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The old Alexa can't answer your questions about Taylor Swift's new album, but Swift can.

In promotion of The Tortured Poets Department, out April 19, the pop star will answer your burning questions about the album on Amazon Alexa. For example, when you ask, "When does Taylor Swift's new album come out?" Alexa passes the mic to Swift who says, "Hey it's Taylor Swift. My new album The Tortured Poets Department is out this Friday. All is fair in love and poetry."

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's music returns to TikTok ahead of 'The Tortured Poets Department' release

Swift famously never shies away from any opportunity to promote her music, despite current critiques of her artistic integrity. She managed to be the only Universal Music Group artist to get her music back on TikTok ahead of her album's release. That's not to mention her recent collaboration with Spotify in Los Angeles: a "library installation" that reveals details about the album via poetry typed on faux old-timey parchment — a fun gimmick that the corporate partnership detracts from. (Each piece of paper features the Spotify logo.) And on Instagram, if you type "Taylor Swift" a writing emoji appears.

Tweet may have been deleted Credit: Instagram

For her last album, Midnights, she partnered with TikTok and Spotify as well as Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Football and Tumblr. She's also one of many artists utilizing the album variant approach to maximize sales and profits.

Swift recently became a billionaire and remains under fire for her private jet use. But Alexa can probably tell you that.

SAVE 18%: An Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming device is just $114.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $139.99. That's a savings of $25.

Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming device $114.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal

Does your TV take forever to boot up Netflix, taking precious time away from your evening shows? If you tend to wait for apps to load, investing in a high-end streaming device could make your viewing experience more enjoyable. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can get lightning-fast streaming while saving some money.

As of April 17, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is $114.99, marked down from the normal price of $139.99. That's an 18% discount or a savings of $25. This deal includes the Fire TV Cube streaming device, an Alexa voice-enhanced remote, and a power adapter.

SEE ALSO: The best time to buy a TV: A guide to the times of year that you'll find the best TV deals

The Amazon Fire TV Cube is capable of streaming 4K media, fast. Amazon says the Fire TV Cube is two times as powerful as the popular Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The Fire TV Cube uses an octa-core 2.0 GHz processor for faster launching and navigating of your favorite apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu. The cube can also support WiFi 6E for the latest in speedy internet connection.

The Fire TV Cube also works with voice commands thanks to the included remote control, so you can ask Alexa to change the volume of the TV or open Disney+.

If your streaming device is no longer keeping up or can't support streaming in 4K, this is your sign that it's time to upgrade. Grab the Amazon Fire TV Cube for just $114.99 and get used to quick streaming and navigating.

Wade Allain-Marcus describes how he sees his Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead as more of a remix than a remake. Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead is now in theaters.

SAVE $30: The Shokz OpenFit wireless headphones are on sale for $149.95 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $179.95. That's a 17% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenFit headphones $149.95 at Amazon
$179.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Headphones have become part of our everyday tech needs. Whether you prefer over-the-ear or earbuds, finding a pair that feels comfortable can be tough. If you're searching for a pair that focuses on comfort and all-day wearability, today's deal at Amazon might grant your wish.

As of April 17, the Shokz OpenFit wireless headphones are just $149.95, down from the standard price of $179.95. That's a savings of $30 or a 17% discount.

The Shokz OpenFit focus on a comfortable and secure fit without sacrificing sound quality. They have an over-ear design that keeps the earbuds secured thanks to a flexible ear hook. This design can be especially beneficial if you like to go for neighborhood runs, workout with a jump rope, or otherwise tend to have issues with keeping earbuds in place.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best earbuds on Amazon start at just $9

With the included charging case, expect to get up to 28 hours of listening time. The Shokz OpenFit also use situational awareness, so while you're jamming out to your favorite playlist you can still hear what's happening around you. This trend is appearing more often, with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds also focusing on letting users stay in tune with their surroundings.

The Shokz OpenFit are also great for those who live in climates where rain is common. The OpenFit have a double layer of waterproof steel mesh and gauze so a bit of rain or sweat won't be an issue.

If you're tired of earbuds being painful after an hour of wear, the Shokz OpenFit aim to offer both comfort and function. Plus, they have pretty awesome battery life. Score today's deal to save $30 and listen in comfort.

SAVE $80: As of April 17, get the 32-inch 2-Series HD Amazon Fire TV for just $119.99. That's a discount of 40%.

32-inch 2-Series HD Amazon Fire TV $119.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new TV, there are tons of great options available — but some of the best smart TVs you'll find are part of Amazon's Fire TV series. These affordable displays offer big functionality at low prices, especially if you're looking to add a screen to your home setup or a starter TV that you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on. Now's a great time to lock in a purchase as you can get one of the lineup's budget models for even cheaper than usual.

As of April 17, the Amazon 32-inch 2-Series Fire TV is just $119.99 at Amazon. That's $80 off its normal price of $199.99, and a discount of 40%.

SEE ALSO: Turn your TV into a digital art gallery for $32

This is a basic smart TV that doesn't offer many of its higher-priced siblings' features, but it's still a great screen if you want smart capabilities. It uses the Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote for hands-free control with Alexa Voice Search, which means never typing in long show names at a snail's pace again. On top of that, it supports all the normal Alexa apps you'd be able to use within the Fire ecosystem.

This TV doesn't support 4K, as it only goes up to HD 720p resolution, so keep that in mind when purchasing. But at this price, you get a streaming-capable TV with voice control support, live TV streaming, and a connection to Fire TV's live TV options, plus gaming and music. It's a great buy for just over $100.

iOS 18, Apple's next big annual update, is several months away, but it's never too early to start talking about it.

Yes, rumors are already flying around about iOS 18, the theoretical follow-up to last year's iOS 17 update. I say "theoretical" because Apple has yet to publicly talk about it, but you can rest easy knowing it'll almost certainly come out at some point this year. And when it does, it may or may not be a total overhaul of the iOS experience (more on this later).

Here's everything we know about iOS 18 so far.

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks: Which Apple laptop would we buy in 2024? iOS 18 release date

This part is easy. Even with no confirmation from Apple, we can safely assume iOS 18 will launch in September, around the same time as the also-unconfirmed iPhone 16.

That's because every new version of iOS launches in September, around the same time as the new iPhone. Unlike MacBooks and iPads, iOS release dates are

iOS 18 features

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a well-known Apple prognosticator, reported in January that iOS 18 will "one of the biggest" updates in iOS history.

AI and Siri

Expect iOS 18 to have some kind of emphasis on AI, generative or otherwise.

Siri could get an AI boost Credit: Apple

This could mean improvements to Siri as well as AI integration into Messages and other built-in iOS apps. Perhaps Messages could proofread your texts for you, or Safari could summarize webpages. These features would be in line with what Samsung and Google have done with their most recent flagship devices.

Keep in mind, however, that Apple is not planning to debut its own generative AI chatbot, according to Gurman.

Instead, Apple is reportedly in talks with companies like Google, OpenAI, and Baidu for key AI partnerships (via MacRumors). Also revealed in his Power On newsletter, Gurman said "it looks like the initial wave of [artificial intelligence] features will work entirely on device.

In other words, iOS 18's reported new AI features won't be relying on cloud processing.

And finally, according to a backend code discovered by Nicolás Álvarez, Safari will reportedly have an AI-powered browsing assistant. (A MacRumors contributor confirmed the code exists.)

RCS messaging standard

Aside from that, the best prediction we can make regarding iOS 18 is that texting with Android users will probably be a better experience.

Credit: Apple

That's because Apple already confirmed it will adopt the Rich Communication Services (or RCS) messaging standard starting this year.

As MacRumors pointed out, this means that the following should see improvements between iOS and Android devices:

• Wi-Fi messaging

• Read receipts

• Typing indicators

• Audio messages

• Resolution of photos and videos

We're also expecting to see improvements to group chats between iPhone and Android phones.

Accessibility

When it comes to accessibility features, which includes settings that better support your vision, mobility, hearing, and cognitive needs, iOS 18 is reportedly getting some enhancements.

First up is Live Speech. This perk, which lets you type what you want to say before it gets read aloud, is getting a new "Categories" feature, according to MacRumors.

With this new functionality, you'll now have the option to organize frequently used or favorite phrases into categories of your choice.

Secondly, rumor has it that Apple is rolling out "Adaptive Voice Shortcuts," which lets you map custom phrases to a specific accessibility feature. As such, if you say a specific custom phrase, you should be able to launch the accessibility feature that you linked it to.

More customizable Home Screens

Historically, Apple hasn't really let iPhone Home Screen customization roam free, aside from giving users the ability to move icons around. But according to MacRumors, Apple could roll out a Home Screen refresh with iOS 18, with users reportedly to be given more freedom with icon arrangement — and per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, more customization could also be coming for Lock Screens too.

Apple Maps

According to MacRumors, iOS 18 will bring two new features to Apple Maps:

• Custom routes

• Topographic maps

Custom routes allows users to select roads of their choice before navigating from point A to point B, a feature Google Maps already supports.

Credit: Apple

Topographic maps, which already debuted on Apple Watch via watchOS 10, allow users to see maps with more detail, including contour lines, trails, elevation, and more.

Notes app

According to an exclusive from AppleInsider, the Notes app will have two new features in iOS 18:

• Built-in audio recording support

• "Math Notes," a feature that leverages Apple Calculator

Diving a little deeper into these new features, the Notes app in iOS 18 is reportedly getting an audio recording perk in the app. Users will likely have the option to add images and texts to these voice notes. For example, a student can record a lecture and add screenshots of their lecture to the audio capture.

There's also an alleged new "Math Notes" feature. "The update is likely to usher in support for displaying mathematic notation, an essential shorthand for academic, science, and engineering applications," AppleInsider said.

AirPods 'hearing aid mode'

Alongside the release of iOS 18, Gurman claims that the AirPods Pro will get a new "hearing aid mode."

Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Keep in mind that the AirPods Pro already have a Conversation Boost feature, which increases the clarity of speakers directly in front of the user. However, what Apple has planned for its earbuds is reportedly a slight upgrade.

iOS 18 is expected to be revealed at WWDC 2024 in June. Stay tuned for Mashable's coverage on the highly anticipated Apple event.

TL;DR: Watch Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich could not be separated in the first leg of their quarter-final matchup. There was a lot of quality on display, mixed in with a big dose of drama. And we're expecting more of the same in the second leg. Everything is on the line, after all.

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

When is Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal?

Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal will kick off at 8 p.m. BST on April 17. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal for free

Austrian viewers can live stream select Champions League fixtures for free (with German commentary) through Austrian broadcaster ServusTV. This free schedule includes the quarter-final second leg fixture between Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal.

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

Unblock ServusTV by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Stream Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal before recovering your investment. And the best VPNs return your cash without hassle.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on sites like ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal for free with ExpressVPN.

I'd just got in the bath when my phone buzzed on the window sill. It was, alas, out of reach. But I had a sneaking suspicion of who the message was from.

I got up and leaned across to my device, bath suds and water dripping all over the floor. With wet fingers, I swiped up to see the WhatsApp and instantly wished I'd stayed in the bath.

"Send pics," read the message from the guy I barely knew.

Until this moment, things had been going so well. So well, in fact, that I was deeply suspicious.

Sending nudes to a near-stranger in the early stages of dating is a boundary for me. That might not be the case for everyone, but in my case, it's not something I do unless I'm sleeping with the person. But at this point, I hadn't even gone on a first date with this guy yet. We'd simply kissed on a night out with friends and started texting each other.

I sat back in the bath and deliberated how to respond. My heart raced as I asked myself if it was easier to just comply with this request. My thoughts urged me not to be awkward, not to be a prude. But something stronger was overriding these — a fierce feeling that I just didn't want to do what was being asked of me. The anxiety I could physically feel told me I'd be crossing my own boundaries if I yielded.

I waited an hour, scrambling to find the right words to tell him 'no.' "Hey," I began. "So I have a rule that I don't send pics to someone unless I've slept with them." He replied almost instantly. "That is a very good rule," he said. The conversation went back to whatever we'd been talking about before. No awkwardness, no annoyance, nothing that I'd feared had happened.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that at age 30, I shouldn't be struggling to tell a man I'd met twice that I didn't want to do something. But here we are. My friends also tell me they feel highly nervous, overcome with anxiety when setting boundaries in the early stages of dating.

Why are boundaries important?

So, why are boundaries so important? "Boundaries set the basic guidelines for how a person wants to be treated," according to Neil Wilkie, founder of online couples therapy platform The Relationship Paradigm. "Clear boundaries are essential for our own mental health and self-esteem."

While this post deals primarily with boundaries in dating and romantic and sexual relationships, I'd note that boundaries are vital in ALL relationships — be that with family, friends, colleagues, and even your internet followers. For marginalised communities, in particular, respecting boundaries is deeply important in preventing re-traumatisation, and examples of boundary violations can include white people asking their Black friends to explain racism and people tagging sexual violence survivors in social media posts about sexual trauma. Everyone has the right to set boundaries and to have them respected.

SEE ALSO: How to set sexual boundaries Why does boundary setting feel difficult?

Boundaries are key, but in terms of dating, establishing them with someone you like and don't know very well can seem a little daunting at first. "When we’re nervous about holding onto someone else’s approval we can compromise on boundaries," Rachael Lloyd, relationship expert at eharmony, told me. "But once you start doing that, your own sense of self can erode and you can soon lose yourself in the relationship." If you're not 100 percent sure of your own boundaries, Lloyd said you might be clued in by your instincts. "You’ll know when a boundary is overstepped because you’re likely to suddenly feel triggered emotionally, within your body."

Getting in early with boundary setting also means heading off at the pass any potential future sources of resentment and friction that could arise. "In the early days of a relationship it is rare for a couple to discuss boundaries, which will mean that the ground rules are unclear and uncertain," explained Wilkie. Discussing your sexual boundaries with a new partner is particularly important in making sure you both feel comfortable and safe. "It is so much easier to talk about boundaries in the early days of a relationship as that will be coming from a place of growth and clarity rather than resentment and blame," Wilkie added.

How to talk about boundaries

What do you do if a discussion with someone you're newly dating veers into territory that you're not OK with? "If you enter into a topic of conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable or is delicate, such as political views, family life or salary, politely assert your boundary and explain that you’d rather not discuss that at this point, while changing the conversation to something that you have in common," explained Lloyd.  

SEE ALSO: How to set boundaries at work

But you don't have to wait until a line has been crossed before having a chat about boundaries. Why not have a conversation about both your boundaries? "Introduce the topic gently, maybe by asking them, 'What is important for you in a relationship?'. If they open up, great. If not, then try again in a different way," Wilkie suggested. "Notice what is important for you and what boundaries you feel are being transgressed. Bring these up in a way like: ‘When you do x, I feel y’ rather than ‘It’s horrible when you do x’ do."

If the person is reluctant to discuss boundaries, or if they react badly to you setting a boundary, this could be a red flag. "If they are breaking the boundaries and don’t want to engage in conversation about it, question if are they right for me?" said Wilkie.

When it comes to intimacy, it's advisable to bring up sexual boundaries before you've entered a sexual encounter with that person. In the moment, if you are having sex with someone and a boundary is being crossed, remember that consent can be withdrawn at any point, and each new sexual act that's introduced in an encounter needs to be consented to. Our boundaries change and evolve over time, so if you're in a long-term relationship with someone, check in with each other and see where you're at.

If you're in a long-term relationship with someone and you want to have a meaningful exchange about one another's boundaries, you could try drawing up a list. Wilkie suggested getting each partner to draw up a list of what their boundaries are, then sharing and discussing what those boundaries mean to them, before comparing any similarities and differences. Making sure you've been listened to and understood is really important. If you feel there's room for improvement in the way your partner interacts with and respects those boundaries, let them know. If you want to, schedule regular meetings to chat about these and whether sufficient progress has been made.

At the end of the day, we're all entitled to boundaries and we deserve to have them respected. Just because you're in the early stages of dating someone doesn't mean you have to compromise on something that keeps you feeling protected and safe. The person's response to a boundary being set will usually give you a good idea about whether this relationship is worth pursuing.

This article was first published in 2020 and republished in 2024.

Shōgun is a series full of wily political operators, unpredictable fight scenes, and the occasional devastating earthquake. Yet the biggest obstacle our characters have had to face is none other than a single gate leading out of Osaka Castle — a gate which becomes the focus of two of Shōgun's best scenes.

SEE ALSO: 'Shōgun' review: 2024's first great TV epic is here

In episode 3, "Tomorrow Is Tomorrow," Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) must leave Osaka in order to avoid death at the hands of Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira) and the rest of the Council of Regents. His plan to make it out of the city plays like something out of a farce, complete with faked labor pains and Toranaga switching places with his wife Kiri No Kata (Yoriko Dōguchi). Ishido's men almost catch on to the ruse, but John Blackthorne's (Cosmo Jarvis) improvised outrage on behalf of Kiri's virtue manages to cause enough chaos to throw them off the scent. The entire sequence is a perfect balancing act of comedy and suspense, but the next time Shōgun returns to the gate leading out of Osaka Castle, we're in for a much more somber affair.

Anna Sawai in "Shōgun." Credit: Katie Yu / FX

Flash-forward to "Crimson Sky," Shōgun's ninth entry and its most heartbreaking to date. The whole episode focuses on Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) as she enacts the next stages of Toranaga's plan for victory. She arrives in Osaka and requests that she leave the next day along with Kiri and Toranaga's consort, Shizu No Kata (Mako Fujimoto). But that request, like so many elements of Shōgun, is not as simple as it may seem. That's because Ishido won't let any of the nobles staying in Osaka leave. Don't call them hostages, though! He'd prefer you think of them as very secure guests.

Mariko's demand to leave places Ishido in a tight spot. If he doesn't allow her to go, he's fully confirming that everyone in Osaka Castle is a prisoner. But if he does let her go, that sets a precedent for everyone else in the castle to leave as well. He states that he and the Council will deliberate, to which Mariko retorts that if she is unable to leave the next morning, she'll have failed to do her duty to Toranaga, and will therefore have to commit seppuku.

That takes us to Shōgun's second iteration of the Osaka gate scene, a tense showdown during which a determined Mariko and her retinue advance through waves of guards and archers. Eventually, she is unable to continue and resigns herself to commit seppuku later that day.

SEE ALSO: 'Shōgun' is a master class in period costuming

With Mariko's seemingly inevitable death on the horizon, and with the gradual attrition of her forces grinding her to a halt, this Osaka gate scene couldn't feel more different than Toranaga's madcap escape in episode 3. And yet that first escape sequence is key to understanding Mariko's attempt to leave.

"Your job is to teach the audience how to watch the show," Shōgun showrunner, co-creator, and executive producer Justin Marks told Mashable. "Everything in episode 3 is a setup for what happens in episode 9." Episode 3 establishes not only the architecture of Osaka Castle — including the layout of that specific gate — but also the degree of difficulty it takes to escape.

Everything in episode 3 is a setup for what happens in episode 9. - Justin Marks

"The real focus of it is that it took the most powerful man in Japan an incredible amount of subterfuge to [leave Osaka]," Marks said. "How is one woman going to walk out? The point is, she's not. It's theater, it's performance art. That's the essential part of this, which is to demonstrate all that [Ishido] will do to keep her from going, but for her to keep going anyway."

Anna Sawai in "Shōgun." Credit: Katie Yu / FX

Shōgun has always prepared us for the possibility that Mariko might die, especially since she's asked for death so many times. Yet that possibility truly begins to feel like a reality during this gate sequence. Something as simple as a character trying to go from Point A to Point B becomes a deadly act, as episodes' worth of context — including the difficulties of Toranaga's episode 3 escape — bear down on Mariko's every footstep.

"The entire season funnels to this one moment where a character is walking, trying to pass through a gate," Shōgun co-creator and executive producer Rachel Kondo told Mashable. Kondo also wrote "Crimson Sky" along with Caillin Puente.

The entire season funnels to this one moment. - Rachel Kondo

"The impression I got reading the book [by James Clavell] was that the 50 feet to that gate is a journey that Mariko has been trying to make for her entire life," Marks added.

For Mariko, her attempt to leave Osaka and the subsequent declaration of seppuku are necessary services she must perform for Toranaga. But they're also a chance for her death to serve a greater purpose in a cruel world that sometimes treats people as if they're disposable.

"She's fighting for more than just her own sense of resolution," Kondo explained. "I think she was fighting for all the women who don't ever get the chance for their deaths to mean something."

Even though Mariko doesn't die in this moment, "Crimson Sky" sees her face down death time and time again: First at the gate, then at her near-seppuku, then finally in a brutal third-act attack that does take her life. The constant proximity to death prepares us for her eventual farewell, and even though it may be tragic for the audience and for the characters around her, Marks believes that survival past this point would have crushed Mariko further.

"She would hate victory over death," Marks said. "What she could no longer stand was to suppress her own wants in service of this world anymore. And she asserted that through an army trying to stop her."

He added, of the gate scene, that "it's the point where there's no going back for Mariko. You realize the whole show has been about her. And if you thought it was about anyone else, then you probably weren't watching closely enough."

Shōgun is now streaming on Hulu, with the finale premiering April 23.

Sexting, as Bo Burnham taught us, isn't sex — it's the next best thing.

I personally wouldn't go that far, but sexting can be pretty fun and downright hot if done right. The rub is that the act can also be an awkward minefield. Thoughts may cross your mind, like: Is now a good time to sext? What do I even say?

To answer these questions, we asked the sexperts. As it turns out, sexting (like sex itself) is an opportunity for you to liberate yourself, explore what you want in bed, and get to know your partner better.

SEE ALSO: Can't stop stalking your crush online? It may be limerence. How to sext

Sexting can benefit both you and your budding relationship (or hookup, or however you define it).

By sharing your desires and boundaries together, you're forging a deeper connection. Texting feels lower stakes than talking in person, especially if your relationship is new. Thus, it's a great option if you're shy about sex and have difficulty vocalizing what you want, said Casey Tanner, a certified sex therapist and sex expert for toy brand LELO.

Make no mistake, though: Sexting is legitimate communication, even if it's through screens.

Sending saucy messages back and forth can even be a kind of foreplay. It can build suspense and anticipation for when you see each other in-person next, even if that won't be anytime soon.

How to ask for consent while sexting

Before anything else, get consent — both about sexting in general and for individual sessions.

Ask yourself if you trust your partner enough to sext, advised Edwina Caito, a head writer at sex/sex toy blog BedBible. Decide if you're comfortable with the activity in the first place.

If yes, Tanner offered more questions to self-reflect: Is your style more flirty, raunchy, or suggestive? Are you OK sending nudes, and if so, what body parts do you want to photograph?

Have conversations about these boundaries before your first roll around in the digital hay. Set ground rules, said Caito, whether they be time-related — such as, don't send nudes before 6 p.m. when someone may be at work — or about what kind of media and messages you will and won't send.

You can even set a boundary for which messaging services you prefer to use to sext. Apps like Snapchat and Signal have features like disappearing chats, and the former sends a notification when the other person screenshots your messages. Alternatively, turn on Instagram's vanish mode for the same features.

As sexuality educator Jamie J. LeClaire wrote for sex wellness shop Unbound's blog, set an expectation for language used in sexts, too. If you're uncomfortable with some words — say ones that describe genitalia — tell your partner, and encourage them to share any words they dislike in turn.

Furthermore, consent at one time doesn't extend to every time. Always make sure it's OK to send through a naughty text or photo before doing it. A tip from Unbound is having a go-to emoji that serves as a way to ask, "Is now a good time for you to receive some smut?"

And never, ever share messages or other media that a partner sent to you (unless they ask you to, that is).

Sexting is a lower-stakes way to express your desires to your partner. Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable How to start sexting conversations

Tanner said to keep your messages pithy if you're just starting out. "Keeping messages on the shorter side gives you a little more leeway to ease into something new," she said. "You also give yourself more space to reflect in between texts about what feels good and where your boundaries are."

Your first message can be coy while sparking your partner's interest and making them think (about you, or an experience you both had in the past).

A couple examples Caito gave to get things rolling, are:

• "I'm lying in bed and can't stop thinking about you."

• "I can't stop thinking about what we did the other night."

Another option is to ask your partner questions, like:

• "What would you do if you were here right now?"

• "What was your favorite part about the other night?"

These texts are suggestive enough to gauge how your partner feels at the moment and get the conversation going. Feel free to be more direct if that's your style, though. You can let your partner know that, say, you've just gotten out of the shower and haven't put anything on yet. There's also the classic, "What are you wearing?"

Tips for great sexting

Now that you're engaging in textual coitus, where do you go from here?

Be as explicit as you want to be. You don't need to even refer to actual body parts if you don't want to, euphemistically or not. "I'm so wet" has the same impact as literally describing the state of your crotch, for instance.

Caroline Spiegel, founder of audio porn site Quinn, suggests contextualizing your sexy messages by telling your partner how you feel about them, what you want to do with them, and what you believe are their hottest features.

You can ask your partner to share fantasies, but don't feel pressure to reveal everything about your sexuality in one go, said Tanner. Texting your partner that they'll "just have to wait and see" can be just as tantalizing as revealing your desires.

To that end, you don't need to talk about activities you don't want to do. Instead, guide the conversation back to what gets you going, said Caito.

Compliment your partner, said Spiegel, to show you're really paying attention to them. Some examples she said are:

• "I love the way you look at me when you…"

• "I can't stop thinking about that time when you said…"

Another tip of Spiegel's is to use your partner's actual name as opposed to a pet name. "You might be surprised how hot it is to be called by your real name in a spicy context," she said.

How to send sexy voice notes and videos

Texts are great, but you can also incorporate different mediums to produce a multimedia sexting experience.

With iMessage and WhatsApp, for instance, you can send sexy voice notes. "I hear all the time from women how they wish their boyfriends or significant others would send audio notes or videos instead of dick pics," said Spiegel.

SEE ALSO: How to have sober sex

Hearing your partner's voice can be encouraging ("such a hot photo"). Cursing can also go a long way.

You can send photos and videos as well, or even take it to FaceTime if texting just isn't enough. And, of course, GIFs and emoji are easy options if words just can't express what you want to get across.

Caito also suggested an app-controlled sex toy your partner can handle if you're long-distance...but it's a toss-up on whether they'll work. As former Mashable reporter Jess Joho found, Bluetooth sex toys may have more connectivity problems than they're worth.

As with physical sex, it may take time to get in a sexting groove with a partner, and that's OK. The more you communicate your desires, whether vocal or over text, the easier it'll get.

Sexting can be a place to explore fantasies and get creative, said Tanner — all from the comfort of your fingertips.

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

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 17 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 17

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, April 17, 2024:

AcrossChinese greeting that literally means "You good?"

• The answer is nihao.

Best in Show, for one

• The answer is award.

Ball room music?

• The answer is disco.

Modify, as a hem

• The answer is altar.

Was out in front

• The answer is led.

DownAbsolutely nothin'

The answer is nada.

"You can count on me"

• The answer is iwill.

Quickness

• The answer is haste.

Like a rainbow's path

• The answer is arced.

Stinky tofu has a strong one

• The answer is odor.

Today in "things we learned on the internet," did you know you could screenshot an entire webpage on your iPhone?

You may think you already know how to screenshot on an iPhone, but you can also do so for a full page, then save it as a PDF and revisit its contents whenever your little heart desires. Taking full-page screenshots on iPhones is super simple and helpful, yet I, a person who's owned an iPhone for over a decade, had no idea it was possible until I watched this TikTok video.

SEE ALSO: How to mirror your iPhone to your TV

If you, like me, are tired of screenshotting webpages on your phone in chunks and struggling to figure out which order they go in, this handy hack is for you. Allow me to walk you through the steps of how to take a full page screenshot on an iPhone, and you'll be taking your own full page screenshots in no time.

How to take a full page screenshot on iPhone

It may or may not surprise you, but taking a full page screenshot on an iPhone is just as simple as taking a regular screenshot. You can take a full page screenshot on any iPhone or iPad, as long as the device is running the latest iOS update — we're up to iOS 17 at this point. Here's how:

Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• iPhone
• Safari browser

Step 1: On your iPhone, navigate to your desired webpage in the Safari app.

Step 2: Snap away (screenshot) by simultaneously pressing the lock button and volume up button.

Step 3: Then keep an eye out for the preview of your screenshot that appears in the lower lefthand corner of your phone screen.

Step 4: Once you see the preview, tap it and you'll be taken to a screen that gives you image editing abilities (here, you'll have the option to crop the screenshot, mark it up, add your signature, and more).

Step 5: After you've completed your desired edits, you'll notice two options above the image. The default screenshot option is "Screen," but to the right of that you'll see a "Full Page" option.

Step 6: Select "Full Page" to transform your regular screenshot into a full page screenshot, then use the slider on the right side of your screen to navigate the length of your screenshotted webpage.

Here's how to create a full page screenshot. Credit: mashable composite: apple How do you save a full page screenshot on iPhone?

Learning how to take full page screenshots on iPhones is easy. The only thing that's a bit tricky is the process you'll undergo to save them. Unlike normal screenshots, full page screenshots aren't saved to Photos.

After you've edited a full page iPhone screenshot to your satisfaction, tap "Done" in the upper lefthand corner of your screen. This will prompt you to delete the screenshot or save it as a PDF to Files. Should you choose to save the full page screenshot, you'll be given several options, such as saving the screenshot to your a folder in your iCloud Drive or saving it to your iPhone in a folder such as Pages. (You'll also have the option to create a new folder to store your full-page screenshot. You can do that by tapping the folder icon in the upper righthand corner of your screen near the "Save" option.)

Featured Video For You How to screen record on an iPhone

Once you figure out where you'd like to save your file simply smash that save button and you're all set.

How to save your full page screenshot. Credit: mashable composite: apple Can you take full page screenshots of anything on an iPhone?

Sadly, full page iPhone screenshots seem to be limited to the Safari app, which means you can't save full page recaps of iMessage chats, social media feeds, or Slack DMs. If you attempt to full page screenshot anything outside of the Safari app the "Full Page" option won't appear on your editing screen, which is how you'll know the feature can't be utilized.

Though the option to take a full page screenshot on an iPhone or iPad technically isn't new, I have to imagine there are more than a few device owners out there using their devices who still have yet to uncover the trick. If you're already familiar with full-page screenshots, you're ahead of the game. Now spread the word. The iPhone screenshotters of this world need to know these tricks.

This article originally published in March 2021, was updated in July 2022, then updated again in April 2024.

Trump's first criminal trial is ongoing in New York, and The Daily Show — who are never adverse to making a joke or two about the former president — were on hand with the big updates. But first, a reminder that the former president is facing multiple criminal and civil cases.

"Before we get into Trump's trial, let's be clear about which trial this is," says host Dulcé Sloan in the clip above. "Is it the classified documents trial? No. Is it the January 6 trial? No. The Georgia RICO trial? No. The sexual assault defamation trial? No. The real estate trial? No. It's the porn money hush love sex music trial. This dude treats criminal charges like Pokémon — he's trying to catch them all."

Shortly after that Sloan recapped the jury selection process, much of which was spent going though prospective jurors' old social media posts to see if they'd said anything about Trump — and which turned out to include a slew of memes mocking the former president.

"Damn, this court is roasting Donald Trump!" Sloan says. "I thought this was a courthouse, not a high school cafeteria."

For more Daily Show coverage of Trump's fraud cause, you can also watch Jon Stewart's breakdown from Monday.

Everything's better on a big screen. That highly detailed sci-fi TV series you've been phone-watching on your commute. Your parents'/roommate's/colleague's holiday snaps you'd better strap in for. That TikTok with the insistent Australian Shepherd demanding its human pay the damn cheese tax. It's just all better when thrown from your phone.

You can share exactly what's showing on your iPhone screen to a TV pretty easily by "mirroring" it. It's a simple process that's kind of similar to using Apple AirPlay, Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV Stick — we've actually got a whole guide to connecting your iPhone to your TV four different ways — but this method specifically lets you cast whatever screen your iPhone is currently landed on — or iPad, this all works with iPad too.

SEE ALSO: How to clean your AirPods the right way

You can mirror your iPhone either on an Apple TV device (Apple's version of a set top box), an AirPlay-compatible smart TV, or a desktop Mac. Here's how to do it.

How to mirror your iPhone to a TV Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• iPhone
• AirPlay-compatible smart TV or Apple TV device or desktop Mac

Step 1: Make sure your iPhone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV, smart TV, or Mac.

Step 2: Swipe down from the top right corner of your iPhone screen to open the Control Center.

Note: If you're using an iPhone 8 or earlier, you'll be swiping up from the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: Tap the icon showing two rectangles, one overlapping the other — this is the "Screen Mirroring" button.

Credit: Shannon Connellan

Step 4: Select the device you would like to mirror your iPhone screen.

Step 5: You might need to punch in a passcode to mirror to a TV or Mac, which will appear on your iPhone.

Step 6: To stop mirroring, repeat the process above, tap the "Screen Mirroring" icon and select "Stop Mirroring".

Looking for something to mirror to your TV from your iPhone? Try one of the 10 of the best places on the internet.

Grand Theft Auto IV publisher Take-Two Interactive has revealed plans to lay off five percent of its workforce by the end of the year, as well as cancel several projects currently in development. The games industry layoffs keep coming, and they don't stop coming. 

The decisions were revealed on Tuesday in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing which briefly outlined Take-Two's "cost reduction program." The company expects its plan to save it $165 million per annum and "enhance the Company’s margin profile."

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' fans are losing their entire minds over new trailer and its twerking queen

Take-Two had 11,580 employees as of March last year, meaning the layoffs are likely to impact around 600 people. However, it isn't yet clear exactly where these cuts will come from. The holding company owns several well-known game developers and publishers, including Bioshock publisher 2K, Kerbal Space Program publisher Private Division, and GTA 6 publisher Rockstar Games. Its $460 million acquisition of Borderlands developer Gearbox was further announced just three weeks ago.

Several video games currently in development will also be cancelled as part of Take-Two's cost-cutting measures, though it hasn't been revealed exactly which ones. GTA 6 is probably safe though, with the highly anticipated game expected to smash sales records when released next year. Over 190 million copies of its predecessor GTA 5 have been sold since its launch in 2013.

Layoffs are awful even at the best of times, but Take-Two's news particularly stings considering that in February CEO Strauss Zelnick explicitly stated that the company was not planning any job cuts. Though the company had revealed it was working on a cost reduction program, Zelnick had emphasised that Take-Two was focusing on areas other than staffing, such as software and vendor expenses.

"I would just note that our biggest line item of expense is actually marketing," Zelnick told IGN at the time. "The hardest thing to do is to lay off colleagues, and we have no current plans."

Even so, this wouldn't be the first time Take-Two played down speculation about layoffs right before cutting its workforce. After Take-Two announced a previous cost-cutting program last February, Zelnick told GamesIndustry.biz the company didn't "expect any kind of broad-based reduction in force," and that it would "continue to support and build our development teams."

Take-Two subsequently conducted layoffs the very next month. Though to be fair, the development teams were largely unscathed. Instead, the cuts primarily impacted "corporate operations and label publishing."

The video games industry was plagued by layoffs and studio closures throughout 2023, yet somehow 2024 is managing to look even worse. Earlier this year Electronic Arts also announced it would cut five percent of its workforce, just one day afterPlayStation revealed it was letting go of approximately 900 employees. Over 8,000 games industry layoffs were announced in the first two months of 2024 alone, already exceeding estimates on the total number cut the year before.

iOS 17.5 beta 2 has rolled out to users registered to the Apple Developer Program, allowing them to test a gaggle of new features.

iOS 17.5, reportedly weeks away from an official release, is set to be the fifth significant update since Apple officially dropped iOS 17 in September (alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models). Curious about the new perks you can explore with iOS 17.5 beta 2? Here are the top five features in the new version.

SEE ALSO: iOS 18 rumors: Everything we know about the next big iPhone update iOS 17.5 beta 2: 5 new features

The new features include an update that complies with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), allowing users in the European Union to download and install apps from certain third-party websites, but there are other perks that may interest the wider public.

New Apple News+ game

Reserved for users with an Apple News+ subscription, iOS 17.5 beta 2 now has a new game called "Quartiles." The game requires users to combine tiles to create words.

News can be fun, too. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For example, according to a screenshot from MacRumors, you can combine the following four tiles — "art," "ist," "ic," and "ally" — to make the word "artistically."

Expanded sideloading

iPhone users within the EU are now capable of downloading apps from directly from Apple app developers' websites sans using the Apple App Store (or a third-party app marketplace). iOS 17.4 introduced sideloading to EU users, but with iOS 17.5 beta 2, there's now a new way to download apps. The functionality is not yet available for iPad users.

'Palestinian flag' emoji fix

As we reported last week, Apple said it was releasing a fix for a bug that caused the Palestinian flag to appear when some users typed the word "Jersualem."

Only some users reported seeing the Palestinian flag after typing "Jerusalem." Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

With iOS 17.5 beta 2, it looks like the Cupertino-based tech giant followed through with its promise. No emojis populate when the word is typed in the Messages app.

New 'Tip' for Notes app

Under iOS 17.5 beta 2, a new "Tip" banner appears on the bottom of the Notes app, allowing users to get a better understanding on how to organize their notes by tags, checklists, and more.

New 'Reading Goals' indicator in Apple Books

In the Apple Books app, iOS 17.5 beta 2 added a tiny new symbol on the upper-right corner. Once you tap it, it will bring you to your Reading Goals page.

The Apple Books app got a new indicator. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The official iOS 17.5 wide public rollout is expected to be some time in early May, perhaps alongside the oft-rumored iPad Air and iPad Pro launch.

I’ve tried quite a few wireless earbuds in the past few months. After my Apple AirPods Pro stopped working, I made it my mission to step outside of the Apple ecosystem to sample more products, and I’ve been pretty impressed with my options. First, I tried the budget-friendly JBL Vibe Beam earbuds, but I quickly fell in love with the surprisingly stellar audio quality of the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE and thought I’d found my winner — until I discovered Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.

I first saw Bose’s new earbuds on TikTok, and while I was instantly head over heels for the innovative open-ear design, the skeptic in me knew to proceed with caution. I’ve tried countless viral products in the past, some that lived up to the hype and others that fell flat, and I was skeptical that the Ultra Open Earbuds could deliver on their promise to leave your ears totally open while still delivering “rich, private sound.” 

So are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds truly revolutionary? Or are they just another flashy gimmick? I put them to the test, and I was honestly surprised by the results.

SEE ALSO: The best headphones for 2024 (and why they made our list) First impressions of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

Straight out of the box, my reaction to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds echoed what I experienced when I first saw them on TikTok. These tiny little earbuds are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and while I’ve tried other “open-ear” audio devices, like the Soundcore Frames audio sunglasses, the new Bose buds pack a surprisingly powerful punch.

Each earbud is designed to fit like an earring cuff, and unlike other open-ear headphones on the market, they don’t actually hook around the top/back of your ear. Instead, they fit more like a piece of jewelry, which makes them look cooler and fit better because they can be worn anywhere from zero to 90 degrees on your ear. It’s hard to describe the form factor of the Ultra Open Earbuds without seeing them, but it’s basically two pieces of plastic (the larger, barrel-shaped battery and the hooked speaker) connected by a soft silicone joint that serves as a flexible — and secure — grip around your ear.

The unique cuff design of the Ultra Open Earbuds work well even with earrings. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable Comfort and fit

It might sound uncomfortable, but there’s no pinching involved. The earbuds “nestle” securely around your ear, and they actually fit like a dream. Because there’s so much flex in the joint, it’s easy to find where the earbuds fit best on your anatomy. The Bose companion app also offers a helpful tutorial on how to wear the earbuds.

Even with multiple ear piercings, I had no issues finding the perfect spot to wear the Ultra Open Earbuds, and I was shocked by how comfortable they were even after longer periods of wear. As someone with relatively small ears, I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve literally never experienced earbuds that don’t cause some degree of discomfort after longer wear — so much so that it’s hard for me to gauge if earbuds are uncomfortable or if it’s just my super small ears. However, I can truthfully say that this was the first time I’ve ever been able to wear earbuds for several hours straight with zero discomfort — none at all.

After trying them during workouts, I was even more impressed with the fit and comfort. I thought they’d feel loose or bounce while running outdoors, but they stayed perfectly secure — something that rarely happened even with my beloved Apple AirPods Pro. And, with an IPX4 water-resistance rating, the Ultra Open Earbuds should withstand sweat and light rain.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have shockingly good sound quality

When it comes to impressive audio experiences, Bose rarely disappoints. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones, but I didn’t expect the Ultra Open Earbuds to come anywhere close to traditional wireless headphones or earbuds. And, while they definitely weren’t as robust as my QC45s, the OpenAudio technology delivered surprisingly fantastic sound.

Due to the design of these earbuds, the sound quality does vary slightly based on how you wear them. In some orientations, like when I adjusted the earbuds to fit closer to a 45-degree angle on my ear, the sound felt a little more distant than when I wore them lower on my earlobes. However, because these earbuds are so customizable to your ears' anatomy, it’s easy to find the right spot to balance sound quality and comfort.

At lower volumes, I loved being able to listen to music and still experience the world around me. I could hold conversations with people on the street, and — because my ears were completely uncovered — I felt much safer taking my dog on walks or going on solo runs.

At higher volumes, my ability to interact with the world disappeared entirely because these headphones were really loud. I never reached max volume while using the Ultra Open Earbuds, and while the bass definitely isn’t quite as deep or rich as other earbuds I’ve tried, it wasn’t absent either. The sound was well-balanced, and even with my ear completely uncovered, I didn’t notice any issues with the audio sounding distant or muddy. Instead, the Ultra Open Earbuds sounded clear, natural, and pretty lush.

Even better? They were, as Bose puts it, “surprisingly private.” At lower volumes, my partner couldn’t hear anything that I was listening to — even while standing a foot in front of me. At high volumes, it was definitely noticeable, but considering I never maxed out the volume, it wasn’t too big of an issue.

The new Bose earbuds let you create your own bubble of sound. Credit: RJ Andersen What I loved about the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Battery life and controls

Incredible comfort and good sound quality aside, I was surprised by how much I loved these earbuds. The battery life is phenomenal — up to 7.5 hours of playtime (less if you’re using Bose’s Immersive Audio feature) or a surprising 48 hours of battery life on standby. The charging case also provides an additional 19.5 hours of battery. Despite using these earbuds almost daily for several weeks, I barely needed to charge the case, and the promised 7.5 hours of playtime ended up being spot on in my testing.

The earbuds feature super convenient shortcuts via the button on the battery barrel. You can play and pause audio with a single press, skip forward with a double press, and skip backward with a triple press. A double press and hold on the left earbud decreases volume, while a double press and hold on the right increases it, and a long hold on either button can be customized in the Bose Music app to perform additional functions like activating your device’s voice assistant or toggling through Immersive Audio modes.

I liked that these earbuds included some of my favorite Bose features via the Bose Music app, including a basic equalizer and optional spatialized sound using Bose Immersive Audio. There's also a new optional feature called “Auto Volume” that dynamically adjusts the volume of your audio based on your surroundings. Finally, I could easily switch between multiple devices, including my Apple iPhone 11 Pro, and I love that they announced which device I was connected to.

What I didn’t love about them: Built-in microphone

Honestly, there was only one thing I didn’t love about my experience: the built-in microphone. For as good as Bose’s audio quality is, the built-in microphone on these earbuds wasn’t the best, especially when I was outdoors. Friends described it as sounding like a “really distant tunnel,” and my indoor microphone tests produced similar results.

Considering these earbuds are designed for all-day wear, it was disappointing to discover the microphone was so lacking. At one point, I even had to disconnect my earbuds entirely to talk to a friend directly through my phone because the ambient noise was so loud. Even at my desk, I tend to switch to other headphones to accept Zoom calls — it’s not that the Bose earbuds don’t work on calls, but the microphone quality is lacking even in quiet indoor environments.

Impressive battery life, less impressive microphone quality. Credit: RJ Andersen Are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds worth it?

At $299, the Ultra Open Earbuds are definitely pricey. However, I can’t help but think they’re worth the splurge — especially if you’re looking for a comfortable earbud that gives you the flexibility to listen to music and stay aware of the world around you. When Bose announced these headphones, they described them as the solution to the “one bud phenomenon” — aka needing to pull out one of your earbuds to interact with the world — and I was surprised to find that they lived up to the hype. Not only are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds cool and functional, but the sound quality is great, the fit is incredible, and the comfort level is off the charts.

As someone who has long struggled to find earbuds that are actually comfortable for long-term wear, I definitely think I’ll be sticking with them — especially for my day-to-day use and outdoor activities like walking, jogging, and biking. While there are definitely more affordable earbuds to consider, these earbuds are in a category of their own. (Hopefully, these open-ear audio devices start a trend.) It’s a cool and unique product offering with a lot of potential, and if you find yourself getting excited about the hype like I was, then they’re definitely worth trying.

However, if you’re looking for a little more privacy to blast your music (like in a quiet office environment), you need Active Noise Cancellation, prefer better microphone quality, or you’re on a budget, then you might want to look elsewhere. These earbuds won’t be the best for everyone, but for the right people, they’re definitely a smart investment.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open Earbuds $299.00 at Bose
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The wider world — a.k.a. those who came to women's basketball via Caitlin Clark's superstardom at Iowa — was shocked to learn her forthcoming WNBA salary after she was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever during the league's draft on Monday night. A tweet from the basketball aggregation account @TheDunkCentral went viral as it laid out the (relatively) paltry sum Clark can expect to see for the duration of her rookie contract.

Here's the post.

Tweet may have been deleted

To be fair, the listed salaries are shockingly low for the best college player of her generation. The first year came in at $76,535, with a raise each year, then a fourth-year option for $97,582. And the Indiana Fever will likely pick up that fourth-year option. Because...duh.

Over four years, the contract could be worth around $338,056. Divided up, that's an annual salary well over the American average of $59,540 but, um, not so much for a superstar.

But it's important to note that this is not the Indiana Fever cheapening out on Clark's contract. In most American sports, rookie pay is determined by where you're drafted. The WNBA is no exception. Rookie salaries are, in most cases, defined by the collective bargaining agreement between the players' union and the league. So this was always going to be Clark's pay. She knew that the second she decided to leave Iowa for the league.

Lots of folks online, however, were flabbergasted at the salary. Again, that's understandable considering the size of her stardom and the record-breaking attention she, and others, brought to women's basketball over the past two seasons.

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

Lots of folks pointed out — and it is obvious — that Clark will be very rich regardless of her rookie contract. She already makes millions on endorsement deals and will make even more as a professional athlete.

But to use the endorsements as an apologia for her low salary isn't quite right either. To anyone with a pulse, it's clear Clark is worth more than $76,000 a year. If anything, the fact that Clark can make millions with endorsements proves her salary should be higher.

To better understand what happened here, we've got to go back to that collective bargaining agreement, a.k.a. the CBA, between the players' union and the league. The meat of most CBAs in sports defines how the league and players will split revenue. For the four major male sports — NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL — around half of league revenue goes to the players. (This is a gross simplification but you get the picture.) The league takes half of the pot, and the players get the other half. From there, a CBA will define things like a rookie pay scale, veteran minimum salaries, max salaries, and other such things involving the contract between players and the pro league.

SEE ALSO: March Madness and Caitlin Clark have already given us some great memes

The CBA for the WNBA, however, isn't as generous to the players. A detailed Bloomberg analysis from April 2023 found that base salaries as a share of total revenue stood at just 9.3 percent in the WNBA. As the Bloomberg article pointed out, revenue is also defined differently in the WNBA compared to the NBA. Team revenue — cash from ticket sales, merch, food, local TV deals, etc. — is separate from league revenue, things like national media deals or corporate sponsorship.

Team revenue is used by the 12 WNBA franchises to pay player salaries while league revenue, in theory, could be shared directly with players. I say in theory because that league revenue only becomes available to players if the WNBA hits its aggressive goals, including 20 percent year-over-year revenue growth. It's an incremental-growth revenue-sharing system, in comparison to the NBA's overall revenue-sharing system. Bloomberg noted in its 2023 report that revenue sharing had never been triggered under the WNBA's CBA.

Yet, the WNBA has shown clear signs of growth in recent seasons, even before the expected boon of adding Clark into the mix. It seems clear players deserve more than this CBA is dishing out. The good news for them is that the players' union can opt out of the contract after the 2024 season.

In the wake of Clark's WNBA contract — lots of folks seemed to discover WNBA salary levels via the viral tweet — longtime supporters of the league are a bit annoyed. And with good reason: Sports reporters Jemele Hill and Sarah Spain tweeted out further context regarding the contract and called for fans to simply support the league.

Tweet may have been deleted

As they pointed out, it makes sense that the WNBA, which is only 27 years old, isn't a financial powerhouse like the NBA. The NBA took a long time to become the NBA. Top players are making $50 million per year now, but they weren't always making seven figures. Generation by generation it grew. That's how the WNBA will see a spike in pay.

Not for nothing, but some 18.7 million people watched Clark fall to undefeated South Carolina in the NCAA championship game — that was more than the men's NCAA final. NBA Finals games haven't done numbers like that since 2019. Last year's WNBA finals, however, averaged just 728,000 viewers, which was its highest figure in 20 years.

If Clark, alongside established WNBA stars like A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, can bring a portion of that NCAA crowd to the WNBA, then salaries will increase significantly. In the sports world, when it comes to finances, TV ratings and media rights contracts are all that really matter. Big numbers are undeniable.

So yes, Clark is underpaid. Using the standard of most leagues' revenue-sharing models, her rookie contract should be higher. And yes, she will still be quite rich, no matter her salary.

But what matters from here, for both Clark's bank account and the rest of the league, is seeing if the ratings boom from her college career transfers to the WNBA. And just FYI, WNBA League Pass — where you can stream all the games — is just $35 for the year. Quite the steal to watch the biggest show in basketball over the last two years.

TL;DR: Through April 21, you can get your hands on an open-box unit of My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro for 30% off at $69.99.

You may have heard that My Arcade and Atari have teamed up to develop a handheld gaming console that will give Nintendo Switch a run for its money. The companies are looking to release a portable console that combines Atari's most popular controllers with a library of over 200 classic games. The kicker? The experience has been modernized, so if you're looking for the authentic, tactile Atari experience of yesteryear, you ought to get the My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro instead, on sale for $69.99 for a limited time.

The open-box version of this nostalgia-packed video game console is on sale for 30% off for a limited time, letting you take a trip down memory lane and relive the golden age of gaming for less. Boasting full licensing from Atari, it comes loaded with more than 200 Atari classics and bonus games, all officially licensed and ready to play.

The My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro happens to be the first console to merge Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, and Arcade into a single platform, with dual 2.4GHz wireless joysticks patterned after the original Atari design to boot. Dynamic RGB LED lights are built-in, too, and integrated paddles to make gaming more immersive and enjoyable.

You can expect to get a blast from the past with the games available, including the popular Asteroids, Centipede, Pong, Breakout, Missile Command, and many more. You can connect the console to virtually any TV via HDMI, and you also have the option to save your games so you can continue where you left off at a later time.

It's worth noting that this unit is considered "open-box", meaning it was likely returned or excess inventory, and it's pretty much as good as new. The packaging may be slightly distressed, but the unit itself has been restored to its factory settings and comes with the original accessories. You also get a minimum 90-day warranty.

Game like it's 1980 with the My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro. It normally goes for $99, but this open-box unit is on sale for only $69.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: My Arcade My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro: Video Game Console with 200+ Games (New - Open Box) $69.99 at the Mashable Shop
$99.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 21, if you want just one cable for all your devices, get the InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable for $19.97 with code INCHARGE. 

Even if you only use Apple or Android devices, you still might need to carry around multiple cables to keep everything charged. Whether you're sporting a Lightning and a USB-C for your iPhone and iPad or a USB-C and Micro charger for your Android and tablet, it's hard to get away with carrying just one cable. And if you add a computer to the mix, it's all over unless you can find a single cable with each connector you need. 

The InCharge® X Max looks like any old Lightning to USB-A cable, but it has more going on. Each end of the cable folds to reveal another output, but that's not all it can do, and it's only $19.97 when you enter coupon code INCHARGE at checkout.

Compatible with almost any smart device

The InCharge X Max is hiding a few things. In its normal configuration, it connects to USB-A and Lightning devices. Fold either end to reveal a USB-C output. The Micro connector is a little harder to find. It's actually built into the Lightning end of the cable, but you can still plug it into Micro devices.

If you need a fast charge, Flip open the USB-C to USB-C configuration for up to 100W power transfer or 18W for iPhones. Data transfer is pretty quick, too. This cable could reach up to 480Mbps. 

If you're carrying one cable for all your devices, it's a bit more important that it's designed not to break. That's why this one is made from aramid fiber and braided copper wire, and it has TPU cable guards. 

One cable, six configurations

Skip the recharge roll call and carry one cable for practically any smart device. 

You have until April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get the InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable for $19.97 with code INCHARGE. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: RollingSquare InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable $19.97 at the Mashable Shop
$39.00 Save $19.03 with code INCHARGE Get Deal