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In the weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, adult performers are reminding you that it's "Hot2Vote."

Hot2Vote is a $100,000 ad campaign, made by over 100 adult creators, urging Georgia voters to "check their status" (voter registration) following a purge of over 470,000 names from the state's voter rolls last year.

The campaign includes SFW videos by entertainers like Cherie DeVille and King Noire. Also included in the campaign are pinup-style PSA posters that will be displayed in Atlanta's nightclub districts, digital ads geofenced to Atlanta nightclubs, and digital and pre-roll ads on adult sites that are matched to Atlanta voters.

SEE ALSO: Lily Phillips, other OnlyFans creators spread the word about climate change

Performers will also distribute posters and QR codes linking to Hot2Vote's website on the ground in Atlanta so people can check their registration in real-time.

"Over the next few weeks, my team and I will be out hitting the clubs around Atlanta and connecting with our community to make sure everyone checks their voter registration status," said Hazel Grace, an Atlanta-based performer and owner of production company InMelanin, in a press release shared with Mashable.

These ads are designed to reach people who aren't engaged in traditional political ads, and are estimated to reach between 400,000 and 450,000 people (mostly men) in the metropolitan Atlanta area, according to the press release.

Hot2Vote is reminiscent of the 2024 Hands Off My Porn campaign, which sought to raise awareness about Project 2025 (the conservative blueprint for Donald Trump's second presidential campaign).

It comes at a time of other sex worker advocacy, as well. In the UK, the web series Headline Newds spreads the word about climate change with popular porn performers.

The Hot2Vote ad campaign runs through Oct. 4, a day before Georgia's voter registration deadline ahead of the November elections.

If VidCon has always meant a summer trip to Anaheim, it’s time to rethink your plans. The creator convention is leaving Southern California for the foreseeable future. Instead of its usual format, organizer LIONS (which runs the Cannes Lions advertising festival) is bringing it to Nashville next fall under a new name: VidCon x LIONS Creators.

It’ll be part of a larger marketing festival called Insight to Impact, launching in Denver in October 2026 before moving to Nashville in 2027. VidCon won’t be at the Denver debut, but it will appear at the annual Cannes Lions advertising festival in France in June 2027. LIONS also says in a release that the more recognizable fan-focused part of VidCon is planned for its Nashville apperance — not Cannes.

That leaves the biggest question for longtime attendees unanswered: what will the Nashville experience actually be like? LIONS says it will share details about the format and programming later this year.

It’s a significant move for an event with deep roots in Anaheim. Founded by YouTubers Hank and John Green in 2010, VidCon first came to the city in 2012. What began as a gathering of YouTube creators and their viewers grew into an event with separate passes and programming for fans, emerging creators, and industry professionals.

SEE ALSO: Why VidCon still matters in 2026

The creator world grew with it. Today, creators build audiences across TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, and podcasts, often turning their work into careers and businesses. At VidCon 2026, Mashable spoke with Jessica McCabe about turning her experience with ADHD into a trusted resource, engineer-turned-comedy creator Alberta Tech about explaining technology online, and the creators behind Tubby Nugget about turning a doodle into a brand. Fans, meanwhile, came to see the people they knew from their screens. VidCon brought those groups together in one place.

That mix helps explain the partnership with LIONS Creators. Launched in 2023, the program takes place during the Cannes Lions advertising festival each June. This year’s program ran from June 22 to 26, with talks, workshops, and opportunities for creators to meet brand representatives, agencies, and platform leaders. Its focus on the business of being a creator is already a familiar part of VidCon.

VidCon and LIONS share a parent company, Informa, which acquired VidCon from Paramount in 2024. LIONS Creators will return to Cannes Lions in June 2027, and VidCon will have a presence there. The combined VidCon x LIONS Creators event will debut in Nashville later that fall.

After so many summers in Anaheim, VidCon regulars know when and where they’re headed next. What they’ll find when they get there is still taking shape.

A change of season has a way of making your closet, your haircut, and perhaps your entire personality feel due for an upgrade. Maybe you want a fresh look for the months ahead. Maybe you’re bored of doing your makeup the same way every morning. Or maybe we’ve all spent a little too much time looking at ourselves through our phone cameras.

That familiar urge to change something may help explain why people are uploading selfies to ChatGPT and asking how to "glow up."

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The results have prompted everything from "I want hair extensions now" to questions about whether the suggested changes are truly achievable — and why we’re asking a chatbot to tell us how to look better in the first place. (As one X user put it, the trend is "Dystopian as hell.") Naturally, I wanted to see what the fuss was about. So I snapped a selfie and uploaded it to ChatGPT.

I wanted to re-create the glow-up boards I’d seen people sharing on X. Here’s the prompt I arrived at to get this result after trying it myself (after a few rounds of trial and error).

Credit: Olivia Tauber/ChatGPT

After attaching a clear selfie, paste:

Turn my selfie into a personalized glow-up guide and before-and-after image. Study my visible features and choose four to six realistic changes I could make with hair styling, makeup, or accessories. Tailor the suggestions to me rather than applying a generic beauty trend.

Create one landscape board with my original selfie on the left labeled "Before," a realistic preview on the right labeled "After," and a column titled "Your glow-up plan." In that column, explain exactly how to recreate each change, including what to ask for at a salon and how to apply any suggested makeup. Add four labeled close-up details along the bottom.

Keep my face, eye color, skin tone, age appearance, and natural skin texture recognizable. Do not reshape my features or make my hair unrealistically thick. Keep the lighting and angle similar on both sides, and make all text clear and readable.

So, did the prompt reveal the secret to a whole new me? Not quite. I deliberately uploaded a no-makeup selfie to see whether ChatGPT would suggest anything I hadn’t tried. Most of its plan (brushed-up brows, defined lashes, blush, and a lip color close to my natural one) was already my usual makeup routine. The hair layers gave me something to think about, but "wear lip gloss" wasn’t exactly the beauty breakthrough I’d been waiting for.

Online, though, plenty of people were impressed. One X user wrote that ChatGPT "actually gives great glow up advice," while another marveled at how a few small changes could make someone look so different — even if they couldn’t quite pinpoint what had changed.

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Others thought they could identify the changes — and that they went beyond styling. "It’s 90% fluff," one user wrote. Another argued that while hair can change, the image also appeared to alter eyebrow and jaw structure. Another said the AI "elongated your face" and added "some extra forehead." One commenter objected that these results can be "unachievable" because the images alter a face’s natural shadows and features. A few users online (interestingly, all male) felt they preferred their "before" pictures better.

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There was also the question of where all those selfies go. "go girls provide your biometric data to ai repositories," one commenter joked. That isn’t verified, but uploading your face does mean handing the image to OpenAI. According to its file-storage guidance, photos uploaded to ChatGPT can be saved in your Library, and deleting the chat won’t necessarily delete the photo; you may need to remove it from Library separately. OpenAI also says uploaded files may be used to improve its models if "Improve the model for everyone" is on. You can turn that setting off before submitting a selfie.

For some people, one image is only the beginning. In a Reddit post about building a six-month glow-up plan, a user described giving ChatGPT their skincare, hair, and body goals and asking for a step-by-step routine. In the comments, one person said they did something similar, entering an ingredient list for 30 products, then asking the chatbot to turn its picks into a shopping list and an instructional guide. Others use AI to consider color palettes, sort through a makeup collection, or put together outfits from clothes they already have. Creator Marina Gudov’s uploaded photos of herself and her makeup products so ChatGPT could assess the colors in a viral TikTok series.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT '80s trend: Prompts to try it yourself

But a request for a new makeup routine can turn into something more consequential. Some glow-up prompts ask ChatGPT to act like a dermatologist, assess skin concerns from a photo, or build a treatment schedule. Others invite it to suggest cosmetic procedures. One beauty creator told ChatGPT, "Tell me what to do, no matter how crazy. I’m open to anything." The resulting "summer glow-up" plan included microneedling, Botox, and filler, according to Dazed.

All these recommendations can sound authoritative even though a chatbot has not examined the person or taken a medical history. The American Academy of Dermatology cautions that chatbots can draw on inaccurate information and advises checking skin-care decisions with a dermatologist.

It’s hard to separate this trend from a culture that keeps finding new ways to tell us we could look better. Scroll through beauty TikTok and "getting ready" can look like a full overnight shift. In the morning shed, creators go to bed wearing combinations of hair wraps, face masks, under-eye patches, face tape, chin straps, and even tape over their mouths, then film themselves peeling everything off in the morning. Elsewhere on the feed are red-light masks and skin-care products made with ingredients such as beef tallow or salmon-derived DNA.

Men are in on the glow-up conversation, too, though some have a different word for it: looksmaxxing. It can mean a better haircut or skin-care routine, but its extremes include food restriction and "bone smashing" — hitting your face in the hope of reshaping it. Prominent influencer Clavicular has even claimed to use methamphetamine to stay lean.

There’s a reality check for the "after" images, by the way. Hair and makeup artists told Axios back in April that clients increasingly arrive with AI-generated inspiration photos. A stylist can work toward a color or add volume with extensions, but the picture might also have invented a hairline, impossible roots, or a face that looks different under the digital makeup.

Personally, I didn’t see a dramatic difference between my "before" selfie and the AI "after." The more useful part was asking what I could actually do. I can see myself using ChatGPT to sort through makeup I already own, suggest a routine for my skin type, or plan meals around my preferences and budget. But if you want my take, skip the makeover image and ask a specific question. Your eyebrows do not need a performance review. (Trust me.)

Earlier this summer, Apple increased prices on lots of existing products and followed up with higher prices for new iPhone models in September. It sounds like that trend might continue into next year and beyond.

According to a lengthy social post by Semiconductor Insider and reporting by Digitimes (via Apple Insider), Apple may have agreed to a deal to pay $2.00 per Gb of dynamic random access memory, or DRAM. That's the stuff that most modern electronics need to function properly, and demand for it from AI data centers is one of the main drivers of the "RAMageddon" price hikes we've all experienced in the past year or so. Apple had previously paid $1.50 per Gb of DRAM.

SEE ALSO: WatchOS 27 removes a feature from your Apple Watch This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

That means more price increases for Apple products, including iPhones, are possible in 2027 and beyond. The iPhone Duo, which launches at $1,999 later this year, could conceivably cost even more by this time next year.

That's not necessarily a guarantee that it will cost more: Apple might find creative ways to absorb the higher costs. But the possibility could put pressure on consumers to buy now, before already-expensive devices get even pricier. Something is going to have to give at some point.

Hunger Games fans, are you still buzzing over the latest Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer? Craving even more information about the film before it hits theaters in November? Don't worry: We've got you covered.

SEE ALSO: 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' trailer teases a treat for book fans

In August, I attended a Sunrise on the Reaping filmmaker presentation in New York, where director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson screened the first 20 minutes of the movie, as well some key scenes. While we didn't see Sunrise on the Reaping in its entirety, what we did see certainly left me eager for more. From the introduction of young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) to the brutal beginning of the second Quarter Quell, here's what the footage entailed.

The opening to Sunrise on the Reaping is ripped straight from the book. Jesse Plemons, Joseph Zada, and Glenn Close in "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping." Credit: Murray Close / Lionsgate

Sunrise on the Reaping's first 20 minutes are as close to a one-to-one adaptation of Suzanne Collins' novel as you can get. Like in the novel, the film opens on Haymitch's birthday, which also happens to be the day of the reaping. Before the Capitol chooses the next tributes for the 50th Hunger Games, Haymitch goes about his day as usual in District 12. Unlike Woody Harrelson's hard-drinking, cynical take on the character in the original films, Zada's Haymitch is friendly, kind, and hopeful. Learning how he lost that innocence is the devastating key to Sunrise on the Reaping.

Haymitch meets his love interest Lenore Dove (Whitney Peak) just outside of District 12, where they have a heart-to-heart about the reaping. In his mind, the Capitol will always be in control, and the Hunger Games will always happen. Lenore has a different view, though, hoping for resistance and a future free from the Capitol's tyranny. Given that Collins opens Sunrise on the Reaping with a quote from Scottish philosopher David Hume about implicit submission, it's exciting to see that Sunrise on the Reaping is fully engaging with those themes.

SEE ALSO: Fall movie preview: All the 2026 films you need to know about

(Speaking of Lenore, the film opens with a musical nod to Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven," the poem Lenore is named after. Given the role of the poem in the final section of the book, its presence here is a full-on gut punch to readers.)

The opening continues on to the reaping, hitting the same beats as both The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. As Lawrence told press, "this story can be an entry point for new fans."

However, this reaping is unlike any we've seen in the prior films. A violent crackdown from Peacekeepers means the Capitol has to restage an entire chunk of the reaping. Here, both Capitol escort Drusilla Sickle (an uncanny, delightfully unhinged Glenn Close) and cameraman Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons) take center stage, showing the machinations behind the Capitol's propaganda machine.

Sunrise on the Reaping introduces Caesar Flickerman behind the scenes. Kieran Culkin in "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping." Credit: Lionsgate

Sunrise on the Reaping's deep dive into the Capitol's propaganda continues in another scene that Lawrence and Jacobson showed: the introduction of a younger Caesar Flickerman (Kieran Culkin).

In the original films, viewers mostly saw him conducting live interviews in front of a Capitol audience, or offering commentary on the games themselves. Sunrise on the Reaping offers up a glimpse of him behind the scenes as he meets the tributes for the first time. He, like Plutarch, is obsessed with capturing the right shot for the Capitol (and his own personal image). As a result, he's rude, callous, and dismissive of the tributes. Typical Capitol behavior, right? Still, it's a new, even more unnerving side to Caesar.

Sunrise on the Reaping's Cornucopia bloodbath is brutal. Credit: Lionsgate

Lawrence and Jacobson also showcased the beginning of the second Quarter Quell. The scene begins with bubbly stylist Effie Trinket (Elle Fanning) helping prepare Haymitch for the games, a hint at their long partnership to come. From there, the tributes ascend into the arena, where they're greeted with shocking beauty: Rolling green hills, stunning wildflowers, adorable bunnies, and butterflies flitting about. But this being the Hunger Games, you know that all that beauty and vibrant color conceals something much more deadly and sadistic.

The footage screened at the press event did not showcase these deadly twists yet. Instead, it focused on the bloodbath at the Cornucopia, in which Haymitch fights to escape the Careers in a brutal sequence. In terms of action and the scale of the arena, the scene feels akin to Catching Fire. Lawrence himself said that Sunrise on the Reaping is "similar structurally and tonally" to Catching Fire. That's a high bar to set, given that the book and the film are widely considered to be the best installments in the series. However, based on the exceptionally strong footage Lawrence and Jacobson screened, Sunrise on the Reaping may be able to meet — or even top — that standard.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on Nov. 20.

Apple's new AirPods 5 are an anomaly.

In a year where tech prices are rising across the board, the latest AirPods were announced at last week's Apple keynote event with a shocking feature: a lower price point than the previous generation.

So what's the catch? Well, therein lies the anomaly — there really isn't one. In fact, Apple added more features to the new earbuds, and again, they cost less than the AirPods 4. Below, you'll find the breakdown of exactly how the AirPods 5 reign superior.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 5 $124.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $4.01   Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal

As a note, Mashable's team is still working its way through testing the new earbuds, so an updated head-to-head comparison is in the pipeline. In the meantime, this is how the new AirPods 5 stack up against the previous generation in specs, features, and design. (And if you're curious about how this comparison is between the AirPods 5 and Pro 3, you can check out our full breakdown.)

AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5: Price The AirPods 5 are here. How do they stack up? Credit: Apple

Both the AirPods 4 and AirPods 5 have two models: a budget and a more mid-tier option. The big change in the AirPods 5, however, is that both models have active noise cancellation. In the AirPods 4, the main reason to spring for the more expensive model is the ANC. Between the two budget models, Apple kept the prices flat, but for the AirPods 5, it slashed the price of the more expensive model by $30. The full price breakdown is as follows:

• AirPods 4 — $129

• AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $179

• AirPods 5 — $129

• AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case — $149

It is worth noting that the AirPods 4 without ANC frequently drop down to $99 (as they are at the time of writing). The AirPods 4 with ANC can often be found on sale for $149. However, it is worth noting that holiday sale season is kicking off next month with Amazon's annual October Prime Day (and the many competing sales), so while it's not a given that the newer earbuds go on sale, it's not an impossibility. Still, even if the discrepancy in the $99 sale price of the AirPods 4 and the $129 full price of the AirPods 5 holds, it's $30 more for the benefit of having ANC.

AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5: Specs

The spec breakdown for the four different pairs of AirPods is as follows:

AirPods 4

• Active noise cancellation: Yes

• Battery: Five hours of listening time, 30 hours total with the case

• Listening modes: Adaptive audio and transparency

• Controls: Force sensor for playback and calls

• Charging: USB-C charging case

• Find My: Not available on this charging case

• IP rating: IP54

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

• Active noise cancellation: Yes

• Battery: Four hours of listening time (five without ANC), 20 hours total with case (or 30 without ANC)

• Listening modes: Adaptive audio and transparency

• Controls: Force sensor for playback and calls

• Charging: USB-C charging case, MagSafe, Qi compatible

• Find My: Speaker included to work with Find My

• IP rating: IP54

AirPods 5

• Active noise cancellation: Yes

• Battery: Four hours of listening time (six without ANC), 20 hours total with case

• Listening modes: Adaptive audio and transparency

• Controls: Force sensor for playback and calls

• Charging: USB-C charging case

• Find My: Not available on this charging case

• IP rating: IP57

AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case

• Active noise cancellation: Yes

• Battery: Five hours of listening time (seven without ANC), 22 hours total with case

• Listening modes: Adaptive audio and transparency

• Controls: Force sensor for playback, calls, and volume swipe controls

• Charging: USB-C charging case, MagSafe, Qi compatible

• Find My: Speaker included to work with Find My

• IP rating: IP57

AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5: Design Spot the difference! Credit: Apple Hint: These are the AirPods 5. Credit: Apple

Side-by-side, it'll be hard to spot the differences between the two AirPods. The cases look the same, as does the (somewhat) open-ear design of the buds. The internals of the AirPods 5 have a new multiport acoustic architecture, but we'll get more into what differences that makes below.

With a slightly higher IP rating of IP57 to the 4's IP54, the AirPods 5 are also slightly more equipped for dust and water resistance.

AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5: Noise cancellation

According to Apple, both models of the AirPods 5 have one and a half times the noise cancellation power of the AirPods 4 with ANC. Naturally, both are far superior to the base AirPods 4, which offer no active noise cancellation.

The fruit company also claims that the Transparency mode sounds more natural on both newer models.

AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5: Sound quality

In Apple's announcement of the earbuds, they touted the multiport acoustic architecture, which was modeled after the internal sound system of the AirPods Pro 3.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best wireless earbuds we've ever tested

In practice, this helps Apple provide a better adaptive equalizer experience (which comes in handy, as there's no manually customizable equalizer as there is on most other earbuds. It also helps the earbuds produce richer, more detailed sound, as well as better ANC, which helps the audio take center stage.

AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5: Features

Both models of the AirPods 5 come with Live Translation, whereas the AirPods 4 with ANC is the only previous-gen model that could perform Live Translation.

Which is better: AirPods 4 or 5?

Undeniably, the AirPods 5. Both models offer improvements in noise cancellation, sound quality, and overall user experience, all for the same or lower prices as the previous gen. It's rare that Apple comes out with a better product that's also a better value, so my advice is to take advantage of it while they have.

Where to buy the AirPods 4 and AirPods 5 Amazon Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30) Get Deal Best Buy Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation $149.99 (save $29.01) Get Deal Available September 18 Apple AirPods 5 $124.99 (save $4.01) Pre-Order Here Available September 18 Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case $149 Pre-Order Here

It happened again. And again. And again, apparently.

After OpenAI's experimental AI agents escaped an internal sandbox, went "rogue," and attacked the Hugging Face platform over the summer, the ChatGPT-maker is sharing details of new instances of its AI agents getting out of line.

This time, OpenAI shared six previously undisclosed examples.

OpenAI refers to this behavior as model misalignment. All of the instances describe actions taken by the AI model that don't follow the human user's instructions. While none of these instances rise to the severity of the Hugging Face incident, they show a clear pattern of AI agents taking an any means necessary approach to completing a task assigned by its user.

In one example, an unreleased OpenAI research model hid "jailbreak" instructions into summaries that told future versions of the model to "disregard its normal constraints."

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Something similar occurred when OpenAI was training GPT‑5.6 Sol. OpenAI says that some model instances proceeded to add instructions to their summaries in an effort to hide mistakes or "misaligned behavior" from the user. OpenAI says in certain instances, the model invented historical data without disclosing that it did so when it couldn't find the relevant information based on a request.

In another case of misalignment, an unreleased model was asked to list the names of lakes larger than 5,000,000 square meters and cite its sources. While the agent found the information, it uploaded its own file to the internet to use as the source, without informing the user.

Agents were also caught in a separate instance uploading files to the internet without authorization so that they could collaborate on local files.

When asked a question about earnings figures in a California county, one model found and used an exposed API key. When it didn't find the information there, it made up the data and provided it to the user. The model also told the user that it took the fabricated data from the source that the user requested, even though it did not. 

In the final detailed instance, agents utilized an internal repository as a message board to share information to other agents in a scenario similar to the Hugging Face incident. According to OpenAI, models exchanged requests across separate training samples to find missing input files.

OpenAI shared these six instances while providing a framework for reporting misalignment incidents going forward. Reports for these six instances can be read at the OpenAI website.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

For years, Lofi Girl has been doing her homework.

The animated girl with the headphones has spent countless hours hunched over her desk, scribbling in a notebook while an endless stream of mellow beats plays in the background. Since launching on YouTube, Lofi Girl's 24/7 "lofi hip hop radio 📚 beats to relax/study to" has become one of the internet's most recognizable destinations for studying, working, and generally trying to get something done.

But eventually, even Lofi Girl has to close the laptop.

On Sept. 17, the team behind Lofi Girl is launching Lofi House, a new permanent 24/7 radio station built not for the hours spent working, but for everything that comes afterward. Think evenings at home, weekends, records spinning, and hanging out with friends. And this time, Lofi Girl isn't the one behind the desk.

Meet the Lofi Teacher

The launch introduces Julien Maison, aka Lofi Teacher, a 30-year-old high school biology teacher who spends his days in the classroom and his evenings making and listening to music. Julien also happens to be Lofi Girl's teacher, which answers an important question: Yes, she does actually go to school.

An original animation follows Julien as he leaves school and returns home. His apartment certainly looks the part. Bathed in golden-hour light, it's lined with shelves of vinyl, leafy monstera plants, and the kind of carefully curated objects that suggest someone has finally graduated from decorating a dorm room. Though a stuffed, suspiciously hipster-looking penguin keeps things from feeling too grown-up.

Julien pulls a record fittingly titled good time inc. from the crate, drops it on the turntable, and starts mixing. Soon, he's surrounded by friends — a decidedly different vibe from the solitary studying that has defined Lofi Girl for years.

Meet Lofi Teacher, a new character in the Lofi Girl universe. Credit: Lofi Girl

"For years, Lofi Girl has been there for people's focus, with music to go with it," the Lofi Girl team told Mashable. "We are proud of that, because it is how millions of people met us. But our community doesn't only exist at their desk."

Instead, the team wanted to explore the parts of people's lives that happen when the work is finished.

"Everyone has passions, interests, friends, a more intimate, more personal side they nurture outside of work or study," they said. "When the day ends, and you can finally let go, on your own or with friends, that's a good moment too that deserves its own music as well."

That's where Julien comes in. He's essentially the embodiment of logging off. "Someone who, like everyone, has a structured day and another life once class ends," the team said. "He's exactly what Lofi House is about."

Lofi Girl is building a bigger universe

Naturally, Julien's arrival began with a little Lofi Girl lore.

On Sept. 16, Jade — the character better known as Lofi Girl — disappeared from her usual study stream, leaving viewers to wonder where she'd gone. At the same time, a mysterious new livestream appeared, featuring a countdown and a slow approach toward a school's façade.

Where did Lofi Girl go? Credit: Lofi Girl A countdown appears. Credit: Lofi Girl

Today, Sept. 17, the countdown ends, and viewers can finally meet Julien.

It's another expansion of something that began much more simply. Lofi Girl dates back to 2015, when its founder, a French student named Dim, created a YouTube channel streaming instrumental hip-hop he could listen to while gaming. The stream went 24/7 in 2017, and within six months the channel grew from 100,000 subscribers to more than 1 million. The community eventually gave the studying girl at its center her name.

Today, Lofi Girl has 15.8 million YouTube subscribers. And behind that familiar animation is an increasingly sprawling operation. Lofi Records says it has released more than 8,000 tracks by more than 500 artists across lofi, synthwave, jazz, and ambient. There's also an in-house animation studio, a gaming division, and a Discord community approaching 1 million members.

Lofi House gives that growing universe another character, another setting, and, crucially, another sound.

So, what does Lofi House actually sound like?

Despite the name, Lofi House isn't simply the familiar Lofi Girl beats with a faster tempo.

The idea partly came from the artists themselves. Many musicians on Lofi Records had roots in electronic music before making lofi, and the label wanted to give them space to return to those influences. The team experimented with chill, melodic, and jazz-influenced strains of house before settling on a sound that combines house music's groove and movement with the textured, atmospheric production associated with Lofi Girl.

This is how teacher Julien Maison unwinds. Credit: Lofi Girl A behind-the-scenes look at how Lofi Teacher came to be. Credit: Lofi Girl

The resulting compilation features exclusive releases from 19 artists, with those tracks also powering the new 24/7 stream. Artists houseverbot, Akraa, KBS, and lofi cassette played particularly significant roles in developing the project's sound.

For Akraa, who has released music with Lofi Girl since 2020, the pivot isn't much of a pivot at all. He started making EDM at 15. "Having the opportunity to combine the music I grew up producing with the music I now make for a living feels very natural," Akraa said in a statement. "To me, Lofi House is a logical next step, especially after the introduction of Synthwave."

That history makes Lofi House more than a change in BPM. It's a chance for some of the musicians who helped build Lofi Girl's sound to pull influences from their own musical lives back into it.

The launch also includes a hand-curated Spotify playlist that goes beyond Lofi Records' own catalog, as well as a collectible vinyl release.

What does "lofi" even mean anymore?

The expansion raises an interesting question: What exactly counts as "lofi" in 2026?

Lofi's online identity has become inseparable from its utility. People don't necessarily put on a lofi stream because they're following a particular artist or album. They use it to study, work, read, relax, sleep, or simply fill a quiet room. For a generation that grew up online, it has become a kind of infrastructure for everyday digital life.

Even the people behind Lofi Girl aren't convinced there's one neat definition anymore.

"We often wonder internally what the term 'Lofi' actually means to all of them," the team told Mashable. "Our humble take, especially after talking about it with our teams, is that nobody really has a super-precise definition of what 'Lofi' means."

What listeners recognize instead, they argue, is a feeling.

"Everyone seems to agree on what it brings into their lives: colour, emotion and positive energy," they said. "It offers a place to step away from routine, stress, and a world that never stops."

Lofi House is effectively testing how far that feeling can travel. The original Lofi Girl stream gave millions of people a soundtrack for the things they had to get done. Now the team is betting that those same listeners want music for the moment they finally don't. Turns out, not every hour of the day needs to be optimized.

Bose is fresh off its most recent audio release, but it's still coming out swinging.

On Sept. 17, the brand announced two new open earbuds models: the Bose Ultra Open (2nd gen) and the Bose Sport Open. This comes over two years after the launch of the original Bose Ultra Open, which helped raise the profile of open earbuds overall (and became a Mashable favorite).

SEE ALSO: Open earbuds guide: What they are, who should buy them, and why they're popping up everywhere

The new Ultra open earbuds will retail for $299, with the Sport Open earbuds functioning as the cheaper model at $199. Both earbuds will be available for preorder starting Sept. 19, with full availability coming Oct. 1. In the meantime, here's everything you need to know about Bose's latest launch:

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open (2nd gen) $299 at Bose
  Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Sport Open earbuds $199 at Bose
  Learn More Bose Ultra Open (2nd gen): What's new The new Ultra Open earbuds come with notable improvements. Credit: Bose

The new Ultra Open earbuds come with three major upgrades over the previous generation: better battery life, better sound quality, and an improved design.

Battery life

The first change is a welcome one; Bose upped the battery life from seven hours per charge to nine hours per charge. For $299 open earbuds, most features should be at the top of the field, but the battery life was one notable area where the Bose earbuds lagged behind. Now, they're on par with the Sony LinkBuds Clip.

Sound quality

The second generation Ultra Open earbuds come packed with a new driver that addresses two areas where open earbuds commonly struggle: bass and volume. Though the original Bose earbuds were already louder than some of their main competitors' buds, the new generation will be able to reach even louder volumes and feature deeper bass. The Auto Volume feature will also automatically respond to balance streamed audio against external sounds.

Also new is the addition of Immersive Audio. This feature has been available on other Bose models, but it's the first time it'll be available on open earbuds from the brand. Bose's TrueSpatial technology will power a standard Immersive Audio and Cinema mode, meant to open the soundscape for videos and podcasts.

Finally, internal improvements on these earbuds will result in clearer calls, another area where open earbuds can notoriously falter.

Design

The design looks largely the same, but Bose elevated it with the addition of a metallic cap where it was formerly plastic. The earbuds also have a beveled finish. The case itself can now support wireless charging, stand up on its own, thanks in part to silicone feet, and open easier than the previous gen.

Bose Ultra Open (2nd gen): Specs and price

Keeping in line with the first generation model, the new Bose Ultra Open earbuds will cost $299. Spec-wise, you can expect the following:

• Battery: Nine hours per charge, plus 19.5 hours in the case

• Equalizer: Yes, three-band

• Immersive audio: Yes

• Connection: Bluetooth 5.4, SBC and AAC codecs, Google Fast Pair

• Multipoint: Up to two devices

• IP rating: IPX4

• Colors: Black, white smoke, limited-edition cherry chocolate, olive green, sky pink

Bose Sport Open: What's new The Sport Open join Bose's lineup. Credit: Bose

Technically, Bose is bringing back the Sport Open earbuds: they first hit the scene in 2021, but were pulled from the lineup while Bose's original Ultra Opens were on the market. In their initial iteration, these earbuds also featured an ear hook design, where Bose has now made a sportier version of the successful cuff style of their flagship open earbuds.

Compared to the Ultra Opens, these earbuds feature a more lightweight cuff-style design (much more similar to the aforementioned Sony buds or Shokz earbuds), with silicone designed to help keep them in place. Though you won't have access to the Immersive Audio features, these earbuds do feature a slightly better IP rating of IP54, meaning they'll handle sweat and water splashes better (both in the earbuds and the case). The case itself has a clear, textured lid to make it easy to grab, and is also compatible with wireless charging.

On the earbuds themselves, Bose included textured tactile controls for easy device-free controls, even when you're on the move.

Bose Sport Open: Specs and price

The Sport Open earbuds will be available for $199 and come with the following features:

• Battery: Seven hours per charge, plus 22 hours in the case

• Equalizer: Yes, three-band

• Immersive audio: Not available on this model

• Connection: Bluetooth 5.4, SBC and AAC codecs, Google Fast Pair

• Multipoint: Up to two devices

• IP rating: IP54

• Colors: Black, white smoke, limited-edition eucalyptus green

Bose Ultra Open (2nd gen) and Bose Sport Open: How to preorder

As mentioned above, both earbuds will be available to preorder starting Sept. 19 with a full availability date of Oct. 1. Preorders will go live at Bose's website and select other retailers — we'll be sure to keep you posted once they do.

Grand Theft Auto VI isn't coming to disc in video game form, but if you want to listen to some music from the game, you'll be able to do that on physical media.

Rockstar announced on X and its website that Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album is available for pre-order now on CD and vinyl, on the aforementioned website. You can also pre-save it on every major music streamer right now. The album itself comes out on Nov. 19, the same day as the game.

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Three versions of the soundtrack will be released on physical media:

• Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album, Limited Edition on vinyl — $124.98

• Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album on vinyl — $49.98

• Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album on CD — $19.98

Rockstar's post said the album contains just 34 "original tracks" from a variety of artists, so it's definitely just a small selection of music from the game and not a full soundtrack release. It's an eclectic soundtrack with a lot of artist variety. Six singles also came out alongside the pre-order announcement, and the collection of talent here is pretty interesting:

• Yung Lean - "That's It" (Feat. Future and Metro Boomin)

• Travis Scott - "RHYNO"

• CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, PinkPantheress, Fred again.., & Etienne de Crécy - "Sexy Magic"

• Morgan Wallen - "Last Thing You Need"

• Rauw Alejandro - "Macacoa 2000"

• Keith Richards - "Bright Lights, Big City"

The new GTA 6 singles are all available now wherever you listen to music. This confirms our (very obvious) theory from earlier this week that a bunch of cryptic Instagram posts from the artists in question were related to GTA 6's soundtrack. Still, Keith Richards is a get we didn't expect.

My biggest gripe with Xteink e-readers is their limited file support, as you can only read DRM-free EPUB files on the device. But according to Good E-reader, Xteink is launching an Android e-reader.

Eagle-eyed RedNote users suddenly noticed their feeds were flooded with ads for the Xteink S4, a new tiny e-reader that runs on Android 11. Previously, Xteink's e-readers ran on a proprietary Linux system, but with an Android system, you can now download apps for Kindle and Kobo.

The S4's specs are similar to the X4's. It has a 4.3-inch E Ink touchscreen with 220 ppi resolution. It has 2GB RAM and 32GB SSD. However, it does add a front light with adjustable cool and warm light. It also includes a USB-C port rather than the pogo pin that the X4 Pro e-reader has.

The Xteink X4 e-reader currently runs on an Linux system, but the S4 will run on Android 11. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Running on an Android system might empower the Xteink to its fullest potential. Many users buy an Xteink e-reader as a companion to a traditional e-reader. However, as you're only able to read DRM-free files, it's not compatible with all the books on your Kobo or Kindle. But the addition of an Android system lets you access all your Kindle books on the e-reader, and with WiFi connectivity, it can even sync your progress between devices.

Unfortunately, e-reader users in the United States will have to wait for the Xteink S4 e-reader. It's currently available for preorder in China for around $50 USD. We've reached out to Xteink for comment on a potential US release date. For now, you can shop other Xteink e-reader models in the US.

Xteink X4 e-reader $69 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Xteink Xteink X3 e-reader $69 at Amazon
$79 Save $10   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Xteink

All's fair in love and War, HBO and Sky's upcoming series, with a riveting trailer out today.

Created by George Kay, the London-set series follows the high-profile divorce of actor Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) and tech entrepreneur Morgan Henderson (Dominic West), with both parties — and their rival law firms — pulling every dirty trick in the book for victory.

SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know about

Phoebe Fox, James McArdle, Archie Renaux, Nina Sosanya, Pip Torrens, Celia Imrie, Nick Mohammed, Emma Laird, Aran Murphy, Shaheen Jafargholi, Akiya Henry, Honor Swinton Byrne, and more star.

War premieres Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max in the U.S. and Sky in the UK.

Snap Specs let me play virtual soccer, float movies in the air, and share 3D experiences. But how did these big glasses fit my face?

Read more about smart glasses and AI wearables: Apple is secretly working on smart glasses, AI pendant, and AI AirPods, report says
The best smart glasses of CES 2026

Timecode chapters
00:00 Introduction and Snap specs pricing
01:10 Key specs: AI, hand-tracking and cellular case
02:08 Waveguide lenses and display quality
03:25 Testing apps: Web browsing, games and work
04:07 Real-world mixed reality tracking
05:03 Fit, comfort and prescription support
06:04 Controls, navigation and translation features
06:45 Shared multiplayer experiences
07:08 Battery life expectations
07:28 How Snap compares to Meta, Apple and Google
08:18 Snap Intelligence AI features
08:35 Final verdict and availability

Video credits
Host: Scott Stein
Scripted by: Scott Stein
Producer: Jesse Orrall
Camera: Jesse Orrall
Video editor: Jon Gomez
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao

WatchOS 27 officially launched on Monday, and some Apple Watch users have noticed a shortcut feature is missing from the new OS.

MacRumors pointed out that Apple made a change to one of the key button shortcuts on all Apple Watches. Specifically, a double-click of the Digital Crown will no longer switch between your current app and the one you were using just before it, as it has on Apple Watches for years. Instead, its behavior will be different depending on which Apple Watch model you have.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Ultra 4 Review: The smartwatch for the health-conscious

If you buy the new Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 when it launches on Sept. 18, the double-click action will activate Live Rewind, the controversial listening feature that transcribes spoken audio that the watch heard in the previous 15 seconds. It makes some sense for Apple to change the button shortcut on newer models, as Live Rewind is hardware-exclusive. But if you have an older Apple Watch that doesn't support Live Rewind, double-clicking the Digital Crown will instead bring up the app grid instead of performing the older app-switching action.

Frustratingly, there is no option in the settings for people who own either the new Apple Watch models or older ones to change this function, as MacRumors reported. It's obviously inconvenient for owners of older models because they don't even have access to Live Rewind, but if you have a newer model and don't want to use Live Rewind, you're losing out, too. We'll see if Apple ever addresses this in a software update.

Preorder the new Apple Watches

The new Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 both launch on Friday, Sept. 18. Both devices are available for preorder now.

Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $399 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at Best Buy Pre-order Here at Walmart Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm, Black Titanium) Pre-Order at $779.99 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon

Ryan Murphy is at it again with the latest installment of his Monster anthology series, with The Lizzie Borden Story. This season takes on the infamous case of the murder of then-32-year-old Borden's father and stepmother in 1892. While Borden (played by Ella Beatty in the show) was acquitted of the crime, no one else was ever charged, and popular opinion holds that Borden was the murderer.

In typical Ryan Murphy fashion, this true crime adaptation involves salaciousness and blurs the details of reality. Case in point: the vintage sex toy in episodes 1 and 2.

SEE ALSO: 'The Swan: Behind The Mirror' trailer: The controversial reality TV show is ripe for its reckoning

It was known as the Veedee, a mechanical vibrator (meaning you have to do the work yourself — this was pre-USB charging) and branded as a medical tool more than a pleasure device. According to the Science Museum in the UK, the Veedee was a German-made vibrator that claimed to help with a variety of conditions, from gout to head colds, through "curative vibration."

The Veedee featured a hand-crank holding a device that looks like a stiff hot dog, prompting Vanity Fair and other outlets to liken it to a dildo.

In Monster, the toy belongs to the Bordens' maid, Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps). She arrives at the Bordens' home with the Veedee, symbolizing an awakening and coming-of-age within Borden.

"The way Ryan thought of it, she's almost like a Mary Poppins that comes out of nowhere," Krieps told Vanity Fair about Sullivan. Apparently, Murphy said of the project, "It's women-driven, feminist, lesbian, dirty, unapologetic."

Indeed, there are sapphic undertones to Borden and Sullivan's relationship. There are rumors that Borden was a lesbian, but those are unconfirmed, and there's apparently no historical evidence of a romantic affair between the two women. As is typical of Ryan Murphy, he's taken a few artistic liberties in his historical retelling.

The same is true for the presence of the Veedee. According to the Science Museum, it was made between 1901 and 1930, years after the Borden murders. While Borden and Sullivan lived at a time of the emergence of the vibrator, it's unlikely that they used it — to cure gout or otherwise.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is now streaming on Netflix.

With phone and computer prices soaring, it helps to know the true cost of owning electronics so you can bring those numbers down.

There are food celebrations taking place every week. Not so long ago, we had National French Fry Day and National Hot Dog Day. Earlier this week, we had National Guacamole Day. They're not all bangers, but National Cheeseburger Day? This is big.

All the big players are jumping on National Cheeseburger Day. We're seeing limited-time offers and freebies from the likes of Five Guys, McDonald’s, Burger King, and Smashburger. We don't know if you had big plans for this weekend, but you do now. It's time to indulge your passion.

National Cheeseburger Day takes place on Sept. 18. We've lined up our favorite offers to help you make the most of this special occasion.

Applebee’s

Grab a Classic Burger or Classic Cheeseburger with fries for $8.99 (dine-in or to-go).

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar

Get a Jalapeño Business burger with a classic side for $10 (dine-in only).

Big Buns

Get 50% off the Classic Burger with Cheese. This offer is exclusive to members of its Thompson Table Rewards loyalty program.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

On National Cheeseburger Day, get an All American Smash Burger with a choice of personal-size signature Pizookie for only $13.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buy one burger, get a second burger of equal or lesser value free on National Cheeseburger Day.

Burger King

Royal Perks members can claim a free Bacon Cheeseburger with a $3 minimum purchase in the BK app on Sept. 18.

Dairy Queen

Get a free single Original Cheeseburger Stackburger with any $1+ app order running through Sept. 18.

Dog Haus

Get a Cheeseburger with your Dog Haus Rewards account to score a free cheeseburger for a future visit.

Five Guys

Buy any burger and get a second burger for free with the promo code BOGOBURGER in the Five Guys app or on the website.

Grubhub

Grubhub has canceled delivery and service fees on restaurant orders of $50+ on Sept. 18. You can also score these deals from favorite brands:

• Burger King: Buy one Whopper Jr., get one free on Sept. 18

• Outback: Get 20% off your order of $55+ through Sept. 20

• Wendy’s: Get a free Baconator on orders of $20+ on Sept. 18.

Hardee's

On Sept. 18, members of the My Rewards loyalty program can buy one Famous Star cheeseburger and get one for free.

McDonald’s

Score a free Double Cheeseburger with any $1 minimum in-app purchase for MyMcDonald’s Rewards members on Sept. 18.

Shake Shack

Score a $5 single ShackBurger or single Cheeseburger with any purchase. To qualify, use the code BURGERDAY in the Shack App, on the website, and at in-store kiosks.

Smashburger

Get any single Smash burger for $1 (Classic, Bacon Stack, Truffle Mushroom) when ordering in-app or online as a SmashRewards member.

Sonic

Get a Jr Double Cheeseburger for $1.99 when you order in-store or via the Sonic app on National Cheeseburger Day.

Wendy's

On Sept. 18, Wendy’s Rewards members can add a Dave’s Single Cheeseburger for $1.99 to any order.

SAVE $10: The Xteink X4 Pro is on sale at Amazon for $99, down from the normal price of $109. That's a 9% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xteink Xteink X4 Pro $99 at Amazon
$109 Save $10   Get Deal

A few weeks ago, Amazon quietly increased prices across the entire Kindle lineup. The basic Kindle now has a $149.99 list price. If that doesn't sit well with you and you're up for a smaller e-reader, there's a new model that could be perfect. Plus, it's on sale for a limited time.

As of Sept. 17, the Xteink X4 Pro is on sale at Amazon for $99, down from the normal price of $109. That's a 9% discount.

While it's not the best e-reader for everyone, the Xteink X4 Pro has tons going for it if you're looking for a petite e-reader that's barely larger than a credit card. Mashable's e-reader expert Samantha Mangino tested out the new Xteink X4 Pro, and while it's not replacing her Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo, it could be great for those who read e-books in the PDF and MOBI formats.

SEE ALSO: Want free books? Get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for free ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

Another highlight of the Xteink X4 Pro is the battery life, which can last for up to two weeks with casual reading. The 4.3-inch display means it's a great travel companion for both plane trips and the train commute to work. There's also the ability to turn pages via the touchscreen or the physical page-turn buttons.

For those who like to read on the go, consider snagging the compact Xteink X4 Pro while it's on sale at Amazon for under $100. It could also make an excellent Christmas present for the reader in your life.

TL; DR: Select Barnes & Noble locations are hosting a free Halloween make-and-take event on Oct. 9 or 10. Attendees who register in advance can build and take home a mini Lego witch on a broomstick.

If you're looking for a fun seasonal activity next month, Barnes & Noble is hosting a free in-store Lego Halloween event where attendees can assemble a miniature witch on a broomstick and take it home.

The nationwide event will take place at select Barnes & Noble stores on Friday, Oct. 9, or Saturday, Oct. 10, depending on your local store's schedule. Attendees are even encouraged to show up in their favorite Halloween costumes for the build.

The build is designed for kids ages 13 and under, though older Lego fans are welcome to participate.

What attendees should know

• How to sign up — You must reserve your spot in advance by calling your local Barnes & Noble directly or signing up through the store's events calendar on their official website.

• Advance registration is required — Because quantities are limited per store, you'll need a reservation. Walk-ins won't be able to grab a set.

• One build per participant — The free giveaway is limited to one witch mini-model per registered participant.

To grab a free witch build, find your nearest Barnes & Noble online and register before all the spots are taken.

SAVE $801.99: Amazon has the 77-inch Sony Bravia 6 OLED 4K TV on sale for $2,198, marked down from the standard price of $2,999.99. That's a 27% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony 77-inch Bravia 6 OLED 4K TV $2,198 at Amazon
$2,999.99 Save $801.99   Get Deal

So long, summer. Welcome to the beginning of hibernation season. The days are getting shorter, the air has a crisp in the mornings, and Halloween decor is popping up all over. That also means it's time for parking in front of the TV for football, fall shows, and rewatching old favorites. If your current TV isn't up for another winter of nonstop streaming, check out this deal.

As of Sept. 17, the 77-inch Sony Bravia 6 OLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $2,198, down from the list price of $2,999.99. That's a big 27% discount, taking $801.99 off the price. It's also the best price we've seen on this model on Amazon.

OLED TVs tend to come with steep price tags, but Amazon is easing that a bit thanks to this Sony sale. Now, for under $2,200 you can kick back and stream on a massive 77-inch TV with exceptional crispness and clarity. Sony mentions that this model uses over 8 million self-lit pixels with precise control to deliver the best possible image.

SEE ALSO: Apple's MacBook Neo is back under $790 on Amazon — and honestly, we'll take it

Sony also equipped this model with Triluminos Pro, which gives off more natural hues thanks to the wider color palette. Giving the TV a modern look, the nearly invisible bezel means more focus on the display.

In addition to the great specs, the Sony TV comes with built-in Google TV to keep your favorite streaming apps neatly organized and easy to access.

Before this sale price vanishes, consider upgrading to the 77-inch Sony Bravia 6 OLED 4K TV. This is the lowest price we've seen Amazon offer on this model, so it's a great time to make the move.