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It’s been an interesting year for 3D printers. We’ve had brand new models, updated favorites, and several companies making big strides to push the technology forward. We’ve also had some disappointments that have me feeling a little more skeptical than I was last year.

Jimmy Kimmel has been on vacation since mid-June, which means there was a lot to catch up on during his return to late night.

"Donald Trump and I have one thing in common," the host says in the monologue above. "We both accomplished nothing all summer long."

Kimmel goes on to talk through some of lowlights, from Trump's Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool continuing to look green ("How are we supposed to win the war with Iran when we can't even win the war against algae, for God's sake?") to the president posting about changing the name of New Mexico to "New America" ("Listen, if there was a New America, we would all go there immediately," says Kimmel).

To finish, Kimmel presents a two-minute montage of the weirdest things the president has said while he's been away. As you can probably imagine, there's quite a bit to unpack.

TL;DR: SAVE $250: As of Sept. 9, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB) is down to its lowest price since launch. Snag one from Amazon for $1,649.99 down from $1,899.99 — a 13% discount.

Amazon has dropped the price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB) down to $1,649.99 — a 13% discount off its original $1,899.99 list price. That lets you save $250 on Samsung’s latest flagship foldable smartphone, bringing it to its lowest price since launch.

Samsung redesigned this generation to feel less like having a heavy brick in your pocket and more like a standard smartphone when closed. Once you open it up, you get a massive, tablet-style main screen that’s bright enough to read in full sunlight. The outer and inner displays are both tuned to a wider aspect ratio, making reading books, streaming video, and typing feel completely natural instead of cramped.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 survives the ultimate stress test

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth put the Galaxy Z Fold 8 through its paces and gave it a high 4.5 out of 5 score, along with a Mashable Choice Award. Calling it "the most exciting phone launch of the year," he noted that this stylish passport-style foldable is "undeniably fun to use and show off" and effectively "makes phones interesting again." 

The Fold 8 packs a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite processor paired with 12GB of RAM, easily handling mobile games and multi-app multitasking without skipping a beat. 

Powering everything is a 4,800 mAh battery built to last through a full day of heavy use, alongside fast charging to top you up quickly. If you’re currently using an iPhone, Samsung has also simplified the setup process so you can transfer over your contacts, photos, passwords, and alarms without losing anything in the move.

SEE ALSO: Galaxy Z Fold 8 review: Why this is my favorite new foldable

On the back, a 50MP dual-camera system lets you review photos on the large display right after taking them, and the built-in video stabilization locks onto the horizon so your video recordings stay smooth even if you’re moving around.

Timothy did point out that the 50MP cameras are "more mid than elite" and the ultra-thin frame can run "noticeably warm" under heavy workloads. Despite those minor trade-offs, he concluded that the Fold 8 is still "the best foldable I've tested yet," noting that "if you've been sitting on the foldable fence these last few years, the Z Fold 8 is a phone that makes it easy to get down."

Grab the Galaxy Z Fold 8 on Amazon for $1,649.99 today — deals at this price won't stay live long.

TL;DR: SAVE $1,002: As of Sept. 9, the 65-inch Hisense S7 Canvas TV QLED Smart TV is down to $997.99 at Amazon. That is a 50% discount off its $1,999.99 list price, giving you an anti-glare art TV with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate and an included ultra-slim frame mount for under $1,000.

As of Sept. 9, Amazon has cut the price of the 65-inch Hisense Hi-QLED S7 Canvas TV down to $997.99 — a massive 50% discount off its standard $1,999.99 list price. That means you get to save $1,002 on a smart TV that doubles as a frame-ready art piece, with a high-end matte screen, a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, and an included wall mount, all at half price.

Instead of leaving a blank black screen hanging in your living room, this TV switches to an art display when you aren't watching movies. You get access to over 1,000 free artworks and photos to cycle through, and it comes with a teak wood frame and an ultra-slim wall mount out of the box, so it sits flush against your wall like a real painting. The built-in motion sensor turns the art display on when you walk into the room and shuts it off when you leave, saving power.

SEE ALSO: Best Labor Day TV deals: Our favorite deals on TCL, LG, Samsung, and more

The main feature here is the anti-glare matte screen, which reduces harsh sunlight or lamp reflections so you get a clear picture no matter where the light comes from. You also get a sharp 4K QLED panel with Dolby Vision HDR for rich colors and deep contrast. For gamers and sports fans, the native 144Hz refresh rate keeps fast-moving action completely smooth and fluid without any annoying motion blur.

It runs on the Google TV interface, bringing all your streaming apps, live channels, and personalized recommendations to a single homepage. An automatic ambient light sensor continuously tweaks the screen's brightness and color temperature to match the lighting in your room throughout the day. 

SEE ALSO: The best TVs of 2026 so far: RGB TVs were the talk of CES, but they're not the only exciting releases

For sound, built-in room-filling speakers use spatial audio tech to simulate overhead and surround sound effects without forcing you to buy an external soundbar immediately.

Grab this 50% discount on Amazon to turn your TV into a piece of art for under $999 while the deal lasts.

SAVE $800: As of Sept. 9, the LG 65-Inch OLED AI 4K B6 Smart TV is on sale at Amazon for its lowest price yet, $1,199.99. That's $800 off its full price of $1,999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-Inch Class OLED AI 4K B6 Series Smart TV $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $800   Get Deal

Labor Day may be over, but retailers don't stop dropping deals entirely until the next big sale event hits. Amazon, in particular, is still full of excellent offers, especially on tech. If a new TV has been on your mind for fall, the retailer currently has a great discount on the LG 65-Inch OLED AI 4K B6 Smart TV, which is marked down to $1,199.99 for a limited time as of Sept. 9.

Compared to this LG TV's full price of $1,999.99, this is a massive $800 discount. Not to mention, it's the lowest-ever price for this display at the retailer, according to price tracking website camelcamelcamel. What better time to grab it?

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this uncomplicated TV specs guide

If you're not looking to go all out on screen size but don't want to grab something too small, this 65-inch LG is a great mid-range option. It boasts incredible picture quality to boot, thanks to its 4K OLED display, which brings out vibrant colors and deep contrast in what you're watching or playing. It even comes with Dolby Vision to further enhance that color and contrast, alongside Dolby Atmos immersive sound.

On top of that, there's a Filmmaker Mode with Ambient Light Technology that lets you watch movies in the format the director intended. Plus, those who love to game can enjoy a 0.1ms response time and up to 120Hz refresh rate, making on-screen action look smooth without blur or tearing.

The LG 65-Inch OLED AI 4K B6 Smart TV is currently marked as a limited-time deal on Amazon's store page, so act fast to save on it before the discount disappears.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Jon Stewart has been unplugged from the news throughout August, and he makes the big mistake of asking "Did I miss anything?" in his first Daily Show monologue back.

Cue a montage of chaotic and depressing Trump news, from the president renewing his attack on mail-in voting to the president making threats to bomb a US ally.

"Noooo! Oh no, I'm old again!" says Jon Stewart, suddenly wearing a long white beard. "God, it never ends with this dude Trump. I've never seen one person work so much and fix so little. It's exhausting in a way that's difficult to articulate."

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Apple is gearing up for its biggest iPhone launch event in years. Today, on Sept. 9, the tech giant will host its "Surprise and Shine" event, and Mashable is reporting live from Apple Park all week. Not only do we expect Apple to finally unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone, but the event also sets the stage for the grand debut of Siri AI. Plus, new CEO John Ternus will take center stage for the first keynote of the post-Tim Cook era. It's an event years in the making.

Thanks to months of leaks and rumors, we have a fairly good idea of what to expect from the Apple Event. We're hoping to learn more about the new iPhone 18 lineup, iOS 27, Siri AI, new AirPods, the Apple Watch Series 12, and more. But we're also hoping Apple lives up to its "Surprise and Shine" tagline and actually surprises us with something we couldn't predict.

We'll know for sure when the event kicks off at 10 a.m. PT. You can watch the event live and join us for post-show analysis on the CNET Apple Event livestream. We'll also be sharing real-time updates on all of the day's news, behind-the-scenes videos, and product announcements in this live blog.

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Apple will hold its big iPhone launch event for 2026.

Apple hosts its big annual keynote event every September to unveil the brand-new iPhone lineup, but this year's event should be a little more exciting than in previous years. The company is expected to unveil a ton of products as the new CEO, John Ternus, takes center stage for the first time.

The highlight of the show should be the announcement of Apple's first foldable iPhone. However, Apple has dubbed this year's keynote the "Surprise and Shine" event, so the company may have even more up its sleeve than we anticipate.

What time the Apple Event starts, where to livestream it

You can watch the Apple iPhone launch event on YouTube, the Apple website, and Apple TV. The "Surprise and Shine" livestream begins promptly at 10 a.m. PT.

Mashable reporter Stan Schroeder will be in the audience and reporting live, and you can also join Mashable for the CNET Apple Event livestream for a post-show breakdown.

Along with a ton of product announcements, the Sept. 9 event will also mark Ternus's first keynote as Apple's new CEO.

Tiny, icy worlds at the edge of the solar system are helping scientists rewind the story of how planets like Earth first came together.

These distant, city‑size bodies orbit far beyond Neptune in space and are leftover building materials from the solar system's early days. They have spent billions of years in a deep freeze, preserving clues to how the first solid worlds formed.

Until now, astronomers could only study larger members of this population, from dwarf planets like Pluto and its moon Charon down to mid‑size objects such as Arrokoth. The truly tiny ones, only a few miles wide, stayed out of reach.

In two new studies, scientists used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to find dozens of these tiny worlds, then followed up with the Hubble Space Telescope to measure the light from their frozen surfaces.

Together, the results give astronomers the largest census of these distant objects ever made, showing how many of these tiny worlds exist and what their surfaces are made of. The observations turn a scattered set of icy rocks into a detailed look at how the building blocks of planets formed and how little they have changed. The scientific papers both appear in The Astronomical Journal.

SEE ALSO: Saturn just sprouted a bizarre decagon-shaped cloud pattern

In Webb's deep images, astronomers picked out 27 new Trans‑Neptunian Objects — the small icy bodies that orbit beyond Neptune — in a small patch of sky. Some are only about six miles wide, making this the most sensitive study of such worlds to date. From their brightness, the team inferred how common each size is.

Researchers expected that over time, crashes between these tiny bodies would change their appearance and grind them into shards. Instead, the new data show only a slight uptick in the number of small objects. That means the Kuiper Belt — the broad ring of debris beyond Neptune — doesn't consist mostly of dust and crumbs. Instead, most of its mass is tied up in objects about 120 miles wide.

The Kuiper Belt is the broad ring of debris beyond Neptune's orbit. Credit: NASA infographic

That pattern backs a "born big" view of planet construction. In the early solar system, clouds of pebble‑size material in the disk of gas and dust likely clumped and collapsed under their own gravity to form large, solid bodies in a relatively quick phase, rather than slowly growing from dust through countless scrapes with other bodies.

Equally striking, two major families of these distant worlds share almost the same size pattern down to the smallest objects Webb could detect. One group follows calm, nearly circular orbits and probably formed more or less where it now resides. The other group moves on more tilted and stretched paths and likely began closer to the sun before giant planets pushed it outward.

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This similarity hints that the process that turned dust, rock, and ice into "planetesimals" — the first solid pieces big enough to build planets — may work the same way under many different conditions. That challenges earlier thinking, which had predicted many more small chunks than Webb and Hubble actually saw: Either collisions aren't drastically reshaping these objects, or they aren't happening as often as scientists expected.

The color measurements add another key clue. The smallest members of the calmer outer‑belt family tend to have a similar reddish color to the larger bodies in that group. Earlier work links those hues to surfaces rich in complex organic compounds and certain ices that slowly darken and redden under cosmic radiation over billions of years.

"You could imagine a scenario where getting knocked around and fragmented would change the surface composition, and then you would see a different surface color," said Anastasia Morgan, a Northern Arizona University doctoral candidate who led the color and composition study, in a statement. "It's really fascinating to see that the smallest objects are somehow 'remembering' and preserving the history of how they were made."

Astronomers also watched how these tiny worlds brighten and dim as they spin. Most show only modest changes in brightness over a rotation, which could mean that extreme football‑like shapes or close pairs, known as contact binaries, are rarer than some models suggested.

Sometimes a sitcom plot line comes along that's so misguided, so confounding, so utterly ill-conceived that you stop and think, "Surely I hallucinated that in its entirety, right?"

In The Paper Season 2's case, that dishonor falls to literally everything the show does to Nicole (Ramona Young).

SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know about

Season 1 of The Office spinoff paired circulation staffer Nicole up with ad salesman Detrick (Melvin Gregg) in one of the show's main romantic storylines. Nicole consistently told him their dates and hookups were casual and that there were no feelings involved. She actively encouraged Detrick to see other women, but he didn't. Their differences led to a breakup in the Season 1 finale. (Even if Nicole would insist there was nothing to break in the first place.) However, the aftermath of their split suggested Nicole was more emotionally attached than she wanted Detrick to believe, as she went to cry on journalist Mare's (Chelsea Frei) shoulder.

The storyline was a fun play on attitudes around commitment and casual dating, with its ending set the stage for a potential slow burn to bring Detrick and Nicole back together on more official terms. That is, until The Paper's second season comes along and wrecks Nicole's character.

Throughout Season 2, Nicole is a vengeful harpy out to get Detrick. She gets a promotion, then tries to use that extra power to give him extra work. (It backfires.) She reports their now-over relationship to HR rep Lisa (Lisa Gilroy), searching for any legitimization of the connection she mourned. When Lisa begins to show interest in Detrick, Nicole dresses as her — complete with dyeing her hair blonde — and rams her car into Lisa's. She also follows Detrick to Cincinnati, leading to an unsettling sequence where Detrick genuinely seems to believe she's going to do him harm.

SEE ALSO: Here are the three best 'The Office' references in 'The Paper'

This bizarro arc robs Nicole of any nuance or interiority, trading any meaningful development around her approach to relationships for unfunny crazy ex-girlfriend stereotypes. (In a post Crazy Ex-Girlfriend world? Really?) The main joke here — that, at her own insistence, Nicole was never really Detrick's girlfriend — is nowhere near funny enough to warrant such a prolonged storyline. Nor is it in keeping with The Paper's more optimistic tone. Even though The Paper is a spin-off of The Office, it shares more thematic DNA with shows like Parks and Recreation, Abbott Elementary, or St. Denis Medical: mockumentaries with an eye for people trying to make a difference in struggling institutions. Given that angle, The Paper's treatment of Nicole feels far too malicious, not to mention out of left field.

Really, it feels like The Paper is trying to recreate the dynamic between The Office's Kelly (Mindy Kaling) and Ryan (BJ Novak), which featured its fair share of Kelly being vindictive. But crucially, Ryan wound up also being a jerk in that on-again, off-again relationship. The pair fed off one another's toxicity. In The Paper, Detrick mainly just reacts to Nicole like anyone else would: with bewilderment, then horror. His arc is primarily focused on his burgeoning reporting skills, while her arc is all about him. To borrow a phrase from Kelly herself, I have a lot of questions about these story choices. Number one, how dare you?

The horrible mishandling of Nicole speaks to The Paper Season 2's broader issue of barely knowing how to handle its ensemble. The Paper's team of amateur journalists gelled exceptionally well in Season 1, but they're as fragmented as can be in Season 2. While the show focuses the brunt of its energy on Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mare's love story — which it handles wonderfully! — the rest of its reporters are left to flounder. Adam (Alex Edelman) is a non-entity. Ken (Tim Key) disappears for episodes at a time. Oscar (Oscar Nuñez), Adelola (Gbemisola Ikumelo), and Travis (Eric Rahill) feel like a thin Greek chorus, with the latter two finally receiving the beginnings of a fulfilling story in the season's final episodes.

If you're in The Paper and your character isn't named Ned, Mare, or Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore), you appear to have two choices. Wind up with a paper-thin storyline, or get saddled with a nightmarish arc like Nicole's. Given how out of character (and out of line) the latter is, The Paper Season 2 might be the one time fading into the background is a good thing.

The Paper Season 2 is now streaming on Peacock.

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TL;DR: ChatPlayground AI gives you access to 20+ major AI tools, and it’s only $55.30 through Sept. 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $55.30
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Pretty much anyone who uses AI every day tends to keep two or three chatbots open at once, because no single AI model is great at every single task. Testing the same prompt in ChatGPT, then Claude, then Gemini to find the strongest answer eats up more time than most people admit, and you’re also burning through tokens that whole time. If you want a simpler solution, ChatPlayground is a new platform that gives you lifetime access to dozens of the most popular models, and you can use them all in the same window. Right now, lifetime access is just $55.30 (reg. $619).

One platform for all your AI tools

Type a prompt once, and ChatPlayground AI runs it across every model you’ve selected, then lines up the responses so you can compare them at a glance. That roster includes GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, and Perplexity, with more added as new models come out.

Beyond comparisons, ChatPlayground AI includes prompt engineering tools to refine outputs, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved chat history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation powered by leading models. There’s even a Chrome extension to integrate it directly into your browsing workflow.

The Unlimited Plan means unlimited messages per month, making it ideal for startups, product teams, marketers, and prompt engineers who run experiments nonstop. You also get priority support and early access to new features and future models.

If you’re already paying for multiple AI tools — or constantly switching between them — this consolidates everything into one streamlined platform.

Through Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $55.30 to get a ChatPlayground AI lifetime subscription.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: FastestVPN Pro is down to $29.97 from $600 for a limited time, with lifetime access, 15 simultaneous devices, 900+ servers, and a suite of privacy features.

Opens in a new window Credit: FastestVPN FastestVPN PRO: Lifetime Subscription (15 Devices) $29.97
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A VPN can get expensive when you’re paying for multiple devices or renewing a subscription year after year. FastestVPN Pro is currently $29.97 (reg. $600) through Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with lifetime access for up to 15 devices simultaneously and no recurring charges.

FastestVPN Pro offers over 900 servers across 100+ countries, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited server switching, giving you plenty of options when choosing a connection. Your traffic is protected with 256-bit AES encryption, and its zero-logging policy means your browsing activity won’t be stored or tracked.

The Pro tier adds several privacy and security features beyond the basics. Double VPN can route traffic through two servers, while the kill switch cuts your connection if the VPN drops. There’s also a NAT firewall, built-in ad blocker, anti-malware protection, split tunneling, and IPv6 leak protection included without any add-ons.

The plan is great for households or people using a lot of hardware. You can connect phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and routers at the same time, with support for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation 4, Apple TV, and more. Dedicated streaming servers support Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime, while P2P-optimized servers are designed for downloads.

A FastestVPN Pro purchase also includes a free one-year Passhulk Password Manager subscription for storing passwords, financial details, licenses, and secure attachments in an encrypted vault.

The FastestVPN Pro Lifetime Plan is available for $29.97 (reg. $600) for a limited time only, ending Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Tubby Nugget may be a tiny animated blob, but he's built the kind of creator empire most humans would envy.

What began as an inside joke between creators and real-life couple Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson has grown into a character brand with more than 14 million followers, plushies, music videos, live appearances, and ambitions that increasingly extend beyond the social feed. Seven years in, Tubby Nugget has become synonymous with a particular corner of the internet: wholesome, silly, and relentlessly optimistic.

For Pastores and Jackson, though, some of the most important lessons came from resisting the pressure that accompanies that kind of scale. As their audience grew, they briefly wondered whether Tubby needed to change to appeal to more people. Instead, they found that the further they strayed from the character's original spirit, the less authentic the content felt — both to them and to the audience.

SEE ALSO: How Tubby Nugget grew from a doodle into a beloved internet brand

Their advice for other creators is deceptively simple: Pay attention to the people already showing up. Reply to the five comments before worrying about getting 5,000. Don't let a number on a screen make you forget that every follower is an actual person. And when something works because it feels uniquely yours, don't abandon it just because your audience gets bigger.

For Mashable's Creator Playbook, Pastores and Jackson break down how they built Tubby Nugget's community one comment at a time, why 400 people in a room can feel way more significant than 400 likes, and why the character's future may include longer-form animation.

Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Getty Images

Mashable: Tubby Nugget started as something personal between the two of you. What is it like seeing something you created for yourselves become meaningful to so many other people?

Jenine Pastores: Honestly, I think it's because Tubby started as such a personal thing between Josh and me — to make my day better, to make his day better. Seeing that it's spread so far and so wide is really special. Something that made me happy is now making so many other families and kids happy.

Josh Jackson: We hadn't performed that song live in front of an audience, and to hear all the kids singing it — I mean, gosh, it was just amazing.

Has meeting the Tubby Nugget community in real life changed how you think about the audience you've built online?

Pastores: I think, if anything, we get desensitized to how many people are supporting us and are part of our community because, as the numbers grow, they seem smaller and smaller, which is ironic.

I would encourage other creators to meet their fans in person and see the faces of the people they're really encouraging, because it does change your perspective. A room of 400 people is crazy. We were pretty overwhelmed. I was like, "Can you imagine if all 14 million of our followers showed up in person?" I think it also makes us more and more grateful for what we do.

Jackson: If we get 400 likes on a post, that seems very small. But 400 people in person is just like, "Oh, this is crazy." It's always nice getting lots of likes and comments, but having that face-to-face interaction and seeing the positive effect Tubby's optimism has is just the best.

With an audience that large, how much are you thinking about the algorithm when you're deciding what to make?

Jackson: I'm not gonna lie, we don't really think about the algorithm that much. We did at one point.

We see what works well, and if it aligns with the heart of Tubby Nugget, then yeah, we'll make it. But I think anytime in the past when we've chased likes or views, it feels less authentic to us.

Pastores: And I think our audience feels that too. Our audience is a lot smarter than I think digital media might give them credit for. We make the best content when we are the most comfortable and most ourselves. It seems like our audience still resonates with us, so I'm very happy to hear that.

What would you tell a new creator who's trying to build that kind of community from scratch?

Jackson: Honestly, the way we grew early on is that Jenine would reply to every single comment. She really built that sense of community early on. Now, it's a little harder to do that, but I think especially for new creators, early on it's just like, all right, you have five comments? Reply to all five of them because that's how you're going to build community.

Pastores: Enjoy your community. Enjoy the space you have to speak with and engage them. At the beginning, we thought we needed to change because we were growing so rapidly. We were like, "Maybe not everyone is going to keep loving our content." But we felt less ourselves. I think our audience felt like we were more shy.

When we make stuff that's just Tubby, I think that's when we succeed the most. So I would definitely recommend to creators: Don't stop doing what worked at the start.

When did you realize Tubby Nugget could go from a character you made for fun to your actual career?

Jackson: I think that was pretty early on. I was still working as a motion graphics artist at the time, while Jenine focused on building the business. Then it was kind of that decision where we were like, "OK, I'm gonna quit motion graphics, and we're just gonna go in." It was a little risky. I felt like, "OK, we better be selling enough plushies to live off of."

Pastores: Honestly, I think it was mainly because our audience was asking for so much more than we could give if we continued our full-time jobs. That was the big shift. We had to ask: Does the audience want this enough for us to do this for the rest of our lives? So far, it's been seven wonderful years, and it's been great.

Tubby is the face of the brand, but the two of you have increasingly become part of the story too. When did you decide to put yourselves in front of the audience?

Pastores: I think it was our first convention. That's when people started to meet us. We would sometimes put our faces on our [Instagram] Story just to say hi to people, but we didn't think people wanted to see us. We were like, "Oh, we're a cartoon. You don't have to look at us. Don't worry."

But when we started meeting fans in person, they were like, "No, I want to know who does the animations and who does the voices."

Jackson: Tubby is very much about our relationship. The whole reason we created Tubby Nugget was because it started as an inside joke between the two of us. So we were like, "OK, well, it makes sense for us to be part of the story," because when he began, he was a representation of our relationship and our humor.

Pastores: Definitely our humor. He was just all of our inside jokes, and I was kind of blown away by how many people thought we were also funny. I was like, "Oh, good, it's not just us."

At what point did Tubby stop feeling like just a character and start feeling like a brand?

Pastores: Tubby is a brand, honestly, and that's what's so surprising to the two of us. I think his brand has just become overall wholesomeness, joy, and silliness. Some people who meet Tubby don't know who he is, but they know what he resonates with. You'll see the Tubby mascot running around, and they'll just be like, "Oh, I want to hug him. I want to play with him."

That is kind of his essence and his spirit: Just have fun. Embrace your inner child. I think we all need to be goofy sometimes.

How do you decide what Tubby Nugget should become next?

Jackson: We've been asking our audience a lot. We recently put out a poll, did a huge forum, and got all the feedback. Honestly, my favorite part of getting feedback from the audience is that we added a question where they could just tell us about themselves. That informs our decisions because we know what we like, but Tubby doesn't just belong to us; he belongs to everyone.

Getting to meet fans at VidCon or hearing from them online through the forum really gets us in vibe with our community, and we love it.

Indie animation is having a huge moment online right now. Do you see Tubby Nugget eventually becoming a longer-form series?

Jackson: It's really incredible what's going on right now with indie pilots that are just taking off. We're in the process of building a team and trying to figure out the right next move. I don't think we want to dive into it right away. We still have a lot of music videos coming up, so I think that's our next small step before we jump into a full-on TV show.

Pastores: But we are doing longer-form media this year, which is going to be very exciting. It's almost like test episodes. We have so much love for the indie animation community because we're already so much of a do-it-yourself type of animation. We've made so many friends in the space, too.

Especially coming from more formal film careers, I think seeing the way creators are getting creative about this industry and how to make a living in it is really exciting. I'm excited to make a long-form show, whether it be on traditional streamers or on YouTube.

Jackson: The path is so new. This is such a new development in the state of animation. I think it's going to get bigger and bigger, and we just hope to be part of that wave.

Also, this is not on brand, but we love Obsession. This is not on brand for Tubby Nugget at all, but it's my favorite movie of the year. I freaking love that movie.

Pastores: And Hazbin Hotel is getting so much love. It's just so exciting to see all of our favorite animators getting that kind of attention.

Jackson: I picture a Tubby-Obsession crossover where someone breaks a One Wish Willow for Tubby to love them, but he's like, "I love you anyway."

I think we could do it.

Jackson: I'm just gonna put that out there. No one's saying no to us except ourselves.

Josh, if you had a One Wish Willow, what are you wishing for right now?

Jackson: Oh, One Wish Willow? That Jenine would love me forever, more than anyone.

Pastores: That's what the ring is for.

Jackson: Oh yeah. I already got that wish. I already got that. I got you.

TL;DR: Through Sept. 10, new U.S. users can get a Babbel Lifetime Language Learning Subscription covering all 14 languages for $159 (reg. $299) with StackSocial’s code LEARN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $158.98
$299 Save $140.02   Get Deal

Learning a new language isn’t easy, but it also might not be as hard as some apps make it seem. If memorizing vocab lists isn’t working for you, check out Babbel. They take a more practical approach to teaching, and there’s even an AI conversation partner who can help you practice your pronunciation.

Normally, a Babbel lifetime subscription would cost $299, but right now it’s on sale for $159 with StackSocial’s code LEARN. Check out what that gets you.

Babbel gives you lifetime access to courses in 14 different languages, and the format is designed to fit into real life. Each lesson takes around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can actually stick with it whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just squeezing in some study time between meetings.

Here are a few of the included languages:

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Swedish

And that’s just the beginning.

Unlike other apps that focus heavily on word games or repetitive matching drills, Babbel centers its content around practical conversation topics. You’ll get lessons on travel, shopping, business, culture, and more, all developed by expert linguists and backed by academic research.

Speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation, while the new AI-powered conversation partner lets you practice speaking in real time.

Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons in advance. You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and jump between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort.

Use code LEARN by Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for only $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is on sale for $54.52 at Amazon, down from its $62.97 typical price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection $54.52 at Amazon
$62.97 Save $8.45   Get Deal

The premium attached to buying Pokémon cards through Amazon can sometimes be substantial, but that’s becoming much less of an issue with the Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection. Right now, its latest price is only a few dollars removed from the box’s current TCGplayer value. 

On Sept. 9, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is priced at $54.52 at Amazon, versus the retailer’s $62.97 typical price. That leaves $8.45 in savings, or 13%, through third-party seller reVend. Free delivery is currently listed for Sept. 17, while the quickest shipping window runs from Sept. 11 to 15. 

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Along with its assorted eight Pokémon TCG booster packs: four Perfect Order, two Chaos Rising, and two Phantasmal Flames;  this Mega Greninja ex collection also gets both a titular foil promo card for play and an oversize lenticular counterpart for display, with a themed tech sticker rounding out the extras. 

At $54.52, the Amazon cost comes to about $6.82 per booster before those additional items are factored in. 

Be that as it may, you can still save even more at TCGplayer. Against the Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection’s market price of $49.82, the lowest price listing on the dedicated trading card selling platform is only $52.98 — an extra $1.54 in savings compared to Amazon. 

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection — Series 2 is on sale for $37.63 at Amazon, down from its $59.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection —Series 2 $37.63 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $22.36   Get Deal

If the original $60 asking price put you off picking up Pokémon’s second First Partner Illustration Collection, Amazon has made the decision quite a bit easier by slipping the Series 2 box well below $40, leaving more than $20 between its current cost and MSRP. 

As of Sept. 9, the Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 2 can be bought for $37.63 at Amazon through third-party seller Collectors Expedition. Amazon handles the shipping, while Prime members currently get free delivery estimated between Sept. 28 and Oct. 9. At the $59.99 list price, that works out to $22.36 in savings, or 37% off. 

If you want yours as quickly as possible for a slightly higher price, another listing is $39.99, with delivery shown for Sept. 10 at the time of writing. 

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The centerpiece of Series 2 isn’t its pair of regular booster packs of trading cards, but the separate promo pack tucked alongside them. It contains three of nine possible illustration rare-style cards featuring starters from Johto, Unova, and Galar, covering Chikorita through to Sobble. That’s along with a themed sticker sheet, rounding out the box. 

On the other hand, if you want to save as much as possible — even going beyond Amazon — TCGplayer currently has sealed boxes for as low as $29.99 with shipping included. Going under its $29.61 market price, however, is Walmart, now selling the Pokémon TCG’s First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 2 for only $28.67.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available to preorder for $89.99 at Amazon via invite requests, down from its initial $209.97 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 at Amazon
$209.97 Save $119.98   Pre-order Here

Pokémon’s 30th anniversary set is already commanding hefty preorder prices, but Amazon has gone in the opposite direction with its Elite Trainer Box. There is one sizeable catch, though: getting the $89.99 price for this high-demand Pokémon box requires an invitation from the retailer. 

Nevertheless, as of Sept. 9, the Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is still listed for $89.99 at Amazon — shipped and sold directly from the retailer itself. Beforehand, we only had listings from third-party sellers available for as low as $209.97, meaning a 57% discount compared to normal, ahead of the expansion’s release date on Sept. 16.

While this is still $40 above MSRP, the $90 price is far lower than the current $178 market price on TCGplayer. 

As mentioned, however, you can’t simply add this ETB to your basket. Amazon has designated it a high-demand product with limited quantities, meaning you first need to select “Request invite.”

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Successful requests receive an email with purchasing instructions and a limited window to complete the order. Amazon also says requests can remain in consideration as more stock arrives, so missing the first batch of invitations doesn’t necessarily end your chances of snagging the high-demand trading card bundle for yourself.

If you don’t wish to wait, preorders for the 30th Celebration ETB are also readily available elsewhere, but you’ll be paying well above the $170 mark. Specifically, TCGplayer is slightly undercutting the market price with preorders going for as low as $177.92.

Walmart is even cheaper, though, letting you pre-order your Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box for $174.75. 

Inside are nine 30th Celebration booster packs, a full-art Nidorina promo featuring 30 Nidorina, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a player’s guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code. Each booster also contains one of 30 different Pikachu rare cards.

SAVE $34.19: As of Sept. 9, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is on sale for $45.80 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick 4K $45.80 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $34.19   Get Deal

If your TV looks a little dated when it comes to streaming, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a nice, easy way to add access to your favorite streaming services. It plugs directly into your TV and supports 4K HDR streaming, with a compact design that won't take up much space.

And as of Sept. 9, it's on sale at Amazon for over $30 off the list price. Normally priced at $79.99, you can now get it for $45.80.

This streaming device doesn't just make streaming easier; it lets you watch in high quality, too. It comes with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, giving you sharp detail and rich colors across everything you watch. It also has a long-range WiFi receiver that helps keep streaming smooth and buffer-free, even on TVs in rooms farther from your router. It stays hidden behind your TV without blocking neighboring HDMI ports, so you can easily switch between streaming and gaming.

It's also a great option for travel, letting you take your entertainment with you without having to sign into someone else's device. Simply unplug the device from your own TV and plug it into the HDMI port of the TV in your accommodation.

This Roku deal is available on Amazon now.

SAVE $140: As of Sept. 9, the Eufy 11S Max is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy 11S Max $139.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $140   Get Deal

Robot vacuums have come a long way in recent years, with models now available at a range of prices and with features to suit different homes. If you've been considering getting one, you don't necessarily have to spend a lot to get a model that handles everyday vacuuming for you. In fact, as of Sept. 9, you can get a great model for just $139.99. Meet the Eufy 11S Max. Currently on sale, you'll save $140 on this Eufy robot vacuum, which is also its best price so far this year.

It's just 2.85 inches tall, so this robot vacuum has no problem getting into those awkward spaces beneath furniture that are difficult to reach with a standard vacuum or brush. Its battery lasts for up to 100 minutes on hardwood floors, while BoostIQ Technology automatically adjusts the suction power to suit the surface within 1.5 seconds.

An infrared sensor helps the robot navigate around obstacles, and drop sensors help it avoid falling from edges or down stairs. When it needs more power, it can also automatically return to its charging base.

This robot vacuum deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $150: As of Sept. 9, the Jackery HomePower 3000 is on sale for $1,349 at Amazon. That's a 10 percent discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3000 $1,349 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $150   Get Deal

With summer winding down and colder, wetter weather on the way, power cuts can become more of a concern, particularly during periods of strong winds and storms. Having a backup power source at home can help keep essential devices running if the electricity goes out. Jackery is one of the better-known names in the power station market, with options for different power needs. And right now, the Jackery HomePower 3000 is on sale. As of Sept. 9, this model is down to $1,349 at Amazon, saving you $150 on the list price.

With a 3,600W output and 7,200W surge capacity, alongside 3,072Wh of stored power, this portable power station is built to handle a range of household essentials. That includes running things like refrigerators, fans, routers, and lights, which it can power for up to 15 hours depending on usage. According to Jackery, it can also keep a refrigerator running for one to two days during a power outage.

There are also several ways to recharge this Jackery unit. With a combination of AC and DC inputs, it can reach a full charge in about 1.7 hours, while AC charging alone takes about 2.2 hours. If you have solar panels (sold separately), it can reach 80 percent charge in roughly nine hours, and there are also options for charging via a 12V car connection or a gas generator.

This Jackery deal is available at Amazon right now.