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TL;DR: Through September 3, save 40% on a refurbished, 6th generation Apple iPad (32 GB, WiFi) — on sale for $149.97 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 9.7-inch Apple iPad, 6th Gen (32GB, WiFi) + Accessories Bundle $149.97 at The Mashable Shop
$249.99 Save $100.02 Refurbished Get Deal

Looking to get Apple tech for less? To anyone looking for a brand-new item off the shelves, that is nearly impossible. But with refurbished products, you can save a pretty penny with an iPad that looks and functions just like new.

Through September 3, save 40% on a refurbished, 6th generation Apple iPad (32 GB, WiFi) — on sale for $149.97 (reg. $249.99).

This refurbished iPad and accessories bundle gives you the Apple experience without the hefty price tag. Enjoy all the features of a lightweight, like-new iPad perfect for streaming, browsing, and getting stuff done on the go. It also comes with charging accessories, a case, a screen protector, and a stylus.

The "A" refurbished rating means your iPad arrives in near-mint condition with minimal to no scuffing on the case, so it looks and feels like new. It’s an excellent pick for students, busy professionals, or anyone needing a reliable tablet for daily tasks. The iPad’s powerful performance makes it great for multitasking, gaming, and streaming your favorite shows and movies.

Whether you’re taking notes in class, catching up on emails, or unwinding with a movie, this iPad bundle can get the job done. It’s also a great travel companion; it's lightweight and easy to pack, so you can bring it anywhere.

Upgrade your tech game with this fantastic deal and enjoy the seamless Apple experience without breaking the bank.

Until September 3, check out this refurbished 6th-generation Apple iPad and accessories bundle on sale for $149.97 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Through August 11, get a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning for just $139.97 (reg. $599).

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $139.97 at The Mashable Shop
$599.00 Save $459.03 Get Deal

If you're juggling a busy schedule but still dream of speaking a new language — whether it's in preparation for your next trip, to boost your résumé, or just for fun — Babbel is your go-to solution.

For just $139.97 through August 11, you'll get lifetime access to every language Babbel offers — which also means no annoying recurring costs to worry about every month. Babbel uses smart technology like speech recognition and adaptive learning to give you lessons that fit your vibe and pace, making each session feel personal and efficient.

Babbel’s strength lies in its practical approach to teaching languages. You'll learn to order a café au lait in Paris or impress a client in Berlin with ease. The app focuses on real-world conversation skills, helping you sound like a native speaker, and its speech recognition tech is like having a personal coach, helping you nail that tricky accent.

For those constantly on the move, Babbel offers quick lessons that fit right into your day. Whether you're on a coffee break or in between meetings, you can dive into a 10- to 15-minute lesson that’s just right for your schedule. The interactive app learns with you, making sure every session is engaging and never boring.

Join the fun and see why Babbel is the favorite for language learners everywhere. With its tech-powered approach, learning a new language has never been this enjoyable or accessible.

Regularly $599, act fast and get a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning for $139.97 until August 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

We knew it was coming, but Disney+ is actually, really going to start cracking down on users sharing passwords next month.

Disney's streaming service started rolling out its focused shutdown on password sharing in the U.S. in February, but the company specified in April it would really ramp this up in June in "just a few countries", then roll out to all paying subscribers in September. The company first announced account sharing restrictions in August 2023.

In a Q3 earnings call Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed Disney+'s password sharing crackdown "kicks in, in earnest, in September."

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

We still don't have any information about how much shared Disney+ accounts will cost. Disney's Subscriber Agreement, updated in September 2023, says "additional usage rules may apply for certain Service Plans," but the current Disney+ pricing page doesn't have any further details on how much users might have to pay to add extra users outside the household.

Once the crackdown rolls out, you won't be able to share your Disney+ subscription outside of your household, defined by Disney's Subscriber Agreement as "the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein." Disney's agreement says the company "may limit or terminate access" to your account if you're caught sharing.

Disney is also hiking prices for its streaming services including Disney+ from Oct. 17, with the company burying the announcement in a blog post on Tuesday.

Disney+'s crackdown follows Netflix's crackdown on password sharing last April, and similar moves by Hulu and Max. If you want to share streaming accounts nowadays, you've got to pay.

A pair of U.S. astronauts who test-piloted a new Boeing spaceship in June may not fly home on the craft they rode in on. 

While Boeing has conducted a variety of tests in space and on the ground to try to better understand problems with its Starliner capsule, now docked at the International Space Station, NASA apparently has been busy making contingency plans for an alternative way to bring Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 61, and Sunita "Suni" Williams, 58, back to Earth. 

NASA officials said they would decide whether the two would return on Starliner or Boeing's competitor, SpaceX's Dragon capsule, by mid-August. That possible shift in plans, announced during a call with reporters on Wednesday, comes after two months of the agency insisting it wasn't entertaining the idea of changing horses — or, rather, spacecraft — in midstream.

If NASA chooses to use SpaceX for Wilmore and Williams' return voyage, they would remain at the space station for at least another six or seven months. That would extend their originally planned eight-day visit to a nine-month layover and would have a cascading effect on the crew lineups for future expeditions. 

"I want to reiterate we haven't made a decision yet," said Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager. 

SEE ALSO: Here's the real deal with Boeing's Starliner right now Tweet may have been deleted

Clues that NASA was making changes emerged one day earlier when the space agency announced through a blog post that it would be postponing its next crew launch to the space station for more "flexibility" in the schedule. That SpaceX flight, originally slated to bring four people to the station this month, will now launch no earlier than Sept. 24.  

If NASA chooses to send Starliner's test pilots back with SpaceX, the decision would reduce the upcoming September launch to carrying just two passengers instead of four. It would also cut short Boeing's first human spaceflight test for Starliner, making the path forward for the spacecraft to become operational unclear. 

Wilmore and Williams reached the space station on June 6, despite encountering problems with Starliner's propulsion system right before docking. The issues involved helium leaks and weak thrust, apparently the result of five of the 28 thrusters malfunctioning. The thrusters are necessary for controlling and handling the ship in space. 

Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams have been in limbo on the International Space Station since June, while NASA and Boeing work on problems with the Starliner spacecraft they flew. Credit: NASA

The team has since reactivated all but one of the faulty thrusters. Boeing has continued to run tests to try to diagnose the problems and says Starliner has more than enough helium, which is used to pressurize the thrusters, to get back home. 

But one of the thruster tests conducted on a replica back on Earth revealed an issue with a Teflon seal, about the size of a pinky finger, that may be swelling and shrinking, causing a blockage in the flow of propellant.

"If we could replicate the physics in some offline testing to understand why this (seal) is heating up and extruding, and then why it's contracting, that would give us additional confidence to move forward," Stich said. 

Two NASA test pilots reached the space station in the Starliner spaceship on June 6, 2024, despite encountering problems with its propulsion system right before docking. Credit: NASA

NASA did not include representatives of SpaceX or Boeing on the media call Wednesday. In its own blog post, Boeing has said it is confident that Starliner can bring the astronauts home safely. 

NASA hired both Boeing and SpaceX to build spacecraft to ferry astronauts back and forth to the space station a decade ago. After the agency retired the Space Shuttle in 2011, it had to pay Russia millions of dollars to get seats for U.S. astronauts on Soyuz rockets. The goal was to establish a commercial space taxi industry in the United States so that wasn't necessary. 

Though SpaceX has built and run its Dragon spaceship since 2020, Boeing's Starliner has yet to pass the testing phase. 

I like to consider myself to be a skeptic when it comes to viral gadgets. I love scrolling TikTok, and I’m definitely a sucker for an aesthetic video, but I’ve tried countless TiKTok gadgets in the past — some which passed the test (like my much-beloved Solawave skincare wand) while others have flopped pretty dang hard. With TikTok Shop greatly increasing the number of products on my FYP, however, my standards for a wow-worthy product have only gone up. 

Usually, that means I’m the person who obsessively scours reviews prior to purchasing a product — and waiting for the hype to die down so I don’t end up with yet another gadget I barely use — but the instant I saw Logitech’s Casa Pop-Up Desk on TikTok, I knew I needed to try it out ASAP. 

What is the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk?

Billed as the ultimate work-from-home kit, Logitech’s Casa Pop-Up Desk is finally available in North America — and it’s easy to understand the hype. The bento-esque foldaway kit includes the Casa Keys wireless keyboard, Casa Touch wireless trackpad, and an ergonomic laptop stand — which conveniently folds into a beautiful storage case that holds all of your gear and fits easily into a backpack or laptop bag. 

The laptop stand, keyboard, and trackpad all fold up into one small carrying case. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

Compatible with most laptops and tablets ranging from 10 inches to 17 inches, including operating systems like Windows, macOS, iPadOS, and ChromeOS, the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk is smart, sleek, and stylish…and sports some impressive specs. The Casa Keys and Casa Touch both hold an impressively long battery life, with a five-month battery life for the wireless keyboard and a three-week battery life on the touchpad. Plus, thanks to Logitech’s Logi Options+ App, it’s easy to customize your experience — meaning even Mac users can access some of the same gestures on the Casa Touch.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops we've tested and reviewed First impressions of the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk

Let’s be real — the Casa Pop-Up Desk is super pretty. It’s probably one of the more aesthetically pleasing products I’ve tried in the last few years, and Logitech didn’t disappoint in the visuals department. While there are three colors available, I received the unit in bohemian blush — a subtle, rosy pink — and I was pleased to discover that it looks soft and understated rather than garishly loud like many pink products. The recycled plastic material and certified carbon-neutral packaging offer a nice sustainable touch, and I was pleased to discover that the Casa Pop-Up desk looked great while also feeling great. It’s sturdy without being too thick, and it’s lightweight without feeling cheap or breakable.

The Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk folded up. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable The inside of the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable The Casa Pop-Up Desk is super user-friendly

Using the Casa Pop-Up Desk is incredibly easy. After charging the Casa Keys and Casa Touch with the included USB-C charging cable (which, yes, meant I needed to charge them one at a time), I packed up the case and took it to my favorite coffee shop to get to work. 

Once I was there, it only took a few moments to set up my workstation. I was worried it would look a bit obnoxious (considering laptops already are portable), but it was quick and easy to toss my M2 MacBook Air onto the ergonomic laptop stand, and connecting both the keyboard and trackpad via Bluetooth was a breeze. Both were user-friendly and incredibly responsive, even for someone with a typing speed of nearly 100 words per minute. 

SEE ALSO: The best laptops for graphic design, according to experts

Plus, the learning curve for each device was relatively low — especially once I installed the Logi Options+ App. The tutorial was quick and effortless, and I really appreciated being able to set up more of the gestures I was used to on my MacBook. I did struggle with the keyboard layout from time to time, but — as someone who typically uses a custom gaming keyboard instead of my MacBook’s built-in keyboard — this wasn’t a huge deal. 

I’ll actually use the Casa Pop-Up Desk longterm

As for actually using the Casa Pop-Up Desk on a regular basis? I loved the versatility of the entire thing. I didn’t find myself reaching for the keyboard and trackpad when I was home (since I’m pretty happy with my home setup), but I use the laptop stand daily — and love taking the entire setup with me to coffee shops. I’m also eager to bring the Casa Pop-Up Desk on a few of the upcoming trips I have on my calendar, and I know it’s going to make working away from my home office much easier.

The trackpad had a slight learning curve

Most of my issues with the Casa Pop-Up Desk were pretty small, and most of them involved the Casa Touch trackpad. I really struggled to get some of the multi-touch gestures to work — including clicking and holding with one finger while dragging the other to select text — as well as drag-and-drop. Everything else worked pretty well, but it simply wasn’t as responsive as my MacBook’s built-in trackpad. I could drag and drop, but it required a lot of trial and error before I figured out I needed to click much harder on the Casa Touch than I do on my MacBook. As for the two-finger click and highlight, maybe it’s a classic case of user error, but I eventually gave up trying to make it work. 

For most tasks, the difference between the Casa Touch and my MacBook’s trackpad (or my Magic Trackpad) isn’t very noticeable. Writing this article with the trackpad and keyboard, for example, has been relatively seamless. However, when I was locked into a graphic design project, the differences slowed me down enough that I ditched the trackpad completely. I think I could get used to it with more practice, but since it’s not my daily device, it’s not really worth the time investment for me. 

Is the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk worth it?

Clocking in at $179, the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk is a bit of a splurge. However, for the right person, I could definitely see this product being well worth the investment. 

Whether you’re someone who works from your kitchen table, travels a lot, or loves camping out at a coffee shop, investing in the Casa Pop-Up Desk would be a great way to upgrade your remote-work kit — without needing to lug around a ton of separate pieces. It’s beautiful, functional, and oh-so-convenient, which means it’s definitely a worthwhile investment for those looking for a travel-friendly kit.

If you’re looking for a wireless keyboard and mouse to upgrade your desk — or you’ll only be an occasional user of the Casa Pop-Up Desk — I might recommend looking elsewhere. Logitech has some amazing wireless keyboards on the market at a lower price point, including the much-loved MK540 and the more portable Pebble 2 combo, so there are lots of options available. Granted, most of these come with a standard wireless mouse instead of a trackpad, but — if you’re looking for a fantastic, reliable trackpad — I’m not sure the Casa Touch is quite good enough to warrant splurging on the entire kit. In fact, my previous home office setup included Apple’s Magic Trackpad and a budget Logitech keyboard that was roughly the same price (and far more performant) than the Casa Pop-Up Desk.

That being said, I am still very pleased with the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk, and I can definitely say that — for certain users — it’s totally worth the hype. Is it for everyone? Not really. But for me, it’s a pretty big win.

Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk $170.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $9.00 Shop Now

Donald J. Trump’s social network is increasingly relying on a niche of the ad market that caters to hard-core Trump fans and Christian conservatives for revenue.

I've tested well over 59 laptops during my career as a tech reviewer. I've seen terrible laptops, mid laptops (devices that are OK, but have better competitors for your money), and extraordinary machines that are worth every penny.

I look at the durability of the chassis, the clickiness of the keys, the visual enticement of the display, how hot it gets when you run intensive tasks, whether it gets slow when you overwhelm it with Google Chrome tabs, and more. On top of that, I run industry benchmarks from the likes of Geekbench and PCMark 10 to determine how the review units — with hard numbers — compare to other rivals.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When it comes to reviewing laptops, I always ask myself one crucial question: "Would I buy this with my hard-earned money?" If the answer is no, I'm not recommending it (unless it's still a great laptop, but would better suit a specific consumer niche).

That being said, among the many laptops I've reviewed thus far, there's only one Windows machine that's truly the best laptop of 2024: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review: 23 hours of battery life? MacBooks are in trouble Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is the best Windows laptop of 2024: 3 reasons why

A few years ago, I was smack talking the Surface Laptop 5 when I reviewed it for a different publication. I had so much faith in Microsoft. I wanted it to win so badly, but it couldn't live up to my expectations at the time.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Microsoft was arguably the software king, but it just couldn't get its hardware right. It's not that Microsoft Surface laptops were awful — they just kept getting outperformed by cheaper, better competitors. As such, I couldn't, in good conscience, recommend them.

Now, if you were to tell me that, in 2024, I'd be recommending a Surface laptop, I'd say, "You're out of your mind!" But here I am, as a laptop expert, actually suggesting a Microsoft laptop to my readers. But you know what? I'm backing this up. I have proof that it's the best Windows laptop of the year. Here are my three reasons:

1. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 performance blows rivals away

I don't want to bore you with too many details about chipsets, but they're crucial to bring up to help you understand why Microsoft Surface family now has positive critical reception from testers after a tumultuous few years of less-than-favorable reviews.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Long story short, Intel, the most popular chipset maker for Windows, was holding the Microsoft Surface series — and other mobile Windows machines — back from laptop nirvana. Even Apple stopped dealing with Intel a few years ago. In 2020, the Cupertino-based tech giant introduced its new in-house, custom ARM chips (i.e., M-series processors). Apple debuted its non-Intel-based M1 MacBook Air and M1 MacBook Pro laptops and it never looked back. (Apple's current-gen MacBooks are now rocking M3 series chips and it's reportedly eyeing an M4 release soon).

Now, non-Apple laptop vendors have finally hopped aboard the "Intel ain't it" train, thanks to Qualcomm, an Intel rival. Qualcomm announced it had a chipset, dubbed the Snapdragon X Elite processor, that is so good, it beats all M3-based MacBooks. Now, I was skeptical, but this Snapdragon X Elite processor was packed inside the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 that dropped this year — and it blew its rivals out of the water.

With "Best performance mode" turned on in Settings, the Surface Laptop 7 notched an incredible multi-core score of 14,548 on Geekbench 6. For context, here are the multi-core scores of other laptops I've tested this year:

• 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro - 11,998

• 15-inch M3 MacBook Air - 12,057

And yes, I purposely highlighted M3 MacBooks here to prove a point (i.e., Qualcomm was right). This wasn't just a fluke either. The HP OmniBook X I reviewed this year, also packed with a Snapdragon X Elite chip, is almost as good as the Surface Laptop 7, but delivered a multi-core score of 13,888.

2. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 has the best battery life

When I tested the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 to see how long it could last on a single charge, it just. wouldn't. die.

The Surface Laptop 7's keyboard is OK. Nothing to write home about. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Qualcomm wasn't kidding when it said that the Snapdragon X Elite chip is power efficient. To my surprise, the Surface Laptop 7 delivered a battery runtime of 22 hours and 50 minutes. That's nearly 23 hours! This is literally unheard of for Windows laptops these days.

This is the best runtime we've ever recorded at Mashable in recent years. Here are some of the other runtimes of our laptops:

• 15-inch M3 MacBook Air - 10 hours and 52 minutes

• HP OmniBook X - 16 hours and 47 minutes

• Lenovo Yoga 9 2-in-1 - 7 hours and 21 minutes

Can you guess which chip was inside the Lenovo Yoga 9 2-in-1, which lasted only a measly 7 hours? It certainly wasn't a Qualcomm chip.

3. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 makes Windows fun again with AI

Remember when Windows used to be fun? As a kid (I'm now a Millennial adult for context), I used to mess around on Paint, play Microsoft 3D Pinball, and watch visualizers bounce along to the music I played on Windows Media Player.

Me using Cocreator in Paint, which creates masterpieces based on your sketches. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Now, Microsoft has revitalized that excitement with a flurry of new AI features. From the new ChatGPT rival Copilot to AI additions that seduce you back to Paint (e.g., Cocreator), getting to play around with the AI on Windows has captivated me. If Microsoft is using AI to seduce users away from Apple (though Apple Intelligence is officially landing on supported Mac systems very soon), it's working — at least for me.

The Surface Laptop 7's AI capabilities are possible thanks to the NPU, an AI accelerator packed inside the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite.

The Photos app as a new AI-powered Image Creator feature that lets you create AI-generated images with prompts Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, as a laptop reviewer, I know more than anyone that no machine is ever perfect. One flaw that I spotted with the Surface Laptop 7 is app incompatibility. It's something I spotted when I tried to install the Apple Music app. I typically have no issues with doing this on other Windows systems, but it looks like some developers haven't enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite support for their apps yet.

The Surface Laptop 7 isn't a gaming PC, but I'll admit that you can get away with some light gaming on it. Keep in mind that some games, according to this list, may not run properly on the Surface Laptop 7.

Overall, though, the Surface Laptop 7 has never-ending battery life, engaging AI features, zippy performance, a sturdy, anti-fingerprint chassis, and more. How could it not be the best Windows laptop of 2024?

The Surface Laptop 7 is $1,599 on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 $1,599.00 at Amazon
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During COVID lockdown in 2020 and 2021, Emma, now a 28-year-old in Cambridge, Massachusetts, discovered something unexpected on TikTok. Suddenly, her For You Page was full of content that would lead her to challenge her own identity: Cool lesbians.  

Emma, who chose to go by her first-name only for privacy reasons, had not allowed herself to engage with the part of her that desired women, though she always knew it was there, deep down. 

SEE ALSO: Celibacy is all the rage online. Here's why.

"I tried so hard to be straight," she says of her adolescence, having exclusively dated men up until her mid-20s, despite being raised in a supportive family that consisted of multiple queer people. "Society forces us to kind of be in the closet." 

In the wake of sapphic TikTok rabbit holes, Emma decided to add women to her Hinge preferences, while still "really questioning" her sexuality and grappling with internalized homophobia. 

"I would use it from afar," she says. "I wasn't fully engaging in it." 

After spending a quarter of a century not allowing her attraction to women "surface" even in her own conscious thoughts, the idea of matching with — or even dating — a woman was almost unimaginable. "I couldn't really see myself doing that," she says. 

She soon met a man from Hinge whom she dated for nearly a year and a half. Throughout that relationship, she was open and honest with her partner about her sexuality journey. With his support, she redownloaded Hinge and set it on women only. Emma noticed right away how much easier it was to make a profile geared towards women rather than men. Finally, she wasn't "trying to be someone [she's] not." 

Eventually, when that relationship ended, she felt ready to start seeing women out in the real world, not just within an app on her phone. 

Now, she is still with her girlfriend whom she met on Hinge. 

Emma is part of a huge cohort of women who are discovering their queerness later in life with the help of social media platforms and dating apps. 

Exploring sexuality on dating apps

It's no great shock that dating apps offer the semblance of a private place to explore. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans are "far more likely" to date online than heterosexuals, as the Pew Research Center found in a 2022 study. In its 2023 Future of Dating report, Tinder found that 54 percent of young LGBTQ+ survey respondents had "come out" on dating apps before coming out to friends and family.  

Justin R. Garcia, Ph.D., executive director of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, says dating apps "allow people to dream" in an "unprecedented" way, offering "a window into a world of possibility."

Gen Z has ushered in massive generational shifts in awareness around human sexuality and forces like compulsory heterosexuality, or "comp het": the idea that women are socialized to compulsively desire male attention, regardless of sexual orientation. The "Lesbian Masterdoc," a viral PDF originally published on Tumblr, can take at least some credit for the widespread understanding of the concept, as Them reported in January. But TikTok and a new wave of pop cultural representation have been engines of sapphic education.  

More than 38 million videos on TikTok use the hashtag #comphet as of publication. Top videos under the hashtag, many of which have millions of likes, educate women on the "signs" and "symptoms" of comp het that may be holding them back from realizing they're gay. 

Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe!" — all about a woman who makes out with boys in bars "just to stop the feeling" of being attracted to girls — is the artist's most popular song on Spotify with over 440 million streams. The artists Reneé Rapp and Billie Eilish have both recently come out as women who love women, with both sharing that they took time to come into their sexualities. 

This visibility is changing the landscape for women like Emma, who said she didn't observe much lesbian culture that resonated with her in her upbringing in the 2000s and 2010s. 

"There's just less documentation and awareness of sapphic culture," says Robyn Exton, the founder and CEO of HER, a sapphic dating app that first launched in 2015 and changed the dating app landscape for queer women. 

Now, Exton says, our culture is having a "sapphic renaissance." 

Discovering my queerness online

When I've come out to people over the last year, many peers have joked that my queerness is part of the moment. And maybe it is — I definitely knew all the words to Chappell Roan's "Casual" before I let myself have feelings for a woman for the first time. But it took a hell of a long time to get here. 

I downloaded Tinder soon after turning 18. I had only dated boys, but in the safety of my iPhone, I allowed myself to engage with my attraction towards women for the first time. 

Over the next 10 years, this became a habit, as I teetered in and out of the closet. Whenever I was single, I'd toggle my dating app settings from men to women and swipe, chat, and flirt with women. There was an illicit rush in what felt like lurking. 

Inevitably, when someone would ask to meet up, or I ran into someone in real life whom I'd spoken to on an app, I would panic: matches deleted, app switched back to men. But for a little while, I allowed my desire for women to seep through in small bursts, hidden within my phone's blue light. 

I had only dated boys, but in the safety of my iPhone, I allowed myself to engage with my attraction towards women for the first time.

Moe Ari Brown, LMFT, a relationship therapist and queer advocate who works for Hinge as the company's love and connection expert, says dating apps give people who are questioning the "control to navigate their journey and preferences at their own pace." 

Those days, I sometimes felt guilty for taking up space in an app where I wasn't sure I belonged. Several Reddit threads depict women questioning the ethics of engaging in a queer online space while still figuring out their own sexuality. 

Experts say there's nothing to be ashamed of, as long as you're open and honest about where you are in your journey. 

"While not every queer person has identified as questioning, the exploration and integration process is still a common experience," Brown says, adding that 80 percent of LGBTQIA+ daters polled in a 2023 Hinge survey said they were open to being someone's first queer dating experience. 

'Questioning' sexuality – but staying scared 

I remember so many of those girls whose pretty faces and flirty texts terrified me. Something felt foreign and dangerous in my desire, so different from my attraction to men. 

Last year, Eilish herself famously told Variety that she was "still scared" of women, highlighting how anxiety-laden new sapphic experiences can be. 

Ava Shakib, ASW, a therapist and educator at the queer-focused Expansive Group in San Diego, California, says she has had many sapphic clients express fear around coming on too forward with women, especially after years of playing a submissive role in relationships with men. 

Women fear their "assertiveness" may be seen as "aggressive or coercive," because they have a "high awareness" of the potential for a dominant sexual partner to "victimize other women." 

Garcia cites the lack of sex education in America as a key element to folks struggling to understand their sexual desires. "A lot of people don't have the language to speak about this," he says. 

HER, Tinder, and Hinge allow users to identify their sexualities as "Questioning." Exton says she believes HER plays an "incredibly critical role" for people in the coming-out process, specifically. 

SEE ALSO: How Grindr is trying to keep LGBTQ athletes safe at the Paris Olympics

Feeld, which is most popularly known as a kink- and polyamory-friendly app, regularly updates its sexuality and gender identity label offerings. The app's users are encouraged to "pursue personal growth through connection with others" on the app, according to Ashley Dos Santos, head of communications at Feeld. 

Dos Santos says that more than 60 percent of Feeld members reported having a "personal transformation" in their first year on the app, shifting their sexuality or desires. 

Of course, women with same-sex attraction don't always end up with other women once they've had the time to explore. When Amanda* was in her early 20s, she took to Tinder to explore her attraction towards women. She had long been masturbating to lesbian porn and images of beautiful women in magazines, with no understanding of what that might mean for her sexuality. 

While she spent some time dating and sleeping primarily with women for the first time, both in Boston and in Chicago, she felt she lacked the romantic connection she had always felt with men. Her sexual attraction for women was real, but there seemed to be something missing. 

"Such a bummer," jokes Amanda, now 33 and living in Chicago with her male long-term partner.

Still, Amanda is hesitant to label her sexuality. "People always want to call me bisexual," she says, citing her frustration around memes mocking bisexual women in relationships with men. "It's more nuanced than that." 

Amanda says she is still open to further exploring throughout the course of her life. For now, she tends to use the word "queer" when describing her sexuality, though she's afraid to take up that space as a cisgender woman in a relationship with a cisgender man. 

As Shakib says: "Questioning your queerness is part of queerness."

* Pseudonym used to protect sources' privacy on the topic of sex and relationships. 

Long ago, Mars teemed with water.

New imagery captured by the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter depicts the planet's once watery past. The spacecraft, which has orbited the Red Planet for two decades, snapped views of the eroded remains of once sprawling Lake Eridania — which the space agency noted was larger than any lake on Earth. (The largest lake on Earth is by far the Caspian Sea, which at some 149,200 square miles, or 386,400 square kilometers, is bigger than Montana.)

"We believe that water, and a lot of it, once existed here," ESA said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: NASA rover gets blasted by solar storm on Mars, captures footage

But Mars gradually lost its insulating atmosphere, the result of a lost magnetic field and relentless solar radiation. Ultimately Mars' once thick atmosphere diminished, and bounties of water escaped. Without this insulating blanket, the planet dried out. Today, the planet is 1,000 times drier than the driest desert on Earth.

Views of the lakebed's remnants can be seen below. In the first image, which depicts topography, the blue color (lower elevation), shows part of the lake basin. A large crater, itself with signs of past flowing water on its rim, sits next to the lake.

A topographic view showing remnants of a once sprawling Martian lake (blue area on the right). Credit: ESA / DLR / FU Berlin In this view of Mars' tan-colored surface, a map scale can be seen on the bottom right (20 km is about 12.5 miles). Credit: ESA / DLR / FU Berlin

For a wider perspective, the map below shows the region, Caralis Chaos, recently mapped by the Express orbiter. The smaller white box shows the area covered in the images above (while the larger white box depicts the total area recently imaged by the craft).

The body of water was truly huge. "This lake would have filled the flatter regions labelled Ariadnes Colles, Caralis Chaos, and Atlantis Chaos," the space agency wrote. It would have harbored over three times the water held by the Caspian Sea.

A map showing the area once filled by Mars' Lake Eridania. Credit: NASA / MGS / MOLA Science Team

Planetary scientists suspect that Mars could have once hosted primitive, microbial life in watery areas or moist Martian soils — such as the Jezero Crater, which also hosted a large lake.

Recently, NASA's Perseverance rover drilled into a rock in Jezero, where the six-wheeled robot had detected organic molecules (aka the "building blocks of life" as we know it). The robot collected a sample, and inside, scientists spotted a telltale composition that suggests the potential of ancient microbial life. "The rock exhibits chemical signatures and structures that could possibly have been formed by life billions of years ago when the area being explored by the rover contained running water," NASA said in a statement. But, crucially, much more research, over many years, is needed to confirm this possibility.

The ongoing exploration of intriguing Martian places will continue — and one day Martian astronauts may join this discovery effort.

Nobody can resist a good mystery.

Whether it's a whodunnit crime story, a tale of suspense that keeps you guessing, or a mind-bending psychological thriller, putting the pieces together sitting in front of your screen has long been a highly satisfying activity for amateur sleuths.

Often, the best mysteries span out over a whole series on Netflix, making the TV side of things pretty well populated — think The Fall of the House of Usher, The Sinner, Dark, Midnight Mass, Wednesday, The Haunting of Hill House/Bly Manor, The Watcher — but there are plenty of mystery movies on the streaming service for those who'd like a more comprehensive experience. Spanning its horror, thriller, and sci-fi genres, Netflix has a range of mystery films now streaming, each offering up an unexpected twist or reveal.

SEE ALSO: 25 best crime shows on Netflix in 2023

What's inside the walls in Remi Weekes' His House? Why does the boarding house in Santiago Menghini's No One Gets Out Alive have so many locked doors? What's at the heart of the disturbing prison system in The Platform? What exactly, David Lynch asks, did Jack do? Is Adam Sandler's Murder Mystery actually worth watching? From creaking haunted houses to vengeful masked killers, here are the best mystery movies on Netflix.

1. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Credit: Netflix

Southern gentlemen detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back on the case in Glass Onion, Rian Johnson’s sequel to his modern, Agatha Christie-style mystery movie Knives Out. With an eye for the tiniest detail, Blanc again finds himself investigating a murder in a secluded location with a wealthy cast of suspects (and what a cast it is). This time it’s a private island owned by billionaire tech founder Elon Musk Miles Bron (Edward Norton) and his cohort of "disrupters." When someone winds up dead, only an intricate web of deception stands between Blanc and the truth.

Though less satisfying than the original Knives Out, Glass Onion is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery whose twists and turns will genuinely surprise you. Delivering some truly delightful character work, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista star as Bron's guests, each with their own secrets. —Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix.

2. The Call Don't pick up the phone. Credit: Netflix

Not the 2013 Halle Berry film or the revenge-based horror film of the same name, but based on Matthew Parkhill's 2011 supernatural horror film The Caller, Lee Chung-hyun's The Call is a dark, chilling South Korean mystery that you can't hang up on.

SEE ALSO: 12 of the best suspense movies on Netflix to put you on edge

When Kim Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) visits her family home, she loses her phone, then starts getting weird, disturbing calls and finds a connection to a woman called Young-sook (Jeon Jong-seo). Where this film twists and turns from here, you’ll never predict, so paying light attention is not an option. Strong performances, unnerving use of sound, stunning cinematography, and a well-woven structure make this one surreal and disturbing journey.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: The Call is now streaming on Netflix.

3. His House There's something in the walls... Credit: Netflix

The best types of horror films are more than just a trickbox of scares. Some are character studies, others explore deeper themes or grapple complex social issues, and a few manage to move you in more ways than just a raising of the pulse. Writer-director Remi Weekes' debut His House does all of the above at once.

Following asylum seekers Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) as they arrive in the UK from South Sudan only to be thrust into an unforgiving world of bureaucracy and racism, His House melds drama with a claustrophobic haunted house mystery. Noises echo in the walls, and Bol's fear and paranoia grows along with ours. But it's only as the movie progresses, and Jo Willems' creative cinematography starts hinting at what took place in the past, that the true horror of His House is revealed.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: His House is now streaming on Netflix.

4. The Guilty Jake Gyllenhaal is on top form. Credit: Glen Wilson / Netflix

Following a cop with an anger problem during a 911 dispatch shift, The Guilty sees Jake Gyllenhaal at his vein-bursting best in this twisty thriller about a kidnapped woman.

"With the camera focused on him for almost the full 90 minutes in The Guilty, Gyllenhaal combines all [his] skills into one excruciatingly tense performance," I wrote in my review. "He throws himself into the role of detective-turned-911-dispatcher Joe Baylor with so much anger, pain, and sadness that you're forced to go through every single emotion with him."* — S.H.

How to watch: The Guilty is now streaming on Netlfix.

5. Fear Street The "Fear Street" trilogy has a solid mystery at its bloody core. Credit: Netflix

What could have just been a kitschy homage to classic horror films of the '70s, '80s, and '90s actually has a really compelling core murder mystery, meaning it's on the list! The Fear Street trilogy, inspired by R.L. Stine’s more grown-up novel series, centres around a cyclical curse that sees a string of murders plaguing the residents of Shadyside. Directed by Leigh Janiak, the three films (Part 1: 1994, Part 2: 1978, and Part 3: 1666) are set in different time periods, each linked by these happenings. A group of teenagers will have to delve into the past in order to figure it all out before the curse catches up with them. As far as horror mysteries go, Fear Street is the best thing since sliced bread (sorry). — S.C.

How to watch: Fear Street is now streaming on Netflix.

6. I Am All Girls A masked killer is at the heart of the mystery in "I Am All Girls." Credit: Netflix

Fair warning: this one isn't an easy watch. Inspired by true events, the film begins with the interrogation of Gert van Rooyen, a South African sex offender who was suspected in the abductions of six young girls in the late '80s. Set in the present day, the movie uses van Rooyen's alleged crimes as a jumping-off point, with a detective working to uncover a child trafficking ring while also investigating a serial killer who seems to be exclusively targeting the criminals involved. Donavan Marsh's movie is a blend of mystery and thriller, a how-deep-does-this-go conspiracy that leads from dilapidated drug dens to the halls of government — uncovering a series of grim revelations with roots that go back 30 years. — S.H.

How to watch: I Am All Girls is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Burning

A literal slow smoulder of a mystery film, Lee Chang-Dong's Burning is a masterpiece in simmering uncertainty. Based on Haruki Murakami's short story "Barn Burning" from The Elephant Vanishes, the film sees an impeccable Steven Yeun as the mysterious Ben, a newcomer in the lives of childhood friends Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in) and Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo). Though Hae-mi is enamoured with their charming new acquaintance, Jong-su feels like something's not right. With outstanding cinematography from Hong Kyung-pyo paired with Mowg's haunting score, Burning is a true scorcher. — S.C.

How to watch: Burning is now streaming on Netflix.

8. I Am Mother Friend...or foe? Credit: Netflix

The problem with robots is you can never tell what they're thinking. This is a lesson we've had drilled into us time and again in the sci-fi space, and Grant Sputore's futuristic mystery — about a girl being raised by a robot in a post-apocalyptic bunker — is of course no exception. Starring Hilary Swank, Clara Rugaard, and Rose Byrne, the suspense in this one comes hand-in-hand with the blank, impenetrable gaze of Mother (the robotic carer in question), before cranking into overdrive when a stranger's arrival casts suspicion on the metal guardian's real role.* — S.H.

How to watch: I Am Mother is now streaming on Netflix.

9. I'm Thinking of Ending Things All is not what it seems. Credit: Mary Cybulski / Netflix

Is this the most entertaining movie on this list? Almost certainly not. But is it the best mystery? Well, judging by how incredibly confused I was when I finished watching it, possibly. Writer/director Charlie Kaufman’s story about a student travelling to meet her boyfriend’s parents for the first time is a head-scratching psychological nightmare that feels like watching a reality break for two straight hours. There’s plenty of deep writing, philosophical musings, and reality-bending clues, all of which add up to a very Lynch-esque feeling that what we're watching isn't as it seems. But what are we watching? The answer might take some figuring out. — S.H.

How to watch: I’m Thinking of Ending Things is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Lost Girls Shannan Gilbert's family, played by Thomasin McKenzie, Amy Ryan, and Ooana Laurence. Credit: Jessica Kourkounis / Netflix

Based on the real disappearance of Shannan Gilbert in 2010 and her mother Mari's attempts to find her, Lost Girls is a dark exploration of events surrounding an infamous serial killer cold case that places a focus on the families left behind. Liz Garbus directs with a sense of grim realism, while Amy Ryan is a picture of angry desperation as she goes up against a police force that seems apathetic at best, and incompetent at worst. — S.H.

How to watch: Lost Girls is now streaming on Netflix.

11. No One Gets Out Alive Cristina Rodlo stars in this claustrophobic nightmare. Credit: Teddy Cavendish / Netflix

More horror than mystery? Perhaps. But Santiago Menghini's claustrophobic haunted house tale, based on an Adam Nevill novel of the same name, still comes with plenty of questions. Questions like why does the boarding house that Mexican immigrant Ambar (Cristina Rodlo) arrives at have so many locked doors? And what are the noises she keeps hearing at night, and the nightmares about a strange stone box that she keeps seeing when her eyes are closed? You’ll have a hard job guessing, but this tense and well-written thriller will have you trying until the end. — S.H.

How to watch: No One Gets Out Alive is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Oxygen Uh, how did we get here? And where's the exit? Credit: Netflix

A futuristic twist on the fear of being buried alive, Alexandre Aja's Oxygen is a claustrophobic nightmare about a woman who wakes up in a cryogenic box with no idea of who she is or how she got there. The good news? She's able to communicate with the outside world via a robotic medical unit called M.I.L.O. The bad news? Nobody she speaks to seems willing to come clean with her, and her oxygen reserves are quickly spiralling toward 0 percent. Mélanie Laurent perfectly captures the short-breathed dread of this role, and Christie LeBlanc's screenplay has enough twists and turns to keep the story racing along at a heart-pounding pace. Just tread carefully if you have a fear of tight spaces — this one won't be a fun watch for claustrophobics.* — S.H.

How to watch: Oxygen is now streaming on Netflix.

13. The Wonder Credit: Christopher Barr/Netflix

The Wonder is a wholly engrossing period mystery about a young girl from a small, 19th-century Irish town who claims to not have eaten for four months, surviving purely on holy "manna." Florence Pugh is fantastic as Lib Wright, the stoic, science-driven English nurse sent to investigate. Over the course of a few weeks, Lib is charged with watching Anna (Kíla Lord Cassidy) for 12 hours at a day, while a nun observes during the other 12, to determine if there’s a heavenly or earthbound explanation for the girl’s miraculous months-long fast.

Based on Emma Donoghue's novel of the same name, The Wonder is a solemn, subtle, and captivating masterpiece exploring religious prejudice, cycles of abuse, and the boundaries of our own realities. It’s a satisfying watch with an unexpected ending that will stick in your bones like an Irish winter frost. — K.G.

How to watch: The Wonder is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Wicked Little Letters

It's 1920, and the small English town of Littlehampton hasn't seen anyone like Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley) before. She's brash, she's reckless, and worse, she's Irish. Rose is the polar opposite of her neighbor, Edith Swan (Olivia Colman), the pious, shy spinster who still lives with her aging parents and is shocked by Rose's carefree employment of curse words. The two form a friendly acquaintance, until Edith receives a barrage of hateful, swear-laden anonymous letters. Rose is obviously to blame! Or is she?

This delightful poison-pen mystery is inspired by a very real scandal that consumed the minds and media of 1920s England. Starring a who's-who of British acting royalty (including Eileen Atkins, Timothy Spall, Anjana Vasan, and more), Wicked Little Letters is a darkly comedic puzzle full of top-notch characters. What more could any budding detective ask for? — K.G.

How to watch: Wicked Little Letters is now streaming on Netflix.

15. The Platform How far down does it go? Credit: Netflix

Prison cells are stacked one on top of the other, with holes in the floor and ceiling. Randomly-assigned levels change each month. And a platform of food gets slowly lowered from the very top, getting sparser and sparser with each floor it descends. This is the concept at the centre of Spanish director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia's The Platform, a disturbing sci-fi thriller that wears its capitalist analogy plainly on its prison garb sleeve. It's one of those rare gems where the execution is as strong as the idea at its core, driven by an excellent screenplay from David Desola and Pedro Rivero that's dripping with horror and suspense. If you're a fan of movies like The Cube or Saw, this is well worth checking out.* — S.H.

How to watch: The Platform is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Missing Credit: Sony Pictures

Fast-paced and unpredictable, Missing is an exhilarating new mystery for the modern age, where amateur detectives can be teens as long as they’re techno-savvy. Storm Reid plays June Allen, an 18-year-old waiting to pick up her mother, Grace (Nia Long), and her mother’s boyfriend, Kevin (Ken Leung), at LAX after the pair’s trip to Colombia. Unfortunately, they never arrive. And when the FBI fails to make any headway investigating their whereabouts, June decides to use her Gen Z digital native powers to track them down with her friend Veena (Megan Suri). — K.G.

How to watch: Missing is now streaming on Netflix. 

SEE ALSO: Directors Nick Johnson and Will Merrick talk 'Missing' and the real meaning behind its whirlwind ending 17. The Perfection Logan Browning and Allison Williams star as musical protégés in "The Perfection". Credit: Netflix

This isn’t the kind of movie you want to be watching while you eat. Richard Shepard’s musical nightmare leans heavily into the body horror genre, with protégés Charlotte (Allison Williams) and Lizzie (Logan Browning) going on a truly hellish journey that starts with a bus ride through rural China and ends with them revisiting the prestigious music school where they both trained — and where all is clearly not as it seems. Tread carefully, because this story is really not for the faint-hearted — but it is full of surprises. — S.H.

How to watch: The Perfection is now streaming on Netflix.

18. What Did Jack Do? What did you do, huh? WHAT DID YOU DO? Credit: Netflix

For a truly baffling mystery, it's time for you to watch David Lynch asking a suited monkey if he's ever been a card-carrying member of the Communist party. It's a genuine thing that happens in David Lynch's What Did Jack Do?, a 17-minute film which sees the director interrogating a monkey called Jack in a train carriage.

Co-presented by Lynch's company Absurda and Parisian contemporary art museum Fondation Cartier, the film was written, directed, and edited by Lynch himself. Along with a small crew, he also did the sound editing, set design, and assisted with set construction.

We won't spoil what happens, but look out for a cameo from actor Emily Stofle (Twin Peaks star and David Lynch's wife), and make sure you stick around for the catchy musical number toward the end. Yes, you read that right.* — S.H.

How to watch: What Did Jack Do? is now streaming on Netflix.

19. A Simple Favor

Anna Kendrick is Stephanie Smothers, a cutesy, sheltered mommy vlogger without much joy in her life. So when an impossibly fashionable and cool mom at her son's school, Emily (Blake Lively), asks her to hang out, she's both eager and out of her depth. An unlikely friendship between the mismatched pair blooms, until the day Emily doesn't return from a business trip. A Simple Favor is an unpredictable, gripping, and sometimes silly Gone Girl-esque mystery directed by Paul Feig. It never goes over the top, but it doesn't concern itself with staying too grounded either — the perfect sweet spot.* — K.G.

How to watch: A Simple Favor is now streaming on Netflix.

20.-21. Enola Holmes 1 and 2 Credit: Alex Bailey / Netflix

If you want your mysteries more adventurous and bright than bleak and despairing, then Netflix’s Enola Holmes films will certainly fit the bill. Based on author Nancy Springer's The Enola Holmes Mysteries, the films star Millie Bobbie Brown, ebullient and charismatic as Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister. Raised alone by an eccentric mother (a perfectly cast Helena Bonham Carter) who rejects societal expectations for women, Enola is every bit the prodigy her brother is, and then some. But when her mother goes missing, she takes it upon herself to solve the mystery, uncovering a larger enigma in the process. 

Cheerful, charming, with a moderate sense of danger and a whole lot of fun, Enola Holmes and its sequel are pure delights with surprisingly sophisticated mysteries at their core. Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin round out the sparkling cast as Sherlock and Mycroft, Enola's more famous older brothers, both visibly enjoying themselves with the material. — K.G. 

How to watch: Enola Holmes is now streaming on Netflix.

How to watch: Enola Holmes 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Things Heard and Seen Amanda Seyfried has a pretty grim time of it in "Things Heard and Seen". Credit: Anna Kooris / Netflix

Don’t let the low Rotten Tomatoes score put you off. Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini’s Things Heard and Seen — based on the novel All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage — is one of those films that's sure to divide people. It hovers between multiple genres, splicing drama and thriller with horror and mystery in a balancing act that could easily be off-putting to some. The film follows a young couple – Catherine (Amanda Seyfried) and George (James Norton) – whose decision to move into a farmhouse in upstate New York leads to the discovery of some fairly unsettling secrets (both of the ghostly and the non-ghostly variety). Don't go into it expecting straight horror, though, or you’ll be disappointed. But if you like well-drawn characters and plenty of simmering dread, it’s worth checking out. — S.H.

How to watch: Things Heard and Seen is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Luther: The Fallen Sun Credit: John Wilson/Netflix

For five seasons, Neil Cross' highly addictive BBC series Luther followed Idris Elba in his iconic role as the hardened titular detective who plays by his own rules. The very first film of the TV franchise, Luther: The Fallen Sun, sees the brilliant and brash John Luther finally facing consequences for his years of flouting the law in the name of the greater good. He’s now in prison, just when an old case of his starts to heat up again. It’s a twisting and gripping thriller that will keep you guessing, and Andy Serkis' villain David Robey is truly chilling. While it may not be a wholly necessary addition to the Luther legacy, it’s certainly a welcome one. We’ll take any chance to see Elba’s reckless detective take on the world once more.* — K.G.

How to watch: Luther: The Fallen Sun is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Svaha: The Sixth Finger

Svaha: The Sixth Finger is a chilling, serpentine Korean mystery/thriller that explores unseen interpretations of Buddhism and probes the meaning of faith. Pastor Park (Squid Game's Lee Jung-jae), a man driven by his work exposing dangerous cults, looks into a remote religious sect called Deer Mountain or Dongbanggyo. Simultaneously, police begin investigating the murder of a girl found encased in concrete. Could the two be related? — K.G.

How to watch: Svaha: The Sixth Finger is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Murder Mystery Credit: Scott Yamano/Netflix

Sometimes you want your mysteries mindless and cheerful, and the fairly substance-less Murder Mystery Netflix franchise is just that. Adam Sandler is Nick, an NYPD cop, and his wife, Audrey (Jennifer Aniston), is a hairdresser and murder mystery book lover. On their first trip to Europe, their 15th anniversary celebrations are delayed when they board a luxury yacht, a murder occurs, and they’re the number one suspects. Looks like these two amateur detectives will have to solve the case to clear their names. It’s a silly, lighthearted romp with a few solid jokes and an unchallenging plot. Murder Mystery (and Murder Mystery 2) make perfect background movies for cooking, cleaning, or scrolling on your phone, when nothing but fluff will hit the spot. — K.G.

How to watch: Murder Mystery is now streaming on Netflix.

*This write-up also appeared in a previous Mashable list or article.

UPDATE: Aug. 7, 2024, 12:20 p.m. EDT This article was originally published on Nov. 7, 2021. It has been updated to reflect current Netflix offerings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Get Deal

Online dating has its share of horror stories. It's also a rite of passage dating back to the Craigslist m4m era. It's a high risk, high reward activity.

But if you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community, the horror stories look a little different. For gay men, online dating can present a unique set of challenges which can sour the experience. Ghosting and catfishing are still common, but you might also find people asking unnecessary questions about your past, straight guys who shouldn't be in your feed, and even some not-so-subtle fetishization. Not exactly the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling we're all after, right?

Yet, despite the BS, the best gay dating apps have helped millions of men make meaningful connections.

SEE ALSO: I got stood up. I refuse to let dating app culture break my spirit.

According to the Pew Research Center, about one-quarter of LGBTQ+ adults say they met their match through online dating. The problem? Not all dating apps are created equal, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.

What is the best gay dating app right now?

We can't talk about the gay dating scene in the 21st century without talking about Grindr, the undisputed king of gay dating mobile apps. However, there are a lot of other options, especially if you want to foster real connections.

"Grindr is a tried and true app that many queer men gravitate toward to find partners or for relationships that require lesser commitment, so it’s easy to point to it as the #1 app," Michelle Herzog, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells Mashable. "However, like Tinder, it’s gained a reputation as a hookup app — but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t men looking for long-term commitments, either."

Other popular dating apps have a lot to offer, and that's where you'll find the most queer users. Keeping Tinder on the back burner isn't just a straight people thing (especially for guys in less-populated areas where apps like Scruff offer slim pickings). Plus, mainstream apps deserve credit for trying to create a more inclusive atmosphere. OkCupid gets kudos for embracing change and making inclusivity a core part of its compatibility scoring. You can also try niche gay dating sites if you tend to like a certain type of man, but in general, the more popular apps offer the greatest chance of success — it's a numbers game.

Whether you're looking for something serious, a hookup, something that stays strictly online, or an altogether different definition of connection, there's an ideal queer dating app out there for you. So, here's a breakdown of the best dating apps for gay men to help you find your perfect match.

Jack Karlson, the Australian man who became a viral meme due to protesting his arrest after a "succulent Chinese meal," has died. He was 82.

Karlson rose to fame by virtue of his vocal objection to being arrested outside the China Sea Restaurant in Brisbane, Queensland in the early '90s. In the viral video shot by 7NEWS, Karlson dramatically resisted several police officers' efforts to escort him into a car. Rather than go quietly, Karlson theatrically declared that what is happening to him is a demonstration of democracy in action, and demanded to know the reason for his arrest.

"Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest," Karlson announced. "What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?"

SEE ALSO: The best memes of 2024 (so far)

He also shouted at the police to "get your hand off my penis," and complimented them on their headlock, saying, "I see that you know your judo well." Karlson is not seen in a headlock during the video, and later admitted that nobody had touched his genitals.

While Karlson's arrest was filmed on Oct. 11, 1991, it didn't make its way online until almost two decades later. Uploaded to YouTube in 2009, the short clip eventually permeated the public consciousness, becoming a viral meme enjoyed across the globe. The clip is now so well-known that it was even referenced in Netflix's Australian series Heartbreak High.

"What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?"

Despite the video going viral, Karlson's identity remained a mystery until 2020, when he publicly stepped forward as the man in the clip. His later years were spent on art, with Karlson attempting to earn money by painting scenes from his famous arrest.

Karlson had been battling prostate cancer at the time of his passing. He died in hospital, surrounded by loved ones.

Tributes have poured in on social media, with many stating their intention to enjoy a succulent Chinese meal in his honour. 

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Among those paying their respects is 7NEWS senior reporter Chris Reason, whose work as a junior reporter brought us the meme. Karlson and Reason recently met for the first time in June, when 7NEWS reunited them and Stoll Watt, one of the arresting officers. The men shared a succulent Chinese meal at the China Sea, which had relocated to Milton in the intervening years and still has the same owner.

The reunion was sparked by a documentary about Karlson's life that is currently in production, with The Man Who Ate A Succulent Chinese Meal currently scheduled for release in March next year.

The history of the 'succulent Chinese meal' man

Born as Cecil George Edwards, Karlson already had an interesting history prior to his famous arrest, Australia's ABC News reports. A criminal, actor, and serial prison escapee, Karlson survived childhood abuse and spent much of his life in various homes, institutions, and prisons.

Karlson's first prison break reportedly took place in 1966 when, charged with stealing, he slipped his handcuffs and jumped from a train, taking him from jail to court. Subsequently incarcerated at an island prison farm for another theft, Karlson's second escape reportedly occurred in 1968 when he persuaded a local fisherman to take him to Australia's mainland.

He was arrested yet again just three months after that escape, caught with safe-cracking tools in a stolen car. This time Karlson impersonated a police detective and simply walked out of his cell in the court shortly before his trial, an escape he later said he was "pretty proud of."

After he was finally caught for good, Karlson was sentenced to eight years in prison. However he was eventually released after only four, thanks to his work with his cellmate Jim McNeal. McNeal discovered a talent for writing, eventually becoming a celebrated playwright whose works were staged across Australia. Meanwhile, Karlson discovered an affinity for acting, performing in his cellmate's plays while the two were behind bars. 

They remained good friends after their release, with Karlson even naming his son after McNeal. Though legal issues prevented him from attending McNeal's funeral in 1982, Karlson claimed he used a fake identity to buy "hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of flowers and wreaths."

Karlson also continued to act, appearing on crime shows such as Homicide and Matlock Police. However, his theatrical ambitions were brought to a halt when he reportedly went underground after his 1991 arrest.

Was the 'democracy manifest' man wrongly accused?

Though speculation has long persisted that the "democracy manifest" man was a prolific dine-and-dasher, Karlson always maintained he was having a perfectly legal lunch when he was arrested.

On that fateful day in October 1991, Karlson and a friend had been enjoying said "succulent Chinese meal" at one of his favourite restaurants when the police showed up to arrest him. Due to a call from a private fraud investigator, the authorities believed Karlson had been paying for his meals with stolen credit cards — and was one of Queensland's most wanted criminals.

"He was happy to go with us. Well, as happy as you can be, to be arrested," Adam Firman, another police officer involved, told the ABC. "Until he saw all the media. And that's when he just went berserk."

Karlson successfully made bail after his arrest, despite being wanted for questioning for fraud in another state. He then disappeared, keeping a low profile for decades. To this day, it's still unclear whether he was the dine-and-dasher the police had been searching for, or if he had been wrongly accused.

He also gave varying accounts as to why he behaved as he did on the day of his arrest. When he was first identified as the viral video's star in 2020, Karlson stated that he had wanted the police to think he was mentally unwell.

"I wanted them to think I was… a lunatic so they’d send me to a lunatic asylum so I could escape from there," said Karlson, per The Sydney Morning Herald.

Then in a 7NEWS Brisbane interview in 2022, the viral star claimed it was an effort to demonstrate his innocence — as well as a result of the wine he'd drunk.

"I thought, 'Here’s an opportunity to prove my innocence, because they’ve dragged me out, thinking I was some sort of international gangster, when I knew that I wasn’t," Karlson explained to the broadcaster. "Here’s a chance, the camera, for the people of Australia and to let democracy manifest itself gloriously. That’s why I carried on like that. Of course, I was somewhat influenced by the juice of the red grape."

However, he told ABC News earlier this year that he couldn't remember why he made such declarations. Whatever the reason, his words will now live forever as one of the most prolific memes in Australian culture.

"It was a great line, I think he should have gotten the Academy Award," Watt said of Karlson's false claim that the former had touched his penis. "I think he would have been a great actor."

Over the last three wild seasons of The Umbrella Academy, we've followed the Hargreeves family through a metric fucktonne of capers. In case you forgot, these superpowered, time-travelling siblings have destroyed (and saved) the world multiple times. They've infrequently murdered and resurrected each other, started a sex cult, destroyed the moon, grieved their robot mother and chimpanzee caretaker, had a "Footloose" dance battle, fallen in love during the Vietnam War, joined the Civil Rights Movement in '60s Dallas, and were somehow involved in the JFK assassination. 

Plus, they've grown closer as a family. Maybe. Not really. Wait, absolutely not.

Nevertheless, it's brutal to say goodbye to the Hargreeves, having become such wonderfully flawed characters in our TV overloaded lives, thanks to the Netflix adaptation of Gerard Way's comic series. Watching Luther (Tom Hopper), Diego (David Castañeda), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Klaus (Robert Sheehan), Number Five (Aidan Gallagher), Ben (Justin H. Min), Viktor (Elliot Page), and honorary Hargreeves member Lila (Ritu Arya) bicker like children as they attempt to stop the world from combusting has been an unshakeable, dark delight for five years. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Umbrella Academy' final season trailer combines Santa, stripping, and saving the world

And with the fourth and final season, The Umbrella Academy takes just six episodes for a glorious and surreal victory lap. It's a fond and daring farewell to a truly undefinable show, with superb performances from the core cast with incredibly welcome newcomers, festive fever dream action sequences that must have been hard to pitch, and a good hard narrative look at some of the series biggest unsolved mysteries — though it leaves most behind. It's messed-up family reunion time, one last time.

What is The Umbrella Academy Season 4 about? ROAD TRIP! Credit: Netflix

As far as farewells go, this is one of the most unhinged and “just go with it” goodbyes you'll see on TV this year. And thanks to Season 3, the bar is hilariously high. Last time around, the Hargreeves siblings shoved the Kugelblitz into a sentient cube called Christopher, had a wedding at the end of the world, and fought samurai made of cockroaches in the Hotel Oblivion before their alien dad Sir Reginald (Colm Feore) created a new timeline and caused everyone to lose their powers.

The series could have ended there, but Season 4 gives fans a final, six-episode hurrah. When we catch up with the Umbrella Academy this time, however, the Academy itself doesn't exist. Here, the powerless Hargreeves are struggling with human mediocrity (despite the set design team's insistence on dazzling neon hues in every scene). Reunited at a six-year-old's birthday party, things are awkward and boring and normal. Ka-blam! There's a kidnapping, a crucial missing person, a timeline cult, and a revelation that Ben could be a ticking time bomb for the end of the world. FAMILY ROAD TRIP!

Jen and Ben. Credit: Netflix

In this new timeline, there's a growing threat in the form of extremist conspiracy theorist organization The Keepers. The group was established by the phenomenally cast Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly as lovers, disgraced community college professors, and Umbrellaphiles Gene and Jean Thibedeau (yes they make “who is the dominant Gene/Jean" jokes). There's a growing suspicion of the existence of multiple timelines among the group, and Gene and Jean seem to have a plan to expose it. Here, and I have to say it, The Umbrella Academy both makes conspiracy theorists the villains and makes them right?! Sure!

At the heart of the final season is Ben, whose volatility toward his siblings only grows stronger after he lost all his Sparrow siblings last season. But he's the key to a global disaster, and his siblings need to figure out what the mysterious "Jennifer incident" means for their brother before everything goes to shit. And while all that is happening, the Hargreeves have some final confrontations and mysteries to handle, with plenty of individual moments for our beloved core siblings — including a truly unexpected enemies to lovers storyline.

A final airing of Hargrievances The rival to buddy cop trajectory is real. Credit: Netflix

One of the best elements of The Umbrella Academy has always been throwing extremely different personalities together as family. The talented cast chews through the punchy script, selling it full deadpan with either nihilism or hilarious earnestness; Raver-Lampman genuinely saying "I'm sorry you left Canada for this," in a moment of peril is perfection.

Probably the standout of the season is Hopper as leading himbo Luther, who bulldozes awkwardness with unhinged optimism. Watching Hopper losing his shit over antique sconces and stress eating cupcakes is a delight, and he's wonderfully teamed up with a hilarious Castañeda this season, moving Luther and Diego from sibling rivals to buddy cops.

But honorary Hargreeve sibling Lila really gets the most impressive arc, with Arya delivering the most nuanced performance of the season, pushing our favourite assassin to moments of relatable reflection and heartbreaking vulnerability. And Gallagher finds a softness to Five we haven't seen before, hidden among all that teen bravado.

Uh, where are we? Credit: Netflix

Meanwhile, Raver-Lampman's Alison gets the redemption she deserves after they did that to her character last round — Alison's "ballbuster" scene is worthy of The Boys. Not the hedonistic, immortal Klaus of seasons gone, Sheehan navigates a sober, paranoid Klaus this season, playing between extreme vulnerability and the character’s signature theatricality. 

Page is characteristically flawless as Viktor, whose daddy issues find their moment in the blazing sun, while Min gets to find Ben's true heart (he has one!) amid a True Romance-style on-the-run adventure. Plus, we get a welcome new addition to the cast with Victoria Sawal, bringing a brilliant energy to a character integral to the fate of the Hargreeves but who we can't talk about without spoiling anything. 

So we'll move on to the biggest casting treat of all: Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman.

Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally are the ultimate dastardly duo These two ❤️‍🔥 Credit: Netflix

Whomever managed to cast real-life loves Offerman and Mullally in this season of The Umbrella Academy deserves a raise. A dastardly duo of Fargo-like villains cruising around in their '80s Chrysler LeBaron Town and Country, wearing matching aviator spectacles, alpaca wool coats, and fanny packs in every scene, and stealing the whole damn season with a Cher-based dance sequence, Gene and Jean are the true highlight of Season 4. 

They're conspiracy theorists kicked out of academia for their claims, and they have a grudge to bear, setting up an apocalypse cult HQ in the middle of an American fast food chain restaurant. Somehow, Mullally and Offerman make you want to hang out with these weirdos and join their cause. Watching Jean and Gene flirt will forever be my twisted happy place, as Offerman and Mullally lend a physical comedy and earnest, cheeky delivery that plays to both of their strengths.

The damned dream team are offset by another delightful addition to the cast, David Cross, who channels his signature comedy style to earnest dry cleaner Sy Grossman. And they're all perfectly lit by a strange narrative set element: the whole thing's set at Christmas.

Season 4 is a festive fever dream Uh, Viktor? Credit: Netflix

The final season of The Umbrella Academy seems bedecked with yuletide cheer, from a festive small town with a secret to the tinselled halls of the CIA. Visually, The Umbrella Academy has always been one of the best shows on TV, with bizarro action sequences aplenty lit with every neon gel around, but this season it’s completely decorated with Christmas accoutrements. Season 4, for some reason, is set during the holidays, meaning every scene is lit with twinkly lights and whimsy even when the bullets and blood are flying. Somehow, it makes the whole season feel like a six-episode Christmas special we deserve, a festive fever dream to unite and farewell the Hargreeves in the weirdest way possible. 

And of course, this is The Umbrella Academy, so you know there's going to be plenty of needle drops during fight scenes — including a slew of Christmas carols and the ultimate song to end the series on. The season's insistence on using the pretty outdated "Baby Shark" song feels overdone, mind you, but I'll forgive them seeing as it scores a whole scene of projectile vomiting.

It's scenes like this disgusting, glorious, slow-motion moment that make me realise how much I'll miss The Umbrella Academy. After four seasons of genuinely unpredictable twists and turns with a magnetic cast, sublime set and costume design, and enough needle drops to start out our own Amoeba Music, The Umbrella Academy has felt like strange TV family to fans like myself. Season 4, a brief but bonkers last ride, makes for a magnificent send-off. 

Finally, with no more episodes of The Umbrella Academy ahead, I think we're alone now. 

The Umbrella Academy Season 4 is streaming on Netflix from Aug. 8.

Things aren't looking very bright for Humane.

The company's only product, Humane AI Pin, is being returned en masse, with returns actually outpacing sales in the past couple of months.

This is according to The Verge, who spoke to people with knowledge of the subject, and saw Humane's internal sales data. According to the report, more AI Pins were returned than purchased between May and August. And as of today, only 7,000 to 8,000 units have not been returned.

The Humane AI Pin is an interesting product, a rectangular wearable gadget with speech recognition, AI smarts, a camera, and a tiny laser projector that can display a rudimentary "screen" onto your palm. Unfortunately, it was met with scathing reviews, exacerbated by issues with a charging case that turned out to be a fire hazard.

SEE ALSO: Humane to AI Pin owners: Don't use the charging case, it may burst into flames

I've personally spent a few minutes with the Humane AI Pin and found it to be an incredibly cool gadget, though Humane's ambitions of the AI Pin replacing the smartphone seemed unrealistic.

Judging by this latest sales/returns data, the novelty of the AI Pin wears off fast (and the $24/month subscription fee probably doesn't help). Humane reportedly shipped a total of around 10,000 AI Pins so far, falling far behind its expectations to sell 100,000 units in the first year.

To make matters worse, Humane reportedly cannot refurbish returned items due to a technical limitation related to T-Mobile's service, which effectively turns returned items into waste (and a total loss for the company).

When asked for comment, Humane said that The Verge's report contained inaccuracies, without specifying what they are.

A Bloomberg report in May said that Humane was looking for a buyer, and an NYT report in June said HP was interested. Given how its only product currently in the market is doing, Humane better start looking harder.

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 8 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 8

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, August 8, 2024:

AcrossQ-tip, for instance

• The answer is swab.

Bracelet dangler

• The answer is charm.

Pricey watchmaker with a crown logo

• The answer is Rolex.

Rubs the wrong way

• The answer is irks.

Spanish for "kiss"

• The answer is beso.

DownPlace to find seashells

• The answer is shore.

"Enjoys long ___ on the beach" (classic phrase in a personal ad)

• The answer is walks.

Retort to "Am not!"

• The answer is retort.

Stunt rider's sport, for short

• The answer is BMX.

Bed with a blankie

• The answer is crib.

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.

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 8 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 8

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Splashy event

The hint for the theme is that each of these words are great in the summertime.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are related to pool parties.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is PoolParty.

NYT Strands word list for August 8

• Noodles

• Floats

• PoolParty

• Drinks

• Towels

• Music

• Sunscreen

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.

This Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max face-off will help you understand how Google's new addition to the Pixel series compares to Apple's most premium flagship phone.

The Pixel series is now more similar to the iPhone series than ever. Instead of having a dual-phone family, Google added a third model this generation. (One could even argue that the Pixel series has a four-phone family if the launch of the new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold counts.)

Whether you're stuck in iPhone vs. Android analysis paralysis, or you're just curious about the differences between the Pixel 9 Pro XL and iPhone 15 Pro Max, you've come to the right place.

SEE ALSO: I tested Apple Intelligence on my iPhone 15 Pro Max: 3 ways it spoiled me rotten Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max price and specs

The Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,099 and comes with the following specs:

• Google Tensor G4 processor and Titan M2 security coprocessor

• 16GB of RAM

• 128GB of storage

• 6.8-inch, 2992 x 1344-pixel OLED display

• Android 14 (Android 15 coming soon)

You can also upgrade the Pixel 9 Pro XL to 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage variants. In my experience as a phone reviewer, 128GB becomes full in just under two years, so I'd opt for 256GB for worry-free usage (if you have the money to blow, of course).

The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, has a starting price tag that is $100 pricier than the Pixel 9 Pro at $1,119 via Apple (or $33 per month for 36 months via Verizon or AT&T via Best Buy) and it comes with the following specs:

• A17 Pro chip

• 8GB of RAM

• 256GB of storage

• 6.7-inch, 2796 x 1290-pixel display

• iOS 17 (iOS 18 coming soon)

Right off the bat, the biggest difference is the RAM. As a rule, more memory implies that app juggling will be smoother and more seamless. However, in my experience, despite having less memory, the iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn't have any issues with balancing multiple apps. This is likely do to its optimized operating system (iOS manages resources quite effectively without needing too much RAM).

So far, when it comes to pricing, the Pixel 9 Pro XL and iPhone 15 Pro Max are tied. The former may be cheaper, but offers less storage.

TLDR: The Pixel Pro XL may have more RAM (internals that benefit app juggling), but the iPhone 15 Pro Max runs on iOS, which known to be quite efficient at app management, even when multiple apps are running in the background. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's starting price may be $100 cheaper, but it offers less storage.

Winner: Draw

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max $1,119.99 at Best Buy
Get Deal Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max design

Both the iPhone and Pixel series have a signature look, but Google slightly tweaked the design of its new-generation line. For example, the Pixel series' design language once featured a camera bar that extends to the chassis' edges.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, Google has made the camera bar on the back of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the other new Pixels, more island-like.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL, made out of recycled aluminum. comes in the following colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose Quartz.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a height of 6.4 inches and is 0.3 inches thick. If you're wondering about how heavy it is, it weighs 7.8 ounces.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max, packed inside a titanium frame, continues to have its triple-camera array on the top-right corner. It comes in four colorways: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium.

Credit: Apple

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a little shorter than the Pixel 9 Pro XL at 6.3 inches. It's also slightly thicker (0.33 inches).

Both have an IP68 water resistance rating, which means they can handle water submergence of up to about five feet.

TLDR: The Pixel 9 Pro XL has an island-style camera bar on the back while the iPhone 15 Pro Max continues its upper-left camera array signature design language. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is taller and thinner than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro XL

Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max display

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch, 2992 x 1344-pixel display. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, has a 6.7-inch, 2796 x 1290-pixel panel. Based on these specs, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a slightly larger display and higher resolution.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a Ceramic Shield panel, which Apple claims is tougher than other phone displays. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which can be found across the entire non-foldable Pixel 9 line.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has less of a distracting display with a hole-punch selfie camera in the top center. In the same spot, the iPhone 15 Pro Max sports the pill-shaped Dynamic Island, which delivers animated information like Apple Pay transactions, low battery warnings, AirDrop transfers, and more.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Credit: Apple

In my experience, both have a zippy panel. After all, they both support a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Now, let's take a look at brightness:

Pixel 9 Pro XL: Up to 2,000 hits (HDR)

iPhone 15 Pro Max: Up to 1,600 nits (HDR)

When it comes to high dynamic range (HDR) content, the Pixel 9 Pro XL can reportedly climb to 2,000 nits compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 1,600 nits.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As far as peak brightness is concerned, the Pixel 9 Pro XL can jump to 3,000 nits. Compare this to the 2,000-nit peak brightness of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

TLDR: The Pixel 9 Pro XL, compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, has a brighter display as well as a higher resolution panel.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro XL

Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max cameras

Let's take a look at the selfie camera first:

Pixel 9 Pro XL - 42MP, f/2.2 aperture

iPhone 15 Pro Max - 12MP, f/1.9 aperture

On paper, it appears that the Pixel 9 Pro XL has an edge of the iPhone 15 Pro Max with its selfie camera delivering a higher megapixel count, which should offer better detail and higher-resolution pictures.

Pixel 9 Pro XL with a slight glimpse of the Pixel 9 Pro on the left Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max's selfie camera should perform better in dim environments and offer superior bokeh (that cool blurry background effect) due to its wider aperture.

Next, let's check out the wide camera:

Pixel 9 Pro XL - 50MP, f/1.68 aperture

iPhone 15 Pro Max - 48MP, f/1.8 aperture

Here, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, just based on specs alone, appears to have a tiny edge over the iPhone 15 Pro Max when it comes to the main camera with a slightly higher megapixel count and a possible advantage in low-light conditions.

Thirdly, let's look at the ultrawide camera, which is helpful for capturing as much background as possible. (You'll want to choose this lens for any sweeping landscape shots.)

Pixel 9 Pro XL - 48MP, f/1.7 aperture, 123-degree field of view

iPhone 15 Pro Max - 12MP, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree field-of-view

Based on the information we have, the Pixel 9 Pro XL should offer a wider field of view compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It may also offer more visually pleasing photos in low-light conditions.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Credit: Apple

Based on the megapixel count, the Pixel 9 Pro XL may deliver better details.

Finally, let's check out the telephoto lens, which is ideal for portraits and zoomed-in shots.

Pixel 9 Pro XL - 48MP, f/2.8, aperture, 5x optical zoom

iPhone 15 Pro Max - 12MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom

The similarities here are that the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the iPhone 15 Pro Max both rely on the telephoto lens to deliver 5x optical zoom. Once you zoom in beyond 5x, the software kicks in.

On the Pixel 9 Pro XL, it can climb up to 30x digital zoom. I've experimented with it myself, and it's pretty darn incredible. From two miles away inside a building in Manhattan's Pier 57, I could zoom in on sightseers visiting The Edge, the tallest observation deck in New York City.

Zooming in on The Edge with the Pixel 9 Pro XL's Super Res Zoom at 30x Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The iPhone 15 Pro Max's digital zoom can climb up to 25X. Both have excellent telephoto in my experience, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL's Super Res Zoom can hone in on objects just a little bit more.

On paper, it may seem like the Pixel 9 Pro XL has the win. However, there are plenty of other factors at play when it comes to cameras, including image processing, software algorithms, and more.

TLDR: The Pixel 9 Pro XL can zoom in closer on objects compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Pixel 9 Pro XL's cameras appear to outperform the iPhone 15 Pro Max's lenses, but there are other factors to consider. We'll have to test them both first to know for sure.

Winner: Pixel 9 Pro XL

Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max AI features

Apple plays it a little safe when it comes to AI. For consumers who are very privacy focused and concerned about the responsible use of AI, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the one for you. Earlier this year, the Cupertino-based tech giant debuted Apple Intelligence, Apple's new suite of AI features.

Using Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 15 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Apple Intelligence, which currently has some features available to try on the beta version of iOS 18, offers perks like Call Recording and Writing Tools, as well as AI-powered Siri, Mail, Messages, and Safari.

Apple is taking a very delicate approach with AI. Some of the more complex features, like Genmoji (AI-generated emojis) and Image Playground (AI-generated images via prompts) aren't even available yet for testing. This is likely because Apple wants to take its time with a tricky space like AI.

Google, on the other hand, is going all out. Check out some of the following AI features you can use on the Pixel 9 Pro XL:

• AI-powered weather app - AI-generated summaries of the weather with recommendations on how to dress

• Screenshot search - Find screenshots in your screenshot album with natural language search

• Pixel Studio - Create AI-generated images

• Reimagine - Select an object in any photo and transform it into something else

Below, watch Reimagine transform a road into raging rapids. And those don't even scratch the surface of what Google has to offer in terms of AI.

Left: Before using Reimagine Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: After using Reimagine Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

These features are available now on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Apple Intelligence will be available some time later this year when iOS 18 officially drops, but some features may be delayed.

TLDR: Apple Intelligence is best for privacy-focused consumers who don't mind that Apple plays it safe when it comes to AI. For those who want to dive head first into AI, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is your best bet.

Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max battery

Apple claims that, according to its video playback battery test, the iPhone 15 Pro Max can last up to 29 hours. Google, on the other hand, reports that the Pixel 9 Pro XL can last over 24 hours based on a mixed usage profile of talk, data, standby and other features.

Pixel 9 Pro XL Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Because Google's test is slightly more intensive than Apple's investigation, it's difficult to compare both runtimes. As such, you'll have to wait until we test both phones in-house to determine which truly has the better power efficiency.

Based on past experience, the A-series chip inside the iPhones tend to be more energy efficient compared to the Google Tensor processors inside the Pixels. As such, if I was a betting woman, I'd put my money on the iPhone 15 Pro Max for best battery life. We'll have to test them both to know for sure.

Winner: iPhone 15 Pro Max

TLDR: We don't have any tests done yet, but based on past experience, the iPhone 15 Pro Max may beat the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which is best?

Without having the opportunity to do any in-depth testing, on paper, it looks like the Pixel 9 Pro XL has the edge — for now.

We'll update this page once we've got our hands on the Pixel 9 Pro XL and we review it thoroughly.

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Paris 2024 football final is finally here and it's been an incredible few matches. The semi-finals saw both Egypt and Morocco lose out on a place in the final, as France and Spain both compete for the chance of a gold medal.

Spain will be looking to continue their winning streak after taking home the European Championship title earlier this summer. But they'll face tough competition from host nation France, after they beat competitors Egypt in the semi-finals in an incredible 3-1 defeat. It's really not going to be a game you want to miss.

If you want to watch the final of the football and France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, keep reading because we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Spain at Paris 2024?

France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 takes place at 12 p.m. ET on Aug. 9.

How to watch France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free

You can live stream France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is a streaming platform that is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. VPNs are tools that hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream France vs. Spain (plus the bronze medal match) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Through Sept. 3, this Microsoft Visual Studio software and online course bundle gives you the tools and the knowledge to create apps, websites, and games for £44.09.

The problem with most online coding courses? They only give you half the tools you need to succeed. Sure, knowledge is great, but you still need a coding environment where you can build, execute, and debug your programs. And that's what makes this bundle such an exciting deal for novice coders.

Explore 15 online courses on popular programming languages like Python, C++ and JavaScript and get a lifetime pass to Microsoft Visual Studio for Windows — all on sale for £44.09 (reg. £1,574) through Sept. 3.

Microsoft Visual Studio can help you code faster and more efficiently with highlighted functions, suggested next-best sections, and auto-completed lines and blocks of code.

After downloading the software to your PC (the download includes a lifetime license for one device), you can dive into courses in Python, Java, and Ruby on Rails.

Looking to create websites, a game, an app, or an e-commerce store? These courses also cover languages like C++, Unity, Flutter, Dart, and OpenCV. With this offer, you'll have lifetime access to course materials to study on your own time.

As you write code — especially as a beginner — you’ll make mistakes and that’s totally natural. That’s why Visual Studio is designed with hot reload capabilities to allow you to debug your software without having to refresh the page. It’s like adding time onto the microwave while it’s still running.

Give your wildest coding dreams a shot with this bundle of courses and Microsoft Visual Studio for Windows on sale for £44.09 (reg. £1,574) through Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shutterstock Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle $44.09 at the Mashable Shop
$1,574.00 Save $1,529.91 Get Deal

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 8'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 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 8 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A flavorful liquid.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter 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...

SAUCY.

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.