Mashable

TL;DR: Stream select fixtures from the NBA for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA is a unique spectacle. In no other sport can you watch incredibly tall athletes be made to look tiny by aliens who could probably touch the sun if they stood on tip toes. And almost all of these shockingly tall athletes display a skillset that mere mortals can't even fathom.

The NBA could make a legitimate argument that it hosts the very best athletes in the world. Sure, the NFL might disagree. And rugby definitely attracts some special specimens. But the NBA has a bunch of seven footers dunking on each other. That's tough to beat.

If you are interested in watching the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the NBA?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America made up of 30 teams (29 from the United States and one from Canada). The reigning league champions are the Denver Nuggets.

When is the NBA?

The NBA regular season takes place from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. The league's playoff tournament runs into June, culminating with the NBA Finals championship series.

How to watch the NBA for free

Free-to-air channel ProSieben airs select NBA games, with free live streaming available on Ran.de. Fans can watch two NBA games every weekend during the regular season, with many playoff and finals fixtures also available to watch for free.

Ran.de is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can access this streaming service from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 Germany

4. Connect to Ran.de

5. Watch the NBA for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select NBA games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites 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 the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on Ran.de, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream the NRL 2024 for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from the U.S. with ExpressVPN.

The NRL might feel like something that's happening very far away in a distant land full of kangaroos, beautiful beaches, and lamingtons. But big hits, magic footwork, and astonishing handling is universally loved by fans everywhere, so forget the fact that it's all going on Down Under.

If you want to watch the 2024 NRL season for free from the U.S., we have all the information you need.

What is the NRL?

The National Rugby League (NRL) is a professional rugby league competition in Australasia, with participating clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and New Zealand.

When is the NRL in 2024?

The 2024 NRL season will run from March 2 to Oct. 6. Each team plays 24 matches, with the regular season followed by a finals series contested by the eight highest placed teams. Everything culminates in the NRL Grand Final.

How to watch the NRL for free in the U.S.

You can live stream NRL matches for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access 9Now from the U.S.

Stream the NRL for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Stream the NRL for free from the U.S.

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can gain access to 9Now before recovering your investment. This is not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch NRL live without actually spending anything.

What is the best VPN for the NRL?

You've got plenty of options when it comes to bypassing geo-restrictions to access free streaming services. VPNs like NordVPN and ProtonVPN will do the job, but ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming sport.

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now to stream the NRL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging polic

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream the 2024 NRL season for free from the U.S. with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream the NHL for free on CBC Gem and Ran.de. Access these free streaming platforms from the U.S. with ExpressVPN.

There is no other sport that combines skill, grace, elegance, and people punching each other quite like ice hockey. We love the merging of elements, and so do millions of fans from all around the world. The issue for these legions of dedicated hockey fanatics is that it's not easy to follow the sport for free. But nothing is impossible in this golden age of streaming.

If you are interested in watching the NHL for free from the U.S., we've got all the information you need.

What is the NHL?

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America made up of 32 teams (25 in the United States and seven in Canada).

When is the NHL?

The NHL season is typically held from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. After the regular season, 16 teams advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs, a four-round tournament that runs into June to determine the league champion.

How to watch the NHL for free in the U.S.

It's possible to stream the NHL for free on these platforms:

• Canada — CBC Gem (select NHL games)

• Germany — Ran.de (select NHL games)

CBC Gem and Ran.de are geo-restricted to Canada and Germany respectively, meaning you'll be blocked if you attempt to connect from anywhere else in the world. Fortunately, VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Canada and Germany, meaning you can access these streaming services from the U.S.

Stream the NHL for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 Canada or Germany

4. Connect to CBC Gem or Ran.de

5. Watch the NHL for free in the U.S.

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch NHL live streams before recovering your investment. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games without actually spending anything.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites 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 the NHL?

There are a number of streaming-friendly VPNs, including popular services like NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN. Those are strong choices, but ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming the NHL for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada and Germany

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream IPL 2024 for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from the U.S. with ExpressVPN.

Cricket is a sport that baffles a lot of people. Where is the intensity? Where is the drama? Where is the fast-paced action that we get from just about every other sport?

Sure, some forms of the game can drag on. But that does not include the Indian Premier League. This T20 cricket tournament has all the top talent in one place, in a fast-paced form of the game that attracts some of the most passionate fans in the world. You need to check out the IPL, because it is electric.

If you're interested in watching the IPL 2024 for free from the U.S., we have all the information you need.

What is the IPL?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a men’s T20 cricket tournament first held in 2008. The league features 10 city-based franchise teams. Each team plays 14 league games, followed by the playoffs that are contested by the top four teams from the standings.

Chennai Super Kings are the current champions.

When is the IPL 2024?

The IPL takes place between March and May each year. This year's tournament runs from March 22 to May 26.

How to watch the IPL for free in the U.S.

Fans can live stream every IPL cricket match this season for free on JioCinema.

JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can stream with JioCinema from the U.S.

Access 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 sign up)

5. Watch the IPL for free from the U.S.

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

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

What is the best VPN for IPL?

There are a number of VPNs that can reliably bypass geo-restrictions to unblock free streaming services, including popular options like CyberGhost VPN and NordVPN. These will work fine, but ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live sport.

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming the IPL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including India

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch the IPL 2024 for free from the U.S. with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream F1 for free on ORF, ServusTV, RTBF, or RTL ZWEE. Access these free streaming services from the U.S. with ExpressVPN.

F1 brings together the very best drivers in the world, competing in unbelievably fast cars in front of passionate fans. What's not to love? Everyone wants to witness wheel-to-wheel racing from the best of the best, and that's exactly what F1 delivers.

The problem is that it's not easy to watch F1 for free. It's not easy, but it's not impossible. If you are interested in watching F1 for free from the U.S., we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

When is F1 in 2024?

The 2024 F1 season features 24 races held all over the world between March and December. China, Miami, Austria, USA, Brazil, and Qatar will each host a sprint weekend this season.

How to watch F1 for free in the U.S.

Fans can stream F1 for free on the following platforms:

• Austria — ORF or ServusTV (12 races each)

• Belgium — RTBF (every race)

• Luxembourg — RTL ZWEE (every race)

These free streaming platforms are geo-restricted, meaning you'll be blocked if you attempt to connect from the U.S. Fortunately, you can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these streaming services to watch F1 for free from the U.S.

Follow these simple steps to unblock these free streaming services from the U.S.:

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 Austria, Belgium, or Luxembourg

4. Connect to ORF, ServusTV, RTBF, or RTL ZWEE

5. Watch F1 for free from the U.S.

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch F1 live streams without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select races for free.

If you want to retain access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need to subscribe. But do not fear, because the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for F1?

There are a number of streaming-friendly VPNs that can reliably unblock free streaming sites from around the world, including the likes of NordVPN and ProtonVPN. Those are both solid options, but ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming F1 in the U.S., for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. By using the guarantee, you can watch F1 races for free.

Watch F1 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Microsoft Project Professional for Windows and Microsoft Visio Professional for Windows are both on sale for £16.02, saving you 92% on list price.

Managing projects and complex data is full of challenges. With so many moving parts, it is easy (and not uncommon) for something to slip through the cracks. Luckily, we live in a digital age that offers efficient apps for almost everything. Microsoft Project Professional 2021 for Windows was built to help you manage your projects, and MS Visio 2021 Professional was made to make diagramming and charting easier — and you can choose either for just £16.02.

With Project Professional 2021, you'll be able to streamline project planning, execution, and monitoring all in one central place. Create detailed project plans, from smaller tasks to more significant complex projects. Keep things running smoothly and on budget with tools for automated scheduling and integrated ways to help reduce things that aren't working efficiently.

Project gives you the ability to start off seamlessly with pre-built templates to help you save time. PMs can auto-populate start and end dates, run what-if scenarios, and do super-helpful things like using visual representations to show complex schedules. In addition, MS Project makes submitting timesheets easier, with the ability to see time spent on and off projects.

Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows, on the other hand, is specifically designed to help you deal with diagrams, complex data, and more. Access a vast library of templates, shapes, and stencils to make org charts, network diagrams, flowcharts, and floor plans easier to present, understand, and communicate to others.

Get one of the following Project versions on sale for a limited time:

• Microsoft Project 2021 Professional for Windows for £16.02 (92% off)

• Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows for £16.02 (92% off)

TL;DR: Watch Lucknow Super Giants vs. Chennai Super Kings in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The IPL is in full swing, and as we approach the third week of matches, who's next in line? The next fixture sees Lucknow Super Giants take on Chennai Super Kings; will they be triumphant against last year's winners?

If you want to watch Lucknow Super Giants vs. Chennai Super Kings for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Lucknow Super Giants vs. Chennai Super Kings?

Lucknow Super Giants vs. Chennai Super Kings starts at 3 p.m. BST on April 19. The match will take place in the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, India.

How to watch Lucknow Super Giants vs. Chennai Super Kings for free

JioCinema is offering free live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on its app.

JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, but anyone can unblock this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools 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 Lucknow Super Giants vs. Chennai Super Kings for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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.

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

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including India

• 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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.

TL;DR: Stream Aberdeen vs. Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Aberdeen and Celtic are only one game away from the Scottish Cup final, but two doesn't go into one. Only one team can order some nice suits for a big day out at Hampden Park, so we're expecting total commitment from both sides as they battle it out for a chance of silverware.

If you want to watch Aberdeen vs. Celtic for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Aberdeen vs. Celtic?

Aberdeen vs. Celtic kicks off at 12:30 p.m. BST on April 20. This fixture takes place at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland.

How to watch Aberdeen vs. Celtic for free

Aberdeen vs. Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final will be broadcast live on BBC One Scotland, with free live streaming available on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This straightforward process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Aberdeen vs. Celtic for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Aberdeen vs. Celtic before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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 Aberdeen vs. Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final for free with ExpressVPN.

The trailer for psychological thriller Trap has arrived, and in classic M. Night Shyamalan fashion, it comes with a twist.

Trap follows a father (Josh Hartnett) who accompanies his teen daughter (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert by pop singer Lady Raven (Shyamalan's own daughter Saleka). Noticing an outsized police presence at the venue, he soon finds out that the performance is actually a trap to catch a notorious serial killer who the authorities believe will be in attendance.

SEE ALSO: 'Knock at the Cabin' review: M. Night Shyamalan's latest is for believers

Learning that your child is in the same location as a brutal murderer would be a nightmare for the most parents. However, this particular dad is not most parents. In fact — spoiler alert — he may be the killer they're looking for.

Trap arrives in theatres Aug. 9.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 19's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

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

A pay increase.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1035 is...

RAISE.

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

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

TikTok is a unique social media network known for inspiring creativity (and memes) to a global community of over one billion users, including more than 8.5 million Australians. TikTok serves as a platform for forging connections, offering entertainment, fostering business growth, and enabling creative exploration with people from around the globe. TikTok's appeal also extends beyond everyday users, having also become the preferred platform for over 350,000 businesses seeking to discover their audience and leverage it for real-world success.

More: Expert tips on how to use TikTok for Business

If you haven’t made an account by now, it's likely a few people in your life have had their eyes glued to the app at some point in the past few years. With those eyeballs comes opportunity. According to TikTok’s surveys, 81% of users list “discovering new products and brands” as a reason to log in to the platform. And one in two Gen Z TikTok users say they're likely to buy something while using TikTok.

Growing from what was once considered a fringe video, TikTok has managed to build a strong platform to facilitate e-commerce, and an effective advertising model that provides businesses with an easy path to sell their products and services on the platform. These days, businesses need a solid social media strategy to cut through the noise and stand out in a crowded marketplace, especially when reaching Gen Z. TikTok provides some easy tools to allow you to not only make creative ads on a budget, but also use trending topics and sounds to boost the visibility of your business and stay relevant.

If you’re still holding off on promoting your business on TikTok, you could be missing out on a well of untapped potential sales. If you are completely new to TikTok, or even an avid user who hasn’t looked into the business side of the app, we’ve put together this guide on everything you need to know.

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a video-sharing social media platform that allows users to create, discover and share visually powerful content with millions of people across the globe. TikTok specialises in short-form, 60-second video content, and is renowned for its simple and highly personalised content delivery feed. The TikTok audience is hyper-engaged, while maintaining a diverse mix across its +1 billion userbase, and 8.5 million people in Australia.

What is TikTok for Business?

TikTok for Business is a centralised platform for advertisers on TikTok. It aims to create a straightforward portal to guide businesses through the whole process of creating ads, finding the right audience, setting budgets, and analysing campaign data. If your goal is to reach new or dormant customers, grow sales, or just showcase what your business is all about, TikTok can make it happen.

Creating a TikTok Business Account is completely free, and the custom tools and features that are provided with a TikTok for Business account are custom made for small and growing businesses. In the brave new world of TikTok advertising, small businesses and sole operators aren’t overshadowed by larger corporations with massive marketing budgets. As long as your advertising is creative, resonant, and well-targeted, you could see your own business become the bigger fish in the pond.

TikTok for Business key features

• Creative ad formats and automation tools – Get creative and distinguish your business from others, while saving time by having the hard work done for you.

• Targeting tools – Enhance your reach or hone in on particular customer profiles or demographics. Even create your own customer segments to personalise your ads as much as possible.

• Royalty-free music – Capture your audience’s attention with trending tunes and create a viral buzz around your brand.

• Video scheduler – Strategise, manage and time your posts for highest impact.

• Ad performance tracking and custom report creation – Keep your finger on the pulse and stay agile.

What advertising options are available on TikTok?

A TikTok Business account provides you with access to a wide range of ad solutions through your Ads Manager. There are a number of popular ad formats available on the platform, some of these include:

• In-Feed Ads – These appear the same as any other video on the audience’s feed. There is also an included button with a call to action that can lead to an external landing page.

• TopView Ads – TopView ads first appear as full page ad, and then transition to a standard TikTok video, this guarantees the advertiser at least a few seconds of attention from the audience.

• Spark Ads – These are similar to in-feed ads, but allows advertisers to turn existing videos into ads, and drives traffic to the brand’s TikTok profile.

• Brand Takeover Ads – A brand takeover is the most ambitious and expensive of the available ad formats. These display a full page ad for five seconds as soon as users open the app.

How much do ads cost on TikTok?

Advertising on TikTok is priced dynamically, with vastly different prices depending on the format of your advertisement, the time of day you want your ad to run, and how many people you want to see it. Typically speaking however, TikTok ads cost around AU$10-$50 per thousand views.

How do TikTok ads perform?

TikTok ads perform incredibly well for the investment. TikTok provides your business with legitimate cut through to a highly engaged market – 70% of TikTok users say they have found new products and brands on the platform (and that’s users as a whole, not those intentionally looking to shop). Some e-commerce business users rely on TikTok alone for their advertising, not feeling the need to go elsewhere.

Getting started with TikTok for Business

It’s easy to get started, simply create an account on the TikTok for Business website using an email address or phone number, determine your business goals, audience and budget, and then get creating! Your account will be verified within 24 hours, and you’ll then have access to dedicated support and tutorials to help you along the way.

TikTok For Business provides a robust set of tools to help businesses promote their products and services on the TikTok platform. With creative ideas and usage of the platform’s analytics tools, any business can make a real impression on TikTok.

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 19's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Gorilla glue something

• Green: Publishing

• Blue: Making diamonds

• Purple: Types of A's

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

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

• Yellow: Attach with Adhesive

• Green: Published Lines

• Blue: Diamond Qualities

• Purple: A-___

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #313 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Attach with Adhesive: ADHERE, GLUE, PASTE, STICK

• Published Lines: COPY, TEXT, WORDS, WRITING

• Diamond Qualities: CARAT, CLARITY, COLOR, CUT

• A-___: LIST, OK, PLUS, ROD

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

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

How to watch 'The Jinx: Part Two' at a glance: BEST MAX DEAL FOR MOST PEOPLE Max With Ads annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST MAX DEAL WITH NO ADS Max Ad-Free annual subscription $149.99 per year (save 22%) Get Deal BEST FOR CRICKET CUSTOMERS Max (With Ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal

The ethics of true crime may be questionable, but the documentaries, podcasts, and books keep on coming. One of the most compelling and popular true crime documentary shows, The Jinx, captivated audiences back in 2015, and now it's back for another round. That means more Robert Durst is on its way to a screen near you.

HBO's The Jinx: Part Two premieres on April 21. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch it.

What is The Jinx about?

Nearly a decade ago, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst unraveled the crimes of Robert Durst in an Emmy-winning HBO docuseries directed and produced by Andrew Jarecki. Now, in The Jinx: Part Two, the story continues.

The original series ended with Durst's bombshell admission, "Killed them all, of course." Part Two will tell the story of what happened after he muttered those five words, which led to his arrest in 2015 — just hours before the finale aired. The team behind The Jinx continued their investigation over the next eight years as Durst awaited and sat trial, and they uncovered new information as the case unfolded. The six-part series picks up right where the original series left off, and if the trailer is any indication, viewers can expect the same aesthetics and true crime cinema as the original.

When is The Jinx: Part Two streaming?

The first episode of The Jinx: Part Two premieres on HBO and Max simultaneously on April 21, 2024 at 10 p.m. ET. The HBO Original six-part documentary series will then air new episodes weekly on Sundays at the same time, with the finale falling on May 26.

Is there a Max free trial?

Unfortunately, there's currently no active free trial for Max through HBO or through third parties like Prime Video or Hulu. We do recommend keeping an eye out, as we've seen free trials pop up sporadically in the past (then disappear just as quickly). Max does offer limited free episodes through its Watch Free portal. You can check out single episodes of HBO originals like White Lotus, Succession, The Last of Us, and Euphoria before committing to a subscription.

The best Max streaming deals

Before you sign up for a Max subscription, you might want to double check that you don't already have access to Max through a previous subscription, a third party, or a cable, internet, or wireless provider. It's worth a shot, right? If you do still need to sign up for access, check out the two streaming deals below.

Best Max deal for most people: Save up to 20% on an annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max annual subscriptions Save up to 22% on Max Watch Now

Instead of paying a monthly fee, you can opt for a Max annual plan and save up to 22%. Max With Ads typically costs $9.99 per month, which adds up to about $119.88. You'll pay just $99.99 for a yearly plan — that's about 17% in savings. The Ad-Free annual plan goes for $149.99 per year, which saves you 22% on the regular price of $191.88 (the biggest savings of all three plans), and the Ultimate plan goes for $199.99 per year (regularly $239.88), which saves you about 17%. Sure, it's more to pay up front, but it'll keep more dollars in your wallet in the long run.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Watch Now

If you're lucky enough to be a Cricket Wireless customer on the $60 per month unlimited plan, then you get access to Max With Ads for free (as long as your account remains in good standing). Head over to the Max app or navigate to Max on a browser, then sign in using Cricket as your provider. Your Cricket login details will unlock full access to Max With Ads (typically a $99.99 per year value) for free. If you're a Cricket customer, but on a different plan, you can upgrade or switch over to secure the deal at any time. Learn more about the terms and conditions on the Cricket website.

What are the different Max subscription tiers?

Just like the former HBO Max streaming service offered three tiers, Max offers three unique subscription plans: With Ads, Ad-Free, and Ultimate Ad-Free. Here's a breakdown of the different tiers.

Max With Ads — The most affordable tier, Max With Ads includes two concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, and 5.1 surround sound quality. You'll have to endure some light ads and there are no offline downloads. It costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With Ads $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year Watch Now

Max Ad-Free — The middle tier cuts out the ads and offers 30 offline downloads, but otherwise features the same resolution and sound quality. It costs $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Ad-Free $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year Watch Now

Max Ultimate Ad-Free — The most expensive of the three tiers, Ultimate Ad-Free includes four concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Atmos sound quality, 100 offline downloads, and of course, ad-free viewing. It'll run you $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Ultimate Ad-Free $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year Watch Now

Alex Garland's much-debated Civil War continues to spark controversy, this time over the release of AI-generated promotional images.

SEE ALSO: 'Civil War' review: Alex Garland's latest is more 'Men,' less 'Ex Machina'

On April 17, Civil War distributor A24 released six posters to advertise the film, each depicting a different American city marked by war. New York City's Washington Square Park is overrun by military vehicles, the Las Vegas Sphere lies in ruins, and gunmen advance towards San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

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However, viewers online were quick to note that these posters appeared to be AI-generated. Tells that these are AI include a car with three doors on the Miami poster and impossible architectural elements like missing or misshapen windows.

One of the most egregious giveaways lies in the Chicago poster, which shows a view of the Chicago River and the corncob-shaped towers that make up the Marina City apartment complex. In real life, the towers are next to each other. However the poster separates them, showing one on a (non-existent) island in the middle of the river.

The backlash to A24's Instagram post of the AI-generated posters was swift. "This sucks! AI sucks!" one commenter said. Another wrote, "For a company that seemingly values artistry, using AI-generated works for advertising is a real bummer."

A source close to Civil War confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the images were indeed AI-generated. "These are AI images inspired by the movie," they told The Hollywood Reporter. "The entire movie is a big 'what if' and so we wanted to continue that thought on social — powerful imagery of iconic landmarks with that dystopian realism." Mashable has reached out to A24 for further comment.

The Civil War posters are just the latest in a string of movie and TV-related AI controversies, including Late Night with the Devil's AI-generated interstitial images, True Detective: Night Country's allegedly AI-generated background posters, and Secret Invasion's opening credit sequence. Notably, Civil War's posters are marketing materials and not actually used in the film itself, meaning the decision to make them would not have fallen to Garland.

AI use in media has become a hot button topic among audiences, especially following 2023's WGA and SAG strikes, during which both unions fought for protections against AI being used to replace their work. The disappointed — and often angry — reactions to instances such as the Civil War posters point to a wider audience rejection of AI technology in film and TV overall.

Well, the time has come to delete your Tinder account. Maybe you're a lucky user who's found your person! Or maybe you're just sick of the fire emblem staring back at you every weekend night when you don't have a date.

Either way, here's how to do it.

How to delete your Tinder account

To permanently delete your Tinder account, you must be signed in either on the app or the browser site (Tinder.com). Tap on the profile icon, then go to Settings. Scroll down and click "Delete Account." This is the same thing as deleting your Tinder profile.

Tinder settings with option to delete your account at the bottom. Credit: Screenshot: Tinder

Deleting the app from your smartphone won't delete your account — nor will it delete your subscription if you're a paid user. If you bought a subscription with your Apple ID or Google Play ID, you must cancel the subscription separately. Here are instructions for how to cancel an Apple subscription and how to cancel a Google Play subscription.

There's good news if you purchased a Tinder subscription with a credit card through Tinder.com or Android, however: Deleting your account will automatically cancel your subscription.

Deleting your Tinder profile

Deleting your account as described above erases your profile, matches, and messages.

What if I just want a break from Tinder?

If you want a break from the app but don't want to permanently delete everything, you can hide your profile from the "card stack" (or pool of Tinder users in your area).

SEE ALSO: The best sex and dating apps for finding a hookup

On Tinder, tap on the profile icon. Go to Settings, and scroll to "Show me on Tinder." If you toggle it off, you won't be shown to anyone swiping.

"Show me on Tinder" toggle. Credit: Screenshot: Tinder

When this is turned off, you can still see and chat with your matches. As Tinder clarifies on their site, however, some people you may have swiped right on (or Liked) may still see you and Like back — so even when you're not in the card stack, you can get more matches.

Should you ever want to hop back on the popular dating app, you can create a new account. If not, today is the first day of your swipe-free life!

This article was first published in 2021 and republished in 2024.

The glorious thing about the specificity of Taylor Swift's storytelling is that it somehow becomes universal. You apply it to your life; her late-night phone calls, car rides, and whirlwind of emotions become your own. 

But lately, the billionaire songwriter and her immense fan base appear more concerned with Swift's narrative than the beauty and freedom of its interpretation. Where fans once envisioned their own flings and feelings, they now look for clues and identities. Instead of assigning songs to moments in their lives, fans now assign songs to often unsubstantiated celebrity gossip. 

SEE ALSO: What do we lose when influencers replace journalists on the red carpet?

Rather than listening to her lyrics in isolation, Swift has become the omnipresent "Songwriter." Listeners have likely already seen her post clues about the tracks on X / Twitter or directly explain her songwriting on TikTok. Her music is woven into her celebrity. And even if you don't engage with Swift directly, Swifties and their ongoing speculation over the concrete subject matter — as if a track can be neatly organized into one of her public relationships — are hard to avoid. Swift encourages this behavior, dropping clues and creating puzzles for her fans to decipher. (Currently, she has fans scouring cities for QR codes to reveal hidden messages.)

Equating her music with the public narrative of her life has always been a part of her brand and the center of much of her critique. In the past year, Swift won Album of the Year at the Grammys (and hijacked it to announce The Tortured Poets Department), became the poster child of the NFL, and put pressure on Ticketmaster after millions of fans were unable to purchase tickets to her Eras Tour due to high demand. Not to mention, The Eras Tour relies on rereleasing her older albums and, in doing so, her reexamination of those past eras, causing her celebrity to eclipse her songwriting. 

At its best, her obsession with the past allows us to relive those eras with her. At its worst, we are beholden to her narrative. There's no better example of this than Swifties crowning Taylor's Version villains: Joe Jonas for Fearless (Taylor's Version), Jake Gyllenhaal for Red (Taylor's Version), John Mayer for Speak Now (Taylor's Version), and Harry Styles for 1989 (Taylor's Version). Just look to the Grim Reaper meme as an example.

As Janessa Williams wrote for The Forty-Five, "We’re still feeling the ripples of the height of cancel culture, and so a 'call-out' anthem about a bad relationship or troubling experience tends to translate really well, especially when we know exactly who to aim our anger at. Even better is when they can be neatly lined up against paparazzi photos and cryptic Instagram posts, creating a metaverse of reality-soap madness."

Tweet may have been deleted Reclassifying old songs and the death of interpretation

A fortnight before the April 19 release of The Tortured Poets Department, the Midnights singer created five "stages of heartbreak" playlists for Apple Music — notice the sponsorship, a further dent in her artistic integrity — recategorizing her catalog to fit the themes of denial ("I Love You It's Ruining My Life"), anger ("You Don't Get To Tell Me About Sad"), bargaining ("Am I Allowed to Cry?"), depression ("Old Habits Die Screaming"), and acceptance ("I Can Do It With a Broken Heart "). 

This puppeteering, some would say rewriting, of her past music sent fans into a tizzy and led to a new target: her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. 

After releasing the "Stages of Heartbreak" playlists, fans immediately took her lead and began reexamining her songs through this new lens. They decided the heartbreak in question was her breakup with her longtime partner Alwyn and ran with it. 

Many were shocked to see "Lover" on the denial playlist, especially those who danced to it at their weddings. Fans tore through the lyrics, creating holes in its once-established romance. On the fan-favorite love song, she sings, "At every table, I'll save you a seat," and pleads, "Can I go where you go?" A TikTokker decided this meant she saved the seat "because he was absent at her most important events," and she wanted to follow him because "they weren't together often." The theory was reposted on X. 

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Some pushed back against the urge to rewrite the narrative of the songs. One fan wrote, "Idk I kinda wish Taylor didn't post those playlists, y'all are crazy." Another said, "If you only consume Taylor’s music through HER lens you gotta really reconsider, there’s so much beauty in her music because there’s so many interpretations."

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Fans took the playlists as a license to further scrutinize Alwyn — the "bad guy" to Swift's "good guy" — spreading unfounded rumors that he cheated on Swift with his Conversations with Friends co-star Alison Oliver. Fans went so far as to use scenes of him acting in the show as evidence of his baseless "affair" and harrassed Oliver in her Instagram comments section. 

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The promo move is reminiscent of when she made another set of playlists — again, in partnership with Apple Music — sorting her songs into the easy categories of "glitter gel pen" songs, "fountain pen" songs, and "quill pen" songs, about her songwriting principles. She has gone to lengths to ensure fans know exactly when an album was written (keep your eyes peeled, detectives) and explain whether or not a track is fictional.

Swift insists on keeping her music and its interpretation within her control. Despite an early career dedicated to honesty and relatability, Swift boxes her fans into these shallow delineations of her songs, rather than trusting her music to speak for itself. 

Her promo cycles incentivize fans to generate meaning before they hear any music. Would a painter provide museum attendees with a bunch of clues before seeing the art? No. Whatever happened to releasing a single ahead of an album release? Unlike cryptic messages and knowing winks, a single hints at what's to come. I previously explored how commercial the promo for Midnights felt, writing, "I connect with Swift the songwriter, not Swift the brand." But with The Tortured Poets Department, it feels like the songwriter is the brand. 

SEE ALSO: For Taylor Swift fans at The Eras Tour, the concert 'fit makes the whole experience shimmer

Similarly, Swift's tendency to lean into celebrity gossip readings of her music seems like a business choice, rather than an artistic one, because it sells. Just look at what her relationship with Travis Kelce has done for the NFL. 

Tavi Gevinson, former fashion blogger and founder of Rookie Mag, explored listeners' urge to search for Swift's life in her music. "We don’t need to be able to picture ourselves in the song because we can just picture what we are sure is her reality — which is so much realer than ours — and sublimate our own desire and frustration into the narrative of this ultimate, ideal protagonist." 

Swift's mastermind approach conflates her music's protagonist with her celebrity image and the fans and men wrapped up in it all, making it consumed less like art and more like fan fiction. Everything feels predetermined and stagnant if nothing is left up to interpretation, and you're only listening to something to fit your preconceived narrative. Isn't that boring?

Maybe Swift still has more tricks up her sleeve. Initial reports claim The Tortured Poets Department is mainly about Matty Healy, so the joke is on you!

A few years ago, the U.K. tech startup Nothing jumped into the AirPods competitor game with its first wireless earbuds. They weren't amazing, but it sounds like things have changed since then.

Reviews went up for the new Nothing Ear (a) earbuds on Thursday — and these new $100 earbuds have earned high marks from just about everyone. Between a swanky new colorway, surprisingly great sound quality, and that shockingly low price, critics are really liking Nothing Ear (a).

Here's what people are saying about these budget 'buds.

SEE ALSO: Don't buy Apple AirPods yet: 3 new models we're expecting in 2024 1. Great sound quality

Obviously, nothing is more important in a pair of headphones than how they sound. That seems to be a big win for Nothing's new earbuds. Parker Hall of Wired had very kind words about the sound quality in Nothing Ear (a):

These third-generation Nothing earbuds have a very open midrange that makes it super easy to hear things like layered acoustic guitars and piano, which is especially noticeable when compared to their predecessors. The sound is neutral, which is to say that these buds don't have a big scooped-out middle-frequency section to accommodate brighter highs and punchier lows; the sound is so much more clinical and robust than standard AirPods it's hard to compare them.

The comparison to Apple's baseline AirPods is noteworthy because those will run you $180 by default. For nearly half the price, Nothing's earbuds seem to deliver much better sound.

2. Effective noise cancelation

Speaking of AirPods, the entry-level ones don't have active noise cancelation at all. It's a big sore spot on Apple's earbuds lineup and has been for years. This isn't the case with Nothing Ear (a); not only do they have ANC, but it's apparently pretty good. Becky Scarrott of TechRadar mentioned that they were better at drowning out loud cooking noises than last year's Nothing Ear (2):

The quoted improvement is 45dB over 40dB of ambient noise nixing and if that's hard to quantify, let me tell you that when I sat down to do some work at home wearing Ear (a) with ANC on High, I didn't realize the oven extractor fan was on (my other half was making breakfast), but as soon as I switched to Ear (2) it became perceptible. 

Multiple reviews noted that it's not best-in-class ANC, but for $100, it's hard to ask for more than something that will reduce everyday noises in the home or the office.

3. Decent battery life

Battery is clearly another important factor when it comes to wireless earbuds. Nobody wants to be stuck on an airplane without enough juice to marathon a couple of podcasts.

While one shouldn't reasonably expect 10-hour battery life from $100 earbuds, it doesn't sound like the Ear (a) is a slouch in this regard. AndroidCentral's Tshaka Armstrong performed battery testing with every bell and whistle turned on and got around five hours of playback, putting it on par with other earbuds in (or above) the price range:

Rated for 5.5 hours of continuous playback with ANC on, I drained them in five hours with mixed-use. That included 13 minutes on a phone call, 45 minutes of transparency mode during my walk through the neighborhood, and every feature activated that warns you it will deplete the battery faster when you turn it on, including LDAC support and multipoint.

I should mention that my beloved Beats Fit Pro last about that long with ANC turned on, and those cost twice as much as Ear (a).

4. One missing feature

Alas, a $100 pair of earbuds can't be perfect. It's just not possible.

Multiple reviews, such as Samuel Gibbs' in The Guardian, made note of the lack of Qi wireless charging for the Ear (a) charging case. That said, Gibbs' take on the redesigned case in general was pretty positive:

Nothing has significantly improved the case for the Ear (a), too, shrinking it to roughly the size of the best in the business, such as Apple’s AirPods, slipping nicely into the watch pocket of a pair of jeans. It lacks Qi wireless charging, having only USB-C, which is a sacrifice well made for the size.

Overall, Nothing's Ear (a) earbuds seem to be among the best you can get for the measly price of $100. I'd by lying if I said reading all these reviews didn't have my finger hovering on the purchase button.

Google Maps will reportedly tap into satellite connectivity for instances when you cannot connect to Wi-Fi nor a cellular network.

How do we know? According to PiunikaWeb, new code references in Google Maps beta v11.125 indicate the app can determine users' location via satellite connectivity.

SEE ALSO: How to turn on 3D buildings in Google Maps navigation Google Maps' satellite connectivity could be 'life saving'

PiunikaWeb reported that the new strings hint that users will have the option to update their location in Google Maps every 15 minutes, up to five times a day, via satellite connectivity. This could be a life-saving feature if you're in an out-of-range area without a network.

Keep in mind, however, that this feature will only work on devices with satellite connectivity. There is scuttlebutt that the Google Pixel 9 series will have the feature, which can also be found on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models.

We're also seeing rumors that Android 15 will support satellite-enabled texting. As we reported in early April, this feature may offer a big leg up over iPhone. According to 9to5Google, with Android 15, you'll be able to text anyone with satellite-based texting, not just emergency services.

With chatter about satellite-based texting and navigation, it looks like Google may be diving in head first with satellite connectivity. The Mountain View-based tech giant is set to host its next big event, Google I/O, on May 14. Perhaps we'll get a sneak peek of Google's plans then.

Windows 11 has been out now for about two and a half years, but its predecessor, Windows 10, still dominates the operating system market.

It's pretty clear that when it comes to PCs, Windows 10 is the most popular operating system. That means many of you readers might very well know how annoying Microsoft's prompts are regarding getting you to upgrade to Windows 11. So far, we've been able to pass on that upgrade without too much trouble.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft is testing out start menu ad placement in Windows 11

Well, Microsoft is getting ready to annoy its faithful Windows 10 user base with yet another prompt. This time, Microsoft wants Windows 10 users to switch from using a local account to their online Microsoft account.

As first noticed by the outlet Windows Latest, the most recent Windows 10 update Release Preview includes some information about new notifications added to the operating system intended to make users switch from their local account to their Microsoft account.

"New! This update starts the [roll out] of account-related notifications for Microsoft accounts in Settings > Home," reads the update, originally from the official Windows blog, which then lays out its case for using a Microsoft account.

"A Microsoft account connects Windows to your Microsoft apps. The account also backs up all your data and helps you to manage your subscriptions. You can also add extra security steps to keep you from being locked out of your account. This feature displays notifications across the Start menu and Settings."

Some users may enjoy using a Microsoft account due to the positives of connecting with Microsoft's cloud features like backups. Others may prefer the privacy of having local accounts, where all their data stays on their personal devices. The point, though, is that it's your choice, and once you make that choice you shouldn't be hounded to use your Microsoft account anymore.

Here's how to disable the Microsoft account notification

As Elon Musk recently discovered, Windows 11 does not make it easy to use a local account instead of a Microsoft account. 

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However, Windows 10 still does!

Once you make the decision to use a local account over a Microsoft account, there's also a way to turn off those annoying banners and prompts trying to get you to use a Microsoft account:

In the Settings app, simply click on the Privacy option, then go to the General section.

Next, turn off the "Show me notifications in the Settings app. When off, required notifications are still shown," option.

As tech news outlet Neowin points out, there's also a tiny little "X" icon next to the "Sign in now" button on the Microsoft accounts banner as well. Users can click that and remove the notification as well. However, if the previously mentioned Settings option isn't turned off, the notification banner will eventually return.

UPDATE: Apr. 18, 2024, 4:57 p.m. EDT This piece was updated to attribute Windows Latest with first discovering the Windows 10 update information. The Settings option needed to stop the notification has also been updated.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK 2023 MacBook Pro (M3 chip, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 at Amazon (save $199.01 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST SECURITY CAMERA DEAL Google Nest Indoor Cam $67.59 at Amazon (save $32.40) Get Deal BEST WINDOWS LAPTOP DEAL ASUS VivoBook 16 (AMD Ryzen 9, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $599.99 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal BEST UNLOCKED PHONE DEAL Google Pixel 7a (128GB) $349 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal

It's no surprise that we love hunting for good deals here at Mashable. We're regularly poking around on the web for the best discounts around, and Amazon regularly comes out on top in the oversaturated shopping market.

If deal hunting isn't your thing, we've got you covered. Here are the best Amazon deals of the day for April 18. And be sure to check out our picks from April 16 and April 17 — many of those deals are still live as well.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Amazon deal of the day: 2023 MacBook Pro (M3 chip, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 at Amazon
$1,599.00 Save $199.01 with on-page coupon Get Deal

The 2023 MacBook Pro, which packs Apple's M3 chip, is just 99 cents shy of its all-time low price at Amazon as of April 18. The M3 MacBook Pro features a familiar design you know and love with a whole lot of processing power under the hood. Apple claims the M3 chip is up to 15 percent faster than the previous M2 chip, but we actually found it to be even faster than that in our testing. Our reviewer was also highly impressed by its battery power and "dive" built-in speakers. The base model, which includes 8GB RAM and 512GB of storage, typically goes for $1,599, but if you tick the on-page coupon, it'll only run you $1,399.99 at checkout.

Read our full review of the M3 MacBook Pro.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Nest Security Cam (wired) $67.59 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $32.40 Get Deal

Want to keep tabs on your pets while you're at work? Or have an extra set of eyes inside your home while you're on vacation? The indoor version of the Google Nest Cam can be mounted to your wall or placed on a bookshelf and deliver a 24/7 live view of your home. It comes in a variety of colors to suit your style and can be set up in a matter of minutes. At $67.59, it's down to an all-time low price at Amazon. Save $32.40 as of April 18.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS VivoBook 16 (AMD Ryzen 9, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $599.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

If you're looking for a powerful laptop that won't break the bank, the ASUS VivoBook 16 has really solid specs and is currently on sale for under $600. That's $200 off its usual price and matches its all-time low. This particular configuration packs an AMD Ryzen 9 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an entire terabyte of storage. It also has a lay-flat 180-degree hinge, a webcam shield, a sleek NanoEdge display, and an array of ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C with power delivery, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A, USB 2.0 Type A, 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, HDMI 1.4).

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 7a (unlocked, 128GB) $349.00 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal

There's no reason you should be paying full price for a new phone — especially when deals like this exist. An unlocked Google Pixel 7a is on sale for just $349 at Amazon as of April 18. Already a budget-friendly version of the Pixel 7, this 30% discount brings the 7a to a new all-time low. "Announced during the 2023 Google I/O presentation, this is essentially a $100 cheaper Pixel 7 with a slightly smaller screen, but little else in the way of compromise," Mashable's Alex Perry noted in his review. It's worth noting that this deal is also available at Best Buy, if you prefer to shop there.

Read our full review of the Google Pixel 7a.

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