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SAVE $100: The M4 Mac Mini is on sale at Amazon for $499, down from the normal price of $599. That's a 17% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple M4 Mac Mini (2024, 256GB) $499 at Amazon
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Silicon Valley is going wild for the 2024 M4 Mac Mini, but it's not for the reason you might think. No, it's not being used as a traditional desktop computer in the way we assume. People are using it to run the latest AI assistant, Clawdbot. With a cute lobster mascot, the Clawdbot hype is driving up sales and snatching up stock of the Mac Mini with an M4 chip. Before it becomes impossible to find in-stock, check out this sale price.

As of Jan. 28, the M4 Mac Mini is on sale at Amazon for $499, marked down from the standard price of $599. That's a 17% discount that takes a hefty $100 off the normal price.

Why use a Mac Mini for running Clawdbot? The answers are pretty similar to why you'd want a Mac Mini in the first place. Like the name implies, it's a tiny beast that has 16GB of unified memory and 256GB SSD. Plus, you can leave it running at all times with no issue. If you live in the Apple ecosystem and plan to adopt Clawdbot, a dedicated Mac Mini could be an awesome sidekick.

SEE ALSO: Clawdbot is a viral AI assistant: What it is, how to try it

This 2024 version of the Mac Mini comes with Apple's powerful M4 chip, two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, ethernet, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4 ports. All of that is housed in the compact five inch by five inch Mac Mini housing. This size makes it simple to add to your current desktop setup or take along on the next work trip.

If you're looking for the smallest possible personal assistant, running Clawdbot on a Mac Mini might be your best option. Before demand reaches even higher levels, snag the M4 Mac Mini from Amazon while it's on sale for $499. That's $100 off the normal price.

NASA plans to launch four astronauts on a 10-day flight around the moon and back, testing a new spaceship on the agency’s first crewed mission beyond Earth orbit since 1972.

The mission, called Artemis II, will send a crew in the Orion capsule to verify that its life-support, navigation, communications, and flight systems work as designed in deep space. The astronauts are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency. 

The flight follows the success of Artemis I, a 25-day uncrewed test in 2022, and represents a required step before NASA attempts to land astronauts on the lunar surface later this decade.

Artemis II could launch in mere days — as early as Feb. 6 — depending on a crucial rocket fueling test on the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. If all goes to plan, the mission could set a new record in spaceflight history for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled, looping about 4,600 nautical miles beyond the moon. 

"None of us were born during Apollo, and so this is our opportunity to inspire a generation of kids to get involved in future space exploration," said Rick Henfling, NASA's entry flight director for the mission. "Maybe one of those kids who was inspired by what we do on Artemis II becomes that person who sets the first footprints on the surface of Mars."

SEE ALSO: Artemis 2 crew could be the first to ever lay eyes on these lunar areas Day 1: Launch and Earth orbit

Artemis II will launch aboard NASA's Space Launch System rocket, producing more than 8.8 million pounds of thrust. As the rocket climbs through the atmosphere, it will shed its solid rocket boosters and protective hardware.

About eight minutes after liftoff, the rocket’s core engines will shut down and separate, leaving Orion, which the crew has dubbed Integrity, attached to an upper stage. That stage will fire to place the spaceship into orbit around Earth.

As the rocket climbs through the atmosphere, it will shed its solid rocket boosters and protective hardware. Credit: NASA infographic

Orion will move from an initial low orbit into a highly oval-shaped orbit that stretches tens of thousands of miles from the planet. NASA designed the path to keep the crew just close enough to return quickly if problems arise.

After the spaceship separates from the upper stage, the astronauts will take manual control and maneuver toward the departing stage, using it as a target. Flight controllers in Houston will monitor the test, which will help prepare crews for docking operations that will be needed near the moon in future missions.

Later, flight controllers will wake up the crew for a crucial step in the mission. The spaceship will need to fire its engine to raise the low point of its orbit, getting into position for the departure burn the next day. 

"It's actually right in the middle of the night," said Jeff Radigan, NASA's lead flight director for the mission. "Unfortunately, physics cannot be defied."

Day 2: Systems checks and departure burn

While still flying around Earth, the crew will test Orion's life-support system, which must provide breathable air and maintain safe cabin conditions on longer missions.

The Artemis II astronaut crew, clockwise from top: Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch. Credit: NASA

NASA will also test communications and navigation by briefly flying Orion beyond the reach of GPS and near-Earth relay satellites, relying instead on the agency’s Deep Space Network.

Then, Orion's main engine will fire for a maneuver known as translunar injection, or TLI. The burn will send the spaceship on a four-day trajectory toward the moon and place it on a free-return path that loops around the moon and heads back to Earth. That means once Orion heads toward the moon, gravity from Earth and the moon will naturally bend the spaceship's course back home, even if later engine burns fail.

"The burn that gets us going to the moon is also our deorbit burn," astronaut Koch said. "Wrapping our heads around that is very interesting. Before we go into some of our entry sims, we talk about how, 'Hey, there's no canceling the countdown on this, we are re-entering.' But the truth is we are re-entering before and at the moment we do TLI, and recognizing that our team has to be ready for that full mission as soon as we buy in." 

Days 3–5: Journey toward the moon

As Orion travels away from Earth, the crew will continue evaluating spacecraft systems. The astronauts will practice emergency procedures, test radiation-protection measures inside the capsule, and carry out demonstrations planned for future missions.

Along the way, small engine burns will adjust Orion's course. Late on Day 5, the spaceship will enter the moon's sphere of influence, where lunar gravity becomes stronger than Earth's pull.

The Artemis II mission will take four astronauts on a 10-day voyage around the moon. Credit: NASA infographic Day 6: Lunar flyby and far-side observations

Orion will pass between 4,000 and 6,000 miles above the lunar surface, depending on the launch date. From the spaceship windows, the moon will appear roughly the size of a basketball held at arm's length, NASA mission leaders say.

As Orion flies behind the moon, the crew will lose contact with Earth. During that expected communications blackout, the astronauts will photograph and observe the moon's far side. This is when the crew could exceed the distance record set during the Apollo 13 mission for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth. 

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"For the 45 minutes that we're closest to the lunar surface, we are also going to be out of contact," said Glover, the mission's pilot. "I would love it if the entire world … could come together and just be hoping and praying for us to get that acquisition of signal and be back in touch with everybody."

Days 7–9: Heading back home

After rounding the moon, Orion will begin its return to Earth without a major engine burn. The spaceship will rely on the combined gravity of the Earth and moon to guide it home along a fuel-efficient path.

The crew will continue system tests, including additional manual-piloting exercises and radiation-shielding demonstrations. Small correction burns will refine the trajectory for reentry.

Day 10: Reentry and crew recovery

As Orion approaches Earth, its service module will separate and burn up in the atmosphere, exposing the crew capsule's heat shield. The capsule will re-enter at high speed, heating to about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit as superheated plasma briefly blocks radio communications.

After slowing down, Orion will deploy parachutes to reduce its speed for splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California. Inflatable airbags will right the capsule if it lands upside down or on its side.

U.S. Navy teams will recover the capsule and crew, typically within two hours.

"I'm going to say this is my favorite part of the mission," said Daniel Flores, NASA test director and landing recovery team member. "We have our friends flying around the moon. This is when we get to bring our friends back home to their families."

Last season, long-running hit British series Taskmaster welcomed American comedian Jason Mantzoukas to the series' house, allowing him to create comedic chaos in pursuit of the Greg Davies-head-shaped trophy. Last week, Davies and his assistant (and the show's creator) Alex Horne came to New York City, where they ended their Taskmaster Live On Stage USA tour, which was sold out. But Mashable was there. (Also look for the pair on an upcoming episode of Say More!)

What did we learn? Well, the show began with a Q&A moderated by comedian Josh Gondelman, who presented a mix of his own questions with those from the audience. Below are insights into how Taskmaster gets made, the gripes fans still hold with the Taskmaster's "pettiest" decisions, and a bit of premonition about Horne and a pair of hot pants.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best British TV shows of 2025 and where to stream them

After Gondelman, who did a superb job moderating and keeping up with Horne and Davies' ribald banter, the Taskmaster and his assistant returned to the stage in costume. Their casual street clothes swapped for black suits. Davies sat in a throne. (Horne noted he was not provided one.) Then, they gave the audience a chance to join them onstage. Three tasks were offered, involving figuring out Davies' cellphone number, throwing a paper airplane, and memorizing a very long pattern of colors. The three victors, joined by Saturday Night Live's Alex Moffat and Dropout's Lisa Gilroy, all competed in tasks to win a mini version of the Taskmaster trophy.

It was an incredible show that lasted nearly three hours. Here's what we learned: 

What's the smallest, pettiest decision that the Taskmaster is secretly proud of? Josh Gondelman interviews Greg Davies and Alex Horne at "Taskmaster Live" in New York City. Credit: Mashable / Kristy Puchko

"It started, I suppose, with the potato in the hole," Horne said, as the audience cheered in recognition of the Series 2 Taskmaster episode, in which comedian Joe Wilkinson managed to get a "hole in one" by throwing the potato accurately. However, he stepped on the "red green," and so was disqualified.

Horne said, "I mean, that's a small, petty decision, but it had huge ripples that we still are greeted with today."

Davies concurred, "I still get people sending me shitty messages. People are still angry about it, and it was what...a decade ago?"

In terms of controversial calls, Horne also mentioned the Mark Watson bonus point that was denied in Series 5. The comedian was tasked with texting the Taskmaster every day for the next five months. Watson missed one day. He was not awarded points because of this failure, causing a stir among fans. Horne noted at the live event that the one day Watson missed was because he was on an island, where there was no cell phone (or mobile) reception.

"He did not fulfil the brief," Davies said sternly on stage. He added that another Taskmaster contestant, who he wouldn't name, once bellowed at him, "Your judgments are unfair. ASK MARK WATSON!" 

What would Greg and Alex wear if they were competing on the show? 

Horne answered quickly, saying, "Little denim shorts for me. Nothing else."

To this, Davies quipped, "Little denim hot pants? If he was wearing that, I would just wear a smile." (Unexpectedly, this became foreshadowing for the game portion of live event. But I'll get to that.)

More sincerely, Davies later answered, "You know what I would wear? A caftan. I'll say this, if it were up to me, and it was more socially acceptable, I would only wear a caftan. I like the freedom it affords me. And I think it would make me — um, uh — good."

"What happened to that sentence?" Horne teased. 

"Sometimes it's good to go general," Davies shrugged. 

Is the Taskmaster surprised by the contestants' series-long outfit choice?  "Taskmaster Live" in NYC in full swing. Credit: Mashable/Kristy Puchko

The audience member who asked this question was especially curious about the "Phil Wang" look, referring to when said comedian turned up to the Taskmaster house in Series 7 wearing a yellow bodysuit with a black stripe down the side, reminiscent of Bruce Lee's Game of Death costume. (Which, yes, was later referenced in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill with the tracksuit worn by Uma Thurman's heroine.)

Anyhow, to this query, Davies said, "Do you want a serious answer to that? Yes, I have seen the costumes [ahead of the taping in front of a studio audience] because I will have a look at some of the longer videos before we do the studio show. Because if I don't, then we miss loads of funny things that they said due to the audience making noise. So, I won't pretend like I don't see some of them. But I only see them like, the day before, and we [meaning he and Horne] don't discuss them. I don't plan what I'm going to say. So… in a long-winded answer to your question, I did see Phil Wang's [outfit] previous [to taping]."

Do Taskmaster contestants have any control of the edit when having to create filmed tasks, like the "Tree Wizard" video? 

Horne explained that while the contestants have creative freedom over the production of challenges — like Romesh Ranganthan's famous "Tree Wizard" video from Series 1 — they are not involved in the edit.

"Suddenly the contestants become both the director and producer of that segment of the show," Horne explained of shoots at the Taskmaster house, "But they never get to see [the final result] before the show. They have to give us the editing control. So the answer is yes, they have full control, but they have to leave it in our capable hands." 

What's Alex Horne's favorite task?  Greg Davies and Alex Horne ready to get the game going in "Taskmaster Live" in NYC. Credit: Mashable/Kristy Puchko

OK, this wasn't the question. It was actually more about how contestants know what the parameters are for a challenge. ("It's on the card," one audience member yelled in response.) However, Horne took the opportunity to talk about how he enjoys seeing what people come up with, referencing Series 1 twice. 

"We want people to explore all sorts of things. And I think the 'Tree Wizard' task is a good example," Horne said, referring to Taskmaster Series 1, episode 2, "Pie Whisperer," a fan favorite. "Because in that same one: do something backwards, which looks great when you play it backwards. And Roisin Conaty just walked backwards, spitting. It just looked amazing; it looked like a piece of art to me. Put it black and white, and she did it with dignity. They're not always trying to get a laugh. They're trying to create little bits and bobs."

From there, Horne continued, "One of my favorite early tasks was when they had to throw a tea bag into a cup. And I think they're 20 minutes. Actually, this is one where we definitely didn't stop the clock. But Tim Key immediately said, 'I need a dog ball thrower.' And there's a pet shop about eight minutes away, so someone has to go there and back within the 20 minutes [allowed for the task.] We got it, and did it, and that was very exciting for me," adding, "The house is located within a shopping area. And I think that's good." Turning to Davies, he said, "I'm trying to use your technique."

What's the worse things Alex Horne has eaten on Taskmaster. 

Davies joked they do fewer food-related tasks now because "Alex got chocolate cake in his butthole."

Horne rejected that, noting, "That was a tipping point in my life…but it was Liza Tarbuck who had brought in a cake that was not a food task. She made that a food task."

Horne then explained, "We try not to be as irresponsible as we used to. We don't waste as much food as we used to, because people watch the show, and we don't want to send the wrong message. But I do think food tasks are funny. So there are still some, but yeah, just on a slightly smaller scale." 

To that, Horne noted an extra fun fact: "The three worst things I've eaten: bin juice, burnt pornography, quinoa." 

Who do Greg and Alex want to play them in the "eventual biopic of their lives"?

Horne said Shane MacGowan of the Pogues, to which Davies quipped, "That is the journey your teeth are going on."

Then, the Taskmaster answered for himself, saying. "Regardless of when it's made, what age I am at, what age is being played, I will be played by Dwayne Johnson."

Alex Horne looks good in hot pants. 

The first task for the live show contestants was to present the Taskmaster with the worst clothing. Now, the professional comedians had an advantage here as they had three months to prepare, where the fans selected from the crowd had to pester fellow attendees for a spoonbill sweater and a white t-shirt. (The third used her own shoe, which earned her the disdainful nickname "Clean Shoes" from Davies.) 

However, even if they'd had more time, it's hard to imagine a better choice than Gilroy's. She explained how on the Venice Beach boardwalk in Los Angeles, there's an array of souvenir shops that sell T-shirts and shorts that you can have custom-made vinyl letters printed upon. Full disclosure: I own several such tees from this boardwalk, including one that has a picture of a young Arnold Schwarzenegger and reads "Come with me if you want to lift." Gilroy's choice was funnier. 

She presented a photo of shorts hanging in the shop entrance, and booty shorts that's bottoms read "Mike's Bitch" and "Chris's Property" was a bright red pair with white piping that read "Greg's Lil' Slut." Naturally, she got the five points. Then, Horne was asked to put them on. He ran offstage and returned in the shorts, which were honestly fetching, even paired with a white dress shirt and black blazer. Then, he turned to the audience and bent over to fully display the phrase on his bum: "Greg's Lil' Slut." 

Alex Horne flashes "Greg's Lil' Slut" hot pants, while Greg Davies and Lisa Gilroy look on at "Taskmaster Live." Credit: Mashable / Kristy Puchko

Horne ran back offstage to repants. But thankfully, photo-taking was allowed. 

How to watch: Taskmaster Series 1-6 can be found on Pluto TV. Taskmaster Series 10-19 can be found on YouTube. All series of Taskmaster can be bought on Prime Video.

TL;DR: Introduce your kids to screen time safely with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale for just $44.97 with code PLAY through Feb. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pok Pok Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription $44.97
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You can’t hide screens from your kids forever. If you’re looking for a smarter way to introduce screen time to your little ones, there’s now a Montessori-based app that’s gentle and non-addictive, Pok Pok. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription for just $44.97 with code PLAY now through Feb. 15.

There are a lot of tough decisions to make as a parent, and a big one that our parents didn’t even have to consider — what to do about screen time. Since screens are part of our everyday life, we can’t completely prevent our kids from interacting with them. If you’re looking for an alternative that lets you introduce them gently, Pok Pok is here.

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This award-winning app gives kids ages 2 to 8 a taste of low-stimulation screen time. It’s gentle, non-addictive, and uses Montessori-based teaching. That’s a child-centered educational approach that emphasizes hands-on learning, independence, and natural development — so kids can navigate this app on their own.

Hand-drawn animations and in-house-made gentle sound effects keep the screen time calm. It teaches STEM concepts, numbers, and language, all without rules, levels, objectives, or winners and losers.

You can rest easy knowing Pok Pok is COPPA-certified. There are no ads, and kids won’t be tricked into any purchases. Your lifetime subscription includes an exclusive gift mailed to your home, and permanent access to unlimited games and regular updates, including new seasonal and cultural content.

Provide safe screen time with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, now $44.97 with code PLAY now through Feb. 15.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE OVER $300: As of Jan. 28, the Anker Solix C1000 is on sale for $429 at Amazon. That's a 46% discount on the list price.

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Looking for a compact, heavily discounted portable power station? Meet the Anker Solix C1000. Currently on sale at Amazon for $429, this unit is strong enough to power your next camping trip and keep all your essentials running during a power outage. And the best part? It's discounted by $370.

This is a great one to pull out of storage at the last minute thanks to its HyperFlash technology which means it can fully recharge in just 49 minutes at up to 1,600W using AC power. So your last-minute camping trip isn't a problem. And despite its small, compact size, it's still powerful and can deliver 2,000W output with a 3,000W peak and a 1,024Wh capacity across its 10 ports. And these ports include AC, USB-C, USB-A, and a car port.

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And with Anker you know you're getting quality, so the InfiniPower battery won't let you down. In fact, it is rated for up to 4,000 cycles while still keeping at least 80% capacity. And charging, usage, and all kinds of settings can be controlled from the Anker app, so it couldn't be easier to set up and go.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

SAVE $91: As of Jan. 28, the EcoFlow Delta 2 is on sale for $388 at Amazon. That's a 19% discount and its best-ever price at Amazon.

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$479 Save $91   Get Deal

The EcoFlow Delta 2 has dropped in price again, so if you've been looking for a reliable power source to get you through outages, you can't go wrong with this portable power station. Currently at its lowest-ever price at Amazon, you can pick it up for $388. That's a saving of $91 on list price.

This price is for the machine alone, but there are various upgrade packages on sale too. For example, the unit with two solar panels is down from $1,099. It starts with a 1kWh capacity and can be expanded up to 3kWh by adding any of the extra batteries or accessories.

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It charges fast, too. AC charging can take it from 0-80% in around 50 minutes and a full charge in about 80 minutes, making it a great option for last-minute use on camping trips or preparing for a storm. It is built to last too, thanks to its LFP battery rated for over 3,000 cycles and the built-in battery management system which keeps it running smoothly.

Get this power station deal from Amazon now.

The Doomsday Clock is now the closest it has ever been to midnight. Scientists have set the symbolic Clock at 85 seconds to midnight, issuing a dire warning about the apocalyptic danger of nuclear weapons, biological threats, climate change, and AI.

SEE ALSO: How to advocate for climate change action

Announcing the Doomsday Clock's new time on Tuesday, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists stated that powerful countries such as the U.S. have not only failed to act since last year's warning, but actively worsened the situation. The Doomsday Clock was set to 89 seconds to midnight in January 2025, the closest it had ever been at the time. This week's announcement now moves it four seconds even closer to disaster.

"Russia, China, the United States, and other major countries have instead become increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic," read the Bulletin's statement, written by editor John Mecklin. "Hard-won global understandings are collapsing, accelerating a winner-takes-all great power competition and undermining the international cooperation critical to reducing the risks of nuclear war, climate change, the misuse of biotechnology, the potential threat of artificial intelligence, and other apocalyptic dangers."

Why has the Doomsday Clock been moved forward? Credit: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

The Doomsday Clock has been moved forward due to a concerning combination of dangers which have been exacerbated over the past year. The Bulletin noted that there were "no reassuring nuclear developments" in 2025, with the nuclear risks instead becoming increasingly normalised. Multiple conflicts involving nuclear powers are in danger of escalating, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine, while there is a dearth of global leadership regarding nuclear issues.

Meanwhile, climate change continues to threaten the planet, with greenhouse gases reaching a new high as the Trump administration abolishes support for emission reduction and environmental science. Biological threats have also increased on multiple fronts, not only because of the ongoing concern of such agents being weaponised, but also due to loss of trust in public health officials and the "rapid dismantling and degradation of U.S. public health infrastructure, expertise, and capacity."

"Disruptive technologies" also pose a significant danger, with the Bulletin warning of threats created by AI. Reliance on AI in critical spheres such as the military is a concern, particularly as such large language models are prone to hallucinate, as well as the potential for such technology to develop new pathogens. However, the most immediate danger is the rapid, prolific spread of mis- and disinformation due to AI chatbots and deepfakes.

"Without facts, there is no truth. Without truth, there is no trust. And without these, the radical collaboration this moment demands is impossible," said Maria Ressa, co-founder and CEO of Rappler and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

"We are living through an information Armageddon — the crisis beneath all crises — driven by extractive and predatory technology that spreads lies faster than facts and profits from our division. We cannot solve problems we cannot agree exist. We cannot cooperate across borders when we cannot even share the same facts. Nuclear threats, climate collapse, AI risks: none can be addressed without first rebuilding our shared reality."

The Bulletin has attempted to mitigate the doom, making a few recommendations about what could be done to push the Clock back. These primarily involve the U.S. engaging in reasonable dialogue with other countries, establishing international guidelines for nuclear arsenals and technological development. They also call for Congress to "repudiate President Trump’s war on renewable energy," and incentivise a reduction in fossil fuel use. Unfortunately, as the situation currently stands, this seems unlikely to happen.

What is the Doomsday Clock?

Established by the non-profit Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947, the Doomsday Clock is a symbol indicating how close we are to a global apocalypse caused by humans. Said disaster is represented by midnight on the Doomsday Clock, with the likelihood of such a catastrophe increasing as it draws closer.

The Doomsday Clock is set by the Bulletin's Science and Security Board, determined each year in consultation with its Board of Sponsors. Though nuclear weapons were its primary concern when the Clock was created, the Board now also takes into account other developments such as climate change, disruptive technologies, and biological threats.

Initially set at seven minutes to midnight, the Doomsday Clock has moved forward and back depending upon global events. The furthest from midnight it has ever been is 17 minutes, which was set in 1991 after the U.S. and Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty amidst the end of the Cold War.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded in late 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

TL;DR: Live stream Napoli vs. Chelsea in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League group stage is coming to an end. We've got a final round of fixtures to get through before the knockout rounds.

Napoli face Chelsea in one of the most interesting matchups from this round of games. Napoli need a result to move into the playoff positions. Chelsea will probably need a positive result to hold onto a spot in the top eight. No team wants to play extra games, so avoiding the playoff round is a real prize.

If you want to watch Napoli vs. Chelsea in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Napoli vs. Chelsea?

Napoli vs. Chelsea in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 28. This fixture takes place at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

How to watch Napoli vs. Chelsea for free

Napoli vs. Chelsea is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Napoli vs. Chelsea for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Napoli vs. Chelsea for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Napoli vs. Chelsea (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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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 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Napoli vs. Chelsea in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Shelton vs. Sinner in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The final quarter final in the 2026 Australian Open is here and it's a really interesting prospect. Eighth seed Shelton faces off against defending champion Sinner. The Italian has made the final of the last five Grand Slams. That sort of consistency is tough to beat, but the American will believe that he can progress if he delivers his best.

Sinner will have his eyes firmly fixed on the final. It's looking increasingly likely that he could once again meet Alcaraz in that showpiece event. The two young stars are dominating the game right now. Can anyone stand in their way?

If you want to watch Shelton vs. Sinner in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Shelton vs. Sinner for free

Shelton vs. Sinner in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Shelton vs. Sinner without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes 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 Shelton vs. Sinner in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. Qarabag in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League group stage is coming to an end. Places in the knockout rounds are still up for grabs, with the final round of group-stage games set to decide which teams will progress to the last 16, which will make the playoff round, and which will miss out.

Liverpool are in a strong position to make the top eight and therefore avoid the playoffs. A win in their final group-stage fixture against Qarabag will guarantee their spot. Qarabag, meanwhile, are hoping to hang on to a playoff spot.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Qarabag in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. Qarabag?

Liverpool vs. Qarabag in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 28. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Qarabag for free

Liverpool vs. Qarabag is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Liverpool vs. Qarabag for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch Liverpool vs. Qarabag for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Liverpool vs. Qarabag (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 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 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Liverpool vs. Qarabag in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love listening to vinyls.

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.

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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.

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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 January 28, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: A copy

• Green: Scrubbers

• Blue: Vinyl parts

• Purple: Extra

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Imitation

• Green: Cleaning supplies

• Blue: Components of a record player

• Purple: Spare ___

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 #962 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Imitation: DUMMY, MOCK, PRETEND, SHAM

• Cleaning supplies: BUCKET, GLOVES, RAG, SOAP

• Components of a record player: MOTOR, NEEDLE, PLATTER, TONEARM

• Spare ___: ME, RIB, TIME, TIRE

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 January 28, 2026

Are 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're always aware.

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 Mashable

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 28, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 28, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Zen state

The words are related to calmness.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe calming down.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Mindfulness.

NYT Strands word list for January 28

• Focus

• Meditation

• Notice

• Mindfulness

• Relax

• Listen

• Breathe

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 unkind.

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 January 28, 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 January 28, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Evil.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CRUEL

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 28, 2026

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.

Clawdbot has been on quite the ride. The free, open-source AI assistant has gone viral on platforms like X, where early adopters, AI superusers, and even minor internet celebrities have been singing its praises. The Clawdbot GitHub page was even briefly taken over by crypto scammers, its creator said on X. Now, the tool has become so successful that it's been forced to change its name to Moltbot.

That's right, henceforth, Clawdbot is now Moltbot.

We have to say, this is a change we saw coming from a mile away. Many Clawdbot Moltbot users rely on Claude, the family of large-language models developed by Anthropic, to power the AI assistant. And in a post on X and a new "lore" post on GitHub, Moltbot creator Peter Steinberger confirmed that he decided to change the name under what he described as "polite" pressure from Anthropic.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Clawdbot users are snapping up the Mac Mini — and it’s under $500 at Amazon

Previously, Clawdbot's mascot was a "space lobster" named Clawd. Moving forward, the crustacean's name will be Molty. (Lobsters, famously, have claws. Get it?)

Molty's new bio reads:

For a while, the lobster was called Clawd, living in a Clawdbot. But in January 2026, Anthropic sent a polite email asking for a name change (trademark stuff). And so the lobster did what lobsters do best: It molted. Shedding its old shell, the creature emerged anew as Molty, living in a Moltbot. New shell, same lobster soul.

Already, Steinberger's GitHub has been renamed to reflect the name change, and the former clawd.bot website is being replaced by molt.bot.

To be honest, Moltbot isn't nearly as strong a name. Molting is not a particularly attractive verb. It would be like naming your company after shedding, itching, or picking your nose.

And speaking of legal challenges: Is it just us, or does the Moltbot mascot look a little too similar to the Android mascot?

Credit: Android / Google Credit: Moltbot / Clawdbot SEE ALSO: Clawdbot AI security risks you need to know before trying it

TL;DR: Simplify your AI workflow with this lifetime subscription to the ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan, on sale now for just $79 (reg. $619).

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ChatPlayground AI streamlines the way you work with AI. It unites different AI models — like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Llama, Perplexity, and more — in one convenient place. That means you can access their results in one spot, all without paying for multiple subscription fees.

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TikTok claims it isn't deliberately censoring the name "Epstein" in direct messages, but says it's investigating a bug that stops some DMs that include the name from being sent.

"We don't have rules against sharing the name 'Epstein' in direct messages and are investigating why some users are experiencing issues," a spokesperson for TikTok's new U.S.-owned operation told NPR.

The spokesperson added that the company's internal analysis so far aligned with that of multiple outlets and users: Yes, it's happening in DMs, but only sometimes.

The company's response comes one day after multiple users shared screenshots of the problem. TikTok DMs that contained nothing but the word "Epstein" received a red exclamation mark and a stark warning: "This message may be in violation of our Community Guidelines, and has not been sent to protect our community."

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It's not the only posting problem TikTok users have experienced in the days since the U.S. handover to a group of investors led by Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle. Ellison is a prominent supporter of the Trump administration; many TikTok users fear he has essentially bought the platform to reduce or remove access to opposing points of view.

Trump initially opposed a bipartisan law requiring the Department of Justice to release its files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted child sex offender and former close friend of Trump's. As of this writing, the DOJ has released just 1 percent of the material the law instructed it to release by the end of 2025.

TikTok's transfer to a new U.S.-based data center service was blamed for widespread outages the app experienced over the weekend — a weekend that just happened to be dominated by news of the ICE killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti.

SEE ALSO: 'Shameful': Tech leaders react to ICE killing of Alex Pretti

The fact that many TikTok users could not upload ICE-related posts did not allay suspicions about the company's new management. California has announced its own investigation into censorship at TikTok, based on what governor Gavin Newsom called "independently confirmed instances of suppressed content critical of President Trump."

In announcing the investigation, Newsom put the Epstein DM problem front and center.

TL;DR: Make difficult ideas more accessible with this Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional lifetime license for Windows, on sale now for only $9.97 (reg. $249) through Feb. 8.

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Right now, you can get a Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional lifetime license for Windows for just $9.97 (reg. $249) until Feb. 8.

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If you’re dealing with large amounts of data or technical info that can be hard to share, Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional is ready to help. This tool comes complete with premade templates, starter diagrams, flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, stencils, and more, so you can present your ideas clearly and confidently.

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A jury will decide whether or not platforms like Instagram and YouTube intentionally foster addictive behaviors in teen users, as their owners — Meta and Google, respectively — head to court over a series of social media lawsuits.

Set to begin today (Jan. 27), the lawsuit claims the companies knowingly created site features that led to addictive behavior, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. It was brought forth by a 19-year-old user, referred to as K.G.M., and her mother. The suit seeks monetary damages for the individual and seeks to force named platforms to change the design of their sites to curb excessive use. The original claim also named Snapchat parent company, Snap, and TikTok, in addition to Meta and Google.

SEE ALSO: TikTok in the USA so far: Outages and outrage

Hours before the tech giants were set to appear before the jury, TikTok reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiff and will no longer face a deposition before the court. Matthew Bergman of the Social Media Victims Law Center, the organization representing K.G.M., told the press that the terms of the settlement remain confidential.

Last week, Snapchat also settled out of the case, saying the plaintiff's claims were resolved in an "amicable matter." The next day, Snapchat announced new parental controls for teen users, including upgrades to activity and screen time monitoring tools. TikTok and Snapchat are still named in other cases related to tech use and youth mental crises.

K.G.M.'s case, which will be heard in a Los Angeles court, is the first of what could be numerous cases related to social media's effects on user mental health — they are the culmination of years of pressure on Big Tech following a 2021 whistleblower investigation against Meta. The Los Angeles hearing is one of three chosen test cases, selected from the vast number of related suits, that will determine how to proceed with subsequent lawsuits. In addition to individual suits, social media platforms have been sued by child safety coalitions, school districts, and even state attorneys general. Many have been consolidated under state courts.

Some have called the bellwether trials a legal reckoning for platforms and, especially, their executives, many of whom have allegedly been complicit in continuing addictive features on their websites and apps despite warnings from employees. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify before the Los Angeles jury.

Signal, the privacy-focused messaging platform, is in the news — and not for pleasant reasons.

FBI Director Kash Patel said he had opened an investigation into Signal chats used by Minnesota residents to share information about ICE's movements. Signal offers end-to-end encryption and is often used by folks worried about privacy and cybersecurity. The Trump administration itself used Signal chats to discuss military strikes.

But with the news that the FBI wanted to go after Signal chats, folks joked about what could replace it. Mostly, people joked about returning to super-antiquated or random chat platforms. The jokes were especially popular on Bluesky.

Deleting Signal now that I know it's compromised. Find me on Facebook Messenger

— Joad The Wet Sprocket (@joadsprocket.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 6:02 PM

Deleting Signal now that it's compromised. Find me at first light on the fifth day; at dawn, look to the east.

[image or embed]

— prim ❄️ (@primordial.bsky.social) January 27, 2026 at 9:05 AM

Deleting Signal now that I know it's compromised. Find me with the Dymo label maker.

[image or embed]

— David Brauer (@dbrauer.net) January 27, 2026 at 12:16 AM

Deleting Signal now that I know it’s compromised. Find me on Netscape.

[image or embed]

— 𝚌𝚛𝚢-𝚌𝚛𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 (@mandulorian.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 7:34 PM

Deleting Signal now that I know it's compromised. Find me on Game FAQs

[image or embed]

— Patrick Lindsey (@patricklindsey.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 6:22 PM

If you want to get in touch with me, forget Signal. I'm communicating only through skywriting. Look upward and find me there.

Harry Styles fans are expressing frustration over ticket prices for his newly announced Together, Together tour, after Ticketmaster presales this week revealed costs that many said were prohibitively expensive.

The backlash reflects a familiar tension in modern pop fandom, where highly online communities collide with soaring concert prices, limited tour dates, and a cost-of-living crisis that has made live music feel increasingly out of reach. As screenshots of ticket prices spread across X, Threads, and TikTok, the presale chaos quickly became less about one artist and more about a broader question: Who gets to participate in pop culture moments when "together" comes with a four-figure price tag?

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The frustration quickly spilled onto social media, where fans shared screenshots of ticket prices, queue messages, and memes critiquing the Together, Together tour's cost and accessibility.

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Compounding the frustration is the tour's residency-style rollout, which limits Styles' U.S. appearances to a single venue — 30 dates at Madison Square Garden in New York City — and just a handful of cities globally, a format fans have already criticized as inaccessible. With many forced to factor in travel, lodging, and time off work on top of ticket prices, the Together, Together tour has sparked renewed debate online over whether destination concerts prioritize spectacle and exclusivity over fan access.

The backlash comes as Styles returns to the spotlight with his new single "Aperture" and the upcoming album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. — and it's part of a broader, ongoing tension between fans and Ticketmaster.

Last fall, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino said that concert tickets are actually "too cheap." Speaking at CNBC and Boardroom's Game Plan conference in September, Rapino compared concert pricing to that of expensive sports events, noting that shows by top artists are now complex productions that justify higher costs. "We have a lot of runway left," he said. "So when you read about ticket prices going up, the average concert price is still $72. Try going to a Laker game for that… The concert is underpriced and has been for a long time."

Critics weren’t convinced. As Mashable's Tim Marcin noted, "On average, a ticket to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour cost $3,071 in Indianapolis, the capital of a state with a median income of $71,959. The price of a single ticket was double the average monthly rent in the city. That surely cannot be considered 'underpriced.'"

As for Styles' Together, Together tour, fans who managed to make it through the presale queue were met with a wide price range for the Madison Square Garden dates. Buyers were told that tickets "have been priced in advance by the tour from $50 – $1,182.40, including service fees. Ticket prices will not change during the presale or onsale. Price ranges do not apply to VIP packages. Tickets are subject to availability." According to the Hollywood Reporter, the most expensive VIP package currently available for the MSG shows is $1,667.

Even within those guidelines, seats were priced based on demand, and fans reported costs jumping as the venue filled — leaving many scrambling for anything they could actually afford, or sharing screenshots online to vent about just how out of reach "together" felt.

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For now, "together" may remain more of a marketing promise than a lived experience. Looks like many of us will be watching this tour through TikToks and livestreams.