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One of the reasons iPhones cost as much as they do is Apple knows most people aren't paying full price for them. You're almost always trading in an old device or getting some kind of carrier discount, right? Well, if you're doing the former, you may want to keep your old iPhone in good shape.

MacWorld executive editor Michael Simon wrote a cautionary tale purporting that Apple would not accept a 256GB variant of the iPhone 15 Pro Max (which should have nearly the highest trade-in value of any existing iPhone) for trade-in because the back of the phone was cracked from a drop. As Simon pointed out, the cost of repairing this blemish would be only $29, but rather than deduct $29 from the trade-in value, Apple instead decided his iPhone was worthless during the trade-in process.

SEE ALSO: All of Apple's new iPhone 16 phones are capable of faster wired charging

The big lesson here is to just pay the $29 (or whatever your repair fee happens to cost) if there's any kind of imperfection with your iPhone before trading it in for an iPhone 16. It's not ideal, but perhaps Apple is banking on people not wanting to go through the effort. Don't let Apple win.

Until you give the company several hundred dollars for a new phone, anyway.

SAVE 58%: Get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (47 mm) for just $199.99 at Amazon, marked down from its normal price of $479.99. That's a discount of $280 and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic $199.99 at Amazon
$479.99 Save $280.00 Get Deal

When it comes to buying a new smartwatch, there are tons to choose from, including the newly-announced Apple Watch Series 10. But if you don't want to overspend, or you're an Android user, that upgrade may not be on the table for you. If that's the case, you can save big on an excellent watch right now with a host of great features that can go toe-to-toe with what Apple is offering. Best of all, you can get it for just under $200, which you can't say for most of Apple's product lineup.

As of Sept. 12, you can get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (47 mm) for just $199.99, down from its usual price of $479.99. That's a discount of $280, or 58% off. This sale only applies to the Silver colorway right now, so if you want something else, you'll have to pony up a bit more cash. This is the lowest price we've seen for this particular model — a full $70 lower.

SEE ALSO: It's a great week to shop for a new smartwatch from Apple, Samsung, and Garmin

This smartwatch doesn't take cues from the rest of the competition that tries a little too hard to be techy. Instead, it looks much more like a regular timepiece with smart features. It offers heart rate, heart rhythm, sleep, and fitness tracking as well as sync options with other Samsung Galaxy devices you may already have. It looks slick on the wrist, it's sturdy, and it has plenty of customization options so you can make it your own.

For anyone using the Android ecosystem, it's well worth investing in, especially at this price. You won't want to pass it up for $199.99, but it'll likely go quickly while it's on sale. The holidays are just around the corner, so lock it in while you can.

Looking for some peace of mind when it comes to keeping tabs on your home? We've spotted some steep discounts on home security systems and cameras that are sure to help, regardless of your budget. Here are some top picks:

Best home security deals Best overall deal SimpliSafe wireless home security system (8 piece) $143.99 at Amazon (save $96) Get Deal Best video doorbell deal eufy Security smart Wi-Fi video doorbell $99.99 at Best Buy (save $80) Get Deal Best indoor camera deal Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt smart security camera $22.99 at Amazon (save $7) Get Deal

Your home should be a haven — a favorite place to spend time with family, relax, and feel at peace. Unfortunately, our modern society sometimes removes the peace aspect. If you're looking into a home security system to help ease some worry about the safety of your home, this is shaping up to be a great week.

Modern home security systems seamlessly link to your smartphone, giving you instant notifications of anyone or anything at your doorstep. You can also grab an indoor camera to keep an eye on the interior of your home which is especially great if you're expecting kids to come home for school at a certain time or want to check in on pets.

Here are some of the best deal we've found during the week of Sept. 12 if you're shopping for a home security system.

Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: SimpliSafe Our pick: SimpliSafe wireless home security system (8 piece) $143.99 at Amazon
$239.99 Save $96.00 Get Deal Why we like it

SimpliSafe is one of our favorite brands when it comes to home security systems, serving over 4 million people nationwide. If you're looking for a comprehensive system, the eight-piece SimpliSafe wireless home security system is on sale at Amazon for just $143.99, marked down from the usual price of $239.99. That's a 40% discount.

SimpliSafe says this bundle is ideal for homes with two or three bedroom since it includes a base station, four entry-point sensors, a panic button, a motion sensor, and a keypad to control arming and disarming. The entry-point sensors are designed to attach to windows, doors, or cabinets and will automatically alert you when it's opened.

The included motion sensor detects movement within 35 feet with a 90 degree vision field. When placed in the corner, you'll get a full view of the room. Another great benefit of the SimpliSafe system is the 24-hour battery life in the base which'll keep the system monitoring even if you lose power or WiFi.

Best video doorbell deal Opens in a new window Credit: eufy Security Our pick: eufy Security smart Wi-Fi video doorbell $99.99 at Best Buy
$179.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

A video doorbell can be a great addition to home security and today the eufy Security smart Wi-Fi video doorbell is on sale at Best Buy for just $99.99, down from the list price of $179.99. That means you'll be scoring a 45% discount.

With the eufy video doorbell, you can choose between a wired connection or battery powered to get clear, 2K resolution. You'll be able to chat with anyone who comes to the door via two-way mic, and you'll automatically get alerted on your smartphone when someone comes to the porch.

The weatherproof material means it'll have no trouble through autumn storms and it can withstand a temperature range between 4 and 122 degrees F. The internal storage on the video doorbell with store recordings of happenings within the last 90 days, so you can always go back and review if you actually got that package delivery.

Best indoor camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kasa Our pick: Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt smart security camera $22.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $7.00 Get Deal Why we like it

An indoor security camera can be great if you're wondering what your pets are up to or if you'd like get a view of the inner happenings of your home while you're away (think reassurance for knowing you turned off the oven). Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, the Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt smart security camera is at the low price of $22.99, which works out to a 23% discount off the usual price of $27.99.

With 1080p full HD video, you're in good hands with the Kasa indoor camera. You'll be able to get peace of mind when you're away from home, check in pets while you're at work, or use it as a baby monitor. The camera detects both motion and sound, sending an alert to your smartphone. During the dark of night, the camera will still be able to detect motion so long as its within 30 feet of the camera. With the camera's pan and tilt functions, you'll be able to get a 360 degree horizontal view and a 133 degree vertical area of coverage.

More home security deals

• WYZE outdoor wireless security camera — $19.98 $29.98 (save $10)

• eufy Security 5-piece home alarm kit — $99 $159.99 (save $60.99)

• eufy security eufyCam 2C Pro 3-cam kit — $259.99 $389.99 (save $130)

In 2000, my long-suffering mother took my brother and his friends to the local theater for a showing of Pokémon the Movie 2000. The boys were six or seven and had happily been swept up in the burgeoning cultural phenomenon dubbed "Pokémania." My mother, perplexed by the whole affair, read a book in the back row as the boys gaped at fantastical creatures on screen, their legs not yet long enough to reach the floor.

Less than a year before, the Pokémon franchise had cracked open the gaping maw of the United States gaming market by feeding it the same properties that were already enormously successful in its native Japan. Like many other kids his age, my brother collected Pokémon cards and captured the creatures on his Game Boy. We watched the Pokémon TV series together and tossed a life-sized Pokéball around the house. 

The main lawn at Pokémon GO Fest 2024, which took place on Randall's Island in July. Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

Today, new generations are discovering the franchise as older ones embrace its nostalgia. Nowhere was that clearer than this summer's Pokémon GO Fest, a three-day in-person event celebrating the franchise's mobile game in New York City. There, families in matching outfits bent over their phones together as if saying grace at the dining room table. Babes in strollers clutched stuffed Pokémon toys as their parents discussed capturing new creatures.

Offline, the Pokemon trading card game — which littered early-aughts pavements at recess and became such a distraction that it was banned in some schools — has seen a resurgence. As recently as 2021, a Reddit user shared a photo of a "Pokémon Agreement" hung in their child's classroom, which included rules like "No stealing Pokémon cards!" and "Make fair trades!! [sic]."

Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

Over the past two years, Pokémon cards have also evolved into a top collecting category for adults. Leading authenticator PSA, which has graded more than 70 million items since 1991, says baseball cards were the most popular item until early 2022, when Pokémon cards became its biggest category by volume. Between 2022 and 2023, PSA saw a 50 percent growth in authentication and grading submissions of Pokémon cards, compared to just a 16 percent increase in baseball cards over the same period. 

"We've seen a major surge in the collectibles industry, specifically Pokémon, due to the rising trend of nostalgia-driven primarily by Millennials and Gen Z," Ryan Hoge, president of PSA, told Mashable. "As the first generation of Pokémon collectors have grown up and had kids, they’ve gravitated back to the nostalgic pieces of their childhood and have resurrected the demand for Pokémon trading cards."

Amy, 37, cosplays as Vaporean, her favorite evolution of the Pokémon Eevee. On her wrist is a homemade bracelet given to her by a stranger at the event. Credit: Joe Maldonado A man who goes by "Uncle Bob" plays Pokémon GO on a split screen on a Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Credit: Joe Maldonado

PSA has graded only three subjects more than one million times: Michael Jordan and Pokémon characters Charizard and Pikachu. "Charizard and Pikachu have now had 30-year careers spanning multiple generations," a spokesperson for the company noted.

The same nostalgia fueling Pokémon card collecting is also enlivening a dedicated faction of players of the franchise's Pokémon GO mobile game.

The game became a sensation virtually overnight when it was first released in the U.S. in 2016, capturing the hearts of fans and non-fans alike. It used augmented reality to overlay Pokémon in real-world environments, transforming the player into a Pokémon trainer tasked with collecting as many creatures as possible. A key element of the game was that it required the player to walk outside to find new Pokémon in the wild.

Rose Dinelli-Figueroa and her family travel to Pokémon GO Fests around the world from their native Puerto Rico. Credit: Joe Maldonado

At the time, a New York Times writer captured the phenomenon and its ubiquity, explaining, "I saw people catching Pokémon while ahead of me in line for coffee, pointing their smartphone cameras at their barista, who happened to have a Charmander on her face."

Interest in the game amongst the general public quickly petered out. The craze's metaphorical death knell clanged at a 2016 Virginia rally for then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton where, in an attempt to connect with young voters, she told the crowd to "Pokémon GO to the polls." The phrase was swiftly memed and mocked, most notably by then-Republican nominee Donald Trump who posted a Facebook video of a Pokémon GO parody game titled "Crookéd Hillary NO." 

Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

But devout players never left; by 2019, more than 1 billion people had downloaded the app. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many more returned to the game to escape quarantine restlessness. Today, some estimates put the number of monthly active players at more than 90 million.

Over three stifling days in July, more than 70,000 of those players descended on New York City for Pokémon GO Fest. Neither the 90-degree temperatures nor dew point of 72 — a level the National Weather Service considers "oppressive" — could deter them from capturing the geo-exclusive Pokémon on offer at Randall's Island, a dollop of land in the East River.

Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

Many saw their journey to GO Fest as a kind of pilgrimage. For Rose Dinelli-Figueroa, 36, GO Fest has become a family tradition. She has traveled from Puerto Rico to attend Pokémon GO Fests in Seattle, London, and Las Vegas with her husband, parents, and two children. The family's youngest member, 7-year-old Jade, is dressed as Pokémon trainer Misty and was not yet born when her mother began playing Pokémon GO in 2016.

About a 10-minute walk away, on a large lawn, an Illinois man who goes by "Uncle Bob" stands on an oval of astroturf across from a teen named Theo. They stare at their phones, battling each other digitally in the app. Uncle Bob has attended every GO Fest since the first iteration of the event was held in Chicago in 2017. Theo is far from home and reveling in a thrilling change of pace. "There are not as many players in my hometown [of Wiener Neustadt, Austria]," he tells Mashable. Back in Austria, he usually has to pay to join group gaming activities called "remote raids" in cities with more players.

Alex, 32, and Courtney, 31, began dating in 2020, and usually play Pokémon GO together while walking their dogs. Credit: Joe Maldonado

A couple nearby, Amy, 37, and Gary, 38, use the game to stay connected in their long-distance relationship. "He lives about four hours away from me," Amy says, dressed in a blue body suit, cosplaying as Vaporean, her favorite evolution of the Pokémon Eevee. "And there's a feature in the game where you can send each other postcards. So I have a lot of fun sending him postcards when we're away from each other." 

Pokémon GO appears to be a popular pillar of romantic relationships. Niantic, the app's developer, helped organize five marriage proposals during this year's GO Fest. One of the couples, Alex, 32, and Courtney, 31, began dating in 2020 and play Pokémon GO together while walking their dogs. They came down from New Hampshire to attend Pokémon GO Fest last year, even though Courtney was recovering from foot surgery in a walking boot. "We look back at it like, 'That was so much fun.'" says Courtney. "We were showing [people] pictures of it from last year, and we got some of our friends at work to start playing it as well."

Two players battle each other on the Pokémon GO app. Credit: Joe Maldonado

"It's a silly game, but it really does bring people together, as cheesy as that sounds," says Alex, moments after getting down on one knee to propose to Courtney. "It's a great way to just go out and hang out with a friend."

Four friends dressed as Eeveelutions described a more casual relationship to the app. "I love playing. I'm looking at my phone anyway," says Aaron, 33. "It keeps me distracted, it keeps me off Grindr. It gets me out of the house… I was here by myself on Christmas. So I open up Pokémon GO, and I'm like, 'Oh, there's stuff going on.' I was walking all around downtown. I went to Washington Square Park and saw the tree while playing Pokémon GO. It was cute. I wouldn't have seen the tree otherwise."

Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

Another member of the group, Brayden, 29, notes how much the franchise has expanded since establishing its reputation as a children's game of the early aughts. "My mom is like level whatever; she is intense," he says. "She's better at it than I am." He points at his friends standing nearby. "They'll be like, 'Oh yeah, I raided with your mom.'"

Canadian sisters Tania, 49, and Shelley, 53, are two of the oldest attendees Mashable interviewed at the event. When Pokémon GO first dropped in 2016, Shelley says she "didn't want to be one of those old people that just assume that because I don't understand it, it's not cool." So she asked a young person she worked with to explain it to her. "I don't know anything about Pokémon. I didn't play the game. I didn't grow up with it," says Shelley. "But I downloaded it and was like, 'This is fucking fun.'" Two weeks later, on a family vacation, she got Tania hooked on the game, too.

It seems that the core of Pokémon brand's legacy — what has made it the highest-grossing media franchise on earth and an enduring cultural phenomenon for 25 years — is its ability to bring people together to have a good time.

The sisters point to their bright yellow paper Pikachu hats, which organizers distributed for free to attendees earlier in the day. "We had to get the hat. We were asking little kids, 'Where'd you get your visor?'" Tania laughs. "It's ridiculous, and we love it. You've gotta lean into the fun."

Who is afraid of little old Taylor Swift? After Tuesday night, Republicans should be.

After the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Sept. 10, Swift took to Instagram to publicly endorse Harris. But she didn't stop there. The popstar also added a custom voter registration link to her Instagram story. As of 2 p.m. ET Wednesday, 337,826 people visited that link, the General Services Administration told NBC News.

SEE ALSO: Swifties for Kamala: How Taylor Swift fans are creating a new blueprint for political organizing

The URL takes people to vote.gov, a website with information on how to register to vote and update voter registration. It also details voting rights and answers frequently asked questions.

In her endorsement post Swift wrote, "I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them." Then she encouraged her 284 million followers to do their own research and vote for whoever they'd like to. "Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story," concluded her post which now has over 10 million likes.

She signed off as a "childless cat lady," a reference to Trump's running mate J.D. Vance's disparaging comments about women who choose not to have children. Swift's numbers prove childless cat ladies hold a lot of power in this election.

TL;DR: Enjoy 5 years of privacy, security, and ad-free browsing with AdGuard VPN for $34.97 through September 29.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard VPN $34.97
$359.40 Save $324.43 5-year subscription Get Deal

Navigating the internet without protection is like leaving your front door wide open. But with AdGuard VPN, you can lock it up tight, keeping your data safe and your browsing private. Whether you’re a tech-savvy user or just someone who wants to avoid the constant barrage of online ads, AdGuard VPN is designed to give you control over your online experience.

Enjoy secure, ad-free browsing for five years with AdGuard VPN for just $34.97 through September 29.

AdGuard VPN stands out by offering a global server network that spans over 50 countries, ensuring you can browse anonymously and access content from anywhere in the world. Whether you’re traveling or simply want to enjoy content restricted to another region, AdGuard VPN has you covered.

But what really makes AdGuard VPN a must-have is its built-in ad blocker. Unlike other VPNs, AdGuard doesn’t just protect your data — it also eliminates the annoying ads and pop-ups that slow down your browsing. This means you get faster, cleaner, and more secure internet sessions, free from the distractions and risks of unwanted ads.

Privacy is a top priority with AdGuard VPN. With a strict no-logging policy, you can trust that your browsing history stays private and confidential. Your online activities are for your eyes only, giving you peace of mind every time you connect.

AdGuard VPN is simple to set up and use on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Just a few clicks, and you’re connected to a secure server, enjoying uninterrupted and private browsing to stream, shop, or just surf the web across all your devices.

For just $34.97 until September 29, you get 5 years of powerful protection with AdGuard VPN to make sure your online presence is safe, private, and free from annoying ads.

Browse more security and privacy deals here.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $150: As of September 12, get a refurbished pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones at Bose.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (Refurbished) $279.00 at Bose
$429.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal

Time for a new pair of headphones? You've got tons of options. But if you don't mind spending a bit out of your typical price range, there's one pair that we often come back to recommending time and time again from Bose, because it's a brand that knows what it's doing. And right now, you can get one of our favorite pairs of headphones from Bose at an excellent price.

As of Sep. 12, you can get a pair of refurbished Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $279. That's $150 off their normal price of $429. Choose from three colors: Black, Sandstone, and White Smoke. These are Certified Refurbished from Bose itself, which means they've been returned to the company, inspected, tested, and serviced before being sold at a discount. They come with a warranty and are only available in small numbers for a limited time.

According to Mashable's Sam Mangino, Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are "extremely comfortable" and boast "all-day battery life" even when you choose to leave noise-cancellation on all day. They offer "solid" sound quality with three different noise-canceling modes meant to help you block out the rest of the world or help you remain aware of what's going on around you.

This is an opportunity to save a significant amount of cash on these headphones, so be sure to grab yours before they're out of stock.

SAVE UP TO $24: For a limited time, subscribe to Disney+ Basic with ads for just $1.99 a month for three months. That's $8 off the regular price of $9.99 per month, or $24 in total savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+ Basic $1.99 at Disney+
$9.99 Save $8.00 Get Disney+ Basic for $1.99 a month for three months Get Deal

Every few months, it seems like there's a new streaming service to subscribe to. And then every other month, an existing streamer is raising its prices. Right now, that streaming service is Disney+ — they announced in August that they're raising their prices in October, bringing the with-ads plan to $9.99 (up from $7.99), and the ad-free plan to $15.99 (up from $13.99). Luckily, Disney+ has a deal to help you avoid that price hike for a few months.

For a limited time, enjoy Disney+ with ads for $1.99 a month for three months. That's $5.97 for three months rather than $29.97, saving over 80%.

SEE ALSO: Disney+ and Hulu have just gotten pricier. Yes, even with ads.

For new subscribers, this is major savings coming at just the right time. The long awaited follow-up to Wandavision, Agatha All Along, is coming to the streamer on September 18. Plus, the highest grossing movie of 2024, Inside Out 2, is expected to hit the streamer at the end of the month.

It's safe to say this Disney+ deal couldn't have come at a better time. Sign up by September 27 and you'll get Disney+ for two bucks a month through the holidays.

Microsoft users reported lots of issues and outages on Thursday. The issue appeared to lie with its 365 subscription, which can feature popular and necessary services like Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and more.

"We're investigating an issue where users may be unable to access multiple Microsoft 365 services," the company posted on X. "Please look for MO888473 in the admin center for more details and further updates."

It appeared there might be issues with the cloud service that provides the 365 services to consumers. A status page from Microsoft noted there was "service degradation" that might prohibit access to one or more 365 services.

The company wrote on X: "We're reviewing network telemetry and recent changes to our networking infrastructure. Additionally, we're working with a third-party ISP to understand the underlying cause."

Reports of problems with Microsoft 365 around 9 a.m. eastern time on on Down Detector, which, full disclosure, is owned by the same parent company as Mashable. The issues appeared to be declining by about 10 a.m. eastern.

This problem comes nearly two months after the massive outages from CrowdStrike and Microsoft that disrupted pretty much the entire world.

Middle-earth may be crawling with orcs, Balrogs, and Dark Wizards, but the worst villain in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is none other than Kemen (Leon Wadham).

SEE ALSO: Tom Bombadil's introduction in 'The Rings of Power' is right out of 'Fellowship of the Ring'

Kemen was a somewhat minor presence throughout The Rings of Power Season 1, albeit an unmistakably slimy one. As a rising politician, he worked with his father Ar-Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) behind the scenes to turn the people of Númenor against Queen Tar-Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). He even tried his hand at some sneaky arson in order to stop the Númenorean forces going to Middle-earth.

But now that Pharazôn is king, Kemen is able to operate in the open, with all the authority of Númenor behind him. That kind of unchecked power leads to some seriously nasty, entitled behavior. In just the fifth episode of Season 2, Kemen goes on quite the evil tear, cementing himself as one of the biggest threats to Middle-earth — and the most punchable character in the series.

Kemen's reign of terror begins with a task from his father: Strip the members of the Sea Guard of their ranks. That includes Captain Elendil (Lloyd Owen), whose loyalty to Míriel and faithfulness to the Valar constitute as treason in Kemen's eyes.

SEE ALSO: Did you catch this hint at the Stranger's real name in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2?

As Elendil hands in his sword, his former sailors salute him in an "O Captain! My Captain!" moment straight out of Dead Poets Society. Of course, Kemen interrupts the proceedings with the snotty comment, "He's nobody's captain now." Shut up, man! Isn't it enough you've turned Elendil's daughter Eärien (Ema Horvath) against him? Leave the bratty remarks at home!

Leon Wadham and Trystan Gravelle in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." Credit: Ross Ferguson / Prime Video

Kemen only gets worse as the episode goes on, waltzing into the oldest shrine to the Valar in Númenor and breaking up a memorial service for the soldiers who died in Middle-earth. Hey, wasn't one of the biggest reasons people hated Míriel because she let soldiers go to Middle-earth in the first place? The hypocrisy is off the charts! The least you could do is let people grieve these losses in peace before you start condemning their shrines.

But Kemen isn't into doing the least evil. He's here to do the absolute most, whether that's pettily smashing a Valar relic, poking at Elendil's strained relationship with Eärien, or smirking like there's no tomorrow. Serious props to Wadham for selling Kemen's infuriating self-satisfaction so hard. He somehow manages to make a seemingly innocuous statement like "It's in the way of the new aqueduct" the most enraging line in the entire show.

SEE ALSO: What does 'Sûza-t' mean in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2, episode 4?

Thankfully, Elendil must have heard my pleas for someone to haul back and punch Kemen in the face, because the legend smacks the living daylights out of him. Remember when Tyrion slapped Joffrey in Game of Thrones? Yeah, I felt the exact same levels of hype here.

The ensuing brawl doesn't end well for Elendil's men, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't rock to see Kemen get absolutely bodied by former Sea Guard member Valandil (Alex Tarrant), though he's ultimately too honorable to finish Kemen off. But you know who doesn't have any problem being dishonorable? That's right, Kemen. Númenor's biggest twerp stabs Valandil in the back, and just like that, I need him to get decked in the face again. Too bad Elendil's being thrown in jail; otherwise I know he'd follow through.

Kemen's rage-inducing behavior throughout this episode is not only proof of him being an all-around bad guy — it's also proof of the corruption of Númenor, and the Men who live there. No wonder this episode also focuses on Sauron's (Charlie Vickers) efforts to convince Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) to make Rings of Power for Men. He knows that people like Kemen exist, and that they'd do anything for power.

Truly, if Kemen ever comes to Middle-earth, he's a prime candidate for one of the nine rings for Men. Lord of the Rings fans know how that would turn out: with ultimate corruption, and transformation into a Ringwraith. According to Pharazôn, Kemen's late mother did prophesy that he would come to an "ill end," and I'd say becoming a Nazgûl falls under that umbrella. (Getting punched again would also qualify, and it would be more than welcome!)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video, with a new episode every Thursday.

Spider One's "Little Bites" trailer has dropped, teasing a mother who feeds the monster in her basement in order to protect her daughter.

Stephen Colbert has shared his thoughts on Taylor Swift's Kamala Harris endorsement post, including some clear Easter eggs.

General Motors and the South Korean automaker say they will collaborate on new vehicles, buying parts and clean energy technologies.

Apple's new iPhones can charge faster than ever — if you plug them in.

This is according to certification from the China Quality Certification Centre, as spotted by ShrimpApplePro and reported by 9to5Mac. All of Apple's new iPhones are capable of 45W charging over USB-C.

SEE ALSO: Apple 'Glowtime' event 2024: iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and everything else announced

During its keynote on Monday, Apple did mention that the new iPhone 16 range of devices support faster wireless charging. The official specs sheet says so as well; according to Apple, all of the new phones (the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max) support MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher, as well as Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W. Apple also says that the phones are capable of fast charging over wired; according to the specs, you can get up to "50 percent charge in around 30 minutes" with a 20W adapter or higher paired with a USB-C charging cable.

Tweet may have been deleted

What the spec sheet doesn't say is that last year's models could charge at a maximum of 30W, while the new ones can peak at 45W, theoretically enabling even faster charging.

For the end users, this means that they should be able to get their iPhone 16 devices to charge faster than ever if they use a compatible 45W charger. It will take some real-world testing to see which chargers work best, and whether you can get a meaningfully faster charge this way, though.

"The Daily Show" host Jordan Klepper has broken down Trump's reaction to the presidential debate.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

If you like porn but want to make things a bit more interactive, these are some popular dating sites that will help you achieve that. There’s a little something for everyone, whether you’re looking to explore your kinky fantasies, make a lasting romantic connection, search for senior love, hook up, or want to keep things safely socially distanced and just chat.

And if free videos with easy-to-search categories like Pornhub offers are what do it for you, there’s options out there for you. While these sites are by no means perfect and some of them are pretty raunchy, here's the scoop on what you're getting yourself into.

What do you need to know about dating on NSFW sites?

Keep in mind that “dating” on NSFW sites like Grindr and GetItOn is about as subtle as the names of the platforms: Users are there to find a connection for a night, a threesome, or an ongoing sex buddy situation — not a long-term partner.

Also, sites like this don’t operate without mutual consent and boundary-setting (and respecting). When you’re building out your profile, be specific and honest about what you’re looking for and wanting so you can find people who genuinely match up with you and your interests or fetishes.

Should you use a NSFW site for dating?

If you’re looking for no-strings-attached sex, or just a sexting or Skype-sexing buddy for the evening, NSFW sites can be ideal for getting your needs met and getting straight to the point. “Dating” here is a very loose term — think of these as sites and apps for hooking up.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

Users on these apps tend to be fairly direct — don’t expect a dinner invitation before you get asked over to their flat. If that’s not your cup of tea and you need a little more of the getting-to-know-someone before jumping into bed with them, these might not be the right sites for you.

What precautions should you take when using a NSFW dating site?

If you’re on a site where you need to share personal information or choose a username, be careful about the information you’re giving out — and about what kind of information it is. Things like credit card numbers are vulnerable to hackers, and using your real name on platforms like these can compromise your safety if you happen to stumble upon the wrong sort of people on the sites.

Always choose a username that doesn’t have a relationship to your first name, and be careful about the personal information you share (like where you live, etc.).

What else is important to know when using a NSFW dating site?

Besides not giving away any personal information, especially for things like anonymous encounters on cam or sexting sites, know the risks when it comes to sending nude or partially nude photos containing identifying details like your face or tattoos. While it’s against the law in many places to circulate private sexual images, that doesn’t stop people from doing it.

What is the best NSFW dating site?

There are plenty of raunchy dating sites out there that should suit just about everyone, but we get that you probably don't want to spend all day perusing the options (or maybe you do). To help you find the best NSFW dating site for you, we have lined up a standout selection.

We've tried to find something for every type of dater, with popular sites like AdultFriendFinder and GetItOn making the cut. You just need to pick a favourite.

These are the best dating site alternatives to Pornhub in 2024.

Prime Video is the seriously popular on-demand streaming service that hosts literally thousands of movies, shows, and award-winning Prime Originals. Amazon Prime offers one-day delivery, unlimited music, and includes this impressive streaming service.

Amazon Prime Video works out at a similar rate to other streaming video services like Netflix. However, you don't get a delivery service, music streaming, and access to the Kindle library with Netflix. It's for this reason that so many people continue to sign up to Amazon's video streaming service. Amazon Prime Video is available to stream on all the Kindle Fire tablets and more than 600 other devices, including pretty much every computer, smartphone, console, and smart TV you can imagine.

This all sounds great, but imagine for a moment that not everything is perfect. Imagine that everything is not well with the world, because you have signed up to Amazon Prime Video to specifically watch one programme, and it's only shown on the U.S. version of the service. It's a troubling thought and it seems to happen fairly regularly.

Fortunately, there is something you can do to avoid this annoying issue. You can use a VPN to gain access to all of the best American content from the UK.

What is a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public internet connection. VPNs hide your real IP address so all of your online activity is untraceable and secure.

Does this make sense? We understand that this sort of technology can be confusing, so it can help to think of a VPN as a tunnel through which all of your online traffic passes. This tunnel is encrypted, meaning that nobody can see into it, and everything inside is protected against online threats like hackers, viruses, and malware.

What are the benefits of using a VPN?

VPNs are used to provide protection for your sensitive information, and this is obviously important. These services are vital for improving you cybersecurity, there is another reason that VPNs are so popular.

These tools can also be used to watch content that is normally blocked in your location by hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another country. This simple process tricks leading streaming sites into thinking you are based in another country, meaning you can watch all of the extra content from global libraries.

VPNs are keys to the online world, granting you access to more of the shows and films you love by bypassing geo-restrictions.

How do you unblock U.S. Prime Video with a VPN?

The process of accessing the American version of Prime Video with a VPN is actually really simple. All you need to do is open up your preferred VPN, select an American server in order to spoof your IP to a U.S. address, and then head to Prime Video.

There is a bit of a cat and mouse situation with streaming sites and VPNs, as sites like Prime Video and Netflix look to detect VPN usage and block servers. This is why you should always try and pick a VPN with a large and diverse network of servers, so you always have plenty of options to bypass restrictions.

You will still need to be subscribed to Prime Video for this trick to work. A VPN is not going to grant access to the streaming site for free. Instead, a VPN provides access to more libraries from around the world, once you're subscribed.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

There are plenty of VPNs out there that can bypass online restrictions to unblock Prime Video, which is good and bad. It's great to have options, but with so many VPNs to consider, it can be tough to pick the best option for you. This is where we come in.

We have outlined the best VPNs for the job. If you're looking to unlock more content from anywhere in the world, we recommend checking out ExpressVPN, PureVPN, NordVPN, and the other names in this list. There should be something for everyone and every budget. You just need to weigh up each VPN against your own set of preferences, and pick a favourite.

These are the best VPNs for Prime Video in 2024.

You've probably come across VPNs. These security services protect your data and identity when you're navigating the online world. They are increasingly important in today's world, as the fight against cyberthreats becomes more serious every day. Of course, not everyone uses these services for boosting cybersecurity.

A lot of subscribers sign up to unlock more content from around the world or give themselves an advantage when gaming.

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is an essential service that secures your internet connection, giving you greater control over how your online activity can be tracked, and providing a combination of security (keeping your computer and data protected) and privacy (keeping your identity protected).

So how does a VPN accomplish this? By creating an encrypted connection between your computer and a server operated by the VPN service, that’s how. When you’re connected to the VPN server, all of your network traffic passes through a safe, protected tunnel that no one else should be able to monitor. That's the theory anyway.

Even the very best VPNs will likely have an impact on your connectivity, though, sometimes to the point where lag gets in the way of your gaming — which is unacceptable, particularly if you’re a first-person shooter fan.

Do you need a VPN for gaming?

First and foremost, VPNs should be used to protect your personal information when you're online, and that doesn't change if you're gaming. It's important to remain anonymous as hackers and other online threats can still access your personal details when you're playing your favourite titles. The best way to ensure that you're data is private is with a VPN.

There is an argument that using VPNs can also increase your chances of success when gaming. With games that use skill-based matchmaking, VPNs can help you find easier lobbies. By connecting to a VPN, you can hide your real IP address and connect to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks the game into thinking you are based elsewhere. Why is this useful when it comes to games like Call of Duty: Warzone? You can connect to a country with fewer gamers, or connect to a country at a less busy time of the day. This reduces your chances of meeting skilled players.

What is the best VPN for gaming?

So how do you select a VPN when both security and gaming are priorities. You need a VPN that ticks three boxes — speed, ping, and protection — so that when you’re in a virtual life and death situation, lag doesn’t deliver the killer blow.

These are the best VPNs for gaming in 2024.

The chilly period between the beginning of autumn and the start of spring, in which anyone not coupled up finds themselves seeking to be tied down by a serious relationship, is known as cuffing season. It's that time once again.

We might like to think that we are all deeply complex individuals, but we're actually pretty simple creatures. In the summer, when the sun is shining and temperatures soar, we are more content to remain single. We socialise more, meet new people, and enjoy the feeling of being untethered. However, as we enter the colder months, we yearn for companionship. It’s a fact. It’s science. It’s instinct.

Much like the bear, we naturally want to bunker down and protect ourselves against the oncoming freeze. That means movie marathons, duvet days, and ideally someone to hold. As the cold weather bites, you owe it to yourself to find that special someone, even if what you are really searching for is a human-sized hot water bottle. Either is fine.

Do you actually need to use a dating site?

Dating sites and apps can make finding a compatible potential partner easier, but it's still dating. Not everyone is going to be a match. While apps like Bumble let you display what kind of relationship you're looking for, others don't, so you might end up going out with someone only to realise you're not looking for the same thing.

Having said that, there will be people on dating sites who are looking for the same thing as you. And using a dating app to find them is a lot easier than going up to strangers on the street or in bars and asking if they're looking for a relationship. Apps and dating websites expand your dating pool and allow you to meet people with similar interests you might not run into naturally in your everyday life.

Should you use free dating apps?

There are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are seriously popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. There are levels to this game though, and sometimes free apps just don't cut it.

This won't be a surprise to hear, but you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps. For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up the cash. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap.

Why should you consider upgrading to a paid site when there are free services? It all comes down to access to advanced and premium features. You can still find a hookup with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What is the best dating site for cuffing season?

We have compared the best dating sites and apps to help you in your journey, so you can make the most of cuffing season this year. We have lined up a selection of your best options for cuffing season, including popular sites like AdultFriendFinder, Match, and eharmony. The choice is all yours.

These are the best dating sites in 2024.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

The online world isn't always the friendliest of places for women, particularly when it comes to trolling and misogyny on social media. From Twitter reply guys, to other forms of online harassment, to straight up cyberstalking, letting women exist in peace seems to be a hard concept to grasp.

When it comes to dating apps specifically — where others often assume that a dating app profile means that one is willfully subjecting themselves to creepy comments — the chance of women enduring such unsettling experiences feels doubled. The onslaught of men grasping at straws for attention with messages saying "think they saw you somewhere" or requesting nudes in their opening line is an online dating specialty.

Is it easier to shoot your shot by simply using a hot selfie on your Instagram story as bait for your crush? That's a classic tactic that'll never die. But unless you and said crush are already in some sort of flirtationship and already follow each other on social media, finding love, a hookup, or someone to grab a drink with could happen a lot faster with the right dating app (as opposed to waiting to meet someone at work or agreeing to a blind date).

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites to help you find a connection

This means not deleting and re-downloading Tinder after every breakup or every time you ghost (or get ghosted by) your current entanglement. Tinder can truly be a great place to meet genuine people who are open to getting serious, to find a reliable friend with benefits, or to get a good-old-fashioned confidence boost from a mutual right swipe. But if you're frustrated with horny users disguising themselves as relationship seekers or relationship seekers who can't handle it when you say you're just looking for a hookup, opting for a dating site more finely-tuned to what you're looking for means you'll spend less time dealing with people who aren't looking for the same thing. 

Maybe you can't stand starting every conversation from scratch. Maybe your biggest fear is ending up on a date with someone who doesn't care about cats. Instead of a lazy bio, dating apps that delve into someone's hobbies, favourite movies, career goals, or political views before even talking to them opens up a wealth of clever ice breakers, and ensures that you aren't going into things blindly. 

What are dating apps doing to make dating safer?

Meeting someone from the internet in person for the first time is nerve-wracking for anyone. But for women, it can dredge up the same fear that occurs when walking alone past a big group of men. 

Match Group is making strides toward a safer dating experience: Tinder was the first to unveil new features coming out of its partnership with Noonlight, a safety app that tracks the location of users and notifies authorities if there are concerns. Before heading out on a date, Tinder users can log info about where they're going and who they're meeting, as well as hit a panic button to alert authorities if there's an emergency.

Match Group plans to roll out the same features for its other apps, like Hinge and OkCupid, later. In March 2021, Tinder announced plans to let users run a background check on their matches.

Should you use free dating apps?

There are plenty of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are popular options with massive networks of users. You can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything, but you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps.

For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are probably going to need to cough up some cash. The best dating sites don't come cheap, and whilst you can still find a hookup with a free app, you should upgrade is you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control.

What are the best dating sites for women?

Whether you're looking for a fun time or your next long-term relationship, we have picked out a wide range of apps and sites for different types of daters. So whatever you're looking for, we have you covered with this guide.

We have done the tough stuff, looked at all the facts and figures, and worked out which sites are the best options for every single type of woman out there. We have narrowed it down to the best sites, and reviewed the likes of eharmony, Match, Lumen, and AdultFriendFinder for your consideration.

These are the best dating sites for women in 2024.