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Why Instagram carousels sometimes start on the second slide

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 16:08

Do you ever wonder why, when you're scrolling through Instagram, the second photo of a carousel pops up first?

According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, that's often because you might have seen that carousel already but didn't swipe — so you're getting a second chance.

"If someone sees your carousel post but they don’t swipe, we’ll often give that carousel a second chance and automatically move to that second piece of media for the viewer," Mosseri said in an Instagram Reel.

View this post on Instagram

He added that carousels "often get more reach than photos" in part because of this second chance posting, but also because "multiple pieces of media are going to mean more interactions with your carousel posts, and more interactions is going to mean more reach on average."

SEE ALSO: Is posting a photo dump on Instagram cringe now?

Beyond posting a carousel, Mosseri also said you might want to "add music" to the post if you're trying to increase reach.

"I highly advise you to add music so it's eligible to show up in video experiences, like the Reels tab," Mosseri said. "Now, don't feel like you have to force it, but if you're on the fence and you can go either way, choosing a carousel over a photo will often help you get more reach."

Happy posting!

Internet Archive hacked again: We know because the hacker responded to our email to the Archive.

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:54

The Internet Archive is still under attack two weeks after suffering a data breach and DDoS attacks that took the website down.

How do we know? 

Because the hacker just responded to Mashable's email that we went to the Internet Archive to find out more about the hack. The hacker was able to respond via Internet Archive's Zendesk, an online service that helps companies respond to users' support queries.

The hacker responds through Internet Archive

Earlier this month, Internet Archive suffered multiple cyberattacks that ended up taking the entire platform, including The Wayback Machine which archives websites throughout the years, offline.

While a group known as SN-Blackmeta took responsibility for the DDoS attacks, the attacker behind the data breach has remained anonymous. It's unconfirmed whether that anonymous hacker is also behind the latest Internet Archive breach. 

The attacker claims that they have access to all of the more than 800,000 support tickets sent to Internet Archive since 2018.

"It's dispiriting to see that even after being made aware of the breach 2 weeks ago, IA has still not done the due diligence of rotating many of the API keys that were exposed in their gitlab secrets," the hacker wrote on Sunday through Zendesk to our email that we sent to Internet Archive on October 10.

"As demonstrated by this message, this includes a Zendesk token with perms to access 800K+ support tickets sent to info@archive.org since 2018," they continued.

Chief Security Officer Chris Hickman of the cybersecurity company Keyfactor explained to Mashable why the rotating API key issue played such an important role here.

"This is a security oversight as tokens that are not rotated regularly have longer lifespans, increasing the window of opportunity for attackers to steal and misuse them," Hickman said. "If a malicious actor obtains an unrotated token, they could use it to gain unauthorized access to systems or services."

And it appears that's what happened.

The Internet Archive's bad month continues

In the initial attack earlier this month, the hacker shared that they had accessed emails, screen names, and encrypted passwords for 31 million Internet Archive users. However, in this most recent attack, the attacker now shared that they have more than 800,000 support tickets shared between Internet Archive users and the non-profit group. These support tickets could contain even further sensitive information as users who requested that their content be removed from the Internet Archive had to oftentimes provide identification.

In an age where everyone seems to disagree about everything on the internet, there's one thing that most people seem to agree with: The Internet Archive is an amazing tool that provides online library services at no-cost to users. Many were shocked when their site was attacked earlier this month.

The Internet Archive was able to get parts of its website back up and running last week. However, it seems like significant damage has been done.

"Whether you were trying to ask a general question, or requesting the removal of your site from the Wayback Machine—your data is now in the hands of some random guy. If not me, it'd be someone else," the hacker said in its reply to Mashable's contact. "Here's hoping that they'll get their shit together now."

The 50+ best gifts for gamers that they won't already have

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:46

Shopping for gifts for gamers is a double-edged Master Sword. On the one hand, there are so many cool games, consoles, and accessories to choose from — especially in a year like 2023, where every other release was a Game of the Year contender. But there's also just so much to choose from, to the point where you might feel under-leveled for the "simple" task of picking that just-right gift.

That's where we come in. To help you on your side quest to find the perfect present for a gamer friend or loved one, we've compiled a massive list of more than 50 gamer gift ideas for the 2024 holiday season — including a bunch of games we've played and products we've tested ourselves.

If you're gifting on a budget, you'll do well with a new accessory for your recipient's existing setup, a few months' worth of their favorite video game subscription service, or a copy of a popular game from the past few months. Leveling up over the $100 mark expands your options to high-end peripherals, while $200 and above unlocks current-gen consoles, bundles, and gaming laptops. We've peppered in a few limited-edition collectibles at different price points, too.

Keep reading to check out our picks for the best gifts for gamers:

Rosanna Pansino cracks open an apparently moldy Lunchly

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:10

It seems folks might be getting a surprise when they open their Lunchly — and it's not a kids' toy or special dessert. A new video from a food YouTuber showed them apparently discovering mold in the Lunchable rival from popular creators MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI.

Rosanna Pansino, a popular food YouTuber with 14.5 million subscribers, posted a video on Sunday trying out Lunchly. And in that video, which has already racked up more than half a million views, she says she discovers mold in the cheese of the Lunchly. We obviously cannot independently verify Pansino actually discovered mold — it is something you could fake — but she does explicitly state in the video description that the "video is not faked."

You can watch the 20-minute video for yourself.

Pansino sets up a video comparing Lunchly to Lunchables. It's a sensible idea for a video, considering Lunchly is basically a YouTuber-endorsed version of the classic kids' meal. Lunchly has "Fiesta Nachos," "The Pizza," and "Turkey Stack 'Ems," which come with MrBeast's Feastables chocolate and a bottle of Paul's Prime drink.

SEE ALSO: MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI are launching a Lunchables rival

In the video, Pansino appears to open a pizza Lunchly only to discover what seems to be mold on the shredded mozzarella cheese, despite the packaging saying it was good for another couple of months. Upon assembling the mini pizza with the moldy cheese, Pansino gags and again states she did not fake the mold.

"It's so much mold, this is terrible," she says in the video. "I just want you guys to know I did not fake this. I was honestly going to go over nutritional facts and differences between the two."

Later in the video, Pansino compares a moldy Lunchly to one that was not moldly and points out that the seal might not have been tight on the one that apparently produced mold. Other videos online have claimed to show mold on their Lunchly's cheese, indicating perhaps this is not an uncommon problem.

None of the creators behind Lunchly have addressed the mold claims online. Lunchly declined to respond to a request for comment.

Arkansas May Have Vast Lithium Reserves, Researchers Say

NYT Technology - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 14:07
Federal and state researchers said there might be five million to 19 million tons of lithium, more than enough to meet the world’s demand for the battery ingredient.

Get the Roku Streaming Stick 4K for 32% off — plus more Roku deals

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 13:03

SAVE 32%: Roku streaming devices are on sale at Amazon this week. Get the Roku Streaming Stick 4K for 32% off, bringing it down to $34 for $15.99 in savings.

Best Roku deals Best Roku Streaming Stick Deal Roku Streaming Stick 4K $34 at Amazon (Save $15.99) Get Deal Best Budget Roku Deal Roku Express $19.99 at Amazon (Save $10) Get Deal Best Roku 4K Deal Roku Express 4K+ $29.99 at Amazon (Save $10) Get Deal

I don't mean to be dramatic, but not all streaming devices are created equal. Some are laggy with clunky UX, while others move quickly between apps with no buffer time. Since you can't try out every streamer, we've done the hard work for you, to find the best options so you can buy with confidence.

One brand we trust for all of our streaming needs is Roku. The Roku Ultra is our favorite Roku streamer but the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is also great — especially compared to Amazon's offerings.

If you're in the market, maybe your smart TVs built-in streamer is just too slow, now is a great time to shop while Roku devices are on sale at Amazon.

Best Roku Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick 4K $34.00 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.99 Get Deal Why we like it

I love the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. As a loyal user of the Apple TV 4K, I didn't think much could sway me from it, but the Roku turned my head. Not only is it already affordable at $49.99, but it has an easy to navigate interface that is customizable so all your most used apps are always within reach. It delivers clear picture that doesn't require any stand-still pixelated buffering time.

When I put it head-to-head with Amazon's Fire TV 4K Streaming Stick, there was no competition. The Roku is superior in every way compared to the sluggish Amazon system.

If you're convinced, now is a great time to shop. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is down to $34, for 32% savings and $15.99 off.

More Roku deals

We found several leftover robot vacuum deals from October Prime Day

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:52

UPDATE: Oct. 21, 2024, 1:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the best robot vacuum deals live in the weeks between October Prime Day and early Black Friday deals.

A glance at the best robot vacuum deals in mid-August: Best non self-emptying deal Eufy L50 $151.98 at Amazon (save $48.01 with Prime) Get Deal Best self-emptying deal Eufy L60 $298.99 at Amazon (save $100 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best vacuum-mop combo deal Roborock Q Revo Pro $749.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don't have time. Whether you detest the chore or hope to make your home upkeep a bit breezier, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better? Best overall robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Pro with self-empty station $749.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We think of Roborock's Qrevo Pro as the lite version of one of the best hybrid robot vacs on the market right now, the $1,399.99 Qrevo Master. The Qrevo Pro takes one of the Master's hallmark features, the flexible side arm that extends to mop in corners and along wall edges, and combines it with slightly less suction power to keep the price lower — though the Pro's 7,000 Pa is still quite powerful. It also empties itself and washes and dries its own mopping pads.

More robot vacuums (that don't mop) on saleRobot vacuum and mop combos hybrids on sale

Tons of Beats earbuds and over-ear headphones are on sale at Amazon and Best Buy

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:49

GET UP TP $100 OFF: As of Oct. 21, Amazon and Best Buy are offering discounts of up to $100 off select Beats earbuds and headphones. You can find deals like $100 off the Beats Studio Pro or $70 off the Beats Solo 4.

Our top picks: Best over-ear headphone deal Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones $249.99 at Amazon (save $100 ) Get Deal Best earbud deal Beats Studio Buds+ $149.99 at Best Buy (save $20) Get Deal Best budget pick Beats Solo 4 $129.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

There's nothing quite like creating your own little world while commuting or navigating the everyday chaos — and let's be honest, that's pretty much impossible without a decent pair of noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds.

SEE ALSO: We've tested a lot of headphones — these are the 6 best headphones of 2024

Imagine this: Your favorite song is playing, you can no longer hear the subway system deteriorating around you (or the noisy office or the neighbor's lawnmower), and if you close your eyes, it’s almost like you’re somewhere else entirely. (Put on Days by The Drums, and you’ll see what I mean.)

If you haven't found the perfect pair to escape with yet, you're in luck! Amazon and Best Buy have tons of deals on Beats right now.

Here are some of the best deals we found:

Best over-ear headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones $249.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-canceling headphones.

The Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones are $100 off at Best Buy and Amazon (so take your pick).

These headphones earned a Mashable Choice award in 2023, with Mashable's Alex Perry praising their noise cancellation, Android compatibility, and impressively long battery life that makes them hard to beat for an all-around great experience.

“The Beats Studio Pro headphones are excellent on most of the levels that matter,” writes Perry. “They sound fantastic, last a long time, and support multiple playback styles. Most importantly, Android users don’t get the shaft, with near-parity between iOS and Google’s mobile platform.”

Best earbud deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Studio Buds+ $149.99 at Best Buy
$169.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

While the Beats Studio Buds+ hit their all-time low price on Amazon earlier this month, they've unfortunately gone back up to their original price of $169.95. But don't worry; you can still snag a deal! Best Buy currently has them for $20 off.

These buds are ideal for anyone who’s always on the go. (They’re so small, you can pop them in your pocket or bag.) They feature a sweat and water-resistant design and provide up to 36 hours of total battery life with the charging case. And, with transparency mode, you can tune in and out of your surroundings with the touch of a button.

Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Solo 4 $129.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $69.96 Get Deal Why we like it

The Beats Solo 4 aren’t at their lowest price ever, but they're still a pretty great deal at $129.99 at Amazon and Best Buy.

These affordable on-ear headphones can play for up to 50 hours on one charge and feature a Fast Fuel recharging rate of 10 minutes for up to five hours of playback.

Even though these headphones aren’t noise-cancelling, they’re comfortable and deliver that signature Beats sound.

iRobot Roombas are on sale this week up to 47% off

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:31

SAVE UP TO 47%: This week, find savings on iRobot Roombas at Amazon. The iRobot j7+ robot vacuum is down to $421.04, knocking $378.95 off the price for 47% savings.

Best iRobot deals Best iRobot deal iRobot Roomba j7+ $421.04 at Amazon (Save $378.95) Get Deal Best iRobot mop deal iRobot Braava Jet m6 Robot Mop $354 at Amazon (Save $145.99) Get Deal Best budget iRobot deal iRobot Roomba Q011 Robot Vacuum $147.36 at Amazon (Save $102.63) Get Deal

Robot vacuums are the easiest ways to keep your floors clean. With such a flooded market, you have plenty of brands and models to shop, so it helps that we have some strong opinions on vacuum cleaners.

When shopping for robot vacuums, you can't ignore that iRobot Roombas are at the forefront of the market. While the best models are expensive, they're also frequently on sale. We're in the lull between Amazon's October Prime Day and Black Friday, but that doesn't mean that deals have come to a halt.

In fact, ahead of Black Friday, you can find savings on iRobot robot vacuums. Here are the best deals on iRobot Roombas to shop this week.

Best iRobot deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j7+ $421.04
$799.99 Save $378.95 Get Deal Why we like it

Having tested the iRobot Roomba j7+, Mashable's Leah Stodart declared that it's great at cleaning but even better at navigating. The standard model (which doesn't include the mopping like the Combo), maneuver around obstacles with ease, offering superior detection so it won't get caught. While there are other robot vacuums with better suction, this will still get your floors plenty clean.

Right now, the iRobot Roomba j7+ is down to $421.04, saving $378.95 for 47% off. This is less than $2 short of its lowest price ever — not bad, especially ahead of Black Friday.

More iRobot deals

Buy one book and get another for 50% off at Target, plus more of the best book deals this week

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:02
The best book deals this week at a glance: BEST OVERALL Buy one get one 50% off select books at Target save with Target Circle Get Deal BEST PAPERBACK DEAL 'It Ends with Us' by Colleen Hoover $9.03 at Target (save $7.96) Get Deal BEST HARDCOVER DEAL 'The Wild Robot' Hardcover Box Set by Peter Brown $37.80 at Amazon (save $16.20) Get Deal BEST KINDLE DEAL 'The Boyfriend' by Freida McFadden $3.99 at Amazon (save $14) Get Deal

'Tis the season to cozy up with a good book. Whether you like having a physical copy in your hands or you've fully converted to the Kindle life, the best book deals this week have a little something for everyone.

Lots of bestselling titles and BookTok gems are getting the deal treatment this week. Plus, a Circle-specific sale at Target could help you fulfill your TBR wishlist for a steal. We've rounded up some of the best book deals we could find as of Oct. 21 below, including hardcovers, paperbacks, and Kindle editions for up to 80% off.

Best book deal this week Opens in a new window Credit: Hachette Book Group / Penguin Publishing Our pick: Buy one get one 50% off select books with Target Circle Get Deal Why we like it

Through Oct. 26, Target is running a buy one get one 50% off sale on select books exclusively for Target Circle members. There are tons of great titles included in the sale, like bestsellers The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, Funny Story by Emily Henry, It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas. Not to mention, most books included in the BOGO sale are already discounted pretty significantly. For instance, The Housemaid is down to just $6.96 (46% off) and It Ends with Us is down to $9.03 (47% off). That means you could get both books for only $12.51 (regularly $29.98). If you're an old school reader who prefers a physical book in your hands, this is a pretty stellar deal you won't want to miss out on. If you're not a Circle member, be sure to sign up for free to take advantage of the savings.

More book deals

Box sets and hardcovers

Paperbacks

Kindle deals

Flirting IRL is having a major pop culture moment

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:26

There's a unique feeling that comes with watching two people flirting wildly with each other. You're a spectator to something that feels intimate, yet public, both of them dancing around the idea that they clearly fancy each other but haven't yet plucked up the gumption to shoot their shot. On the one hand: Should I.... leave you guys to it? On the other: Sorry, but I just can't look away.

This is how I felt watching the latest Chicken Shop Date episode with Andrew Garfield, an 11-minute flirt-fest of "powerful vibes" with Amelia Dimoldenberg that I had to watch in instalments because I couldn't handle the chemistry between the two. I literally felt jealous watching it.

Garfield, who's currently promoting his latest romantic movie We Live In Time which also stars Florence Pugh, declares in the interview that he and Dimoldenberg have had, in fact, two meet cutes. We all saw their viral first red carpet meeting back in 2022, in which Garfield sauntered up to Dimoldenberg and declared "I think you're great" before proceeding to tell her he's seen all her "Chicken Shop things." "I'm asking you out right now," Dimoldenberg says in the very same clip.

Their second meet cute happened at the 2023 Golden Globes on the red carpet. But, this video also mentions the fact that the pair were at a party together where a) Amelia was wowing with her dancing and b) Andrew asked for her number. Hello? What?!

SEE ALSO: Welcome to the 'Lover Girl' dating era. It's time to embrace romance.

"This is called flirting, Amelia!" Garfield bellowed at one point in their latest meeting. "This is called flirting." Yes, Andrew, we can see that. And, so did more than 5.3 million viewers who tuned in to watch the mega-viral video, which topped the YouTube trending videos over the weekend.

Flirting is having a major pop culture moment right now. And the internet's reaction to the latest Chicken Shop Date forms part of a landscape of our current cultural fixation on the art form of a good old fashioned flirt. The internet was ablaze with a kind of high-school K-I-S-S-I-N-G energy, along with an abundance of memes, shipping, and general commentary. Some hailed the video the "the best rom com of the year," others focused on the granular blush-worthy details: "I think something is wrong with me because I am blushing at Andrew saying 'I don’t like games Amelia.'" Side note: there's nothing wrong with you, we were all swooning.

Tweet may have been deleted

But it's not just Andrew and Amelia and our hope that they will soon be betrothed. The internet is crushing on multiple couples, both real and fictitious, for their excellent flirting on main.

Running parallel to the Chicken Shop Date buzz this past weekend was another swoon-worthy interaction between Suki Waterhouse and fiancé Robert Pattinson. For an ELLE video, Waterhouse prank-called Pattinson, pretending that she'd been asked to be the new host of Love Is Blind. Pattinson's voice sounds like he's smiling as he talks to his beloved and, as one commenter aptly put it: "he talks like he is kicking his feet and twirling his hair while talking to her." A true highlight (which prompted many memes) comes when Pattinson asks, "Darling, have you gone mad?" Stop it, you guyssssssss, I can't cope.

Speaking of IRL couples, brat summer isn't just about partying and living unapologetically as oneself, it's also about being publicly cutesy with your fiancé. Charli xcx had the entire internet begging her fiancé, producer George Daniel, to please do the "Apple" dance that swept TikTok, created by Kelley Heyer. It all started when the brat artist posted a doe-eyed TikTok video of her asking George, "Babyyyyy, why don't you want to do 'Apple' though?"

More adorable content came our way when Charli followed up her request as a birthday present. And then again when TikToks emerged of the singer performing "Girl, so confusing" during the co-headlined Sweat tour with Troye Sivan, when she called out George onstage for not singing along. "George, I don't see you singing," she said (with autotune), before smiling at him and shouting, "Come on!!!" He'd better be singing now!

Seriously, though, I want what they have.

Crossing over into the fictional realm, we've been blessed with a decent run of TV series with protracted, infuriating sexual tension-ridden storylines. The kind where you're yelling "kiss!" at the screen. Disney+'s adaptation of the 1988 Jilly Cooper romance novel Rivals is one such example. Alex Hassell plays beguiling yet incorrigible rake Rupert Campbell-Black, who's bewitched by Taggie O'Hara (Sex Education's Bella Maclean), and their palpable chemistry is both mesmerising and infuriating as they continue throughout an entire series to not even so much as kiss on the lips. Get a grip, please!!!!!!!

That's not even mentioning Rivals' slow-burn, eked-out romance between Cooper stand-in Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson) and businessman Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer), the appeal of which Parkinson puts down to the rarity of long-game romances in the online dating era. "I'm not sure how many slow burn relationships are allowed to happen in a world of Tinder and so on," Parkinson told the audience of a Rivals preview screening in London in September.

SEE ALSO: 'Rivals' cast describe their audacious Jilly Cooper characters

Not remotely debauched, but just as swoon-worthy is Netflix's Nobody Wants This, which helped reignite every millennial's teenage crush on Adam Brody of The OC's Seth Cohen fame. The series, which has thankfully just been renewed for a second season, is a refreshing break from tired rom-com hetero archetypes, in which we watch a self-actualised female protagonist fall for an emotionally unavailable male counterpart. Noah (Brody) is kind, reassuring and open-hearted in his courtship of Joanne (Kristen Bell). In short, he's the unproblematic romantic ideal that we have all been yearning for.

So, what's the deal? Why's everyone so obsessed with flirting right now?

My theory is that the pandemic has had a profound impact on the way we regard flirting. During the lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, going on dates wasn't possible, casual sex was banned, and our only way of interacting with potential partners was through our phone screens. Romance was temporarily on hold. Many of us single folk experienced something called touch hunger or even touch deprivation, where we don't receive enough or any physical contact (something neuroscientists tell us is a vital human need).

Many of us retreated into a fantasy world of romantic fiction (with the encouragement of SmutTok — TikTok's dedicated community of bodice ripper lovers), and since then romance and erotic lit has seen an astronomic rise in popularity in the publishing world. Since 2020, U.S. print sales of romance and erotica books have doubled from 18 million in 2020 to over 29 million in 2023, as reported by the Guardian. In the UK, sales of romance novels have increased by 110 percent over the same timespan, bringing in £53 million ($69 million) a year.

At the same time, meeting online is now the most popular way U.S. couples meet, according to 2019 research by sociologists at Stanford University.

Slow burn romances are, as Parkinson says, a rarity in the age of rapid swiping and job interview-esque first dates. Somewhere along the way, we adjusted our expectations and decided we wanted everything all at once: we wanted to fast-track our online dating matches into IRL boyfriends without the fun part... the lingering eye contact, the lust-filled looks from across the room, the buzz you get when their leg touches yours for the first time, the way their eyes light up when you walk into the room. As much as I've accepted that dating apps are not going anywhere, I also miss the pre-dating app days (yes, I'm a millennial) when we'd have blazing crushes on people we'd met organically and, every now and then, we'd muster the courage to awkwardly ask someone out.

SEE ALSO: I went to an offline 'Draw and Date' event for singles. Here's how it went.

I think we're currently obsessed with watching people flirt — whether it's a fictional couple in a TV series, or two celebrities who are either dating or should be — because in our disillusionment with dating app culture, we are seeing a resurgence of old-school romance. We're turning to offline dating events to try and claw back the coveted chemistry you get from spending time with someone in real life developing a connection.

Flirting is having a moment right now because we've all realised how much we missed the feeling of lusting after someone in real life. Perhaps it's time we all went outside into the world and flirted brazenly with a sexy stranger.

Everything Apple could still announce in 2024

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:20

Last month, Apple held a big event to show off the iPhone 16, among other things. Don't think the company is done for the year, though.

While it's unclear if Apple has another livestreamed event in store for us before 2024 is over, it seems likely that at least some announcements are coming in the near future. The month of October, specifically, has been earmarked in certain news reports recently as a time when Apple might make such announcements.

October might almost be over, but just in case Apple gets these things out under the gun, here's what you might be able to expect from the company during spooky season.

SEE ALSO: Apple goes after spambots with Business Caller ID Apple October 2024 potential announcements

Apple laid out the near future for iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches in September, so don't expect to hear much (if anything) about new hardware in those departments in October. However, there might be some beefy hardware on the way.

M4 Macs

Speaking of hardware, the expectation on the Apple rumor-mongering part of the internet is that there will be some powerful new Macs in the near future.

In his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman said back in August that Apple is planning on rolling out M4 variants of the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac product lines before the end of 2024. Gurman also reported that MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro will get M4 upgrades later, sometime in 2025.

To put it bluntly, expecting these new M4 Macs to roll out in October may be wishful thinking, given that the month is almost over already. Last year, Apple did run a big livestream to announce some new Macs right before Halloween, so there is technically precedent. However, no such thing has been confirmed or even hinted at yet, at the time of writing.

Apple Intelligence rollout

With hardware more or less accounted for for 2024, the only Apple developments left to talk about are on the software side. Specifically, lots of people probably just bought iPhone 16s expecting to be use Apple Intelligence, given that it's heavily featured in every single TV commercial for the new iPhones. Strangely, though, those features aren't actually out yet.

October will see the end of that, at least partially. Apple has confirmed that iOS 18.1, which brings with it the first wave of AI features to new iPhones, will launch during the final week of the month. This update will include some of the more rudimentary Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools, which uses AI to help you summarize, proofread, and edit text. Clean Up is also coming to Photos, which lets you use AI to remove unwanted elements from pictures.

Aside from iOS 18.1 and the potential (but no guarantee) of new Macs, Apple may not have much else before October is over. At least there's something, though.

Save up to $300 on HP laptops and printers at Amazon and Best Buy

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:13

SAVE HUNDREDS: As of Oct. 21, you can score $100 or more off an HP laptop or printer, including the HP OmniBook X.

Our top picks: Best deal overall 14-inch OmniBook X Copilot+ PC laptop (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy (save $300) Get Deal Best budget laptop deal 14-inch HP 2024 Flagship laptop (16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD) $274.99 at Amazon (save $75 (with on-screen coupon) ) Get Deal Best printer deal HP DeskJet 4255e wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer, scanner, and copier (588S6A) $69.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

Apple seems to get all the acclaim and fame for innovation in the personal computer market, but HP has come a long way from being the budget PC brand. And right now, you can score hundreds off some of their most popular laptops and at-home printers at Amazon and Best Buy.

Here are some of our top picks as of Oct. 21:

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: 14-inch OmniBook X Copilot+ PC laptop (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,199.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The 14-inch OmniBook X Copilot+ PC laptop (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is $300 off at Best Buy, bringing the total price down to $899.99.

This 2024 laptop has an AI-powered Snapdragon X Elite processor with a dedicated Qualcomm Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) to make your workday a little easier.

The Copilot+, with its 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and Windows 11, is ideal for students or professionals who need a reliable machine that won’t break the bank. And with a 2.2K IPS touchscreen display, you can really bring your ideas to life.

Bonus: You’ll also get 20% off select Logitech accessories when you purchase the Copilot+ laptop.

Best budget laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: 14-inch HP 2024 Flagship laptop (16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD) $274.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $75.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re low on cash but desperately need a new laptop that won’t quit mid-project, the 14-inch HP 2024 Flagship laptop (16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD) is just $274.99 at Amazon right now (with an on-screen coupon).

It comes with one full year of Microsoft 365, can recharge to 50% in 45 minutes, and has an Intel 4-Core N4120 processor that can handle everything from email to video editing without flinching.

Best printer deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: HP DeskJet 4255e wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer, scanner, and copier (588S6A) $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Having a printer at home is a luxury we don’t talk about enough, and the best deal we’ve found is on the HP DeskJet 4255e wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer, scanner, and copier (588S6A). It’s $69.99 at Amazon, down from the usual $99.99 price tag.

This printer comes with three months of ink, so you should have enough to power through most of your home printing needs without buying new cartridges right away. (You’ll have to activate an HP+ subscription to get it.) Once the three months are up, you’ll either need to pay for the HP+ Instant Ink delivery service or cancel and buy cartridges individually.

The coolest thing about this printer is that with the HP App, you can print, copy, scan, or fax (!) from your smartphone or tablet.

Score Samsung Galaxy Watches up to 43% off at Amazon

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 10:59

SAVE $140: Amazon has dropped prices on Samsung Galaxy Watches. Find the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 for $169.99 and 43% savings. Or catch the Samsung Galaxy Ultra that's down to $509.99, saving $140.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Deals Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $169.99 at Amazon (Save $130) Get Deal Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Deal Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra $509.99 at Amazon (Save $140) Get Deal Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $244.99 at Amazon (Save $55) Get Deal

Back in July, Samsung debuted a refresh to its line-up of Galaxy Watches. The latest watches included the new Samsung Ultra, a direct competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra, as well as an update to the standard model with the release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7.

Samsung's smartwatches are impressive tech that are loaded with health features fit for the every man or the extreme athletes. This wearable tech is a lot more sophisticated than your standard fitness trackers, which unfortunately means they're also more expensive.

If you're looking to make an upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy Watch, now is the time with three models on sale at Amazon. And believe it or not — every model is down to its lowest price ever. Here are the best deals on Samsung Galaxy Watches.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $169.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Before the new Samsung smartwatches arrived in July, there was the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, a fantastic device loaded with health insights for a better you. Like any good fitness tracker, it monitors your activity and health metrics while working out. Plus, it can even help you get better sleep as it detects your different sleep stages and snoring. But beyond fitness tracking, you can it connects to your Galaxy devices so you can control music, calls, texts, and even smartphone camera.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 dropped down to its lowest price ever of $169.99, saving $130 for 43% off.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra $509.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $140.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Samsung debuted its best smartwatch tech yet with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. The brand claims it can run up to 48 hours on a single charge or 100 hours on power saving mode — great for those spending a few days out in the wilderness. Additionally, it also comes with the ability to detect symptoms of sleep apnea, important data you can bring to your doctor. While we haven't had the opportunity to test these claims, we have liked what we've seen in our initial hands-on review.

At $509.99, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is officially down to its lowest price ever, saving $140 for 22% off.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $244.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $55.00 Get Deal Why we like it

While an 18% discount and $55 off doesn't seem that impressive on its face, especially compared to the deals above, we can promise you this is a fantastic sale on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. At $244.99, this smartwatch is officially down to its lowest price ever.

This smartwatch comes with Samsung's latest AI technology to maximize your fitness goals. Galaxy AI calculates an Energy Score to give you a sense of your physical readiness. Plus, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, the 7 comes with the sleep apnea sensor too.

Where can I watch 'Cuckoo'? Here's when and where the Hunter Schafer film is streaming.

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 10:11
The best streaming deals to watch 'Cuckoo: WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Cuckoo' on Prime Video $5.99 or $9.99 (save $5 with Prime) Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Cuckoo' on Apple TV $5.99 or $14.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Cuckoo' on Vudu $5.99 or $14.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Cuckoo' on YouTube $5.99 or $14.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Cuckoo' on Google Play $5.99 or $14.99 Get Deal WATCH LATER Hulu annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Looking for a new horror film to watch this Halloween season? Cuckoo, a bonkers mountain horror-thriller starring Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), is now available to watch at home after a successful release this summer.

It's got its fair share of creepy characters, eerie atmosphere, dramatic tension, and cinematic mountain lodge vibes a la The Shining. Far from a jump scare-filled traditional horror movie, Cuckoo is more dependent on building unnerving, creeping dread. Prepare for an uncomfortably tense, truly bizarre movie night.

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Cuckoo at home.

What is Cuckoo about?

Written and directed by Tilman Singer, the film follows 17-year-old American Gretchen (Schafer) who is uprooted to a resort in Bavaria with her father Luis (Márton Csókás), stepmother, Beth (Jessica Henwick), and 8-year-old stepsister, Alma (Mila Lieu).

Resort owner Mr. König (Dan Stevens) finds Gretchen a job working reception at a nearby lodge, where one day she's chased back to her new home on her bike by a mysterious hooded figure with glowing eyes. When nobody believes she was attacked, she's forced to investigate largely on her own. What she uncovers is quite bonkers and might leave you scratching your head.

Check out the full trailer below:

Is Cuckoo worth watching?

Cuckoo reviews are a mixed bag, but lean mostly positive, with a 77 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 percent audience rating. Mashable's own reviewer Siddhant Adlakha calls it "incredibly strange and deviously fun."

"Whatever the film's more overt horrors, whether its chilling atmosphere or its attempts at amusing moral and visceral obscenities, they're all bound by Schafer's increasing physical and emotional despondency," wrote Adlakha in his review. "She doesn't just save the movie. She is the movie, making it all the more remarkable to watch."

As Schafer's first lead role in a film, she knocks it out of the park. And for her performance alone, it's worth a watch. Plus, of course, there's Dan Stevens.

How to watch Cuckoo at home Credit: NEON

If you skipped the big screen, you're in luck. You can watch Cuckoo at home as of Sept.17. The mountain horror-thriller is now officially available to rent or buy on digital-on-demand retailers like Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV for those who'd rather watch the film from their couch. If you'd rather wait and stream the film, keep reading for more information.

Note: If you choose to rent the film, you'll have 30 days to start watching and just 48 hours once you begin.

Here are some of the platforms where you can rent or purchase the film online:

When is Cuckoo streaming?

There's no official streaming date yet for Cuckoo, but since the indie film distributor Neon has a deal with Hulu, we expect the film to make its streaming debut on the service later this year. You can set yourself up for success by signing up for the streamer ahead of time. Hulu is surprisingly one of the most generous streamers for newbies, as it offers a free 30-day trial. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but we've rounded up a few different ways you can save on your subscription below.

The best Hulu streaming deals to watch laterBest Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Rather than paying $9.99 per month for Hulu, which adds up to $119.88 in a year, you can opt for an annual subscription and save 16%. An annual subscription with ads costs just $99.99 up front, which drops the monthly fee down to just $8.33 per month. Sure, you'll have to pay more up front, but you'll end up keeping more in your pocket in the long run.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 37% off Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Duo Basic bundle: Hulu and Disney+ with ads $10.99 per month (save 45%) Get Deal

If you're already a Disney+ subscriber or you want to get more bang for your buck, you can sign up for the Disney Duo Basic bundle and get both Disney+ and Hulu for $10.99 per month. That's just $1 more than paying for Hulu alone, or a savings of 45%. Even better, if you're a sports fan, you can throw ESPN+ into the mix for only $16.99 per month total. That's 47% in savings on all three services.

Best for students: Hulu Student Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student $1.99 per month (save 80%) Get Deal

Students looking to stream Cuckoo and other Neon hits can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month. That's a savings of 80% compared to the full cost of Hulu with ads. You'll just have to verify your college email address using SheerID to score the deal.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for one year for Go5G Next customers Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu (with ads) Free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal

One of the best ways to get free streaming services, including Hulu, is to switch your mobile plan to T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan. Customers on this plan get Hulu with ads included in their plan for no extra cost, plus Netflix and Apple TV+. If you're already on a Go5G Next plan, head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim your offer. You'll have to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up for Hulu.

Note: After your initial 12-month promotional period, you'll also have to take action in order to keep your subscription alive.

Mini crossword answers for October 21

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 08:54

The Daily Mini Crossword is one of the many popular daily word games available on Mashable. Powered by Arkadium, the mini crossword offers a speed round of puzzle fun with clues that are sure to challenge experienced crossword enthusiasts.

But there's no need to let the challenge get in the way of your enjoyment! If moments are turning to minutes after getting stuck on a clue, find the answers you need to progress right here.

And when you're done, check out the many other word games you can play on Mashable, including a full-size crossword.

Also, if you get stuck on any other daily word games, such as Wordle, Connections, or Strands — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 21 SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to Daily Mini Crossword for Monday, October 21, 2024:

AcrossChinese flatbread

  • The answer is Bing.

Movie music

  • The answer is Score.

"That makes sense now"

  • The answer is OhISee.

Award-winning Jennifer Aniston character

  • The answer is Rachel.

Nosferatu antogonist

  • The answer is Orlok.

Sunday seats

  • The answer is Pews.

DownFrozen spike

  • The answer is Icicle.

Unexpected absentee

  • The answer is NoShow.

Leonida and Aristotle, e.g.

  • The answer is Greeks.

Electric fish

  • The answer is Eel.

Eldest fighter in the Street Fighter series

  • The answer is Oro.

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

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

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

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

Hurdle hints and answers for October 21

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 08:45

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Boxers do this for work.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 21 Hurdle Word 1 answer

FIGHT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

They are gathered to hunt outlaws.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 21 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

POSSE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A way to describe a chimney sweep's appearance.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 21 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SOOTY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

What winners get.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 21 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PRIZE

Final Hurdle hint

A bit of hail, a bit of rain.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

SLEET

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

'Rivals' cast describe their audacious Jilly Cooper characters

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 07:48

National treasure Dame Jilly Cooper wrote beloved romantic novel Rivals in 1988, and it's now been adapted into a fittingly saucy TV series with Disney+ and Hulu. Part of the author's famous Rutshire Chronicles, the story throws you into the competitive TV industry in the '80s, where filthy rich neighbours — Olympic show jumper turned Tory politician Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and TV exec with a chip on his shoulder Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) — would love to see the other burn. And for the most part, everyone's having not-so-secret sex with everyone else in the sprawling estates of said industry heads in the Cotswolds. 

But as Cooper herself told the audience of a Rivals preview screening in London in September, "It's about love, really. I think world's very low at the moment, we all need cheering up."

SEE ALSO: Here's your first rambunctious look at Jilly Cooper TV adaptation 'Rivals'

The series was written and executive produced by A Very English Scandal's Dominic Treadwell-Collins with playwright Laura Wade, and Ted Lasso's Elliot Hegarty as lead director, alongside directors Dee Koppang O’Leary and Alexandra Brodski. It's an '80s dream, a shoulder-padded world of prawn cocktails, Blue Lagoons, and Depeche Mode blaring on tiny stereos. But ultimately, the show (and Cooper's book) is an ode to television in the '80s and how things were done.

"I remember my first job, the boss going off for a lunch with a channel and coming back hammered and going, we've got two new shows," said Treadwell-Collins. "And I thought, 'Wow, this is telly.'"

Just look at that '80s party table. Credit: Hulu / Disney+

Treadwell-Collins spoke about people's reservations over how adaptable Cooper's raunchy books were for TV, saying, "I read Rivals over 20 years ago, and I've been wanting to put it on television. Lots of people laughed at me, and television people laughed at me and kept saying, "Ooohh Jilly Cooper. Jilly Cooper.' I kept saying, 'No, no!' It's such an amazing book with such a beautiful, twisted love story at the heart of it, and it's funny and witty and warm and clever, and it's a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful book."

However, he ended up going directly to the source.

"I wrote to Jilly in the end. Felicity [Blunt, Cooper's literary agent] called me from lunch with her and said, 'Jilly's read your letter, and she wants to give you the rights, and she wants you to write it.' And that was magic. So we went to Jilly's house and sat on her living room floor with lots of bits of paper and planned out what we're going to do."

"It's about love, really. I think world's very low at the moment, we all need cheering up." - Dame Jilly Cooper

Yes, this is Jilly Cooper so the series is about love and sex, but it's also deeply about class. "We talked about it a lot and it's the heart of Jilly's book," said Treadwell-Collins. "British people are obsessed with class, and everyone else around the world is obsessed with our obsession with class. I think what we're showing here is: you may be upper class, but that doesn't make you classy. We skewer the class system. We skewer our obsession with class, with garden parties and dinner parties and Tupperware parties. And as you go along, you'll see these characters' obsession with class starts to destroy people, and that's at the heart of the show."

The Rivals cast and crew spoke to British comedian and TV host Sue Perkins at a London preview about the series, joined by Cooper herself. As they spoke about their characters and the challenge of adapting Cooper's writing, we've distilled their conversation into a guide to each Rivals character and what to expect from the series.

Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black. Credit: Hulu / Disney+

The Boys star Alex Hassell plays Rivals' big cheese, the philandering MP Rupert Campbell Black, who spends little time serving his constituents and considerable time serving the women of the Cotswolds. At the preview, Perkins described Campbell Black as "one of the most iconic dashing bastards in modern literature — read about, fawned over, and the subject of much adolescent frotting." I honestly can't do better than that. Being Cooper's leading aristocratic lothario, Hassell acknowledged the big shoes he needed to fill, and said Cooper's presence on set was always supportive, with tiny notes.

"Yes, it was quite intimidating," he said. "I'll be honest, what was very, very useful was every room that I went into as Rupert Campbell Black, everyone in the room was told before I got into the room to treat me as if I was the most attractive man in the world. Extremely helpful.

"When I got the part, I read Riders for the backstory, and once I got over being really intimidated by playing Rupert Campbell Black, I read Rivals too. I had to get over the fear of not being as ravishing as I should be. But as we went on, and basically, after I took my clothes off, I felt more comfortable, weirdly."

Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham. Credit: Hulu / Disney+

The new-money antithesis to Campbell-Black's blue bloodedness, Lord Tony Baddingham is played by Doctor Who himself, David Tennant. The brusque managing director of independent commercial TV channel Corinium, Tony will do anything to triumph — over his competitors, over his neighbours, but mostly over his nemesis Campbell-Black.

"It's so potent, it's very British, but it's very human, I think as well, that 'I can never quite be where I want to be.' That sense of always being disappointed. That however hard you try, there's a club you're not allowed to be in," said Tennant. "For someone like Tony, that's devastating, and he can only try harder. He will never be satisfied because he's always one peg down from the exclusive club. And it kills him."

However, Tony's wife Lady Monica Baddingham (Claire Rushbrook) is the real key to his character, Tennant said.

"I love those scenes [between Tony and Monica] because it's where all the armour sort of falls away. You see the little boy again, and he's sort of got his mum there. He's got that comfort, that need. He's very at home with her, he absolutely needs her, he knows her entirely. Because he often runs this extraordinary lifestyle full of treachery and debauchery and everything else, but he always has to have Monica."

But above all, Tony values one thing. "Winning!" said Tennant. "Whatever that means in whatever the situation that he's in. It's the sense that because he can never quite have the ultimate prize, he must have all the other prizes, and everyone else must be at his feet. He's very balanced. There's no daddy issues at all."

Taggie O'Hara (Bella Maclean) Bella Maclean as Taggie O'Hara. Credit: Hulu / Disney+

Sex Education actor Bella Maclean takes on Taggie O'Hara, the daughter of journalist Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner) who finds adjusting to the Costwolds community pretty tumultuous — alongside her sister Caitlin, played by Enola Holmes 2's Catriona Chandler — and especially her interactions with Rupert Campbell-Black.

"I loved Taggie. When I was doing the audition process. I had about three days to read Rivals before my final round, and I was panicked because it's quite a hefty book, Jilly, and I read it pretty much overnight," said Maclean. "I became quite obsessed with Taggie. I think she's got quite an amazing moral compass, and she's in a world with quite strong characters, and she's not afraid to share her mind and stand up to you [Rupert]. And I think maybe that's why we start our love affair."

Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner) Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara Credit: Hulu / Disney+

A hard-boiled journalist who leaves the BBC for a lucrative commercial TV studio, promised his own interview show, Declan O'Hara is the straight man of the series, played by Poldark's Aidan Turner. He's a protective father and attempted family man, but he spends most of the show on his program, Declan — much to the shagrin of his colleague and jealous host James Vereker (My Lady Jane star Oliver Chris) and his bored wife Maud (Ballykissangel star Victoria Smurfit).

Turner based his character on TV presenters from over the decades, including conservative columnist William F. Buckley Jr. "One in particular I quite like was The Firing Line, some of those older American, longform, dusty, smoky interviews. They were useful."

But it's not the only inspiration Turner drew on for his character. "I kind of stole from lots of people for the presenting stuff, and then lightly based it, I thought, on my dad. The more I watched it, that's my dad. That's his accent, that's the way he walks, he had a tach for 20 years exactly the same as that. So yeah, I think it's closer to my father that I might care to admit actually."

Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook. Credit: Hulu / Disney+

Powerhouse American TV producer Cameron Cook, played by The Gentlemen actor Nafessa Williams, is flown over by Tony to Corinium to produce Declan's show. Williams found a lot of similarities in the fish-out-of-water experience of her character.

"It was a lot of life imitating art, right?" said Williams. "She came from New York to come here; I came from Atlanta to come here. So I understood her world, I understood her coming here being new, not understanding the world so much. I think what got me is when I read the script, I was just like, she's so strong, so smart, and so firm in who she is. I just felt like she also could hold her own amongst these really strong, powerful men, and I was just really excited to give my voice over to it. It's been really fun. I learned a lot."

Williams studied producers and portrayals onscreen like The Morning Show for her role, but she also got into the headspace of Cameron by channelling her own family.

"I always wanted to be an adult in the '80s. So I just remember those images of my mom and my grandmom — the red lip, the hair, and the fashion — and just really wanting to emulate that. So that was a good bit of my research, having that visual."

Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson) Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker. Credit: Hulu / Disney+

Played by The IT Crowd's Katherine Parkinson, Lizzie Vereker is the eyes and ears of the Cotswolds. A writer, observing and recording the indulgent, dramatic shenanigans of her neighbours, Lizzie is like the Lady Whistledown of Rivals — and based on Cooper herself.

"Dame Jilly said to me, you know you're playing me? And I was extremely flattered to take on that responsibility," said Parkinson. "But I think it's important when you're playing a writer, to look invested in the people around you, and to be quite watchful, because that's something I've noticed with writers and so did that. But my hair isn't nearly as good as Jilly's, as you'll see."

Lizzie finds herself attracted to businessman Freddie Jones (played by EastEnders' Danny Dyer) and the two share a wonderful chemistry onscreen in the series' slowest burn romance.

"We really can't stand each other. I've asked him not to look at me except during the scenes," Parkinson joked. "No, I was very pleased that Danny played that part. I think it's so beautifully drawn throughout the series, their dynamic, in these quite economically written scenes by Laura Wade and Dom. It says so much with so little sometimes. And, you know, it's over eight episodes so it's a kind of slow burn relationship, which feels very '80s. I'm not sure how many slow burn relationships are allowed to happen in a world of Tinder and so on."

Rivals is now streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in the UK.

These wireless Sony headphones are at their lowest-ever price at Amazon

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 06:13

SAVE OVER $20: As of Oct. 21, the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones are on sale for $38 at Amazon. That's a saving of 37% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones $38.00 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $21.99 Get Deal

You can't go wrong with a good pair of over-ear headphones. They're comfortable, block out distractions, and of course, offer incredible sound quality. And if you're looking for a quality, reliable pair of headphones that don't cost hundreds of dollars, we've found the deal for you.

As of Oct. 21, you can grab the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones for just $38, reduced from $59.99. This deal is available in all four colorways: Black, White, Blue, and Cappuccino. Not to mention, this is the lowest price they've ever been at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: The best headphones for iPhone owners in 2024

A big selling point of these headphones is the battery life, lasting up to 50 hours — perfect for those of us who always forget to charge our tech. It also has quick-charging capability, so when it does run out of juice it won't be long before they're back in use.

In terms of sound quality, these headphones offer customizable sound settings through the Sony app, so users can adjust the equalizer to match their preferences. It also comes with Sony's DSEE technology, which enhances the quality of compressed music files, giving you a much better listening experience.

And here's looking at the forgetful among us, this model also comes with a fast pair option. If you misplace your headphones, you can easily find them by sound or check their last known location in Google’s Find My Device app on your smartphone.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

iFixIt's Meta Quest 3S teardown reveals commonalities with Quest 2

Mashable - Mon, 10/21/2024 - 05:35
iFixIt's Shahram Mokhtari took a peek inside the Meta Quest 3S, the cheaper (but not very) alternative to the Meta Quest 3.

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