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'Doctor Who's Susan Twist mystery: Breaking down the clues and fan theories

Mashable - Sat, 05/18/2024 - 01:59

Why are Whovians losing their collective cool over Susan Twist? Well, it's because the elderly English actress is popping up again and again on Doctor Who, and in a very timey-wimey way. 

Sure, all kinds of actors have appeared on the iconic series over its decades of television, sometimes more than once; one even got upgraded from Pompeii resident to Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi). But there's something especially curious about Twist's appearances, as they've all come in a recent jumble. 

This collision of cameos has got fans theorizing all kinds of possibilities for what Season 14 showrunner Russell T Davies has up his sleeve. With the latest episode, "Boom," there are fresh clues to who Twist is really playing. So, let's pick through the appearances and the fan theories one by one. 

Susan Twist in "Wild Blue Yonder"  Susan Twist as Mrs. Merridew in "Wild Blue Yonder." Credit: Disney+ screenshot

This episode was the second of the 60th anniversary specials, which saw David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprising the roles of the Doctor and Donna respectively. In this adventure, the two are flung far into the future, where they are plagued by creepy doppelgängers of themselves. But Twist pops up before these freaky sci-fi events. FAR before. We're talking the opening sequence set in 1666 England. 

There, a dashing Isaac Newton (Nathaniel Curtis) is on the brink of "discovering" gravity. On his walk to that fateful apple tree, he comes across Mrs. Merridew (Twist), a smiling, bonneted servant who tells him, "Don't come back until you find a really good idea, sir!" 

And that's it — so brief a moment, longtime Whovians took no notice of it on its own. 

Susan Twist in "The Church on Ruby Road"  Susan Twist as a concert-goer in "The Church on Ruby Road." Credit: Disney+ screenshot

Moving along to "Special 4" — as Disney+ has labeled the Christmas special, "The Church on Ruby Road" — we find Susan Twist again in a role so brief, you may have well missed it. The first full episode featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor also introduces his new companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). A foundling who lives in London, when Ruby's not searching for her birth parents or rescuing newborns from sky-sailing gremlins, she's in a band! 

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

On December 22, 2023, Ruby is playing keyboard at a Christmas concert at a bar. The Doctor is watching this performance, but he's not the only one. A long-haired woman yells out to the lead singer, "Give it some welly!" Then she requests a song, saying, "Can you do 'Gaudette'?" 

If you don't recognize that title, it may be because this rowdy concert attendee (also played by Twist) is referencing a Christmas carol that dates back to the 16th century. So despite her vaguely flower-child vibe, with her paisley jacket, long locks, and headband, her references go way, way back. 

Susan Twist in "Space Babies" Susan Twist as as Comms Officer Gina Scalzi in "Space Babies." Credit: Disney+ screenshot

The premiere episode of Doctor Who Season 14, which sees Davies' return as showrunner, also brings Twist back — this time aboard an abandoned space station repurposed as a baby center. Well, sort of. 

SEE ALSO: 'Doctor Who's 'Space Babies' is full of Easter eggs

The Doctor and Ruby discover the video logs of the crew, who left under protest of the company directive to abandon the babies. In one video, Twist pops up in a teal and gray crew uniform (giving Star Trek vibes), and introduces herself as Comms Officer Gina Scalzi before signing off in the year 21506. So from her first appearance to this one, Twist's face is popping up across 19,840 years. 

Susan Twist in "The Devil's Chord" Susan Twist as Tea Lady in "The Devil's Chord." Credit: Disney+ screenshot

Released the same day as "Space Babies," episode 2 of Season 14 imagined a world without music, courtesy of the maleficent Maestro (Jinkx Monsoon). The Doctor and Ruby were hoping to take in the groovy mood of 1963 London — and more specifically the recording of the Beatles' first album at what would someday be known as Abbey Road Studios. But the beat is off. Music is bad, and people feel bad. And while Ruby and the Doctor are looking to give John Lennon and Paul McCartney a pep talk, a chatty cafeteria worker butts in with a bizarre interjection. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Devil's Chord' on 'Doctor Who': Your questions answered

They're buying tea in the studio's cafeteria, when Tea Lady (Twist!) offers two cups for half a crown. The pair are mock outraged by the price, and she responds, "Take it or leave it, sweetheart." The Doctor chides, "That is daylight robbery," and she replies, "That's me: Margaret Lockwood in The Wicked Lady. Now there was a woman. Statuesque!"

The Wicked Lady is a film from 1945, in which Margaret Lockwood played Barbara Skelton, a noblewoman who steals a friend's affluent betrothed and then hits it off with a rakish highwayman. So, that robbery connection explains why the character is referencing this movie. But what is Davies doing with this dialogue? 

Susan Twist in "Boom." 

Written by former showrunner Steven Moffat, this third episode of Season 14 takes Ruby and the Doctor to a war-torn planet, where weaponized Anglican priests are fighting the Kastarions — a seemingly invisible enemy. But these mysterious foes aren't the only trouble. An overenthusiastic AI ambulance can also be a major threat, as a recently blinded John Francis Vater (Joe Anderson) discovers when the ambulance non-consensually euthanizes him into a pocket-sized "casket" made of smelted marine.

SEE ALSO: 'Doctor Who': Decoding the Easter Eggs of "Boom"

And guess who is the face of the wickedly stoic ambulance? Yup. Susan Twist plays the AI ambulance created by the weapons manufacturer Villengard. 

What does all this mean? Here are some fan theories. 

Fan theory: Susan Twist is The One Who Waits.

In "The Devil's Chord," Maestro mentions being a part of a "Pantheon" of god-like beings, which we already know includes their father The Toymaker ("The Giggle," Special 3). But before the musical villain is gobbled up by an iconic piano, they cry out a warning: "The One Who Waits is almost here!" 

This suggests The One Who Waits is a part of this Pantheon, and maybe even its most powerful member. So, The One Who Waits may well be the Big Bad of Season 14. 

Perhaps this is why Twist is popping up again and again, with more screen time and more important parts to play in the Doctor's adventures. If she is The One Who Waits, is this how the powerful being is crawling closer and closer to the Doctor? Unbound by time and space as both the TARDIS and the Doctor are, this would make The One Who Waits a fearsome foe to be sure. 

Fan theory: Susan Twist is Ruby's birth mother.  The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) stands in the snow. Credit: Lara Cornell / Bad Wolf / BBC Studios

Something strange is going on with this Ruby Sunday. She's not your average Christmas-born foundling. "The Church on Ruby Road" showed that coincidence and bad luck follow her. "The Devil's Chord" revealed there's a song in her heart, but also something that scared Maestro enough to proclaim, "This creature is wrong!"

Even the Doctor has slyly given Ruby a TARDIS scan, though he hasn't shared with the audience what he found. 

There are other strange elements about her origin. The Doctor's memory of it changes, with her cloaked mother turning toward him in an apparent warning. And then there's the recurring snowfall, which follows Ruby into the TARDIS and onto the warring planet with no clear explanation. Could it be that Susan Twist is somehow a part of the Ruby Sunday mystery? What a twist that would be! 

Fan theory: Susan Twist is Ruby Sunday. Millie Gibson is Ruby Sunday. Credit: Lara Cornell / Bad Wolf / BBC Studios

In "The Devil's Chord," the Doctor mentioned that in 1963, he was living in London with his granddaughter Susan on Totter's Lane. This aside slyly reveals to Whovians new and established that a character can cross their own timeline. And perhaps whatever Ruby really is allows her to do this, resulting in two actresses secretly playing the special companion. 

Alternatively, Davies might be pulling a Moffat move from Season 6, episode 10, "The Girl Who Waited." In that misadventure, an alternate version of Amy Pond is trapped in a resort planet for 36 years alone. Could it be that Susan Twist is playing an alternate reality version of Ruby Sunday? And could the title "The Girl Who Waited" be a clue that this alternate version might also be The One Who Waits? 

Fan theory: Susan Twist is... Susan Foreman? 

Back again to "The Devil's Chord," where the Doctor name-drops his granddaughter Susan but says he has no idea if she survived the Time Lord genocide. Ruby seems astonished he hasn't looked into this. But is it possible his granddaughter is looking for him? 

Susan Foreman was the first companion of the First Doctor when the show began in the 1960s, but she hasn't been a major part of the lore of the relaunched TV series until Davies brought her up in Season 14. Her role was originated by Carole Ann Ford, who has reprised the part in podcast adventures, most recently 2023's Doctor Who: Once and Future. So, you might well wonder, why would Davies recast her? Maybe bringing back Ford would give the game away too soon. 

With decades of lore to play with and all of time and space as his playground, Davies has fans in a tizzy over what the meaning of Susan Twist's curious recurring roles will be. But in "The Devil's Chord," he dropped a meta clue with the controversial final song number, "There's Always a Twist at the End" — as "Susan Twist" has always been in the end credits so far this season.

Perhaps this wasn't just a gleeful bit of song-and-dance spectacle, but Davies warning us to keep an eye on this actress. And if her last name is a clue, then perhaps her first name is as well. Perhaps this Susan Twist could be the new Susan Foreman, searching the whole of the universe and existence for her long-lost grandfather, The Doctor.

Only time (and more episodes of Doctor Who) will tell. 

How to watch: New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Friday night at 7:00 p.m. ET on Disney+, where available, and simultaneously at midnight on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The season finale airs June 22.

Categories: IT General, Technology

One of OpenAI's safety leaders quit on Tuesday. He just explained why.

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 22:44

OpenAI is famously not all that open. Dazzling, cutting-edge AI products emerge without warning, generating excitement and anxiety in equal measure (along with plenty of disdain). But like its product development, the company's internal culture is unusually opaque, which makes it all the more unsettling that Jan Leike, the departing co-head of its "superalignment" team — a position overlooking OpenAI's safety issues — has just spoken out against the company.

Tweet may have been deleted

Something like this was partly anticipated by those watching OpenAI closely. The company's high-profile former chief scientist, Ilya Sutskever, abruptly quit on Tuesday, too, and "#WhatDidIlyaSee" became a trending hashtag once again. The presumptuous phrasing of the hashtag — originally from March, when Sutskever participated in the corporate machinations that got CEO Sam Altman briefly fired — made it sound as if Sutskever had glimpsed the world through the AI looking glass, and had run screaming from it. 

SEE ALSO: Google ups the AI ante with investment in ChatGPT rival Anthropic

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Leike gave the public some hints as to why he left.

He claimed he had been "disagreeing with OpenAI leadership about the company's core priorities for quite some time," and that he had reached a "breaking point." He thinks the company should be more focused on "security, monitoring, preparedness, safety, adversarial robustness, (super)alignment, confidentiality, societal impact, and related topics."

Tweet may have been deleted

"These problems are quite hard to get right, and I am concerned we aren't on a trajectory to get there," Leike said, noting that he felt like he and his team were "sailing against the wind" when they tried to secure the resources they needed to do their safety work. 

Tweet may have been deleted

Leike seems to view OpenAI as bearing immense responsibility, writing, "Building smarter-than-human machines is an inherently dangerous endeavor." That makes it potentially all the scarier that, in Leike's view, "over the past years, safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products."

Leike evidently takes seriously the company's internal narrative about working toward artificial general intelligence, also known as AGI — systems that truly process information like humans, well beyond narrow LLM-like capabilities. "We are long overdue in getting incredibly serious about the implications of AGI," Leike wrote. "We must prioritize preparing for them as best we can. Only then can we ensure AGI benefits all of humanity."

In Leike's view, OpenAI needs to "become a safety-first AGI company" and he urged its remaining employees to "act with the gravitas appropriate for what you're building."

This departure, not to mention these comments, will only add fuel to already widespread public apprehensiveness around OpenAI's commitment, or lack thereof, to AI safety. Other critics, however, have pointed out that fearmongering around AI's supposedly immense power also functions as a kind of backdoor marketing scheme for this still largely unproven technology. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

iPhone 16 Pro Max could last longer than iPhone 15 Pro Max. Here’s why.

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 21:53

You might want to sit down for this seismic, mind-blowing news: The next iPhone could have a better battery than the current one.

That's according to prolific Apple prognosticator Ming-Chi Kuo, at least. Kuo wrote on his Medium page that Apple is considering bumping up the energy density in future iPhone batteries. Apple could potentially increase the amount of juice in a battery of the same size as the existing ones, or preserve the current battery life in a smaller unit to make space for other stuff inside the phone.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16: Release date, price, specs, features, and other rumors

iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro may get left out

Per Kuo, this will be featured on the iPhone 16 Pro Max only. The other three new iPhones will likely not include this change.

Another detail Kuo dropped is that Apple will apparently switch from aluminum battery cases to stainless-steel ones. According to Kuo, doing so would trade a little bit of heat dissipation for stronger resistance to corrosion, thereby (at least theoretically) giving the battery a longer lifetime. It could also help make the batteries easier to replace, thus complying with various international regulations requiring devices to be repairable.

None of this is going to be as exciting or eye-catching as the various software features Apple is sure to add to the next batch of iPhones, but making batteries stronger is always a good thing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iPhone 16: Release date, price, specs, features, and other rumors

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 20:22

The iPhone 16 rumors are flooding in – and we're curious about how it'll be different from the iPhone 15.

We’re hearing tons whispers about a RAM boost for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, are reportedly getting some striking upgrades to the cameras that may dazzle the masses. Here’s a compilation of everything we know so far about next year's iPhone 16 line.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus review iPhone 16 release date

The iPhone 16 release date is expected to be September of next year. After Apple has its whole shebang of an event showcasing the next-generation handsets, the iPhones typically ship about a week or two later.

iPhone 15 Credit: Apple

In the past, Apple has deviated from this cadence due to reported production hindrances (e.g., supply chain issues). For example, the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 14 Plus shipped in October, but typically, get unveiled some time during the first half of September every year.

iPhone 16 design

Let’s dive into arguably the most important aspect of the iPhone’s design: the screen.

There haven’t been any significant changes to the display sizes since the iPhone 12, but according to reliable leaker Unknownz21, the upper-tier iPhone 16 models are going to be a little bit more unwieldy in your hands.

Display

The iPhone 16 Pro will reportedly have a 6.3-inch display while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will pack a 6.9-inch panel. You may be wondering, “What about the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus? Will they get a screen size bump, too?” The answer is likely no. The lower-tier models will reportedly have the same display sizes as their predecessors.

Tweet may have been deleted

iPhone 15 screen sizes

  • iPhone 15 - 6.1 inches

  • iPhone 15 Plus - 6.7 inches

  • iPhone 15 Pro - 6.1 inches

  • iPhone 15 Pro Max - 6.7 inches

iPhone 16 screen sizes (rumored)

  • iPhone 16 - 6.1 inches

  • iPhone 16 Plus - 6.7 inches

  • iPhone 16 Pro - 6.3 inches

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max - 6.9 inches

Ross Young, a well-known display analyst and Apple leaker, was the first to claim that the iPhone 16 Pro models will have larger screens. 

Tweet may have been deleted

However, he offered slightly different numbers: 6.2 inches and 6.8 inches. What could be the reason behind the discrepancy? According to MacRumors, it’s "likely due to the difference between actual display area and viewable display area."

Another rumor we're hearing is that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will continue to have 60Hz refresh-rate displays. This is a little disappointing considering other phones in the market at least have 90Hz screens, making navigating through the UI smoother, zippier and seamless.

Finally, according to MacRumors, citing popular Weibo leaker "Instant Digital," the iPhone 16 Pro will reportedly have a 20% brighter display for SDR content. In other words, the iPhone 16 Pro will reportedly emanate up to 1,200 nits of brightness.

Thinner bezels

The iPhone 16 will also reportedly have slimmer bezels, according to a report from The Elec (h/t MacRumors). Apple is tipped to be using something called Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology, which reduces the internal footprint of the circuitry inside, allowing for thinner bezels (without sacrificing anything important aspects like display performance, for example).

Thinner bezels means that the iPhone 16 series should yield more screen real estate for users.

Action Button

A report from MacRumors claims that every single model in the iPhone 16 line will feature an Action Button — not just the iPhone 15 Pro variants. The current-gen iPhone 15 Pro models' Action Button can be programmed to launch a range of apps and functions, including Flashlight, Camera, Silent Mode, Voice Memo, Focus, Magnifier, Translate (coming to iOS 17.2), and a range of accessibility features.

When iPhone 16 drops, however, the rumor mill states that Apple will add more functionality to the Action Button.

Capture Button

The Action Button was all the rage for the iPhone 15 series, however, according to MacRumors and The Information, a new Capture Button will be one of the biggest selling points for the iPhone 16. Reportedly placed slightly under the power button, the Capture Button is a camera-focused feature that can do the following:

  • Zoom in and out of photos/videos with swiping gestures

  • Allows users to focus on subjects

  • Activates the shutter button

While MacRumors and The Information both concur that Apple is testing a "capture button" on the iPhone 16, both aren't on the same page on whether it's a mechanical button or a capacitive one. MacRumors says it's the latter, but the Information claims it's both.

Solid-state buttons

Apple reportedly planned on introducing solid-state buttons with the iPhone 15 Pro models, but instead, we got a customizable Action Button. For the uninitiated, solid-state buttons aren’t buttons per se – they’re panels that feature haptic feedback sensations that simulate real button presses (Think of the iPhone SE series' Home button). On the plus side, the solid-state buttons aren’t totally out of the picture. According to respected Apple leaker and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is working on debuting solid-state buttons on the iPhone 16 Pro models instead.

Tweet may have been deleted

Kuo added that these solid-state buttons will add two additional Taptic Engines, which will help fire off tangible feedback to users. (If this is true, the number of Taptic Engines in the iPhone 16 will increase to three — up from one.)

According to a tip from Weibo (via MacRumors), the Action Button on the iPhone 16 Pro will be a solid-state button and sit flush against the chassis. To make room for this change, Apple will reportedly move the mmWave antenna to the left of the iPhone 16 Pro as opposed to the right. This Weibo tip comes from a leaker with the moniker "Instant Digital," a bean spiller that reportedly has an accurate track record, according to MacRumors.

iPhone 16 renders

Based on all the design notes listed above (as well as some details from leaker Majin Bu), digital artist Aaron Carpenter gave us a good look at what the iPhone 16 could look like:

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As you can see, you'll find the Action Button, which was left out of the lower-tier models on the current generation iPhone, now present on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

iPhone 16 AI

The iPhone 16 will reportedly featured an AI-powered Siri.

Siri is about to get a whole lot smarter. Credit: Apple

In other words, Siri is maturing into a more sophisticated digital assistant. According to Kuo, this means that Siri will bring new hardware to the iPhone 16, including updated microphones with better water resistance and an improved signal-to-noise ratio.

iPhone 16 cameras

Apple debuted a new zoom lens with a "tetra-prism" design on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which simply means that engineers found a way to "fold" the shooter so that it still has telephoto capabilities without taking up too much space. This new camera increases the Pro Max’s optical zoom from 3x to 5x.

iPhone 15 Pro Credit: Apple

However, according to Digital Chat Station (DCS), a bean-spiller on the Chinese social media site Weibo, both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get the new tetra-prism telephoto camera.

DCS also added that the iPhone 16 Pro Max specifically is getting the Sony IMX903 sensor, an upgrade from the Sony IMX803 sensor. This means that the iPhone 16 Pro Max wide lens will have a larger sensor size, allowing for more light gathering for better photos and videos in low-light conditions.

Credit: John Keeble/Getty Images

According to Jeff Pu, a tech analyst from Haitong International Securities (a Hong Kong investment firm), the ultrawide cameras are getting a boost, too.

Pu stated tthe iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models will also feature a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with better light gathering. As such, camera performance in dimmer environments should improve. As it stands now, the iPhone 15 Pro models have a 12MP ultrawide camera.

The ultrawide camera is perfect for taking landscape photos, allowing you to capture more scenery. However, compared to the main camera, the ultrawide lens tends to deliver a slight drop in crispness and sharpness. If this rumor is true, the new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera may ameliorate this minor foible.

Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple will upgrade the rear cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro models, introducing a stacked design. What will a stacked design do? According to Apple Insider, it increases light capture and provides wider dynamic range, so Night Mode should get a sweet boost.

Finally, it's worth pointing out that the iPhone 16 Pro, as we reported in April, will allegedly tackle lens flare and ghosting issues by using anti-reflective coating on the cameras.

Featured Video For You History of iPhone (updated) iPhone 16 battery life

As we reported in early April, a Weibo leaker by the name of "OvO Baby Sauce OvO" seemingly unveiled the new new battery sizes across the iPhone 16 lineup:

  • iPhone 16: 3,561mAh

  • iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006mAh

  • iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355mAh

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676mAh

All the iPhone 16 models have some sort of increase from two to six percent except for the iPhone 16 Plus, which reportedly has a reduction of nearly nine percent compared to the iPhone 15 Plus.

Keep in mind that an increase in battery size doesn't necessarily mean that the device will deliver longer battery life. And in the same vein, a battery size reduction doesn't necessarily lead to shorter runtimes. There are other aspects at play (the display's efficiency, for example). So we won't know for sure how battery life is affected until we get the phones in our hands.

It's also worth noting that Kuo claimed that Apple is increasing the the iPhone 16 Pro Max's "battery energy density,"

iPhone 16 specs

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 8GB of RAM while the lower-tier models, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max, are stuck with their predecessors’ 6GB of RAM. If that bums you out, don’t worry. According to Pu, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to join the 8GB of RAM bandwagon, too.

iPhone 15 lineup Credit: Apple
Storage

According to news aggregator account "yeux1122" from Naver, a Korean blog, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature options that offer 2TB of storage.

That is double the current max storage capacity of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Chipset

In recent years, Apple has followed the trend of putting last year's chip into the two entry-level models while the Pro models, the Pro and the Pro Max, get the new-generation chip. For example, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus got the A16 Bionic chip, the same inside the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. However, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max got outfitted with the new A17 Pro chips.

If this pattern continues, it should follow that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus get the A17 Pro while the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max get the A18 chips. Pu hinted that this is how it will be for the iPhone 16 line, hinting that the A17 Pro will reportedly be less efficient. In other words, the iPhone 16 models equipped with this chip may take a battery life hit. This is because the next-generation chip will offer tremendous performance gains at the expense of power efficiency.

However, another rumor tells a different story.

According to an alleged iOS 18 code leak from MacRumors, the entire iPhone 16 line will get an A18 chip. However, there’s a chance that Apple will use a “Pro” identifier name to differentiate from the standard and Pro models (e.g., A18 chip and A18 Pro).

The iPhone 16 Pro models will also reportedly support Wi-Fi 7 (current models support WiFi 6E). Wi-Fi 7 should offer zippy transfer speeds that exceed 40 Gbps, quadrupling what WiFi 6E can do.

According to Pu (via 9to5Mac), the iPhone 16 Pro will come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem, which can reach a 5G download rate of up to 7.5 Gbps.

We’ll periodically update this rumor hub as new iPhone 16 leaks trickle in, so be sure to bookmark this page. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

How Marisa Abela embodied Amy Winehouse in 'Back to Black'

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 19:55
Marisa Abela breaks down her process of becoming Amy Winehouse in 'Back to Black'
Categories: IT General, Technology

You can now create interactive charts with GPT-4o — how to access with ChatGPT

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 19:38

ChatGPT, underpinned with GPT-4o, just got a little more useful for people who like doing stuff with charts.

OpenAI announced in a blog post that paying members (Plus, Team, and Enterprise tiers) will get access to some new time-saving chart and table features "in the coming weeks" as part of its new GPT-4o initiative. These include the ability to upload charts directly from Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive to ChatGPT, rather than having to download them first and then upload them separately.

Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: How to get GPT-4o with free ChatGPT

Aside from that, users who upload datasets to ChatGPT can mess around with a new interactive, full-screen view as the chatbot performs data analysis. You can also customize charts to your liking and ask questions if needed.

This is the kind of time-saving convenience that AI can be useful for if done correctly. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman decided to, instead, market GPT-4o by (somewhat unbelievably) comparing it to the dystopian movie Her because it can take in and spit out more video and audio content than before. While this may not appeal to everyone, the capability to more easily sort through charts could be quite beneficial.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't feel like cooking? Collect the best DoorDash promo codes of the week.

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 19:14

UPDATE: May. 17, 2024, 12:45 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest DoorDash promo codes from across the web. Note that some of these codes are location-specific or exclusive to new users.

Best DoorDash promo codes this week: Best deal for new users Use code US25SAVU1Q24 Get 25% off your first order ($15 minimum) Get Deal

We all love a good, home-cooked meal. But who has the time to make one every single night? Couldn't be us. That's why we always keep our delivery apps at the ready. Our app of choice at the moment? DoorDash. There's a constant bounty of promo codes, scoring you savings not just on takeout, but also on grocery delivery and select retail stores.

You can find our favorite DoorDash promo codes from across the web below, so take a look and then chow down while booting up your favorite streaming service or video game. Oh, and a lot of these codes will be exclusive to new users, so if you already have an account, you may want to consider creating a new one (you didn't hear that from us). Also, because some codes are location-specific, they may not work for everyone. Just test them out and see which ones stick for you!

SEE ALSO: The best deals on streaming services this week How do I use a DoorDash promo code?

Before we get into our picks for the week, let us quickly go over how to use a DoorDash promo code, because if you don't know how to do that, you won't benefit from any of the great deals we're about to show you. Thankfully, the process is really easy. (If you already know how to do this, feel free to keep scrolling to get straight to the latest DoorDash coupons.)

All you need to do is load up your shopping cart with whatever is on the menu for the night and head to the checkout screen. Once you get there, scroll down to the bottom where you'll find a section labeled "Summary."

The 'Summary' section lives at the bottom of the checkout screen. Credit: DoorDash

Tap on that section and you'll be brought to a separate screen titled "Promo codes, rewards & gift cards." Then, just input your promo code (and gift card, if you have one) and head back to the checkout screen. You should now see your discount applied automatically.

This is where you'll use your promo code and get those sweet benefits. Credit: DoorDash

Congrats! You just scored some savings, and that takeout order is going to taste so much better because of it. Now, on to this week's promo codes — take a look below, and enjoy your meal.

Best DoorDash promo codes this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Memorial Day headphone deals during Amazon's sale so far: AirPods, Beats, JBL, and more

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 19:06
Best Memorial Day headphone deals at Amazon Best noise-canceling headphones deal Apple AirPods Max $449.99 at Amazon (save $99.01) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Beats Powerbeats Pro $159.95 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal Best over-ear headphones deal Beats Solo4 with AppleCare+ $169.95 at Amazon (save $59) Get Deal

Amazon's Memorial Day sale is officially underway, and features a ton of great deals on tech, fitness gear, outdoor items, and plenty more must-see offers. The sale will run until May 27, so you have plenty of time to peruse the savings and start shopping.

SEE ALSO: Memorial Day sales are already kicking off — here's what you need to know

Headphones in particular are seeing some sweet early discounts during the event, especially AirPods and Beats models (if you've been wanting a pair of the AirPods Max, they're $100 off). Below, we've rounded up a list of the best headphone deals from Amazon's Memorial Day sale so far. Take a look, and be sure to keep checking back with us, as we'll be updating this article with any new deals we come across.

Best noise-canceling headphones deal Apple Airpods Max $449.99 at Amazon
$549.00 Save $99.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The AirPods Max are popular for good reason, and they happen to be $100 off during Amazon's Memorial Day sale. If you want to stay within the Apple ecosystem, there's truly no better pair of over-ear headphones for you. They feature personalized spatial audio, active noise cancellation, a transparency mode for when you want to hear the world around you, and a 20-hour battery life. Plus, they just look great.

More noise-canceling headphones dealsBest earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Powerbeats Pro $159.95 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $90.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Powerbeats Pro are some of the best earbuds you can buy if you're an active person. While they don't support noise cancellation, they still boast stellar sound quality and can keep a charge for almost 10 hours. The adjustable ear hooks keep the buds secure on your head, and their reinforced design helps them resist water and sweat, making them an amazing option for gymgoers. Pick up a pair during the Amazon Memorial Day sale and save $90.

More earbuds dealsBest over-ear headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo4 with AppleCare+ $169.95 at Amazon
$228.95 Save $59.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Beats Solo4 are a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones, featuring personalized spatial audio and dynamic head tracking support, as well as a 50-hour battery life. Their ultra-light design and cushioned earcups make them ideal for all-day wear, and the impressive Fast Fuel feature allows you to get up to five hours of battery with a 10-minute charge when you're in a pinch. This bundle is on sale for just $169.95 during Amazon's Memorial Day sale, and comes with two years of AppleCare+.

More over-ear headphones deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Bring home a new computer during the Lenovo Memorial Day Sale

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 18:41

Ready to buy a new laptop? The Lenovo Memorial Day Sale has plenty of great deals to shop now:

The best Lenovo Memorial Day Sale deals Best Laptop Deal Lenovo LOQ (16-inch, AMD Ryzen 5, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512 GB SSD) $759.99 at Lenovo (Save $370) Get Deal Best 2-in-1 Laptop Deal Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (14-inch) $834.99 at Lenovo (Save $95) Get Deal Best Gaming Laptop Deal Legion Pro 5i (Gen 8 Intel, RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) $1,082.99 (Save $477) Get Deal

If you're shopping around for a new laptop, you know things can get pretty pricey. It's always a good idea to save on new tech when you can, and now that we're inching ever closer to Memorial Day, you've got a great opportunity to do just that with the Lenovo Memorial Day Sale.

As of May 17, you can shop the Lenovo Memorial Day Sale for a variety of discounts on desktops, laptops, and more with accessories like earbuds, mice, and other goodies with slashed prices as well. That means you can score a gaming laptop, a home office rig, and even more without having to pay the sticker price.

Below, find some of our favorite picks from the sale, and check out everything on offer. These deals may not stay in stock long, but they're worth grabbing while still available.

Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo LOQ (16-inch, AMD Ryzen 5, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512 GB SSD) $759.99 at Lenovo
$1,129.99 Save $370.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Lenovo LOQ is a great daily driver laptop that still packs a punch with an RTX 4050 GPU. It's also equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 16-inch display. It has all the other niceties you'd expect from a laptop (including an HD webcam and a full keyboard with numpad) that can make spending time at home working with your laptop a much more pleasant experience. It's also quite affordable now that it's been discounted, so if you need a do-it-all laptop that's still a formidable contender in terms of what it's capable of handling, this is an excellent choice.

Best 2-in-1 laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (14-inch) $834.99 at Lenovo
$929.99 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 hybrid laptop's convertible display has four different configurations in a svelte package that's perfectly portable. It boasts an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor, 512GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and a 16-inch display with 1920 x 1200 resolution. Plus, it can be used with the included Lenovo Digital Pen. With a versatile 1080p display, a full keyboard with numpad, webcam, fingerprint reader, and a slew of other features, this is an excellent MacBook alternative that's worth the more affordable price.

Best gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (Gen 8 Intel, RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) $1,082.99 at Lenovo
$1,529.99 Save $447.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Legion Pro 5i is a great option for anyone looking for a gaming laptop, but isn't willing to spend an entire paycheck and then some. It features a 13th Generation Intel Core i5-13500 processor with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB RAM, a 16-inch display, and 1 TB SSD. It's still plenty premium enough to handle the heavy-hitters on PC and can make for a capable desktop replacement if need be, but its primary use will definitely be handling your backlog over the next few months as you tackle some of the best PC games right now – and yes, don't worry, it can absolutely handle Crow Country.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Scottie Scheffler's arrest: The internet reacts with shock...and memes

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 18:39

The PGA Championship — one of golf's four major tournaments — got off to a tragic, then quite strange, start.

There was a fatal pedestrian accident in the early hours near Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, the site of this year's tournament. It caused a delay in the golf activities and lots of traffic outside the club. Thus there was a bit of confusion as Scottie Scheffler — the best golfer in the world and the recent Masters champion — attempted to get into Valhalla to play his second round at the PGA. That confusion, and traffic changes, and, apparently, some kind of misunderstanding led to a Louisville cop arresting Scheffler.

Yes, the world No. 1 was arrested and charged with, via ESPN, "second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic." This all seemingly stemmed from Scheffler not understanding where he was supposed to go, a cop trying to stop him, then, as an ESPN reporter who witnessed the event put it, an "officer [attaching] himself" to the car.

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It's all bizarre. Scheffler might also be the last person you'd expect to have a run-in with law enforcement — he is well-known as a super nice, if a bit milquetoast, person.

The internet reacted with a mix of shock, memes, and, frankly, confusion with the police.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

It has certainly been an odd day for the typically staid world of golf. Scheffler was able to make it back to the course in time to play on Friday. Clearly there will be a long legal process moving forward.

But fans at the club were clearly in support of Scheffler. He was greeted with massive cheers and chants of "Free Scottie."

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Babes' Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau on showing the reality and hilarity of pregnancy

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 18:32
Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau get real about pregnancy in this 'Babes' interview.
Categories: IT General, Technology

The 40-inch 2-Series Amazon Fire TV just hit an all-time low price

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 18:21

GET $100 OFF: As of May 17, you can snag a 40-inch 2-Series Amazon Fire TV for just $149.99, down from $249.99. That's a 40% discount or $100 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 40-inch 2-Series Amazon Fire TV $149.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Looking for a new TV that won’t put you into financial ruin? Amazon’s running a limited-time deal on the 40-inch 2-Series Amazon Fire TV, and it’s the lowest price we’ve seen yet. Like, it beats Cyber Monday prices.

As of May 17, you can score a 40-inch 2-Series Amazon Fire TV for just $149.99, down from $249.99 at Amazon. That’s a 40% discount and $100 off the original price.

SEE ALSO: All the Amazon Fire TV Sticks are back down to their Big Spring Sale prices

The 2-Series features 1080p resolution and comes with built-in Amazon Fire TV capabilities. You can watch your favorite shows and movies and stream free content with apps like Freevee and Pluto TV. Plus, with this deal, you can get six months of MGM+ streaming service on the house.

With smart capabilities and Alexa integration, this 40-inch TV is ideal for anyone who wants to upgrade their entertainment center without breaking the bank.

We’d like to note just one thing: This version does not support 4K resolution. So, if you’re looking for something a little flashier and with higher resolution capabilities, you may want to consider other options available on the market, like the 4-Series or Omni QLED Series.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon deal of the day: Grab the powerhouse M3 MacBook Air for its lowest price yet

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 18:02
Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $949.99 at Amazon (save $149.01 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST SAMSUNG DEAL Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Book3 Pro (Intel Core i7-1360P, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $851.63 at Amazon (save $598.36) Get Deal BEST SMARTWATCH DEAL Garmin fēnix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar Edition $799.99 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal BEST HYDRATION DEAL Hydro Flask wide mouth water bottle $26.57 at Amazon (save $23.38) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Amazon 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $149.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

You've officially made it to the weekend. Celebrate with some impressive deals we found at Amazon on May 17, including all-time lows on fancy laptops, a high-tech smartwatch, a 40-inch Fire TV, and double-wall insulated water bottles to keep your water cold all summer long.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check back at our deals from May 15 and May 16, as most of those deals are still going strong. Happy weekend!

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Amazon deal of the day: 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $949.99 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $149.01 with on-page coupon Get Deal

A new record-low price on a new MacBook is cause for celebration. The 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, which was just released back in March, is on sale for just $949.99 at Amazon as of May 17 when you clip the on-page coupon. That's its biggest discount to date. The new Air features a zippy M3 chip that's reportedly 60 percent faster than the M1 chip from the 2020 Air models and 15 percent faster than the M2. But that's not its only upgrade; it also features WiFi 6E (a step up from last generation), supports up to two 5K, 60Hz external displays while closed, and comes in a brand-new midnight black shade. We reviewed its 15-inch sibling and were highly impressed, to say the least. "The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air continues to blur the line of the Air and Pro models, providing ample “oomph” for creatives, professionals, and students who need robust performance that can handle their multifaceted workflows," our reviewer wrote.

Read our full review of the M3 MacBook Air.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Book3 Pro (Intel Core i7-1360P, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $851.63 at Amazon
$1,449.99 Save $598.36 Get Deal

If you're not a Mac person, perhaps this deal on the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro will spark your interest. This particular model boasts a 14-inch 3K AMOLED display, a 13th gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB of storage, and an upgraded port assortment from its predecessor (two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB type-A port, HDMI port, and microSD slot). An early 2023 release, it's no longer the latest and greatest in the Galaxy Book lineup (that honor would go to the Galaxy Book4 Pro), but it's still a powerful laptop that can handle everything from work to play. And at just $851.63 (reg. $1,449.99), it's quite the steal. That's 41% off its usual cost and a new all-time low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin fēnix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar Edition $799.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

A watch that caters to data-driven athletes and adventurers, the Garmin Fēnix 7X Pro Solar is back down to its all-time low Black Friday price at Amazon as of May 17. The 51mm version is down to $799.99, while the 47mm version is down to $699.99 — that's $200 in savings on either option. While we haven't reviewed the 7X Pro, we did try out its predecessor and found it to be quite the powerhouse. The new edition features a lighter case (one of our biggest pet peeves of the 6X Pro), better battery life, more accurate GPS, and even more in-depth data and apps. Plus, it packs an impressive solar-charging feature that extends battery life up to nine days (in smartwatch mode).

Opens in a new window Credit: Hydro Flask Hydro Flask stainless steel wide mouth water bottle $26.57 at Amazon
$49.95 Save $23.38 Get Deal

Up your hydration this summer with a Hydro Flask bottle that keeps your water ice cold for 24 hours. As of May 17, a ton of Hydro Flask bottles and accessories are on sale at Amazon. One of our top picks, however, is this stainless steel wide mouth water bottle, which fits 40 ounces of H2O in its leakproof, double-wall vacuum insulated container. It's usually $49.95, but it's on sale for just $26.57 — that's 47% in savings and its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $149.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

While it's not the fanciest TV in Amazon's lineup, the 2-Series has one thing that outshines the others: an insanely low price tag. The budget-friendly, no-frills smart TV may not support 4K resolution (you'll want to check out the 4-Series for that), but it still offers the basic smart capabilities of the Fire TV experience, hands-free control through on-board Alexa, and support for HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Audio. If you're looking to add HD entertainment to any room, it's going to be pretty hard to beat this price. Regularly only $249.99, you can grab the 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV for only $149.99 as of May 17 — that's 40% in savings and the lowest price to date.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Amazon Book Sale is packed with great deals on Kindles and books for all readers

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 17:49

UPDATE: May. 17, 2024, 10:28 a.m. EDT The Amazon Book Sale is officially underway with hundreds of deals. We're updating this page with the best deals throughout the inaugural sale which run through Monday, May 20.

Best Amazon Book Sale Deals Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Scribe (32GB) with Premium Pen $279.99 at Amazon (Save $110) Get Deal Best subscription deal Kindle Unlimited $0 for three months at Amazon (Save $35.97) Get Deal Best book deal Up to 60% off physical books From $6 at Amazon (Save up to 60% on books) Get Deal Best e-book deal Save up to 90% on e-books From $0.99 at Amazon (Save up to 90%) Get Deal

The flights are booked and the itinerary is planned. Summer vacation is right around the corner, and we can't wait to kick back in the sun with a great read. Whether you need in-flight entertainment or a beachside book, the Amazon Book Sale has got you covered.

The Amazon Book Sale is currently live and runs through Monday, May 20, offering deals across physical books, Kindles, e-books, and audiobooks. No matter what format you prefer to read in, the savings are abundant. Physical books are up to 60% off while e-books are as low as 99 cents.

The Kindle Scribe (32GB) is down to its lowest price ever at $279.99, saving you $110. If you already have an e-reader you love, sign up for Kindle Unlimited during the sale and enjoy three months free, where you'll gain access to Kindle's collection of four million books.

Explore all the deals here or read on for our favorites.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe (32 GB) with Premium Pen $279.99 at Amazon
$389.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

If you've been known to annotate every margin of your physical books but want the convenience of an e-reader, the Kindle Scribe is the answer. And during the Amazon Book Sale, you can find it for just $279.99, its lowest price ever. You'll save $110, scoring 29% off.

The Kindle Scribe has 32GB of storage and comes with its premium pen to get you writing. In addition to writing in your e-books, the Scribe includes a notebook feature for journaling. Plus, it converts handwritten notes to text and allows you to mark up PDFs too. The anti-glare screen is perfect for reading in the sun and the weeks of battery life means you can leave the charger at home while on vacation.

Of the Kindle family, the Paperwhite Signature is our favorite pick overall thanks to its features and reasonable price. While the Paperwhite Signature isn't on sale during the Amazon Book Sale, we still think it's worth the price if it fits your reading desires.

Best subscription deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Unlimited at Amazon
Subscribe to Kindle Unlimited and get your first three months free Get Deal

Voracious readers need Kindle Unlimited. The subscription service includes millions of e-books, audiobooks, and magazines for just $11.99 per month. But thanks to the Amazon Book Sale, you can get your first three months free. That saves you $35.97 while giving you access to millions of reads.

There's no commitment with the Kindle Unlimited subscription — cancel at any time. If you're not into it after your three-month trial, go ahead and cancel for no charge.

Best book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Books up to 60% off during the Amazon Book Sale Get Deal

For loyal readers of physical books, the Amazon Book Sale is for you too. Limited-time deals are available across all genres from cookbooks to romance. Find major savings on classics like Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye to new releases like Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle.

More book deals Featured Video For You How to make Amazon returns and contact customer service Best e-book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon E-books up to 90% off Find e-books during the Amazon Book Sale for as low as $0.99 Get Deal

If you're picky about the books you want to read, then maybe Kindle Unlimited isn't for you. The good news is, during the Amazon Book Sale, e-books are available at jaw-dropping prices. Seriously, you can save up to 90% on buzzy books like Babel by R.F. Kuang.

More e-book deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Memorial Day sales are already kicking off — here's what you need to know

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 17:41
Best Memorial Day deals 2024 Best mattress deal Avocado Eco Organic Mattress $699 at Avocado Green Mattress (save $78) Get Deal Best furniture and home appliance deal Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 $229.99 at Solo Stove (save $70) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Refurbished KitchenAid 6-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $209.99 at KitchenAid (save $120) Get Deal Best tech deal Insignia 65-inch Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $349.99 at Best Buy (save $100) Get Deal

We're only in the middle of May, but when has that ever stopped retailers from starting their Memorial Day sales early? This year is no different, so it's time to prepare for those summer savings. Here's everything you need to know about this year's big Memorial Day sales, plus some early offers for you to start shopping right now.

When is Memorial Day, and when do the sales start?

This year, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 27. But Memorial Day weekend — the time when most of the big sales will be taking place — starts on Friday, May 24. We expect to see lots of discounts on offer during the three-day weekend, especially from mattress, appliance, and outdoor goods brands. No matter what you're shopping for, you should be able to find plenty of cost-cutting deals, many of which have already begun.

SEE ALSO: Spring cleaning starter kit: 8 products to cover all your bases Are Memorial Day sales starting early?

Some Memorial Day sales are already getting started as we speak, with some brands holding "early access" events leading up to a bigger sale during Memorial Day weekend (more on those below). Others aren't necessarily labeled as early Memorial Day sales, but you can already find a lot of savings on outdoor items, home appliances, and select electronics at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. We do think the deals will be much better as we get closer to Memorial Day, so it may be best to just wait it out.

Though Memorial Day weekend doesn't officially begin until May 24, keep an eye out for sales starting earlier that week on May 20. (Update: Amazon's Memorial Day sale has officially begun, and features savings of up to 40% off on Amazon devices, other select electronics, outdoor goods, and more. The sale runs until May 27.)

What to buy during Memorial Day sales

Memorial Day is always a huge time for doorbuster mattress sales, but we also expect to see big discounts on outdoor items and appliances for the summer, as well as other select home appliances and electronics. Look out for items like grills, lawn care equipment, gardening supplies, and outdoor furniture.

We also foresee popular kitchen items going on sale, as well as big-ticket items like TVs, headphones, laptops, and fitness equipment.

What are the best Memorial Day sales?

The worthwhile Memorial Day sales aren't all that plentiful just yet, but more will be on the way shortly. Here are some of the best Memorial Day sales and deals that we could find so far.

Best Memorial Day deals 2024Best mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Avocado Green Mattress Avocado Eco Organic Mattress $699.00 at Avocado Green Mattress
$777.00 Save $78.00 Get Deal Why we like it

It's no secret that a good mattress is going to cost you quite a big chunk of change, but thankfully during Avocado's Memorial Day sale, their budget-friendly Eco Organic Mattress is extremely affordable (starting at just $699 for a twin size). Made from certified organic latex, cotton, and wool, the Eco Organic Mattress strikes a great balance between comfort and support with its medium-firm feel, making it a great choice for all types of sleepers. The mattress also features natural cooling, and absorbs motion transfer.

More mattress deals
  • Amerisleep: Save $450 on select mattresses

  • Avocado: Save up to 20% on mattresses and more

  • Bear: 35% off sitewide, plus free sleep accessories

  • Beautyrest: Save up to $1,200 on select mattresses and base sets

  • Birch: 25% off sitewide, plus two free pillows

  • Brooklyn Bedding: 25% off sitewide

  • Casper: 30% off all mattresses and 10% off everything else

  • Cocoon by Sealy: Save 35% on all mattresses + free Sealy sleep bundle ($199 value)

  • Cozy Earth: Save up to 30% on bedding

  • DreamCloud: Up to 50% off mattresses

  • Emma: Up to 55% off mattresses plus two free pillows

  • Helix: Up to 30% off sitewide, plus two free pillows

  • Layla: Up to $200 off mattresses, plus two free pillows

  • Leesa: 25% off mattresses, plus two free pillows

  • Nectar: Up to 40% off mattresses

  • Nolah: 35% off mattresses, plus free pillows

  • Plank: Up to 25% off sitewide

  • Purple: Up to $800 off mattresses + base

  • Saatva: Up to $600 off select mattresses

  • Serta: Save up to $900 on select mattresses and adjustable bases

  • Siena: Save up to $500 off mattresses

  • Sleep Number: Up to 50% off smart beds

  • TempurPedic: Save up to $500 on select adjustable mattresses

  • Vaya: Save up to $300 off any mattress

  • WinkBeds: Save up to $300 on mattresses

  • Zoma: Save $150 on all mattresses

Best furniture and home appliance deal Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 $229.99 at Solo Stove
$299.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Looking to upgrade your hangouts this summer? A Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 certainly won't hurt, and you can save $70 on one during the Memorial Day sale. The totally smokeless, portable stove will become one of your outdoor get-together essentials, whether you're just looking to sit around the fire telling stories or fire up some grub.

More furniture and home appliance deals
  • Dyson: Up to 70% off cordless stick vacuums

  • Home Depot: Up to 50% off home decor and furniture

  • LG: Bundle select items and save up to $200

  • Lowe's: Up to 35% off home appliances

  • Samsung: Save up to $1,200 on refrigerators and laundry machines

  • Shark: Up to 30% off select products

  • Solo Stove: Up to 30% off sitewide

  • Wayfair: Way Day sale starting on May 4

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid Refurbished KitchenAid 6-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $209.99 at KitchenAid
$329.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Picking up a refurbished device has its benefits — namely, savings. This certified refurb Stand Mixer from KitchenAid is over $100 off, and features a bowl-lift design that drastically improves stability and control while you work. It has 11 different speeds (including a half-speed option), as well as a 6-quart bowl that'll work well for small and large batches. Plus, you get to finally say you have a KitchenAid mixer.

More kitchen deals
  • KitchenAid: Up to $150 off select Stand Mixers

  • Our Place: Up to 40% off cookware and kitchen gear

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 65-inch Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $349.99 at Best Buy
$449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

A 65-inch 4K TV for just $349.99? We're so in. This Insignia TV features support for 4K Ultra HD, HDR, Apple Air Play, and Amazon Alexa. It's also a Fire TV, so that means you'll have access to Amazon's easy-to-use interface to boot up all your favorite streaming apps and more. It's wall-mountable, too, if you want to save some space. Not bad for a budget TV, huh?

More tech deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft risks billions in fines as EU investigates its generative AI disclosures

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 17:21

Microsoft may face a harsh scolding from the European Union (EU) after failing to provide information on risks posed by generative AI tools.

The tech company has until May 27 to present the commission with appropriate documents that outline potential harm arising from Bing’s generative AI features specifically, like its AI assistant Copilot and image generator Image Creator by Designer. As TechCrunch reported, the EU worries that such tools could pose a threat to "civic discourse and electoral processes."

The fines would be processed under requirements for Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) within the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), and levy up to one percent of Microsoft's global annual turnover against the company.

"The request for information is based on the suspicion that Bing may have breached the DSA for risks linked to generative AI, such as so-called 'hallucinations', the viral dissemination of deepfakes, as well as the automated manipulation of services that can mislead voters," the commission wrote. "Generative AI is one of the risks identified by the Commission in its guidelines on the integrity of electoral processes, in particular for the upcoming elections to the European Parliament in June."

SEE ALSO: Reddit's deal with OpenAI is confirmed. Here's what it means for your posts and comments.

Should Microsoft still fail to provide the requested information, the commission can impose penalties of up to 5 percent of its average daily income or worldwide annual turnover.

In March, the European Union approved what many called a landmark AI regulation, known simply as the AI Act, which establishes oversight and enforcement procedures for AI technology deemed "high risk." The law additionally bans certain risky AI applications, including "emotion recognition, predictive policing, and AI that manipulates human behavior or exploits people’s vulnerabilities."

Meanwhile, the bloc is also utilizing the DSA to probe social media companies, as leaders open several investigations into child safety and emotional wellbeing across apps like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Run, don't walk: The 13-inch M3 MacBook Air is $150 off at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 17:07

GET $149.01 OFF: As of May 17, the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $949.99, the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $949.99 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $149.01 Get Deal

If you’ve been eyeing the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air, now’s the time to get your wallet out. This powerful laptop has hit another all-time low, beating last month’s discount by an additional $39.

As of May 17, the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is now $949.99 at Amazon. That’s even lower than it was last month when it was on sale for $989. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen for this particular MacBook Air model. (Click the on-screen coupon to get the full discounted price.)

SEE ALSO: Best Apple deals May 2024: MacBook Airs and Apple Watches are worth buying this week

The M3 chip makes this laptop a must for anyone who needs something fast, efficient, and able to handle multiple tasks at once. It’s also lightweight and less than one-half-inch thin, making it ideal for students and hybrid workers who are always on the go.

It has an 18-hour battery life, a 13.6-inch liquid retina display, and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera. There are three mics, and four speakers are built-in, so you can video chat with coworkers, friends, and family with crystal clear audio.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score up to 49% off Beats earbuds at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 16:46

UP TO 49% OFF: As of May 17, Amazon is offering up to 49% off Beats earbuds and headphones.

Our top picks: Best deal overall Beats Studio Buds true wireless noise-canceling earbuds $79.99 at Amazon (save $69.96) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Beats Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds $159.99 at Amazon (save $89.96) Get Deal Best on-ear headphone deal Beats Solo3 wireless headphones $149.99 at Amazon (save $78.96) Get Deal

If you've been caught humming America's unofficial song of the summer ("That's that me, espresso!"), it might be time for some new headphones. Starting today, May 17, get up to 49% off Beats earbuds and headphones at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: The best headphones for 2024 (and why they made our list)

Whether you’re looking for an over-ear option or a compact pair of earbuds, Amazon's sale on Beats headphones has you covered. Here are some of our favorite deals from the sale:

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Studio Buds true wireless noise-canceling earbuds $79.99 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $69.96 Get Deal Why we like it

The Beats Studio Buds true wireless noise-canceling earbuds feature two listening modes: active noise canceling (ANC) and transparency mode, so you can tune in and out of your surroundings as needed.

These earbuds come with three soft ear tip sizes and offer a comfortable, secure fit, making them perfect for long commutes, workouts, or just jamming out at home. With up to eight hours of listening time (or up to 24 hours combined with the included pocket-sized charging case), you can enjoy uninterrupted music all day long.

They also feature a built-in microphone and are IPX4-rated sweat- and water-resistant, so you can take a call or hit the gym without worrying about damaging your earbuds. Plus, they come in multiple color options, including sunset pink and ocean blue.

If you need extra security, you can get these same buds with two years of Apple Care+ for $99.99 (down from $178.95).

Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds $159.99 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $89.96 Get Deal Why we like it

If you want the quality of Studio Buds but are afraid they’ll fall out, the Beats Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds are a solid alternative. Although these buds aren’t noise-canceling, they do feature an over-the-ear hook design to help keep them in place.

With these buds, you can get up to nine hours of listening time (24 with the charging case). They also have a fast-charge feature that’ll give you one-and-one-half hours of playback with a quick five-minute charge.

Best on-ear headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Solo3 wireless headphones + 2 years of Apple Care+ $149.99 at Amazon
$228.95 Save $78.96 Get Deal Why we like it

The Beats Solo3 wireless headphones aren’t noise-canceling, but they come with two years of Apple Care+ and have more than 78,000 reviews, averaging 4.7 stars.

These headphones feature the Apple W1 chip and Class 1 wireless Bluetooth connectivity. With up to 40 hours of battery life, you can take them anywhere without worrying about running out of power.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Reddit's deal with OpenAI is confirmed. Here's what it means for your posts and comments.

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 16:05

A few months back, reports emerged that Reddit had signed a $60 million deal with OpenAI to allow the ChatGPT creator to train its LLM using Reddit content. On Thursday, the deal was confirmed.

In a blog post shared by Reddit and OpenAI the companies unveiled the details of the agreement, which essentially sees the "front page of the internet" trading its content for access to AI tools and an advertising partnership.

"Keeping the internet open is crucial, and part of being open means Reddit content needs to be accessible to those fostering human learning and researching ways to build community, belonging, and empowerment online," reads the blog post. "Reddit is a uniquely large and vibrant community that has long been an important space for conversation on the internet."

SEE ALSO: The women getting guys to rate their nudes on Reddit

But what exactly does this mean for Reddit's users? How will your posts, comments, and images be affected by this new partnership?

What does the OpenAI deal mean for your Reddit posts and comments?

In a nutshell, it means your content is being used to train ChatGPT.

"OpenAI will bring Reddit content to ChatGPT and new products, helping users discover and engage with Reddit communities," reads the core deal point outlined in the blog. "To do so, OpenAI will access Reddit’s Data API, which provides real-time, structured, and unique content from Reddit. This will enable OpenAI’s AI tools to better understand and showcase Reddit content, especially on recent topics."

The part about Reddit's Data API is key. This means that along with everything you've posted on Reddit in the past, you can safely assume that anything you post going forwards will immediately become AI training material.

Featured Video For You How to delete your Reddit account Can Reddit users opt out?

If the thought of training an AI doesn't sit well with you, you can obviously decide not to post or comment on Reddit anymore. But what about all your old posts? Well, the honest answer lies in Reddit's User Agreement, which makes it clear exactly what rights you're giving up when you use the platform:

"When Your Content is created with or submitted to the Services, you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, copy, modify, adapt, prepare derivative works of, distribute, store, perform, and display Your Content and any name, username, voice, or likeness provided in connection with Your Content in all media formats and channels now known or later developed anywhere in the world. This license includes the right for us to make Your Content available for syndication, broadcast, distribution, or publication by other companies, organizations, or individuals who partner with Reddit. You also agree that we may remove metadata associated with Your Content, and you irrevocably waive any claims and assertions of moral rights or attribution with respect to Your Content."

Basically, when you post on Reddit, they can pretty much do what they want with it — including making your content "available for syndication, broadcast, distribution, or publication by other companies, organizations, or individuals who partner with Reddit."

And if you decide to delete your content at some point down the line? Mashable has reached out to Reddit to ask if deleted content can still be used to train OpenAI, and we will update this article when we receive a response.

UPDATE: May. 17, 2024, 3:02 p.m. GMT Reddit confirmed to Mashable that it doesn't license deleted posts and comments — so it's possible that content deleted prior to the deal's completion may not be included. But given that OpenAI now has access to Reddit's API, it's probably safe to assume that anything newly posted is immediately being used to train its AI.

Categories: IT General, Technology

GPT-4o, Bumble Fumbles, and Subtle Asian news

Mashable - Fri, 05/17/2024 - 13:48
From OpenAI's GPT-4o to Bumble's anti-celibacy ads, host Josh Burstein takes us on a comedic journey through the week's top stories.
Categories: IT General, Technology
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