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The 8 best noise-cancelling headphones for flying in 2024
Flying was never the most stress-free way to travel, but thanks to never-ending airline delays, unruly passengers, and the incredible shrinking airline seat, it's become a nightmare. If you've decided it's finally time to invest in a quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones for flying, we've got you covered.
SEE ALSO: How to clean your AirPods the right wayThe good news is that plenty of headphones, from over-ear headphones to wireless earbuds, offer active noise cancellation. And in 2024, it's not too hard to find ANC headphones cost under $100.
Even so, if you want to find the best noise-cancelling headphones for airplanes, you should be prepared to pay closer to $200 to $500 (exempting our budget pick from Anker Soundcore). Premium headphones offer improved active noise cancellation and transparency modes that allow you to hear those all-important gate announcements.
Let's not forget that ANC on its own won't save the day — otherwise, we'd just direct you to our review of the best noise-cancelling headphones. For long flights, comfort is also key. It won't matter if your headphones block sound if you only want to wear them for two out of five hours of your flight. A few extra features — like balanced sound and spatial audio — can't hurt either.
SEE ALSO: New Apple AirPods Max expected to launch next year — 2 new features to watch out forWith all that in mind, we've rounded up the best headphones for flying based on our extensive research and hands-on testing.
Because shopping for headphones shouldn't be as stressful as heading to the airport, we've answered every question you need to know before purchasing. Read on for essential info as well as the very best noise-cancelling headphones for flying in 2024.
Does paying more really get me more noise cancellation?Generally, yes. Many cheap headphones claim to offer "noise-cancelling" features, but a $40 random pair of over-ear headphones won't compare to Sony noise-cancelling headphones. Typically, the more you pay and the better known and regarded the brand is, the better the noise cancellation. Brands like Bose and Sony offer multiple levels of noise cancellation so you can choose to be completely blocked off from the world or opt to allow some environmental noises to come in while flying.
SEE ALSO: What to look for when shopping for the best headphonesPaying more can also get you some nice features to supplement your ANC, like voice assistant support, expansive battery life, advanced codec support for better-sounding music, or better call quality. If you're a frequent flyer, the cost is almost certainly worth it.
What are the best noise-cancelling headphones for flying?Noise-cancelling headphones are at their most useful on airplanes. While flying, it's difficult to find a moment's peace when so much is going on around you. Frequent flyers may prefer to rest or work, and the best way to do this is by using the best noise-cancellation methods to block out the chaos.
With that in mind, some headphones' ANC works best on blocking out people talking more than ambient engine sounds, and vice versa, and people will have different preference levels for how much ANC they actually like. In addition, for long-haul flights, you may also be interested in the best noise-cancelling headphones for sleeping
With all that in mind, we've included the best ANC headphones for every traveler. So, read on to find the best noise-cancelling headphones for airplanes in 2024 — all based on Mashable's in-depth research and hands-on headphones reviews.
Best overall: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $379.00 at Amazon$429.00 Save $50.00 Shop Now Who it's for:
If you're looking for over-ear headphones that sound great and can give you all day wear, making the hefty investment in the Bose QuietComfort Ultras may well be worth it. While we tested these headphones over a period of a couple weeks, we were especially impressed when we wore for the entirety of a five hour flight (and about an hour before getting on the plane), while also wearing glasses — never once did we feel the need to take them off.
Why we picked this:Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard here. Personally, I've owned and used Bose QuietComfort 35 IIs for several years, and tested the QC 45s for a couple months before testing the latest pair. Between the former two, I can't say I noticed a huge difference in quality — both are excellent. But, with the Ultras, I feel like Bose really stepped up the QuietComfort line. They feel durable, but just as comfortable. The sound profile feels richer, and the immersion mode allows for a spatial audio experience that amps up the experience.
And then, of course, there's the ANC. I work from home and live about 50 feet across the street from a massive construction project, so some form of ANC is a necessity to me. The Ultras block out the sound better than the other two QuietComfort models. As mentioned above, I took them on a plane ride, and was impressed at how comfortable they stayed and how well they blocked out the sound of the airplane and fellow passengers. As for portability, the hinge on the earcups allows them to fold flat and in, so they fold up smaller than other headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5s can.
With all that said, they're not perfect. For starters, the battery life could be better. The stand-by mode doesn't work the most consistently either, and similar to past QC headphones I've tried, connecting to multiple devices can occasionally take a few tries upon power up. These issues are annoying, but manageable enough to troubleshoot, and worth dealing with for the comfort and noise-cancelling power these headphones offer.
One Ziff Davis staffer mentioned that after about a month of usage, the power button on his headphones stopped working. We haven't been able to find any more reports of this online, but it's definitely concerning. It's good to know that Bose offers a one-year product warranty.
Battery life: 24 hours | Bluetooth range: 30 feet | App-connected: Yes
Best earbuds for travel: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds $249.00 at Amazon$299.00 Save $50.00 Shop Now Who it's for:
If you're not an over-ear headphone stan, the Bose QuiteComfort Ultra earbuds offer similarly impressive noise cancellation and comfort as our top pick, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. If you like to lean against the window to nap during flights or just need a lower-profile set of headphones so you can travel a bit lighter, the QC Ultra buds are the way to go. They're also a cool $130 less than our top pick, making them easier on the wallet.
Why we picked this:The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds were just released in October 2023, and they've already snagged a Mashable Choice award for their stellar noise cancellation, comfortable fit, and impressive Immersive Audio tech. Per usual for the brand, Bose's ANC drowns out a ton of background noise, making these buds a perfect fit for flights. In his review of the QC Ultra buds, Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth mentioned that Bose's noise cancellation is so good, that he often wears these buds even when he's not playing music.
"When I want to take a nap on a plane or focus on my work, I pop in these earbuds and let the noise-cancelling cocoon wash over me," Werth says. "Do they offer 100 percent sound dilution? No, but all but the loudest and closest sounds should disappear. On airplanes, they significantly reduced noise, making it much easier to take a nap. I have to warn my partner when I'm putting on these earbuds, otherwise she'll think I'm giving her the silent treatment."
In terms of complaints, we noticed that the design of the case makes it a bit difficult to remove the buds. We also experienced some finicky Bluetooth connection during long-term testing, but these are minor qualms — the pros of the QC Ultra buds absolutely outweigh the cons.
Battery life: Six hours (Up to 24 with charging case) | Bluetooth range: 30 feet | App connected: Yes
Best for comfort: Bose QuietComfort 45 Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones $312.99 at Best Buy$329.00 Save $16.01 Shop Now Who it's for:
The Bose QuietComfort line has earned its spot as one of the most popular headphones for travelers thanks to incredible comfort, and the QuietComfort 45s are no exception.
During our testing, we wore the QC 45s for eight-plus hours, some days with glasses, and never once did we experience unpleasant squeezing or feel the weight of these headphones. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel said that prior to having the Bose QC 45s, most name-brand models made her head ache after just minutes of wear, but she can wear the Bose headphones all day without an issue. For comfort-first folks, these are your headphones. They are being phased out for newer models (see our pick right above this one), but while they're still around, you can typically find them on sale.
Why we picked this:Though you can't fine-tune the ANC as you can with the Bose 700s, the active noise cancellation on these headphones still does a more than adequate job for your flight, managing to block out higher-frequency sounds that most ANC-enabled headphones typically struggle with. A single press of the button on the left ear cup allows you to easily switch between quiet and aware modes when the flight attendant comes around to take your drink order.
Up to 24 hours of battery life is not stellar but not bad either. For one, it's the same battery life as the more expensive QC Ultras, and you can always plug them in for 15 minutes to get back three hours of charge for when you're on the move or taking a short flight. As for the Bluetooth connection, it can be a bit spotty when switching among devices (especially if two are connected at the same time), but the Bose app helps smooth out the process — plus, we're willing to bet you won't be switching between too many devices on a flight.
Battery life: 24 hours | Bluetooth range: 30 feet | App-connected: Yes
Budget pick: Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones $54.99 at Amazon$65.99 Save $11.00 Shop Now Who it's for:
While having active noise cancellation at the ready while traveling might sound great, spending hundreds of dollars sounds decidedly less so. (Airline tickets are expensive enough, thank you.) If you're not looking for the most elite ANC, sound, or build quality, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20s don't break the bank. And while they may not have more premium features, we found they wore comfortably and got the job done.
Why we picked this:The Life Q20s are a fraction of the price of the other headphones on our list, but their merits go far beyond their budget status. The cushioned ear pads make them easy to wear comfortably for the length of a long flight. The active noise cancellation is strong enough to block out the ambient airplane sounds, and the battery life is also impressive. It took us several days of use to run it down listening at about 50 percent volume — and that was with noise-cancelling engaged.
Plus, unlike higher-end headphones in this guide (namely, the Bose QC Ultras), these headphones support passive playback via a 3.5 millimeter aux cable. In other words, if you do happen to run out of battery on your flight, you're not completely out of luck. As for the actual listening experience, these headphones provide a surprisingly well-balanced sound, but if you don't like how they sound out of the box, you are unfortunately out of luck. Part of the reason they clock in at such a good price (and even more so when they're on sale) is because these headphones are an older model, so they're not compatible with the Soundcore app and its equalizer features. Overall, these headphones epitomize the word decent — but that's not a knock against them at all.
Battery life: 40 hours | Bluetooth range: 33 feet | App-connected: No
Best sound quality: Sony WH-1000XM5 Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones $348.00 at Amazon$399.99 Save $51.99 Shop Now
Read Mashable's full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.
Who it's for:Sony's latest and greatest over-ear noise-cancelling headphones are the WH-1000XM5. Though they're not an essential upgrade for those who already own the ultra-popular WH-1000XM4s, the improved noise cancellation and fuller sound make these the stronger pick for airplane travel in 2024.
While the ANC is solid, it's not a standout among other high-end noise-cancelling headphones. However, they still pack impressive noise cancellation and stellar audio quality for music. Considering noise cancellation is most effective in tandem with music, these headphones should appeal to music lovers and audiophiles. In her review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, Mashable's Deputy Shopping and Reviews Editor Miller Kern said the XM5s were "probably the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever tried," making them a great pick for folks who take pride in their Spotify playlists.
Why we picked this:Besides sounding amazing, they offer exceptional travel functionality with the "quick attention" mode, activated simply by covering your right ear cup, allowing you to hear gate change announcements and flight attendants without completely stopping your music. Voice assistant support, crisp call quality, and a great battery life of up to 30 hours complete the package.
Though they look great, the biggest drawback is that these headphones don't fold up, and the carrying case is quite tall, though slim. Still, if sound quality is more important than portability, they're not that much bulkier than other headphones on this list (and they are more travel-friendly than the AirPods Max).
Battery life: 30 hours | Bluetooth range: 33 feet | App-connected: Yes
Best for Apple loyalists: Apple AirPods Max Apple AirPods Max $519.00 at Amazon$549.00 Save $30.00 Amazon Shop Now
Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Max.
Who it's for:These headphones are expensive as all hell, but for those deep in the Apple ecosystem who want a pair of over-the-ear headphones, they could very well be worth the price. Plus, the noise cancelling is pretty great. You can't find these headphones on sale these days (there is rumor that they might get an upgrade this year), so anyone who's not already a diehard Apple fan will probably want to skip these.
Why we picked this:The AirPods Max aren't just a pretty pair of headphones. With the help of eight microphones, these headphones provide excellent active noise cancellation. Switching into transparency mode happens with the push of a button, so there's no messing with finicky touch controls to hear what's going on around you. In addition to ANC, they have fantastic sound quality, and support for spatial audio will make cinephiles happy.
Their battery life, however, is a bit lacking compared to similarly priced headphones, thanks to the fact that they have no power button. (They're also missing a headphone jack, for those who like the option of wired listening). They will go into a low-power mode, but you can never completely turn them off. However, this does allow for easy switching in between devices, and for the "Find My" feature to always work. Plus, 20 hours of battery isn't bad, as that should last for even the most long-haul flights. In a pinch, five minutes of a charge can get you an hour and a half of battery life.
The carrying case is unfortunately, as former Mashable Tech Reporter Brenda Stoylar wrote in her review, "possibly the dumbest thing Apple has ever designed," so these headphones are probably best for people who don't mind wearing them around their neck for the entirety of their trip.
Battery life: 20 hours | Bluetooth range: Up to 300 feet | App-connected: Yes
Best for adjustable ANC: Bose 700 Bose 700 headphones $379.00 at AmazonShop Now
Read Mashable's full review of the Bose Noise Cancelling 700 headphones.
Who it's for:The Bose 700s are truly top-of-the-line headphones for active noise cancellation, which makes them one of the best noice-cancelling headphones for flying in 2024. Frequent flyers don't want to be reminded that they're surrounded by a bunch of stressed-out strangers, and these premium over-ear headphones will get the job done.
Why we picked this:They offer 10 levels of ANC so you can finely tune your experience, blocking out as much or as little as you want. You can create up to three different presets between 0 and 10, so you won't have to filter through all ten options every time you want to change the settings. This level of customization is not common among headphones, really setting the Bose 700s apart from its competitors. Alongside that, they sound great, with bass strong and mids suitably crisp, delivering the audio quality you'd expect from Bose.
In his review, Mashable's Alex Perry noted how comfortable the rubber padding on the headband and the foam ear cups were, even when worn for long periods. He also said these headphones are great at blocking out background sounds while on calls, which makes them especially ideal for frequent travelers who often find themselves on the phone while waiting in noisy airport terminals. To top it all off, they fold flat and come with a zip-up case for safe transport. A downside of these headphones is the battery life, which like the AirPod Max, maxes out at 20 hours. However, the biggest downside is that like the QC 45s, these headphones are also being phased out of Bose's line, so they can be harder to find and aren't likely to be restocked.
Battery life: 20 hours | Bluetooth range: Up to 33 feet | App-connected: Yes
Best earbuds for Apple users: Apple AirPods Pro Apple AirPods Pro $179.00 at Amazon$249.00 Save $70.00 Shop Now
Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPod Pros.
Who it's for:If you prefer something more lowkey than a bulky pair of over-the-ear wireless headphones, opt for a pair of earbuds for travel instead. Though this usually means noise cancelling takes a big hit, that's not the case with the second-gen Apple AirPods Pro. Mashable Tech Reporter Stan Schroeder deemed these, "the first pair of earbuds I'd actually consider taking on an airplane," due to the quality of their ANC.
Why we picked this:The ANC ante has been upped with the latest Pros, which offer even more sound-blocking power than the already great first-generation model. The design remains essentially the same, so you can easily stow the charging case in your bag or pocket. Plus, with last year's upgrade, the USB-C charging port likely means you have to lug around one less cable. Adaptive transparency mode allows you to hear outside noise once more with a press of the stem, while still dampening unwanted noise. To add to the aural experience, these buds do have spatial audio, though that feature is infamous for working great with some songs and not working at all with others.
Plus, the easy pairing AirPods are known for being even more efficient thanks to the upgraded H2 chip found in these earbuds. The especially great thing about AirPods is that though they're expensive, they do go on sale regularly throughout the year.
Battery life: 6 hours (up to 30 hours with charging case) | Bluetooth range: Up to 60 feet | App-connected: Yes
How we test noise-cancelling headphones for flyingAll eight of these headphones were hands-on tested by Mashable staff, including past and current tech reporters, senior tech editors, as well as shopping reporters and editors. Most recently in April 2024, we added the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones into our lineup of hands-on tested products. (Prior to this update, we recommended them based on research and customer reviews.)
Other more recent additions include the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, which we added in Nov. 2023. As of Feb. 2024, we tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds and the JBL Tour One M2 headphones, and added the former. The JBL headphones didn't make the cut even though we liked their long battery life, comfort, and surprisingly functional multipoint pairing — we just didn't think the $300 price tag matched up to the quality of the active noise cancellation. It wasn't bad, but it didn't wow us, and if you're willing to spend that much, we'd recommend going with Bose instead.
All of these headphones were chosen with the following criteria in mind:
Comfort: As we mentioned above, active noise cancellation becomes much less enjoyable if the headphones delivering it squeeze your head for the entirety of your flight. Any headphones that weren't favored for long-term wear didn't make our list.
Battery life: If your headphones' battery is going to die 30 minutes into your flight, they're not going to cut it for even the shortest of trips. Our picks were typically in a higher price range that have better battery life and quick charge options for the times when you forget to juice up your headphones the night before you leave.
Active noise cancellation quality: There are lower cost options for ANC, but not all active noise cancellation is delivered the same. That's why we focused on picks that either offered multiple levels of ANC, or delivered a strong level of ANC on its own, that didn't require music to make a noticeable difference.
Portability: Over-the-ear headphones are going to deliver the best noise cancellation possible, but they are bulky. To keep these picks travel-friendly, we looked for headphones that fold up or that come with sleek carrying cases.
Durability: Taking your headphones with you through TSA lines just opens them up to more wear and tear, so we went for higher-cost picks that are likely to survive the journey. Plus, we made sure to choose headphones that will last you for years, so the upfront investment is worth it.
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The Champions League is arguably the most prestigious club competition in the world of football, and now only four teams are left with a chance of lifting the trophy. Did Borussia Dortmund expect to be here? Probably not, but they are now only two games away from the biggest game of their lives. Unfortunately for them, PSG and Kylian Mbappé stand in their way.
If you want to watch Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG?Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG will begin their first-leg match at 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST on May 1. This fixture takes place at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany.
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How to watch the 2024 Giro d’Italia online for free
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What we can see the appeal of is watching the very best cyclists in the world going wheel to wheel in one of the most prestigious cycling events on the calendar. We're talking about the Giro d'Italia, and we've got all the information you need to follow along from the comfort of your home.
What is the Giro d’Italia?The Giro d'Italia is an annual multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in Italy. The Giro d'Italia is one of cycling's most prestigious three-week-long Grand Tours, and is the world's second most important stage race after the Tour de France.
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'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 1
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 May 1'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 secret journal.
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 D.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to Wordle #1047 is...
DIARY.
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.
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 1
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 May 1'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.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers 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 categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Breaking down a pair of pants
Green: Geometry terms
Blue: Navigating a web browser
Purple: '60s band group names
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Features of a Pair of Jeans
Green: Objects in 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-Dimensional Space
Blue: Web Browser Menus
Purple: Member of a '60s Band
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 #325 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayFeatures of a Pair of Jeans: BUTTON, FLY, POCKET, RIVET
Objects in 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-Dimensional Space: LINE, PLANE, POINT, SOLID
Web Browser Menus: FILE, HISTORY, VIEW, WINDOW
Member of '60s Band: ANIMAL, DOOR, KINK, SUPREME
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.
T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon slapped with $200M fine — here’s what they illegally did with your data
What does AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile all have in common?
Aside from being the four major mobile carriers in the U.S., these companies have also just been slapped with millions in fines from the FCC.
Why?
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile allegedly provided location data to third parties without their users' consent, which is illegal.
“Our communications providers have access to some of the most sensitive information about us," said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. "These carriers failed to protect the information entrusted to them. Here, we are talking about some of the most sensitive data in their possession: customers’ real-time location information, revealing where they go and who they are.”
FCC fines the biggest U.S. mobile carriersAccording to the FCC, T-Mobile has been fined the largest amount: $80 million. Sprint, which has merged with T-Mobile since the FCC's investigation began, also received a $12 million fine.
AT&T will have to pay more than $57 million and Verizon will dole out close to $47 million.
In total, the four major mobile carriers in the U.S. will be paying out more than $200 million in fines for sharing sensitive customer data without their knowledge or permission.
What happened?AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile allegedly sold access to its own customers' location data to "aggregators." These aggregators then resold the access to other third-party, location-based service providers.
"Each carrier attempted to offload its obligations to obtain customer consent onto downstream recipients of location information, which in many instances meant that no valid customer consent was obtained," the FCC said.
The FCC says these four carriers broke the law set in the Communications Act that requires these companies to protect confidential data, including location information.
The specific case that led the FCC to carry out its initial investigation is also laid out in the FCC's announcement and it's certainly alarming.
A Mississippi sheriff was tracking the location of people through their cell phones via a prison communication service company called Securus. Securus was getting this location data through the four major wireless carriers.
This case perfectly shows the important role mobile carriers play in protecting our data – and the consequences when they fail to do so. Now, these companies will pay millions in fines, thanks to the FCC.
The creator of the viral 'Bonk Song' on how a water jug became a symbol for the Palestinian protests
Art is integral to the success and longevity of social movements. It's woven into the very fabric of progress. The fight for Palestinian liberation is no different.
Dozens of protests over the Israel-Hamas war have erupted across college campuses over the past few weeks. They began at Columbia University and spread to more than a dozen other schools across the country, led by students calling for their universities to divest from companies that are aiding Israel's military efforts in Gaza.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThe protests have led to a significant police presence on campuses. In response, some 1,000 people have been arrested. During one altercation between protesters and police at Cal Poly Humboldt, a protester hit a police officer in the head with a large, empty water jug, which is now being referred to online as the "Jug of Justice." It quickly went viral on social media and led to many people calling to "bonk the police" and making the water jug recognizable anti-police imagery.
No$hu, a 29-year-old artist, saw the video and turned it into a now-viral trap song. The song starts with "I hate the police," and ends with "If you're resourceful, anything can be the right weapon." But the tune is so upbeat and auto-tuned that it makes the lyrics' radical politics palatable.
Tweet may have been deletedThe song has ignited a conversation about whether it's appropriate to make light of the ongoing conflict on campuses and the war in Gaza. For No$hu, it's not only pertinent — it's necessary. In conversation with Mashable, he pointed to a quote by anarchist printer Jack Frager paraphrased from anarcho-feminist icon Emma Goldman’s autobiography Living My Life. "If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution."
"You can normalize radical thought through something playful," No$hu said. "I'm saying super radical things if you listen to the song. If I said those in an angry way, you could terrify some people. But doing it with some autotune in a playful way makes it more accessible."
Mashable spoke with No$hu about writing the viral song, finding joy in revolution, and using his strengths to aid the protest movement.
View this post on Instagram SEE ALSO: Israel reportedly using facial recognition and Google Photos to conduct mass surveillance in Gaza Mashable: What inspires you when you're making music?No$hu: A lot of it has humor. There's some more serious stuff, but what comes most naturally to me is stuff that has to do with protest, justice, or resistance and revolution, mixed with humor.
There have been a lot of powerful videos coming out of these pro-Palestine protests. What about that video caught your attention?Just how hilarious it was. When I see cool clips like that, [and] I have a lot of them like that, I hop on and try to amplify it with something creative. So I saw that, and it was just instant. I started thinking right away, "How can I approach this creatively?"
Tell me more about that — the process of making this.I pick out three or four obvious points that I want to talk about — like jug, bonk, you know. And then I'll just play with those words until I come up with something that I'm satisfied with. So, like "jug or not, juggernaut," stuff like that.
And then did you send it to a producer?No. [I used] a free instrumental off YouTube that I had on my laptop. I was searching through the beats that I had already downloaded and trying to find the right vibe. And as soon as I heard that — there's an instrument playing in that, that immediately I was just like, "bonk, bonk," you know? It just came into my head to swing it along with that melody. So it just worked out perfectly.
How long did it take you?I saw [the video] two days after it initially came out. And so that night I started coming up with ideas based on [words like] jug and bonk. And then the next morning I recorded it. I was in a hostel at the time, so I recorded it in between the other travelers coming in and out of the room. Just so they wouldn't hear me yelling [and] making weird sounds, I had to squeeze the recording in on my bed in the hostel. But it took me like 20 minutes to get the recording done. Then maybe another 40 [minutes] to mix it and edit it.
What do you record and mix with?The software I use is called Mixcraft, but all the recordings are super simple, done with a laptop, an interface, and a microphone.
Then you just uploaded it to social media?I uploaded it to Twitter and Instagram, and I had no expectations. I just threw it up. Because I do those pretty often. Some of them get a lot of views, and some of them don't, but I just put them up if it sounds good to me. I release it and then see what people think about it. I remember I came back to it after an hour and it already had like 300 likes and a bunch of retweets. I was like, "Oh, OK. I think this one might take off."
What has the reaction been like?It's been crazy. I've been on my phone way too much because I'm trying to respond to all the messages. It's cool to see what people say. Someone in the comments was like, "I'm going to play this on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza."
Do you know any of the people who are doing these protests on campuses? Did you talk to the person who did the bonking?No, I haven't talked to him. I'd like to talk to him though. That person is a legend.
Have your other songs spread that quickly?I've had a couple last year that have a similar amount of views. Some of them pop off, some of them don't, but I have like a good five or six that have gotten views like this one.
SEE ALSO: Apple workers urge leadership to 'end their silence' on Palestine What makes you so interested in Palestinian liberation?To me, it's so obvious how disturbing and disgusting what's going on is. It's not something that I feel like I need to put eloquently. There's a genocide going on.
A lot of people feel powerless if they're not in California or New York City or on a college campus where these protests are happening. You're traveling right now — have you felt that powerlessness, and what do you do to help the cause when you can't physically be at a protest?I know how I like to contribute, or how I naturally contribute, is through music. That comes naturally. I don't feel powerless because I've been doing this for a while, and I know how much laughter and joy help with things like this. When things are stressful, it's super important to have some humor. I know that's what I can contribute to this. So I never feel powerless. I feel empowered when I see stuff going on like this, and I feel inspired. I can contribute in my own way to this. And I feel like people should do that, too. Take what their talent is or their skill or their passion is and contribute it somehow to help things snowball.
How do you feel having participated in the creation of a fun meme during a time like this?There's a huge percentage of [young people who] love memes and take [information] in that way. So we should use that to our advantage.
Do you think it also adds some longevity to a movement?You have to be able to laugh. It's so easy to get discouraged and demoralized. You need to be laughing as much as you can, at every chance.
Yelp launches new AI assistant for finding the right pros. Here's how to access it.
Yelp is packing its platform with more AI features, including an AI assistant and "AI-stitched videos."
On Tuesday, the OG crowd-sourced review site announced Yelp Assistant and TikTok-style videos that provide a breakdown of what people are saying about certain businesses like restaurants.
These tools add to Yelp's growing collection of generative AI features, such as AI-powered summaries for restaurants and attractions, which launched in January. Large language models (LLMs) are known for their ability to analyze and summarize large quantities of data, making them ideal for parsing the plethora of reviews on Yelp business pages.
"AI enables us to transform the way people discover and connect with local businesses," said Craig Saldanha, Yelp’s chief product officer.
Yelp's AI assistant takes discovering and connecting with local businesses a step further by offering a conversational chat experience to help users find the right professionals in categories like "home, local, auto, beauty, pet, real estate, professional, event planning, financial services, and more," according to the announcement.
Yelp Assistant will with your about your problem and even connect you with relevant professionals. Credit: Yelp How does the Yelp Assistant work?When you start a chat with Yelp Assistant, it will ask follow-up questions to understand your project or problem, provide relevant businesses, and even draft and submit a detailed request to those businesses on your behalf, including inquiries about pricing and availability.
Based on the demo, Yelp Assistant says it searches for "sponsored local pros," which initially makes it seem like search results only surface businesses paying for the exposure. But Yelp clarified this in a statement to Mashable saying, "project submissions are sent to both advertisers and non-advertisers, based on business relevance and eligibility for the project submitted through Yelp Assistant."
Yelp Assistant may only surface sponsored businesses. Credit: YelpYelp Assistant can be found in the "Projects" tab. It's now available in iOS and rolling out to Android later this summer.
Yelp also teased a tool that provides video summaries of businesses in the style that TikTok and Reels users are familiar with. Yelp will soon start testing videos that use AI to stitch together videos, photos, and AI voiceover sharing information and insights from user reviews.
Based on the demo, the result with its friendly muzak and fade transitions, is giving local ad with a limited budget vibes. But for such a text-heavy site, it might be a welcome change for the visually inclined.
UPDATE: Apr. 30, 2024, 3:35 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to address confusion over whether Yelp Assistant only surfaces sponsored businesses for project submissions.
Grab deals from Amazon Gaming Week and level up your gaming setup
Gaming gear can be expensive. Save on everything you need to level up your setup during Amazon Gaming Week.
Best Amazon Gaming Week Deals Best Amazon Gaming Week deal ASUS Tuf Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop (AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,299.99 at Amazon (Save $400) Get Deal Best Amazon Gaming Week game deal Star Wars Jedi: Survivor $29.99 at Amazon (Save $40) Get Deal Best Amazon Gaming Week controller deal ASUS ROG Raikiri Pro OLED Display Controller $109.99 at Amazon (Save $40) Get Deal Best Amazon Gaming Week headset deal Razer Opus X Wireless Low Latency Headset $58.65 at Amazon (Save $41.34) Get DealIf you love video games, whether on console or PC, no doubt you're used to spending a pretty penny to get the perfect setup. Whether that means finding a reliable controller or headset or other piece of equipment, there's no denying that things can get pretty pricey.
Luckily, during Amazon Gaming Week, there are dozens of discounts to be had on a wide variety of goodies that every gamer can use. From now through May 5, you can shop this annual collection of gaming deals to find some of the best deals yet on everything from popular games to must-have accessories.
There are tons of deals on offer to kit out your gaming battle station, from first-party accessories from Xbox and PlayStation to third-party options like SteelSeries and HyperX. We've curated some of our favorite gaming deals you can jump on right now.
Best Amazon Gaming Week deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon ASUS Tuf Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop (AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,299.99 at Amazon$1,699.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it
The ASUS Tuf Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop is no slouch, with a powerful GeForce RTX 4070 onboard to handle the latest gameplay. It boasts an AMD Ryzen 7 processor with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a gorgeous display with a 144Hz refresh rate to help you stay in the game without worrying about lag, stuttering, or visual tearing. All this in a lightweight frame with a pair of 84-blade fans to help improve cooling without making your laptop sound like a freight train. If you've been looking for a good laptop to go ahead and add to your collection, this is a fantastic deal at $400 off.
More laptop deals:Razer Blade 14 (AMD Ryzen 9, GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,899.99 $1,999.99 at Amazon (save $100)
$69.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the sequel to 2019's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and continues the adventure of fledgling Jedi Knight Cal Kestis. On his journey to restore the Jedi back to their former glory, Cal explores a variety of worlds while fighting the Empire alongside allies like tiny droid BD-1 and Jedi Master Cere Junda (Debra Wilson). According to Mashable reviewer Alex Perry, it's a "major improvement on "one of the best Star Wars games ever."
More game deals:LEGO 2K Drive — $19.99 $39.99 at Amazon (save $20)
Marvel's Midnight Suns Enhanced Edition — $19.99 $39.99 at Amazon (save $20)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — $51.90 $69.99 at Amazon (save $18.09)
Persona 5 Tactica — $31 $59.99 at Amazon (save $28.99)
$149.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it
The ASUS ROG Raikiri Pro OLED Display Controller can be used for both Xbox and PC, and it's a nice little upgrade to core Xbox controllers, with a built-in OLED display. It can be customized to show animations, show status indicators, and can be used to swap between profiles as you play games. You can remap buttons on it, change its joystick sensitivity, and make other changes via the ASUS ROG Armoury Crate, so this is a great controller option for anyone who loves to (or needs to) tinker.
More controller deals:Razer Kishi V2 Mobile Gaming Controller for Android — $76.99 $99.99 at Amazon (save $23)
Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Gaming Controller — $150.99 $179.99 at Amazon (save $29)
$99.99 Save $41.34 Get Deal Why we like it
The Razer Opus X Wireless Low Latency Headset is a bright neon green accessory that'll definitely turn some heads. It's much more affordable now that it's on sale, and it comes with some great features, including active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0 support for better range, higher bandwidth, and low latency. Plus, it has custom-tuned 40mm drivers so no matter if you're listening to your favorite game or the voices of your teammates, you're getting high-quality audio. The built-in mics also ensure everyone else can hear you clearly, too.
More headset deals:Sony INZONE H3 Wired Gaming Headset — $58 $99.99 at Amazon (save $41.99)
Razer Kaira Pro HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Headset — $149.99 $199.99 at Amazon (save $50)
Turtle Beach Recon Spark Gaming Headset — $39.95 $49.99 at Amazon (save $10.04)
Meta Quest 2 with Active Pack — $196.11 $309.98 at Amazon (save $113.87)
Razer BlackWidow V4X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — $119.99 $129.99 at Amazon (save $10)
Score an Amazon Echo Pop for under $20 and fill your home with music
SAVE 50%: The Amazon Echo Pop smart speaker is just $19.99 at Amazon, down from the regular price of $39.99. That's a savings of $20.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $19.99 at Amazon$39.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal
While some people love the "sound of silence", others do not. If you fall into the latter and prefer to always have music, a podcast, or an audiobook going in the background, listen up because Amazon has just the deal today.
As of April 30, the Amazon Echo Pop is just $19.99, discounted from the normal price of $39.99. That's a savings of $20.
The Amazon Echo Pop excels in providing sound for small spaces like your office, bedroom, or bathroom. Its compact size means it's less likely to stick out like a massive speaker and more likely to blend in to your room's decor.
Through a Bluetooth connection, the Echo Pop can play from Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and Audible. Wake up to your favorite playlist or tune into the morning's headlines. While working on weekend chores around the house, turn on your latest audiobook or have the Pop play some white noise to help you fall asleep at night.
The Echo Pop also has Alexa's assistance so you can ask her to set alarms, add items to your shopping list, explain what the weather will be like today, or ask her to look into how fast bees can fly.
If there's a room in your home that could use a smart speaker, the Echo Pop is under $20 at Amazon which puts this at a budget-friendly price for non-stop tunes.
Prime Day 2024: When it's happening and everything else we know so far
UPDATE: Apr. 30, 2024, 12:30 p.m. EDT We've updated this story with the latest info on Prime Day 2024.
Amazon has made the announcement: we're officially on the verge of Prime Day season once more.
If it feels like it hasn't been all that long since Amazon last hosted a sitewide, that's because it hasn't been: just over a month ago, the retailer ran its five-day Big Spring Sale offering deals on select tech, home and cleaning products, and other "seasonally relevant items."
The real knockout sale for Amazon, however, is Prime Day. The retailer has just released new details on the sale, so we've gathered everything you need to know so far about Prime Day 2024.
What is Prime Day?Prime Day is a 48-hour sitewide savings event exclusive to paid and trial members of Amazon's Prime subscription service. It began in 2015 as a one-day sale to celebrate Amazon's 20th anniversary, and in recent years has become a two-day event prefaced by plenty of early deals. This year marks the 10th time Amazon has held this sale.
Prime Day often brings the lowest prices of the year at the time of the sale on a whole host of products including robot vacuums, Amazon devices, headphones, Apple products, TVs, and more.
For the past year, Amazon has held another sitewide sale for Prime members in the fall — last year's was dubbed Prime Big Deal Days — which closely resembles the summer event. It happened in October before Black Friday deals kicked off in earnest. Like Prime Day, it's a 48-hour sale for Prime members.
When is Prime Day 2024?In a press release on April 26, Amazon confirmed that Prime Day will be in July, keeping in line with years past. Though they didn't say exactly which dates just yet, we predict the sale will fall sometime from early- to mid-July. In 2023, it ran from July 11 to July 12, while in 2022, it ran from July 12 to July 13.
We're also keeping an eye out for any news about early access deals: last year, Amazon kicked off early deals on June 21.
Can you shop on Prime Day without being a Prime member?Not all Prime Day deals are officially tied to the sale, but to have access to the most possible savings, you will want to be a Prime member.
You can participate in Prime Day without committing to a paid Prime membership by scheduling a 30-day free trial around the event. Just remember to cancel it as soon as the sale is over to avoid getting charged.
SEE ALSO: Walmart+ is offering some new limited-time perks — here's how to sign up Who's competing with Prime Day?At this point, it's traditional for other major retailers to conveniently hold sales right before, during, and right after Prime Day.
Last year, that included Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale which took place from July 10 to 12, Walmart+ Week from July 10 to 13, and Target Circle Week from July 9 to July 15. (As a reminder, last year's Prime Day ran from July 11 to 12.)
Beyond expanded sale times, these retailers can offer better deals on certain categories like QLED TVs, high-end laptops, and home essentials.
While we haven't received any confirmation of any competing sales yet, we'll be keeping a lookout and updating this page accordingly once we do.
AI death calculator? People are searching for their ‘death date’ with this creepy (fake) bot
There are so many viral AI chatbots that you can't even trust that one of them is real anymore.
In December, a group of Danish researchers unveiled life2vec, an AI chatbot that could theoretically predict when a person will die. The group's findings were published in a paper and the models have been thoroughly explained in a FAQ on the life2vec website.
Crucially, the life2vec chatbot is not available to the public, leading to a surge of fake entities claiming to use it.
SEE ALSO: This AI tool will help you erase your ex from photos"We are aware of social media accounts and at least one fraudulent website claiming to be associated with the life2vec model," the life2vec website states. "We are not affiliated with these or any other entities that claim to use our technology."
This is such a good encapsulation of what's wrong with the internet today. Scientists made a thing that seems to at least have some real know-how behind it. Smartly, they kept it out of public hands. But then people made fake versions of it — and one of those deceptive copies is currently above the real life2vec website in Google search results, prompting life2vec to issue warnings about it.
And that's before you even get to how weird it is to ask an AI chatbot when you'll die. Good grief.
Stay organized this summer with a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2, on sale for under $21 at Amazon
SAVE 30%: A Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 Bluetooth tracker is just $20.99 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $29.99. That's a savings of $9.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 $20.99 at Amazon$29.99 Save $9.00 Get Deal
There's a specific heart-sinking feel that comes when you can't find an important item like your wallet, backpack, or keys. This is always followed by our brains chaotically retracing our day trying to figure out where the item got left behind. If you're not interested in that kind of stress anymore, today's deal could be a savior.
As of April 30, a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 Bluetooth tracker is on sale at Amazon for $20.99, down from the usual price of $29.99. That's a 30% discount that'll save you $9.
Mashable's review of the best Bluetooth trackers lists the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 as the best option for Samsung Galaxy users. The review explains that while the Samsung tracker is pretty similar to the popular Apple AirTag, this option is better streamlined for those with a Galaxy phone.
Unlike the AirTag, the SmartTag2 is designed with a built-in hole that makes it easier to attach to a set of keys or strap onto a backpack or tote bag. Samsung mentions the Bluetooth tracker stays powered for 500 days or even more when in power-saving mode.
If daily life has you searching for important things that you misplaced or someone moved, grabbing a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 could save you tons of time and lower your stress levels. Thanks to today's sale price, you'll also be getting a great deal.
Amazon deal of the day: The M2 MacBook Air is just 99 cents shy of its record-low price
Amazon is closing out April with a bang. And by that, I mean a ton of deals on some of our favorite brands — Apple, Samsung, Echo, and Kodak. If you're looking for a Mother's Day gift or just want to treat yourself to a little something, we've sorted through the lengthy list of deals to handpick the best ones for you to shop on April 30.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. And be sure to check out our picks from April 29, as many of those are still live.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Amazon deal of the day: MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849.99 at Amazon$999.00 Save $149.01 with on-page coupon Get Deal
If you're in the market for a MacBook upgrade, you can do it on a budget with this deal on the M2 MacBook Air. Originally released in 2022 for $1,099, the 13.6-inch MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) now retails for $999 (since the release of the 15-inch M2 Air). However, now that the M3 line is out, we're starting to see even more impressive deals. Case in point: as of April 30, you can snag the base model M2 Air for only $849.99 with the on-page coupon at Amazon. That's just 99 cents away from its record-low price. It may no longer be the latest and greatest MacBook on the market, but the M2 processor is beyond capable of handling everyday tasks and then some. Upon testing, Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry concluded that it has "rock-solid battery life, a larger 13.6-inch display than previous models, a keyboard that’s to die for, and enough horsepower to handle everyday tasks with ease."
Read our full review of the M2 MacBook Air.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop $19.99 at Amazon$39.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal
The Echo Pop has made our roundup of the best Amazon deals of the day quite a few times this month. And as of April 30, it just got $3 cheaper. The cute Echo Pop speaker is a fun way to add Alexa — and some color — to your home. "For people who like to keep music playing, and who also use Alexa as a home assistant, the Echo Pop is a perfect addition to any room in the house," Mashable's reviewer wrote. It's currently just $19.99 at Amazon — a savings of 50%. That's still $2 shy of its all-time low, but 7% cheaper than it was just last week.
Read our full review of the Echo Pop.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro $159.99 at Amazon$229.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal
Mashable's Alex Perry called the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro a "no-brainer" for Samsung fans upon their release in 2022, highlighting their powerful audio quality and ANC, comfortable build, and array of customization features for Samsung devices. We featured them last week at $169.99, but as of April 30, they've dropped another $10 at Amazon. Snag a pair for only $159.99 in time for your summer travels — that's a savings of 30%.
Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
Opens in a new window Credit: Kodak Kodak Dock Plus 4PASS instant photo printer (4 x 6) + 90 sheets bundle $125.98 at Amazon$199.99 Save $74.01 Get Deal
If you're looking for a unique Mother's Day gift, check out this deal on the Kodak Dock Plus 4PASS — an instant photo printer that transforms a smartphone into a digital printing studio. It's compatible with both Android and iOS devices and prints high-quality 4 x 6 inch photos in seconds. With the compatible Kodak Photo Printer app, you can even add decorative features like filters and frames to your photos before printing. The printer comes with 90 sheets of photo paper to get you started and is currently on sale for just $125.98 at Amazon — that's 37% in savings and just $6 shy of its all-time low price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) $179.00 at Amazon$249.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal
AirPods deals are here one day and gone the next, so if you're in the market for the new AirPods Pro, we suggest snagging this deal while you can. As of April 30, the second-generation Apple earbuds are on sale for just $179 rather than $249. That's a savings of 28% and a full $20 cheaper than they were just a couple of days ago. It's also the first time they've dropped to a price this low. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder summed up the second-generation AirPods Pro perfectly: "Apple has improved the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) in many small ways. They sound great and the noise cancellation is stellar, but if you already have the original AirPods Pro, the new ones are not an essential upgrade."
Read our full review of the AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
How to watch IPL 2024 live streams online for free
TL;DR: JioCinema is offering free live streams of every IPL cricket match this season. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Cricket is such a divisive sport. Some dedicated followers of almost every kind of sport simply can't understand the appeal of the game. And then there are the cricket fanatics, who follow every form of cricket with a passion that's unmatched.
The IPL might represent a sweet spot for both camps. It's got all the top players in one place, competing in a fast-paced form of the game surrounded by some of the most passionate fans in the world. The IPL is simply electric.
If you're interested in watching the IPL 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, 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. Since it's inception, it has quickly become one of the most popular sporting events in the calendar, with a host of stars taking part every year.
Chennai Super Kings are the current champions, beating Gujarat Titans in the 2023 final.
When is the IPL 2024?The 2024 Indian Premier League is the 17th edition of the competition. The tournament features 10 teams and runs from March 22 to May 26.
How to watch the IPL for freeJioCinema is offering free live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on its app. Users can select multiple camera angles, check live scores, stats, and even heat maps of IPL games. Games can even be streamed in 12 languages (including English, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, and Bhojpuri).
JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, meaning you'll be blocked if you attempt to access this platform from outside the country. Fortunately, you can bypass this online blockade 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 anywhere in the world.
Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in India
Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to sign up)
Watch the IPL for free from anywhere in the world
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 streaming the IPL?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 so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £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. You can use that guarantee to recover your cash after watching the IPL. This is sneaky, but it works because ExpressVPN returns your cash without hassle.
Watch the IPL 2024 for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Nadal vs. Lehecka in the 2024 Madrid Open online for free
TL;DR: Stream Rafael Nadal vs. Jiri Lehecka in the 2024 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Nadal is one of the best tennis players to ever play the game, so when there are whispers of a comeback, the eyes of the world will be watching. It's probably too early to say that Nadal is officially back, but the legitimate legend has looked good on his way to a matchup with Jiri Lehecka. The Madrid Open has been a fairytale for the Spaniard, and fans will be desperate to see the magic continue.
If you want to watch Rafael Nadal vs. Jiri Lehecka in the 2024 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Nadal vs. Lehecka?Rafael Nadal and Jiri Lehecka will meet in the 2024 Madrid Open at around 3:15 p.m. ET / 8:15 p.m. BST on April 30.
How to watch Nadal vs. Lehecka in the 2024 Madrid Open for freeThe 2024 Madrid Open is available to stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, 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 Spain. This process makes it look like you're connecting from Spain, so you can access RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Unblock RTVE by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Stream Rafael Nadal vs. Jiri Lehecka for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to RTVE without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream the remaining action from the 2024 Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
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 $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 Rafael Nadal vs. Jiri Lehecka for free with ExpressVPN.
'Challengers' love triangle is 'Twilight' for people not afraid to see boys kiss
At the near center mark of Luca Guadagnino’s scintillating tennis film Challengers, leading college athlete phenom Tashi (Zendaya) and recent Junior U.S. Open champion Patrick (Josh O’Connor) are doing what cinema-goers have been begging for: making the f*ck out.
It’s hard to take your eyes away from them. They’re young. They’re on fire. O’Connor is literally ripping Zendaya’s billowy “I Told Ya” t-shirt off with his teeth.
But if the astute millennial cinema lover can rip their eyes away from the prime athletes on the bed, they may spot another character in the room, too (Spoiler: this is a movie about throuples, by the by). Sweep your eyes up from their bodies, tune your ears away from the volley-filled conversation about the unofficial third person in their relationship, and there, floating above the lovers’ heads as a silent observer to the passion happening on Tashi’s pink sheets, it rests.
“Are we still talking about tennis?” Patrick asks Tashi between the licks and pets and teen angst. No, my beloveds, we’re talking Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight.
SEE ALSO: Why Zendaya says you gotta see 'Challengers' twiceThe only recognizable cover among Tashi’s collection of novels, photos, and other accoutrement like her iPod Nano, the book could easily just be an apropos prop for the early aughts setting. (Devoted Twihards may rightfully point out that the novel had already been on shelves for two years at the time of the 2007 make-out sesh, and the blockbuster movie adaptation was still one year away from its release.)
However, in a movie where every exchange feels rife with subtext, where each frame is in service of an ever-so-sweet callback, where something as little as a stool being scooted closer elicits gasps and screams, it’s hard to believe that the book shouldn’t warrant closer inspection. It feels painfully obvious, too. Why wouldn't one of the most iconic love triangles of all time (yes, I said it) get its due in a film about the very same subject? Is Tashi dreaming of werewolves and vampires off the court?
Tweet may have been deleted"Sensual longing radiates in every scene of Challengers, even though the love scenes are most shocking in how little sex they actually show," Mashable's Kristy Puchko wrote in her review of the film. "And yet, you will be scorched by the heat, as Guadagnino has put together one of the hottest love triangles cinema has ever seen... if not the very hottest."
Sexual edging in service of romantic yearning? Let me tell you about a certain Young Adult series… The internet's made the connection too, even if a bit indirectly. "Team Art" and "Team Patrick" posts flooded timelines almost immediately after its premiere — some of us still haven't removed Team Edward from our bios. Viewers are revved up about who Tashi (or, really, who they) should choose. They're trying to find villains where there are only confused teens and jaded adults.
We're so back in 2008. And that means we have to figure out who, in this tortured love triangle, is who.
Tweet may have been deleted Edward and Jacob and Patrick and ArtNo line in the Challengers film reeks more of Twilight lore than when rising teen doubles partners Patrick and Art (Mike Faist) are given the nickname "Fire and Ice," basically identical to the “two sides” Bella is forced to choose between in the series. Vampires, walking marble statues, represent ice, while werewolves are problematically “warm-blooded” and "fiery." What do heat and water make? Oh yeah, steam.
Meyers loves the metaphor so much that she opens the third installment of the book series, Eclipse, with a quote from an aptly titled Robert Frost poem, “Fire and Ice”:
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
In the world of Challengers, Tashi — about to make a similar apocalyptic decision — questions the distinction, "Which is which?" Patrick, always pushing the limits of his partners, leaves it up to her. "What do you think?"
Good question. Art, the hairless boy wonder, might, at first, read as Challengers’ Edward insert — a glistening, chiseled white boy who will do anything for the woman he loves. In the movie’s reticent fire and ice metaphor, Art’s quiet court demeanor and playing style are chillier than Patrick’s showboating nature and loud personality. He's the devout Edward to Patrick's combative Jacob.
But this film isn’t about what's on the surface. And, if Twilight teaches us one thing, it's that the only thoughts that matter are Bella's.
Tweet may have been deletedFor Tashi (the least like her Twilight counterpart, admittedly), Patrick is the bigger gamble. He personifies passion, hunger, and desire — just as Edward does for Bella. She's drawn to him because they do everything to push each other away. He is drawn to her because he's obsessed with figuring her out, and loves letting her know when he's done so (Edward canonically notices Bella for the first time because she's the only human he literally cannot mind-read).
Art, on the other hand, represents stability. In adulthood, he's Tashi's connection to domestic life, as normal as one can be achieved given their circumstances, and, at every turn, he's fighting for it. She loves that she can live vicariously through him. Most importantly, Art loves Tashi in defiance of Patrick, doing everything in his power to convince her that he’s better for her than his former friend.
For those who are only familiar with the Kristen Stewart-led films, there's just as much for you. The scene where Patrick saunters smugly onto the Stanford tennis courts in a pair of white Ray-Bans? Succeeds in inducing the same giddy squeals as when Edward (portrayed by Robert Pattinson) steps out of his sleek Volvo donning a pair of black sunglasses. As a down-on-his-luck adult, Patrick uses his charm and attractiveness to try to finesse a free room out of an older hotel manager. Edward uses his on a (slightly predatory?) school secretary, and again with a restaurant hostess. In the aforementioned make-out scene, Patrick's leap onto Tashi's bed mimics almost beat for beat the scene where Edward and Bella kiss for the first time, iconic purple sheets replacing Tashi's pink ones. A climactic scene sees Patrick driving erratically with Tashi in the passenger seat — a move right out of Edward's playbook.
Meanwhile, a tense cafeteria exchange between Art and Tashi mirrors Jacob's recurring conversation with Bella that Edward is fundamentally unsafe, that he doesn't love her (he just wants to consume her), and that she deserves truer love. Tashi fights back. Has anyone asked what she wants? Does she want to be loved? She wants to be a vampire — I mean, a tennis player!
Following her life-changing injury, Art and Tashi practice pushing her limits on a rehabbed knee. Art doesn't want to hurt her, so Tashi begs him to push her as far as he can. Bella notoriously uses Jacob to funnel her into dangerous situations (all in the service of getting Edward back, to be noted).
The term "lapdog" is used interchangeably in both universes as an insult — Challengers misses the opportunity to have a nod to "bloodsucking," but the film's disdain at Patrick's rich upbringing might be enough to nail the leech metaphor. O'Connor and Pattinson have mastered the smirk.
Patrick moves through the film with an intense desire to be loved, masked only by an air of arrogance and self-hatred that he and Tashi lob back and forth at each other. The given excuse is that Patrick’s never had to grow up. (Forever stuck at 17? Sounds familiar.) Meanwhile, Edward is notoriously, and life-threateningly, self-deprecating.
Art's sweet nature hides a deeper talent for manipulation and an inherent cleverness. He jabs his fingers into his best friend's wounds ahead of their big match and covers up his jealousy with a deep respect for Tashi. Jacob, starting as the fun-loving childhood best friend, turns into a fighter, sewing seeds of doubt in Edward and snarling at the other men weaving into Bella's life.
Immortality, though not as overt a theme in Challengers as in Twilight, plays an additional part. Patrick, begging Tashi to pay attention to him again, threatens her with the threat of a career mortem. Art, tired from a life of professional sports, is "ready to die," and doesn't Tashi want to live? Maybe, still stuck in that hotel room at the Junior U.S. Open, she can live forever with Patrick.
Other parallels: An inherited engagement ring from one beau's grandmother leads to a strained revelation. The name of a child ("You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?!") is uttered with disdain.
Tweet may have been deletedObviously, the comparisons aren't really 1:1. Twilight is about repressed desire, while Challengers does anything but hold back. Tashi, unlike Bella, is an unwavering, passion-filled character who makes her choices fast and with determination. Patrick's quick decisions bear little resemblance to Edward's careful planning. Art is not a motorcycle-riding stereotype of boyishness. It's hard to imagine Guadagnino leafing through Meyers' prose for inspiration.
And, at the end of the day, Tashi's true love isn't either of these men. Everything she does is in service of seeing some "good fucking tennis."
If Tashi is Bella, then the true Edward in this star-crossed romance is tennis.
Tweet may have been deletedChallengers' Twilight references are a fun thought experiment for those who came of age with the supernatural throuple. It’s a universe where Edward x Jacob fanfic is actually canon — a true love triangle that Twilight's prudish tendencies failed to accomplish. A rendition of the tale that has Bella acting on her urges — one in which she doesn’t shy away from being labeled the villain if that means she might get what she wants. A version of the story where everyone gets their hands dirty, the boys kiss, and the winner doesn't matter at all.
The AirPods Pro just dropped to a new record low price
SAVE $70: As of April 30, you can grab the USB-C AirPods Pro from Amazon and Best Buy for $179.99, but if you want the absolute best price, you can find them at Walmart for $179. This marks the lowest price we've ever seen them hit and saves you 28% on these $249 earbuds.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple USB-C AirPods Pro $179.00 at Walmart$249.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal
In most cases we might suggest holding out on buying new AirPods until this year's rumored new models drop — but for a deal this good, we have to make an exception.
Without any fanfare of a larger sale, Walmart dropped the price of the USB-C AirPods Pro to just $179 — a new record low (by 99 cents, but still). Amazon and Best Buy also have the noise-canceling earbuds available for their former low of $179.99.
SEE ALSO: iPad Pro 2024 plot twist: This new rumored feature shakes things upTypically, the $249 earbuds can be found on sale for $199, or on a good day $189. We first saw the USB-C Pros get down to $179.99 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale in March. Though this price still makes these earbuds an investment, it puts them much more at par with models that offer less and don't perform quite as well, like the $169.95 Beats Studio Buds+.
The USB-C AirPods Pro also offer some of the best noise cancellation you'll be able to find on earbuds, making them one of our favorite headphones. In his review, Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder wrote that, in some cases, the earbuds bested the noise cancellation of his over-ear B&W Px7 headphones, and "are the first pair of earbuds I'd actually consider taking on an airplane (instead of my much larger and clunkier over-ear headphones)."
If you're an Apple user, we love them even more for how well these earbuds connect and integrate into your existing tech ecosystem. We also appreciate that Apple finally ditched the Lightning port for the much more universal USB-C port on the case. Compared to their non-USB-C counterpart, these AirPods are pretty much the same, but offer increased water and dust resistance and lossless audio with the Apple Vision Pro (though we've yet to test that claim for ourselves).
SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C review: About timeThey also support smart features like Conversational Audio and Adaptive Awareness, which automatically adjust your volume levels, which Schroeder found to be, "a pretty impressive combo, which uses Apple’s machine-learning magic to juggle all of these possibilities into something that, at times, feels genuinely smart."
