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The '90s was a time of epic soundtracks, from Clueless's pop extravaganza to Romeo + Juliet's swoony seduction to Trainspotting's frenzied club mix. But before all these came The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, featuring original songs from The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, and Stone Temple Pilots. While grunge was mainstream by 1994, a soundtrack this hard-edged — flaunting heavy metal alongside goth rock — was far from common. But this album did more than sing the song of the eponymous anti-hero; it also sang of the lost Brandon Lee. 

Inspired by James O'Barr's comic books, The Crow was to be Lee's launchpad to stardom. As the forlorn lover Eric Draven, who is resurrected from the dead on the anniversary of his fiancée's murder to seek vigilante justice, Lee would get to flex his acting chops along with his physical prowess. However, the Alex Proyas-directed movie would define Lee's legacy, not only because of his powerful performance as an avenging angel, but also because a notorious accident on set led to Lee's death at 28. 

The Crow and its soundtrack went on to become a major hit, spawning sequels, a short-lived Canadian superhero TV series, a soon-to-hit reboot, and a legion of fans who've adored this tale of loss and love for decades now. 

As the soundtrack reaches its 30th anniversary, it hasn't lost a bit of its entrancing power. Hitting play is like time-traveling back to my teen years, lured into the rush of hormones and emotions from the opening bird cries of The Cure's "Burn." Seeking to uncover how The Crow soundtrack came to be a three-time platinum hit that changed the soundtrack landscape and gripped a generation, Mashable reached out to Jeff Most, who produced the film and executive produced the soundtrack with Jolene Cherry, the music supervisor of the 1994 hit. 

In separate interviews, they shared their recollections of the long and difficult journey of two and half years to not only complete the film after the death of their beloved leading man, but also to pull together an album that extended The Crow beyond the movie. 

The Crow soundtrack began with Eric Draven getting a job.  Brandon Lee as Eric Draven in "The Crow." Credit: Pressman / Most / Kobal / Shutterstock.com

In the comics, it's unclear what revenant Eric Draven did for a living, though — according to Most — creator O'Barr imagined he'd have a job like housepainter or something decidedly unglamorous. For Most, who had worked as a radio DJ and produced a television series called Top 40 Videos, making Draven a musician could give the character a sharper context for the movie. Plus, it would allow for a rocking soundtrack that could be a "very emotive way to show this artistic side of [Draven]."

Developing the screenplay with credited screenwriters John Shirley and David J. Schow, Most pitched the idea to O'Barr: What if Draven was in an alternative band? "I'm not talking about a successful rock star," Most explained. "He's [part of] a small independent group. Maybe they put out a record, you know, [but they're not] a big act yet — [he’s] just a guitarist in a band." 

O'Barr was sold. But the soundtrack Most had in mind wasn't such an easy sell to execs. 

The Crow soundtrack broke new ground by rejecting the status quo. 

Leaning into the comic's dark aesthetic, Most and Cherry sought to create a soundtrack of hard rock and heavy metal, ultimately bringing in Rage Against the Machine, Rollins Band, and Pantera. But more than that, Most wanted only original songs, or covers that couldn't be found anywhere else. 

"We are creating a world in which an avenging angel can come back," Most said, "And I don't want the classic soundtrack thing of you're watching a movie and you hear some song and you've heard it on the radio 100 times and it takes you to a place. I want everything to be organic to the film." 

Cherry warned Most he'd be turned down flat by record executives, as conventional wisdom dictates you pick an established hit song or several to assure the album will sell. And he was, repeatedly. Until Trent Reznor came onto the scene. 

The Crow soundtrack wouldn't exist without Trent Reznor.  Trent Reznor performs as Nine Inch Nails in 1994. Credit: Ian Dickson / Shutterstock.com

Long before Reznor teamed with his Nine Inch Nails bandmate Atticus Ross to compose Academy Award-winning scores for David Fincher's Facebook drama The Social Network and Pixar's spirited animated adventure Soul, the famous lead singer was the lynchpin to getting Most's soundtrack going. 

Most hoped Nine Inch Nails might do a Joy Division cover, since the '70s English rock band was an influence on the comics. (Aside from referencing songs, O'Barr even included a dedication to the late guitarist/lyricist Ian Curtis in one book.) 

Cherry noted that several musicians were sent the script and comics to strengthen the pitch, including Reznor. Intrigued, Reznor invited Most to his home in Benedict Canyon, where he was also recording NIN's second album — specifically, the Cielo Drive home where Sharon Tate and friends were murdered in 1969.

Spending the afternoon with Reznor and his dog, Most remembered, "I went through the bands I wanted [to get for the album], and he was like, 'I love all these bands, but no one's gonna let you make this album, Jeff.' And I said, 'Trent, I really believe if you say yes, I'll be able to do it.' And he goes, 'I'm in. Can I pick whatever Joy Division song I might want to do?' I said, 'Any one you want.'" 

Reznor picked "Dead Souls" — one of the most stunning songs in Joy Division's catalog —and just as Most predicted, Nine Inch Nails' involvement drew the interest of record execs. Interscope and Atlantic signed on to put out the album, and Most and Cherry were officially on the hunt for the perfect tracks to fill it. 

The Cure's Robert Smith broke new ground with "Burn." Robert Smith of The Cure Credit: Herbie Knott / Shutterstock.com

The iconic English rock band The Cure seemed a no-brainer for inclusion on The Crow soundtrack, as their songs were quoted through O'Barr's comics. Most anticipated this would make it easy to get frontman Robert Smith onboard, as he'd clearly approved the lyrics' use and therefore must be familiar with Eric Draven's story. So, it was quite a shock when Smith's rep said he'd never heard of The Crow. 

"I went back [to] O'Barr," Most shared, "And I said, 'James, you know, you've got 'used by permission' all over the place [in the comics] and Robert Smith [has] never heard the comics.' And he goes, 'Well, yeah. Every time I'd ever seen lyrics used [in comics], it has 'used by permission,' so I just added that.'"

Despite this copyright confusion, Smith liked the comics — once he did see them — and the script. So, for the first time in his storied career, the legendary British rocker wrote a song specifically for a movie. 

While some acts wrote songs purely based on the screenplay, some of the film’s footage was transported to London for Smith to see. The resulting track, "Burn," is 6:39 seconds of scorching hot yearning. The song kicks off the album, and is given a place of prominence in the film; it plays over Eric's macabre makeover early in the movie. Lee's physicality is on full display as his Eric is rattled with flashbacks in the abandoned apartment he once shared with his late fiancée; he frenziedly applies the now-iconic black-and-white face paint in a shattered mirror while Smith sings, "Just paint your face, the shadows smile / Slipping me away from you." 

And just like that, The Crow is born. 

How did Brandon Lee's death change The Crow soundtrack? Brandon Lee and Rochelle Davis as Eric and Sarah in "The Crow." Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock.com

In the wake of Lee's death, the team behind The Crow grappled not only with grief but also with how to finish the film to preserve Lee's incredible performance and legacy. For Most, his own pain over the loss of a friend influenced two major decisions on the album. The first was to change the song that Stone Temple Pilots had on the album.

Ahead of the release of their debut album Core, the California rock band was one of many groups to send demos in for consideration. Most and Cherry liked their sound. "They were the first ones to turn out a song," Most said, "They loved the material. They wrote something right away." Initially, their song "Only Dying" was picked to play in the movie and on the soundtrack, its lyrics evoking Eric Draven's gallows humor, making light of the character's death. But after Lee's tragic passing, Most said, "It was just disrespectful to use it." 

STP understood and came up with another offering, the haunting "Big Empty." Most said of hearing it for the first time, "I jumped up and down. I was like, 'Oh my god, what a beautiful song.'" 

Most added he passed on another song — which would go on to be a massive hit — because he worried about how it might reflect badly on his late friend, Lee. "I'm probably copping to this for the first time," Most said, "The one song that I should have included but didn't… That was Radiohead's 'Creep,' which kind of hangs over my head. I should have put it on the record." 

Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, and White Zombie didn't make The Crow cut. Here's why.  Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins performs in 2000. Credit: Jorge Leal / EPA / Shutterstock.com

Released ahead of The Crow's production wrapping, "Creep" was Radiohead's debut single, and it would go on to appear on their first album, Pablo Honey. Though initially unpopular, the track went on to gain momentum when it was reissued in 1993, becoming a defining anthem of the "slacker" era. But for Most, the song’s lyrics ( "I'm a creep / I'm a weirdo") stung when connected to Lee in any way. So, he passed. 

"It was after the loss of Brandon," Most said, "And maybe I was very emotionally affected. When I heard the lyrics, I just worried. But in hindsight, I should have been more objective." 

Ahead of putting out their hit record Siamese Dream, Smashing Pumpkins had written a song for The Crow. But as the American band prepared their album, their reps asked for this song back to include there instead of on The Crow soundtrack. "The song 'Silverfuck' is actually written directly for The Crow," Most shared, "And if you read the lyrics to 'Silverfuck,' that's like a 10-minute opus — it's written for The Crow." 

Some lyrics in the song seem to speak from Eric's perspective about his lost love, Shelly Webster: "And she was my lover, so sweet / And she was my angel / And what I've recovered of me / I put into a box underneath my bed." 

For Most, however, the hardest loss to the soundtrack was a White Zombie song that was axed — but not by his call. 

Rob Zombie at the premiere of "200 Cigarettes." Credit: Bei / Shutterstock.com

"I don't want to put anybody under a bus," he explained, "But there was a record company president who said, 'These guys will never sell 50,000 records in their entire career.' And I said, 'You are 100 percent wrong. These guys have an amazing sound. The song is great.'" According to Most, the exec countered, "It can't be on the record, because they're not going anywhere. You're just wrong."

The song was "Babe Ruth," a track the heavy metal band performed live while playing Wilmington, North Carolina, where The Crow was in production. Before the song was rejected, Most invited Rob Zombie to set before the band's tour moved on. "Rob hung out on set, became friendly with Brandon and the whole crew. We were shooting at night. So it was lovely. We're just hanging out and shooting the shit."

While White Zombie didn't make it onto this album, the massive success of The Crow and its soundtrack gave Most more power on its sequel. So as he readied for The Crow: City of Angels, he knew whose band was at the top of his soundtrack wishlist. 

"When I went to put the second soundtrack together, the first person I went to was Rob." Most recalled, noting the metal singer asked, "'Can I cover a KC and the Sunshine Band song?' And I'm like, 'Sure, whatever you want, Rob.'" 

The resulting cover of "I'm Your Boogieman" went on to earn a Best Metal Performance nomination at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards. So, Most and Zombie had the last laugh.

It can't rain all the time.  Jane Siberry performs at The Bottom Line on Oct. 10, 1996, in New York City. Credit: Al Pereira / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

While much of The Crow soundtrack is metal and rock music that's fit for headbanging, the final track is a gentle ballad, "It Can't Rain All the Time," performed by Canadian singer/songwriter Jane Siberry.

"It can't rain all the time" is a line of dialogue from Eric as he's trying to bestow some hope upon surly street urchin Sarah (Rochelle Davis). It also serves as a way to prove his identity to Sarah upon his return, not to mention its thematic resonance. It's probably the most memorable line in the movie.

David Schow wrote that line, then Siberry expanded on it to create the song's lyrics. Cherry noted it was she who picked Siberry and brought her together with Graeme Revell, the former frontman for industrial/noise band SPK whom Cherry calls a "brilliant composer." Their collaboration concludes the album and plays over the film's end credits. 

After so many tracks that express Draven's pain and anger, Most said Siberry's final notes "let the audience decompress, in a very kind of beautiful, lyrical summing-up… It was just such a sweet and eloquent song that really allowed the audience to take a breath after watching this very emotional film." 

After years of negotiations and collaborations, dozens of artists, and untold demos, Most and Cherry released The Crow soundtrack on March 19, 1994, nearly two months before the film's successful theatrical release. The album would sell 3.8 million copies in the U.S., going triple platinum. Most would make more Crow movies, and Cherry would soon create another hit soundtrack, for 1995's Batman Forever. Yet both expressed how this movie and this soundtrack is special to them. 

Cherry told Mashable, "It was such a miracle that the film and the soundtrack are remembered in the way that [they are] — with so much passion from everyone. People always say, 'You know, that shaped my years in high school,' or they always have such interesting, amazing things to say about it, that it really became sort of a pivotal supernatural force of its own."

Most offered, "We got to curate something for a moment in time. We were really able to do something, where we really took the essence of the film into the music, and vice versa, and allowed it to become something very personal. You know, we only watch movies so many times, but we listen to albums infinitely more. I think it was a great opportunity to be able to do something groundbreaking."

"I'm really grateful for that," Cherry concluded, "Because I think it set up Brandon Lee to be remembered forever."

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Shop Now

My reaction to Renegade Nell, in one word? Delight.

SEE ALSO: 'Renegade Nell' cast dishes on the adventure show's big stunts

The new fantasy/adventure series from Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright punches through Disney+'s more franchise-focused TV offerings, standing and delivering an original period piece that is oodles of fun. Thanks to its remixes of British folklore and history, as well as a star turn from Derry Girls' Louisa Harland, Renegade Nell proves to be as fierce and funny as its highwaywoman heroine.

What's Renegade Nell about? Bo Bragason, Florence Keen, and Louisa Harland in "Renegade Nell." Credit: Rekha Garton / Disney

That heroine is recently widowed soldier Nell Jackson (Harland), returning home after a stint at war. While the show will see her rise to notoriety as a feared highway robber, she certainly didn't set out to live a criminal life. In fact, Renegade Nell's opening scene sees her taking down a whole group of highwaymen in badass fashion. She's throwing lightning-fast punches, tossing grown men aside like they weigh nothing, and even deflecting bullets with her bare hands.

SEE ALSO: 'Renegade Nell' trailer stands and delivers a kickass 18th century outlaw

If any of that sounds strange or even supernatural to you, you'd be right. Nell is actually under the surveillance of Billy Blind (Ted Lasso's Nick Mohammed), a winged spirit who flies into Nell's mouth whenever she's in danger and gifts her heightened strength and speed. Billy believes he's been sent to protect Nell because she's meant to accomplish great things. What great things? Neither knows for sure.

Before Nell can fully process why she has a sidekick straight out of a fairy tale, she's framed for the murder of a lord and forced to go on the run with her younger sisters, Roxy (Bo Bragason) and George (Florence Keen). With the law turned against her and dark magical forces nipping at her heels, Nell will have to rely on her quick wits, her friends and family, and her newfound powers to clear her name. She'll also cause some good, old-fashioned disruption along the way.

Renegade Nell is a rollicking (if overstuffed) fantasy romp. Bo Bragason, Ényì Okoronkwo, Frank Dillane, Louisa Harland, and Florence Keen in "Renegade Nell." Credit: Robert Viglasky / Disney

In addition to Nell's attempts to prove her innocence, Renegade Nell has a number of subplots in play that introduces a cast of colorful characters. There's the sinister Earl of Poynton (Adrian Lester), who recruits noble siblings Sofia Wilmot (Alice Kremelberg) and Thomas Blancheford (Jake Dunn) — whose father Nell is suspected of killing — into a plot that would wreak havoc across England. Roxy strikes up a sweet relationship with the Blanchefords' former stableboy, Rasselas (Ényì Okoronkwo), who reveals his past as a slave taken from Benin. And in the upper crusts of society, the tabloid mogul (and immaculately named) Lady Eularia Moggerhangar (Joely Richardson) hopes to profit off Nell in any way she can.

In its attempts to juggle all this material, in addition to the supernatural Billy Blind arc, Renegade Nell can occasionally feel unfocused. But even so, there's something charming in the way it throws everything from magic to musical numbers at the wall. The phrase "something for everyone" rings especially true here.

SEE ALSO: 'The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin' review: As wickedly fun as its title

Love historical TV shows? Feast your eyes on Renegade Nell's take on 18th century England and all that entails — royal intrigue, wigs galore, and practical sets that feel refreshingly tactile when compared to other Disney+ shows' overuse of digital backgrounds. Looking for something that will play well with kids and adults alike? Renegade Nell's levels of violence and magic are perfectly suited for younger audiences, while still intense enough to thrill action-lovers. (Notably, stunt coordinator James Embree was Daniel Craig's double on Spectre and No Time to Die.) Plus, viewers of all ages can appreciate Renegade Nell's focus on the struggle between the haves and the have-nots, and on Nell and Billy's subsequent attempts to make a real change — even if these themes of class struggle do get lost somewhat in an action-packed finale.

Louisa Harland proves she's a star in Renegade Nell. Louisa Harland in "Renegade Nell." Credit: Rekha Garton / Disney

The glue holding all of Renegade Nell's madcap fun together is none other than Harland, who's proven her comedic chops time and time again in Derry Girls. Here, she gets to unleash her full power as a leading lady.

Harland makes a meal out of Renegade Nell's often laugh-out-loud dialogue, with animated expressions that switch so perfectly on a dime that I often had to rewind line deliveries to take in every facet of her performance. In the show's devilishly fun fight sequences, she commits to the action like a demon unleashed — fitting, given Billy Blind's magical involvement. There's no stopping her magnetic, swashbuckling hijinks, to the point that it's only inevitable that at least one of her highway robbery "victims" becomes enamored of her.

Harland also has crackling chemistry with everyone in Renegade Nell. At times, she's a caring big sister to Roxy and George. At others, she becomes a reluctant partner to people she'd rather leave behind, such as Rasselas or dandy-turned-highwayman Charles Devereux (Frank Dillane). Her dynamic with the latter is particularly scream-worthy: The two trade barbed insults and threats, yet they always come back to save each other's skin. Dillane often plays Devereux as endearingly pathetic, which makes it all the better when he is overcome with surprise and elation by Nell's sheer boldness. Yes, everyone should be this excited to see Nell in action — and the same goes for Renegade Nell as a whole.

Renegade Nell is now streaming on Disney+.

With the 2024 total solar eclipse coming to the United States on Monday, April 8, a lot of us are looking to the stars.

And there's nothing that will give you an existential crisis (or make you appreciate your life) more than taking a gander at space. From stars to planets to galaxies, there's a whole lot out there beyond our little floating rock — and a telescope is the best way to view the heavens.

Whether you're a beginner stargazer or a seasoned astrophotographer, there are a lot of telescopes and telescope accessories on the market. It's easy to drop a few thousand dollars on the higher-tech models. To get guidance on how telescopes work, the different types of telescopes, and how to shop for one, we turned to the experts.

We chatted with Bart Fried, the Executive Vice President of the Amateur Astronomers Association in New York City, and founder and past president of the Antique Telescope Society. Fried is also a longtime member and former board member of the Custer Institute, as well as a member of the Astronomical Society of Long Island, and the Amateur Observers Society of New York, among other astronomy societies. We tapped Fried's 40 years of experience to learn what you need to know before bringing home your own telescope for stargazing.

Plus, if you're interested in watching the upcoming eclipse, we've added some tips on safely viewing the eclipse with telescopes.

How does a telescope work?

"What a telescope does, is it gathers light," Fried told us. "The diameter and the size of the aperture, the opening of the telescope, determines how much light it will gather. So, the bigger the telescope in aperture, the greater the light gathering, and that equates to being able to see fainter objects and things that are farther away as well."

Fried noted that a telescope doesn't actually magnify. Instead, it brings the light to a focal plane, which can then be looked at through a telescope's eyepiece. The focal length of the eyepiece determines the magnification that you get. A longer focal length will limit the field of view but increase the magnification, which is good for looking at planets and the moon. A shorter focal length does the opposite — it increases the field of view, which is ideal for looking at galaxies and other large deep space objects that are dimmer and further away.

SEE ALSO: The James Webb telescope's first stunning cosmic images are here

"You can think of an eyepiece like a little mini microscope, Fried said. "You're looking through the eyepiece at this focal plane, and that's how you see the image."

The length of the telescope also affects your viewing experience. Longer telescopes with wider apertures will produce crisper images, but they'll be more expensive.

What to consider before buying a telescope

Fried gave us a few rules every aspiring stargazer should consider before taking the plunge on a telescope:

1. Is your telescope going to be moved around, or will it live permanently in a room or protected outdoor location? Weight and portability matter when it comes to purchasing a telescope, and a telescope that's too big or heavy to carry probably won't get used much, unless you're planning to park it in a room, pointed out the window forever. For folks wanting to move their telescopes to the backyard and other outdoor locations, buying a telescope that you can realistically lift is essential.

2. Consider where you live and where you're going to use your telescope. If you live in an urban area with a lot of light pollution, you won't be able to see as much as you would be able to in a more rural area. City dwellers have no need for telescopes with very large light buckets, due to the light pollution they're dealing with. If you live in or near a city, you'll generally be better off with a small-to-medium-size refractor. Fried stressed that picking a telescope that's appropriate for your location will ensure you use it more.

3. What is your budget? Different kinds of mounts will run you different prices, and the more high-tech the telescope is, the pricier it will be. Planning out a budget will help you determine if you're in the market for a refractor telescope with a simple alt-azimuth mount, or if you're searching for high-tech telescopes with motored mounts and built-in GPS tracking.

4. What kinds of things are you interested in looking at? Different telescopes are better for looking at different things in the sky, so if you want to look at the planets regularly, you might opt for a different telescope than if you're just looking at stars. For example, Fried asserts that good quality small to medium-sized refractor telescopes are especially good at viewing the planets. Larger reflectors tend to be better for viewing deep-space objects.

Reflector telescope vs. refractor telescope

"Reflectors have a mirror, and the tube is open at the front and it gives you more aperture for your money," Fried explained. "But they are a little bit more difficult to use if you have a mount that tracks."

Refractors tend to be long and skinny, with the quintessential telescope shape, while reflectors tend to be wider and more cylindrical.

Here are the best features of a refractor telescope:

• Beginner friendly

• Generally more portable

• Great images of planets

Refractors often require an additional part called a star diagonal, which allows you to see through the eyepiece without craning your neck upward. Star diagonals give you a 90-degree bend so that you can look down through the eyepiece, instead of looking up. Fried says that a "reasonably good quality star diagonal is worth investing in, even from the beginning."

And these are the best features of a reflector telescope:

• More aperture for your money

• Gathers a lot of light (which isn't always optimal depending on location)

• Better on deep-space objects

There's also another category that is a sort of combination between a reflector and a refractor — Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (also called catadioptric or compound telescopes). "And in theory, they give you the best of both," said Fried.

Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes often boast high-tech features like GPS, object location, and motorized mounts. These kinds of telescopes know what date and time it is, and are armed with a database of heavenly objects. To look at a particular star or planet, all you need to do is put it into the database and the telescope does the rest for you.

In theory, this sounds like a better option for beginners, but Fried warns that these kinds of telescopes can be difficult to use and take a lot of learning when compared to manual telescopes.

How to view the 2024 total solar eclipse with a telescope

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a historic solar eclipse will come to the skies above the United States. The path of totality will pass from Texas to Maine, giving many people the first eclipse experience of their lifetimes. (Head to the Nasa Eclipse Explorer to see a map of the eclipse's path.) Even if you aren't in one of these states, residents of all 48 contiguous states will be able to view a partial eclipse on April 8 as well.

However, be warned: You can't point a telescope at the sun and view the eclipse without causing serious damage to your eyes. In order to safely observe the sun, sun spots, and partial and total eclipses with a telescope, you'll need a special solar filter that meets the ISO 12312-2:2015 standard for direct solar observation (NASA has additional tips for safely viewing the eclipse).

When buying a solar filter, you'll first need to make sure it's compatible with your telescope. We've included one solar filter for telescopes in this guide, but your telescope will likely require a different size or type of filter. You can find a wide range of solar filters at B&H Photo Video. As an alternative, you can also buy solar binoculars instead of telescopes.

What kind of telescope eyepieces do you need?

If you want to get a higher power, you could technically opt for a longer telescope every time, but that's pretty impractical. Instead, to adjust your telescope's power, you can swap out your current eyepiece for eyepieces with different focal lengths.

Any telescope you get will likely come with some starter eyepieces, and those will definitely get you started at looking at the cosmos. If you're a more advanced stargazer, Fried says that upgrading your eyepiece will give you a wider field of view for the same magnification, as well as offer sharper images with higher contrast.

Fried recommends that beginners save room in their budgets for a few extra eyepieces, but especially recommends a mid-tier quality Zoom eyepiece. "Zoom eyepieces have a rotating barrel," Fried said "And it will change the focal length of the eyepiece." These types of eyepieces are basically like getting four or five different eyepieces in one, since they're adjustable.

Fried says these types of eyepieces are especially good for looking at double stars, among other things. "When I look at close double stars under low power, they look like single stars," he mentioned. "As I'm observing, I'll slowly start to rotate the barrel of my zoom, and it pulls you in closer and closer, because you're increasing the magnification. And all of a sudden that single star splits. Nothing's cooler than that."

Decent zoom eyepieces can range from $50 to hundreds of dollars, but Fried recommends the mid-range options.

What type of telescope mount should I get?

There are a handful of different telescope mount types, but the three we'll be talking about are the Alt-azimuth, Dobsonian, and equatorial. Here's the lowdown on each type:

• Alt-azimuth mounts are the simplest type of mount. These types of mounts can move your telescope up and down, left and right, and are very easy to use manually. Alt-azimuth mounts don't track stars or planets, and are best when used with low to medium-power telescopes. They're fairly inexpensive.

• Dobsonian mounts are a specialized type of alt-azimuth mount. These mounts are extremely lightweight because they're almost always made of plywood. They're decently inexpensive, stable, portable, and easy to use. The bottom of a Dobsonian mount is essentially a lazy Susan, and is typically used with reflector telescopes.

• For slightly more serious observing, an equatorial mount is a good choice. Equatorial mounts line up with the pole star and can track the motion of whatever you're looking at. These mounts aren't necessarily bad for beginners, but they do take a little bit of practice to master. Non-motorized equatorial mounts feature a slow-motion handle that keeps whatever you're looking at centered in the field of view — which helps when used under high power. If you spend a bit more money, you can also get a motorized equatorial mount, which tracks whatever you're looking at automatically.

Advice for new stargazers

"Every beginner should join an astronomy club, because you can try other people's telescopes for free," Fried urged. "You can try everybody's telescope, decide which one you like, and learn a little bit about [astronomy]."

Astronomy can be an expensive hobby to get into, so doing your research via a club can help you make a smarter purchase.

In terms of telescope type recommendations, Fried recommends a six or eight-inch reflector or a four or six-inch refractor. Of course, these recommendations may change depending on your location, the desired portability, and your desired budget.

When asked for brand recommendations, Fried let us know that buying from a retailer who will service your telescope if you run into any problems is more important than any specific brand. "I strongly believe that a beginning astronomer should buy from a reasonably local dealer," he said.

If you have an issue with your telescope as a beginner, Fried explained that you're much more likely to stick with astronomy if you can take it to your local dealer for any repairs. If the dealer you bought it from is far away and you need to pack up the telescope and ship it back to get it returned, you might get discouraged and give up on the telescope altogether. Before buying, look for a telescope that has a good warranty, and try to buy from a retailer that has locations in your area in case you need your telescope serviced.

Now that you have the knowledge of the different types of telescopes, here are some recommendations for reflector telescopes, refractor telescopes, eclipse telescopes, and more:

Imagine for a moment the teen dreams of John Hughes collided with the goth and gunk of '80s-era Tim Burton, and you'll have an inkling of what Lisa Frankenstein has in store for you. 

Heavy influenced by '80s comedies from both of these iconic filmmakers as well as Mary Shelley's horror-spawning novel Frankenstein, screenwriter Diablo Cody and director Zelda Williams have birthed a coming-of-age romance where weird girl meets undead boy that’s as unholy as it is hilarious. 

Cody, who scribed the Oscar-winning teen comedy Juno and the cult-adored horror comedy Jennifer's Body, has forged her career in tales of misfit girls coming of age through cutting jokes, clever catchphrases, and carnage — be it emotional, psychological, bloody, or all of the above. Lisa Frankenstein is the sister film halfway between Juno's folk-pop quirkiness and Jennifer's Body's gnarly, boy-eating wrath. In Lisa Frankenstein, the titular heroine is allowed to be charming, messy, horny, and even murderous. And we're invited along for the wild ride. 

SEE ALSO: Diablo Cody and Zelda Williams play the 'Lisa Frankenstein' Newlywed Game Lisa Frankenstein re-imagines Mary Shelley with '80s weirdness. Credit: Michele K. Short / Focus Features

The '80s were lush with absolutely bonkers comedies, ranging from the horny sci-fi of Hughes' Weird Science and Julien Temple's Earth Girls Are Easy to the macabre humor of Joe Dante's The 'Burbs and Michael Lehmann's Heathers to the goth and gross splendor of Burton's Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands (which yes, was technically 1990). All of these were movies that sunk their teeth into concepts of love, sex, and death with relish. Nothing was sacred, so teen boys might accidentally turn a bullying brother into a literal pile of shit, and teen girls might retort, "Fuck me gently with a chainsaw."

This is the era for which Lisa Frankenstein pines. And though the movie's set is peppered with more cheery iconography from the era, like sneaker phones, REO Speedwagon sheet music, and Care Bears, this gleefully fucked-up comedy walks solidly in the footsteps of those that come before. For here is a movie that isn't afraid to wear its oddball heart on its sleeve, combining the horny and horrific, the goofy and the gross, to dynamic effect. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch 'Lisa Frankenstein' at home: When is it streaming? Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse make a monstrous power couple.  Credit: Michele K. Short / Focus Features

The Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania actress stars as Lisa Swallows, a new kid in high school who's struggling to make friends, despite the earnest efforts of her stepsister Taffy (a winsome Liza Soberano), a chipper cheerleader reminiscent of Juno's perky bestie, Leah. Because of a dark event in her past, Lisa doesn't share the joie de vivre of her classmates, and so imagines she might be better understood by the long-dead bachelor buried in a nearby abandoned cemetery. (She likes the look of his headstone.)

What might have only been the stuff of confusing sex dreams becomes a bit of a nightmare when The Creature (Sprouse, caked in mud, bugs, and decay) rises from the grave to help Lisa find her bliss. 

Teen girls' paths of self-discovery are often winding and dramatic, but Lisa swiftly moves from pining and peer pressure to mayhem and murder. You see, The Creature's happy to lend Lisa a figurative hand in terms of fashion tips and self-preservation. But when he literally needs a hand, homicide is a homespun solution that catches on — with Lisa finding her inner Dr. Frankenstein, stitching fresh corpse bits to her beastly bestie. 

Lisa Frankenstein is wonky, weird, and wondrous.  Credit: Michele K. Short / Focus Features

Making her feature directorial debut, Williams gets off to a wobbly start. The film finds its footing through a barrage: There’s a flashback, a drug trip, an allusion-studded dream sequence, and a clunky meet-cute. It can be tricky to get a beat on who Lisa is beyond all the flare. But Newton and Sprouse find their rhythm. She evolves into a cocky big mouth with grand ideas and even grander gestures; he gives a nearly wordless performance that relies heavily on physical comedy with some nuanced grunting. (As May December has shown, Riverdale is truly a masterclass for young actors.) 

Lisa's world is brought to brilliant life not only by a candy-colored, neon-streaked, and gore-stained production design, but also by some stellar supporting turns. The Fall of the House of Usher's Carla Gugino seems to be channeling John Waters' Serial Mom as a menacing stepmother who spouts insults along with misapplied new-age terminology. With a dopey grin and an unflappable pluckiness, Joe Chrest is a pitch-perfect parody of many an '80s dad: nice and oblivious. Then there's Soberano, who nearly steals the show. 

Credit: Michele K. Short / Focus Features

Because Taffy is pretty, peppy, and popular, teen movies have trained us to hate her. But Soberano complicates matters by making Taffy a undeniable delight. Though the character seem like a throwback bimbo, Cody's script has a sex-positive and empathetic approach that embraces this smiling stepsister into the sisterhood of misfit teens. She may not be a weirdo, but generously offering her wardrobe, her optimism, and her tanning bed, Taffy is more than just an ally or plot device. While the romance between Lisa and the Creature gets daffy and deranged, it is unexpectedly this big-hearted cheerleader who keeps the film's stakes grounded. As Lisa Frankenstein frolics into a truly bonkers third act, a single long shot of Taffy's reaction lingers on, as do some of Cody's sharpest one-liners. 

Colorful and chaotic, Lisa Frankenstein might look like a quirky confection perfect for Valentine's Day. But Cody rarely delivers something so simple or safe. Be it Juno's purposefully alarming love triangle, Jennifer's Body's complicated portrait of female friendship (and queer girl lust), or Young Adult's anti-heroine's determined refusal to grow the fuck up, Diablo is a provocateur who delights in pop culture. This time, her teen tale collides with horror, trauma, and putrid vomit, making a rom-com that is at times messy — but is ultimately a delightfully deranged treat. 

In that way, she and Williams have hit the sweet spot of those '80s comedies that have come before. Because, if we're honest, many of them have wonky bits. But we loved them just the same. And just as the children of the '80s claimed those creepy comedies as our own, I suspect the new generation will clutch Lisa Frankenstein, seeing every wart as a jewel in its crown. 

Lisa Frankenstein is now streaming on Peacock.

Apple's new iPad Pro and iPad Air are coming a little later than anticipated.

In early March, we've seen reports that Apple is about to launch new iPads and MacBooks, but only the latter part actually happened, with the company launching two new MacBook Air devices.

Now, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that Apple is planning to launch new iPad Pro and new iPad Air devices in "early May."

According to the report, the new iPad Pro models will come with OLED displays, and the iPad Air will appear in a 12.9-inch version for the first time (currently, iPad Air is only available with a 10.9-inch display).

It may not feel this way given how busy Apple has been (the company launched the Vision Pro mixed reality headset in February, and it followed up with new MacBook Air devices in March), but we haven't seen new iPads in ages. The iPad Pro was last refreshed in October 2022, and the iPad Air got an update in March 2022.

The new iPad Pro and iPad Air are also likely to come with faster chips and improved accessories, including a new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil for the iPad Pro.

Earlier reports said that the new iPad Pro models will be thinner than current models, and that they'll be available with a matte screen option.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPad Pro could come with a matte display

Gurman claims that Apple actually did plan to unveil new iPads in March, but the company delayed the launch due to the manufacturing complexity of the new screens, as well as some delays on the software side.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Tykr Stock Screener is on sale for £79.28 with code GET20, saving you 89% on list price.

While it's initially intimidating to wager your hard-earned cash on stocks, investing is also one of the only ways you can grow your money. But it's understandably a scary venture for newbies, especially those not well-versed in the stock market just yet.

If that's the case for you, Tykr is a tool that can help you navigate the complexities of the stock market. And for a limited time, you can grab a lifetime subscription to its premium plan for under £80 with the code GET20.

Tykr is a stock screener developed to hold your hand in the chaotic world of investment. It provides educational tools to teach you what you need to know about investing, giving you the proper support to make informed investment decisions.

With Tykr, you can find investment opportunities in a matter of seconds. It supports over 30,000 U.S. and international stocks, exposing you to a broad spectrum of options to diversify your investment portfolio. But instead of just providing a mere list, it organises stocks in various categories to guide you in identifying their financial strength. You'll know when a stock is considered a potential buy, something to watch, or is overpriced. The higher its assigned score is, the safer an investment vehicle it's supposed to be.

It's not sorcery. Tykr uses open-source calculations to analyse each stock, allowing you to have a look at how computations are made. Of course, you'll also get risk management lessons along the way so you can work on minimising your losses as you grow your portfolio.

Normally retailing for over £700, you can grab a lifetime subscription to Tykr's premium plan for £79.28 with code GET20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tykr Tykr Stock Screener (Premium Plan Lifetime Subscription) £79.28 at the Mashable Shop (with code GET20) Get Deal

Remote work offers many benefits, but the lack of community can cause some workers to feel isolated and lonely. If you manage remote employees, take these steps to combat loneliness on your team. Show recognition. Be proactive about celebrating people’s personal and professional wins. This could take the form of writing individual thank-you notes or scheduling […]

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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 March 29's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

A kingdom.

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 R.

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 #1014 is...

REALM.

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 March 29'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: Words that convey something to a great extent

• Green: Disney icons

• Blue: Shades of blue

• Purple: Words that are also body parts

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: Especially

• Green: Disney Characters

• Blue: Kinds of Blue

• Purple: Body Parts Plus "Y"

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 #292 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Especially: MIGHTY, PRETTY, REALLY, VERY

• Disney Characters: DAISY, GOOFY, HAPPY, LADY

• Kinds of Blue: BABY, NAVY, SKY, TIFFANY

• Body Parts Plys "Y": ARMY, COLONY, LIVERY, SHINY

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.

Streaming on Spotify is a seamless experience, most of the time. But when the Wi-Fi or cellular signal disappears, so does your music. To ensure you'll never be caught music-less on a plane, train, or anywhere else again, you can download songs from Spotify to listen to offline.

How do you know when a song, album, or playlist is available offline? Look for a little green circle with a black arrow inside. If that icon is sitting next to a song, album, or playlist, then that content is available for offline listening.

Don't see the circles? We've put together a short how-to to help you download to your heart's desire, but to use it you must:

• Be a Spotify Premium subscriber.

• Plan ahead. You cannot download content after you've lost cell service.

Now, let's get into the good stuff.

Total Time

• 5 minutes

What You Need

• The Spotify App (mobile or desktop)
• An internet connection

Step 1: Log in to your Premium Spotify account and find an album or song you want to listen to offline.

Downloading songs for offline use is only available on Premium Spotify accounts, so if you don't have one yet, you'll need to purchase a subscription. Learn more about Premium pricing right here.

Step 2: To download a full album, click on it and tap the icon that looks like a gray circle with an arrow inside it.

Once tapped, the arrow inside the gray icon will change to a white square to indicate that the album is being downloaded. Once the download is complete, a green version of the arrow icon will replace the gray one.

Credit: Mashable composite / Spotify screenshot

Step 3: To download a song, click the three dots next to the track and select "Add to Playlist" from the menu. Create a new playlist and add the song to it.

Spotify does not yet allow users to download an individual track. Instead, tracks must be added to a playlist, which must then be downloaded.

Credit: Mashable composite / Spotify screenshot

Step 4: Repeat Step 3, adding all the songs you want to download to this new playlist.

Step 5: Click the "Library" tab in the lower right hand corner of the app. Navigate to your new playlist. To download it, tap the gray circle icon with an arrow in it.

Once tapped, the arrow inside the gray icon will change to a white square to indicate that the playlist is being downloaded. Once the download is complete, a green version of the arrow icon will replace the gray one.

Credit: Mashable composite / Spotify screenshot

Once upon a time, kids (and kids at heart) longed for the biggest present in the pile. But size doesn't matter when picking out the best tech gifts. Some of the year's top gadgets are small enough to fit inside your pocket, and thanks to digital downloads, many popular gaming gifts take up no physical space whatsoever.

Our tech gift guide includes some of the best new releases of the year, most of which we've written about and reviewed. From the new Nintendo Switch OLED Mario Red Edition to new Amazon devices, we've focused on the gadgets our editors really loved this year — the true drool-worthy I can't believe you got this for me gifts.

Here are over 50 of Mashable's favorite gift-worthy gadgets and tech gifts.

We've all been there: You pull out your AirPods case, flip the top, and realize your earbuds have become very small (very expensive) petri dishes. And though you may not know how they got so dirty, you're sure that things have to change. The Apple AirPods are particularly prone to building up of gunk, mostly because they have so many nooks and crannies for that stuff to hide in. Here are a few ways to battle the build-up.

Clean your AirPods using tools you have at home

Giving your AirPods a glow-up doesn't take much, and you can make it happen using tools you may have lying around your home.

• Toothpick: Use toothpicks to ease gunk out of tight spaces. Just be sure to clean gently, as the mesh panels in your earbuds can pop out or dislodge.

• Q-Tip: Use a Q-Tip to pick up particles along the curves of your AirPods and inside your charging case.

• Soft makeup brush: Use a clean makeup brush to remove detritus from the black mesh on your AirPods.

• Microfiber cloth: Grab any microfiber cloth — those small square pieces of fabric that are often included with sunglass, eyeglass, and phone purchases — and gently rub to remove dust and dirt from your buds.

Check out how to use these household items to clean your AirPods in the video below:

Invest in tools to clean your tech

Splurging for tools made specifically for cleaning electronics isn't necessary, but having them handy can make it easier to regularly touch up and care for your devices so they don't get so dirty to begin with.

OXO's double-sided cleaning brush is a huge help for small electronics. Use the rubber end to remove debris in and along the thinnest crevices of your device and brush dust away with the soft bristles on the other side.

Opens in a new window Credit: OXO / Amazon OXO Good Grips Electronics Cleaning Brush at Amazon
Shop Now

To clean the exterior of your device, Apple recommends using a wipe with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or 75 percent ethyl alcohol — just be careful around that pesky mesh, which is sensitive to liquid. These small disinfecting pads are the perfect size for disinfecting small handheld devices and can be popped in your purse for a quick, convenient clean.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Composite / Med Pride, Amazon MED PRIDE Alcohol Prep Pads $3.99 at Amazon
$4.47 Save $0.48 Shop Now

Unlike most social media companies, Elon Musk's X does allow users to publish adult content. This wasn't a new policy instituted by Musk either. Even under the old, then-Twitter leadership, X-rated content was permitted. Twitter, or X as it's now called, has long-been the mainstream social media service of choice for those who work in the adult industry or just like posting adult content.

New screenshots uncovered by developers who track changes within mobile apps show that X is apparently planning to require users who create groups on X, called Communities, to label their community as "adult content" or "NSFW."

Tweet may have been deleted

According to Bloomberg, X is testing the adult labeling feature out now.

Communities that feature adult content will be required to be labeled as "adult content" by the group's administrators, or the adult content can be automatically removed by X.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk says Grok AI will be available to premium X users 'later this week'

"You must enable this setting if your community contains adult-sensitive content," reads the rules for this Communities setting. "Omitting this will result in automatic filtering of all adult-sensitive content within your community."

Communities has been a feature on X since its Twitter days, first launching in 2021. The feature allows users to create discussion groups around a specific topic or niche that other Twitter users can join. Users then post in those communities just like they normally post on the platform, but those posts only exist within those communities instead of on the users' and platform's public feeds. 

The Communities feature never really took off. However, Musk has attempted to reinvigorate the feature in recent months. A Communities tab has been added to the main sidebar menu on X, and the platform lets users pin Communities to their profile page to promote the groups. The official X account for Communities, @HiCommunities, also posted for the first time since Oct. 2022 just this month.

X and X-rated content

X has struggled with how to handle porn and other adult content on its platform. 

At one time before Musk acquired the company, then-Twitter was reportedly looking into monetizing adult content with a feature that would compete with the adult content creator subscription service OnlyFans. However, as The Verge reported, the company found that it did not have the resources to moderate, police, or "accurately detect child sexual exploitation and non-consensual nudity at scale." As a result, those plans were scrapped.

Musk's platform already blocks advertising partners' ads from showing up on adult content as most mainstream companies do not want to associate with X-rated content, making the content non-monetizable on X itself.

However, outright removing adult content from the platform could backfire as the social media platform Tumblr found out years ago. 

In 2018, Tumblr banned adult content after building a community that came to expect that type of content on the platform. In just a few months, Tumblr lost 30 percent of its traffic as well as a chunk of its user base. Tumblr would later reverse that decision, but the platform has yet to ever fully recover from banning adult content.

Is X making this "adult content" labeling feature in order to further build out the struggling Communities feature? Or is the label being built on top of a little-used feature in order to possibly test out how instituting the label across the platform would work out? We'll continue to monitor how the "adult content" label on X evolves.

As our lives grow increasingly more and more digitally dependent, our personal data also becomes more valuable than ever. While the sites you visit, social feeds you follow, messages you send on your computer or tablet might feel private, the truth is that when you’re online, data brokers, trackers, and hackers are all scrambling to collect the many data-trails you leave behind. There are dangerous new financial scams popping up all the time, and if you don’t take steps to protect your privacy, you could find yourself in some real hot water.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. While cybercrime certainly isn’t going anywhere, there are plenty of tools you can use and habits to adopt that can help protect you, your family, or your business from online scams. We’ve put together this guide to help you know what you're up against, and what you can do to stay safe in 2024.

What's in a scam?

An online scam is a fraudulent act or operation conducted through the internet, designed to trick individuals or organisations into giving away personal information, money, or access to financial accounts. These scams exploit common digital communication tools, such as emails, social media, websites, and messaging platforms, to reach potential victims.

With cybercrime unfortunately rising in popularity, there are certain forms of scams that have taken off in recent years. It’s good to have an idea of what sort of online behaviours are frequently performed by hackers and scammers, so you know what to avoid when browsing online. These are the most common types of scams that security experts are warning consumers about in 2024:

• Phishing Scams: These involve fake emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate companies, banks, or government agencies, asking you to provide personal information or login credentials. The goal is to steal your identity or access your accounts.

• Investment Scams: Offering high returns with little or no risk, these scams lure you into investing in fake opportunities, such as Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, or non-existent ventures.

• Lottery or Sweepstakes Scams: This is where victims receive notifications claiming they've won a large sum of money or prizes in a lottery or sweepstakes they never entered, but must pay a fee or provide personal information to claim the winnings.

• Romance or Lonely Heart Scams: Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites or social media platforms to form relationships with potential victims. Once trust is established, they concoct scenarios requiring financial assistance.

• Tech Support Scams: Hapless victims are tricked into believing their computer is infected with malware, prompting them to pay for unnecessary tech support services or software.

• Advance-Fee Scams: These involve requests for upfront payments with promises of receiving large amounts of money later, such as fees for securing a loan, job offers that require payment for training or equipment, or rental schemes.

• Identity Theft: Scammers use deceptive means to obtain your personal information to commit fraud or theft under your name.

• Fake Shopping Websites: Scammers create counterfeit websites that look like legitimate online stores offering goods at significantly reduced prices, only to steal your money and personal information.

• Job Scams: Offering fake job opportunities, these scams may ask for personal information or money to pay for training, background checks, or equipment necessary for the job that doesn't exist.

• Charity Scams: These exploit people's generosity, especially after natural disasters or during holiday seasons. These scams involve soliciting donations for fake charities or causes.

• Cryptocurrency Scams: These scams trick investors into sending money or digital currency in exchange for nonexistent returns, including fraudulent investment platforms and fake ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings)

• Ransomware: This type of malware blocks access to a victim's files or computer system until a ransom is paid, often demanding payment in cryptocurrency. Ransomware is an increasingly popular form of cyberattack in the 2020s.

Identifying a scam

Now that we have some idea of what the most commonly used tactics from scammers are, we can start to keep an eye out for them in our everyday lives. The rise of phishing scams means that you not only have to be weary of unsolicited messages from strangers, but also from friends, family, and organisations that you trust.

As a general rule. it’s important to always be sceptical of anything you read or any link you click when browsing online. But when watching out for scams, it's good to remember these basic first steps:

• Watch out for “URGENT!!!” messages: Scammers often use urgency or threats to pressure you into taking immediate action, such as claiming your account will be closed or that you'll face legal consequences.

• Check the sender's email address: Look closely at the sender's email address. Scammers may use email addresses that resemble legitimate ones but have slight variations or misspellings. A logo is easy to replicate but a legitimate address or URL is not.

• Look for poor grammar and spelling: Many scams originate from non-English-speaking countries, leading to poorly written messages with grammar and spelling mistakes.

• Look for HTTPS in the URL: If you find yourself on a suspicious web page, ensure the website has a secure connection by checking for "https://" at the beginning of the URL. However, some phishing sites may use HTTPS, so be cautious.

• Check for a padlock icon: A legitimate website often displays a padlock icon in the browser's address bar to indicate a secure connection. While this can be faked, its absence is a red flag.

Protecting yourself from scams

Maintaining total anonymity and connecting to the internet is nearly impossible. No matter what you do, or where you go, there is likely to be some trace of your digital presence. Still, there are things you can do to limit your exposure, and there are some incredibly simple things you can do to bolster your own online security.

• Never share personal or financial information in response to unsolicited requests, whether they come via email, messages, or phone calls.

• Create strong, unique passwords for your accounts, enabled with two-factor authentication (2FA).

• Regularly update your operating system, browsers, and security applications so that they are up-to-date.

• Always verify the authenticity of websites and emails (use the tips mentioned above in “Identifying A Scam”), especially if they ask for personal information.

• Utilise secure networks, particularly when handling sensitive transactions

• Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for an added layer of security. This masks your IP address and makes it difficult to track you.

• Regularly monitor your bank and online accounts for any signs of unauthorised activity.

• Install a reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on your devices.

• Backup your important data regularly, ensuring you don't lose everything in case of a cyberattack.

By integrating these habits into your daily online interactions, you can significantly minimize the risk of falling prey to scams, keeping your personal and financial information secure.

The Bitdefender solution

Unfortunately, online scams are only becoming more and more common. And while it is crucial to do your own due diligence and use common sense when browsing, having a helping hand can take away a lot of the stress of dealing with the barrage of bad actors online. If you’re in the market for an antivirus or security suite, PCMag recommends Bitdefender Premium Security Plus.

Bitdefender offers protection for up to 10 devices, and offers Anti-Phishing protection, Anti-Fraud protection, Cryptomining protection, Ransomware protection, Digital Identity protection, Safe Online Banking tools and more. You also have unlimited access to Bitdefender’s Premium VPN for extra peace-of-mind when browsing. If you’d like to try one for yourself with minimal risk, Bitdefender offers a 30-day free trial that you can find out more about here.

Need to capture what's on your MacBook screen? No problem. Taking a screenshot that captures your entire screen or just a portion of it can be done in a few straightforward steps.

Depending on what kind of screenshot you need, there are different methods. We'll walk you through both.

First, here's how to take a screenshot of your entire screen.

Total Time

• Less than 1 minute.

What You Need

• MacBook

Step 1: Press the command, shift, and 3 keys simultaneously

The screenshot will appear in the bottom left-hand corner. You can either drag it where you'd like it from there or access it in Finder under Recents.

If you only want to screenshot a portion of your screen, you can do that too. Here's how.

Total Time

• Less than 1 minute.

What You Need

• MacBook

Step 1: Press the command, shift, and 4 keys simultaneously

Step 2: Move the plus sign cursor to the part of your screen you want to capture

Step 3: Drag the cursor to the edge of where you want to screenshot using your mouse

Step 4: Release your mouse

The screenshot will appear in the bottom left-hand corner. You can either drag it where you'd like it from there or access it in Finder under Recents.

Google is testing out an interesting experiment with YouTube.

According to 9to5Google, YouTube is testing out an experimental feature (meaning it rolls out to a select few users before going wide) that would allow Premium users to automatically jump ahead to what they want to see. In other words, it would use machine learning data to determine what is the most interesting part of a video, and prompt users to go straight to said part.

SEE ALSO: If you watched certain YouTube videos, investigators demanded your data from Google

In practical terms, this would work similarly to the double-tap trick you can use on mobile devices to skip ahead by 10 seconds in a video, except you'd be skipping to a predetermined part of the video that YouTube has deemed interesting. Many YouTube videos already have a little "most replayed" graphic to let you know where people are scrubbing to the most, so maybe the data to enable this new feature already exists.

Anyway, I haven't seen this on my devices yet, so who knows when or if this will roll out widely. It would be another nice reason to pay for YouTube Premium, at least.

Unitree has created their first universal humanoid robot. The H1 excels in speed, power, maneuverability and flexibility. Holding the world record for speed at 3.3 m/s the H1 is able to walk and run autonomously in complex terrains and environments. By using a 3D Lidar and depth perception camera this robot can achieve precision spatial data of its surroundings. The legs have a maximum torque of 360 N.m allowing it to support and move heavy loads. Its size, strength and flexibility makes the H1 an incredibly versatile robot. 

SAVE $200: As of March 28, you can save $200 on the newly-released Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 laptops at Dell. Both come with free shipping for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell XPS 14 Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,499.00 at Dell
$1,699.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell XPS 16 Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,699.00 at Dell
$1,899.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new laptop, you've got plenty of choices. Whether you're looking to buy a new MacBook or you've got your sights set on a Windows-based computer, there are tons on sale at any given moment. Case in point: today, you can save big on two of Dell's newest laptops, part of its popular XPS line. The new laptops, which Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon previewed at CES 2024 in January, are available in 13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch configurations, and you can snag two of the larger sizes right now for a great discount.

As of March 28, both the Dell XPS 14 and Dell XPS 16 laptops are on sale for $1,499 and $1,699 respectively. That's a discount of $200 off either model, each with free shipping, for a limited time. Upgrades to both laptops are available, but you'll only get $200 off on the base models.

At this price, the Dell XPS 14 has a 14.5-inch full HD InfinityEdge display, a 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, Intel Arc graphics, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader. The Dell XPS 16 is an upgrade to a 16.3-inch display with the same specs elsewhere – you're paying for the larger screen, essentially.

Gedeon called the new laptops' look "elegant, minimalist, and streamlined", though wasn't sure after her experience with the smaller 13-inch laptop that they'd be useful as a productivity laptop. However, their on-board AI features with AI-centric processors as well as their competent specs make them an interesting proposition, especially with $200 off. You may need to get used to the lack of delineation from touchpad to laptop, however, which may be a little weird for some.

The Facebook "Poke" is back...though was it really ever in? Young folks — you know, Gen Z and the like — are apparently using the Poke more than ever.

Last week, Facebook said it had seen a 13x spike in Pokes over the last month.

The oft-forgotten feature on the oft-forgotten social media site is having a moment, but that doesn't necessarily mean you young folks are flocking to Facebook. It seems like it's more of a curiosity. Multiple outlets reported that the rise in Pokes was due to a design change that put the feature more front-and-center. Basically if you search for pokes or poking, it's easier to bring up a person's Poke page.

Tweet may have been deleted

"We know poking has strong network effects, but we didn't expect poking to grow so rapidly after these changes," a spokesperson for Meta told NBC News. "We didn't announce anything about poking at the time either."

SEE ALSO: One man's frustrating journey to recovering his Myspace

In case you forgot, Poking is literally just reminding someone you exist. You Poke them, they get a notification. It was an early feature back when Facebook was king. There's definitely a sense of nostalgia for some users of that time. But young people are apparently poking as well. Meta said more than 50 percent of the new Pokers were done by users aged 18 to 29, Business Insider reported. So it's not just Olds who used to actually use Facebook.

Now that we're all apparently Poking again, I have a modest proposal. I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's time to bring Myspace back.

About halfway through Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, I turned to a fellow critic to ask a desperate question: What the hell is this movie about? 

Well, for one, it’s less of a big showdown between these two ancient beasts than its title teases. Rather, this sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong relies way more on convoluted exposition and explanation than is necessary for a big dumb kaiju movie. Somehow, director Adam Wingard's latest installment gives viewers exactly what they want — bouts of noisy, crashing, rampaging blows — but for much of its runtime, it's giving us nothing at all.

By the end of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, I still didn’t have the foggiest idea why anyone needed to sit through its meandering maze of dysfunctional world-building for its lone rousing bout.  

SEE ALSO: The 'Godzilla X Kong' cast reveal which past characters would crush against a kaiju What's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire about? Credit: Daniel McFadden / Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

The ramshackle screenplay by Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, and Jeremy Slater never tires of providing mountains and mountains of exposition. Through lumbering dialogue, we catch up with the film's returning players from Godzilla vs Kong. Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) is the head of Kong research division for the secret organization Monarch. Her adoptive daughter, Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the last surviving member of the Iwi tribe, is struggling to adjust to her new school during the day and being plagued by nightmares featuring pyramids at night. Her terrors and the odd seismic activity observed by Dr. Andrews, the latter of which has perplexed the scientists at Monarch, have pushed Dr. Andrews to seek out Titan Truth Podcast host Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry). 

Complicating matters are the fates of the film's two titans: Godzilla, for unexplainable reasons, has been traversing the globe for nuclear energy sources in a bid to power up for a fight the film exhaustingly works toward. Kong, meanwhile, is behaving weirdly too. At one point, he suddenly leaves his Hollow Earth habitat to seek treatment from Monarch for a sore tooth (work with me, here). When he returns home, Kong discovers evidence of an uncharted region of his mystical land — not only that, other primates live there too, and they're ruled by a nasty ape known as Scar King. 

The script, at times, attempts to parallel Kong and Jia's respective loneliness. But then among the race of massive subterranean apes, Kong does discover a cute high-flying Baby Kong, only to drop the subject altogether. At other moments, the movie intimates revolutionary ideals: Kong ultimately wants to free his brethren and is often seen brandishing a raised fist in the air. But mostly the script leaves these threads dangling. It opts to sell a mythological premonition requiring Kong and Godzilla to combine forces if they hope to save the world. 

Dan Stevens and Brian Tyree Henry are the humans we're looking for. Credit: Daniel McFadden / Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Let's be clear: The human characters in most kaiju movies are worthless plot devices and discardable chum. (Godzilla Minus One is a rare exception.) The surrogate mother-daughter relationship between Dr. Andrews and Jia is a barely passable diversion. Jagged editing further struggles to place either character within the film's thrashing narrative. 

And yet, Henry and Dan Stevens (who plays the gung-ho veterinarian Trapper) are notable highlights. The pair are thrown together when Dr. Andrews decides to venture with Jia to Kong's homeland; there, she hopes to discover the origins of the anomaly affecting the world above ground. Once on the treacherous terrain, Hayes records the group's adventure for a possible documentary. Trapper, bedecked in a Hawaiian shirt, uses his sixth sense to warn the troupe when trouble is just around the corner. 

Henry and Stevens are the only ones who seem to know what movie they're in: They play their characters for broad laughs, eventually becoming a side-splitting double act. By the end, you wish we simply had a Godzilla/Kong movie starring these two, or really any adventure where they can perform their hilarious antics. 

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is an ugly monster movie. Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

While Henry and Stevens are a winning duo, the visual aesthetics surrounding them never rise to their level. This is simply a garish movie. It's an observation that isn't wholly surprising; the VFX acumen of the entire MonsterVerse has always been touch and go. Godzilla: King of the Monsters, for example, was so wretched that even the nighttime scenes couldn’t obscure its unattractiveness. Kong: Skull Island, on the other hand, featured an exhilaratingly punchy palette, given greater texture through several scenes making winking references to Die Hard. 

Godzilla x Kong crumbles under the same rendered failures of the former film. The mucky lighting looks like smeared mildew. The once-lush terrain of Hollow Earth is more akin to slushy half-rendered moss. Disney World attractions have greater tactility than the in-world advanced tech and sci-fi ships on display here. Worst yet, despite the tangible choreography on display — Kong and Godzilla do at least move fluidly — Kong’s facial expressions lack emotiveness. How did we backslide so far from the graphic highs of the Andy Serkis-led Planet of the Apes movies? Unlike Godzilla Minus One, this franchise forgot its political roots long ago. Without any substance, you'd like for its projected images to be transfixing, at the very least.

The dearth of definition also translates to the film's very scale. Godzilla x Kong wants to be a big globe-trotting lark, but it treats the streets of Gibraltar and the sidewalks of Rome as nearly interchangeable. I would have much preferred seeing Wingard hone in on one or two locations to build a better sense of geography for the audience, which no doubt would translate to better composed fight sequences.       

The final fight in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire happens far too late. Credit: Daniel McFadden / Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

It takes so long for the major showdown to occur. Godzilla x Kong is a movie perpetually in a state of setting up. Sure, a misplaced needle drop by Kiss may provide a minor pulse to the kind of rushed, overactive editing that feels geared toward spoon-feeding its audience rather than making space for the film's many elements to come together. But too much of this movie is about setting up the climactic battle

If you manage to sit through the previous nauseating 80 minutes, then you're at least rewarded with Kong, Godzilla, and Mothra teaming up against the Big Bad. The destructive scene, set in Rio de Janeiro, does at least live up to the hype — enough so that I'm sure many will depart the theater solely satisfied by the large-scale demolition of an entire city, the colossal punches thrown by Kong, and the roaring cannonball that is Godzilla. For others, though, this one admittedly entertaining exhibition won’t be enough. You'll come out wishing the entirety of the film had the verve, imagination, and sheer power of its conclusion. In that regard, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire isn't an obvious triumph. It's more like a passable draw.  

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire opens in theaters March 29.