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Eight ways Mark Zuckerberg changed Meta ahead of Trump’s inauguration

Mashable - 4 hours 42 min ago

This past week, Mark Zuckerberg set off a rapid reversal of policies — from DEI initiatives at Facebook to recommended political content at Threads and Instagram — and finished the week off with a nearly three-hour interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. It reads as what some users are calling a transparent attempt at bootlicking as preparation for a new political reality in the U.S. He doesn't seem too fearful of that assumption, either: Just last month, Zuckerberg donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund and on Rogan's podcast, released on Friday, he said he's "optimistic" about president-elect Donald Trump because "he just wants America to win."

It was such a busy week for Meta that even the most steadfast Zuckerberg news junkies might have missed some of his transformative decisions. Here's a recap of all the changes a man with the net worth of over $200 billion made to one of the most powerful and influential tech companies in the world just a week before Trump takes office.

Fact checkers are out

Zuckerberg is following in the footsteps of MAGA supporter X's Elon Musk in getting rid of fact checkers in favor of community notes. He announced on Tuesday that "it's time to get back to our roots around free expression" by "simplifying our policies and focusing on reducing mistakes." The decision was faced with incredible — albeit expected — backlash from civil and human rights organizations. As Press Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights Nora Benavidez said in a press release, "Content moderation has never been a tool to repress free speech; it is a principle that the platforms themselves developed to promote dialogue and protect truth for users."

SEE ALSO: Meta ditches fact-checking for community notes ahead of second Trump term

He defended his decision on Rogan's podcast saying he employed fact checkers who "were too biased" and claimed his own company's fact checking process was "something out of 1984." It's a remarkable comparison to a book written by a democratic socialist and member of the anti-Stalinist Left. Makes you think — has Zuckerberg read the book?

Hate speech is in

Meta decided to lift prohibitions against some hate speech on its platforms. Within these new guidelines, Meta platforms will allow users to post content that calls women property, refers to specific ethnic groups as "filth," and claims that gay and trans people are "mentally ill," despite the APA declaring 52 years ago that homosexuality is not a mental illness, for instance. Users can liken protected characteristics including "race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, and serious disease" to inanimate objects, property, and diseases. The platform also won't take action against posts that argue in favor of gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination.

SEE ALSO: Fury over Meta's relaxed hate speech policies: "I really think this is a precursor for genocide"

"We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like 'weird,'" Meta wrote. A spokesperson told CNN in a statement that Meta will still prohibit some slurs and attacks and will enforce its remaining bullying, harassment, and violence policies.

DEI initiatives are out

For some reason, Zuckerberg decided to get end its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, according an internal memo obtained by Axios on Friday. Janelle Gale, Meta's vice president of human resources, wrote the memo and said Meta would still assemble "cognitively diverse teams, with differences in knowledge, skills, political views, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences" but it will no longer offer equity and inclusion training. As the New York Times reported, the company "eliminated its chief diversity officer role, ended its diversity hiring goals that called for the employment of a certain number of women and minorities, and said it would no longer prioritize minority-owned businesses when hiring vendors."

SEE ALSO: DEI programs at Meta are done, company says

"The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing. The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made decisions signaling a shift in how courts will approach DEI," the memo reads, according to Axios. "It reaffirms longstanding principles that discrimination should not be tolerated or promoted on the basis of inherent characteristics. The term 'DEI' has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others."

Tampons are out

According to the New York Times, facilities managers were instructed to remove tampons from men's bathrooms in Meta’s offices in California, Texas and New York. Meta previously provided this for nonbinary and transgender employees who use the men's room. As Katie Notopoulos, a tech reporter for Business Insider, wrote on Bluesky, it's a clear attempt at virtue signaling.

"Probably only ever used by a handful of employees, but work for the facilities team to have to remove," she wrote. "Like, it took physical labor and coordination across 3 offices to do this."

Trans and nonbinary Messenger themes are out

Speaking of virtue signaling, Meta also deleted trans and nonbinary themes on its Messenger app this week, 404 Media first reported. These themes are a fun way to decorate your chats — a "love" them turns it pink, for instance. The trans and nonbinary themes turned the colors of the chats to match the trans or nonbinary pride flags. It's difficult to conjure up a reason these might have been disabled beyond an attempt to match its other new anti-LGBTQ policies.

Political speech on Instagram and Threads is in

Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram and Threads, announced on Thursday that the platforms will be recommending political content to users once again. You can adjust your political content control to less, standard, and more, but the default will be standard. While some users are glad to have politics back on the platform, they are concerned about the timing with the removal of fact-checkers. It is a stark reversal from its March 2024 approach to distancing itself from political content.

SEE ALSO: Instagram and Threads will now recommend political content

"Our intention is to introduce political recommendations in a responsible and personalized way, which means more for people who want this content and less for those who do not," Mosseri posted on Threads about the decision. "Our plan is to continue to listen to feedback, learn, and iterate over the next few months."

Dana White is in

On Monday, Meta announced that Dana White, the famous Trump ally and president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, would join its board of directors — yet another move that the Washington Post noted "could be seen as Zuckerberg's latest maneuver to improve ties with Trump." White was added alongside John Elkann, the billionaire CEO of the investment company Exor and Executive Chair of Ferrari and Stellantis, and Charlie Songhurst, a tech investor. The announcement comes a week after Nick Clegg, the former Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the UK, announced he would leave his post as Meta's policy chief.

The best AI laptops we saw at CES 2025

Mashable - 7 hours 58 min ago

It wasn't difficult to find a common thread among the new Windows laptops showcased at CES 2025. Beyond your expected next-generation refreshes, tech's biggest trade show was all about getting more people to buy into the idea of AI-powered PCs this year.

With consumers still hesitant to embrace AI laptops, prioritizing hardware upgrades over fancy software features, companies' selling points had to come from myriad angles. Most embraced affordability, committing to bringing Qualcomm's upcoming entry-level Snapdragon X processor to dozens of budget-friendly machines. (Copilot+ PCs that cost as much as nice Chromebooks? Yes, please.) Some explored new build materials, targeting eco-conscious consumers with chassis made from oyster shells and ultralight "plasma ceramic aluminum." One manufacturer straight-up renamed all of its long-standing laptop lines in the hopes of helping shoppers more easily find the AI PC that best suits their needs — though it doesn't seem to have gone over so well.

SEE ALSO: Best of CES 2025: Everything that stole the show, according to our experts

And then there's Lenovo, which launched a funky new "rollable" display AI laptop simply because it wanted to see what was possible with OLED technology. It's actually real this time, too.

After countless hours on the Las Vegas Strip and much deliberation, here are our three favorite AI laptops we saw at CES 2025 — plus a few noteworthy honorable mentions.

Best AI laptop overall: Asus Zenbook A14 Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Made from a magnesium-aluminum alloy called "Ceraluminum" that's sleek, tough, and 100 percent recyclable, Asus' new 14-inch ultraportable weighs as little as 2.18 pounds, depending on the model — making it the world's lightest Copilot+ PC. It features a beautiful OLED display, a gesture-controlled touchpad, and a battery life of up to 32 hours per charge, which is an unrivaled number among the laptops in Mashable's testing database. Asus hasn't explicitly said as much, but all things considered, this is an obvious answer to the Apple MacBook Air. (Those digits in its name even look like the word "AIR.") It's quite competitively priced, too.

Starting Jan. 13, a Snapdragon X Elite configuration will be available at Best Buy and Asus' website for $1,099.99. Look for a $899.99 Snapdragon X variant at Best Buy this March.

Read Mashable's hands-on review of the Asus Zenbook A14.

Most innovative AI laptop: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

We saw it coming from miles away, but Lenovo's new 14-inch business laptop with a "rollable" OLED display is officially heading to market soon. Users can expand the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6's screen with a simple hand gesture or the touch of a dedicated key; the display slides smoothly up from under its keyboard, adding 50 percent more vertical real estate. Lenovo took two years to work on this design after introducing it as a concept, and it's super sturdy and polished in person. It's a compelling new alternative to dual-display laptops for serious multitaskers, provided you can afford it.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 will start at $3,499 when it launches sometime later in Q1 2024.

Read Mashable's hands-on review of the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable.

Most unexpected AI laptop: Acer Aspire Vero 16 Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Acer's latest Aspire Vero 16 brings new meaning to the term "clamshell laptop": Its chassis is partially made from oyster shells harvested in Taiwan, where the company's headquarters is based. The shells are cleaned, crushed, and mixed with a blend of over 70 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, resulting in a durable gray case with a slightly speckled appearance. Under its hood, it runs on Intel's just-announced Core Ultra 200H processors.

The Aspire Vero 16 will start at $799.99 when it goes on sale this coming April.

Read Mashable's hands-on review of the Acer Aspire Vero 16.

Honorable mention: Lots of new GeForce RTX 50 Series gaming laptops Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 50 Series announcement was one of the biggest moments of CES 2025, and we got brief looks at several upcoming gaming laptops that will use them. (That includes the refreshed Razer Blade 16, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16, and the HP Omen Max 16, which is pictured above.) We didn't actually get to play anything on them — they just looped a few clips in our demos — so we don't have much to say about them right now except that they all look really flashy and expensive. However, we look forward to reviewing a slew of them once they start trickling out in March. Next-gen PC gaming is nearly upon us.

Honorable mention: Asus Adol 14 Air Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Asus dedicated a small corner of its CES showcase to its scented notebook made in partnership with fashion designer Anna Sui, which has a subtle, swappable fragrance diffuser built into the center of its lid. It's gimmicky, sure, but also extremely adorable. The notebook is available in four pastel finishes, including a purple one with butterfly accents and a matching quilted travel case. It's only available in China right now, but wider availability could be imminent. Put me down for one, please.

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Rocket Launch Could Give SpaceX Some Competition

NYT Technology - 10 hours 20 min ago
If New Glenn lifts off overnight as planned, the Amazon founder’s rocket company will be on track to give Elon Musk’s SpaceX some genuine competition.

U.S. satellites reveal Chinas solar dominance

Mashable - 11 hours 51 min ago

The sun's energy is plentiful. And China is capitalizing.

Images captured by two Earth-observing satellites, operated by the U.S. Geological Survey, revealed a rapid expansion of solar farms in a remote northern Chinese region, the Kubuqi Desert.

"The construction is part of China’s multiyear plan to build a 'solar great wall' designed to generate enough energy to power Beijing," writes NASA's Earth Observatory. (For reference, although all this energy won't directly power the Chinese capital, around 22 million people live in Beijing; that's over two and a half times the population of New York City.)

SEE ALSO: The Carbon Footprint Sham

The two Landsat satellite images below show a section of the major solar expansion between 2017 and 2024. Use the slider tool to reveal the changes. (For a size and scale reference, the images below are about 10 kilometers, or 6.2 miles, across.)

Left: December 20, 2017 Credit: USGS / NASA Right: December 8, 2024 Credit: USGS / NASA

And the solar complex is still growing. It will be 250 miles long and 3 miles wide by 2030, according to NASA.

Though China's energy mix is still dominated by fossil fuels — coal, oil, and gas comprised 87 percent of its energy supply as of 2022 — the nation clearly sees value in expanding renewable energy.

"As of June 2024, China led the world in operating solar farm capacity with 386,875 megawatts, representing about 51 percent of the global total, according to Global Energy Monitor’s Global Solar Power Tracker," NASA explained. "The United States ranks second with 79,364 megawatts (11 percent), followed by India with 53,114 megawatts (7 percent)."

Energy experts say that solar energy, like wind, is an important part of an energy supply, as they're renewable and have been shown to reduce energy costs. Fossil fuels, of course, still play a prominent role in most states' energy mix today.

But the economics of solar are clearly there. The proof, via U.S. satellites, is in the Kubuqi Desert.

Trump and Republicans Cannot Stop Electric Vehicles, Experts Say

NYT Technology - 12 hours 19 min ago
More car buyers are expected to eventually pick battery-powered cars and trucks as prices fall and technology improves, even if Biden-era incentives disappear.

Scientists just excavated an unprecedented specimen from Antarctica

Mashable - 12 hours 21 min ago

At an extremely remote Antarctic outpost, scientists have unearthed a pristine sample of our planet's history.

It's an ice core 2,800 meters, or some 1.7 miles, long. But it's not just the length that's so significant. The ice contains preserved pockets of Earth's air from some 1.2 million years ago, if not more. Previous ice cores provided direct evidence of our planet's climate and environment from up to 800,000 years ago.

So, this is a giant leap. The team drilled so deep they reached the continent's bedrock.

"We have marked a historic moment for climate and environmental science," Carlo Barbante, a polar scientist and coordinator of the ice core campaign called "Beyond EPICA - Oldest Ice," said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: If a scary asteroid will actually strike Earth, here's how you'll know

An international group of researchers excavated the ice at Little Dome C Field Camp in Antarctica, located 10,607 feet (3,233 meters) above sea level. They beamed radar down into the subsurface and used computer modeling of the ice flow to determine where this ancient ice was likely to be. And they were right.

This was no easy feat. Atop the Antarctic plateau, summers average minus-35 degrees Celsius, or minus-31 degrees Fahrenheit.

The location of Little Dome C research base in Antarctica. Credit: Beyond EPICA / EU Ice core drilled from the recent Beyond EPICA - Oldest Ice expedition. Credit: Scoto © PNRA / IPEV

Although paleoclimatologists, who research Earth's past climate, have reliable methods of indirectly gauging our planet's deep past — with proxies such as fossilized shells and compounds produced by algae — direct evidence, via direct air, is scientifically invaluable. For example, past ice cores have revealed that the heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere today have skyrocketed — they're the highest they've been in some 800,000 years. It's incontrovertible evidence of Earth's past.

Scientists expect this even older ice core, however, will reveal secrets about a period called the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, lasting some 900,000 to 1.2 million years ago. Mysteriously, the intervals between glacial cycles — wherein ice sheets expanded over much of the continents and then retreated — slowed down markedly, from 41,000 years to 100,000 years.

"The reasons behind this shift remain one of climate science's enduring mysteries, which this project aims to unravel," the drilling campaign, which was coordinated by the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council of Italy, said in a statement.

Tweet may have been deleted

Now, the drilling is over. But the campaign to safely transport the ice back to laboratories, and then scrutinize this over-million-year-old atmosphere, has begun.

"The precious ice cores extracted during this campaign will be transported back to Europe on board the icebreaker Laura Bassi, maintaining the minus-50 degrees Celsius cold chain, a significant challenge for the logistics of the project," explained Gianluca Bianchi Fasani, the head of ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development) logistics for the Beyond EPICA expedition.

These historic ice cores will travel in "specialized cold containers" as they ship across the globe, far from the depths of their Antarctic home.

Rule the PDF world with this app

Mashable - 12 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Say goodbye to PDF struggles with the PDF Expert Premium Plan lifetime subscription for Mac, just $79.99 (reg. $139) for a limited time.

Are you as tired of wrestling with uncooperative PDFs as the rest of us? Whether editing text, merging files, or signing forms, managing PDFs can often feel like a chore.

But with PDF Expert, you can say goodbye to the hassle. This Apple Editor’s Choice app is the go-to solution for anyone looking to handle PDF tasks quickly and efficiently on their Mac. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription for just $79.99 (reg. $139) and enjoy a professional-grade PDF tool for life.

It was designed to make handling documents as simple as possible, whether editing text in a contract, inserting images into a report, or converting a file into a new format. Everything feels seamless, polished, and straightforward, making it an ideal choice for professionals, students, and creatives alike.

One standout feature is its text editing capabilities. Imagine you’ve just received a PDF with a typo or outdated information—there’s no need to go back and forth with the sender. With PDF Expert, you can directly edit the document, update numbers, add paragraphs, or even insert links to relevant pages or external websites. It’s an all-in-one tool that ensures your documents are always presentation-ready.

Another game-changing tool within PDF Expert is its OCR text recognition. If you’ve ever been frustrated by unsearchable or uneditable scanned PDFs, this feature is for you. PDF Expert’s OCR technology allows you to convert scanned text into editable, searchable content. Whether you’re fixing formatting issues or splitting pages from a scanned document, this capability makes it easy to work smarter.

Take a look at all the features of this app and see how it can streamline your flow.

Get a PDF Expert Premium Plan lifetime subscription for Mac for just $79.99 (reg. $139).

PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) - $79.99

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This smartphone is the size of a credit card and only $90

Mashable - 12 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: For a limited time, the NanoPhone miniaturized smartphone is on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $199) plus free shipping.

When it comes to smartphones, bigger isn’t always better. The NanoPhone, a credit-card-sized mini marvel, proves that great things really do come in small packages.

For just $89.97 (down from $199), this compact wonder gives you all the essential smartphone features without the bulk of a full-sized phone.

Whether heading to a wedding, a game, the gym, or just out for the night, the NanoPhone is the perfect sidekick for staying connected without worrying about losing or damaging your primary phone.

Don’t let the NanoPhone’s small size fool you — it’s packed with features that allow you to text, call, and use apps just like your regular smartphone. With dual SIM support, you can even stay connected with two phone numbers at once, making it perfect for travel, business, or keeping your personal and work lines separate. And with 4G and WiFi connectivity, you’ll enjoy decent browsing, streaming, and app usage no matter where you are.

Sometimes, carrying around a bulky, expensive smartphone just doesn’t make sense. Maybe you’re dancing at a wedding, cheering at a game, or lifting weights at the gym. The NanoPhone is the perfect solution for these situations. It’s small enough to slip into a pocket or clutch but powerful enough to handle your voice calls, video chats, and essential apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube.

It should be noted that a SIM card/data plan is not included. If you want to utilize a 4G network for traditional phone calls, you will need to connect it to a service provider using a SIM card.

This pocket-friendly device packs most of the features you love into a mini, durable design.

Get the NanoPhone miniaturized smartphone on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $199) plus free shipping for a limited time.

NanoPhone - A Miniaturized Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! - $89.97

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New year, new productivity suite: Microsoft Office 2024 is now an additional $30 off

Mashable - 12 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Instead of paying $149 for the 2024 edition of Microsoft Office, get lifetime access for only $119.97 with this New Year's offer through January 12.

Did you hear? Microsoft has finally released the latest version of Microsoft Office—it's huge because it's been three years. The 2024 version has given your favorite apps a makeover, new productivity features, AI integration, and so much more to get you closer to your goals. 

You don't need to pay full price for Microsoft Office 2024 since this New Year's offer arrived just in time. Save an additional $30 on your Mac or PC download and grab lifelong access for only $119.97 while supplies last.

Your favorite Microsoft apps, but updated

With this lifetime license, you could drop the subscription you would usually pay for Microsoft 365, which is about $70 a year. Once you complete the one-time payment, you'll have these productivity apps on your Windows or Mac device forever.

There are a number of upgrades and additions, like a sleek, ribbon-based interface on each app for seamless navigation, so check out what's included in Microsoft Office 2024.

The most exciting feature of the newest version of this suite is its overall AI integration. Enjoy assistance from Microsoft's intelligent AI tools for text, formatting, and design suggestions across all apps. There's even AI in Excel to help you analyze data more effectively, and another one that can recommend audio descriptions and alternative text for images for greater accessibility.

Another feature that could boost your workflow is how easy collaboration is with Microsoft Office 2024. The built-in chat, commenting features, and version history could help you and your colleagues work more efficiently.

This New Year's deal is only valid through January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT, so grab your PC or Mac download of Microsoft Office 2024 while codes are still available for just $119.97.

Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase

Only $119.97 at Mashable

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Enter the new year with a like-new MacBook Air for less than $230

Mashable - 12 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Get a like-new 2017 Apple MacBook Air (1.8GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD)r for just $229.97 — perfect for everyday work tasks, streaming, and schoolwork at a fraction of the regular cost.

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You don’t need to shell out big bucks to get your hands on Apple’s sleek design and solid performance. For just $229.97, this MacBook Air packs most of the tech features you need without that typical Apple price tag. Whether you’re tackling work, school assignments, or just keeping up with Netflix, this MacBook is a great choice to help you power through your day in 2025.

This 13.3-inch MacBook Air features a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, giving you the speed you need to get things done, whether it’s writing up reports, organizing spreadsheets, or jumping between multiple browser tabs (we see you multitaskers!). Plus, it’s got a 128GB SSD to store ample files and keep them running smoothly. The Intel HD Graphics 6000 ensures that your videos stream without a hitch, making it a must-have for both productivity and entertainment.

No one likes being glued to a charger. Luckily, this MacBook Air delivers up to 12 hours of battery life, so you can get through the day without worrying about your laptop dying mid-email. And thanks to its lightweight design, it’s the ultimate on-the-go companion, ideal for remote work, study sessions, or just chilling at a coffee shop.

Rated Grade "A," this laptop is in like-new condition, meaning it looks and runs like new, just without the shiny retail price. You’ll barely notice a scratch, if at all, and the performance is just as you’d expect from a Mac.

Take advantage of this New Year offer. Don't miss this near-mint 2017 MacBook Air for just $229.97 (reg. $999) through Jan. 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Act while inventory is still available.

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Your AI Swiss Army knife is just $80 for life

Mashable - 12 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Simplify your workflow with 1minAI's lifetime subscription to the Advanced Business Plan for just $79.97 (reg. $540).

If juggling multiple subscriptions for writing, design, and other productivity tools is eating up your time (and budget), 1minAI has a solution. This Advanced Business Plan lifetime subscription combines all your AI needs — content creation, image editing, PDF management, and more — into one easy-to-use platform.

No monthly fees, no extra hassle. Just unlimited potential to streamline your work and spark creativity for $79.97 (reg. $540) forever.

1minAI is a full suite of tools designed to supercharge your productivity. Whether you’re a business owner, content creator, or freelancer, 1minAI’s robust features include everything from blog writing and SEO optimization to background image removal and audio transcriptions. Imagine having all these tools in one place, accessible with just a few clicks, and saving hundreds on monthly subscriptions.

This platform uses cutting-edge AI models to deliver high-quality results in record time. Need to rewrite a blog post or generate ideas for social media? Done. Want to create polished visuals or clean up PDFs? Easy. The free monthly credits included with the plan ensure you can explore the platform’s tools without limits, making it perfect for creative professionals and multitaskers alike.

Think of 1minAI as your AI Swiss Army knife. Instead of switching between different apps, you can access everything you need from one dashboard. The platform supports a wide range of AI-powered features, including content creation tools like paraphrasers, article generators, and keyword research. You also have access to media processing capabilities that include transcription, translation, and audio editing.

With weekly updates and new features constantly added, 1minAI is an investment in long-term productivity and innovation.

Get lifetime access to 1minAI for just $79.97 (reg. $540).

1minAI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription - $99.99

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The best movies on Peacock for the perfect night in

Mashable - 12 hours 21 min ago

Some days, it feels like there are too many streaming services and too many options. How can you possibly choose what movie to watch next?

For those of you who have Peacock (and why wouldn't you? Their TV offerings are stacked!), we're here to help. We’ve combed through the streaming service's catalog to bring you the funniest comedies, the most moving dramas, the most suspenseful thrillers, and the all-around best movies for your viewing pleasure. All you need to bring is the popcorn!

25. Marry Me Credit: Universal Pictures / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Superstar Kat Valdez can’t wait for her big wedding, which will take place during one of her concerts, live, in front of all of her fans (how all celebrities should get married, imo). But moments before the ceremony, a video leaks of her fiancé cheating on her, and Kat needs a new plan — fast. That’s when she sees Charlie Gilbert in the audience, holding his daughter’s homemade poster with the lyrics to Kat’s hit song on it — ”Marry Me.” In front of the world, Kat says “yes.” And the romantic comedy begins. 

Marry Me is a bright and bubbly watch with an earworm of a soundtrack. Owen Wilson is completely phoning it in as Charlie (how many times can one man say “I’m just a math teacher!”), but that’s perfectly fine because Jennifer Lopez brings 100% of the chemistry. She was made for this role! Is Marry Me a piece of art? No. Is it a super fun trope-fest that will leave you smiling? Helllll yes! 

How to watch: Marry Me is now streaming on Peacock.

24. Fast & Furious franchise

Universal is the proud owner of the Fast & Furious franchise, so during any given month on Peacock you'll be able to watch at least one of the 10 movies in this indelible saga of cars going fast and sometimes blowing up. Each film is technically different; the earlier entries focus more on illegal street racing, while the later pictures expand their range to include heists, spy rings, cyber terrorists, hidden nuclear arsenals, and more. However, they all orbit around a central theme: "There's a problem, and only this motley crew of street racers can solve it." And honestly, there's not much more you need to know! 

These movies are high-action, low-substance in the best possible way. They're fun, they're truly ridiculous, and they know it. And last but not least, the car stunts are absolutely insane. Celebrities love being in these movies, from Vin Diesel to Idris Elba to Dame Helen Mirren, and people love watching them. It's a no-brainer.

How to watch: Fast & Furious is streaming on Peacock.

23. Twister

Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt are Bill and Jo, two storm chasers on the brink of divorce. But when a huge tornado rolls into town, they’ll have a rare (and dangerous) chance to try Bill’s new storm data-collecting tech… as well as a rare (and dangerous) chance to reconnect. 

1996’s Twister is one of the best disaster films ever made, full stop. It’s fast-paced, believably scary, and rooted in grounded emotions. It’s a breathless, exhilarating ride (co-written by Jurassic Park’s Michael Crichton) that set the standard for its genre and turned a cow blowing away in the wind into an icon. 

More than three decades later, 2024’s Twisters attempts to recapture the magic of its predecessor and fails to stick the landing. It’s an entertaining watch (also streaming on Peacock), but the original Twister remains in a class of its own. (F5, to be exact!!!)

How to watch: Twister is now streaming on Peacock.

22. Point Break Credit: Richard Foreman / 20th Century Fox / Kobal / Shutterstock

Point Break is an iconic '90s movie in which Keanu Reeves plays rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah, who has to — and we're not kidding here — infiltrate an L.A. "surf gang" suspected of robbing banks. Very little in this movie makes any sense (the large reason Utah is assigned the undercover role is because he used to play football in college?), which is exactly why it's so dang wonderful. You've got Patrick Swayze as the enigmatic leader of a surfing cult, Gary Busey as Reeves' gruff veteran partner, and again, Keanu Reeves plays a former college football star named Johnny Utah who has to learn to surf as a matter of life and death. Point Break is ludicrous, magnificent, and fantastically, perfectly '90s. Vaya con dios, baby.

How to watch: Point Break is now streaming on Peacock.

21. Beetlejuice

Tim Burton's iconic 1988 hit Beetlejuice defies genre. It's comedy, it's horror, it's surreal, it's slapstick, it's gothic, it's fantasy, it's all of the above. And that is precisely why it's achieved “cult classic” status. It's in an echelon of its own.

Winona Ryder is waifish and moody as Lydia, a goth teen who moves to a rural Connecticut house from NYC with her dad and stepmom (Catherine O'Hara at her finest!). Unfortunately, this house is currently inhabited by two earnest ghosts (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who need a little help haunting the "livings" out of their residence. With no other options, they call Betelgeuse, a crude, fast-talking, demonic smartass for his special brand of chaotic aid. 

Since the 2024 reboot, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, was a rousing success, make sure you visit this definitive Michael Keaton performance to see where it all started. Sure, not all aspects of Beetlejuice have aged well — the age gap between a lascivious bio-exorcist from the beyond and his teen bride-to-be is just one example. But hey, it was the '80s.*

How to watch: Beetlejuice is now streaming on Peacock.

20. The Northman

Written and directed by Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse), The Northman is a dark, suspenseful retelling of a Scandinavian myth that also happens to have been the direct inspiration for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Alexander Skarsgård is Amleth, a young prince who swears revenge after his uncle murders his father and marries his mother. Years later, now a berserker Viking, Amleth has an encounter with a seer that convinces him the time to collect on that childhood promise is nigh. 

The Northman is a tense, atmospheric, and brutal historical thriller, told as if it were a story recounted around a medieval Scandinavian fire, grounded in an ancient point of view. This visually stunning but bloody revenge saga also stars Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Gustav Lindh, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, and Björk, obviously.*

How to watch: The Northman is now streaming on Peacock.

19. Ip Man Credit: Dreams Salon Culture / Pegasus Motion / Kobal / Shutterstock

Ip Man is an exciting martial arts biopic about the extraordinary life of the Wing Chun grandmaster who was Bruce Lee's teacher. The film tracks Ip Man's journey from the Southern Chinese village where he was well known as a skilled martial artist to his family's displacement during the Japanese occupation of the Second Sino-Japanese War, his eventual rise as a fighter, and his establishment of a school in Hong Kong.

Starring the skillful Donnie Yen, Ip Man doesn't skimp on character development; it's an electrifying rumination on philosophy, power, and honor in addition to its stunning action. Ip Man is a deeply influential film in the martial arts genre and, to everyone's delight, has inspired three equally stirring sequels, all of which are available on Peacock.

How to watch: Ip Man is streaming on Peacock.

18. Asteroid City

The most “Wes Anderson” of Anderson’s prolific and twee oeuvre, Asteroid City is not for everyone. If you’ve never found meaning in the stylistic artifice of an Anderson film, then you might feel similarly baffled here. But if Anderson’s whimsy has spoken to you in the past, then take comfort knowing this most recent offering might be his most intricate and affecting film to date. 

Existential and gentle, Asteroid City is a movie about a show about a play, a nesting doll artistic endeavor keenly interested in the nature of storytelling. Is it about an alien encounter in a fictional desert town or the playwright and actors who brought the fictional desert town to life? Or is it about Anderson himself, an explainer on his hyper-specific body of work? The answer is all of this and more. Asteroid City is a fanciful, emotional triumph, popping off the screen with vibrant technicolor and a stacked cast of familiar faces and vibrant newcomers. A must-see film for Anderson-fans.

How to watch: Asteroid City is now streaming on Peacock.

17. The Outfit

This clever and twisted crime flick starring the incomparable Mark Rylance was written and directed by Graham Moore, writer of the Oscar-winning The Imitation Game. Rylance is a soft-spoken British tailor in 1950s Chicago who makes beautiful, bespoke men’s suits. Unfortunately, most of his clientele are ruthless mobsters. The majority of the movie takes place in the span of one shocking and breathless night, when his gangster-clients seek shelter in the shop after an unexpected shootout from a rival organization. 

The Outfit is a sophisticated and constantly surprising thriller. Zoey Deutch is charming as Rylance’s assistant, and Johnny Flynn thrives while playing against type as a no-good ‘50s gangster. It’s an absolute gem of a film that will keep you guessing the whole way through.

How to watch: The Outfit is now streaming on Peacock.

16. Dayveon  Credit: Mama Bear Studios / Kobal / Shutterstock

Devin Blackmon stars as Dayveon, a young kid in Arkansas struggling in the aftermath of his brother's death. Unmoored and spending his days listlessly wandering the little town he lives in, he is increasingly drawn to the sense of belonging he finds in a local gang. Directed by Amman Abbasi, with a script by Abbasi and Steven Reneau, Dayveon is a sophisticated and deeply intimate film made even more incredible by the fact that its cast is primarily composed of non-actors. It's a moving and beautifully shot story that feels wholly, heartbreakingly real. 

How to watch: Dayveon is streaming on Peacock.

SEE ALSO: 13 best shows on Peacock for when you need a break or a binge-watch 15. Anita

Directed by Academy Award–winning documentarian Frieda Mock, Anita sold out its showings when it debuted at Sundance, and it’s no wonder why. This thoughtful documentary tells the story of the 1991 Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings and one of the first major sexual harassment allegations made against a government official. It’s sobering to watch the calm and poised Hill repeatedly be made to describe her experience to a panel of aging, white, male politicians who are visibly uncomfortable and baffled by the subject matter. 

For viewers too young to remember the hearings, Anita is an important, moving primer on a major event in the fight for gender equality. For those who witnessed the hearings and remember the prevailing dismissive public opinion, this documentary is a chance to relive hearings with the sober clarity of a post-Weinstein mindset and to learn just how pivotal and galvanizing this moment was in our history. 

How to watch: Anita is now streaming on Peacock.

14. Long Way North

This absolutely stunning hand-drawn film hasn't garnered as much attention as, say, Pixar's latest, but that's no reason to skip this immensely affecting French-Danish tale. Sasha (Christa Théret) is a 15-year-old aristocrat living in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the 19th century. Determined to find her missing grandfather, a famed explorer, and clear her family’s name, she locates a vessel and sets off with a motley crew into the unforgiving Arctic landscape.

Directed by Rémi Chayé, Long Way North is both an epic adventure and a human drama, exploring themes of empowerment and empathy. What truly makes this 80-minute movie special, though, is its unique artistic style. The snow-covered landscape might be stark, but Long Way North makes the icy world feel both beautiful and alive.

How to watch: Long Way North is streaming on Peacock.

13. Men in Black Credit: Andy Schwartz / Columbia / Kobal / Shutterstock

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have unmatched chemistry as Agent J and Agent K, two members of a secret government agency that has been covering up the presences of aliens on planet earth for decades — the Men in Black.

1997’s Men in Black was an unparalleled smash hit, inspiring two sequels, a spin-off, and of course, a catchy theme song from Smith (Here come the men in black! They won’t let you rememberrrrrrr!). Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (Addams Family Values, Get Shorty), written by Ed Solomon (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Now You See Me), and adapted from a Marvel comic (it all comes back to Marvel!), Men in Black hits just as hard as it did almost 30 years ago. It’s funny, it’s energetic, and it features some of the best pile-of-cockroaches-pretending-to-be-a-human acting you’ve ever seen.

How to watch: Men in Black is now streaming on Peacock.

12. Liyana

A deeply moving and singularly unique documentary, Liyana follows a group of orphans in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) as they work together to write a story. Led by South African writer Gcina Mhlophe, the children create Liyana, their main character, and through the exploration of her fictional life, begin to work through the trauma they themselves have faced. It's a captivating piece of cinema, featuring both scenic and intimate shots of the kids' lives, as well as animated renderings of Liyana's adventures. A stirring celebration of humanity and the power of storytelling.

How to watch: Liyana is streaming on Peacock.

11. 10 Things I Hate About You

Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew gets a teen rom-com makeover in 1999’s fantastic 10 Things I Hate About You. Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) wants to date the pretty and popular Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), but Bianca’s father won’t let her date until her older sister, Kat, does. Unfortunately Kat (Julia Stiles) is a scary loner who pushes everyone away — exactly what their father is counting on. Cameron has a plan, though. He’s going to bribe an even scarier loner (Heath Ledger) to seduce Kat and free up Cameron’s path to love. What could go wrong? 

Written by Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith (co-writers of Legally Blonde!), 10 Things I Hate About You is genuinely funny and easily one of the most beloved romantic comedies of the ‘90s. Heath Ledger is impossibly charming, Julia Stiles is at the peak of her career, and its emotional depth will still surprise you. Time for a rewatch!

How to watch: 10 Things I Hate About You is now streaming on Peacock.

10. Attack the Block Credit: Big Talk Productions / Kobal / Shutterstock

A South London teenage street gang unexpectedly finds themselves at the front lines of a fight against an alien invasion in this hilarious, genre-bending sci-fi adventure. Attack the Block made big waves when it debuted in 2011, with its biting social commentary, fresh characters, and perfect marriage of laughs and thrills. It also catapulted its stars John Boyega and Jodie Whittaker, into their own major science fiction franchises — Star Wars and Doctor Who, respectively. 

Produced by Big Talk Pictures, which has made some of the best genre-mashup movies in recent memory (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Attack the Block is must-watch cinema, a stunning debut for writer-director Joe Cornish.*

How to watch: Attack the Block is now streaming on Peacock.

9. Harry Potter (the entire series!)

And now the franchise that needs no introduction: Harry Potter. The original eight-movie series starts as a charming coming-of-age tale about a boy wizard learning about magic and ends as a serious and emotional allegory about fighting fascism and the lengths we will go to protect the people we love. J.K. Rowling notwithstanding, Harry Potter is our hero, Ron Weasley our goofy best friend, and Hermione our actual hero, because duh.

The quality of the movies vary based on the different directors at the helm and the age of the young leads, but the strength of the source material — paired with the prodigious gifts of the many, many storied British actors who fill out the sparkling supporting cast — assure a satisfying watch. Most agree that the final two movies, each covering half of the last book in the series, are the most enthralling in the group — but you'll have to watch them all to get what’s going on. So, you might as well start with number one, The Sorcerer's Stone, and go from there. Poor you! You're about to have a really great time!

How to watch: Harry Potter is streaming on Peacock.

8. Conclave

No one would have predicted that a movie about a bunch of Catholic cardinals scheming and politicking to elect a new pope would be such a runaway success in the year of our lord 2024, but here we are — and Conclave is a hit! While the world waits for the white smoke to announce the new leader of the Catholic church, behind closed doors, Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini argue, uncover secrets, and struggle to reconcile human fallibility with a job that is supposed to be infallible

You could sign up for this movie on that cast list alone, but Peter Straughan’s tight script (based on a Robert Harris book) and Edward Berger’s (All Quiet on the Western Front) confident direction make a Conclave truly sublime (and surprisingly fun!) modern thriller. 

How to watch: Conclave is now streaming on Peacock.

7. Belfast Credit: Focus Features / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, Belfast depicts the start of “the Troubles” from the perspective of a Protestant child living in Belfast in 1969. Nine-year-old Buddy continues to play and get into mischief as his community devolves into violence around him. His parents wonder if it’s time to leave, while Buddy wonders if he might be developing feelings for a Catholic girl. 

It’s a rosy-tinted watch, brimming with affection and infectiously loving. There may be some indulgent mythologizing here — Belfast was inspired by Branagh’s own childhood experiences — but superb performances from a stalwart cast (Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan), plus an energizing Van Morrison soundtrack, ensure this Academy Award–nominee for best picture is a true crowd pleaser.

How to watch: Belfast is now streaming on Peacock.

6. Didi

If you still know in your bones exactly what sound a new AIM message made, then Didi is the coming-of-age dramedy for you. Chris is a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American boy in 2008 and in the first generation to grow up online. While Chris attempts to figure out who he is in the world, he also makes silly videos on YouTube; reaches out to his crush on AIM; and learns the devastation of being removed from a friend’s Top Eight on MySpace. When summer is over, will Chris be ready for high school?

The authenticity of Didi is astounding. Though clearly a personal film for writer/director Sean Wang, there is no saccharine sentimentality here. It’s a deeply vulnerable and surprisingly electrifying watch that grapples with cultural identity alongside the heady joy of youth. A tribute to former T9 texters everywhere!

How to watch: Didi is now streaming on Peacock.

5. Man on Wire

In 1974, Philippe Petit walked a high wire between the two towers of the World Trade Center in NYC. Petit was later arrested for the stunt. In 2008, documentarian James Marsh made Man on Wire, a moving, awe-inspiring chronicle of Petit's audacious feat, based on Petit's own book about the event. Suspenseful, mischievous, and paced like a heist movie, Man on Wire is a riveting watch sure to keep even the most ardent documentary-avoider on the edge of their seats.

How to watch: Man on Wire is now streaming on Peacock.

4. Children of Men Credit: Jaap Buitendijk / Universal / UIP / Kobal / Shutterstock

It’s 2027, and no one can have kids. For nearly two decades, humanity has been experiencing global infertility, the consequence of which is near total societal collapse. Theo (Clive Owen) is a former activist who has currently given up and given in to nihilism. When his ex-wife returns with a dangerous request that might have huge implications for the future of humanity, will Theo step up? 

Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men is an unflinching, relentlessly gripping sci-fi thriller. Its future is not one of spaceships and lasers, but of war and hopelessness — a familiar, haunted version of our own world. The result is destabilizing: Could our own society consume itself so easily in despair? Is our stability as fragile as Theo’s? Alongside these ruminations are fantastic performances (Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor) and some absolutely breathless action sequences. Simply put, Children of Men is a masterpiece. 

How to watch: Children of Men is now streaming on Peacock.

3. Fargo

There aren't many films out there popular enough to inspire a very popular-in-its-own-right TV show, but Fargo — with its snowy North Dakota setting and offbeat black comedy style — has managed it with aplomb. One of the most memorable roles in Hollywood history, heavily pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) attempts to untangle a messy murder and its links to some hired kidnappers, with things quickly spiraling in the amusingly chaotic way only Coen brothers' movies can. Complimentary characters include a spineless William H. Macy as desperate-for-money car dealer Jerry Lundegaard, a chillingly dead-eyed Peter Stormare as hired kidnapper Gaear Grimsrud, and Steve Buscemi as his slimy partner in crime.* Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: Fargo is now streaming on Peacock.

2. I Am Not Your Negro

This powerhouse documentary packs a real gut punch with its insights about race in America. For I Am Not Your Negro, director Raoul Peck turns James Baldwin's notes for an unfinished book into an Oscar–nominated documentary. Baldwin himself appears on screen via vintage TV interviews, and as narrator, Samuel L. Jackson voices Baldwin's words in low, hushed tones. The typically animated actor sounds different as the writer, at once restrained and filled with righteous anger over how Black people are treated. 

Decades after their deaths, Baldwin began writing about the assassinations of three of his friends — Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers — and what they meant both in the past and in his present for racism in the United States. Meanwhile, Peck brings a contemporary lens, interspersing historical footage with recent videos. He demonstrates that the problems discussed by Baldwin aren't just historical; they're still plaguing America, making I Am Not Your Negro relevant as relevant today as it was when it was first released in 2016.*Kimber Myers, Contributing Writer 

How to watch: I Am Not Your Negro is streaming on Peacock.

1. Alien Credit: 20th Century Fox / Kobal / Shutterstock

You may not have seen 1979’s superb sci-fi thriller, Alien — and that's a travesty we’re here to correct — but you’ve definitely seen its cultural influence. Alien made director Ridley Scott a household name, launched creature-bursting-through-the-chest jokes into the cultural lexicon, and is widely accepted as the first action movie to feature a female lead. That’s why, more than half a century later, we’re still getting scared by its sequels and prequels (2024’s Alien: Romulus is the newest installment). But the original, and its stunning, unsettling character design from H.R. Giger, has yet to be beat. 

Sigourney Weaver became a Hollywood icon as Ripley, an officer on the commercial spaceship Nostromo that lands on a nearby planet after receiving a mysterious transmission. There, the crew finds evidence of alien life, and they try to keep it from getting onto their ship. They do not succeed. 

Exciting, fast-paced, scary, and thought-provoking, Alien is a classic for a reason — it’s just that good!

How to watch: Alien is now streaming on Peacock.

(*) denotes writeup came from a previous Mashable list.

Opens in a new window Credit: Courtesy of Peacock Peacock Watch Now

UPDATE: Jan. 6, 2025, 5:18 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect Peacock's current streaming selection.

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

Mashable - 12 hours 51 min ago

Reading an article about the Asus Zenbook A14 is doing a disservice to all parties involved. You really need to hold this thing yourself.

The new 14-inch ultraportable laptop made a splash at CES 2025 in Las Vegas this week as the "world's lightest Copilot+ PC," earning an Innovation Award in the tech show's Sustainability & Energy/Power category and multiple "best of" nods (including one from us at the CNET Group). Made from an innovative material called "Ceraluminum" that's elegant and eco-friendly, the Zenbook A14 combines a flyweight frame with next-level Qualcomm power efficiency, a bright OLED display, and a gesture-controlled trackpad — all for as low as $899.99.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

I'm old enough to remember when Steve Jobs slid the first Apple MacBook Air out of a brown envelope. And after spending some time with the Zenbook A14 in Asus' private CES showroom, I'm tempted to make the bold claim that it feels like the new standard-bearer of ultraportable laptops — barring any Windows on ARM compatibility issues. (I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that the digits in its name look a lot like the word "Air.") It's a competitively priced, full-featured AI PC that also happens to be an absolute beaut.

The scoop on Ceraluminum

Ceraluminum is Asus' trademarked name for "plasma ceramic aluminum," a strong magnesium-aluminum alloy that's scratch-resistant, shock-resistant, and 100 percent recyclable. A company rep told me it's frequently used to make luxury watches and aviation technology, and that Asus was the first to employ it in consumer electronics. It premiered in the lids of a few previous Zenbooks, but the Zenbook A14 takes things a step further with a fully Ceraluminum chassis. It has a smooth matte texture in person.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

According to Asus' rep, finishing the Zenbook A14's chassis involves a unique aluminum anodization process where its two halves are dipped in a water bath and blasted with high-voltage electricity. The color of the chassis depends on the amount of time it spends in the water — the longer it marinates, the darker it gets. Asus says its method is better for the environment than traditional aluminum anodization, which requires an acid bath. It also eliminates the need for dye.

SEE ALSO: Best of CES 2025: Everything that stole the show, according to our experts

Asus will sell the Zenbook A14 in two light hues called Zabriskie beige and Iceland gray, which are modern, minimalist neutrals that are ever-so-slightly grainy up close. (Both have a metallic Asus Zenbook logo on the back of their lids for some nice contrast.) Per Asus' rep, no Zenbook A14s look exactly the same due to the nature of its finishing process.

I can't wait to fully test this thing

The biggest takeaway from my limited time with the Zenbook A14 is also the most obvious one, which is that it's remarkably light and sleek. Everyone who strolled up to the counter where it sat at the front of Asus' showroom spent a good minute just lifting it up and down in amazement (myself included). For reference, it's up to half a pound lighter and a little under a tenth of an inch thicker than the current 13-inch MacBook Air lineup.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Zenbook A14's build quality and portability alone should make it a finalist among students and on-the-go workers shopping for a new PC, but its battery life will be one of the things that close the deal (the other being its price). Asus has rated it at over 32 hours of video playback per charge, which beats the longest-lasting laptop Mashable has ever tested by a whopping nine hours: "If you leave the house for the day, you can confidently not bring a charger," the company's rep told me. I look forward to testing this claim in a future in-depth review.

Other Zenbook A14 highlights include a vivid FHD, non-touch OLED display with a nice-for-entertainment 16:10 aspect ratio and 600 nits of peak HDR brightness. (That's 100 nits brighter than the M2 and M3 MacBook Airs, FYI.) Its keyboard is comfortable and deliciously clicky, and its touchpad supports Asus' Smart Gestures feature — you can slide your fingers to adjust the laptop's screen brightness, change its speaker volume, and fast-forward or rewind videos. It's equipped with two USB4 ports, a USB-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port for connecting an external monitor, and a headphone jack.

SEE ALSO: Lenovo's 'rollable' display laptop can expand with a simple hand gesture

Asus offers two different configurations powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series processors. The Iceland gray model is the lighter of the two at 2.18 pounds. It features a Snapdragon X CPU with 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a $1,099.99 price tag via Best Buy and Asus' online storefront. It's set for the soonest release on Monday, Jan. 13.

Coming in at 2.4 pounds (or exactly the same as a modern MacBook Air), the Zabriskie beige model will be a Best Buy exclusive with a Snapdragon X Plus chipset, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. It will retail for $899.99 when it launches sometime in March.

Get bite-size summaries of best-selling books with Headway Premium for just £49

Mashable - 17 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Save 80% on Headway, an app that summarises books into 15-minute chunks, at the Mashable Shop. Unlock lifetime access for just £49.14 (reg. £245.71) through 12 January.

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription £49.14 at the Mashable Shop
£245.71 Save £196.57 Get Deal

Is reading trendy? Depends on who you ask, but we say yes. If you want to join the conversation but can’t commit to reading full-length books, this is a clever solution.

Headway’s book summary app condenses what would normally be several hours of reading into only 15 minutes. While you don’t get access to the whole book, you’ll get its key ideas and insights. Mashable readers can get lifetime access here for only £49.14 (reg. £245.71).

Use Headway to fight FOMO

How many times have you seen someone share a book online and thought, ‘I should read that,’ but you know you’ll never actually get around to it? Headway changes your mentality completely since you now only need 15 minutes to read or listen to its summary.

As you listen and rate summaries, the app learns what you like or dislike. From that, you’ll get personalised book recommendations, just like you’re in a real book club. 

Explore more than 1,500 nonfiction book summaries and some fiction ones, too. There’ll be something new to check out whenever you open the app. You’ll recognise a lot of these titles: 

  • Atomic Habits

  • Total Recall (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s autobiography)

  • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

  • To Kill a Mockingbird

  • Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and It’s All Small Stuff

The Headway app also motivates you to come back with a daily learning streak, trophies and achievements, and challenges. You might take a 14-day Self-Confidence challenge, listen to the pre-selected books each day, and earn three trophies by the end. 

Get a Headway lifetime subscription for £49.14 (reg. £245.71) at the Mashable Shop through 12 January.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Last chance: Microsoft Office for Mac is only £33 for a few more days

Mashable - 17 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: A Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac lifetime license is on sale for £32.76 (reg. £187.59) through 12 January at the Mashable Shop

It's a whole new year — the perfect time to upgrade your productivity. If you need to use classic Microsoft tools like Word and Excel on your MacBook, then this is your chance. Mashable Readers can get Microsoft Office for Mac lifetime device licenses on sale for £32.76 (reg. £187.59).

If you use a Mac for work or personal projects, this suite offers enhanced productivity. Why can't Apple produce a decent Microsoft Word alternative? We can't answer that, but we can help you get this classic software at a discount. Even though it’s a slightly older version of Office (the most recent version is the 2021 edition), it still packs a whollop with reliable features and well-loved apps. 

Office 2019 for Mac includes essential applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. These tools are designed to meet various needs, whether you're drafting important documents, managing work or home finances, creating presentations, or organising your email and calendar.

It also includes other favourite apps, including OneNote, for amplified note-taking in one central place. It also comes with Teams Classic 2019. 

One of the best aspects of MS Office 2019 is that it’s a one-time purchase. For £32.76, you get lifetime access to the suite without the need for recurring subscription fees, like you would with Microsoft 365. The license covers one Mac device, and it lasts as long as your device does.

This deal doesn't last much longer. Get Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac on sale for £32.76 (reg. £187.59) until 12 January at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac £32.76 at The Mashable Shop
£187.59 Save £154.83 Get Deal

How to watch Gauff vs. Kenin online for free

Mashable - 17 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Gauff vs. Kenin in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first Grand Slam of the season is finally here, providing fans with an opportunity to watch the very best players in the world. The first round of the Australian Open includes some really interesting matchups, but Gauff vs. Kenin might be the best.

If you want to watch Gauff vs. Kenin in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Gauff vs. Kenin for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Gauff vs. Kenin.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Gauff vs. Kenin without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Gauff vs. Kenin in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Stephens online for free

Mashable - 17 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Stephens in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first Grand Slam of the season is finally here, and all the action is available to live stream for free. Fans from around the world can watch the Australian Open online, including the first-round matchup between Sabalenka and Stephens.

If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Stephens in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Stephens for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Sabalenka vs. Stephens.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Sabalenka vs. Stephens without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Sabalenka vs. Stephens in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Fearnley vs. Kyrgios online for free

Mashable - 17 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Fearnley vs. Kyrgios in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The focus of the first round of the Australian Open will naturally be on the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but controversial Australian star Nick Kyrgios will gain plenty of attention as well. He faces youngster Jacob Fearnley in an intriguing first-round matchup.

If you want to watch Fearnley vs. Kyrgios in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Fearnley vs. Kyrgios for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Fearnley vs. Kyrgios.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Fearnley vs. Kyrgios without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Fearnley vs. Kyrgios in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Sinner vs. Jarry online for free

Mashable - 17 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Jarry in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of the Australian Open has thrown together some really interesting matchups, and a lot of fans will be keen to see how the defending champion fares. Jannik Sinner faces Nicolás Jarry in the first round. The Italian is expected to win comfortably, but you never know. Could there be a shock exit in the first round?

If you want to watch Sinner vs. Jarry in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sinner vs. Jarry for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Sinner vs. Jarry.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

  4. Visit 9Now

  5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Sinner vs. Jarry without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Sinner vs. Jarry in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers online

Mashable - 17 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Charlotte Hornets head to Intuit Dome to face the Los Angeles Clippers in a non-conference matchup. The Hornets are 8-27, which puts them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. The Clippers are are 20-17, which puts them in seventh place in the Western Conference.

The Hornets have lost four of their last five games, but are coming off a win over the Phoenix Suns. The Clippers have also lost four of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back losses to the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

When is Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers?

Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA starts at 10:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 11. This game takes place at Intuit Dome in L.A.

As of Thursday night, the NBA has not made an announcement regarding this Clippers home game. The Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, January 9 was postponed due to the wildfires in California, and the NFL's playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium was moved to Glendale, Arizona.

How to watch Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Spurs vs. Lakers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Hornets vs. Clippers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

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