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SAVE $140: As of July 25, get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 for $289.99 at Lenovo, down from its original price of $429.99. That's a discount of 32%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 $289.99 at LenovoWhether you're sending your kids back to school or you've registered for classes yourself, a Chromebook is an affordable but reliable computer that's well worth investing in. Your young scholar can go far with it, and you can get plenty done while at home or on the go, however you're taking your classes. And right now, you can nab an especially great Lenovo Chromebook at an excellent price.
As of July 25, you can get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 for just $289.99 at Lenovo. That's $140 off its normal price of $429.99 and a discount of 32%.
SEE ALSO: Amazon deal of the day: The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is even cheaper than it was yesterdayThis 11-inch IPS touchscreen Chromebook packs a Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor with Qualcomm Adreno graphics, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of eMMC storage, and a 5MP front and 8MP rear-facing camera, great for meetings and keeping in touch with friends and family. It also comes with the Lenovo Pen that you can use as a stylus.
Its detachable keyboard makes it great for working or getting school assignments done on the go. Plus, it's just 7.9mm thick, and comes with multiple USB-C ports so you can connect with other devices, transfer files, and be prepared for school or work.
For less than $300, you can't do much better on such a perfectly portable option, so snag one while you can.
SAVE $230: The dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum is on sale for $269.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $499.99. That's a 46% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: dreame dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum $269.99 at AmazonIt's a dream for many of us to have our own home, or even an apartment that's large enough to require regular floor cleaning. The act itself of cleaning the floor, however, isn't usually on anyone's list of favorite activities. But in the last decade, we've seen major advances in tech that can help when it comes to keeping floors squeaky clean. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, a do-it-all floor cleaner can be yours at a massive discount.
As of July 25, the dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum is just $269.99, down from the normal price of $499.99. That's a whopping 46% discount, or a savings of $230. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen on this model at Amazon.
Welcome to the advanced world of the dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum. Choose between three modes of operation: auto mode, ultra mode, and suction mode. Auto mode helps with basic cleaning, like a quick pass over the floors and rugs before friends arrive. Ultra mode is designed for deep cleaning, like when the dog comes inside after digging in the dirt. And suction mode magically vacuums up liquids without mopping.
SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The guide to deciding which Roomba to buy (2024)After you suck up spilled milk or whatever liquid off the floor, the dreame H12 Pro's ability to self-clean will certainly come in handy. This feature uses self-cleaning with hot air drying to get the brush back to its clean state and ready to take on another mess — no hand cleaning required.
The dreame H12 Pro has a max run time of 35 minutes, and it also aims to impress when it comes to cleaning hard-to-reach corners or getting close to edges and baseboards thanks to its dual-edge cleaning function.
If you dread cleaning the floors or are often left with liquid spills to clean, the dreame H12 Pro might make life much easier. Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon of just $269.99, you can grab the powerful and versatile vacuum for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
It turns out there may have been some additional Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18 that Apple didn't show off at WWDC earlier this year.
Specifically, you might be able to use AI to generate custom playlist art for Apple Music when iOS 18 launches this fall. This potential feature was spotted in some code in the iOS 18 beta by 9to5Mac. When creating or editing a playlist, there might be a "Create Image" button that would let you generate art, similar to how you can use AI to create emoji in the new version of iOS.
SEE ALSO: I wore the Samsung Galaxy Ring for 7 days — and it upstaged my Apple Watch Series 9 Can you test the new Apple Music feature now?To be perfectly clear, the feature isn't actually usable in the iOS 18 beta yet, so it's impossible to say exactly how it works or whether it operates smoothly. It's just referenced in some code. Heck, it may not even be ready for the launch of iOS 18 this year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a prominent Apple prognosticator with a decent track record, wrote in his newsletter last month that some of Apple's AI features may be delayed into 2025.
But between AI-generated playlist art and the ability to potentially recover damaged images and video, it's clear that iOS 18 has more left in the tank than what Apple has shown us so far.
The 2024 Olympics are to begin on Friday with a grand opening ceremony in Paris. And the lineup of performers is expected to chock full of stars.
There have been lots of rumors and secrecy surrounding the performers — big, big names — but first let's start with the people we now feel certain will be there for the opening ceremony.
Lady GagaLady Gaga, one of the biggest pop stars in the world, is a confirmed act, Time Out wrote, citing the local French newspaper Le Parisien. What kind of performance can we expect? Well, that leads us to our next big name.
Celine DionThe Canadian powerhouse vocalist is expected to perform at the opening ceremony. As we wrote at Mashable this week, people are very excited to see her sing after Dion took years off due to her being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome.
Gage and Dion are reportedly set to perform together. They are expected to do a duet of Édith Piaf’s classic French song 'La Vie en Rose,' The Guardian reported.
Tweet may have been deletedLe Parisien wrote that Dion was expected to perform Piaf's "L'Hymne à l'amour," however, so there may still be some confusion about what, exactly, to expect.
Aya NakamuraWhile perhaps not a household name in the U.S., Nakamura is a big deal in France. Time Out reported Nakamura, the country's most-listened to singer, is expected to perform "a Charles Aznavour classic, accompanied by the Republican Guard."
Nakamura is a French citizen who was born in Mali. It would be a triumphant performance, considering she was subjected racist attacks about her heritage when it was rumored she would perform.
SEE ALSO: How to make the most of the Olympics on Peacock French President Emmanuel MacronFrench President Emmanuel Macron is expected to deliver a speech once the Olympic torch is lit at the end of a procession through Paris' most famous landmarks, NBC reported. Sure, it's not as exciting as a Gaga perforamnce, but it is a big name.
Other French performersThere will be a number of other French performers, Time out confirmed. Among them: pianist Sofiane Pamart, singers Juliette Armanet, Marina Viotti, and Philippe Katerine, the metal band Gojira, rapper Rim'K, and the drummer Cerrone.
The other rumorsThe opening ceremony, as we mentioned, has been shrouded in a bit of secrecy. Macron himself was cagey about the plans from show's director when asked Dion's reported appearance.
"I will not reveal anything, what [opening ceremony director] Thomas Jolly and all his teams have prepared," Macron said on TV channel France 2, via The Guardian. "There is also a surprise."
Naturally this secrecy had led to lots of rumors. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande, two of the biggest names in pop, have been rumored. Don't get your hopes up too high, however. While Gaga and Dion have had more concrete reporting, there hasn't been much in the way of proof that Dua Lip or Grande will perform on Friday. Grande was spotted at an event in Paris this week, but that hardly means she'll be performing. Still, that would be an amazing line-up should it come to fruition.
We're no longer in the Prime Day bubble. It's now just a random Thursday in July — but that doesn't mean you can't find good deals. You just have to do a little bit more digging. On July 25, we've got our eyes on a few standout deals from Microsoft, Google, Tile, and Sony.
If you're looking to treat yourself, here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check out our selections from July 23 and July 24 as well — some of those deals are still live (and they're pretty good).
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (Intel Core i5-1235U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $549.99 at AmazonJust yesterday, we spotlighted the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 at a record-low $599.99. As of July 25, however, the price has dropped even lower to a new low of $549.99. Sure, the deal is only available on the ice blue version, but it's a good enough discount (31% off) that we don't mind. As shopping reporter Haley Henschel mentioned, "Our biggest gripe with it is that it costs too much compared to similarly specced laptops — but thanks to a big new price drop, that concern is currently null and void." The Go 3 features a sleek and sturdy build, an ultra-portable design, and a keyboard so good it made our reviewer want to cry. It's not a powerhouse or anything, but "it's ideal for students and busy-bee travelers in need of a portable notebook with one of the best keyboards I've ever tested."
Read our full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3.
Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Sticker $19.99 at AmazonThe smallest Bluetooth tracker in Tile's lineup, the Tile Sticker is especially great for finding household objects like your remote, glasses, keys, and other stuff you regularly lose. It sticks onto items (hence the name) so you can keep tabs on things around the house. Just download the Tile app, connect your device, and tap the tracking button. Your Sticker will sound off a loud ring when its within Bluetooth range (up to 250 feet) or show you its most recent location on a map when it's outside of Bluetooth range. Snag one on sale for $19.99 as of July 25 — that's 33% in savings and just $1 away from its lowest price on record.
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 2 (WiFi) $269.99 at AmazonLaunched in the fall of 2023, Google's Pixel Watch 2 blessed users with some much-needed upgrades. While it looks pretty similar to the OG Pixel Watch, it packs better battery life (up to 24 hours), automatic workout detection, a new body-response sensor and skin temperature sensor to help with stress management, extra fitness features, safety tech additions, and more. The WiFi version is on sale for just $269.99 as of July 25, which is a savings of 23% and $20 cheaper than it was on Prime Day. That's also its lowest price to date.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony SRS-XE200 X-Series Bluetooth speaker $69.10 at AmazonWhile only by a few cents, the Sony SRS-XE200 X-Series Bluetooth speaker is also cheaper than it was on Prime Day. While we haven't tested out the SRS-XE200 speaker ourselves, Sony has been an audio expert for decades and we're big fans of other speakers and headphones in its lineup. This little guy is built for on-the-go listening and packs a bit of a punch with two x-balanced speakers, line shape diffuser, and dual passive radiators. You'll get 16 hours of battery life and quick charging to get another 70 minutes of playtime on a 10-minute charge. This new all-time low price of $69.10 also puts it in the range of more budget-friendly speaker options. Unfortunately, the deal is only available on the light gray shade.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
SAVE 30%: Get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm) for just $278.56 at Amazon, marked down from its normal price of $399.99. That's a savings of $121.43 and the lowest price we've seen.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic $278.56 at AmazonIf you're looking to bring home a new smartwatch, you've got plenty of options. Though the Apple Watch is the gold standard for many, Android users aren't exactly going to get the most bang for their buck out of them. That's why Samsung has its own line of watches, each with a variety of features to rival Apple's wearable darling. And right now, you can scoop up one of its best models at its lowest price yet.
As of July 25, you can get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43 mm) for just $278.56, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's a discount of $121.43, or 30%. This is the lowest price we've seen on this watch yet. Right now, this price only applies to the Silver colorway, so you'll have to pay a bit more if you're interested in another.
SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wristIf you have grievances with smartwatches looking a little too much like tech timepieces, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is similar to a classic watch than most of the others you can buy now. It boasts many of the same features you'd expect from its competitors, including heart rate, heart rhythm, sleep, and other fitness tracking options. In addition, it can sync with your Samsung Galaxy devices so you can make the most of your new smartwatch capabilities.
For all your typical smartwatch functionality with an additional layer of fitness options (and a great container for it all to come in), this watch is definitely worth picking up, especially now that it's been reduced in price once more.
SAVE $50.99: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (40mm, Bluetooth) is on sale at Amazon for $149, down from the normal price of $199.99. That's a 25% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (40mm, Bluetooth) $149.00 at AmazonA smartwatch that tracks fitness can be a great addition to your life. Not only can you get texts to your wrist, you'll be able to track health goals like getting in 10,000 steps or keeping stress levels in check. If these features sound ideal to you, check out this deal at Amazon today.
As of July 25, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (40mm, Bluetooth) is just $149 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $199.99. That's a 25% discount or a savings of $50.99.
The Samsung Galaxy 4 smartwatch is designed to do it all. From tracking fitness and sleep to giving you essential notifications like email, the watch can become a tiny personal assistant. In Mashable's review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, culture reporter Tim Marcin noted one of the standout features is the 40-hour battery life. "If you're an Android diehard who's long wanted a smartwatch but has held off, this makes the Galaxy Watch4 a good purchase," Marcin wrote. "It works well and does pretty much everything most people actually use the Apple Watch for."
SEE ALSO: I wore the Samsung Galaxy Ring for 7 days — and it upstaged my Apple Watch Series 9However, price is a major difference between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and the Apple Watch. At its current sale price, the Apple Watch SE costs $189, which means the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is $40 cheaper. However, comparing the two is a bit like apples to oranges. The Samsung watch isn't compatible with Apple phones and the Apple Watch won't work with Android devices. But if you do have an Android device, the sale price of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 makes it a solid smartwatch contender.
In terms of health stats, you'll be getting readings on body fat, body water, basal metabolic rate, and more. Sleep tracking includes metrics like blood oxygen saturation and total time spend asleep. Plus, you don't have to press any buttons in order to get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 to begin tracking a workout since it'll do it all automatically.
If you have an Android device and you're looking for a function-rich smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4 is up for the job. Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, the watch can be yours for just $149.
The past few years have been filled with changes. And amidst all the chaos, our relationships — from flings to "forever afters" — and the sex tech industry have taken some unexpected turns that few of us could have predicted (except maybe The Simpsons).
Now that we've (mostly) navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and found our footing in this "new normal," we're all looking toward the future and what it could mean for our relationships with ourselves and others.
SEE ALSO: Dating predictions for the rest of 2024Thus, luxe sex toy brand LELO asked futurist Tom Cheesewright and LELO's sex expert and certified therapist Kate Moyle to help create a fresh report on the future of sex and relationships. In May, they released "A Futurist View into the Future of Love, Sex, and Relationships: LELO Report on Trends in the Following Decade." The title is pretty long-winded, but the 15-page report offers a glimpse into how technology is reshaping the way we connect, experience intimacy, and find pleasure both emotionally and physically.
A futurist's sexy prediction approachTo create this report, Cheesewright used "Scenario Planning" — a methodology where current trends are identified and projected into the future, typically over a long time horizon (in this case, 50 years). This establishes a "baseline scenario" where these trends continue, though not necessarily at the same pace or intensity.
He then "bent" this baseline into three directions to see how sex might look under each possible scenario:
Digital unbound: This imagines a world where we spend 10 hours a day in "mixed reality," where AI avatars are "near indistinguishable" from our friends and family. While this offers new ways to experience "connection," it raises concerns about loneliness, isolation, and the potential for extreme fantasy roleplay.
Natural forces: This looks at a future in which a backlash against technology leads to a renewed focus on real-world, flesh-and-blood relationships — where empathy, authenticity, and personalized handmade goods are valued more highly.
Resurgent traditionalism: This considers a future where societal anxieties and political shifts lead to a return to traditional gender roles and relationship structures. This could manifest as a "false nostalgia" for the past, with government incentives encouraging people to commit to long-term, monogamous relationships and start families.
"I tried to imagine the answer to the questions posed to me by LELO under these [three] scenarios, then aggregated the answers to try to find some probabilities that were the most interesting to explore,” Cheesewright explains.
What does the future hold for sex and relationships?Before I go into the specifics, I want to note that I reached out to a few experts on my own to see if they had any thoughts to add to the conversation. It led to a thought-provoking discussion that one could argue is never-ending.
Here's what the LELO report envisions for the future of sex and relationships and what the experts I spoke with had to say:
We'll have more partners, but not at the same age as the generations before usAccording to the report (page six), today's youngest sexually-active generation is having less sex and fewer partners. But Cheesewright and LELO predict that we'll be more promiscuous in our 30s and beyond.
This shift is attributed to a trend of "extended adolescence," where milestones like marriage and parenthood are happening later in life. A combination of factors, including a more health-conscious younger generation, economic uncertainty (particularly the inability to buy homes and start families), and a low tolerance for risk, means many of us are waiting longer to settle down.
The report suggests that instead of "frantic coupling" and partnering in our youth, we're likely to experience more partners later in life as we gain confidence and grow into ourselves. This could happen in our late 20s and early 30s as we search for long-term partners or even older, after previous relationships end.
We'll have less sex with our current partnersThanks to never-ending distractions, work, and finding time to relax, the report states that sex with our partners might be getting pushed down our priority list. However, there's a potential upside: this could lead us to value sex more when it does happen.
That said, staff sexologist at sex toy shop Good Vibes, Carol Queen, Ph.D., points out that this positive outcome is only possible if we are emotionally healthy and prioritize consent within our relationships.
"Some researchers think that social media impairs the kinds of emotional states and skills needed to make Cheesewright's POV a solid prediction, while others do not. If nothing else, it's pretty clear that some people conduct a lot of their social lives online now!" Queen tells Mashable. Queen also points out that this isn't the only factor that impacts how much sex we have and how much we value it; different people have different values, and likely will in the future too.
"To me this prediction is so full of caveats: the dangers that sex can bring, the frequency with which some people find sex to be just meh, and the fraught ways sex and emotional intimacy can be tangled up. And I may see those things from quite a different angle given my AFAB [assigned female at birth] history too," she continues.
We'll have more virtual sexInstead of the oh-so-cliché nurse or fireman roleplay, the report predicts that as technology advances and integrates into our lives, a "mixed reality" could become the norm. Imagine avatars and artificial intelligence projected directly into our surroundings through smart glasses or lenses, creating a fully immersive experience with limitless possibilities for sexual content (so, aliens and elves).
This level of immersion opens up new and potentially "worrying" possibilities, allowing us to reshape our environments and even our partners. Cheesewright explains, "We can build characters around toys, robots, and AIs. There will be a lot of temptation."
We'll continue to make friends with inanimate objectsAlthough the report doesn't predict that robots will gain consciousness (page eight), they may be able to provide a convincing imitation of life. However, this raises ethical concerns about relationships with robots, as it risks reducing one to an "object" rather than an equal partner.
"The benefits are obvious," sex and intimacy coach Leah Carey tells Mashable. "Soothing touch hunger, giving people an outlet for both connection and sexual appetite…" But Carey also acknowledges complications, such as, "Does having an always-willing partner impair people's ability to negotiate consent?”
Carey also notes that while robots could allow people to explore kinks that might otherwise be inaccessible, the power dynamics in such scenarios become inherently imbalanced.
SEE ALSO: Sex workers are cloning themselves with AI to make sexy chatbotsBeyond these ethical concerns, relationships with robots could also create (and encourage) unrealistic expectations. With customizable body shapes and appearances, robots might reinforce harmful ideals about human partners and allow people to act out "dangerously extreme fantasies," potentially necessitating regulation.
"The ability to construct your partner's perfect physique could reinforce cultural beauty standards to an extreme degree, but there's another possibility that concerns me more: removing options for fat people," Carey says. "In my work, I encounter a lot of people who prefer people in fat bodies, or who are agnostic about body size. But it's so stigmatized in culture, it's not unusual for them to have a fuck-buddy on the side who is large, while publicly dating people in more conventionally acceptable bodies in public," she adds.
"If the desire for a larger body can be filled by a life-like robot, those people get pushed even further out to the fringes. To be clear," Carey clarifies, "the fuck-buddy-in-the-dark phenomenon is hugely problematic on its own; this would just make it even worse."
Sex toys will evolveIt's not just robots; the report envisions sex toys that feel and move more naturally, respond to virtual fantasies, and become more integrated into partnered sex. As it is, people are already using bluetooth sex toys to mimic real-life sensations in VR.
"Our understanding of the smallest molecules of matter is allowing us to create new materials with incredible properties — not just look and feel, but an ability to move, change shape, and store energy," Cheesewright writes. "This creates endless possibilities for future sex toys that take advantage of our growing understanding of human pleasure."
SEE ALSO: Are vibrating sex toys on the way out?The report also predicts that more people will embrace "unselfish" sexual behavior, overcoming any insecurities about using toys in the bedroom. However, Carey says this is entirely dependent on whether or not our culture can come to terms with the fact that sex education needs to not only exist but be far more comprehensive than it currently is.
"If we want to decouple the idea that a toy isn't needed if you have an excellent lover, we need people to understand a lot of basics that many people don't currently have: how to ask for what they want in the bedroom; how to truly understand your partner's turn-ons; understanding the difference between giving touch and receiving touch and the purposes for both, etc."
There's a lot this report covers, but it’s missing a few important detailsLELO's report is undoubtedly extensive, but this subject is so much more nuanced and complex. There are pieces missing or glossed over that are worth digging into, mainly:
Reproductive rights: "I was surprised to see no mention of reproductive rights, abortion access, etc. since Roe v. Wade was struck down in 2022, and the fallout has been devastating for people with uteruses in the [U.S.]," Kate Sloan, sex journalist, author of 101 Kinkly Things, and host of the podcast miniseries Making Magic, tells Mashable. "Again, if there isn't sufficient pushback against and reversal of these legal changes in the coming years, life will continue to get much more dangerous and unsettling for anyone who's capable of getting pregnant." Sloan also mentions that if we're seeing women having less sex than before, it may very well be a result of having our reproductive rights taken away from us.
The LGBTQ community: Sloan points out that the report entirely overlooks LGBTQ rights and identities. "More and more people are coming out as queer and trans over the years, as the general public learns more about what it means to be queer or trans," she says. "That being said, more visibility has not translated to more rights or more protections, and queer and trans people still face discrimination and exclusion every day...This will affect the future of sexuality insofar as unless we are all able to lead the sex lives we want, none of us are really free."
Sex workers and sexual education: The report also fails to address the continued criminalization and stigmatization of sex work, which has far-reaching consequences on sexual rights and well-being. "I was surprised to see no mention in the report of laws like SESTA/FOSTA that have harmed and targeted sex workers, the porn industry, etc., as these puritanical laws have already affected our sexual culture massively and will continue to do so," Sloan adds. "If there isn't sufficient pushback and reversal of these laws in the coming years, working and living conditions will get even more precarious for sex workers — and anyone who enjoys porn, sex education content, informational kink resources, and so on will have less information and entertainment available to them as a result. It will be a less safe, less free, and less sexually-expressive world."
New anti-deepfake legislation, known as the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits (Defiance) Act, has passed a Senate vote with unanimous consent, pushing the first of potentially many AI-focused regulations one step closer to federal law.
The bipartisan Defiance Act grants victims the right to sue individuals who "knowingly produce, distribute, or receive" nonconsensual sexually-explicit digital forgeries. It was introduced to the session by Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin and Republican senator Lindsay Graham, but Democratic representative and co-leader Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has become a figurehead of the legislation.
SEE ALSO: Meta AI’s new ‘Imagine Me’ tool will let you generate AI images of yourself Tweet may have been deleted"Today marks an important step in the fight to protect survivors of nonconsensual deepfake pornography," wrote Ocasio-Cortez in a statement following the Senate hearing. "Over 90 percent of all deepfake videos made are nonconsensual sexually explicit images, and women are the targets 9 times out of 10. The DEFIANCE Act would guarantee federal protections for survivors of nonconsensual deepfake pornography for the first time..."
Ocasio-Cortez has been the repeated subject of synthetic forgeries, herself, as well as several of her political colleagues. Just this week, a manipulated video of Vice President Kamala Harris — delivering a speech that never actually happened — recirculated on TikTok, racking up millions of views despite being debunked multiple times over the last year. And new reports from UK watchdogs found that online child sexual abuse material has proliferated online, with the help of digital forgeries created by AI.
While the Defiance Act provides a civil path toward remediation for those identified in deepfakes, many victims still hope to see criminal repercussions for creators and distributors of non-consensual synthetic forgeries. If such efforts follow the same legislative path as real nonconsensual pornography (or revenge porn), however, this may be left up to state law. The federal government has yet to establish criminal liability for nonconsensual pornography, but provided a civil path, much like the Defiance Act, through the 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
In June, Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Take It Down Act, legislation aiming to criminalize the publication of both synthetic and real non-consensual intimate imagery and outline penalties for tech companies who fail to remove such content within 48 hours. The White House has taken similar aim at tech players for their role in the proliferation of deepfakes.
The Defiance Act is still being considered in the House and will be voted on at a later date.
SAVE $250: As of July 25, get the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for $549.99, or $50 cheaper than its most recent sale price at Amazon. That's a discount of 31%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 $549.99 at AmazonThe perfectly portable Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is an excellent choice if you're in the market for a new computer. Its recent price drop as of July 24 made it an even more attractive buy, with its excellent specs, great keyboard and additional reasons to lock in a purchase. Now, just one day later, it's gone down an additional $50. If you were on the fence about snagging one before, now's your chance to save even more money.
As of July 25, the base configuration of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is just $549.99 at Amazon. That's $250 off its normal price of $799.99 and a discount of 31%. This now represents the lowest price we've seen on the laptop since its launch in Oct. 2024. It's only available in the Ice Blue colorway for this price, however.
SEE ALSO: The best laptops of 2024, tested and reviewedThe Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is a svelte little machine that's just 2.49 pounds, weighing slightly less than the Apple MacBook Air. It's 12.4 inches and includes a touchscreen display for all your multitasking needs. This model comes with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor. It also boasts a keyboard that Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon called "one of the best I've ever used," which is high praise when compared to others in its category.
If you're ready to bring home a new computer, this might be the one you've been looking for. Just be sure and add it to your cart quickly — this lower price could disappear any time.
SAVE $50: The Asus ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor is on sale at Amazon for just $159, marked down from the regular price of $209. That's a 24% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Asus ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor $159.00 at AmazonWe have more tools that ever when it come to work-related tasks. Slack, Asana, Zoom, email, spreadsheets, and more often clutter our screen. The result can be 109 open tabs that become impossible to keep organized. Instead of struggling with too many windows and not enough space, upgrade your work set-up with an additional monitor. Thanks to today's sale at Amazon, you can grab a lightweight and travel-friendly model at a great price.
As of July 25, the Asus ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor is just $159 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $209. That's a 24% discount or a savings of $50. It also marks the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
Once you've gone external monitor, there's no going back. The luxury of having more than one screen to spread out on is pretty revolutionary. You'll no longer have to toggle between tabs to check email or find that Slack message, navigating away from your current project. Instead, the Asus ZenScreen offers an extra 15.6 inches of monitor space in 1080P. And for the sake of convenience, it comes with its own kickstand, so it's ready to go from the moment you unbox it.
SEE ALSO: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 (Gen 9) review: Finally, a Windows laptop that may strike fear in AppleThe Asus portable monitor weighs a bit under two pounds and measures just 10.5mm thick, so it won't add heft or weight to your bag when heading off to the co-working space or on a work trip.
The screen offers full HD performance with a blue-light filter and a flicker-free screen. The monitor also doesn't require its own power, but rather uses USB-C power delivery from your laptop, PC, phone, or console. This feature adds to the travel-friendly portability, since you won't need an extra outlet to power the monitor. You can also orient the portable monitor in landscape or portrait mode fir whatever suits your needs best.
If you're often switching between tabs on your PC or laptop, upgrade your experience by introducing the Asus ZenScreen portable monitor. At 24% off today at Amazon, you'll be adding massive amounts of convenience to your workflow for just $159.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Samsung Galaxy Ring has surprisingly upstaged my Apple Watch Series 9. The Galaxy Ring has no business being this good. No, wearables aren't new for the Korea-based tech giant. After all, it's got a smartwatch line (i.e., Galaxy Watch) competing with the Apple Watch series.
However, Samsung has never made a health-focused ring à la Oura — until now.
If this is Samsung's first foray into the ring space, and it slaps this hard, I can't help but stan.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableI wore the Galaxy Ring for over seven days now, and although my Watch Series 9 has its own advantages, if I had to choose one over the other, I'd opt for Samsung's new darling device. Read on to find out why.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring: What are the differences? Samsung Galaxy Ring priceThe Samsung Galaxy Ring is $399 at Amazon. That's it. There's no upselling for a more premium finish nor a more refined shape (ahem, I'm looking at you Oura) — it's just $400 across the board.
It's also available at Best Buy, and of course, Samsung's official website.
And you know what makes the Galaxy Ring pricing even sweeter? Unlike the Oura Ring, which has a starting price of $299, the Galaxy Ring does not require a subscription to access one's own health and fitness analysis.
Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Samsung Galaxy Ring $399.99 at AmazonThe Samsung Galaxy Ring comes in nine sizes: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13. During your purchase journey, you'll be prompted to get the sizing kit first — free via Samsung — which features plastic moldings of the Galaxy Ring in all the aforementioned sizes. Once you find the right fit, you can update your order with the new sizing information in "My Orders."
Samsung's sizing kit Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableI measured the circumference of my ring finger and it's just over five centimeters, putting me between a size 5 and 6.
As such, size 6 is slightly too loose, but 5 is far too tight. I ended up going with size 6 for the most comfortable fit. On the Galaxy Ring, you'll find a tiny raised line that indicates the correct orientation (it should be facing your inner palm). This ensures the most accurate readings because the fleshiest part of your finger, which leads into your inner palm, is easiest to measure.
Samsung Galaxy Ring in Titanium Black Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe problem for me, though, is that because I'm in between sizes, I find that the Galaxy Ring often rotates out of position. C'est la vie!
Samsung Galaxy Ring designThe Galaxy Ring comes in three colors: Titanium Silver, Titanium Gold, and Titanium Black.
Samsung sent Mashable the Titanium Black finish, but I'm lucky to have had the experience of testing all three — and the Titanium Gold variant is stunning.
Samsung Galaxy Ring in Titanium Gold Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableIt has a glossy finish, almost as if you could see yourself in its reflection, with a fancy-schmancy, gilded surface that adds a touch of elegance.
Titanium Gold is GOAT, but Titanium Black has its prosThe Titanium Black is for the pared-back, minimalist folks who prefer a matte finish and a low-key, subtle style. It's not my taste personally, but I see why others — particularly those who want simple sophistication — would prefer such an understated look.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAs I mentioned in my first impressions of the Galaxy Ring, it has a concave design (as opposed to the Oura Ring's flatter surface), which reduces the risk of scratches. During the week I've been wearing the Galaxy Ring, if there are any scratches on my Titanium Black model, I wouldn't be able to tell. It still looks mint as far as I can see.
I found the Galaxy Ring to be comfortable, but I'd be pushing it if I said "I don't even notice it's there." On one hand, despite the many sensors packed inside the Galaxy Ring, it has a cozy fit on my ring finger. However, there were times that I felt like my finger needed a "breather" from the Galaxy Ring and craved some fresh air.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableHowever, I'd argue it's less intrusive than my Apple Watch Series 9. I certainly notice when that thing is on my wrist.
You can wear the Galaxy Ring on any finger, but keep in mind that your other fingers may either be too small or too big. So you'll want to put it on the finger with the most snug fit.
Samsung Galaxy Ring water resistance and durabilityI've been showering with the Galaxy Ring during my seven days of testing and it's still running smoothly. And no, I'm no rebel. The Galaxy Ring is, indeed, water resistant. It has an IP68 rating, which means it can handle submersion of up to 100 meters (i.e., 328 feet).
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThis means you can also take it to the beach, go swimming, and enjoy other water-based activities without worry. It's also worth noting that the Galaxy Ring is made out of Titanium Grade 5, a titanium alloy that is often used in jewelry to ensure strength and longevity.
I can tell that this bad boy is sturdy and built to last. If you told me that the Galaxy Ring has an eternal life span, I'd believe you.
Samsung Galaxy Ring health featuresYou won't believe the number of sensors stuffed inside the tiny Galaxy Ring. Packed inside is a photodiode sensor to monitor heart rate fluctuations, an infrared sensor that measures blood-oxygen levels, accelerometers for workout detection, and more.
If you're wondering how well the Galaxy Ring tracks your wellness, the short answer is that it does a darn good job. But first, let me tell you which aspects of your health, exactly, the Galaxy Ring monitors:
heart rate
sleep
physical activity
steps
stress
blood oxygen level
menstrual cycle
It can also keep tabs on your medication as well as food-and-water intake, but these require manual input.
Heart rateThe Galaxy Ring can send you high-and-low heart rate alerts, but you'll have to toggle them on yourself. They're not on by default. You'll get a warning if your beats per minute (bps) drop to 40 (or lower) or climbs to 120 bpm (or higher).
It also determines your average resting range per hour, which is somewhere between 66 bpm and 82 bpm for me. The Galaxy Ring takes automatic heart-rate readings every 10 minutes. However, via the Samsung Health app, you can measure your bpm any time you want.
SleepThe Galaxy Ring also tracks my sleep accurately — and it's been wagging my finger at me these past few days for pulling all-nighters for work-related pressures. It even assumed that I'd been drinking a bit too much one day, preventing me from getting a good night's sleep. And as much as I hate to admit, its assumption was bang on.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring called me out for my drinking Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThrough the Samsung Health app, I can see how many hours I slept, which is illustrated in an easy-to-understand bar graph. Unsurprisingly, I get plenty of sleep on Fridays and Saturdays, but become a zombie during weekdays.
I also get a sleep score for each day, which is currently at a "61." Samsung calls this "Fair" – a nice way of saying, "Do better."
The app also monitors your sleep stages, from REM to deep sleep.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableInterestingly, the Galaxy Ring features snore detection, but you'll be prompted to subscribe to a third-party app called "Sleep Cycle: Sleep Tracker" for the benefit. It's free for the first 14 days, but $30 a year thereafter. Even then, it's not the ring that's recording your snoring, it's your phone doing all the legwork here.
StressThe stress detector on the Galaxy Ring is the best feature on this wearable. Looking back at the Samsung Health chart that indicated when my stress was highest, it was always during work hours or moments when I couldn't quite figure something out.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableIt even pinpointed moments when I got frustrated during my workouts (e.g., when I'd look at the time and be disappointed that I still have 10 minutes left in my 30-minute run).
Meanwhile, during sleep hours or post-work periods, my stress is virtually non-existent.
You can also allow the Galaxy Ring to measure your stress level at any time, but keep in mind that you need to stay still during the testing. Any wayward movements will throw it off.
There's also "Breathe" utility under the "Stress" section that encourages you to mimic a pulsating flower for inhaling and exhaling.
Blood-oxygen levelFor the uninitiated, your blood-oxygen level tells you how effective your blood is at carrying oxygen throughout your body. This, in turn, tells you whether you're breathing effectively.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableYour blood-oxygen level should be somewhere between 95% and 100%, particularly if you're resting.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashablePersonally, the chart above reveals that my blood oxygen saturation has been consistently between the range of 82% and 100%, which is still considered healthy.
Samsung Galaxy Ring steps and exerciseThe Galaxy Ring has auto detection for walking and running. In Samsung Health, it will record how long you walked and ran – and how many miles you covered. It will even tell you how many calories you burned.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableBy extension, the Galaxy Ring also tracks your steps and encourages you, like Apple Watch, to close your "rings." But in Samsung Health, you're closing a heart instead.
You can input the number of steps you want to achieve each day. I put 7,000 because, let's be realistic, I'm a bit of a couch potato (10,000 steps is the typical recommendation.) Fortunately, the Galaxy Ring doesn't pester me toward the end of the way if I don't meet my step goals.
Under the "Fitness" tab in Samsung Health, there are carousels of videos, including some content from YouTube, that feature "work out with me" guides for yoga, squats, lower-body core exercises, HIIT, and more.
Samsung Galaxy Ring menstrual cycleAt first, I thought the menstrual cycle feature was largely manual. Meaning, based on your own recordings of your menstrual cycle, the Galaxy Ring will predict your next period.
Samsung Galaxy Ring in Titanium Silver Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableHowever, the Galaxy Ring can track your menstrual cycle by taking skin temperature readings, but this is something you'll have to toggle on yourself in the app. It doesn't do it by default.
I didn't figure this out until a few days ago, so I don't know how well it tracks my menstrual cycle yet. But once I start getting those readings, I'll update this review.
Samsung Galaxy Ring 'double pinch' gestureJust like you can use an Apple Watch to control the camera on your iPhone, the Galaxy Ring lets you take photos with any Galaxy phone running One UI 6.1.1 or higher.
Using the 'double pinch' gesture with the Samsung Galaxy Ring Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableYou can wear the ring on any finger, and after a quick setup and two deliberate taps, I managed to snap a photo with the Galaxy Z Flip 6. I reviewed the most recent shot — and there I was — my selfie captured with a simple double-tap. Samsung also mentions that you can use the double-tap feature to record videos and snooze alarms.
Samsung Galaxy Ring battery lifeY'all, I am sick and tired of needing to charge my Apple Watch Series 9 darn-near every night. It lasts about a day and a half on a charge, and it quite frankly, it makes it difficult to get into the habit of wearing it consistently. Sometimes, I get too lazy — and I don't end up charging my Watch Series 9.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe Galaxy Ring, on the other hand, not handicapped by a glaring display that eats up battery life, lasted six days on a charge in my personal experience. Samsung boasts that it has seven-day battery life, so its six-day runtime is pretty close to the Korea-based tech giant's claims.
For this very reason, if someone were to ask me, "If you could only choose one, would you go with the Galaxy Ring or the Apple Watch Series 9?", I'd go with the former.
Yes, the Apple Watch delivers a wealth of other utilities like Tap-to-Pay, Walkie Talkie, and staying "in the know" with notifications, texts, and calls. However, long battery life is such a great selling point for me, so I'd forgo those incredible features for a survivor like the Galaxy Ring.
Plus, the Galaxy Ring's charging case is a stunner. If you juice it up via a USB-C cable, you can charge your Galaxy Ring wirelessly. And it climbs to 100% fast, too, in a little over an hour.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Ring worth it?The Samsung Galaxy Ring isn't for everyone. If you have an iPhone, don't even bother with the Galaxy Ring. It's not compatible with iOS. Secondly, the Galaxy Ring is compatible with Android devices, yes, but it works best with Samsung phones.
If you're not using it with a Samsung phone, you won't be able to take advantage of features like double pinch, which lets you have a hands-free experience with your Samsung Galaxy device.
However, if you have a Samsung Galaxy device, particularly one that supports Galaxy AI, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not having a Galaxy Ring. I thought I knew where my health stood, but my Galaxy Ring humbled me. And we all need a kick in the butt every now and then — even if it's coming from a tiny piece of jewelry on your finger.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is hands down the best health-focused wearable of 2024 so far.
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The James Webb Space Telescope achieved a rarity — snapping an image of a planet beyond our solar system.
The exoplanet, Epsilon Indi Ab, is located 12 light-years away. That's trillions of miles, but right next door, cosmically speaking. The world is somewhat like the gas giant Jupiter, but twice as massive. (For reference, "If Earth were the size of a grape, Jupiter would be about as big as a basketball," NASA notes.)
"This discovery is exciting because the planet is quite similar to Jupiter — it is a little warmer and is more massive, but is more similar to Jupiter than any other planet that has been imaged so far," Elisabeth Matthews, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy who led the research, said in a statement. The research was published in the science journal Nature.
SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.The Webb telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, used a coronagraph to capture the faint light from this far-off planet. A coronagraph blocks light from a specific star while capturing an image. This allows light from the nearby exoplanet to reach Webb.
"Directly detecting planets around other stars is no easy feat," NASA explains. "Even the nearest stars are still so far away that their planets appear to be separated by a fraction of the width of a human hair held at arm’s length. At these tiny angular scales, the planet’s faint light is lost in the glare of its host star when trying to observe it."
In the image below, you can see Webb's coronagraph in action. "A star symbol marks the location of the host star Epsilon Indi A, whose light has been blocked by the coronagraph, resulting in the dark circle marked with a dashed white line," the space agency said. The orange object is the gas giant Epsilon Indi Ab. Only a "few tens of exoplanets" have been directly imaged before.
Epsilon Indi Ab is the orange object in this James Webb Space Telescope image. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / E. Matthews (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)Epsilon Indi Ab, harboring temperatures of some 35 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius), is one of the coldest planets ever directly imaged. As opposed to other gas giants found in the cosmos — which can be thousands of degrees — this world is just some 180 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) warmer than our solar system's gas giants. This allows planetary scientists to research a large, gas exoplanet somewhat like ours. It could be quite cloudy, and it may contain familiar gases like methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
"It's exciting to actually see a planet there ourselves, and begin to measure its properties.""Astronomers have been imagining planets in this system for decades; fictional planets orbiting Epsilon Indi have been the sites of Star Trek episodes, novels, and video games like Halo," Caroline Morley, an exoplanet researcher at the University of Texas at Austin who worked on the new study, said. "It's exciting to actually see a planet there ourselves, and begin to measure its properties."
Tweet may have been deleted The Webb telescope's powerful abilitiesThe Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, the ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. But it's also peering at intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system.
Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and likely will for decades to come:
- Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. As described above, the telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021.
- Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't.
"It lifts the veil," said Creighton.
- Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find?
"We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, told Mashable in 2021.
Already, astronomers have successfully found intriguing chemical reactions on a planet 700 light-years away, and have started looking at one of the most anticipated places in the cosmos: the rocky, Earth-sized planets of the TRAPPIST solar system.
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