Technology

SAVE $30: As of today, May 6, you can shop the original Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder for 10% off at Amazon. Today's limited-time deal brings the list price down from $299.99 to $269.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bird Buddy Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder $269.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

As Mother's Day clocks in less than a week away, we're feeling the pressure to find that unique gift for the mothers in our lives. Whether mom is an avid gardener, nature lover, or birder, the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder is sure to bring her joy all spring and summer long.

Today at Amazon, the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder is on sale for 10% off, saving you $30. This brings the price down to $269.99 from $299.99.

While this may seem like a hefty price for a bird feeder, there's a reason why the Bird Buddy is expensive. The solar-powered bird feeder has a smart camera that connects to your phone, letting you know when any winged friends are visiting. Not only do you get notifications so you can go out an observe the birds for yourself, but the smart camera takes their pictures and uses AI to organize photos into a collection and even identify which species are pictured.

The app gives you plenty of opportunities to learn and grow your new hobby, giving you tips on how to attract specific species of birds to your feeder.

Scoop up the Bird Buddy in time for Mother's Day when you shop the sale today at Amazon.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Kindle Paperwhite $114.99 at Amazon (save $35) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Beats Studio Buds $79.95 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal BEST GIFT DEAL Select gift cards (DoorDash, Bath and Body Works, Gap, etc.) up to 20% off Get Deal BEST SMART HOME DEAL Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) $99.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal

It's no secret that we love deal hunting at Mashable. On any given day, we're scouring the web for the best discounts around — and Amazon regularly outshines the other mega retailers in the oversaturated shopping market with its highly competitive pricing.

If deal hunting isn't your cup of tea, but you still love a good discount, we've got you covered. Here are the best Amazon deals of the day on May 6 to kick off your week with savings.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Amazon deal of the day: Kindle Paperwhite $114.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

It's not every day the Kindle Paperwhite goes on sale. In fact, at $114.99 as of May 6, this is the biggest discount the device has seen since Black Friday. Although it's not the lowest discount to date, it's likely the best price you'll see until Prime Day in July. The Paperwhite is a "nearly perfect" device, according to Mashable's Alex Perry. This 16GB model was released in late 2022 and doubled the capacity of the original model. In other words, it can fit thousands more books in its virtual library. Otherwise, the features are largely the same as the previous iteration: a 6.8-inch display that glows under any lighting, a waterproof design, an adjustable warm light, a 10-week battery life, and a flawless form factor fit for one-handed readers. Overall, our reviewer dubbed it an "elegant e-reader that is enjoyable to use."

Read our full review of the Kindle Paperwhite.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds $79.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $70.00 Get Deal

If you're searching for a solid pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that won't break the bank, the Beats Studio Buds will make a great summer travel companion. Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry called them "Apple's new go-to entry-level earbuds" when they first came out in 2021, claiming they "put entry-level AirPods to shame." They're equipped with decent ANC, transparency mode, spatial audio, a 24-hour battery life (thanks to the included charging case), comfortable eartips in a variety of sizes, and compatibility with both Apple and Android devices. They're no longer the latest or greatest Beats earbuds, but they still have a lot to offer. And at just $79.95, they're back at their lowest price to date. That's 47% in savings.

Read our full review of the Beats Studio Buds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bath & Body Works / Yankee Candle / DoorDash Up to 20% off select gift cards Get Deal

Mother's Day is less than a week away and these gift card deals offer the perfect last-minute gifts for the lady who deserves it all. You can save up to 20% on select gift cards from one of mom's favorite brands — that way she can get exactly what she wants this holiday. Gift card brands include Bath and Body Works, Yankee Candle, Victoria's Secret, DoorDash, Google Play, Gap, TopGolf, Hopper, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Echo Echo Show 8 $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Released in Oct. of 2023, the third-gen Echo Show 8 serves as a central smart hub for your home. Use it to control your lights and security cameras, make video calls, stream movies, jam out to your favorite tunes, or follow along with recipes while you cook. The third-gen device does everything better than the previous iteration, which we were also big fans of. It features a centered 13MP front camera for clearer calls, a dynamic interface that adjusts what's on the screen based on how near or far you are to it, and spatial audio for more immersive listening. As of May 6, it's on sale for just $99.99 — that's 33% off its usual cost and just $10 shy of its all-time low.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

UP TO 50% OFF: As of May 6, you can get up to 50% off select Amazon devices, including the Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) and Kindle Scribe (16 GB).

Our top picks: Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) $114.99 at Amazon (save $35 ) Get Deal Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Dot (latest release) $27.99 at Amazon (save $49.99) Get Deal Best Amazon Fire TV deal 55-inch Amazon Fire TV omni QLED series $449.99 at Amazon (save $150 ) Get Deal

Mother’s Day is this coming weekend, and if you’re still empty-handed on the gift front, it’s not too late to find something that’ll make your mom's day extra special.

As of May 6, you can score up to 50% off select Amazon devices for Mother's Day. (While this sale isn’t specifically marketed as a Mother’s Day sale, the timing is perfect for those looking to get a great deal on Amazon devices.) It’s also National Small Business Month, so maybe that’s why so many of these smart gadgets are on sale right now. Either way, a deal’s a deal, and these Amazon device discounts are worth checking out.

Here are some of our top picks from the sale:

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) $114.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) is one of the most popular Kindle models on the market, and we rarely see it go on sale (even on Black Friday). So, if your mom’s a reader, you might want to jump on this deal ASAP.

The Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) has a 6.8-inch display, thinner borders than previous models, and an adjustable warm light that makes reading easier on the eyes. With up to 10 weeks of battery life and 20% faster page turns, the Kindle Paperwhite is a top-notch e-reader.

Thanks to its anti-glare display (300 ppi glare-free display), you can even read it in the glaring sunlight without missing a beat. It’s also waterproof, making it the ultimate beach companion for the summer months.

More Kindle deals:

• Amazon Kindle — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20) 

• Amazon Kindle Scribe (16 GB) — $264.99 $369.99 (save $105) 

Best Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Dot (latest release) $27.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Dot (latest release) is a staple in any smart home setup. Once you have one, you’ll be saying, “Hey, Alexa,” all the time. (I’ll admit that I miss my Echo whenever I travel.) And with this deal, you can get one for just $27.99.

The Amazon Echo Dot does everything from playing music and answering questions to controlling smart home devices and setting reminders. You can start your vacuum, change the temperature on the thermostat, and play your favorite song without lifting a finger.

More Echo deals:

• Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) Kids — $32.99 $59.99 (save $27)

• Echo (4th Gen) — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)

• Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) — $64.99 $89.99 (save $25)

Best Amazon Fire TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: 55-inch Amazon Fire TV omni QLED series $449.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The 55-inch Amazon Fire TV omni QLED series offers a 4K Quantum Dot Display that’ll take your mom’s viewing experience to the next level, whether she’s watching Gordon Ramsey roast his competition or catching up on her favorite rom-com. The adaptive brightness also keeps your eyes comfortable in any lighting condition.

Plus, with the Fire TV Ambient Experience, she can display her favorite artwork or personal photos on the screen whenever she’s not using it. (Think: photos of the grandkids, family vacations, or beautiful landscapes.)

Save up to 28%: Amazon Kindles are marked down to some of their lowest prices. The Kindle Paperwhite is down to $114.99, a 23% savings, while the Kindle Scribe is back down to its lowest price of $279.99.

Overview Our top pick Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) $114.99 at Amazon (Save $35) Get Deal Best for note taking Kindle Scribe (32 GB) $279.99 at Amazon (Save $110) Get Deal Best budget pick Amazon Kindle 2022 (16 GB) $79.99 at Amazon (Save $20) Get Deal

Just in time for summer vacation, Amazon has discounts on its popular Kindle e-readers. These compact devices are some of our favorites, offering a lightweight design that makes them good on the go.

The Kindle Paperwhite is our top pick among the e-readers, but between the Kindle 2022 and the Kindle Scribe, there's something for everyone.

Don't miss out on this deal that comes just in time for Mother's Day. If mom is a voracious reader, a Kindle makes a great gift, so she doesn't have to lug around her favorite hardcovers.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) $114.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) is 23% off, down to $114.99. All around, it's the best e-reader for most people. It's paper-like display allows you to read around the clock, even in the blaring midday sun. It can come on vacation with you, it's waterproof design makes it perfect for poolside lounging. You don't have to worry about the Paperwhite's battery life on your long-haul flight as it lasts for weeks at a time. Take advantage of this markdown on the Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon, and save $35.

Best for note taking Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe (32 GB) $279.99 at Amazon
$389.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Annotaters rejoice — there's a Kindle for you too. The Kindle Scribe allows you to take notes on its large display. The included pen glides across the screen, so you can write notes in the margins of your e-book or in the notebook feature. Normally $389.99, the Kindle Scribe is currently priced at $279.99, saving you $110 on this dual e-reader and notebook. This is its lowest price since Black Friday — don't sleep on this deal.

Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle 2022 (16 GB) $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Among Kindles, the 2022 release is the best option for those on a budget. And now, it's even more affordable, down to $79.99, saving you 20% off. The screen has an adjustable light so you can read day and night without any eye strain. Just like opening a physical book, the Kindle is a distraction-free reading experience without the bother of social media and texts on the device. The Kindle 2022 is an already budget-friendly pick, and it's even more affordable at $20 off.

Mother's Day is only six days away. But what do you get the mom who has everything?

Today's best gift card deals for Mother's Day as of May 6: Best self-care gift card Bath and Body Works gift card $40 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal Best style gift card Gap gift card $40 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal Best beauty gift card Victoria's Secret gift card $40 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal

Today at Amazon, you can save up to 20% on gift cards from brands including Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Gap, and more. Scoring a gift card for one of mom's favorite brands is a thoughtful way to celebrate her — while making sure she gets exactly what she wants.

This promotion is limited to one gift card per brand, per customer. There's a limited supply, so we recommend jumping on these savings while you can!

Best self-care gift card Opens in a new window Credit: Bath and Body Works Bath and Body Works gift card $40.00 at Amazon
$50.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Known for its soothing body care products, relaxing candles, and refreshing fragrances, Bath and Body Works is a one-stop shop for self-care. With a $50 gift card, mom can pick out her favorite lotions, scrubs, and perfumes - while you save $10 when you shop today's promotion.

Best style gift card Opens in a new window Credit: Gap Gap gift card $40.00 at Amazon
$50.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Not only is this $50 Gap gift card $10 off today at Amazon, but it lets mom shop the whole family of Gap brands. Whether she's drawn to the latest in athleisure from Athleta, hot deals from Old Navy, or a timeless piece from Banana Republic, a Gap gift card is a thoughtful gift for fashion lovers.

Best beauty gift card Opens in a new window Credit: Victoria's Secret Victoria's Secret gift card $40.00 at Amazon
$50.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For women who love to indulge in the world of beauty, a $50 Victoria's Secret gift card can be a perfect Mother's Day gift. Plus, when you shop today's deal, you can save $10 off the gift card's list price.

Twitter/X co-founder Jack Dorsey is no longer on Bluesky's board of directors. He also just poured millions of dollars into a competing project. It isn't clear exactly why he left or when, but it doesn't look entirely drama-free from the outside.

Dorsey made his departure from Bluesky public on Saturday via a post on his Twitter/X account. Replying to a query about whether he was still on the Twitter/X competitor's board, Dorsey responded with a blunt "no," offering no further elaboration. Bluesky confirmed Dorsey's exit on its own platform later that day.

SEE ALSO: Bluesky is letting users customize how content is moderated

The official Bluesky account wrote, "We sincerely thank Jack for his help funding and initiating the bluesky project."

Bluesky further announced that it is currently searching for a new board member to replace Dorsey, stating that it's after someone "who shares our commitment to building a social network that puts people in control of their experience."

When reached for comment, Bluesky directed Mashable back to the posts on its official account.

Though neither Dorsey nor Bluesky seems inclined to get into details of his departure, the former's social media movements certainly paint an interesting picture. Dorsey appears to have deleted his personal Bluesky account last September yet continues to use Nostr, another decentralised social media network protocol.

In fact, questions regarding Dorsey's status with Bluesky initially arose in response to an announcement that his philanthropic fund #startsmall donated $5 million to support Nostr's development. This was part of a larger $21 million donation to OpenStats, a charity that funds open-source projects that relate to Bitcoin. 

Tweet may have been deleted

Dorsey is also still active on Twitter/X, despite having left the company much less recently than he did Bluesky. Dorsey stepped down from Twitter/X's board of directors two years ago in May 2022, just a few months before the social media platform was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk. This departure completed a planned exit which began when Dorsey relinquished the title of CEO in November 2021.

However, Dorsey did go on an unfollowing spree this weekend, reducing his following list on Twitter/X from over 2000 people to just Musk, Edward Snowden, and Stella Assange.

"don’t depend on corporations to grant you rights," Dorsey posted to Twitter/X hours after revealing his exit from its competitor. "defend them yourself using freedom technology. (you’re on one)"

The Bluesky social media platform was developed by a Twitter/X spinoff company also called Bluesky. Unveiled by Dorsey while he was Twitter/X's CEO in 2019, it began as a project to create a decentralised social media protocol before it became incorporated in 2021.

Judging by Dorsey's latest moves, it seems as though his hopes for such a protocol now lie elsewhere.

UPDATE: May. 7, 2024, 10:23 a.m. AEST This article has been updated with Bluesky's comment.

The stunt team from 'The Fall Guy' on which stunts were the most exciting for them on set of the new Ryan Gosling film.

Apple's got big plans for the (fairly) near future — if you trust a new report that may be just a tad too optimistic for reality.

No, we're not talking about the upcoming iPad event, scheduled for May 7. We're not talking about Apple's WWDC, scheduled for June 10, nor are we talking about the iPhone 16 launch, likely to happen in September.

iPhone 17 Slim

A new report by Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu (via 9to5Mac) claims significant changes will happen to Apple's iPhone lineup in 2025. According to the report, Apple will replace its "Plus" model with a new "Slim" variant, meaning the 2025 lineup would consist of iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17 Slim. There are no details about the Slimphone (we're totally calling it that, if it happens to be real), except that it'll be (doh) slimmer than the regular iPhones.

According to Pu, the iPhone 17 lineup of devices will have a "more complex" aluminum design (whatever that means), while the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be the sole exception as it will once again be made of titanium. The Pro Max will also have a smaller Dynamic Island, made possible by the new "metalens" technology which will enable Apple to dramatically reduce the size of the Face ID sensor, which sits in the Dynamic Island cutout alongside the front camera.

SEE ALSO: 2024 iPad Air: 4 new features coming to the rumored new Apple tablet

Finally, Pu also claims that the iPhone 17 and 17 Slim (we're warming up to the name) will have 8GB of RAM, and either an A18 or A19 chip, while the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will come with 12GB of RAM and Apple's A19 Pro chip. All four new models will have a 24-megapixel selfie camera, a huge upgrade to the 12-megapixel cameras on the current lineup of phones.

New foldable

Pu's predictions for other Apple devices, due to come next year, are even wilder. He claims that Apple plans to ramp up mass production of a 20.3-inch foldable hybrid device in late 2025 (it's unclear whether it'll be labeled as an iPad, MacBook, or something entirely new). The company also plans to launch a foldable iPhone in late 2026.

Tweet may have been deleted

We've heard reports of foldable Apple gadgets many, many times before, but what's notable here is the timing. For example, a February report from The Information said that Apple was working on several foldable devices, but it didn't sound like any of these are anywhere near ready for mass production.

Likewise, a March report from reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a 20.3-inch foldable MacBook is coming much later, in 2027. He also added that he doesn't believe Apple has a clear development schedule for a foldable iPhone, indicating that such a device won't be coming for quite some time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cash App Cash App How to protect yourself against P2P scams Learn More

Today, thanks to peer-to-peer (P2P) services like Cash App, our money is more accessible than ever. That means fewer obstacles between us and the things we want in our lives. 

Unfortunately, the P2P nature of these platforms also means that scammers are likely to take advantage of those who aren’t aware. By keeping some essential rules in mind, you can protect yourself, family, friends, and most importantly — your money.

While there are many different types of scams online, a few overall rules can majorly help:

1. Only send payments to accounts you trust

While Cash App does hold giveaways, these will only come from official social media accounts, and not third parties who may not be affiliated. Be sure to double-check all info.

Here is a list of Cash App’s verified social accounts:

• Instagram: @CashApp

• Instagram: @CashByCashapp

• Twitter: @CashApp

• Twitter: @CashSupport

• Twitter:@CashAppStudios

• Tiktok: @CashApp

• Twitch: twitch.tv/CashApp

• Reddit: u/CashAppAndi

• Facebook: SquareCash

2. Never send money on a promise of getting more in return

This trick even predates the Internet: If a message claims to have untold riches for you if you’ll just send a small token amount first, report it immediately. If it sounds too good to be true...

3. Don't give your sign-in code or PIN to anyone

Cash App representatives may contact you for info, but they will never ask for your sign-in details or sensitive information like your bank account number. Don’t send this info to anyone — just report it and official reps will handle it.

If you think you have been scammed, the best way to contact Cash App Support is directly through your app. On the Cash App home screen, first tap the profile icon, and then select Support. You can proceed there to address your issue.

You can reach Cash App's support team at 1 (800) 969-1940 or Contact Support Services for your bank, credit card, or whichever financial institution or platform through which you suspect you made a fraudulent payment.

Cash App makes moving your money simple, and that simplicity may let us forget how easy it is to be scammed. There’s no shame in being tricked out of your money — it can happen to anyone. Learn more preventative steps you can take here.

Previously on Doctor Who: A mysterious alien time-traveler landed in a junkyard in 1963. With a little help from human friends, monstrous enemies, and fellow Time Lord frenemies, he reinvented himself. Sometimes he went so far as to change face, and eventually gender.

Now, nearly 61 years and more than 15 Doctors later, the show has completely reinvented itself for the Gen Z age — and yet in some ways finds itself closer to those 1963 roots than ever.

Season 14 centers on the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and his mysterious foundling friend, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). It's been three years since the last full season of Doctor Who; that was "Flux," a season-long arc from then-showrunner Chris Chibnall that remains baffling and underwhelming, even at this distance. Since then, we've had seven specials starring three Doctors (Jodie Whittaker, David Tennant returning for the show's three 60th anniversary specials, and Gatwa literally bursting out of Tennant's body in the last of them, "The Giggle"). Now, to make up for those long waits between specials, we're getting two episodes at once.

SEE ALSO: 'Doctor Who' is about to change forever. You're not ready. Russell T Davies returns with Season 14. Credit: Disney+

"Space Babies" and "The Devil's Chord" are both written by returning showrunner triumphant, Russell T Davies. If you are familiar with his work the Christopher Eccleston and Tennant eras of the revived show (2005 to 2010), then you already know what to expect from the tone. Strong emotional beats are set to the bold orchestral music of Murray Gold, who returns alongside Davies. There are accessible sci-fi ideas and homages (Baby farms run by babies! Stepping on a butterfly and changing history — a literal butterfly effect!). The focus is on family, fun, and plots that move at a brisk clip before your brain has a chance to unpick them. The season-arc mystery of Ruby's parentage feels fresh, and yet it hews closely to the template set by the "Bad Wolf" arc of that first season starring Eccleston in 2005. Davies seems keen to make a political statement for the post-Roe age in "Space Babies," but renders it subtle enough for dinnertime viewing.

While old-school fans will find familiar tropes from the classic show — "Space Babies" sees a monster chasing the Doctor and his companion down a dimly lit corridor for approximately the billionth time in Doctor Who — other more controversial moments are sure to make some Whovians seethe. If you hated the Goblin song in the Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road, you may want to steel yourself for "The Devil's Chord." But if you fondly remember the 2007 Tennant episode "Gridlock," which features an entire world full of characters communing over a heartstring-tugging melody at their lowest ebb in the middle of the story, then you will hear its echo here too.

Davies is hyper-aware that this is, and has always been, a franchise that is both fun and scary for kids. The main story of "Space Babies," which kicks in after about ten compelling minutes of time travel and exposition, feels like Davies' proving his bona fides to a Pixar-loving audience by mashing up the end of WALL-E with the "toddlers can talk" trope seen in movies like Baby Geniuses. Your mileage may vary, but the moving baby mouths seem natural and did not fall into uncanny valley territory for this reviewer; director Julie Anne Robinson has wisely chosen not to linger on those shots. Still, the whole concept might not have worked but for Gatwa and Gibson embracing it with exuberant energy. Gatwa in particular is GIF-ready here — expect to see him looped everywhere on social media this summer, arms raised, crying "Space babies!" or "Push the button!"

Starting with the holiday special "The Church on Ruby Road," Gatwa is astonishingly confident in the role right out of the gate. Other actors took a few episodes to find their Doctor. Gatwa has a lock on him immediately. This is a Doctor who looks fabulously fashionable on the outside, changing outfits a couple of times per episode, but has not neglected to do the work on the inside. He still has the wisdom of a being who's lived for many thousands of years, but in this incarnation there is also a sense of righteousness and a devotion to feeling everything he can feel. His trauma is immense, as is his loneliness. In both of the premiere episodes, he digs deep into it, coming up with cathartic tears and tunes direct from his two hearts.

SEE ALSO: 'Doctor Who' Christmas specials ranked, and where to watch them

The campy glee of these two stories show Davies making the kind of Doctor Who he always wanted to make, full of music and laughter, almost tipping it over the edge into full-blown comedy. What might surprise fans and newcomers alike is the scale of his ambition — more than enough to match the Disney money now being thrown at him in this joint production. (BBC viewers, relax; there are still plenty of references that only Brits will get.)

For example, Davies is keen to play with the fourth wall in a way that feels both cheeky and chilling. "The Church on Ruby Road" ended with a character named Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) looking directly at camera and winking. Davies literally doubles down on that here, as two characters wink at the camera. The notion that some characters are powerful enough to see us, the audience, can send a delicious tingle down the spine when used sparingly.

Jinkx Monsoon vs. The Beatles. Jinkx Monsoon as The Maestro in "Doctor Who." Credit: Disney+

Davies' ambition comes across most clearly in "The Devil's Chord." The episode is reaching for something profound about the human soul and its need for music. It is ridiculously rewatchable, thanks largely to two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon. She offers a star turn as the all-powerful music-stealing Maestro, leaving bits of chewed scenery everywhere. Monsoon radiates menace like Cruella de Vil turned to 11, making it easy to believe the Maestro is a member of a mysterious "Pantheon" of god-like creatures. Unintentionally, the Maestro manages to outshine the not-very-lookalike actors playing the Beatles, who enter the story when Ruby wants to visit the making of their first album in 1963.

Yes, 1963. This choice of setting, which harkens back to the beginning of Doctor Who's run, seems deliberate. Ncuti's Doctor mentions that his earlier self (the First Doctor, played by William Hartnell) is living across London at this time, casually namedropping his granddaughter Susan. This naturally blows Ruby's mind, and also brings up the question of whether Susan survived the genocide of the Time Lords seen in the Chibnall era.

That's not the only reference sure to make longterm fans gape. In the same episode, Davies pays homage to a beloved 1975 story for Tom Baker's Doctor, "Pyramids of Mars," by lifting a key scene and doing it better, with 21st century effects. It might look like pandering to those fans if it didn't serve the story. Ruby needs to understand the long-term disastrous effects of a world without music, the Maestro needs to explain their evil plot, and it all works so well that the lifted scene simply looks like a great artist stealing.

Everything old is new again. The monster of "Space Babies" lurks in the shadows. Credit: Disney+

That seems to be emblematic of the new season. Davies is using the best bits of the show, building to something knotty and fascinating involving babies, families, and the Doctor and Ruby's foundling statuses. A seasoned storyteller, he is constructing this arc slowly and confidently. Same goes for the introduction of the Pantheon, which ties back to a mention of creatures let into our universe by the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) in "The Giggle."

We'll get to what that means in later stories. For now, here's what you need to know: Doctor Who is new again. It feels fresh and invigorated with a song in its heart(s), literally and metaphorically. It's speaking to a new generation of fans without forgetting the old ones. The time has come for you to decide. Are you on the TARDIS, or are you off the TARDIS?

How to watch: Doctor Who streams Friday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Disney+, where available, and simultaneously on May 11 at midnight on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Dearest gentle reader, it's almost time to return to the Ton for another simmering season of courting, crushes, and conniving in Netflix's Bridgerton.

Having spent the last two seasons pursuing the romantic, deeply horny long-games of the Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton, then Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton, and a spinoff season on Queen Charlotte and her beloved King George, Season 3 shifts attention to another leading pair.

This time, based on the fourth book in Julia Quinn's novel series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Shondaland and new showrunner Jess Brownell focus on the covert heart of the series, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), and her longtime crush Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).

SEE ALSO: All your 'Bridgerton' Season 2 crushes, ranked

But before we get there, what happened again last season and where did everyone end up? We've done a quick rundown of everything you need to remember from Season 2 of Bridgerton before you watch Season 3, from the enemies-to-lovers tale of the Viscount and Viscountess to the worst friendship fallout in the Ton, all of which culminated in the gilded Featherington Ball.

Penelope and Eloise's friendship sits in ruins BFFs no more. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

At the end of Season 1, Penelope Featherington was revealed as the secret identity of the Ton's prolific scandal sheet publisher, Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews). But while we're allowed in on it as viewers, there's only a few people within the series who know, and by the end of Season 2, unfortunately one is now her best friend Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie).

Eloise has been hunting Lady Whistledown's identity for two seasons, but in Season 2 her enthusiasm made her a target of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) as her number one suspect. If you remember, the Queen despises the author's influence and recruited Eloise to find out who they really were in Season 1. In Season 2, Eloise followed the trail to the printing shop used by Whistledown, where she met young printer and covert women's rights campaigner Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch), and their romance blossomed. Unfortunately for Eloise, her visits (along with her outspokenness on society) drew the Queen's suspicions. Eloise swore her innocence to the monarch, but it was no use, as the Queen threatened Eloise and her family with social ruin unless she confessed to being Lady Whistledown.

SEE ALSO: It's time for 'Bridgerton' to say gay

With Eloise about to falsely confess with a counterfeit society paper, Penelope took matters into her own hands, writing a scathing blast about her best friend's visits with Theo — "unchaperoned, with improper company, political radicals in fact" — to disprove Eloise's guilt. The pamphlet diverted the Queen's wrath but socially ruined Eloise. Suffice to say her romance with Theo crumbled too.

Following this, Penelope rested her pen after being "done ruining the lives of others" through gossip. However, in the Season 2 finale, Eloise figured out her friend's secret identity when Penelope flexed her keen powers of observation at the Featherington Ball. While Pen danced with Colin, Eloise stole into her friend's room and discovered her secret stash of money hidden beneath the floorboards (the profits made from her publications) and confronted Penelope, running through the juicy details only Pen would have known about. It's a horrible fight, with Eloise feeling deeply betrayed, and the two parted on non-speaking terms.

However, Penelope's fight with Eloise did not obliterate her penchant for writing, as we saw her return to her writing desk at the end of Season 2.

Colin scorned Penelope romantically in public Pen heard what you said, Colin! Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

It's one of the biggest moments in Bridgerton Season 2 that will be important for Season 3, and honestly, we're still reeling from it. Penelope has long yearned for the affections of her friend Colin, though has remained firmly in the Regency friend zone — including through Colin's engagement to Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker) in Season 1. But things seemed slightly flirty in Season 2.

Channelling big "I've just returned from my gap year" energy after returning from Greece, Colin strolled around Season 2 with suddenly mature pep in his step. Though he danced often with Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), he sent Penelope mixed signals, praising her "constant and loyal" personality throughout the season. Penelope's hopes were high at the Featherington Ball, and when Colin asked Pen to dance, he dropped some big words: "I will always look after you, Penelope. You are special to me." 

However, after her fight with Eloise, Penelope stumbled upon Colin speaking about his dance to a group of young men on the terrace. When they questioned him on his intentions with Pen, he scoffed, "Are you mad? I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington. Not in your wildest dreams."

NO! NOOOOO. NO. We were all crushed right there with Pen in this scene, and this is where Season 3 will pick up. Perhaps, if there's forgiveness elsewhere on the horizon, we can still hope for a Peneloise romance?

Kate and Anthony are happily married These two. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

After the steamy enemies-to-lovers romance between Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the pair were finally married at the end of Season 2. Remember the Viscount was engaged to Kate's sister, Edwina (Charithra Chandran), but she absconded from the altar the minute she realised her sister and Anthony were very obviously in love. This pissed off Queen Charlotte for a moment, as she does not like to be wrong about things, and she'd chosen Edwina as her "diamond" of the season.

The Bridgertons and Sharmas were publicly ruined by the scandal, but not for long — and MVP Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) never abandoned them, despite being socially ostracised by association.

At the end of the season, after Anthony and Kate had sex in the garden, Kate galloped off into a storm, fell off her horse, and was badly injured. Anthony was riddled with guilt. However, his mother Viola, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), helped him embrace his true feelings, speaking to their shared unprocessed grief over Lord Bridgerton's sudden death years earlier. Anthony proposed at Kate's bedside, a move she assumed was a "misguided obligation of duty". Deciding to return to India, she sent him away. 

"Be the sister I know that you are" 😭 Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Edwina and Kate's sisterly relationship was rattled after the wedding fail, however Edwina's wisdom and forgiveness helped them through Kate's guilt. After Edwina gave her sister the major "be the sister I know that you are" pep talk at the Featherington Ball, Anthony and Kate danced together in full view to a string version of "Wrecking Ball", despite the judgmental stares of the Ton. But Queen Charlotte stepped in to quiet the haters, with Edwina giving her blessing. Both the Bridgertons and the Sharmas are saved from ruin, hurrah!

In the garden, Anthony declared his love for Kate, and she the same, and we left them in newlywed bliss playing croquet on the lawn with the rest of the Bridgertons.

The Featheringtons almost lost it all — again Lord Jack Featherington almost got away with passing off glass as gemstones. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

While the Bridgertons and the Sharmas spent much of the end of Season 2 in social ruin, the Featheringtons had clawed their way back from financial destitution after Lord Featherington's gambling debts saw him murdered in Season 1. Their troubles seemed solved with the arrival of the family's smarmy cousin Jack (Rupert Young), whose engagement to Prudence Featherington (Bessie Carter) proved one of the ickier pairings in the Ton. The season crescendoed with the family's opulent Featherington Ball, a grand show of stability and wealth. With the Queen herself in attendance, the Featheringtons were back in the game.

In the season finale, however, at the Featherington Ball, Colin Bridgerton exposed Jack as a charlatan selling fake glass jewels as gemstones. Having previously been interested in investing in the gems, Colin demonstrated the scam by smashing Cressida's "ruby" necklace into smithereens in front of Penelope, Lady Featherington (Polly Walker), and Jack himself. Out of respect for the Featheringtons, Colin did this dramatic exposé in private, telling Jack to return the money he'd spent on this crooked scheme and to leave town — a move that made Pen fall even harder for her crush.

J'accuse! Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Jack tried to convince Lady Featherington to leave town with him for America, suggesting a romantic future for the two of them despite his engagement to her daughter (the two had kind of been in cahoots the whole season). But if there's one thing you shouldn't come between, it's Portia and her daughters. Lady Featherington sent Jack packing without a penny and the forged signature promise that once one of her daughters has a son the Featherington estate will transfer to him. Byeeee.

Will had a tough start opening his gentlemen's club Colin had to eat some humble pie after Will told him so about Jack. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

What of Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe), the best mate of the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page)? In Season 2, Jack Featherington had also blackmailed his way into holding court in Will's new bar, after convincing the boxer to throw a match to split the winnings — Will wanted to provide for his wife Alice (Emma Naomi) and their children. Will had opened a gentlemen's club that aimed to be a more inclusive alternative to the posh White's club (IRL it's the oldest gentlemen's club in London, founded in 1693). But business was slow and he was indebted to Jack, who wielded it over him.

When Colin got wrapped up in Jack's dealings, taking a meeting at the bar, Mondrich tried to warn him of Jack's shady side, but Colin defended him as the head of the Featheringtons. So, at the end of the season, after Jack's corruption was exposed, Colin ate humble pie with Mondrich and brought all his mates back to his bar, apologising. But as you've already read, it's not all Colin needs to apologise for.

How to watch: Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix. Season 3 will drop in two halves, with Part 1 streaming on May 16 and Part 2 on June 13.

Two astronauts are getting ready to fly a new spaceship built by Boeing, making this only the sixth time in history that NASA has flown a new passenger-grade spacecraft.

The pair, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, are seasoned Navy test pilots who have each spent six months in space. They are expected to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, sending the new Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station. 

Barring any bad weather or other last-minute hiccups, the test flight could lift off as early as 10:34 p.m. ET on May 6. 

"When we lay back on our backs on Monday evening, it's going to be real stuff, and the countdown is gonna be real, and it's gonna be a really thrilling time," said Wilmore, the crew commander.  

SEE ALSO: Here are the 2024 space moments you won't want to miss Tweet may have been deleted

Here's how to watch this historic event.

Beginning two days before the planned liftoff time, NASA will host a live video feed of the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. The official pre-launch broadcast will begin at about 6:30 p.m. ET on May 6, about four hours prior to launch. 

Boeing's Starliner has faced years of delays after NASA hired the company in 2014 to build a spaceship, along with SpaceX. The spacecraft has flown two times previously without any astronauts inside. During the first uncrewed test in 2019, the ship got on the wrong orbit due to software problems and didn't make it to the space station. The company did a redo of the test in 2022, which NASA largely viewed as successful. 

But getting to its first flight with humans on board has been a struggle. Boeing wanted to do the crewed test flight last year, but flammable interior tape and parachute lines that didn't meet safety standards stymied the launch, putting it off to 2024. 

Despite the setbacks, NASA says Starliner is ready to fly humans. If it launches on schedule, the ship will dock at the station just before 1 a.m. ET on May 8.

TL;DR: As of May 6, you can learn in-demand cybersecurity skills from home with a cybersecurity online learning bundle for just $49.99 (reg. $195).

In a time when the digital landscape is larger than ever (and only expanding), there's a growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals. The Complete 2024 Cyber Security Expert Certification Training Bundle is designed to help aspiring cybersecurity experts study for a variety of common professional certifications and learn new skillsets. It has five multi-lesson courses and is on sale for just $49.99 (reg. $195). Because this bundle includes advanced courses, learners will need a good understanding of the topic in order to keep up with this lessons.

In the digital era, it's easier than ever to access educational opportunities like this at home. With this course bundle, you can learn from experts and study for cybersecurity certifications from the comfort of your own couch. And because this deal gives you lifetime access, you can study whenever you have the time. In total, the bundle includes 127.4 hours of instruction spread over five courses and hundreds of lessons.

For example, the 48-lesson SACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) course offers a comprehensive understanding of global standards and best practices. Made for aspiring security managers interested in CISM certification, this course focuses on international security practices and the management skills needed to oversee information security.

The CompTIA CASP+ (CAS-004) course provides a deep dive into the world of cybersecurity. It covers a variety of topics and includes up-to-date techniques. It also allows for hands-on experience designing cybersecurity infrastructure.

If you already have an advanced understanding of cybersecurity and would like to prepare for common certifications, this is an affordable option.

For a limited time, this cybersecurity course bundle is on sale for $49.99 (reg. $195).

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Opens in a new window Credit: Shutterstock The Complete 2024 Cyber Security Expert Certification Training Bundle $49.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: As of May 6, a lifetime subscription to EaseUS Fixo is on sale for $49.99 (reg. $99.95), letting you repair corrupt files.

Think about all of the important files you have right now. Maybe it's that big report you worked so hard on at work, or thousands of photos and videos of your kids. Now think about how crushing it would be to lose this data forever. However, that's a real possibility when dealing with digital files. So, what happens if your most important data gets corrupted?

EaseUS Fixo is a file repair toolkit that can remedy corruption on a wide variety of file types. A lifetime subscription for this software is currently on sale for $49.99 (reg. $99.95), and it could come in handy down the road if you find yourself in a file conundrum. Likewise, if you're trying to restore lost files right now, EaseUS Fixio could be the solution.

From accidental deletions to files damaged by malware or system failures, this tool has a solution to recover and repair your most crucial data. Repair a wide variety of video file formats from phones, drones, cameras, and more. It can fix various file formats, including MOV, MP4, 3GP, and others. It can even help repair unplayable videos or sentimental photos. Even if these files are seemingly ruined, all hope is not lost.

Professionally, this could also be an ideal tool for small businesses who don't have access to a big IT department and need files repaired fast. Some of the more common files that EaseUS Fixo can help recover include office favorites like PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

While the technology behind corrupted data recovery might be complex, the software itself was made to be user friendly. With just a few clicks, you can try to restore lost or damaged files at home or the office. Grab this tool while it's at a 49% reduced price and have it ready to go, whether it's a just-in-case purchase or an urgent fix.

A lifetime subscription to EaseUS Fixo is on sale for $49.99 (reg. $99.95).

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Opens in a new window Credit: EaseUS Software EaseUS Fixo: Lifetime Subscription $49.99 at the Mashable Shop
$99.95 Save $49.96 Get Deal

TL;DR: As of May 6, the all-in-one social media management tool UNUM Pro is on sale, with lifetime subscriptions costing just $49.99.

A strong social media presence is essential for building and expanding your brand. Whether you're a startup founder, a content creator, or a marketing pro, effectively managing your social media presence can significantly impact your success. The only problem is that managing all your social apps can be time-consuming, especially if you're trying to build something new from scratch. 

If you'd like to engage with your followers more efficiently, UNUM Pro could be a big help. For a limited time, a lifetime subscription is on sale for just $49.99. This social media management app can support your posting efforts on a variety of platforms, including Instagram, Facebook/Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and more.

UNUM was created to be an all-in-one hub that gives you access to advanced marketing tools that allow you to plan out and create posts. You can even share them across multiple platforms. Use the more than 500 overlays, filters, and canvases for posts, plus more video and photo tools to elevate your content.

You'll also be able to streamline your process and save time using the built-in AI for tasks, including generating on-brand captions. The AI tool can also automatically include the right hashtags for your posts, letting you move more quickly.

When creating posts, you can choose from Autopost and Schedule Now. These tools allow you to plan out and schedule posts in advance so they automatically get posted exactly when you want. You can even schedule up to a month's worth of posts in advance. This can be very helpful if you plan to be away on vacation but still want your social media accounts to keep humming.

Finally, UNUM Pro gives you tools to analyze your posts. With this data, you can track and measure your growth, improve where needed, and drive more engagement.

This posting assistant could be just what you need to streamline your social media strategy.

Again, you can purchase a lifetime subscription to UNUM Pro on sale for $49.99 for a limited time.

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Opens in a new window Credit: UNUM / Apple App Store UNUM Pro: Lifetime Subscription $49.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: As of May 6, enjoy location-based narration from famous names like Kevin Costner on your road trips with a 3-year subscription to Autio Unlimited Plan for $39.99 (reg. $69.99). 

'Tis the season for planning your summer vacations. This might include plenty of road-tripping for some, and camping, weekend getaways, and day trips for others. If you plan on being in your car for lengthy periods of time, you might be interested in using a unique audio app called Autio to pass the time. A three-year subscription for non-renewing members is on sale for $39.99 (reg. $69) for a limited time.

Autio works with your GPS and offers location-based audio narration about the area you're in. It covers interesting facts and stories that help immerse you in the town's people, history, and even landscape. It offers a new way to explore your surroundings while you drive.

The narratives are typically between three and five minutes long. Stories automatically play based on your location, so you won't have to fuss around with your phone to look for them. This means your hands stay on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

One of the best parts is that the narration is provided by professionals, including well-known names like Kevin Costner, John Lithgow, and Phil Jackson. You'll get access to 23,000 stories that correspond to places across the country. Autio also updates stories and adds new ones weekly to keep the app fresh and entertaining.

The content is also family-friendly, which could come in handy on long road trips with the kiddos. You can download copies of the stories ahead of your trip if you plan to be in more remote locations with spotty service.

Don't miss this opportunity to get set up so you can learn and stay entertained on the road.

Normally $69, new users can get a three-year subscription to the Autio Unlimited Plan on sale for $39.99 for a limited time.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Autio Autio Unlimited Plan $39.99 at the Mashable Shop
$69.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Over the last six months, young, digitally active people have been using any means necessary to show their support for victims of Israel's bombardment on Gaza, from filter fundraising to online takeovers. Many have also adopted the decades-old Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), and anti-colonial movements on behalf of the Palestinians. 

While they're implementing standard algorithm-gaming techniques to keep Palestine trending, some have co-opted the movement, using it to validate which celebrities they stan and which should be recipients of a cancellation barrage in the name of human rights. 

Examples of unhelpful fan response to the bombardment of Palestine include Swifties claiming ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn's Artists for Ceasefire pin is a performative response to the recently released Tortured Poet's Department, as well as criticisms of Billie Eilish for shopping at Starbucks, a grassroots boycott target unsanctioned by the BDS movement. Just last month, Twitter users were using the term "divest" to call for the firing of Scooter Braun from entertainment company HYBE, reportedly because of his pro-Israel ties. 

SEE ALSO: How 'blue comments' turned the TikTok algorithm into a protest tool

Meanwhile, as fandom's "keyboard warriors" take to the timeline, students across the country are taking over their campuses and demanding their universities divest from Israel. Student unions are galvanizing for widespread protests and possibly strikes. Celebrities, for the most part, stay mum. TikTok, a hub for information sharing, faces a government ban if its Chinese parent company doesn't divest from the platform in the next year.

Can we turn the fandom fervor online into boots-on-the-ground activism? Why are we so obsessed with what celebrities think of social movements? 

Mashable culture and tech reporter Elena Cavender and social good reporter Chase DiBenedetto discuss how celebrity obsession and activism are frequently at odds.

The fan's playbook

Elena: While the layperson might not be well versed in BDS, they're likely experts in cancel culture. For many, the knee-jerk reaction to social movements online is to direct their energy toward celebrities rather than organizing. 

Chase: Yep, and we've noticed it a lot more recently. It's also made us question if that's actually doing any good.

You often see fans and celebrity-obsessed users fall into the same patterns for global movements as they do for stan wars — strategies to get your favs trending online or on the charts, tabloid tactics to disparage a celeb's competition with old receipts, and other engagement strategies are all fair game to fight for the oppressed. But I think we have to remember the goal here. Is it real change or to clock who is on the "right side?"

Elena: In some cases, fans take the language of activists like "boycotting" and apply it to individual celebrities rather than companies investing in Israel or systems that uphold colonialism. This behavior obscures the meaning and aims of boycotting and is ultimately unproductive. 

With every movie release recently, I've seen TikToks shame other users for watching the film. For example, in one video, a creator says, "I thought we were boycotting Dune, so why do I see people on my timeline with Free Palestine in their bio…talking about seeing Dune this weekend." The creator and others pointed to the lack of Middle Eastern actors in the franchise and Timothée Chalamet's Hamas joke on Saturday Night Live as reasons to boycott the film.

Chase: Other celeb boycotts included those against Taylor Swift, who notoriously remains silent on politics. After releasing an album titled The Tortured Poets Department amid the assault on Palestinian academics and artists, like poet Refaat Alareer, some Twitter users were furious with the timeline.

Tweet may have been deleted

Elena: This kind of discourse, while well-intended, makes boycott targets unclear and could potentially alienate people who want to be involved in the movement. 

"Hot or Not" activism 

Chase: Not to keep bringing this up, but it's also a worrisome focus given the parasocial nature of the internet. People so easily become obsessed, like tunnel vision for a celebrity's posts, likes, and associations rather than the real world. That passion is often turned into internal fandom wars. This happened when K-pop fans asked each other to boycott HYBE, the entertainment company behind BTS.

Elena: Our obsession with celebrities often brings out our worst tendencies online. Just as you might praise an actor you love for their performance in a movie, you might also praise their political views.

It's natural to crave validation from those we admire or are attracted to, especially when they support causes that are important to us. When a celebrity you love speaks out in favor of Palestine, it can feel validating — it's like they're endorsing not just the cause but also your support for it, affirming the online presence you've dedicated to them.

However, this behavior also reflects a problematic tendency to equate beauty with morality. The hotter a celebrity is, the more we want to confirm their stance and the more we seek to praise them. But advocating for Palestine cannot begin and end with who you think is beautiful.  

Chase: Or talented!

Elena: There are so many posts about "Zionists being ugly," especially about Amy Schumer, who spread vile misinformation about Gazans being "rapists." These surface-level critiques are an unproductive way to combat hate speech. In a way, they are weaponizing a social movement to campaign against a celebrity they already dislike. 

Chase: I also worry about the impulse to apply the same standards we hold for celebrities with considerable platforms to individuals. There's a difference between someone willingly supporting or staying silent about oppressive regimes and someone who happens to own and use a Starbucks mug. It also relies on punishing people who don't participate in the amorphous boycotts floating around the internet rather than organizing everyone toward a common goal.

E-spaces can't rival encampments

Chase: Fandoms can bog themselves down in this thinking. While fan feuds take over Twitter and people debate on TikTok, armed police forces are arresting students who have created liberated zones, academics are being fired, and student journalists are subject to attack. And all of this takes up space from what's happening to Palestinians in the news cycle, including how celebrities engage. 

Elena: For these hyper-online individuals who exist in fandom spaces, their worldview is so narrow that they can only negotiate these issues via celebrity. Everyone needs to start somewhere, but it's essential that these people who claim to care so deeply about a cause move beyond a celebrity proxy movement.

Tweet may have been deleted

Chase: You see this with the months-long confusion about whether or not people should be boycotting Starbucks. Even ignoring the complexities of the company's poor labor practices, many supporters still fundamentally misunderstand what a targeted boycott means. 

That's startling to me, mainly because this mass global movement for Palestine has historically utilized boycotts and divestment as essential tools in its fight. 

Elena: We're taking these terms out of context and using them in an individualistic nature when they should be collective terms. 

Chase: Not long after the first calls to boycott Starbucks (initially a short-term response to the company's treatment of its pro-Palestine union, Starbucks Workers United), users began an internet-wide survey of brands—and celebrities—that might have ties to Israel. 

For a minute, there was great collective energy. But without any guidance, it became a copout for users to merely signal support without taking more significant action. 

Elena: The grassroots Starbucks boycott has captured the online imagination so much that simply holding a Starbucks cup can negate anything else you've done in support of Palestine. It's become a symbol of anti-Palestinian sentiment or indifference. 

For example, Eilish was one of 13 people who wore an Artists for Ceasefire pin at the 2024 Oscars. The next day, someone "caught" her buying a Starbucks drink, and immediately, fans denounced her as a fraud and performative supporter. So few celebrities have been outspoken about Palestine, and instead of embracing her as an ally, they immediately tore her down. 

Chase: Now, the boycott rhetoric has ballooned too far, often overpowering the actual demands of groups like BDS, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and Students for Justice in Palestine. Movement literacy is even more critical with the current student protest movement and encampments as these groups call for divestment — an entirely different strategy from boycott efforts intended to get immensely funded universities to sever their financial ties to the Israeli government.

Elena: There have been moments in the past where we have productively harnessed fan and celebrity-obsessed energy, like when BTS fans fundraised over a million dollars for Black Lives Matter. But thus far, since Oct. 7, we haven't seen that kind of action instigated by fans. 

Chase: Totally. Social media has revolutionized the ability of movements to communicate, organize, and combat misinformation. We've seen this with the efforts of student journalists and supporters across the country who are using livestreams and live updates to document police brutality. 

Shado Magazine contributors Kareen Haddad and Hayfaa Chalabi describe a new "Instafada" that's taken over Palestinian organizing, relying less on news and more on non-traditional media to share information and humanize Palestinians. 

Tweet may have been deleted

Elena: But, similar to how FilmUpdates and Letterboxd have changed how online users engage with art, social media "news" accounts have changed how people engage with organizing. They focus attention haphazardly, and users often get stuck in the details.

Chase: Definitely. As you mentioned, activists have to reframe the naturally individualistic impulses of social media. Charlotte Rose and Javie Huxley write about this and the idea of collective care, also for Shado Magazine: "Instead of gatekeeping groups and struggles, we need to bring more people in with warmth and guidance that are readily available to hold us," they write. "In this framework, solidarity with Palestine – or with any form of systemic oppression – will never be just putting down the Starbucks cup or going to a gig for Gaza, but instead must be truly anti-colonial, anti-imperialist, and revolutionary to its core."

What does fame have to offer?

Elena: Celebrities can be helpful. At this moment, a collective of British film and television workers launched Cinema for Gaza, an auction raising money for humanitarian relief in Gaza. It relied on actors like Tilda Swinton, Josh O'Connor, Ramy Youssef, and Paul Mescal donating their time and memorabilia to raise funds. It ultimately raised over $316,000 for Medical Aid for Palestine. 

Additionally, celebrities have so much attention that they can redirect some toward Palestine. The Artists for Ceasefire pins are one example of this. Others are Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer, using his acceptance speech for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars to draw parallels between his movie and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and musicians such as SZA, Macklemore, and Saint Levant calling for a Free Palestine in front of sold-out stadiums. 

Ultimately, they can serve to expose the systems of distraction within their own industries. Like Irish actress and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan said in an interview with Teen Vogue, "You do get told, 'You won't get work,' 'You won't do this.' But I also think, deep down, if you know that you're coming from a place of 'I don't want any innocent people to suffer,' then I'm not worried about people's reactions."

They can also actively participate in the movement to spotlight attention on the treatment of protestors, like when Hunter Schafer got arrested with Jewish Voices for Peace. 

Chase: Hollywood has often been a source of funding for causes, mainly humanitarian ones. That's why NGOs and organizations like the United Nations began incorporating celebrity ambassador programs in the last few decades to gain notoriety. Celebrity ambassadors are part of the growing attention economy and occupy elite spaces. They add social capital to unknown movements. 

The question becomes: What should we do when celebrities have used up all that they can offer? 

Art for the movement not for profit

Chase: Social media's tendency toward celebrity idolatry and a performance of care is dangerous. Don't forget: Hollywood sells unattainability and dehumanization. 

Celebrity is also not the same as art. Art is essential to a movement's impact, attention-gathering, and community. It's kind of a rectangular versus square argument. We need artists, but I don't think we necessarily need celebs. 

Elena: And immersing yourself in celebrity culture is a form of escaping our radicalizing reality. 

Chase: The Met Gala — the pinnacle of celeb events rife with its own conflicts — is happening tonight. A few blocks away, Columbia students have been fighting their administrators for the right to protest peacefully. It's up to those online to choose where to focus their eyes.

In his decades-spanning career, Robin Williams ably leaped from comedy to drama, often in the same movie and sometimes even in the same scene. Whether you're going to snort-laugh or ugly-cry at the Oscar-winning actor's work — and we bet you do at least one of them, if not both — we've rounded up where you can watch Williams' greatest films in the privacy of your own home. 

Here are the best Robin Williams movies now streaming or available to rent.

1. Good Will Hunting Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Williams is known for operating at an 11, but his first and only win at the Academy Awards was for a relatively quiet — and quietly devastating — supporting role in this 1997 Gus Van Sant drama. Featuring an Oscar-winning screenplay by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Good Will Hunting is funny and foul-mouthed, full of South Boston accents and quotable lines. Yet it's also a surprisingly emotional drama that remains effective decades after nabbing nine Oscar nominations. 

SEE ALSO: What it's like to watch Matt Damon and Ben Affleck perform 'Good Will Hunting' live

Damon stars as Will Hunting, a troublemaking janitor at MIT who is revealed to be smarter than the school's students when he solves an advanced problem on a classroom blackboard. To avoid jail time after a fight, Will is required to study mathematics with a professor (Stellan Skarsgård) and undergo therapy, which is how he meets psychologist Sean Maguire (Williams). Sean is the embodiment of empathy, with Williams' eyes radiating kindness and compassion, especially in his park bench monologue scene. With its underdog plotline, Good Will Hunting could feel like something we've seen so many times before, but these performances (including an Oscar-nominated one from Minnie Driver) and the specifics of its setting make it feel fresh and impactful. 

How to watch: Good Will Hunting is now streaming on Max.

2. Aladdin

With Chrisses Pratt, Evans, and Hemsworth (and many other A-listers) appearing in animated films now, it's easy to forget that once upon a time, big-name actors didn't often do voice work. Yet what makes Aladdin an enduring classic is undeniably due to Williams' role as Genie. Sure, this pillar of Disney's Renaissance has those magical musical numbers (especially Oscar- and Grammy-winner "A Whole New World"), gorgeous animation, and additional comic relief from Gilbert Gottfried as talking parrot Iago, but Williams' work here set the bar for stars in cartoons. His unpredictable presence also certainly helped the movie to break the record for the top-grossing animated film at the time. 

Williams' improvisational, quick-talking take on the classic character from One Thousand and One Nights is one of the greatest voice performances ever, full of whiplash-inducing energy and fast-delivered impressions. Its maniacal speed and old-school references mean that kids won't understand everything (some impersonations, like William F. Buckley and Ed Sullivan, even predate their parents at this point), but his supreme silliness transcends time. So much of the joy of watching a Williams performance often comes from the variety of faces he pulls, but his voice alone in Aladdin still feels like a revelation. That feeling is most clear during the song "Friend Like Me," which will leave you breathless and giggling if you try to sing along and match Williams' frenetic pace. Best of luck to you.

How to watch: Aladdin is now streaming on Disney+.

3. The Fisher King Credit: Photo by Columbia Pictures / Getty Images

In films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, director Terry Gilliam often satirized Arthurian legend and epic quests, but he presents a more sincere take on these myths with The Fisher King. Williams earned his third Oscar nomination as Parry (aka Parsifal for you grail nerds), a sweetly manic, unhoused man who is searching for the sacred object… in '90s-era New York City. Jeff Bridges stars as Jack, a former shock jock who hopes Parry can provide redemption for his role in the tragedy that connects them. 

Even though The Fisher King isn't a satire, it's not a purely serious film; Richard LaGravenese's script has plenty of humor, and the cast frequently gets laughs for their dialogue delivery. With Willams and Bridges, The Fisher King has two generational talents working at the top of their respective games, but they don't carry this movie alone. Mercedes Ruehl won an Oscar for her supporting role as Jack's long-suffering girlfriend, and Amanda Plummer is delightfully daffy as the object of Parry's affection.  

Gilliam and Williams only worked together twice (the actor also had an uncredited role in the director's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen), but they shared an off-kilter sensibility. Even though The Fisher King offers fewer grotesqueries than the typical Gilliam film, it is enjoyably odd and full of imagination, turning New York City into something truly magical in an iconic scene in Grand Central. 

How to watch: The Fisher King is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

4. Dead Poets Society

Watching this all-timer of a tearjerker was a rite of passage for '80s and '90s teens of a certain creative bent. Yet the themes of Dead Poets Society about the importance of individuality and art in a world that values conformity and money remain relevant decades later — perhaps especially for those would-be poets who have become lawyers, doctors, and businesspeople. (It me.) It doesn't hurt that those messages are often delivered with real heart and earnestness by Williams, who stars as iconoclastic boarding school teacher John Keating.

In addition to Williams, Peter Weir's moving drama features early turns from Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, and Robert Sean Leonard as students. Their presence may have also been a motivating factor for any teens who liked cute boys to watch. (It also me.) Inspired by Keating's teaching to "seize the day," they rebel against the strict discipline of their parents and the boring curriculum of the school with tragic results. The film netted Williams his second Oscar nomination and screenwriter Tom Schulman a win, but its enduring legacy may be how many people it inspired to either read more poetry or become teachers like Williams' John Keating. 

How to watch: Dead Poets Society is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

5. The Birdcage Credit: Photo by United Artists / Getty Images

Some of The Birdcage might seem regressive to audiences lucky enough to live in a post-Obergefell v. Hodges world, but it's hard to state how progressive the uproarious comedy felt for moviegoers in 1996. With a box office take of $185 million worldwide, The Birdcage was a mainstream hit. It still ranks as one of the top-grossing LGBTQ+ movies* of all time, but Mike Nichols' film was also a cultural phenomenon that was a rare positive, cheerful take on gay sexuality in the '90s. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Birdcage's tale of queer love and drag queens is as timely as ever

Elaine May's script adapts the 1978 French film La Cage aux Folles for American audiences, moving its story from Saint Tropez to South Beach. Williams and Nathan Lane star as Armand and Albert, a devoted gay couple whose son (Dan Futterman) wants to marry the daughter (Calista Flockhart) of an ultra-conservative senator (Gene Hackman) and his wife (Dianne Wiest). To avoid creating a political scandal, Lane's Albert uses his drag queen experience to pretend to be his son's mother at a meet-the-parents dinner where the only predictable element is hilarity. Williams doesn't exactly play the straight man (no pun intended) in The Birdcage, but he's a gracious performer who lets Lane really go for it as the bigger, more flamboyant role of the two leads. When "We Are Family" plays at the end of the movie, it's hard not to dance along with glee at what you've just seen, whether in the style of Fosse, Martha Graham, Twyla, Michael Kidd, or Madonna.

How to watch: The Birdcage is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

6. Awakenings

Few directors have had three-film runs as good as Penny Marshall's ping-ponging between comedy and drama with Big, Awakenings, and A League of Their Own in the late '80s and early '90s. The life-affirming (and sob-inducing) story of Awakenings is inspired by neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks' book about his experiences working with comatose patients. In the Oscar-nominated drama, Williams plays Sacks analogue Dr. Malcolm Sayer, who thinks a medication used to treat Parkinson’s may also work to wake up his patients. He tests the drug on a patient named Leonard (Robert De Niro, in a role based on Sacks' real patient Leonard Lowe), who has been in a coma for decades. Lowe's sudden return to waking life allows him the chance to learn about the changed world and connect with those around him. 

SEE ALSO: Oliver Sacks is dying as he lived: Brilliantly

Though De Niro got an Academy Award nomination for his performance in this 1990 film, Williams is equally valuable in this story about life and love. It's a more staid role for Williams than audiences generally expected at that point in his career, but he is still so expressive and full of humanity. 

How to watch: Awakenings is now streaming on Paramount+.

7. Good Morning, Vietnam Credit: Photo by Sunset Boulevard / Getty Images

Williams awakened Oscar voters to his talent with this Vietnam War comedy, which earned him his first of four nominations. He stars as Adrian Cronauer, an airman sent to Saigon to serve as a DJ for the local military radio station. Anyone who has seen a Robin Williams performance will be unsurprised that his chatterbox, scattershot style and modern music do not endear him to his stern, stick-in-the-mud superiors (Bruno Kirby and J.T. Walsh). However, he earns praise among the enlisted men, acting as a shot of caffeine (or perhaps pure adrenaline) for listeners to his morning shift on the air. 

Directed by Barry Levinson, Good Morning, Vietnam marks one of Williams' funniest performances, which is especially notable for a movie set during the Vietnam War. It has moments of drama that underscore the conflicted attitudes toward the war, but this largely serves as a vehicle for Williams' comedic talent. While watching, it's easiest to identify with co-star Forest Whitaker, who can frequently be seen cracking up in the background, shoulders shaking with laughter. 

How to watch: Good Morning, Vietnam is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

8. Insomnia

Throughout most of his career, Williams was best known for being the good guy — or at least the weird guy — but 2002 saw him starring as a pair of creepy villains with roles in One Hour Photo and this Christopher Nolan thriller. After the success of the indies Following and Memento (and before taking on the mantle of the Batman franchise), Nolan directed his first studio movie with Insomnia, a remake of the acclaimed 1997 Norwegian film. Insomnia also stars Al Pacino as a Los Angeles detective sent to Alaska to aid a local cop (Hilary Swank) in a murder investigation, while he himself is the target of an internal affairs probe for misconduct back home. Meanwhile, Williams chills as the prime suspect, though there's never much doubt about his guilt. The murder mystery isn't what propels the movie forward; instead, it's more of an opportunity for Nolan to dig into the moral murkiness of these characters and their actions. For both Williams and Pacino, Insomnia marks a highlight of their work this century, with the former playing against type to chilling results and the latter showing new shades of a familiar type in his filmography. 

How to watch: Insomnia is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

9. Mrs. Doubtfire Credit: Photo by 20th Century Fox / Getty Images

The premise — a divorced American dad convincingly dresses up like an elderly British lady to spend time with his kids after a divorce — is frankly bonkers, but Williams' performance both makes the plot work and elevates Mrs. Doubtfire into something both hilarious and moving. Credit is certainly due to the Oscar-winning makeup effects that transformed Williams into the title housekeeper, but the actor's go-for-broke approach to the character-within-a-character still astounds (and earned the film almost half a billion dollars at the worldwide box office). What also makes Mrs. Doubtfire such a joy is seeing Williams interact with his three young co-stars, especially Mara Wilson. He always had great on-screen chemistry with kids, which isn't shocking given how he often projected a childlike sense of wonder and goofiness. 

Though Williams offers the kind of gut-busting performance he was known for, Sally Field is almost as memorable as his ex-wife, especially when she gets an epic freak-out scene when the truth of her housekeeper's identity is finally revealed. The film has some ideas about gender and sexuality that are now considered behind-the-times (at best), but there's a real sense of warmth coursing through Mrs. Doubtfire that helps it avoid any nastiness. 

How to watch: Mrs. Doubtfire is now streaming on Disney+.

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TL;DR: Watch Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're more than halfway through the IPL season and excitement levels are building. The latest fixture sees the Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad take to the pitch as some of the best cricket players go head to head.

Want to tune in? You can watch Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad for free from anywhere in the world, as we have all the information you need.

When is Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad starts at 3 p.m. BST on May 6. This fixture will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India.

How to watch Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad for free

You can find free live streams of IPL cricket matches this season in 4K resolution on the JioCinema app.

JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, but anyone can unblock the streaming service with a VPN. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can access JioCinema from anywhere in the world.

Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 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 India

4. Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)

5. Watch Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad for free from anywhere in the world

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Most of the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking JioCinema, for a number of reasons:

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

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.