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5 things Amazons AI-powered Alexa+ can do for you

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 05:00

On Wednesday, Amazon revealed to the world that the long-awaited AI-powered upgrade to its Alexa voice assistant is almost ready for primetime.

Alexa+ drops for certain early-access customers starting in March for the standalone price of $19.99/mo or for free with an Amazon Prime subscription. Crucially, any Alexa-enabled device you already own can run Alexa+, and that list will soon include web browsers and a new phone app.

The event where Amazon announced Alexa+ was not livestreamed to the public, but I got a chance to attend and see the new chatbot in action in limited hands-on demos. Here are five new features that stood out to me.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's AI-powered Alexa+ is real and it's coming this year 5 things Amazon Alexa+ can do for you

It would be easier to list the things Alexa+ can't do, but that's not as fun.

Hold a conversation

By far, the most noteworthy thing about Alexa+ is how easy it seems to talk to. Anyone who has used an older-style chatbot like the previous version of Alexa or Siri knows that you have to alter your way of speaking most of the time to get what you want. You typically can't talk to these things like you would talk to another person, or else they get confused.

That doesn't seem to be the case with Alexa+, at least based on the demos I saw. It's remarkably conversational, able to sift through a somewhat rambling voice prompt and find the relevant info it needs to complete a request...most of the time. I saw Alexa+ give a public speaking pep talk on how to present a new tech product to 250 journalists, offer analysis of the Boston Red Sox offseason, and even remember dietary preferences and restrictions for someone in the user's contacts.

SEE ALSO: 7 chores to unload on Alexa

I paid close attention to how Alexa+ receives voice prompts, and what stood out to me the most was that even if it got a name, word, or phrase wrong, it was almost always still able to logically respond to the prompt in question.

Draft and send messages to people

Amazon focused heavily on agentic AI features for Alexa+, including the ability to draft and send text messages and emails to contacts. This is not especially new or revolutionary given the recent agentic AI explosion in the tech world, but it's still worth talking about.

At the presentation, Amazon was quick to point out that tons of third-party apps, like Uber, work with Alexa+. As an example, a live stage demo was conducted where the presenter was able to make a restaurant reservation, arrange an Uber ride from the airport to the restaurant for someone he was planning to meet, and then send a text message with details about the reservation and Uber ride to the person in question. Of course, these are things you can do manually in just a few minutes, but Alexa+ gives you the ability to do it in seconds via voice prompts.

Just, you know, don't rely on that too much. Your friends want to text you, not a robot.

Receive and analyze documents

One feature that really makes Alexa+ stand out is its ability to work with documents. For instance, you can upload a PDF of your kid's soccer schedule to Alexa+, and the voice assistant can retain information from it, as well as reference that information in voice prompts later. "Alexa, when and where is my daughter's soccer game this weekend, again?" should give you a usable answer if you've uploaded the schedule.

In a live stage demo, a presenter uploaded a long, arcane list of rules from her homeowner's association. She asked Alexa+ if she could legally install solar panels on her home, and instead of having to search through pages of legalese, she was able to get that information in seconds. That seems really useful — until it gets something wrong. I didn't see that happen in person, but it's inevitable.

Find music and movies for you

Do you vaguely remember some details about a song you heard once or a movie you saw years ago but nothing else? Alexa+ can help out.

In one demo, a presenter was able to pull up "Shallow" from the most recent adaptation of A Star Is Born by simply asking for something like "that one duet song Bradley Cooper sings." In another demo, a different presenter was able to get a list of artists and songs that sample Phil Collins's "In the Air Tonight." The A Star Is Born demo had an especially flashy moment where the presenter asked to be taken to the scene in the movie that the song is from, and it instantly loaded the movie in Prime Video, right at that scene.

Again, this is something you can do relatively quickly if you're good at using Google, but it's nice to have options.

Raise your kids?

It's easy to see the utility in all of the above features, even if some of them arguably encourage laziness and remove the fun of finding things on your own. This one, if I may be frank, is a little bit troubling.

Put simply, Alexa+ can do some of the things that parents traditionally do with their kids. Specifically, it can automatically generate bedtime stories based on voice prompts, complete with AI-generated art that looks really ugly in the way all AI-generated art usually looks. There was also a sizzle reel of kids asking Alexa+ the kinds of random, curious questions they usually ask their parents out of nowhere, like, "Do fish get lonely?"

I don't know about all of that. One could argue that there are real benefits to raising your children yourself instead of asking a chatbot to do it. But if that's how you want to live, Alexa+ can handle it.

Scientists film incredible footage of Hawaiian volcano erupting

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 05:00

The Big Island is home to one of the most lively volcanoes on Earth. And you can see why.

Hawaii's youngest and most active volcano, Kilauea, has been erupting lava for decades, adding hundreds of acres to the island since 1983. A recent eruption episode inside its sizable pit crater, Halema'uma'u, shows how lava can vigorously erupt from the volcano, located on the southeastern shore of the island of Hawaii. United States Geological Survey researchers with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory filmed impressive fountains of lava shooting from the ground — indicative of Kilauea's dynamic volcanism.

"This one went to 11...," the USGS Volcanoes account posted on X.

SEE ALSO: What will happen when the next supervolcano erupts, according to NASA

"This clip shows a view of 600-foot-high lava fountains from episode 11 of the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea," the USGS said. "The episode started at 6:26 p.m. HST on February 25, and paused at 7:06 a.m. HST on February 26. Make sure you have the volume turned up..."

Tweet may have been deleted A map showing the location of Hawaii's Kilauea and its past lava flows. Credit: NPS / USGS

This latest eruptive episode, occurring atop the volcano's lava-blanketed summit inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, began on Dec. 23, 2024. The volcanic episodes have lasted from 13 hours to over 8 days. They're naturally awesome and intense, but relatively normal for Kilauea. Today, 90 percent of the volcano is covered in lava that's less than 1,000 years old.

The source of magma (underground lava) for Hawaiian volcanoes like Kilauea is a stationary "hot spot," a place underneath Earth's crust where rocks melt and then regularly ooze out, flowing up to the surface through subterranean channels. You can watch Kilauea's roiling volcanic activity live on a USGS webcam, day and night.

And future denizens of Earth may witness Kilauea's even younger sibling, Lo'ihi, which currently erupts lava thousands of feet beneath the surface, in the Pacific Ocean. It, too, may one day spray stunning fountains of lava into the air.

A running list of every GeForce RTX 50 Series gaming laptop you can preorder (and how much they cost)

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 05:00

Here's hoping this year's tax refund hits hard and soon: Preorder listings for over three dozen Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series gaming laptops from Asus, HP, Lenovo, MSI, and Razer are now live across the web.

Some models' release dates weren't available at the time of writing, but the ones that were showed shipping timelines in late March to late May. Even more models are in the pipeline, according to a Nvidia press release.

The launches come a little over a month and a half after Nvidia announced its latest graphics cards with new Blackwell architecture during a CES 2025 keynote, including the RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5070, promising "game-changing performance" and the ability to "power transformative AI experiences." An RTX 5060 Ti is rumored to be coming but hasn't been confirmed yet.

Among the current selection of RTX 50 Series laptops, prices range from $1,899.99 to $3,199.99 for a 5070 Ti model, $2,499.99 to $4,999.99 for a 5080 variant, and $3,999.99 to a staggering $5,999.99 for a 5090 machine. (Jump scare!) The preorder listings for the sole two 5070 laptops I spotted were still marked as "coming soon," but they'll go for $1,599.99 and $1,999.99.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2025 no matter your budget

As things currently stand, the average price of a newly or soon-to-be available RTX 50 Series laptop is just under $3,500. Savvy shoppers might consider deferring to a 40 Series model to save some cash, or putting their money toward a nice desktop gaming PC instead — at least until these fresh configurations start going on sale.

That said, tariffs could push their prices even higher down the road. As our sister site PCMag reported earlier this month, the online tech retailer Newegg cited President Donald Trump's 10 percent tariffs on goods from China as the reason for its price hikes on standalone RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards. (Nvidia itself has declined to comment on potential tariff-induced price hikes, per PCMag.) I'll be keeping a close eye on RTX 50 Series laptops' pricing and availability during and after their preorder phase.

Read on for an ongoing list of all the models that are now available for purchase in Asus, HP, and Razer's online storefronts, and at retailers like Antonline, Best Buy, B&H Photo, and Newegg.

Asus The Intel-powered variants of the Asus ROG Strix G18 have full-surround Aura RGB lighting that looks pretty rad. Credit: Asus HP HP's new Omen Max 16 is plugged as the company's "most powerful gaming laptop ever." Credit: HP Lenovo The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has been redesigned for 2025 with a new cooling system, including chunky rear exhaust vents with RGB lighting. Credit: Lenovo MSI MSI's Titan, Raider, Vector, and Stealth series of gaming laptops all now feature 16- or 18-inch size options. (Pictured here is the 18-inch MSI Titan 18 HX AI.) Credit: MSI Razer Razer claims its new Blaze 16 is "the thinnest gaming laptop ever designed." Credit: Razer

All Razer Blade 16 preorders come with a Razer USB-C Dock and an X-Ray Chroma Razer Skin (a $179.98 combined value) for free. Shoppers who preorder the Razer Blade 18 will receive a free Razer Laptop Stand Chroma and a free X-Ray Chroma Razer Skin (a $194.98 total value).

Other models coming soon

Shoppers can sign up for availability notifications on each model's product page.

Running Points Sephora plotline is already a reality in womens basketball

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 05:00

In Running Point's second episode, Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) faces a major problem. She's just been named president of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team, taking over for her brother Cam (Justin Theroux) while he's in rehab. But the revelation of Cam's drug misuse has led the Waves' biggest sponsor, the conservative (and fictional) Snoozepedic Beds, to drop their support.

SEE ALSO: 'Running Point' review: Mindy Kaling's latest combines 'Ted Lasso,' 'Succession,' and basketball

Now, it's up to Isla to secure a new sponsor. And by the episode's end, she's turned to a very real company to get the job done: Sephora.

The way Isla sees it, having Sephora as the Waves' primary sponsor will be a nice break from the "typical dude bro brands" that usually back men's professional basketball teams. Plus, she points out that it's a solid marketing tactic for the Waves' female audience.

"Our analysis shows that women make up one-third of all basketball viewers," Isla tells the Sephora CMO. "That means, on any given night, say we have six million people watching a game, that's two women who all want to have glassy skin and a tight eyebrow game. And they're gonna see your logo every night. You have the ability to tap into a market that's never been touched!"

The Sephora deal ends up going through in Running Point, resulting in some initially misogynistic reactions from some of the Waves players. But Running Point isn't the only place where Sephora has thrown its weight behind professional basketball. In real life, the makeup brand serves as the official beauty partner of Unrivaled, a professional women's three-on-three league that kicked off its inaugural season on Jan. 17, 2025. Unrivaled features big-name players like co-founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, as well as Angel Reese, Sabrina Ionescu, and more.

On top of running ads during games and having on-court signage, Sephora equips Unrivaled's glam room. Plus, their logo is featured prominently on the referees' uniforms, earning them the nickname of "Sephora refs" on social media.

The basketball and Sephora crossover doesn't end there! On Jan. 9, 2025, Sephora Canada also announced that it would the first founding partner of the Toronto Tempo, Canada's first WNBA team, which begins play in the 2026 season. Sephora's presence in both the WNBA and Unrivaled is proof of brands seeing the monetary potential in women's basketball, especially following the WNBA's record-setting 2024 season. (Further proof lies in Unrivaled's extensive list of sponsorships, which includes big names like Samsung Galaxy, State Farm, and Sprite.)

Running Point was shot in 2024, well before any of these deals were announced, meaning it basically predicted the future — just for the wrong league! But maybe seeing one of the show's plotlines play out in real-time in women's sports could encourage co-creators Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen to incorporate a storyline about women's basketball in future Running Point seasons.

Running Point is now streaming on Netflix. Unrivaled airs on TNT and TruTV and streams on B/R Sports on Max.

Whats new to streaming this week? (Feb. 27, 2025)

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 05:00

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each one!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more.

But if you're seeking something brand spanking new (or new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2024

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for a crypto heist movie, a Lord of the Rings anime, a ghost-centred haunted house tale, or a look at the role that could win Timothée Chalamet an Oscar, we've got something just for you.

Here's what's new on streaming, from worst to best.

Featured Video For You 'A Complete Unknown' cast talks Dylan, Suze Rotolo, Joan Baez and Pete Seeger Honorable mention: The Oscars

It's here! The the 97th Academy Awards will take over the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, with Hollywood set to celebrate the biggest films of the year. With Conan O'Brien set to host, the ceremony will see Oscar nominees including Best Picture hopefuls Anora, The Brutalist, Nickel Boys, A Real Pain, Dune: Part Two, Wicked, Emilia Pérez, Conclave, A Complete Unknown, The Substance, and I'm Still Here yearning for that iconic gold statue. And yes, you can watch it without cable. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: The 97th Academy Awards are streaming live on ABC.com or the ABC app via your pay TV service provider, but the ceremony will simultaneously stream on Hulu.

7. September 5

The 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis and massacre is rendered in docudrama form in September 5. Director Tim Fehlbaum presents the events — in which 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and later murdered by Palestinian militant group Black September, demanding the release of 236 Palestinian prisoners — from the perspective of an ABC sports broadcasting team covering the situation in real time.

As Siddhant Adlakha wrote in his review for Mashable, "An unremarkable real-world thriller, September 5 fails on numerous fronts: both as a film re-telling the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis, and as a journalistic retrospective about TV broadcasting. It arrives with renewed relevance in light of constant, harrowing news from Palestine, but the movie's narrowed focus — almost entirely confining the plot to the real-time developments within ABC's Munich newsroom — is a blinkered approach that ends up saying little about the events either in retrospect, or as they unfolded in the moment." — S.C.

Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch, Zinedine Soualem, Georgina Rich, Corey Johnson, Marcus Rutherford, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Adeosun

How to watch: September 5 is streaming on Paramount+ Feb. 25.

6. Cold Wallet

Who needs to steal cash in the age of cryptocurrency? Steven Soderbergh presents a chilly heist movie about a motley band of thieves looking to hijack a "cold wallet," the super cyber-protected hoard of a deceitful tech billionaire.

Far from Ocean's Eleven, Billy (Raúl Castillo) and his crew aren't slick master criminals. They're Redditors who bought into what crypto kingpin Charles Hegel (Josh Brener) was selling. So when they feel robbed, it only feels fitting to plot a home invasion to retrieve what's theirs. But this weaselly hostage proves a lot to handle. Studded with slapstick humor and suspense, Cold Wallet is a timely thriller with a raw appeal. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Raúl Castillo, Melonie Diaz, Tony Cavalero, Josh Brener, and Zoe Winters

How to watch: Cold Wallet is available for purchase on Apple TV+.

5. Strange Darling

A one-night stand goes horrifyingly sideways in Strange Darling, a serial killer cat-and-mouse game from director J.T. Mollner. Told in a series of nonlinear chapters, the sumptuously shot film is an intriguing puzzle where nothing is really as it seems. For that reason, it's best to go in with as little knowledge as possible and experience Strange Darling's twists and turns for yourself. Whether you'll find them rewarding or predictably played-out (as I did) is a toss-up, but Strange Darling's intriguing structure, as well as strong leading performances from Willa Fitzgerald (The Fall of the House of Usher) and Kyle Gallner (Smile), make this indie horror movie worth checking out. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey, and Ed Begley Jr.

How to watch: Strange Darling is streaming on Paramount+ March 1.

SEE ALSO: The 22 best horror movies of 2024, and where to watch them 4. Running Point

Running Point feels like the love child of Ted Lasso and professional basketball — with a little bit of Succession's billionaire family dysfunction sprinkled in for good measure. Created by Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, the series centers on the Gordon family, owners of the Los Angeles Waves (a fictionalized version of the Los Angeles Lakers). When president Cam (Justin Theroux) has to step down, he appoints his sister Isla (Kate Hudson) in his stead. The only woman in the very competitive Gordon family, Isla has long been pushed aside despite her basketball knowledge. But can she rise to the occasion and turn around a failing team?

What follows is a delightful comedy led by Hudson's powerhouse performance and bolstered by a winning ensemble that includes Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, and Scott MacArthur. As I wrote in my review, Running Point is "a sharp comedy that skewers both professional basketball and dysfunctional families with glee. Here's hoping it joins Never Have I Ever as another multi-season Kaling Netflix series. It has all the right pieces, and with a little more time, it could cement itself as an absolute slam dunk." — B.E

Starring: Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Jay Ellis, and Justin Theroux

How to watch: Running Point is streaming on Netflix Feb. 27.

3. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

Middle-earth gets an anime makeover in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, this epic prequel takes us 183 years into the past to a war-torn Rohan, where King Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Brian Cox) and his daughter Héra (Gaia Wise) must defend the Rohirrim from the Dunlending lord Wulf (Luke Pasqualino) and his armies. Their fight for survival will take them back to the Hornburg for one mighty last stand.

While The War of the Rohirrim contains its fair share of Easter eggs tied to Peter Jackson's original trilogy, it works best when it takes risks in order to separate itself from the pack of J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations. As I wrote in my review, "It's the ways in which The War of the Rohirrim stands out from Jackson's films — like the use of anime and the psychologically-focused siege sequence — that allows The War of the Rohirrim to truly carve out its own space in onscreen portrayals of Middle-earth." — B.E.

Starring: Miranda Otto, Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Luke Pasqualino, Lorraine Ashbourne, and Shaun Dooley

How to watch: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is streaming on Max Feb. 28.

2. Presence

Seeking something uniquely unnerving? Then let Presence into your home viewing. 

Director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp, who made the tech thriller Kimi and the upcoming spy thriller Black Bag together, re-teamed for a haunted house story not quite like any we've seen before. Presence is told from the perspective of the ghost at its center, with Soderbergh operating the camera as the unseen resident of a suburban home full of turmoil. While the family of four who lives there argues, the ghost listens in, dying to be heard. But what happens when the presence makes contact will awe you.

In my review of Presence, I called it "a remarkable union of a clever concept and a superb execution…Soderbergh's steady hand is so mindful in its performance that you can practically feel the expressions of a face you cannot see. The cast expertly builds a believable and complex family bond while effortlessly completing choreographed blocking. And Koepp delivers a final act that is stomach-churningly tense yet tender. All of this collides to make a sublimely realized ghost story that is easily one of the best films of the year." — K.P.

Starring: Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday, West Mulholland, and Julia Fox

How to watch: Presence is available for purchase on Prime Video.

1. A Complete Unknown

Ahead of the Oscars, James Mangold's eight-time Academy Award nominated biopic about the enigmatic Bob Dylan is available on digital. So you can enjoy Timothée Chalamet's SAG Award-winning performance from the comfort of home. But turn up the volume to truly allow the '60s soundtrack of rebellion and heartache wash over you.

In my review for A Complete Unknown, I praised Chalamet's "irritating" performance, as well as how writer/director Mangold held space for other major figures in folk, like Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). I wrote, "Each of these performances masterfully fleshes out these figures so they exist beyond their connection to Dylan. You can see how they tie together, how it hurts when he cuts that tie, but also that each is a tapestry even without him. This, above all else, makes A Complete Unknown remarkable, setting it apart from countless dramas about an abusive (and always male) creative genius whose bad behavior is effectively shrugged off as the cost of art." — K.P.

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, and Scoot McNairy

How to watch: A Complete Unknown is available for purchase on Prime Video.

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.

Get the PDF Expert for Mac for life and work with documents like magic

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to PDF Expert's Premium Plan, which comes with PDF editing, merging, and signature tools, for $139.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Readdle Limited PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) $139.99
Get Deal

While PDFs are considered the universal file type, it's surprising how difficult they are to manage or alter on your Mac. Instead of searching for free PDF tools or paying a subscription fee to Adobe Acrobat, consider investing in PDF Expert.

This App of the Year runner-up could save the day, alleviating your PDF woes with seamless, user-friendly, and Mac-compatible PDF editing and management tools. Don't wait too long to grab lifetime access to the PDF Expert Premium Plan, now $139.99.

PDFs made manageable

A common struggle for most users is how difficult it is to edit PDFs once they've been saved as such. With PDF Expert, that's not a problem — all your documents can be editable files. Spot a typo? You'll be able to edit it or add additional text, images, and even links to your PDFs. Think of how easy it'll be to update your files with this feature.

Something else you may appreciate about this PDF management tool is how it can transform your PDFs into fillable documents. You can easily complete documents just by clicking on specific sections, as well as add your signature or a signature section to a PDF in a few clicks. In addition, PDF Expert allows users to redact sensitive information, which is ideal for anyone who works in the legal or real estate fields.

Check out a few other handy features PDF Expert offers:

  • Annotation tools make it simple to highlight text, add notes, and draw shapes directly on your PDFs.

  • Merging tools so you can turn multiple files into one PDF document.

  • Conversion tools for easy transformation of PDFs to and from Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and more.

With this one-time purchase, you'll get unlimited access to PDF management tools without any recurring fees. 

There's no need to struggle with your PDFs ever again. Grab this lifetime subscription to PDF Expert Premium for just $139.99 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Stop spending so much at the salon. Try this discounted Braun IPL instead.

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 04:51

SAVE $80: As of Feb. 27, the Braun IPL Silk Expert is on sale for $349.94 at Amazon. That's a 19% discount off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Braun Braun IPL Silk Expert $349.94 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $80.05 Get Deal

If you want salon-worthy hair removal without the price or the inconvenience of leaving your home, it's time to invest in an IPL device.

IPL is one of the best long-term solutions for hair removal that can be done at home. It stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is a hair removal process that uses light pulses to target hair follicles, so it reduces hair growth over time. It's not a laser, but works similarly by focusing on the pigment in hair. It's a relatively painless, long-term solution for hair removal.

SEE ALSO: 4 gadgets to upgrade your beauty routine

Laser hair removal uses a concentrated single wavelength of light, making it more precise and powerful. IPL, on the other hand, uses a broad spectrum of light, covering a larger area but with less intensity. IPL is slightly less effective than laser but is much gentler on the skin, and can be done from home, which is always a bonus.

As of Feb. 27, the Braun IPL Silk Expert is on sale at Amazon, reduced down to $349.94. This is a package that includes the IPL device itself, a Venus razor, three changeable caps, and a vanity travel case.

This Braun device also uses skin tone sensors to target and protect your skin. The sensor recognizes your skin tone and then uses that information to optimize the power of each flash.

Find this great Braun deal at Amazon now.

Upgrade to the Google Pixel 9 for less at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 04:49

SAVE $150 : As of Feb. 27, the Google Pixel 9 is on sale for $649.75 at Amazon. That's a 19% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 9 $649.75 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $149.25 Get Deal

With Amazon's Daily Deals, you'll find lots of great discounts on smartphones. But we really love this latest deal on the Google Pixel 9. It's a great all-rounder — just check out our review to see what we thought.

As of Feb. 27, you can find this model at Amazon for 19% off, now just $649.75. This deal is for the 128GB option and only the obsidian color.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel Watch 3 can detect loss of pulse and call 911

This smartphone includes a 6.3-inch OLED display with vibrant colors as well as the latest Google Tensor chip for fast, non-laggy performance. It has dual rear cameras to take incredible pictures, both in bright and low light.

This model also features Gemini, Google's next-generation AI technology. It offers assistance with tools including advanced photo editing such as Magic Eraser and Face Unblur, enhanced voice recognition for dictation, and Google Assistant capabilities. It also uses real-time translation to allow for seamless language support in messaging or live conversations, and it even powers predictive text.

Head to Amazon to upgrade now.

I finally have an excuse to upgrade my Apple Pencil now that the Pro is $30 off

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 04:42

SAVE $30: The Apple Pencil Pro is on sale for $99 at Walmart, shaving $30 off its usual $129 price. With pressure sensitivity, tilt support, haptic feedback, and Find My Network, it’s Apple’s most advanced stylus yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Pencil Pro $99.00 at Walmart
$129.00 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Apple just gave me yet another reason to waste hours doodling instead of doing actual work. The Apple Pencil Pro is down to $99 at Walmart, a solid $30 discount. If you’ve been holding onto an older Apple Pencil or, worse, a third-party stylus that sort of works but mostly sucks, this is your sign to upgrade. I mean, sure, the original Apple Pencil was cool, but once I got used to its quirks (and its annoying tendency to roll off my desk), I realized I needed something better. Enter the Apple Pencil Pro.

Unlike previous models, the Apple Pencil Pro introduces haptic feedback, making interactions feel much more satisfying. Snapping shapes into place, switching tools, and adjusting settings all have a slight vibration that feel like you’re doing something. The new Squeeze gesture lets me swap between tools without tapping awkwardly on the screen. Barrel Roll makes rotating brushes and pencils feel way more natural. I’m no digital artist, but even I can appreciate how much easier shading and brushwork become with this feature.

SEE ALSO: I have no excuse to skip workouts now that the Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off

Apple have also thought about people like me lose things constantly. If I misplace my Apple Pencil Pro (which is inevitable), I won’t have to tear apart my entire desk searching for it. Instead, I can ping it from my iPad or iPhone like an AirTag.

Pixel-perfect precision, tilt, pressure sensitivity, and ultra-low latency are solid features for artists, designers, and anyone who prefers handwritten notes over typing. It magnetically attaches, pairs, and charges on compatible iPads, meaning I don’t have to mess with cables, dongles, or the weird Lightning adapter from the first-gen Pencil.

At $99 at Walmart, this is the best price we’ve seen so far, and considering how quickly Apple accessories tend to sell out, I wouldn’t wait too long. If you’re even remotely thinking about upgrading, now’s the time to do it.

I have no excuse to skip workouts now that the Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 04:39

SAVE $70: The Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) is on sale for $329 at Amazon, knocking $70 off the usual $399 price. It’s thinner, lighter, and has a bigger screen, plus tons of health features like ECG readings, sleep tracking, and workout monitoring.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) $329.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal

I’ve officially run out of excuses to avoid working out. The Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off at Amazon, bringing the 42mm model down to $329, and now it’s sitting in my cart daring me to make better life choices.

Between its 30% larger screen, improved health tracking, and faster charging, it’s basically the best smartwatch Apple has ever made. So, if you’ve been putting off getting one, now’s probably the time to cave.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon Day Best Buy drop: The Blooming Waters Premium Collection is in stock.

Series 10 is thinner, lighter and still packs even more health features. It can do ECG readings, heart rate monitoring, sleep apnea detection, and even menstrual cycle tracking — so it’s basically keeping an eye on me at all times. If I’m feeling extra lazy, it’ll even remind me to stand up, which is helpful and rude. The Workout app now tracks training load so if I ever decide to run, I won’t overdo it on day one and regret my life choices for a week.

Of course, this thing isn’t just about fitness. It’s also crack-resistant, dustproof, and water-resistant up to 50m, which means it’ll survive everything from gym sessions to accidental dips in the pool. Crash Detection and Emergency SOS have my back if things go south. At $329 on Amazon, this deal will disappear fast. I could wait, but knowing my luck, the second I decided to buy it, Amazon would return it to full price.

Pokémon Day Best Buy drop: The Blooming Waters Premium Collection is in stock.

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 04:34

AVAILABLE TODAY: Pokémon TCG: Blooming Waters Premium Collection is restocking at Best Buy for $59.99 as part of the Pokémon Day celebrations. This Best Buy Drops release is app-exclusive.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG: Blooming Waters Premium Collection
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It's happening again. The Pokémon TCG: Blooming Waters Premium Collection is back at Best Buy; this time, you don't have to throw down on Costco palettes to get it. Instead, it's an app-exclusive drop, meaning you need to download the Best Buy Mobile App, turn on notifications, and act fast.

With Venusaur ex, Blastoise ex, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle all making an appearance in foil form (plus a massive jumbo Blastoise ex to flex with), this is an essential pickup for collectors. You're also getting 12 booster packs, so you've got real chances at pulling some Scarlet & Violet 151 gold.

SEE ALSO: Live your Kawaii gamer dreams with this discounted Logitech POP ICON keyboard and mouse combo

Speaking of 151, some of the set's biggest hits pair perfectly with this collection. Special Illustration Rare Venusaur ex has been creeping up in price thanks to its stunning vibrant artwork and annoyingly effective Ability that keeps your team in top shape.

Then there's Blastoise ex, a straight-up powerhouse with damage negation and a scalable attack that only gets better the more Energy you dump into it. If you somehow pull Charizard ex (Special Illustration Rare) you might as well start feeling smug now as it's one of the most valuable cardfs in the set. It features incredible volcanic artwork and is just as dominant in play as in collector circles. And don't sleep on Charmander and Squirtle's Illustration Rares, which continue the Pokémon TCG tradition of making Gen I starters ridiculously valuable.

If you're serious about getting this collection, don't wait. Best Buy Drops are app-exclusive, meaning you need to download the Best Buy Mobile App, opt-in for notifications, and move fast once it goes live. This thing will be gone in minutes, and the next time you see it, it'll be at twice the price.

Apple iPhone 16e review: Battery life king

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 03:53

It finally happened: Apple stopped treating its affordable iPhone as a second class citizen. We expected a new iPhone SE, but we got the iPhone 16e, which sits at the same table as the other iPhone 16 models. It’s not just the name, it’s also the size, the chip that powers it, and a couple of other details that make the iPhone 16e a very interesting entrant into the iPhone 16 lineup.

However, the iPhone 16e is also significantly more expensive than the (now discontinued) iPhone SE. Is it worth it, or should you just dish the extra cash for the “real” iPhone 16? Read on.

Apple iPhone 16e price

The iPhone 16e starts at $599 with 128GB of storage space. Increase that to 256GB and the price goes up to $699, and if you opt for the 512GB variant, the price jumps to $899.

Compared to the old iPhone SE, which cost $429 when it came out in 2022, it’s a big price increase. Given that the iPhone SE has been discontinued (alongside the iPhone 15), the cheapest new iPhone is now the 16e, and it’s in a very different price range.

On the other hand, the iPhone 16e starts at 128GB of storage, which is double what you got with the last generation of the iPhone SE. And unlike the old SE, the iPhone 16e doesn’t immediately scream “old.” Instead, it looks like and performs like a modern iPhone.

The display is a 6.1-inch OLED, very similar to the one on iPhone 16. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I reckon the pricing will incite mixed responses from potential buyers. Folks who will never pay more than five hundred bucks for a phone are now priced out. Others may be excited that they can get a “real” member of the iPhone 16 family for only $599.

Apple iPhone 16e design

When I reviewed the iPhone SE, back in 2022, it was a very different experience. That phone looked dated compared to the top iPhones of the day, with a significantly smaller display and massive bezels on top and bottom.

But the iPhone 16e looks pretty great. On the front, it’s basically an iPhone 14, with a large, 6.1-inch OLED display. There’s no Dynamic Island on top; instead, you get the notch which hides the front camera, the Face ID camera, the speaker, and various sensors.

On the back, there’s only a single camera coupled with a flash light. It’s a big unit, though, and in an odd way it looks better (cleaner, at least) than the multi-camera arrays on more expensive iPhones. Only two colors are on offer, black and white. My review unit was white, and I loved both the matte white glass on the back, and the way the white frame contrasts with the dark display bezels on the front.

The frame is made of aluminum, and just like on the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e also gets the Action Button. It’s nice of Apple to include it; I typically set it to perform one thing and never change it again, but it’s better than the old switch.

Overall, Apple struck the right balance with the iPhone 16e’s design. It’s a no-nonsense iPhone that doesn’t look ancient, and it also doesn't look or feel cheap in any way.

You only get one camera. But it's a two-in-one. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Apple also sent me a blue and a pink silicone case for the iPhone 16e. The light silicone cases are a good fit for the iPhone 16e, which, at 167 grams, is the lightest phone in the lineup. Compare it directly with any of the Pro models, and you’ll feel a pretty big difference in weight.

There’s one more thing to consider here, and that is size. At 6.1 inches, the iPhone 16e is essentially the same size as the iPhone 16 (it’s a hair shorter, but you won’t notice that). The iPhone SE was a far smaller phone, and with it out of the way, it means that Apple is no longer selling truly small phones.

Apple iPhone 16e performance and battery life

More than any other “affordable” Apple phone, the iPhone 16e strikes me as the businessman’s phone. It looks good but not flashy. It performs, however, just as well as the iPhone 16, and it even beats it in a couple of very important ways.

The iPhone 16e has Apple’s A18 chip inside; it’s the same chip you’ll find inside the iPhone 16, but it only has four GPU cores instead of five. You won’t notice the difference.

Apple doesn’t say how much RAM its phones have, but benchmarks indicate that the iPhone 16e comes with 8GB of RAM, just like the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro models.

Combine that with 128GB of starting storage, and it means that the iPhone 16e performs pretty much the same as the iPhone 16. This was my experience, too: Everything felt fast, no matter how many apps I had open and which apps I used. Yes, even my favorite gaming benchmark, PUBG, was snappy on its highest settings. GeekBench scores confirmed this: with a 3201 single-core, 7423 multi-core score, the iPhone 16e is just a hair slower than the iPhone 16.

You don’t get all the niceties of the Pro models, of course. The iPhone 16e doesn’t have the ProMotion, 120Hz display, or the Dynamic Island, but none of these omissions are dealbrekers for me.

Two colors are on offer, both matte: White and black. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Here’s a big selling point for the iPhone 16e: It has excellent battery life. Apple says it can handle up to 26 hours of video playback, compared to 22 hours on the iPhone 16. I couldn’t compare the two devices directly, but during the week that I used it as my main phone, the iPhone 16e typically lasted two days after being fully charged, and that's with very heavy use.

This is partly thanks to Apple’s C1 cellular chip, which made its debut in the iPhone 16e. The chip worked as intended for me; I never had problems with connectivity, calls or messages. If it can do that whilst adding a couple hours of battery life to the phone, it’s a huge win.

Apple wouldn’t be Apple, however, if it didn’t throw a curveball at prospective buyers by removing MagSafe from the iPhone 16e. If you’ve never used it, you won’t care. To me, it’s a big deal; I use a bunch of MagSafe accessories, including Apple Wallet and wireless charging. The iPhone 16e does support wireless charging, though, so you should be able to get a decent experience with MagSafe accessories by using a MagSafe case. I couldn’t get a sample case fast enough for this text, but once I get it, I’ll definitely try it out and let you know how it works.

Apple iPhone 16e: Apple Intelligence

Being in Europe, I don't get to experience Apple Intelligence on an iPhone yet (it's coming in April). I've played with Apple Intelligence on the Mac, and while nothing seemed essential, the tools are fun and helpful and they'll probably become better over time.

AI is extremely important for Apple (and, frankly, any other phone maker these days), so it actually makes sense that Apple made its "cheap" iPhone a bit more powerful than expected in order to give it full Apple Intelligence support.

Lightning port is out, USB-C is in. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I don't believe people are buying (or even should be buying) phones based on what type of AI features they support, at least not right now. I do suspect that, over time, these features will become as indispensable as having access to search or basic photo editing. In that sense, even if you're in Europe and don't have a good idea what AI on an iPhone is like, it's good to know that the iPhone 16e is fully future-proof when it comes to Apple Intelligence.

Apple iPhone 16e camera

You only get one, 48-megapixel camera on the back of the iPhone 16e. On paper, it's very similar to the one you get on the iPhone 16, though Apple calls this one a 2-in-1 camera system. That's because it can produce 24-megapixel or 48-megapixel wide photos, or 12-megapixel 2x zoom photos.

Sharp (perhaps overly so), detailed, with accurate colors: A typical iPhone photo. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

It's not quite the same as having two cameras, and low light performance can be sketchy. But what you need to know is that the iPhone 16e's camera is not an afterthought like it was on the iPhone SE. Most of the time, you'll get sharp, vibrant photos, and the default, 24-megapixel resolution will give you plenty of detail.

By default, the iPhone 16e takes 24-megapixel photos. But if the conditions are good, you can turn it up to 48 megapixels for those extra details. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Is it even worth zooming in if there's no dedicated telephoto camera? Yes, it actually is. Zooming into the same scene I typically got a better, smoother photo, even in moderately low light. If there's a detail you want to focus on, you should use that 2x button.

Left: On 1x magnification, you get a 24-megapixel photo. The iPhone 16e handles multiple light sources admirably; colors are accurate, and the photo is very sharp, though some of the details get smudgy when you zoom in. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: With 2x magnification, you only get a 12-megapixel image, which is a bit more noisy, but it's smoother, with better background details. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

In low light, the results were alright, though you can't expect Pro-level performance here. I took an evening stroll on the island Rab in Croatia, and managed to take some fairly sharp and detailed photos of the historic Romanic buildings.

The iPhone 16e handles low light scenes well, but don't expect miracles. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

But pointing the camera onto the fishing boats in the night's distance yielded very blurry results.

Selfies are pretty great, and you can tune them to your liking by using Photographic Styles, which are somewhat unfairly hidden in the camera settings. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The selfie camera appears to be unchanged from iPhone 16, so there’s not much to write about. It takes great selfies, and yes, Photographic Styles are supported, so you can go to the camera settings and tune them to your liking.

Apple iPhone 16e: Should you buy? The Apple logo on the back has never been this subtle. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The iPhone 16e marks a big change in direction for Apple. The company does not sell any phones cheaper than $599 right now, making the barrier to entry for its ecosystem a lot higher than before.

That said, the iPhone 16e is an excellent phone. It looks good, has all the niceties of a modern iPhone, including a big, OLED display and a modern, 48-megapixel camera. It actually beats other phones in the lineup in several ways; it’s the lightest new iPhone you can buy, and it has excellent battery life. It performs just as well as the iPhone 16, and fully supports Apple Intelligence. It doesn’t have MagSafe, which is a shame, but not everyone will care. Most people who want a no-nonsense iPhone for the least amount of money won’t mind the other omissions, either, such as the lack of Dynamic Island. Finally, it’s future-proof; since it has Apple’s super-fast A18 chip, it’ll probably be fast enough in three, four, or even five years.

All of this makes the iPhone 16e good value for money. But this is not the iPhone SE, and it’s not a cheap Apple phone; those things are gone for now. It’s just a cheaper iPhone 16.

Apple shareholders voted to keep DEI policies, and Trump is mad about it

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 03:13

Apple's shareholders voted to continue the tech giant's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on Tuesday, rejecting a proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to end them. Predictably, President Donald Trump is mad about it.

The NCPPR's attempt to abolish Apple's DEI initiatives was shot down in a landslide during the company's annual shareholder meeting this week, garnering only 210.45 million votes compared to 8.84 billion against it. In its proposal, the self-described conservative think tank claimed that DEI programs pose "litigation, reputational and financial risks," and that their mere existence potentially breaches companies' duties to shareholders.

Apple's shareholders clearly didn't find its NCPPR's arguments compelling though, ultimately following the board's recommendation that the proposal be rejected. 

SEE ALSO: Google scraps diverse hiring targets following Trump's crusade against DEI

"The proposal is unnecessary as Apple already has a well‑established compliance program and the proposal inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies," Apple wrote in its proxy statement. "Our Board and management maintain active oversight of legal and regulatory risks and compliance for our global business."

Further responding to NCPPR's proposal, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the company has "never had quotas or targets," but that its DEI programs are key to its corporate culture guided by "dignity and respect for everyone."

"Our strength has always come from hiring the very best people and then providing a culture of collaboration," said Cook.

Despite Apple shareholders' decision to retain the company's DEI programs, Cook did acknowledge that changes in legislation may force adjustments to its policies regardless. But for now, Apple's commitments to equity remain in place.

"As the legal landscape around these issues evolves, we may need to make some changes to comply," Cook stated. "We’ll continue to work together to create a culture of belonging and we’ll remain committed to the values that have always made us who we are."

As of 2022, Apple reported that almost 65 percent of its global workforce was male, while approximately 42 percent are white, 30 percent are Asian, 15 percent are Hispanic/Latinx, and just 9 percent are Black.

The NCPPR has sent similar anti-DEI proposals to over two dozen companies according to the Washington Post, including Airbnb and General Motors. Costco's shareholders voted on its proposal from the NCPPR during their own meeting in January, where it also failed.

Trump criticises Apple's DEI shareholder vote

Of course, Trump was not pleased by the results of Apple's shareholder vote. The president railed against Apple's decision to adhere to its shareholders' decision on his social media platform Truth Social, continuing his aggressive attacks on DEI programs.

"APPLE SHOULD GET RID OF DEI RULES, NOT JUST MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM," wrote Trump (emphasis original). "DEI WAS A HOAX THAT HAS BEEN VERY BAD FOR OUR COUNTRY. DEI IS GONE!!!"

Interestingly, Trump's close ally Elon Musk recently took to X to stress the sanctity of the shareholder vote in December. This was in response to a judge ruling that Tesla's shareholders couldn't reinstate Musk's $55.8 billion compensation package after the court had already ruled it unlawful.

Dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion has been one of Trump's primary concerns since his inauguration, with one of his first acts being to issue an executive order terminating all federal DEI programs. While this order only directly impacted government entities, tech giants have also been falling in line with Trump's directive of their own volition. After all, the U.S government is far more likely to grant lucrative contracts to companies whose values align with its own.

Meta preemptively scrapped its DEI initiatives just prior to Trump's inauguration in January, altering its Hateful Conduct policy to be more friendly to divisive and discriminatory content. Similarly, Amazon reportedly told employees it was "winding down" some DEI programs, and scrubbed mention of diversity and inclusion from its recent annual report. Google also got rid of its diverse hiring targets earlier this month — as well as deleted its pledge against using AI for weapons or surveillance.

Running Point review: Mindy Kalings latest combines Ted Lasso, Succession, and basketball

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 03:01

Stop me if you've heard this one before: An underestimated woman takes over a failing sports team whose players include a gruff veteran, a talented but out-of-control diva, and a sweet newbie. That's Ted Lasso, right? Wrong! It's Running Point.

SEE ALSO: Kate Hudson and Mindy Kaling join forces in 'Running Point' trailer

Or what about this one: A dysfunctional group of four siblings — three brothers, one sister — fights over their father's lucrative empire. Is that Succession? No! It's Running Point!

All this is to say that Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen's basketball comedy Running Point feels like the love child of two of the biggest shows of recent years — and that's not a bad thing. (Ted Lasso definitely has the dominant genes.) The series mixes familiar storylines with a tone more akin to Kaling's other shows, resulting in a glossy sports comedy buoyed by a winning ensemble.

Running Point remixes the Ted Lasso formula with basketball. Kate Hudson in "Running Point." Credit: Katrina Marcinowski / Netflix

Like Ted Lasso, Running Point brings us behind the scenes of a high-level sports team that's seen better days. This time around, it's the Los Angeles Waves, a fictionalized version of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Waves executive suite is a family affair, with the four Gordon siblings running the organization in the years since their father — the legendary but brash Jack Gordon — passed away. Eldest son Cam (Justin Theroux) is the president, former pro player Ness (Scott MacArthur) serves as the GM, and business-savvy Sandy (Drew Tarver) is the CFO. Meanwhile, the oft-excluded Isla (Kate Hudson) is left to manage the Waves charity, even though she knows more about the game than her brothers care to acknowledge.

SEE ALSO: 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 ending explained: One final game, and a whole lot of mess

Isla gets the chance to put her extensive basketball IQ to the test when Cam unexpectedly appoints her team president. (Isla is loosely based on current Lakers president Jeanie Buss, who serves as an executive producer on Running Point.) Suddenly, she finds herself at the head of a very male-dominated sports organization full of people — including her own family members — ready for her to trip up. Ted Lasso viewers may see quite a bit of Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) in her, from her competitive spirit to her high-profile position in men's sports. However, there are major differences, too, from Isla's bubblier personality to the fact that she doesn't start the series wanting to tank the Waves. Instead, she's tasked with the impossible: turning around a lifeless team.

That's easier said than done, especially when decorated team captain Marcus Winfield (Toby Sandeman) is checked out of the season and point guard Travis Bugg (Chet Hanks) courts controversy at every turn. They're not not similar to Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) and Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), just as the players' himbo locker room antics don't not call to mind the Richmond Greyhounds. Yet the basketball elements keep the team dynamic feeling fresh, even if you don't understand much about basketball.

You don't need to watch basketball to love Running Point. Scott MacArthur, Kate Hudson, and Drew Tarver in "Running Point." Credit: Katrina Marcinowski / Netflix

Sure, a bit of basketball knowledge may come in handy while watching Running Point's game sequences or boardroom scenes, where characters rattle off facts about salary caps, outside shooting, and player trades. Still, if you don't know your free throws from your three-pointers, don't worry. Running Point is much more interested in what's happening in interpersonal relationships off the court versus the details of what happens on it. That's because Running Point is, at its heart, the story of a screwed-up family who just happens to run a multi-billion dollar basketball team.

At the start of most episodes, Isla recounts stories about her father Jack in voiceover, recalling his casual misogyny, his judgmental nature, and the way he viewed his players as assets instead of people. Running Point explores the ways these qualities have trickled down into his children and how they're trying to unlearn them. It's as if Succession's Roy kids actually learned to open up emotionally and were way less intense. Plus, Running Point throws in a curveball in the form of Jack's secret son Jackie (Fabrizio Guido), who yearns for familial connection with the other Gordons.

The Gordon family ties allow for a number of laugh-out-loud story beats, including a squabble at an engagement party and an argument about player trades that devolves into a paintball shootout. It also allows Running Point's core cast to showcase their killer chemistry. Hudson leads the team with pitch-perfect comedic timing, committing totally to Isla's many pratfalls. As support, MacArthur and Tarver make for a delightful odd couple: Ness is loud and bro-y, and Sandy is more reserved yet cutting. Theroux is less present, but he's an absolute hoot whenever he shows up, and Guido rounds out the Gordons with an endearing innocence that contrasts nicely with the rest of his siblings' billionaire blunders. Closing out Running Point's all-star team are Brenda Song as Waves chief of staff Ali, Max Greenfield as Isla's fiancé Lev, and Jay Ellis as Waves coach Jay.

Running Point's endlessly watchable cast carries the show through some bumpier pacing moments since, like with many streaming comedies, Running Point feels like it would benefit from a longer season. That way, it wouldn't have to squeeze important events like the lead-up to playoffs into such a short amount of time.

Despite these pacing issues, Running Point remains a sharp comedy that skewers both professional basketball and dysfunctional families with glee. Here's hoping it joins Never Have I Ever as another multi-season Kaling Netflix series. It has all the right pieces, and with a little more time, it could cement itself as an absolute slam dunk.

Running Point is now streaming on Netflix.

Get Skoove Premium for life for £118 and finally learn to play the piano

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Discover the joy of piano with a Skoove Premium Lifetime Subscription for £118.20 (reg. £236.40), giving you unlimited access to interactive lessons, real-time feedback, and music you love.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription £118.20 at the Mashable Shop
£236.40 Save £118.20 Get Deal

Ready to tickle the ivories but tired of the hassle (and cost) of traditional piano lessons? Meet Skoove Premium, your personal piano coach that fits right in your pocket. For just £118.20 (reg. £236.40), you’ll get lifetime access to interactive online piano lessons that adapt to your pace and preferences.

No more rushing to weekly lessons or struggling through boring practice books. Skoove lets you learn piano on your own terms — at home or whenever inspiration strikes. The app offers over 400 lessons with real-time feedback, so you’ll always know if you’re hitting the right notes (literally).

Whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced player, Skoove’s AI-powered technology listens to your playing and tailors your learning experience accordingly. You’ll get to play chart-toppers from artists like John Legend, The Beatles, and Adele, as well as classical masterpieces by Bach and Beethoven.

And the best part? No fancy equipment required. Skoove works with any piano or keyboard — digital, acoustic, or USB/MIDI. Use it on your tablet, smartphone, or computer, and practice wherever you are. Plus, with one-on-one instructor support, you’ll never feel stuck.

Skoove keeps things fresh with monthly updates featuring new lessons and songs. So, whether you’re aiming to serenade your loved ones or just looking for a relaxing hobby, Skoove makes piano learning fun, easy, and accessible.

Pay £118.20 (a 50% discount for Mashable readers) for lifetime access to all Skoove has to offer — it’s a one-time investment in a skill that lasts forever.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Did you know its only £43 to get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office (that comes with Windows 11 Pro)?

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office for life and Windows 11 Pro for just £43.32 (reg. £345.16) if you buy this bundle before 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

Tired of software subscriptions? Cancel them. You actually don't need a Microsoft 365 subscription to get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and all the other productivity tools you rely on. Instead, you can switch to a Microsoft Office lifetime device license that comes with the same apps for a one-time payment. And now, you also get Windows 11 Pro included, and the whole package is just £43.32 (reg. £345.16) at the Mashable Shop.

No more software subscriptions

Microsoft Office Pro gives you lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. There are no hidden fees or recurring costs of any kind. Download each of these apps onto your Windows computer, and your access lasts as long as you have your device.

Now, if you're used to Microsoft 365, these tools might look a little different (but not much). The 2021 Microsoft apps still work great, so you can keep relying on Excel for work or Word for school, minus the constant cost. 

Windows 11 Pro is a serious upgrade, even if you're just coming from Windows 11 Home. It gives you access to more advanced security tools like Bitlocker device encryption and TPM 2.0. You also get to use Windows Copilot, your own built-in AI you can use to generate text, conduct research, or just answer a quick question.

Gamers even get their own boost with DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is super useful for getting the most out of your hardware for graphically intense games. 

Remember: You only have until 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for just £43.32 (reg. £345.16). 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: UGR Tech The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle £43.32 at the Mashable Shop
£345.16 Save £301.84 Get Deal

How to watch Pakistan vs. Bangladesh online for free

Mashable - Thu, 02/27/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Pakistan vs. Bangladesh in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy action continues with the final round of group-stage games. Pakistan have lost both of their games so far, but they can end on a high against Bangladesh. Surely the defending champions aren't going to exit the competition without a single win.

If you want to watch Pakistan vs. Bangladesh in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Pakistan vs. Bangladesh?

Pakistan vs. Bangladesh in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy starts at 4 a.m. ET on Feb. 27. This ODI takes place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

How to watch Pakistan vs. Bangladesh for free

The following platforms are offering coverage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is available to live stream for free in Pakistan. The free streaming platforms are geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy 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 Pakistan

  4. Visit Tamasha or PTV

  5. Live stream Pakistan vs. Bangladesh for free from anywhere in the world

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 access free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Pakistan vs. Bangladesh (plus every other 2025 ICC Champions Trophy game) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

  • 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 Pakistan vs. Bangladesh in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free with ExpressVPN.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 27, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 22:00

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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's The Mini crossword answers for February 27 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Ways to reach someone over the phone

  • Green: Essential car components

  • Blue: Building blocks of living organisms

  • Purple: References to measurement

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Contact via Telephone

  • Green: Parts of a Car

  • Blue: Levels of Biological Organization

  • Purple: Ending with Units of Measure

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 #627 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Contact via Telephone: CALL, DIAL, PHONE, RING

  • Parts of a Car: BELT, HORN, MIRROR, WHEEL

  • Levels of Biological Organization: ATOM, CELL, ORGAN, TISSUE

  • Ending with Units of Measure: BIGFOOT, COMPOUND, INSTAGRAM, THERMOMETER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 27

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 27, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 22:00

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for February 27 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's The Mini crossword answers for February 27, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A place to stay in the woods.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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...

LODGE.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 27

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.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 27

Mashable - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 21:28

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: To protect the catcher

  • Green: Not a starter

  • Blue: Events for NFL draft prospects

  • Purple: After a flag or other penalty

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: A catcher's equipment

  • Green: Backups

  • Blue: NFL Draft tests and evaluations

  • Purple: Results of a penalty

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 Sports Edition #157 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

  • A Catcher's Equipment - CHEST PROTECTOR, GLOVE, MASK, SHIN GUARDS

  • Backups - BENCH, DEPTH, RESERVES, SUBSTITUTES

  • NFL Draft Tests and Evaluations - 40-YARD DASH, INTERVIEW, THREE-CONE DRILL, VERTICAL JUMP

  • Results of a Penalty - FREE-THROW, LOSS OF YARDS, POWER PLAY, YELLOW CARD

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections 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.

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.

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