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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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Updated: 21 hours 30 min ago

Rokus 65-inch QLED TV is half off at Amazon

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 16:53

SAVE $600: As of June 3, the 65-inch Roku Pro Series QLED TV is on sale for $599.99 at Amazon. That's 50% off its usual price of $1,199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-inch Pro Series QLED TV $599.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $600 Get Deal

Finding a good and cheap QLED TV isn't hard in 2025. Finding a good and cheap gaming TV that can actually keep up with new graphics-heavy drops? That's another story.

If you're specifically looking for a budget television 65 inches or larger, one solid option happens to be 50% off at Amazon: As of June 3, score the 65-inch Roku Pro Series QLED TV for $599.99. That's $600 off its original price of $1,199.99.

SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer.

Gamers will appreciate four HDMI inputs (two of which support 120Hz), an automatic gaming mode, and compatibility with Freesync Premium Pro. CNET's Ty Pendlebury particularly shouted out the low input lag on the Pro Series, noting that it has some of the best response times that CNET's team has seen in competing TVs recently.

Picture quality-wise, the Roku Pro Series is pretty mid — this just isn't the punchiest combination of vibrant colors and deep blacks you'll find on a TV in this price range. However, the full array of local dimming zones and mini quantum dots at least promise to provide snappier color than any old LED TV you may be trying to get rid of. For scenery-heavy new releases like Atomfall or Mario Kart World, that'll be crucial for the playing experience.

Best TV deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Grab the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 at Amazon at its lowest price ever

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 16:43

SAVE $100: As of June 3, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for $199.99, its lowest price ever at Amazon. That saves you $100 for 33% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100 Get Deal

When we talk about smartwatches, so often Apple Watches are front of mind. But there are plenty of other great smartwatches out there that are compatible with more than iPhones. Last year, Samsung launched its Galaxy Watch 7 at Samsung Unpacked, a new smartwatch with advanced AI and sensors for detecting sleep apnea and blood pressure. And, nearly a year after its launch, it finally reached its lowest price ever.

As of June 3, shop the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for just $199.99. That knocks off $100 from its usual $299.99 for 33% in savings — and officially brings the watch down to its lowest price ever.

SEE ALSO: Save $300 on the zippy Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra at Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 offers far more health sensors than you'll find in an Apple Watch. Now, it comes with a sleep apnea and blood pressure monitor so that you can have accurate health data to bring to your medical provider. In addition to these sensors, it's also a phenomenal fitness tracker, as it calculates all of your data and with Samsung Galaxy AI produces a daily Energy Score.

Grab the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for $199.99, its lowest price ever.

Best tech deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Track latest restocks, see our first-hand impressions

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 16:36

UPDATE: Jun. 3, 2025, 10:10 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with information about Staples' launch day plans for the Nintendo Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 preorder date came and went in the U.S. in late April. You probably didn't get one, but that doesn't mean all hope is lost.

After a brief delay due to President Donald Trump's tariffs, Nintendo Switch 2 preorders went live online at several major retailers on April 24, predictably crashing their websites. Within hours, preorder listings for the $449.99 console at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart were all marked as "coming soon," "not available," or "out of stock." The same applied to listings for its $499.99 Mario Kart World bundle.

Those lucky enough to snag a Switch 2 preorder will be able to pick up their new console in person at Best Buy and GameStop as soon as it launches on June 5: Both retailers are planning on opening their stores at midnight ET that day. Meanwhile, Walmart is promising to deliver preorders made before June 4 at 8 a.m. ET for free by 9 a.m. local time on June 5 (while supplies last).

So far, we've only heard of one restock. According to several price trackers and Reddit threads, Walmart briefly restocked its Switch 2 inventory on Saturday, April 26. Since then? Nada.

If you want to smash that refresh button at the major retailers, you're welcome to try your luck, but there are better ways. Keep reading to find out how to preorder the Switch 2 through the My Nintendo Store, track restocks online, and (if you strike out on preorders) buy the console first thing on launch day.

Where to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2: Walmart Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 Pre-Order Here Target Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 Pre-Order Here GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 Pre-Order Here How to preorder the Switch 2 at the My Nintendo Store

You can also try nabbing a preorder directly through the My Nintendo Store in May. Nintendo's online storefront will send out preorder invites to interested shoppers in waves starting Thursday, May 8; those with a Nintendo Account can register for access ahead of time on Nintendo's website.

Here's how it works: You go to Nintendo's website, log into an active Nintendo Switch Online account, and register your interest in a Switch 2 console or bundle. Starting on May 8 (and with other waves to follow later), eligible account holders will get email links to preorder a Switch 2 straight from Nintendo on a first-come, first-served basis.

There are, of course, a couple of weird catches to this. To be eligible, your Nintendo Switch Online account must meet the following requirements:

  • An active, paid Nintendo Switch Online account that's existed for at least 12 months

  • Your account must have 50 gameplay hours registered to it

This way, Nintendo knows you're not a filthy scalper bot. So, if you keep trying and failing with the major retailers, this is something to have in your back pocket just in case.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $449.99 at the My Nintendo Store
Register for preorder access Learn More

Shoppers will be notified via email when it's their turn to place a Switch 2 preorder, and they'll have 72 hours to do so. Preorders will be limited to one system per account.

Nintendo recently updated its preorder page to note that it's not guaranteeing release day deliveries "[due] to the very high demand," and that some invites may arrive after the official launch on June 5. (You'll receive a shipping date once you place your preorder.) The company encouraged shoppers to buy a Switch 2 from one of its retailer partners "[if] you wish to increase your opportunity of obtaining a Nintendo System 2 system at launch."

How to track Switch 2 restocks online

We recommend checking out Mashable reporter Alex Perry's in-depth guide to tracking Switch 2 restocks online. But to give you a tl;dr version, Perry says you can sign up for alerts to notify you of restocks via retailers like Walmart. However, that means you'll find out at the same time as everyone else, and these features are hit or miss.

For better luck, we recommend following inventory trackers on social media. Specifically, Jake Randall and Matt Swider on X; both have hundreds of thousands of followers and good reputations. In addition, follow Wario64, who can be found on X and BlueSky. This enigmatic operator tracks all kinds of stock alerts across the world of gaming. Wario64's covers a lot more than Switch 2 restocks, but Perry recommends the account personally, saying, "This account is how I got both a PS5 and Xbox Series X when those two consoles were hard to come by in 2020. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most important social media accounts in my life right now."

How to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 in person on launch day

If you fail to secure a Switch 2 preorder, consider camping out at a local chain retailer. Best Buy said most of its stores will have a limited number of consoles available for in-person purchase when they open at midnight ET on June 5. Best Buy stores will also be giving away a limited-edition collectible coin. Visit the retailer's Switch 2 landing page to find participating stores near you.

Target stores will open at their usual time on launch day (typically 8 a.m.), and according to a press release, Switch 2 hopefuls can begin lining up "in the designated queuing location" near the entrance well before then. Target workers will dole out a limited number of reservation tickets to those in line, so get there early. Those who receive a ticket will be whisked off to the store's electronics department once it opens, where they'll be able to purchase one Switch 2 or Switch 2 bundle.

Target said it will begin selling the Switch 2 online "beginning early morning" on Friday, June 6.

Finally, select Staples stores will sell the Switch 2 and an unspecified Switch 2 game bundle (not the standard Mario Kart World one) on a first-come, first-served basis starting June 5. Most Staples locations open at 8 a.m.

The new Nintendo Switch 2 console: All the details

The next-gen hybrid console retails for $449.99, making it $150 pricier than the original Switch from 2017 and $100 more expensive than the 2021 OLED model. It's also being sold as part of a limited-time $499.99 bundle that includes a download code for Mario Kart World, one of two exclusive launch titles.

Credit: Benedikt Wenck / picture alliance via Getty Images

The Switch 2 console will ship with the following accessories:

  • Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)

  • Joy-Con 2 Grip

  • Joy-Con 2 Straps

  • Nintendo Switch 2 Dock

  • Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable

  • Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter

  • USB-C Charging Cable

Our first-hand impressions of the Switch 2

Mashable reporter Alex Perry got to briefly play the Switch 2 at a recent Nintendo event, and he wrote at the time, “I can confirm that Switch 2 is noticeably more powerful than the original Switch.” Overall, he said it has a premium feel and impressive performance.

“From the first second I got to hold a Switch 2 unit, I instantly liked the way it felt in my hands. The 7.9-inch 1080p display (which supports HDR and 120Hz refresh rate) is substantially nicer than the 6.2-inch 720p display on the predecessor console. In addition to a bigger screen, the Joy-Cons also have some added muscle…Doing a cross-country race across Mario Kart World's gorgeous open world without even a hint of loading between tracks is awesome. Seeing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom run at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second is very convincing in person.”

Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable How we got here

After pulling back the curtain on its new console during an April 2 Direct, Nintendo originally announced that Switch 2 preorders would open at select retailers on April 9. But two days later, the company said in a press statement that preorders were indefinitely delayed amid the Trump administration's new tariff policies and "evolving market conditions."

Nintendo eventually set the Switch 2's new preorder date in a mid-April press release — and in doing so, it confirmed that the Switch 2 and its bundle would not see a tariff-related price increase. Pricing for two of its upcoming standalone games, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, also remain unchanged at $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.

We haven't gotten away scot-free, though: "Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions," Nintendo said. That includes the Switch 2 Pro Controller, Joy-Con controllers, a set of two Joy-Con 2 Wheels, and a Switch 2 Camera. The company also left the door open for future price adjustments "of any Nintendo product" if market conditions change.

All the Switch 2 launch titles and games you can preorder

We've already written about the Switch 2 launch titles we're most excited to play, but there are so many more titles you'll soon be able to experience. Technically, some of the most exciting games are not launch titles, so manage your expectations. However, considering most of us won't get a Switch 2 until weeks (or possibly months) after June 5, that's not the end of the world.

The biggest title is, of course, Mario Kart World.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Mario Kart World' $79.99 at Target
Release Date: July 5, 2025 Pre-order Here All the Switch 2 accessories you can preorder

Below, we've listed the updated pricing for the Switch 2's accessories. Just over half of them are now available for preorder at major retailers alongside the console itself (linked when available):

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save $300 on the zippy Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra at Amazon

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 16:31

SAVE $300: The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB) is on sale for $1,119.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $1,419.99. That's a 21% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB) $1,119.99 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $300 Get Deal

Buying a premium flagship model of anything tends to come with a steep price. That's true across the board whether you're buying a new electric car or the fanciest eggs on the shelf. But if you're shopping for a new Android device, you can score a flagship model with a hefty discount thanks to Amazon.

As of June 3, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB) is on sale for $1,119.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,419.99. That shaves $300 off the normal price which works out to a 21% discount. Choose between the Titanium Whitesilver and Titanium Gray to snag this sale price.

Samsung's family of S25 phones continues with the super savings. Last week we noticed the base Galaxy S25 phone dip to the lowest price ever and the S25+ is also seeing a sweet $250 discount. But if you want the best of the best, today's deal on the S25 Ultra is a steal.

For starers, it's the brand's top-tier offering and it measures 6.9 inches on an AMOLED display that can reach 2,600nits of brightness. Like the others in the S25 family, the Ultra uses the zippy Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, but it comes with some significant camera upgrades.

The 5,000mAh battery is also top of the line, getting up to 31 hours of video playback time before you'll need to recharge. In Alex Perry's review of the phone for Mashable, he found the phone to last for almost 27 hours while looping a 1080p video on the phone's display. Since you probably won't be doing that in real life, you might be able to recharge the S25 Ultra every other day.

Another benefit of today's deal is that it's on the 512GB version of the Ultra so you'll have room for downloaded shows, movies, and the hundreds of dog pictures that tend to accumulate. The S25 Ultra also comes with an S Pen so you can circle to search all day long or write notes to your friends.

While it's $300 off, snag the powerful Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra at Amazon and then sit back to enjoy the speedy processor, long battery life, and functional S Pen.

The best tech deals to shop this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

Stay hydrated with a big Stanley Quencher for just $21 at Amazon

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 16:21

SAVE $14: As of June 3, get the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler (30-ounce) for $21 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $35. That's a discount of 40%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler (30-ounce) $21 at Amazon
$35 Save $14 Get Deal

It's getting hot outside, which means we should be drinking more water. If you want to make it even easier to stay hydrated on the go this summer, it might be time to grab a Stanley and call it a day.

As of June 3, get the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler (30-ounce) at Amazon for $21, down from its usual price of $35. That's $14 off and a discount of 40%. This price applies to the Blue Spruce colorway.

SEE ALSO: The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip) is back to its best-ever price at Amazon

This 30-ounce tumbler has vacuum insulation to make sure your cold drinks stay cold stay chilled and hot drinks stay steamy for as long as you're sipping. It features a FlowState lid with a rotating cover that lets you lock its reusable straw in place or sip from the opening as well, all without worrying about leaks. And if you're the type of person who likes to drink from or carry by the handle, the comfort grip makes it easier to do just that.

You can just toss this Stanley in the dishwasher whenever it needs a cleaning. You can feel good about using it instead of single-use plastic bottles to get your hydration on, as it's made of 90% recycled stainless steel inside for a lifetime of use. And it has a lifetime warranty from Stanley in case you run into any issues.

So grab it for the sake of being trendy, grab it for drinking more water, or just grab it because it makes lunch convenient — but definitely grab it before it's no longer on sale.

Best home and kitchen deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

I played Mario Kart World, and I believe it can carry the Switch 2 launch on its back

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 16:10

When the Switch 2 made its grand debut in a lengthy Nintendo Direct livestream six weeks ago (so much has happened in those six weeks), a lot of gamers had two major questions concerning the console's impending June 5 launch:

  1. Is Mario Kart World really worth $80?

  2. Is Mario Kart World enough to justify getting the console on day one?

Though Nintendo has tried to answer that first question, many of the fans I know still aren't convinced. However, after getting roughly six hours of relatively unconstrained hands-on time with the game recently, I think I can answer the second one.

In short, yes, I absolutely think Mario Kart World has enough meat on the bone to keep Switch 2 early adopters happy until more first-party games like Donkey Kong Bananza start dropping later in the summer. (And if you're looking for more Switch 2 launch titles to play, I have some recommendations.) The iconic kart racing series' first foray into open-world design carries a ton of promise, and after getting to spend a huge chunk of time roaming around its giant world, I think people will find plenty to do for the first few weeks after launch when there may not be a lot of other new games to play.

Also, did I mention that I got paid to play Mario Kart World for six hours? The lengthy pre-launch demo event I attended included a pretty comprehensive look at what Mario Kart World has to offer. Let's dive in.

Mario Kart World: My final hands-on impressionsI am going to spend so much time in free roam The world feels very lively, with lots of NPC traffic and even wildlife. Credit: Nintendo

In case you've been living in the jungle or something since early April, you should know that Mario Kart World's big change to the series is the inclusion of a seemingly very large open world that players can roam around at their leisure. Every racetrack is contained within this world, and in the classic Grand Prix mode, you actually have to race other drivers to the next track after you finish one.

This flagship Switch 2 launch game didn't take long to make me grin like a child, as I realized early in the demo that you can seamlessly enter free roam from the game's main menu without any kind of loading screen whatsoever. You can actually see Mario idly driving around the world behind the menu, and pressing the Switch 2's plus button removes the UI, places the camera behind him, and sets you off on your adventure instantly. It's a really neat trick.

But what matters most is what actually happens once you're in free roam. This isn't necessarily like other open-world racing games such as Burnout Paradise or Forza Horizon where you drive up to an icon on the map to start a series of races, as far as I could tell. Instead, the rhythm of free roaming revolves around simply driving until you see something fun to do. In my experience, this happens about every 30 seconds or so.

Starview Peak was my favorite track I saw in the demo. Credit: Nintendo

The fun largely involves big blue P-switches that you can drive over to start little bespoke challenge missions. Each one of these takes about 30 seconds at max to complete if you do it right, and they come in a handful of different flavors: collecting blue coins, driving through a series of checkpoints before time comes out, or even completing something akin to a 3D platforming challenge with a kart. If you're coming to this game looking for something more weighty than that, I don't know if you'll find it here; I don't think Mario Kart World is aiming to wrap the player in the mystery of its world the same way The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did when the first Switch came out.

That's fine, though, because what it is aiming to do is give you a lot of fun, bite-sized activities that you can do between intense online races. It's an easygoing, stress-free experience, one that will make for a perfect couch companion while a baseball game is on the TV. Need to kill a couple of hours on a flight? Perfect, just go into free roam and keep hitting blue switches until you can't anymore. I don't know how many of those are in the game, but you get the impression early on that the number is huge. Another important thing to note is that there is more to the free roam mode than just P-switches, as I encountered special collectible coins and even some other things I won't spoil that I couldn't even really explain if I wanted to.

In total, I got about 90 minutes with the free roam mode, and it left me wanting to play a lot more. Crucially, it seems like free roaming is something you can simply choose to do if you want to, not something you have to do to have fun with Mario Kart World. All of the traditional modes (as well as new ones like the battle royale-esque Knockout Tour) are here too, and you can access them the same way you always could from a menu.

Put simply, this is going to be the perfect podcast game.

But an open world is not the only profound addition to Mario Kart World That's a cool dude, right there. Credit: Nintendo

Real quick, I'd like to acknowledge that this isn't just Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with an open world jammed into it. Nintendo has actually made some really meaningful changes to the core mechanics. As you may have seen in various promotional materials, karts can now grind on rails and even ride on walls, both things that are new to the series. Of course, every track and even the non-track parts of the open world have been meticulously constructed with those mechanics in mind, and mastering them will be key to putting yourself in the position to win...until a blue shell ruins everything.

What impressed me the most about this is that there's legitimate technique to it. Nintendo has added a new move to every racer's toolkit, where if you hold down the drift button without turning in a particular direction, your racer will charge up a little vertical jump. This jump is how you get onto rails and walls in the first place, and I was told you can also use it to avoid certain obstacles and even shells coming your way. What makes this work so well is that it takes a few seconds to prime the jump, so you can't just decide on a whim that you'd like to ride the wall next to you. You need to learn each track and plan ahead, and this is something that I think free roaming will also help with, since you can drive freely on each track without worrying about other racers.

To wrap back around to my original point, I'm no longer worried about whether or not I'll be satisfied with Mario Kart World as the Switch 2's only big first-party launch game. For starters, there are other games to play, contrary to what some people might say online. Beyond that, I got the distinct impression that there's a ton to see and do in Mario Kart World, and all of it can be seen and done at as leisurely a pace as you would like. There aren't even a bunch of overwhelming icons on the world map, if that helps.

Of course, to enjoy all this, you have to complete a very important challenge first: Actually securing a Switch 2 preorder.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Mario Kart World' $79.99 at Target
Pre-order Here
Categories: IT General, Technology

I tried the Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat feature, and so far Im impressed

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 16:00

Let's get one thing out of the way early: Yes, I understand that voice chat in online console games has not only been possible, but has also been commonplace for two decades now. Nintendo is way behind the curve on this one.

That said, I got to try the new Switch 2's GameChat functionality at a recent event ahead of the console's June 5 launch, and I came away pretty impressed, all things considered. I also got to spend six hours playing Mario Kart World, so all in all, a pretty awesome day.

Nintendo hasn't really invented anything new here but rather has synthesized its family-friendly, intuitive sensibilities with the way people hang out with each other on Discord in 2025. Thanks to a dedicated button on every Switch 2 controller, a slick interface, and some pretty thoughtful accessibility features (that's new for Nintendo), I expect Switch gamers are going to love GameChat.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Track latest restocks, see our first-hand impressions Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat preview: Nintendo joins the 21st century

As originally outlined in the big Nintendo Switch 2 Direct livestream back in April, GameChat is Nintendo's version of something you've been able to do on Xbox consoles since I was roughly 10 years old and playing Halo 2. Put simply, it's a way to create voice chat parties for up to 12 Nintendo Switch Online users.

Take a moment to pick your jaw up from the floor. Nintendo is finally doing what Xbox Live users could do back in the Bush administration. Sarcasm aside, there are actually a couple of unique features that make GameChat stand out. One is that it's immediately accessible at any time via a new "C" button on every Switch 2 controller. This, of course, makes it very easy to bop in and out of chat rooms at will without having to go to the Home menu and spend a few seconds navigating a series of icons.

The interface for all of this could not be more straightforward, in a good way. There's a button for creating a room, a button for joining an existing room (made by someone you're friends with, not strangers), and some settings for you to fiddle with. It feels very Nintendo-like in its simplicity and elegance.

Another distinguishing characteristic of GameChat is that it's designed to be used with an open microphone that's built into the console itself. This has been, by far, my biggest worry with GameChat; some of us have to deal with noise complaints from neighbors, for example. I was also concerned this would inevitably create problems with game audio or miscellaneous real-life noises bleeding into voice chat.

Granted, I was in a demo environment set up by Nintendo, but it was a very loud room with a lot going on and I gotta say...it works. I could hear everyone clearly and, as far as I could tell, they could hear me without any problems. However, I'd like to acknowledge that I was told you can plug a regular headset into the Switch 2 Pro Controller's headphone jack and voice chat like you would on any other console. I will probably be doing that exclusively, to be honest.

It's like Discord on your TV. Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat: More first impressions

There are a few other odds and ends I noticed during the demo. One is that you can stream a live feed of your gameplay to anyone else in the GameChat room, and they can do the same for you. If you've seen any promotional footage of GameChat, you probably noticed that those video feeds are pretty blurry and run at a very low frame rate. You can blow one up to full-screen, but I wouldn't recommend it. Otherwise, they live in a horizontal row at the bottom of the screen.

I can confirm that they look like that in practice, not just in marketing videos. I'm not sure how much I want to use that feature, especially given that it reduces the total amount of the screen I get to use for my gameplay purposes. With that in mind, though, there's something nice about being able to discern what your friends are doing at a glance. Our demo involved playing through a co-op level in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords for Game Boy Advance, and it was kinda cool to know that one of my partners was in another room collecting Rupees without me needing to ask where he was. This feature seems built for that sort of cooperation, those little moments when you want to quickly check a friend's feed.

I also noticed a pretty neat number of customization options for GameChat. You can turn off a friend's video feed, adjust the size of your gameplay window, adjust individual users' volume levels, and just play in a regular full-screen mode, if you want. Most surprising was the inclusion of a speech-to-text window you can optionally display on screen for users with hearing issues. In the very brief demo I got of that feature, it seemed pretty good at picking up what the demonstrator was saying, and it actually labeled individual speakers in the text window.

Look, all of this could completely fall apart once it's in the hands of regular goobers like my friends and I, outside of an ideal demo environment. I also expect that parents will have a lot of questions about safety and CamgeChat parental controls. But I came away from my short time with GameChat feeling a lot better about the feature. The open-mic stuff works better than expected, but I'm also glad you can opt out of it. Streaming gameplay to other users does seem to have genuine use cases, but again, it's totally optional and decently configurable. And the inclusion of the speech-to-text window is so much more cognizant of accessibility issues than Nintendo has been in the recent past.

In other words, Nintendo put a lot more thought into GameChat than I expected. This is just how people (gamers and otherwise) interact with each other now, and Nintendo is meeting folks where they are. I'm excited to try it out in real-world settings, at the very least.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nothing reveals launch date for its next flagship phone

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 15:46

Nothing, the company that makes affordable, semi-transparent smartphones, has a new flagship coming, and now we have the exact date.

In an invite sent to the media, the company revealed that Nothing Phone 3 will launch on July 1st at 6 p.m. BST (that's 1 p.m. ET).

The company also added a cryptic, pixelated image and shared an animation that tell us very little. However, we know a little bit about the phone from previous rumors and reports.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

First, the official stuff: Nothing CEO Carl Pei said last month that Nothing Phone 3 will cost around £800 (that's about €949 or $1,081 at today's exchange rate, but expect significantly different prices depending on the market). Besides that, Pei said that the phone will have "major performance upgrades," revamped software, and will be made of premium materials.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

More precisely (but less certainly), a leaker said yesterday that Nothing Phone 3 will be available in black or white (no surprise there, given previous Nothing phones mostly come in these colors), and in two variants: One with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and the other with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The same source says the pricing will be $799/$899, depending on the variant.

SEE ALSO: Nothing's new Phone 3a and 3a Pro are the coolest-looking phones you can get

We'll find out more in the weeks to come, and we'll follow the launch on July 1 to bring you all the news about Nothing's new flagship.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Musetti vs. Tiafoe online for free

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 13:13

TL;DR: Live stream Musetti vs. Tiafoe in the 2025 French Open for free on 9Now, France TV, or Servus TV. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 French Open quarter finals are finally here. We've entered the business end of the competition, with very remaining player dreaming of lifting the trophy.

Musetti meets Tiafoe in a fascinating quarter-final matchup. If you want to watch Musetti vs. Tiafoe in the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Musetti vs. Tiafoe for free

Musetti vs. Tiafoe in the 2025 French Open is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

These services are geo-restricted, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can stream the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia, Austria, or France

  4. Connect to 9Now, Servus TV, France TV

  5. Watch the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to live stream Musetti vs. Tiafoe (plus the rest of the 2025 French Open) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Musetti vs. Tiafoe in the 2025 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get $80 off the Apple Watch SE for a limited time at Amazon

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 13:12

SAVE $80: As of June 3, the Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) is on sale for $169 at Amazon. This is 32% off its list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal

Some smartwatches come with very high price tags, but if you're looking for something that just covers the basics, there are quite a few budget-friendly options to look through. If you're an Apple user, the Apple Watch SE is a pick that's worth checking out. That's especially true now as it's currently discounted at Amazon.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS, 40mm) has received a 32% discount at Amazon, dropping its price from $249 to $169. This discount applies to multiple color options as well, so you can choose between the starlight aluminum case with a lake green sport loop, the silver aluminum case with denim sport band, the silver aluminum case with blue cloud sport loop, the midnight aluminum case with midnight sport band, the midnight aluminum case with ink sport loop, and the starlight aluminum case with starlight sport band.

SEE ALSO: The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip) is back to its best-ever price at Amazon

The Apple Watch SE has plenty of features to help you out throughout the day. This includes health tracking for heart rate and sleep, safety features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS, and activity tracking to help with your fitness goals. It also fits in perfectly with an Apple ecosystem, allowing you to send texts or take calls from your wrist.

Don't miss out on 32% off the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS, 40mm) at Amazon.

If you're hoping for a little bit more from your smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 10 is also on sale at Amazon right now. It's currently back down to its lowest-ever price, so there's no better time than now to grab it.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Apple Watch Series 10 is back at its lowest-ever price on Amazon.

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 12:15

SAVE $100: As of June 3, the Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's a 25% price drop from its list price of $399.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100 Get Deal

There have been a wide range of smartwatch deals popping up lately, which is good news if you've been looking to pick something up for outdoor adventures. If you're an Apple user, some of its smartwatches have even received some nice discounts, including the Apple Watch Series 10.

The Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. This is 25% off its list price of $399 and even marks a return to its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. If its caught your eye, there's no better time than now to scoop it up.

SEE ALSO: Everything we expect from WWDC 2025: an iOS overhaul, Apple Intelligence, and macOS

Whether you want it for workouts or just everyday use, the Apple Watch Series 10 boasts a variety of features to get you through the day. This includes heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, respiratory rate, advanced metrics for a variety of workouts, and safety features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS. On top of all that, it fits perfectly into an Apple ecosystem so you can send texts and take calls right from your wrist.

If you've been on the lookout for a smartwatch upgrade, now is a great time to do it with this deal on the Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) at Amazon.

There are quite a few more Apple deals worth checking out right now, too. The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 Chip) is back down to its best price at Amazon as is the M3 iPad Air.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

Lego is giving away a free Paddle model ahead of Fathers Day. Here’s how to get yours on June 8.

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 12:11

FREE LEGO: On June 8, build a Lego Paddle model at participating stores and take it home with you for free. Find participating stores here.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego: Free Paddle for Father's Day Learn More

Lego has been running make and take events all year, providing fans with the opportunity to build and take home exclusive models like the Steering Wheel, Valentine's Day Heart, Mother's Day Bouquet, and Grogu. These events always cause a stir in the brick-building community, so we feel the need to make some noise about any new announcements.

The next make and take event is confirmed for June 8. Visitors to select Lego Stores on June 8 (from 12-2 p.m.) will have the chance to participate in a Father's Day Paddle make and take event. During this special event, participants can build and take home a Paddle model for free. This event is intended for participants aged 6+ years, and the model will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis while supplies last. You can check participating stores here.

SEE ALSO: Building the 'Twilight' Lego set was the therapy session I didn’t know I needed

The Paddle model is not available for purchase, so participants are getting their hands on an exclusive item for free. The only catch is that you can't stock up on these exclusive items. You are limited to one build per participant, but that feels fair to us.

Build and take home an exclusive Lego Paddle model for free on June 8.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

Relationship anarchy may cure Gen Zs loneliness, Feeld reports

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 12:01

Non-monogamy has entered popular consciousness in recent years, with terms like open relationship and polyamory becoming more visible online. But what about relationship anarchy?

Relationship anarchy (or RA) is a philosophy that regards all relationships as equally important and unique. In RA, no relationship should be bound by rules that aren't entirely agreed on by the involved parties. The phrase was coined by writer and activist Andie Nordgren and seeks to apply the principles of anarchism (which calls for abolishing authority and hierarchy) to relationships.

SEE ALSO: Is Feeld for normies now?

RA takes center stage in Feeld's (the app for kinky and non-monogamous people) latest State of Dating Report, which is co-written by sex educator and author Ruby Rare. The report states that RA could be the antidote for Gen Z's loneliness.

Both before and since the outbreak of COVID, Americans have felt lonely. In 2023, then-Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory about the loneliness epidemic. As the report cites, Gen Z is the loneliest generation, according to experts.

But relationship anarchists on Feeld report less loneliness and a higher likelihood of valuing deep and broad connections. RA practitioners on the app are 1.5 times more likely to say having a diverse range of connections helps with loneliness, 31 percent more likely to report feeling like they can shape their relationships to meet their personal needs, and 20 percent more likely to report having a reliable support network. (This is according to internal and external surveys of over 3,000 Feeld users and 6,000 non-users taken in February 2025.)

"RA is one of several possible avenues to develop emotional depth and resilience, and broaden your community: there’s no-one-size-fits-all approach here," the report states.

While relationship anarchy isn't as well-known a term as non-monogamy, polyamory, or swinging, one in five non-Feeld members realized they've practiced it (or are practicing) a relationship style that fits within its definition. The realization spiked to one in two people who are on Feeld.

But, as with any relationship style, there are challenges to RA. Negotiating relationship boundaries was 536 percent(!) more challenging for RA Feeld members than non-RA members. A reason for this could be the lack of a script to follow when practicing something like RA — anything other than monogamy, really. Those who practice RA were also 96 percent more likely to have experienced negative reactions from prioritizing seeing multiple partners over focusing on one partner. But as the recent dating scene has shown, daters have trouble being in communication with other people to begin with.

Last year, Feeld's State of Dating Report found that Gen Z actually fantasizes about monogamy (and kink). Guess that didn't last long. You can see all the findings in Feeld's State of Dating Report.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Presence: Steven Soderberghs unique ghost story is finally streaming

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 12:00
The best streaming deals to watch "Presence" at a glance: BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Rent "Presence" at Prime Video $5.99 Shop Now BEST OVERALL Hulu annual subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Hulu and Disney+ $10.99 per month (save $8.99 per month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Hulu Student $1.99 per month (save $8 per month) Get Deal BEST WAY TO GET HULU FOR FREE Hulu (with ads) free for T-Mobile Go5G Next plan subscribers (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal

If you missed out on seeing Presence in the theaters early this year, you now have the chance to experience one of the most unique films of 2025 from the comfort of your couch. Directed by the inventive Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp, Presence is an unconventional haunted house story. Though it's billed as a horror film, the genre-bender flips the traditional ghost story on its head, ultimately creating a story that is "sharply funny, beguiling, a bit chilling, and ultimately sweet," as Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko puts it.

Told from the viewpoint of a "presence" in the house, the film is shot entirely in first-person perspective. Puchko writes, "Soderbergh's steady hand is so mindful in its performance that you can practically feel the expressions of a face you cannot see." It's captivating and vulnerable and incredibly tense. And as of June 3, you can finally stream it. Here's what you need to know to watch Presence at home.

What is Presence about?

Presence follows the Payne family — mom Rebekah (Lucy Liu), dad Chris (Chris Sullivan), son Tyler (Eddy Maday), and daughter Chloe (Callina Liang) — who have just moved into a new house in the suburbs. While they appear to be the perfect nuclear family on paper, cracks start to form within their unit. All the while, strange and supernatural events begin to occur around the house. Who is the ghostly presence in the house, and what does it want from them?

Get a glimpse into the unique ghost story in the official trailer:

Is Presence worth watching?

With Soderbergh shouldering the camera, Presence is "a remarkable union of a clever concept and a superb execution," Mashable's reviewer writes. "I'll be absolutely shocked if Presence doesn't get a Best Cinematography Oscar nomination."

Of course, with that first-person perspective comes tension. Sullivan, one of the leads in the film, put it best: "This movie is going to wring you out before it releases any of that tension."

He adds that some people walked out of the theater due to the stomach-churning tension. If that's not your cup of tea, Presence might not be for you. For everyone else, Puchko calls it "a sublimely realized ghost story that is easily one of the best films of the year."

Other film critics largely agree, as it currently holds an 87 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences are more torn; it holds only a 52 percent audience rating. Of course, it's up to you to be the judge.

Check out our full review of Presence.

How to watch Presence at home Credit: NEON

Originally hitting theaters in January 2025 and then quickly heading to digital, Presence is finally making its streaming debut. That means you'll have three different ways to watch it at home: buy it on digital video-on-demand retailers, rent it at digital video-on-demand retailers, or stream it. See the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Just a little over a month after its theatrical debut, the Soderbergh and Koepp ghost story officially became available to watch at home on Feb. 25. You can purchase the film at video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, just keep in mind that once you start watching, you'll only have 48 hours to finish.

Here are some quick links to buy the film on digital:

Stream it on Hulu

Streamers can finally tune into Presence as well. It officially made its debut on Hulu on June 3, 2025. Hulu subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few different ways you can save. We've rounded up the best ongoing Hulu streaming deals below.

The best Hulu streaming dealsBest 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 $19.89) Get Deal

The best way to cut back on Hulu's streaming cost is to opt for an annual plan instead of a monthly plan. If you pay for a year up front of Hulu with ads, it'll cost you $99.99 ($8.33 broken down monthly). Meanwhile, a $9.99 monthly plan would add up to $119.88 in a year. That means you'll save about 16% or just shy of $20 in the long run. It ain't much, but every dollar counts in this economy.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 45% off Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Hulu and Disney+ (with ads) $10.99 per month (save $8.99 per month) Get Deal

Disney's bundle plans remain the best way to slash costs of multiple streamers at once. You can bundle Hulu with Disney+ in the Disney Duo Basic bundle and get both streamers with ads for only $10.99 per month. That's only a dollar more than paying for one streamer on its own, saving you about 45%. You can also throw in HBO Max for just $16.99 per month total, which saves you about 44$ on all three.

Best for students: Hulu Student Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student (with ads) $1.99 per month (save $8 per month) Get Deal

College students can save 80% on a Hulu with ads subscription. Sign up through the Hulu Student promotional page and verify your college email address using SheerID, and the price will drop from $9.99 to just $1.99 per month.

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

Aside from the free trial, the only way you can get Hulu for free in 2025 is through T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan and Experience Beyond plan. Better yet, you'll also get Netflix and Apple TV+ for free. If you're already on one of these plans, head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim the offer. You'll just have to enter your T-Mobile number and account details to sign up for Hulu. Not on the Go5G Next plan or Experience Beyond plan? Switch your plan and start taking advantage of the best free streaming lineup around.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best VPN in June 2025

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 11:59

VPNs are seriously useful security tools that can protect your identity and data, bypass online restrictions to access extra content, and much more. If this is all very new to you, you've probably got a lot of questions. Don't worry, because we can help.

We've done all the hard work for you and thoroughly researched these services to provide the information that matters to you. Here's everything you need to know about VPNs.

What is a VPN?

VPNs (or Virtual Private Networks) provide important protection for your data and identity when you're online. They offer this online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location). This means that all of your activity is untraceable and secure.

Basically, you can think about VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware.

Do you need a VPN?

Any sort of activity on an unsecured WiFi network leaves your private information and browsing habits exposed to the world, unless you're using a VPN. There's no need to panic, because whether you're sending important emails, doing some online shopping, or paying essential bills, VPNs make sure that everything remains private and anonymous.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for your iPhone

First and foremost, VPNs are designed to provide online security, but there is another reason that millions of people use these services: streaming more content from around the world. By hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another location, you can trick your favourite streaming services into thinking that you are based in a different country. This means that you can watch all of the shows and films from global libraries, like all the extra content on U.S. Netflix. This is the quickest and easiest way of boosting your content options, without the need to rely on a dodgy stream.

What should you consider before subscribing to a VPN?

There are plenty of things that you should consider when it comes to VPNs, but we don't have all day. Instead of listing off every feature offered by the best VPNs, we have highlighted a selection of the most important things to think about.

Before you make any sort of decision, you should look out for connection speed, server network, number of logins, and more important features:

  • Bandwidth — There are some VPNs out there that place monthly caps on network bandwidth, meaning you can only download a certain amount of data. You should avoid these services, unless you're on a free trial. If you're paying for a VPN, you should be able to download and upload as much as you want.

  • Connection speed — Using a VPN is going to produce a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept a significant drop that is going to result in buffering. Be sure to select a VPN that doesn't negatively impact your connection speed to the point that you can't watch a film or download a file without frustration.

  • Encryption — There are different levels of encryption, and whilst it's important to take note of the grade provided by your VPN, the best options will all offer powerful protection for your data. You are likely to come across terms like "military-grade" and "enterprise-grade," which just means that you can rely on it to do its job.

  • Number of connections — Some VPNs let you connect an unlimited number of devices with the same account. Others limit you to just a single device. You should look out for a service that offers multiple simultaneous connections, so you can stay protected on all your devices at the same time.

  • Server network — The very best VPNs provide access to literally thousands of geographically diverse servers. It's useful if a VPN has a lot of servers in key locations, because you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming, shopping, or browsing anonymously. It's not a straightforward case of more is better, but it's always good to have options.

  • Privacy policy — It's worth paying special attention to the data-handling, storage, and usage practices of the VPN you are planning on using. These practices should be laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't clear, it's best to avoid. Most VPNs require access to your IP address, online transactions, and browsing history, plus your personal details when you sign up. If privacy is the objective, it's absolutely essential that your VPN is not going to store these details. If it does, the whole thing is kind of pointless.

There are other things to consider, like price and subscription plans, but these features are a good place to start.

Should you use free VPNs?

There are plenty of free versions of popular VPNs, plus free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. So why would you ever pay for a VPN?

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with VPNs. There tends to always be a catch with free versions, and it's normally in the form of limited data usage. If you're just an occasional user, these plans will work fine. But if you're going to be streaming or downloading, this isn't going to work. Free trials are a little bit different: they come with everything you get in a paid plan, but obviously they don't tend to last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

What we're saying is that the best option for streaming securely and accessing the online world without restrictions is with a paid subscription to a VPN. To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you need to pay up. The best VPNs are generally the most expensive, but there are plenty of cheap plans out there, especially if you're willing to commit to a lengthy contract.

What is the best VPN?

There are a lot of VPN providers out there all offering different sets of features, with different pricing structures. We recommend taking some time to carefully access your options, and decide on what you really need from a VPN. Once you have established your priorities, you can check out this definitive list of the best VPNs this month.

We have tracked down everything on offer and lined up a selection of the very best VPNs for streaming, shopping, and everything else. We have tried to find something for everyone and every budget, and you can find popular services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN in this list. All you need to do is weigh up these options against your own set of priorities, and then pick a favourite from the bunch.

These are the best VPNs in 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best sex and dating apps for hooking up

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 11:58

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

In this age of on-demand everything, hookup apps are the go-to for casual dating. If we can stream movies (thank you, Netflix) and order a takeaway with just a few taps, why shouldn't we be able to find a potential partner the same way?

Sometimes all you want is a little fun, and there's an app for that.

How do you find a hookup?

It's still possible to find a connection in the real world. Meeting in bars, clubs, parks, and other real-life locations still happens, whether you believe it or not. You're simply shortening your odds by subscribing to a dating site.

Dating sites and sex apps allow you to get your information out there to a massive network of like-minded individuals. Plus, you can save a lot of time, energy, and cash by testing out a potential relationship on an app before meeting up. We know that some dating apps can be expensive, but just think about all those wasted coffees you could avoid by chatting through an app first.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for sending naughty messages

Using dating apps and sites is also a whole lot less intimidating than meeting someone face to face. If you find the idea of meeting people slightly terrifying, these apps can help you dip your toe into the world of dating from the comfort of your own home.

Should you use free dating apps?

The good news is that there are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. However, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with dating apps. And sometimes free apps just don't cut it.

For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up some cash. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap. It all comes down to access to advanced and premium features. You can still find a hookup with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What makes an app good for hooking up?

There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to hookup apps. What works for your friends might not work for you. Your best bet is to download a handful of options and see which one clicks with your vibe.

Skip the apps that are all about romance and happily ever afters (we're looking at you, eharmony). Instead, keep an eye out for apps that get straight to the point. The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the free ones should have features like profile verification to help keep you safe.

If you really want to pay for a premium membership, that's up to you. But we recommend starting with the free versions of cult faves like Tinder, Grindr, and Hinge. These popular dating apps give you just enough functionality to connect with potential partners for casual encounters — all without spending anything.

What is the best sex and dating app for hooking up?

The good news is that there are absolutely loads of dating sites and sex apps out there for every type of dater and dating situation. The problem with this wealth of options is that deciding on the right site for you can be difficult. This is where we can help.

Whether you're looking to have a one-night stand, exchange nudes with strangers, or have some phone sex before you doze off, we've rounded up the most reliable hookup apps for every type of single. You can download them via Google Play or the App Store and start swiping in minutes.

These are the best hookup sites and apps in 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stephen Colbert goes all Sherlock on Elon Musks black eye suspect

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 11:40

Elon Musk is stepping back from running his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with the Tesla CEO attending a deeply strange press conference with Donald Trump in the Oval Office last week. On Monday night, The Late Show's Stephen Colbert unpacked the real elephant in the room: Musk's black eye, which he blamed on rough-housing with his son, X Æ A-12.

"The weirdest part of this weird, weird meeting was Elon's face, because for some reason he had a black eye," says Colbert in the clip above. "Oh no! If only someone in the White House had access to makeup!"

But Colbert wasn't convinced the tiny suspect was X, instead asking the audience to reconsider while wearing Sherlock Holmes props.

"Why the black eye? Who hates Elon Musk enough to punch him in the face? I'm not Sherlock Holmes but could it be...EVERYONE?"

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jon Stewart gleefully unpacks Elon Musks DOGE exit and his special key

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 11:32

Announced last week, Elon Musk is stepping back from his "special government employee" role running his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for Donald Trump. On Monday night, The Daily Show's Jon Stewart unpacked the Tesla CEO's decision with his signature gleeful gusto.

"DOGE has finally rooted out one of America's least efficient government workers and marked him for dismissal," Stewart says in the clip above. "He's leaving his job to make more family with his time."

Stewart noted it's only been four months since Musk mobilised his DOGE task force and all the ill-advised emails that went with it, with the group systematically seizing federal government computers and accessing databases, firing over 280,000 government workers, and entirely closing government agencies including USAID. But as Stewart wonders, was it worth it for Musk?

"Elon spent $300 million of his own money to get Trump elected, irreparably damaged his personal brand and almost all of his businesses, and is clearly suffering some kind of issue," Stewart said. "But don't worry, Trump made sure that Elon got something in return."

Stewart's talking about the golden key that Musk received from Trump in the Oval Office, presented by the president as a token he gives "to very special people" now including Musk — but notably, not only Musk.

"You couldn't just give him the f***ing key. You had to make sure that everybody knows you give 'em to a lot of people. It's just not that special," Stewart said before imitating Trump: "You know I've got a bunch of these. I give 'em to special people. Who's the guy who brings me my Diet Cokes? I give him one for every Diet Coke."

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip) is back to its best-ever price at Amazon

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 11:08

SAVE $50: As of June 3, the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's 14% off its list price of $349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 11-inch (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal

If a new iPad has been at the top of your shopping list, you're in luck. The new 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is back down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

The 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) has been marked down to $299 at Amazon. This is a 14% discount from its list price of $349 and marks a return to its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. If you've been waiting for a good time to pick up an iPad upgrade, now is a great time to do it.

SEE ALSO: Get the Apple Pencil Pro for under $100

This iPad is well worth the investment, too. It boasts a nice performance boost thanks to the A16 chip, a bright Liquid Retina display, speedy WiFi, and so much more. We even consider it the best iPad on a budget in our roundup of the best iPads, with Mashable's Samantha Mangino saying it, "doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it is a testament that Apple can still produce good entry-level tech."

This deal may not stick around for long, so act fast to score the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) for under $300.

It's not the only iPad deal that's caught our eye recently, though. If you don't mind spending a bit extra, the M3 iPad Air is back down to its lowest price ever as well.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Sinners: See the smash horror hit at home

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 11:00
The best streaming deals to watch 'Sinners' at home: WATCH NOW Buy 'Sinners' on Prime Video $24.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Rent 'Sinners' on Prime Video $19.99 Get Deal WATCH LATER Max (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99/year (save $19.89) Get Deal WATCH LATER Max Standard annual subscription $169.99/year (save $33.89) Get Deal WATCH LATER FOR FREE Max Basic With Ads for Cricket customers Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER FOR FREE Max Basic With Ads Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal WATCH LATER Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal WATCH LATER Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 38%) Get Deal

Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is back with another smash hit. The third movie Warner Bros. has released in 2025 that features an A-lister playing dual roles, Sinners is "easily one of the best movies of the year," according to Mashable's head movie critic.

Besides Michael B. Jordan times two, it stars Hailee Steinfeld (Hawkeye), Jack O’Connell (Ferrari), Wunmi Mosaku (Passenger), Jayme Lawson (The Woman King), Omar Benson Miller (True Lies), and Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods). With bits of horror, history, and musical theater all sprinkled in, it's a genre-fluid movie in every sense of the term.

If you haven't caught it in theaters yet, there's still time. However, if you'd rather watch it at home, it's now available on digital-on-demand services as of June 3. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Sinners at home.

What is Sinners about?

Set in the 1930s Jim Crow-era South, Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as Smoke and Stack, twin brothers who return to their hometown with the goal of setting up a juke joint — only for its grand opening to be disrupted by something supernaturally monstrous.

"There are vampires in the film, but it's really about a lot more than just that. It's one of many elements, and I think we're gonna surprise people with it," director Ryan Coogler explained at a press conference.

Check out the official trailer:

Is Sinners worth watching?

Sinners is a huge success story for original horror. It's only the second movie in 2025 to pass the $250 million domestic box office milestone and is one of the 10 highest-grossing horror movies to date. Not only has it been a smash hit at the box office, now climbing to over $338 million worldwide and $258 million domestically, but the reviews are outstanding. It currently holds a near-perfect 97 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96 percent audience rating. That's no easy feat.

"Sinners is more than a hell of a thrilling vampire movie. Like Black Panther, it expands beyond the expectations of its genre to become a magnificent film, emanating with spirit, power, and purpose," Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review of the film. "Smoothly blending vampire horror into a unique tale of regret, resilience, and redemption, Coogler and Jordan have made a cinematic marvel that is terrifying, satisfying, and unforgettable."

Read our full review of Sinners.

How to watch Sinners at home Credit: Warner Bros.

Sinners smashed into theaters on April 18, 2025, and is still floating around in select theaters nationwide. However, if you would rather watch it at home, there are now a couple of different options: purchasing via digital video-on-demand or renting via digital video-on-demand. It will also eventually be streaming, offering a third option.

Buy or rent Sinners on digital

As of June 3, Sinners is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video. You can purchase the movie for your digital collection or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, just note that you'll have 30 days to watch, but only 48 hours to finish once you begin.

You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or buy 'Sinners' at Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal Stream Sinners on Max

As a Warner Bros. Pictures film, we expect that Sinners will make its streaming debut on Max (soon to be called HBO Max once again) — the Warner Bros.-owned streaming service. While there is no official streaming date yet, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled. Based on the digital-to-streaming trajectory of other recent theatrical hits from Warner Bros. like Companion, Mickey 17, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, we expect that Sinners will make its streaming debut sometime around late July to mid-August.

Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few different ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best Max streaming deals below.

The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on Max Basic annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Basic with ads yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal

The Max Basic plan with ads typically goes for $9.99 per month, but if you pay for the entire year up front, that cost drops down to $8.33 per month. An annual plan is just $99.99 total, which saves you about 16% compared to the monthly plan.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on a Max Standard annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Standard annual subscription $169.99 per year (save $33.89) Get Deal

Similarly, you can opt for the annual Max Standard or Premium plans and save about 16% if you'd rather go ad-free. The Standard tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.16 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). While both tiers offer ad-free viewing, the Premium tier goes a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Get Deal

If you switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month unlimited plan, you'll get HBO Max included for no extra cost. When you open up the HBO Max app, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in. That's all, folks.

Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash / Max Max (with ads) Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is by signing up for a DoorDash DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month). A DashPass membership gets you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long. You'll just have to activate your HBO Max with ads subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. If you'd rather watch ad-free, you can upgrade for a discounted rate as well.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students looking to expand their movie horizons can get an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month.

Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / Max Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

For the most bang for your buck, check out the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and Max for just $16.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $25.97 per month, so you'll keep an extra $9 in your pocket monthly.

If you'd rather go ad-free, the bundle will run you $29.99 per month as opposed to $48.97. That's up to 38% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.

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