Feed aggregator

OpenAI is reportedly planning to block API access in China, and Chinese companies are swooping in to fill the impending void.

According to Chinese state-owned newspaper Securities Times (via Reuters), users in China received an email saying they're in a "'region that OpenAI does not currently support' and that additional measures to block API traffic from some regions would be taken starting July 9."

SEE ALSO: OpenAI acquires search and analytics startup Rockset. What does that mean?

ChatGPT is not available in mainland China, but users have gotten around that by using the OpenAI API. According to Securities Times, many Chinese startups have built applications using the API.

It's unclear what prompted OpenAI to reportedly start restricting API access. But the company recently investigated and cut off five "covert influence operations." One of these was a Chinese network called "Spamouflage" which reportedly used OpenAI models to research and generate social media posts targeting critics of the Chinese government. The Biden Administration has determined that generative AI models are a cybersecurity risk and has mandated security testing and evaluations of foundation models in the AI executive order.

As a result of the apparent move from OpenAI, Chinese companies with their own AI models have announced incentives to lure OpenAI users to their platforms. Per Reuters, Baidu is offering free migration to its Ernie chatbot with additional tokens for its flagship model Ernie 3.5. Similarly, Alibaba Cloud has offered free tokens and migration to its Qwen-plus model and Zhipu AI has launched a "Special Migration Program" for OpenAI API users, claiming its GLM model meets the same benchmarks as OpenAI's models.

SAVE $44.85: Amazon Prime members can sign up for a free 3-month trial of Audible Premium Plus, which usually costs $14.95 per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Audible 3-month free trial of Audible Premium Plus at Amazon
Prime member exclusive Get Deal

Audiobooks and podcasts have become a way of life for some of us. People might assume we're rocking out to classic rock or synth pop with our earbuds, but in reality we're following along with an audiobook we simply cannot stop listening to. If you find yourself listening to podcasts or audiobooks often and are also an Amazon Prime member, today's Audible deal could be perfect for you.

As of June 25, Prime members can get a free 3-month subscription to Audible Premium Plus, which typically costs $14.95 per month, saving you a total of $44.85 over the trial period. You'll need to be a new Audible customer and a Prime member to score these savings, which expire on July 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

SEE ALSO: Try the Amazon Photos app and get free money to spend on Prime Day

Audible Premium Plus comes packed with options for those who can't get enough podcasts or audiobooks. With a massive library, the service allows you unlimited access to thousands to options, including Audible originals you won't be able to find elsewhere.

Included with an Audible Premium Plus membership is one free audiobook per month to keep. Premium Plus also grants access to special deals and sales. With the Audible app, you can set your desired listening speed, set a timer for when you're heading to bed, or activate Car Mode while you're driving to your weekend getaway. You can also download audiobooks to listen to later while you're offline.

If this sounds like the deal for you, but you're not an Amazon Prime member, it could be your sign to consider if a membership is right for your shopping needs. Deals are already rolling in ahead of the upcoming Prime Day sales event, which offers exclusive savings to members only. A Prime membership costs $14.99 per month, or you can grab an annual membership for $139.

If you're looking for access to thousands of podcasts and audiobooks, an Audible Premium Plus membership could be perfect. Thanks to today's deal, Prime members can sign up for a free 3-month trial and get thousands of hours of entertainment for the best price out there — free.

Dr Disrespect, a popular streamer, has been booted from his gaming studio after disturbing allegations surfaced about an apparent text conversation he had with a minor.

The video game streamer, whose real name is Herschel "Guy" Beahm, was unceremoniously kicked off Twitch four years ago. The public was unsure why. Now, reports suggest it was due to an inappropriate texting relationship with a minor.

An anonymous former employee on Twitch's trust and safety team told The Verge that Beahm messaged a minor using Twitch's now-defunct messaging service, Whispers, and attempted to set up a meeting at TwitchCon. Cody Conners, another former Twitch employee, posted on X alleging Beahm — though Conners did not say his name outright — was banned "because got caught sexting a minor."

Tweet may have been deleted

Beahm, meanwhile, has denied any wrongdoing.

"Listen, I'm obviously tied to legal obligations from the settlement with Twitch but I just need to say what I can say since this is the fucking internet," he wrote on X over the weekend. "I didn't do anything wrong, all this has been probed and settled, nothing illegal, no wrongdoing was found, and I was paid."

Tweet may have been deleted

In the wake of the allegations, Beahm is now out from Midnight Society, a gaming studio he co-founded.

On Monday, the studio posted a statement on X:

"On Friday evening we became aware of an allegation against one of our co-founder’s Guy Beahm aka Dr Disrespect.

We assumed his innocence and began speaking with parties involved. And in order to maintain our principles and standards as a studio and individuals, we needed to act.

For this reason, we are terminating our relationship with Guy Beahm immediately.

While these facts are difficult to hear and even more difficult to accept, it is our duty to act with dignity on behalf of all individuals involved, especially the fifty-five developers and families we have employed along with our community of players."

Gizmodo reported that, during a stream on Monday evening, Beahm said he was taking a break from streaming because he was "burnt out."

Preview of the best robot vacuum deals at Amazon Best budget deal iRobot Roomba j7 299.99 (599.99) Get Deal Best self-emptying mopping deal Eufy X9 Pro $449.99 (save $450 at Amazon with code X9PROEUFY) Get Deal

After Walmart could barely scrounge up a noteworthy robot vacuum deal for Walmart+ Week, we're banking on Amazon even harder to go off on robot vacuum deals for Prime Day.

We're in good hands, though. Overall, Amazon is already generally the best place to score a robot vacuum on sale at any point during the year, whether that's a shopping holiday or a random Tuesday in September when your current corded vacuum sends you over the edge. Despite ditching its plans to buy iRobot, Amazon is still the best retailer to find a Roomba on sale, slashing Roomba prices by between 25% to 50% throughout the year. We're manifesting those same Roombas to reach new record-low pricing as Prime Day nears — ideally, the Roomba Combo j9+ would drop below $800 or the Combo j5+ below $400.

SEE ALSO: Amazon TV deals ahead of Prime Day are actually pretty good

We're similarly hoping that Prime Day sets the stage for new all-time low prices on other premium robot vacs released at CES 2024 in January. Particularly, the Eufy X10 Pro Omni dropping below $650 or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra getting its very first discount would be awesome — we've tested and loved both.

But if you've already taken a beach trip that has left your floors perpetually sandy, you don't have to wait until Prime Day (July 16 and 17) to make the move on a robot vacuum. We'll be refreshing our list of robovacs on sale at Amazon (with subcategories for standard robot vacuums from robot vacuums that mop) throughout the upcoming weeks as Prime Day nears, and will keep you posted when Amazon switches over 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.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy X9 Pro robot vacuum on self-empty dock and smartphone with color-coded map on screen Eufy X9 Pro $449.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $450.00 save with code X9PROEUFY Get Deal Why we like it

Eufy's X9 Pro debuted in fall 2023 and sits right in the sweet spot between the X8 Pro (which doesn't mop) and the X10 Pro Omni (which is sitting at its MSRP of $799.99). And it's already seen several groundbreaking price cuts just in June: its current discount code X9PROEUFY bumps the discount to a full 50% off, beating the discount seen in mid-June that was exclusive to Prime members.

The X9 Pro is more reminiscent of its successor than its predecessor: It has a flat edge to get into corners, it mops, washes, and dries its own mopping pads, and uses AI to detect and avoid small obstacles like phone cables. As a mopper, the X9 Pro provides more elbow grease than many competitors thanks to double-pressurized, rotating mopping heads. These automatically lift above the ground if carpet is detected.

More robot vacuums on sale at Amazon

• Eufy L60 — $179.99 $279.99 (save $80 with Prime) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba j7 — $299.99 $599.99 (save $300) 🔥

• Shark AI Ultra with self-empty station — $299.99 $599 (save $299.01)

• Eufy L60 with self-empty station — $279.99 $399.99 (save $120 with Prime) 🔥

• Shark Detect Pro with self-empty station — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150) 🔥

• Roborock Q5+ with self-empty station — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300 with on-page coupon)

• Eufy X8 Pro with self-empty station — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250 with on-page coupon) 🔥

More robot vacuum and mop combos on sale at Amazon

• Eufy G30 Hybrid with self-empty station — $249.99 $429.99 (save $180) 🔥

• Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 — $299.40 $449.40 (save $150)

• Roborock Q7 Max — $279.99 $599.99 (save $320) 🔥

• Roborock Q8 Max — $399.99 $599.99 (save $200) 🔥

• Roborock S8 — $549.99 $749.99 (save $200 with on-page coupon)

• Roborock Q8 Max+ with self-empty station — $599.99 $819.99 (save $220 with on-page coupon)

• Roborock Q Revo S with self-empty station — $699.99 $799.99 (save $100 with on-page coupon)

• Yeedi M12 Pro+ with self-empty station —  $769 $1,099 (save $330) 🔥

• Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni with self-empty station — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)

Amazon is giving away free video games as part of this year's Prime Day event. Be sure to claim yours.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Prime free games Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is coming up, and you'll be able to shop hundreds of deals when the event launches on July 16. But you don't have to spend a dime to scoop up some great games by way of Prime Gaming. While you can already get a rotating selection of free games from Amazon each month, there will be a few more to sweeten the deal just in time for Prime Day.

Prime Gaming members will be able to claim free games and other goodies every day until July 16, with several options available right now. To claim them, you need to be logged into your Prime account. Then visit the Prime Gaming page and click the "Activate Prime Gaming" option in the top right corner of the page. You'll only see your Amazon account name there if you're logged in and have already activated your account.

When you claim a free Prime Gaming title, you can keep it forever – no strings attached. That's why it's important to grab each game while you can.. Right now, there's a decent selection of titles to choose from, including:

• Star Wars Battlefront II (Classic)

• Deceive Inc.

• Call of Juarez

• The Invisible Hand

• Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart - CE

There's a decent mix of free titles here to choose from, but standout games include Star Wars Battlefront II (Classic), a fun multiplayer title set in the Star Wars universe where you can duke it out with large-scale battles and exciting matchups that feel like your own custom story in a galaxy far, far away. Call of Juarez is an oldie but a goodie, especially if you're a first-person shooter fan who happens to be into Western settings. These games are redeemable on multiple platforms, including the Epic Games Store and GOG.

Amazon has revealed additional titles that are on their way as part of Prime Day as well, including:

• Soulstice (Available on June 27)

• Forager (Available on June 27)

• Heaven Dust (Available on June 27)

• Card Shark (Available on June 27)

There are also occasional non-game bonuses you can claim, like a free Twitch channel subscription (a $4.99 value) that you can put toward your favorite streamer. You'll need to make sure your Twitch and Amazon Prime accounts are connected. This subscription counts as a Prime subscription and is only valid for 30 days. You'll need to continue your subscription with real cash if you want to keep supporting your streamer.

If you're looking to grow your game collection without having to spend any money, it's in your best interest to keep checking back each week for another drop, as it seems there will be plenty to go around this Prime Day. We'll keep you updated on what's available so you can take advantage of every single deal available to you during this year's massive shopping event.

GET $20 IN AMAZON CREDIT: Eligible Prime members can upload and back up a photo for the first time to the Amazon Photos app to receive a free $20 credit to spend during Prime Day on July 16 and 17.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon $20 Prime Day promotional credit Get Deal

You know that pesky phone alert that tells you it's running low on storage? It almost always includes a recommendation to delete some photos. But how could we possibly delete even a single adorable dog photo? If you're in need of a new photo storage solution, Amazon might be your best friend, and there's a special deal in store, too.

As of June 25, eligible Prime customers can upload and back up a photo for the first time to the Amazon Photos app to receive $20 to spend on a purchase of $40 or more during the upcoming Prime Day event. The offer expires at 11:59 p.m. PT on July 12, and you'll be able to spend the $20 credit between July 16 at 12:00 a.m. PT and July 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

SEE ALSO: Amazon just announced the exact dates of Prime Day 2024

The Amazon Photos app is just one of the benefits offered with a Prime membership. Users can upload and store images and video through the associated smartphone app or the desktop app. Prime members get unlimited photo storage at full resolution, plus 5GB of video storage.

If your home has Amazon smart devices like a Fire TV, Echo Show, or an Amazon Fire tablet, you can access photos to display, print, or share.

If you're a Prime member who's yet to take advantage of storing photos on Amazon Photos, check out this special offer ahead of Prime Day and start the sale by saving $20 on your first purchase of $40 or more.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Blink Video Doorbell System + Amazon Echo Pop $34.99 at Amazon (save $74.99 as a Prime member) Get Deal BEST SMART HOME DEAL Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) Kids + Echo Glow $64.99 at Amazon (save $64.99 as a Prime member) Get Deal BEST GAMING DEAL Luna Controller + free month of Luna+ $39.99 at Amazon (save $30 as a Prime member) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Sony ULT Field 1 Wireless Bluetooth speaker $98 at Amazon (save $31.99) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro $109.99 at Amazon (save $80 as a Prime member) Get Deal

With the official Prime Day announcement comes a plethora of early deals at Amazon — particularly on Amazon's own products. If you're in the market for smart home gadgets and gizmos, you don't even need to wait for the shopping event to start. As of June 25, we've already rounded up a few hella impressive deals worth shopping at the mega retailer.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check out our top picks from June 24 as well — many of those are still live.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Video Doorbell System + Amazon Echo Pop $34.99 at Amazon
$109.98 Save $74.99 Prime-exclusive deal Get Deal

Topping our list is this Blink Video Doorbell System and Echo Pop bundle. Regularly a $109.98 value, it's down to an impossibly low $34.99 for Prime members. That's 68% in savings and cheaper than buying an Echo Pop on its own. The doorbell system includes the Blink Video Doorbell and the Sync Module 2, which conveniently lets you control your Blink devices from the Blink Home Monitor app. Pair it with the Echo Pop — basically a pared down Echo Dot — to receive alerts and answer your door with two-way audio. The Pop is compact enough to squeeze into your tight spaces without sticking out, but still features Alexa and full sound.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro $109.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $80.00 Prime-exclusive deal Get Deal

Another Prime-exclusive deal that turned our heads is the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, which is down to an all-time low $109.99 for Prime members. That's a savings of 42% and beats its previous all-time low by $15. Designed for 6- to 12-year-olds, the kids tablet released in 2023 is marketed as Amazon's "best kids tablet yet." It features a 10.1-inch 1080p full HD display, a lighter design, is 25% faster than the previous generation, 3GB of RAM, and up to 13 hours of battery life. And like other Amazon tablets for kids, its durable case (with a built-in kickstand) can stand up to all kinds of adventures. There's no need to hold off on purchasing until Prime Day, as this price is already extremely impressive.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) Kids with Echo Glow $64.99 at Amazon
$129.98 Save $64.99 Prime-exclusive deal Get Deal

Introduce your kiddos to Alexa with this bundle of the Echo Show 5 Kids and Echo Glow. The third-generation Echo Show 5 Kids boasts an upgraded speaker system with double the bass of the previous generation and clearer sound for music, audiobooks, video content, and more. It also features the AZ2 Neural Edge processor, a reengineered microphone array, a new space-themed galaxy design, and kid-friendly Alexa responses, jokes, homework help, and more. Paired with the Echo Glow, kids can throw their own dance parties with lighting, music, and games. Regularly $129.98 for both, you can save 50% and snag the Echo Show 5 Kids and Echo Glow with one year of Amazon Kids+ for only $64.99 as a Prime member.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Luna Controller + free month of Luna+ $39.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $30.00 Prime-exclusive deal Get Deal

Our buds at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) reviewed Amazon's Luna controller and found it to be "an excellent gamepad that provides the optimal Luna game-streaming experience." The real advantage, they noted, is its separate WiFi connection that reduces input lag as you play. It's technically optional for the Luna gaming experience, but they consider it a "must-have." Regularly $69.99, you can save $30 as a Prime member and snag it for only $39.99. It even includes a free month of Luna+ to get you up and running.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Field 1 Wireless Bluetooth speaker $98.00 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $31.99 Get Deal

Bass lovers looking for a portable speaker will fall for the Sony ULT Field 1. Mashable's own Miller Kern went hands-on with the speaker and found its sound quality, customizable EQs, and ULT setting to be particularly impressive selling points. While its battery life could be better, we're willing to give it a pass for its affordable price tag. Usually $129.99, Amazon has it on sale for only $98 as of June 25. That's 25% off and matches its record-low price.

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

Streaming keeps getting more expensive.

The latest example is Paramount+. Reuters reported that the home of Knuckles and various Yellowstone spin-offs is jacking up the prices on all of its plans in the near future. The plans will cost either $1 or $2 more per month, so they aren't huge changes, but it's still enough to be bothersome if you've already grown tired of how much streaming costs.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix movies of 2024 now streaming Paramount+ price changes

The new prices for each Paramount+ plan after the price changes are as follows:

• Paramount+ with commercials: $7.99/mo ($1 increase)

• Paramount+ Essential: $7.99/mo for new subscribers as of Aug. 20 ($2 increase)

• Paramount+ with Showtime: $12.99/mo as of Aug. 20 for new customers or Sept. 20 for existing ones ($1 change)

There are a couple of weird caveats to note here. First, the "Paramount+ with commercials" plan is not actually something people can sign up for right now. That price change only applies to people who had that plan when it was on offer and have been grandfathered into the new system. Second, existing subscribers to Paramount+ Essential will actually see no price change at all. They will continue paying $5.99/mo.

This combined with recent price increases for other services like Max and Spotify make it clear that cutting the cord isn't quite the money-saver it used to be.

SAVE $49.95: Amazon Prime members can cash in on five months of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited, which typically costs $9.99 per month for Prime members. Non-Prime members can get access to three months for free, saving a total of $32.97.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 5 free months of Amazon Music Unlimited at Amazon
with Prime membership Get Deal

Enjoying your favorite podcast or rocking out to your newest playlist can only be interrupted by one thing — ads. If these put a damper on your listening experience, maybe it's time to cut them out of your life. Thanks to today's early Prime Day deal at Amazon, you could enjoy ad-free music and podcasts for months to come.

As of June 25, Prime members can sign up for five months of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited, which usually costs $9.99 per month for Prime members, for a total savings of $49.95. Non-Prime members are still in for a great deal with three months of free access, saving a total of $32.97. The deal extends only to new subscribers to Amazon Music Unlimited.

With Prime Day 2024 on the horizon, Amazon is offering some epic deals. The mega retailer often offers Prime members a free one-month trial of its music streaming platform, but this deal comes with five generous months for any Prime member who's new to Amazon Music Unlimited.

Ad-free music and podcasts are at your fingertips with Amazon Music Unlimited. That means you can say goodbye to fishing your phone out of your pocket to skip annoying ad breaks. The service also gives you unlimited skipping power should you stumble into a track you're not digging. Plus, you can listen offline which could be great during upcoming summer travel.

Keep in mind Amazon will automatically charge your card for continued membership to Amazon Music Unlimited after the five-month trial period, but you can cancel anytime.

If you're not a Prime member, now's a decent time to consider if signing up makes sense for your shopping needs. Prime Day sales officially hit on July 16 and 17 this year, with exclusive deals for members. But like this deal, we expect to see Prime-member-only sales hit well before the official Prime Day event starts. A yearly Prime membership costs $139, or you can opt for a monthly membership for $14.99 per month.

If your music or podcast streaming platform isn't giving you a great experience, try out Amazon Music Unlimited which is free for five months for Prime members new to the music platform. You might just find the lack of ads bring some serenity to your listening experience.

SAVE $119.01: As of June 25, get a new, unlocked iPhone 15 (128 GB) for $679.99 at Woot. That's a discount of 15%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot! iPhone 15 (128 GB) $679.99 at Woot
$799.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal

If you want to make sure you nail those summer vacay photos, it may be time to upgrade your smartphone before the big trip. You're in luck, because there's a great deal at Woot that can net you a new iPhone 15 for a low price today.

As of June 25, get a new, unlocked iPhone 15 (128 GB) at Woot for just $679.99. This configuration normally goes for $799 at Apple, so you're saving $119.01, a 15% discount. Choose between yellow or green colorways or, if you don't like those options, you can always cover them up with a case. Woot says these phones are brand new, but they do not come in retail packaging. They do come with a one-year vendor warranty, but are not eligible for AppleCare.

SEE ALSO: Plenty of Apple deals are live already if you don't want to wait for Prime Day

The iPhone 15 is the latest generation of the iPhone, and comes with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with Apple's A16 Bionic chip and 5-core GPU. Its dual-camera system boasts a 48MP main camera with an ultra-wide lens that'll net you 24MP and 48MP high-resolution photos, complete with 4x optical zoom. Battery life isn't too shabby at an estimated 15 to 20 hours, and the phone's Dynamic Island makes it easy to track activities and notifications while you're doing other things.

If you've been waiting to invest in a new phone, this is a great time to do it. The iPhone 15 is a good step up from the previous generation, and if you're curious about moving over from Android, this model is a nice, discounted option that should provide everything you're looking for in a smartphone. Just act quickly, as this sale is only available for the next 15 hours or until all models sell out.

House of the Dragon fans: Consider this your reminder to separate the actor from the character.

Actor Fabien Frankel experienced the fandom's intense hatred for his character Ser Criston Cole firsthand when people posted harassing comments on his Instagram account. It got so bad that Frankel reportedly had to limit comments on his recent posts.

Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Everything you need to remember about Season 1 in 60 seconds

"The Realm is going to war because you're too busy serving face and fashion. Shame on you Ser Criston Cole," commented one user on a post promoting a profile on Frankel in the style magazine Man About Town.

"I hate you. But you're so handsome," commented another on the same post. Some called out Cole's — shall we say — negligence over the young Targaryen heir Jaehaerys being slain in bed, commenting, "Where were you when the heir to the throne was murdered?" Still others shared their desire for Frankel's character to meet a gruesome death. "Man I hope someone jumps this guy," said one commenter.

Ser Criston Cole was already a contender for the most detestable House of the Dragon character when he spitefully switched allegiances to Alicent Hightower in Season 1 — after being rejected by Rhaenyra Targaryen. But when he concocted episode 2's evil twin plot, fueled by his own guilt about breaking his celibacy vow (a lot) by bedding Alicent while the heir presumptive was beheaded, Cole may have surpassed Joffrey Baratheon as the most hated character.

While some vocal House of the Dragon fans are publicly conflating the real Frankel and the fictional Cole, other fans swiftly came to the actor's defense and gave the haters a reality check. "I'm sorry HOTD fans are bothering you, you don't deserve any hate for playing a character, love you Fabien," said one Instagram user in a comment that got 1,893 likes. "Yes. We hate Sir [sic] Criston Cole. Yes, we LOVE Fabien," said another.

Many pointed out that Cole's loathsome antics are a testament to Frankel's acting. "You know an actor has mastered the craft when the audience is unable to separate the fictional character from the real-life human. You are doing an amazing job. Keep up the good work!" said one comment. "You're a very talented actor, ignore the hate. You just play the character so well that people assume you're the same person," said another.

Yes, Ser Criston Cole sucks. But let's keep the hatred to the fictional character who is destabilizing the realm with his impulsive, egotistical behavior, not the actor who makes Cole the character we love to hate.

How to watch: New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

'Paddington 2's baddie is back and raising hell.

Remember Tesla Cybertruck's oversized windshield wiper? The one that appears too large to exist, at least not without malfunctioning in some way? Well, it turns out that it is.

Tesla just issued a recall for over 11,000 Cybertrucks over a windshield wiper issue. The recall includes all model year 2024 Cybertruck vehicles manufactured from Nov. 13, 2023, to June 6, 2024, which is pretty much all of them given that the Cybertruck deliveries started in Nov. 2023.

"On affected vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor controller may stop functioning due to electrical overstress to the gate driver component," the recall report says. "A non-functioning windshield wiper may reduce visibility in certain operating conditions, which may increase the risk of a collision."

SEE ALSO: Cybertruck buyers are reporting delivery delays due to windshield wiper issue

The report also said that Tesla is not aware of any collisions, injuries, or deaths relating to the issue.

For Cybertruck owners, this means that they'll have to take their car to a Tesla service center and get the windshield wiper motor replaced.

The Cybertruck's oversized windshield gained notoriety even before the car itself launched with spy shots revealing just how oddly huge it is (compared to any other car's wiper). Tesla CEO Elon Musk also said that the wiper is a big trouble for the car's development, noting that there's "no easy solution" for it.

The chatter about the wiper subsided after the car launched, but it appears that its troublemaking days aren't over.

The company also issued another Cybertruck recall, this one for a trim piece along the truck bed which can come loose and fall off. This one will also need to be replaced or re-attached to avoid losing it.

This is not the Cybertruck's first recall rodeo. The company recalled all of the Cybertrucks it sold in April 2024 due to accelerator pad issues. And unlike many of Tesla's other recalls, which were easily solved with a software update, these Cybertruck recalls required a visit to a service center. All in all, Tesla issued four Cybertruck recalls since the car went on sale.

The tech giant has been accused of stifling competition by packaging its video conferencing app with other tools like Word and Excel.

Yelp is launching a new array of searchable accessibility tags this week, part of the platform's recognition of July's Disability Pride Month.

Users can now sort their results by business features that accommodate visitors with various disabilities. Those features include:

• Accessible parking near the establishment's entrance 

• ADA-compliant main entrances

• ADA-compliant restrooms

• No steps or stairs at entrances or inside the business

• ASL proficient staff

• Closed captioning on TVs

• Braille menus

• QR code menus (used by those who need access to assistive technologies on their own devices)

SEE ALSO: Apple adds new accessibility features across the senses, including eye tracking

The updated tags (known as "attributes") are intended to address broader, intersecting accessibility needs for those navigating public spaces and businesses, following the popularity of Yelp's "wheelchair accessible" tag. The new attributes were created in collaboration with disability inclusion groups Disability:IN, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Open to All, and The Arc.

Credit: Yelp

Yelp will also provide accessibility inclusion guidance under a new Accessibility Resources Hub for business owners themselves, designed with information from its nonprofit partners.

"Far too often, people with disabilities do not have access to information to find businesses and services that are accessible to them," said Calla Devlin, managing director of Open to All, a coalition of nonprofits promoting nondiscrimination. "Yelp’s new suite of attributes is an invaluable tool for customers, and Open to All offers resources and guidance for businesses to create welcoming and safe environments for all customers."

Yelp's visual features will be getting a revamp, too, with new AI-powered alternative text descriptions for photos uploaded to the site. The feature harnesses unnamed Large Language Models (LLMs) to automatically generate descriptive alternative text for images for screen readers, Yelp explains. Earlier this year, Yelp announced a new AI assistant, adding to a larger collection of generative AI features integrated on the platform.

"To help people discover and connect with great local businesses, it’s important that they can determine if those businesses will accommodate their needs, especially when it comes to accessibility," said Yelp Senior Vice President of Product Akhil Kuduvalli Ramesh. "With these new accessibility attributes, we’re excited to help businesses more clearly indicate their inclusive practices to make it even easier for people to find the right business for them."

After a lengthy, highly publicised legal battle, including five years in a British prison, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is free.

The 52-year-old left the UK for Australia on Tuesday, having fought extradition to the U.S. within the high security Belmarsh prison since 2019.

Assange's freedom is down to a plea deal, the BBC reports, which will see the WikiLeaks founder plead guilty to one charge under the Espionage Act. He was facing life imprisonment for a total of 18 counts in the U.S., including espionage charges over WikiLeaks' publication of classified government documents in 2010 and 2011 and hacking charges over conspiring to break into a Pentagon computer network.

Assange and his supporters have long protested the charges, deeming them a threat to the right to publish, journalism, and free speech.

SEE ALSO: 'I am the canary': Vivienne Westwood protests from giant birdcage for Julian Assange

In a post on X, the official WikiLeaks account said, "Julian's freedom is our freedom."

"This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations," the post continues. "This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised. We will provide more information as soon as possible."

Tweet may have been deleted

"WikiLeaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles, for the people's right to know."

Assange was arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2019 for failing to surrender to the court, when his asylum was withdrawn by the country. Assange was granted asylum in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden on 2010 charges of sexual assault, which have since been dropped.

According to the Associated Press, Assange will appear in front of a judge in a U.S. federal court on Wednesday in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth. If his plea is accepted, Assange will continue to Australia.

The UK Home Office declined to comment on the deal, only telling the BBC, "As the case is subject to ongoing legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, delivered a statement on Assange's release, speaking to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government's push for the Wikileaks founder to return to his home country of Australia.

"The prime minister and I have been very clear, Mr Assange’s case has dragged on for too long," said Wong. "Over the last two years, the Albanese government has advocated for him to come home."

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 is likely officially coming on July 10, but we now know some of the specs and (possibly) the price of the watch, thanks to an apparent leak on Amazon Canada.

The listing on Amazon Canada, discovered by PassionateGeekz, was still live at writing time, enabling us to take a screenshot. It contains no images of the watch, featuring instead images of a Chromebook; and some of the details, such as 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, are obviously related to a Chromebook. But a big chunk of the listing, including the title, seems to be about the upcoming wearable.

Not all of the details fit, but some of this stuff seems to describe the Galaxy Watch 7. Credit: Amazon Canada

According to the listing, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 will be available in a 40-millimetre size and "Cream" color. An unnamed, three-nanometre chip is powering the watch, and a BioActiveSensor 2 should provide "more accurate measures" of your heart rate both during exercise and sleep.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 leak: 3 big upgrades, including battery and camera

A number of AI-related features are also listed, including a personalized Daily AI companion which will enable "AI Powered Sleep, AI Powered Exercise, and AI Powered Communication" (yes, we're aware that that's as vague as it can be). Also, Galaxy AI "smart reply" will "help find the rights words and tone when replying to messages on the watch."

Finally, the listing mentions a 100-hour battery life in Power Saving Mode, as well as Stamina Mode for very long workouts.

The listing also says the item will "be released on July 10, 2024," which aligns with Samsung's next "Unpacked" event. The price is listed at 358.55 CAD, which is roughly $262.62.

For reference, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 6 comes in two sizes (40-millimetre and 44-millimetre), and it has a 1.3 or a 1.5-inch AMOLED display. It's powered by a five-nanometre Exynos chip, comes with 16GB of storage memory and 2GB of RAM, and it launched with a starting price of $299.99.

It's worth noting that Samsung accidentally leaked some info on the upcoming Galaxy Watch FE, which is also likely to launch on July 10.

Earth isn't the only world in the solar system with active lakes, rivers, and oceans. 

About 880 million miles away in space, Saturn's largest moon Titan is also flush with surface liquid that evaporates, forms clouds in its hazy atmosphere, and rains. Despite this seemingly similar hydrology, the two planetary bodies couldn't be more different: Titan's oceans are made of methane and ethane — not water. Though people tend to think of those chemicals as gasses, they act like liquids on this super-cold moon, like gasoline on Earth.

Despite NASA's Cassini spacecraft mapping more than 620,000 square miles of lakes and oceans on Titan before the end of its mission in 2017, much of how these alien seas behave remains a mystery. But a new study published in Science Advances suggests that these liquids may indeed ripple, surge, and swell against Titan's shorelines, just as water does on Earth. 

Whether Titan's oceans are still or have waves has been debated for more than 15 years, said Rose Palermo, a geologist and lead author of the study. 

"Some people who tried to see evidence for waves didn't see any, and said, 'These seas are mirror-smooth,'" Palermo said in a statement. "Others said they did see some roughness on the liquid surface but weren't sure if waves caused it."

SEE ALSO: NASA rover finds clear evidence of ancient waves, yes waves, on Mars Titan, one of 146 known moons orbiting Saturn, is the planet's largest. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute

Using computer models to simulate different erosion mechanisms that occur on Earth, a team mostly composed of MIT geologists found that waves were the likely source of erosion to have formed the coastal shapes seen in Cassini's radar images. 

If Titan's oceans exhibit waves, that could give scientists insight into the moon's climate. They could then begin predicting the strength of wind on this world and infer what direction it's often blowing — factors that might be necessary to power such waves. 

"If we could stand at the edge of one of Titan's seas," said coauthor Taylor Perron, in a statement, "we might see waves of liquid methane and ethane lapping on the shore and crashing on the coasts during storms."

Tweet may have been deleted

In order to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Titan's liquids are moving in waves, scientists will eventually need direct views of this activity. That may be possible in the next decade, when NASA's Dragonfly, a helicopter-like robotic spacecraft, arrives at the moon for exploration in 2034. The $3.35 billion mission is slated to launch in 2028. 

NASA has made the mission a priority because Titan's icy dunes appear to have the organic ingredients for life — the kinds that we know about, at least — to potentially emerge.

If you asked me a year ago if I was picky about external monitors, I probably would’ve laughed. My pre-owned 27-inch iMac served me well for nearly a decade, and I was satisfied with my desk setup. That is, until my new job sent me a 34-inch curved ultra-wide monitor along with my company laptop. It was an absolute behemoth, laughably large in the tiny home office I share with my partner, but — after leaving that job and replacing my iMac with a new Macbook Air — it left a gaping hole on my desk that I knew I needed to fill.

The lads at the Best Buy return counter can tell you that I started with a huge mistake: a 31-inch full HD monitor that I thought would be perfectly fine, only to discover that once you go 4K, you can’t go back. My next step was a 32-inch Samsung M7 Smart Monitor, which offered a 4K UHD resolution and a host of smart features that transform this external monitor into a television. But as much as I love my Samsung, when I was asked to test the Philips Creator Series 27-inch 4K UHD Monitor, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901 price and specs

The Philips Creator Series monitor has an MSRP of $499.99, but we've seen it drop between $329 and $399 on sale.

Some notable specs:

• 27-inch 4K UHD display

• USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort

• 400 nits brightness

First impressions of the Philips Creator Series 27-inch 4K UHD Monitor

I’ve unboxed four monitors in the past eight months, and the Philips’ Creator Series Monitor is firmly tied for first with my Samsung M7 in terms of first impressions. The packaging was sleek and convenient, the instructions were easy to follow, and I had my new monitor up and running within minutes. The monitor itself is gorgeous, with a sleek silver frame mounted on a sturdy metal base, and it boasts multiple connection options, including USB-C, HDMI, and DisplayPort.

The ports available with this Philips Creator Series monitor. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

Even more impressive, the Philips Creator Series includes a built-in KVM switch, meaning you can see and interact with content from two computers at the same time with a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse. This 4K monitor also has a DisplayPort that supports daisy chaining. Translation? If your computer also supports daisy chaining, you can plug it directly into this monitor and use the DisplayPort to seamlessly extend your display onto additional monitors.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops for photo editing, according to expert editors and photographers What I love about this monitor: Adjustable orientation

One of my favorite features about this monitor took my by surprise: The ergonomic, adjustable base that offers height adjustment, tilt, and swivel. It might not sound like much, but the ability to adjust the monitor with a single touch was an incredible feature that I used more than I thought I would — especially the ability to rotate the monitor completely into a portrait orientation.

The adjustable base. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

Once I figured out how to rotate the monitor’s screen within my MacBook’s settings, I was surprised to discover that I preferred this orientation. I had inadvertently created the perfect second screen to hold more of my “static” programs like my daily to-do list, calendar, Spotify, and Discord. Especially with my multi-screen setup, I loved having the option to rotate the Philips to act as either a functional main display or a secondary vertical monitor. Along with the brightness and crisp 4K display, the Creator Series feels futuristic and cool. 

The Philips monitor in portrait orientation. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable What I didn't like about this monitor: Daisy chaining multiple monitors

Truthfully, with a monitor like this, there isn’t a lot to dislike. It is quite a bit pricier than your standard 27-inch monitor, even when comparing it with other 4K UHD models. It also retails for $100 more than my 32-inch Samsung M7 Smart Monitor. The refresh rate is also a little low at only 60 Hz, so it’s not going to be the best gaming monitor when speed is on the line. It should work for casual gamers, but it really depends on your personal preference.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops for video editing, according to an experienced editor

The only other issue I had with this monitor was the DisplayPort out functionality to daisy chain multiple monitors together. While this monitor is fantastic for Mac users, my M2 MacBook Air doesn’t support daisy chaining, which means I wasn’t able to test this functionality fully. After a quick search through Reddit, I was able to find a workaround involving a DisplayLink port, but — as a casual user — I didn’t really want to spend an extra $150 on an additional adapter.

Instead, I stuck with using my MacBook Air as my main display, extending to the Philips via USB-C and extending to my Samsung monitor via Apple Play. It wasn’t the greatest solution, considering there was a significant lag and quality drop when casting from my MacBook to the Samsung monitor, but it was able to give me a taste of what it would be like to daisy chain the two monitors together.

Is the Philips Creator Series 27-Inch 4K UHD Monitor worth it?

It depends on how you plan to use it. For the casual user, I’d probably recommend going for a cheaper option — you can get a similar size 4K UHD monitor for a couple hundred dollars less than this one, especially if you wait for a decent sale. However, for creative professionals who need a higher level of brightness and impressive color accuracy for their work, the Creator Series is a smart investment. And if you like the idea of a swivel screen that can support portrait orientation, or you want to utilize the DisplayPort technology to extend your monitors, then it’s definitely worth the splurge.

After testing it out on my own desktop, I can tell you that this 4K monitor delivers a truly gorgeous display that definitely stands out in a crowded market.

Philips Creator Series 27-Inch 4K UHD Monitor $329.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $70.00 Shop Now

TL;DR: Using Thread technology, you can connect 250+ Apple HomeKit-compatible devices to the Belkin Wemo Smart Plugs and control each one from your phone; get a three-pack of these smart plugs for only $69.99 (reg. $119.97). 

Smart home tech has come a long way from timer outlets, microwaves you can text, and lights you turn on/off by clapping. Now, smart plugs actually connect wirelessly (via Bluetooth or Thread) to other devices for more seamless control. That means you can set schedules, make rules, or just enjoy controlling a room full of devices from your phone. All it takes are a few smart plugs around the house. 

The Belkin Wemo Smart Plug controls more than just the devices plugged into it. This Apple HomeKit compatible smart plug helps connect your whole smart home, and a three-pack is only $69.99 (reg. $119.97). 

Automate your home

The Wemo WSP100 looks simple, but it has a lot going for it that other smart plugs simply can't match. First, it uses new Thread technology to wirelessly connect to a lot of different compatible devices. So you aren't limited just to the devices you can plug in. 

The mesh network can support over 250 devices, so it'd take a pretty hefty power strip to match this smart plug. (And please never plug 250 devices into a single power strip!).

Already looking around the house for devices you can connect? Remember, these plugs only work with Apple HomeKit. They need iOS or MacOS devices along with an Apple Home Hub or Thread-compatible hub to operate. It might sound intimidating if you're still new to smart home tech, but in practice there are only a few boxes to check

Make sure you: 

1. Have an Apple device like an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer

2. Have an Apple Home Hub device (Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad)

3. Don't buy things that don't fit the power limitations. This one's power specs are 120V, 15A input, and 1800W at 60 Hz output. 

4. Check new devices for Apple HomeKit compatibility on the box. 

More than just a plug

Put your whole home on tap with a refreshing improvement over standard smart plugs. 

Get a three-pack of Belkin Wemo Smart Plugs for $69.99. Single packs start at just $29.99 (reg. $39.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Wemo Belkin Wemo Smart Plug with Thread for Apple Home Kit (3-Pack) $69.99 at The Mashable Shop
$119.97 Save $49.98 Get Deal