IT General

The Ghostty terminal has created some noise in the Linux community. As a Linux user who loves exploring new tools, I just had to give it a shot. It had some cool features I wanted to explore. But is it worth replacing your terminal? Let's find out.

No two keyboards are the same—one could be better for typing while the other would be better for gaming. Maybe you don’t like the form factor or want to cut back on cables by opting for a wireless keyboard. Either way, you should have the best keyboard for your situation.

PC cases are starting to see a changing trend, this time away from transparent tempered glass to built-in displays. While case design has been fairly stagnant for the past few years, built-in displays could be the next evolution of the custom PC setup, and I love it.

You can browse the web on Android using TalkBack–you don't even have to see the screen. It’s an accessibility feature for people who have vision impairments, but it can be useful to others as well. I'll show you how you can learn it in three steps.

As with many things, a typical Linux install offers a choice of filesystems, though the Ext4 filesystem is typically the default for most distros. What are the advantages of those other filesystems, and when should you choose them instead?

AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is an open standard that enables upscaling and frame generation, and now it can be added to previously unsupported games on Steam Deck thanks to a mod. Here’s what you need to know.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, February 1, 2025:

AcrossComputing platform?

• The answer is Desk.

Campanelle is a bell-shaped variety of this

• The answer is Pasta.

Daly of "Today"

• The answer is Carson.

Kickstarter supporters

• The answer is Backers.

Landlocked neighbor of Georgia and Azerbaijan

• The answer is Armenia.

Sneaks a peek

• The answer is Glances.

Had a feeling about

• The answer is Sensed.

DownGrows dim

• The answer is Darkens.

Magazine whose 50th anniversary issue featured Naomi Campbell on the cover

• The answer is Essence.

Legendary, as one's past

• The answer is Storied.

State school whose students chant "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!"

• The answer is Kansas.

Pellet-chomping arcade character

• The answer is Pacman.

Eric ___, author of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"

• The answer is Carle.

Items strapped to a golf cart

• The answer is Bags.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Phoenix Suns head to Moda Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers in a Western Conference matchup. The Suns are 24-22, which puts the team in ninth place. The Blazers are 18-29, which puts the team in 13th place.

The Suns have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Blazers have won four of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

When is Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers?

Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 1. This game takes place at Moda Center in Portland.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Suns vs. Blazers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Suns vs. Blazers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Miami Heat head to Frost Bank Center to face the San Antonio Spurs in a non-conference matchup. The Heat are 23-23, which puts the team in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Spurs are 20-24, which puts the team in 12th place in the Western Conference.

The Heat have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Spurs have lost four of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back losses to the LA Clippers and Indiana Pacers.

When is Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs?

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs in the NBA starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 1. This game takes place at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.

How to watch Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Heat vs. Spurs basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Heat vs. Spurs from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Los Angeles Lakers head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in a non-conference matchup. The Lakers are 27-19, which puts the team in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Knicks are 32-16, which puts the team in third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Lakers have won four of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Washington Wizards. The Knicks have won five games in a row.

When is Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks?

Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks in the NBA starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 1. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

This game will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Lakers vs. Knicks basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Lakers vs. Knicks from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

From Ira Sachs — director of the striking contemporary queer drama Passages — the 1970s New York-set Peter Hujar's Day is a confined, two-character experiment that's far more about mood than plot. Set almost entirely in one apartment over the course of a single day, its mere 76 minutes are languidly paced, though that's a major part of its success. Few filmmakers have so distinctly evoked an era without so much as pointing their camera out through a window to capture the street below.

The film is reconstructed from a transcript, once thought to be lost, of an interview with gay New York photographer Peter Hujar (Passages star Ben Whishaw) conducted by writer Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall). The recording resurfaced in 2019 — Rosenkrantz has since published it as a book under the same title as the movie — but Sachs doesn't merely restage the interview as written. Rather, he extrapolates what feels like an entire lifetime from words alone.

What is Peter Hujar's Day about?

Describing Peter Hujar's Day runs the risk of oversimplifying it, but the film's simplicity is its charm. Beginning on a random December morning in 1974, the curious Rosenkrantz — who ran in the same circles as Hujar, creating a sense of intimacy — asks him to recall all the things he did the previous day. As her two-spool tape recorder spins (resembling a film projector in both appearance and sound), Hujar goes about his day and the duo move about his East Village apartment as he narrates, in flowery detail, events that might have seemed unremarkable at the time but take on a greater significance in retrospect.

This is not unlike the way Hujar's photography would come to be perceived. His black-and-white portraits made few waves at the time — certainly not compared to contemporaries like Andy Warhol — but they have since been canonized as having brought a subtle texture and depth to his subjects, physically and psychologically. As Nan Goldin once wrote of Hujar's personal artistry: "His pictures are exotic but not in a shallow, sensational way. Looking at his photographs of nude men, even of a naked baby boy, is the closest I ever came to experience what it is to inhabit male flesh."

Although the film doesn't take its cues from Hujar's images (except for a few dreamlike interludes), Sachs attempts to unearth a similarly lifelike dimensionality. His shots — mostly still, though sometimes moving gradually across space — help craft a sense of intrigue. This goes hand-in-hand with Whishaw's thoroughly considered performance, which feels free and uninhibited in its motions, whether Hujar moves from room to room or simply fidgets on his couch.

Sachs generally excels at creating this sense of life between the creases, and Peter Hujar's Day is among his finest aesthetic achievements. Not only does its form evoke a specific time and place, but it creates a distinct relationship between its mid-'70s setting and the present right from the word go.

Peter Hujar's Day is an artistic bridge between eras.

The New York of today would be alien to Hujar's New York, and vice versa. The city was certainly grimier in the 1970s, with more danger and more edge — think Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver — but it was also the cradle of a burgeoning American arts' scene that has since been priced out for several decades.

Throughout the film, Hujar makes mention of his East Village address and that of other artists he travelled to photograph the previous morning, noting the rough-and-tumble neighborhoods that have long since been gentrified. Granted, to pick up on the significance of these details requires foreknowledge of the city's modern topography, which certainly shrinks the movie's intended audience (or at least, those that might pick up everything it's putting down), but this specificity is an extension of its experimentation.

On the surface, it's a film of "telling" rather than "showing," but the inherent obliqueness (and the obfuscating nature) of its dialogue limits how much of it can be considered exposition. If anything, it is in fact a film of "showing" in a macro sense — of depicting Hujar's thoughts and feelings towards each description — with Rosenkrantz as his mostly silent foil, whose input on his recollections becomes known without words.

The film's 16mm cinematography by Alex Ashe evokes that place and time's No Wave cinema scene, led by the likes of John Cassavetes, with its distinct celluloid textures and ever-so-slightly blown-out highlights, as though it were cheaply produced. The acoustic qualities add to this DIY feeling, which includes flaws and faded noises in the audio recordings, as though the movie's entire soundtrack (rather than the interview transcript) were the thing that had been rediscovered, and the film were merely adding physical dimensions to something heard.

Alongside the ambient noises of New York, from ambulance sirens to noisy streets, each physical element on screen stands out in the soundtrack: glasses, dishware, even chairs being dragged so Hujar and Rosenkrantz can sit. Sachs' repeated shots of the tape recorder serve to remind us that what we're watching is a recreation or restaging of the past. The movie even opens with a clapper board, and features frequent jump-cuts despite its at-length scenes. We even catch occasional glimpses of modern crew members putting boom mics in place. However, this Brechtian quality never detracts from the movie's lived-in, realistic feel.

The characters never wink at the camera, or even acknowledge it, despite Sachs drawing our attention to the artifice. We're never watching actors play a part. Rather, we're watching historical figures through a modern lens, a self-reflexive exercise in which the present and the past exist simultaneously, creating a contrast between life and artistry as it once was, and now is — made all the more apparent by Hujar casually invoking the names of famous figures.

Peter Hujar's Day brings a human quality to figures of the past.

What exactly was "Peter Hujar's day"? As narrated by Hujar in the film, the preceding 24 hours were mildly annoying, given how many people he had to chase for money and other scheduling confirmations — such is the life of a freelance artist — but they were also eventful, in the sense that they made for a fun recounting. Rosenkrantz barely interjects, in part because she's a good reporter, letting her subject speak for himself, but in part because she, like the audience, is familiar with the specific people Hujar refers to in his story: the likes of critic Susan Sontag, poet Allen Ginsberg, and author William S. Burroughs.

The difference between the characters' relationship to these figures and the audience's is that to the former, they're acquaintances, whereas to us, they're pillars of modern Western culture, which makes for a fascinating disconnect. Peter Hujar's Day practically lives within this dissonant space, wherein everything that's mundane for Hujar and Rosenkrantz is destined to have a historic quality some five decades later.

That these artistic legends are only mentioned and not seen adds, on one hand, a mythic quality to them — one of whispers and rumors — but what's actually said about them grounds them through a surprisingly cheeky approach. Hujar's personality, wants, likes, and annoyances all come to the fore through his anecdotes, which exist somewhere between gossip and name-dropping. Each time he narrates his interactions with someone the audience might've heard about, he does so quite casually (which makes sense — Hujar doesn't have the perspective the audience does), adding a humane quality to an often mythologized era, bringing us closer to it in the process.

A film that recalls recollections, and Peter Hujar's Day is, by its very nature, a film of reflections and refractions. However, it makes its various Xerox copies of the past feel thoroughly original and lifelike, transforming a contained interview into what may as well be a moody, sprawling biopic.

Peter Hujar’s Day was reviewed out of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

TL;DR: Upgrade your car’s tech with this 9" wireless display, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and phone mirroring—for just $119.97 (reg. $179).

Your car doesn’t need to be fresh off the lot to feel modern. If your car’s dashboard feels stuck in the past, this 9" Wireless Car Display can help bring it into the present. And it's on sale for just $119.97 (reg. $179) for a limited time.

With its 1024x600 FHD touchscreen, this sleek device offers a crisp, immersive display for navigation, entertainment, and more. Whether you’re commuting in traffic or heading out on a road trip, this car display offers a seamless blend of safety, tech, and convenience.

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, you can access your favorite apps, maps, and music hands-free. Siri or Google Assistant lets you stay focused on the road while managing calls, texts, and playlists with simple voice commands.

The display also features a mirror link function, allowing you to sync your phone’s video apps. This feature is ideal for keeping passengers entertained during long drives.

Safety is a key focus of this display. The intelligent GPS navigation syncs in real time with your phone, offering reliable directions and eliminating the need for a separate device. Its adjustable brightness gives you clear visibility in any lighting condition, day or night. Additionally, the built-in stereo output supports Bluetooth, AUX, and FM transmission, so you have multiple ways to enjoy audio.

Installation is made to be as easy as plugging it into your car’s cigarette lighter, which means it's compatible with nearly any vehicle. No expensive visits to the shop or complicated setups — just instant tech gratification. And with support for a reversing camera and 1080p playback, this display is a functional game-changer for modern drivers.

Enjoy a smarter, safer, and more enjoyable driving experience for the price of one dinner out.

Get the 9" Wireless Display featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility for just $119.97 (reg. $179) while stock is still available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 9" Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring $119.99
$179.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to FileJump’s 2TB cloud storage for just $74.97 (reg. $467) when you order through February 9.

Most of us have experienced the stressful situation of quickly removing photos from our devices so we can capture a special moment. While this may be a universal situation, clearing space on your devices shouldn’t feel like a high-stakes game of Tetris.

FileJump is a cloud storage solution that lets you store, share, and collaborate easily and instantly — no stress, no subscriptions, just reliable space for everything that matters. With 2TB of lifetime storage for just $74.97, you can finally free up your devices to focus on working, playing, and capturing memories.

Forget juggling external hard drives or paying recurring fees for storage you barely use. FileJump offers you peace of mind with secure storage and a user-friendly interface that’s made to be as intuitive as it is powerful.

With drag-and-drop uploads, AES encryption for security, and media previews, FileJump streamlines file management. Plus, its lifetime access means you’ll never worry about surprise fees or running out of space again.

From secure backups to seamless file sharing and collaboration, this service is packed with features that make organizing and accessing your data simple. Built-in media previews mean you can view photos, videos, and even Excel files without downloading them. Sharing is just as easy — generate a link or give team members direct access with free accounts.

Whether you're storing family photos, collaborating on business projects, or just making room for your favorite apps, FileJump is the no-fuss solution to your storage woes.

Get lifetime access to 2TB of FileJump space for just $74.97 (reg. $467) when you order through February 9.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $74.97
$467.00 Save $392.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for only $18 through February 2 — that’s an 89% discount.

If you thought AI would only be a fad, take a look at Microsoft. As we speak (or read?), they’re making computers infused with Microsoft Copilot, their latest AI technology. But something even cooler? You don’t have to get a new device to get Copilot — just upgrade to Windows 11.

And, if you’re going for it, go all the way and get the Pro version with the most features, like remote desktop access and hard drive encryption. We have a deal on Windows 11 Pro keys for only $17.97 (reg. $199), and each upgrades two compatible PCs.

AI in Windows 11

We realize you can use AI chatbots, so what makes Windows Copilot special? For one, Copilot is built using a custom version of GPT-4, so it’s like getting the premium version of ChatGPT for free.

There are also many perks of having Copilot built into your PC:

• Ask it to change system settings instead of finding them yourself

• Summarize web pages without having to ‘copy and paste’

• Have it set reminders, schedule meetings, or draft emails

Pro-specific features

Already have Windows 11 Home, but curious about what Pro delivers? Remote desktop access becomes super handy in a pinch, as does BitLocker device encryption in case of device loss or theft. You’ll also get Azure AD, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox for other professional testing and tasks.

Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for $17.97 (reg. $199) until February 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed to get this discount.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $19.97
$199.00 Save $179.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for just $34.99 (reg. $229) through February 2.

If your New Year’s resolution involves being more productive or finally getting your digital life in order, this offer on Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 might just be part of the solution.

For just $34.99 (regularly $229), you’ll score a lifetime license to all the Office classics you know and love. But this deal ends February 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT, so don't wait too long.

Unlike subscription-based models like Office 365, this one-time purchase gives you unlimited access to heavy-hitting productivity tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Whether you’re a freelancer drafting client proposals, a small business owner crunching numbers in Excel, or just someone tired of those “You’ve hit your free tier” notifications, this promotion lets you work to your heart's content without ongoing fees.

Plus, you get lesser-used but equally handy apps like Access and Publisher — because you never know when you’ll need to flex your database or desktop publishing skills.

Why Office 2019? It’s ideal for those who want the essentials without unnecessary extras. The interface is familiar, so there’s no steep learning curve, and you don’t need to worry about hefty system requirements or cloud-based AI tools bogging down your workflow. Plus, it works offline, meaning unreliable Wi-Fi won’t derail your productivity.

This lifetime license is especially clutch for cost-conscious peeps. Forget recurring subscriptions and unpredictable renewal fees — this one-time purchase keeps your budget predictable while delivering serious value.

Upgrade your productivity toolkit with a lifetime solution that works as hard as you do.

Get a lifetime MS Office Professional Plus 2019 license for just $34.99 (reg. $229) through February 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $34.97
$229.00 Save $194.03 Get Deal

Representation matters. It’s not enough for our favorite television shows to feature actors of color. We need representation behind the scenes as well, to ensure that the stories and experiences of underrepresented groups are being told with honesty, complexity, and respect.

Netflix’s bottomless library features many wonderful shows — from gripping dramas to fluffy comedies — created, produced, written, or directed by Black artists. The best way to lift these creatives up is to call out their names, so in no particular order, here’s a sampling of our favorite Netflix television shows with talented Black creators at their helm. Go forth and binge.

1. Top Boy Credit: Netflix

Created by Ronan Bennett, Top Boy first aired in the UK from 2011 to 2013, originally set in the fictional Summerhouse public housing estate in East London, and drug dealers Dushane and Sully (Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson). Drake revived the show for Netflix alongside Adel Nur, Maverick Carter, and Jamal Henderson in 2019, with Walters and Robinson returning to their roles, and Lover's Rock star Micheal Ward joining as new gang leader Jamie.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best British TV shows to stream on Netflix

This meaty drama, which has been compared to HBO’s The Wire, is startlingly grounded, anchored by a young, talented cast that radiates with vulnerability. This is television at its best.

How to watch: Top Boy is streaming on Netflix.

2. Dear White People Joelle Brooks (Ashley Blaine Featherson) and Samantha White (Logan Browning). Credit: Netflix

Created by Justin Simien and based on the award-winning film he wrote and directed, Dear White People follows a group of Black college students as they navigate the highs and lows of attending an Ivy League school. The show contains humor and drama in equal measure, examining systemic racism at Winchester College with grace, insight, and a sharp wit. With Simien himself writing and directing many of the episodes, and featuring one of the best soundtracks on Netflix, it's no wonder that this clever and endearing show is beloved by audiences and critics alike.

How to watch: Dear White People is streaming on Netflix.

3. When They See Us Credit: Netflix

The most culturally significant project Netflix released in 2019, Ava DuVernay's When They See Us revisits the case of the Central Park Five in excruciating detail. Examining the wrongful convictions of five Black and Latino men — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — for rape in 1989 (for which they would be exonerated over a decade later) this poignant true-crime miniseries offers a heart-wrenching look at the ongoing flaws in our justice system. A powerful watch, When They See Us highlights the insidious biases that plague our society and the vulnerable people put at risk.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: When They See Us is streaming on Netflix.

4. Family Reunion Credit: Netflix

Meg DeLoatch, a former Family Matters producer, created this bright and lovable sitcom about a family from Seattle who moves to Georgia to be closer to their relatives. Tia Mowry shines as Cocoa McKellan, a mother of four doing her best to make the right choices for her family. A sweet, endearing, G-rated comedy, Family Reunion mines many of its laughs from family discord, but the love between these characters is palpable and deep.

How to watch: Family Reunion is streaming on Netflix.

5. Bookmarks

Jesse Collins Entertainment has teamed up with #1000BlackGirlBooks founder Marley Dias, children's media consultant Kevin A. Clark, and showrunner Fracaswell Hyman for Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. Much like Reading Rainbow, Bookmarks features readings of kid's books, but here, all the readers are Black celebrities, like Tiffany Haddish, Lupita Nyong’o, and Common, and all the books are written by Black authors. This absolutely delightful show seeks to bring more light to stories that showcase the Black experience.

How to watch: Bookmarks is streaming on Netflix.

6. She's Gotta Have It Nola Darling (DeWanda Wise) and Mars Blackmon (Anthony Ramos). Credit: Netflix

Spike Lee's Netflix series inspired by his 1986 film may have been canned after two seasons, She's Gotta Have It should be on your list. Joining happily nonmonogamous protagonist Nola Darling (DeWanda Wise) in her daily experiences juggling sex, dating, friendship, politics, misogyny, and making art in Brooklyn comes with one exceptional soundtrack — this is a Spike Lee joint, after all.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: She's Gotta Have It is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Yasuke Credit: Netflix

This LeSean Thomas original anime series is inspired by the story of Yasuke, a real-life 16th-century Black samurai. Through flashbacks, we piece together the events that led Yasuke (LaKeith Stanfield) to abandon his warrior's life and hole up in a small town. In the present, after years of solitude, impending danger forces him to once again pick up his katana. Set in a mystical feudal Japan, and elevated by a fresh soundtrack from Flying Lotus, this alternate reality story of an actual historical figure is moody, well-paced, and engrossing. Though far too heavy and gory for kids, Yasuke is a cool treat for those adults who love anti-heroes and stunning sword fights.*

How to watch: Yasuke is streaming on Netflix.

8. Zero

Written by Italian author Antonio Dikele Distefano, Zero is a fresh take on the superhero genre. Omar, the son of Senegalese immigrants, lives in public housing on the outskirts of Milan and has a secret: He can become invisible. A relatively shy kid, Omar's powers are based on his emotions. Whenever he feels something intensely, he vanishes. What's different from other superhero stories is that in Zero, the main villain is not some crazed megalomaniac but the poverty and gentrification affecting the area where Omar lives.

How to watch: Zero is streaming on Netflix.

9. JIVA! Cheeeeese! Credit: Neo Baepi

You've got to love a dance drama, and Netflix's latest series will have you up out of your seat. Created by showrunner Busisiwe Ntintili (Intersexions and Happiness is a Four Letter Word), JIVA! hinges around dancer Ntombi (Noxolo Dlamini), who juggles working at a cheesy marine park and taking care of her family in Umlazi, Durban in South Africa. As the fifth annual Jiva Loxion Dance Competition looms, Ntombi gathers her friends to practice hard and compete for the title. — S.C.

How to watch: JIVA! is now streaming on Netflix.

10. All American

When a South LA high school football player is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High, his world is turned upside down. Based on the life of actual NFL linebacker Spencer Paysinger, All American is a compelling, satisfying drama with an absolutely stellar cast. Taye Diggs sparkles as the head coach at Beverly Hills High, and Daniel Ezra expertly handles his breakout role as the star wide receiver with complete confidence. All American is led by showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll and regularly features Black writers and directors like Benny Boom, Dawn Wilkinson, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Jameal Turner, Cam'ron Moore, and many more.

How to watch: All American is streaming on Netflix.

11. Everything Now Credit: Netflix / Left Bank

After a stay at a rehabilitation facility for disordered eating, 16-year-old Mia (Sophie Wilde) is so excited to get back to teen life she makes a “F*ck It Bucket List” of debaucherous activities to make up for time lost. Sex, drugs, partying — she wants to do everything. Now. Ripley Parker’s stunningly confident debut series is about healing, mental health, sexuality, queerness, and more, but it never makes any of these heavy topics a clunky PSA or defining plot point. Instead, we explore these subjects through the characters’ experiences, without need for larger commentary. The result is a sexy, smart, and sophisticated teen comedy-drama that will make you laugh, cry, and click “next episode."

How to watch: Everything Now is now streaming on Netflix. 

12. Colin in Black & White Credit: Netflix

In a searing delivery straight to camera, Colin Kaepernick opens his limited series by comparing the dehumanizing process of the NFL Combine, where athletes show off their physical prowess to NFL scouts, to the 19th-century slave auctions, where Black bodies were also inspected and analyzed as products, not people. From there, Kaepernick steps off screen to narrate as we witness his teenage self experience the events that led him to become an activist as an adult. Colin in Black & White is not like any other show you’ve seen before. Created by Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay, this captivating, genre-pushing drama series will force you to confront harsh truths while you root for young Colin, searching for his place in the world. 

How to watch: Colin in Black & White is now streaming on Netflix. 

13. Supacell Credit: Olly Courtney / Netflix

A hell of a refreshing take on the modern superhero genre, Supacell was one of the more anticipated British shows on Netflix this year. We'd been waiting for showrunner, creator, and director Rapman's, aka Andrew Onwubolu, series for an age — and the result was an absolute banger of a first season. Set in South London, Supacell sees five strangers — Michael (Tosin Cole), Sabrina (Nadine Mills), Andre (Eric Kofi Abrefa), Rodney (Calvin Demba), and Tazer (Josh Tedeku) — suddenly land superpowers, all while dealing with complications in their own lives. With powerful performances, impressive special effects, and a timely mystery at the show's core, Supacell leaned on realism for a unique take on the genre while turning stereotypes on their head.* — Shannon Connellan, U.K. Editor

How to watch: Supacell is now streaming on Netflix. 

14. From Scratch Credit: Aaron Epstein / Netflix

Zoe Saldaña has spent much of the last few years in green makeup (for Guardians of the Galaxy) or in a motion-capture suit (for Avatar). But in this beautiful, heart-wrenching adaptation of Tembi Locke’s memoir, Zoe Saldaña is just a human in love — and it is captivating. 

As Amy, Saldaña travels to Florence to study art against her father’s advice. There she meets Lino, Eugenio Mastrandrea in an electric and swoon-worthy performance as a passionate Sicilian chef who is all in on Amy with his first glance. After a few false starts, a profoundly moving romance ensues, and we watch the pair’s love grow and evolve as life throws challenges their way. From Scratch (created by Tembi and Attica Locke) is enthralling in its intensity, boasts a stellar cast (Danielle Deadwyler, Keith David, Giacomo Gianniotti, and more), and luxuriates in its gorgeous shots of food. You will fall in love with this couple and simply will not be able to stop watching or move on with your life until you find out how their story ends.* 

How to watch: From Scratch is now streaming on Netflix. 

15. Champion Credit: Netflix

Bosco Champion (Malcolm Kamulete) is an up-and-coming rap artist in South London with his career ahead of him. He couldn’t have found such success without the hard work of his sister, Vita (Déja J. Bowens), who manages his career, writes his songs, coaches him through his panic attacks, and more. But Vita also has dreams… and when she has the chance to record her own music, she seizes it, risking her relationship with her brother and family to take her shot. Created by Candice Carty-Williams (Queenie), Champion is a moody music drama with slick performances, astute social commentary, and of course, a fantastic soundtrack.

How to watch: Champion is now streaming on Netflix. 

16. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a lavish, ebullient triumph, and further evidence that Shonda Rhimes just doesn’t miss. Delving into the personal history of the tragic, impulsive, and steely queen we know and love from Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 2, we watch a young girl transform into a formidable monarch — and fall in love along the way. The costumes are sumptuous, the drama juicy, and the romance slow-burning. It checks all the boxes while still making space for a thread of sadness that lends gravitas and complexity to the entire Bridgerton world. An ambitious and beautiful show that fully earns its shining crown as Netflix’s newest darling.*

How to watch: Queen Charlotte is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Blood and Water Credit: Netflix

When high schooler Puleng (Ama Qamata) suspects a popular teen from another school is the sister who was kidnapped from her family as a baby, Puleng stops at nothing, even transferring to a new school, to get to the truth. Investigation becomes fixation, and Puleng finds there’s more to this mystery than she ever could have guessed. Created by Nosipho Dumisa-Ngoasheng, Blood and Water is a moody, suspenseful teen crime drama from South Africa that has rightfully garnered attention from the likes of Gabrielle Union and Lil Nas X. And now it’s your turn!!

How to watch: Blood and Water is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Bridgerton Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Do you want your period romances to have a little less pomp and a little more sex? Shonda Rimes is here for you. A Regency romance filled with classical pop covers, Bridgerton hinges around the titular family, which has a plethora of kids approaching marrying age. Season 1 follows the eldest daughter Daphne’s (Phoebe Dynevor) debut and subsequent love story, while Season 2 sees her brother Anthony (‎An absolute cad! A veritable rake! Played by ‎Jonathan Bailey!) attempt to find himself a suitable wife. All these matches happen under the watchful, indomitable eye of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), who herself earned a spectacular spinoff in 2023, and the judgmental commentary of anonymous gossip columnist Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews).

Based on Julia Quinn’s popular novels, Bridgerton has all the trappings of a sweeping period romance: suppressed emotions, longing glances, oppressive societal expectations, gorgeous costumes, and dance scenes dripping with hidden meaning. But it adds to the mix a refreshingly modern sexual intimacy and a cheerful willingness to pander — and that’s what makes it so completely irresistible.*

How to watch: Bridgerton is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Insecure Credit: Merie W. Wallace / HBO

Issa Rae’s whip-smart comedy-drama Insecure is easily one of the best TV series of the recent era. The characters are fresh and fully realized, the plots are relatable and engrossing, the tone is honest and biting, and the cast? Simply spectacular. Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, and Jay Ellis’ careers have skyrocketed since Insecure debuted in 2016, and after watching one episode, you’ll understand why. The actors and script support each other in such a natural, organic way you’ll forget you’re watching TV and feel like you’re checking in with your old friends. Insecure is centered around the friendship between Issa and Molly (Orji) as they navigate careers, relationships, and the unique stressors found in your late 20s. If you somehow have missed this cultural touchstone, take this as your cue: Watch Insecure now!

How to watch: Insecure is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Queen Sono

Queen Sono (Pearl Thusi) is the daughter of an anti-apartheid freedom fighter and a top secret agent for the Special Operations Group, a South African intelligence agency. She deftly carries out dangerous undercover spy missions, all while secretly working to solve the mystery of her mother’s assassination. Kagiso Lediga’s Queen Sono is a stylish spy thriller with juicy relationships and fun action sequences. Everything you need for a great time!

How to watch: Queen Sono is now streaming on Netflix.

21. First Wives Club

A BET+ reboot of the beloved 1996 film, First Wives Club follows the same formula as its predecessor: A group of women reconnect after being let down by the men in their lives and find a new sense of self and purpose through their friendship. Michelle Buteau, Jill Scott, and Ryan Michelle Bathe each sparkle as Bri, Hazel, and Ari, with a lived-in mutual affection that leaps off the screen. It’s a warm, funny, comforting watch that will make you want to call your friends just to say hey.

How to watch: First Wives Club is now streaming on Netflix.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry comes from another Mashable streaming list.

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2025, 3:07 p.m. EST This list was first published on May 28, 2022. It has been updated to reflect current streaming options.

Cactus Pears (Sabar Bonda), Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s semi-autobiographical debut feature about a queer romance experienced amid mourning is the only movie from India competing at the Sundance Film Festival. The story of love and grief in a rural setting came to Kanawade while coping with his own father’s death, as he wondered how different processing the loss might have felt if he had a companion with whom to escape. Regardless of the competition’s outcome in the World Cinema Dramatic category, this movie is already historic as the first Marathi-language film to premiere at the festival. 

Using the word "disruptive" doesn’t feel quite accurate for Cactus Pears, yet there is something tenderly disruptive in this compelling drama, an undeniable rebellion running through its DNA. Open and uninhibited expressions of love are not encouraged in most Indian households, especially when either the receiver or giver is a man. It may be a bit of a generalization, but most Indian patriarchs raise the male members of their families to become disciplinarians and household bosses. Hints of soft and tender emotions only get in the way.

SEE ALSO: 10 Sundance movies you should know about now

Keeping this in mind, the existence of a film that not only presents a story brimming with love but also explores the queer romance between two men without a curtain of shame is both groundbreaking and defiant. That it's such an excellent movie, and a feature-length directorial debut at that, makes it all the more remarkable.

Cactus Pears reveals the struggle of duality between city life and village roots.  Credit: Vikas Urs / Sundance

Following the death of his father, 30-year-old Mumbai resident Anand (Bhushaan Manoj) and his mother, Suman (Jayshri Jagtap), visit their extended family back in the village of Kharshinde, in Maharashtra, to observe a 10-day period of mourning.

Mumbai is home to many who either are migrant workers themselves, or from families that left farmlands and moved to the city in search of a better life. Anand’s grandfather was the first one in the family to make this move. Throughout the film, multiple characters talk about life in the big city with a sense of mysticism. Some want their daughters to marry city boys, with the expectation this will make for a more prosperous and easy life, as access to basic amenities such as round-the-clock electricity and readily available running water remains rare in parts of rural India.

However, Anand’s grandfather, father, and himself have not found riches in the big city. Anand earns only enough to contribute toward running the studio apartment he shares with his parents. By contrast, his cousin Bajrang, who works as a veterinarian, owns a multi-storied house with enough rooms for a big, joint family. Characters reminisce of a time not in the long past when these homes weren't even made of brick and cement, so  there is a sense of upward mobility here. However, somewhere along the home's construction, it seems the family ran out of money. The front façade has no paint on its walls, there is a bare minimum of furniture within, and unused bags of cement lie abandoned on the rooftop. Is the attraction of the city simply an illusion? The house can be seen as a metaphor for the unreliable, unpredictable, and occasionally unfulfilled desire for a life that will somehow be better.

2024’s Grand Prix-winning All We Imagine as Light, the debut feature of Payal Kapadia, also explored this duality. Parvathy (Chhaya Kadam) a cook at a hospital, is evicted from her tenement home by real estate developers. Initially, she is reluctant to leave Mumbai for her village Ratnagiri, also in Maharashtra. But once there, Parvathy reconnects with a happier, more content version of a self she didn't know still existed within her. For Kapadia’s character, this shift from city to village is instantly cathartic, but for Kanawade’s Anand, a young, queer man, the city feels far more accepting and comforting, despite his cramped living conditions. 

SEE ALSO: 'All We Imagine As Light' review: A resplendent portrait of womanhood

He is out as a gay man to his parents, but only in the city. In Mumbai, his parents aren't ashamed of Anand’s sexuality. But in the village, relatives have been told that Anand is single because of a girl who broke his heart. In a scene in which Anand and his mother first arrive at the village with his father’s body, everyone exits the car, but the camera stays behind. As you look at the mourners through the car window, you share Anand’s resignation to a detached, out-of-body experience. His real self remains waiting in that car to go back to Mumbai, where, despite a recent breakup, he is happier.

Contrasting with the vast open fields in his village are the traditional mourning rules Anand is constrained with: Don’t wear black. Don’t wear shoes. Don’t visit anyone’s home. Don’t eat rice. Don’t drink milk. Anand surrenders to each rule without argument, afraid to disturb the balance or cause trouble. The portraiture is so realized and heartfelt that it feels almost voyeuristic to have this peek inside the director’s recollected sense of alienation. 

Cactus Pears defies queer stereotypes.  Credit: Vikas Urs / Sundance

As Anand struggles to find moments in his day when the elders aren’t hounding him to find a bride and marry, he reconnects with childhood friend Balya (Suraaj Suman), who provides him relief from his overbearing family. During the sunny days they spend together, shepherding goats and taking dips in a lake, both see in each other an acknowledgment of their desires. For both, it is almost an instant sexual attraction, but for Balya, this also might become his exit from Kharshinde, a place he never got to leave.

The film’s very apt title, Cactus Pears, refers to the bright red, pulpy fruit that grows atop a prickly cactus in the most arid and inhospitable environments. It might be rare to come about, difficult to obtain, and the way to its juicy goodness lined with needles. But the fact that it grows means it is available to be enjoyed by those brave enough to risk injury. This metaphor is reflected in Kanawade’s writing, which is constantly subversive. It’s almost as if he made a list of stereotypes in queer love stories and deliberately attacked each one. Anand’s father is his confidant, not his antagonist. The worldly Balya has more experience with other gay men than the city-dweller; he knows how to drive a car, ride a bike, and keep nosy inquisitors at bay. The narrative has grief and tragedy flowing through it, but a sad story this is not. 

No mournful background music underlines how hard it is for queer men to live their lives. In fact, the film doesn’t deploy music at all. The only song, diegetic or otherwise, is the call to prayers from the nearby temple Anand isn’t allowed to go to. The sound design consists only of birds in an open sky, the sound of feet on dirt roads, and bells around cattle necks, reflecting Anand's state of mind. After his father's death, music went out from the world. All that remains are prayers and the simple, everyday sounds that surround him.

Cactus Pears is Indian indie cinema at its scrappiest best. 

Cactus Pears is as indie as indie cinema gets. The budgets are small; the lead actors are both theatre artists who have been in plays together. Bhushaan and Suraaj’s ease with each other is evident; their cuddles are natural, each shared glance a by-product of long-held familiarity. Cinematographer Vikas Urs’ unhurried, steady frames allow Balya and Anand to look at each other for as long as they need to do so. Kanawade too allows Anand and Balya to feel their sadness in moments that would come naturally to men in their circumstances. Anand might have nothing to say to an old relative who wants to know how he gets to and from work in Mumbai, but hearing Balya talk about his family’s financial hardships brings him out of his grief-induced reverie long enough to feel empathy again. Anand finds a hundred new stolen moments of peace, suddenly available in the 10-day mourning period.

Cactus Pears feels as if Rohan Kanawade’s personal life has been laid bare for an audience, each emotional moment on display in defiance of what Indian society expects of men. It is a chapter from his diary, a period in his life when all seemed lost — and yet, like the elusive cactus pear itself, happiness found its way back to him. He names his protagonist Anand, which translates to joy, to remind you there is hope to be found even in the bleakest of times, if you only take a pause and open yourself up to the idea.

Cactus Pears (Sabar Bonda) was reviewed out of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it took home the Grand Jury prize in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.

I’m going to start this review with some brutal honesty: I’m very picky about rugs. With two large dogs, one of which is a husky, and concrete floors, rugs are a necessity in this household as much as a headache. Between constantly battling dog hair, scrubbing out stains, and yes — the occasional dog vomit — I’ve learned that some rugs are better than others, and sometimes “stain resistant” or “washable” rugs are anything but. 

When I was asked to try out Ruggable’s premium medium pile rugs, however, it felt like a godsend because it happened to be the exact same week that my husky took a lil poo on my all-time favorite rug. My all-time favorite shag rug, which absolutely could not be saved. 

This wasn’t my first time trying out Ruggable

Time for my second piece of honesty: I’ve tried Ruggable before, and I absolutely hated it. Soon after moving into our downtown condo, my partner and I embarked on a quest to cover our concrete floors with rugs. We’d found ones for our bedroom, living room, and office (RIP to my favorite), but our massive open kitchen/dining room was proving to be a challenge — especially in such a high-traffic, stain-prone area. Because we don’t live under a rock, we’d heard of Ruggable and decided to give it a try. Surely a washable rug would make the best option for our space? 

SEE ALSO: The 6 best robot vacuums for pet hair, tested and reviewed

Except we were very wrong. Right out of the box, our first Ruggable looked terrible. Instead of a rug, it looked like a cheap piece of fabric with a poorly printed design that barely matched the photo, and aligning the 9 x 12-foot rug on top of the pad was nigh impossible. Immediately after rolling it out and battling with the alignment, we both shook our heads, rolled it back up, and promptly returned it assuming that Ruggable kinda sucked. 

We were wrong.

My second experience with Ruggable blew the first out of the water

A year after that experience, we visited a friend’s new house for the first time. Sitting around her dining room table, my partner mentioned our long-term struggle to find decent rugs that were dog friendly and asked where she’d found so many incredible rugs. Her answer? Ruggable. 

We were shocked. They were so much better than our first Ruggable experience, enough so that — when the chance came to test Ruggable again a few weeks later — we decided to chalk it up as a blip. Our friend’s rugs were stunning, soft, and looked like “real” rugs, so we eagerly picked out the design we wanted to try and waited for it to arrive.

Straight away, I was impressed by how much Ruggable’s selection had improved in a year. They had so many more designs available — including more plush, shag, and outdoor options than before — as well as what we wanted to test: premium, medium pile rugs. 

We did struggle to find a style we both liked, mainly because Ruggable’s selection tended to steer toward minimal, muted colors and we were hoping for something a little bit brighter, but we landed on a 6 x 9-foot ​​Absida Teal Premium Rug that would be perfect for our shared home office. At $479, it was about $100 more than our last rug, but the washability factor alone made it worth it, so we placed our order and were pleased when it arrived eight days later.

What I loved about my new Ruggable rug

First things first, our second purchase from Ruggable was nothing like the first. The premium 7-millimeter rug cover was plush, well-designed, and actually looked like a high-quality, durable rug. The pattern was exactly what we wanted, and it was much easier to align with the cushioned rug pad than our first experience. It took us about 10 minutes to get the furniture out of the way, lay out the rug pad, and get everything lined up, and — other than a slight overlap where the rug was a few inches longer on one end than the pad — we were super pleased with the results. 

Credit: Jandra Sutton / Mashable photo

A few months later, I can honestly say the same. Not only is our Ruggable just as soft as the other medium pile rugs in our house but it’s been super easy to clean and maintain. Whenever dog hair starts to build up, we just give it a quick sweep and it’s back to looking crisp and clean as ever. 

I will admit that we (thankfully) haven’t needed to put our Ruggable in the washing machine yet, but spot-cleaning it with a damp cloth has been way easier than cleaning our other medium pile rugs — and worlds better than battling against a super plush shag rug. 

What I don’t love about Ruggable

Aside from the lack of super vibrant rugs, my only real complaint with the premium Ruggable is adjusting it. It’s not necessarily difficult to get it aligned, but the velcro backing does make it a lot harder than dragging a normal rug over a rug pad. Plus, because the rug cover is a bit bigger than the cushioned rug pad beneath it, getting it matched up can be a challenge — one we gave up on. Our rug sits a few inches over the rug pad on one end, and it’s at least one inch over on all other sides, and it’s definitely noticeable. Even though some of our other rugs have slightly smaller rug pads, something about Ruggable’s rug covers made the overlap a bit more visible than our other rugs. 

Is Ruggable worth the price? 

It depends. If you have pets or kids — or you need a rug that’s easy to keep clean in a high-traffic area — then absolutely. Ruggable has far exceeded my expectations when it comes to a versatile, durable rug, and it’s certainly been easier to clean than any of my “traditional” rugs. 

If you’re looking for something that is going to look and feel impeccably plush and soft, however, I’m on the fence. The premium medium pile rugs certainly feel better than I thought they would, but a lot of the thickness comes from the cushioned rug pad — which is an absolute must-buy. It’s not that our Ruggable looks bad by any means, it just…doesn’t quite look or feel quite as good as a stunning, high-quality rug can look. 

And considering the 6 x 9-foot premium rug we got from Ruggable clocks in at $479, that’s almost double the price we’ve paid for most of our other medium pile rugs of the same size. It is a little easier to clean than some, but the visible overlap is still an annoyance.

It’s also worth noting that while Ruggable touts its rugs as interchangeable — meaning you can swap out the rug cover for a new one whenever you want to change up the style — the rug cover we got would be $390 by itself. You can save quite a bit by switching to Ruggable’s classic 2-millimeter rug cover over the premium 7-millimeter rug, but the loss of thickness isn’t quite worth it in my opinion. 

Obviously, Ruggable’s premium medium pile rugs are still cheaper than many other rugs on the market, but whether or not it’s the right option for you depends on your situation. If you’re looking for something on thickness or appearance alone? It might not be the right option for you. But if you’re looking for an attractive, durable and washable rug that will see a lot of action? The price of a Ruggable might be worth it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable Ruggable 6 x 9-foot, medium pile rugs Starting at $479 Shop Now

TL;DR: Give the gift of digital organisation and pay just £60.45 (reg. £376.58) for lifetime access to FileJump's 2TB cloud storage plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription £60.45 at the Mashable Shop
£376.58 Save £316.13 Get Deal

Through 9 February, Mashable readers can sign up for the FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for just £60.45 (reg. £376.58) — an 83% discount.

FileJump offers an easy, secure, and affordable way to store files across devices, ideal for students, professionals, or anyone who hates running out of storage space.

Whether backing up family photos, collaborating on projects, or simply saving space on their devices, FileJump is the perfect solution. With 2TB of storage, end-to-end encryption, and no recurring fees, this is a purchase that should pay for itself.

With FileJump's drag-and-drop interface, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to upload files, while the built-in media preview makes viewing photos, videos, and documents a breeze.

Sharing and collaborating are seamless, too. Share files via custom links or create free accounts for clients and team members to access shared folders. With AES 256-bit encryption, your files are not only accessible but also secure.

What really sets FileJump apart? There are no limits on download speeds or transfer rates, meaning you’ll never wait longer than necessary to access your data. 

At £60.45 (reg. £376.58) for lifetime access to 2TB of storage, FileJump delivers premium features at an incredible value. Competitors charge monthly fees for similar services, but with FileJump, you pay once and own it forever. This offer isn’t just practical and useful — it’s economical, too.

FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription - £60.45 | Get It Here

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Ireland vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first weekend of the 2025 Six Nations includes some really interesting matchups, but Ireland vs. England is the pick of the bunch in round one. Ireland are looking to defend their title, and will be favorites to win this one in front of a home crowd.

If you want to watch Ireland vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ireland vs. England?

Ireland vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 4:45 p.m. GMT on Feb. 1. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium.

How to watch Ireland vs. England for free

Ireland vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations 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 handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Ireland vs. England by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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. Live stream Ireland vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) 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 watch Ireland vs. England without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Ireland vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.