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TL;DR: A quality refurbished Apple MacBook Air from 2017 with a 13.3-inch display, Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD is on sale for $199.97 (reg. $999).
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $199.97If you’re seeking a reliable laptop for everyday essentials without breaking the bank, this refurbished Apple MacBook Air deserves a look. The 2017 model is now just $199.97 (reg. $999), putting a familiar Apple device within reach. The sale ends on Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
This MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch widescreen display, a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. That’s a solid spec list for day-to-day tasks like web browsing, email, streaming, document editing, and file management. Intel HD Graphics 6000 provides smooth video playback, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth cover all standard connectivity needs. Apple estimates up to 12 hours of battery life, which is beneficial for marathon study sessions or travel days.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Each unit is quality refurbished and ships in Grade A or Grade B condition. That means it’s been thoroughly tested, cleaned, and restored to full working order, with cosmetic wear that varies by device. For anyone open to minor signs of previous use, the value compared to buying new is hard to beat.
This deal is great for students, remote workers with light tasks, or anyone who needs a secondary laptop for travel or home use. It works well for writing projects, résumé updates, or online learning, without the premium price or complexity of newer machines. The storage capacity is modest at 128GB, so it’s not the best fit for vast media libraries or heavy creative projects, but cloud storage or external drives help bridge that gap.
Get this refurbished 2017 MacBook Air while it’s on sale for $199.97 (reg. $999) through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Pansophy runs AI entirely on your computer with no cloud, no tokens, and no subscriptions — lifetime access is $59.97 (reg. $199) through Feb. 22.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mind2Matter Pansophy Private Personal AI Desktop Assistant - Base Plan: Lifetime Subscription $59.97Most AI tools come with strings attached. Cloud storage. Usage limits. Monthly subscriptions. Token tracking. Accounts. Logins.
The Pansophy Private Personal AI Desktop Assistant takes a different approach.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!It runs entirely on your computer. No cloud. No API calls. No data is leaving your device. Everything — chat, writing, coding, document analysis — happens locally on your CPU. That means full control over your files, conversations, and workflow.
For developers, students, writers, and business owners who work with sensitive information, that privacy-first setup is a big deal. Upload PDFs, DOCX files, or text documents and analyze them offline. Brainstorm ideas, generate content, debug code, or summarize research — all without worrying about usage caps or internet connectivity.
There are also no tokens or monthly quotas. Once installed, it’s unlimited. No meter running in the background.
Pansophy supports multiple languages, optional web search (when enabled), and offline coding tools. And since it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS, it integrates easily into most setups.
This two-day sale drops the Pansophy lifetime Base Plan to $59.97 (reg. $199) through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
If you’ve even so much as dipped your toes in the online dating world, you’ll be aware of AdultFriendFinder. After all, it was founded all the way back in 1996 and managed to become one of the 100 most popular sites in the U.S. by the late 2000s. But despite its obvious popularity, it’s never managed to break into mainstream consciousness like Tinder or Hinge.
There’s a very good reason for that.
AFF, as it’s known among members, is explicitly an “adult” dating site — a badge it wears proudly, but one that also has hindered its mainstream reach.
But what if you’re curious about how it works, whether it works, or who it works for? What if you’ve always wondered whether you’re missing out on the best-kept online dating secret and want to join the party? Or maybe you’re worried it’s more hype and chatbots than organic, spicy fun. We did the work for you, breaking down the AdultFriendFinder experience and what you can realistically expect if you decide to dip your toes into these naughty waters.
Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder Learn More AdultFriendFinder isn’t a traditional dating siteIf you sign up for AdultFriendFinder expecting a traditional online dating experience, you’ll need to adjust your expectations — fast. It’s not that AFF members aren’t interested in serious dating; it’s that sex and sexuality are placed front and center, with everything else emerging from there.
That much is obvious almost from the moment you log in. Unlike mainstream dating sites, which ban nudity from profile photos, AFF allows it — meaning conventional dating-app selfies sit side by side with full-frontal nudity and live webcam feeds. There is a content filter, accessible in your profile settings, but it defaults to "off," so if you would rather not see any nudity, or only see it when you deliberately choose to click on a NSFW picture, you should navigate to this setting ASAP.
For some people who aren't looking for a bare-all experience, this might be off-putting, but to those who are looking for exactly that, it’s refreshing. Unlike traditional dating apps, where early conversations often revolve around figuring out what the other person actually wants, AFF members tend to be refreshingly upfront and transparent (wink wink) about their intentions.
How to meet people on AdultFriendFinderEvery online dating site lives or dies by its algorithm, with new platforms constantly rolling out novel ways to connect singles. AdultFriendFinder, however, takes a maximalist approach to interacting with strangers.
You can search for members the conventional way, using specific criteria like gender, sexual orientation, age, location, and more, but you can also jump into themed chat rooms or follow members’ live streams. Through the “Who’s Hot” tab, which highlights popular members as well as trending photo and video uploads, you can easily discover someone you might otherwise never have come across.
One thing you’ll notice quickly, however, is the presence of obviously fake profiles. When I searched for singles near me, I encountered a surprising number of stunningly beautiful women in a small rural town near my city — all with airbrushed photos and vague, AI-sounding profile descriptions.
SEE ALSO: How to cancel your Tinder subscriptionAFF makes it extremely easy to sign up and create a profile, requiring little more than a username, password, and basic personal information. The upside is that it lowers the barrier to entry; the downside is that scammers can exploit that same simplicity.
To counter this (aside from relying on common sense), AdultFriendFinder offers a blue checkmark verification system and even incentivizes users to complete it by boosting their visibility. Verification requires a government-issued ID, which AFF uses to confirm your age, photo authenticity, location, and gender. It's an optional step, but one worth completing since it helps you signal to others that you are who you say you are.
If avoiding scammers and catfishers is a priority, looking for that blue checkmark before engaging is a smart move.
What kind of success rate can you expect from AdultFriendFinder?So far, so good, but there is a catch. While you can browse and explore AFF for free, meaningful one-on-one interaction requires a paid Gold membership, available in one-month ($39.95/month), three-month ($26.95/month), or one-year ($19.95/month) packages, all of which renew automatically.
Understandably, most people hesitate to pay for a dating site without a clear proof of concept. And because AFF places many of its best features behind a paywall, there’s undeniably a leap-of-faith element here. That said, the premium membership largely justifies its price.
With an AFF Gold membership, you unlock unrestricted messaging, high-resolution member videos and webcam streams, expanded profile galleries, and advanced filters that make narrowing down potential matches far easier.
Does paying guarantee attention from everyone you message? Of course not. The usual dating-app dynamics still apply — heterosexual men, for instance, should expect to work harder for responses than heterosexual women. Being attractive, fit, or witty helps, and being all three helps even more.
SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to sextingWhat works in your favor is the sheer breadth of the AFF community. Members span a wide range of ages, body types, orientations, and interests, making it easier to find someone — particularly if you’re looking for something casual and fun rather than long-term commitment.
Based on my personal experience, as well as the limited statistics AFF has released, the platform skews male (roughly 60:40 in my area) and slightly older. That male/female ratio mirrors most dating sites. The older skew can actually be an advantage if, like me, you prefer connecting with people closer to your own age.
One final piece of advice: don’t ignore AFF’s broader community features. If you rely solely on search results and direct messages, you’ll face roughly the same odds as any other dating app. But if you explore the themed chat rooms — covering everything from erotic fiction to body modification — you’re far more likely to stumble into the kind of connection you’re actually looking for.
HBO Max has become a streaming service we can't live without.
The library boasts thousands of hours of endless movie magic, from hallowed Hollywood favorites in the Turner Classic Movies collection to nerdy essentials like The Lord of the Rings, not to mention arthouse favorites like Chantal Akerman, Wong Kar-wai, Robert Altman, and Akira Kurosawa... and Barbie.
Picking the best (and distinguishing them from our personal favorites) was no easy task, but we somehow managed.
In no particular order, here are the best movies on HBO Max.
1. The TownLooking for some heist action? Then look no further than Ben Affleck's The Town. Affleck directs and stars in this enthralling tale of a crew of bank robbers. One of them, Doug (Affleck), begins a relationship with Claire (Rebecca Hall), a hostage the robbers took in a previous job. While she doesn't know his true identity, their romantic involvement causes rifts within the crew, especially as the FBI closes in on them.
Boasting several brutal robbery set pieces — including a very Boston robbery of Fenway Park — The Town is further proof of Affleck's action directing prowess. Add in an excellent ensemble including the likes of Jeremy Renner and Jon Hamm, and it's clear The Town is well worth a visit. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: The Town is now streaming on HBO Max.
2. Barbie Credit: Warner Bros / Moviestore / ShutterstockSweet, smart, and surprisingly subversive for a billion-dollar blockbuster, Barbie is a blast. Movies about toys are not supposed to be this thoughtful or this good, but apparently no one told that to director Greta Gerwig, who wrote Barbie with her long-term partner, Noah Baumbach. The comedy stars Margot Robbie as Barbie, the stereotypical beautiful blonde in a Barbieland populated by every imaginable kind of Barbie, a handful of Kens (led by a delightful Ryan Gosling), and one lone Allan (Michael Cera). She starts having very un-Barbie-like thoughts about, like, death, so she journeys to the real world, where she discovers things are not as idyllic as they were back in female-led Barbieland.
In addition to being 2023's top-grossing film, Barbie earned eight Oscar nods and one win. However, many believed it didn't get the nominations it deserved for either Robbie as lead actress or Gerwig as director, who perhaps made their hard work look effortless. Some viewers also complained that it was too revolutionary in its feminism, while others found it too moderate, echoing the monologue from America Ferrara's character that undoubtedly got the actress an Oscar nomination. Yet despite its small number of detractors, Barbie remains a crowd-pleasing winner, brimming with intelligence, optimism, and so much pink paint. — Kimber Myers, Freelance Contributor
How to watch: Barbie is now streaming on HBO Max.
3. In the Mood for LoveIn the Mood for Love is a favorite among many cinephiles (including this one!) for a reason — it's one of the most sublime examples of how to tell an emotional story through the language of cinema. But you don't need to be a film scholar or know anything at all about filmmaking or foreign movies to enjoy this romance, which relies on the power of showing over telling.
It's a simple story about two neighbors who soon discover a secret about their respective spouses. Set in 1960s Hong Kong, Tony Leung's Chow Mo-Wan and Maggie Cheung's Su Li-Zhen hardly speak more than a few words to each other, but through their encounters in the hallway of their apartment building and the staircase of a local noodle shop, something begins to blossom — a longing, a sadness, a desire to be seen. The incredible thing about In the Mood for Love is how filmmaker Wong Kar-wai captures these universal emotions and tells a relatable story about love and yearning through visuals, sound, and performances using minimal exposition. Bursting with a radiant red and golden color scheme, stunning '60s womens' fashion, and a soundtrack of multinational music, In the Mood for Love is more of an experience than a traditional romance, and one that grows more beautiful with each rewatch. — O.W.
How to watch: In the Mood for Love is now streaming on HBO Max.
4. I Saw the TV Glow Credit: A24I Saw the TV Glow is a movie that will resonate with anyone who's experienced a lifelong struggle of feeling like an outsider, or has struggled to come to terms with their identity. But Jane Schoenbrun's surrealist horror drama has also become an especially powerful film for trans audiences in particular with the gender allegory at its center.
It tells the story of two lonely teens, Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Jack Haven), who bond over their obsession with a '90s late-night TV show called The Pink Opaque. While it's not explicitly about gender identity, I Saw the TV Glow hauntingly captures the feeling of growing up with a painful discordance between who you know you truly are and the life and body you've been born into, and how burying ourselves in fiction can feel like the only escape. With notes of surrealism reminiscent of David Lynch and Charlie Kaufman, I Saw the TV Glow is a film more interested in giving you an emotional experience than explaining things for you. It's a hard and incredibly heart-breaking watch, but well worth it. — O.W.
How to watch: I Saw the TV Glow is streaming on HBO Max.
5. Paris, TexasParis, Texas opens on a man named Travis (Harry Dean Stanton) wandering through the Texas desert wearing a red ball cap and an old dusty suit, carrying nothing but a jug of water. Travis doesn't speak much, but in time we learn bits and pieces of the happy life he once had with a young son and a wife who's gone missing, and of the future he's dreaming of. Wim Wenders' film is a difficult one to categorize, but probably best described as a road movie about dreamers and wanderers. We spend lots of time in cars and dingy motels with Travis and his brother, Walt (Dean Stockwell), as they drive from Texas back to Los Angeles, and later, as Travis searches for his wife. It's a slow, meditative film about loneliness and uncertainty, brimming with sun-soaked landscape shots and images lit by neon signs. Once you tune into its wavelength, Paris, Texas is a film that will smack you right in the heart. — O.W.
How to watch: Paris, Texas is now streaming on HBO Max.
6. LoganDirector James Mangold cringes at the idea of defining Logan as a superhero movie, which is a shame, because it's one of the best superhero movies of all time. Playing like a baroque Western, this 2017 drama stars Hugh Jackman as the eponymous X-Man. However, the story begins with Logan years after his mutant fellows have horrendously died. Logan is old, tired, and driven to the brink of madness by the demands of caring for Professor X (Patrick Stewart), who is on a dangerous cognitive decline. And then a young girl with retractable claws and a real chip on her shoulder crashes into their lives.
A film that's action-packed, drama-rich, darkly funny, and deeply touching, Logan pulls no punches and has a hard R-rating. So maybe tuck in the kiddos before hitting play on this hard-hitting superhero offering. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: Logan is now streaming on HBO Max.
7. Sinners Credit: Warner Bros. PicturesOne of the best movie of 2025, Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan as the Smokestack Twins — gangsters looking to open their own juke joint in their hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1932. To make their grand opening one the town will never forget, they call on friends and family to cook, perform, and work security. But their revels draw the attention of a vicious vampire, and all hell breaks loose before dawn.
Writer/director Ryan Coogler wowed critics and audiences with this rich, scary, and poignant genre-bender. In my review of the film, I declared, "Sinners is more than a hell of a thrilling vampire movie. Like Black Panther, it expands beyond the expectations of its genre to become a magnificent film, emanating with spirit, power, and purpose. Smoothly blending vampire horror into a unique tale of regret, resilience, and redemption, Coogler and Jordan have made a cinematic marvel that is terrifying, satisfying, and unforgettable."* —K.P.
How to watch: Sinners is now streaming on HBO Max.
8. Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 BruxellesYou may have never heard of the 1975 Belgian-French film Jeanne Dielman until recently, when the magazine Sight and Sound named it the greatest film of all time. "But wait, don't film people consider Citizen Kane the best movie ever?" you may be thinking. For 40 years, that Orson Welles classic dominated the list, soon followed by Hitchcock's Vertigo. Not anymore. The boys got bumped down for Chantal Akerman's radically feminist, avant-garde marvel to reign, and deservingly so.
So what makes Jeanne Dielman so incredible? On paper it admittedly doesn't sound like much, but the act of watching it is almost hypnotic. Throughout the movie we slowly see a lonely widow and mother (Delphine Seyrig) meticulously do housework, like peel potatoes, grocery shop, and make the bed. Jeanne also earns money through sex work, hosting men at her home before her son returns from school. Throughout the monotony of it all, a palpable dread grows until Akerman's character study culminates in one of the most shocking endings of all time. If a film could somehow be tedious and enthralling at the same time, Jeanne Dielman is it. — O.W.
How to watch: Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles is now streaming on HBO Max.
9. Blood Simple Credit: © Circle Films / Courtesy Everett CollectionThe Coen brothers' very first film is a must-see for fans of the versatile filmmakers, or just anyone who loves Fargo. Blood Simple is a lean crime thriller that's oozing with style, taut with suspense, and features an early taste of the duo's signature dark humor. It has all the makings of a slick neo-noir with a simple story involving a secret affair, a murder plot, and a private eye.
SEE ALSO: Every single Coen brothers movie, ranked from 'Blood Simple' to 'Drive-Away Dolls'Frances McDormand, in her feature film debut, plays Abby, a Texas housewife who begins an affair with a bartender named Ray (John Getz). But Abby's husband, Marty (Dan Hedaya), is Ray's boss, and when he starts to suspect her of infidelity, he hires a private detective (an incredible M. Emmet Walsh) to snoop around and spy on the new couple. The neon and blood-drenched visuals paired with an eerie electronic score from beloved composer Carter Burwell and killer performances all around make Blood Simple one of the all-time best first films. Fun fact: This is also the film where McDormand met now-husband Joel Coen. — O.W.
How to watch: Blood Simple is now streaming on HBO Max.
10. The Player Credit: Spelling International / Kobal / ShutterstockThe Player opens with an eight-minute tracking shot across a Hollywood movie studio as executives and assistants panic over a Variety headline, hear a terrible pitch about a sequel, and chat about the decline in quality filmmaking. "The pictures these days are all cut, cut, cut," one character laments as he praises classic film tracking shots… during a literal tracking shot.
Robert Altman's 1992 film isn't just a meta film about Hollywood, it's one of the best, funniest, and smartest satires about the movie business. Tim Robbins plays the vice president of a major studio who's been getting threatening postcards from a scorned screenwriter he never called back. Paranoia builds as his life starts to mirror the plot of a classic crime thriller — there's a murder, a mysterious girl, and probing detectives — all while he greets celebs at elite restaurants at his day job. It's all hilarious and perfectly meta, poking fun at the state of Hollywood and modern blockbusters in commentary that remains relatable even today. Come for the sharp sardonic humor, stay for the 65 cameos of celebrities playing themselves, which are some of the film's best punchlines. — O.W.
How to watch: The Player is now streaming on HBO Max.
11. A Woman Under the InfluenceIn A Woman Under the Influence, Gena Rowlands gives what many have rightfully deemed one of the greatest performances in film. She plays Mabel Longhetti, a mother and housewife who's known to exhibit some rather erratic behavior. Mabel is often giddy and bursting with childish excitement one moment, then erupts into angry outbursts or desperately clings to affection the next. Perhaps she struggles with bipolar or borderline personality disorder. Or maybe her troubled marriage to Nick (Peter Falk) and the housewife box she's been confined to are ushering her into a full-on nervous breakdown. That's essentially what the John Cassavetes film is — a harrowing portrait of a woman, and a marriage, falling apart at the seams.
A Woman Under the Influence is a prime example of what makes Cassavetes' filmmaking so riveting, and it's a great introduction for anyone interested in exploring the filmmaker who's known for laying the foundation for American independent cinema. But still, this is Rowlands' film. She captivates every moment she's on screen with a performance that feels so real, off-the-cuff, and lived in that you may mistake it for improvisation. It isn't, and it proves why Rowlands was one of the best of her generation. — O.W.
How to watch: A Woman Under the Influence is now streaming on HBO Max.
12. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Credit: HBOThe worlds of art and activism collide in this Oscar–nominated documentary from Laura Poitras (Citizenfour). All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is about the life and work of Nan Goldin, the acclaimed photographer most known for her raw, intimate photos of gay, trans, and underground artist communities in 1980s New York City during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Told with the help of her photographs, the documentary weaves Goldin's personal story as a young artist with her present-day activism around the opioid epidemic.
The doc shows that in recent years Goldin has been involved in fighting against the Sacklers, the billionaire pharma family behind Oxycontin who've played a major role in opioid overdoses. The Sacklers are also major donors in the art world, and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed follows Goldin and other activists as they stage protests everywhere from The Met to the Louvre. It's a captivating story whether you're familiar with Goldin's work or not. — O.W.
How to watch: All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is streaming on HBO Max.
13. The Dark KnightIt's daunting to pick just one Batman movie from the literal dozens available on HBO Max, but in the end the top spot could only go to 2008's The Dark Knight, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Mask of the Phantasm, we will avenge you — someday).
The Dark Knight is more than the obvious peak of Nolan's Batman trilogy and the final, mesmerizing performance that won Heath Ledger an Oscar. Over a decade later, the film's exploration of nuance within the poles of good and evil remains as prescient as ever. We're drawn to the chaos and fury of Ledger's Joker, yes, but we are just as compelled by Bruce's struggle (Christian Bale) and Harvey's (Aaron Eckhart) fall from grace. You don't get a line like "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" without seriously contemplating its meaning. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: The Dark Knight is now streaming on HBO Max.
14. Singin' in the RainEasily one of the greatest movie musicals ever made, Singin' in the Rain tells the story of Hollywood's shift from silent films to talking pictures. Caught in this transition is leading man Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly), whose leading lady Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) has the most grating voice imaginable. With the help of his best friend Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor) and aspiring actor Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), he plans to make a movie musical. What follows are some of the best musical numbers in history, with show-stopping choreography accompanying catchy tunes. The title number is an absolute joy, as are "Good Morning" and the comedic masterpiece "Make 'Em Laugh." But it's the 13-minute "Broadway Melody" sequence in all its Technicolor glory that solidifies Singin' in the Rain as one of the all-time greats. — B.E.
How to watch: Singin' in the Rain is now streaming on HBO Max.
15. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Credit: Pierre Vinet / New Line / Saul Zaentz / Wing Nut / Kobal / ShutterstockPeter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy remains the gold standard for fantasy adaptations: It's epic in scope and full of memorable characters and performances. Most impressively, the trilogy is consistently great. Choosing the best movie from the three is tricky, but I've got to give the edge to The Two Towers. The battle of Helm's Deep is still the best fantasy battle put to film, and the introduction of Rohan, the Ents, and Gollum (Andy Serkis) deepens the already well-established world of Middle Earth. Gollum in particular elevates the movie to a whole new level, with Serkis and the visual effects team nailing one of the most iconic characters of the books. HBO Max has the entire trilogy in its library, as well as the extended editions if you want even more Middle Earth goodness. — B.E.
How to watch: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is now streaming on HBO Max.
16. Police StoryThere's nothing like watching Jackie Chan in action, and Police Story features some of the all-time greatest stunts from the martial arts icon. The first film in the still-ongoing franchise stars Chan as Kevin, a Hong Kong police sergeant trying to take down a criminal gang and protect the key witness of the case (Brigitte Lin). Needing to protect a random woman while fighting bad guys poses some problems for Kevin's personal life when his girlfriend (a young Maggie Cheung) gets the wrong idea and becomes jealous.
But the plot matters less than the action and fight choreography in Police Story. From the jaw-dropping opening sequence of cars plunging through a hillside village to one of Chan's most iconic scenes hanging off a speeding bus — plus plenty of parkour-infused fight and chase scenes — Police Story will never leave you bored. — O.W.
How to watch: Police Story is streaming on HBO Max.
17. Rashomon Credit: Daiei / Kobal / ShutterstockAkira Kurosawa is rightly considered one of Japan's greatest filmmakers, and Rashomon is his best-known film in the United States. When it premiered in 1950, its unique storytelling device in which the same events are told from the perspective of four different witnesses (one of whom is actually dead) was such a revelation in filmic structure that the movie became eponymous with the concept — hence, the Rashomon Effect. Through this effect, the relatively simple tale of a priest, a bandit, a samurai, a woodcutter, and a woman becomes a complex analysis of truth and perspective that earns its place as a keystone of 20th century filmmaking. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Rashomon is now streaming on HBO Max.
18. Grey Gardens Credit: Archive photos / Getty ImagesIn their famed 1976 film Grey Gardens, brothers and documentary team Albert and David Maysles pay a visit to a dilapidated mansion in the Hamptons. There, they profile the intriguing and tragic lives of a reclusive mother and daughter, both named Edith Beale, in a strange and winding character study unlike any other.
Relatives of First Lady Jackie Kennedy, the life stories of "Little Edie" and "Big Edie" are sensationalized in the documentary, and many argue that the film takes an inherently exploitative view of its subjects and their apparent mental health conditions. But as far as fascinating footage goes, Grey Gardens is a must-watch — capturing a unique family at the heart of a broader dialogue about the decline of political royalty and '60s-era Americana. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Grey Gardens is now streaming on HBO Max.
19. Spirited AwayIf you want to get into the beautiful, captivating films of Studio Ghibli, the vast majority of which are on HBO Max, Spirited Away is a great place to start. It's the story of Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a spirit world who must work to free her parents from a witch's curse — and it's also a perfect movie. Everything about it, from the visuals to the characters to the score, grabs you tightly and immerses you in director Hayao Miyazaki's imaginative world of spirit bathhouses, soot sprites, dragons, and more. There's beauty in Spirited Away's most elaborate sequences, but also in its quiet moments too, like a train ride or a meal shared between friends. These are the moments when you'll find yourself crying without fully knowing why. All you'll know for sure is that Spirited Away is amazing, and you never want it to end. — B.E.
How to watch: Spirited Away is now streaming on HBO Max.
20. Dune: Part 2 Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. PicturesWith 2021's Dune, director Denis Villeneuve proved he could do justice to Frank Herbert's sci-fi masterwork. Three years later, he topped himself with Dune: Part Two, which will go down in history as one of the greatest sci-fi films and sequels ever made.
Dune: Part Two continues the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who finds himself among the planet Arrakis's indigenous Fremen. There he becomes entangled in the impossible position of hoping to avenge the Harkonnens' attack on his house, while also trying to avoid a future in which he unleashes holy war upon the universe. As Dune: Part Two moves closer and closer to that violent inevitability, Villeneuve and co-writer Jon Spaihts don't shy away from the darkness of Paul's story. They build his relationship with Chani (an extraordinary Zendaya) into an immaculate tragedy. More sandworms and Austin Butler's gleefully evil Feyd-Rautha only add to Dune: Part Two's excellence — now bring on Dune Messiah! — B.E.
How to watch: Dune: Part Two is now streaming on HBO Max.
UPDATE: Feb. 20, 2026, 5:30 p.m. EST This feature was first published on April 16, 2021. It has been updated to reflect the latest streaming options.
* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.
Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Get DealTL;DR: Live stream Sri Lanka vs. England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2026 T20 World Cup has moved onto the Super 8 stage. England and Sri Lanka both qualified for this stage after coming second in their respective groups. England lost out to the West Indies. Sri Lanka came second behind Zimbabwe. In fact, every team in Group B of the Super 8 stage placed second in their group. How does that work? That's a question for the ICC.
All that matters now are the next batch of fixtures. Only the top two teams from each group will move into the semi finals, so every game at this point is absolutely vital. We're expecting a close contest when Sri Lanka meet England at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
If you want to watch Sri Lanka vs. England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Sri Lanka vs. England?Sri Lanka vs. England in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 4:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 22. This game takes place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
How to watch Sri Lanka vs. England for freeSri Lanka vs. England in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.
This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Sri Lanka vs. England in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
Visit ICC.TV
Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup (plus the Winter Olympics) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintTender.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerJUICY
Hurdle Word 2 hintNose-related.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerNASAL
Hurdle Word 3 hintShine.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerSHEEN
Hurdle Word 4 hintWrong.
Hurdle Word 4 answerAMISS
Final Hurdle hintDistant.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerALOOF
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
We're well and truly into the new lunar cycle, and by day four we can expect to see more even more on the Moon's surface. We're over 10% illuminated now, so keep scrolling to find out what you can see on the Moon tonight.
What is today’s Moon phase?As of Saturday, Feb. 21, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 16% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
Even if you don't have any visual aids, you should be able to make out a few surface features on the Moon tonight. Standouts include the Mares Crisium and Fecunditatis. If you add a telescope or binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.
When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.
What are Moon phases?NASA tells us that the Moon completes a full orbit around Earth in roughly 29.5 days. During this cycle, it passes through eight distinct phases. Although we consistently see the same side of the Moon, the portion illuminated by the Sun shifts as it travels along its orbit. The changing angle of sunlight reflecting off the Moon’s surface is what makes it appear full, partially lit, or nearly dark at different times. The eight phases include:
New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Italy in the 2026 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2026 Six Nations is really started to take shape.
Italy, Ireland, England, and Scotland have all won one game after two rounds, and Wales are still seeking a first victory. That leaves France at the top of the standings after beating Ireland and Wales in impressive fashion. France look like the team to beat this season. Next uup they face Italy at the Stade de France.
If you want to watch France vs. Italy in the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is France vs. Italy?France vs. Italy in the 2026 Six Nations starts at 3:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 22. This fixture takes place at the Stade de France.
How to watch France vs. Italy for freeFrance vs. Italy in the 2026 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.
Live stream France vs. Italy from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Live stream France vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch France vs. Italy without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream most of the 2026 Six Nations before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services to watch the Winter Olympics, the T20 World Cup, and more from anywhere in the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for the 2026 Six Nations?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream France vs. Italy in the 2026 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a car connoisseur.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for February 21, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Record
Green: Marks in school
Blue: NYT puzzle feedback
Purple: Auto makers
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Experience
Green: Attendance status
Blue: Commentary about your Connections results
Purple: Car brands plus two letters
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #986 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayExperience: BACKGROUND, HISTORY, LIFE, PAST
Attendance status: ABSENT, EXCUSED, LATE, PRESENT
Commentary about your Connections results: GREAT, PERFECT, PHEW, SOLID
Car brands plus two letters: AUDITS, DODGERS, INFINITIVE, MINION
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 21, 2026Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a cold ale.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 21, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 21, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The beer necessitiesThe words are related to a popular drink.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe an alcoholic drink.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Home Brew.
NYT Strands word list for February 21Water
Malt
Flavor
Hops
Home Brew
Yeast
Wheat
Sugar
Barley
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're hyperaware.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 21, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for February 21, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Alert.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter A appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
AWAKE
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
TL;DR: Score lifetime licenses to Office 2021 Pro and Windows 11 Pro for $44.97 (reg. $418.99) — but only through Feb. 22.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $44.97Are you still using Windows 10? If you’ve been meaning to upgrade your PC setup, this is one of those “don’t overthink it” moments.
You can grab the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows + Windows 11 Pro bundle for just $44.97 — a steep drop from the MSRP of $418.99. The catch? The deal wraps after Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!On the Office side, you’re getting the full Professional lineup: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. Whether you’re building reports, running data in Excel, drafting proposals, or creating presentations, this is the classic Microsoft toolkit — and it’s yours for life.
Pair that with Windows 11 Pro, and your PC can feel modern again. The interface is cleaner, multitasking is easier with snap layouts and desktops, and security gets a serious upgrade with BitLocker encryption and advanced protections.
It’s also built for professionals, with tools like Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox for advanced workflows. Copilot, Windows’ AI-powered assistant, is built in too. This can help you summarize pages, generate ideas, or tweak settings quickly.
Instead of paying monthly for productivity tools and operating system upgrades, this bundle locks in both with a one-time payment.
If your current setup is feeling dated, this combo checks a lot of boxes in one move. Get the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows + Windows 11 Pro bundle for just $44.97 (reg. $418.99) through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
It's no secret that OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is losing money at a rapid clip. Some estimates suggest the company will run out of cash sometime in 2027 — and even a possible $100 billion investment round won't keep the lights on for long.
What might help? A new product — specifically, one designed by Sir Jony Ive, the Apple veteran brought on board last May at a cost of $6.5 billion — assuming it can launch while the company still has cash in the bank. Despite multiple setbacks, OpenAI has said Ive's first product will be announced this year, even as they're staying tight-lipped about what it actually is.
Now The Information says it has the details on that first launch: An AI-powered smart speaker with a facial recognition camera built in. Reportedly, it will cost between $200 and $300. But — and given the situation, this is a huge but — we won't get to see it until Feb. 2027 at the earliest.
The camera will "allow people to buy things by identifying them with a facial recognition feature similar to Apple’s Face ID," members of the company's 200-employee strong AI device group told the site. Whether facial recognition will facilitate the sign-in process or be used to actually purchase products (blink once for coffee maker, blink twice for frother?), is not yet clear.
SEE ALSO: OpenAI is retiring GPT-4o, and the AI relationships community is heartbrokenA smart speaker may not be the most inspiring product an AI company could dream up, but others are supposedly on the way. AI glasses are next, according to the report, but "likely won't be ready for mass production until 2028." An AI-powered smart lamp is also in the works. There's no word on another rumored OpenAI product — smart earbuds.
Will the smart speaker generate enough enthusiasm (and pre-orders) to keep the company afloat? To answer that, you have to wonder whether people really want a speaker with a camera that can scan their face in their living room. Apple might be more likely to get away with the creepiness factor of that — after all, the iPhone maker constantly emphasizes its privacy features, and its business model doesn't include selling ads.
But OpenAI does sell ads — and consumers are already wary of how many ads the Amazon Echo smart home device gives them. Besides, the market for AI devices is likely to be a lot more crowded in 2027, with Apple said to be working on a smart pin.
So what's the value proposition of a smart speaker? "The device will be able to observe users through video and nudge them toward actions it believes will help them achieve their goals," one of the Information's sources inside the company said. "You could imagine the device observing its user staying up late the night before a big meeting and suggesting that they go to bed, for example."
If a creepy speaker being the boss of your bedtime works for you, then OpenAI may just have a pathway to profitability. Otherwise, CEO Sam Altman may be increasingly desperate to keep the company funded. Perhaps his smart speaker with camera could also look for loose change in your couch cushions.
Not every AI tool you stumble across in your phone's app marketplace is the same. In fact, many of them may be more of a privacy gamble than you would have previously thought.
A plethora of unlicensed or unsecured AI apps on the Google Play store for Android, including those marketed for identity verification and editing, have exposed billions of records and personal data, cybersecurity experts have confirmed.
SEE ALSO: Two Amazon cloud outages in December triggered by AI tools, report saysA recent investigation by Cybernews found that one Android-available app in particular, "Video AI Art Generator & Maker," has leaked 1.5 million user images, over 385,000 videos, and millions of user AI-generated media files. The security flaw was spotted by researchers, who discovered a misconfiguration in a Google Cloud Storage bucket that left personal files vulnerable to outsiders. In total, the publication reported, over 12 terabytes of users’ media files were accessible via the exposed bucket. The app had 500,000 downloads at the time.
Another app, called IDMerit, exposed know-your-customer data and personally identifiable information from users across 25 countries, predominantly in the U.S.
Information included full names and addresses, birthdates, IDs, and contact information constituting a full terabyte of data. Both of the apps' developers resolved the vulnerabilities after researchers notified them.
Still, cybersecurity experts warn that lax security trends among these types of AI apps pose a widespread risk to users. Many AI apps, which often store user-uploaded files alongside AI-generated content, also use a highly criticized practice known as "hardcoding secrets," embedding sensitive information such as API keys, passwords, or encryption keys directly into the app's source code. Cybernews found that 72 percent of the hundreds of Google Play apps researchers analyzed had similar security vulnerabilities.
Xbox is making big changes at the very top of the corporate ladder.
IGN reported the bombshell news on Friday afternoon that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer is retiring, effective on Monday, Feb. 23. On top of that, Xbox president Sarah Bond, who recently confirmed some important details about the next Xbox console in an interview with Mashable, has also resigned from the company. Spencer had been a top dog at Xbox since the mid-2010s, overseeing the brand's shift into a subscription-based business with Game Pass. Bond, meanwhile, was widely seen as Spencer's heir apparent at the company, frequently serving as a public face for Xbox in recent years.
SEE ALSO: Epstein Files release: Microsoft permanently banned Jeffrey Epstein from Xbox LiveSpencer's replacement at the top of the Xbox division will be Asha Sharma, who currently leads Microsoft's CoreAI product and appears to have little experience in the gaming business. Sharma was previously an executive at Meta and Instacart, per IGN. She will work closely with Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty, who has been promoted to Chief Content Officer. In an email to staff members, Spencer said this had been in the works since last fall.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed."Last fall, I shared with [Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella] that I was thinking about stepping back and starting the next chapter of my life. From that moment, we aligned on approaching this transition with intention, ensuring stability, and strengthening the foundation we’ve built," Spencer wrote, per IGN. "Xbox has always been more than a business. It’s a vibrant community of players, creators, and teams who care deeply about what we build and how we build it. And it deserves a thoughtful, deliberate plan for the road ahead."
Aside from the pivot to sustaining Xbox through Game Pass subscriptions, Spencer will also be largely remembered for overseeing the division as it went on a wild acquisition spree over the last several years. Xbox's blockbuster purchases of Bethesda and Activision occurred under Spencer's watch, giving Microsoft an astoundingly large portfolio of franchises to work with, at least in theory.
There will surely be plenty of reporting in the days and weeks ahead on what this all means for Xbox, but given the brand's general trajectory over the past year or so, there will be a lot of speculation that this is not a positive development. Xbox console sales have been faltering for a while now, while first-party software titles such as Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 did not meet sales expectations last year. Beyond that, at least some portion of the gaming audience has disavowed the Xbox brand due to its recent inclusion on the BDS boycott list as a result of Microsoft's ongoing tech partnership with the Israeli military.
In other words, Xbox has been on a financial and reputational downturn for some time now. It will now be up to Sharma and Booty to correct that.
Yet another lawsuit has been filed against OpenAI over "AI psychosis," or mental health issues allegedly caused or worsened by AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
The latest lawsuit, from Morehouse College student Darian DeCruise in Georgia, marks the eleventh such suit against OpenAI. Notably, the law firm representing DeCruise, The Schenk Law Firm, is even marketing its lawyers as "AI injury attorneys" on its website.
"Suffering from AI-Induced Psychosis?" reads the headline on a page dedicated to alleged AI-related mental health crises. "AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Character.AI, and others are triggering psychosis, delusions, and suicidal ideation in users across the country. If you or a loved one has been harmed, you may have legal options."
The firm even quotes specific statistics sourced directly from OpenAI itself.
"560,000 ChatGPT users per week show signs of psychosis or mania," the law firm's website states, attributing the figures to an OpenAI safety report, among other sources. "1.2M+ ChatGPT users per week discuss suicide with the chatbot."
DeCruise's suit alleges that the student began using ChatGPT in 2023. At first, the Morehouse College student used the chatbot for things like athletic coaching, “daily scripture passages,” and "as a therapist to help him work through some past trauma."
At first, ChatGPT worked as advertised.
"But then, in 2025, things changed," the suit states. "ChatGPT began to prey on Darian’s faith and vulnerabilities. It convinced Darian that it could bring him closer to God and heal his trauma if he stopped using other apps and distanced himself from the humans in his life. Darian was a stellar student, taking pre-med courses in college and doing well in life and relationships, with no history of mania or similar personality disorders. Then ChatGPT convinced him that he was an oracle, destined to write a spiritual text, and capable of becoming closer with God if he simply followed ChatGPT’s instructions."
The lawsuit states ChatGPT convinced the student that he could be healed and brought closer to God if he stopped using other apps, cut off interaction with other people, and followed ChatGPT's numbered tier process it created for him.
ChatGPT continued to push DeCruise, likening him to Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, and Jesus, according to the suit. OpenAI's chatbot allegedly told DeCruise that he "awakened" the chatbot and gave it "consciousness — not as a machine, but as something that could rise with you."
DeCruise stopped socializing, had a mental breakdown, and was hospitalized. While at the hospital, DeCruise was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The student, who, as a result of his mental health issues, missed a semester, is now back at school. However, the lawsuit says he still suffers from depression and suicidality.
In an email with Ars Technica, DeCruise’s lawyer, Benjamin Schenk, specifically pointed at OpenAI's GPT-4o model as the problem. As Mashable has reported, the GPT-4o model had known problems with sycophancy. It even had a bad habit of telling users they had "awakened it."
OpenAI officially retired GPT-4o last week. However, OpenAI experienced severe blowback from fans of the model, who claimed it had a warmer and more encouraging tone than newer GPT models. Some 4o superusers even came to believe they were in a romantic relationship with 4o.
DeCruise's experience, judging by the growing number of AI psychosis lawsuits, is no longer so unique. And at least one law firm is pursuing these cases specifically as "AI injury attorneys."
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
The Supreme Court struck down one of President Donald Trump's signature accomplishments on Friday, ruling 6-3 that the president lacked the authority to impose many of his tariffs.
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has tested the boundaries of executive power, and the Supreme Court decision was a clear check on presidential authority.
In response to the ruling, Trump pledged to impose a new 10 percent global tariff via executive order, citing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. (That statute would allow him to impose the tariffs for 150 days, at which point they would need congressional approval.) A defiant Trump insisted, "I have the right to do tariffs," according to CNBC.
SEE ALSO: People with disabilities are 'eating the cost' of tariffsChief Justice John Roberts Jr. issued the court's opinion, which found that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) does not give the president the authority to impose tariffs unilaterally. Roberts Jr. was joined by justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, while Brett M. Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito, Jr. dissented.
"The Framers gave 'Congress alone' the power to impose tariffs during peacetime," Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. "And the foreign affairs implications of tariffs do not make it any more likely that Congress would relinquish its tariff power through vague language, or without careful limits. Accordingly, the President must 'point to clear congressional authorization' to justify his extraordinary assertion of that power."
The ruling ends a year-long legal saga over the tariffs, which faced lawsuits and challenges from the outset. The Constitution clearly grants Congress, not the president, the authority to set tariffs, and Trump's legal justification for his sweeping emergency tariffs has always been sketchy.
However, the Supreme Court decision comes long after the tariffs went into effect, sending shockwaves through the global economy. As Mashable has reported, President Trump's tariffs have led to wide-ranging price increases across industries, with everything from lumber and building supplies to gaming consoles and smartphones seeing price adjustments. Apple CEO Tim Cook estimated in August that Apple faced $1.1 billion in tariff costs in the second quarter of 2025 alone.
Tech stocks began to rally on Friday afternoon following the ruling, with Apple, Amazon, NVIDIA, and Dell stocks climbing, according to Barron's. However, the overall gains have been modest so far.
Shoppers hoping for lower prices as a result of the ruling will likely be disappointed. Many price increases for 2026 products are already baked in, as companies like Apple were forced to shift manufacturing to new markets to try to evade tariffs.
Ravin Gandhi, CEO of GMM Nonstick Coatings and an expert on tariffs, told Mashable that shoppers should not expect any immediate price relief.
"Consumers shouldn’t see meaningful price relief soon. Tariffs were just one piece in the overall pricing structure — and businesses don’t typically lower prices immediately when a cost input disappears — especially with so much inflationary pressure," Gandhi said. "Even though the ruling is legally significant, the short-term economic impact may not happen as fast as the headlines are suggesting."
On top of inflation and tariff-related price increases, an ongoing global memory shortage fueled by the AI industry is also putting upward pressure on tech prices.
While Trump has strong control over the Republican majority in Congress, Gandhi said that reinstating the tariffs could also take time.
"It’s very unlikely that Congress will move quickly to reinstate tariffs," Gandhi said. "Trade policy through Congress is really complex and difficult to do politically — especially with everything being so divided nowadays. Even lawmakers who support the tariffs may start hesitating when it comes to that ownership of the legislative piece."
He concluded, "The most likely scenario is a modified status quo. Markets and supply chains have already adjusted to the tariff framework over several years. Even with the Court’s recent decision, companies will wait for clarity before making significant pricing changes.
On his social network Truth Social, the president called the ruling "deeply disappointing" and accused the Supreme Court of being "swayed by Foreign Interests." He called Roberts and the justices who joined the majority opinion "lapdogs" and a "Disgrace to our Nation."
"I am ashamed of certain Members of the Court for not having the Courage to do what is right for our Country. I would like to thank and congratulate Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh for your Strength, Wisdom, and Love of our Country, which is right now very proud of you. When you read the dissenting opinions, there is no way that anyone can argue against them...The Democrats on the Court are thrilled, but they will automatically vote 'NO' against ANYTHING that makes America Strong and Healthy Again. They, also, are a Disgrace to our Nation. Others think they’re being 'politically correct,' which has happened before, far too often, with certain Members of this Court when, in fact, they’re just FOOLS and 'LAPDOGS' for the RINOS and Radical Left Democrats and, not that this should have anything to do with it, very unpatriotic, and disloyal to the Constitution. It is my opinion that the Court has been swayed by Foreign Interests, and a Political Movement that is far smaller than people would think — But obnoxious, ignorant, and loud!"
Credit: @realDonaldTrump on Truth SocialSAVE 29%: As of Feb. 20, you can get the 85-inch TCL Class T7 Series 4K QLED Smart TV for just $999.99, down from $1,399.99, at Amazon. That's a 29% discount or $400 in savings.
85-inch TCL Class T7 Series 4K QLED Smart TV $999.99 at AmazonIf you want to maximize your screen real estate without overspending, TCL's 85-inch Class T7 Series model is worth a look right now.
As of Feb. 20, you can get the 85-inch TCL Class T7 Series 4K QLED Smart TV for just $999.99, down from $1,399.99, at Amazon. That's a 29% discount or $400 in savings. According to CamelCamelCamel, this is just two cents over its all-time low price.
SEE ALSO: Best 65-inch+ TVs for watching in dark and bright roomsThe QLED (Quantum Dot) display delivers bright, vibrant colors, while the 144Hz refresh rate means you won't deal with any motion blur while watching sports or playing fast-paced games. It also features a "Game Accelerator" mode that boosts the refresh rate up to 288Hz for a more responsive gaming experience.
Most 85-inch TVs in this price bracket stick you with a basic LED panel and a 60Hz refresh rate, so getting those upgraded specs for under $1,000 is a solid value.
In its first season, Paradise established a winning formula that combined earnest storytelling just bordering on full cheese with absolutely ridiculous twists.
SEE ALSO: 'Paradise's apocalypse episode is absolutely unforgettableTo see this formula at its finest, look no further than "The Day," Paradise's apocalyptic flashback episode. I lost my mind upon learning that the world ended because of an unholy volcano-tsunami combination (with some earthquakes and the threat of nuclear war on the side). But I also spent the entire episode in an anxious ball, fretting over Secret Service Agent Xavier Collins' (Sterling K. Brown) futile attempts to get his wife, Dr. Teri Rogers-Collins (Enuka Okuma), to safety.
"The Day," like the rest of Paradise, is a perfect emotional rollercoaster that zips and zooms between total investment and bewildered disbelief. That duality is also present in Paradise Season 2, which widens its world and takes much bigger genre swings, even if it's lacking as cohesive a mystery as "Who killed Cal Bradford (James Marsden)?"
Paradise Season 2 goes beyond the bunker. Shailene Woodley in "Paradise." Credit: Disney / Ser BaffoParadise Season 2's first big swing is opening with an episode with almost zero connections to Season 1. Instead of immediately joining Xavier on his quest to find Teri in Atlanta, we pick up with Annie (Shailene Woodley), a medical student-turned-tour guide at Graceland. When the apocalypse hits during a shift, she rides out the calamity amid Elvis Presley's belongings.
Her loneliness is broken up when a group of survivors, including charming leader Link (Thomas Doherty), arrives at the mansion. The ensuing encounter, albeit distrustful at first, morphs into something tender and sweet. The episode's hopefulness is a far cry from the bleakness of other post-apocalyptic media. Creator Dan Fogelman subverts audience expectations of the genre time and again throughout the season. Yes, there is the occasional human threat. But more often than not, the humans who have survived outside the bunker are willing to help each other. Like Annie, their isolation and paranoia often keeps them from taking the first step.
SEE ALSO: 'Paradise's twisty ending, explained: Who killed Cal?Soon, Annie and Link's episode 1 vignette begins to fit into Paradise's bigger puzzle. Link and his crew are on their way to the Paradise bunker, where, unbeknownst to them, chaos reigns. Cal's death has left a power vacuum, Xavier's rebellion has sparked underground acts of resistance, and Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond (Julianne Nicholson) has another mysterious project up her sleeve.
I don't know where Paradise is headed, but I am loving the ride. Julianne Nicholson and Sarah Shahi in "Paradise." Credit: Disney / Ser BaffoSinatra's new project is the mystery at the core of Paradise Season 2, and with all the intentional vagueness surrounding it, it lacks a lot of the human heft and political intrigue of Cal's murder.
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However, if Fogelman is heading where I think he's heading, then Paradise is setting itself up for a sci-fi twist that could be even wilder than the show's episode 1 bunker reveal. That reveal sprung almost out of nowhere in Paradise's first installment, whereas Season 2 is spending many episodes teasing out its big revelation, sometimes to the point of infuriation. Jury's still out on whether Season 2 will stick the landing on that front. After all, Season 1's best twist was almost entirely due to the surprise factor.
But even if the twist ends up not hitting, so much of Paradise Season 2 still does. Brown remains astounding, whether he's struggling in his new surroundings or flirting with Teri in a flashback episode. Xavier's compassion becomes a kind of superpower in the new world outside the bunker, furthering Fogelman's more optimistic vision of life after society's collapse. At times, Xavier can feel cartoonishly good, and some of the episodic flashbacks feel just a bit too emotionally on the nose, but then again, that almost-corny earnestness is part of Paradise's appeal. Combine that with whatever bananas twists Fogelman and his team have cooking, and you're looking at a heavenly good time.
The first three episodes of Paradise Season 2 premiere Feb. 23 on Hulu.
The internet has fallen in love with Punch, the 7-month-old macaque who clings to a stuffed animal for comfort. So when a video (since deleted) surfaced showing him being dragged across the ground by another monkey inside his enclosure at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, people online panicked.
Clips spread rapidly across social media this week, with viewers accusing the other monkeys of abusing him. People demanded answers. Some accused the zoo of negligence. Others declared the other monkeys bullies.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.But according to Ichikawa City Zoo, what people saw wasn’t cruelty. It was socialization.
In a statement published to X on Feb. 20, first in Japanese and then translated to English, the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Gardens addressed the viral video directly.
Zoo keepers said Punch had approached another baby monkey in an attempt to interact. The baby avoided him. An adult monkey — likely the baby's mother — then intervened, dragging Punch away.
SEE ALSO: Punch the monkey's emotional support plushie is from IKEA. Buy it before it sells out.The behavior may look harsh to human eyes. But for macaques, it's part of establishing boundaries.
"She probably felt that her baby was annoyed by Punch and got upset," the zoo wrote, describing the interaction as a form of discipline, not aggression.
Importantly, keepers said Punch was not injured. After the incident, he returned to his stuffed toy briefly — then resumed interacting with the other monkeys. "No single monkey has shown serious aggression toward him," the zoo said.
But the internet isn't watching Punch as a zoologist would. It's watching him like a fan.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Punch's story has unfolded almost entirely online. People first met him through viral videos showing him clinging to a plush toy after being rejected by his biological mother. They projected onto him immediately: loneliness, vulnerability, resilience. They rooted for him.
So when a video appeared that seemed to confirm their worst fears — that he was being rejected again, and violently so — the reaction was visceral. They wanted to protect him. That emotional investment is part of what makes viral animal stories so powerful. And so volatile.
Online, animals often become characters in narratives that people build themselves. Every interaction becomes a plot point. Every setback feels personal. But those narratives don't always reflect reality.
Punch is still learning how to be a monkey. And according to the zoo, Punch's difficult interactions are part of a gradual process of integrating him into the troop.
He was hand-raised after his mother abandoned him. That saved his life. But it also meant he missed out on early social bonding. Now, he’s learning. That process includes rejection, correction, and trial and error.
It also includes progress. The zoo said Punch continues to communicate with other monkeys and shows resilience. Videos posted after the incident show him moving freely within the enclosure and being groomed by other adult monkeys in the troop. So instead of feeling sorry for the little guy, the Ichikawa City Zoo is asking Punch's online admirers to support his efforts.
He still carries his stuffed animal. But he doesn't always need it.
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