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TL;DR: Live stream Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka in the 2024 Madrid Open final for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Madrid Open has delivered big moments between big players, which is all you can really ask for from a top tournament. And the women's singles final is bringing together two of the best players in the world right now, with Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set to battle it out for the trophy.

If you want to watch Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka in the 2024 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Swiatek vs. Sabalenka?

Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka will meet in the 2024 Madrid Open final at around 12:30 p.m. ET on May 4.

How to watch Swiatek vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 Madrid Open for free

The 2024 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, 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 Spain. This process makes it look like you're connecting from Spain, so you can access RTVE from anywhere in the world.

Unblock RTVE 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 Spain

4. Visit RTVE

5. Stream Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can gain access to RTVE without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream the 2024 Madrid Open finals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Spain

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan in La Liga for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Inter Milan secured the Serie A title in style by beating their rivals AC Milan, but that hasn't stopped the champions from showing their class. They followed up that important win with another three points against Torino, giving them a 19 point lead over second place. They have been truly dominant this season, and you would expect them to comfortably beat the struggling Sassuolo.

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

When is Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan?

Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. BST on May 4. This fixture takes place at the Mapei Stadium — Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

How to watch Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan for free

Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan is available to live stream for free on 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. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ITVX 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 ITVX

5. Stream Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) 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 ITVX without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan in La Liga before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on ITVX, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 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 Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan in La Liga for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Girona vs. Barcelona in La Liga for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It hasn't been a disaster of a season for Barcelona, but things haven't quite worked out how they would have liked. It has been a year where they often looked likely to gain success, but have fallen short when it mattered most. Girona on the other hand have had a year to remember, and only find themselves two points behind Barcelona as the sides meet this weekend.

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

When is Girona vs. Barcelona?

Girona vs. Barcelona kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. BST on May 4. This fixture takes place at the Estadi Montilivi in Girona, Spain.

How to watch Girona vs. Barcelona for free

Girona vs. Barcelona will be broadcast live on ITV4, with free live streaming available on 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. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ITVX 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 ITVX

5. Stream Girona vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) 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 making the most of these offers, you can gain access to ITVX without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Girona vs. Barcelona in La Liga before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on ITVX, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 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 Girona vs. Barcelona in La Liga for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Leinster vs. Northampton in the Champions Cup for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Only four teams are left to compete for one of the biggest prizes in club rugby, the Champions Cup. The first of two semi finals will be contested by two extremely strong sides both competing at the top of their respective leagues. We can't pick a favourite, but maybe Leinster's home advantage will make the difference as they face off against Northampton.

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

When is Leinster vs. Northampton?

Leinster vs. Northampton kicks off at 5:30 p.m. BST on May 4. This fixture takes place at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.

How to watch Leinster vs. Northampton for free

The Investec Champions Cup semi final between Leinster and Northampton will be broadcast on RTÉ2, with coverage starting from 4:45 p.m. BST on May 4. You can also live stream this fixture for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, 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 Ireland. This simple process makes it look like you're connecting from Ireland, so you can access RTÉ Player from anywhere in the world.

Access RTÉ Player by following these 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 Ireland

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Stream Leinster vs. Northampton for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to RTÉ Player without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream Leinster vs. Northampton before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on free platforms like RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 $99.95 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.

Watch Leinster vs. Northampton for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Lifetime access to Consultio Pro is on sale for £23.90, saving you 84% on list price.

So, you’ve decided to start your own business, but where do you go from there? The Consultio Pro software gives you access to 50+ AI experts who can help you make informed decisions every step of the way. Take advantage of knowledge from a diverse collective of AI experts in event planning, social media, marketing, fitness, and more. When you have second thoughts, this program makes it feel like you always have someone in your corner. 

Whether you’re a large corporation or a mom-and-pop shop, Consultio Pro provides data-driven and evidence-based insights. This innovative software allows you to fine-tune your goals, financial stats, and strategies as you go. The high-tech software is constantly evolving and updating its proficiency to ensure you get the most relevant data.

Forget waiting for your regular consultant to answer an urgent question, Consultio’s experts reply in real-time, with no appointments needed. This software gives you 24/7 access to expertise that is well ahead of the curve. 

Copywriters, data analysts, and project managers alike love having Consultio’s AI experts at their disposal. If an issue is keeping you up at night, it’s comforting to know you can chat with "someone" at 3 a.m. should you need to. Stay in the know and give your competition a run for their money.

Access your lifetime subscription to Consultio Pro from both desktop and mobile devices. With no maximum number of devices it can be used on, you can sign into your account from work, home, or cell phone anytime. Please note this offer is only available to new users.

Get lifetime access to Consultio Pro for £23.90. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Consultio Consultio Pro (Lifetime Access) £23.90 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: Watch Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The IPL is off to yet another exhilarating start and fans have been tuning in from all over the world to catch one of the biggest cricket events of the year.

With just shy of a month until the end of the season, there's still plenty of opportunity to watch some of the biggest names in cricket head to the field. The next fixture sees the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans face off for the 52nd match of the season.

Did you know you can watch Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans for free from anywhere in the world? Keep reading to find out how.

When is Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans starts at 3 p.m. BST on May 4. This match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India.

How to watch Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans for free

You'll find all of the IPL fixtures on JioCinema. The free streaming service is offering live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on its app.

JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, but you'll be able to bypass this with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, so 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 Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans for free from anywhere in the world

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

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 spending any cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

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.

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

Dating is a competitive game, and you should do everything you can to give yourself a chance of success. Looking your best and smelling fresh is a good place to start, but nothing shortens your odds of success like signing up to a dating site.

The problem with this tactic is that there are just so many dating sites out there to consider, each with a different set of features that will suit some people better than others. It's difficult to know which site is best for you, and you could easily spend hours researching all of the sites on offer without a definitive answer.

We know that you don't have time for all of that, so we've set out to make things a little easier for you.

What are the benefits of using dating apps?

By subscribing to a dating site, you're shortening your odds of finding a connection. It's as simple as that.

Dating sites and apps let you get your information out there to a massive network of like-minded individuals, and provide the opportunity to test out a potential relationship on an app before actually meeting in real life.

SEE ALSO: Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex with no strings attached

Subscribing to dating apps and sites is also a way less intimidating way of meeting someone compared to a face-to-face situation. If you find the idea of meeting people slightly terrifying, these apps can help you face your fears from the comfort of your own home.

Is online dating worth the hassle?

Sentiments aside, we have some hard data to back our reasoning for Why Online Dating Is Worthwhile™: Statista predicted that the online dating audience will grow to 53.3 million by 2025, compared to 44.2 million users in 2020. A study from Stanford released in 2019 asserted that online dating is officially the most common way for couples to meet, rounding out at nearly 40 percent of couples having first met online.

This pre-pandemic prediction came before the COVID-era dating app sign-ups surge. Though people are eager to get back to doing as many things IRL as possible now, dating apps are still a great place to find someone, whether you want a relationship or are just looking to get nasty.

And yes, though there are algorithms that dictate what profiles pop up on your screen, we firmly believe that the stars aligning still comes into play. After all, the person who signs up on the app and is looking for love at exactly the same time you are is up to fate and the universe, proving that online dating romance is very much alive and well.

Because it's not 2007 anymore, the need for mobile-friendly online dating isn't just a millennial thing — people over 40 don't have time to sit around at their home desktops, either. Dating sites that are older than most members of Gen Z (like Match and eharmony) have been forced to give serious attention to their smartphone counterparts if they don't want to be outgrown.

However, that statistical promise still requires patience and a game plan, the game plan is choosing the dating app with features that best fit your lifestyle — and the lifestyle of the type of person you're looking for. Are you looking for an app strictly for sex or an app more serious than Tinder but less serious than eharmony? Or maybe, you'd just really love to find an app where queer women aren't relentlessly sexualized by creeps and pestered by unicorn hunters.

Should you use free dating apps?

The good news is that there are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are good examples of free apps with massive networks of users.

The bad news is that a lot of free apps simply don't cut it. You get what you pay for with dating sites and apps, and for the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up the cash.

You can still find something worth your time with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading. Paid sites provide access to premium features that give you the best chance of finding something special.

What is the best dating site?

We're sorry to break it to you like this, but there isn't a single dating site that is better than the rest. Instead, there are a lot of sites and apps with similar features and packages, and the best option for you really comes down to your own set of preferences.

To make the decision process a whole lot easier for everyone, we have lined up a selection of the most popular sites in the dating game, including leading sites like EliteSingles, Match, and Eharmony. All you need to do is pick a favourite from the bunch.

These are the best dating sites in 2024.

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 May 4'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:

Something special you have to those around you.

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 V.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

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 #1050 is...

VALUE.

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 May 4'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: To be fond of

• Green: Ways to expand the word count

• Blue: Parts of a lock

• Purple: Words that sound like units of measurement

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: Enjoy

• Green: Filler Words

• Blue: Components of a Lock

• Purple: Homophones of Units of Measure

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 #328 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Enjoy: FANCY, LOVE, RELISH, SAVOR

• Filler Words: LIKE, LITERALLY, UM, WELL

• Components of a Lock: CYLINDER, PIN, SPRING, TUMBLER

• Homophones of Units of Measure: CARROT, HURTS, JEWEL, OM

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.

Though Prime Video may be seen as a secondary benefit to your Amazon Prime membership (after that glorious free two-day shipping), the streamer’s deep catalog of great movies deserves more fanfare. We’ve pored over their huge selection of new releases and classics to bring you the films we love that you can stream today. 

To keep you from having to scroll endlessly through the Prime Video app hunting for something great, (the worst, amirite?), these are our picks, aka the movies that make us swoon the second we see the title. Whether you’re looking for quality thrills, Oscar-winning prestige, a movie the whole family will enjoy (parents included), or those hidden gems you might have missed, we’ve got you covered with something for everyone. 

Here are the best movies on Prime Video. 

1. Out of Sight Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Between the glitzy charms of the Ocean’s 11 films and the goofy fun of Logan Lucky, Steven Soderbergh is a master of the heist movie. But before making those favorites, he directed 1998’s Out of Sight, a slick, near-perfect crime comedy adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel. 

Out of Sight marks the director’s first collaboration with George Clooney, who plays Jack Foley, a serial bank robber who breaks out of prison with two fellow inmates (Ving Rhames and Steve Zahn). Jennifer Lopez stars as Karen Sisco, the U.S. Marshal whom Jack briefly kidnaps in the middle of his escape before she gets away. She then joins the task force to apprehend him, while he prepares to commit for one last heist. 

Set mostly in steamy Florida and starring two incredibly attractive leads, this movie oozes sex. And its hottest scene isn’t even the sex scene (though that sequence is pretty great too; a master class in editing as much as chemistry)! That distinction goes to the famous bit that puts Jack and Karen in the trunk of a getaway car, getting to know each other while they’re on opposite sides of the law. Yet as horny as the movie is, Out of Sight knows how to have fun — and have it in style.

How to watch: Out of Sight is now streaming on Prime Video.

2. The Holdovers

This intimate comedy feels like a holdover from the decade it’s set in, like someone discovered a long-forgotten room in Chinatown screenwriter Robert Towne’s Hollywood home and unearthed a lost film from the 1970s amid the shag carpeting and wood-paneled walls. Directed by Alexander Payne and reuniting him with his Sideways star Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers has a warm, vintage vibe with a real affection for and attention to character and dialogue.

Giamatti earned an Oscar nomination for playing Paul Hunham, a New England boarding school classics teacher who has to serve as a chaperone for the students who don’t go home — or on luxury vacation with their families — over the winter holidays. He is stuck with Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), an insolent teen whose mother leaves him in favor of a belated honeymoon with her new husband.

The broad strokes of The Holdovers feel comfortably familiar, with its story of an irascible man who slowly melts and mentors a difficult kid. However, it’s set apart by David Hemingson’s simultaneously erudite and accessible script, which boasts references to Marcus Aurelius and the Punic Wars while featuring characters who feel like real people who don’t know everything (even if they think they do). There’s also the grounding presence of Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who won an Oscar for playing Mary Lamb, a cafeteria worker grieving the loss of her son in Vietnam. Small touches elevate this into career-best work for veterans Payne and Giamatti; it’s a truly special film worthy of all the awards-season accolades it received and more. 

How to watch: The Holdovers is now streaming on Prime Video.

SEE ALSO: How an average Joe became 'The Holdovers' cheered scene-stealer 3. How to Train Your Dragon Credit: Dreamworks Animation / Kobal / Shutterstock

Even if you have the best home entertainment setup, it will be impossible to replicate the exhilaration of seeing this in 3D in theaters, but luckily there’s more to How to Train Your Dragon than just its gorgeous visuals. Its animation remains thrilling even on a smaller screen, but it’s surrounded by an engaging story, loveable characters, and a solid cast of voice actors including Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, and Kristen Wiig. This is a rare beast: an animated film full of thrills, heart, and imagination that feels timeless thanks to its mythological setting and refusal to add pop culture references. 

Based on Cressida Cowell’s book, this family film follows Hiccup (Baruchel), a Viking teen who isn’t as fierce as his peers or his clan chief father (Butler). His people fight dragons, but when he gets to know an injured one, he discovers they may not be the monsters he was led to believe. 

How to Train Your Dragon was a giant hit when it came out in 2010, raking in almost half a billion dollars worldwide and getting a pair of Oscar nominations. Its commercial and critical success earned the DreamWorks Animation favorite two sequels, which bear the rare distinction of being almost as good as the original. It’s an especially impressive feat given how great this one is. 

How to watch: How to Train Your Dragon is now streaming on Prime Video.

4. Asteroid City

The purest embodiment of Wes Anderson’s quirky, mannered style, Asteroid City is 105 minutes of wonder and delight for his fans — and likely to be an unending hell for his detractors. The first question about it under Google’s “People also ask” section is, “What the heck was Asteroid City about?” And given its structure — a fictional documentary about the production of a play that bears striking resemblance to a movie — that question might be more warranted than usual with an Anderson film. 

At first, its subject also feels like a departure for the director, whose previous work may have been creatively framed, but didn’t indicate he’d make a movie about aliens’ arrival on Earth. Asteroid City is on a bigger scale and has larger implications than anything he’s ever done. And yet, Anderson is mostly concerned with these characters’ relationships with one another and how they react in situations; it’s just that this time, there’s an extraterrestrial added to the mix instead of just fathers and sons, men and women, or brothers and … brothers.

Anderson outdoes even his own precedent with the number of notable stars involved. Alumni making an appearance include Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Wright, Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, and Liev Schreiber, with newcomers to the filmmaker’s fold including Tom Hanks, Maya Hawke, and Hope Davis. All this could be unwieldy in another director’s hands, but Anderson has crafted a jewel of a film with precision and care. 

How to watch: Asteroid City is now streaming on Prime Video.

5. The Handmaiden Credit: Moho / Kobal / Shutterstock

Lush and lusty, twisted and twisty, The Handmaiden is a sumptuous period piece replete with both pleasures and surprises. Director Park Chan-wook and his co-writer Jeong Seo-kyeong took Sarah Waters’ Victorian England-set novel and brought it to 1930s Korea. In this delightfully filthy erotic thriller from 2016, a con man (Ha Jung-woo) chooses an heiress (Kim Min-hee) as his mark, intending to seduce her and steal her inheritance. To infiltrate her inner circle, he brings on a pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri) to serve as her handmaiden, but the two women quickly become close.

With Oldboy and Decision to Leave filmmaker Park at the helm, the only element to expect here is the unexpected. The Handmaiden is slyly funny and marvelously messed up, exactly the kind of movie Park has made for decades, even as he crosses genres and settings. But, oh, the glory of how this particular setting appears on screen. To reflect the lives of the rich in 1930s Korea, the production design is deliciously decadent, filled with rich colors and textures across the costumes and set designs.

The Handmaiden flips its narrative multiple times, causing a dizzy rush for the audience. That sensation is both a sense of discombobulation and a feeling of delight at how marvelously well-constructed this plot and these characters are. Some depictions of abuse and torture are sure to disturb the audience, but they’re outweighed by the joy of seeing Park do something this bold and get away with it. 

How to watch: The Handmaiden is now streaming on Prime Video.

6. You Were Never Really Here

With We Need to Talk About Kevin and Ratcatcher in her filmography, Lynne Ramsay is known for making movies that are tough to watch, but well worth the effort. Unsurprisingly, her 2017 film You Were Never Really Here is absolutely brutal — in the best of ways. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Joe, a bruised, bruising guy who makes a living by rescuing missing girls and returning them to their families by any means necessary. When a politician asks him for help in recovering his daughter, he is drawn into something far bigger and more dangerous than even he is used to dealing with.

Trauma is ubiquitous in You Were Never Really Here: There’s the current abuse suffered by the kids Joe rescues, as well as the violence he inflicts to save them (which is in turn inflicted upon him). The pain of Joe’s past at once allows him to go to the dark places required to do his job, while it also continues to haunt him. Yet there are small joys and touches of humor present that keep this from being a real downer. One of the (numerous) action sequences is particularly inspired, combining grisly violence, mordant humor, and a wonderfully terrible ’70s ballad as someone bleeds out on dated kitchen tiles. At just 89 minutes, You Were Never Really Here gets in and gets the job done quickly, but it continues to linger for weeks after you watch it. 

How to watch: You Were Never Really Here is now streaming on Prime Video.

7. Apocalypse Now Redux Credit: Zoetrope / United Artists / Kobal / Shutterstock

Generally considered one of the greatest films of all time and perhaps the greatest war film ever, Apocalypse Now serves as a grueling descent into hell, both on screen and behind the scenes. The Francis Ford Coppola movie was loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, but it trades 19th-century Africa for the Vietnam War for its setting, adding resonance for an audience that was still dealing with the aftereffects of the war in 1979. 

The script from John Milius and Coppola follows Capt. Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheen), who is sent on a nightmare of a mission to take down Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who has gone rogue — and likely gone mad — deep in the jungle. As he gets closer to his quarry, Willard encounters a variety of characters and increasingly awful situations, commenting on the insanities and moral quandaries of war. 

Though it received eight Academy Award nominations, Apocalypse Now won just two for its cinematography and sound before losing to Kramer vs. Kramer in the race for Best Picture. In the decades since its release, it has eclipsed that drama (and most other films made in the 20th century) for many cinephiles and only grown in stature, with a documentary about its troubled production and four different  edits of the movie released over the years in various formats. Fans should note that Prime Video has the Redux version of the Coppola classic, which adds 49 minutes of footage to the original. 

How to watch: Apocalypse Now Redux is now streaming on Prime Video.

8. Air

Is Air simply a 111-minute-long Nike ad? Maybe. Do I still think it’s a great movie? Absolutely. At a time when the line between “content” versus film and TV grows ever blurrier, there’s some danger in a movie like this affable Ben Affleck-directed drama that serves as a behind-the-scenes look at how a bestselling product was made and marketed, especially when you can still buy that product today. (Is this also where I admit that my main job is in marketing?) Yet there’s so much craft and attention that went into the production of Air that it passes the sniff test (unlike those Air Jordans that you haven’t been cleaning like you should, tsk). 

Air shares the story of how Nike wooed Michael Jordan over to their brand in 1984, changing sports and sneakers forever in the process. Affleck BFF Matt Damon stars as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro, who has to convince Nike, including Nike CEO Phil Knight (Affleck), that the rookie Jordan deserves his own Nike shoe and the entirety of their basketball budget, even though he hadn’t yet proven himself in the NBA. Sonny also has the equally tough task of demonstrating to Jordan and especially his mother (Viola Davis) that Nike will be a better fit than Adidas for the athlete’s merch. 

Affleck assembles an incredible cast that also includes Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, and a scene-stealing Chris Messina, but this entertaining drama is still greater than the sum of its parts. With a confident Affleck at the helm, Air ends up being far more powerful than a product origin story should be, offering a tale of vision and opportunity beyond just a pair of shoes.  

How to watch: Air is now streaming on Prime Video.

SEE ALSO: 'Air' review: Ben Affleck's crowd-pleaser hangs on a make-or-break play 9. The Host

More than a decade before he won Oscar gold with Parasite, Bong Joon-ho made this marvelous monster movie that broke box office records in South Korea with its 2006 release. However, fans who have seen his other work, like Snowpiercer, Okja, and Memories of Murder, won’t be shocked to learn that The Host doesn’t limit itself to that genre’s conventions — or even a single genre. Instead, Bong mutates the form audiences might expect to see, shifting tones, offering incisive commentary, and evoking real emotions.

To write the screenplay, Bong began with a real-world event: In 2000, an American ordered Korean employees to dispose of toxic chemicals in the Han River. Though that incident didn’t result in any giant monsters emerging from the water (yet), Bong’s story imagines that it could have. In The Host, a family who lives and works along the river is terrorized by the appearance of a huge, slimy … thing that takes the teenage daughter (Ko Ah-sung) into his sewer lair. Led by her dim-witted dad (Bong favorite Song Kang-ho), the family tries to rescue her when the authorities prove to be no help.

The Host offers plenty of genre pleasures with solid creature design, good special effects (for the time), and some very funny moments, without skimping on character development or thoughtful satire. But as much fun as this can be (especially in its action sequences and ickier moments), Bong’s movie is surprisingly serious, refusing to give in to just being entertaining.

How to watch: The Host is now streaming on Prime Video.

10. Malcolm X Credit: Warner Bros / Largo International / 40 Acres and a Mule / Kobal / Shutterstock

The creative partnership of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington has been a fruitful one, resulting in four films to date (with another one on the way), but their collaboration has never been better than in this 1992 biographical drama about the civil rights leader. Malcolm X runs almost three-and-half hours, covering Malcolm’s life from his childhood through his assassination.

In his first five features (She's Gotta Have It, School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, and Jungle Fever), Lee chronicled the contemporary Black experience with sharp insight and wit, but Malcolm X marked his first foray into Black history. This is also the first film Lee made that he didn’t write himself, adapting Alex Haley’s The Autobiography of Malcolm X with Arnold Perl, but it still feels like a Spike Lee joint, as a result of his signature style present in every frame. With its decades-spanning scope, Malcolm X was an ambitious step up for the director — and it paid off. This is an epic biopic with an Oscar-nominated performance from Washington that feels both larger than life and entirely human. Lee surrounds Washington with a talented cast, including Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Albert Hall, and Al Freeman Jr. However, as great as they all are, Malcolm X is undeniably the Denzel Washington show. 

How to watch: Malcolm X is now streaming on Prime Video.

11. The Great Escape

Director John Sturges may be most famous for his Westerns like The Magnificent Seven and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, but this 1963 war film has the fizzy feel of a heist movie — but with even higher stakes. Loosely based on real World War II events, The Great Escape depicts exactly what its title implies: a breakout of hundreds of American and British POWs from a German camp. To execute their plan, they’ll need an assemblage of men, each adding their own skills and value to the effort, including a forger, scrounger, strategist, and tailor. Each member of Sturges’ cast also brings something to the table with the varied charms of Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, and David McCallum.

Set to a cheery march of a theme from Elmer Bernstein, The Great Escape breezes by, even though it clocks in at almost three hours. Sturges’ movie is wildly entertaining, remaining riveting in both its action sequences and in all the prep scenes that precede them, which are full of nice character details and enjoyable banter. Given its setting, the film is imbued with gravitas, but it’s never grim. Not every character gets a happy ending, but there’s triumph even in death for those who don’t make it, since they are no longer imprisoned by the Germans. 

How to watch: The Great Escape is now streaming on Prime Video.

12. Call Me by Your Name

First love has rarely looked as dreamy as it does in this Luca Guadagnino drama set during the summer of 1983 in northern Italy. Full of skin and sun, 2017’s Call Me by Your Name is a heady romance starring Timothée Chalamet as Elio, a 17-year-old who is charmed by Oliver (Armie Hammer), the more experienced doctoral student staying at his family’s villa for the season. 

Call Me by Your Name captures with vivid intensity all the longing, wonder, and heartache experienced when you first fall in love. Chalamet earned one of the film’s four Oscar nominations for his tentative and tender portrayal of Elio, and James Ivory won for his adapted screenplay based on André Aciman’s novel. It’s a thoughtful script, driven by intellectual and sensual pleasures alike, but it is also suffused with sensitivity and empathy for these characters. Michael Stuhlbarg deserves a special shout-out for his warm portrayal of Elio’s dad, whose supportive approach to parenting his teen son should be taught in seminars for all fathers. 

Thanks to the off-screen troubles of Hammer, a promised sequel is looking less likely, but there’s something profound about this lovely gem of a film simply existing as its own thing. That said, if a follow-up is ever released, I’ll be there opening weekend.  

How to watch: Call Me by Your Name is now streaming on Prime Video.

13. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon  Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

If Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is your first experience with wuxia films — as it was for many Americans who saw it in the theater back in 2000 — prepare for it to leave you breathless. Yet even if you’re a martial arts movie master, this Ang Lee epic is still a jaw-dropping watch with its impressive production design, sweeping romance, and astonishing fight sequences choreographed by the legendary Woo-Ping Yuen.

Set in 19th-century China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon centers on the theft of a treasured sword. Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh star as warriors intent on getting it back, while hiding their romantic feelings for each other. Meanwhile, a princess (Zhang Ziyi) is about to be married off, but her skills as a fighter beckon her toward another life. 

This international co-production was the first foreign-language film to cross the $100 million mark at the U.S. box office, paving the way for films like Hero and House of Flying Daggers to succeed with American audiences. However, it wasn’t just a huge hit; it also scored 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It won four of those, including a statuette for its sumptuous cinematography by Peter Pau. Two decades after all those initial accolades, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon remains a thrilling watch — or rewatch.

How to watch: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is now streaming on Prime Video.

14. Bottoms

This raunchy comedy makes a compelling argument for letting teen girls be just as horny and weird as their male movie counterparts — and for letting Marshawn Lynch just do whatever the hell he wants on screen. After the amazingly awkward Shiva Baby, director Emma Seligman and star Rachel Sennott reteam for Bottoms, co-writing the shockingly funny script about two unpopular high school lesbians (Sennott and Ayo Edebiri) who start a girls-only fight club so they can get laid by two queen bees (Havana Rose Liu and Kaia Gerber). As one does. 

Bottoms is bonkers, somehow surpassing its wild basic premise and getting even crazier than you’d expect. Even if you go in having read that last sentence and expecting something cuckoo bananas, you still won’t be able to predict the turn it takes. Which is great! We’ve seen so many teen comedies that a film’s capacity to truly surprise the audience — while making them cackle with laughter at some truly dirty jokes — is invaluable. 

Sennott and Edebiri are hilarious and so well-paired as leads for the different energy they bring, but Lynch elevates Bottoms to the next level of comedy. How this man was apparently so good at football and such a comic genius, I will never understand, but I’m grateful for it every day. 

How to watch: Bottoms is now streaming on Prime Video.

15. The Station Agent Credit: Miramax / Senart / Kobal / Shutterstock

This gently affecting, immensely charming indie from 2003 casts a pre-Game of Thrones Peter Dinklage as Finbar McBride, a taciturn man who inherits a railroad depot in rural New Jersey after the death of his only friend. Eager for isolation, he moves to the remote location, but his solitude is quickly interrupted by the arrival of chatty food truck operator Joe (Bobby Cannavale). He soon reluctantly connects with Joe, as well as with Olivia (Patricia Clarkson), an artist who like Finbar also craves quiet. 

The Station Agent is a meditation on how what we want isn’t always what we need, but it offers gentle humor to keep it from ever feeling overly sentimental. Writer-director Tom McCarthy went on to win an Oscar for co-writing Spotlight, but his directorial debut here is equally worthy of accolades, if intentionally less ambitious in scope. Recognizable character actors like Richard Kind, Lynn Cohen, and John Slattery make brief appearances, and Michelle Williams plays a supporting role, but The Station Agent is really just about the three people at its heart. Dinklage, Cannavale, and Clarkson are all perfectly cast in these well-written roles. They each feel like people we’ve met before and who have whole lives before and after this movie. McCarthy’s script displays clear affection and warmth for them and their flaws, and it’s difficult for the audience not to feel the same. 

How to watch: The Station Agent is now streaming on Prime Video.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime Video Watch Now

Does AI have a place in the music industry? At least one label seems to think so.

The record label Sub Pop told the Los Angeles Times that the music video for "The Hardest Part," a single release on May 2 by the artist Washed Out, is the first collaboration between a major music artist, filmmaker, and OpenAI’s Sora text-to-video generator. It is also the longest video yet created using AI.

The creative team behind the video says that Sora made it possible for them to create something sweeping in scale without blowing their budget (the total cost of the video has not been disclosed). Access to Sora, which is not yet available to the general public, was provided to video director, Paul Trillo, free of charge. Over the course of six weeks, he edited together 55 clips that he selected from the estimated 700 that Sora produced from his text prompts.

"A lot of music videos just don’t have the budgets to really dream big," Trillo told the Los Angeles Times. "I think AI can help the music industry in terms of creating things that even Ernest could dream of that maybe he wouldn’t have dared to dream before."

But not everyone in the music industry is so supportive of incorporating the technology across the industry. Last month, more than 200 artists signed a letter calling for stronger regulation of AI tools in music. Signatories included names like Billie Eilish, J. Balvin, and the estates of Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra.

While the music video for "The Hardest Part" may be the first official collaboration with Sora, several Korean pop acts have already employed similar technology to produce creative work. On April 24, group Seventeen released a teaser for a (human-made) music video that intentionally employed AI-generated clips to comment on the use of AI across the industry. A title card asked, "In our current reality where anything can be created with AI, who is the real maestro?"

A day before that, on April 23, group RIIZE released what they claimed was an "AI Generated Visualizer" for their single "Impossible." Comments on the video made clear that fans were unimpressed with the choice. "It's not too late to delete this," read one. "With all due respect to RIIZE, I hope this doesn't happen ever again," read another.

Viewers of "The Hardest Part" appear similarly unimpressed. "The more you look at it the worse it gets," said one commenter. Another summarized their feelings in four words: "The future is underwhelming."

Microsoft is more explicitly banning police departments from using its AI models to identify suspects, according to new conduct language for its Azure OpenAI collaboration.

The new language explicitly prohibits using its AI model services "for facial recognition purposes by or for a police department in the United States." It also prohibits use cases in which mobile cameras are used by any law enforcement globally "in the wild" or where patrolling police officers use body-worn or dash-mounted cameras to verify identities. Microsoft also disallowed identification of individuals within a database of suspects or prior inmates.

The company's Azure OpenAI system, which provides API access to OpenAI's language and coding models via Microsoft's cloud storage, recently added Chat GPT-4 Turbo with Vision, OpenAI's advanced text and image analyzer. In February, the company announced it was submitting it's generative AI services for use by federal agencies.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT now saves chat history even if you've opted out of sharing training data

Microsoft's Code of Conduct already prohibited using the Azure OpenAI system to:

• identify or verify individual identities based on people’s faces or other physical, physiological, or behavioral characteristics; or

• identify or verify individual identities based on media containing people’s faces or otherwise physical, biological, or behavioral characteristics.

The new language outlines more specific bans on police agencies using AI systems for data collection. A recent ProPublica report documented the extent to which police departments around the country are implementing similar machine learning, including the use of AI-powered tools to examine millions of hours of footage from traffic stops and other civilian interactions. "Much of the data compiled by these analyses and the lessons learned from it remains confidential, with findings often bound up in nondisclosure agreements," the publication wrote. "This echoes the same problem with body camera video itself: Police departments continue to be the ones to decide how to use a technology originally meant to make their activities more transparent and hold them accountable for their actions."

While some actors have taken similar steps to protect user data from law enforcement inquiries, including Google's recent location data privacy protections, others lean into the possibility of collaboration. Last week, police camera and cloud storage provider Axon, unveiled Draft One, an AI model that automatically transcribes audio from body cameras in order to "significantly enhance the efficiency of police report writing."

UPDATE: May. 4, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with new laptop deals, pricing, and availability.

The very best laptop deals at a glance: Best laptop deal under $300 Dell Inspiron 15 (3535)) $289.99 at Dell.com (save $160) Get Deal Best laptop deal under $600 HP Laptop 15t-fd100 $459.99 at HP.com (save $540) Get Deal Best laptop deal under $900 Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch $849 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo (save $150) Get Deal Best laptop deal under $1,200 Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M2) $1,199 at Best Buy (save $300) Get Deal

A new laptop is almost certainly a splurge, but keeping your eyes peeled for deals can make it much easier to pull the plug on an upgrade. The good news is that you've got options at a variety of price points via Best Buy, Amazon, and beyond, whether you're looking for an everyday workhorse, a cheap Chromebook for homework, a 2-in-1 Windows PC for drawing, or a powerful premium gaming laptop.

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

Read on for our running list of the best laptop deals as of May 4. (And if you don't see any models that check all the boxes on your spec wish list, come back soon: We add new picks every other week.)

Best laptop deal under $300 Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell Inspiron 15 (3535) $289.99 at Dell.com
$449.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This Dell laptop features an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor from 2022, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's nothing spectacular and a little outdated, but this is a spec sheet we rarely see at this price point: Most cheap, entry-level PCs under $300 have dinky discontinued Intel Pentium/Celeron CPUs, 4GB of RAM, pokier eMMC flash storage that maxes out at 128GB, and 60Hz refresh rates. (Hell, even some nicer laptops don't have 120Hz refresh rates — M3 Apple MacBook Air included!) It's marked down to $289.99, which is a 36% discount.

More laptop deals under $300

• Acer Chromebook 315 (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) — $139 $219.99 (save $80.99)

• Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)

• Acer Swift 1 (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $229.99 $369.99 (save $140)

• HP Laptop 17z-cp200 (AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $249.99 $559.99 (save $310)

Best laptop deal under $600 Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Laptop 15t-fd100 $459.99
$999.99 Save $540.00 Get Deal Why we like it

At 54% off, this is the biggest discount we've yet encountered on a laptop powered by a brand-new Intel Core Ultra processor. It's not much to write home about otherwise: There's 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 720p webcam, a 15.6-inch IPS display, and a backlit keyboard (with a numeric keypad). But if all you really care about is oomph, it should make your shortlist at this price.

More laptop deals under $600

• Acer Aspire 3 (AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)

• Acer Chromebook 516 GE (Intel Core i5-1240P, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $449 $649 (save $200)

• ASUS Vivobook Go 15 (AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $409.99 $549.99 (save $140)

• ASUS Vivobook 16 (AMD Ryzen 5 5625U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $389.99 $549.99 (save $160)

• Dell Inspiron 14 7435 2-in-1 (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)

• Dell Inspiron 16 5635 (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400)

• Dell Inspiron 16 7635 2-in-1 (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $499.99 $749.99 (save $250)

• Dell XPS 13 9315 (Intel Core i7-1230U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $599 $799 (save $200)

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $479.99 $699.99 (save $220)

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook (Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) — $424.99 $549.99 (save $125)

• Lenovo Yoga 6, 13-inch (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)

Best laptop deal under $900 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch $849.00 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo
$999.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's review of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).

The 13-inch version of Apple's previous-gen MacBook Air won a Mashable Choice Award upon release in mid-2022, with tech and games reporter Alex Perry praising its peppy M2 processor, superb battery life, satisfying keyboard, and lightweight frame. A permanent price drop spurred by March's release of its (very comparable) predecessor has brought it down to a new starting price of $999, and a $150 discount at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo scoots it even further into budget territory — as far as MacBooks are concerned, at least.

More laptop deals under $900

• Acer Nitro 5 (Intel Core i7-12650H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,279.99 (save $380)

• Acer Nitro 16 (AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)

• Acer Nitro V 15 (Intel Core i5-13420H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $749.99 (save $150)

• Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (Intel i5-13500HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)

• Acer Swift X 14 (Intel Core i5-13500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,099.99 (save $200)

• ASUS TUF Dash 15 (Intel Core i5 12450H, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

• ASUS TUF Gaming F15 (Intel Core i5-12500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200)

• Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 (Intel Core i7-13700H, Intel Iris Xe, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $829.99 $1,299.99 (save $470)

• HP Envy x360 15t-fe000 (Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $749.99 $1,099.99 (save $350)

• HP Pavilion Plus 16t-ab000 (Intel Core i5-13500H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $629.99 $1,099.99 (save $470)

• Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i, 14-inch (Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $649 $849.99 (save $200.99)

• Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1, 14-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $799.99 $1,049.99 (save $250)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, 13.5-inch (Intel Core i5-1235U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $799.99 $1,299.99 (save $500)

• MSI Cyborg 15 (Intel Core i7-12650H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $849.99 $1,099.99 (save $250)

Best laptop deal under $1,200 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M2) $1,199.00 at Best Buy
$1,499.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).

Last year's 15-inch M2 MacBook Air has a slightly larger (but just as pretty) Liquid Retina display and six speakers instead of four. Best of all, it still only weighs about three pounds. It's technically been discontinued by Apple, meaning you can't buy it in new condition through the Apple Store anymore, but certain third-party retailers still have it in stock. For its part, Best Buy has the 512GB model marked down to $1,199, or 20% off its $1,299 MSRP — an all-time low for this configuration.

More laptop deals under $1,200

• Acer Swift Edge 16 (AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

• Acer Swift X 16 (AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $949.99 $1,249.99 (save $300)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,099 (save $100)

• Dell XPS 15 9539 (Intel Core i7-13620H, Intel Arc Graphics, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,199 $1,499 (save $300)

• HP Envy 17t-da000 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Intel Arc Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

• HP OMEN 16t-wf000 (Intel Core i7-13700HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999.99 $1,599.99 (save $600)

• Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i, 16-inch (Intel Core i5-13500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $834.99 $1,499.99 (save $665)

On May 7, Apple will hold its first official Apple Event of the year. Which new products will the Cupertino-based company have in store for its users?

Brand new iPad models and iPad accessories like an all-new Apple Pencil, based on the roundup of leaks and rumors we've collected about the event.

Apple is calling the event, dubbed "Let Loose," a "different kind of Apple event," but it's unclear what it means by that.

Apple events typically occur within specific time frames, such as June for WWDC and September for iPhones. Apple doesn't normally hold an event in May. The last time it held an Apple event that didn't fit its routine schedule was the "Scary Fast" livestream, when the M3 MacBooks were unveiled, on the evening before Halloween.

Although we already have a pretty good idea of what Apple will drop on Tuesday, Gurman has pulled together a last-minute report to solidify his predictions for the upcoming event. Here is his final forecast ahead of the livestream:

SEE ALSO: iPad Pro 2024: 6 new features coming to the rumored new Apple tablet A new iPad Pro

Apple's graphic for the "Let Loose" Apple Event showcases an image of a hand holding a pencil, so it seems pretty obvious that this event will focus on the iPad and its relevant accessories.

However, according to Gurman, Apple will likely focus on two specific new models of iPads. First up, the "star" of the event, the iPad Pro.

Gurman says that the new iPad Pro will be the first iPad with an OLED display, which will improve the iPad's image quality and probably result in a thinner device. Apple will release two versions, an 11-inch model and a 12.9-inch one.

While this has yet to be confirmed, there is a chance that these new Apple iPad Pros will be the very first Apple devices with Apple's brand new M4 chipset. The M4 chip is set to start rolling out across Apple's computer and mobile device lines through this year and next and is believed to play a major role in Apple's coming AI focus.

iPad Air refresh

The "mid-tier" iPad, the iPad Air, will also get a refresh.

While not as much of a leap from its predecessor as the iPad Pro, it does seem like Apple will be offering the usual 10.9-inch model as well as an all-new 12.9-inch version of the device. 

The iPad Air is expected to be powered by the M2 chip, which Apple first released in 2022 with the M2 MacBook Air.

Updated Apple Pencil

As previously mentioned, Apple's graphic for the event predominantly features a pencil, so a new Apple Pencil release seems pretty locked in.

According to Bloomberg, the new Apple Pencil is an update of the higher-end model which launched in 2018 — not the lower-end version which was updated just least year.

This new premium Apple Pencil will include haptic feedback, meaning users will feel a "vibration-like effect" while using the device, matching whatever action it is that they are performing on the iPad.

Gurman says another new feature likely to be added will allow users to perform tasks with the Apple Pencil by applying pressure to the device with their hand by squeezing it.

Magic Keyboard for iPad

It also appears that these new iPad models will launch with a brand new Magic Keyboard for iPads as well. 

The new version will still come with an iPad case, keyboard, and trackpad but will be "more durable" as it will use aluminum and look "more laptop-like." 

A smaller event but Apple has more to come

This does appear to be a much smaller Apple Event than usual, however, it's not out of the ordinary for Apple to hold device-specific events, especially in recent years.

A new iPad Mini, the iPad model that hasn't been updated at all since 2021, isn't expected yet. Neither is a new base iPad model. New MacBooks aren't expected to be part of the event either.

There is a chance Apple will tease new AI features, especially if the iPad Pro model features the M4 chip. However, Apple will save most, if not all, of its AI announcements for the big WWDC event in June.

Eagle-eyed AI watchers suspect that a ChatGPT search engine product — in other words a direct competitor to Google Search — will be here in a matter of days.

Yesterday, a post in Y Combinator's Hacker News community noted that a domain name and a security certificate for "search.chatgpt.com" had been created, although that address currently leads to nothing. This could mean anything. A developer at OpenAI could have created that address and certificate for some internal purpose for all anyone knows, and then some investment-minded person who uses automated tools to breathlessly monitor hot domains like ChatGPT.com for changes that might make for hot stock tips jumped to a conclusion.

For good measure, AI influencer Pete Huang tweeted "Search (dot) ChatGPT (dot) com May 9th," also yesterday. And here we are in downtown Rumorville. Still, the rumor is plausible, and feeds speculation that has been going strong ever since ChatGPT first debuted.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic's ChatGPT rival Claude is now available on iOS

Mashable asked OpenAI for comment, and will update if we hear back.

What would a ChatGPT search product be like?

To understand what this might mean, you might first imagine a search engine, but one powered by an AI algorithm. Are you imagining Google? You're imagining right, because Google is powered by an AI algorithm. But since this would be a search engine under the ChatGPT umbrella, we should probably imagine something closer to Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE).

If Google's search-engine-with-chatbot mode is what OpenAI is mimicking, the user will search normally, and receive a page of links in classic web style, but as a side dish there'll be a little widget at the top of the page offering to let the Gemini large language model take a stab at answering the query, which the user can click a button to trigger, meaning the AI answer is still optional. 

For users with this feature turned on when it was new, Google used to load a bunch of traditional search results, and then a few seconds later the Generative AI answer would unexpectedly open wide like a robotic mouth toward the top of the page spewing non-optional AI text. The effect was rather creepy, like watching a Big Mouth Billy Bass start talking. Hopefully ChatGPT isn't going in that direction.

The reverse of this, ChatGPT with an external search engine integrated into it, already exists for paid ChatGPT users, but ChatGPT's search engine access sometimes disappears for some users, and is occasionally disabled altogether. So the integration of OpenAI's search and chatbot capabilities hasn't been rolled out smoothly to say the least.

Credit: Mashable screengrab via Microsoft

A non-paywalled version of this also exists within Microsoft Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat. Ask the chatbot a question that a large language model can't plausibly answer, and you get a summary of search results instead. The Google Gemini chatbot can also search the web in this way.

At any rate, this move feeds into the narrative of inevitability being spread by the biggest names in tech right now, about how AI will replace the web as we know it. In fact, a dedicated ChatGPT search page might already be an outmoded idea if Bill Gates was right a year ago, when he said that when AI tech fully blossoms, "You’ll never go to a search site again."

iOS 18, the next major iteration of the iPhone operating system, is reportedly going to feature a new suite of AI-powered features designed to keep up with the AI race where Google, Microsoft, and other tech giants are at the forefront.

According to a report from AppleInsider, Apple doesn't necessarily care to roll out an AI chatbot like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Instead, the Cupertino-based tech giant is focused on enhancing the capabilities of utilities and apps that already exist within the Apple ecosystem, including Siri, Safari, Messages, and Spotlight Search.

As we reported in mid-April, these AI features are rumored to be "on device" (for the most part) to stay true to Apple's commitment to user privacy.

SEE ALSO: iOS 18 tipped to redesign 4 apps — 'Photos' is one of them iOS 18: 3 rumored AI-powered features

The AI-powered features rolling out to iOS 18 are underpinned by a large language model (LLM) called Apple Ajax, AppleInsider said.

With this LLM at the helm, here are the AI features we expect to see for the next big iOS release:

1. Summarization with Siri

Apple may be arming Siri with summarization smarts for Messages. The report wasn't clear on what, exactly, Siri will do as part of this new integration, but if we can make an educated guess, the assistant may have the ability to give you a synopsis of texts (at the very least).

2. Summarization with Safari

Safari is also getting summarization capabilities, according to AppleInsider. With this feature, users will have the opportunity to get brief, AI-generated summaries of any webpage on the screen.

3. Spotlight Search gets smarter

The report reveals that Apple Ajax will allow iOS 18 to generate "sentence-long responses" without cloud-based processing. And according to AppleInsider, it spits it out in "milliseconds."

This will be beneficial for Spotlight Search, another feature that will reportedly get sprinkled with AI enhancements. Spotlight Search is expected to get more intelligent. For example, if you type in a saved contact's name, it will display their information.

"The software will also communicate with the Calendar app and take into account events when creating a response," AppleInsider said.

Although Apple Ajax can perform basic AI tasks while remaining offline (e.g., analyzing text and summarization), AppleInsider claims that more complex AI computations will require cloud-based processing.

As mentioned at the outset, we expect to hear more about iOS 18 at WWDC on June 10. The next major version is expected to be released alongside the new iPhone 16 series in September.

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

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

This year, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 27. But, Memorial Day weekend — the time when most of the big sales will be taking place — starts on Friday, May 24. We expect to see lots of discounts on offer during the three-day weekend, especially from mattress, appliance, and outdoor goods brands.

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

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

Though Memorial Day weekend doesn't officially begin until May 24, keep an eye out for sales starting earlier that week on May 20.

What to buy during Memorial Day sales

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

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

What are the best Memorial Day sales?

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

Best early Memorial Day deals 2024

Mattresses

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

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

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

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

• Brooklyn Bedding: 25% off sitewide

• DreamCloud: Up to 50% off mattresses

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

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

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

• Nectar: Up to 40% off mattresses

• Nolah: 35% off mattresses, plus free pillows

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

• Zoma: Save $150 on all mattresses

Furniture and home appliances

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

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

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

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

• Solo Stove: Save up to $150 sitewide

• Wayfair: Way Day sale starting on May 4

Kitchen

• KitchenAid: Up to $150 off select Stand Mixers

Tech, electronics, and more

• Amazon: Check out deals on Echo devices, MacBooks, AirPods, iPads, fitness trackers, and other select electronics

• Best Buy: Check out deals on TVs from brands like Samsung, Hisense, Insignia, and more. Also find discounts on fitness trackers, home gym equipment, and outdoor items like grills and lawnmowers.

• iRobot: Save up to $400 sitewide until May 11

• Walmart: Score deals on kitchen appliances from Ninja, Keurig, Hamilton Beach, and others. Plus, find deals on patio furniture and summer cleaning devices.

SAVE $38: As of May 3, get Star Wars: Squadrons for Xbox from the Microsoft Store for just $1.99. That's 95% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Store "Star Wars: Squadrons" $1.99 at Microsoft Store
$39.99 Save $38.00 Get Deal

Who hasn't watched Star Wars and wanted to fly an X-Wing or a TIE Fighter? If you raised your hand, we're wondering if you might hate having fun. Because as far as Star Wars games go, there are few cooler things than hopping into a ship, taking off into space, and going pew-pew against the bad guys. If that's something you want to try, then Star Wars: Squadrons is definitely your jam – especially at this super low price, just in time to celebrate Star Wars Day.

As of May 3, get Star Wars: Squadrons on Xbox for just $1.99 at the Microsoft Store. That's $38 off its normal price of $39.99 and a discount of 95%.

SEE ALSO: Star Wars Day deals: All the best sales and new releases you can shop this May the 4th

This space combat game may have come out in 2020, but it feels just as fresh as ever with a great single-player campaign and multiplayer options. Set after Return of the Jedi, it lets you hop into the cockpit of both the New Republic's Vanguard Squadron and the Empire's Titan Squadron. There are plenty of ships to fly with tight, flashy combat that makes you feel like you're actually in the Star Wars universe.

Mashable's Senior Games Reporter Adam Rosenberg said Squadrons is "hands down the very best space combat sim this series has ever seen," praising its depth, thrilling combat, and objective-based Fleet Battle mode. But honestly, at just $2, anyone should be able to eke some enjoyment out of it.

If you're hankering for a great celebration of all things Star Wars this weekend, you could do a lot worse.

From TikTok's banning woes to mysterious objects floating in space, host Josh Burstein takes us on a comedic journey through the week's top stories.

STAR WARS TECH GEAR: As of May 3, shop the Star Wars Casetify Collection, where you can snag a new Star Wars phone case, iPad or tablet case, laptop sleeve, phone charger, and much more with a selection of galactic designs.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Star Wars Casetify Collection Star Wars-inspired phone cases, iPad or tablet cases, laptop sleeves, phone chargers, and more. Shop Now

Thinking of outfitting your phone with a new case? Or maybe you're just a huge Star Wars fan and you want to buy anything and everything related to it. Either way, May 4 is tomorrow, and what better way to celebrate Star Wars Day than with a fun new Darth Vader phone case or a Death Star wireless charger?

As of May 3, you can shop Casetify's new Star Wars collection, which is chock-full of plenty of different cases and accessories branded with Star Wars characters, locations, and anything else you can think of from the iconic films. There are goodies for both iOS and Android users including AirPods cases, magnetic wallets, power banks, laptop sleeves, MacBook cases, and more.

SEE ALSO: Star Wars Day deals: All the best sales and new releases you can shop this May the 4th

The collection is heavily skewed toward the Empire's finest, so you'd better like Darth Vader and crew if you're thinking of buying. There are plenty of cases featuring your favorite bad guys including Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, and the Death Star. There's even a gorgeous Tatooine sunset case.

If you love Star Wars and customizing the look of your accessories, this collection is for you — though many of the drops in these collabs tend to sell out quickly, so grab your favorite fast.