Mashable

TL;DR: Get this comprehensive ethical hacking bundle on sale for £29.99 (reg. £823.82) through September 29 and learn everything from Python to social engineering.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle £29.99 at the Mashable Shop
£823.82 Save £793.83 Get Deal

Cybersecurity is a fast-moving field, and ethical hacking is your gateway to understanding how to protect systems from real-world attacks.

This all-encompassing ethical hacking course bundle is packed with expert-led courses designed to take you from beginner to professional — all while staying hands-on and practical. From building your own tools in Python to testing wireless networks, this bundle covers all the essentials for a budding ethical hacker. Through Sept. 29, you can score lifetime access to all 18 courses for just £29.99.

One course worth mentioning is Hacking Wireless Networks. You’ll dive deep into WiFi hacking techniques used by professionals, uncovering vulnerabilities in wireless networks and learning how to secure them. With more than 50 lectures and access to all the necessary tools, you’ll be equipped to understand the vulnerabilities of modern WiFi environments and how to mitigate them.

If you’re curious about how to break into secure systems, the Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing course gives you a hands-on approach to finding and exploiting weaknesses. You’ll work through everything from cracking passwords to taking control of vulnerable systems, all while learning the theory behind each attack — making it easier to apply these skills in real-life situations.

Another course, Hack People, Systems and Mobile Devices, offers an in-depth look at social engineering. You’ll use tools and techniques that professionals rely on, getting the full picture of how to protect against these crafty attacks.

Whether you’re new to the field or looking to sharpen your skills, this comprehensive collection will help you become an ethical hacking pro.

Priced at £29.99 until Sept. 29, this extensive ethical hacking course bundle is packed with value for anyone serious about cybersecurity. 

Curious about other privacy and security deals? Check out all of the privacy and cybersecurity courses at the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

While I was watching Colin From Accounts Season 2, I had the realisation that comedy shows rarely make me laugh out loud. Even the ones I enjoy.

Colin From Accounts is an exception. This Australian rom-com from husband-wife team Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, which started as a canine-themed meet-cute in Season 1, uses its second season to hilariously build on some already-very-funny foundations.

SEE ALSO: The 30 funniest comedies on Hulu, because we all need a laugh What's Colin From Accounts Season 2 about?

Season 1 sees brewery owner Gordon (Brammall) meeting trainee doctor Ashley (Dyer). He almost runs her over with his car after she flashes him en route to work, resulting in him hitting a runaway dog (the titular Colin) and the two banding together to nurse the poor pooch back to health. The first season is all about their burgeoning relationship, and Season 2 picks up directly where we left them: Gordon and Ashley are now a couple, and the dog takes something of a backseat as they navigate their way through misunderstandings, changing friendships and awkward family encounters.

The same supporting cast of friends and colleagues are back for Season 2. Credit: Paramount+ Season 2 has some brilliant (and horrible) new characters.

Speaking of awkward family encounters, Season 2 doubles down on the theme of nightmarish in-laws. In Season 1 we had Ashley's never-say-the-right-thing mother Lynelle (Helen Thomson) and her deeply icky partner Lee (Darren Gilshenan). If you thought they were bad, though, Gordon's family provide impressive competition. The episode that introduces his brother Heavy (Justin Rosniak), a sleazy father-of-three who delights in his brother's past behaviour, is as hilarious as it is cringe-inducing. Later, when we meet Gordon's misogynistic dad Brian (John Howard), things get even worse.

All of these characters are painful and hilarious in equal parts, amusing to watch not just because they're so cringey, but because they're also believable. This is a trick Colin From Accounts pulls off time and again — every new person that comes into Gordon and Ashley's lives, from Megan's (Emma Harvie's) self-obsessed new partner Rumi (Virginia Gay) to the slimy "Chief Growth Officer" Jared (Broden Kelly) who wants to buy Gordon's bar, are as familiar as they are wince-inducing.

"What are you driving?" says Jared at one point during his sales lunch with Gordon, after he's made his intentions to buy the brewery abundantly clear.

"I drive—"

"Not anymore," comes the immediate response, accompanied with a knowing half-grin, and Kelly's delivery is so perfect it's difficult to believe he isn't actually a sales rep.

Gordon's brother Heavy is just one of many cringey new characters. Credit: Paramount+ Colin From Accounts is the perfect blend of funny and awkward.

It wouldn't be right to directly compare Colin From Accounts with Baby Reindeer, because the latter is a much darker show. But there is something similar in the way both series blend tone and genre. Baby Reindeer derived much of its comedy from situations that were so awkward they were hard to watch, and Colin From Accounts utilises a lighter version of this, from double dates gone terribly wrong to a finale that – without getting into spoilers – is the stuff of social nightmares.

The show is consistently funny, occasionally moving, and permanently fun to watch, with characters you alternate between groaning at and rooting for. Like Colin, we're quickly swept up into the chaos of their lives, carried along, and made all the happier for it.

Colin From Accounts Season 2 is streaming on Paramount+ from Sept. 26.

TL;DR: Live stream Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

José Mourinho is used to competing in the latter stages of the Champions League, but he'll have to make do with the Europa League this season. His Fenerbahce side will have aspirations of going far in this year's competition, and a strong start against Union Saint-Gilloise will certainly set them up for success.

If you want to watch Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise?

Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 26. This fixture takes place at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

How to watch Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise for free

Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Europa League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next Thursday Night Football fixture sees the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants. This exciting matchup is available to watch all around the world with a simple hack. And better yet, fans don't need to spend anything to live stream all the action from the MetLife Stadium.

If you're interested in watching Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cowboys vs. Giants?

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants takes place at 8:15 p.m. ET on Sep 26. This fixture will be played at the MetLife Stadium.

How to watch Cowboys vs. Giants for free

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants (plus more Thursday Night Football fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

Fans from outside the U.S. will need to use a VPN to watch the NFL for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

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

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

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

5. Watch Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. It's a short-term solution, but this gives you enough time to watch select NFL fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. This deal includes an extra three months for free, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 26's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 26 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To show appreciation for one's actions.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

THANK.

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

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

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Marques Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, is a tech-focused content creator with nearly 20 million YouTube subscribers, renowned for his reviews of the latest gadgets.

He has dunked on the likes of the Humane Ai Pin and the Rabbit R1 with titles like "The Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed" and "Barely Reviewable," but praised the Apple Vision Pro (despite calling it flawed), OnePlus 12, and other products.

However, the seasoned, and arguably respected, tech reviewer recently released a new wallpaper app called Panels. And if X (formerly Twitter) is anything to go by (and the Apple App Store reviews), the reception for the app has been poor.

Even Jesse Lyu, the CEO behind Rabbit R1, appeared to display some schadenfreude over the wave of criticism Brownlee has faced online, sharing the following meme with his followers.

Tweet may have been deleted

The meme depicts Brownlee as the grim reaper, poking fun at how some critics perceive the YouTuber as a "startup killer" with his candid reviews. (When Brownlee reviewed the Humane Ai Pin, for example, there was chatter about whether his harshness thwarts the growth of small-time gadget makers.)

The meme shows Humane Ai Pin co-founder Imran Chaudhri, Lyu, and Apple CEO Tim Cook being victims of Brownlee's sharp tongue. Interestingly, the last person of the lineup is Brownlee himself, implying that the YouTuber's latest venture should be subjected to his own brutal critiques.

MKBHD's new Panels app gets poor reviews

It's not just Lyu, however, who has been trolling Brownlee. The Panels app, revealed in Brownlee's new iPhone 16 review video, is designed to offer a curated collection of high-res wallpapers from artists.

Credit: Apple

"I'm so pumped to be launching this app!" Brownlee said in a Sept. 23 X post. "People have asked where I get wallpapers FOREVER, so this is the answer, now and forever: PANELS!"

However, the replies underneath Brownlee's post don't appear to match his enthusiasm.

"Pretty disappointed in this," Ian Zelbo said. "Doesn’t have the polish / design I’d expect. Seems like something that’s been on the App Store already that you slapped your name on. Ads everywhere and it just all feels like a cash grab to me"

"The app is trash, you can get better, high-res wallpapers for free right here and many other accounts on X," Corbin Williams said.

"This damages your brand," said Alex Kehr. "It's crazy that the #1 tech reviewer known for advocating for quality and usefulness would release a cash-grab subscription app with terrible UI design, filled with ads, and offering mediocre wallpapers."

"Delete this garbage and pretend it was a joke," bl0rq suggested.

Based on the replies, as The Verge pointed out, it appears that users are unhappy that the iOS version of Panels asks whether it can track users' activity. One of the data points that it reportedly monitors is location. (Though, as you'll read later, Brownlee refutes this claim.)

On top of that, the app requires users to sign up for a $49.99 annual subscription or an $11.99-per-month membership. There are some wallpapers you can access for free, but only a few — and they're in standard definition (not high-res). But first, to access them, users have to watch two advertisements.

"$50/yr for WALLPAPERS?! And not a single high-res wallpaper downloadable for free with ads? Love team MKBHD and all, but that’s crazy," Nevan said.

"Half of your reviews are like 'uh it’s expensive and it doesn’t really do anything' lol you should review yourself," cometcalls said.

MKBHD responds to feedback

As a result of the feedback, Brownlee posted a tweet on Sept. 24 that, in part, said, "I hear you!"

In response to privacy concerns, Brownlee said the following: "First thing we're doing is fixing the excessive data disclosures, as people rightfully brought up. For transparency, we'd never actually ask for your location, internet history, etc. The data disclosures (that everyone is screenshotting) is likely too broad, and largely driven by what the ad networks suggest."

In regards to pricing, Brownlee said that delivering value for the premium version is a personal challenge — and he plans to dial back ad frequency for the free experience, with more updates to come.

The Panels app isn't MKBHD's first foray into an entrepreneurial venture. For example, Brownlee has collaborated with Atoms for a sneaker line as well as accessories maker Ridge.

The road ahead for Brownlee’s Panels app seems uncertain, but with a dedicated following and a promise of improvements, there’s still hope for redemption.

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 26'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 deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 26 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Decorations on the seams of something

• Green: Addition

• Blue: Ways a drink can be prepared

• Purple: Types of strings

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Decorative Edge

• Green: Increase, In A Way

• Blue: Specifications for a Bartender

• Purple: String___

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 #473 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Decorative Edge: BORDER, FRILL, FRINGE, TRIM

• Increase, In A Way: GROW, MOUNT, SWELL, WAX

• Specifications for a Bartender: DRY, NEAT, STRAIGHT, VIRGIN

• String___: BEAN, BIKINI, CHEESE, THEORY

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.

Coming soon to Google Earth: Time travel.

According to Google, some new updates on the way to the company's satellite imagery platform Google Earth, will allow users to "travel back in time" and view satellite and aerial images that go as far back as 80 years ago.

Google Earth lets you explore more of the past

In its update announcement, Google says some cities, including London, Berlin, Warsaw and Paris, will have imagery dating back to the 1930s. As of right now, most locations on Google Earth go no further back than just a few decades ago. The new changes will double the time frame for even those locations.

San Francisco in 1938 Credit: Google San Francisco in 2024 Credit: Google

Google Earth users will be able to go back in time and compare those historical photos with current ones too. Google gives an example of comparing the San Francisco of 1938 with 2024 and seeing how much the geography of the region changed. In the sample photos provided by Google, one can see how in the 1938 photo, ports in San Francisco were used mainly for shipping. The same location in more recent photos are filled with restaurants and cruise ships.

The historical imagery will be available for Google Earth users on both web and mobile.

Google's developer blog says that these updates should be rolled out in the "upcoming weeks" In addition to the historical satellite and aerial imagery, Google also announced it was expanding Street View on Google Maps in almost 80 countries. The company will also improve image quality by sharpening imagery on Google Earth and Google Maps using new AI models.

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are entering a new market, as the company announces a new collaboration with accessibility service provider Be My Eyes that will help wearers get the assistance they need.

Be My Eyes provides free human and AI support for users who are blind or have low vision, pairing them with sighted volunteer helpers who can describe a visual field or object, read text, navigate a space, or answer questions in real time.

With a brand new integration of the accessibility app and the tech giant's wearable, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses owners can now use the Be My Eyes “Call a Volunteer” experience entirely using voice commands. All they need to do is say out loud, “Hey Meta, Call a Volunteer on Be My Eyes” to be paired with multilingual audio or video support.

Users can toggle between their glasses and smartphone cameras, as well, allowing volunteer and user to communicate in a variety of ways.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Meta Connect 2024

The Meta and Be My Eyes collaboration is a big first for the company, as it's tech wasn't previously compatible with smart glasses or other hands-free devices.

"Our collaboration with Meta launches an experience that addresses something that our community of blind and low-vision users has been requesting for a long time, namely hands-free access to our services." wrote Be My Eyes CEO Mike Buckley. "The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have enabled that, and with our integration we have now opened a gateway to unprecedented levels of accessibility, unlocking new opportunities for those navigating their daily lives. And this is just the beginning."

In the past, Be My Eyes has partnered with companies like Google and Microsoft to expand their reach, and have grown in popularity over the last several years — the app now has more than 7 million volunteers. In 2023, the company announced an entirely new venture to support the demand: generative AI. In partnership with OpenAI and ChatGPT, Be My Eyes launched its AI-powered virtual volunteer to provide instant chat-based support.

Meta is sprucing up its Ray-Ban smart glasses in other ways, too, including a complete suite of new AI features and collaborations. Users will be able to ask the Meta AI what they're looking at in more detail, ask for help finding where their car is parked, send messages, and translate speech in real-time. And those who get their music or audiobook fixes on Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart can more easily find and play their favorite content.

"Call a Volunteer" on Ray-Ban glasses will be available soon, rolling out first to users in the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia.

In the race to make truly useful AI for a mass audience, Meta just jumped forward a few key steps — including AI's ability to "see" objects and provide live, lip-synched translations.

At the Meta Connect developers' conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the latest version of Llama. That's the open-source Large Language Model (LLM) powering the AI chatbot in the company's main services: Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.

Given that reach, Zuckerberg described Meta AI as "the most-used AI assistant in the world, probably," with about 500 million active users. The service won't be available in the European Union yet, given that Meta hasn't joined the EU's AI pact, but Zuckerberg said he remains "eternally optimistic that we can figure that out."

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder the Meta Quest 3S

He's also optimistic that the open-source Llama — a contrast to Google's Gemini and OpenAI's GPT, both proprietary closed systems — will become the industry standard. "Open source is the most cost-effective and the most customizable," Zuckerberg said. Llama is "sort of the Linux of AI."

Meta AI edits photos by text

But what can you do with it? "It can understand images as well as text," Zuckerberg added — showing how a photo could be manipulated simply by asking the Llama chatbot to make edits. "My family now spends a lot of time taking photos and making them more ridiculous."

Voice chat is now rolling out to all versions of Meta AI, including voices from celebrities such as Judi Dench, John Cena and Awkafina. Another user-friendly update: When using Meta AI's voice assistant with its glasses, you no longer have to use the words "hey Meta" or "look and tell me."

SEE ALSO: Meta Connect 2024: Meta’s Orion AR glasses unveiled

Zuckerberg and his executives also demonstrated a number of use cases. For example, a user can set up Meta AI to provide pre-recorded responses to frequently asked questions over video. You can use it to remember where you parked. Or you can ask it to suggest items in your room that might help to accessorize a dress.

The most notable, and possibly most useful feature: live translation. Currently available in Spanish, French, Italian and English, the AI will automatically repeat what the other person said in your chosen language. Zuckerberg, who admitted that he doesn't really know Spanish, demonstrated this feature by having an awkward conversation live on stage with UFC fighter Brandon Moreno.

Slightly more impressive was the live translation option on Reels, and other Meta videos. The AI will synchronize the speakers' lips so they look like they're actually speaking the language you're hearing. Nothing creepy about that at all.

If you do a quick online search for Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses right now, you'll find that the wearable is mostly marketed for its quick photo capturing and livestreaming capabilities.

However, at the Meta Connect 2024 event on Wednesday, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg didn't have too much to say about photos and videos during the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses section of the presentation.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Meta Connect 2024

In fact, Zuckerberg introduced the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses primarily as an AI device.

"Glasses are a new AI device category," Zuckerberg said, noting that his company has just caught up with the consumer demand for Meta smart glasses after sales took off faster than he said he expected.

Aside from a new limited edition Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses device with clear transparent frames, there weren't any new smart glasses hardware announcements from Meta. 

Credit: Meta

However, Zuckerberg did share several new features that he said were coming to the Meta smart glasses in a set of updates releasing over the next couple of months — all of them AI related.

Meta AI is already integrated into Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses in much the same way other companies' voice assistant's are integrated into their devices. But, according to Zuckerberg, new updates will make these interactions "more natural and conversational."

"Hey Meta" instead of "Look and tell me."

For example, currently, users have to prompt their Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses with the phrase "look and tell me" when they have a question. Zuckerberg's demo showcased how users will no longer have to do that. Users will just need to activate the feature with the "Hey Meta" prompt and then ask their question. Meta AI will automatically know the question is in regards to whatever the user is looking at through the glasses.

Furthermore, after the initial "Hey Meta," Meta AI will no longer require that users start each prompt with that phrase. Meta AI will be able to continue interacting with users.

Live Translation on Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses 

The latter feature is similar to what's been seen in other smart glasses when it comes to translations. A user can access live real-time audio translations of another language through the glasses when conversing with another person. The demo seemed to work nearly perfectly at Meta Connect when translating from Spanish to English and English to Spanish.

Credit: Meta Multimodal AI prompts

Zuckerberg explained the multimodal video AI feature through a demo showing a user trying on outfits to wear. Through this feature, Meta AI was able to offer fashion advice and suggestions based on the user's outfit and their specific question about it.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses will also soon be able to automatically remember things for users. The example showcased at Meta Connect involved Meta AI recalling the parking space number where the user parked their car. The user did not have to prompt Meta AI to do that. It naturally appeared to remember the number because the user viewed it through the glasses.

Credit: Meta

Adding on to that feature is a similar Meta AI capability where Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses users will soon be able to look at a flier or advertisement and ask the smart glasses to call the phone number or scan the relevant QR code. The glasses can also automatically remember those things as well if a user wants to go back to what they previously viewed through the glasses at a later time.

Other updates coming to Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses include the ability to voice control Spotify and Amazon Music through the device as well as new integrations with apps like Audible and iHeartRadio.

Partnership with Be My Eyes for blind and low vision users Credit: Meta

Meta also announced a partnership with Be My Eyes, a mobile app that connects blind and low-vision people with volunteers via live video to talk through what's in front of them. The app will work directly through Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and volunteers will be able to see through the user's glasses in order to provide assistance.

Google and Roblox are teaming up to combine the worlds of play and internet safety, as the companies announce a brand new gaming experience teaching young Roblox players how to better navigate the internet.

Be Internet Awesome World, a new initiative of Google's Be Internet Awesome program, invites young users into a colorful, magical world full of "Internauts" who help players work through real-world scenarios and online risks. It's a reimagining of the tech company's current safety curriculum, developed alongside organizations like the Family Online Safety Institute, the Internet KeepSafe Coalition, and Connect Safely.

"Roblox is one of the most popular online gaming platforms, with over 79.5 million daily active users," wrote Google. "Working with Roblox helps Google to reach kids where they’re already spending time to teach them the basics of online safety."

SEE ALSO: X just released its first transparency report in years. Here's what they aren't saying.

As they play through the various in-world games — which see avatars flying through forests and navigating desert castles — players will learn important safety tips and critical thinking skills related to a variety of internet safety topics, including how to identify phishing attempts and opportunities to practice how to be a kind and thoughtful digital citizen, explained the company.

Google's learning-through-gaming strategy joins other efforts to address continued threats to young people online. The company announced a $10 million Teen Mental Health Initiative in August, and has previously launched tailored AI literacy resources for teens and beyond. These efforts come in response to growing concern about the negative impact of both bad actors and digital technologies on children's wellbeing.

Meta's big event, called Meta Connect, took place on Wednesday and with it came lots of news.

While it might not draw the same excitement as an Apple Event, it certainly wasn't without headlines and developments. Chief among them: the Meta Quest 3S and the Orion glasses.

Mashable covered all the big news in detail. Here's everything that was announced as well as links to further coverage and more in-depth analysis.

Meet the Meta Quest 3S

Meta announced its new headset that promised good performance at a reduced price. The Quest 3S starts at $299.99, which is hundreds of bucks cheaper than Meta's other headsets. You should be still be able to do all the main attractions of an AR-headset, however, like play games and watch movies.

The Meta Quest 3S is available to preorder now.

Meta's AI gets the celeb treatment

Didn't you always want an AI assistant with a celebrity voice? Well, even if you didn't, it's here. Meta AI will now be able to answer questions out loud in the voice of a number of famous folks like John Cena, Awkwafina, Dame Judi Dench, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kristen Bell.

Mashable's Christianna Silva has all the details.

Meta's Ray-Ban glasses get AI updates

Meta announced a number of improvements to their Ray-Ban glasses. The glasses already featured cameras for taking photos and videos, as well as the capability to listen to audio. But now the AI features should be able to help with things like remembering where you parked your car, record or send messages, and translate speech in real-time.

Story is developing and will be updated.

At Meta Connect, Mark Zuckerberg introduced Orion, Meta’s cutting-edge AR glasses that the company hopes might reshape the future of computing. Unlike traditional AR headsets, the Orion glasses are purportedly lightweight at less than 100 grams, and feature a wide field-of-view holographic display.

Orion lets users interact with virtual objects overlaid on the real world, all without isolating them from their surroundings.

SEE ALSO: Meta Quest 3S announced, adds cheaper headset to Meta line

Orion’s display architecture uses tiny projectors in the arms of the glasses to beam light into waveguide lenses, creating holograms at various depths and sizes. One of early testers shown during the presentation called it "the craziest technology" they’ve ever experienced. Other reactions shown during a montage Zuckerberg shared during his keynote were similarly ecstatic.

The glasses are designed to keep users connected to the physical world while interacting with digital content, allowing for everything from viewing messages to playing holographic games.

Credit: Meta

The glasses, currently codenamed Orion, will initially serve as a developer kit for internal use and select partners. Zuckerberg says Meta aims to refine its software and build diverse content before launching a consumer-ready version. With features like eye and hand-tracking, voice control, and a "neural interface" controlled by a wrist device, Orion offers a seamless, hands-free way to interact with the digital world.

Meta seems to be focused on perfecting the technology for a mainstream audience, rather than releasing a retail product. The current iteration won’t be made available to consumers, but Zuckerberg said future versions will be more fashionable and affordable.

"Orion is a time machine," Zuckerberg said. "These glasses exist. They are awesome. And they are a glimpse of a future that I think is going to be pretty exciting."

One of the best early (or early-ish) VR headsets is dead.

Meta has discontinued the Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets, as reported by TechCrunch. The news came shortly after the reveal of the new Quest 3S, which starts at $299 and more or less negates the Quests 2 and Pro with its inclusion of full-color passthrough and mixed reality features.

SEE ALSO: Meta Quest 3S announced, adds cheaper headset to Meta line

While the Quest 2 wasn't the first VR headset to work without a powerful gaming PC (obviously, there was a Quest 1), its sub-$500 price tag (which included controllers) at launch in 2019 made it an incredibly appealing option for the VR-curious. For many, the Quest 2 may have provided their first VR experience. The Quest Pro never seemed to catch on quite as much, most likely due to its $1,499 price tag, but its full-color passthrough and AR features felt ahead of their time.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder the Meta Quest 3S

But the Quest 3S seems, on paper, better than both without being overwhelmingly expensive. At least there's that.

The Federal Trade Commission announced Tuesday a new law enforcement effort called Operation AI Comply. As part of the sweep, it took action against multiple companies that used artificial intelligence to "supercharge" deceptive products and services.

The cases involved AI-generated fake reviews, "the world's first robot lawyer," and online storefront schemes.

The FTC said in a statement that consumers lost tens of millions of dollars, lured by the promise that AI-enabled problem-solving and automation would save them time, money, and, in the e-commerce cases, lead to increased earnings.

Ultimately, the companies didn't deliver on their claims, and knew they were deceiving customers.

"Using AI tools to trick, mislead, or defraud people is illegal," said Lina M. Khan, the agency's chair. "The FTC's enforcement actions make clear that there is no AI exemption from the laws on the books."

SEE ALSO: Could an AI chatbot talk you out of believing a conspiracy theory?

The FTC's complaint against Rytr, the company that offered the AI writing service, describes how subscribers could generate effectively fake reviews that had no basis in their user's input. The FTC said that, in many cases, the AI-generated reviews included false information that would deceive consumers interested in purchasing a certain product. Some of Rytr's subscribers created thousands of reviews that potentially featured inaccuracies.

The FTC argued that Rytr offered a service capable of disseminating a "glut of fake reviews that would harm both consumers and honest competitors." The FTC has proposed barring Rytr from advertising, promoting, marketing, or selling a service related to generating consumer reviews or testimonials in the future. The agency banned AI-generated and fake reviews in August.

As part of Operation AI Comply, the FTC took action against DoNotPay, a company that told consumers its AI robot could help them "sue for assault without a lawyer" and "generate perfectly valid legal documents in no time." While the company billed the service as "the world's first robot lawyer," it didn't conduct testing to compare its AI chatbot to a human lawyer. Nor did it have attorneys on staff.

Instead, the company told customers that it could check a small business's website for violations of federal and state law, a feature that was not effective.

The FTC also filed complaints against three companies that preyed on people looking to open online storefronts, including on TikTok, Walmart, Amazon, and Etsy. These business typically charged a significant fee to start an online store powered by proprietary software and AI that could boost their earnings. Some customers were required to purchase inventory that didn't sell.

One company, FBA Machine, promised customers they could operate a "7-figure business" that would be "risk-free." It falsely guaranteed refunds to customers who fell short of recouping their initial investment, which the FTC said ranged from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In total, customers lost nearly $16 million to the scheme.

Another company, Ascend Ecom, told customers that they could start stores that would eventually produce a five-figure monthly income, thanks to its "cutting edge" AI tools. The FTC estimated that the scheme defrauded customers of at least $25 million.

Meta is launching a new entry-level version of its flagship virtual reality headset ahead of the holidays, and preorders begin today (Sept. 25).

Unveiled at the company's Connect developer conference Wednesday, the upcoming Meta Quest 3S is nearly identical to the Meta Quest 3, save for a couple of small downgrades — and a $200 cheaper price tag.

• The Quest 3S has a 1832 x 1920 resolution display with 773 pixels per inch (ppi) and 20 pixels per degree (ppd), as opposed to the 2064 x 2208 resolution display with 1218ppi and 25ppd on the Quest 3.

• The Quest 3S uses Fresnel lenses instead of pancake lenses.

• The Quest 3S has a smaller field of view (FOV) of 96 degrees horizontal/90 degrees vertical instead of 110 degrees horizontal/96 degrees vertical.

The Quest 3S is available for preorder on Meta's website ahead of its formal launch on Tuesday, Oct. 15. It starts at $299.99 for 128GB of storage — you can bump that to 256GB for $399.99 — and it comes bundled with two freebies: a three-month trial of Meta Quest+ and a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow.

Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Quest 3S (128GB) $299.99 at Meta.com
Pre-Order Here

"Quest 3S is the best headset for those new to mixed reality and immersive experiences, or who might have been waiting for a low-cost upgrade from Quest and Quest 2," Meta said in a press release.

Meta also announced a price adjustment for the standard Quest 3 as part of its presentation. The 512GB model now starts at $499.99, down $150 from its original launch price. (The 128GB base configuration was no longer available on the Meta website at the time of writing.)

The arrival of the Quest 3S also marks the discontinuation of Meta's Quest 2 from 2020 and Quest Pro from 2022, TechCrunch reported.

This story is developing.

You can finally ask a question and get the answer in John Cena's voice.

Mark Zuckerberg announced at the Meta Connect 2024 developer conference that Meta's AI assistant, Meta AI, can respond back to questions you ask out loud on Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Facebook.

These voice responses, Zuckerberg said, will be "one of if not the most frequent ways we interact with AI." And it'll answer in AI clones of celebrities including John Cena, Awkwafina, Dame Judi Dench, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kristen Bell.

According to The Wall Street Journal, it's been a pretty expensive endeavor, costing Meta millions to use the likenesses of these celebrities. This comes just a few months after Meta axed its Meta AI celebrity avatars, those odd characters "embodied by celebrities" like Kendall Jenner, Snoop Dogg, and Tom Brady.

Meta debuted its new, cheaper headset during its Connect event on Wednesday. Dubbed the Meta Quest 3S, the company promised it has great performance despite the lower price.

Mark Zuckerberg himself announced the Quest 3S at the Meta Connect event. It costs $299.99, which is a steep discount on the newly reduced-price $499.99 Meta Quest 3 or $999.99 Meta Quest Pro.

SEE ALSO: Meta discontinues the Quest 2 and Quest Pro after revealing Quest 3S

Meta said the headset could do pretty much anything most folks want to use a headset for, such as watch a movie, immerse yourself in a concert, or play games.

Tweet may have been deleted

Meta has a detailed page on the different specs of its headset line. Here are the basic specs of the Quest 3S:

• Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 chip

• 8GB RAM

• 128GB or 256GB storage

• 1832x1920 screen resolution

• 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate

• 96 degrees by 90 degrees field of view

• Fresnel lenses

You're probably wondering how that differs from the Quest 3. The chipset and RAM are the same across both devices, but everything else is a little different. There is no 512GB storage option as there is with Quest 3. In addition, the displays are worse across the board; their resolutions and fields of view are lower, while the refresh rate isn't quite as variable. It also uses Fresnel lenses rather than pancake lenses.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder the Meta Quest 3S

"Quest 3S is a big step in making mixed reality more accessible, and we hope you’re as excited as we are about the future of this technology," the company said in a statement.

With the discontinuation of the Quest 2 and Quest Pro, it seems like the Quest 3S is your new affordable VR headset of choice.