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Author John Green has a knack for putting readers in the shoes of complicated young adults, from the cancer patients of The Fault in Our Stars to the boarding school crew of Looking for Alaska. But in his 2017 novel Turtles All the Way Down, Green goes deeper into the mind of his protagonist than in any of his other books; that's a necessity, given that Turtles All the Way Down is all about thoughts. Intrusive thoughts, thought spirals, panicked streams of consciousness — they're all on the page, delivered through the unforgettable narration of 16-year-old Aza Holmes.
For Max's film adaptation of Turtles All the Way Down, the question becomes: How do you translate all that interiority to the screen? And director Hannah Marks is more than up to the challenge, crafting a visceral portrait of mental illness as well as a touching coming-of-age story about friendship, first love, and the occasional missing billionaire.
SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: Every film you oughta know What is Turtles All the Way Down about? Isabela Merced and Felix Mallard in "Turtles All the Way Down." Credit: Courtesy of MaxTurtles All the Way Down welcomes us to the life of Aza Holmes (Isabela Merced, Madame Web), a high schooler with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). She spends her time hanging out with her best friend Daisy (Cree, And Just Like That…); driving around in her beloved car, Harold; and watching philosophy lectures by Northwestern's Professor Abbott (J. Smith-Cameron, Succession).
At least, that's what we see on the outside. On the inside, Aza is a storm of worries and intrusive thoughts. The latter is a term that has been co-opted, like so much therapy language, to describe something mundane and unrelated to the mental health context from which it stems. Yet in Turtles All the Way Down, which draws from Green's own experience with OCD, these thoughts are specific, ever-present, and intense to the point of debilitation.
"Did you know that human beings are 50% microbial?" Aza ponders in voiceover as green microbes float across a dark screen. According to her, that means 50% of our bodies don't belong to us — so who are we, really?
Aza's fixation on microbiology doesn't just stop at her musings on consciousness. She's terrified of infection, especially C. diff. She uses copious amounts of hand sanitizer. She breaks and drains a callus on her finger multiple times a day in order to stave off contamination. In these moments, it's nearly impossible to break her out of a destructive thought spiral, try as she — or Daisy, or her mother (Judy Reyes, Birth/Rebirth), or her therapist (Poorna Jagannathan, Never Have I Ever) — might.
SEE ALSO: 'The Idea of You' review: Anne Hathaway dazzles in rom-com inspired by Harry Styles fandomAs Aza struggles to contend with her own thoughts, adventure comes knocking when local billionaire Russell Pickett goes missing. There's a hefty reward on the table — enough to help her pay tuition at her dream school, Northwestern — and she has the added benefit of knowing Russell's son, Davis (Felix Mallard, Ginny & Georgia). The two met years ago at "sad camp," a camp for children who have lost a parent, and she's had a crush on him ever since.
With some prodding from the much more adventurous Daisy, Aza sets out to find Russell, inevitably reconnecting with Davis along the way. And while the hunt for Russell and the romance with Davis are certainly elements of Turtles All the Way Down, they are by no means the focus. In fact, they fade to the background fairly quickly. The resulting plotting is uneven, yet it makes room for what Turtles All the Way Down truly cares about, which is what's going on inside Aza's head.
Turtles All the Way Down's portrayal of mental illness will stick with you. Isabela Merced in "Turtles All the Way Down." Credit: Courtesy of MaxLike in Green's novel, Turtles All the Way Down makes sure you're in Aza's head for every step of her journey. Her voiceover is near-constant, situating you in each of her thought spirals. Marks returns to the microbial imagery often, as well. Eerie footage of bacteria flashes onscreen like miniature jump scares. To see them is to be anxious, and to be anxious is to feel like Aza in these moments.
Perhaps most affecting are the scenes in which Aza breaks her callus and changes the Band-Aid she uses to cover it. Quick cuts show Aza digging her nail into her hand, small amounts of blood, and the wince of pain on her face. As someone who has a very hard time seeing even the smallest of hand injuries play out onscreen, there were several instances when I had to pause the film and quell my nausea. I had the exact same experience while reading the novel — one of Aza's feelings being so fully embodied that her worries and physical reactions leapt off the page. It can feel overwhelming at times, both in the film and in the book, but that's the sensation Turtles All the Way Down seeks to capture: how big these feelings can get, and how omnipresent they are at their worst.
Merced does admirable work here as Aza, with a grounded performance that never strays into any kind of caricature. And while the film's romance pairs her with Davis, Turtles All the Way Down's real love story is the friendship between her and Daisy. Merced and Cree have sweet chemistry, with Cree's enjoyably boisterous energy serving as the perfect foil for Merced's more toned-down turn. One of the film's most heartbreaking scenes is a blow-out fight between them, just as one of its sweetest moments is a hopeful scene of Daisy encouraging Aza.
But even then, Turtles All the Way Down doesn't talk down to us. There are no neat answers or notions that Aza will never experience a thought spiral again. However, the film does leave us with the hope that she will find fulfillment in her life and relationships. And after spending time weathering the storm of her thoughts alongside her, that's a necessary thing to hear, whether Aza's experience is familiar to you or not.
GET UP TO 70% OFF SELECT TOYS: It's Masturbation May, which means discounts on sex toys, accessories, lube, and more.
Our top picks Masturbation May at Lovehoney Lovehoney Up to 50% off select toys Shop Now Masturbation May at Lovers Lovers BOGO 50% off We-Vibe and Playboy Pleasure products Shop Now Masturbation May at Babeland Babeland Up to 70% off Shop Now Masturbation May at Femme Funn Femme Funn $50 off the Intro to Funn bundle Shop NowIf you've ever needed a commercialized reason to celebrate self-pleasure, here's one: It's officially Masturbation May.
It's time to prioritize self-care and give yourself the attention and pleasure you deserve. (We hope you're doing this anyway, but maybe a national observance will encourage you to go beyond your usual routine.)
SEE ALSO: The best sex toys for masturbation that anybody can enjoyAs of May 2, you can browse hundreds of deals on sex toys, accessories, lube, lingerie, and more to make the most of Masturbation May. Whether you're looking for a new vibrator, some high-quality lube, or a wedge to make getting into position even easier, there's a little bit of something for everyone out there.
Need help finding a trustworthy retailer? We've rounded up some of our favorite sales and promotions from popular brands like Lovers, Lovehoney, and Fun Factory.
Lovehoney Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Masturbation May at Lovehoney Up to 50% off sex toys, free gift when you spend $79, $100 off sex toy bundles, more Shop NowLovehoney is one of the largest sex toy retailers on the internet. The company is known for its wide selection and affordable prices. It's got everything from cock rings to vibrators to bondage gear — you could literally scroll the site for hours (we definitely have).
Right now, Lovehoney is offering some pretty good deals for Masturbation May (though none of the promotions specifically mention the holiday, so we expect to see even more deals roll out throughout the month).
Here's a quick look at some of Lovehoney's current deals:
Get a FREE gift when you spend $79 or more. There's no code needed; just shop and choose your gift at checkout.
Get up to 30% off LELO products, including the popular LELO Smart Wand 2 Large (which we included in our best sex toys for women roundup) and the LELO Hugo.
Get up to 50% off select sex toys and lingerie.
Build your own sex toy bundle and save $100.
Lovers is a chic online boutique (though they have physical locations, too) where your fave vibrators, dildos, and other goodies are just a click away.
The images and descriptions make you feel like you're shopping on Instagram or some other trendy platform meant for community rather than just transactions. Plus, the selection is carefully curated, so it's not a random mix of products (we're looking at you PinkCherry).
Here's a quick look at some of Lovers' current deals:
BOGO 50% off We-Vibe and Playboy Pleasure products with the code UPGRADE.
BOGO 10% off 3 Single Pack Performance Enhancers with code BOGO10.
Get 20% off the Svakom Hannes Neo Masturbator, no code needed.
It's the beginning of the month, so if you don't see something that catches your eye right now, keep checking back. More deals are likely to be added throughout May (according to our sources, the next wave of promotions will be announced on the Lovers website on May 9).
Babeland Opens in a new window Credit: Babeland Masturbation May at Babeland $20 off $100 or more, up to 70% off sex toys, more Shop NowBabeland has some of the cutest sex toy shops you'll ever see in cities including New York and Seattle. Founded in 1993, Babeland is a well-established and respected feminist sex toy store that offers some pretty sweet deals on the reg.
They prioritize inclusivity, education, and pleasure in their product offerings and create a safe and empowering environment for customers, and you can feel that on the website.
Here's a quick look at Babeland's current deals:
Give your hand a hand this Masturbation Month with $20 off with code DIY20. (Note: A $100 minimum purchase is required for the discount.)
Get up to 70% off (yes, 70%!) select sex toys and accessories in Babeland's Deep Discounts section.
Get 20% off Good Vibes toys, no code needed.
Get the INYA Ripple Rabbit for just $35.50 during Babeland's Flash Sale.
If you haven't heard of Femme Funn, we encourage you to take a peek at its website. This company is all about female empowerment (and power in every sense of the word). Femme Funn was one of the first sex toy companies to offer an all-silicone (read: no seams) bullet vibrator and has since expanded its product line to include a variety of innovative toys.
We also heard that the company plans to release quite a few discounts this month to celebrate Masturbation May. (This is pretty unheard of because the brand rarely offers discounts.)
Right now, the brand is kicking off Masturbation May with $50 off its Intro to Funn bundle which includes the Ultra Bullet, Booster Rabbit, and Ultra Wand.
Even more Masturbation May deals:Get 15% off sitewide at ZALO with the code ZALOLOVE.
Get 10% off sitewide at AdultVibeToys.com with code PLAY10.
Get 10% off any Fun Factory toy, including the all-new Share Vibe Pro, with the code MASHABLE10.
Get 50% off the CAPO vibrating metal dildo at L'ACIER, no code needed.
Get up to 70% off select toys at Le Wand, no code needed.
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Did rom-com The Idea of You leave you breathless? Like you could dance before you walk? Like you want to get "Closer" to love and get a better "Taste" of what life has to offer? If so, there's only possible explanation: You've been Mooned.
That's right, you are now a Moonhead, a fan of The Idea of You's fictional boy band, August Moon. The film sees 24-year-old August Moon lead singer Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) fall for 40-year-old art gallery owner Solène (Anne Hathaway). And where their love goes, boy band bops are sure to follow.
SEE ALSO: 'The Idea of You' review: Anne Hathaway dazzles in rom-com inspired by Harry Styles fandomThe Idea of You boasts several original August Moon songs, including the sweet, strummy "Closer" and the bouncy, cheeky "Taste." And we can't forget "Dance Before We Walk," Hayes Campbell's anthemic solo debut about starting anew. These songs — and the many others that pop up throughout The Idea of You — feel ripped right from the radio during a boy band's golden years. They beg for fans to scream along to them at a sold-out stadium tour. For the team behind The Idea of You, that sense of believability was crucial.
"We wanted the music to feel grounded, like this was a band that was approachable," The Idea of You music supervisor Frankie Pine told Mashable in a video interview. "The approachability of this band was also a part of the story... If they were too flashy, normal folks like ourselves wouldn't go up and talk to them. But if they're approachable, it allows for us as the normal audience to feel like we can go up and have that conversation with them. That was probably the most important sellable aspect that we needed, because we needed the connection between our two lead characters to be real."
That sense of approachability meant that there was no room for pastiche or parody in the film's music. "I treated August Moon and Hayes Campbell like real people and a real band," music producer Savan Kotecha told Mashable in a video interview. Kotecha, who has written songs for artists like Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, and the Weeknd, produced the songs for The Idea of You and co-wrote them with Carl Falk.
SEE ALSO: 'The Idea of You' transforms Harry Styles-inspired book into an excellent rom-comKotecha and Falk also co-wrote One Direction's smash hit "What Makes You Beautiful," a notable connection given that Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You, cited Harry Styles as inspiration for the character of Hayes. However, One Direction was not a musical inspiration for the songs in The Idea of You, nor were any other major boy bands.
"When 'Dance Before You Walk' came out, people said, 'This gives me a One Direction feel,' and I thought, 'It's probably because it's me and Carl Falk, and we have fun when we write these pop songs,'" Kotecha explained. "But it's great to hear, and I hope that people will feel nostalgic, and it reminds them of those times."
Nicholas Galitzine in "The Idea of You." Credit: Alisha Wetherill / PrimeNostalgia also played into shaping the sound and performance style of August Moon. There would be no playing into trends that would immediately date the music on release, no showy tricks or intense dance breaks.
"The trick was not to make all the songs feel super current," Kotecha explained. "My own personal theory on boy bands, even when you think back to New Kids on the Block, is that they shouldn't sound like what's happening now on the radio."
The guideline, then, for August Moon became "guilty pleasure pop songs." And with his years of experience in the music industry, including writing with boy bands, Kotecha found it helpful to sort out a chronology for August Moon's discography, including which songs could fit on each of their albums.
The teenybopper ballad "I Got You" — which sees the August Moon boys telling a listener not to worry about "comments" or what she sees on her "timeline" — functions as August Moon's first big single off their debut album. Kotecha envisioned it as the kind of song a record label would give a boy band who was just starting out. In fact, he had "I Got You" in his back pocket for a while before finding a place for it in The Idea of You.
August Moon's second album sees the release of sexier — but still fairly boy band clean — songs like "Taste," with tongue-in-cheek lyrics like: "I got dinner on the plate/It's gonna have to wait/'Cause I'm going straight for my dessert." For August Moon's third album, Kotecha imagined the band would actually be writing their own songs. The result? Bangers like "Guard Down," which examines the pitfalls of fame and features guitar riffs and drums that fit perfectly into The Idea of You's crowd-pleasing August Moon Coachella performance.
SEE ALSO: How to watch 'The Idea of You': When and where is it streaming?The musical centerpiece of the film remains "Dance Before We Walk," where a newly solo (and single) Hayes sings how he's "off the moon, and I'm hittin' the ground like a rocket." We hear snippets of it throughout the film, as Hayes plays it on the piano and guitar, and Solène encourages him to write it. For Kotecha and Pine both, it remains their favorite song from the film, and the most representative of Hayes' journey to finding himself outside August Moon.
"It proves that Hayes is more than a cute face in a boy band," Pine said. "He has depth, he has things he wants to say, and I loved showing the progression of what that's like as a songwriter."
When it came to actually recording the songs, Kotecha and Pine both sang the praises of Galitzine. For starters, his voice was key to understanding what shape the August Moon songs would actually end up taking. "If they'd cast an amazing R&B singer, for example, that would have changed where we went with the music," Kotecha said. "But Nick has a great rich pop tone, so that told us which lane we should play in."
"Nick is a pro and brought so much to the table vocally," Pine said. "Typically, when you have an actor, the singing can be a brand-new thing for them, so you tell them how to sing a line, and they'll just sing the line. But Nick really came in prepared, knowing exactly how Hayes Campbell would have sung that song."
With a tight recording schedule, there wasn't enough time to get all the August Moon actors into the studio. Galitzine is leading every song, with Kotecha stepping in as second lead. "He did what we would normally do in three weeks in three days," Kotecha said of Galitzine.
On top of running an Instagram page for the band, The Idea of You released three August Moon singles in the lead-up to its release: "Dance Before We Walk," "Closer," and "Taste." For Kotecha and Pine, the reaction has been exhilarating.
"I was at the L.A. screening [of The Idea of You] the other day, and there were August Moon fans outside the theater," Kotecha said. "It's just been so fun, seeing people with August Moon shirts and bracelets and posters that they make. Hopefully it just continues."
"There's nothing better than having a fictional band actually make the charts," Pine said.
You heard them — stream August Moon!
The Idea of You is now streaming on Prime Video. The Idea of You soundtrack is now streaming.
How do you describe the feeling you get when you revisit something you love, only to realize it's not as great as you thought it was? Is it disappointment, frustration, reverse nostalgia?
Whatever you want to call it, it's how I feel about Hacks Season 3.
SEE ALSO: Summer TV Preview: Every show you must seeThis season the Emmy-winning comedy, starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, falls into a dull routine. Sure, on a surface level, it certainly goes bigger: Veteran comedian Deborah Vance (Smart) and young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Einbinder) reunite to try to make Deborah the next host of Late Night, the landmark show she almost hosted earlier in her career. But beneath the spectacle — including a lavish roast episode and Hacks' version of a Christmas special — the show's comedy is running in safe, repetitive circles.
Watching Hacks Season 3, it's hard not to wish it was more like The Other Two, another Max Original that satirized the entertainment industry. The Other Two constantly pushed itself to be riskier and stranger — take its surreal Pleasantville spoof, or a farce involving a fake Applebees built for a family night out. Ava and Deborah are meant to push each other to be better in a similar way, each making the other's jokes sharper and stronger. But when held up against The Other Two's brilliant third (and final) season, Hacks' own third outing just doesn't seem all that funny. It mostly feels safe.
Is Hacks past its prime? Jean Smart, Megan Stalter, and Paul W. Downs in "Hacks." Credit: Jake Giles Netter / MaxEver since Hacks' first season, I thought it was hysterical. I loved Deborah and Ava's generational sparring, especially their love language of insulting one another. (Deborah frequently takes aim at Ava's hands, while Ava zings Deborah over her absurd wealth.) Yet in in watching the entirety of Season 3 — and even revisiting old episodes — I wonder if Smart's star power and chemistry with Einbinder blinded me to the truth: Hacks was never as funny at it was dazzling.
Looking back, none of Deborah's insult comedy is all that inspired, nor do the snippets of her confessional stand-up special — the one that essentially relaunches her career — seem that revelatory. There's stuff to chuckle at here to be sure, like a gag that sees Deborah trying to find a way to circumvent Ava's new "no more appearance insults" rule. But after all that repetition, this vein of humor begins to feel stale.
Elsewhere, Ava's horror at Deborah's more problematic punchlines has become a crutch. The offensive jokes lead to a mini-lecture from Ava, then a sharp reversal by Deborah that forces Ava to concede that she's a hypocrite — or to make a compromise in order to advance her career. How often can Hacks repeat this formula for laughs without altering it? Practically without end, according to Season 3.
SEE ALSO: 'Shardlake' review: Where buddy comedy meets Tudor murder mystery (and it works)The same goes for interactions between Deborah and Ava's frantic manager Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and his clueless assistant Kayla (Meg Stalter). Often, Kayla will put her foot in her mouth — saying she finds Jimmy's mom hot, for instance — and then people around her pause to push back on what she said. With this routine, any momentum crashes to a halt, any joke is shoved under a microscope until it isn't a joke anymore. Even a well-timed reaction shot would do twice the work of these longer bits.
With its drawn-out put-downs of Kayla's many errors or Deborah's politically incorrect jibes, Hacks is constantly apologizing for itself. Despite its bluster about bold humor, the show holds the audience's hand and let them know that a character has said something wrong, rather than letting the audience make that judgment for themselves and react to the absurdity in it. Instead of honing a joke, these moments soften them.
By contrast, The Other Two often leaned further into its jokes and the heightened horrors of its take on the entertainment industry. That's how we end up with a fake play titled 8 Gay Men With AIDS: A Poem In Many Hours. It's an impressive piece of satire that The Other Two pulls off spectacularly precisely because it commits to it, with a whole episode set throughout a days-long performance of the show.
Hacks certainly doesn't need to go to those particular lengths. But I wish it would find any new joke that could give it the same spark, specificity, and freshness The Other Two kept up throughout its run. Otherwise, it's just resting on its now-worn laurels.
Deborah and Ava are still a great TV pairing — just mostly when things get serious. Hannah Einbinder in "Hacks." Credit: Eddy Chen / MaxHacks still has one major spark of inspiration up its sleeve. The relationship between Deborah and Ava remains as strangely chaotic, codependent, and compelling as ever. This season takes this pairing to some of their highest highs and lowest lows yet, from the pursuit of Late Night to a hiking trip from hell. And when they're not sniping each other with insults that feel rote at this point, these two women are having some pretty intense, frank conversations.
Take Deborah's constant battle with her aging. On a superficial level, this means she uses things like anti-aging straws to keep herself wrinkle-free. But on a deeper level, this means seeking out bigger and bigger shows, like Late Night, as she fears she won't have many shots left. Her discussions with Ava on this matter are poignant, taking the weight off of Ava's weaker personal relationship drama and allowing the two to continue to connect on how to succeed in comedy.
Season 3's focus on family is poignant as well, with Deborah trying to make amends with people like her daughter DJ (Kaitlin Olson). Elsewhere, Hacks tackles cancel culture in an episode that, while perhaps not entirely successful in its analysis of the matter, is at least taking interesting risks in reckoning with Deborah's comedic legacy. It's fascinating to watch Deborah squirm when she must confront her mistakes. And it's fascinating to see Ava's usual lectures actually take on more meaning than just setting up for an "Ava is performative" joke.
Hacks has never distanced itself from heavier, more dramatic themes. So much of the show deals with sexism in comedy, with Season 1 seeing Deborah confront a gross stand-up comedian for harassing female performers. Elsewhere, the show targets grief: Ava spends much of Season 2 mourning the death of her father in the previous season, while Deborah is still processing her lost relationship with her estranged sister Kathy. Despite all this, Season 3 is the first time I've thought to myself, "I like Hacks better when it's functioning as a drama."
Of course, comedy and drama don't always function on a binary: The Bear comes to mind, and even The Other Two could get very somber when it needed to. But Hacks is a comedy about comedians — is it too much to ask for it to deliver some laughs?
Hacks Season 3 premieres May 2 on Max, with new episodes every Thursday.
TL;DR: Through May 5, level up your live broadcasts with a lifetime subscription to the XSplit Broadcaster Premium (Windows) application, price-dropped to $55.97 (reg. $200).
Between vlogging, livestreaming, and podcasting, the world of multimedia content creation is more competitive than ever. One way you can keep up with the best in the game? By upgrading your studio software. And through May 5, the XSplit Broadcaster Premium app for Windows is on sale for $55.97.
For that price, you'll get lifetime access to this digital recording studio, which is packed with features for gamers, livestreamers, and other creators. This all-in-one streaming and recording application gives you new tools for customization and content creation.
Xsplit Broadcaster can capture high-quality audio, upload directly to YouTube, and has built-in video editing. Creators will appreciate the customized video and scene transition options, as well as the suite of livestreaming tools. In particular, Xsplit makes it easy for gamers to create unique broadcasts with multiple video and audio sources.
The Xsplit Broadcaster app has the power to stream large-scale events such as concerts, conferences, and esports. You can also share these streams to the top broadcast platforms without leaving the app. It also allows you to manage projects from a single monitor with the In-Game HUD or use multiple displays in projector mode. The software can also borrow powerful GPU resources to enhance the streaming experience while taking it easy on your CPU.
Xsplit can be accessed via desktop with a maximum of one device per subscription. With new plugins and extensions continuously being added to the XSplit Broadcaster store, you'll never run out of fresh features to apply to your edits.
Make your podcast, videos, or livestreaming event stand out. Get a lifetime subscription to XSplit Broadcaster Premium for Windows for only $55.97 (reg. $200) until May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: SplitmediaLabs XSplit Broadcaster Premium: Lifetime Subscription (Windows) $55.97 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: Are you interested in learning about the world of cybersecurity? This CISSP Security and Risk Management training bundle is price-dropped to $34.97 through May 5.
Nowadays, it’s crucial to protect an organization's digital assets, sensitive data, and information, a practice known as cybersecurity. And in the cybersecurity profession, CISSP stands for Certified Information Systems Security Professional, an independent security certification issued by the ISC2 organization. If you're interested in studying for the CISSP exam, then the Intellezy Learning CISSP Security and Risk Management Training Bundle can help you get started.
This bundle includes eight training courses and 21 hours of content. The technology experts from Intellezy Learning will teach you about maximizing security, development services, management consulting, and more. Lifetime access to this online learning bundle is available for just $34.97 for a limited time.
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Security and Risk Management
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Security in the Software Development Life Cycle
Upon completing these courses, you should have a better understanding of communication and network security, and how to properly assess the safety of your data, whether you're on your way to becoming a cybersecurity specialist or are picking up some digital protection knowledge for your own business. The lessons were designed to help you comprehend the fundamental concepts of security models so you can create a more secure network architecture.
Again, if you're interested in a cybersecurity career, you can unlock lifetime access to the CISSP Security and Risk Management training bundle for only $34.97. This deal is valid through May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Intellezy Learning The CISSP Security & Risk Management Training Bundle $34.97 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: Until May 5, you can save $68 on this 12-course online learning bundle that teaches you the fundamentals of Python including programming, app development, and more.
We're living in the technology age, and learning Python — the versatile and powerful programming language — can open doors to many possibilities. Imagine developing your own apps, understanding complex programming, and creating innovative projects using logic and data structures. Now, with this online learning bundle, you can get lifetime-access to this Python course bundle while it’s price-dropped to $15.97 through May 5.
This comprehensive boot camp bundle includes 12 courses designed to educate you on practical Python skills. Whether you aspire to automate tasks, build smart apps, or dive into machine learning, this bundle caters to diverse areas of interests and objectives. In total, the course bundle includes 130 hours of material.
You'll start by building a good understanding of Python fundamentals. With each course you will learn to install and effectively use Python and PyCharm, a popular integrated development environment (IDE) for Python.
From Django to TensorFlow Lite, you'll gain hands-on experience in web development, machine learning, and automation scripting. Django is great for building web applications from scratch, while TensorFlow Lite is good for exploring machine learning for Android app development.
Here are some of the other courses in the bundle:
Python Turtle, a fascinating library that enables you to create intricate designs and graphics through simple commands
Python and Android TensorFlow Lite, machine learning for app development
Python Automation Scripting and Regular Expressions, automate tasks efficiently
The Complete Web3 Python Automation Masterclass
The Complete Python Course, lessons for practical exercises and projects
This learning bundle is led by a variety of top instructors. You’ll gain a variety of helpful perspectives and skills from Chris Mall, Jose Salvatierra, Oak Academy, and numerous others.
Start learning a practical coding language and take a stab at this 12-course Python online learning bundle, on sale for $15.97 (reg. $84) until May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: StackSocial The 2024 Complete Python Certification Boot Camp Bundle $15.97 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: Through May 5, you can score the Mobile Pixels DUEX Plus Portable Dual-Screen Laptop Monitor on sale for only $199.99 (reg. $339).
Having multiple monitors can significantly enhance productivity, regardless of whether you're a coder, gamer, or WFH warrior. Of course, being tied to a desktop monitor isn't ideal if you prize your mobility. That's why the DUEX Plus external laptop monitor clips directly onto your laptop, giving you a second monitor that moves with you.
A second monitor is especially helpful if you're working on a laptop with a small screen. By extending your desktop across multiple displays, you can simultaneously view and work on multiple applications or documents, eliminating the need for constant window switching. This setup also allows for more efficient multitasking, streamlining your workflow and increasing overall productivity. And through May 5, you can score this laptop screen extender for the discounted price of $199.99.
The DUEX Plus boasts its impressive 13.3-inch diagonal screen, featuring a 16:9 aspect ratio and a spacious 11.7-inch x 6.5-inch viewing area. Plus, with its 1080p Full HD resolution, this laptop monitor delivers crystal-clear visuals, making photos, videos, and files appear in high-quality detail.
This monitor also features auto-rotation, which intuitively adjusts the display's orientation based on how you're using it — whether in landscape or portrait mode. See also: ultra-fast video transmission and a hassle-free plug-and-play experience.
If you occasionally worry about the amount of time you spend staring at your screens, you can rest a little easier with the DUEX Plus thanks to its eye care mode, which reduces blue light emissions during use.
If you're not familiar with Mobile Pixels or the DUEX brand, that might be because this product is a crowdfunding success story. The DUEX Plus was successfully funded on Kickstarter by 3,956 backers at $1,036,025.
So, whether you're a student or professional on the move, this portable external monitor is designed to elevate your mobile workstation to new heights of efficiency and convenience.
Get the Mobile Pixels DUEX Plus Portable Dual-Screen Laptop Monitor while it’s on sale for $199.99 (reg. $339).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mobile Pixels Mobile Pixels DUEX Plus: Portable Dual-Screen Laptop Monitor $199.99 at the Mashable ShopThe premise of The Idea of You might sound familiar: a middle-aged mother/creative and a twentysomething British boy-bander fall in love, much to the media and fans' chagrin. I am, of course, referring to the endlessly discussed romance between Harry Styles and Don't Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde. However, the source material, the Robinne Lee novel of the same name, dates back to 2017 — years before Spitgate, Miss Flo, and salad dressing Instagram Stories. But Styles did inspire Lee to write the novel.
SEE ALSO: 'The Idea of You' review: Anne Hathaway dazzles in rom-com inspired by Harry Styles fandomThe book garnered its own devout readers during the height of the pandemic, when Styles' popularity skyrocketed. It follows the romance between 39-year-old Los Angeles-based art gallerist and mother Solène and superstar Hayes Campbell.
What with all the fanfare around the similarities between the story and Styles and Wilde, fans of the book and beautiful people appreciators ran the trailer numbers for the film adaptation up to a record-breaking 125 million views, making it the most-watched trailer for a streaming movie to date.
Now, with the movie coming to Prime Video, you might be wondering how much screenwriters Jennifer Westfeldt and Michael Showalter (who also directed) strayed from the source material. Here are the biggest differences between The Idea of You's novel and movie.
How much of The Idea of You is inspired by Harry Styles?In 2017, Lee told blogger Deborah Kalb, "I was up late surfing music videos on YouTube when I came across the face of a boy I’d never seen in a band I’d never paid attention to, and it was so aesthetically perfect, it took me by surprise. It was like … art." She told her husband about her newfound love and he encouraged to write a book about it. Later, during the book's pandemic resurgence — partially due to Styles' skyrocketing popularity — Lee told Vogue about the inspiration for the love interest, "I made him into my dream guy, like Prince Harry meets Harry [Styles]."
Hayes has a "wide mouth, full lips, perfect teeth, dimples" and is covered in tattoos that scream "This is how I'm spending my first-ever big paycheck!" His boy band, August Moon, is a quintet that doesn't dance, wears tight black jeans, engages in roughhousing on stage, and releases albums with questionable names, like Wise of Naked. Sounds similar to a band that starts with "one" and ends with "direction," no? The main difference is August Moon is a "posh boy band," while the members of One Direction all came from a working class background.
The movie not only handles the Harry elephant in the room, but Westfeldt and Showalter improve upon the book, transforming it into something anyone, not just horny Styles fans, can enjoy.
Aging up lead characters lessens the cringeIn the book, Hayes (Bottoms' Nicholas Galitzine) and Solène (Anne Hathaway) first meet when she brings her 12-year-old daughter Izzy to a meet-and-greet in Las Vegas for his band, August Moon. Their secret affair spans about a dozen August Moon tour stops, with time spent in Paris, Miami, and the Hamptons. The primary conflicts of the book are Solène's guilt over abandoning her tween daughter to have crazy sex with someone 20 years younger, and the stress when the band's fans and the media discover their relationship.
The adaptation outright fixes many of the book's problems, like Izzy's obsession with Hayes and comments about Hayes being "barely legal" by bumping both Hayes and Izzy's ages up four years to 24 and 16, respectively. By doing so, there's immediately less conflict between Solène and Izzy (played by Ella Rubin), because Izzy isn't harboring a schoolgirl crush on her mom's famous beau. Additionally, the film lingers on establishing their rock-solid mother-daughter bond through several heartwarming scenes where the duo sings along to August Moon and King Princess in the car together.
Besties! Credit: Alisha Wetherill / PrimeThe film also course-corrects some of the classicism inherent in Lee's book. For example, Lee wrote that the members of August Moon met at an Oxford/Cambridge feeder prep school. In the book, Solène and Hayes bond over their "good breeding."
Showalter and Westfeldt knew that wouldn't fly in 2024. So they set Solène's life in Silver Lake rather than Malibu; omitting all the luxury brand name-dropping also makes Solène much more down-to-earth, though still wealthy enough to be able to take a weeks-long break from running her gallery. Hathaway's natural charm elevates these changes. She turns Solène into a quirky rom-com heroine that you can't help but root for.
The Idea of You isn't fan fiction; it's a rom-com.Showalter and Westfeldt transform a wish-fulfillment fantasy about not-quite Harry Styles fingering an older woman in a series of glamorous locations (Rome! Paris!) into a bona fide rom-com, which means a charming "meet-cute" is required. This demands a stark change from the novel, where Hayes and Solène meet across the table in Vegas, with her tween daughter in tow.
In the book, Hayes asks during this brief encounter for Solène to bring her 12-year-old-daughter and her friends to the boy band's afterparty. It's later revealed when he saw Solène in line for the meet-and-greet, he whispered in his bandmate's ear, "I just want to fuck her mouth."
The movie takes a less sleazy approach, setting up a meet-cute away from Izzy altogether. In both the book and the film, Solène is not a fan of the boy band. She only takes Izzy and her friends to meet August Moon because her cheater ex-husband flakes at the last minute. Because of the age change, in the film, this gift is misguided because 16-year-old Izzy now finds August Moon "so seventh grade."
In the film, Solène barges into Hayes' trailer — thinking it's the VIP bathroom. And he's so charmed by her that — in true 24-year-old fashion — he asks, "Do you want to hang out?" But he's quickly caught up with his wardrobe team, and she slips out the door. Mere hours later, they reunite at the fan event, where he flirts and peppers her with questions. During August Moon's headlining set, Hayes announces, "I met someone tonight," and dedicates the band's song, "Closer" to her.
Hayes Campbell is not fanfic Harry StylesWhile movie Hayes is still British with a patchwork of ill-advised tattoos, he's decidedly not Styles. Hayes' characterization in the book relies on the sexed-up fan-created persona of Styles often found in fan fiction. Lucky for viewers, Showalter and Westfeldt's Hayes is entirely his own boy-bander. First of all, he can dance.
After Solène and Hayes finally have sex in the movie, the film cuts to Hayes ordering chicken fingers from room service. In perhaps the most charming scene of the film, he proceeds to dance around in his underwear with the chicken fingers, joined by Solène — something that would never happen in the book. Showalter and Westfeldt's writing chops add extra dimension to flat characters, and their leads' charisma certainly doesn't hurt.
Film Hayes is a guy whose biggest fear is that he's a joke to people, not that he'll get his DNA on an underaged girl. Yes, that's a genuine conversation Solène and Hayes have in the book.
Izzy finds out... and the ending is dramatically different.Solène and Hayes' whirlwind romance gets complicated in both the book and movie when Izzy — and the world — find out about it.
In the book, Izzy freaks out when she finds out about Solène and Hayes, because she is 12 and believes she is in love with him. In the movie, Hayes isn't even Izzy's favorite of the August Moon boys. After much consolation and Izzy moving back in with her dad, she accepts Solène and Hayes' relationship, only to be bullied at school.
The exact same incident is the breaking point for Solène in the book and movie: A group of older girls asks Izzy for a photo of Hayes' "dick," and her crush asks her to "tell her mom he's almost 18." After a final rendezvous with Hayes in Japan, Solène breaks it off for good and returns to her life at the gallery and with Izzy.
In the film, this older Izzy is more supportive. The news of their romance breaks the day Solène picks Izzy up from summer camp — after Solène has already broken up with Hayes. Izzy is disappointed that Solène lied to her, but quickly forgives her. She even encourages her mother to give Hayes another chance, urging, "Why would you break up with a talented, kind feminist?!"
However, the harassment of both Solène and Izzy by Hayes' rabid fanbase and Izzy's classmates — which is the same as in the book — becomes too much for their family. Solène breaks it off with Hayes again. However, he suggests that in five years, once Izzy is in college and "living her best life," they will give their romance another chance.
Where in the book, Solène must choose between her love life and her child's well-being, the movie doesn't force her into such a corner. The novel includes lots of heavy-handed commentary about older women becoming invisible, and ends with the heroine returning to a quiet existence to protect herself and her family.
The movie rejects this theme of invisibility, perhaps because Hathaway (who also produces) is far from it. All the book's attempts at late 19th-century feminist messaging are undermined by its ending, which asserts mothers can't have it all. But the film's ending resists the idea that mothers must choose between their happiness and the happiness of their children. You can get the (famous) guy and a stable childhood for your daughter — at least in the movies.
There's no such thing as a universally best laptop. Whether a laptop works well for you — and there could be several that fit the bill — is a largely subjective decision that comes down to your primary use case(s), your preferred operating system, and your budget.
This is an annoying fact of life for both laptop shoppers and those of us doling out "best laptop" recommendations, since we can't make personalized judgment calls for every single individual in need of a new machine. (I would love to, but I've got a thing after this.) However, after spending countless hours reviewing popular laptops and identifying the specs that matter, we can confidently point you in the right direction. All of the standout models below tick those three aforementioned boxes. At the very least, we can narrow down your pool of options — don't start from square one if you don't have to.
Keep reading for Mashable's hands-on guide to the best laptops of 2024, including one new top pick: The HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is our new favorite Chromebook.
FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.
Best deals on laptops this weekThe story so far: In July 2023, the Instagram-based app Threads exploded with a burst of enthusiasm from users desperate to flee Elon Musk's X, the app formerly known as Twitter. That faded in the first few months, when the number of daily active users (DAUs) halved. Still, Team Threads was working diligently to add many of the features a disgruntled Twitter user could desire — a web version, a reverse-chronological timeline — while Musk seemed to be doing his best to tank his own service.
"Don't be surprised if Threads becomes the go-to place for all things trending by the end of 2023," I wrote in August. This was a risky prediction. Musk himself mocked it, and that guy knows a thing or two about missing predictions.
Now here's what we learned this month: "Threads DAUs in the US passed X in December 2023 and it has not looked back," according to Apptopia, a company that tracks app usage. Had my prediction had come to pass, just under the wire? Not exactly, because the picture is a little more complicated: X is still ahead in monthly active users (MAUs) — even allowing for what researchers believe are inflated numbers from the now-private company — while DAUs are notoriously difficult to parse.
What is undeniable: it is springtime for Threads. Millions of users came back after the August dip. In Meta's earnings report in April, CEO Mark Zuckerberg trumpeted 150 million Threads MAUs, a 50% increase on the July high, and 30 million more than it saw in February. Zuck's service, unlike other Twitter alternatives, is picking up media buzz along with users: "Is Threads the Good Place?" the New York Times opinion page wondered in March.
Meanwhile, Musk's service has turned into a sleazy bot-filled soup of misinformation and dull promoted comments from pay-to-play "blue tick" accounts. Advertisers have fled as their content shows up on literal Nazi accounts reinstated by Musk, while the timeline for regular users who refuse to pay has never seen more misleading low-rent ads. It isn't working. Usage is declining, even by Musk's own admission; more unbiased reports suggest usage is down by a quarter since he took over. And the patient continues to bleed out.
Tweet may have been deletedEqually undeniable: Threads, at least for partly-reformed Twitter addicts like me, isn't quite there yet.
On the surface, it is indeed the Good Place — a kind of heaven for some of the greatest accounts you might recall from the 2010s, back in the days of peak Twitter. And it is easier to share their output with friends: iPhones now recognize Threads links, so that witty meme or clever cat can be seen right there in Messages without clicking through.
But that doesn't mean the content itself is equally shareable. Look at both X and Threads over this past weekend, and there was no question which one had the most viral activity. Kristi Noem, the Republican governor of South Dakota, tried to explain away that whole puppy shooting thing on Twitter. If you wanted to tell the governor what a monster she was, that's where you had to go: the Bad Place.
Meanwhile, over in the schadenfreude section of the social media giant, Derek Guy, known as the menswear guy, took apart some tasteless influencer who thought he dressed like Cary Grant, nailing their stylistic differences in dozens of expertly-tailored tweets. Now, Guy does post on Threads — but only 10 times in all of April. He deconstructed his target on Twitter, because that's still where you go to do verbal battle in front of both friends and foes.
In an age when we are ever more siloed, Twitter is still the arena where all sides meet. Just about.
Drop the algorithm, ZuckWhy isn't Threads the arena with the must-read conversations? In part, the answer has to do with Zuckerberg's weird skittishness about centering news stories. But there's something else. The longer a Twitter veteran spends on Threads, the more they notice what might be described as big Meta energy — and that's not a good thing.
"Replies here feel way more like Facebook comments than Twitter replies," one user wrote this weekend, responding to another who complained about all the overly earnest responses she was receiving to half-baked thoughts on Threads. "Every time I post an idle thought or complaint I’m flooded with a ton of accounts I’ve never interacted with trying to give me unsolicited advice or tell me how it’s all my own fault."
A former colleague and social media veteran concurred, in more brusque terms: Threads users could do with understanding the concept of shitposting, she wrote. "I swear the majority of Threads users have only used normie internet and it shows."
There's something off, something very not-Twitter about the feel of the conversation, but why? In short, and a little more politely, too many Threads users are coming direct from Instagram and unwittingly relying on the Meta algorithm's pick of the Threads it wants them to read — regardless of whether they actually follow the accounts posting them. You may know it better as the "For You" tab.
Or you may not know it at all, because the current design of the Threads app on your phone hides the fact that you can switch to "Following," a.k.a. the classic reverse chronological timeline that made peak Twitter the must-read creative maelstrom it was. You have to know to tap the logo at the top of the page to reveal "For You" and "Following." And the damn app defaults to "For You" every time you open it. No wonder the writer of that Times piece seemed not to even know there was another option.
SEE ALSO: Algorithms control your online life. Here's how to reduce their influence.Musk may be putting his fingers more heavily than Zuck on the scale within his "For You" option, an algorithm which often seems to center Musk's favored accounts — but at least on Musk's iPhone app, you can still see "For You" and "Following" by default.
It isn't rushing to judgment to say Zuck wants to center the algorithm in Threads. This is the Facebook playbook: let the algorithm grow large and in charge, let it learn all the ways we like to be engaged and outraged, let it be (or look like) the only option. For six years the algorithmic option swallowed the chronological option on Instagram, which became a tangle of ads and posts from "suggested accounts". Instagram restored the Following option in 2022 — but again, you don't know if you don't tap the logo.
If Threads becomes just another bloated, bland wasteland of provocative content from accounts you're not even choosing to follow, Threads will simply be Instagram with fewer pictures. It will never capture the elusive energy of peak Twitter. Creative Twitter types will simply give up on producing the constant stream of content that made the service compelling.
Musk will remain in control of the social media arena, even as it crumbles like the Colosseum. To choose another Roman metaphor for these hapless gladiators: it's time to see if at least one of Zuck's apps can cross the Rubicon into the risky territory of reverse-chronological news. If he can focus on Following, a permanent boost in users will follow.
This column reflects the opinion of the author.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 2 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 2Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, May 2, 2024:
AcrossFruit with a large, flat pitThe answer is mango.
The answer is aloud.
The answer is rabid.
The answer is smell.
The answer is holey.
The answer is marsh.
Car rental agencyThe answer is Alamo.
The answer is Nobel.
The answer is guile.
The answer is oddly.
Stephen King often recommends shows he likes on X (formerly Twitter), but it's not often he writes a whole essay about them.
That's exactly what the horror master has done for Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd's limited Netflix series based on his own experience of being stalked.
SEE ALSO: 'Baby Reindeer' has seen a wave of armchair detectives. The creator called a halt."I have an essay about BABY REINDEER in the London Times," posted King. "I can’t believe they paid me for writing about such a cool show, but they did."
Tweet may have been deletedThe essay sees King talking about how he discovered Baby Reindeer, which he goes on to compare and contrast with his own novel Misery.
"Unlike most streaming series’ episodes, which can feel bloated at 50 minutes — or even longer — the episodes of Baby Reindeer, each about 30 minutes, are like short, swift stabs administered by a very sharp knife," King writes.
The essay is essentially a very positive review, with King even saying that the penultimate episode is "one of the best things I’ve ever seen on television (or in the movies, for that matter)."
The show already has a very high score on Rotten Tomatoes and a large viewership — but a glowing essay from one of the world's most successful writers isn't something you get every day.
How to watch: Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.
TL;DR: Watch Marseille vs. Atalanta in the Europa League for free on ORF. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Anyone who has ever visited the Stade Vélodrome will tell you that the Marseille fans are electric. There aren't many stadiums that can match the passion on display from the dedicated supporters of this famous club.
We're not suggesting that you pack your bags just yet, because you can experience some of this impressive atmosphere without stepping foot outside. If you want to watch Marseille vs. Atalanta for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Marseille vs. Atalanta?The first leg of the Europa League semi final between Marseille and Atalanta kicks off at 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST on May 2. This fixture takes place at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France.
How to watch Marseille vs. Atalanta for freeMarseille vs. Atalanta is available to live stream for free on ORF.
ORF is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access ORF from anywhere in the world.
Unblock ORF 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 Austria
Visit ORF
Stream Marseille vs. Atalanta in the Europa League for free
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ORF without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Marseille vs. Atalanta before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ORF?ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live sport on ORF, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Austria
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Marseille vs. Atalanta for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Is it possible for anyone to actually beat Bayer Leverkusen this season? It doesn't look that way, as the Bundesliga champions just keep winning. And on the rare occasions that it does look like they might taste defeat, they somehow pull through with an equaliser right at the death.
They might look unbeatable, but AS Roma will still fancy their chances in the Europa League. If you want to watch AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen?AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen will begin their first-leg match at 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST on May 2. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.
How to watch AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen for freeAS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.
ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.
Unblock ServusTV 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 Austria
Visit ServusTV
Stream AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League for free
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ServusTV?ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Austria
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream AS Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: The Ultimate 2019 Microsoft Bundle (Office, Project, Visio, and Windows 11 Pro) is on sale for £63.88, saving you 91% on list price.
Whether you're using them for work or school, apps you have to pay for every month aren't exactly economical. It also means a missed payment could limit how you can use your computer. If you want to ditch the subscriptions and upgrade your computer while you're doing it, check out the Ultimate Microsoft 2019 Bundle. This four-part bundle comes with the 2019 versions of Microsoft Office, Project, and Visio, along with Windows 11 Pro. Each app can be installed on one computer once for life, and it's on sale for £63.88.
Microsoft Office 2019 comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. If you need Teams, then you may want to go for a newer version of Microsoft Office, but the rest of the apps still work great and could come in handy for school or work.
Microsoft Project 2019 is a project management tool that lets you create timelines, access project templates, submit timesheets, and even visually represent complex schedules.
Do you have some complex data you need to communicate with a quick, accessible image? Try Microsoft Visio. This data visualisation app comes with a huge library of images and templates so you can craft everything from charts and graphs to seating arrangements and furniture layouts.
Don't forget to check out all the changes that come from upgrading to Windows 11 Pro. Those include security features like Bitlocker device encryption, support for biometric login, and wake and lock, among many other exciting changes.
One software bundle could set your computer up for work, school, and more. For a limited time, get the Ultimate 2019 Microsoft Bundle including Microsoft Office, Project, and Visio along with Windows 11 Pro for just £63.88.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Ultimate 2019 Microsoft Bundle £63.88 at the Mashable Shop Get DealTL;DR: Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2024 season of the IPL is well underway, and there's still plenty of action to come. The next fixture will see the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals face off in the 50th match of the league. The spotlight will be on team captains Pat Cummins and Sanju Samson as they prepare to go head-to-head.
Want to tune in? You can watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals for free from anywhere in the world, as we have all the information you need.
When is Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals?Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals starts at 3 p.m. BST on May 2. This fixture will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India.
How to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals for freeYou'll find live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on the JioCinema app.
JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, but you can unblock this free streaming service with a VPN. A VPN is a tool that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, so you can access JioCinema from anywhere in the world and stream all the IPL fixtures you want.
Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 by following these simple steps:
Sign up for 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 India
Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)
Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals for free from anywhere in the world
Most of the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.
What is the best VPN for JioCinema?ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking JioCinema, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including India
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
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for May 2's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
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.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
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.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A piece of pizza pie.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no letters that appear twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to Wordle #1048 is...
SLICE.
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.
Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 May 2's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
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.
Tweet may have been deletedEach 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.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: The GOAT
Green: How to fix a flat
Blue: Movies starring the famous Phoenix brother
Purple: Music words that aren't music
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Highly Skilled
Green: Used To Fix A Flat
Blue: Joaquin Phoenix Movies
Purple: Words Starting with Music Genres
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 Connections #326 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayHighly Skilled: ACE, CRACKERJACK, EXPERT, HOTSHOT
Used To Fix A Flat: CHOCK, JACK, TIRE, WRENCH
Joaquin Phoenix Movies: GLADIATOR, HER, JOKER, SIGNS
Words Starting with Music Genres: POPCORN, RAPTURE, ROCKETRY, SOULMATE
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.
Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.
In 2020, Apple banned the popular video game Fortnite from the App Store. The game's publisher, Epic Games, attempted to get around paying Apple its 30 percent commission for in-app purchases of the game's V-Bucks currency. In response to Fortnite's workaround that sent users outside of the App Store to make a purchase, Apple kicked the game out of the App Store.
Fast forward to 2024 and it looks like TikTok has now deployed a similar tactic in its iOS app. The question now though: is TikTok breaking Apple's rules?
As first reported by TechCrunch, developer David Tesler shared screenshots on X on Tuesday showing that TikTok was urging users to purchase coins through the app, but not via Apple's in-app store purchase system which would provide the iPhone-maker with a 30 percent commission. These screenshots show that TikTok is explicitly asking its users to make a purchase via its website, which it then sends users to within the app so that they can buy coins.
Tweet may have been deleted"Try recharging on tiktok.com," reads the TikTok app pop-up prompt shown in the screenshot. "You can save the service fee and get access to popular payment methods."
TikTok users purchase these coins in order to send tips to their favorite creators.
SEE ALSO: Apple already unbans Epic Games, will allow Fortnite on iPhone in EUWhen a user selects a coin purchase option, TikTok informs users that making this purchase through the website will enable them to save around 25 percent due to a "lower third-party service fee." Of course, TikTok means it's able to pass on the savings it makes to consumers due to not having to share 30 percent of its revenue with Apple.
Now, as previously mentioned, Fortnite was famously banned years ago from the App Store due to similar tactics from Epic Games. However, numerous lawsuits and policy changes over Apple's App Store rules have occurred between the nearly 4 years since Fortnite was given the boot. Since then, Apple has softened its rules pertaining to apps sending users to alternative payment methods.
As TechCrunch points out, certain "reader" apps can provide digital products without having to go through Apple's in-app purchase system with approval from Apple. However, if an app does this, it cannot also provide in-store purchases through Apple too. TikTok is currently still doing the latter.
Furthermore, as 9to5Mac reports, Apple has another fairly new policy which allows such external linking to alternative payment systems. However, this program still provides a commission to Apple, albeit, with a commission that drops from 30 percent to 27 percent for an app like TikTok — a savings on commissions for TikTok, if this is indeed what it's doing, but not a very impressive one.
Apple and TikTok did not offer any statement on this, but Mashable will update this piece if we hear back.
As Tesler explained, TikTok's prompt circumventing in-app purchases is not currently showing for all users. Is this a test from TikTok? Did it get permission from Apple? Or do we have another Fortnite situation on our hands? For now, it's unclear exactly what's going on here.
But, one thing is surely happening: TikTok is, in at least some cases, avoiding Apple's 30 percent commission fees.
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