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The iPad mini 7, perhaps next to the iPhone 16, is arguably one of the most highly anticipated Apple products. The current-generation iPad mini debuted in 2021 — and Apple hasn't upgraded it since.
However, rumor has it that the Cupertino-based tech giant plans to unleash a new iPad mini this year, as well as the 11th-generation iPad, according to MacRumors. And Nicolás Álvarez on X discovered some clues about gen-over-gen upgrades due to a reference in Apple's backend code (h/t @aaronp613).
SEE ALSO: iPad mini 7: Release date and all the other leaks we've seen iPad mini 2024: Expected new upgradesApple dropped the iPad Air and iPad Pro (the thinnest product the Cupertino-based tech giant launched), and now the company is focusing on two new iPads: iPad mini 7 and the 11th-gen iPad.
According to Álvarez's findings, the iPad mini 7 is set to sport an A17 chip. It's unclear whether it will be the A17 Pro processor found in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models, but if it is, MacRumors claims that it may run Apple Intelligence.
The 11th-gen iPad, however, will reportedly sport an A16 processor, a step up from the A14 Bionic chip packed inside the current 10th-gen model.
Did Apple initially plan to launch an M3 iPad Pro?Álvarez's discovery revealed that Apple reportedly planned on unleashing an M3 iPad Pro this year — not the M4 iPad Pro. The previous iPad Pro featured an M2 chip, so naturally, we expected an M3 iPad Pro.
Instead, Apple surprised the tech world, leap-frogged the M3 chip, and debuted the M4 iPad Pro. As it turns out, the Cupertino-based giant allegedly planned on unleashing an M3 iPad Pro initially, but it appears that Apple made a last-minute shift of plans.
Finally, Álvarez claims that we should expect an M5 iPad Pro some time next year or early 2026.
Lingering 4th of July sales and early Prime Day discounts have made selecting the best deals of the day at Amazon on July 5 quite difficult. But we're always up for a challenge.
We're seeing massive price drops (and even some record lows) on devices from Apple, Samsung, Breville, and Shark, which happen to be some of our favorite brands. Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check back at our deals from July 2 and July 3 — many of those are still live. Happy shopping.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Super Q Blender $399.95 at AmazonDeemed the "best cooking blender" upon testing, the Breville Super Q Blender has a lot to love about it. From its sleek brushed stainless steel design to its host of innovative features, you can expect exceptional results. Other pros include its quiet operation, intuitive control panel with various settings, and its powerful 1,800-watt motor. It's pretty dang expensive at $550, but as of July 5, you can grab it for only $399.95 in select colors — that's its lowest price on record.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 2023 MacBook Pro (M3 chip, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 at AmazonJust 99 cents shy of its all-time low price at Amazon, the base model 2023 MacBook Pro (which includes 8GB RAM and 512GB of storage) is on sale for just $1,399.99 with an on-page coupon. It looks and feels like the MacBook Pro you know and love, but inside it's packed with the crazy fast M3 chip. Apple claims the M3 chip is up to 15 percent faster than the previous M2 chip, but we actually found it to be even faster than that in our testing. Our reviewer was also blown away by its battery life and "divine" built-in speakers.
Read our full review of the M3 MacBook Pro.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags (4-pack) $79.99 at AmazonInvesting in Bluetooth trackers can help you keep track of your luggage on all of your summer travels. And if you're an iPhone user, we'd highly recommend Apple's AirTags. AirTags calibrate their locations as long as there's an Apple device with Find My nearby, instead of relying on a Bluetooth range. That's what makes them such a great choice for locating lost luggage. Typically, a single AirTag costs $29, which means it would cost $116 to buy four separately. This four-pack deal is just $79.99, which essentially gets you 1.25 for free.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark HD430 FlexStyle system $249.97 at AmazonOur favorite Dyson Airwrap dupe, the Shark FlexStyle, is back on sale at Amazon as of July 5. This deal includes the auto-wrap curlers, a styling concentrator, an oval brush, and a paddle brush, making it a mix of the curly system and straight system accessories. In testing of the FlexStyle, Mashable Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard found that it offered a nearly one-to-one experience with the Airwrap, nothing that she couldn't imagine a reason why you'd choose Dyson's more expensive option instead. Regularly $299.99, this air styling and drying system is on sale for $249.97.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Jet 60 Pet $199.00 at AmazonIf you're jealous of your friend's fancy Dyson stick vacuum, you can get yourself a similar style device on a budget by opting for the Samsung Jet 60 Pet. It offers that sleek, slim aesthetic with an impressive amount of power and an even more impressive price tag. The Jet Cyclone technology operates similarly to Dyson's, keeping dust and debris from clogging up the filter. Plus, it's extremely light and easy to maneuver at only five pounds. It's usually $329, but you can save 40% as of July 5 and snag it for just $199 at Amazon.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
The 4th of July sales may be over, but there are still plenty of kitchen deals lingering on the market from top brands. If you have more summer cookouts and al fresco dinners in store this season, you can shop today's best deals to make sure your kitchen is properly equipped.
Today's best KitchenAid deals at Amazon as of July 5: Best stand mixer deal KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer $249.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best hand mixer deal KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer with Turbo Beater II Accessories and Pro Whisk $79.95 at Amazon (save $30.04 ) Get Deal Best immersion blender deal KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender $44.99 at Amazon (save $15) Get Deal Best KitchenAid attachment deal KitchenAid KSMPSA Pasta Roller Attachment $74.99 at Amazon (save $25) Get DealAs of today, July 5, KitchenAid has lowered its prices on stand mixers, attachments, and other kitchen equipment for a limited time at Amazon. While none of today's deals are the lowest KitchenAid prices we've ever seen, today's price drops still shave a noteworthy chunk of change off the premium kitchenware's prices.
Best stand mixer deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid Our pick: KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer $249.99 at AmazonAt a hefty 22 lbs, the KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is formidable in the Kitchen, giving home chefs the power they need to tackle big baking projects. With the 4.5 quart capacity, you can mix up to eight dozen cookies in a single batch. Aside from its power and bandwidth, what makes the KitchenAid Stand Mixer so special is its versatility. As you collect different KitchenAid attachments, the stand mixer expands beyond baking and can help you make homemade pasta, sausage, burgers, and even ice cream.
Best hand mixer deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid Our pick KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer with Turbo Beater II Accessories and Pro Whisk $79.95 at AmazonIf saving kitchen counter space is a top priority, then the KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer is a high-functioning alternative to the signature KitchenAid Stand Mixer. The corded 9-speed mixer comes with a selection of attachments that help you beat heavier ingredients. Plus, it has a Soft Start Feature that brings the beaters up to the selected speed at a gradual pace to keep ingredients from splattering around the kitchen. Comfortable to hold and easy to clean, this KitchenAid hand mixer can assist on everything from mixing batter, making pizza dough, and whipping up mashed potatoes.
Best immersion blender deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid Our pick: KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender $44.99 at AmazonWhile there are certainly far cheaper immersion blenders on the market, the KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender is a powerhouse that stands out for its high-quality performance. With a four-point blade, five different blending speeds, and a protective pan guard, the Kitchen Aid Hand Blender offers extra precision and ease of use whether you're making shakes, smoothies, sauces, or soups. Normally $59.99, today's 25% off sale makes the premium hand blender more budget friendly.
Best KitchenAid attachment deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid Our pick: KitchenAid KSMPSA Pasta Roller Attachment $74.99 at AmazonThere are plenty of reasons to love KitchenAid Stand Mixers: notably, the way they can transform their functionality depending on the attachments being used. In particular, we love how the KitchenAid Stand Mixer can turn into a gourmet pasta machine when you use the KitchenAid KSMPSA Pasta Roller Attachment. The commercial-grade pasta roller makes sure your pasta dough is seamlessly smooth. Rolling six-inch sheets of pasta, the attachment also has eight different thickness settings so you can make your homemade pasta to match your exact preferences.
UPDATE: Jul. 5, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest DoorDash promo codes from across the web. Note that some of these codes are location-specific or exclusive to new users.
Best DoorDash promo codes this week: Best deal for new users Use code WELCOME30 Get 30% off your first order Get DealWe all love a good, home-cooked meal. But who has the time to make one every single night? Couldn't be us. That's why we always keep our delivery apps at the ready. Our app of choice at the moment? DoorDash. There's a constant bounty of promo codes, scoring you savings not just on takeout, but also on grocery delivery and select retail stores.
You can find our favorite DoorDash promo codes from across the web below, so take a look and then chow down while booting up your favorite streaming service or video game. Oh, and a lot of these codes will be exclusive to new users, so if you already have an account, you may want to consider creating a new one (you didn't hear that from us). Also, because some codes are location-specific, they may not work for everyone. Just test them out and see which ones stick for you!
SEE ALSO: The best deals on streaming services this week How do I use a DoorDash promo code?Before we get into our picks for the week, let us quickly go over how to use a DoorDash promo code, because if you don't know how to do that, you won't benefit from any of the great deals we're about to show you. Thankfully, the process is really easy. (If you already know how to do this, feel free to keep scrolling to get straight to the latest DoorDash coupons.)
All you need to do is load up your shopping cart with whatever is on the menu for the night and head to the checkout screen. Once you get there, scroll down to the bottom where you'll find a section labeled "Summary."
The 'Summary' section lives at the bottom of the checkout screen. Credit: DoorDashTap on that section and you'll be brought to a separate screen titled "Promo codes, rewards & gift cards." Then, just input your promo code (and gift card, if you have one) and head back to the checkout screen. You should now see your discount applied automatically.
This is where you'll use your promo code and get those sweet benefits. Credit: DoorDashCongrats! You just scored some savings, and that takeout order is going to taste so much better because of it. Now, on to this week's promo codes — take a look below, and enjoy your meal.
Best DoorDash promo codes this weekSAVE $109.05: As of July 5, get the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II for just $169.95 at Amazon. That's 39% off their usual price of $279 and their lowest price yet.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II $169.95 at AmazonIf you're an audiophile, chances are you already have a great pair of noise-canceling headphones. They're the perfect antidote to a hustling, bustling world that just won't let up. And, right now, you can get an excellent pair from Bose for an even better price than the last time we showcased them.
As of July 5, you can get the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II for $169.95 at Amazon. That's $100 off their normal price, or a 39% discount. That's their lowest price ever, so if you're ready to grab your own pair, now's the time to do it.
SEE ALSO: Pump up the jams with 4th of July headphone dealsThese are one of your best bets when it comes to customizing the level of background noise you want to hear. They not only offer great sound quality, but they're perfect for cutting out ambient noise or distractions like kids playing in the background, construction, and anything else that might keep you from accomplishing your day's goals. But you can also use a set of customization options to make sure you can hear all the important things going on around you, too, like approaching calls or your boss calling your name.
If you're ready to scoop up a great pair of earbuds, don't sleep on this deal. It's possible they could go even lower with Prime Day on its way, but this is a great price to grab them at as it is.
It wouldn't be a proper Prime Day without a slew of early deals to shop before the big event (which takes place on July 16 and 17 this year). When it comes to Amazon's popular Fire Tablets, the deals aren't all that great just yet, but there are a few options on sale that could be the right fit if you're desperate to separate yourself from the iPad crowd and can't wait until Prime Day officially begins.
SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner — here's how to find the best dealsWhile we do think you should probably wait until July 16 (the deals will most likely be a lot better), who are we to tell you not to buy a Fire Tablet right now? If you're ready to throw your credit card down, check out our top early Prime Day Fire Tablet deals below and snag your favorite.
Best early Prime Day Fire Tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (64GB) $84.99 at AmazonAny time you can get a new Fire Tablet for under $100 is a good day. This Fire HD 10 is fully kitted out with the maximum amount of storage, and features great performance even though it's not the latest generation model. It's also got a 13-hour battery life and a 5MP front-facing camera. Pick one up ahead of Prime Day and score $95 in savings — it's just $84.99.
More early Prime Day Fire Tablet dealsFire Tablets
Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (64GB) — $54.99 $129.99 (save $75)
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet (32GB) — $64.99 $119.99 (save $55)
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet (64GB) — $94.99 $149.99 (save $55)
Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (32GB) — $74.99 $139.99 (save $65)
Certified Refurbished Fire HD 10 Plus tablet (64GB) — $89.99 $199.99 (save $110)
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet with wireless charging dock (64GB) — $189.98 $199.98 (save $10)
Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet bundle with Slim Cover and screen protector (64GB) — $287.97 $297.97 (save $10)
Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet with stylus pen and keyboard case (64GB) — $329.97 $354.97 (save $25)
Fire Tablet accessories
Amazon Fire 7 tablet cover — $23.19 $28.99 (save $5.80)
Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet Slim Cover — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
Wireless charging dock for Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
SAVE ON HOTELS, FLIGHTS, AND MORE: Priceline's Red, White, & Blue sale is on! Score up to 20% off select hotels, find exclusive flight deals, and get discounts on rental cars for your next vacation.
Our top picks: Best hotel deal Get up to 20% off select hotels Book by 7/15 & travel by 9/30 Get Deal Best travel deal Up to 44% off flights + $20 off car rentals Book now and save Get Deal Best bundle deal 30% off (or more) when you book a Hilton Hotel and flight package Book by 7/15 & travel by 12/31 Get DealNow that summer’s officially here, it’s getting harder and harder to focus on anything but sun-drenched days on the beach, balmy nights, and some much-needed R&R. (I know my Instagram account has thousands of travel posts saved for “the future.")
SEE ALSO: 4 AI travel concierge services that'll help plan your next vacationFortunately, booking a vacation isn’t as far-fetched as it seems, thanks to Priceline's Red, White, & Blue Getaways sale. Sure, you’ll still have to manage a budget to make sure you can afford it, but with up to 20% off hotels and more, it just got a lot easier to make those travel dreams a reality.
Here are our favorite deals from the sale:
Best hotel deal Opens in a new window Credit: Priceline Our pick: Get up to 20% off select hotels Get Deal Why we like itLodging is usually the most expensive part of any trip (unless you’re flying halfway around the world or prefer first class). To help you get more bang for your buck, Priceline’s sale offers 20% off select hotels. The only caveat is that you’ve gotta book your stay by July 15 and travel by September 30.
This deal's destinations include New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Atlanta, Ocean City, and San Juan.
Best travel deal Opens in a new window Credit: Priceline Our pick: Up to 44% off flights + $20 off car rentals Get Deal Why we like itPriceline's Red, White, & Blue Getaways Sale also offers up to 44% off flights, but most of these deals seem to be Frontier Airlines routes, and the departure and return destinations are a bit limited compared to the hotel discounts.
Still, that's a pretty substantial discount if you're flexible with your travel dates and can work around Frontier's policies (like baggage fees).
If you prefer to drive, Priceline is giving customers $20 off rental car Express Deals through July 8 with the coupon code RDTRIPPIN20.
To get this discount, you’ll need to book by July 8 at 9 a.m. EST, and your total must be $250 minimum before the discount.
Best bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Priceline Our pick: 30% off (or more) when you book a Hilton Hotel and flight package Get Deal Why we like itIf you’re a fan of Hilton Hotels, this deal is for you. (I love the Canopy by Hilton properties!) Right now, you can get 30% off (or more) when you book a hotel and flight package.
This deal is valid through July 15, so you’ll need to book within the next week to take advantage of the savings before time runs out. The travel time is a little more flexible for this one, though. You can take your trip anytime from now until December 31.
More deals from Priceline’s Red, White, & Blue Getaways sale:Stay near iconic landmarks (e.g., Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, etc.) and get up to 40% off when you bundle hotel and flight.
Get up to 25% off hotels when you book a vacation in Miami, FL, the Bahamas, Myrtle Beach, SC, Atlantic City, NJ, Ocean City, MD, or Huntington Beach, CA.
A hacker snatched details about OpenAI's AI technologies early last year, The New York Times reported. The cybercriminal allegedly swiped sensitive information from a discussion forum where employees chatted about the company's latest models.
The New York Times was hush-hush about the source of this news, claiming that "two people familiar with the incident" spilled the beans. However, they maintain that the cybercriminal only breached the forum — not the core systems that power OpenAI's AI algorithms and framework.
OpenAI reportedly revealed the hack to employees during an all-hands meeting in April 2023. It also informed the board of directors. However, OpenAI executives decided against sharing the news publicly.
SEE ALSO: OpenAI reportedly plans to block access in China. Chinese AI companies may fill the void. Why did OpenAI keep the breach under wraps?According to The New York Times, OpenAI didn't reveal the hack to the public because information about customers was not stolen.
The company also did not share the breach with the FBI or any other law enforcement entities.
"The executives did not consider the incident a threat to national security because they believed the hacker was a private individual with no known ties to a foreign government," the newspaper said.
The New York Times' sources say that some OpenAI employees expressed fear that China-based adversaries could steal the company's AI secrets, causing a threat to U.S. national security.
Leopold Aschenbrenner, leader of OpenAI's superalignment team (a unit focused on ensuring that AI doesn't get out of control) at the time, reportedly shared the same sentiments about the lax security and being an easy target for foreign enemies.
Aschenbrenner said he was fired early this year for sharing an internal document with three external researchers for "feedback." He insinuates his firing was unfair; he scanned the document for any sensitive information, adding that it's normal for OpenAI employees to reach out to other experts for a second opinion.
However, The New York Times points out that studies conducted by Anthropic and OpenAI reveal that AI "is not significantly more dangerous" than search engines like Google.
Still, AI companies should ensure that their security is tight. Legislators are pushing for regulations that slap hefty fines on companies with AI technologies that cause societal harm.
One of the many perks of summer is that your backyard becomes a bonus living space. Suddenly, you’re entertaining, chilling out, and even working outside. That said, you want that outdoor living space to be just as stylish as your indoor one.
Whether you have friends coming over for a backyard bash or you’re planning on passing the summer on a chaise lounge with a cold bev, these rad Walmart deals will help you create a backyard paradise without breaking the bank. Prices subject to change, so act fast.
Tesla's latest car update is great news for parents who (unwisely?) let their kids borrow the car, and bad news for said youths lucky enough to borrow a Tesla in the first place.
As Not a Tesla App first reported, Tesla has released its newest software update, version 2024.26, to employees, which includes two new music streaming apps, updated menus, and new PIN-enabled Parental Controls.
Tesla's update, the publisher reports, lets drivers set a maximum speed limit for any young drivers aiming to careen around town in mom's Tesla like Dom Toretto, as well as acceleration limits for anyone thinking doing a sick burnout is a good idea. There's also a "Night Curfew" mode which notifies parents in the Tesla app when the car is out past the time you said you'd be home and now you're grounded.
SEE ALSO: Tesla recalls every Cybertruck againTesla drivers will also be able to pick from more music streaming services, as the company has added YouTube Music and Amazon Music. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder reports, Spotify was one of the first third-party apps available for Tesla cars in 2015, but the company only updated it last year. Now, it's got a little more competition with the new additions.
Other features of the software update include local weather conditions in the vehicle status bar, the ability to add sub-destinations in navigation, instant full-screen mode for Zoom when in park, and some menu and panel overhauls.
To use most of these new updates, drivers will have to be signed up to Tesla's Premium Connectivity subscription, which costs $10 per month, but considering how much Teslas cost, that probably sounds like loose change to owners. Otherwise, having a WiFi connection will let you use them, but that means hotspotting your phone if you're on the road.
We don't know exactly when the update will be rolled out to all Tesla owners, and at present Not a Tesla App records zero percent of cars updated with it. But kids, your days of unbridled acceleration are numbered.
YouTube has implemented an important update to its eraser tool, helping creators to easily remove copyrighted music without affecting any other audio within a video.
On Wednesday, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan shared the new tool on X, formerly Twitter, writing, "Good news, creators: our updated Erase Song tool helps you easily remove copyright-claimed music from your video (while leaving the rest of your audio intact)."
Tweet may have been deletedMohan posted a video which revealed the company has been testing this tool for a while, and the updated version of the eraser now uses an AI-powered algorithm to detect the copyrighted song without impacting other audio in a clip or having to upload a new video.
YouTube's support page includes a full how-to for creators looking to use the eraser. There are options for replacing, editing, muting, and removing said audio.
Chris Nash's inverted slasher In A Violent Nature — one of the year's most inventive horror films — is now available on VOD. It's a relief it wasn't a bigger hit, or else it might have done for forest trails what Spielberg's Jaws once did for sharks. A deeply unsettling work told mostly from the perspective of a bloodthirsty killer, it recalls the premise and iconography of major masked villains across the decades, but wraps its story in the visual parlance of atmospheric "slow cinema," resulting less in startling thrills and more in creeping existential dread.
SEE ALSO: 'In A Violent Nature' review: A beautiful, bloody slasher with a twistThe film's use of POV has been much-discussed, but its ending is equally strange and subversive, adding a unique exclamation point to the whole affair. In A Violent Nature, through its genre deconstructions and surprisingly considered visual approach, nestles a story of — as its title suggests — the nature of violence, both as a human impulse and as a catalyst for horror cinema. All of this leads to a quiet crescendo, in the form of an unbearably tense vice grip that never yields, even once the credits have rolled.
Here's Johnny: In A Violent Nature's instantly-iconic killerSlasher movies live or die based on their central killers. While more recent mainstays like Jigsaw and Ghostface (from the Saw and Scream movies, respectively) have an intellect bent with complex motives (relatively speaking), classic villains like Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees, Halloween's Michael Meyers, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's Leatherface embody a sense of unstoppable malice.
Johnny from In A Violent Nature belongs to that latter group, beginning with his emergence from being buried beneath the ground — a rebirth into what is eventually revealed to be a vicious cycle of killings — and because he seems instinctively driven to slash his way through the Ontario wilderness. It also helps that he has a memorable outfit: simple, tattered lumberjack plaid turned mysterious thanks to a vintage firefighter mask and the chained grip hooks that accompany it.
Credit: Pierce Derks/IFC Films/ShudderEqually accessorized with the rusty and rustic, he lumbers his way through thickets and campsites — accompanied by Michelle Hwu's ambient sound design — in the hopes of recovering a locket from a band of rowdy twentysomethings who unknowingly picked it up. The item, through one brief daydream, is revealed as tied to his childhood. This motive, at first, seems like a conveniently tacked on explanation to justify his steady rampage, but his very first on-screen kill is disguised with unexpected panache. With his victim helplessly caught in a bear trap, Johnny reaches for his face, only for the movie to cut to several minutes later, as the killer's stout and rotting hand — now soaked in blood — reaches for a locket he thinks is his, in one continuous motion.
Featured Video For You Pam Grier and the cast of 'Them: The Scare' on breaking down the stigma of mental health in "Black Horror"This oblique cut is the first of several that denies the viewer the complete satisfaction of on-screen gore (don't fret; there's still plenty of that), but it also lends credence to the idea that something palpable, and perhaps fundamentally human, lies beneath Johnny's inhumane compulsions. That Johnny seems, at first, Terminator-esque in his one-tracked drive is also a function of Nash initially refusing to reveal the killer's face, even when he's unmasked. However, the film reveals Johnny's monstrous complexion at a moment that challenges the implications of his appearance. The first time we see his glassy eyes, infected teeth, and decomposing flesh happens to be when he sits down to play with a toy car. Like Jason and Leatherface, he appears to be constrained by arrested development.
None of this changes his or the movie's overarching trajectory — Johnny soon continues his vicious killing spree — but fleshing the character out this way is part and parcel of the movie's injection of melancholy into what might otherwise be cheap thrills.
In A Violent Nature is aesthetically rich slasher cinemaIn A Violent Nature has a few of the most hilariously inventive kills in slasher cinema, but it also wrestles with its own violence in uncomfortable ways. There is, perhaps, only one death that plays out to its fullest potential in terms of sick satisfaction (the lady on the ledge; you'll know it when you see it), because for the most part, the film is designed to deny the thrilling release of on-screen bloodshed.
One kill unfolds entirely underwater, out of view. Another, up against a tree, cuts away during its most squelching moments. If he's in search of some catharsis, Johnny's drive to violence seems to help him almost achieve it, but each kill requires another. Nash's placement of the camera enhances this sense of forward momentum; we're almost always following Johnny from behind as he marches toward some unattainable goal.
Along the way, Nash and cinematographer Pierce Derks' use of digital noise replicates film grain, ramping up the visual tension even within stillness — as though the frame were pulsing and alive — while giving the movie a photographic quality reminiscent of celluloid. While shot on the Canon C70, it resembles an eerie 16-millimeter found footage discovery, further enhanced by its narrow 4:3 aspect ratio. This mimicry of film extends to the use of halation: sunlight pierces the corners of the frame in uncanny ways, creating a halo effect around Johnny, making him seem like a creature plucked out of time — like something that has always existed in these woods.
While there's arguably a finite timeline to Johnny's story — rumors and urban legends place his origin a few decades prior — nothing precludes his evocation of a Michael Meyers-esque embodiment of evil, who revels in (or at least, tries to revel in) his vicious handiwork. These echoes burrow their way under your skin, and become all the more viscerally upsetting as the film begins to focus on death not just as entertainment but as inevitability.
The aforementioned woman on the ledge (Charlotte Creaghan), though she becomes a victim of cartoonish brutality, has a rare and poignant moment of acceptance right before her death. She doesn’t resist. A later victim, the Park Ranger (Reece Presley), becomes the center of one of the most ghastly and sadistic on-screen killings in recent slasher cinema, though not because of its actual bloodshed. Rather, Johnny breaks the Ranger's spine, paralyzing him and forcing him, and us, to watch — in an unbroken three-minute take — as he's slowly dismembered (and eventually, beheaded) by logging equipment. He can’t resist either.
Accompanied only by mechanical rumbling, this kill in particular completes the movie's transformation from something thrilling, wherein death lurks around every corner, to something deeply sad, in which the camera unflinchingly portrays death head on, with no possibility of escape. All of this builds to the movie's stunning climax, a final 20 minutes that proves intensely nerve-wracking, despite the fact that Johnny isn't even on screen.
Credit: Pierce Derks/IFC Films/Shudder In A Violent Nature ramps up the intensity during its quiet climaxThe movie's "final girl," Kris (Andrea Pavlovic) is, like her group of friends, marked for death by her proximity to the man who initially stole Johnny’s locket. When she realizes the kind of unrelenting force she's up against, Kris runs away as fast as she can, all but leaving the movie's core premise behind. But before she escapes, the camera lingers on her unbroken stare, as Johnny executes her friend. There's something fearfully paralyzing about what she sees, but also, on the level of an audience expecting cathartic payoff, there's something enrapturing too — Kris lingers just a hair longer than any real person might.
As she runs helter-skelter through the darkened woods, the film briefly resembles the claustrophobic horrors of The Blair Witch Project, but it soon allows her an escape when she reaches a dirt road and flags down a pickup truck, à la the original Texas Chain Saw. During these climactic moments, there are plenty of shots that feel like they could serve as emphatic final images — from Johnny slashing away at a long-dead victim, to Kris charging through the forest (and eventually, standing still on the road) — thus concluding the movie in a state of unrest.
However, Nash prolongs this restlessness well beyond what might feel most rhythmic, or cinematically "correct," by essentially extending the movie beyond its natural life, into an extra act as Kris hitches a ride with a helpful woman (Lauren Taylor, of Friday the 13th Part 2). It's here, perhaps more than any other moment in the film, that the genre's expectations come charging into play, from the slasher’s proclivity for "one final scare" to the creeping suspicion of an accomplice (the driver seems to be familiar with the dangers lurking in the woods).
Through shaky, claustrophobic closeups, Nash ratchets up the nauseating tension amidst this car ride, during which it feels violence could erupt at any moment. The aforementioned sound design, involving rusting trees and trilling insects, becomes louder and more harrowing, as though the forest itself were cursed. By sticking with Johnny's perspective through most of the film, Nash turns the concept of the cinematic gaze into something malevolent. When the movie finally leaves Johnny behind, switching its POV to Kris, it can't help but echo this sensation, a lingering feeling verging on the desire for on-screen violence. Watching these final minutes unfold involves not just expecting some vicious eruption, but on some level, yearning for it, as though it were the only possible escape from Kris' newfound paranoia.
This is, on one hand, a deft aesthetic embodiment of the way trauma seeps its way into your bones. But it is also wildly self-reflexive as a postscript to a horror film, as though Johnny's unrelenting thoughts of violence had, in some way, been transferred to Kris' psyche, through the mere act of her witnessing his executions — as an enraptured audience member cursed with the instinct to look away, but the desire to keep watching.
How to watch: In a Violent Nature is available to rent/buy on Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, and Microsoft.
Remember that massive Ticketmaster hack earlier this year? Well, it turns out this breach was bigger than initially thought. As in, "440,000 compromised tickets just for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour" big.
Cybersecurity publication Hackread reports that hacker group ShinyHunters updated their ransom demand on Thursday, asking Ticketmaster's parent company Live Nation Entertainment to shell out $8 million for the safe return of the information. Though ShinyHunters claimed it previously accepted a "rushed" offer of $1 million from Live Nation, the group has since assessed the hacked data and revised its demands. Apparently ShinyHunters deduced the data is significantly more valuable than they'd initially believed.
SEE ALSO: Ticketmaster confirms massive hack. What you need to know."[W]e found out how to make way more expensive and insurance surely accepts this; we restart negotiations at $8M let the negotiator and insurance know," read a post from ShinyHunters (via a screenshot by Hackread), published on the notorious hacking forum Breach Forums.
According to ShinyHunters, the group has obtained a total of 193 million ticket barcodes, valued at over $22.6 billion in total. This includes 440,000 tickets for Taylor Swift's ongoing Eras Tour, as well as 30 million more for 65,000 other events.
It's unclear exactly when Live Nation purportedly offered to pay the $1 million ransom, or whether it happened at all. ShinyHunters initially attempted to sell the data for $500,000 at the end of May, when the Ticketmaster breach was first reported. At the time, the 1.3 terabytes were believed to contain sensitive information belonging to 560 million Ticketmaster customers. This included users' full names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, their ticket purchase history and details, and even partial payment data such as credit card expiry dates.
ShinyHunters' latest announcement has now provided further details on the breach, stating that the hacked information includes 400 million encrypted credit cards, 440 million unique email addresses, and 680 million order details. The hacker group claims that this makes it "the largest publicly disclosed non-scrape breach of customer [personally identifiable information] of all time."
Mashable has reached out to Live Nation for comment.
Ticketmaster's ongoing troublesTicketmaster has been having a hard time of it lately, even beyond the universal loathing it commonly receives. Last year the company was the subject of a U.S. Senate hearing investigating the apparent lack of competition in the live music industry. The U.S. Justice Department later filed a lawsuit aiming to break up Live Nation this May, accusing it of violating antitrust laws. According to the complaint, over 70 percent of tickets sold or resold for major U.S. concert venues in 2022 were handled by Ticketmaster.
For its part, Live Nation has denied that Ticketmaster is a monopoly, claiming in a previous statement to Mashable that "competition has steadily eroded Ticketmaster’s market share and profit margin." Of course, having a shrinking market share doesn't preclude a company from also having a monopoly, especially if it's starting from a dominant position of 70 percent.
This also isn't the first time Ticketmaster has fallen afoul of Taylor Swift fans. The 2022 presale for Swift's Eras Tour was infamously a fiasco, with Ticketmaster subsequently cancelling the public ticket sale due to "insufficient remaining ticket inventory." The company issued an official apology, though this did not stave off a subsequent lawsuit from disgruntled Swifties. Unhappy fans accused Ticketmaster of operating an "anticompetitive scheme," deceiving fans by failing to disclose that it had sent more presale codes than it could actually service with tickets.
Swift released an official statement following the Eras Tour ticket debacle, expressing her frustration and revealing that Ticketmaster had assured her team it could handle the demand after they'd inquired about it multiple times.
"It's truly amazing that 2.4 million people got tickets, but it really pisses me off that a lot of them feel like they went through several bear attacks to get them," wrote Swift.
Unfortunately, it seems as though the headache still isn't over for at least 440,000 of those Swifties.
WhatsApp is bringing a creative AI feature to its platform, allowing users to create AI-generated avatars of themselves in any imagined setting.
The feature was spotted by WABetaInfo in the new WhatsApp Beta for the Android 2.24.14.13 update, and according to The Verge, uses a combination of images, text prompts, and Meta's AI Llama model to create the images.
SEE ALSO: A batch of updates from Meta puts AI front and center when you use its apps"Take photos of yourself once, then imagine yourself in any setting from the forest to outer space," reads the screenshot on WhatsApp. The way it works is in the Meta AI Chat: users can type "Imagine in..." or "@Meta AI imagine me..." as a text prompt. A user's likeness will then be used to generate the personalized image.
It's not yet clear when the feature will begin rolling out more widely on WhatsApp, but it is reportedly an optional one.
WhatsApp also recently introduced in-app custom stickers, which can be made in seconds, and has been developing its AI chat for months now. With this upcoming feature, it seems Meta's focus on both AI and in-app creativity is far from waning.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 5 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for July 5Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, July 5, 2024:
AcrossBlack-tie affairsThe answer is galas.
The answer is Ariel.
The answer is patty.
The answer is bun.
The answer is spa.
The answer is gap.
The answer is Arabs.
The answer is lit up (no space).
The answer is Aetna.
The answer is sly.
A TikTok creator pleaded with Apple to add a new feature to the iPhone: beach mode.
"Like nothing is more annoying than not being able to see your phone at the beach," the caption on larissadomingueti's video said. "Also why does it automatically dim? And overheats so easily. Apple, please fix this."
Some commenters dismissed the TikTokker's claims, declaring that it's common knowledge that smartphone displays appear to be dimmer while being drowned in sunlight. However, other replies pushed back, correctly pointing out that it's safety feature to protect the phone from overheating. As a result, users are experiencing a dimmer-than-usual display — so much so that it appears to be unreadable.
Solutions you'll find for this issue include turning off True Tone and auto-brightness. However, some iPhone users have reported this doesn't work for them. This is because heat-induced auto-dimming is not a user-configurable feature. As CNET pointed out, according to Apple, you should keep your iPhone cooler than 95 degrees. Otherwise, if your phone gets too hot, the auto-dimming feature will kick in before it eventually shuts down. (Of course, when it cools down, it will become usable again.)
So the question is, what is the solution for beachgoers? iPhone umbrellas, apparently.
'iPhone umbrellas' as a solution for beach auto-dimming?The TikTok video, which attracted 21 million views and 3.2 million likes, had a top comment that caught our eye.
"You need to order a phone umbrella. It changed my life," kaylie said. Several other users suggested the same. "Portable fan and phone umbrella babes," izzy added. "Get a phone umbrella they help so much," Addi replied. "My aunt got me a phone umbrella and it works wonders on the beach," Gianna Dietitian said.
Credit: AmazonA quick check on Amazon shows that iPhone umbrellas indeed exist. The highest-rated one at 4.3 out of 5 stars is this Kiorafoto Magnetic Phone Umbrella. It comes Black, Blue, Pink, and Yellow. The first three cost $19.99, but the yellow model is slightly more expensive at $21.99. (Of course, black attracts heat, so you'll be better off with the yellow variant.)
This iPhone umbrella utilizes the MagSafe, the magnetic tech on the back of the iPhone, to remain attached to your advice. This mean it's most compatible with MagSafe-supported iPhones, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15. (However, you can use older phones if you have a case with a built-in magnetic metal ring.)
Mashable hasn't tested iPhone umbrellas for their effectiveness, but according to Amazon reviewers, it does help to block the sun and prevents their iPhone from overheating. However, some buyers wished the umbrella had better quality.
Until Apple gifts us with a, er, "beach mode" (or if owners can stop shining their hunk of metal under the bright sun and sit under a proper beach umbrella), an iPhone umbrella seems like it could be a decent solution.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Yellow iPhone umbrella $21.99 at Amazon
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