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Summer is almost over, and we're coping in the one way we know how: eating our feelings. If you feel like joining us in the end-of-summer blues, you should probably stock up on some kitchen appliances so you can make the best meals, beverages, and more before fall rolls in.
That can be a pricey ask, though. So as usual, we've rounded up a few of the best kitchen-based deals you can score right now, including big savings on Ninja products, ice makers, and others.
SEE ALSO: The Mill food recycling bin keeps your kitchen scraps from going to a landfill by feeding them to chickens insteadCheck out what we found below — we can't wait to see what you make.
Best beverage maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Thirsti $169.99 at Best BuyEveryone is going nuts over the Ninja Creami, but let us not forget the Ninja Thirsti. This sleek beverage maker can concoct both sparkling and still drinks using up to two flavor drop dispensers at a time, and with over 20 flavors available, you'll have a pretty large number of combos to test out. You'll also be able to customize the flavor and fizz strengths, and choose from up to four different glass sizes. Mocktails, anyone?
Best ice maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia portable ice maker $89.99 at Best BuyIt's just a fact: All drinks are made better with The Good Ice™. This portable ice maker from Insignia will ensure that you never run out of cubes, as it'll make more ice on its own every six to 13 minutes (don't worry, it has an auto shut-off function so you don't end up overflowing). You'll be able to choose from two different cube sizes, and make up to 19 pounds of them at a time. The machine recycles melted ice, too, so you won't have to fill the tank as often, and includes an easy-to-use control panel to simplify the whole experience.
Best grill deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodie XL indoor grill $184.00 at AmazonThe Ninja Foodi never ceases to be relevant when it comes to kitchen appliances, especially when you can get one for $185.99 off the original price. This versatile indoor grill will keep your taste buds satisfied throughout the colder months and beyond. It can be used as a flat-top griddle, air fryer, dehydrator, and more. It also has a built-in thermometer to take away some of the guesswork.
Best cutlery deal Opens in a new window Credit: Calphalon Calphalon self-sharpening knife block set $79.99 at AmazonCalphalon has rightfully earned its place as one of the top kitchen brands thanks to its high-quality products. You probably know them most for their fantastic pots and pans, but they're also elite when it comes to cutlery. This knife block set comes with four different knives and a pair of kitchen shears, which is pretty much all you need unless you're literally a professional chef. As an added bonus, the knife block has a blade sharpener inside of it, so all of your upkeep is done for you.
If you’re a pet parent, then you know just how expensive keeping your fur baby happy and healthy can be. I have two beagles, and the money I’ve spent on pet food, toys, treats, and vet bills over the years should justify them as dependents on my taxes. (It’s crazy that we can’t do that yet.) But, expensive or not, we’re still going to spend what we have to, and even what we don’t, to make sure they’re taken care of.
SEE ALSO: I love snooping on my cat with Petkit's camera-enabled automatic feederThis week, we’ve sniffed out some of the best deals on pet products, from automatic feeders to pet cams, so you can continue to spoil your pets for a little bit less.
Best automatic pet feeder Opens in a new window Credit: PETLIBRO Our pick: PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder $55.99 at AmazonThe PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder is listed as a cat feeder, but reviewers say it works great for dogs, too — just be sure to use smaller kibble. It can hold up to 50 portions or six meals per day and has customizable portions and serving times. The patent rotor, secure twist-lock lid, desiccant bag, and sealing strip are all designed to keep food fresh and prevent your pet from getting too much food at once. You can also record a 10-second message to call your pet to meals when you’re away.
More automatic pet feeder dealsPETKIT Stainless Steel Water Fountain — $52.99 $69.99 (save $17)
PETKIT Automatic Feeder — $99 $179 (save $80)
PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder with Camera — $139.99 $159.99 (save $30 with on-screen coupon)
It’s impossible not to worry about your pets whenever you’re away, even if they’re with a sitter. The Petcube Cam 360 lets you check on your fur baby any time via a 24/7 live stream and two-way audio. It also has night vision and eight times digital zoom, so you can really keep an eye on things. You can also set it to send you alerts if your pet becomes active or makes noise, so if they’re tearing up yet another throw pillow, you'll know — and can reprimand them via the two-way audio.
More pet cam dealsTapo TP-Link 2K QHD Security Camera — $27.99 $39.99 (save $12)
VIMTAG Pet Camera — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)
Furbo 360 Cat Camera — $99 $119 (save $20)
I spend most of my free time vacuuming the mounds and mounds of hair my pups shed. (I honestly don’t know how people with long-haired dogs do it!) To do this, I have three separate vacuums. If you’re in a similar pet-hair-filled boat, the Shark LA702 Rotator Pet Life-Away ADV Upright Vacuum is on sale for $299.99 — $80 off the list price. With powerful suction and an odor neutralizer, it's engineered for heavy-duty pet cleaning. The allergen dust brush and crevice tool make it ideal for vacuuming the couch or your pet's favorite napping spots.
More pet vacuum dealsShark IX141 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum — $199.99 $259.99 (save $60)
Tineco Pure ONE S15 Pet Smart Cordless Vacuum Cleaner — $379.99 $499.99 (save $120 with on-screen coupon)
Roborock S8+ — $719.99 $999.99 (save $280 with on-screen coupon)
TL;DR: Watch Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Fans of the WNBA won't want to miss the next match as Connecticut Suns and Dallas Wings prepare to go head-to-head. The Connecticut Sun have been competitive throughout the 2024 season, but they'll face fierce competition from the Dallas Wings.
It's going to be a great game, so if you want to watch Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading because we have all the information you need.
When is Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings?Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 16. This fixture takes place at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
How to watch Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas WingsYou can watch Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings and the rest of the 2024 WNBA season from across the world with the WNBA League Pass.
The WNBA League Pass, however, may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. However, with the use of a VPN, you can get past these geo-restrictions. These are tools that work to hide your real IP address (i.e. your digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations, so you can bypass blackouts to watch every WNBA League Pass game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video).
Access every WNBA League Pass game by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)
ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever are set to take to the court as the WNBA season continues. It's a great line-up too, with players such as Caitlin Clark for Indiana Fevers and Natasha Cloud for Phoenix hitting the court.
It's going to be a great game, so if you want to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading because we have all the information you need.
When is Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever?Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever in the WNBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 16. This fixture takes place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
How to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana FeverIt couldn't be easier to livestream the 2024 WNBA season. Fans from across the globe can tune in through the WNBA League Pass.
But if you're using this, it's important to note that the WNBA League Pass may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But you can get past these geo-restrictions by using a VPN. These are tools that work to hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations, so you can bypass blackouts to watch every WNBA League Pass game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video).
Access every WNBA League Pass game by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)
ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream are set to take to the court as the WNBA season continues. Taking place in Georgia, it's set to be another great match of the season with Jewell Loyd and Allisha Gray set to appear in the lineup.
There's plenty of coverage of the match, so if you want to watch Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading because we have all the information you need.
When is Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream?Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 16. The game takes place at the Gateway Center in College Park, Georgia.
How to watch Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta DreamLive streaming the 2024 WNBA season couldn't be easier. Fans from anywhere in the world can tune in through the WNBA League Pass.
However, it's important to note that the WNBA League Pass may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But you can get past these geo-restrictions by using a VPN. VPNs are helpful tools that work to hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations, so you can bypass blackouts to watch every WNBA League Pass game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video).
Access every WNBA League Pass game by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)
ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Australia's viral Olympic breakdancer Rachael "Raygun" Gunn has finally made a public statement about her internationally maligned performance at the Paris games, and it seems she's standing by her efforts. The Games may be over, but the drama continues.
In a video posted to Instagram on Thursday, Raygun stated that she was unprepared for the backlash she'd received, and that she'd hoped to "bring some joy into [people's] lives."
"I didn't realise that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating," Raygun said. "While I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics, and I gave my all, truly. I'm honoured to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and to be part of breaking's Olympic debut."
SEE ALSO: Australian breaker Raygun becomes an instant viral hit at 2024 Paris Olympics View this post on InstagramRaygun also addressed the "allegations and misinformation floating around." The Australian Olympian's breakdancing display sparked numerous theories regarding exactly how she managed to get on the Olympic team in the first place, with people on social media speculating that she gained her place through less than honest means.
In response, Raygun asked people to refer to statements made by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), AUSBreaking, and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF). She also mentioned that there are no points in breaking, making an apparent effort to debunk misinformation regarding her performance.
"If you wanna see how the judges thought I compared to my opponents, you can actually see the comparison percentages across the five criteria on Olympics.com," said Raygun.
Raygun doing a move remnicent of a kangaroo while competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty ImagesWhile it is true that the Olympic breaking judges didn't award "points" to dancers, further clarification doesn't do Raygun many favours. Olympic breakers competed in one-on-one battles consisting of up to three rounds, with each dancer getting one minute to perform per round. A panel of nine judges would score each round based on the dancers' technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality, and originality, then each vote for a winner.
However, Raygun didn't just lose three rounds. Her infamous 0-3 score is the result of her losing all six rounds in all three battles she danced in, failing to come out on top against the United States' Logistx, France's Syssy, and Lithuania's Nicka. None of her battles went to three rounds.
The 2024 Olympic gold medal for women's breaking eventually went to Japan's Ami Yuasa, with Lithuania's Dominika Banevič taking silver and China's Liu Qingyi winning bronze.
Raygun ended her video by requesting that the media leave her, her family and friends, and the breakdancing community alone. She stated she would be happy to answer more questions once she returns to Australia from a pre-planned break in Europe.
The Australian Olympic Committee voices support for Raygun Raygun competing in the finals of the Oceania Breaking Championship in Sydney on Oct. 28, 2023. Credit: Mark Kolbe / Getty ImagesAccording to the AOC statement Raygun referred to, the WDSF determined the system and selected the judges for the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championship, which was Australia's Olympic qualifying event. The competition was then conducted by AUSBreaking under WDSF and DanceSport Australia's authorisation, with Raygun winning the event and thus DanceSport Australia's nomination to the country's Olympic team.
"Dr Rachael Gunn holds no position with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capacity," wrote the AOC. "She is simply an athlete who competed in the qualifying event which she won. There were no appeals from any athlete. Dr Gunn has no responsibility for any funding decisions in her sport. [Raygun's husband] Mr Samuel Free is a coach who holds no position with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capacity and was not a judge at the qualifying event."
As such, the AOC condemned an anonymous Change.org petition which had been calling for "immediate accountability and transparency" regarding Raygun's alleged involvement in the selection process for the Paris Olympics. Created over the weekend, the petition received over 38,000 signatures before Change.org took it down, the platform reportedly stating that it had been flagged for misinformation.
AOC's stance was backed up by AUSBreaking, which expressed its support for Raygun over several Instagram posts. Decrying the "global online harassment" Raygun has received, AUSBreaking refuted the rumour that either she or Free were involved in the Olympic selection process.
View this post on Instagram"Bgirl Raygun has been accused of setting up her own governing body for Breaking and then using her position to manipulate the selection process to her own advantage," wrote AUSBreaking. "While AUSBreaking has had many interactions and points of contact with Raygun, at no point was she the founder, an executive, committee member or in any position of leadership. She was not involved in any decision-making over events, funding, strategy, judge selection or athlete selection."
The WDSF hasn't made any recent statements directly addressing Raygun's situation. However, the organisation did appear to allude to it in an Instagram post uploaded over the weekend, stating that the WDSF "stands firmly against any form of harassment or abuse, which includes cyberbullying."
"Our athletes deserve respect and support as they pursue their dreams," wrote WDSF. "Let's treat every athlete with respect, and create a supportive environment for everyone."
Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun continues to disappoint audience Raygun competing against Syssy of Team France during the Paris Olympics. Credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty ImagesComments on Raygun's Instagram Reel have been overwhelmingly unsympathetic. Many view Raygun as attempting to paint herself as a victim, rather than owning up to her lacklustre performance.
"You trained for that performance?" wrote mrealtor.
"Honest criticism is not hate," said attytjj. "Attacking honest feedback as hate is gaslighting and an attempt to demean those who give honest feedback and criticism with name calling and accusations."
Some commenters also took note of Raygun's academic background. Raygun works as a lecturer at Australia's Macquarie University and has a PHD in breakdancing and dance culture. To many, these intellectually-focused qualifications are anathema to the breakdancing subculture and spirit, which originated from disenfranchised Black and Puerto Rican in the Bronx during the '70s.
"What bothers me is that there was probably a young person, perhaps from a lower socio economic background who could not only dance better but whose life would have been transformed by the opportunity to compete at the Olympics," divine_awen posted. "Instead of taking the opportunity herself she could have supported them to do so."
"Playing the victim card…… just apologize on how bad you were and prob gain more respect.." said nekovujevic.
Breaking will not be returning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the organisers having opted to drop it long before Raygun came to international attention. Perhaps it's for the best.
When you're on the hunt for the best laptop under $500, there are two important words to keep in mind: "Buyer beware."
Many popular gadgets have wildly inflated prices, but in the highly competitive laptop market, you get what you pay for. That means it can be very dangerous to buy a "cheap" laptop. Choose wrongly, and you'll be stuck with a slow, outdated computer that causes more problems than it solves.
Mashable has previously tested some of the best cheap laptops overall, but if $500 is your upper limit, then you're going to be priced out of some popular budget laptops. Even so, there are some great computers within your budget that we highly recommend.
Not all of the laptops we tested made our final cut. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable A quick guide to laptop pricingYou can buy a cheap Chromebook for as little as $100, while our favorite gaming laptop will set you back over $2,000. And in our guide to the best laptops in general, you'll find machines that span the budget spectrum. If you're only interested in laptops under $500, you'll be priced out of Ultrabooks, MacBooks, and most gaming laptops, though you still have some solid options.
Typically, laptops fall into one of the following categories:
Chromebooks ($100-$650): These computers have minimal storage and are designed to run web applications. They're light, portable, and very affordable. At the upper end of this price range, cloud-based gaming Chromebooks offer a smart alternative to expensive gaming laptops.
Budget laptops ($250-$750): Even the best budget laptops won't have the most impressive specs, but they should have enough RAM and storage for everyday use at school or work.
MacBooks ($850-$3,500): The cheapest MacBook worth buying (the M2 MacBook Air) will set you back $850 when it's on sale, while a fully specced-out MacBook Pro can cost as much as $3,500.
Ultrabooks ($1,000-$3,500): These high-end laptops have enough processing power to handle tasks like photo and video editing. They typically have a sleek and modern aesthetic, too. MacBooks also fall into this category.
Below, we've put together a detailed guide to the best budget laptops for under $500, including Chromebooks. The right laptop will vary depending on your needs, but the Acer Aspire 5 is our overall top pick. Check out our other contenders below.
When it comes to shopping for the best cheap laptops, you can do a lot with $1,000. (Heck, even $500 cuts some mustard nowadays.) But you'll probably have to make some compromises along the way to stay below that price point.
That doesn't mean you have to settle for a total clunker that doesn't tick any of the boxes on your must-have specs list. It just means you have to shop a little smarter than someone with unlimited funds.
SEE ALSO: The best laptops of 2024, tested and reviewedThat's where we come in. The Mashable team is constantly reviewing new laptops, and we can recommend several affordable machines for different budgets, operating system loyalties, and use cases based on our hands-on testing.
What is the best cheap laptop?As of mid-2024, we believe the best cheap MacBook is the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air powered by the previous-generation M2 chip. It's speedy enough for most people, it's got a great keyboard, and it starts at $999 (though it's often on sale for less than $900). Among Windows PCs, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) is currently the best laptop under $1,000 that we've tried. It has a newer processor and a good battery life, it doubles as a tablet, and it comes in at a starting price of $899.99. We've gone deeper on these picks and some other solid options below.
As a final note, we've removed the Acer Chromebook 516 GE as a pick because it's no longer available for purchase anywhere. (It used to be our favorite cheap cloud gaming laptop.) However, Acer recently replaced it with the newer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, which is effectively the same laptop with a newer processor, a darker finish, and some new Gemini AI tools. We can't fully recommend it just yet because we haven't finished testing it, but it looks great on paper. We'll update this story as soon as we publish our full review.
FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.
Soundbars are a sleek, impressive (optional) addition to your entertainment setup — sometimes at the expense of making a dent in your budget and decor. They can rescue you from tinny, underwhelming TV speakers and give you a way to play your favorite music.
On the other hand, some soundbars don't necessarily deliver quality sound, cost a pretty penny, and can kill the vibe of a perfectly curated mid-century-modern credenza — a big, black bar in the middle of a colorful setup or muted natural wood tones can sometimes throw a decor scheme off kilter. What it comes down to for a product like this is good quality sound and the buyer's needs.
Enter stage left: The Sonos Ray soundbar. Sonos is an established audio technology brand with a focus on sound quality and technologically innovative features. Much of its equipment ranges in price from $200 to $900, increasing if you purchase tech bundles based on your audio needs. A primary draw to the brand is its expertly engineered smart speakers' sound quality and ability to build upon one another for a tailored audio experience. You can connect multiple products in their app and listen to the same audio throughout your home.
The Sonos Ray is pretty small for a soundbar. Credit: Han Schneider / MashableThe Sonos Ray Soundbar ($279) occupies a unique space in Sonos's line of products and the broader soundbar market. Because of its lower-end price, it's a no-frills soundbar that doesn't even come with a remote or Bluetooth connectivity (really? in 2024?). This gave me pause at first, but upon testing and reflecting, I realized that not everything needs Bluetooth connectivity, nor does your tech need to possess every single feature possible if you only have one distinct purpose. And the Sonos Ray does deliver on the bottom line requirement of any speaker: true, quality sound.
I tested the Sonos Ray Soundbar and was pleasantly surprised that such a simple product could deliver on its few, albeit simple, promises. When many soundbars on the market are an eyesore, I thought it was excellent that the Sonos Ray soundbar can come in a crisp white that blends in well if you don't want that classic soundbar shape and color plunked into your home's aesthetic.
SEE ALSO: Sonos Era 300 review: Absolutely huge sound What is the Sonos Ray Soundbar good for?The Sonos Ray soundbar is sleek, petite, crisp (in make and sound), and an all-around small but mighty soundbar to add to your entertainment system. However, you can't necessarily expect much more from this lower-cost soundbar from Sonos. It can make the audio of Nintendo's Tears of the Kingdom crystal clear such that you can make out the lush swishing of the animated grass and the crunch of gravel under Link's feet. It made Jeff Probst's narration of Survivor challenges burst from the TV with crisp, emphatic clarity, amplifying every splash, splat, and squelch of the contestants flailing in the ocean, sand, and mud.
That said, the options and possibilities for your Sonos Ray soundbar on its own are not limitless. It comes with a power cord and optical input cord, and that's it. I searched the box for a second for a remote, but Sonos wanted to simplify this particular soundbar (almost) to a fault. To my disappointment, I could not connect the soundbar to my projector during my initial test run. Without making any other purchases (say converter cables or additional products from Sonos), the only way to get the Sonos Ray up and running for an entertainment system is via your TV's optical cable, also known as a SPDIF cable.
This was new for me when it comes to a fancy gadget from a brand that foundationally prides itself on smart speakers that don't visually boast their specs but secretly pack so many different features and promise state-of-the-art synchronicity between pieces of your system.
The Sonos Ray has minimal physical controls and doesn't come with a remote. Credit: Han Schneider / Mashable Is the Sonos Ray Soundbar budget-friendly?The simplicity of the Sonos Ray soundbar is not necessarily a "downside" to the product as it's clear the brand developed the product with the intent to offer a (relatively) budget-friendly purchase option within its portfolio of devices and within the broader sea of soundbar options. The Sonos Ray soundbar comes in at $279, much lower than the average soundbar price on the market among brands like Sony, Bose, and Sonos's larger, more versatile Arc soundbar ($899). However, some research will reveal that many higher-cost soundbars from competing brands go on sale near the Sonos Ray price point.
Typically, a sale that ranks competitively would make me override a review and just recommend the better product.
However, I don't particularly think that's necessary in this case. Size doesn't equal power or sound quality with this model, and it brings into question why soundbars have to be so large and unwieldy in the first place. The Sonos Ray comes in a classic black or a sleek white that I think blends into its surroundings delicately.
The folks who would benefit from opting for an on-sale soundbar that rivals Sonos Ray's price would be anyone who really wants a wider portfolio of features.
What features does the Sonos Ray Soundbar come with?The Sonos Ray is no-frills when it comes to features, but you do still have to sign up for and use the Sonos app to set it up and use it. This can be a true dealbreaker for folks who don't want to get their phone involved or prefer not to have an account attached to their device for digital privacy reasons.
As far as apps go, though, the Sonos app is very user-friendly and takes care of as much as possible for you. Once you plug in the speaker and sign up for the app, the app will find the product for you and connect it to your WiFi if you're already logged in. All you have to do is turn on your TV and get to watching and listening. I also liked that the Sonos Ray is compatible with IF remotes (infrared). I simply pointed my TV remote at the speaker to configure it and was ready to go in a matter of seconds.
Sonos really puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to sound quality. There's no doubt about it — these products sound great for music, movies, TV, weekend-long Survivor binges, and more. There are also incredible internal settings for your speaker that you can control via the intuitive app. However, the Sonos Ray doesn't have a microphone or any smart home compatibility built into the product. Although, if that's a must, you can finesse it into a broader smart home system with smart plugs.
These features include "speech enhancement" for those who want a crisper dialogue while enhancing the overall sound. During more action-packed, bass-heavy programming, the dialogue sometimes needs a little help rising above the rest of the excellent audio projection.
There's also "night sound," which dampens the deeper bass elements of the speaker — if you want enhanced audio while a baby, pup, partner, or roommate is asleep nearby. Sonos prides itself on device intelligence (i.e., intelligent features like device synchronicity, Alexa, Google, and Apple Home compatibility, and a lot more). It also offers Sonos's impressive "Trueplay Tuning," which measures how sound bounces off surfaces in your home and adjusts its audio performance accordingly for the smoothest, most dimensional audio experience possible.
Does the Sonos Ray Soundbar sound good?Speaking of bouncing off surfaces, another feature I liked about the Sonos Ray soundbar is that the hardware speakers face forward, angling the audio directly out and at the viewer. This means that the Sonos Ray soundbar is the perfect candidate for fitting into a petite cubby inside a TV stand, a built-in shelf for a soundbar, or anywhere that would otherwise annoyingly envelope multi-directional sound and create a little cove of cacophony instead of a luxury audio experience.
Is the Sonos Ray Soundbar worth it?The Sonos Ray's strengths lie in the same spaces that some may point to weaknesses — because this product is about fitting the buyer's needs. It's a straightforward install of one cord between itself and the TV, and a very easy-to-use app may be great for folks who don't care about all of that smart home hoopla (ahem, my parents). It is smaller and shorter than many soundbars on the market for those with little space on their TV stand or entertainment setup. The Sonos Ray soundbar could also neatly fit under a monitor in a gaming setup for gamers looking for a seamless luxury sound experience that fits into their space.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this speaker also follows through on music sound quality. The audio quality for music speaks for itself when you get one of your favorite heard-it-a-million-times songs going. The treble and bass quality are striking, even at a shallow volume level. The catch on the music aspect of the Sonos Ray is in line with its previously stated weaknesses: there's no Bluetooth connectivity. That doesn't matter here because you can play any music streaming app via your phone by simply selecting the speaker in the apps. One of the most striking things about the music quality on the Sonos Ray soundbar is how clear and crisp each guitar strum and cymbal hit is when listening to Palehound's “Eye on the Bat.”
If you were lucky enough to have a good dad growing up, imagine if they were suddenly taken away for reasons you don't quite understand. Would you wonder why he was no longer around to sing you songs or talk with you? Would you be angry at his absence? That's the starting point for Angela Patton and Natalie Rae's moving documentary Daughters, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year and is now available to stream on Netflix.
The movie follows four girls — Aubrey, who excitedly recites her multiplication tables; Santana, who helps her mom take care of her younger siblings; Ja'Ana, who struggles to remember what her father looked like before he went to prison; Raziah, who wishes she could tell her dad about her day — and their incarcerated fathers as they prepare for the rare chance to hold and hug one another during a father-daughter dance.
As the documentary explains, the availability of in-person visits have sharply declined in prisons across the country, meaning years could pass between opportunities for children to hold their parent's hand or sit in their lap. The result that this has on the daughters in the film is profound. As the filmmakers check back in a year and then three years after the dance, missing out on time spent with a parent due to incarceration has lasting consequences on the girls' behavior and their well-being. It's heartbreaking to see the pieces of childhood lost as collateral damage.
What is Daughters about? Credit: NetflixThe first voice in Daughters belongs to Patton, founder of the Girls for a Change nonprofit, which aims to empower young Black girls. Their Date with Dad event, which reunites daughters with their incarcerated fathers for one day, is a signature program of the organization. “They already know what they need… The wisdom lives inside of them,” Patton says of the girls. She explains that the idea for the event came from girls she worked with; it was the suggestion of bringing a dance to their dads that led to the program's creation in Richmond, VA, before expanding to Washington, D.C.
In preparation for the big event, the fathers enroll in a 10-week coaching class that will try to prepare them through the emotions of that day, examine their own family history, and rededicate themselves to being there for their daughters. The men's conversations are just as emotionally wrenching as the interviews with their daughters, revealing generations of pain and their intentions to do better for their kids. But the powerhouse moments really belong to Aubrey, Santana, Ja'Ana, and Raziah, who are unafraid to be honest about their hurt and confusion over their situation. Reuniting with their fathers is such a joyful but bittersweet moment; the men are in various stages of their sentences, and it may be years or even decades before they will have the chance to freely hug their daughters once again.
Daughters celebrates and centers Black girlhood. Credit: NetflixBetween the tearful moments (and there are a lot of them), the filmmakers sprinkle beautiful interstitial scenes of girls playing with each other, riding their bikes, running their fingers through blades of grass or splashing in a river. There are also plenty of poignant close-ups of a smaller hand grasping onto their parent's hand, showing that even as they grow older, they still rely on that sense of touch and the security, warmth, and love that comes with it. These scenes are typically used as background visuals behind a voice-over or contemplative beats by singer and cellist Kelsey Lu, but they beautifully illustrate what's at stake here, and what organizers, communities, and families are fighting for — offering these girls an ongoing connection with their fathers and the chance to enjoy moments of a carefree childhood as much as possible.
Cinematographer Michael Cambio Fernandez plays with different formats, using both digital and film to give Daughters the feeling of a family album. Grainy handheld footage, artistic black-and-white scenes, and starkly somber interview footage all meld together to give viewers a sense of every side of the story — including that of the hesitant mothers. We see the excitement of the girls' faces as they get ready for their big dance, the glee on the men's faces as they help each other tie their ties and get dressed up for their daughters. For a fleeting moment, there is hope and joy in everyone's faces, happy cries of “Daddy!” and “I love my dad!” fill the room.
Daughters is easily one of the best documentaries you'll see all year. It's enlightening, it's moving, and it's stunning to watch. Patton and Rae focus on the experience of four little girls to illustrate such a specific loss that's often overlooked in conversations about the criminal justice system. The documentary leaves you with more to think about, some tears to dry, and perhaps the feeling you should call your dad to tell him you love him.
How to watch: Daughters is now streaming on Netflix.
The first batch of M4 MacBooks are reportedly on the horizon, according to some juicy gossip from Bloomberg's respected Apple leaker Mark Gurman.
We already saw a glimpse of the M4 chip's capabilities when Apple debuted it on the iPad Pro. Interestingly, this is the first time that Apple has ever rolled out an M-series chip on an iPad before a Mac.
The first Apple device to receive an M4 chip is the iPad Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableWe're not sure why Apple injected this chip into its most premium tablet before integrating it into a MacBook Pro. (Perhaps Apple wanted to give us a teaser of what's to come). But based on the mind-blowing battery life runtime we got for the iPad Pro, as well as the impressive performance numbers, the M4 MacBook Pro models are likely going to make Windows PCs squirm.
That being said, let's take a look at all the leaks and rumors we've been hearing about M4 MacBooks. Plus, we'll also take a sneak peek at leaks and rumors of other upcoming Macs.
M4 MacBook Pro release dateAccording to an April report from Gurman, the next MacBook Pro will drop some time in later this year. He didn't supply an exact date, but the MacBook Pro is expected to come before the M4 MacBook Air, which is poised to drop in the spring months of 2025.
The current-gen entry-level MacBook Pro Credit: AppleThis matches a rumor from Ross Young, another respected analyst. According to Young, who posted a leak on his subscriber-only feed on X (formerly Twitter), Apple fans can expect an M4 MacBook Pro release "later this year," he said.
Based on what Apple has done historically, this means that Apple will likely hold a Mac event on October or November to unveil the new M4 MacBook Pro. However, as BGR noted, the best guesstimate is October.
According to Gurman, the entry-level M4 14-inch MacBook Pro will be released first, followed by the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the more powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max chips (likely end of 2024 or early 2025).
M4 MacBook Pro modelsSimilar to the M3 MacBooks that dropped last year during the October "Scary Fast" event, we're expecting the following M4 MacBook models this year:
14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 (cheapest)
14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro
14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max
16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro
16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max (priciest)
According to Apple, compared to the M2 CPU, the M4 processor is 50% faster. The Cupertino-based tech giant also claims that rendering performance has a four-fold performance jump.
M4 MacBook Pro designWe haven't seen any design rumors regarding the M4 MacBook Pro, but it likely won't get a significant overhaul. As MacRumors said, behind the scenes, Apple is planning a MacBook launch with a new OLED display. However, this isn't expected until 2026.
What about the MacBook Air?Apple is working on new M4 MacBook Air models, according to Gurman, but they won't be released this year.
The current-generation MacBook Air Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableNew 13.6-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air models will likely drop some time next spring.
What about the M4 iMac?According to Gurman, a new M4 24-inch iMac, similar to the M4 MacBook Pro, is slated to launch in late 2024.
The current-generation iMac Credit: AppleWe don't know any other details.
What about the M4 Mac mini?We know quite a few details about the M4 Mac mini. According to Gurman, it will launch in two configurations: M4 and M4 Pro. Plus, it's due to drop some time at the end of 2024 or early 2025.
The Mac mini won't necessarily look different, but it will be significantly smaller. The Mac mini, by the way, hasn't had a design change since 2010. (As 9to5Mac pointed out, it lost its DVD drive and changed the I/O options, but it always remained a 7.7-inch aluminum slab.) It's expected to be the tiniest desktop computer that Apple has ever made.
The chassis is reportedly the size of an Apple TV. While the new M4 Mac mini is expected to have a smaller footprint overall, it will be slightly taller than the current-generation Mac mini.
What about the M4 Mac Studio?Yes, according to Gurman, the M4 Mac Studio is also getting a refresh, but not until some time in the middle of 2025.
What about the M4 Mac Pro?The aforementioned April Bloomberg report claims that the next Mac Pro, packed with an M4 Ultra chip, will drop during the "second half of 2025."
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Opens in a new window Credit: Tykr Tykr Stock Screener: Premium Plan Lifetime Subscription $119.99 at The Mashable ShopNavigating the stock market can be daunting, but Tykr makes it accessible and straightforward.
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TL;DR: Buy a lifetime license for Microsoft Project 2021 Professional for just $19.97 through September 3 and manage your projects with ease.
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Project 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for Windows $19.97 at The Mashable ShopKeeping track of project details can be overwhelming, especially when managing multiple tasks, deadlines, and team members. Microsoft Project is the perfect tool to bring order to your projects, making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently — get a lifetime license on sale for just $19.97 through September 3.
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Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan $349.99 at The Mashable ShopTired of running out of space on free cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox? Even if you pay to upgrade, you still won't have nearly enough to last forever.
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It's good to know that our planetary defense systems work.
The European Space Agency revealed that on July 6 the automated systems that sleuth the skies for potentially hazardous objects like asteroids sent out a warning.
"The object, estimated at around 50 m [164 feet] in diameter, was spotted hurtling towards Earth on a path that would take it uncomfortably close to the moon and our planet," ESA wrote. "But thankfully, this was no asteroid."
SEE ALSO: If a scary asteroid will actually strike Earth, here's how you'll knowAs objects move through the sky against the background of stars, different observatories (like the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) identify whether it's a new object, and if so, if it might pose a hazard to Earth. In this case, follow-up observations determined the detected object was ESA's Juice spacecraft, short for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer. The probe, en route to the deeper solar system, is flying by Earth and the moon to exploit our gravity as it slingshots through space.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedIt turns out the Juice spacecraft isn't nearly 50 meters across. Its solar panel wings measure 27 meters (88 feet) from tip to tip — which is still quite big for a deep space probe. But it appeared very bright, owing to its reflective solar panels, so ESA's automated system initially estimated the object was a larger rock reflecting more light.
Scanning the skies for potentially menacing objects is essential. It gives us time to prepare, and if necessary, evacuate a certain area. "You need to know what's coming, when it's coming, and how hard it's going to hit," Eric Christensen, the director of the near-Earth object-seeking Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, previously told Mashable.
"You need to know what's coming, when it's coming, and how hard it's going to hit."Some space rocks do inevitably veer into our neck of the solar system woods from time to time. But space agencies haven't spotted any threats. There "continues to be no known asteroid on course to collide with our planet for at least the next 100 years," ESA said.
The risks of an asteroid impactHere are today's general risks from asteroids or comets both tiny and very large. Importantly, even relatively small rocks are still threatening, as the surprise 56-foot (17-meter) rock that exploded over Russia and blew out people's windows in 2013 proved.
Every single day about 100 tons of dust and sand-sized particles fall through Earth's atmosphere and promptly burn up.
Every year, on average, an "automobile-sized asteroid" plummets through our sky and explodes, explains NASA.
Impacts by objects around 460 feet (140 meters wide) in diameter occur every 10,000 to 20,000 years.
A "dinosaur-killing" impact from a rock perhaps a half-mile across or larger happens on 100-million-year timescales.
TL;DR: Grab the Flash Pro Plus 100W power bank on sale for $199.97 (reg. $319) through September 3 and never run out of battery again.
Opens in a new window Credit: Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus 100W USB-C 25000mAh Graphene Power Bank w/ Magsafe Compatibility $199.97 at The Mashable ShopNothing disrupts a busy day like a dead battery. Whether you're in the middle of a crucial work call, navigating a new city, or streaming your favorite show, running out of power can be a giant headache.
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Designed to keep your devices powered up no matter where you are, the Flash Pro Plus offers an impressive 100W output. This means you can charge up to six devices at once: your iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch, and more. MagSafe compatibility allows for wireless charging up to 15W, perfect for devices like the iPhone 12 Pro.
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Priced at $199.97 through September 3, the Flash Pro Plus 100W power bank with MagSafe compatibility is an investment in convenience and peace of mind.
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The adage "you can never go home again" speaks to the indifference of time passing. Sure, you can go back to your hometown whenever, but the "you" and the "home" will never be the same again. This is the dilemma facing the trans protagonist in the indie drama Close to You, which is both fronted and produced by Elliot Page (Umbrella Academy). After years of personal struggle, Sam is finally in good standing with himself. But what will happen when this him goes back to a home — and family — who may not understand?
Made after Page came out as trans in 2020, this touching and clearly personal film grapples with issues of trans acceptance and the definition of family — but not successfully.
What's Close to You about? Credit: Courtesy of Greenwich EntertainmentCanadian actor Elliot Page stars as Sam, a trans man who is traveling to his hometown of Cobourg, Canada, to visit his family for the first time since transitioning. Directed by Dominic Savage, Close to You begins with some simple visual storytelling by establishing Sam in his Toronto rental, where he comfortably walks around without a shirt, his scars from top surgery on casual display. While making breakfast, he's joined by his housemate, who offers support but suggests maybe Sam need not put himself under the microscope of his family just because it's his dad's birthday.
SEE ALSO: 70 best LGBTQ films to stream right nowDespite his reluctance, Sam will go. Much of the drama will play out in his childhood home, between his parents, siblings, and their respective partners. However, woven throughout these family beats are bits of a romantic reunion between Sam and his high school bestie/crush Katherine (Hillary Baack). What begins as an enthusiastic conversation on a train spins into long walks and heavy-handed talks about what was and what could be.
Close to You takes a big risk that doesn't pay off. Credit: Courtesy of Greenwich EntertainmentThough Savage and Page are credited as screenwriters on the film, the production was made up largely of improvised dialogue — including a 53-minute take that is considerably cut down in the final edit. While a daring approach, it is the movie's biggest obstacle. A woeful lack of structure means one scene tumbles into another with little motivation. Sam's walks with Katherine feel so disjointed from the rest of the movie that I began to wonder if they were a flight of fantasy. Was Sam so under pressure by the tense family dynamics in the house that he imagined a safe space with the girl of his dreams smiling warmly at him? Or were the walks along the beach just a sincerely sentimental cliche?
A strong narrative structure wouldn't be a problem if Close to You played as a slice-of-life drama. But there too the film feels thin, in part because the dialogue — again, much of it improvised — lacks specificity. There's a slog of naturalistic but uncompelling dialogue occurring between collections of characters that does little to distinguish them from each other. Sam has two sisters (Janet Porter and Alex Paxton-Beesley), and they're chiefly defined by the men they date. One has a friendly beau who is smiling and enthusiastic to meet Sam. The other sister boasts a sneering transphobe (David Reale) for a fiancé, the kind who insists he's just asking questions and trying to play by "the rules" while making everyone else uncomfortable.
As the sisters seem to exist chiefly to introduce opposing attitudes toward Sam, one might wonder why they are needed at all. Couldn't the sisters be in opposition, as opposed to the boyfriends? Doesn't it weaken the stakes to have a family outsider giving voice to the tiresome transphobic talking points? As it is, the collection of kin feels ill-defined, and some are outright unneeded.
Further frustrating, Savage's staging of the introduction of the family is in a clumsy and darkly lit wide shot. So, it's difficult to make out from the jump who is who. Later, when one of this crew (Daniel Maslany) pours his heart out to the film's hero, it might have been a touching moment — if I had any idea who he was in relation to Sam! It's as if Savage is taking for granted that these abstractions of characters will be enough, perhaps relying on audiences to plug and play their own family into the roles, for better or worse. But with cinematography that gives little focus to anyone's close-ups save for Page, it's hard to see, much less connect with, the majority of the ensemble.
Close to You offers drama that is earnest but not earned. Credit: Courtesy of Greenwich EntertainmentEven Sam can be a vexing enigma. Vocally, he expresses how he wishes to be seen by his family as the whole of who he is, and not solely defined as trans. However, his trans identity is the most talked-about element of the character in Close to You. Aside from the swift intro, we don't see much of his life in Toronto. The ambiguous dialogue keeps talk of his romantic life and community there very vague. When asked about his work — even repeatedly — he only says that he likes it, never mentioning what it is or why he enjoys it. It's less than small talk. What he does is never revealed, nor are any other friends, and so goes another opportunity to get to know Sam beyond his trans identity and his family's fighting.
Sam's romance with Katherine does bolster the character, as it shows a side of him where he doesn't need to be on guard or constantly explaining his right to exist. These scenes seem to aim for a Before Midnight vibe, but again, improvised dialogue keeps things vague — albeit sweet and sentimental. While Page and Baack do share a warm chemistry, it's not so white-hot that the third-act possibility of a romantic runaway relationship feels likely, perhaps especially amid so much naturalistic dialogue that suggests only grounded choices are on the table.
The bits that work best in this film are those between Sam and his parents. In a kitchen scene, his mother (Wendy Crewson) — desperate to show her support — awkwardly offers him money in the middle of asking him to help with the cooking. There is specificity, with her welcoming him into her space and trying to reach out the way many parents do. Later, his father (Peter Outerbridge) reflects on when Sam left home, laying out the fears he faced in not being within reach of his child. Here again, details paint the picture of these people, their relationship, and the stakes Sam and his family face.
For much of the film, Close to You keeps us at arm's length. Its experiment with improvisation might have had great intentions in terms of seeking authenticity. However, this method ultimately fails in constructing a successfully engaging narrative or fleshed-out characters. Sam's journey is carried chiefly by Page's performance, which is sharp-eyed and big-hearted. However, as Sam meanders from romantic rendezvous to stressful dining room debate and back again, it's difficult to connect to the flow of the film, especially with so much stagnant dialogue. Despite good intentions, Close to You has lofty aims but wobbly execution.
Close to You opens in theaters Aug. 16.
UPDATE: Aug. 14, 2024, 2:14 p.m. EDT This review was first published on Sept. 16, 2023, out of the film's world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 16 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 16Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, August 16, 2024:
AcrossSenegal's neighbor to the eastThe answer is Mali.
The answer is Jeremy.
The answer is escape.
The answer is shadow.
The answer is tenors.
The answer is sent.
The answer is meshes.
The answer is arcane.
The answer is leadon.
The answer is import.
The answer is jest.
The answer is yews.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
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