Mashable

Over the next year, parents whose children have Android phones and tablets will notice a new setting called "school time," Google announced Thursday.

The parental control allows caregivers to set limits on their child's device functionality while at school, or during other periods when they want to minimize distraction.

The setting is already available on Fitbit's recently introduced Ace LTE smartwatch for kids, and will be rolled out to Samsung Galaxy watches as well.

Mindy Brooks, general manager for kids and families at Google, said in the blog post announcement that the company heard from parents who wanted to minimize digital distractions for their child at school, but still wanted the ability to contact them in an emergency. Parents will have the option to allow calls or texts from specific contacts.

SEE ALSO: Google announces new tactics to curb explicit deepfakes

School time sets a child's device to a dedicated home screen, limiting its functionality. Parents can restrict access to specific apps during this time period by selecting them in Google's Family Link.

Educators, who've long complained that phone and device use disrupts their ability to teach and contributes to burnout, may also be interested in the setting.

Simone Biles did what she does best: She won. Biles, the undisputed G.O.A.T. in women's gymnastics, crushed her floor routine on Thursday to win the gold medal in the all-around competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. And the arena — and the internet — promptly erupted in cheers.

It was a much closer competition than most would have predicted after Biles made a few mistakes in the uneven bars. Biles, however, was too strong overall in the other three events — vault, balance beam, and floor. It's the sixth Olympic gold medal of her career.

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It has been a triumphant Olympics for Biles. The win in the all-around follows the United States cruising to gold in the team event on Tuesday.

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Her last Olympics experience was difficult. She had to withdraw from much of the 2021 games in Tokyo while dealing with "the twisties," which is a dangerous phenomenon where gymnasts encounter a mental block doing their routines. The return to glory at the 2024 games marks a remarkable comeback. Since Biles also took home the gold at Rio 2016, the win on Thursday marked the first woman to win two all-around Olympic titles in decades, dating back to the '60s.

It was a huge day for Biles and confirmation of something we already knew: She's the best to ever do it.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Simone Biles Rising' is essential Paris 2024 viewing

There might be no lower point than dropping cash on a dating app. But dating is tough, men are lonely, and women are sick of men's antics. Swooping in to save the day are "exclusive" dating apps like Raya, which promises a user base of vetted, career-oriented (hot and rich) professionals — for a price. That price is $25 a month, and the unfortunate truth is Raya, "the celebrity dating app," is just like every other service one can find in the App Store. (Mashable has reached out to Raya for comment.)

I spent one month on Raya, after waiting 10 days to get approved before I could shell out for a membership. My mission? To see if the app was overrun with TikTok influencers. Spoiler: either they weren't there, or they were so niche that my mildly-online self couldn't spot them.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for casual encounters of every kind

Instead, Raya's vibe felt so Tinder-esque, so reminiscent of other swipe-based apps that, I truly believe we as a society have hit critical mass dating app singularity.

What is Raya — and can an average person use it?

Raya, known as the "celebrity dating app," is marketed as an exclusive, members-only platform for the elite and ultra-connected. Imagine Tinder but with a velvet rope. Supposedly, getting in requires more than just a catchy bio; you need referrals, approval through a vetting process, and a solid Instagram game. Once you're in, expect a feed of curated, career-focused hotties — think models, actors, musicians, and entrepreneurs. At $25 a month (or $50 for premium), it's a splurge that promises glam and privacy, as the app is very uptight about discretion. Raya has strict rules against sharing information or taking screenshots of user profiles.

Part of Raya's allure to average people like me is the potential celebrity encounters. Case in point: The internet lit up in 2021 when TikTok user Nivine Nash shared a video claiming that Oscar-winning filmmaker and actor Ben Affleck had previously matched with her on Raya. After unmatching, she received a video message from Affleck himself, asking, "Why did you unmatch me? It's me."

The story quickly went viral, shedding light on the fact that yes, even A-listers are swiping away on dating apps. In fact, several celebs have been outed for their (alleged) time on Raya including Owen Wilson, Chris Rock, Zach Braff, Elijah Wood, Sharon Stone, Cara Delevingne, and John Cusack.

According to a 2018 New York Times article, only eight percent of Raya applicants are accepted, making it supposedly harder to get into than Harvard Business School. That statistic was published six years ago, though, and Raya's exclusivity is a bit overhyped in my experience. Despite its reputation as the "[members' only club] Soho House of dating apps," the reality is far less glamorous than what those quoted influencers and testimonials make it out to be.

The Raya experience

So, here's how I got onto the app: I started with a simple, straightforward application. Raya asked for my name, date of birth, location, industry, occupation, and Instagram username. My Instagram? Locked, with a humble following of about 150. No big-shot referrals in sight. And it only took 10 days to get the coveted acceptance email — which surprised me, considering some say they've been on the waitlist for years. There's a whole subreddit dedicated to getting a referral for the app. Ludicrous stuff.

Reddit Reddit

Despite my modest social media presence, I made it through Raya's reportedly rigorous vetting process. According to that New York Times article, applications are allegedly reviewed by a committee of 500 people scrutinizing each Raya hopeful. Again, that was the status quo six years ago, but it's a process that promises exclusivity and high standards. As my experience reveals, though, the reality might not be as glamorous as the hype.

After getting the coveted approval, I curated my best photos, carefully selected a backing song that screamed "me," and eagerly logged in. And who was at the top of my queue? Not a celebrity, but a local nurse. Huh. So, the swiping began: blonde, blonde, blonde, blonde, blonde — seriously, where are the Black women on this app? — blonde, brunette, blonde. Raya founder and CEO Daniel Gendelman tried to assure the Times that the community was diverse, more focused on being interesting than an Instagram model aesthetic. My impulse was to screen-record this experience, but the app immediately flashed a warning. Not wanting to waste my $25 in one go, I decided to play it safe and moved on.

Swipe left, swipe right — it's the same drill as all the other apps. Swipe right too much, and you'll run out of likes (unless you're willing to pay for more). Swipe left too much, and Raya will cut you off for a while. That's their way of saying, "Stop being so picky."

Instead of a parade of celebrities, my time on Raya was a mix of consultants, aspiring actors, medical professionals, recruiters, and even students for some reason. Every profile is linked to Instagram, and I saw plenty of locked accounts with low follower counts, just like mine. Yeah, there were some people of high stature here, but everyone else is here too — so what's the point?

Here's the catch: if you're not in New York City or Los Angeles — which I'm not — good luck finding the celebs you're hoping for. And since Raya is ostensibly a global social networking platform, you can't filter by location. You also can't set your height, which isn't a big deal for me since I'm already short, but for some, it'd be nice to know.

SEE ALSO: Predictions for sex in the future that some will love — and some will hate Should you use Raya?

To be completely honest, one of the few things I actually liked about Raya is its vetted user base. Unlike the free-for-all chaos of Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, where catfishing is possible, Raya's users are the real deal.

Another plus? In this age of TikTok and oversharing, where everyone's spilling every detail of their lives for content, Raya offers a breath of privacy. Nobody wants their dating app chats or minor dating annoyances broadcast to millions. Raya's no-screenshot policy is a godsend in this regard. Sure, it doesn't stop someone from forcing an actor to admit he's back in the dating game post-divorce, but it does keep most personal business under wraps.

Is this level of privacy and vetting worth $25 a month? Probably not. But good vibes and venture capital can only carry an app so far — you need revenue. Influencers might market the app as the "Soho House of dating apps," but the actual experience? It's more like an expensive Tinder with a better PR team.

After less than a year, Meta AI's celebrity avatars are no more.

According the The Information, Meta has disabled the AI characters modeled after the likenesses of Kendall Jenner, Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady.

Meta confirmed this to Mashable saying "you can no longer interact with AI characters embodied by celebrities." The company didn't give any reasoning, but the feature failed to gain much traction amongst users. "We took a lot of learnings from building them and Meta AI to understand how people can use AIs to connect and create in unique ways," added the Meta spokesperson.

Snoop Dogg's AI persona who played a Dungeon Master that users could play Dungeons and Dragons with only had 15,000 followers compared to Snoop Dogg's actual Instagram account that has 88.4 million followers. Jenner's AI persona as "your ride-or-die older sister" had slightly more success with 179,000 followers. But that pales in comparison to Jenner's actual following of 292 million.

SEE ALSO: Meta AI’s new ‘Imagine Me’ tool will let you generate AI images of yourself

The story of Meta's doomed AI personas highlights the growing challenge of shipping consumer-facing generative AI features that people actually want to use. While chatbots like ChatGPT have been undeniably successful, other tools have struggled to bring meaningful value or engagement to users. Many consider the addition of the Meta AI searchbar in Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger an annoying hindrance to the previous search interface — especially since it can't be turned off. And Google's AI-generated search summaries had a rocky start, that ranged from aggravating imposition to downright inaccurate.

Meta reportedly paid its high-profile celebrities up to 5 million dollars for their likenesses over a two-year contract. But the confusing premise, announced at last September's Meta Connect, may have inhibited any meaningful engagement. Meta declined to comment to Mashable about the monetary aspects of this program.

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The AI personas had the celebrities' profile photos and their personality, but weren't actually AI replicas of the celebrities. The Padma Lakshmi persona, for example, inexplicably played a "travel expert" named Lorena. Links to these AI personas on Instagram now say the page is unavailable.

Instead of going forward with AI personas, Meta is trying other approaches to integrating generative AI into its platforms. On Tuesday, the company announced AI Studio, which lets users create AI replicas of themselves, much like the existing platform Character.ai. The idea is for creators, or any user for that matter, to clone versions of themselves online and interact with other accounts (with a disclaimer saying it's AI). Meta has also deployed AI tools for advertisers to create images and copy for ads.

So, we're saying goodbye to Billie (Kendall Jenner), Bru (Tom Brady), and Lorena (Padma Lakshmi), but Meta's efforts to foist AI on the masses isn't going away.

A new leak may have given us a clear view of the colors that will be available for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.

Leaker Sonny Dickson shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) purporting to show three iPhone 16 Pro models lined up horizontally — each a different color. One is white, another is black, and the final one is a neutral grey color. In fact, they look very similar to three of the four colors that were available for the iPhone 15 Pro models last year. The only one missing is Blue Titanium.

SEE ALSO: 4 apps all students should have on their iPhones Tweet may have been deleted

It's unclear whether these are the only colors we should expect from the 16 Pro — or if there will be at least one more to match the four color options that debuted last year. That would seem to be the case if you follow the leaks, as one that came out of China this week claimed there would be a bronze-like color for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. There were also rumblings of a new "Rose" color, but again, it's not present in the photo.

This may come as a disappointment to people who want the benefits of an iPhone 16 Pro, but also like vibrant colors. The base iPhone 16 will reportedly come in five colors, including blue and pink. Apple will confirm or deny all of this at some point in September.

SAVE 30% + GET A FREE $75 BEST BUY GIFT CARD: The Ooni Frya 12 portable pizza oven is just $249 at Best Buy, discounted from the normal price of $349. That's a savings of $100 and the deal comes with a free $75 Best Buy gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ooni Ooni Frya 12 portable pizza oven $249.00 at Best Buy
$349.00 Save $100.00 get a free $75 Best Buy gift card with purchase Get Deal

The summer season might be winding down, but that doesn't mean the backyard gatherings need to end. In some locations, outdoor get togethers in the fall are actually way more comfortable than those that happen during the summer heat. If you're planning to continue the outdoor party into the fall or you love wood-fired pizza, Best Buy has a pretty special deal in store today.

As of Aug. 1, the Ooni Frya 12 portable outdoor pizza oven is on sale for $249, marked down from the usual price of $349 which makes for a savings of $100. In addition to saving 30% on the pizza oven, Best Buy is tossing in a free $75 Best Buy gift card.

Weighing just 22 pounds, the Ooni Frya 12 portable outdoor pizza oven will make you the most popular person to invite over for a party. Its portable design and weight mean you can make wood-fired pizza in just 60 seconds. It's powered by hardwood pellets and can reach up to 950 degrees F in just 15 minutes. After that, a 12-inch stone-baked pizza can be all yours is just 60 second (plus cooldown time so you don't burn your mouth!).

SEE ALSO: Solo Stove review: Nearly smokeless, if you know what you're doing

In terms of convenience, the Ooni Frya 12 uses a gravity-fed hopper for delivering the hardwood pellet fuel into the oven. It's made of a powder-coated carbon steel shell for ideal heat retention.

Mashable's review of the Ooni Frya 12 gave it high praise, once you've overcome the learning curve. Mashable culture reporter Tim Marcin wrote, "It produced restaurant-quality wood-fired pizza at home. You could taste the sweet smoke. And the super high heat gave you that pleasant char, bubbly crust, and impossibly fast cook time. There is no way, that I know of, to replicate this with an oven or stove."

If you're a pizza fanatic or just enjoy cooking great meals outside, the Ooni Frya 12 could be perfect. Thanks to today's deal at Best Buy, the oven is 30% off and it comes with a free $75 Best Buy gift card. If you've considered becoming the neighborhood favorite by owning an outdoor pizza oven, today's deal is your sign that it's meant to be.

SAVE UP TO $25: The Amazon Echo Dot and Pop are down to some of their lowest prices ever at Best Buy. The Echo Dot is $24.99, saving you $25 for 50% off, while the Echo Pop is $17.99, saving you $22 for 55% off.

Best Echo Device deals at Best Buy Best Echo Pop deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Best Buy (Save $22) Get Deal Best Echo Dot deal Amazon Echo Dot $24.99 at Best Buy (Save $25) Get Deal

Prime Day 2024 has come and gone, and in its wake we're totally exhausted, thinking we've seen all the best deals to find. The deals on Amazon have certainly dried up, but that's leaving more room for other retailers to get their time in the sun. Best Buy did not waste any time — just two weeks after Prime Day, they've launched major savings on Amazon Echo devices.

The Echo Dot and Echo Pop lead Amazon's line-up of smart hub speakers. You can play music, create daily routines, and even connect your other smart home devices. Having tested them side-by-side, we can say that the devices are more alike than they are different.

The Echo Dot is a full-size home assistant. In addition to playing music by voice command, it's able to adjust your smart thermostat or lightbulbs. Meanwhile, the Echo Pop is a downsized version, both in size, price, and ability. This pint-size speaker is best for smaller spaces, as the speaker won't fill a full room. It doesn't have the same smart home capabilities as the Dot, but works just fine if you want to play music at your desk or set a timer.

At Best Buy, you can find both devices marked down up to 55%. The Echo Pop is back down to its Prime Day price of $17.99, saving you $22 for 55% off. The more advanced Echo Dot is just $7 more for $24.99. This is just $2 higher than its lowest price ever. That gives you 50% off for $25 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Best Buy
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Dot $24.99 at Best Buy
$49.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal

SAVE 49%: As of August 1, get the Beats Studio Pro for just $179.95 at Amazon. That's a savings of $170.04 and close to the headphones' Prime Day 2024 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Beats Studio Pro $179.95 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $170.04 Get Deal

Summer's a great time for kicking back and listening to your favorite songs and podcasts. It's also the perfect time for chatting with friends while out and about. If you need a new pair of on-ear headphones to do that with, Beats offers a fantastic line of options to choose from. And right now, you can save on a particularly great pair at Amazon as they've been reduced nearly all the way back down to their Prime Day 2024 price.

As of August 1, you can get the Beats Studio Pro noise-cancelling headphones for $179.95, down from their original price of $349.99. That's a 49% discount and a savings of $170.04. This is within just $10 of the headphones' Prime Day price, so you're getting a great discount on the off chance you missed out during the sales event last month.

These plush headphones offer excellent noise cancellation and are quite comfortable to wear for long stretches of time. While they're great for enjoying all types of music, they're also excellent for chatting on the phone if you need to take a call. You'll be heard with surprising clarity even if you're in the middle of a busy environment – which can sometimes happen even if we try our best to avoid it. Further, these headphones boast a 40-hour battery life so they're good to go as long as you are.

If you want a premium pair of over-the-ear headphones and don't want to shell out too much cash, these make an especially good option, since they're on sale for their next-to-Prime Day price. Be sure and get yours before they're out of stock.

SHOP NOW: Lego just debuted new sets featuring scenes from Animal Crossing and Super Mario. Sets start at $37.99, shop at Amazon or Lego.

Shop new Animal Crossing and Super Mario Lego sets Available at Amazon and Lego Lego Dodo Airlines Airport Play set $37.99 at Amazon Shop Now Available at Amazon and Lego Lego K.K.'s Concert in the Plaza Building set $79.99 at Amazon Shop Now Available at Amazon and Lego Lego Super Mario King Boo's Haunted Mansion $74.99 at Amazon Shop Now Available at Amazon and Lego Lego Super Mario Soda Jungle Maker set $54.99 at Amazon Shop Now

Lego and Nintendo have had a long standing partnership, producing sets from popular video games like Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Super Mario. AKA, they're really good at taking our money. So we were delighted to hear news of the collaborations latest sets, featuring iconic places from our favorites games.

Available to purchase now, Lego released a new batch of Animal Crossing and Super Mario sets, and we're totally sold. Among all the new releases, which includes Shy Guys in the jungle and King Boo's mansion, are two Animal Crossing fan favorites.

Now Animal Crossing fanatics can bring home the iconic Dodo Airlines Airport that includes all the finer details including a Dodo pilot and seaplane. In terms of Lego sets, the Dodo Airport is quite affordable at $37.99, one of the cheapest new Lego sets.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Dodo Airlines Airport Play set $37.99 at Amazon
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But maybe our favorite set is the K.K. Slider concert in front of the Animal Crossing Plaza. If you've tirelessly perfected your island to get K.K. to visit, you can now get an IRL visit. The set is 550 pieces to create the town hall, K.K.'s camper, and an outdoor café. It's absolutely adorable, an even includes minifigures of K.K., Isabelle, and Audie. You can get all of it for $79.99, certainly not cheap, but much better than the Zelda Deku Tree that costs $299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego K.K.'s Concert in the Plaza Building set $79.99 at Amazon
Shop Now

Super Mario fans get to enjoy new Lego sets too. Many of the latest arrivals are kid-friendly, like Goombas' Playground and Luigi's Adventure. For a bigger task, go for King Boo's Haunted Mansion that includes 932 pieces. The set is priced at $74.99 and available at Amazon or Lego — all of the new Lego sets are available at both.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario King Boo's Haunted Mansion $74.99 at Amazon
Shop Now

GET A FREE $50 BEST BUY GIFT CARD: Grab the new Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch for kids at Best Buy for $229.95 and get a free $50 Best Buy gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch for kids $229.95 at Best Buy
get a free $50 Best Buy gift card with purchase Get Deal

It's back-to-school time, which means the kids are loading up their backpacks and picking out their first-day-of-school outfits. While you might be sending them off with a fresh box of crayons and some new kicks, you might also be considering some upgraded tech. Thanks to today's deal at Best Buy, you can score a new smartwatch designed for kids while getting a free Best Buy gift card.

As of Aug. 1, the Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch for kids is $229.95 at Best Buy and your purchase comes with a free $50 Best Buy gift card. That's essentially like taking $50 off the price of this smartwatch — and putting those funds toward anything else you want at Best Buy.

Google recently launched the new Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch, which is designed with kids in mind. The watch comes with features to keep kids happily entertained and motivated to move, as well as location and connection features that'll give parents peace of mind about their kids' location.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy just dropped the price of the Amazon Kindle Scribe to lower than we've ever seen at Amazon

For starters, the Fitbit Ace LTE comes with the Fitbit Arcade, which is packed with movement-based games for kids to enjoy throughout the day. Instead of closing rings, the watch uses "the Noodle," a fun animal design that lets kids keep better track of their steps, jumps, and bounces.

But when it comes time to focus in the classroom or in the evening while completing homework, parents can set downtime on the Fitbit Ace LTE, which restricts access to some features while still allowing kids to get in touch should they need to.

Through the Fitbit Ace app, kids can make calls and texts to 20 contacts, which parents can approve. The app also allows parents to see where their kids are currently located, so you'll know they made it from school to soccer practice or decided to study in the library this afternoon.

It's worth noting that the Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch requires a monthly Fitbit Ace Pass, which costs $9.99 per month. You can purchase this plan during setup of the watch. The pass gives unlimited LTE connectivity, GPS tracking, calling, and messaging.

Make sure the kids are ready to head back to the classroom with the motivational Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch. Not only will they enjoy the games, it gives parents reassurance of always being in touch. Thanks to today's deal at Best Buy, the Fitbit Ace LTE comes with a free $50 Best Buy gift card.

Dating apps require users to disclose vulnerable information — and not just someone's romantic dreams. Most times, these apps require personal data like your name, age, and location. In the case of the latter, a new paper details that, for a time, several major apps left user locations able to be exposed by potential adversaries.

Dating app location vulnerabilities

In a new paper out of Belgian university KU Leuven, "Swipe Left for Identity Theft," researchers break down potential privacy risks for 15 location-based dating apps (LBDs) with at least 10 million downloads. These days, dating apps are typically location-based in order to help users find matches physically close to them. By needing location, however, it opens users up to potential risks.

SEE ALSO: Daters are changing their app locations to the Olympic Village

All apps except one used distance between users to measure location. (That exception, TanTan — an Asian dating app — used exact coordinates one-time at the point of matching, and only if they matched.) "However, lacking sufficient protections, the availability of distances can still lead to the inference of a user's location," the paper states. "This is done through trilateration."

Trilateration is the process of determining location by measuring distances between three triangles (or circles, or spheres). There are different types of trilateration apps use to determine location. The authors — Karel Dhondt, Victor Le Pochat, Yana Dimova, Wouter Joosen, and Stijn Volckaert — found that they were able to pinpoint almost an exact location in six out of 15 apps, as TechCrunch reported.

Which dating apps had location vulnerabilities?

The most common vulnerability was through "oracle trilateration," which the paper explains, "Adversaries use an oracle that indicates through a binary signal whether a victim is located within proximity, i.e., when they are within a defined 'proximity distance' from the attacker."

Hinge, Bumble, Badoo (which is owned by Bumble), and Hily were susceptible to such trilateration.

A Hinge spokesman told Mashable:

At Hinge, the safety and privacy of our users is always a top priority. Our app is built with a privacy-by-design approach and strictly protects sensitive user data. We are proud of our state-of-the-art bug bounty program and our ongoing dialogue with researchers, which are designed to attract comments so we can make adjustments before any harm happens to our users. We reviewed the feedback from this research team when we received it in early 2023 and immediately took action where appropriate.

A Bumble spokesperson told both TechCrunch and Mashable, "We were made aware of these findings in early 2023, and swiftly resolved the issues outlined. As a global business with members in countries all over the world, we are committed to protecting our users’ privacy and have adopted a global approach to privacy compliance."

This statement applies for Badoo as well, Bumble told Mashable.

Dmytro Kononov, CTO and co-founder of Hily, shared this statement with TechCrunch:

The findings indicated a potential possibility for trilateration. However, in practice, exploiting this for attacks was impossible. This is due to our internal mechanisms designed to protect against spammers and the logic of our search algorithm...Despite this, we engaged in extensive consultations with the authors of the report and collaboratively developed new geocoding algorithms to completely eliminate this type of attack. These new algorithms have been successfully implemented for over a year now.

Grindr was vulnerable to "exact distance trilateration." This can be done when services reveal exact distances to other users. The authors were able to figure out user locations as close as 111 meters (around 364 feet). Exact distance trilateration was possible even when the distance was hidden, such as in Egypt where Grindr hides all user locations for safety reasons.

SEE ALSO: Men found a surprising new way to lie on dating apps

"The proximity Grindr offers to this community is paramount in providing the ability to interact with those closest to them, Grindr's chief privacy officer Kelly Peterson Miranda told TechCrunch. "As is the case with many location-based social networks and dating apps, Grindr requires certain location information in order to connect its users with those nearby...Grindr users are in control of what location information they provide."

Finally, the app happn was vulnerable to "rounded distance trilateration," which can be done if an app utilizes a rounded location as a precaution. CEO and president of happn, Karima Ben Abdelmalek, told TechCrunch:

After review by our Chief Security Officer of the research findings, we had the opportunity to discuss the trilateration method with the researchers. However, happn has an additional layer of protection beyond just rounding distances...This additional protection was not taken into account in their analysis and we mutually agreed that this extra measure on happn makes the trilateration technique ineffective.

It appears that for apps with these vulnerabilities, the apps took measures to stop bad actors from determining user location using trilateration, with the exception of Grindr.

Which dating apps weren't vulnerable?

According to the paper, Tinder and LOVOO used "grid snapping" to prevent trilateration. Grid snapping is a technique of dividing one's location into a grid of squares. Coordinates (aka where users are) are moved to the center of these squares (Tinder) or the right side (LOVOO) and one's distance is measured from there. Therefore, their actual distance is inaccurate and can't be trilaterated.

Plenty of Fish and Meetic don't access GPS locations. While MeetMe, Tagged, and OkCupid do access this information, they convert it to the nearest town. The authors couldn't reverse engineer the information they needed for TanTan and Jaumo, so they couldn't test this method to find user locations.

The paper shows the importance of caution when using dating apps. As the paper concludes, "We hope that the awareness that we bring of these issues will lead LBD app providers to reconsider their data gathering practices, protect their APIs [application programming interfaces] from data leaks, prevent location inference, and give users control of their data and therefore ultimately their privacy."

SAVE 52%: As of August 1, get the JBL Tune earbuds for just $47.95 at Amazon, down from their normal price of $99.95. That's a discount of $52.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon JBL Tune earbuds $47.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $52.00 Get Deal

Looking for a pair of earbuds, but don't want to spend too much? There are plenty of affordable options out there. But right now you can save big on a pair that's well worth scooping up for over half off for a limited time.

As of August 1, you can get the JBL Tune earbuds for just $47.95 at Amazon. That's 52% off their normal price of $99.95 and a discount of $52. They aren't quite at their lowest price of all time, but they're only a few dollars away.

SEE ALSO: The 6 best earbuds to buy in 2024, just in time for Prime Day deals

These wireless earbuds deliver great sound with active noise cancellation. Listen to your favorite tunes and then turn on ANC to block out unwanted sound. They also include an ambient mode to make sure you can still filter in the sounds you need to hear to stay aware of your surroundings. With 10mm drivers, they're nice and bassy, but they also serve up crystal clear treble, too.

Use these earbuds to listen to songs and podcasts or jump on a call thanks to their four built-in microphones. You'll be able to carry on your conversations without having to repeat yourself over and over. They're also water-resistant and sweatproof in case you want to take them to the gym for a workout. Plus, they offer up to 40 hours of battery life with fast charging that gets you 2 hours of playtime with just 10 minutes of charging.

These earbuds are on sale for a limited time only at Amazon, so be sure to grab them before all the inventory is claimed.

SAVE 50%: The Vitamix Ascent A2500 blender is on sale for just $299.99 at Best Buy, down from the standard price of $599.95. That's a savings of $299.96.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vitamix Vitamix Ascent A2500 $299.99 at Best Buy
$599.95 Save $299.96 Get Deal

A truly functional kitchen has some essential appliances and cooking implements that make creating meals easy. Sure, you'll probably want a range (or some type of cooking surface), a refrigerator, a set of knives, and most people want a microwave. But there's a certain food prep appliance that some see as an essential luxury, particularly models from a high-end brand, and one that's synonymous with steep prices. If you're looking for a blender that's one of the best on the market, Best Buy has something epic in store today.

As of Aug. 1, the Vitamix Ascent A2500 blender is just $299.99 at Best Buy, marked down from the usual price of $599.95. That's a massive 50% discount or a savings of $299.96.

Sometimes, buying the value-centered version of a product doesn't cut it, like the different between name-brand cola and the store brand. In a pinch, the store brand does just fine, but the flavor is distinctly different.

In the world of blenders, sometimes the high-end (and expensive) models are actually worth it when it comes to performance and lifespan. The Vitamix Ascent A2500 is a great example — sometimes high-quality comes with a high price tag. But thanks to today's deal at Best Buy, you can pay just 50% of the normal retail price.

The Vitamix Ascent A2500 comes with three pre-set programs — smoothies, hot soup, and frozen dessert. Yes, you read that right — hot soup, produced from the friction of the powerful Vitamix blades in just a handful of minutes.

Aside from those three pre-set functions, there's a dial with settings between 1 and 10 for variable speed control. The blender also incorporates a pulse feature which is great to make sure all ice cubes or frozen strawberries are fully integrated into the smoothie.

The 64-ounce included container comes with a lid and a lid plug. Plus, its low-profile design is more likely to fit on the counter under cupboards. You'll also get a low-profile tamper to use with the blender.

If you've always wanted a Vitamix blender in your kitchen but haven't loved the typical high price tag, today you can score the Vitamix Ascent A2500 for half price. But you'll want to hurry because this deal expires tonight at 11:59 PT.

When it comes to getting things done, technology can be the worst double-edged sword. Use it correctly and become an efficiency ninja, use it haphazardly and you’ve found yet another way to be distracted and waste time. 

Paula Rizzo, productivity expert and author of Listful Living, says the approach to get-it-done tech for students is to keep it simple, focusing on technology that does one thing, and one thing perfectly. “For instance, I like to use LastPass to store all my passwords. It’s the only thing it does. I know exactly what I’ll find when I go there. I don’t get distracted; it does its job and I get what I need quickly. If you have a [tool] that does many things then you can become overwhelmed.” 

This is, of course, why your cell phone is both the best thing and the worst thing in the productivity department: incredible at firing off emails and finding lost keys, merciless when you open up TikTok.

When used thoughtfully, technology has been shown to improve student outcomes across the board, so it’s really a matter of finding the right tool for the task at hand. Whether it's studying for a Calculus exam or the LSATs, here are seven tech tools to boost productivity and keep distractions at bay this school year.

Navigating college life can feel like a juggling act with endless assignments, tight schedules, and a social life to maintain. So that's why we’ve curated four apps that every college student should have in their arsenal.

From note-taking to productivity to citation management, these apps are designed to streamline your studies, keep you on top of your tasks, and look pretty too.

SEE ALSO: How to tint your apps with iOS 18 1. Google Docs

When it comes time to get assignments done, the Google Workspace apps are essential. These services include Docs, Drive, Sheets, and Slides, which are simpler to use across mobile and desktop than Microsoft Office Suite (now known as Microsoft 365).

Google Docs is ideal for writing essays and collaborating in real-time, while Sheets makes managing data and creating spreadsheets a breeze. For presentations, Slides is your go-to for making polished demonstrations without the added learning curve of PowerPoint.

Google Drive (which has its own app) then ties everything together, providing seamless storage and sharing across all devices. You can even scan your assignments with Drive which is essential for those professors who require you to upload printed homework onto Canvas or Blackboard.

2. Notion

Unlike other note-taking or task-management apps, Notion combines it all. Notes, to-do lists, calendars, and databases, its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to customize your workspace to fit your needs. While other apps might focus on one feature—like Evernote for note-taking or Trello for task management—Notion offers a complete package.

This all-in-one approach is perfect for students who want to stay organized and efficient without the hassle of switching between multiple apps, giving them more time to focus on their schoolwork. Although it does have a subscription tier, you can use the core of its features for free, and who doesn't love free?

3. Bear Notes

This beautifully designed app offers a distraction-free interface, perfect for jotting down lecture notes, brainstorming ideas, or crafting the perfect essay. Its clean, intuitive design makes it easy to stay focused and organized.

With its rich text editing, easy organization using hashtags, and seamless syncing across devices, Bear Notes ensures your thoughts are organized and easily accessible. Plus, its Markdown support makes formatting a breeze, turning your notes into polished documents effortlessly.

4. Zotero

Zotero is a free, open-source tool that helps you collect, organize, cite, and share your research materials. As its site says, it's basically your "personal research assistant." It's a godsend for the end of the semester when you have multiple research papers due and way too many tabs open for multiple assignments — it's honestly a nightmare.

While other citation tools might focus solely on generating citations, Zotero integrates seamlessly with your browser and word processor, providing a comprehensive solution for your research needs.

iPhone 17 rumors are already trickling in — and its predecessor, the iPhone 16, hasn't even dropped yet.

The next-generation iPhone is expected to have thinner bezels, a new capture button for photos and videos, and better battery life, but the iPhone 17 series may be a tinge more exciting for Apple enthusiasts.

From reports of a new ultra-slim iPhone to whispers of a significant camera redesign, the iPhone 17 may be "the biggest update in years," as MacRumors claims. Here's why you may want to skip the iPhone 16 in favor of the iPhone 17.

1. A new sleek, slim model

Multiple reports claim that Apple is working on a "slim" iPhone 17 variant. In an investor note spotted by 9to5Mac, Jeff Pu, a respected Apple analyst, claims that the Cupertino-based tech giant will replace the "Plus" model with a new "Slim" device.

Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / Black Salmon

In other words, instead of iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Plus, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, expect the following lineup:

• iPhone 17

• iPhone 17 Slim

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

Ross Young and The Information have released similar reports, claiming that the Plus model is getting ditched in favor of a new "slim" variant.

2. Newer, better selfie camera

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, another respected Apple analyst, the iPhone 17 will feature a 24-megapixel selfie camera. Keep in mind that the megapixel count for the iPhone series hasn't changed since the iPhone 11.

Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / SkyArtist01, Champiofoto

Sure, there have been some tweaks and changes over the years, like upgrades to the aperture and image processing, for example. But a 12MP selfie camera has been on the iPhone series' spec sheet since Apple introduced it in 2019.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. As someone who has reviewed iPhones since the debut of the iPhone 12, the 12MP selfie camera has always been sufficient enough for me. In fact, I'll even venture to say it's too good, as it picks up on all my flaws and imperfections.

However, for anyone who disagrees with me, you'll be relieved to know that the iPhone 17 is getting a big upgrade to a 24MP selfie camera.

It's unclear whether the new 24MP selfie camera will be featured across the entire lineup or limited to a few models.

3. Relocated camera

If you're tired of the iPhone's camera array being located on the top-left corner, you may appreciate a new rumor that suggests the iPhone 17 Slim will have its shooter relocated to the top center, according to The Information.

Unlike the rumored iPhone 17 Slim, the iPhone 15 series has its cameras on the top-left corner. Credit: Mashable / Stan Schroeder

We're also hearing whispers that the iPhone 17 Slim will have just one rear camera (i.e., a solo wide lens).

If you're a sucker for visual symmetry, Apple moving the wide camera to the top center may be appealing for you.

There is also scuttlebutt that Apple will shave a little bit off the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17, thanks to a reported new under-display Face ID technology. So if you're not a fan of the ovular, interactive area at the top of your iPhone screen, and you feel it's a little too obstructive, the iPhone 17 may be worth the wait.

TL;DR: If you want a reliable tool to protect your privacy, get a $57 two-year subscription to SurfShark that hides your location, blocks ads, and even helps you share files. 

Opens in a new window Credit: surfshark SurfShark VPN Starter Plan: 2-Year Subscription $56.99 at The Mashable Shop
$290.00 Save $233.01 Get Deal

VPNs aren't new, and that's actually the problem. There are so many that finding a reliable VPN is a task all of its own. If you're still on the hunt for a good VPN that can block ads, protect your privacy, unlock geo restrictions, and more, SurfShark is the way to go. 

Normally, a two-year SurfShark VPN Starter Plan would be $290, but you can get it on sale for only $56.99. Check out everything it can do.

How's SurfShark different from other VPNs?

SurfShark has many of the same features of other VPNs, but it either adds on new sub-features or just does the same job better. Most VPNs have international servers you can connect to, but SurfShark has 3,200, and they're spread across 65 different countries. Security protocols are normal, but SurfShark locks your data behind military-grade AES-256 encryption and offers CleanWeb, which blocks ads and malware. 

Tired of your search results being useless? Try SurfShark Search and get unbiased search results. You can also browse more securely on public or private WiFi, and users can choose from the latest security protocols like WireGuard®, IKEv2, and OpenVPN.

A large number of servers is nice, but it's useless if they're slow or unreliable. That's why SurfShark has 10GB VPN servers, private DNS and leak protection, and a kill switch that disconnects the internet if the VPN connection drops. This service is compatible with various operating systems and devices, including macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, and FireTV.

Save 80% on a two-year VPN

Get a reliable VPN that has your back whether you're streaming, working, or just browsing. 

Get a SurfShark VPN two-year Starter Plan for $56.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: For a limited time, this 10-inch wireless touchscreen car display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is just $125.99 (reg. $199.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay 10-inch Touchscreen Wireless/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Car Display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Support $99.97 at The Mashable Shop
$199.99 Save $100.02 Get Deal

For those with older vehicles, integrating modern technology might seem like a daunting and expensive task. However, with the 10-inch Touchscreen Wireless Car Display, you can effortlessly upgrade your car’s dashboard and access all your favorite apps.

Now available for just $99.97 (reg. $199.99), this dash display offers a simple and affordable way to bring your car into the modern tech age.

The 10-inch touchscreen display supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to connect your smartphone and access essential apps like navigation, music, and messages directly from your car’s dashboard. Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, this display offers seamless integration with your device, so you don't have to mess around with your phone while on the road.

This car display was made to have an easy installation process. Designed to fit a wide range of older vehicles, it can be installed with minimal effort, giving you the benefits of modern technology without the need for a new car.

A 10-inch touchscreen provides a large, clear display that enhances your driving experience — access maps, playlists, and apps easily, all while keeping your eyes on the road. The touchscreen interface is user-friendly and responsive, ensuring you can quickly navigate through functions without distraction.

And if you're in your car waiting to get someone or have a restless passenger, the multimedia playback option can help. The display includes a built-in speaker and supports various video formats to keep non-driving-eyes entertained.

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, easy installation, and a user-friendly interface, it can enhance your driving experience while keeping you connected on the road.

The 10-inch wireless touchscreen car display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is just $125.99 (reg. $199.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

"The Daily Show" weighed in on Trump's comments about Kamala Harris' racial identity during an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Google Maps just added a handy tool to help you park near your destination, which is especially helpful if you've never been to the spot before.

In a new update announced Wednesday, Google Maps will now pull up information about your destination within the app as you approach it, and show you where to park either within the building or near it. The app will also show parking lots nearby, and you'll be able to see the destination's information such as opening hours, Live View, and how far a walk it is from where you currently are — useful for picking a parking spot.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps is bringing speed limits to iPhones

Google-owned Waze added this feature in March, so it's only natural it makes its way to Maps; Waze's version, fuelled by Flash, offers detailed information about parking lots including cost, accessibility, and whether there are EV charging stations. Called "destination guidance", the feature will roll out on Maps worldwide on iOS and Android "in the coming weeks" according to Google. It'll also be available on Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Google Built-in.

Google has also upgraded tools for reporting incidents and happenings on the road, whether lane closures, police presence, or construction work. The icons are bigger and other drivers can confirm your report by tapping it in their own Maps app.

Featured Video For You 3 tips for using Google Maps more effectively

For those who use Google-owned Waze instead of Maps, there's a few new updates for you too (following the app's big safety update in March). New camera types have been added to Waze, which users can select when reporting road information like speed cameras, bus lane cameras, and red light cameras. And if you're driving through an area where there's congestion or road closures, Waze's new traffic events feature will send you a notification if the event is under way. Plus, Waze users will soon get navigation guidance when their phone is locked, a feature coming in autumn.

While you're here, we've got Google Maps guides for how to turn your location off and on with your iPhone, how to download Google Maps, how to turn on 3D buildings in navigation, how to save locations, and other Google Maps tips and tricks.