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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 11'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.

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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.

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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: What a kid needs for school

• Green: A base of necessary importance

• Blue: To move from one to another

• Purple: Bright signs

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: School Supplies

• Green: Fundamental

• Blue: Transfer

• Purple: Light-Up Signs

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 #396 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• School Supplies: PEN, RULER, SCISSORS, TAPE

• Fundamental: ESSENTIAL, KEY, PRINCIPAL, STAPLE

• Transfer: GIVE, HAND, PASS, SEND

• Light-up Signs: APPLAUSE, EXIT, RECORDING, WALK

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.

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It's said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – but numerous tech outlets, YouTubers, and even some Samsung fans seem to think the consumer electronics giant took mimicry a bit too far this time.

On Wednesday, Samsung had its big Galaxy Unpacked event where it unveiled a slew of new products including smartphones, smartwatches, and earbuds. Samsung even announced a whole new line with its Samsung Galaxy Ring health-focused wearable.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Unpacked 2024, including Samsung Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and more

However, those who viewed the event via livestream couldn't help but notice a few of the marquee new products looked a little too Apple-like.

Samsung criticized for 'copying' Apple

Social media users had other critiques about the products revealed at this year's Unpacked, bemoaning the lack of substantial updates in the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, for instance.  

However, one common thread in the various analyses, whether it be from consumers, reviewers, or journalists is that Samsung seems to be trying to "clone" Apple's products. 

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"Today was a huge L for Samsung," said YouTuber Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs, a tech review channel with more than one million subscribers. "Watch Ultra is the most shameless copy of an Apple product in ages — and it’s hideous."

"Wait, it gets more shameless," the YouTube creator continued via his X account @SnazzyLabs. "Buds3 and Buds3 Pro are clones of AirPods."

Nelson is referring to Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra smartwatch and its new line of earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 series. It seems obvious that Samsung released these two products to compete with Apple's Apple Watch Ultra and the company's line of Airpods. But, for many, the similarities between the two went beyond competition and into "copycat" territory.

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"Copy and paste," posted the Apple Hub account on X, with nearly one million followers, alongside a photo of Samsung's new smartwatch and earbuds side-by-side with Apple's version of the products.

With the visual of Samsung and Apple's smartwatch and earbuds together, it's hard to deny just how much Samsung seems to have borrowed from Apple. Along with appearing to lift its product naming scheme from Apple, Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra even has a nearly identical watch band.

And it's not just social media users and content creators sharing their disapproval either. News outlets like The Verge and Business Insider also couldn't help but call out Samsung for its Apple clones.

"Samsung's new 'Ultra' watch and earbuds are shameless Apple copycats," reads a headline from Business Insider.

The Verge's article, "Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds are blatant AirPod clones in both form and function," focused on Samsung's new Galaxy Buds 3 and criticized Samsung for its "subtle in-ear design" in favor of the more "Airpods-esque" stems.

Samsung unveiled much more than a few Apple clones at Galaxy Unpacked. The company's foldable smartphone is in a product category of its own, one that Apple doesn't even have its own answer to yet. But, unfortunately, Samsung's new smartwatch and earbuds are such blatant lookalikes that it seems that's what many are focusing on from the event.

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"To see Samsung just release a bunch of Apple clones is disheartening," wrote Apple Insider's Andrew O'Hara on X. "It’s boring and a massive fail compared to where Samsung used to be."

It's hard to argue with that assessment. 

Anonymous messaging apps like NGL: ask me anything are attractive to curious teens eager to share unfiltered opinions or hear candid confessions from their peers.

But a new order from the Federal Trade Commission highlights how such apps can be weaponized against teen users through bullying, harassment, and deception. Often marketed as free, the apps can impose a different cost, taking a toll on users' mental health.

NGL, an abbreviation of the phrase "not gonna lie," knew about these and other harms, according to the FTC. On Tuesday, July 9, the agency announced that it has banned NGL labs from offering or marketing anonymous messaging apps to teens under the age of 18. It marks the first time the agency has issued such a ban.

"NGL marketed its app to kids and teens despite knowing that it was exposing them to cyberbullying and harassment,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan in a statement. "In light of NGL’s reckless disregard for kids' safety, the FTC's order would ban NGL from marketing or offering its app to those under 18. We will keep cracking down on businesses that unlawfully exploit kids for profit."

SEE ALSO: Teens who talk about their mental health on this app may be taking a big risk

At one point, in 2022, NGL was reportedly the most downloaded in Apple's App Store, notching millions of downloads, according to the FTC.

In a detailed complaint, the FTC alleged that NGL and its cofounders charged users recurrently without obtaining proper consent; falsely claimed that the app's AI content moderation screened out bullying and harassment; deceived users with fake messages to increase the number of paid subscribers; and actively marketed the app to kids despite knowing that similar services had harmed users. The complaint was filed by the FTC and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.

The defendants, which include NGL cofounders Raj Vir and Joao Figueiredo, agreed to pay $5 million to settle the case.

NGL told the New York Times that many of the FTC's allegations were "factually incorrect," but that the company made changes required by the settlement.

"After nearly two years of cooperating with the FTC's investigation, we view this resolution as an opportunity to make NGL better than ever for our users and we think the agreement is in our best interest," Figueiredo told the Times.

The FTC found that in order to boost downloads and engagement, NGL sent users computer-generated fake messages. They included questions like, "Are you straight?", "Have you done drugs?", "Have you ever cheated?", and "Have you ever had any surgery?" One message simply read, "I know what you did."

Users thought their friends or contacts sent these messages. Some subscribed to the app's premium version for as much as $9.99 per week, lured by the company's promise that the sender would be revealed.

Users weren't given the name of the sender but instead offered "hints" as to when the message was sent, whether the sender had an Android or iPhone, and the sender's location. When customers complained, NGL executives laughed at them privately, according to the FTC's complaint.

In a text message thread about those complaints with Vir and Figueiredo, the company's Product Lead wrote "Lol suckers," referring to customers who felt they'd been scammed.

NGL also violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule. That federal regulation requires apps and online services knowingly being used by children under 13 to inform their parents about the personal information collected from children and obtain verifiable parental consent.

Fairplay, a nonprofit organization that filed a complaint to the FTC against NGL last fall, applauded the FTC's order in a statement.

"Big Tech does not have carte blanche to offer children products and features that are demonstrably harmful and deceptive," said Fairplay policy counsel Haley Hinkle.

Samsung and Google are working on an XR (extended reality) headset, threatening the Apple Vision Pro. How do we know? Well, Google SVP of Platforms and Services Rick Osterloh made an appearance at Samsung's Unpacked event, which showcased new products like the Samsung Galaxy Ring, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Osterloh appeared on stage to reaffirm Google's commitment to bringing AI-powered capabilities, particularly in the form of Google Gemini, to Samsung phones and other Android devices. After all, on both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, you'll find Gemini built into the OS. But that's not the only way Google plans to collaborate with Samsung.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Unpacked 2024, including Samsung Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and more Samsung and Google to tackle 'XR' later this year

Osterloh announced that Google and Samsung are "working closely to develop" a new XR platform. Qualcomm, by the way, is part of the collaboration. The chipset maker already works with Samsung to pack its Galaxy devices with chipsets, but Qualcomm is no stranger to XR devices either. (The Meta Quest 3, for example, runs on a Qualcomm processor called the Snapdragon XR2.)

Samsung President TM Roh emphasized Osterloh's statement, telling the audience that this mixed-reality device will roll out "later this year." That's a lot sooner than we thought.

This isn't the first time we've heard about this XR collaboration. At last year's Samsung Unpacked in February 2023, Google and Qualcomm executives stopped by to reveal their XR plans. "We're working to create a new era of highly immersive digital experiences that blur the lines between our physical and digital worlds," Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon said.

For the uninitiated, XR refers to any technology — like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) — that modifies reality by integrating digital elements into the physical world in some way. For example, the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 would fall into the XR category. Both have augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) capabilities. AR lets you interact with virtual elements while still seeing your real-life surroundings. VR, on the other hand, brings you total immersion, as if you've been transported into a new simulated plane.

Samsung and Google have been hush-hush about their XR project, but the streets are talkin'. Rumor has it that both are working on an Apple Vision Pro-like headset called Samsung Flex Magic, according to a leaker called @TheGalox_alt on X.

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Other than that, there isn't much scuttlebutt about the upcoming XR product. We'll just have to wait to see whether Samsung and Google can produce a worthy Apple Vision Pro opponent.

As regulatory scrutiny picks up, the tech giant says it is pleased with the progress OpenAI has made with governance and considers its oversight role unnecessary.

PRE-ORDER, GET A GIFT CARD WORTH UP TO $300: Get an Amazon gift card worth up to $300 when you pre-order Samsung's newest smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. The phones are priced at $1,899.99 and $1,099.99, respectively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 $1,899.99 at Amazon
$2,319.99 Save $420.00 Get a $300 Amazon gift card with preorder Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $200.00 Get a $200 Amazon gift card with preorder Get Deal

Samsung just unveiled two new smartphones during its Galaxy Unpacked press conference on Wednesday. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are official, and they're already available for preorder, shipping out to waiting buyers on July 24. That's very soon — and you should definitely pre-order if you want to lock one in. But you might want to skip Samsung and head to Amazon to secure the bag — the retailer is sweetening the deal pretty significantly.

As of July 10, you can pre-order either the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Flip 6 from Amazon and get an Amazon gift card worth up to $300 with your purchase. The Z Fold 6 (512GB) is $1,899.99 and comes with a $300 Amazon gift card, and the Z Flip 6 (256GB) is $1,099.99 and comes with a $200 Amazon gift card. That's essentially saving you up to $300 on either model to spend on anything else you need in the future from Amazon.

SEE ALSO: Samsung and Apple are leading the list of early Prime Day fitness tracker deals

Both phones have a slew of new and advanced features as well as iterative improvements over the prior models. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will come with a more durable and brighter screen, as well as a powerful processor that'll be great for gaming. The smaller, vertically-folding Flip 6 boasts a big 50MP wide-sensor lens camera upgrade as well as a 4,000mAh battery in comparison to the previous model's 3,700mAh capacity. Both devices will also use Samsung's Galaxy AI features, as well as Google Gemini for the Z Fold 6.

There's a lot to be excited about when it comes to these new smartphones, but saving money has to be the biggest perk. Use that gift card to snag some accessories for your new phone. You'll almost certainly want a case at the very least.

Get 25% OFF: As of July 10, you can save 25% off your base airfare at JetBlue when booking fall flights with promo code FALL2024.

Opens in a new window Credit: JetBlue JetBlue's Get the Fall Rolling Sale 25% off base airefare with code FALL2024 Get Deal

Looking to get some travel in this fall? You can save some cash when booking travel in the near future if you fly with JetBlue. The airline is offering significant savings as part of its Get the Fall Rolling sale, during which you can book your spooky season travel early and shave some cash off of your total expenses.

As of July 10, JetBlue is offering 25% off your base airfare when you book flights by midnight and use promo code FALL2024. Your travel dates must fall between September 7 and November 20, excluding Friday and Sunday flights. Your discount applies only to the base fare and is only valid on nonstop flights. You won't get money off any previous bookings before today, and it won't apply to transatlantic flights or Mint bookings. Also, you get one discount per person per flight.

SEE ALSO: This Deeper Connect VPN travel router is just $159

To book your trip, just head on over to the JetBlue sale page and search for your destination. Be sure to apply the promo code when booking, and your discount will be deducted from your total. The discount appears to be valid on all destinations, as long as your booking abides by the fine print.

It's time to get out there later this year – but act quickly, because you only have until the end of the day to snag 25% off your fall flight.

Usually one to rest on its abundance of winged beasts, House of the Dragon has upped the quota of another loyal creature this season: Westerosi dogs.

The canine count in Season 2 isn't sky-high (like those dragons), but there's been enough appearances of four-legged friends to get my attention. (If there's a dog in it, I'll watch it, but they had better not die). Early in the season, audiences tossed aside their reactions to casual child murder to instead berate a doomed ratcatcher for randomly kicking his dog.

SEE ALSO: Daemon's Harrenhal visions in 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 4, explained

And in episode 4, "The Red Dragon and the Gold," there's a glorious but fleeting moment involving three dogs in the Harrenhal council room. But these dogs aren't from any of the surreal visions in episode 3 and episode 4 plaguing Daemon (Matt Smith). According to keen-eyed viewers on X (formerly Twitter), they seem to be an Easter egg pointing to the future of the biggest, most cursed castle in the Seven Kingdoms, and the many different houses who will hold Harrenhal during the Game of Thrones years. Here's what it all means.

What do the dogs mean in House of the Dragon, Season 2, episode 4?

At the beginning of the episode, after a disastrous meeting between Daemon and Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes), we get a shot of three giant dogs that resemble wolfhounds or deerhounds, sitting illuminated by the castle's very little light. We've seen the hounds in the background of Harrenhal scenes before, but here, they're overtly symbolic.

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

X user @TheJoeMagician posted about the moment, identifying the dogs as one of two connected Easter eggs in the episode, representing characters crucial to the future of Harrenhal.

"The three dogs, House Clegane for Gregor Clegane and the Black Goat for Vargo Hoat. Both characters who in the future hold Harrenhal. Daemon seeing the future?" they wrote.

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The three dogs represent the sigil for House Clegane, an image made for the unnamed founder of the Lannister-loyal house, who was the kennelmaster at Casterly Rock. The story goes, he and Lord Tytos Lannister were on a hunt when they encountered a lion, and three dogs died defending them (heroes!). For his pooch-assisted rescue, he was given a title and land to start his own house. Game of Thrones fans will recognise this house as that of Ser Gregor Clegane ("The Mountain") and his brother Sandor Clegane ("The Hound"). The violent, brutal Gregor in particular will become Castellan of Harrenhal down the track, so this question about Daemon seeing the future seems pretty spot-on. Especially because of the goat.

What does the black goat mean?

Earlier in the same scene in episode 4, Daemon is marching through the halls with Ser Simon Strong (Sir Simon Russell Beale), the current Castellan of Harrenhal, when he sees a black goat. It could represent Vargo Hoat, who, like Lionel Messi and Serena Williams but with none of their talent or decency, is referred to as The Goat.

A sword for hire, he betrays the Lannisters in exchange for Harrenhal in Game of Thrones. In the show, Vargo was replaced by the character Locke (Noah Taylor). He's the guy who cuts off Jaime Lannister's hand. Notably, in A Feast for Crows, Gregor Clegane chops off Vargo's limbs and serves them back to him as... roast goat. When we see the goat in House of the Dragon, as X user @erinwallaceyay points out, it's standing among several pieces of chopped wood. The dismemberment imagery isn't subtle.

Featured Video For You House of the Dragon Season 1: Everything you need to remember about Season 1 in 60 seconds

Both House Clegane and Vargo Hoat meet sticky ends associated with the Harrenhal curse, which Mashable's Belen Edwards has explained for you here. Daemon seeing images — whether real or imagined — of houses associated with grave misfortune can't be a good sign, as Daemon himself was told he'd meet his demise in the castle by the mysterious Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) on arrival.

There's even more animal sigil symbolism in the Harrenhal scenes, as @TheJoeMagician also points out; when Daemon first arrives at Harrenhal in episode 3, he's greeted by a cauldron of bats flying into the night. These nocturnal mammals could represent two Riverlands houses who later have control of Harrenhal one after the other. House Lothston's crest is one bat on gold and white, while House Whent is nine bats on gold.

So, Daemon is getting a bit of a subliminal future history lesson at Harrenhal, much like we're seeing in the House of the Dragon opening credits. But that's not all his vision means; luckily, we've got an entire explainer for that.

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

SAVE $30 + GET A FREE $15 TARGET GIFT CARD: Target Circle members can get the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ for just $99.99, down from the usual price of $129.99. That's a 20% discount, and the deal also comes with a free $15 Target gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ $99.99 at Target
$129.99 Save $30.00 Free $15 Target gift card with purchase Get Deal

You're not alone if you've been thinking about espresso all summer. That's partly thanks to Sabrina's Carpenter's hit song "Espresso," but it might also be that espresso goes hand in hand with summer mornings and afternoons spent lounging outside. If you're looking to add in some "me-espresso" to your morning routine, Target has a sweet deal today.

As of July 10, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is on sale at Target for $99.99 for Target Circle members, marked down from the usual price of $129.99. That's $30 off, or a 20% discount. On top of the sale price, the deal also tacks on a free $15 Target gift card. To grab this sale price and the free gift card, you'll want to sign up as a Target Circle member, which is free to join.

SEE ALSO: These are the best Target Circle Week deals for Apple AirPods

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ machine is all about versatility and convenience. Instead of fumbling around with measuring coffee grounds in the hazy early morning hours, let the Nespresso pod and machine do the work. The Vertuo Pop+ accepts Nespresso Vertuo coffee pods and can then produce five cup sizes, depending on your brewing preferences.

Pretend you're on a European holiday and sip a 1.4- or 2.7-ounce espresso pour, or go larger and opt for the 5-ounce size. If you're more of a cup-of-coffee person, choose from an 8- or 12-ounce cup. And if you're new to the world of Nespresso, the deal also throws in a capsule tasting pack, so you can try out a few options to choose your favorite.

The removable water tank sits on the side of the machine, making it more accessible to remove and refill than models where the tank is located on the back. The tank holds 25 ounces of water, so you won't have to constantly refill with each cup.

If you're not into drab kitchen colors, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ comes in some fun colorways like Mint, Pacific Blue, and Red — which can add a "pop" of color to your morning.

When it comes to sustainability, Nespresso Vertuo capsules are made of aluminum, and it's free to use Nespresso's recycling program.

Hurry to snag the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ from Target for just $99.99 and cash on the free $15 Target gift card that comes with your purchase.

SAVE 50%: Through July 18, sign up for a Walmart+ annual membership for just $49. That's $49 off the typical annual membership cost of $98.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart+ Walmart+ annual membership $49.00
$98.00 Save $49.00 Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Day is approaching, and Walmart's competing sale, Walmart Deals, is going on now. There are solid laptop, gaming, vacuum, and more deals to check out, and there are added benefits for Walmart+ members, which is the store's membership subscription. If you want to make the most of Walmart Deals instead of shopping at Amazon, a Walmart+ membership could be your ticket — and you can get one at a huge discount right now.

Through July 18, sign up for a Walmart+ annual membership for just $49. That's $49 off the typical annual membership cost of $98. This 50% discount means you can make the membership fee back in no time, saving money on exclusive member deals. The offer isn't available to members enrolled via Walmart+ Assist, or with InHome or Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.

SEE ALSO: Six invite-only deals are live ahead of Prime Day 2024

The annual Walmart+ membership has a ton of perks, including free delivery on orders above $35, special prices on fuel at select stations, and access to mobile scan & go, which lets you scan items as you shop, saving you some time. You also get return pickups from home, benefits at Walmart Auto Care, and early access to discounts and major sales (like Black Friday and Cyber Monday), among other perks. It's a worthy alternative (or addition to) Amazon Prime, especially given this discounted pricing, which makes it $90 cheaper than Prime.

This year's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked continues the trend of big tech's current obsession: artificial intelligence. Samsung's 2024 iteration of Unpacked saw the South Korea-based tech giant introducing a slew of neat, albeit superficial, AI additions to the Galaxy ecosystem and its lineup of phones, rings, and things.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Unpacked 2024, including Samsung Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and more

So to save you some time, here are five of the most interesting Galaxy AI features that were announced at Unpacked 2024:

Portrait Studio

Sydney Sweeney made a surprise appearance to help Samsung show off Portrait Studio — a feature that makes AI-powered avatars from your selfies. This one might need some more time in the oven, but the idea is to add a fun way to spice up your selfies.

Credit: Samsung

It's not new in the world of generative AI, but the ability to do so on Samsung devices is meant to add convenience to users who are feeling a little creative. Simply upload a photo from your gallery and explore a variety of styles by clicking the pencil icon. Choose from options like comic, 3D character, watercolor, and sketch to personalize your selfies effortlessly.

Photo Ambient

The new Galaxy Z Flip 6 offers a variety of customization options, including the AI-powered Photo Ambient feature. This feature allows your wallpaper to change in real time based on the time and weather. It ensures that your device's appearance is always dynamic and relevant to your environment.

Credit: Samsung

In addition to real-time wallpaper changes, Photo Ambient helps create a cohesive look for your device. It analyzes your wallpaper and suggests screen layout options, such as moving the clock and adjusting frame colors. This ensures that the background image remains prominent while your device maintains a unified aesthetic.

Interpreter Credit: Samsung

First introduced on the Galaxy S24, Galaxy AI's Interpreter feature is now optimized for foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 6. In FlexMode, you can have real-time conversations with translations displayed on both the Cover Screen and Main Screen. In Conversation Mode, each person's language is shown on the screen visible to them, making face-to-face communication smoother.

Additionally, there's also a listening mode for when you're attending foreign language lectures or traveling abroad. This is meant to be paired with Galaxy Buds 3 for simultaneous audio translation, which can translate what you hear into text in real-time.

Energy Score Credit: Samsung

Energy Score, found on the likes of Samsung Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch Ultra, provides a clear picture of how your health impacts your daily life. Generated by Galaxy AI, this score evaluates your sleep, activity, sleeping heart rate, and heart rate variability. With these insights, you can focus on specific areas to improve your overall well-being.

Wellness Tips Credit: Samsung

Joining Energy Score is a new feature called Wellness Tips, which is driven by comprehensive data and individual interests. These tips cover various aspects of health, including sleep, exercise, and stress management, helping you make informed decisions to support your wellness journey.

GET $110 OFF: As of July 10, you can get the Shark (IX141) pet cordless stick vacuum for just $149.99, down from $259.99 at Amazon. That's 42% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark (IX141) pet cordless stick vacuum $149.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

If you’re a pet owner, you know how hard it is to keep a clean house. (I have two beagles and vacuum twice daily, and there’s still fur everywhere.) If you need something more powerful to tackle the relentless onslaught of pet hair, Amazon has some early Prime Day deals worth checking out.

Ahead of the big event, Amazon’s offering hefty discounts on select Shark brand vacuums and cleaning appliances, including the popular Shark (IX141) pet cordless stick vacuum (with XL dust cup). This model, which normally retails for $259.99, is currently on sale for $149.99 — a savings of $110, or 42%. The Shark website and Best Buy are matching the price, but Amazon offers free shipping for Prime members (so there’s that).

SEE ALSO: Shark vs. Dyson: Which cordless vacuum should you get?

The Shark (IX141) pet cordless stick vacuum is lightweight, has a 40-minute runtime, and transforms into a handheld vacuum so you can clean the couch, stairs, and other tight spaces (it also comes with a crevice tool). Plus, the XL dust cup with CleanTouch Dirt Ejector makes it easy to empty without getting your hands dirty.

Grab this deal and make cleaning up after your pets that much easier.

Check out the top Amazon deals of the day as of July 10.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Amazon Echo Buds $24.99 at Amazon (save $25 with Prime) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Bose SoundLink Flex $99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal BEST CAMERA DEAL Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 $59 at Amazon (save $20.99) Get Deal BEST SMARTHOME DEAL Amazon Smart Thermostat $51.99 at Amazon (save $28 with Prime) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Dash Tasti-Crisp air fryer $34.99 at Amazon (save $15 with Prime) Get Deal

We may be a week away from Prime Day, but today is a pretty great day to grab some deals. Unless you feel like waiting another week to see if prices drop further (no guarantees, though!), we recommend grabbing these handpicked Amazon deals ASAP. From a powerful and portable Bose speaker to a sleek analog air fryer, there's a little something for everyone to shop on July 10.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to take a look at the deals from July 9 as well — most of those are still available.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 with Prime Get Deal

Released in June 2023, the Amazon Echo Buds aren't the most exciting pair of earbuds on the market. But they don't need to be at this insanely low price point. As of July 10, you can scoop up a pair for a record-low $24.99 with Prime. That's 50% in savings. They look similar to AirPods and feature about 20 hours of battery life with the charging case. Plus, they put Alexa right in your ear. They have their flaws (poor fit depending on your ear shape, no noise cancellation), but it's hard to care when they only cost $25.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose SoundLink Flex $99.00 at Amazon
$149.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're a Bose fan and like the color purple (or lilac, to be specific), the small-but-mighty SoundLink Flex just dropped to an all-time low price of $99 at Amazon as of July 10. That's 34% in savings and 99 cents less than it currently costs at Target during its competing Circle Week sale. The Flex is built to go with you wherever life takes you — and survive. It features a rugged texture, a completely waterproof design, and is resistant to UV light and corrosion. It also lasts up to half a day on a single charge and can automatically detect its position to deliver the ultimate listening experience.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fujifilm Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 instant camera $59.00 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $20.99 Get Deal

A great way to document your summer adventures, the Instax Mini 11 is "the best instant camera for beginners," according to our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis). The Mini 11 features automatic exposure, one-touch selfie mode, and simple instant operation without much of a learning curve. For Prime members, it's marked down to just $59 ahead of Prime Day, which is the lowest price we've seen in over a year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Smart Thermostat $51.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $28.00 with Prime Get Deal

Amazon's Smart Thermostat originally debuted in 2021 as a more affordable competitor to the Google Nest. And ahead of Prime Day, it just got even cheaper. Regularly $80, it's on sale for just $51.99 if you're a Prime member. While that's not its lowest price ever, it's the lowest price we've seen since Black Friday season in 2022. If you're looking to optimize your HVAC energy use and are a fan of Alexa, this is the way to go. Ask Alexa to adjust the temperatures or automatically tune your thermostat to suit your preferences.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dash Dash Tasti-Crisp air fryer (2.6-quart) $34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.00 with Prime Get Deal

Curious about the air frying lifestyle? Scoop up your own Dash Tasti-Crisp air fryer for only $34.99 (reg. $49.99) with Prime and start cooking. This analog model is great for beginners who typically cook for one or two people. Just adjust the temperature and set the time and let it do its thing. Ahead of Prime Day, it's already at its lowest price on record.

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

PRE-ORDER NOW: Samsung's two newest foldable smartphones — the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 — are both available to pre-order as of July 10. They'll officially release on July 24, and start at $1,899.99 and $1,099.99, respectively.

Where to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 starting at $1,899.99 Pre-Order Here Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 starting at $1,099.99 Pre-Order Here

Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked press conference wrapped up Wednesday, and with it came a slew of new announcements on the brand's latest wearable tech and smartphones, among other things. The company introduced its Galaxy AI tech earlier in 2024, and now it's being brought to its two newest mobile devices — the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. Both of which are already up for preorder, and will officially ship out on July 24.

SEE ALSO: Where to pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Starting at $1,899.99, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is said to have its most advanced and durable display yet, even with fewer layers than the previous generation (which will thankfully make the device much easier to fold up). The maximum brightness of the screen has been upgraded, too, and will be easier to use in direct sunlight without too much glare. Mobile gamers will be happy to learn that the Z Fold6 is ray-tracing-enabled, and the phone's thinner bezels provide more screen real estate than ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 $1,899.99 at Amazon
Includes $300 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here

Starting at $1,099.99, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 was touted by the company as the slimmest and lightest version of the pint-sized foldable to date, but also the most powerful. The two main upgrades here are the camera and battery. The Z Flip6 features a 50MP wide-sensor lens, and has the ability to use AI tech to enhance your photos — this includes sharpening details, detecting lighting and objects, and helping you take the perfect hands-free group shot. The smartphone now has a 4,000mAh battery compared to 3,700mAh on the Flip5. The brand also says that the Flip6 employs its strongest display and hinge yet. Both handhelds take advantage of Samsung's Galaxy AI suite, including Note Assist, Circle to Search, Composer, live translations, and more. Plus, the Z Fold6 adds in Google's voice-enabled AI assistant, Gemini.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 $1,099.99 at Amazon
Includes $200 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here

Both phones are now available to pre-order, and will officially release on July 24. Here's everywhere you can snag one right now:

Samsung

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 — starting at $1,899.99

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 — starting at $1,099.99

Amazon

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 — starting at $1,899.99

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 — starting at $1,099.99

Best Buy

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 — starting at $1,899.99

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 — starting at $1,099.99

Samsung Unpacked 2024 had a not-so-surprise guest in the audience at its event in Paris on Wednesday: Sydney Sweeney.

This is the Immaculate star's second Samsung Unpacked as a Samsung celeb partner. Sweeney was the only celeb partner shown at the event during the livestream, but K-Pop group Tomorrow x Together and a "digital magician" named Caleb were featured in pre-recorded segments.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Unpacked 2024, including Samsung Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and more

Sweeney lent her face to a demonstration of the new AI-powered 3D avatars generated by its "portrait studio," which involved some stilted back and forth between her and the presenter. The new feature generates portraits in four filters: "Sketch," "Watercolor," "3D Cartoon," and "Comic."

Tomorrow X Together promoted the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in a behind-the-scenes video teasing their new song, "Open Always Wins," released in collaboration with Samsung. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 upgrades from the Galaxy Z Flip 5 with a smaller battery, more Galaxy AI integration, a better camera, and dust and heat protection.

As for the digital magician, he used Galaxy AI to identify stars and draw himself on a starry, starry night by the Eiffel Tower.

Last year, Samsung Unpacked panned to K-pop stars, like BTS' Suga and IVE's Wonyoung, in the crowd. This event was light on star power, with only Sweeney in attendance IRL, but this year's focus was on AI, so maybe that was intentional.

GET $10 OFF: As of July 10, you can get a pair of JBL Tune headphones at Amazon for $39.95, down from $49.95. That's $10 off and a whopping four cents cheaper than Target's Circle Week price.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL Our pick: JBL Tune headphones (520BT) $39.95 at Amazon
$49.95 Save $10.00 Get Deal

OK, we’ve got some tea to spill: Amazon is pettier than we thought. As you might know, it’s Target Circle Week (Target's sale strategically placed one week ahead of Prime Day). Retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy do sales leading up to Prime Day to compete with Amazon's big event. But this year, Amazon is being extra.

As of July 10, the JBL Tune headphones (520BT) are available at Amazon for $39.95. That’s $10 off the listing price, and — wait for it — four cents cheaper than Target's sale price of $39.99. That's right, Amazon is literally undercutting Target by a mere four cents.

SEE ALSO: The best headphones for 2024 (and why they made our list)

Whether this is a strategic move or just pure pettiness is up for debate. (But we’re going with pettiness.) Either way, a deal’s a deal. So, if you’re looking for a pair of budget headphones, you can snatch a pair of purple, black, white, or blue JBL Tune headphones on Amazon right now for $39.95.

These headphones feature the signature JBL sound quality, up to 57 hours of battery life, and a comfortable, lightweight design. The quick-charge function will give you up to three hours of music in just five minutes. The built-in microphone also allows you to take hands-free calls.

This is a pretty solid deal, regardless of who's undercutting who.

GET $80 OFF: As of July 10, Target Circle members can get a Westinghouse 50-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart Roku TV for $199.99, down from $279.99, at Target. That's 28% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Westinghouse Our pick: Westinghouse 50-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart Roku TV $199.99 at Target
$279.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal

If you’re on the hunt for a budget TV, Target Circle Week has plenty of options. Now through July 13, you can get discounts on everything from smart TVs to small electronics by signing up for a free Target Circle account. If you’re already a Target Circle member, sign in and check out the deals.

SEE ALSO: Target's Circle Week is here and runs through July 13

One of the best TV deals we’ve spotted is the Westinghouse 50-inch 4K Roku TV, which is on sale for $199.99 (regularly $279.99). That’s an $80 discount, or 28% off, the listing price, and the lowest we’ve seen this model go for since February.

This deal is only available via Target’s website. It’s already out-of-stock in some areas, so you’ll need to act fast if you want to add it to your cart. Select the “edit location” box to check availability in your area.

While this TV doesn't have the bells and whistles of some of the more expensive OLED or QLED models, it offers a solid 4K picture, HDR compatibility, and a built-in Roku TV so you can stream your faves. You can also cast your content directly from your mobile device to the big screen via the Roku Mobile App or Apple AirPlay2.

Grab this deal while you can.

Your doodles may be looking better soon, with the help of Samsung.

At Samsung Unpacked 2024, the company revealed some major new products and features, including new Galaxy Buds 3 series, Z Flip 6, Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Other AI updates were unveiled, into a sketch-to-image option which allows users to "create more sophisticated art pieces by generating image options."

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 unveiled with built-in Google Gemini at Unpacked July 2024

Essentially, you can draw anything — crudely or not — and using Samsung's AI capabilities, the image will get a digital facelift and be made more realistic. Any sketch on the Gallery or Notes screen will work, likely better with the use of the S-pen.

"Galaxy AI understands what you're trying to draw and generates images in different styles for you to choose from," Samsung announced at the event.

According to Android Police, which tried the product, "Don't expect this feature to get it right every time."

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked for summer 2024 came and went without much in the way of surprises, but Samsung device owners got some news about upcoming AI features.

Specifically, Samsung is partnering with Google to borrow some of the latter's AI features. In a blog post posted concurrently with the livestreamed event, Google confirmed that the new Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 will get Circle to Search, with its translation and homework help features intact. Other unspecified Samsung devices will also get these features later this year, per the blog post.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Unpacked 2024, including Samsung Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and more SEE ALSO: Where to pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Ring Google features coming to Samsung devices

If you aren't familiar with Circle to Search, it's a somewhat recent Google innovation that allows you to, well, draw a circle around something on your screen and have Google's AI fetch more information about it for you. The Samsung foldables will be able to do that, but that's not all.

Circle to Search can also do full-screen translation, meaning users can theoretically circle an entire restaurant menu in another language and get the full thing back in their language of choice. There's also a way for students to circle things like math problems and have AI allegedly help them solve them. Google's also promising that, later in July, you'll be able to use Circle to Search for barcodes and QR codes on your screen, too.

Kids, just remember not to make it super obvious that a chat bot helped you with your homework.

Months after introducing filtering tool Deception Detector — which uses AI to weed out spam, scam, and fake profiles — dating app Bumble announced a way to report suspected AI-generated profiles.

Some daters haven't hesitated to use generative AI to write dating app bios — or even to have conversations with matches for them. Earlier this year, Bumble founder and former CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd took it a step further, saying that AI concierges will date for us in the future.

SEE ALSO: Dating app fatigue has led to a flurry of IRL singles events

When it comes to AI-generated photos and videos, however, daters don't seem to be fans. According to recent Bumble survey results shared with Mashable, 71 percent of millennial and Gen Z respondents said there should be limits to using this type of media on dating apps. Of those people, 71 percent said people using AI-generated material to portray them doing things they've never done — or visiting places they've never been — qualifies as catfishing.

How to report for suspected AI in Bumble profiles. Credit: Bumble

On Bumble, you can now report such profiles by scrolling to the bottom and tapping the "Hide and report" button. Select the option "Fake profile" and then the reason, "Using AI-generated photos and videos." You can also write more details if you wish.

As Mashable previously reported, Deception Detector led to a 45 percent decrease in reports of fake accounts in its testing phase. We'll see how many reports of AI-generated profiles Bumble gets moving forward.

"An essential part of creating a space to build meaningful connections is removing any element that is misleading or dangerous. We are committed to continually improving our technology to ensure that Bumble is a safe and trusted dating environment," said Bumble's VP of product, Risa Stein, in the press release. "By introducing this new reporting option, we can better understand how bad actors and fake profiles are using AI disingenuously so our community feels confident in making connections."