Blogroll

Just seven years ago, Americans emptied their homes for a chance to witness a total solar eclipse, an astronomical event hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Back then, you might have heard this was the first to cut across the United States from coast to coast in a century — and it was. But lately, you might have heard there's another total solar eclipse slicing through North America on April 8, 2024.

So what gives?

Rest assured, skeptics, the 2024 eclipse is not crying wolf. There is another coming — the last major eclipse to cross the continent for 20 years — and the experience will be different from that of 2017, said Jenna Samra, a physicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

The total solar eclipse this April will last longer, could appear darker, and the corona should look even more reminiscent of a pointy crown around the moon. Also, many more people live where it will be safe to remove protective eclipse glasses for the minutes when the sun is completely blocked.

"When people say the eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime event, of course that's not strictly true. Actually, there's a solar eclipse every couple of years, if you can go anywhere in the world to see it," Samra told Mashable. "What makes them rare is appearing in a certain location on Earth."

SEE ALSO: What's the big deal about solar eclipses? It's a 'full-body experience.' The path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Credit: NASA Science Visualization Studio

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the sun and Earth in space. During that brief period when the sun is entirely hidden, the sky will darken to twilight.

When the sun is concealed, people have the unusual chance to observe the sun's corona glowing around the edges of the moon. The corona, the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, is normally washed out by the much brighter solar surface.

The moon is expected to first cast its shadow on Mexico's Pacific coast at 11:07 a.m. PT, according to NASA. The corridor of the moon's shadow, the so-called "path of totality," will arc from Texas to Maine, entering Canada through Southern Ontario and exiting on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland at 5:16 p.m. NDT. The rest of the U.S. mainland will experience a partial eclipse, meaning the moon will only obscure a chunk of the sun.

All 48 states on the U.S. mainland will experience at least a partial eclipse on April 8, 2024. Credit: NASA

The sun, moon, and Earth align like this to form a total solar eclipse every one to three years. But the shadow of the moon usually traces a path over oceans and desolate corners of the world, said Kelly Korreck, a heliophysicist and NASA's program manager for the 2024 eclipse.

"In one particular location, to get that solar eclipse (again), it's between 400 and 1,000 years on average," Korreck told Mashable. "So it's once-in-a-lifetime in a specific spot, but it's not necessarily once-in-a-lifetime for the planet."

There are, of course, outliers: Carbondale, Illinois, for example — a city that was in the moon's shadow during the eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017 — will also, coincidentally, be in the path of totality in April.

Tweet may have been deleted The 2024 eclipse will last longer

The moon's shadow on Earth's surface was 71 miles wide during the 2017 eclipse, making the longest duration of total sun coverage two minutes and 41 seconds. But the 2024 eclipse will span 122 miles, Korreck said, providing an eclipse lasting up to four minutes and 27 seconds.

The shadow size changes based on the configuration of the moon's orbit around Earth and Earth's orbit around the sun, both slightly oval. The sun's size appears to change ever so slightly — enough to matter for an eclipse, said Michael Zeiler, an eclipse cartographer and co-founder of GreatAmericanEclipse.com, a resource for solar eclipses around the world.

"It all depends on the geometry," he told Mashable. "If the sun's apparent size to us is relatively small, or about the smallest it gets, and the moon is about the largest that it gets, then you will have the longest possible total solar eclipse, which has a theoretical maximum of about seven minutes and 30 seconds."

Eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler says the sky could appear darker during the 2024 eclipse than in 2017, due to the wider path of totality. Credit: ROBYN BECK / AFP via Getty Images The 2024 eclipse could appear darker

Setting aside weather conditions, the wider path of totality is also the reason some solar eclipse observers could be treated to a darker sky, Zeiler said, allowing people to see more stars against the backdrop.

If a person stood in the center of the narrower path in 2017, then went to the center of the broader 2024 path this April, the sky could appear darker the second time around. The duration of the eclipse and the level of darkness are related.

"If you're in the center, then you're a farther distance away from sunlight. That's what it boils down to — how far you are from the edge of the shadow," he said.

Tweet may have been deleted The corona will look 'spikier' in 2024

The corona, that hazy white glow that will appear when the moon blocks the sun, means "crown" in Latin. And because of where the sun is in its 11-year solar cycle, eclipse watchers are more likely to see a corona surrounded by pointy peaks, much like the name evokes.

"The shape of the corona that you see on Eclipse Day, it will become seared into your memory," said Zeiler, who has witnessed 11 total solar eclipses around the world. "When you look at a photograph, you'll instantly say, 'Oh yeah, that's the 2024 eclipse.'"

The solar cycle, caused by changes in the sun's magnetic fields, affects activity on the sun's surface. At the beginning and end of the cycle, that activity is at its calmest. But solar activity ramps up, peaking in the middle of the cycle, causing the sun to roil with giant eruptions.

The cycle will have nearly reached its maximum point during the 2024 eclipse. By contrast, the sun was closer to solar minimum in 2017, revealing a more ordered corona.

"The shape of the corona that you see on Eclipse Day, it will become seared into your memory." A solar prominence launches into the corona from the sun's surface. Credit: NASA

"The corona will just look much more, I guess the word I can say is, 'spiky,'" Samra said. "It has to do with the way the magnetic field is. The spikes that we see are actually essentially plasma — hot, ionized gas — and the corona is following the magnetic field lines."

Astronomers and eclipse chasers are excited about the chance to see some wild fireworks in the corona. Those include solar prominences — wispy pink tendrils that extend into the corona. Some prominences resemble bright lakes of fire around the moon's rim.

But the highlight could be witnessing a coronal mass ejection, plasma spewed from the corona, which might look like a bubble or blob. Small CMEs have been reported during totality in recent times, but no major eruptions. Some historians believe the eclipse that crossed Spain in 1860 had a giant one, Zeiler said. Paintings and sketches from that event show a large hook-like feature launching out of the corona.

Nearly three times more people live in the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse compared to the 2017 path. Credit: MARK RALSTON / AFP via Getty Images More people live in the 2024 eclipse's path

Motivated people will travel to the path of totality for an eclipse, but many who observe it will simply be those lucky enough to already live in the track of the moon's shadow. In 2017, that corridor fell over an estimated 12 million residents.

But this time in 2024, the path will arc toward the more densely populated East Coast, casting shade over about 31 million residents — over 2.5 times more people.

Some experts predict that because the eclipse will be in so many citizens' backyards, it will be the most-viewed astronomical event in American history — even if it's not a once-in-a-lifetime moment, per se.

"If you get lucky enough that it's not a-once-in-a-lifetime event, then just seize that," Samra said. "You're not gonna get sick of seeing it — like, no way. You're always going to wish you had longer."

This story originally published on Jan. 27, 2024 and has been updated.

Jon Stewart has turned his attentions away from politics this week on The Daily Show and onto the looming existential threat of artificial intelligence.

In the clip above the host describes it as a "bait and switch", mocking the tech leaders acting like they're helping us while simultaneously putting multiple jobs at risk.

"That's the game," concludes Stewart, after sharing past footage of various presidents talking about workers retraining. "Whether it's globalisation or industrialisation or, now, artificial intelligence, the way of life that you are accustomed to is no match for the promise of more profits and new markets. Which sounds brutal, if you're a human, but at least those other disruptions took place over a century, or decades — AI's going to be ready to take over by Thursday.

"And once that happens, what the fuck is there left for the rest of us to do?"

Each passing year of life is bound to bring new memories, some nuggets of wisdom, and the unsettling awareness of at least one more spot in your home that isn't being cleaned as often as it should be. Spring cleaning acts as our universal reminder to actually tackle the tasks we've been putting off.

What should be included in spring cleaning?

Most people can agree that a spring cleaning is a deeper, more exhaustive clean than what's covered in a weekly tidying routine, even if there are differences in approach on a more granular level. Spring cleaning goes beyond the quick once-over you give the kitchen and bathroom with your emotional support disinfecting wipes, hitting the spots that aren't as visible or easy to reach.

The list of corners in the home that hasn't been touched in a while gets long quickly, and getting overwhelmed by your cleaning to-do list is a recipe for giving up on all of them. To avoid checklist decision paralysis, the first order of business in a spring cleaning is to clean up the checklist itself.

SEE ALSO: Stop scrolling so much. Try these rituals instead.

The easiest way to do this is to pick a task or two in each room that you know you've been putting off. The crusty inside of the microwave? The cat puke stain on the couch? The space underneath any piece of furniture? It could be as simple as de-cluttering your chaotic cabinet of cleaning products so that getting out the Windex isn't a daunting task in itself.

Based on the spring cleaning we've conducted in our own homes, we have some ideas of where to start. Our checklist ranges from deep cleaning of larger appliances to automated floor care. We've also included several cleaning hacks for under $10. To tackle your annual deep clean, here are eight of our favorite hands-on tested spring cleaning products to send you into the new season with a fresh start.

Ideally, these products will minimize your cleaning dread so much that you don't mind keeping up with the list throughout the year — ultimately setting you up for a less-daunting spring cleaning next year.

TL;DR: Through April 7, this Nintendo Switch Joy-Con charging dock is on sale for only $16.99.

It's pretty impressive that the Nintendo Switch has managed to retain its reputation as a crowd-favorite console despite being over half a decade old, which is like an eternity in the gaming world. Then again, it's one of the only portable consoles that can accommodate more players simultaneously compared to PlayStation and Xbox. It allows for up to eight Joy-Cons at once, great for hosting game nights when you need your family to hustle on Overcooked.

But to keep the party going, you need the Joy-Cons all powered up. This Switch Joy-Con Charging Dock on sale can refuel up to four Joy-Cons simultaneously, taking all of them from zero to 100% in just two hours or less. For a limited time, you can grab it on sale for just $16.99.

Just like our trusty Nintendo Switch, this charger boasts a slim and portable design, allowing you to take and use it anywhere. It also has a space-saving structure to sit neatly beside the console, and with its easy slide-in mechanism, it keeps all the connected Joy-Cons stable and neat.

The charger has built-in LED indicators to notify you of the charge status of each Joy-Con. Red indicates that it's still charging, while green means that it's fully topped up, ready for another round of playing. As a bonus, the charger comes equipped with multiple protection features to keep all your controllers safe, including over-current, over-heat, over-voltage, and short-circuit protection.

Don't cut game night short with depleted Joy-Con batteries. This Switch Joy-Con Charging Dock normally retails for $19, but for a limited time, you can snag it on sale for only $16.99, no coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: UGR Tech Switch Joy-Con Charging Dock with LED Indicator Lights $16.99 at the Mashable Shop
$19.99 Save $3.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 7, save 39% on JBL Tune Flex Ghost Edition earbuds with active noise-cancelling with an open-box model. These are new items with imperfect or non-original packaging. 

Just like you probably can’t imagine still using a landline telephone or dial-up internet in 2024, a lot of us can't imagine still using wired headphones. If that’s you, we’d love to help you unplug from the corded lifestyle with JBL Tune Flex Ghost Edition wireless earbuds for just $59.99 for an open-box pair (reg. $99.95). Open box means you get a brand-new product in imperfect packaging. 

Cut the cords and get tons of extra features

While we understand your literal attachment to your current headphones, you’ll likely never turn back once you meet the convenience and versatility of the JBL Tune Flex buds. Just remove them from their charging case, pop them into your ears, and pair them to any device with Bluetooth 5.2 technology. Then, enjoy total freedom from cords as you work out, take phone calls, tidy the house, or do anything else.

Probably the only drawback of wireless versus wired earbuds is that you have to keep them charged. However, the JBL Tune Flex buds hold 32 hours of playtime in their charging case, which is likely enough for a week or so, depending on how often you listen.

There are many other reasons to go with the JBL Tune Flex buds. For one, they have active noise-cancelling, Ambient Aware, and TalkThru modes so you can choose how much background noise you get through the buds. Two, you can customize your listening experience further with the JBL Headphones app. And, three, they have IPX4-water resistance.

Brand-new buds without the brand-name price

These JBL Tune Flex earbuds are open-box items. In short, that means their packaging has had some sort of contact with customers — possibly a store return or excess inventory from shelves — and they cannot be resold as new. Instead, they’re labeled as open-box products with verification to be in brand-new condition with clean packaging.

Go wireless with an open-box pair of JBL Tune Flex Ghost Edition earbuds for $59.99 (reg. $99.95).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Tune Flex Ghost Edition Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Open Box) $59.99 at the Mashable Shop
$99.95 Save $39.96 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 7, save an extra 20% on a lifetime subscription to a second phone number with Hushed and get 6,000 SMS or 1,000 phone minutes each year with coupon code SECURE20.

How many times a day does your phone ring, but it’s not a "real" call — as in, it’s a telemarketer, robocall, or even a scam. These days, it seems like we get those more often than our friends or family dial us, and there might be a solution: Getting a second phone number with Hushed to filter out the bad from the good.

Unlike your current cellular provider which would probably charge you a small fortune for a second line, a Hushed lifetime subscription is currently on sale for $19.99 (reg. $150) with code SECURE20 at checkout. Shop other security-related deals in the Mashable Shop with this coupon through April 7.

A second number is your call to privacy

Having a second phone number with Hushed is as simple as having the app on your iOS or Android phone and using its current WiFi or cellular connection. This is where you’ll have text and phone conversations, though you could also set up call forwarding settings and customize your voicemail.

Start by choosing an area code from hundreds of choices across the United States and Canada. Those using Hushed as a way to ward off those annoying spam calls after calling 800 numbers, applying for credit, or making donations (yes, that’s how your number gets out there) may want to choose a location randomly, while those using a second number for dating or selling online might select one close to their real location.

This particular subscription tier includes a combination of 6,000 SMS or 1,000 phone minutes to use each year, though you can purchase additional credits at any time. There are also higher amounts available that also work with the SECURE20 coupon code.

A second number could be the right call with Hushed, now $19.99 for a lifetime subscription (reg. $150) when you enter coupon code SECURE20 at checkout until April 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click Hushed Private Phone Line: Lifetime Subscription $19.99 at the Mashable Shop
$150.00 Save $130.01 with code SECURE20 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 7, this refurbished Apple iPad mini 4 is just $174.99 (reg. $195).

Since we live in an on-the-go world, we need on-the-go tools to support us. The tablet is the usual go-to for portable connectivity, whether you're working, playing games, scrolling through social media, streaming videos, or just about anything else. And an iPad mini is made to be even more manageable while traveling, commuting, or just running errands. This iPad mini 4 is on sale for $174.99 (reg. $195).

With a spacious 128GB of storage and a vivid 7.9-inch Retina display, this could be a top-of-the-list option if you're in the market for a new-to-you device. It's a refurbished model from 2015, but has been inspected and cleaned to run very well. It has a grade "B" refurbished rating. That means it could have some light cosmetic scuffing or other signs of use on the bevel or body. 

It has a 64-bit A8 chip and WiFi capabilities to keep you connected via network or hotspot. This tablet also has Apple Pay and Siri for your convenience.

The iPad mini 4 runs iPadOS 9 and updates to iPadOS 15.5. It can also provide up to ten hours of battery life so you don't have to worry about it dying right in the middle of your favorite show.

This is a solid opportunity to own a versatile, smooth tablet from Apple at an extra 10% savings.

Pick up this refurbished Apple iPad mini 4 for just $174.99 (reg. $195) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini 4, 128GB - Space Gray (Refurbished: WiFi Only) $174.99 at the Mashable Shop
$195.00 Save $20.01 Get Deal

In a world filled with AI skeptics, I'm cautiously optimistic about the proliferation of artificial intelligence. Yes, it has its dark sides, like deepfakes (I mean, did you see what happened to Taylor Swift?), job displacement, and AI-induced intellectual lethargy. 

But I'd argue that all new breakthrough technologies are disruptive (e.g., the internet, ride-sharing apps, and social media), causing ruin to some aspects of society while bringing benefits in other areas.

Pro-AI advocates claim that AI will make our lives easier, so I decided to put that to the test. A five-day vacation is fun, but building a nearly week-long itinerary is not. So, for the first time ever, I partially relied on ChatGPT to plan my Costa Rica trip with my significant other — and I'm not sure I'd do it again.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI previews synthetic voice creator, Voice Engine What I wanted out of my Costa Rica trip

There are five activities I wanted to do in Costa Rica: zip lining, off-roading with ATVs, the La Paz waterfalls hike, a food-sampling tour, and exploring San José. It's the latter, however, that I needed help with the most, so I sought the help of AI.

Cascading waters at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park Credit: Jason England

While I carved out five days for Costa Rica, realistically, we only had three days to play with. Why? I flew into San José, Costa Rica, on Monday at 10 p.m., making it too late to do anything of significance upon our arrival. And my flight back to New York was shortly after midnight on Friday, so that day was out, too.

I managed to book the food-sampling tour ("Bites and Sites") on Tuesday, and I squeezed in zip lining and ATVs on Wednesday. We did the La Paz waterfalls hike on Thursday. So, Tuesday — before our 3 p.m. food-sampling tour — was the only day we could fit in some San José exploration.

What I used to plan my Costa Rica trip

I used the free version of ChatGPT — ChatGPT 3.5, to be exact — to plan my tour of San José.

My prompt:

"I am staying at URBN Escalante at San José, Costa Rica, and I want to check out the must-see points of interest, including the best places for pictures and buying cheap souvenirs. We want to end at Los Presentes by 3 p.m. I am starting at 9 a.m. Don't include lunch. List an itinerary." (Note: Los Presentes is where we were told to meet for the 3 p.m. food-sampling tour.)

ChatGPT’s response:

9 a.m. Start at URBN Escalante. Take a walk around the neighborhood and grab breakfast at one of the local cafes.

10 a.m. Head to the Central Market (Mercado Central). Explore the vibrant market, sample local fruits, and capture colorful scenes for your photos.

11:30 a.m. Make your way to Barrio Amón. Wander through the streets admiring the historic architecture and street art. Don't forget to snap some pictures along the way.

1:00 p.m. Visit Mercado Nacional de Artesanías. Browse through the stalls for cheap souvenirs such as handicrafts, ceramics, and local artwork.

2 p.m. Finish your shopping and head to Lost Presentes. Spend some time browsing the selection of unique gifts and souvenirs before they close at 3 p.m.

3 p.m. Arrive at Los Presentes to wrap up your day of exploration and shopping.

Why I'll never rely on ChatGPT again

"Take a walk around the neighborhood" was frustratingly vague. If I wanted to wander around aimlessly, I wouldn't have asked ChatGPT to create an itinerary for me in the first place.

We spotted a few eye-catching, Instagram-friendly murals in Barrio Escalante (where we were staying), so we were surprised ChatGPT didn't mention them in its itinerary.

Eye-catching mural in San José, Costa Rica Credit: Jason England

Also, I should have added "Don’t include breakfast" in my prompt, since we already had some coffee and a muffin before stepping out. But if we did want breakfast, it would be nice if ChatGPT was "intelligent" enough to recommend a specific cafe that is beloved among locals and tourists alike.

Still, we listened to ChatGPT and went to Mercado Central. At first glance, we weren't impressed. It looked like a typical, bustling Central American fresh-food market. And I was immediately put off by the stench of fish wafting in the air.

Mercado Central in San José Credit: Jason England

Braving the odor, we passed by stalls of vendors selling everything you can think of, from colorful black magic paraphernalia and chirping pet birds to delectable Costa Rican grub like gallo pinto (a popular breakfast dish of rice and beans) and maduros (sweet plantains).

We stumbled upon a souvenir shop, too, where I purchased a beautiful wooden mug with a striking Costa Rican parrot design splashed on it. (As such, we ended up skipping the Mercado Nacional de Artesanías suggestion.)

Wooden souvenir mug from Costa Rica Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, as I found out later in my trip, I totally underestimated Mercado Central.

Human beats AI — this time

I felt slightly disappointed by Mercado Central, so when our Costa Rican "Bites and Sites" tour guide led us back to it, I thought, "Not again!"

However, the tour guide reinvigorated our interest in the fresh-food market by providing some jaw-dropping historical context. For example, we stopped by an ice cream stall — one we'd previously overlooked — that seemed like a run-of-the-mill soft-serve shop. As it turns out, the family-run, government-protected ice cream stall has been around since 1910, and they’ve been serving the same flavor of ice cream for 114 years.

Its ingredients consist of nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and vanilla, yielding an interesting yellowish color. I tasted it, and it was absolutely divine.

Ice cream shop in San Jose's Mercado Central Credit: Jason England

You didn’t tell us that, ChatGPT.

Our tour guide also advised us to try a caldosa, ceviche mixed with barbecue flavored-corn chips. When we asked, "How did this dish come to be?," the tour guide said, "School kids! They’d throw chips into ceviche during their lunch break. And somehow, the funky idea spread across the country."

Caldosa from San José's Mercado Central Credit: Jason England

Another gem ChatGPT didn't tell us.

And that just scratches the surface. There were countless nuggets of information the tour guide shared that we wouldn't have gotten from ChatGPT. We would have given Mercado Central a rushed walk-through, shrugged, and thought it was yet another ho-hum market. But as it turns out, with the help of a human tour guide, we got a cornucopia of information that I would have missed if I completely relied on ChatGPT.

Even after prompting ChatGPT to provide more details about what, exactly, we should be exploring inside Mercado Central, we didn't get anything substantial that would have benefitted our DIY tour.

How ChatGPT can become a useful AI travel guide

As I mentioned at the outset, before using ChatGPT, I was actually somewhat optimistic about its capabilities. But after using it to plan one day of my Costa Rica trip, I'm feeling disillusioned.

Keep in mind, I was using the free tier of ChatGPT. And it's worth noting that even OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, admitted that the AI chatbot has become "lazy." Its sloppy itinerary was equivalent to someone vaguely gesturing in random directions after you ask them for navigation help.

As opposed to "walk around town" and "check out a local cafe" (something anyone can do on a trip if they want to be aimless vagabonds), I'd prefer ChatGPT list specific hot spots and buzzworthy locales. Which blocks, exactly, should I be exploring? Is there a particular five-star cafe I should be visiting?

ChatGPT's recommendation of Barrio Amón for Instagrammable pictures was cool and all, but we were surprised that the AI bot didn't suggest the other beautiful San José locations we spotted, including the ultra-popular "SJO ¡Vive!" sculptures across the city.

SJO ¡Vive! structure in San José, Costa Rica Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Of course, a human touch will always be better than what AI can provide, but at this point in time, ChatGPT doesn’t even come close to what a real tour guide can offer. Hell, it’s not even in the same ballpark.

For now, when it comes to building a travel itinerary, the scoreboard is Humans: 1 and AI: 0.

TL;DR: Watch the A-League Men for free on 10 Bold and 10 Play. ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking free streaming sites from around the world.

You might think that Australia and New Zealand are all about Aussie rules, cricket, and rugby of both forms, but these countries really love sport, so there's room for football (or soccer) as well. We're not sure how they've got the time to follow everything, but they clearly make it work, because the A-League has experienced considerable growth in recent years.

If you're interested in watching the A-League Men for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the A-League Men?

A-League Men (also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League) is the highest-level professional men's soccer league in Australia and New Zealand. The league is contested by twelve teams — 11 based in Australia and one based in New Zealand.

The A-League season runs from October to May and includes a 26-round regular season followed by a Finals Series playoff involving the six highest-placed teams, and then the Grand Final match to decide the winner.

How to watch the A-League Men for free

You can stream every game and every round of the A-League Men on Paramount+. This streaming service also offers access to the Socceroos, CommBank Matildas, Emirates FA Cup, AFC Champions League, and more, live and on-demand. It's an impressive platform but it's not free, so an alternative way to watch is required.

Fortunately, it is possible to watch the A-league Men for free this year with an impressive schedule of games available across the Channel 10 network.

Every weekend, the best A-League Men matches will be broadcast live and free on 10 Bold at 7.45 p.m. AEDT on Saturday, and every Sunday at 3 p.m. AEDT. 10 Play will also feature highlights of every match and full match replays for every fixture broadcast on 10 Bold.

10 Bold and 10 Play are geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access these free streaming services with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia. This process is quick and easy, and means you can bypass geo-restrictions to stream on 10 Bold and 10 Play from unsupported locations.

Livestream the A-league Men from anywhere in the world 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 Australia

4. Sign up for 10 Bold or 10 Play (simply add a few details)

5. Watch the A-league Men for free

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 most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch A-League fixtures without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to watch key games for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to 10 Bold and 10 Play from outside Australia, you'll need to be subscribed to a VPN. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for streaming sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking streaming services from around the world, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• 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 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 A-League Men for free with ExpressVPN.

Tesla's Model 3 "Ludicrous" is almost ready for launch.

The yet-to-be-unveiled performance model has been spotted and photographed, both covered and uncovered, by several people who posted the images and videos on X.

Twitter user named @BooDev posted several high-resolution images of the new car in front of a Tesla store. In the photos, you can clearly see a red Tesla M3 with the updated front fascia styling, a "Ludicrous" badge on the back, new wheels with red brake calipers, and a carbon fibre spoiler, among other details.

We don't know its official name yet, but the 'Ludicrous' badge is right there on the back. Credit: @BooDev

BooDev also posted a short video of the new Tesla in motion. He claims that the photos and videos were taken at a Tesla showroom in Malibu, where the company held a private event to showcase the new cars. There's little info on the specs, aside from the acceleration, which is apparently 2.9 seconds from 0-60mph (Tesla Model 3 Long Range goes from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, and the old Tesla Model 3 Performance achieves the same feat in 3.1 seconds).

Tweet may have been deleted

The news broke on April 1, which makes any announcement or leak suspicious, but this one looks as real as it gets. Additionally, it's supported by images of a covered Tesla M3, posted on X by Chris Zheng, also on April 1, as well as these photos and videos, posted by @DennisCW. We also have a number of previous leaks and reports pointing to a new variant of M3 being in the works, which align with the new images.

If Tesla is indeed hosting private events to show off the updated Model 3, the official launch can't be very far.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Model 3 'Ludicrous' will be more than just a speedier M3, new leaks show

Besides the updated exterior features, and a shorter 0-60mph time, the new Model 3 is rumored to come with Active Suspension, automatic shifting between D and R (forward and reverse) modes, sportier seats, and a carbon fibre dash inlay, among other details.

Regardless of what industry you’re in, there are some common essential traits to look for in a new hire. If you’re looking to grow your team or replace a key contributor who’s moved on, keep the following qualities in mind as you interview prospective employees. An entrepreneurial mindset. Ask the candidate about a time when they […]

257257

TL;DR: The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle is on sale for £31.66, saving you 97% on list price.

Whether you’re looking to start a career in coding or just want to learn for fun, the 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle is great for beginners and experienced users alike. With 15 courses and 213 hours of content, this collection of lessons teaches you the basics of coding, game development, ChatGPT, and more while allowing you to learn at your own pace. And for a limited time, it's on sale for £31.66.

Lessons are taught by leading industry experts, like Jose Salvatierra (founder of Teclado and a software engineer), and give you the essential tools to get started in web development. Technology is evolving faster than ever, and you can better keep up with the competition by learning a new skill set. Create your own software, design a video game, or utilise OpenAI technologies — the creative opportunities are plentiful. 

This bundle includes the following comprehensive courses:

• Learn to Code with Python 3

• C++ for Absolute Beginners 2024

• ChatGPT Series: OpenAI Fundamentals 2024

• MySQL & SQL for Beginners

• The Complete Python Course: Learn Python by Doing in 2024

• Google Assistant Automation IoT Development

• Computer Vision & Deep Learning with OpenCV and Python: Build 15 Projects

• JavaScript Complete Guide with Practical JavaScript Projects

• Web Development with Vuex (2024)

• Flutter & Dart: Complete Flutter Dart Programming Course

• Java Programming for Complete Beginners

• Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification Training

• ChatGPT for Salesforce Development

• 2024 Complete Ruby on Rails 6 Bootcamp

• Game Development and Coding for Kids

Get the 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle on sale for just £31.66, with no coupon needed.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joseph Delgadillo 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle £31.66 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 2's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

The clear liquid part of blood.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1018 is...

SERUM.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 2's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Annoying finger actions

• Green: Slithery reptiles

• Blue: Fantastical objects in Cinderella

• Purple: Italian dough shapes

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Thrust

• Green: Kinds of Snakes

• Blue: Seen in Cinderella

• Purple: Pasta Shapes

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #296 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Thrust: JAB, POKE, PROD, STICK

• Kinds of Snakes: ADDER, BOA, MAMBA, MOCCASIN

• Seen in Cinderella: BALL, PRINCE, PUMPKIN, SLIPPER

• Pasta Shapes: BOWTIE, ELBOW, TUBE, WHEEL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Not to sound hyperbolic, but April Fools' Day is the worst. Not because of all the shitty pranks by attention-starved YouTubers, but because of the shitty pranks by attention-starved multinational corporations.

April Fools' Day is meant to be light-hearted and fun, but nothing takes the winds out of its sails than the onslaught of bad brand jokes. Thus to our torture, and to save you some time, we've gathered some of the worst April Fools Day tweets made by companies that are supposedly worth millions of dollars. Allegedly, all the money can't go to funnier jokes.

8 brands that dropped the cringiest online pranks

Funnily enough, X kicked things off for us "announcing" that the company is planning on making all DMs, drafts, and bookmarks public as part of its effort to "celebrate transparency."

Tweet may have been deleted

X CEO Elon Musk added to the cringe by tweeting that he'd be joining Disney as its new Chief DEI Officer to help make its content "more WOKE."

Tweet may have been deleted

On the more light-hearted side of cringe brand tweets, Oreo announced that the cookie and the creme were going through a severe divorce and that each would be offered separately.

Tweet may have been deleted

Several other food brands followed suit with similar fake announcements, although Burger King has stayed suspiciously quiet (I wonder why?).

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted View this post on Instagram

Eye-rolling jokes and poor taste announcements aren't just limited to food brands on this day. Tech companies love this sort of stuff — just look at the Nothing phone company that posted about its new "Micro Phone" cause "size doesn't matter." Or Tinder posting a LinkedIn ad for a VP of Ghost Hunting.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

This one isn't much of a bad April's Fools joke, it's just insane. See Duolingo On Ice: The Multilingual Musical. This is actually real and going on tour soon.

Tweet may have been deleted

Apple Maps has been operating in the shadow of its largest competitor, Google Maps, since it launched over a decade ago. However, Apple has taken steps to enhance its mapping and directions app, resulting in some users actually preferring Apple Maps now.

Still, as new rules and regulations like the Digital Markets Act in the EU are instated, companies like Apple will really need to up the ante in order to compete.

Apple's latest patent filing, first spotted by Wccftech, shows the most recent example of the company looking to innovate with Apple Maps.

The Apple Maps experience may become more customized

According to the patent filing, Apple is looking to provide users with extremely specific, customized routes in Apple Maps based on the user's vehicle and engine profile. The feature would be specific to those using Apple Maps via CarPlay.

Credit: Wccftech / Apple

With this utility, Apple Maps would provide users with driving directions based on their fuel level. For example, the route could make a stop at a gas station based on how much gas is in the car tank. If a user is driving an electric vehicle, the directions could be customized based on how many miles the EV can go before the car battery needs a charge — and Apple Maps would make sure that the route includes a charging station along the way.

In addition, the patent filing also details a feature that could provide directions based on a car's license plate. The Apple Maps directions will only give drivers directions based on where their vehicle can go based on those details. For example, a truck wouldn't be given directions that include a route that doesn't allow vehicles of a certain weight.

This latest feature potentially making its way to Apple Maps joins another recently reported, upcoming feature that would allow users to create their own custom routes.

Apple is clearly striving to expand Apple Maps' user base over Google Maps and establish it as the default mapping and direction app – driven not by system preferences, but by user choice.

You can now edit DALL-E images if your AI-generated image needs a tweak here and there.

This week, OpenAI released an editor interface tool, which lets users make edits by describing changes in a text prompts.

As explained in the DALL-E help section which was updated this week with instructions for using the tool, there are two main ways of editing images. The first is by highlighting a part of the image and giving specific instructions for that area, and the second is by making overall changes to the image in the chat sidebar.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT Plus users reporting issues since the DALL-E 3 upgrade How to edit images in DALL-E SEE ALSO: OpenAI is adding watermarks to ChatGPT images created with DALL-E 3

To highlight part of the image and make edits to specific parts of the picture on desktop, there's a new select button depicted as a swooping paintbrush icon. From there, you can add, remove, or enhance the highlighted part in the editor text box by giving prompts like, "add flowers." You can also use the select tool the ChatGPT mobile app and highlight areas with your finger.

To make general edits, enter a prompt in the chat in the sidebar, like "make it black and white." This feature also works on the ChatGPT mobile app.

OpenAI's DALL-E is just one of many AI image generators on the market these days. Microsoft's Copilot image generator is powered by OpenAI's latest model, DALL-E 3, but Google has its own tool within its Gemini model (which came under fire recently for rendering Nazis as people of color and other historical inaccuracies, leading the company to pause Gemini while it fixed its historiography problem.) These, plus other tools out there by Midjourney and Stability AI, make the competition fierce for creating images using generative AI.

AI-generated images are increasingly prevalent, as demonstrated by their integration into search results and their utilization in films such as Late Night with the Devil and promotional materials (with apologies to Willy Wonka and the children of Glasgow).

From this standpoint, it's probably a good move on OpenAI's part to make AI-generated images more editable.

Meanwhile, OpenAI is focusing on expanding generative AI in multimedia with the announcement of its video generator Sora, and most recently, a voice creator called Voice Engine.

Folks who fired up the New York Times' daily puzzle Connections on Monday were greeted with a major surprise. There were emoji where the words should be. This, of course, is a bit of April Fools' Day fun from the NYT's games editors.

Connections usually has 16 words in little tiles. Players place the words into groups of four, hopefully noticing the common characteristic the words have in common. So it was quite the surprise to see emoji first thing on Monday.

Folks online were quick to complain, mostly joking around in exaggerated fashion. It was good fun to see people react to the little twist.

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

Other folks online expressed they liked the April Fools puzzle or at least enjoyed the change of pace.

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

If the emoji-version of the game is breaking your brain, don't worry, Mashable has hints (and even answers) for you. Not to brag, but I did have a perfect solve myself — just don't ask how long it took.

Save $24.01: As of April 1, grab a four-pack of Apple AirTags at Amazon for just $74.99, putting them just one cent away from their record-low price of $74.98. In total, you'll save 24% on their $99 MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-pack) $74.99 at Amazon
$99.00 Save $24.01 Get Deal

Whether you want to keep track of your luggage or your keys, Bluetooth trackers can be a lifesaver.

For iPhone users and Apple fans, we consider the Apple AirTags the best choice, and as of April 1, they're on sale at Amazon for just $74.99. This price puts them just one cent away from their lowest price ever (according to the price tracker camelcamelcamel) and at the best price we've seen in the last several months.

At full price, one AirTag costs $29 — that'd be $116 if you bought four separately, so opting for a four-pack at full price already covers the cost of about one AirTag. With this deal, you're basically getting an AirTag and a half for free.

SEE ALSO: Does using a VPN to book flights and hotels save you money? Here's what you need to know.

AirTags are especially great for travel because they don't just rely on a Bluetooth range from your smartphone. Instead, AirTags calibrate their location as long as there's an Apple device with Find My enabled nearby (and no matter where you go, we're willing to bet there's likely at least one iPhone nearby).

In addition to their impressive tracking capabilities, AirTags also come with an IP67 rating, meaning they're splash, water, and dust resistant. They do need a separate key tag if you want to loop them on to anything, and the chime sound they make is a bit low, but we feel these are fair trade offs.

There have been some concerns about AirTags being used for unwanted tracking (as we wrote about in our initial review of them). However, Apple has teamed up with Google to stop any unwanted tracking, and actually seem to be making good on that mission.

Samsung is planning on devoting serious attention to its Bixby voice assistant through a beefy artificial intelligence (AI) upgrade, according to a CNBC interview with Executive Vice President Won-Joon Choi.

SEE ALSO: Samsung reveals its new 2024 flagship TVs and Music Frame speaker Watch out, Siri — Bixby is getting an update

Not one to be left behind its competitors, the Samsung EVP said that the company is investing in "generative AI and LLM (large language model) tech" for its core voice assistant.

It's unclear when this AI update will drop. We also don't have a clue which devices will benefit from this new AI tech. But we do know that talks of upgrading Bixby have been around since at least last year. During Galaxy Unpacked 2023, company VP Junho Park let the cat out of the bag about Samsung's plans of "deeply developing" new AI treats for its devices.

Since its introduction in 2017, Bixby has been included in a range of Galaxy devices from its mainstream offerings to the more subtle phones like the A-series and the Galaxy Flip. You can't do too much with the voice assistant, but the hope from Samsung executives is that soon — with a little AI boost — you'll be able to do everything with it.