Feed aggregator

Former Meta executive turned app founder Shauna Sweeney on the power of moms

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 13:09

Shauna Sweeney was an executive at Meta, leading global industry intelligence and marketing programs, when her dad was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's some 3,000 miles away. Suddenly, she found herself as part of the sandwich generation — a term given to those who are raising their own families while caring for aging parents at the same time.

Managing care and helping her dad stay in his home as per his wishes presented some challenges. This led to the creation of tendercare, an “AI-powered app that transforms caregiving from a crisis-driven, never-ending, too-late scramble into a supported, manageable part of anyone’s day,” Sweeney says.

Since founding the company in 2022 at her kitchen table, Sweeney has left Meta to run tendercare full-time and has also expanded her family, all the time chasing that ever-elusive balance for working parents everywhere. (Already a mom and stepmom, Sweeney has another child on the way.)

Working moms are often celebrated for being able to “do it all.” But there’s so much more to the story of building a business while raising kids at the same time. We caught up with tendercare founder and CEO Shauna Sweeney over email about scaling her company, protecting her time, and the mental load of working moms.

Tell us about tendercare, the business you founded.

tendercare is the lifeline I wish I had when I first started caring for my dad. The app allows caregivers to securely keep and retrieve all important information required to care for Mom and Dad during those moments [they] need it most — at the doctor’s office, in the ER, in moments of transition or change — and share it with the rest of the family and care team. It’s the everyday tools that family caregivers desperately need to lighten the load, plus a way to quickly discover what trusted services exist in your or your loved ones’ community. 

The goal is to ease the burden on families while giving them confidence to make the best calls for their unique situation, save precious time, and priceless peace of mind. 

What is the secret sauce to scaling a business while also juggling motherhood? 

There’s a mythology to being a founder that’s often built on a more narrow set of responsibilities and an incomplete picture of what home life looks like for many of us, especially women. One of the best realizations I’ve had is that my unique pain points of balancing being a mom and an adult daughter put me in a position to build solutions with empathy and understanding for others. That being said, I still believe in focus, focus, focus. I’m ruthless with my time, so I can be 100 percent focused on work or my family when I plan to be, not pulled in a million directions trying to juggle it simultaneously. Both work and family time are defended across all seven days with equal vigor. 

Scaling a business means living by the philosophy of, “Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.” We’re moving fast and there will always be another thing after the thing you’re working on. The secret isn't about working more hours; it's staying anchored in your purpose and understanding what takes priority at any given time. 

Credit: Photo courtesy of Shauna Sweeney Is there anything about being a mom that has helped you with your career? Or vice versa? 

Tons. Having kids makes you figure out everything that matters for leading a team, building a company (which is like having another kid), or simply navigating life. Being a good mom is built on mutual trust, and the same is true for having a high-performance team. 

Listening, showing up no matter how tired, not simply reacting to a crisis or big emotion, being flexible, setting the example, encouraging, and mentoring — all of those things are transferable skills between motherhood and executive leadership. So is learning to run off less sleep. 

What do you wish more people understood about working moms? 

We are always operating with an invisible load. The logistics you see are just the surface; typically, there’s so much more going on. There’s a mental and emotional bandwidth we’re constantly managing. Rather than a lack of ambition, it’s more of a surplus of responsibility. 

Working moms are not just multitasking, we’re multi-living. The mental overhead is immense. As the saying goes, if you want to get something done, ask a busy person. It should actually be “ask a mom.”

What advice do you have for other moms looking to launch their own business? 

Don’t wait for permission because you won’t get it. Your lived experience is your market insight. Build something that solves a pain point you deeply understand, and then validate it. And remember, success doesn’t have to look like scale; it can look like sustainability. Start small, test constantly, and don’t underestimate the value of momentum over perfection. 

Any final words of wisdom?

It’s up to us to build the world we want to live in, and the world we want our kids to live in. If you see something that could be better, it probably could be. It’s a problem that’s been waiting just for you to come by and fix it.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Get an AI investment coach for life for just A$86

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:56

TL;DR: Sterling Stock Picker has an AI that helps you invest in the stock market, and it's only A$86 for life. 

Opens in a new window Credit: SSP Software Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription AU$86
AU$758 Save AU$672 with code SAVE20 Get Deal

The stock market has been especially volatile lately, but that doesn't mean you have to wait to invest. A new specialized AI from the creators of ChatGPT has been trained on the stock market to help you invest your money safely, even in a chaotic market. Sterling Stock Picker can help you determine which investments are worth the money, and a lifetime subscription is even on sale for A$86 (reg. A$758) using code SAVE20 through 1 June.

How does the AI stock picker work?

Sterling Stock Picker uses AI-driven tools to help simplify the investing process for beginners and experienced investors alike.

At the heart of the platform is Finley, your AI financial coach. You can ask Finley questions about the market, your portfolio, or individual stocks and get real-time insights based on actual data. It’s like having a finance expert on call, without booking an appointment or paying hourly rates.

The software uses a combination of technical, earnings, growth, and risk analysis to generate personalized stock recommendations. It even offers a risk tolerance questionnaire and portfolio builder to help you create a strategy that fits your specific goals. If you're not sure whether to buy, hold, or sell, the platform's North Star system helps clarify what action to take.

For anyone who wants to learn as they go, Sterling Stock Picker also has a suite of educational tools. You’ll get detailed explanations of investing strategies and stock performance, plus access to a community forum where users can share insights and ask questions.

And if you prefer a more hands-off approach, the app still does the heavy lifting by highlighting top-performing stocks and suggesting updates to your portfolio.

It's only A$86 to get a Sterling Stock Picker Lifetime Subscription. Use code SAVE20 through 1 June at 11:59PM PT to get this discounted price. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Ruggable and Tumble are running dueling Memorial Day sales on washable rugs

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:45
Shop the best washable rug deals this Memorial Day weekend: Ruggable Save up to 20% sitewide with code MEMDAY Shop Now Tumble Save up to 30% on all washable rugs Shop Now

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and the official start of "tracking the outside inside" season. Enter the washable rug, a lower-maintenance alternative to your average wool, shag, or jute number. (They're easily spot-cleaned and safe to toss in the laundry.)

Mashable has tested two of the biggest names in washable rugs — Ruggable and Tumble — and found both of their offerings to be durable, soft, and fairly priced. Conveniently, both brands also happen to be running Memorial Day sales this week.

Shoppers can take up to 20% off Ruggable's lineup by entering the coupon code MEMDAY at checkout, with prices starting from just $71.20 for 2 x 3 doormats with standard non-slip pads. (That includes all of its collections and collabs with Jonathan Adler, Iris Apfel, goop, and Morris & Co.) At the time of writing, all of the styles I checked were set to ship for free within a week.

SEE ALSO: 50+ of the best Memorial Day deals and sales already live: Mattresses, Bluetooth speakers, outdoor furniture, and more

Meanwhile, shoppers can save up to 30% on all of Tumble's washable rugs — no code required. (Just add a rug to your cart to activate its discount.) Its styles start at $83.30 for 3 x 5 rugs, which also come with cushioned pads, and orders should ship for free within two weeks.

It's worth mentioning that Ruggable's rugs are also available through Amazon, but the retail giant was stocking fewer styles with worse discounts when I last checked. For example, this 3 x 5 Impasto Slate Blue Rug (normally $139) is marked down to $111.20 on Ruggable's website with MEMDAY and $126.65 on Amazon.

If you're trying to decide between the two brands (and pricing isn't a deciding factor), know that Mashable's Dylan Haas likes Ruggable's wider selection of styles but Tumble's easier setup. Check out his deep dive into the differences between Ruggable and Tumble washable rugs for more intel.

Slash $58 off the Vantrue E2 dash cam and capture any shenanigans on the road

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:35

SAVE $58: Ahead of Memorial Day, shop the Vantrue E2 Dash Cam at Amazon for $58 off. As of May 20, grab the cam for just $161.99, down from $219.99, for 26% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vantrue Vantrue E2 Dash Cam $161.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $58 Use on-page coupon for extra savings Get Deal

Summer travel season is upon us, and before you hit the road, you've got to prepare. Is everything packed with no stray objects left on the roof? Is your destination loaded into the GPS? Even if you check all the boxes, the unexpected can still happen, and a dash cam can provide a little extra peace of mind.

As of May 20, grab the Vantrue E2 Dash Cam for just $161.99 at Amazon. That knocks $58 off the list price of $219.99 for 26% off — that's some sweet savings ahead of Memorial Day. To enjoy the full discount, just make sure to clip the on-page coupon.

SEE ALSO: Shop the best Memorial Day deals under $100 on Amazon

We got a chance to check out the Vantrue E2 Dash Cam and were impressed by its clear, high-res images. It boasts 1944p picture quality and even delivers in the dark, too, putting it light years ahead of other dash cams. It mounts easily to the dash and, with a microSD card, you can store up to 512GB of video.

Get the Vantrue E2 Dash Cam at Amazon now and save $58 ahead of Memorial Day.

Best Memorial Day deals

The Sonos Move 2 is back down to its best price ever ahead of Memorial Day

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:31

SAVE $113: As of May 20, the Sonos Move 2 is on sale for just $336 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Sonos — down from its usual $449. That's 25% in savings and matches its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Move 2 $336 at Amazon
$449 Save $113 Get Deal

The Sonos Move 2 is one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers and it rarely goes on sale. Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, however, its price has been slashed by 25%.

As of May 20, the Sonos Move 2 is on sale for just $336 instead of its usual $449 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Sonos. That's $113 in savings and matches its lowest price on record. This is only the second time this year that the speaker has went on sale and the first time since last summer that the price has dropped this low.

While the Move 2 is technically a portable Bluetooth speaker, it's not exactly the most portable option around. It certainly can be moved around, but it weighs over 6 pounds. So you can't exactly toss it in your backpack for a hike. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder writes in his review, "It sounds fantastic, but it's essentially a home speaker that also happens to be somewhat portable."

Despite the weight restrictions, we're huge fans of this speaker. What it lacks in portability, it definitely makes up for with its impressive stereo sound, 24-hour battery life, and dynamic smart features. It also doesn't hurt that it looks good and comes in both black and white options.

To sum it up, Schroeder writes, "This speaker is one of the best in class, and the quality of sound it produces is reason enough to consider it."

We don't love that it costs $449 usually, but this rare $113 price drop makes us more inclined to encourage a splurge.

Take $60 off the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds at Amazon and listen in style

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:26

SAVE $60: As of May 20, get the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at Amazon for $189.99, down from their usual price of $249.99. That's a discount of 24%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro $189.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $60 Get Deal

You take your earbuds everywhere with you. They should perform the way you want them to, with great sound, extra features, and reliable connectivity. Today's sale at Amazon is your chance to see what Samsung's earbuds can do to enhance your listening experience.

As of May 20, get the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at Amazon for $189.99, down from their usual price of $249.99. That's $60 off for a discount of 24%.

SEE ALSO: Shop the best Memorial Day deals under $100 on Amazon

These earbuds look and feel premium, with a special redesign that improves their fit from the last Galaxy Buds iteration. They're made to look great, thanks to their chrome coloring and matching charging case, and stay in your ear no matter what you have going on.

Most importantly, they offer excellent audio. These buds can adapt to the sound around you with adaptive active noise cancellation that uses Galaxy AI, so you can focus on the music while staying aware of what's going on near you. They can also be customized thanks to their sound optimization and equalizer options, also both powered by Galaxy AI.

And thanks to that same AI, these buds also offer a real-time language interpreter option that can tell you exactly what someone is saying to you, which can open up a world of possibilities for travel or day-to-day interactions.

If you want your earbuds to do more than just sound or look good, this is a great pair to experiment with. Of course, saving some extra money doesn't hurt either.

The Best Memorial Day Deals You Can Get Right Now

Get $150 off the Marhsall Tufton Bluetooth Speaker for its lowest price ever

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:23

GET $150 OFF: As of May 20th, the Marshall Tufton Bluetooth Speaker is down to $299.99 from it's standard price of $449.99, for a savings of $150, or 33% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Tufton Portable Bluetooth Speaker $299.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $150 Get Deal

Marshall has long been one of the most storied names in electric guitar amps, now they're in the Bluetooth speaker game too. The Marshall Tufton brings impeccable sound and modern connectivity in a design that looks like it's meant to be on stage at a Led Zeppelin show.

Right now, May 20th, the Marshall Tufton Bluetooth Speaker is down to its lowest price ever ahead of Memorial Day. The speaker is on sale for $299.99, for a savings of $150.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Memorial Day Sale has already started — shop tech, home goods, and more The best Memorial Day deals

This speaker really looks like an amp, with treble, bass, and volume knobs where an amps gain knobs would be, and a button that activates Bluetooth. It's sleek and attractive with the Marshall logo picked out on its front, and a carrying strap on top.

The speaker has IPX2 water resistant design. It likely won't survive a storm outdoors, but foggy days or a splash shouldn't present a problem.

Today, May 20th the the Marshall Tufton Bluetooth Speaker is down to its lowest price ever, $299.99, ahead of Memorial Day. Get it for $150 off.

With multi-host connections, you'll be able to swap out DJ duties with friends by connecting two phones at once. Nab this party speaker and bring music to outdoor hangs all summer long.

Snag the new Ninja FrostVault wheeled cooler at its first-ever discount at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:09

SAVE $50: The Ninja FrostVault wheeled cooler (45-quart) is on sale at Amazon for $249.99, down from the normal price of $299.99. That's a 17% discount, and the lowest price we've ever spotted at Amazon on the new cooler.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja FrostVault wheeled cooler (45-quart) $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50 Get Deal

Memorial Day weekend is just days away now, which means we're so close to the unofficial start of summer. Maybe it's already too hot where you live, or perhaps you're still dealing with frozen toes, but one thing is certain — you should pack snacks on this weekend's adventures. If you're in need of a new cooler before the busy summer season starts, there's a great model on sale at Amazon today.

As of May 20, the Ninja FrostVault wheeled cooler (45-quart) is on sale at Amazon for $249.99, marked down from the normal price of $299.99. That's a 17% discount that takes $50 off the price. It's also the first discount, and therefore the lowest price, we've ever seen on this cooler at Amazon since it debuted in March.

SEE ALSO: Shop the REI Anniversary Sale to get 30% off summer outdoor essentials

Without ice, the Ninja FrostVault's 45-quart capacity can hold up to 68 cans. But with ice, you'll get about 40 in there. Ninja designed this cooler with up to three inches of insulation, and the cooler can maintain temps of under 40 degrees for several days.

The all-terrain wheels paired with the durable pull handle is great for rolling the cooler from the car to the campsite, or down the trail to the beach. When empty, the cooler weights about 30 pounds. Plus, it comes in a great range of colorways like Merlot, Lakeshore Blue, and a classic White.

Another great feature on the Ninja FrostVault is Dry Zone, which keeps items chilled in dry drawers without getting them wet. That means you can pack sandwiches without worrying about them getting soggy. It's also perfect to have easy access to lunch while you're driving to your destination.

The best Memorial Day deals you can get right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

Since every great adventure needs snacks, upgrade to the Ninja FrostVault wheeled cooler while it's down to its lowest price yet. The 45-quart size is on sale at Amazon for $249.99, which means you'll save $50 on the normal price.

Shop the best Memorial Day deals under $100 on Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:06

GET UP TO $40.50 OFF: Memorial Day, May 26th, Amazon is offering huge savings on products like the IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker for savings hitting $40.50 off and above.

The best Memorial Day deals under $100 The best Memorial Day speaker and headphone deal under $100 IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker $59.49 (Save 41%) Get Deal The best Memorial Day tech deal under $100 Kingslim D4 Dual Dash Cam $84.98 (Save 39%) Get Deal The best Memorial Day toy deal under $100 KidKraft Laundry Playset $60.70 (Save 51%) Get Deal

Memorial Day might be the holiday of swimming pools reopening, long days in the late spring sun, and kids getting out of school, but these days, it's also a time to rope excellent savings on products from online commerce platforms like Amazon.

This Memorial Day, May 26th, Amazon is offering major sales on products and tech, like $40.50 off the IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Memorial Day Sale has already started — shop tech, home goods, and more

Below, we're keeping a running list of the best Amazon deals under $100 that are available this Memorial Day. We'll keep this list updated through the day with new deals that we stumble upon.

The best Memorial Day speaker and headphone deal under $100 Opens in a new window Credit: IPX7 IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker $59.49 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $40.50 Get Deal

Whether you're sitting poolside, relaxing by a campfire, or spreading a picnic blanket, a good outdoor speaker is a crucial part of the experience. The IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker is a resilient waterproof outdoor speaker that pumps out 40w sound.

This Memorial Day, the IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker is on sale for $59.49, down from a price of $99.99, saving you $40.50.

More Memorial Day speaker and headphone dealsThe best Memorial Day tech deal under $100 Opens in a new window Credit: Kingslim Kingslim D4 Dual Dash Cam $84.98 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $55.01 Get Deal

There's lots that can happen to a car. Supplement your insurance with a dash cam and ensure that bumps, brake light checks, and attempted break ins are all subject to the camera. The Redtiger Dash Cam Front Rear includes night vision, video up to 4K, and app controls.

This Memorial Day, the Kingslim D4 Dual Dash Cam with Built-in WiFi GPS is on sale for $84.98, down from a price of $139.99, saving you $55.01, or 39%.

More Memorial Day tech dealsThe best Memorial Day toy deal under $100 Opens in a new window Credit: KidKraft KidKraft Laundry Playset Children's Pretend Wooden Stacking Washer and Dryer Toy $60.70 at Amazon
$124.99 Save $64.29 Get Deal

For families everywhere, school letting out means kids home from school for the summer. What better time to fill the house with distractions than now? And what if playtime could also teach your children to launder like a pro... that would be something. The KidKraft Laundry Playset does just that, with a kid-size washer and dryer set, plus a clothes iron.

Right now, the KidKraft Laundry Playset is on sale for $60.70, down from $124.99, for a savings of 51%.

More Memorial Day toy deals under $100 More of the best Memorial Day deals

Lilo and Stitch review: If you have to watch a Disney remake, make it this one

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:00

When it comes to Disney's live-action remakes of its own animated films, my position is firmly "against."

Aside from being nostalgia-baiting cash grabs, films like 2017's Beauty and the Beast and 2025's Snow White may boast solid performances, but they never manage to recapture the magic of the medium that built the Disney empire in the first place. Gorgeous, emotive fantasy worlds like The Little Mermaid's underwater kingdom or Aladdin's Agrabah are flattened into CGI sludge. Strange adaptation choices like extra subplots (who needed to know so much about Prince Eric?) clog up what were originally tight, often powerful stories.

Disney isn't even reaching that far back into its catalogue to create these movies. This year's Lilo & Stitch retells the story of a film released all the way back in... 2002. (Meanwhile, 2026's live-action Moana remakes an animated film that's just barely a decade old.)

Despite my skepticism, 2025's Lilo & Stitch managed to win me over more than any other Disney live-action remake so far. Much of it comes down to the continuing charm of the original movie, which director Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel The Shell With Shoes On) capably emulates in the remake. Aside from the occasional baffling change from the original, Lilo & Stitch cements itself as sweetly fun in its own right, thanks to its loving treatment of its central pairing.

Lilo and Stitch shine in live action, too. Maia Kealoha and Stitch in "Lilo & Stitch." Credit: Disney

Like many Disney remakes before it, Lilo & Stitch kicks off as a fairly beat-for-beat recreation of the original film. Exiled alien experiment Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders, who co-directed and voiced Stitch in the original film) crash lands in Hawaii, where six-year-old orphan Lilo Pelekai (Maia Kealoha) adopts him as a pet. Together, these two get up to heaps of trouble — but they also learn important messages about family and responsibility.

These familiar beats worked well in the animated film, and they translate well to live action. (Even if this movie is sorely lacking the vibrant colors of the original.) Much of that success comes down to the enduring power of the dynamic duo at Lilo & Stitch's heart, both of whom shine in "live-action."

SEE ALSO: Snow White's short hair didn't deserve this treatment

Newcomer Kealoha is absolutely precious as Lilo, both a rebellious firecracker and a vulnerable outcast. She faces the tough job of acting opposite a completely CGI character, yet she makes every interaction with Stitch feel grounded and real. Any scene where she and Stitch hug? Instant tears.

Stitch himself proves a star in live action as well as animation. Camp and his team crafted a creature who looks and feels real (get a load of that fur!), all without sacrificing expression for photorealism. From his twitchy ears to his massive dark eyes, Stitch proves to be the most successful translation of an animated Disney creature to live action, in large part because the film maintains his dynamic sense of chaos. (A scene where he tears through a wedding is an early highlight.) Sanders' voice work remains impeccable as well, nicely bridging the two iterations of the character.

How is this Lilo & Stitch different from the original? Pleakley and Jumba. Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifianakis in "Lilo & Stitch." Credit: Zach Dougan

Not every Lilo & Stitch character translates as well to live action, though. Stitch's creator, scientist Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis), and his partner in hunting Stitch down, Earth expert Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), look uncanny as CGI aliens. In Jumba's case, it's a matter of having two many eyes (four), and in Pleakley's, too few (one).

Lilo & Stitch knows this looks less than ideal, which is why the pair spends most of the film in human forms — thanks to alien cloning technology. This allows Fleischer Camp to focus the creature effects on Stitch, as well as add the physical comedy of two aliens trying to look human. Magnussen excels here, his Pleakley all manic smiles and overzealous body language.

Tragically missing is Pleakley's penchant for female-coded clothing, which Camp has stated on tiktok that he tried to include. The omission feels like an attempt to erase any moment that could be read as queer (even though Pleakley and Jumba still feel very queer-coded), making for another disappointing instance of self-censorship on Disney's part. Earlier this year, Disney's Pixar cut a transgender storyline from its series Win or Lose, and in 2022 cut a same-sex kiss in Lightyear until staff pressure led to its restoration.

SEE ALSO: Pixar's LGBTQ employees say Disney censors same-sex affection

Also missing is Lilo's penchant for photographing tourists in Hawaii. What little critique the original had of over tourism in Hawaii is replaced with Lilo sneaking into resorts instead. This too feels like Disney removing Lilo & Stitch's more subversive elements. Given that this story centers on two wild balls of chaos, taming even the slightest edges of the original undermines Lilo & Stitch's very core.

Another disarming change is the removal of the original's ultimate antagonist Captain Gantu. A 20-foot-tall shark-like alien, he likely would have been difficult to render well considering Lilo & Stitch's $100 million budget, which makes it among the cheaper live-action Disney offerings. Still, his absence moves Jumba into a more antagonistic role. Galifianakis, while generally funny, doesn't channel much of Jumba's mad scientist energy. So his take on Jumba comes across as less menacing and more exasperated — an odd choice for a Big Bad.

Lilo and Nani's relationship is a highlight in Lilo & Stitch. Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong in "Lilo & Stitch." Credit: Matt Kennedy

While some of Lilo & Stitch's changes from the original don't function very well, the film's decision to focus even more on Nani's (Sydney Agudong) struggles in raising Lilo proves rewarding. The animated film painted a moving portrait of an overwhelmed young woman trying to do what's right for her sister. Camp takes his cues from that to further explore Nani's aspirations and her anxieties, which include securing health insurance for her and Lilo. Agudong is often heartbreaking in these scenes of real-world struggle. Her and Kealoha share a sweet, playful chemistry that brings their sisterhood to poignant life.

These tender scenes between Lilo and Nani are among the most powerful and grounded sequences I've seen in a live-action Disney remake. Also effective are Lilo's bonding scenes with Stitch, including a water fight and a sweet kiss on the nose. Again, much of that impact comes down to how well these same scenes worked in the original film, which makes talking about Disney remakes feel like grading on a curve.

Still, this Lilo & Stitch retains much of the fun of the 2002 film, and it comes with great performances and effects work that actually makes Stitch feel real. Like with every Disney remake, you'd be better off watching the original, but if you have to watch one of the remakes, make it this one.

Lilo & Stitch opens in theaters on May 23.

Instagram Teen Accounts still exposed to sexual content, investigation finds

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 11:58

Following years of criticism for its handling of the youth mental health crisis, Instagram has invested heavily in beefing up its teen safety features, including an entirely new way for underage users to post, communicate, and scroll on the app. But recent tests of these new safety features suggest it may still not be enough.

According to an investigation conducted by the youth-led nonprofit Design It For Us and watchdog Accountable Tech — later corroborated by Washington Post columnist Geoffrey Fowler — the platform continues to surface age-inappropriate, sexually explicit, and generally harmful content despite content control safeguards.

SEE ALSO: It's now a federal crime to publish AI deepfake porn

In the study, "Gen-Z aged" representatives from Design It For Use tested five fake teen accounts on the app's default Teen Account settings over a two-week period. In all of the cases, the youth accounts were recommended sensitive and sexual content. Four out of five accounts were recommended content related to poor body image and eating disorders, and only one account's algorithm surfaced what the nonprofit deemed "educational" content.

The individual algorithms additionally recommended descriptions of illegal substance use, and sexually explicit posts involving trendy, coded language slipped through the filters. But not all protections faltered, including the platform's built-in restrictions on messaging and tagging.

"These findings suggest that Meta has not independently fostered a safe online environment, as it purports to parents and lawmakers," the report writes. "Lawmakers should compel Meta to produce data about Teen Accounts so that regulators and nonprofits can understand over time whether teenagers are actually protected when using Instagram."

In a response to the Washington Post, Meta spokeswoman Liza Crenshaw said the test's limited scope doesn't capture the true impact of the app's safety features. “A manufactured report does not change the fact that tens of millions of teens now have a safer experience thanks to Instagram Teen Accounts. The report is flawed, but even taken at face value, it identified just 61 pieces of content that it deems ‘sensitive,’ less than 0.3 percent of all of the content these researchers would have likely seen during the test.”

Addressing an ongoing, platform-wide issue

A June 2024 experiment by the Wall Street Journal and Northeastern University found that minor-aged accounts were frequently recommended sexually explicit and graphic content within the app's video-centered Reels feed, despite being automatically set to the platform's strictest content settings. The phenomenon was a known algorithmic issue for parent company Meta, which, according to internal documents, was flagged by employees conducting safety reviews as early as 2021. In a response, Instagram representatives said the experiments did not reflect the reality of how young users interact with the app.

At that time, Instagram had yet to launch its new tentpole product, Teen Accounts, introduced as a new, more highly monitored way for younger users to exist and post online — including stronger content controls. Minor users are automatically placed into Teen Accounts when signing up for Instagram, which sets their page private, limits messaging capabilities and the ability to stream live, and filters out sensitive content from feeds and DMs. Teens between the ages of 13-15 have even tighter reins on their app usage, and accounts that fall through the cracks are now being spotted and flagged by Meta's in-house AI.

More than 54 million teens have been moved into a restricted Teen Account since the initial rollout, according to Meta, and the vast majority of users under the age of 16 have kept the default, stricter security settings. And while the numbers show a positive shift, even Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admits there may be limits to how effectively the company can monitor its vast user base and complex algorithm.

Driverless cars need to be more human, study finds

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 11:31

Self-driving cars may need to act more like humans, new research has found.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found autonomous cars with a greater focus on being "socially sensitive" would prove safer. What does being socially sensitive mean? In short, it seems that it's driving more like a person. The researchers found that autonomous vehicles would be safer if programmed to "incorporate ethical considerations" and focus on protecting more vulnerable people on the road such as pedestrians or cyclists.

The researchers wrote: "Empirical results show that our scheme enables safer and more ethical decisions, reducing overall risk by 26.3%, with a notable 22.9% decrease for vulnerable road users."

In other words, it's sort of like the famous trolley problem. The research showed autonomous vehicles would be safest if they're trained to reduce harm to the greatest extent possible.

Despite being a fact of American life, driving a cars can be incredibly dangerous. Nearly 45,000 people died in what the National Safety Council deemed "preventable traffic crashes" in 2024.

Autonomous vehicles have shown some promise as a safer alternative to human drivers. A recent report from robotaxi company Waymo showed a decrease in injury-causing crashes across all categories. It saw 92 percent fewer of such incidents with pedestrians, 82 percent fewer with cyclists, 82 percent fewer with motorcyclists, and 85 percent fewer crashes with suspected serious or worse injuries with other vehicles.

The best Memorial Day deals under $50: Soundcore earbuds, Fire TV Sticks, Blink cameras, and more

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 11:28
The best Memorial Day deals under $50: BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Anker Soundcore P20i earbuds $19.98 (save $20.01) Get Deal BEST TECH DEAL Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $29.99 (save $30 with code MAX4KNEW) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Chefman Roll n' Go food warming mat $39.95 (save $40.04) Get Deal BEST HOME SECURITY DEAL Blink Video Doorbell + Sync Module 2 $34.99 (save $35) Get Deal

The unofficial kickoff to summer — aka Memorial Day weekend — has almost arrived. And with it comes a lot of sales. Despite the rocky first half of 2025 with tariffs catapulting prices across the board, we're pleasantly surprised by the number of deals floating around. You can even snag a handful of gadgets for less than $50.

Whether you're looking to grab a pair of headphones for your summer travels, a Bluetooth speaker to jam out by the pool, a new streaming device to catch up on all your favorite shows, or a portable water bottle to up your hydration, there's a little something for everyone on sale for Memorial Day. Check out the best deals under $50 — we'll update this list as the weekend approaches, so stay tuned for more.

Best Memorial Day headphones deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore P20i earbuds $19.98 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Our favorite budget earbuds of 2025, the Soundcore P20is, are on sale for less than $20 at Amazon during their Memorial Day sale. That's half off the usual list price of $40. It's hard to expect a lot from a pair of earbuds at that price, but we're shocked at how impressive they actually are. The battery life outshines the AirPods at 10 hours per charge, and with the equalizer presets on the companion app, they can produce the kind of well-rounded sound you'd expect from earbuds three times the price. You can even set up to three touch controls on each bud, and use the "find device" feature to keep track of them.

Best Memorial Day streaming device deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 with code MAX4KNEW Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in the market for a new streaming device, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers the most bang for your buck. It's the first and only Fire TV Stick with Ambient Experience, which lets you turn your TV into artwork like Samsung's The Frame, but for a small fraction of the cost. It packs over 2,000 pieces of museum-quality images to choose from. Plus, it has the most storage of any Fire TV Stick at 16GB; features WiFi-6E, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support; and lets you play Xbox games sans console. Just $59.99 on a regular day, it's only $29.99 for Memorial Day when you use the code MAX4KNEW at checkout.

Best Memorial Day home deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Chefman Chefman Roll 'n' Go food warming mat $39.95 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $40.04 Get Deal Why we like it

Before your Memorial Day shenanigans, you might want to grab this Chefman Roll 'n' Go food warming mat to keep all your delicious goodies hot for your guests. It'll only cost you $39.95 on sale, which is 50% off its usual cost and its best price on record. Its convenient rollable design makes it easy to travel with and store when you're not using it. Just unroll it, select between three temperatures, and you're ready to go.

More headphones and speakers deals under $50More tech deals under $50More home and travel deals under $50

After a tariff price hike, our favorite laptop from CES 2025 is on sale for the first time

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 11:19

SAVE $200: Normally $999.99, the Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is on sale for $799.99 at Best Buy through May 26 — a 20% savings and its best price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $799.99 at Best Buy
$999.99 Save $200 Get Deal

This year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was packed to the gills with impressive and innovative laptops, including one with a rollable screen and another made from oysters. But it was the Asus Zenbook A14, a lightweight 14-inch Copilot+ PC, that wound up taking home our Best of CES 2025 nod for the category: "It's effectively an Asus Zenbook Air," we wrote, "combining a feathery form factor with a long battery life," a durable, scratch-resistant chassis, and a reasonable starting price of just $899.99.

At least, the Zenbook A14 was supposed to start at $899.99. Tariffs bumped the base configuration up by $100 to $999.99 this spring, so we've been patiently waiting for it to go on sale ever since launch. This week, it finally happened.

Now through Monday, May 26, the Zabriskie Beige ZenBook A14 with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage is marked down to $799.99 at Best Buy during its Memorial Day sale. That's 20% off the laptop's new MSRP (or 11% off its original starting price), which is its biggest and only discount to date.

SEE ALSO: Hands on with the ultralight Asus Zenbook A14 at CES 2025: MacBook Airs should be scared

We haven't put the Zenbook A14 through the full paces of our laptop testing process just yet, but I briefly checked out its construction at CES and ran it through a CPU performance benchmark at home. It's impressed me on both fronts so far.

The Zenbook A14 has a bright 16:10 OLED display, a clicky keyboard, and a neutral-toned, smooth matte-texture chassis made from a magnesium-aluminum alloy that Asus calls Ceraluminum. Not only is it durable and 100-percent recyclable, but it's also amazingly light. At just 2.4 pounds (or 0.3 pounds lighter than a 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air), the base Zenbook A14 is great for travel and on-the-go work.

The Zenbook A14 isn't quite as fast as a current-gen MacBook — it's more on par with the M3 models — but it's peppy for its price point, securing a multi-core score of 11,256 in Primate Labs' Geekbench 6 performance test. That makes it the fastest sub-$1,000 Windows laptop we've ever tried. (I'll also add that it's faster than both Intel Core Ultra Series 2 models I've tested this year, both of which cost at least $1,850.)

I'm most excited to test the Zenbook A14's battery life: Asus has it rated at up to 32 hours per charge, which would mean it lasts about nine hours longer than our current battery life champ. (That would be the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite processor.) Laptop manufacturers' listed battery lives tend to be hyperbolic, but even if the Zenbook A14 surpasses the 20-hour mark in practice, I'll be wowed.

Elon Musk Suggests He Will Spend ‘a Lot Less’ on Political Donations

NYT Technology - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 11:13
The world’s richest person, who spent more money than anyone else last year as he helped elect President Trump, has indicated lately that he wants to turn back toward his business empire.

Shop Owalas Memorial Day Sale and save 30% on tumblers

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 11:11

SAVE 30%: This Memorial Day, shop Owala's tumblers for 30% off. Get a 40 oz. tumbler for just $28 and save $11.99 or a 24 oz. tumbler for $21 and save $8.99.

Owala Memorial Day Deals Owala Owala 40 oz. tumbler $28 (Save $11.99) Get Deal Owala Owala 24 oz. tumbler $21 (Save $8.99) Get Deal Amazon Owala 40 oz. tumbler $27.99 (Save $22) Get Deal

As the warmer months creep in, it's time to get hydrated. Whether you just need a new water bottle for around the house or something to accompany you on your summer travels, we've got you covered. This year, you can find dozens and dozens of Memorial Day deals across retailers. One of our favorite sales is from Owala.

Maker of the FreeSip water bottle, Owala is offering Memorial Day savings of 30%. The deal is on the brand's 24 and 40 oz. tumblers and you don't need any code to access the savings. Just add the items to your cart and the discount is automatically applied.

With the 30% savings, get the 24 oz. tumbler for $21 and save $8.99 while the 40 oz. tumbler is $28 for $11.99 off. However, if you want a little extra savings (one cent to be exact), Amazon is matching Owala's Memorial Day sale pricing. You can find the 40 oz. tumbler on Amazon for $27.99, saving you $12.

But what makes Owala's tumblers so great? Well first, the color ways the tumblers come in are just pure fun, offering a nice pop of color as you stay hydrated this summer. It fits into cup holders, has triple-layer insulation, and the lid is dishwasher safe. Plus, like its FreeSip water bottle, you can sip or swig from from this tumbler.

Just add the tumblers to your cart at Owala and enjoy 30% savings through May 26.

The Divoom TimeBox Evo pixel art speaker just dropped to a record-low price at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 11:01

SAVE $23.91: The Divoom TimeBox Evo pixel art Bluetooth speaker is on sale at Amazon for only $45.99, down from the list price of $69.90. That's a 34% discount and the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

Opens in a new window Credit: Divoom Divoom TimeBox Evo pixel art Bluetooth speaker $45.99 at Amazon
$69.90 Save $23.91 Get Deal

If we're all honest with ourselves, there isn't a single person out there who couldn't use a pick-me-up. Some of us turn to treating ourselves to a fancy cup of coffee, some of us book flights to a tropical beach, and some of us take the dog for a walk. If you're in the mood for something small that can you display at home that'll always bring joy, there's a fun deal in store today at Amazon.

As of May 20, the Divoom TimeBox Evo pixel art Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $45.99, marked down from the normal price of $69.90. That's a 34% discount that takes $23.91 off the price tag. It's also the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

A customizable piece of art, an alarm clock, a timer, a portable Bluetooth speaker - The Divoom TimeBox Evo more than proves itself as a multi-tasking device. The 16 by 16 pixel display allows you to choose from tons of preset displays in the app or design your own. This freedom can offer tons of fun for kids or prove to be a worthy desk display for anyone who works at a computer.

The best tech deals to shop this week

The alarm clock function means you can also use this Bluetooth speaker on your nightstand which is pretty perfect since you could also play white noise. The clock comes equipped with 12 wake-up sounds and 24 sleep sound options.

Expect to get about six hours of playtime with the Divoom TimeBox Evo when it's fully charged. Plus, you can set a custom schedule in the app, choosing a new display for each of the day's activities.

While it's at the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon, snag the Divoom TimeBox Evo and brighten up any room in your house. Thinking ahead, it'll make a great Father's Day gift or the perfect stocking stuffer come December.

Report says giant foldables are coming soon from Apple, Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 10:47

It's no secret that Apple is working on at least one foldable device right now, but it may have a somewhat surprising competitor in that market soon.

This information comes courtesy of Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst for TF International Securities with a long history of Apple prognostication. According to Kuo, Apple is working on an 18.8-inch foldable device for mass production in 2027 or 2028. That part is not necessarily news; other sources have corroborated that information recently, with the idea being that the device is most likely a foldable iPad. However, one detail stands out: Amazon is allegedly also working on a similar product, with mass production planned for next year at the earliest.

SEE ALSO: AirPods Pro 3 seemingly confirmed in Apple leak This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Unfortunately, Kuo's tweet didn't provide any other information about the rumored Amazon foldable. If Kuo is correct and it's a "large-sized foldable," then it's almost certainly a Fire tablet of some kind and not a phone. For reference, Amazon hasn't made smartphones since the Fire Phone in 2014. This would be an interesting development in the sense that Amazon's Fire tablets tend to be on the affordable side of the tablet spectrum, but foldables are generally anything but affordable.

We'll see how much it costs in 2027, perhaps.

IT: Welcome to Derry teaser gives us our first glimpse of 1960s Pennywise

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 10:45

Like it or not, we're going back to Derry.

On Tuesday HBO Max dropped its teaser for IT: Welcome to Derry, the much-anticipated IT prequel that takes us back to Stephen King's infamous town in the year 1962.

Just when you thought you'd gotten over that fear of clowns...

IT: Welcome to Derry is streaming on HBO Max "this fall".

Jurassic World Rebirth sees T-rex chasing a cheeky river snack

Mashable - Tue, 05/20/2025 - 10:45

The latest Jurassic World Rebirth trailer is full of snacks, including a raft of morsels frantically paddling down river from a casual T-rex.

Set five years after Jurassic World Dominion, Jurassic World Rebirth sees a crack team of experts (Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend) sent to the research facility for the original Jurassic Park to procure dinosaur DNA. Judging by the trailer, they find it alright, but life has found a way in more ways than they bargained for.

Also...baby triceratops! In a backpack!

Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One) and written by Jurassic Park's original screenwriter David Koepp, Jurassic World Rebirth looks like it's going to cram in as many dinos as prehistorically possible.

Jurassic World Rebirth hits cinemas July 2.

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator