Blogroll

Whether the 16-inch Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop appeals to you depends on your budget.

Starting at $900, Lenovo’s large hybrid laptop can do a lot for the price. Its convertible display can exist in four different configurations of varying usefulness. Plus, its storage options are good enough for the majority of people who don’t work in high-intensity fields. And finally, its fully adorned keyboard gives it a leg up over something like a MacBook.

But thanks to a decidedly not-so-slender profile and awkward trackpad placement, you may be better off spending a little more money (or less) to get something more convenient for everyday use. (Maybe take a look at our best laptops page for some inspiration.)

SEE ALSO: Lenovo Yoga Book 9i review: A sick dual-screen laptop with life-changing productivity Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16-inch price and specs

The review unit I tested costs $899 on Best Buy and has the following specs:

• Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor

• 512GB storage

• 16GB RAM

• Intel Iris Xe graphics

• 16-inch display with 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution and 60Hz refresh rate

There aren't a ton of variations on those specs for consumers to choose from. You can optionally get an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with 1TB of storage, but that brings the price up to $1,049.

While the display, processor, and GPU specs aren’t necessarily anything to write home about, the storage and RAM figures are worth highlighting here. A minimum of 512GB internal storage (with a more expensive 1TB option) and 16GB RAM will help ensure that people can keep their data around and work with several programs or tabs open at once. 

Considering that this is priced as a somewhat low-level school or work laptop, those memory and storage specs aren’t bad. You might want more storage if you do longform video editing, though.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16-inch
Get Deal What I like about Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch

While there's very little about the Yoga 7i that I would call "remarkable," there's still plenty to like. Between its audiovisual presentation and convenient privacy features, Lenovo packed a decent number of bells and whistles into this laptop.

Huge, convertible display Tent mode. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

As a daily MacBook Air user, the thing about the Yoga 7i that hit me the hardest was just how big and versatile the display is, if you want it to be.

Sixteen inches and a slightly-higher-than 1080p resolution are both pretty solid figures for the price, even if it’s just a lowly LCD display rather than the fancier OLED ones found in Lenovo’s more expensive products. In my testing, I found the Yoga 7i was best used for streaming. I used it extensively as a second monitor during an incredibly busy weekend of watching both the NBA playoffs and NFL draft at the same time.

I know — I’m really cool, but that’s not the point here.

Of course, this isn’t just a normal laptop, hence the “2-in-1” part of the product name. The Yoga 7i’s display can be bent backwards into a few different configurations: one that uses the keyboard as a base, one that props the device up like a tent, and one that just turns it into a giant tablet.

None of these are new in the world of hybrid laptops, but they are all presented and accounted for here. It’s hard to say how the hinge would hold up after years of bending the screen back, but in my limited testing, it felt sturdy enough to withstand everyday use.

Privacy features

While I appreciate Lenovo including both a fingerprint reader and a physical webcam cover, these features are becoming increasingly standard on laptops, even some of the best cheap laptops. Therefore, I'm hesitant to give them too much credit for the inclusion.

That said, the substantially more expensive MacBook Air that I work on every day doesn’t have a webcam cover, so clearly, the rest of the industry still has some catching up to do. Good on Lenovo for including both of these features, even if they aren’t novel.

Loud speakers

I feel pretty strongly that if you’re going to watch something on a laptop, you should most definitely use headphones. Laptop speakers, by and large, exist for utility; they’re on the device because they have to be, but it’s never an ideal way to experience audio.

Still, Lenovo’s Yoga 7i speakers are pretty thunderous by laptop standards. I was able to hear what I was watching from across the room at less than half volume, while pumping it up all the way produced a sound that was loud enough to put me in danger of pissing off my neighbors. That didn’t happen, thankfully, but it’s good to know that a $900 laptop can do that.

Full-featured keyboard It's a good keyboard. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

All that really needs to be said is that the Lenovo Yoga 7i’s keyboard has both a full function row and a full number pad. There you go! What more do you need?

But seriously, it’s a solid enough laptop keyboard that wins on features, if not especially on feel. Having all of those buttons is great and enables all the different keyboard shortcuts one could hope to use in a work environment. 

It’s a double-edged sword, though. Including a number pad on the right side means that everything else is just a little squished together. While the Yoga 7i’s device footprint is a bit wider than my MacBook Air, the non-number-pad part of the keyboard is actually a bit narrower. It’s certainly something you’d get used to after using the laptop every day, but the process of getting used to it wasn’t great. Still, the keys are pretty substantial regardless and the amount of key travel is satisfying enough.

What’s ‘meh’ about Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch

Of course, nothing is perfect, but also not every imperfection is worth raking a device over the coals about. When it came to the ports and one aspect of the Yoga 7i's display, I wasn't head-over-heels for the laptop.

Port placement Ports! Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

When it comes to port selection, the Yoga 7i is competitive with others in its class. Between a single HDMI port and two USB-C Thunderbolt connectors, you’ve got a plethora of options for external displays, even if one of those USB-C ports should be left open for charging purposes. There are also two USB type-A ports and a headphone jack.

That’s all well and good, but I don’t love the port placement here. The left side contains the HDMI port and both Thunderbolt connectors, as well as the headphone jack. The right side, meanwhile, contains two USB type-A ports and an SD card slot.

Personally, I would’ve preferred more symmetry. Relegating both USB-C ports to one side means you can only charge the Yoga 7i from one side. Similarly, if you use a standard USB mouse, you better be right-handed.

Refresh rate

As I’ve mentioned a few times, the Yoga 7i isn’t exactly priced as a premium product, so some concessions are expected. One of those is that the display, for all its size and resolution, only comes with a 60Hz refresh rate.

To be fair, the Yoga 7i isn’t necessarily meant as a high-end gaming laptop, so frame rates higher than 60 fps don’t really have a place here. But for basic web browsing and scrolling, even a 90Hz refresh rate would’ve made the laptop feel a bit more premium and responsive. 

It’s not a big deal, but something worth noting.

What I dislike about Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch

Unfortunately, the physical design of the Yoga 7i leaves a bit to be desired. Put simply, it's heavy and the trackpad isn't real fun to use.

A little unwieldy It's not small or light. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Laptops are supposed to be portable, right? The whole point is that you can carry it with you from place-to-place without really noticing it. This is one area where the Yoga 7i falls a little short.

Its 4.63 pound weight is quite noticeable. Picking up the Yoga 7i with just one hand to move it around feels slightly treacherous, especially since the center of gravity resides where the keyboard and display meet. It always feels a little like it’s about to fall out of your hand when you first lift it up. I don’t love that.

Yoga 7i’s weight, combined with the necessary width of a 16-inch display, means this might be a difficult device to use on an airplane, unless you pay for first class. That’s far from the only thing that matters about a laptop, but we can’t pretend like it’s not important.

Trackpad placement

The Yoga 7i keyboard is mostly pretty good, as discussed previously. The trackpad is another story.

Lenovo annoyingly decided to go with a left-of-center alignment for the trackpad. This means that while I’m resting my hands on the keyboard, my wrist is almost always touching the trackpad, leading to a lot of unintended mouse clicks that got in the way of my daily routine. 

Another rather bothersome result of the trackpad’s placement is that finger taps that feel like they should be left clicks instead register as right clicks too often. At least, that happened way too often for me, a person who primarily navigates the trackpad with his right hand.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch Geekbench score

Lenovo’s Yoga 7i, packed with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, delivered a 9,121 multi-core score in our CPU testing, courtesy of the benchmarking software Geekbench (which tests for CPU performance).

Going beyond the numerical score, I never had any serious performance quibbles with the Yoga 7i. As long as you use it for what it was designed for (everyday web browsing and work), it operates smoothly. 

Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch battery life

This is one area where Lenovo can chalk up a big ol’ W for itself.

I tested the Yoga 7i’s battery life by looping a 1080p video in full screen from a 100 percent charge until the device died. That process took a whopping 10 hours and 33 minutes. 

By comparison, the dual-screen Yoga Book 9i only achieved seven hours under the same circumstances, at more than twice the price. And since everyday work tasks generally don’t require that you loop an HD video for nearly 11 hours straight, you can certainly expect to get through a full work day on one charge.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch webcam and microphone

The Yoga 7i isn’t necessarily a budget laptop, but the parts of it that you use for video calls aren’t really anything to write home about.

A lil' fuzzy! Credit: Alex Perry

As you can see from the image, the 1080p webcam produces results that are a little fuzzy and washed out — and that’s before video call compression enters the picture. It’s fine for a weekly check-in with your boss, but you wouldn’t want to film a movie with it.

As for the built-in microphone, it, well, sounds like a laptop microphone. Testing produced audio that was a little tinny, but fully intelligible. Again, these features are meant for work calls and not professional recordings. If you want better results, get a real webcam and a real microphone.

Is the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch worth it?

This is a tough question to answer because it really depends on what you want and need from a laptop.

Gamers can and should look elsewhere, given the specs. People who need to do intense video editing or 3D modeling can probably do better, as well. The Yoga 7i is specced and priced for people who work on the computer but don’t work like that on the computer, if you catch my drift.

If you need a bulky, sturdy machine for streaming things and answering emails, you can certainly do worse. The versatility and size of the display helps matters, as the Yoga 7i can (in a pinch) be an entertainment machine, too. But it’s not especially portable or remarkable in any other way.

Still, it’s not as expensive as a MacBook and has a way more functional keyboard, if nothing else. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 $899.00
Get Deal

This is not just another sublime image of the largest storm in the solar system, Jupiter's Great Red Spot. 

Look closer… a little closer…

Come on, you're going to have to try harder than that. Get in there.

Do you see it now? That's not a speck of dust on NASA's Juno spacecraft camera. That's a moon, orbiting its enormous mother planet in space. 

The teeny tiny moon is Amalthea, and though it was caught zipping in front of the very ruddy eye of Jupiter's long-lived high pressure zone, astronomers say this moon is in fact the reddest object in the solar system. Scientists think its hue is caused by sulfur from the nearby Jovian moon Io, a world with active volcanoes.

SEE ALSO: Saturn apparently has 145 moons. So eat it, Jupiter. Tweet may have been deleted

The images released this week were taken as the spacecraft swooped about 165,000 miles above Jupiter’s clouds in March during its 59th close flyby. Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt processed the probe's raw camera data to enhance the clarity of the pictures.

Juno has an instrument, dubbed JunoCam, that was designed not just to take great closeup photos of Jupiter but to engage the public. The science team allows citizens to process the camera's images and polls the crowd for what to focus on next. 

Juno has been orbiting Jupiter for over seven years. The spacecraft is studying the origin and evolution of Jupiter, looking for its core, mapping its magnetic field, measuring water and ammonia in the atmosphere, watching for its auroras, and homing in on Jupiter’s moons and dust rings. 

Two images of Jupiter taken by the spacecraft Juno in March reveal tiny Jovian moon Amalthea as it passes by. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt

During its primary mission, the spacecraft collected data on the gas giant's atmosphere and interior. Among its discoveries was finding that the planet's atmospheric weather layer extends way beyond its water clouds. 

After completing 35 orbits, the spacecraft transitioned to studying the entire system around Jupiter, including its rings and moons. The extended mission will continue for another year or until the spacecraft dies. Juno will eventually burn up in Jupiter's atmosphere as its trajectory erodes. The spacecraft is not at risk of crashing into and possibly contaminating Jupiter's moons, some of which may be habitable worlds. 

NASA's Galileo spacecraft took images of Amalthea, center, in January 2000, revealing a world of craters, hills, and valleys.  Credit: NASA / JPL / Cornell University

Amalthea, just one of Jupiter's 95 official moons, was first discovered by Edward Emerson Barnard in 1892. It is about 100 miles wide and clumsily shaped like a potato because it lacks the mass to form into a more symmetrical sphere. Almost 25 years ago, scientists got to see this little moon up close with the help of NASA's Galileo spacecraft, which revealed a pell-mell world of craters, hills, and valleys. 

Amalthea is within the orbit of Io, the closest of Jupiter's four large moons, along with three other oddly shaped mini moons: Metis, Adrastea, and Thebe. It's so close to Jupiter, in fact, it only takes Amalthea half of a day on Earth to circle its planet. 

This moon is a mysterious little place in the solar system. Scientists have discovered that it gives off more heat than it gets from the sun — perhaps a result of Jupiter's magnetic field stimulating electric currents within its core or the planet's gravity causing tidal stresses. 

Featured Video For You NASA video shows stunning scene from extremely volcanic world Io

TL;DR: Through May 22, master the beloved Microsoft app with this Microsoft Excel training bundle. It's on sale for just $34.97 for a limited time.

In many different types of business environments, proficiency in Microsoft Excel is more than just a skill on your resumé; it’s a necessity. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the basics or a more experienced user hoping to refine your knowledge professionally, this Excel online learning bundle aims to provide comprehensive training to boost your abilities and confidence in this essential tool. You can get it on sale for $34.97 through May 22.

This bundle includes sixteen courses totaling almost 99 hours of learning content. Beginners can start with the Microsoft Excel 2021/365: Beginners Course, which has 100 lessons to get newbies up to speed on these versions of Excel. There are also multi-lesson intermediate and advanced courses on Excel 2021/365 as well.

Tap into Excel 2019 (or 365) with ground-up learning that shows you how to create and navigate workbooks. You'll also learn to work with dates, enter text and numbers, and understand essential functions and formulas. The advanced Excel 2019 course takes things a bit further, showing you how to use detailed formatting tools, understand advanced charting and graphing, and connect to other databases outside of Excel.

Other courses cover a wide range of topics, including MS Excel 2019 for Mac, Pivot tables (both beginner and advanced), using the software for business and data analysis, advanced formulas, VBA, and more.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your professional skills all from the comfort of your own space.

Until May 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT, check out The 2024 Ultimate Microsoft Excel Training Bundle on sale for just $34.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: StreamSkill The 2024 Ultimate Microsoft Excel Training Bundle $34.97 at the Mashable Shop
$399.00 Save $364.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through May 22, this one-time purchase gets you a lifetime license to OfficeSuite, a Microsoft Office alternative, for only $24.97 (reg. $119.97).

Gone are the days of popping over to your friend's house just to use their Microsoft Excel or Word to type a report. Having a reliable and efficient office suite of your own is now essential for anyone looking to stay productive at work, school, or home. Of course, Microsoft Office can be pricey. This offer gets you a lifetime license to OfficeSuite, a compatible and cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Office, for under $25 — or $24.97 (reg. $119.97) to be exact.

The beauty of OfficeSuite is that it's compatible with nearly all major document formats, including those from MS Office, Google Docs and Sheets, and Adobe PDF. It's a comprehensive set of tools that includes word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, mail (Windows PC only), and PDF software. It's also an ideal alternative because you can use it across devices and platforms, including phones, tablets, and desktops.

OfficeSuite also gives you access to 50GB of cloud storage service. User files are stored securely and can be accessed at any time from anywhere. It also includes continual improvements, such as regular updates, fixes, and new features.

This lifetime license means you pay once and own it for life. There are no subscriptions or annual fees, just one comprehensive productivity suite that can streamline your day-to-day tasks.

For anyone seeking a reliable and affordable office software solution, OfficeSuite should be on your list. This offer gives one person access for life on one Windows PC and two mobile devices.

You can get a lifetime license to OfficeSuite, an affordable Microsoft Office alternative, for $24.97 through May 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: MobiSystems OfficeSuite One-Time Purchase: Lifetime License $24.97 at the Mashable Shop
$119.97 Save $95.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through May 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT., get a 2-year subscription to NordVPN for just $69.97 (reg. $198). A one-year subscription is also available for $44.97.

Managing your online experience for better performance, privacy, and ease of access can be a challenge, which is why so many people use VPNs. Virtual private networks re-route your information and activity through a private digital path. Take digital security into your own hands with a 2-year NordVPN subscription on sale for $69.97 (reg. $198) when you order through May 22.

NordVPN is a trusted and well-established Virtual Private Network (VPN) service that provides users with enhanced online security, privacy, and freedom with more than 5,000 servers worldwide, all while maintaining high-speed connections via its very own NordLynx protocol. NordVPN regularly appears in Mashable's guides to the best VPN networks, with its privacy policy, security, and ease of use earning high marks.

Since working on public WiFi can make your device vulnerable, VPNs are especially helpful for those who travel often for work, remote workers, and students living abroad. It can also come in handy for those wishing to stream content and access entertainment from different regions.

NordVPN also comes with added security features such as Threat Protection, which you can turn on to block ads, scan URLs, and more. NordVPN also has a no-log policy, which means even they don't have access to your information or activity. Unlike incognito mode on your browser, you can enjoy true anonymity with NordVPN.

With this subscription, you can connect six devices at the same time, and you can use unlimited data.

Discover how a reliable VPN can make your online interactions smoother, safer, and more private.

You can purchase a 2-year subscription to NordVPN for just $69.97 (reg. $198) until May 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: NordVPN NordVPN: 2-Year Subscription $69.97 at the Mashable Shop
$198.00 Save $128.03 Get Deal

SAVE $193.03: Through May 22, be free of constant online ads with a lifetime subscription to AdLock Ad Blocker while it's on sale for just $16.97. That's 91% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdLock AdLock Ad Blocker: Lifetime Subscription $16.97 at the Mashable Shop
$210.00 Save $193.03 Get Deal

When your articles, website, shows, and videos are consistently being interrupted by ads, it can be less than enjoyable. This is especially true if you only have a small daily window to relax online and you have to waste time closing out ads or waiting for ads to close out themselves. Alas, necessity is the mother of invention, and AdLock is here to help block all the ads that hinder your online experience — and a lifetime subscription is on sale for 91% off today.

Through May 22, get a lifetime subscription to AdLock Ad Blocker on sale for just $16.97, down from the regular price of $210. That's a discount of $193.03, or 91% off.

Enjoy a smoother, more efficient online experience by blocking advertisements across websites, games, and apps. It effectively blocks pop-up ads, video ads, flash banners, and redirects. Think of it like a helpful doorman for your online world. 

Using its robust filter list, AdLock can also remove all kinds of online tracking scripts. It can also help protect your data and privacy while online by checking for potentially harmful links.

This offer is valid for new users only on up to five devices. AdLock is not compatible with Chromebook OS. Be aware that although this is a lifetime subscription, updates are active for ten years, after which you will need to contact AdLock to make updates.

This ad blocker offers an affordable solution to improve your online experience. Its variety of features not only removes ads but also enhances performance and security while browsing, helping ensure you get the most out of your time online.

Get this lifetime subscription to AdLock Ad Blocker while it's on sale for just $16.97 (reg. $210) until May 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

"If there's a failmarriage in there, nine times out of 10 that's what's gonna draw me in more than anything," Azhar, a 24-year-old student in London, told Mashable.

Online, there's a habit of assiduously categorizing everything you watch and read into types and tropes. And this tendency is particularly pronounced in romance spaces. There's slow burns, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and most recently, Azhar's favorite: the failmarriage. 

SEE ALSO: This is how those sexy 'Challengers' fan edits got made so quickly

"It's a marriage where the couple, whether they love each other or not, has problems and knows they're having those problems, but won't separate or divorce," Isabella Montoya, a 20-year-old student in Texas, told Mashable. Usually there's cheating, high stakes, and someone deploying puppy dog eyes. So far its use is limited to describing fictional relationships — and for many young people, the dynamic is a major draw for a movie or TV show.

Failmarriages on big and small screens

"It's really boring when you're watching something and the couple is together and love each other. No one wants to watch that," Noa Bourne, a 24-year-old student and writer in Maryland, told Mashable.

The term rose to prominence to describe Tom (Matthew Macfayden) and Shiv (Sarah Snook)'s relationship in Succession due to their marriage of convenience rife with resentment. But failmarriage aficionados retroactively apply it to couples ranging from The Sopranos' Tony (James Gandolfini) and Carmela (Edie Falco) to Mad Men's Don (Jon Hamm) and Betty (January Jones) to Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim (Rhea Seehorn) from Better Call Saul.

The latest fictional relationship given the moniker is Challengers' Tashi (Zendaya) and Art (Mike Faist). The tennis film moves through time, jolting from different moments in Tashi and Art's careers and relationship. It portrays when they first meet as teenagers and their time playing tennis at Stanford before Tashi sustains a career-ending injury. In the present day, Tashi is Art's coach and they're in the throes of a failmarriage.

Tashi and Art's relationship — and their individual relationships with a third tennis player, Patrick (Josh O'Connor) — is teased out as the film progresses. It's full of complexities, giving fans lots to sink their teeth into. But there's one scene that epitomizes what viewers love about their failmarriage. The night before Art's showdown with his former doubles partner and Tashi's ex-boyfriend, Patrick, he implores Tashi to tell him that she'll still love him even if he loses. She replies, "What am I, Jesus?" He says, "Yes." Later in the conversation, Tashi tells Art that she'll leave him if he loses. 

"When she says that if he doesn't win the match that she's going to leave them, that indicates to me that her marriage is only about tennis. And if there's no tennis, there's no marriage," explained Bourne. A marriage based on something external is a textbook failmarriage, but it's not just that drawing fans in. There's a romantic tragedy to it.

"Even though that marriage isn't supposed to work, there's still that gravitational pull," said Azhar, who requested to go by her first name only for privacy reasons. "He knows Tashi isn't in love with him or even warm towards him, yet he will still do anything for her because of this intangible connection he has to her that hasn't wavered in the 12 years they've known each other."

Psychology of the failmarriage

Failmarriage is one of many terms that's proliferated online in recent years. It's an example of compounding — when you put two words together to create a new word with an intuitive meaning — Nicole Holliday, an associate professor in the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science at Pomona College, told Mashable.

"It's a lot of words to say, 'Well, Tashi and Art are using each other and nobody's happy,' so we've created a shorthand for this thing that we see," said Holliday. 

It's similar to other compounds and portmanteaus that gain traction online like tradwife, thanks to creators chasing their viral moment. "With these words, especially when they're compounds that are very accessible concepts, somebody with a lot of reach generates it and other people will start using it, spreading it across the internet," said Holliday. "On TikTok people compete to coin new terms, because it will get them more engagement."

She attributes the term's popularity to its utility and that it taps into a preexisting dissatisfaction with the institution of marriage.

From 2006 to 2020, the proportion of high school seniors that expected to marry in the future fell from 81 to 71 percent, according to Bowling Green State University's National Center for Family and Marriage Research. While the divorce rate in the U.S. declined between 2008 to 2022 according to the same center, so did the marriage rate. A fixation on doomed marriages is on par with these changing attitudes.

Beyond the lack of love and insistence on staying together, there's another throughline in failmarriages: wealth. A prerequisite of a failmarriage is that there's an advantage to staying together. "Tashi and Art can give each other tennis and Shiv can give Tom Waystar Royco, but you don't see that in middle class marriages because what is there to stay married for?" said Bourne. Montoya agreed, "A failmarriage only works when there's a lot of money or power at stake." 

Despite failmarriages' lack of love, those attracted to this dynamic find it deeply romantic and stirring. "These people stay together because it's convenient for them, and isn't there something kind of romantic about that?" explained Bourne. "Art loves Tashi, but he knows that she loves tennis more and he stays with her."

Montoya wondered if finding failmarriages romantic is delusional and a symptom of seeing romance everywhere. "I've never been in a romantic relationship. But I'm a big hopeless romantic. I love romcoms. So if there's any dynamic with chemistry, I just like it."

House of the Dragon is bringing audiences back to the wild world of Game of Thrones as Season 2 readies for its premiere on HBO and Max. Season1 laid out the twisted family tree of the Targaryen clan, wherein a battle over succession to the Iron Throne was a recurring source of anguish and violence. But after much death, squalid war room debates, and dragon play, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) ready for war, as teased in the trailer.

But what else might we expect from this fantasy epic's second season?

More ghoulish deaths seem a certainty. As House of the Dragon tackles the next section of George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, fans will expect more sex and violence. But our wishlist craves more from some characters, less from others, and overall, more chaos!

Here's everything we're hoping to see in Season 2 of House of the Dragon.

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Daemon needs to die.  Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen. Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Matt Smith is devilish fun as the Second Son from hell. In Season 1, he not only metaphorically fucked over his brother the king over and over, but he nonmetaphorically fucked his niece/wife Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy), resulting in several sons/cousins. And yeah, when it comes to catty reaction shots, Daemon delivers so hard you can practically hear the RuPaul's Drag Race shade rattle. But if Game of Thrones taught us anything, it's that troublemakers this trouble-making are doomed. We're ready for it. Blaze of glory — here he comes? — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Vengeance for Luke!  Elliot Grihault as Prince Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon. Credit: Gary Moyes / HBO

Poor Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault). He was just a boy, trying to help his mother, Rhaenyra. But he was bested by his cousin/uncle Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), first in the race to gather allies, then in a sky battle that pitted their dragons against each other. Sure, Luke's Arrax was nimble, but Aemond's Vhagar is the biggest beast in the skies. One good chomp, and Luke went from could-be monarch to in-flight meal. 

Season 1 ended with Luke's mother learning of the wretched news. Season 2 is sure to kick off with a fiery response from Rhaenyra or her hot-headed hubby/uncle Daemon. And we can't wait. — K.P.

More dragons.  Bring 'em on! Credit: HBO

This note is evergreen: Always more dragons. Dragons flying, fighting, serving as the most stress-inducing taxi service in Westeros. Just more. Please and thank you. — K.P.

We want more chaos characters. 

When it comes to twisted Targaryens, royal intrigue, and deeply warped romances, House of the Dragons has been delivering as a solid prequel to Game of Thrones. But we would welcome more chaos characters.

Look, there's a good base with the ever-smirking Aemond, the mercurial Daemon, and whatever the Crabfeeder's deal was. But there's no one on the series who is giving us the ruthless wit mixed with the devil-may-care glee of early seasons' Tyrion Lannister. There's no dame as cutting as Lady Olenna "Tell Cersei it was me" Tyrell. And frankly, House of the Dragon would be better with a bit more cutting comedy in its castles. — K.P.

A cheeky "Negroni Sbagliato... with prosecco in it" cameo. Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Remember that dastardly anachronistic Starbucks coffee cup that accidentally made its way into Game of Thrones? If a glass of Emma D'Arcy's "Negroni Sbagliato... with prosecco in it" could just happen to appear in House of the Dragon — surely Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen or Queen Alicent Hightower could use one — we'd likely join whichever team's home base it appears in. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

A Rhaenyra and Alicent reconciliation. Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Before Rhaenyra and Alicent (Olivia Cooke) were mortal enemies, they were the best of friends — and wouldn't it be lovely to see them rekindle that friendship once more?

We got glimmers of hope in Season 1 just before the death of Viserys (Paddy Considine), but it was all downhill from there. Between Alicent's play to put Aegon on the throne and Luke's death, there's simply no hope of a friendly Rhaenicent reunion. That's not the kind of conflict you can just hug out.

Still, a girl can dream! — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Less incest. Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Having a Targaryen-centric show without incest is like having The Winds of Winter come out this year — it's not going to happen. But this is our wish list, and I'm shooting for the moon here! And on that moon, I don't have to keep track of the most tangled family tree this side of the Hapsburgs. — B.E.

SEE ALSO: Who's who in 'House of the Dragon': The Targaryen family tree More of Aemond being dramatic.

Sporting that stylish eye patch, a rich curtain of blond hair, and a frankly inspiring number of "Strong"-themed jokes, Prince Aemond Targaryen was Season 1's drama king. We need far more of this in the second season. I want to see him smirking coldly, showing disdain for anything frivolous, and — most important of all — striking fear in the hearts of Rhaenyra's remaining children. A showdown with Daemon would also be nice. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

More scheming from Larys Strong.

Is Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) a terrible person?

Well, given that he arranged the murder of both his brother and dad in Season 1, that seems undeniable. But irredeemable villains are the lifeblood of Westeros, and we absolutely need more of them. Remember how much we all loved to hate Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) in Game of Thrones? Even though most of the characters in George R.R. Martin's world are gray, there need to be a few out-and-out monsters just so we have people to root against. — S.H.

More battles.

There were some truly epic battle sequences in Game of Thrones, but so far House of the Dragon has only really had that episode 3 skirmish between Daemon and the Crabfeeder. I'm not saying we need a massive, Battle of Winterfell-scale war, necessarily — these things need to be built up to — but it would be fun to watch another small clash or two this season, just to get that sweet, sword-wielding fix. — S.H.

House of the Dragon Season 1 is now streaming on Max; Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max June 16.

Almost anything goes nowadays, but somehow, dating apps still get a bad rap as a last resort for the desperate. But for introverts dating apps offer a lifeline — a convenient and low-pressure way to meet new people without the overwhelming social interactions that come with traditional dating.

Can you imagine approaching a stranger at a bar, small-talking your way through awkward silence, or entering a social situation of literally any kind? Yeah, hard pass.

Online dating gives us wallflowers the chance to find love and companionship without ever having to leave our couch (bless). Sure, there will come a time when we'll need to get up and brave the outside world, but for now, can we celebrate that we can find potential partners while binge-watching Netflix? Who needs small talk when you have shared interests, witty messages, and algorithms?

SEE ALSO: Hinge wants to help you stay off your damn phone on a date Do dating sites for introverts even exist?

If making small talk or spending time in crowded social settings is your idea of hell, there are dating sites out there designed to help you find a potential partner sans the overwhelming social anxiety.

That said, not all dating apps are equally introvert-friendly. Tinder, for example, is a go-to for casual hookups and one-night stands, which probably isn't the best option for someone with shy tendencies and a preference for deeper connections. If dating apps were places, Tinder would be the crowded bar full of bros.

SEE ALSO: How to delete your Tinder account

The good news is that Tinder isn't the be-all and end-all when it comes to online dating. Other dating platforms, like eharmony, Match, and Hinge put an emphasis on compatibility and meaningful connections, so you can meet fellow introverts who are looking for something more substantial.

What are the best dating sites for introverts?

To help you find your person (the one who will understand and appreciate you for who you truly are), we've rounded up the best dating sites for introverts just like you. There are a few picks in here for hooking up, too, because why not? Just because you're introverted doesn't mean you can't have a little fun.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 15 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 15

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, May 15, 2024:

AcrossJazz concert highlight

• The answer is solo.

Something a hitchhiker sticks out

• The answer is thumb.

Really itching to get started

• The answer is eager.

Big concert venue

• The answer is arena.

Clutter

• The answer is mess.

DownWhat fogs up a bathroom mirror during a shower

• The answer is steam.

Chicago airport

• The answer is ohare.

Racing vehicles in the Winter Olympics

• The answer is luges.

Eerie signs of things to come

• The answer is omens.

Built-in feature of some tank tops

• The answer is bra.

The trailer for coming-of-age film 'Dìdi' follows a Taiwanese American tween navigating family, crushes, and the internet in 2008.

What should you do if some of your team members still don’t want to return to the office after your company has mandated it? As a manager, aligning organizational policies with employee preferences can be a challenge. Here’s how to handle your team’s concerns with empathy. Show compassion. Engage in open conversations with your team about […]

257257

TL;DR: Through May 15, you can get 20TB of cloud storage for life with Prism Drive on sale for £71.46. That’s less than paying for nine months of Dropbox.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prism Drive Prism Drive Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (20TB) £71.46 at the Mashable Shop
£1,186.68 Save £1,115.22 Get Deal

If you’ve ever had the gut-sinking feeling of losing your phone — or dropping it in the loo — and feared that you’d just lost all of your precious photos and videos forever, you already know the importance of backing up your devices. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and right now it’s more affordable than ever with Prism Drive’s 20TB lifetime cloud storage plan on sale for £71.46 (reg. £1,186.68) through May 15. That’s an exclusive price.

User-friendly storage at a wallet-friendly price

Prism Drive is a web-based app that takes any type of file from any of your devices. Easily transfer those sacred pet pics and selfies from your smartphone with easy mobile upload, back up school or work projects from your laptop with support for large files, and move anything else over with a simple drag-and-drop.

Everything you upload is protected with AES 256-bit and HTTPS encryption in both rest and transfer. You can also easily share any type of file — pictures, videos, graphics, audio, presentations, and more — with shareable links and previews to make sure you’re sending the correct one.

You won’t find a better lifetime offer anywhere else

This 20TB Prism Drive plan will likely cover your storage needs for life. It might be more than you need now but, as you and the world of technology both grow, your storage needs will follow. And, again, it’s better to be safe than sorry and get more storage than you think you may need.

You’re also getting such an incredible value with this lifetime offer; at £71.46 for life, that’s less than paying for nine months of Dropbox and you get to keep Prism Drive for life. Plus, you’re getting ten times the comparable storage capacity.

Back up your files affordably with Prism Drive’s 20TB lifetime cloud storage plan at £71.46 (reg. £1,186.68) until May 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this best-on-web price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Watch Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There isn't long left of the IPL, and it's going to be an interesting last few games. As it stands, the Rajasthan Royals are looking strong, but can they hold out and take home the cup? In the next fixture, the Rajasthan Royals will face the Punjab Kings in the 65th match of the season.

Want to tune in? You can watch Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings for free from anywhere in the world. Keep reading to find out how...

When is Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings?

Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings starts at 3 p.m. BST on May 15. This fixture will be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, India.

How to watch Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings for free

To catch the latest IPL cricket match, head over to JioCinema where you can find live streams in 4K resolution on its app.

To avoid geo-restrictions, use a VPN to hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect to a secure server in India. This simple process provides access to 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 Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings 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

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

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

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

• 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 $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

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 15'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:

Punishment for not wearing green.

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 P.

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 #1061 is...

PINCH.

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.

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 14'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 deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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: Creating a law

• Green: Large swaths of green land

• Blue: Communicative

• Purple: Misspelled car manufacturers

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: Bit of Legislation

• Green: Grassland

• Blue: Forthright

• Purple: Car Companies Minus Letter

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 #337 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Bit of Legislation: ACT, BILL, MEASURE, RESOLUTION

• Grassland: MEADOW, PLAIN, PRAIRE, SAVANNA

• Forthright: DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, STRAIGHT

• Car Companies Minus Letter AURA, BUCK, DOGE, HODA

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.

On Tuesday at Google I/O, Google's much relied-upon — but rarely loved — Google Workspace software suite got a major injection of additional AI features that are coming soon.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Google I/O, including AI Agents, Ask Photos, and more

Gemini 1.5 Pro, from the language model family formerly known as Bard, is being plastered into the side panel in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides — not to mention Drive and Gmail. These applications are already interconnected, but this slate of features aims to automate those connections via a chirpy AI-powered assistant with the power to — in theory — teleport from app to app, doing work tasks that used to be labor-intensive. 

Google is clearly envisioning a more seamless and integrated experience across Workspace, enabled by the centralization of all the user's documents and data. With Gemini functionality perpetually available on the screen, users are being encouraged to ask the bot quotidian questions or request little favors. While in Docs, Gemini can dig up details found in emails, or organize lists into spreadsheets automatically. 

Users also aren't required to specify exactly which applications they expect Gemini to use to perform the functions in question. In the demo, a user simply asks the AI assistant to help them organize, and it invents a system in which it will place files in a new folder, and organize the data from said files into a spreadsheet. 

Credit: Mashable screenshot from Google's presentation

If you're excited by the prospect of an AI-assisted workflow, it's worth pausing for a moment to consider data security. Last year, a New York Times report notes, there was a great deal of internal discussion at Google when the company attempted to rework its privacy agreement to begin mining users' publicly available Google Docs for AI training data. Google can now use such data according to its user agreement, but only chooses to incorporate data from users who opt into experimental Google features, the Times reported. 

It's also worth noting that we've only seen a demo so far. AI assistants have, thus far, been buggy, lying robots, seemingly rushed to the market way too quickly. With OpenAI nipping at Google's heels, Google's new AI-enabled glow-up for Workspace can't just be on trend. As the name implies, it has to work.

At Google I/O, the search-engine tech giant boasted that Gmail is poised to get new AI capabilities via Gemini. With Gemini underpinning Gmail, a new field will appear, allowing you to ask the AI chatbot to summarize certain emails in your inbox.

Summarization isn't the only thing rolling out to Gmail. Here are three features Google has announced for its popular inbox app.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Google I/O, including AI Agents, Ask Photos, and more 1. Gmail can summarize your emails for you

As mentioned, Google is sprinkling some more Gemini magic into Gmail. Here's an example Google provided to illustrate Gmail's new capabilities: Imagine you have a child in elementary school. Perhaps you have a number of emails from said school, but you still need to catch up. Instead of wasting time and parsing through those emails, you can now use Gemini as a "CliffsNotes" tool, allowing you to summarize those emails.

Credit: Google

If you use a prompt like, "Catch me up on emails from Maywood Park Elementary School," Gemini will give you a rundown of everything you missed — and you don't need to open a single email.

2. Get Google Meet highlights

Let's say you miss an hour-long Google Meet, and you don't have the time to sit through the entire recording that was sent to your email.

Credit: Google

Using the panel on the right, you can ask Gemini to tell you the main points of the meeting, allowing you to get up to speed with your team.

3. Ask Gemini questions about information in your emails

While showcasing Gemini's capabilities on mobile devices, Google boasted that the AI model can find information for you, even if it's buried deep inside your inbox.

Credit: Google

For example, in the Google I/O presentation, a demo showed a woman asking, "When are my shoes arriving?" and "What times do the doors open for the Knicks game?" You don't need to scramble to find the right emails that give you the answers to these questions. Instead, Gemini will sift through your emails and hand you the answers without much effort on your part.

Google says that the summarization features are rolling out this month, while the Q&A capabilities will be available in July.

Android users will soon have access to a revolutionarily accessible form of device control: Completely hands-free navigation, using the power of Google AI and facial tracking.

Part of the company's long list of updates and announcements rolling out at its developer keynote event today, the new feature is a mobile version of Google's desktop offering known as Project Gameface. The new virtual cursor uses Android accessibility services and a database of facial expressions from MediaPipe’s Face Landmarks Detection API to allow for broader customization and manipulation of hands-free tech for both users and developers.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Google I/O, including AI Agents, Ask Photos, and more

"Through the device's camera, it seamlessly tracks facial expressions and head movements, translating them into intuitive and personalized control. Developers can now build applications where their users can configure their experience by customizing facial expressions, gesture sizes, cursor speed, and more," Google explained in its announcement.

Google partnered with international accessibility solutions group Incluzza to test the Gameface expansion in broader, non-gaming contexts, including work and social tasks.

Project Gameface first launched in 2023 as an open-source, hands-free gaming mouse allowing users to operate computer cursors with just head and facial movements. The technology was designed in collaboration with viral video game streamer Lance Carr, who is quadriplegic, as a more accessible option to expensive head-tracking systems. It also introduced the option of gesture size, allowing more customizability for users of different mobility.

"We’ve been delighted to see companies like playAbility utilize Project Gameface building blocks, like MediaPipe Blendshapes, in their inclusive software," Google wrote. "Now, we’re open sourcing more code for Project Gameface to help developers build Android applications to make every Android device more accessible."

Google also announced new AI features for its screenreader technology, TalkBack, which will provide more detailed descriptions and fill in information for unlabeled images on the web to help users who are blind or have low vision.

Project Gameface is now available for developers on GitHub.

House of the Dragon Season 2's official trailer is here, and there are so, so many moments to freak out about.

Like the dueling trailers before it, this new House of the Dragon trailer draws the battle lines between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), each vying for the Iron Throne. It also delivers a whopping helping of dragon action, Targaryen family drama, and foreshadowing for fans of George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood. From devastating battles to our return to the North, here are the 7 most exciting moments from the House of the Dragon Season 2 trailer.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 trailer: Westeros prepares for war "We're going to King's Landing." Is he going to take a seat? Credit: Screenshot: HBO

The trailer opens with Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) striding into the throne room in the Red Keep and staring down the Iron Throne. Could this be the aftermath of some great battle? A dream sequence? Or just some day when the Red Keep security was particularly lax? Either way, as he tells Rhaenys (Eve Best) later in the trailer, he certainly plans on going to King's Landing. In other words, Team Black is taking the fight to Team Green. Let's kick the Dance of the Dragons up a notch!

Rhaenyra has a sword! Queen behavior. Credit: Screenshot: HBO

Much of the trailer sees Rhaenyra pondering her decision to go to war and wondering whether she has the support of those around her, but this moment of sword wielding is purely decisive badassery. Hopefully we'll get to see her put the sword to use in battle, maybe even from dragonback? Speaking of...

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Expect even more dragons in House of the Dragon Season 2 — and more dragon battles. Aegon and Sunfyre mean business. Credit: Screenshot: HBO

The trailer for House of the Dragon is overflowing with dragons, including Rhaenyra and her dragon Syrax, and Aegon on his dragon Sunfyre, seen above, looking as if they're up to no good.

Daemon's dynamic dragon duo. Credit: Screenshot: HBO

Daemon and his dragon Caraxes make an appearance as well, landing on a massive stone structure in the middle of a rainstorm. At the end of Season 1, Daemon did suggest taking the castle of Harrenhal in the Riverlands — perhaps this is him making good on his promise, in the most threatening way possible.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' recap: Every death, ranked by gruesomeness Baela and Moondancer on the warpath. Credit: Screenshot: HBO

Daemon's daughter Baela (Bethany Antonia) takes to the skies on her dragon Moondancer in the trailer as well. From the looks of it, she's chasing down Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) during a large battle. Whatever he did, I'm sure he deserves being dragon prey.

Rhaenys and Meleys always know how to make an entrance. Credit: Screenshot: HBO

Remember when Rhaenys crashed Aegon's coronation with her dragon Meleys? Looks like we're getting more of these two queens in Season 2.

If you're ever this close to Vhagar, it's simply too late for you. Credit: Screenshot: HBO

And, of course, it wouldn't be a House of the Dragon dragon party without Vhagar, Aemond's (Ewan Mitchell) ancient dragon. Here's hoping she commits less child murder this season — although I'm sure quite a bit of adult murder is on the table based on how much fire she's spewing here.

House of the Dragon Season 2 takes us back to Winterfell — and the Wall. "Night gathers, and now my watch begins." Credit: Screenshot: HBO

Rhaenyra's eldest son, Jacaerys (Harry Collett), headed north at the end of Season 1 to secure allies, so you know what that means: It's Stark time!

This season, Jacaerys will meet up with Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), the current Lord of Winterfell. Judging by the trailer, the two will go even further north, ending up at the Wall where dear old Jon Snow spent most of his days. It feels just like coming home (and also getting frostbite).

The Battle of Rook's Rest is coming. My guess? We're looking at Rook's Rest. Credit: Screenshot: HBO

The trailer for House of the Dragon Season 2 is full of promises of big battles, from armies mobilizing to dragons wheeling around in the sky. One image that keeps popping up in these snapshots is the castle above, which we also see Rhaenys and Meleys flying toward. The importance of this location makes me think this is Rook's Rest, the seat of House Staunton and the site of a major battle in Fire & Blood. No spoilers, but book readers know: This is a big one.

Riots in King's Landing threaten Alicent and Helaena's lives. Alicent Hightower needs to hightail it out of here. Credit: Screenshot: HBO

All the way back in Season 2 of Game of Thrones, riots in King's Landing broke up a procession including figures like Joffrey Baratheon, Cersei Lannister, and Sansa Stark. It looks like something similar will happen on Season 2 of House of the Dragon, with Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and her daughter, Helaena (Phia Saban), getting targeted by a wrathful mob. What led them to the streets of King's Landing, and, more importantly, what angered their subjects to the point of riots?

SEE ALSO: Sauron slays in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2 trailer Underhand dealings promise bloody, cheesy terror. Blood? Cheese? Is that you? Credit: Screenshot: HBO

At one point in the trailer, spymaster Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) tells someone that there is "more than one way to fight a war." Next, we see shots of shady figures making their way through a building by torchlight. These, coupled with Mysaria's words and a quick flash of coins exchanging hands, hint at one of the darkest moments of Fire & Blood: the arrival of two characters known simply as Blood and Cheese. Let's just say that this is Team Black's revenge for Lucerys' (Elliot Grihault) death, and it is understandably brutal.

House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres June 16 on HBO and Max.