Feed aggregator

TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The WTA Tour has travelled all around the world this season, with everything coming to a conclusion in Riyadh. The best singles and doubles players will battle it out in a round-robin tournament, followed by knockout games to decide the winner. We're excited to follow all the action.

If you want to watch the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What are the WTA Finals?

The WTA Finals is season-ending championship of the WTA Tour. The tournament features the top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams based on their results throughout the season.

When are the 2024 WTA Finals?

The 2024 WTA Finals is the 53rd edition of the singles event and the 48th edition of the doubles competition. This year's tournament takes place from Nov. 2 to Nov. 9.

How to watch the 2024 WTA Finals for free

The 2024 WTA Finals are available to live stream for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand.

If you're outside the country during this tournament, you might need to use a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ in a few simple steps.

Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Watch the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the WTA Finals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: For just £19.32 through 3 November, unlock a lifetime of hassle-free PDF conversions and edits with PDF Converter Pro.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter Pro: Lifetime License £19.32 at the Mashable Shop
£77.35 Save £58.03 Get Deal

We’ve all been there: struggling to make sense of a stubborn PDF when you just need a simple edit, signature, or conversion. It’s frustrating, time consuming, and who has the patience?

Meet PDF Converter Pro, the tool that takes all the headaches out of handling PDFs. For a limited time, it's on sale for only £19.32 (reg. £77.35). Your one-time purchase gets you lifetime access to this PDF tool, but the discount ends 3 November.

This isn’t just another basic converter. PDF Converter Pro lets you convert PDFs into multiple formats — including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even image files — with just a few clicks. You can modify text, images, and even links directly within your PDF. Merging several PDFs into one smooth document is just as easy, making it perfect for combining reports, contracts, or any other documents you need in one place.

PDF Converter Pro also allows you to compress files without losing quality, add passwords to secure your documents, and even extract specific pages when you don’t need the whole file. It’s like having a complete PDF toolbox at your disposal, all wrapped up in a user-friendly interface.

Whether you’re a student juggling assignments, a professional handling contracts, or anyone who works with documents, this tool is the key to stress-free PDF management.

Through 3 November, you can get a lifetime license to PDF Converter Pro on sale for £19.32 (reg. £77.35), ensuring that you’ll never have to deal with PDF frustration again.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The false claim, which has circulated in recent elections, is based on a misunderstanding of how votes are collected and reported.

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 November 2's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for November 1 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.

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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

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 November 1 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Sneaky around investigating things you shouldn't be.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SNOOP.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 1

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for November 2's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 2 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Kitchen essentials

• Green: Advisors

• Blue: Workouts

• Purple: Types of jewelry

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Seen in a Kitchen

• Green: Group of Advisors

• Blue: Core Exercises

• Purple: Kinds of Earrings

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #510 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Seen in a Kitchen: COUNTER, FRIDGE, RANGE, SINK

• Group of Advisors: BOARD, CABINET, COUNCIL, PANEL

• Core Exercises: BOAT, CRUNCH, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER, PLANK

• Kinds of Earrings: CHANDELIER, DROP, HOOP, STUD

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 1

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

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

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

The change, starting next Friday, lifts a dominant player in artificial intelligence over its chip-making rival, which has struggled to keep up.

Batman: Arkham Shadow may be the newest installment in a long-running gaming franchise, but it offers something refreshingly unique.

The game, recently released exclusively for virtual reality on Meta Quest 3/3S, is serious about responsibly exploring its characters' minds. Terms like psychotic, for example, aren't tossed around when characters are violent.

And once Batman enters Blackgate Prison under an alias, on a mission to find the villain Rat King before he strikes, he grows conflicted about his understanding of what motivates the criminals he encounters. As it turns out, when Batman attends a group therapy session led by Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel (later known as Harley Quinn), he has just as much to say about childhood trauma as the other inmates.

SEE ALSO: 'The Plucky Squire' review: A wholesome metatextual game for the young of heart

These and other choices were intentional, says Arkham Shadow director Ryan Payton. In 2023, he discovered a series of GQ videos featuring psychiatrist Dr. H. Eric Bender breaking down mental health scenes from popular movies and television, including clips from Joker.

Bender notes that the film "overplays the idea that violence and mental illness are linked." Indeed, people who live with mental illness are far more likely to become victims of violence than to perpetrate it.

Bender had previously observed that the game Batman: Arkham Asylum, labeled the Joker as psychotic when, in Bender's opinion, the character was psychopathic. This difference might seem insignificant to some, but Bender argues that incorrect labels and diagnoses can influence how people see those with severe mental illness, and how those living with such conditions see themselves.

Last fall, Payton asked Bender to consult on Arkham Shadow so that the game authentically depicted the characters' different emotional struggles, without playing into dangerous tropes or stereotypes about mental illness.

The shadow in the game's title has multiple meanings, hinting at menacing themes while also invoking the concept of the Jungian shadow, or unconscious negative beliefs about ourselves that we project onto others. If ever there was a superhero that could shoulder such treatment, it was Batman, Payton says.

"Eventually in the game, you come face-to-face with your own shadow, through many different lenses." - Ryan Payton, director of 'Batman: Arkham Shadow'

"Eventually in the game, you come face-to-face with your own shadow, through many different lenses," Payton says.

But before Payton and Bender met, both of them had powerful experiences that informed the way they thought about mental health in popular entertainment.

Payton recalls playing Final Fantasy VI as a teenager, which depicted a character going through mental health challenges.

"The feelings I was feeling [were] not something I would normally feel playing a lot of other video games I could've pulled off the shelf," Payton says. Since then, he says he's prioritized accurately portraying mental health and other sensitive topics in video games.

One of Bender's a-ha moments came while making a presentation at Comic-Con about media depictions of mental health when someone in the audience asked: "When am I going to see a character with mental illness who does not make me feel like I will turn into a villain?"

For Arkham Shadow, Bender provided Payton feedback on numerous storylines and character traits. This included tense, argumentative exchanges between Dr. Quinzel and Dr. Jonathan Crane, which were written to illustrate the strengths and limitations of different types of therapeutic approaches.

Bender also explained in detail why it could be extremely damaging for one character to hear as a child that they need to bottle up their anger and be good, as depicted in the game's flashbacks.

In total, the game features a half-hour of recorded conversation about mental health and well-being between various characters. There's even "tender moments," Payton says.

Still, Arkham Shadow remains an action game and stays true to the Batman universe. Blackgate Prison doesn't suddenly become a safe, high-quality mental health institution, upending decades of stereotypes about treatment facilities. Nor does Batman suddenly turn into a pacifist, eager to practice conflict resolution with his enemies.

But within these bounds, Bender and Payton feel like they've accomplished something meaningful.

"I'd like to think after people play Batman: Arkham Shadow that they've got a different perspective," Payton says.

UPDATE: Nov. 1, 2024, 2:35 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest DoorDash promo codes from across the web. Note that some of these codes are location-specific or exclusive to new users.

Best DoorDash promo codes this week: Best deal for new users Use code JUSTDASHIT Get $5 off your first order of $15+ Get Deal

We all love a good, home-cooked meal. But who has the time to make one every single night? Couldn't be us. That's why we always keep our delivery apps at the ready. Our app of choice at the moment? DoorDash. There's a constant bounty of promo codes, scoring you savings not just on takeout, but also on grocery delivery and select retail stores.

You can find our favorite DoorDash promo codes from across the web below, so take a look and then chow down while booting up your favorite streaming service or video game. Oh, and a lot of these codes will be exclusive to new users, so if you already have an account, you may want to consider creating a new one (you didn't hear that from us). Also, because some codes are location-specific, they may not work for everyone. Just test them out and see which ones stick for you!

SEE ALSO: The best deals on streaming services this week How do I use a DoorDash promo code?

Before we get into our picks for the week, let us quickly go over how to use a DoorDash promo code, because if you don't know how to do that, you won't benefit from any of the great deals we're about to show you. Thankfully, the process is really easy. (If you already know how to do this, feel free to keep scrolling to get straight to the latest DoorDash coupons.)

All you need to do is load up your shopping cart with whatever is on the menu for the night and head to the checkout screen. Once you get there, scroll down to the bottom, where you'll find a section labeled "Summary."

The 'Summary' section lives at the bottom of the checkout screen. Credit: DoorDash

Tap on that section and you'll be brought to a separate screen titled "Promo codes, rewards & gift cards." Then, just input your promo code (and gift card, if you have one) and head back to the checkout screen. You should now see your discount applied automatically.

This is where you'll use your promo code and get those sweet benefits. Credit: DoorDash

Congrats! You just scored some savings, and that takeout order is going to taste so much better because of it.

And before you place your orders, you'll also want to look into this DashPass deal that just went live on Oct. 30: DashPass subscribers can link their Lyft and DoorDash accounts together to score some exclusive savings, including 5% off on on-demand Lyft rides, priority pickup upgrades, and more.

Now, on to this week's promo codes — take a look below, and enjoy your meal.

Best DoorDash promo codes this week

• Receive up to 25% off your order — DD25BACK

• Up to 45% off your order — 50GAMETIME

• 50% off your first order of $15+ — 7P7C2P

• 40% off first grocery of $45+ — 40OFFGROC

• 40% off first convenience order of $20+ — 40OFFCONV

The new Apple M4 Macs are finally here. 

Like many who were waiting on the latest Apple devices before making a purchase, you may be thinking of buying the new M4 MacBook Pro. It's a very powerful laptop and would certainly make for a great purchase. 

However, what if I told you that you can get all that power for more than half the price? Well, you can with the new M4 Mac mini.

SEE ALSO: Macs with 8GB of RAM are finally dead: Apple makes 16GB the new standard The case for the Mac mini: Price

This week, Apple announced a slew of new Macs powered by its latest silicon chipset, the M4. All of the Macs powered by M4, from the new iMac to the Mac mini to the MacBook Pro, are going to be very powerful computers.

M4 Mac Mini Credit: Apple

However, there is a huge price difference between the Mac mini and MacBook Pro solely based on portability.

Are you going to be traveling around with your computer often? No? Are you mostly going to be using your Mac in a stationary setting like say at your desk or in your home office? Yes? Then, you should consider getting the new M4 Mac mini and save quite a bit of money.

The new base model MacBook Pro powered by the M4 chip starts at $1,599. This M4 MacBook Pro model comes with a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of SSD storage.

M4 MacBook Pro Credit: Apple

The new base model M4 Mac mini has the exact same specs, but comes with a slightly smaller 256GB SSD drive. The cost for the Mac mini? $599. That's one thousand dollars in savings. 

If you want the exact same specs, you can upgrade the M4 Mac mini drive to 512GB of storage, which brings the total price to $799. That's still $800 in savings and gets you the exact same computer spec-wise.

Put those extra savings into upgrades and you can have an M4 Mac mini that's much more powerful than the M4 MacBook Pro you were going to purchase at no extra cost then what you initially intended to spend.

In fact, if you're looking at the more powerful M4 Pro chip, going with the Mac mini over the MacBook Pro with the same exact specs will still save you $600.

Credit: Apple

The extra-cost for the MacBook Pro is solely for its portability. So, if you're not going to be regularly traveling with your computer, why get a laptop? 

Yes, the MacBook Pro also comes with a built-in keyboard, mousepad, and display. If you don't have any of those at home, those are all additional costs to add-on to the final cost of the Mac mini. But, many people do have all of those peripheral devices already. And if you don't, you can purchase them all once and use them for subsequent Mac minis when you choose to upgrade in the future. 

AppleCare+ is easier on your pockets

There's another potential for additional savings if choosing the Mac mini over the MacBook Pro and that's AppleCare. AppleCare+ covers damage, technical issues, and support for your new Apple device for one year. For your MacBook Pro, it'll cost $99.99 per year. For the Mac mini, it costs $34.99 per year. 

Credit: Apple

Furthermore, I would recommend that you don't even need AppleCare coverage for their Mac mini whereas it's a must-buy for the MacBook Pro. As a desktop computer, the Mac mini sits stationary on your desk. You will likely not drop it or spill anything on it like you would when carrying your MacBook Pro around to set up a temporary workstation in different locations.

Now, there are situations where you'll choose the MacBook Pro over the Mac mini. If you know you'll be regularly traveling and this is the computer you intend to use, the M4 MacBook Pro is for you. If you need the most powerful Mac available, the new MacBook Pro is currently the only device equipped with an upgrade to the M4 Max chip — at least until Apple releases the new Mac Studio M4 computers.

As such, if you're seeking a stationary setup and a more cost-effective system, the M4 Mac mini is for you.

After their grandmother's death, two estranged cousins — the professional David (writer/director Jesse Eisenberg) and charismatic slacker Benji (Kieran Culkin) — reunite for a trip to her native Poland, where they hope to learn more about where she grew up and what she survived in the Holocaust. In their childhoods, the pair was inseparable, but years of distance have set in until this moment. In her will, their grandmother set aside funds for her grandsons to rediscover their family roots, and David signs them up for a tour that retraces Jewish history in Poland, including a stop at a concentration camp. Along the way, they meet other fellow travelers looking to learn more about their own families and the history of the Jewish community in Poland before and after WWII. Their trip has the potential to bring them closer to their family’s history and each other — if only they can stand each other’s company. 

A Real Pain is a brief but profound journey into reconnecting with one's family history, both in the sense of generations ago and the present day. Along the way, the two cousins make the perfect odd couple, with David fretting many details and Benji willing to shake things up at a moment's notice. The tensions come to a head many times over the trip, but despite David's frustrations and Benji's carefree spirit, the antics reveal a more complicated dynamic — one that has grown and soured over the years, and that might be salvaged from this trip their grandmother stipulated in her will. Yes, A Real Pain is a movie about remembering the Holocaust, but it’s funny and heartwarming, a rare combination when considering the subject matter. 

A Real Pain is a showcase for Jesse Eisenberg's filmmaking.  Credit: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

At a brisk 90 minutes, no part of A Real Pain feels too long or drawn out. Written and directed by Eisenberg, the follow-up to his debut feature When You Finish Saving the World moves efficiently along the various highs and lows of the story, allowing each of the main characters to develop their backstories and idiosyncrasies. The comedy is sharp, landing quickly and punctuated by just the right kind of reaction shot, usually from David as he endures one his cousin's latest outburst. The punchlines are sometimes witty, sometimes broad, but the central rapport between the cousins drives everything. And as chaotic as their presence might be in the group, it's heartwarming to see them embraced by strangers and how their dynamic within the group subverts expectations. Eisenberg knows just the emotional beats to hit — the silent looks to underscore unsaid feelings, and when to let Culkin take the spotlight and when to let the somber notes of the film play it straight.

As the lead, Eisenberg’s character is something of a variation of roles we’ve seen him take on elsewhere: a driven (if perhaps slightly neurotic) character who prioritizes order, logic, and efficiency, not too dissimilar from his character in the TV series Fleishman Is in Trouble. But he’s there to serve as a kind of "straight man" for Culkin’s Benji to rebel against, a model of decorum who’s easily mortified and frustrated but trying his best to keep it in so that the pair can enjoy the trip. 

Eisenberg and cinematographer Michal Dymek give A Real Pain a kind of autumnal glow, and these amber-like tones invite feelings of nostalgia and remembrance. It also gives their tour a certain romanticized sheen — not too hot, not too cold, perfect as a postcard  — until the reality of their family's history in Poland punctures the illusion. 

A Real Pain is also a chance for Culkin to showcase his acting chops. Credit: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Kieran Culkin didn't steal as many hearts as he did in Succession by playing a well-behaved role model. As Roman, he was an unrepentant jerk with a vulnerable side, a proverbial cannonball swinging chaotically from one cause célèbre to the next. As Benji, he's significantly toned down, still a jerk who perhaps speaks his mind so freely that he may hurt people in the process, but as David reveals, Benji is also going through his own troubles after the death of his beloved grandmother. The script avoids therapeutic but cliched expository dumps from Benji, leaving it up to Culkin to hint at his character's inner turmoil and Eisenberg’s David to fill in the backstory Benji isn’t keen to share on his own. Behind the confident bravado of the resourceful slacker who mailed himself weed in another country is someone really struggling with grief and purpose.

A Real Pain reflects the different ways family members cope (or don't) with their ancestors' history, especially when there is inherited trauma involved. David, more so than Benji, feels guilty for the horrors his grandmother experienced in the Holocaust, her immigration to America, and the struggles she faced reestablishing herself in another part of the world. These details of their grandmother's life don't seem to haunt Benji in the same way, but the historical aspects of the tour move him more than others in the group. For example, while traveling to their next tour stop, he nervously paces a train when thinking about how Jews like their grandmother were transported to concentration camps decades earlier. In another poignant scene, he asks the group's well-meaning tour guide James (Will Sharpe, White Lotus) to stop sharing facts and let them take in the silence at a Jewish cemetery. It's a level of unpredictability that can be funny yet sincere, and Culkin threads the needle between emotions with surprising acuity.

Despite its title, A Real Pain is genuinely funny. Benji is such an extraordinary, off-beat character, yet he seems like someone you might know from work or in your own family gatherings. As the beleaguered grown-up who's both exasperated by his cousin's antics but also enjoys reconnecting with his childhood companion, David is the perfect foil for Benji to play off — sometimes indirectly like when he says something outrageous, and David is left with a quizzical, helpless look on his face. Over the course of their tour through Poland, they reveal more about themselves and their pasts to their fellow travelers, which affects how the audience perceives their relationship and how the tour group sees them moving forward.

The supporting cast of A Real Pain elevates the star performers. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / Searchlight Pictures

The tour David and Benji joins takes them through various landmarks of Jewish history in Poland, stopping at statues and former Jewish neighborhoods that were displaced during the Holocaust. While the tour is not strictly for the descendants of Holocaust survivors, many of those alongside David and Benji are also trying to learn more about their family history. While Sharpe's earnest tour guide leads the way, Jennifer Grey's divorced mom is similarly looking to reconnect with her family's roots. The ensemble also includes Kurt Egyiawan as a Jewish convert who survived the Rwandan genocide, whom Benji immediately takes a liking to, and a retired couple played by Daniel Oreskes and Liza Sadovy, who are less charmed by Benji's behavior. Through them, we also see how different people process and grieve their family's tragedies and what this trip means to them. 

A Real Pain isn’t necessarily asking bigger questions about current events; it’s focused specifically on this family and their experiences, making it feel relatable to anyone whose family migrated to the States in the wake of a historical event. It’s short and sweet, striking a delicate balance between the heaviness of the cousins’ trip and the pair’s mismatched dynamic. And like many vacations, A Real Pain feels like it’s over too soon, but it lasts just long enough to avoid overstaying its welcome. It’s a bittersweet tribute to the journeys our ancestors took to bring us to where we are today and coping with the troubled relationships we may share with our present-day relatives. 

A Real Pain is now in theaters.

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Best for affordability Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The San Diego State Aztecs and Boise State Broncos football teams go head-to-head this weekend at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The match will take place on Friday, Nov. 1, and is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable San Diego State vs. Boise State football kickoff time and network

The San Diego State vs. Boise State football game is scheduled for a 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT start on FS1 on Friday, Nov. 1.

Best streaming services for SDSU vs. Boise State football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the San Diego State vs. Boise State football game on FS1. 

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Go to the FuboTV website to check if ESPN is available in your zip code. If it is, you can access ESPN with the FuboTV Pro plan, which offers an introductory rate of $59.99 for the first month and a regular rate of $79.99 per month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

UPDATE: Sep. 18, 2024, 10:51 p.m. EDT Genmoji, part of the Apple Intelligence (Apple's new suite of AI features), is not available yet. Apple Intelligence has launched with iOS 18.1, however, Genmoji is not yet part of the currently available AI suite. We expect Genmoji to launch in December.

Genmoji, unveiled at WWDC 2024, is arguably one of the most highly anticipated features coming to iOS 18. An amalgamation of the words "generative AI" and "emoji," Genmoji lets you describe the emoji you'd like to create.

Although iOS offers a sizable library of emoji to choose from, there are times when you can't quite find the right character that encapsulates an expression you want to convey. Genmoji solves this problem. Leveraging Apple Intelligence and on-device processing, the new AI-powered iOS 18 will have the ability to generate customized emoji. The question is, though, "How do you use Genmoji?"

SEE ALSO: Why 'Apple Intelligence' isn't a chatbot: 'We're not taking a teenager and telling it to fly a plane.'

Genmoji isn't out just yet, but if you're curious how to use it before it launches, here's a quick tutorial.

iOS 18: How to use Genmoji

Genmoji, like other Apple Intelligence features, are only available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, as well as the entire iPhone 16 lineup.

With that being said, if you want to get a head start on knowing how, exactly, one uses Genmoji, here's what we know based on an update from Apple.

Genmoji demo at WWDC 2024 Credit: Apple

1. Open the Messages app.

2. Tap on a thread or compose a new message.

3. Tap on the emoji icon.

4. Start typing your description in the text field. For example, "A pink flamingo with tap-dancing shoes."

5. Tap on "Create new emoji."

An ovular bubble will appear, showing that it is currently generating a new Genmoji. After a few seconds, you should see some iterations of your new AI-generated emoji. Swipe through the options and hit "Insert" on the one you like the most.

Genmoji demo at WWDC 2024 Credit: Apple Featured Video For You iOS 18: 8 cool new features you can try right now, including Apple Intelligence Genmoji release date on iOS 18

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Genmoji isn't expected to roll out until iOS 18.2, which will likely launch in December.

Alongside Genmoji, we're also expecting to see another highly anticipated AI-powered tool called Image Playground, which lets you generate AI images. Image Playground is also expected to launch via iOS 18.2 in December.

This nugget of information was later corroborated by Apple itself, which announced that Genmoji will land on supported iPhones next month.

iPhone 15 Pro Max $1,299.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now

Mariah Carey, the queen of Christmas, has announced the season's return in an Addams Family-themed video on social media.

In a video posted to Instagram and X, she starts in a Morticia Addams Halloween costume, adorned with a Kay Jewelers diamond necklace. She dances with a man dressed as Gomez Addams, and once the clock strikes midnight on Halloween night, Carey is seen with her classic Christmas fit as she sings, "It's tiiiiiiiiiiime."

Gomez turns into a snowman, and Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" begins blasting.

Tweet may have been deleted

The pop icon has more than just a video on social media to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. If you search her name on Google, you'll see a flurry of snowflakes. Pop-up bars featuring Carey and Christmas are coming to New York City and New Orleans. And it's only a matter of time before "All I Want For Christmas" returns to the top of the Billboard charts.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

This is an annual tradition for Carey, who posts an iconic video immediately after Halloween every year to ring in the season. So, consider this your official countdown to Christmas.

OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman had a busy day on Thursday. After launching ChatGPT Search, a new search engine feature that connects ChatGPT to real-time information, Altman and other OpenAI executives hosted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit's r/ChatGPT subreddit.

Altman and co. shared some interesting nuggets about ChatGPT Search, model updates, and the future plans where AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) plays a role. We've distilled the biggest takeaways from the AMA and shared them here so you don't have to read through the seemingly endless barrage of questions.

And yes, in case you were wondering, Altman used ChatGPT for some of his answers.

Using ChatGPT as a therapist

Altman addressed one of the most controversial use cases of ChatGPT, which is turning to the chatbot as a form of therapy. "It's obviously not a therapist, but clearly a lot of people get value out of talking about their problems with it," he said before adding, "we have seen a lot of startups really exploring how to do more here; i hope someone builds soemthing [sic] great!"

Credit: Iryna Imago / Shutterstock.com

Reading between the lines, Altman isn't condoning ChatGPT for therapy, but he's also not saying don't use it to work through your personal issues. On a related note, ChatGPT is not HIPAA compliant. This means deeply personal information you share, or shared unethically by mental health and medical professional isn't protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

When asked about plans to train new models for specific medical literature, OpenAI CPO Kevin Weill shared that they're "starting to work on HIPAA compliance for our enterprise product." ChatGPT might be HIPAA compliant soon, but as mentioned, it isn't currently.

Expect ChatGPT to message you first sometime soon

Remember that "glitch" when ChatGPT started messaging users first? Maybe it wasn't a glitch, but a preview of future plans. When asked whether ChatGPT will eventually be able to perform tasks on its own, like messaging the user first, Weill said, "IMHO this is going to be a big theme in 2025."

Credit: Ascannio / Shutterstock.com

On a related note, in response to the one thing he wishes ChatGPT could do but can't yet, VP of Engineering ​​Srinivas Narayanan said, "I'd love for it to understand my personal information better and take actions on my behalf."

Questions about AGI came up frequently throughout the AMA, but the biggest takeaway is that Altman believes "it is achievable with current hardware." So brace yourselves for a near future where ChatGPT has some form of autonomous agency.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI: No plans for ads in ChatGPT Search ChatGPT Search looks to shake up SEO

On the day OpenAI launched its search engine, ChatGPT Search, Redditors had a lot of questions. Not much is known yet about how the search engine works, but OpenAI divulged a few tidbits. Does ChatGPT still use Bing as a search engine? "We use a set of services and Bing is an important one," said Narayanan.

Credit: Ascannio / Shutterstock.com

Redditors were also curious about how SEO strategy plays into publishers and businesses get ranked in ChatGPT Search. And the answer was a big fat non-answer. "The product just launched today so there's a lot to figure out still about where search will be similar and where it will be different in an AI world," said Weill.

Altman also teased potential plans about ChatGPT Search, saying he "look[s] forward to a future where a search query can dynamically render a custom web page in response!" In short, if ChatGPT Search succeeds, it could significantly reshape search traffic.

Hallucinations will always be a tough problem

No matter how advanced ChatGPT gets, hallucinations will be a persistent problem. However, SVP of Research Mark Chen attempted to shift the blame onto human error. "We're putting a lot of focus on decreasing hallucinations, but it's a fundamentally hard problem - our models learn from human-written text, and humans sometimes confidently declare things they aren't sure about," said Chen.

Credit: sf_freelance / Shutterstock.com

Nonetheless, Chen said OpenAI's models are "improving at citing, which grounds their answers in trusted sources." He also believes reinforcement learning can help to check when models hallucinate and "reward it for not doing so."

Singing ChatGPT, new DALL-E and NSFW content

What about other future plans for ChatGPT? In a demo last spring, OpenAI showed Advanced Voice Mode's singing skills, but it's not currently a live feature. When asked whether OpenAI will "loosen" restrictions around musical capabilities" like singing, Weill said they're working on it.

Is there going to be a new DALL-E anytime soon? There's no release plan yet, but "the next update will be worth the wait," said Altman.

Credit: olivia_Brown / Shutterstock.com

And it wouldn't be a Reddit AMA without some questions about NSFW content. Will adults be able to access NSFW content? One Redditor asked. "We totally believe in treating adult users like adults. but it takes a lot of work to get this right, and right now we have more urgent priorities. would like to get this right some day," said Altman.

SAVE $40: As of Nov. 1, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are down to just $59.99 at Amazon. That's 40% off the list price of $99.99 and the lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds FE $59.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

Finding earbuds that offer excellent noise cancellation, a cozy fit, decent battery life, and incredible sound quality for less than $100 is tough. Finding earbuds with all of those qualities for under $60 is almost impossible. Unless you find a stellar deal like this one on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE.

As of Nov. 1, the Galaxy Buds FE are on sale at Amazon for just $59.99. That's 40% off the usual cost of $99.99 and the lowest price on record. For reference, they dropped to $67.99 in Sept. and then a few dollars more to $65 on October Prime Day. This is the first time they've ever been this cheap, though.

SEE ALSO: The 6 best earbuds to buy in 2024

Mashable's RJ Andersen tested the Samsung buds earlier this year, and they truly wowed her. "The sound quality from the Galaxy Buds FE is unmatched for earbuds at this price range," she wrote, adding that as a lifelong Apple user, they had her questioning everything. The only slight cons of these buds are the microphone quality and difficulty swapping between devices. Otherwise, the noise cancellation works great, they're comfortable to wear for long periods of time, the battery life is solid (six hours of playtime with ANC or eight-and-a-half with it off), and the sound quality is robust. Our reviewer even compared them to the beloved (and now discontinued) Bose QuietComfort 45s.

If earbuds are on your wishlist, it'll be hard finding a better deal than this one.

Apple's big week of Mac announcements may be over, but the real work starts now.

By that, I mean people are going to poke and prod at these new devices until every single facet has been tested. That starts with benchmarking, and the first Geekbench 6 benchmarking scores for the new Mac devices have been published. In multi-core testing, the M4 Pro inside the Mac mini delivered an average of about 22,000.

SEE ALSO: Every Apple Mac announcement so far

You might be wondering what that means. The actual testing and calculations for Geekbench scoring are too technical to get into here, but the main thing to know is that a higher number means better performance. According to MacRumors, the 14-core M4 Pro beat out the 24-core M2 Ultra in the Mac Studio, which got an average score of 21,351.

The M4 Pro beating the M2 Ultra is impressive because the Mac mini housing the former starts at $1,599, while the Mac Studio housing the latter is a staggering $3,999. In other words, Apple is offering nearly the same level of performance from a very recent high-end desktop computer in a much smaller device that costs just over half as much.

M4 Max benchmarks

After reports of the M4 Pro's high benchmark scores came in, Geekbench's database was updated with scores from the even more powerful M4 Max chip.

Stunningly, the 16-core M4 Max chip in a MacBook Pro comes in at around 26,500 if you average out the handful of scores on the site at the time of writing. This is now the most powerful Apple device recorded by GeekBench. However, if you want that one, you'll have to pay; as MacRumors pointed out, you'll have to shell out $3,999 for a 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chip inside of it.

But if you don't need a laptop and have $1,599 to spare, it seems like the M4 Pro Mac mini will do the trick just fine, too.

With these M4 Pro and M4 Max benchmarks landing on Geekbench, we're getting a sneak peek of the new MacBook Pro's capabilities — and competitors should be shaking in their boots. The only Windows laptop we've tested that comes close to the M4 Pro chip's score is the 2023 Lenovo Legion 9i that runs on the Intel Core i9-13980HX — and that will set you back nearly $3,500.

EARLY ACCESS: Skip the lines and see Wicked early. Prime members can grab tickets to an exclusive early screening on Nov. 18.

Opens in a new window Credit: Universal Pictures Early screening of 'Wicked' for Prime members Get Deal

If you’ve been counting down the days to Wicked’s release, your wait may be over soon — if you have a Prime membership, that is.

As of Nov. 1, Amazon Prime members can score early access tickets to see the highly anticipated film adaptation of the Broadway musical before it hits theaters nationwide on Nov. 22.

SEE ALSO: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo belt it out in 'Wicked' trailer

The early screening will take place on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at select theaters throughout the U.S. To see Wicked on the big screen before the general public, use the official landing page on Amazon to check availability and purchase tickets. They’re first come, first served, so you might want to grab yours before they’re gone.

Amazon’s also featuring Wicked Wednesdays, where you can buy Wicked-themed merch and see exclusive content. (Click the “notify me” link to get notifications of the next drop!)

Want even more Wicked? Bring the enchantment into your home with Amazon Alexa. If you have an Alexa-enabled device, say, “Alexa, send me to Oz.” You can also say, “Alexa, follow the Good Witch,” or “Alexa, follow the Wicked Witch,” to add a little magic to your everyday interactions.

The gathering had nothing to do with the election. That didn’t stop conspiracy theorists from spreading falsehoods.

Shop Bose deals up to 40% off at Amazon right now. Here are some of our top picks:

Best Bose Deals Best Bose Deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones $329 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal Best Bose Earbud Deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Earbuds $229 at Amazon (Save $70) Get Deal Best Bose Speaker Deal Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker $299 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal

When it comes to audio, Bose knows what they're doing. If you want a pair of great-sounding headphones that cradle your ears with soft, plushy ear cups or a pair of earbuds to listen to anywhere, Bose is always a reliable go-to. You'll get noise-cancelling, satisfying audio at reasonable prices that often go even lower on sale at regular intervals. That includes this weekend, as there are a variety of Bose goodies on sale now.

As of November 1, you can snag some of Bose's best headphones and speakers at Amazon for up to 40% off their normal price. That includes popular picks like (our favorite) the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphone line as well, so if you've had your eye on one of Bose's best and brightest picks for some time, it might be a good idea to lock in and snap yours up, with the holidays around the corner.

Check out our picks from the Bose sale below.

Best Bose deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones $329.00 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are our favorites out of the Bose line, and for good reason. Not only are they extremely comfortable, but they feature excellent noise cancelling and a 24-hour battery life. You might actually want to wear them that long, too, as their plush ear cups make them a dream for long listening sessions. They're perfect for crispy treble and booming bass, and offer three listening modes to help you decide how much of the world you want to let in while you're listening to your favorite music or podcasts. They're the best over-ear Bose headphones you can get, and this is their lowest price yet.

Best Bose earbud deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Earbuds $229.00 at Amazon
$299.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not into over-ear headphones, you might want a good pair of earbuds to toss in your bag or wear to the gym. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the best the company has to offer, and they're perfect for a wide variety of use cases. They're comfortable, loud, and powerful – plus, they offer active noise cancellation and spatial audio support. Their satisfying bass is surprisingly powerful for their size, and they make a great substitution if you want or need to listen discreetly in a location where over ear headphones might make you look out of place. Plus, they work great for calls, too.

Best Bose speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker $299.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you like to take the party with you (and share it with everyone else), Bose's best portable speaker is one we highly recommend. Its impressive stereo sound, clear audio, and waterproofing that can handle a dunk in the water make it well worth snagging. It boasts 20 hours of battery life, and you can, as the name may inspire you to do, link several speakers up at once for the ultimate house party. Plus, it comes in cool colors if that's something you're interested in.

Though a larger coalition of fact checkers has disbanded, a team of students and researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle is still working to document how lies online threaten to undermine this year’s presidential race.