Mashable

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 11'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 9 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A passage between rows of seats.

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 A.

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...

AISLE.

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 11s 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 11 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: Lots of money

• Green: Giving some advice

• Blue: How they made dinosaurs in that one movie

• Purple: Purple

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: Large Amount of Money

• Green: Bits of Wisdom

• Blue: Featured in Jurrasic Park

• Purple: Things That Are Purple

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 #458 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Large Amount of Money: BUNDLE, FORTUNE, MINT, PILE

• Bits of Wisdom: KERNEL, NUGGET, PEARL, TIDBIT

• Featured in Jurrasic Park: AMBER, DINOSAUR, MOSQUITO, PALEONTOLOGIST

• Things That Are Purple: AMETHYST, EGGPLANT, GRIMACE, LAVENDER

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.

Are you an Apple user who found the iPhone 16 launch event to be dull, disappointing, a let-down? Did it seem like it focused on niche products, like the black Apple Watch Ultra 2, before it got to the main meat ... of what turned out to be relatively minor iPhone hardware updates?

Then, frankly, you weren't the target audience, even if you're an iPhone user. Your current model is likely doing just fine, and you're probably attached to its color (as with mine, a year-old deep purple iPhone 15 Pro). You're not ready to pony up for a slightly better device, and all the Apple Intelligence in the world won't make you.

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

Wait until the next hype cycle — which in this case, is already building around the 2025 model, a reportedly thinner iPhone 17 "Air." By then, you might find your phone's declining battery and tiny-seeming screen to be an embarrassment, and the Apple trade-in offer will suddenly make a lot more sense. Just as owners of the iPhone 14, and earlier models, were predisposed to find something to like in the iPhone 16 announcement.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 17: 3 credible rumors that may convince you to skip iPhone 16

In the meantime ... are you sure you don't want to test your hearing loss (requiring new AirPods) or find out if you have sleep apnea (requiring a series 10 Watch)?

Apple, a $3.3 trillion company, has been at this game some time, and the game is called "get users into our ecosystem." As each market that the tech giant has entered matures, it becomes harder to get current customers to upgrade individual devices. The more the iPhone becomes a luxury item, and the more aware consumers become of its environmental cost, the less likely they are to upgrade every year, or even every other year.

So if you're Tim Cook, and you have a fiduciary duty to keep growing the company, what do you do?

Sure, you make sure you're in the game when it comes to new technology. Cook has got a firm toe-hold in virtual space now with the Apple Vision Pro; if VR or AR suddenly look like the future, Apple is ready. He also understands the assignment with AI, which (for the moment, at least) is largely a matter of rebranding your machine-learning software so you don't look like you're falling behind: enter Apple Intelligence.

But most of your job as Apple CEO is to make multiple Apple devices seem more appealing to every user, even in a world of highly fragmented consumer groups. You find more groups served by the possibilities of new hardware-software combos: hearing loss and sleep apnea sufferers are huge and growing health niches, which is why manufacturers of hearing aids took a hit on the stock market in the Apple event's wake.

If you look at the steadily growing Apple user base for non-iPhone items, then front-loading Apple events with tedious-to-you Watch updates, for one, makes a lot more sense.

Credit: EMarketer

Moreover, to update a phrase that has differentiated Apple since its Jobs-Wozniak days, Tim Cook's job is to make sure everything just works ... together. Once upon a time, when Windows working well with Macintosh OS was what mattered, the Apple "walled garden" was a millstone around the company's neck. Now, the walled garden may be the company's biggest asset.

Take, for example, the Apple AirPods Max: beautifully-designed, massively expensive over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones saddled with a terrible name. When they were launched, I scoffed: Why would I buy those when I could grab a comparable Bose pair for much less?

I discovered the answer this year: because the Max cans connect and switch so easily to and between my MacBook, iPad and iPhone — and most importantly, to my Apple TV — while providing incredible spatial audio.

I wasn't in the market for regular AirPods, because I don't like wax-producing earbuds (for exercise I use these Bose open-ear models instead). But the Max turned out to be totally my jam, so much so that here I am, seriously considering trading in my two-month old green headphones for the new USB-C model in purple, to match my iPhone.

I probably won't — not this cycle, anyway. My Apple budget for 2024 is entirely spent. But if Apple brings out a purple iPhone 17 next year, then it will almost certainly be time once more to hook up their vacuum cleaner to my wallet — no matter what new features are hyped up at the 2025 iPhone launch event.

TL;DR: The first Harris-Trump presidential debate can be streamed LIVE and for free on cable websites like ABC.com and CNN.com, and on YouTube via pages like PBS NewsHour. Paid streaming services also have options to tune in.

Tonight (Sept. 10), presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump take the stage in what will be their first match-up on the debate floor.

ABC's "Race to the Whitehouse" will see Americans eagerly tuned in to see the two finally face off on national policy, following President Joe Biden's removal from the 2024 presidential ticket in favor of Kamala Harris' vibrantly-embraced bid to be the first woman in the White House.

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

The debate will be available in traditional formats via ABC and other cable networks, but those without cable aren't out of luck. Disney-owned ABC, official host and broadcaster of the debate, has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery's CNN (host of the previous Biden-Trump debate) to offer joint online broadcasting and options for current streaming subscribers.

Here's how you can watch online.

What time is the presidential debate?

Viewers should be primed to tune in to the debate at 9 p.m. ET. The event, taking place at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, will last 90 minutes, and is hosted by ABC and moderated by ABC World News Tonight host David Muir and anchor Linsey Davis.

Presidential candidates will abide by new rules instituted at the last Biden-Trump debate, including muted microphones and a lack of opening statements.

Where can I stream the Harris-Trump debate?ABC.com & ABC News Live

The presidential debate will be streamed live and for free on ABC.com and on ABC's 24/7 news site, ABC News Live. The network has also created a dedicated presidential election hub for ongoing news and updates, including debate live streaming.

CNN.com

CNN will provide live commentary during its "CNN Special Event: Second Presidential Debate Hosted by ABC" coverage, available for free on CNN.com.

NBC.com

Debate coverage will be simulcast on NBC News channels, including online via the live NBC News Now page.

FOXNews.com

FOX News' live simulcast programming, "FOX News Democracy 2024: ABC Presidential Debate," will be available on FOXNews.com.

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour's YouTube channel will stream special debate coverage, including pre- and post- event analysis.

The above livestream begins at 6 p.m. ET.

Paid streaming services

Disney+ and Hulu + Live TV subscribers will also have access to live debate coverage via ABC, as part of its ownership deal. Those who have bundled Disney+, Hulu, and Max can access the live debate, as well. Viewers will find streams on the apps' ABC News Live channels or on their homepages.

Peacock subscribers can tune into NBC's simulcast via the app's NBC News Now Channel.

Apple TV subscribers can stream the debate through the PBS NewsHour channel.

Select Sling TV and Fubo TV subscribers can watch the debate, if their subscription plan includes access to ABC.

National debate broadcasts may also be available for free on sites like Tubi or Pluto TV.

Cryptocurrency may not be in the spotlight like during the 2021 to 2022 crypto boom, but that doesn't mean the money isn't flowing. Cybercriminals are still utilizing crypto to generate billions of dollars in fraudulent income each year.

In fact, according to the FBI, 2023 was the most lucrative year yet for cryptocurrency scammers.

SEE ALSO: New online scam claims to have proof your spouse is cheating on you

A new FBI report released on Monday says more than $5.6 billion in losses were reported in 2023 as a result of cryptocurrency scams. The data comes from more than 69,000 complaints the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received last year. 

Crypto scams reported to the FBI over the years. Credit: FBI Crypto scams bigger than ever before

The FBI's cryptocurrency scam report is especially interesting since 2023 was the first full year following the crypto boom. The crypto industry was shaken up in 2022 when a number of crypto tokens collapsed following the downfall of large crypto firms like Celsius and Terraform Labs. Then in November 2022, one of the largest crypto exchanges, FTX, went bankrupt. While some crypto tokens and blockchain-based companies have since bounced back, the industry has yet to recover its mainstream appeal.

Cryptocurrency scams, however, appear to be going stronger than ever before. The FBI's 2023 cryptocurrency report shows that crypto scams grew 45 percent compared to the year before.

In fact, 2023 losses from cryptocurrency scams now make up more than half of the total number of losses from all online scams from the FBI's 2022 report.

According to the FBI, investment fraud is the biggest of the cryptocurrency scams. The report found that crypto investment scams specifically increased by 53 percent, with $3.96 billion in losses compared to 2022's $2.57 billion. 

Different types of scams affected age demographics differently. For example, those in the 30-39 and 40-49 age groups were most affected by crypto investment scams. However, the most complaints reported and overall loss totals were from those over 60. According to the FBI, more than $1.6 billion in crypto-related scam losses came from the over 60 age group.

Of course, the likely total of crypto scam losses is much higher than what's in the FBI report as the agency can only include data sent to them by the victims.

"Scams targeting investors who use cryptocurrency are skyrocketing in severity and complexity,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray in the bureau's statement on the report. "The best way to help stop these crimes is for people to report them to ic3.gov, even if they did not suffer a financial loss. The information allows us to stay on top of emerging schemes and criminals’ use of the latest technologies, so we can keep the American public informed and go after those who commit these crimes."

Dating is, famously, not easy. Single parenting, is also, famously, not easy. Put them together, and dating as a single parent feels damn near impossible.

The good news is, you're certainly not alone. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly a quarter of children in the United States live in single-parent households. That means there are tons of people out there just like you — single parents who are devoted to their family and wouldn't mind some romance in their lives. On top of that, the best dating apps for single parents can also connect you with men and women who aren't parents themselves but also aren't afraid to date someone with a family.

SEE ALSO: 16 expert-approved kid podcasts to hit play on right now

To help make online dating feel less impossible, we've vetted the best dating apps and sites for you. We know — dating apps don't always have the best rep, but there are actually apps made just for parents these days, and some features on more well-known apps like Hinge can help the dating process along.

Why it's so hard to date as a single parent

Sometimes, the most obvious answer is also the most accurate one, and for single parents, free time can be a huge constraint on their dating life. We know you don't have time to swipe through Bumble and send out dozens of messages that might lead to a date.

"If someone is full-time responsible for parenting their child(ren), time is the most difficult/delicate issue," said Karen Bonnell, a co-parent, stepfamily coach, and author of The Stepfamily Handbook, in an email to Mashable. "Even when the children move back and forth in a two-home family, dating time is often modified to reflect that schedule and can feel compressed and/or a bit like a whipsaw from 'independent adult dating' and 'responsible parent parenting.'"

SEE ALSO: The top 12 dating sites for finding a serious relationship

Even though dating apps take some effort and time, using the right ones can help streamline the process of meeting someone new. That's why we think they're a solid option for single parents looking for love, fun, and friendship. An algorithm that actually shows you people you're compatible with, rather than anyone with a pulse in a 10-mile radius, is a major bonus.

Bonnell also told us it's important to be upfront about your time constraints and responsibilities.

"Dedicating time for communication ('after the kids are down') or setting the children up in an activity while letting them know 'Mom/Dad’s going to do a little computer work now,' or 'taking a call' can work, but it’s not easy," Bonnell wrote. "The ability to openly talk about these barriers and to come to reasonable agreements will predict the long-term durability of the relationship with a parent."

What's the best dating site for single parents?

Popular dating sites are the best places to find a wide array of users, but when you're dating as a single parent, curation can be key.

The dating app market also includes apps specifically designed for parents. In 2020, single parents and family-minded folks alike could start looking for love on heybaby (sadly, this dating site for single parents is no longer active). In 2022, Match Group launched Stir, a platform made specifically for single parents (though anyone can join).

Keep reading to find the best parent-centered dating apps, plus our favorite mainstream dating apps for parents.

Sony has finally unveiled the PS5 Pro after months of leaks and speculation, but the console comes with a hefty price: $700.

Billed as a more powerful, graphically enhanced version of the original PS5, the Pro's price point is sure to raise some eyebrows. At $700, it’s almost as expensive as the base iPhone 16, putting this in line with other moves amid Sony's recent push for higher pricing, from being one of the first companies to charge $70 for games, to hiking the price of DualSense controllers.

SEE ALSO: Sony finally announces the PS5 Pro, including release date and preorder details

It’s no surprise that the news has sparked reactions across X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, where users are already calling Sony out for what many see as a blatant cash grab.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

The major upgrade with the PS5 Pro is its ability to handle high-fidelity modes at a consistent 60fps, which sounds great on paper. But when you consider that the standard PS5 could already achieve similar results by sacrificing some resolution, it starts to feel less like a game-changer. Many users are already questioning whether slightly improved graphics justify the $700 price tag.

In fact, for that kind of money, you could easily snag a custom-built PC with an RTX 3070 on Facebook Marketplace — and that’s exactly what some (read: me) are doing instead.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

The PS5 Pro also ditches the disc drive, and to top it off, the vertical stand is sold separately — a move that’s already causing debate among fans. With no major PS5 exclusives pushing the limits of the hardware, many are questioning whether the upgrade is even worth it.

It should be noted that Sony does have an excellent line up of first-party titles from God of War, The Last of Us, Marvel's Spider-Man, and the recently released AstroBot.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

"PS5 has no games" aside, the Pro is priced high and looks a little goofy. Only time will tell if this will be a flop or not for Sony.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

"Kamala loves a Venn diagram, right? So in one circle, you've got Swifties, who love Taylor, and in the other circle, you've got people who love Kamala. In the middle, you have us — you have these people who support Taylor and support Kamala," Lexa Hayes, the friendship bracelet coordinator of the new organizing group Swifties for Kamala, tells Mashable. 

SEE ALSO: Is it 'Kamala' or 'Harris'? The answer is complicated.

Hayes is one of many Taylor Swift fans who have joined Swifties for Kamala, a coalition of fans campaigning for presidential hopeful and current Vice President Kamala Harris that operates independently of Swift herself, who still has not offered an endorsement of either candidate in the upcoming election. Born out of a tweet, the organization takes advantage of Swift fans' pre-existing passion and online savvy and aims to use it to turn the presidential election blue. 

Tweet may have been deleted

Always interested in politics, Hayes never knew how to get involved, but Swifties for Kamala gave her an accessible, unintimidating introduction to the space. "It's talented people that I already know and am comfortable with," she said of the group. 

Behind the constant Swift lyrical references, glittering 47s on their hands, and friendship bracelets is a legitimate organization helmed by Swifties with professional experience working on campaigns. April Glick Pulito, the coalition's political director, worked on the 2020 presidential election for the Wisconsin State Democratic party and on the Georgia Senate race runoff in 2022. The group's campaign manager, Annie Wu Henry, is a digital and political strategist who was instrumental in Senator John Fetterman's TikTok campaign strategy.

The Democratic Party immediately embraced Swifties for Kamala. The group's Aug. 27 Zoom rally featured speakers like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Ed Markey, as well as recording artist Carole King and members of the House of Representatives. Indivisible, the organization that led the run-of-show, back-end, and registration for other affinity groups for Harris, like White Women Answer the Call, AAPI Communities for Harris, and Female Lawyers for Harris, similarly supported Swifties for Kamala. 

Leah Greenberg, the co-executive director of Indivisible, thinks Swifties for Kamala has a ton of potential — organic potential that doesn't come from outside organizations.

"We've been seeing this big surge of different affinity groups, interest groups, and communities coming together to support Vice President Harris, and we've been trying to be supportive wherever we can," Greenberg told Mashable. 

SEE ALSO: 'Kamala is a relaxing thought': Swifties for Kamala raise $100,000 for the Harris campaign

The Swifties for Kamala Zoom rally saw an estimated 27,000 participants and raised over $100,000 for the Harris campaign. Those are not insignificant numbers, but when compared to affinity groups politicians already appeal to, like Win With Black Women, Win With Black Men, White Women Answer the Call, and White Dudes for Kamala, which raised $1.5 million, $1.3 million, $2 million, and $4.2 million, respectively, Swifties for Kamala only made a fraction of the impact.

Fandom as an affinity group

Swifties for Kamala is similar to other Zoom coalition calls in that they bring together large, diverse groups of people with different lived experiences and issues they're voting around, coming together not necessarily over policy but for an individual candidate. 

However, while other coalitions like White Women Answer the Call and White Dudes for Kamala organized in response to their demographic's role in and history of electing conservative and racist leaders, Swifties don't have as clear a lineage in the nation's voting history. Some Swifties say they have organized in defiance of groups of men on the right who belittle them. For others, it's a callback to their idol's past political stance.

For example, a rallying point among Swifties for Kamala is a tweet from the Republican Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee. After Swift broke her political silence and came out against Republican Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn in 2018, Huckabee wrote, "So @taylorswift13 has every right to be political but it won't impact election unless we allow 13 yr old girls to vote. Still with #MarshaBlackburn."

After the Zoom rally, the Swifties for Kamala account quote-tweeted Huckabee, writing, "Guess who's old enough to vote now." It received 90,000 likes. Another fan quote tweeted it with, "This aged like milk because those 13 year old girls in 2018 can vote in this election. We smile and smile." The post garnered 14,000 likes. But "Swiftie" isn't a political stance. 

Tweet may have been deleted

When asked about conservative Swifties, Glick Pulito alluded to their idol's few outspoken moments, saying, "Once you get deep enough into this fandom and have watched Miss Americana…" — a reference to Swift's 2020 documentary, implying that conservative fans aren't true fans. Swift's decision to talk about politics was a major focus of the film. It shows her, her father, and her team heatedly discussing her choice to come out in favor of Tennessee U.S. Senate candidate Bredesen. On the verge of tears, she expresses regret over not using her voice against Trump in 2016. "I can't change that...I need to be on the right side of history," she said in the documentary. 

The conversation resulted in her first political endorsement, in which she called on fans to support Bredesen in 2018 and called his opponent, Blackburn, "Trump in a wig." In 2020, a month before the presidential election, she endorsed President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris in a V Magazine article. She also posted a photo of herself holding Biden-Harris 2020 campaign cookies to social media. 

For fans, her outspokenness was consistent with the larger messaging of her Lover era. The album featured the pro-LGBTQ rainbow anthem "You Need to Calm Down," and her go at a feminist takedown of the male-dominated system, "The Man."

In the years since she's uploaded several Instagram posts about Black Lives Matter, tweeted about her terror after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and encouraged her followers to vote, resulting in 35,000 new voter registrations. 

"There are so many Swifties for Kamala because there's a real inclusiveness [to Swift's music]. Like all of Lover," continued Glick Pulito. "Her art does not lend itself to putting people down or moving backward. Loving this artist who strives to continue to make the world better, who strives to create good art, and who strives to constantly show up for her fans and herself and her family and her community — I'm not surprised that so many Swifties are committed to building a better future."

Swifties for Kamala define their eight policy stances as "equality, freedom, and safety," with nods to common sense gun reform, reproductive freedom, and a "permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas." Post Lover and Miss Americana, Swift's image aligned fairly well with these vague policy areas.

The tension between Swifties for Kamala and Taylor Swift

However, in the past couple of years, Swift, with her chart-topping albums, re-recordings, and The Eras Tour, has reached unprecedented levels of stardom, giving her unprecedented reach to millions. But she has yet to endorse Vice President Harris, a major reckoning point among Swifties for Kamala. 

Swifties for Kamala organizes over a personal identity marker, liking Swift, with no inherent political attachments. They are also organizing around Swift, someone who can attach herself to policies and people outside of Swifties for Kamala's goals, further complicating their group. Unlike other interest-based affinity groups, like the public transit-oriented Train Lovers for Kamala, there's no apparent policy the group can immediately agree on, and Swift's recent public actions don't necessarily align with Harris' campaign. 

For example, last October, Swift officially reached billionaire status and came under fire for her use of a private jet and its environmental impact. Meanwhile, Swifties for Kamala lists "climate change is taken seriously" as one of their eight policies. In a recent public outing, Swift was photographed hugging Trump supporter Brittany Mahomes at the U.S. Open, much to the disappointment of many of her fans. 

"What would they need to get our vote? They don't need to have a favorite Taylor Swift song, but it certainly helps,"

Swift's lifestyle appears increasingly inconsistent with the political change one might expect a digitally active fan to want. But, as Henry reminded Mashable, "Swifties are not a monolith." 

The diversity among fans calls into question the effectiveness of Swifties as a voting coalition, though. None of the organizers had specific ideas when pressed on how a politician might "court" the Swiftie vote as part of their own campaigns. They spoke in vague terms, as believers in Vice President Harris first and foremost. Not even the dissolution of monopolies, which could be used to rally the troops as it was a central rallying point for Swifties due to Ticketmaster's fumbling of selling Eras Tour tickets, was brought up as a core tenant of Swiftie beliefs. Politicians in support of the group were more specific. Senator Warren brought up taking on corporations like Ticketmaster during the Zoom rally, and Senator Markey referenced the climate crisis. 

SEE ALSO: Meet the Swifties trying to take down Ticketmaster

"What would they need to get our vote? They don't need to have a favorite Taylor Swift song, but it certainly helps," joked Glick Pulito. 

Across their social media presence, on their website, and at the Zoom rally, Swifties for Kamala repeats, "Not affiliated with Taylor Swift," but she's still their bonding force and inspiration. 

"We're not waiting for any one person anywhere to call people to action," explained Henry. "So much of what the Swiftie community does happened organically and not because they were told you should be doing this thing."

Hayes pointed to Swift's aptly-titled third album Speak Now as a point of inspiration. "[Swift] is this force in our lives that gives us confidence to be the people that we want to be and to fight for the change we want in the world. It's not about getting her attention, but the community that we built and using that force for good," she said. 

Is fandom the future of campaigning?

Despite the political tension between Swift and her fans, the organization is still a glimpse into the potential future of fandom and politics. "One of the things that keeps [organizers] going is being in community with each other," Greenberg said of her work at Indivisible. "It's only natural that a group of people — who are brought together by their passion for and excitement around Taylor Swift — are also sustaining their political work and weaving their political work together with their excitement and passion, as members of an incredibly engaged fan community."

SEE ALSO: How fandom is shaping the 2024 presidential election

Similarly, Henry told Mashable, "It's potentially a blueprint for how we can mobilize and invest in other digital communities just as we do in geographical areas. We should be reaching out to online spaces because, for better or worse, people are more online and dependent on online spaces."

For now, the group hopes to be present at Swift's remaining U.S. tour dates in Florida, Louisiana, and Indiana before the election. Many of those are after the voter registration deadlines, so until then, Swifties for Kamala plans to focus on encouraging people to vote. "We want to remind people that every vote counts, especially since she has an upcoming date in Florida," said Hayes. 

The friendship bracelet coordinator is also set to launch her brainchild in the coming weeks, an effort known as the "You're Not Alone, Kid Campaign." Hayes says, "It's basically a motivation campaign to remind people to get to the polls and to not let motivation wane." 

Tweet may have been deleted

Hayes hopes to get volunteers in every state to make bracelets and place them around public spaces in the community. Each bracelet will have a QR code that directs the scanner to the Swifties for Kamala website, where voter information is available. On Oct. 13, the group plans to launch the campaign to the public by posting photos of the hidden bracelets to its social media accounts. It will track where the bracelets are found. 

"Getting a beer with a political candidate is a little outdated," Glick Pulito said. Now, it's about memes. It's about viral posts. It's about harnessing the power of the internet, as Swifities for Kamala does so well. "It makes [politics] more accessible, and the more accessible you make it, the more people are gonna engage with it."

Like it or not, fandoms are a central part of digital natives' lives. Swifties for Kamala are harnessing that power for the election—friendship bracelets and all. It doesn't matter who Swift endorses; look what she already made them do.

Google rolled out a trio of Chrome updates on Tuesday designed to make juggling your endless tabs a little less chaotic.

SEE ALSO: New evidence claims Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon could be listening to you on your devices

Whether you're on desktop, iOS, or Android, Chrome goal with this new update is to smooth out the clutter and keep your browsing in sync across devices. And while these updates make things a little easier when browsing, syncing tab groups and getting proactive page suggestions across devices means Google Chrome is keeping a close eye on what you're browsing—and where.

Chrome tabs update1. Tab Groups for iOS

Tab groups are finally landing on iOS, joining their desktop and Android counterparts. If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, you’ll now be able to organize your tabs into neat, customizable groups.

Want to give them a personalized touch? You can add custom names and colors for easy recognition. To get started, open the tab grid, long-press on a tab, and hit "Add Tab to New Group." From there, you’re free to shuffle things around and arrange the tabs exactly how you want.

2. Cross-device tab groups

Chrome is rolling out the ability to save and sync your tab groups across iOS, Android, and desktop, making it easier to jump between devices seamlessly. Start something on your phone and finish it on your computer without losing track of your progress.

3. Tab suggestions

Chrome's third feature is getting a more experimental rollout. Instead of a full release, Google is treating it as an early test.

Chrome will start surfacing suggestions for pages you've previously visited, making it easier to pick up where you left off. Whether you’re working at the office or commuting home, Chrome will do the heavy lifting, showing you relevant pages right on the New Tab page across Android, iOS, and desktop.

Don't miss out on the best streaming deals as of Sept. 10:

Best Streaming Deals Best Streaming Deal Free Peacock Premium subscription with Instacart Plus $0 (Save $7.99) Get Deal Best Paramount+ Deal 50% off Paramount+ $29.99 (Save $29.99) Get Deal Best Starz Deal 6 months of Starz for $20 $19.99 at Starz (Save $26 ) Get Deal

Halloween is just over a month away, and you know what that means: scary movies. If you're looking to spend this fall taking in some great horror flicks and TV shows, now's the time to invest in a new streaming service. Even if you just plan to cuddle up on the couch in a blanket while the weather gets chilly, you can benefit from these discounted streaming platforms, because there are some seriously sizzling ones available right now.

As of Sep. 10, you can save big with discounts that net you Peacock Premium for free with your Instacart Plus subscription. You can also nab platforms like Starz and Paramount+ at lower rates right now, just in time to kick off the season. That means you can access some of the biggest stores of content available right now for some of the lowest prices yet. If you're looking to cancel Netflix due to rising prices, or you just want to try something new, check out the week's best streaming deals to see what you can save on (or gift to friends and family) right now.

Best streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Our pick: Free Peacock Premium subscription with Instacart Plus at Instacart
Get Deal Why we like it

Right now, you can sign up for Instacart Plus and get a free Peacock Premium subscription by doing so. Instacart Plus is $10 per month, and comes with free unlimited deliveries on orders over $35. Normally, Peacock Premium is $7.99 monthly, though it does include ads — you have to pay $14 monthly for the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus — but there's plenty of content to choose from on the streamer. Find NBC series like The Voice and Yellowstone there, as well as NFL content, just in time for football season. Whatever you plan to watch, free is a great price.

Best Paramount+ deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount Our pick: 50% off Paramount+ $29.99 at Paramount+
$59.98 Save $29.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Paramount+ is offering annual streaming plans for just $29.99 a year, which is 50% off its normal price, through September 23. This deal applies to both new and former subscribers, so now's the time to see what Paramount+ has to offer for about $5 per month. You can find a variety of series and movies there, including South Park, Frasier, Yellowstone and Star Trek. New movies like A Quiet Place: Day One are also streaming there, with a swath of other movies making their way to the service.

Best Starz deal Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Our pick: 6 months of Starz for $20 $19.99 at Starz
$46.00 Save $26.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Starz is offering new and returning subscribers six months of the service for just $20, which is $26 off its normal price. There's a wide selection of shows and movies to choose from on the platform, including Bad Boys for Life, Power, and Gaslit. Alternatively, if you don't want to subscribe for six months, you can get your first month for just $5. When the trial period ends, you'll have to make sure you cancel before the price goes back up from there.

SAVE $40: Buy two Kindle Scribe devices with basic pens at Amazon for $639.98, marked down from the normal price of $679.98 for two. That's a 6% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Two Amazon Kindle Scribe devices with basic pens (16GB) $639.98 at Amazon
$679.98 Save $40.00 Get Deal

If you're a student, you travel often, or you're a voracious reader, you could be a perfect fit for an e-reader. Instead of needing to buy (and store) tons of physical books, these small tablet-like devices allow you to read digital books. Kindle has a long been a leader in the industry, and thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can save when buying two Kindle Scribes.

As of Sept. 10, two Kindle Scribe devices with basic pen are on sale at Amazon for $639.98, down from the list price of $679.98 for two. That's a savings of $40.

The Kindle Scribe can be perfect for those who want an e-reader but also like to take notes in the margin of books, sketch, or jot down their thoughts. In addition to serving as an e-reader the included basic pen means you can mark up a textbook or write a note in a novel to discuss at book club. If you're working on a PDF for work, add notes for co-workers to chat about during your next meeting.

Mashable's analysis of the best Kindle mentions the Scribe is the best option if you like to take notes.

With a 10.2-inch screen, the Kindle Scribe earns bragging rights as the largest Kindle display — twice the size of the Kindle Paperwhite. It's also large enough to read pages side-by-side when in landscape mode. The device also comes with an impressive battery, getting weeks of life before it needs to recharge.

If your handwriting isn't the best, no worries. You'll be able to convert your handwritten notes into text before sending them off to classmates or coworkers.

Keep in mind the Kindle Scribe isn't waterproof, so it might not be the best option if you spend the summer reading poolside. However, our favorite version, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, comes with waterproofing, so look into that option if you'll be near water often.

Throughout the year, Amazon offers plenty of perks for those who own a Kindle like the recent Stuff Your Kindle Day which offered thousands of titles for free. There's also the Amazon First Reads program which also offers free books.

If you and a family member, a friend, or a coworker could benefit from the functionality of the Kindle Scribe, today is a great time to save $40 when buying two devices. Happy reading!

SAVE UP TO $60: Through Sept. 23, Paramount+ is offering new and ex-subscribers 50% off annual subscriptions. That drops the price of Paramount+ Essential from $59.99 to $29.99 (or $2.50/month) and Paramount+ with Showtime from $119.99 to $59.99 (or $5/month).

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential annual subscription $29.99
$59.99 Save $30.00 50% off through Sept. 23 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ / Showtime Paramount+ with Showtime annual subscription $59.99
$119.99 Save $60.00 50% off through Sept. 23 Get Deal

Week two of the 2024-2025 NFL season is kicking off with an epic deal on Paramount+ — the streaming home of your local AFC games on Sundays. Sure, it's just one of the many streamers you'll need to watch every game this season, but this discount could significantly lower your overall streaming costs for game day.

Through Sept. 23, annual subscriptions to Paramount+ are 50% off for your first year. This brings the yearly cost of Paramount+ Essential from $59.99 to $29.99 (breaking down to just $2.50/month) and Paramount+ with Showtime from $119.99 to $59.99 (breaking down to just $4.99/month). The promo is available for both new and former subscribers.

Besides being the streaming hub for NFL on CBS, Paramount+ is also home to UEFA Champions League matches, CBS originals like Ghosts, Survivor, and Big Brother, old Nickelodeon and MTV shows, and Paramount's latest theatrical releases like A Quiet Place: Day One and Bob Marley: One Love. All of these things are accessible with the basic Paramount+ Essential subscription. If you opt for the pricier option with Showtime, you'll also unlock the entire Showtime library — including Yellowjackets, The Curse, and The Chi — an ad-free viewing experience (except for with live TV), even more live sports, and the ability to download shows to watch offline.

Considering the current price of a yearly Paramount+ with Showtime subscription is the same cost as an Essential subscription on a regular day, we'd highly recommend signing up for 50% off before Sept. 23.

Google and Apple's legal woes are getting expensive.

On Tuesday, the tech giant lost the second and final appeal to overturn a 2017 antitrust ruling by the European Commission, forcing Google to pay $2.7 billion (2.42 billion euros). The ruling, upheld by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) said Google was guilty of anti-competitive practices via its Google Shopping service because it favored its own price-comparison tool over competing shopping tools in search results.

SEE ALSO: New evidence claims Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon could be listening to you on your devices

Now that the Google ruling has been upheld, it "validates the Commission's approach to such practices," deemed "self-preferencing," said EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager in her remarks about the ruling.

Tweet may have been deleted

"This case was symbolic because it demonstrated that even the most powerful tech companies could be held accountable. No one is above the law," Vestager continued. "It inspired regulators and policymakers worldwide to scrutinize the activities of digital giants more closely."

The judgement comes a little over a month after Google lost a huge antitrust lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice. The case said Google was operating as a monopoly by paying Apple $20 billion a year to make Google the default search engine on Safari.

Apple lost in the EU courts too

Speaking of Apple, that company is also in trouble with the European Commission. On Tuesday, the same day it upheld its ruling against Google, the CJEU handed down a final decision forcing Apple to pay $14.3 billion (13 billion euros) in back taxes, after the Commission said Apple had skirted its tax bill due to loopholes in Irish tax laws. The judgment was the result of a decision upheld from 2016 that Apple has unsuccessfully tried to appeal. "It is a win for the Commission. It is also a win for the level playing field in the Single Market, and for tax justice," said Vestager in the same remarks.

Recently, Apple was fined $1.9 billion by the EU for an antitrust violation against Spotify, and it faces another fine for breaching the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) for restricting third-party apps to the Apple App Store. If that weren't enough, Apple is also in the middle of a antitrust lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice for favoring its own apps and services over third-party competitors.

LIVE NOW: The Discover Samsung Fall Sale is live through Sept. 15, offering savings of up to 35% on all of Samsung's major product categories.

A quick look at the best deals at the Discover Samsung Sale Best TV deal Our pick: Samsung 85-inch QE1D QLED 4K TV with 3.1.2 ch. Dolby Atmos soundbar $1,455.98 at Samsung (save $1,944) Get Deal Best tablet deal Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (12GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $769.99 at Samsung (save $150) Get Deal Best monitor deal Samsung 43-inch M70D Smart Monitor $299.99 at Samsung (save $200) Get Deal Best phone deal Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (512GB) $1899.99 at Samsung (save $120, plus up to $1,200 in trade-in credits) Get Deal

Apple isn't the only one having an event this week. The big Discover Samsung Fall Sale kicked off on Monday, Sept. 9 and runs through Friday, Sept. 15, and Samsung itself assures shoppers that this is one of the smartest times of year to find deals on Samsung's most sought after products.

SEE ALSO: All of the best football streaming deals for the 2024–2025 NFL season

You can save up to 35% across categories like TVs, phones, tablets, monitors, laptops, smartwatches, and large appliances, with some discounts getting even juicier if they're featured as a fleeting Deal of the Day. If there's a device you were planning on grabbing during Prime Big Deal Days in October, this could be your chance to snag it and enjoy it for an extra month.

We'll be tracking the best deals in top categories as the week goes on, so be sure to check back if you don't feel like perusing the sale yourself.

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsnung Our pick: Samsung 85-inch QE1D 4K QLED TV with 3.1.2 ch. Dolby Atmos soundbar $1,455.98 at Samsung
$3,399.98 Save $1,944.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Football season's not a bad time to finally make that TV upgrade you've been fantasizing about. And sports will look great on the dual LED screen of the 2024 QLED TV that Samsung is spotlighting on Sept 10. Dual LED backlighting offers more balanced color (which is already quite punchy with any Samsung QLED) and brightness across the entire screen than traditional edge lighting, and Samsung's is particularly innovative — it automatically adjusts backlighting based on what you're watching.

This deal is actually a bundle, which includes the giant 85-inch version of Samsung's QE1D TV, plus a 3.2.1 ch Dolby Atmos soundbar that pairs deliciously with the TV's Q-Symphony audio system for a surround sound experience. The package would typically cost almost $3,500, but it's less than $1,500 during the sale. If you have an old TV to get rid of, you can save another $50 by letting Samsung pick it up and recycle it for you.

More TVs on sale

• Samsung 65-inch S90C 4K OLED TV — $1,499.99 $2,599.99 (save $1,100)

• Samsung 65-inch The Terrace 4K QLED Full Sun TV — $6,499.99 $9,999.99 (save $1,500)

• Samsung 75-inch QN90C 4K QLED TV — $1,799.99 $3,299.99 (save $500)

• Samsung 75-inch The Frame 4K QLED TV — $2,499.99 $2,999.99 (save $500)

Best tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (12GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $769.99 at Samsung
$919.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The super solid Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 was already an easy choice if you're simply in the market for an entry-level Android tablet. That choice is even easier when the version with beefier memory and storage is on sale for less than $800. The model featured here has 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage (versus the $649.99 version with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage) and is WiFi only.

"Entry level" doesn't feel so "entry level" when any content you stream or graphic designs you whip up are displayed so vividly on Samsung's Dynamic AMOLED 2X screens. The "2X" refers to the screen's ability to jump from 60 Hz to 120 Hz during gaming — a nearly lag-less experience not often had on tablets in this price range. This Galaxy Tab S9 comes the S Pen stylus, Transcript Assist using Galaxy AI, as well as two free months of Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Express (both a $19.98 value each).

More tablets and other computing devices on sale

Tablets

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (4GB RAM, 64GB) — $169.99 $219.99 (save $50)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (6GB RAM, 128GB) — $349.99 $449.99 (save $100)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ (8GB RAM, 128GB) — $469.99 $599.99 (save $130)

Laptops

• Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,399.99 $2,574.98.99 (save $174.99 plus up to $600 in trade-in credits)

Best monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung 43-inch M70D Smart Monitor $299.99 at Samsung
$499.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If your space doesn't have room for both a TV and a nice desktop setup, opting for a smart streaming monitor from Samsung means you don't have to choose between them. The 43-inch M7 can be operated via mouse and keyboard or remote, eliminating the need for strategically wrangling adapters and dongles. Samsung's smart TV platform and Gaming Hub are built right in, too, so the switchover from work to entertainment is as quick as switching apps.

More monitors on sale

• Samsung 27-inch ViewFinity S8 4K Monitor — $279.99 $399.99 (save $120)

• Samsung 32-inch Odyssey QHD Gaming Monitor — $299.99 $429.99 (save $130)

• Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 OLED Gaming Monitor — $1,099.99 $1,999.98 (save $899.00)

Best phone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (512GB) $1,899.99 at Samsung
$2,019.99 Save $120.00 plus up to $1,200 in trade-in credits Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 was one of the many devices unveiled at Samsung Unpacked in July. While it didn't receive the snazzy hardware upgrades that the S24 line did, it's already inherently one of the most fun phones on the market — you know, the whole "unfolds into a tablet" thing. However, the Z Fold6 does do a ton of new stuff, and that's all thanks to Galaxy AI integration. New features include Note Assist, Live Translate, Sketch to Image, and Circle to Search.

More phones on sale

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 (512GB) — $1,099.99 $1,219.99 (save $120 plus up to $650 in trade-in credits)

• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (512GB) — $1,299.99 $1,419.99 (save $120 plus up to $750 in trade-in credits)

SAVE UP TO $1,000: Shop TVs on sale during Best Buy's NFL kickoff event. Find budget picks like $60 off the Samsung UHD 4K TV, knocking it down to $269.99 for 18% off.

Best TV deals during Best Buy's NFL kickoff sale Best TV deal overall Samsung 43-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV $269.99 at Best Buy (Save $60) Get Deal Best runner-up TV deal Samsung 75-inch Class DU6900 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV $569.99 at Best Buy (Save $130) Get Deal Best OLED TV deal LG 65-inch Class B4 Series OLED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV $1,499.99 at Best Bey (Save $1,000) Get Deal

NFL season is in full swing. Many of us are just here for the chicken wings and spinach and artichoke dip (guilty) but for those who actually want to watch the game, the TV is the star of the show. If you're looking to host weekly games, and realizing your TV isn't making the cut, it's time to upgrade. Luckily, Best Buy's NFL kickoff sale is ready to help you save some money.

4K TVs are the peak of picture, but that doesn't mean you're going to be tackled by high prices. You'll find 4K models for under $300 during Best Buy's sale. While there are plenty of budget picks, there are deals on OLED TVs from Samsung, LG, and Sony too. Here are the best TV deals to shop during Best Buy's NFL kickoff.

Best TV deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung 43-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV $269.99 at Best Buy
$329.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

At 43 inches, the Samsung DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV is the ideal budget pick. Its size works best in medium-size rooms, making it great for those with smaller living spaces who still want to host friends for viewing parties. The Crystal UHD display delivers a bright, smooth picture so you can catch every second in the clearest detail.

At $329.99, this TV is already a fantastic value, especially with the built-in Smart TV. Now, it's on $269.99, so you'll save $60 ahead of game day for 18% off.

More Best Buy TV deals

• LG 43-inch Class UT75 Series LED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $269.99 $329.99 (save $60)

• Samsung 50-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV — $349.99 $379.99 (save $30)

• LG 55-inch NanoCell 75UQA Series LED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)

• LG 65-inch NanoCell 75UQA Series LED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $549.99 $899.99 (save $350)

• Samsung 75-inch Class DU6900 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV — $569.99 $699.99 (save $130)

• LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $799.99 $1,499.99 (save $700)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia7 Mini LED QLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV — $1,499.99 $2,299.99 (save $800)

• LG 65-inch B4 Series OLED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $1,499.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,000)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia XR A80L OLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV — $1,499.99 $2,199.99 (save $700)

• LG 65-inch C4 Series OLED evo 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $1,699.99 $2,699.99 (save $1,000)

• Samsung 85-inch QN85D Series NEO QLED 4K Smart Tizen TV — $2,299.99 $3,699.99 (save $1,400)

How do you top one of the scariest movie endings of the last decade? This was the challenge facing James Watkins, the director behind such eerie English fare as Eden Lake and The Woman in Black, as he remade Speak No Evil, a 2022 Danish film that had critics cheering — and screaming. 

A psychological thriller about the dangers of committing to civility, Speak No Evil rattled audiences to their core by playing out the sicko possibilities of "What's the worst that could happen" on a weekend getaway with new friends. Hot off the critical praise of the film, American horror studio Blumhouse Productions snapped up the rights for a remake. Watkins promptly adapted Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup's original script, much of which was already in English. And within two years from the original's U.S. release, a Hollywood version is hitting theaters, starring such celebrated actors as James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, and Aisling Franciosi. 

The talent assembled is promising. The original film is fantastic, both darkly funny and deeply, deeply chilling. So what could go wrong? Well, Blumhouse and Watkins could fuck with the recipe to cater to American expectations, and they've done just that. 

Speak No Evil, now with backstory. Lots and lots of backstory.  Ant (Dan Hough), Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), and Paddy (James McAvoy) in "Speak No Evil." Credit: Universal Studios

Rather than bore you with a breathless comparison between Christian Tafdrup's harrowing original and Watkin's wobbly remake, here are the broad strokes. 

Both films follow an upper-middle-class married couple with a young daughter, who collectively befriend a gruff but lovable family of three while vacationing abroad. Taking the party to a second location — specifically, the latter family's remote and rustic home in a rural landscape — the posh and desperately polite family gets increasingly uncomfortable as their personal boundaries are tramped on by their beaming and beguiling hosts. A diabolical snare has been set. Where does politeness cross into compliance? Where does rudeness punch into ruthlessness? Both movies have very different answers despite telling mostly the same story. 

SEE ALSO: 'Speak No Evil' review: A frightening parable of 'F*ck Politeness.'

In Watkins' version, every single character gets backstory, whether or not there's any real need for it. American couple Louise (Davis) and Ben (McNairy) aren't just comfortably wealthy liberals who yearn to seem accepting of all cultural differences. They are also enduring marital strife after a brush with infidelity. Irish Paddy (McAvoy) and Ciara (Franciosi) aren't only a mix of abrasive and enviable — chiefly for their lack of fucks about society's squeamish demands for politeness. This time, they also have tearful monologues that delve into tragic childhoods, personal loss, and domestic violence. Even the kids — who are mostly doe-eyed poppets in danger in the original — are given more, including newfound agency that feels very post-girl boss placating. But sometimes less is more. 

Perhaps the thought was that we needed to know more about these characters to be invested in their struggle. Or perhaps Watkins was determined to prove his remake was more than a superficial redo. But he's answering questions as relevant to this story as, "Gee, how did Han Solo get his name?" The rough strokes of the original film painted a complete picture. These new details feel like a feckless flourish more than they provide newfound depth. Besides, sometimes it's scarier just not to know why. 

James McAvoy's casting was a mistake from day one.  Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) in "Speak No Evil." Credit: Universal Studios

It's not that McAvoy isn't up to the task of playing a brash yet enchanting baddie. It's actually the opposite. He's done this so effectively in films like Split, Filth, and Glass that his very presence telegraphs the thriller's dark turn. And Blumhouse knows it, as their Speak No Evil's marketing poster centers squarely on the Scottish actor's mug, smiling menacingly. 

In the original film, a scorching score over mundane moments warned of danger. But Fedja van Huêt, who thrillingly portrayed the predatory Patrick, wasn't immediately alarming. In fact, he often deflated conflict by being willfully silly or jarringly vulnerable, jolting his captive comrade out of fear of violence. McAvoy, who's bulked up in this role with his beefy arms bursting from a snug tank top, isn't able to let off the gas, even when he's following Patrick's path beat-for-beat. In the original, it's uncomfortable yet funny when van Huêt sings female-led pop to defuse a situation. But when McAvoy does it, his intensity makes the bit feel like a dare rather than a tactic. He's just creepy. And this makes it harder to settle into the empathetic terror of "but for the grace of God go I." 

Speak No Evil for Americans means coddling the audience.  Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler), Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy), and Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davis) in "Speak No Evil." Credit: Universal Studios

American horror thrives on convention. Horror fans line up for franchises so they can see Michael Myers rise again and again, logic be damned. We relish the twisted safety we have watching a familiar cliche play out. When the open door is shut and there's a knife-wielding killer behind it, we might jump in fright — but we also feel comforted by having seen it coming. On some level, these movies that play by convention satisfy us by subtly promising that we'd fare better than the fools being slaughtered on screen. 

The original Speak No Evil didn't play by these rules. There'd be no hint dropped about a good improvised weapon should the need arise. No dialogue hinted that this unassuming couple is secretly prepared to turn Final Girl +1. The new Speak No Evil does play this game, and in doing so pulls the remake away from its psychological thriller roots and firmly into slasher terrain in a final act that is very, very different from its source and the ending that still makes me shiver. 

SEE ALSO: We need to talk about 'Speak No Evil's twisted ending

It's a damn shame. This Speak No Evil is surprising in all the wrong ways. Yes, it's competently constructed and earnestly performed. But ultimately, Watkins (and Blumhouse) pull the punches of the original, presumably so Americans can maintain a smug pleasure in horror formulas. The filmmakers' assumption about their audiences seems to be that they need motivations and plot points spelled out. So not only are we given increasingly tedious monologues, but also an insert shot, plucked from the original, hammered home by a finger in frame literally pointing to the key detail. "DO YOU GET IT, NOW?!" The shot seems to scream. 

More than this low expectation of audience comprehension, this Speak No Evil suggests American audiences cannot imagine feeling truly powerless — or perhaps don't want to. (The Saw franchise, now 10 films deep, scoffs at this assumption.) That is the ultimate horror of the original Speak No Evil. What if that pivotal life or death moment came, and you couldn't live up to Hollywood's popular fight-back fantasy? Tafdrup chased that fear to a bone-chilling and graphic climax that takes no prisoners. Watkins didn't dare.

For his version, Watkins has gussied up a convoluted action sequence to coddle American exceptionalism. Ironically, he does this by cutting the original's most horrific scenes and in their place offering underwhelming substitutions, like swapping a rare porterhouse steak for a bit of soggy cardboard. Of course, if you've never savored the blood and bite of a steak, this processed remake will probably serve just fine. 

Speak No Evil opens in theaters Sept. 13.

Are you ready to add onto your credit card debt?

You better be, because the PS5 Pro is real and it's expensive. Sony finally lifted the curtain off the upgraded mid-gen PS5 console with a short video hosted by PlayStation hardware guru Mark Cerny. Put simply, it's just a more powerful PS5. It will play all of the same games, but some of them will look and run better on it.

It launches on Nov. 7 for $699 (yes, $699) and does not come with a disc drive or a vertical stand. Preorders begin on Sept. 26.

SEE ALSO: PlayStation shuts down 'Concord' two weeks after launch

Cerny's video was relatively quick and to the point, outlining some of the more nerdy technical details before showing off how some games look on PS5 Pro. It's got a larger GPU, more advanced ray tracing, and AI upscaling capabilities that can bring higher resolutions and frame rates to games. Cerny showed The Last of Us Part II Remastered running at 60 frames per second on the game's "Graphics Mode" option, which would run at 30FPS on a PS5.

Cerny seemed to imply that multiple games will be able to boost 30FPS modes up to 60FPS, which would indeed be huge. Having to choose between graphics modes on PS5 games has become increasingly difficult as games become more advanced and the compromises on one end or the other become more extreme. Black Myth: Wukong, for example, looks amazing on PS5, but its 30FPS mode is wildly unstable and its 60FPS mode has substantial input delay. If a PS5 Pro could fix that, it may go a long way.

But $700 for a console with no disc drive will be a tough sell for a lot of people, especially those who thought $500 for the OG PS5 was asking a lot. We'll see how many people choose to take the plunge come November.

Several Nespresso coffee makers are on sale for up to 30% off at Amazon as of Sept. 10. Here are some of our favorites:

Best Nespresso deals at Amazon Best overall deal Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ (Mango Yellow) $99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best Nespresso machine bundle under $250 Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine with Aeroccino3 milk frother $230.99 at Amazon (save $38.96) Get Deal Best Nespresso machine for cafe-style drinks De'Longhi Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (White) $349.16 at Amazon (save $149.84) Get Deal

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the dark mornings of fall and winter are just a few weeks away.

If you're looking for something to help with those dreary mornings, Amazon has several Nespresso coffee makers on sale during the week of Sept. 10 that'll save you up to 30%.

Ordering a pumpkin spice latte every day from your local coffee shop can add up quickly. A Nespresso machine can prove to be an efficient and low-maintenance way to make a pretty great cup of coffee (or cappuccino, latte, mocha, etc.) for a lot less.

Nespresso machines can come with a steep initial cost, but thanks to this week's sale prices at Amazon, we're seeing some sweet discounts (up at $150 off) that have us perked up. Here are some of our top picks.

Best espresso machine deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ (Mango Yellow) $99.00 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For just $99, the adorable Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ in the Mango Yellow colorway can be sitting on your kitchen counter, brightening up dark mornings with both coffee and a pop of color. The $99 sale price at Amazon is a 23% discount off the usual price of $129. The smaller design of the machine can be perfect if you're short on countertop space or live in an apartment.

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ has five size coffee cup size options to choose from and a removable 25-ounce water tank that's placed on the side, so it's easier to remove and refill. The machine also comes with a Nespresso coffee capsule tasting pack, so you'll have a few to get started and can choose your favorite. But you'll want to hop on this deal quickly since it's a limited time deal offered by Amazon, which means it could sell out.

Best Nespresso machine bundle under $250 Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine with Aeroccino3 milk frother $230.99 at Amazon
$269.95 Save $38.96 Get Deal Why we like it

If your favorite drink is a caramel cappuccino or a pumpkin spice latte, today's deal on the Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine with Aeroccino3 milk frother is ideal, especially since it's on sale at Amazon for $230.99, a 14% discount off the normal price of $269.95.

Choose between a five-ounce, eight-ounce, single, or double, then become your own at-home barista thanks to the Aeroccino3 milk frother. With an eight-ounce capacity, the frother means you'll be able to whip up a latte, cappuccino, or mocha with the press of a button. Plus, it can produce cold foam for those warm summer mornings. Instead of dropping $7 or more on your favorite barista-style drink every day, grab this bundle and save.

Best Nespresso machine for cafe-style drinks Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: De'Longhi Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (White) $349.16 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $149.84 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for ultimate ease and automation when it comes to making your favorite coffee drink, check out the De'Longhi Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima on sale at Amazon for just $349.16. To score this 30% discount, you'll need to grab the white colorway of this machine. With the touch of a button, you'll be able to make a cappuccino, latte macchiato, and foam milk for your own creations.

Choose between six coffee and espresso sizes on the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima, and you'll be well on your way to replicating any drink you'd find in a coffee house at a fraction of the cost. The machine also comes with a large-capacity 57-ounce water reservoir, which means you won't need to refill it every day, adding to the convenience of making coffee at home.

Paul W. Downs breaks down the elements of the show that has truly separated 'Hacks' from other shows about comedy.

Creator platform OnlyFans is hailed as a profitable side hustle — but how much do creators really make?

Variety did the math. Last week, OnlyFans parent company Fenix International released its UK regulatory filing for most of 2023 (up until the end of November), where it laid out its financial statements. The report reveals that the number of creator accounts grew 29 percent in 2023, from around 3.2 million to 4.1 million. Number of fan accounts (those who buy content) grew 28 percent as well, from around 239,000 to 305,000 between 2022 and 2023.

SEE ALSO: Diary of an OnlyFans queen at AVN

Gross payments made on OnlyFans, meanwhile, grew one billion dollars in the same time frame, from $5.6 to 6.6 billion. Gross means it's subject to taxes, refunds, and deferred income, so Variety estimated that creators netted $5.32 billion. Given that there are over four million creators on the platform, that means the average yearly payout is around $1,300 per creator. This includes everyone, from creators who are inactive to creators who make millions every year on the platform.

As the filing states, creators keep 80 percent of all payments made by fans. The platform keeps $1 out of every $4 a creator makes. From 2022 to 2023, OnlyFans revenue increased by $217 million, from $1.09 billion to $1.3 billion, according to the document. Profit before tax in 2023 was $658 million. Dividends (distribution of profit to shareholders) of $472 million were paid from Fenix to its only shareholder: OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky, according to The Telegraph. That means that Radvinsky made $472 million last year (at least in disclosed dividends), while the average OF creator made $1,300.

While non-adult creators can be on OnlyFans, the platform is known for NSFW content. While the filing doesn't say this explicitly, Fenix did report that "The media content on OnlyFans.com can only be shared or accessed by registered users who are over 18 years old and who have successfully completed the Creator or Fan onboarding process."