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Enchant your Valentine with an everlasting rose for just $4.99

Mashable - 1 hour 45 min ago

SAVE 50%: As of Jan. 27, you can snag this crystal rose for only $4.99 at Amazon. Originally $9.99, this everlasting Valentine's Day gift is now 50% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Glumin Artificial Rose $4.99 at Amazon
$9.99 Save $5.00 Get Deal

If you’re stumped on what to get your Valentine this year, we found a unique and affordable gift that’s giving Beauty and the Beast vibes — a crystal rose that will last forever.

As of Jan. 27, you can get a beautiful iridescent rose that will never wilt or die for just $4.99 on Amazon. The original price is $9.99, so this is half off the regular cost.

The rose comes in a glass dome surrounded by LED lights (powered by AAA batteries — not included) to make it shimmer and glow. This little rose makes for a great bedside night light or centerpiece decoration that your loved ones can enjoy much longer than a traditional bouquet.

It's the ideal trinket for any special woman in your life, whether it's your mom, sister, best friend, or significant other. At this price, you might even want to grab a few for your Galentine's Day celebration, too.

Why DeepSeek is hitting tech stocks hard, including Nvidias

Mashable - 2 hours 57 min ago

Today could be a very red day in the stock market, and DeepSeek might be to blame.

China's AI startup DeepSeek has captured the attention of enthusiasts ever since its launched its latest reasoning AI model, DeepSeek R1. It's just as smart or even more capable than competing models, including OpenAI's top model, while charging a lot less for AI access. It's free to use as a web or smartphone app, and it's available as open-source, meaning you can use it locally and fine-tune it as you wish, without worrying about the privacy implications or Chinese censorship.

In a matter of days, DeepSeek proved to be so popular as to climb to the top of Apple's App Store, surpassing OpenAI's ChatGPT as the most downloaded app.

But for owners of Nvidia stock, and stock traders in general, DeepSeek is on track of becoming a black swan — an unexpected event with extreme consequences.

Early on Monday, Nvidia stock went down 13% in premarket trading at one point, threatening to wipe more than $500 billion off of Nvidia's market cap. As of this writing, $NVDA is at $125.95, roughly 11% down from its last traded price of $142, while NASDAQ is down 3.9% in premarket trading.

The reason why the market reacted so poorly to DeepSeek can be found in its cost and efficiency. While we don't know all the details about DeepSeek's budget, it apparently cost DeepSeek just $5.58 million to train its DeepSeek V3 model, and the company reportedly had 50,000 Nvidia GPUs at its disposal; a respectable number but still very low when compared to major U.S. AI companies which reportedly have more than 10 times that number.

Tweet may have been deleted

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Microsoft's Satya Nadella said that DeepSeek should be taken "very seriously."

"To see the DeepSeek new model, it’s super impressive in terms of both how they have really effectively done an open-source model that does this inference-time compute, and is super-compute efficient," he said.

And investor Marc Andreessen called DeepSeek "one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs" he'd ever seen.

Tweet may have been deleted What DeepSeek's rise means for the AI industry

If DeepSeek was indeed able to match the performance of OpenAI's best model on far less Nvidia GPUs and at a fraction of a cost, then the implications are that the demand for Nvidia GPUs, which is driving the company's stock price up, may go down in the future. More broadly, the entire AI market may be overblown, as seen by today's performance of AI-related companies.

SEE ALSO: DeepSeek AI is now on top of Apple's App Store

Of course, it's never that simple. DeepSeek, an offshoot of Chinese AI-specialized hedge fund High-Flyer Quant, could actually be running more GPUs and train its models on a higher cost than is publicly known.

Furthermore, while the market obviously reacted poorly to the news, it is possible that DeepSeek tech could open up new possibilities in AI in the future, which in turn could once again spark another race to get as much AI hardware as possible.

It's also worth noting that DeepSeek is not the only new Chinese player in the space. ByteDance, parent company of TikTok, announced its Doubao-1.5-pro model yesterday, which also beats many top models in a number of benchmarks, though - in contrast to DeepSeek - Doubao is not available as open source.

It will likely take a while until the market absorbs all this news and its significance to the AI space; for now, though, the direction is down.

Get $60 off the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Best Buys 48-hour flash sale

Mashable - 4 hours 34 min ago

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 27, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS+Cellular) is on sale for $739 at Best Buy. This is $60 off its list price of $799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS+Cellular) $739.00 at Best Buy
$799.00 Save $60.00 Get Deal

If you're an outdoorsy individual looking for a smartwatch that can keep up with your exercises and activities, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a great investment. If you've had your eye on it for some time but don't want to drop a huge sum, Best Buy's here to help. The retailer is currently holding a 48-hour flash sale and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS+Cellular) is featured with a $60 discount.

This has dropped the smartwatch's price from $799 to $739. Not to mention, you get up to three months of Apple Music for free and four months of Apple Fitness+ for free, which are great bonuses to get you started with your sleek new smartwatch. Again, this deal only lasts until Jan. 29, so act fast to take advantage of this discount while it's still live.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS+Cellular) is worth every cent, with features specifically for runners, cyclists, swimmers, hikers, and more, alongside the usual health and safety features like a heart rate monitor and sleep tracker. It boasts a rugged design and very long battery life as well — up to 36 hours for normal use and 72 hours in Low Power Mode — that make it the perfect partner for taking outdoors.

We even rank it as the best smartwatch for the outdoors in our roundup of the best smartwatches, stating "It's not only made for the wilderness, but for the sweat and toil of heavy gym sessions, too. You also get all the great health and fitness monitoring and stats from the regular Apple Watch, including heart rate tracking and alerts."

Don't miss out on this limited-time deal on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS+Cellular) at Best Buy.

Looking for even more Apple deals? You can also save on Apple AirTags at Amazon and the 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off at Best Buy.

Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are on sale for $60 off in Best Buys 48-hour flash sale

Mashable - 5 hours 31 min ago

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 27, the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are on sale for $99.99 at Best Buy. This is $60 off their list price of $159.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenRun Pro Headphones $99.99 at Best Buy
$159.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

For 48 hours, Best Buy is holding a flash sale on a wide range of items. If you're on the lookout for new headphones, the retailer is also offering a very nice deal on Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones. We consider these among the best headphones for working out, so if you're hoping to get some new headphones to keep up with your activities, these are worth a look.

The Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are down to $99.99 at Best Buy. This is $60 off their list price of $159.99. To make this deal even more appealing, you also get a couple of bonus offers with your purchase: four months of a SiriusXM All Access and YouTube Premium for free for three months.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

We rank these headphones as the best option if you hate earbuds in our roundup of the best headphones for working out. Mashable's Samantha Mangino says this is because, "Bone conduction headphones offer a comfortable, workout-friendly alternative to wireless sports earbuds. The Shokz OpenRun Pro stay firmly in place, and I didn't need to adjust them nearly as much as I did with the other earbuds on this list. Plus, the 10-hour battery life on these is unbeatable, even if they don't have an easy charging case."

While sound quality isn't as strong as some picks from Apple or Bose, they're a great pick if you want to ditch earbuds and have headphones that'll stay in place while you're getting your workouts in. This deal won't last long, so grab the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones for $99.99 at Best Buy while the discount is still available.

There are a few more headphone deals worth exploring right now, too. Also at Best Buy, you can save big on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones right now and the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones are discounted as well.

How to switch Apple Intelligence on/off on your iPhone

Mashable - 5 hours 48 min ago

If you're not sure whether you want Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, the next iOS update will have it automatically switched on.

As we reported in January, Apple's AI features will default to active when you install iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, or macOS 15.3 — all expected within the next few days. This applies to iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

SEE ALSO: How to use Apple Intelligence

"For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding," read Apple's beta developer notes. "Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices."

So, if you're not sure you automatically want Apple Intelligence features like the much maligned Notification Summaries, how do you switch it off? It's super simple.

How to switch Apple Intelligence on or off on your iPhone Total Time
  • 2 min
What You Need
  • iPhone 16 model or iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone Pro Max
  • iOS 18.3

Step 1: Update your iPhone to iOS 18.3.

Software updates are located in Settings beneath your Apple account. iOS 18.3 is expected within the next few days.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings.

Step 3: Select "Apple Intelligence & Siri."

Step 4: Toggle off "Apple Intelligence."

Want to know what you can currently do with Apple Intelligence on your iPhone or on your Mac? Mashable's got you covered.

Ariana Grandes holding space explanation is almost as good as the meme itself

Mashable - 6 hours 3 min ago

The Wicked movie has not only resulted in 10 Oscar nominations, but also one of the biggest press tour memes in recent memory.

And while the phrase "holding space" confused many people, it turns out Grande was the patient zero of this confusion.

"I'm like what the fuck is this whole interaction?" says Grande in the Graham Norton Show clip above, describing the now famous exchange between her co-star Cynthia Erivo and interviewer Tracy E. Gilchrist. "What does it mean?"

Grande goes on to describe how she grabbed Erivo's finger in an attempt to comfort her, then started to tap it "because I don't know what else to do with myself."

"It was just like energy that I didn't know what to do with, and it came out in that way because it was well intentioned, and I wanted to be loving and there for her, but why this?" says Grande, tapping on the finger of fellow guest Reese Witherspoon to demonstrate. "I don't fucking know."

How to watch LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns online

Mashable - 6 hours 4 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The LA Clippers head to Footprint Center to face the Phoenix Suns in a Western Conference matchup. The Clippers are 25-19, which puts the team in sixth place. The Suns are 22-21, which puts the team in 10th place.

The Clippers have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Washington Wizards. The Suns have also won three of their last fives, and are coming off a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

When is LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns?

LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 27. This game takes place at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

This game will air on NBA TV.

How to watch LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns

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 Wizards vs. Mavs 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 Clippers vs. Suns 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 LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns 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

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 LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns 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 LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks online

Mashable - 6 hours 6 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Washington Wizards head to American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Mavericks in a non-conference matchup. The Wizards are 6-37, which puts the team in last place in the Eastern Conference and the entire NBA. The Wizards are the only team with a single digit in the win column. The Mavs are 24-21, which puts the team in seventh place in the Western Conference.

The Wizards have lost 12 consecutive games. The Mavs have lost three of their last five games, but are coming off a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When is Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks?

Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 27. This game takes place at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

How to watch Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks

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 Wizards vs. Mavs 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 Wizards vs. Mavs 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 Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks 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

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 Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks 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 Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls online

Mashable - 6 hours 6 min ago

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

The Denver Nuggets head to United Center to face the Chicago Bulls in a non-conference matchup. The Nuggets are 28-16, which puts the team in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Bulls are 19-26, which puts the team in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Nuggets have won four of their last five games, all of those wins have come consecutively. Denver has won eight of their last ten games. The Bulls have lost four of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the Golden State Warriors.

When is Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls?

Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA starts at 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 27. This game takes place at United Center in Chicago.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls

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 Nuggets vs. Bulls 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 Nuggets vs. Bulls 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 Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls 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

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 Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls 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 Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks online

Mashable - 6 hours 6 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Memphis Grizzlies head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in a non-conference matchup. The Grizzlies are 30-15, which puts the team in third place in the Western Conference. The Knicks are 29-16, which puts the team in third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Grizzlies have won five consecutive games. The Knicks have won three of their last five games, they are coming off back-to-back wins over the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks.

When is Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks?

Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 27. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden.

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks

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 Grizzlies vs. Knicks 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 Grizzlies vs. Knicks 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 Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks 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

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 Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks 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 Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat online

Mashable - 6 hours 7 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Orlando Magic head to south Kaseya Center to face the Miami Heat in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Magic are 23-23, which puts the team in seventh place. The Heat are 21-22, which puts the team in ninth place.

The Magic are on a bit of a slide. The team has lost five consecutive games; their last win came against the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 12. The Heat have lost four of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers.

When is Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat?

Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 27. This game takes place at Kaseya Center in Miami.

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat

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 Magic vs. Heat 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 Magic vs. Heat 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 Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat 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

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 Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat 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 Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Houston Rockets vs. Boston Celtics online

Mashable - 6 hours 8 min ago

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

The Houston Rockets head to TD Garden to face the Boston Celtics in a non-conference matchup. The Rockets are 29-14, which puts them in second place in the Western Conference. The Celtics are 31-14, which puts them in second place in the Eastern Conference.

The Rockets have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Cavaliers. The Celtics have won three of their last five games, but they are coming off a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

When is Houston Rockets vs. Boston Celtics?

Houston Rockets vs. Boston Celtics in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 27. This game takes place at TD Garden in Boston.

How to watch Houston Rockets 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 Rockets 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 Rockets 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 Houston Rockets 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

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 Houston Rockets 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 Houston Rockets vs. Boston Celtics in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets online

Mashable - 6 hours 9 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Los Angeles Lakers head to Spectrum Center to face the Charlotte Hornets in a non-conference matchup. The Lakers are 24-18, which puts them in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Hornets are 11-30, which puts them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Lakers have won four of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back wins over the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. The Hornets have won three of their last five games, but are coming off back-to-back losses to the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies.

When is Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets?

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets in the NBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 27. This game takes place at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets

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 Lakers vs. Hornets 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 Lakers vs. Hornets 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 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets 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

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 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets 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 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

Save over $1,000 on the Hisense U8 Series 85-inch 4K Smart TV

Mashable - 6 hours 24 min ago

SAVE $1,100: As of Jan. 27, grab the Hisense U8 85-inch 4K Smart TV at Amazon for $1,699.96. This deal saves you $1,100 on its original $2,799.99 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense U8 85-inch 4K Smart TV $1,699.96 at Amazon
$2,799.99 Save $1,100.03 Get Deal

Let’s talk big screens (really big screens). The Hisense U8 Series 85-inch 4K Smart TV is a monster in both size and specs, but thanks to Amazon’s current deal, it’s a lot more affordable at $1,699.96. This Mini-LED Pro+ display delivers jaw-dropping brightness at up to 3000 nits, making even the darkest scenes come alive with pinpoint detail and lifelike contrast.

Plus, with over 2000 local dimming zones and Quantum Dot Color Technology, you’ll see more vibrant colors and sharper contrasts than ever before. Movies, sports, or games; this TV makes it all look incredible.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

What sets this Hisense apart is its Hi-View Engine Pro AI chipset. Think of it as a brain for your TV that works behind the scenes to enhance images in real time. Dynamic tone mapping, AI-powered HDR, and detail enhancement create visuals so crisp you’ll feel like you’re staring through a window, not at a screen. Dolby Vision IQ ramps up the cinematic experience, while Dolby Atmos ensures your sound is as immersive as your visuals. You’re basically getting a theater in your living room.

If you’re into gaming, this TV is your new best friend. A 144Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and Auto Low Latency Mode combine to make gameplay seamless and fluid, whether you’re dominating online or exploring expansive open worlds. The Low Latency MEMC tech means no lag, no screen tearing, just pure gaming bliss. Even casual gamers will appreciate how buttery smooth everything feels.

Thanks to Google TV, you can easily access all your favorite apps and streaming services with personalized recommendations. Want to make things even easier? Built-in voice control via Google Assistant and Alexa means you can find what you want to watch without fumbling for the remote.

This Hisense U8 is a steal at $1,699.96, especially for a TV packed with many high-end features. From gaming marathons to movie nights, this massive screen brings your entertainment to life; at this price, your wallet will thank you.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 27

Mashable - 6 hours 31 min ago

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Team performing unexpectedly well

  • Green: Scoring on the court

  • Blue: Dodge a hit

  • Purple: Types of catches

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Underdog

  • Green: Basketball shots

  • Blue: Avoid a punch, in boxing

  • Purple: Ways to describe a baseball catch

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #126 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Underdog - CINDERELLA, DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT, SLEEPER

  • Basketball shots - 3-POINTER, DUNK, FREE THROW, LAYUP

  • Avoid a punch, in boxing - BOB AND WEAVE, CLINCH, DUCK, SLIP

  • Ways to describe a baseball catch - BASKET, SHOESTRING, SNOW CONE, WEB GEM

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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 Connections.

Best Buy has slashed $400 off the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra in its 48-hour flash sale

Mashable - 6 hours 32 min ago

SAVE $400: As of Jan. 27, the 256GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is on sale for $799.99 at Best Buy. This is $400 off its list price of $1,199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra $799.99 at Best Buy
$1,199.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal

Best Buy has kicked off 2025 in style by dropping several great deals all throughout the month of January. At the moment, the retailer is throwing a 48-hour flash sale that features quite a few offers that are worth taking advantage of, including an impressive discount on the 256GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra tablet.

The 256GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra tablet is currently on sale for $799.99 at Best Buy. This is $400 off its list price of $1,199.99 and even comes with bonus offers of one month free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a six month subscription of Norton 360 (three devices) with LifeLock Identity Advisor (one adult), and free YouTube Premium for three months. This deal is part of Best Buy's 48-hour flash sale so you'll want to act fast to scoop it up.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

Boasting a 14.6-inch display and 2960 x 1848 resolution, this screen offers crisp, vibrant images no matter if you're using it for work or play. It also features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 256GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life so you can keep busy on it for longer. We rank the standard Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 as one of the best tablets in 2025, noting it's "a sensible choice if you’re already stocked with a Samsung Galaxy phone and earbuds. Just like Apple, its devices sync seamlessly for an all-encompassing ecosystem."

This limited-time deal is only sticking around until Jan. 29, so act fast to save on the 256GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra tablet.

Best Buy's offering a few more deals that are worth jumping on right now, too. At the moment, you can also save on the 65-inch Samsung The Frame TV and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones have had a $150 price drop.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for January 27, 2025

Mashable - 6 hours 34 min ago

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 Monday, January 27, 2025:

AcrossGold medalist Ledecky
  • The answer is Katie.

Cellphone pop-up
  • The answer is Alert.

What gamblers and actors study
  • The answer is Lines.

Wood traditionally used for black piano keys
  • The answer is Ebony.

Anger
  • The answer is Ire.

DownSalad green derived from wild mustard
  • The answer is Kale.

Cover story told in court
  • The answer is Alibi.

Choir member
  • The answer is Tenor.

___ Adler, character who outsmarted Sherlock Holmes
  • The answer is Irene.

Site that dubs itself "the global marketplace for unique and creative goods"
  • The answer is Etsy.

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.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hands-on: 3 things potentially worth the upgrade

Mashable - 6 hours 46 min ago

Incremental annual phone updates have become pretty normal, but even by modern industry standards, the latest Samsung flagship devices feel iterative.

The Galaxy S25 series was unveiled at Samsung's Unpacked event this week with the promise of fancy hardware upgrades and useful new software features. That's...not entirely what we got, though. At first blush, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is very similar to last year's model. Its display specs are nearly identical, and the story is similar with its rear camera measurements. Aside from a new 50MP ultra-wide lens (and I don't want to pretend like that's nothing), little has changed.

After some brief hands-on testing with the Ultra, though, I've identified a couple of things that might make this phone worth a purchase, especially if you're rocking a handset that's getting up there in years.

SEE ALSO: Every Samsung Galaxy Unpacked announcement, including S25 phones The new chip is very fast

Probably the biggest hardware enhancement Samsung added to the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the latest and greatest in Snapdragon processing, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset. After a little bit of time using the phone, I can confirm everything feels very speedy and responsive.

I'll wait until the full review to get into benchmarking scores and whatnot, but the new chip makes a great first impression. Things that seem like they should be hardware-intensive, such as AI features, seem to run without much of a fuss. I can say the same about basic everyday app usage. I haven't spent a huge amount of time with the S25 Ultra just yet, but based on the early goings, the new chip is probably going to be the biggest change for anyone upgrading from an older handset.

Now Brief is interesting I would not say I'm actually very interested in that news story, actually. Credit: Screenshot: Samsung

Speaking of AI features, Samsung went whole hog this year with a suite of new AI goodies that, at least for now, seem to be exclusive to S25 Ultra. These include a number of agentic AI features that I haven't had time to properly put through their paces yet, such as the ability to have Gemini look up information for you and add it to your notes or calendar automatically. This did work for me on the first try (I told it to add this weekend's playoff football games to my personal calendar), but I'll need more time with it to fully judge it.

However, one new AI features does stick out to me right away, and that's the Now Brief. This is a widget that lives on your home screen by default that puts things like the day's weather, upcoming calendar obligations, and news stories that are relevant to your interests in one easily scrollable page.

While I am as much of an AI hater as anyone (largely due to its destructive environmental impact), I'll admit that there's some use to this. Being able to quickly see what kind of weather the day will bring, as well as what it is that I have to do that day and what's happening in the news, is convenient. Could I also easily do all of this myself with about 30 seconds of Google searching? Absolutely. But this is slightly more convenient, if nothing else.

The S25 Ultra takes the edge off

Lastly, Samsung made one small change that I really like: The edges of the S25 Ultra are curved.

Previously, the titanium frame on the S24 Ultra had hard corners around the phone, which distinguished the Ultra models from their less expensive brethren, but also made them kind of a pain to actually hold. That's not as true of the S25 Ultra, which I feel has a more natural grip and doesn't dig into your palms like the old cornered edges would. The new phone is also 14g lighter than the old one, for what that's worth.

I'll need more time with the S25 Ultra to fully formulate my thoughts on it, but so far, this phone seems exactly as iterative as you think it is. It's not really a surprise at this point why Samsung's Unpacked stream waited until the final few minutes to actually talk about hardware; there just isn't a lot to talk about. But maybe after some more time with the S25 Ultra, I'll feel differently.

E.V. Owners Don’t Pay Gas Taxes. So, Many States Are Charging Them Fees.

NYT Technology - 6 hours 49 min ago
States are using higher registration fees for electric cars to make up for declining fuel taxes, but some are punitive, environmentalists say. A federal tax could be coming.

DeepSeek AI is now on top of Apples App Store

Mashable - 6 hours 50 min ago

Well, that was fast.

Just a few days after China's AI startup DeepSeek launched its latest reasoning model, DeepSeek R1, the company's iOS app surged to the top of Apple's App Store, leaving OpenAI's ChatGPT in second place.

That was quick. Credit: Sensor Tower

DeepSeek claims that it DeepSeek R1 beats competing AI models in several key benchmarks. In my testing, it definitely held its own, helping me design a web project in minutes and helping me improve my chess skills.

Tweet may have been deleted

But what truly propelled DeepSeek's popularity is the fact that it's open source, as well as its pricing. DeepSeek is free to use on the web and as a smartphone app, and the company charges a lot less for API access than OpenAI does for its most advanced reasoning AI model. Numerous threads on social networks popped up over the weekend with examples of people running DeepSeek on fairly modest hardware or using it to perform complex tasks.

View on Threads

The result? DeepSeek is now the top app on Apple's App Store, and the 20th most popular app on Google Play.

SEE ALSO: DeepSeek AI might be smarter than OpenAI's smartest AI, and you can try it out now

The launch and sudden popularity of DeepSeek could also impact the U.S. stock market, where Nvidia currently reigns supreme as the largest company by market cap. There are indications that DeepSeek has been built and trained for far less than competing U.S.-based models such as Meta's Llama and OpenAI's ChatGPT models. This, in turn, could mean a weaker demand for Nvidia hardware, which is commonly used for high-end AI applications. Currently, tech stock index NASDAQ's futures are down 3.2 percent ahead of market open on Monday.

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