- Help
- Google+
X’s block feature as we know it is about to be no more, CEO Elon Musk stated Monday on the social media site.
Musk confirmed the change in a reply to Nima Owji, a web developer who first reported the news.
Tweet may have been deletedSince its inception, the block feature on Twitter, X’s former moniker, allowed users to prevent individuals from viewing or engaging with their public posts. With the change, blocked accounts will be able to view the blocker’s posts once again, but cannot engage with the content via likes, replies, reposts, or direct messages. Musk actually threatened last year to kill all features of the block, save for a blocked user being able to DM the blocker.
Even though Musk’s change isn’t as extreme as his previous announcement, Monday’s news is alarming to many who have faced harassment or stalking on X. Though the updated block feature prevents potential bad actors from causing trouble on X, anyone will soon be able to easily view information on the site and utilize it offline or via another site. Someone can now easily screen-capture a post on X from an account that previously blocked them, for instance, and repost it on Threads, Facebook, or Instagram; they can also screen cap that X post and post it on their own X account.
SEE ALSO: Donald Trump returns to X / Twitter with a flurry of posts — and an inconsistently labeled campaign adSome on X responded positively to the news, calling the current block function toothless. Owji, the web developer who reported the news, claimed anyone could circumvent the feature with alt accounts, while others pointed out that blocked users could view public posts in their browser’s incognito mode.
Whatever Musk’s motivation for the change — some posited it was Musk’s furtive method to amp up engagement and impressions for his ailing company, or tied to the upcoming presidential election, of which the CEO has a clear favorite — it may run into some roadblocks. The biggest hurdle for X is that Google and Apple require block features for social media apps available on their app stores — and there is already an effort afoot to push Google and Apple to block X downloads if blocking goes away.
To resurrect a late actor — as recent franchise films have done using CGI — is akin to an act of puppetry, and The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee tackles this idea with mischievous literalism. It employs, as its central narrator, a delightfully designed marionette of the late English thespian, known for playing Count Dracula in the Hammer horror films, as well as fantasy icons like Count Dooku and Lord Saruman.
However, this self-reflexive touch is the documentary's only deft or thoughtful flourish. The end result is too rote and mechanical to truly inform audiences about its subject either intellectually or emotionally, despite featuring numerous friends, family, and colleagues who undoubtedly had access to Lee's wildly interesting life — the dimensions of which the film never fully explores.
What is The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee about?A man whose voice and posture exuded presence, Christopher Lee was a screen legend with an unconventional film career, and an even more unorthodox job before that: In the years following World War II, he was a Nazi hunter. However, The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee is scarcely interested in exploring this side of the famous actor. In fact, it seldom sticks with any one topic or period of his life for long enough to create intrigue.
The film's opening images are its most pronounced. A visibly Lee-like silhouette sits in the darkness, as a nearby screen plays clips of various pals and confidants speaking on his behalf. It's a preview of what's to come: Lee looms large over the movie, but his story is told through other people's recollections. This shadowy figure is soon revealed to be a puppet on strings, voiced by fellow Star Wars alum Peter Serafinowicz (the voice of Darth Maul), who does an adequate impression.
Director Jon Spira has no qualms about revealing this ruse, and ensures that footage of Serafinowicz in a sound recording booth is prominently displayed. The film is not, after all, an attempted re-creation of Lee's thoughts, but a Brechtian dramatization of them, with no central source for his opinions despite his dialogue appearing in the first person.
One by one, Serafinowicz guides us through notable years of Lee's upbringing, his war service, and his early career leading up to his most famous roles, but little of this backdrop creates a wide enough portrait of who Lee really was. Much of this is owed to what the movie's interview subjects have to say — and notably, what they don't.
Surely there are more interesting stories about Christopher Lee?There are enough reasons to dislike director John Landis (three in particular), but his inflated presence in The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee feels especially odd. Lee and Landis were friends, having collaborated on The Stupids, but the filmmaker sheds little light on Lee's private life despite discussing him at length. In fact, the closest he comes to sharing a meaningful anecdote involves him recalling Lee's refusal to discuss World War II. Rather than probing further, the movie simply leaves it at that, even though Lee's part in the conflict is well-documented elsewhere. It’s hard not to wonder, from Landis’ musings, if the director knew him at all.
This lack of curiosity about its own subject plagues The Life and Deaths for much of its runtime, even though Lee’s niece and son-in-law feature among the interviewees. However, that’s likely only the movie's second-gravest sin. The larger issue is that the movie's imagined version of Lee is seldom as captivating as the real man, as evidenced by the eloquence and mysteriousness he often displayed in his own interviews, whether discussing the motivations of his characters, or the way his physicality was informed by the real violence he saw up-close in the 1940s.
Instead, the movie mostly features banal recollections of things Lee might've said on one occasion, without ever weaving them into a larger tapestry. Each tidbit is isolated, and relatively meaningless on its own, with little journalistic probing as to its underlying meaning or what it says about the man himself. It also never gets to the root of its own title, and only mentions in passing that Lee often played characters who died on screen, but it never attempts to investigate what this might mean for a performer who lived in such close proximity to death.
If nothing else, the movie's visual execution at least falls perfectly in line with this mechanical approach.
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee is mechanically assembled.You could set your watch to the movie's use of any still photograph, on which it zooms in slowly for a few seconds apiece before cutting back to the most recent talking head. It's a repetitive form of editing that ensures a familiar rhythm, but one that offers no excitement or spark of imagination — let alone one that uses its images to punctuate what's being said. Instead, archival photographs are used to illustrate the words themselves, doubling down on how little the film actually has to say.
This is, of course, limited to the use of real pictures and footage. The movie also appears to make use — in limited but noticeable capacity — of A.I.-generated imagery to imbue some of these photos with movement. It also seems to use A.I. to create map inserts for transitional moments, when the topic being discussed is Lee's travel or relocation between countries (the places listed on these maps are total gibberish). For a film that seeks permission to bring a dead actor to life in humane ways, more akin to a biopic than ghoulish digital necromancy, it skirts the very same technological line in equally concerning ways.
However, even these generated elements don't add any spark or pizzazz to the proceedings. No matter its fleeting focus, the movie very quickly moves on from one topic to the next — in disconnected, rambling, "and then… and then… and then" fashion — as though it were simply running down a list of Lee's achievements from his Wikipedia page (which, incidentally, is far more informative).
Despite the numerous forms of stylization it attempts — on occasion, it portrays Lee's life through comic panels and eye-popping dioramas — The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee presents what ought to be a poetic life in the form of blank verse. It's a chore to watch, with little sense of insight about a man who lived a truly intriguing life.
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee was reviewed out of its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest.
Going solo on a lot of things can be hugely rewarding, but sometimes, it can become a huge load to carry on your own.
Every content creator, solopreneur, side hustler, and freelance artist has hit roadblocks, maybe because of their skill level or perhaps a lack of time; it happens. When building a team isn’t possible, Adobe Firefly generative AI can help fill those gaps. Their services can help you speed through tasks and prioritize other things.
And since Adobe Firefly's features are integrated into the products you already know and likely use so often, you won’t have to waste time navigating new software. Here are some of the ways Adobe tools can help you power through projects.
Generate images using any kind of reference material Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Photoshop $22.99 at AdobeEach step in the creative process can be enhanced with generative AI in Adobe Photoshop.
When you need to create something from scratch, ask Text-to-Image to design it using text prompts and creative controls. If you have an idea or style that’s too hard to explain with text, upload an image for the AI to use as reference material.
If you have a photo you love but want to swap the background, the latest Photoshop update allows you to generate a replacement background that matches the lighting, shadows, and perspective of the subject in the forefront.
Final tweaks can be made using Generative Fill with the new Enhance Detail, a feature that allows you to modify images using text prompts. You can then improve the sharpness of the AI-generated variations to ensure they’re clear and blend with the original picture.
Adobe Photoshop starts at $22.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial.
Get pro-quality photos in a few clicks Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Lightroom $9.99 at AdobeNo matter what kind of camera you’re working with or how skilled of a photographer you are, Adobe Lightroom can help you easily achieve pro-quality photos super fast.
First up, Generative Remove. Say you have an otherwise perfect shot that’s ruined by one person in the group looking away or a photobombing animal. Generative Remove will wipe the unwanted part, and then replicate the background. It’s smart enough to do all this without smudges, distortions, or dark spots.
Another feature, Lens Blur, allows you to blur any part of a photo to create more professional-looking cityscapes, portraits, or street photography.
Adobe Lightroom starts at $9.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial.
Create social and marketing content on the fly Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Express $22.99 at AdobeWhen you need to move fast, the new Adobe Express app brings the best of these features together in an easy-to-use content creation tool.
It includes text-to-image and generative fill, video templates, stock music, image and design assets, and quick-action editing tools to help you create content easily on the go. Once you have created content, you can plan, preview, and publish it to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest without leaving the app.
If you do happen to have a team around you, features like brand kits, co-editing, and commenting will aid in faster, more seamless collaboration.
Adobe Express starts from $9.99 monthly, with a 30-day free trial.
An AI-driven personal assistant for the admin work Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Acrobat $19.99 at AdobeIf the admin stuff gets you down, outsource it to AI Assistant for Acrobat — a clever new feature that helps you generate summaries or get answers from your documents in one click.
This can help you speed through long documents to find the most important insights, quickly identify key talking points for emails or marketing materials, and find themes and relationships across multiple documents or sources.
Once you’re in a groove with your new AI assistant, you’ll find so many new use cases, like summarizing meeting transcripts, generating podcast recaps, or uncovering action items.
Adobe Acrobat starts at $19.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial.
Equip your solo operation with these transformative services and watch your projects hit new peaks. Or try Adobe's Creative Cloud, a complete toolkit for creativity, bundling Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Adobe Express, and Acrobat Pro.
Adobe Firefly generative AI tools riding shotgun can unlock limitless possibilities to boost productivity and creativity.
"To be a chef, you've got to love the taste of blood."
So says one of the many chefs present in House of Spoils, and writers and directors Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy (Blow the Man Down) are all too happy to oblige. Right from the jump, blood and cooking are intertwined. In the film's opening, a coven of women gather around a fire, pounding what looks like hunks of bloody flesh into a paste. Cut to equally bloody filets on the grill in a high-end Manhattan kitchen. Cooking, it seems, is its own kind of witchcraft — and House of Spoils is ready to serve us a thrilling five-course meal of both.
SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall What's House of Spoils about? Ariana DeBose in "House of Spoils." Credit: Courtesy of PrimeA dark fairy tale with culinary bite, House of Spoils dives into one chef's pursuit of perfection, a theme viewers might most recently associate with The Bear or The Menu. But make no mistake, House of Spoils' similarities to those projects start and end with the fact that they take place in a high-end restaurant.
The chef in question has no name. She's just Chef (Ariana DeBose, West Side Story), her sense of self so tied to her profession that there's no room for anything else. She gets the chance of a lifetime when she partners with smarmy restaurateur Andreas (Arian Moayed, Succession) on a rural restaurant upstate.
Covered in ivy and boasting a secret garden, Chef's new restaurant is straight out of a storybook, the magical launchpad for her greatest dream. Yet something is off. Namely, the food. Bugs squirm their way into her every dish, and mold overtakes her ingredients faster than biologically possible. Is this just some run-of-the-mill infestation? Or is it a curse from the property's previous owner, widely rumored to be a witch?
SEE ALSO: 'The Bear' can't wait any longer for Carmy to evolve House of Spoils wrings spooks and inspiration from mold and decay. Ariana DeBose in "House of Spoils." Credit: Courtesy of PrimeAlthough it boasts its fair share of jump scares and ghostly figures lurking in the background, House of Spoils' true horror lies in its food. The sight of bugs crawling just below the surface of a dish calls to mind parasites wriggling below the skin of a host, and the thick blankets of mold-draped food are a surefire way to induce nausea.
But perhaps the most disturbing element of the restaurant's mysterious curse is how quickly it erases Chef's hard-earned work. Decay decimates an entire night of peaceful cooking prep, throwing a make-or-break meeting with an investor in disarray. Seeing Chef's plans fall apart time and time again, both by supernatural reasons and human doubt from Andreas, elicits more dread than even the spookiest jump scare. (Although those certainly help accentuate the pain!)
SEE ALSO: 'The Wild Robot' review: Who knew a robot and goose could make me sob so much?Yet House of Spoils finds a flip side in the challenges Chef faces. When she discovers the prior owner's secret garden, Chef embarks on a foraging journey for the ages, with she and her sous chef, Lucia (Barbie Ferreira, Euphoria), finding a way to turn discarded plants and even mold and bugs into fine-dining gold. Food stylist Zoe Hegedus crafts concoctions that are as alluring as they are repelling, such as a funky mold-tinged bread and a mushroom dish that Chef encourages people to eat without any silverware. Chef's near-possession by culinary inspiration (or maybe something more?) is intoxicating, with Cole and Krudy luring viewers into a lush yet unsettling world of cooking.
House of Spoils tackles toxic masculinity in the cooking world. Ariana DeBose and Barbie Ferreria in "House of Spoils." Credit: Glodi Balazs / PrimeHouse of Spoils juxtaposes the lush world Chef enters with the cold, hyper-masculine cooking world she came from originally. It was her mentor and former boss Marcello (Marton Csokas) who made that claim about chefs tasting blood. He also asserted that cooking takes balls, a kind of masculinity Chef tries to emulate in her interactions with her co-workers, much to Lucia's disapproval. The sous chef describes fine dining as a "big swinging dick club" and decries some of Chef's "macho posturing." Contrast that with Chef's new gardening focus, which she and Andreas describe as "wild, feminine." In leaving the highly masculine world of her former workplace behind, is Chef discovering and embracing a new part of herself, one she didn't cultivate in favor of molding herself to the standards of other big shot male chefs?
Complicating matters here is the figure of the witch, who looms over Chef's dreams with an ominous command: "Feed the soil." That, coupled with the bloody, sacrificial vibes of the opening sequence, doesn't paint the most favorable portrait of her approach to cooking either. Is Chef truly transforming and evolving at her craft, or is she being manipulated by higher forces? And are blood and sacrifice truly the only way to approach cooking — or any form of art — in order to find success?
House of Spoils certainly keeps you guessing on that front, and on the role of the witch in general. But trust me when I say you won't expect House of Spoils's final course, a turn of events that eschews what you might expect from a more lurid psychological thriller — again, this isn't The Menu — in favor of something more quietly rewarding, yet no less filling.
Remember the Titan submersible?
Stockton Rush, founder and owner of the underwater tourism company OceanGate, took himself, a Titanic expert, and three tourists on a trip down to the infamous ship's remains on board the submersible in June 2023. However, the crew on the ground lost contact and the wreckage of the Titan submersible was later discovered. The sub had imploded and all five on board died.
New information about the tragedy is now being uncovered, thanks to an investigation by the U.S. government. Just last week, new footage was released showing the wreckage of the Titan submersible.
Now, according to former OceanGate contractor Antonella Wilby, we know more about how the now heavily scrutinized OceanGate ran its underwater tourism operation.
The Titan submersible depended on an Excel spreadsheetDuring a recent US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation hearing, Wilby revealed that OceanGate relied on an Excel spreadsheet to map the submersible’s navigation. Furthermore, the data was manually entered by hand into the Excel spreadsheet.
According to Wilby, the Titan’s ultra-short baseline positioning system pulled data on the submersible using sound pings. This included attributes such as the sub's velocity, depth, and positioning.
As The Verge points out, typically, this information would then be automatically collected and compiled into mapping software in order to keep tabs on the location of the submersible.
OceanGate, however, would write down the data in a notebook and then type it into an Excel spreadsheet.
Wilby called OceanGate's system "absolutely idiotic."
“There were delays because there was this manual process of first writing down the lat-long coordinates and then typing them in,” she explained in the hearing. “We tried to do that every five minutes, but it was a lot to do.”
The Coast Guard's investigation into the Titan submersible implosion continues this week.
On Apple's official website, the Cupertino-based tech giant says that Apple Intelligence is "coming this fall."
However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, via his Power On newsletter, claims that he has more specific insight into the release date windows of some of the most highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, and more.
Apple Intelligence release date reportAs of this writing, you can beta test some Apple Intelligence features, including the new Clean Up Tool (Apple's answer to Google Magic Eraser), Writing Tools, Siri's new ability to handle disfluency, transcripts for Voice Memos and call recording, and more.
Apple Intelligence Credit: Apple(If you don't know how to test Apple's new suite of AI features, check out our quick Apple Intelligence guide; just make sure to backup your iPhone because beta software can be a little rough-around-the-edges.)
The stable public release of Apple Intelligence is expected to debut with the official launch of iOS 18.1. According to Gurman, iOS 18.1 will roll out some time "in the middle of October."
However, iOS 18.1 will not include Genmoji, Image Playground, and some other Apple Intelligence features. You may be wondering, "Well, when can I expect to officially get Genmoji and the other aforementioned perks?"
According to Gurman, you'll have to wait until iOS 18.2 to play around with Genmoji, Image Playground, and the new ChatGPT integration.
"The company is looking to get that [iOS 18.2] release down to zero-bug status in early November," Gurman said. This means that the release date window for Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration will be some time in December.
Users likely won't get the full suite of Apple Intelligence's AI-powered features until next year. According to Gurman, Siri's new ability to provide better contextual and personalized responses won't be available until March with iOS 18.4.
The most highly anticipated software release of 2024 is arguably iOS 18.2. Genmoji will allow you to create emoji by simply describing them with a text prompt. Image Playground is Apple's answer to Google's "Pixel Studio," which lets you produce AI-generated images.
If you have an iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as any of the four iPhone 16 models, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy Apple Intelligence with its staggered rollout this year and next year.
Amazon Prime Day is typically a great time to find kitchen gadgets on sale, from air fryers and fancy multicookers to coffee makers and blenders. And October Prime Day — aka Prime Big Deal Days — is no different. If it's a countertop appliance, there's a good chance it'll get a discount.
While the sale doesn't officially start until Oct. 8, we're already seeing some deals on brands like Ninja, nutribullet, Cuisinart, and Instant Pot. Most of these products aren't quite at Prime Day-level lows, but they're still solid discounts if you're looking to shop ASAP. Sometimes you just need a new air fryer or coffee maker and aren't willing to wait. We get it. Rest assured, you'll still get a decent deal if you shop early.
We'll be tracking the best kitchen deals throughout the Prime Big Deal Days 2024 event, so keep checking back if you don't see what you're looking for yet.
Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja Air Fryer XL AF150 (5.5-quart) $109.99 at AmazonWhip up game day snacks this season in a flash and save some money with this deal on the Ninja XL air fryer. It can fit up to three pounds of fries or wings in its 5.5-quart basket, yet it won't take up a ton of countertop space at just 14 inches wide. Beyond crispy air-fried goodness, it can also roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate at the touch of a button. No need to wait for your oven to heat up. Ahead of October Prime Day, it's on sale for $109.99 at Amazon. That's not the cheapest it's ever been, but it'll still save you 31%.
More air fryer dealsChefman TurboFry Touch air fryer (4-quart) — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)
Chefman TurboFry Touch air fryer (8-quart) — $84.98 $119.99 (save $35.01)
Cosori Turboblaze air fryer (6 -quart) — $89.99 $119.99 (save $30)
Chefman multifunctional digital air fryer (10-quart) — $89.98 $139.99 (save $50.01)
When it comes to pressure cookers, the Ninja Foodi Pro is one of the best (if not the best). The 11-in-1 multicooker is basically all of your kitchen appliances wrapped up into one magical device. It can pressure cook, steam, slow cook, air fry, sous vide, roast, sauté, broil, dehydrate, keep foods warm, and make yogurt. It's also dishwasher safe and large enough to fit a five-pound chicken or three pounds of fries. Regularly retailing for $200, you can score it on sale ahead of October's Prime Day for just $129.99. That's 35% in savings and the lowest price we've seen since Black Friday.
More multicooker dealsInstant Pot Superior cooker (7.5-quart) — $59 $79.99 (save $20.99)
Cuisinart 3-In-1 Cook Central multi-cooker — $154.08 $199.95 (save $45.87)
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid (6.5-quart) — $159.99 $229.99 (save $70)
Can't decide between a full-size blender and a personal one? The nutribullet Blender Combo offers the best of both worlds and it's on sale for under $100. It includes a 1200-watt motor base, a 64-ounce blender pitcher, a 32-ounce single-serve cup, and a 24-ounce single-serve cup with a handle for your at-home and on-the-go needs. Whether you want to whip up a protein shake, a creamy dipping sauce, a chunky salsa, or practically anything else, the three precision speeds, pulse function, and extract program offer all the controls you'll need. Slash nearly 30% off ahead of October Prime Day and get it for just four cents shy of its record-low price.
More blender dealsBlendJet portable blender — $29.99 $49.95 (save $19.96)
Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 blender — $54.99 $74.99 (save $20)
nutribullet Pro+ personal blender — $99.95 $129.99 (save $30.04)
Ninja BL660 Professional blender— $99.99 $119.99 (save $20)
nutribullet Blender Combo — $99.99 $139.99 (save $40)
nutribullet Triple Prep system — $179.99 $229.99 (save $50)
If the end of the summer of espresso has you feeling down, this deal on the Philips Barista Brew semi-automatic espresso machine might just be the pick-me-up you need. It's regularly a whopping $650, but with a pre-Prime Day discount and an on-page coupon, you'll pay just $399.99. That's about $6 shy of its all-time low price and about a 39% discount overall. This fancy espresso machine allows you to brew like a barista at home, thanks to quality tools like the 58-millimeter portafilter, single and dual-walled filter baskets, a stainless steel milk jug, and a powerful steam wand for frothing.
More coffee maker dealsKeurig K-Mini Coffee Maker — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)
Ninja XL Coffee Maker Pro — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Cuisinart Grind and Brew single-serve coffee maker — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)
Keurig K-Elite single-serve coffee maker — $119 $189.99 (save $70.99)
Cuisinart Premium single-serve coffee maker — $119.95 $149.95 (save $30)
Breville Nespresso Vertuo POP+ coffee maker with milk frother — $134.96 $179.95 (save $44.99)
Cuisinart Coffee Center 2-in-1 coffee maker — $159.95 $199.95 (save $40)
Philips 3200 Series automatic espresso machine — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400)
Just a dollar shy of its record-low price, the 5-quart stand mixer from Hamilton Beach Professional features a dozen different speeds, a tilt-head design, and versatile attachments including a flat beater, whisk, and spiral dough hook. It also includes a specialty attachment power hub, so you can add on other attachments (sold separately) for rolling pasta, grinding meat, slicing, and shredding. Regularly $219.99, you can save 20% and get it ahead of Prime Day for only $175.99.
More stand mixer dealsInstant Pot 6-speed stand mixer (6.3-quart) — $114.84 $149.99 (save $35.15)
Cuisinart Precision Master stand mixer (5.5-quart) — $192.01 $249.95 (save $57.94)
KitchenAid Classic Series tilt-head stand mixer (4.5-quart) — $269.99 $329.99 (save $60)
KitchenAid Artisan Series tilt head stand mixer (5-quart) — $379.99 $459.99 (save $80)
TikTok is expanding its eligibility to creator subscriptions.
Previously known as LIVE Subscription, the monetization feature was only available for creators who stream on the platform. But starting today, Sept. 23, Subscription is available to any creator who is 18 years or older, has at least 10,000 followers, and has accumulated at least 100,000 video views in the past calendar year. LIVE creators previously eligible for the feature will still have access.
SEE ALSO: 'Beetlejuice lips' TikTok trend celebrates the natural creases of your lipsLIVE Subscription was first launched in 2022 and was directed at the streaming space, competing with YouTube and Twitch.
TikTok offers three tiers of Subscription. Similar to Patreon, Instagram Subscription, and YouTube membership, users pay a monthly fee to have access to exclusive content, channels, and identifying stickers. Creators can chat directly with subscribers on "Sub Space" and subscribers will have differentiating badges and stickers during LIVEs.
Subscription is rolling out to Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, the UK, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. TikTok plans to roll it out to more markets in the coming weeks.
Currently, LIVE Subscriptions start at $2.99 monthly, with some creators charging $5.99. When the feature first launched, TechCrunch reported that prices would be comparable to Twitch subscriptions, which cost $4.99.
If you think it’s too early to start planning which toys you’re going to get your kiddos this holiday — it’s not. The longer you wait to make your list and start shopping, the greater the chance that the toys your kids want the most will be all snatched up.
This is where Walmart swoops in to save the holidays. Walmart has a rad lineup of exclusive toys and the brands that your kids will seriously flip out over — all in one place. You’ll find toys for kiddos of all ages from the likes of Bluey, Little Tikes, Barbie World, LEGO, Star Wars, and the list goes on. You’ll even find exclusive toys starting at just 10 bucks, so you can gift to the max without breaking the bank.
Check out this roundup of toys that are available only at Walmart and knock their little socks off this holiday. Walmart has loads more online, so get shopping.
Toys your tots will go gaga over Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Squishmallows Bluey HugMees $15.00 at WalmartIf your toddler is obsessed with Bluey — and whose toddler isn’t — this Squishmallows Bluey HugMees stuffed toy has its arms wide open and is always ready for a big hug. It feels as soft, plush, and cuddly as it looks, and it’s the perfect size for nap time. Add Bluey’s little sister, the Squishmallows Bingo HugMees, and make it a party snuggle.
Pre-schoolers will flip over these creative toys Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Fisher-Price Wooden Rainbow Stacking Shape Sorter $24.82 at WalmartFor a fresh take on an old-school favorite, the 25 wooden blocks included in the updated Fisher-Price Wooden Rainbow Stacking Shape Sorter all fit together in different ways, which can help sharpen your kiddo’s hand-eye coordination. The blocks are still as irresistibly bright and solid as you remember them — and they feel good in your little one’s paws. The wood is also from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests, a nice perk.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Little Tikes Creative Chefs Nacho Kit $14.86 at WalmartEvery night is nacho night with this loaded Little Tikes Creative Chefs Nacho Kit. The visual recipe card is easy to follow and your kiddo physically makes the nachos, beans, cheese, avocado, sour cream, and tomato from colored, inedible sand that they put into the included molds and then cut up all pro-like with the play knife. It’s creative, it’s tactile, and it’s super fun for lil’ chefs.
Wow-factor toys for picky older kids Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Barbie World Game Room Set $24.97 at WalmartWant to see your child do a Barbie celebration dance? This Barbie World Game Room Set comes with 19 supercool accessories and makes a standout addition to your kid’s Barbie Dream House. The set includes a TV, a pink bean-bag chair, popcorn, cute bevs, pets, and everything else Barbie and her pals could ever need to kick back on the DL. The foosball table even has three balls and working spinners — it’s almost enough to make a parental jealous.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Phantom Menace Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator Starship $70.00 at WalmartIf your Star Wars fan is also a LEGO fan, the Phantom Menace Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator Starship will rock their universe. Your kid will have a blast putting together the 64-piece kit and battling it out with the LEGO Darth Maul, Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Saw Gerrera mini figures. They’ll also freak out over the starship’s foldout flight wings, retractable landing gear, and trigger-operated hatch that releases the Probe Droids.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart UNO Elite NFL Card Game $14.88 at WalmartIf you’re looking for budget-friendly stocking stuffers, the UNO Elite NFL Card Game will get your football fans all revved up. It’s basically played in the same way as the classic UNO card game that everyone loves, but what makes it Uno Elite is the addition of 60 action cards, all with full-color images of your kid’s favorite NFL players. Four of the action cards are even foil collectibles — don’t be surprised if the collectible cards disappear into your kid’s room for a huddle.
No matter how old your kiddos are or what kind of stuff they’re into, jumpstart your holiday shopping with Walmart’s impressive lineup of freak-out-worthy toys and get ahead of the pack. With the toys they want starting at just $10, you can score big gift wins, all in one place, and without dipping into their college fund.
Prime Day is one of the biggest shopping events on the internet, and fortunately for us, it happens twice a year — once in July and again in October. If you need a new TV, whether it’s for game day, movie nights, or, you know, becoming an absolute couch potato on weekends, Amazon’s got some pretty good early Prime Big Deal Days deals on TVs right now.
Best early Prime Day TV deals: Best TV deal overall 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV $299.98 at Amazon (save $150.01) Get Deal Best runner-up deal 50-inch INSIGNIA Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV $219.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best budget deal 40-inch VIZIO Smart TV (VFD40M-08) $148 at Amazon (save $21.99) Get DealPrime Day round two is almost here, and while many shoppers are waiting for the big event to score the best deal, we’ve already found some pretty decent discounts on smart TVs that you can take advantage of right now — weeks ahead of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days in October.
Here are some of the best early TV deals we’ve seen so far:
Best TV deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV $299.98 at AmazonWho says you need to spend a grand to get a big, nice smart TV? This 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series is only $299.98 and features 4K Ultra HD resolution, Dolby Digital Plus, and HRD 10 for a brighter, clearer picture.
Amazon’s Fire TV is built-in, so you can watch your favorite shows, movies, and live TV channels from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, etc. And because this is an Amazon TV, Alexa is just a voice command away. There are also four HDMI inputs for gaming consoles, cable boxes, and more.
The only caveat to this TV is that this model doesn’t support two-way video calling or hands-free voice control (you have to press the Alexa button to summon her help), but that’s not a dealbreaker when the price is this good.
Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: INSIGNIA Our pick: 50-inch INSIGNIA Class F30 Series (NS-50F301NA24) LED 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV $219.99 at AmazonIf you want a Fire TV, it’s probably best to buy an Amazon-brand TV. But if you want a Fire TV that isn’t an Amazon model, this 50-inch Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart TV by INSIGNIA (NS-50F301NA24) is an affordable alternative.
It’s currently $219.99 at Amazon, slightly cheaper than the Amazon 50-inch Fire TV listed above. This smart TV has 4K Ultra 2160p resolution, Alexa voice control via the voice remote, and access to your faves via the built-in Fire TV. This TV doesn’t have Dolby Digital Plus or HDR10 like the Amazon 50-inch model, but it’s still a solid choice if you're on a budget.
Best budget deal Opens in a new window Credit: VIZIO Our pick: 40-inch VIZIO Smart TV (VFD40M-08) $148.00 at AmazonIf you’re really on a budget (who isn’t nowadays?), the VIZIO 40-inch Smart TV is a steal at just $148. This 1080p HD TV has all the basic smart features you’d want or need: a game-ready setup with HDR 10 support and an auto-low latency mode whenever a console or PC is connected.
The WatchFree Plus app gives you access to more than 275 free channels, and the full-array LED backlight makes for a bright and colorful picture. It also has Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, so you can connect it to your other smart home devices via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
More TV deals24-inch INSIGNIA Calss F20 Series Smart HD TV with Fire TV (NS-24F201NA23) — $69.99 $79.99 (save $10)
40-inch Amazon Fire TV 2-Series HD Smart TV with Fire TV — $179.98 $249.99 (save $71.01)
40-inch VIZIO D-Series Full HD SMart TV (D40f-J09) — $204.99 $229.99 (save $25)
43-inch TCL Class S4 4K LED Smart TV with Roku TV (43S450R, 2023 Model) — $219.99 $279.99 (save $60)
55-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150)
55-inch Samsung QLED 4K Q60D Series (QN55Q60D) — $647.99 $797.99 (save $150)
Prime Big Deal Days is coming just mere months after Amazon's July Prime Day event. On October 8 and 9, the retailer will unleash a barrage of deals on just about everything you can imagine. While Amazon usually showcases its own products and services during the Prime Day event, plenty of other brands join in on the fun too.
Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, we're tracking deals on headphones and speakers. Historically, we've seen some of our favorite headphones drop down to their lowest prices during Prime Day. With Amazon's October Prime Day just two weeks away, there are some deals available now, but we're still holding out for more.
Right now you can find savings on Apple, Soundcore by Anker, and Sony, however, we're still waiting on bigger price drops to come on Bose headphones. Plus, with Apple's recent AirPod drop, we're eager to see if any of these new models will dip below full-price.
If you can't wait to start shopping, here are the early Prime Big Deal Day deals on headphones and speakers.
Best noise-cancelling headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $429.00 at AmazonAirPods Max are stylish headphones with easy connectivity to boot. Just like the rest of the AirPods collection, the AirPods Max connect to iOS devices just by turning them on, plus you don't need an auxiliary app to control them. While AirPods Max aren't in our round-up of best headphones, we'll still sing their merits as they possess excellent audio quality and good battery life.
A big hang-up we have with the AirPods Max is their price tag because at $549, you can find headphones with the same quality for far cheaper. However, when the AirPods Max are on sale, we're all in. Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can get the AirPods Max for $429, saving $120 for 22% off. This is just $50 short of their lowest price ever.
More noise-cancelling headphone dealsSoundcore by Anker Life Q20 Headphones — $39.90 $59.99 (save $20.09)
Sony WH-CH720N Headphones — $104.50 $149.99 (save $45.49)
Beats Studio 3 Headphones — $159 $349.95 (save $190.95)
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones — $298 $348 (save $50)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones — $348 $399.99 (save $51.99)
If you're shopping Prime Big Deal Days and are focused on budget finds, let us point you toward the Soundcore by Anker P20i wireless earbuds. For under $25, these earbuds check most of our boxes including 10 hours of battery life, a charging case, and customizable audio. While they don't include active noise cancellation, they'll still deliver pleasing audio quality, even if they don't block out the world around you.
Normally $39.99, the Soundcore by Anker P20i earbuds are down to $19.99, for 50% and $20 in savings.
More earbud dealsJBL Vibe Beam Earbuds — $39.20 $49.95 (save $10.75)
Soundcore by Anker P30i Noise-cancelling Earbuds — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
JBL Tune Flex Earbuds — $49.95 $99.95 (save $50)
Soundcore by Anker A40 Earbuds — $59 $79.99 (save $20.99)
Google Pixel Buds A-Series Earbuds — $64 $99 (save $35)
Sony WF-C700N Earbuds — $84.49 $119.99 (save $35.50)
Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $189.99 $249 (save $59.01)
Beats Powerbeats Earbuds — $199.95 $249.95 (save $50)
Maybe your Bluetooth speaker kicked the dust this summer after one too many pool parties. If you find yourself in the market for a new one, Prime Day is an especially great time to hit add to cart.
The Sony SRS-XE200 X-Series Bluetooth speaker is on sale ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. It comes with a corded strap, making it easy to tote around on your adventures. With a IP67 rating, it's water- and dust-proof, giving it a rugged build. Not to mention the 16 hours of battery life keeping the party going all day.
Ahead of the October Prime Day, this speaker is down to $66.74, down from $129.99. That's 49% off for $63.25 in savings.
More Bluetooth speaker dealsSony SRSXB13/B Extra Bass Speaker — $38 $59.99 (save $21.99)
JBL Clip 5 Speaker — $69.95 $79.95 (save $10)
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Speaker — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Ultimate Ears Boom 4 Speaker — $117.85 $149.99 (save $32.14)
It's pretty remarkable what technically savvy people can accomplish. To wit: A modder posted a YouTube video showing how they got ChatGPT running on a TI-84 calculator.
Now, how in the world could someone access an AI chatbot on a relatively analog machine designed to do calculations? Well, with a lot of work.
The creator, ChromaLock, posted how they accomplished the feat in detail.
To be frank, a lot of what they did was beyond my comprehension and certainly beyond my abilities. They used the TI-84's link port — typically used to transfer educational programs between calculators — to get internet access and a direct line to ChatGPT. ChromaLock said the ChatGPT-enabled TI-84 would be the ultimate cheating machine, but it doesn't seem likely students everywhere will soon follow their lead.
The process was pretty complicated, involving a custom circuitboard, a microcontroller, and lots of expertise. It's cool when someone does something so complicated just because they can. Meanwhile, my calculator tricks remain limited to writing the word "hello" by typing the number 0.7734 and turning the screen upside down.
If you're looking to bring home a new fitness tracker, Prime Day is a great time to shop. The retailer is putting up tons of deals on items across every department, fitness trackers included, with brands like Apple, Garmin and Samsung to name a few.
Now that the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are starting to change, you might be more inclined to start that jogging program you were looking forward to. Or you might decide to get ahead of New Year's resolutions and start heading to the gym. Whatever you're planning, one of these fitness tracker deals can help you get going.
Scoop up the savings with these Prime Day fitness tracker deals and grab something for yourself or a friend or loved one before these deals float away. Below, find some of our favorite picks that you can shop right now.
Best fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Garmin Forerunner 265S $349.99 at AmazonThe Garmin Forerunner 265S functions as both a fitness tracker and a smartwatch, but its primary use case is for helping you keep an eye on everything your body does. It tracks your sleep, workouts, training readiness, recovery score, HRV, heart rate, pulse oximetry, and much more, with a morning report delivered to you each day about how you slept and what your day should be looking like in terms of fitness strategies. It has crisp, bright AMOLED display and lasts up to 15 days on a charge, too. With its 30 activity profiles, smartwatch options that let you stay synced to your phone and modern design, this is a great fitness tracker that can help you keep track of your day as well as your exercise.
Best Android fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $199.99 at AmazonThe Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is an Android-centric smartwatch that boasts a variety of fitness tracker features. It doesn't look like your typical tracker, and more like a watch than you'd expect, giving it a low-profile feel. But it tracks heart rate, sleep, rhythm and a variety of other aspects of your fitness journey. Plus, it can sync with your other Android devices to keep everything in check. If you want a fitness tracker that looks like a timepiece instead of something that's obviously being used to keep an eye on your activity, this is the smartwatch/tracker combo you'll want.
Best Fitbit fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fitbit Sense $177.00 at AmazonThe Fitbit Sense is another fitness tracker and smartwatch hybrid that looks more like a timepiece on your wrist with a modern look, a comfortable strap, and a variety of tracking capabilities. It offers heart rate tracking, an ECG sensor, and an electrodermal sensor to track your skin temperature as well to help you keep an eye on your stress levels. It also offers haptic feedback across apps as well as a speaker that you can use alongside Google Assistant or Alexa for voice control.
More Prime Day fitness tracker dealsAmazfit Bip 5 — $74.98 $89.99 (save $15.01)
Amazfit GTS 4 (Renewed) — $79.99 $119.99 (save $40)
Garmin Forerunner 55 — $188 $199.99 (save $11.99)
Some iPhone 16 Pro owners are reporting problems with the phone's touchscreen.
According to 9to5Mac, a number of people online have claimed that their new premium iPhone (whether it's the regular Pro or Pro Max) is not correctly registering every tap and swipe it should be registering. Obviously, this is problematic for a phone that almost entirely lacks real buttons. Having this problem would make it difficult to perform even basic tasks on an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max.
SEE ALSO: Don’t do this on iOS 18 — or you may lose your textsThe good news is that there seems to be a consensus on what's happening and how to fix it. The predominant theory right now is that the problem is software-based, specifically that the accidental touch algorithm in iPhones (which is meant to disable the screen from unintended taps and swipes) is too sensitive. With the very small bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, it might be a little too easy to accidentally have part of your hand on the screen without realizing it, which would disable taps and swipes on the rest of the screen.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: What are the differences?9to5Mac also pointed out that this doesn't happen when the phone is locked, and is much harder to replicate if the phone is in a case. In other words, this is almost certainly a software problem that is fixable on Apple's end, and even before that happens, you can avoid it by putting your iPhone 16 Pro in a case or being more careful about where you touch the screen.
Fitbit is the ultimate fitness tracker. Sure, the Apple Watch may be flashier and get more media attention, but for the average health-conscious consumer (read: anyone who wants to keep tabs on their step count and heart rate), Fitbit is a solid, more affordable option. And right now, you can score early Prime Big Deal Days deals on select Fitbit models before the main October event.
Early Prime Day Fitbit deals: Best Fitbit deal overall Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch $177 at Amazon (save $72.95) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Fitbit Sense 2 Advanced Health and Fitness Smartwatch $241.99 at Amazon (save $57.96) Get Deal Best budget deal Fitbit Versa 2 Special Edition Health and Fitness Smartwatch $149.99 at Amazon (save $49.96) Get DealPrime Day ~fall edition~ is nearly here, and Fitbit is already getting in on the action. While not many models are on sale just yet, we’re anticipating more price drops as we get closer to Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, which are happening on Oct. 8 and 9.
Whether you’re trying to get a jump start on holiday shopping or you just want to get a little something for yourself, here are the best early Fitbit deals we've found so far:
Best Fitbit deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch $177.00 at AmazonThe Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch is ideal for wellness-focused users. The EDA Scan app detects electrodermal activity (AKA a stress meter). The ECG app, which is only available in certain countries and intended for people who are 22 or older, checks heart rhythm for signs of atrial fibrillation, and the built-in GPS lets you track your runs without your phone.
The battery lasts six days on a full charge, and the fast-charge function gives you a full day's worth of use after just 12 minutes of charging (up to 12 hours with GPS mode on).
Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Sense 2 Advanced Health and Fitness Smartwatch $248.00 at AmazonThe Fitbit Sense 2 Advanced Health and Fitness Smartwatch is a bit pricier but equipped with more advanced health and wellness tracking features. This smartwatch is designed to help you sleep better and manage stress, thanks to its all-day stress detection and daily Stress Management Score. (Not sure I would acually want to know my score.) It also gives you a Sleep Score that lets you know how well you slept.
This model includes built-in GPS, a workout intensity map, a Daily Readiness Score, Active Zone Minutes, and more. It's water-resistant up to 50 meters, so you can swim with it on. It also comes with a six-month membership to Fitbit Premium, which gives you access to personalized insights and advanced metrics.
Best budget deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Versa 2 Special Edition Health and Fitness Smartwatch $149.99 at AmazonNormally, we'd recommend the Fitbit Inspire 3 as a budget pick (only $99.95), but it’s not on sale yet. The Fitbit Versa 2 Special Edition Health and Fitness Smartwatch is a pretty good (basic Fitbit) alternative. It’s not the newest model, but it does feature a stylish band, a large display, and health monitoring features like a Sleep Score and 24/7 heart rate tracking.
More Fitbit dealsFitbit Inspire 2 (Renewed) — $55 $91.20 (save $36.20)
Fitbit Versa 2 (Renewed) — $119.38 $169.99 (save $50.61)
Fitbit Charge 4 — $144.99 $222.95 (save $77.96)
Fitbit Versa Lite — $149.99 $159.95 (save $9.96)
Fitbit Versa — $159.99 $199.95 (save $39.96)
The Prime Big Deal Days are coming up soon, so keep an eye out for more Fitbit deals. We’ll edit this post as we find more early Prime Day discounts.
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is only two weeks away and the deals are slowly trickling in. We're keeping an eye out for all the best deals leading up to the shopping event — particularly on top brands we know and love. We've handpicked a few discounts we think are worth adding to your cart on Sept. 23, so you can kick off the savings a little bit early.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these catch your eye, be sure to check back throughout the week as we select new deals each day.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Boom 4 Bluetooth speaker $117.85 at AmazonMashable's Alex Perry called the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 "a powerful music tube with a bevy of customization options, excellent sound, and an all-day battery." Now, released just a few months ago, the Boom 4 is improving on the already great speaker with enhanced deep bass radiators for bigger sound, a new software trick called megaphone, and the coveted USB-C port. It's regularly $149.99, but as of Sept. 23, it's down to just $117.85 at Amazon. That's 21% in savings and the first time it's hit this low of a price. There's just one catch: the record-low price only applies to the black colorway.
Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Starter Pack (Tile Mate + Tile Slim) $38.56 at AmazonTile's starter pack is a solid introduction to Bluetooth tracking devices. It includes one Tile Mate (one of our top picks for a Bluetooth tracker) and one Tile Slim for just $38.56. That's 30% cheaper than buying each one separately. The Tile Mate attaches to your keys, luggage, and more without much bulk, while the Slim is the shape of a credit card, so it can slip inside your wallet or purse. The pair are designed to reliably help you keep track of your stuff through GPS. Plus, you can opt into a paid Tile Premium subscription and unlock extra features, like notifications when you leave stuff behind and item reimbursement.
Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips 4000 Series Smart Lock $117.20 at AmazonThe Philips 4000 Series Smart Lock is on sale for just $117.20 at Amazon and serves as a great way to dabble in the smart home world without breaking the bank. It's usually $169.99, so you'll save about 31%. Just remember to check the box for the on-page coupon. We haven't had a chance to test the Philips smart lock, but our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) have and found it to be a sleek and effective device, but a bit expensive. Like any good smart lock, it gives you multiple ways to lock and unlock your door, including a fingerprint scan, PIN codes, a mobile app, and traditional keys. You'll need to purchase the WiFi bridge separately for remote access and voice control. But luckily, with this discount, you'll keep an extra $52.79 in your pocket. That's more than enough to pay for the WiFi bridge.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...
Boston's most important responders: Bostonians The people of Boston are to be congratulated for being...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
Digital Privacy: A Catch 22 Mobility, convenience, accessibility and real-...
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...