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TL;DR: Live stream Portugal vs. Croatia in the UEFA Nations League for free on L'Equipe. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The UEFA Nations League can feel like glorified friendly matches, but we all enjoy seeing the best international sides in the world go head-to-head. And whether or not you're into the idea of the UEFA Nations League, true fans will appreciate the opportunity to watch games like Portugal vs. Croatia. And you can stream all the action without spending anything.
If you want to watch Portugal vs. Croatia in the UEFA Nations League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Portugal vs. Croatia?Portugal vs. Croatia in the UEFA Nations League kicks off at 7:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at the Estádio da Luz.
How to watch Portugal vs. Croatia for freePortugal vs. Croatia in the UEFA Nations League is available to live stream for free on L'Equipe.
L'Equipe is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can access free live streams on L'Equipe from anywhere in the world.
Access a free live stream of Portugal vs. Croatia 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 France
Visit L'Equipe
Live stream Portugal vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world
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 Portugal vs. Croatia in the UEFA Nations League without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select UEFA Nations League fixtures before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for L'Equipe?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on L'Equipe, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including France
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Portugal vs. Croatia in the UEFA Nations League for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury is next on the court in the WNBA. We're quickly approaching the playoffs, with neither team having qualified as things stand.
If you want to watch Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury?Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
How to watch Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury for freeWashington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury is free to watch on Prime Video in the U.S. If you're not subscribed to this platform, don't worry, you can still watch this latest fixture for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video in the U.S.
For fans not in the U.S., don't worry — to watch the WNBA, just use a VPN to stream for free on Prime Video. The process couldn't be easier, just follow the below steps:
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 Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video
Unfortunately, the best VPNs for streaming are often not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch the WNBA on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This, of course, isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select WNBA games before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Prime Video?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty is up next in the WNBA. Both teams have performed well this season, as New York Liberty have positioned themselves well with a place in the playoffs. Competition will be strong from Seattle Storm as they look to qualify.
If you want to watch Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty?Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
How to watch Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty for freeSeattle Storm vs. New York Liberty is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but you don't need to be subscribed to watch this latest fixture. Anyone can watch the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video in the U.S.
For fans not in the U.S., hope is not lost. To watch the WNBA, you can use a VPN to stream for free on Prime Video. The process couldn't be more simple, just follow the below steps:
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 Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video
Unfortunately, the best VPNs for streaming are often not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch the WNBA on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This, of course, isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select WNBA games before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Prime Video?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA 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 September 5's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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.
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.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 5 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Spread out.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
WIDEN.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
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 September 5's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 5 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: At the hair salon
Green: Condemn
Blue: Grab
Purple: American football terms
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Hair Salon Offerings
Green: Criticize
Blue: Obtain
Purple: Measured in Football Stats
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #452 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayHair Salon Offerings: BLOWOUT, COLOR, CUT, TRIM
Criticize: BASH, BLAST, PAN, SLAM
Obtain: BAG, LAND, SCORE, SNAG
Measured in Football Stats: ATTEMPT, RECEPTION, SACK, YARD
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
The next iPhone SE could be a big upgrade for those who prefer to have a budget iPhone.
Nikkei Asia reported that Apple has made the switch from LCD to OLED for all of its phones in 2024 and beyond, including the next generation iPhone SE.
The affordable iPhone SE is less advanced than its pricier counterparts, so Apple throwing an OLED display into the SE would make it even more enticing for those who don't want to spend $1,000 on a phone.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 rumors: Everything we knowPrevious iPhone SE iterations have basically packed newer chipsets and features into the body of an older iPhone, specifically the iPhone 8, for the last couple of models.
Other rumors have suggested the next iPhone SE, which would be the fourth-generation model, will have an enhanced camera system, 8GB RAM, support Face ID, and feature a USB-C charging port.
As a current user of a home button-having, Lightning-port-sporting iPhone SE, that sounds fantastic.
Companies want to know what potential customers are searching for online. Using that information, they can target each internet user with an ad for a product or service that is relevant to what they're looking for.
But people don't always perform an online search for everything they want or need to buy. What if those companies could listen in to potential customers' everyday lives and hyper-target them with advertising based on what they're talking about?
The marketers at media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) pitched this idea to potential advertising partners, according to a report from 404 Media. The tech news outlet recently obtained a pitch deck from CMG from November 2023 that detailed its "Active Listening" service and how it can target advertising based on smart devices like smartphones, smart speakers, and smart TVs.
"What would it mean for your business if you could target potential clients who are actively discussing their need for your services in their day-to-day conversations?" reads the beginning of the CMG sales pitch. "No, it's not a Black Mirror episode - it's Voice Data, and CMG has the capabilities to use it to your business advantage."
The pitch deck goes on to mention how it's legal for companies to listen in on users and collect that data.
"Creepy? Sure. Great for marketing? Definitely," the CMG sales pitch says.
Last year, 404 Media reported on CMG's promotion of Active Listening, the use of microphones in smart devices to listen in to users for the purpose of targeted advertising. The outlet just obtained the pitch deck last week.
Internet users have long speculated that Big Tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook-owner Meta were eavesdropping on them. And now, we have evidence of CMG's marketing team promoting this type of service to advertisers. As 404 Media points out, CMG has maintained current or former partnerships with all four of those Big Tech companies.
So, what's going on here?
Big Tech responds to CMG's Active ListeningMashable reached out to all four Big Tech companies mentioned in 404 Media's report on CMG's Active Listening pitch deck. We heard back from three out of four companies.
At the time of publishing, Meta, Amazon, and Google all provided a statement denying working with CMG to target advertising in this way. We are waiting to hear back from Microsoft and will update this post with its statement when it provides one to us.
“Meta does not use your phone's microphone for ads and we've been public about this for years," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement provided to Mashable. "We are reaching out to CMG to get them to clarify that their program is not based on Meta data."
Meta told Mashable that it was looking into whether CMG potentially violated Facebook's terms and conditions. The company said it would take action if necessary. A spokesperson also provided Mashable with a 2016 post that Facebook published about how the company does not use users' phone's microphones for the purpose of advertising.
Amazon and Google also pushed back against any involvement with CMG's Active Listening.
"Amazon Ads has never worked with CMG on this program and has no plans to do so," an Amazon spokesperson told Mashable.
“All advertisers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations as well as our Google Ads policies, and when we identify ads or advertisers that violate these policies, we will take appropriate action," a Google spokesperson said in a statement provided to Mashable.
While the companies who replied all denied taking part in the advertising program, privacy concerns regarding smart home devices will surely continue amongst consumers.
Four years ago, the ReMarkable 2 arrived and changed my writing life.
This ultra-thin, silver-framed e-ink screen, which I still think of as a legal pad from the future, helped me kickstart a handwritten diary I've kept up nearly every day for the last two years. I use its Marker in calligraphy pen mode, which has an aesthetic appeal even the mighty iPad can't match. Plus, the older I get the more I feel the joy of e-ink, tech's most soothing alternative to all that LED screenlight blasting our faces.
So when Norwegian tablet maker ReMarkable handed me the device it's been working on ever since 2020, the Paper Pro, you can bet my peepers went wider than a side-eye emoji.
A bigger screen? A backlight? A redesigned Marker where the nib doesn't wear down as frequently? Half the lag (that milisecond-measured gap between nib touching screen and e-ink appearing) of the ReMarkable 2, where the lag was already impressively low? And a range of colors, not just black and grey? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes please.
The ReMarkable Paper Pro also updates the keyboard folio, an optional extra I'd been toting around with the ReMarkable 2 for the past couple of years but not actually used that much: the typing lag felt a tad too long, the text column was too narrow, the keyboard wasn't backlit. The Pro folio fixes all those problems, and it comes with a nice little wrap-around magnet that helps lock the Marker in place.
Was this, finally, the perfect distraction-free device for writers I'd dreamed of for a decade?
The Paper Pro isn't perfectAfter testing the Paper Pro for a week, I'm less enthused. It has some issues, though not enough for me to stop using it. Still, I can see why ReMarkable will continue to sell the $399 ReMarkable 2 ($449 with the more sensitive Marker Plus) alongside the Paper Pro ($579; $629 with Marker Plus; add a $199 keyboard folio and you're talking serious scratch for any e-ink machine).
For many users on tighter budgets, the ReMarkable 2 will remain a superior choice.
I'm also surprised to find that the two devices don't play well together. The Markers are not swappable. You can sync documents between machines using ReMarkable's Connect service — but a document started on the Paper Pro's 11.8-inch display will spill over the sides of the ReMarkable 2's 10.8-inch screen.
Essentially, ReMarkable is creating a technology fork, asking you to choose one device or the other.
If you take the Paper Pro path after traveling with ReMarkable 2, you might hit some bumps in the transition. You won't necessarily notice the new one is heavier (by 0.17 lbs) since the weight is distributed in a larger form. You may notice it's a few hairs thicker, even though the Paper Pro's ridged sides are pleasant to touch. You will probably find that the screen-nib combination is more slippy on the Paper Pro, a little more like the smooth glass feel of writing on an iPad. I simply tap the screen harder at the end of sentences, period.
Also your mileage may vary on this one, but I felt that the basic black color you'll use for writing most of the time looks a little more washed out, from certain angles, on the Paper Pro screen. This could be the fault of the new backlight, which does the job but has an ethereal, slightly uneven glow around the edges of the screen, and which I found myself turning off as often as possible, for the sake of the battery (which, as you might expect, seems to run out a little faster on the Paper Pro.)
Or it may have to do with the fact that black isn't actually black on the Paper Pro: it's yellow, cyan and magenta all smooshed together.
Paper Pro Color: a (fun) work in progress Left: How my heart drawing looks on the screen. Right: How it looks in PDF form. Credit: Chris Taylor / MashableTechnologically speaking, the Paper Pro is an impressive leap forward. Taking e-ink from monochrome to CMYK is no mean feat, considering the ink actually sits there in a real layer under the screen glass. Combinations of cyan, magenta, yellow and white give you a second set of options — black, red, blue, green — and by layering all those colors on top of each other, you can get thousands.
In theory, at least. In practice, you'll see several bumps on the road to color. First off, there's the fact that when you lift the Marker from the page for a second, anything you've just handwritten or drawn in color (you can't type in color yet) has to refresh. Even if you're just writing in blue pen rather than black, that bit of the screen you've just changed flashes on and off a few times, very quickly.
The flashing looks a bit weird at first, like your ink can't decide whether it's invisible or not, like your words aren't secure in their own existence. Still, I was surprised to find I stopped noticing it after a while.
There's a larger color problem, and you can see it in the screenshots above where I made my first-ever e-ink color drawing — a fanciful anatomy of a human heart — using the Marker's brush and pen settings. What you're drawing on the screen is subtle, like pastel colors. But when you send the image (you can email your ReMarkable output with or without turning your handwriting into text), the PDF will show far more intense, almost cartoonish primary colors.
In other words: yes, you can dither your way to interesting color combinations, but the Paper Pro screen won't give you the clearest image of what you're actually creating. Color e-ink is something of a work in progress, and ReMarkable will continue to tweak the software with updates every few weeks. But it's hard to see the company getting around this fundamental divide between e-ink content and a LED screen world.
Are you a Paper Pro kind of pro?Which leads us to the question: For whom was the ReMarkable Paper Pro made? Artists and designers may enjoy playing around with it, but the color representation problem means they'd be better off using an iPad for serious work. If you just enjoy distraction-free handwriting and typing, you may be better off buying a monochrome ReMarkable 2, and keeping an extra $180 in your pocket.
The core audience for ReMarkable, if Reddit enthusiasm is anything to go by, is students and knowledge workers.
The Paper Pro is for taking and highlighting notes — ReMarkable has taken pains to ensure the highlight moves with the text it's highlighting, no matter how the rest of the page changes — and sketching out new ideas on the fly. Medical and engineering students will have uses for that color. IT departments will like the new six-digit PIN security; I liked the four-digit PIN because that's all I needed to keep prying eyes out of my diary, but I'm not the target audience here.
Then again, my casual color sketching style, where I care more about having fun than true colors, is a nice fit for the new device. I might be more inclined to reach for it, when I feel the urge to make art, than fire up Procreate on my iPad.
The ReMarkable 2 changed my writing life; perhaps the Paper Pro will change my art life.
SAVE $15: As of Sep. 4, get Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Nintendo Switch at Woot for just $44.99, down from $59.99. That's 25% off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' $44.99 at WootWhen it comes to multiplayer games, the Smash series is an undisputed champion. From the series debut on Nintendo 64 through the latest and greatest Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo Switch, the brawler has always been the pinnacle of entertainment when it comes to getting Nintendo characters and guests to beat the stuffing out of each other. If you haven't yet experienced one, now's the time to get into it.
As of September 4, you can get Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Nintendo Switch for just $44.99 at Woot. That's $15 off its normal price of $59.99 and a discount of 25%. This is the physical edition, so you'll have to wait for it to be shipped to you.
SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2024, hands-on testedThough the game debuted in 2018, it's still very much worth jumping into. It has 89 playable fighters to choose from, handpicked from some of Nintendo's biggest franchises, from Mario to Link to Kirby and everyone in between. Guest characters from third-party franchises make appearances in one form or another as well, but the most exciting thing you can do is pit your favorite characters against each other in knock-down, drag-out fights that you and your friends can participate in.
There's plenty more to do if you don't want to spend your time sending a poor little Yoshi or Pokémon into the stratosphere. You can play challenges, work to collect additional characters and bonuses, and explore a wealth of music, art, and stages.
It's a fantastic game, made even better at this price. Be sure to snatch yours up before this deal goes away.
In the days leading up to Apple's fall hardware event on Monday, Sept. 9, every AirPods model is on sale — even if it's (probably) not getting replaced next week.
Word on the street is that the Cupertino tech giant will at least announce a new version of its standard wireless earbuds, if not a new entry-level and a new mid-range version. The second- and third-generation AirPods are priced accordingly, with several major retailers marking them down within $20 of their record lows.
SEE ALSO: What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and moreSuccessors to the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro are less likely to debut at the event, and the AirPods Max are almost definitely not getting updated this month (but maybe before the end of the year). Meanwhile, their current iterations are $30 and $150 off, respectively, putting them within $21 and $5 of their cheapest prices ever.
If anything, consider waiting to buy a pair of the standard AirPods until after Tuesday's Apple event: There's a good chance they'll get even cheaper as retailers ditch their inventory to make room for their replacements (if they do indeed launch). Otherwise, these are mostly solid buys if you need to upgrade, but care more about saving than having the latest, greatest tech. Below, we go deeper on the best AirPod deals of the week:
Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple AirPods (2nd gen) $89.00 at Amazon and WalmartRead Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods (2nd Gen).
If ANC isn't a must-have, we actually prefer the second-gen AirPods from 2019 over the third-gen ones from 2021, which brought too few upgrades for too high a price. With a comfortable fit, a five-hour battery life, hands-free Siri support, and totally fine sound, these offer "the best bang for your buck" out of the current AirPods lineup, said Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard — even more so at $89, or 31% off, instead of their usual $129. (That's a deal we only saw at Amazon and Walmart, by the way: They're 99 cents more at Best Buy and Target.)
More AirPods deals:2nd generation
Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) — $59.99 $129 (save $69.01)
3rd generation
Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) — $89.99 $169 (save $79.01)
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) — $139.99 $169 (save $29.01)
Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen).
The AirPods Pro 2 from late 2022 are the AirPods we recommend most people buy if their budget's slightly more flexible. These offer "well-rounded sound, impressive active noise cancellation, plenty of portability," and they're frequently on sale for well under their $249 MSRP, wrote Allard. They're also the only current AirPods that charge via USB-C instead of a Lightning port, so if you have an iPhone 15 (or will soon upgrade to the iPhone 16), you won't need to keep track of separate cables. At the time of writing, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart all had them marked down to $189.99 — a 24% savings.
More AirPods Pro deals:Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) — $159.99 $249 (save $89.01)
Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Max.
There are better noise-cancelling headphones out there, but the AirPods Max remain a popular, stylish pick even four years after their release — and they feel much more reasonable at $399 than their usual $549. (Note that this pricing only applies to the Pink variant at Amazon: The Space Gray, Blue, Green, and Silver ones were all at least $50 more there; Best Buy had them listed for $20 off; and Target was holding them at full price.)
More AirPods Max deals:Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Apple AirPods Max — $339.99 $549 (save $209.01)
GET UP TO 25% OFF: As of September 4, Motorola is offering up to 25% off select products as part of its extended Labor Day sale.
Our top picks: Best deal overall Motorola razr+ (2024) with Bose Quiet Comfort II earbuds $999.99 at Motorola (save $299.99) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Motorola razr+ (2023) $599.99 at Motorola (save $400) Get DealLabor Day is famous for its sales and discounts — you can get mattresses, major appliances, and tech at near Black Friday-level prices. If you missed out on the usual Labor Day deals, Motorola is extending its sale, offering a 25% discount on select products.
SEE ALSO: Motorola's rollable concept phone shows foldables aren't the only way forwardAs of Sept. 4, you can score up to 25% off select items on the Motorola site. This includes the company's latest flagship phones and more budget-friendly options.
Here’s more info on the sale and our top picks for the best deals:
Best Motorola deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Our pick: Motorola razr+ (2024) with Bose Quiet Comfort II earbuds $999.99 at MotorolaThe new Motorola razr+ (2024) is $999.99, and it comes with a free pair of Bose Quiet Comfort II wireless earbuds (a $299.99 value). All you have to do to get your free buds is add the razr+ to your cart.
The razr+ is available in four colors: spring green, midnight blue, peach fizz, and, of course, hot pink. Even without the earbuds freebie, it's a great price for an unlocked phone with 256GB of storage and a foldable display.
Best runner-up Motorola deal Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Our pick: Motorola razr+ (2023) $599.99 at MotorolaIf you’re okay with owning the 2023 model, the Motorola Razr+ (2023) is on sale for $599.99. It doesn’t come in hot pink, but you can get it in infinite black, glacier blue, or viva magenta (which is kind of like hot pink). Plus, you get a $150 trade-in discount when you trade in an eligible device.
Not only is this phone compact, but the outer screen makes filming TikToks, video chatting, and checking notifications so much easier.
More Motorola deals worth mentioningMotorola moto g power 2024 — $249.99 $299.99 (save $50)
Motorola razr 2023 — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300)
Motorola edge 2024 — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)
Motorola edge+ 2023 — $499.99 $799.99 (save $300)
SAVE UP TO $400: Shop Apple iPads at their lowest prices ever. Find the Apple iPad Pro, 4th generation (M2 chip, 512GB, WiFi + cellular) for $899, saving you $400 for 31% off.
Best iPad deals Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 9th gen (A13 Bionic, 64GB, WiFi) $199 at Amazon (Save $130) Get Deal Best iPad Mini deal iPad Mini, 6th gen (A15 Bionic chip, 64GB, WiFi) $379.99 (Save $119.01) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro, 4th gen (M2 chip, 512GB, WiFi + cellular) $899 at Best Buy (Save $400) Get DealApple's September 9th event, "It's Glowtime," is heavily anticipated to debut several new products, including the iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, and maybe, just maybe, a new iPad Mini. While nothing is confirmed until the event goes live on Monday, September 9th at 1 p.m. ET, we're eager to see just what the fruit brand is ready to reveal.
In the meantime, older but still fantastic models are heavily discounted. We're talking iPads at their lowest price ever, with discounts up to $400 off. If you care more about savings than the latest tech, these are deals for you.
Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Apple iPad, 9th gen (A13 Bionic, 64GB, WiFi) $199.00 at AmazonWhile it may not be the latest model, the 9th generation iPad is nonetheless a reliable, everyday tablet. With the A13 Bionic Chip, it has the right amount of power for your entertainment needs, whether you need to stream, read, or game. Plus, it's compatible with the 1st generation Apple Pencil (which we should mention is down to $69).
It's down to its lowest price ever of $199. That saves you 40% off for $130 in savings.
Best iPad Mini deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: iPad Mini, 6th gen (A15 Bionic chip, 64GB, WiFi) $379.99 at AmazonThe iPad Mini is one of our favorite Apple tablets, especially when it comes to reading. At 8.6 inches, it has a frame several inches smaller than the next biggest iPad, which gives it a better hand feel when it comes to reading. While it's closer to the size of a Kindle than the usual iPad, it still has all the benefits of the latter. With the A15 chip, you get zippy performance for streaming.
It's dipped down to its lowest price ever of $379.99 — that's $119.01 in savings for 24% off.
Best iPad Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 4th gen (M2 chip, 512GB, WiFi + cellular) $899.00 at AmazonThis year's iPad Pro drop delivered an astonishing new tablet with battery life to last for days on end. However, in its wake is the previous model, which is equipped with the M2 chip. This chip powers up Apple's tablets and MacBooks alike, and we're big fans of its performance. If you want an iPad to use for professional endeavors, too, this iPad is the one for you.
While the newest model will cost you $1,399, the 4th gen iPad Pro is down to $899 at Best Buy, saving you a hefty $400 for 31% off.
OpenAI seems to be adding new voices to ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode — and we might know what they'll sound like.
New reports have discovered eight new voices that could eventually be added to ChatGPT's current options. TestingCatalog did some reverse engineering to find the potential new voice options and engineer Tibor Blaho posted on X detailed samples of what each voice reportedly sounds like.
Check out ChatGPT's reported new voicesThe alleged new voice options are: Fathom, Glimmer, Harp, Maple, Orbit, Rainbow, Reef, Ridge, and Vale.
Tweet may have been deletedThis would be added to ChatGPT's existing voices, which are Ember, Juniper, Cove, and Breeze (sorry, no more Sky after that whole Scarlett Johansson debacle.) The reportedly new voices seem to vary in gender and accents, with Fathom and Vale sounding like posh Brits and Reef sounding Australian.
OpenAI announced ChatGPT Voice Mode last May as part of its new model, GPT-4o, which integrates text, vision, and audio modalities into one model. GPT-4o's impressive capabilities were somewhat overshadowed by the demo voice's eerie comparisons to actress Scarlett Johansson and a subsequent statement from the her actress herself saying that she turned down Sam Altman's request to use her voice for the model.
Nevertheless, ChatGPT Voice Mode rolled out to a select number of ChatGPT Plus users in July and news about Voice Mode has stayed pretty quiet since then.
Interestingly, Blaho's demo has the voices reading a passage that includes dog barks and crows. The voices do their best to portray the animal sounds with varying degrees of success. Some of the voices seem to be just saying "woof" and "caw," while others attempt to actually mimic the sounds of dogs and crows. If not for these imitations, some of which sound tinny and robotic, you wouldn't know they are AI-generated voices.
ChatGPT's Voice Mode is quite new. So new, in fact, that the voice modality is still only available to a small amount of ChatGPT Plus users. Since it's uncertain when the audio capability will roll out to more users, any details about ChatGPT getting more voices is also unknown.
Amazon has already moved on from Labor Day already and shifted its focus to new deals not tied to any particular shopping event or sale. These are just deals simply for the sake of deals — our favorite kind. We went ahead and rounded up a few that have caught our attention on Sept. 4, with standouts from Sony, Hisense, Acer, and Shark.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these spark your interest, be sure to check back at our picks from Sept. 3 — many of those are still live.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 58-inch U6HF Series ULED 4K Fire TV $319.99 at AmazonIf you're in the market for a new TV, it's hard to beat a 58-inch ULED option from Hisense for only $319.99 — a new record-low price. This 4K Fire TV features Hisense's version of QLED technology, which incorporates a blend of LED backlighting, local dimming, and quantum dot color enhancement for a richer visual appearance that remains budget friendly. It also features a dedicated gaming mode and smooth motion handling, a bezel-less design for extra screen real estate, lots of local dimming zones, and built-in Fire TV for a world of entertainment at your fingertips.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony SRS-XE200 Bluetooth speaker $68.99 at AmazonWe haven't tested the SRS-XE200 speaker ourselves, but Sony has been a leader in the audio world for decades, and we're big fans of other speakers and headphones in its lineup. This portable powerhouse includes two x-balanced speakers, a line shape diffuser, and dual passive radiators — in other words, it packs a punch in its lightweight package. It'll last you up to 16 hours on a single charge, and quick-charges to give you an extra 70 minutes of playtime in just 10 minutes. The gray option is currently on sale for only $68.99, which is not only lower than its Prime Day price, but is also its lowest price on record. That also puts it in the range of most budget-friendly speaker options.
Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V15 gaming laptop (Intel Core i5-13420H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $649.99 at AmazonA Mashable Choice Award winner and our favorite budget gaming laptop, Acer's Nitro V 15 (originally dubbed the Nitro 5) is "packed with delicious internals that can handle triple-A gaming," according to Mashable Tech Editor and reviewer Kimberly Gedeon. Its 13th-gen Intel Core i5-13420H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics paired with a 15.6-inch, 1080p display with a 144Hz refresh rate make it a solid choice for gamers who don't want to spend $1,000 or more. It's certainly not a perfect pick, but it does offer "excellent gaming performance for the price." The model with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD regularly goes for $779.99, but it's down to just $649.99 at Amazon as of Sept. 4. That's its lowest price on record. Plus, as a bonus, you'll get Assassin's Creed Shadows free with your purchase.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Detect Pro self-empty robot vacuum $399.99 at AmazonMashable's resident robot vacuum expert tested the Shark Detect Pro and dubbed it the best Shark for carpet. Thanks to NeverStuck technology, it can seamlessly maneuver between floor types and large obstacles. Plus, it offers Matrix cleaning, which means it can conquer dirty spots by taking multiple passes from multiple angles. When it's finished tidying up, it empties itself into its bagless base, which holds up to 30 days of dirt, dust, and debris. It's regularly $549.99, but as of Sept. 4, it's back down to its record-low price of $399.99 at Amazon.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Google Assistant is arguably the best digital assistant compared to the likes of Siri and Alexa. However, now that Google has been pushing to replace Google Assistant with AI-powered Gemini, the former's prowess over other virtual companions is even more evident.
On my daily driver, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, my Google Assistant got swapped with the new Gemini assistant. Unfortunately, some of the things I loved to do with Google Assistant no longer works on Gemini.
For example, asking, "Hey Google, what song is playing right now?" used to prompt Google Assistant to tap into its inner Shazam and accurately identify tunes in the background. But with Gemini, this command no longer works.
Fast Company, which said that the new Pixel 9 phones are shipping with Gemini as their default assistant, claims that Gemini is a "trainwreck." The tech and business outlet, and some users on Reddit, called out Gemini for not being able to perform basic tasks that Google Assistant once did, like creating calendar events, playing music, and reading webpages.
If you've been wanting to revert back to Google Assistant, we can help you accomplish that.
SEE ALSO: Gemini vs. ChatGPT: Which one planned my wedding better? How to replace Gemini with Google AssistantYou can switch back to Google Assistant in a few simple steps.
However, keep in mind that these steps are based on navigating with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, so your journey may be slightly different, depending on your device.
Total TimeStep 1: Go to Settings
Tap on "Google / Google Services."
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableStep 2: Tap on "All Services"
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableStep 3: Tap on "Settings for Google apps"
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableStep 4: Tap on "Search, Assistant, and Voice"
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableStep 5: Tap on "Google Assistant"
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableStep 6: Tap on "Digital Assistants from Google"
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableStep 7: Tap on the "Google Assistant" bubble
Here, you can choose which digital assistant you want. In this case, you'll want to tap on the Google Assistant bubble.
Credit: Kimberly GedeonNow, you have Google Assistant back as your digital assistant. If you change your mind, you can always switch back to Gemini by following the same steps.
SAVE $120: The Dyson Cool Tower Fan AM07 is on sale for just $249.99 at Best Buy, marked down from the list price of $369.99. That's a 32% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Cool Tower Fan AM07 $249.99 at AmazonSure, pumpkin spice-flavored everything is on the store shelves, but the temperature might not give fall vibes when you step outside just yet. September can often feel like the new August, ushering in heat that not all of us enjoy. If you're struggling with lingering summer heat, Best Buy has a solution.
As of Sept. 4, the Dyson Cool Tower Fan AM07 is on sale for just $249.99, down from the normal price of $369.99. That's a 32% discount, or a savings of $120.
SEE ALSO: My Best Buy members get 20% off the new Dyson Airwrap, Airstrait, and CorraleWhile Dyson does an exceptional job of making vacuums, the brand also produces some incredibly powerful fans to keep us cool. The Dyson Cool Tower Fan AM07 has 10 speed settings and uses the brand's Air Multiplier technology. This produces a high-velocity jet of air that's capable of cooling the whole room. Thanks to its 70-degree oscillation, cool air will reach your full space.
The included remote control means you'll be able to tune settings to your liking from the comfort of the couch or your bed. Speaking of sleep, you can program the fan with a sleep timer, which will automatically shut the fan off after a pre-set time.
Another major benefit of a Dyson fan is the blade-less design. Instead, the fan has a simple loop design which can also easily wipe clean.
While Dyson products tend to come with a steep price, today's sale at Best Buy brings the price of the Cool Tower Fan AM07 to just $249.99. But you'll want to snag one quickly, because this deal expires at 11:59 PT tonight.
Get 20% OFF: As of Sept. 4, My Best Buy Total and Plus members can get 20% off the latest Dyson Airwrap, Airstrait, and Corrale in the strawberry bronze and blush pink colorway.
Overview Airwrap deal Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler (Stawberry Bronze/Blush Pink) $454.99 at Best Buy with Plus or Total (save $45) Get Deal Airstrait deal Dyson Airstrait Straightener (Strawberry Bronze/Blush Pink) $374.99 at Best Buy with Plus or Total (save $125) Get Deal Corrale deal Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener (Stawberry Bronze/Blush Pink) $374.99 at Best Buy with Plus or Total (save $125) Get DealICYMI, Dyson’s strawberry bronze and blush pink colorway product lineup is available for purchase — and it’s on sale for My Best Buy Plus and Total members.
Dyson’s newest colorway dropped at the end of last month (it was available for preorder on Aug 23). Now, Best Buy’s giving its members an exclusive 20% discount when they purchase Dyson Airwrap, Airstrait, and Corrale stylers. That’s $145 off the Airwrap, $125 off the Airstrait, and $125 off the Corrale. Not too shabby!
If you’re not a paid My Best Buy member, you can still get the strawberry bronze and blush pink colorway for a slightly higher price. Or you can join My Best Buy Plus or Total for $49.99 or $179.99 per year to get your 20% off. You’ll also get free two-day shipping on all purchases, exclusive sales and deals, and other perks.
Here’s some more info on each product and how much you’ll save:
Dyson Airwrap deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler $454.99 at Best BuyThe Dyson Airwrap has been a cult-fave hairstyling tool since its release way back in 2018. The only problem? It’s super expensive.
This model retails for $599.99 full price but is currently $120 off for “regular” Best Buy customers. You'll get an additional discount if you’re a Plus or Total tier member, making it $454.99 (or $145 off).
It comes with a complimentary detangling comb and multiple attachments, including the 2-in-1 Coanda smoothing dryer, two Airwrap barrels, a soft smoothing brush, a firm smoothing brush, one large round volumizing brush, and a storage case.
Dyson Airstrait deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airstrait Straightener $374.99 at Best BuyThe Dyson Airstrait is a newer addition to the Dyson fam, and it’s more affordable than the Airwrap. It’s designed to dry and straighten in a single pass, even if your hair is wet. Thanks to its airflow and styling technology, you shouldn’t smell that awful burning hair scent that usually comes with speedier styling. (If you went to high school in the early 2000s, you know exactly what I’m talking about.)
The list price for the Airstrait is $499.99, but it's currently $100 off for non-members. With a Plus or Total membership, you can get it for $374.99. You’ll also get a storage case with your purchase.
Dyson Corrale deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener $374.99 at Best BuyThe Dyson Corrale is a cord-free straightener that uses flexing plates built to straighten and style with less heat and 50 percent less breakage. It can last up to 30 minutes on one charge and fully recharges in 70 minutes. It also has a safety lock and auto shut-off feature for easy storage.
The Corrale retails for $499.99, but you can get it for $100 off without a membership or for $125 off ($374.99) with a Plus or Total membership.
Singles are sick of dating apps, opting instead for IRL events — or, as some Spanish-speaking TikTokkers have started doing, creating meet cutes at the supermarket.
Spanish TikTok is exploding with videos of singles trying to find love at supermarket chain Mercadona, BBC reports. These folks are placing upside down pineapples — a stateside symbol of swinging — in their grocery carts to signal that they're looking for love. Another rule, according to ITV News, is to bump another cart with a pineapple if you like someone. The time to do this — "flirting hour," as it's apparently been dubbed — is 7 to 8 p.m.
SEE ALSO: People are using AI to date youThe #mercadona hashtag on TikTok has nearly 200,000 posts at the time of publication, many of them about flirting hour. Influencers are trying it out in sparkly gowns, women are trying to signal that they're not available if they have to shop during that time, and others are joking about whose cart they might bump into.
According to the BBC, this trend was fueled by actor and TV personality Vivy Lin, who posted a TikTok in August about hooking up at Mercadona from 7 to 8 p.m.
Someone commented on Lin's post, "Mercatinder." Who needs dating apps, eh?
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