Feed aggregator

Struggling with sleep? This AI-powered tracker might just do the trick

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get the Go2Sleep 3, an AI-powered sleep tracker with advanced monitoring features, now on sale for $98.99.

There's a lot to toss and turn about, but we can all agree it's the worst. You might be an athlete fine-tuning your performance — or you're just someone who’s tired of waking up groggy. Regardless of your reason, understanding your sleep patterns can make all the difference.

Meet the Go2Sleep 3, an AI-powered sleep tracker designed to give you the insights you need for a more restful night. For a limited time, you can get it for $98.99, down 23% from $129.

Go2Sleep 3 constantly monitors your sleep from the moment you drift off until you wake up. The ultra-light ring is so comfortable, you’ll forget it’s even there, yet it’s packed with advanced tech that tracks your blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and even blood glucose (a feature that's coming soon). And with its upgraded algorithms, it captures every oxygen desaturation event, so nothing slips through the cracks.

But it’s not just about collecting data — Go2Sleep 3 helps you make sense of it all. The SLEEPON 3 app generates detailed second-level reports on your HRV, sleep stages, and various sleep factors. You’ll even get professional PSQI scores and personalized sleep advice tailored to your specific needs. It’s like having a sleep coach right on your finger.

If you’re ready to take control of your sleep and wake up feeling truly rested, Go2Sleep 3 could be your ticket to better nights and brighter days.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: SLEEPON Go2sleep 3: AI-Powered Tracker for a More Restful Sleep $98.99
$129.00 Save $30.01 Get Deal

Vinyl’s back, and so is your chance to play those classic records for $60 off

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: The Gemini TT-1200 turntable offers flawless vinyl playback with a modern twist, all for $159.99 (reg. $199).

Vinyl records are having a moment, and it’s not just nostalgia talking. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a new fan discovering the warmth of analog sound, there’s something special about spinning records that streaming can’t quite capture. But as much as we love vinyl, it’s not the most portable format. 

The Gemini TT-1200 is a modern turntable that lets you enjoy your records in their original form and also easily converts them to digital files for on-the-go listening. For a limited time, get it for $159.99, marked down 19% from its original price of $199.

With the Gemini, you get the best of both worlds: the rich, authentic sound of your favorite records and the convenience of digital playback. This belt-drive turntable ensures smooth, consistent playback, with adjustable height and pitch control to get everything sounding just right. Plus, the included slip mat and 45 adapter mean you’re ready to spin any record in your collection.

Its USB interface makes it easy to convert your vinyl to MP3. Whether you’re preserving priceless classics or sharing your collection with friends, this feature gives you the flexibility to take your music anywhere.

Rediscover your vinyls or start up your collection with the Gemini TT-1200 Belt-Drive Turntable with USB interface, on sale for $159.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change

Opens in a new window Credit: Gemini Sound Gemini Sound TT-1200 Belt Drive Turntable with USB Interface ¤159.99
¤199.95 Save ¤39.96 Get Deal

bject to change.

The 30 funniest comedies on Hulu, because we all need a laugh

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 05:00

In search of a good laugh? Hulu's movie library is here to help.

From cult classics to recent gems, Hulu boasts a large collection of comedies. The prospect of wading through all of them can be daunting, especially since some movies may require an add-on subscription to watch. There's no streaming woe worse than finding the perfect movie to watch only to realize you don't have the right plan to watch it.

No need to panic, though: We've gone through Hulu's catalog and narrowed it down to the cream of the comedy crop, all of which can be watched without any extra subscriptions. Any of these movies will have you chuckling in no time.

Here, in no particular order, are the 30 best comedies on Hulu.

1. Poor Things Emma Stone won her second Oscar for her portrayal of Bella. Credit: Searchlight Pictures / Everett / Shutterstock

The team-up of Emma Stone with director Yorgos Lanthimos has been a winning one for everybody. For audiences, who've been treated to a string of audaciously weird comic masterpieces, and to the creatives themselves — cut to Emma Stone clutching her second Best Actress statue, for 2023's Poor Things. Stone plays Bella, a Frankensteined young woman whose growth from baby-brained to enthusiastic sex worker is charted by Lanthimos in his typically hilariously bizarre fashion. Furiously jumping from one man (Ramy Youssef) to another (Mark Ruffalo) while her mad-doctor creator (Willem Dafoe) notes down her progress, Poor Things is a tale of self-actualization told in fast-forward fits and starts, as inclined to fart jokes as it is speechifying on the proletariat. Perfect nonsense! — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Poor Things is now streaming on Hulu.

2. Slums of Beverly Hills

Toss yourself into the way-back machine not once but twice — first to 1998, the year that writer-director Tamara Jenkins’ debut feature, the Sundance hit Slums of Beverly Hills, was released, and then even further back to 1976, the year that Slums of Beverly Hills is set. 

Somewhat autobiographical for the director of The Savages and Private Life, the film tells a coming-of-age story about 14-year-old Vivian (played by an 18-year-old Natasha Lyonne) and her wacky family existing on the far, far fringes of the glamorous 90210 scene. With an outrageously packed supporting cast including Marisa Tomei, David Krumholtz, Alan Arkin, Jessica Walter, Kevin Corrigan, Carl Reiner, Mena Suvari, and Rita f'ing Moreno, Slums of Beverly Hills is a pitch-perfect indie-cinema slice of its time — both of its times. — J.A.

How to watch: Slums of Beverly Hills is now streaming on Hulu.

3. Fantastic Mr. Fox George Clooney is Mr. Fox. Credit: FoxSearch / Everett / Shutterstock

Nearly all of Wes Anderson's films are now streaming on Hulu, and as a hardcore Wes Anderson devotee since day one who slaps away all incessant accusations of twee, I'd recommend every single one of them. But for my dollar, the most laugh-out-loud funny is this stop-motion animated Roald Dahl adaptation from 2009, which features the voices of Anderson's usual troupe of actors — Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody — alongside newcomer nobodies like George Clooney and Meryl Streep.

The latter pair play Mr. and Mrs. Fox, retiring thieves who've found themselves a nice tree to settle down in when they're suddenly thrust into a confrontation with three local farmer-psychopaths called Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. The film is surprisingly violent — watching adorable little stop-motion puppets die is something else! — and riotously funny, an autumnal-colored burst of anarchy that only a maniac like Wes Anderson could deliver. It's cussing perfection! — J.A.

How to watch: Fantastic Mr. Fox is now streaming on Hulu.

4. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are Barb and Star. Credit: Lionsgate

It takes maybe five minutes for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar to elicit its first "WTF?" and to the comedy's immense credit, it only gets weirder from there.

There are life-saving culottes, and elaborate lies about turtles, and a mythological sea sprite named Trish, and a villain commanding an army of mosquitos, and a musical number that has Jamie Dornan climbing up a palm tree like a cat up a palm tree who's decided to go up a palm tree, and... Look, you've just got to watch it to get it. And at the center of all of it is the sincerely sweet, reliably rock-solid bond between Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig). Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar ended up being to us what Vista Del Mar was to Barb and Star: the breezy little break from reality we needed to get our shine back. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is now streaming on Hulu with the live TV add-on.

5. Paddington

It took almost six decades for Michael Bond's beloved children's book character of Paddington the Bear to make the leap from the page to the big-screen (although there were some small screen serial adventures along the way), but the wait turned out to be more than worth it. Paul King's film 2014 film, which has real actors like Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, and Nicole Kidman acting with a CG-animated bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw, after a brief Colin Firth kerfuffle) was considered an immediate classic. (Its sequel is even better.) 

In it, Paddington makes his way from the forests of Peru to the lovely little London-town homestead of the Brown family, getting into chaotic adventures everywhere he goes. Kidman roars around having a blast as an over-the-top evil taxidermist who wants to stuff and mount our favorite marmalade-slurping cutie pie in a yellow rain slicker. We don't get to say this often enough and genuinely mean it, but this one's true fun for both kids and adults. — J.A.

How to watch: Paddington is now streaming on Hulu.

6. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Leave it to the Coen Brothers to turn Homer's ancient classic and high-school-staple The Odyssey into a sepia-toned Depression-era crime-caper about three outlandish prison escapees on the run from the fuzz while on the hunt for buried treasure. And all set to an Oscar-winning score of Southern folk songs from legendary musician T Bone Burnett at that? How did we ever have it so good?

Starring John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, and George Clooney as the brothers Pete, Delmar, and Ulysses Everett McGill, we follow the three on their, dare I say, odyssey, across the scorched-earth South after they break off from their chain gang in search of loot. And if you think you know where the Coens are gonna take you from there, well, I'd hazard a guess that you've never seen a Coens movie before. There's song, there's dance, there's Soggy Bottom Boys and sirens and Klan rallies gone deliciously awry. Homer only wishes he'd thought half this shit up! —J.A. 

How to watch: O Brother, Where Art Thou? is now streaming on Hulu.

7. Palm Springs Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are just chilling in an infinite time loop. Credit: Chris Willard / Jessica Perez

When Palm Springs arrived in July of 2020, most movie releases were postponed inevitably because of the pandemic — yet here was a movie, a new movie, a festival darling, about people going quietly insane with monotony and losing grip on time itself. 

Max Barbakow’s film showcases a cheerfully nihilistic Andy Samberg, along with Cristin Milioti in her best work to date as his increasingly frenzied companion, in “one of those infinite time loop situations you might have heard of.” Their chemistry makes Andy Siara’s script soar, leaving ample room for J.K. Simmons's sinister interludes and just the right amount of time travel interrogation. It’s a sharp, original comedy worth revisiting again, and again, and again.*Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Palm Springs is now streaming on Hulu.

8. Working Girl

My apologies to all of you who will have Carly Simon's Oscar-winning theme song "Let the River Run" stuck in your head for the next week now that I have brought it up. But as soon as I picture the opening credits to Mike Nichols' comedy classic Working Girl, with the camera zooming toward that NYC-circa-1988 skyline alongside the Staten Island Ferry that carries Tess (Melanie Griffith) to her shitty secretarial job in the financial district of Manhattan, I can't help but hear that song like lightning. 

And then picture Joan Cusack's flamboyant eye makeup as Tess' best friend. And Sigourney Weaver furiously stomping around in a gray power suit and crutches. And Harrison Ford changing his shirt in the office while all the women swoon. This iconic tale of Tess clawing her way up the corporate ladder one gigantic lie after another is one of the greatest of ’80s comedies, with everybody so on their game that every second of it is permanently burned into my brain. So come, the new Jerusalem, and let that damn river run already! — J.A.     

How to watch: Working Girl is now streaming on Hulu.

9. The Heat

I'd probably give the edge to Spy among Melissa McCarthy–led vehicles (and where the heck is that sequel, anyway?) but you can't go wrong with Paul Feig's The Heat, which was sandwiched between Spy and McCarthy's star-making supporting turn in Bridesmaids among the pair's comic collaborations. Playing the potty-mouthed bad cop Mullins, who offsets (and sets off) Sandra Bullock's straight-laced good cop Ashburn, The Heat is odd-couple buddy-movie heaven. The plot is some ’80s-flavored hokum about drug kingpins and double-crosses that exists merely to get its leading twosome into a series of escalating and hilarious jams, and as such, The Heat brings it. The heat, I mean. — J.A.

How to watch: The Heat is now streaming on Hulu.

10. Plan B Kuhoo Verma and Victoria Moroles go on a road trip. Credit: Brett Roedel / Hulu

When Sunny (Kuhoo Verma) has sex at a house party, she needs the morning after pill but can’t get it thanks to South Dakota’s regressive pharmacy policy. She and best friend Lupe (Victoria Moroles) embark on a wild road trip that includes illegal drugs, a catfish close call, an insane gas station encounter, and a dick piercing. Verma and Moroles hold the film together superbly, their chemistry elevating every scene of Prathi Srinivasan and Joshua Levy’s riotous script. It’s a killer directorial debut for Natalie Morales, who recognizes the star power in front of the camera and the weight of stories about strong female friendship and women of color living authentically. — P.K.

How to watch: Plan B is now streaming on Hulu.

11. 13 Going on 30

I dare anyone to watch this beloved 2004 comedy from director Gary Winick and walk out of it without a gigantic stupid grin plastered across your face — such is the power of Jennifer Garner at the height of her charm and Mark Ruffalo at his most adorkable. 13 Going on 30 tells the story of Jenna, an unpopular 13-year-old (played at 13 by Christa B. Allen) who makes a wish to be "thirty, flirty, and thriving" that magically comes true, transporting her 17 years into the future and into her 30-year-old self (now played by Garner). 

Unfortunately her mind stays 13, so the disconnect between Young Jenna in the body of Older Jenna leads to much comedy, all of which Garner dives into with great relish. Discovering that she's become a mean girl fashion editor in New York City, Jenna quickly realizes she has to make some decisions about her priorities going forward. What faster way to learn the error of your ways than discovering the adult version of the boy next door who had a crush on you and you didn't pay attention to has turned out to be Mark Ruffalo? We should all have such lessons to learn. — J.A.

How to watch: 13 Going on 30 is now streaming on Hulu.

12. Buffaloed

It's a shame that Set it Up co-stars Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch haven't starred in another rom-com since that 2018 film, because they had mad chemistry with one another. But while Powell was off popping his big guns in Top Gun Maverick, Deutsch went and made the wildly overlooked 2019 comedy Buffaloed with director Tanya Wexler, and I know which I'd rather re-watch. Deutsch plays a hustler named Peg in ye olde Buffalo, New York (hence the title), who, after a stint in prison, turns her hustling skills into the legit hustle of debt collection. 

You can safely call this "a madcap romp" but it flies along furiously funny thanks to Deutsch's megawatt charm, plus the sparkling chemistry she shares with Judy Greer, who plays her frazzled mom. And that's not a bit part either! Judy Greer gets to play a proper, fully-rounded character! Those golden moments must be seized upon. — J.A.

How to watch: Buffaloed is now streaming on Hulu.

13. Support the Girls Shayna McHayle and Haley Lu Richardson play waitresses at a Hooters-esque restaurant. Credit: Magnolia Pictures / Everett / Shutterstock

Before Regina Hall stars opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Paul Thomas Anderson's next movie and everybody finally surrenders to what a genius she is, y'all need to go back and watch her exquisite turn as Lisa, the exasperated manager of a Hooters-like restaurant in 2018's Support the Girls from director Andrew Bujalski. A perfect movie that flew far too under the radar for my liking, it follows a day in the life of Lisa and her waitresses — with Haley Lu Richardson and Shayna McHayle as stand-outs, stealing the movie every second they're on-screen – as they deal with an endless parade of men who refuse to take them seriously. And even under that burden, Support the Girls remains hopeful and sweet and funny at every turn. Did I mention it's perfect? It's perfect. — J.A.

How to watch: Support the Girls is now streaming on Hulu.

14. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion

We've all been there. You're just innocently living your life, thinking things are OK, when suddenly a high school reunion invitation shows up in the mail and sends you into a tailspin. How much time has passed? What have you accomplished? And who the hell wants to go to town with some guy who drives a rowboat? 

Such is the existential crisis that drives the engine of the 1997 cult comedy classic Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as the titular BFFs whose 10-year reunion forces them to ask all sort of questions about their lives that they're unprepared for. And so they do what any sane person would do — they put on business suits and pretend they invented Post-it Notes. 

With a supporting cast that includes Janeane Garofolo, Alan Cumming, and Justin Theroux, this movie took some time to become widely beloved, but it's been home to me since Romy told that dude her shoe was filling up with blood. — J.A.

How to watch: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is now streaming on Hulu.

SEE ALSO: 'Werewolves Within' is a brutal yet wholesome horror-comedy 15. Triangle of Sadness Woody Harrelson plays a rascally captain in "Triangle of Sadness." Credit: Fredrick Wenzel / Plattform Produktion

Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund has made a name for himself with a string of arty dark comedies about the sickened human condition, and I recommend each and every single one of them. Indeed, his Oscar-nominated 2017 film The Square is also streaming on Hulu right now, so do yourself a double feature! But his most recent, 2022's grand (and also Oscar-nominated) Triangle of Sadness, is easily his most epic — an upstairs-downstairs satire that puts a pile of obscene capitalists on board a luxury yacht, makes them all barf for 10 straight minutes, and then goes full Lord of the Flies on their asses for its final act. Brutally, hilariously blunt in its messaging, Triangle of Sadness gave red meat to hungry actors like Woody Harrelson, Harris Dickinson, and Dolly de Leon, and together we all feast. — J.A.

How to watch: Triangle of Sadness is now streaming on Hulu.

SEE ALSO: 'Triangle of Sadness' review: The "eat the rich" comedy goes gross-out, and it's great 16. Big

It's tempting to think of Penny Marshall's 1988 comedy Big as a "body-swapping" movie, but as with 13 Going on 30, that's not exactly the case, since the only person these main characters are "swapping" with is themselves. Just older. Still, it exercises the same kind of skills for the actors involved. Instead of, say, Jamie Lee Curtis pretending to be Linsday Lohan, we get Tom Hanks pretending he's a 12-year-old version of himself trapped in an adult body. Let the acting, and the comedy, commence!

After making a wish on a Zoltar fortune-telling machine at the carnival that he won't have to be a picked-on little dweeb anymore, 12-year-old Josh (David Moscow ) wakes up looking like 32-year-old Tom Hanks. This obviously causes issues, like his Mom (Mercedes Ruehl) freaking out about there suddenly being a middle-aged pervert in her child's bedroom, so Josh is forced to go on the run. Thankfully, this is a sweet fable, so before long Josh has become a celebrated executive at a toy company who's banging Elizabeth Perkins… just try not to get too hung up on the criminal logistics of that last part. The ’80s were a different time, man. — J.A.

How to watch: Big is now streaming on Hulu.

17. My Cousin Vinny

For a long time it seemed like My Cousin Vinny was just known as the movie that inexplicably won Marisa Tomei an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Thankfully I think (or hope) that we've all come around on that in the two decades since, and we now see that win as one of the Academy's most inspired choices. They should award more brilliant comic turns like hers! Tomei plays Lisa, the brash Brooklyn girlfriend to Vinny (Joe Pesci), a personal injury lawyer who's called down to Alabama to defend his nephew who's been falsely arrested for murder. It's a broad-as-a-barnside comedy about the culture clash between the loud New Yorkers and the genteel hicks, and it's a riot. — J.A.

How to watch: My Cousin Vinny is now streaming on Hulu.

18. Fire Island Bowen Yang and Joel Kim Booster star in "Fire Island." Credit: Hulu

If people had been telling queer stories for as long as there have been queer people, we surely would've gotten a loose adaptation of a Jane Austen story applied to gay men before 2022, given what an easy translation that makes. But we can't be angry that when it finally did arrive it arrived in the tremendously capable hands of director Andrew Ahn (Driveways) and writer and star Joel Kim Booster, and they knocked it outta the park. 

Inspired by Pride and Prejudice, Booster stars as Noah, who heads to the titular gay mecca every summer with his four best friends (played by Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Tomás Matos, and Torian Miller) to stay at a lovely island cottage owned by their lesbian pal (Margaret Cho). Immediately drama rains upon them – the cottage is being sold! There are rich racist gays who sneer at them! And most importantly of all – will everybody get properly laid? It's all sweet and sexy and beautifully filmed – Ahn, a gifted and precise filmmaker, gives the story and its sense of place plenty of room to breathe, making the emotional arcs land better than they usually do in your average basic rom-com. — J.A.

How to watch: Fire Island is now streaming on Hulu.

SEE ALSO: 12 of the best romantic comedies streaming on Hulu 19. That Thing You Do!

Tom Hanks has only directed two feature films, and this is by far "the good one" (with my apologies to Larry Crowne). The made-up story of the meteoric rise of a one-hit-wonder rock band in the 1960s, That Thing You Do! is charm incarnate. (Not to mention another movie where the movie's theme song will get lodged in your head for weeks.) Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, and Ethan Embry make up The Wonders, with Liv Tyler as a Yoko who comes between the boys in the band, and Hanks playing their manager (shades of Elvises to come). And then there's that theme song — a perfect pop confection (written by Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger); you absolutely 1000 percent understand 1) why it takes off the way it does, and 2) how it quickly turns into a curse from which there is no escape. — J.A.

How to watch: That Thing You Do! is now streaming on Hulu.

20. Theater Camp

Going into Theater Camp, there were three big selling points for me. First, it was co-written and co-stars Molly Gordon, who very nearly stole the stellar comedy Shiva Baby from Rachel Sennott, and if you've ever seen Rachel Sennott in anything you know what a feat that is. Second, the film also stars the fantastic Ayo Edebiri of The Bear, as well as Bottoms, which… also co-starred Rachel Sennott? Weird. And third, Theater Camp has Amy Sedaris in it, and Amy Sedaris will seat me for anything. (I don't believe her and Rachel Sennott have ever faced off, but I will be there for that, believe me.) 

Also starring Noah Galvin, Jimmy Tatro, Patti Harrison, and Ben Platt, Theater Camp is basically a slightly more sincere version of Wet Hot American Summer, since if there's one thing theater kids love, it's unbridled sincerity. Made with that target audience in mind, this thing hits its mark over and over again. Molly Gordon hive rise! — J.A.

How to watch: Theater Camp is now streaming on Hulu.

21. Napoleon Dynamite Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez play Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro. Credit: Access / MTV / Napoleon Ltd / Kobal / Shutterstock

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year if you can believe it is director Jared Hess' now classic high-school comedy Napoleon Dynamite, which premiered at Sundance in January of 2004 and six months later raked in 45 million bucks at the box office. That's a lot of dynamite for an indie that cost nothing to make and starred absolutely nobody! 

Starring Jon Heder (who's gone on to be somebody thanks to this movie) as the film's titular dweeb, Napoleon Dynamite tells the tale of Napoleon's burgeoning friendship with Pedro – "Vote For Pedro" T-shirts are now iconic pop-culture detritus – and his race for the school presidency. Oh and a legendary dance routine to Jamiroquai. Jamiroquai! Remember Jamiroquai? It's all very of its moment, but as a time capsule of that moment, there might be nothing better. — J.A.

How to watch: Napoleon Dynamite is now streaming on Hulu.

22. Idiocracy

Writer-director Mike Judge has gifted the world with both Beavis and Butthead, not to mention the many dim-witted denizens of Arlen, Texas, in his series King of the Hill. Point being, the man knows when he speaks of American Stupid. But he really tapped into something prophetic with Idiocracy, his 2006 cult comedy that foresaw a future for the United States where we'd elect a reality-star dipshit to be president and evolve into drooling monosyllabic morons who don't know not to spray Gatorade on crops if we want to continue eating. Idiocracy stars Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph as two regular Joes in 2006 who get cryogenically frozen only to wake up 500 years in the future and find their basic intelligence suddenly makes them the smartest people on earth. Alternately feared and loathed, they must try to pull humanity back from the brink of its own self-immolation. Honestly — relatable. — J.A.

How to watch: Idiocracy is now streaming on Hulu.

23. Dinner in America

How this punk rock romance went so underseen when it got released in 2022, I'll never fathom. I can only chalk it up to the inexplicable two years that passed between its Sundance premiere and it hitting theaters, because it's so much fun and full of energy and beautifully performed by its leads (Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs) that it deserved far more attention. But now we can all give it that attention together by watching it here on Hulu. 

Skeggs plays a very odd college dropout who's obsessed with a local punk rock band; Gallner is the lead singer of said band, but given he wears a mask on-stage nobody knows that fact except him. The two meet cute (i.e. he's on the run from the police while selling drugs) and yadda yadda romance. The yadda yadda is the good part. And the good part is how Skeggs and Gallner have oodles of chemistry and are an absolute pleasure to watch fall for one another. A true underappreciated gem just sitting here waiting for you to appreciate it. — J.A.

How to watch: Dinner in America is now streaming on Hulu.

24. Quiz Lady "Quiz Lady" stars Awkwafina and Sandra Oh. Credit: Hulu

Awkwafina and Sandra Oh play estranged sisters Anne and Jenny, who find themselves being chased by gangsters after their gambling-addict mother runs off and leaves them in the lurch with her debts. The gangsters even kidnap Anne's cute little dog! And so Jenny, the wild sister, hatches a scheme that Anne could easily earn back the money on a TV quiz show. Because obviously. And somehow that becomes the plan. So the two hit the road — cue over-the-top hijinks.

And this 2023 film from director Jessica Yu is what a modern "high-concept" movie looks like, in case you didn't get that from the part where the gangsters steal Anne's dog. It's loud and it's goofy and a good old-fashioned broadest of broads comedy. Oh in particular is having a blast letting loose in ways she hasn't gotten to do in awhile (by which I mean she has purple hair). Also onboard are Jason Schwartzman and Will Ferrell. Oh, and the legendary Paul Reubens in his final performance! — J.A.

How to watch: Quiz Lady is now streaming on Hulu.

25. Enchanted

Do we have Enchanted to blame for the never-ending live-action Disney adaptation craze? Sure, it might not have been a literal remake of any previous Disney Princess stories (although it was obviously riffing on most of them). And when it hit screens in 2007, it might not have made as much money as Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland movie did a couple years later, but then Alice in Wonderland made an inexplicable billion dollars.

What Enchanted did prove was that there was more than enough charm to be milked from watching real, live human beings act like fairy-tale fools. The only difference is that Enchanted and its game cast — Amy Adams, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey – was in on the joke. The story of Princess-to-be Giselle (Adams) being cursed by the wicked witch (Sarandon) to live in the real world of Manhattan, where she finds herself torn between her Prince (Marsden) and a divorce lawyer (Dempsey) is sly as heck in its princess story subversions, while also feeding our needs for all the tropes anyway.  — J.A.

How to watch: Enchanted is now streaming on Hulu. 

26. Official Competition

In 2022, Penelope Cruz gave two of her best performances to date. One was Pedro Almodovar's Parallel Mothers, for which she got an Oscar nomination. Official Competition is the other one. And if we're being honest, the latter is my preferred pick, since I think she gives her balls-to-the-wall funniest turn ever here. The film sees her playing the inestimably pretentious film director Lola Cuevas, who is suddenly handed a bottomless reservoir of cash by the dying billionaire Humberto Suárez (José Luis Gómez). He has decided on a sudden whim that he wants an epic film to be his final contribution to the world, even though he knows absolutely nothing about the movies. He simply asks his assistants to name the best director, and voila – Lola's a go. 

What proceeds is a vicious satire of artistic pretension, as Lola hires two actors for her lead characters (Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martínez), whose approaches to acting couldn't be more different — one is a very serious theater snob, while the other is a fame-hungry Hollywood starfucker. Fireworks are loosed, and millions of dollars are flushed down the toilet with surprising ease. Will it make for good cinema? It certainly makes for a hilarious movie about the making of movies. — J.A.   

How to watch: Official Competition is now streaming on Hulu. 

27. Little Monsters Lupita Nyong'o deserves accolades as a Scream Queen. Credit: Hulu / Neon / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Between the Quiet Place prequel, her Oscar-worthy turn in Us in 2019, and her hilarious romp in the zombie-comedy Little Monsters that same year, we should be properly crowning Lupita Nyong'o a Scream Queen already. Little Monsters sees her playing Miss Audrey, an elementary school teacher who faces down a zombie outbreak while on a school field trip with her class. And since the movie also involves a romance with one of the kid's uncles (Alexander England), you can add it to the elite group of zom-rom-coms alongside Shaun of the Dead and Warm Bodies. Wherever you'd classify it, it's a charming, goofy, bloody good time, and yes, it stars one of our great current Scream Queens, dammit. — J.A.

How to watch: Little Monsters is now streaming on Hulu.

28. Father of the Bride

We find ourselves having a lil bit of a Steve-aissance these days, thanks to the grand success of Steve Martin's Hulu series, Only Murders in the Building, as well as Apple's recent documentary on the comedy legend. So why not remind yourself why you love him a little more and go watch one of his comedy films, too? No big surprise that Hulu has a couple on tap, but I'm going to direct you to his sweet-as-pie 1991 remake of the 1950 Spencer Tracy classic Father of the Bride, which is about a sneaker salesman named George who is having a complete mental breakdown as his daughter (Kimberly Williams) gets married. But the funny version of that! Diane Keaton co-stars as George's momentarily suffering wife, Nina, while Martin's real-life life-partner Martin Short turns in one of his broadest caricatures (and that's saying something) as the wedding planner Franck Eggelhoffer. (P.S., the sequel is also streaming on Hulu.) — J.A.

How to watch: Father of the Bride is now streaming on Hulu.

29. The Cable Guy

If The Cable Guy was remade today, I suppose it would be about the person who installs your wi-fi, since everybody's "cut the cord." The entire concept of this movie is very '90s, kind of like an episode of Seinfeld run amok. But nobody ran amok in the '90s like Jim Carrey, and this — the second feature from director Ben Stiller after Reality Bites — let Carrey lean into the darkness inherent in his deranged persona more than any of his previous roles up to that point. 

As with a plumber or a drug dealer, there's an inherent discomfort in letting these strangers into our homes and being forced to make small talk with them. Stiller's film maximizes that with Carrey's off-the-rails performance as "Chip," who never met a boundary he wouldn't crash right through. Normal guy Steven (Matthew Broderick) doesn't realize what a pact with the devil he's making when he accepts Chip's offer of an off-the-books upgrade, and before you can say "Comedy Central" five times fast, Steven's entire life has been upended. Demented cult fun that was ahead of its time for how pitch-black it went while also being very much of its time. — J.A.

How to watch: The Cable Guy is now streaming on Hulu.

30. (500) Days of Summer Zooey Deschanel is Summer. Credit: Watermark / Kobal / Shutterstock

I feel as if there has been a backlash to (500) Days of Summer, a huge hit when it came out in 2009 that began to feel dated in its twee-ness almost immediately. But I'm going to present a backlash to the backlash, because this movie just makes me smile. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel play Tom and Summer, whose relationship is dissected in nonlinear fashion with its start and finish all mixed up, smacking their happiest moments up against their worst. It's basically that legendary sex scene in Don't Look Now that cuts back and forth between the sex and the getting dressed after the sex, turned into a full feature-length movie. And it works for me! Levitt and Deschanel have lovely chemistry, and Mark Webb knows how to spin romance. Just ask Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in the two Spider-man movies he made right after this. — J.A.

How to watch: (500) Days of Summer is now streaming on Hulu.

Hulu 1-Month Free Trial at Hulu
Get Deal

UPDATE: Aug. 19, 2024, 4:00 p.m. EDT This article was originally published in 2020 and has been updated to reflect the latest streaming options.

(*) indicates the blurb comes from a previous Mashable list.

Apple Podcasts are now available on the web

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 03:09

Apple Podcasts have arrived to your browser of choice.

On Monday, Apple launched Apple Podcasts on the web, making its Podcasts available as a web app on major browsers including Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. The service is available in more than 170 countries and regions, in their local language, the company has announced.

Podcasts were already available as a desktop app on the Mac, but now you can get a very similar experience on essentially any device or operating system. The web app starts in the familiar Home tab and offers access to top charts, and users can browse through podcasts and access their Library (provided they've signed into the app).

Apple Podcasts on the web are available at https://podcasts.apple.com/.

Yes, it's also available in dark mode. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable/Apple

Apple has recently started offering more of its apps in the form of web versions. In July, the company launched Apple Maps on the web, though that version launched as "beta" and without many of the features that Apple Maps offers as a desktop app.

Netflix's 'Culinary Class Wars' trailer looks like a cross between 'Iron Chef' and 'MasterChef'

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 01:37
Netflix's trailer for South Korean cooking competition series 'Culinary Class Wars' looks 'Iron Chef' crossed with 'MasterChef.'

Never delete another picture with lifetime cloud storage — save 85% with this code

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Through Sept. 3, secure your files forever with a lifetime subscription to 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage, now just £92.36 when you use the code KOOFR40 (reg. £623.56). 

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) £92.36 at the Mashable Shop
£623.56 Save £531.20 Use the code 'KOOFR40' Get Deal

Do you have a camera roll full of selfies, dog photos, and scenes from your holidays? Then you probably have to periodically delete your favourite pictures to free up storage space on your phone or computer. Even cloud storage services like Google Photos and iCloud can fill up quickly. With this cloud storage deal, you'll never have to sacrifice one of those precious snaps again.

For a limited time, you can get 1TB of storage for life with a one-time payment for Koofr Cloud Storage. When you use the discount code KOOFR40 (offer available through Sept. 3), you can save 85% on the cost of a lifetime 1TB plan and pay just £92.36.

Koofr Cloud Storage gives you all the space you need to securely store your most important photos, videos, and personal files. A 1TB allotment of cloud storage is enough to save more than 250,000 high-resolution photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million PDFs.

Most cloud storage services require you to pay a monthly or annual fee, and those auto-renew payments and subscriptions can really be a nasty surprise. They also add up surprisingly fast. Instead, KOOFR lets you get all the storage you need with a single payment. Once you sign up, you'll have a secure spot for your data. And because your files will be encrypted, your documents, photos, and other files will be safe at all times.

What about the files you have on other cloud storage accounts? Koofr lets you connect and access files across other accounts, giving you easy access to all of your data. Plus, with tools like Koofr Duplicate Finder, you can quickly organise and delete any files that you don't really need.

Again, you can score major savings on a lifetime subscription to Koofr for just £92.36 (reg. £623.56) with coupon code KOOFR40 through Sept. 3.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

How to watch Lille vs. Slavia Prague online for free

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Watch Lille vs. Slavia Prague in the Champions League for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is arguably the biggest club competition in the world of football, so naturally, everyone wants to be involved.

Unfortunately, there simply aren't enough spots for every successful team. And so, teams are forced to battle it out in Champions League playoffs. There are some really tasty matchups in these playoffs, including Lille vs. Slavia Prague.

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

When is Lille vs. Slavia Prague?

Lille vs. Slavia Prague in the Champions League starts at 3 p.m. ET on Aug. 20. This fixture takes place at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes, France.

How to watch Lille vs. Slavia Prague for free

Lille vs. Slavia Prague is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch all the action. Instead, you can watch Lille vs. Slavia Prague (plus more Champions League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video.

Fans from outside the UK will need to use a VPN to watch the Champions League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

  1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

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

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

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

  5. Watch Lille vs. Slavia Prague for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Lille vs. Slavia Prague on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures 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 UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream Lille vs. Slavia Prague in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics online

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Watch Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics is next on the court as the WNBA season continues. Both teams have had strong performances so far, so it's set to be an exciting game.

If you want to watch Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need. Don't miss out.

When is Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics?

Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics in the WNBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 20. This fixture takes place at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights, Washington D.C.

How to watch Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics

WNBA fans can live stream Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics plus the rest of the 2024 WNBA season from anywhere in the world with the WNBA League Pass.

However, it's worth noting that the WNBA League Pass may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But you can beat these geo-restrictions by using a VPN. These tools work by hiding your real IP address so you'll be able to connect to secure servers in other locations, meaning you can bypass blackouts to watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.

You can access every WNBA League Pass game by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

  4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

  5. Stream every WNBA game live (barring games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy 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. Washington Mystics in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty online

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Watch Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The WNBA season continues and next up it's the Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty. New York Liberty are one of the top-performing teams this season, so it's set to be an exciting game as the Dallas Wings challenge them for a place in the playoffs.

If you want to watch Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.

When is Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty?

Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 20. This fixture takes place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

How to watch Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty

Basketball fans can watch Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty plus the remainder of the WNBA 2024 season from anywhere in the world with a WNBA League Pass.

However, it's important to note that the WNBA League Pass may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. However, you can get around this by using a VPN. VPNs are tools that work by hiding your real IP address (i.e. digital location). With this, you'll be able to connect to secure servers in other locations and watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

  4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

  5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy 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 Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Connecticut Sun online

Mashable - Tue, 08/20/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Connecticut Sun in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The WNBA season continues and next to go head-to-head are the Los Angeles Sparks and Connecticut Sun.

The Connecticut Sun are one of the top-performing teams this season but they'll face stiff competition from the Los Angeles Sparks as they fight to make it to the playoffs.

If you want to watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Connecticut Sun in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.

When is Los Angeles Sparks vs. Connecticut Sun?

Los Angeles Sparks vs. Connecticut Sun in the WNBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 20. This fixture takes place at the TD Garden Arena in Boston, Massachusetts.

How to watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Connecticut Sun

WNBA fans can live stream this fixture plus the rest of the 2024 season from anywhere in the world with the WNBA League Pass.

However, it's worth noting that the WNBA League Pass may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But don't worry, you can get past these geo-restrictions by using a VPN. VPNs are tools that work by hiding your real IP address (i.e. digital location). This means you'll be able to connect to secure servers in other locations, bypass blackouts, and watch every WNBA League Pass game live (barring games hosted by Amazon Prime Video).

You can access every WNBA League Pass game by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

  4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

  5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy 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 Los Angeles Sparks vs. Connecticut Sun in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The best petrol lawn mowers

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 23:41

Cutting the grass can be an uphill battle. Quite literally. And if you do have a hilly, hard-to-manage garden with tough terrain, it's worth investing in a petrol lawn mower that will give you the power to get the job done.

Of course, lawn mowers come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, with electric, cordless, manual, and petrol devices, which offer something different for every type of garden and gardener. For more casual, low-demand gardening, we'd usually point you towards a cordless option for pure convenience, but those mowers just don't always, well, cut it.

There are plenty of impressive petrol lawn mowers from names such as Hyundai and Einhell. In fact, there are so many brands and models to choose from that it can be seriously difficult to pick just one. Here’s some helpful information to get you started.

What are the benefits of a petrol lawn mower?

Being powered by petrol, rather than the electric mains or batteries, means some hefty plus points. Petrol lawn mowers are powerful and robust, meaning they can tackle rough areas and dense, tricky-to-cut grass. The lack of electric cable is also a bonus — that allows you the freedom to roam way beyond the range of a corded lawn mower and tackle otherwise unreachable areas. The power and freedom also means they’re ideal for large gardens. It’s no coincidence that petrol lawn mowers are usually the mower of choice for landscaping professionals.

What are the drawbacks of a petrol lawn mower?

It’s fair to say that a petrol lawn mower isn’t for everyone – or indeed, every garden. As with any purchase of this ilk, assess your specific needs first and decide if a petrol lawn mower is right for you. Petrol lawn mowers are great for big and tough gardens, but they do require a certain amount of maintenance and are generally more expensive than electric and cordless models – not to mention the ongoing petrol costs. They’re heavier and noisier too, but that’s what you get with power.

What are the different types of petrol lawn mower?

This is where it gets tricky, because there isn’t just one type of petrol lawn mower. Different types of petrol-powered mowers include push lawn mowers, self-propelled lawn mowers, mulching lawn mowers, and — if you want to get really serious — ride-on lawn mowers.

What size garden is best for a petrol lawn mower?

Advice varies on this, and depends on the type of petrol lawn mower you have, but a self-propelled petrol lawn mower tends to be for lawns of 700 square metres and over. Petrol mowers can be used in smaller gardens, of course. A push petrol mower is best for lawns of under 700 square metres in size.

What is the best petrol lawn mower?

There are plenty of great petrol lawn mowers out there. But it’s all down to personal preference and what best suits your garden. To help you pick the right model for your lawn, we have shortlisted a selection of top mowers from some of the biggest gardening brands. We have considered customer reviews, features, and price.

These are the best petrol lawn mowers in 2024.

NYT Strands hints, answers for August 20

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 23:00

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 17 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 17

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

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I think we're covered

These words keep you dry.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are garments or articles worn in the rain.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is RainGear.

NYT Strands word list for August 20
  • Umbrella

  • Slicker

  • RainGear

  • Hood

  • Poncho

  • Galoshes

  • Gaiters

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

How to watch the 'Love Island USA' Season 6 reunion

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 14:24
The best Peacock deals to watch 'Love Island USA' at a glance: BEST LONG-TERM DEAL Peacock Premium annual subscription $79.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST FOR XFINITY CUSTOMERS Peacock Premium free for select customers Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Peacock Premium $1.99 per month for 12 months (save $6 per month) Get Deal BEST FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Peacock Premium $1.99 per month (save $6 per month) Get Deal BEST FOR TEACHERS Peacock Premium $2.99 per month for 12 months (save $5 per month) Get Deal BEST TRIAL Instacart+ with Peacock Premium free 2-week trial, then $99.99 per year (save $79.99 per year) Get Deal BEST FOR JETBLUE FLYERS Peacock Premium free for Mosaic status members (save $79.99 per year) Get Deal

The show of the summer isn't over yet, y'all. Your faves from Love Island USA Season 6 are returning to hash things out in a reunion special, just a few weeks after the finale in Fiji.

If you want to catch up with the cast and relive the drama and dumpings — and find out which couples are still together — here's everything you need to know to watch the reunion episode.

Tweet may have been deleted How can I watch the Love Island USA reunion?

The Love Island USA Season 6 reunion, which was filmed in New York City last week, airs Aug. 19 at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. It's only fitting, given that all episodes of Season 6 are also available to stream on Peacock.

Who will be on the Love Island USA Season 6 reunion?

The Season 6 cast flocked to New York City and took to the pink carpet on Aug. 14 for the taping of the reunion show. A clip on social media featured winners Serena Page and Kordell Beckham, as well as former Islanders Aaron Evans and Kaylor Martin, Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi, Kendall Washington and Nicole Jacky, Liv Walker, Sierra Mills, Coye Simmons, Harrison Luna, and more. Host Ariana Madix was also in attendance.

Can I get Peacock for free?

Peacock no longer offers a free trial of its streaming service, but there are a couple of ways to get a subscription for free or at least at a discount. We've rounded up the best Peacock streaming deals below to help you out.

The best Peacock streaming dealsBest long-term Peacock deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $79.99 per year or $139.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

Your best bet for saving money on a Peacock subscription is to commit to a year upfront. While a monthly subscription will cost you $7.99 per month ($95.99 per year) with ads or $13.99 per month ($167.88 per year) without ads, a yearly subscription is only $79.99 or $139.99. That's about 17% in savings and breaks down to about 12 months of streaming for the price of 10.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn More

Select Xfinity customers are eligible for free Peacock subscriptions. So, if you're an Xfinity customer and haven't checked your status through your account, be sure to jump on that. Here's a brief breakdown of who is eligible:

  • Xfinity Internet users on the Gigabit or Gigabit+ plans can score free Peacock Premium (with ads) for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025).

  • Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

  • NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

  • New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $1.99 per month for one year Watch Now

If you're a current college student, you can snag a Peacock Premium subscription for only $1.99 per month for the whole year. You just have to prove your student status through SheerID and retrieve the unique promo code to secure the discount. Just note that the code can only be used once (aka, don't share it with your friends).

Best Peacock deal for first responders Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders $1.99 per month Watch Now

Similar to students, first responders can score Peacock Premium for just $1.99 per month so long as they can verify their first responder status via SheerID. Sign up using the unique promo code you receive and the discount will be reflected. If you continue to meet first responder verification qualifications, you can renew the deal annually. You'll just have to go through the process each time to receive a new promo code and secure the discount. Head over to Peacock's promo page to learn more about eligibility terms and requirements.

Best for teachers Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium $2.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

Teachers looking to watch the Love Island USA reunion can score a Peacock Premium subscription for only $2.99 per month for 12 months. Just verify your educator status and use the unique promo code you receive to sign up for the discount.

Best for Instacart users Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Instacart+ with Peacock Premium free two-week trial, then $99.99 per year Watch Now

Peacock and Instacart partnered up last year to offer paid Instacart+ members access to Peacock Premium. That's a $79.99 per year value for free. An Instacart+ account costs you $99.99 per year and includes free grocery delivery on orders over $35, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders, among other perks. Plus, the best part is that you get a two-week free trial to test things out. Grabbing this freebie will allow you to tune into the Love Island USA Reunion and more. Just remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don't want to be charged.

Best for JetBlue members Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / JetBlue Peacock Premium Free for one year for Mosaic status members Watch Now

JetBlue TrueBlue members can earn 1,000 free TrueBlue points when they sign up for Peacock through July 2025. Meanwhile, if you have Mosaic status, you can sign up for your first year of Peacock Premium for free. That's a $79.99 value. Learn more about eligibility and terms over on Peacock's special offer page.

Netflix's 'Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft' trailer has her backpacking to find herself

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 14:00
Netflix's teaser trailer for animated series 'Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft' has Lara (Hayley Atwell) pursing a thief.

Procreate's anti-AI stance is music to artists' ears

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 13:35

A popular illustration and animation app for iPads has proudly declared that it's AI-free.

On Sunday, Procreate posted a video on X of CEO James Cuda, saying, the app won't be introducing any generative AI into its products.

"I really fucking hate generative AI. I don't like what's happening in the industry and I don't like what it's doing to artists," said Cuda. "We don't exactly know where this story is going or how it ends, but we believe that we're on the right path supporting human creativity," he continued.

Tweet may have been deleted

On Procreate's website, a page explaining the app's decision says it won't use generative AI, that it doesn't have access to user work, and that user activity is not tracked by Procreate. The inference here is that Procreate won't use artists' works to train and implement generative AI tools, unlike other creative tools that are doing just that. Unlike, Cuda who didn't mince words, Procreate believes there's a place for generative AI, just not in the creative space: "We think machine learning is a compelling technology with a lot of merit, but the path generative AI is on is wrong for us."

SEE ALSO: Google’s new ‘Pixel Screenshots’ can search your screenshot library — and it’s the most useful AI feature of 2024

Procreate's anti-AI stance reflects a growing sentiment in artist communities that generative AI devalues human-created art. Companies like Adobe and Canva have jumped on the AI bandwagon by offering generative AI tools for generating and editing multimedia. Such tools not only threaten to replace jobs in creative industries, they're trained on human-created art, sometimes without credit or consent. The implementation of generative AI features for creativity tools has stoked fear and mistrust amongst creatives who feel that their livelihoods are being snuffed out by the very tools they rely on.

Recently, a very tone-deaf Apple ad that literally crushed artist tools into a sleek iPad Pro — that comes packed with AI-powered creative tools — all but confirmed users' suspicions about tech. "I heard the underlying message loud and clear," wrote Mashable's Mike Pearl. "Companies don't have to pretend they respect their customers; they just have to get them to part with their money."

A lot has changed in a year, since many generative AI tools were let loose on the masses. Wall Street's demand for AI investment has waned, and consumer response to using generative AI for creative tasks, like writing a fan letter to an Olympian, has not been received as positively as expected.

Last year, Procreate's declaration would have been considered business suicide. But today, it might be the key to customer loyalty. Cuda's post, which has 60,000 likes and counting, is filled with comments of support and appreciation, aside from the occasional comments that said it was short-sighted. "I am an occasional user of this software, but now I will enjoy using it all the way more," said one X user.

Tweet may have been deleted

"Makes me incredibly happy to continue using the app. Please never sell out to suits that don’t care even if the money is big," said another. "In a world full of companies putting AI in everything they make, this sounds so nice," echoed another X user.

Tweet may have been deleted

Donald Trump is courting Taylor Swift and Swifties' endorsements on Truth Social

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 13:35

Donald Trump seems to think he's going to get the Swifties on his side. Or at least he's trying.

You'd be forgiven if you missed it, but Trump posted about Taylor Swift and her legion of fans on his website Truth Social, where you can often find the former president ranting. Trump posted a bunch of images of people supposedly in "Swifties for Trump" shirts, writing, "I accept!" Now, to be clear, the vast majority of these "people" were AI-created. See for yourself.

Tweet may have been deleted

In two photos, there appeared to be one real woman wearing a Swifties for Trump shirt and then a few AI-generated women that people claimed were "supporting" Trump. The claim that these women are now supporting Trump after Swift's Vienna concerts were canceled due to terror threats is fake. The images and the story itself are not authentic. The image Trump shared is even clearly labeled "satire."

Tweet may have been deleted

So it seems like Trump is trying to court Swifties and Taylor Swift, which is undoubtedly a choice. Swift herself has proven time and again that she's not a fan of Trump. She publicly endorsed President Joe Biden and VP-turned-nominee Kamala Harris back in 2020. While she hasn't endorsed a candidate in 2024, imagining a world where she backed Trump is nearly impossible.

Tweet may have been deleted

Now, are there Swifties who support Trump? Of course. Swift is perhaps the most famous musician in the world. She has so many fans that there is bound to be some overlap. That doesn't mean a significant portion of the fandom backs Trump. It doesn't even mean that most of the fandom backs Harris, either. But, if anything, Swifties have mobilized in the VP's direction. A coalition of fans started Swifties4Kamala, which has racked up more than 200k followers across social media platforms. They plan to mobilize voters; thousands have already signed up for a Zoom call.

So yes, Trump appears to be courting Swifties, and no, it doesn't seem to be working at all.

Dropout cooks up the world's silliest culinary competition in 'Gastronauts' trailer

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 13:30
"Gastronauts" sees talented chefs completing ridiculous challenges set for them by Dropout comedians.

Our favorite noise-cancelling headphones from Sony are on sale at their Prime Day price

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 13:12

Save $101.99: As of Aug. 19, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are back down to their Prime Day price of $298 at Amazon. That saves you 25% on their $399.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $298.00 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal

Throughout the year, I write and update most of Mashable's headphones content, which means I get to try the latest products from brands like Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, and Anker Soundcore, just to name a few. Yet, as I write this very post, I am wearing a pair of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, purchased with my own hard-earned money.

I purchased mine on Prime Day, and as of Aug. 19, they're back down at Amazon to the very same $298 I grabbed them for, making this a great deal that'll save you 25% on their $399.99 full price. If you're not a huge Amazon fan, you can also grab them at Best Buy for $299.99.

Even though these headphones are now a couple years old, I picked them up because I was looking for something with high-end noise cancelling, that sounded fantastic, had solid multipoint connection, and cost $300 or less. The XM5s checked those boxes. Considering my job allows me to test the latest in noise-cancellation, I can say confidently that though these Sonys hold up. Deputy Reviews and Shopping Editor Miller Kern had a similar take when she reviewed the headphones, saying with music on, "They completely blocked out all the normal office sounds like the AC and other people talking, but they also rendered silent the construction happening on the building next door."

SEE ALSO: The 6 best headphones for 2024, from wireless earbuds to the best noise-cancelling picks

I also appreciate the "Find Your Equalizer" setting, which helps your narrow down the equalizer settings you might like best while a song of your choice plays. As for how these headphones connect, I have no issues getting them to pair right on startup, or switching between devices (which I do a decent amount throughout the day) — I can't say the same for my old Bose QC 35 II's, or the newer QC Ultras.

A few of downsides — these headphones are comfortable, but not the most — the QuietComfort line still has them beat for all day wear. After about a few hours, I can start to feel the Sonys weighing down on the top of my head, which I never experienced with the Bose headphones. However, I can still wear them relatively uninterrupted for my workday, and the absolute best comfort isn't my top priority, so it's fine for me. What actually disappoints me most about the design is that the earcups don't fold in for travel, so they're a little more bulky when you're taking them on the go.

These headphones do also cost a pretty penny, even on sale. Yes, they're still cheaper than options from Bose or Apple, but if you're not ready to spend $300, the Sony ULT headphones are a much more affordable alternative.

Check out 15+ of the best Windows laptop deals this week

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 12:48
Best Windows laptop deals this week Best Windows laptop deal under $600 Dell Inspiron 15 3520 $279.99 at Dell.com (Save $100) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal under $900 HP OmniBook X $899.99 at Best Buy (Save $300) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal under $1,200 Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge $999.99 at Samsung (Save $350) Get Deal

We're well into back to school season, making it one of the best times of year to buy a new laptop.

Whether or not you're a student, you can enjoy the lowered prices of this time of year on laptops from brands like HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, and more. Windows laptops also tend to be more affordable overall than Apple laptops, making this purchase even kinder on your wallet.

SEE ALSO: I've reviewed over 59 laptops and this is the best Windows laptop of 2024

Below, you'll find the 20 best laptop deals of Aug. 19. You can go for super-budget friendly picks starting at just $280, or check out our favorite deals under $1,200 (that are going to have more comparable features to MacBooks).

Best Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook X $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,199.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we picked this

Check out Mashable's full review of the HP OmniBook X.

If you're looking for a processor to rival the M3 MacBook without the M3 price tag, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite fits the bill. Unlike basically all MacBooks under $1,200, this HP laptop also comes with 16GB of RAM and one TB of storage. Sure, it's design may not be as sleek as more premium options on the market, but this Mashable Choice Award winner blends fun AI-features and a touchscreen with the practicality of 16 hours of battery life, and the power to get you through most work-related tasks. Altogether, that's what makes it our favorite mid-range Windows laptop (even when it's not on sale).

Best Windows laptop deals under $600Best Windows laptop deals under $900Best Windows laptop deals under $1,200

Snag the Sonos Ace headphones for the first-time discounted price of $399

Mashable - Mon, 08/19/2024 - 12:28

SAVE $50: The Sonos Ace headphones are on sale for $399 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $449. That's an 11% discount and the first time this model has gone on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Ace headphones $399.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

A solid pair of headphones can really be a life-changer. While the outside world can toss chaos our way, blocking it all out with some awesome headphones can feel like one of the easiest life hacks. Sonos has become a heavy-hitter when it comes to awesome sound quality, and thanks to today's deal, you can snag the brand's newest headphones at a discounted price.

As of Aug. 19, the Sonos Ace headphones are on sale for $399 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $449. That's an 11% discount or a $50 savings. The sale price is also the first time this model has ever been discounted at Amazon since they hit the market just a few months ago.

Mashable deputy editor Miller Kern tested out the Sonos Ace headphones when they launched and noticed they truly excel when it comes to sound quality. "Other headphones I’ve tested pale in comparison to Sonos Ace when it comes to sound quality," she wrote in the review. In particular, Kern said songs with spatial audio sound pretty special with the Sonos Ace. "It’s immersive in a way I haven’t experienced from other headphones," she says.

SEE ALSO: Sonos launches its first-ever headphones, the Sonos Ace

However, she mentioned the noise-cancellation isn't the best with the Sonos Ace, but they did perform well in terms of comfort and Kern said they're the most comfortable pair she's ever tested. Sonos uses a plush memory foam in the ear cups on the Ace headphones and the extendable headband is designed to provide the best fit possible.

One of the coolest features of the Sonos Ace headphones is the ability to seamlessly connect them to compatible Sonos soundbars (Sonos Arc, Beam, or Ray) which makes for a pretty epic home theatre experience designed for one. This feature can also be great if you prefer to watch movies at night while the rest of your house is asleep.

If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line pair of headphones, consider this sale to be your sign that it's time to treat yourself to the Sonos Ace headphones. You'll be scoring them for at their first-ever discounted price.

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator