Mashable

There are few things as shameful, in my mind, as pretending to Know Ball and yet Not Knowing Ball.

To be indifferent to Ball is fine enough. To be indifferent to Ball is to be a potential Ball-Knower lain dormant. But to act like you Know Ball and to not Know Ball? That is a moral failing. Even further, it is a black stain on your character — to thieve at Ball-Knowing is to steal valor from the Ball-Knowers who are right with God. You claim to Know Ball but don't remember Correll Buckhalter? How rich. Describe to me the merits and rise of, if you will, the read option among the pro ranks in the 2010s. Thoughts on Chris Borland?

I am, of course, talking about the 2024 presidential election.

The Trump campaign and other Republicans, in a distasteful fit of Not Knowing Ball, have called into question the football bona fides of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Vice President nominee and former high school football coach. Some rightwing Non-Ball-Knowers have posted and pontificated about the merits of Walz's football career because he was a defensive coordinator. They wonder how he can claim to be a football coach if he was an assistant coach.

Here is, for instance, a post about it from an official Trump campaign account. The replies feature many people agreeing.

Tweet may have been deleted

I take no pleasure in reporting that all these people do not Know Ball. There is perhaps no more Football Job in the world than defensive coordinator. It is the purest form of Ball. A head coach is basically a CEO figurehead for the team. Fine enough, but it's akin to a celebrity chef who hasn't worked the line in years. An offensive coordinator is all sizzle, no steak. They're all 35, good-looking, and working for their next job — a politician, basically. Special teams coordinators work closely with kickers.

To be a defensive coordinator is to live with honor. It is the American version of being a chivalrous knight. It is not to expect glory but to live with purpose because it is right to live a purpose-driven life. You must admit there will always be points scored, yet you will always fight against that current. Perhaps the only more honorable job is strength coach.

Walz was a defensive coordinator who took a cellar-dwelling team to a state championship. The Republican Party and Trump's campaign are telling voters in the Rust Belt, SEC country, and elsewhere that defense doesn't matter. As if it doesn't win championships? That is a horrific display of Not Knowing Ball. People online let them know it.

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

Any politics aside, this was a stunning, official display of the Trump campaign Not Knowing Ball. To slander a defensive coordinator is to slander the game itself. To wonder aloud the merits of leading a group of young men to glory in the 4-4 alignment? That is an affront to all this nation holds dear.

Not every American needs to Know Ball. But we must hold sacred the values of those who do and protect against those who wish to muddy the waters with a lack of Ball knowledge.

As a New Yorker who has lived in small apartments for the past 15 years, I gravitate toward solutions that can help me maximize my space from both a design and practicality perspective. When you’ve only got a 600 square foot home, every inch counts! 

During the work week, my living room also functions as my home office, so keeping my space presentable for video calls is just as important as having a comfortable home entertainment setup. So when I got the chance to try out the new Hisense CanvasTV (available for $1,299.99 at Best Buy) — a TV that doubles as fine art — I was all in. 

Credit: Josh Steinbauer A high-tech blend of form and function

Over the years, TVs have gotten slimmer, but the newly released CanvasTV is one of the first in the market to fundamentally rethink its form, transforming it from a black box into a stylish design element for your home.

The CanvasTV includes all the tech specs that you want in your watch box, including 4K QLED that captures over a billion shades and a 144Hz refresh rate that guarantees you’ll be streaming your favorite shows with zero lag. Its surround sound audio makes movie nights feel like you're in a theater. 

But these tech specs come to life in a whole new way once you switch the TV to Art Mode and choose from one of the included 120 famous paintings to display on your wall. Capturing all the hues of a Monet painting is no easy feat, but with quantum dot technology, this TV renders a wider range of more accurate hues — something LED alone can't achieve. Plus, it enhances the immersive experience, making every viewing feel truly spectacular in either mode. 

The CanvasTV also has a hi-matte display which showcases artwork more realistically by removing any glare or distortion from ambient light. This thoughtful detail makes the experience as enjoyable as viewing actual artwork, with the added benefit of being lit up by QLED.

Credit: Josh Steinbauer Credit: Josh Steinbauer Thoughtful attention to detail

With all these features, the CanvasTV works impressively in both function and form equally, avoiding any cheesy gimmicks you might worry about. I can confirm: the CanvasTV is much more than a fun party trick! 

Adding to its impressive design, the ultra-slim wall mount included with the CanvasTV is both sleek and sturdy. The two-part mounting system is easy to install with another person's help (shoutout to George from Best Buy!). 

As my first wall-mounted TV, my space instantly felt more open and airy, with my media console freed up to hold other objects. Flush against the wall, this device extends just a few inches outward — complementing the look and feel of the rest of the artwork adorning your walls and enhancing the feng shui of the room. 

The teak frame is also a standout feature. Nothing would’ve ruined the art vibe faster or screamed TV louder than a shiny black plastic frame. The inclusion of a magnetic teak frame that easily snaps into place and has the Hisense logo displayed discreetly on the side rather than the front, ties the dual functionality of this product together in a really intentional way. 

It helps that the teak effortlessly matched my acorn-finish media console and my parquet floors, blending mid-century modern vibes with cutting-edge tech.

Curate your own gallery experience

Your taste in art is your own, and who better to be the director of your new at-home art gallery than you? Art Mode comes preloaded with 120 famous paintings, ranging from iconic portraits like the Mona Lisa to modern abstract works from Klimt and van Gogh.  

Personalize your picks to display your favorite work, or cycle through a slideshow that you can curate to set a specific vibe. A handy button on the remote overlays a description with the title, artist, and a brief description of the piece — so you’ll brush up on your art history, too. And if you want to add a personal touch, you can easily upload your own photos using the Art Mode app. 

During my workday, I like to pair an upbeat music playlist with a modern or abstract masterpiece. When it’s time to unwind at night, I switch to Google TV’s intuitive layout of streaming apps and smart recommendations. A prominent Rotten Tomatoes rating helps me choose without searching for reviews on another device. 

Here’s the takeaway: If you’re looking for a new TV or want to elevate the design appeal of your living space, the Hisense CanvasTV is a fantastic dual-function product that flexes on form and function. Turns out, a 65-inch Hisense CanvasTV (available for $1,298.00 at Walmart) can transform a small cozy Brooklyn apartment into a space with some grandeur. It’s also available in a 55-inch (available for $999.99 at Best Buy) version, so you can select the size that works best for you.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-Inch CanvasTV $1,299.99 at Amazon
Ultra-slim design with anti-glare panel Shop Now

SAVE $25: As of August 22, get the Amazon Echo Spot for just $54.99, down from its normal price of $79.99. That's a 31% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot $54.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal

Still having trouble rolling out of bed in the morning? You aren't alone. It can be a struggle to wake up when you're snuggled in bed all warm and cozy. Make it a little easier with one of Amazon's most useful devices that can double as a smart alarm clock – and one that can help you out even long after you're finished snoozing.

As of August 22, the Amazon Echo Spot is on sale for just $54.99, which is marked down from its standard price of $79.99. That's a 31% discount and savings of $25.

This Echo device is small enough to place on a bedside table or a nightstand, and it has plenty of awesome features that can help with a variety of life's little tasks. It's a smart speaker, so you can listen to all your favorite music and podcasts, assign tasks via Alexa to control your smart home, and rise in the morning with the onboard smart alarm.

The Echo Spot can play your favorite sound or tune at the volume you set it to, with Alexa taking over to ensure you wake up at at the right time. You can also link it with other Alexa-enabled devices to help wake you in the morning, like a light to give you some soft, gentle light instead of just a noise ringing in your ears. It can display a calendar as well so you know what's going on for the day, too.

If you want some help rising each day and a new companion you can rely on as soon as you open your eyes, this is one deal you won't want to pass up.

One of Nintendo's flagship phone games is shutting down, but it isn't going away completely.

As announced on the official website for the iOS and Android version of Animal Crossing, service for Pocket Camp will end on Nov. 28 of this year. The game will continue to work, and there will even be seasonal events and other activities until that date. But after Nov. 28, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp as you know it will end, as have many online service-based games over the years, including Nintendo's own Dragalia Lost in 2022.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2: It might not come out in early 2025 after all

But it's not completely over. A single-player, offline version of Pocket Camp, which you can buy with a one-time payment (the original game is free-to-play with microtransactions) that gets you access to the game's "included features," per a vaguely worded FAQ page on the website. Yes, you will be able to transfer your save data to this new version of the game, so you can keep going.

There are some asterisks to this — both good and bad. Unfortunately, since this new app is offline, you won't be able to use any network features, like the ability to visit your friends' camps. On the plus side, there will be no microtransactions nor subscriptions in the game anymore; you simply buy it once and that's that.

Considering so many online games (such as Dragalia Lost) shut down unceremoniously with no way to keep playing, this approach to Animal Crossing's end-of-life process is a pivot for Nintendo. Maybe other companies will start thinking about doing similar things in the future.

SAVE 29%: Shop our favorite 2-in-1 Chromebook, the HP Chromebook Plus x360, which is now $499, saving you $200 for 29% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Chromebook Plus x360 2-in-1 laptop, 14-inch (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499.00 at Best Buy
$699.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Laptops don't need to break the bank. We've spent plenty of time rounding up the best cheap laptops that are under $1,000 but still get the job done. Chromebooks are the go-to affordable laptop option, however, the downside is they don't offer a ton of special features and are usually made with cheap materials.

Normally $699, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 2-in-1 laptop is down to $499. That knocks $200 off the price for 29% savings. This deal is available during the Best Buy Tech Fest, and My Best Plus members get an even better deal. With the purchase of $250 or more, you'll get a $25 bonus reward. Those extra savings can go toward a stylus that will work alongside your new 2-in-1 Chromebook.

SEE ALSO: Lenovo's 2-in-1 Yoga laptop provides a flexible workstation — and it's up to 35% off

Through our research, we tested the HP Chromebook Plus x360 2-in-1 laptop and discovered all it had to offer. Not only is it made from sleek aluminum, it includes a touchscreen for a flexible 2-in-1 design. It's best for those with a light work load who primarily need to access the Google Suite of apps or do some light streaming. If you're headed off to college or need a laptop for high school, this will certainly do the job. It doesn't have the best displays and the webcam is weak, but for $499, it's still a great value.

SAVE $30: The Apple Pencil (1st Gen) is on sale at Amazon for just $69, down from the list price of $99. That's a 30% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Pencil (1st Gen) $69.00 at Amazon
$99.00 Save $30.00 Get Deal

It's not everyday that we see a major discount on an Apple product, but today is no ordinary day. If you rely on your iPad for checking off work or school tasks, listen up to this great deal.

As of Aug. 22, the Apple Pencil (1st Gen) is just $69 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $99. That's a 30% discount or a savings of $30. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon on this model.

An iPad can be one of the greatest tools when it comes to productivity, but add in the Apple Pencil, and you're on a whole new level. The Apple Pencil is compatible with the following devices:

• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen)

• iPad Air (3rd Gen)

• iPad mini (5th Gen)

• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 1st and 2nd Gen)

• iPad Pro (10.5-inch and 9.7-inch)

If you're using one of these models, the Apple Pencil has the ability to turn your tablet experience into one full of note-taking in the margins, sketching an inspiring scene, or writing yourself a to-do list.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch 10: Everything we know so far, including blood pressure monitor rumor

Apple mentions the precision of the Pencil gets down to individual pixels, and both tilt and pressure sensitivity make using the Pencil easier. Thanks to this feature, you can draw lines of varying weights and get a better result when shading, making it an attractive option for artists who create on an iPad. You're also looking at a lag-free writing and drawing with the Apple Pencil, just like you would expect from a good-old No. 2 pencil.

Included with the Apple Pencil deal the device itself, a lightning adapter for charging, an extra tip, and a USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter, which is necessary to charge and pair with a 10th Gen iPad.

The perfect accessory for an iPad, the Apple Pencil (1st Gen) is currently at the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon at just $69. Whether you're heading back into the classroom and could benefit from taking notes or you're an artist drawing up a new project, the Apple Pencil brings a whole new level of creativity to using a tablet.

A group of Olympians who've collapsed while crossing the finish line. Pop stars dancing in ecstasy. The array of films, seen from another row of seats, watched on an airplane. On X, these photos are all dubbed "Renaissance paintings" due to their varying degrees of resemblance to the work of 15th century Italian masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo. 

Tweet may have been deleted

The European cultural movement first became shorthand online a decade ago, when images of a physical fight in the Ukranian parliament, a somewhat common occurrence, circulated. One of the images bore a striking adherence to the Ancient Greek mathematical art theory further developed in the Renaissance by da Vinci and mathematician Luca Pacioli, which used the "Golden ratio" and "Fibonacci spiral" to create the most satisfying composition. Users dubbed it "accidental Renaissance," and the phrase stuck in our meme-y vocabulary, changing the way we understood images online. 

SEE ALSO: Sam Soar just wanted free books. So she became an influencer.

On Reddit, over a million people belong to r/AccidentalRenaissance, a community devoted to sharing images that they feel have a resemblance to the paintings of the period. 

Matthias Wivel, head of research at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek art museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, and previously the National Museum's curator of 16th-century Italian paintings, described the Ukrainian parliament image as "remarkable" and "quite perfect." He notes, however, that it's more akin to a Roman Baroque painting, the period directly following the Renaissance, due to its complex, interlocking postures and incidental mastery of visual language developed during the former period — specifically, the value placed on rich symbolism and continuous narrative across multiple figures within the frame.

As with most internet trends, "accidental Renaissance" is no longer used to describe photographs that are decisively similar to the movement's work. Once something is part of the online vernacular, its use resonates and gains traction despite its meaning changing throughout the repetitive process. Now, seemingly any image featuring multiple figures could receive the title.

"People use 'Renaissance painting' as kind of a shorthand for an image capturing a group of people who are compositionally interesting."

When a pop culture aggregate account captioned an image of Charli XCX dancing with Lorde at the brat singer's birthday party, "this is like a modern renaissance painting," James Webster, a 31-year-old web marketing assistant at Seven Stories Press in Texas, shot back with a meme. He manipulated a dril post to read, "(me after seeing 3+ people in any context whatsoever) Well well well if isnt the Renaissance painting." The post received 83,000 likes, 20,000 more than the photo. 

The post and the popularity of its retort signaled the meme's ubiquity and perceived distance from what defined Renaissance paintings. It suggests the Renaissance becoming a meme outside of the historical cultural movement.

"It clicked in my mind that people use 'Renaissance painting' as kind of a shorthand for an image capturing a group of people who are compositionally interesting," Webster told Mashable. 

Tweet may have been deleted

However, Wivel understands why people still use the term. "Most people don't know much about art history, but they've heard of the Renaissance and know it's an era of classical painting," he said. 

It's also a pivotal moment in art history and the history of Western culture that's reiterated in history classes and at museums around the world. Da Vinci's The Mona Lisa gets 10 million visitors a year in the Louvre, making it the most visited painting in the world. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling panel The Creation of Adam has been spoofed in popular culture a hundred times over. Thousands cram themselves in front of Raphael's The School of Athens every day in the Vatican.

Many of the characteristics of the Renaissance that these images hint at, like the rational organization of figures in space and psychological realism, were developed during the period. Given that that's when the characteristics emerged, Wivel argues, the descriptor makes sense.

These developments are most notably articulated in da Vinci's The Last Supper, which is likely the central reference point for posters as one of the most famous images of all time. "You have Christ in the middle with the apostles around him. It's just as he announces that one of them is going to betray him, you see his words reverberating in all they all respond to it," explains Wivel. "So there's a psychological intertwinement of all the figures in that image. Leonardo's great goal is to show not just the physical presence of humans, but also the mental presence."

Jerry Brotton, professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and author of Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction, also cited The Last Supper as a demonstration of the emotions we associate with the Renaissance. 

"Revelation, calmness, thoughtfulness, guilt, terror, horror, it's all laid out there at a dinner table," he told Mashable. "Those images that are captured now through social media are doing something similar. They are trying to capture a certain composition or moment which is about pain, ecstasy, joy, and/or horror."

With the range of emotions and sculpted bodies on display — another defining aspect of the Renaissance — at the 2024 Paris Olympics, many so-called Renaissance paintings circulated on social media. 

The image of the four-by-400-meter relay race that got the descriptor displayed members of Team Great Britain. One lies on his back, another bent over him. Beside him is another runner with a face of shock and hands almost held in prayer, and the final member of the team keeps his hands over his head. In a Renaissance painting, these emotions would be assumed as driven by religious beliefs — and despair featured heavily. Wivel likened the image to a painting of a lamentation over the dead body of Christ, a popular scene for artists known as the Pietà, rendered by masters from Michelangelo to Pietro Perugino and Giovanni Bellini.

Tweet may have been deleted

Emma Turner, a 24-year-old working in sports media in Brisbane, Australia, posted a photo of her TV displaying the men's triathlon finish line with the caption, "obsessed with the finish line in the men’s triathlon, it’s like a renaissance piece" to X. The photo showed one athlete lying on his back and another on his hands and knees. 

Tweet may have been deleted

The response to the meme and its recirculation on Facebook and Instagram surprised her. She received comments like, "People are just calling anything a Renaissance painting these days."

"With modern phrases and pop culture, it's just become a shorthand for people to say this is beautiful or this is something that came together in a way that is appealing to the human eye, in the way that classical art is," she told Mashable.

Despite the loosening of what "Renaissance painting" means in reference to viral images, it's no accident that, again and again, we find ourselves attracted to these images of extreme emotion and beautiful bodies. We may no longer be living in the time of da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo, but we're still appreciators of art, whether that be murals or memes.

SAVE 35%: Shop Lenovo Yoga laptops during the Best Buy Tech Fest sale. Get the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop for $679.99, saving you $370 for 35% off.

Best Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 deals Best Lenovo Yoga laptop deal Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $679.99 at Best Buy (Save $370) Get Deal Best Lenovo Yoga Book deal Lenovo Yoga Book 9i 2-in-1, 13.3-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,799.99 at Best Buy (Save $200) Get Deal

The Best Buy Tech Fest savings event is here, running through August 25. Just in time for back-to-school season, this sales event dropped savings across the tech gamut. Need a high-tech refrigerator? Check! What about a free keyboard on the new Microsoft Surface Pro 11? They've got that, too. Plus, My Best Buy Plus and Total members get a $25 bonus reward with any purchase over $250.

We've been most impressed by the savings on laptops offered during the Best Buy Tech Fest. You'll find savings of up to $500 on MacBooks, including the M3 MacBook Pro. However, if you're not an Apple user, that's not the most thrilling news. The good news? There are PC deals galore.

One of our favorite deals comes on Lenovo's Yoga line, which includes the 7i and 9i laptops, as well as the 9i Yoga Book. Having spent plenty of time with the full collection, we're big fans, even awarding the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 laptop a Mashable Choice award.

Here are the best deals on Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 laptops to shop during the Best Buy Tech Fest.

Best Lenovo Yoga laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Or pick: Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $679.99 at Best Buy
$1,049.99 Save $370.00 Get Deal

Having tested the full range of Lenovo Yoga laptops, we're familiar with the ins and outs of each model. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop may have scored the lower than the 9i laptop and Yoga Book in our testing, however, it's an unbeatable value, especially on sale.

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop is a fully loaded 2-in-1 laptop with a touchscreen display so it doubles as a tablet. It has sweet processing speeds thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD, it won't falter when it comes to streaming or gaming.

Where the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop falls short is graphics, so if that's a dealbreaker, go for the 9i 2-in-1, which is also on sale. If you want something a little more flashy, look to the one sale Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, which comes with two touchscreens to truly maximize your on-the-go workspace.

Otherwise, most people, especially those on a budget, will be pleased with the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop, which is on sale at a fantastic value. Shop it at Best Buy now for $679.99 to save $370 for 35% off.

More Lenovo Yoga Deals

• Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1, 14-inch (AMD Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $449.99 $749.99 (save $300)

• Yoga 9i 2-in-1 with pen, 14-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,299.99 $1,649.99 (save $350)

• Lenovo Yoga Book 9i 2-in-1, 13.3-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99 $1,999.99 (save $200)

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Aug. 22:

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet $64.99 at Amazon (save $55) Get Deal RUNNER-UP TABLET DEAL Google Pixel Table with Charging Speaker Dock $349 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal BEST LAPTOP DEAL Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,049.99 at Amazon (save $249.01 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Amazon Echo Buds $34.99 at Amazon (save $15) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Bose TV Speaker and Soundbar $199 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal

Whether you're prepping for back-to-school chaos or just feel like treating yourself to a good deal, there are plenty of discounts hanging around on Aug. 22. We've searched up and down the deals pages at Amazon to hand-pick a few that we think are worth adding to your cart — including some top brands like Apple, Google, Bose, and Amazon's own devices.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day for Aug. 22. If none of these deals jump out at you, be sure to take a peek at our picks from Aug. 20 and Aug. 21. Many of those savings are still live — including a sub-$100 Kindle Kids and the very first discount on the Sonos Ace headphones.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet $64.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $55.00 Get Deal

In the market for a basic tablet that won't break the bank? It's hard to beat the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, especially now that it's down to a record-low $64.99 (46% off its usual cost). As our buddies at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) wrote in their review of the tablet, "It won't wow you, but it doesn't need to." It'll last you up to 13 hours on one charge, offers USB-C charging support, and features a strengthened aluminosilicate glass display and hexa-core processor that's 30% faster than the previous model. The Plus model also packs an extra gigabyte of RAM, revs up its rear camera from 2 to 5MP, and supports wireless charging. Its limited app store selection and overall speed keep it from being great, but as far as basic tablets go, you can't go wrong.

Read our full review of the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Tablet with Charging Speaker Dock $349.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal

On the other end of the spectrum, the Google Pixel Tablet with the charging speaker dock will run you upwards of $599 at regular price. However, as of Aug. 22, it's on sale for a new record-low of just $349, making us much more likely to recommend it. The tablet itself is just OK on its own, but the charging speaker dock can turn it into a smart display or a desktop TV when plugged in.

"It just…works, especially if you’re like me and don’t want two or three big-ass monitors on your desk," Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry wrote in his review. The specs aren't going to blow you away; it packs a Google Tensor G2 chip with 8GB of RAM under its hood and 8MP cameras on the front and back. But its usefulness as more than just a tablet makes it worth it — especially at 42% off.

Read our full review of the Google Pixel tablet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,049.99 at Amazon
$1,299.00 Save $249.01 with on-page coupon Get Deal

The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air hit a record-low of $1,049 on Prime Day. And thanks to a competing sale at Best Buy, Amazon has dropped the price to just 99 cents shy of that record-low on Aug. 22. You'll just have to click the on-page coupon for the price drop. The M3 MacBook Air packs a major punch, including a zippy M3 chip that's 60 percent faster than the M1 and about 15 percent faster than the M2, plus WiFi 6E and support for up to two 5K, 60Hz external displays. Mashable's reviewer was highly impressed with its performance, writing, "The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air continues to blur the line of the Air and Pro models, providing ample “oomph” for creatives, professionals, and students who need robust performance that can handle their multifaceted workflows."

Read our full review of the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds $34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

Totally different than the second-generation Echo Buds we featured yesterday, the 2023 release offer a more budget-friendly AirPods alternative. While they could use a few tweaks in the fit department, the new Echo Buds are overall a solid pair of wireless earbuds. They sound great, last up to 20 hours with the charging case, are simple to use, and seamlessly pair with other Alexa gadgets. Not to mention, they're super affordable at just $34.99 on sale.

Read our full review of the Amazon Echo Buds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose TV speaker and soundbar $199.00 at Amazon
$279.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Built-in TV speakers aren't usually anything to write home about, which can make watching your favorite shows and movies kind of a bummer. Give it a boost into something more substantial with the Bose speaker and soundbar. While it adds some serious sound, it doesn't add any serious bulk to your entertainment space. It only measures about two inches in height and two feet in width. Plus, it's super simple to set up. As of Aug. 22, snag it on sale for only $199 — that's 29% in savings.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

SAVE $73.06: As of August 22, get the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH air purifier for just $145.98, which is 26% off its normal price of $210.04. Make sure to click the on-page coupon to get the full discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Coway Airmega AP-1512HH air purifier $145.98 at Amazon
$210.04 Save $64.06 Get Deal

Fall is almost here, which means allergy season is looming. It's time to get your home dust- and dander-free now that the seasons are about to change. One easy way to do that is with an air purifier — and it's even easier when it's on sale.

As of August 22, get the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH air purifier for $145.98 at Amazon. That's $73.06 off its normal price of $210.04 thanks to a 26% discount, and a $10 on-page coupon.

SEE ALSO: The best Shark deals this week save you up to $100 on home cleaning tech

This compact air purifier is small enough to fit just about anywhere in your home, and its surprisingly modern design means it'll probably look good there, too. It can clean up to 361 square feet in just 13 minutes, and areas up to 874 square feet in just 30 minutes, so you can have a clean apartment or small space within an hour. That's all thanks to its HEPA filter, which takes about 99.999% of 0.01-micron particles out of the air. It can also handle pollen and other allergens.

You can choose between three different cleaning speed options, and watch in real time as the unit clears out the air in your home thanks to its color-coded LEDs. The air quality indicator can let you know when you might want to run the machine in short bursts as well.

If you need an easy, simple air purifier that gets the job done, you can't go wrong with this one — especially since it's under $200.

In an era of expensive devices or services falling prey to security problems and whatnot, it's always nice to hear about a genuinely funny and seemingly harmless iPhone bug.

Spotted by a security researcher named Konstantin on Mastodon (and corroborated by TechCrunch), typing the characters "":: (that is, two quotation marks followed by two colons) into some iPhone text entry fields can cause the phone to temporarily crash. TechCrunch confirmed that it works if you do it while searching in the Settings app or searching through your app library; I won’t be testing this myself and wouldn’t recommend anyone else try it either.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review: 3 ways it beats the iPhone 15 Pro Max

To be fair, however, it doesn't appear that this is a security issue — and it doesn't seem like it should cause long-term issues for any phones that do suffer this specific kind of crash. It's also easy enough to avoid, as that particular string of characters is more akin to something a toddler (or very groggy adult who just woke up) would type into their phone.

We reached out to Apple and will update this piece if we get a response.

SAVE $194.01: As of August 22, get a refurbished Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm, GPS + Cellular) for just $234.99 at Woot!. That's a discount of 48%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot! Refurbished Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm, GPS + Cellular) $234.99 at Woot!
$429.00 Save $194.01 Get Deal

The Apple Watch Series 8 may be a few generations behind now, but that hasn't stopped it from remaining an excellent smartwatch. It can be expensive to keep up with everything Apple has to offer, so if you're looking to grab one of the company's watches but don't want to shell out for the latest and greatest, this deal is for you.

As of August 22, get the refurbished Apple Watch Series 8 45mm, (GPS + Cellular) at Woot! for just $234.99. That's $194.01 off its normal price of $429 and a discount of 48%. The watch is considered Grade A refurbished, which means there's minimal cosmetic damage. It also comes with a 1-year warranty and you can choose from several colorways.

The Series 8 may not come with some of the Series 9's niceties (like the latest processor), and it won't be equipped with some of the features you may be looking for, like Double Tap. But it's an excellent entry into Apple's smartwatch collection that still comes with a wide variety of features: track your sleep, fitness, menstrual cycle, and just about everything else, too. Plus, use it for your favorite apps, to call and text, and tell time (wow!).

Kidding aside, just because it's cheaper, that doesn't make it less functional. It's an excellent price that still comes equipped with everything you should need in a smartwatch. You're just going to have to act quickly if you want yours though, as this deal is only available for six more days or until the watches are sold out.

SAVE $250: The Google Pixel Tablet (256GB) with charging speaker dock is on sale for $349 at Best Buy, down from the list price of $599. That's a 42% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Tablet (256GB) with charging speaker dock $349.00 at Best Buy
$599.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal

A great tablet can prove itself worthy in so many situations. From the classroom to relaxing time with a good movie, a tablet is a great addition to your tech lineup, and there's currently a great model on a huge discount at Best Buy.

As of Aug. 22, the Google Pixel Tablet (256GB) with charging speaker dock is only $349, discounted from the usual price of $599. That's a 42% discount that'll save you an impressive $250. Plus, you can choose between the Porcelain or Hazel colorways.

Instead of watching YouTube videos in bed on a small phone, enhance the experience with a tablet. The Google Pixel Tablet brings an 11-inch screen to the party with 256GB of storage space for your downloaded music and shows. The size and storage make it ideal for travel, heading back to the classroom, or keeping around the house to use a family calendar.

But today's deal bring in another worthwhile gadget — a charging dock that also serves as a speaker. Together, the two can be your own mini theatre while you're away on a work trip or heading back home for the holidays.

The Google Pixel Tablet is the first to come equipped with a built-in Google Tensor G2 chip that means you'll be getting snappy streaming with accurate voice typing, and the ability to multitask with ease.

If you own other Pixel devices like earbuds, a watch, or you plan on grabbing the new Pixel 9 Pro XL, expect the tablet to play well with these devices, connecting with ease.

If you've been turning on the desktop computer to book a hotel or weighing down your backpack with a 17-inch laptop, take advantage of today's deal on the Google Pixel Tablet with speaker charging base. You'll be streamlining your online tasks while also snagging a great new streaming device to enjoy during your deserved down-time.

SAVE UP TO $500: Shop MacBook Air and Pro models up to $500 off at Best Buy during the store's Tech Fest event. Find the MacBook Pro with M3 chip down to $1,499, taking $500 off the price for a sweet 25% savings.

Best MacBook Deals at Best Buy Best M2 MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13.6-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799 at Best Buy (Save $200) Get Deal Best M3 MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Best Buy (Save $250) Get Deal Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,499 at Best Buy (Save $500) Get Deal

To close out summer, Best Buy's Tech Fest is delivering a deluge of deals across TVs, home appliances, headphones, and more. It's just in time with back-to-school season in full swing. Even if you're like us, and not headed back to classroom this fall, it's a good time to upgrade your tech — we see that broken space bar and spinning wheel of death when you're trying to stream.

One of the best deals, among the many at the Best Buy Tech Fest, is the savings on Apple MacBooks. Having thoroughly vetted all the MacBooks that Apple has to offer, we concluded that the latest MacBook Air with M3 chip is the best laptop for most people. Plus the MacBook Pro is phenomenal for professionals who need superior processing power.

These rarely discounted devices are now up for grabs with major savings. You'll find these laptops up to $500 off. And as a little extra bonus, Best Buy is giving its My Best Buy Plus and Total members a $25 bonus reward with the purchase of $250. Best Buy Tech Fest runs through August 25, so don't hesitate on its low prices.

Here are all the best MacBook deals to shop at Best Buy.

Best MacBook Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,499.00 at Best Buy
$1,999.00 Save $500.00 Get Deal Why we like it

There are a lot of different MacBook models with varying specs available during the Best Buy Tech Fest, so what makes this one the best? The Apple MacBook Pro with M3 chip is a powerhouse of a laptop. With 18GB RAM and 512GB SSD to boot, it's the laptop of creatives who are designing and editing daily, especially with its battery life that lasts over 16 hours.

In her review, Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon noted that compared to the MacBook Air with M2 chip, the M3 MacBook Pro had an 18% increase in performance with its ultra-fast chip. To get the M3 chip, you don't necessarily have to splurge on the MacBook Pro anymore as the Air models now come loaded with the same processor. However, MacBook Pros are better for professionals in graphic design or video editing with their increased RAM and storage.

Plus, to maximize your MacBook savings, the Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is the best value. Normally, $1,999, it's down to $1,499 knocking $500 of the price for 25% savings. That's the best deal among all the MacBooks currently on sale at Best Buy.

More MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13.6-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $799 $999 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $849 $1,099 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13 inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,249 $1,499 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 18GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,099 $2,399 (save $300)

If you still remember your MySpace songs, you're in luck. Today, Instagram is launching the ability to add a song to your profile, allowing you to customize your page even further.

SEE ALSO: Instagram is failing to protect female politicians from abuse and hate speech

In a true gross-generational collaboration, Sabrina Carpenter helped Instagram launch the feature. The pop star added her new single, "Taste," as her debut profile song. The song will appear below your Instagram bio on your profile.

Please, Please, Please. Credit: Instagram

The profile song is one in a series of recent updates by the Meta-owned company. Two weeks ago, it expanded the carousel limit from 10 to 20 photos, akin to Facebook albums, and it might switch its grid from squares to rectangles.

Profile songs are one of several ways to incorporate music into your profile. Last year, it added the option to add a song snippet to Notes and partnered with Carpenter's fellow Disney star-turned-pop star, Olivia Rodrigo, to add songs to grid posts.

The social media platform is also partnering with the "Espresso" singer with an Easter egg to promote her forthcoming album, Short n' Sweet. If you mention any words related to her new album or popular songs, your Notes will turn baby blue. It partnered similarly with Taylor Swift when she released The Tortured Poets Department.

Wishing Apple would do something a bit more adventurous? A MacBook, perhaps, that's all screen and can be turned into a giant, 18.8-inch display? We've got bad news for you: It probably won't happen very soon.

This is according to Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims that the device launch was pushed back from the first half of 2026 to the end of 2027 or even 2028.

This is so far in the future that it makes one wonder whether such a gadget will ever happen. But Kuo does have some info about the device that makes it sound like Apple is indeed working on it. For example, he claims that Apple has given up on a larger, 20.25-inch design, and settled on an 18.8-inch display size. He also said that this latest delay was due to "technical challenges with the display and mechanical."

Tweet may have been deleted

We've heard many reports about a foldable iPad and/or a foldable MacBook (these two might be the same device, in fact) being in the works over the years. A report from The Information in February claimed that Apple is working on several foldable devices, including a foldable iPad and a foldable iPhone. In March, Kuo said that the device is "expected to enter mass production in 2027." And analyst Jeff Pu said in May that a 20.3-inch foldable hybrid device will enter mass production in late 2025.

As for the device's specs beyond the display size, very little is known at this point. It would essentially be a giant touchscreen when unfolded (think a very large iPad or a touchscreen monitor), and a laptop when partially folded, with the bottom part of the display being used as a keyboard. Such laptops do exist – Lenovo in particular tried its hand at creating something like that – but they haven't gained significant traction.

SEE ALSO: M4 MacBook Pro: All the rumors and leaks about the next-gen Apple laptop

If this latest report is accurate, then all of the previous rumors were overly optimistic. The foldable iPad/MacBook hybrid might have its moment one day, but this moment may take three years or more to arrive.

Jack Innanen doesn’t fold under pressure, but he does panic.

We’re at a thrift store in Bushwick, and Innanen, a 25-year-old Canadian comedian, actor, and fashion TikTokker, is creating two outfits using a word generator — his go-to resource when he's at a creative standstill. The words: "mathematics," "Paris," and "combination." One outfit is for work, the other for a night out, like a bar or, as Innanen prefers, chess club.

"What people don't know is that chess club is cool," he tells Mashable. "Chess night is fun. Chess night is a good time. You go there, and you kick some ass." He got into chess during the pandemic, claiming he was in the top 90th percentile of players globally (it is unclear to me where he got that number), though he admits he’s since "fallen off." 

SEE ALSO: The business of being Victoria Paris

Back to the panicking: He can't find a pair of pants that feel Parisian enough (he's looking for corduroy, but we're faced only with a barrage of camo). So, he starts "fully breaking down."

"Oh god, I'm not even thinking about 'combination,'" he says, running his hands through his hair and darting his eyes across the room. "OK, I've got to get serious."

"OK, I've got to get serious." Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado

The only difference between this and how he approaches his TikTok videos when he’s feeling stuck — "I just use a random word generator and do word association until something hits" — is that he’s being timed. It makes him flip through the clothes faster but doesn't necessarily improve the quality of his choices. He spins in circles. He moves his hands frantically, all pointing to a level of physical comedy you might not notice in the closeup way he records TikTok sketches. He's like a goldfish that grows to fit in their given space, and this thrift store is big. His linguistic mannerisms — "holy shit" or "what people don't know" — echo across the selection of cowboy boots that don't fit him.

Despite the pressure, Innanen assembles two surprisingly cohesive outfits. The first includes a Notre Dame sweatshirt (Paris), pleated slacks (Paris), a Mickey hat (combination, although his explanation eludes me), and a leather briefcase (mathematics). The second outfit features pleated pants that don’t button (mathematics), a shirt with an eagle (combination, somehow), a blazer (Paris), and the Mickey hat again (combination). 

"OK, I've got to get serious." Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado Left: Work fit Paris, mathematics, combination Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado Right: Going out fit Paris, mathematics, combination Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado

Innanen's flair for fashion is apparent — look at his brand collaborations with Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Acne Studios, and Coach — and an interest he finds "really fun." But it's a side quest; he sees it as separate from the rest of his content, centered almost entirely on sketch comedy. He typically plays two characters, one eccentric and the other normal. Take, for instance, the vegan who doesn't want to kill the bacteria on his body, the guy who can't stop slipping engagement rings into random girls' drinks, and the marketing exec who sexualizes a slogan. 

"I just love telling good stories and funny stories," he says at SEY Coffee, where water drips on our shoulders from an overactive air conditioner. "Whether that's the writing aspect, the performing side, the editing side — I love it all."

For Innanen, it's particularly fun to have complete creative control over his work and mold it himself.

"Online stuff gives you the full ability to have [the] freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want, which is fun," he says. "I write it myself. I perform myself. I edit myself. I distribute it myself."

Innanen has two TikTok profiles: his main account, @yungjackinnanen, with 3.3 million followers, and his secondary page, Spammy Boy or @oldjackoutoutout, with over 988,300 followers. His main account is polished, while his more chaotic spam account, spawned during the pandemic, operates under one rule: no drafts. 

He posts frequently on his spam account, sometimes multiple times daily, yet it’s rare to see unsupportive or negative comments under Innanen's videos. Most popular influencers have snark pages and subreddits devoted to hating them. Innanen does not. While there’s a level of privilege to his online experience — straight, white, cis, men rarely receive the vitriol faced by marginalized communities — the absence of hate is still notable. That is until you meet him; Innanen is hard to hate.

Innanen is hard to hate. Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado "It's in the cleverness. It's very subtle. I love that in people." Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado

Talking to him, you never know which character will respond — Schmidt from New Girl? His comedic inspirations Jake and Amir? Or Innanen himself? Regardless, he’s undeniably charming and down for anything. It isn't easy to anticipate what he might say next. 

He recalls how his grandmother introduced him to Kurt Vonnegut when he was 16, though he was too busy playing Minecraft to appreciate it then. After she passed, he rediscovered Vonnegut in college and began admiring the author’s unique blend of dark humor, absurdity, and satire.

"He's so clever and funny," he says, noting that The Sirens of Titan is his favorite of the author and recommending a deep cut he just finished reading: A Man Without a Country. "He's not setting up jokes and punchlines. It's in the cleverness. It's very subtle. I love that in people."

Replicating that kind of humor online is tricky because short-form content only has a few seconds to capture an audience. While TikTok is ideal for sketches, it lacks the nuance and space to play with more depth, something Innanen aspires to create more of in future projects.

Innanen talking about his "first serious acting gig." Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado

"There's an aspect of my sketches that are to the mass audience where I'm like, 'OK what's a good hook here? What will most people find funny? Can I deliver this line in a goofy way?' Versus if, in a different medium, like if I were to write a movie or something, I would want [to replicate Vonnegut's humor]. I love just how subtly witty he is, and I'd love to have a character like that or lines delivered like that that are not as slap-sticky as sketches can be."

For now, though, his focus is on acting. Innanen was recently cast as a lead in FX‘s ensemble comedy pilot Snowflakes, created by The Tonight Show writers Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw. It follows a cohort of twenty-somethings "trying to be good people, despite being neither 'good' nor 'people' yet," according to Deadline. It's Innanen's "first serious acting gig" and only his second audition.

"The script for Snowflakes came across, and I was like, 'This is the funniest thing I've ever read,'" Innanen says. "We shot the pilot, and it was the most incredible experience. Everyone's hilarious. The whole cast is hilarious and so talented — the creators and everyone producing it. And I just got to be myself." He says acting allows him to "hone in just on performing."

"I don't write my own lines. I'm not filming it," he says of the differences between short-form content on TikTok and film. "But I just love being silly on camera. It's just the best.”

Left: Jack's accessories Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado Right: Jack's On Repeat Credit: Mashable / Joseph Maldonado

He fell into acting in the same way he fell into TikTok: by following his passion. As a teenager, he made YouTube videos that are now unlisted, videos he seems deeply ashamed of and does not want to show me, like "What Guys Look For In Girls." He was a Minecraft YouTuber, made lyric videos for songs he liked, and eventually studied astrophysics at university. He even tried his hand at playing music, to no avail. (His Spotify On Repeat is a mix of Drake, Frank Ocean, and Otis Redding.)

Now, he stands on the cusp of extraordinary success — the kind that could propel him far beyond TikTok fame. It’s unclear if he’s fully aware of his position or doesn’t want to tempt fate. 

Ultimately, Innanen always creates something memorable, no matter how chaotic things seem in the moment. Whether it's an outfit, a conversation, or a video on his spam account asking Google to "look up 'try not to squirt challenge impossible edition,'" he thrives in the unpredictability — and that's exactly what his audience wants. 

In an early August Bloomberg Law report, it was discovered that ultra-sensitive and personal information of nearly three billion people was leaked in an April 2024 data breach. A cybercriminal group called "USDoD" exposed a database owned by National Public Data, a background check company, on the dark web.

Some of the exposed information includes Social Security numbers, addresses, full names, information on relatives, and more. Concerned readers can find out whether they are one of the billions who are affected by visiting npd.pentester.com.

However, the question is, once you've been affected by the breach, what do you do?

SEE ALSO: Social Security number breach: Do this to find out if you’re one of the billions affected Social Security data leak: 7 steps to take if you've been affected

According to advice from the Social Security Administration (SSA), here are the steps you should take if you believe your personal data has been breached:

1. Visit IdentityTheft.gov. Here, you can make a report and get a recovery plan. You can also call 1-877-438-4338.

2. Visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center. File an online report.

3. Notify one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.

4. Consider adding a credit freeze and/or fraud alert to your credit report.

5. Check your credit report for anything out of the ordinary. (You can get a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com)

6. File a police report. Keep a copy of it for your records in case issues arise in the future.

7. Contact the IRS to prevent others from using your Social Security number to file a tax return to steal your refund. Call 1-800-908-4490 or visit Identity Theft Central.

Again, as mentioned at the outset, you can double check if you've been breached by navigating to npd.pentester.com; type in your first name, last name, and birth year.

Jenna Ortega and Catherine O'Hara appeared on "The Tonight Show" and played "True Confessions" with Jimmy Fallon.

Seth Meyers ran through the major moments and speeches of the DNC in his "A Closer Look" segment.