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Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for September 6'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.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 6 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Quota
Green: Occurrence
Blue: You got mail
Purple: Synyonms for "spring"
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Quantity
Green: Incident
Blue: Things Received in the Mail
Purple: What "Spring" Might Refer To
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 #453 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayQuantity: AMOUNT, COUNT, NUMBER, TOTAL
Incident: AFFIAR, EPISODE, EVENT, MATTER
Things Received in the Mail: BILL, CARD, CATALOG, LETTER
What "Spring" Might Refer To: BOUNCE, COIL, GEYSER, SEASON
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.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
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.
As Elon Musk struggled to rebuild X's ability to generate revenue, the site suffered a mass advertiser exodus late last year, and at least some of those departures were evidently due to pro-nazi content. A few months later, Musk told advertisers "go fuck yourself."
And this was all right before Musk shared that the former Twitter's revenue was already down by 60 percent from before his acquisition.
SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X / Twitter has a new TV app dedicated to watching videosIt looks like 2025 isn't going to be any better for X. A new report from UK market research firm Kantar found that 26 percent of marketers are planning to reduce their ad spend on Musk's platform next year.
According to Kantar's research, this was the "biggest recorded pullback" from any of the major global advertising platforms.
“Advertisers have been moving their marketing spend away from X for several years," said Kantary's Global Thought Leadership Director Gonca Bubani. "The stark acceleration of this trend in the past 12 months means a turnaround currently seems unlikely."
X will likely lose even more advertisers soonKantar found that marketers' trust in advertising on X was already "historically low" before Musk. Since the acquisition, though, that trust has eroded even further.
The market research firm says advertisers' trust in Twitter in 2022 was at 22 percent. Now known as X, trust in that same platform is now at 12 percent in 2024.
"X has changed so much in recent years and can be unpredictable from one day to the next – it’s difficult to feel confident about your brand safety in that environment," Bubani said.
Kantar's report says that just 4 percent of advertisers believe that advertising on X provides brand safety. When compared with its competitors in the social media space, X comes out at the bottom of the heap. Google is top for brand safety at 39 percent, according to Kantar. As for trust and innovative advertising, X "scores outside of the global top ten." TikTok is viewed as the most innovative and YouTube tops the trust barometer.
The contrast between X and other social media platforms in this space is made even more stark by this graph included in Kantar's report, which provides visuals for those stats.
Credit: KantarX is unlikely to change course under Musk's leadership. Just this week, Musk came under fire for promoting a Tucker Carlson video on X with a guest that shared sympathies for Hitler.
"Very interesting. Worth watching," Musk said.
Musk later deleted the post.
No, "GPT Next" is not OpenAI's next big thing.
Earlier this week, Tadao Nagasaki, the lead executive for OpenAI's Japanese operations, shared a presentation at Japan's KDDI Summit that seemed to imply a new model call "GPT Next" was imminent.
But an OpenAI spokesperson has confirmed to Mashable that the term "GPT Next," written in quotations on the slide, was simply a figurative placeholder to indicate how OpenAI's models could evolve exponentially over time. The spokesperson also clarified that the line graph in the slide was illustrative, not an actual timeline of OpenAI's plans.
Tweet may have been deleted"The AI model called 'GPT Next' that will be released in the future will evolve nearly 100 times based on past performance. Unlike traditional software, AI technology grows exponentially," said Nagasaki according to Japanese outlet ITmedia via automated translation. The phrasing caused some confusion online as "GPT Next" was understood to be a literal new model instead of a figurative representation of where OpenAI models are headed next.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedIt's unclear, however, whether the OpenAI executive was broadly speaking about the development of OpenAI's future models or specifically about the highly-anticipated GPT-5.
SEE ALSO: OpenAI, Anthropic agree to have their models tested before making them publicNot much is known about GPT-5 aside from promises from CEO Sam Altman that it will be a "significant leap forward" and CTO Mira Murati, who says it will have Ph.D.-level intelligence. But Altman also said there's a lot of work to do with GPT-5, and there's no specific timeline yet.
Currently, OpenAI's most advanced model is GPT-4o, which combines text, vision, and audio modalities. There's also something called "Project Strawberry" which has been teased by Altman. Strawberry, another much-hyped tool is reportedly capable of multi-step reasoning that bridges the gap between current models that require step-by-step instructions, and agents, which can theoretically execute complex tasks with a single prompt.
While rumors about Project Strawberry have somewhat reignited the AI hype cycle, expectations this time around are tempered by waning investor interest, and the high cost of running AI models, not to mention consumer backlash towards AI-powered features. That said, OpenAI is reportedly in talks with Apple and Nvidia (as well as Microsoft) for investing in its latest fundraising round, which would give the company a $100 billion valuation. So the three biggest tech companies in the world definitely see further potential in OpenAI.
In short, "GPT Next" isn't a thing. But whether it's a presentation at a conference in Japan or rumors about Project Strawberry, people are watching OpenAI's next moves closely, and expectations are high.
It's that time again. A new NFL season is upon us and with it comes all sorts of new streaming struggles. Notorious gatekeepers of their broadcasts, watching NFL games has become a tangled web of subscriptions — even for those who still have cable. But we've sorted out all the complicated details for you. If you're wanting to watch your favorite teams battle it out this season without cable, here's everything you need to know — including the cheapest possible way to do so (legally).
How to watch NFL games during the 2024–2025 seasonSince no single network owns the rights to every game, watching your favorite teams isn't as cut and dry in the NFL as it is with other sports. And now with streaming services throwing hats in the ring, even cable TV subscribers will need a few extras to catch every game.
Here's the general schedule each week for the 2024–2025 season.
Thursday Night Football kicks off the week exclusively on Prime Video (starting week two)
Sunday afternoon games air on CBS for AFC teams and FOX for NFC teams
Sunday Night Football games air on NBC and stream on Peacock
Monday Night Football games air on ESPN and ABC/ESPN+
NFL Network will also broadcast seven different games throughout the season
Netflix is set to broadcast two games on Christmas Day this season
If you don't have cable, you have an abundance of options for watching games live. If you're a casual fan, you can simply invest in a digital TV antenna to catch local games and nationally broadcast games live on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. Beyond football, a digital antenna will also grant you free access to local news, nationally broadcast events like the Grammys or Oscars, and other network programming. If you're reasonably close to your local TV stations, you should be able to pick up at least the four main networks. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to access ESPN.
You can also sign up for a live TV streaming service to get access to local networks, plus a ton of other channels. Live TV streaming services can be pretty pricey, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck. This option will get you ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN in most markets. No need to be close to your local TV stations.
With either option you choose, you'll still have to sign up for Prime Video if you want to watch Thursday Night Football games. You can also utilize streaming apps like Peacock and Paramount+ to watch many regular season games. It's all up to you and how many games you want access to. Below, we've rounded up the best streaming deals for each streaming service required to watch football games this season.
The best football streaming deals for the 2024–2025 NFL seasonThe best Prime Video deals for Thursday Night FootballIn addition to Thursday Night Football games, Prime Video is also set to stream a playoff game this season during Wildcard weekend. Prime members get access to Prime Video included in their subscription, which runs you $14.99 per month. If you're new to Prime, you can even score a free 30-day trial before you'll owe a monthly fee. Here are a few other ways you can save some money.
Best for long-term viewing: Prime Annual (save 22%)
Enjoy the perks of a Prime membership, including access to Prime Video, for an entire year with a Prime Annual subscription. Rather than paying a $14.99 monthly fee, you'll pay $139 up front. That ends up saving you about 22%, knocking the price down to about $11.59 per month.
Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime Video Annual $139 per year (save 22%) Get DealMost affordable: Prime Video only (save $6 per month)
If you don't want all the extra perks of being a Prime member, you can simply subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service for just $8.99 per month. That's $6 per month cheaper than a full Prime membership. Naturally, Amazon makes it unnecessarily complicated to sign up for Prime Video alone. When you go to sign up for a subscription, you'll have to select the option to "see more plans" or "change plans" and navigate to the option for Prime Video on its own. Like a Prime membership, you can still cancel whenever you please with no strings.
Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime Video only $8.99 per month Get DealBest for those under 24: Prime for Young Adults (save 50%)
Amazon's Prime Student subscription has now evolved into Prime for Young Adults. Those between the ages of 18 and 24, as well as college students of any age, can now score a free six-month trial to Prime. After the trial period is up, it'll cost just $7.49 per month — that's 50% in savings. You'll have to verify your age or student status, but after that, the world of Prime is your oyster.
Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime for Young Adults Free 6-month trial, then $7.49 per month Get Deal The best live TV streaming deals for NFL Sunday gamesSunday afternoon games are broadcast on either CBS (for AFC teams) or FOX (for NFC teams). While CBS is accessible without cable through Paramount+, FOX is only accessible through a live TV streaming service like Fubo, YouTube TV, Sling, or Hulu + Live TV. Live TV streaming services are notoriously expensive, but we've found a few different deals currently live for the start of the NFL season. Here are our top picks.
Best for AFC games only: Paramount+ Essential annual subscription (save 17%)
Paramount+ is one of the most affordable streaming services at just $7.99 per month with ads. However, you can score it for even cheaper by opting for an annual subscription for $59.99. Slash 17% off when you pay for a year up front. That knocks the monthly cost down to just $5 per month. Just note that Paramount+ only gives you access to in-network AFC games via CBS.
Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ annual subscription $59.99 per year (save 17%) Get DealBest for students who want to watch AFC games: Paramount+ for students
Students who want to watch in-network AFC games can score a Paramount+ Essential subscription for only $5.99 per month. That's 25% cheaper than a typical Paramount+ subscription. You'll just have to verify your student status to unlock the deal.
Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ for students $5.99 per month (save 25%) Get DealBest live TV streaming service deal: Sling Season Pass (save $92)
If you prepay for four months of Sling Orange, Blue, and Sports Extras, you can save $92 with Sling Season Pass. The Blue package gets you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, and NFL Network in local markets, while the Orange package gets you access to ESPN. With the Sports Extras add-on, you'll also get access to NFL RedZone, where you can see every touchdown that happens on Sunday afternoons. It'll cost you $199 for four months of Sling Season Pass, which is significantly cheaper than any other live TV streaming service. Just be sure to check your local market to ensure you'll have access to the channels you need.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Season Pass $199 for four months (save $92) Get DealBest YouTube TV deal: $64.99/month for your first four months (save $32)
YouTube TV is one of our favorite live TV streaming options. It will give you access to all the networks you need to watch Sunday afternoon games in your network, as well as Sunday night and Monday night games — NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, NFL Network, and ESPN. For a limited time, YouTube TV is offering new users a discount on their first four months of service. Plus, you can kick things off with a free trial. It usually costs $72.99 per month for the base plan, but you'll pay just $64.99 per month (save $32) for your first four months.
Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $64.99 per month for your first four months, then $72.99 per month (save $32) Get DealBest bang for your buck: Get Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ all for $76.99 per month
While other live TV streaming services might be a little cheaper, Hulu + Live TV comes with the most bang for your buck. You'll pay $76.99 per month and get access to the live TV channels you need to watch NFL games, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). For comparison, YouTube TV is $72.99 per month and includes a similar live TV channel lineup, but no extras. Fubo is $79.99 per month and features a slightly wider channel lineup, but still no extras.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV (with Disney+ and ESPN+) $76.99 per month Get DealAnother live TV streaming deal: Take $30 off your first month of Fubo
Fubo isn't our first pick for a live TV streaming service, simply because it's too expensive. However, the streamer is currently offering new subscribers their first month at $30 off. That knocks the Pro plan down to $49.99 for your first month ($79.99 per month thereafter) and the Elite plan with Sports Plus down to $69.99 for your first month ($99.99 per month thereafter).
Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo Fubo TV Pro plan $49.99 for your first month, then $79.99 per month Get Deal The best Peacock deals for streaming Sunday Night FootballIf you don't have access to local networks via a live TV streaming service or a digital antenna, you can still tune into Sunday Night Football on NBC by signing up for Peacock. Week One's game in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, Sept. 6 will also be streamed on Peacock. Subscriptions start at just $7.99 per month, but we've rounded up a few ways you can save.
Best for long-term viewing: Peacock Premium yearly subscription (save 17%)
Peacock is already pretty affordable at $7.99 per month, but even that can add up quickly on top of every other streaming service. You can knock that price down to just $6.67 per month by paying for an entire year up front. A yearly Peacock Premium subscription is just $79.99 per year, which ends up saving you about 17% overall.
Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium yearly subscription $79.99 per year (save 17%) Get DealBest for students: Peacock Premium Student Discount (save $6 per month)
Students wanting to tune into Sunday Night Football can score a Peacock Premium subscription for only $1.99 per month for an entire year. That's $6 cheaper than a typical Peacock subscription. You'll just have to be able to prove your student status through SheerID.
Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $1.99 per month for one year (save $6 per month) Get DealBest for first responders: Peacock Premium for $1.99 per month
With annual first responder verification through SheerID, first responders (public or private) can get Peacock Premium for just $1.99 per month. Upon verification, you'll receive a unique promo code to use when subscribing to Peacock. That will knock $6 per month off your total cost for the streaming service.
Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders $1.99 per month (save $6 per month) Get DealBest Peacock third-party deal: Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ (save $7.99 per month)
If you subscribe to Instacart+ for free grocery delivery, which costs either $99 per year or $9.99 per month, you'll get a free Peacock Premium subscription included. Just log in to your Instacart account, select your Instacart+ membership, then "unlock special offers" and activate the Peacock offer. You'll get redirected to Peacock's website, where you can sign in or create an account to activate the benefit.
Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ subscription (save $7.99 per month) Get Deal The best ESPN+ deals for Monday Night FootballIn order to watch Monday Night Football games on ESPN, you'll need a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN (see deals above). In order to watch Monday Night Football games on ABC, however, you can use ESPN+. The Week Seven match-up between the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals will also be available exclusively on ESPN+. ESPN+ does not give you access to games broadcast on ESPN. It's all very confusing, I know. ESPN+ regularly costs $10.99 per month, but here are a couple of ways you can save money on your subscription.
Best for long-term viewing: ESPN+ Annual Plan (save 15%)
Opt into ESPN+ for an entire year and it'll only cost $109.99 instead of $10.99 per month, which adds up to $131.88. That saves you 15% overall and gives you access to plenty more than just Monday Night Football if you're a sports fan.
Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN+ ESPN+ Annual Plan $109.99 per year (save 15%) Get DealBest bundle deal: ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu (save 44%)
If you want more bang for your buck than ESPN+ on its own, you can bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for just $14.99 per month. That's just $4 more per month than getting ESPN+ on its own. Sure, that's a lot to pay for select Monday Night Football games, but it will get you more for your money than most other streaming deals.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ / ESPN+ ESPN+ with Hulu and Disney+ $14.99 per month (save 44%) Get Deal What's the cheapest way to watch the most NFL games this season?Good question. If you want to watch in-market games and nationally broadcast games mainly, the cheapest way to do so would be to sign up for Sling Orange + Blue (granted your market includes all local networks), Paramount+, and Prime Video for a grand total of $71.98 per month. If your market is included in the Sling packages, this will give you access to FOX, ESPN, NBC, ABC, CBS (via Paramount+), and Prime Video. You could also add Netflix into the mix in December if you want access to those two games for $6.99 (per month). If you add Netflix to the total, December would run you a little more at $78.97.
Here's the breakdown:
$55 per month for Sling Orange + Blue — Sunday afternoon games on Fox, ESPN, NBC, ABC (check that your market is included)
$7.99 per month for Paramount+ — AFC games on Sunday afternoons
$8.99 per month for Prime Video — Thursday Night Football
$6.99 per month for Netflix — two games in December
For out-of-market games, things get a bit more complicated. And expensive. NFL Sunday Ticket is one of the only ways you can watch every out-of-market game, but it's outrageously expensive ($429 per year) and we cannot in good faith recommend it. Another option would be to sign up for a VPN and attempt to use a different location with any of the live TV streaming services above. For more information about VPNs and how to watch the NFL 2024–2025 season from other countries (or pretending to), check out this article on bypassing geo-restrictions.
Want to know what the new Apple Watch Series 10 looks like? You might be able to find out right now using your own iPhone.
A prolific leaker known online as Majin Bu tweeted that Apple may have accidentally leaked a sneak peek of the Apple Watch Series 10 on iOS 18.1.
Apparently, if you try to pair an Apple Watch with a fully updated iPhone, an image that doesn't look like any currently available Apple Watch pops up.
SEE ALSO: What to expect from Apple September event 2024: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more Tweet may have been deletedI don't have an Apple Watch on hand to test this out, but Majin Bu said the Apple Watch that appears on screen is bigger and has much thinner bezels around the display than anything Apple sells at the moment.
Rumors leading up to the big Apple event on Sept. 9 (where the next Watch is presumed to be announced) have suggested that the next-generation device will have two new sizes: 45mm and 49mm. For reference, the sizes for the current-gen Apple Watch are 41mm and 45mm.
It's a minor leak, but with just a few days to go before Apple lifts the veil off everything, we'll take what we can get.
X (formerly Twitter) is re-investing in its trust, safety and security teams pre-election, after CEO Elon Musk controversially dissolved the platform's oversight council nearly two years ago.
The company has opened up two dozen new safety and cybersecurity positions at sites across the United States, TechCrunch reported, a lean addition intended to bulk up its skeleton staff. Positions spread across existing teams, including roles for a director of strategic response, government affairs managers, security engineers, and a threat intelligence specialist. Earlier this year, X announced it wanted to build back out its content moderation team, beginning with 100-employee staff for a "Trust and Safety center of excellence" based in Austin, TX.
SEE ALSO: New evidence claims Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon could be listening to you on your devicesBut these recent hiring announcements, and their modest staff numbers, come after years of Musk quietly chipping away at X's safety investments. A report by Australia's online safety commissioner published in January found that the CEO fired around 80 percent of its trust and safety engineers not long after the site's acquisition by Musk in the fall of 2022. At the time of the oversight body's analysis, the company had just 55 engineers on staff for global trust and safety operations, while the team at large had been whittled down by nearly half.
Continued staff cuts, as well as the CEO's own statements on the platform's role in promoting "free speech" and sparse content moderation, have led many to call into question Musk's investment in platform safety — or lack thereof. The new hiring also comes at a precarious time for the company as X's revenue prospects look dim for 2025, according to a new report in The Guardian.
I come bearing exceptional news for reply guys. You can now leave comments on Instagram Stories.
Previously, reply guys had just three options to display their devastating thirst on a Story post: like the Story with a heart, react with an emoji (🔥), or respond with a private DM. They've been disadvantaged, begged, and down and out. How are they supposed to get a good response when there are only three ways to request one?
SEE ALSO: Welcome back, MySpace: Instagram adds profile songsThankfully, Instagram has their needs in mind. For private accounts, anyone the poster follows back can now leave comments. And for public accounts, anyone the poster follows can comment, whether or not they are followed back. The comments are just as temporary as the Stories themselves, but they are public, and users can preserve them when they save their story posts as highlights.
Tweet may have been deletedBeyond its dedication to reply guys, it makes sense that Instagram would add more features to Stories. Fewer and fewer people on their grids, and more users are gravitating towards Instagram Stories and Reels, so adding more ways to pull in engagement on Stories and Reels is probably a smart business move. The entire change encourages users to spend more time on the app.
The feature is still rolling out, so don't worry if you don't see it yet. If you do see it and want it turned off, you can do that by navigating to your settings and activity page, scrolling down to "how others can interact with you," clicking "comments," and turning the Stories setting on or off.
Will & Harper is an extraordinary story of friendship, a documentary portrait of how a relationship can grow and change over time, as we ourselves do.
For 30 years, Will Ferrell has delighted audiences with his kooky capering and outrageous characters. Behind the scripts of some of his most daring ventures — like the Spanish-language telenovela spoof Casa de mi Padre, the sublime Lifetime movie parody A Deadly Adoption, and the absolutely epic musical comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga — was Ferrell's long-time friend and collaborator Harper Steele.
The two met back when they were both newbies at Saturday Night Live. But for all those years, Steele was hiding a side of herself, going by a given name and an assigned gender identity that chafed. At 61, she came out as a trans woman, re-introduced herself as Harper, and began to navigate what this would mean for her relationships to friends and to the wider world. When she was male-presenting, she used to go on cross-country trips, happily delving into dive bars, sporting events, and other traditionally macho spaces with relative ease. But would these same spaces still be safe as a trans woman?
Seeking to reconnect with his friend as she eased into her transition, Will set out with Harper on a 16-day road trip across the U.S., revisiting old haunts and taking on new adventures to deepen their bond. Studded with celebrity cameos and silliness, Will & Harper is a must-see for comedy fans. Beyond that, it's a brilliant and moving documentary that captures how identity and friendships can change for the better.
Will & Harper welcomes audiences into a warm and funny friendship. Harper Steele and Will Ferrell go on a road trip in "Will & Harper." Credit: NetflixDirected by Josh Greenbaum, helmer of the spectacular buddy comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, Will & Harper reflects the defining humor of its subjects with dedication. Initially, Greenbaum employs traditional techniques, like talking head interviews and a montage of TV and movie clips to swiftly establish how Ferrell and Steele came to know each other. But there are details that break up that formality, like Ferrell commenting on the B-roll being shot as he sits down, and then describing his friend as a "a lovable curmudgeon with a super-weird sense of humor" who loves "shitty beer."
From there, Ferrell shares the email Steele sent him in 2021, while he was shooting Spirited, the Ryan Reynolds'–fronted Christmas musical. "I'll be transitioning to live as a woman," Steele wrote, admitting now in her own on-screen interview that the email was "really hard to send." Shared with the audience, this deeply personal letter treats us as if we too are her long-time friend, the doc doc entrusting us with this vulnerability at the 3-minute mark. We also get a taste of the sensibility that has informed the titular twosome's bond and work together.
"I doubt being a trans woman will change my personality that much," Steele reads her email on camera aloud, "Instead of an asshole, I'll be a bitch." Beyond this, Steele reflects on what sending the note risked, admitting her fear of coming out as trans: "Will I still be loved?"
For his part, Ferrell wonders in his interview, "OK, where do we go from here?...Will I be making a completely new friend?" And, "Does she still like shitty beer?"
Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Seth Meyers, Will Forte, and more appear and show support. Harper Steele, Will Ferrell, and Will Forte hitchhike in "Will & Harper." Credit: NetflixThe first stop on the duo's trip is New York City, where they reunite with an array of famous co-stars over dinner. It's a familiar space — near 30 Rock, where they were once royalty, among people they've known and loved for decades. But there's a tension amid the reverie and jokes, as Steele's friends worry aloud about her safety in this endeavor.
"My transition might change the way I navigate the country," she admits, noting she likes "the lowest worst places." To which Tina Fey chirps with worry, "It's not safe for you anymore!"
Other SNL cast members pop up later, with Kristen Wiig being conscripted for a special assignment and Will Forte meeting up for some casual hot-air ballooning. But Fey's fear is reflected in the reactions of Steele's grown children, one of whom presses as to how Ferrell might protect her parent should things get hostile on the road. Over lunch at a Greek diner, Ferrell makes a joke about being a trained martial artist, a bit that goes over like a lead balloon. But his shield is actually one of privilege.
Will Ferrell knowingly wields his privilege as a rich and famous white cis-man.And it's often very effective. Without putting too fine a point on it, Ferrell understands that he possesses privilege that Steele does not. As they stride into a Pacers game at a sporting arena or a backroads dive bar or a Texas BBQ place, he knows he'll be fine because no one will question his place there. The clear expectation is that by being with him, Steele will be shielded, at least a bit.
At times this works, like when an anti-trans politician bites his tongue about their road-tripping quest, seemingly because he values chatting up a celebrity more than revealing his bigotry. But this event also causes Ferrell to reflect about whether being a shield is enough. Should he have said something and challenged this politician? Should he have weaponized his privilege? The film won't preach an easy answer, but instead invites us to watch Ferrell and Steele hash that out together. If they could go back, what would have been done differently?
For her part, Steele is no damsel in distress. As she grows more comfortable on the road, she yearns to step outside of Ferrell's bubble of celebrity protection, going into one seedy joint on her own. And while the crowd there is welcoming — more so when she invites the SNL star inside to join her — another assembly along the way won't be. To assure those in want of a trigger warning: There's no violence. But one very public outing results in sneers and bigoted backlash online, in which both Steele and Ferrell are denounced, though Steele more grotesquely. This is the low point in the narrative, one the film asks us to take somberly, which the friends do as well, reflecting on what such reactions mean about America and Steele's life going forward.
Here, in a Texas BBQ, is the hate and judgment Steele feared for so long, but she got through it. Of course, others in the trans community are not so lucky, as stats point to anti-trans violence being on the rise in the U.S. However, Will & Harper doesn't pretend to be about all trans experiences. This documentary isn't meant to be a blanket statement about what it means to be trans in America. As its title suggests, it's about what it means for Harper to be trans in America, where she enjoys certain privileges that can shield her. But beyond that, it's about how a specific friendship evolved to help both sides grow more comfortable in their own skin and with each other.
Will & Harper is a story of trans joy. Harper Steele and Will Ferrell hang out in "Will & Harper." Credit: NetflixIn the end, that's what makes Will & Harper so remarkable. Sure, Ferrell will occasionally deflect tension by leaning into a bit, like dressing up as Sherlock Holmes or hiding his famous face behind preposterous glued-on facial hair. But at its core, this is a movie that's bracingly intimate, allowing us to ride along on a defining road trip.
Whether they're talking about Pringles flavors, tearful memories, or deep-set anxieties, we're buckled in with them. Maybe we'll see ourselves or someone we love in Will or Harper. For some, this movie may be the friend they need to help them better understand trans identity and themselves. Across this road trip, we are invited to awe in the blossoming of Harper, who went from hiding herself away to sharing herself with the world, not without fear, but with inspiring bravery.
Will & Harper is a resoundingly joyful and moving documentary, resplendent in its openness. It's their love story, and it's glorious.
Welcome to Amazon Stuff Your Kindle Day. For today only, you can download thousands of Kindle books for free. If you're interested in suspense romance titles, here are some great options.
Suspense romance titles that are free today Best romantic suspense title overall 'The Kite' by N.R. Walker $0 at Amazon (save $5.99) Get Deal Best suspense romance book in a series Rocky Mountain Yoga $0 at Amazon (save $2.99) Get Deal Best beach-worthy suspense romance title 'Pretty Little Island' by Rhea Ryan $0 at Amazon (save $4.99) Get DealIf you're the friend who's constantly recommending books, or you read an entire stack each month, Amazon has a pretty awesome day in store for you. Today, September 5, is Stuff Your Kindle Day, which means the mega-retailer has marked down the price of thousands of Kindle-edition books to exactly $0. You read that right: you can grab as many free Kindle books as your heart desires today — and your heart is definitely involved, because this event caters specifically to romance lovers.
If you prefer suspense romance titles, you're in luck, because we've seen plenty included in the sale today. Reading these on a Kindle device is a great way to keep hundreds of books at your fingertips. If you don't yet own an e-reader, our top pick is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but you can't go wrong with any of the Kindle devices.
Here are some top picks to snag for free today in the category of suspense romance.
Best romantic suspense title overall Opens in a new window Credit: N.R. Walker Our pick: 'The Kite' by N.R. Walker at AmazonThe Kite follows the story of two powerful men on different paths in life. Tim "Harry" Harrigan is an ex-Australian special response group leader who's seen plenty of success with his missions. Asher Garin is a mercenary for hire who shows no loyalty. When their paths cross, the two realize they're better off sticking together to survive.
This gay romantic title by N.R. Walker is currently free today, taking part in the Stuff Your Kindle Day event.
Best suspense romance book in a series Opens in a new window Credit: Virginia Fox Our pick: 'Rocky Mountain Yoga' by Virginia Fox at AmazonTurned off by her less-than-wholesome boyfriend, Jasmine grabs her dog and heads off to grandma's house in Colorado, only to find her vegetarian diet and yoga hobby don't mesh well with the small mountain town.
Rocky Mountain Yoga by Virginia Fox is included in today's free event, so you can read up on how Jasmine navigates her new life, which includes the local town sheriff. And when you're finished with Rocky Mountain Yoga, grab the other nine titles included in the Rocky Mountain Romances series.
Best beach-worthy suspense romance title Opens in a new window Credit: Rhea Ryan Our pick: 'Pretty Little Island' by Rhea Ryan at AmazonThe goal was to get into the journalism program, but life had other plans. Torn between two of the school's hockey players, our main character goes down a path of discovering the truth about a murder that occurred two summers ago. If you're a fan of suspense romance with plot twists, the Kindle edition of Pretty Little Island by Rhea Ryan is current free today.
More suspense romance titlesLove's Last Kiss by Sharon Wray — $0 $0.99 (save $0.99)
Trevor's Redemption by Amber Daulton — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)
A Perfect Fit by Stephanie Louise — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)
Deadmen's Captive by Elizabeth Blackthorne — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)
Kingdom Fall by A. Zavarelli — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)
We've made it over the hump this week and deals are flooding the pages of Amazon to lead us into the weekend. We've rounded up the best ones we could find on Sept. 5, with standouts from brands we love — like Samsung, DoorDash, and Garmin.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these speak to you, be sure to check back at our picks from Sept. 3 and Sept. 4. Many of those are still live — including 42% off a 58-inch Hisense TV and a record-low price on our favorite budget-friendly gaming laptop.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash DoorDash gift card $42.50 at AmazonWhether you're looking for a gift for someone (anyone, really) in your life or you've just got food on your mind, you can score a $50 DoorDash gift card for just $42.50 as of Sept. 5. That's 15% in savings. To redeem it, just login or create an account, select "Credits and Gift Cards" and enter the gift card number to add the $50 balance to your account. Since this is a Lightning deal, once it's 100% claimed, it'll no longer be available. At the time of writing, it's only 13% claimed. Enjoy while you can.
Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Life Q30 hybrid noise-cancelling headphones $55.99 at AmazonThe Soundcore Life Q30 noise-cancelling headphones are back down to their Prime Day price of $55.99 as of Sept. 5. That's 30% in savings and just a few dollars shy of their record-low price. These headphones pack dual noise-detecting microphones to sense and filter out up to 95 percent of low-frequency ambient sound. You can choose from three different noise-cancelling modes and enjoy up to 40 hours on a single charge (or 60 without ANC turned on). Plus, the hybrid design allows you to connect them using an AUX cable.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED Fire TV $399.99 at AmazonIf you love the look of Samsung's The Frame TV, but cannot fathom paying $1,000+ for a TV, allow me to introduce Amazon's Omni QLED Fire TV. Basically a more affordable dupe, the Omni QLED Fire TV offers an "Ambient Experience" mode that pulls up artwork, photos from your personal collection, or a selection of handy Alexa widgets. Plus, its QLED display features local dimming, an Adaptive Brightness feature, and support for Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive. It's Amazon's best-looking Fire TV with lifelike color, bold contrast, and impressive clarity. The 50-inch option would regularly cost $529.99, but with the Prime-exclusive on-page coupon code 50QLED, you can knock the cost down to just $399.99. That's about 25% in savings. If you're not a Prime member, it'll cost you $419.99, which is still a pretty solid deal.
Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 55 smartwatch $169.99 at AmazonIf you're just getting into running, the Garmin Forerunner 55 makes a great companion. It features top-notch GPS, a heart-rate monitor, specialized coaching and training plans, and stats galore. It suggests workouts based on your previous activities and performance, lets you know how long to rest for effective recovery, gives you GPS-based pace guidance, monitors laps, and can last up to two weeks on a single charge. The Apple Watch could never. As of Sept. 5, you can snag this beginner-friendly running watch on sale for only $169.99. That's 15% in savings.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB, WiFi) $339.72 at AmazonThe Galaxy Tab S9 FE is essentially a budget-friendly version of the Galaxy Tab S9. It's not quite as great as the FE+, which has a larger screen and 2GB more of RAM, but it's still a high-quality, reliable device that's great for casual tablet users. It touts the same tough IP68 dust- and water-resistant rating as the S9, a slightly smaller battery capacity (8,000 vs. 8,400 mAh), and the same included S Pen. It's also significantly cheaper. Regularly $449.99, the 128GB version is on sale for just $339.72 at Amazon. That's 25% in savings. For what it's worth, the S9 with the same amount of storage will cost you almost double.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
FREE KINDLE BOOKS: On September 5, celebrate Stuff Your Kindle Day and get thousands of Kindle Books totally free, including plenty of LGBTQ+ romance novels.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Free Kindle books during Stuff Your Kindle Day Get DealReaders rejoice! Our time is here.
September 5 marks Stuff Your Kindle Day, an author-driven event where Kindle books (among other e-book platforms) are totally free. Yes, you read that right — free. The best part is, you don't even need to actually own a Kindle (even though we highly recommend the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition). As long as you have the Kindle app, you can read thousands of books.
There are lots of genres to enjoy during Stuff Your Kindle Day, but romance is especially at the forefront. Plus, it's great for diverse reads like LGBTQ+ romances. You can dive into stories of sapphic or gay love to immerse yourself into a world that feels representative of your own identity. The choices are plentiful — here are some of the best LGBTQ+ romance novels to shop during Stuff Your Kindle Day.
Best LGBTQ+ romance to shop during Stuff Your Kindle DayBolt From The Blue by Willow Thomas — $0 $3.99
Charles: Learning to Love by Con Riley — $0 $5.99
Double Exposure by Rien Gray — $0 $2.99
For Keeps by K.C. Everly – $0 $3.99
A Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrew — $0 $5.99
Midsummer by Jena Doyle — $0 $3.99
Mocha for Mateo by Melanie Greene – $0 $0.99
Monsters within Men by TJ Rose — $0 $4.99
The Opposite Worlds by Raluca M. Matara — $0 $4.99
Pictures of You by Leta Blake — $0 $6.99
Ready For His Close-up by Cyd Sidney — $0 $3.99
Sophie and the Sea by Cassidy Langue — $0 $0.99
The Stars in Her Eyes by C.M. Albert — $0 $0.99
Zombie Daddy by Leslie Ayla — $0 $2.99
Amazon's Stuff Your Kindle Day is here, so be sure to take the time today to download all the titles your device can hold. With thousands of e-book titles available for free, there's a little something for everyone. Check out some of our top picks if you're looking to indulge in spicy romance reads.
Spicy romance titles included in Stuff Your Kindle Day Best overall pick 'Possession' by Jessica Hawkins $0 at Amazon (Save $3.99) Get Deal Best dark spicy romance 'Secret Betrayal' by Meg Shannon $0 (Save $4.99) Get Deal Best fantasy spicy romance 'Muse of Ruin' by Stephanie Hurst $0 at Amazon (Save $4.99) Get DealStuff Your Kindle Day is the perfect time to fill your Kindle with as many new books as you can possibly read. With thousands of free titles available for the taking, you've got so many to choose from that it might make your head spin. This 24-hour event discounts tons of e-books to free or next to nothing, and they're yours to keep once you've downloaded them.
While there are plenty of different genres to choose from, one popular option is the spicy romance novel. "Spicy books" get more than a little hot and heavy, in addition to all the lavish romance you can't get enough of. If that's the type of read you're looking for, there are plenty to choose from during Stuff Your Kindle Day.
If you're looking to indulge in some sexy time in your literature, we've rounded up some picks below that you can start with. But act fast, because these books won't be available long. You're going to want to get to the "stuffing your Kindle" part quickly.
Looking for other genres? Be sure to check out the Stuff Your Kindle Day landing page for more.
Best spicy romance overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: 'Possession' by Jessica Hawkins at AmazonWaitress Lola Winters lives a fairly unremarkable life until the day she receives a proposition from billionaire Beau Olivier. He wants her, just for the night. To get her, he approaches her with the offer of a lifetime: making all of her dreams come true. But if he's going to change her life, Lola has to do everything he says for a period of 24 hours. For the next day to the next night, she must submit herself to his control. But what happens after that? Hawkins' sexy romance is all about exploring the result of a night of passion and how it continues onward after that.
Best dark spicy romance Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Secret Betrayal' by Meg Shannon at AmazonIn this "dark mafia" romance, mafia member Nicholas Romano has agreed to forgive one woman's family's debts in exchange for one thing: her hand in marriage. The pair date like a "normal" couple and eventually wed, but it's a marriage that doesn't reflect the romance that was there in the beginning. That's when Nicholas is revealed to be a monstrous man who's cruel and unforgiving. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel: his "bride" will pretend until it's time for the titular betrayal can occur — but things are not all that they seem as you make your way through this steamy, spicy story that continues in two additional volumes.
Best fantasy spicy romance Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Muse of Ruin' by Stephanie Hurst at AmazonThis extremely dark and steamy enemies-to-lovers tale explores the city of Tartarus and Calliope's plans to kill the infamous Titans. After taking one out, she's made to live with the rest of the Titans while coming to terms with what she's done. Of course, she's stunningly beautiful, with valuable blood, and extremely attractive to Zeus. You can probably figure out where it goes from there — and you can expect plenty of deviously steamy moments.
More spicy romance Kindle titlesThe Stars in Her Eyes by C.M. Albert — $0 $0.99 (save $0.99)
Never Let You Go by Bella Rivers — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)
Wish You Knew by Julie Archer — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)
Ruthless by Gillian Archer — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)
Sidelined by Sarah Everly — $0 $2.99 (save $2.99)
The Secret Fiancée by Catharina Maura — $0 $5.99 (save $2.99)
FREE E-BOOKS: On September 5, hundreds of e-books are totally free on Amazon for Stuff Your Kindle Day. Shop these historical romance books for free today.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Free Kindle books on Stuff Your Kindle Day Get DealFor the voracious reader, there can never be enough books. And while we're big proponents of using your local library, sometimes you want books all your own so you can take your time reading without worrying about due dates. Stuff Your Kindle Day (September 5) is here to refill your library.
Stuff Your Kindle Day is an author-driven event from Amazon when hundreds of e-books drop to $0. You read that right — they're totally free! There are many genres available during Stuff Your Kindle Day, however, romance is at the forefront.
SEE ALSO: Amazon Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Which one is for you?And if you are particularly a fan of historical romance, there are plenty of books for you, too. Yes, you can stop rereading (or rewatching) Bridgerton and discover a new story.
Best historical romance to shop during Stuff Your Kindle DayA Beguiling Ruse by Laura Beers —$0 $5.99
An Inconvenient Ward by Audrey Harrison — $0 $2.99
Court of Kisses by Arla Jones — $0 $3.99
Discerning Grace by Emma Lombard — $0 $0.99
Don't Judge a Duke By His Cover by Emily EK Murdoch — $0 $0.99
The Duke's Sword by C.H. Admirand — $0 $0.99
Highlander Deceived by Jayne Castel — $0 $4.99
In Want of a Wife by Rebecca Paula — $0 $3.99
The Man of My Dreams by Daphne Quinn — $0 $0.99
Midnight Marriage by Lucinda Brant — $0 $5.99
No Man's Bride by Shana Galen — $0 $0.99
One Kiss from Ruin by Nancy Yeager — $0 $3.99
Storm Tossed Rogue by Sandra Sookoo — $0 $2.99
To Steal a Duke by Maeve Greyson — $0 $0.99
Amazon's Stuff Your Kindle Day has arrived which means today is the day to download as many titles as you see fit for free. That's right — thousands of ebook titles are free today. Here are some of our top picks if you're interested in contemporary romance reads.
Contemporary romance titles included in Stuff Your Kindle Day Best overall pick 'The Cottage at Hope Cove' by Hannah Ellis $0 at Amazon (save $0.99) Get Deal Best young adult contemporary romance 'If We Say Goodbye' by Jasmine Little $0 at Amazon (Save $4.99) Get Deal Best contemporary romance book in a series 'Engagement Rate: A Billionaire Office Romance' by Annie Dyer $0 at Amazon (save $2.99) Get DealIt's not everyday we get treated to free stuff. Amazon, however, is offering every bibliophile a special treat today by offering thousands (genuinely thousands) of Kindle books on sale for exactly $0. The author-led event means you can download as many free titles as you'd like. Today's event focuses on romance titles, and we've seen hundreds of noteworthy contemporary romance titles.
While the name implies you need a Kindle, that's not entirely accurate. Sure, Kindles are some of the best e-readers around and we're especially partial to our favorite, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but you don't need to own one to take advantage of these free books.
Anyone is eligible to download these free titles and read them on any e-reader or associated app. That means you can still snag free books if you read on your smartphone or a tablet.
These are some standout contemporary romance titles that are completely free today during the Amazon Stuff Your Kindle event. If you'd like to scan though all included titles, check out the Amazon landing page.
Best overall pick Opens in a new window Credit: Hannah Ellis Our pick: 'The Cottage at Hope Cove' by Hannah Ellis at AmazonThe Cottage at Hope Cove introduces us to Lizzie Beaumont, who seems to have her life perfectly in order. A successful career, financial stability, and a fiancé with wedding on the horizon. However, her work-driven fiancé pushes Lizzie to spend a week alone at Hope Cove while he works, and someone special comes into her life during her time at the cottage.
Thanks to the Amazon Stuff Your Kindle event, you can follow Lizzie's story for free. And what's more, the book is title one of eight in the Hope Cove series, so you'll have plenty more to enjoy after you finish the first.
Best young adult contemporary romance Opens in a new window Credit: Jamine Little Our pick: 'If We Say Goodbye' by Jasmine Little at AmazonBy author Jasmine Little, If We Say Goodbye takes on the story of tragic loss, life as a high school teenager, and a relentless neighbor. The relatable story follows a journey of life's ups and down, sorting through grief, and finding joy.
The title is also a winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards of 2024.
Best contemporary romance title in a series Opens in a new window Credit: Annie Dyer Our pick: 'Engagement Rate: A Billionaire Office Romance' by Annie Dyer at AmazonIf your fall season calls for getting wrapped up in a book series, the Callaghan Green series by Annie Dyer could be perfect, and book one, Engagement Rate: A Billionaire Office Romance, is free today.
Set in London, we're off on an adventure with drama, family dynamics, and the story of what happens when someone gets tangled up in inner-office romance. In total, the series spans 10 already-released books, with the 11th title on its way this coming February.
More contemporary romance Kindle titlesSummer at Conwenna Cove by Darcie Boleyn — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)
The House that Alice Built by Chris Penhall — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)
Beach House Romance by Cora Seton — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)
The Wedding Agreement by Annie Dyer — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)
As the tech landscape evolves, and the public's awareness of digital attacks grows, scammers are harnessing every tool at their disposal — including Google Maps.
A new sextortion scam (a form of financial coercion in which bad actors threaten to release personal, explicit images to the public) leverages publicly accessible geomapping data (read: images of your home) to make the threat even more serious.
SEE ALSO: How Big Tech is approaching explicit, nonconsensual deepfakesAs 404 Media reports, the scam begins with an email personally addressed to the target, filled with threatening lines insinuating the scammer has "proof" that the individual has been visiting illegal dark web sites or that they've been collecting illicit nude images, and capped off with images of the target's home address (most likely scrubbed from updated Google Maps street view images or similar databases).
The emails allege the installation of controversial spyware program Pegasus — a fake claim by scammers to up the legitimacy of their sextortion threats — and ask specifically for a ransom in Bitcoin.
Scammers frequently wave around personal information that appears to be hard to get in order to convince targets their threats are real, including previously used passwords and addresses. But this data is actually much easier to steal than the average person may assume, especially if their information has been recently compromised in a site breach. Instead, scammers are betting that people aren't privy to such data breaches, or hoping they're unaware that much of their personal information is easily obtained.
SEE ALSO: National Public Data breach: Do this to find out if your Social Security number has been leakedSafety and privacy advocates warn that sextortion is still a pressing online issue, especially among young people. According to child safety nonprofit Thorn, an average of 812 reports of sextortion are sent to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) each week in the United States, and platforms for such abusive tactics include social media sites (like Instagram and Snapchat), encrypted messaging apps, and money transfer sites like Cash App.
If you receive a similar email attempting to blackmail you for Bitcoin, the FBI recommends reaching out and reporting the attempt to their office (1-800-CALL-FBI). Security experts urge individuals to never send personal images or money transfers, or click on suspicious links sent to you online. Covering your webcam is never a bad idea, either.
And you may want to just go ahead and blur your house on Google Maps while you're at it.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is packed with the new Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors set to contend with the show-stopping Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips.
(The Snapdragon X Elite chip is inside our best Windows laptop of 2024: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.)
It's not just the new chips, though, that caught my eye with the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon 13. Lenovo calls it "groundbreaking" — and I can't agree more. The Hong Kong-based company unveiled one of the most incredible laptop features I've seen in 2024: Smart Share.
At a recent IFA 2024 showcase, Lenovo showed off how the new ThinkPad can easily receive data from your phone by simply tapping it against the side of the display — and it blew my mind.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura EditionIf there's any time to snatch a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon series laptop, it's now. As mentioned at the outset, it houses the new Core Ultra 200V series processors, which Intel says can deliver up to 20 hours of battery life (among other things).
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition on a table Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableOf course, we'll have to test this ourselves when we get the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 in for review. But that's not the star of the show here. Let's talk about Smart Share.
Smart ShareIt doesn't matter whether you own an Android or an iPhone, the AI-powered Smart Share lets you send photos to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 with your device.
How does it work? There's an Elliptic Labs AI Virtual Sensor placed on the side of the laptop. After you tap your phone against it, the laptop will launch the Smart Share window. Next, you'll be able to drag-and-drop recent photos from your phone to the laptop — and vice versa.
This is huge, particularly for Android users. While sharing between devices is easy when they're from the same ecosystem (e.g., an iPhone and MacBook or a Google Pixel and Chromebook), it can get tricky if you like to mix and match your devices.
Although you can use the likes of Phone Link on Windows, with Smart Share, you can simply tap your phone on the side, and voila, you'll have the opportunity to share photos in a flash.
Smart ModesThe Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition also features four versatile Smart Modes. You can access them with a simple press of a button on the keyboard.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableHere are the modes and what they can do for you:
• Shield Mode: Automatically fires up your preferred VPN when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, keeping your data safe no matter where you are.
• Attention Mode: Cuts down on distractions with the ability to set timers and mute notifications, helping you focus on your work
• Collaboration Mode: Enhances video calls with options to blur your background or adjust lighting, ensuring you always look your best during virtual meetings.
• Wellness Mode: Get posture reminders and eye fatigue alerts that encourage regular breaks.
• Power Mode: Make quick adjustments to your power settings
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 will support Microsoft's Copilot+ PC features and will reportedly offer up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The new ThinkPad costs $1,999 and will hit store shelves on Nov. 2024.
At an IFA 2024 showcase, Lenovo unveiled a gaggle of new laptops that feature the shiny new Intel Core Ultra 200V series chips.
The hyped-up Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips, found inside some of the best laptops of 2024 (e.g., Microsoft Surface Laptop 7), are all the rage, but there's a new sheriff in town.
Intel claims that its Core Ultra 200V series processors can deliver up to 20 hours of battery life. We'll have to test this bold proclamation for ourselves, but these processors can be found inside Lenovo's brand-spankin' new ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition (among other new Lenovo laptops.)
While checking out the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, however, Lenovo surprised me with a new voice-activated concept laptop called "Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC."
Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC: What can it do?The Lenovo Auto Twist can respond to the following commands, with "Hi Twist" being the wake word.
"Hi Twist, Close Laptop" The Lenovo Auto Twist in its "closed" state. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable "Hi Twist, Open Laptop" The Lenovo Auto Twist's display. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Hi Twist, Open Tablet Mode Lenovo Auto Twist on its journey to tablet mode. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable "Hi Twist, Dancing Mode" Lenovo's laptop can do a twisty dance to show off the range of its capabiltiies. Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableThe most jaw-dropping commands were "Hi Twist, Open Tablet Mode" and "Hi Twist, Dancing Mode." From a clamshell state, I watched the Lenovo laptop swivel its display 360-degrees — like The Exorcist — and bend backward into a tablet mode posture. Creepy, but fascinating.
The "Hi Twist, Dancing Mode" command showed off the Lenovo Auto Twist's full range of motion. With a ballerina on the screen, I saw the laptop do 180-degree turns before placing the display in an awkward, unnatural position. (Hey, not every laptop has rhythm; give this one a break.)
The mission behind the Lenovo Auto Twist is accessibility. Some users may benefit from a voice-activated laptop that doesn't require certain handsy maneuvers.
Again, the Lenovo Auto Twist is just a proof-of-concept, so you won't find it on the market anytime soon. But it gives us a peek into the future, giving us insight into what may come our way down the line.
Though it is unquestionably a horror movie, A24's The Front Room doesn't feature any blood until late in its second act.
Instead, practically every other bodily fluid appears on screen in copious amounts and numerous hues, with more than one instance evoking actual gagging noises from an entirely grossed-out audience. When regular ol' blood appeared, I’ve never been so happy to see that red liquid flow as a respite from everything else. In fact, The Front Room should come with a warning: Do not grab anything more than popcorn at the concession stand. This is not the movie for loaded nachos.
SEE ALSO: Brandy's mother-in-law is pure horror in A24's 'The Front Room' trailerBeyond the juices, those who recognize the last name of twin writer-directors Max and Sam Eggers alongside the imprimatur of the A24 logo may think they're in for a film along the lines of their brother Robert’s The Witch. But they will be disappointed.The Front Room is a wild, nausea-inducing ride that is not so much good as it is effective. The Eggers are capable enough directors, but other than a sickly hue and some fun canted-angle shots, there’s not a lot of style here. Instead, they get to coast on the work of the talented Kathryn Hunter (Poor Things), whose performance and physicality threatens to upstage the whole film.
What is The Front Room about? Credit: A24The Front Room begins benignly enough. Belinda (Brandy Norwood) is a Black professor married to Norman (Andrew Burnap), a white public defender with a complicated family history unbeknownst to his wife. She is nearing full term with her pregnancy and stressing about money when his estranged, ultra-religious stepmother Solange (Hunter) promises them all her wealth — if they will take her into their home.
Norman hesitates given the trauma he experienced with Solange and her personal Christian religious practices as a child. Belinda is willing to turn the other cheek and give her mother-in-law a chance, especially with the baby coming. But Solange's moving in serves as a warning for anyone who would try to do anything out of the goodness of their heart — or the desire to pay their mortgage more quickly. It is never worth it.
Featured Video For You 11 essential horror movies to stream this HalloweenFor an R-rated horror film, The Front Room is relatively light on physical violence and is far more freighted with its emotional counterpart. It all begins with microaggressions (Solange constantly mispronounces Belinda's name) and the types of insults daughters-in-law often have to shrug off (Solange insults Belinda's cooking). But soon (way too soon), the insults escalate into unquestionable racism and shocking cruelty, and Belinda struggles to endure indignity after indignity from Solange, who seems to want to make their home her own. Belinda exists in white spaces; for most of the running time, she is the only Black person on screen and she lacks an ally, even in her husband, to help defend herself from Solange’s diabolical behavior.
As the mother-in-law from hell, Kathryn Hunter is devilishly good Credit: A24The role of Solange is a challenging one, requiring a bonkers level of physicality and an utter lack of vanity. Hunter is a longtime theater actress who caught broader attention with her critically lauded role as the witches in Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth. However, in The Front Room, she's somehow even more haunting, contorting her body into a hunch, laughing a terrifying cackle, and saying some truly messed-up shit. The aforementioned bodily fluids are disturbing, but her dialogue causes actual distress — especially when it’s said with an impish twinkle. The Front Room barely works, but it owes it all to Hunter who is simply everything as she smirks, snarls, and simpers.
Burnap is fine as the non-entity white husband. Meanwhile, Norwood is good and pretty funny at times in her relatable frustration, she’s not working at the same level as Hunter. (Though who is?)
The Front Room refuses to go more than skin-deep with its social commentary Credit: A24The Eggers' movie hinges on that wonderfully unhinged performance from Hunter, and The Front Room is extremely, admirably gross with a hefty dose of camp. Unfortunately, that’s all there is here. That result would be fine, but the Eggers are aiming higher by their attempts to address more serious themes amidst all the effluvia. Adapted from Susan Hill’s short story, The Front Room deals with race, religion, and gender, but always on a surface level; it never delves too deeply into ideas about any of these topics or offers any cogent thoughts beyond "racism bad" and "Pentecostalism scary."
After watching The Front Room, a lot of viewers are going to have to unpack the shit their in-laws make them go through with their therapists, but something is validating in the idea that your experience probably isn’t going to be as traumatic as what Belinda goes through. Yet the movie itself often feels like a grueling ordeal, as you wonder exactly what shade and type of ooze will show up next or what terrible thing is going to come out of Solange’s mouth — and the answer is always somehow worse than you thought it would be. It’s a good enough bad time, worth it for Hunter's performance alone if you can stomach the rest.
How to watch: The Front Room hits cinemas Sept. 6.
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