IT General

If you live in the U.S. or Canada, your choice of Android phones usually boils down to a Samsung Galaxy versus its Google Pixel equivalent. And that's sometimes a difficult choice: do you go with Google's "pure" official devices, or Samsung's heavily customized and sometimes beefier hardware?

Samsung smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch 8 are incredible fitness trackers and productivity tools. However, the NFC (Near Field Communication) feature on the Galaxy Watch is largely out of bounds for smart home use, and that's a shame.

Most programming languages and compilers are designed to be practical. Maybe reality falls short—perhaps performance is worse than it should be, syntax becomes confusing or esoteric, or compiler optimizations wind up breaking code, but they're designed to be useful.

Midjourney is attempting to turn the tables on the Hollywood studios suing it for copyright infringement, asking a federal judge to compel Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery to disclose their internal use of artificial intelligence, according to a Variety report published this week.

SEE ALSO: Jury tosses Musk OpenAI lawsuit, saves Sam Altman

The discovery dispute is the latest chapter in a copyright battle that began in June 2025, when Disney and Comcast's Universal filed suit, accusing Midjourney of enabling large-scale infringement of copyrighted characters. That original complaint described Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" that generated unauthorized recreations of characters, including Darth Vader and Elsa, as previously reported by this outlet.

Warner Bros. Discovery joined the fight three months later, in September 2025, accusing Midjourney of "brazen theft" involving characters such as Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny, and seeking $150,000 per infringed work.

More than a year into the litigation, Midjourney has countered with a "fair use" defense, arguing the studios engage in comparable AI practices internally. Per Variety, the company's attorney, Bobby Ghajar, wrote that if the studios are "doing the very thing they seek to punish," that evidence is central to Midjourney's fair-use and "unclean hands" arguments. The company is seeking access to the studios' AI business plans, training datasets, model weights, and board presentations on AI.

A magistrate judge ruled against Midjourney's broader discovery request in mid-June 2026, limiting the studios' disclosure obligations to consumer-facing AI tools rather than internal systems. Midjourney has since asked Judge John Kronstadt to overturn that ruling.

The studios' attorney, David Singer, has dismissed the effort as a "fishing expedition" meant to deflect from Midjourney's own conduct, according to Variety's reporting.

I've owned my Kindle 4 for more than a decade, and it's served me well over the years. When Amazon announced that it was ending support for this model, I finally bit the bullet and jailbroke it. I installed the KOReader app not really knowing what to expect, but it can support way more formats than the default Amazon software.

Microsoft is most famous for Windows and Microsoft Office, but in their 50-year history, they've tried dozens of unusual experiments. Some of them flopped completely, while others informed and inspired later technological innovations.

Does it ever feel to you like there's so much going on in the world it's hard to keep up? A lot of events mean a lot of news, and I was tired of wasting time reading news I didn't really care about instead of news that I did. I decided to set up my own daily newsletter that I could read on my Kindle, full of things I was genuinely interested in.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are free right now with T-Mobile. Here's how to qualify for this limited-time offer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Shop Now

All we seem to hear about these days are price increases. Apple just bumped up the prices on its iPad and Mac lineups, RAM prices are about to rise nearly 50 percent, and smartphone price hikes are surely on the way.

So imagine our delight when we see that you can still score an Apple iPhone 17 for free with T-Mobile.

T-Mobile has dropped a fresh batch of free iPhone deals to beat the price increases:

• Apple iPhone 17 — free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

• Apple iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Of course, T-Mobile isn't simply handing over these latest handsets as a favor. Instead, the retail cost of your new phone is offset by 24 consecutive monthly bill credits. Your monthly statement will show a standard charge for financing the phone, which is immediately balanced out by an equal credit to bring that charge to zero.

What's happening here is you are signing up for a 24-month commitment with the network. If you decide to cancel your service, switch to another carrier, or upgrade to the iPhone 18 before those 24 months are up, the remaining unpaid balance on the phone's retail value will become due immediately.

You will also need to cover the standard upfront taxes and a one-time $35 activation fee. But that's a small price to pay to lock in the iPhone 17 before Apple's prices bump up again.

Score the latest iPhones for free with T-Mobile.

Android Auto has been one of the biggest quality-of-life upgrades for drivers over the past decade. It's made navigation, music, calls, and messages far easier and safer to access on the road.

Last year, I bought a small Cudy TR3000 travel router with the kind of confidence people have before a project quietly disappears into a drawer. The idea was simple enough. I wanted a router I could carry around, plug in anywhere, and reach the devices on its local network from outside. Then I did what many of us do with small useful-looking gadgets. I put it aside, told myself I would set it up soon, and let it sit around for months.

I used to work in broadcasting. One of my first jobs in television was running cables from a production truck all over football fields, baseball stadiums, and makeshift studios. We worked with coax cables frequently during that time, mostly using the N-style connector for truck-to-field links and BNC connectors for indoor, lower-powered work.

Windows is packed with features that rarely get the spotlight. While most users stick to the basics, there are plenty of useful tools and settings buried deep in the operating system that can make everyday tasks a little easier. I decided to explore the deepest layers and found some worth sharing.

A new dental robot is being developed to allow dentists to create crowns in fewer visits.

I've been a gearhead for as long as I can remember, with a particular weakness for muscle cars, motorcycles, trucks, and anything that feels a little different. The problem is that most of the new vehicles I find exciting today, including Rivians, Corvettes, Teslas, and Hemi-powered vehicles, cost far more than I'm willing to spend.

If you enjoy something enough to do it in your spare time, use it to brighten your day, or see it as a platform for self-development, it’s totally worth your hard-earned money. But there’s a point of diminishing returns, where you feel inclined to buy more things for little gain.

With SSD prices still sky-high, I wanted to check my SSD’s health to see whether I actually needed a replacement. Windows gave me a concerning percentage, but no context—no trend, no cause, no countdown. I was on the verge of buying an expensive new SSD, but decided to get a second opinion. That’s when I turned to CrystalDiskInfo. It gave me the missing context and showed that my SSD still had plenty of life left, giving me the confidence to delay the purchase.

TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is really heating up. Places in the quarter-final stage are now up for grabs, and Brazil vs. Norway will do everything they can to secure a spot. This is one of the most unpredictable matchups of the round. Brazil look shaky, and Norway have a certain Haaland leading the line.

If you want to watch Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brazil vs. Norway?

Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

How to watch Brazil vs. Norway for free

Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Brazil vs. Norway for free 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Brazil vs. Norway for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Brazil vs. Norway (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Brazil vs. Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is slowly creeping towards it's dramatic conclusion, with some huge matchups in the Last 16.

Mexico vs. England is a standout fixture. The hosts will be confident of moving into the quarter finals after dominating their group and comfortably beating Ecuador in the last round. England have stuttered, but they have a number of top stars who can win any game. They'll be relying on the likes of Harry Kane and June Bellingham to power them through.

If you want to watch Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. England?

Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on July 5. This fixture takes place at the Mexico City Stadium.

How to watch Mexico vs. England for free

Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Mexico vs. England for free 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 the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Mexico vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Mexico vs. England (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Mexico vs. England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

TL;DR: Type faster and save valuable time with a lifetime subscription to Voibe, on sale now for just $34.99 (reg. $199) with code JULY30 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Essence AI Voibe Lifetime Subscription $34.99
$199 Save $164.01   Get Deal

We could all use a little more time in the day. Fortunately, there’s now an app for Apple lovers that can help you turn your voice into text that’s three times faster than typing — Voibe.

If you act fast, you can save time forever with a lifetime subscription to Voibe for just $34.99 with code JULY30 if you buy it before tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Give your fingers a rest and let Voibe get to work. This AI voice dictation tool makes it easier to get things done on your Mac, turning your voice into text and transcribing three times faster than typing.

Voibe runs in the background on your Mac and works with nearly any app where you can place a cursor, so you can have AI-powered assistance anytime you need it. It uses OpenAI’s latest Whisper model, too, so you know you’re in good hands.

There’s no waiting around with Voibe; it offers zero-latency performance, so words show up in real-time. Just hold a key, talk naturally, then release, and your words will appear on your screen. It can even handle accents and technical jargon.

Traditional dictation tools need cloud processing, but Voibe doesn’t require any connection. It works directly on your Mac, and audio is never sent to the cloud, so you can work offline and enjoy better security and privacy.

This tool makes drafting emails, notes, content, and feedback a lot easier. It also streamlines your workflow, as you can capture your thoughts instantly without losing focus.

Lock in a lifetime of convenient dictation on your Mac with this lifetime subscription to Voibe for just $34.99 with code JULY30 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Easily identify the best investments for your portfolio with this lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker, now only $48.29 (reg. $486) with code JULY30 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $48.29
$486 Save $437.71   Get Deal

The most successful investors don’t just hop on hot stocks. They take a long-term approach, choosing investments that align with their financial goals. Sterling Stock Picker helps make stock picking easier with AI-powered insights that simplify the process.

If you want to invest confidently, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for just $48.29 with code JULY30, but you need to act fast — this deal ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Investing doesn’t have to be intimidating. Sterling Stock Picker makes it accessible for all — with no prior knowledge or intense research required.

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, powers this app, which features patent-pending technology for its North Star Rating System. These ratings provide technical and risk analysis for each stock on the market and a clear recommendation to buy, sell, hold, or avoid.

Want a stock rocket? Sterling Stock Picker shows you companies with more than 50% quarterly revenue growth. You’ll also get access to Finley, a personal finance coach that can answer questions about your portfolio, individual stocks, and the market in general.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Sterling Stock Picker has a five-minute questionnaire that provides the app with info about your values, investment goals, and risk preferences so it can give you the best options for your portfolio. If you prefer to be hands-off, there’s also a Done-for-You portfolio option, too.

Learn more about the market within the app thanks to in-depth explanations of financial concepts and expert-backed strategy guides. Want to talk things over with a fellow investor? There’s a member chat forum, too.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for just $48.29 with code JULY30 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.