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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has thrown out Meta's non-disparagement and confidentiality agreements with over 7,000 former employees. It turns out that barring workers from criticising a company can have an unlawfully negative effect on their ability to unionise.

In a 19-page ruling on Friday, NLRB judge Andrew S. Gollin found that the non-disparagement and confidentiality sections in Meta's separation agreements unlawfully restricted workers' legally protected right to organise. This case particularly concerned over 7,000 former Meta employees who were laid off during its 2022 mass layoffs, the vast majority of whom had signed the 11-page separation agreement offered by the company.

SEE ALSO: SpaceX responds to unfair dismissal charges, calls watchdog unconstitutional

Under this separation agreement, employees who were laid off would receive "enhanced severance pay" and other benefits. In exchange, they were prohibited from disparaging, criticising, or making "otherwise detrimental comments" about any of Meta's products, its "business affairs, operation, management and financial condition"; or the circumstances in which they left the company formerly known as Facebook. The separation agreement further stipulated that former employees were not permitted to disclose the agreement's terms.

These non-disparagement and confidentiality sections were accused of interfering with workers' rights to unionise, as Meta had put in place "rules that prohibit employees from discussing wages, hours, or other terms or conditions of employment."

The NLRB has now agreed with this assessment, finding that Meta used "overly broad" language in these sections of the separation agreement. Gollin considered that Meta's non-disparagement and confidentiality restrictions prohibited former employees from raising workplace concerns with co-workers, labour organisations, or the public, preventing them from finding support when dealing with labour disputes. These restrictions would also apply even if former employees' statements were truthful.

"This prohibition… reasonably would tend to discourage protected conduct, including making comments to seek the assistance and support of other employees or third parties regarding labor disputes or issues related to terms and conditions of employment with [Meta]," wrote Gollin.  

"[P]ublic statements by employees about the workplace, their employment, or their separation are central to the exercise of [workers' rights to unionise]. The sections at issue prohibiting disclosure or commentary… are unlawful because they discourage statutorily protected communications with others, including the public."

The NLRB ordered Meta to stop entering into separation agreements with "unlawfully overbroad'' non-disparagement or confidentiality sections, as well as notify everyone who agreed to such clauses that these sections have been rescinded. Meta must also distribute a notice to employees informing them of their right to unionise under the National Labor Relations Act, and stating that the company will not interfere with such organisation.

Meta may appeal the NLRB's judgement, but as it currently stands, it looks as though the company has a lot of emails to send.

Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

Meta is just the latest tech giant to fall afoul of the NLRB this year. In January the NLRB filed a complaint against SpaceX, alleging unfair labour practises and unlawful dismissal. In response, SpaceX accused the watchdog of being unconstitutional because the U.S. president can't fire NLRB judges without cause.

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 23 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 23

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, July 23, 2024:

AcrossFood that fills both blanks of "___ce of ___"

• The answer is pie.

Wide display

• The answer is array.

Quintessentially boring color

• The answer is beige.

Founder of Amazon

• The answer is Bezos.

Type of beer

• The answer is ale.

DownGame show contestant's hope

• The answer is prize.

"In memoriam" pieces

• The answer is Iago.

They're never open 24/7

• The answer is eyes.

"Mamma Mia!" group

• The answer is Abba.

Film spool

• The answer is reel.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Apple Music Classical now has its own top 100 chart.

The Apple Classical Top 100, launched on Monday, is a "definitive list of today's most popular classical albums globally," Apple said. It combines five data sources from 165 countries to give you an overview of what's hot in classical music. The data sources are all coming from Apple, though: Apple Music Classical streams, Apple Music streams, iTunes downloads, iTunes song sales, and Shazam tags.

According to Apple, the Apple Classical Top 100 will be updated every Monday. It can be found on the Apple Music Classical Home tab.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: I tested both for 13 days

Right now, the chart is topped by Bach: Keyboard Concertos with Chinese pianist Tianqi Du and the Academy of St Martins in the Fields conducted by Jonathan Bloxham.

Apparently some newcomer called Bach is hot stuff right now. Credit: Apple

Apple Music Classical is a free mobile app (there's no desktop version for some reason) for Apple Music subscribers. As the name suggests it focuses on classical music, with a slightly redesigned interface, and support for classical categories like works, composers, and recordings. It also features expert recommendations and playlists, as well as exclusive artworks.

A.I.’s math problem reflects how much the new technology is a break with computing’s past.

Wiz’s chief executive said the company walked away from a “humbling offer” and would pursue an initial public offering instead.

TL;DR: Through July 28, back up, restore, and save your files when you use AOMEI Backupper, a professional backup and recovery tool on sale for only £15.44 (reg. £38.63) for life. 

Whether it's a file you need for work, homework you haven't submitted yet, or treasured photos, file loss is a major inconvenience, and you can't always predict when it's going to happen. However, you can still prevent it with a comprehensive backup system like AOMEI Backupper, the Pro Edition of this Lifetime Backup Software. 

The AOMEI Backupper Pro is backup software for Windows devices that lets you protect, restore, and transfer files. It lets you back up your files and system while also offering you tools like system saves, restores, and partitions. Protect your computer against untimely file loss for life when you get a lifetime subscription to AOMEI Backupper Pro edition for £15.44 (reg. £38.63). 

File sync, system cloning, scheduled backups

A wayward cup of tea could be what annihilates your laptop, but it'd take a lot more to make you lose your files if they're backed up with AOMEI. This backup system uses real-time file synchronisation to monitor file changes and update the backup instantly. If something does happen to your computer, your backup can restore your system, disks, individual files, and even your partitions. 

Disaster isn't the only time this backup service comes in handy. If you're upgrading your operating system or hard drive, you could use the cloning feature to keep from needing to reinstall Windows or applications. 

AOMEI comes with other useful tools like the PXE boot, the ability to merge backups, backup schemes, bootable disc creation, and there's even a command-line interface. 

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for July 23's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

The ends of a fork.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle...

PRONG.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 23

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

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You're the best!

These words are as good as it gets.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The hint describe being the pinnacle of something.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today:

Today's spangram is Champion.

NYT Strands word list for July 23

• Superlative

• Excellent

• Perfect

• Champion

• Iconic

• Supreme

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

President Biden, who has been sidelined with Covid, is set to address the nation this week.

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for July 23's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: False expert

• Green: Vocal sounds

• Blue: Swagger around

• Purple: Looney Tunes

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

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

• Yellow: Imposter

• Green: Utterance

• Blue: One Who Likes Showing Off

• Purple: Looney Tunes Characters Minus A Letter

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #408 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Imposter: CHARLATAN, FRAUD, QUACK, SHAM

• Utterance: NOISE, PEEP, SOUND, WORD

• One Who Likes Showing Off: HAM, HOT DOG, PEACOCK, SHOWBOAT

• Looney Tunes Characters Minus A Letter: BUG, PORK, SPEED, TWEET

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

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

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

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

The House Homeland Security Committee called on the chief executive of the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike to testify on the disruption.

News alerts are irrelevant. Turn CNN off. The best way to get the breaking news is an overly horny text calling you a slut that's filled to the brim with eggplant emojis.

That text is called a copypasta, and if you're part of the more online sect of Americans, you likely received one when President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. It's decidedly NSFW, but here's a screenshot of what it might have looked like:

How nice! Credit: Screenshot

When you receive a copypasta, you're supposed to copy and paste it — hence the name — and send it to more of your contacts. It's intended like a piece of chain mail, which we first started seeing around 2006 on 4chan. It was added the dictionary in May 2021.

Many people remember these texts from middle school ("send this to 10 ppl or you'll never get kissed"), and there are, of course, various other ways the fun text format is used (spreading misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance). We saw a modern resurgence of these chain messages in 2018, but they seemed more tied to the texts you might get in middle school. Eventually, they floated into holiday territory and got a lot hornier (e.g., Santa’s about to slide 🎅🏾😉 down your hot 🔥 hot 🔥chimney tonight). They became more political and more sexually explicit than ever before. And today, they're synonymous for the breaking news alert.

There's plenty of reasons for this evolution. The people who write them aren't terribly concerned with accuracy, so they can move quickly with breaking news. Our political world is continuously disappointing us in new and more horrifying ways, and copypastas are one way to add some levity to a system that has left us jaded. As several copypasta writers told CT Jones in Rolling Stone in 2018, "the meme format isn’t just a good laugh— it’s a way for people to use humor to address a world that has become increasingly dystopian."

But I fear something for fans of the copypasta: its death may be approaching.

There's a cycle memes often fall victim to, not one unlike anything else embedded in popular culture. It looks like this: origin, niche spread, viral spread, peak popularity, adaptation and mutation, decline, obsolescence, and an optional resurgence. We're solidly in copypasta's second life — in the "adaptation and mutation" phase. The texts have moved from holiday texts and messages suited for middle schoolers to some of the horniest NSFW texts you'll receive. We got horny copypastas on the anniversary of the insurrection anniversary, when former President Trump was convicted, when someone attempted to assassinate former President Trump, and plenty about Biden dropping out.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Adapting the meme by adding the horniness has kept it relevant for longer, but it can't stave off a decline forever. Eventually, we'll get bored of it, because the copypasta is mainstream. Its shock quality has been replaced with predictability — a sign of doom for anything that has any hope of maintaining comedic value. As Skyler Higley, a comedian and staff writer at After Midnight, posted on X: "it’s all the same now. Joe Biden drops out. You get one of those long texts with the emojis. Someone posts the future meme 'biden dropping out reminds me of how I quit you'. people post fake texts between them and Biden. Et cetera. I feel empty."

We're reaching peak copypasta — and I'm calling it. We only have a few months before we all decide that copypastas have actually been lame all along and we experience a new meme renaissance. Start preparing your obituaries.

AppleTV+'s critically acclaimed drama series "Pachinko," based on the novel by Min Jin Lee, returns August 23.

Generative AI is exacerbating the problem of online child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), as watchdogs report a proliferation of deepfake content featuring real victims' imagery.

Published by the UK's Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the report documents a significant increase in digitally altered or completely synthetic images featuring children in explicit scenarios, with one forum sharing 3,512 images and videos over a 30 day period. The majority were of young girls. Offenders were also documented sharing advice and even AI models fed by real images with each other.

"Without proper controls, generative AI tools provide a playground for online predators to realize their most perverse and sickening fantasies," wrote IWF CEO Susie Hargreaves OBE. "Even now, the IWF is starting to see more of this type of material being shared and sold on commercial child sexual abuse websites on the internet."

SEE ALSO: X is developing a tool to block links in replies to cut down on spam

According to the snapshot study, there has been 17 percent increase in online AI-altered CSAM since the fall of 2023, as well as a startling increase in materials showing extreme and explicit sex acts. Materials include adult pornography altered to show a child’s face, as well as existing child sexual abuse content digitally edited with another child's likeness on top.

"The report also underscores how fast the technology is improving in its ability to generate fully synthetic AI videos of CSAM," the IWF writes. "While these types of videos are not yet sophisticated enough to pass for real videos of child sexual abuse, analysts say this is the ‘worst’ that fully synthetic video will ever be. Advances in AI will soon render more lifelike videos in the same way that still images have become photo-realistic."

In a review of 12,000 new AI-generated images posted to a dark web forum over a one month period, 90 percent were realistic enough to be assessed under existing laws for real CSAM, according to IWF analysts.

Another UK watchdog report, published in the Guardian today, alleges that Apple is vastly underreporting the amount of child sexual abuse materials shared via its products, prompting concern over how the company will manage content made with generative AI. In it's investigation, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) compared official numbers published by Apple to numbers gathered through freedom of information requests.

While Apple made 267 worldwide reports of CSAM to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2023, the NSPCC alleges that the company was implicated in 337 offenses of child abuse images in just England and Wales, alone — and those numbers were just for the period between April 2022 and March 2023.

Apple declined the Guardian's request for comment, pointing the publication to a previous company decision to not scan iCloud photo libraries for CSAM, in an effort to prioritize user security and privacy. Mashable reached out to Apple, as well, and will update this article if they respond.

Under U.S. law, U.S.-based tech companies are required to report cases of CSAM to the NCMEC. Google reported more than 1.47 million cases to the NCMEC in 2023. Facebook, in another example, removed 14.4 million pieces of content for child sexual exploitation between January and March of this year. Over the last five years, the company has also reported a significant decline in the number of posts reported for child nudity and abuse, but watchdogs remain wary.

Online child exploitation is notoriously hard to fight, with child predators frequently exploiting social media platforms, and their conduct loopholes, to continue engaging with minors online. Now with the added power of generative AI in the hands of bad actors, the battle is only intensifying.

Read more of Mashable's reporting on the effects of nonconsensual synthetic imagery:

• What to do if someone makes a deepfake of you

• Explicit deepfakes are traumatic. How to deal with the pain.

• The consequences of making a nonconsensual deepfake

• Victims of nonconsensual deepfakes arm themselves with copyright law to fight the content's spread

• How to stop students from making explicit deepfakes of each other

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

Apple Watch Series 10, also called "Apple Watch 10" and "Apple Watch X" among tech enthusiasts, should be fast approaching if the Cupertino-based tech giant follows its usual release schedule. We're expecting it to launch alongside the iPhone 16 in September.

We're not too far from September, so as you can imagine, the leaks, rumors, and spilled beans have been flooding in. From talks of a new blood pressure monitor to whispers about a new sleep apnea sensor, here's everything we know about the Apple Watch 10.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: I tested both for 13 days Apple Watch 10 release date

As mentioned, the Apple Watch 10 is expected to drop in September 2024. For reference, here are the release dates for some of the previous-generation Apple Watch devices.

• Apple Watch Series 9 - Sept. 12, 2023

• Apple Watch Series 8 - Sept. 7, 2022

• Apple Watch Series 7 - Oct. 18, 2021

• Apple Watch Series 6 - Sept. 15, 2020

Save for the Watch Series 7, which was released in October, all the other smartwatches dropped in September, so we're expecting the same for the Apple Watch 10.

Apple Watch 10 price

There haven't been any credible leaks about pricing, but Apple Watch 10 is expected to have the same starting price as its predecessor: $399. This is because there haven't been many price hikes for the Apple Watch models in recent years, so we're expecting a similar strategy in 2024.

The Apple Watch Series 10 will likely have an unchanged price tag compared to the Series 9. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Apple Watch Series 10 (41mm, GPS only) - $399

Apple Watch Series 10 (45mm, GPS only) - $429

Apple Watch Series 10 (41mm, GPS + cellular) - $499

Apple Watch Series 10 (45mm, GPS + cellular) - $529

The Watch Series models have had the same starting price of $399 since the Apple Watch Series 3. (The Apple Watch Series 2 was $369 before its successor was bumped up to $399; and it's been the same price ever since.)

Apple Watch 10 design

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a reputable source with a respectable track record, the Apple Watch 10 will have a bigger display that's nearly as big as the screen found on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The Apple Watch 10 is expected to be bigger and thinner than the Watch Series 9 Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

For reference, the display size on the Watch Series 9 is somewhere between 1.6 inches and 1.8 inches, depending on the size you get. The Apple Watch Ultra's display is 1.9 inches big. That being said, Gurman is technically claiming that the Watch 10 will offer a new display size that comes closer to the 2-inch mark.

Gurman's claims echoed a report from Ming-Chi Kuo, another respected Apple analyst, who said that the Apple Watch 10 will feature new sizes: 45mm and 49mm (as opposed to 41mm and 45mm).

You may be wondering, "If the Watch 10 display will be closer to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, does it follow that the Watch Ultra 3 will get a redesign, too?" According to Gurman, the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra will not feature any significant design changes. Keep in mind that the Ultra line is relatively new, getting its debut in 2022.

Kuo also claims that Apple may add a new color of a darker hue to the Apple Watch 10, but the specific color is unclear.

Finally, Gurman claims that the Watch 10 will feature a new magnetic mechanism for bands, making it easier to swap them out for other styles.

Apple Watch 10 new features

According to Gurman, here are the following health tools that Apple has been working on for the Apple Watch:

• blood-pressure monitor

• sleep apnea sensor

• glucose monitor

However, according to Gurman, the blood-pressure sensor has been hitting a couple of snags during testing. So unfortunately, while the Cupertino-based tech giant may have planned to add the new health tool to the Apple Watch 10, it may not make it to the final product. As such, it may be postponed until the Apple Watch 11.

Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

"There have been particular concerns about the blood-pressure feature working properly with the new Series 10 design," Gurman said. Even if the new blood-pressure monitor does launch on the Apple Watch 10, it won't be a reliable alternative to the blood-pressure cuff. It's not supposed to give an actual reading. Instead, it will determine your baseline and determine whether your blood pressure is high based on that reference point.

The sleep apnea sensor, which depends on user's blood-oxygen levels, is also facing some challenges. After all, the blood-oxygen tool in its Apple Watch devices has been disabled due to a legal dispute with Masimo Corp.

Apple Watch 10 performance

As expected, the Apple Watch 10 is getting a new chip, according to Gurman.

Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

This new processor will lay the groundwork for some AI-powered features in the future, however, don't expect Apple Intelligence, the company's new suite of AI features, to hit the Apple Watch models anytime soon.

Will the Apple Watch 10 be worth it?

If Apple Watch 10 can pull through with at least one new health tool, like sleep apnea detection and blood-pressure monitoring, it will definitely be more helpful for those who want to keep track of interruptive snoring and hypertension. Plus, the Apple Watch 10 has steep competition, considering that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 already has these features.

If Apple isn't able to fix the snags it's been reportedly dealing with regarding the new health tools, it may be worth it to wait for the Apple Watch 11.

Keep in mind that there is also the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and potentially a new Apple Watch SE to watch out for, too.

Apple Watch Series 9 $329.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal

The fourth-generation iPhone SE is set to bring significant upgrades, according to well-known leaker "Ice Universe." As reported by MacRumors, these changes were posted on Chinese blogging site Weibo, and detailed three major additions to the iPhone SE 4.

SEE ALSO: iPhone SE 4: It reportedly borrows features from iPhone 13, iPhone XR iPhone SE 4: 3 biggest upgrades

These are some big upgrades and big news for those who love Apple devices, but don't want to spend a month's rent on a device.

Face ID

The upcoming iPhone SE 4 is rumored to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a departure from the Touch ID Home button and Lightning port of previous models. These changes align with broader trends in Apple's product line, emphasizing convenience and compatibility with other devices.

Larger OLED Display

Another anticipated addition is a larger 6.06-inch OLED display, up from the current model’s 4.7-inch screen. This would be the first time an iPhone SE model features an OLED panel, promising richer colors and better contrast.

Performance Boost

Finally, The iPhone SE 4 is expected to offer up to 8GB of LPDDR5 memory, an A18 chip, and an aluminum chassis. Alongside a single rear 48-megapixel camera, the new generation SE should be able to match the performance of the rumored iPhone 16.

The massive global tech outage that occurred on Friday due to an error in an update from the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike may largely be out of the public's mind today. And that's thanks to IT admins and departments around the world who sprung into action to fix the problem that took down many airlines, hospitals, and banks' Windows-based networks.

However, while things may be all and well for consumers, ITs are actually still dealing with getting their company's computers back up and running. As Mashable previously reported, the faulty CrowdStrike update that went out requires a technical fix and direct access to each individual affected device. So, for big organizations, this will take awhile.

But, ITs now have a major assist thanks to an easier recently released fix from Microsoft.

Microsoft's CrowdStrike recovery tool

CrowdStrike issued an updated fix soon after the faulty version went out, but for many computers that had automatically installed the update it was too late. Once installed the fix became a manual process that involved booting the computer in Safe Mode to get around the Windows "Blue Screen of Death" and then deleting the update file.

While this could be a bit technical for the average Windows user, it's not a problem for an IT professional. The issue, though, is that this is a time-consuming process: Boot into Safe Mode. Find the update file. Delete. Repeat. It has to be done for every single affected individual machine. 

Microsoft's fix, released over the weekend, speeds things up considerably. Yes, the fix still requires manual work on every single computer. But, the more tedious processes are automated. 

The recovery tool by Microsoft utilizes a bootable USB drive that logs into a lightweight version of Windows known as Windows Preinstallation Environment or Windows PE. From there, it automatically deletes the CrowdStrike update file that's causing the issue on the affected computer.

As The Verge points out, this saves time as it  "avoids having to boot into Safe Mode or a requirement of admin rights on the machine, because the tool is simply accessing the disk without booting into the local copy of Windows." 

While a third-party was responsible, the only affected devices were computers running Microsoft's Windows operating system. So, it appears Microsoft felt compelled to act in order to help out its many affected customers.

Microsoft has also provided detailed steps to fixing the CrowdStrike issue on various versions of Windows computers, including details on the USB tool.

SAVE $20: Grab an Amazon Fire TV Soundbar with DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Audio for $99.99, which is a $20 (or 17%) down from a list price of $119.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Soundbar $99.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Day is over, but there are a ton of deals still ongoing, even on Amazon's own products. If you're a fan of Amazon's ecosystem, and own a few Echo or Fire TV devices already, then this Amazon Fire TV Soundbar might be worth your money.

As of July 22, the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar is back to its lowest price of $99.99. That's a $17% discount, knocking off $20 off the list price of $119.99. Good soundbars are expensive, so this Amazon pick which lands under $100 is a great way to add some zest to your home theatre setup.

The key highlight here is that despite the budget price, this soundbar packs in a ton of features. You get dual speakers, which means proper stereo sound. In addition, this has all the Dolby bells and whistles, including Dolby Atmos for deep, crisp sound. You also get support for DTS Virtual:X, which promises three-dimensional virtual audio. What this means is you can expect clear, booming sound that fills your living room.

Picking a soundbar can be difficult because of the number of options available. The Amazon Fire TV soundbar is an easy pick for those who have Amazon Fire TV, letting you control the two devices with a single remote.

SAVE $50: As of today, the Vitamix Explorian Blender is on sale at Amazon for $329.95. That's 13% off the blender's list price of $379.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vitamix Vitamix Explorian Blender $329.95 at Amazon
$379.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If your happy place is in the kitchen bringing flavors and feasts to life, then you need kitchen appliances that can keep up and work as hard as you do. This professional-grade Vitamix Blender is one of the best places to start if you're leveling up your cooking equipment.

As of today, July 22, the Vitamix Explorian Blender is on sale at Amazon for 13% off, bringing the price down from $379.95 to $329.95. This limited-time deal saves shoppers $50 and makes the premium blender a bit more affordable.

The 48-ounce Vitamix Explorain Blender is an ace in the kitchen: it can swiftly switch from chopping, blending, grinding, emulsifying, and even making hot soups. With variable speed control and different pulse settings, you can harness the Vitamix's power to suit your cooking needs perfectly. Its formidable blades can tackle even the toughest ingredients thanks to their durability. We also appreciate how easy to clean the Vitamix Explorain Blender: you can put it in the dishwasher for a quick clean.

Take your culinary skills to new heights with the help of the Vitamix Explorain Blender when you score today's limited-time deal.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Apple AirPods Max $382.70 at Amazon (save $166.30) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Hisense 65-inch U6HF Series ULED Fire TV $449.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal BEST BLUETOOTH TRACKER DEAL Tile Mate (2-pack) $34.99 at Amazon (save $13) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Dash Tasti-Crisp air fryer (2.6-quart) $34.99 (save $15) Get Deal BEST PRINTER DEAL HP DeskJet 2855e wireless inkjet printer $49.99 at Amazon (save $35) Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day may be over, but that doesn't mean the deals are. The mega retailer is still dropping deals worth adding to your cart a week later. Whether you missed out on the shopping event or you don't want it to end, we've found a few deals you'll want to know about from brands like Apple, HP, Dash, and more.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on July 22, a week after the official Prime Day shopping extravaganza.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $382.70 at Amazon
$549.00 Save $166.30 Get Deal

The AirPods Max dropped 28% to their lowest price on record during Prime Day, making them one of our favorite tech purchases during the two-day shopping event. A week later, they're now even cheaper at $382.70. That's a new record-low price for the fancy Apple headset. "The AirPods Max are stupidly comfy, they sound amazing, look good, and play nice with Apple gadgetry," Senior Editor Stan Schroeder writes. There's just one catch: only the pink pair are down to the all-time low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U6HF Series ULED Fire TV $449.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

In the market for a new TV? It's hard to beat this $300 discount on a 65-inch ULED Fire TV. While it's not the lowest price on record, the Hisense 65-inch U6HF ULED Fire TV is a great deal for only $449.99. It features Hisense's version of QLED technology, which incorporates a blend of LED backlighting, local dimming, and quantum dot color enhancement for a richer visual appearance that's still budget friendly. It also packs smooth motion handling for gamers, lots of local dimming zones, a bezel-less design, and a dedicated gaming mode.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Mate (2-pack) $34.99 at Amazon
$47.99 Save $13.00 Get Deal

A Bluetooth tracker makes a great travel companion — and this deal on a two-pack of Tile Mates comes just in time for your summer getaway. Slip one into your luggage to make sure it goes where you go. Upon testing, we found the Tile Mate to be "a reliable GPS tracker that works equally well for iOS and Android." And we like that you can get notifications when you leave items behind and qualify for item reimbursement if you can't recover lost items (with the paid Tile Premium subscription). Snag a two-pack for only $34.99 and save 27% as of July 22.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dash Dash Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer (2.6-quart) $34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

Some air fryers are unnecessarily complicated and have a hefty learning curve. The Dash Tasti-Crisp makes things easy. Its analog design features just two knobs — one for temperature and one for time. Just select both, pop in your food, and you're good to go. This 2.6-quart version is pretty small, but if you're only cooking for one or two people, it should get the job done. And at only $34.99, it won't set you back too much. That's a savings of 30% with Prime and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP DeskJet 2855e wireless inkjet printer $49.99 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

I didn't think about the need for a printer until I had multiple Amazon labels I needed to attach to returns with no way of retrieving them. Buying your own definitely pays off in time and energy. You don't need to spend a fortune, either. This HP DeskJet printer is down to a record-low $49.99 and can get the job done. Better yet, it comes with three months of ink to get you started.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.