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In the year 2024, you can't rely on your device's built-in speakers for much. Even if you're on a tight budget, a Bluetooth speaker will significantly up the quality of your listening experience, whether you're hosting a party or listening to a podcast while cooking dinner. And because the best Bluetooth speakers are easy to lug around, they're also great for outdoor hang sessions or listening to your tunes on the go while traveling.
SEE ALSO: The best headphones for 2024 (and why they made our list)You might be wondering if it's worth splurging on an expensive speaker, buying a durable outdoor speaker, or if there's a smart speaker that works well within the existing sound system in your home. Whatever your needs may be, we've researched and tested the most popular Bluetooth speakers to come up with our recommendations.
Which brand makes the best Bluetooth speakers?Bose, JBL, Ultimate Ears, Sony, and Sonos tend to be the most popular Bluetooth speaker brands. It's hard to say one brand's speakers are definitively the best, especially because there can be a variety in performance within a brand's lineup. Obviously, you shouldn't expect a $40 speaker to sound the same as the $180 JBL Charge 5, but that doesn't mean you have to blow out your budget to get high-quality sound. What we can say is that these brands tend to be popular for a reason.
For our guide, we put together the standouts from each brand. All of the speakers we chose offer good value, portability, smart home compatibility, and durability. Most importantly, they sound fantastic, with deep bass and high fidelity.
Keep reading for our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers available in 2024.
Adobe has rolled out a new addition to its Lightroom photo editing platform called Generative Remove. It leverages Firefly, Adobe's generative AI model, to enable novice and hobbyist photo editors alike to select and erase elements from pictures, where the replacement content seamlessly fits in with its surroundings.
Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Lightroom £7.90 at AdobeWith the recent arrival of Generative Remove, three major reasons emerge that make Lightroom a powerful photo editing suite for non-pros:
Easy clean-upWith Generative Remove, Lightroom users can simply mouse or swipe over objects, people — whatever is interfering with their otherwise well-composed photo, and the tool will automatically recognize the thing that doesn’t belong and wipe it from the image. You don’t need to define the element by outlining it. Generative Remove just knows what you’re pointing out and how to get rid of it.
Plus, the AI engine can generate ultra-realistic backgrounds or mimic complex patterns like paisley based on a photo’s visual information.
Studio-level lens effectsLightroom comes with Lens Blur, a tool for adding professional-grade lens effects to your photos in post-production. With this feature, you can achieve the soft focus and macro-lens look and feel associated with studio shooting with the output of any camera or smartphone.
There are also seven presets to choose from, giving novices an easy way to apply these dreamy effects to their photos.
Mobile-friendly workflow Credit: AdobeAdobe knows that so much of today's photography is captured and viewed by smartphones. The company has built out a truly mobile-optimized UI for its Lightroom app so that creators can manage their photo production from start to finish, all in the mobile app. This includes Generative Remove.
If you're ready to try your hand at the latest AI-enhanced Lightroom, Adobe is offering a seven-day free trial. Get started here.
TL;DR: Through July 11, save a little money by getting the 2019 version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus for Windows or Mac. A lifetime license is on sale for just £19.75 (reg. £181.15).
If you could use some productivity support, a tried-and-true suite of apps from a big name in software could help. Create, organise, and present with the assistance of Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows (the Mac Home & Business version is available at the same price), now on sale for just £19.75 through July 11.
Get access to tools to help you perform your best, whether professionally or personally. This 2019 version of Office might be slightly older than the most current version on the market, but it still features most of what many expect from Office.
You'll get the 2019 version of Word for document creation, Excel to access spreadsheets, PowerPoint to make killer slides, Outlook for email and calendar management, Access to build databases, OneNote to take digital notes, and Publisher for personal publications. (However, it should be noted that it does not include Teams.)
All of these apps combine to help keep you moving more efficiently. You will need to be running Windows 10 or 11 to use this software.
Because you only pay a one-time price for a license that never expires, you won't need to worry about any recurring fees like you would with Microsoft 365. This license is good on one PC for life.
Office Professional Plus 2019 is tailored for enhanced productivity with rich features that provide business users, professionals, and home users alike with most of the functions they need to work at their best.
Don’t miss this opportunity to own Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 at this reduced price.
Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is on sale for just £19.75 (reg. £181.15) until July 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows £19.75 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: Live stream Glastonbury 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
It's all about Worthy Farm this weekend, with some of the biggest musical acts in the world and around 200,000 very excited fans in attendance. Glastonbury is one of the biggest festivals on the music calendar, and whilst nothing can compare to actually being there, you don't need a ticket to enjoy some of the best moments this year.
If you're interested in watching Glastonbury for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
What is Glastonbury?Glastonbury is a seriously popular five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset (UK). In addition to the biggest names in the music game, the festival hosts dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret, and other artistic acts all weekend.
When is Glastonbury in 2024?Glastonbury 2024 takes place from June 26 to June 30, but most of the live music performances take place between June 29 and June 30.
How to watch Glastonbury 2024 for freeThe good news is that you can live stream Glastonbury 2024 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 powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Access BBC iPlayer to live stream Glastonbury 2024 by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Connect to BBC iPlayer
Watch Glastonbury Festival from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By leveraging these guarantees, you can watch Glastonbury Festival without fully committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to unblock BBC iPlayer and watch Glastonbury 2024 before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?There are plenty of impressive VPNs that can reliably unblock BBC iPlayer, but ExpressVPN continues to lead the way. It's tough to beat 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 always protected
Fast streaming speeds without buffering
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 30-day money-back guarantee. The money-back guarantee means you can sign up to watch Glastonbury from anywhere in the world, and then recover your investment after the festival wraps up.
Live stream Glastonbury 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 WNBA season from anywhere in the world with WNBA League Pass or Prime Video. Access WNBA live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The WNBA is having a moment right now. A seriously big moment.
The league was already stacked with genuine superstars like A'ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu, but everything has exploded since the introduction of young ballers like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink. Stadiums are full, clips are going viral, and everyone seems to be talking about the WNBA.
Interested in seeing what all the fuss is about? We have lined up everything you need to know to watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world.
What is the WNBA?Founded in 1996, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a women's professional basketball league based in the United States. The league is made up of 12 teams, including the Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, and Phoenix Mercury.
When is the WNBA in 2024?The 2024 season is the 28th edition of the WNBA, with the regular season taking place from May 14 to September 19. Each of the 12 teams play 40 games — four games against five teams from the same conference and two teams from the other conference, plus three games against the remaining four teams.
The eight teams with the best regular season records qualify for the WNBA Playoffs to determine the league's champion.
How to watch the WNBA with WNBA League PassFans can live stream the 2024 WNBA season from anywhere in the world with WNBA League Pass. This service provides access to live out-of-market games, every game on-demand, plus literally hundreds of games from the archives.
The added benefit of subscribing to WNBA League Pass from outside the U.S. is that you can avoid blackouts. In the U.S., certain nationally televised games are not available live on WNBA League Pass. But if your IP address is outside the U.S (with no broadcast deals for the game), you can bypass blackouts to watch every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video).
In the U.S., subscribers can use a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions and secure access to extra games through WNBA League Pass. VPNs can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location. This straightforward process masks your real location so you can avoid WNBA blackouts.
Access extra WNBA League Pass games by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)
Prime Video is the exclusive national streaming partner of 21 WNBA games, including the Commissioner’s Cup championship game. Prime members in the U.S. can watch WNBA games simply by accessing their account, but there's no need for a subscription. Instead, basketball fans can watch the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
Fans from outside the U.S. will need to use a VPN to watch the WNBA for free on Prime Video:
Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Watch select WNBA fixtures for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the WNBA on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream a bunch of matches before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for streaming sport?ExpressVPN is the top choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream sport, 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
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 for a limited time — a saving of 49% on list price. This deal includes three extra months for free, a whole year of unlimited backup via the cloud, and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're unsatisfied with the service.
Live stream the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Paraguay vs. Brazil in the 2024 Copa America for free on Sportitalia. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Ask anyone to name the greatest team in international football and chances are they'll say Brazil. But can Brazil back it up by winning the 2024 Copa America? A victory this year for Brazil would mark their 10th win in the tournament's history. Paraguay probably aren't the toughest competition in Group D, but they're not the weakest either. It's essentially a must-win game for both Paraguay and Brazil if they want to advance from the group and enter the knockout rounds.
This year's Copa America tournament is being held in the United States, but that doesn't mean you need to be in the United States to watch all the games. In fact, you can watch the Copa America from anywhere in the world.
If you want to watch Paraguay vs. Brazil in the 2024 Copa America for free — no matter where you are — we've put together some useful information.
When is Paraguay vs. Brazil?Paraguay vs. Brazil in the 2024 Copa America kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at the Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas.
How to watch Paraguay vs. Brazil for freeParaguay vs. Brazil in the 2024 Copa America is available to live stream for free on Sportitalia.
Sportitalia is a free streaming platform. It's geo-restricted for viewers in Italy, which means you can't ordinarily access the platform from any other country. You'll be able to access it, however, with a VPN. VPNs are handy tools that can mask your IP address (digital location) and connect you with a secure server in Italy, allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions. You can then access Sportitalia and watch all the 2024 Copa America fixtures from anywhere in the world. You just need a solid internet connection to live stream.
Access free live streams of Copa America by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy
Visit Sportitalia
Watch the 2024 Copa America for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming aren't actually free, but top VPN providers usually have incentive deals available, including free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. Take advantage of these deals by signing up and accessing Sportitalia for just enough time to watch 2024 Copa America. And not just Paraguay vs. Brazil, but all the fixtures. It shouldn't cost you a penny. With the improved online security and streaming access that's offered by a quality VPN, you may even decide to use the VPN on a more permanent basis.
What is the best VPN for Sportitalia?ExpressVPN is the best choice for unblocking Sportitalia to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Italy
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 for a limited time — that's a cool saving of 49%. That deal includes a bonus three months of usage for no extra cost, a year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Paraguay vs. Brazil for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Colombia vs. Costa Rica in the 2024 Copa America for free on Sportitalia. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
We all love an underdog. That's exactly what Costa Rica will be when they play Colombia in Group D of the 2024 Copa America. A victory here for either team could have significant implications for determining who advances out of the group.
It has been eight years since Costa Rica played at the tournament. Costa Rica aren't part of the South American football confederation, which means they don't always get invited to the tournament. In the five times they've entered, Costa Rica have only reached the quarter finals once. Is 2024 the year they improve on this record?
Colombia will prove very tough competition. They have a strong history at the Copa America and will be looking to repeat their tournament win of 2001.
If you want to watch Colombia vs. Costa Rica in the 2024 Copa America for free from anywhere in the world, we've put together some useful information.
When is Colombia vs. Costa Rica?Colombia vs. Costa Rica in the 2024 Copa America kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at the State Farm Stadium, Phoenix.
How to watch Colombia vs. Costa Rica for freeColombia vs. Costa Rica in the 2024 Copa America is available to live stream for free on Sportitalia.
Sportitalia is a free Italian streaming platform that's unfortunately geo-blocked outside of Italy. But you can sidestep geo-restrictions by using a VPN. If you've never used one before, a VPN is a handy tool that can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy. That allows you to access Sportitalia from anywhere in the world. You just need a decent internet connection for live streaming.
Access free live streams of Copa America by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy
Visit Sportitalia
Watch the 2024 Copa America for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming aren't free to use, but the top VPN providers will usually have incentive deals available, such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can take advantage by signing up and gaining access for long enough to watch 2024 Copa America. Not just Colombia vs. Costa Rica but all the games. And it won't cost you anything. With the improved online security and access that's offered by a quality VPN, you may even decide to keep it beyond the 2024 Copa America.
What is the best VPN for Sportitalia?ExpressVPN is the best choice for unblocking Sportitalia to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Italy
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 for a limited time — an impressive saving of 49%. As part of that package you get an extra three months of usage for free, a year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Colombia vs. Costa Rica for free with ExpressVPN.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for June 28's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A large group of animals, especially cattle or sheep, moving from one place to another.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no letters that appear twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to Wordle #1105 is...
DROVE.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for June 28's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: A type of purse
Green: I need some space
Blue: Give me a hint
Purple: Boys underwear
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Types of Bags
Green: Wiggle Room
Blue: Indication to Proceed
Purple: Underwear in the Singular
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to Connections #383 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayTypes of Bags: CLUTCH, MESSENGER, SATCHEL, TOTE
Wiggle Room: FREEDOM, LATITUDE, LICENSE, SLACK
Indication to Proceed: CUE, PROMPT, SIGNAL, WORD
Underwear in the Singular: BOXER, BRIEF, DRAWER, SHORT
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.
A Quiet Place: Day One ushers audiences back into the horror franchise, where extraterrestrial monsters who hunt by sound chase down any human who makes a peep. For the first two installments, writer/director/actor John Krasinski centered on rural parents, desperately and determinedly protecting their defenseless children against ravenous extraterrestrial monsters. But in this prequel, new to the franchise helmer/scribe Michael Sarnoski offers a pet parent named Sam (Lupita Nyong'o) and her cuddly cat, Frodo.
As their Lord of the Rings names tease, they are tightly connected as they make their own dangerous quest through a Manhattan terrorized by "Death Angels," who chase any sound like it's a dinner bell. And this has some animal-lovers nervous.
"Does the cat die?" has become a common question since the first trailers revealed Sam's feline sidekick. Sure, the first two movies put the Abbott children — including a newborn — in danger. But that doesn't mean cat people are ready to witness a fleeing feline be gobbled up like so much little brother Beau. (He just wanted to play with a rocket!)
So, for those of you that absolutely need to know before you go, we'll answer the biggest question about this new horror offering:
Does Frodo the cat survive A Quiet Place: Day One? Eric, Sam, and Frodo dodge monsters in "A Quiet Place: Day One." Credit: Paramount PicturesDeep breaths, animal lovers: Frodo the cat lives — as do the native rodents scurrying around Manhattan. It seems the Death Angels aren't much for snacking. Or perhaps they're targeting humans not for nourishment so much as taking down the dominant species for swift conquering? But that's a topic for another time. For now, rest easy-ish knowing that for all those who will fall prey to A Quiet Place: Day One's Death Angels, sweet, fluffy Frodo will keep her nine lives intact.
Adobe has rolled out a new addition to its Lightroom photo editing platform called Generative Remove. It leverages Firefly, Adobe's generative AI model, to enable novice and hobbyist photo editors alike to select and erase elements from pictures, where the replacement content seamlessly fits in with its surroundings.
Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Adobe Lightroom A$14.29 at AdobeWith the recent arrival of Generative Remove, three major reasons emerge that make Lightroom a powerful photo editing suite for non-pros:
Easy clean-upWith Generative Remove, Lightroom users can simply mouse or swipe over objects, people — whatever is interfering with their otherwise well-composed photo, and the tool will automatically recognize the thing that doesn’t belong and wipe it from the image. You don’t need to define the element by outlining it. Generative Remove just knows what you’re pointing out and how to get rid of it.
Plus, the AI engine can generate ultra-realistic backgrounds or mimic complex patterns like paisley based on a photo’s visual information.
Studio-level lens effectsLightroom comes with Lens Blur, a tool for adding professional-grade lens effects to your photos in post-production. With this feature, you can achieve the soft focus and macro-lens look and feel associated with studio shooting with the output of any camera or smartphone.
There are also seven presets to choose from, giving novices an easy way to apply these dreamy effects to their photos.
Mobile-friendly workflow Credit: AdobeAdobe knows that so much of today's photography is captured and viewed by smartphones. The company has built out a truly mobile-optimized UI for its Lightroom app so that creators can manage their photo production from start to finish, all in the mobile app. This includes Generative Remove.
If you're ready to try your hand at the latest AI-enhanced Lightroom, Adobe is offering a seven-day free trial. Get started here.
In May, Reddit announced it would allow OpenAI to train its models on Reddit content for a price. Now, according to The Verge, Reddit will block most automated bots from accessing, learning from, and profiting from its data without a similar licensing agreement.
Reddit plans to do this by updating its robots.txt file, the "basic social contract of the web" that determines how web crawlers can access the site. Most nascent AI companies (including, at one point, OpenAI) train their models on content they've scraped from across the web without considering copyright or the Terms of Service of individual sites.
SEE ALSO: Reddit's traffic is way up – but why? It's Google.Per The Verge's Alex Heath, search engines like Google got away with this form of scraping thanks to the "give-and-take" of Google sending traffic back to individual sites in exchange for the ability to crawl them for information. Now, AI companies are tipping the balance by taking that same information and providing it to users without sending them back to the sites the information came from.
Reddit's chief legal officer, Ben Lee, told The Verge that the parameters of robots.txt are not legally enforceable but that publicizing Reddit's intention to enforce its content policy is "a signal to those who don’t have an agreement with us that they shouldn’t be accessing Reddit data."
In a blog post about the change, Reddit noted that "good faith actors – like researchers and organizations... will continue to have access to Reddit content for non-commercial use." These include the Internet Archive, home to the Wayback Machine.
Instagram wants to be TikTok with Reels, and now TikTok wants to be Instagram with Whee.
Like Instagram, Whee allows users to post and edit photos and message other users. It launched earlier this month in some countries to little fanfare. According to TechCrunch, as of Tuesday, the app was only downloaded on 13,000 iOS devices and a little over 10,000 times on Android devices. It has yet to breach the Top Free Apps chart in Apple's App Store or become one of the Top 500 Social apps in the countries it's available in.
SEE ALSO: Here's how the TikTok ban will likely play out in the courtsThe app has yet to launch in the U.S. So far, it's most popular in Malaysia, where it's been downloaded 2,400 times. TechCrunch also found that ByteDance, TikTok and Whee's parent company, has yet to advertise the app via Apple's Search Ads, which boosts apps' ranking in the App Store's search. ByteDance's strategy remains unclear.
Whee's launch is reminiscent of one of ByteDance's other ventures, Lemon8, a Pinterest-esque photo-sharing platform that got off to a slow start but now boasts millions of downloads.
The public first heard of TikTok's potential Instagram dupe, which was initially known as TikTok Photos, back in March.
Lemon8 launched in the middle of TikTok's battle against the potential ban in the U.S., and now that the ban is written into law, ByteDance pushed Whee forward. But the ban will likely take all ByteDance apps down with TikTok.
If Hawk Tuah Girl was hesitant about her sudden overnight fame, maybe things are starting to shift now that the cash is rolling in. The viral star, real name Hailey Welch, has reportedly begun making good money via merchandise.
Rolling Stone contacted Fathead Threads, a local Tennessee apparel brand working with Welch to sell shirts and hats. Jason Poteete from Fathead told Rolling Stone that they'd sold about 2,000 hats already, which, via back-of-the-napkin math, equates to roughly $65,000 in revenue. Welch reportedly gets an undisclosed percentage of sales, but it stands to reason she's made a decent chunk of change from the merch.
Tweet may have been deletedIn case you missed the mega-viral video, Hawk Tuah Girl first surfaced in a Tim & Dee TV video where she was asked to give a "move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?"
She, quite funnily, answered: "Aw, you gotta give 'em that 'hawk tuah' and spit on that thang! You get me?" That has since become a big-time meme and clip over TikTok, X, and just about any other social media platform.
SEE ALSO: Who is the 'Hawk Tuah' girl, and what does it mean?However, going viral does not always guarantee making money from it. With that in mind, Poteete wanted to assist Welch — who has not done any interviews in the wake of the viral clip — in monetizing her moment.
"Of course, she hasn't gotten a dime from the first viral video that went out," Poteete told Rolling Stone, while nothing he's known Welch for years. "Nobody was asking permission for her to do nothing, neither. I just wanted her to get some profit off of this deal."
Here's hoping Welch can squeeze every cent out of the video. Page Six reported that major talent agencies were in talks with Welch, which hopefully means more cash for the viral star.
Another day, another newly discovered exploit. But this vulnerability has the potential to be a really big problem.
This week, Progress Software announced that it had discovered two new items for the common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVE) list of the enterprise product MOVEit Transfer, a popular way for businesses to securely transfer and exchange sensitive files and data.
SEE ALSO: Two MIT students charged for exploiting Ethereum blockchain bug, stole $25 million in cryptoThis most recent MOVEit vulnerability, known as CVE-2024-5806, allows hackers to bypass authentication protocols and access the potentially sensitive information being transferred.
While many readers may not be familiar with Progress Software or MOVEit, this vulnerability could result in serious consequences. As Ars Technica points out, a MOVEit vulnerability affected millions of people last year. Thousands of organizations, including the US Department of Energy and Shell, were compromised. The 2023 exploit's effects on the Canadian province of Ontario’s government birth registry alone left 3.4 million people compromised.
Currently, MOVEit is installed on as many as 2,700 networks globally. Bad actors, such as at least one ransomware gang, have already made attempts to exploit this most recent vulnerability, according to cybersecurity researchers with The Shadowserver Foundation and the security firm Censys.
Progress Software has since released a patch to close the exploit, which can be found here.
Prime Day 2024 is officially coming. We knew it would land sometime in July, but this week, the brand confirmed the sale will run July 16 and 17. Now that we all have it marked on our calendars, we're officially on the hunt for early deals. We know the bulk of discounts won't arrive until Prime Day starts, but that doesn't mean some hidden gems won't show up on TVs, laptops, and more.
We're tracking tablet deals. With the launch of new iPads from Apple just this year, we're staying laser focused on markdowns on the latest tech. Plus, we expect to see prices slashed on older generations of still good tech.
SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2024 is coming: Here are the best live deals to shop earlyAt the moment, the savings aren't huge, especially on iPads. However, because the latest iPad Air and iPad Pro are so new, we are still seeing them at their lowest prices ever. They've been at these prices since early June, so we're holding out to see even bigger savings come Prime Day.
We'll be updating our list of tablets on sale at Amazon throughout the weeks leading up to Prime Day and will keep you posted when Amazon makes the big switch to official early Prime Day deals. For now, deals with a strikeout were either sold out or no longer available at their best sale price when we last checked. Anything marked with a 🔥 has dropped to an all-time low price.
Early Prime Day tablet deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (2023, 128GB) 🔥 $649.99 at AmazonAmong our ranking of tablets, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is the best Android option, and ahead of Prime Day, it's down to its lowest price ever of $649.99, saving you $150 for 19% off. It rivals iPads, the perfect antidote for those who want the perks of an advanced tablet but don't want to jump into the iOS ecosystem.
It has an 11-inch display, vibrant graphics, and an included S pen, so you can draw and take notes. It's loaded with the powerful processing speeds of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Plus, it's ready for your summer adventure with it's IP68 rating, making it one of the few water- and dust-resistant tablets. Take that, Apple.
Android tablet dealsSamsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, 10.4-inch (2024, 64GB) — $249.19 $329.99 (save $80.18)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, 10.4-inch (2024, 128GB) — $319.99 $399.99 (save $80)
Google Pixel Tablet with charging dock (128GB) — $389 $499 (save $110) 🔥
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (2023, 256GB) — $769.99 $919.99 (save $150)
iPad (10th gen)
Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (WiFi, 64GB) — $328 $349 (save $21) 🔥
iPad Air
Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 1TB) — $1,034 $1,099 (save $65) 🔥
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M2, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,034 $1,099 (save $65) 🔥
Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M2, WiFi, 1TB) — $1,219 $1,299 (save $80) 🔥
iPad Pro
Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $944 $999 (save $55) 🔥
Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,124 $1,199 (save $75) 🔥
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet (32GB) — $69.99 $149.99 (save $80) 🔥
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet (32GB) — $109.99 $189.99 (save $80) 🔥
Need a new pair of headphones? Now's the time to buy, with some great deals popping off at Amazon just in time for the 4th of July:
Best 4th of July Headphone Deals Best Headphone Deal Beats Studio Pro $249.99 at Amazon (Save $100 ) Get Deal Best Noise-Cancelling Headphone Deal Bose 700 headphones $349 at Amazon (Save $30) Get Deal Best Apple Headphone Deal Apple AirPods Max $449 at Amazon (Save $101) Get DealReady to grab a new pair of headphones? Now's a great time to do it, especially since there are a variety of deals going on ahead of the 4th of July. Amazon has several offers available on some of our favorite and top-rated headphones so you can throw them on and block out the world.
Whether you're looking for a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones, cans that go well with your iOS devices, or just a solid option with well-rounded audio and features, you can find it as part of the deals up for grabs right now.
Check out some of our picks for the best headphone dals ahead of the 4th of July at Amazon below.
Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Beats Studio Pro $249.99 at AmazonThe Beats Studio Pro are a great, affordable pick for anyone looking for an alternative to Apple's over-the-ear headphones. They offer warm, immersive sound with support for lossless audio, with three different profiles to choose from when listening to your favorite songs. Opt for either active noise cancelling or transparency mode to either block out the world or let the important things in, and get up to 40 hours of battery life with 10 minutes of juicing up granting you four more hours. This pair also has support for personalized spatial audio, so you can listen to music with 360-degree soundscapes to feel like you're actually at that concert you wish you'd gone to. At this price, they're absolutely worth grabbing, so get them while you can.
Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose 700 headphones $349.00 at AmazonThe Bose 700 headphones are our favorite pick when it comes to noise cancellation. They're excellent at what they do, with ten adjustable levels of active noise cancellation and transparency mode to make sure you can still hear what's going on around you. They offer some of the highest levels of customization when it comes to noise canceling, so if you're the type of listener who needs things your way instead of adapting to rigid settings that make listening feel like a chore, these headphones should do you well. Your ears will be satisfied – Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry can attest to that after testing the headphones on the bustling streets of New York City, and we think that's definitely something to be excited about.
Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirPods Max $449.00 at AmazonThe Apple AirPods Max are spendy, but they're worth the money if you can afford to shell out on these svelte lookers. Thanks to their Apple H1 chip, they sound fantastic, with equally great active noise cancellation that works great to keep outside sound out. They also offer spatial audio support with dynamic head tracking as well as Dolby Atmos support. But one of their greatest achievements are their ability to stay comfortable even during long wear sessions. You also get the added effect of everyone noticing what you're wearing – they're certainly status symbols. But what's important here is that they deliver as headphones, and if you want a great pair, they're even better when you can get them at a discount.
SAVE $168: The Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle (16GB, Basic Pen) is on sale for $271.97 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $439.97. That's a 38% discount, and the lowest price we've ever seen.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle (16GB, Basic Pen) $271.97 at AmazonHave you ever tried packing for a relaxing vacation and realized those 12 books you plan to read pool-side won't fit into your luggage? While reading will forever be one of the best hobbies around, it can be cumbersome to tote around your current book, whether you're on vacation or commuting to work with an 800-page hard-back book. Save yourself some trouble and cash in today's deal at Amazon on one of the best e-readers available.
As of June 27, the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle (16GB, Basic Pen) is on sale for $271.97 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $439.97. That's a savings of $168 or a 38% discount. It also happens to be the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
The Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle includes a 16GB version of the e-reader, a leather folio cover, the Basic Pen, and a power adapter, so you'll be ready to roll with all necessary accessories.
The Kindle Scribe is a versatile e-reader, allowing you to not only read your favorite books but giving you the power to write and draw thanks to the included pen. If you prefer to take notes in the margins of books, the Scribe could be the best Kindle out there for you. It also allow you to write on documents, create lists, write notes, or draw your best digital sketch yet.
SEE ALSO: A 3-month membership to Kindle Unlimited is now free for Prime membersThanks to its 10.2-inch screen size, the Scribe can display two book pages at once with landscape orientation, making the experience more similar to reading a physical book. It's also glare-free, so reading in the sun won't be an issue. Amazon also mentions the Scribe gets the longest battery life out of any Kindle, getting weeks of use on a single charge. Plus, the pen doesn't require a battery so you'll never need to set it down to re-charge.
In Mashable's review of every Kindle device, the team rated the Scribe as the best model for those who like to take notes. "If you haven't been able to get on board with e-readers because you like to jot down notes in the margins of your books, the Amazon Kindle Scribe just might convert you," says the review.
If you love reading and taking notes, today's deal on the Kindle Scribe could be a great investment when it comes to the enjoyment category of life. At the lowest price we've ever seen, the bundle also comes with a folio case and a charging adapter, making this a one-stop-shopping experience. Plus, if you summer plans involve travel, you'll be cutting down on weight and bulk without needing to pack physical books.
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