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AI is taking the tech world by storm, but AI itself is more than just a chatbot. AI features are being built into all different kinds of tech, from the devices like your phone that you use every day, to the apps that you’ve been using for years, to new websites that will supercharge your productivity.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a host of new devices and products that put AI front and center. Some of them, of course, are pretty lame – but others are smart, and just downright cool. Of course, some are also pretty useless, and border on being a scam. Here’s a look at some of the most fun AI products we’ve seen so far this year.

Galaxy AI Credit: Samsung

Samsung is building AI features into its phones in some pretty smart ways. Samsung’s suite of AI features is called “Galaxy AI,” and there are plenty of features that make Galaxy AI genuinely useful. Notably, Galaxy AI includes the much-loved “Circle to Search” feature, which allows users to circle an object on their screen to search it with Google. It’s commonly used to find products like clothing, and is pretty accurate. Other features include the ability to edit photos by removing unwanted objects and moving objects within a scene, then having the phone generate parts of the image to replace those objects. It even has real-time translation features built into the phone app.

SEE ALSO: Google adds new AI-powered 'Vids' app to Docs, Sheets, and Slides Solos Glasses Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

What if you could always communicate with ChatGPT, without even having to pull your phone out of your pocket? That’s the concept behind Solos, a new pair of smart glasses that have speakers and microphones built into them, and let you chat directly with SolosChat (powered by ChatGPT) using your voice. They support additional features too, like SolosTranslate, which is another real-time translation feature. And, they don’t look out of place like many other smart glasses – they look like normal glasses, with a slightly thicker arm.

Copilot+ PCs Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft is taking AI very seriously. In fact, the company has announced a new generation of PCs that support a range of new AI features. These new PCs are powered by powerful new AI accelerator chips, also called NPUs, that can process AI features locally, without having to send data back to the cloud. Features on Copilot+ PCs include Recall, which allows users to ask about websites, files, and other things that they might have done on their PC weeks ago, and Cocreate, in which users can sketch out a drawing, and combine that drawing with descriptive text to create a much more professional-looking image.

MusicFX Credit: Google

Google, of course, is embracing AI too – and while tools like Gemini are cool, MusicFX is a much more fun example of Google’s AI features. MusicFX is a music generator that lets you create a new track by simply typing a description of what the music should sound like. The tool, which is part of Google’s AI Test Kitchen, actually produces some pretty interesting music, and allows you to control settings like the duration of a track, whether it loops or not, and more. Best of all, MusicFX comes with a DJ mode, which allows the user to create a continuous, customizable AI music experience.

Viggle.AI Credit: Viggle

You can create videos with Viggle.AI as easily as creating music in MusicFX. Viggle.AI is built around creating fun animated characters – which can be done through, for example, uploading an image of a character and describing how you want them animated, or even combining a static image and a video of a dance to have the character from the image dance like the one in the video. It’s a pretty cool implementation of AI – and seriously brings more into the AI conversation.

"Hey everyone! Great to be here. You know, life is a lot like a toaster. Sometimes you're popping out of bed ready to take on the day, and other times you feel like you're stuck on the darkest setting, just waiting for something to change." 

That's the opener ChatGPT offered when I asked it to come up with "an original comedy routine:" An observation so far from joke territory, with a landing so baffling and clunky, not even a Chapelle or a Seinfeld could raise a laugh with it. Imagine performing this routine to a comedy club audience and you can imagine the withering response. Stone-cold silence broken only by coughing, the shuffling feet, and easy pickings for a heckler: "Yeah, buddy, I think you just toasted your act." 

SEE ALSO: The ultimate AI glossary to help you navigate our changing world

AI isn't funny. That much is clear from anyone who's ever asked a system like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini (formerly Bard) to tell a joke. It's also desperately in need of new material; according to one 2023 study in which researchers asked for 1,008 "original" jokes from ChatGPT, more than 90% of replies were the same 25 jokes ... none of which were original. (The most popular go-to gag in the study: why did the scarecrow win an award? Because it was outstanding in its field.) 

That's not to say AI can't be unintentionally funny — kind of like the oblivious "straight man" in sketch comedy. Witness this viral Twitter thread where a human asks an AI art program to draw "a very normal image" then keeps asking it to double down on the normality, with hilarious results. But ask AI to be funny on purpose, and what you get is often as confusing as the toaster joke. A particularly baffling example from the study: why did the man put his money in the blender? Because he wanted to make time fly. "ChatGPT has not solved conversational humor yet," the researchers concluded with hilarious understatement.

More importantly, many experts believe that AI – at least in the forms conceived today – may never solve its funny problem. "Most people don't realize how hard humor is, because there's a lot of planning ahead that goes into a good joke," explains Mark Riedl, a professor at Georgia Tech's Machine Learning Center who studies AI's storytelling abilities. Large Language models like ChatGPT are simply looking for predictive patterns in language; they don't even know they're supposed to build up expectations and create tension that will be released with an unexpected punchline. 

Seasoned comedians are playing chess; AI is playing checkers. 

"It's a little bit like an alien watching a standup routine and saying 'oh, I can do that, I think I understand the pattern,'" Riedl says. "But it doesn't realize there's a lot more going on in the mind of the comedian and the minds of the audience. We would need AI systems that are fundamentally constructed differently to really do a good job of this."

Good news for comedians everywhere: unlike other knowledge workers, you may never have to worry about AI coming for your job.

If at first AI fails … 

Is there any hope for our unfunny AI comedian? Well, the greatest standup artists have to hone their craft endlessly in front of small crowds, even when they're at the top of their game, and they can't be afraid of being unfunny. That's one takeaway from Comedy Book, a critically acclaimed nonfiction tome released at the end of last year. It's an exhaustive look at the superstars of standup, and the rules one can infer about comedy itself, by Vulture comedy critic Jesse David Fox. 

For example, Fox recounts one time he saw Chris Rock show up for a surprise late-night set at a New York comedy club in 2003, at the height of his fame. He bombed. At the time, "I chalked it up to a bad set," Fox wrote. "When I saw him do it again 14 years later, I knew better." Rock deliberately bombs, Fox discovered — stripping the context from jokes, tripping over his punchlines, trying new material on the fly — all to figure out what the actual essence of funny is. If it works in that room, it'll work anywhere. 

Okay, so maybe AI just needs to pay its dues. It needs to bomb a few times, or a few thousand times, to truly hone its craft. If OpenAI or Google would let you provide feedback to ChatGPT or Gemini on their jokes – stars out of five? – they'd learn what we like to laugh at faster.

Speaking of honing, Riedl points out that we're not being entirely fair to ChatGPT a lot of the time; "tell me a joke" is so nonspecific that it's like saying to a comedian "hey, be funny." So maybe we just need to ask better questions to get better comedy. Surely these Large Language Models have devoured enough Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to know what a "tight five" is. Alright ChatGPT, give me your best tight five! 

"Hey, everyone! How's it going? Good to see you all. You know, I've been thinking a lot lately about adulting, and let me tell you, it's overrated. I mean, who decided that paying bills and worrying about your credit score was the peak of human existence? If that's the case, I want a refund on adulthood, please." 

Um, okay. Well, that's still not LOL-worthy, and even though our imaginary comedy club heckler has a ready response – "Yeah? I want a refund on this show!" – he might be too depressed by that little existential cocktail to even heckle. And there might be something funny in that – in the incongruity of an AI pretending to complain about "adulting," in the starkly naive hope of a refund, in the mundane anti-humor of it all. Funny in the laughing at rather than laughing with sense, but funny nonetheless. 

A few observations from Fox's book seem pertinent here. First of all, as he repeats throughout, humor is 100% personal: "if someone somewhere is amused by a joke, it is by definition funny." Secondly, comedy trends change over time, especially as younger audiences (Gen Z, the so-called "comedy natives" who grew up on Netflix standup specials) become ever more sophisticated. 

Not all comedy is laugh-out loud funny; there's the comedy of callbacks and catchphrases, the comedy of pointing out how artificial comedy itself is. We've recently gone through a fourth wall-breaking trend in comedy specials; an AI that refuses to play along when asked to deliver a tight five, and drops a truth bomb instead, seems like it has potential to be the Bo Burnham of AI. 

But for now, at least, AI is hampered by another of Fox's rules, something so surprisingly important to comedy he wrote a whole chapter on it: trust. We laugh differently, more freely, when we trust that a comedian knows where they're going. We need to believe that whatever incongruous (or even highly offensive) thing they appear to be saying in the present moment, all will be resolved with a release of tension in the end. 

In the end, we simply don't trust AI enough for its output to be funny. Quite the opposite: we're on our guard around everything it utters. "I'm not convinced that we want AI systems that are better at tricking us into thinking they're human," Georgia Tech's Riedl says. In the comedy club of AI, we're all hecklers.

But that's okay, because ChatGPT's got responses for hecklers! "Well, if I'm not human," it said, apparently warming to a theme of fake-human-worried-about-finances, "does that mean I can finally get a refund on all those therapy sessions?"

Reader, despite myself, I chuckled. 

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 18 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for June 18

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, June 18, 2024:

AcrossFitting

• The answer is apt.

Fake identity

• The answer is alias.

Was really bad at something

• The answer is stank.

Marsupial friend of Winnie-the-Pooh

• The answer is Kanga.

Marsupial friend of Winnie-the-Pooh

• The answer is Roo.

DownSpot for wedding vows

• The answer is altar.

Instrument that contains strings but isn't a string instrument

• The answer is piano.

Dance it takes two to do

• The answer is tango.

"___ me anything"

• The answer is ask.

Music genre that's an anagram of 4-Down

• The answer is ska.

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

"Late Show" host Stephen Colbert has defended Milwaukee after Donald Trump reportedly described it as a "horrible city."

TL;DR: Starting on June 18, lean into personal and professional growth with this lifetime learning bundle featuring Rosetta Stone and StackSkills Unlimited for just £149.55 (reg. £668.27).

You're never too old to learn something new. Whether you enjoy learning for learning's sake or like to put new skills to use professionally, online courses make it easier than ever. This learning bundle features a lifetime of Rosetta Stone and StackSkills Unlimited courses for just £149.55 through June 26.

With unlimited access to a wealth of educational resources, this bundle empowers you to expand your horizons, enhance your language skills, and unlock new opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Rosetta Stone has been a trusted name in language learning for decades, and this Rosetta Stone discount gives you access for life to all 25 languages, including Spanish, French, Arabic, and German. Relied upon by organisations like NASA, Rosetta Stone uses immersive lessons, interactive activities, and real-life scenarios to make your new vocabulary stick. This unique approach helps you learn a new language as you did with your first language as a child. It also uses speech-recognition technology to ensure you're pronouncing words correctly.

The StackSkills Unlimited platform offers tons more learning opportunities. It features more than 1,000 courses on a variety of topics, including blockchain, business, marketing, IT, learning a musical instrument, and more. Around 50 new courses are added monthly, and question-and-answer webinars are held quarterly by any of the 350 expert instructors.

This is an incredible opportunity to invest in lifelong learning at a reasonable price.

Get this lifetime learning subscription bundle featuring Rosetta Stone and StackSkills Unlimited while it's on sale for just £149.55 (reg. £668.27).

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TL;DR: Watch Portugal vs. Czech Republic in Euro 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Euro 2024 has kicked off, beginning a full four weeks of action. And though the tournament is still in the group stages, it's never too early for a big-time fixture. And Portugal vs. Czech Republic is certainly that.

Portugal are former winners and have Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad — arguably the best to have ever played. The Czech Republic are no slouches at tournament football either, having reached the final at the Euro '96 tournament. This Group F showdown could prove to be an early classic in the much-anticipated tournament, with both teams out to prove their quality on the European stage. Portugal are favorites but the Czechs are capable of causing an upset.

If you want to watch Portugal vs. Czech Republic in Euro 2024 for free, no matter where you are in the world, take a look at the details below.

When is Portugal vs. Czech Republic?

Portugal vs. Czech Republic in Euro 2024 kicks off at 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST on June 18. This fixture takes place at Leipzig Stadium in Leipzig, Germany.

How to watch Portugal vs. Czech Republic for free

Portugal vs. Czech Republic in Euro 2024 is being broadcast by the BBC, and will live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform by installing a VPN on your device of choice. VPNs can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server located in the UK. You can then bypass geo-restrictions and access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly 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 the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Portugal vs. Czech Republic in Euro 2024 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

If you are looking for the best VPNs for streaming, remember that the VPN itself comes with a cost. However, the top VPNs offer incentives such as try-before-you-buy periods and money-back guarantees, which should allow you to sign up and watch Euro 2024 before cancelling and getting a refund.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

You can save 49% off the usual price, with a one-year subscription for ExpressVPN on offer at $99.99. That includes an extra three months for free — plus, a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Portugal vs. Czech Republic in Euro 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Turkey vs. Georgia in Euro 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Break out the snacks and refreshments, and make those chants as boisterous as possible, because Euro 2024 has kicked off — one of the biggest tournaments in world football.

While Turkey vs. Georgia feels like a low-key fixture, this Group F opener is one to keep an eye on. Turkey have reached the semi-finals before, while Georgia are entering their first European Championship. The Georgians will be keen to make a statement before facing Portugal in the group stage. Can Georgia score an upset win?

If you want to watch Turkey vs. Georgia in Euro 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Turkey vs. Georgia?

Turkey vs. Georgia in Euro 2024 kicks off at 12 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. BST on June 18. This fixture takes place at the BVB Stadion Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany.

How to watch Turkey vs. Georgia for free

Turkey vs. Georgia in Euro 2024 is being broadcast by the BBC, which offers live streaming for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is a free streaming platform though it is geo-blocked outside of the UK. Fortunately, you can access BBC iPlayer by using a VPN. A VPN works by masking your actual IP address (digital location) while connecting you to a secure UK-based server. This means you can bypass geo-restrictions to access BBC iPlayer — no matter where you are around the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly 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 the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Turkey vs. Georgia in Euro 2024 from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they often provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantee offers. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to stream every Euro 2024 fixture for free. Who knows? You might decide to stick with the VPN after the Euros.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN will cost you the discounted price of $99.95. This also includes an extra three months for free. That's an impressive 49% off the usual price, but for a limited time only. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Turkey vs. Georgia in Euro 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for June 18's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

Get in front of something or someone.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1095 is...

COVER.

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

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

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 June 18's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Controlling the TV

• Green: Out of sight

• Blue: Drink toppers

• Purple: Partial Bond movie titles

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: Remote Control Buttons

• Green: Hide from View

• Blue: Drink Garnishes

• Purple: First Word in Bond Movie Titles

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 Connections #373 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Remote Control Buttons: CHANNEL, MENU, POWER, VOLUME

• Hide from View: BLOCK, COVER, SCREEN, SHIELD

• Drink Garnishes: CHERRY, OLIVE, SWORD, UMBRELLA

• First Word in Bond Titles: CASINO, DIAMONDS, QUANTUM, TOMORROW

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.

If you missed out on the U.S. leg of TOMORROW X TOGETHER's current world tour, here's some news which might help soothe the pain. Mashable can exclusively reveal that the K-pop boy group will launch a virtual reality concert this fall, allowing you to get closer to the idols than you ever could in real life — barring a hi-touch ticket.

Produced by VR concert company AmazeVR in partnership with BIGHIT and HYBE 360, the HYPERFOCUS: TOMORROW X TOGETHER VR CONCERT tour will kick off in August and visit five U.S. cities over three months. The setlist will feature some of TOMORROW X TOGETHER's most popular songs, including their most recent single "Deja Vu" as well as 2023's "Sugar Rush Ride." 

SEE ALSO: Is AI-generated music the future of K-pop? HYBE chairman Bang Si-Hyuk thinks so

"Every piece was performed live to ensure the audio conveyed the vibrancy like a live show," AmazeVR's CEO Steve Lee told Mashable.

Though Lee didn't want to give away too much more about the concert, he did share that the show will have some personal touches from TOMORROW X TOGETHER's five members Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai.

"As a spoiler, the members prepared handwritten messages to their fans, MOA, at the final encore segment," Lee said. "Be sure to check them out in the theatre!"

This isn't the first time AmazeVR has brought a K-pop group into virtual reality. Last year the company produced aespa's VR concert LYNK-POP: The 1st VR CONCERT, a 20-minute show which featured five of the girl group's songs. TOMORROW X TOGETHER's VR concert will double that runtime, with attendees to spend around 40 minutes in AmazeVR's Meta Quest 3 headsets (though the complete experience will take approximately one hour).

Featured Video For You Apple Vision Pro: I tried it on a plane and it was chaotic

Lee teased that HYPERFOCUS: TOMORROW X TOGETHER VR CONCERT will include moments "that have never been done before in [AmazeVR's] VR concerts." The event will also take advantage of the VR format to offer experiences that aren't possible in physical concerts. For example, attendees will be able to control the camera in order to choose their own preferred view of TOMORROW X TOGETHER's performance.

"It's like a supercharged fan cam, making it feel like the artist is performing right in front of you," said Lee. "We're giving the power to the fans to decide who they want to see up close and personal."

TOMORROW X TOGETHER's VR concert tour schedule

AmazeVR's TOMORROW X TOGETHER tour will visit five U.S. cities, kicking off on Aug. 8 and running until Nov. 10. Each session will have a capacity of approximately 200 attendees, with up to nine showings per day. 

HYPERFOCUS: TOMORROW X TOGETHER VR CONCERT tour dates are as follows:

• Los Angeles: Aug. 8 - 21

• Orange County: Aug. 22 - Sept. 1

• Houston: Sept. 5 - Sept. 22

• Chicago: Sept. 26 - Oct. 13

• New York: Oct. 17 - Nov. 10

Tickets for TOMORROW X TOGETHER's VR tour will go on sale July 17 at www.txt-vrconcert.com.

Credit: Courtesy of AmazeVR Creating HYPERFOCUS : TOMORROW X TOGETHER VR CONCERT 

"Working with TOMORROW X TOGETHER was an absolute joy," Lee told Mashable. 

Production on HYPERFOCUS : TOMORROW X TOGETHER VR CONCERT began at the end of February, with AmazeVR, BIGHIT, and HYBE 360 collaborating to decide which songs would be included and the themes for each stage. Lee stated that BIGHIT and HYBE had been looking to expand their promotion of the K-pop group, and AmazeVR seemed "the perfect fit."

"After finalising the setlist for the concert and the creative framework together, AmazeVR filled in the details of the direction," said Lee. "Both BIGHIT and HYBE 360 provided full support for the best VR show production, including selecting costumes suitable for VR filming and adjusting choreography to capture the best performance in VR."

AmazeVR also optimised the camera movements for virtual reality, adding close up moments and avoiding quick motions that could risk making audiences dizzy. Once the tracks and concepts had been decided upon, and the choreography and camera movements planned, the recording process went by quickly.

"Although we anticipated the shoot to last longer due to the extensive footage required, the members executed each performance so perfectly that we finished four hours ahead of schedule," said Lee, noting that TOMORROW X TOGETHER had also been preparing for their in-person world tour ACT: PROMISE at the time. "Despite having the most challenging choreography among the artists we've filmed, they completed the shoot perfectly."

AmazeVR filmed TOMORROW X TOGETHER's performance on a green screen in 8K resolution, before upscaling it using artificial intelligence. AI was also used to automate the show's lighting and special effects, as well as program camera animation. The concert was shot using a TechnoDolly, an automated telescopic camera crane, which allowed AmazeVR to pre-program smooth movements to reduce the risk of motion sickness.

"AI has been a key tool in comping the images of all the members every microsecond so that we can place them in a digital background," said Lee. "Previously, this was done all manually, but we have built our AI tools to handle this and have brought down the time to create our VR Concerts by over 80 percent compared to our first one." 

Also known as compositing, comping involves removing green screen backgrounds and combining multiple visual elements into one video. In this case, live-action footage of TOMORROW X TOGETHER was incorporated with 3D images rendered by AmazeVR's Unreal Engine-based system.

"Since the camera and TechnoDolly are physical devices, they can’t be 100 percent perfect, leading to small errors," said Lee. "These errors create challenges when compositing live-action footage with 3D rendered environments. Our AI module calculates the exact movement of the camera and applies this information during compositing to ensure seamless integration."

In addition to working with TOMORROW X TOGETHER and aespa, AmazeVR has previously produced VR concerts for artists such as Megan Thee Stallion, T-Pain, and Zara Larsson. Said performances are now available in the AmazeVR Concerts app for $12.99 each, allowing anyone with a compatible VR headset to rewatch these shows as often as your heart desires.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced Monday that he believes social media platforms should come with a warning label, in an effort to help protect young people from related mental health risks.

"A surgeon general's warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe," Murthy wrote in a New York Times opinion essay.

Tobacco products sold in the U.S. have long displayed a surgeon general's warning label. Murthy said that research studies have demonstrated that warning labels can "increase awareness and change behavior."

SEE ALSO: How to ask a teen if they're feeling suicidal

He also cited a 2023 survey of 558 Latino parents as evidence that a warning label could be effective. When presented with a brief prompt about the risks of social media for youth, three-quarters of respondents said they were more likely to act, including by limiting or monitoring their social media use.

This is not the first time Murthy has emphasized the potential harm of youth social media use. A year ago, he issued a 19-page advisory that outlined how social media can expose children to violence, sexual and hate-based content, disordered eating, bullying, and predatory and self-harming behaviors.

Some critics believe the focus on social media and youth mental health amounts to a 21st-century moral panic, citing weak associations between poorer mental health and certain types of online engagement.

But Murthy argued that spiraling youth well-being may very well be connected to the amount of time young people spend online, and how such use affects their sense of self-worth. He characterized the situation as an emergency; in those conditions, you don't have the "luxury to wait for perfect information," Murthy wrote.

In addition to a warning label, Murthy said technology companies should be required to publicly share data on the health effects of their products, and to allow independent safety audits.

He likened such actions, among other recommendations, as a normal response to past and current public health threats, including automobile, flight, and food safety.

"Why is it that we have failed to respond to the harms of social media when they are no less urgent or widespread than those posed by unsafe cars, planes, or food?" Murthy wrote. "These harms are not a failure of willpower and parenting; they are the consequence of unleashing powerful technology without adequate safety measures, transparency, or accountability."

Adobe, the company behind Photoshop and Illustrator, is now under a legal microscope after the U.S., based on a referral from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), accused the software giant of "trapping" users in subscriptions they don't want to keep.

According to the complaint, the U.S. claims that Adobe does not properly disclose to consumers that there is a pricey early termination fee (ETF) for its "annual, paid monthly" (APM) plan. This subscription type is available for Photoshop, as well as Premiere Pro, Acrobat Pro, InDesign, Lightroom, and more.

"During enrollment, Adobe hides material terms of its APM plan in fine print and behind optional textboxes and hyperlinks, providing disclosures that are designed to go unnoticed and that most consumers never see," the U.S. said in the complaint, adding that Adobe infringed on several consumer-protection laws.

Adobe in legal hot water for alleged deceitful practices

Adobe, according to the U.S., makes the cancellation process "onerous," hindering users from terminating their subscriptions with an ETF "ambush."

To put the complaint into perspective, allow us to walk you through the purchase flow. If you click on "See plan and pricing details" for any service — let's use Photoshop as an example — you'll see multiple available plans, including "annual, paid monthly."

The problem, however, is that users must hover their mouse over an "i" icon to get any information regarding an ETF, the complaint pointed out.

The U.S. claims Adobe is "hiding" its plan terms. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable / Adobe

The U.S. claims that Adobe is "hiding" its APM plan terms in "fine print" behind hyperlinks and optional textboxes that are designed to be overlooked.

Even with the information provided by the gray box, which says, "If you cancel after 14 days, your service will continue until the end of that month's billing period, and you will be charged an early termination fee," the complaint alleges that the information about the ETF isn't sufficient.

"The plan selection page does not state anywhere that the APM plan requires a one-year commitment," the U.S. said.

The U.S. is seeking monetary damages for those who were harmed. Plus, it wants Adobe to put an end to these alleged deceptive practices.

When reached for comment, Adobe pointed Mashable to a newsroom statement on the matter from Dana Rao, the company's general counsel and chief trust officer: “Subscription services are convenient, flexible and cost effective to allow users to choose the plan that best fits their needs, timeline and budget. Our priority is to always ensure our customers have a positive experience. We are transparent with the terms and conditions of our subscription agreements and have a simple cancellation process. We will refute the FTC’s claims in court.”

UPDATE: Jun. 17, 2024, 4:38 p.m. EDT This article was updated to include a response from Adobe.

Best Walmart+ kitchen deals Best cookware deal Staub cast iron pan with lid $169.95 at Walmart (Save $130) Get Deal Best summer kitchen deal Ninja Creami $149.99 at Walmart (Save $50) Get Deal Best air fryer deal Cuisinart air fryer and toaster oven $175.99 at Walmart (Save $54) Get Deal

Summer is here, AKA, it's way too hot to turn on your oven. That doesn't mean you're stuck eating cheese boards and snack plates for dinner every night (although... we wouldn't complain). Countertop devices like air fryers, blenders, and slow cookers make cooking a lot less sweaty. And everything will taste a little sweeter when you've saved money.

Walmart+ Week, is the retailers members-only sale event, which runs from June 17 to 23, 2024. The deals kicked off at 12 p.m. ET, and we've done the hard work of sorting through the deals to find the best markdowns. Unfortunately, Walmart+ members on a free trial can't take advantage of the deals — you have to upgrade to a paid membership to get all the savings.

Admittedly, the deals aren't plentiful, as Walmart is focusing its sales event on discounted services including cash back on Walmart+ Travel and two-times savings on gas. However, there are some hidden gems in the bunch.

SEE ALSO: Walmart+ is offering some new limited-time perks — here's how to sign up Best cookware deal Opens in a new window Credit: Staub Staub cast iron pan with lid $169.95 at Walmart
$299.95 Save $130.00 This deal is only available to paid Walmart+ members. Get Deal Why we like it

A good cast iron pan should last forever, and Staub makes some of the best. This Staub cast iron pan with lid is a fantastic everyday tool. With it, you can fry an egg in the AM and make a saucy skillet dinner in the PM. Usually priced at $299.95, during Walmart+ Week, it's marked down to $169.95 for $130 off and 43% savings.

Best summer kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami $149.00 at Walmart
$199.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With the Ninja Creami you can make your own ice cream with the press of a button. No more late night trips to the dairy freeze when you've got this guy in your arsenal. While it coincides with the Walmart+ Week sale, this isn't officially part of the promotion. Luckily, that means non-members can also enjoy $50 off the viral ice cream maker. Marked down to $149, enjoy 25% savings and a sweet treat every night.

Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Cuisinart Cuisinart air fryer and toaster oven $175.99 at Walmart
$229.99 Save $54.00 Get Deal Why we like it

An air fryer is the best way to beat the heat. Rather than turning on your oven and heating up the whole house, this countertop device keeps things cool while still allowing you to get eat warm, delicious meals. This Cuisinart is a dual air fryer and toaster oven and it does it all — you can even grill with the included griddle plate. While it's on sale at the same time as Walmart+ Week, everyone can take advantage of this deal regardless of membership. Score it for $175.99 for $54 off, saving 23%.

More kitchen deals

• Ninja 4-quart air fryer — $69 $89 (save $20)

• Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro — $69 $89 (save $20)

• Ninja Foodi Possible multi-cooker — $98 $119.99 (save $21.99)

• T-fal Ice Force 11-piece knife block — $99.99 $159.99 (save $60)

• Gotham Steel 11-piece ceramic cookware set — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)

What is Walmart+ Week

Walmart+ Week is the retailer's members only sale event. In the past, this has been Walmart's version of Prime Day, but we wouldn't compare the current Walmart+ Week deals to Amazon's summer sale. The deals are only available to Walmart+ members and in addition to markdowns on products, there will be extra savings on services including gas, travel, and streaming.

When is Walmart+ Week

The Walmart+ Week deals kicked off June 17 at 12 p.m. ET and run through June 23. More savings will be rolled out throughout the week, with a mystery offer arriving on June 20, according to Walmart's press release.

Do I need to be a Walmart+ member to shop?

Yes, just like Prime Day, you must be a member of Walmart+ to shop the sale. Memberships begin at $98 annually or $12.95 per month. For those on government assistance, memberships start at $49 annually. In addition to shopping the Walmart+ Week sale, members receive year-round benefits:

• Unlimited free delivery: All $35+ orders from Walmart stores will be delivered free of charge.

• Fast shipping: Next-day and two-day shipping is free for Walmart+ members with no minimum required.

• Easy returns: If you need to return something, Walmart will pick it up for you. You won't need to print any labels or repackage any products.

• Savings on fuel: Walmart+ members save 10 cents per gallon at participating fueling stations like Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, Sam's Club, and more.

• Auto care: Visit any Walmart Auto Care center for free flat tire repair and road hazard warranty.

• Mobile scan and go: Shopping at a physical Walmart location? Use your smartphone to scan and pay for your items to make the checkout process faster.

• Paramount+: Gain access to Paramount+ for no additional fee and enjoy the catalog of movies and TV shows.

• Early access: Members will get first dibs on special product releases and big sale events, including Black Friday and Walmart+ Week.

• Walmart+ travel: Enjoy up to 5% in Walmart Cash when booking hotels, car rentals, tours, and more with Expedia, and up to 2% on flights.

UPDATE: Jun. 17, 2024, 2:00 p.m. EDT We've pulled all of the best robot vacuum deals live on the first day of Walmart+ Week 2024 and will be adding to the list as Walmart (hopefully) puts more robot vacs on sale between now and the end of the event on June 23.

Walmart's version of Prime Day didn't quite start with the bang that the internet was expecting. The first day of Walmart+ Week, June 17, unveiled far fewer member-exclusive deals than what we're used to (compared to 2023's Walmart+ Week or Walmart's Black Friday sales), seemingly focusing on other Walmart+ perks like cash back with Walmart+ travel and double fuel savings.

In terms of robot vacuum deals, a core category for previous Walmart events (and Prime Day, which is coming up next month), most of Walmart's best deals aren't exclusive to Walmart+ Week — they're actually ones we've been seeing for weeks in our biweekly robot vacuum deals tracking.

SEE ALSO: Tons of robot vacuums also mop, but these 6 hybrids actually ace the job

The best deal added just for Walmart+ Week, the recently-released Roborock Qrevo S for $649.99, is already sold out at Walmart, but is also available at Amazon and Roborock's website without having any special membership. Another Walmart+ exclusive robot vacuum deal, the Roomba i4+ for $349.99, isn't one we'd recommend. It's a relatively irrelevant Roomba that does too little even for the sale price point — $350 would likely get you further with another brand.

What is Walmart+ Week?

Walmart+ Week is supposed to be one of Walmart's biggest sale events of the year. The 2024 event is happening weeks ahead of Prime Day, from June 17 to June 23 at 9 p.m. EST, after last year's event took place during the same week that Amazon held Prime Day in July.

Only Walmart+ members can unlock (or even see) Walmart+ Week offerings, the same way that participation in Prime Day is contingent on being a Prime member. Past access to exclusive deals during sale events, the $98/year (or 12.95/month) Walmart+ membership comes with benefits like free Paramount+ streaming, free shipping with no order minimum, and fuel savings at Exxon and Mobil. Unfortunately, those on a free trial can't access the existing Walmart+ exclusive deals either. Even if you sign up for a paid membership today, it seems as if the "paid" perks don't kick in until after the 30-day free trial is up. We'll be sure to update this page if any changes to access happen throughout the sale period.

At any rate, whether it's officially a Walmart+ Week participant or not, a robot vacuum deal is a robot vacuum deal. We're keeping track of the best ones below and will update the list throughout the rest of the event. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best robot vacuum deal at Walmart Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Matrix RV2300S $499.99 at Walmart
Get Deal Why we like it

We don't know how this botvac hasn't sold out after sitting at this stellar sale price for weeks now, but we're not complaining. This chic gray version of the Shark Matrix RV2300S brings home both automatic emptying and smart mapping — two key features that keep you from having to babysit a robovac — for less than $300. Though it's one of Shark's more basic models, it's still capable of cleaning in Matrix mode, where the vacuum creates a virtual grid and vacuums in a crosshatch pattern to lift debris from multiple angles.

More robot vacuums on sale at Walmart

• Ionvac SmartClean 2000 — $68.99 $129 (save $60.01)

• Dirt Devil EV3420 — $99 $169 (save $70)

• iRobot Roomba i1+ with self-empty station — $289 $529.99 (save $240.99) (Walmart+ exclusive)

• Roborock Q5+ with self-empty station — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300 with on-page coupon)

• Roborock Q7 Max+ with self-empty station — $479.99 $869.99 (save $390)

• Roborock Qrevo S with self-empty station — $649.99 $799.99 (save $150) (Walmart+ exclusive)

Walmart is weird about laptop deals. On any given day, the Mashable Shopping team recommends shopping for PCs elsewhere: The big box store's listings are brimming with dramatically inflated prices and sketchy third-party sellers. ("Delight Tech Electronics," "DealClock" — none of these words are in the bible.)

The fine print here is that Walmart usually course-corrects for major savings events, rolling out more legit doorbusters to mark these occasions. We've seen this happen during the retailer's annual Black Friday sales and during its Amazon Prime Day counter-programming the past few summers. But in a surprise twist, the laptop deals featured in its paywalled Walmart+ Week sale (live now through June 23) aren't following suit so far.

SEE ALSO: Walmart+ Week is here: What to know about the members-only event

If you can't see the offers because you don't have a paid or trial Walmart+ membership, you're not missing out on much: $100 off here (actual MSRP $1,299.99), $50 off there (actual MSRP $449.99), an offer beaten by a competitor over yonder and thither.

It could still be beneficial to sign up for a Walmart+ subscription if you're able to make use of the other perks it unlocks, including cash back on travel and double fuel discounts while Walmart+ Week is live. But the sale's member-exclusive deals on laptops are not worth the price of admission if you're in need of an upgrade. Per two of my colleagues, the same goes for robot vacuums and headphones, too.

As things currently stand, the best laptop "deal" that's available at Walmart seems to be its $699 pricing on the M1 MacBook Air... which isn't really a deal at all, but a permanent price drop it's been offering since mid-March. (Best Buy managed to beat it by $50 one time, but it didn't last long, and the MacBook has since sold out there.) While this is an older model from 2020, it's an incredible value for this price given its long battery life and amazing build quality. We haven't tested it recently — read our review from back in the day — but it should still perform well in casual tasks.

We'll be monitoring Walmart+ Week as it progresses to see if its laptop deals improve. In the meantime, though, look for more enticing offers at other retailers and on manufacturers' sites if you're not interested in an elderly MacBook — we round up the best ones biweekly.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M1) $699.00 at Walmart
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Walmart+ Week kicked off June 17, but so far, the deals aren't dealing. We've had our eyes glued to Walmart.com waiting for the members-only sales event to wow us, and yet, we've been left scratching our heads.

Typically a Prime Day rival, Walmart+ Week showcases deals on all sorts of products, including TVs, robot vacuums, headphones, and speakers. But the speaker deals, in particular, on day one of the sale are lacking.

If you're looking for a way to bump your favorite summer jams by the pool, at the campground, at a backyard barbecue, or practically anywhere else, Walmart+ Week (as it stands) is probably not your best bet. In fact, we're currently seeing better deals at Amazon.

What is Walmart+ Week?

Just like Prime Day, Walmart+ Week is a members-only shopping event held annually. You'll need a Walmart+ membership in order to access the deals, which costs either $12.95 per month or $98 per year. If you're brand new to Walmart+, you can sign up for a free trial for 30 days and unlock access to some of the deals during the savings event.

Typically, the sale runs alongside Prime Day as a direct competitor. This year, Walmart is shaking things up. While Prime Day won't happen until July, Walmart+ Week is running from June 17 through June 23.

The best non-Walmart+ Week speaker deals

While we haven't seen any speaker deals exclusive to the Walmart+ Week sale, there are a few deals you can shop at Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy that aren't tied to any official savings event. The good news is more deals are supposed to drop daily and we'll be keeping our eyes peeled. In the meantime, here are the best speaker deals we think you should check out.

Best speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Boombox 3 $349.95 at Amazon
$499.95 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Reminiscent of the boombox of yesteryear (but with souped-up features), the JBL Boombox 3 is the life of any party. While it weighs just under 15 pounds, it's equipped with a top handle to make it easy to tote around wherever you go. Bring it to the beach, the pool, the park, or the campground and enjoy 24 hours of your favorite tunes — even in the rain. Rated IP67 dustproof and waterproof, this thing is nearly indestructible when it comes to the elements. It regularly goes for $499.95, but if you pick it up at Amazon, you'll only pay $349.95. While Walmart has the speaker listed at the same price, it's from a sketchy third-party seller. We recommend grabbing it at Amazon instead.

Walmart speaker and soundbar deals

• Soundcore Select Pro Bluetooth speaker — $79 $99.99 (save $20.99)

• Altec Lansing Shockwave Bluetooth speaker — $79 $99 (save $20)

• LG 2.1 channel Soundbar SPM2 — $89 $129 (save $40)

• Bose TV Speaker — $199 $279 (save $80)

• JBL Authentics 300 — $349.95 $449.95 (save $100)

• Samsung Q-Series 11.1.4 channel soundbar + rear speakers — $1,597.99 $1,899 (save $301.01)

More speaker and soundbar deals

• Soundcore portable Bluetooth speaker — $28.99 $35.99 (save $7)

• Soundcore Boom 2 outdoor speaker — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)

• JBL Xtreme 2 — $169.99 $199.99 (save $30)

• JBL Authentics 200 — $249.95 $349.95 (save $100)

• Samsung 3.1 channel soundbar — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

• Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar — $749 $899 (save $150)

• Samsung Q-Series 7.1.2 channel soundbar with subwoofer and rear speakers — $799.99 $1,099.99 (save $300)

The maker of Photoshop and other popular design software hid details of expensive cancellation fees, according to a Justice Department lawsuit.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 has a lot of good things going for it, from its affordable price of $899 to its bouncy, comfortable keyboard and port variety that makes my heart sing. Plus, it’s a 2-in-1 laptop, so you can use it as a laptop or a tablet.

Is the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 one of the best laptops from Lenovo? No. But does it offer next-gen, efficient performance for a relatively low price? Yes — and that’s one of this laptop’s biggest claims to fame. 

Lenovo’s Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 may not be the most impressive convertible laptop, but it gets the job done — and it’d be a great pick for students who need a laptop and tablet in one device. That said, there were a few cons you'll need to might consider before giving this 2-in-1 a go.

But enough teasing, let’s dive into the nitty gritty of my hands-on time with the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops of 2024, tested and reviewed Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 price and specs

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 starts at $899 via Best Buy — and it's equipped with the following specs: 

• Intel Core Ultra 5 125U CPU 

• Integrated Intel graphics

• 16GB of RAM

• 512GB of SSD storage

• 14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel, 300-nit IPS display with a 60Hz refresh rate

On Lenovo's website, you can customize the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14. You can upgrade this configuration with Intel’s more powerful Core Ultra 7 155U CPU for an extra $133 or snag 1TB of SSD storage for just $30.

There will be a few other display options for this laptop, but they’re not available right now. One display upgrade simply swaps out the IPS display for an OLED option and boosts brightness to 400 nits. The top display also features OLED tech and 400 nits max brightness, as well as 2.8K (2880 x 1800-pixel) resolution. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 $899.99
Get Deal Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 design

My review unit sports the sleek Storm Grey colorway, but the Yoga 7i is also available in "Tidal Teal," a deep blue-green colorway. No matter which color scheme you go with, you’ll get an all-aluminum chassis that’s relatively fingerprint-resistant. 

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When you close the laptop, you’ll see the Yoga logo on the lid, etched in all caps adorning the bottom-right corner, and a rectangular Lenovo logo in the top right corner. Flip the laptop over, and you’ll find a vent spanning the length of the laptop on the upper half. 

The Yoga 7i has a slight lip at the center of its lid, making it easier to open one-handed — and it’s a lightweight option to carry around at 3.55 pounds.

What I loved most about the Yoga 7i’s design is what I love most about all 2-in-1 laptops: multiple modes to play with. You can use it in a traditional laptop mode, flip the screen all the way back to use it as a tablet, or prop it up with the display facing you in tent mode to stream media or set up a mobile workstation with a wireless keyboard and mouse.

The only negative design element worth noting is the Yoga 7i’s hinge strength. When the laptop was open, and I’d sit down and put it on my lap, the display would sometimes fall backwards, like it was trying to go into tablet mode. 

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 display

My Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 review unit features a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel IPS display with a smooth 60Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio that provides a bit more screen real estate than the average 16:9 laptop display.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

At only 300 nits max brightness, the display isn’t as vibrant as I’d like it to be, especially when working outside. Many laptops offer 400 nits max brightness, and I find myself working at about 70% brightness to preserve battery life. With the Yoga 7i, I worked with the display at max brightness all the time — and that definitely wasn’t great for its battery life.

I played the Wicked trailer on YouTube to closely inspect the Yoga 7i’s display, and overall, I think this laptop boasts a good display. It didn’t blow me away like 4K or OLED displays would, but Elfaba’s green skin came through well (albeit slightly muted) — and I could clearly see the weathered lines below her eyes in a closeup shot. 

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 ports

Lenovo’s Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 offers a stellar selection of ports.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

On the right side: 

• USB Type-A port (3.2 Gen 1) 

• A microSD card reader

• Power button

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

On the left side: 

• HDMI 1.4 port

• Two USB Type-C ports (supporting USB4, Thunderbolt 4)

• Headset jack

My only minor complaint with this laptop’s port selection is the two USB-C ports both living on the left side. For charging convenience, I love to see a USB-C port on both sides.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 audio

The Yoga 7i features two 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, which sounds like what every other laptop on the market comes equipped with. However, I think the audio quality on this laptop is a little better than most. 

I loaded up MGK’s “my ex’s best friend (with blackbear)” on Spotify to test the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14’s speakers, and this pop-punk bop came through perfectly crisp. But it was missing that atmospheric, full-body quality that makes a song sound complete. The kick drum and other bass notes were loud enough to give the song a beat, but weren’t nearly punchy enough.

It was the same story with “Unprocessed” by Real (featuring Polyphia's Tim Henson & Clay Gober) — a song I play on every set of speakers or headphones I’m testing. The sound quality was better than my Galaxy S21 Ultra, but worse than my Lenovo Yoga 9i’s rotating Bowers & Wilkins soundbar.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 keyboard and trackpad

While I made slightly more errors on the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 compared to my daily laptop, the Yoga 9i, I was able to type faster on it.

And making increased errors in the beginning was just a learning curve thing. As I type this now, my fingers are effortlessly gliding across the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14’s keyboard. 

This island-style keyboard is well-spaced and enjoyably springy, with slightly more key travel than your average laptop keyboard. It’s also backlit, with three different options to switch between: low, high, and auto, in which the laptop automatically adjusts the backlight based on your environment.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Yoga 7i comes equipped with a Copilot key, which you can press to quickly bring up your built-in Copilot assistant. The free version boasts limited features, and you can pull up the Copilot menu just as fast with the Windows key + C keyboard shortcut, but it’s worth noting that this ‘AI PC’ has a Copilot key.

I wasn’t as much of a fan of the Yoga 7i's trackpad. It’s a large 2.95 x 4.72-inch buttonless glass trackpad, and while I loved how big it was, I couldn’t get on board with how loud the clicks were. Both left- and right-clicking feel great, but sound too harsh, especially if you plan to use your laptop in a college lecture or a quiet library. 

Plus, there were multiple times that the trackpad had a mind of its own. It wouldn’t accurately respond to my finger movements — or it would be laggy in responding.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 benchmarks and performance

I’m a tab hoarder, and the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 was able to handle my crazy daily research antics flawlessly with its Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor. 

As I write this in Google Docs, here’s what I have open: 40 RAM-hungry Google Chrome tabs, one tab in Firefox, the Clock app, Spotify actively playing music, and Task Manager to monitor performance.

In between songs, I can hardly hear any fan noise. And yet, the laptop isn’t getting hot at all. Even when I touch the chassis above the keyboard, where most laptops get really hot, it’s barely warm.

In Task Manager, I can see that Firefox, Chrome, and Spotify are all in efficiency mode to limit resources, identified with a green leaf icon under the Status column. Despite being in efficiency mode, I’m not noticing any lag while typing in Google Docs or loading new pages.

In addition to hands-on performance testing, we also ran Geekbench 6 (which tests processor performance) on the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14. It delivered a decent multi-core score of 9,196, which is a good score for anyone looking for a laptop that can smoothly handle basic tasks, like web browsing, streaming, or cloud gaming.

If you need a more powerful performer, the Lenovo Slim 7 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H earned a 12,267 Geekbench 6 score.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 battery life

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 lasted 9 hours and 17 minutes on a single charge while looping a 1080p video at 50% brightness. 

While the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14’s runtime falls short of the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air’s impressive runtime of 10 hours and 58 minutes, it’s still a decent result, especially for a Windows laptop. 

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 webcam

Lenovo’s Yoga 7i features a 1080p IR & RGB hybrid webcam with a slidable privacy shutter centered on the top bezel.

As a laptop reviewer, it’s rare to find laptops with stellar webcam quality. Decent quality is what I’ll typically find on average, but this laptop’s webcam quality is worse than average. 

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Through the Yoga 7i’s webcam, I’m completely washed out. I’m a pale person, but my bright pink blush and flushed complexion don’t really get picked up by this webcam. 

The colors picked up are inaccurate as well. My emerald green cardigan is coming through as more of a dark forest green.

Is the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 (Gen 9) worth it?

With its bouncy, comfortable keyboard, fantastic port selection, and semi-powerful, highly efficient processor, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 is a good mid-range convertible laptop. 

That said, it’s not my favorite 2-in-1 laptop from Lenovo, largely due to its muted, 300-nit display and finicky trackpad. Priced at just $899, it’s hard to be mad at any of this laptop’s faults, but in such a competitive laptop market, I have to be.

Whether or not the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 is worth it comes down to what you’re looking for in a laptop. If you want a convertible laptop that can double as a tablet, handle basic tasks with ease, last a decent while on a single charge, and you don’t mind a dim display or occasionally glitchy trackpad, the Yoga 7i 14 is a great deal at $899. If it’s on sale, it’s a fantastic deal.

If the Yoga 7i’s negatives sound like dealbreakers to you, and you think you’d be fine with a non-convertible laptop, Apple’s MacBook Air M2 starts at $999, give or take, only $100 more than this laptop.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon / Apple 13-inch M2 MacBook Air $1,008.00
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Walmart+ Week kicked off June 17, in theory ushering in the summer savings season, but we have yet to see many standout product deals.

In years past, this sale served as the counter to Amazon's Prime Day (happening sometime in July this year), bringing deals on a wide array of products, from TVs to robot vacuums and headphones.

Instead, day one of the sale started with two deals on random earbud budget brands, along with a few robot vacuum deals, and over 20 deals on WWE figurines. To put it bluntly, the deals we've seen so far aren't worth using your 30-day free trial sign up to look at. If you've been looking for a pair of headphones to buy, this isn't the sale for you.

The two earbuds available behind a members-only paywall on day one of Walmart+ Week. Credit: Screenshot / Walmart Credit: Screenshot / Walmart

To make matters worse, Walmart+ Week deals are for paying Walmart+ members only — even a trial subscription won't get you access. That means that at the least, you'll be paying $12.95 per month, or $98 for an annual subscription. If you're into the year-round benefits of a Walmart+ subscription, including travel and gas discounts, as well as free delivery through the retailer, you might find the price worth it. But for this sale, and for the product deals alone, we recommend that (as it stands) you wait for Prime Day for better deals to crop up.

We're keeping our fingers crossed that some better deals pop up over the course of the week, but in the meantime, there are some headphone deals not tied to any sale in particular we think are worth checking out. You won't find many new low prices or even dips to record low prices, but they're good enough if you were hoping to save on headphones or earbuds this week.

Note: The following deals are not exclusive to Walmart+ Week, nor are they particularly new. As a consolation to the small number of deals from Walmart+ Week, we've put together a short list of the best headphone deals we've seen from Walmart, Amazon, and more.

Best headphones and earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro (USB-C) $189.99 at Walmart
$249.00 Save $59.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the USB-C AirPods Pro.

You'll also be able to find this deal at Amazon and Best Buy, but we've pulled it as our top pick at Walmart because the AirPods Pro are truly some of our favorite headphones out there. This price isn't particularly rare, but it does come up less than the $199 markdown these headphones usually receive. At $189.99, the AirPods Pro are still about $10 away from their lowest price ever, and we're hoping to see a return come Prime Day, but for the time being, this is still a pretty solid deal.

More headphone deals

• JBL Tune 670NC — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) — $79.99 $149 (save $49.01)

• Beats Solo4 — $129.95 $199 (save $69.05)

• Beats Fit Pro — $159.95 $199.99 (save $40.04)

• Beats Powerbeats Pro — $159.99 $249.95 (save $89.96)

• Bose QuietComfort headphones — $249 $349 (save $100)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones — $379 $429 (save $50)

• Apple AirPods Max — $449 $549 (save $100)

Men are not having a good time on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. But honestly, no one has been having a good time on those apps for a while. So in an age of increasingly-niche dating apps and profit-driven subscription models making the popular ones even worse, how are the boys supposed to get more matches?

SEE ALSO: It's easy to catfish strangers on dating apps

The solution posed by some on the internet for the past few years is, "can I pretend to be gay to get more likes from women?"

Reddit Reddit Tweet may have been deleted Gaming dating app algorithms

While that may seem stupid at best and a devious violation of boundaries at worst, the belief that switching sexualities will increase one's chance of getting more likes is based on some common misconceptions of dating app algorithms.

In the past, Tinder's algorithm used to be based on the Elo rating system. Originally developed for ranking chess players, this algorithm helped gauge the attractiveness and popularity of users within the app. Every new user on the app started with a baseline score. This score changed based on how others interacted with your profile; if many users liked you, your score went up, and if fewer users showed interest, your score may have gone down. The app strived to match you with users who had similar scores, increasing the likelihood of mutual interest. Additionally, your score constantly updated as you and others interacted, ensuring that matches remained relevant over time.

As of a few years ago, however, Tinder claimed that it no longer used Elo, and its algorithm adjusted based on every Like or Nope. Hinge, meanwhile, apparently relies on the Gale-Shapley algorithm, which was first created to optimize pairs in "trades" like organ donations. Bumble didn't reveal any details about its algorithm when Mashable asked in 2021.

No matter what, dating app algorithms are esoteric and ripe for users to try and "game" them.

A common complaint from men on the internet is that they're just not getting any matches from women. The reasoning behind this is complicated and multifaceted. Dating apps are overwhelmingly male-dominated — the ratio of men to women on dating apps is 2:1 generally — meaning women are more likely to prioritize quality over quantity. The dilemma straight men believe they're facing on dating apps is two-fold: Their dating pool is small and intentionally picky (and for valid reasons), and they believe not getting likes decreases their "score" on the algorithm (even if the apps might not work that way).

Reddit Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

This leaves many men feeling overlooked and frustrated, making "hacks" or shortcuts seem appealing despite their questionable ethics and effectiveness. So their "solution" is to temporarily change their preference to gay men. Because of the stereotype of hypersexuality in the gay community, the thought among straight men who do this is that gay men have "lower standards" when swiping for potential matches. Thus, they'd get more matches and somehow seem more attractive in the algorithm's eyes. And beyond the supposed benefits of the "hack" itself, some cis men find it extremely validating to go from zero to 50+ likes.

Tweet may have been deleted An unethical dating "hack"

"Being a dating coach who's posted about other ways to 'game the apps,' I think lying about one's sexuality is taking it too far," said Genny Diehl in an email to Mashable. Diehl, who goes by @datingcoachdiehl on TikTok, is a popular user on the platform who gives Gen Z hacks on how to use Hinge and have better dates.

"There's less manipulative ways to get an influx of likes [i.e] turning off age or location dealbreakers — where there's still a chance you might actually go out with someone who's just one year or one mile outside your age/location range," Diehl wrote. "And even those shouldn't be used frequently [or] taken very seriously."

Diehl wrote that not only does changing one's sexuality cross a line, but it also doesn't even work.

"Getting your profile flooded with likes [using] quick hacks like that do not actually increase your chances of meeting someone special or even matching with anyone these guys would be excited about," she said.

It's also unclear why these men believe that matching with other men would boost their profile among women users.

When reaching out to inquire about the validity of this "dating hack," Bumble and Hinge declined to comment. Tinder didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment.

For the most part, the comments in a lot of the Reddit threads linked in this article outright call out how bad this idea is. Dating apps are already a miserable experience for LGBTQ users, and having to sort through straight men trying to "hack the algorithm" can be pretty disheartening.

"At the end of the day, it's (mostly) real people you're swiping on and so they should be treated with some amount of dignity," Diehl wrote. "Would a man pretend to be gay in real life to get more women to approach him? Would he start speaking in a stereotypically 'gay' way and wear rainbows just so women pay more attention? It wouldn't get him to his (assumed) goal of either sleeping with more women or meeting someone special."

The Elo algorithm was, in theory, designed to create a balanced and engaging experience, but it wasn't a silver bullet for improving one's dating prospects. The truth is, the quality of your profile and the way you engage with others matter far more. Instead of resorting to deceitful tactics, there should be a focus on enhancing profiles with genuine photos and thoughtful bios, and engaging in meaningful conversations. By presenting your authentic self and being patient, you're far more likely to find meaningful connections, rather than just a temporary spike in likes.

"Getting flooded with likes is only as useful as the dopamine rush it'd give you," Diehl wrote. "If being more desirable in the dating world is your goal though, invest energy beyond maximizing Elo scores."