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Apple’s Clean Up feature, currently available via the iOS 18.1 developer beta, is an Apple Intelligence tool that can remove unwanted objects from photos.

Keep in mind that the operative words here are "developer beta." Clean Up is still in its testing phase — and you really shouldn't download any iOS beta version without backing up your iPhone first. It's a rough-around-the-edges copy that gives some users early access to iOS 18 features before they officially drop later this year.

With that in mind, I wanted to test Apple's new Clean Up utility and pit it against other tools, including Google Magic Eraser and Samsung Galaxy AI. For this face-off, I'll be using the iPhone 15 Pro Max (Clean Up), Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Magic Eraser), and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Galaxy AI).

SEE ALSO: iOS 18.1 adds new Apple Intelligence ‘Clean Up’ tool: 3 things it can do for your photos Apple Clean Up vs. Magic Eraser vs. Galaxy AI: Test photos

I decided to choose the following three photos for the test. Each one has a specific level of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard.

Easy

This first one, shot in Grenada, features a couple walking along the beach who, sorry to them (I'm sure they're nice people), needs to get removed from the picture.

A beach in grenada Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This should be easy for AI-powered object removal tools because there's a consistent background pattern and minimal overlap and shadows. Plus, it's got great lighting.

Medium

The red car in this photo is getting the boot.

A red car in a parking lot Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Unfortunately for our AI tools, they've got a nasty little shadow to deal with.

Hard

And finally, the owl in this photo, shot in the Vanderbilt Museum in Long Island, will be targeted for removal.

Room in the Vanderbilt Museum Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The owl is inside the glass enclosure obstructs a significant part of the image, which means the AI will have to work hard to fill in the void.

Apple's Clean Up

Starting with the couple walking along the coast, I fired up the Clean Up tool on the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the Photos app.

To my surprise, Clean Up auto-selected the couple and highlighted them. In other words, I didn't even have to "tell" the tool which part of the image I wanted removed.

Clean Up tool with Apple Intelligence Credit: Kimberly G

I tapped on the highlighted couple — and it removed the woman. The second tap removed the man. And then, poof! They were gone.

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

There's not a single trace of them left behind. Well done, Apple Intelligence.

Next, let's test the car photo. Again, it pre-selected some options for removal, including the red car.

This one is a little more challenging.

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If you look closely, Apple Intelligence left behind some subtle red hues on the shadow.

Finally, let's see how the iOS 18 Clean Up tool handles the owl removal.

For this one, Apple didn't pre-select anything in this photo. With my finger, I had to draw a circle around the owl. After using the Clean Up tool, here's the final image.

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Again, this photo is particularly challenging because the owl blocks a significant portion of the image. As you can see, this task required Apple Intelligence to fill in too many blanks, and as a result, it had difficulty conceptualizing how to replace the void.

Google's Magic Eraser

Now, it's time to see how Google handles object removal.

Let's get rid of that couple. Circling and tapping on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL was trickier than the Clean Up tool. It often required several taps and circles to ensure that the highlighted area is what I'd like to erase. However, it did a great job at removing the lovebirds from the sandy beach.

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As a bonus, Magic Eraser gives you four options to choose from, so if you don't like how the first one came out, there are three other iterations created just for you.

Next, I used Magic Eraser to remove the car.

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It looks like the Google tool added a sinkhole to replace the red car. I'm not a fan of this result.

Finally, selecting the owl for removal on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL was an absolute pain. It wouldn't register my circles around the glass-enclosed bird. And when it finally did, the highlight field oddly excluded some parts of the bird, so I needed to go back and tap that area to ensure they got removed.

Magic Eraser tool on Google Pixel 9 Pro XL phone Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

But when Magic Eraser did its thing, wow, I was incredible impressed.

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

There is some warping and discoloration of the obstructed area, but as you can see, Google's AI performed well in interpreting what lies behind the owl.

Samsung's Galaxy AI

Similar to Apple and Google, Samsung's Galaxy AI did a bang-on job at removing the pesky couple walking down the Grenadian beach. (Thanks to the S Pen that ships with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, selecting unwanted objects was an easy task.)

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Interestingly, Samsung Galaxy AI added a watermark on the bottom-left of the image, letting others know that it's an AI-generated image. (I haven't seen any prominent watermark labels in the other AI-generated images.)

For the car photo, Galaxy AI replaced the red vehicle with what appears to be some sort of crate — or a bale of hay?

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Maybe it's a box that contains the last semblance of Galaxy AI's logic. Who knows? I'm confused and baffled by this one.

Fortunately, Samsung did a better job at handling this difficult image of a room inside the Vanderbilt Museum.

Left: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The lighting is a bit off, the door doesn't look it'd open, and the lamp is missing a leg, but it's not a bad effort from Galaxy AI considering the complexity of the image.

Apple Clean Up vs. Magic Eraser vs. Galaxy AI: Winner

Unsurprisingly, all three AI tools handled the easy image well. Interestingly, there is a noticeable drop in quality with all the AI-generated results.

The winner of this object-removal face-off goes to Google. Although I'm not a fan of how it can't seem to smartly estimate which object you're trying to remove, it did a decent job at handling the easy and complex photos. The car photo was a fail, but Google's ability to handle the difficult image made it a winner.

Apple is in second place. It nailed the first two images, but it couldn't quite get the complex image right with the owl removal. (It's worth noting that, again, iOS 18 Clean Up is currently in beta.)

Samsung's Galaxy AI is in last place. It surfaced a bale of hay I didn't ask for. But it did OK with the beach photo and the Vanderbilt museum shot.

X's ban in Brazil doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon.

The country's Supreme Court voted unanimously to uphold the decision on Monday, per the BBC, meaning the site will remain banned — and any anyone attempting to access it via a VPN will still be at risk of a fine.

SEE ALSO: X finally lets you edit DMs on iOS. Here's how.

The Supreme Court decision isn't necessarily the biggest surprise, given that it's one of its own justices, Alexandre de Moraes, is the ban's main driving force. Musk and de Moraes previously clashed when the justice ordered X to remove misinformation, which X described as "censorship". X's official Global Affairs account then said the company's legal representative had been threatened with arrest, which resulted in X closing down its operation in Brazil — leading directly to the ban.

In its latest post, X's Global Affairs account said it would be publishing "all of Judge de Moraes’ illegal demands and all related court filings in the interest of transparency" in the days to come.

As for Musk, it seems likely that he'll continue to share angry posts and self-owning memes until this is resolved.

Ever sent a DM on X that you regretted (or, at least, wanted to change)? We've got good news for iOS users: You can now edit your direct messages on X (formerly Twitter) after you've sent them.

Announced by X on its X account as well Help Center, the feature "enhances your ability to correct mistakes, refine your thoughts, or update information after sending a message."

To change a DM after you've sent it, find it in your conversation thread, then click on the three dots menu next to it, and select Edit. A menu will pop up; select Edit again, make your changes, and click "Save" after you're done. The receiver of the message will be able to see that the message has been edited via an "Edited" sign underneath the message.

Tweet may have been deleted

The feature was previously available on Android and the web, but now it's available to iOS users as well. There are a few differences as to how it works on different platforms. For example, on Android, and the web, the recipient of the message you've edited will receive a new message that contains the latest version of your message (prefixed by the word "edited" so you know what's going on). On iOS, they will only receive the edited message if they haven't yet seen the original message.

The feature has no time limit, meaning you can change very old messages if you want, but there are other limitations. For example, each message can only be edited up to five times, and editing images is not supported. Additionally, editing encrypted DMs is also not supported yet, though an engineer at X said the company is "working on it."

Neon has released its trailer for Asif Kapadia's new film, "2073".

A brand new season of Only Murders in the Building is here, and the prop team has once again delivered in a major way.

Just like in Season 3, the end credits of each Season 4 episode come with two visual call-backs to what we've just seen — little prop-sized details that may or may not be clues.

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 review: Murder at the movies

We've broken down each end credits Easter egg below (we'll keep updating this story as each new episode drops).

Episode 1, "Once Upon a Time in the West" Credit: Hulu

The image on the left, a green box of premium quality "Olde Belgium" lager, is actually a throwback to the end of Season 3. This is the case of beer that Sazz (Jane Lynch) brings to Charles (Steve Martin), shortly before she's killed. "I got a cold case for ya," says Sazz, but Charles suggests fetching the 1966 Argentinian Malbec from his apartment instead. If only they'd stuck to lager.

The second image is a mockup poster of the apparently upcoming Only Murders in the Building movie adaptation, complete with the names of the core cast — Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis — and a line promising the film will be "only in theaters this Christmas".

Episode 2, "Gates of Heaven"

On the left we have the small pig that Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) discover in the bathroom of the abandoned apartment opposite Charles' — in the west tower. This appears to have been the place where the killer sniped Sazz from, so we're guessing the pig will surely be significant down the line? We don't know who exactly it belongs to, but it makes a grunting bid for freedom at the end of the episode when it flees through the apartment's open door.

On the right are some playing cards, presumably representing the game of "Oh Hell" that Oliver and Mabel play with "the sauce family" who live opposite Charles. Could the game itself be some kind of clue? It could also represent the poker game Sazz set up for Charles on set of Brazzos back in the day, described in a moving moment in the episode as the time Sazz "found friends" for the lonely star of the show.

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is now streaming on Hulu, with a new episode every Tuesday.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, September 3, 2024:

AcrossConcert tees, pins, posters, etc.

• The answer is merch.

Quick on one's feet

• The answer is agile.

Kind of orange with a "belly button"

• The answer is navel.

As good as it gets

• The answer is ideal.

Study of the stars and planets, for short

• The answer is astro.

DownSuffix for a huge fad

• The answer is mania.

Old-style "Yikes!"

• The answer is egads.

Patented metal fastener on Levi's jeans

• The answer is rivet.

Word shouted during a defibrillator scene in a hospital drama

• The answer is clear.

Name tag heading

• The answer is hello.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 3 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 3 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Striking sounds

These words are attention-grabbing.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers all relate to bell sounds.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Belltones.

NYT Strands word list for September 3

• Tinkle

• Clang

• Toll

• Belltones

• Ring

• Chime

• Peal

• Knell

• Jingle

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

The maker of ChatGPT is struggling to transform itself into a profit-driven company while satisfying worries about the safety of artificial intelligence.

TL;DR: Score these open-box Sony noise-canceling headphones on sale for $199.99 (reg. $349) and enjoy premium sound in peace.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise-Cancelling Headphones $199.99
$349.99 Save $150.00 Open-box Get Deal

Ever find yourself longing for a moment of peace in the middle of your noisy day?

If you’re tired of your music competing with chatty coworkers, noisy streets, or just the general chaos of life, the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones are about to be your new best friend. Get an open-box pair for just $199.99 — a 42% discount. (That just means this pair was leftover inventory or was returned and repackaged, but don't worry — it's a new product).

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It’s time to turn down the world and turn up your favorite tracks with this open-box pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise-Cancelling Headphones for $199.99 (reg. $349) for a limited time.

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TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Instaread for $79.99 (reg. $300) and dive into over 3,000 book summaries in just 15 minutes each.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instaread Instaread Book Summaries: Lifetime Subscription $79.99
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Finding time to dive into a good book isn’t easy when life keeps you on the go. But just because your schedule is packed doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the latest bestsellers or classic must-reads. That’s where Instaread Book Summaries comes in, offering you a smarter way to absorb the wisdom of over 3,000 books in just 15 minutes.

Get a lifetime subscription to Instaread on sale for just $79.99 (reg. $300).

Why waste time trying to get through an entire book when you can get the key takeaways in a fraction of the time? Whether you’re commuting, working out, or just taking a quick break, Instaread fits perfectly into your day. Plus, with access to both fiction and nonfiction summaries, you can explore a wide range of topics, from business and self-improvement to novels and memoirs.

What sets Instaread apart is its superior content and unique features. You get more summaries than similar services, and the quality is top-notch. Instaread even includes "Cards" for quick knowledge, and "Playlists" to make your listening experience seamless on the go. And unlike some competitors, you can access all this through the web, giving you the flexibility to read or listen wherever you are.

On sale for $79.99, you can get a lifetime subscription to Instaread Book Summaries for a limited time.

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TL;DR: Grab the Hover-1 Ultra Electric Hoverboard for $119.99 (reg. $192.55) and enjoy smooth, worry-free rides wherever you go.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hover-1 Hover-1 Ultra Electric Hoverboard $119.99
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Walking is so last century. If you’re looking to give your daily commute a really cool boost or just want to have some fun, the Hover-1 Ultra electric hoverboard is your ticket to a smooth, safe, and seriously cool ride.

For a limited time, get the Hover-1 Ultra Electric Hoverboard on sale for just $119.99 (reg. $192.55). That's 37% off.

With 6.5-inch wheels and a 500W motor, this hoverboard handles inclines and uneven surfaces with ease, making it perfect for both casual riders and those looking to push their limits. Whether you’re cruising down the street or navigating a hilly path, you’ll get up to 7 miles per hour of pure hover bliss, and a range of 12 miles to explore. Just step on, lean in, and let the board do the rest.

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Step up your game and start hovering today by saving over $70 on the Hover-1 Ultra Electric Hoverboard, just $119.99 for a limited time.

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TL;DR: Grab a lifetime Formly Online Form Builder Gold Plan on sale for $99 and simplify your form creation process.

Opens in a new window Credit: Formly Formly Online Form Builder Gold Plan: Lifetime Subscription $99.00
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One thing most of us can agree on is that paperwork is a major pain. But whether you’re running a small business, managing events, or just trying to keep your projects organized, creating forms is a necessary evil. That’s where Formly comes in, turning what could be a tedious task into something you can do with ease.

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TL;DR: Watch Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

With the WNBA playoffs looming, every team is hoping for some big moments. Atlanta Dream have been sat in the bottom half of the league but have enjoyed a recent undefeated streak, which could make them hopeful of nabbing that valuable 7th or 9th postseason spot.

Phoenix, on hosting duties against Atlanta, have performed better overall this season. Recent results have been back-and-forth, but they scored the win over Atlanta in their most recent game. Can they win again on their home court? Either way, it's sure to be a hotly-contested fixture.

The good news is that you can stream Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WBNA from anywhere around the world. Read below for all the information you need.

When is Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury?

Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Sept. 3. This fixture takes place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

How to watch Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury

Basketball fans can watch Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury plus the remainder of the WNBA 2024 season from anywhere in the world with a WNBA League Pass.

The WNBA League Pass doesn't show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But there are ways to get around these blackout rules. Simply sign up with a VPN. VPNs are super useful tools that can obscure your real IP address (digital location) and connect you with secure servers in other locations, allowing you to watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy 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 a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

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 What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for a limited time at $99.95. This deal gives you 49% off, with a bonus three months of usage at no additional cost. As part of this deal you also get a whole year of unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

At this point in the season, it's all about the WNBA playoffs. Next up, Las Vegas Aces host Chicago Sky, who are both battling for one of the eight places in the postseason. Las Vegas — two-time defending WBNA Champions — edged a win over Chicago in their last meeting with a buzzer beater from A'ja Wilson.

The good news is that you can stream Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces in the WBNA from anywhere in the world. Here's all the information you need.

When is Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces?

Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Sept. 3. This fixture takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

How to watch Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces

Basketball fans can watch Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces plus the remainder of the WNBA 2024 season from anywhere in the world with a WNBA League Pass.

The WNBA League Pass doesn't show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But there are ways to bypass blackout rules. All you need to do is sign up with a VPN. These are super useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you with secure servers in other locations, helping you watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy 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 a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

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 What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is currently on sale for $99.95 but for a limited time only. This deal gives you 49% off, with a bonus three months of usage at no extra cost. As part of the deal you also get a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN..

The excitement is picking up as we get close to the WNBA playoffs. Take the Washington Mystics: They had a poor win-loss record this season but a recent run of wins have given the team some momentum. They're ready to play Dallas Wings, whose win-loss record is also at the bottom end of the league this season, though they pulled off a recent fourth quarter victory against WNBA champions, Las Vegas Aces.

If you want to watch the Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings?

Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA starts at 8 p.m. ET on Sep. 3. This fixture takes place at the College Par Center in Arlington, Texas.

How to watch Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings

Basketball fans can watch Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings plus the remainder of the WNBA 2024 season from anywhere in the world with a WNBA League Pass.

The WNBA League Pass doesn't show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But there are ways around this. All you need to do it sign up for a VPN, which will help hide your real IP address (digital location). It then connects you with a secure server in another location, enabling you to watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy 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 a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

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 What is the best VPN for the WBNA?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, which includes an extra three months of usage for free. That's 49% off for a limited time. The plan also gives you a year of unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Just days after their last meeting, Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm are back in action again, with Connecticut playing host.

Connecticut have already secured their WNBA playoff spot while Seattle are edging closer. And with both of these teams sitting near the top of their respective conferences, you can bet the action will be first-rate.

We're pleased to tell you that you can stream Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun in the WBNA from anywhere in the world. Here's all the information you need.

When is Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun?

Connecticut Sun vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Sept. 3. This fixture takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, Connecticut.

How to watch Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun

Basketball fans can watch Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun plus the remainder of the WNBA 2024 season from anywhere in the world with a WNBA League Pass.

The WNBA League Pass doesn't show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas. But there are ways around this. All you need to do it sign up for a VPN. VPNs are useful tools that can help you hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you with secure servers in other locations, which enables you to watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games on Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy 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 a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

4. Log in to WNBA League Pass

5. Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

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 What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is currently on sale for $99.95 but for a limited time only. This deal gives you 49% off and includes a bonus three months of usage at no extra cost. You also get a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Imagine you're buying a new laptop. You come across a model that can do some pretty nifty stuff, but uses many times more electricity than your current laptop. (Ten times? Thirty times? No salesman can give you the exact number, because it's a company secret.)

Oh yeah, and this laptop comes with a funnel on top; every time you ask it for a joke, or a fun image you just thought up, the PC needs a water refill (again, it won't tell you how much). What do you think, worth the upgrade? For those of us who care about an ever-warmer, ever-thirstier Earth, probably not.

Yet that laptop, or something like it, is the net result of our current AI gold rush. Wait, something like it? Yes, because vague estimates are all we have. The true cost in carbon dioxide emissions for every AI prompt — not to mention the groundwater used to cool down thousands of servers crunching those prompts — is still hidden. Researchers can paint a rough picture; Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and others could provide a more precise portrait any time they wanted.

SEE ALSO: A Google AI model is improving climate forecasting

But ever since ChatGPT launched in 2022, "there's been a general crackdown on information," says Sasha Luccioni, a 10-year veteran of AI energy usage research, a TED talk star, and currently climate lead at Hugging Face, a platform for open-source AI.

"Not a single company that offers AI tools, that I know of, provides energy usage and carbon footprint information," Luccioni says in tones of rising frustration. "We don't even know how big models like GPT are. Nothing is divulged, everything is a company secret."

In short: climate-conscious, AI-hungry companies like Google and Microsoft have become a little compartmentalized. They can tell you exactly how many kilograms of carbon your next plane flight is going to emit, but won't offer the same when it comes to your next AI-written term paper or AI-painted Pope in a puffy jacket.

Perhaps with good reason: if we knew the environmental cost of AI products, we'd start shaming each other for our flagrant usage of it.

AI makes us all dirtier

Since tech firms also still care about being seen as good environmental citizens, we do have a sense of the scale of the problem. In its 86-page 2024 sustainability report, Google revealed that its total greenhouse gas emissions shot up by 48 percent between 2019 and 2023, with the bulk of that rise coming since 2022.

Given that Google still aims to get to net zero emissions by 2030, that's not great news. Nor is Microsoft's 2024 sustainability report, which shows a 29.1 percent rise in emissions since 2020.

Both companies point the finger at third parties, specifically the ones building data centers for them. They also point out that these data centers do a lot more than just answer AI prompts, which is true and a big part of why the energy cost of AI is so nebulous.

But neither can the AI-proud companies fully deny what's driving this sudden burst of construction: data centers that are "designed and optimized to support AI workloads," in Microsoft's words.

"We have a long way to go to meet our 2030 target," the Google report admits. Given that data center energy demand is expected to grow 160 percent by 2030, that's an understatement. As a May 2024 Goldman Sachs report estimates: "the carbon dioxide emissions of data centers may more than double between 2022 and 2030."

Where should we point the finger for this rise? As Google's report puts it in this doozy of a passive-voice sentence: "Reducing emissions may be challenging due to increasing energy demands from the greater intensity of AI compute."

SEE ALSO: People are using AI to date you

To be fair to the owners of power-hungry AI models, their energy usage is probably still dwarfed by other power-hog data center technologies such as cryptocurrency, streaming apps, and online games.

But don't make that comparison to Luccioni. "That always pisses me off," she says, "because AI is not a vertical. It's a horizontal — a tool that gets used across many different verticals. Google Maps uses AI, and so do all the ads we see online, and so does precision agriculture, and so do military drones. How do you calculate what part AI plays?"

Or to put it another way: Google doesn't force you to use cryptocurrency when you do a Google search. But it has put AI search results front and center — and you can't opt out. Which means that even if you think you've never used an AI tool in your life, if you've Googled recently, you're part of the problem. (For the climate-concerned, Luccioni recommends switching to a non-AI search engine like Ecosia.)

If Google, Microsoft, and the other big generative AI players were to reveal all, how bad could it be? Good question. Guesses from experts range from pretty bad to climate disaster.

The International Energy Agency estimates, conservatively, that a single ChatGPT prompt uses nearly 3 watt-hours. Compare that to 0.3 watt-hours for a single Google search (before the company integrated AI results with Gemini, that is).

The power required to reply to hundreds of millions of ChatGPT queries each day could power 33,000 households in the U.S. alone, according to University of Washington researcher Saijad Moazeni. And that doesn't include energy consumed in the process of training every company's AI model in the first place, which is anyone's guess.

AI is incredibly thirsty

Another way to see the scale of the problem: tell-tale spikes in water usage. When OpenAI was in the final month of training its latest model, GPT-4, at a group of Microsoft data centers in West Des Moines Iowa, the company had to pump in 11.5 million gallons — or 6 percent of all the water in the whole district. West Des Moines told Microsoft not to add more data centers unless it could reduce its water usage, echoing a similar problem in Arizona and a 2021 water fight in Oregon over Google data centers.

There is good news, of course. Data center water is increasingly drawn from non-potable sources, and companies are figuring out how to use less of it in the first place. Some data centers are using special HVAC systems, which decrease water usage even as they add to the electricity bill.

But hey, how about the exponential growth in wind and solar power? Surely that can drive our AI revolution, right?

Not so fast, say researchers, who point out that it's impossible to tell whether your AI query is going to a data center in green energy-friendly Europe, coal-friendly India or oil-friendly Saudi Arabia. Even Europe isn't greening its grid fast enough to keep pace with Silicon Valley's AI obsession.

"Renewable energy is definitely growing," Sasha Luccioni says. "The problem is it's not growing fast enough to keep up with AI's growth."

Tech companies are trying to plug that gap with carbon credits, which as a recent Bloomberg investigation points out, isn't the same as taking emissions out of the atmosphere. Microsoft and Amazon rely on credits for more than 50 percent of its so-called renewable energy, the report said.

Meta is a little better, with just 18 percent of its allegedly green energy coming from carbon credits. (Luccioni also credits Meta with being a little better on the AI data disclosure front too, in part because the company currently has less skin in the AI game.)

Can AI help us be more green?

Even if AI-focused data centers were 100 percent powered by wind, solar, hydro and nuclear, that still means they're calling dibs on green power that belongs to all of us.

This isn't a theoretical debate; a conflict over Amazon dropping new data centers next to a 2.5 Gw nuclear power station in Pennsylvania, then fighting locals for the output, appears to be the first in a wave of similar legal battles now ramping up around other nuclear stations.

Are there ways in which using AI is worth such a power suck? Might AI-powered climate research actually help us model extreme weather better, maybe even help us design carbon capture solutions that could scale up fast enough to tackle global warming?

That's a possibility for sure, and one for a future story. But one thing's for sure: few of us, from Gen Z students handing in ChatGPT-written papers to boomers posting AI cat pictures on Facebook, are using AI to save our warming planet. Perhaps we'd be better off leaving this tool to the people who are.

A viral TikTok trend has rebranded bank fraud as an exploitable "Chase Bank glitch" offering unlimited money for free. Unfortunately, it seems some people couldn't smell the rot on this highly suspect scheme, seemingly prompting them to commit a crime and rack up a shocking amount of debt.

The Chase Bank "glitch" has gained widespread attention on TikTok over the past few days, though thankfully most creators are talking about how ill-advised it is rather than trying to take advantage of it. Nevertheless, several photos and videos circulating on social media show people boastfully showing off stacks of cash after apparently using this ostensible real-life money "glitch" — or panicking over bank balances now deep in the red after the error is rectified.

SEE ALSO: How to protect yourself from bank fraud

The Chase Bank money "glitch" is simple. Chase customers would write a bad cheque to themselves for an obscene amount of money, deposit it, then quickly withdraw the cash from an ATM before the bank clued into the fact that the funds didn't exist. 

This is similar to cheque kiting, a form of bank fraud that has been around for over a century. However, if there's anything we've learnt from living in a capitalist hellscape, it's that branding is everything. Simply calling bank fraud a "glitch" was apparently enough to prevent people from seeing the crime for what it was, tempting them to try it out for themselves.

Of course, because people are using their own bank accounts to do this "glitch," it should be ridiculously easy for Chase Bank to track them down.

"We are aware of this incident, and it has been addressed," Chase said in a statement shared with multiple publications. "Regardless of what you see online, depositing a fraudulent check and withdrawing the funds from your account is fraud, plain and simple."

Tweet may have been deleted

It's unclear exactly how the Chase Bank "glitch" trend began, or how many people actually tried it. It's entirely possible that people are creating fake screenshots or skits to take advantage of the viral moment, which seems more plausible than them believing they could scam the largest bank in the U.S. out of thousands and get away unscathed. We can only hope that the majority of people are just joking around, and that they didn't actually commit bank fraud based on a TikTok.

Mashable has reached out to Chase Bank for further comment.

With the cost of living soaring, many people are looking for ways to earn a bit of extra cash. As such, easy money hacks such as this Chase Bank "glitch" can seem very enticing. However, it's good to remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

America’s right flank remains the chief purveyor of misinformation, but this summer’s political tumult created ideal conditions for falsehoods to spread among progressives.

TL;DR: Live stream Badosa vs. Navarro in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Every player in the US Open quarter finals will start to genuinely believe they can win the whole thing. It's only three more games, after all.

Emma Navarro triumphed over Coco Gauff in the last round, and now finds herself up against Paula Badosa. Can the American go all the way and win at Flushing Meadows?

If you want to watch Badosa vs. Navarro in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Badosa vs. Navarro in the 2024 US Open for free

Fans can live stream the 2024 US Open for free on these platforms:

• Australia — 9Now

• New Zealand — TVNZ+

These streaming services are geo-blocked, but anyone from around the world can access these sites with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open 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 Australia or New Zealand

4. Visit 9Now or TVNZ+

5. Watch Badosa vs. Navarro in the 2024 US Open 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 top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of Badosa vs. Navarro without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every US Open match before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the US Open for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia and New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Badosa vs. Navarro in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.