IT General

Every Excel power user knows that keyboard shortcuts are one of the best ways to speed up their workflow. But there's one problem: there are more than 200 of them. My way around this is to focus on a select handful that genuinely save me time, and Alt+; is high up that list.

DeGoogling your digital life is difficult, though not impossible, when you have an Android phone. By default, all of Google's services are deeply integrated into the operation of the phone; if you start removing them, you'll quickly find your phone no longer functions.

Linux is well known for being receptive to customization, and KDE Plasma is no exception. In contrast to the minimalism of GNOME, KDE’s shell lets you fine-tune hundreds of different settings, and the default way to do so is via System Settings.

Robot mowers are great at covering open grass. The trouble begins near walls, beneath trees, and on steep or uneven ground, where navigation becomes harder and tight turns can tear up the turf. Many models still leave a strip around the boundary to finish off with a string trimmer.

At the end of August, Rockstar Games treated us to our first official look at Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay. The only problem? It was captured on PlayStation 5, leaving Xbox owners hanging.

That's not a huge deal in a vacuum, as every video game trailer has to be captured on something, and the game isn't coming to PC at launch. It's an issue because there are plenty of folks out there who own the Xbox Series S, the $500 slightly-less-powerful Xbox Series console that arguably represents the best value in the current-gen console space right now. Personally, I'd argue for the Switch 2, but GTA isn't coming to that, so it's a moot point in this context.

Anyway, you're wondering how GTA VI will look and play on Xbox Series S. Let's get into it.

SEE ALSO: Could GTA 6 teach Gen Z how to be in a relationship? Grand Theft Auto VI on Xbox Series S: How will it look and run?

Unfortunately, you know as much about the state of GTA on Series S as we do, at the time of publication. Rockstar has not divulged any information about that build of the game, nor has it been shown publicly. At best, we can look at the trailer captured on PS5 and make some educated guesses.

For example, if GTA VI is running at 30 frames per second on a regular PS5 (as it did in the trailer), it's certainly not going to run any faster than that on a Series S. At best, it'll be the same, but as we've seen with some Series S games over the years, there could be performance drawbacks in intense situations.

The same goes for resolution, which could be cut down on Series S. According to the video game tech experts at Digital Foundry, the PS5 trailer was running at a native 1440p. Most Series S games do not reach that level, and considering that Digital Foundry called GTA VI the most impressive real-time graphical rendering they'd ever seen, one can imagine it won't reach that resolution on Series S, either.

But, again, it needs to be said that these are all just guesses. Rockstar hasn't given us anything else to work with right now. We'll let you know when we hear more.

The warm summer months are winding down, and that means you should probably start preparing for fall lawn care and DIY projects. If that includes buying new tools, Ryobi just announced several exciting products coming soon to your nearby Home Depot.

Updated on Sept. 3 at 12:24 p.m. ET — User error reports for ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are dropping on DownDetector, and some social media users report the morning's AI outages have mostly resolved. However, as of this writing, the OpenAI status page still reports "degraded performance." OpenAI's latest update states, "We have applied the mitigation and are monitoring the recovery."

Anthropic's status page reports that the Claude outage has ended: "The issue affecting Claude Mythos 5.1, Claude Fable 5.1, and Claude Opus 5 has been resolved. Impact has ended as of 9:16 PT / 16:16 UTC."

At this time, the cause of the outage is unknown.

A major internet outage appears to have hit all of the major AI services on Thursday.

ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and Grok all appear to be suffering from stability and downtime issues as of publishing, with thousands of users reporting outages.

DownDetector shows the major AI providers suffering downtime on Thursday. Credit: DownDetector

According to DownDetector, users across AI platforms started experiencing issues accessing ChatGPT at around 11 a.m. ET. However, it's not just OpenAI having issues either. DownDetector users also report that Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI's chatbots are all suffering from similar outages.

Brief ChatGPT and Claude outages happen occasionally, and they usually resolve quickly. However, it's highly unusual for multiple AI services to experience problems simultaneously.

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

ChatGPT's status monitor says "we're currently experiencing issues" and states that there are "elevated errors across ChatGPT and Codex."

Anthropic's own status monitor shared that Mythos/Fable 5.1, Mythos/Fable 5, Opus 5, Opus 4.8, and Opus 4.6 models are all affected by the outage.

It's currently unclear as to why all of these major AI platforms are suffering similar issues at the same time.

This is a developing story and we will update as more information becomes available...

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

When was the last time you saw a truly unforgettable Apple ad?

Steve Jobs built Apple into an empire by making advertising history, turning laptops and MP3 players into status symbols. But on the eve of another iPhone launch, it’s been a decade since Apple made a classic commercial. In fact, the biggest ad of the Tim Cook era was 2024’s tone-deaf 'Crush' ad, which people hated.

So, how did Apple go from rebellious tech underdog to exactly the type of bloated corporate monopoly it used to mock? It turns out, you can chart 40 years of Apple history through just seven commercials. Here is how Apple lost its cool factor—and how they can get it back.

Apple's Sunrise and Shine Event will be live on 9/9 at 1pm EST / 10am PST.

It's official: Nvidia has acquired the open-source AI platform Hugging Face for $13 billion.

Or, according to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, the acquisition was for $12,930,300,000, to be exact.

In a post on Nvidia's website on Thursday, Huang confirmed that the chipmaker turned AI industry giant has officially purchased Hugging Face after reports said an acquisition was in the making last week.

Hugging Face launched in 2016 as a chatbot app for teens but quickly pivoted during the AI boom. It's now the largest repository of open source AI models and tools, serving as a GitHub-like platform for AI developers.

"Hugging Face will continue to support open source and open weight models from across the ecosystem, from every model builder," Huang said in his post, confirming the platform will remain open. "Open models let startups, businesses, universities and public institutions build on advanced capabilities without training every model from scratch. They enable organizations to match the right model to the right job. That is how AI can advance safely, strengthen cybersecurity and sovereignty, accelerate innovation, and reach factories, hospitals, farms, classrooms and Main Street businesses around the world."

According to Huang, Hugging Face has more than 18 million users and that 200,000 companies utilize the platform. Last week, Hugging Face shared that the platform hosts more than 3 million models. It also has 500,000 datasets and 1 million applications on the platform.

Hugging Face was recently thrust into the spotlight earlier this summer after OpenAI shared a serious security incident where its AI agents went rogue and hacked the open-source platform.

Nvidia's purchase of the platform further cements the company's moves to seemingly become the global leader of the AI industry. The chipmaker has made numerous partnerships and investments in the AI industry in recent months, with Hugging Face being the latest.

Forget about Grand Theft Auto VI for a second because there's a big update coming to the multiplayer portion of GTA V.

Rockstar Games announced on its website that a big GTA role-playing update called nopixel V is starting a closed beta on Sept. 8. It's primarily meant for the GTA roleplaying community, who use GTA Online as a platform to tell their own stories, and anyone who gets invited to the beta will be able to launch into it straight from the GTA V launcher.

In the update, Rockstar is promising enhanced visuals, deeper character customization, a wider variety of ways to make money, and NPCs who are smarter and more reactive to your actions. There's even a big casino for you to visit. So far, it seems like this stuff is going to be relegated to the GTA Online experience, but perhaps that will change over time.

Speaking of GTA Online, the multiplayer cash cow that has allowed Rockstar to take so long in making GTA VI is, so far, notably absent from the new game. Rockstar has not said one way or another if GTA VI will ever have an online component, but this new update to the multiplayer in GTA V suggests that the older game will continue getting support for the time being.

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' on PS5 vs Xbox: Key differences to consider

The floppy ruled removable storage for decades, but it quickly became too small and spurred on many pretenders to the throne. Yet while many tried to topple the floppy from its throne, it clung on far longer than you'd expect.

Samsung once again has major competition for the Galaxy Watch Ultra in the Android world. Motorola has unveiled the Moto Watch Ultra, its most advanced Wear OS smartwatch yet — and with a few advantages over its Korean counterpart.

Lenovo is finally sharing details of its first PCs based on Nvidia's first consumer PC processor, the RTX Spark. The brand has shared first details of the Yoga 9n 2-in-1 and Yoga Pro 9n, both of which are aimed at creators and developers—and in some cases, gamers. I've had hands-on time with both ahead of IFA 2026, with a catch.

Lenovo is taking its turn at fighting the MacBook Neo by borrowing its colorful design for a potentially more capable laptop. The company has introduced the IdeaPad Vibe as a more powerful Windows alternative, and I've had hands-on time with it at IFA 2026.

Lenovo showed off its first two Windows laptops powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark platform today at IFA, Berlin's annual tech expo, but their pricing and release details are still a mystery.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang previously described the RTX Spark as a "superchip" designed to power "personal AI computers" capable of running AI agents and models on-device. The chip provides up to 1 petaflop of compute and up to 128GB of memory, and Nvidia says it was purpose-built for slim Windows laptops.

One of the laptops is the Yoga Pro 9n, a 15-inch clamshell model that Lenovo first unveiled at the Computex trade show in Taiwan back in June. The PC giant has finally shared its official images and spec sheet, which includes up to 128GB of RAM, up to 4TB of storage across two SSD slots, a 2.5K OLED display with a variable 165Hz refresh rate, and a haptic touchpad with stylus support.

Credit: Lenovo

The other laptop is a previously unannounced 16-inch convertible called the Yoga 9n 2-in-1. (Pictures of it leaked back in July, but Lenovo hasn't confirmed its existence until now.) It's the second hybrid RTX Spark laptop after the MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+, another Computex debutant.

The Yoga 9n 2-in-1 features up to 64GB of memory, up to 2TB of SSD storage, a 2.8K OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, and a rotating soundbar. Its touchpad is also compatible with a stylus.

Both laptops are set to compete with the Apple MacBook Pro, Microsoft Surface Ultra, and other premium creator laptops. Their pricing and availability "will be announced at launch," according a press release shared with Mashable. Anyone familiar with the current state of the tech industry will expect them to be splurges, especially the upper-end configurations. (For reference, a 16-inch MacBook Pro with 128GB of RAM costs a cool $6,999.)

Lenovo Yoga Pro 9n specs Credit: Lenovo Credit: Lenovo

In its press release, Lenovo said the Yoga Pro 9n is geared toward "creators and developers whose work demands substantial local computing capability in a premium, portable design." It's positioning the device as an all-in-one mobile workstation that can run resource-intensive tasks during the workday (think 3D rendering, video editing, and AI app development), then graphically taxing games after hours.

Here's a full rundown of the Yoga Pro 9n's specs and features:

• Chipset: Nvidia RTX Spark (includes Nvidia Grace CPU with up to 20 cores and Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU with up to 6,144 cores)

• Memory: Up to 128GB RAM

• Storage: Up to 4TB total SSD

• Display: 15.3-inch 2.5K (2,560 × 1,600 pixel) OLED display with 48 to 165Hz refresh rate and 1,100 nits of peak HDR brightness

• Keyboard: Island-style backlit keyboard with 1.5mm key travel

• Touchpad: Haptic Force Pad with pen support

• Webcam: 9.2MP camera

• Audio: Four speakers with Dolby Atmos

• Battery: 92.5Whr

• Ports: Two USB-A ports, two USB4 ports, HDMI port, UHS-II SD card slot, and a headphone jack

• Wireless tech: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

• Weight: Starting at 3.64 pounds

• Dimensions: 13.66 × 9.53 × 0.66 inches (at its thinnest point)

The Yoga Pro 9n has an all-aluminum chassis that comes in a Thunder Gray finish. It doesn't ship with a stylus, so if you want one for drawing on its touchpad, you'll have it buy it separately.

Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 specs Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group

The convertible Yoga 9n 2-in-1 is built "for creators who need substantial local performance together with the flexibility to sketch, annotate, edit, present, and collaborate in different ways," Lenovo said. Its 360-degree hinge lets it flip between Laptop, Tablet, Tent, Stand, and Canvas modes.

The Yoga 9n 2-in-1's specs and features are as follows:

• Chipset: Nvidia RTX Spark (includes Nvidia Grace CPU with up to 20 cores and Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU with up to 6,144 cores)

• Memory: Up to 64GB RAM

• Storage: Up to 2TB SSD

• Display: 16-inch 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800 pixel) OLED touchscreen display with 30 to 120Hz refresh rate and 1,100 nits of peak HDR brightness

• Keyboard: Island-style backlit keyboard with 1.5mm key travel and a "silk-touch" finish

• Touchpad: Haptic Force Pad with pen support

• Webcam: 9.2MP camera

• Audio: Six speakers (two tweeters, four woofers) with Dolby Atmos, plus a rotating soundbar (two tweeters)

• Battery: 99.9Whr

• Ports: Two USB-A ports, two USB4 ports, HDMI port, UHS-II SD card slot, and a headphone jack

• Wireless tech: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

• Weight: Starting at 4.28 pounds

• Dimensions: 14.17 × 9.57 × 0.69 inches

The fully aluminum Yoga 9n 2-in-1 comes in Lenovo's classic Cosmic Blue finish and includes a Yoga Pen. The pen's case can be attached to the back of the device's lid to enable Canvas mode.

These new RTX Spark-powered Yoga laptops are just two of many devices that Lenovo brought to IFA. Other highlights include two new concept laptops and a new budget laptop that will compete with Apple's mega-popular MacBook Neo. Check out the full roster on Lenovo's news site.

What makes the Nvidia RTX Spark unique? Credit: Lenovo

Announced at Computex this summer, RTX Spark is Nvidia's new do-it all "superchip" platform (combining a CPU and GPU) that's specially made for thin Windows laptops and compact desktop PCs. The chip giant claims that RTX Spark devices will have elite graphics capabilities and advanced AI processing power, enabling them to run autonomous AI models locally, on top of all-day battery life. In the computer world, supercharged performance has always come at the cost of stamina — until now, potentially.

Besides Lenovo, Asus, Dell, HP, Microsoft, and MSI are also working on RTX Spark laptops. Nvidia believes the superchips will usher in a new era of portable AI supercomputers.

Yet another Windows alternative to the MacBook Neo lands this fall.

Announced today at IFA, an annual tech trade show in Berlin, Lenovo's IdeaPad Vibe is a new premium-built budget laptop with a full rainbow of colorways and a plethora of configuration and customization options. The new laptop also comes in two screen sizes, multiple processor flavors, and has upgradable RAM and storage. Its reveal confirms a leak from mid-August.

The IdeaPad Vibe measures 0.59 inches thin, making it less than a tenth of an inch thicker than a MacBook Neo. Credit: Lenovo

The IdeaPad Vibe launches this October with AMD Ryzen AI 400 series processors and in November with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips starting at $699.99, according to a company press release. More models with Intel processors are in the works.

In its release, Lenovo billed the IdeaPad Vibe as "an AI PC that is ready to perform and designed to stand out, no matter what a person’s vibe is."

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe specs and features The IdeaPad Vibe has customizable keycaps (sold separately). Credit: Lenovo

The IdeaPad Vibe will come in 14- and 15-inch sizes that start at 2.87 pounds and 3.31 pounds, respectively, making it slightly bigger than the 13-inch, 2.7-pound MacBook Neo, Apple's mega-popular $699 notebook. Both sizes will be available with AMD or Qualcomm CPU offerings at the $700 price point; there's no upcharge for a bigger screen.

The IdeaPad Vibe will come in seven hues that Lenovo developed with the help of the Pantone Color Institute: Chill Blue, Moody Blue, Dreamy Violet, Lowkey Grey, Radiant Coral, Spicy Gold, and Zen Green. Lenovo will sell swappable keycaps that make it even more personalizable.

Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group

Most configurations of the IdeaPad Vibe will have a fully metal chassis in the vein of the Neo, though some AMD models will have metal housing with ridged plastic bottom covers. When asked whether there were any pricing or spec differences between each build type, a Lenovo spokesperson told Mashable that "a lot of that is hard to determine right now." We should get more details at launch.

Left: The bottom cover of the IdeaPad Vibe in metal... Credit: Lenovo Right: ... versus plastic. Credit: Lenovo

The IdeaPad Vibe will come standard with a 120Hz IPS display. Both sizes of the Lowkey Grey and Moody Blue variants will have OLED upgrade options, including an OLED touchscreen option for the 15-inchers.

Like the Neo, the IdeaPad Vibe will start with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. Unlike the Neo, you can max it out with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage — single-handedly, if you have the means. Qualcomm-powered IdeaPad Vibes will have user-upgradable SSDs, while AMD models will have expandable SSDs and RAM. If equipped with at least 16GB of memory, they can run Windows' Copilot+ PC AI features.

The IdeaPad Vibe has expandable storage and (on AMD models) upgradable RAM. Credit: Lenovo

Here's a quick rundown of the rest of the IdeaPad Vibe's specs and features. Note how it's packed with ports:

• Integrated graphics

• 5MP webcam with privacy shutter

• Two 2W speakers with Dolby Audio

• Island-style keyboard with optional backlighting

• Mylar touchpad

• Two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, a microSD card reader, and a headphone jack

• WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

The IdeaPad Vibe marks the latest in a series of premium-feeling budget laptop launches amid the global memory crisis, starting with the MacBook Neo's market-rattling debut in March. Before the colorful, all-aluminum Neo arrived, cheap laptops were known for having bland plastic builds.

Other new MacBook Neo competitors include the Dell XPS 13 and Acer Swift Air 14. They have the same starting price as the Neo (and now the IdeaPad Vibe), but double the starting storage.

The IdeaPad Vibe is just one of many new devices Lenovo showcased at IFA, among them its first two Nvidia RTX Spark-powered laptops. See the full lineup on Lenovo's news site.

Being a tech aficionado was never the cheapest hobby out there, but these days, it's even worse than usual. That's why I tend to advocate looking for cheap upgrades instead of spending lots of money, with tips on how to avoid needing to buy a new router, for instance.

While the list of new Netflix movies in September is impressive, the group of new and returning shows this month is equally impressive. The first show on the list is the second season of a crime comedy by Guy Ritchie. The next show is a coming-of-age story set in the unfamiliar world of high school rowing.

Feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem died on Wednesday, according to a post shared on her Instagram account. She was 92.

The news, shared early Thursday, included a recent photo of Steinem and a statement about her life. "Yesterday, Gloria Steinem passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her. Gloria's near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end," it began. No cause of death was given.

View this post on Instagram

Steinem was a key figure in the feminist movement in the United States, beginning in the 1960s with second-wave feminism. She spoke about gender equality and issues like abortion. She first gained national attention in 1963 when she went undercover as a Playboy bunny and wrote about the experience. Steinem went on to co-found Ms. magazine and remained a prominent voice on gender parity and reproductive rights. Former President Obama awarded Steinhem with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

"Gloria's greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard. Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves. Gloria lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor," the statement read.

Almost immediately upon the news, fellow feminists, as well as politicians and celebrities, began sharing tributes online.

Writer Roxane Gay commented on the Instagram post, "Gloria was one of a kind. Genuine, generous, curious, thoughtful. She lived a staggering life and her passing is a staggering loss tempered only by the ferocity of her legacy."

"She was our leader," actor and comedian Amy Sedaris commented. "We have to be more like her. Carry her fight."

TV producer Shonda Rhimes commented, "She was fierce and kind and full of grace. What a loss for the world."

"As we elders, our daughters, and our granddaughters continue the fight for power, equality, and respect, we hold you in our hearts with love and gratitude," musician Carole King wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

Actor and comedian Sandra Bernhard shared a photo with her and Steinem, writing, "It was an honor to have a conversation with the great [Gloria Steinem.] classy funny she didn't take any punches she had no time to suffer fools & baby she encountered a whole lot of them! Let's honor her life & work & re dedicate it to reclaiming our reproductive rights!"

View this post on Instagram

A Well-Trained Wife author, Tia Levings, wrote on Instagram, "If you, like me, grew up hearing that Gloria Steinem was evil, please use this time of her visible impact to educate yourself on her extraordinary life and fight for all women."

View this post on Instagram

"Gloria Steinem was a fearless trailblazer who transformed the fight for equality in America and inspired generations of women to know their power," Rep. Nancy Pelosi wrote on X.

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

"Meeting heroes always risks disappointment, but knowing Gloria was an honor, where her humor and kindness were matched by a relentless belief that we could be better," former Rep. Stacey Abrams posted on X.

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

CNN's chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour, wrote on X, "Gloria Steinem will go down in history as one of the most important activists of all time, leading a movement for the equality of half the world: its women."

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

Steinhem's activism continued later in life, according to the statement. "She spent her recent years doing the two things she loved most: being in community with others and writing. She has welcomed hundreds of guests into her living room for Talking Circles, a tradition she insisted will continue long after she is no longer with us." Her Instagram account features photos of these Talking Circles, including one from less than two months ago.

President of Run For Something, Amanda Litman, wrote about the Talking Circles in her tribute to Steinem on X: "The two talking circles I went to at her home — the first in August 2024, when I was sweating my ass off 8 months pregnant with my second daughter as we talked about the possibility (again!) of electing the first woman president & the second earlier this year, where after a long convo on the future, I got to give her a copy of my book — were experiences I'll never forget."

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

"Gloria loved the tradition of lighting signal fires on hills to light the way to the other side of the mountain. Lighting your own candle for Gloria makes you part of this global and celestial community circle," the statement read. It also noted that, in lieu of flowers, Steinem asked that anyone wishing to honor her make a donation to Gloria's Foundation, which, among providing fellowships and residencies to people working on social justice projects, also facilitates the Talking Circles.

The death of the prominent feminist comes shortly after the deaths of other beloved figures like Dolly Parton. The last post on the Gloria's Foundation Instagram account prior to today's announcement was an archival photo of her and Parton.

View this post on Instagram

TikTok's comment section is about to get a lot more chaotic.

The platform is rolling out a slate of new ways to interact beneath videos, including voice comments, polls, photo carousels, and Live Photos. The four new features expand what users can post beyond text and single image replies, giving TikTok's famously active comment sections even more ways to become part of the content itself.

Those comment sections are already busy. According to the company, more than 1.7 billion comments are posted on the platform every day.

TikTok is bringing voice notes to the comments TikTok's comment section is becoming a group chat. Credit: TikTok

Perhaps the biggest change is Voice Comments, which allow users to record and post audio messages up to 60 seconds long directly beneath a video.

That means instead of typing "I'm screaming," you could, theoretically, let everyone hear you scream.

TikTok imagines people using the feature to leave spoken reactions, laugh along with a meme, or even sing back to a music creator. But anyone who's ever opened the comments on a viral TikTok can probably imagine plenty of other possibilities.

Of course, giving TikTok users 60 seconds to say whatever they want could open up new opportunities for harassment and other harmful behavior. TikTok says Voice Comments will be subject to the same Community Guidelines as other content on the platform. The company will use a combination of human and automated moderation tools, including speech-to-text transcription, to detect and remove violations.

Voice Comments will roll out globally over the next month to users 18 and older.

Creators can now poll their comment sections Take it to a vote. Credit: TikTok

TikTok is also introducing Comment Polls, which allow creators to launch a poll directly in the comment sections of their videos.

Creators could use them to ask followers what they should post next, settle a debate sparked by a video, or let viewers vote on anything from an outfit to a favorite character.

Unlike Voice Comments, there's no waiting for this one: Comment Polls are available globally starting Sept. 3.

Photo comments are becoming photo dumps Why post one reaction photo when you can post nine? Credit: TikTok

TikTok's photo comments are getting an upgrade, too.

With Photo Carousel Comments, users can attach up to nine photos in a single comment. Instead of choosing a single reaction image, commenters can drop an entire photo dump under someone else's video. Photo Carousel Comments will roll out globally over the next month.

There's also Live Photo Comments, which allow users to upload Live Photos directly from their camera rolls. The feature gives viewers a brief glimpse of the movement captured in the image rather than limiting photo replies to static shots. Live Photo Comments are available globally starting Sept. 3.

TikTok wants the comments to be content, too

If you've spent any time on TikTok, none of this feels entirely surprising. "Opening the comments" has practically become part of the viewing experience.

A video's joke gets extended through hundreds of replies. Viewers add context, tell stories, post reaction images, answer questions, and occasionally write something that becomes more memorable than the original TikTok. Creators, meanwhile, routinely turn comments into prompts for their next videos.

These updates give that behavior even more room to grow. TikTok's comment section can now contain text, photos, photo dumps, Live Photos, polls, and, soon, minute-long voice notes.

It's another sign that TikTok doesn't necessarily see comments as something that happens after the content. Increasingly, the comments are part of the content.

And they're about to get a whole lot louder.