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Auto Tariffs Take Effect, Putting Pressure on New Car Prices

NYT Technology - 3 hours 19 min ago
President Trump says the tariffs will encourage investment in U.S. factories, but analysts say car buyers will have to pay thousands more.

Banish ‘cloud storage full’ notifications with a lifetime storage plan

Mashable - 3 hours 34 min ago

TL;DR: For a limited time, save £54 on 10TB of lifetime cloud storage with Internxt using code STORAGE20 at checkout (reg. $349.99).

There are few things more annoying than getting hit with ‘Storage Full. Upgrade now.’ notifications when you’re just trying to upload a few more files. Sure, you could pay for more space, but then you’re getting sucked even deeper into the subscription world. Here’s a new option: lifetime cloud storage.

Not only will you never have to worry about monthly or yearly subscription costs, but you can purchase storage plans from Internxt so high, you’ll probably never fill them up. How does 10TB of cloud space sound? Secure it for life using code STORAGE20 at checkout, dropping the price from £215.70 (reg. £269.63) this week.

(Almost) unlimited storage

With 10TB of cloud storage, you can fit about two million photos, 100,000 videos, or 20 million documents (depending on their exact size, of course). That amount of space would be a challenge to fill up on your own, so it’s a good thing you can share it with an unlimited number of devices.

More about Internxt

Internxt may not be as popular as a name like Dropbox, but that’s not a reason to write off this deal. Your photos and files are end-to-end encrypted, meaning they’re broken up into tiny pieces so they can’t be read by prying eyes. 

The company also makes its source code open to the public, so programmers and tech nerds can analyse it and ensure there are no vulnerabilities. That’s a lot more honesty than you’ll get from big-name brands.

Use code STORAGE20 at checkout to get an Internxt 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription for £215.70 (reg. £269.63) for a limited time at the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan £215.70
£269.63 Save £53.93 Get Deal


How to watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix online for free

Mashable - 3 hours 34 min ago

TL;DR: Watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix for free on ORF. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 F1 season has started with a lot of unpredictable racing and entertaining moments. The McLaren team look in super strong form, but there's a crowd of drivers just waiting to pounce if they're anything less than perfect. Lando Norris leads the standings after two races, but all eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda in his Red Bull debut in Japan.

If you're interested in watching the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix?

The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix takes place over 53 laps of the 5,807-kilometer Suzuka Circuit. The full schedule can be found here:

  • Practice — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. JST on April 4

  • Practice 2 — 3 to 4 p.m. JST on April 4

  • Practice 3 — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. JST on April 5

  • Qualifying — 3 to 4 p.m. JST on April 5

  • Race 2 p.m. JST on April 6

The good news for fans is that it's possible to live stream the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix without spending anything.

How to watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix for free

The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix is available to live stream for free on ORF.

ORF is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access free live streams of F1 from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ORF from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a 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 Austria

  4. Connect to ORF

  5. Watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix from anywhere in the world

Please be aware that Formula 1 take the view that the use of a VPN to watch content from another territory may be a breach of the relevant broadcasters’ terms of service and may constitute copyright infringement. It is your responsibility to ensure that your use of a VPN is legal and Mashable does not encourage any illegal use of a VPN.

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams without actually spending anything. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can stream the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming F1 live is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for F1?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming F1 for free, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

  • Fast streaming speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.

Hurdle hints and answers for April 3, 2025

Mashable - 3 hours 34 min ago

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A tropical wood.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BALSA

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Decay.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ERODE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

An aquatic predator.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SHARK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Popular in skincare.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SERUM

Final Hurdle hint

A divine being.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

DEITY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 3

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 22:00

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Not energized

  • Green: Something a receiver runs

  • Blue: Mascots for women's teams on ice

  • Purple: Share the same first word

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Grow weary

  • Green: Football receiving routes

  • Blue: PWHL teams

  • Purple: Sports _________

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #192 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Grow weary - EXHAUST, FATIGUE, TIRE, WEAKEN

  • Football receiving routes - DIG, FADE, POST, WHEEL

  • PWHL teams - CHARGE, FLEET, FROST, VICTOIRE

  • Sports _______ - CAR, CENTER, ILLUSTRATED, WRITER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 22:00

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Get the bug

The words are creepy crawlers.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are insects with 'bug' in their name.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Entomology.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 3
  • Lightning

  • Lady

  • Stink

  • Assassin

  • Potato

  • Doodle

  • Entomology

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 22:00

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 3 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: A physical message

  • Green: You'll find them in ALDI, Costco, etc.

  • Blue: Things with tags

  • Purple: The first word is the same

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Printed notification

  • Green: Seen at a grocery store checkout counter

  • Blue: Things with tabs

  • Purple: Palm __

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #662 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Printed notification: ANNOUNCEMENT, BULLETIN, NOTICE, POSTER

  • Seen at a grocery store checkout counter: CONVEYOR BELT, REGISTER, SCALE, SCANNER

  • Things with tabs: BROWSER, FOLDER, KEYBOARD, SODA CAN

  • Palm __: BEACH, READER, SUNDAY, TREE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 3

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 22:00

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 3 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 3, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To cut off hair.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SHEAR.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 3

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

The Dimension 20 cast chooses their ultimate Intrepid Heroes squad

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 18:11

The Dimension 20 cast (Brennan Lee Mulligan, Ally Beardsley, Lou Wilson, Siobhan Thompson, and Zac Oyama) locked in to draft their ultimate teams of characters from Intrepid Heroes campaigns.Which PC will be the first pick?

Which cast members betray each other in order to get the characters they want? And most importantly, which of these teams do you think will prevail in a no-holds-barred battle royale?

The new season of Dimension 20, Dimension 20: Titan Takedown, premieres Apr. 2 at 7 p.m. ET on Dropout.

Trump’s New Tariffs Test Apple’s Global Supply Chain

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 17:35
The iPhone maker spent years trying to move production of some products out of China to avoid tariffs. But now that may not matter.

Mark Zuckerberg Lobbies Trump to Settle Antitrust Suit Against Meta

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 17:22
The Meta chief, who was at the White House on Wednesday, has discussed the case with the president and his aides. A trial is set to start in less than two weeks.

To Counter Trump’s Tariffs on Goods, Countries May Hit Back at US Services

NYT Technology - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 17:05
Service sectors make up the vast bulk of the American economy, which gives trading partners some clout in trade negotiations.

Streamline your workday with a collection of AI tools you only have to pay for once

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 16:53

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 1min.AI's Advanced Business Plan, which offers a collection of almost all the major AI models for only A$158 (reg. A$856).

There's been talk about AI taking people's jobs, and we're here to say you should let it — at least when it comes to your own time-consuming and tedious busy work. Rather than using your time writing rejection emails or proofreading sales reports, AI could do it for you. All you need to have AI become your new favorite coworker is to grab this 1min.AI subscription for A$158 (reg. A$856).

Here's what you'll get with 1min.AI:

  • Lifetime access to GPT, Gemini, Llama, Midjourney, and more AI models with a one-time payment.

  • User-friendly interface: This makes it easy to dive in and start creating, whether you're familiar with or new to AI tools.

  • PDF manipulation tools: Edit, merge, or split PDFs with ease — perfect for organizing documents.

  • Content generation: Speed up your workflow with AI tools for writing, designing, presentation creation, etc. 

  • Use one of the AI models to join virtual meetings, code, or even edit videos.

  • No need to bounce between multiple AI models ever again since all of them are neatly organized in 1min.AI.

  • With the credits you get with this 1min.AI plan, you can use them to generate AI content. The Advanced Business Plan lets you generate 1.1 million words or 1,100 images every month, and your credits renew monthly.

Offload your least favorite (or time-consuming) day-to-day tasks to AI with this 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan lifetime subscription, now just A$158 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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A Minecraft Movie review: The sandbox game successfully respawns as a film

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 15:00

Alfred Hitchcock had blondes, MacGuffins, and director’s cameos. Spike Lee has dolly shots, New York settings, and fourth-wall breaks. And Jared Hess has tots, llamas, and frequent use of “friggin.’” 

I’m not saying that the Napoleon Dynamite director is on the level of those two auteurs. However, it’s impressive that despite being an adaptation of a juggernaut of a video game, A Minecraft Movie still feels like a Jared Hess movie at its core, even down to its setting in Idaho (when it isn’t set in the world of Minecraft, that is).

Jack Black as Steve, Danielle Brooks as Dawn, and Jason Momoa as Garrett in “A Minecraft Movie." Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

A Minecraft Movie could have simply been driven by its mammoth video game origins, content to drop in-jokes and references inscrutable to those who haven’t dived into playing Minecraft and delightful to those who have. That would have been the safe route — and it’s one that most IP adaptations are OK with taking — but oddly, Warner Bros. and game studio Mojang appear to be fine with Hess putting his own quirky stamp on this universe. 

Maybe it’s not so odd after all. From my limited understanding of the game (very limited as a childfree adult who googled “Minecraft explainer” on my way to the theater), creativity and making the world your own are valued within Minecraft gameplay. And even if I hadn’t done five minutes of pre-screening research, A Minecraft Movie is vocally explicit in espousing imagination as a key to success in the Minecraft land of Overworld.

The plot of A Minecraft Movie is a lot — and also not the point. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The plot of this family-friendly adventure is challenging to explain succinctly; whether that’s my fault as a Minecraft noob or has to do with the five credited writers (Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James, and Chris Galletta) is up for debate. Mine-obsessed Steve (Jack Black) accidentally discovers a portal (in a mine, naturally) that leads to Overworld, an animated universe filled with blocky animals, trees, and structures. Steve masters building and crafting in Overworld and decides to stay, especially after he bonds with a cube-shaped dog that he names Dennis. 

Later, that same Overworld portal also sucks in former video game champion Garrett “Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), realtor/mobile zoo entrepreneur Dawn (Danielle Brooks), and two young siblings, Henry (Sebastian Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers). They discover the rules of Overworld by trial and error, learning how to build structures and craft tools during the day and simply trying to stay alive at night, also by building and crafting, amidst attacks from zombies, spiders, and creepers. Their experience basically echoes the game’s mods: in Create, players focus on constructing their own world, while Survive finds them attempting to not die with each nightly assault from creepy creatures.  They go on a quest for the movie’s MacGuffin — the cube-shaped Orb of Dominance — where they encounter more creations that made the kids in my screening lose their little minds with excitement. Meanwhile, they try to avoid the invading hordes from a hell-like underworld populated by beefy, blocky pigs and ruled by the sorceress Malgosha (voiced by Taika Waititi–favorite Rachel House). 

Beyond all of … that, A Minecraft Movie also features a wholly unnecessary subplot about a cubist Overworld citizen who stumbles into our world and encounters Henry’s daffy, oversharing vice principal, played by Jennifer Coolidge. These scenes could have been cut out entirely without affecting anything else on screen, but a credits sequence offers payoff. It’s hard to be too mad at its inclusion because it exists as a vehicle for Coolidge, who also starred in Hess’s Gentlemen Broncos, and is very much on the same comedic page as the filmmaker.

Jason Momoa and Jack Black are at their comedic best. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Leads Momoa and Black are also on Hess’s weirdo wavelength. Momoa stars as the has-been video game king with a wardrobe of fringed jackets and a glorious curly shag haircut, and his deadpan delivery is the most hilarious the Aquaman actor has ever been. Hair-metal-loving Garrett is desperately trying to recapture his previous glory, and Momoa speaks in the oh-so-serious-but-oh-so-funny cadence that will be familiar to anyone who watched Napoleon Dynamite on repeat. 

Similarly, Black has his trademark exuberant energy that borders on obnoxiousness, and it’s the perfect fit for this perfectly silly movie and its young audience. Some adults may not find Black entertaining, but they are old and boring. For his second round with Hess, following Nacho Libre, Black gets that the director doesn’t want naturalistic performances steeped in Stanislavski. A Minecraft Movie isn’t attempting to be subtle; it’s the bigger, the better, and Black understood the assignment.

In her first film appearance post-Oscar nomination for 2023’s The Color Purple, Brooks isn’t given a ton to do. However, if everyone in the cast were operating at the over-the-top level of Momoa, Black, and Coolidge, A Minecraft Movie would be overwhelming and exhausting, a fate it somehow skirts despite everything going on here. Hansen and Myers, the two young actors playing brother-and-sister duo Henry and Natalie, are charming enough and comical when they’re required to be, but it’s easy to get lost amidst the bigger performances and the backdrop of blocky animated sheep.

All those weird right angles and the oddly inorganic shapes of the organic things of Overworld mean that the animation and special effects don’t have to — and shouldn’t — convince the audience they’re real. Minecraft itself looks pretty low-fi, and the visuals of Hess’s film work well within that established style. Yet it doesn’t look cheap; it’s as though Warner Bros. didn’t mind spending a little money in anticipation of the pile of money the film will likely make.

Napoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess brings his signature silly style. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

While I don’t love that IP rules the box office, Hess’s tater-tot-grease-stained fingerprints are all over A Minecraft Movie. It feels like it was made by a human — and a wonderfully weird one — rather than simply churned out by a studio or media conglomerate to take advantage of their property. It’s fun and funny, fully engaged with the spirit of the game, in which creativity and imagination rule. It doesn’t feel like it’s pandering to kids, but, as evidenced by the giggles at my screening, they were enjoying it. For adult viewers who require logic in their storytelling, however, mileage may vary. 

“This place makes no sense,” Natalie says at one point with a tinge of exasperation, and she is speaking for all of us uninitiated. While it is largely coherent, A Minecraft Movie is all over the place. But no one in the audience is here for the plot. They’re either watching A Minecraft Movie for their love of the Minecraft world or because they love someone who loves it and isn’t old enough to drive themselves to the movie theater. As far as video game adaptations and children’s films go, A Minecraft Movie is so much better than it needs to be. 

Parents will likely find this film more entertaining than listening to their kids talk about Minecraft for the equivalent amount of time (101 minutes, for the record). A Minecraft Movie might also provide a deeper understanding of the universe (Minecraft’s, not the real one) for those who haven’t experienced it firsthand before. It’s a good primer for the game that never feels like homework.

A Minecraft Movie opens in theaters nationwide and in IMAX on April 4.

Sketch trailer: Tony Hale takes on a kids monster drawings that have come to life

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 14:28

A child's fanciful drawings coming to life sounds like the start of a sweet adventure. But what if said child's drawings were of monsters with foreboding names like the Blood Eater?

That's the hook of the upcoming film Sketch, directed by Seth Worley, which sees 11-year-old Amber's (Bianca Belle) imagination literally running amok. She's the artist behind such creatures as the Blood Eater, which "eats blood and pukes the blood back onto people," as well as other strange, often one-eyed beings.

Her drawings cause concern in everyone around her, including her widowed father Taylor (Tony Hale, The Decameron). Yet he at least tries to understand where Amber is coming from, telling his sister Liz (D'Arcy Carden), "She's working through some stuff."

When a magic mishap brings Amber's creations into the real world, Taylor finds himself swept up in an adventure alongside her, Liz, and his eldest son Jack (Kue Lawrence). Check out the trailer above for glimpses of the film's colorful creatures, which promise to bring tons of fuzz and glitter to the big screen.

Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko praised Sketch in her review out of the Toronto International Film Festival, calling it "a fantastically fun and heartwarming movie with a slathering of weird that makes it a real treat."

Sketch hits theaters Aug. 6.

Best Buys offer on Nintendo Switch games is great, but heres why you should wait to shop

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 14:16

SPEND $150, GET $20: As of April 2, Best Buy is offering a $20 reward for every $150 you spend on Nintendo Switch games, gift cards, and select accessories. The deal is available to all My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members until Aug. 3, so we recommend waiting until some Nintendo Switch 2 game preorders pop up before shopping.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch games, gift cards, select accessories Spend $150, get $20 (exlcusive to My Best Buy Plus and Total members) Get Deal

Amongst all the Nintendo Switch 2 excitement, Best Buy has announced a big promotion to commemorate the upcoming launch of the iconic gaming company's newest handheld console. From April 2 to Aug. 3, My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members can get a $20 credit for every $150 they spend on select Nintendo Switch games, accessories, and gift cards. It's a great opportunity to stock up on all the Nintendo goodies you want ahead of the Switch 2 launch, but just be aware that this offer does not apply to Nintendo Switch hardware, so you won't be able to use it for any console purchases or preorders.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo announces 'Hollow Knight: Silksong' for Switch 2

But before you start shopping, hear us out: We think you should wait. Well, not too long — just until some of those Nintendo Switch 2 titles go up for preorder. The promotion will most likely include some of those marquee games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza when they're available to buy, and we wouldn't want you to miss out on that. So, be patient and have your Switch 2 shopping list at the ready. (If you don't plan to upgrade to the Switch 2, go nuts.)

There's some other fine print you'll want to keep on your radar, too. You'll only be able to receive a maximum of five $20 vouchers (which you'd get for spending $750 total), and each voucher needs to be used within 30 days of issuance. Nothing too extreme, but we'd hate to see you miss out on your free money because you didn't spend it quickly enough. Once you finish shopping, your credit should show up in your Best Buy account approximately 15 days after your purchase.

Your Netflix alternative is here, and it’s only A$23 for a lifetime

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 13:00

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to BitMar’s content finder for A$23 through 27 April only with code BITMAR5 at checkout (reg. A$238).

Here’s a challenge: cut the cord with your streaming services. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, all of them. You’re likely paying hundreds each year in subscription fees and, chances are, you still can’t find the one movie you want to watch on any of them.

All of these reasons are probably why so many people are turning to BitMar, a streaming service alternative. You know how you can find some free movies or TV shows available online if you dig hard enough? This powerful search engine does that for you. And, for a limited time, you can get it for A$23 with code BITMAR5 at checkout (reg. A$238).

Wait…how does it work?

BitMar is powered by the Bing search engine, but it only has eyes for free streaming content. You’ll use a far more user-friendly interface to plug in a channel, genre, actor, or a specific movie or TV show you have in mind, then this content aggregator scours the web to find it.

Is it legal? Yes. BitMar is fully compliant with copyright laws — and it’s simply locating content already available on the web.

If you’re wondering why you wouldn’t just spend the time searching for it yourself, that’s the reason right there — it saves you time. BitMar also filters out the garbage to leave you with high-quality, ad-free content.

Enjoy no subscription streaming with a BitMar lifetime subscription at A$23 with code BITMAR5 at checkout (reg. A$238). This coupon code expires after 27 April.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription AU$23
AU$238 Save AU$215 Get Deal

Amazon is reportedly trying to buy TikTok

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 12:55

TikTok could soon be a part of Amazon.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Amazon had bid to purchase TikTok before the potential ban deadline on April 5. The Times noted, however, that the offer might not be the most likely to go through.

The paper reported:

"Various parties who have been involved in the talks do not appear to be taking Amazon’s bid seriously, the people said. The bid came via an offer letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, according to a person briefed on the matter."

TikTok has until April 5 to find a U.S. buyer, a date set by President Donald Trump after giving the China-owned app an extension upon taking office. A host of rumored suitors have been named, including Oracle, Microsoft, Project Liberty, and several more billionaires.

Breaking News: Amazon made a last-minute bid to acquire all of TikTok as the app approaches an April deadline to be sold by its Chinese owner or face a ban in the U.S., people familiar with the offer said.

[image or embed]

— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) April 2, 2025 at 12:18 PM

This story is developing and will be updated with more information.

Get the Nespresso Vertuo coffee and espresso maker for 41% off at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 12:31

SAVE $89: As of April 2, you can get a Nespresso Vertuo coffee and espresso maker for just $129.99, down from $219. That's a 41% discount and an $89 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker $129.99 at Amazon
$219 Save $89.01 Get Deal

If you’re tired of schlepping to your local coffee shop every morning for a caffeine fix, dealing with coffee grounds, and cleaning your machine, it might be time to invest in a pod-based coffee maker. Specifically, a coffee and espresso machine that can do it all right on your kitchen counter.

As of April 2, you can get the Nespresso Vertuo coffee and espresso maker for $129.99 at Amazon. That’s a 41% discount and $89.01 in savings (enough to cover a few weeks of lattes).

SEE ALSO: The best coffee machines for modern kitchens

The Nespresso Vertuo machine is designed to brew single-serve coffee and espresso using Nespresso Vertuo capsules. Bonus: If you go online and create a Nespresso account, you can get a pre-labeled recycle bag to fill with your used capsules and ship it back to Nespresso to recycle.

This machine heats in just 25 seconds and includes an extra-large 54-ounce water tank, so you can fill it and forget it (for at least a few days). You’ll also get a complimentary starter set of Nespresso capsules with your purchase.

Save $200 on a new Google Pixel Tablet at Woot

Mashable - Wed, 04/02/2025 - 12:27

SAVE $200: As of April 2, get the Google Pixel Tablet for $299.99, down from its usual price of $499.99, at Woot. That's a discount of 40%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Google Pixel Tablet $299.99 at Woot
$499.99 Save $200 Get Deal

Sometimes you need more screen real estate than a phone can provide you with. Whether you want something to watch your favorite shows and movies with on the go or a better way to handle multitasking while you work on your morning commute, a tablet is always a good option. You can get a tablet that fits all your needs without spending an arm and a leg too, all without skimping on quality. Thanks to this Woot deal, you can save big time on a new Google Pixel Tablet.

As of April 2, get the Google Pixel Tablet for $299.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $499.99. That's a discount of 40%.

SEE ALSO: The best live deals on tablets in the Amazon Big Spring Sale 2025

We named the Google Pixel Tablet as an honorable mention in our list of the best tablets available, and for good reason. The Google Pixel Tablet is powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip with 8GB of RAM and 8MP cameras on both the front and back. It boasts a crisp 11-inch screen with 256GB of storage and a battery life of 12 hours, depending on usage. Best of all, it's quite attractive and lightweight.

One of the best things you can do is add the charging speaker dock, which turns the tablet into a second monitor with excellent audio. This deal doesn't include the dock at this price, but it's something to keep in mind to make this purchase even better.

If you're ready for a new tablet that can handle whatever you need on a daily basis, this one is worth scooping up.

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