IT General

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for August 1 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 1, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A stringed instrument.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BANJO.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 1

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Seth Meyers has been focussing on the Trump/Epstein scandal lately, but on Thursday's Late Night he also found time to draw attention to the president appearing to casually nod off at work during a White House event with Medicare administrator Dr. Oz.

Meyers shows footage of the president, his eyes slowly drifting shut before snapping open again, while Dr. Oz talks next to him.

"Hold on, I think I might have to do what my teachers used to do to me in math class," says Meyers, picking up a large book and dropping it onto the Late Night desk. "Mr Trump? Care to join us?

"I mean that was very brutal," Meyers adds. "You know when he finally opened his eyes he looked around and thought to himself, 'Oh f***, I'm still president.'"

On Thursday, Donald Trump signed an executive order to revive the Presidential Fitness Test for school children across the U.S., a move The Late Show's Stephen Colbert joked as meaning "now children will have to be as fit as President Trump."

Bringing out a whistle during Thursday's monologue, Colbert channelled his inner gym teacher to mock Trump's order: "Alright everyone, hop on that golf cart and start poppin' nuggets till your ankles swell like a balloon full of chilli. And dip, and munch, and dip, and munch. Now watch TV and yell, yell, yell."

Colbert noted that the Presidential Fitness Test has been around since 1966, but as the Associated Press reports, "The program changed in 2012 during the Obama administration to focus more on individual health than athletic feats."

"BOOOO!" said Colbert. "Make the children perform athletic feats for our amusement! I had to do it in school and so did all of you. And I think every child should have a chance to struggle through timed sit-ups while the meanest boy in school sits on their feet and farts. Think about it! If they don't have to do that, where will the future comedians come from?"

SAVE OVER $100: As of Aug. 1, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds are on sale for $99.99 at Best Buy. This is $130 off their list price of $229.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro $99.99 at Best Buy
$229.99 Save $130 Get Deal

If summertime travel plans have you itching to buy some new earbuds for your trips, there are thankfully some standout deals available right now. If you're quick, Best Buy's Deal of the Day — which is, as the name states, a one-day-only price drop — is offering an excellent discount right now on Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds are usually listed for $229.99, but Best Buy's offering them for $99.99 right now. That saves you $130 on list price. This deal only lasts through the rest of Aug. 1, so act fast to secure this low price.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best earbuds to buy in 2025, selected by Mashable audio experts

We consider these earbuds to be "a no-brainer for Samsung fans," as we explained in our review. Featuring Active Noise Cancelation, you can block out any outside noises and stay focused on what's playing. These earbuds are great for turning up for favorite tunes or getting lost in an audiobook. They even boast 360 Audio that makes it seem as if you are surrounded by the sounds. We're all about that immersion.

Act fast to save $130 on the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds at Best Buy as part of its Deal of the Day. And if you're looking for more earbud deals, Apple users can enjoy the AirPods 4 for under $100 right now at Amazon.

SAVE $100: As of Aug. 1, the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $619. This is $100 off its list price of $719.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo $619 at Amazon
$719 Save $100 Get Deal

If you've had your eyes on the skies and are looking for a drone to help you capture some aerial shots, Amazon's here to help. The retailer is offering a very nice discount at the moment on the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo, which comes with everything you need to kickstart your journey with a new drone.

While it's usually listed for $719, the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is on sale right now for $619. This is a discount of 14%, allowing you to pocket $100. If you've been hoping to pick up one of these mini drones, this is a great bundle offer to jump on while it's still available.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Mini 4K drone is selling fast — here’s where to buy

Alongside the DJI Mini 3 drone, this combo deal also comes with a shoulder bag, the DJI RC, and two additional flight batteries with a two-way charging hub. With the help of these extra batteries, you can get up to 114 minutes of flight time. It can also film in 4K HDR, features Level 5 wind resistance to keep it steady, and can shoot up to 32,800 feet in the air.

It also features a very neat "GPS Return to Home" system, which will command the drone to fly back to its place of origin automatically. So even if you've got a little lost during your flight, you can always retrieve your drone safely.

If you've had your eye on a drone, this bundle deal is worth a look. Don't miss out on $100 off the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo at Amazon. If you'd prefer to just get the drone on its own, the DJI Mini 3 drone is $60 off at Amazon right now as well.

The best streaming deals to watch 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' at home: BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Rent or buy 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' on Prime Video $5.99 or $12.99 Get Deal WATCH LATER HBO Max Basic (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99/year (save $19.89) Get Deal WATCH LATER HBO Max Standard annual subscription $169.99/year (save $33.89) Get Deal WATCH LATER FOR FREE HBO Max Basic With Ads for Cricket customers Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER FOR FREE HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal WATCH LATER HBO Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal WATCH LATER Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 38%) Get Deal

Driven largely by word-of-mouth and the franchise's loyal fanbase, Final Destination: Bloodlines has become the unexpected hit of the summer. The sixth installment in Jeffrey Reddick's long-running horror franchise managed to find new and creatively horrific ways for people to perish. And audiences and critics alike are loving it.

It's notably one of the last cinema roles of the late horror legend Tony Todd, reprising his Final Destination recurring character William Bludworth. It also stars Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Anna Lore, and Rya Kihlstedt.

If you missed it in theaters, there are now a few different ways you can dance with death at home. Here's everything you need to know to watch Final Destination: Bloodlines.

What is Final Destination: Bloodlines about?

Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, the newest Final Destination film follows Stefani Lewis (Santa Juana), a college student haunted by visions of her family's horrific deaths through outrageous accidents. She heads home in hopes of getting help to break the cycle and save her family from their inevitably grisly demise. As it turns out, she's not the only one in her family with the gift, as her grandmother Iris (Gabrielle Rose) skirted her own death in the '60s — and she's got the book Stefani will need to face her own.

Check out the gruesome trailer for a sneak peek:

Is the new Final Destination worth watching?

The latest movie in the Final Destination franchise was made on a $50 million budget and managed to gross around $285 million (so far) at the worldwide box office. That not only makes Bloodlines the highest-grossing Final Destination film ever, but also the second-highest grossing horror film of the year (after Sinners), and the 11th highest grossing film of any genre in 2025. It's not easy to succeed as the sixth movie in a franchise, but it truly exceeded expectations and became an unexpected summer hit.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is also the best-reviewed film in the entire franchise, scoring an impressive 93 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 87 percent audience score.

Mashable's own reviewer sums it up nicely: "If watching all of the ways the human body can get exploded is your cuppa, then have I got the hehe-sicko movie for you. You'll cringe, hoot, and holler. You'll wipe the phantom viscera off your face. And you'll spend the entire ride home convinced everything's out to kill you. It's horror movie nirvana."

Read our full review of Final Destination: Bloodlines.

How to watch Final Destination: Bloodlines at home Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Final Destination: Bloodlines hit theaters on May 16, 2025. If you missed out on the full theater experience or if you can't wait to watch it again, there are now a few different ways to watch it at home: purchasing via digital video-on-demand, renting via digital video-on-demand, and of course, streaming.

Buy or rent Final Destination: Bloodlines on digital

As of June 17, the latest Final Destination movie is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video. You can purchase the movie for your digital collection or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, just be aware that while you'll have 30 days to watch, you only get 48 hours to finish once you begin.

You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Apple TV — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Google Play — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or buy 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' at Prime Video $5.99 or $12.99 Get Deal Stream Final Destination: Bloodlines on HBO Max

As a Warner Bros. Pictures film, it's no surprise that Final Destination: Bloodlines made its streaming debut on HBO Max — the Warner Bros.-owned streaming service that keeps changing its name. You can stream the horror franchise's latest entry beginning Aug. 1, 2025.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few different ways to shave a few bucks off your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal

If you choose to pay upfront for an entire year of HBO Max, you can save about 16% compared to the monthly plan. The Basic plan with ads typically goes for $9.99 per month, but if you go annual, that cost drops to about $8.33 per month — a yearly total of just $99.99.

Best HBO Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on a Max Standard annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $169.99 per year (save $33.89) Get Deal

Similarly, for those who prefer an ad-free experience, you can opt for the annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans and save about 16%. The Standard tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.16 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). While both tiers offer ad-free viewing, the Premium tier goes a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max Basic (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Get Deal

Looking for a way to get HBO Max for free? Switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month unlimited plan. HBO Max Basic (with ads) is included for no extra cost. When you open up the HBO Max app, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in. That's all, folks.

Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash / Max HBO Max (with ads) Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is by signing up for DoorDash's annual DashPass plan for $96 per year ($8 per month). A DashPass membership gets you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long. You'll just have to activate your HBO Max Basic (with ads) subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. If you'd rather watch ad-free, you can upgrade for a discounted rate as well.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can expand their movie horizons with an entire year of HBO Max Basic (with ads) for half price. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS and use the unique discount code you receive to drop the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month. After 12 months, your subscription will go back up to full price unless you cancel.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

Want the most bang for your buck? Check out the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for only $16.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $25.97 per month, so you'll keep an extra $9 in your pocket monthly.

Rather go ad-free? The ad-free bundle will run you $29.99 per month as opposed to $48.97. That's up to 38% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries — arguably the best deal in the entire streaming-verse.

The CMF Buds 2 Plus are a vaguely more premium version of what recently became my go-to pair of in-ear earbuds. This pair is technically superior, but is the difference something you’ll notice? For most people, I’d wager no.

SAVE $30: Walmart has the Apple Pencil Pro on sale for $99, down from its usual $129 price tag — a $30 discount on Apple's newest, most advanced iPad stylus.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Pencil Pro $99 at Walmart
$129 Save $30 Get Deal

This latest Apple deal at Walmart is hard to ignore if you’ve been looking to level up your iPad creativity. As of Aug. 1, Walmart has knocked $30 off the Apple Pencil Pro, bringing the price down to just $99. Normally $129, this is one of the best early discounts we’ve seen on Apple’s most powerful stylus yet.

The latest Apple Pencil Pro isn’t just a minor upgrade. It’s packed with intuitive tools designed to make digital art, note-taking, and precision work feel more natural than ever. For instance, it introduces new gestures like Squeeze and Barrel Roll, giving you quick access to brushes, tools, and stroke adjustments without digging through menus. Haptic feedback adds a subtle tactile response when snapping shapes or aligning elements, making your workflow smoother and more satisfying.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: MacBooks, AirPods, and more

For artists and power users, pixel-perfect precision, tilt and pressure sensitivity, and low latency ensure every stroke feels exactly how you intend it. Hover functionality on supported iPad Pro and iPad Air models (M2 and newer) lets you preview your marks before you commit, making it perfect for detailed sketching or photo retouching. 

And if you’ve ever misplaced a stylus, support from the Find My feature should help save you from the hunt.

The Apple Pencil Pro even attaches magnetically to compatible iPads for pairing and charging, keeping your setup clean and ready to go. Just note that it only works with the latest iPad Pro (M4) and iPad Air (M2 and M3) models, so double-check compatibility before buying.

If you’re still browsing for upgrades, you can check out our 2025 roundup of the 10 best tablets that are worth your money. And if you’re all-in on the Apple ecosystem, don’t miss our weekly list of top Apple deals — featuring fresh discounts on iPads, MacBooks, and more.

SAVE $99: Amazon is offering Apple’s AirPods Max for $449.99 (regularly $549), available in midnight, blue, orange, and starlight.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $449.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $99.01 Get Deal

Now might finally be the time to jumy on Apple’s luxury over-ear headphones. As of Aug. 1, Apple AirPods Max are marked down to $449.99 on Amazon, giving you a cool $100 off their usual $549 price tag. The deal applies to multiple colour options, including midnight, blue, orange, and starlight.

According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, that's the best price we've seen in weeks.

SEE ALSO: Hurry! Apple AirPods 4 are back under $100 on Amazon.

Apple designed the AirPods Max to take your listening sessions to a new level. Their custom-built dynamic driver and computational audio powered by the Apple H1 chip deliver high-fidelity sound with clarity and depth that rivals many studio-grade headphones. Combine that with pro-level Active Noise Cancellation that cuts out twice as much background noise as earlier AirPods models, and you’ve got an experience that’s all about focus and immersion.

We even tested them at Mashable in a dedicated AirPods Max review of its lossless audio, and declared that these are excellent all-rounder headphones.

If you need to stay aware of your surroundings, you can switch to Transparency mode for a natural mix of music and ambient sound, making it easy to chat or hear what’s going on around you without missing a beat. Personalised Spatial Audio is another standout, tailoring playback to your unique ear shape and dynamically tracking your head for a 360-degree soundscape — especially impressive with Dolby Atmos-supported content.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: MacBooks, AirPods, and more

Beyond sound, Apple put serious thought into comfort. The AirPods Max feature a breathable knit-mesh canopy and plush memory foam ear cushions for a secure yet weightless feel, ideal for long listening sessions. A colour-matched Smart Case is included, and with USB-C charging, you can stay powered up with ease.

Seamless setup and automatic switching between iPhone, iPad, and Mac make these headphones as smart as they are stylish. They even pause your music the instant you take them off.

At $449.99, the AirPods Max bring Apple’s most advanced audio tech into a slightly more accessible price range. If you’ve been eyeing a pair, this Amazon deal is a great opportunity to upgrade your sound game while keeping nearly $100 in your pocket.

If you’re still shopping around, our roundup of the top 10 headphones in 2025 is a good starting point. On the off-chance you’re an Apple purist, we also have a list of the best Apple deals of the week — including bargains on iPads and MacBooks.

We love Toni Collette in creepy mode, and we love the idea of comedian and Feel Good star Mae Martin making a rare pivot to thriller. You'll get both in Netflix's Wayward, a new limited series created by and starring Martin with Ryan Scott.

In the teaser above, you'll get glimpses of a creepy facility in the woods called Tall Pines, where "troubled teens" attend under the watch of a strangely smiley founder (Collette). It's not clear what secrets this place holds, but Collette's unsettling welcome suggests you can check in anytime you like but you might never leave. It'll be up to new police officer in town Alex Dempsey (Martin) to investigate, after two students (Sydney Topliffe and Alyvia Alyn Lind) tip him off.

Martin told Netflix's Tudum blog the show is "like if you took the kids from Booksmart and put them in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

Wayward hits Netflix Sept. 25.

We spend a lot of time fawning over the latest tech here at Mashable, and as much as we love nerding out over the newest Sony headphones drop, we know that's not always relatable. New tech is often expensive tech, and a nearly $500 pair of headphones is certainly not always in the budget. That's why we're here to talk about the best budget earbuds.

A pair of cheap earbuds is a compact alternative to over-the-ear headphones, but let's be clear, just because these earbuds are affordable, doesn't mean they skimp on features. Two of the best earbuds we've tested are nearly $300 — Apple AirPods Pro costs $249.95, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds come in at $299 — but we've found models for even less. You don't need to spend $300 on a pair of great earbuds; in fact, you don't even need to spend $100.

Among all the earbuds we've tested, which is an extensive list, these are the best budget earbuds.

What's considered budget?

Budget is a relative term, so for this list, we're looking at earbuds under $200, but mostly under $100. Our top pick is the EarFun Air Pro 4, which have a list price of $79.99, and have the noise cancellation of a much more expensive pair of earbuds. Going the budget route might mean making compromises, but not sacrifices. For under $100, you can still get active noise cancellation and self-charging cases.

We do include a couple of models closer to $200, which we get isn't exactly everyone's idea of budget-friendly. For those models, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds and the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, we consider them budget pairs, relatively speaking. Compared to premium options, the Bose QC earbuds offer an awfully similar experience for significantly cheaper. In the case of Apple, AirPods' entire line runs at higher price points than most of the consumer audio market. That's why we recommend the AirPods 4 both with and without ANC for folks who want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, enjoy AirPods' quality sound, but aren't quite ready to make the jump to the Pros.

Other models we've tested

The models on this list are pulled from our extensive testing here at Mashable. Our previous top pick on this list was the Apple AirPods 3; however, the AirPods 4 have replaced them, making them more expensive, plus they don't have great Android compatibility.

Another pair of headphones we considered for this list were the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds with sound by Bose. We tested these buds, and while they're pretty good for $100, they have a bad case design and just aren't that comfortable compared to other models on this list — plus, the $100 introductory price went up to $129.99.

SAVE 23%: Score Apple AirPods 4 for only $99 on Amazon, marked down from $129.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Airpods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30 Get Deal

Amazon just handed you a great reason to upgrade your earbuds. As of Aug. 1, Apple AirPods 4 are on sale for $99 on Amazon, which is 23% off the regular $129 price tag.

The AirPods 4 are Apple’s latest take on wireless listening, and they’re more than a minor tweak from previous generations. In our Mashable review of the AirPods 4, we loved them enough to declare them our new go-to daily earbuds to replace the AirPods Pro. These earbuds have been redesigned for all-day comfort, featuring a refined contour and shorter stem that helps them stay secure in your ears whether you’re commuting, working out, or just relaxing.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: MacBooks, AirPods, and more

Audio quality also gets a noticeable bump thanks to Apple’s H2 chip and Personalized Spatial Audio. The latter tailors sound based on your individual ear shape, delivering an immersive, theater-like effect when you’re listening to music, streaming shows, or gaming. 

On calls, Voice Isolation technology ensures that your voice cuts through even in noisy environments, so you sound crystal clear to whoever’s on the other end. Pairing AirPods 4 with your iPhone or other Apple devices is practically instant — just pop them open near your device and tap to connect.

Siri support is smarter, too. You can simply say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to issue commands, and with Siri Interactions, you can now nod or shake your head to respond hands-free.

Battery life holds strong with up to five hours of listening on a single charge, and a total of 30 hours with the USB-C charging case, which is dust, sweat, and water-resistant. Whether you’re heading to the gym or caught in a downpour, your AirPods can keep up.

Whilst grabbing new earbuds, take a look at our other best Apple deals of the week — including MacBooks, iPads, and more. If you’re still shopping around, check out our roundup of best earbuds in 2025 from a variety of brands like Panasonic, Bose, Anker, and of course, Apple.

If you were online in the early 2000s, KiiiKiii’s aesthetic might feel eerily familiar.

The rookie K-pop girl group is channeling a distinctly Y2K internet vibe for their new single, "Dancing Alone." The first thing you see on their website is a pop-up window featuring a pixelated dolphin defining the word "anemoia," a neologism meaning "nostalgia for a time one has never known." For KiiiKiii's members — all born after 2005 — that time is the early internet: clunky homepages, flashing cursors, Craigslist garage sales, and the tender chaos of adolescent emotion once captured in blurry webcam selfies and broken HTML.

And that’s exactly the world they’re building.

To promote "Dancing Alone," KiiiKiii’s site features Friendster-style profile pages for each member and faux Craigslist listings advertising a "garage sale." Some of the items on sale? A scuffed-up, bedazzled ice-blue Game Boy Advance SP circa 2003. Old camcorders in a variety of colors. And "gently used" DVDs.

KiiiKiii turns a 2003 Game Boy into a photo frame. Credit: STARSHIP Entertainment This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The images themselves are soft flash and pixel blur, all muted tones and melancholy textures, like they were snapped on a thrifted Canon PowerShot ELPH and uploaded from a family desktop. It’s a full-on sensory portal to a time before streaming, when heartbreak lived in AIM away messages and girls uploaded mirror selfies to MySpace with glitter text and lowercase captions.

SEE ALSO: Le Sserafim on tech, style, and staying connected in a digital world

For a generation that didn’t experience Y2K firsthand, KiiiKiii’s concept doesn’t just replicate the era — it mythologizes it. This is K-pop worldbuilding at its most layered: turning early-web ephemera and analog tech into a dreamy, digital coming-of-age narrative, wrapped in a fuzzy glow of borrowed memory.

Each member’s profile feels like a love letter typed in Comic Sans. Credit: STARSHIP Entertainment It's like logging into a past you never lived. Credit: STARSHIP Entertainment

KiiiKiii’s vision taps into a much larger trend: Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s ongoing embrace of old tech and Y2K aesthetics. Raised on sleek, algorithm-driven platforms, today’s digital natives are increasingly drawn to the messiness and tactility of the early internet, a time when personalization meant editing your MySpace layout in HTML, not choosing between Instagram Story fonts. The appeal is emotional. There’s something grounding, even rebellious, in returning to the janky textures of pre-streaming digital life — flip phones, digital cameras, wired headphones, chunky plastic hardware. In a social media landscape that prizes polish and performance, retro interfaces offer something more intimate, more handmade.

Lo-fi girlhood in a digital world. Credit: STARSHIP Entertainment

Gen Z is uniquely nostalgic: A 2023 research study by GWI found that 50 percent of this generation feels wistful for media they never experienced, and 15 percent actively choose to dwell in the past over the future

Whether it’s printing out photos (a practice 43 percent of Gen Z do regularly) or crafting faux Friendster pages, these retro impulses are rooted in a search for literal and emotional texture in an age of polish and automation.

SEE ALSO: The cult and community of Labubu

K-pop’s interpretation of this cultural moment is especially potent among teen groups. Acts like NewJeans, tripleS, and now KiiiKiii aren’t just recycling early-2000s trends; they’re reclaiming and reimagining them for a new generation. Through lo-fi visuals, analog tech, and retro internet references, these groups are using Y2K aesthetics to explore identity and girlhood through a distinctly digital lens.

In a culture defined by hyperconnectivity and curated personas, the fuzzy flash of a 2000s point-and-shoot feels, paradoxically, more real than reality.

A new telescope built to to track fast-moving space objects caught a comet from beyond the solar system moving across the sky — before anyone even knew it was there. 

The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile recently captured rare footage of the visitor known as 3I/ATLAS — only the third interstellar object discovered. What’s more impressive: The observatory recorded the video a full 10 days before the comet was officially identified by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System.

Unlike the thousands of comets that loop around the sun, this one isn’t from around here. Scientists say 3I/ATLAS was born in a completely different star system and likely got flung into the void by the gravity of a nearby planet or passing star. After drifting for perhaps hundreds of millions of years, the giant comet, which you can watch in Rubin's video below, wandered into our realm — and it's just passing through.

SEE ALSO: The Webb telescope saw a sun-like star on its deathbed. It wasn't alone. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Comets are icy, rocky objects that travel through space, often trailing long, bright tails of gas and dust as they warm up near the sun. Scientists have detected over 4,000 of them so far, but many more awaiting discovery could be lurking beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt or even in the remote Oort Cloud, the outer edge of the solar system about 50 times farther away.

Unlike Halley’s Comet and others that regularly circle the sun, 3I/ATLAS isn’t one of the locals. When it was first spotted on July 1 by the ATLAS survey telescope, it was over 400 million miles from Earth and well within the orbit of Jupiter. At the time, it was traveling at a blistering speed of about 137,000 mph. That’s far too fast to be held by the sun’s gravity, confirming that it's on a one-way route through the solar system.

Experts say it's only the third-known interstellar comet. The first, a rocky cigar-shaped thing named 'Oumuamua, zoomed by in 2017. Then came 2I/Borisov in 2019, which looked and behaved a little more like a typical comet. Now, 3I/ATLAS joins this rare club, but scientists think it may be the most ancient of all.

Based on early computer models, researchers believe 3I/ATLAS may have come from a little-known region of the Milky Way filled with old, long-lived stars. If so, it could be over 7 billion years old — nearly twice as old as our own solar system. That makes it a sort of time capsule, preserving materials from an earlier time in the galaxy.

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Because it’s already releasing gas and dust as it heats up, astronomers know it’s made of ice — the hallmark of a comet — despite recent sensational headlines suggesting the object might be an alien spacecraft. Its dusty tail may become visible from Earth with a backyard telescope later this year or early in 2026.

"While there's *nothing wrong* with thinking about whether some interstellar objects could be alien technology," said Jason Wright, a Penn State astronomy and astrophysics professor, on X, "3I/ATLAS has had its coma clearly detected since July 3. It's very clearly, *unambiguously*, a comet."

Scientists are especially excited about this discovery not just because of what it is, but because of how it was found. The Rubin Observatory, while still being tested, managed to catch the comet before anyone even knew to look. That bodes well for the future. Researchers estimate Rubin could find dozens more of these interlopers in the coming decade — possibly up to 50.

Interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS offer a direct glimpse into the chemical makeup of other planetary systems. Since they formed around different stars, studying them could reveal how worlds form in other parts of the galaxy — and whether the building blocks for life travel between stars.

Right now, 3I/ATLAS is about 262 million miles from Earth. It's expected to make its closest approach to the sun in late October, then swing back out, never to return. But no need to worry: This comet will stay far from Earth, never coming closer than about 150 million miles, but leaving behind a wealth of data for astronomers to study for years to come.

It doesn't matter where you are or who you're talking to — if the conversation you're in turns to dating, it's only a matter of time before somebody says those seven little words we've all heard before: "Everyone meets on the apps these days."

But saying it doesn't make it so, and the pressure that you're putting on yourself to conform to that which isn't true could be turning you off dating altogether. After all, the apps aren't for everyone. And these great dating app expectations (app-spectations, if you will) are liable to result in feelings of low self-esteem, vulnerability, and a vicious cycle of desperation fed by perceived rejection that gets you nowhere good. Mashable asked experts for tips to shed these "app-spectations," and change your dating mindset. 

SEE ALSO: Gen Z is less comfortable with AI dating app features than millennials, survey finds Don't hate the dating game, change the way you play it

If you think using the apps is the most effective way to date, and you've begun to hate them, it stands to reason that soon you'll start hating dating altogether. But I covered in a previous article, dating apps probably don't work quite as well as you think they do. 

A rolling YouGov survey (with the latest results at the time of writing being from June 2025) found that nine percent of Brits met their current or most recent partner on a dating app. That's more than, say, through family (four percent) or through a shared hobby (also four percent), but less than ways like through mutual friends (15 percent), through work (17 percent), and in passing while out at a cafe, pub, or similar (10 percent). 

These figures indicate that the apps are certainly a significant part of the dating scene, but they are by no means the be-all and end-all of finding love. If you're beating yourself up for not finding your soulmate on Hinge, your mental wellbeing is at risk over a misconception. 

A 2024 survey by Forbes Health found that 78 percent of people felt dating apps had "emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted" them "sometimes, often, or always". The biggest reason why? Forty percent of those surveyed said it was not being able to find a quality connection.

Yes, it can be rough out there. Even if you've been having a great time on the apps, keeping your self-esteem topped up while you swipe is a challenge. Integrative counsellor Fran Roberts tells me that she's seen it before with lots of her clients. "The daily rejection from random strangers can knock even the strongest of people," she adds, "and any insecurity you do have becomes the reason why you can't meet someone or make them stay." 

So, trying to force your way into making dating apps work for you while not having a great time is a recipe for a well-being disaster.

Therapist Shikainah Champion-Samuel says that feelings of low self-esteem can lead to a vicious swiping cycle. "Contrary to what society would have you believe," she explains, "success on a dating app does not lead to lifting your mood and self-worth. It is probably the other way around. If you have healthy self-esteem, you are more likely to make good decisions while swiping on the app, rather than ones based on your emotional state."

Ammanda Major, who's the clinical quality director for the relationship counselling charity Relate, says that feeling rejected — which can happen at speed on lots of dating apps purely based on how they function — causes lots of people to act and feel more and more desperate to make the apps work as well as they think they should. And desperation is not exactly a turn-on. "So it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy," Major explains.

Champion-Samuel warns against the point where you start experiencing an "inward critical dialogue." If you're finding yourself thinking things like "I'm not attractive enough," "I'll never find love," or "If it's working for others and not me, there must be something wrong with me," then it might be time to quit the apps while you work on feeling better about yourself.

Otherwise, you're liable to end up in "a downward spiral of low mood and feelings of worthlessness," as Champion-Samuel puts it. "In that kind of vulnerable state, such people are more likely to fall prey to unscrupulous characters on the next dating app they try."

You might be thinking about the apps too much 

As Paul Brunson, Tinder's global relationship expert, puts it: "Dating apps give us the chance to meet new people, but they don't promise a fairy tale. If we can shift our mindset from pressure to potential, we can see dating as an opportunity for fun and growth."

The apps are simply a tool to be used at your discretion. Maybe that tool works for you, or maybe it doesn't. Either way, you don't have to use them to find love in 2025.

Instead, you could strike up a conversation with someone at a bar or ask a friend to set you up with one of their pals. If you're shy about approaching someone in public, you could even reach out to a crush on social media. You could try IRL events for singles like speed dating, which are rising in popularity again and are often specifically designed to help you break the ice. 

How to manage your dating app expectations

Aside from diversifying your dating, it's possible to keep using apps with a healthier mindset. 

It's important not to get tied up in knots over the opinions of others, Brunson points out. He explains, "It's important not to let rejection define you. The key is to stay true to yourself and not tie your value to someone else's preferences."

SEE ALSO: Queer dating app Taimi just launched two new features for making IRL connections

Don't stress to find perfection, he says. "When you approach it with the mindset of 'this is a journey, not a sprint,' it's a lot more enjoyable," he adds. "Remember, dating apps give you access to a world of possibility — it's about staying open to the experience, not just the end result. Sometimes, the best connections come when we stop forcing them and just let things unfold."

Roberts, who's a Counselling Directory member, suggests trying not to take your app chats "too seriously" until you've actually met IRL. "If someone does ghost or unmatch you," she adds, "remember [the differences between] fact and fiction. The fact is you have been ghosted, the fiction is any reason you come up with." 

She also recommends accepting that we are all simply "a bunch of strangers online hoping that someone is going to like us." 

Major has similar words of wisdom, saying: "Another way to look at it is [by thinking,] 'These people don't know me, so how can they reject me?' I think it's about hanging on to the bit that is real, because so much of this isn't real."

What is real is that there are countless other great and fun ways to meet people. What is a fact is that forcing yourself to date in a way that doesn't suit you messes with your chances of finding love in the first place. 

Bullying yourself over not being able to find a relationship on an app is like trying to make yourself feel bad for disliking left-handed scissors. Sweetheart, you might simply be right-handed. 

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Whether you're shopping for a new laptop for work, everyday use, or the upcoming school year, Walmart's offering an excellent discount on the M1 MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 256GB storage) that you don't want to miss. Right now you can score this laptop for just $599.

This is $50 off its usual list price of $649. This M1 MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 256GB) deal covers multiple colors as well, so you can choose between the silver model, gold, or space gray.

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks in 2025: Air or Pro?

The M1 is probably the most award-winning laptop of all time. It debuted Apple's M-series silicon chip, and was a top laptop pick for years. Sure, there are newer models. But this MacBook is still a beast.

Fitted with the M1 chip, 8GB RAM, and 256GB of storage, the M1 MacBook Air is a great fit for adults or students looking for a laptop to help them out with day-to-day activities. It also boasts up to 18 hours of battery life to get you through the day, a sleek 13.3-inch Retina display, and its slim design makes it incredibly easy to pack up and take on the go for the rest of your summer adventures or into the new school year.

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Would I want to check out the new Tesla Diner in Hollywood and write about it, my Mashable colleague asked me last week. Well, let's just say, I'm much more willing to help a fellow journalist than Elon Musk. I said yes.

I initially planned to check out the establishment the first Saturday following its July 21 opening, but I'm glad I waited. Social media images of block-long crowds and raucous scenes of anti-Elon protests — featuring effigies of the contentious electric car CEO — convinced me to hold off that day. I'm glad I didn’t visit on Sunday either, since that’s when a piece of patio furniture fell on a patron’s head. Could my family and I check out the hype and get out unscathed?

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

Tuesday seemed like a sensible enough option for a visit that would let me avoid the weekend’s crowds (and mayhem). At about 2:15 that afternoon, a line still wrapped around the retro-futuristic diner — brought to life by Tesla lead designer Franz von Holzhausen — and dozens loitered around the restaurant’s adjoining 80 EV charging stations.

The crowd enduring the 45-minute wait appeared to consist mostly of curious tourists and families with kids — no DOGE or MAGA paraphernalia spotted. Tesla owners utilizing the chargers got to jump the line, leading to some quiet resentment about the sweaty patrons. 

While the sun beat down on waiting guests, there were some distractions, including free cups of cold water from the staff and the diner’s now-infamous jumbo screens that, at that time, showed silent clips of the 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon Wacky Races and an episode of the original Star Trek where a possessed Captain Kirk nearly assaults a woman (disturbing choice, to say the least). Tesla owners using the chargers can access the screens’ audio through their sound systems, and movies are screened nightly. Desert landscaping and dining tables dot the front, side, and back of the diner, the latter of which were utilized by seniors and crawled over by children, contributing to a lively, though not chaotic, scene — at least during my Tuesday visit.

The diner's charging stations/drive-in theater. Credit: Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP The ordering

My party of three was eventually waved into the restaurant and quickly greeted by a friendly hostess who explained the touch-screen ordering system. It immediately became clear why we had waited so long; there are only two ordering screens. Meanwhile, various tables sat empty. (Maybe the ubiquitous lines outside the restaurant are simply a marketing gimmick?) The menu is limited and offers typical diner fare — burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheeses, and tuna melts. 

The restaurant’s interior was covered in slick silver chrome, a few dozen tables, a large counter with comfy-looking chairs, and a busy kitchen behind it. Inside the diner, there were nearly as many black-clad Tesla Diner employees as paying customers.

Our receipt didn’t come with an order number, ostensibly because we didn’t order beverages (the usual sodas and coffee were available). This led to some confusion as to how to receive our food (most people retrieve their items from the counter when their number is called). Using our receipt, an employee made sure our tuna melt, grilled cheese, chicken sandwich, and fries were delivered. Most of the staff, save for some of the harried workers managing the crowd outside, were friendly and outgoing.

The food

Good! My tuna melt came with dill and pickles, which I know is not for everyone, but I loved it. The perfectly toasted bread, melty American cheese, and white tuna reminded me of a meal from beloved East Coast institution Friendly’s (IYKYK). L.A. chef Eric Greenspan was behind the food of Tesla Diner, which is simple but done well. The ranch dip, paired with delicious fries, was also flavored with dill and received accolades from my husband. (The whole menu is posted on the Tesla website.)

One downside is the portion sizes. All three of our sandwiches were small and came with nothing, though they're priced like a diner meal that's sizable and comes with a side. Without any beverages, we still spent nearly $50 on lunch for two adults and a kid.

Our food also didn't arrive in Cybertruck boxes, though we saw some other tables with them. No big loss since we're not fans of the CTs, but others may be disappointed if they miss out.

The Tesla Optimus robot at L.A.'s Tesla Diner. Credit: Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images The experience

The first floor of the diner was clean, considering the number of people cycling through it. The interior design was pretty unimpressive, though; other than the aforementioned chrome, there was little to look at on the first floor, save for the line of people outside. At night, with all the dining room's lights set against the darkness, it may look more impressive.

It’s only when you climb the stairs to the second floor that things get interesting. Three Optimus robots encased in glass flank the twisty stairs, which lead you to the entrance of the second floor’s 360-degree open-air dining deck. A counter staffed by humans sells Tesla merch, with an empty popcorn machine nearby — we were hoping for an encounter with the diner’s famous popcorn-serving robot, but were informed by a staff member it had the day off. Musk has very ambitious plans for these bots, and he's on record saying he expects “thousands” of them working in his factories by the end of the year, with millions more to come by the end of the decade, per Investopedia. If they're not up for serving popcorn, well, I have my doubts.

The dining deck’s views of the Hollywood hills, various high-rises, nearby apartment buildings (with their frustrated residents), and the movie screens were truly impressive. The first floor is utilitarian, while the second floor is an experience.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Should you go?

Well, first off, that depends on how you feel about Tesla and, more specifically, its leader. If you embrace the politically inclined Musk, or can put your feelings about him aside, it’s not a bad place for lunch or a quick bite, especially if you’re with kids. There’s even more incentive to go if you need to charge your Tesla, since owners are treated like VIPs and hop the line. The food is tasty, though limited and expensive considering the portions. 

The location, off Santa Monica Boulevard, aka Route 66, is just ok. Traffic is loud and incessant, with a constant thrum of buses and motorcycles. There is little parking if you’re not in a Tesla; it seemed some people took rideshare or hoofed it from the tourist enclave on Hollywood Boulevard. One could take the bus, as well, though the man behind all this spectacle would prefer you drive one of his cars.

This article reflects the opinion of the writer.

TL;DR: AdGuard Family Plan is your ad blocker, privacy protector, and parental filter all in one — get lifetime access for $15.97 (reg. $169.99).

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Ever fear you're losing yourself in a relationship? Or maybe that you're less living together — and more stuck together? This fear of intimacy manifests into a physical horror in Together, the latest film from real-life married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco. 

Among the pair's previous collaborations was The Rental, an underseen thriller co-written and directed by Franco, which followed two couples (Brie included) on a weekend getaway gone very wrong. While Together puts both husband and wife in front of the camera for a new nightmare written and helmed by Michael Shanks in his feature debut, the films have slow-burn scares in common. 

With The Rental, the fear came from the creeping certainty that someone was watching the unsuspecting couples as they frolicked and fought in the rented vacation house. With Together, the terror gets under your skin early — thanks to a creepy opening sequence involving two poor doomed dogs, which gives the audience a hint of what's to befall the central duo before they've even come onscreen.

The resulting body horror and its psychological underpinnings had critics out of Together's Sundance premiere giddy, earning the thriller a 100-percent Rotten Tomatoes rating ahead of its theatrical release. But can Together live up to the festival hype? 

Together is a skin-crawling tale of a relationship on the rocks.  Credit: Neon

Shanks introduces Tim (Franco) and Millie (Brie) in a moment of transition. The long-term couple is unmarried, but making a big move from New York City to upstate, where Millie has an exciting new job as a teacher at a good school. So they're throwing a going-away party, at which struggling musician Tim feels less like a partner and more like a parasite.

Upstate, where the woods are lush and the folks are nosy, could be a fresh start. But while Millie has a job and new friends, Tim feels aimless and trapped. And that's before a fateful hike changes his flesh so that it inexplicably conjoins with Millie's at any opportunity. First, their shins stick together as if glued after they fall asleep side by side. Later, a kiss will feel like a bite as their lips blend. Eventually, an attempt to reconnect through sex gets viciously sticky, turning violent. Before long, power tools will come into play to keep them separated.

Basically, while Millie and Tim debate whether they want to figure out how to become better partners or break up, their skin is desperate to pull them together. Figuring out why this is happening becomes a quest for the couple, but answers aren't the point.

Ghoulish voyeurism plays into Together.  Credit: Neon

Body horror is a subgenre that thrives on our repulsion and our gnarly desire to not look away. On this front, Shanks delivers. As teased in the eerie ad campaign, the flesh of Tim and Millie will collide and meld in ways uniquely heinous. It's a grisly thrill to witness. But because of the cast, there's a meta level of gawking as well. 

Because Franco and Brie are married in real life, their onscreen kisses, collisions, and fights all bristle with the possibility of blurred lines. What here is purely performance, and what in this toxic partnership is them pulling from their real-life relationship? The answer is, of course, none of our business. But both Franco and Brie are too savvy not to realize that this nosiness of imagination is part of the film's inherent allure. 

Onscreen they have undeniable chemistry. But as Tim and Millie fight, the ferocity is all the more rattling because we know they're portrayed by a real-life couple. It gooses the stakes crudely. It suggests the film has an intimacy that edges into illicit intrusion, whether or not that's illusion. And that's a useful tool, as Together is otherwise a good, but not great, horror movie. 

Together can't compare to what the past year has offered in terms of horror.  Credit: NEON

To the credit of Shanks, what he has scripted is a compelling tale of co-dependency with a mix of the occult and body horror. Together is a wickedly entertaining movie. But watching it in the wake of The Substance, Sinners, Bring Her Back, and 28 Years Later, it's not a winner, but an also-ran. 

Props to Together's special effects team, who created the nightmarish realism that has Brie's fingers snaking up under the skin of Franco's forearm. But this feels tame after Coralie Fargeat's Academy Award–nominated The Substance transformed Hollywood sex symbols Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley into a monstrosity in a ballgown. The twisted tale of what Tim and Millie would do for love is satisfyingly gnarly. But it pales in comparison to the blood-drenched frenzy of Ryan Coogler's vampire lovers in Sinners. And while Together is slow-burn creepy with its icky reveals and putrid possession sequences, it can't shake us up like the Philippou Brothers' demonic psycho-biddy thriller, Bring Her Back, or Danny Boyle's epic zombie horror, 28 Years Later.

Perhaps it seems unfair to compare Shanks' indie directorial debut to the works of more established and heralded filmmakers. But because of all the Sundance buzz, even as I watched Together's supremely gruesome climax, I was a bit bereft, hungering for something more.

While The Substance awed us last fall, 2025 has been a banner year for horror. So between January, when Together was impressing Sundance critics, and its release now, audiences have been wowed by visions of horror that defy genre expectations by working in musical numbers, turning Paddington's adopted mom into a monster, and delivering a coming-of-age story exploding with ghouls imagined and all too real.

In the end, even with my appreciation for The Rental, Brie and Franco's freaky follow-up just didn't hit as hard as I'd hoped. Still, Together is a twisted ride that's sure to give you goosebumps. 

Together opens in theaters on Aug. 1.

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