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SAVE $119.01: As of May 14, get the Google Pixel Tablet (128GB) with charging speaker dock at Woot for $379.99, which is $119.01 off its normal price of $499 (when you buy the tablet and speaker separately). That's $20 less than the typical price of $399 for a Google Pixel Tablet alone.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot! Google Pixel Tablet (128GB) with Charging Speaker Dock $379.99 at Woot
$499.00 Save $119.01 Get Deal

In the market for a tablet, but don't want an Apple or Samsung device? There are other options, including one you might not be considering: a Google Pixel Tablet. The company's first tablet is a capable one that works best when paired with its essential-for-optimal-performance charging speaker dock. And you can get both for a great price right now at Woot.

As of May 14, get the Google Pixel Tablet with a charging speaker dock for just $379.99 at Woot. That's a discount of $119.01 compared to when you buy both devices separately via Google, and $20 less than the typical price of $399 for a Google Pixel Tablet alone. This particular deal is for the Porcelain colorway, and you're getting a new tablet rather than a refurbished or used unit like Woot occasionally sells. The deal is live for the next day or until the tablets sell out.

SEE ALSO: Get up to $50 off Amazon Fire tablets for kids ahead of the Amazon Book Sale

Mashable reviewer Alex Perry called the tablet "fine," acknowledging that its speaker dock "changes everything." That transforms it into a useful mini-TV and a much more palatable purchase, and since you get it as part of this bundle, you'll be getting the optimal version to play around with for $120 less.

"I used to connect my phone to a Bluetooth speaker to do that stuff, but not anymore," Perry says. "There are also plenty of other use cases that I didn’t even touch. For instance, you can connect all your Google Home-compatible devices to the Pixel Tablet, turning the latter into a mobile command center. Beyond that, you can obviously use the docked tablet for video calls and even cast videos from your phone to the tablet."

The Google Pixel Tablet is powered by the Tensor G2 processor and has an 11-inch LCD display. It can connect to other Pixel devices and you can use it as a smart home hub to manage all of your in-home devices. Otherwise, you can rely on it to watch content, make video calls, and listen to music with the excellent speaker dock. It might be priced a bit steeply outside of this deal, but for this discounted rate, it's worth it just to check out the speaker alone.

SAVE $60: The Carrera Smart Sunglasses with Alexa are on sale at Amazon for $329.99, marked down from the normal price of $389.99. That's a 15% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Carrera Smart Sunglasses with Alexa $329.99 at Amazon
$389.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

Summer is just a few blinks away, and what better way to welcome in the warmth than with a long stroll in the sun? How about listening to your favorite tunes or playing an audiobook while you walk? If these two activities sound like your ideal summer, Amazon has a great deal in store today.

As of May 14, the Carrera Smart Sunglasses with Alexa are $329.99 at Amazon, discounted from the normal price of $389.99. That's $60 off.

SEE ALSO: Jam out this summer with up to 38% off portable speakers

The Carrera Smart Sunglasses with Alexa are multi-purpose, serving as polarized sunglasses, open-ear headphones, and your connection to Alexa. First and foremost, the sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful rays with polarized lenses that have UV400 protection. Since you'll be wearing them in the summer, the IPX4 water and sweat resistance can also be useful. There's also an anti-reflective coating on the lenses.

In terms of sound, the Carrera Smart Sunglasses with Alexa are designed with open-ear audio, which means you can tune in without having to wear headphones or earbuds. The sunglasses direct audio into your ears while minimizing the amount of sound that leaks into your surroundings. This means you can walk the beach while listening to your summer jams and also hear the waves. The smart glasses also eliminate the need for earbuds or headphones, which are oh-so-easy to forget at home.

You can also take calls on the Carrera Smart Sunglasses with Alexa, giving you hands-free power. If you're on a call and don't want the other end to hear what's on your side, a double-press can mute the audio.

The smart sunglasses get up to six hours of battery life with continuous media playing or up to 14 hours with moderate usage. Amazon mentions it takes about two and a half hours to fully recharge the smart glasses on the included charging stand.

If you're the type who prefers to simplify tech, the Carrera Smart Sunglasses with Alexa can serve as sunglasses, personal audio speakers, and a hands-free way to take phone calls. Summer walks could be better than ever thanks to the features you'll get with these smart sunglasses, not to mention the stylish design.

Amazon Prime Day has yet to be announced, but we expect dates to come soon. Last year, the Prime Day sale took place in July and was followed by a new savings event called Prime Big Deal Days in October.

Prime members can expect some steep markdowns sitewide during Prime Day, from TVs and electronics to pet supplies and home goods. It's an exciting time for savvy shoppers, but it can also be overwhelming to research the best deals and make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck. Here are some tools and tricks to guide you on your Prime Day journey.

Take advantage of price-tracking tools

Check out dedicated sites and browser extensions that do the work of tracking prices for you.

• Camelcamelcamel is a website that gives you price history charts on Amazon products and even sends you alerts when a price has dropped. To up your price-monitoring game, you can install its browser extension called "The Camelizer," which gives you instant access to price history while you're shopping.

• Keepa is a price monitoring site and browser extension that is dedicated to Amazon products. You can also use it to compare prices on other retailer sites like eBay.

• Other tools that can crawl the web for good deals and notify you about price drops are Honey and Slickdeals. These sites are particularly useful because "the Prime Day effect" usually causes other retailers to host competing sales.

Ask Alexa for help

If you have a newer Echo device, you can enable Alexa's advanced deal alerts feature to find and keep track of deals on products you want. The smart assistant will notify you up to 24 hours in advance of a deal you've added to your shopping cart, saved for later, or added to your Wish List. To turn on this setting, go to the Alexa app and open Notifications under Settings. From here, tap Amazon Shopping and scroll down to toggle Deal Recommendations. Your Echo device will flash a yellow ring to indicate this setting is live.

Check curated lists

Finding the best Prime Day price is one thing, but how do you even know what deals are being offered elsewhere? It's safe to assume that most products on Amazon have some kind of discount, but some deals are better than others, meaning it's important to know what to buy and what not to buy on Prime Day.

Mashable's shopping team is already doing the legwork of scouring Amazon's vast inventory to highlight the best deals out there, and we'll be on it through the sale. We're expecting Prime Day to be a good time to pick up tech like Apple devices, noise-canceling headphones, and robot vacuums.

Don't forget about other retailers

During October's Big Deal Days event, we saw other retailers capitalize on the fervor by hosting their own sales. While retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have not announced their own events yet this year, we expect to see them roll out sales during or around Prime Day.

Competition can be a great way to drive prices down, but certain retailers have specialties with these sales. Best Buy is usually good for big ticket tech like high-end TVs or laptops as well as gaming deals, Walmart is ideal for more budget-friendly TVs and home tech, and Target is best for everyday essentials.

Shop invite-only deals to avoid the chaos

During last year's Prime Day, Amazon introduced its invite-only deals. You can request invitations for high-demand products; last year a 50-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni Series TV and a Blink Outdoor security camera system were available for 60% off. Lucky shoppers who are chosen for access to these deals will receive an email with a unique link to buy them at some point when the sale is live.

UPDATE: May. 14, 2024, 12:00 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the lastest information regarding Prime Day 2024.

Amazon Prime Day is officially back for the tenth year running.

Amazon confirmed that the savings event will take place this July (with exact dates TBD). We're expecting another mid-July 48 hours of deals, with weeks of early deals leading up to the main event.

The event is for Prime members only, but all inflation-weary shoppers searching for deals can get their hands dirty by signing up for Amazon's 30-day free trial.

We're expecting a lot of great deals to be had, but the mega-sale doesn't have to be as overwhelming as it sounds. Our pro tip for saving money (time, and sanity) during Prime Day 2024? Organize (and actually follow) a wishlist. Practices like pinning down must-have items ahead of time or setting price drop alerts can help you stay on track with your spending rather than crossing into buyer's remorse territory after a ravenous "add to cart" spree.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2024: When it's happening and everything else we know so far Tip #1: Organize your Amazon wishlist

If it’s news to you that Amazon even offers such a feature, here’s how it works:

Every product page on the retail giant’s website has a little “add to list” button right around where the “add to cart” button is located (very convenient placement). Click on that, and you can add said product to your personal Amazon wishlist, or any other list that you’ve created for yourself on your profile.

Do this with every gadget, gizmo, and knick-knack you think would make a worthy addition to your collection of goods. What you’ll end up with is an organized, definitive page of all that you desire. View it all at a glance, or even rank each item based on how much you want it.

Your Amazon wishlist is one of the most useful tools that you have at your disposal come Prime day.

Then, and here's the important part, be sure to check back on your list when Amazon Prime Day 2024 kicks into high gear — you’ll be able to see which products have gone on sale and snatch them up before they’re gone.

WARNING: Only add the necessities to your wishlist or risk critical failure and end up with mass shipments of shit you don’t need, never needed, and will never need. (Did you *have* to get that life-size cardboard cutout of Danny DeVito? No. No, you didn’t. But now he’s standing there in the corner of your living room. And he’s watching you.)

Tip #2: Turn on wishlist alerts

That’s not where the perks of "wishlisting" cap out. If you download Amazon’s mobile companion app, you’ll be granted the added benefit of "wishlist alerts."

These alerts can aid in notifying you when an item on your wishlist becomes a “lightning deal,” as well as when a sold-out item on your wishlist goes back in stock.

This isn’t a notification setting that's turned on by default, so you’ll have to go in and check it off yourself. All you have to do is open up the Amazon app, go into your settings, then to your notifications, and click on “your watched and waitlisted deals.”

It's this one. Credit: Screenshot Tip #3: Turn on Alexa's advanced deal alerts

As it turns out, newer Echo smart speakers are good for more than just bumping out your playlists. They can also notify you of a sale on an item in your wishlist, shopping cart, or "saved for later" queue up to 24 hours before it even goes live.

• Open up the Alexa mobile app to turn on the advanced deal alerts feature. You'll find it under More > Settings > Notifications > Amazon Shopping

• Once you're there, click Shopping Recommendations and then Deal Recommendations. Since you already have your wishlist organized and ready to go, that's all there is to it.

• You'll see a pop-up alert or a yellow ring light on your Echo device whenever Alexa finds out about an upcoming deal on products in your wishlist. Ask, "Alexa, what are my notifications?" to get the scoop.

You can either have Alexa let you know once the deal is live or even give her the go-ahead to order it for you ("Alexa, buy it for me"). Your default payment and delivery address on file will be used automatically.

Voilà — now you’ll never miss a deal for something you want. Your Amazon wishlist is one of the most useful tools that you have at your disposal to ensure a successful shopping experience.

Also, keep a watchful eye out for our Amazon Prime Day coverage, where we’ll be highlighting all the best deals that you can get your hands on.

Season 2 of "House of the Dragon" premieres June 16 on HBO and Max.

Prime Day can be overwhelming. Amazon's big discount holiday features so many products and categories that it can be tough to track. We know another Prime Day is right around the corner, but exactly when remains a question. That won't stop us from bestowing a little advice on how to shop it successfully.

You don't want to get out over your skis and buy everything in sight, but if there's a good deal on something you need, you don't want to miss that either. It helps to know what to buy and what to avoid. Mashable has a hub for Prime Day coverage that can give you in-depth analysis of every shopping category you can imagine, but here are a few quick tips on things to buy and things to avoid as you parse through Prime Day.

Best things to buy on Prime Day

Mashable has lots of recommendations, but Prime Day is a great time to buy things you already planned on buying at some point. Don't spend big just because it is on sale — buy something you need and get it cheaper than the retail price. Here are the top categories to shop on Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2024: When it's happening and everything else we know so far 1. Apple products

Buying the fruit company's flagship tech during Prime Day is a major hack. If you're already planning on buying some of the most notoriously expensive tech on the market, why not buy it at a discount? In light of Apple's latest iPad Pro and iPad Air drops, we expect to see markdowns on older models. The iPad (10th gen) has a new low price, and we'd certainly like to see an extra discount when Prime Day rolls around.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple products Shop Now 2. Amazon devices

It's no secret that the biggest discounts of Prime Day are usually on Amazon's own devices. Whether you're working on building out your smart home or you're finally ready to pull the trigger on a new e-reader, you're sure to expect record-low pricing on Amazon Echo speakers, Echo Show devices, Kindles, and more. Just stay away from Ring cameras (more on that below).

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon devices Shop Now 3. Robot vacuums

There are good robot vacuum deals all the time, but Prime Day brings some of the biggest discounts on iRobot Roomba models, Shark vacs, and more big-ticket brands. We expect that iRobot will have the best deals, since the brand is now owned by Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot robot vacuums Shop Now SEE ALSO: Our top 4 robot vacuums for carpet and rugs, tested 4. Everyday essentials

Even if you're not planning on making a big tech purchase on Prime Day, it's an ideal time to score the household items you would buy even if they weren't on sale. From laundry detergent to paper towels and diapers, there are almost always deals on home products you might toss in your cart on a Target or Walmart run. And with Prime shipping, your must-haves will be at your door ASAP so you can spend more time taking care of the house and less time shopping.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bounty / Colgate / Tide Home essentials Shop Now 5. Pet supplies

As the owner of two dogs, I feel like I'm constantly shelling out money for dog food, dog treats, dog toys, and grooming products. If you have a dog or a cat, it's basically a given that you're going to need to buy these essentials every few months at least. During July Prime Day, I bought a 50-pack of poop bag rolls for a fraction of what I'd pay for at the pet store, in addition to a ton of cheap treats and toys. Prime Day is the best time to stock up on pet stuff, especially from the Amazon Basics brand. If you missed out on the Amazon Pet Sale, don't wait on the Prime Day pet deals.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bedsure Pet supplies Shop Now 6. Drones and cameras

DJI drone bundles, Holy Stone drones, and GoPro cameras are almost givens for deals we expect to see on Prime Day. We've also spotted solid deals on cameras from Panasonic, Canon, Sony, and Nikon in the past — just in case you're finally ready to get serious about filming for your YouTube channel.

Opens in a new window Credit: Holy Stone Drones Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Canon Cameras Get Deal 7. Smartwatches

In addition to sweet Apple Watch deals, you can bet that Prime Day will bring steep discounts on Fitbits, Garmin smartwatches, and Samsung smartwatches. For reference, we saw the lowest price ever for multiple Fitbit models during last year's Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Smartwatches and fitness trackers Shop Now SEE ALSO: Shop the best early Prime Day smartwatch deals, including the lowest price on the Apple Watch Series 9 8. TVs

You might not find the best deals on premium TVs during Prime Day, but it's a good time to get a deal on mid-price Fire TVs. These won't be your showstopper living room TVs, but are great for your guest bedroom or kids' rooms. During last year's event, we saw an invite-only deal for the 43-inch version of a 4K Omni Series TV for just $99.99, and we expect to see even more cheap Fire TVs to come this year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TVs Shop Now 9. Headphones

After covering basically every Prime Day that's ever happened, we know which headphone brands will be on sale. Bose, Sony, Beats, AirPods, and JBL models will definitely see some solid discounts. During last year's Prime Day, we saw steep price drops on the QuietComfort line of Bose headphones, so we'll be looking out for sales on the newly-dropped QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Headphones Shop Now 10. Invite-only deals

Amazon is likely bringing back its invite-only deals program for Prime Day. You'll need to request access to these doorbusters ahead of time, and if you're one of the chosen ones, you'll be able to score products at their sale prices. Last year's invite-only deals included Blink outdoor cameras, Jabra headphones, a SodaStream bundle, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: SodaStream Invite-only deals Shop Now 11. Nintendo Switch and gaming deals

Upgrading your gaming console and even buying new games feels like a drag — when you're doing it at full price, that is. Luckily, during Prime Day you can catch markdowns on both. During last year's Prime Day, Nintendo's holiday bundle arrived earlier than expected, so we can't wait to see what this year's has in store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 'Mario Kart 8' Deluxe Bundle Shop Now Things to avoid on Prime Day

While Prime Day might have some good deals, there are some things to look out for. Mashable covered things to avoid in detail, but here are a few quick tips.

SEE ALSO: What not to buy on Prime Day, from third-party scams to Ring cams 1. Third-party sellers

In general, you can trust things sold and shipped by Amazon. Third-party sellers tend to be less reliable, and you run the risk of buying counterfeit products. If a deal from a third-party seller seems too good to be true, it probably is.

2. Ring doorbells and cameras

The steep discounts on Ring cameras and bundles might be tempting around Prime Day, but we don't recommend anything from Ring due to privacy concerns. Not only are they easily hackable, but Ring is also notorious for giving people's info away without their consent. There are plenty of home security deals from other brands on Prime Day, and if you need a little guidance on the good ones, check out our guide to the best home security systems.

3. Anything you don't need

Like we mentioned before, it's best to use Prime Day as a way to get something you need at a good discount. What's not as advisable is buying things just because. Something you don't need or won't use is still something you don't need or won't use, no matter how good the deal is.

UPDATE: May. 14, 2024, 10:32 a.m. EDT This article has been updated to include details of how to contact Amazon customer service ahead of Prime Day 2024.

Preparing for the impending chaos of Prime Day?

Prime Day 2024 is just two months away, and though we don't have a confirmed date yet, we do know that it's easy to get caught up in the sales, indulge in some impulse purchasing, and experience a bit of buyer's remorse.

In years past, the sale has been a 48-hour event, with plenty of deals going live in the weeks prior. We're expecting to see more of the same this year, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for you to shop — and run into some questions along the way. Whether you're dealing with a classic case of buyer's remorse, or have questions about deals, damage to packages, or your Prime membership, you want to know that you can actually speak to customer service.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day: 11 things you should buy, and 3 to avoid

Since contacting Amazon can be tricky at times, here are all the ways you can get in touch with their customer service for a smoother online shopping experience this Prime Day season:

Amazon customer service help page

This is probably the most common, and easiest, way to look for answers to common queries, such as those about Amazon’s return policies or information about international shipping. The page contains a whole library of questions that users can get answers to, including how to track packages or cancel orders. Your most recent purchases will pop up at the top of the page for easy navigation.

To access Amazon’s Customer Service Help Page, go to the website landing page and click on "Customer Service" in the top left of the screen. 

Amazon customer service email

Sometimes customer queries need to be worked through on a case-by-case basis, and the answers on the official website need to be more specific to offer any help to shoppers. In these cases, users can email cs-reply@amazon.com and explain their issues. Remember that contacting Amazon’s customer service via email might not be the best solution if you have an urgent question regarding your purchases, since customers are unlikely to get a prompt response.

Amazon customer service phone number

Need a quicker reply? Call Amazon at 1-888-280-4331. When customers call this number, a bot picks up the phone and eventually connects them to Amazon staff, depending on the type of query that needs to be answered. It’s important to note that customers should have a cell phone number connected to their Amazon account. Customers must enter verification codes that will be messaged to their linked contact information before using this service. In other words, things can get a bit tricky if you're sharing an account with someone else.

Amazon online chat service

Real-time chatting with Amazon representatives is the most convenient way to get all your questions answered. To use the live chat feature, return to the Customer service help page and click on "Something else." Another page opens with a list of more help options. Select "I need more help."

Now you've officially entered the chat. Type "Talk to associate" in the chat box. Amazon's messaging assistant might prompt you to give more info on your issue, which you can, but if you'd rather get to a real person ASAP, you can select, "I need more help" from the pre-written responses.

From there, you can choose if you’d prefer to talk via chat or call. If you're looking for immediate help with a Prime Day purchase — be it due to buyer's remorse, a damaged package, an address change, etc. — this is your best bet to get your needs met.

Contact Amazon via social media

If your questions aren’t that urgent, you can contact Amazon Customer Service at @amazonhelp on X, @amazon on Instagram, and www.facebook.com/Amazon on Facebook. 

We're only in the middle of May, 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. No matter what you're shopping for, you should be able to find plenty of cost-cutting deals, many of which have already begun.

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

• Amerisleep: Save $450 on select 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

• Casper: 30% off all mattresses and 10% off everything else

• Cocoon by Sealy: Save 35% on all mattresses + free Sealy sleep bundle ($199 value)

• Cozy Earth: Save up to 30% on bedding

• DreamCloud: Up to 50% off mattresses

• Emma: Up to 55% off mattresses plus two free pillows

• 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

• Plank: Up to 25% off sitewide

• Purple: Up to $800 off mattresses + base

• Saatva: Up to $600 off select mattresses

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

• Siena: Save up to $500 off mattresses

• Sleep Number: Up to 50% off smart beds

• TempurPedic: Save up to $500 on select adjustable mattresses

• Vaya: Save up to $300 off any mattress

• WinkBeds: Save up to $300 on mattresses

• Zoma: Save $150 on all mattresses

Furniture and home appliances

• Dyson: Up to 70% off cordless stick vacuums

• 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

• Shark: Up to 30% off select products

• Solo Stove: Up to 30% off sitewide

• Wayfair: Way Day sale starting on May 4

Kitchen

• KitchenAid: Up to $150 off select Stand Mixers

• Our Place: Up to 40% off cookware and kitchen gear

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.

• HP: Save up to 55% on select laptops.

• LG: Save up to 40% off select entertainment devices

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

• Nike: Save up to 50% off shoes and apparel

• Target: Up to 30% off patio and garden furniture

• Travelpro: Save up to 25% sitewide

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

Google I/O 2024 is finally on this Tuesday, becoming the next tech event to take centre stage after Apple's iPad event last week. Commentators are expecting Google to make a swathe of announcements, including revealing new Android 15 updates, a progress report on its AI chatbot Gemini, and news on the next Pixel Fold.

Fortunately, you don't have to trek all the way to Silicon Valley to keep up to date. Here's how to watch Google I/O no matter where you are.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O 2024: What to expect What is Google I/O?

Google I/O is a developer conference held by the tech giant in the U.S. every year. Initially called Google Developer Day when it first took place in 2007, the annual event's name was changed to Google I/O for its second year — a moniker which has stuck since.

"A googol is a one, followed by 100 zeroes, so that's where the I/O name and logo came from," Google's director of US events Lorin Platto explained last year. "We just took the first one and zero, and we left off all the other zeroes. It all goes back to Google."

The conference includes numerous talks and workshops advising developers how they can use Google's products. However, the average person will primarily be interested in two sessions: the Google keynote and the Developer keynote. With Google I/O having been the platform for big product announcements in the past, any significant reveals are likely to take place during these sessions. Google I/O was previously used to launch Android, Google Assistant, and Google Home.

When is Google I/O 2024?

This year Google I/O will take place from Tuesday, May 14. Google's keynote is scheduled to start the proceedings at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, with the Developer keynote set to follow at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET. The 2024 event will run for two days, though in the past it has been as short as one or as long as three.

Tweet may have been deleted Where is Google I/O 2024?

Google I/O 2024 will take place at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. The Shoreline Amphitheatre is an outdoor venue with a capacity of 22,500 people, though Google has stated that this year's event will only have a "small live audience." Google I/O has been held at the Shoreline Ampitheatre almost every year since 2016, the only exceptions being when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, then conducted entirely online in 2021.

The annual conference has since been held both in-person and online, allowing developers around the world to join in for free.

How to watch Google I/O 2024

If you aren't attending this year's Google I/O in person, you can still watch a livestream of the keynotes on Google's official YouTube channel. The video is embedded below:

The nerds won't have to miss out Google I/O's technical and educational information either. All content will be available on demand from Thursday, May 16 at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET on the Google I/O website, and will even be translated into different languages. Google has also stated that some content such as captioned videos might be viewable "shortly after the event."

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Apple 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB, WiFi) $569.99 at Amazon (save $29.01) Get Deal BEST WFH DEAL Samsung 27-inch Essential Monitor S4 $119.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal BEST OUTDOOR DEAL Traeger Grills Pro 22 electric wood pellet grill and smoker $389 at Amazon (save $110.95) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Shark Wandvac handheld vacuum $99.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

If you love a good deal but hate doing the hunting it takes to find one, we've got you covered. We keep our eyes on Amazon's pages of listings and hand-pick a few of the best deals worth shopping for each day. As of May 14, we're seeing particularly good deals on top brands like Apple, Samsung, and Shark.

Here are the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check back at our deals from May 13 as well — most of those deals are still live.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB, WiFi) $569.99 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal

The M2 iPad Air hasn't even officially been released, but it already got its first discount. If you pre-order it as of May 14, you can save $29.01. Sure, it's not the biggest discount ever, but it's enough to make a difference. The new iPad Air is a welcomed upgrade from the previous generation — although not a massive design change.

"Aside from a new 13-inch size and relocated webcam, there aren't many changes design-wise, but the M2 chip brings sweet energy efficiency and a performance uptick," writes Kimberly Gedeon in her Mashable review.

The 11-inch option is on sale for just $569.99 when you pre-order it at Amazon — that's a 5% discount from its regular $599 price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Essential Monitor S4 $119.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Hunching over your tiny laptop screen is far from the ideal way to work. Snag yourself a monitor and extend your workspace without breaking the bank with this Samsung 27-inch Essential Monitor S4 deal. As of May 14, it's on sale for just $119.99 at Amazon — that's 45% in savings and its lowest price to date.

Advanced eye comfort technology reduces strain on your eyes, while AMD FreeSync keeps your graphics and refresh rate in perfect sync. The monitor swivels, tilts, and pivots, so you can find your perfect angle. And with HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity, you can connect your work setup with ease.

Opens in a new window Credit: Traeger Traeger Grills Pro 22 electric wood pellet grill and smoker $389.00 at Amazon
$499.95 Save $110.95 Get Deal

It's cookout season, y'all. Make sure you're prepared with a proper grill for the occasion. The Traeger Grills Pro 22 electric grill and smoker is on sale for its lowest price ever, just $389 (reg. $499.95), so you can spice up your setup just in time.

As a wood-pellet grill, you'll be able to achieve that perfect wood-fired taste by cooking hot and fast or low and slow. It offers six-in-one versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue with precision temperature control and an impressive 572 square-inch cooking surface. That's big enough to accommodate four chickens, five racks of ribs, or two dozen burgers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Wandvac handheld vacuum $99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

When you're doing your spring cleaning, don't forget the cracks and crevices in your car, your furniture, and everywhere in between. You know, the places your regular vacuum can't reach. That's where the Shark Wandvac comes in handy — and it's on sale for 23% off as of May 14.

Weighing in at just over a pound, the handheld vacuum is easy to maneuver and compact enough to fit just about anywhere. Its high-speed brushless motor and streamlined airflow offer powerful suction for such a small gadget, making it a breeze to suck up all the crumbs and dog hair plaguing your fabrics. Usually $129.99, you can snag it on sale at Amazon for just $99.99 — that's just $10 shy of its all-time low price.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Ahead of the Amazon Book Sale, the mega-retailer has dropped the price on several Amazon Fire tablets for kids. Here are some of the best options:

Best Amazon tablets for kids Best tablet deal for young kids Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet (16GB, 1-year Amazon Kids+) $69.99 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal Best tablet deal under $100 for older kids Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro $99.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best tablet deal with a larger display Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro $149.99 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal

Although it's yet to officially start, the Amazon Book Sale has already slashed prices on e-books and e-readers. If the kid in your life is an avid reader, the sale is a great time to stock up on kids' books for summer vacation reading material. And if your kiddo is also in need of an on-the-go tablet, here are some of the best options on sale today.

Best tablet deal for young kids Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet (16GB) plus a year of Amazon Kids+ $69.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Designed for kids ages three to seven, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids comes in three fun colorways for kids to enjoy. With larger buttons, younger kids should have an easier time navigating the tablet while watching their favorite shows, reading books, or playing games. The included cover is also meant to be kid-friendly with a durable design that'll help protect the tablet from inevitable drops.

The tablet also comes with Amazon's two-year guarantee that if the tablet breaks within the first two years, the retailer will replace it for free.

With 16GB of storage, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids gets about 10 hours of battery life, which could be a lifesaver this summer during road trips or family vacations.

Best tablet deal under $100 for older kids Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro can be perfect for kids between ages six and 12 who'd like to read on a tablet, play games, or browse the web (safely). The parental controls allow kids to request books and games and gain access to purchases and downloads after they've been approved by parents. Come summer vacation, kids could be especially excited to make voice and video calls to classmates with the Amazon Fire 8 Kids Pro.

Expect to get about 13 hours of battery life with this tablet, which comes with 32GB of internal storage and 2GB RAM. If the storage room isn't quite enough for all the downloaded books, games, and movies, you can take advantage of the expandable storage which will accept cards up to 1TB.

Best tablet deal with a larger display Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro $149.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If your kids have been asking for a larger tablet, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro could grant their wish. The bright 10.1-inch screen is ideal for reading, gaming, and watching shows. With 32GB of internal storage, kids have plenty of room for dozens of Amazon Book Sale grabs as well as their favorite games for keeping entertained on longer car rides. The included case has a slim design and the kickstand makes it more convenient for setting on a tabletop.

Parents are still in control with the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, with approval settings for the app store, screen time limits, and the ability to set educational goals.

On May 6, celebrities flocked to the steps of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, swathed in jewelry and fineries, as hundreds of pro-Palestine activists protested just miles away. That same night, Israeli airstrikes targeted Rafah, an enclave on the border of the Gaza Strip that was instrumental for transporting aid and supplies, and a refuge for Palestinians amid the ongoing war.

In the wake of these events, a digital movement took flight.

Labelled "celebrity blockout 2024" and "digitine" (or the "digital guillotine"), the movement is a protest against celebrity culture: specifically, blocking people of influence who have not yet used their power or privilege to take a stance on the humanitarian crisis that has devastated millions.

What is the celebrity blockout 2024?

At the time of the Met Gala, social media users began drawing comparisons to The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins' dystopian YA franchise that unpacks themes of class, survival, and privilege. On X (formerly Twitter), people used the series to flag the painful gap between the opulence of events like the Met Gala and the war in the Middle East that continues to take lives. Images of Met Gala co-chair Zendaya, juxtaposed with photographs of Palestinian children in Rafah, enraged the timeline when posted together.

These notions quickly transformed into a larger call to action, which has become the blockout movement.

SEE ALSO: How 'blue comments' turned the TikTok algorithm into a protest tool

Hashtags ranging from #celebrityblocklist, #letthemeatcake and #blockout2024 are being used to galvanize people in the online boycott, which is targeting some of the world's most recognizable faces, from the Kardashians to Zendaya to Taylor Swift.

It also takes aim at influencers. Much of the movement began with reactions to an ill-advised video from influencer Hayley "Baylee" Kalil (@haleyybaylee) who posted a video of herself at a Met Gala pre-event, lip-syncing to the alleged Marie-Antoinette quote, "Let them eat cake," which appeared in Sofia Coppola's 2006 biopic of the French queen. Though there's no historical evidence Marie-Antoinette actually said it, the quote is indicative of the struggles during the French Revolution, when the bankrupt aristocracy was overthrown after a movement spearheaded by those suffering from social and financial inequality. King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette's extravagant spending and corruption within their powerful court was a point of contention for the people, whose economic interests were being dismissed and lives were increasingly poverty-stricken.

TikTok user Rae (@ladyfromtheoutside) has been attributed the kickoff to the movement, specifically using the term "digital guillotine" or "digitine" and asking for TikTok users to begin by unfollowing Baylee in particular. The "guillotine" reference points to Baylee's use of the infamous Marie-Antoinette quote, as both Louis XVI and the Queen were executed by guillotine after the revolution prevailed.

"We gave them their platforms. It's time to take it back, take our views away, our likes, our comments, our money," stated Rae, in a video that garnered over two million views.

What is the movement asking for?

Across social media, including TikTok and X, people are posting lists of celebrities to unfollow or block en mass, on the basis that these public figures are both out of touch and not using their immense and wide-reaching platforms for good.

Tweet may have been deleted

TikTokkers have explained that the movement is about the overwhelming silence from public figures, about celebrities recognizing their reach, and people redirecting their money and attention from these faces. Media outlets like Slow Factory have explained that the digital revolt is all the more impactful because people are not only removing celebrities from their feeds, but actually blocking them, thereby removing their monetary gains from targeted ads: "This is a grassroots push for accountability and social responsibility from all members of the community, celebrity or not," reads an Instagram post from the company.

Others participating in the movement have also have pointed out that disillusionment with celebrities in the midst of world crises is nothing new, and that the pro-Palestine movement is largely being propelled and given voice by the people — those on the ground, working to make change.

"Why is it that we are more invested in a small blip from a celebrity?," asks creator @ashcashistrash. "I do not care if Kim Kardashian has a fucking thing to say about it. I care about the people who are on the ground suffering, the people who have educated themselves here in America, who are protesting. I do not care about celebrities and you shouldn't either."

Mashable's Elena Cavender and Chase DiBenedetto argue similarly, writing, "Why are we so obsessed with what celebrities think of social movements?" While celebrities have the means to direct attention towards Palestine, they wrote, "it's up to those online to choose where to focus their eyes."

Tweet may have been deleted

This sentiment is echoed by other TikTokkers, like @xiandivyne, who argues that the digital boycott has the potential to be punitive, and moreover, may not have a clear aim, while the continuous student protests across campuses worldwide do.

Tweet may have been deleted

Still, a significant amount of traction has since led to famous figures reportedly losing hundreds of thousands of followers, including Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Zendaya. Meanwhile, singer Lizzo spoke out just yesterday, in an Instagram post that she called "long overdue", specifically thanking the activists "working tirelessly to help the liberation" of people in Palestine, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where humanitarian issues and conflicts are reaching new heights.

Criticism of the blockout suggests that the pedestal of celebrity is not necessarily what activism needs, while others have denoted that the movement is a culmination of frustration and anger toward public figures, their apparent ignorance, and resounding silence. It's this silence that is ultimately being panned, whether or not we need celebrities and their words to create significant change. And the real win comes with a concrete effort to direct collective energy towards others: activists, small businesses, and those who have long been speaking out in all forms.

Best Amazon Book Sale Deals Best kindle deal Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB) with Basic Pen $239.99 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal Best subscription deal Kindle Unlimited $0 for three months at Amazon (Save $35.97) Get Deal Best book deal Up to 60% off physical books From $6 at Amazon (Save up to 60% on books) Get Deal Best e-book deal Save up to 90% on e-books From $0.99 at Amazon (Save up to 90%) Get Deal

The flights are booked and the itinerary is planned. Summer vacation is right around the corner, and we can't wait to kick back in the sun with a great read. Whether you need in-flight entertainment or a beachside book, the Amazon Book Sale has got you covered.

The Amazon Book Sale begins May 15th and runs through May 20th, offering deals across physical books, Kindles, e-books, and audiobooks. No matter what format you prefer to read in, the savings are abundant. Physical books are up to 60% off while e-books are as low as $.99. While the the sale doesn't officially start until tomorrow, early deals have already dropped.

The Kindle Scribe is down to its lowest price ever at $239.99, saving you $100. If you already have an e-reader you love, sign up for Kindle Unlimited during the sale and enjoy three months free, where you'll gain access to Kindle's collection of four million books.

Explore all the deals here or read on for our favorites.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe (16 GB) with Basic Pen $239.99 at Amazon
$339.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you've been known to annotate every margin of your physical books but want the convenience of an e-reader, the Kindle Scribe is the answer. And during the Amazon Book Sale, you can find it for just $239.99, its lowest price ever. You'll save $100, scoring 29% savings on the device.

The Kindle Scribe has 16GB of storage and comes with its basic pen to get you writing. In addition to writing in your e-books, the Scribe includes a notebook feature for journaling. Plus, it converts handwritten notes to text and allows you to mark up PDFs too. The anti-glare screen is perfect for reading in the sun and the weeks of battery life means you can leave the charger at home while on vacation. This deal is live now and available through the end of the Amazon Book Sale.

Best subscription deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Unlimited at Amazon
Subscribe to Kindle Unlimited and get your first three months free Get Deal

Voracious readers need Kindle Unlimited. The subscription service includes millions of e-books, audiobooks, and magazines for just $11.99 per month. But thanks to the Amazon Book Sale, you can get your first three months free. That saves you $35.97 while giving you access to millions of reads.

There's no commitment with the Kindle Unlimited subscription — cancel at any time. If you're not into it after your three-month trial, go ahead and cancel for no charge. And the good news is, you don't have to wait until May 15th to get this deal — it's live now.

Best book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Books up to 60% off during the Amazon Book Sale Get Deal

For loyal readers of physical books, the Amazon Book Sale is for you too. Limited-time deals are available across all genres from cookbooks to romance. Find major savings on classics like Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye to new releases like Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle.

More book deals

• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo — $5.77 $12.99 (Save $7.22)

• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison — $6.83 $16 (Save $9.17)

• Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides — $7.50 $21 (Save $13.50)

• Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman — $7.90 $17 (Save $9.10)

• By the Book by Jasmine Guillory — $8.33 $15.99 (Save $7.66)

• The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein — $8.41 $18.99 (Save $10.58)

• Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid — $8.50 $17 (Save $8.50)

• One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid — $8.84 $18 (Save $9.16)

• Artemis by Andy Weir — $10.27 $18 (Save $7.73)

• The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón — $10.75 $19 (Save $8.25)

• Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle — $11.73 $27 (Save $15.27)

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — $13.34 $25 (Save $11.66)

• Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner's Manual by Lisa McManus and Hannah Crowley — $23.70 $40 (Save $16.30)

• The Lord of the Rings: Special Edition by J.R.R. Tolkien — $106.11 $250 (Save $143.89)

Best e-book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon E-books up to 90% off Find e-books during the Amazon Book Sale for as low as $0.99 Get Deal

If you're picky about the books you want to read, then maybe Kindle Unlimited isn't for you. The good news is, during the Amazon Book Sale, e-books are available at jaw-dropping prices. Seriously, you can save up to 90% on buzzy books like Babel by R.F. Kuang. Plus, you don't have to wait for May 15th, as the prices have already dropped.

More e-book deals

• Babel by R.F. Kuang — $1.99 $20 (Save $18.01)

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien — $1.99 $30 (Save $28.01)

• Wool by Hugh Howey — $1.99 $19.99 (Save $18)

• Finding Me by Viola Davis — $2.99 $12.04 (Save $9.05)

• The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri —$2.99 $16.61 (Save $13.62)

• Rouge by Mona Awad — $3.99 $18.99 (Save $15)

Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell reunited on Colbert's 60th birthday to revive their "Even Stepvhens" segment from "The Daily Show".

OpenAI has unveiled the company's new AI voice assistant.

Sauron slays in Prime Video's fantasy hit "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," which returns Aug. 29.

I don’t need to explain to you that nudes are a generally private affair. I sometimes think of my collection built up over the years, just sitting up there in The Cloud, waiting to get hacked and ruin my life. Or the ones potentially still on phones of people I really wish they weren’t, you know, people who might sell them to The Sun if I ever become a celeb or, like, Prime Minister. Perhaps, this has got you thinking about all of yours up there too. Well, now imagine posting them online for strangers to rate out of ten – by choice. Because that’s what happens on the subreddit r/RateMyNudeBody.

Confused? Horrified? I get it, I’d have thought this would be most people’s worst nightmare. But scroll down the group and you’ll see post after post of people – mainly women – posting captions like "Rate my body please (f)," "19 (f) honesty/advice appreciated," and "What are your thoughts on me? (f)," alongside a naked photo. Granted, most faces are covered but it just takes one person to recognise you, surely? Some people even include their height and weight on there – "22 (f) 5'0 92 lb" – which I can’t say I’m a fan of. It’s not all women, but men's posts get a lot less traction – generally zero to two comments, compared to the usual 60 or few hundred for women.

SEE ALSO: How selling nudes on OnlyFans helped my body image issues

I spoke to four women who post on this group to attempt to figure out: just why? Their stories unveil the highs of approval and kinky fun, but also the crashing lows that caused one woman’s life to spiral out of control – from becoming a daily poster to the time she was actually recognised by school friends. Through these conversations, it’s clear that validation is one of the main drivers, and an interview with a male user sheds light on the commenting side, too.

So, what’s this all about? The community bio says it’s a place for getting an honest opinion and rating, with a big focus on refraining from insults and being rude. In a post pinned to the top of the group, it reads "NO ERECTIONS ALLOWED," and suggests those inclined head to, um, r/RateMyCock instead. Other guidelines stress that the content isn’t allowed to be "overly sexy" – and it’s true, often they’re quite functional mirror selfies – and there’s rules stating no playing with yourself or even showing sex toys. But is it possible to make a place like this not, well, horny? 

For 33-year-old Molly* from Michigan, the horniness is all part of the fun. "I mainly use Reddit when I’m horny and seeking attention or validation," she tells me. "I found this group when I was looking for subreddits to share nudes on, years ago. The first time I posted I was nervous, but nowadays I’m very comfortable with sharing my nudity – I do it out of habit and boredom."

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for steamy chats and discreet digital encounters

Molly, a graphic designer, likes that this group isn’t as filled with women promoting their OnlyFans accounts as other nude pages on Reddit. The rating system isn’t that important to her, but she finds herself drawn to her lower ratings. "I often reach out to users and find out what they didn't like. I like the challenge of getting them to increase their score, it’s a lot of fun," she says. "They usually don't change their minds, even if I send them more photos, but that doesn’t bother me. It only sucks when I'm told that they don't get hard from my pics – getting men hard is, like, a hobby of mine."

The more I scroll, though, the less sexual I actually find the group. "New mom working on my confidence and positive body image!" posts one user. "Is my body bad?" says another. Getting a self-esteem boost seems to be one of the biggest drivers for women, including Anya*, a 28-year-old student from Klaipėda, Lithuania. 

"I didn't get involved because I thought it was sexual, I was mostly curious," she tells me. "I posted because I suffer from pretty poor self-image. Two years ago, I was dealing with an eating disorder and weighed about 30kg less than I do now, so my assessment of what I look like is distorted." Although it seems unlikely, Anya assures me that the group doesn’t trigger her, and that she isn’t actually a regular user anyway. In fact, she found relief in her comments – the few compliments gave her a real confidence boost. 

Anya is transgender and has spent the last seven years on hormones. "I've never had someone to tell me anything about my body. I’ve never had a partner or fling, even before I started my transition," she says, noting that she took her first ever nude for this group. "I don't have regrets, it showed me that I'm not so unattractive to some people."

Unfortunately, the ratings of Melissa Miele, a 35-year-old lawyer from Chetumal, Mexico, leave less to be desired. "4/10, no tits but I like the bush" says one user. Another reads: "5/10 this body needs some love. Eating right and exercising a bit will transform you, you look healthy, don’t be lazy and go for some running in the park!" It doesn’t stop her posting, though.

SEE ALSO: Find your match: The best dating apps of 2024

"I’m a realistic woman. I know I’m not beautiful and I don't have the best body, but I also know that it’s enough for some people," she tells me. "In everyday life, I don't get much attention, I’m a bisexual woman who wears masculine clothes and is always ignored. That's why I look for attention online, sometimes I need male approval."

Miele has uploaded naked photos to various sites from the age of 24. "Exhibitionism turns me on, and I started to get the attention I always craved," she adds. "I fulfilled users' requests and found the whole thing so sensual; I masturbated way too much there." Back then, Miele was posting nudes online daily, now she uses this group around twice a month. She’s engaged and keeps her activity in the group a secret from her wife-to-be, apparently only because her partner "has radical feminist ideas and hates male attention."

It feels important to stress that such negative reviews really are in the minority, though. Many of them are sweet or complimentary (sort of), whether the person is conventionally hot or not. "I don't think you're fat at all, very athletic build... You look great naked!!!!!!" says one such fella replying to a woman asking if she’s fat – also proving the comments are never far from upholding our painful beauty standards, no matter the intention. On a photo where one young woman has visible thigh scars, the comments are a-flood with men saying things like, "It seems like you’ve made a lot of progress, I’m proud of you," and, "Please promise no more cutting, you’re beautiful and perfect inside and out." Plus, "Time heals all and I hope you give yourself that."

Adrian*, 30, is a sales rep from Birmingham, UK, and he doesn’t actually do honest ratings. "It's not really people’s fault if they're not my type, there's nothing they can do about that," he tells me. "Someone who’s large and isn't, shall we say, Hollywood sexy can get a good confidence boost from flattery." Though he notes, um, "petite and perky for the win."

SEE ALSO: Celebrate Masturbation May with deals from Lovers, Lovehoney, Fun Factory, more

Adrian uses the group for its kinky side, mainly. "After all, we all want to see people we find attractive naked and it's a more personalised thing on Reddit for sure," he says. "As someone with an extremely high libido, it helps. I probably visit it a few times a week." 

Now the question you’ve been waiting for: Does he wank to the posts on there? Apparently not. "Some might get me hard, but masturbation would typically come from interactions in DMs, discussing kinks and delving into people’s sexuality." This is the crux of why Adrian uses the group: the hope that an explicit conversation will follow.

Interestingly, almost no women comment with ratings, and Adrian thinks it’s all because the comment history is public and easily viewed on your profile. This makes sense, considering it didn’t take me long to find Adrian’s first Reddit comment, from two years ago, which says: "I’d love to stretch you out." This was followed shortly by: "I'd gladly go to town on those nipples whilst you ride all my eight inches."

Adrian sees nude groups on Reddit as a safe way for people to explore their sexuality. "At best, my comment starts a dialogue with both parties turned on and enjoying it, and at worst, it's a positive comment to someone who genuinely may need a confidence boost," he adds. 

But the "at worst" of this group can be a lot more damaging for the women posting. California-based Emily*, 27, started posting on nude Reddit groups at 24. She was in a sex-less relationship and turned to the group for validation and advice on which photos to send to her boyfriend. She’s white, thin, pretty, and conventionally very attractive – she received great reactions online and her use of the groups spiralled. She soon racked up tens of thousands of followers, enough for her own Reddit page, and started posting bi-weekly and daily at one period.

"I think it made me feel less alone, it started out as a coping mechanism for a broken relationship," she says. "My favourite aspect was the conversations with people, and it was an outlet that eventually turned creatively fulfilling. As silly as it sounds, just the little amount of photography and caption writing involved really did feel like the creative output I’d been searching for." She captioned her nudes with jokes, started discussions, vented about life and even wrote poetry. 

Soon enough, a business plan formulated for turning it into an OnlyFans, like she saw so frequently from other women on Reddit – though she was torn over this for a long time, believing it would be “exploiting” her fans. "I told myself I’d eventually tell my family when I had lots of money from Only Fans and I could show it changed my life," she says. "Keeping the truth from them was exhausting." Emily’s OnlyFans era was short lived, though. Within months, she got doxxed and someone sent all her nude links to her sister on Facebook, which she managed to successfully deny, before deleting her account.

Emily was still making thousands from people she met on Reddit, anyway. Over the three years, three different men financially supported her, covering everything from rent to food. But the emotional toll ended up outweighing those benefits. 

People she grew up with started recognising her on Reddit via things like her phone case, and at the end of 2023, her anxiety attacks got so bad that she came clean to her parents. "I needed them to understand the full story," she says. "I needed to get it off my chest." In March 2024, she deleted her account for good. "I sort of started losing respect for myself," Emily continues. "Reddit is freeing and it's super vulnerable, but I think a lot of women turn to posting nude during times where they feel broken, maybe."

All the women I spoke to have a search for approval in common. For many, this Reddit group is a substitute for validation offline, a replacement for attention in places like bars or on Instagram. "The validation is definitely similar to flirting and dating apps," continues Molly. "I'm really lacking validation in my job so it’s nice." Anya says she has no easy form of validation at all.

Most of us understand that buzz of approval as Instagram likes roll-in or you’re hit on in a bar, but sourcing that addictive hit from something as secretive as this group feels even more dangerous. I’d hoped I wouldn’t be another writer bashing a Reddit group, but the thought of girls as young as 18 and 19 (or younger, seeing as there’s no age verification) getting hooked on validation via this group is harrowing. Then there’s the clear gateway to OnlyFans to think about.

But there is a place for this community. After all, there’s a dark side to most places online. I may be glad to not be scrolling through naked body after body anymore, but one thing I will miss is the reminder of how gloriously different female bodies can be. Most of us have such a blinkered view of what ‘the perfect body’ is, and how imperfect our own is, but this group really reminds you that no two bodies are the same. It’s a bit like that heart-warming feeling you look around in a public swimming pool or dance class, and see women of all different ages and sizes – though I guess these are just a little less high risk.

*Names have been changed for privacy.

Off the heels of Hinge's new Hidden Words feature, the dating app is testing another: Your Turn Limits.

The feature will limit the number of unanswered messages users have in their queue. Those with eight or more matches waiting for them to respond won't be able to match with anyone new until they answer one or more of those messages — or end the conversation (presumably, unmatch). Hinge will test Your Turn Limits in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia starting this month, with the goal to roll it out to other markets based on user feedback. This will impact both free and paid users.

SEE ALSO: Gen Z should embrace being cringe to find love, Hinge says

When users are approaching the limit, they'll see a banner on top of their messages stating they're "approaching the limit."

"When 8 or more people are waiting for a reply, you need to reply or end chats," the banner continues. "Then you can send likes."

Hinge's 'You're approaching the limit' banner on top of chats. Credit: Hinge

Once you reach the Turn Limit, you must message someone back or unmatch to start liking new people. The banner atop chats reads, "You're at the limit," with the same explanation about eight matches.

If you attempt to like someone new, you'll receive a pop-up that states, "Too many people are waiting for your reply."

Hinge's Turn Limits banner and pop-up. Credit: Hinge

In a recent Hinge study, its researchers found that 44 percent of daters cite a lack of responsiveness as a top dating challenge. Internal data also found that matches where the first message was responded to within 24 hours were 72 percent more likely to result in a date.

Your Turn Limits is a continuation of features the app has created to engender conversation — like "Your Turn" in 2017, which prompted users to start a conversation with a match and reminded them when it's their turn to reply. Last year, Hinge reorganized match lists so chats where the user needed to reply were at the top. 

In an interview with Mashable, Hinge founder and CEO Justin McLeod said he imagines this feature will go through a couple iterations as it will be a big change for some users. Depending on the result of the test, Hinge will either tweak the feature or continue to roll it out to more markets. 

Your Turn Limits will impact Hinge's entire ecosystem, McLeod continued, as it doesn't just impact those users who have more than eight unanswered matches; it also impacts the users they'll interact with more as a result of the feature. Users who talk to their current matches may stop "liking" more people on the app, so they could end up with fewer matches. But, McLeod said, "I think we'll see more conversations and more dates across a broader part of the population."

Not only does this Hinge test come shortly after the app announced a new feature of its own, but it's also coming after Bumble launched a new suite of features including a revamp of its "women make the first move" signature. Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones cited exhaustion with dating apps as a reason for "Opening Moves," a new feature that lets men message first. According to Hinge’s press release, the goal of Your Turn Limits is to, in part, "reduce dating burnout" and encourage responsiveness.

In Mashable's interview, McLeod echoed the concern for dating app fatigue. "We're keenly aware that a lot of our users are feeling burned out or skeptical of the dating app experience and we're trying to be very responsive to that," he continued, by creating features that (hopefully) get users on more dates. 

Google I/O 2024 is right around the corner, so here's what you should expect from the highly anticipated live stream.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O 2024 date announced

We thought OpenAI was going to announce a search engine ahead of I/O 2024, but as it turns out, the company, instead, released a faster model called "GPT-4o" that's free for all ChatGPT users. Now, it's your move, Google.

I/O 2024 is expected to be an important event, not only for developers and tech enthusiasts but also for Google. The company is also facing opposition from Apple, which is not only in talks with OpenAI but also has been rumored to be building its own Google-like products for some time now.

Scheduled on the heels of Apple's surprisingly revealing iPad event, Google will more than likely be eager to reveal how its tech ecosystem will be peppered with generative AI features.

Here’s everything you need to know to tune in.

SEE ALSO: Google I/O 2024: How to watch When is the Google I/O 2024 event?

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 10 a.m. PT. Here’s when it will be happening around the globe:

• New York and Toronto: 1 p.m.

• Houston and Chicago: 12 p.m.

• London: 6 p.m.

• Honolulu: 7 a.m.

• Dubai: 9 p.m.

• Lagos and Paris: 7 p.m.

• Mumbai: 11:30 p.m.

Google I/O: how to watch

You can watch the live stream directly on YouTube. You can find the embed to that below:

Google I/O: what to expectAndroid 15

I/O is set to be a pivotal event for unveiling the latest Android version, Android 15. The initial betas have introduced features such as an updated Privacy Sandbox, partial screen sharing options, system-level app archiving, enhanced satellite connectivity, more in-app camera controls, and a new power efficiency mode.

The majority of Android 15 updates, however, are expected to be revealed at the conference. According to Android Authority, some key anticipated features include satellite messaging, potential lock screen widgets for tablets, a new At a Glance widget for phones, a redesigned status bar, and improved battery health monitoring.

The event may also highlight third-party assistant integrations for Alexa and ChatGPT that could allow you to use the latter hands-free, as rumored by Android Authority. There may also be plans to introduce a privacy-focused feature called Private Space — which is expected to bring notable privacy enhancements.

Google Gemini

Speaking of AI, Google will spotlight its latest developments with Gemini, the AI chatbot previously known as Bard. The discussions will likely cover how Gemini AI is being incorporated into various Google products such as Android, Google Search, and Workspace — underlining the company's commitment to integrating AI across its ecosystem.

As reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is finalizing a deal with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into iOS. Apple wants to do the same with Gemini but those plans are still being discussed with no deal reached.

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According to WIRED, whatever Google announces on the AI front may be an insight into what Apple has in store for the World Wide Developers Conference in June.

Pixel Fold

Alongside these software developments, Google may give us an update on some of its hardware developments, particularly the next iteration of the Pixel Fold, which was introduced at I/O 2023. If rumors reported on by Android Police are to be believed, the new Fold will feature a larger cover screen, increased RAM, and expanded storage capacities — although the event might see a limited number of hardware announcements as Google increasingly prioritizes software and AI integration.

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So, don't hold high expectations for this, and if you were expecting news on the Pixel 9, sorry to disappoint.

WearOS

As confirmed in the conference's session list, definitely expect to hear about Wear OS 5. TechRadar writes that Wear OS 5 is anticipated to debut on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. This news could be announced either at I/o or during Samsung's Unpacked event rumored for July, with shipping expected in August.

As TechRadar notes, leaks suggest that Samsung is working to integrate Wear OS 5 with its new Exynos 5535 chipset, which will first appear in the Galaxy Watch 7. However, Samsung’s version of Wear OS 5 will feature the One UI Watch overlay, offering a customized user experience.

Those seeking a purer version of Wear OS 5 might have to wait for the Google Pixel Watch 3, expected to be released in October.

The trailer for "National Anthem", Luke Gilford's queer love story about a cowboy meeting a polyamorous couple, has dropped.