up the gameplay.

Credit: Free Lives

The enemy variety is great, too. For example, Anger Foot has its standard henchmen with pistols, but there are stronger ones that have shotguns, as well as alligators with pipes that will charge at you. The sewers even have tentacles that emerge from the wastewater holding weapons and poisonous snakes. You have to figure out how to deal with a bunch of different enemies on the fly, which makes the game so exhilarating to play through.

However, there are some levels, especially in the first area with the Violence Gang, that have huge skyscrapers. Here, you sometimes have to jump from building to building. The jumping physics don't feel quite right — and there were plenty of times where I misjudged my distance and fell to my death.

Anger Foot graphics

Anger Foot has a great cartoon-ish art style that fits its juvenile premise. Each of the game’s areas and level design reflect different themes effectively, such as the Pollution Gang’s home turf of a sewer, and the Business Gang’s home turf being an interconnected subway system.

Credit: Free Lives

The colorful anthropomorphic enemies are made up of different animal species and dress in streetwear clothing, which adds to the grimy setting. Trash is littered everywhere with largely comical flies surrounding them, and you can even kick down stall doors to see enemies using the toilet and a censor covering them. Shit City feels disgustingly charming, even if I personally wouldn’t want to live there myself.

Anger Foot soundtrack and audio

Anger Foot has a lot of funk and hip-hop tracks that add to the energy and excitement as you kick your way through the levels.

Credit: Free Lives

It’s a game that doesn’t really need a complex soundtrack, but the sound effects also heighten the experience. Guns sound snappy, explosions sound intense, and your foot sounds forceful. All of those sound effects help you get immersed in the game.

Anger Foot challenge and difficulty

Anger Foot can be surprisingly difficult since you’re very frail. It only takes a few stray bullets to kill you and then you have to restart the level. You have to be aware of your surroundings. Sometimes, rooms have explosive barrels, and if you accidentally shoot them, you could be caught in the blast and die. 

Credit: Free Lives

It may take a few tries to complete a level, but Anger Foot feels fair. But if you want to make the game easier, there are a bevy of accessibility features. Auto aim is available, and Never Die mode, you can guess, makes it so you never die and live out your power fantasy. 

Anger Foot performance

The performance in Anger Foot is its biggest pitfall. If there’s too much going on, the game’s framerate tanks. There have been situations where I accidentally blew up a barrel, causing a chain reaction that blows up other barrels. In a game where one single bullet from an enemy can mean the difference between life and death, a dip in performance feels discouraging.

Credit: Free Lives

Additionally, there are some surprisingly long load times between selecting a level and loading it up. The wait between booting up the game on my PC and Steam to get to the main menu is annoying too. In many instances, I thought the game froze, but it’s just that the loading times are unacceptably long.

Is Anger Foot worth getting?

Anger Foot has a lot of replayability, as you can go back to previous levels to see if you can complete the optional objectives and earn more stars, thus unlocking more Sneakers. And the game is quite cheap at $25, making it feel like it’s worth both your time and money.

If you like speedrunners or gameplay loops that require learning the layout of levels to overcome them, such as Neon White, Ghostrunner, and Celeste, then Anger Foot is definitely one to give a try. It’s got great gameplay and enemy variety, but the overall performance needs improvement.

Early Prime Day kitchen deals: Frozen drink makers, air fryers, more

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 12:53
A quick look at the best early Prime Day kitchen deals Best air fryer deal Chefman 6-quart Dual Basket Air Fryer Oven $69.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best drink maker deal Margaritaville Maui Portable Blender and Frozen Drink Machine $135.99 (save $94) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal De'Longhi Magnifica Start Espresso and Coffee Machine $549.95 (save $450) Get Deal Best kitchen accessory deal Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag (64 ounce) $16.62 (save $5.37) Get Deal

Leave it to a five-minute scroll on social media to remind you that you're actually really hungry right now. That video probably also supplied the recipe — now you just need the right kitchen goodies (and ingredients, of course) to make it.

Prime Day is a great time to find that missing kitchen item on sale, whether it's a countertop air fryer oven, a fancy espresso machine, or just some reusable silicone storage bags to stop wasting so many disposable Ziplocs.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuum deals at Amazon are booming pre-Prime Day

While Prime Day 2024 doesn't officially kick off until July 16, Amazon already has noteworthy discounts on a ton of kitchen items across multiple categories from brands like Ninja, Margaritaville, and KitchenAid. Many are new record-low prices that we've never seen before, and we're keeping track in our list below — all newly-added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Note that while these technically aren't marked as Prime Day deals, several have already moved into Prime-exclusive territory, though you'll need to be a member to take full advantage next week, anyway.

Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Chefman Our pick: Chefman 6-quart Dual Basket Air Fryer Oven 🔥 $69.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The 42% price slash on this Chefman air fryer looks even better when you pit this fryer directly against competition like the same-size Instant Vortex. The Chefman model splits its 6-quart capacity into dual baskets that can cook two independent foods simultaneously at different temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, complete with clear windows to keep an eye on golden brownness. The 6-quart Vortex has just a single basket with no window, maxes out at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and actually costs $10 more, even on sale.

More air fryers on saleBest drink maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Margaritaville Our pick: Margaritaville Maui Portable Blender and Frozen Drink Machine $135.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $94.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Of the Margaritaville machines on sale, the discount on the cordless Maui model is the best. The portable blender, now at its lowest price ever at Amazon, whips up shaved ice rather than the traditional crushed ice, making on-the-go beverages easier to sip with a straw. The 18-ounce capacity can run 20 drink cycles before needing to be charged, so you're set for your last-minute weekend trip to the beach.

More drink makers on sale SEE ALSO: Jimmy Buffett was more than Margaritaville Best coffee maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi Our pick: De'Longhi Magnifica Start Espresso and Coffee Machine $549.95 at Amazon
$999.95 Save $450.00 Get Deal Why we like it

One of the more premium espresso machines out there right now, the De'Longhi Magnifico Start — which would usually be a $1,000 investment — is seeing a near 50% discount, pushing it to the most affordable it's ever been at Amazon by a long shot. This chic, fully automatic espresso machine features an updated touch interface with buttons for latte macchiato, cappuccino, espresso, coffee, and hot water, plus 13 bean grinding settings. A milk frother is also included.

More coffee maker dealsBest kitchen accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: Stasher Our pick: Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag (64-ounce) $16.62 at Amazon
$21.99 Save $5.37 Get Deal Why we like it

It's not hard to ween yourself off disposable plastic sandwich bags when you have a Stasher bag in reach, and several sizes, shapes, and colors are on sale ahead of Prime Day. These reusable silicone bags are oven-, sous vide-, microwave-, and dishwasher-safe, and also make really cute on-the-go containers for snacks. Plus, Stasher says one bag replaces 260 single-use plastic bags per year.

More kitchen accessories on sale

Cookware deals

Prime Day deals you can shop right now

Save 43% on the ultimate back-to-school-bundle with the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet, a Herschel backpack, and the Echo Buds

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 12:38

SAVE $144.99: Get a back-to-school bundle with the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet, a Herschel Classic backpack, and the Amazon Echo Buds for just $189.99, marked down from the usual bundle price of $334.98. That's a 43% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 Bundle with tablet (64GB), Herschel Classic backpack, and Echo Buds $189.99 at Amazon
$334.98 Save $144.99 Get Deal

Ready or not, the school year is about to start again. If you're starting a list of items to grab before it's time to hit the books again, Amazon has a special bundle today that's perfect for "one-click" shopping.

As of July 11, the Amazon Fire Max 11 Bundle with 64 GB tablet, Herschel Classic backpack, and Echo Buds is on sale for $189.99, down from the usual bundle price of $334.98. That's a 43% discount or a savings of $144.99.

Instead of buying all items separately, make life easier with the bundle with the centerpiece being the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet, which has an impressive 11-inch screen. Mashable's review of the tablet mention's it's an almost worthy iPad competitor, but if budget is a consideration, the affordable price of the Amazon Fire Max 11 is much more attractive. With the bundle, you'll get a 64GB version of the Fire Max 11 for plenty of space to download shows and movies for when your school work is complete. The octa-core processor paired with WiFi 6 means you'll be working at lightening-speed, never waiting on loading when multi-tasking.

If you're heading off to college (or the parent of a college freshman) the tablet's 8 MP camera means you'll be able to keep in touch over video calls with clarity.

Also included in the bundle are the Amazon Echo Buds. Getting up to 20 hours of battery life, the earbuds have 12mm drivers for clear and crisp sound quality. They're lightweight and sweat-proof, adding to the earbuds' durability. You'll have customization options when it comes to tap controls, so you can decide how to pause music, take calls, and mute your mic. Plus, they come with Alexa's help, allowing you to make phone calls, check your calendar, find out the latest weather report, or tune into your audiobook on Audible.

Mashable's review of the Amazon Echo Buds mentions excellent sound quality. "They were noticeably better than other earbuds I’ve tried, including my JBL Tune earbuds. In a few familiar songs I listened to, I was able to notice some sounds that I’d never heard before," writes Mashable contributor SaVanna Shoemaker in the review.

You'll need somewhere to store the tablet and earbuds while at school, which is where the Herschel Classic backpack comes in handy. Sporting a classic navy colorway, the backpack is made with durable fabric from 100% recycled plastic water bottles. The floating sleeve in the backpack can hold a tablet or laptop that measures up to 14 inches, meaning it'll easily keep the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet safely tucked away.

As the countdown to school starting again dwindles, snag the Amazon Fire Max 11 Bundle and check off several to-do tasks at once. Thanks to today's sale price, you'll be getting a 43% discount to show off how smart you really are.

Prime Day deals you can shop right now

Save big on a new tablet with the best iPad deals ahead of Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 12:21

Check out the latest Apple iPad deals this week and get a new tablet for less. We've curated our picks below:

Best Apple iPad deals Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, 1TB, WiFi) $1,024 at Amazon (Save $75) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 10.2-inch (A13 Bionic, 64GB, WiFi) $249 at Amazon (Save $80) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, 256GB, WiFi) $928 at Amazon (Save $71) Get Deal

Thinking about buying a new tablet? A new iPad is always a good idea. Not only are they perfectly portable thanks to their thin profiles and do-it-all range of features, but they're often on sale as well, discounted across a variety of retailers.

You can get some of the latest and greatest iPads on offer for excellent prices if you go looking for sales. Right now, that's especially true, given all the pre-Prime Day 2024 festivities happening. You can scout out some particularly great iPad deals right now at Amazon thanks to the early price drops that are already happening.

Whether you're looking to score a powerful new iPad Pro or the diminutive yet perfectly capable iPad Mini, there's a sale you'll want to sink your teeth into. Check out our picks below.

Best iPad Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, 1TB, WiFi) $1,024.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $75.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Get the latest iPad Air, complete with the powerful M2 chip, for less right now ahead of Prime Day 2024 proper. This is the same chip that's powered the MacBook Air, bringing the same power to the smaller, lightweight iPad Air that can be used as a miniature laptop when attached to a keyboard. It's down to the lowest price we've seen for this model, and it comes with an abundance of storage space with 1TB to play around with. If you don't want or need a whole laptop to cart around, this iPad Air is a fantastic alternative that can do just about everything its similarly-priced big brother can.

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Apple iPad, 10.2-inch (A13 Bionic, 64GB, WiFi) $249.00 at Amazon
$329.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you need a solid performer, the original iPad is still an excellent option — and it costs less than a traditional laptop. This 10.2-inch model comes with the A13 Bionic chip, as well as a 12MP front camera and 64GB of storage. This particular model is a smooth performer with lengthy battery life and a front-facing camera that's compatible with Center Stage during video calls. It's an all-rounder that can fit into any area of your life, and for less than $300, it's a deal you won't want to let get away.

Best iPad Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, 256GB, WiFi) $934.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This powerful iPad Pro is one of the latest and greatest Apple has to offer, with the newest M4 processor inside as well as 9 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores, so it can handle anything you throw at it and more, including gaming, productivity, streaming, and more. With a gorgeous 11-inch Tandem OLED display, it's all going to look absolutely beautiful as well. It's a great idea to snag it while it's discounted, even if just by a small amount.

More iPad deals: Prime Day deals you can shop right now

Even the Best Tools to Fight Disinformation Are Not Enough

NYT Technology - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 12:00
Researchers have learned plenty about misinformation and how it spreads. But they’re still struggling to figure out how to stop it.

Amazon deal of the day: The Kindle Scribe just hit a new all-time low ahead of Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:58
Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Kindle Scribe $259.99 at Amazon (save $110 with Prime) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (128GB, WiFi) $646.51 at Amazon (save $153.48) Get Deal BEST PHONE DEAL Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (512GB) + free $300 Amazon gift card $1,899 at Amazon Get Deal BEST FITNESS DEAL NordicTrack T-Series 5 Treadmill $479 at Amazon (save $120) Get Deal BEST CAMPING DEAL Coleman Classic 2-in-1 Camping Grill/Stove $85.49 at Amazon (save $64.50) Get Deal

We're only five days out from Prime Day 2024, so it's no surprise that deals are popping off at Amazon. If you don't want to wait to shop, there are plenty of record-low deals available to add to your cart on July 11. And we've rounded up the best ones for you — from a brand-new Galaxy Z Flip 6 to a Coleman 2-in-1 camping stove.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check out the deals from July 9 and July 10 as well — most of those are still available.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB, Premium Pen) $259.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

While it's certainly not perfect, Amazon's Kindle Scribe is the most versatile Kindle on the market. It bridges the gap between traditional and digital reading by including a stylus to mark up whatever you're reading. It's not the best for digital drawings, but for note-taking readers, it's the best option for an e-reader. The Scribe features a 10.2-inch digital display that's the brightest of all Kindles and comes with a Premium Pen that lets you scribble notes, doodle, make to-do lists, journal, and more. It's usually $369.99, but ahead of Prime Day, the 16GB version is on sale for only $259.99 — that's its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (512GB) $1,899.00 at Amazon
Free $300 Amazon gift card with purchase Pre-Order Here

Samsung just dropped the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as part of its Unpacked 2024 event. It doesn't officially come out until July 24, but you can pre-order it at Amazon and get a free $300 gift card. Even better, the 512GB version is the same price as the 256GB version — $1,899.99. There aren't many hardware changes on the Z Fold 6, but the new generation foldable is packed with AI features like Note Assist, Interpreter, Portrait Studio, Live Translate, Composer, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (128GB, WiFi) $646.51 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $153.48 Get Deal

Speaking of Samsung Galaxy, the S9 tablet, which dropped last August after its initial launch at the Unpacked 2023 event, just got its biggest discount to date at Amazon. As of July 11, you can pick up the 128GB, WiFi model for only $646.51 instead of $799.99. That's just shy of 20% in savings. The S9 features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a new Dynamic AMOLED 2X 11-inch display, and an IP68 water- and dust-proof rating (a first for the Galaxy Tab S).

Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman Classic 2-in-1 Camping Grill/Stove $85.49 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $64.50 Get Deal

For all your grilling needs at the campsite, check out this deal on the Coleman Classic 2-in-1. It features both a grill plate and stove burner that can be used simultaneously, so you can whip up multiple things at once. The grill offers 130 square inches of cooking space, while the burner can hold pots and pans up to 10 inches. It can run for an hour with both burners on high, and it'll take about three minutes to boil water. Not too shabby when you're out in the wilderness. It's our favorite option for grilling, and it's on sale at Amazon for an all-time low $85.49. That's 43% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: NordicTrack NordicTrack T-Series 5 Treadmill $479.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $120.00 Get Deal

If you can't stand running in the 100-degree heat this summer, snag yourself a treadmill to sweat indoors. The NordicTrack T-Series 5 treadmill is on sale for just $479 at Amazon as of July 11. That matches its lowest price on record. It comes with a 30-day iFit trial membership and features a built-in Bluetooth speaker, auto-incline, 10 mph maximum speed, and a compact design.

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

Get the M2 MacBook Air for an all-time low price of $799 at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:28

SAVE $200: As of July 11, the 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $799 at Amazon. That's 20% off, and a new all-time low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Apple's MacBook Air is wildly popular, and for good reason. It's Mashable's pick for the best laptop for most people, and although the 15-inch version is the one we recommend, the 13-inch version is also an excellent choice. The M2 MacBook Air is a generation old now, but it's still plenty powerful, especially for those on a budget. Now, it's dropped to a new all-time low price at Amazon.

As of July 11, you can get the 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) at Amazon at new low price of $799, down 20% from the list price of $999. Best Buy also has it for the same price. We've previously seen this MacBook drop down to $829, so this new $799 deal is a record-low price. This is an early Prime Day deal, available across all four colors: Starlight, Silver, Space Gray, and Midnight.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day laptop deals: Two gems aside, your shopping cart can stay empty for now

The M2 MacBook Air is Apple's last-gen Air model since it launched the new M3 MacBook Air a few months ago. However, the M3 upgrade didn't bring much more than a new chip, making this deal on a powerful laptop that much sweeter. It comes with a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen, and lives up to the Air name with a slim profile and a weight of just 2.7 pounds.

The M2 chip is Apple's improved second-generation chip, and it has quite a bit of performance boost over the older M1 chip, as well as most of the Intel chips you'll find in older MacBooks. The M2 MacBook Air also promises a battery life of 18 hours on a single charge.

If you're looking to get your first laptop, or upgrading from an older one, the M2 MacBook Air is a solid pick for those looking for a powerful, portable machine. The discounted pricing is a great value for your money, but MacBook deals don't often last long — snatch it while it's live.

Prime Day deals you can shop right now

Where did all the lightning deals go? Here's how to find Amazon's limited-time deals.

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:09

With Amazon Prime Day mere days away, the deals are in full bloom. While the big day doesn't officially start until July 16 at 12 am PDT, deal hunters like us are on the move, seeking out the markdowns that are actually worth it (and what you can skip.) One of the pillars of Amazon's daily deals are "lightning deals," aka flash deals offering deep discounts. However, keen Amazon Prime members noticed that these deals are suddenly hard to find.

So where did all the lightning deals go? They're still around, but Amazon made them difficult to see.

Read everything you need to know about lightning deals and how to find them below.

What are lightning deals? Credit: Amazon / Mashable

As you're getting ready for Prime Day on July 16 and 17, knowing the different types of deals helps you shop smarter.

Lightning deals are offers on products only available for a specific amount of time and in limited quantity. They're signified on product pages with a little bar that reads "X% claimed." The deals are available until all units have been claimed or the deal timer runs out — whichever comes first. Lightning deals are usually limited to one day, sometimes only lasting a few hours, and new deals rotate daily.

They're certainly tantalizing — since these deals don't hang around for long, they put the pressure on to buy ASAP. Lightning deals are also only available to Prime members and may not appear to non-members.

Did Amazon get rid of lighting deals?

In the past, lightning deals were a centerpiece of the deals experience on Amazon. They used to be featured in their own category on the 'Today's Deals' tab, however, that showcase appears to have disappeared. Now all the lightning deals blend into the regular deals.

These changes appear to have occurred around April 2024, with Prime members taking to Reddit to discuss the issue. One poster noted that they called Amazon after lightning deals disappeared and were told that the company was updating the system to make it better for users. As of July 2024, lightning deals are active, but the category page has not been restored.

How to find lightning deals Credit: Amazon / Mashable

With the lack of organization around lightning deals, they've lost some of their luster. However, they're still around and fairly easy to spot. All lightning deals can be found on the 'Today's Deals' page of Amazon, according to the customer service page. Since they're not in a separate section, you have to browse through all the product listings to spot a lightning deal.

All lightning deals will be marked with a bar that says "X% claimed" that sits right under the product listing. The higher the percentage claimed, the closer the deal is to ending. Occasionally, you'll also see a countdown clock on the listings, but usually it's just the percentage claimed bar.

When do lightning deals expire?

Lightning deals don't last long, but how long do they usually last? There's no standard time frame. Typically, they last between a couple of hours and up to 24 hours, but because they're also available in limited quantity, the deals may go before time runs out.

Amazon doesn't tell you how many deals are available, only the percentage claimed, so the higher it gets, the closer it is to running out.

Lightning deals expire when either time runs out or when all the available products have been claimed — whichever comes first. If there's a lightning deal you really want, we recommend purchasing it right away, since these deals are guaranteed not to last.

Are lightning deals any good?

We can't categorically say all lightning deals are good or bad. Like any deal on Amazon, it totally depends. Sometimes lightning deals are on products from sketchy third-party products with no name recognition — those you want to skip.

But other times, big brands will be featured with products up to 50% off, and those are the deals to catch. If you're unsure, tools like camelcamelcamel are a fantastic price-tracking resource to utilize. If you find a lightning deal, use the camelcamelcamel extension to check the product's price history to see just how good the lightning deal actually is.

Amazon Prime Day deals

The best day of summer is here — it's free Slurpee day at 7-Eleven

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 10:51

FREE SLURPEE: Today, 7/11, is Slurpee Day 2024 and everyone is invited to get a free small Slurpee at 7-Eleven stores nationwide.

The summer heat arrived long ago, and we already celebrated the 4th of July, which means the best day of summer is finally here. Today is July 11, or rather 7/11 which means it's time to make the annual pilgrimage for one of summer's best refreshments.

For today only, head into any 7-Eleven to celebrate Slurpee Day 2024 with a free small Slurpee. And if you're a 7Rewards member (free to join!) you can score an additional free Slurpee to grab between July 12 and July 31.

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In case you've never been delighted by one of the best drinks ever, a Slurpee is a slushy-type drink that 7-Eleven introduced way back in 1966. Unique to free Slurpee Day 2024 is the limited-time-only flavor Mountain Dew Freedom Fusion.

But regardless of your favorite flavor, a Slurpee is synonymous with summer, and you don't even have to change out of your pool-side swim gear to grab a free one today.

If one small free Slurpee isn't gonna cut it for your summer, sign up for the free 7Rewards program with the smartphone app. Once you're a member, you'll get access to another free Slurpee once you grab today's free drink, and you can redeem that anytime between July 12 and 31.

This year's Free Slurpee Day extends to 7-Eleven locations, Speedway, and Stripes conventicle stores.

And for those who are loyal 7-Eleven fanatics, have you considered getting yourself to Japan to try out some fan favorites at that chain in the land of the rising sun? You might be hard-pressed to find a Slurpee machine there, but they do have smoothie machines from the future.

While you're at your local 7-Eleven grabbing a free Slurpee today, check out the range of $1 deals available to 7Rewards members.

You deserve a nice treat today and since it's 7/11, that treat is a free Slurpee at your local 7-Eleven. Happy national Slurpee Day 2024, folks!

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X's $500 million unpaid severance case dismissed, but it may not be over

Mashable - Thu, 07/11/2024 - 05:18

X (formerly Twitter) and its owner Elon Musk have escaped a $500 million unpaid severance lawsuit, successfully petitioning a California court to dismiss the case. Even so, this doesn't mean the matter is over.

A district court judge dismissed the class action suit on Tuesday, accepting the defendants' argument that X's severance plan was not governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). As the plaintiffs had accused X and Musk of violating ERISA, this finding that it doesn't even apply brought their case to a grinding halt.

However, the court made no ruling concerning the facts of the case. In fact, the judge explicitly stated that the plaintiffs can amend and refile their complaint with other claims such as breach of contract or promissory estoppel.

SEE ALSO: Yet another former Twitter/X exec is suing Elon Musk for millions in unpaid severance

Initially filed in July last year, the lawsuit accused X and Musk of failing to fulfil severance obligations owed to approximately 6,000 former employees. Musk famously began conducting mass layoffs mere days after acquiring Twitter in October 2022, cutting its workforce by at least 70 percent.

The complaint alleged that laid off employees were only offered a single month of severance pay, which fell short of the benefits detailed in the company's severance plan. Said plan had been in place since at least 2019, with Musk's merger agreement having stated that employees would be given severance and benefits "no less favorable than" those offered immediately prior to his takeover. 

As such, the plaintiffs accused X and Musk of violating the ERISA through denial of benefits, breach of fiduciary duty, and failure to provide complete and accurate information about the severance plan.

X and Musk didn't specifically refute the allegations that it had withheld employees' entitlements. Instead, the defendants successfully targeted matters of jurisdiction. 

For a severance plan to fall under ERISA, it must involve an "ongoing administrative program" under which severance claims and benefits are determined. The court found that X's plan involved no such program because it determined severance by applying set formulas and mathematical calculations rather than requiring discretionary analysis on a case-by-case basis. Thus, the ERISA does not apply.

Basically, the dismissal of this case doesn't necessarily mean that X has paid all severance it legally owes to the plaintiffs. It merely means that they may have to come at X with claims such as breach of contract instead of for violating federal labour laws. The plaintiffs have three weeks to file an amended complaint detailing any claims they may have which are unrelated to the ERISA. 

Regardless of whether the plaintiffs do refile their complaint, X's legal woes surrounding its Musk-ordered layoffs are far from over. A group of former Twitter executives previously filed a $128 million severance suit in March, another brought a $19.3 million one in April, and last September Musk agreed to settlement regarding claims of unpaid severance by almost 2,000 former employees. Tuesday's order noted that at least six lawsuits have been brought against X regarding severance, as well as five relating to wages and discrimination.

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