Mashable

On Wednesday, Sept. 4, GoPro announced the imminent arrival of two new action cameras, the Hero13 Black and the Hero, as well as new professional lenses. The Hero13 Black is the successor to last year's Hero12 Black, which earned a Mashable's Choice award, but the mini Hero camera is a beginner-friendly addition to the lineup.

The Hero13 Black will cost $399 and is available for preorder now; the camera will be delivered and available for purchase starting on Sept. 10.

The Hero, a smaller, simpler action camera, is priced at $199, available for preorder now, and set to be released on Sept. 22. GoPro says it's the smallest camera of its kind ever made.

SEE ALSO: Review: The best travel camera for every type of photographer

Mashable got the chance to preview and test both cameras at an August event hosted by GoPro in New York City (on the Hudson River, to be exact). A full review of both cameras will be coming soon, but in the meantime, get the full download on new features and our first impressions.

Opens in a new window Credit: GoPro GoPro Hero13 Black $399.00 at GoPro
Pre-Order Here Opens in a new window Credit: GoPro GoPro Hero mini 4K action camera $199.00 at GoPro
Pre-Order Here What's new with the Hero13 Black action camera?

The Hero13 Black offers iterative improvements in key areas you'd expect, including battery life, editing features, and motion stabilization. However, the new camera also has some new features and accessories geared toward pro users.

The new Hero13 Black can capture close-up footage like never before — with the right lens mod. Credit: GoPro

Some of the new features include:

• New lenses and ND filters

• Improvements to color clarity, shadows, and highlights

• A new magnetic mounting system

• Improved battery life

• The return of GPS geotagging

• New open-source video overlays that let you track altitude, speed, and G-force

• Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) HDR video for broadcast-standard footage

The new Hero13 Black can capture 5.3K footage at 120 frames per second. You can also capture HD-quality footage at up to 400 fps.

SEE ALSO: The best concert cameras for capturing the magic of live music New lenses, accessories, and magnetic mount

While the Hero12 Black made big advancements to motion stabilization and battery life, the Hero13's biggest changes will be harder to appreciate for casual users. GoPro previously dropped GPS capabilities for the Hero12 (they were a big drain on battery life), but GPS is back in the 13 model.

Credit: GoPro Credit: GoPro

For the Hero13 Black, GoPro is debuting new lens mods and filters that give creators and adrenaline junkies new tools for capturing professional-quality photos. However, all of the new accessories have to be purchased separately.

The new GoPro lenses include:

Ultra-Wide Lens Mod: Ideal for capturing POV footage with a 177-degree field of view. A new 1:1 aspect ratio lets you switch between vertical and widescreen while editing. This lens will cost users $99.99.

Macro Lens Mod: The Macro Lens mod provides variable focus, letting the camera clearly depict objects up to four times closer than the default lens. (Focus on objects just 4.3 inches away from the camera.) Plus, a focus ring lets users manually adjust the focus. The Macro Lens Mod is priced at $129.99.

Anamorphic Lens Mod: GoPro created this lens for creators who want to capture more artistic, cinematic footage with their cameras. This lens mod offers a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio and J.J. Abrams-style lens flares. This lens won't be released until 2025; it will also be priced at $129.99.

ND Filter 4-Pack: For professional videographers, a new ND filter set is available for the Hero13. The 4-pack includes ND4, ND8, ND16, and ND32 filters. These neutral density filters give creators more options and result in more cinematic motion blur. The 4-pack is available for $69.99.

When you attach a lens mod or filter to the Hero13, the camera automatically recognizes the filter and adjusts settings accordingly. It can even recommend the right ND filter for the light conditions.

Finally, a new magnetic latch (a ball joint mount and traditional mount are also available) makes it easier to attach the camera to mounts and accessories. The latch doesn't rely solely on magnetism, and in our initial testing, the connection was plenty secure and much easier to attach.

Introducing the Hero, a smaller 4K action camera The Hero lacks a front-facing display. Credit: GoPro

While the new Hero13 offers new features that pro users will appreciate, what about the rest of us? For those of us not shooting professional surfing videos or jumping out of airplanes, the Hero is an entry-level camera that's more beginner-friendly. GoPro claims it's the smallest, lightest, and cheapest 4K camera with a screen in the world, and I believe them.

The Hero, set to be released on Sept. 22, is priced at $199 and weighs just 46 grams. It's a true micro camera, about the size of a book of matches.

Not only does it have a much simpler UI, but it also strips down the settings to the bare necessities. That said, it's still waterproof up to 16 feet and has some impressive specs for a mini camera:

• Capture Ultra HD 4K and HD1080p video

• Capture 12MP photos

• Capture slow-motion videos in 2.7K and 60 frames per second

• Shoot in 16:9 aspect ratio optimized for YouTube-style videos

The new GoPro cameras: Mashable's first impressions A new magnetic latch makes it easier to connect the camera to accessories (sold separately, of course). Credit: GoPro

I'm still in the process of testing these cameras, but in the meantime, I can tell you that I've been very impressed so far. For casual users who already have the Hero12 Black, I probably wouldn't recommend updating to the new camera, but it's working hard to justify its $399 price tag.

I've been having a lot of fun playing around with the new lenses and accessories. I think vloggers, professional videographers and photographers, and adrenaline junkies will feel the same way. I haven't been able to really play around with the Hero yet, but I can confirm it's adorably small.

Look how small it is! Credit: GoPro

The HLG video on the Hero13 is also impressive. A GoPro representative showed Mashable side-by-side footage from the Hero12 and Hero13 on an XDR display, and there were noticeable improvements to color, shadows, and highlights. This camera shoots true professional, broadcast-ready video that can only be fully appreciated by pros (and camera nerds).

Of course, those are just my first impressions, and I'm withholding a verdict and endorsement for now.

Head to GoPro to pre-order the new Hero13 Black ($399) and Hero ($199) cameras now.

John Cho turns our game 'Know Your Role' on its head by creating a new storyline for each image from iconic AI movies.

GoPro's annual action camera update has arrived, with the company unveiling its new HERO13 Black today — as well as introducing its baby brother HERO. 

This year GoPro's flagship model doesn't have many significant changes from last year's HERO12 Black though, with the HERO 13 Black rocking many of the same specs. Like Malibu Stacy's hat, the real upgrades here lie in the accessories.

SEE ALSO: Insta360 launches GO 3S, a tiny 4K action camera with Apple's Find My GoPro HERO13 Black: If it ain't broke Credit: GoPro

The $399.99 HERO13 Black unsurprisingly sees the return of GoPro's tried and true form factor, making it compatible with most past accessories. The one notable change to its external hardware is in the new camera's mounting options. While GoPro's standard flip-down mounting prongs are still present, the HERO13 now has a 1/4-20 mounting thread enabling you to attach it to a standard tripod. Other than that, it's the same GoPro body we're familiar with.

Not much has changed regarding its capabilities either. The HERO13 Black's maximum resolutions are the same as the HERO12 Black, maxing out at 5.3K at 60fps or 4K at 120fps. In fact, the vast majority of its specs are the same as last year's model, from its digital lenses to its aspect ratio options, to its video stabilisation, horizon lock, and time lapse intervals. 

Though that isn't to say there's nothing new at all.

Credit: GoPro

The most notable new feature is that the HERO13 Black's power capacity has been boosted with a new 1900mAh battery, up from the HERO12 Black's 1720mAh. GoPro states that this larger battery combined with the HERO13 Black's improved power efficiency provides the camera with enough juice to continuously record for 1.5 hours at its highest resolution settings, over twice the length of the HERO12 Black's 70-minute limit. However, it's worth noting that the HERO13 Black and its battery have no cross-compatibility with previous GoPros or their batteries, so you can't mix and match.

Another new feature is the HERO13 Black's Burst Slo-Mo mode, which captures short clips at high frame rate and resolution. Both the HERO13 and HERO12 Black already have a slo-mo mode, which has a maximum framerate of 240fps. Burst Slo-Mo mode bumps this framerate to a maximum of 400fps at 720p, turning 15 real-time seconds into a three-minute and 20 second video. It can also record 360fps at 900p, turning 15 real-time seconds into a three-minute clip, while its maximum resolution of 5.3K at 120fps turns five real-time seconds into a 20-second slow motion video.

Further changes include a new audio tuning option which allows you to prioritise voices while retaining ambient sounds. The HERO13 Black also sees the return of GPS data support, a feature which was first introduced in HERO5 Black but was missing from the HERO12 Black. 

Even so, the HERO13 Black's improvements are relatively minor overall. If you already have a HERO12 Black, there seems little incentive to upgrade to this year's model. That is, unless you want to take advantage of GoPro's new array of HERO13 Black-exclusive accessories.

GoPro's new magnet mount is much more convenient Credit: GoPro

GoPro embraced the power of magnets this year, introducing a new Magnetic Latch mount. Previously, mounting a GoPro required taking the time to twist a thumb screw through the camera's pronged mounting system. While undoubtedly secure, this system is irritating if you just want to quickly switch mounts and get back to the action.

The HERO13 Black's Magnetic Latch mount bypasses this process by using magnets to snap the camera into place, as well as a dual-latch system to keep it there. You simply need to pinch the Magnetic Latch mount's sides when you want to attach or remove the camera, making changing your mount so easy that you might actually do it more often.

Despite this, it's important to note that GoPro's Magnetic Latch does still need to be attached to your tripod, head strap, or other mount via the traditional thumb screw. As such, you'll have to invest in several Magnetic Latches for each of your various mounts if you want to swap them out on the fly. The Magnetic Latch isn't as secure as GoPro's standard thumb screw mount though, so you'll still want to stick with that for activities such as extreme sports.

GoPro has also introduced a new Ball Joint mount which will allow you to pivot your camera 180 degrees, simplifying the process of adjusting your camera angle.

New external charging accessory lets you record for longer Credit: GoPro

Another new magnetic accessory is the Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit.

Attaching a GoPro to an external power source previously meant leaving the battery door open to access the USB-C port underneath, exposing it to the elements. This new kit allows you to swap out the HERO13 Black's battery door for one with magnetic charging capabilities, letting you snap on the included cable and charge your camera while the cover is closed. You can also run your HERO13 Black on this cable alone, with no battery installed in your camera.

This kit means you no longer need to weigh up the risk of your GoPro dying in the middle of a time lapse with the danger of it getting destroyed by inclement weather. The Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit is also waterproof to 33 feet (10 metres) deep, even while the charging cable is attached. It is only compatible with the HERO13 Black though, so you'll have to pick up GoPro's new camera if you want to benefit from this functionality.

GoPro's HERO13 Black gets special eyes

While the HERO13 Black can be operated more or less straight out of the box, this year GoPro has revealed several new lenses offering alternate filming options.

Fortunately, you won't have to fiddle around with the settings on your GoPro every time you swap out its lens. The HERO13 Black automatically detects when a new lens is attached and adjusts its settings accordingly. All the lenses are waterproof to various depths, so you can safely take them on beach trips as well.

However, buying these lenses can feel like a lot after you've already shelled out $399.99 for the camera itself. GoPro's new lenses are all sold separately to the HERO 13 Black, and are unfortunately incompatible with previous models. As such, you'll probably want to see if the base camera alone is enough to fulfil your needs before you consider investing in a new lens.

Ultra Wide Lens Mod Credit: GoPro

The Ultra Wide Lens Mod allows you to capture footage in a 1:1 aspect ratio, allowing you to crop it to your preference later on. This ability to choose between landscape or portrait later seems particularly handy for people who want to create both YouTube videos and TikTok clips from the same footage. 

With a 177-degree field of view, the Ultra Wide Lens Mod isn't compatible with the HERO13 Black's maximum resolution, topping out at 4K at 60fps. Even so, that's still more than enough for the average user. Its flexible aspect ratio still means it's arguably the HERO13 Black's most versatile optional lens.

Macro Lens Mod Credit: GoPro

Close-up shots probably aren't the first thing to come to mind when you think of an action camera. Even so, getting up close and personal can let you highlight the subtle details of a scene, as well as produce good B-roll fodder for your final edit. The new Macro Lens Mod allows you to focus on objects as close as 4.3 inches (11 centimetres), four times closer than the GoPro's standard lens. It also has a variable focus for manual adjustments.

Anamorphic Lens Mod Credit: GoPro

The Anamorphic Lens Mod offers an ultra-wide 21:9 field of view, the widest ever offered on a GoPro HERO camera. It does this with little distortion as well, so you don't get that fish-eye look that frequently appears in wide action camera shots. GoPro's Anamorphic Lens also adds horizontal lens flares to help make your shots look more like movie scenes than home videos.

ND Filter 4-Pack Credit: GoPro

Finally, GoPro's ND Filter 4-Pack set adds a motion blur to your footage for a cinematic effect, allowing you to choose between ND4, ND8, ND16, and ND32 filters. You don't have to have a deep understanding of videography to use GoPro's new neutral density filters either. The HERO13 Black automatically detects whichever ND filter you've added, adjusts its settings accordingly, and even suggests you switch out the filter if it isn't the optimal choice for your environment. 

More advanced users can still choose to adjust the shutter speed and exposure manually, but the HERO13 Black's ability to automatically optimise its settings makes its ND filters much easier for the average person to use.

Introducing GoPro's little HERO Credit: GoPro

GoPro strayed into the tiny camera space in 2022 with the HERO11 Black Mini, a screenless 133-gram device comparable in size to an AirPods Pro case. This year the company's going even lighter, introducing the 86-gram HERO. And this time, it has a screen.

Like the HERO11 Black Mini, the $199.99 GoPro HERO is capable of shooting 4K video and has just one physical button. Unlike the HERO11 Black Mini, the HERO has a LCD touchscreen making it easier to frame up shots and swap between modes. It also claims up to 100 minutes of recording at its highest settings on a single charge, and can take 12MP photos while the HERO 11 Black Mini is restricted to video.

Not everything is an upgrade. The HERO is only waterproof to 16 feet (five metres), half the depth that the HERO11 Black Mini and HERO13 Black can handle. It also isn't as small and lightweight as other options, such as the thumb-sized 39g Insta360 GO 3S. 

Even so, the addition of a screen makes the HERO an intriguing prospect for those who prefer a smaller camera, but still want to see what they're filming without referring to an app.

Credit: GoPro

The $399.99 GoPro HERO13 Black and most of its lenses are available for preorder now, with shipping to begin Sept. 10. The exception is the Anamorphic Lens Mod, which will arrive in 2025. The $199.99 HERO is also currently available for preorder, however it will only begin shipping Sept. 22.

Just in time for IFA 2024, Acer unveiled a concept gaming laptop called Project DualPlay.

This isn't just any ol' gaming laptop. This rig has a touchpad that doubles as a gaming controller. In other words, Acer has conceptualized a gaming laptop with a detachable wireless controller.

And once you're done with it, you can pop it back into its dock.

Project DualPlay: Everything we know about it

The operative word here is "concept." This gaming laptop that Acer has envisioned here is nowhere near the ready-for-market stage.

Credit: Mashable Composite: Acer/Mikhael Johanes/Shutterstock.com

In fact, it may never come to market at all, but it's certainly a bold idea.

Users can detach the controller from its electromagnetic lock by placing two fingers on the release button, which is located on the keyboard deck.

If that's not enough, Acer said the controller on this concept laptop will be able to separate into two joysticks. What's one of the use cases for this? "Head-to-head combat on the next evolution of the Street Fighter series," Acer said.

Releasing the controller also prompts two speakers to pop out from the sides of the laptop; this audio system offers "high fidelity," five-watt speakers.

If you're a fan of the flashy gamer aesthetic, you'll love that Project DualPlay is wrapped in customizable, 360-degree RGB lighting on the display bezels, keyboard, and trackpad area.

Credit: Acer

It's a bit wacky, yes, but it gives us some insight into how gaming laptops may look like in the future.

Alongside Project DualPlay, Acer announced a slew of other laptops that are actually real, including the Swift 14 AI and Swift 16 AI laptops, as well as some gaming laptops like the Nitro V 14 and the Nitro V 16.

Finally, Acer also unveiled a new Steam Deck rival called the Nitro Blaze 7.

The Acer Nitro Blaze 7 joins the likes of the Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally X, and the recently announced MSI Claw 8 AI+.

Its design language reminds me of Acer's Nitro gaming laptop line, with a striking black-and-red color scheme that screams "I'm a gaming beast!"

The question is, does its performance match its aggressive aesthetics? We won't know until we test it ourselves, but let's take a look at the specs.

SEE ALSO: MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a new handheld gaming PC: 3 ways it may beat Steam Deck Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Everything we know

First, let's talk about the display. The Nitro Blaze 7 comes with a 7-inch, 1080p IPS touchsceen, similar to the ROG Ally X. But the difference is, unlike the Asus handheld's 120Hz refresh rate display, the Nitro Blaze 7 has a 144Hz screen.

Credit: Acer

I'm not convinced that users will be able to get games to run anywhere near 144 frames per second to take advantage of the Nitro Blaze 7's refresh rate. However, the Acer handheld's 144Hz screen should make gameplay feel smooth and seamless.

The display supports AMD FreeSync Premium, too, a technology that should enhance the visual performance of the Nitro Blaze 7's panel.

This AMD mention brings me to my next point.

Nitro Blaze 7 internals

The Nitro Blaze 7 comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, which boasts up to 39 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second). This is a metric that helps users understand how well a device can handle AI-based computational tasks.

Credit: Acer

For reference, laptops like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip) have up to 45 TOPS of power, so the Nitro Blaze 7 isn't far off from some laptops' AI capabilities.

You may be wondering, "What does AI have to do with gaming?" Well, AI is helpful for graphical upscaling when a game is rendered at a lower resolution to reduce strain on the GPU.

The Nitro Blaze 7 also comes with the following:

• AMD Radeon 780M GPU

• 16GB of RAM

• Up to 2TB of SSD storage

As you might have guessed, the Nitro Blaze 7 also ships with Windows 11 Home. For my candid thoughts on Windows on a gaming handheld PC, read my Asus ROG Ally X review.

Credit: Acer

Regarding ports and connectivity, the Nitro Blaze 7 supports Wi-Fi 6E, and features a USB4 (USB Type-C) port and a microSD card reader.

Unfortunately, we don't have any word on pricing just yet, but we'll update this piece as soon as we know.

After playing The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom for about 90 minutes, my main takeaway is that Princess Zelda finally being the protagonist of a Zelda game is maybe the fourth or fifth most interesting thing about it.

That's not to say Zelda taking center stage after a few decades of being a damsel in distress isn't significant or awesome — because it is both of those things. But Nintendo's latest mainline Zelda entry (surprisingly launching only a year and a half after Tears of the Kingdom) is experimental in more ways than just giving players a new pair of shoes to step into.

With what seems like a refreshing mix of classic Zelda design and modern Zelda mechanics, Echoes of Wisdom might have a little bit of something for every type of Zelda fan.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo is shutting down 'Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp' — but you'll still be able to keep playing Tri to keep up Trampolines are great. Credit: Nintendo

As announced in the June Nintendo Direct, Echoes of Wisdom is a new 2D Zelda game that uses the same tech and art style as the 2019 Link's Awakening remake. My demo involved most of the game's opening bits, up to and including the first dungeon. While I didn't get to see the entire opening of the story, it seems appropriately Zelda-y.

Basically, some evil purple magic stuff has started taking over parts of Hyrule and stealing citizens away to another realm called Still World. Link, the brave swordsman who has starred in every Zelda game up to this point, is nowhere to be found, so Zelda herself has to save her kingdom.

She'll do so with the help of Tri, a fairy who joins the franchise's legendary pantheon of magical blobs that help the player throughout their journey.

Tri's got more tricks up their sleeves than just shouting "Hey! Listen!" over and over, though. Tri turns into the "Tri Rod," a magical staff that can store "echoes" of inanimate objects and live enemies Zelda has encountered, which Zelda can then, in turn, summon back into the world whenever she pleases.

You got your 3D Zelda in my 2D Zelda You don't wanna go in there. Credit: Nintendo

All of that has been known since Nintendo first showed the game over the summer, so my time with the demo was spent mostly looking for the things we didn't know.

After sleeping on it, I think Echoes of Wisdom is a hybrid between what Zelda used to be and what Zelda is now. In other words, it seems to be taking the more structured, puzzle-based overworld and dungeon design from old Zelda games and giving players a mechanical toolset more akin to the last two comparatively freeform entries: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild.

Perhaps the game opens up after a while (in fact, I'm almost certain it does), but what I played was not anywhere near as free-roaming as those two games. Like a classic 2D Zelda, the map is made up of small screens that each feel like a small puzzle room to solve on the way to your destination.

There may be enemies to kill or a treasure chest to find, or maybe just a cliff you need to figure out a way to climb. But the point is that this isn't a game about traversing wide open expanses.

The twist, of course, lies in the echo system. A traditional Zelda game would hand you an item in the middle of a dungeon and structure the rest of the dungeon around that item. But here, Zelda is capable of conjuring tables, beds, trampolines, and even live enemies whenever she wants.

There's a hard limit of four or five summons you can have on-screen at once, but there's no cooldown on the act of summoning an echo itself. If you want to spam tables, you can spam tables.

This means there's a lot of latitude in how you solve any given puzzle, but not too much, from what I played. For instance, when I wanted to climb from one level to another, and a ladder wasn't available, things like tables and trampolines are always useful. There might be some kind of fun, tricky way to achieve the same goal by summoning enemy snakes, but puzzles feel like they're designed around a specific subset of your available echoes and not necessarily all of them at once.

Beds are also super useful, it turns out. Credit: Nintendo

I played the game's first dungeon and pretty much immediately noted that it felt more like a regular Zelda dungeon than anything in Breath or Tears. Small, self-contained rooms contained bespoke, clever little puzzles that were often easy to solve using echoes that were conveniently placed in or near the room. It harkened back to old Zelda for me when I saw a fire-based echo and then the next few rooms revolved around using fire to solve puzzles.

Of course, combat is a thing here, and that's where enemy echoes come in. You can conjure enemies you've defeated before and they'll work on your behalf. A new lock-on targeting system (seriously, they put Z-targeting in a 2D Zelda!) makes it easy to command your echoes to attack specific enemies, and each one is useful in different scenarios.

Zelda also gets a magical "Swordfighter Form," with which she can basically just play like Link and use a sword for a while. It's meter-based and seemed pretty limited from what I could tell, so you can't just live in Swordfighter Form. You'll have to learn how to fight with echoes, too.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom: Final thoughts

Overall, I came away more impressed with Echoes of Wisdom than I anticipated. Creatively solving puzzles using echoes came to me pretty quickly despite it being unlike any other Zelda game.

As much as I love the last two gargantuan open-world adventures, the idea of a smaller, more traditional (but still very weird and unique) mainline Zelda right now sounds downright lovely.

I just can't wait to see how wild the puzzle design gets in the second half of the game.

Like any other dating app, Feeld isn't perfect. Feeld users have complained about bugs, fake profiles, and bad behavior. What the "dating app for the curious" has going for it that others don't, however, is the plethora of kinky and non-monogamous users. This makes it perfect to partner with Dr. Justin Lehmiller, fellow at Indiana University's sex research center the Kinsey Institute, for insights about sex, gender, and kink.

In a new survey of 3,310 Feeld users aged 18 to 77 from 71 different countries (including the U.S., UK, Canada, and the Netherlands), Feeld and Kinsey research fellow Lehmiller found that Gen Z in particular has both traditional and kinky desires.

SEE ALSO: Predictions for sex in the future that some will love — and some will hate Gen Z fantasizes about monogamy...

In another broad sample of people — 4,175 Americans aged 18 to 88 — Lehmiller found that 81 percent of Gen Z reported fantasizing about monogamy, while 44 percent said they fantasized about it often. Gen Z was also least likely to fantasize about being in an open relationship; 62 percent said they'd have that fantasy, and only 18 percent have it often.

For older generations (there wasn't much difference across boomers, Gen X, and millennials), 71 percent fantasize about monogamy and 23 to 27 percent fantasize about it often. Meanwhile, 75 to 80 percent of these generations have fantasized about an open relationship, with 31 to 32 percent fantasizing about it often.

Among Feeld users (the app calls them "Members"), monogamy was the single most preferred relationship type among Gen Z. For millennials and Gen X, non-monogamy was most preferred, and for boomers, it was friends with benefits.

Feeld and Lehmiller theorized this could be because older adults have more experience with monogamy — and since humans are drawn to novelty, they want something new and fresh. For Gen Z, though, that could very well be a relationship with one person. Many came of age during lockdown, meaning they have less IRL dating experience and are less confident daters. At the same time, Hinge found earlier this year that Gen Z is more "romantically idealistic" than millennials. In the survey of over 4,000 Americans, however, nearly half of Gen Z reported that they were single.

Young people are having less sex, too. In the same survey Lehmiller conducted, the median number of times millennials and Gen X reported having sex in the last month was five. For both Gen Z and boomers, the median was lower: three times. Over a third (37 percent) of Gen Z reported having no sex in the last month, considerably less than 19 percent of millennials and 17 percent of Gen X who reported the same.

...but is also pretty kinky

While they're fantasizing about more traditional relationship styles (and not having much sex), Gen Z is apparently getting kinkier as well. In Feeld's survey, Gen Z members were most likely (55 percent) to say they've discovered a new kink since getting on the app. That number dropped to 49 percent of millennials, 39 percent of Gen X, and 33 percent of boomer users.

SEE ALSO: KinkTok is rife with misinformation. Here's why that's dangerous.

Gen Z was also most likely to report having BDSM fantasies (56 percent) according to data by both Feeld and Lehmiller, compared to 52 percent of millennials, 31 percent of Gen X, and 12 percent of boomers. Feeld contributed this to the proliferation of porn as well as the lack of sex education as a possible reason for this, along with the mainstreaming of kink (like the Fifty Shades series) and less societal kink shaming overall.

More research is needed as to why Gen Z is seemingly kinkier than older generations in some ways, while not actually having much sex. Perhaps it's not only due to porn but also the wealth of information online about different types of sex, such as on KinkTok. At the same time, it can be difficult to find someone IRL who shares the same desires as you — and also difficult to push through the awkwardness of IRL encounters. Fantasy, however, is easy.

No matter the reason, Feeld will surely keep us abreast with the latest sex and kink research.

Stephen Colbert mocked Trump's rambling style of public speaking during "The Late Show" on Tuesday.

Spotify is expanding its listening data-generated "daylist" to even more users, so I won't be the only one playing something as niche as a "demure power ballad Wednesday morning," "scream writer Monday evening," or "laurel canyon classic folk Friday afternoon" playlist around here.

The audio streaming company launched its personalised, ever-changing playlist in January in select markets, then rolled it out to 65 more markets in March. Now, Spotify is making "daylists" available to all free and paying Premium users — that's 180 markets in total at this point.

But most interestingly, the feature will be supported in 14 new languages (it was previously only available in English).

SEE ALSO: Here are the 5 songs of the summer, according to Spotify

According to Spotify's blog post, the "daylist" now comes in Arabic, Catalan, French (Canada), French (France), German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), and Turkish. The company gave examples of daylists such as "pazartesi sabah etiyopya caz enstrümantal funk" (Ethiopian jazz instrumental funk Monday morning) and "afrofuturisme funk moderne du mercredi après-midi" (modern funk afrofuturism Wednesday afternoon), two playlists I would personally love someone to send me.

"Our product team worked closely with our local music and culture experts to infuse the spirit of daylist into each language, ensuring that the feature resonates with new users worldwide," reads Spotify's blog post.

You can find your "daylist" on Spotify in the "Made for You" section in the app or on Spotify's web browser. The feature changes for morning, afternoon, and night, and is AI-generated using your listening data, much like Spotify's Niche Mixes and AI DJ — which just launched in Spanish.

A guy — we'll call him David but that's not his real name — just sent me a picture of his cat with a couple of small kittens by its side over Instagram DMs. "My cat gave birth a couple of weeks ago and had kittens," he tells me in a reply to one of my stories, a picture of my dog. It would be fair for you to think I know this person, but I don't. It's just some guy who replies to absolutely everything I post, both publicly and privately, even though he never gets a response. Above his cat, who is admittedly very cute, I can see the trail of unanswered messages spanning months, maybe even a year, behind this one. 

I wonder if I should reply to him. He's sent me so many messages, some of them detailed, and I've never replied beyond a sympathetic double-tap like here and an awkward "cheers mate!" there. Perhaps I should give him an actual response. 

But then I wonder if I should block him instead, because replying to everything a stranger does when you're not getting anything back is honestly a bit weird. 

Having a reply guy is pretty stressful. If you're unfamiliar with the phrase, it's like it sounds. A guy who replies. A guy who replies all the time. The reply guy is usually a man, and a woman seems to be the usual target, and they're a confusing phenomenon. 

What do the reply guys want? Are they flirting, trying to make friends, or do they have ill intentions? What led them to think incessant replying was a good way to do any of those things? What should we do about them — date them, tell them to piss off, or leave them to keep adding to your engagement rate? 

SEE ALSO: Why some people on dating apps just want to be 'pen pals'

To better understand reply guys, Mashable enlisted the help of relationship therapists who detailed why reply guys do so much replying in the first place, and what we should do when faced with one. 

Why are reply guys like this? 

Ayo Adesioye, a therapist at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy describes a reply guy as someone who identifies a person of interest — often a woman — and consistently responds to their posts on social media. 

While not all interactions are problematic, the reply guy's behaviour is often intrusive, inappropriate, or irrelevant. 

"This is a pattern of behaviour that is persistent, intrusive, unwanted, and often, as we're about to see, masks a number of unmet needs."

"This is a pattern of behaviour that is persistent, intrusive, unwanted, and often, as we're about to see, masks a number of unmet needs," she explains. These needs, Adesioye believes, stem from a lack of emotional literacy, particularly among men. Many men struggle to identify and express their emotions or needs, leading them to seek validation and attention in ways that aren't always socially appropriate. Replying to every single post is, for them, a way to fulfil these unmet needs, even if they're not entirely aware of it.

The motivations behind a reply guy's behaviour can vary. Some are genuinely attempting to initiate a romantic connection, viewing their replies as a form of online dating. However, this strategy often falls short. 

Eloise Skinner, psychotherapist and author of But Are You Alive? tells Mashable, "When we decide who to date, it's normally based on a mix of characteristics: personality, background, appearance, sense of humour, general compatibility, etc." The problem with reply guys, she points out, is that they don't provide a context where these characteristics can be explored. Their interactions are reactive and one-sided, making it difficult to build a meaningful connection.

It's hard to understand exactly what your reply guy is looking to gain. Skinner explains there are lots of potential motivations behind the reply guy, but a consistent one might be a desire for attention. "The act of replying puts their voice into the conversation, and makes them more visible in the comments sections or DMs," she says. 

She adds that more specific reasons might include a desire for involvement, community or connection, a sense of expertise in the subject matter or a desire to contribute to a conversation, or a desire for closeness or intimacy with someone, or a group of people.

But there's also a darker side to the reply guy phenomenon. Adesioye suggests that some reply guys might be motivated by a desire for power and control. The mansplaining, condescension, and unsolicited advice that often accompany their comments can be indicative of this. "On the less benign end of the spectrum, some may be motivated by a desire for power and control," she warns. This behaviour is not just about getting attention; it's about asserting dominance in a space where they feel they have some authority.

H2: So, should you date your reply guy? 

Both Adesioye and Skinner advise caution. There are some success stories out there. For instance, 42-year-old estate agent Ellen tells Mashable she met her partner because he was her reply guy. “The constant replying made me realise he was trying to get my attention and I asked him out. We have a great relationship that’s been going seven years now. No regrets,” she says. And the same can be said for 28-year-old copywriter Katherine, who tells Mashable she hooked up with her reply guy and it was the “best sex of my entire life”. 

Adesioye says that even though some have used it as a method of online dating, her suggestion is not to entertain reply guys because the persistence and one-sided nature of a reply guy's behaviour can carry over into a relationship, potentially leading to issues down the line.

Should you block them, ghost them, or confront them? 

If you're not interested in dating your reply guy, the question then becomes how to handle them. Should you block them, ghost them, or confront them? 

Skinner believes it depends on the individual and the situation. "For women who feel like it doesn't bother them, and if they feel safe or comfortable with the dynamic... it might be okay to leave it without acknowledgement," she says. However, for those who find the behaviour intrusive or uncomfortable, blocking is a perfectly acceptable strategy. Instagram, for example, now offers a "block all accounts" option, allowing you to block someone without them even knowing across all of their accounts as well as new accounts they may make in the future.

Adesioye, however, suggests a more hands-off approach: "Muting/ignoring/not communicating about the obsessive reply is the best strategy as what they're seeking is a response or some form of engagement from you that, once offered, may be difficult to extract yourself from." Reply guys may lack self-awareness, so even a gentle confrontation might not have the desired effect. The best approach might be to simply ignore them and hope they lose interest over time.

What if the replying gets weird?

Being a woman online is scary and sometimes this behaviour can escalate to online sexual harassment, something 38 percent of women across 51 countries have experienced according to a study by the UN. Both experts agree that your safety and well-being should always come first. 

SEE ALSO: The best dating apps and sites in September 2024

Skinner advises that if you feel targeted or harassed, you should block or mute the person, report their behaviour if necessary, and seek support from friends or platform administrators. Unfortunately, only 1 in 4 women are found to report their sexual harassment to the platform moderators or to the authorities.  "It's important that you remember you're not responsible for taking care of them or the situation" she emphasises. "Your comfort and safety are key, and it's okay to prioritise your own well-being over someone else's feelings."

While reply guys might seem harmless at first, their behaviour can quickly become intrusive or even problematic. Whether you choose to engage, deter, or ignore them, it's essential to be mindful of your boundaries and prioritise your own comfort and safety. Make your next move based on what you want, not what you think you might owe someone. Many of us learn the hard way that not every online interaction is worth your time.

Stephen King clearly has the Dark Tower on his mind in a big way.

The author has been posting on X (formerly Twitter) about his eight-book series for the past few weeks, seemingly hinting that another story could be on the horizon.

The problem? His posts were about as vague as it's possible to get. Or at least they were up until yesterday.

SEE ALSO: The best Stephen King books to read depending on your mood

On Tuesday, the horror legend finally dropped a hint about what a return to Mid-World might look like.

"I think maybe Mejis, beside the Clean Sea. And America-side," posted King, in response to a fan sharing his previous posts and asking "Where are you taking us?". "I can't stop thinking about Mid-World."

Tweet may have been deleted

Mejis, to recap, is a key location in the fourth Dark Tower novel, Wizard and Glass. It's the place main character Roland Deschain travels to in his youth in what is essentially an undercover mission, to find out about the movements of political enemy John Farson. "America-side" refers to "our" world, which in King's novels overlaps and intersects with Roland Deschain's world.

The indication from King's latest post is that he hasn't started writing anything yet — he's still in the idea phase. So if we do get to return to the Dark Tower universe, it likely won't be for a while (unless Mike Flanagan's TV adaptation gets there first, of course).

One of the best reasons to buy a Tesla over another EV is Tesla's vast Supercharging network. And while most U.S. car manufacturers have adopted the standard via a dongle, Hyundai's new Ioniq 5 is one of the first that does it natively.

On the outside, the latest Ioniq 5 isn't that different from its predecessor; the biggest visual changes come in the form of the new, rugged, Ioniq 5 XRT version, which comes with a number of details that scream "off-road."

Need something a bit more rugged? You can opt for the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT. Credit: Hyundai

But inside, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has improvements in all the right places. The Standard Range models now have a 64kWh battery (up from 58 on the previous model), while the Long Range models have an 84kWh battery (up from 77.4 on the previous model). This translates into 240+ miles of range for the RWD, SE Standard Range variant, 310+ miles of range for the RWD SE/SEL/Limited models, and 250+ to 280+ miles of range for the AWD models, depending on trim, wheel, and tire size.

No more dongles. Credit: Hyundai

Another nice touch is the native Supercharging. Instead of having to use a dongle, you can just plug the new Ioniq 5 into a Tesla Supercharger, which is great because dongles are annoying. If you want to go the other way and connect the new Ioniq 5 to a CCS plug, you'll have to use the (included) dongle.

Interior changes include physical, heated front seat controls. Credit: Hyundai

Other details include new, more aerodynamic wheels, new steering wheel design, heated rear seats on some trims, and a bunch of safety improvements; check out the full list on Hyundai's website.

The new Ioniq 5 will be manufactured at Hyundai's new facility in Georgia, with deliveries starting in the fourth quarter of 2024. It should be eligible for a $3,750 U.S. tax credit, with leases continuing to quality for the $7,500 credit, but exact pricing for the new version hasn't yet been revealed.

In 2022, journalist Alexi Mostrous investigated the story of Kirat Assi, a 29-year-old London radio broadcaster who was romantically catfished for eight years in one of the most complex cases of false identity you'll ever hear. Tortoise Media's resulting true crime podcast Sweet Bobby saw millions tuning in. And now, Assi's story will be re-examined on Netflix.

Announced by the streaming service on Wednesday, the case at the heart of Sweet Bobby will be explored in a new documentary. It's being directed by Lyttanya Shannon (who directed BBC's exceptional, Steve McQueen-produced documentary Subnormal: A British Scandal), and produced by Raw and Kiran Sira (Murder, Mystery and My Family), and executive produced by Rebecca North (Netflix's American Nightmare).

SEE ALSO: 10 best true crime podcasts about scammers

Like the podcast, the documentary will trace how Assi met a man called "Bobby" on Facebook and formed a deep friendship and romantic relationship with him that would become controlling and manipulative. The whole time, Assi was being catfished — as Mashable's Chance Townsend defines it, "the act of creating a fake profile on social media or dating platforms to deceive others, often using someone else's pictures and information to create a false identity."

But who Bobby actually was would be a mind-boggling truth involving over 60 invented characters — and a deeply devastating revelation for Assi.

"It was a slow destruction of everything I had. Bobby targeted every part of my life – my career, my dreams, my hopes, my relationship with family, with friends, my studies," Assi told the Guardian in 2022. "I could have met someone real, had a baby during that time. But the other impact has been on my mental and physical health."

As CNN reported this year, "In the UK, while catfishing itself is not classified as a criminal offense, if the person using a fake profile engages in illegal activities, like financial gain or harassment, they can be punished by law."

Netflix hasn't announced a date for Sweet Bobby yet. Until then, here's our picks of the best true crime documentaries on Netflix.

Another Stephen King story adaptation is on its way, and it sounds like the author himself is a big fan of this one.

On Tuesday we got some first look images and more information about The Life of Chuck, Mike Flanagan's adaptation of the horror author's novella of the same name, courtesy of Vanity Fair.

SEE ALSO: Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, ranked

King's description of the finished result? "A happiness machine."

It's not often you'd think of King adaptations and "happiness" in the same sentence, but The Life of Chuck isn't really a horror story — the novella is more of an offbeat surreal mystery in the vein of Being John Malkovich, in which a man called Marty suddenly begins seeing the same image appearing everywhere of a stranger called Chuck.

To say more would be to spoil the story, which is available in King's "If It Bleeds" collection. Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan, and Mark Hamill star in the adaptation. Flanagan, who wrote and directed it, has plenty of prior King form: He's previously adapted Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, and is currently working on bringing The Dark Tower to the screen.

The Life of Chuck's release date is TBC.

TL;DR: Live stream the Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know that cricket isn't for everyone, but can we all agree that T20 cricket is a lot of fun? Test cricket obviously has a place in the world of sport, and a lot of dedicated fans will always appreciate this traditional form of the game. But T20 cricket is for absolutely everyone. It's fast, fun, and available to watch for free.

If you want to watch the Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Scotland vs. Australia?

The Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series takes place on the following dates:

• Scotland vs. Australia (T20 1 of 3) — 2 p.m. BST on Sept. 4

• Scotland vs. Australia (T20 2 of 3) — 2 p.m. BST on Sept. 6

• Scotland vs. Australia (T20 3 of 3) — 2 p.m. BST on Sept. 7

The good news is that every match is available to live stream for free.

How to watch Scotland vs. Australia for free

The Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Scotland vs. Australia for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Scotland vs. Australia without committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the T20 international series before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream the Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series for free with ExpressVPN.

Haliey Welch, the internet star behind that viral "Hawk Tuah" video, is launching her own podcast.

On Monday Welch took to social media to announce the (undeniably brilliantly named) Talk Tuah.

SEE ALSO: Watch Hawk Tuah Girl's first video interview on Brianna Chickenfry's podcast

"I'm Haliey Welch," she says in the announcement video. "A little while ago my life took a complete left turn and it changed forever, and along the way I realised that everybody's entitled to their own opinion. Well now, it's my time to talk. Check out my podcast every week, Talk Tuah, where I'm sitting down with the coolest guests and having actual conversations with them."

Tweet may have been deleted

The podcast is launching with Jake Paul's sports betting company Betr. At the time of writing Talk Tuah's official YouTube channel has a little over 5,000 subscribers. There's no word yet on who the guests will be, but we'll find out soon enough.

TL;DR: For $69, you can get a lifetime subscription to SiteGuru and start optimizing your website for better search engine rankings.

Getting your website noticed online can feel like a full-time job, especially if you’re not an SEO expert. But what if you had a tool that could simplify the whole process? That’s where SiteGuru comes in. With a lifetime subscription on sale for $69, this SEO specialist tool is designed to help you optimize your site, improve your search engine rankings, and ultimately drive more traffic — all without the headaches.

SiteGuru breaks down the complex world of SEO into actionable steps, making it easier for you to understand what your site needs to rank higher on search engines like Google. It provides detailed audits that highlight areas for improvement, from broken links to slow page speeds. Plus, it offers tailored advice on how to fix these issues, so you can make the changes that matter most.

With this subscription, you'll have the ability to track your site’s progress over time. You can monitor how your improvements are impacting your rankings and traffic, allowing you to see the direct benefits of your SEO efforts. And because it’s a lifetime subscription, you’ll have access to these insights whenever you need them, without worrying about recurring fees.

Whether you’re a small business owner, a blogger, or just someone looking to grow their online presence, this tool could be your key to unlocking more traffic and better rankings.

For $69, SiteGuru offers this lifetime deal as a cost-effective way to take control of your website’s SEO and start seeing real results.

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TL;DR: For $29.99, you can secure 1TB of cloud storage with FolderFort’s Pro Plan and keep your digital life safe for a whole year.

We all know that feeling — scrolling through your phone, and suddenly you realize your storage is full, just when you were about to save that perfect cat meme. But what if you had 1TB of space to stash all those precious digital treasures? With FolderFort’s 1TB Pro Plan, you can keep every meme, photo, and important file safe in the cloud for just $19.99.

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TL;DR: For $379.99, score a refurbished MacBook Pro with a 3.1GHz i5 processor, 512GB SSD, and the surprisingly useful Touch Bar.

Let’s stir the pot a little — the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro is one of those features that’s easy to overlook but genuinely useful once you give it a shot. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just someone who appreciates a little extra convenience, this 2017 MacBook Pro could quickly become your favorite piece of tech — on sale for $379.99 (reg. $1,499) for a limited time.

With a 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage, it’s built to handle your daily grind with ease.

The Touch Bar adds a layer of customization to your workflow that you might not have known you needed. From volume sliders to quick access tools in Photoshop, the possibilities are endless — and customizable to boot. Plus, Touch ID makes logging in or making purchases a breeze, without the hassle of passwords.

This MacBook Pro doesn’t skimp on the essentials either. The Retina display is as stunning as ever, making everything from photo editing to Netflix binging look crisp and vibrant. And since it’s refurbished with an "A" grade (meaning it's near-mint), you get all this power and functionality for a smaller price tag than buying one brand-new.

So, why not give the Touch Bar a chance? This MacBook Pro might just surprise you in all the right ways. 

Get a refurbished 2017 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar on sale for $379.99 for a limited time.

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