- Help
- Google+
Whether you want an Apple Watch for all of the swankiest health monitoring features that Apple has to offer, or you simply want to be able to take texts and calls without having your phone in hand, there's a smartwatch for everyone's needs. Plus, with today's limited-time deals at Amazon, there's an Apple Watch for every budget, too.
This week's best Apple Watch deals: Best Apple Watch SE deal Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) $189 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Series 9 deal Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 45mm) $329 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Series 7 deal Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm) $207 at Amazon (save $322.99) Get DealToday at Amazon, you can score an Apple Watch for less than $200 when you shop today's Apple Watch SE deal. Meanwhile, you can get a totally renewed Apple Watch Series 7 (with GPS and Cellular) for over $300 off its regular list price. These deals only scratch the surface. Check out the full list below.
Best Apple Watch SE deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) $189.00 at AmazonIf you're shopping for a new Apple Watch and trying to be mindful of budget, then today's deal on the Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) offers top value. At just $189, the second-generation Apple Watch is 24% off — only $20 above its lowest price on record. The Apple Watch SE tracks your physical activity and sleep data so you can gather insights into your overall health. While it doesn't have as robust a host of features as the Series 9, it has all the essentials and it doesn't lack for safety features. It has crash and fall detection, plus it's waterproof so you don't have to worry about it failing you in a rainstorm.
Best Apple Watch Series 9 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 45mm) $329.00 at AmazonFor the full spectrum of health tracking features, opt for the Apple Watch Series 9. Today, the smartwatch is on sale for $100 off, bringing the price down to $329. Like the SE, it's only $20 above its lowest-ever price, making this a good time to buy. With the Series 9, you can take your own ECG and receive notifications whenever you have an irregular heart rhythm. It even has features that help you track your emotions and mental state, so you can build more mindfulness and resiliency. On top of the health features, the Apple Watch Series 9 boasts a brighter display and the ability to interact with your watch without having to touch its screen.
Best Apple Watch Series 7 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm) $207.00 at AmazonWith both GPS and cellular connectivity, this Apple Watch has a higher listing price. However, today's limited-time deal saves shoppers $322.99. That's 61% off the Apple Watch Series 7. This watch has officially been renewed by Amazon, which means it has been inspected, tested, and refurbished to be fully functional as if it were bought new. Like the Series 9, it offers health tracking features for your heart and emergency safety tools.
More Apple Watch deals:Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm) — $329 $429 (save $100)
Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm) — $299 $399 (save $100)
Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) — $239 $299 (save $60)
Renewed Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) — $137 $145 (save $8)
Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS, 41mm) — $335.49 $399 (save $63.51)
Not to be dramatic, but my robot vacuum is the best purchase I’ve ever made. With two beagles and a never-ending battle against pet hair, dirt, and dog food lodged into the side of my couch cushions (guess they’re saving those pieces for later), I honestly don’t know how I was getting on before.
SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The guide to deciding which Roomba to buy (2024)Whether you’re a pet parent like me or just want to keep your floors clean without having to lug out an upright vacuum every day, a good robot vacuum can make all the difference.
Here are our top picks for the best robot vacuum deals this week:
Best iRobot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Our pick: iRobot Roomba j9+ $999.00 at AmazonThe Roomba Combo j9+ is one of our favorite iRobot vacuums on the market right now, but it’s kind of expensive at its regular price. This week, however, it’s $400 off at Amazon and Best Buy.
This Roomba vacuum and mop combo has three levels of suction power and an automatic Carpet Boost to make sure your carpets are getting a deep clean. The Auto-Fill Dock automatically empties the dustbag and refills the mop tank, and the Auto-Retract Mopping System automatically lifts the mop when it's not in use to avoid leaving water marks.
What’s even cooler about this little gadget is that it’s smart enough to mop the bathrooms last to avoid spreading germs to other rooms.
Read our full review of the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+.
More iRobot vacuum dealsiRobot Roomba Q011 — $169.99 $249.99 (save $80)
iRobot Roomba 692 — $259 $285 (save $26)
iRobot Roomba j5 — $299 $599.99 (save $300.99)
iRobot Roomba j7+ — $534.94 $799.99 (save $265.05)
The Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop combo is a Mashable Choice winner, and it's on sale this week, too. For just $149.99, you can snag one of the best hybrid robot vacuum and mop models we’ve tested. (It’s at its lowest price ever, according to CamelCamelCamel.)
The Sonic Mopping scrubs hard floors 100 times per minute, while the Matrix Mop feature (via the app) targets spills and stains for an extra-deep clean. Its LiDAR vision system maps your home so you can clean the rooms you want and avoid the ones you don't. This particular model doesn’t come with a self-emptying base, but even without it, this is still a really good deal. (With the base, it's $429.99.)
Our reviewer Timothy Werth called this robot vacuum “absolutely one of the best robot vacuums for sale in 2023,” and we’re still impressed a year later.
Read our full review of the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1.
More Shark robot vacuum dealsShark ION — $149.99 $229.99 (save $80)
Shark AI Ultra — $349.99 $599 (save $249.01)
Shark EZ — $445 $499.99 (save $54.99)
The Roborock Q7 Max+, an $869 vacuum, is currently on sale for $379.99 at Amazon (that's a $490 discount). This is the lowest price we’ve seen on this model since July 2023.
This robot vacuum and mop combo comes with a self-emptying base, so you can go up to seven weeks without having to touch the dustbin. It also has an all-rubber brush that's great for pet hair and won't get tangled. Plus, its battery lasts for up to 180 minutes on a single charge.
More Roborock robot vacuum dealsRoborock Q8 Max — $319.99 $599.99 (save $280)
Roborock Roborock S8 Pro Ultra — $419.99 $699.99 (save $280 with on-screen coupon)
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra — $949.99 $1,599.99 (save $650)
SAVE 43%: This week find major markdowns on headphones including the Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones for $198. That's 43% off for $150 in savings.
Best headphone deals Best headphone deal Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones $198 at Amazon (Save $150) Get Deal Best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort headphones $249 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal Best earbud deal JBL Tune Flex earbuds $49.95 at Amazon (Save $50) Get DealA new week brings a fresh round of deals that are guaranteed not to last. Last week, we saw AirPods Max dip just $5 above their lowest price ever, and while that deal is no longer live, it has made room for new sales. Ahead of back-to-school season, browse all the deals on headphones including Sony's exceptional noise-cancelling headphones for under $200.
This week, we've spotted deals the lowest price ever on headphones and earbuds from Sony, Bose, and more. Here are the best deals of the week.
Best headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones $198.00 at AmazonHaving tested the Sony WH-1000XM5 here at Mashable, we're thoroughly impressed by the brand's flagship headphones. And while they are fantastic, they're only a slight upgrade over the previous WH-1000XM4, which are currently on sale for $198.
Down to their lowest price ever, this deal on the Sony WH-1000XM4 is hard to beat. You'll save $150 for 43% savings, and get exceptional sound quality. While we haven't officially tested them at Mashable, our sibling publication, PC Mag, has and they note that it strikes the perfect combination of noise cancellation and audio quality.
Now that they're under $200, it's hard to find a better pair of headphones at a lower price.
More headphone and earbud dealsSoundcore by Anker A20i earbuds — $18.98 $29.99 (save $11.01)
JBL Vibe Beam earbuds — $29.95 $49.95 (save $20)
JBL Tune Flex earbuds — $49.95 $99.95 (save $50)
Soundcore by Anker P40i earbuds — $49.99 $69.99 (save $20)
Skullcandy Hesh Evo headphones — $59.88 $104.99 (save $45.11)
Sony LinkBuds S earbuds — $128 $199.99 (save $71.99)
Beats Solo4 headphones with 2 years of AppleCare+ — $153.95 $228.95 (save $75)
Beats Studio Pro headphones — $179.99 $349.99 (save $170)
Beats Powerbeats Pro with 2 years of AppleCare+ — $188.95 $278.95 (save $90)
Bose QuietComfort headphones — $249 $349 (save $100)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds — $249 $299 (save $50)
It's a tale as old as time: boy directs movie adaptation of best-selling novel, boy hires girl to play lead role, boy and girl have creative differences, boy and girl promote the movie together while pretending the other one doesn't exist.
That's a simple summation of the perceived drama brewing between It Ends With Us leads Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. The pair have been attending premiers of the movie — which opened this weekend — separately and rumors are swirling about how the stars went from playing lovers in the movie to avoiding each other IRL.
What is It Ends With Us?It Ends With Us is a movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 2016 No. 1 New York Times best-selling novel of the same name. The novel follows Lily Bloom, a florist, and her romantic relationship with Ryle Kincaid, who becomes physically and sexually abusive. The story is loosely based on Hoover's own mother. In 2020, Baldoni first announced he'd be developing and directing the film, and in 2023, in a video posted to Instagram, Hoover announced that Blake Lively would play the lead role of Bloom and Baldoni would play Kincaid.
The movie began production in May 2023 and opened Aug. 9. Lively is a co-producer on the film.
Why are Baldoni and Lively supposedly at odds?The Hollywood Reporter says it spoke to sources who reported that there had been "a fracture among the filmmakers in the postproduction process" that led Lively to commission a cut of the movie from editor Shane Reid, who worked with her on Taylor Swift’s "I Bet You Think About Me" music video. But other sources that The Hollywood Reporter spoke with said it was no uncommon for a film to have multiple edits made in post-production.
Still, online sleuths say they've found several forms of evidence to back up the rumored bad blood between co-stars. For example, none of the cast follows Baldoni on Instagram. (As of publishing, Baldoni follows Hoover, Lively, and It Ends With Us actress Jenny Slate on Instagram. None of the three women follow him back).
Baldoni has also not appeared in any of the film's red carpet photos with Lively, Hoover, or the rest of the cast, instead opting to walk the carpet on his own or with his wife.
In one red carpet interview, Slate dodged a question about what it was like to work with Baldoni as both a director and scene partner, telling Deadline, "What an intense job, to have to do so many things. I just felt myself being like, 'Wow I really just want to have one job at once.'"
Tweet may have been deletedSome have speculated that a creative power struggle is to blame for the awkwardness, especially after Lively told E! News that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, stepped in to help write a pivotal scene from the movie despite not having any formal involvement in its development. Reynolds has also participated in the movie's promotion, bringing Deadpool & Wolverine co-star Hugh Jackman to the New York City premiere of It Ends With Us and interviewing one of Lively's character's love interests (notably, not Baldoni).
On Aug. 9, Page Six reported that, according to insider sources, Baldoni made Lively feel "uncomfortable" about her postpartum body during filming and created an "extremely difficult" workplace environment on set.
What have Baldoni and Lively said about each other?Lively has been pretty quiet about her thoughts on working with Baldoni, opting instead to praise the support of her husband throughout production. But, like Slate, she chose to dodge a question posed to her Yahoo Entertainment about working with Baldoni, talking instead about the character of Ryle and Hoover's depiction of him in the novel.
Baldoni, for his part, has been publicly gracious about Lively and hubby Reynolds, telling Today, "You can’t summarize Blake’s contribution in a sentence because her energy and imprint is all over the movie and really, really made the film better, and from beginning to end. Ryan (Reynolds) was so generous... he’s a creative genius... His gift is levity, and her gift is levity." When asked if he would work with the pair again, he said, "If they’d have me."
Earlier this week, Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight that, when it comes to directing the sequel It Starts with Us, "I think there are better people for that one. I think Blake Lively is ready to direct."
What else is the film under fire for?The film's team, including Lively, have been criticized for their light-hearted promotion of what is ultimately a depiction of domestic violence. Lively has used the film to promote her brand Betty Buzz by selling "Betty Blooms," a limited series of bouquets housed in Betty Buzz bottles, as a tie-in to her character's love for flowers. Lively's red carpet and street styles have taken inspiration from the character, too; Lively has consistently stepped out in colorful, floral, frilly dresses befitting the interests of her character, yes, but perhaps not the seriousness of the role.
These choices have been part of what Rolling Stone's CT Jones calls a "glossy marketing campaign is proving that Hollywood hasn’t found a respectful way to market movies about domestic violence." Instead, "It’s prioritized selling a romance by covering up the themes of abuse at almost every opportunity."
TL;DR: The Undetectable Humanizer Pro Plan can transform AI-generated content to sound more human for a one-time payment of $139.99.
AI-generated content is everywhere, but it often lacks the nuance and overall feel of human writing. Undetectable Humanizer bridges this gap by transforming AI-generated text into engaging, human-like content. This tool can help your content stand out, whether it's for a blog post, essay, or social media update, potentially boosting your SEO and increasing engagement and conversions.
Pay only once for lifetime access to Undetectable Humanizer with this deal on a Pro Plan for $139.99.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/K-QGDlT2Y38
Using the Undetectable Humanizer is simple. Just input your AI-generated content, select the desired tone and style, and let the tool work its magic. Within seconds, you'll have polished, humanized content ready to captivate your audience. Whether you’re crafting a persuasive blog post, an insightful essay, or a catchy social media caption, this tool adapts to various content types effortlessly.
The benefits of humanized content are plentiful. By improving the readability and relatability of your text, you'll not only engage your audience more effectively, but also possibly enhance your site's SEO performance. Search engines tend to favor content that keeps readers on the page, and the Undetectable Humanizer helps you hit the mark.
This lifetime subscription is a one-time investment in making your AI-generated content more impactful and authentic. With the Undetectable Humanizer, your content will no longer feel robotic—it's your secret weapon for creating content that truly connects.
For a limited time, get a lifetime subscription to an Undetectable Humanizer Pro Plan on sale for $139.99.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Evaris Media Undetectable Humanizer: Lifetime Subscription (Pro Plan) $139.99 at The Mashable ShopTL;DR: Score a subscription to Norton 360 Standard 2024 for $17.99 and enjoy 15 months of premium security and performance.
Ready to take control of your online security? Norton 360 Standard 2024 is here to provide you with 15 months of reliable protection for only $17.99, so you can browse with confidence. Whether you’re streaming, working, or just catching up on emails, Norton’s comprehensive security suite helps keep your device safe from malware, phishing, and other digital threats.
With a fast VPN service, you can browse securely and privately. Its password manager keeps your login details organized and easily accessible, making online life simpler. Plus, the secure cloud backup acts like a digital vault for your important files, ensuring they're always safe and sound.
Stay one step ahead of the digital curve with Norton’s automatic updates and dark web monitoring, ensuring you’re always protected without lifting a finger. Whether you're streaming, gaming, or working, Norton 360 Standard ensures your digital experience is smooth and worry-free.
Get Norton 360 Standard 2024 with automatic renewal for just $17.99 for a limited time and enjoy 15 months of unbeatable digital protection.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Norton 360 Standard | 1 Device (2024 Ready) | 15-Month Subscription with Auto Renewal $17.99 at The Mashable ShopTL;DR: Through September 3, get a Hushed Private Phone Line Plan for $24.99 with promo code SAVENOW and enjoy lifetime access to private calls and texts.
Need an extra layer of privacy? The Hushed Private Phone Line Plan lets you make private calls and send texts from a second phone number, perfect for managing personal and business communications. Ideal for freelancers, small business owners, or anyone looking to keep their primary number hidden, this app gives you the freedom to juggle multiple numbers with ease.
For just $19.99 with coupon code SAVENOW until September 3, you'll get lifetime access to a private phone line, 1,000 minutes of talk time, and 6,000 text messages.
Choose from hundreds of area codes across the US and Canada to create a number that suits your needs. This app simplifies communication by allowing you to manage everything from a single interface, and it provides lifetime access to one number per account. You can even customize your voicemail and set up call forwarding to ensure you never miss an important call, giving you the flexibility and privacy to keep your primary number under wraps.
Privacy is the name of the game with Hushed. Use it to separate work and personal life, or even to keep your online interactions anonymous. The app's clean interface and user-friendly features make it simple to switch between numbers without missing a beat.
Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a second phone number and keep your primary line reserved for those who matter most.
Take control of your privacy and streamline your communication with this lifetime subscription to a Hushed Private Phone Line Plan, on sale for $24.99 when you enter code SAVENOW at checkout.
Looking for more privacy-related deals? Check them out here.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click Hushed Private Phone Line: Lifetime Virtual Number Subscription $24.99 at The Mashable ShopTL;DR: Save 52% with this back-to-school MacBook deal: Get a Refurbished Pro model with an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.
Think these refurbished MacBook deals are too good to be true? We don’t blame you. After all, it seems unlikely that you can get an Apple MacBook Pro for under $500. But the truth is, you just have to set your expectations realistically.
For example, this 2017 MacBook Pro won’t perform as well as brand-new models with the latest Apple silicon, but you might not need top-of-the-line performance for your school or creative projects. Plus, it’s only $429.99, compared to prices for new MacBook Pros starting at $1,599 on Apple’s website (yeah, yikes). And we have them in space gray and silver.
This MacBook Pro has an Intel Core i7 and 16GB of RAM to support demanding programs and apps. Creatives can run Adobe apps, coders might open Microsoft Visual Studio, and gamers will love playing online.
A 15.4-inch Retina display is also easier on your eyes in terms of size and aesthetics, and you’ll get the interactive Touch Bar with shortcuts that change with each app you open. This also has Touch ID for logging into your laptop or paying via Apple Pay using your fingerprint.
Refurbished devices won’t always look brand-new — but this grade “A” MacBook Pro isn’t far from it. You can expect near-mint condition and light signs of wear. We should also note that older devices eventually stop receiving OS support from Apple. This MacBook Pro cannot upgrade past macOS Ventura, but its most recent update was July 2024, so you’re set for the foreseeable future.
If the pros (catch that pun?) outweigh the cons for you, grab one of these 2017 refurbished MacBook Pros for $429.99 (reg. $899) — an impressive 52% discount — while supplies last. These refurbished models are limited in inventory, so jump on this back-to-school MacBook deal while you still can.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 15.4-inch, 2017 (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Refurbished) $429.99 at The Mashable ShopGrowing up in Thailand, Sam Soar immersed herself in comics that fueled her imagination. One series, in particular, captivated her. It was "about a family that is so hardcore about saving money that they would do anything possible," she shared with Mashable. "They rent a one-bedroom apartment, and all sleep in one room, so they only have to turn on one [air conditioner], and they'll go around the shopping centers putting all the trolleys back to get the coins."
Inspired by these stories, Soar found her own inventive ways to earn and save money, like growing vegetables and cycling around town to sell them.
We discussed this over coffee on the second floor of Waterstones Piccadilly in London. The city was in the middle of a heat wave, and the bookstore — with its air conditioning and eight sprawling floors, six of which are dedicated to books — was bustling. But it’s not Soar’s favorite. While Waterstones is a well-known retailer, she gravitates toward the charm and community of small businesses, something evident in her TikTok content, where she highlights local gems like Round Table Books.
But she humored me, a tourist eager to see the biggest bookstore in Europe. Remarkably, her vibe is exactly what you'd expect: warm, giddy, and thoughtful. As a micro-influencer with roughly 51,300 followers on TikTok, Soar has found what some might call a sweet spot in the world of influencing. She doesn’t have enough to quit her day job — though she’s perfectly happy with that — but she has enough of an audience to cultivate a sense of community with her followers and fellow BookTokkers. The pressure to post is there, but not so overwhelming that it takes away the joy. Plus, she gets to enjoy one of the perks of her passion: free books from publishers, which she reviews on her page — a fitting benefit for someone raised on comics about frugality.
Free books were one of the main reasons she started book blogging at just 11 years old. After moving to the UK when she was young, she launched her own blog, Sam Falling Books.
"Back then, when I had a blog, the community around that was so cute," she said. "There would be blog tours, and the bloggers would become friends."
Blogs, at the time, offered a kind of refuge. While some bloggers made it bigger than others, the blogging community felt safer and more intimate than other social media spaces. Soar didn’t want to put her face online because, as she admits, she was "so scared and embarrassed" — understandable for an 11-year-old. Blogs provided the perfect solution: a static, personal space without algorithms or the pressure of today's content-driven culture. It was just her, other like-minded people, and the books they loved.
Soar's passion for reading led her to spend countless hours borrowing books from the library, but there was one downside — the wait. Often, she found herself stuck on waiting lists, hoping the person ahead of her would return the book she was eager to read. Rather than wait, she took matters into her own hands and began emailing publishers directly: "My name is Sam, and I am a UK teenager who loves book blogging! I was wondering if you had any review copies of [insert book name here] that I could review."
And it worked.
"I'm so proud of my blog," she said, laughing. "I got so many free books."
When she went off to university, her book blog fell by the wayside. But eventually, she noticed the buzz around BookTok and decided to jump back in.
SEE ALSO: Drew Afualo is more vulnerable than ever in her debut book 'Loud'"I saw everyone, and I was like, 'Oh, people are just like normal readers who post,'" she said. "You could have your face in it, but you didn't have to have your face in it. People are just recommending books. And I thought, There are lots of recommendations that I'd love to throw on this list. My only wish is that I'd started earlier."
Her success in obtaining the books she wanted sparked another consideration: the implications of overconsumption in the literary world. There's a growing trend where people want to be seen as readers, whether they actually are or not. Every celebrity has a book club, and the aesthetic of a well-stocked bookshelf is gaining noxious traction online, reminiscent of trendy decor styles like "coastal grandmother" or "Nancy Meyers core." It's not that people should read less or even buy fewer books, but when piles of unread books start accumulating in a corner of your apartment, it might be time to rethink how — and why — you got there. BookTok, with its focus on the latest editions and special releases, only amplifies this consumption.
"When I was younger, I couldn't afford books," Soar said. "I would just borrow from the library and hustle the publishers. To have people showing these massive book hauls with 20 or even 30 books and seeing that as a young person, you might think you have to have all of those books to be a real reader. I'm becoming more wary of that."
That doesn't mean Soar is entirely immune to the temptation of book collecting. She admits to feeling "a little bit of shame" when she looks at her overflowing shelves. For now, she's focused on buying less and tackling the growing stack of books on her TBR (to-be-read) shelf.
Beyond her reflections on overconsumption, Soar uses her platform to engage with important causes. She has posted about Operation Olive Branch, a grassroots collective that amplifies Palestinian voices and supports their needs. She’s also part of a group chat called "BookTok Union," where about 60 creators come together to support each other, discuss upcoming events, and share insights on how much to charge for sponsored posts.
For the most part, BookTok is just fun for Soar. She reads a lot of fantasy and romance, shares reviews, posts videos of her emotional reactions to the material, and highlights her favorite quotes for her audience of fellow bookworms. She started her page with the hope of reading more, and that's exactly what her account has allowed her to do.
She's still learning to balance collecting and consuming, but she remains driven by the same passion that started it all — a genuine love for stories.
CrowdStrike has accepted the 2024 Pwnie Award for Most Epic Fail, with president Michael Sentonas delivering an acceptance speech in person. Sometimes the best course of action is to simply suck it up, admit your mistakes, and take the L.
This year's Pwnie Awards Ceremony was held on Saturday at the DEF CON hacker convention in Las Vegas. Now in its 17th year, the Pwnie Awards recognises some of the most outstanding achievements in technology security over the past year — as well as the greatest failures.
SEE ALSO: CrowdStrike outage 3 days later: Where does everything stand now?As such, it was obvious that CrowdStrike would take home an award this year. Over 8.5 million Windows computers went down in July after the cybersecurity company pushed out an update to its software, bringing numerous companies and services across the world to a sudden halt. Businesses impacted included banks, airlines, mail carriers, supermarkets, and telecommunications companies.
The CrowdStrike outage was a massive global event, which has now been recognised with a massive Pwnie Award trophy. The two-tiered trophy awarded to CrowdStrike dwarfed the smaller pony-shaped ones for other categories, as befitting the eclipsing size of its blunder.
Tweet may have been deleted"Definitely not the award to be proud of receiving," Sentonas said in his acceptance speech, taking the stage to laughter and applause. "I think the team was surprised when I said straight away that I'd be coming to get it. We got this horribly wrong, we've said that a number of different times. It's super important to own it when you do things well, it's super important to own it when you do things horribly wrong, which we did in this case."
Accepting the large golden trophy, Sentonas stated that he intended to display it at CrowdStrike's headquarters in Austin, Texas. His hope is that it will serve as a reminder to CrowdStrike's staff to prevent such mistakes from happening in the future.
"The reason why I wanted the trophy is I'm heading back to headquarters," Sentosas continued. "I'm gonna take the trophy with me, it's gonna sit pride of place, because I want every CrowdStriker who comes to work to see it. Because our goal is to protect people, and we got this wrong, and I want to make sure that everybody understands these things can't happen, and that's what this community's about. So from that perspective I will say thank you."
Sentonas' in-person acceptance of CrowdStrike's Pwnie Award was widely well-received, with social media users praising him for accepting accountability with humility, class, and good humour.
CrowdStrike was the sole contender for 2024's Most Epic Fail Pwnie AwardThough CrowdStrike's Most Epic Fail trophy was only awarded this weekend, its win had already been announced alongside the Pwnie Award nominations in late July. This was within mere days of the infamous global outage that took down numerous companies and services worldwide.
In a post to X at the time, the Pwnie Awards stated that it was granting the early award due to "extenuating circumstances." Said circumstance was likely the fact that CrowdStrike's fail was so epic that no one was likely to match it unless they deliberately tried. Even then, it would still be a difficult task.
Tweet may have been deletedWhile all other categories at the 2024 Pwnie Awards had three finalists, CrowdStrike had no competition for the' Epic Fail Award. Instead, nominee details for the category simply read, "Lol. Lmao even."
"This award is for the defenders who dared to wonder, 'What could possibly go wrong?'" reads the Pwnie Awards' description of its Most Epic Fail Award. "This award will honor a person or corporate entity’s spectacularly epic fail – the kind of fail that lets the entire infosec industry down in its wake. It can be a singular incident, marketing piece, or investment – or a smoldering trail of whale-scale fail."
Last year's Most Epic Fail winner was the Transport Security Administration (TSA), after a hacker discovered their no-fly list on an unsecured server. Though at least the TSA can say its mistake didn't take out IT systems across the globe.
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: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 12 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 12Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, August 12, 2024:
AcrossThrows in the mixThe answer is Adds.
The answer is Flora.
The answer is Apron.
The answer is KHive.
The answer is Ease.
The answer is Alpha.
The answer is Doris.
The answer is Drove.
The answer is Sane.
The answer is Fake.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
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.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 12 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 12If 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.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Everybody cut footloose!The hint for the theme is they are great for TikTok.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe answers are related to different dances.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is DanceMoves.
NYT Strands word list for August 12Floss
DanceMoves
Twerk
Moonwalk
Vogue
Hustle
Pirouette
Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.
TL;DR: Now through Sept. 3, you can get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus for Windows or Mac (2019), on sale for only £19.61 (reg. £178.86)
With what seems like an endless list of monthly subscription charges on your credit card, you could use a break. Students and professionals alike can benefit from productivity software they don't have to pay for more than once. Now, you can take advantage of this lifetime deal on a Microsoft Office 2019 suite, which is discounted to just £19.61 for a limited time. You can grab this lifetime device license for both Windows and Mac devices.
The MS Office 2019 suite includes productivity favourites like:
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Outlook
OneNote
Publisher
Access
It may not be the newest version, but all the tools you know and love are included, plus some exciting features like enhanced inking in all Office programs, new analysis functions in Excel, new presentation components in PowerPoint, and updated features in Outlook to manage emails and contacts.
This one-time purchase includes updates, as well as free customer support for life. Once you make your purchase, you'll receive a redemption code via email, which you'll need to redeem within 30 days to access your MS Office suite download. Once MS Office is set up on your device, the license will never expire — no monthly or annual subscription fees required.
Until Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT, score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for only £19.61.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows or Mac £19.61 at The Mashable ShopOh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 12's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 11 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 11 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A small vessel perfect for calm, shallow waters.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter F appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
SKIFF.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 12's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 12 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Metals
Green: Beds
Blue: Toilet slang
Purple: Types of Knives
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Metal Elements
Green: Mattress Sizes
Blue: Slang for Toilet
Purple: Kinds of Knives
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #428 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayMetal Elements: GOLD, LEAD, MERCURY, TIN
Mattress Sizes: FULL, KING, QUEEN, TWIN
Slang for Toilet: CAN, HEAD, JOHN, THRONE
Kinds of Knives: BOWIE, BUTCHER, BUTTER, BUTTERFLY
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Never has the county, perhaps, felt more united than while watching Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry absolutely dog on the French men's basketball team during the gold medal final of the Paris Olympics. In the annals of historic moments in US history, Curry's four straight three-point shots against France should be hung on a wall next to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Moon Landing.
As Team USA basketball edged out France 98-87 on Saturday, users on X (formerly Twitter) let their American spirit be known to the world.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedLet's not forget that the women's USA basketball team also won gold in Paris, also against the French, but in a way more dramatic fashion. Team USA won by the skin of their teeth as France guard Gabby Williams banked a game-tying shot — except her foot was on the line, meaning France lost by 1.
Naturally, the discussion of women's basketball's Olympic victory shifted to WNBA star Caitlin Clark, who was not selected to be on Team USA, because social media refuses to be normal about women's basketball.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedAs the Paris Olympics mark their end, it was a generationally triumphant moment for Curry, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and the rest of Team USA basketball.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThe 2024 Olympics may end, but Paris still has one more show: the closing ceremony.
On top of featuring French bands like Air and Phoenix, the closing ceremony will also see Paris hand its Olympic hosting duties off to Los Angeles, where the 2028 summer games will take place. Expect to see an aerial stunt from Tom Cruise in the LA-themed portion of the ceremony, as well as musical performances by Billie Eilish, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Snoop Dogg (who's been the ultimate Olympic hype man).
Here's how to watch the spectacle live:
SEE ALSO: Iconic moments from the 2024 Olympics: Our running list When is the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony?The closing ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics kicks off at 3:00 pm ET.
Unlike the opening ceremony, which took the Olympians on a trip down the Seine, these closing ceremonies will take place at the Stade de France.
Where can I watch the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony?You can live stream the closing ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games on Peacock, the Peacock app, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, and the NBC app.
If you miss the action live, you can catch the replay of the closing ceremony on Peacock, or during prime-time coverage on NBC.
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...
Boston's most important responders: Bostonians The people of Boston are to be congratulated for being...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
Digital Privacy: A Catch 22 Mobility, convenience, accessibility and real-...
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...