Blogroll

Iowa's win over UConn inspired heated reactions and memes

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 19:26

Iowa women's basketball squeaked by UConn — a blue-blood giant of the sport — in the NCAA Final Four on Friday night. Led by superstar Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes bested the Paige Bueckers-led Huskies by a score of 71-69.

SEE ALSO: Iowa vs. LSU delivered memes, jokes, and a great game from Caitlin Clark

In case you missed it — which is increasingly unlikely considering how the sport is rocketing in popularity during this tournament — it was an amazing game. UConn did about as good a job as a team can in containing Clark, but the star's teammates stepped up under the big lights.

It was tight the entire game and the chatter online was fantastic. It was fascinating to see Iowa — a No. 1 seed but a historically weaker program elevated by a single great player — take on the legendary UConn. People online loved it.

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There was some controversy, however. A late offensive foul call against UConn helped decide the outcome. Most folks didn't argue there wasn't a foul on the play — UConn set a pretty straightforward moving screen — but rather people thought the call shouldn't have been made in the final moments of the game. In the end, though, it was a foul and the call was made. It all but sealed things for Iowa.

Some folks joked and hypothesized that ESPN wanted Clark in the final. Others pointed out that there was a foul and the call was correct. Even into Saturday afternoon, the arguments kept on going.

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Up next? Iowa will play the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday to decide a champion. It'll certainly be an interesting game. The Hawkeyes have Clark, sure, but South Carolina hasn't lost a game all year. It'll be a heck of a matchup and you can rest assured folks will be arguing about it online.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Meta briefly blocked a local news organization critical of Facebook

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 16:51

Meta blocked, then apologized for blocking, a local news organization that published a column criticizing Facebook.

The Kansas Reflector, a nonprofit news org, published an op-ed about Facebook this week that criticized the tech giant for refusing ads promoting a documentary about climate change. The Reflector and its readers soon after realized links from the paper were not working on both Facebook and Threads.

SEE ALSO: https://mashable.com/article/facebook-video-format-vertical-tiktok

This, of course, led to concerns that Meta was stifling criticism of its platforms. In response to those concerns, the website The Handbasket republished the op-ed under the headline, "Here's the column Meta doesn't want you to see." Links to the site were then blocked, falsely labeling it as spam or malicious, The Wrap noted.

Meta, however, has said this was all a big mistake and that it never intentionally blocked folks from sharing the column. It claimed that a security error was to blame.

"Due to a security error, links to the @kansasreflector were blocked for a period of time," Meta spokesperson Andy Stone wrote on Threads. "The same security concern mistakenly prompted the blocking of links to News From The States and The Handbasket. The incorrectly applied blocks have now been lifted from all three domains, but it does take time for our system to fully repopulate all the links. This is undoubtedly frustrating and we sincerely apologize to all who have been impacted. We will continue to monitor the situation."

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This all could be a misunderstanding. On the one hand, it's difficult to believe a tech giant's explanation for blocking a news organization. On the other hand, Facebook is criticized all the time — even more pointedly than the column in the Reflector — and Meta doesn't block those news organizations.

No matter what the case, the column is once again shareable on Facebook for those who are so inclined.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Elon Musk promises Tesla robotaxis in August

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 16:03

Elon Musk, as the billionaire head of X and Tesla is wont to do, fired off a tweet announcing major business news without providing further clarification.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X pushed a fake headline about Iran attacking Israel. X's AI chatbot Grok made it up.

Musk tweeted Friday, "Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8." That was shortly before 5 p.m. ET after the stock market had closed.

This post was almost assuredly a response to a detailed report from Reuters about Tesla's Robotaxi plan. The news service had published an in-depth feature reporting that Tesla wanted to scrap its plan to manufacture a low-cost vehicle in favor of the robotaxi.

In response, Musk posted, "Reuters is lying (again)." Musk did not refute anything specific about the Reuter's report, however. Then, not much later, Musk posted the tweet saying Robotaxi would be unveiled on Aug. 8, seemingly in line with Reuters' reporting.

As is often the case with the Tesla CEO, it's tough to parse what is real and what is bluster because Musk has such a knack for it. Even if the Robotaxi is unveiled in August, that doesn't mean we'll suddenly have them all over the road. Dropping the curtain on a car is relatively easy when compared to having functional, safe, and legal automated cars on the road.

Remember when Tesla unveiled a robot with a guy dancing in a robot suit then later unveiled a robot that couldn't stand? Keep that in mind when thinking about what we'll actually get in August.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 6

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 13:00

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 April 6 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 6

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, April 6, 2024:

AcrossDefeat by a large margin
  • The answer is Drub.

Accident-___ (clumsy)
  • The answer is Prone.

Painter Monet
  • The answer is Claude.

Ironic name of Elle Woods's chihuahua in "Legally Blonde"
  • The answer is Bruiser.

Track athlete
  • The answer is Runner.

Double-___ sword
  • The answer is Edged.

Intoxicating substance sometimes called "bud"
  • The answer is Weed.

DownTotally out of energy

The answer is Drained.

Stirred from slumber
  • The answer is Roused.

Opposite of over
  • The answer is Under.

Intoxicating substance sometimes called "Bud"
  • The answer is Beer.

Polar bear ___ (cold swim)
  • The answer is Plunge.

Having a potty mouth
  • The answer is Crude.

Make, as 4-Down
  • The answer is Brew.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You've got to see the biggest digital camera on Earth. It's car-sized.

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:30

The biggest digital camera on Earth is finished — and it will soon revolutionize our grasp of the cosmos.

The Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California announced the completion of its LSST Camera, short for "Legacy Survey of Space and Time." The giant-lensed instrument is the size of a car, the lab said, and in 2025 it will begin snapping deep space images at the much-anticipated Vera C. Rubin Observatory located in the lofty Chilean mountains. You can view images of the unprecedented camera below.

"With the completion of the unique LSST Camera at SLAC and its imminent integration with the rest of Rubin Observatory systems in Chile, we will soon start producing the greatest movie of all time and the most informative map of the night sky ever assembled," Željko Ivezić, director of Rubin Observatory Construction and an astronomer at the University of Washington, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

The camera and the telescope it's mounted to will pack a potent punch. Engineers will attach the big camera — which weighs three metric tons (about 3.3 U.S. tons) — to the observatory's 27.5-foot-wide (8.4-meter) Simonyi Survey Telescope, itself a revolutionary instrument: It will be the fastest large telescope on Earth, with the ability to swivel 180 degrees in just 20 seconds.

The goal is to create an unprecedented catalog of the cosmos. It'll be "the first time a telescope will catalog more galaxies than there are people on Earth," the lab explained. Every 20 seconds, the giant digital camera will capture a 15-second exposure. The camera is so big that each image covers a zone of sky over 40 times the area of a full moon.

With a front lens of over five feet wide, the camera has extremely high resolution. "Its images are so detailed that it could resolve a golf ball from around 15 miles away, while covering a swath of the sky seven times wider than the full moon," Aaron Roodman, the Rubin Observatory deputy director, noted in a statement. "These images with billions of stars and galaxies will help unlock the secrets of the universe."

Travis Lange, a deputy project manager for the LSST Camera, inspects the car-sized instrument. Credit: Olivier Bonin / SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory A view looking down upon the the LSST Camera. Credit: Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell / SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory A graphic showing the size of the LSST camera. Credit: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

It's a 21st century-camera on a truly 21st century-telescope.

"Its images are so detailed that it could resolve a golf ball from around 15 miles away"

"I think of us as building the 'crawler and Google search for the sky,'" Mario Juric, a professor at the University of Washington who's working on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, told Mashable in 2023. "Now, rather than going to a large telescope (which sometimes can take months to propose, approve, and execute), a scientist will be able to go to a website, run a query, and get to the data in seconds. Huge improvement in efficiency and a democratization of access to best possible datasets."

How the telescope will change our understanding of space

- Over the past couple centuries, astronomers and space agencies like NASA have found some 1.2 million asteroids in our solar system. After three to six months of observations, Rubin will double this number. In 10 years, a whopping 5 million asteroids will be known, Juric said.

- The number of icy worlds beyond the distant planet Neptune ("trans-neptunian objects" and dwarf planets) will increase around tenfold.

- There are two known interstellar comets today. Ruben will identify between 10 and 50 times more.

- "And — should 'Planet X' exist— there's a high chance Rubin would find it (we cover the entire area on the sky where it's likely to be)," Juric explained. Planet X is a speculative world in our solar system that may exist well beyond the orbit of Pluto.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory isn't the only huge, futuristic telescope soon to start surveying the night sky. The Giant Magellan Telescope, researching the universe's evolution and the nature of planets beyond our solar system (exoplanets), comes online in the late 2020s. The Extremely Large Telescope, with a mirror 128 feet wide, will become the largest optical telescope on Earth later this decade.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Garmin Lily 2 review: A smartwatch that doesn't scream 'fitness tracker'

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:10

There are many options for smartwatches on the market. From more “traditional” smartwatches from Apple and Samsung to fitness-focused options from brands like Fitbit and Garmin, choosing your perfect smartwatch can be overwhelming — especially if you want something with form and functionality. 

Personally, I’ve been an Apple Watch user for several years, but — while I love the convenience of my Series 4 — I’m kind of tired of wearing it. The appearance of my Apple Watch was never my favorite, but many other options on the market sported the same problems. They’re either too square, too clunky, too sporty, or too big — which is why I was thrilled to see that Garmin had released its new Lily 2 smartwatch

SEE ALSO: The best fitness trackers of 2024: Tested and reviewed

Billed as a fashion-forward smartwatch for women, the Garmin Lily 2 ticked a lot of the boxes I didn’t know I was looking for. With a smaller watch face, a hidden display, and six different color options available, it certainly looks better than most of the smartwatches I’ve seen on the market — but is it worth the $249 price tag

I decided to try it out for myself, and here’s what you need to know: 

The Garmin Lily 2 smartwatch looks absolutely stunning 

Straight out of the box, the Lily 2 is one of the prettiest smartwatches I’ve seen. I chose the Garmin Lily 2 Classic in cream gold with a tan leather band, and I was impressed by how well-made this watch is. The patterned watch face isn’t something I thought I’d appreciate, but it’s a subtle feature that lends an Art Deco feel to what is already a beautiful watch.

The watch face itself is small and sturdy, with two different finishes on the cream gold exterior, and the Italian leather band is a far cry from the silicone bands I’ve used in the past. The watch itself also holds a water-resistant rating of 5 ATM — up to a depth of 50 meters — which Garmin says should withstand splashes, rain or snow, showering, swimming, and more. (However, the band you choose might impact how you treat the watch around water.)

The watch also features a hidden display, which is beautiful in theory, but I found the lack of analog watch hands slightly disappointing. Other Garmin watches sport physical watch hands — allowing you to tell the time without “activating” the digital display — and I felt like this feature would’ve given the Lily 2 a little bit more polish. Plus, the display itself is grayscale and somewhat pixelated, making the experience feel slightly less luxe than the physical watch.

The Garmin Lily 2 looks great on the surface, but the digital display was lackluster. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

The swipe functions were also a little slower than those on my Apple Watch, which meant the experience of using the Lily 2 didn’t quite match the way it looked. It’s a beautiful accessory, yes, and it packs a powerful punch with health tracking — but the smartwatch functionalities were a bit lacking compared to other options on the market. It does include Garmin Pay, and it’s compatible with both Apple and Android smartphones, so you can receive texts, emails, and calendar alerts on your watch. However, it’s also highly tethered to your phone — so you’ll need to carry your phone with you to get features like GPS data on workouts, weather data, etc. 

Most of Garmin’s tracking features were incredible

While I was impressed by the Garmin Lily 2 out-of-the-box, many of the tracking features were even better than I expected. The Lily 2 boasts a suite of Garmin’s best health tracking features — including the sleep score — allowing you to track everything from your heart rate, steps, workouts, respiration, stress levels, and more. As someone new to Garmin watches, I was particularly impressed by the “body battery” score, which estimates your energy levels throughout the day by utilizing your heart rate variability (HRV), stress levels, sleep quality, and exercise activity. 

Compared to my Apple Watch — which also tracks things like steps, exercise activity, respiration, and heart rate — I found that the addition of the stress score, sleep score, and body battery gave me deeper insight into the data I was tracking. Not only did this help me monitor my stress and energy levels throughout the day, but it also helped me better interpret my own health data.

My Apple Watch Series 4 compared to the Garmin Lily 2. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

Because the stress score is based on physiological stress not just emotional stress, for example, I started discovering which things contributed to a high-stress score — like a heavy meal, an intense workout, or my tendency to pace on phone calls — which allowed me to adjust my habits throughout the day. If my body battery was depleting faster than I wanted it to, for example, I’d switch my workout for a meditation session (or a nap). As someone who is an avid proponent of energy management, this made the Lily 2 an incredible companion for structuring my day to maintain optimal energy. 

SEE ALSO: Tracking your stress may be more stressful than you imagined

And surprisingly? Most of the data seemed pretty accurate. I don’t love wearing watches or bracelets at night, but I did sport the Lily 2 for a week of bedtimes, and the sleep score was a helpful piece of information. That being said, I wasn’t quite health-obsessed enough to want to keep wearing it at night, but the rest of my information — like my Stress Score and Body Battery — still felt pretty accurate even without tracking my sleep. 

What I liked about the Garmin Lily 2: Tracking, aesthetic, connectivity

Obviously, the Lily 2 gave me a lot to love. The aesthetic of the watch was incredible, aside from minor disappointment with the display, and the tracking features were a great asset. I loved being able to use the watch to manage my energy levels, understand how different choices impacted my well-being, and change my habits accordingly. Plus, the battery life held up to the five-day estimate, and — since it charged incredibly fast — I was able to take the watch off during a shower and put it back on, fully charged. 

Not only is it a stunning smartwatch packed with some great tracking functionalities, but the Lily 2 also paired easily with my Apple iPhone 11 Pro, meaning I could receive text messages, notifications, weather updates, and more. Whether I was working out, going for a walk, or deep in my workday, the watch was cute, comfortable, and surprisingly convenient — except for a few key features.

What I didn’t like about it: Activity UX and the Garmin Connect app

While the Garmin Lily 2 worked great most of the time, it fell flat in a few key areas: activity tracking and the Garmin Connect app. 

With activity tracking, the watch generally performed okay, but certain activities offered some serious issues. Treadmill activities, for instance, didn’t log any distance — everything else was tracking just fine, including my step count and heart rate — but after half a mile on the treadmill, I glanced at my watch and saw it had registered a distance of zero feet. 

I hopped off, opened the app to troubleshoot, and spent the next thirty minutes battling with the Garmin Connect App. I tried searching for solutions on Garmin’s support forms, restarted my phone and watch, and even reset the watch back to factory settings, but nothing seemed to work. I could modify the distance in the Garmin Connect online portal to match my treadmill’s reading — and the distance seemed to work just fine on outdoor walks and runs — but treadmill workouts continued to be a source of frustration. 

SEE ALSO: The TikTok girlies are right: You need a standing desk and treadmill

Other activities seemed to function fine  —  distance logged correctly on outdoor walks and runs — but it felt like the “activities” feature on the app was surprisingly lacking for a fitness-focused smartwatch. Once I started an activity, for example, I was locked into tracking it. I couldn’t access anything else on the watch without stopping the activity, and I couldn’t find the option to even pause and resume an activity once it was started. 

Take a look under the hood. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

Again, it felt like the data I was receiving was incredible — aside from my hiccups with the Treadmill activity — but the actual experience of using it fell short. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but it just didn’t feel quite as good compared to other smartwatches I’ve tried. 

Unfortunately, my experience with the Garmin Connect app was also somewhat lackluster. The app worked fine, but it was cluttered, overwhelming, and confusing — even for someone who is fairly tech-savvy. Some settings were buried under multiple menus, while others seemed to be accessible only on the Garmin Connect online portal, not the app itself. 

While I’m rarely a fan of companion apps, especially when they’re unnecessary, the Garmin Connect app is necessary — which made the lack of user-friendliness even more frustrating. Some days my information wouldn’t appear on the “my day” window at all unless I refreshed my watch’s connection several times, and trying to understand the different settings under the “more” section felt impossible. That being said, it wasn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for me — the app’s functionality didn’t seem to impact my experience with the watch, aside from the issue with distance measurements on treadmill workouts — it just felt unnecessarily complicated.

Is the Garmin Lily 2 worth it?

If you’re looking for a small, beautiful watch with some simple everyday health-tracking functionality, the Lily 2 might be the perfect smartwatch for you. Garmin has clearly built an amazing piece of hardware with this watch, but as I mentioned above, it’s the software that feels a bit lacking. However, not everyone will notice (or care) about those things, making the Lily 2 a great option for someone who wants a stylish, simple smartwatch to track activity without a ton of bells and whistles. 

As a smartwatch for the fitness-obsessed, however, I found myself wishing for more. The watch is stylish, yes, but it doesn’t stand up against more powerful sports watches — and it’s certainly not as “smart” as other smartwatches. So if you’re looking for a great workout companion — or you want to try out more advanced smartwatch features — you might want to look elsewhere.

Opens in a new window Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable Garmin Lily 2 $249.00 at Amazon
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Categories: IT General, Technology

Take your language-learning skills to the next level with Rosetta Stone

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 7, learn multiple languages with a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone for only $179.99 (reg.$399) with code ROSETTA

Whether you’re looking to learn a new language for career advancement or an upcoming vacation to a foreign land, being bilingual can be beneficial in a plethora of ways. This lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone gives you award-winning interactive software that has 25 different languages to choose from. 

Rosetta Stone uses an immersive training method that’s fit for language learners of all levels. The advanced speech-recognition technology analyzes your words and provides real-time feedback. The program’s instant response helps improve your accent, pronunciation, and cadence to discourage any bad habits from forming. 

You’ll start with basic conversational skills and gradually move on to intermediate language skills. Before you know it, you should be reading, writing, and conversing in your newly learned language. Book that trip abroad with the confidence that you can communicate with the locals.

With a one-time purchase, this lifetime subscription is accessible immediately upon download. It enables you to go at your own pace and squeeze in short lessons on your own time. Rosetta Stone is available on mobile and desktop, so you can learn at home or on the commuter train to work. It’s like having a private tutor at your disposal.

Get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone (all languages) for only $179.99 (reg. $399) with code ROSETTA until April 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $179.99 at the Mashable Shop
$399.00 Save $219.01 with code ROSETTA Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Own 20TB of cloud storage for life for just $90

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 7, you can get 20TB of cloud storage for life with Prism Drive on sale for $89.97. That’s less than paying for nine months of Dropbox.

If you’ve ever had the gut-sinking feeling of losing your phone — or dropping it in the toilet — 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 $89.97 (reg. $1,494) through April 7. 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 $89.97 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 $89.97 (reg. $1,494) until April 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this best-on-web price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prism Drive Prism Drive Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (20TB) $89.97 at the Mashable Shop
$1,494.00 Save $1,404.03 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

This refurbished 6th-Gen Apple iPad is on sale for $160

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 7, this refurbished iPad 6th-Gen and accessories bundle is only $159.99 (reg. $249). 

Laptops are great until they start to weigh you down. This previously owned 6th-gen Apple iPad is the perfect grab-and-go device and is a fraction of the cost of most brand-new computers.  

The 9.7-inch display has stunning graphics and a more pleasurable viewing experience. Enjoy the convenience of the multi-touch screen as you navigate different apps and accomplish tasks faster. You’ll love watching your favorite shows with crystal clear images on the stunning Retina display. 

With 32GB of storage and 2GB of memory, you’ll have plenty of space for all of your large files, content, and extensive photo collection. This iPad has Apple Pay and Touch ID for quick access to payment and apps. Should you ever need help with everyday tasks, Siri is happy to assist in responding to voice commands, setting reminders, sending messages, and more. 

Stay in touch with co-workers, friends, and family with the iSight & FaceTime HD Cameras. The high-definition camera quality captures photos and videos in greater detail so you can enjoy the memories for years to come. 

The 6th Gen iPad has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for staying connected and transferring files anywhere you go. Get up to 10 hours of battery life and never worry about losing power throughout the day. This bundle also includes charging accessories, a case, a screen protector, and a stylus. 

Get the refurbished 2018 Apple iPad 6th-Gen 9.7" (WiFi only) and accessories bundle for only $159.99 (reg. $249). 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 6th Gen 9.7” (2018) 32GB - Space Gray (Refurbished: Wi-Fi Only) + Accessories Bundle $159.99 at the Mashable Shop
$249.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Save on airfare with Dollar Flight Club for over $300 off

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 7, score a lifetime subscription to Dollar Flight Club's Premium Plus plan for $169.97, no coupon needed.

From going on incognito mode to setting price alerts to booking months in advance, there are a plethora of tips doled out by folks in the name of cheaper airfare. But the truth is scoring deals on flights is much harder now than it used to be, with most purported tricks falling short of delivering substantial savings.

Rather than dedicating endless hours to hunting down budget fares, let Dollar Flight Club take the reins. It's a price deal alert service that works 24/7 to find you the best deals, and through April 7, you can score a Premium Plus subscription for over $300 off.

The Premium Plus plan stands as the best tier among Dollar Flight Club's subscription options. Subscribers get served an array of deals across domestic and international routes, including economy, first class, and business class options, letting you pick from a wider selection of flights and choose one that fits your budget. Past deals include roundtrip fares as low as $289 to Paris, $455 to Japan, and a mere $38 for a round trip to Miami. If you're lucky, you can save up to $2000 on every flight.

In addition to email alerts, you can also opt to get text notifications whenever there's a deal departing for your travel bucket list destinations. All that's required is to enter your preferred departure airports on the platform, then sit back and watch the deals trickle in.

Exclusive perks for Premium Plus members don't stop at airfare deals. You also get a 20% discount on Mobile Passport Plus, which allows you to scan your travel documents on the Mobile Passport app and breeze past long lines at the airport. You even get to snag discounts on products from partner brands like Huckberry and enjoy priority customer support for life.

Jet set for life with a lifetime Premium Plus subscription to Dollar Flight Club. It usually goes for $507, but new users can get it for only $169.97 through April 7.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dollar Flight Club Dollar Flight Club: Lifetime Membership (Premium Plus+ Plan) $169.97 at the Mashable Shop
$507.00 Save $337.03 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Grab this 5-in-1 portable battery on sale for $54 off

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 7, this power bank can charge five gadgets at once, and you can get it for $64.97.

Nowadays, there are so many devices to carry around with us. Between a smartwatch, wireless headphones, e-reader, and gaming console, that's a lot of stuff to charge. The challenge of having a large tech collection? Having to keep their batteries alive.

But if you have a trusty power bank like this one, you don't have to worry about juggling chargers and adapters trying to keep them powered up at the same time. This 5-in-1 Multi-Device Power Pack is a portable charger that can refuel up to five devices simultaneously, and through April 7, you can get it on sale for $54 off.

Equipped with a 10,000 mAh battery, this power bank can fully charge your devices many times over. It has built-in Lightning and USB-C cables, and two extra ports to accommodate a broad spectrum of device types, from Apple to Android. It supports 15W wireless charging as well, so you can power up smartphones and earbuds, or any Qi-enabled gadget, for that matter, completely cord-free.

One of the USB-C ports supports fast PD charging, making it capable of juicing up any PD-compatible device to 50% in under half an hour. And even when the battery pack itself is being recharged, it can continue to power up an attached device. Its compact design also makes it a great travel companion, ready to revive your devices whenever they run low on the go.

Stay charged with the 5-in-1 Multi-Device Power Pack. Usually retailing for $199, you can grab it on sale for $64.97 until April 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT, no coupon necessary.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shenzhen Centralspot Innovation 5-in-1 Multi-Device Power Pack $64.97 at the Mashable Shop
$119.99 Save $55.02 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

What NOT to do during the imminent solar eclipse

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

A cosmic marvel — a total solar eclipse — is imminent.

The event on April 8, 2024, will allow tens of millions in the 115-mile-wide path of totality to experience the moon completely block the sun, turning day to deep twilight and revealing our star's resplendent corona. It's a rare eclipse opportunity, though experiencing it comfortably and safely requires a bit of know-how.

Here's what you should avoid doing during an event that experts say you must try to see.

SEE ALSO: NASA astronaut witnessed an eclipse from space. It was 'unnatural.'

"In my experience you can't overhype it," Richard Fienberg, an astronomer and senior advisor at the American Astronomical Society, told Mashable earlier this year.

Don't drive during the eclipse.

When the moon completely blocks the sun, things get strange. The total eclipse experience is intense, as the temperature drops and day quickly darkens. It's a certain way to increase the odds of distracted drivers.

"A lot of people will be very distracted at that point — avoid traffic at that time," Jack Singal, an astrophysicist at the University of Richmond, told Mashable. "Avoid being a pedestrian," he added.

If you must drive, stay vigilant.

"A lot of people will be very distracted at that point — avoid traffic at that time."

"We want to make sure we're looking out for the pedestrians," Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator, urged at a recent space agency press conference. "It's important that we stay focused on everyone around us. People probably are going to be stopping, so be careful."

The path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Credit: NASA Science Visualization Studio Featured Video For You What is the total solar eclipse on April 8th and how can you see it? Don't buy "NASA-approved" or unvetted solar eclipse glasses.

NASA doesn't manufacture, endorse, or "approve" solar eclipse glasses.

If you purchase eclipse glasses from a vendor or manufacturer that makes this claim, it's possible that the product does in fact meet the international safety standard (ISO 12312-2) for looking directly at the sun, but they're not being honest sellers. Instead, try to ensure your product has been vetted by the American Astronomical Society. They provide a thorough list of sellers here: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters.

"We're not going to link to anybody who is making false claims," the organization's Fienberg emphasized. "Not only are we convinced the products are safe, we feel comfortable linking to these companies because they're following good business practices."

Generally, it's wise to use this list while shopping online for the coming and future solar eclipses.

Don't leave right after the solar eclipse.

If you leave after the event, you'll likely hit traffic. It's a good idea to at least make it a day trip. Bring supplies. Bring friends.

"Arrive early. Stay put. And leave late."

"Don't leave right after the eclipse. Otherwise you'll just get stuck in traffic," Fienberg, an experienced eclipse viewer, explained. "Arrive early. Stay put. And leave late."

A total solar eclipse photographed in August 2017. Credit: NASA / Gopalswamy Don't remove eclipse glasses until the sun is completely blocked.

The greater eclipse event will last some two-and-a-half hours. For most of the time, the sun is partially blocked as the moon gradually blocks the sun — meaning a partial solar eclipse.

But in the middle — for some three to over four minutes — the sun is totally eclipsed. It's only then that you can remove your solar eclipse glasses.

"You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face — during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. (You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer)," NASA explains. "As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun," the space agency said.

Make sure to view a solar eclipse with approved eclipse glasses. Credit: NASA / Mamta Patel Nagaraja Don't worry about taking the perfect eclipse picture.

Astrophotography is cool — if you have the right equipment. But during the few minutes or so you have to experience totality, an event that won't happen in the U.S. for another 20 years, Fienberg suggests just embracing the experience rather than trying to snap pictures (with a solar filter) on your phone.

"Don't worry about trying to get great photos of it."

"Don't worry about trying to get great photos of it," he emphasized. "Use those precious few minutes to observe all around you." 

Don't forget about viewing the planets during the eclipse.

During totality, you'll have an opportunity to glimpse planets in the darkened sky. Weather-permitting, Venus and Jupiter will be particularly radiant.

- Venus will be located below the sun, about 15 degrees down to the right. You can use your fist, held out at arm's-length, to measure this distance. A held-out fist measures about 10 degrees. Venus is bright because it's relatively close to Earth and is blanketed in extremely thick, heat-trapping clouds. These clouds reflect much of its sunlight back into space.

- Jupiter, which is 11 times wider than Earth, will be up and to the left of the eclipsed sun, at about 30 degrees away (three fists).

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 15 best new shows on Netflix

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

Netflix has a lot of shows and movies from which to choose. Like, a lot. Sifting through all the streaming options can cause chronic indecision, leaving us scrolling down the Netflix main page just trying to pick something to watch.

Instead of getting overwhelmed and rewatching a Netflix OG classic like Stranger Things, The Queen's Gambit, or The Crown, how about trying something new? Sure, even that selection can be overwhelming. But we've done the hard part of watching them, and can confidently vouch for these.

Here are best new Netflix original series released in the past 12 months.   

1. Ripley Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Netflix

Opting for the icy black-and-white aesthetic of an expensive perfume ad was the first of many smart choices that Ripley creator Steven Zaillian made in this reworking of Patricia Highsmith's storied novel. If The Talented Mr. Ripley brings to mind the vivid colors of the over-ripened Italy in Anthony Minghella's lush 1999 film, you'll recognize from the first frame of Ripley that you're in a very different world this time around. 

SEE ALSO: 'Ripley' review: Andrew Scott is a stone cold marvel in exquisite Highsmith adaptation

More film noir than sexy travelogue, Ripley sees the exceptional Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) taking on the role of Highsmith's infamous sociopathic grifter, out to insert himself into and eventually steal the life of shipping heir Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn, Emma) and his suspicious girlfriend, Marge (Dakota Fanning). The Italy they move through seems as cold as Ripley's heart, yet somehow the tension Zaillian wrings from Ripley's very bad antics stay as addictive and heart-racing as ever.

How to watch: Ripley is now streaming on Netflix

2. Girls5eva Credit: Emily V. Aragones / Netflix

Originally airing on Peacock, Girls5eva has moved over to Netflix for its third season, which will hopefully give the criminally under-the-radar show the boost it's been so deserving of these past few years. Real-life Broadway icons Sara Bareilles (Waitress) and Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton), alongside television funny ladies Paula Pell and Busy Philipps, star as the past-their-prime girl group Girls5eva. (They did have a fifth member, but she died.)

SEE ALSO: 'Girls5eva' Interview: Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philips and Paula Pell break down their Season 3 character arcs

That stench of death and failure follows these four grown-ass women around — hilariously so! — as they try to reignite their singing careers two decades after their initial debut. And even their prime wasn't that hot! They were like fifth-tier TRL guests. Yet they plug away, half of them unburdened by shame, the other half cringing themselves to sleep every night. The show mines rich comedy from the disconnect between the youth that stardom feeds upon with the wisdom to know better — the latter being constantly, desperately shoved aside in hopes of just one more pop tart magazine spread.

How to watch: Girls5eva is now streaming on Netflix

3. Physical: 100 (Season 2)

If you don't have any interest in watching South Korea's fittest and most beautiful people getting sweaty and fiercely competitive with one another, then I don't know what to tell you. This reality series competition sees a hundred of the country's buffest facing one another down in elaborately staged physical contests, like hanging from ropes and retrieving barrels from sunken ships. It's Ninja Warrior meets Squid Game (just, you know, not deadly like the latter). Most satisfyingly of all, the contestants are forced to smash plaster-sculpted busts of their own torsos with a sledgehammer when they lose. It's everything. 

How to watch: Physical: 100 (Season 2) is now streaming on Netflix

4. 3 Body Problem Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (aka the dudes behind Game of Thrones) are back and world-building again with 3 Body Problem, an adaptation of superstar sci-fi author Liu Cixin's trilogy of books. The world itself (most of the time) looks like our own — at first, anyway. Then the strange molded chrome VR headsets start showing up and taking the modern characters into a bizarre fantasy realm… And there are also lots of flashbacks to the Cultural Revolution in China in the 1960s. Somehow, all of this will explain why all of the stars in the night sky have begun blinking on and off. 

SEE ALSO: '3 Body Problem' review: The ghost of 'Game of Thrones' haunts Netflix's sci-fi epic

There are lots of familiar faces here, like Benedict Wong (who most will recognize from his ongoing stint in the MCU), Jonathan Pryce, Eiza González (Ambulance, Baby Driver), plus Liam Cunningham and John Bradley have tagged along with their Game of Thrones hosts. But the real stars are Liu Cixin's big ideas. This is hard modern sci-fi, and it turns out to be a real pleasure to watch a scripted series embrace such a thing. Although it does have some fantasy elements, the pleasure here is feeling like it's the skin of our own world being peeled back to expose the microscopic threads barely holding this familiar reality together. (Until they don't. Just wait until you see the instantly iconic "boat scene.")

How to watch: 3 Body Problem is now streaming on Netflix

5. The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare

If the recent Oscar-winning film Anatomy of a Fall piqued your interest in the French judicial system, then here is another opportunity to try and figure it out (although this doc surely paints it at its absolute worst). The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare is a true crime documentary series about a case that rocked a town in northern France back in the early aughts. 

When a mother of four was accused of horrific child abuse, she began naming co-conspirators — and didn't stop. Somehow, Myriam Badaoui convinced everyone that there was a child abuse ring operating within the small town of Outreau, which led to a media circus and a modern-day witch hunt. Her claims were eventually rescinded in what one lawyer describes as "a judicial Chernobyl." This is the justice system at its cruelest and clumsiest, and it's an infuriating but riveting spectacle to watch.   

How to watch: The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Avatar: The Last Airbender Credit: Robert Falconer / Netflix

This is the latest attempt to bring Avatar: The Last Airbender to the screen in a way that satisfies long-time fans of the original Nickelodeon series. There was, of course, the sequel series, The Legend of Korra, as well as the seriously reviled live-action M. Night Shyamalan film from 2010. Netflix's version bridges the gap in more ways than one; by making it a live-action series, there's plenty of time for all of the storylines, with none of the cartoon! 

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' review: Not awful. Not great. Just fine.

Clearly trying to court Game of Thrones fans, Airbender 2024 Edition trucks in boatloads of exposition and characters to establish its wide, weird world as quickly as possible. The basic gist is there are Avatars who can "bend" the four elements of water, earth, fire, and air, and they use these kick-ass gifts to, well, kick one another's asses. The main villains are firebenders led by no less than the great Daniel Dae Kim, while the iconic main character of Aang keeps trying to snuff out their flame with his titular airbending.

How to watch: Avatar: The Last Airbender is now streaming on Netflix

7. The Gentlemen Credit: Christopher Rafael / Netflix

Billed as a spin-off of Guy Ritchie's 2019 rollicking crime film The Gentlemen, this series actually has no visible connection to any of those earlier exploits or characters. Sure, it's set in the same world of British criminals, but by that metric, everything Guy Ritchie has ever made would be a part of the same world — including his live-action Aladdin. (Riffraff! Street rat!) The Gentlemen does indeed fit right in with everything Ritchie's made before, except for one thing; it's genuinely fan-fucking-tastic. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Gentlemen' review: A messy rollercoaster that's too much filler, not enough killer

Starring a never-better Theo James as the youngest brother of a noble family who gets unexpectedly handed the keys to the dukedom when his father dies, The Gentlemen sees that grand title come with some unexpected extras. Specifically, his father had been leasing the underground of the family's substantial plot of land to a marijuana syndicate, one led by Skins actress Kaya Scodelario (also never better). As the worlds of old money and new crash into each other, Ritchie unearths genuine satire from who he clearly sees as the real British criminals — the aristocracy. Every episode is wickedly funny and action-packed, with a vast cast of the kinds of big characters the director has long shown an affection for. The Gentlemen is peak Ritchie.

How to watch: The Gentlemen is now streaming on Netflix

8. Dead Boy Detectives Credit: Ed Araquel / Netflix

Neil Gaiman first wrote the Dead Boy Detectives into an issue of his long-running Sandman comic series way back in 1991, and over the years they've appeared in various Vertigo comics, including their own stand-alone series. While we wait for the second season of Netflix's The Sandman, we'll have to make due with these Dead Boys. It's not a bad trade! Aging the characters up some (perhaps so we can feel better about finding them super cute), Dead Boy Detectives stars George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri as the adorable ghosts Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland, who rejected the afterlife so they could stay on Earth and investigate crimes. Unfortunately, they've got to keep an eye out for Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), who's determined to drag them off their spot on this semi-mortal coil. A totally normal concept, right? Thankfully the show embraces that silliness — it's very Buffy-ish in tone, just with the added bonus of 2024 special effects and Netflix money. A deadly good time! 

How to watch: Dead Boy Detectives comes to Netflix April 25.

9. Griselda Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Netflix

Based on the true story of the infamous Colombian drug trafficker Griselda Blanco, this six-episode mini-series starring Sofía Vergara follows the rise and inevitable fall of the gangster as she spread cocaine across the U.S. starting in the 1980s. So, not quite a Modern Family spin-off, then! Blanco was a very, very bad lady indeed, but Vergara gives the role the antihero Breaking Bad treatment, making us root for this woman's awful antics until we realize we're in too deep. There is significant overlap between the creative teams behind Griselda, Narcos, and Narcos: Mexico, but Griselda is a stand-alone series — and one that Vergara makes into a riveting drama.

How to watch: Griselda is now streaming on Netflix

10. Chicken Nugget Credit: Garage Lab / Netflix

This 10-episode comedy series from South Korea (based on a digital comic known as a webtoon) is about a woman who gets turned into a chicken nugget. Yes, really. Starring actress Kim You-jung as Choi Min-ah, the girl-turned-nugget in question, Chicken Nugget follows the adventures of Min-ah's father (Ryu Seung-ryong) and an intern at his company (Ahn Jae-hong) who had a crush on her back when she wasn't a nugget, as they try to turn Min-ah back into a human person. This series is like a high-concept '80s movie if Salvador Dalí had written it — surreal and deeply strange, and one you likely won't forget any time soon. Unless you find yourself turned into a chicken nugget, in which case all bets are off.

How to watch: Chicken Nugget is now streaming on Netflix

11. Supersex Credit: Lucia Iuorio / Netflix

Don't watch this one with your parents, kids! A wild telling of the tale of real-life Italian adult entertainment star Rocco Siffredi, Supersex is about as graphic as a Netflix show can go. That title ain't lying, y'all! Starring the extremely un-shy actor Alessandro Borghi (Suburra: Blood on Rome) as Siffredi, the series focuses on his rise to porn prominence with a hefty and welcome dose of surrealism; creator Francesca Manieri was clearly more interested in the idea of Siffredi and what he represents than the boring A-to-B specifics. But mostly it's just nice to watch a show in this day and age that isn't afraid of sex. This one thrusts right past all of the online discourse, hard as a rock.

How to watch: Supersex is now streaming on Netflix

12. Furies

If you're a fan of Luc Besson's over-the-top action movies – think La Femme Nikita, The Fifth Element, and Scarlett Johansson turning into sentient goo in Lucy – then Furies should be right up your alley. From French showrunners Jean-Yves Arnaud and Yoann Legave, Furies is eight episodes of chaotic action mayhem about a normal young woman named Lyna (Lina El Arabi) who gets sucked into an underground conspiracy linking all six of the Parisian crime families. It turns out there's a secret society of peacekeepers whose job it is to keep the balance between the houses, and Lyna has that special something they want. Before you know it, she's flipping around, kicking ass on top of speeding trains. You know, the usual. Basically, it's wildly entertaining nonsense — very much like a French Fast and the Furious at times.

How to watch: Furies is now streaming on Netflix

13. One Day Credit: Matt Towers / Netflix

Based on the David Nicholls' novel that was previously adapted into a 2011 film, One Day stars Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall as sometime-lovers Emma and Dexter, whose lives — together and apart — we watch unfold across two decades. The hook is that every episode revisits the two on the same day, July 15, the anniversary of the day they first met. That's a concept that works far better as a series than it did in the rush of a two-hour movie, really enveloping us in the saga of their relationship. But none of that would matter if the leads didn't have killer chemistry; thankfully, Mod and Woodall have a chemistry lab explosion's worth. They buoy this story across all 14 episodes, and they'll have you weeping with joy and heartbreak every day of the way. A real romance for the ages.

How to watch: One Day is now streaming on Netflix

14. The Tourist (Season 2) Credit: Two Brothers Pictures / Netflix

Originally a BBC series, The Tourist stars Jamie Dornan as a hot Irishman who wakes up with amnesia in an Australian hospital. First, he's got to sort out what happened — you know, all the fun "I have amnesia" stuff. But also per usual, his past didn't consist of an office job and stamp-collecting. He's being hunted by dangerous folks, and he's got to sort out his personhood on the run. 

There's more running and figuring out his shit throughout Season 2, and the show continues to be an ace showcase for all the facets of Dornan — an underrated actor who, it turns out, is actually more than just a hot Irishman. The Tourist lets him be funny and dramatic and dig into lots of action scenes, all the while being supernaturally good-looking. There's also a killer supporting cast, including Danielle Macdonald (go watch the movie Patti Cake$ right now if you've never seen it) and Olwen Fouéré (from Mandy and the 2022 Texas Chainsaw reboot).  

How to watch: The Tourist (Season 2) is now streaming on Netflix

15. Young Royals (Season 3) Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Well before the movie version of Red, White & Royal Blue came out (but after the book), there was Young Royals, a soapy Swedish series about a gay princeling (Edvin Ryding) falling for a (gasp) scholarship student named Simon (Omar Rudberg) at their boarding school. The third and final season of the show arrived in March, giving us more of the sweet teen romance the show excels at — the sort that actual teenagers crave and those of us slightly older than that demographic watch now wondering, "What if?" I can't imagine having shows like this and Heartstopper when I was a wee gay princeling.

How to watch: Young Royals (Season 3) is now streaming on Netflix

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Categories: IT General, Technology

24 excellent Oscar–winning movies you can watch on Netflix

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

Few nights in Hollywood's calendar year come close to the glitz and glamor of the Academy Awards. An Oscar statuette is a crowning achievement for anyone involved in the production of film, and those who garner one or more of the gold figurines win the right to label themselves "Academy Award–winning" for the rest of history. Plus, there's the career boost that comes with it. 

With the terrifically entertaining 96th Academy Awards behind us, let's look back at some of the more memorable past winners in various categories, or at least the ones that are currently streaming on Netflix (in no particular order).

Here are the best Oscar-winning movies now streaming on Netflix.

1. My Octopus Teacher Credit: Netflix

Won: Best Documentary Feature 

My Octopus Teacher may have a title that'll raise some eyebrows, but there's a more profound story of unexpected friendship waiting to surprise you. The documentary follows Craig Foster, a free diver who befriends a young octopus living in a bay near Cape Town, South Africa. We watch this young octopus grow fond of Foster as she plays around with him and invites him into her world. It's a gripping story of our relationship with nature and the lessons waiting to be learned from our many beautiful animal friends. — Yasmeen Hamadeh, Entertainment Intern 

How to watch: My Octopus Teacher is streaming on Netflix.

2. Roma Credit: Carlos Somonte / Netflix

Won: Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography

Alfonso Cuarón's Oscar-winning drama follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a housekeeper working for a wealthy family in Mexico City. Thanks to Cuarón's writing, direction, and cinematography (each of which garnered its own respective Oscar), the film is remarkably immersive, enveloping us in Cleo's world in a way most movies strive for and can never even touch. We feel the comfort in her mundane day-to-day, the sting of her boyfriend's betrayal, and blinding panic and trauma in the film's final act. It's a stunning piece of cinema that should be talked about for decades to come. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Roma is streaming on Netflix.

3. American Factory Credit: Aubrey Keith / Netflix

Won: Best Documentary Feature

This 2020 Best Documentary Feature winner takes viewers inside a shuttered General Motors factory in Ohio, recently purchased and re-staffed by a Chinese billionaire, for a stunning look at worker exploitation in the modern age. A complex presentation of multiculturalism and its impacts on the global economy, American Factory is an uncomfortable watch that remains steadfastly objective from start to end but still manages to make its point. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: American Factory is streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 10 documentaries to watch on Netflix if you want to learn something new 4. Marriage Story Credit: Wilson Webb / Netflix

Won: Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)

Writer/director Noah Baumbach’s tense tale of a couple ending their marriage divided audiences, with some viewers reporting they were surprised by whose "side" they ended up on. But critical reception for the film was almost universal in its praise of the story's execution and impact, with leads Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver singled out for their magnetic scene work.

At the 92nd Academy Awards, Marriage Story took home only one Oscar from the six categories in which it was nominated. Still, this artful depiction of intimacy remains a triumph of romantic storytelling, venturing far beyond the Happily Ever After audiences know so well. — A.F.

How to watch: Marriage Story is streaming on Netflix.

5. Darkest Hour Credit: Focus Features

Won: Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Actor (Gary Oldman)

Set in the early years of World War II, Darkest Hour follows Winston Churchill (remarkably played by Gary Oldman) as he navigates Britain's position in the ensuing war, along with the trials and tribulations that follow. On Oldman's Oscar–winning performance, Mashable's Angie Han writes, "Oldman knows the difference between packaging and performance… There's a living, breathing soul underneath all that makeup, at the center of all those tics, and Oldman makes him fascinating to watch." So come for a masterclass in acting by Oldman, and stay for the gripping story that follows; it's worth the watch. — Y.H. 

How to watch: Darkest Hour is streaming on Netflix.

6. The Imitation Game Credit: Screenshot Netflix

Won: Best Adapted Screenplay

This historical drama offers one of Benedict Cumberbatch's best performances. Based on the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges, The Imitation Game dramatizes the life of the British mathematician as he helps Britain's government decrypt German intelligence messages. The task is near-impossible, however, Turing (Cumberbatch) proves to be the man of the hour, but not without a series of tribulations. The drama has been praised for its raw portrayal of mental health and the harsh realities of being queer in the mid-20th century, but it's also been critiqued for some historical inaccuracy. It remains a stunning work of gripping drama nonetheless. Rather than expecting a history lesson, enjoy The Imitation Game's masterclass in acting provided by a star-studded cast that includes Charles Dance, Keira Knightley, and Mark Strong. — Y.H. 

How to watch: The Imitation Game is streaming on Netflix.

7. Everything Everywhere All At Once Credit: A24

Won: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Editing

About as subtle as a heart attack, the Daniels' beloved 2022 multiverse masterwork Everything Everywhere All At Once inexplicably manages to be simultaneously epic and intimate, serious and goofy, sweet and obscene – it's everything to everyone all at once, basically. 

SEE ALSO: How a one-hit wonder became absolutely crucial to 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

Nominally telling the story of a mother (Michelle Yeoh) and a daughter (Stephanie Hsu) who can't figure out how to relate to one another, their movie stretches itself across infinite time and space and bagels to desperately seek beauty out of unhinged mayhem. And it feels like the entirety of our madhouse moment distilled into 140 minutes. So let's do laundry and taxes and Netflix and chill. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Everything Everywhere All At Once is now streaming on Netflix.

8. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Won: Best Live Action Short Film

In 2023, Wes Anderson directed a series of short films based on Roald Dahl stories for Netflix. It was the longest and most substantial of the four that finally got the director his long-overdue Oscar statue. (Let's pretend it's an apology for the crime that was not giving his 2023 masterpiece Asteroid City a single nomination.) The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (taken from the 1977 collection of short stories with the same name) tells the tale of a disaffected gambler (Benedict Cumberbatch) who learns how to harness the power of his mind from a legendary yogi (Ben Kingsley) to win big. But what happens once you have everything? This 39-minute short hits that final mark beautifully. 

If you love Anderson's signature aesthetic, you'd be wise to watch all four of the ones Netflix commissioned. They're all wonderful. (My particular favorite is The Rat Catcher, which more than any of the other four really nails Dahl's nasty streak as we watch an hilariously aggressive Ralph Fiennes as a sharp-toothed rodent-hunter on the prowl.) — J.A.

How to watch: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Jurassic Park

Won: Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Visual Effects

Forget six million years ago — it was 1993 when dinosaurs really ruled the Earth, thanks to Steven Spielberg's legendary summer blockbuster. An adaptation of Michael Crichton's hit novel about scientists cloning the extinct creatures all in the name of a fun theme park for the kiddos, Jurassic Park shows what happens when innovation outpaces reason. Or, as Jeff Goldblum's iconic leather-clad chaotician Ian Malcolm puts it succinctly, "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, that they didn't stop to think if they should." (Take heed, AI creators.)

Naturally, all hell breaks loose, as it's been breaking loose in every Jurassic sequel since. But none quite compare to what Spielberg & Co. did a full 30-plus years back. Goldblum, Sam Neill, and Laura Dern delivered charisma alongside sexual tension and science chatter to enchanting effect. The special effects are a perfect mixture of animatronics by the legendary Stan Winston with newfangled computer generated imagery crafted by the fine folks at Industrial Light & Magic. They still hold up today. Honestly, they look better than the full CG ones in half of the sequels. I have watched the T-Rex attack those kids in that Explorer a thousand times, and I hold my breath every dang time. — J.A.

How to watch: Jurassic Park is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Credit: Netflix

Won: Best Animated Feature

You know when hitting play on this movie that the fantastic horror visionary Guillermo del Toro isn't going to be telling Walt Disney's version of Pinocchio. Meaning no offense to that 1940 animated masterpiece, but del Toro took that classic's scattered-about scary moments – the donkeys, oh god, the donkeys! – and multiplied them by infinity. 

Setting the story of the little wooden boy who gets wished to life by his depressed carver Geppetto in WWII-era fascist Italy, del Toro slathers his version of the fairy tale in politics and righteously disturbing anti-war propaganda. And that's before he violently kills off our main character multiple times. Featuring voice acting by Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, and Christoph Waltz, plus revelatory stop-motion work from the animators at ShadowMachine, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is like no other. — J.A.

How to watch: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is now streaming on Netflix.

11. L.A. Confidential

Won: Best Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger), Best Adapted Screenplay

This 1997 film from the deeply underrated director Curtis Hanson was a big hit at the Oscars, getting nominated for nine awards total. An adaptation of James Ellroy's 1990 crime novel, L.A. Confidential is basically about the war between some good cops and some bad cops in 1953 Los Angeles. Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, and James Cromwell all take to the suits and fedoras and hard-boiled dialogue extremely well. And Hanson provides a rock-solid foundation for Ellroy's intriguing dark mystery to play out upon. But it's Kim Basinger, playing a sex worker whose resemblance to Veronica Lake is her great blessing and curse, who steals the movie. And it was Basinger who walked away with its only acting statue. 

This movie would make for an ace double feature with Chinatown, though – a lovely night of L.A.-set neo-noirs showcasing the myriad ways that the Hollywood machine can grind people up in its gears. What a town! — J.A.

How to watch: L.A. Confidential is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Whiplash Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Won: Best Supporting Actor (J.K. Simmons), Best Editing, Best Sound

When he was just 29 years old, writer/director Damien Chazelle's second feature film, 2014's Whiplash, took Sundance by storm. By the time he was 30, he had snagged himself a Best Adapted Screenplay nom, along with a slew of other honors for the adrenaline-fueled indie. Thank goodness he didn't let all of that early success go straight to his head and blow all his movie-making capital on a great big vanity project next! (He waited, making two more movies and winning a Best Director Oscar for La La Land before bestowing upon us the toxic epic that is Babylon.) 

Still, it's easy to see why everybody fell for Whiplash, a ferocious music school tale where we watch an overly determined drumming prodigy (Miles Teller) meet his match in an abusive teacher (J.K. Simmons). Asking questions about the dangerous lengths we're tempted to go to be the best, the film was ahead of its time in taking a hard look at the excuses we make for the sake of so-called genius. — J.A.

How to watch: Whiplash is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Joker

Won: Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Best Score

It's weird that it took a comic book movie to finally win Joaquin Phoenix Best Actor, right? With all the out-there choices with heralded directors he's made in his career, it was the role of the dancing clown supervillain — one that had already won a different actor an Oscar, at that! — that finally got our Phoenix over the finish line. 

Todd Phillips' 2019 film Joker went all out with its stabbing at seriousness, wallowing in the seediest corners of the comic book canon in order to prove its cinematic bonafides. This certainly ain't Cesar Romero. An origin story that sees a rage-fueled stand-up comic give in to his barely buried bloodlust after a relentless series of humiliations, Joker is misery porn slathered and smeared in technicolor make-up. But Joaquin Phoenix sure makes it dance. — J.A. 

How to watch: Joker is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Mank Credit: Netflix

Won: Best Production Design, Best Cinematography

Director David Fincher's father Jack had a decades-long obsession with the story of the making of Orson Welles' masterpiece Citizen Kane. Specifically, he was fascinated by screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (aka Mank) and how much credit he deserved for the final product, given the well-known fact that Mank was a fall-down drunk. And so Jack wrote a film script about the story, hoping he and his son could make the movie together. But the project languished and Jack passed away in 2003, never seeing it realized. 

David Fincher stayed determined though. In 2020 he finally delivered a film starring Gary Oldman as Mank that feels unlike almost anything else the Social Network director has done. Awash in nostalgia and a hard-fought sincerity, you can feel Fincher's love for his father thrumming through the movie — most especially in the ways the film itself side-eyes a creator's ability to twist truth into fiction. Amanda Seyfried, wonderful in the role of real-life actress Marion Davies, sees straight through to how Mank can spin truth into fiction with one clack of his typewriter key, and gives the movie its tremulous heart. — J.A. 

How to watch: Mank is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Erin Brockovich

Won: Best Actress (Julia Roberts)

Julia Roberts put her superpowered movie stardom to its best use yet (ever?) with Steven Soderbergh's legal thriller Erin Brockovitch. Here, our beloved Pretty Woman tackled a brash real-life role and knocked it out of the park. 

This Silkwood-esque dramatization of the true story follows a paralegal who uncovered a conspiracy involving a gas and electric company that had been poisoning the residents of a small town for decades. Erin Brockovitch is Soderbergh working at his mainstream best. It's a total stand-up-and-cheer, bring-down-dastardly-Goliath kinda movie, and Roberts' megawatt magnetism — plus an ace script from Susannah Grant — carries us through the darker aspects of it with wit and charm and heart to spare. It's a win in every aspect. — J.A. 

How to watch: Erin Brockovich is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Power of the Dog Credit: Netflix

Won: Best Director (Jane Campion)

Adapted from Thomas Savage's 1967 novel, The Power of the Dog sees Benedict Cumberbatch slip his twisted beanpole self into a pair of dirty dungarees as Phil Burbank, a deeply closeted cowboy in 1925 Montana at the tail end of the time for such ranch-haunting relics. One day in town, Phil's brother George (Jesse Plemons) finds himself a wife named Rose (Kirsten Dunst), and Phil does not like that one bit! Once Rose and her weirdo son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) move in with the brothers, it's a war of the wills, and only one queer cowpoke's gonna be left standing. A psychotic marvel of a movie that only Jane Campion could've delivered. — J.A.

How to watch: The Power of the Dog is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: The (very) brief Oscars history of women nominated for Best Director 17. RRR

Won: Best Song

A Tollywood spectacle like they're only capable of making, this three-hour-plus epic from director S.S. Rajamouli tells the 1920s-set story of the best buddies Bheem (N. T. Rama Rao Jr.) and Raja (Ram Charan), who end up on opposite sides of the revolution against the British Raj. Will they fight? Will they make up? Will they sing and dance? Absolutely. 

All of these questions, many tigers, and much, much more make RRR's three hours an absolute breeze. A truly over-the-top spectacle of action and romance and several musical sequences, it was the latter which got the Academy's attention, with the unforgettable dance number "Naatu Naatu" stomping all its rivals out of the way for the little gold man statue in the end. — J.A.

How to watch: RRR is now streaming on Netflix.

18. The Sting

Won: Best Picture, Best Director (George Roy Hill), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Score

Four years after Paul Newman and Robert Redford Thelma-and-Louise'd themselves off that cliff together in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the prettiest American movie stars of their generation (give or take a Warren Beatty) reunited with their director George Roy Hill for another good time in snug pants with The Sting. And the Academy went absolutely bonkers for it, nominating the film for ten Oscars and ultimately giving it seven of them. Among the three losers that night was Robert Redford, who would win one in a few years for Best Director of Ordinary People, and who'd get an Honorary in 2002. But, fun fact, this remains his only acting nomination to date.

In The Sting, Redford plays Johnny Hooker, a gambling grifter on the lam who teams up with another one of his kind by the name of Henry Gondorff (Newman) in order to run an elaborate series of cons on a dangerous mob boss (Robert Shaw). And if any of that sounds dark, it plays as anything but. The Sting is light as air, a star-powered charm machine. Think of an Ocean's film set during the Great Depression and you'll get the gist of it. — J.A. 

How to watch: The Sting is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Minari Credit: A24

Won: Best Supporting Actress (Youn Yuh-jung)

Staring at the "American Dream" from a perspective somewhat askance — a view we're given far too infrequently — writer/director Lee Isaac Chung based Minari story loosely on his own childhood growing up in rural Arkansas in the 1980s. Steven Yeun plays Jacob, a South Korean immigrant, husband, and father of two who picks his family up from their comfortable life in California and plunks them down in the middle of Arkansas. Jacob has a dream of working the land, becoming a farmer, and uncovering an American market for Korean vegetables that hasn't been tapped. He just hasn't thought through all of the details yet.

SEE ALSO: The language of 'Minari' feels to me like coming home

His wife Monica (Han Ye-ri) tries to be supportive, while their kids Anne (Noel Kate Cho) and David (Alan Kim) feel mostly bewildered by the big change. Everybody agrees they need some help once they get there though, and so in comes Monica's colorful mother Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) from the homeland, which causes its own wave of assimilation trials. Extraordinarily moving and intimate, with a gorgeous, Oscar-nominated score from composer Emile Mosseri, Minari is one of the great family dramas of our time. — J.A.

How to watch: Minari is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Phantom Thread

Won: Best Costume Design

Early on in the filmmaking process, very serious artists writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson and actor Daniel Day-Lewis were trying to figure out a name for the lead character in their next collaboration. Naturally, their text thread led to a dick joke that, in turn, birthed the moniker "Reynolds Woodcock."

That movie became Phantom Thread, a darkly hilarious romance about a stuffy fashion designer who meets his match in a blushing waitress (Vicky Krieps). There's something perfect about it all being built on a dick joke. Phantom Thread is ultimately a satire of male domination, and an ode to the armies of women who've trussed up the egos of pampered men and gotten the jobs done in spite of them. 

Pulling their female lead out of nowhere (aka Luxembourg), Anderson gave a role for the ages to the relative newcomer Krieps, who goes toe to toe with the greatest actor of his generation. And, much like Alma the blushing waitress does to Reynolds, she shows DDL how it's done. Incredibly, while both Day-Lewis and Lesley Manville, who played Reynolds' deliciously stern sister Cyril, got nods — Krieps was snubbed. It's a crime, considering the effortless way she steals the entire movie away from them all with just her Mona Lisa smile and a basket of suspicious mushrooms. — J.A. 

How to watch: Phantom Thread is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Out of Africa

Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Sydney Pollack), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound, Best Score

One of those enormous '80s epics that came to typify the idea of Oscar bait, Sydney Pollack's Out of Africa now seems the type of movie that Hollywood is, sadly, no longer particularly interested in making. It's a film about ideas and characters and adults, ones that takes its time with beautiful stars like Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and seemingly bottomless budgets. All this makes their exploits as grand as they should seem coming from the Dream Factory — we didn't know how good we had it!

An adaptation of an autobiography by the Danish writer Isak Dinesen (aka Karen Blixen), Out of Africa tells Blixen's story of being married off to a Swedish baron living in Kenya (then known as British East Africa) in 1913. Karen (Streep) slowly begins a love affair with the land itself, as well as with a big game hunter who dwells on that land, played by Redford. If you can deal with some of the dated perspectives being at the romance's heart — colonialism, white savior narratives, and big game hunting, just to name a few — this is some of Streep's loveliest work. Pollock and his DP David Watkin shoot the land spectacularly. — J.A.

How to watch: Out of Africa is now streaming on Netflix.

22. King Kong (2005)

Won: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects

Like Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, King Kong was a lifelong dream project for Lord of the Rings helmer Peter Jackson. And like Pinocchio, this passion shows in every overstuffed minute. Over three hours long, Jackson's film drips with love and ambition, as well as with a desire to take the genius of Merian C. Cooper's 1933 classic and update every square inch of it to the best of 2005's abilities. 

All these years later, some of the seams do show in the special effects, but there are no seams in its heartfelt retelling or wonderful performances. Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow, the starlet who screams and screams and screams her way from Skull Island to the top of the Empire State Building, gives what might still be the greatest performance opposite an entirely CG screen partner. Andy Serkis gives it right back as the great ape with a heart too big for this small world full of small men. — J.A.  

How to watch: King Kong is now streaming on Netflix.

23. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) Credit: Reiner Bajo / Netflix

Won: Best International Feature, Best Score, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design

This is one of the rare instances where a remake of a classic film ended up being a terrific idea. The original 1930 All Quiet on the Western Front was one of the very first Best Picture winners, and it remains great to this day. So, how did they make a remake work? It was a pretty simple idea, actually. Director Edward Berger took the original story, which drops audiences down in the dirt with the German soldiers during World War I, and he filmed it in Germany with German actors. Wild, right? 

Still, the 90-year update on film techniques also helped in situating viewers in the middle of that maelstrom. Taking a page from Sam Mendes' 1917, Berger and his DP James Friend really make us feel like we're right there in the trenches, dodging the bullets and bombs as often as they hit their deadly mark. The anti-war message of the original comes through loud and clear, bolstered by the unforgettable drone of Volker Bertelmann's score. The baton-pass nature of the script, which introduces character after character only to see them get ground up in the horrible machinery of war, is a correctly unsubtle hammering home of combat's cruel dehumanization. — J.A. 

How to watch: All Quiet on the Western Front is now streaming on Netflix.

24. The Great Gatsby (2013)

Won: Best Costume Design, Best Production Design

Leonardo DiCaprio is Jay Gatsby, the mysterious self-made millionaire who's seized ahold of the 1920s society pages of the New York set through sheer force of will (not to mention much tossing of money). Tobey Maguire is Nick Carraway, a down-on-his-luck writer who gets pulled under Gatsby's spell. And there's Joel Edgerton as an old-money prick with tight hair and tighter jodhpurs named Tom. And Carey Mulligan as Tom's wife Daisy, the dapper flapper somehow at the center of it all. And is that Elizabeth Debicki swanning around as a sumptuous female golfer? 

Baz Luhrmann's filmmaking choices, as well as the script co-written with frequent collaborator Craig Pearce, blast away the more subtle beauties of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald's prose. However, Luhrmann has proven to be an inspired and prescient choice for the helm. If there's one thing we've become familiar with since Gatsby was released in 2013, it's the vulgar melodrama of a con man forcing his way into power far beyond his control for entirely selfish reasons, and all of the destruction that such an act leaves in its wake. — J.A.

How to watch: The Great Gatsby is now streaming on Netflix.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry has been modified from a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Apr. 2, 2024, 4:52 p.m. EDT This list has been updated to reflect Netflix's current selection.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Watch Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best laptops for students: MacBooks, Microsoft Surface, and more

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

If you’re a college student, your laptop is your toolbox, your textbook, your everything — and you need a solid machine that’s going to last you from orientation to graduation. It’s an essential tool, and you need one that you can rely on. No one has the extra cash to replace a subpar laptop halfway through school, and you don’t want to be dealing with unexpected repairs when you have papers to write and parties to attend.

Luckily, there are a ton of affordable student laptops worth buying — as well as ones that (while a little pricier) are the specialized tools you need if you’re going into a field that requires specific hardware (think video game engineering). Better yet, even some pricier options are often on sale, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 9, our favorite 2-in-1 laptop on this list.

Whether you’re looking for a Mac or PC (and yes, you should definitely consider a PC), there’s something out there for any college student.

SEE ALSO: Here's when to buy a laptop, whether you need the latest specs or a great deal

Memory and processors are important when you’re looking for the best laptops for students: You’ll want something that can handle a ton of tabs and simultaneous programs, as well as enough storage to save downloaded lectures, textbooks, films, the dreaded term project, and other study materials. And that’s just speaking generally — if you’re studying graphic design, computer science, video production, or other computer-intensive subjects, you’ll need a laptop that has a little more oomph in the CPU department so you can power through those projects.

What's the best laptop for students?

If you plan to go into a graphics-heavy field like video game engineering or data visualization, you’re going to want to have a machine that’s a little more powerful than your average Chromebook to get you through your processor-intensive coursework. Keep an eye out for video editing laptops or even gaming laptops — you’ll want to look for features like 8-core or AMD Ryzen processors that deliver superior smoothness when there’s a lot going on, as well as souped-up graphics cards.

It’s hard to get over the fact that most quality laptops cost north of a grand, so think of this as an investment in your education. That being said, the broke student life is real, so we’ve included some budget options that balance not-eye-watering price tags with performance and durability. Here are our favorite student laptops for 2024.

Categories: IT General, Technology

From Grindr to Scruff: The best dating apps for gay, bi, and queer men

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

Most people have at least one horror story about online dating. It's a rite of passage — one that single people love to hate.

But the horror stories look a little different for members of the LGBTQ+ community. For gay men, online dating throws a unique set of challenges into the mix. On top of the usual woes, such as ghosting and catfishing, you might encounter unnecessary questioning about your past, straight guys who shouldn't be in your feed, and even some not-so-subtle fetishization. Not exactly the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling we're all after, right?

Despite the BS, the best gay dating apps have helped millions of men make meaningful connections (and saucy hookups too).

SEE ALSO: Archer is the new 'social-first' dating app for queer men

According to the Pew Research Center, one-quarter (approximately) of LGBTQ+ adults say they met their match through online dating. The problem? Not all apps are created equal, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.

What is the best gay dating app?

While Grindr is a big name, there are other options that cater to the specific needs and preferences of gay men.

"Grindr is a tried and true app that many queer men gravitate toward to find partners or for relationships that require lesser commitment, so it’s easy to point to it as the #1 app," Michelle Herzog, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells Mashable. "However, like Tinder, it’s gained a reputation as a hookup app – but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t men looking for long-term commitments, either."

Sometimes going for a popular dating app can be your best bet since that's where queer users tend to mingle in the biggest numbers. Keeping Tinder on the back burner isn't just a straight people thing (especially for those of us who live in less-populated areas where Grindr and Scruff offer slim pickings). You can also try niche dating sites if you tend to like a certain type of man, but in general, the more popular apps offer the greatest chance of success.

Plus, some mainstream apps deserve credit for trying to create a more inclusive atmosphere. OkCupid gets kudos for embracing change and making social justice a core part of its compatibility scoring.

Whether you're looking for something serious, a hookup, something that stays strictly online, or an altogether different definition of connection, there's an ideal queer dating app out there for you. Here's a breakdown of the best dating apps for gay men to help you find your perfect match.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 13 best dating apps for lasting connections or casual fun

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 11:00

Once upon a time, we had to rely on good old luck, wit, and charm to find love. Today, it's a little easier to woo potential partners without putting ourselves out there, out there. Thanks to the ever-evolving landscape of dating, sex, and technology, finding love or a quick fling is as simple as downloading an app.

The best dating apps give you the rare opportunity to connect with hundreds of people you wouldn't have otherwise met while also allowing you to explore your sexuality and find out what you want in a partner. Yes, that includes potentially connecting with hundreds of people you'd rather not have known, too, but we still think the pros outweigh the cons.

SEE ALSO: The dating app glossary: The A to Z of terms you need to know

Statista predicts that the online dating user base in the U.S. will grow to 53.3 million by 2025, a leap from 44.2 million users in 2020. It's also becoming more and more common to meet serious, long-term partners on apps. A 2022 survey from the Pew Research Center found that out of the nearly 6,000 respondents they heard from, one in 10 partnered adults (those who were married, in a long-term relationship, or living together) met through a dating app.

Which dating apps actually work?

With so many dating apps out there, it's easy to feel confused or overwhelmed by the options. While Match Group (Tinder, Match, Archer, OkCupid, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and The League, among others) continues to dominate the market, you don't have to limit yourself to just one brand when looking for the best dating app.

SEE ALSO: How to stay safe on dating apps

First Round’s On Me (FROME), for example, is a newer dating app that's gained popularity for its date invitation feature. Choose a drink, date, time, and venue; the app will send a personalized invitation to your potential match. Once a date is confirmed, it's locked into both users' calendars, and the in-app chat feature is activated 12 hours before the date.

Other apps, like Pure and FetLife, cater to people open to ethical, non-monogamous relationships or threesomes. There really is something for everyone out there. There are even more traditional dating apps like eharmony, Facebook Dating (think Tinder Lite for your grandma), and Christian Mingle that swap endless scrolling for compatibility quizzes and faith-based connections.

The best dating apps of 2024

Finding the best dating app is purely subjective. To help you out, we've narrowed down some of the best dating apps of 2024 based on hands-on testing, customer reviews, overall functionality, availability (all are available on the App Store or Google Play), and user-friendliness:

Categories: IT General, Technology

27 of the best AI and ChatGPT courses you can take online for free

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: A wide range of free AI and ChatGPT courses are available on Udemy. Learn how to boost your business, create search-friendly content, and so much more with this technology.

The possibilities are almost endless with AI, but do you really know how to harness the power of this technology? Most people don't know the ins and outs of artificial intelligence, so you could give yourself a serious advantage by better understanding this constantly-evolving world.

And the good news for anyone interested in learning about AI is that Udemy is offering a wide range of online courses on AI and ChatGPT for free. We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started.

These are the best online AI and ChatGPT courses you can take for free this month:

It's important to note that free online courses do not offer certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but you still get unrestricted access to all the video content. You can still learn at a pace that suits you, so what are you waiting for?

Find the best free AI and ChatGPT courses on Udemy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Udemy AI and ChatGPT Courses Free at Udemy Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

This expert-led cybersecurity and IT training bundle is on sale for under £30

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: The Ultimate Cybersecurity and IT Career Certification Pathway Training Bundle is on sale for £22.25 with the code SECURE20.

With so much of our lives entangled online, companies of varying sizes and industries are constantly on the lookout for skilled individuals who can protect their respective systems and make them virtually impenetrable. The good news is if you're interested in venturing into this career, you don't necessarily have to go back to school.

This Cybersecurity and IT Career Pathway Training Bundle offers ample training to get your foot in the door. It covers the basics of IT and helps you prepare for certification tests that employers typically look for in IT professionals. For a limited time, you can score the training for only £22.25 with the code SECURE20.

Put together by Cisco Certified Systems Instructor David Bombal and CompTIA Certification Pro Mike Meyers and his team, this expert-led bundle packs eight courses and 169 hours of training on cybersecurity fundamentals. Through beginner-friendly lectures, you can expect to get to grips with the fundamentals of ethical hacking, like cracking passwords and intercepting traffic, the ABCs of security, like risk management, risk mitigation, and threat management, and the building blocks of network management like designing and implementing functional networks and troubleshooting basic to advanced network problems.

In terms of certification prep, you can also expect to receive assistance with training for various tests, including CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA CySA+, and more. You also have the option to take the courses at your own pace, at your own time, and using just about any device.

Grab this Cybersecurity and IT Career Pathway Training Bundle on sale for £22.25 with the code SECURE20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cisco The Ultimate Cybersecurity and IT Career Certification Pathway Training Bundle £22.25 with the code SECURE20 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 6

Mashable - Sat, 04/06/2024 - 04:00

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 6's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

A songbird.

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 F.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1022 is...

FINCH.

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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