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Throw a hit summer party with these 9 essentials from Walmart

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 09:40

Summer has officially landed, and it’s time to get serious about your summer party setup. Low on bandwidth or cash? No problem. Putting together a killer backyard soirée that will blow your guests’ minds doesn’t need to be time-consuming, or even pricey. 

Thanks to Walmart's endless deals, you can score a new grill, outdoor furniture, a blow-up pool, and loads of other cool party picks, and they'll all be delivered to your door instantly.

Check out this festive Walmart roundup to get the party started. Prices subject to change, so act fast.

Grab this color-matching sensor for just $50

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 08:00

TL;DR: This Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor is on sale for just $49.97 (reg. $99) through July 21.

While many of us don't realize the power of color, it's ingrained right into our language. We feel blue when we are sad, green with envy, or see red when angry. The perfect color palette is also important to transform the look and feel of a room. 

If you use colors for work or at home, a color-sensing tool like the Nix Mini 2 could support all of your color-centric endeavors. It's on sale through July 21 for just $49.97, which is a 50% savings from its usual price.

Whether you're a professional designer, an artist, or someone who loves DIY projects, having the right tools to match and choose colors accurately can streamline your work and save you time and money. The Nix Mini 2's advanced technology promises to allow you to simply scan to match any color you come across.

With a library of over 100,000 brand-name paint colors and the ability to display sRGB, HEX, CMYK, and LAB color codes, this sensor helps ensure that you always find your match. For instance, let's say you're out to lunch and notice a beautiful shade of blue on the counter at the diner. You can scan it with the Nix to get the closest paint match to include in your decor.

Lightweight and small, it's designed to fit into a pocket, bag, or purse and connect via Bluetooth to your Android or iOS device. It comes with free lifetime access to the Nix Paints and Nix Digital apps for both platforms so you should be able to save and organize all of your colors to use or share later.

If you're looking to enhance your creative or professional projects, consider this innovative, portable device.

Don't miss the Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor while it's on sale for just $49.97 (reg. $99) through July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this price drop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nix Sensor Nix Mini 2 Color-Matching Sensor $49.97 at The Mashable Shop
$99.00 Save $49.03 Get Deal

Lupita Nyong'o is driven to spicy wing despair on "Hot Ones"

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 06:31
Lupita Nyong'o may have tackled the monsters of "A Quiet Place: Day One", but how does she fare on First We Feast's "Hot Ones"?

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for June 28

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 06:13

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 June 28 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for June 28

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, June 28, 2024:

Across"Largemouth" lake animal
  • The answer is bass.

Arousing suspicion
  • The answer is fishy.

"Citizen Kane" director Welles
  • The answer is Orson.

Point after deuce, in tennis
  • The answer is adout.

Joyous laughter
  • The answer is mirth.

Slowly sinks, as the sun
  • The answer is sets.

DownScore of 3 on a par 4, e.g.
  • The answer is birdie.

Classify into separate groups
  • The answer is assort.

SPEAKS LIKE THIS
  • The answer is shouts.

Instrument in electronic dance music, for short
  • The answer is synth.

Becomes bubbly, as beer
  • The answer is foams.

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

Jon Stewart on Biden-Trump debate: 'This cannot be real life'

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:55
Joe Biden and Donald Trump held their first presidential debate of the election — and Jon Stewart has unpacked it all for you.

‘Supacell’ cast tell origin stories for their superpowers

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:52
The cast of Supacell discuss their characters' origin stories and super powers.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 leak in new pictures

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:22

Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event is scheduled for July 10, but we now know a bit more about the new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 phones, likely to be launched during the event.

Leaker Evan Blass shared official-looking images of the new phones on X (plus more images to his Substack subscribers, via 9to5Google), and we have little reason to believe they're not the real thing.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Unpacked: Every announcement expected at July event

The images reveal that the Galaxy Z Fold has a triple camera system on the back, and a new, wider aspect ratio both on the inner and the outer display. The device is shown in two colors: Silver and navy blue.

Tweet may have been deleted

As for the Galaxy Z Flip 6, it's shown in slightly darker silver and lighter blue. It looks fairly similar to its predecessor, with a dual camera system on the outside.

Both the Fold 6 and Flip 6 appear to have a slimmer hinge, and the Fold 6 overall looks thinner than before.

The devices are rumored to come with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, but they will also reportedly be pricier than before. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 in particular is rumored to come with a beefier battery and a big camera upgrade.

Tweet may have been deleted

On Thursday, Blass also shared images of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Buds 3, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Watch 7. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7's specs were apparently leaked a few days ago in an early Amazon Canada listing.

TikTok is (still) obsessed with exposing cheating. But are internet sleuths going too far?

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:18

On June 24, TikTok user @carolinerened shared a video of a man on a United Airlines flight. Not much can be ascertained from the video itself, but the user's caption has caused an internet storm. This lengthy explanation included flight details, names, and alleged this man was cheating on his wife.

"I wouldn't have known he was married if he hadn't been wearing his wedding ring," the user writes. "Do your thing TikTok," she continued, in a now-deleted video which had over a million likes.

TikTok did, in fact, do its thing, with thousands of views and comments leading to the man and his wife being doxxed, and the man since deleting his social media profiles.

SEE ALSO: Cheating has become the ultimate crime online

This is the latest incident of cheaters being exposed on TikTok, and with the help of strangers online. The cheaters are inevitably shamed, their partners are informed, and the whole world can watch the breakdown of a relationship on their feeds. What would ordinarily be a private situation is suddenly more public than ever.

TikTok sleuthing is a steadfast phenomenon, seemingly and increasingly pervasive on the app. Not only is it indicative of a certain kind of voyeurism that accompanies TikTok, the trend spells out one of the graver consequences of digital culture today: a lack of empathy and nuance beyond the confines of a phone screen.

And people don't seem to be on board any longer.

While some users say they stand by exposing cheaters, and helping out their apparently unknowing partners, an overwhelming majority have said this post took it too far, even while agreeing with the universal rule that cheating is wrong.

"You guys are loving this, you cannot get enough." - @prettycritical

Across X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, users have pointed out the moral wrongdoing in this kind of exposure, largely in context to the "airplane guy" cheating. Their qualms include how public sleuthing is a severe betrayal of privacy, and how it can (and most likely will) subject a couple to public interrogation and even ridicule.

"You guys are loving this, you cannot get enough," TikTok user @prettycritical said in a video about "the married man on the plane", which garnered over 200k views. "Although you're the exact demographic is to call yourself 'girl's girls', your only allegiance is to your own entertainment." The creator pointed out that some relationships have different rules, that we can't know for certain how strangers choose to live their lives, and we certainly can't decide if this is how a person wanted to find out about their husband committing infidelity.

"Posts like these fundamentally value entertainment over privacy but position themselves as forms of activism or justice," wrote one user on X. "This is psychotic behavior. It is actually not normal or 'accountability reporting' to spy on strangers and try to expose them to loved ones," said another.

In essence: this isn't the internet's business, says the internet.

The situation is reminiscent of Couch Guy, the college student who was surprised by his long-distance girlfriend and inadvertently turned into a TikTok fascination, accused of infidelity and being a "red flag". The man himself, Robert McCoy, wrote about how the internet conducted an ongoing, invasive, and boundary-less investigation of him:

Given the apparent tendency of the TikTok algorithm to present viral spectacles to a user base increasingly hungry for content to analyze forensically, there will inevitably be more Couch Guys or [Sabrina] Praters in the future. When they appear on your For You page, I implore you to remember that they are people, not mysteries for you to solve.

McCoy said "it felt like the entertainment value of the meme began to overshadow our humanity" – and that seems to be the case all over again.

TikTok has the potential to create collective change and spark important conversations, but the problem with TikTok detectives is entirely separate. Using a guise of justice and righteousness does not excuse the reality that a person's extremely private life is being made public domain, without any consent of their own. What may have begun with good intentions has morphed into an obsession with information, attention, and becoming a public "savior". Ultimately, holding others accountable can be noble, but this method seems to be anything but.

How to watch the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix online for free

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:15

TL;DR: Watch the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix for free on ORF, ServusTV, or RTBF. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

F1 race weekends come thick and fast in June, which is great news for fans. The other welcome news for dedicated followers of F1 is that you don't need to spend anything to watch all the action from the Austrian Grand Prix.

If you're interested in watching the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix?

The 2024 Austrian Grand Prix takes place over 71 laps of the 4,318-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. The full schedule can be found here:

  • Practice 1 — 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. ET on June 28

  • Sprint Qualifying — 10:30 a.m. to 11:14 a.m. ET on June 28

  • Sprint — 6 to 7 a.m. ET on June 29

  • Qualifying — 10 to 11 a.m. ET on June 29

  • Race — 9 a.m. ET on June 30

The good news is that it's possible to stream the Austrian Grand Prix without spending anything.

How to watch the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix for free

You can live stream the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix for free on these streaming platforms:

ORF, ServusTV, and RTBF are geo-restricted, but anyone from around the world can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these streaming services to watch F1 for free from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free streaming services by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria or Belgium

  4. Connect to ORF, ServusTV, or RTBF

  5. Watch the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams for free. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can stream the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix without actually spending anything.

What is the best VPN for F1?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming F1 for free, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Austria and Belgium

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

  • Fast streaming speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.

Record Labels Sue A.I. Music Generators, Inside the Pentagon’s Tech Upgrade and HatGPT

NYT Technology - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:06
A little something for everyone: lawsuits, fighter jets and Casey in a bucket hat.

The Voices of A.I. Are Telling Us a Lot

NYT Technology - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:05
Even as the technology advances, stubborn stereotypes about women are re-encoded again and again.

How to unblock Xnxx porn for free from anywhere in the world

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Retain access to your favorite free porn sites with a VPN. The best service for unblocking sites like Pornhub, XVideos, and Xnxx is ExpressVPN.

There's no judgement here, but there is a time and a place for visiting your favorite porn sites. There are a lot of locations around the world that block access to sites like Pornhub and xHamster, and that's probably a good idea. That being said, the ability to retain your online freedom is important (when the time is right).

We're not suggesting that you bypass online restrictions to access porn sites in inappropriate moments, but sometimes you'll want to access your favorite sites in a totally appropriate time and place, but won't be able to do that because a block is in place. In this situation, you should consider using a VPN.

If you're looking for the best way to unblock sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Xnxx for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This simple process means you can bypass geo-restrictions to access porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world.

The process is actually really straightforward. Unblock Xnxx by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Xnxx

  4. Watch Xnxx videos from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for bypassing content restrictions are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Xnxx and then recover your investment at a later date. While this obviously isn't a long-term solution, it does mean you can retain access to porn sites when traveling or temporarily away from home.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN remains the top pick when it comes to unblocking porn sites like Xnxx, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Xnxx for free with ExpressVPN.

NASA craft snaps unprecedented photo of largest volcano in solar system

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00

NASA captured an expansive view of the largest volcano known to humanity.

The space agency used its 23-year-old Mars Odyssey orbiter to capture a never-before-seen view of Olympus Mons — a vista similar to how astronauts in a hypothetical orbiting space station might view the behemoth mountain. It's 373 miles (600 kilometers) wide — about the size of Arizona — and 17 miles (27 kilometers) tall. That's over twice as high as commercial airliners fly.

"Normally we see Olympus Mons in narrow strips from above, but by turning the spacecraft toward the horizon we can see in a single image how large it looms over the landscape," NASA's Odyssey project scientist, Jeffrey Plaut, said in a statement. "Not only is the image spectacular, it also provides us with unique science data."

By volume, the Martian volcano is 100 times larger than Earth's biggest volcano, Hawaii's Mauna Loa. If one were to summit this mountain, the curvature of the Red Planet would be visible.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

The wide panorama image, visible in the imagery below, shows sprawling Olympus Mons at bottom with its caldera (a collapsed pit) atop the volcano. As you can see, it's not a sharply peaked mountain, but is a gradually sloping "shield volcano," similar to the Hawaiian volcanoes. It was formed by progressive lava flows, as thick oozing lava layered upon earlier lava flows.

Above Olympus you can see three colorful bands. The bottom bluish-white band is dust in the Martian atmosphere, as the Red Planet's giant dust storms had begun picking up in March, when the image was taken. The purple layer is likely a mix of water-ice clouds and red dust. And the top blue-green layer is composed of water-ice clouds (they reach 31 miles, or 50 kilometers, high).

Olympus Mons captured by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter on March 11, 2024. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU Tweet may have been deleted

The Odyssey spacecraft arrived at Mars in 2001, with the primary mission of detecting water ice buried near Mars' surface and observing other Martian environs. To gain this perspective, NASA engineers fired thrusters to reorient the spacecraft so its camera faced the horizon rather than peering down at the surface.

Beyond capturing such a unique view of the Red Planet, Odyssey has now made over 100,000 orbits around Mars, and has snapped a whopping 1.4 million images.

The solar-powered craft is now the longest-operating mission around another planet. Godspeed, Odyssey.

Unlocked phone deals are limited to Samsung Galaxy and Motorola ahead of Prime Day

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00
The best early Prime Day unlocked phone deals at a glance: BEST SAMSUNG GALAXY DEAL Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB) $1,299 at Amazon (get a free $250 Amazon gift card) Get Deal BEST MOTOROLA DEAL Motorola razr+ (256GB) $649.99 at Amazon (save $350) Get Deal

If you're due for a phone upgrade, Amazon Prime Day could be the perfect opportunity to scoop one up for a steep discount. Snagging an unlocked phone at Amazon eliminates the aggravation of coordinating a trade-in or new data plan at a specific carrier. Plus, you can usually find better deals.

Prime Day doesn't officially kick off until July 16, but in true Amazon fashion, deals are already popping up weeks ahead of time — particularly on Samsung Galaxy and Motorola phones. Apple iPhone and Google Pixel deals are no-shows so far, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled as we inch closer to the big day.

For now, here are the best unlocked phone deals we could find at Amazon ahead of the official shopping event. We'll be refreshing the list regularly as Prime Day nears — and will keep you posted when Amazon makes the official switch to early Prime Day deals.

Samsung Galaxy deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB) + $250 Amazon gift card $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,549.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Just released in January, Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra has plenty of selling points. Mashable tech editor Kim Gedeon claimed that it "takes the throne as the best Android phone." The S24 Ultra is a close rival to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and packs a rear telephoto lens with insane zoom capabilities, a bunch of nifty AI features, and a durable titanium design. Plus, you get the fantastic S Pen stylus that double as a remote. At $1,299.99, the 256GB configuration isn't technically on sale. However, that price includes a free $250 Amazon gift card, adding a pretty sweet incentive to purchase it. A similar offer was available earlier this year, but the gift card was only valued at $200.

Read Mashable's full review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

More Samsung Galaxy dealsMotorola deals Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola razr+ (256GB) $649.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal Why we like it

On sale for an all-time low $649.99 (reg. $999.99), last year's Motorola razr+ is a budget-friendly alternative to other foldable flip phones like the Google Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. Our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) reviewed the razr+ with an excellent rating, crediting its larger 3.6-inch outer screen and striking 6.9-inch internal display. While it comes in several different colors, only the black and blue variants are down to a record-low at Amazon.

More Motorola deals

Get 20TB of secure cloud storage for life on sale for just $80

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get 20TB of Prism Drive secure cloud storage for life for just $79.97 (reg. $1,494) when you order through July 21.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prism Drive Prism Drive Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (20TB) $79.97 at The Mashable Shop
$1,494.00 Save $1,414.03 Get Deal

Whether you're running a small business or a large family, hardly any of us can get away with not having a decent digital storage solution. There are many different ways to backup or store your important personal or business files, but one popular option is heading to the cloud.

Prism Drive secure cloud storage offers a fast, simple, and affordable solution to help keep your data safe and accessible from anywhere. Through July 21, get 20TB of Prism Drive secure cloud storage for life for just $79.97 (reg. $1,494).

Prism Drive is designed with user convenience in mind. Its intuitive interface is built to make it easier to organize and access your files. It features easy mobile uploading, a drag-and-drop design, large file support, and progress monitoring. You should also be able to preview the documents before downloading, which can be a big time saver.

With just a few clicks, you can store documents, photos, videos, and more from any device and retrieve them whenever needed. The AES 256-bit and HTTPS high-level encryption is designed to keep your important files secure. If you want to share files with family, friends, or your work team, it's as simple as sharing a link.

This offer includes cross-device compatibility as well as updates, and should make your cloud storage available to use on unlimited devices. Don't miss getting 20TB of Prism Drive secure cloud storage for life for just $79.97 you order through July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this price drop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Pick up mini night vision HD binoculars on sale for just $90

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Grab a pair of mini digital night vision binoculars with 1080p HD recording capabilities on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $159.99) through July 21.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay Mini Dual Tube Digital Night Vision Binoculars with 1080p HD Recording $89.97 at The Mashable Shop
$159.99 Save $70.02 Get Deal

There are many different ways to enjoy the outdoors. From watching a ball game to camping, hiking, and bird watching, there's a long list of ways to take in the fresh air and sunshine. But what if you could see in the dark and peep nocturnal nature as well?

Through July 21, grab a pair of mini digital night vision binoculars with 1080p HD recording capabilities on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $159.99).

Binoculars have become tech-forward, as seen in the features of these digital ones that have a 2.4-inch viewing screen. Built to be able to record your cherished sights through HD photos or videos (sound included) to share with others or on social media.

The 850nm infrared illuminator assists in observing wildlife, landscapes, or plant life in low light or 100 percent darkness. They also feature a 10x lens magnification and 4x digital zoom to help you see your subjects in greater detail, whether it's the bump-skin of a gator or the facial expression of your kiddo as she catches a fly ball.

These binoculars were made with convenience in mind. A terrific on-the-go addition for any outdoorsy person, they're small enough to fit in a backpack or pocket. Plus, the silicone buttons should make it easier to manipulate the controls while you're busy watching the world.

Whether you’re capturing wildlife, stargazing, or even ensuring security, the advanced features and compact design make these binoculars a helpful tool for both nighttime and daytime exploration. Pick up these mini digital binoculars while they are on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $159.99) through July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this price drop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for life for just $23

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: A lifetime license for Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is on sale for just $22.97 (reg. $199) through July 21.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $22.97 at The Mashable Shop
$199.00 Save $176.03 Get Deal

In the ever-evolving world of technology, staying updated with the latest software is a wise idea. Whether you’re a professional looking to boost productivity, a student, or a home techie who wants to explore new tools, Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is packed with features designed to enhance your computing experience. And for a limited time, a lifetime license is on sale for less than the price of a meal out.

Through July 21, a lifetime license for Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is on sale for just $22.97 (reg. $199).

One of the most exciting features in the latest update of Windows 11 Pro is the Copilot AI assistant. This smart tool is designed to help you navigate your computer more efficiently, streamline tasks, and provide quick access to the information you need.

Open Copilot using the Windows key + C. It uses GPT-4 Turbo, which is an advanced, custom version of ChatGPT-4, to help streamline your work. Have Copilot summarize documents, start a playlist, answer questions to help you with a project, create content, change settings, and more. You can even use voice commands to get help with tasks. The Paint app also has new AI features in this update, designed to easily remove backgrounds and create AI-generated images of your own. 

Windows 11 Pro also prioritizes your security with advanced encryption methods built to safeguard your files and sensitive information from unauthorized access. It also features biometrics login, TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and more, offering you a robust security system.

Upgrade to a smarter, more secure, and technologically advanced operating system while the price is right. Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro on sale for just $22.97 (reg. $199) through July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this price drop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

9 Twitch streamers to guide you through the new Elden Ring DLC 

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00

If you’re a gamer, you’ve probably engaged in a few conversations about the new Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

SEE ALSO: Return to the Lands Between with 10% off the new 'Elden Ring' Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

The latest game in the Elden Ring series was released on June 21 and received a lot of polarizing feedback. Some people say the game is too hard, and others say reviewers don’t have what it takes to play it. Don't worry: Bandai Namco is launching a calibration update that will reduce the difficulty and make players stronger.

Elden Ring (PlayStation 5) $49.94 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $10.05 Shop Now

Either way, it might help to have guidance. So here are nine Twitch streamers who can help guide you through the game.

Kai Cenat (@kaicenat)

Kai Cenat is what some may call a household name among streamers. Her streams on Twitch to his 11.7 million followers, sometimes accompanied by celebrity guests. He's gained recognition for his methods for beating the critically denounced game, which includes hiring a therapist!

Perri Karyal (@perrikaryal)

Perri Karyal is a Twitch partner based in the United Kingdom with 42.3k followers on the streaming platform. She recently made headlines for her experimentation with a hands-free, mind-control game controller.

Point Crow (@pointcrow)

Eric Morino, known to the internet as Point Crow, is a video game streamer with 661k followers on Twitch and 2.28 million followers on YouTube. He describes himself as "aggressively mediocre" when playing games.

Shroud (@shroud)

Michael Grzesiek, better known by his streaming handle @shroud, is another well-known name in the streaming world. He has 10.9 million followers on Twitch and 6.8 million subscribers on YouTube. His following has grown because of his educational yet entertaining streaming videos, which can last hours. For example, one of his streams of the Elden Ring DLC lasted 13 hours.

FaZe Sway (@fazesway)

FaZe Sway has 1.3 million followers on Twitch and almost 4 million subscribers on YouTube. Earlier this year, he announced that he had joined the gaming council of the web3 technology company Yuga Labs.

NickMercs (@nickmercs)

Nick Kolcheff, known in gaming as @NickMercs has 6.7 million followers on Twitch. He is a former Major League Gaming champion and co-owner of the professional esports company FaZe Clan.

MoonMoon (@moonmoon)

Twitch Streamer Jessie Anime, better known as MoonMoon, has 1.2 million followers on the platform and is known for engaging with his audience.

OhnePixel (@ohnepixel)

Twitch streamer Ohne Pixel has a 1.3 million-following on the platform. He often streams the Counter-Strike gaming series.

Elias Löon (@Elajjaz)

Elias Löon, a Swedish gamer better known online as Elajjaz, has 485k followers on Twitch and is considered a variety streamer.

Get 15-minute summaries of popular books and podcasts from a learning app for under $40

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Lean into your personal and professional growth with a lifetime of book, podcast, and TED Talk summaries with a lifetime of HappyLife Knowledge Summaries, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $149).

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'The Devil's Bath' review: 'Goodnight Mommy' makers return with religious nightmare

Mashable - Fri, 06/28/2024 - 05:00

It's nothing new that women have to play by amorphous yet damning societal rules. Hell, that's the plot of everything from the Regency-era-set Bridgerton to the modern-day Barbie, and now The Devil's Bath. But where the first two candy-coat their patriarchal conflict with feminine fashion, pop bangers, and beguiling bursts of colors, the third is a haunting historical drama from the makers of Goodnight Mommy, and the only burst of color is spurting blood.

Ten years ago, Austrian writers/directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz broke through with the gruesome and great Goodnight Mommy, which focused on a pair of young twin boys convinced their mother had been replaced by a cruel imitator. The Austrian film proved such a hit with critics and horror fans that it got an English-language remake and the daring duo a star-studded English-language follow-up, the chilly Riley Keough–fronted psychological thriller, The Lodge. With their latest, Fiala and Franz channel their skills for crafting character-driven twisted tales into a drama that has the heady, unnerving atmosphere of religious horror. 

But be warned. The Devil's Bath is not for the faint of heart. 

What's The Devil's Bath about?  Anja Plaschg and David Scheid in Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s "The Devil's Bath." Credit: Ulrich Seid Film Produktion and Heimatfilm / Shudder

Inspired by a disturbing real-life court case, The Devil's Bath unfurls a harrowing tale in 1750 Upper Austria. There, a devout young woman named Agnes (Anja Plaschg) dreams of being a good wife to her new husband. Their wedding day is one of celebration and joy. But their wedding night turns chilly and unsatisfying. 

Unfortunately, her husband Wolf (David Scheid) is an oaf with a coldly domineering mother (Maria Hofstätter). Their marriage has knitted Agnes into a community rank with religious superstition that isolates her at every turn. Her body yearns for the touch and the baby her husband will not provide. Her soul aches for a kind word, but her mother-in-law only offers insults and scolding. If she brings a bouquet of flowers into the house, she's chided for "dirtying" up the place. If she helps a neighbor at an arduous task, she's accused of foisting bad luck on the whole village.

Punished grotesquely both mentally and physically for any perceived transgression, Agnes grows only in agony. Fiala and Franz turn the screw with a slow-burn pacing (and a runtime of two hours and 10 minutes), making the audience a helpless hostage of their protagonist's gnawing loneliness. A score made up of yawning strings and indistinct human voices — crying out as if from a great distance — plays as an echo to her pain, making it almost tangible. The worlds around her, made of clawing thorns, sucking mud, suffocating caves, and ever-encroaching gloom, give her no peace. This combination of immersive sound design, relentless cruelty, and claustrophobic visuals push us to feel not only for Agnes, but also, like her, to feel desperate for escape. But that's precisely the point.

Trigger warning: The Devil's Bath deals in murder and suicide. Natalija Baranova in Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s "The Devil's Bath." Credit: Ulrich Seid Film Produktion and Heimatfilm / Shudder

The opening sequence serves as a litmus test for whether or not viewers can stomach this movie. (Though if you liked Goodnight Mommy, you already know.) The Devil's Bath begins when a peasant woman plucks a baby from its woven cradle. Matter-of-factly, she walks the child to the edge of a waterfall, where she chucks it to its death. We witness the bundled baby tumble down the hard precipice in a resolute wide shot. Then, this woman promptly surrenders herself to the authorities, confessing to the crime. Her reward is execution, but her decapitated head seems to smile. 

Though presented with a frankness that is itself unnerving, this horrific sequence is not for shock value. Here, Fiala and Franz swiftly set up the concept of suicide by proxy, an extreme escape hatch for these tormented Christians. Within this cruel world in which Agnes struggles, priests declare that suicide is the worst sin, because even murderers have a chance to confess before they face their maker. And so an idea is born … eventually. 

The Devil's Bath is wickedly clever and patient.  Anja Plaschg in Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s "The Devil's Bath." Credit: Ulrich Seid Film Produktion and Heimatfilm / Shudder

As the title subtly suggests, The Devil's Bath is about the slow but sinister marinating in misery that leads to such an appalling crime. While the opening sequence clearly lays down the moral quandary the tormented Agnes will face, her arguably evil epiphany happens deep into the film. We know where she's going far before she does. And maybe we wish to judge her, just as you'd understandably pass a snap judgment on the baby-killer from the opening. But as the filmmakers bind the viewer to Agnes in her torture and indignities, they urge us to understand the seemingly impossible decision — which was so common there is a hidden history about this perturbing practice. 

As with Goodnight Mommy and The Lodge, Fiala and Franz hook us with a character in peril, and then push us to empathize even when things go from uncomfortable to repugnant. To their credit, the filmmakers do not shy away from the violence or viciousness. They don't let their antihero or their audience off the hook.

The screams are earnest. The sounds of sliced flesh are sharp. Yet through this depiction of inhumanity, Fiala and Franz delicately and dedicatedly lace a humane empathy, urging you to see the hurting sinner past the horrid sin. Like its more overt horror sisters, Immaculate and The First Omen, The Devil's Bath presents us with a protagonist who strives for godliness but finds the concept of religion so corrupted by those in power that violent revolt is the only escape. And like the nun-centered movies, this one has a third act that will have you gasping in shock and awe. 

Far from the 'Ton and BarbieLand, The Devil's Bath urges viewers to turn up the heat as they consider the sins of the patriarchy, which pushes women into roles of suffering, cruel complicity, or shocking rebellion. Though not a horror movie in the traditional sense, Fiala and Franz's latest delivers an unblinking portrait of inhumanity and festered faith. Yet for all its bleakness, this is not a nihilistic film, but an urgent warning. With a final act that is as grisly as it is thought-provoking, these fearsome filmmakers urge us to consider legacy as we decide how hot we'll let the waters get before we do something drastic. 

The Devil's Bath premieres on Shudder June 28. 

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

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