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SAVE $50: As of Dec. 19, the JBL Tune Flex are on sale for $49.95 at Amazon. That's a 50% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Tune Flex $49.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're looking for a new pair of noise-canceling earbuds but don't want to break the bank, we have just the pair for you. A new pair doesn't need to cost hundreds of dollars, in fact, you can grab a great pair for under $50. And that's what you'll find from this latest Amazon deal on the JBL Tune Flex.

These popular earbuds benefit from great sound features including JBL Pure Bass, Active Noise Cancelling, Ambient Aware, and TalkThru modes. Ambient Aware lets you hear your surroundings while still enjoying your music, keeping you aware and safe in outdoor and busy environments. Similarly, TalkThru lowers your music volume and amplifies nearby voices, so you can dip in and out of conversation when needed, without needing to take out your earbuds.

SEE ALSO: The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are my favorite earbuds for long journeys — save $60 ahead of the holidays

Stats-wise, you'll enjoy up to 32 hours of battery life. And if they die on the go or before you need to head out, a quick 10-minute charge will give you an extra two hours of listening. The earbuds are also IPX4 water-resistant and sweatproof, making them perfect for workouts or rainy days.

And as of Dec. 19, you can find these reduced by 50% at Amazon, on sale for under $50. This deal is available in all colorways, including black, white, and blue.

Head to Amazon to score this great deal.

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: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, December 19, 2024:

AcrossCommon Christmas cookie cutter shape

• The answer is Bell.

Opera solos

• The answer is Arias.

Forrest Gump" character who calls shrimp "the fruit of the sea"

• The answer is Bubba.

Attire for a baker

• The answer is Apron.

Common Christmas cookie cutter shape

• The answer is Star.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 19, 2024 DownRum-soaked cakes

• The answer is Babas.

Spew lava

• The answer is Erupt.

Zodiac sign associated with justice

• The answer is Libra.

What a doula might help you through

• The answer is Labor.

___ Francisco

• The answer is San.

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 Games

Are 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.

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who get all their holiday shopping done in November, and those who wait until the very last minute. If you fall into the latter category, there's a loophole that'll not only hide the fact that you're a procrastinator (which happens to the best of us) but will also guarantee that your giftee gets something they actually want or need.

We're talking about digital gifts and subscriptions. Sure, knowing how to give a good virtual gift — good as in more personal than a Visa gift card — is basically an art form. But with this gift guide, you'll find we've rounded up a gift that'll fit the bill for just about anyone on your list, from family and friends to coworkers to lovers and everyone in between.

Each of the following gifts is delivered online or with a recurring delivery to their door, so you don't have to worry about shipping costs or delivery times.

1. A streaming service subscription Credit: Shutterstock / Hamara

No one is gonna turn down new stuff to watch. If you're gifting to someone who already has the go-to's like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, consider other cable alternatives:

• Paramount+ ( Paramount+ Essential starts at $7.99/month): Paramount+ is the go-to place for nostalgic Nickelodeon shows, reality icons like RuPaul's Drag Race and Love Island US, plus access to live sports. Paramount+ also offers a SHOWTIME subscription (Paramount+ with SHOWTIME) for $12.99/month.

• Max (starts at $9.99/month): Max is home to HBO originals like House of the Dragon and The White Lotus and non-HBO content like Abbott Elementary and Friends. It's also the streaming service that many new movies hit first when they come out.

• Shudder (starts at $5.99/month): Horror junkies who have already tackled Netflix's hit-or-miss collection will dig Shudder's massive library of (actually good) scary movies only. Aside from a few classics like Hellraiser, a big chunk of the lineup is made up of films that probably weren't in theaters — but that blow mainstream disappointments out of the water. Mashable's Sam Haysom has some suggestions.

2. A Walmart+ membership Credit: Walmart

Walmart's Amazon Prime competitor might be a wiser choice for your friends who make way too many trips to Walmart each week. It's another "free shipping" situation, but with no order minimums — and for just $12.95/month. Other perks include fuel discounts, early access to deals during major sales like Black Friday, and a bonus Paramount+ Essential subscription worth $59.99/year on its own.

3. A Planta Premium subscription Credit: Planta

Plant parents could use a babysitter sometimes — whether they're nurturing their first plant ever or taking a stab at a feisty orchid. A paid Planta subscription ($9.99/month) goes past watering reminders: The app recruits their phone's camera to diagnose sick plants and make suggestions based on the amount of light in the room. Planta Premium also offers fertilizing, misting, repotting, and pruning help.

4. A Milk Bar delivery Credit: Milk Bar

Milk Bar's multi-tiered confetti cakes are definitely prettier than any of us, but that's what makes them such an iconic long-distance birthday gift. Loved ones with an eye for aesthetically pleasing foods would also appreciate a just-because tin of Milk Bar cookies or truffles. Prices range from $27 to $161 plus delivery fees. Gluten-free options are available.

5. A YouTube Premium subscription Credit: YouTube

Picture this: Falling asleep to ASMR or a binaural beats playlist *without* being jolted out of a trance by an ad. For $13.99/month, YouTube Premium bars ads and continues playback when the YouTube app is closed. YouTube shares membership fees with content creators who otherwise profit from viewers watching ads.

6. An UrbanStems subscription Credit: Urban Stems

Flowers as a last-minute or long-distance gift is only cliché if you let it be. The online flower delivery service UrbanStems puts a modern twist on its floral arrangements with thoughtfully chosen color schemes and vases outside the traditional glass. The bouquets blow away anything you could find in the flower section at Whole Foods, and subscription prices start at $60 per delivery. You can choose weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.

7. A MasterClass subscription Credit: MasterClass

If your loved one always talks about mastering a particular skill, there's probably a MasterClass course for it. MasterClass doesn't offer just any online courses — they'll be coached by, well, famous people. Annie Leibovitz teaches photography, Jane Goodall teaches conservation, Gordon Ramsey teaches cooking, and more. With a subscription starting at $10/month, your loved one can choose from more than 200 instructors, with new classes added every month.

8. A Jackbox Party Pack Credit: Jackbox Games

On the rare occasion that they get tired of Mario Kart, anything from Jackbox is going to be a good-ass time. Jackbox's on-screen games are played on a phone app and are perfect for long-distance Zoom hangs. (Only one person has to have a Jackbox account. The others just have to download the app and enter the room code). Priced at $24.99 to $29.99, each Party Pack comes with four to five super unique games that really make you think — and confirm the funniest person in the group.

9. A Nuuly subscription Credit: Nuuly

Perfect for the Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie stans, Nuuly is a $98/month service that offers rental pieces from sweaters to dresses to jeans (from the aforementioned brands and more). If they end up loving one of their rental items, they can buy it. Rent the Runway and StitchFix offer similar deals, but StitchFix has a $20 styling fee per order and only gives you three days to decide whether to buy the clothes.

10. A CodeSpark Academy subscription Credit: CodeSpark Academy

If you're looking for a kids' gift that's not Moana or Marvel, consider CodeSpark Academy, which stars cute, memorable monster characters called The Foos. Parents will love it because it's educational: It teaches coding through challenges that require kids to devise their own chain reactions. For kids, though, it's just fun. Gift memberships start at six months for $59.99 ($9.99/month), but 12-month and lifetime subscriptions are available.

11. An e-card Credit: Punchbowl Credit: Punchbowl

Greeting cards may be a "duh" gift, but are heartwarming nevertheless. Punchbowl's selection probably blows that of your local CVS out of the water, and it offers myriad customization options — you can even throw in a gift card from stores like Amazon, Target, Disney, and Sephora. Cards can be sent to multiple recipients for free, but removing ads or scheduling a date requires a paid membership.

12. ClassPass credits Credit: ClassPass

Know a fitness obsessive or self-care fanatic who wants to shake up their routine? Enter: ClassPass, a wellness subscription service for dabbling in different studio classes, gyms, and spa/beauty treatments. Plans start at $19/month for eight credits they can put toward boxing sessions, yoga classes, facials, massages, manicures, and more.

13. An online gaming subscription Credit: Microsoft

A free year of multiplayer gaming and access to online gaming catalogs is a great gift for anyone with any console. PlayStation Plus Essential is $79.99 annually (with a bonus Sony movie credit), and you can get Xbox Game Pass Core for $9.99/month. For Switch players, a $19.99 yearly Nintendo Switch Online individual membership will let them play Mario Party with friends and dip into a library of classic games.

14. An Instacart+ subscription Credit: Shutterstock / Burdun Iliya

Getting groceries can be the absolute worst thing when you're already tired or stressed out. Instead of dealing with long lines, missing items, or people breathing too closely as you reach for the last roll of paper towels, why not gift your loved ones an Instacart+ subscription? They can skip the grocery run and have their groceries delivered right to their doorstep in as fast as 30 minutes. Their membership includes free delivery on orders over $35, plus extras like Peacock Premium (worth $79.99/year) and a New York Times Cooking subscription (worth $50/year).

15. An Adobe Creative Cloud app(s) subscription Credit: Adobe

One doesn't have to be a graphic designer to get a ton of use out of Photoshop — it's a must-have software for anyone with a creative side. Folks in marketing can make ads and cool emails, aspiring photographers can learn layering and blending, or anyone who draws in their free time could bump things up to animation. Prices start at $9.99/month for Lightroom and Adobe Express, and go up to $59.99/month for the full Creative Cloud suite.

16. A Rosetta Stone plan Credit: Rosetta Stone

Learning a new language in adulthood isn't off the table just because you can't remember a thing from high school Spanish. Rosetta Stone is one of the OG language-learning services, known for its deep dive into accent pronunciation, culture, and not pressuring you like the Duolingo owl. Plans start at $239.40 for 12 months of access to a single language — good for a giftee who's planning a trip abroad.

17. A Scrivener subscription Credit: Literature and Latte / Mashable composite

Know someone who thinks in long form? They need Scrivener. It's like a hybrid of Microsoft Word and a notes app like Evernote, aimed specifically at writers organizing large projects like novels, screenplays, or research papers. Different templates and tools for honing in on chunks of writing make it easy to organize thoughts. A standard license will run you $59.99.

18. A meal kit delivery service subscription Credit: Blue Apron

Trying new recipes is fun. Planning one of those recipes when you're dead tired after work is not fun. Meal boxes from services like Dinnerly and Blue Apron allow you to customize meals online and receive pre-portioned ingredients for those meals right to your door. Meals can be tweaked depending on dietary restrictions (like gluten-free or vegan) and how many people are eating.

Although subscription prices vary on portion sizes, they're way better than what grocery stores charge nowadays. Other meal kit options include HelloFresh, Purple Carrot (for plant-based meals), and Splendid Spoon.

19. A Tidal subscription Credit: Tidal

People love to say they don't want to pay for Tidal on top of Spotify or Apple Music — and then they complain that they really wish they could listen to Prince's posthumous album. While Tidal used to be big for exclusive albums from Beyoncé and Jay-Z, it's now the go-to for audiophiles thanks to its glorious hi-fi streaming. Individual subscriptions go for $10.99/month.

20. An Escape the Crate subscription Credit: Escape the Crate

The idea of using clues to escape a fake locked room within a time limit is fun. The knowledge that there are multiple horror movies based on getting stuck in one? Not so much. Best of Cratejoy winner Escape the Crate brings the problem-solving adrenaline of an escape room to their home. Boxes start at $26.50 apiece; each one is filled with a set of themed puzzles and riddles that one to six people can complete in a couple of hours.

21. A Birchbox subscription Credit: Birchbox

If their relationship to makeup is like Ron Swanson's to tools, opt for Birchbox. If they're interested in beauty but have never been inside a Sephora, go for Birchbox, too. Boxes start as low as $22/month, but if they'd prefer to pick out their own stuff, a Birchbox gift card still gives them access to way more makeup than they'd find in a store. Plus, Birchbox frequently offers discounts on premium brands that Ulta and Sephora rarely discount.

22. A FabFitFun gift card Credit: FabFitFun

FabFitFun is like having a birthday four times a year. Once every three months, eight to 10 full-sized products arrive at your door, and it's really nice stuff. The variety is impressive: Boxes could contain anything from hair and makeup products to exercise gear to blankets and other cozy items. A gift card can be applied to a box ($69.99/each or $219.99/year), member-exclusive sales, or single purchases directly from the website.

23. A Headspace subscription Credit: Headspace

Meditation apps have become an increasingly popular way to de-stress, sleep better, and get a better grasp on mindfulness in general. Headspace has hundreds of guided meditations anchored toward everything from stress and anxiety to productivity and exercise, providing an excuse for much-needed breaks throughout the day to get back into the right headspace. Gift a three-month subscription for $38.99 or $69.99 for one year.

24. A Craftsy Premium membership Credit: Craftsy

You can think of Craftsy as MasterClass for people who could spend three hours in Hobby Lobby. Its Premium subscription tier unlocks over 2,000 expert-taught video classes on everything from embroidery to sourdough baking, plus a huge pattern library. Gift a membership for $10.25/month or $113 for the whole year.

25. Subscription boxes for kids Credit: KiwiCo

Keeping kids busy for a Saturday can be a task, let alone for a whole winter or summer break. Kid-friendly subscription boxes pick up where TV leaves off, offering hours worth of hands-on activities to do alone or with parents each month. Our favorites include learning about other countries with Little Passports or making math and science fun with KiwiCo.

26. A Grove Collaborative VIP membership Credit: Grove Collaborative

The quest for effective, natural household products shouldn't require a trip to some expensive specialty shop. Grove Collaborative has one of the best online selections of eco-friendly cleaning, baby, pet, and bath brands like Mrs. Meyers and hello. You don't have to subscribe to shop here, but VIP members get free shipping on orders over $29, exclusive discounts, early access to new products and deals, and seven free gifts for just $29.99/year.

27. An Audible Premium Plus membership Credit: Amazon

A subscription to Amazon's premium audiobook service expands their entertainment options far past music, which is great for those with a boring commute. Paying $14.95/month will get your gift recipient one monthly credit for a full audiobook they can keep forever, plus access to thousands of other titles and podcasts. Some books are read by well-known talent like Michelle Obama and Jonathan Van Ness. (And others by professional audiobook narrators who have their own fandoms, such as Julia Whelan.)

28. A Book of the Month subscription Credit: Book of the Month

Being in a book club with strangers across the country is a bookworm's dream. That's essentially what Book of the Month is: The company's judges (which include up-and-coming authors themselves) feature five must-reads each month. Then, the subscriber chooses which one(s) they want based on synopses and reviews from other readers. Give a gift subscription starting at $59.99 for three months.

29. An Omaha Steaks gift card Credit: Omaha Steaks

Shopping for premium cuts of meat or decent seafood can get as expensive as going out to eat. Omaha Steaks offers choice cuts, burgers, really nice filet mignon, sides, and more in larger portions and at better prices than many brick-and-mortar stores, all delivered to your door in vacuum-sealed packaging. Meal boxes, family portions, and sides like au gratin are also available, and everything comes with easy-to-follow instructions (even for people who are definitely not meat connoisseurs).

30. An Atlas Coffee Club subscription Credit: Atlas Coffee Club

Anyone who thinks that their Starbucks go-to is the pinnacle of coffee is about to be blown away by the menu at Atlas Coffee Club. Each month, Atlas spotlights a few sustainably farmed coffee beans from a specific country as "Coffee of the Month" options, which are available in monthly subscriptions from 15 to 60 cups starting at $11/month. They come in the form of grounds, whole beans, or pods that are compatible with Keurig and Nespresso machines.

31. A gift card to The Sill Credit: the sill

Indoor plants are an easy solution for loneliness — not only because they can take a space from drab to homey, but also because it just feels good to take care of something. If you're not sure of their skill level (or of the collection they already have), a gift card to The Sill lets them pick out some new greenery on their own. Its houseplants start at $39 and can be upgraded with different-colored planters.

32. An Uber or Lyft gift card Credit: Uber

The gift of not having to walk in the rain or take public transportation with heavy groceries is a godsend. Pay for some rides with an Uber or Lyft gift card. (The Uber one can also be used on Uber Eats.)

33. A Bath Bevy subscription Credit: Bath Bevy

After a long day of work, why not treat your loved one to a relaxing bath? Opt for a monthly Bath Bevy subscription and choose from carefully curated and handcrafted bath and body products. There are bath bombs, bubble bath, bath salts, and more. Each box has five to seven items in beautiful packaging for that perfect unboxing experience. The subscription is $39.56/month if you get it for a year.

34. A Spotify Premium subscription Credit: Spotify

For those who consider Spotify Wrapped day a national holiday, a Spotify subscription is a great gift. For only $11.99/month, you can play not only music but also podcasts and audiobooks. With a Spotify Premium subscription, you can download music to play offline, play any songs, get unlimited skips, and there are no ads. You can create and share specific playlists with each other.

35. A DOGTV subscription Credit: DOGTV

A 24/7 TV channel for dogs — need we say more? Its researched-based programming features music and clips that calm pooches. Prices range from $9.99/month to $74.99 for a full year. (Hey, that's eons cheaper than an annual ad-free Netflix plan.)

36. A Silk + Sonder subscription Credit: Silk + Sonder

What started as a basic wellness planner subscription service in 2017 has evolved into a thriving community. You can purchase a one-time e-gift card, a monthly e-gift card, a recurring monthly membership, or specific items from the platform's shop. There's even a Sonder Kids edition for the little ones in your life.

37. A Steam Box subscription Credit: Steamy Lit

If your giftee is obsessed with Hallmark movies or loves to curl up with a steamy romance novel, Steamy Lit's "The Steam Box" is the ultimate present. The company showcases women and non-binary authors, and their subscription options include quarterly ($54/each), semi-annual ($51/each), or yearly packages ($48/each). And unlike other book subscription boxes, this one takes self-care to the next level by offering customers the option to choose a "vibes included" tier, which includes a book, an adult item, and a few specialty items as well.

Apple has apparently shelved its plans for an iPhone hardware subscription service. It's just as well — the last thing anyone needs in this economy is yet another ongoing expense.

Bloomberg reports that Apple is no longer working on its iPhone subscription service, according to sources close to the matter. First rumoured in 2022, the tech giant's hardware subscription would have given customers the option to pay a regular monthly fee to essentially rent their iPhone. They'd also be able to upgrade to the latest iPhone as new models were released.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 17 Air rumours: Everything we know so far

This iPhone subscription service had reportedly been planned for launch the same year it was leaked, but was delayed by issues such as software problems and legal concerns. Now it seems the service won't arrive at all.

Judging from the scant details that have emerged, Apple's proposed subscription service seemed to have borne some similarities to its iPhone Upgrade Program. Introduced in 2015, this program allows customers to enter a two-year monthly payment plan for their iPhone, with current plans starting at $39.50 per month for the 128GB iPhone 16. Once they've made 12 payments, they're eligible to upgrade their phone when the next model arrives, entering a new loan.

However, the iPhone Upgrade Program enables customers to ultimately own their device outright if they complete the payment plan. In contrast, Apple's previously planned service sounded more akin to renting a device, with customers presumably required to return their iPhone if they cancelled their subscription.

Apple also discontinued its Apple Pay Later service earlier this year, a possible indication that the company is reassessing its financial products. Initially announced in 2022, Apple Pay Later was a Buy Now Pay Later service that allowed customers to split payments into multiple smaller installments spread out over several weeks.

TL;DR: Get 1TB of cloud storage with a lifetime subscription to FolderFort for just £47.65 (reg. £199.93) ahead of Christmas 2024. 

Opens in a new window Credit: FolderFort FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription £47.65 at the Mashable Shop
£199.93 Save £152.28 Get Deal

In the early days of Google Drive, it felt like your free cloud storage would never run out of space, but eventually it does. Suddenly, you have to pay a fair bit to back up your photos and save all your other files. Fortunately, Google Drive isn't the only place to save your files. 

FolderFort is a Google Drive alternative that gives you a full 1TB of storage that you can access through any modern browser or mobile device, and you aren't paying for it every month. With a one-time fee of only £47.65 (reg. £199.93), you get a lifetime subscription.

Head to the Mashable Shop to take advantage of this holiday cloud storage deal, which won't last for long.

Reliable cloud storage for life

FolderFort lets you upload and access your files on all of your devices.

Yes, you'll always need an internet connection to access your files, and with some cloud providers, there's a chance the whole service might be down. But that's not really a problem with Folderfort, which guarantees a 99.9% uptime. 

1TB is a lot of space, and you might end up paying for storage you would never use if this were another cloud service. With FolderFort, you can upgrade or downgrade whenever you want. Don't pay for what you're not going to use. 

Share files across all your devices

Google Drive and iCloud aren't the only places to keep your files safe. 

There's no need to wait for Christmas for this deal — get a lifetime subscription to FolderFort 1TB Storage for just £47.65 (reg. £199.93) now through 12 January at 11:59 p.m. PT.

FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription | Only £47.65 at the Mashable Shop

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Chicago Bulls head to TD Garden to face the Boston Celtics in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Bulls are having a sub-par season so far, with a 12-15 record, which lands them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics, on the other hand, are 21-5 and in second place.

Chicago has won three of its last five games, including their most recent game, a win over the Charlotte Hornets. The Celtics have won four of their last five, including back-to-back wins over the Washington Wizards and the Detroit Pistons.

When is Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics?

Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 19. This game takes place at TD Garden in Boston.

How to watch Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Bulls vs. Celtics basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Bulls vs. Celtics from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics for free 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 U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

5. Watch Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers for free with a 30-day free trial of Prime Video.

NFL Week 16 action continues with a game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are 9-5 overall, but are nowhere close to overtaking the Chiefs who are atop the AFC West division at 13-1. The Chargers are right beneath the Broncos at 8-6.

The Broncos are coming off a win against the Indianapolis Colts, who they beat 13-31 on Sunday, Dec. 15. That same day, the Chargers lost their last game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who left with a winning score of 40-17. With both teams' records, we don't know who is more likely to win, but the Broncos seem to have a slightly better chance.

When is Broncos vs. Chargers?

Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers takes place at 8:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 19. The two teams will face off at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

For Thursday Night Football action, Al Michaels is expected to do the play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit will join him in the booth as the analyst. Kaylee Hartung will report from the sidelines.

How to stream Broncos vs. Chargers for free

Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but anyone can watch this game for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (not to mention other Thursday Night Football fixtures).

If you're already a member, or have already used the 30-day trial, Prime Video subscriptions start at $8.99 per month.

Best streaming services for Broncos vs. Chargers

Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers will be aired locally in California. It may be available in some other markets, but NFL games are subject to local blackouts.

If you do not have a cable package in those markets, you have options. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Broncos vs. Chargers on local networks.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Get Deal

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

For in-market games: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Again, Broncos vs. Chargers is subject to local blackouts. It is available nationally on Prime Video.

How to watch Broncos vs. Chargers from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Broncos vs. Chargers from anywhere in the world 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 U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

5. Watch Broncos vs. Chargers from anywhere in the world

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

• 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

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

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Nothing makes you feel exhausted like watching kids go full pelt. Indeed, kids have the kind of energy that most adults could only dream of. Most of the time they spend all day running around just, well, because. It's exhausting just thinking about it, never mind watching them charge around the place with boundless energy.

For that reason, you might not think that kids need to track their activities, but in this increasingly sedentary society, it's important to make physical movement a priority from a young age. For the sake of their future health and fitness, it's important that little ones don't lose that energetic spark. That's where fitness trackers come in.

Fortunately, there are a number fitness trackers made specifically for children. They're focused on encouraging an active lifestyle (rather than weight loss, which isn't healthy for kids to obsess over). Trackers can also build good habits, like keeping up with homework and chores. If you're still not sure, check out the below information — along with a round-up of the best fitness trackers for kids right now.

What is a kids' fitness tracker?

Fitness trackers for kids are simplified versions of adult models. They typically trade out advanced metrics like an ECG app for motivational games and rewards. They're a cheaper, simpler, more durable option. The band size is also tailored to little wrists, of course, with kid-friendly designs and fun colours.

Kids' fitness trackers are all about setting goals — fitness or otherwise. Many offer parents the opportunity to set daily reminders for their kids to do things like brushing their teeth, completing their homework, or cleaning their room. Mundane tasks are more fun when they're integrated into a model of games, tiered rewards, and maybe even a little friendly leaderboard competition among siblings.

Can kids use an adult fitness tracker?

Older kids are fine to graduate to a fitness tracker for adults — it's likely that they'll already have a phone at that point, anyway — but the functionality of a full-fledged smartwatch probably isn't ideal for kids. Adult fitness trackers that graze smartwatch status, like the Fitbit Sense, can access payment apps or social media apps. Some parents may prefer that those not be an option at all.

Do kids fitness trackers have GPS?

We'd be remiss not to mention the fact that most kid-specific fitness trackers (even the leaders from Fitbit and Garmin) can't be used as a standalone device to track a child's location. If the peace of mind that comes with onboard GPS is important to you, opt for a kid-friendly smartwatch with GPS (included below) or a relatively-affordable Fitbit.

Are fitness trackers safe for kids?

The companies behind the leading kids' fitness trackers — the likes of Garmin and Fitbit — have both stated that their activity trackers put parents in control of approving any friend requests for fitness-based challenges. Parents can access these things via the corresponding app. The location of the wearer is also never shared.

What features do kids' fitness trackers have?

The basic functions of a fitness tracker are pretty standard across the board: Step counting, active minute tracking, and distance traveled are big ones, and heart rate monitoring is becoming more common. With those solidified, there are a few other features to compare on your must-have list. Consider how long the battery life lasts. Will your kid remember to charge the tracker regularly?

Sleep tracking is another metric that could be important. Quality shut-eye is important for physical energy as well as their attention, behaviour, memory, and learning skills. Water resistance is also crucial between spills, splashes, rain, and sweat.

What is the best fitness tracker for kids?

We've checked out everything on offer from the biggest brands in the fitness tracker game, and lined up a selection of standout devices.

These are the best fitness trackers for kids in 2024.

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 Mashable

By 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: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 19 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Roll with it

These words are related to rock music.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are different styles or sub-genres of rock'n'roll.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Rocking.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 19

• Punk

• Grunge

• Alternative

• Metal

• Glam

• Progressive

• Rocking

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.

The image, from northern Spain, showed a man with a white bag in the trunk of a car. The National Police said it helped them solve a missing-person case.

Sure, the aging International Space Station has a well-known, ongoing leak. But it's not nearly in danger of imminently crashing.

NASA responded to a post on X, formerly Twitter, claiming that the "ISS is going to crash soon via de-orbit," and included a screenshot from a 4chan post with a blurry graph showing altitude data. The space agency likely responded in an attempt to get ahead of a dubious post that's picking up decent traction (with nearly 9,000 likes and hundreds of shares by the afternoon of Dec. 18).

"The International @Space_Station continues to orbit the Earth as planned, and the crew aboard is safe. You can track the space station’s current path anytime at https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/tracking_map.cfm," NASA posted on X.

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

The post is an example of the deluge of misinformation available on X. Indeed, X has a feature, Community Notes, that the platform says allows users to "collaboratively add context to potentially misleading posts" — and it can sometimes address egregious misinformation. But not always, and not immediately. Misinformation can thrive on the platform.

In this case, NASA's busy communications team thought it wise to respond. Such a response probably won't stop the conspiracy-minded — who can crave "knowledge" that makes them feel unique or superior — from sharing and amplifying the space station post, but perhaps it can inform some users and stem this particular wave of misinformation.

Tweet may have been deleted

NASA expects the space station to continue orbiting Earth and performing science through around 2031. A U.S. Deorbit Vehicle built by SpaceX will attach to the ISS and bring it down to Earth in a controlled, safe manner, specifically avoiding populated regions. In the 2030s, the space agency expects commercial space stations to take responsibility for providing a U.S. presence in low-Earth orbit.

You can often easily spot the space station, the largest structure ever built in space, when it passes above your home. Check out spotthestation.nasa.gov for an overhead sighting near you. It reflects lots of sunlight, making it the second-brightest object in the night sky after the moon.

You'll see, it's still there.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has formally appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to block the expected TikTok ban, which looms over the social media company as January approaches.

"The Constitution imposes an extraordinarily high bar on this kind of mass censorship. The Supreme Court should take up this important case and protect the rights of millions of Americans to freely express themselves and engage with others around the world," wrote deputy director of ACLU’s National Security Project Patrick Toomey. The amicus brief was submitted together by the ACLU, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.

TikTok and its allies have called the ban a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech, and the company has consistently denied any connections to Chinese government intelligence or the sharing of American users' data, which is the leading justification for the forced divestment of TikTok from Chinese ownership.

SEE ALSO: Get ready for these scams in 2025

Barring an intervention by the highest court, the ban, signed by President Biden in April, will go into effect Jan. 19. TikTok could still divest from its parent company, ByteDance, to comply with the law and halt an outright ban, but it has resisted any sale so far. This week, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals denied an emergency injunction submitted by TikTok that would delay the ban's effect until the Supreme Court could render an opinion under strict scrutiny. The Appeals court argued that highest scrutiny had been reached, and that national security interests justified the U.S. government's action.

The ACLU and its partners argue the court's reasoning is incorrect. "The D.C. Circuit failed to fully address the law’s profound implications for the First Amendment rights of the 170 million Americans who use TikTok," wrote the ACLU. "While the lower court’s decision correctly recognized that the statute triggers First Amendment scrutiny, it barely addressed users’ First Amendment interests in speaking, sharing, and receiving information on the platform. The court also perplexingly attempted to cast the government’s ban on TikTok as a vindication of users’ First Amendment rights, which it is not."

The ACLU has retained that the TikTok ban is a violation of federally protected rights, including free speech, calling the forceable sale "unconstitutional" in a statement released in March. A few months prior the civil rights organization argued that a ban on any such social media app would be "a dangerous act of censorship."

"Restricting citizens’ access to foreign media is a practice that has long been associated with repressive regimes," wrote Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, "and we should be very wary of letting the practice take root here."

Two of Japan's auto giants, Nissan and Honda, are reportedly in early talks to merge, according to The Nikkei, in a bold move to strengthen their position against China’s growing clout in the electric vehicle (EV) market.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Model Q: Are the rumors about the new, affordable Tesla true?

While no concrete plans have emerged yet — and both companies remain tight-lipped on the subject — Japanese broadcaster TBS suggests that an official announcement of these discussions could come as early as next week.

Back in March, Nissan and Honda signaled their willingness to collaborate by agreeing to explore a strategic EV partnership. But, as the BBC points out, a full-blown merger of two of Japan’s automotive heavyweights would send ripples through both the political and economic landscape — a merger risks jobs and partnerships with other companies like French manufacturer Renault.

According to the BBC, Honda and Nissan have been steadily losing ground in China, a market that represented nearly 70 percent of global EV sales as of November. Despite their combined global sales of 7.4 million vehicles in 2023, both brands are struggling to hold their own against cost-effective EV Chinese manufacturers like BYD.

OpenAI is taking a big step towards making ChatGPT the "everything app" by being able to call ChatGPT on your phone.

As of today, you can call ChatGPT or message it in WhatsApp. By adding 1-800-ChatGPT, to your contacts list, you can call it and chat with it on a phone call. In the live demo, OpenAI shared how users can call ChatGPT on a road trip and ask it questions about sites and landmarks like the "Flintstone House."

SEE ALSO: How to try OpenAI's Sora right now

This was demoed on an iPhone, but OpenAI also shared how users can make calls with an old flip phone and a rotary phone, and lo-and-behold, ChatGPT picks up the phone and answers your questions.

ChatGPT works in WhatsApp in a typical chatbot fashion, where you can message it for information like a pesto recipe. Currently, this is text based, but interacting with ChatGPT on WhatsApp will soon come with support for images.

Calling with ChatGPT comes with 15 minutes of free calling for users with a phone plan in the U.S.

This story is developing...

Spotify Wrapped and its many dupes sucked this year on just about every platform — except Strava.

Spotify was the first company to take all of the data we gave it throughout the year, neatly package it into a shareable format, and give us a Wrapped that we all actually enjoyed. It started a phenomena of Wrappeds, which seemed to peak this year which such hits as "Asana Wrapped" and Vanguard retirement account Wrapped. But we owe all good Wrappeds to Spotify's impact.

Unfortunately, those are all the compliments I can give Spotify this year. Wrapped 2024 was a disappointment. We didn't get genres, potentially thanks to Spotify laying off key data scientists this year, and it was way too much AI and not enough real creativity. As one Reddit user wrote, "This year's wrap is what happens when you replace creatives with AI."

"Past years had fun, unique ideas, like telling you what city your listening habits were most similar to or giving you an MBTI-like listening type. This year we don’t have any of that, just a bunch of AI 'features' that aren't very good. They didn’t even do as well with basic stats — where are my top 5 genres or the number of genres I listened to? And the graphics are incredibly uninspiring," another user wrote on Reddit. "I don’t want AI, I want something creative."

Tweet may have been deleted

Spotify Wrapped was so bad that it has people considering moving to Apple Music, even though that Wrapped was pretty boring, too. But there was less AI, it was less annoying, and, frankly, there's less hype about it — so it's not quite as disappointing when it doesn't hit.

Earlier this week, we got another Wrapped people were looking forward to and then, immediately, disappointed by: Goodreads Wrapped. It was designed by what I have to assume was a raccoon wading through peanut butter to click the wrong buttons on the most boring Canva template to ever exist. Just look at this:

It's bad! Credit: Screenshot / GoodReads So bad! Credit: Screenshot / GoodReads

The images aren't built in the dimensions necessary to share on social media, which kind of defeats the purpose of designing a social-forward Wrapped. It was at least expected — all Goodreads does is disappoint its users. We're still waiting on Wrappeds from other book tracking apps like Fable and StoryGraph, which tend to have more interesting visuals, so hope is still alive for the readers in the chat.

Tweet may have been deleted

By my estimation, there was just one Wrapped that didn't disappoint: Strava Wrapped, also called Year in Sport. It has everything you want: Interesting visuals, fun takeaways like who likes your posts the most, your top sports, your total time working out, your total days active, your total distance and elevation, and more. It was good because it was simple and data focused. There was not a lot of AI junk or weird, useless millennial-coded drivel a la Spotify's Pink Pilates Princess. Nearly every single post on X or Reddit about Year in Sport is some version of "forget your Spotify Wrapped, Year in Sport was actually good."

SEE ALSO: With Strava, no one runs alone anymore. That's the problem. Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

There's an argument to be made that we use these apps to better ourselves with our own data. Spotify and Goodreads show us how our music and book taste might lack diversity, which could encourage us to listen and read differently. Strava shows us how much work we actually put into our fitness this year. But, more realistically, these apps make living performative and competitive, ultimately watering down the reason we actually enjoy reading, running, or listening to music.

To that end: Wrappeds are intended to be shared. Maybe you are more evolved, and you post your Wrapped on social media without the need for validation. Maybe you don't imagine anyone responding, "Wow, you have incredible taste and your dedication to bettering yourself makes you definitively better than everyone else." Not me, though.

I would love to be evolved enough to say that I read, run, and listen to music purely for the beauty of art and love of the game. Unfortunately, like seemingly everyone else online, I'm a hungry little rat scouring my tiny world for as much attention as I can possibly gorge myself on. And I was given nothing to eat.

Take advantage of steep discounts on smartphones for those last-minute holiday deals. Check out our top picks below:

Best Smartphone Deals Best Smartphone Deal Google Pixel 9 Pro XL $849 (Save $250) Get Deal Best Folding Smartphone Deal Motorola razr+ $659.99 (Save $240) Get Deal Best Budget Smartphone Deal Samsung Galaxy A35 $299.99 (Save $100) Get Deal

There's about a week left until Christmas, and the holiday season is officially in full swing. Have you finished your shopping yet? If there's someone on your list who might want a new smartphone, there's still time to score a great deal. Or maybe you're looking to upgrade your own tech. If that's the case, you can snag a great new phone for less right now, no matter what it is you're looking for.

Whether you want to try a folding phone for the first time in years or a new Android device that won't break the bank, there are some excellent options you can go for right now that are on sale for great prices. We're talking Google, Motorola, and Samsung, all letting you save hundreds on some of their most interesting devices right now.

We've rounded up some of our favorites that you can save on right now below, so don't miss out and grab them while they're still discounted ahead of the new year.

Best smartphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro XL $849.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This large and in charge Android phone is one of the most powerful Pixel devices, and it comes with an array of features that'll tempt even iPhone owners. With a triple rear camera array that allows for high-quality 8K video, built-in Google Gemini AI support, and a gorgeous screen, it's already ahead of the class. Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon also praised it as being "totally worth it" based on its lengthy battery life as well as its display and camera, so if you're looking for a long-lasting phone that's powerful enough to tackle your everyday tasks, this is it.

Best folding smartphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Motorola razr+ $659.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $340.00 Get Deal Why we like it

How long has it been since you've used a folding phone? The Motorola razr+ is a great throwback that you'll love whipping out of your pocket in front of people, but it's also genuinely a fun little phone. Mashable's RJ Andersen called it "worth considering" and a "worthy opponent" to the Samsung Galaxy Flip5, with a great external display, "solid specs" and a variety of aesthetically pleasing colors. If you loved your Razr back in high school, you'll love it even more today.

Best budget smartphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy A35 $299.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This budget-friendly Android phone is a great option if you're looking for something that can handle your day-to-day needs but with a few extra frills. It supports 5G, comes with an extremely bright AMOLED screen, and it's rated IP67 for protection from water, dirt, and dust. It has a respectable camera array, and it's speedy enough to tackle your favorite apps and games without too much heavy lifting. And it won't cost an entire rent check to procure, especially at this discount.

The company and its Chinese parent invoked the First Amendment in urging the justices to step in before a Jan. 19 deadline to sell or be shut down.

Florida Man won't be able to access the internet's biggest adult website soon.

Pornhub will block visitors from Florida starting Jan. 1, 2025, according to the porn site's parent company Aylo.

"You will lose access to Pornhub in 14 days," reads a pop-up message that displays on Pornhub for users accessing the site from the state of Florida.

Tweet may have been deleted

"Did you know that your government wants you to give your driver's license before you can access Pornhub?" the pop-up prompt continues. "As crazy as that sounds, it's true. You'll be required to prove you are 18 years or older such as by uploading your government ID for every adult content website you'd like to access."

Why has Pornhub banned Florida?

Pornhub's Florida ban is a response to Florida state law HB3, which Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law earlier this year. The law officially goes into effect at the beginning of 2025.

Florida's HB3 basically prohibits anyone under the age of 14 from having an account on a social media platform. However, the language in the bill can be construed to basically cover any online platform that serves material that can be considered "harmful to minors." 

Under the law, tech companies will be required to verify users' ages and delete any account belonging to users under the age of 14. If a child is 14 or 15 and wants to sign up for a social media platform, they would be required to get their parents consent. 

If a company fails to act based on the law, companies can be sued on behalf of the child and fined tens of thousands of dollars for allowing that child to set up an account.

Civil rights organizations like the ACLU have shared their opposition to the law, blasting it as "censorship."

“Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide, including Florida, have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard and dangerous,” reads a statement regarding Pornhub from Aylo, as first reported by Florida Politics. “Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws.”

Aylo says that the company supports age verification and restricting access to minors but believes this law goes about it the wrong way. The company has cited user safety and privacy issues as problems with the law's implementation as well as being an ineffective way to protect children from adult content.

Porn bans across the U.S.

Florida isn't the first state banned by Pornhub. Lawmakers in Republican-led states across the U.S. have passed strict age verification laws specifically targeting adult websites in recent years. 

Louisiana was the first state to require pornography websites to require visitors to upload ID before accessing the site in 2022. States like Arkansas, Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia followed suit.

As a result, Pornhub has banned visitors from those states from accessing their website.

SAVE 14%: The AirFly SE Bluetooth transmitter is on sale at Amazon for just $29.99, down from the typical price of $34.99. That's a savings of $5 and the best discount we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Twelve South AirFly SE Bluetooth transmitter $29.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $5.00 Get Deal

We're about to enter some of the busiest travel days of the year. If you're lucky, your airline will have seat-back entertainment so you can get lost in a movie. But will you use those terrible wired headphones the airline provides? Nah. There's a better option.

As of Dec. 18, the AirFly SE Bluetooth transmitter is on sale at Amazon for just $29.99, down from the list price of $34.99. That's a savings of $5, or a 14% discount, and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: 50 last-minute gifts that will actually arrive on time

The AirFly SE turns any screen into a Bluetooth-enabled device, like your seat-back screen on an airplane or the treadmill at the gym. Just plug the AirFly SE into any 35mm headphone jack and connect your wireless earbuds or headphones to the dongle and, voila, a Bluetooth connection to something that otherwise can only accept wires. It can also be perfect for gaming devices.

The AirFly SE can get over 20 hours of life before it needs to recharge, so you'll be set for a long-haul flight or for your weekly schedule at the gym. Plus, the dongle can still be used while it's charging via a UBS-C cable.

You can control the volume from the AirFly dongle, and there's also an on/off toggle switch. Quick-pairing mode is also great for a speedy connection you don't have to mess with.

Instead of dealing with cheap airline-provided headphones, pack along the AirFly SE and connect to your seatback entertainment via Bluetooth to use your own earbuds or headphones. It's rare to see the AirFly SE discounted on Amazon at all, but this time it's the best price we've ever spotted — just $29.99.

Nvidia got PC gamers a questionable holiday gift this year: worse performance in their games.

That's according to testing done by Tom's Hardware, who found that playing PC games while running the recently launched Nvidia desktop app can reduce in-game frame rates by as much as 15 percent in some cases. Tom's Hardware tried this out with several different games, including Black Myth Wukong and Baldur's Gate 3, and found performance dips of varying degrees in all of them.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best video games you may have missed in 2024

So, what the heck is going on here? It turns out that the Nvidia app, which Nvidia launched last month to give users a one-stop shop for downloading new drivers and whatnot, has some AI-fueled "game filters" that are theoretically supposed to make games look a little better. These are turned on by default, and if they're on, they can reduce frame rates in games, even when the filters aren't being applied to the game in question.

Nvidia gave a statement to Tom's Hardware acknowledging the issue and giving simple instructions for how to turn the feature off and fix your performance problems:

1. Open the Nvidia app and go to Settings

2. Go to Features

3. Go to Overlay

4. Go to Game Filters and Photo Mode and turn off the game filters

Apparently, this will cure what ails you. Good luck, gamers.