Feed aggregator

SAVE $50: The Google Nest Audio Smart Speaker is on sale for $49.99 at Best Buy, marked down from the normal price of $99.99. That's a 50% discount that also comes with three free subscriptions.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Nest Google Nest Audio Smart Speaker $49.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you've never taken care of household chores or cooked dinner while listening to an audiobook, you're missing out. And if audiobooks aren't your thing, your favorite playlist or podcast can also transform an otherwise dull task into something enjoyable. Today at Best Buy, you can score a great deal on a smart speaker from Google Nest, which also comes with bonus perks.

As of Aug. 21, the Google Nest Audio Smart Speaker is on sale for $49.99, down 50% from the normal price of $99.99. That's a $50 savings on a top-rated smart home product. Plus, on top of the speaker itself, you'll also get some noteworthy extras for free:

• Free 4-month subscription to SiriusXM

• Free 3-month access to Google One with 100 GB of cloud storage

• Free 3-month subscription to YouTube Premium

Synching with streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, you can ask the Google Nest Audio to play all your favorite songs. You can also tune into the news, podcasts, and the radio with voice control.

If you have other Google Nest speakers in the house, you can ask Google to move your music from room to room as you move around. Or you can let the whole house know dinner's ready by broadcasting messages over all your household's Nest speakers. While jamming out in the morning to your wake-up playlist, you can ask Google for your daily schedule or the weather forecast so you can plan your day.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Hands-on with the thinnest foldable you can get

Google has made some major product announcements lately, like the upgraded Google Nest Learning Thermostat, the new Google TV Streamer (which will replace the Chromecast), the new Pixel 9 lineup, and the Pixel Watch 3. However, Google didn't announce any new smart speakers, so the Nest Audio remains the latest model.

The half-off sale price paired with free subscriptions makes this a great time to snag the Google Nest Audio. Doing household chores, making dinner, or getting ready in the morning while enjoying some premium tunes on the Nest Audio will surely make the tasks more enjoyable.

I’ve reviewed good chunk of laptops over past few years, many of which were Lenovo laptops, so I'm a bit of a master, if I say so myself.

I evaluate how comfortable and intuitive a keyboard is for typing, whether the display meets my expectations for brightness and crispness, how hot and noisy the laptop gets under heavy use, whether the speakers and webcam are mediocre (like most laptops), and much more.

That said, you know I mean it when I say these are the best Lenovo laptops you can get.

The best Lenovo laptops

Because Lenovo generally delivers high-quality laptops, choosing my three favorites wasn’t an easy task. There are so many different laptop lines under Lenovo — ThinkPad, ThinkBook, the Legion and LOQ gaming laptops, Yoga, IdeaPad — and I haven’t had a chance to review all of the lines over the past few months.

But out of all the Lenovo laptops I've tested this year, these three laptops stood above the rest.

1. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a dual-screen productivity masterpiece

When I first unboxed the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, I remember thinking, “This is so cool, but I couldn’t see myself buying it as a daily laptop.” And man, I quickly proved myself wrong. I even ended up keeping this laptop for a week longer than I normally do before sending a review unit back.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

After just a few weeks with this laptop, I was obsessed. With two stunning 2880 x 1800-pixel OLED panels, a surprisingly satisfying keyboard, and the included wireless mouse, I was more productive than I've ever been — it was like bringing my two-monitor desktop setup with me wherever I went.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

While this laptop’s dual display greatness is my favorite feature, it wasn’t the only feature that impressed me. The Yoga Book 9i is also equipped with a rotating Bowers & Wilkins soundbar that had me listening to my favorite bassy tracks on repeat. Plus, the webcam takes incredibly detailed shots.

During my time with the Yoga Book 9i, it never got too hot nor noisy, and I didn’t notice any lag while performing my daily work. That said, its Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 8,642 reflects middle-of-the-road performance and is worth noting.

There was one feature I wasn’t crazy about when reviewing the Yoga Book 9i: its battery life. In our 1080p video test, it only lasted 7 hours and 5 minutes, which is low even for a Windows laptop. That said, it does charge quickly — and if you’re like me, there’s rarely a moment where I’m not next to an outlet, so I’d still highly recommend this laptop despite its short battery life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable Lenovo Yoga Book 9i $1,799.00 at Best Buy
$1,999.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

You can buy the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i for $1,999 via Best Buy.

2. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 is ideal if you're on a budget

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9 is a newer version of my daily driver laptop (the Yoga 9i Gen 7), and if I needed to replace my existing laptop, this one would be a strong contender.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Before diving into which hardware features I love about the Yoga 9i 2-in-1, let’s talk price, because that’s a huge driving factor behind my recommendation. At full price, this laptop is $1,449 — that’s already a great deal. Right now, you can grab the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 for just $1,099 via Best Buy.

To help you understand why paying $1,099 for this laptop is insane, let me tell you what it brings to the table. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9 is decked out with a vivid 2.8K OLED display, a rotating Bowers & Wilkins soundbar that provides full-bodied, delicious audio, a comfortably springy keyboard, and a flexible form factor that lets you flip between tablet, tent, and laptop modes.

This laptop is also equipped with one of Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 155H chips, and it earned an impressive Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 12,345. In practice, the laptop ran a bit hot and noisy under pressure, but nothing too major.

And like its close sibling above, the Yoga Book 9i, the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 doesn’t have the best battery life. It only lasted 7 hours and 21 minutes in our 1080p video test, but with double-sided USB Type-C ports and fast charging, it wasn’t that big of a deal for me while testing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 $1,799.99 at Lenovo
Get Deal 3. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 has mind-blowing battery life

If you’re looking for a Lenovo laptop with exceptional battery life, look no further than Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9. In our 1080p video test, this laptop lasted 14 hours and 21 minutes, double that of both Yoga laptops mentioned above.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

That lengthy battery life could be due to the laptop’s Intel Core Ultra 155U CPU or its 1920 x 1200-pixel, low-power IPS display with a matte finish, or a combination of the two. Its display is reminiscent of a Kindle, which feels easy on the eyes during long work days.

I enjoyed the laptop’s springy keyboard, smooth glass touchpad, surprisingly capable speakers hidden below the keyboard, and overall port variety — I love seeing HDMI ports and multiple USB Type-A ports on laptops. The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 performs well, too, earning a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 9,420.

The only hangup I have with the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 is its price. It’s a business-forward laptop, but if you don’t need 1TB of storage, you’re paying a premium for this configuration. The exact configuration I reviewed is $2,419 via B&H,

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 $2,419.00 at B&H Photo
Get Deal

August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning 1987 play "The Piano Lesson" has been adapted into a film. Trailer.

One of the most stressful parts of travel, especially when traveling internationally, is worrying about your cell phone data. Am I using too much? Will there be extra charges? Will I run out and be stranded? These are questions we’ve all asked ourselves when roaming abroad — which is where Nomad comes in. Nomad provides data-only eSIM cards for reliable connectivity in 170 countries, giving you access to high-speed data for just pennies per gigabyte. Here’s how: 

Democratizing data with global partnerships

Nomad has dozens of global partners, allowing them to provide a reliable, high-quality connection to your mobile device and offer data that’s up to 40 percent cheaper than other providers, depending on your destination. Nomad stands out of the crowd by working with multiple local providers whenever possible, allowing you to connect to another network if a connection is bad.

Data you need, when and where you need it 

Nomad has a few plan options depending on your travel itinerary. The Regular Plan offers pre-purchased data by the gigabyte with up to 30 days to use it. A Day Plan lets you choose the length of your trip and the amount of high-speed GB per day. Once that allocation is up, you get unlimited data at 512kbps. You can even opt for a Regional Plan that covers multiple countries or worldwide. For example, Nomad’s Europe Regional Plan gives you 10GB of data for just $18, that you can use as you travel through 35 countries, using a single eSIM to connect.

Credit: Nomad Help that’s actually helpful 

If you’ve never used eSIM data before, Nomad makes it as easy as scanning a QR code or tapping a simple "Install Now" button on their app, offering data monitoring and management across multiple eSIMs if you have them. Your mobile data will automatically connect when you arrive at your destination. And if you ever need help, their responsive, thorough customer support team is available 24/7, wherever you are in the world, to get you the answers you need — without making you feel like you’re dealing with an uncaring chatbot.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nomad International Cellular Data Plans Enjoy up to 50% off your eSIM data Shop Now

In addition to the savings Nomad offers, users can also save 5% off Nomad eSIM plans whenever you want using the promo code MASHABLE. If you know someone traveling soon, you can also send them to Nomad’s referral program which allows you to share codes with friends and save 25% off.

Click here to see everything that eSIM data from Nomad can add to your travel experience...and happy wandering.

If you're crap at writing emails, Gmail's latest Gemini-powered update could sort you out.

Announced by Google on Tuesday in a blog post, the new "Polish" feature for Gmail uses the company's Gemini AI to do exactly that to your draft. It's an expansion of the AI-powered "Help me write" feature launched in May last year for Google Docs and Gmail.

The "Polish" feature is available through a "Refine my draft" shortcut now appearing within email drafts on both desktop and mobile Android and iOS devices. But it's only available for people paying for Gemini for Google Workspace or Google One AI Premium. Google says the feature will be switched on by default for these users.

SEE ALSO: Gemini Live: I got to use it before you and it's the biggest threat to ChatGPT right now

When writing an email in Gmail, you can select the "Refine my draft" option to do one of the following with your trash words: Formalize, Elaborate, Shorten, and now, Polish. The Polish option lets you write the email as rough notes, then transforms it into a proper, formal email that another human will hopefully be able to understand.

According to Google, this is how the feature works:

"When 12+ words are present in an email draft, the ​​'Refine my draft' shortcut will be shown below the email content to indicate that there are options available to Polish, Formalize, Elaborate, or Shorten your draft, or Write a new draft. The menu can be triggered simply by swiping right on 'Refine my draft.'"

It's one of the few things that's new in Gemini, with only a few announcements about Google's AI at the company's "Made by Google" event last week — it was really about the new Pixel phones. However, Google did announce several Gemini-powered Gmail updates including tools to summarize your emails for you, Google Meet highlights, and the ability to ask Gemini questions about your inbox.

At the event, Google also announced Gemini Live, its AI chatbot that Mashable tech editor Kim Gedeon dubbed "the biggest threat to ChatGPT right now."

Netflix has released a trailer for "Squid Game: Unleashed", a playable version of the streamer's hit show.

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 21 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 21

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, August 21, 2024:

AcrossTop ten, e.g.

• The answer is List.

Nintendo antagonist in a yellow hat and purple overalls

• The answer is Wario.

One end of a battery

• The answer is Anode.

Ten in an Olympic swimming pool

• The answer is Lanes.

What "X" can mean

• The answer is Kiss.

DownHawaiian island seen from the west shore of Maui

• The answer is Lanai.

Unwrinkles, as a dress shirt

• The answer is Irons.

A decagon has ten

• The answer is Sides.

Bottom ten?

• The answer is Toes.

Go for a stroll

• The answer is Walk.

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.

Attics are all very well and good when they're being used for storage and you don't have to think about them all that much — but what if you woke one morning to find that the hatch had been...disturbed?

This was the unpleasant scenario 30-year-old freelance artist and store owner Loppy Rae from Tennessee, U.S., found themselves in recently. And it only got worse from there.

SEE ALSO: Scream time: The best horror movies on Netflix right now

"So, this morning I went into the garage and noticed the attic was wide open. We don’t use it and it’s a heavy panel, so I was freaked out already but trying to play it cool for my kid," wrote Rae on X (formerly Twitter). "But tell me why my 5yo stared straight into the darkness and said “a man lives there.”

Tweet may have been deleted

Nope, nope, nope.

At the time of writing, that post has over 5,000 shares and 13 million views.

Rae went on to share an image of the open attic hatch — along with a new detail they'd only just noticed.

Tweet may have been deleted

"The attic in question and tell me why I just noticed the fucking black handprint I’m SCREAMING," they wrote.

Rae confirmed in a later post that their husband has been up in the attic to have a look, but there's nothing there.

"For the handprint, the only explanation i can think of is that it’s leftover from when we got a home inspection last year," Rae told Mashable. "We just purchased this house a little over a year ago. Neither my husband nor I have been up to the attic since we moved in, since we don’t really have a lot of things to store. It’s completely empty, aside from the insulation. Technically, this is the second time we have found the latch open without explanation. The first time, I admittedly thought my husband was just messing with me."

Tweet may have been deleted

Rae said the internet is convinced they have a phrogger — a person who secretly hides in another person's home. But Rae isn't so sure. "With all due respect, we live out in the middle of nowhere. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone just wandering around out here in the sticks, especially with all the recent bear sightings in our town. And if it is truly a person, he’d have to be pretty dumb to leave the latch open." 

Rae said they haven't heard any noises coming from the attic, but that they sleep with ear plugs in anyway.

"My kid, on the other hand, mentioned that he heard banging above his bed. This was after the attic had already been closed up again."

As a last ditch effort to work out what's going on, they've now set up a camera in the garage.

Tweet may have been deleted

"I only set the camera up last night, so I’m afraid that I don’t have much in terms of updates. When these things happen, people are always eager for updates, but I think it’s funny that the only way we would have an update is if something bad were to happen," Rae said.

"As for my son…he has mentioned the man multiple times, but it’s hard to make sense of what he’s saying. He doesn’t watch horror movies and he’s never out of our sight for long. I don’t know where the idea of a man in the attic came from. He talks about his imaginary friends often, and it’s hard to determine what’s nonsense and what isn’t. It’s all unsettling nonetheless."

Taylor Swift released a new video for "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart", featuring Eras Tour behind-the-scenes footage.

Some 430 light-years from Earth lies our stalwart cosmic beacon, the North Star.

Except this star is actually volatile. It's pulsating as it constantly grows and shrinks. And a new unprecedented image of the hot ball of gas reveals it's covered in large spots.

In research published by The Astrophysical Journal, researchers used an array of telescopes in California's San Gabriel Mountains — the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) Array — to capture an image of the famous star, also known as Polaris. The star is located almost directly above the North Pole and in line with Earth's rotational axis, so it appears at a constant point in the sky (and serves as a navigational reference).

Yet Polaris is a "cepheid variable" star, meaning its brightness fluctuates dramatically. The array's view of the North Star — the first look at the surface of a cepheid variable — showed its surface is actually covered in spots.

"The CHARA images revealed large bright and dark spots on the surface of Polaris that changed over time," Gail Schaefer, director of the CHARA Array, which is operated by Georgia State University, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: The most fascinating star in our sky inches closer to exploding

The view below shows these newly observed spots. Capturing such an image from deep space is quite a feat. The North Star appears 600,000 times smaller in the sky than a full moon.

Vivid bright and dark spots seen on the surface of Polaris. Credit: CHARA Array / Georgia State University The North Star, at center, as viewed in the night sky. Credit: NASA / Preston Dyches

The new imagery also revealed that the North star, which is part of a three-star system, is five times more massive than our medium-sized sun, and 46 times wider.

To capture this stellar view, six spaced-out telescopes atop the lofty array captured light from Polaris. In effect, this created a 330-meter (1,082-foot) telescope, which is needed to capture such extremely faint light. This light was ultimately fed to an instrument called the MIRC-X camera — which simultaneously combines the light from all six telescopes.

Polaris' behavior still largely remains a mystery. Solar scientists know it grows and shrinks over four-day cycles, but its spotted appearance may be tied to 120-day cycles. "We plan to continue imaging Polaris in the future," astronomer John Monnier, one of the study's coauthors, also said in a statement. "We hope to better understand the mechanism that generates the spots on the surface of Polaris."

Today, Polaris might be a dominant fixture in the night sky. But it won't always be our North Star.

Earth wobbles on its axis, like a spinning top. "This causes the celestial pole to wander in a slow circle over the eons, sweeping past different stars," NASA explains. In some 12,000 years, the star Vega will be our North Star, replacing the spotted curiosity, Polaris.

There's a little fitness secret that they don’t always tell you at the gym: Muscles are made in the kitchen. Indeed, you could spend hours pumping away in the weights room, sweating it out in front of the mirror, but if your diet isn’t up to scratch, you aren’t going to get the results that you want. You'll be pumping iron for nothing.

Sorry guys, but that's just the way it works.

To work towards those fitness goals, take a closer look at the fuel you’re consuming (i.e. what you’re eating day-to-day). We definitely wouldn't recommend counting every gram going in and out, but doing something relatively simple like increasing your protein intake will improve results. You're guaranteed to see a difference.

Upping your protein may help keep muscles healthy and boost your muscle mass. You could load up on meat — and pack it into every meal — but that would be both expensive and boring. (Not to mention bad for the environment!) The most effective and affordable method of adding protein to your diet is with something called whey protein powder. Here’s a quick need-to-know guide.

What is whey protein powder?

Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese-making process. Whey is the watery bit of milk that separates from curds when cheese is made. We agree that it doesn’t sound appetising but there's more on that issue below. Whey protein usually comes in the form of a powder — packages in flexible sachets or plastic tubs — and can be mixed with liquids to make milkshake or smoothie-like drinks that you can drink as part of a set daily routine, or before and after workouts.

What are the benefits of whey protein powder?

There’s some debate about the exact health benefits of whey protein powders, but there's some evidence to suggest that adding protein powder to your workout routine boosts strength, muscle mass, and recovery. Other potential benefits include weight gain, faster healing properties, and combatting allergies.

Are whey protein powders safe?

Always check with your healthcare professional before you increase your protein intake significantly. There are a few risks for people with particular illnesses, so we recommend playing it safe before you invest. Once that is out of the way, there's nothing stopping you from mixing and maximising those muscles.

Do whey protein powders come in different flavours?

A "byproduct of cheese-making" sounds a bit sickly, yes. But supplement companies add flavours and sweeteners to their powders, while keeping calories and carbohydrates to a minimum. This ensures that it is both palatable and effective at doing what you want it to do — build muscle. Flavours include chocolate, banana, vanilla, and strawberry. What's not to like?

What is the best protein powder?

To help you pick the best product for your particular set of goals, we have researched all the top protein powders, and compared brands, prices, reviews, and much more. We've then condensed all of this information into a handy list, so that you can make an informed decision.

These are the best protein powders for 2024.

A spacecraft just sped between Earth and the moon, en route to the deep solar system.

And as it zipped by the cratered lunar orb on Aug. 19, the European Space Agency's Juice mission snapped views of the 21st-century space scene.

"Sometimes the journey is just as worthy as the destination," ESA director Josef Aschbacher posted online. "As humankind embarked on the monumental first lunar-Earth flyby, @ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission captured a breathtaking glimpse of our natural satellite."

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Mission planners sent the craft by Earth and the moon to exploit our gravity as it slingshots through space. It will fly by Venus and Earth twice more, picking up speed as it escapes to the distant, icy solar system. Juice is expected to arrive at Jupiter in 2031, where it will swoop by 35 of the gas giant's icy moons.

The images from the mission's monitoring cameras show the spacecraft, with its antennae and instruments, in the foreground of the moon vistas.

The Juice spacecraft as it flies by the moon for a gravity assist. Credit: ESA / Juice / JMC // Acknowledgement: Simeon Schmauß and Mark McCaughrean (image processing) Part of the Juice spacecraft's solar panels and booms in the foreground; the moon is seen on left in the background. Credit: ESA / Juice / JMC // Acknowledgement: Simeon Schmauß and Mark McCaughrean (image processing) Tweet may have been deleted

After the successful lunar flyby, Juice will now venture by Earth on Aug. 20.

The spacecraft is shielded from the extreme radiation present around Jupiter, similar to NASA's Juno spacecraft. But Juice is bigger. It wields two large cross-shaped solar panels, the biggest ever built for an interplanetary mission, ESA explains. That's because solar radiation at distant Jupiter, which is on average 484 million miles from the sun, is 25 times weaker than on our planet.

"This makes JUICE the largest 'solar power plant' in the Solar System," ESA wrote. It's a whopping 71 feet (21.7 meters) wide.

The mission will scrutinize worlds like Europa, an ice-blanketed moon suspected to harbor a voluminous sea beneath its ice shell, as well as the large moons Ganymede and Callisto. They're not just planetary objects, ESA emphasizes. They're "possible habitats."

It's been 30 years in the making, but The Crow has finally been rebooted. Despite many, many challenges along the way, this was inevitable. 

In 1994, The Crow found roost in the hearts of movie fans, from goths clutching tattered copies of James O'Barr's graphic novels and those who stumbled across the soundtrack's bands on MTV late at night to action fans eager to see Bruce Lee's only son, Brandon Lee, in what should have been his big-screen hurrah. Lee's accidental death before the film was finished, caused by a prop gun shot during a crucial scene, only added to the tragic allure of the film and its rain-slick aesthetic.

Three sequels, with increasing levels of silliness, tried to gain momentum. (Iggy Pop shrieking, "Fuck you, bird dick!" during The Crow: City of Angels is a treasured college memory.) There was even a short-lived Canadian TV show, which seemed to be an urban fantasy hallucination along the lines of Ron Perlman's Beauty and the Beast, but, like, worse. You couldn't go to a goth club without seeing a guy wearing Eric Draven's maquillage until well into the 21st century. Even with these sequels' failings — ranging from from forgettable leading men and laughably bad storylines to exponentially dismal box office earnings — there was no way the powers that be wouldn't keep trying to recapitalize upon the fervor over the original.

Now, the same year Alex Proyas' original Crow celebrates its 30th anniversary, director Rupert Sanders resurrects Draven with a reboot. Bill Skarsgård headlines, donning haute JNCOs and scrubby facial tattoos to woo British musician FKA twigs, the two of them lovers on the run from Satan himself. They are Eric and Shelly for a neo-noir by way of Spring Breakers. But how did we get here? 

Trying to untangle the various proposed reboots — inevitably "gritty," inevitably starring the popular edgy actor du jour — is an exhausting Hollywood rabbit hole. But we're gonna do our best.

The Crow reboot buzz began with Blade and Nick Cave. Nick Cave performs in 2010. Credit: Andre Csillag / Shutterstock,com

Blade director Stephen Norrington was the first name attached to direct a reboot of The Crow, in 2008. Norrington's genre bona fides are pretty tight; in addition to his critical and commercial success with Blade — Marvel's first big hit! — he learned special effects from industry pioneers Rick Baker, Stan Winston, and Dick Smith, who earned Oscars for their behind-the-scenes practical magic on movies like An American Werewolf in London, Jurassic Park, and the like. 

Then Nick Cave himself was brought on in July 2010 to give Norrington's script a gothic gleam. (While we love and respect Nick Cave's current status as elder spooky statesman, penning advice columns and going to church, this was a different era of Bad Seed, and a movie based on nearly anything Cave wrote would have been hellishly good.)

Here's where things get tricky. The internet isn't actually forever, as we once thought; the sites that once posted casting news and rumors about The Crow have gone through redesigns, reboots, and relaunches that have done funky things to their archives or deleted them altogether. Google's prioritizing of paid search results, the integration of AI, and good old link rot have made it almost impossible to find the original source for some of these rumors. It's like a game of Operator gone berserk. And honestly? Some of the actors whose names were attached to the reboot are so random that I'm skeptical they were much more than fancasting.

Mark Wahlberg was an early contender for The Crow reboot.  Mark Wahlberg on the set of "The Other Guys," 2009. Credit: A J Sokalner / Shutterstock.com

In October 2010, Bloody Disgusting reported that Mark Wahlberg had been offered the lead role. A few days after this news leaked, Norrington dropped out, because an unnamed actor attached to the movie was unhappy with the script. Empire was careful to point out that it sounded like Wahlberg was not the culprit. Norrington even said, "I will say I think Wahlberg could be cool if they take a gritty blue-collar approach… He's a truthful actor. I think he could really ground the supernatural stuff." 

However, Wahlberg distanced himself from the project, telling the long-defunct Cinematical (via Empire) in November 2010, "We never committed to making the movie…They talked to me about it and there was a director attached who I was a fan of, and he's no longer doing it. We just thought about it — 'is there something cool to be done there?' But we're not committed to making the movie."

In April 2011, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was announced as the next director for the reboot. At the time, Fresnadillo (Damsel) was primarily known for the sequel 28 Weeks Later; by October of that year his departure was announced, possibly due to scheduling conflicts with a remake of Highlander. 

When asked in 2012 by Entertainment Weekly about being attached to big, buzzed-about projects that didn't come to fruition, like an adaptation of the video game Bioshock and, of course, The Crow, he said, "Let me tell you this, it’s usual. In every interview people ask me about this. This is something all directors in Hollywood usually do. Maybe my projects are more famous or something. But it is the normal thing to do — to deal with five, six projects at the same time. Because you never know which one is going to be the proper one at the end. It’s something you have to do. The crazy thing is that you develop something and then all the newspapers are reacting."

Jason Momoa, Channing Tatum, Ryan Gosling, and Tom Hiddleston were rumored for The Crow.  Tom Hiddleston as Loki in 2013's "Thor: The Dark World." Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock.com

In the meantime, Bradley Cooper was attached and then disattached, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts. That announcement via THR seems to be the first mention of Channing Tatum's interest in the project. 

Per that same story, Relativity was also in the middle of a lawsuit with The Weinstein Company over distribution rights to The Crow: "Harvey and Co. believe they have a deal to release the film but Relativity argues that the Weinsteins forfeited their right by, among other things, botching the release of the expensive Relativity-backed flop Nine. That case is currently in arbitration." Both companies dropped their claims by January 2012, agreeing to work together instead. But it was not to be.

Around the same time the lawsuit was dropped, Before the Fall helmer F. Javier Gutiérrez was brought on to direct a script by Jesse Wigutow (who has Tron: Ares coming out in 2025). Or maybe it was with a script by Cliff Dorfman (Warrior, Entourage). And then director Corin Hardy (The Hallow, The Nun) came onboard, spending three and a half years trying to get this bird off the ground, with Jason Momoa and all of his muscles dipped into latex attached to star — but this too fell apart!

There were more actors attached to the project, including Ryan Gosling, James McAvoy (who says it was all just "rumor mill stuff"), Tom Hiddleston (a real he-said, she-said between trade rags Deadline and The Wrap in 2013), Alexander Skarsgård at the height of his True Blood glory, Jack Huston, and Luke Evans (who was attached to the reboot for two entire years!).

At one point, Rob Zombie was attached to direct The Crow: 2037, which was sort of a spiritual three-quel, before Zombie departed and the project was abandoned in favor of The Crow: Salvation. And there was almost an untitled fourth sequel that would have starred Eminem and DMX. But it was killed by the Weinsteins a few years before Eminem broke big with 8 Mile.

The Crow rises with the help of a new studio. Bill Skarsgård plays Eric Draven in "The Crow" (2024). Credit: Larry Horricks / Lionsgate

Across a lot of rumors and iterations with big stars attached, most of the problems around this reboot were due to inside-baseball boring stuff about legal tussling over copyright. It boils down to the indie studio Relativity Media having an invaluable piece of intellectual property but not the resources needed to do it justice. 

Eventually, the beleaguered Relativity Media — which owned the rights to remake The Crow — filed for bankruptcy, reorganized, then filed for bankruptcy again in 2018, at which time it was bought out by investors. 

In 2016, the rights to The Crow reboot went to Samuel Hadida’s Davis Films, Highland Film Group, and Electric Shadow; Hadida was slated to produce, along with Edward R. Pressman (who produced the original and is listed as a producer on the 2024 Crow). Pressman, who passed away in 2023, was instrumental in bringing both the original Crow to the big screen and its winding road to reboot. (His son, Sam Pressman, is CEO of Pressman Film and an executive producer on The Crow 2024.) 

There are ways to play in the universe of Eric Draven that would honor the source material (which, in this case, absolutely includes Alex Proyas' 1994 film) without making viewers feel like they're grave-robbing. Whether or not Rupert Sanders' take will woo viewers into enough box office lucre to afford a murder of sequels has yet to be seen — but this goth isn't holding her breath. 

The Crow opens in theaters Aug. 23.

TL;DR: The Thetis FIDO2 Security Key 3-pack, on sale for $64.99, offers secure and simplified access to your online accounts.

Opens in a new window Credit: Thetis Thetis FIDO2 Security Key - Passwordless Login $64.99
$80.97 Save $15.98 MFA/2FA via FIDO2, U2F, TOTP and HOTP (3-Pack) Get Deal

In a world where everything from banking to social media happens online, having the right tools to protect your accounts is just smart.

Keeping your online accounts secure doesn’t have to be complicated. Get the Thetis FIDO2 Security Key, an easy-to-use device that adds an extra layer of digital security without any hassle. Get three of them on sale for $64.99 for a limited time.

This key is all about convenience and peace of mind. Whether you’re logging into your email, online shopping accounts, or banking services, the Thetis FIDO2 Security Key ensures that your login process is both secure and straightforward. Plug it in to your device via USB-A, and you’re ready to go — no complicated setups, no extra steps. It’s designed to verify your identity using advanced technology, making sure your accounts stay personal.

If you’re tired of juggling passwords, you’ll love the passwordless login options on supported sites. And for those using two-factor authentication, this key can store your codes, making the process even smoother. It’s a great tool for anyone looking to streamline their digital life without compromising on security.

If you're looking for an affordable way to simplify and secure your online experiences, check out this three-pack of Thetis FIDO2 Security Keys available for $64.99 (reg. $80.97) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get 1TB of lifetime cloud storage with Koofr for just $119.97 with promo code KOOFR40 — no recurring fees, ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) $119.97
$810.00 Save $690.03 with promo code KOOFR40 Get Deal

If you're sick of paying monthly for cloud storage and/or running out of space on your devices, it’s time to break the cycle. With Koofr’s lifetime subscription, you get 1TB of cloud storage for a one-time payment of $119.97 with coupon code KOOFR40 through September 3, giving you all the space you need without the recurring fees.

This deal is useful for anyone tired of juggling multiple cloud accounts or worrying about running out of space. Whether you're storing photos, videos, or countless documents, 1TB gives you room to breathe — enough for around 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or an impressive 6.5 million document pages.

But storage isn’t all Koofr has to offer. Their Duplicate Finder tool is a lifesaver for anyone who’s ever wasted time searching for that one file buried under duplicates. Koofr also plays nice with your existing cloud accounts, so you can connect Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, and OneDrive all in one place. No more hopping between platforms.

Worried about privacy? Thankfully, you don't have to be. Unlike other cloud storage providers, Koofr doesn’t track your activities, so you can store your files with peace of mind. And with advanced file management features, you’ll have the flexibility and control to organize your digital life exactly how you want.

For a one-time payment of $119.97 with promo code KOOFR40, this deal on a lifetime subscription to 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage is one you don’t want to miss, ending September 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Through September 3, get a grade-A refurbished iPad 6th-Gen for just $149.97 while supplies last.

So, you’re thinking about getting a new tablet but don’t want to spend a fortune? Here’s a little secret: you can score a 6th-generation iPad that’s practically brand-new without breaking the bank. You can get it for $149.97 (reg. $249) if you order by September 3.

This isn’t just any refurb — it's been given an "A" refurbished rating, which means it’s in near-mint condition. We’re talking about a lightweight, space gray tablet with 32GB of storage, perfect for everything from binge-watching your favorite shows to diving into creative projects, or even catching up on some work while you’re not home.

This 2018 iPad runs smoothly, has a crisp Retina display, and offers the kind of performance you'd expect from Apple — without the brand-new price tag. And since it’s a grade-A refurb, you’re getting a device that’s so close to new, you might forget it’s pre-owned. The case might have the faintest hint of scuffing, but you’d be hard-pressed to notice.

Along with the iPad itself, this bundle includes essential accessories to complete your setup. You’ll receive a charging cable and adapter to keep your device powered up, along with a protective case to keep your iPad safe from everyday wear-and-tear.

Here’s the catch: these iPads are in limited supply. That means if you’re looking to get your hands on one, you’ll want to act fast before they’re gone.

Why pay full price? Score this refurbished 9.7" Apple iPad 6th-Gen and accessories bundle for just $149.97 until September 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Still shopping? Check out more deals on laptops and tablets.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 6th Gen 9.7” (2018) 32GB WiFi Space Gray (Refurbished) + Accessories Bundle $149.97
$249.99 Save $100.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: For $33 through September 3, Dreamscreens brings high-quality 4K art to your TV, offering instant elegance with just a USB connection.

If you've ever wished your TV could be more than just a black screen when it's off, now it can be a vibrant 4K digital art gallery with Dreamscreens. Perfect for the modern home, Dreamscreens is on sale for $33 through September 3. It lets you display a vast collection of high-quality artwork on your TV, turning any room into a sophisticated space without the need for expensive art pieces or complicated installations.

All you have to do is plug the USB into your TV, and you're ready to showcase stunning art in seconds. No fuss, no hassle. It’s an ideal solution for those who love the idea of integrating art into their home but don’t want the stress of traditional art collecting.

With a wide variety of pieces to choose from, you’ll never get bored. Whether you prefer classic masterpieces or contemporary designs, Dreamscreens has something for everyone.

One of the best features of Dreamscreens is its flexibility. You can choose to display paintings in their original aspect ratio, preserving the artist’s vision, or go full-screen for a more immersive experience. This level of customization shows that Dreamscreens understands your need for both quality and personal preference.

Check out an affordable way to add a touch of elegance and culture to your home. Forget about the high costs of collecting art — Dreamscreens brings the gallery experience right to your living room, effortlessly blending art and technology into your daily life.

Until September 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get the Dreamscreens 4K Digital Art Gallery for $32.97 (reg. $49).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreamscreens Dreamscreens: Turn Your TV into a 4K Digital Art Gallery $32.97
$49.99 Save $17.02 Get Deal

Sonos will not be resurrecting its old app to help users who have trouble with the new app.

This is according to Sonos CEO Patrick Spence, who shared the news in a Reddit AMA (via The Verge).

"Until very recently I’d been hopeful that we could re-release the old app (S2) as an alternative for those of you that are having issues that we’ve not yet resolved," wrote Spence.

"The trick of course is that Sonos is not just the mobile app, but software that runs on your speakers and in the cloud too. In the months since the new mobile app launched we’ve been updating the software that runs on our speakers and in the cloud to the point where today S2 is less reliable & less stable then what you remember. After doing extensive testing we’ve reluctantly concluded that re-releasing S2 would make the problems worse, not better. I’m sure this is disappointing. It was disappointing to me," he added.

The issues Spence is referring to are related to the company's new app, which rolled out in April but was so bad and riddled with bugs that the company apologized for it in July. The Sonos app is a key element of the company's ecosystem of home speakers, soundbars, and headphones, and when it doesn't work properly, it can cause a lot of headache for owners of Sonos products.

SEE ALSO: Sonos Ace headphones review: Hands-on with the first headphones from the audio giant

In July, the company laid out a plan to fix the issues over the coming months, but apparently things haven't gone as smoothly as intended, with Sonos postponing the launch of two products until it can iron out all the bugs.

"The Daily Show"s Desi Lydic looked at reactions to Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris' speeches after the DNC's opening night.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle on sale for just £38.33 through Sept. 3.

For aspiring software developers, the journey from learning to code to landing a job in the industry can seem daunting. However, with the right tools and resources, you can pave a path toward a successful career without stepping foot in a classroom.

The Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle are now available together for just £38.33. This Microsoft Visual deal offers a comprehensive package designed to equip you with the practical skills, tools, and industry insights needed to get started in software development.

The software development industry offers a diverse range of job roles. From web and mobile app development to data analysis and systems engineering, there's a wide array of opportunities for those with the right skill set.

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 is a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) widely used by professionals worldwide. It supports a wide range of programming languages, including C#, C++, Python, and more, making it versatile for various types of projects. The IDE offers advanced debugging, code editing, and performance profiling tools to streamline development.

Along with Microsoft Visual Studio, you'll also get lifetime access to the Learn to Code Bundle, with 15 online courses teaching you to code. The courses provide a deep dive into essential programming languages to give you a solid foundation in the fundamentals.

Some of the more popular courses include Learn to Code with Python 3, CHATGPT Series: OPENAI Fundamentals 2024, and JavaScript Complete Guide with Practical JavaScript Projects. 

If you dream of a career in software development, this Microsoft Visual Studio deal offers an affordable and comprehensive place to begin.

Don't miss the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + Learn to Code Certification Bundle while it's on sale for just £38.33 (reg. £1,533.53) through Sept. 3.

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 £38.33 at the Mashable Shop
£1,533.53 Save £1,495.20 Get Deal