Mashable

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is pretty much a "phablet" — it's got a larger 6.9-inch screen, up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 6.7-inch display. So you can't tell me that the iPhone 16 Pro Max isn't some sort of phone-and-tablet hybrid.

But you know what? I'm not complaining. I've never been in the "Waa! Phones are getting too big" camp. My jean pockets have always been large enough to store my gigantic phones.

Smaller phones are not my jam. (Sorry, but I don't miss you iPhone mini!) A smaller chassis typically means a smaller battery, which often leads to shorter battery life. No thank you! Give me the mega handset with the mega battery runtime.

That being said, I got to experience the iPhone 16 Pro Max in my palm of hands. Is it as unwieldy as it seems?

iPhone 16 Pro Max hands-on

The first thing I wanted to test with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, especially with its new 6.9-inch display, was whether it would feel too large in my hands.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, when I picked it up, it was surprisingly comfortable when I clutched it. I was a bit surprised by this. How does it not feel awkward? It doesn't even feel heavy, thanks to its Titanium enclosure.

During the iPhone 16 showcase at Steve Jobs Theater, I couldn't help but gravitate toward the Desert Titanium colorway. Before the "Glowtime" event on Sept. 9 that unveiled the new iPhone 16 series, leakers couldn't seem to agree on Desert Titanium's exact shade.

Some suggested that it's pink, dark gold, and even bronze. However, Desert Titanium is a barely there shade. The best way to describe it? It's as if someone dropped a little bit of pink in a bucket of beige paint.

iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As such, Desert Titanium is less camel and more sand when it comes to its hue. (The iPhone 16 Pro Max also comes in White Titanium, Black Titanium, and Natural Titanium.)

iPhone 16 Pro Max 'Camera Control' button

Surprisingly, Apple didn't reserve the new Camera Control button for the iPhone 16 Pro models. (Apple usually keeps all the cool new features for the upper-tier phones.)

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Masbale

I tried the Camera Control button on both the entry-level iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, and as you’d expect, the former is naturally a little easier to handle because the 6.1-inch phone is lighter and more compact than the 6.9-inch device.

However, using the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 Pro Max was still manageable.

(I did a separate hands-on on the Camera Control button; read it to see why I believe the video capture option could be better.)

Less bezels, more screen real estate

The iPhone 16 Pro Max also has ultra-thin bezels. In other words, the frame around the phone has slimmed down, giving you a higher screen-to-body ratio. I've never been someone who really cared much about slim bezels, but I see the appeal.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, if Apple wants to create a distraction-free experience with the display, I wonder if the Dynamic Island will see its way out soon. I've always been indifferent to that glorified notch feature. Sure, the animations that tell you what your phone is up to are pretty cool, but honestly, if Apple removed the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 series, I wouldn't miss it much.

What I'm most excited for, however, is the fact that the iPhone 16 Pro Max may have some incredible battery life. More than anything, I value long runtimes and power efficiency. I can't wait to test this bad boy and see how long it lasts on a charge.

Is the iPhone 16 Pro Max worth it?

Some other new features that the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers include a new 48MP utlrawide camera (so your landscape shots and other wide-angle pictures should turn out better than ever) and 4K video shooting at 120Hz.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max also has improved sound quality, too, as well as the ability to layer audio over another in Voice Notes.

These are exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro models, but unless you just want to have the latest and greatest iPhone just to show off, most people won't really benefit from the aforementioned perks.

You'd just be fine with the iPhone 16, particularly since it has the Camera Control button.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 via Apple's official online store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 Pro Max $1,199.00
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Director Shuchi Talati's Sundance hit "Girls Will Be Girls" is finally coming to cinemas. Watch the trailer.

"The Daily Show"s Jordan Klepper broke down how Trump and Harris are preparing for the big debate on Tuesday.

Sarah Paulson stars in this psychological horror set in the Dust Bowl period of 1930s Oklahoma. Trailer.

Donald Trump has a long list of enemies, and you'd better believe he hasn't forgotten about one of his oldest foes: all the late night show hosts who regularly draw attention to his nonsense.

In a recent Rolling Stone piece about what might happen if Trump wins the upcoming election, it was reported that the former president is looking for ways to go after the likes of Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, for all the mean jokes they've been making about him.

SEE ALSO: How porn performers feel about Trump, Harris, and Project 2025

"During his 2024 campaign, according to a source with direct knowledge, Trump has raised this topic again, venting about the need to punish late-night comedians for giving 'illegal' campaign contributions to the Democratic Party — in the form of jokes and on-air satire," reads the report.

Unsurprisingly, Colbert and Kimmel — who along with Saturday Night Live are named directly in the article — had something to say about it.

"Finally, I made an enemies list! Obviously there's no guarantee I'll be arrested, but it's an honour just to be nominated. No doubt it'll all be decided this weekend in Los Angeles, when whoever wins the Emmy for best talk show will be sent to a camp," Colbert said during his Monday night monologue. "So to my old colleague Jon Stewart, I just want you to know I voted for you. Of course if Jon wins he's only incarcerated on Mondays."

Kimmel, meanwhile, made a very similar joke about the Daily Show host, who only presents on Monday nights.

"I'm glad it's funny to you! He wants to lock up the late night hosts?" said an outraged Kimmel as his audience laughed at the news on Monday. "How would this work for Jon Stewart, would he only go to jail on Mondays? There's a lot to figure out."

In the meantime it's debate night on Tuesday, so we can't image the jokes are going to be stopping anytime soon.

In case you missed it, the AirPods Pro 2, alongside a new hearing protection perk (a noise reduction feature that's great for concert goers), now supports a new hearing test experience.

Mashable was on the ground for the "Glowtime" Apple Event in Cupertino, so I had a chance to demo the new hearing test feature on the AirPods Pro 2. I knew my hearing wasn't up to snuff, but I didn't think it was this bad.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max launch at Apple 'Glowtime' event Hearing Test on AirPods Pro 2: How does it work?

Launching the Hearing Test was super easy. All I had to do was, of course, pop in the AirPods Pro 2 into my ears. Next, on an iPhone, I had to tap on "[Name] AirPods Pro 2" in the Settings app followed by the "Take a Hearing Test" option.

Hearing test on AirPods Pro 2 Credit: Apple

I provided some details such as my age and whether I had a cold or an infection. The preliminary questions also inquired about whether I was in a loud environment like a loud concert or a construction site within the last 24 hours.

I hit "Next," and suddenly, I felt the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature kick in. The Hearing Test requires a quiet room, but even so, the ANC helps to cancel out any white noise that may affect the test.

You'll be asked to tap when you hear a tone Credit: Apple

After going through a few more prompts, the test (based on pure-tone audiometry) launched and asked me to tap on the screen if I heard a tone. After about two minutes of tapping, I got my results — and it's not looking good for me.

My hearing test results: Moderate hearing loss

As it turns out. according to the AirPods Pro 2 hearing test, I have moderate hearing loss.

Hearing test demo showcased at Apple "Glowtime" livestream Credit: Apple

I got the following for my results:

Left Ear - 41 dB HL (decibels hearing level)

Right Ear - 44 dB HL

In other words, it appears that I need sounds to be 41 decibels (left ear) and 44 decibels (right ear) louder than the normal hearing level to detect them.

According to a chart from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, here is a table that classifies hearing loss:

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The results surprised me. Sure I say the occasional "Huh" because I can't hear my friends properly, or I find myself straining to hear my neighbors' conversations while trying to eavesdrop on them, but I would have never pegged myself as someone with "moderate hearing loss."

Although the hearing test, according to Apple, is "scientifically validated," it prompted me to consider visiting an audiologist to verify these results. This, I'm sure, is a part of Apple's mission. (After all, as stated during the Apple event, 80% of U.S. adults haven't had a hearing test in five years.)

"Users [can share their] results with their healthcare providers for more informed conversations," Apple said in a press release.

On the bright side, whenever I pretend not to hear my fiancé because I just don’t feel like doing something, I can now flash these "moderate hearing loss" test results as the perfect excuse to get him off my case.

It's worth noting that the AirPods Pro 2 also doubles as over-the-counter (OTC), clinical-grade hearing aids. Since I apparently have moderate hearing loss, I'm going to need 'em.

Both the hearing test and hearing aids feature are expected to roll out in the fall to over 100 countries, including the United States.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 start at $249 via the official Apple Store, but as of this writing, you can snag 'em for just $199 via Amazon.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 $216.99 at Amazon
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The iPhone 16 "Camera Control" got announced today — and I got a chance to play around with it in Steve Jobs Theater.

I am elated that the new Camera Control can be found across all the iPhone 16 models. (Typically, Apple tends to reserve all the cool new features for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max).

As such, this hands-on is all about the Camera Control feature on the entry-level iPhone 16.

iPhone 16: Hands-on with Camera Control

OK, so the new Camera Control can be found on the lower edge of the right side of the iPhone 16.

So here's how it works.

First, you can do a hard press on the Camera Control button, which will pull up the Camera app.

Do a hard press on Camera Control to open Camera app. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can press once to take a photo. But to capture a video, you must press and hold the Camera Control button. My only disappointment is that letting go of the Control Button stops the recording. In other words, I'd love it if I could press and hold, let go, and it'll continue recording until I press and hold it again. (Perhaps it will be a new feature for iPhone 17.)

Video capture with Camera Control Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can also cycle through a menu of different options by lightly doing a double tap:

1. Styles

Photographic Styles on Camera Control Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

1. Tone

2. Cameras (access ultrawide and other lenses)

3. Zoom

Zoom on Camera Control Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

1. Depth

Depth on Camera Control Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

1. Exposure

For example, with Styles (basically Photographic Styles), you can cycle through filters (e.g., Standard, Vibrant, etc.) by moving your finger across the Camera Control button.

The Camera Control button is very intuitive. I got the hang of it in less than three minutes. I also love that you can access so many features on the Camera Control button with only a few gestures.

Keep in mind that the Camera Control button also doubles as a "Visual Intelligence" tool. As a part of iOS 18, Visual Intelligence, via the Camera Control button, lets you quickly learn about anything you see by pointing your camera at it.

For example, you can point your camera at a restaurant and Visual Intelligence will tell you about the establishment's open hours. You can also point it at a cute dog to figure out its breed. It's basically like Apple's own built-in version of Google Lens.

There's no exact date, but Visual Intelligence is coming to Camera Control later this year.

iPhone 16 in Ultramarine $799.00 at Apple.com
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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 Pre-order at Apple Pre-Order Here

The Apple Watch Series 10 made its debut on Monday, with the tech giant unveiling the Series 9's successor at its event in California. 

This year's Apple Watch is powered by the company's new S10 System in Package (SiP), which certainly sounds like a step up compared to the Series 9's S9 SiP. Even so, most of the differences between the Apple Watch Series 10 and 9 appear relatively incremental.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2024: Everything announced, including iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10

Here's a comprehensive comparison between the Apple Watch Series 10 and 9 to help you decide whether to upgrade.

Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Price

When investing in a new piece of tech, one of the biggest considerations is the price. The new Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399, which will snag you the 42-millimetre aluminium option with just GPS. The price jumps up to $699 if you switch to titanium, which comes with both GPS and cellular connectivity, topping out at $749 if you also choose the larger 46-millimetre size.

In comparison, the Apple Watch Series 9 also started at $399 at launch, however its price has dropped in the year since. The smallest 41-millimetre Series 9 in aluminium with only GPS is currently available for $274.77, while the 45-millimetre stainless steel option with both GPS and cellular can be picked up for $649.

Featured Video For You Apple Event 2024 Recap

That's a difference of approximately $100 between last year's Apple Watch and this year's equivalent models. Whether it's worth it will depend on your priorities.

Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Display On the left, the Apple Watch Series 9. On the right, the Series 10. Credit: Apple

Both the Apple Watch Series 10 and 9 boast a brightness range from one to 2000 nits, so there aren't any changes there. However, the Series 10's one-millimetre increase across its two size options isn't the only difference to its display. 

The Series 10 upgrades the Series 9's low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display to LTPO3, the latest version of this technology. This should mean an increase to the Series 10's variable refresh rate and power efficiency, offering a smoother display that's less draining on the battery. Even so, exactly how much of a practical, noticeable difference this will make isn't clear, especially as the Series 10 doesn't claim any increase in battery life (more on that below).

Another change is the Series 10's new wide-angle organic light-emitting diode (OLED), making it the first Apple Watch with this feature. This wide-angle OLED enables pixels to emit more light at a wider angle, with Apple claiming the Series 10 offers a 40 percent increase in brightness when viewed from an angle over the Series 9.

The company further states that the OLED's improved power efficiency has allowed the Series 10's refresh rate in always-on mode to increase to once per second, a notable jump from the Series 9's rate of once per minute. As such, some Watch faces will allow wearers to see a ticking seconds hand without having to raise their wrist.

Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Design On the top are some of the Apple Watch Series 10's colour options, while below are some from Series 9. Credit: Apple

Straight off the bat, the Apple Watch Series 10 is slightly larger than the Series 9, offering 46 and 42-millimetre models as compared to last year's 45- and 41-millimetre models. However, it has shaved off some bulk in other areas. 

One of the most prominently spruiked changes to the Apple Watch Series 10's design is that it's slimmer. Apple claims that the Series 10 is almost 10 percent thinner than the Series 9, shaving one millimetre off to take it from 10.7 to 9.7 millimetres thick. That may not seem like much, but every little bit counts when you're measuring in millimetres.

The Series 10 is also lighter, though the difference here will depend on which models you're comparing. Apple states that the Series 10's aluminium models are up to 10 percent lighter than those in Series 9, while the titanium models are almost 20 percent lighter than last year's stainless steel.

Judging from the specifications shared by Apple, this seems about right. The lightest Series 10 Watch is the 42-millimetre aluminium model with GPS and cellular, which Apple states weighs 29.3 grams. In comparison, the lightest Series 9 Watch is the 41-millimetre aluminium with GPS only, which comes in at 31.9 grams — 2.6 grams heavier. The Series 10's titanium also comes out lighter when compared to the Series 9's stainless steel. Its heaviest option is the 46-millimetre titanium model weighing 41.7 grams, which is almost 10 whole grams lighter than the heaviest stainless steel Series 9 at 51.5 grams.

In addition to these changes, the Series 10's corners are more rounded and it has a wider aspect ratio than Series 9. Apple states that these tweaks to the Watch's form factor enable a notably larger display.

On the left, the Apple Watch Series 9. On the right, the Series 10. Credit: Apple

Finally, there's the Apple Watch Series 10's colour options to go through. The colour of a new Apple Watch is arguably even more important than that of a new iPhone, since you're much more likely to cover the latter with a phone case anyway.

At launch, the Series 10 comes in six different colours equally distributed between its aluminium and titanium models. The aluminium Series 10 is available in jet black, rose gold, and silver, while the titanium version comes in slate, gold, and natural. 

In comparison, the Series 9 has five colours for its aluminium model alone — midnight, starlight, silver, pink, and (PRODUCT)RED). Its stainless steel model has three with graphite, silver, and gold, or four if you include the Apple Watch Hermès collaboration's space black.

Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Health and fitness features The Apple Watch's new sleep apnea detecting feature seen on two iPhones. Credit: Apple

Apple announced a new sleep apnea feature with the Series 10, which uses the Watch's accelerometer to monitor your sleep and notify you if it detects signs of the sleep disorder. However, this feature doesn't separate the Apple Watch Series 10 from the 9, as this Breathing Disturbances metric will be coming to both models and the Ultra 2 this month.

A better way to distinguish the two is via their oceanic capabilities. The Series 10 is more equipped for aquatic adventures than the Series 9, featuring both a water temperature sensor and a depth gauge capable of tracking up to 20 feet (six metres) down. Information gathered by these features is displayed via Apple's Depth app, which comes preloaded on the Series 10. The latest Apple Watch is compatible with the Oceanic+ snorkelling app as well, though unlike the Depth app you'll have to head to the Apple App Store to download it. 

The Series 9 doesn't have such functionality, so it's a factor to consider if you're an avid snorkeler and iPhone user who doesn't already have an Ultra.

Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Audio

Audio is far from the first feature people think of when they think about Apple Watches. Even so, the new Apple Watch Series 10 is improving its audio capabilities by allowing music to be played through its inbuilt speaker.

While the Series 9 also has a speaker, it's restricted to utilitarian uses such as phone calls, the Walkie-Talkie function, and Voice Feedback during your workouts. In contrast, the Series 10 will let you play media such as music, podcasts, and audiobooks, enabling you to irritate everyone around you by blasting tunes directly from your wrist. This will work with Apple apps such as Apple Music, Podcasts, and Books, as well as third-party apps.

The Apple Watch Series 10 also upgrades its microphone's capabilities by adding voice isolation, using a neural network to reduce background noise during calls. 

Most people aren't searching for audio capability when buying a watch. You'll probably still prefer to use your iPhone or a pair of AirPods for your calls and music, only turning to the Apple Watch when they aren't at hand or if you're in an emergency. Still, it is technically an improvement over the Series 9.

Apple Watch Series 10 vs. 9: Battery life

Apple doesn't claim any difference in battery life between the Watch Series 10 and 9. Both run on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which the tech giant says offers up to 18 hours of juice (or 36 in low power mode). Both are fast charge capable as well.

However, Apple does state that the Series 10's charging coil is larger and more efficient, allowing you to charge up your Watch's battery from zero to 80 percent full in 30 minutes. That's an improvement over the Series 9, which Apple has said needs 45 minutes to get to 80 percent. Fifteen minutes doesn't seem like a terribly significant difference though.

Mashable will be testing Apple's new Watch and provide an update with the results, but for now it looks as though battery life isn't a major factor to agonise over if you're deliberating between the Series 10 and 9.

Preorders for the new Apple Watch Series 10 open Sept. 20.

The best vacuum cleaner setup is subjective, heavily hinging on how badly (or not) you want to do the vacuuming yourself, or if you'd rather a robot do it for you.

But there's one universal factor that can make or break any type of vacuum's usefulness in your home, and that's how likely you are to use it. Hear me out.

Actual cleaning performance plays a huge role in how clean your floors will be, of course. But if that vacuum's a pain to use, you won't feel like using it — whether that's an upright vacuum that's too clunky to get out of the closet or a robot vacuum that gets stuck more often than not.

SEE ALSO: How to choose a robot vacuum in 2024: Consider these 5 features before buying

I've tested a ton of automatic vacuums and upright cordless vacuums, assessing from all of those angles along the way. And I have a handful of recommendations for both. But first, let's unpack which kind overall might work better in your living arrangement.

Should I get an upright or robot vacuum?

I could argue for both sides, considering I think the true dream setup is to have both on hand for different situations. While there are definitely ways to shop strategically and split your budget between one of each, that won't be the most practical choice for every household. If you're only choosing one type of vacuum, consider your main priority when it comes to vacuuming. Is your ideal vacuum cleaner one that automates the most steps to give you as little work as possible, or is it one that does the absolute most meticulous job, even if you still have to do the work?

SEE ALSO: 6 best robot vacuums and mops of 2024, tested hands-on at home

Drawbacks of each also have to be considered. Trusting a robot vacuum to do this chore comes with the fine print that the robot vacuum is probably going to piss you off sometimes. While I absolutely can't knock the strides that have been made with smart mapping, AI small obstacle avoidance, automatic floor type recognition, and debris level sensors over the past few years, even the latest and greatest robot vacuums are still inanimate objects, not perceptive humans.

The downside of an upright vacuum is that you have to have free time, and spend some of that free time off the couch. Granted, the better the cordless vacuum, the less you'll have to get it out, and the less of a pain it'll be to whip around.

Do corded vacuums have better suction?

Typically, corded vacuums have better suction than cordless vacs, but at this point in the game, it's not a noteworthy enough increase to cover the headache of digging that monstrosity out of the closet and wrestling with the cord. if you detest getting your vacuum out, you probably won't vacuum too often — and that defeats the purpose of doing your research/spending your money on a nice, new vacuum in the first place.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

With that in mind, no corded stick vacuums or corded canister vacuums will be recommended in this list.

Below, I've pulled my favorite cordless stick vacuums and robotic vacuums to create Mashable's ultimate mashup of all of the best vacuum cleaners as of September 2024.

Nearly a quarter century ago, four identical spacecraft launched into space. Now, they're coming home.

The European Space Agency sent a plane to capture footage of the first of four Cluster mission satellites reentering Earth's atmosphere on Sept. 8.

"The first recorded observation of a satellite reentry from a high-speed orbit, taken from a plane in bright daylight!" the agency wrote.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

The goal was to capture rare information on how, and when, such a spacecraft breaks up in Earth's atmosphere as it encounters intense friction and heat. "Throughout history, so far about 10,000 intact satellites and rocket bodies have reentered the atmosphere," the agency explained. "Yet we still lack a clear view on what actually happens during a reentry."

The reentry of the craft named "Salsa," shown below as the bright dot above the sea surface, intentionally happened over the remote south Pacific Ocean — a region where the already low-likelihood of creating damage was vastly reduced.

The Salsa spacecraft, seen as a white dot, breaking apart as it reenters Earth's atmosphere. Credit: ESA / ROSIE / University of Southern Queensland Tweet may have been deleted

The Cluster mission, undertaken by NASA and ESA, deployed four identical spacecraft to investigate how our planet's magnetosphere (a bubble around Earth protecting us from solar and cosmic radiation) interacts with a constant stream of particles from the sun, called the solar wind. "It even discovered the origin of 'killer electrons,' energetic particles in the outer belt of radiation surrounding Earth, that can cause havoc for satellites," ESA said.

Before the aging satellites became derelict objects in Earth's orbit, ESA made maneuvers to ensure the spacecraft came down in a "targeted area." "Without intervention, the four Cluster satellites would have reentered Earth’s atmosphere naturally – but with less control over when or where this would happen," the agency wrote.

It's an early endeavor to limit the amount of space junk amassing near our planet, and to control where it eventually comes down. There's a lot up there, zooming around in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

"LEO is an orbital space junk yard," NASA explains. "There are millions of pieces of space junk flying in LEO. Most orbital debris comprises human-generated objects, such as pieces of spacecraft, tiny flecks of paint from a spacecraft, parts of rockets, satellites that are no longer working, or explosions of objects in orbit flying around in space at high speeds."

Adult film actress Richelle Ryan is a conservative, and she's not apologizing for it. She wears clothing bearing former President Donald Trump's face and name across her social media platforms. 

She is among a handful of adult performers that remain outspoken about their conservative identity in an industry that's on edge amid the growing concerns about Project 2025 — a 900+ page far-right policy wishlist for Trump if he wins in November. One of the measures calls for an outright ban of pornography. 

SEE ALSO: Top 5 digital security tips from sex workers

The document was authored by Trump loyalists, some of whom worked for his first administration, stoking fears that if Trump gets elected this wishlist will become the law of the land. Some conservative performers aren't buying that idea, but others to their left see Project 2025 as an existential threat to their industry.  

This comes at a time when Vice President Kamala Harris is Trump's opponent. As senator, Harris supported the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act and Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (FOSTA/SESTA), legislation that was anti-sex trafficking in theory but in practice made it harder for online sex workers to do their jobs safely. Because the stakes are so high for the business, performers haven't been shy about sharing their point of view. 

Project 2025: Scare tactic or actual threat?

As early as the fifth page, Project 2025 calls for the imprisonment of porn performers as well as distributors, and says that telecommunications companies that allow porn to be accessed should be closed:

Pornography should be outlawed. The people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders. And telecommunications and technology firms that facilitate its spread should be shuttered.

Conservatives like Ryan suggest it's representative of the fringe of the party — not the majority — and has no chance of becoming actual policy. That's why, in her view, Project 2025 is less of a Republican master plan, and more of a tool that Democrats are using to campaign.

"I think it's a scare tactic that Democrats are trying to use," Ryan told Mashable. 

The Trump campaign clearly sees the political implications of embracing such far-right talking points. That's in part why the former president has distanced himself from it in the past few weeks. To Ryan, that's one of the reasons not to worry. 

"I've been in the adult film industry for 18 years. Scare tactics are something that we fight every single day," Ryan added. 

A slew of policy decisions have put immense pressure on the industry in recent years, ranging from propositions about condom use to state-level laws that would force phonemakers to automatically censor sexual content. 

FOSTA/SESTA, however, which Trump signed into law in 2018, has had tangible effects on online sex workers and their income. According to a paper published in the Fordham Law Review, the wording of the legislation actually does more to harm sex workers than protect victims of sex trafficking. That's echoed by research published in the Anti-Trafficking Review that shows that the closure of classified site Backpage.com and the subsequent laws actually put sex workers in dangerous positions by removing an online space where workers can vet those soliciting their services. 

The research shows ways that the laws have limited workers' ability to share harm reduction resources, like lists of people known to solicit sex workers who have a history of assault.

Not everyone sees Project 2025 as merely a scare tactic. In fact, most of the performers Mashable spoke to see Trump distancing himself from Project 2025 as a farce. Trump lied more than 30,000 times during his presidential term alone according to The Washington Post.

"I think that we need to look at Project 2025 and recognize that this is a clear and present danger for the sex worker community. We have to call it out. We have to take it very seriously and educate people," performer Allie Awesome told Mashable. 

Regardless of Trump's disavowals of Project 2025, he's still mentioned by name hundreds of times in it. A recent analysis from CBS News found that 270 of the 700 policy proposals include past Trump policies and current campaign promises, while 28 of the 38 authors of the document previously worked for the Trump administration. Paul Dans, a former Trump advisor, served as the director of Project 2025 until late July. 

Trump's running mate JD Vance is a clear supporter. He wrote the foreword to an upcoming book called Dawn's Early Light written by Project 2025 creator and president of far-right think tank the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts. 

The Heritage Foundation, which published Project 2025, helped shape Trump's Supreme Court nominee list while he was president. Amid vacancies on the court, Trump appointed Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch.

The current state of the porn industry

Many in the adult industry consider Project 2025 an obvious threat, as it calls for those who make porn to be imprisoned among other measures.

A number of Republican-led states including Texas, Indiana, and Nebraska have established age-verification laws in recent months — many of which require porn sites to verify someone's age using government IDs — a move which free speech activists largely see as a trojan horse for broader privacy violations. 

One of Project 2025's co-authors, Russell Vought, who also served as a director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump, admitted in secret recording that the laws (which the Heritage Foundation lobbied for) work to ban porn through the "back door."

In the same recorded conversation, Vought claimed that Trump "blessed" Project 2025 and added that the former president is "very supportive of what we do."

This isn't the first time Trump took a hardline stance against porn. Ahead of the 2016 race, he signed onto a pledge that called on him to ban adult entertainment. 

The appointment of JD Vance, who told Catholic publication Crisis Magazine in 2021 that he wanted to outright ban porn as well, does not quell fears.

The perceived imminent threat has created a divide among performers. "I do not have solidarity with Trump-supporting sex workers. I've really personally drawn a line in the sand," Awesome said.

SEE ALSO: Most adult creators use AI in their work, new data says

That leaves performers like Mia Isabella in a hard place. Isabella is fiscally conservative and was not a fan of Biden's tax plan. However, Isabella said, "Trying to tell people what to do in their homes, in their personal time, is weird shit."

"I agree fiscally with Trump, but I can't agree with making anyone feel dehumanized or using any minority to politicize the situation and make a rallying cry," Isabella added.

What about Kamala Harris?

With that said, people in the porn industry aren't exactly excited about Kamala Harris just yet because of her anti-sex work history.

Historically, Harris supported stiff anti-sex worker policies. As California attorney general, she helped take down Backpage, which was accused of promoting sex trafficking and faced a multi-year investigation led by her office. That led to federal bills FOSTA/SESTA (the latter of which Harris co-sponsored as senator). In addition to making sex workers' jobs less safe, FOSTA/SESTA also impacted their incomes and access to bank accounts, loans, and lines of credit. Sex workers also said the shutdown of Backpage made them less safe. 

"I've always been uncomfortable with her being the VP in that sense. And it's a little bit of a hard pill to swallow," performer Jessica Ryan, who identifies as a centrist politically, told Mashable. 

This comes amid concerns that Harris' anti-sex work stance may continue if she becomes president. XBIZ, an industry trade publication, pointed out that during this election cycle Democrats dropped language explicitly recognizing sex workers that was included in 2020.

While ads for escort services and pornographic film production are not necessarily one and the same, performers and their advocates believe that that the overarching language and impact of the laws on sex workers is indicative of a perceived ignorance to the needs of those who work in various sex-related professions.

For Jessica Ryan, the election provides two distinct choices: one that hasn't historically been an ally to sex workers, and another whose closest confidants would like to see porn cease to exist entirely and put its creators in jail.

"It's just fucking wild that we have people that are okay with [the] government telling us what we can watch [and] how we can watch it," Ryan added. 

All the performers Mashable spoke to shared one common perspective: politics should stay off the set. But the question if Project 2025's authors get their way is: in a few years, will there even be sets? 

TL;DR: PDFs are easy with a lifetime subscription to PDF Extra Ultimate, now $99.99. 

When you’re constantly juggling PDFs—whether it's editing contracts, filling out forms, or pulling together reports—having the right tools can make all the difference. Basic PDF readers just don’t cut it when you need to do more than just view files. That's why something like PDF Extra Ultimate comes in handy, offering a one-stop solution that covers all the bases, from editing and signing to converting and organizing your PDFs, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for $99.99 (reg. $239). 

What can PDF Extra Ultimate do?

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Make PDFs your new favorite file. 

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TL;DR: See in the dark with a pair of Double Barrel Digital Night Vision Binoculars on sale for $104.97 (reg. $297). 

If you’re planning a night hike, a camping trip, or a late-night fishing expedition, you’ll need gear that can keep up with the darkness. Visibility can be a challenge when the sun goes down, but having the right equipment makes all the difference.

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Open up the night

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TL;DR: Grab the CASA HUB Pro on sale for $89.99 (reg. $109) and power up your workspace with 12 essential ports and dual screen support.

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What can you do with an M1 MacBook?

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This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Most people have at least one horror story about online dating. It's a rite of passage that single people love to hate.

But the horror stories look a little different for members of the LGBTQ community. On top of the classic awkward Hinge date anecdotes and screenshots of a corny bio seeping with secondhand embarrassment, gay singles deal with all sorts of alienating interactions. Baseless questioning of sexual history, harassment, and fetishisation — some of it coming from cis straight people who shouldn't have popped up in your feed in the first place — don't exactly result in butterflies.

Still, dating apps have become crucial means of introduction for gay folks looking to settle down. A 2019 Stanford study and 2020 Pew Research survey found that meeting online has become the most popular way for couples to connect — especially for gay couples, of which 28 percent met their current partner online (versus 11 percent of straight couples).

But the Pew survey also dredged up those ugly experiences with harassment. This could be where options that bar heterosexual users, like HER and Grindr, come in. Their perfectly-tailored environments are so well-known in the gay community that they're essentially in a league of their own.

Is Grindr the only option for gay dating apps?

Though Grindr and HER are big players, they're not alone in the queer dating app market. Apps like Zoe, Taimi, and Scruff exist. But their plateauing popularity can be attributed to similar complaints: too many scam profiles and too few legitimate users (ones within a reasonable distance to plan a date, anyway). Chappy was a promising app for gay men that shut down just as it was gaining serious traction.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

And at the end of the day, "everyone" apps are simply where masses of queer users are. Keeping Tinder on the back burner isn't just a straight people thing, especially for those who live in less-populated areas where Grindr and HER offer slim pickings. Plus, some mainstream apps do deserve credit for the steps they've taken to create a more inclusive atmosphere. Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge now offer lots of sexual orientation and gender identity options. OkCupid gets kudos for making that change years ago, as well as making social justice a core part of compatibility scoring — which kind of self-curates the type of people on the app.

What is the best gay dating app?

If you're part of the LGBTQ community and hate leaving your home, you're not alone. These are the apps and sites that'll maximise your opportunities while minimising your human contact.

These are the best gay dating apps in 2024.

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: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, September 10, 2024:

AcrossWhat a phisher might try to get you to click

• The answer is link.

"___ Copperhead," Barbara Kingsolver novel that won a 2023 Pulitzer

• The answer is demon.

Act melodramatically

• The answer is emote.

One just squeaking by?

• The answer is mouse.

Suspicious of

• The answer is onto.

DownFruit used to treat scurvy

• The answer is lemon.

"Catch ya later!"

• The answer is imout.

"Quite the contrary!"

• The answer is notso.

Bending body part

• The answer is knee.

Music submission to a recording studio

• The answer is demo.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 10 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 10 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Give it a whirl!

These words are very moving.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers all relate to dancing.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is circular.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is BallroomDance.

NYT Strands word list for September 10

• Jive

• Foxtrot

• Salsa

• Rumba

• Quickstep

• BallroomDance

• Waltz

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.

TL;DR: As of Sept. 2, get a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited for only £49.92 (reg. £153.12). This newly discounted price is only available through Sept. 29.

Are you worried about your privacy online? If so, it may be time to invest in a good VPN. And the timing couldn't be better — as you can currently get your hands on a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited.

With VPN Unlimited, you can keep your online activities safe and secure on all your different devices. For a limited time, you can get this lifetime subscription for just £49.92. Even better, Unlimited VPN is truly unlimited — covering all of your devices.

As much as we'd love to ditch the internet sometimes, it's just not possible these days. That means securing yourself online is more important than ever, and VPN Unlimited makes it easy. Their top-notch encryption algorithms help defend you from hacking or data compromisation, while you can also rest easy knowing you are browsing with complete anonymity, thanks to VPN Unlimited's privacy safeguards. 

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Stay secure online with a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited for just £49.92 (reg. £153.12) for a limited time. 

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TL;DR: A wide range of AI and ChatGPT courses are available to take for free on Udemy.

There are absolutely loads of AI and ChatGPT courses on Udemy. You can learn all about this exciting technology with these online resources, giving you the tools you need to truly harness AI and make it work for you. And better yet, some of the best courses are available to take for free.

We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started. These are the best online AI and ChatGPT courses you can take for free this month:

• AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals

• AI Art Generation Guide: Create AI Images For Free

• AI for Everyone

• AI Foundations for Business Professionals

• AI-Powered Chatbot: Build Your Own with No Code

• AI Product Strategy

• AI to Boost Productivity

• Artificial Intelligence for Accountants

• Artificial Intelligence for Humans: AI Explained

• Artificial Intelligence: Preparing Your Career for AI

• Become an AI Accelerated Engineer Using ChatGPT

• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: ChatGPT, Github Copilot

• Business Analyst: Digital Director for AI and Data Science

• Canva AI: Master Canva AI Tools and Apps 2024

• ChatGPT 101: The Complete Beginner's Guide and Masterclass

• ChatGPT in 30 Minutes: New Prompt Engineering and AI Skills

• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course

• ChatGPT Security: Privacy Risks and Data Protection Basics

• Create Faceless YouTube Videos Using Free AI Tools Only

• Deep Learning and AI with Python for Beginners

• Digital, Virtual and AI Photography

• Gemini AI Course for Beginners

• Google Gemini AI with Python API

• How To Make YouTube Automation Videos in 20 Minutes Using AI

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

• Jasper AI Masterclass: Automate your Marketing with AI

• Learn Basics About AI

• Master Gemini AI

• Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals: Get Started with AI

• Midjourney and ChatGPT: Unleash AI for Unique Image Generation

• Prompt Engineering+: Master Speaking To AI

• Unleash your Creativity with Stable Diffusion AI

These free online courses do not offer certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but that's the only catch. You can still learn at a pace that suits you, so there really isn't anything stopping you from enrolling.

Find the best free AI and ChatGPT courses on Udemy.

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