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Amazon deal of the day: The Sonos Ace headphones are back on sale for $100 off

Mashable - 9 hours 34 min ago
Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Feb. 4: OUR TOP PICK Sonos Ace $349 (save $100) Get Deal BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL Fitbit Versa 4 $149.95 (save $50) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY TECH DEAL Dyson Airwrap $499 (save $100.99) Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEVICE DEAL Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $44.99 (save $15) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Beats Solo Buds $49.95 (save $30.04) Get Deal

While there are no major shopping holidays on the horizon, that doesn't mean there aren't deals to shop. Deals simply for the sake of deals are our favorite kind and there are plenty to choose from. We've done the hard part for you and handpicked some gems at Amazon that we think are worth grabbing — with standouts from Sonos, Fitbit, and Dyson.

Here are our picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Feb. 4. If these aren't getting the job done, take a look at our picks from yesterday, Feb. 3. Many of those discounts are still live, including a 22% price drop on the AirPods 4.

Our top pick: Sonos Ace Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Ace $349.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Not quite a year old, the Sonos Ace headphones are a first from the audio brand. They knocked it out of the park with these babies; not only are they aesthetically a 10, but they also boast exceptional sound quality and spatial audio, and pack a stellar 30-hour battery life with ANC. We wish the ear cup seal was tighter to improve the noise cancellation, but overall, Mashable Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern still said she would recommend the Sonos Ace to "true audiophiles who value incredible sound quality above all else." Usually the Ace headphones cost $449, but you can save $100 as of Feb. 4 at Amazon.

Read our full review of the Sonos Ace.

Fitbit Versa 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Versa 4 $149.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal

While we haven't tested the Fitbit Versa 4, we did spend some time with its predecessor and loved it. Plus, our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) reviewed it and dubbed it "an excellent fitness-focused smartwatch with welcome design improvements over the last generation." It packs a massive selection of built-in fitness features, notable design and usability upgrades, and a responsive touch screen. It costs $199.95 on a regular day, but is down to just $149.95 as of Feb. 4 at Amazon.

Dyson AirWrap Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap $499.00 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100.99 Get Deal

While it's not rare to see Dyson's coveted hair tool go on sale, it is a bit harder to find the unique shades getting steep discounts. So, we had to feature this deal on the Strawberry Bronze and Blush Pink version. As of Feb. 4, you can grab the special edition Airwrap Complete (which comes with seven accessories) for $499 instead of $599.99. Debating if it's worth it? The Airwrap is the only multi-styler on the market that doesn't require two different curling barrels to change curl direction. Not to mention, it has the most attachments of any multi-styler and comes with a case for storage.

Read our full review of the Dyson Airwrap Complete.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $44.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

If you want a streaming stick that offers the most bang for your buck, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is your best bet. It's the first streaming stick with Fire TV Ambient Experience, which can turn your TV into artwork a la The Frame. It packs over 2,000 pieces of museum-quality images for you to choose from. It also features WiFi 6E support, Dolby Vision (plus HDR, HDR 10, HDR 10+, HLG), Dolby Atmos audio, 16GB of storage (the most of any Fire Stick), and the ability to play Xbox games without a console. It's usually $59.99, but as of Feb. 4, it's on sale for just $44.99 at Amazon. That's 25% in savings.

Beats Solo Buds Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo Buds $49.95 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.04 Get Deal

At full price, the Beats Solo Buds are the most affordable wireless earbuds in the brand's lineup. At nearly 40% off, they're practically a steal. Like most Beats products, they have impressive sound quality with sculpted highs and deep lows. Plus, they'll last about 18 hours on a single charge. Unfortunately, they don't offer ANC or a charging case, but the discounted price certainly makes up for it. Snag a pair for less than $50 as of Feb. 4.

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

Buy two rugs, get 20% off at Revival for a limited time

Mashable - 9 hours 44 min ago

SAVE 20%: As of Feb. 4, Revival is hosting a great sale on rugs: buy two, and get 20% off in return.

Opens in a new window Credit: Revival Buy 2 rugs, get 20% off Get Deal

A good rug can change the entire vibe of your home. Seriously, if you're working with mostly naked floors, you might want to consider getting an area rug to make things feel more welcoming. Buy the right one, and it can really bring a room together.

By far the worst thing about rugs, though, is that they can quickly get expensive. That's why it's a good idea to pick one up during a big sale, and lucky for you, we found a good one. For a limited time, Revival is hosting a buy two rugs, get 20% off sale — a fantastic option if you're looking to shop for more than one room.

SEE ALSO: Need a robot vacuum that actually works on carpet? These 3 did the best in my home.

Revival's rugs are not only stylish, but also super convenient because they're totally machine-washable (they remind us a lot of Ruggable's offerings). They don't necessarily have to break the bank, either. Some are as cheap as $79 depending on what size you get, and most of their styles range from runners to large-area-covering rugs. You'll also get free shipping, and first-time customers can get $40 off. To take advantage of the BOGO sale, all you need to do is add two rugs to your cart. After that, the discount will be automatically added at checkout (if that doesn't work, just type in code BUY2GET20 in the promo box). Now get to shopping before you miss out on the sale — we can't wait to see what your living room makeover looks like.

Our favorite dupe for the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is on sale at Walmart

Mashable - 9 hours 46 min ago

SAVE $14: As of Feb. 4, the Laifen Swift hair dryer is on sale for $125.99 at Walmart with a coupon. It usually retails for $139.99, so shoppers save 10%. Elsewhere, it's completely sold out.

Opens in a new window Credit: Laifen Laifen Swift $125.99 at Walmart
$139.99 Save $14.00 with on-page coupon (Walmart account required) Get Deal

The Dyson Supersonic is an aesthetically stunning hair dryer that's quiet, fast, light, powerful, and designed to minimize heat damage while smoothing hair, but its $429.99 price tag puts it firmly in "splurge" territory. Enter: dupes.

After testing a bunch of low-cost blow dryers from established brands, Mashable's Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard found that the Laifen Swift best replicated the sleek look of the Supersonic and what she called "the Supersonic experience": It dries hair in a way that "feels quick, easy, and at least a little luxurious," Allard wrote. Crucially, the Laifen Swift also retails for a more palatable $139.99 — and as of Feb. 4, it's on sale for even less.

The black and silver variants of the Swift are marked down to $125.99 at Walmart with the help of a $14 on-page coupon. (You'll need to create or sign in to a free Walmart account to see it.) That isn't a huge discount, admittedly — it works out to 10% off — but it's a decent deal considering the Swift is sold out in every color on the Laifen website, and that's your only other buying option.

SEE ALSO: I tried 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are actually worth the hype

Compact enough for travel and easy stashing, the Swift is super lightweight, weighing in at just 0.89 pounds. (It's almost a whole pound lighter than the Supersonic.) It features two air speeds and three heat settings that are indicated by a color-changing ring light on the back of the device. In her testing, Allard "almost never found myself needing to go beyond the first [air speed]," finding it strong enough to rough-dry a full head of wet hair before bed. She was also content to stick with the two lower heat settings (cool or warm), as the highest one got almost too hot.

While the Supersonic comes with five magnetic attachments, the Swift only includes a single smooth nozzle. For extra concentrator and diffuser nozzles, the Laifen Swift Special package is an upgrade option: at the time of writing, it's on sale at Walmart and the Laifen website for $143.99 (or $16 off).

Snag this massive 100-inch Hisense 4K QLED smart TV for $1,200 off

Mashable - 9 hours 57 min ago

SAVE $1,200: As of Feb. 4, get the Hisense 100-inch U76 Series 4K QLED Smart TV at Amazon for $1,799.99, down from its usual price of $2,999.99. That's a discount of 40%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Hisense 100-inch U76 Series 4K QLED Smart TV $1,799.99 at Amazon
$2,999.99 Save $1,200.00 Get Deal

The biggest football game of the year is right around the corner. And if you're not into sports, you can always use an upgrade to your main TV. Today's living room TV upgrade at Amazon nets you a huge new display for a huge discount.

As of Feb. 4, you can get the Hisense 100-inch U76 Series 4K QLED Smart TV for just $1,799.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,999.99. That's $1,200 off and a discount of 40%.

SEE ALSO: The Nvidia Shield TV is on sale for $129.99 — easily the best 4K streaming box you can buy

Hisense has a line of some incredibly high-quality TVs, and this is one of them. You'll get vibrant colors, deep dark hues, and crisp color for just about anything you want to watch, just at a much larger size than you might be used to.

This massive 100-inch screen offers a bezel-less design with ULED tech as well as full array local dimming zones that can automatically and dynamically adjust so you get brighter, crisper colors where you need them. Plus, it supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos for the best colors and audio you can get. And with a 120Hz refresh rate, it's great for gaming, too.

You'll want to hop on this massive discount while you can, because this size of a TV is well worth locking in while it's still here. It'll likely sell out quickly at this price, especially since it's lower than its late January price at Best Buy.

Stock up on Valentines Day candy during the Amazon Fresh buy-one-get-one-free sale

Mashable - 10 hours 2 sec ago

BUY TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE: Shop Amazon Fresh to get two select Valentine's Day candy options for the price of one. The selection includes giftable heart packages from Lindt, Nerds, and Dove. Or stock up on friendship exchange options from M&M's, YumEarth, and Mars.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lindt / YumEarth / Mars / Nerds / Mashable composite Get two for the price of one Valentine's Day candy Get Deal

At the end of next week, we'll celebrate a day of love. Filled with flowers, candy, treats, and everything pink, Valentine's Day is just a few blinks away. If you plan of gifting friends and family something sweet or you have kids who plan to shower their classmates with sugar, check out this deal at Amazon Fresh.

As of Feb. 4, Amazon Fresh has select Valentine's Day candy on sale at a buy two for the price of one discount. Almost all of the dozens of eligible options in this sale are already discounted which means you'll get even more savings by scoring two for the price of one. Brands include Lindt, Godiva, Nerds, M&M's, Dove, and plenty more.

In the depths of winter, we have a bright holiday that celebrates love in whatever form you like. From gifting something sweet to your wife to sharing something special with friends, Valentine's Day is so much more than flowers. It's also about sugary treats that make us smile. And thanks to Amazon Fresh, we can stock up for less this year.

Would anyone be upset to receive a heart-shaped package of Nerd's Gummy Clusters? It's highly unlikely. One box of these lovable treats usually sells for $6.99, but Amazon Fresh has it on sale for $5.19. In addition to this 26% discount, you'll also get another package of Nerd's Gummy Clusters for free, which happens to be everyone's favorite price.

You could also up the ante and go with the Godiva Chocolatier Valentine’s Day Heart Chocolate Gift Box. The 14-piece gourmet collection usually costs $44.28 but it's just $29.99 at Amazon Fresh today. With today's BOGO sale, you'll get two for the price of one.

SEE ALSO: The Ember Mug 2 is one of the best gifts I've received — and it's currently on sale for $40 off

If you have kids who plan on bringing treats to friends or you'll be delivering sweets to kids in your neighborhood, check out YumEarth Organic Pops. The box includes 28 Valentine's wrapped pops that are gluten free, vegan, Kosher, and organic. They also don't contain peanuts, soy, or dairy, which makes these a thoughtful option for kids with allergies. The box of 28 usually sells for $8.39, but it's marked down at Amazon Fresh to just $6.29. Add on today's BOGO deal and you'll get a grand total of 56 pops for only $6.29.

If you haven't yet gone to the store for Valentine's Day sweets, enlist the help of Amazon Fresh to deliver it to your doorstep. This BOGO sale means you'll not only save yourself a trip to the store, you'll get a great discount.

Watch: Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser: Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and company power up

Mashable - 10 hours 52 min ago

The Marvel Cinematic Universe takes a wonderfully retrofuturistic turn in the first teaser for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision).

SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about

On top of bringing us into a 1960s-inspired world, the teaser introduces the MCU's take on Marvel's First Family. Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, Gladiator II) plays the extra-stretchy, extra-brilliant Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic. Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon) joins him as the forcefield-wielding Sue Storm/Invisible Woman. Rounding out the team are Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) as Ben Grimm/The Thing, who has superhuman strength and invulnerability, and Joseph Quinn (A Quiet Place: Day One, Stranger Things) as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, who has flame (on) powers.

Based on the teaser, it looks like Fantastic Four: First Steps won't be a retread of the Fantastic Four's origin story. They already have their powers and are preparing to face off against fearsome foes like Galactus (Ralph Ineson, Nosferatu) and Silver Surfer (Julia Garner, Wolf Man).

While our first look at Galactus and the Fantastic Four's powers are neat, it's the domestic scenes of the Fantastic Four's family life that really shine in this teaser. Come for Johnny Storm lighting up, stay for Ben Grimm praising robot H.E.R.B.I.E.'s cooking.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters July 25.

An object left a big gash on Mars. It also spawned a quake.

Mashable - 10 hours 59 min ago

Quakes shake Mars all the time. But many of these temblors originate in outer space.

NASA's InSight lander recorded over 1,300 marsquakes between 2018 and 2022, including some monster temblors. Now, a novel analysis paired imagery captured by Mars-orbiting spacecraft with these unprecedented seismic detections to show that impacts on Mars aren't just common — they also commonly shake the Red Planet.

"Not one, but two recent related papers in the Geophysical Research Letters scientific journal suggest that quite a few of the seismic events recorded by InSight, previously thought to originate from tectonic sources, could actually be caused by meteor strikes," the European Space Agency said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: NASA spotted a big asteroid that may hit Earth — what you should know

The researchers used machine-learning technology to sleuth through a daunting load of imagery from three different spacecraft to find 49 quakes that match with impacts recorded by the InSight lander (which deployed a dome-shaped seismometer on the Martian ground). Ultimately, the researchers concluded that such meteor strikes happen on Mars some 1.5 to 2.5 times more than previous observations suggested.

The image below, taken by the European Space Agency's Trace Gas Orbiter (which arrived at Mars in 2016), shows one of the fresh impacts that researchers say stoked a marsquake. The space rock struck some 1,640 kilometers, or 1,020 miles away, but produced a sizable 21-meter (69-foot) wide crater and blasted impact eject around the area.

A relatively recent impact site in the Cerberus Fossae region of Mars. Credit: ESA On top: Two large impact sites spotted by Mars-orbiting spacecraft (including the 21-meter impact shown above). On bottom: 10 recently created impact sites larger than 10 meters across. Credit: ESA / TGO / CaSSIS CC-BY-SA 3.0 IGO / NASA / JPL / University of Arizona / MSSS

Mars is far more susceptible to meteorite impacts than Earth. When objects do collide with Mars, the Martian atmosphere is just 1 percent the volume of Earth's, meaning these space rocks are less likely to heat up and disintegrate. What's more, the Red Planet is much closer to our solar system's asteroid belt, a region teeming with millions of asteroids.

Understanding how meteors impact Mars is important to the space agencies, like NASA, planning to visit, and one day potentially colonize, the Red Planet. "Additional data on impact rates and crater sizes will help evaluate potential risks to robots, humans, and habitats during future Mars missions," the European Space Agency said.

Robotic missions continue to reveal lots about this frigid desert world, located an average of 140 million miles from Earth. NASA's Perseverance rover spotted potential — but still far from conclusive — past evidence of ancient microbial Martian life. Perseverance's sibling, the Curiosity rover, has found compelling evidence that Mars once hosted warm, hospitable, watery environs. And the InSight lander revealed that water may exist today many miles down, deeply hidden in the Martian crust.

First porn app approved for the iPhone in Europe. Apple isnt happy.

Mashable - 11 hours 33 min ago

For the first time, a porn app will be available in an alternative Apple app store. But the company would strongly prefer if it were not the case.

The app is called Hot Tub, and its developer, Riley Testut, says the app has been approved by Apple (per The Verge). The app is actually being marketed as the "first Apple-approved porn app".

View on Threads

This is only partially true. While the app has passed Apple's Notarisation process that ensures the app is safe, Apple is adamantly against porn on its App Store.

The app will be available on AltStore PAL, which is an alternative app store. These are only available in Europe, due to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates that large companies such as Apple have to offer alternative marketplaces for apps.

Apple does not allow pornographic apps in its App Store, but the alternative app stores are allowed to have different rules. In particular, AltStore PAL doesn't appear to explicitly prohibit any type of apps. "All apps are welcome," wrote Testut in an announcement blog post.

"We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world. Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store. The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety," Apple said in a statement to The Verge.

SEE ALSO: Starlink connectivity is coming to iPhone via T-Mobile

The Hot Tub app is described as an "adult content browser," and it will be available for iPhone on Tuesday, February 4, but only for folks in the EU. The app will be available here (link NSFW).

How a Sale of TikTok Would Work and Who Might Buy It

NYT Technology - 13 hours 39 min ago
A new law says TikTok must be sold to a non-Chinese owner or face a ban in the United States. President Trump has thrown out a lot of options for a potential sale.

How to watch Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers online

Mashable - 14 hours 1 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Los Angeles Lakers head across the way to Intuit Dome to face the LA Clippers in a Western Conference matchup. The Lakers are 28-19, which puts the team in fifth place. The Clippers are 28-21, which puts the team in sixth place.

The Lakers have won four of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back wins over the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards. The Lakers just acquired 25-year-old star Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, but the point guard is dealing with a calf strain and is not expected to take the court just yet. The Clippers have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Toronto Raptors.

When is Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers?

Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers in the NBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 4. This game takes place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

This game will air on TNT and TruTV, and it will stream on Max.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Lakers vs. Clippers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Lakers vs. Clippers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls online

Mashable - 14 hours 2 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Miami Heat head to United Center to face the Chicago Bulls in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Heat are 24-23, which puts the team in sixth place. The Bulls are 21-29, which puts the team in 10th place.

The Heat have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Bulls have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the Detroit Pistons.

When is Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls?

Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Feb. 4. This game takes place at United Center in Chicago.

How to watch Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Heat vs. Bulls basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Heat vs. Bulls from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors online

Mashable - 14 hours 3 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The New York Knicks head to Scotiabank Arena to face the Toronto Raptors in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Knicks are 33-17, which puts the team in third place. The Raptors are 16-33, which puts the team in 12th place.

The Knicks have won four of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Houston Rockets. The Raptors have also won four of their last five games, and are coming off a win over LA Clippers.

When is New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors?

New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 4. This game takes place at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

How to watch New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Knicks vs. Raptors basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Knicks vs. Raptors from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers online

Mashable - 14 hours 3 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Boston Celtics head to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Celtics are 35-15, which puts the team in second place. The Cavs are 40-9, which puts the team in first place, which also gives them the best record in the league.

The Celtics have won four of their last five games, and are coming off three consecutive wins over the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Chicago Bulls. The Cavs have also won four of their last five games, but all of those wins have come consecutively.

When is Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers?

Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 4. This game takes place at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

This game will air on TNT and TruTV, and it will stream on Max.

How to watch Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Celtics vs. Cavs basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Celtics vs. Cavs from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers online

Mashable - 14 hours 3 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Dallas Mavericks head to Wells Fargo Center to face the Philadelphia 76ers in a non-conference matchup. The Mavs are 26-24, which puts the team in ninth place in the Western Conference. The Sixers are 19-29, which puts the team in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Mavs have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons. The Mavs have only played one game since trading 25-year-old star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sixers have won three of their last five games, but are coming off back-to-back losses to the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.

When is Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers?

Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Feb. 4. This game takes place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

How to watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Mavs vs. Sixers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Mavs vs. Sixers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

Score $70 off the 10th Gen Apple iPad at Best Buy

Mashable - 14 hours 14 min ago

SAVE $70: As of Feb. 4, the 10th Gen Apple iPad (WiFi, 64GB) is on sale at Best Buy for $279. This is $70 off its list price of $349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (10th Gen) $279.00 at Best Buy
$349.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal

If you've been looking to invest in an iPad but don't want to drop an significant amount of cash, the 10th Gen Apple iPad is worth a look. We consider this iPad to be the best budget model in our roundup of the best iPads, and we've spotted a great discount so you can grab it for even less right now.

The 10th Gen Apple iPad (WiFi, 64GB) is currently on sale for $279 at Best Buy. This is $70 off its list price of $349. Not to mention, it comes with a couple of bonuses: Apple Fitness+ for free for three months and up to three months free of Apple Music.

SEE ALSO: Score a free Best Buy credit after purchasing a $100 Apple gift card

In our roundup of the best iPads, Samantha Mangino says "Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro, it's perfect for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading. It's also a nice choice if you're interested in using your tablet as a laptop but don't want to spend a ton of money." And with 64GB of storage, you have plenty of space to stock up on your favorite apps right away.

This is a deal well worth jumping on if you've been looking to pick up a discounted iPad. Don't miss out on $70 off the 10th Gen Apple iPad (WiFi, 64GB) at Best Buy.

There are a few more Apple deals worth checking out right now as well. If you've been looking for new earbuds, the AirPods 4 with ANC and without ANC are on sale right now, alongside the AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon.

Final Destination Bloodlines teaser is just 1 hilariously brutal scene

Mashable - 14 hours 16 min ago

A piercing and tattoo shop set in the Final Destination universe — what could go wrong?

In the teaser above for Final Destination Bloodlines – the sixth instalment in Jeffrey Reddick's horror franchise about death catching up with people who've cheated it – the answer appears to be pretty much everything.

We won't spoil what happens, but suffice it to say a nose ring and a chain holding up a ceiling fan do not make for a safe workplace combination.

Final Destination Bloodlines is in theatres May 16.

Jon Stewarts interview with Mo Amer is the best thing youll watch on the internet today

Mashable - 14 hours 35 min ago

If you're looking for one interview from the late night shows to watch today on the internet, make sure you catch up on Jon Stewart's chat with his friend Mo Amer.

The Palestinian American comedian and co-creator of Peabody-winning Netflix comedy Mo just hit it out of the park with the show's second and final season, and he chatted to the Daily Show host about it all. Non-shocking spoiler: Mo was not an easy show to write.

Based on Amer's own experiences, Season 1 followed Mo's journey through applying for asylum in the U.S. with his family. In Season 2, we pick up with Mo stuck paperless in Mexico, and see him take hurdle after hurdle through the dehumanising American immigration process.

SEE ALSO: 'Mo' Season 2 review: Here's why it's still one of TV's most important shows

Like Mo, this chat goes from serious to hilarious and back in the same moment. Amer and Stewart unpack the challenging nature of writing Mo, why Mo's character keeps his morals intact in infuriating conversations, and the complexity of deciding whether to talk about Oct. 7 in Season 2 — there was apparently a lot of pressure to do so.

"The writing room was integral to this process and I love them so much for having such difficult conversations," said Amer. "Because we started on April 1, we went on strike May 1, we came back Oct. 23 of '23. Six days later, the only Palestinian show on TV, you can imagine the conversations that were had."

Make sure you watch the whole interview — there are some spoilers for Mo Season 2, so if you haven't seen it, go and watch first then come back to it.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Not enough to justify an upgrade

Mashable - 14 hours 46 min ago

Phone companies are going to need to start doing new releases every two or three years instead of annually if this is how things are going to go from now on.

Annual phone upgrades started looking incremental to regular people years ago, but the tech-savvy among us could always point to at least one or two changes that were actually meaningful. With the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, we might have finally passed the rubicon where even I, a professional tech writer, can't really muster a reason why anyone with a somewhat recent Android phone would need to upgrade to this device. The differences between last year's model and this one are so marginal as to almost not exist.

Yes, the display is very slightly bigger, and there's a new chip inside that puts up nice scores in benchmarks. But much of that new processing power is devoted to AI applications that are mildly useful at best, gimmicky on average, and outright hostile to human creativity at worst. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is not a bad premium flagship by any means, but it's really difficult to think of a reason why you should buy one.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Price and specs Volume and power. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Starting at a staggering $1,299 (which, to be fair, is the same price as the Ultra model a year ago), the Galaxy S25 Ultra includes these specs:

  • 6.9-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 3120x1440 resolution

  • Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor

  • 256GB/512GB/1TB storage options

  • 12GB RAM

  • 5,000mAh battery

For the sake of comparison, the display is a tenth of an inch bigger than the S24 Ultra, while the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is top-of-the-line phone hardware at the moment. Those are your two functional differences between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and its immediate predecessor. Display resolution, storage and RAM options, and even the size of the battery are all identical between the 2024 and 2025 models.

Samsung actually has a comparison page on its website that highlights just how similar these two phones are. If you don't believe me, take a look for yourself.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design The rounded edges are a plus. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

One of the bigger differences between S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra is in its physical form factor. To its credit, Samsung has marginally slimmed down this year's model, increasing display size while actually making it a slightly more comfortable phone to hold.

Samsung deserves some flowers here for ditching the hard, 90-degree corners that framed the S24 Ultra and replacing them with curved edges instead. It makes the phone significantly more pleasant to hold, as does its new weight of 218g. That's 15g lighter than the S24 Ultra, which isn't the biggest difference in the world, but it's certainly worth noting. Aside from that, these two phones don't differ too much from each other in terms of design.

For posterity, the color options this year are:

  • Titanium Grey

  • Titanium Whitesilver

  • Titanium Silverblue

  • Titanium Black

  • Titanium Pinkgold

  • Titanium Jadegreen

  • Titanium Jetblack

I'd also be remiss not to mention that the S Pen stylus accessory is included with the S25 Ultra, as it has been in recent Ultra models. There's still a little slot in the phone where the pen lives, and you can easily get through your day without even remembering the pen is there if you're not the type of person who likes to use styluses. It's nice if you want it, but to be honest, I never felt like I personally needed it.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance Nothing different about the bottom this year. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

A new high-end mobile chipset means higher expectations for performance. I'm happy to report that there are no real problems to be found with the way the S25 Ultra performs on a day-to-day basis, though again, the change from last year might be pretty insignificant.

Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy does an admirable job of keeping things moving, as general phone operations are satisfyingly smooth and snappy. This includes the use of AI features, which are closely tied to the new chip. I'll go into more detail about what those are and how they work later, but for now, it's worth noting that every AI feature I tried worked very quickly and without much hassle.

For the number-crunching heads out there, I ran the S25 Ultra through the Geekbench 6 benchmarking software. The results here are fairly astonishing, as the new device's multi-core score is 10,049, compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra's score of 6,675. That's a pretty big numerical jump! I should note, however, that for everyday app usage, you probably won't notice a huge difference between the two phones. Every recent premium flagship is fast and diminishing returns are inevitable.

Still, credit where it's due: This phone is, according to available metrics, more powerful than the S24 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Battery life

Samsung rates the 5,000mAh battery in the S25 Ultra for 31 hours of video playback. While I couldn't quite replicate that, I was satisfied with the results I got in my testing.

When it comes to general usage, you can go about 24 hours between charges with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You might be sweating it out at the end of that period, depending on what you like to do with your phone, but it's doable. When I had the phone loop a 1080p video on its display from a 100 percent charge until it died, I got 26 hours and 56 minutes of playback time out of the S25 Ultra.

These figures will likely vary for people depending on how they use their devices, but on the whole, it's hard to complain about the battery here.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: AI features This is a typical Now Brief screen. Credit: Screenshot: Samsung

Samsung, Apple, and Google are all going hard on AI features these days, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is no different. It sports a handful of new AI tricks that are theoretically supposed to be selling points for people. I can't speak for everyone, but if I was a Samsung guy with a flagship released in the last three years or so, none of this stuff would get me to upgrade.

Part of that is because some of the most heavily advertised AI features on S25 Ultra aren't really new. Google's Circle to Search functionality is here, but that's also available on Pixel phones and even the last four generations of Galaxy S-series phones. The same goes for Audio Eraser, a feature that lets you isolate and remove certain sounds from videos you've filmed. It's a neat trick, but Google already had it before.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S24: Comparing price, specs and features

In terms of things that are actually new, Now Brief is probably the most handy feature of the bunch. It's a little widget that lives on your home screen and, when tapped, opens up a single, scrollable page that includes info about the day's weather, events on your calendar, and news stories you might find interesting. Now Brief is basically just a way to repackage your morning routine, so you're only checking one app instead of two or three to find all of that information. It's not massive, but in the realm of AI features, it's hard to complain about it.

Cross-app actions are also new and worth talking about. You can now long-press the power button on an S25 Ultra to bring up Gemini, and command it to perform multiple actions across multiple apps for you. For example, if you want to know when the Super Bowl is, you can tell Gemini to "find the Super Bowl schedule and add it to my calendar" or something like that. If all goes well, it can create calendar events, store online recipes in your notes, or share restaurant recommendations with friends, all based on a conversational voice command.

Now Brief and cross-app actions are nifty, but not really essential. I'm fully capable of looking up the day's weather and news, or finding out when a football game is happening in just a few seconds on my own. That's really the best thing I can say about the suite of AI features on S25 Ultra.

Many of the other ones, which are largely made up of already-existing generative editing features for photos and videos, are affronts to my sensibilities. Removing unwanted audio from videos is nice in theory, but filming in a less noisy environment or finding another creative solution are better ways out of that problem. I feel similarly about features that "clean up" photos you've taken by using AI to remove people or objects; just take a better photo instead of using AI to create a fake version of reality.

Do you really want all of your photos of your children to have the creepy sheen of generative AI all over them? Would you like it if you found out someone was texting or emailing you messages that were heavily edited by AI? I don't and I wouldn't. To each their own, but as long as this stuff is the crux of every new phone release, I'm going to complain about it.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Cameras

The rear camera array represents the only other notable hardware difference between S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra. Namely, the ultrawide lens has been upgraded from 12MP a year ago to 50MP this year. Aside from that, everything else is the same: a 200MP wide lens, 50MP telephoto lens, and 12MP selfie camera.

I didn't have an S24 Ultra on hand for direct comparisons, but the new ultrawide lens does produce nice, colorful, sharp shots.

Ultrawide shots look good. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Regular shots at default settings look similarly crisp and vibrant.

Graffiti is a cheat code for testing phone cameras. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Portrait mode's bokeh effect is as pleasing to the eye as ever.

No selfies, sorry. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

While the telephoto zoom hasn't been significantly altered this year, I still had a fun time playing with it. You can digitally zoom up to 100x, but I found that keeping things around 30x produced shots that were both impressively clear and didn't have that smudgy "the phone made up details to fill in the blanks" look that digitally zoomed photos often have.

No zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Approximately 30x zoom. Good stuff. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

The only real issue I had with the S25 Ultra's cameras came when I tried to take photos at night. Nighttime photography can depend a lot on your environment, and NYC is definitely too light polluted to get the best results in my experience. That said, the shots I did get looked a little too warm and artificial in nighttime mode. The version without any software correction was often closer to what my eyes saw, even if it wasn't necessarily something you'd want to post on social media.

No nighttime mode. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Nighttime mode. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Final thoughts

The only reason I can really think of to upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is if you're rocking a really old handset and just need to catch up with the times.

Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is indeed a power boost over previous generations, and quality everyday performance backs that up. A long-lasting battery will also remove unwanted stress from your life, and the camera array is generally pretty good at what it does. This is, in most ways that matter, a fine premium flagship phone.

It's just difficult to find a reason to recommend the S25 Ultra to anyone else for any other reason. Its hardware changes are so iterative as to almost not exist, and whatever new AI features are here are more neat than life-changing. We might seriously need to rethink the whole annual release cycle if this is going to become the status quo.

Score a free Best Buy credit after purchasing a $100 Apple gift card

Mashable - 14 hours 52 min ago

FREE GIFT CARD: As of Feb. 4, Best Buy is offering a free $10 gift card with the purchase of a $100 Apple gift card at the retailer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Free $10 Best Buy Gift Card with $100 Apple Gift Card Get Deal

Best Buy has had quite a few exciting deals recently, from discounts on massive TVs to gaming laptops. It's not just the discounts that have caught our eye, though. At the moment, you can take advantage of a nice bonus offer on an Apple gift card, giving you a little bit of extra cash for free with your purchase.

You can score a $10 Best Buy gift card for free with your purchase of a $100 Apple gift card at the retailer right now. This credit can be applied towards anything at the store or attached as a bonus for whoever you're getting the gift card for.

SEE ALSO: Amazon has knocked over $30 off the Apple AirPods 4

This Apple gift card can be used on a wide range of items in the Apple ecosystem. The $10 gift card isn't the only bonus you get, either. This purchase also comes with Apple Fitness+ for free for three months and Apple Music for free for up to three months. What could be better than that?

This deal may not stick around for long though, so act fast to get your free $10 Best Buy gift card with the purchase of a $100 Apple gift card at Best Buy.

Looking for even more deals at Best Buy? There are quite a few worth checking out right now. You can also score a great discount on a 65-inch LG C4 OLED TV ahead of the big game, and select Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cases are on sale there, too.

The Beats Pill is now only $99.99 — save 33% on this powerful Bluetooth speaker

Mashable - 14 hours 59 min ago

SAVE $50: As of Feb. 4, the Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker is available for $99.99 at Amazon, down from $149.95. That’s a $50 discount on this portable water-resistant speaker, featuring deep bass, 24-hour battery life, and Apple and Android compatibility.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Pill $99.99 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $49.96 Shop Now

Beats Pill is back, and it's better than ever. If you're looking for a compact Bluetooth speaker with seriously powerful sound, now's the time to grab it — especially at its $99.99 sale price on Amazon. That's a 33% discount on one of the most popular portable speakers ever.

This ultra-portable speaker features an enhanced racetrack woofer, which displaces 90% more air for deeper bass and punchier audio. Beats Pill delivers a big, bold sound that fills any space. You can play music in your room, host a backyard party, or take it on a road trip.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

With up to 24 hours of battery life, you can keep the music going all day without worrying about recharging. Plus, USB-C charging lets you power up your phone or other devices, so your playlist never gets interrupted.

The Beats Pill's IP67 dust and water resistance rating makes it a great companion for outdoor adventures. It's dustproof, water-resistant, and rugged enough to handle beach days, camping trips, or poolside hangs.

The soft-grip silicone backing and removable lanyard make it easy to carry and secure wherever you go. Sound quality remains top-tier, with a newly redesigned tweeter for crystal-clear highs and rich mids. The bass remains distortion-free even at higher volumes thanks to a reinforced woofer structure.

Want even more power? Pair two Beats Pill speakers together to double the Amplify Mode output or stereo separation in Stereo Mode. Beats Pill integrates seamlessly with Apple and Android devices, offering instant one-touch pairing and Find My support for easy tracking. Built-in voice assistant compatibility means taking calls or using Siri/Google Assistant hands-free.

At $99.99, this speaker is a steal. Beats Pill delivers on all fronts, including becoming a home speaker, travel companion, or outdoor sound system. Get yours before the deal disappears.

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