IT General

Thanks, RAM shortage. GPU prices are now worse than I can ever remember them being, and recent rumors just made them even worse.

There are several puzzles that I complete each morning over breakfast, including Connections and the Guardian crossword. Wordle used to be part of that list, but I grew bored with it. I decided to see if I could vibe-code my own game based on a simple word game I'd made up back in college.

TL;DR: The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is available to live stream for free on 7plus. Access these free livestreams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup has been absolutely electric from start to finish, and if you are looking to catch every big hit, try, and high-stakes knockout match without spending big on a subscription, you're in luck.

Fans in Australia can watch every match live and free via Channel 7 and 7plus. Fans in other countries don't have it so easy, but there are some simple steps you can take to secure access to all the action without spending a dime.

If you want to watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Rugby League World Cup?

The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by senior men's national teams. The latest edition of the Rugby League World Cup will be jointly hosted by Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

The defending champions are Australia.

When is the 2026 Rugby League World Cup?

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is the 17th edition of the competition. This year's tournament starts on Oct. 15 and runs until the final on Nov. 15.

How to watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Rugby League World Cup from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7plus

5. Watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the tournament before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 7plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7plus, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Cheap tools cause headaches and add unwanted stress when you're trying to finish a DIY project or construction job on schedule. That's why it's best to stick with quality products like DeWalt's 20V Max XR Cordless Jigsaw, which is tough enough for professional work and offers wireless convenience for precise cuts.

Despite its name, Android Auto is very different from Android on phones. You can't replace the home screen launcher, sideloaded apps aren't available, and Google services are even more tightly integrated. Thankfully, alternate options are starting to pop up, and I tried one.

After suffering one of its worst routs in years, tech stocks are recovering on Friday. It appears that some investors are trying to calm the waters slowly and steadily by buying the tech stock dip.

After falling 6.3 percent on Thursday, the tech-centric Nasdaq 100 rose 1.9 percent on Friday. It may not be much, but it's certainly a welcome sign after its worst single-day performance in six years.

As Mashable reported on Thursday, Tuesday's U.S. midterm election results have sent shockwaves through the tech sector. Many tech leaders, such as Elon Musk, have backed President Donald Trump and the Republican Party in recent years. With Democratic candidates racking up resounding victories across the country, there is fear of blowback from Democratic politicians, many of whom ran AI-critical campaigns.

For example, Senator Bernie Sanders called for a national data center moratorium on Wednesday, just one day after the Democratic Party's midterm wins.

Two of the biggest AI-adjacent companies, Nvidia and SpaceX, also saw their share prices rise by 7 percent and 6.1 percent, as of this writing. Although the stock price is trending in the right direction, neither has recovered from Thursday's losses yet.

However, despite concerns about the incoming Democratic majority and the future of the U.S. AI industry, investors are looking to course correct on Friday, with stocks like Intel up 8.9 percent and Airbnb up 11.7 percent.

Chipmakers and other tech stocks more closely adjacent to the AI industry are still struggling a bit more, as previously mentioned, but they are up today as well.

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Most Linux distributions exist for sensible reasons: to make your computing experience easier, safer, or faster. All fully serious stuff. But sometimes, the community has a sense of humor—or a deep sense of malice—and builds operating systems for stranger reasons. I went out looking for weird Linux distros, and here are some of the most baffling ones I came across.

You may have a lot of devices in your home that don't have any smart features. That doesn't mean that they can't become part of your smart home. There are plenty of clever ways to make dumb devices smart without too much cost or effort.

I have used Tor for years to bypass censorship and access privacy-focused services. It is a powerful tool, but browsing the hidden web requires a specific setup and strict security habits. If you want to access a .onion address safely, follow these steps.

Apple may have some serious competition in the smartwatch market, but when it comes to innovative features, the Apple Watch still has a few tricks up its sleeve. While Samsung and Google have made significant strides with their Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch lineups, several clever features still give Apple an edge. From practical tools that make traveling easier to clever ways of keeping track of conversations and staying connected with loved ones, Apple's wearable has plenty to offer.

SAVE UP TO 20% WITH CODE ALLONSALE: The Shark CryoGlow Plus is on sale for $341.10 (normally $379) for Beauty Insider members during Sephora's Savings Event — its first discount ever. Members with VIB and Rouge status save up to $37.90 extra.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark CryoGlow Plus Anti-Aging LED Face Mask $341.10 at Sephora
$379 Save $37.90 Use code ALLONSALE Get Deal at Sephora

The Shark CryoGlow LED face mask is one of Mashable's Gifts of the Year — and the upgraded version is now on sale for the first time ever.

Through Nov. 9, Sephora shoppers can save up to 20% on the Shark CryoGlow Plus using the coupon code ALLONSALE. This deal comes as part of Sephora's fall Savings Event for members of its Beauty Insiders rewards program, which is free to join.

Standard Beauty Insider members will get 10% off the $379 CryoGlow Plus, which brings it down to $341.10. Those who have unlocked VIB status (by spending at least $350 at Sephora in the past year) save 15% and pay $322.15.

The Shark CryoGlow (pictured) is our favorite red light mask for most people. The upgraded "Plus" model has more LED bulbs and lasts longer. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Beauty Insider Rouge members who have spent at least $1,000 at Sephora this year earn the most savings. For them, the CryoGlow Plus is only $303.20 — a 20% discount.

Unlike other red light masks we've tested, Shark CryoGlow can emit red, near-infrared, and blue light to tackle different skin concerns, from wrinkles to acne. It also features de-puffing cooling eye pads, which feel "amazing on groggy eyes in the morning or post-shower on a summer night," according to our reviewer.

The "Plus" version of the CryoGlow, which launched this summer, has more LED bulbs and a longer battery life than the original model.

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

The term "CPU bottleneck" is familiar to every gamer. I don't think I've met anyone who wasn't into games and still cared about these alleged "bottlenecks." As a gamer myself, I'm here to say: please stop. You probably don't even have a CPU bottleneck.

Smartphone prices have climbed steadily over the last few years, making a $200 discount on a current-generation flagship feel genuinely significant. This Google Pixel 11 is $699 right now, bringing the base model down to a more affordable price that anyone can take advantage of. It's only $100 more than the midrange Google Pixel 10a, so you know you're getting a good deal.

From thrillers to triple-A, big-budget blockbusters, Paramount+ has an impressively strong catalog of movies to keep you occupied. For those with more of a craving for some non-fiction, the platform's list of documentaries is stronger than you might expect, exploring some of history's most charismatic, impactful, and dangerous people.

Your printer showing offline is usually a software or network glitch, not a dead machine. Before you panic, follow this exact fix sequence to get it back online on Windows or Mac.

State courts have struck another blow against online prediction market Kalshi, which has sought to remain outside of gaming law, claiming it's a trading — not gambling — platform.

On Wednesday, a US District judge granted a preliminary injunction to California tribes, prohibiting Kalshi from offering sports contracts (AKA trades or "swaps") on tribal land. The ruling was handed down to the Blue Lake Rancheria and Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, which jointly sued Kalshi for allegedly violating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

In that case, a panel of judges ruled that Kalshi's sports prediction trading constituted Class III gaming, which covers sports betting and parimutuel (pool) wagering. The court determined that regulations issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which currently governs Kalshi, didn't preempt the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

SEE ALSO: A teen used her school Chromebook and Google AI Mode to plan her suicide, lawsuit alleges

That same day, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the state was suing the platform under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act for alleged illegal gambling operations.

"Kalshi is not blind that its platform presents real, tangible risks to its users, including excessive wagering, financial losses, depression, and other mental health harms," wrote Griffin in a press release. "It doesn’t take a genius to understand that wagering money on whether the Razorbacks win or lose is gambling. And gambling on an unregulated platform is squarely prohibited by Arkansas law."

Late last month, the state of Utah filed criminal charges against Kalshi and its two co-founders, Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, accusing the company of violating state gambling prohibitions. The criminal case, which includes counts of unlawful activity, online gambling promotion, and general gambling promotion, followed a civil filing attempting to block Kalshi from advertising trades to Utah residents.

In September, a 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled that Ohio and Tennessee could apply state gambling laws to Kalshi contracts. Similar to the California case, the panel determined the Commodities Exchange Act did not override state law. A month prior, Nevada was granted the right to ban the platform outright by a 9th Circuit panel.

The state of New York has also sued the platform for "unlicensed gambling." Both New York and Arkansas claim Kalshi violates state gambling age requirements, as well, allowing individuals as young as 18 to trade on the platform.

Kalshi, echoing competitors like Polymarket, has asserted that the platform's "swaps" are not bets and that it acts as a "designated contract market" trading in futures contracts and derivatives. The platform has sued states for attempting to regulate its operations.

States have pushed back on that framing and argue that online prediction markets, which let users risk money on outcomes outside traditional derivatives, are using the shield of federal oversight to skirt gaming laws that impose various bans, licenses, and taxes on online betting. Some cases have invoked Kalshi's own marketing language, including claims that the platform calls itself a betting site.

Kalshi's lawyers argue that the lack of traditional odds makes the platform's operation significantly different from gambling. Still, state courts have begun striking down Kalshi's claims, including a 2nd Circuit Court decision on Tuesday that denied the company's request for a preliminary injunction in New York and Connecticut cases.

Kalshi — advised by Donald Trump Jr. — has garnered the support of the federal government. As states continue to crack down on the prediction industry, federal agencies like the CFTC have filed a string of countersuits trying to bring states to heel.

Meta was all set to make a controversial change to its terms of service back in October, but after a delay into November, the changes have been pushed aside indefinitely.

Mark Zuckerberg's company published a quick update (spotted by Nieman Lab) confirming that previously announced changes to its Meta Commercial Terms, Product Catalog Terms, Self-Serve Ad Terms, and Ad Creative Generative AI Terms would not take effect on Nov. 20 as initially planned. These changes, which Nieman Lab originally reported on in October, would have allowed the use of web scrapers to collect material from websites associated with Meta business accounts, including those of journalistic organizations.

Originally, these changes were set to go into effect on Oct. 30, before controversy prompted Meta to delay to Nov. 20. Now, Meta has confirmed that the changes will be delayed indefinitely.

"These updates are now paused and will not take effect on Nov. 20, 2026," Meta's statement read. "We are continuing to consult with stakeholders and will provide a further update when we have more to share. In the meantime, our existing terms remain in effect."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

When these changes were first announced, news organizations were (perhaps understandably) unhappy about their content being taken in that manner. Additionally, courts in Brazil took action to prevent that from happening.

At the end of October, Meta executive Andy Stone took to X to say that the company is "committed to getting this right," but evidently that commitment means the changes cannot go into effect anytime soon.

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It's almost the end of the year, and it might be a good time to do a purge of your browser extensions. The sad reality of not being able to browse the modern internet without an ad blocker or without a video codec plug-in sucks. While you can absolutely set up a self-hosted one on your system, most average users are probably just going to install uBlock Origin (or something similar) as an extension on their browsers. If you use the Internet often, especially on desktop, you probably have a number of browser plugins that go beyond ad blocking. Plugins are the best thing to happen to the internet since frames and marquee tags went out of style. But as with everything these days, there's a hidden danger: outdated plugins that could cause some trouble(if you’re not careful).

The perfect lighting can be the difference between low-quality videos that don't get views and viral content people can't get enough of. You can't afford to cut corners, and creator tools like the Evershop Overhead Ring Light will help you craft professional videos with accurate tones and colors.

Digital life is all about convenience, but we often overlook it by not using it effectively for our needs. While a physical wallet is something I carry most days, it's often filled with things that work better when digitized. This not only saves space in my wallet but also comes in handy in an emergency when I forget to bring it with me.