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I got a chance to demo Recall — and it's a lot more polished than I thought.

What is Recall? Only the most controversial AI-powered feature that Microsoft has dropped this year.

Long story short, it's like your own personal digital scrapbook. Using frequently taken screenshots, it saves snapshots of your PC activity, allowing you to go back and revisit them whenever you want.

Thanks to a timeline scrubber, you can scroll through everything that happened each day. Plus, you can use natural language to search for things within your Recall history.

However, some security experts expressed concerns about Recall, fearing that hackers would see it as a gateway for stealing user data.

Microsoft rep using facial authentication for Recall. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

In response, Microsoft delayed Recall's rollout and addressed fears and anxieties by, in part, requiring Windows Hello (e.g., biometric authentication like fingerprint scanning and facial recognition) to access Recall.

Now that Recall is more secure, Microsoft wants Windows users to give it a chance.

SEE ALSO: Recall just got a release date window for Windows PCs. Here’s when you’ll get to test it. Windows Recall demo with Microsoft

I had a Microsoft rep demo Recall at a recent press event.

Demonstrating a practical use case, the rep pretended that he was interested in running the Boston Marathon and discovered a PowerPoint-based itinerary for it — but never saved it.

Microsoft rep searching for Boston itinerary. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

He launched Recall and searched for the word "itinerary" — and voilà — it appeared in his search results because the AI recognized the word among some screenshots in his timeline.

The Microsoft rep boasted that Recall can even identify images.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

After typing, "Chart with purple arrow," Recall was able to find a document with — you guessed it — a purple arrow, even though the words "chart with purple arrow" never appeared in the timeline.

While these perks are pretty impressive, it's the following three features that won me over.

1. You can access links in Recall's search results

Once search results populate in Recall, you can click on a screenshot and a button below it will allow you to access the URL associated with it.

For example, if you want to find that Mashable article about the "Lover Girl" dating trend, but you forgot to bookmark it, you can lean on Recall and type in the words "couple in love."

Credit: Mashable

Not only will you see the screenshot of the article (thanks to the AI-based image recognition), but you'll be able to access it again via Microsoft Edge.

Recall can pull up files stored locally, too, if you click on a screenshot of a document you saved on your computer.

2. Recall screenshots are interactive

You can interact with screenshots of documents, webpages, and more without ever leaving Recall.

For example, if a screenshot captures a PDF you opened during your PC activity history, you don't need to pull up the actual document to interact with it.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

If there is text, your PC will recognize it and allow you to copy and paste it elsewhere. You can click on URLs, too.

3. Don't worry about storage

I asked the Microsoft rep, "Wouldn't Recall destroy my storage?" As it turns out, in the Settings menu, there's a way to limit Recall's presence on your storage in the Settings app.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Depending on your preference, you can ensure that the PC doesn't exceed the following storage thresholds:

• 25GB

• 50GB

• 75GB

• 100GB

• 150GB

The Microsoft rep explained that 150GB is "over a year's worth of snapshots" while 25GB will save about "several months" of data.

Recall's privacy and security

As we reported last week, Microsoft announced a slew of updates to Recall to make it more secure.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

In addition to requiring a Windows Hello login, Recall requires an opt-in process. It's not on by default.

Secondly, users can uninstall Recall from their system. Thirdly, Microsoft said that Recall data is encrypted and isolated in something called a "VBS Enclave." In layman's terms, this means that your screenshots will be secured in a contained environment that is safe and unreadable from third-party apps and users.

Plus, Microsoft says that AI for Recall is processed on-device and Microsoft never uploads user data to the cloud.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, a Recall-supported PC Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Keep in mind that only Copilot+ PCs, like the Surface Laptop 7, support Recall. Laptops with this branding can handle on-device AI processing due to their NPUs (a processor that is dedicated to running AI tasks).

How to get Recall

I tried to get Recall on my own PC (i.e., Surface Laptop 7), but it required me to jump through several hoops. Firstly, I had to sign up for a free Windows Insider membership.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Secondly, I had to go through a wave of updates to make sure that my system is on the latest Windows version available.

The Recall button looks like the recycle icon. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

But even then, because Microsoft is doing a staggered rollout of Recall to Windows Insiders, I haven't seen Recall appear on my machine yet. Bummer!

Is Recall on its way to redemption?

Microsoft has tough challenge on its hands: redeeming Recall from a sullied reputation. Recall has been called creepy, dystopian, controversial, and gimmicky.

However, there are still some users who are optimistic about its usefulness. I fall in the latter camp; I've been in countless situations where I browse the internet, neglect to bookmark or save something, and end up pulling my hair out trying to rediscover it.

As someone who struggles with forgetfulness, I can see Recall playing the hero in moments when my mind fails me.

There's a tweet from former President Donald Trump I think about a lot. It is unintentionally hilarious and indicative of how the human experience works.

A dozen years ago he posted: "The Coca Cola company is not happy with me--that's okay, I'll still keep drinking that garbage."

Say what you want about the man — perhaps that he's a race-baiting compulsive liar who's hell-bent on subverting long-held democratic norms — but that's a great tweet. It's perhaps the gilded billionaire's most relatable moment: This thing sucks and of course I'm going to keep doing it. Most of us feel that way each morning as we rise for work.

Funnily enough, that Trump tweet is almost exactly how I feel about Elon Musk's X, the website formerly known as Twitter. Yes, it's awful. It has degraded in myriad ways, actively incentivizes the worst accounts, and has lost lots of the best users. But there is no real replacement and I've been using it for too long to change now.

Tweet may have been deleted

Previously I wrote that the best alternative to Twitter is Logging Off. In the piece I noted that Twitter had become markedly less fun, worse to use, and that the rip-offs — Threads, Blue Sky, etc. — didn't have the user-base or familiarity to scratch the same itch. I stand by all that. The best thing alternative to Elon Musk's X is to log off — I am just unable to do it.

Lots of folks have left X. Anecdotally, I've seen a bunch, especially among the folks who don't really need it. Frequent posters I used to follow like screenwriter Brian Koppelman, songwriter Jason Isbell, and sitcom guru/baseball guy/Mose fromThe Office Mike Schur have all left, for instance. Mashable's reporting noted that X lost daily active users after an initial post-Musk surge then stagnated over the summer. Some studies have shown a steep drop in Twitter use pretty much since Musk took over. In short, people are ditching X.

Tweet may have been deleted

But, queue the Leo in Wolf of Wall Street meme, I'm not freaking leaving. Let's be clear: This is not some show of support of Musk or his platform. I get all the reasons X sucks now. I can hardly scroll without seeing some ad for drop-shipped crap, a promoted post by some scammer, or a flood of replies from verified bots. And Musk, well, he's actively a rightwing shitposter remaking X in that image. He bans the people he doesn't like, yet reinstates far-right accounts that got barred for misinformation, abuse, or worse...all under the guise of loving free speech.

I should leave X. It's the right thing to do and would be a healthy choice. And from a purely practical perspective, the site sucks now. But let's be honest here, I'm lazy and I love posting. Sure, TikTok is an interesting and addictive platform, and Instagram is...fine I guess, but my formative social media years centered on Twitter and text-based jokes. It's not something I want to give up. At least not yet.

X is the rotting corpse of a website I once loved, but at least its limbs and appendages are familiar. The muscle memory remains. I know exactly where X's app is on my phone's home screen, I know exactly how to compose a tweet, I can bop over to my replies without thinking, as if breathing. My follower list is curated, as is my following, even if my engagement is nonexistent due to not paying Elon $8 per month for a check. Were it not for the inertia of its previous existence as Twitter, X would be nothing but Truth Social. But inertia is a hell of a force.

I've had this thought about not leaving Twitter — sorry, I mean X — for quite some time. But a tweet helped inspire me to finally write it. User @pankendev posted: "'if you hate elon so much then why are you still here' BECAUSE I WAS HERE FIRST. WHY SHOULD I LEAVE. HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS."

Tweet may have been deleted

And you know what, they're kind of right. Sure, Musk sucks, but it doesn't mean I can't use the decaying remnants of Twitter to enjoy what I can. For instance, the day less-than-beloved New York City Mayor Eric Adams got indicted was hilarious, especially as an NYC resident. I shouldn't have to miss that because a thin-skinned billionaire has decided to gut his favorite website. Also, I write about the internet for Mashable, meaning I can't fully leave X anyway — not that I'd actually be able to quit cold turkey.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

X is a sinking ship. But I just cannot seem to find my way to the life rafts. None of X's clones have come close to matching what Twitter once was and, thus, I'm left hanging onto the debris that remains.

Elon Musk's X is awful but that's OK — I'll keep logging onto that garbage. At least until I can log off for good.

The James Webb Space Telescope's latest psychedelic view reveals an exploded star.

But this supernova is special. That's because, from our perch in the galaxy, the new stellar blast appears three times in a warped line — like it's floating in front of a funhouse mirror. This distorting effect happens because objects in space can be so massive — often clusters of galaxies — that they warp the cosmos, like a bowling ball sitting on a mattress. This creates a curved "cosmic lens," bending and distorting light, while also magnifying and brightening the light.

"The lens, consisting of a cluster of galaxies that is situated between the supernova and us, bends the supernova’s light into multiple images," Brenda Frye, an astronomer from the University of Arizona who helped undertake the new research, said in a statement.

Though, she added, in the case of this supernova, a "trifold mirror" is even better suited to describe this triple view. "This is similar to how a trifold vanity mirror presents three different images of a person sitting in front of it," Frye said.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Crucially, the mirror effect is of great value to astronomers. They can use the differences in light from the distant supernova to help measure the long-sought expansion of the universe (yes, the sprawling universe is constantly expanding).

"To achieve three images, the light traveled along three different paths," Frye explained. "Since each path had a different length, and light traveled at the same speed, the supernova was imaged in this Webb observation at three different times during its explosion. In the trifold mirror analogy, a time-delay ensued in which the right-hand mirror depicted a person lifting a comb, the left-hand mirror showed hair being combed, and the middle mirror displayed the person putting down the comb."

The three circles below show the supernova, dubbed "H0pe" — H0 is short for the "Hubble constant," the name for the rate of the universe's expansion. The vivid, white, fuzzy objects are the galaxies in the foreground creating the lens, located some 3.6 billion light-years away.

The blown-up box shows the supervova "H0pe," which from our vantage point appears three times, due to the effect of gravitational lensing. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / B. Frye (University of Arizona) / R. Windhorst (Arizona State University) / S. Cohen (Arizona State University) / J. D’Silva (University of Western Australia, Perth) / A. Koekemoer (Space Telescope Science Institute) / J. Summers (Arizona State University) Tweet may have been deleted

The universe's rate of expansion is an ongoing area of research, with different methods employed to narrow down an answer. In this case, the light measurements Frye and the team recorded from supernova H0pe show an expansion of 75.4 kilometers per second per megaparsec, with an uncertainty range of plus 8.1 or minus 5.5 parsecs. These are big numbers. For reference, a parsec equals 3.26 light-years, and a single light-year is nearly 6 trillion miles.

Don't let your head explode.

The Webb telescope's powerful abilities

The Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. But it's also examining intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system.

Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and likely will for decades to come:

- Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. The telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021.

- Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't.

"It lifts the veil," said Creighton.

- Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find?

"We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, told Mashable in 2021.

Already, astronomers have successfully found intriguing chemical reactions on a planet 700 light-years away, and have started looking at one of the most anticipated places in the cosmos: the rocky, Earth-sized planets of the TRAPPIST solar system.

TL;DR: A wide range of AI courses are available to take for free on edX.

There are absolutely loads of free AI courses on edX. You can learn all about this new and exciting technology without spending anything (or leaving home).

We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started. These are the best online AI courses you can take for free this month on edX:

• AI for Everyone: Master the Basics

• AI in Practice: Applying AI

• AI Prompt Engineering for Beginners

• Generative AI for Business Leaders

• Google AI for Anyone

• Introduction to AI for Digital Marketing

• Introduction to ChatGPT

• Introduction to Generative AI

• Prompt Engineering and Advanced ChatGPT

• Python for AI and Development Project

These free online courses do not offer certificates of completion, but that's the only catch. You can still learn at a pace that suits you, so there really isn't anything stopping you from enrolling.

Find the best free AI courses on edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: edX AI Courses Free at edX Get Deal

TL;DR: Capture stunning aerial footage with the Ninja Dragon Phantom 15PRO Dual Camera Drone, just $89.99 (reg. $199).

Adults don't just head outside and run around for hours like kids do. If you're looking for a fresh, exciting way to spend your time outdoors, get ready to take flight with the Ninja Dragon Phantom 15PRO Dual-Camera Smart Drone. It's on sale for just $89.99 (reg. $199) for a limited time and might just be your new favorite hobby.

Whether you're capturing stunning aerial photos or exploring new heights of creativity, this drone offers most of the thrills of a professional gadget without the huge price tag.

The Ninja Dragon Phantom 15PRO is built for adventure, packed with smart features that make every flight fun and easier than you might think. Thanks to its dual-camera system, you can shoot photos from multiple angles. The wide-angle HD lens captures stunning landscape views, while the optical flow camera stabilizes your shots so you can focus on creating incredible memories, not managing shaky footage.

Flying a drone doesn't have to be complicated. The Phantom 15PRO comes with intelligent flight modes that make piloting super easy, even for beginners. Whether using gesture control for hands-free selfies or setting up a custom flight path via the app, you’re in full control with minimal effort.

Want to impress friends and family? Show off with automatic takeoff, landing, and one-key return functions that help give you smooth and safe landings every time.

Worried about obstacles getting in the way of your fun? Don’t be. The Ninja Dragon Phantom 15PRO is equipped with 540-degree obstacle avoidance technology, so it will dodge and weave its way around anything in its flight path. You can fly with confidence, knowing your drone is looking out for itself—and your investment.

Get outdoors in any season with this smart drone.

For a limited time, this Ninja Dragon Phantom 15PRO Dual-Camera Smart Drone is on sale for $89.99 (reg. $199).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Onetify Ninja Dragon Phantom 15PRO Dual Camera Smart Drone $89.99
$199.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: On sale for just $59.99 (reg. $149), this refurbished Lenovo 11.6" Chromebook is durable, portable, and budget-friendly — ideal for anyone on the move.

Need a laptop you can throw in your bag without stressing so much about scratches or dents — or a big price tag? The Lenovo 11.6" Chromebook (2nd-generation) is here to save your day. This compact, portable computer is lightweight, durable, and so affordable, you won’t think twice about taking it anywhere. Whether you’re running errands, hitting up the library, or heading to the park for some fresh air while you work, this Chromebook is your new go-to.

With an 11.6-inch HD display and 4GB of RAM, you’ll get the performance you need for everyday tasks like streaming, video calls, and document editing. Plus, the Intel Celeron processor and 16GB of storage (expandable via Google Drive) keep things running smoothly, whether you’re multitasking or simply browsing the web.

What really makes it stand out? Its durability. Built to handle bumps and scrapes, it’s perfect for a fast-paced lifestyle. And with up to 10 hours of battery life, you’ll get through a full day without constantly searching for an outlet. It's been given an "A" refurbished grade, which indicates that it has minimal to zero scuffs or dents, and has been certified and tested to function as if it's brand-new.

For a limited time, take advantage of this low price on a refurbished 2019 Lenovo 11.6-inch Chromebook on sale for $59.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo 11.6" 100e Chromebook 2nd Gen (2019) 1.1GHz Celeron 4020 4GB RAM 16GB eMMC (Refurbished) $59.99
$149.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to the Calmind Premium Master Plan for $49.99 (reg. $299) and turn your app into a relaxation hub.

Between work and personal responsibilities, finding time to relax and reset can be tough. But what if your phone could be your secret weapon for stress relief, deep relaxation, and mental clarity? Calmind was designed to be your gateway to improved mental well-being.

For just $49.99 (reg. $299), you can access lifetime benefits to a unique app that transforms your phone into a tool for focus, meditation, and better sleep — all using light.

Calmind introduces the innovative Flickering Light Stimulation (FLS) technology, which uses your phone’s flashlight to create relaxing closed-eye visuals. This scientifically backed method syncs your brainwaves to help you relax, focus, and meditate more deeply. Whether you’re looking to unwind after a long day or boost your focus during work, Calmind makes it easy to enter a calm state via your phone’s light.

With over 500 sessions across eight FLS programs, Calmind offers a personalized approach to wellness. Whether you need help with better sleep, stress relief, migraine relief, or mental clarity, there’s a session for you. And the best part? You get lifetime access to these programs, so you can enjoy ongoing wellness without any additional costs.

Calmind's Safeplace Journal allows you to capture moments of gratitude, positivity, and reflection to help you elevate your emotional well-being. Pair this with the calming breathing exercises for an all-in-one mental health boost whenever you need it.

Check it out for yourself and see if it can help you create the type of life you've always wanted.

A lifetime subscription to the Calmind Premium Master Plan is on sale for just $49.99 (reg. $299) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Brainmedia Calmind Premium Master Plan: Lifetime Subscription $49.99
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TL;DR: Bypass online restrictions and unblock Pornhub with a VPN. The best service for accessing blocked porn sites is ExpressVPN.

In case anyone is keeping track, Pornhub is now blocked in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Utah. And Florida could be joining that list soon.

Don't take your access to Pornhub for granted. The popular site has been blocking a lot of users this year, which is annoying for anyone simply looking to access their favorite site at an appropriate moment.

Fortunately, online restrictions like this can be bypassed with a simple hack. If you want to unblock sites like Pornhub for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world. Unblock Pornhub by following this quick and easy process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Watch Pornhub videos from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to your favourite sites.

If you want to retain permanent access to free porn sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.

Stephen Colbert broke down the biggest VP debate moments between Tim Walz and JD Vance during a live "Late Show" monologue.

We hate to break it to you, but the online world is full of restrictions, surveillance, hackers, and advertisements. You might think that you can navigate this world freely, but unless you're using a VPN, you're wrong.

VPNs are clever security tools that encrypt all of your internet traffic. This means that all of your online activity is hidden and your data is protected. The best VPNs also offer a wide range of advanced security features like ad blocking, malware defence, and much more. Cybersecurity is obviously absolutely vital these days, but there's another reason that these services are getting more and more popular, and it concerns streaming.

VPNs hide your real IP address, which means you can bypass online restrictions to access more of the content you love. Whether you want to stream films, shows, or sports, VPNs can unblock leading sites from around the world, significantly boosting your content options. This is particularly useful if you follow a sport or team from another country, because you can use a VPN to watch live games without relying on a seriously dodgy stream with adverts, viruses, and other nasty online threats.

What makes a VPN good for streaming sport?

We know that the world of VPNs can be a complicated place, so we've researched everything you need to know about these services. We've done all of the hard work for you and highlighted a selection of features that matter when it comes to streaming sport: 

• Bandwidth — There are some cheap services that only let you download a certain amount of data per month. These should be avoided at all costs, because it simply isn't possible to stream with a limit on your bandwidth. Instead, you should opt for a VPN with unlimited bandwidth, so you can stream and download as much sport as you want.

• Connection speed — Every VPN is going to cause a drop in connection speed, but it shouldn't result in lag or buffering. This interference completely ruins a streaming session, so you should make sure you select a VPN with consistently strong connection speeds.

• Number of connections — Some VPNs let you connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously with the same account, so everyone can securely watch the NFL at the same time. Most of the best services let you connect at least five devices simultaneously, which is still great for large households or people with multiple devices.

• Server network — The best VPNs provide access to thousands of servers located all around the world. It's important to pick a VPN with a large and diverse selection of servers so that you can always find a reliable and speedy connection to the NFL Game Pass.

Take all of this into consideration when selecting a VPN for streaming the NFL. Weigh up these features against your own set of personal priorities, and then you should have a much clearer idea about what really matters to you.

Should you use free VPNs?

We have some good news for you: There are plenty of free VPNs on offer that provide users with a decent set of features. There is a catch though, and it's that these free VPNs always come with limits on data, server network, and connection speed. There are free trials available that don't have limitations, but these don't tend to last very long. What we're saying is that if you want to stream sport freely, we really wouldn't recommend a free VPN (unless you're using a free trial for one game).

Fortunately, there are a lot of great deals available on the leading services, especially if you're willing to commit to a particular provider. The cheapest monthly rates are reserved for the longest contracts, so if you find a VPN that works for you, it might be worth making a big commitment.

If you want something that lets you stream without constant interruptions, whilst providing you with advanced online protection for your data and identity, you're going to have to pay. That doesn't mean it needs to be expensive though. Be patient, because new deals drop all the time. It's all about taking your time and picking your moment to invest.

What is the best VPN for watching the NFL? 

There are plenty of VPNs out there that claim to be great for streaming sport, but only a small selection of services provide everything you need and more. We have checked out everything on offer and matched up providers against the most important features for streaming, and highlighted the best VPNs for the NFL.

There should be something for everyone and every budget on this list, with popular providers like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN making the cut. All you need to do is consider everything on this list, and pick something that works for you.

These are the best VPNs for watching the NFL in 2024.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Pertains to hearing.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 2, 2024 Hurdle Word 1 answer

AURAL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Opposite of glossy.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for October 2 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MATTE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A person distinctly lacking in intelligence and common sense.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 2 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MORON

Hurdle Word 4 hint

People do this with havoc a lot.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 2 Hurdle Word 4 answer

WREAK

Final Hurdle hint

An old-timey way of saying someone has initiative and nerve.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

MOXIE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The Daily Mini Crossword is one of the many popular daily word games available on Mashable. Powered by Arkadium, the mini crossword offers a speed round of puzzle fun with clues that are sure to challenge experienced crossword enthusiasts.

But there's no need to let the challenge get in the way of your enjoyment! If moments are turning to minutes after getting stuck on a clue, find the answers you need to progress right here.

And when you're done, check out the many other word games you can play on Mashable, including a full-size crossword.

Also, if you get stuck on any other daily word games, such as Wordle, Connections, or Strands — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 2 SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to Daily Mini Crossword for Wednesday, October 2, 2024:

AcrossPhysique, in gym lingo

• The answer is Bod.

Salutation in an old-fashioned love letter

• The answer is Dearest.

Vehicle on tracks

• The answer is Railcar.

Not yet apprehended

• The answer is AtLarge.

Slow cooker fare for a barbecue

• The answer is Weenies.

Pretzel brand

• The answer is Snyders.

Grassy clump

• The answer is Sod.

DownIrish liqueur brand

• The answer is Baileys.

Pirates of the Caribbean Bloom

• The answer is Orlando.

Condemned openly

• The answer is Decried.

Illustrates

• The answer is Draws.

Had lunch

• The answer is Eaten.

Showing more wisdom

• The answer is Sager.

Long lock

• The answer is Tress.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

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

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

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, October 2, 2024:

AcrossNoodle soup that's the national dish of Vietnam

• The answer is Pho.

Scatterbrained and unreliable

• The answer is Flaky.

Like silence in a horror movie, say

• The answer is Eerie.

"Sorry, can you repeat that? I ___ listening"

• The answer is Wasnt.

Language spoken in Bangkok

• The answer is Thai.

DownFold on a kilt

• The answer is Pleat.

Excessively negative, as criticism

• The answer is Harsh.

Hawaiian diacritical mark that looks like an apostrophe

• The answer is Okina.

Hardly any

• The answer is Few.

Mythical mountain monster

• The answer is Yeti.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for October 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 2 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Fresh out of the oven

These words are delicious.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are baked goods.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Pastries.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 2

• Croissant

• Strudel

• Pastries

• Muffin

• Scone

• Danish

• Galette

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 2 SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 2, 2024

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

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

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

TL;DR: For a limited time, get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional for Windows for only £26.30 — usually £375.32.

Virtually any profession finds itself intertwined with at least one Microsoft application. Writers live and breathe Word, data analysts often use Excel, and many working in a remote or hybrid setup are familiar with Teams. Meanwhile, developers have found a home in Visual Studio, an integrated development environment (IDE) that allows for easy coding, debugging, deploying, and managing all sorts of programs and applications.

Securing a Visual Studio license usually requires a hefty investment of £375.32, making it out of reach for many developers. Luckily, through Oct. 27, it's on sale for £26.30 at the Mashable Shop — no coupon necessary. You'll only have to pay once to install and use the program on a single computer. Once you have your device license, it never expires.

This deal nets you the full capabilities of Visual Studio Professional 2022 for life. Whether you're writing a simple "hello world" program or a complex project, the platform has an advanced suite of tools and integrations to help you churn out high-quality code more efficiently. You can use it to build cross-platform mobile and desktop apps with .NET MAUI, create responsive Web UIs in C# with Blazor, build, debug, and test .NET and C++ apps in Linux, and more.

To help you code smarter, its IntelliCode function understands your code context down to the variable name and functions and completes it automatically. If you're collaborating with a team, you can expedite your edit and debugging cycles with custom settings. It also offers access to information like changes, authors, tests, and commit history, allowing for full transparency throughout the development process. 

It's worth mentioning that this version of Visual Studio can only be installed on computers with Windows 11 and up, those with a minimum of 4GB memory, as well as ARM64, x64, or Quad-core processors.

A lifetime license to Visual Studio Professional 2022 normally goes for £375.32, but you can get it on sale for £26.30 until Oct. 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for Windows £26.30 at the Mashable Shop
£375.32 Save £349.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from Harvard University are available to take for free on edX.

Lovers of learning should check out edX. This popular platform hosts a large bank of free online courses from some of the top educational institutions in the world, including Harvard University.

You can find online courses on a wide range of topics, including coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and much more. We have checked out everything on offer and lined up a standout selection to get you started. These are the best free online courses from Harvard University this month:

• American Government: Constitutional Foundations

• Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature

• Applications of TinyML

• Building Personal Resilience: Managing Anxiety and Mental Health

• Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice

• CitiesX: The Past, Present and Future of Urban Life

• CS50's Computer Science for Business Professionals

• CS50's Computer Science for Lawyers

• CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python

• CS50's Introduction to Computer Science

• CS50's Introduction to Cybersecurity

• CS50's Introduction to Game Development

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with R

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with Scratch

• CS50's Understanding Technology

• CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript

• Data Science: Capstone

• Data Science: Inference and Modelling

• Data Science: Machine Learning

• Data Science: Productivity Tools

• Data Science: R Basics

• Data Science: Visualization

• Deploying TinyML

• Electrochemistry

• Energy and Thermodynamics

• Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies

• Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles

• Fat Chance: Probability from the Ground Up

• Fundamentals of Neuroscience Part 1

• Fundamentals of TinyML

• High-Dimensional Data Analysis

• Human Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Cases

• Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster

• Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health

• Introduction to Data Science with Python

• Introduction to Digital Humanities

• Introduction to Probability

• Islam Through Its Scriptures

• Justice

• Leadership: Creating Public Value

• Leaders of Learning

• Machine Learning and AI with Python

• Managing Happiness

• Masterpieces of World Literature

• MLOps for Scaling TinyML

• Modern Masterpieces of World Literature

• Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology

• Remote Work Revolution for Everyone

• Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

• Shakespeare's Life and Work

• Statistics and R

• Super-Earths and Life

• Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market

• The Architectural Imagination

• The Path to Happiness: What Chinese Philosophy Teaches us about the Good Life

• Using Python for Research

These free courses don't include a certificate of completion, but that's the only catch. Students can still enroll at any time and start learning at their own pace, so what's stopping you?

Find the best free online courses from Harvard University with edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: Harvard University Harvard University Courses Free at edX Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Lille vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

All eyes will be on Real Madrid in the second round of Champions League fixtures. The champions are always the team the beat, but that's easier said than done. Lille will need to be at their best if they stand a chance of taking something from this game, as they look to bounce back after losing their first fixture against Sporting.

If you want to watch Lille vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Lille vs. Real Madrid?

Lille vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 2. This fixture takes place at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

How to watch Lille vs. Real Madrid for free

Lille vs. Real Madrid is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Lille vs. Real Madrid for free on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Lille vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Lille vs. Real Madrid (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live football is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Lille vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Benfica are taking on Atletico Madrid in the second round of Champions League fixtures. Not everyone is a fan of the new Champions League format, but it does seem to be resulting in more big games between top sides, and that can only be a good thing for fans. The players? Not so much.

Benfica and Atletico Madrid won their first fixtures in this year's competition, so will be looking to build momentum and start strongly.

If you want to watch Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid?

Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 2. This fixture takes place at the Estádio da Luz.

How to watch Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid for free

Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid for free on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live football is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Girona vs. Feyenoord in the Champions League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League returns with another batch of exciting games between the best sides in Europe. The second round of fixtures has thrown together some really interesting matchups, including Girona vs. Feyenoord. Both sides suffered defeats in the first round of fixtures, so there's some added tension in this game.

If you want to watch Girona vs. Feyenoord in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Girona vs. Feyenoord?

Girona vs. Feyenoord in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Oct. 2. This fixture takes place at the Estadi Montilivi.

How to watch Girona vs. Feyenoord for free

Girona vs. Feyenoord is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Girona vs. Feyenoord for free on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Girona vs. Feyenoord for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Girona vs. Feyenoord (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live football is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Girona vs. Feyenoord in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. Bologna in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back and you can watch select fixtures for free. And no, we're not talking about those dodgy streams that flood your screen with even dodgier adverts. We're talking about a quick and easy hack that provides access to free live streams from around the world.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Bologna in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. Bologna?

Liverpool vs. Bologna in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 2. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Bologna for free

Liverpool vs. Bologna is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Liverpool vs. Bologna on RTÉ Player by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to RTÉ Player

5. Watch Liverpool vs. Bologna for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Liverpool vs. Bologna (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Liverpool vs. Bologna in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.