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Apple adopts Biden administration's AI safeguards

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 09:17

Apple has agreed to adopt a set of artificial intelligence safeguards, set forth by the Biden-Harris administration.

The move was announced by the administration on Friday. Bloomberg was the first to report on the news.

By adopting the guidelines, Apple has joined the ranks of OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, to name a few.

The news comes ahead of Apple's much-awaited launch of Apple Intelligence (Apple's name for AI), which will become widely available in September, with the public launch of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. The new features, unveiled by Apple in June, aren't available even as beta right now, but the company is expected to slowly roll them out in the months to come.

Apple is one of the signees of the Biden-Harris administration's AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC), which was created in February. But now the company has pledged to abide by a set of safeguards which include testing AI systems for security flaws and sharing the results of those tests with the U.S. government, developing mechanisms that would allow users to know when content is AI-generated, as well as developing standards and tools to make sure AI systems are safe.

The safeguards are voluntary and not enforceable, meaning the companies won't suffer consequences for not abiding to them.

The European Union's AI Act – a set of regulations designed to protect citizens against high-risk AI – will be legally binding when it becomes effective on August 2, 2026, though some of its provisions will apply from February 2, 2025.

SEE ALSO: Apple Intelligence might get a paid tier one day

Apple's upcoming set of AI features includes integration with OpenAI's powerful AI chatbot, ChatGPT. The announcement prompted X owner and Tesla and xAI CEO Elon Musk to warn he would ban Apple devices at his companies, deeming them an "unacceptable security violation." Musk's companies are notably absent from the AISIC signee list.

How to watch the golf at Paris 2024 online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 08:18

TL;DR: Live stream the golf at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Paris 2024 is about to tee off, including 10 days of golf at Le Golf National, an 18-hole course near Paris that mixes up the fairways, bunkers, and water hazards.

Golf is a relatively recent addition, having become a regular fixture at Rio 2016. But it's no less prestigious, with top names from the men's and women's game descending on Paris, including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Nelly Korda, and Celine Boutier.

If you want to watch the golf but don't know where to start, we've got some useful information for you. It doesn't matter where you are around the world, you'll be able to live stream the Paris 2024 golf for free. Keep reading to find out how.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the gymnastics at Paris 2024 online for free When is the golf at Paris 2024?

The golf begins on August 1 and will run until August 10.

How to watch the golf at Paris 2024 for free

The golf at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but golfing fans from across the globe can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. If you've never used a VPN before, they're handy tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, allowing you to unblock free streaming sites such as BBC iPlayer.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream the golf at Paris 2024 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 technically free, but the top VPN services tend to offer free trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without losing any cash in the long-run. The trial period will give you time to stream the golf at Paris 2024 — plus any other Paris 2024 events — before claiming back any upfront investment.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the swimming at Paris 2024 online for free What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95. That's 49% off — but for a limited time only. This plan includes a bonus three months at no additional cost, plus a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a reassuring 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the golf at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Katie Ledecky swim at Paris 2024 online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 08:16

TL;DR: Live stream Katie Ledecky at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Paris 2024 will be packed with the greatest athletes in the world. And when it comes to swimming, there's none better than American freestyle swimmer, Katie Ledecky.

Ledecky won her first gold at London 2012 — at the tender age of just 15. She has since broken numerous world records and won a total of seven gold medals.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the swimming at Paris 2024 online for free

Ledecky will look to add to that total at Paris 2024, where she competes in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events, as well as the women's 4 x 200m relay.

We've pulled together all the information you need to watch Katie Ledecky at Paris 2024 for free, and from anywhere in the world. Keep reading to find out how.

When is Katie Ledecky competing at Paris 2024?

Katie Ledecky is set to compete in four events at Paris 2024.

Women's 400m freestyle

  • Heats — 5:00 a.m. ET on Jul. 27

  • Final— 2:52 p.m. ET on Jul. 27

Women's 1500m freestyle

  • Heats — 5:00 a.m. ET on Jul. 30

  • Final— 3:07 p.m. ET on Jul. 31

Women's 4 x 200m relay

  • Heats — 5:00 a.m. ET on Aug. 1

  • Final— 3:49 p.m. ET on Aug. 1

Women's 800m freestyle

  • Heats — 5:00 a.m. ET on Aug. 2

  • Final— 3:08 p.m. ET on Aug. 3

How to watch Katie Ledecky at Paris 2024 for free

Katie Ledecky's events at Paris 2024 are available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer and watch the Paris 2024 swimming from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream Katie Ledecky's events at Paris 2024 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 the top VPN names usually offer free trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream Katie Ledecky's swims at Paris 2024 — plus all the other Paris 2024 events — before claiming back your investment.

SEE ALSO: How to watch Paris 2024 soccer online for free What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, a total discount of 49%. You'll also get an extra three months for free, plus a year of unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Katie Ledecky's events at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch tennis at Paris 2024 online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 08:10

TL;DR: Live stream the tennis at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Paris 2024 is about to serve up huge action from some of the world's biggest sporting superstars. That's certainly true of the tennis, which has already had an unpredictable season between the US Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.

The Paris 2024 tennis event will see the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Murray, Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, Barbora Krejcikova, and Elena Rybakina compete on the familiar site of the French Open, Stade Roland Garros.

SEE ALSO: How to watch Simone Biles at Paris 2024 online for free

There's so much action that it's hard to keep up. So we've pulled together all the information you need to watch all the tennis, no matter where you are in the world. Keep reading to find out how to live stream all the tennis at Paris 2024.

When is the tennis at Paris 2024?

The tennis begins on July 27 and will run until August 4.

How to watch the tennis at Paris 2024 for free

The basketball at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but tennis fans from across the globe can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, allowing you to unblock BBC iPlayer and watch the tennis from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream the tennis at Paris 2024 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 taking advantage of these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing any cash in the long-term. The trial period will give you time to stream the tennis at Paris 2024 — plus all the other events – before recovering your investment.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the swimming at Paris 2024 online for free What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream the tennis at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch the swimming at Paris 2024 online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 08:08

TL;DR: Live stream the swimming at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Paris 2024 is about to start. In other words, it's time to dive in and enjoy four weeks of elite sporting action. Among the most popular events is the swimming, which demands some of the best conditioned athletes in the world. To be a swimmer at this level, competitors need to be like athletic engines, which are powered by sheer fitness and determination.

SEE ALSO: How to watch Paris 2024 soccer online for free

The Paris 2024 swimming events will be held at the Paris La Defense Arena, with events that use all four strokes — breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, and front crawl — including freestyle and medley events.

Indeed, there's lots of swimming action to get your head around. We've tried to help by pulling together all the information you need to catch all the swimming, no matter where you are in the world. Here's how to live stream all the swimming at Paris 2024.

When is the swimming at Paris 2024?

The swimming begins on July 27 and will run until August 4.

How to watch the swimming at Paris 2024 for free

The swimming at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but swim fans from across the globe can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. VPNs are handy tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, allowing you to unblock BBC iPlayer and stream all the swimming.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream the swimming at Paris 2024 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 taking advantage of these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without losing any cash in the long-run. The trial period will give you time to stream the swimming at Paris 2024 — plus all the other Paris 2024 events — before claiming back your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95. That's 49% off — but for a limited time only. This plan includes a bonus three months for free, plus a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a reassuring 30-day money-back guarantee.

Livestream the swimming at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Simone Biles at Paris 2024 online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 08:04

TL;DR: Live stream Simone Biles at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are plenty of opportunities to watch Simone Biles compete at Paris 2024. The talented gymnast will be participating in several events as she hopes for gold.

The most decorated gymnast in history, the US national is bound to put on a spectacular performance for spectators and fans alike.

If you want to watch Simone Biles at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

Simone Biles' gymnastics schedule at Paris 2024?

Simone Biles is set to compete in several events at Paris 2024, which will depend on which events she qualifies for. The Artistic Gymnastic schedule is as follows:

Women's Artistic Gymnastics

  • Women's Qualification — 3:30 a.m. until 3:10 p.m. ET on July 28

  • Women's Team Final — 12:15 p.m. ET on July 30

  • Women's All-Around Final — 12:15 p.m. ET on Aug. 1

  • Women's Vault Final — 10:20 a.m. ET on Aug. 3

  • Women's Uneven Bars Final — 11:40 a.m. ET on Aug. 4

  • Women's Balance Beam Final — 6:38 a.m. ET on Aug. 5

  • Women's Floor Exercise Final — 8:23 a.m. ET on Aug. 5

How to watch Simone Biles at Paris 2024 for free

The Women's Artistic Gymnastic events at Paris 2024 will be available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

However, BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK. But gymnast fans from elsewhere across the globe can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. VPNs can hide your real IP address (I.e., your digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream the Women's Artistic Gymnastic events at Paris 2024 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 unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream the Women's Artistic Gymnastic events at Paris 2024 (plus all the other events) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream the Women's Artistic Gymnastic events at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Paris 2024 soccer online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 07:58

TL;DR: Live stream the soccer at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a lot of events to keep track of during the Paris 2024 Olmypics. From athletics to gymnastics, swimming to basketball, there's something for everyone to watch. And now that the Euros are over, soccer fans will be eagerly tuning into the Paris 2024 matches. Kicking off early on in the schedule, you won't want to miss your home country compete.

If you want to watch soccer at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is the soccer at Paris 2024?

The soccer begins on July 24 at 9am ET. The final game will be on August 10 at 11am ET.

How to watch the soccer at Paris 2024 for free

All soccer matches at Paris 2024 will be available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer and catch all the matches from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Livestream the soccer at Paris 2024 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 unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream soccer at Paris 2024 (plus all the events that follow) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream the soccer at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

Stephen Colbert 'debunks' weird JD Vance rumor, begs people not to spread it

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 06:56
Stephen Colbert spoke about a viral rumour circulating about JD Vance and a couch.

Get Microsoft Visio Pro’s advanced diagramming tools for life for just $20

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 2021 Microsoft Visio Professional for just $19.97 (reg. $249.99) through July 28 and streamline your project management with powerful diagramming tools.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Visio Professional for Windows $19.97 at The Mashable Shop
$250.01 Save $230.04 2021 Get Deal

Managing complex projects can be intimidating, but Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional makes it easier than ever. For project managers who need to visualize workflows, timelines, and organizational charts, Visio offers a suite of advanced diagramming tools that simplify the complicated.

Right now through July 28, you can get lifetime access to 2021 Microsoft Visio Pro on sale for just $19.97 (reg. $249.99).

Visio provides a comprehensive library of templates and shapes, allowing you to create detailed, professional diagrams with ease. Whether you're mapping out a new process, designing an organizational structure, or planning project timelines, Visio's easy-to-use features ensure that your diagrams are not only accurate but also visually appealing.

One of the best features of Visio 2021 is its seamless integration with other Microsoft Office applications, making it simple to incorporate data from Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. This integration keeps your diagrams up-to-date and aligned with your project's data, enhancing communication and teamwork within your group.

Microsoft Visio's powerful tools enable you to streamline planning processes, spot potential issues before they arise, and present your project data in a clear, understandable format. Visualize your success and keep your projects on track!

Until July 28, get lifetime access to Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional on sale for $19.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Get a seriously discounted refurbished iPad Pro and watch your favorite shows on the go

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: Get a 9.7-inch refurbished Apple iPad Pro (32GB, WiFi) for just $159.99 (reg. $599.99) through July 28.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 9.7-inch Apple iPad Pro (32GB, WiFi) $159.97 at The Mashable Shop
$599.00 Save $439.03 Refurbished, silver Get Deal

If you have a bunch of shows you're keeping up with, but you're always on the go, you may have thought about getting a tablet, or more specifically, an iPad. But these items can be expensive, which could be why you haven't purchased one yet. Enter refurbished tech.

Buying refurbished electronics can not only save you a significant amount of money due to the fact that they're previously owned, but by doing so, you're also helping to reduce e-waste. For a budget- and eco-conscious way to score that iPad you've been thinking about, take advantage of this deal on a 9.7-inch refurbished Apple iPad Pro (32GB, WiFi) for just $159.99 (reg. $599.99) through July 28.

Featuring a sleek design, 32GB of storage, and a 9.7-inch Retina display that allows you to binge-watch to your heart's desire, it allows you to power through daily tasks and enjoy content with ease. The 12MP camera, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, dual microphones, and stereo speakers provide a seamless user experience, while the battery offers up to 10 hours of uninterrupted browsing and streaming.

Complete with accessories, including tempered glass, a snap-on case, and a lightning cable, this 2016 iPad is equipped with an Apple A9X processor to easily handle multiple tasks. 

This iPad received a grade "B" refurbished rating, which means there may be some cosmetic signs of use, but it's been certified to function like new.

Get this refurbished 9.7-inch iPad and accessories on sale for $159.99 through July 28.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

A parents' guide to 'Deadpool and Wolverine'

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 06:00

Superhero movies can be fun for the whole family, especially when parents and guardians have been raising their kids on everything from comics, animated series, and video games to the expansive PG-13-rated action movies offered by the MCU, the DCEU, and the even more kid-friendly Spider-Verse. Hell, even Deadpool 2 got a PG-13 edit with Once Upon a Deadpool. But when the R-rated violence and gore of Logan collides with the dirty mouth of Deadpool, do you want to bring your children the theaters? 

That's a decision that we'll leave entirely up to you. After all, you know your kid better than us. But to help you make a decision that's best for your family, allow us to be your guide to the "mature" content of Deadpool & Wolverine, with minor spoilers. 

SEE ALSO: 'Deadpool & Wolverine' review: Can Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman save the MCU?

What age is Deadpool & Wolverine appropriate for? How violent is it? Deadpool is beaten and bloody in a Honda Odyssey. Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

If your kid has already seen Logan and/or the first two Deadpool movies, you might think there's nothing in this team-up offering that'll shock 'em. But as Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman resurrect the MCU through brute force and star power, they bring with them some genuinely jarring on-screen carnage. 

For instance, in the movie's opening, Wade Wilson (Reynolds) desecrates a certain iconic grave and uses the contents inside as weapons in a very bloody melee against some TVA soldiers. More graphic, though, is a later scene in which another (arguably less popular) hero is flayed alive.

Notably, both of these scenes have a comedic tone, so maybe that'll soften the blow for kiddos. 

Is there drug use in Deadpool & Wolverine? Blind Al wants to build a snowman. Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

Drug references, yes. Plenty! Drug use? Very little. 

Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) is back, and her drug of choice (cocaine) is the source of a lot of jokes once more. You can get a taste of that at the end of this trailer. But the only drug used on-screen is Wolverine (Jackman) drinking Jim Beam — and in a pinch, rubbing alcohol. 

Are there sexual references in Deadpool & Wolverine Deadpool and Wolverine get dirty in The Void. Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

Yes. There's nothing so bawdy as the holiday-themed sex position montage of Deadpool. But there's plenty of references to the Merc with a Mouth's mound and its various states of arousal, including his mid-fight proclamation, "I am soaking wet right now." 

Otherwise, there's some close-ups of Deadpool's red-clothed crotch in a suit-up montage, with the tailor's hand running over the area. Deadpool jokes the guy's a "predator." But the phrase that might get curious kiddos asking you an awkward question is when Deadpool uses the phrase "whiskey dick" when a drunk Wolverine's claws don't grow quite as long as we're used to. 

How scary is Deadpool & Wolverine? Cassandra Nova's fingers are nightmare fuel. Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

The graphic violence is often balanced with madcap humor, and its impact lessened by the simple fact that the titular heroes both have quick-healing abilities. But there's a new level of MCU WTF in the character of Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). The evil twin of Charles Xavier, Cassandra has all the telekinetic power of Charles with none of his pesky conscience to hold her back. Plus, her spin on probing minds is way more disturbing, because she really gets her hands into it. Literally.

We've seen Deadpool hop around with broken bones, regenerate baby legs, and blow himself to bits. But nothing in a Deadpool movie will prepare you (or the youngsters) for Cassandra probing her long fingers into a human skull as if it's Play-Doh. The way she grips Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) by the face like he's a rotten piece of fruit she plans to drag across town may well bring nightmares.

How much cursing is in Deadpool & Wolverine? Let's fucking go. Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

A fuckton. Take a look at the red-band trailers for a sense of it. But keep in mind, it's not just the R-rated mutants Deadpool and Wolverine who'll be dropping the F-bomb. A wide roster of super-powered cameos will curse in the movie. And one particular star, most well-known for playing a very clean-cut MCU hero, lets loose a torrent of profanity that might well have parents clutching their pearls as kids gape in surprise. Hot tip: If you're not ready for an extra dose of rough language, clear the children out before the end-credit scene hits. 

Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters July 26.

When A.I. Fails the Language Test, Who Is Left Out of the Conversation?

NYT Technology - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 05:40
The use of artificial intelligence is exploding around the world, but the technology’s language models are primarily trained in English, leaving many speakers of other languages behind.

Ryan Reynolds' and Hugh Jackman's 'Hot Ones' episode descends into hilarious chaos

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 05:34
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman appeared on First We Feast's "Hot Ones" to promote "Deadpool and Wolverine".

Study project management in this $35 bundle

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Study project management fundamentals in the Complete 2024 Project Management Certification Training Bundle on sale for $34.97. 

Project Management isn't just a buzzword on job descriptions. Having strong project management skills means being able to tackle a complex project and break it down into manageable tasks. It's like learning to be a better worker overall, and it can be pretty tough to study on your own. That's why the Complete 2024 Project Management Certification Training Bundle bundle comes with five courses and over 80 hours of material showing you how it's done. And you can get lifetime access on sale for $34.97 (reg. $195). 

Why study project management

The courses in this bundle range from showing you fundamental project management skills to teaching you about specific professional tools that might be hard to research on your own. 

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner goes into 18 hours of detail about Agile and Scrum management, including Agile methodologies, tools, and techniques and Scrum roles and topics. The Project Management Professional course takes an even more hands-on approach by giving you a full syllabus and five mock exams with 750 unique questions total. If you're planning on getting officially certified, this one's a major asset. 

Just remember that the certificates in this bundle only show you completed the course. If you want something showing you're a certified master project manager, then study up and get certified from an organization like CompTIA. There's even a study prep course included in this bundle with 69 lessons and hours of video lectures to help you grow leadership skills, mitigate conflict in the project process, and apply your skills to all sorts of new projects. 

Stand out in a job search

Whether you want to beef up your resume or stand out in a job search, you can learn to break down complex tasks and see a project through to the end in the Complete 2024 Project Management Certification Training bundle. 

Get the Project Management Training Bundle on sale for the best price online, only $34.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: CommerceNova  The Complete 2024 Project Management Certification Training Bundle $34.97 at The Mashable Shop
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This deluxe recumbent bike and rower is just $675.97

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: The Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike and Rower is available for $675.97 (reg. $1,399) for a limited time.

Maintaining peak cardiovascular fitness and building strength are essential to a healthy lifestyle. The Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike and Rower offers a practical solution for achieving these goals.

With its versatile design and effective workout capabilities, it's on sale for just $675.97 (reg. $1,399). It's a great way to get your workouts in from the comfort of your own home. It even has a foldable frame for storage and wheels to make it more portable.

Rowing is known for being one of the most effective forms of exercise, engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously. This low-impact workout targets your arms, legs, core, and back, helping to build strength and improve cardiovascular health without putting excessive strain on your joints. It features eight levels of magnetic resistance.

It also works as a recumbent bike and provides more of an aerobic challenge in a reclined position. This versatility means you can switch between rowing and cycling, adding variety to your fitness routine and targeting different muscle groups. 

The seat and seat back are made of molded foam for added comfort. There are also pedal straps to keep your feet safely on the machine.

The Stamina's LCD monitor gives you quick access to important information during your workout. It shows you speed, distance, time, calories burned, and pulse, which is available through the hand pulse sensors on the grips.

You'll get access to the mv smart audio coaching app with purchase. It offers a mix of cardio, strength, and flexibility training.

This an excellent investment for those serious about improving their fitness without joining a gym.

Don't miss the Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike and Rower for $675.97 (reg. $1,399).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stamina Home Fitness Stamina Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent Bike/Rower $675.97 at The Mashable Shop
$1,399.99 Save $724.02 Get Deal

'Didi' review: Don't miss the coming-of-age comedy that's among the year's very best movies

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 05:00

There was a unique terror to realizing you'd been bumped out of a friend's top-eight on Myspace. Long before Twitter likes, Facebook statuses, or Instagram boyfriends, this early form of social media ushered millennials into a DIY HTML platform where you could share your likes, diary entries, and photos while also ruthlessly ranking your friends. This unique generational anxiety is captured with brilliant wit and poignancy in Didi. 

The directorial debut of writer/director Sean Wang, Didi is a coming-of-age story that feels personal while avoiding the pitfalls of self-mythologizing or navel-gazing. The premise of a 13-year old Taiwanese American boy learning to be true to himself and nicer to his mother might sound a bit austere. Far from indulgent or meandering, it's radiantly vulnerable and utterly electrifying. 

Wang rejects sentimentality and nostalgia, embracing a ruthlessly authentic look back at being a teen in the days of MySpace and AIM. More than just set dressing, these online elements offer an unguarded access to the fickle thoughts and reckless impulses of a teen desperate to be seen but terrified of being perceived. But there's much more to Didi than Wang's mindful employment of antique social media. 

Didi is about the summers that define us.  Credit: Focus Features / Talking Fish Pictures, LLC

It's the summer of 2008 in the cozy Northern California town of Fremont. Kids are throwing parties, flirting in parks, and skateboarding wherever they can. In the midst of all this is Chris Wang (Izaac Wang, Raya and the Last Dragon), who begins the summer by navigating the nightmare terrain of a boy/girl pool party. Didi won't deliver the soul-shaking secondhand embarrassment of Bo Burnham's heralded coming-of-age summer drama Eighth Grade. Nor will it reach the lunacy of the 2000s-set buddy sitcom PEN15. Instead, Wang charts a course all his own by exploring the warring identities of its young hero through his many names. 

Among his school friends, who are all Asian, he goes by Wang Wang, and he's a foul-mouthed goofball, game for anything. At home, he is Didi, which in Mandarin is a pet name meaning Little Brother. There he vacillates between being playful with his finger-wagging grandmother Nai Nai (Chang Li Hua), mercurial to his devoted mom Chungsing (Joan Chen), and in squawking battles with his surly older sister Vivian (Shirley Chen). But when he befriends some older skaters — most of whom are white — he code-switches, introducing himself as Chris and eagerly insisting he can be the "filmer" to capture their sick moves on video, so they might score a skateboarding sponsorship. (The dream of '00s teens before the rise of influencers!) Meanwhile, his AIM handle is Bigwang510. 

So, when he gets some much-yearned-for face time with his crush Madi (Mahaela Park), this kid on the brink of high school is not sure how to introduce himself. He fumbles, telling her his name is Chris but that his friends call him Wang Wang. When Madi asks what she should call him, it's not an easy answer — because who will he be to her? 

Izaac Wang leads a terrific ensemble.  Credit: Focus Features / Talking Fish Pictures, LLC

The child actors of Didi had to be taught about T9 word, the antiquated texting tool demanded by old-school flip phones equipped with only 9 keys. But they show no struggles embodying the '00s-era dialogue of gleeful juvenalia with barbs like, "Your mom is gay," and the hushed (and hilarious) response, "Dude — his mom has cancer!" In these frantic exchanges, Wang welcomes us back into the teen world, where talk about dental braces and dead squirrels can make or break friendships. 

Here's where AIM and Myspace come into play. When a group hang gets messy, Wang Wang worries his best friend Fahad (Raul Dial) has outgrown him. In the instant messenger window, he types, "Are we still friends?" but doesn't hit send. Admittedly, it's a cliche to have a character type out the feelings they can't say aloud, but it's a cliche for a reason. Who among us hasn't started to text someone and then second-guessed hitting send? 

Across Wang Wang's countenance, there are flickers of frustration, sadness, and anxiety. But at his fingertips is technology that allows him to express what he can't bring himself to say out loud. A similarly revealing exchange with Madi over AIM ends with him blocking her instead of admitting his own vulnerabilities. These repressions fester into outbursts against his mom, where he's so sharp that even his new friends question why he's being so mean. Something's got to give, and even as we witness Wang Wang deliver some snarling burns and unfair insults, you can't help but root for him to figure himself out — and hug his mom! 

Didi is a must-see coming-of-age movie, an instant classic.  Credit: Focus Features / Talking Fish Pictures, LLC

The way Wang weaves these elements of technology with his hero's rocky self-discoveries is elegantly done, even when the journey is purposefully not. There's a suitable chaos to Didi that reflects the tumultuousness of the teen mind. One moment Wang Wang is a loving goofball, playing the fool to make his friends and family laugh. The next, he's a sparkler of rage and recrimination, setting off fiery remarks until he runs out of fuel. Then he seems on the brink of an emotional breakthrough — or breakdown. And all of it is achingly raw and relatable. 

Wang doesn't idealize or sanitize his teen characters, and thus they feel unflinchingly real. It's hard not to think of Eighth Grade or Minding the Gap or Skate Kitchen while watching Wang Wang, as each of these excellent movies explore the heady joys and crushing despair of being young and impressionable. But Didi doesn't pale in comparison to any of these. Instead, it feels like a part of their friend group, vibrant in spirit, agonizing in anxiety, and cathartic in its journey. But most of all, like these other critically heralded films, Didi is unforgettable. 

When I first walked away from the film, I was charmed. But I also haven't been able to shake it. Be it the joltingly authentic performances of its young ensemble, the shrewd edit that throws audiences back into '00s chat rooms and all the drama they entail, or the frenzied excitement that bursts through in Wang Wang's revels, my mind went back again and again, making me laugh and cringe once more. 

In the end, Didi isn't just a good coming-of-age movie or a great coming-of-age movie. Didi is unquestionably one of the most poignant and very best movies of the year. 

Didi opens in theaters July 26.

How to watch Kristen Stewart's 'Love Lies Bleeding' at home

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 05:00
Where to watch 'Love Lies Bleeding' at a glance: BEST WAY TO WATCH LATER Max (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal BEST WITH NO ADS Max Ad-Free annual subscription $169.99/year (save 16%) Get Deal BEST FOR CRICKET CUSTOMERS Max (With Ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Max, Disney+, and Hulu $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 38%) Get Deal BEST NON-STREAMING DEAL Rent 'Love Lies Bleeding' at Prime Video $4.49 with Prime (save $1.50) Get Deal

From the mind of Rose Glass (writer/director of 2020 standout Saint Maud) comes the "gnarly masterpiece" Love Lies Bleeding. It stars Kristen Stewart, newcomer Katy O'Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, and Dave Franco sporting mullets, perms, and all things inherently '80s. A twisted romance that is "as harrowing as it is tender" and "as horny as it is horrifying," as Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko put it, Love Lies Bleeding has earned a top spot on our list of the best films of 2024. And now it's officially available to stream at home.

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Love Lies Bleeding.

What is Love Lies Bleeding about?

Set in New Mexico in the '80s, Love Lies Bleeding follows the kismet relationship between loner gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) and amateur bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O'Brian), who is headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream: dominating a bodybuilding competition. What follows is a lethally loyal love that ignites violence and pulls them deep into the dangerous web of Lou's criminal family.

"There are movies that grab you by the throat. There are movies that punch you in the gut. Love Lies Bleeding is both, and I fucking love it," Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review.

Take a sneak peek at the trailer:

Is Love Lies Bleeding worth watching?

After Challengers, we've named Love Lies Bleeding the best movie of 2024 (so far) — and other critics largely agree. On Rotten Tomatoes, the Rose Glass-directed movie has earned a "certified fresh" 94 percent critic rating and 82 percent audience rating. It wasn't exactly a box office hit or anything, pulling in just $12.5 million total worldwide, but it was also a limited release. Plus, box office numbers aren't always reliable.

As Mashable's film editor put it, "Love Lies Bleeding is a gnarly masterpiece, and you're gonna want to see it on a big screen with the best sound system possible."

Read our full review of Love Lies Bleeding.

Is Love Lies Bleeding streaming?

Love Lies Bleeding officially hit streaming on July 19, about four months after it made its theatrical debut. Max is the streaming home of new A24 theatrical releases, so the Kristen Stewart film joins other recent flicks like The Iron Claw and Problemista on the service. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are some ways you can save some money on your plan. Check out the deals below.

Best Max streaming dealsBest Max streaming deal for most people: Save 16% on Max with ads annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (with ads) yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Watch Now

If you don't mind ads, a Max monthly subscription will cost you $9.99 per month. You can easily sign up for a single month and watch Love Lies Bleeding as many times as you want, then cancel before you're charged for another month. However, if you're in it for the long haul, you can save some money by signing up for an annual plan instead. It costs $99.99 per year, which breaks down to just $8.33 per month instead. That's 16% cheaper than paying monthly, but you'll have to pay it in full upfront.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save 16% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Ad-Free annual subscription $169.99 per year (save 16%) Watch Now

For an ad-free viewing experience, you have two options: Max Ad-Free and Max Ultimate Ad-Free. The basic Max Ad-Free plan costs $16.99 per month, while Max Ultimate goes for $20.99 per month. If you choose to pay upfront for the year, however, it'll cost you just $169.99 per year (about $14.17 per month) or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month) instead. That's a total savings of 16% on either plan.

Note: Both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, but the Ultimate tier steps things up with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Watch Now

Cricket Wireless customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan are blessed with Max with ads for free. That's a $99.99 per year value for zero dollars. Just head over to the Max app or navigate to Max.com on a browser, choose Cricket as your provider, and enter your credentials to log in. Then you can watch Love Lies Bleeding and plenty of other A24 films whenever you want. Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket's website to learn more.

Best Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max with ads monthly for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can score Max with ads for 50% off for an entire year. That drops the price down to just $4.99 per month. You'll just have to verify your student status using UNiDAYS, which will give you a unique discount code. Then head back over to Max and redeem your code to stream for half the usual cost.

Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for 35% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / Max Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

While obviously not the cheapest option for watching Love Lies Bleeding, you can get more bang for your buck in the long run by bundling Max with Hulu and Disney+. This new bundle offers all three services with ads for only $16.99 (reg. $25.97) per month — that's 35% in savings. You could also sign up for the ad-free option and get all three for $29.99 per month (reg. $48.97), a savings of 38%.

More ways to watch Love Lies Bleeding at home

If you'd rather not sign up for another streaming service, you can also rent or purchase Love Lies Bleeding on video-on-demand sites like Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home (Vudu), and more. Rentals are available for 30 days and once you start watching, you'll have to finish it within 48 hours. Purchases are yours for the long haul to watch however often you wish.

As of April 26, you can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

All Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, ranked worst to best

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 05:00

The Marvel Cinematic Universe may have begun in 2008 with Iron Man, a billionaire playboy genius and philanthropist who fights injustice. But over the course of 16 years and over 30 movies, the MCU has not only brought scads of comic book heroes and villains to theaters; it also changed the landscape of Hollywood releases as we know it.

Looking back, it's dizzying to recall all the details of the adventures and disasters of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, the Hulk, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, Spider-Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, and their ever-expanding ensemble. But for whenever you want to delve into a rewatch, we've got your back with this guide to the good, great, and the ugly.

With Deadpool & Wolverine hitting theaters, we've updated our ranking of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, factoring in epic action, crackling comedy, wowing star power, and harrowing disappointments.

Here are the MCU movies ranked worst to best.

34. Iron Man 2 (2010) Get out of the doughnut. (Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.) Credit: Marvel

A tepid followup to the sleek brilliance of Iron Man, the sequel gives us a sinister yet funny Mickey Rourke but does the franchise no favors with its creative decisions. We meet Black Widow, but not without some classic 2010 misogyny, which is the root problem with Iron Man 2. The first film was all about Tony's growth as a person, and the second doesn't let him mature nearly as much. There's still a long road before this is the Tony we see in Endgame, but it's too slow on that path. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

33. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Sure, it's part of the MCU canon, but The Incredible Hulk was so aggressively meh that its title character got recast and was only made palatable by The Avengers. Since it's not an origin story, we don't get to watch Edward Norton as Bruce Banner becoming the Hulk; he already is. We don't watch him fall in love with Betty (Liv Tyler), because he already is. What we do get is a lot of the big green guy getting angry, which may have been cool in 2008 but pales compared to the visual effects that followed.— P.K.

SEE ALSO: How 'She-Hulk' beat its toxic haters by making them the villains 32. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Ultron has a lot of good moments but is not overall a good movie. It's sloppy and it drags, even with ambitious action sequences in Sokovia, and it struggles to build Ultron's disdain for humanity. The main Avengers have a fun dynamic — look no further than the party scene at Stark Tower — but the new characters don't fit in (especially since X-Men: Days of Future Past basically owns Quicksilver). Black Widow, at the time robbed of a solo movie, gets a disproportionate consolation prize of becoming Hulk's girlfriend and a woman defined by her biology. — P.K.

31. Thor: The Dark World (2013)

The Dark World brings back Natalie Portman as Jane, yet even as the physical host of a literal Infinity Stone, she's somehow underutilized. There's a lot of levity, particularly between Thor and Loki, and a surprising amount of gravity in Loki's "death" — which is once again undone before the movie ends. Oh, and some dude named Malekith is mad... Don't worry about it. — P.K.

30. Eternals (2021) Credit: Marvel Studios

With no familiar faces and little connection to the wider MCU, Eternals had a gargantuan task set forth from the start. Helmed by Oscar–winner Chloé Zhao, the film introduces no less than a dozen new characters, a rushed history of their cosmic presence on Earth, an apocalyptic threat in the form of Earth becoming a Celestial, and an explanation for how the entire Marvel Universe was created. It's sometimes slow, sometimes muddled, and a little too enthralled with its white male antihero — but it's also a visual feast, a huge victory for representation, and a banger of a soundtrack. — P.K.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know before watching Marvel's 'Eternals' 29. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) Credit: Marvel Studios

The third installment of the Ant-Man movies committed the crime of forgetting to be funny. Instead, the wackiest Avenger (Paul Rudd) was wedged into a convoluted plot and pounded with eyesore CGI by Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), a MCU villain who fell far short of dazzling us with his dastardliness. Not even Michelle Pfeiffer as a badass superheroine could save this stinker. As I wrote in our review, "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has big stars, quirky cameos, action sequences, world-building, and even — on rare occasions — punchlines. But it's barely a movie, pulling threads together for a grander scheme of merchandizing and cross-promotion over character-based storytelling." — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

28. Doctor Strange (2016)

Iron Man minus the charisma, it took five years for Marvel to retread this territory and make Strange interesting in time for Phase 4. Benedict Cumberbatch is great, but he's always great, so let's not give out free brownie points. Strange received appropriate flack for whitewashing Asian characters and lore for the story, and tragically sidelines Rachel McAdams in every way. Visuals: Yes. Everything else: Meh. — P.K.

27. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)  Credit: Marvel Studios

Writer/director James Gunn returns to the helm of the spin-off film series he began with 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy. But post-Snap, these rock-loving rascals who race through the universe on misadventures have become way less fun.

In Vol. 3, once-plucky Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is in mopey, drunken mourning. Wise-cracking Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) is out of commission after an assault from newcomer baddie Adam Warlock (Will Poulter). Meanwhile, the rest of the crew must drag their captain around on a series of heists to save their ailing furry friend. Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) offer solid laughs, and big bad The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) brings a vivacious villain into play. However, Gunn has bogged down his plot with bummer elements, including eugenics, genocide, and a shocking amount of animal abuse and gore. If you're seeking humor and rollicking fun, keep looking. As I wrote in our full review of the film, "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 is a major disappointment." — K.P.

26. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) 

Writer/director Taika Waititi and leading man Chris Hemsworth made magic with Thor: Ragnarok, leaning into the God of Thunder’s lovable himbo vibe to create a rock 'n' roll romp. But when they reteamed for this fourth installment of the Thor franchise, the fun was sacrificed to a grim plotline of kidnapping, god-killing, and cancer.

On the plus side, Thor: Love and Thunder brought Natalie Portman back to the MCU as a brawny female Thor, cast Christian Bale in a grizzly villain role that he giddily sunk his teeth into, and tossed in a rowdy Russell Crowe for good measure. But amid the screaming goats and rumbling action sequences, Love and Thunder had an overstuffed plot that undercut its emotional moments, some notable wasted opportunities, and a happy ending that was far more forced than feel-good. It’s not Dark World bad, but it sure ain’t good. — K.P.

25. The Marvels (2023)

Directed by Candyman helmer Nia DaCosta, this sequel to Captain Marvel brings together that eponymous heroine (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and WandaVision's Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) for a star-trekking quest to save the universe from yet another rampaging alien conqueror (Zawe Ashton). Worlds and tones collide, making for an uneven romp through action sequences, far-flung planets, and a winsome duet featuring K-drama star Park Seo-joon. Plus, there's a fleet of cuddly, creepy space cats. But for all the fun these treats and rising star Vellani brings, The Marvels feels too rushed, wonky, and fitfully brooding to be truly stellar. — K.P.

SEE ALSO: 'The Marvels' mid-credit scene features two extra special cameos 24. Thor (2011)

Thor isn't a top Marvel movie, but it's a classic fish-out-of-water story that teases how much fun this character will be in time. The film also gives us our first dose of Loki, one of Marvel's best villains to this day. It's easy to forget the magnetism and subtlety of Hiddleston's original performance, and Thor is one of Loki's best arcs: The sensitive sibling growing up in Thor's shadow and coming to terms with the truth about his past.

(Also, Chris Hemsworth's eyebrows are blonde, and it's terrible.) — P.K.

23. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) are both lovely people. Credit: Ben Rothstein / Marvel Studios

In some ways, Ant-Man and the Wasp is more even-keeled and sure-footed than its predecessor. It delivers zippy action, tons of laughs, and the nicest cast of characters we've ever seen in the MCU. Mostly this movie is just so sweet, whether it's Scott bending over backwards to impress his darling daughter or Hope and Hank going to great lengths in memory of Janet. Oh, and speaking of Hope, she more than holds her own as the MCU movies' first true leading lady. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

22. Iron Man 3 (2013)

Iron Man 3 lets Tony get vulnerable as he faces his post-Avengers PTSD. The film gives ample time to guest stars Rebecca Hall, Guy Pearce, and Ty Simpkins, all the while remaining true to Tony's internal struggle and getting in a few CGI battles. The Mandarin reveal is fun (more fun as of 2021), even if Killian is still a boring baddie. — P.K.

21. Captain Marvel (2019) Brie Larson stars as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, the first female superhero to headline a Marvel movie. Credit: Chuck Zlotnick / Marvel Studios

Even with the weight of Avengers: Endgame on its shoulders, Captain Marvel is primarily an origin story, and the MCU does those damn well, even if this isn't the best one. We meet the staggeringly powerful Carol Danvers, a Kree warrior with the ability to save the universe. Brie Larson and a fabulous cast make Marvel’s first solo female superhero outing one for the ages — a film that also doubles as the Nick Fury origin story we didn't know we needed, and a star-making debut for Goose the "cat." — P.K.

SEE ALSO: Why I love, love, love 'Captain Marvel' and everything it stands for 20. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) 

This sequel to the stupendous 2018 hit Black Panther had a massive challenge in that the untimely death of its would-be leading man, Chadwick Boseman, demanded a script overhaul. Set in a Wakanda still grieving the loss of King T'Challa, Black Panther 2 smartly wove the weight of grief into its story, exploring mourning and legacy while setting up a thrilling new foe and sea-salty adventure. Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, and Danai Gurira reprise their roles, while Dominique Thorne and Tenoch Huerta join the cast as kid genius Riri Williams and underwater overlord Namor.

By bringing in big emotions alongside big action, co-writer/director Ryan Coogler and company do right by the franchise Boseman once shouldered. So, while this MCU offering satisfies on stunts and spectacle, it'll also leave you teary-eyed. And we're not mad at that. — K.P.

SEE ALSO: #RecastTChalla campaign is not what you think 19. Black Widow (2021) Natasha's (Scarlett Johansson) fight poses in "Black Widow" are made fun of by Yelena (Florence Pugh). Credit: Jay Maidment / Marvel Studios

Marvel's unexpected two-year movie draught ended with a long-overdue solo outing for Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) that takes place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. After years of grand-scale alien battles and CGI battle set pieces, Black Widow was a welcome throwback to human beings just beating the heck out of each other, with nary an alien, wizard, or android in sight. Natasha's surrogate family (Rachel Weisz, David Harbour, and an utterly charming Florence Pugh) leave a lasting impression in a film worthy of the MCU's first heroine. — P.K.

18. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVEL

The first Deadpool movie since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox — and with it, much more Marvel IP — Deadpool & Wolverine teased a showdown comic book fans have been craving for ages. (Or at least since X-Men: Origins: Wolverine shit the bed in a disastrous fashion.)

Directed by Shawn Levy (Free Guy), this sequel saw the worlds of Deadpool 2 and Logan collide, bringing in familiar faces and new additions, like the vicious Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) and the diabolical Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). But best of all was the reunion of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as the titular twosome. While the movie wasn't as daring as we hoped for a Deadpool movie, this threequel was still undeniably a deranged blast, packed with bonkers action, wild jokes, and jaw-dropping surprises.K.P.

17. Ant-Man (2015)

Kudos to this film for bringing us Paul Rudd in the MCU, the thing you didn't know you needed. Rudd lends dimension and heart to his performance as Scott Lang, a reformed criminal and father to an adorable little girl. His chemistry with Evangeline Lilly crackles (even if they saved her good stuff for the sequel), and Scott's everyman persona makes him an irresistible addition to the hero roster. Michael Peña shines as Scott's best friend, and Corey Stoll seems born to be a villain, even though it's Michael Douglas as Hank Pym who steals the show with his embittered quest for revenge. — P.K.

16. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) A trip to Europe changes everything for MJ (Zendaya) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland) in "Spider-Man: Far From Home." Credit: Marvel Studios / Sony

Far From Home officially ends the Infinity Saga with a smaller-scale story about Peter Parker finding his place in a post-Tony Stark world. Highlights include Tom Holland hitting yet another Spidey performance out of the park, Jake Gyllenhaal as a pitch-perfect Mysterio, and the best trippy CGI battle yet seen in the MCU (sorry, Doctor Strange). It’s not the best solo Marvel movie ever, but Far From Home does a lot of good work by closing one door and opening a new universe of possibilities. — P.K.

15. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

The most ambitious team-up since Avengers: Endgame sees Peter Parker tangling with space and time, only to have Doctor Strange unleash a spell that accidentally rips open the multiverse. Spider-Man fans received an unimaginable treat, with resurgent villains from Sam Raimi's early 2000s trilogy and Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man movies — as well as previous incarnations of the heroes themselves reprising their web-slinging roles. It's not higher on this list because of some glaring plot holes, but it's where it is because everything else sticks the landing.

SEE ALSO: The best 'No Way Home' surprise had nothing to do with Spider-Man

Despite the spectacle of returns and reunions, No Way Home is an emotional powerhouse, its great responsibility resting on the shoulders of Tom Holland but shared with Zendaya’s MJ, Marisa Tomei's May, and both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as older, wiser Peters. Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin is a standout, and while the movie's stakes are a little questionable, the ending undoubtedly raises them for Peter Parker’s MCU future. — P.K.

14. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) It's a teamup of epic proportions for "Avengers: Infinity War." Credit: Chuck Zlotnick / Marvel Studios

For years, it all led up to this: Almost every Marvel hero you can think of joining forces against the biggest threat this universe has ever faced. Infinity War is enormous in scope and spirit, with the budget to match its astronomical ambitions. And in its final moments, it packs a punch worthy of Thanos' golden-gloved fist. If we have one complaint, it's that this feels like half a movie — and many of us had to wait a year until Endgame. — A.H.

13. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Cheer up, Groot, we've got some good news for you. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is great. Credit: Marvel Studios / Disney

Fans didn't have any exorbitant expectations of GotG Vol. 2, especially when low expectations yielded such joy for the first film. Here we get Peter meeting his biological father Ego, fighting with his friends over said father's intentions, and mocked by those same friends for his crush on Gamora, as exposed by Mantis. We also get loads of Baby Groot, who thawed many a stone-cold heart, and the surprise emotional gut-punch of Yondu at the end. — P.K.

12. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)  Credit: Marvel Studios 2022

Long before Iron Man hit, Sam Raimi was shaping the superhero genre with his wacky and wild Spider-Man trilogy. So, it was frightfully fitting that this pioneering helmer returned to take Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to bizarre new universes. Embracing the strange, this outrageous sequel offered goopy monsters, a bonkers buddy-cop vibe, kooky cameos, a fun eff-you to fan service, a vicious villain turn, and a magical cloak made of damned spirits, worn by an undead Doctor. This one polarized critics, with some celebrating Raimi bringing his weirdness to the MCU machine, while others fretted this massive franchise tamed the Evil Dead director’s aesthetic. But fans were freaking out over the devious delights of Raimi's brand of horror and havoc, like ripping a beloved character to ribbons and finally bestowing on Elizabeth Olsen the meaty Scarlet Witch twist she'd been begging for. The result may be chaotic, but amid all the mayhem, there's plenty of madcap fun. — K.P.

SEE ALSO: The maddest things in 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,' ranked 11. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), and Katy (Awkwafina) battle for the future of humanity in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Cynics expected Marvel’s first theater-exclusive film in over two years to fail. It introduced brand-new characters as well as a dense mythology and an unknown lead. Not to mention, a good chunk of it is in Mandarin. The movie ended up shattering box office records and being one of the best MCU stand-alones in a long time, with huge stakes, rich characters, and transfixing family drama. Its jaw-dropping action sequences flex some of the best fight choreography in the MCU and Hollywood at large (bus battle, anyone??). Simu Liu belongs in the MCU, and we can't wait to see more of him in future phases. Can we find a way to get more Tony Leung too? — P.K.

10. Captain America: Civil War (2016) Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) face irreconcilable differences in "Captain America: Civil War." Credit: Marvel Studios

Civil War could be a tighter movie, but it's doing a hell of a lot. Picking up with the fallout of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, this movie thoroughly interrogates the toll of our heroes' adventures and divides them harshly on how to move forward. Black Panther and Spider-Man make epic MCU debuts, while secondary Avengers like Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Man still get their moments. The final fight is brutal as Cap and Tony come close to actually killing each other, and don't even reconcile before the credits roll. — P.K.

9. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The final chapter of the Infinity Saga and of three phases, 22 movies, and 11 years of the MCU stuck the landing and made it look easy. We might spend years griping about time travel or lamenting the last moments between Steve and Bucky, but the simple facts are that Endgame hit an impressive number of emotional beats, including near-perfect conclusions for multiple O.G. Avengers. It's a heist, a love story, and everything magnificent about the MCU, and we love it 3000. — P.K.

SEE ALSO: A cheat sheet for Marvel newbies about to see 'Avengers: Endgame' 8. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

It's crazy to think that early trailers of Guardians looked silly when its rock 'n' roll comedy thrill ride model is now the template for action movie promos. We didn't expect much from Guardians in any capacity; we had our avengers, our non-MCU Spider-Man reboot, yet here was this group of ragtag space trash in a movie that was so much better than it had any right to be. Chris Pratt may have debuted his six-pack, but more importantly, he and the cast set a new standard for comedy and chemistry in the MCU and all superhero movies. — P.K.

7. Iron Man (2008)

As both the dawn of the MCU and the second coming of Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man shocked audiences who forgot superhero movies could be good (this was a year after Spider-Man 3). Downey is the perfect hubristic Tony Stark, an arrogant billionaire sobered by becoming a prisoner of war. It was a fun version of 2005's Batman Begins, with sex and expensive gadgetry to supplant the mask and the brooding, and it holds up. — P.K.

6. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) "Captain America: The First Avenger" introduces us to a kid from Brooklyn who never backed down from a fight. Credit: Marvel / Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

The Star-Spangled man with a plan was once a scrappy kid from Brooklyn, until a biological experiment made him swole extremely strong. With the help of Peggy Carter, Abraham Erskine, Howard Stark, and his day-one pal Bucky Barnes, Steve becomes the kind of hero people remember for decades, even while he's off literally cooling his heels in the Arctic. From Red Skull to the Howling Commandos to Bucky's heartbreaking fall and that adrenaline-fueled first kiss, The First Avenger hits all the right marks. — P.K.

5. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Tom Holland's Spider-Man debuted in "Captain America: Civil War," but "Spider-Man: Homecoming" really lets him shine. Credit: Marvel Studios / Sony

After introducing Tom Holland as the MCU's Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, this Peter Parker got to standout in his first solo movie, and it was an absolute delight. Co-writer/director Jon Watts combined the low-stakes high school drama of crushes and crushing embarrassment with a high-stakes battle against Michael Keaton's blue-collared supervillain, the Vulture. Add in Marisa Tomei, Jacob Batalon, Donald Glover, and Zendaya in charismatic supporting turns, and you've got a coming-of-age movie that is as charming as it is pulse-pounding. — K.P.

4. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Taika Waititi's "Thor: Ragnarok" is a huge tone shift for the character — and it's perfect. Credit: Jasin Boland / Marvel

It took the better part of a decade (and the disaster that was Thor 2), but Marvel finally figured out who Thor was with Thor: Ragnarok. Director Taika Waititi puts Chris Hemsworth's considerable comedy chops to good use, resulting in a version of the character that feels fresher and looser than anything we've seen before.

Toss in some stellar work by Jeff Goldblum, Cate Blanchett, and Tessa Thompson, plus the return of Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, and you've got the most entertaining Thor movie yet. — P.K.

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" works because it's a genre movie at its core. Credit: Zade Rosenthal / Marvel

The MCU had S.H.I.E.L.D. infiltrated by Hydra and completely changed the game for the Avengers' alliance. Winter Soldier sets the stage for Cap and Iron Man's feud in Civil War, and for Steve and Bucky's love affair renewed friendship. It charmingly and skillfully introduces Falcon and has no less than four fighting female characters, none of whom functions as a love interest. Winter Soldier isn't trapped in one genre; it's a spy thriller disguised as a superhero movie and all the better for it. — P.K.

2. The Avengers (2012)

With this team-up, the MCU cemented itself as a force to be reckoned with.

The combined star power of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Tom Hiddleston was dazzling. But this rousing narrative also showcased the complicated dynamics of the Avengers, their distinctive strengths and weaknesses, as well as the glory of Loki. The Marvel movies would go on to struggle to create a villain whose charms stood up to their dashing heroes, and the fan fervor for Hiddleston's spin on the god of mischief was so intense he'd not only be resurrected (repeatedly) but also would get his own spin-off series. From heroes to foes, The Avengers has been epic entertainment for over a decade and counting. — K.P.

1. Black Panther (2018) Chadwick Boseman gives an unforgettable performance as T'Challa in "Black Panther." Credit: Film Frame Marvel Studios 2018

Even the worst MCU movies are kind of good, which means that the best ones are truly exceptional — none more than Black Panther.

Ryan Coogler, along with his talented cast and crew, crafted a film that has something to say, that feels distinctive in its style and point of view – while also delivering on the usual superhero movie goods, like lovable heroes, exciting action, and a compelling villain. Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa feels fittingly regal, surrounded by admirable supporting players like Michael B. Jordan, Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, and Danai Gurira. Though it took far too long for Marvel to bet on a Black superhero at the box office, it paved the way for the kind of representation we want and need in future phases.

Angie Han, Alison Foreman, and Proma Khosla contributed to this article.

UPDATE: Jul. 23, 2024, 4:38 p.m. EDT Originally published November 11, 2017, this list has been updated to include the latest MCU releases.

Sonos apologizes for horrible, terrible, no good app rollout

Mashable - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 03:55

In April, Sonos unveiled a new version of its mobile app, promising more flexibility, improved customization, and ease of use.

But when the app was actually released to customers on May 7, the result was very different, with customers experiencing numerous issues, and many of them unhappy about certain functions (some quite obvious, like "play next") being removed. For Sonos users, this was a big deal, as the Sonos app is an important way to interact with a home audio system and music library.

At first, Sonos was defensive, claiming that the app overhaul took "courage." Now, in an open letter published on the company website, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence admitted that the app overhaul has been a disaster.

"We know that too many of you have experienced significant problems with our new app which rolled out on May 7, and I want to begin by personally apologizing for disappointing you," he wrote. "I assure you that fixing the app for all of our customers and partners has been and continues to be our number one priority."

According to Spence, the numerous fixes the company has released since May have "enabled the majority of our customers to have a robust experience using the Sonos app."

He then lists a number of planned updates to be released from July to October and, frankly, one look at the items on that list and it's easy to understand just how botched this app update has been. The updates include "improving the stability when adding new products," "improving Volume responsiveness," "user interface improvements based on customer feedback," and "improving overall system stability and error handling." For a full list, check here.

SEE ALSO: Sonos Ace headphones review: Hands-on with the first headphones from the audio giant

Sonos plans to release software updates on a bi-weekly schedule, and asks for patience as it continues rebuilding its app.

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