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Clear the air with $50 off the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 12:37

SAVE $40: As of March 21, get the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier for $49.99, down from its usual price of $99.99, at Amazon using the on-page $20 off coupon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier $49.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you keep a tidy house but don't have an air purifier somewhere, you're missing out on breathing ultra clean air. It can be a game-changer when it comes to allergy season or unexpected events such as wildfires. If you've been waiting for a great option that can do all that for you without breaking the bank, it's here at Amazon, and you can even save a bit more thanks to an on-page coupon.

As of March 21, get the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier for $49.99, down from its usual price of $99.99, thanks to a 30% discount and an on-page coupon you can clip for an additional $20 off. Your discount will be added automatically.

SEE ALSO: Refresh your home with these early home deals ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale

This air purifier can clean up to 232 square feet of space in your home, and it activates five times an hour, so it can handle additional space as well, serving up cleaner air every 30 minutes. You can turn on its intelligent auto mode to adjust its air speed based on the condition of the air around it as well, so if you have air with more particles that need cleaning, it'll detect them and start to clean more or less based on the environment.

You can control the purifier's settings via app or voice, and it can also connect to any smart assistants in your home as well. And if you're ready to get some shut-eye, you can set it to sleep mode to keep from waking you up when it powers on. It's all about setting and forgetting, and at this price, it's a no-brainer.

Video game industry makes it easier to find accessible games for disabled players

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 12:22

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a national video game industry trade association, unveiled a new Accessible Games Initiative this week, intended to standardize information for players with disabilities and backed by major names in the world of gaming, including Electronic Arts (EA), Nintendo, and Ubisoft.

Announced at this year's Game Developers Conference, the accessibility initiative includes 24 new tags and associated criteria that elucidates in-game features or controls, helping players better understand if they'll be able to play a game before they buy. Examples include "clear text," "large and clear subtitles," and "narrated menus," which enable access for people who are blind or have low vision. Tags like "playable with buttons only," "playable without touch controls," and "stick inversion" are necessary for players with various motor skills.

According to the ESA, standardized tags will make it easier for players with disabilities to find and assess games with built-in accessibility features or assistive device compatibility, and even provide useful information for parents and teachers seeking out games for young children. Currently, game companies use their own in-house accessibility tags in marketplaces, when and if they are available.

SEE ALSO: DOGE and Musk's USAID shutdown probably violated the U.S. Constitution

“Tens of millions of Americans have a disability and often face barriers to experiencing the joy and connection that comes with playing video games,” said ESA president and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis in a press release. “This initiative demonstrates how impactful we can be when we work together in our industry-wide pursuit of helping more people experience the power of play.”

Industry giants Google, Microsoft, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, as well as recent sign-ons Amazon Games, Riot Games, Square Enix, and Warner Bros. Games have agreed to update their offerings with the new tagging system, as well.

Game accessibility has garnered more focused, industry-wide attention in recent years. In December, EA announced it would be expanding its Patent Pledge program, a commitment to providing royalty-free IP and accessible technology patents to developers without fear of infringement claims. "By making this technology available to others royalty-free, we want to encourage the industry to work together to make video games more inclusive by removing unintended barriers to access," wrote EA senior vice president Kerry Hopkins at the time.

Industry buy-in, however, is voluntary, and companies that have signed on to the Accessible Games Initiative, as well as the digital storefronts that carry their games, will release accessibility tags on their own timelines. Once tags are added, however, players will be able to spot them by an Accessible Games Initiative logo on the product listing — they are only available in English, for now.

Get the Google Pixel Watch 3 for $60 less at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 12:22

SAVE $60: As of March 21, you can get the Google Pixel Watch 3 at Amazon for $339.99, down from $399.99. That's a 15% discount and a $60 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm) $339.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $60 Get Deal

Tracking your steps with a smartphone isn’t always convenient or accurate. If you want to get serious about your health and fitness, investing in a high-quality smartwatch might be a good idea.

And right now, you can get the Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm) for $339.99, down from $399.99, at Amazon. That’s a $60 discount and just $10 more than the lowest price we've seen for this particular model.

SEE ALSO: I tried on the new large Pixel Watch 3 and it's stunning — just beware of this one thing

The Google Pixel Watch 3 provides advanced fitness tracking via Fitbit, with heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and custom workouts to help you reach your goals. With 24 hours of battery life and a 40% larger screen than previous models, you can easily keep track of your stats all day long.

"Each morning, Morning Brief delivers a summary based on your health and workout metrics," Mashable's East Coast Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon writes in her review. "For example, you'll get a daily digest of how you slept, your readiness score (how prepared your body is for physical exercise), weekly exercise progress, heart-rate variability, breathing rate, and blood-oxygen level."

You can also take calls, send messages, and access your favorite apps right from your wrist. If you have a Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell, you can even check your feeds on the Pixel Watch's display.

Ruggables spring sale gets you up to 20% off of their most popular washable rugs

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 12:07

SAVE UP TO 20%: As of March 21, Ruggable is hosting a sitewide spring sale that can net you up to 20% off their most popular styles. Just use code BLOOM at checkout to redeem the offer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable Ruggable Spring Sale — save up to 20% Get Deal

Spring has finally sprung, and what better way to celebrate than to brighten up your living room with a brand-new rug? One that won't hang onto stains for dear life, is plush and bouncy, and most importantly, at least 15% off the original price.

If that sounds good to you, you'll want to check out the Spring Sale that popular rug brand, Ruggable, just launched. The sale gets you at least 15% off sitewide, and up to 20% off if you buy more than one. That's a decent deal, so might as well double up. Just use code BLOOM at checkout, and the discount is yours.

SEE ALSO: Need a robot vacuum that actually works on carpet? These 3 performed the best in my home.

What makes Ruggable special? It's mainly the fact that their rugs are completely machine-washable, meaning you won't have to get down on your hands and knees to start scrubbing when you come across a stain that's more set-in than usual. On top of that, they're also water- and stain-resistant, and totally interchangeable with their other rug covers as long as you're using a Ruggable pad. So, you can pick up a few styles and switch them up as you see fit — whatever makes the room feel right. Each rug comes in either a flatwoven or tufted style, so it's up to you if you'd rather a plush feel, or something that's more flush with the ground (which is better for areas with higher foot traffic). Don't miss out on Ruggable's Spring Sale — use code BLOOM at checkout and score up to 20% off your purchase.

Take $107 off the Asus Expertbook CX54 and level up your productivity on the go

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 12:04

SAVE $107: As of March 21, get the Asus Expertbook CX54 Chromebook (Intel Core Ultra 5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) for $592.99, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's 15% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Expertbook CX54 Chromebook (Intel Core Ultra 5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) $592.99 at Best Buy
$699.99 Save $107 Get Deal

Chromebooks are an excellent option if you need a laptop that's zippy enough to handle multiple demands on the go. A phone or tablet can get you through a few tasks, but a Chromebook can handle just about anything. They aren't all built the same though, of course, so if you have an extensive workload, you need something that can help you tackle more. That's what you get with this particular model that's on sale at Best Buy.

As of March 21, get the Asus Expertbook CX54 Chromebook (Intel Core Ultra 5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) for $592.99, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's $107 off its usual price, or a discount of 15%.

SEE ALSO: The best laptop deals ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale — it's all about MacBooks so far

This Chromebook is a more business-oriented option that packs an Intel Core Ultra 5 chip with Intel graphics, 8GB of RAM, a 14-inch screen, and 128GB SSD to handle all your files. Its crisp screen packs a 2560 x 1600 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, so no matter whether you're creating a PowerPoint presentation or working on word documents, you'll be looking at a lush screen.

If you're interested in leveraging the power of AI with Google Gemini, this laptop is capable of doing that as well, with an additional free 12 months of Google One AI Premium with your purchase at Best Buy as well. And at just 2.87 pounds and 0.67 inches thick, it's portable enough that you can slip it into a bag and go without having to worry about being weighed down.

It's a great laptop for a discounted rate, so grab yours before it goes out of stock.

Amazon deal of the day: Garmins fancy vívoactive 5 smartwatch is on sale for just $209

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 11:37
Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of March 21: OUR TOP PICK Garmin vívoactive 5 $209 (save $90.99) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Beats Pill $99.95 (save $50) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Shark IZ163H Pet Plus Cordless Vacuum $199.99 (save $100) Get Deal RUNNER-UP SMARTWATCH DEAL Google Pixel Watch 3 $339.99 (save $60) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Anker Sondcore P20i earbuds $19.99 (save $20 with on-page coupon) Get Deal

The Amazon Big Spring Sale officially kicks off next week (running from March 25 through 31), which means there are already plenty of deals floating around. If you're looking to do a little retail therapy heading into the weekend, we've rounded up a few of the best deals we could find that are already live at Amazon as of March 21.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are appealing to you, be sure to check out our picks from March 19 and 20. Many of those deals are still live, including a record low price on the Google Pixel 9 Pro and DJI Osmo Action 4.

Our top pick: Garmin vívoactive 5 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $209 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $90.99 Get Deal

There's no denying that Garmin makes some of the best smartwatches on the market. While we haven't personally tested the latest vívoactive 5, we spent some time with its predecessor and were huge fans. "The vívoactive 4 is an excellent smartwatch for active people wanting to be more in tune with their bodies, and for less active individuals who have the desire but need a little nudging to stick to their goals," our reviewer writes. The newer iteration upgrades the AMOLED display, improves the heart rate sensor, enhances sleep and stress coaching, and adds even more sports apps. While it's regularly $299.99, it's on sale for just $209 in the ivory shade as of March 21. That's 30% in savings. Want another color? The black, navy, and orchid options are also on sale for $219.99.

Beats Pill Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Pill $99.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Beats upgraded its Bluetooth speaker last year, addressing many of its predecessor's downfalls. The new Beats Pill boasts angled drivers, hefty bass, a capable speakerphone, waterproof design, and a lengthy 24-hour battery life. As per our sister site PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis): "The durable, feature-rich, and stylish Beats Pill speaker delivers impressive bass for its size and costs much less than the original." It's usually $149.95, but you can snag it in black, champagne, or red for only $99.95 as of March 21. That's 33% in savings.

Shark IZ163H Pet Plus Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark IZ163H Pet Plus cordless vacuum $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100 Get Deal

The Shark IZ163H Pet Plus is designed to help you keep pet hair at bay, and it's on sale for only $199.99 at Amazon as of March 21. That's 33% in savings and matches its best price ever. It features a self-cleaning brushroll, HEPA filter and anti-allergen complete seal, 40-minute battery life, and a multi-flex wand to help you deep clean pet hair from any angle. Plus, its cordless design lets you convert it into a hand vac to tackle any hard-to-reach spots.

Google Pixel Watch 3 Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 3 $339.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $60 Get Deal

Released at the 2024 Made by Google event, the Google Pixel Watch 3 added some potentially life-saving features. Some of those include loss of pulse detection and the ability to call 911. It also improved heart rate tracking accuracy, added more advanced running features, and upgraded the design with smaller bezels (more screen real estate) and a brighter display. As of March 21, you can get the 45mm option with WiFi for just $339.99 instead of $399.99. That's 15% in savings.

Anker Soundcore P20i Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore P20i earbuds $19.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $20.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal

Need to replace your lost or broken earbuds, but don't want to spend a fortune? Our favorite budget earbuds, the Soundcore P20is, are down to just $19.99 at Amazon as of March 21 (with an on-page coupon). That's half of their usual cost. We're shocked at how impressive these buds are for the price. Thanks to equalizer presets on the companion app, they can produce the kind of well-rounded sound you'd expect from earbuds three times the price. Not to mention, their battery life outshines the AirPods at 10 hours per charge. You can even set up to three touch controls on each earbud and locate them using a "find device" feature.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Leave the cleaning to the machines with 43% off the Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 11:17

SAVE $300: As of March 21, get the Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop for $399.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's a discount of 43%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop $399.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $300 Get Deal

Tired of spending time vacuuming and mopping up all the dirty areas in your home? You and everyone else. Why not delegate all that work out to robotos so you can sit back and relax on the couch? You can do that at a discount with a great robot vacuum and mop that can handle all those tasks for you while saving money thanks to this Amazon deal.

As of March 21, get the Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop for $399.99, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's $300 off and a discount of 43%.

This all-in-one cleaning station can tackle both vacuuming and mopping. It can power through dirt and caked-in grime in your carpet and hardwood floors as well as mop your floors to get rid of all of those pesky messes elsewhere. It can even dry the floor that it's mopped, with 180 rotations per minute and dual sweeping and mopping modules for simultaneous cleaning that can improve its approach, meaning you don't have to work as hard.

There's also a roller brush that rotates forward and in reverse to detangle and loosen tangled hair so that you can get through those rough spots in your carpet, be it human or pet hair, and get your carpet much cleaner than a simple run-through with a regular vacuum. Plus, set up cleaning paths, scheduling, and other options via the included app.

So if you're tired of doing all the cleaning work, it's time to leave some of it for the machines, while saving some serious cash at the same time.

Apple sued over Apple Intelligence feature delays

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 11:04

A federal lawsuit was filed on Wednesday accusing Apple of false advertising with regards to its suite of Apple Intelligence features.

The lawsuit is seeking class-action status with financial damages for users who may have purchased newer Apple devices hoping to use Apple Intelligence features that aren't actually out yet, Axios reports.

SEE ALSO: The 33 best Apple TV+ shows, ranked

The substance of the lawsuit is that Apple has advertised certain Apple Intelligence features that either weren't available at the time of advertisement, or still aren't available now.

One notable example is the newer, more intelligent version of Siri, which was heavily advertised on TV last year with a commercial starring Bella Ramsey of The Last of Us fame. Those Siri features, which include more personalized interactions, are still not available.

Apple has since pulled that particular ad, but whoever filed this lawsuit must believe the damage is already done. This could go nowhere, or could it eventually result in you getting a check in the mail for $7. Only time will tell.

Save $20 on the Keurig K-Express single-serve coffee maker at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 11:04

SAVE $20: As of March 21, you can get a Keurig K-Express single-serve coffee maker for $69.99 at Amazon. That's a 22% discount and a $20 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig K-Express single serve coffee maker $69.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $20 Get Deal

If coffee’s the first thing on your mind in the morning, having a single-serve coffee maker could be a smart investment. Traditional coffee pots are nice (especially when that oh-so-good coffee smell is wafting around the kitchen), but if you’re in a hurry and need a quick cup, a single-serve machine can be a lifesaver.

And right now, you can get the Keurig K-Express single serve coffee maker for just $69.99 at Amazon. That’s a 22% discount and $20 off the list price.

SEE ALSO: The best coffee machines for modern kitchens

The Keurig K-Express can brew 8-, 10-, or 12-ounce cup sizes in under a minute. There’s also room to fit a travel mug under the spout, so you can fill up and head out. Plus, the 42-ounce removable water reservoir means you can brew about four cups before needing a refill.

For those who prefer a bolder taste, there’s a “strong brew” button, and it takes K-Cup pods, so you have a wide variety of roasts and flavors to choose from. If you’re not into K-Cups (for whatever reason), Keurig also sells a reusable filter cup that lets you use your own ground coffee.

Get a free $10 gift card when you preorder Elden Ring Nightreign at Best Buy

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 11:01

GET $10: As of March 21, Best Buy is offering a free $10 gift card when you preorder Elden Ring Nightreign.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bandai Namco 'Elden Ring Nightreign' + $10 Best Buy gift card $39.99 at Best Buy
Get Deal

If you're like us and are literally foaming at the mouth for more Elden Ring, you've most likely already accepted that you're going to buy Elden Ring Nightreign on day one. May we suggest buying it even earlier, though?

We say this because Best Buy is generously offering a free $10 gift card to those who preorder Elden Ring Nightreign on their site. That's it; no strings attached. We love saving money on games, but we love it even more when we can save on a huge title that isn't even out yet.

SEE ALSO: Why 'Elden Ring' will (or won't) get you into 'Souls' games

Elden Ring Nightreign is a transformative take on the Elden Ring formula that sees players team up with other fellow tarnished to fight challenging enemies within the structure of a roguelike game. Each area of the game is procedurally generated and features a time-limited, shrinking battle arena à la Fortnite that — in true From Software fashion — all culminates in a big boss battle. While there's a single-player mode that you can jump into with one of the game's eight premade characters, the co-op title is meant to be experienced with a full squad of three. Elden Ring Nightreign officialy releases on May 30, 2025, so get your preorder in now!

Find your stuff and keep your sanity: Snag an Apple AirTag for $24

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 10:19

SAVE $5: As of March 21, you can get an Apple AirTag for just $24 at Amazon. That's a 17% discount and a $5 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag $24 at Amazon
$29 Save $5 Get Deal

If you've ever lost your keys while in a rush or misplaced your wallet when it mattered most, you might want to consider a backup plan to help recover your valuables — especially if you’re a frequent flyer.

Enter: the Apple AirTag. At just $24 (they’re 17% off at Amazon right now) per tag, this little gadget could mean the difference between panic and peace of mind.

SEE ALSO: I tried the AirTag alternative for wallets, and these are my thoughts

Apple AirTags work by Bluetooth to connect to the massive Find My network, which includes over a million active Apple devices. This lets you find your lost items with the tap of a button on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can even share the location of your item with a third party, like a friend, family member, or an airline, to make the search easier. It also has a built-in speaker that’ll play a little chime when you’re getting close.

The battery lasts about one year, the device is IP67 water and dust-resistant, and you can attach it to just about anything. I snapped one to my dogs’ harness in case one of them escapes the fence.

At $24, you really can’t beat the value.

Atomfall review: A hauntingly British apocalypse that’s fun, flawed, and frustrating

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 10:00

Rebellion StudiosAtomfall is a step in the right direction as we (hopefully) near the end of an era where every big-budget RPG feels like a 60-to-80-hour commitment. After Assassin’s Creed Valhalla pushed the boundaries of just how much game a game could have — and not necessarily for the better — it’s refreshing to see an action RPG that actually lets you slow down, take a breath, and just exist in its world for a minute.

Rather than drowning you in an endless sea of map markers, side quests, and fetch missions that feel more like a to-do list than an adventure, Atomfall offers something different. It’s a game that trusts you to explore at your own pace rather than constantly screaming at you to engage with yet another system or mechanic. That’s a rare thing in 2025.

SEE ALSO: 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' is the best one in years, sometimes in spite of itself

Yet while Atomfall never overstays its welcome, there’s still a part of me caught between seeing its simplicity as an element that allows it to shine, or as a weakness.

Warning: There are minor story spoilers ahead.

Welcome to Cumbria Credit: Rebellion Studios

Atomfall is an action-survival RPG set in 1960s Northern England, five years after the real-life Windscale nuclear disasterone of the worst in history. UK-based Rebellion Studios takes that tragedy and twists it into an eerie, fictionalized quarantine zone where no one gets in or out.

You step into the shoes of a nameless, silent protagonist who wakes up in a mysterious bunker with no memory of who you are or how you got there. Your only objective? Find the Interchange — a secret research facility run by the British Atomic Research Division (B.A.R.D). Along the way, you’ll cross paths with all kinds of groups: ruthless outlaws, fractured military units, fanatical druids, and villagers doing their best to pretend that everything’s just fine. Oh, and there's the mysterious voice that talks to you through red telephone boxes.

A mysterous voice calls to you and it sounds like Count Orlock. Credit: Rebellion Studios

All of this unfolds against the backdrop of a hauntingly beautiful rural county of Cumbria.

Unlike most RPGs, Atomfall ditches the usual objective-based quest structure in favor of its unique "Leads" system. Instead of waypoints and a checklist telling you exactly where to go, you piece together your next steps through conversations with NPCs, scattered letters, and old cassette tapes found throughout the quarantine zone. There’s no omniscient map marker holding your hand — just the clues you’ve gathered and whatever notes you decide to take. That said, you can manually place compass markers to help keep track of potential points of interest.

It’s a refreshingly intuitive approach to immersive storytelling that more games should experiment with. Elden Ring and Dark Souls employ something similar, but in a way that’s deliberately cryptic — hiding lore in item descriptions and letting players fill in the blanks. Atomfall, on the other hand, makes its world feel more organic, turning every discovery into a genuine "aha" moment rather than just another step on a to-do list.

Credit: Rebellion Studios

For example, when reaching Wyndham Village — currently under occupation by The Protocol, the initial quarantine military units sent in that got left behind — I was stopped at the gate and told to speak with Captain Sims, a man with a keen interest in outsiders. Sims, suspicious of anyone who manages to wander into the zone, offers me information if I agree to do a little reconnaissance for him. He wants to know if any of the villagers are up to something shady — because, beyond just playing Big Brother, he’s got reason to worry. It turns out that, after the disaster, a significant number of villagers ran off into the woods and started a cult.

This set me off on a round of conversations with the town’s key figures: the barkeep, the baker, the priest, and the general store owner. Each of them had their own skeletons in the closet — secrets they were hiding from Protocol. From there, I had a choice. I could either rat them out to Sims or help them in their struggles, playing the long game in a town built on paranoia.

It’s moments like this that Atomfall does well, but overall, the story isn’t much to write home about. While the Leads system is certainly unique in presentation, at the end of the day, it’s still just a standard quest structure — except now, you’re piecing things together on your own instead of following a flashing objective marker.

And when it comes to the game’s six possible endings, the setup starts to feel a little formulaic. Every NPC who offers you an escape route from the zone follows the same basic pattern: two main missions, then a final choice involving the Interchange — the mysterious B.A.R.D facility at the heart of it all. Do you destroy what’s inside? Or do you use it to further someone else's objective? Or you can say screw it, go full chaos mode, and wipe out every NPC in the game. It’s entirely possible — and honestly, it's a blast.

Atomfall really wants to hammer home the idea of trust in desperate circumstances, but it isn’t exactly subtle about it. Some characters start off friendly, but the moment you gain their trust and follow their direction, it’s as if a switch flips — you can immediately tell you’re being railroaded into a "bad" ending. Across my 25-hour playthrough on PlayStation 5, I saw four of the six possible conclusions, and none of them felt particularly satisfying.

Worse yet, the game seems weirdly disconnected from its own mechanics. Despite its fast-paced, action-heavy combat — where nearly every enemy attacks on sight — the endgame slides had the nerve to chastise me for “choosing a violent path.” Huh? What game were you watching?

At the end of the day, Atomfall’s Leads system is a great idea with plenty of potential, but its execution leaves a lot to be desired. There’s something there, but it just doesn’t quite stick the landing.

What's it going to be then eh? Credit: Rebellion Studios

Despite Atomfall giving off some serious Fallout vibes, don’t be fooled — this isn’t a Bethesda-style RPG. It leans far more into action than survival, with only a sprinkle of RPG elements. Everything from combat to crafting to NPC interactions feels lighter and less complex compared to games like Fallout or S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

And honestly? That’s okay.

That said, Atomfall’s combat feels very much in line with modern shooters. Guns are heavy, realistic, and come with a hefty dose of recoil, while melee combat is slow, weighty, and brutally visceral. The game also introduces a heart rate (stamina) system, where high-energy actions like sprinting, jumping, or fighting affect your ability to aim or land heavy melee strikes. Managing this system adds an extra layer of tension, forcing you to think before you rush into combat.

Your arsenal consists of classic "roadman" weaponry — knives, police truncheons, and even a good old-fashioned cricket bat. You can also use the controller triggers to kick enemies back, keeping them at a proper distance when things get too close for comfort. But enemy variety? Pretty thin. You’re basically dealing with four types: ranged enemies, melee enemies, and two kinds of giant robots — one with a minigun and another with a flamethrower. And that’s about it. Oh, and the rats. Fuck the rats.

Credit: Rebellion Studios

For ranged weapons, you have your four standard categories: rifles, pistols, shotguns, and SMGs. Each type has about two or three variations that you can loot from enemies or stumble upon in the world. And, of course, there’s the trusty bow and arrow, because no survival game is complete without one.

Oddly, you can’t craft arrows or ammunition, which feels like an oversight in a game that leans into survival elements. However, you will be scavenging for cloth, herbs, gunpowder, gun oil, and alcohol to craft healing items, potions, and throwable explosives.

Stingy bastard. Credit: Rebellion Studios

Then there are the consumables, which lean heavily into the UK’s famously thrilling cuisine. You can drink tea to slow your heart rate, or chow down on tomatoes, potatoes, cake, and tins of meat — fully immersing yourself in the reality of just how bland the British diet can be.

Instead of a traditional currency system, Atomfall goes full bartering mode. Traders don’t deal in cash; instead, they judge your trade based on item value, with a simple indicator showing how fair the exchange is. Each trader has their own priorities — if someone has a stockpile of bandages, they aren't going to care much if you try to offload more. But if you’re offering something rarer, like a good weapon or food, they’ll be more willing to cut a deal.

Exploring the Quarantine Zone A qurantine inside a quarantine. Credit: Rebellion Studios

If the idea of wandering through a radiation-soaked wasteland born from a catastrophic scientific failure feels familiar, that’s because it is. Plenty of games have tackled the "post-disaster exclusion zone" concept before, and Atomfall fits right into that tradition. In many ways, it shares a lot of DNA with Pacific Drive, the 2024 survival game about navigating an anomalous Pacific Northwest in a barely functioning car. But where Pacific Drive had procedurally generated areas, Atomfall trades that for four distinct regions of Cumbria — ones you’ll be tediously backtracking through over and over again.

Players will find themselves scouring every inch of Wyndham Village, Slatten Dale, Skettermoor, and Casterfell Woods. Minus the village (if you're a good boy), each area is controlled by a different faction, and they all attack on sight. The areas themselves aren’t particularly massive — you can walk from one end to the other in about five to 10 minutes — but actually reaching your objectives can feel like a bit of a slog. Thanks to the Leads system, you’ll inevitably find yourself bumbling into locations you weren’t supposed to reach yet, which can be either exciting or frustrating, depending on how well-equipped you are at the time.

True to its survival-lite approach, Atomfall keeps resources — especially ammo — scarce. You’re never stocked up enough to just go in guns blazing, which encourages stealth and precise shot placement to avoid getting swarmed by the game’s surprisingly large enemy patrols and encampments. However, the stealth system is barebones at best, and enemy AI is so painfully dumb that you can often clear out an entire camp without much effort.

That being said, Atomfall’s world is genuinely beautiful in that eerie, “nature reclaiming civilization” kind of way. Wyndham Village has all the hallmarks of a quaint post-war township now caught in an unsettling limbo. Casterfell Woods is dense and foreboding, packed with towering trees and strange creatures lurking in the shadows. Slatten Dale, a hilly, industrial landscape, revolves around its abandoned mine and quarry. And then there’s Skettermoor — once-picturesque farmland now reduced to scorched earth, patrolled by trigger-happy soldiers looking for an excuse to shoot first and ask questions never.

Nothing fundamentally changes if you don't upgrade your skills. Credit: Rebellion Studios

Atomfall’s RPG elements are about as light as they come. There’s a simple skill tree that gradually unlocks as you find training manuals scattered throughout the world — either bought from traders or hidden in specific locations. The placement of these manuals adds some great environmental storytelling, like finding a bow mastery manual in an abandoned castle’s archery camp or a combat training manual from a former soldier-turned-merchant in Skettermoor. That said, if traders don’t have them, they can be obscenely hard to find, and you don’t really need them to complete the game.

You can also collect skill points from B.A.R.D crates found in bunkers across the map. The skills themselves? Basic RPG fare — damage buffs, poison resistance, faster looting. Nothing groundbreaking, but enough to give you a slight edge.

At its core, Atomfall presents itself as a deep, complex experience, but the longer you play, the more you realize it’s a fairly casual adventure dressed up in survival-horror aesthetics. That said, credit where it’s due — technically, the game runs impressively smooth for a 2025 release, with few noticeable bugs or performance hiccups. And in an era where broken day-one launches are the norm, that alone feels worth celebrating.

Is Atomfall worth it? Credit: Rebellion Studios

Atomfall is one of those games that feels like it’s on the verge of being something special but never quite gets there. It has a strong identity — a post-apocalyptic adventure wrapped in eerie British folklore, with a heavy dose of survival mechanics and a unique quest system — but its execution is often at odds with its ambitions.

The Leads system is an intriguing alternative to traditional quest markers, allowing for organic discovery and player-driven exploration. However, at the end of the day, it still boils down to standard RPG quest structures. You’re just piecing together objectives through notes and conversations instead of being explicitly told where to go. It’s immersive, sure, but also frustrating when backtracking through the game’s small yet tedious world.

Where Atomfall does shine is in its atmosphere. The environments are beautifully crafted, from the eerie, cult-infested Casterfell Woods to the scorched farmland of Skettermoor. The game leans into its setting with immersive environmental storytelling, and it’s refreshing to see a post-apocalyptic world that doesn’t just look like a generic wasteland. It also runs remarkably well, with few technical issues — something that feels increasingly rare in modern game releases.

If you’re looking for an RPG-lite survival experience with immersive exploration, tense combat, and a uniquely British setting, then Atomfall offers enough to be enjoyable — especially if you go in knowing its limitations. However, if you’re expecting deep RPG mechanics, intricate storytelling, or a truly open-ended experience, you may walk away underwhelmed. It’s a game with a lot of great ideas, but it never fully commits to any of them. As a mid-tier survival-action RPG, it’s solid. Is this the next Fallout or S.T.A.L.K.E.R.? Not quite.

Atomfall arrives March 27 on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and PC.

For more Mashable game reviews, check out our OpenCritic page.

Severance Season 3 gets confirmed by Apple

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 08:27

Splendid news, followers of Kier: Severance has officially been renewed by Apple TV+ for Season 3.

Given that the show is the most watch TV series on Apple TV+, per the press release, the news isn't all that much of a surprise — but it's still reassuring to know that some of our burning questions from Season 2 will eventually be answered.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' puts a spin on the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in its Season 2 finale

The finale ended on yet another big cliff-hanger, with Mark S. (Adam Scott) finally rescuing his outtie's wife Gemma (Dichen Lachman), only to abandon her for Helly (Britt Lower) when he returned to his innie form. We leave Mark and Helly running through the corridors of Lumon's severed floor, trapped in a situation that it's difficult to imagine them finding a happy way out of.

“I couldn’t be more excited to get back to work with Ben, Dan, the incredible cast and crew, Apple and the whole Severance team,” said Scott in a press release. “Oh hey also – not a huge deal – but if you see my innie, please don’t mention any of this to him. Thanks.”

“Making Severance has been one of the most creatively exciting experiences I’ve ever been a part of,” said executive producer and director Ben Stiller. “While I have no memory of this, I’m told making season three will be equally enjoyable, though any recollection of these future events will be forever and irrevocably wiped from my memory as well.” 

Gmail search just got a lot smarter, thanks to AI

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 07:57

Gmail's search function kinda sucks, but it's about to get better.

On Thursday, Google announced a "smarter search feature powered by AI" in Gmail, which should display the most relevant results for your queries.

Until now, Gmail's search would just show a chronological list of emails that contain the keywords you gave it. If your inbox is anything like mine, this is often completely useless, as nearly any keyword will surface hundreds of emails that have nothing to do with what I really need.

Now, however, Gmail's search results will factor in elements such as recency, most-clicked email,s and frequent contacts. Google says that as a result, the emails you're looking for will be "far more likely to be at the top of your search results." What took you so long, guys?

The new search is now rolling out globally for users with personal Google accounts, both on the web, and in the official Gmail app on Android and iOS.

Once this is live, you'll be able to toggle between "most relevant" and "most recent" options above the search results.

SEE ALSO: Google delayed the Pixel 9A slightly, right after announcing it

Right now, the feature isn't available to business users, but Google says it's coming "in the future."

The 33 best Apple TV+ shows, ranked

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 07:06

We're officially overloaded with streaming services by 2025, with each costing a pretty penny of your pay packet to keep. Whether you decide to shell out for a service typically comes down to the shows and movies on offer, whether you're looking for buzzy Netflix series or HBO prestige TV. But there's an underrated competitor in the mix, especially for TV shows.

Apple TV+, Apple's own streaming service, has become better and better over the years, hitting it out of the park with sci-fi smashes like Severance, Silo, and Foundation, along with comedy wins like Shrinking, Bad Sisters, and Ted Lasso — plus a few curveballs mixed in here and there.

SEE ALSO: What is Apple TV+?

One important thing to know? Apple TV+ is not the same thing as Apple TV. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder explains it, "Apple TV is both the name for the set-top-box hardware device that you buy and connect to your TV, as well as the app that's available on Apple TV (the set-top-box), as well as Macs, iPhones, and other TV operating systems. And then there's Apple TV+, which is Apple's streaming service and a competitor to Netflix, HBO Max, and others."

Got it? So, what are the best TV shows on Apple TV+? Here are our picks of the streaming service's original series, ranked.

33. The Shrink Next Door Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell in “The Shrink Next Door." Credit: Apple TV+

Inspired by true events, The Shrink Next Door sends Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell into a complicated web of manipulation, power plays, and mic-drop moments. The series hinges on unethical psychiatrist Dr. Ike Herschkopf (Paul Rudd) and his patient, Marty Markowitz (Will Ferrell), who have a dysfunctional relationship that becomes more and more imbalanced and twisted as Ike weasels his way into Marty's life. Kathryn Hahn stars as Marty’s younger sister Phyllis, and Casey Wilson plays Bonnie, Ike's wife. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Kathryn Hahn, Casey Wilson, Cornell Womack, Sarayu Blue, Robin Bartlett, and Gable Swanlund

How to watch: The Shrink Next Door is streaming on Apple TV+.

32. Defending Jacob Chris Evans, Jaeden Martell, and Michelle Dockery in “Defending Jacob." Credit: Apple TV+

Given its grim subject matter, Mark Bomback's crime drama won't be for everyone. Defending Jacob follows Assistant DA Andy Barber (Chris Evans), whose life is thrown into turmoil after his son Jacob (a haunted Jaeden Martell) is charged with the murder of a classmate. The show immediately chucks us in at the deep end, with the question of Jacob's innocence hanging over the Barber family like a storm cloud that threatens to badly damage or even break them altogether. It's tense, well-written, and the acting — including a disturbingly memorable turn from Michelle Dockery as Jacob's struggling mother, Laurie — is excellent across the board.

Some have argued that the show doesn't do enough to justify its dark storyline, but I found it to be a horribly suspenseful exploration of how far familial bonds will stretch before they snap altogether. Can you ever fully know anyone? Can you trust your closest family members no matter what? Love them no matter what? These are the questions Defending Jacob asks, and, as the Barber family wrestle with each new piece of evidence that comes to light, the answers don't come easy. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: Defending Jacob is streaming now on Apple TV+.

31. Palm Royale Carol Burnett and Kristen Wiig in "Palm Royale" Credit: Apple TV+

Kristen Wiig infiltrates the world's most exclusive country club in Emmy–nominated comedy Palm Royale. The year is 1969, and underdog Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons (Wiig) wants nothing more to be a part of high society in Palm Beach, Florida. That means crashing the lavish Palm Royale club, where she'll be met with snobbery and disdain at every turn. While Palm Royale is far from Apple TV+'s best comedy offering, it does boast an all-star cast of comedy greats, including a fabulous Carol Burnett. And you just can't beat those costumes. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Laura Dern, Carol Burnett, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae, and Josh Lucas

How to watch: Palm Royale is now streaming on Apple TV+.

30. The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin Hugh Bonneville and Noel Fielding in "The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin." Credit: Apple TV+

If you don't mind your history a little revisionist and plenty ridiculous, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is for you.

Based on the exploits of Essex brigand Dick Turpin (Noel Fielding in full Vince Noir mode), the series seizes on the fact that Turpin's life was wildly romanticised after his death at 33 (by hanging, for horse theft) — then amps it up to 11. Rolling about the woods with his Essex Gang of misfits, Turpin takes on a peril of the week in Monty Python meets Our Flag Means Death meets The Mighty Boosh–fashion. Throw in some cameos from Britain's biggest comedians, with standout appearances by Tamsin Greig, Greg Davies, and Sex Education's Connor Swindells, and you've got a surreal, satisfying, history-adjacent adventure on your hands.* S.C.

Starring: Noel Fielding, Tamsin Greig, Greg Davies, Connor Swindells, Michael Fielding, Mark Heap, Ellie White, Duayne Boachie, Marc Wootton, Dolly Wells, Asim Chaudhry, Sindhu Vee, and Simon Farnaby

How to watch: The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is now streaming on Apple TV+.

29. Sunny Rashida Jones in "Sunny." Credit: Apple TV+

A robot and a grieving woman make for an unlikely crime-solving duo in soft sci-fi mystery Sunny. Rashida Jones stars as Suzie, an American expat living in Kyoto, whose husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and son Zen (Fares Belkheir) go missing in a plane crash. Following their disappearance, she receives Sunny, a companion robot Masa developed for her at work. Despite hating robots, Suzie decides to work with the ever-cheerful Sunny to uncover the truth about Masa's work and his and Zen's accident. The ensuing journey takes this odd couple pairing deep into a criminal underworld of gang showdowns and robot fighting rings. While occasionally bloated, Sunny's central duo and sci-fi world-building make it well worth the watch. — B.E.

Starring: Rashida Jones, Joanna Sotomura, annie the clumsy, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Jun Kunimura, Judy Ongg, and You

How to watch: Sunny is now streaming on Apple TV+.

28. Shining Girls Elisabeth Moss in “Shining Girls." Credit: Apple TV+

Imagine the ghoulish love child of Sliding Doors and Zodiac, and you'll get the gist of this mini-series adaptation of Lauren Beukes' 2013 crime novel. Created by Silka Luisa, Shining Girls centers on Kirby Mazrachi (Elisabeth Moss), an archivist whose reality has been shifting without warning ever since she was viciously attacked and left for dead in 1980s Chicago. One moment she's living with her mom, and the next she's married to a co-worker she barely knows. She doesn't understand why this is happening but is certain it connects to a stalking serial killer (Jamie Bell), who's been targeting fantastic women across decades.

Featuring graphic violence, time-travel twists, and harrowing revelations, Shining Girls can be a tough watch. But its finale episode makes it all worthwhile. Luisa smartly buttons up the mysteries of these murders, their un-aging perpetrator, and what it means to become disentangled on a molecular level. More than answers, however, this finale gives poetic justice to its villain and a hard-won empowerment to its harried heroine. Which, considering how Kirby's quest to be believed plays like the most extreme version of a domestic violence survivor's experiences coming forward, is darkly and deeply satisfying. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Phillipa Soo, Wagner Moura, Jamie Bell, Erika Alexander, Amy Brenneman, Chris Chalk, and Madeline Brewer

How to watch: Shining Girls is now streaming on Apple TV+.

26. Masters of the Air Austin Butler in "Masters of the Air." Credit: Apple TV+

If you loved Band of Brothers and The Pacific, you need to watch Masters of the Air. Based on Donald L. Miller's book, John Shiban and John Orloff's Emmy–winning World War II series follows the 100th Bomb Group (known as "The Bloody Hundredth" due to heavy losses), the U.S. Army Air Force bomber and fighter battalion deployed to England in 1943 as part of the Allied war effort against Germany. Austin Butler and Callum Turner lead the charge as the real Major Gale "Buck" Cleven and Major John "Bucky" Egan, and the series moves through the missions, downtime, tragedies, and sense of camaraderie within the unit. Yes, the series takes some creative liberties, but producers Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Gary Goetzman threw 10 years and $250 million at the show — so when you're experiencing a live-or-die tactical manoeuvre, you're in the pilot's seat. — S.C.

Starring: Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Barry Keoghan, and Anthony Boyle

How to watch: Masters of the Air is now streaming on Apple TV+.

27. Hijack Idris Elba in "Hijack." Credit: Apple TV+

Set over seven real-time hours, Hijack is something you could finish on a flight but should absolutely not watch on one. With Jim Field Smith and Mo Ali directing, and Idris Elba in the lead, this Apple TV+ series is about a plane hijacked on its way to London. Elba plays Sam Nelson, a corporate negotiator who tries to bargain with flight KA29's villains all the way to the final humdinger of an episode. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes in her review, "Hijack is the perfect show to watch if you want to get sucked into a mildly ridiculous, yet totally engrossing scenario. You'll squeal as our heroes brave danger, swoon at Elba's charisma, and even chuckle at some choice one-liners."* — S.C.

Starring: Idris Elba, Neil Maskell, Archie Panjabi, Max Beesley, Christine Adams, Jude Cudjoe, and Eve Myles

How to watch: Hijack is now streaming on Apple TV+.

25. Central Park Meet the Tillermans. Credit: Apple TV+

It's a show central in our hearts. Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad, and Nora Smith's sharply scripted animated musical comedy Central Park hinges on New York family the Tillermans: park manager Owen (Leslie Odom Jr.) and journalist Paige (Kathryn Hahn), their son Cole (Tituss Burgess), and daughter Molly (Kristen Bell in Season 1, Emmy Raver-Lampman in Season 2). They're the custodians of Manhattan's beloved green space, which comes under threat by bespectacled wealthy villain Bitsy Brandenham (Stanley Tucci), accompanied by her assistant Helen (Daveed Diggs). It's a plight all hilariously narrated by Gad as park busker Birdie — the show's absolutely brimming with songs.

"Whether it's throwaway jokes or spotlight solos, the cast both elevate and benefit from Central Park's tight, confident writing," writes Proma Khosla in her review for Mashable. "Central Park is a show that easily wears all hats. The storylines are simple, but it's [their] style and sensibility that make them so enjoyable. It's a show that can soothe you by being on in the background but offers nonstop punchlines and Easter eggs if you give it your full (deserved) attention." — S.C.

Starring: Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess, Kristen Bell, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Stanley Tucci, Daveed Diggs, and Josh Gad

How to watch: Central Park is now streaming on Apple TV+.

24. The Buccaneers Alisha Boe, Josie Totah, Kristine Frøseth, Aubri Ibrag, and Imogen Waterhouse in "The Buccaneers." Credit: Apple TV+

If you're yearning for the next season of Bridgerton, The Buccaneers will satiate your Regency thirst. Based on Edith Wharton’s final novel and created by Katherine Jakeways, The Buccaneers is a 19th-century romantic drama with diabolical narrative twists and long-simmering romantic leads, as well as that requisite anachronistic modern soundtrack and the lavish design of our society ball dreams.

The story sees a group of young American ladies — Nan St. George (Kristine Frøseth), Jinny St. George (Imogen Waterhouse), Lizzy Elmsworth (Aubri Ibrag), Mabel Elmsworth (Josie Totah) — who are drawn to England after their friend Conchita Closson's (Alisha Boe) high-society wedding to an English lord. Arriving in London, the newcomers face deep social scorn while channelling their own. But there's also a rugged array of suitors taking a turn about the landscape, including a forlorn duke who enjoys standing on clifftops — and who must be in want of a wife. — S.C.

Starring: Alisha Boe, Josie Totah, Kristine Frøseth, Aubri Ibrag, and Imogen Waterhouse

How to watch: The Buccaneers is now streaming on Apple TV+.

23. Mythic Quest Charlotte Nicdao, Rob McElhenney. and Danny Pudi in “Mythic Quest." Credit: Apple TV+

Whether you're into gaming or not, you should check out Mythic Quest. From the crew behind It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia comes four seasons (and a spinoff show Side Quest) of ups and downs inside the video game industry, specifically within the offices of a game studio responsible for the show's titular MMORPG. The cast — including Rob McElhenney, Charlotte Nicdao, Jessie Ennis, Ashly Burch, Danny Pudi, and more — are superb, the commentary on gaming is bang on, and the show's standalone episode, "Dark Quiet Death," has to be one of the best of all time. — S.C.

Starring: Rob McElhenney, Charlotte Nicdao, Jessie Ennis, Ashly Burch, and Danny Pudi

How to watch: Mythic Quest is now streaming on Apple TV+.

22. The Morning Show Nicole Beharie, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon in "The Morning Show." Credit: Apple TV+

With Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell leading the first season, The Morning Show starts the day right — in the most unsettling way. Created by Jay Carson and inspired by Brian Stelter's 2013 book, the series is set in the world of morning news broadcasting, examining the power dynamics within it — especially amid the #MeToo movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. Over three increasingly high-drama seasons, with a fourth on the way, The Morning Show examines the ethics of news and the people who report it, all dealing with personal and professional hurdles under an extremely bright, incessant daily spotlight. — S.C.

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Néstor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Bel Powley, Desean Terry, Greta Lee, Julianna Margulies, and Jon Hamm

How to watch: The Morning Show is now streaming on Apple TV+.

21. Dark Matter Joel Edgerton in "Dark Matter." Credit: Apple TV+

Sometimes the idea behind a story is so good it's practically begging to be watched. Taking his own novel of the same name and adapting it for the screen, Blake Crouch's Dark Matter follows physicist Jason (Joel Edgerton) as he's kidnapped by an alternative version of himself and trapped in a parallel universe. The way these worlds are linked? A box that gives you access to all the infinite lives you could have led. Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi, and Oakes Fegley also star in this sci-fi thriller that's popular with viewers and critics. — S.H.

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Amanda Brugel, Dayo Okeniyi, Jimmi Simpson, and Oakes Fegley

How to watch: Dark Matter is now streaming on Apple TV+.

20. Platonic Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen in "Platonic." Credit: Apple TV+

Answering the age-old When Harry Met Sally question of whether heterosexual men and women can be just friends, Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller's Platonic is a brilliantly written, authentically performed, and genuinely compelling examination of modern friendship. "This isn't a prolonged remake retreading a tale of opposites-attract romance," writes Mashable's Kristy Puchko in her review. "Instead, this show takes that kinetic dynamic and the odd-couple concept and spins it into a series of misadventures that are thrillingly outrageous and freshly entertaining. This isn't just a story about friendship; it's the hang-out series you may well be aching for."

Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen are hilariously relatable as full-time mum Sylvia and brewery owner Will, former best mates out of touch until their mid-40s when Will goes through a divorce. Awkwardly reconnecting means facing a few things about their relationship and getting older, but it also means dynamite banter between Byrne and Rogen. — S.C.

Starring: Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen, Tre Hale, Luke Macfarlane, Andrew Lopez, and Carla Gallo

How to watch: Platonic is now streaming on Apple TV+.

19. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Anna Sawai in "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters." Credit: Apple TV+

Legendary's MonsterVerse movies (Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla vs. Kong) make their first stomp into live-action TV with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, a series with its reptilian eye fixed on the establishment of Monarch, the secret monster-studying organisation. The show bounces around time periods, between the 1950s and 2010s, and has more than its fair share of monstrous creatures to behold. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes, "The richness of Monarch's world — and its glorious, glorious monsters — keeps the show intriguing even when it gets bogged down in the MonsterVerse's oft-maligned human affairs." — S.C.

Starring: Anna Sawai, Kurt Russell, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Wyatt Russell, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Elisa Lasowski, and Joe Tippett

How to watch: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is now streaming on Apple TV+.

18. Loot Maya Rudolph and Joel Kim Booster in "Loot." Credit: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ comedies are strong stuff, and Maya Rudolph's Loot is one of the best. The comedy star leads as billionaire Molly Novak, who's recently received a hefty settlement in her divorce but is at loose ends as to what's next. Picked up off the glossy floor of her sprawling home by her assistant Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster), she realises she has a charity foundation run by Sofia Salinas (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez) and so she starts on a fresh new journey, with accountant Arthur (Nat Faxon) and cousin Howard (Ron Funches) in tow. But there'll be more than a few life lessons and perspective shifts in store. Season 2 meets up with Molly in a new chapter, and adds an ample dash of Benjamin Bratt. — S.C.

Starring: Maya Rudolph, Joel Kim Booster, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Adam Scott, Nat Faxon, Ron Funches, Meagen Fay, Stephanie Styles, and Benjamin Bratt

How to watch: Loot is now streaming on Apple TV+.

17. Presumed Innocent Jake Gyllenhaal and Bill Camp in "Presumed Innocent." Credit: Apple TV+

If you're in the market for a tense and well-made legal thriller with strong performances, you could do a lot worse than Presumed Innocent. Based on Scott Turow's 1987 novel, Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley's adaptation follows a prosecutor (Jake Gyllenhaal) under suspicion for the murder of his colleague.

"This new mini-series is a fairly stock legal drama that's not necessarily all that new in terms of what it offers," I wrote in my Mashable review. "But the story itself feels contemporary, with its themes of sexual power dynamics and legal corruption. What it does, it does very well, with a fast-paced story, well-written script, and excellent performances across the board." — S.H.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle, Bill Camp, Lily Rabe, Nana Mensah, Chase Infiniti, Kingston Rumi Southwick, and Rosanna Arquette

How to watch: Presumed Innocent is now streaming on Apple TV+.

16. The Afterparty Zoë Chao in "The Afterparty." Credit: Apple TV+

If you're a fiend for a whodunnit, consider yourself a bit of a Miss Marple, and regularly declare "J'accuse!" at your unsuspecting pals, follow the clues to The Afterparty. A star-studded comedy that twists and turns through various genres in one perplexing mystery, the series hinges around the untimely death of a rich pop star after a high school reunion. After Season 1's deeply rewarding finale, jump right into the second season, where another murder lurks the morning after a big wedding — and no genre is safe. — S.C.

Starring: Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Ben Schwartz, Ilana Glazer, Tiffany Haddish, John Early, Ike Barinholtz, Jamie Demetriou, Dave Franco, John Cho, Ken Jeong, Anna Konkle, Zach Woods, Poppy Liu, Jack Whitehall, Vivian Wu, Elizabeth Perkins, and Paul Walter Hauser

How to watch: The Afterparty is now streaming on Apple TV+.

15. Disclaimer Cate Blanchett in "Disclaimer." Credit: Apple TV+

Five-time Academy Award–winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón teams with two-time Academy Award–winning actress Cate Blanchett for a seven-part thriller sure to get your blood pumping. Written and directed by Cuarón, Disclaimer stars Blanchett as Catherine Ravenscroft, a revered journalist who has built her career on unearthing the sordid secrets of others. However, her life is thrown into turmoil when an unsolicited novel shows up on her doorstep, its pages spilling out the skeletons within her own closet. 

In her review for Mashable, Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards writes, "The overall effect of Disclaimer is one of intrigue and of questioning the layers of narrative you see before you. With its commitment to formal changeups and a brutal knockout of a finale, Disclaimer is a puzzle that gets under your skin and refuses to leave."* — K.P.

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George, and Hoyeon 

How to watch: Disclaimer is now streaming on Apple TV+.

14. Schmigadoon! Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong will whisk you away. Credit: Apple TV+

A show for musical lovers, by musical lovers, Season 1 of Schmigadoon! is a loving tribute to Golden Age musicals. Think Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music. In a Brigadoon-esque plot, a couple (played by Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key) whose relationship is going through a rough patch stumbles upon a magical village where life is a musical. From there, it's a nonstop parade of joyful musical numbers, delivered by a cast of Broadway mainstays like Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Alan Cumming, and Ariana DeBose. Theaters kids, eat your heart out. Schmigadoon! is a treat. And Season 2 brings more fun, but with a darker edge.*B.E.

How to watch: Schmigadoon! is now streaming on Apple TV.

13. For All Mankind Joel Kinnaman and Sonya Walger in "For All Mankind." Credit: Apple TV+

It's Apple's big "what-if" series, which hypothesizes an alternate timeline of the global space race. Created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, For All Mankind kicks off Season 1 with the Soviet Union landing the first human on the moon in June 1969, leaving NASA scrambling to catch up. Season 2 picks up in the Cold War, Season 3 jumps into the '90s with the race to land on Mars, and Season 4 is all about the establishment of a self-sustaining colony on the red planet.

"If you're here because you're a fan of For All Mankind creator Ronald D. Moore's earlier work, check your expectations," writes Adam Rosenberg in his review for Mashable. "This isn't science fiction. There's science in the NASA stuff and a layer of grounded fantasy in the alternate timeline premise, but there's no secret alien invasion twist here or anything. For All Mankind plays it straight instead." And for what it's worth, Stephen King bloody loves it. — S.C.

How to watch: For All Mankind is now streaming on Apple TV+.

12. Trying Esther Smith and Rafe Spall in "Trying." Credit: Apple TV+

In Andy Wolton's charming, heartfelt series, London couple Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) want to start a family of their own. As the series' title suggests, they go up and down a few roads, and ultimately pursue adoption — with all the complications and trials that come with it. Over three seasons, Nikki and Jason's friends and family help them through it all, and you'll chuckle as much as tear up through each moment. Smith and Spall are superb rom-com leads, navigating the highs and lows that come with becoming parents with delightful insights and poignant realism. — S.C.

Starring: Esther Smith, Rafe Spall, Siân Brooke, Darren Boyd, Imelda Staunton, Paula Wilcox, Phil Davis, Jim Broadbent, Oliver Chris, Robyn Cara, Scarlett Rayner, Navin Chowdhry, Roderick Smith, and Marian McLoughlin

How to watch: Trying is now streaming on Apple TV+.

11. Dope Thief Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura in "Dope Thief." Credit: Apple TV+

Ready for a crime drama full of twists, heralded actors, and character-driven humor? Based on the Dennis Tafoya novel, Dope Thief has all that and more.

Created by Peter Craig (The Town), the series stars Brian Tyree Henry as Ray Driscoll, a Philly entrepreneur with a unique business plan. Alongside his simple-minded bestie Manny (Wagner Moura), Ray impersonates a DEA agent to ambush low-level drug dealers, stealing their ill-gotten gains and illegal substances for profit. The money, they'll split. The drugs will go to a bigger dealer, who's a sort of father-figure to Ray. But when one of these raids goes sideways, there's fire, death, and a wounded survivor hellbent on revenge. Can Ray and Manny survive once they've got a vicious kingpin and the actual DEA on his trail? You'll have to tune in to find out!* — K.P.

Starring: Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, Marin Ireland, and Kate Mulgrew

How to watch: Dope Thief is now streaming on Apple TV+.

10. Foundation Alfred Enoch and Lou Llobell in "Foundation." Credit: Apple TV+

It's one of Apple's most lavish productions and worth every penny. Based on Isaac Asimov's iconic sci-fi novels, Foundation follows a group exiled from the doomed Galactic Empire and on a mission to save it. Jared Harris is superb as mathematician and psychohistorian Hari Seldon, whose predictions of future probability lead to his exile by Brother Day (played to perfection by Lee Pace), one of a series of clones who rule the Galactic Empire as Emperor. Seldon is joined by his protégée, Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) from the planet Synnax. And folks, it's a truly opulent series, with stunning visuals, world-building, and action sequences over two seasons. "If you've ever wondered where all that iPhone money went, just watch Foundation," writes Mashable's Adam Rosenberg in his review. — S.C.

Starring: Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, Terrence Mann, Alfred Enoch, Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur, and Daniel MacPherson

How to watch: Foundation is now streaming on Apple TV+.

9. Ted Lasso Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein in "Ted Lasso." Credit: Apple TV+

You'd better believe Ted Lasso is one of the best shows on this list. Created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, the comedy follows the titular American football coach (Sudeikis) who is recruited with his 2IC Coach Beard (Hunt) to coach English Premier League team AFC Richmond by the club's owner, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham). But that's just the set-up, forming the foundation for three seasons of wholesome, hilarious, and moving fish-out-of-water comedy. The show brims with optimism, Easter eggs, and Roy Kent's perfect swearing. Ted Lasso, like football, is life. — S.C.

Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fernández, Kola Bokinni, Anthony Head, Billy Harris, and James Lance

How to watch: Ted Lasso is now streaming on Apple TV+.

8. Bad Sisters Anne-Marie Duff, Saise Quinn, Sharon Horgan, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson in "Bad Sisters." Credit: Apple TV+

Sharon Horgan's dark dramedy about a group of sisters teaming up to kill their abusive brother-in-law is as much a howdunnit as it is a whodunnit. We start off Bad Sisters knowing that John Paul (Claes Bang), truly one of the most unpleasant TV characters of the year, is dead. But it's only through a series of flashbacks that we find out what happened to him, learning the ways he wronged each of the Garvey sisters and their various misjudged attempts to take him out of the picture. The characters are well drawn and amusing, the show is incredibly tense, and Horgan seamlessly weaves together comedy and tragedy. And if you're worried about the ending of a show that's already revealed some of its cards, don't be. Bad Sisters holds back some of its biggest shocks and secrets to the very end — and into a second season.* — S.H.

Starring: Anne-Marie Duff, Saise Quinn, Sharon Horgan, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Eve Hewson, and Claes Bang

How to watch: Bad Sisters is streaming now on Apple TV+.

7. Little America Jearnest Corchado and Melinna Bobadilla in "Little America." Credit: Apple TV+

Kumail Nanjiani, Alan Yang, and Emily V. Gordon's anthology series Little America is essential viewing. A masterclass in storytelling, each episode of the series is a self-contained tale in which we get to know immigrants in America on a personal level — a far cry from the dehumanised picture politicians like to paint. Each story is compelling, unique, and deeply moving, from Nigerian college student Iwegbuna (Conphidance) exploring identity through cowboy culture in Oklahoma to baker Beatrice (Kemiyondo Coutinho) embracing her Ugandan heritage in Kentucky. There's undocumented high schooler Marisol (Jearnest Corchado) reclaiming a sense of power through squash, and Kabir (played by Suraj Sharma, Eshan Inamdar, and Ishan Gandhi at different ages), a 12-year old boy whose hotel-owner parents are deported to India. Each story examines the complexity of identity and scrutinises the American Dream, while reminding us to actually make the effort to get to know someone. — S.C.

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Jearnest Corchado, Conphidance, Kemiyondo Coutinho, Mélanie Laurent, Angela Lin, Shaun Toub, Haaz Sleiman, and Isuri Wijesundara

How to watch: Little America is now streaming on Apple TV+.

6. Shrinking Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in "Shrinking." Credit: Apple TV+

Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence teams up with Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein and How I Met Your Mother's Jason Segel for a show about breaking down and breaking through. As Mashable's Shannon Connellan writes in her review, "Shrinking, one of TV's best-written comedies, cuts to the deep shit among the regular shit, without judgment and with a lot of laughs. Consider us prescribed."

Segel stars as a cognitive behavioral therapist struggling in the wake of his wife's death. Despite this grief-stricken setup, Shrinking is a defiantly joyful comedy that finds humor in coping as this harried hero breaks rules to push him and his clients out of their comfort zones to new emotional terrain. With 30-minute episodes over two seasons, it's an easy binge — and the cast is absolutely outstanding.*K.P.

Starring: Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Christa Miller, and Lukita Maxwell

How to watch: Shrinking is now streaming on Apple TV+.

5. Slow Horses Kristin Scott Thomas in "Slow Horses." Credit: Apple TV+

If you haven't had every last one of your mates telling you to watch Slow Horses, consider yourself in the minority. Based on Mick Herron's Slough House novels, the series has long provoked hands-in-the-air "you've got to watch Slow Horses" rants at many a London pub in my life, and they're not wrong. Throw yourself without delay into the realm of MI5 outcasts, spies who've fucked up but somehow have remained employed by the UK's domestic counter-intelligence agency. However, that doesn't mean there's not plenty to investigate, all under the surly, greasy, and notably farty watch of Slough House head Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). Over four seasons (with more on the way), showrunner Will Smith makes the most out of his terrific cast, which includes Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Rosalind Eleazar, Saskia Reeves, Olivia Cooke, and more, sending the MI5 misfits into many a danger across London trying valiantly to defend Britain. — S.C.

Starring: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Olivia Cooke, Rosalind Eleazar, Saskia Reeves, Jonathan Pryce, Christopher Chung, Kadiff Kirwan, and Dustin Demri-Burns

How to watch: Slow Horses is now streaming on Apple TV+.

4. Silo Rashida Jones and David Oyelowo in "Silo." Credit: Apple TV+

If you're not watching Silo, we suggest you bunker down and watch both seasons. Created by Graham Yost and directed by Morten Tyldum, this a dystopian sci-fi thriller series is on based on Hugh Howey's trilogy of novels (Wool, Shift, and Dust). Silo delivers impeccable performances, intricate set design, and satisfying narrative twists. Mashable's Belen Edwards describes Silo in her review as "an engrossing and rewarding watch, one that devoted fans of dystopia and sci-fi will relish."

You're sent deep into the subterranean society where the last 10,000 people on Earth live, sheltered from the toxic world outside. The inhabitants, ranked in class by floor, put immense trust in their overlords: Mayor Ruth Jahns (Geraldine James), head of the IT Department (Tim Robbins), and the silo's sheriffs, including Sheriff Holston (David Oyelowo) and Deputy Sam Marnes (Will Patton). But when suspicious events occur, an engineer from the silo's lower levels, Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson), races to figure out the truth. — S.C.

Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, David Oyelowo, Rashida Jones, Tim Robbins, Common, Harriet Walter, Iain Glen, Tanya Moodie, Geraldine James, Avi Nash, Chinaza Uche, Steve Zahn, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Alexandria Riley, Clare Perkins, Billy Postlethwaite, Ashley Zukerman, Olatunji Ayofe, and Ferdinand Kingsley

How to watch: Silo is now streaming on Apple TV+.

3. Pachinko Kim Min-ha and Jung Eun-chae in "Pachinko." Credit: Apple TV+

Based on Min Jin Lee's best-selling novel, Pachinko spans not only decades but also generations, following a family line from an impoverished community in 1915 Korea to a prosperous Japan in 1989. The center of this moving saga is matriarch Kim Sunja, who grows from an intrepid child (Yu-na Jeon) to a pregnant, unwed teen (Kim Min-ha), to a grandmother (Academy Award–winning star of Minari, Youn Yuh-jung) too often patronized by her doting son (Soji Arai) and hotshot banker grandson Solomon (Jin Ha).

Created by Soo Hugh, this sensational two-season drama series slides back and forth across its timeline, paralleling Sunja's journey with Solomon's. Though she was raised in poverty and he in prosperity, both face challenges of racism, weighty family expectations, and impossible loves. Incredibly, though Pachinko hits on many dark elements, it's resiliently hopeful, delivering on the promise of its exhilarating opening title sequence. If you're looking for a series to grab you heart and soul, Pachinko is a safe bet for satisfaction, a series Mashable's Belen Edwards dubbed "one of the most stunningly crafted shows on TV."* — K.P.

Starring: Jeon Yu-na, Kim Min-ha, Youn Yuh-jung, Soji Arai, Jin Ha, Lee Min-ho, Kwon Eun-seong, Jung Eun-chae, and Yoshio Maki

How to watch: Pachinko is now streaming on Apple TV+.

2. The Studio Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders, and Seth Rogen in "The Studio." Credit: Apple TV+

Seth Rogen and a jaw-dropping cast of big stars give Hollywood the takedown it so richly deserves with The Studio.

The battle of art versus commerce takes center stage as Rogen plays a newly minted studio exec, who has to make an endless series of wild decisions. If you ever wonder how the blockbuster sausage gets made, the first episode of this stellar comedy series gives you a juicy and revolting taste.

The writing on this satirical series is so sharp that Rogen practically bleeds as he plays the fool across an array of comical conflicts. And he's bolstered by a supporting cast that is blisteringly funny, spitting barbs, allusions, and one-liners with a dizzying intensity.* — K.P.

Starring: Seth Rogen, Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Bryan Cranston

How to watch: The Studio debuts on Apple TV+ March 26.

1. Severance Welcome to the team. Credit: Apple TV+

It's not only the best show on Apple TV+, it's one of our favourite shows of all time. Dan Erickson's "anti-capitalist fable" Severance centres around the enigmatic Lumon Industries, a company that offers employees the option of "severing" their work self from their regular lives. Primarily directed by Ben Stiller, Severance sees impeccable performances from Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Christopher Walken, and more, with the cast tasked with playing both their "Innies" and "Outies" — and all the loaded nuance that comes with it.

SEE ALSO: Can consent exist in 'Severance'?

Exactly what Lumon does and how the severance program began are just two of the mysteries within Severance, a show that explores fascinating questions of consent, exploitation, alienation, and humanity within a highly stylistic production. What's not in question? Over two sublime seasons, Severance doesn't miss. — S.C.

Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Christopher Walken, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, and Sarah Bock

How to watch: Severance is now streaming on Apple TV+.

Please enjoy Severance star Adam Scott reacting to weird fan art of himself

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 07:01

You know you've got a hit show when internet strangers are pumping out fan art of your character, and Adam Scott's starring role on Severance has inspired it in spades.

Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to discuss the Season 2 finale, Scott was presented with a variety of artistic offerings depicting his character in various, deeply unflattering forms.

As Kimmel points out the drawings perhaps aren't the most complimentary, but we can tell from the twinkle in Scott's eye that seems to enjoy them nonetheless.

For all our thoughts and theories on the Severance Season 2 finale, see here.

A.I. Action Plans + The College Student Who Broke Job Interviews + Hot Mess Express

NYT Technology - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 07:00
“A.I. companies are slowly and haltingly learning to speak the language of Donald Trump.”

Grab a discount on the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet ahead of the Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 06:41

SAVE $45: As of March 21, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is on sale for $94.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 32% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 $94.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is just around the corner, with deals promised to last for a whole week (March 25-31). But if you can't wait to start scoring some great deals, and a tablet upgrade is something you've planned, you'll find the great Fire HD 10 discounted already. Not being the latest in the range means it's more affordable, but it is still a great option for both work and play - especially at it's new low price.

So as of March 21, you can buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet on sale for $94.99. That's a saving of 32% on list price.

This impressive tablet boasts a 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display and is a great all-rounder. Perfect for streaming your favorite shows, reading, and searching the web. Like most Amazon devices, it comes with built-in Alexa for hands-free control and searching. This discount is available on all colorways for the 32GB model (with ads). Without ads, you can purchase for $109.99.

However, if you want something newer in the Fire range, we recommend going for the Fire 11 Max. This model is even more advanced and features an 11-inch display, faster performance with 4GB of RAM, and support for a stylus and keyboard. This model is also on sale and is currently priced at $184.99 as of March 21.

This tablet deal is only available for a limited time, so head to Amazon to score the early deals now.

Save $80 on the Garmin vívoactive 5 at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 06:32

SAVE $80: As of March 21, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is on sale for $219.99 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $219.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $80 Get Deal

If you're looking for a fitness tracker that has a full range of lifestyle and fitness tracking, you'll love the Garmin vívoactive 5. And it's currently reduced by $80 at Amazon before the big Spring Sale properly kicks off. As of March 21, you can get it at Amazon for $219.99.

This model was released in late 2023, bringing a stark upgrade from the vívoactive 4. Unlike its predecessor, the 5 benefits from a bright AMOLED display, making colors incredibly vibrant and much more noticeable. It also has a much-improved battery life, boasting 11 days when in smartwatch mode.

Stats-wise, it is packed with advanced health-tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress tracking, and in-depth sleep insights. The sleep insights have also had an upgrade, now featuring sleep coaching. Sports tracking includes running, cycling, swimming, and more.

It is worth noting, however, that the vívoactive 5 is missing more advanced features such as training status and training readiness. For statistics like these, you'll want to look at the likes of the Forerunner range. But if these aren't important to you, this is a fantastic option full of useful stats and tracking abilities.

Head to Amazon to grab this great Garmin deal.

How to watch Kentucky vs. Troy online for free

Mashable - Fri, 03/21/2025 - 06:25
Where to stream 2025 March Madness online for free 5-Day Free Trial DirectTV $86.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 7-Day Free Trial Fubo $79.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 3-Day Free Trial Hulu + Live TV $82.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now 7-Day Free Trial Paramount+ $7.99 per month (after trial) Shop Now

March Madness has started in exactly the way you would expect: fast-paced basketball, unpredictable results, and electric performances from some of the best young players in the country. There are so many interesting first-round matchups, including Kentucky Wildcats vs. Troy Trojans. It's going to be a real battle between the third and 14th seeds.

If you want to watch Kentucky vs. Troy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Kentucky vs. Troy?

Kentucky vs. Troy starts at 7:10 p.m. ET on March 21. This first-round game takes place at the Fiserv Forum.

How to watch Kentucky vs. Troy for free

Kentucky vs. Troy is available to watch on CBS. It is possible to access CBS with a range of streaming services that offer free trials:

  • DirectTV (five-day free trial) — CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV

  • Fubo (seven-day free trial) — CBS

  • Hulu + Live TV (three-day free trial) — CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV

  • Paramount+ (seven-day free trial) — CBS

By making the most of these free trials, you can watch Kentucky vs. Troy (plus more March Madness games) without actually spending anything.

How to watch Kentucky vs. Troy from anywhere in the world

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

Live stream March Madness from anywhere in the world 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. Visit DirectTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or Paramount+

  5. Live stream Kentucky vs. Troy for free from anywhere in the world

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport from anywhere in the world, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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 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 generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

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

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