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TL;DR: Grab a refurbished MacBook Pro with 256GB SSD storage and a Touch Bar for $449.99 (reg. $1,499) — all the power without the premium price.

Ever thought about upgrading your laptop but didn’t want to fork over a fortune? No worries — this refurbished MacBook Pro from 2019 lets you dive into Apple’s powerhouse tech without the premium price tag, down 69% from $1,499 at just $449.99. It’s like getting a new MacBook, but your wallet won’t hate you for it.

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Usually priced at $1,499, this refurbished 2019 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar is on sale for $449.99 for a limited time.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" (2019) Touchbar - Space Gray (Refurbished) $449.99
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Few rejoinders sting quite the way "touch grass" does. For those who aren't chronically online, the phrase essentially means you need to log off and go outside, but the deeper undercurrent is that you've lost touch with the real world and desperately need to reconnect to something tangible. It's "get real," minus the vintage appeal. Yet in Mel Eslyn's pilot for the YA drama Penelope, the concept of touching grass proves a wholesome jumping-off point for a modern teen's journey of self-discovery. 

Written and directed by Eslyn, who also created the under-sung sci-fi gem Biosphere, Penelope centers on a 16-year-old girl (Little Fires Everywhere's Megan Stott) who abruptly decides to log off of everything and wander into the wilderness. However, while Penelope is essentially looking to touch grass (and trees and bunnies), the show is bled free from the vitriol that typically accompanies such a stinging sentiment. Instead, Penelope relishes the wonder and freedom of cutting loose from cell phones and social media. 

SEE ALSO: 'Biosphere' spoiler-free review: The best 2023 movie you just might overlook Penelope is a cozy fantasy set in the real world. 

Though this is the story of a runaway fleeing from her family and all she knows, Penelope is not urgent with drama. There's no grim inciting incident that spurs its young heroine to strike out on her own. Instead, the pilot, which is premiering as part of Sundance's Episodic Pilot Showcase, begins with Penelope happily bopping around at a silent disco, where headphones allow the dancers to feel connected while not disturbing the animals of the surrounding forest. Penelope isn't like the others, though. While they are caught up in the music and each other, she makes eye contact with a wandering wolf. Just like that, she seems destined to depart her family's camping trip for parts unknown. 

The script from Eslyn and Mark Duplass (who co-wrote and starred in Biosphere) is scant in detail, purposefully sketching Penelope's backstory as one of a kid with loving parents who check in with her via text to remind her she's got SAT prep coming up. As she's played by Stott, Penelope doesn't seem burdened by tech or the pressures of her parents; she just seems bored by them. So, she goes on a "solo hike" that leads her to a shop to buy camping supplies. She turns off the "share location" option on her phone and hops onto a train car like a Mark Twain hero, giddy at her daring. 

SEE ALSO: Take back your time and attention with digital minimalism

Parents — or those of us who grew up in the Stranger Danger age— might flinch at her choices, as she hitchhikes, puts her trust in randos, and goes out of her way to make sure that her folks can't track her down. Much of it seems like a recipe on how to become the subject of a future 20/20 special report, but Eslyn isn't making a harrowing drama about isolation or teen homelessness. The could-be threats of the real world are softened by a color palette that is breezy and inviting, and the score, which reverberates with electronically filtered women's voices, feels like a synth-y siren luring Penelope forward. The strangers she meets in the first episode provide help and warm smiles or curt advice, but never a reason for fear. Penelope offers us all the dream of walking into the warm woods and not looking back. 

Megan Stott is pitch-perfect in Penelope's pilot episode.  Megan Stott and Austin Abrams play kindred spirits in "Penelope." Credit: Sundance

Where much of YA shows and movies are full of snarking Mean Girls or emotionally overwrought heroines, Penelope blooms from a place of quiet reflection. As its protagonist strikes out on her own, the show doesn't offer flowery speeches about her motivations. Instead, Stott's wide-eyed expressions communicate the wonder, curiosity, and excitement of each step of her journey. Deceptively simple cinematography lingers on her fingers as she reaches for camping supplies in a store, all on her own. The possibilities of the world are just at her fingertips! A sincere grin splashes across her apple cheeks as she overcomes a financial obstacle with a clever solution. Her physicality is alive but never anxious, like a kid waiting their turn at a diving board. And so, through her every motion, Stott urges us to dive in with Penelope. 

Still, as a grown-up watching the show, it's easy to slip into our concerns about the dangers we know lurk outside Penelope's dreamy tunnel vision. Perhaps we wonder what was so bad that she had to run away to begin with. The only concrete clue the pilot offers is a text that she doesn't send: "Mom… Was I a happy kid?" 

Implied here is that despite seeming to have it all — a phone, Apple Pay, loving parents who support her education and take her to things like silent discos — Penelope feels forlorn for some reason she can't put her finger on. So, she follows a trail back to nature to discover who she is outside of social media and societal expectations. Who might she be in the woods with herself as her only company?

We're invited to share in Penelope's awe and excitement as POV shots allow us to vicariously experience the thrill of literally hopping onto a speeding train, watching the world rush by. But there's still a distance between us and our eponymous heroine. 

Mel Eslyn gives Penelope her space. 

It's a thrill to watch a TV show that doesn't feel the need to spell everything out for you. (See also: True Detective: Night Country). Through her direction, Eslyn gives us access to Penelope's unspoken concerns and wishes, but she also allows the character some space for mystery. A scene where she walks into the woods and out of focus reminds us that this journey is hers, and we are witness only to what she allows us. When she takes a photo of nature on her phone but looks dismayed at the result, there's no dialogue explaining why. Later, a conversation with a traveling musician (Austin Abrams) gives us some clarity. 

Penelope asks gently why he's bothering touring at tiny coffee shops when Spotify exists. Why not "join this century"? As it turns out, his experience with online communities has also felt lacking. He explains that playing music live versus distributing it via the Internet is the difference between visiting a river and seeing a picture of a river. The difference is being there, a romance with the real that is undeniably beguiling through the eyes of these kindred spirits. 

Based on the first episode, it's hard to guess where Penelope might go next. Will this play like a road trip story, bringing the girl from one curious location to another? Will the focus shift away from Penelope and to her parents, who have been left behind to worry and wonder? Will it combine those could-be threads in order to allow fantasy clash with anxiety? I couldn't say, but I can't wait to find out. As pilots go, Penelope is absolutely enchanting. 

Penelope, all eight episodes, are now streaming on Netflix.

UPDATE: Sep. 23, 2024, 10:53 a.m. EDT Penelope was originally reviewed out of Sundance, January 22, 2024. The review has been updated to reflect the series streaming debut.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

This word means everything.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 24 Hurdle Word 1 answer

WHOLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A key skill for a thief.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 24 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SNEAK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Where babies come from according to children's stories.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 24 Hurdle Word 3 answer

STORK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A TV show starring Zachary Levi.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for September 24 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CHUCK

Final Hurdle hint

These kinds of words are never spoken.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

TRUER

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

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, September 24, 2024:

AcrossWho says "Whoo!"

• The answer is Owl.

Fare for Little Miss Muffet

• The answer is Whey.

"Let's put our differences ___"

• The answer is Aside.

Instructors who might greet their classes with "Namaste"

• The answer is Yogis.

Part of a baseball uniform but not a soccer uniform

• The answer is Hat.

DownVery, very

• The answer is Ohso

Put on the scale

• The answer is Weigh.

___ Ko, 2024 Olympic gold medalist in women's golf

• The answer is Lydia.

Course

• The answer is Est.

Superlative suffix

• The answer is Way.

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

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

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

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

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 24 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Spacing out

These words are common in a star trek.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are all related to Sci-Fi stories.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is ScienceFiction.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 24

• Robot

• ScienceFiction

• Alien

• Martian

• Mutant

• Cyborg

• Droid

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 1minAI Pro for £29.97 (reg. £175.34) and automate your workflow with AI-powered tools.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minai 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription £29.97 at the Mashable Shop
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1minAI is an AI-powered tool that's like having a digital assistant on standby, ready to handle everything from content creation to image editing and PDF analysis. You can get 1minAI Pro for life with a one-time payment of £29.97 for a limited time.

1minAI taps into the power of advanced AI models like GPT-4 and Claude 3 to make your workflow more efficient. Whether you need to whip up a blog post, clean up an image, or dig into a document, 1minAI has you covered. And while AI is incredibly useful, it’s good to remember that a little human oversight goes a long way in fine-tuning the final result.

The Pro plan also comes with free monthly credits, giving you the freedom to tackle various projects without the stress of running out of resources. For instance, generating a 1,000-word blog post might use a portion of these credits, but with a lifetime subscription, you can plan and manage your tasks without worrying about recurring costs.

This one-time investment keeps your productivity high without tying you down to monthly payments. Don't miss this deal on a lifetime subscription to 1minAI Pro on sale for £29.97 for a limited time.

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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 24'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 24 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Great with tools.

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 H.

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...

HANDY.

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.

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 24'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 23 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: Light bulb moment

• Green: Grabbed ahead of time

• Blue: Things to make a party look good

• Purple: Internet persona

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: Inspired

• Green: Procure in Advance

• Blue: Bit of Party Decoration

• Purple: Online Personality

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 #471 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Inspired: CREATIVE, FRESH, NOVEL, ORIGINAL

• Procure in Advance: BOOK, CHARTER, RESERVE, SECURE

• Bit of Party Decoration: BALLOON, BANNER, CONFETTI, GARLAND

• Online Personality: AMBASSADOR, INFLUENCER, MODEL, STREAMER

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.

X’s block feature as we know it is about to be no more, CEO Elon Musk stated Monday on the social media site.

Musk confirmed the change in a reply to Nima Owji, a web developer who first reported the news.

Tweet may have been deleted

Since its inception, the block feature on Twitter, X’s former moniker, allowed users to prevent individuals from viewing or engaging with their public posts. With the change, blocked accounts will be able to view the blocker’s posts once again, but cannot engage with the content via likes, replies, reposts, or direct messages. Musk actually threatened last year to kill all features of the block, save for a blocked user being able to DM the blocker.

Even though Musk’s change isn’t as extreme as his previous announcement, Monday’s news is alarming to many who have faced harassment or stalking on X. Though the updated block feature prevents potential bad actors from causing trouble on X, anyone will soon be able to easily view information on the site and utilize it offline or via another site. Someone can now easily screen-capture a post on X from an account that previously blocked them, for instance, and repost it on Threads, Facebook, or Instagram; they can also screen cap that X post and post it on their own X account.

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump returns to X / Twitter with a flurry of posts — and an inconsistently labeled campaign ad

Some on X responded positively to the news, calling the current block function toothless. Owji, the web developer who reported the news, claimed anyone could circumvent the feature with alt accounts, while others pointed out that blocked users could view public posts in their browser’s incognito mode.

Whatever Musk’s motivation for the change — some posited it was Musk’s furtive method to amp up engagement and impressions for his ailing company, or tied to the upcoming presidential election, of which the CEO has a clear favorite  — it may run into some roadblocks. The biggest hurdle for X is that Google and Apple require block features for social media apps available on their app stores — and there is already an effort afoot to push Google and Apple to block X downloads if blocking goes away. 

To resurrect a late actor — as recent franchise films have done using CGI — is akin to an act of puppetry, and The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee tackles this idea with mischievous literalism. It employs, as its central narrator, a delightfully designed marionette of the late English thespian, known for playing Count Dracula in the Hammer horror films, as well as fantasy icons like Count Dooku and Lord Saruman.

However, this self-reflexive touch is the documentary's only deft or thoughtful flourish. The end result is too rote and mechanical to truly inform audiences about its subject either intellectually or emotionally, despite featuring numerous friends, family, and colleagues who undoubtedly had access to Lee's wildly interesting life — the dimensions of which the film never fully explores.

What is The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee about?

A man whose voice and posture exuded presence, Christopher Lee was a screen legend with an unconventional film career, and an even more unorthodox job before that: In the years following World War II, he was a Nazi hunter. However, The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee is scarcely interested in exploring this side of the famous actor. In fact, it seldom sticks with any one topic or period of his life for long enough to create intrigue.

The film's opening images are its most pronounced. A visibly Lee-like silhouette sits in the darkness, as a nearby screen plays clips of various pals and confidants speaking on his behalf. It's a preview of what's to come: Lee looms large over the movie, but his story is told through other people's recollections. This shadowy figure is soon revealed to be a puppet on strings, voiced by fellow Star Wars alum Peter Serafinowicz (the voice of Darth Maul), who does an adequate impression.

Director Jon Spira has no qualms about revealing this ruse, and ensures that footage of Serafinowicz in a sound recording booth is prominently displayed. The film is not, after all, an attempted re-creation of Lee's thoughts, but a Brechtian dramatization of them, with no central source for his opinions despite his dialogue appearing in the first person. 

One by one, Serafinowicz guides us through notable years of Lee's upbringing, his war service, and his early career leading up to his most famous roles, but little of this backdrop creates a wide enough portrait of who Lee really was. Much of this is owed to what the movie's interview subjects have to say — and notably, what they don't.

Surely there are more interesting stories about Christopher Lee?

There are enough reasons to dislike director John Landis (three in particular), but his inflated presence in The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee feels especially odd. Lee and Landis were friends, having collaborated on The Stupids, but the filmmaker sheds little light on Lee's private life despite discussing him at length. In fact, the closest he comes to sharing a meaningful anecdote involves him recalling Lee's refusal to discuss World War II. Rather than probing further, the movie simply leaves it at that, even though Lee's part in the conflict is well-documented elsewhere. It’s hard not to wonder, from Landis’ musings, if the director knew him at all. 

This lack of curiosity about its own subject plagues The Life and Deaths for much of its runtime, even though Lee’s niece and son-in-law feature among the interviewees. However, that’s likely only the movie's second-gravest sin. The larger issue is that the movie's imagined version of Lee is seldom as captivating as the real man, as evidenced by the eloquence and mysteriousness he often displayed in his own interviews, whether discussing the motivations of his characters, or the way his physicality was informed by the real violence he saw up-close in the 1940s.

Instead, the movie mostly features banal recollections of things Lee might've said on one occasion, without ever weaving them into a larger tapestry. Each tidbit is isolated, and relatively meaningless on its own, with little journalistic probing as to its underlying meaning or what it says about the man himself. It also never gets to the root of its own title, and only mentions in passing that Lee often played characters who died on screen, but it never attempts to investigate what this might mean for a performer who lived in such close proximity to death.

If nothing else, the movie's visual execution at least falls perfectly in line with this mechanical approach.

The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee is mechanically assembled.

You could set your watch to the movie's use of any still photograph, on which it zooms in slowly for a few seconds apiece before cutting back to the most recent talking head. It's a repetitive form of editing that ensures a familiar rhythm, but one that offers no excitement or spark of imagination — let alone one that uses its images to punctuate what's being said. Instead, archival photographs are used to illustrate the words themselves, doubling down on how little the film actually has to say.

This is, of course, limited to the use of real pictures and footage. The movie also appears to make use — in limited but noticeable capacity — of A.I.-generated imagery to imbue some of these photos with movement. It also seems to use A.I. to create map inserts for transitional moments, when the topic being discussed is Lee's travel or relocation between countries (the places listed on these maps are total gibberish). For a film that seeks permission to bring a dead actor to life in humane ways, more akin to a biopic than ghoulish digital necromancy, it skirts the very same technological line in equally concerning ways.

However, even these generated elements don't add any spark or pizzazz to the proceedings. No matter its fleeting focus, the movie very quickly moves on from one topic to the next — in disconnected, rambling, "and then… and then… and then" fashion — as though it were simply running down a list of Lee's achievements from his Wikipedia page (which, incidentally, is far more informative).

Despite the numerous forms of stylization it attempts — on occasion, it portrays Lee's life through comic panels and eye-popping dioramas — The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee presents what ought to be a poetic life in the form of blank verse. It's a chore to watch, with little sense of insight about a man who lived a truly intriguing life.

The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee was reviewed out of its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest.

Going solo on a lot of things can be hugely rewarding, but sometimes, it can become a huge load to carry on your own.

Every content creator, solopreneur, side hustler, and freelance artist has hit roadblocks, maybe because of their skill level or perhaps a lack of time; it happens. When building a team isn’t possible, Adobe Firefly generative AI can help fill those gaps. Their services can help you speed through tasks and prioritize other things.

And since Adobe Firefly's features are integrated into the products you already know and likely use so often, you won’t have to waste time navigating new software. Here are some of the ways Adobe tools can help you power through projects. 

Generate images using any kind of reference material Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Photoshop $22.99 at Adobe
Use your own reference images or employ Text-to-Image to create from scratch Shop Now

Each step in the creative process can be enhanced with generative AI in Adobe Photoshop. 

When you need to create something from scratch, ask Text-to-Image to design it using text prompts and creative controls. If you have an idea or style that’s too hard to explain with text, upload an image for the AI to use as reference material. 

If you have a photo you love but want to swap the background, the latest Photoshop update allows you to generate a replacement background that matches the lighting, shadows, and perspective of the subject in the forefront. 

Final tweaks can be made using Generative Fill with the new Enhance Detail, a feature that allows you to modify images using text prompts. You can then improve the sharpness of the AI-generated variations to ensure they’re clear and blend with the original picture. 

Adobe Photoshop starts at $22.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial.

Get pro-quality photos in a few clicks  Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Lightroom $9.99 at Adobe
Touch up your photos like a pro with Generative Remove and Lens Blur Shop Now

No matter what kind of camera you’re working with or how skilled of a photographer you are, Adobe Lightroom can help you easily achieve pro-quality photos super fast. 

First up, Generative Remove. Say you have an otherwise perfect shot that’s ruined by one person in the group looking away or a photobombing animal. Generative Remove will wipe the unwanted part, and then replicate the background. It’s smart enough to do all this without smudges, distortions, or dark spots. 

Another feature, Lens Blur, allows you to blur any part of a photo to create more professional-looking cityscapes, portraits, or street photography. 

Adobe Lightroom starts at $9.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial.

Create social and marketing content on the fly  Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Express $22.99 at Adobe
Harness the power of generative AI to create everything from flyers to TikTok videos Shop Now

When you need to move fast, the new Adobe Express app brings the best of these features together in an easy-to-use content creation tool. 

It includes text-to-image and generative fill, video templates, stock music, image and design assets, and quick-action editing tools to help you create content easily on the go. Once you have created content, you can plan, preview, and publish it to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest without leaving the app. 

If you do happen to have a team around you, features like brand kits, co-editing, and commenting will aid in faster, more seamless collaboration. 

Adobe Express starts from $9.99 monthly, with a 30-day free trial.

An AI-driven personal assistant for the admin work Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Acrobat $19.99 at Adobe
Speed through your grunt work with Adobe's AI Assistant Shop Now

If the admin stuff gets you down, outsource it to AI Assistant for Acrobat — a clever new feature that helps you generate summaries or get answers from your documents in one click. 

This can help you speed through long documents to find the most important insights, quickly identify key talking points for emails or marketing materials, and find themes and relationships across multiple documents or sources.

Once you’re in a groove with your new AI assistant, you’ll find so many new use cases, like summarizing meeting transcripts, generating podcast recaps, or uncovering action items. 

Adobe Acrobat starts at $19.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial. 

Equip your solo operation with these transformative services and watch your projects hit new peaks. Or try Adobe's Creative Cloud, a complete toolkit for creativity, bundling Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Adobe Express, and Acrobat Pro.

Adobe Firefly generative AI tools riding shotgun can unlock limitless possibilities to boost productivity and creativity.

"To be a chef, you've got to love the taste of blood."

So says one of the many chefs present in House of Spoils, and writers and directors Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy (Blow the Man Down) are all too happy to oblige. Right from the jump, blood and cooking are intertwined. In the film's opening, a coven of women gather around a fire, pounding what looks like hunks of bloody flesh into a paste. Cut to equally bloody filets on the grill in a high-end Manhattan kitchen. Cooking, it seems, is its own kind of witchcraft — and House of Spoils is ready to serve us a thrilling five-course meal of both.

SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall What's House of Spoils about? Ariana DeBose in "House of Spoils." Credit: Courtesy of Prime

A dark fairy tale with culinary bite, House of Spoils dives into one chef's pursuit of perfection, a theme viewers might most recently associate with The Bear or The Menu. But make no mistake, House of Spoils' similarities to those projects start and end with the fact that they take place in a high-end restaurant.

The chef in question has no name. She's just Chef (Ariana DeBose, West Side Story), her sense of self so tied to her profession that there's no room for anything else. She gets the chance of a lifetime when she partners with smarmy restaurateur Andreas (Arian Moayed, Succession) on a rural restaurant upstate.

Covered in ivy and boasting a secret garden, Chef's new restaurant is straight out of a storybook, the magical launchpad for her greatest dream. Yet something is off. Namely, the food. Bugs squirm their way into her every dish, and mold overtakes her ingredients faster than biologically possible. Is this just some run-of-the-mill infestation? Or is it a curse from the property's previous owner, widely rumored to be a witch?

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear' can't wait any longer for Carmy to evolve House of Spoils wrings spooks and inspiration from mold and decay. Ariana DeBose in "House of Spoils." Credit: Courtesy of Prime

Although it boasts its fair share of jump scares and ghostly figures lurking in the background, House of Spoils' true horror lies in its food. The sight of bugs crawling just below the surface of a dish calls to mind parasites wriggling below the skin of a host, and the thick blankets of mold-draped food are a surefire way to induce nausea.

But perhaps the most disturbing element of the restaurant's mysterious curse is how quickly it erases Chef's hard-earned work. Decay decimates an entire night of peaceful cooking prep, throwing a make-or-break meeting with an investor in disarray. Seeing Chef's plans fall apart time and time again, both by supernatural reasons and human doubt from Andreas, elicits more dread than even the spookiest jump scare. (Although those certainly help accentuate the pain!)

SEE ALSO: 'The Wild Robot' review: Who knew a robot and goose could make me sob so much?

Yet House of Spoils finds a flip side in the challenges Chef faces. When she discovers the prior owner's secret garden, Chef embarks on a foraging journey for the ages, with she and her sous chef, Lucia (Barbie Ferreira, Euphoria), finding a way to turn discarded plants and even mold and bugs into fine-dining gold. Food stylist Zoe Hegedus crafts concoctions that are as alluring as they are repelling, such as a funky mold-tinged bread and a mushroom dish that Chef encourages people to eat without any silverware. Chef's near-possession by culinary inspiration (or maybe something more?) is intoxicating, with Cole and Krudy luring viewers into a lush yet unsettling world of cooking.

House of Spoils tackles toxic masculinity in the cooking world. Ariana DeBose and Barbie Ferreria in "House of Spoils." Credit: Glodi Balazs / Prime

House of Spoils juxtaposes the lush world Chef enters with the cold, hyper-masculine cooking world she came from originally. It was her mentor and former boss Marcello (Marton Csokas) who made that claim about chefs tasting blood. He also asserted that cooking takes balls, a kind of masculinity Chef tries to emulate in her interactions with her co-workers, much to Lucia's disapproval. The sous chef describes fine dining as a "big swinging dick club" and decries some of Chef's "macho posturing." Contrast that with Chef's new gardening focus, which she and Andreas describe as "wild, feminine." In leaving the highly masculine world of her former workplace behind, is Chef discovering and embracing a new part of herself, one she didn't cultivate in favor of molding herself to the standards of other big shot male chefs?

Complicating matters here is the figure of the witch, who looms over Chef's dreams with an ominous command: "Feed the soil." That, coupled with the bloody, sacrificial vibes of the opening sequence, doesn't paint the most favorable portrait of her approach to cooking either. Is Chef truly transforming and evolving at her craft, or is she being manipulated by higher forces? And are blood and sacrifice truly the only way to approach cooking — or any form of art — in order to find success?

House of Spoils certainly keeps you guessing on that front, and on the role of the witch in general. But trust me when I say you won't expect House of Spoils's final course, a turn of events that eschews what you might expect from a more lurid psychological thriller — again, this isn't The Menu — in favor of something more quietly rewarding, yet no less filling.

House of Spoils was reviewed out of its world premiere at Fantastic Fest. It premieres Oct. 3 on Prime Video.

Remember the Titan submersible? 

Stockton Rush, founder and owner of the underwater tourism company OceanGate, took himself, a Titanic expert, and three tourists on a trip down to the infamous ship's remains on board the submersible in June 2023. However, the crew on the ground lost contact and the wreckage of the Titan submersible was later discovered. The sub had imploded and all five on board died.

New information about the tragedy is now being uncovered, thanks to an investigation by the U.S. government. Just last week, new footage was released showing the wreckage of the Titan submersible. 

Now, according to former OceanGate contractor Antonella Wilby, we know more about how the now heavily scrutinized OceanGate ran its underwater tourism operation. 

The Titan submersible depended on an Excel spreadsheet

During a recent US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation hearing, Wilby revealed that OceanGate relied on an Excel spreadsheet to map the submersible’s navigation. Furthermore, the data was manually entered by hand into the Excel spreadsheet.

According to Wilby, the Titan’s ultra-short baseline positioning system pulled data on the submersible using sound pings. This included attributes such as the sub's velocity, depth, and positioning. 

As The Verge points out, typically, this information would then be automatically collected and compiled into mapping software in order to keep tabs on the location of the submersible. 

OceanGate, however, would write down the data in a notebook and then type it into an Excel spreadsheet. 

Wilby called OceanGate's system "absolutely idiotic."

“There were delays because there was this manual process of first writing down the lat-long coordinates and then typing them in,” she explained in the hearing. “We tried to do that every five minutes, but it was a lot to do.”

The Coast Guard's investigation into the Titan submersible implosion continues this week.

On Apple's official website, the Cupertino-based tech giant says that Apple Intelligence is "coming this fall."

However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, via his Power On newsletter, claims that he has more specific insight into the release date windows of some of the most highly anticipated Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, and more.

Apple Intelligence release date report

As of this writing, you can beta test some Apple Intelligence features, including the new Clean Up Tool (Apple's answer to Google Magic Eraser), Writing Tools, Siri's new ability to handle disfluency, transcripts for Voice Memos and call recording, and more.

Apple Intelligence Credit: Apple

(If you don't know how to test Apple's new suite of AI features, check out our quick Apple Intelligence guide; just make sure to backup your iPhone because beta software can be a little rough-around-the-edges.)

The stable public release of Apple Intelligence is expected to debut with the official launch of iOS 18.1. According to Gurman, iOS 18.1 will roll out some time "in the middle of October."

However, iOS 18.1 will not include Genmoji, Image Playground, and some other Apple Intelligence features. You may be wondering, "Well, when can I expect to officially get Genmoji and the other aforementioned perks?"

According to Gurman, you'll have to wait until iOS 18.2 to play around with Genmoji, Image Playground, and the new ChatGPT integration.

"The company is looking to get that [iOS 18.2] release down to zero-bug status in early November," Gurman said. This means that the release date window for Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration will be some time in December.

Users likely won't get the full suite of Apple Intelligence's AI-powered features until next year. According to Gurman, Siri's new ability to provide better contextual and personalized responses won't be available until March with iOS 18.4.

The most highly anticipated software release of 2024 is arguably iOS 18.2. Genmoji will allow you to create emoji by simply describing them with a text prompt. Image Playground is Apple's answer to Google's "Pixel Studio," which lets you produce AI-generated images.

If you have an iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as any of the four iPhone 16 models, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy Apple Intelligence with its staggered rollout this year and next year.

The best early Prime Day kitchen deals at a glance: BEST AIR FRYER DEAL Ninja Air Fryer XL AF150 (5.5-quart) $109.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal BEST MULTICOOKER DEAL Ninja Foodi Pro 11-in-1 pressure cooker (6.5-quart) $129.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal BEST BLENDER DEAL nutribullet Blender Combo $99.99 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal BEST COFFEE MAKER DEAL Philips Barista Brew semi-automatic espresso machine $399.99 at Amazon (save $250 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST STAND MIXER DEAL Hamilton Beach Professional all-metal stand mixer (5-quart) $175.99 at Amazon (save $44) Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is typically a great time to find kitchen gadgets on sale, from air fryers and fancy multicookers to coffee makers and blenders. And October Prime Day — aka Prime Big Deal Days — is no different. If it's a countertop appliance, there's a good chance it'll get a discount.

While the sale doesn't officially start until Oct. 8, we're already seeing some deals on brands like Ninja, nutribullet, Cuisinart, and Instant Pot. Most of these products aren't quite at Prime Day-level lows, but they're still solid discounts if you're looking to shop ASAP. Sometimes you just need a new air fryer or coffee maker and aren't willing to wait. We get it. Rest assured, you'll still get a decent deal if you shop early.

We'll be tracking the best kitchen deals throughout the Prime Big Deal Days 2024 event, so keep checking back if you don't see what you're looking for yet.

Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja Air Fryer XL AF150 (5.5-quart) $109.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Whip up game day snacks this season in a flash and save some money with this deal on the Ninja XL air fryer. It can fit up to three pounds of fries or wings in its 5.5-quart basket, yet it won't take up a ton of countertop space at just 14 inches wide. Beyond crispy air-fried goodness, it can also roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate at the touch of a button. No need to wait for your oven to heat up. Ahead of October Prime Day, it's on sale for $109.99 at Amazon. That's not the cheapest it's ever been, but it'll still save you 31%.

More air fryer deals

• Chefman TurboFry Touch air fryer (4-quart) — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)

• Chefman TurboFry Touch air fryer (8-quart) — $84.98 $119.99 (save $35.01)

• Cosori Turboblaze air fryer (6 -quart) — $89.99 $119.99 (save $30)

• Chefman multifunctional digital air fryer (10-quart) — $89.98 $139.99 (save $50.01)

Best multicooker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja Foodi Pro 11-in-1 pressure cooker (6.5-quart) $129.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to pressure cookers, the Ninja Foodi Pro is one of the best (if not the best). The 11-in-1 multicooker is basically all of your kitchen appliances wrapped up into one magical device. It can pressure cook, steam, slow cook, air fry, sous vide, roast, sauté, broil, dehydrate, keep foods warm, and make yogurt. It's also dishwasher safe and large enough to fit a five-pound chicken or three pounds of fries. Regularly retailing for $200, you can score it on sale ahead of October's Prime Day for just $129.99. That's 35% in savings and the lowest price we've seen since Black Friday.

More multicooker deals

• Instant Pot Superior cooker (7.5-quart) — $59 $79.99 (save $20.99)

• Cuisinart 3-In-1 Cook Central multi-cooker — $154.08 $199.95 (save $45.87)

• Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid (6.5-quart) — $159.99 $229.99 (save $70)

Best blender deal Opens in a new window Credit: nutribullet Our pick: nutribullet Blender Combo $99.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Can't decide between a full-size blender and a personal one? The nutribullet Blender Combo offers the best of both worlds and it's on sale for under $100. It includes a 1200-watt motor base, a 64-ounce blender pitcher, a 32-ounce single-serve cup, and a 24-ounce single-serve cup with a handle for your at-home and on-the-go needs. Whether you want to whip up a protein shake, a creamy dipping sauce, a chunky salsa, or practically anything else, the three precision speeds, pulse function, and extract program offer all the controls you'll need. Slash nearly 30% off ahead of October Prime Day and get it for just four cents shy of its record-low price.

More blender deals

• BlendJet portable blender — $29.99 $49.95 (save $19.96)

• Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 blender — $54.99 $74.99 (save $20)

• nutribullet Pro+ personal blender — $99.95 $129.99 (save $30.04)

• Ninja BL660 Professional blender— $99.99 $119.99 (save $20)

• nutribullet Blender Combo — $99.99 $139.99 (save $40)

• nutribullet Triple Prep system — $179.99 $229.99 (save $50)

Best coffee maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Our pick: Philips Barista Brew semi-automatic espresso machine $399.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $250.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal Why we like it

If the end of the summer of espresso has you feeling down, this deal on the Philips Barista Brew semi-automatic espresso machine might just be the pick-me-up you need. It's regularly a whopping $650, but with a pre-Prime Day discount and an on-page coupon, you'll pay just $399.99. That's about $6 shy of its all-time low price and about a 39% discount overall. This fancy espresso machine allows you to brew like a barista at home, thanks to quality tools like the 58-millimeter portafilter, single and dual-walled filter baskets, a stainless steel milk jug, and a powerful steam wand for frothing.

More coffee maker deals

• Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)

• Ninja XL Coffee Maker Pro — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Cuisinart Grind and Brew single-serve coffee maker — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)

• Keurig K-Elite single-serve coffee maker — $119 $189.99 (save $70.99)

• Cuisinart Premium single-serve coffee maker — $119.95 $149.95 (save $30)

• Breville Nespresso Vertuo POP+ coffee maker with milk frother — $134.96 $179.95 (save $44.99)

• Cuisinart Coffee Center 2-in-1 coffee maker — $159.95 $199.95 (save $40)

• Philips 3200 Series automatic espresso machine — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400)

Best stand mixer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hamilton Beach Professional Our pick: Hamilton Beach Professional all-metal stand mixer (5-quart) $175.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $44.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Just a dollar shy of its record-low price, the 5-quart stand mixer from Hamilton Beach Professional features a dozen different speeds, a tilt-head design, and versatile attachments including a flat beater, whisk, and spiral dough hook. It also includes a specialty attachment power hub, so you can add on other attachments (sold separately) for rolling pasta, grinding meat, slicing, and shredding. Regularly $219.99, you can save 20% and get it ahead of Prime Day for only $175.99.

More stand mixer deals

• Instant Pot 6-speed stand mixer (6.3-quart) — $114.84 $149.99 (save $35.15)

• Cuisinart Precision Master stand mixer (5.5-quart) — $192.01 $249.95 (save $57.94)

• KitchenAid Classic Series tilt-head stand mixer (4.5-quart) — $269.99 $329.99 (save $60)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series tilt head stand mixer (5-quart) — $379.99 $459.99 (save $80)

TikTok is expanding its eligibility to creator subscriptions.

Previously known as LIVE Subscription, the monetization feature was only available for creators who stream on the platform. But starting today, Sept. 23, Subscription is available to any creator who is 18 years or older, has at least 10,000 followers, and has accumulated at least 100,000 video views in the past calendar year. LIVE creators previously eligible for the feature will still have access.

SEE ALSO: 'Beetlejuice lips' TikTok trend celebrates the natural creases of your lips

LIVE Subscription was first launched in 2022 and was directed at the streaming space, competing with YouTube and Twitch.

TikTok offers three tiers of Subscription. Similar to Patreon, Instagram Subscription, and YouTube membership, users pay a monthly fee to have access to exclusive content, channels, and identifying stickers. Creators can chat directly with subscribers on "Sub Space" and subscribers will have differentiating badges and stickers during LIVEs.

Subscription is rolling out to Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, the UK, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. TikTok plans to roll it out to more markets in the coming weeks.

Currently, LIVE Subscriptions start at $2.99 monthly, with some creators charging $5.99. When the feature first launched, TechCrunch reported that prices would be comparable to Twitch subscriptions, which cost $4.99.

If you think it’s too early to start planning which toys you’re going to get your kiddos this holiday — it’s not. The longer you wait to make your list and start shopping, the greater the chance that the toys your kids want the most will be all snatched up.

This is where Walmart swoops in to save the holidays. Walmart has a rad lineup of exclusive toys and the brands that your kids will seriously flip out over — all in one place. You’ll find toys for kiddos of all ages from the likes of Bluey, Little Tikes, Barbie World, LEGO, Star Wars, and the list goes on. You’ll even find exclusive toys starting at just 10 bucks, so you can gift to the max without breaking the bank. 

Check out this roundup of toys that are available only at Walmart and knock their little socks off this holiday. Walmart has loads more online, so get shopping.

Toys your tots will go gaga over Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Squishmallows Bluey HugMees $15.00 at Walmart
Shop Now

If your toddler is obsessed with Bluey — and whose toddler isn’t — this Squishmallows Bluey HugMees stuffed toy has its arms wide open and is always ready for a big hug. It feels as soft, plush, and cuddly as it looks, and it’s the perfect size for nap time. Add Bluey’s little sister, the Squishmallows Bingo HugMees, and make it a party snuggle. 

Pre-schoolers will flip over these creative toys Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Fisher-Price Wooden Rainbow Stacking Shape Sorter $24.82 at Walmart
Shop Now

For a fresh take on an old-school favorite, the 25 wooden blocks included in the updated Fisher-Price Wooden Rainbow Stacking Shape Sorter all fit together in different ways, which can help sharpen your kiddo’s hand-eye coordination. The blocks are still as irresistibly bright and solid as you remember them — and they feel good in your little one’s paws. The wood is also from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests, a nice perk.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Little Tikes Creative Chefs Nacho Kit $14.86 at Walmart
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Every night is nacho night with this loaded Little Tikes Creative Chefs Nacho Kit. The visual recipe card is easy to follow and your kiddo physically makes the nachos, beans, cheese, avocado, sour cream, and tomato from colored, inedible sand that they put into the included molds and then cut up all pro-like with the play knife. It’s creative, it’s tactile, and it’s super fun for lil’ chefs.

Wow-factor toys for picky older kids Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Barbie World Game Room Set $24.97 at Walmart
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Want to see your child do a Barbie celebration dance? This Barbie World Game Room Set comes with 19 supercool accessories and makes a standout addition to your kid’s Barbie Dream House. The set includes a TV, a pink bean-bag chair, popcorn, cute bevs, pets, and everything else Barbie and her pals could ever need to kick back on the DL. The foosball table even has three balls and working spinners — it’s almost enough to make a parental jealous.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Phantom Menace Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator Starship $70.00 at Walmart
Shop Now

If your Star Wars fan is also a LEGO fan, the Phantom Menace Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator Starship will rock their universe. Your kid will have a blast putting together the 64-piece kit and battling it out with the LEGO Darth Maul, Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Saw Gerrera mini figures. They’ll also freak out over the starship’s foldout flight wings, retractable landing gear, and trigger-operated hatch that releases the Probe Droids.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart UNO Elite NFL Card Game $14.88 at Walmart
Shop Now

If you’re looking for budget-friendly stocking stuffers, the UNO Elite NFL Card Game will get your football fans all revved up. It’s basically played in the same way as the classic UNO card game that everyone loves, but what makes it Uno Elite is the addition of 60 action cards, all with full-color images of your kid’s favorite NFL players. Four of the action cards are even foil collectibles — don’t be surprised if the collectible cards disappear into your kid’s room for a huddle.  

No matter how old your kiddos are or what kind of stuff they’re into, jumpstart your holiday shopping with Walmart’s impressive lineup of freak-out-worthy toys and get ahead of the pack. With the toys they want starting at just $10, you can score big gift wins, all in one place, and without dipping into their college fund.

'Gladiator II' drops another glorious trailer

Prime Day is one of the biggest shopping events on the internet, and fortunately for us, it happens twice a year — once in July and again in October. If you need a new TV, whether it’s for game day, movie nights, or, you know, becoming an absolute couch potato on weekends, Amazon’s got some pretty good early Prime Big Deal Days deals on TVs right now.

Best early Prime Day TV deals: Best TV deal overall 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV $299.98 at Amazon (save $150.01) Get Deal Best runner-up deal 50-inch INSIGNIA Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV $219.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best budget deal 40-inch VIZIO Smart TV (VFD40M-08) $148 at Amazon (save $21.99) Get Deal

Prime Day round two is almost here, and while many shoppers are waiting for the big event to score the best deal, we’ve already found some pretty decent discounts on smart TVs that you can take advantage of right now — weeks ahead of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days in October.

Here are some of the best early TV deals we’ve seen so far:

Best TV deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV $299.98 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $150.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Who says you need to spend a grand to get a big, nice smart TV? This 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series is only $299.98 and features 4K Ultra HD resolution, Dolby Digital Plus, and HRD 10 for a brighter, clearer picture.

Amazon’s Fire TV is built-in, so you can watch your favorite shows, movies, and live TV channels from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, etc. And because this is an Amazon TV, Alexa is just a voice command away. There are also four HDMI inputs for gaming consoles, cable boxes, and more.

The only caveat to this TV is that this model doesn’t support two-way video calling or hands-free voice control (you have to press the Alexa button to summon her help), but that’s not a dealbreaker when the price is this good.

Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: INSIGNIA Our pick: 50-inch INSIGNIA Class F30 Series (NS-50F301NA24) LED 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV $219.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you want a Fire TV, it’s probably best to buy an Amazon-brand TV. But if you want a Fire TV that isn’t an Amazon model, this 50-inch Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart TV by INSIGNIA (NS-50F301NA24) is an affordable alternative.

It’s currently $219.99 at Amazon, slightly cheaper than the Amazon 50-inch Fire TV listed above. This smart TV has 4K Ultra 2160p resolution, Alexa voice control via the voice remote, and access to your faves via the built-in Fire TV. This TV doesn’t have Dolby Digital Plus or HDR10 like the Amazon 50-inch model, but it’s still a solid choice if you're on a budget.

Best budget deal Opens in a new window Credit: VIZIO Our pick: 40-inch VIZIO Smart TV (VFD40M-08) $148.00 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $21.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re really on a budget (who isn’t nowadays?), the VIZIO 40-inch Smart TV is a steal at just $148. This 1080p HD TV has all the basic smart features you’d want or need: a game-ready setup with HDR 10 support and an auto-low latency mode whenever a console or PC is connected.

The WatchFree Plus app gives you access to more than 275 free channels, and the full-array LED backlight makes for a bright and colorful picture. It also has Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, so you can connect it to your other smart home devices via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

More TV deals

• 24-inch INSIGNIA Calss F20 Series Smart HD TV with Fire TV (NS-24F201NA23) — $69.99 $79.99 (save $10)

• 40-inch Amazon Fire TV 2-Series HD Smart TV with Fire TV — $179.98 $249.99 (save $71.01)

• 40-inch VIZIO D-Series Full HD SMart TV (D40f-J09) — $204.99 $229.99 (save $25)

• 43-inch TCL Class S4 4K LED Smart TV with Roku TV (43S450R, 2023 Model) — $219.99 $279.99 (save $60)

• 55-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K UHD Smart TV with Fire TV — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150)

• 55-inch Samsung QLED 4K Q60D Series (QN55Q60D) — $647.99 $797.99 (save $150)

A youtube video from iFixit of a complete teardown of Apple's iPhone 16