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While preseason might not bring all the action of the regular season, which kicks off in September, it does give football fans a glimpse into the new talent pool for 2026. You'll see the 2026 NFL Draft Class take the field in hopes of earning starting spots on each team. And, of course, scout players for your fantasy team and build up excitement for the best time of year.
Watching live sports, particularly football, is exceedingly complicated in the streaming era. Yes, that even includes the preseason schedule. So, I've done the grunt work for you and broken down the necessary details you need to know to tune in. Here's a handy watch guide for the 2026 NFL preseason so you don't miss out on your team's early exhibition games.
When is the 2026 NFL preseason?The 2026 NFL preseason begins with the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. ET, featuring the Carolina Panthers vs. the Arizona Cardinals. The official preseason schedule then runs from Aug. 13 through Aug. 29, with the regular season kicking off on Sept. 9.
How to watch NFL preseason games liveThere are 48 games total in the 2026 NFL preseason schedule; 32 of those games will be broadcast on either ESPN/ ESPN Unlimited or NFL Network. The other games will be dispersed between Prime Video and your local CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox stations.
The good news is all of these networks will also carry regular season games. So, if you make the investments now in your streaming lineup, you'll be set for the full NFL season. The bad news is, you'll need at least a couple different subscriptions to watch your home team. While there are a number of different ways to gain access to every game, I recommend one of two options. You can buy a digital antenna for access to local networks (CBS, NBC, Fox) and sign up for subscriptions to ESPN with NFL Network and Prime Video. Or you can sign up for a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Fubo to get access to local networks as well as ESPN and NFL Network in most markets. Unfortunately, you'll still need to sign up for Prime Video separately if you're not already a Prime member. Make note that blackout restrictions apply to local broadcasts, just as they do in the regular season. To access out-of-market preseason games, you'll need an NFL+ subscription.
Note: The only preseason game on Prime Video is the Aug. 27 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots. Feel free to skip the Prime Video subscription for preseason if you don't care about this game.
Let's break down what those two options would cost you.
Option 1: Digital antenna + ESPN/NFL Network + Prime VideoDigital antenna options and prices vary depending on the range. Do a quick search of how far you live from your local TV stations by miles, and be sure to grab an antenna that has a range of at least that far. Mashable's sister site, PCMag, has some recommendations if you need help in your search. On average, you're looking at about a $30 to $40 purchase. That will grant you access to local games on Fox, CBS, and NBC. In order to access the 32 games on ESPN and NFL Network, you'll need an ESPN Unlimited subscription with the NFL+ Premium add-on (scroll down to the "Looking for more?" section on the ESPN website). This will cost you $39.99 per month for the bundle. Throw Prime Video into the mix for $8.99 per month, and you have a grand total of around $80 to $90 for a month. After your initial investment in the digital antenna, however, that price will go down to just $49 per month for the ESPN bundle and Prime Video, making this a better deal in the long run.
Option 2: Live TV streaming service + Prime VideoAnother smart option to watch preseason NFL games is to sign up for a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV. Recently, YouTube TV added a more affordable Sports Plan, which grants you access to NBC, CBS, FOX, NFL Network, and ESPN — all of the networks you'll need for the preseason. It'll only cost you $54.99 per month for your first year, which is a pretty solid deal. All you'll need in addition to the YouTube TV Sports Plan is a Prime Video subscription for $8.99. That brings the grand total to $64 for a month.
The best streaming deals for the 2026 NFL preseason Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99/month Learn MoreESPN Unlimited costs $29.99 per month, but you can save $59.89 by signing up for a full year at $299.99. Unfortunately, if you want to bundle it with NFL+ Premium for the ultimate football streaming package, you'll have to stick with the monthly plan. However, you'll save about $5 per month on the bundle deal.
ESPN Unlimited deals:ESPN Unlimited annual subscription — $299.99/year $359.88/year (save $59.89/year)
ESPN Unlimited and NFL+ Premium — $39.99/month $44.98/month (save $4.99/month)
Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle — $35.99/month $53.97/month (save $17.98/month)
ESPN Unlimited and Fox One bundle — $39.99/month $49.98/month (save $9.99/month)
We're big fans of YouTube TV's massive 100+ channel lineup, which includes nearly all of the networks you'll need to tune into the NFL preseason live. We're even bigger fans of the 10-day free trial offer. We're not so thrilled with the full price of the Base Plan, however, so we recommend going for the new Sports Plan.
YouTube TV will cost you $67.99 per month for your first three months of the Base Plan, then $82.99 per month thereafter. The Sports Plan, on the other hand, is just $54.99 per month for your first 12 months and $64.99 per month thereafter.
YouTube TV deals:YouTube TV Sports — free 10-day trial, $54.99/month for your first year $64.99/month (save $120)
YouTube TV Base — free 10-day trial, $67.99/month for your first 3 months $82.99/month (save $45)
Fubo Sports — $54.99/month for 1 month $64.99/month (save $10)
If you're a fan of a non-local team, you'll need an NFL+ plan to watch out-of-market preseason games. Fortunately, NFL+ is running a preseason deal just in the nick of time. Save 20% on an annual plan to NFL+ or NFL+ Premium and catch your favorite team on your mobile devices. Of course, if you're already an ESPN Unlimited subscriber, the best deal is to bundle it with NFL+ Premium for an extra $10 (see above).
Note: Though you can watch out-of-market preseason games, you'll only be able to watch your local in-market games during the regular season with NFL+. I don't know why and I don't make the rules, but it's something to consider.
NFL+ deals:NFL+ — $39.99/year $49.99/year (save $10)
NFL+ Premium — $79.99/year $99.99/year (save $20)
Farewell, Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel).
House of the Dragon's most-hated knight came to the end of his prolonged death march in Season 3, when he took three arrows to the chest and face. But before he met his unceremonious fate, he proved why he called himself the realm's greatest warrior, killing at least 10 enemy soldiers over the course of a brutal ambush.
SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 6: We counted Criston Cole's body count in the first 5 minutes. It's more than you think.Even though Criston makes mincemeat of several Rivermen, Frankel never wanted the fight to feel like a walk in the park.
"The big thing I found with all those fight scenes in general, in medieval-adjacent films, [is that] everyone always looks like it's so easy, and I wanted him to look exhausted," Fabien Frankel told Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards in a Say More interview.
He continued: "They've been on the road for so long, and we really worked super hard, me and the stunt team, to build the beats in where you find him exhausted, where you find him out of breath."
Criston's rising exhaustion is just one of the many stories House of the Dragon spins throughout the fight scene. Another has to do with Criston's weapons of choice. He begins the fight with a flail, the very same weapon he uses against Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) in their tourney fight in House of the Dragon's very first episode. Later, he picks up a sword, reminiscent of his days in the Kingsguard and as a commander. He also pulls a dagger on his enemies, and this particular dagger is one that Frankel has been eager to use since Season 1.
In Season 1, Criston tries to stab himself with that same dagger, before a young Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) stops him. He's been carrying around that dagger at his back ever since.
"I had this dagger for a long time, and I wanted to find a reason to use it because it's unbelievably uncomfortable," Frankel said.
Enter Criston's last stand at the Butcher's Ball.
"We were looking for a few extra beats in the fight, and I was like, 'Guys, this is the moment, and the dagger has to come out now,'" Frankel said. "We had that amazing beat, which was so cool. They choreographed that so well, and the weapon progression was really joyful to do."
Watch Mashable's full interview with Frankel above.
Magic: The Gathering has produced plenty of expensive trading cards over its long history, but you do not need to dig through sets from the 1990s to find singles worth hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.
The current Standard format (used for competitive MTG) stretches from 2023’s Wilds of Eldraine through to Marvel Super Heroes, covering traditional Magic planes alongside Universes Beyond crossovers such as Final Fantasy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Even among these relatively new collections, you can find enough expensive chase cards to fully fund a pension plan and then some.
With that, we’ve checked the top five leading cards from every Standard-legal set using TCGplayer market prices — including those sporting alternate artwork, premium foil aesthetics, and coveted serialized versions. Just like with the most valuable Pokémon cards in the modern TCG, Magic prices can change as more copies are opened and sold, but these are the five most valuable chase cards right now.
Wilds of EldraineWilds of Eldraine is one of the more affordable Standard expansions at the upper end, with none of its five leading cards currently stretching far beyond $50:
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan sits at the opposite end of the scale to Wild of Eldraine. Not only are its top five cards dominated by rare borderless Cavern of Souls variants, but the most valuable version carries a market price of roughly $4,900:
Murders at Karlov Manor’s biggest cards have been dominated by serialized versions of familiar Ravnica characters:
Outlaws of Thunder Junction is considerably cheaper than many of the sets that came before and after. That’s slightly surprising, given Bristly Bill, Spine Sower, and Terror of the Peaks account for four of its five leading cards:
The Big Score was released inside Outlaws of Thunder Junction boosters, pushing the wider set’s value much higher than one might normally expect. Its Raised Foil Vaultborn Tyrant and Sword of Wealth and Power sit very comfortably above the main expansion’s biggest pulls, with market prices well over $200 and $150, respectively:
BloomburrowBloomburrow's animal-focused setting might be an approachable set to dive into, but its most desirable Raised Foils carry some seriously high prices:
Lumra, Bellow of the Woods (Borderless, Raised Foil, #343): $769.57
Baylen, the Haymaker (Borderless, Raised Foil, #345): $412.83
Camellia, the Seedmiser (Borderless, Raised Foil, #346): $244.41
Vren, the Relentless (Borderless, Raised Foil, #354): $226.66
Duskmourn: House of Horror has a strong collection of premium cards without reaching the four-figure price brackets of Standard’s biggest releases:
Valgavoth, Terror Eater (Showcase, Textured Foil, #407): $303.06
Overlord of the Balemurk (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #401): $256.26
Overlord of the Hauntwoods (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #405): $191.82
Magic: The Gathering’s Foundations offers plenty of recognizable Magic staples, and its Fracture Foil treatments have ended up becoming very high value in terms of chase cards:
AetherdriftAetherdrift's most valuable cards are relatively cheap compared to other expansions released around the same time. Radiant Lotus and Loot, the Pathfinder lead through their Fracture Foil treatments, but neither currently reaches much beyond $140:
Loot, the Pathfinder (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #414): $104.25
Chandra, Spark Hunter (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #411): $72.86
Cursecloth Wrappings (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #410): $51.73
Tarkir: Dragonstorm was released with one enormous chase card separating it from almost everything else in the expansion. The serialized Mox Jasper carries a market price of roughly $1,757, putting it more than $1,200 ahead of the Halo Foil Ugin, Eye of the Storms:
Final FantasyMagic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy expansion was one of the most anticipated trading card releases in a long while — and is now one of the most expensive by far. Unsurprisingly, for those who kept up with MTG Final Fantasy at launch, all five of the most valuable chase cards are the Traveling Chocobo variants:
Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Japanese Exclusive, #551): $5,950
Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Neon Ink Blue, #551c): $1,937.28
Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Neon Ink Green, #551d): $1,862.90
Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Neon Ink Yellow, #551a): $1,766.81
Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Neon Ink Pink, #551b): $1,754.61
Edge of Eternities mixes a single four-figure showstopper with several more moderately priced Fracture Foils. Leading the top five by far is the Singularity Foil version of Sothera, the Supervoid, with a market price of over $1,200, while Icetill Explorer drops to around $348 in second place:
Marvel’s Spider-ManMarvel’s Spider-Man unexpectedly included a high-priced Infinity Stone sitting at the top of its rankings, with the borderless Soul Stone carrying a market value of nearly $1,700:
Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion brought the iconic Nickelodeon series’ bending to the tabletop and has one of Standard’s most valuable collections of premium treatments:
Toph, the First Metalbender (Borderless, Neon Ink Foil, #362): $900.80
Aang, Swift Savior (Borderless, Neon Ink Foil, #359): $534.64
Katara, the Fearless (Borderless, Neon Ink Foil, #361): $479.35
Lorwyn Eclipsed returned to the land of light and shadow with a noticeably smaller gap between its premium pulls and the rest of the expansion. Bloom Tender leads through its Fracture Foil treatment at approximately $356, followed by Moonshadow at just under $150:
Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles emerged from the sewers and became another heavyweight Universes Beyond release, largely thanks to its beautiful Gold-Stamped borderless cards:
Leonardo, Sewer Samurai (Borderless, Gold-Stamped, #301): $2,957.03
Donatello, Mutant Mechanic (Borderless, Gold-Stamped, #302): $2,700
Michelangelo, Improviser (Borderless, Gold-Stamped, #304): $2,250
Raphael, Ninja Destroyer (Borderless, Gold-Stamped, #303): $2,175
Secrets of Strixhaven has perhaps the most uneven top end of any expansion on this list. Its serialized Double Rainbow Foil Emeritus of Ideation is valued at approximately $2,900, but the second-place card sits at only around $18:
Marvel Super HeroesMagic: The Gathering’s fun Marvel Super Heroes expansion closes out the current Standard lineup with another hugely valuable Infinity Stone:
TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free Switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Get DealWhile Samsung continues to dominate the news cycle with its latest wave of foldables and smart glasses, we can't simply ignore Apple.
With memory costs creeping up under global RAMageddon supply squeezes, getting your hands on the latest iPhone usually requires a steep upfront cost. However, T-Mobile is cutting through the noise with a major carrier deal: you can score an Apple iPhone 17 for free right now when you switch networks. The best bit? Unlike most promotions that force you to trade something in to qualify, this offer bucks that trend.
To qualify for this promotion, you simply need to switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.
T-Mobile finances the $829.99 device balance over 24 months, then applies an equal monthly bill credit to cancel out that fee. You are responsible for local sales tax on the full pre-credit price plus T-Mobile’s standard $35 device connection charge due at checkout. This is a 24-month carrier agreement. If you cancel the service, switch to another plan, or leave T-Mobile before the 24-month period is up, the remaining unpaid device balance becomes due immediately.
If you’re still clutching an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13, you’re missing out on Apple’s most transformative generational leap in years. The iPhone 17 is the first base-model handset built to run Apple Intelligence features without lag. Check out our review for a more detailed breakdown.
If you’re already planning to switch carriers or want a premium unlimited plan with high-speed data, grabbing Apple’s latest flagship for free without giving up your old phone is a no-brainer upgrade.
SAVE $50: You can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 bundled with a $50 Amazon gift card for $379.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 + $50 Gift Card Get DealSamsung Unpacked brought the usual overwhelming wave of new gear — new Samsung phones, new watches, and even Samsung Galaxy Glasses — because, apparently, Samsung decided to surprise everyone.
Here's where it gets good: Amazon is currently bundling the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 with a free $50 gift card. Pre-order now and it'll ship Aug. 7. It's not just a good preorder deal — it's a good preorder deal with a little something extra tucked in for later.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Unpacked: What to expect from Samsung's new smartwatchesOnce it's on your wrist, the Watch 9 tracks your vitals while you sleep and flags anything that's off from your normal patterns, so you get a heads-up on anything that might need your attention. There's also a Fitness Index feature that adjusts its coaching based on what you're training for, whether that's building endurance for a hike or just getting stronger.
The AI assistant skips the wake word entirely — just raise your wrist and start talking, and it's already listening. And instead of making you check five different health stats separately, the watch combines sleep, BMI, activity, and vascular load into one Heart Health Score that tells you how your heart's doing at a glance.
Quick note on the gift card: you'll need to select the gift card bundle variation at checkout to get it, and the offer ends Aug. 6 — a day before the watch even ships. So if you want that $50 gift card, grab the Galaxy Watch 9 asap.
TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for just $54.99 (reg. $249.99) and own Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access with a lifetime license for one PC.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows: Lifetime License $54.99So many of us are happy with Microsoft’s classic Office apps, but less enthusiastic about recurring software payments. That’s what makes this version worth a closer look.
Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus is available for $54.99 for a limited time. Instead of signing up for an ongoing Microsoft 365 subscription, you’ll get a lifetime license tied to one Windows PC. That’s also why this version costs less than account-based Office licenses — it’s licensed to a specific device rather than your Microsoft account.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Inside the suite are the apps many people rely on every day:
Word for document creation and editing
Excel for spreadsheets and analysis
PowerPoint for presentations
Outlook for email
OneNote for note-taking
Access for database management
Office 2024 Professional Plus is designed with long-term stability in mind. Rather than frequent feature changes, it focuses on reliable performance, a streamlined interface with Dark Mode support, enhanced security features, and compatibility with Windows 10 and Windows 11.
This makes it a practical choice for professionals, small businesses, students, or anyone who prefers software they can install once and continue using without worrying about another monthly charge.
One important detail: this license is device-linked, not Microsoft account-linked. Once activated, it’s tied to the Windows PC where it’s installed.
Get Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows for $54.99 (reg. $249.99) and enjoy a lifetime license with no ongoing subscription fees.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for just $69.97 through Aug. 9 and bring leading AI models and other tools into one lifetime workspace.
Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97AI subscriptions aren’t cheap, but it’s manageable if you only use one model like ChatGPT. However, if you need tools for generating images, writing copy, analyzing documents, or translating between languages, a platform like 1min.AI is a more viable option.
1min.AI gives you lifetime access to some of the most popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, and many others. It’s also only $69.97 for a lifetime subscription through today (reg. $540).
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!1min.AI runs in your browser and pulls a ton of everyday work into one place. You can research keywords, draft blog posts, rewrite and shorten text, generate social posts, and keep a consistent brand voice across projects.
There are tools to summarize or translate documents, chat with multiple PDFs at once, and spin up slide presentations. For visuals, you can generate images from prompts, upscale low-resolution pictures, remove backgrounds, extend edges, or turn rough sketches into cleaner artwork.
Here’s a small sample of the AI models you’ll get access to:
GPT-5.5 Pro, GPT-5.4 Pro (OpenAI)
Claude 4.1 Opus, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, Claude 4.6 Sonnet (Anthropic)
Gemini 2.5 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Pro
Llama 3
Mistral models
The Advanced Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits each month, plus the chance to earn up to 450,000 more through daily logins and other tasks. Credits are shared across writing, images, audio, and video, so you can lean harder on whichever tools you need that month.
The plan supports up to 20 members, with shared workspaces, an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, and unlimited brand voices. If you don’t use all your credits, they just roll over, so you aren’t missing out if you have a lighter month.
It’s currently only $69.97 (reg. $540) to get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription, but that’s only through today, Aug. 9, at 11:59 pm PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB, unlocked) for $1,899.99 at Amazon and get a free $350 Amazon gift card bundled in — no trade-in required.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 + $350 Gift Card Get DealSamsung's Unpacked event didn't hold back — new Samsung phones, new watches, and even Samsung Galaxy Glasses all landed within the same event. With that much new hardware announced at once, it can take some digging to figure out which deal on which device is actually worth your money.
Amazon is currently bundling the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a free $350 gift card, no trade-in or discount code needed — just the phone at $1,899.99 with the gift card tacked on.
SEE ALSO: How to skip the $1,800 price tag and score a free Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 at AT&TUnfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 turns into a mini tablet for watching movies and reading books. Whatever you're watching looks immersive on the big screen, and Samsung claims it's the lightest fold they've made yet, so you're not lugging around a brick to get there.
Folded back up, it handles texting and everyday use just like a normal phone. The display also claims the title of the brightest screen on any Galaxy phone, so glare from being outside won't ruin your movie or your doomscrolling session.
On the camera side, you get a 50-megapixel dual camera setup paired with the screen, so you can see your shot clearly before and after you take it. If you're filming something chaotic, Super Steady Video with Horizontal Lock keeps the shot leveled even if you're not.
However, the gift card isn't instant here — you'll get an email once it's available after the phone ships. The offer runs through Aug. 6, so pre-ordering sooner gets you in before the window closes.
Grab the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB, unlocked) at Amazon to claim your bonus.
The Moon is now well into its waning phase, gradually appearing less full as it moves closer to the New Moon. Here's what you can still see on its surface tonight.
What is today’s Moon phase?As of Saturday, Aug. 1, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 93% of its surface visible.
Without visual aids, tonight you should still be able to see the Mare Tranquillitatis, Copernicus Crater, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars will help you see the Alphonsus Crater, Endymion Crater, and the Clavius Crater. Pull out your telescope (if you have one) to see see all clearer, plus the Apollo 14 landing spot, the Rupes Altai, and the Linne Crater.
When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.
What are Moon phases?According to NASA, the Moon goes through a complete cycle of eight phases roughly every 29.5 days. As it travels around Earth, the angle between the Sun, Earth and Moon constantly changes, meaning we see different amounts of the Moon's sunlit side. This is what causes the familiar progression from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the cycle repeats.
The eight phases are:
New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a baker.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 1, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Hit the sack
Green: Iconic movie stars
Blue: Dig deep
Purple: Carb-loaded
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Bedding
Green: Oscar-winning actors since 2010
Blue: Perform some hole-machining operations
Purple: Starting with bread shapes
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #1147 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayBedding: COMFORTER, SHAM, SHEET, THROW
Oscar-winning actors since 2010: BALE, JORDAN, PHOENIX, WALTZ
Perform some hole-machining operations: BORE, COUNTERSINK, DRILL, REAM
Starting with bread shapes: BOULEVARD, BUNDLE, LOAFER, ROLLS-ROYCE
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you can laugh it off.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: "As if!"The words are related to ridiculousness.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe being unreasonable.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Get Real.
NYT Strands word list for August 1Absurd
Laughable
Get Real
Preposterous
Ludicrous
Silly
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a cold treat.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 1, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 1, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Mush.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter S appears twice.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
SLUSH
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintQuickness.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerSPEED
Hurdle Word 2 hintDuck sound.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 1, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerQUACK
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Hurdle Word 3 hintDeadly.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 1 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 1, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerFATAL
Hurdle Word 4 hintNot before.
Hurdle Word 4 answerAFTER
Final Hurdle hintA red bird.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerROBIN
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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Right now, you can score it all for only $37.97 with code COURSE30 through Aug. 2.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!These days, you can master new lucrative skills without even setting foot in a classroom. This Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle gives you all the tools you need — from the software to the lessons.
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Nara Smith would like the internet to know that she does not wash the dishes.
That detail may surprise anyone who has spent the past several years watching the 24-year-old creator get called one of TikTok’s most recognizable "tradwives" (she has over 12 million followers as of this writing). On the July 29 episode of Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, Smith pulled out her phone and found one definition: “a woman who embraces or promotes a traditional model of marriage and family life” by prioritizing homemaking and caregiving while supporting her husband as the primary breadwinner.
She argued that the label has never accurately described her.
SEE ALSO: Kesha, the internet's tooth fairy, wants your teethSmith’s elaborate cooking videos have made her a fixture in the tradwife conversation, even though she has repeatedly rejected the term. This time, she went through the assumptions about her work, marriage, and household one by one.
The interview quickly restarted a familiar argument. Some viewers accepted Smith’s explanation. Others maintained that even if she does not live as a tradwife, her videos helped popularize the aesthetic.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.The debate raises a more basic question: What actually makes someone a tradwife, and why has the term become such a loaded label?
Nara Smith breaks down the tradwife definitionThe title of Smith’s Call Her Daddy episode, "Stop Calling Me a Tradwife," didn’t leave much room for interpretation.
"They [the internet] kind of used me as the poster child for the tradwife movement," Smith told Cooper, calling the association “very bizarre.”
The term "tradwife," as Mashable associate features editor Anna Iovine defined it in 2022, refers to a woman who "denounces feminism in turn for the ‘more fulfilling’ life of submitting to a man." The husband typically serves as the breadwinner, while the wife focuses on homemaking, childcare, cooking, and cleaning. According to Smith, that description doesn’t fit. "I don’t prioritize being a homemaker," she said. "I’m a working mom."
Smith has modeled since she was 14 and now runs a lucrative content business; Forbes estimates she earned $7.5 million over the previous year. She was featured on the 2025 "Mashable 101" creator list, dubbed as "TikTok’s reigning domestic goddess."
At home, Smith told Cooper, she and her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, divide childcare based on who is working. She cooks because she enjoys it, and because severe eczema and a lupus diagnosis after her first pregnancy prompted her to reevaluate what she ate and begin making more food from scratch. Smith also rejected the suggestion that her husband is the family’s sole breadwinner, explaining that they both work and provide for their household.
"Yeah, I like to cook. Sue me," she said.
Smith acknowledges that her videos contain many of the cues viewers associate with tradwife content. She prepares labor-intensive food from scratch, wears feminine outfits, and builds recipes around what her husband and kids want. She married Lucky when she was 18, and welcomed their first child shortly after turning 19. Her family has also spent time with Hannah Neeleman, the creator behind Ballerina Farm, who is known as the "queen of tradwives." (Neeleman inspired the 2026 novel Yesteryear, but more on that below.)
As clips from the interview circulated, critics argued that Smith’s private household arrangement doesn't erase the image she has presented online. Many find her to have profited from making that domestic fantasy part of her public persona, "selling a dangerous product that young girls are taking note of." In some commenters' views, Smith knowingly used tradwife imagery to build a profitable brand and seems to now be distancing herself from the label without addressing what that content may have communicated.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.On the other hand, some defenders argue that Smith’s videos are "calming and enjoyable," and that her content aims for views rather than an accurate depiction of her household. Others point out that Smith has never publicly promoted female submission or suggested women should leave the workforce, and they see using that term to describe her as a "microaggression." As one X user put it, "The girl just wanted to make her kids candy from scratch."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This isn't the first time Smith has rejected the labelSmith has been answering versions of the tradwife question long before Call Her Daddy.
In a 2024 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Smith described her videos as a combination of her interests in cooking and fashion. She also explained that her famously hushed voiceovers were recorded inside a closet to avoid disturbing her children.
"It’s really not that deep," she said of her cooking content.
In July 2025, Smith told Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast that people continued treating her as a symbol of traditional marriage despite her attempts to show that she was a full-time working mother.
She added that Lucky regularly cares for their children while she travels and handles tasks that viewers might not associate with a "traditional" husband, including doing dishes, getting the children dressed, and styling their hair.
Smith made the distinction again in April 2026 while announcing her first cookbook, Homemade. She told Vanity Fair that she considers cooking both a hobby and a job and described her marriage as modern. She also said she plans to expand her platform into a larger culinary lifestyle business.
Still, the label has persisted.
Why is the tradwife label so controversial?Choosing to cook, raise children, or leave paid employment is only one part of the debate. The controversy grows when that personal arrangement is promoted as the "natural" or "preferable" role for women, particularly when it includes a husband leading the household and a wife becoming financially dependent on him.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Those ideas are not simply being projected onto the movement by its critics. A 2025 University of Hawaiʻi study analyzing posts tagged #tradwife and #tradelife found recurring messages that portrayed feminism as incompatible with femininity, blamed feminism for women’s dissatisfaction, and promoted traditional gender roles as biologically or religiously determined. Some of the content also included exclusionary messaging about transgender and gender-fluid people.
"Life for actual 1950s housewives was lonely and boring — if you were 'lucky,'" Iovine wrote back in 2022. She noted that domestic violence was widely treated as a private family matter, marital rape was not illegal in every state until 1993, and many homemakers experienced isolation, anxiety, and depression. Those realities are considerably less soothing than the vintage dresses and homemade bread that appear online.
The rise of the tradwife online has also come in tandem with the stripping of reproductive rights for women in the U.S., like the reversal of Roe v. Wade and attacks on the birth control pill, showcasing real-life consequences to the backlash of feminism.
Supporters, however, describe the lifestyle as a freely made choice and an alternative to the strain of balancing employment with motherhood.
"I believe working is good for many women, but [working outside the home] is also the cause of burnout for mothers," self-described tradwife Estee Williams told Business Insider in 2022. Williams said she promotes homemaking to show the fulfillment she finds in it. Alena Kate Pettitt, another early tradwife creator, has similarly called traditional housewifery "a choice" that "shouldn’t be mocked."
Despite the controversy, the content still appeals to viewers who have little interest in its traditional division of power. A 2025 survey of 1,000 British women ages 18 to 34 found that 79 percent were attracted to the calm, relaxed lives depicted in tradwife videos, while 62 percent were drawn to the luxury. Only 7 percent were interested in men serving as household decision-makers, though, and fewer than 8 percent said they would adopt the lifestyle themselves.
The highly polished videos also bear little resemblance to the circumstances of many stay-at-home mothers. As The Atlantic reported, many American mothers leave the workforce because childcare would cost as much as or more than they could earn — 75 percent of surveyed families with stay-at-home mothers had household incomes below $50,000, and more than two-thirds struggled to pay their bills.
Prominent tradwife influencers occupy a different economic reality, earning money through the very content that depicts them retreating from paid work. Researchers have identified the influencer business model as one of the movement’s central paradoxes: creators monetize sponsorships, products, and audiences while promoting a lifestyle centered on women leaving the workforce.
The fascination surrounding Caro Claire Burke’s 2026 novel Yesteryear offers a clear example of how contentious the subject remains. The book follows a wealthy tradwife influencer who wakes up in 1855 and must recreate the domestic life she promoted online without her modern kitchen, nannies, or production team. It became a bestseller, and Amazon MGM acquired the film rights, with Anne Hathaway attached to star and produce.
The book divided reviewers, too. Some viewed it as a broader examination of power, while others called it a "dissatisfying take" that failed to fully examine the religion, politics, and economic conditions behind the movement.
Its success nevertheless offered another sign of the public’s continued interest in tradwives, including among readers who strongly disapprove of the movement.
Smith’s latest interview has given them one more version of the debate. For now, Smith is still cooking. Lucky, apparently, is still on dish duty.
Google Maps recently launched its biggest upgrade in years, filled to the brim with Gemini-powered features like Ask Maps and immersive, 3D navigation — it can recommend the best parking spots and suggest the top spots to check out while you travel around the world.
But even with all of AI's help, the digital map still lacks in one area: Outdoor navigation.
SEE ALSO: FTC lawsuit: Hims & Hers shared customer data with Meta, SnapA group of teenagers hiking Canada's Howe Sound Crest Trail in British Columbia recently found that out the hard way. The group, made up of 17-year-old novice hikers, was evacuated by local search-and-rescue teams after trusting a five-hour walk estimate from Google Maps.
Experienced hikers would have caught the app's mistake and come more prepared than the teens — Howe Sound Crest is an 18-mile hike with a 6,000-foot elevation gain, and is considered a two-day trip for beginners. But the novice hiker, relying solely on the map estimate, may not know its limitations.
Why is Google Maps not recommended for hiking?On city roads, Google Maps combines live traffic estimates with historic averages, posted speed limits, tolls, and other street data to generate the most accurate travel time for a standard vehicle. With integrations across the transportation landscape, it's fairly accurate. For walking, the process is a little more complex — humans and natural landscapes, obviously, are hard to standardize into an algorithm. The app uses an average human walking speed that might not match your own, and while it will adjust that time based on elevation, it won't account for important things like trail terrain or type.
Satellite imagery and machine learning come in handy for urban areas, but labyrinthine trails cutting through woods and forests are often left out, and an area's topography is usually only shown with basic details and minimalist renderings.
In 2024, competitor Apple Maps launched a new hiking upgrade in iOS 18, providing access to U.S. national park hike information and topographical maps to help plan custom hiking routes. But many seasoned hikers still discourage using mainstream navigation platforms, especially if you're climbing in the mountains or traversing potentially hazardous routes.
What can I use instead of Google or Apple maps?Instead of Google or Apple, try hobby-specific apps. Users on Reddit recommend resources such as Mapy and komoot. The free Open Street Map app and AllTrails have been popular among the adventurous set for years. A recent review by The Great Outdoors named Hiiker its number one hiking app. And hikers can get topographical data directly from local surveying agencies online.
Ultimately, each map offers different information, and most hikers use a combination of them for inspiration, topography, and safety planning.
It also never hurts to have analog resources as a backup. Keep a guide to local hiking trails and a recent topographical map of the area on hand (and know how to read it). Brush up on your compass skills, and connect with fellow experienced hikers to find the safest — but still awe-inspiring — routes beyond your phone.
SAVE $200: As of July 31, shop the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor for just $399.99. That's a massive price cut, saving you $200 on the monitor.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 $399.99 at AmazonIf you're treating yourself to an OLED TV, why aren't you treating yourself to an OLED gaming monitor? Organic light-emitting diodes create some of the best, high contrast pictures in the game, so you can enjoy bright, high resolution picture. Samsung has brought this technology to its gaming monitors.
The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is an exceptional model with QHD resolution, designed for bright, wide-ranging color displays. Burn-in is a concern with OLED screens, and luckily, this monitor has safeguards that actively prevent it. It's no surprise that such an elite model carries a steep $599.99 price tag, but if you act fast, you can get it for 33% off.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!As of July 31, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is just $399.99. That saves $200 off its list price, and brings it just $15 away from its lowest price ever.
In addition to its high-resolution OLED display, it has a Pantone Validated screen that reproduces more than 2,100 colors and over 110 shades of skin tone. It has HDR10 and a 240Hz refresh rate, which, with AMD FreeSync Premium, reduces choppiness, screen lag, and image tearing.
Shop the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor at Amazon for $399.99 and save $200.
If you thought K-pop comeback promotions had reached their limit, Hearts2Hearts would like a word.
Ahead of the release of its second mini album, Lemon Tang, the rookie SM Entertainment girl group introduced fans to Tangy, an adorable lemon mascot who quickly became the unlikely face of the comeback. What started as a series of mysterious social media posts asking fans to keep an eye out for the citrus character soon evolved into one of the strangest album promotions in recent memory: Tangy was launched more than 30 kilometers above Earth aboard a custom-built high-altitude balloon.
Yes, really.
Tangy in near space. Credit: Courtesy of Sent Into SpaceThe launch served as the grand finale of Hearts2Hearts' "Missing Tangy" campaign, a weeks-long social media mystery that treated the smiling citrus like a missing celebrity. Fans were encouraged to report sightings, piece together clues, and speculate about Tangy's whereabouts before the group finally revealed the mascot's improbable destination.
According to aerospace marketing company Sent Into Space, which partnered on the campaign, the mission required considerably more planning than simply tying a lemon to a weather balloon.
The engineering team designed a custom-molded flight seat built specifically for Tangy's "lemon-shaped posterior," complete with a concealed safety harness to keep the mascot secure during the journey. They also 3D-printed a miniature pair of heart-shaped sunglasses so Tangy could travel in style.
Tangy traveling in style. Credit: Courtesy of Sent Into SpaceOn launch day, the hydrogen-filled balloon carried Tangy into what Sent Into Space describes as near space, ascending for roughly 90 minutes to an altitude of more than 33 kilometers — above 99.5 percent of Earth's atmosphere. At that height, the curvature of the Earth becomes visible while the sky fades into the deep black associated with space.
The balloon itself expanded to nearly 30 meters in diameter — roughly the height of the White House — before bursting as planned. Tangy's spacecraft then descended beneath a parachute, completing a flight that lasted about three hours from launch to landing.
"Collaborating with Hearts2Hearts to celebrate their latest album release was an absolute pleasure, and the entire Sent Into Space team had a fantastic time launching everyone's favourite lemon to over 30km above the Earth," Dr. Chris Rose, head of project at Sent Into Space, said in a statement shared with Mashable. "Tangy did prove to be a bit of a slippery customer, though, managing to escape before we could bring him in for a post-flight debrief…"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Hearts2Hearts H2H (@hearts2hearts)
The joke fit neatly into the campaign itself. Rather than ending with the launch, the story continued with Tangy's playful "escape," extending the mascot's narrative beyond the mission and giving fans one last chapter in the adventure.
The entire journey was documented on video, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage shared with Mashable that shows engineers preparing Tangy's tiny spacecraft, fitting the mascot with its custom sunglasses, and completing final checks before liftoff.
It's the kind of rollout that's becoming increasingly common in K-pop, where comeback promotions have evolved into multimedia experiences designed to fuel fan conversation long before an album arrives. Whether it's alternate reality games, fictional universes, interactive websites, or elaborate real-world stunts, agencies are increasingly treating album campaigns as immersive stories rather than traditional marketing.
Sending a lemon 33 kilometers above Earth may be one of the more delightfully absurd examples.
But that's precisely why it worked. Fans weren't just anticipating "Lemon Tang" — they were following a little lemon's journey from internet mystery to near-space traveler.
If your T-Mobile service was disrupted on Monday, you may be able to get some compensation for your troubles.
Multiple outlets, including KTLA in Los Angeles, have reported that some T-Mobile customers have been able to get at least $20 off their next bill because of the outage. One Reddit user said they were able to save as much as $80 (spread out over multiple billing cycles) by telling customer service that they missed out on a work opportunity because of the outage.
SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to qualifyGenerally, it seems that these credits are not automatic, and you may have to personally contact T-Mobile customer service to be compensated for your troubles.
After a major Verizon mobile outage in January, Verizon offered all affected customers a $20 credit.
Millions of T-Mobile users found their phones stuck in SOS mode on Monday afternoon, which led to plenty of criticism of the brand on social media. T-Mobile did acknowledge and apologize for the outage, though it has not explained what happened.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Mashable contacted T-Mobile repeatedly to ask about the outage and its causes, but so far, the company has been silent. The most recent post at the T-Mobile news page is the company's Q2 2026 earnings report, in which the company saw growing revenue and profits, with total revenue for the quarter of $22.7 billion.
If you've ever used a handheld gimbal camera and wished it could just float into the air to grab a wide shot, HOVERAir built something specifically for you. The company just announced the VERSA, a pocket camera designed to work both on the ground and in the air.
SEE ALSO: The best cameras for vloggingMost of the time, it functions as a standard handheld camera with a 3-axis gimbal to keep your video steady. It uses an AI framing feature to analyze your shot, suggest where to place the camera, and automatically crop the frame. HOVERAir also says it handles low-light and high-contrast scenes without blowing out the highlights or losing shadow detail.
HOVERAir is introducing VERSA, a pocket camera that can fly. Credit: HOVERAirWhen you want an overhead perspective, you snap on a set of lightweight propeller wings. You don't need a controller or piloting experience — you launch it right out of your hand and let the AI tracking follow you around. It comes with more than 10 automatic flight modes, including a "3D Worlds" setting that flies a 360-degree circle around you to create a three-dimensional image.
The VERSA is set to launch on Indiegogo in mid-August. The official site is live with these initial details, but HOVERAir hasn't shared pricing or the full spec sheet yet.
Opens in a new window Credit: HOVERAir HOVERAir VERSA Learn More
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