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Today, the Roborock S8+ is down to its new lowest price at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 16:24

SAVE $300: Amazon is in the midst of its Big Spring Sale, and that means the Roborock S8+ is 30% off today, Mar. 22. In Prime Day-worthy savings, the $999.99 robot vacuum is on sale for $699.99, its new lowest price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock S8+ Robot Vacuum and Sonic Mop $699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

Self-emptying robot vacuums always steal the show on Prime Day, and it's no different for Amazon's Big Spring Sale that's live now through Mar. 25. The nearly $1,000 Roborock S8+ Robot Vacuum and Sonic Mop is known for its splurge-worthy cleaning prowess, and today it just got a little more affordable. Your messy floors can rejoice!

As of today, Mar. 22, the $999.99 Roborock S8+ Robot Vacuum and Sonic Mop is on sale for $699.99, giving you $300 back in savings. This markdown saves you 30% off and is the lowest-ever price this model has seen according to the Amazon price tracker site camelcamelcamel. This is a rare deal, so we recommend taking advantage of it as soon as you can, just like you would on Prime Day.

Even with the hefty price tag, the Roborock S8+ Robot Vacuum and Sonic Mop earns its keep. The self-emptying robot vacuum and mop has a 2.5L dust bag, which holds up to 7 weeks of debris, taking hands-off to a whole other level. Whether you have hardwood, tile, or carpet floors, the Roborock S8+ can take on the job. It can take on the most stubborn spills and messes, scrubbing up to 3000 times per minute when it's in mopping mode. We love its precision, especially when it comes to mapping out exact mopping and vacuuming routes specific to your house through the comprehensive Roborock App.

Shop the Roborock S8+ Robot Vacuum and Sonic Mop today and miss this Prime Day-worthy price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Apple Watch deals from Amazon's spring sale are at Walmart

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 16:20

UPDATE: Mar. 22, 2024, 9:45 a.m. EDT Amazon's Big Spring Sale is here, but the Apple Watch deals aren't impressing us yet. Still, we've found a few standouts from Amazon and other retailers. We've updated this story with current pricing and availability.

Top Apple Watch deals of Amazon spring sale: Best Series 9 deal Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) $359 at Walmart (Save $70) Get Deal Best SE deal Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) $189 at Walmart (Save $60) Get Deal Best Ultra deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular) $749 at Amazon (Save $50) Get Deal

Fun fact about Apple Watches: Big sale or not, at most points in the year you can find the latest models for significantly cheaper than their MSRPs. And most times, you'll find those deals at Amazon.

With Amazon running its Big Spring Sale from March 20 to 25, we expected to see some Apple Watch markdowns there this week that were better than the run-of-the-mill deals we see year-round. For the uninitiated, a discount of $50 to $70 off is fairly run-of-the-mill, and not all that challenging to find during the off-season (if such a time even exists anymore).

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals to grab leading into Amazon's Big Spring Sale

Amazon hasn't released any Apple Watch deals out the ordinary for the sale's first three days, but there's still time left. That means we're looking elsewhere for the best Apple Watch deals. On March 19, Best Buy slashed $100 off the price of the Series 9 as a 24-hour deal of the day. Not to be outdone, Amazon price-matched some (but not all) of the Series 9 models. Those prices are back up as of this writing, but we're hoping to see at least a return to this discount.

Though this is an Amazon sale for Prime and non-Prime members alike, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled across the web for new Apple Watch deals (Walmart's competing sale certainly has some options) — and making sure to keep this list updated as we find them. Check out what we've found so far below.

Best Apple Watch Series 9 deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) $359.00 at Walmart
$429.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 9.

We won't sugarcoat it — we much prefer the $100 off deal Best Buy had on the Series 9 just before the start of Amazon's sale. With that said, though it's not unusual to see the 45mm Series 9 hit $70 off, it's way less common than seeing it hit $50 off (which is what Amazon is offering at the time of writing). If you want to enjoy that always-on display to its fullest, opting for larger watch face at this price isn't a bad move. If you were especially bummed about the Series 9's recent loss of its blood oxygen feature, this deal may help offset that disappointment.

More Series 9 dealsBest Apple Watch SE deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) $189.00 at Walmart
$249.00 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Walmart has had this deal live for a few weeks now, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a solid deal. If you're looking for less of a completely decked-out fitness tracker and more of a basic smartwatch, the SE will be more than enough for you, and cost you over $100 less than the Series 9's best sale price. You'll get the basics like a heart rate monitor, crash detection, and an OLED Retina display.

More SE dealsBest Apple Watch Ultra deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular) $749.00 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This Ultra deal is the one Apple Watch deal from Amazon worth a top pick spot — but Best Buy has also price-matched it. Though it's not quite as common as the $50 to $70 markdown on the Series 9, we will say that we saw the Ultra 2 hit $739 a few times last year, and we wouldn't be shocked if its price dropped a bit more at some point during this spring sale. Still, if you want to buy the Ultra 2 ASAP, this is the best price you'll find on a brand-new model.

More Ultra deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Score impressive phone accessory deals on day three of the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 16:11

UPDATE: Mar. 22, 2024, 9:14 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest deals on phone accessories during Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

The best phone accessory deals at a glance: BEST CHARGER DEAL Anker MagGo foldable 3-in-1 charging station $82.49 at Amazon (save $27.50) Get Deal BEST POWER BANK DEAL Anker 622 MagG 5,000mAh portable charger $39.98 at Amazon (save $30.01) Get Deal BEST PHONE CASE DEAL Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Phone Case with S Pen $40 at Amazon (save $39.99) Get Deal BEST BLUETOOTH TRACKER DEAL Apple AirTag 4-pack $82.99 at Amazon (save $16.01) Get Deal BEST STYLUS DEAL Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) $79 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal

To hold all of us deal shoppers over until Prime Day, Amazon decided to give us a little gift: the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Officially running from March 20 to March 25, the brand-new Amazon savings event showcases unseasonably good deals on "seasonally relevant items." You would expect deals to be strictly focused on cleaning products and outdoor equipment, but — shocker — the retail giant is dishing out deals on just about everything, including phone accessories.

If you're seeking some new swag to pair with your phone, we're keeping a running list of the best phone accessory deals from the Prime Day-like Amazon spring sale thus far. We're talking charging stations, power banks, phone cases, Bluetooth trackers, and more. Be sure to check back frequently as we'll be updating the list with the latest live deals.

Wall charger and charging station deals Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker MagGo foldable 3-in-1 charging station $82.49 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $27.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Just released in February of this year, the Anker MagGo foldable 3-in-1 charging station just got its first big discount for Amazon's Big Spring Sale. It regularly retails for $109.99, but you can grab it for just $82.49 and save 25%. As the name suggests, it can wirelessly charge three gadgets at once — an iPhone, an Apple Watch, and AirPods (or other Qi-enabled devices) — and fast (15W). The vertical design is compact and convenient for a desk or bedside table. Plus, it weighs under 7 ounces and folds up smaller than Apple's Magic Mouse, making it ideal for travel.

More deals on charging accessoriesPortable charger deals Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker 622 MagGo 5,000mAh portable charger $39.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $30.01 Get Deal Why we like it

A solid travel companion, the Anker 622 MagGo charger is a collaboration with PopSockets that offers a magnetic power bank and a PopSocket with a collapsible grip. The 5,000mAh battery pack snaps magnetically to the back of your iPhone and offers up to 17 hours of extended use. And thanks to the sturdy PopGrip, the power bank also doubles as a convenient stand for watching videos. On sale for $39.98, this is the gadget's first big discount at 43% off.

More portable charger dealsPhone case dealsEven more phone accessory deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is nearly $100 off during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, plus more of the best MacBook deals we've found

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 16:10

UPDATE: Mar. 22, 2024, 10:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with current pricing and availability.

Best Mac and MacBook deals at Amazon's spring sale (and elsewhere): Best MacBook deal 2024 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,204 at Amazon (Save $95) Get Deal Best Mac deal 24-inch iMac (M1, 8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy (Save $550) Get Deal

Apple laptops and computers are zippy, sleek, and expensive as all hell — but you can get more bang for your buck if you buy when the time is right. With the arrival of Amazon's Big Spring Sale and plenty of MacBook markdowns to accompany it, we'd say that time is now.

SEE ALSO: The best time of year to buy a Mac, whether you want a MacBook or iMac

The sale is on through March 25, and we've already seen a few significant price drops: There's been a small discount on the M3 MacBook Air even though it just came out earlier this month, price drops on the M2 MacBook Air, and even some pretty solid deals on M1 iMacs. We'll be keeping a close eye on price changes as the sale progresses — and on competitors' listings, in case they match or beat Amazon's offers.

We'll be updating this list regularly, so be sure to check back often. (And don't forget to see what else Amazon's discounting during its spring sale.)

Best MacBook deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 2024 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,204.00 at Amazon
$1,299.00 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M3 MacBook Air.

Trying to decide between the M2 and M3 MacBook Air? The 15-inch M3 Air did just go on sale for nearly $100 off, less than one month following its release. Like the M2 Air, you'll get a clear display, crisp and well-rounded audio, but you'll enjoy an even zippier processor. We were already big fans of the M2 Air's power, so if you're looking for an even more streamlined experience, this is the best price you can get on 15-inches of display and the M3 processor at the time of writing.

More MacBook deals

MacBook Air

MacBook Pro

Best Mac deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 24-inch iMac (M1, 8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,449.99 Save $550.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Let's be honest — people don't get iMacs because they want the most powerful desktop computer out there, and Apple doesn't make them for that reason. Though this M1 model is a tad on the older side, the major difference between it and last year's M3 iMac is that processor. If all you're really looking for is a desktop that can get you through everyday tasks and is easy to use, we're willing to bet you won't be too fussed over the speed differences in those processors. And at $900, you can get it cheaper than most MacBooks.

More Mac deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

iPad deals are still strong on day three of Amazon's Prime Day-like spring sale

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 15:59

UPDATE: Mar. 22, 2024, 9:55 a.m. EDT We've updated this post with the most recent iPad pricing and availability during Amazon's sale.

Top iPad deals during Amazon's Big Spring Sale Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) $449 at Amazon and Walmart (Save $150) Get Deal Best iPad accessory deal Apple Pencil 2 $79 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy (Save $50) Get Deal

Amazon's first official Big Spring Sale is live — and bringing with it plenty of iPad deals.

We're on day three of the event, which runs from March 20 to 25, but we haven't been super impressed with the Apple deals so far. With that said, we are seeing a good range of iPad deals (even though most of them were live before the sale officially started).

SEE ALSO: The best tablet deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Apple, Samsung, and more

Not one to miss out on the fun, Walmart coincidentally kicked off a spring sale this week too, and we're seeing price matching. Though Walmart often has lower iPad prices (like with the iPad Air), so far the retailers have the same deals. We haven't seen any brand-new record-low prices on any iPads either, but we have seen several returns to record-low prices.

In any case, wherever or whenever iPad prices drop, we'll be sure to make note of it — so you'll want to check back often if you're in the market for a new Apple tablet. Below, we've gathered our favorite deals for you:

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) $449.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out Mashable's full review of the Apple iPad Air (2022).

Apple is reportedly set to release new iPad Airs very soon, but if you don't care too much about the latest specs, getting the 2022 Air on sale isn't a bad move. It's not as if you're settling for something all that dated — this iPad still runs an M1 chip and is compatible with the Apple Pencil 2. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder called it the "sweet spot of Apple's tablets" for capturing higher-ended features of the Pro while retaining more of the price approachability of the standard iPad. At $449, Walmart and Amazon have brought this iPad back down to its lowest price ever.

Best iPad accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Pencil 2 $79.00 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy
$129.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Minus the 9th and 10th-generation standard iPads, every single iPad on this list is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil. If you plan on jotting notes down, doing some drawing, or if you simply want to get the most out of your Apple tablet, the Apple Pencil can help you do just that. It's magnetic and sticks to the side of the iPad, so there's no need for a special carrying case. Conveniently, it also charges when locked into that position. $79 marks the lowest price this Apple Pencil has ever hit.

More iPad deals

iPad (10th gen)

iPad (9th gen)

iPad Air

iPad mini

Apple Pencil

Categories: IT General, Technology

Netflix's 'Baby Reindeer' trailer teases a comedian stalked by an obsessive fan

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 15:56

Misery is the flavour of Netflix's new trailer for Baby Reindeer, a drama about a comedian being stalked by an obsessive fan.

Based on Richard Gadd's award-winning one-man show, the trailer follows Gadd (who plays himself) as he befriends, and is ultimately stalked by, a woman called Martha (Jessica Gunning) who repeatedly visits the pub where he works. Looks like this one will be a mixture of drama, black comedy, and thriller.

How to watch: Baby Reindeer is streaming on Netflix from April 11.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch the Women's Super League online for free

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 15:00

The Women's Super League continues to grow in popularity, and it's easy to see why. There are so many intense rivalries, star players, and intriguing storylines playing out every week. And you can watch some of the biggest fixtures without spending anything.

If you're interested in watching the Women's Super League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Women's Super League?

The Women's Super League (WSL) is the highest level of women's football in England. Established in 2010, it is run by the Football Association and features 12 professional teams. Chelsea are the current WSL champions after winning their sixth title last year.

How to watch the Women's Super League for free

Sky Sports has the rights to show two games a week, but it's not free. That's frustrating news for fans without a subscription, but the good news is that there are free alternatives on offer.

The BBC will broadcast one game from each round of fixtures, with free streaming available on BBC iPlayer.

And it gets better, because any games that are not shown on BBC or Sky Sports will be available to watch for free on the FA Player. All you have to do is sign up at www.faplayer.tv or via the app to gain full access to live matches.

The FA Player is available internationally, so anyone can watch the WSL with this free streaming platform. The same can't be said for BBC iPlayer. This popular service will block your access if you attempt to connect from outside the UK, so if you want to watch the WSL on BBC iPlayer from abroad, you'll need to use a VPN.

VPNs can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world. The process is actually really simple:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch the Women's Super League on BBC iPlayer

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch multiple WSL fixtures on BBC iPlayer before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking BBC iPlayer. There are decent alternatives like NordVPN and Surfshark, but ExpressVPN leads the way. This high-speed service is the top choice for streaming, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 94 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to five 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 heavily discounted plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the Women's Super League from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal online for free

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 14:46

TL;DR: Watch the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Can anyone stop Francesco Bagnaia from retaining his MotoGP title this season? It's too early for predictions, but the reigning champion kicked off his campaign with a win in Qatar, and he'll be looking to do the same in Portugal this weekend. It's going to be an exciting weekend of racing, and you can watch all the action without spending anything.

If you're interested in watching the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal?

The Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix takes place on the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, Portugal. The 2024 Portuguese MotoGP race starts at 2 p.m. GMT on March 24.

How to watch the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal for free

The MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal will be broadcast on ITV, with free live streaming available on ITVX. The full broadcast schedule can be found here:

  • MotoGP Sprint Race — 2:30 p.m. GMT on March 23 (ITV3 or ITVX)

  • Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP Races — from 10 a.m. GMT on March 24 (ITV4 or ITVX)

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

Unblock ITVX by following this simple process:

  1. Sign up for a 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 the UK

  4. Connect to ITVX

  5. Watch the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By using these money-back guarantees, you can watch MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal without actually spending anything.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for MotoGP?

There are a number of streaming-friendly VPNs, but ExpressVPN is the top choice for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

  • Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to five 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 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple tried to make Apple Watch work with Android

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 13:32

Apple Watch only works with iPhones, but there was a point in which Apple tried to make it compatible with Android phones, too. Unfortunately, it didn't work out.

The long-rumored news was revealed in Apple's response to the Department of Justice's lawsuit against the company, 9to5Mac reported Thursday.

The DOJ's lawsuit explicitly mentions Apple Watch in its antitrust suit against Apple.

"Apple’s smartwatch—Apple Watch—is only compatible with the iPhone. So, if Apple can steer a user towards buying an Apple Watch, it becomes more costly for that user to purchase a different kind of smartphone because doing so requires the user to abandon their costly Apple Watch and purchase a new, Android-compatible smartwatch. (...) Apple also recognizes that making Apple Watch compatible with Android would 'remove[an] iPhone differentiator'," the lawsuit states.

SEE ALSO: The DOJ accuses Apple of a 'green bubble' problem. Here's why they're right.

But 9to5Mac says Apple has confirmed it considered adding Android support for the Apple Watch. The company looked into the idea for three years, after which it determined that it could not be done due to technical limitations.

A Bloomberg report on this matter dating November 2023, however, does not shed a very positive light on Apple's intentions regarding the Android-compatible Apple Watch. According to the report, the effort to bring Android support to Apple Watch was partially scrapped as it would "dilute the value of the watch to the iPhone."

It's worth noting that many popular smartwatches that aren't made by Apple, including Google's own Pixel Watch, aren't compatible with Apple's iOS, either.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch England vs. Brazil online for free

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 13:20

TL;DR: Watch England vs. Brazil for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know it's just an international friendly match, but this is England vs. Brazil. That's an absolutely massive matchup, whatever the conditions. So sit back, relax, and get ready to watch two famous nations compete for absolutely nothing.

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

When is England vs. Brazil?

England vs. Brazil kicks off at 7 p.m. GMT on March 23 at Wembley Stadium in London, UK.

How to watch England vs. Brazil for free

Fans can watch England vs. Brazil live on Channel 4, with free live streaming also available online.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access Channel 4 from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Channel 4 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 the UK

  4. Visit Channel 4

  5. Stream England vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world

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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to Channel 4 without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream England vs. Brazil before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 94 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to five 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.

Stream England vs. Brazil for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Late Night with the Devil's disturbing ending, explained

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:55

A horror movie set during a late night show gone wrong is a concept so good you wonder why it hasn't been done already. That's the premise for Cameron and Colin Cairnes' Late Night with the Devil, a found footage/possession mystery that gained positive attention last year at SXSW before recently becoming embroiled in an AI controversy over the use of three interstitial images.

The movie itself is a twisty one that revolves around a supposedly possessed little girl called Lilly (Ingrid Torelli), the doctor who's been treating her (Laura Gordon), and troubled late night host Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian), whose quest for ratings has made him willing to push the boundaries like he's never pushed them before.

SEE ALSO: The 'Late Night with the Devil' AI controversy, explained

But what exactly happens, and what are the implications behind the disturbing (and slightly mind-bending) end of the film? Let's dig in.

What's Late Night with the Devil about?

The movie revolves around the recently discovered "master tape" of an infamous Halloween broadcast of Night Owls with Jack Delroy, a fictional 1970s late night show living in the permanent shadow of Johnny Carson. Delroy's wife recently died from cancer, there have long been rumours about his involvement with a Bohemian Grove-style organisation of elites that meet out in the woods, and his second place ratings bring with them the ever-present threat of sponsorship dropout or cancellation.

The good news? Delroy has a plan to fix it all. Enter the author of Conversations with the Devil, a "para-psychologist" called Dr June Ross-Mitchell, who has been treating a little girl called Lilly. Lilly is the sole survivor of a cult that worshipped a demon known as Abraxas, and the word on the street is that she's been possessed. Delroy is hoping a late night demonstration might be the answer to his ratings issue. But things start to go wrong when Lilly seems strangely obsessed with Jack, the psychic first guest on the show Christou (Fayssal Bazzi) dies offstage, and the demonstrations grow increasingly out of control.

A possession demonstration that quickly gets out of control. Credit: IFC Films/Shudder How does Late Night with the Devil End?

Instead of wrapping up the broadcast, Delroy decides to play back the tape of Lilly's demonstration – which saw her speaking directly to Jack as if she knew him from somewhere before levitating in her chair – to try and prove to sceptic Carmichael Haig (Ian Bliss) that it wasn't all a trick. During the playback he discovers that by slowing down the frames, he can see a haunting image of his dead wife standing directly behind him on the stage. Shortly after that, all hell breaks loose.

Lilly transforms once again into her possessed form, but this time it isn't just her face and voice that change. She levitates into the air, blurs with static like a television image, and her head splits in two while being consumed by fire. As she begins to murder the various guests and anyone who gets in her way, Delroy tries to make his escape — only to find himself trapped in a montage of different memories. In the final two he drinks from a cup while surrounded by cultists, then goes to stand beside the bed of his dying wife.

"They told you you could have it all, didn't they?" she whispers. "Be number one. Well you finally made it, darling. But you had to pay a price. Exit Millie, stage left."

His wife asks Delroy to kill her and he stabs her in the stomach, only to wake to discover he's stabbed Lilly. He's standing on stage, alone, and everyone around him is dead. We hear sirens in the background.

Jack Delroy spends the final scenes of the film trapped in his own mind. Credit: IFC Films/Shudder What really happened to Jack Delroy's wife?

From the very start of Late Night with the Devil, the idea of sacrifice lurks in the background. It's only brief, but during the stock footage we see of Delroy signing his five-year TV deal, a reporter in the background calls out, "What did you have to sacrifice to get here tonight?" The question, at least then, goes unanswered — but the real answer lies in Delroy's secretive cult-like club The Grove, described early on as "a men-only club located in the Redwoods of California". "Speculation swirls around its taste for arcane ceremony and its power to make and break careers," reads the voice-over, and this turns out to be true in the most horrifying way.

Although it doesn't get much of a mention for a while after, Delroy's forest cult is hinted at again the first time Lilly becomes possessed. After saying, "He's here, isn't he," Lilly/the demon turns to Delroy and implies they've met before. When Delroy denies this, Lilly tells him not to be a fool.

"We go way back," she snarls. "We met amongst the tall trees."

When we start to piece these moments together, the final scene where Delroy speaks to his dying wife suddenly makes a lot more sense. The implication is that Delroy made a monkey's paw-style wish in the forest to become the number one late night host. The same demon that's taken over Lilly answered his prayers, but in return it took his wife's life. Delroy ended up getting his wish to become number one on the ratings, but he had to sacrifice everything to get there.

How to watch: Late Night with the Devil premieres in theaters March 22, and heads to Shudder April 19.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The DOJ accuses Apple of a 'green bubble' problem. Here's why they're right.

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:46

Fellow iPhone users: Picture the scene. You've just received someone's phone number, and it's an important someone. A new business partner, a potential romantic partner, a long-lost relative, whatever. You're inaugurating what you hope is a long and happy texting relationship, so you fire up Messages and enter the number.

What's the last thing you want to see when you, or the object of your interest, is done typing in that "To" field? Be honest. You don't want the number to turn green, right?

Because green numbers, as even the most casual iPhone user will notice over time, mean all sorts of annoyances compared with the cool blue chats with fellow iPhone users. In chats with non-iPhone numbers, links don't show a preview of the website in question. Pictures and videos are more likely to hang when they send. If you're also using Messages on an iPad or a Mac, green conversations take longer to update, often as much as 24 hours, making it pointless to converse on any device other than the iPhone. You won't be able to see when the other person is typing.

And you won't be able to send what has become, for many of us, highly efficient nonverbal responses — the heart, the thumbs-up, the "ha ha," the "!!!" — with a single tap. Well, you can, but you'll soon discover Apple sends a terse robotic text instead of an emoji, which is annoying as hell to your new friend.

SEE ALSO: Apple sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for antitrust violations

None of these are insurmountable problems to communication. Together, along with the lack of end-to-end encryption in green chats, they clearly add up to a degraded experience, and I'm not the only iPhone user to find myself texting friends with green numbers less over time. But in isolation, it seems dumb to complain about any single issue.

So when the U.S. Department of Justice did complain this week, as part of a larger lawsuit accusing Apple of anticompetitive practices, it wasn't surprising that many social media commentators pulled two words out of context. What, the DOJ is going after green bubbles now? Did we run out of real criminals?

Beyond the bubbles

If you're a Mac-using, iPad-weilding, iPhone-toting, Watch-wearing Apple history fanatic like me, then yes, no doubt you'll spot some issues with the full 88-page complaint. DOJ lawyers certainly didn't do themselves any favors by opening with outdated anticompetitive quotes from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs — now 12 years gone — or penning a groan-worthy line about Apple not wanting smartphone users to "think different" by leaving its walled garden.

But when it comes to Messages, at least, the DOJ has Apple bang to rights. Even the most fanatic Apple partisan has to wince when reading these very specific accusations in the complaint, green bubbles not included:

Apple could have made a better cross-platform messaging experience itself by creating iMessage for Android but concluded that doing so “will hurt us more than help us” [a direct quote from emails sent to CEO Tim Cook.] Apple therefore continues to impede innovation in smartphone messaging, even though doing so sacrifices the profits Apple would earn from increasing the value of the iPhone to users, because it helps build and maintain its monopoly power.

Apple recognizes that its conduct harms users and makes it more difficult to switch smartphones ... Recently, Apple blocked a third-party developer from fixing the broken cross- platform messaging experience in Apple Messages and providing end-to-end encryption for messages between Apple Messages and Android users.

Featured Video For You CES 2024: Control your Apple devices with the wave of your hand

Apple designates the APIs needed [for regular texting] as “private,” meaning third-party developers have no means of accessing them and are prohibited from doing so ... If a user wants to send a message in a third-party messaging app, they must first confirm whether the person they want to talk to has the same messaging app and, if not, convince that person to download and use a new messaging app. By contrast, if an Apple Messages user wants to send somebody a message, they just type their phone number ...

Third-party messaging apps cannot continue operating in the background when the app is closed, which impairs functionality like message delivery confirmation. When users receive video calls, third-party messaging apps cannot access the iPhone camera to allow users to preview their appearance on video before answering a call. Apple Messages incorporates these features.

Many non-iPhone users experience social stigma, exclusion, and blame for “breaking” chats where other participants own iPhones. This effect is particularly powerful for certain demographics, like teenagers—where the iPhone’s share is 85 percent ... This social pressure reinforces switching costs and drives users to continue buying iPhones—solidifying Apple’s smartphone dominance not because Apple has made its smartphone better, but because it has made communicating with other smartphones worse. [Emphasis mine]

Make it easy to be green

What jumps out at you from all that? For me, it's Apple's point-blank refusal to make a Messages for Android app, which would allow those degrading communication issues to disappear (assuming your Android friends download the app, of course).

This is not a technical issue. It's not even a "we don't do that kind of thing at Apple" issue. The company has no problem making versions of its Apple TV experience for rivals like Samsung, even though that cuts into potential sales of Apple TVs. And as the DOJ rightly points out elsewhere in the complaint, the iPod would not have become a company-saving hit product without a key piece of cross-platform software: iTunes for Windows PCs.

It's not that Apple is making Android users look like second-class citizens in its walled garden, exactly. But it's not doing anything to help users avoid that impression either.

But the smartphone market is allegedly too important, too massive a chunk of revenue for Apple, to allow users to communicate freely. So instead of making Messages for Android, Apple reinforces all the fun things you can do in blue chats, drawing an ever-greater contrast with the green.

It's not that Apple is making Android users look like second-class citizens in its walled garden, exactly. But it's not doing anything to help users avoid that impression either. We can laugh at the "blame for breaking chats" line, and yet we all know the way stigma can spring from dozens of tiny interactions.

We know this in part because we've all been teenagers, and the 85 percent iPhone share among teens is somewhat chilling for this reason. (The DOJ's figure is actually somewhat low; a recent survey put teen iPhone ownership at 87 percent, with 88 percent of teens expecting to have an iPhone after their next purchase.) You don't have to retain many memories of high school to imagine what digital life is like for the other 15 percent. It's a subtle form of social isolation that has sprung up in the last decade (in 2012, just 40 percent of teens reported owning an iPhone).

We've been here before. In 1997, Microsoft thought it had the perfect right to push its Internet Explorer as hard as it wanted on its monopoly platform, Windows, while squeezing out the rival web browser Netscape Navigator. It took three years of fighting with the government, which had assembled an Avengers-like squad of rival companies including Apple, before the tech titan was forced to give its customers more choice.

Tim Cook doesn't have to be Bill Gates; he could turn this around at any time. Announcing Messages for Android wouldn't necessarily make the DOJ's entire antitrust lawsuit go away, but it would reduce the public appetite for it. And it would improve the day to day experience of Cook's customers, who may suddenly find they have something to talk about with their green-numbered friends after all.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What's the deal with the stars in '3 Body Problem'?

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:43

"Has the universe ever winked at you?"

It's the cryptic question alien-worshipper and Earth-Trisolaris Organization member Tatiana (Marlo Kelly) poses to Auggie (Eiza González) in Netflix's 3 Body Problem. And it's the one in the back of the nanotechnologist's mind when she and fellow "Oxford Five" member, physicist Saul (Jovan Adepo), find themselves staring at a sky full of stars blinking across the world.

SEE ALSO: What exactly is the three-body problem in '3 Body Problem'?

In episode 1 of David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo's sci-fi epic, based on Liu Cixin's books, the world sees the night sky flickering simultaneously, prompting widespread news coverage and watercooler chats the next day. As it's happening, Saul decodes the stars using a strange breakfast cereal toy code-cracker Tatiana gave to Auggie, finding it matches the numbers in Auggie's countdown.

But what exactly happened here, and how did the stars suddenly flicker?

It's flickering all over the world. Credit: Netflix The blinking stars are a worldwide deepfake

In episode 2 after the phenomenon, Saul tells Dr Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao) his theory about the blinking stars: "It's bullshit. It never happened." When Wenjie questions this, noting that the entire world witnessed the blinking lights, Saul doubles down. "Sure, everyone on Earth. But you know who didn't see it? Webb, Hubble, CHEOPS. None of the satellites saw it. You know why? Because it never happened. It was a deepfake."

Saul's bang on the money, though he hasn't figured out who created such an illusion. So, who did? It all comes down to the sophon, the technology deployed by the impending alien race, the San-Ti, who responded to Wenjie's transmission sent in 1968. In episode 5, when Jin and Thomas Wade (Liam Cunningham) speak to the San-Ti AI warrior through the VR headsets, they tell them the aliens have created a sentient supercomputer by focusing energies on a single proton, then creating "a mind as large as a world".

In episode 5, the San-Ti demonstrate the sheer power of the sophon, reflecting the world upon itself and fashioning a giant eye in the middle of it all, informing the "bugs" of Earth they're under constant surveillance by an alien race. It's Christopher Nolan's Inception meets George Orwell's 1984 and it scares the shit out of the human race, as intended. The flickering stars seem like mere party tricks, a glimmer of the San-Ti's sinister intention to make humanity "learn how to fear again."

"In place of truth, we give you miracles," the San-Ti warrior explains. "We wrap your world in illusions. We make you see what we want you to see."

What's with the Toasty-O-Sters code-cracker?

This item, given to Auggie by Tatiana on their first meeting for the purposes of looking at the stars, is a strange one. Right out of a box of Toasty-O-Sters breakfast cereal, the code-cracker allows Saul to figure out the stars are flashing numbers that correspond with Auggie's countdown. It's not Morse code, as Saul explains, but instead he cracks an alien code using this tiny piece of plastic. Auggie mentions the cereal Toasty-O-Sters hasn't been made since 1963, which is five years before Wenjie sent her first message to the San-Ti.

So why on Earth are the San-Ti, a technologically advanced alien race, using an out-of-production 1960s cereal toy as their chief means of communication with one scientist on Earth?

But ANYWAY, now you and the world knows the blinking stars aren't just a cosmic phenomenon. They're a direct threat.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 22

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:25

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 March 22 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 22

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, March 22, 2024:

AcrossWhen doubled, a mild reprimand

  • The answer is now.

Hawaiian dance

  • The answer is hula.

When doubled, very friendly

  • The answer is buddy.

Partner of rules, informally

  • The answer is regs.

When doubled, sailor's assent

  • The answer is aye.

DownWhen doubled, "Get my innuendo?"

  • The answer is nudge.

Onetime lead-in to "mobile" in the auto world

  • The answer is olds.

Route

  • The answer is way.

Pop's ___ Lewis and the News

  • The answer is Huey.

Top half of a bikini

  • The answer is bra.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best pushchairs, prams, and buggies for parents

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:24

Part of the excitement of becoming a parent is going on that necessary spending splurge — all the stuff you need to keep your baby happy, healthy, and most importantly, safe. Toys, nappies, muslin towels, baby proofing equipment… You need a whole world of stuff. But the biggest buy is the pushchair. 

Here’s a first-time parenting tip: You need a pushchair to suit your lifestyle needs — one that’s easy to manoeuvre through a bustling city, for instance, or one that’s lightweight if you’re a frequent traveller. Plus, you want a pushchair that will go the distance, from newborn to toddler.

If you’re already up to your elbows in milk formula and teensy-weensy babygrows, you might not have the time to research the best model. But we can help steer you towards the best choice for you and your baby. 

How much does a pushchair cost?

When you’re on a budget — and parents-to-be are always on a budget — it’s important to know how much you’ll spend. Like many things, you can find a pushchair at various prices, from around the £100 mark to well over £1,000. It’s a case of getting what you pay for. There are good pushchairs available for a lower price (you’ll find some below, in fact) but buying too cheap can be a false economy. It’s worth paying for a good quality model that will withstand all the bumps, adventures, and miles.

What’s better, a pram or pushchair?

The simple answer is, well, both. A pram is for newborn babies, essentially a bassinet on wheels, while a pushchair is for growing babies and toddlers. The beauty of modern prams and pushchairs is that they’re not mutually exclusive. Most models will convert between the two styles, with the option to attach and detach a bassinet/carry cot. The kicker is that not all pushchairs come with the carry cot attachment, so you may have to pay extra. 

How long will a pushchair last?

A good quality pushchair should last from newborn to toddler. In fact, it should be hardy enough to do it all over again if you have more kids. Hey, if you mums and dads can manage to do it all again, why not the pushchair? If you want to be sure that the pushchair will continue to support your baby as they grown into a toddler, check out how much weight it supports. Most will support up to around 20-22kg. The average weight of a two-year-old is about 12kg. That should give you some idea.

What are the most important pushchair features?

There are plenty of other features to think about before making a purchase. For starters, the look of your pushchair is important. We're not saying you should sacrifice safety for style, but nobody wants to show off their newborn in an ugly chair. Fortunately, there are now lots of trendy brands with pushchairs that look great. 

You also need to consider how a pushchair actually moves, because you will actually have to push the thing from time to time. Will you be taking your pushchair off-road, or keeping to the pavements? Is it lightweight enough to navigate shops and busy areas?

All of this is important, but nothing comes above keeping your little one safe and comfortable. If a pushchair can't offer safety in abundance, then it's really not worth your time. A good idea is to thoroughly check out the reviews of any product, to see what other parents think. If any product is lacking in this department, the reviews will be damning.

What is the best pushchair?

The great news for anyone looking to invest in a pushchair is that there is loads of choice. The bad news is that this makes picking one product particularly tough. We know how hard it can be, so we’ve helped you out with a selection of the best pushchairs from across the internet.

There are the best pushchairs, prams, and buggies for 2024.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best VPN for Hulu

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:07

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

If there's anything better than changing into pajamas, squeezing yourself between the crisp, slightly cold sheets of your bed, and plowing through an entire season of 90 Day Fiancé after a busy day, we have yet to experience it.

This gloriously trashy reality series is a guilty pleasure for a lot of people out there, and it's just one of literally thousands of TV shows and movies available on Hulu, the bright green-branded streaming service founded in 2007. 

Hulu provides on-demand access to a stacked lineup that includes hit movies like Annihilation and Sorry to Bother You; cult-favourite shows like Rick and Morty and This Is Us; and exclusive originals like Shrill and The Handmaid's Tale.

Unlike Netflix, that has expanded internationally, Hulu's library is strictly limited to viewers in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. military bases. That's because Hulu doesn't own international streaming rights for any of its shows and movies; it only holds the U.S. distribution licenses. If Hulu were to expand the availability of its content abroad, it would have to make new deals with distributors to acquire streaming rights in other regions — and that requires a lot of negotiating and money-spending.

There's still a chance Hulu will go global. But until then, those attempting to watch Hulu from outside the U.S. will have to circumvent Hulu's geo-restrictions with the help of something called a virtual private network, or VPN.

Do you need a VPN to watch Hulu?

To prevent users outside the U.S. from accessing its shows and movies, Hulu requires two things of its accountholders: a U.S.-issued form of payment and a U.S. IP (internet protocol) address — that's the numerical ID containing information about your location and web activity that gets assigned to your device by your internet search provider, or ISP, when you connect to a local network. It's like a house's physical address, but for your computer/smartphone/tablet.

That IP address part is where a VPN comes into play. For the uninitiated, a VPN is a service that creates a safe, secure connection over the internet by routing your device's traffic through its own private servers. Known as encryption, this process shields your personal information and online activities from the prying eyes of your ISP and — this is key — creates a temporary IP address that hides your true location.

You can probably guess where we're going with this: If you're trying to watch Hulu from outside the U.S., you can have a VPN spoof your IP address and trick Hulu into thinking you're based in the U.S. Simple, right?

Actually, not so much. Because here's the thing: Hulu isn't dumb.

Does Hulu block users with a VPN?

Just like Netflix, Hulu prohibits its accountholders from using VPNs in an effort to protect its licensed content, and it'll slap you with an error message if it thinks you're trying to use one to watch its content. Its tactics are threefold:

  1. Hulu blocks anonymous IP addresses whose geographical location it can't verify 

  2. Hulu checks your IP address against its own blacklist of known VPN servers

  3. Hulu keeps a lookout for IP addresses with a large number of users. If there are too many people sharing any given server, Hulu will assume you're all using a VPN and shut that shit down.

If a VPN provider wants to unblock Hulu for its users, it needs to steer clear of Hulu's blacklist while maintaining a sizeable U.S. server network. These are no easy feats, so the list of VPNs that can consistently bypass Hulu's ferocious firewall is pretty short. 

What is the best VPN for watching Hulu?

Need help making sense of all this? Below, we've broken down the pros and cons of VPNs that are currently capable of unblocking Hulu and keeping you anonymous online. That way, you can make an informed decision on how to spend your hard-earned cash.

These are the best VPN for watching Hulu in 2024.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best gaming mouse for upgrading your experience

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 11:44

What do you need for a great gaming session? A PC or console. Check. That's an absolute must. A monitor and a comfy chair. Check and check. And last — but certainly not least — a gaming mouse. Not just any old mouse, but a high-quality gaming mouse. If that's not already a check, it's time to start shopping for an upgrade.

All serious gamers know that a good gaming mouse is an absolutely must-have. And this basic computer accessory has become more and more sophisticated over the years. It has evolved to keep up with the needs of gamers and the evolution of gaming tech.

But the question is, how to choose a gaming mouse? With so many different options and specs out there, it's easy to get blinded by jargon or all the options out there. That's why we're here to help. Here's a guide to the need-to-know information.

Do you need a gaming mouse?

If you're serious about gaming, yes. A regular mouse just won't cut it. A dedicated gaming mouse has sensors that are designed to be more responsive and more accurate than your average PC mouse. This means that a good gaming mouse will improve your aim and respond better to your reflexes. They also have programmable buttons that you can customise so you don’t have to ever use your keyboard when you’re chasing that all-important kill-streak. 

The difference between winning and losing in PC gaming can come down to split seconds, so having a gaming mouse that reacts and responds quickly is absolutely vital. Using a gaming mouse ultimately means you're better equipped for success.

What are the most important features in a gaming mouse?

There's a long list of things to keep in mind when shopping for a gaming mouse, but we've tried to highlight the most important features:

  • Comfort — Since you’re probably going to spend hours playing your favourite games, you'll want something that’s comfortable in your hand. Gaming mice come in lots of shapes, sizes, widths, and weights. Pick one that feels right for you. What feels comfortable to one gamer might not for another. For example, some are also designed with left-handed gamers in mind. 

  • DPI — You’ll also want to pay attention to Dots Per Inch, or DPI. This is how sensitive your mouse is to movements. You can find mice with DPI counts up to 20,000, though most gamers don’t need something quite that sensitive. Anything over 2,000 is considered pretty good. 

  • Wired/wireless — Wireless mice used to be less accurate and slower than wired ones, but upgraded techn makes them incredibly competitive. Still, you should know that wireless mice generally cost more. Pay attention to battery life if you opt for a wireless mouse — the last thing you need is to run out of power mid-game. 

Also think about things like brand, style, and price, but this is a good place to start.

What is the best gaming mouse?

We know that this is a lot to think about, so we've tried to make things a little bit easier for you. We have checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of the best gaming mice from top brands like Logitech and SteelSeries. There should be something for everyone in this list.

These are the best gaming mice in 2024.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Chennai Super Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore online for free

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 11:12

TL;DR: Watch Chennai Super Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The IPL is back, and it's back with a bang.

The new season starts with a monumental clash between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, meaning we could see MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli go head-to-head in the opening match. It really doesn't get any bigger than that.

If you want to watch Chennai Super Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Chennai Super Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore?

Chennai Super Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore starts at 2:30 p.m. GMT on March 22. This opening fixture takes place at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India.

How to watch Chennai Super Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore for free

JioCinema is offering free live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on its app.

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

Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

  4. Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)

  5. Watch Chennai Super Kings vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

If you want permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including India

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £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.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

All the hidden details in the 'Wicked' movie's new promotional character photos

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 11:00

Theater nerds, rise! New photos from Vanity Fair provide a tantalizing sneak peek into the film adaptation of Wicked, due in theaters on November 27, 2024.

Fans of the stage show will recognize much of the visual iconography adapted from the Broadway musical. But what other hints can we discover hiding within the images? We took a closer look to find out.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Tweet may have been deleted

Elphaba appears here in full wicked witchy glam standing in front a broken window, a detail we also see multiple times in the film's trailer. The base of a hot air balloon can be seen through the shattered panes, perhaps the same hot air balloon that first brought the Wizard to Oz.

Ariana Grande as Glinda Tweet may have been deleted

Here we see Glinda (née Galinda) in Munchkinland, along the Yellow Brick Road. Now known as "Glinda the Good," she travels by bubble, with a scepter in her hand and crown on her head.

In this image, the bubble has disappeared and left only the plush throne-like platform that supports her in the air. Around Glinda lie bunches of tulips, the kind that populate the fields outside Munchkinland. The thatched roofs behind her match the set pieces we saw in a photo captured by the Daily Mail in April 2023.

Elphaba and Glinda at Shiz University Tweet may have been deleted

In the hallowed halls and vine-draped walls of Shiz University, opposites attract in roommates Elphaba and Glinda.

On one side of the room, Glinda perches on a pile of pink luggage embossed with her initials. Among the luggage are several round hat boxes, perhaps harboring the black, pointy "witch" hat she later gifts to Elphaba out of the "goodness of [her] heart." Glinda also has her impressive collection of dresses and frocks hung up in a neat line, ready at a moment's notice for the next Ozdust Ballroom bash.

Elphaba's side is a little more... academic. Her feet rest on a pile of books, and more tomes line her black trunks in the background. On her rather plain bed sits a tray of Oz-ian stationery: a pen, ink wells, and an hourglass timer. On the wall behind the bed hangs a map, perhaps of Oz, that notes the mistreatment of anthropomorphic Animals throughout the land. "Four legs not wanted" is scrawled at the top and "Animal refugees stampede to border" at the bottom, with drawings of a giraffe and antelope also visible.

Elphaba has also brought 11 glass cloches to Shiz, all with blooming flowers inside. Perhaps her special magical proclivity for the "biological arts" enables them to live once taken from the ground.

Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard Tweet may have been deleted

The Wizard appears here in his workshop, surrounded by blueprints for his inventions. The giant eyes on his desk are replacements for those in the enormous mechanical head he uses to speak to visitors like Dorothy and her crew.

At his feet are extra yellow bricks and a model version of the steam train we see Elphaba boarding in the trailer and, later, rushing towards the Emerald City. While the eponymous Wizard of Oz appeared bumbling and cowardly in the original film, Wicked's Wizard promises to be much more clever and, perhaps, even conniving.

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tweet may have been deleted

Unfortunately, we can't glean much from this image of prince and playboy Fiyero. There's only so much to say about a dude on a horse. But Bailey looks very dashing on horseback, which is all we ask of Fiyero anyways.

Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible Tweet may have been deleted

The formidable headmistress of Shiz University, Madame Morrible, is dressed in stylish school colors in her study. On the cover of the hardcover in her hands is a small hot air balloon, likely a depiction of the Wizard's arrival in Oz. Behind her, a book lies propped open on a pedestal at a convenient height for hands-free spell-casting.

Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Ethan Slater as Boq, Bowen Yang as Pfanee, and Bronwyn James as Shenshen. Tweet may have been deleted

Dear old Shiz, the proudliest sight there is! This quartet of supporting characters is seen here as students, dressed in university best. Boq, a Munchkin pining for Glinda, has added quirky flair to his uniform. Nessarose, Elphaba's sister, is wearing striped socks in what appears to be a subtle nod to her disastrous fate (iykyk). And Pfanee and Shenshen, two completely new characters created for the film, look smart in skirts and suit jackets.

They appear to be hanging out in a classroom, where notes on the "biological arts" and a map of the Shiz campus adorn the walls. Flyers advertising choir auditions and a "Twister Tornado Tournament" are scattered about the classroom.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Learn Python with a bootcamp bundle for just $19.99

Mashable - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through March 24, learn all about coding and more with this Python online course bundle while it's on sale for $19.99 (reg. $84).

Education has changed over the past five or so years. For starters, you no longer have to step foot in a classroom to learn. With online learning booming, it's easier than ever to begin a learning journey in nearly anything. If you are a programmer interested in elevating your Python skills or a newbie just testing out the waters, these online Python courses could be for you.

Python is among the top programming languages in the world, according to Statista. And this bundle has twelve courses totaling 130 hours to start you off on a comprehensive education in the language. It's very popular because of its versatility and is used by everyone from large companies to smaller businesses, and everything in between.

One course, Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer Certification Preparation Course, is taught by Chris Mall and designed to prepare you for the PCEP Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer Certification Exam. You'll do things like create programs and automate coding tasks. Another course covers the foundations of Python to give you the essentials.

You'll go on to cover other in-demand topics like Python Django, Coding with Python Turtle, and using Raspberry Pi. There's even a course called Python Hands-On with 46 Hours, 210 Exercises, 5 Projects, 5 Assignments, 2 Exams, which lets you roll your sleeves up and work on projects. 

Anyone with an interest in learning Python could benefit from this educational source.

For a limited time, the Python bootcamp bundle is on sale for $19.99 (reg. $84).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Christina Morillo via Pexels The 2024 Complete Python Certification Boot Camp Bundle $19.99 at the Mashable Shop
$84.00 Save $64.01 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology
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