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The troll in me is ready to spark up another age-old Android vs. iPhone debate. Apple has touted that the iPhone has a superior camera system compared to other rivals. However, in recent years, some Android users have claimed that the Pixel series has been catching up.
To settle the score, I decided to run a quick camera test to determine which top-of-the-line phone — the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL or the iPhone 15 Pro Max — takes better photos.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, released last year, boasted a new telephoto sensor that allowed the phone to zoom in on photos up to 5X via optical zoom, up from 3X on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Pixel 9 Pro XL, a new variant for the Pixel series, offers impressive, improved Super Res Zoom (30X vs. 20X digital zoom on the Pixel 8 Pro).
But the question is, how do they stack up against each other?
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max camera testWe've got two smartphone behemoths that offer photos from many perspectives, including the wide lens, telephoto sensor, ultrawide shooter, and selfie camera. Let's explore them all.
Wide lensPixel 9 Pro XL Pixel 9 Pro XL shot of Northport Bay in New York Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 15 Pro Max shot of Northport Bay in New York Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAnalysis: The details on the Pixel 9 Pro XL's photo are more sharp and pronounced. For example, the blades of the grass, the leaves on the trees, the texture of the tree trunks, and the ripples of the bay appear to be more crisp and well-defined. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's shot, on the other hand, has a softer look.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL appears to have a brighter look and it's slightly more exposed.
Finally, the colors in the Pixel 9 Pro XL's shot are slightly more vibrant while the iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers a more natural look. I'm a sucker for an image with sharp, defined details, so the winner here is the Android device.
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Wide camera specs
Pixel 9 Pro XL: 50MP, f/1.7 aperture, and 1.2µm
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 48MP, f/1.8 aperture, and 1.22µm
Ultrawide lensPixel 9 Pro XL Pixel 9 Pro XL shot of Manhattan Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 15 Pro Max shot of Manhattan Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAnalysis: The iPhone 15 Pro Max produced a significantly more detailed shot with the ultrawide shooter. It captured more details like the reflections on the glass buildings and textures on the billboards. Sharpness is well maintained throughout the image.
The iOS device also captured more vibrancy and delivered richer colors. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL lacks the definition the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s ultrawide shooter offers.
For example, if you look at the sky, the blue hues are more vivid on the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s shot. But on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, they look more muted — and even the clouds lack detail.
Winner: iPhone 15 Pro Max
Ultrawide camera specs
Pixel 9 Pro XL: 48MP, f/1.7, 123 degrees
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 12MP, f/2.2, 120 degrees
TelephotoPixel 9 Pro XL Pixel 9 Pro XL shot of the Bryant Park Hotel (5X zoom) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 15 Pro Max's shot of the Bryant Park Hotel (5X zoom) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAnalysis: On the right of the image, you'll find water shooting out of a nearby fountain. On the iPhone 15 Pro Max's telephoto shot, the water droplets are more defined and sharper compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL's interpretation of the scene.
Looking at the tippy-top of the Bryant Park Hotel, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a warmer look, which is particularly noticeable when you look at the golden decorative finial featured on the building's pinnacle. Details like the brickwork, arches, and other ornamental features appear to be more pronounced on the Pixel 9 Pro XL compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max produced a darker, cooler image, offering a more dramatic look. The Pixel 9 Pro XL, on the other hand, is noticeably brighter.
This one was a tough one, but again, I have a preference for sharper images, so this one goes to the Google device.
Winner: Pixel 9 Pro XL
Telephoto specs
Pixel 9 Pro XL: 48MP, f/2.8, 5X optical zoom
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 12MP, f/2.8, 5X optical zoom
SelfiePixel 9 Pro XL Pixel 9 Pro XL's selfie shot Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 15 Pro Max's selfie shot Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAnalysis: One positive about the Pixel 9 Pro XL is that it offer a greater field of view for selfies, so you can see more of my upper body in the shot. However, my skin tone looks less warm and my reddish hair color and burgundy top look more muted.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, captured more details on my top. Plus, my complexion is more true-to-life. Even the leathery texture of my bag appears to be more prominent on the iPhone 15 Pro Max's capture.
Winner: iPhone 15 Pro Max
Selfie camera specs
Pixel 9 Pro XL: 42MP, f/2.2
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 12MP, f/1.9
Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max camera test winnerThere isn't a clear winner here. As cliche as it sounds, it depends on your preference. To sum things up, the Pixel 9 Pro XL excels with its wide lens shooter and telephoto sensor. The iPhone 15 Pro Max snaps better selfies and ultrawide shots.
The Google phone tends to offer brighter images, which may be appealing to those who prefer a highly illuminated look to their photos. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's shots are more balanced and true-to-life, so for consumers who have a preference for natural color accuracy, the Apple device is their best bet.
Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Google Pixel 9 Pro XL $1,099.00 at GoogleTL;DR: Save 73% on a Promova lifetime subscription and learn up to nine new languages.
Opens in a new window Credit: promova Promova Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription $79.99Language classes and even language-learning apps can be pricey, but today you can get one for life for under $80.
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StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: See the world at 80x magnification with a Portable Handheld LCD Microscope, on sale for $69.97.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay Portable Handheld Pocket LCD Microscope with 4-inch Screen $69.97Discovering the tiny details of our world is pretty amazing, whether you’re a budding scientist or just curious about what things look like up close. But let’s be honest: traditional microscopes can be a pain. Squinting through a tiny eyepiece and fiddling with focus knobs isn't exactly fun, especially for kids or beginners. That’s where the Andonstar AD203 digital microscope steps in to save the day.
This nifty, portable, LCD microscope ditches the old-school eyepiece for a super clear 4-inch LCD screen, so you can see everything right in front of you (and take pictures of it) without straining your eyes, and you can get one for just $69.97 (reg. $100).
Your dog isn't the only lab you can bring outsideWith 80x magnification and crisp 1080FHD resolution, this little microscope delivers a stunning level of detail without the clunky design of a traditional microscope. The 2,000mAh battery means you won't run out of juice mid-exploration, and the adjustable LED lights make sure you always have ideal lighting.
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Stop and appreciate the (very) little thingsMake science fun and easy. Get a Portable Pocket Microscope on sale for $69.97 (reg. $100).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Find your wallet every time with the KeySmart SmartCard, a credit-card sized tracker on sale for $29.97.
Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart SmartCard $34.95Your wallet's gone, and no, it's not stuck between the couch cushions. Not in your other pants, either. All you can do is look, but that wouldn't be your only option if you had a tracker.
The KeySmart SmartCard may look like some James Bond-level spy tech, but it works a lot like an AirTag you can slip into your wallet or purse and track whenever they get lost. How much frustration does it cause when you have to systematically replace every card that was in your lost wallet? Is it worth $29.97 to never feel that way again? Because that's how much one of these costs.
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Your wallet is never lost; it's just pre-foundThe KeySmart SmartCard pairs seamlessly with the Apple Find My app, changing the way you keep tabs on your belongings. Let’s say you’re out running errands and suddenly realize your wallet is missing. Panic mode, right? Nah. With a quick tap on your iPhone or other Apple device, you can instantly see where your SmartCard is. Get a notification if you leave it behind, and if it’s really lost, activate Lost Mode to display your contact info to anyone who finds it, making it that much easier to get your stuff back.
But there’s more to this card than just smart tracking. It’s also designed to be sleek and practical. At under 2mm thick, it slides into your wallet without adding any bulk. Wireless charging? Check. Just drop it on any Qi-enabled charger, and you’re good to go. With a battery life that lasts up to five months, you won’t be constantly worrying about recharging. And don’t stress about water damage; this card is IPX8 waterproof, so whether it gets caught in the rain or takes a quick dip in a puddle, it’s built to keep working.
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Turn your lost into found. Get the KeySmart SmartCard on sale for $34.95 (reg. $39.99).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Live stream Popyrin vs. Djokovic in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
After an impressive win at the Olympics, Novak Djokovic will be laser-focused on winning the US Open. He hasn't won a Grand Slam this year, which is an unfamiliar feeling for the Serbian superstar. But he has made a strong start to this tournament, and Popyrin will have his work cut out for him if he wants to stop the Olympic gold medalist.
If you want to watch Popyrin vs. Djokovic in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Popyrin vs. Djokovic in the 2024 US Open for freeFans can live stream the 2024 US Open for free on these platforms:
These streaming services are geo-blocked, but anyone from around the world can access these sites with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open by following these simple steps:
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Watch Popyrin vs. Djokovic in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these offers to access free live streams of Popyrin vs. Djokovic without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every US Open match before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the US Open?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the US Open for free, for a number of reasons:
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The second episode of Pachinko Season 2, titled "Chapter Ten," is undoubtedly one of the most moving hours of TV you'll see all year.
Co-written by Pachinko showrunner Soo Hugh, Christina Yoon, and Melissa Park, "Chapter Ten" marks the return of Sunja's (Minha Kim) husband Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh), who's been in jail since the end of Season 1. Now deathly ill, Isak only has a few hours left to say goodbye to Sunja and his sons Noa (Kang Hoon Kim) and Mozasu (Eunseong Kwon). During that time, he shares some parting wisdom with his family about moving on and forgiving those who have wronged them. In Pachinko's 1989 timeline, Sunja and Isak's grandson Solomon (Jin Ha) is willing to do neither of those things. As he works to destroy the businessmen who ended his career, he visits the Korean land owner (Hye Jin Park) he sought to do business with in Season 1, where he finds some unexpected leverage for his fight moving forward.
SEE ALSO: 'Pachinko' Season 2 review: Decades-spanning family drama makes a triumphant returnTo dive deeper into this extraordinary episode, Mashable spoke with Soo Hugh about crafting the perfect goodbye for Isak, how reactions to his death speak to Solomon's current storyline, and the key parallel to Season 1 that proves how far Sunja and Isak have come.
The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Steve Sanghyun Noh and Eunseong Kwon in "Pachinko." Credit: AppleTV+Mashable: This episode is full of individual moments between Isak and his family as they're all saying goodbye in different ways. It feels like he's teaching them how to go on without him. Which of these conversations resonated most with you?
Soo Hugh, showrunner, writer, and executive producer of Pachinko: My favorite was the scene where Isak is sitting with Noa and Mozasu and he says, "I am your father, and you are my sons." I would just cry every time I heard that, because it's obvious he's speaking on a double level. He know he's not Noa's father, and he has no idea if his son will ever discover the truth, but he's telling Noa in that moment, "I am your father. No matter what you hear or what you learn, I will always be your father."
We get another interesting scene involving Noa and Isak, when Isak reveals it was Pastor Hu who turned him in. What does that revelation mean to Noa in that moment?
Can you imagine, if you're that boy and you find out that the person you looked to as a father figure while your father was gone was the person who put your father away, how devastating that must be?
You'll start to see the beginnings of a new Noa. - Soo HughAfter that, you'll start to see the beginnings of a new Noa, the Noa that's going to start realizing that he will succeed at all costs. Before episode 2, he said he wanted to stay and be a pastor. But after Isak's death, he makes the decision that, "No, I'm going to go to Waseda. I'm going to succeed." That starts to set up Solomon's arc, too. There's a lot of mirroring between Solomon and Noa that we intentionally did. You see the same cycles working themselves in these generations.
SEE ALSO: 'Pachinko' showrunner Soo Hugh on Season 2, and what's next for Sunja and HansuTell me about Solomon's storyline this episode, where he returns to the Korean landowner's house and learns about the bones under her land, and how it speaks to Isak's death.
One of the things that we talk about on Pachinko, and Sunja says it later on, is that you can't ever forget the past. The past is always living with them. In the present day, when Solomon hears about the bones under the landowner's property, those bones are from the period that we're watching in the past storylines. So you feel like history itself is the bones of our show.
The stories of what happened amongst our mothers and grandmothers and grandfathers are the bones that we're excavating in this show. - Soo HughWe have a saying in our show: The stories of what happened amongst our mothers and grandmothers and grandfathers are the bones that we're excavating in this show.
Hye Jin Park and Jin Ha in "Pachinko." Credit: Apple TV+Speaking of the buried bones, this episode feels like it takes inspiration from some horror elements. I'm thinking about the flashes of the bicycle courier at the very start of the episode.
I love that you picked up on that. We always said that from the opening shot of this episode with the boys playing war, that this should play like a horror film, and we're watching the boogeyman come back. In some ways, Isak's the boogeyman when he first bursts in, but then we subvert that.
SEE ALSO: 'Pachinko' Season 2 trailer teases more sweeping family drama — with the help of BLACKPINK's RoséThe stories in both timelines in this episode take place over a day and a night, so they feel really contained. What does a time constraint like that offer this episode in particular?
To me, it really makes it feel so intimate, right? In Pachinko, we span so much time and so many different time periods, and we make time jumps. But to be able to say, for this one episode, we're going to use a microscope and really get down into it, it just felt like such a pleasure to be able to change rhythms. But also in an episode that has such a profound, emotional scene like Isak's death, I can't imagine shortchanging that and not giving it its time.
That final scene between Sunja and Isak is clearly a defining moment for the show. As you and your co-writers Christina Yoon and Melissa Park approached this episode, what were some of the big challenges you anticipated facing?
That scene is deceptively hard. We know it's going to be a sad scene, right? The question is, "How sad do you want it to be? And when do you want it to be sad?" Because if you start off so heavy in that final goodbye scene, where does the scene go? It was a challenge to write, and then it was a challenge for us to edit in the edit room, because our initial instinct was, "Come on, let's milk it. Let's make this as sad as possible." And it just didn't feel quite right when you did it that way. It didn't feel like our show, so we actually pulled back. If you look, there's actually very few tears that are shed.
Composition-wise, those last moments between Sunja and Isak mirror a key scene from Season 1, episode 5, when they're first intimate with each other. Why did you choose to echo that scene in particular?
We knew this scene had to mirror the first time Sunja and Isak made love. It establishes a cycle, right? Our beginning is our ending, which is bringing everything back into closing the loop here.
You realize just how much that love has really, really grown between them over the years. - Soo HughI love that moment in Season 1, when it's the first time they really connect. They're married, and they're strangers. They don't know one another. You just see the terror as they're looking into each other's eyes, and then you see the love, the first glimpse of love start to bloom between them. Then when you cut to this scene in Season 2 with the cameras in the same place and at the same angles, you realize just how much that love has really, really grown between them over the years.
Pachinko Season 2 is now streaming, with a new episode every Friday.
TL;DR: Watch New York Liberty vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The WNBA season continues into the home stretch. At this point, all eyes are on the playoffs as Seattle Storm host New York Liberty.
New York sit atop the Eastern Conference and have already punched their ticket to the playoffs. Seattle, however, are playing well in the Western Conference but haven't quite confirmed a postseason spot. A win against New York, the best performing team in the whole league, could clinch it. All of which means it's a game not to miss.
The good news is, we have all information you need to watch New York Liberty vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA for free and from anywhere around the world.
When is New York Liberty vs. Seattle Storm?New York Liberty vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. This fixture takes place at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
How to watch New York Liberty vs. Seattle StormBasketball fans can watch New York Liberty vs. Seattle Storm plus the remainder of the WNBA 2024 season from anywhere in the world with a WNBA League Pass.
Remember that WNBA League Pass doesn't show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But you can get around this by using a VPN. VPNs are useful online tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and then connect you to secure servers in other locations, allowing you to watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)
ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:
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TL;DR: Watch Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2024 WNBA season has been so much fun, and there's still a lot to enjoy before the playoffs begin. The next fixture sees Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces go head-to-head in an exciting matchup.
If you want to watch Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.
When is Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas Aces?Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Aug. 30. This fixture takes place at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
How to watch Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas AcesBasketball fans can watch the 2024 WNBA season by using a WNBA League Pass.
But you can't use this alone, as the WNBA League Pass might not allow you to watch locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. However, with the use of a VPN, you'll be able to get around this. VPNs are tools that work by hiding your real IP address (digital location), so you can connect to secure servers in other locations and watch WNBA League Pass games live from anywhere in the world. This excludes games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.
To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream every Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas Aces plus other WNBA games live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)
ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, 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 secure
Fast connection 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.
Stream Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The regular WNBA 2024 season is coming to an end and the playoffs are set to get underway in September. There are still qualifying spaces up for grabs, and Dallas Wings are hoping to work their way up the standings. After recent successful games, Minnesota Lynx clinched their playoff spot, and will now look to finish off the season strong.
If you want to watch Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.
When is Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings?Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 30. This fixture takes place at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
How to watch Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas WingsBasketball fans can watch Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings from anywhere in the world with the use of a WNBA League Pass.
The WNBA League Pass might not allow you to watch locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas, but you can get around this by using a VPN. VPNs are tools that work by hiding your real IP address (digital location), so you can connect to secure servers in other locations and watch WNBA League Pass games live from anywhere in the world.
To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream every Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings plus other WNBA games live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)
ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, 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 secure
Fast connection 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.
Stream Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The WNBA 2024 season is nearing its end as the playoffs are set to kick off next month. There are still a few matches to go, however, and next on the court, it's Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky. Both teams have yet to qualify as we come into the final weeks of the regular season, so it's not a game you'll want to miss.
If you want to watch Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.
When is Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky?Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 30. This fixture takes place at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Chicago SkyBasketball fans can watch the WNBA 2024 season from anywhere in the world with the WNBA League Pass.
However, WNBA League Pass might not show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But you can get around this by using a VPN. VPNs are tools that work by hiding your real IP address (digital location). With this, you'll be able to connect to secure servers in other locations and watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.
To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream every Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky plus other WNBA games live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)
ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, 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 secure
Fast connection 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.
Stream Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for accessing blocked porn sites is ExpressVPN.
Pornhub has been blocking access to a lot of users in 2024, which is frustrating for anyone looking to access their favorite site for some important alone time. Fortunately, users don't need to put up with these online restrictions because there is a quick and easy hack for securing access to sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.
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How to unblock Pornhub for freeVPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can stream on sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.
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TL;DR: Watch the 2024 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The nine races left in the 2024 MotoGP season, the battle for top spot is seriously intense. Only five points separate Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, meaning every remaining race is going to be electric. And you can watch how things unfold without spending anything.
If you're interested in watching the 2024 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is the 2024 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix?The MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix takes place at the Ciudad del Motor de Aragón. The 2024 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix race starts at 8 a.m. ET / 1 p.m. BST on Sept. 1.
How to watch the 2024 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix for freeEvery MotoGP 2024 race is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.
ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.
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Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Watch MotoGP for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch the 2024 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for MotoGP?ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking ServusTV, for a number of reasons:
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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 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch the 2024 Italian Grand Prix for free on ORF, ServusTV, or RTBF. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
After what felt like years of underwhelming racing, F1 has exploded. Max Verstappen is no longer dominating and a number of teams are in contention for the race win every weekend. The fans are the real winners here, because entertaining racing is back on screens around the world.
If you're interested in watching the 2024 Italian Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is the 2024 Italian Grand Prix?The 2024 Italian Grand Prix takes place over 53 laps of the 5,793-kilometre Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The full schedule can be found here:
Practice 1 — 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 30
Practice 1 — 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET on Aug. 30
Practice 1 — 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 31
Qualifying — 10 to 11 a.m. ET on Aug. 31
Race — 9 a.m. ET on Sep. 1
It's possible to stream the 2024 Italian Grand Prix without spending anything.
How to watch the 2024 Italian Grand Prix for freeYou can find free live streams of F1 on these 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:
Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria or Belgium
Watch the 2024 Italian Grand Prix from anywhere in the world
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 Italian 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 Italian Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.
Casey Affleck leads a small but impressive cast who end up terribly short-changed.
A psychological thriller with few thrills and a weak grasp of psychology, Mikael Håfström's Slingshot sees three capable actors monologuing in space about nothing in particular. The sci-fi drama has logical start and end points, but meanders aimlessly along the way, desperately searching for anything resembling plot or thematic meaning.
Credit: Bleecker StreetAs a trio of astronauts embarks on an interplanetary mission, they find themselves gripped by paranoia — at least in theory — and are unable to trust each other, or their own faculties. The problem, however, is that little-to-none of this conflict is rooted in discernible human drama.
The appearance of drama certainly exists, both aboard the space vessel and in numerous flashbacks. However, Slingshot's images feel entirely disconnected from one another, since the film is less concerned with emotional impact, and more focused on indiscriminately tossing out twists and turns. By the end, the film is unable to sustain the weight of its attempted surprises, yielding a head-scratching experience.
What is Slingshot about?Aboard the confines of a pristine spaceship, the Apple Store-like Odyssey One, astronaut John (Casey Affleck) wakes up from his fourth 90-day nap, a drug-induced hibernation that saves on energy and keeps the mission participants young. He's been gone from Earth for more than a year, and for the few days he's spent awake tinkering and taking measurements, his only company has been his comrade Nash (Tomer Capone) and their leader, Captain Franks (Laurence Fishburne). The trio only spends a day or two walking around at any given time, but these precious moments of consciousness are spent in a groggy haze, at least at first.
Their mission, in the short run, is to fly past Jupiter and use the planet's gravity to slingshot their way to Titan, one of Saturn's moons. They hope to scout the surface and eventually establish a human colony there, but despite the movie laying out these broad strokes, it never really features a sense of a wider objective or wider danger, be it images of a ravaged world left behind or any other existential threats. It's Interstellar without the blight or the sense of cosmic mystery, but it does feature a red-headed woman back home, who our protagonist constantly thinks of.
Credit: Bleecker StreetEmily Beecham plays John's lover, Zoe, a design technician whose work on the space project remains unspecified, but who we meet through the familiar, mawkish framing of a fleeting memory of her under a bedsheet, staring lovingly at John. There's nothing inherently wrong with doing what dozens of movies have done before — "If it ain't broke," and all that — but Zoe seldom exists as a real, complete person outside of her adoration for the protagonist, despite appearing in numerous flashbacks.
What is it that actually threatens the Titan mission? Well, that's not exactly clear. The camera whirls around the ship's halls a few times, as if to embody some invisible creature threatening our characters, but those are the only indications of any noticeable aesthetic flourish — one that isn't just aping 2001: A Space Odyssey, that is. (For instance, the scene in Kubrick’s film in which two astronauts speak in secret to avoid a super-computer’s prying ears is re-created here, but without the certainty that anyone else is listening.) This thread of some kind of lurking presence aboard the ship unfortunately doesn't last, so it doesn't really come to represent anything for the characters as they lumber through the movie’s plot (or lack thereof), making observations and relaying those observations back to one another.
John finds parts of the ship damaged, possibly due to external impact, which theoretically endangers their upcoming gravitational slingshot, but the captain disagrees. John sees (or imagines) things going wrong all around him, but the crew can find no evidence of something overtly wrong. This disconnect is a central wedge aimed at creating tension and mystery, but it thrusts the film into a strange narrative limbo where it's hard to know if there are any stakes at all.
Slingshot's stellar performances can't save the movie.Upon emerging from his drug-induced sleep, John gradually loses his grip on reality, seeing people on the ship who clearly aren't there. Zoe is among these hallucinations, though curiously, her phantom appearance is rarely used as fuel for the movie’s flashbacks. When the trio loses communication with Earth, their sense of uncertainty turns toward one another. John suggests there may be a problem with the vessel; Nash is more certain of this, albeit without any evidence; and Captain Franks dismisses their concerns. This leads to the closest thing the movie has to an interesting theme: a dynamic between the three characters that forces John to mediate between two extremes.
As John, Affleck harbors a weary exhaustion in every scene, selling the fact that he can't be trusted to make rational decisions, since he has trouble remembering basic details about his life on Earth. His first time trying to recall these details is the only time the movie’s many flashbacks feel motivated. The rest appear at random, presenting a patchwork story of a man driven to pilot a space mission (for unspecified reasons) at the cost of his relationship.
Amid his delirium, John is shouldered with the burden of being the most calm, logical, and centered character, while his coworkers gradually drift toward opposing extremes. Affleck does his level best to connect the dots between these past and present narratives, putting on a stern front in either case and gradually letting cracks appear in his stoic armor. But the film is fatally flawed: Its structure seldom allows for any causality between these timelines — any ripple effects or regrets, even though John's decision to join the three-man crew is a sticking point for his relationship with Zoe. Their fate as a couple seems to become clearer as the film goes on, though it’s eventually muddied in service of unearned surprises that, at the end of the day, do little more than obscure its actors’ stellar dramatic work. What they draw on emotionally seems to shift at a moment’s notice, making it hard to latch on to the leading trio.
Credit: Bleecker StreetCapone, like Affleck, captures his character's unraveling with aplomb, as Nash steps further toward madness and away from reality. He threatens to turn the film truly intense, though his ravings about what might go wrong are short-lived. The film keeps brushing past any sense of immediate danger the moment it arises, and in the process, doesn't allow Capone to access the full extent of Nash's unhinged trajectory, despite the actor hinting toward a mental snap of some kind.
Captain Franks, on the other hand, has a much icier demeanor, and Fishburne is granted the movie's most complete (and really, only) marriage between story and performance. As John and Nash lose their grip on reality and question their own eyes, Franks is much more certain of what he sees, which makes him all the more terrifying. With dialogue that borders on Shakespearean, Fishburne taps into a sense of misguided human ambition, and gestures toward a thematic layer to the movie that, while ever-present, goes mostly unexplored.
No, really, what is Slingshot actually about?The three men aboard the ship take wildly different approaches to the scenario at hand, and in the process, they come to represent the three prongs of human personality through a Freudian lens. Nash, with his erratic moments and instinct-driven concerns, embodies the id. Captain Franks, who places constraints on his comrades and claims a rational high ground, is the superego. And John, who's forced to mediate between them and make moral compromises, is the ego in this scenario.
The problem, however, is that despite the movie employing this particular framework (one it harps on quite overtly by the end), it doesn't use it to explore the fraught dynamics between the characters in any meaningful way. What they each represent feels set in stone, with little sense of dilemma or evolution. How they behave in any moment is dictated by their respective "types" rather than by the unfolding plot, or even by one another's words or actions. One could, in theory, map out exactly what each of them might do in practically any scenario, which robs the movie of tension at every turn.
Credit: Bleecker StreetTo make matters worse, there aren't even enough interesting scenarios that arise during the film, which might in theory pose dramatic challenges. As Slingshot goes on, any sense of psychological or dramatic framing is superseded by an insistence on surprise at any cost, though these attempted zigzags are mostly delivered in the form of dialogue, rather than anything visual (and thus, emotionally lasting). The film takes full advantage of the characters' unreliable perspectives, perhaps to a baffling degree. Each moment of realization, each discovery that things may not be exactly as they seem, is followed by another, and another, and yet another, with no room for any revelations to breathe or sink in, let alone alter the characters' sense of self.
Beyond a point, shifting reality becomes Slingshot's status quo, even though it largely presents these shifts in the form of dialogue. Characters simply explain to each other what may or may not be their version of the truth, until every other line hints at some new twist or surprise with no impact whatsoever, eliciting no more than a shrug.
With little by way of character psychology to latch onto, and even less by way of actual stakes, the movie's thrills and science-fiction elements are practically null, rendering Slingshot an entirely meaningless sci-fi thriller. Its basic premise would be hard to explain to a friend, because it doesn't even feel like it has one.
It takes guts to attempt an action-packed romantic comedy. For every Romancing The Stone, there's a barrage of forgettable imitators. (See: Argylle. Well, don't see Argylle. It's awful.)
It's a tricky thing to strike a satisfying balance of thrills and laughs with a love story that gets our hearts (and/or loins) engaged. But David Leitch, the former Brad Pitt stunt double turned director of such gonzo action movies as John Wick, Bullet Train, and Atomic Blonde, doesn't scare easily. And now he's delivered the gonzo gift to cinema that is The Fall Guy.
Adapted from the 1980s TV series of the same name, this action-comedy centers on one of the unsung heroes of Hollywood: the stuntman (Barbie's Academy Award-nominated Ryan Gosling) who takes all the hits so that the arrogant A-lister (Bullet Train's Aaron Taylor-Johnson) doesn't have to. But don't fret if you aren't familiar with the small-screen inspo. The Fall Guy is making its own fun, thanks to a crackling script from Drew Pearce, and the dazzling chemistry between Gosling and Emily Blunt.
SEE ALSO: How to watch Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt's 'The Fall Guy' at home How does The Fall Guy movie relate to the TV series? Ryan Gosling is under attack in "The Fall Guy." Credit: Eric Laciste / Universal PicturesRyan Gosling plays Colt Seavers, a stuntman character originated by Lee Majors in the show created by Glen A. Larson. However, where Majors' hero was moonlighting as a bounty hunter when he wasn't on set, Gosling's version is more a hapless nobody who stumbles into a criminal conspiracy. And it's love that keeps him there.
There's trouble on the set of Metalstorm, a sci-fi epic/romance that stars the obnoxious Tom Ryder (Johnson) as a daring space cowboy. But when the mercurial movie star goes MIA, his old stunt double is called back into action. Not only is Colt tasked with doing intense stunts to keep the movie's production schedule on track, but the high-strung producer Gail Meyer (Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham) asks him to unearth the missing actor.
It's not just the movie Colt is trying to save. You see, this is the directorial debut of his former flame, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). With his heart on his sleeve, this stuntman throws himself into the fray to make her dreams come true, all in hopes of scoring a second chance at romance.
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are perfectly paired in The Fall Guy. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt star in "The Fall Guy." Credit: Eric Laciste / Universal PicturesCrucial to a good action/rom-com is a dynamic where conflict and chemistry collide. You need the stars to click on screen so the audience is invested in their getting together. But they need to be believably pugnacious with each other so the why of not being together is clear.
Smartly, Blunt and Gosling gave the world a preview of their chemistry at the 96th Annual Academy Awards, where they playfully bickered over the Barbenheimer rivalry. In The Fall Guy, the characters are less openly hostile. Jody favors passive-aggressively dressing down Colt over a megaphone on set, while he pushes back with sheepish flirtations. (Look, he knows what he did.) While this sounds less than romantic, it is nonetheless enchanting.
There is some suspension of disbelief required, of course, but not in the movie's premise — it's that Gosling is supposed to look like he's not a movie star, while he still basically looks like Ken, albeit with some scruffy facial hair. However, as he did playing Ken or the battered detective in The Nice Guys, Gosling has a looseness to the physicality in his comedy that plays divinely. The stunts here are done by a top-notch stunt team, which the movie's promotional tour is keen to celebrate. But Gosling brings to banter scenes and other comedic moments an ego-free display of mugging, an earnest thumbs-up gesture, and even crying to Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" that establishes Colt as a goofball as much as a tough guy. When Blunt coolly instructs him to drive her to her car — parked just feet away from where they idle — you can see the core sense of humor they have in common.
After a couple of Quiet Place movies and the sternness of Oppenheimer, it's a delight to see Blunt back in comedy. She's got terrific comedic timing that pairs perfectly with her well-placed hard stare. Her Jody isn't made to be an ambitious bitch in the way of broad '80s movie stereotypes, but she has her moments of playing rough. Yet Jody is chiefly defined by trying to maintain her cool under incredibly stressful circumstances, which makes little moments where she breaks down burst with humor — be it a karaoke jam to Phil Collins or literally grasping at a straw.
Together, Gosling and Blunt create a could-be couple that's alluring not only for their looks but also their awkwardness. Dumb jokes and fumbling flirtations shrewdly undercut what could be a glossy, unnatural rom-com to make a movie that's endearing and entertaining.
The Fall Guy is a winsome showbiz comedy. Ryan Gosling, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and several stuntmen from "The Fall Guy." Credit: Eric Laciste / Universal PicturesTrue to his reputation, Leitch provides plenty of outrageous action scenes once again. Some are for the movie-within-the-movie, including a car roll that broke a Guinness World Record. Some are part of Colt's off-set misadventures, which include swordplay, fire fights, daring escapes, and a speedboat chase.
As the discourse around including stunts in the Oscars rages on, The Fall Guy will definitely be a major talking point for advocates of the category addition. However, the stunt community representation within the film feels a bit thin, being just Colt and his stunt coordinator, played by a jovial Winston Duke. They're a terrifically funny duo, but as the third act leans hard on the concept of community, I wished the broader stunt team were more present to make a big leap land more powerfully.
Winston Duke kicks ass in "The Fall Guy." Credit: Eric Laciste / Universal PicturesThe Fall Guy is about more than stunts, folding in the bonds that form across departments on set, including a horny VFX supervisor (Zara Michales), a too-Method ingenue (Teresa Palmer), and a perturbed personal assistant (Everything Everywhere All at Once's Stephanie Hsu). As a whole, this movie delights in giving a peek behind the scenes to reveal the messy human conflicts (which also make for great on-screen drama), as well as the absurdity inherent in playing pretend for a living. What is never mocked is the dream of making movies.
Whether she's furious at Colt or frustrated by outrageous obstacles, Jody is driven by making the movie that she's dreamed of her whole life. Colt isn't just dedicated to her but also to her vision, as is much of the supporting cast of characters. And in this, there's an enveloping exhilaration, as if we the viewer are part of this collaboration too. This energetic sense of inclusion welcomes us into the twists, fails, and breakthroughs the characters face in an electrifying way. All of that barrels into a finale that is not just exciting but enthralling.
The Fall Guy is action/romantic-comedy done right, a rare gem in the crown of this challenging subgenre.
The Fall Guy is now streaming on Peacock.
UPDATE: Aug. 29, 2024, 1:04 p.m. EDT "The Fall Guy" was originally reviewed out of SXSW 2024.
We’ve all heard it by now, right? “Sitting is the new smoking.” While that catchy slogan may be a little exaggerated, it certainly won’t hurt us legions of mostly sedentary office workers to spend less time on our bums.
Enter The FlexiSpot E7 ($499+). It’s a motorized desk that allows you to sit or stand with just the press of a button. I was impressed by the quality of the materials, how easy it was to put together, and its moderate price compared to other motorized desks.
After using only a seated desk for my entire adult career, I’ve adopted the FlexiSpot E7 as my full-time workspace for the past month. Here are my honest thoughts.
FlexiSpot setup and controlsI’ll be honest: This desk sat in boxes in my office for far longer than it should have, because I was certain that putting it together would be a major PITA.
So imagine my surprise when I was all done in an hour and a half, having only called in my husband once to help secure the desktop to the legs with his drill. This desk was ridiculously easy to put together.
The controls are also really easy to use. There is an up button, a down button, and a memory button. When you press the M (for memory), you can assign a specific height to one of the four presets.
There are four preset buttons you can customize with your preferred heights. Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / MashableRight now, my home gym and my office share one very small, cramped extra bedroom. The standing desk has conveniently allowed me to consolidate a little bit. I currently have presets for walking on my under-desk treadmill and sitting at my weight bench on a balance ball seat. Previously, I had to keep a large office chair in here because my weight bench was too low for my desk.
Finally, you can also lock the controls by holding down the M button, and unlock it by holding it down again. This feature has been a lifesaver since my kids are constantly running in (and they’re always perplexed by whatever new products I’m testing), or I brush against the buttons when I’m reaching for something on the bookshelf next to my desk.
Lowering the desk lets me use a weight bench and balance ball as my desk seat. Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / MashableDuring setup, you can choose which side you want to install the control panel on. My only wish is that I had chosen the opposite side of my desk. I could change it, but it’s not a huge priority. It just beeps when you press on the control panel while it’s locked, so I unintentionally get beeped at quite frequently. Something to consider if you decide to purchase.
The control panel also has a USB port, which adds a handy place to charge my phone at my workstation without introducing yet another cable to the bird’s nest under my desk.
My new and improved workspaceI was extremely surprised at how much my productivity increased by standing or walking at my desk. Maybe it’s the novelty of it, and I’ll see my productivity decline over time — but right now I am basking in better focus and being more resistant to distractions.
Being deep in my third trimester of pregnancy, I can’t walk or stand for too long without feeling enormous pelvic pressure, so the desk makes it a breeze to sit when I’m ready.
I'm able to walk on my treadmill while I work with the desk in standing position. Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / MashableThe motor is extremely quiet and moves very smoothly. It doesn’t jerk or shake at all, and I feel perfectly comfortable adjusting the height with a full glass of water sitting on the desktop.
The E7 also comfortably fit my dual screen setup and external keyboard and mouse (with some note-taking space too!), although I did have to move a few other things off my desk to ensure that there was always clearance for the desk to move up and down. There are some larger and smaller options on the FlexiSpot website too, if you require more or less space for your work.
The brand also sells some cable management accessories specifically made for FlexiSpot desks, if you want to do a better job of that than I did.
Is the FlexiSpot E7 standing desk worth it?If you work from home, then this desk is 100 percent worth the investment. It has only done good things for my productivity, my focus, and my health. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back to a regular desk (nor do I plan to).
It's even better if you can also afford an under-desk treadmill or bike, so that you can add a physical activity component as well.
I also think the E7 is fairly priced and really great quality, although it would be nice if the desktop was included in the base price. Desktops start at an additional $80, so the lowest all-in price is just under $600. However, FlexiSpot frequently offers sales too, so you’re unlikely to pay full price when you’re ready to buy. The most comparable motorized option is the Uplift Desk, which also clocks in at just under $600.
Although I was skeptical, this desk has got me humming REM like the elder millennial I am — “stand in the place where you work.”
FlexiSpot E7 standing desk $499.99 at FlexiSpotThe 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: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, August 30, 2024:
AcrossBicycle part that's also a past-tense verbThe answer is spoke.
The answer is never.
The answer is adage.
The answer is pars.
The answer is sly.
The answer is snaps.
The answer is pedal.
The answer is ovary.
The answer is kegs.
The answer is ere.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 30 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 30 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Let's playThese words are fun to control.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe answers all relate to classic games.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is videogames.
NYT Strands word list for August 29Uncharted
Videogames
Fallout
Halo
Minecraft
Overwatch
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
I’m going to start this review with some brutal honesty: I’m very picky about rugs. With two large dogs, one of which is a husky, and concrete floors, rugs are a necessity in this household as much as a headache. Between constantly battling dog hair, scrubbing out stains, and yes — the occasional dog vomit — I’ve learned that some rugs are better than others, and sometimes “stain resistant” or “washable” rugs are anything but.
When I was asked to try out Ruggable’s premium medium pile rugs, however, it felt like a godsend because it happened to be the exact same week that my husky took a lil poo on my all-time favorite rug. My all-time favorite shag rug, which absolutely could not be saved.
This wasn’t my first time trying out RuggableTime for my second piece of honesty: I’ve tried Ruggable before, and I absolutely hated it. Soon after moving into our downtown condo, my partner and I embarked on a quest to cover our concrete floors with rugs. We’d found ones for our bedroom, living room, and office (RIP to my favorite), but our massive open kitchen/dining room was proving to be a challenge — especially in such a high-traffic, stain-prone area. Because we don’t live under a rock, we’d heard of Ruggable and decided to give it a try. Surely a washable rug would make the best option for our space?
SEE ALSO: The 6 best robot vacuums for pet hair, tested and reviewedExcept we were very wrong. Right out of the box, our first Ruggable looked terrible. Instead of a rug, it looked like a cheap piece of fabric with a poorly printed design that barely matched the photo, and aligning the 9 x 12-foot rug on top of the pad was nigh impossible. Immediately after rolling it out and battling with the alignment, we both shook our heads, rolled it back up, and promptly returned it assuming that Ruggable kinda sucked.
We were wrong.
My second experience with Ruggable blew the first out of the waterA year after that experience, we visited a friend’s new house for the first time. Sitting around her dining room table, my partner mentioned our long-term struggle to find decent rugs that were dog friendly and asked where she’d found so many incredible rugs. Her answer? Ruggable.
We were shocked. They were so much better than our first Ruggable experience, enough so that — when the chance came to test Ruggable again a few weeks later — we decided to chalk it up as a blip. Our friend’s rugs were stunning, soft, and looked like “real” rugs, so we eagerly picked out the design we wanted to try and waited for it to arrive.
Straight away, I was impressed by how much Ruggable’s selection had improved in a year. They had so many more designs available — including more plush, shag, and outdoor options than before — as well as what we wanted to test: premium, medium pile rugs.
We did struggle to find a style we both liked, mainly because Ruggable’s selection tended to steer toward minimal, muted colors and we were hoping for something a little bit brighter, but we landed on a 6 x 9-foot Absida Teal Premium Rug that would be perfect for our shared home office. At $479, it was about $100 more than our last rug, but the washability factor alone made it worth it, so we placed our order and were pleased when it arrived eight days later.
What I loved about my new Ruggable rugFirst things first, our second purchase from Ruggable was nothing like the first. The premium 7-millimeter rug cover was plush, well-designed, and actually looked like a high-quality, durable rug. The pattern was exactly what we wanted, and it was much easier to align with the cushioned rug pad than our first experience. It took us about 10 minutes to get the furniture out of the way, lay out the rug pad, and get everything lined up, and — other than a slight overlap where the rug was a few inches longer on one end than the pad — we were super pleased with the results.
Credit: Jandra Sutton / Mashable photoA few months later, I can honestly say the same. Not only is our Ruggable just as soft as the other medium pile rugs in our house but it’s been super easy to clean and maintain. Whenever dog hair starts to build up, we just give it a quick sweep and it’s back to looking crisp and clean as ever.
I will admit that we (thankfully) haven’t needed to put our Ruggable in the washing machine yet, but spot-cleaning it with a damp cloth has been way easier than cleaning our other medium pile rugs — and worlds better than battling against a super plush shag rug.
What I don’t love about RuggableAside from the lack of super vibrant rugs, my only real complaint with the premium Ruggable is adjusting it. It’s not necessarily difficult to get it aligned, but the velcro backing does make it a lot harder than dragging a normal rug over a rug pad. Plus, because the rug cover is a bit bigger than the cushioned rug pad beneath it, getting it matched up can be a challenge — one we gave up on. Our rug sits a few inches over the rug pad on one end, and it’s at least one inch over on all other sides, and it’s definitely noticeable. Even though some of our other rugs have slightly smaller rug pads, something about Ruggable’s rug covers made the overlap a bit more visible than our other rugs.
Is Ruggable worth the price?It depends. If you have pets or kids — or you need a rug that’s easy to keep clean in a high-traffic area — then absolutely. Ruggable has far exceeded my expectations when it comes to a versatile, durable rug, and it’s certainly been easier to clean than any of my “traditional” rugs.
If you’re looking for something that is going to look and feel impeccably plush and soft, however, I’m on the fence. The premium medium pile rugs certainly feel better than I thought they would, but a lot of the thickness comes from the cushioned rug pad — which is an absolute must-buy. It’s not that our Ruggable looks bad by any means, it just…doesn’t quite look or feel quite as good as a stunning, high-quality rug can look.
And considering the 6 x 9-foot premium rug we got from Ruggable clocks in at $479, that’s almost double the price we’ve paid for most of our other medium pile rugs of the same size. It is a little easier to clean than some, but the visible overlap is still an annoyance.
It’s also worth noting that while Ruggable touts its rugs as interchangeable — meaning you can swap out the rug cover for a new one whenever you want to change up the style — the rug cover we got would be $390 by itself. You can save quite a bit by switching to Ruggable’s classic 2-millimeter rug cover over the premium 7-millimeter rug, but the loss of thickness isn’t quite worth it in my opinion.
Obviously, Ruggable’s premium medium pile rugs are still cheaper than many other rugs on the market, but whether or not it’s the right option for you depends on your situation. If you’re looking for something on thickness or appearance alone? It might not be the right option for you. But if you’re looking for an attractive, durable and washable rug that will see a lot of action? The price of a Ruggable might be worth it.
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