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Netflix is about to launch a Wordle killer

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 08:56

Are you a fan of Wordle? We've got good news for you: Netflix is launching a similar game that you can play on your phone. Yes, that's another potentially huge timesink in your life. Yes, we're sorry.

The news comes via Netflix itself which revealed on its official blog that it teamed up with TED (yes, the non-profit TED organization) to create a game called TED Tumblewords.

Topics will revolve around heatlh and science. Credit: Netflix

The game, which is designed for players of all ages, will bring you three daily puzzles in which you'll move and rotate letters in a 3x3 grid to create words.

As you get better at the game, you'll climb Netflix's Daily Ladder, allowing you to boast your word-combining prowess to your friends. You'll also be able to play directly against friends in turn-based matches. And, since this is TED, the game will be heavy on topics related to science and health.

SEE ALSO: 20 best comedies streaming on Netflix right now

TED Tumblewords is launching on Nov. 19 on iOS and Android. It's ad-free with "no in-app purchases or extra fees," but only if you have a Netflix subscription. If you're impatient, you can pre-register to get the game as soon as possible.

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

Binance Employee, in Custody for 8 Months in Nigeria, Will Be Released

NYT Technology - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 08:36
Prosecutors have dropped the criminal case against Tigran Gambaryan so he can receive medical care, a government spokesman said.

New M4 MacBook Pros and iMacs are coming very soon, report claims

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 07:06

We told you that Apple is about to have a busy fall.

The company just launched a new iPad mini, fresh off its massive fall event which saw new iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watch devices. But it doesn't stop here: According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple could launch new MacBook Pro devices with an M4 chip inside as soon as next week.

Tweet may have been deleted

According to Gurman, Apple's long awaited Apple Intelligence set of AI features is coming on Monday, followed by the launch of M4 Macs. Gurman also claims that Apple is hosting a closed doors event for the media and digital creators on Wednesday, indicating that the new Macs will launch by then.

As for what, exactly, we can expect to see next week, Gurman says we're getting a new MacBook Pro and iMac powered by Apple's M4 chip. The company's Mac mini should also get a redesign, and we could also see various new USB-C accessories. We wrote about the upcoming changes to the Mac mini, and the M4 MacBook Pro may have already escaped into the wild, indicating that the launch is, indeed, imminent.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPad mini 7 review: Beefed up and ready for AI

All of this will be followed by Apple's quarterly earnings report on Thursday, which should give us a first glimpse of how Apple's belated Apple Intelligence launch has affected sales.

This Love Is Blind technique lets you watch like a contestant

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 06:18

Love Is Blind is back on our screens and it's as dramatic as ever. The wedding episodes are imminent and we're totally hooked, bring on the reunion. So far only three couples have made it to the alter after dramatic early exits, quarrels, and love triangles.

But as we watch the couples connect, get to know each other, and fall in love, sight unseen, do you ever wonder how you'd fare without physical attraction? Well, if you want to experience the pods just like the stars of season 7, you might enjoy this watching technique that's kicking off online.

An array of fans are sharing their watching hack on Instagram and TikTok. It involves covering your TV with towels, sheets, or other means to hide the screen and therefore hide the appearances of the contestants. You keep your TV covered all through the pod dating phase while having the captions switched on, and when the engaged couple enjoys their grand, sliding door reveal, so do you.

SEE ALSO: When is the Love Is Blind reunion streaming? Everything we know about the finale

If you're not one of the lucky ones who have binged the series already, why not give it a try?

For the eager among us who finished the show as soon as it came out, it's not over yet, we still have the reunion to look forward to even if you'll have to wait a season to try this viewing hack.

View this post on Instagram When is the Love Is Blind reunion?

The Love Is Blind season 7 reunion airs on Netflix on Wednesday, October 30, a whole week after the wedding episodes air.

What time is the Love Is Blind reunion?

The Love Is Blind reunion episode will hit our Netflix accounts at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m PT.

Character.ai Faces Lawsuit After Teen’s Suicide

NYT Technology - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 06:15
The mother of a 14-year-old Florida boy says he became obsessed with a chatbot on Character.AI before his death.

When is the Love Is Blind reunion streaming? Everything we know about the finale

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 06:12

Explosive fights, abrupt exits, and sky-high emotions, this season of Love Is Blind could be one of our favorites of all time. Set in Washington, D.C., the latest season brings a whirlwind of love connections, breakups, and plenty of drama to keep us all hooked.

With the wedding episodes about to drop imminently, we'll soon be finding out the answer to the age-old question, is love blind?

And that's not the end, the reunion is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to see where the couples stand now. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the Love Is Blind season 7 reunion.

View this post on Instagram When is the Love Is Blind reunion?

The Love Is Blind season 7 reunion airs on Netflix on Wednesday, October 30. Yep, we have to wait a whole week after the wedding episodes to find out where the couples are today.

What time is the Love Is Blind reunion?

While you'll have to wait a week, at least we know exactly when the reunion will drop. The Love Is Blind reunion episode lands at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m PT.

Will Brittany and Leo be at the Love Is Blind reunion?

The couple's early exit from the show had fans demanding more. Where are they now? Are they back together? Will they be at the reunion? According to a promo dropped by Netflix, both will be in attendance at the reunion.

Unsending messages is for cowards

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 06:05

We’re watching the slow, pitiful death of an art form right in front of us, and, of course, no one cares.

The art form in question? A classic "sorry, wrong person" text message. Gone are the days of "accidentally" messaging an ex to sneak back in their psyche. We've heard the final story of someone mistakenly sexting their parents when they meant to sext their lover. The world is empty of the drama produced by a shit-talk text accidentally sent to the person being shat on.

An unintended text faces no consequences anymore. You can unsend your messages on just about every platform now. Where is the serendipity in that? Where is the whimsy? Where is the joy???

The first time someone tried to unsend a message to me, it did not go as planned. My buddy, multitasking unsuccessfully, was texting me and his girlfriend at the same time. Naturally, he sent me a selfie of him with their cat. He panicked and unsent it, but it was too late — because I was on my phone already, and I’d already seen it before the unsend took root. And thank God, because the cat is cute (shoutout to Wizard) and the photo was funny.

But then, there it was: the ghost of the message, a little scar on my screen. "Michael unsent a message," it read, in place of the cat photo. My response hung there, dangling, now tragically divorced from the visual that had inspired it. The memory of the cat was still there, but only in the way that La Croix is kind of raspberry flavored.

SEE ALSO: Don't @ Me: I hate iPhone Tapbacks

In 2017, the secure messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp were the first to commit this crime against spontaneity by allowing users to unsend messages. In 2022, Apple followed suit, allowing users a full two minutes of regret time to decide to erase a text. Eventually Instagram, never one to be left out, joined in on the fun, too.

At first, unsending messages was like any other technological advancement we were told we needed but didn't: It was unnoticeable. I rarely unsent messages, and people rarely unsent them to me. But lately, it's everywhere. We're living in an invisible unsending epidemic.

Of course, you can always think before you type and send, like you can think before you speak. But allowing people to take something back so quickly, either upon realizing the reaction wasn't what they wanted or that sending the message actually filled them with regret? It's lame. It's sad. And, worst of all, it's cowardly.

To be clear, I am not calling you a loser if you unsend texts. I understand that we are encouraged to use the tools available to us. If you're doing it for comedic effect — like people do by editing messages — I even respect it. But I do blame the system that has made this behavior acceptable.

The good ol' "whoops, meant to say this" or the "wrong person" are vanishing from our lives, and in their place? A cold, relentless demand for perfection. We’re losing something essential here: the tiny, beautiful acknowledgment that we are all, without exception, idiots sometimes.

It erases a necessary, if crushing, understanding of what it means to live with precarity; with consequences; with the tender, awkward dance of living in a world where you can’t always take things back.

SEE ALSO: Have writer's block? Delete your drafts.

The ability to unsend messages reflects this cultural craving for control. It gives off this unrealistic illusion that you really can revise your life. Just click unsend! Give yourself a second, third, fourth chance! But that contributes to this unholy pressure to curate our every word, our every typo, our every photo of us with our cat. And the worst part? This ability to erase mistakes is making us forget what it means to live with the constant, thrilling dread of messing up. In other words, it's helping us forget we're human.

And, of course, there's a darker side to this. After Telegram added the feature, one Reddit user wrote in a post that this is practically a gift-wrapped present for gaslighters. It makes sense: Gaslighting is a specific kind of manipulation that focuses on making victims question their own memory and, eventually, sanity. That text never said that; that text was never there.

"Frequently, it is used in relationships, for example when an individual is cheating on their partner, comes home late and makes their partner believe that they've always come home at this time. The new update makes manipulating chats (and, in addition, memories) extremely easy," the user wrote.

The user noted that adding the "message deleted" indicators do help, but just because a message was sent and deleted doesn't mean you can't still sow seeds of doubt about the messages actual intent.

I don’t have any grand conspiracies about unsent messages destroying civilization, but, my God, I hate it. Ultimately, where's the fun in writing your apology before the mess even gets out?

Watch Tom Holland and Jimmy Fallon play an intense movie guessing game

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 06:01
Tom Holland appeared on "The Tonight Show" and played a movie guessing game with Jimmy Fallon.

'Daily Show' mocks Elon Musk's weird $1 million election sweepstakes

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 05:54
"Daily Show" host Michael Kosta has mocked Elon Musk's $1 million election sweepstakes.

TikTok is loving the viral Kindle page turner. Get yours at its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 05:51

SAVE OVER $8: As of Oct. 23, the SK SYUKUYU Remote Control Page Turner is on sale at Amazon for $24.18. That's a saving of 27% on list price and the lowest its ever been priced at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: SK SYUKUYU SK SYUKUYU Remote Control Page Turner $24.18 at Amazon
$32.99 Save $8.81 Get Deal

As the darker months approach, we couldn't be happier to welcome in cozy season. It's the time for big pots of soup, Twilight rewatches, and curling up with a good book. And we really like to emphasize the "curling up" part. That's why we (and half of BookTok) are in love with this remote control page turner.

Picture this: you're reading your favorite Kindle or e-book, cozied up on the couch under a blanket, or lying in your comfortable bed, tucked up under your comforter. Perfectly relaxed and warm. If only you could solve the issue of your uncovered arms holding your device... well now you can! This page turner works with all Kindle devices (except Kindle 8th Gen 2016 and Kindle Touch 2011), iPhones, iPads, and Android tablets.

Simply attach the screen sense clip to your device, pick up your remote and you're good to go. You can tuck your arms under any blanket or comforter and still flick through the pages with your trusty remote. And there's no need to purchase batteries, just charge via USB and a single charge will last on standby for weeks.

Aside from improving your reading experience, this nifty device can also be used to take photos on your phone from a distance. No more running back to pose after setting a timer.

If you're not sold yet, as of Oct. 23 this device from SK SYUKUYU is on sale at its lowest-ever price at Amazon. Save over $8 and purchase for $21.18. And to level up your in-bed reading even more, why not add a floor stand?

Save $50 on this Braun IPL hair remover that you can use from home

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 05:46

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 23, the Braun IPL Hair Removal is on sale for $299.94 at Amazon. That's a saving of 14% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Braun Braun IPL Hair Removal $299.94 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $50.05 Get Deal

IPL is one of the best long-term solutions for hair removal that can be done at home. It stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is a hair removal process that uses light pulses to target hair follicles, so it reduces hair growth over time. It's not a laser, but works similarly by focusing on the pigment in hair. It's a relatively painless, long-term solution for hair removal.

Laser hair removal differs by using a concentrated single wavelength of light, making it more precise and powerful. IPL, on the other hand, uses a broad spectrum of light, covering a larger area but with less intensity. IPL is slightly less effective but is gentler on the skin and can be done from home.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Dyson Airwrap dupes under $300: The Shark FlexStyle is no longer your only option

If you're thinking of investing in an IPL device, you'll find so many to choose from. But as of Oct. 23, the Braun IPL hair remover device is currently on sale at Amazon. Known for its hair removal devices, Braun is always a great choice, and this model is currently priced at $299.94 — around the same as one or two laser hair removal sessions.

The Braun device benefits from skin tone sensors, a handy tool that optimizes the power of every flash to your skin tone. It's also sensitive on the skin, with two sensitive modes for when you use the device in delicate areas such as your face or armpit. And for those awkward-to-reach places, there are different attachments to make sure you're getting the most out of the treatment.

Head to Amazon to make the most of this limited-time deal.

Save 40% on the Oral-B iO Deep Clean electric toothbrush at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 05:41

SAVE $40: As of Oct. 23, the Oral-B iO Deep Clean electric toothbrush is on sale for $59.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 40% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Oral-B Oral-B iO Deep Clean $59.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

Every three to four months you should be changing your toothbrush. After this time they become less effective, they harbor bacteria (sorry, but it's true) and the bristles start to become damaged. But how many people actually follow this rule? If you're as guilty as us, you might want to check out Amazon's latest deal on a premium electric toothbrush.

As of Oct. 23, the Oral-B iO Deep Clean electric toothbrush is reduced by 40%, down to $59.99. It comes in Black or White and includes two different brush heads and a charger.

But what's so special about this brush? And if you love a manual model, why upgrade to electric? Well, according to stats from Oral-B, you'll remove 100% more plaque with this brush than a manual. The toothbrush also uses an iO pressure sensor to indicate if you're using the right amount of pressure to not only clean your teeth efficiently but to ensure you're not damaging your gums.

We really like the three different cleaning modes: Daily Clean, Sensitive, and Whitening, so you can customize your teeth brushing experience based on your needs. It also benefits from a Lithium-ion battery, perfect for using when traveling and on the go, without needing constant recharges.

This deal is available on Amazon for a limited time only, so be quick so you don't miss out.

Scientists propose a bold new reason for Betelgeuse's volatile behavior

Mashable - Wed, 10/23/2024 - 05:30

A brilliant red star beaming through our night sky is Betelgeuse, an aging supergiant on the shoulder of the Orion constellation. 

For years astronomers have watched this star — pronounced "Beetlejuice" just like the Michael Keaton character — with some convinced it's on the brink of a supernova, a cataclysmic stellar death that leaves behind a black hole or neutron star.

The timing of the star's inevitable supernova is up for scientific debate, and NASA suggests it won't happen for some 100,000 years. But astronomers have now proposed another theory for its volatile nature, which explains why this wonder of the Milky Way dramatically brightens and dims. The researchers found clues that the brilliant star isn't actually alone in space. Perhaps, they suggest, it has an unseen companion, periodically clearing dust out of the giant star's way and revealing more starlight. 

"Nothing else (has) added up," said Jared Goldberg, an astrophysicist at the Flatiron Institute in New York, in a statement. "Basically, if there’s no Betelbuddy, then that means there’s something way weirder going on — something impossible to explain with current physics."

SEE ALSO: NASA captures star duo spraying plasma a quarter-trillion miles A team of astronomers predict a small star is clearing dust away from Betelgeuse, making it appear brighter on Earth. Credit: Lucy Reading-Ikkanda / Flatiron Institute / Simons Foundation illustration

Goldberg and his collaborators from the University of Wyoming and Konkoly Observatory in Hungary have presented their alternate explanation, describing computer simulations of a dust-plowing companion star, in a paper to be published in The Astrophysical Journal.

Betelgeuse is an old star over 500 light-years from Earth. As elderly stars are wont to do, it has puffed out. Scientists say it's so large — hundreds of millions of miles in diameter — that if you swapped it out for the sun, it would reach Jupiter. By comparison, the sun is about 865,000 miles across. What's more, Betelgeuse is about 100,000 times brighter than the sun.

Scientists have seen the star blast material into space. In 2019, Betelgeuse ejected an unprecedented amount of plasma, about 400 billion times more than the sun does routinely through solar flares, according to the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. The residual dust cloud created a haze that temporarily blocked light from the star, studies showed, making it look dimmer from Earth. About a year later, the star seemed to return to its previous brightness

In 2019, Betelgeuse ejected an unprecedented amount of plasma, about 400 billion times more than the sun does routinely through solar flares. Credit: NASA / ESA / Elizabeth Wheatley (STScI) illustration

In this latest study, a predicted sun-like star, perhaps up to double the mass of the sun, clears the dust out of Betelgeuse's way, making it appear brighter. The team calls the hypothetical star Alpha Ori b, although Goldberg has given it the pet name "Betelbuddy" for fun. 

"Basically, if there’s no Betelbuddy, then that means there’s something way weirder going on — something impossible to explain with current physics."

Astronomers can guess when Betelgeuse will die based on its pulse. Because it's a variable star, its nature is to fluctuate in brightness. But the tricky thing about Betelgeuse is that it has two pulses — one that "beats" about every year and another seemingly following a six-year pattern. 

Betelgeuse, the 10th brightest star in the night sky, is located on the shoulder of the Orion constellation. Credit: Lucy Reading-Ikkanda / Flatiron Institute / Simons Foundation graphic

So the question is which one of these pulses is the star's fundamental heartbeat. If it's the shorter one, then the longer one is likely the result of something else external. 

The team considered other processes, such as sloshing in the star's interior and changes in its magnetic field. In the end, the scientists concluded the more protracted pulse was likely caused by another star. 

If Alpha Ori b exists, no one has seen it. The team is busy writing proposals to gain telescope time so they can look for a small star that could have been hiding in Betelgeuse's glare. An opportunity to investigate their inferred companion star is coming up in December, the scientists say. 

Some scientists believe Betelgeuse, bottom left, may have an unseen companion star, dubbed Alpha Ori b. Credit: Alan Dyer / VW PICS / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Meredith Joyce, one of the co-authors, has a rather exotic idea about what Betelgeuse's partner could be: a neutron star, the core of a star that has already exploded in a supernova. But if that were the case, astronomers would have expected to find it in X-ray observations. No such evidence has shown up. 

"I think we should look again," she said in a statement. 

If Betelgeuse turns out to be one of a pair, this reporter humbly suggests yet another name for the mystery star: Otho

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