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The deals are definitely dealing at Amazon this week, y'all. Between Apple's "Glowtime" event triggering price drops of older gadgets, Amazon discounting its own gadgets just because, and Samsung simply trying to keep up, we've been dealt a handful of epic deals on Sept. 10.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are in your realm, check back at yesterday's picks that are still live.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (256GB, WiFi) $699.99 at AmazonSamsung's latest and greatest tablet just got its biggest discount to date. As of Sept. 10, the 256GB, WiFi model of the Galaxy Tab S9+ is on sale for only $699.99 instead of $999.99. That's 30% in savings and its lowest price on record. It comes as no surprise, however, as rumors are floating around that the new S10 series is expected to drop next month. The S9 series debuted last August and it's still an impressive purchase. It features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a new Dynamic AMOLED 2X 12.4-inch display, and an IP68 water- and dust-proof rating (a first for the Galaxy Tab S). And our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) dubbed it a "great alternative to the iPad Pro, especially for Windows users."
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet $139.99 at AmazonDesigned for 6- to 12-year-olds, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is our favorite tablet for kids. It features a 10.1-inch 1080p full HD display, 3GB of RAM, a lighter design, up to 13 hours of battery life, and is 25 percent faster than the previous generation. And, of course, like other Amazon tablets for kids, its durable case (with a built-in kickstand) can withstand all kinds of adventures and mishaps. Your purchase unlocks a free year of Amazon Kids+ as well, which offers access to over 20,000 books, games, and educational apps. Save 26% as of Sept. 10 and pick up the tablet on sale for just $139.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $399.00 at AmazonA tale as old as time: Apple announces a new product and the old one goes on sale. Yesterday, at the brand's "Glowtime" event, a new version of the AirPods Max was announced (they swapped the Lightning port for a USB-C port). Hence, the old ones are back down to just $399 at Amazon. While definitely overpriced on a regular day, Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder insists that they "sound amazing, look good, and play nice with Apple gadgetry." With this 27% discount, we're more inclined to grab a pair — although, this price only applies to the pink version as of Sept. 10.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (47mm, Bluetooth) $297.68 at AmazonJuly's Galaxy Unpacked event announced the Galaxy Watch 7, which is good news for anyone looking for a Galaxy Watch 6. The 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is now down to a record-low $297.68 at Amazon as of Sept. 10. That's 31% in savings. The Classic model still offers the same suite of features as the Watch 6, including a nuanced breakdown of sleep habits, sleep coaching, personalized heart rate zones, irregular heart rate notifications, and a 20 percent larger display. Where it differs is its "deluxe design that brings back the beloved rotating bezel," as our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) noted in their review.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark SmoothStyle with storage bag $79.99 at AmazonBasically a fancier version of the Revlon One-Step, the Shark SmoothStyle serves as a round hot air brush that can dry and style your hair in one go. Unlike the One-Step, however, it offers specific "Wet Hair" and "Dry Hair" modes to style your hair without frying it. Plus, the ceramic-coated plates add some extra protection for your precious strands. It usually goes for $100, but you can get the SmoothStyle and a storage bag (a $119.99 value total) for just $79.99 as of Sept. 10.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
The bisexual community has an inside joke describing what it's like to date as a bi person: People think it means double the options and double the fun, but it really just means double the rejection (sad trombone sound effect).
You have to be able to laugh at self-deprecating jokes like this if you're a member of the Lonely Hearts Club, regardless of whether you're diving into the straight or gay dating scene. But bisexual people do face extra roadblocks in the dating world.
Online dating absolutely sucks for everyone, but the fact that there's only a single bisexual dating site that caters specifically to this community (and even then, we're kind of iffy about it) means many folks are frequently swiping on people who don't take bisexuality seriously. In 2024, that shouldn't be the reality.
There's [an] issue of bi people feeling invisible when they're deemed too "straight passing," which can often happen in queer spaces. This kind of invalidation contributes to many bisexual folks' struggles of not feeling queer enough.The "B" in LGBTQ+ makes up 50 percent of the queer community, according to data from the Human Rights Campaign, but it's also one of the least-acknowledged letters in the acronym. What makes the bisexual dating landscape — especially the online one — so tricky to maneuver?
Before we get into the best dating apps for bisexuals, let's tackle this question for a sec.
Bisexuality is hyper-sexualized on heteronormative appsSomething bisexual women are all too familiar with when navigating online dating is the concept — one as old as time — of men being straight-up creeps. It's like heterosexual men can't seem to grasp that bisexuality is not a green light to ask a woman how many girls she's been with or if she likes men or women better. Such comments, especially from absolute strangers online, are disconcerting at best and threatening at worst.
Megan, a 23-year-old woman from Virginia, told us via Facebook that she couldn't even count the number of gross (slash ignorant) messages she'd received from men in reference to writing "bi" in her Tinder bio. "There were times when they would be like, 'Oh, you never seemed gay in high school' or whatever, because gay is obviously a personality trait 🙃," she said. "Like my sexuality wasn’t a real thing, or it was just a fetish to these people."
On most dating apps, there are a lot of couples only looking for bi women to hook up with. We aren't saying that threesomes are wrong, but let's not assume that every bi person is dreaming of hooking up with you and your beau. You'd think the user base on queer dating apps would be more enlightened than on comparatively heteronormative apps, but that's not always the case.
Catfishing is also an issue bi folks have to grapple with. Some men have such a rabid obsession with queer women that they'll sign up for a dating site as a woman just to see an all-women swiping field. It's a total privacy breach and certainly doesn't boost your willingness to meet up with someone IRL. That's why the best dating sites require some form of Facebook or ID verification these days; in the case of Tinder, built-in background checks are (thankfully) now a mainstay feature of the app.
Queer dating apps aren't always inviting, eitherDoes "gold star lesbian" sound familiar to you? Not everyone sees the label as a positive, despite its cheerful-sounding name. It refers to lesbians who have never slept with a man. Countless bisexual women have reported being ghosted after disclosing that they have been with a guy before, and even on the best dating apps for bisexual women, profiles with "gold stars only" in the bio have popped up.
Then there's the issue of bi people feeling invisible when they're deemed too "straight passing," which can often happen in queer spaces. This kind of invalidation contributes to many bisexual folks' struggles of not feeling queer enough.
This feels a lot like the impossible Goldilocks principle, doesn't it, of being too much and never enough?
SEE ALSO: Bisexuality and the anxiety of not feeling 'queer enough' Why you might still want to put "bi" in your dating app bioAdding those two simple letters to your bio may draw unwanted attention, and it's going to be a pain in the ass. But in the long run, it also acts as an asshole filter to weed out people who try to put sexual orientation into a box.
Just think about it: Would you want your partner to think that being bisexual is just a pit stop on the road to being a "full-blown gay"? Of course not. Then there's the old stereotype that bisexuality means you want to bang anything that moves. The easiest way to ensure that you won't be left heartbroken over someone rejecting or questioning your sexuality is to let them know how you identify from the jump. You deserve the very best, which means only those people who accept you as you are.
With all of this in mind — and it's a lot to keep in mind — we wanted to review the best bi dating apps. We can't promise you'll never have a bad experience on these (indeed, mishaps are all but guaranteed when you brave dating apps), but we believe these particular apps give bisexual men, women, and non-binary folks the very best shot at finding a compatible partner.
On Monday, in the shadow of Apple's iPhone event, Huawei unveiled a new smartphone, and it's probably the most interesting phone we've seen in years.
Called the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Edition, it's a tri-folding phone (the world's first, Huawei claims), which effortlessly turns from a very normal-looking smartphone to a decently-sized tablet.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: What are the differences?More precisely, the 6.4-inch OLED display can turn into a 7.9-inch OLED display if you unfold it once, and if you unfold it fully, it becomes a 10.2-inch tablet with a 2,232 x 3,184 pixel resolution.
Tweet may have been deletedThere's really no obvious caveat here. The bezels on this thing are very thin, the display looks crisp, with barely visible folding creases, and even the thickness of the device when fully folded isn't that bad, with the Mate XT being only 12.8 millimeters thick. For comparison, Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.25 millimeters thick, which is obviously better, but the difference is not that vast as to immediately dismiss the Huawei phone as too fat for real-life use.
This will get people talking. Credit: HuaweiThe rest of the specs are pretty impressive, too. The phone is powered by a Kirin 9 chipset and has a triple, 50/12/12-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel selfie camera, 16GB of RAM, 256/512/1,024GB of storage, and a massive, 5,600mAh battery.
We would never stop folding and unfolding this thing. Credit: HuaweiObviously, the phone won't be very attractive to most customers outside of China, as it comes without Google services due to the Huawei trade ban in the U.S. It doesn't really matter as it's extremely unlikely that the phone will ever reach the U.S.
The starting price is 19,999 CNY ($2,810), which isn't cheap, but to be fair, there aren't any other options if you want a tri-folding phone.
This iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max face-off will help you get a better understanding of how Apple's newest release compares to its predecessor.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max sports a swanky new ultrawide camera, a fancy new Camera Control button, and a gigantic display, but is it really all that different from the iPhone 15 Pro Max? Let's do a deep-dive comparative analysis to find out.
SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2024: Everything announced, including iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max priceOn Apple's official website, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a starting price of $1,199 and it comes with the following:
A18 Pro processor
8GB of RAM
256GB of storage
6.9-inch display
When the iPhone 15 Pro Max debuted last year, it, too, had a starting price of $1,199 with the following specs:
A17 Pro processor
8GB of RAM
256GB of storage
6.7-inch display
If you want to bump up your storage, it'll cost you extra for both models.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max $1,199.00 at Apple.comIf you thought the iPhone 15 Pro Max was too big at 6.7 inches, wait 'til you get your hands on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This thing is a phablet (an amalgamation of the words "phone" and "tablet.")
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe new iPhone 16 Pro Max now has a 6.9-inch, 2,868 x 1,320-pixel panel, up from last year's 6.7-inch, 2,796 x 1,290-pixel display.
It's also worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has ultra-thin bezels, so you're getting a higher screen-to-body ratio on the new-gen model. In other words, you're getting more display real estate on the Phone 16 Pro Max.
Other than that, both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Pro Max have the following in common:
1,000-nit panel
2,000 nits peak brightness
Ceramic Shield display
Always-on display
ProMotion (variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz)
Dynamic Island
If you prefer a gigantic display, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is your best bet.
It's also worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a new "Camera Control" button, too, that can be found on the right side of the chassis.
Both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max offer the following colorways:
White Titanium
Black Titanium
Natural Titanium
However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max also has a Blue Titanium color.
Desert Titanium Credit: MashableBut that got swapped in favor of Desert Titanium on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max camerasIn regards to cameras, here are where the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max match:
48MP wide camera
12MP telephoto with 5X optical zoom
12MP selfie camera
However, where they differ is the ultrawide lens. The iPhone 16 Pro Max now has a 48MP utlrawide lens, up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 12MP ultrawide lens. As such, your wide-angle pictures and landscape shots should look even more detailed and perform better in low-light environments.
Video recording on an iPhone 16 model Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAlso, when it comes to video recording, the iPhone 16 Pro Max supports 4K at 120Hz capture, up from 4K at 60Hz on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max battery lifeApple claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the longest battery life ever on an iPhone. I'm talking about 33 hours of video playback.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is rated for 29 hours of video playback.
Credit: iPhone 15 Pro Max modelsHowever, we'll have to bring it in for in-house testing to really see how long the iPhone 16 Pro Max lasts on a charge. We ran a TikTok rundown with the iPhone 15 Pro Max's display at 50% of brightness, and it lasted 14 hours and 53 minutes on a charge — nearly 15 hours.
We can't help but wonder whether the iPhone 16 Pro Max will beat the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, which lasted an incredible 18 hours and 50 minutes on a charge.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: AudioAccording to Apple, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has better "true to life" sound quality, thanks to its improved studio-quality mics.
And unlike the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will let you layer audio on top of another in the Voice Notes app.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: WinnerLet's be honest. Battery life is important to a lot of us. If Apple's 33-hour battery life claim is accurate, it's definitely worth the upgrade.
Plus, I got a chance to play around with the new Camera Control button, and it's definitely another big selling point. Add the bigger 6.9-inch display, and I'm sold.
iPhone 16 Pro Max $1,199.00 at Apple.comThe Apple Watch Series 10 dropped and was announced at the Sept. 9 "Glowtime" event on Monday — and I got a chance to explore the new wearable in all of its titanium glory.
The Apple Watch, quiet as its kept, has become more of a fashion statement for some consumers who couldn't care less about heart-rate monitoring and "closing their rings." From the case finish to the band type, the stylish Apple Watch combos are endless.
However, I'm convinced that, after having a hands-on experience with the Apple Watch Series 10 in person, I've discovered the nirvana of band-and-case combos, particularly for those who want to look more opulent and sophisticated.
SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2024: Everything announced, including iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 Apple Watch Series 10 hands-onTaking a page out of the iPhone 15 series' playbook, the Apple Watch Series 10 debuted in three new Titanium finishes:
Natural Titanium
Gold Titanium
Slate Titanium
You can also grab three colors in a less-expensive aluminum finish that comes in Silver, Rose Gold, and Jet Black, but why be Adam Sandler when you can be Victoria Beckham?
Gold Titanium finish with Link Bracelet Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableWhen I saw that Gold Titanium case, man, I was salivating. It's arguably the most stunning finish on an Apple Watch Series 10.
However, I didn't love the Link Bracelet it was paired with. It was unintuitive to unclasp and clip together. (If I purchased this, I'd likely have to ask my partner to help me remove it or put it on.) Plus, it didn't appear to have any micro-adjustment capabilities, so it didn't fit very well.
Apple Watch Series 10 with Link Bracelet Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableBut then I saw the Milanese Loop on another Apple Watch Series 10. It captures some of that sophisticated feel of the Link Bracelet, but it's still easy to put on and take off. It's the best of both worlds.
Look at that Milanese Loop. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAs such, Gold Titanium Apple Watch Series 10 + Milanese Loop is the winning combo. I'm telling you.
New speakersI didn't get to test this unfortunately, but I'm most excited about the Apple Watch Series 10 featuring speakers. In other words, you'll have the ability to listen to podcasts and jam out to tunes directly from your wrist.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableIt was as if Apple was listening to me complain about my Apple Watch Series 9. I can't tell you how often I wished that my Apple Watch Series 9 could play some of my favorite jams while going for a jog.
Chances are high that the speakers will likely sound tinny, but I'm OK with that. The trade-off is worth it for the convenience of playing audio on a wrist-bound wearable.
Is Apple Watch Series 10 worth it?The Apple Watch Series 10 also reportedly features fast charging (80% in 30 minutes), brighter display from more angles, and a new sleep apnea monitor. Interestingly, the new sleep apnea sensor will also be available on the previous-gen Apple Watch Series 9 and the current-gen Apple Watch Ultra 2.
But the one thing I didn't hear from Apple is longer battery life. Similar to the Watch Series 9, the Watch Series 10 will have an 18-hour runtime. As such, I wasn't prompted to upgrade. (One thing I don't love about my Watch Series 9 is the fact that I need to charge it too often.)
However, that new speaker feature is calling my name. And if you're fashion-focused, I'm telling you that the Gold Titanium-and-Milanese-Loop combo screams old money.
But if none of these are particularly compelling to you, feel free to wait until Apple Watch Series 11.
Apple Watch Series 10 $399.00 at Apple.comNow that Apple's big iPhone 16 and 16 Pro reveal has come and gone, what are your key takeaways?
Yes, we know: A lot of stuff was introduced. Some gadgets that we expected to come, like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, did not happen. There was a lot of talk about Apple Intelligence features, which won't be available at launch. And Apple's top phones, the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, were shown at the very end (the iPhone 16 was unveiled earlier), with focus on advanced videography features that most buyers, I reckon, will rarely use.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Here are the biggest differencesIt was, in a nutshell, easy to get lost in this event. But after meticulously going through the specs sheets of the new phones, I can see two very big reasons to upgrade to the new iPhone 16 Pro and the 16 Pro Max.
More display, more pixels, less bezelOne is display size. The displays on the new Pro models have gone up 0.2 inches each, while their bezels have shrunk. Now, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is truly "max" with a 6.9-inch display.
The bezels are visibly thinner than before, and we're here for it. Credit: AppleThe smaller bezels do make a difference visually, and the added screen real estate is always welcome. Even the resolution on these displays has gone up a little; the iPhone 16 Pro has a 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution (up from 2,556 x 1,179 pixels) while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 2,868 x 1,320 pixel resolution (up from 2,796 x 1,290 pixels).
It is worth mentioning that the new models are slightly bigger and just a tad heavier than before, but the difference is small enough that most people won't notice.
Big battery boostThe other key feature is still, in part, an unknown, but the numbers on paper are looking good.
Streaming lots of videos on your phone? The new iPhone 16 Pro Max's battery lasts up to 29 hours of video streaming. Credit: AppleYes, I'm talking about battery life, which got a huge boost on these new models.
Here are Apple's exact figures:
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Up to 27 hours of video playback, up to 22 hours of streamed video playback, and up to 85 hours of audio playback
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: Up to 23 hours of video playback, Up to 20 hours of streamed video playback, and up to 75 hours of audio playback
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Up to 33 hours of video playback, up to 29 hours of streamed video playback, and up to 105 hours of audio playback
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Up to 29 hours of video playback, up to 25 hours of streamed video playback, and up to 95 hours of audio playback
This is, roughly, a 15 percent increase across the board, which is huge given that the new models have larger displays.
Featured Video For You Apple Event 2024 RecapApple says it achieved this with an optimized internal design, which fits bigger batteries, working in tandem with the A18 Pro chip which isn't as power-hungry as its predecessor.
Of course, official specs are one thing, and actual, real-life usage is another. But if these numbers are close to accurate, then this is a battery boost worthy of the "Pro" moniker.
What else?The new Pro models come with a number of other improvements, such as the new A18 Pro chip, the new, 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 4K,120fps, Dolby Vision video recording (also in slow-motion), new Desert Titanium color, and a bunch of Apple Intelligence features which will be slowly rolled out over the next months (unless you're in Europe, where they're delayed until an unspecified time in 2025).
But I reckon that most buyers, when deciding whether they need a new phone, focus on just a couple of big upgrades to justify their purchase. Call me old-fashioned, but for me, it's all about the larger display and the bigger battery.
For everything Apple announced at its Sept. 9 event, Mashable's got a full guide.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is pretty much a "phablet" — it's got a larger 6.9-inch screen, up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 6.7-inch display. So you can't tell me that the iPhone 16 Pro Max isn't some sort of phone-and-tablet hybrid.
But you know what? I'm not complaining. I've never been in the "Waa! Phones are getting too big" camp. My jean pockets have always been large enough to store my gigantic phones.
Smaller phones are not my jam. (Sorry, but I don't miss you iPhone mini!) A smaller chassis typically means a smaller battery, which often leads to shorter battery life. No thank you! Give me the mega handset with the mega battery runtime.
That being said, I got to experience the iPhone 16 Pro Max in my palm of hands. Is it as unwieldy as it seems?
iPhone 16 Pro Max hands-onThe first thing I wanted to test with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, especially with its new 6.9-inch display, was whether it would feel too large in my hands.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableHowever, when I picked it up, it was surprisingly comfortable when I clutched it. I was a bit surprised by this. How does it not feel awkward? It doesn't even feel heavy, thanks to its Titanium enclosure.
During the iPhone 16 showcase at Steve Jobs Theater, I couldn't help but gravitate toward the Desert Titanium colorway. Before the "Glowtime" event on Sept. 9 that unveiled the new iPhone 16 series, leakers couldn't seem to agree on Desert Titanium's exact shade.
Some suggested that it's pink, dark gold, and even bronze. However, Desert Titanium is a barely there shade. The best way to describe it? It's as if someone dropped a little bit of pink in a bucket of beige paint.
iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAs such, Desert Titanium is less camel and more sand when it comes to its hue. (The iPhone 16 Pro Max also comes in White Titanium, Black Titanium, and Natural Titanium.)
iPhone 16 Pro Max 'Camera Control' buttonSurprisingly, Apple didn't reserve the new Camera Control button for the iPhone 16 Pro models. (Apple usually keeps all the cool new features for the upper-tier phones.)
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MasbaleI tried the Camera Control button on both the entry-level iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, and as you’d expect, the former is naturally a little easier to handle because the 6.1-inch phone is lighter and more compact than the 6.9-inch device.
However, using the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 Pro Max was still manageable.
(I did a separate hands-on on the Camera Control button; read it to see why I believe the video capture option could be better.)
Less bezels, more screen real estateThe iPhone 16 Pro Max also has ultra-thin bezels. In other words, the frame around the phone has slimmed down, giving you a higher screen-to-body ratio. I've never been someone who really cared much about slim bezels, but I see the appeal.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableHowever, if Apple wants to create a distraction-free experience with the display, I wonder if the Dynamic Island will see its way out soon. I've always been indifferent to that glorified notch feature. Sure, the animations that tell you what your phone is up to are pretty cool, but honestly, if Apple removed the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 series, I wouldn't miss it much.
What I'm most excited for, however, is the fact that the iPhone 16 Pro Max may have some incredible battery life. More than anything, I value long runtimes and power efficiency. I can't wait to test this bad boy and see how long it lasts on a charge.
Some other new features that the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers include a new 48MP utlrawide camera (so your landscape shots and other wide-angle pictures should turn out better than ever) and 4K video shooting at 120Hz.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max also has improved sound quality, too, as well as the ability to layer audio over another in Voice Notes.
These are exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro models, but unless you just want to have the latest and greatest iPhone just to show off, most people won't really benefit from the aforementioned perks.
You'd just be fine with the iPhone 16, particularly since it has the Camera Control button.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 via Apple's official online store.
Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 Pro Max $1,199.00Donald Trump has a long list of enemies, and you'd better believe he hasn't forgotten about one of his oldest foes: all the late night show hosts who regularly draw attention to his nonsense.
In a recent Rolling Stone piece about what might happen if Trump wins the upcoming election, it was reported that the former president is looking for ways to go after the likes of Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, for all the mean jokes they've been making about him.
SEE ALSO: How porn performers feel about Trump, Harris, and Project 2025"During his 2024 campaign, according to a source with direct knowledge, Trump has raised this topic again, venting about the need to punish late-night comedians for giving 'illegal' campaign contributions to the Democratic Party — in the form of jokes and on-air satire," reads the report.
Unsurprisingly, Colbert and Kimmel — who along with Saturday Night Live are named directly in the article — had something to say about it.
"Finally, I made an enemies list! Obviously there's no guarantee I'll be arrested, but it's an honour just to be nominated. No doubt it'll all be decided this weekend in Los Angeles, when whoever wins the Emmy for best talk show will be sent to a camp," Colbert said during his Monday night monologue. "So to my old colleague Jon Stewart, I just want you to know I voted for you. Of course if Jon wins he's only incarcerated on Mondays."
Kimmel, meanwhile, made a very similar joke about the Daily Show host, who only presents on Monday nights.
"I'm glad it's funny to you! He wants to lock up the late night hosts?" said an outraged Kimmel as his audience laughed at the news on Monday. "How would this work for Jon Stewart, would he only go to jail on Mondays? There's a lot to figure out."
In the meantime it's debate night on Tuesday, so we can't image the jokes are going to be stopping anytime soon.
In case you missed it, the AirPods Pro 2, alongside a new hearing protection perk (a noise reduction feature that's great for concert goers), now supports a new hearing test experience.
Mashable was on the ground for the "Glowtime" Apple Event in Cupertino, so I had a chance to demo the new hearing test feature on the AirPods Pro 2. I knew my hearing wasn't up to snuff, but I didn't think it was this bad.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max launch at Apple 'Glowtime' event Hearing Test on AirPods Pro 2: How does it work?Launching the Hearing Test was super easy. All I had to do was, of course, pop in the AirPods Pro 2 into my ears. Next, on an iPhone, I had to tap on "[Name] AirPods Pro 2" in the Settings app followed by the "Take a Hearing Test" option.
Hearing test on AirPods Pro 2 Credit: AppleI provided some details such as my age and whether I had a cold or an infection. The preliminary questions also inquired about whether I was in a loud environment like a loud concert or a construction site within the last 24 hours.
I hit "Next," and suddenly, I felt the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature kick in. The Hearing Test requires a quiet room, but even so, the ANC helps to cancel out any white noise that may affect the test.
You'll be asked to tap when you hear a tone Credit: AppleAfter going through a few more prompts, the test (based on pure-tone audiometry) launched and asked me to tap on the screen if I heard a tone. After about two minutes of tapping, I got my results — and it's not looking good for me.
My hearing test results: Moderate hearing lossAs it turns out. according to the AirPods Pro 2 hearing test, I have moderate hearing loss.
Hearing test demo showcased at Apple "Glowtime" livestream Credit: AppleI got the following for my results:
Left Ear - 41 dB HL (decibels hearing level)
Right Ear - 44 dB HL
In other words, it appears that I need sounds to be 41 decibels (left ear) and 44 decibels (right ear) louder than the normal hearing level to detect them.
According to a chart from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, here is a table that classifies hearing loss:
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe results surprised me. Sure I say the occasional "Huh" because I can't hear my friends properly, or I find myself straining to hear my neighbors' conversations while trying to eavesdrop on them, but I would have never pegged myself as someone with "moderate hearing loss."
Although the hearing test, according to Apple, is "scientifically validated," it prompted me to consider visiting an audiologist to verify these results. This, I'm sure, is a part of Apple's mission. (After all, as stated during the Apple event, 80% of U.S. adults haven't had a hearing test in five years.)
"Users [can share their] results with their healthcare providers for more informed conversations," Apple said in a press release.
On the bright side, whenever I pretend not to hear my fiancé because I just don’t feel like doing something, I can now flash these "moderate hearing loss" test results as the perfect excuse to get him off my case.
It's worth noting that the AirPods Pro 2 also doubles as over-the-counter (OTC), clinical-grade hearing aids. Since I apparently have moderate hearing loss, I'm going to need 'em.
Both the hearing test and hearing aids feature are expected to roll out in the fall to over 100 countries, including the United States.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 start at $249 via the official Apple Store, but as of this writing, you can snag 'em for just $199 via Amazon.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 $216.99 at AmazonThe iPhone 16 "Camera Control" got announced today — and I got a chance to play around with it in Steve Jobs Theater.
I am elated that the new Camera Control can be found across all the iPhone 16 models. (Typically, Apple tends to reserve all the cool new features for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max).
As such, this hands-on is all about the Camera Control feature on the entry-level iPhone 16.
iPhone 16: Hands-on with Camera ControlOK, so the new Camera Control can be found on the lower edge of the right side of the iPhone 16.
So here's how it works.
First, you can do a hard press on the Camera Control button, which will pull up the Camera app.
Do a hard press on Camera Control to open Camera app. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableYou can press once to take a photo. But to capture a video, you must press and hold the Camera Control button. My only disappointment is that letting go of the Control Button stops the recording. In other words, I'd love it if I could press and hold, let go, and it'll continue recording until I press and hold it again. (Perhaps it will be a new feature for iPhone 17.)
Video capture with Camera Control Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableYou can also cycle through a menu of different options by lightly doing a double tap:
Styles
Tone
Cameras (access ultrawide and other lenses)
Zoom
Depth
Exposure
For example, with Styles (basically Photographic Styles), you can cycle through filters (e.g., Standard, Vibrant, etc.) by moving your finger across the Camera Control button.
The Camera Control button is very intuitive. I got the hang of it in less than three minutes. I also love that you can access so many features on the Camera Control button with only a few gestures.
Keep in mind that the Camera Control button also doubles as a "Visual Intelligence" tool. As a part of iOS 18, Visual Intelligence, via the Camera Control button, lets you quickly learn about anything you see by pointing your camera at it.
For example, you can point your camera at a restaurant and Visual Intelligence will tell you about the establishment's open hours. You can also point it at a cute dog to figure out its breed. It's basically like Apple's own built-in version of Google Lens.
There's no exact date, but Visual Intelligence is coming to Camera Control later this year.
iPhone 16 in Ultramarine $799.00 at Apple.comThe Apple Watch Series 10 made its debut on Monday, with the tech giant unveiling the Series 9's successor at its event in California.
This year's Apple Watch is powered by the company's new S10 System in Package (SiP), which certainly sounds like a step up compared to the Series 9's S9 SiP. Even so, most of the differences between the Apple Watch Series 10 and 9 appear relatively incremental.
SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2024: Everything announced, including iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10Here's a comprehensive comparison between the Apple Watch Series 10 and 9 to help you decide whether to upgrade.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: PriceWhen investing in a new piece of tech, one of the biggest considerations is the price. The new Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399, which will snag you the 42-millimetre aluminium option with just GPS. The price jumps up to $699 if you switch to titanium, which comes with both GPS and cellular connectivity, topping out at $749 if you also choose the larger 46-millimetre size.
In comparison, the Apple Watch Series 9 also started at $399 at launch, however its price has dropped in the year since. The smallest 41-millimetre Series 9 in aluminium with only GPS is currently available for $274.77, while the 45-millimetre stainless steel option with both GPS and cellular can be picked up for $649.
Featured Video For You Apple Event 2024 RecapThat's a difference of approximately $100 between last year's Apple Watch and this year's equivalent models. Whether it's worth it will depend on your priorities.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Display On the left, the Apple Watch Series 9. On the right, the Series 10. Credit: AppleBoth the Apple Watch Series 10 and 9 boast a brightness range from one to 2000 nits, so there aren't any changes there. However, the Series 10's one-millimetre increase across its two size options isn't the only difference to its display.
The Series 10 upgrades the Series 9's low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display to LTPO3, the latest version of this technology. This should mean an increase to the Series 10's variable refresh rate and power efficiency, offering a smoother display that's less draining on the battery. Even so, exactly how much of a practical, noticeable difference this will make isn't clear, especially as the Series 10 doesn't claim any increase in battery life (more on that below).
Another change is the Series 10's new wide-angle organic light-emitting diode (OLED), making it the first Apple Watch with this feature. This wide-angle OLED enables pixels to emit more light at a wider angle, with Apple claiming the Series 10 offers a 40 percent increase in brightness when viewed from an angle over the Series 9.
The company further states that the OLED's improved power efficiency has allowed the Series 10's refresh rate in always-on mode to increase to once per second, a notable jump from the Series 9's rate of once per minute. As such, some Watch faces will allow wearers to see a ticking seconds hand without having to raise their wrist.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Design On the top are some of the Apple Watch Series 10's colour options, while below are some from Series 9. Credit: AppleStraight off the bat, the Apple Watch Series 10 is slightly larger than the Series 9, offering 46 and 42-millimetre models as compared to last year's 45- and 41-millimetre models. However, it has shaved off some bulk in other areas.
One of the most prominently spruiked changes to the Apple Watch Series 10's design is that it's slimmer. Apple claims that the Series 10 is almost 10 percent thinner than the Series 9, shaving one millimetre off to take it from 10.7 to 9.7 millimetres thick. That may not seem like much, but every little bit counts when you're measuring in millimetres.
The Series 10 is also lighter, though the difference here will depend on which models you're comparing. Apple states that the Series 10's aluminium models are up to 10 percent lighter than those in Series 9, while the titanium models are almost 20 percent lighter than last year's stainless steel.
Judging from the specifications shared by Apple, this seems about right. The lightest Series 10 Watch is the 42-millimetre aluminium model with GPS and cellular, which Apple states weighs 29.3 grams. In comparison, the lightest Series 9 Watch is the 41-millimetre aluminium with GPS only, which comes in at 31.9 grams — 2.6 grams heavier. The Series 10's titanium also comes out lighter when compared to the Series 9's stainless steel. Its heaviest option is the 46-millimetre titanium model weighing 41.7 grams, which is almost 10 whole grams lighter than the heaviest stainless steel Series 9 at 51.5 grams.
In addition to these changes, the Series 10's corners are more rounded and it has a wider aspect ratio than Series 9. Apple states that these tweaks to the Watch's form factor enable a notably larger display.
On the left, the Apple Watch Series 9. On the right, the Series 10. Credit: AppleFinally, there's the Apple Watch Series 10's colour options to go through. The colour of a new Apple Watch is arguably even more important than that of a new iPhone, since you're much more likely to cover the latter with a phone case anyway.
At launch, the Series 10 comes in six different colours equally distributed between its aluminium and titanium models. The aluminium Series 10 is available in jet black, rose gold, and silver, while the titanium version comes in slate, gold, and natural.
In comparison, the Series 9 has five colours for its aluminium model alone — midnight, starlight, silver, pink, and (PRODUCT)RED). Its stainless steel model has three with graphite, silver, and gold, or four if you include the Apple Watch Hermès collaboration's space black.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Health and fitness features The Apple Watch's new sleep apnea detecting feature seen on two iPhones. Credit: AppleApple announced a new sleep apnea feature with the Series 10, which uses the Watch's accelerometer to monitor your sleep and notify you if it detects signs of the sleep disorder. However, this feature doesn't separate the Apple Watch Series 10 from the 9, as this Breathing Disturbances metric will be coming to both models and the Ultra 2 this month.
A better way to distinguish the two is via their oceanic capabilities. The Series 10 is more equipped for aquatic adventures than the Series 9, featuring both a water temperature sensor and a depth gauge capable of tracking up to 20 feet (six metres) down. Information gathered by these features is displayed via Apple's Depth app, which comes preloaded on the Series 10. The latest Apple Watch is compatible with the Oceanic+ snorkelling app as well, though unlike the Depth app you'll have to head to the Apple App Store to download it.
The Series 9 doesn't have such functionality, so it's a factor to consider if you're an avid snorkeler and iPhone user who doesn't already have an Ultra.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: AudioAudio is far from the first feature people think of when they think about Apple Watches. Even so, the new Apple Watch Series 10 is improving its audio capabilities by allowing music to be played through its inbuilt speaker.
While the Series 9 also has a speaker, it's restricted to utilitarian uses such as phone calls, the Walkie-Talkie function, and Voice Feedback during your workouts. In contrast, the Series 10 will let you play media such as music, podcasts, and audiobooks, enabling you to irritate everyone around you by blasting tunes directly from your wrist. This will work with Apple apps such as Apple Music, Podcasts, and Books, as well as third-party apps.
The Apple Watch Series 10 also upgrades its microphone's capabilities by adding voice isolation, using a neural network to reduce background noise during calls.
Most people aren't searching for audio capability when buying a watch. You'll probably still prefer to use your iPhone or a pair of AirPods for your calls and music, only turning to the Apple Watch when they aren't at hand or if you're in an emergency. Still, it is technically an improvement over the Series 9.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Battery lifeApple doesn't claim any difference in battery life between the Watch Series 10 and 9. Both run on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which the tech giant says offers up to 18 hours of juice (or 36 in low power mode). Both are fast charge capable as well.
However, Apple does state that the Series 10's charging coil is larger and more efficient, allowing you to charge up your Watch's battery from zero to 80 percent full in 30 minutes. That's an improvement over the Series 9, which Apple has said needs 45 minutes to get to 80 percent. Fifteen minutes doesn't seem like a terribly significant difference though.
Mashable will be testing Apple's new Watch and provide an update with the results, but for now it looks as though battery life isn't a major factor to agonise over if you're deliberating between the Series 10 and 9.
The best vacuum cleaner setup is subjective, heavily hinging on how badly (or not) you want to do the vacuuming yourself, or if you'd rather a robot do it for you.
But there's one universal factor that can make or break any type of vacuum's usefulness in your home, and that's how likely you are to use it. Hear me out.
Actual cleaning performance plays a huge role in how clean your floors will be, of course. But if that vacuum's a pain to use, you won't feel like using it — whether that's an upright vacuum that's too clunky to get out of the closet or a robot vacuum that gets stuck more often than not.
SEE ALSO: How to choose a robot vacuum in 2024: Consider these 5 features before buyingI've tested a ton of automatic vacuums and upright cordless vacuums, assessing from all of those angles along the way. And I have a handful of recommendations for both. But first, let's unpack which kind overall might work better in your living arrangement.
Should I get an upright or robot vacuum?I could argue for both sides, considering I think the true dream setup is to have both on hand for different situations. While there are definitely ways to shop strategically and split your budget between one of each, that won't be the most practical choice for every household. If you're only choosing one type of vacuum, consider your main priority when it comes to vacuuming. Is your ideal vacuum cleaner one that automates the most steps to give you as little work as possible, or is it one that does the absolute most meticulous job, even if you still have to do the work?
SEE ALSO: 6 best robot vacuums and mops of 2024, tested hands-on at homeDrawbacks of each also have to be considered. Trusting a robot vacuum to do this chore comes with the fine print that the robot vacuum is probably going to piss you off sometimes. While I absolutely can't knock the strides that have been made with smart mapping, AI small obstacle avoidance, automatic floor type recognition, and debris level sensors over the past few years, even the latest and greatest robot vacuums are still inanimate objects, not perceptive humans.
The downside of an upright vacuum is that you have to have free time, and spend some of that free time off the couch. Granted, the better the cordless vacuum, the less you'll have to get it out, and the less of a pain it'll be to whip around.
Do corded vacuums have better suction?Typically, corded vacuums have better suction than cordless vacs, but at this point in the game, it's not a noteworthy enough increase to cover the headache of digging that monstrosity out of the closet and wrestling with the cord. if you detest getting your vacuum out, you probably won't vacuum too often — and that defeats the purpose of doing your research/spending your money on a nice, new vacuum in the first place.
SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuumWith that in mind, no corded stick vacuums or corded canister vacuums will be recommended in this list.
Below, I've pulled my favorite cordless stick vacuums and robotic vacuums to create Mashable's ultimate mashup of all of the best vacuum cleaners as of September 2024.
Nearly a quarter century ago, four identical spacecraft launched into space. Now, they're coming home.
The European Space Agency sent a plane to capture footage of the first of four Cluster mission satellites reentering Earth's atmosphere on Sept. 8.
"The first recorded observation of a satellite reentry from a high-speed orbit, taken from a plane in bright daylight!" the agency wrote.
SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.The goal was to capture rare information on how, and when, such a spacecraft breaks up in Earth's atmosphere as it encounters intense friction and heat. "Throughout history, so far about 10,000 intact satellites and rocket bodies have reentered the atmosphere," the agency explained. "Yet we still lack a clear view on what actually happens during a reentry."
The reentry of the craft named "Salsa," shown below as the bright dot above the sea surface, intentionally happened over the remote south Pacific Ocean — a region where the already low-likelihood of creating damage was vastly reduced.
The Salsa spacecraft, seen as a white dot, breaking apart as it reenters Earth's atmosphere. Credit: ESA / ROSIE / University of Southern Queensland Tweet may have been deletedThe Cluster mission, undertaken by NASA and ESA, deployed four identical spacecraft to investigate how our planet's magnetosphere (a bubble around Earth protecting us from solar and cosmic radiation) interacts with a constant stream of particles from the sun, called the solar wind. "It even discovered the origin of 'killer electrons,' energetic particles in the outer belt of radiation surrounding Earth, that can cause havoc for satellites," ESA said.
Before the aging satellites became derelict objects in Earth's orbit, ESA made maneuvers to ensure the spacecraft came down in a "targeted area." "Without intervention, the four Cluster satellites would have reentered Earth’s atmosphere naturally – but with less control over when or where this would happen," the agency wrote.
It's an early endeavor to limit the amount of space junk amassing near our planet, and to control where it eventually comes down. There's a lot up there, zooming around in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
"LEO is an orbital space junk yard," NASA explains. "There are millions of pieces of space junk flying in LEO. Most orbital debris comprises human-generated objects, such as pieces of spacecraft, tiny flecks of paint from a spacecraft, parts of rockets, satellites that are no longer working, or explosions of objects in orbit flying around in space at high speeds."
Adult film actress Richelle Ryan is a conservative, and she's not apologizing for it. She wears clothing bearing former President Donald Trump's face and name across her social media platforms.
She is among a handful of adult performers that remain outspoken about their conservative identity in an industry that's on edge amid the growing concerns about Project 2025 — a 900+ page far-right policy wishlist for Trump if he wins in November. One of the measures calls for an outright ban of pornography.
SEE ALSO: Top 5 digital security tips from sex workersThe document was authored by Trump loyalists, some of whom worked for his first administration, stoking fears that if Trump gets elected this wishlist will become the law of the land. Some conservative performers aren't buying that idea, but others to their left see Project 2025 as an existential threat to their industry.
This comes at a time when Vice President Kamala Harris is Trump's opponent. As senator, Harris supported the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act and Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (FOSTA/SESTA), legislation that was anti-sex trafficking in theory but in practice made it harder for online sex workers to do their jobs safely. Because the stakes are so high for the business, performers haven't been shy about sharing their point of view.
Project 2025: Scare tactic or actual threat?As early as the fifth page, Project 2025 calls for the imprisonment of porn performers as well as distributors, and says that telecommunications companies that allow porn to be accessed should be closed:
Pornography should be outlawed. The people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders. And telecommunications and technology firms that facilitate its spread should be shuttered.
Conservatives like Ryan suggest it's representative of the fringe of the party — not the majority — and has no chance of becoming actual policy. That's why, in her view, Project 2025 is less of a Republican master plan, and more of a tool that Democrats are using to campaign.
"I think it's a scare tactic that Democrats are trying to use," Ryan told Mashable.
The Trump campaign clearly sees the political implications of embracing such far-right talking points. That's in part why the former president has distanced himself from it in the past few weeks. To Ryan, that's one of the reasons not to worry.
"I've been in the adult film industry for 18 years. Scare tactics are something that we fight every single day," Ryan added.
A slew of policy decisions have put immense pressure on the industry in recent years, ranging from propositions about condom use to state-level laws that would force phonemakers to automatically censor sexual content.
FOSTA/SESTA, however, which Trump signed into law in 2018, has had tangible effects on online sex workers and their income. According to a paper published in the Fordham Law Review, the wording of the legislation actually does more to harm sex workers than protect victims of sex trafficking. That's echoed by research published in the Anti-Trafficking Review that shows that the closure of classified site Backpage.com and the subsequent laws actually put sex workers in dangerous positions by removing an online space where workers can vet those soliciting their services.
The research shows ways that the laws have limited workers' ability to share harm reduction resources, like lists of people known to solicit sex workers who have a history of assault.
Not everyone sees Project 2025 as merely a scare tactic. In fact, most of the performers Mashable spoke to see Trump distancing himself from Project 2025 as a farce. Trump lied more than 30,000 times during his presidential term alone according to The Washington Post.
"I think that we need to look at Project 2025 and recognize that this is a clear and present danger for the sex worker community. We have to call it out. We have to take it very seriously and educate people," performer Allie Awesome told Mashable.
Regardless of Trump's disavowals of Project 2025, he's still mentioned by name hundreds of times in it. A recent analysis from CBS News found that 270 of the 700 policy proposals include past Trump policies and current campaign promises, while 28 of the 38 authors of the document previously worked for the Trump administration. Paul Dans, a former Trump advisor, served as the director of Project 2025 until late July.
Trump's running mate JD Vance is a clear supporter. He wrote the foreword to an upcoming book called Dawn's Early Light written by Project 2025 creator and president of far-right think tank the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts.
The Heritage Foundation, which published Project 2025, helped shape Trump's Supreme Court nominee list while he was president. Amid vacancies on the court, Trump appointed Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch.
The current state of the porn industryMany in the adult industry consider Project 2025 an obvious threat, as it calls for those who make porn to be imprisoned among other measures.
A number of Republican-led states including Texas, Indiana, and Nebraska have established age-verification laws in recent months — many of which require porn sites to verify someone's age using government IDs — a move which free speech activists largely see as a trojan horse for broader privacy violations.
One of Project 2025's co-authors, Russell Vought, who also served as a director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump, admitted in secret recording that the laws (which the Heritage Foundation lobbied for) work to ban porn through the "back door."
In the same recorded conversation, Vought claimed that Trump "blessed" Project 2025 and added that the former president is "very supportive of what we do."
This isn't the first time Trump took a hardline stance against porn. Ahead of the 2016 race, he signed onto a pledge that called on him to ban adult entertainment.
The appointment of JD Vance, who told Catholic publication Crisis Magazine in 2021 that he wanted to outright ban porn as well, does not quell fears.
The perceived imminent threat has created a divide among performers. "I do not have solidarity with Trump-supporting sex workers. I've really personally drawn a line in the sand," Awesome said.
SEE ALSO: Most adult creators use AI in their work, new data saysThat leaves performers like Mia Isabella in a hard place. Isabella is fiscally conservative and was not a fan of Biden's tax plan. However, Isabella said, "Trying to tell people what to do in their homes, in their personal time, is weird shit."
"I agree fiscally with Trump, but I can't agree with making anyone feel dehumanized or using any minority to politicize the situation and make a rallying cry," Isabella added.
What about Kamala Harris?With that said, people in the porn industry aren't exactly excited about Kamala Harris just yet because of her anti-sex work history.
Historically, Harris supported stiff anti-sex worker policies. As California attorney general, she helped take down Backpage, which was accused of promoting sex trafficking and faced a multi-year investigation led by her office. That led to federal bills FOSTA/SESTA (the latter of which Harris co-sponsored as senator). In addition to making sex workers' jobs less safe, FOSTA/SESTA also impacted their incomes and access to bank accounts, loans, and lines of credit. Sex workers also said the shutdown of Backpage made them less safe.
"I've always been uncomfortable with her being the VP in that sense. And it's a little bit of a hard pill to swallow," performer Jessica Ryan, who identifies as a centrist politically, told Mashable.
This comes amid concerns that Harris' anti-sex work stance may continue if she becomes president. XBIZ, an industry trade publication, pointed out that during this election cycle Democrats dropped language explicitly recognizing sex workers that was included in 2020.
While ads for escort services and pornographic film production are not necessarily one and the same, performers and their advocates believe that that the overarching language and impact of the laws on sex workers is indicative of a perceived ignorance to the needs of those who work in various sex-related professions.
For Jessica Ryan, the election provides two distinct choices: one that hasn't historically been an ally to sex workers, and another whose closest confidants would like to see porn cease to exist entirely and put its creators in jail.
"It's just fucking wild that we have people that are okay with [the] government telling us what we can watch [and] how we can watch it," Ryan added.
All the performers Mashable spoke to shared one common perspective: politics should stay off the set. But the question if Project 2025's authors get their way is: in a few years, will there even be sets?
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