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AVOID BRAND TAX: As of Jan. 31, the CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme Gaming PC is available for $2,699.99 at Best Buy. It features an Nvidia RTX 5080, Intel Ultra 9 285K, 64GB of DDR5 RGB RAM, and a 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, delivering top-tier gaming performance without the headache of RTX 5080 stock shortages.

Opens in a new window Credit: CyberPower CyberPowerPC RTX 5080 Gaming PC Shop Now

Finding an RTX 5080 in stock is already a struggle, so why not grab a fully prebuilt gaming PC with it already installed? This CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme is fully loaded, packing an Intel Ultra 9 285K, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 4TB SSD into a liquid-cooled, RGB-lit white chassis. This is the deal to get if you want a turnkey 4K gaming powerhouse. It's also around half the price of big-name RTX 5080 builds with similar specs, so you're getting bang for your buck with this Best Buy deal.

The RTX 5080 is built for high-frame-rate 4K gaming, with DLSS 4, Multi-Frame Generation, and 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM. Ray Tracing Overdrive in Cyberpunk 2077? No problem. 240Hz gaming at 1440p? Easily done. And with Nvidia Reflex 2 helping cut input lag, this setup gives you a competitive edge in esports titles.

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

With 64GB of DDR5 RAM, multitasking is damn smooth, making this an ideal choice for gaming, streaming, and content creation. The 4TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD ensures blazing-fast load times and plenty of room for AAA game libraries, massive video files, and everything else you throw at it.

The liquid cooling system checks temperatures, ensuring the Intel Ultra 9 285K and RTX 5080 perform at their best under heavy loads. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 come standard, and with plenty of USB-A and USB-C ports, connectivity is sorted.

At $2,699.99, this RTX 5080 gaming PC is one of the best-value prebuilt options available. With 12-month financing available at $225 per month, it's a realistic way to get cutting-edge performance without waiting on RTX 5080 restocks. This is the one to grab if you're after power, cooling, and storage without the hassle.

RTX 5080 MAXED OUT GAMING PC: As of Jan. 31, the Alienware Area-51 Gaming PC is available for $5,049.99 at Dell. This fully maxed-out version includes an RTX 5080, Intel Ultra 9 285K, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 4TB NVMe SSD, making it one of the most powerful gaming desktops on the market.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Alienware Area 51 (Full Spec) RTX 5080 Shop Now

Going all-in on a next-gen RTX 5080 gaming PC? This Alienware Area-51 build is as premium as it gets. Featuring Nvidia's RTX 5080, an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, 64GB of DDR5 RAM at 6400MT/s, and a massive 4TB NVMe SSD, this thing is ready to crush 4K gaming for years to come. With GPU stock already selling out fast, this prebuilt saves you the stress of hunting for an RTX 5080 while delivering one of the most high-end systems available today.

The RTX 5080 is a monster at 4K, with DLSS 4, Multi-Frame Generation, and 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM, ensuring that demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws run flawlessly with ray tracing maxed out. Nvidia Reflex 2 further reduces input lag, making this an absolute weapon in competitive games. This PC is built to handle it all without breaking a sweat.

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

A 360mm liquid cooler keeps the Intel Ultra 9 285K in check, while Alienware's positive pressure airflow system ensures the RTX 5080 stays cool under heavy loads. With a 1500W Platinum-rated PSU, a PCIe Gen 5 x16 slot for future GPU upgrades, and a fully ATX-compliant motherboard, this rig is built for longevity.

At $5,049.99, this RTX 5080 PC isn't just powerful — it's an investment in high-end gaming. Financing is available from $421 per month with Dell Pay Credit. It is a viable option for anyone wanting top-tier performance without waiting for RTX 5080 restocks. If you're serious about getting the best gaming experience possible, this is the prebuilt to buy.

RTX 5080 GAMING PC: As of Jan. 31, the Alienware Area-51 Gaming PC is available for $4,449.99 at Dell. This prebuilt is one of the only ways to get an RTX 5080 right now, making it a serious option for anyone who missed the initial wave of standalone GPU stock.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Alienware Area 51 RTX 5080 Shop Now

Finding an RTX 5080 at retail price is next to impossible. The new Nvidia GPU sold out almost instantly and restocks are looking scarce. If you don’t want to play the waiting game or fight scalpers, Alienware Area-51 gaming PC is a flash alternative. This RTX 5080 prebuilt isn’t just a stock lifeline — it’s also a powerhouse, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM at 6400MT/s, and a 2TB NVMe SSD to keep your load times lightning-fast.

The RTX 5080 is a beast at 4K gaming, delivering double-digit performance gains over the RTX 4080 Super while introducing DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation to push frame rates even higher. Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars Outlaws, and Alan Wake 2 will look stunning with maxed-out ray tracing while staying silky smooth on a high refresh rate display. Nvidia Reflex 2 further reduces input lag, giving competitive players a serious edge in esports titles.

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

Dell has designed the Area-51 to run cool and quiet, even with top-tier hardware inside. A 360mm liquid cooler keeps the Intel Ultra 9 285K in check. At the same time, positive pressure airflow and large-diameter fans ensure the RTX 5080 stays frosty under load. It also features a 1500W Platinum-rated PSU, a PCIe Gen 5 x16 slot for future GPU upgrades, and a fully ATX-compliant motherboard, making it easy to upgrade.

Given how RTX 5080 stock is vanishing fast, this Alienware prebuilt is one of the safest bets if you want next-gen performance without waiting months. At $4,449.99, it’s expensive, but if you were planning to build a high-end system anyway, this deal gets you an RTX 5080 with none of the stock shortages or price gouging. Financing costs $371 per month with Dell Pay Credit, making it a little easier to swallow. If you’re serious about 4K gaming, this is one of the best prebuilt PCs you can buy today.

TL;DR: Own Microsoft Visual Studio for life for just £22.52 (reg. £401.85) through 16 February and transform your development process with advanced tools.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for Windows £22.52 at the Mashable Shop
£401.85 Save £379.33 Get Deal

If you’re serious about coding, you need a serious tool to match your skills. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 is built to help developers work smarter, not harder — offering a comprehensive suite of features to simplify coding, debugging, and deploying your projects.

Own Microsoft Visual Studio for life for just £22.52 (reg. £401.85) through 16 February and transform your development process with advanced tools.

Designed for professionals and teams, this platform supports a wide range of programming languages and frameworks, making it a go-to for everything from web development to mobile app creation. Its integrated debugging tools allow you to spot and fix errors in real-time, cutting down on frustration and saving you hours of work.

Collaboration is seamless, thanks to various built-in integrations, letting you work smoothly with your team. The intuitive interface and advanced organisation tools help you handle even the most complex workflows with ease, so you can stay focused on what really matters — creating amazing applications.

This isn’t just a tool for writing code; it’s a full-scale development environment tailored to the needs of professionals. You’ll also enjoy live testing features, making it easy to catch bugs early and deliver polished results. Best of all, this is a lifetime license, so there are no subscriptions or recurring fees.

Whether you’re an experienced developer or looking to take your skills to the next level, Visual Studio Professional 2022 is the ultimate companion for efficiency and precision.

Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for £22.52 (reg. £401.85) through 16 February and elevate your coding game with tools built for success.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Six Nations is starting with an absolutely massive match between France and Wales. Sure, Wales are going through a particularly tough time right now. But they could turn things around in Paris.

If you want to watch France vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Wales?

France vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 8:15 p.m. GMT on Jan. 31. This fixture takes place at the Stade de France.

How to watch France vs. Wales for free

France vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of France vs. Wales by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream France vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch France vs. Wales without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream France vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

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

Take a moment to picture the perfect holiday snap: You relaxing in some picturesque location, the sun shining, and a cold drink in your hand. They say a picture speaks a thousand words. But who's bringing the tunes? For that you'll need a decent speaker.

When selecting a speaker for this particular scene, there are certain features to keep in mind. Choosing a wireless speaker — one that doesn’t tangle you in power cords and can easily connect to your phone via WiFi or Bluetooth — will obviously make things easier, which is why you should primarily consider wireless for outside use.

But wireless technology isn't the only important feature. Just as crucial for outdoor use is some kind of weather-resistance or waterproofing — and speakers come with all kinds of tech and smart features. Here's a guide to everything you need to know.

Do you need a wireless outdoor speaker?

With today’s WiFi and Bluetooth technology, there’s no need to fumble around with complicated installations or bury wires in the garden to protect against wet and windy elements. You’re better off with a Bluetooth speaker that easily connects to your devices — smartphone, tablet, laptop, whatever — and seamlessly streams your tunes. Another benefit is that you can often link several Bluetooth speakers to provide complete audio coverage over your outdoor space. You can also use that tech to sync the audio playing indoors and outdoors to keep your party’s vibe consistent.

What are the important features in wireless outdoor speakers?

We have checked out a wide range of wireless outdoor speakers, and come up with a shortlist of things you should care about. These are some things to consider:

• Battery Life — The major downside of wireless speakers is that they need to be charged periodically. Make sure that the outdoor speaker you choose has a decent battery life if you plan to use it often and don’t want to think about recharging too much. 10-12 hours is about average.

• Durability — This might seem obvious, but you need your outdoor speaker to be durable. If it's not, then it's not going to last very long. Chances are, any outdoor speaker is going to take a few bumps and it might even get dropped. So the last thing you need is something that easily breaks.

• Sound quality — Just like with any speaker purchase, you’re going to want to prioritise sound quality. What’s the point if your speaker doesn’t play your tunes any better than your phone? So make sure you pick something with bass, clear audio, and good volume.

• Waterproofing — We have just mentioned how important water resistance is, but you should also look for the next step in protection. If you’re planning to use your speaker near a pool, lake, or sea, you should get one that can be submerged in water. Accidents happen, and it's best to play it safe with a waterproof speaker. Be sure to check the waterproof rating.

• Weather-resistance — Of course, nothing is indestructible in the elements, but you will need something that can hold up at least for a little while in whatever weather conditions are common near you. This is where a speaker that's water or heat resistant can come in handy.

Keep these points in mind when shopping for your next speaker.

What is the best wireless outdoor speaker?

Once you've made sense of what matters most to you, and what you want from an outdoor speaker, you can decide on your preferred device. This isn't the easiest task, because there are a lot of options out there that tick a lot of boxes.

To make things easier for you, we have lined up a selection of the best wireless outdoor speakers, including popular models from top brands like JBL and Ultimate Ears. We've searched high and low to bring you this list, and we're confident that there's something for everyone here — not to mention every budget.

These are the best wireless outdoor speakers in 2025.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's 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?

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 31 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Contain stuff in these

• Green: Nose

• Blue: Pretentious hobbyist

• Purple: Swimming styles

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

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

• Yellow: Storage Containers

• Green: Schnozz

• Blue: Ones with Discerning Tastes

• Purple: Starts of Swimming Strokes

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 #600 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Storage Containers: CASE, CHEST, CRATE, TRUNK

• Schnozz: BEAK, HONKER, SNOOT, SNOUT

• Ones with Discerning Tastes: CONNOISSEUR, CRITIC, EXPERT, SNOB

• Starts of Swimming Strokes: BACK, BREAST, BUTTER, FREE

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 31

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.

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for January 31 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 31, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Cooked bread.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

TOAST.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 31

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

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 Wordle.

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: Pool table terms

• Green: Share a college conference

• Blue: Selected first in football drafts

• Purple: Share a color

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: Billiards terms

• Green: ACC schools

• Blue: First names of last four No. 1 NFL draft picks

• Purple: Blues

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 #130 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Billiards terms - BREAK, CUE, SCRATCH, ENGLISH

• ACC schools - CAL, DUKE, MIAMI, VIRGINIA

• First names of last four No. 1 NFL draft picks - BRYCE, CALEB, TRAVON, TREVOR

• Blues - CHELSEA, FRANCE, ST. LOUIS, VIDA

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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 31 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 31 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Baby Talk

These words are things young children might say.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are the first things a child might say in the first year of their life.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is FirstWords.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 31

• Mama

• Dada

• Bottle

• Kitty

• Yucky

• Mine

• ByeBye

• More

• FirstWords

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

The stock market is unpredictable. Sometimes, bad news boosts a stock, while good earnings send it tumbling. That's just how the market works.

Take Nvidia, for example. The company is still reeling from the AI sector's shake-up after DeepSeek’s latest model release earlier this week. Even today, as Nvidia launches its highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards, its stock continues to slide.

Why could this be happening? Let's take a look.

Nvidia RTX series delays

There is a strong demand online for Nvidia's new RTX 50 series graphics cards, but that doesn't necessarily translate to big sales. That's because Nvidia cannot keep store shelves stocked.

Many online retailers sold out of their supply within minutes. Scalpers are now selling Nvidia's graphic cards for a premium on the aftermarkets. Some retailers are informing customers to expect months of delays and backorders of the RTX 5090 and 5080.

SEE ALSO: Why DeepSeek is hitting tech stocks hard, including Nvidia's

While the demand is there, it's clear that's not the sole reason why Nvidia's RTX 50 series is impossible to find in stores. Many retailers received fairly low stock quantities, as Nvidia reportedly experienced manufacturing issues.

Overall, these issues may not be a reason for a stock to fall. But they do point to why Nvidia couldn't depend on the RTX 50 series release to help too much in its recovery.

DeepSeek's looming threat

U.S.-based AI companies like OpenAI and Nvidia are still reeling from the China-based startup's release of the DeepSeek-R1 AI model. 

DeepSeek reportedly created an AI model that's at least on par with OpenAI's latest model. In addition, they say they did it with fewer resources in processing power and funding. It reportedly cost DeepSeek less than $6 million to create a model that OpenAI spent hundreds of millions on.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI accuses Chinese competitor DeepSeek of stealing data, internet digs into the 'irony'

Few companies have benefitted from the AI boom in the U.S. than Nvidia, which supplies U.S. tech companies with processing power to build their AI models. 

Although DeepSeek has done its damage, the looming threat is far from over. DeepSeek has released additional AI models for AI-generated images and is developing even more advanced models.

In addition, other China-based companies, such as Alibaba, have announced their own advanced AI models that are supposedly even more powerful than those already available.

Trump's Taiwan tariff threat

DeepSeek wasn't the only thing that hit Nvidia this week.

In a speech earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced a plan intended to move computer chip manufacturing from Taiwan to the U.S. What's the plan? Tariffs.

"In the very near future, we’re going to be placing tariffs on foreign production of computer chips, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals to return production of these essential goods to the United States," Trump said in a speech.

"They left us and went to Taiwan," Trump said, referring to companies like Apple, Qualcomm, and Nvidia, which manufacture their chips in Taiwan.

Trump said the tariff could be as high as 100 percent. Trump's proposed tariffs could cause the price of these products to skyrocket for U.S. customers. In turn, companies like Nvidia would likely sell fewer products or make a smaller profit to compensate for the increased cost passed on to consumers.

In a meeting with Meta employees on Thursday, Mr. Zuckerberg also defended recent changes to the company’s online speech policies and ending its diversity initiatives.

The tech giant’s sales of apps and services helped profit grow 7 percent from a year ago, even as the company contended with slumping sales in China.

For people who hate making mundane phone calls, Google has an AI solution.

On Thursday, the tech giant announced "Ask for me," an experiment in its Search Labs testing ground for Google Search. The feature uses AI to call local businesses on your behalf and ask about pricing and availability. Currently, the feature works for calling nail salons and local mechanics for an oil change or other standard car maintenance, but according to the options menu, more businesses are coming soon. 

SEE ALSO: Google's 'Daily Listen' AI generates customized mini podcasts Tweet may have been deleted

Like the rest of the AI industry, Google is leaning more and more into agentic experiences — AI that can do things on your behalf. Automating information-gathering calls is just one of the ways it's doing this. Google recently launched a Gemini tool that acts as a research assistant that can gather data for you from the web, and it debuted another Search Labs experiment that waits on hold for you when calling customer service.

Its newest Gemini model is integrated with the latest Samsung Galaxy and Pixel phones, with features for pulling together information, creating calendar events, and sending messages.

If you're enrolled in Search Labs, you can toggle on the experiment to test it. Note: By enrolling in Search Labs, you agree to share this data with Google to improve its AI models. Next, choose whether you're looking for information about a nail salon or mechanic, and proceed to the next few steps about the services you're looking for. Once you've added all the pertinent information, choose to receive a response via SMS or email, which takes up to 30 minutes. Easy peasy.

Tweet may have been deleted

For the receiving end of the call, that's another story. The person who picks up the phone will receive an automated announcement from Google AI saying that it's calling on behalf of a user. If the person hasn't hung up yet — because my first reaction would be that it's obviously spam — the AI will proceed to ask about pricing and availability. The receiver can then give the bot a response in a conversational manner, which it's capable of understanding, and send its response to you.

When we tried it out, we got a response from Google 21 minutes later informing us about prices and availability for a manicure at a local nail salon. The Google bot also said they tried other salons but "couldn't reach" them. Maybe they were busy, or maybe they were bewildered by the automated request.

When I called Gabriela Nguyen, the 23-year-old founder of APPstinent, she picked up on her Cat S22 flip phone.

Technically, because it runs the stripped-down operating system Android Go, you could consider it a rugged smartphone. But because of its style, size, and configuration, Nguyen can't easily or enjoyably spend the day using social media apps, if she ever downloaded any.

That's because after years of trying to curtail her use, Nguyen abandoned social media. She's not even on LinkedIn, which is arguably impressive for a student enrolled in Harvard's Graduate School of Education.

Now that she's liberated herself from social media and a sophisticated smartphone, she's determined to help others do the same through APPstinent, a Harvard student organization that she founded. It offers free coaching for clients to help them create a personalized "Digital Lifestyle Plan."

SEE ALSO: Why teens are telling strangers their secrets online

Nguyen is particularly invested in helping fellow members of Gen Z to reclaim their lives. She believes they've moved from a phone-based childhood, which prevented them from learning "soft skills" like making eye contact and approaching strangers, to an "infantilizing" phone-based adulthood.

They're supposed to be grownups but still use the same technologies and don't know how to leave behind the "petty social games" they learned online as teens. She insists that it's up to them, with support from older generations, to take back what they've lost as a result.

"It is not our fault our childhoods were like this, but it is our responsibility for our own lives and the next generation to use our knowledge for course correction," she says.

What does "appstinence" mean?

Her program APPstinent sounds like what it is: a strategy for permanently throwing off our digital yokes. Given how "psychologically manipulative" social media products can be, Nguyen doesn't believe it's possible to "mindfulness" your way out the endless app- and phone-based sand traps designed to steal people's time and attention.

So Nguyen walks clients through APPstinent's "5D Method," which is based on her own experience, as well as addiction research. The plan is designed to gradually wean them off social media, including over a period of 30 days.

This window of time matches most social media platforms' 30-day deactivation policy. If you deactivate your account and don't return within 30 days, the platforms will delete it. In Ngyuen's experience, quitting social media completely was easier once she was sufficiently engaged with the real world. Eventually, the 5D Method includes downgrading your phone.

Nguyen hasn't eschewed the technology entirely, though. She still has an iPhone that only comes out for very special or necessary occasions, like taking a high-quality photo or sharing images she's stored on the device. Otherwise, she snaps pictures on her flip phone and even uses it to listen to music and order food and ride-shares.

She understands that "appstinence" has its limits depending on who you are, too. Students and professionals may need certain communication apps, for example. Nguyen primarily uses WhatsApp for school-related exchanges with international students who don't have U.S. phone numbers.

"You feel a pressure to maintain a version of yourself that's no longer organic." - Gabriela Nguyen, founder of APPstinent

She's less concerned about those tools than personal social media accounts. Nguyen advises clients who feel they need social media in order to promote a business or their own personal brand to create strict limits on what they share. What you don't want, Ngyuen says, is to feel like you're creating a different version of yourself for every platform and constantly seeing yourself through other people's eyes. That can have a corrosive effect on one's sense of self.

"You feel a pressure to maintain a version of yourself that's no longer organic," Nguyen says, adding that the trade-off between living online to promote yourself may not be worth the gains in the long run.

How to quit social media

Nguyen is also realistic about how difficult it is to step away from social media if you've spent years of your daily life engaging with it. For perspective, consider that one-third of teens use at least one of the five major social media platforms "almost constantly," according to a Pew Research Center poll released in December 2024.

Since social media is deeply intertwined with most young people's habits, Nguyen suggests taking a measured and personalized approach.

"I would not recommend white knuckling it in the beginning," she says.

The 5D Method lays out a series of steps that include writing down an honest list of family and friends to whom you want to stay connected, along with a list of realistic analog activities to occupy your time.

This is not the occasion to learn crocheting or rock climbing, at least at first. Nguyen kept it simple by taking a book with her wherever she went, instead of her phone. This satisfied her brain's need to switch its attention frequently but didn't create new — and easily disappointed — expectations for developing a skill.

Some people have a "romantic" notion that quitting social media will make way for creative, brilliant ideas to come pouring forth. But Nguyen warns that's for people at an "advanced stage" in their weaning process. When you start, it's important to just be bored without needing that to be a productivity hack.

The hard truths of quitting social media

Nguyen doesn't mince words: Quitting social media may lead to certain friendships falling by the wayside, and harsh realizations, like that all of your social ties were, well, weak.

"It'll show you who really cares about you," Nguyen says.

When advising clients who are afraid to cull their contacts by going off social media, Nguyen urges them to focus on the relationships they want to maintain. Then they should make a detailed plan to keep in touch by calling them or seeing them in person, rather than trading likes or re-sharing their content on a social media platform.

Once Nguyen left social media, she set up a weekly phone call with her grandfather, who lives in Vietnam. The standing date has enriched their relationship.

Nguyen also tries to reframe the problem for clients. Once she stopped spending so much time online, she had energy to do other things that mattered to her. Nguyen knows the math well. If teens are online for nearly five hours a day, that comes close to a 40-hour work week, she says.

So is the group chat with former classmates who send the occasional meme worth the extra time you spend on social media platforms as a result? How about the constant maintenance required to be active on any given platform?

"This is a really, really uncomfortable question to ask, but then once you ask it and you realize you're comfortable with the answer, it brings a lot of peace," Nguyen says. 

The Righteous Gemstones returns for its fourth and final season this March, and it's clear from its first teaser that it'll be going out with a Biblical bang.

SEE ALSO: 2025 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

The teaser kicks off with a discussion about Baby Billy Freeman's (Walton Goggins, Fallout) upcoming young adult TV series about Jesus as a teenager. He's shortened the title from Teen Jesus to Teenjus, but Gemstone siblings Jesse (creator Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson, Nutcrackers), and Kelvin (Adam DeVine, Isn't It Romantic?) have their misgivings. What about combining the words "teen" and "Jesus" differently? What about simply calling the show Jeen?

That's just the beginning of the Gemstone chaos on display in the teaser, which also includes a full-on battle and a trio of larger-than-life angel costumes. Plus, we learn that Gemstone patriarch Eli (John Goodman, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) is "wasting away in Margaritaville" on his boat.

The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 premieres March 9 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Anthony Hopkins (Rebel Moon) and Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu) face off in the upcoming horror thriller Locked, which, based on the trailer, looks a bit like Saw on wheels.

SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about

Directed by David Yarovesky (Nightbooks) and produced by Sam Raimi (the Evil Dead franchise), Locked stars Skarsgård as Eddie, a down-on-his-luck thief who breaks into a swanky SUV. But this is no luxury vehicle: It belongs to William (Hopkins), a vigilante who has tricked out his car in order to catch thieves and enact his own form of justice.

As William tells Eddie over the phone, he's put a lot of time and money into crafting the perfect torture vehicle. The walls and windows are bulletproof and there's no cell service, so there's no way out. Plus, the seats are able to tase Eddie, and William can lower or raise the temperature however he sees fit.

Yet William doesn't want to kill Eddie outright. Instead, as he remotely takes the car for a spin — potentially killing several pedestrians along the way — his goal is simply to introduce Eddie to "a little taste of hell."

Locked hits theaters March 21.

It's time to accept the fact that Valentine's Day is the sex holiday — and sometimes spicing things up in the bedroom is the most romantic thing you can do. We've scoured the internet to find the sexiest gifts on the market. Whether your boo is into BDSM, toys, or is just one of those people who gets turned on by food, there's bound to be a gift option that satisfies their nether regions and their heart.

NSFW warning: Before you scroll any further, we'd suggest making sure your screen isn't visible to bosses, children, or conservative family members. However, if you're in public with just randos behind you, it's your call as to whether you want to be that person shopping for vibrators in Starbucks.

In the late evening hours of Jan. 29, a U.S. Army helicopter collided with a descending American Airlines passenger plane over the Potomac River en route to the Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. There were no survivors.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — which is experiencing a severe vacancy of top leadership positions — has come under fire for suspected negligence amid a staffing and funding deficit. The head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has said its too early to speculate on the cause, while the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation. Currently, CNN reports the FAA has open listings for: associate administrator of airports, an associate administrator for security and hazardous materials safety, chief counsel, assistant administrator of communications, assistant administrator of government and industry affairs, and assistant administrator for policy, international affairs and environment.

The lack of leadership up top may have been avoidable. One month prior, former FAA head and Biden appointee Mike Whitaker announced he would be resigning early from his position, officially leaving the office on the day of Trump's inauguration years before his term was over. With the position open, many report Elon Musk, who has become a key figure in the early weeks of Trump's presidency and previously pressured Whitaker to resign from the FAA, has been vetting and providing input on Trump's new pick. Despite a wave of appointments following Trump's swearing in, no selections had been made.

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Musk threatened to sue the FAA in September after the agency fined his space transportation company SpaceX more than $630,000 for failing to follow its license requirements during two launches in 2023 — the FAA had also fined Musk-owned telecommunications satellite company Starlink. Recently appointed as leader of the new government advisory body DOGE, ostensibly tasked with ridding the government of superfluous spending and "corrupt" bureaucracy, Musk has been a vocal critic of the transportation agency and advocated for its "radical reform."

Experts say that for years, under both the Trump and Biden administrations, the FAA has been chronically underfunded, and that the current state of investments could threaten passenger safety. In 2024, President Joe Biden signed an FAA bipartisan reauthorization bill, delineating continued investments in air travel infrastructure. The bill included allocations for advancements in runway technology to avoid collisions, as well as a requirement that the FAA train and fill 3,000 open air traffic controller positions.

The Trump administration has largely avoided questions surrounding the FAA's former leadership and funding reality, with newly appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy — sworn in just hours before the devastating impact — ignoring press inquiries about a leadership vacuum in the transportation department. The administration later announced Chris Rocheleau, former chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association, would serve as acting FAA commissioner in a press conference Thursday.

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In that same press conference, Trump nonsensically alleged that the deadly incident could have been the result of "diversity hiring" under the Biden administration. "We've had a much higher standard than anybody else. And there are things where you have to go by brain power, where you have to go by psychological quality... Biden went by a standard that is the complete opposite," Trump told the press. "Certainly, for an air traffic controller, we want the brightest, the smartest, the sharpest. We want somebody that is psychologically superior."

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Taking to X, former secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was also the target of blame by Trump, wrote: "President Trump now oversees the military and the FAA. One of his first acts was to fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe. Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again."

Hot on the heels of Elon Musk's dire email to X employees about how the social media platform is "barely breaking even," another one of Musk's companies had some concerning news to share.

On Wednesday evening, Tesla shared its latest earnings report, covering Q4 of 2024. According to Tesla, the EV company brought in $25.7 billion in total revenue over the final months of last year.

SEE ALSO: Tesla stock slides after first-ever delivery drop

Those Q4 2024 revenue numbers actually show a nearly two percent increase when compared to the same quarter in 2023.

However, while revenue is up, net income is down. Way down.

According to Tesla's quarterly report, the company made $2.3 billion in net income in Q4 2024. Net income is the amount the company actually made after subtracting its expenses from its revenue total. That's a whopping 70 percent decrease in net income compared to Q4 2023.

As The Verge points out, Tesla's net income for the final quarter of 2023 was buoyed by a "one-time non-cash tax benefit of $5.9 billion."

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk admits that Tesla will have to replace old computers for FSD buyers

While Tesla's automotive sales rose by two percent year over year, a good chunk of its profit comes from selling regulatory credits to other car companies. These credits are purchased so that those automakers can meet emissions standards. Tesla receives these credits for free and essentially sells them to others at 100 percent profit.

Tesla made $692 million from the sale of regulatory credits in Q4 2024, up from the $433 million from selling credits during the same period in the year prior.

Musk's EV company made $2.8 billion in 2024 from the sale of these regulatory credits, which is more than its net profit for this entire quarter.

President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have said that they want to repeal the regulations that allow Tesla to receive these credits. As of now, it's unclear if and when they plan to do so.