IT General

The teaser trailer for One Hundred Years of Solitude has arrived, giving us a glimpse at the first official screen adaptation of Nobel Prize winning author Gabriel García Márquez's magnum opus.

One Hundred Years of Solitude follows the Buendía family in Macondo, a fictional Colombian town founded by their patriarch Jose Arcadio Buendía (Marco González). Netflix's 16-episode magic realist series will track multiple generations of the family as they deal with love, war, and a curse which has confined them to a century of isolation.

SEE ALSO: Netflix buys the rights to make first ever adaptation of 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'

Originally published in 1967, One Hundred Years of Solitude is a widely lauded and heavily influential novel which contributed to García Márquez being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. However, the author was reluctant to grant the rights for a screen adaptation up until his death in 2014, concerned that the story would not fit into a traditional movie structure and that it would not be filmed in Spanish.

His estate has now allowed Netflix to adapt the novel, with García Márquez's sons Rodrigo García and Gonzalo García Barcha serving as executive producers on the series.

"[I]n the current golden age of series, with the level of talented writing and directing, the cinematic quality of content, and the acceptance by worldwide audiences of programs in foreign languages, the time could not be better [for a screen adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude]," García said when the series was first announced in 2019.

One Hundred Years of Solitude will be available to stream on Netflix later this year.

Benjamin Bratt's cameo in episode 4 of Loot, "Mr. Congeniality," plays up the actor's heartthrob status while poking sly fun at the surreal nature of cameos themselves.

SEE ALSO: 'Loot' review: Maya Rudolph shines in a sitcom that makes for a great weekend binge

At the beginning of this episode — whose title is a nod to Bratt's role in the seminal action rom-com Miss Congeniality — harried heroine Molly (Maya Rudolph) has sworn off men. Alas, she's only human, and her urges are getting out of control. To get over that, she does what any ultra-rich philanthropist does; she jets off to an elite wellness retreat. It’s going well, and Molly is relaxed, but a latecomer to the meditation session changes everything. Enter Benjamin Bratt.

Benjamin Bratt's cameo plays on his history of advocacy. Credit: Apple TV+

The Poker Face actor smiles and says, "My motorcycle broke down on the way here. I had to drag it the last mile." Thoughts of Bratt dragging a motorcycle does something to Molly, who looks at him as if she’s watching the universe's secrets being unlocked in front of her very eyes. (Here, Rudolph's command of physical humor and over-the-top performance of female horniness, as in her fantastic Prince cover band Princess, becomes key.)

As he approaches Molly, one arm over his head, maintaining his cheeky grin, he says, "I'm Benjamin Bratt."

From the moment Bratt swaggers into the episode (accompanied by the very sexy R&B classic "I Know What You Want" by Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey, no less), his goal isn’t to stand out but to immerse himself in the world of Loot. Often, cameos only have to work in a single scene for a laugh, and aren’t always woven into the narrative, but Bratt’s mission is to be a genuine romantic interest for Molly. And he does it perfectly. 

Molly is a fan of Bratt, and is thrilled (and aroused) by the fact that he’s been assigned as her partner for the meditation. But Loot twists our expectations by making him as big a fan of her work as a philanthropist. Molly can’t believe she’s talking to Bratt, and he can’t believe it, either. There’s a sense of genuine excitement and nervousness as Bratt rattles off information about Molly that a dedicated fan would know, like details about the speech she delivered in the Season 1 finale. Their chemistry is genuinely riveting. Loot plays on Bratt's image as the ultimate sex symbol: What could be hotter than a man who can drag a motorcycle for a mile without breaking a sweat — and who has a genuine passion for your work? 

This is also where knowing a touch more about Bratt in real life comes into play. Like, yes, there's his jawline, but here's an essay he wrote for Esquire about the wisdom of abuelas — now that's swoon-worthy. He's a passionate advocate for Latinx and Indigenous representation onscreen, specifically requesting that his breakout Law & Order character have the same Peruvian American background as himself. (His mother was born in Peru and is of Quechua descent.) He’s taken on challenging and unexpected roles, like poet Miguel Piñero in 2001's Piñero, a role John Leguizamo turned down after learning of the poet's bisexuality. Bratt was a consulting producer on Dolores, the documentary helmed by his brother, Peter, about activist Dolores Huerta. The list goes on and on.

By leaning on his niche as a dashing leading man with heart, his performance plays into the fantasy of him falling for one of his fans. (Fictional millionaires: They're just like us!)

From Al Pacino to Michael Cera, the self-parody is ripe for comedy. 

At their best, a celeb playing themselves is playing a heightened version of their persona. Camp is very much in play as these performers deliver goofy, hyper-violent, or comically out-of-touch iterations of themselves. That’s precisely what makes these performances fun — they provide an element of surprise that plays upon what we think we know, twisting that into something shocking. 

Many actors make a meal of these cameos. In Jack and Jill, legendary actor Al Pacino brings his manic energy to new heights as a passionate Dunkin’ advocate, hamming it up to infinite degrees. In Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite with Dogma director Kevin Smith and play up their famous friendship with hyper-bro caricatures of themselves, filming an action-packed sequel to Good Will Hunting. The animal-loving Bob Barker beats up Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore. Most recently, the charming and suave James Marsden taps into an egomaniacal side for his turn in Jury Duty. Perhaps the wildest example is Michael Cera in This Is the End. His film persona (especially before the film was released in 2013) was a bastion of sweet nerdy innocence. This Is the End, however, showcased Cera as a coke-addled sex fiend, playing against type with glee.    

Benjamin Bratt as himself lays on the charm offensive.  Credit: Apple TV+

The two projects that have shaped Bratt’s public persona best are Law & Order and Miss Congeniality. During a four-year stint on Law & Order, Bratt played Detective Rey Curtis, a devout Catholic who was determined to uphold the law to the best of his ability. He was charming and kind, but unafraid to let his inner bad boy out, getting reprimanded for losing his temper on numerous occasions. And in Miss Congeniality, he’s FBI agent Eric Matthews, the love interest of Sandra Bullock’s Gracie Hart. Bratt proves to be a perfect rom-com love interest, serving a lot of the charm that would serve him for decades to come.

SEE ALSO: 24 best romantic comedies to fall in love with on Netflix

Bratt’s performance in Loot challenges our expectations of the celebrity cameo. Audiences have come to expect exaggerated personas doing things we’d never expect to see them do — think of Anna Faris as a coke-addled advocate for gun violence in Keanu as another funny example. But when actors playing crazy versions of themselves becomes the norm for the celebrity cameo, that starts to feel less like a surprise and more like an inevitability. By breaking this mold, Bratt’s gives us a real surprise and true delight. The real magic of his performance is that — whether you know Bratt’s persona or not  — you can believe his character is a largely accurate reflection of who he really is.

Bratt saves the best for last.

At the end of the episode, cracks begin to appear in Bratt’s charm offensive, as he starts to reveal a more egotistical side while wooing Molly. Bratt simply can’t stop himself from mentioning his work, especially when trying to seduce Molly. He compares Molly’s beauty to "the Russian tundra at twilight," adding that he "just filmed there." His role has subtlety — something missing from the vast majority of celebrity cameos — and it plays deliciously into the idea of the narcissistic actor, twisting the initial setup of the romantic fantasy Molly is looking for. Still, Bratt toes the line gently to keep himself an attractive option for Molly. In this way, Bratt puts his own spin on the typically heightened expectations of a celebrity cameo, gingerly dropping hints that he's just like other ego-driven actors without going full-tilt, and delivering a delicate, nuanced performance — one that still lets him be extremely funny and memorable.

Eventually, he tells her exactly what she wants to hear: He’s not looking for anything serious. He could have just said that, but instead he delivers the funniest lines of the episode in a hushed tone, as if he’s whispering sweet nothings into Molly’s ear.

"I'm moving to London next week to shoot a live-action version of Despicable Me. I'll be there for two years."

Of course, a film shoot typically takes a few weeks to a few months, so the idea of filming anything for two years (especially a freaking live-action version of Despicable Me) is outrageous and an obvious lie to avoid future commitment. Bratt voiced Eduardo Pérez and El Macho in Despicable Me 2, way back in 2013, so it's not outside of the realm of possibility that he'd be involved with a future iteration of the series. The time frame and making it a live-action movie is what pushes this particular excuse over the top and into surreal hilarity.

That Bratt delivers this line with complete seriousness is what solidifies the performance. It's a terrific twist on what we’ve come to expect from playing yourself on-screen. Leave it to Bratt to have us swooning and cringing in equal measure.

Loot is now streaming on Apple TV+, with new episodes available every Wednesday.

TL;DR: The Mymanu CLIK S translation earbuds are on sale for £72.30, saving you 42% on list price.

Springtime is a great opportunity for a holiday, but you might not get to really experience the culture of a place if you stick to the standard tourist attractions. Knowing the local language may help, but learning a whole language for a holiday might actually be harder than finding a good price on flights.

If you don’t have time to learn the language, then you may want to try out a wearable translator that does the job for you. The Mymanu CLIK S earbuds have been featured at CES and can translate over 37 languages from all over the world. Get these earbuds while they’re only £72.30.

Take a translator anywhere you go. These earbuds may not make you fluent, but they could help you understand individual speakers or groups of speakers in another language. Download the MyJuno app on your Android or iOS device and pick which languages are being used in your conversation. When you need to talk, press the button on your earbud. A translation will automatically play from your phone. 

When it’s your turn to listen, the other speaker just has to talk into your phone for a translation to play in your earbud and appear in writing on your screen. Groups of speakers are limited to text-only translations, but that may still be easier than manually entering everything into unreliable browser translators.

Mymanu CLIK S supports German, French, Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Finnish, Thai, Japanese, Czech, and more. And when you’re not translating, you can also listen to music or take calls. These earbuds are impressive translators, but they also come with many of the standard amenities you may expect of wireless earbuds. That includes high-quality sound and call functions. 

Planning a holiday? Find the best local spots by talking to the people who live there in their own language. Get the Mymanu CLIK S translation earbuds on sale for £72.30. No coupon needed. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Mymanu Mymanu CLIK S Translation Earbuds £72.30 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: Watch Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Cricket fans have been well and truly enthralled by this year's IPL, and it's not over yet.

Three weeks in and things are continuing to heat up, and next up is the Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians. Expect to see players such as Shikar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya as the two teams face off in the 33rd match of the season.

If you want to watch Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians for free from anywhere in the world, here's all you need to know.

When is Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians?

Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians starts at 3 p.m. BST on April 18. This match takes place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, India.

How to watch Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians for free

JioCinema is offering free live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on its app.

JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, but anyone can unblock this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can access JioCinema from anywhere in the world.

Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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 India

4. Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)

5. Watch Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

Most of the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking JioCinema, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including India

• 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

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix for free on ORF, ServusTV, RTBF, or RTL ZWEE. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Whether or not the battle for the F1 championship is actually competitive, fans will keep coming back for more. Max Verstappen could win every remaining race this season, and whilst that wouldn't exactly make for great viewing, we're all still watching extremely fast cars going wheel to wheel. Things could be worse.

If you're interested in watching the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix?

The 2024 Chinese Grand Prix takes place over 56 laps of the 5,451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit. The full schedule can be found here:

• Practice 1 — 4:30 to 5:30 a.m. BST on April 19

• Sprint Qualifying — 8:30 to 9:14 a.m. BST on April 19

• Sprint — 4 to 5 a.m. BST on April 20

• Qualifying — 8 to 9 a.m. BST on April 20

• Race — 8 a.m. BST on April 21

Sky Sports is broadcasting live coverage of every race weekend this season, with race highlights of the Chinese Grand Prix available on Channel 4 shortly after the race.

How to watch the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix for free

You can stream the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix live and free on these streaming platforms:

• Austria — ORF or ServusTV (12 races each)

• Belgium — RTBF (every race)

• Luxembourg — RTL ZWEE (every race)

These free streaming platforms are geo-restricted, meaning you'll be blocked if you attempt to connect from outside the country of origin. Fortunately, you can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these streaming services to watch F1 for free from anywhere in the world.

Unblock these free streaming services by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 Austria, Belgium, or Luxembourg

4. Connect to ORF, ServusTV, RTBF, or RTL ZWEE

5. Watch F1 races from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams for free. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can stream the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix without actually spending anything.

What is the best VPN for F1?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming F1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.

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 April 18's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

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

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

One side of something many-sided.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 Wordle #1034 is...

FACET.

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.

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 18's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Things you'd see in a suburb

• Green: Planning something

• Blue: Units of measurement

• Purple: Golden things

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Sidewalk Sights

• Green: Have in Mind

• Blue: Unit Abbreviations

• Purple: Golden___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #312 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Sidewalk Sights: CURB, GRATE, GUTTER, MANHOLE

• Have in Mind: AIM, INTEND, MEAN, PLAN

• Unit Abbreviations: CAL, GAL, IN, OZ

• Golden___: FLEECE, GIRLS, PARACHUTE, RULE

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

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Around this time just one week ago, iPhone users in 92 counties received a bizarre notification on their device.

"Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID," read the notification. "This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it's never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously."

Apple posted an announcement on its website giving basic details for why the company would generally send out a notification warning like this. However, the company has been relatively mum on the situation since. And it never quite disclosed the exact threat that spurred Apple to send out that notification to those users at that specific time.

Now, a new report appears to have solved the mystery.

China-linked LightSpy spyware

The Apple news outlet Apple Insider noticed a report by Blackberry — yes, the mobile phone company that was popular in the 2000s and has since pivoted into a cybersecurity firm — that appears to have gotten to the bottom of the spyware notification situation.

According to Blackberry, the spyware that iPhone users were warned about is called LightSpy, which is described in the report as a "sophisticated iOS implant." 

The report points out that this is a concerning development because LightSpy was last seen used in a campaign during the 2020 political protests in Hong Kong. So, this latest attack appears to be a reemergence of LightSpy.

LightSpy is "a fully-featured modular surveillance toolset," according to Blackberry. The spyware can pull targets' private information, which includes pinpoint-accurate location data as well as data from messaging applications, text messages, phone call history, and web browser history. It can even create sound recordings from the device, including recording during VOIP calls. 

LightSpy has been used by attackers to target individuals in Southeast Asia, including India, for the most part, which explains why those notifications were mostly received by iPhone users located in that general region. The messaging apps mentioned in Blackberry's report are among the most popular in that part of the world: QQ, WeChat, and Telegram. In addition, LightSpy can pull payment history from targets from the WeChat Pay service.

Blackberry believes this attack was once again perpetrated by China-based or native Chinese-speaking actors, as with previous LightSpy campaigns, and there's a potential for state-sponsored involvement as well.

The report recommends that users who have reason to be targeted, whether due to their employment or activism, utilize Apple's Lockdown Mode, which the iPhone-maker describes as a feature used to "protect devices against extremely rare and highly sophisticated cyber attacks."

There's a new app in town, according to Wired and Bloomberg, if you consider Silicon Valley a town. A by-invitation-only audio-based app called Airchat is reportedly being "hyped in tech circles," with invites making the rounds among the Valley's top brass.

The app combines elements of X (formerly Twitter) and voice notes, with a main feed populated by text transcripts of voice notes from other users, which you can play, heart, or repost.

SEE ALSO: BeReal has 10 months left before it runs out of money

The "hype" for AirChat has been magnified by reports from Business Insider and a contributor at Forbes, who declared that you'd have to have been "under a rock" to have avoided an invite to the app. And it's no coincidence that Airchat cofounders Naval Ravikant (co-creator of AngelList) and Brian Norgard (former chief product officer at Tinder) are tech insiders themselves, or that investors include the likes of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who "threw in a check, kind of blindly," according to Ravikant.

But the numbers may tell a different story. Both Bloomberg and Business Insider cite data from Sensor Tower that claims Airchat has been downloaded just over 45,000 times since launching in mid-2023, with 30,000 of those downloads occurring only after a relaunch this month. That lackluster showing could be chalked up to the app's current exclusivity, but Airchat is also losing steam fast. Bloomberg reported that the app was ranked no. 29 in the App Store's ranking of top social networking apps just yesterday. As of publishing today, the app has fallen to no. 42.

If the term "social audio app" rings a bell, you may be remembering Clubhouse, which shot to fame in 2020 and 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and was valued at $4 billion. But Clubhouse gained popularity at a lonely time, when most people were sheltering inside and desperate for human interaction, and last year, the app laid off half of its staff.

Perhaps Airchat can do what Clubhouse could not. For now, it seems like just another place tech execs can hear themselves talk.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro rumors are flooding in – and we're curious about how it will be different from the iPhone 15.

Although it’s early days, we’re already hearing whispers about a RAM boost for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, are reportedly getting some striking upgrades to the cameras that may dazzle the masses. Here’s a compilation of everything we know so far about next year's iPhone 16 line.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus review iPhone 16 release date

The iPhone 16 release date is expected to be September of next year. After Apple has its whole shebang of an event showcasing the next-generation handsets, the iPhones typically ship about a week or two later.

iPhone 15 Credit: Apple

In the past, Apple has deviated from this cadence due to reported production hindrances (e.g., supply chain issues). For example, the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 14 Plus shipped in October, but typically, get unveiled some time during the first half of September every year.

iPhone 16 design

Let’s dive into arguably the most important aspect of the iPhone’s design: the screen.

There haven’t been any significant changes to the display sizes since the iPhone 12, but according to reliable leaker Unknownz21, the upper-tier iPhone 16 models are going to be a little bit more unwieldy in your hands.

Display

The iPhone 16 Pro will reportedly have a 6.3-inch display while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will pack a 6.9-inch panel. You may be wondering, “What about the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus? Will they get a screen size bump, too?” The answer is likely no. The lower-tier models will reportedly have the same display sizes as their predecessors.

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iPhone 15 screen sizes

• iPhone 15 - 6.1 inches

• iPhone 15 Plus - 6.7 inches

• iPhone 15 Pro - 6.1 inches

• iPhone 15 Pro Max - 6.7 inches
  

iPhone 16 screen sizes (rumored)

• iPhone 16 - 6.1 inches

• iPhone 16 Plus - 6.7 inches

• iPhone 16 Pro - 6.3 inches

• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 6.9 inches

Ross Young, a well-known display analyst and Apple leaker, was the first to claim that the iPhone 16 Pro models will have larger screens. 

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However, he offered slightly different numbers: 6.2 inches and 6.8 inches. What could be the reason behind the discrepancy? According to MacRumors, it’s "likely due to the difference between actual display area and viewable display area."

Another rumor we're hearing is that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will continue to have 60Hz refresh-rate displays. This is a little disappointing considering other phones in the market at least have 90Hz screens, making navigating through the UI smoother, zippier and seamless.

Thinner bezels

The iPhone 16 will also reportedly have slimmer bezels, according to a report from The Elec (h/t MacRumors). Apple is tipped to be using something called Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology, which reduces the internal footprint of the circuitry inside, allowing for thinner bezels (without sacrificing anything important aspects like display performance, for example).

Thinner bezels means that the iPhone 16 series should yield more screen real estate for users.

Action Button

A report from MacRumors claims that every single model in the iPhone 16 line will feature an Action Button — not just the iPhone 15 Pro variants. The current-gen iPhone 15 Pro models' Action Button can be programmed to launch a range of apps and functions, including Flashlight, Camera, Silent Mode, Voice Memo, Focus, Magnifier, Translate (coming to iOS 17.2), and a range of accessibility features.

When iPhone 16 drops, however, the rumor mill states that Apple will add more functionality to the Action Button.

Capture Button

The Action Button was all the rage for the iPhone 15 series, however, according to MacRumors and The Information, a new Capture Button will be one of the biggest selling points for the iPhone 16. Reportedly placed slightly under the power button, the Capture Button is a camera-focused feature that can do the following:

• Zoom in and out of photos/videos with swiping gestures

• Allows users to focus on subjects

• Activates the shutter button

While MacRumors and The Information both concur that Apple is testing a "capture button" on the iPhone 16, both aren't on the same page on whether it's a mechanical button or a capacitive one. MacRumors says it's the latter, but the Information claims it's both.

Solid-state buttons

Apple reportedly planned on introducing solid-state buttons with the iPhone 15 Pro models, but instead, we got a customizable Action Button. For the uninitiated, solid-state buttons aren’t buttons per se – they’re panels that feature haptic feedback sensations that simulate real button presses (Think of the iPhone SE series' Home button). On the plus side, the solid-state buttons aren’t totally out of the picture. According to respected Apple leaker and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is working on debuting solid-state buttons on the iPhone 16 Pro models instead.

Tweet may have been deleted

Kuo added that these solid-state buttons will add two additional Taptic Engines, which will help fire off tangible feedback to users. (If this is true, the number of Taptic Engines in the iPhone 16 will increase to three — up from one.)

According to a tip from Weibo (via MacRumors), the Action Button on the iPhone 16 Pro will be a solid-state button and sit flush against the chassis. To make room for this change, Apple will reportedly move the mmWave antenna to the left of the iPhone 16 Pro as opposed to the right. This Weibo tip comes from a leaker with the moniker "Instant Digital," a bean spiller that reportedly has an accurate track record, according to MacRumors.

iPhone 16 AI

The iPhone 16 will reportedly featured an AI-powered Siri.

Siri is about to get a whole lot smarter. Credit: Apple

In other words, Siri is maturing into a more sophisticated digital assistant. According to Kuo, this means that Siri will bring new hardware to the iPhone 16, including updated microphones with better water resistance and an improved signal-to-noise ratio.

iPhone 16 cameras

Apple debuted a new zoom lens with a "tetra-prism" design on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which simply means that engineers found a way to "fold" the shooter so that it still has telephoto capabilities without taking up too much space. This new camera increases the Pro Max’s optical zoom from 3x to 5x.

iPhone 15 Pro Credit: Apple

However, according to Digital Chat Station (DCS), a bean-spiller on the Chinese social media site Weibo, both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get the new tetra-prism telephoto camera.

DCS also added that the iPhone 16 Pro Max specifically is getting the Sony IMX903 sensor, an upgrade from the Sony IMX803 sensor. This means that the iPhone 16 Pro Max wide lens will have a larger sensor size, allowing for more light gathering for better photos and videos in low-light conditions.

Credit: John Keeble/Getty Images

According to Jeff Pu, a tech analyst from Haitong International Securities (a Hong Kong investment firm), the ultrawide cameras are getting a boost, too.

Pu stated tthe iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models will also feature a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with better light gathering. As such, camera performance in dimmer environments should improve. As it stands now, the iPhone 15 Pro models have a 12MP ultrawide camera.

The ultrawide camera is perfect for taking landscape photos, allowing you to capture more scenery. However, compared to the main camera, the ultrawide lens tends to deliver a slight drop in crispness and sharpness. If this rumor is true, the new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera may ameliorate this minor foible.

Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple will upgrade the rear cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro models, introducing a stacked design. What will a stacked design do? According to Apple Insider, it increases light capture and provides wider dynamic range, so Night Mode should get a sweet boost.

Finally, it's worth pointing out that the iPhone 16 Pro, as we reported in April, will allegedly tackle lens flare and ghosting issues by using anti-reflective coating on the cameras.

Featured Video For You History of iPhone (updated) iPhone 16 battery sizes

As we reported in early April, a Weibo leaker by the name of "OvO Baby Sauce OvO" seemingly unveiled the new new battery sizes across the iPhone 16 lineup:

• iPhone 16: 3,561mAh

• iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006mAh

• iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355mAh

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676mAh

All the iPhone 16 models have some sort of increase from two to six percent except for the iPhone 16 Plus, which reportedly has a reduction of nearly nine percent compared to the iPhone 15 Plus.

Keep in mind that an increase in battery size doesn't necessarily mean that the device will deliver longer battery life. And in the same vein, a battery size reduction doesn't necessarily lead to shorter runtimes. There are other aspects at play (the display's efficiency, for example). So we won't know for sure how battery life is affected until we get the phones in our hands.

iPhone 16 specs

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 8GB of RAM while the lower-tier models, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max, are stuck with their predecessors’ 6GB of RAM. If that bums you out, don’t worry. According to Pu, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to join the 8GB of RAM bandwagon, too.

iPhone 15 lineup Credit: Apple
Storage

According to news aggregator account "yeux1122" from Naver, a Korean blog, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature options that offer 2TB of storage.

That is double the current max storage capacity of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Chipset

In recent years, Apple has followed the trend of putting last year's chip into the two entry-level models while the Pro models, the Pro and the Pro Max, get the new-generation chip. For example, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus got the A16 Bionic chip, the same inside the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. However, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max got outfitted with the new A17 Pro chips.

If this pattern continues, it should follow that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus get the A17 Pro while the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max get the A18 chips. Pu hinted that this is how it will be for the iPhone 16 line, hinting that the A17 Pro will reportedly be less efficient. In other words, the iPhone 16 models equipped with this chip may take a battery life hit. This is because the next-generation chip will offer tremendous performance gains at the expense of power efficiency.

However, another rumor tells a different story.

According to an alleged iOS 18 code leak from MacRumors, the entire iPhone 16 line will get an A18 chip. However, there’s a chance that Apple will use a “Pro” identifier name to differentiate from the standard and Pro models (e.g., A18 chip and A18 Pro).

The iPhone 16 Pro models will also reportedly support Wi-Fi 7 (current models support WiFi 6E). Wi-Fi 7 should offer zippy transfer speeds that exceed 40 Gbps, quadrupling what WiFi 6E can do.

According to Pu (via 9to5Mac), the iPhone 16 Pro will come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem, which can reach a 5G download rate of up to 7.5 Gbps.

We’ll periodically update this rumor hub as new iPhone 16 leaks trickle in, so be sure to bookmark this page. 

PS5 Pro rumors have been flooding in for some time now. As such, if you haven't gotten a PS5 yet, it might be best to wait a few months.

Sony will reportedly release a powered-up "Pro" version of the console as soon as this year. To be clear, there hasn't been a great deal of solid, reliable reporting on the topic just yet, but rumblings of a PS5 Pro have only gotten more intense as time has gone on.

But what would a PS5 Pro actually entail? Let's dig in.

SEE ALSO: PS5 Slim vs. PS5: What are the differences? PS5 Pro release date

The PS5 Pro's release date is reportedly some time during the 2024 holiday season, according to Insider Gaming, which cited "trusted sources."

Serkan Toto, a gaming industry analyst from Kantan Games, told CNBC that he believes a revamped PS5 could be in the works for launch in late 2024, too. Part of the reasoning for this is that Sony cut its sales forecast for the next fiscal year, perhaps signaling that the PlayStation brand could use a boost in the near future.

Credit: Sony

Toto also mentioned the impending release of Grand Theft Auto VI in 2025 as a good reason for Sony to get new hardware in people's entertainment centers.

These are simply the words of an analyst who doesn't work for Sony, so it's fair to take them with a grain of salt. However, the prediction somewhat lines up with Sony's past activities with the PlayStation brand. For example, the PS4 Pro came out in 2016, three years after the launch of the PS4. Late 2024 will mark four years since the launch of the PS5.

As we enter the latter half of the PS5's life cycle, 2024 may be the only year where it makes sense to launch the PS5 Pro.

PS5 Pro specs

Thanks to a leak from The Verge's Tom Warren, the PS5 will have the following internal upgrades over the PS5:

• 10% CPU improvement

• 45% GPU improvement

Warren also added that the PS5 Pro frees up 1.2GB more system memory for developers for a total of 13.7GB (compared to the PS5's 12.5GB).

Tweet may have been deleted PS5 Pro price

This is where the lack of solid reporting on the PS5 Pro's existence becomes difficult to deal with.

Credit: Sony

Since we don't even know that the PS5 Pro exists, it's impossible to say how much it would cost. All we can really do is look back on how Sony handled the PS4 Pro, which is actually somewhat encouraging. The upgraded PS4 launched at $399 — the same price the original PS4 launched at three years prior. Perhaps Sony will drop the price of the standard PS5 and release the Pro at $499, the current PS5 price in the U.S. for the model with a disc drive.

Making this a little more complicated is the fact that Sony slightly hiked the price of the PS5 in other markets in late 2022. Sony will have to figure out a way to sell the PS5 Pro at a somewhat fair price without losing a ton of money in the process.

PS5 Pro design

This is another area where all we can do is speculate.

Credit: Sony

Sony has already lightly revised the PS5 post-launch, with the release of the PS5 slim model late last year. That made the console slightly shorter and thinner, but it's still the same basic design. In all likelihood, a PS5 Pro would go in the opposite direction and be even larger than the already very large standard PS5. That's the price of increasing horsepower.

One way Sony could alleviate this is by getting rid of the disc drive and forcing customers to buy the separate, detachable disc drive that's available for the PS5 Slim. That wouldn't exactly be ideal, but it would make the console a bit smaller.

PS5 Pro 'Ultra boost' mode

According to The Verge, the PS5 Pro may have an "Ultra Boost" mode for games.

Sony is reportedly asking developers to create something called a "PS5 Pro-exclusive graphics mode" for their games, which uses PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) to upscale to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (with ray-tracing effects in tow).

Per Insider Gaming, titles will get a "PS5 Pro Enhanced label" if they offer the following:

• PS5 Pro ray-tracing effects

• Higher target resolution for games that run a fixed resolution on the standard console

• Higher target maximum resolution for games that run at variable resolution on the standard console

• Higher target frame rate for games that target a fixed frame rate on the standard console

Sony may be working on an Ultra Boost mode for older games, too.

PS5 Pro controller

When Sony launched the PS4 Pro, it made zero changes to the PS4's standard DualShock 4 controller. After all, it didn't really need any. I would expect the same approach to be taken with the PS5 Pro.

Credit: Sony

The PS5 DualSense controller is excellent as is, with the exception of inevitable analog stick drift. I've personally gone through like three of the dang things since launch. In a perfect world, Sony would bundle the PS5 Pro with the more expensive DualSense Edge controller, which allows users to easily swap new analog sticks in and out instead of buying a whole new controller when drift develops.

That seems unlikely based on past precedent, but hey, a man can dream.

When iOS 18 launches later this year, the Notes app could be useful for a lot more than just lazy celebrity apologies.

AppleInsider reported on Wednesday that iOS 18 could come with a revamped Notes app that includes two major new features: voice notes and math. If Apple sticks to its usual launch pattern, iOS 18 will be unveiled at WWDC 2024, so expect to hear about official updates from the mothership in June.

Which features are reportedly coming to iOS 18 'Notes'?

The two new features are pretty self-explanatory. Voice notes would allow users to record and store voice memos within the Notes app itself, complementing any text or images they wish to include alongside them. Folks could then put their voice notes in iCloud and access them from different Apple devices.

SEE ALSO: How to mirror your iPhone to your TV

As for what AppleInsider called "Math Notes," these would tie into the iOS Calculator app and would theoretically allow for users to perform complex math equations with proper notation within the Notes app.

Both features would probably be most useful for people in academia and business. As AppleInsider pointed out, similar features are already available in Microsoft's popular OneNote app, a competitor to the native Apple Notes app. It would make sense, then, for Apple to crib a couple of key components from OneNote for its own app.

It also wouldn't be the first time Apple has taken "inspiration" from other companies for big features or ideas. Such is the way of things.

Hate emptying the cat's box after your furry friend does its business? Check out these deals on self-scooping litter boxes at Amazon as of April 17:

Best self-scooping litter box deals Best overall deal PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart Self-Cleaning Litter Box $229.95 at Amazon (Save $40) Get Deal Best front-entry deal PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Plus Front-Entry Self-Cleaning Litter Box $184.95 at Amazon (Save $45) Get Deal Best odor control deal PetSafe ScoopFree Clumping Self-Cleaning Litter Box $99.95 at Amazon (Save $20) Get Deal

Cats are absolutely adorable. The entire internet agrees. What isn't adorable is having to clean up after your feline sidekick. While cats are arguably cleaner than most dogs since they relieve themselves in a litter box, you're still left with the responsibility of emptying it.

If you've had your fair share of scooping your cat's mess out of the litter box and want a better solution, there is one! We present the self-scooping litter box. It collects waste and empties it into a reservoir that you don't have to see or touch (mostly), which means a much more pleasant experience for you and a clean and happy cat. Automatic litter boxes are the cat's meow, so to speak.

Now's a great time to make the change because Amazon has select self-scooping litter boxes on sale for up to 20% off right now, with one available for just $99.95 — so, no, you don't have to spend upwards of $700 to get one. If you're ready to bring home a new litter box for your favorite fur baby, grab one of our picks of the best self-scooping litter boxes below.

Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart Self-Cleaning Litter Box $229.95 at Amazon
$269.95 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart Self-Cleaning Litter Box connects to its companion My PetSafe app to let you check on its status wherever you are. Its hands-free cleaning cycle is set to automatically rake any solid waste 20 minutes after detecting your cat has left the box. That means you only have to swap in a fresh tray once per month. With its leak-proof trays, you never have to touch anything unsightly, and pre-filled crystal litter helps keep those unpleasant smells as undetectable as possible. Plus, you'll get a notification when your cat uses the litter box, so you know exactly how your pet is doing, complete with an activity log to show the vet should you run into any health concerns.

Best front entry deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Plus Front-Entry Self-Cleaning Litter Box $184.95 at Amazon
$229.95 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Plus Front-Entry Self-Cleaning Litter Box is a great front-entry option if that's what your cat prefers. It has a nice domed entry that your furry friend can feel secure in. You don't have to clean or refill your cat's litter box for weeks thanks to this box's automatic scheduling. It also has disposable trays with plastic lining that you simply throw away instead of replacing with additional litter. The crystal litter it uses can reduce most of the smell, and since you dispose of everything at once, that cuts down on odors as well. There's also an included health counter to help you keep track of how many visits your cat makes to the litter box in case you need to know.

Best odor control deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon PetSafe ScoopFree Clumping Self-Cleaning Litter Box $99.95 at Amazon
$119.95 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The PetSafe ScoopFree Clumping Self-Cleaning Litter Box is compatible with clumping litter if you prefer that over crystal, but it uses most types of litter without the need for trays. It will automatically rake through your cat's litter with an eye on keeping waste and odors at bay. You can empty its attached waste bin once a week and refresh the litter occasionally, and that's about all you really need to do for this setup. You can use it with one cat or let multiple felines do their business here. Whatever you choose, it cuts down significantly on the smells you might get from a regular litter box.

Android 15 is set to revolutionize how devices charge by potentially enabling NFC (near-field communication) technology.

Commonly used for contactless payments and to charge phones wirelessly, this addition was discovered in the latest Android 15 Beta release by Android Authority. Dubbed "NfcCharging," it could introduce wireless charging capabilities to a wider range of devices, particularly budget models that typically lack Qi charging (the current standard for wireless power).

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 is rumored to steal this iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 feature How would 'NFC charging' work?

Although NFC charging offers a slower charging rate, peaking at just 1W, it could still prove beneficial in emergencies. For instance, it would take around five hours to fully charge a 5,000mAh battery — making it a less efficient, yet convenient alternative. Primarily, NFC charging could be more useful for smaller devices like earbuds, styluses, and smartwatches due to their low-power requirements and smaller battery sizes.

This emerging technology promises to make wireless charging more accessible, especially for devices too small to support Qi's larger antennas. With NFC antennas being significantly more compact, they could easily fit into a greater variety of devices.

While the concept of NFC charging has been around for some years, its implementation has been limited. However, if integrated into Android natively, it could set a new trend for device charging, potentially paving the way for replacing Qi charging if the speed and efficiency of NFC can be enhanced. This would simplify the internal design by reducing the number of required antennas and allowing for larger batteries or additional features within devices.

Expected to debut between August and October 2024, more insights into NFC charging and other Android 15 updates are likely to be unveiled at the Google I/O 2024 event on May 14.

SAVE $124.98: The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB) productivity bundle is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon, down from the normal bundle price of $404.97. That's a 30% discount. The bundle includes the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet, keyboard case, and stylus pen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB) productivity bundle $279.99 at Amazon
$404.97 Save $124.98 Deal includes the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet, keyboard case, and stylus pen. Get Deal

Working from home or the local cafe can be a welcome break from the office — especially when you have the right equipment to make it easy. If you're looking to upgrade your work set-up for when you're away from the office, Amazon has the perfect deal.

As of April 17, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet productivity bundle is $279.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard bundle price of $404.97. That's a 30% discount or a savings of $124.98. The bundle includes the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB), a magnetic keyboard case, and a stylus pen.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets: iPads are great, but have you tried literally anything else?

The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet earned a Mashable Choice award, with SaVanna Shoemaker giving the tablet a high rating of 4.6 out of 5 in her review. "The Amazon Fire Max 11 has a large, 11-inch display and is blazing fast, making it a good alternative to pricier tablets for streaming and games," writes Shoemaker.

Thanks to today's deal, you'll get the 11-inch tablet with 2.4 million pixels in addition to a setup that makes it ideal for working away from the office. The included keyboard case has a built-in trackpad that's capable of gestures like pinch to zoom and scrolling with two fingers. The integrated back cover not only serves as protection but also includes a stand. And the keyboard doesn't require charging, simply plugging into the Fire Max 11 tablet.

You'll also get an Amazon stylus pen with the productivity bundle. Take notes, draw, or mark up a PDF with ease thanks to the stylus. If you're nervous about losing the stylus pen, have no fear: it attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet.

If you prefer to work from home or you'd love to not lug a heavy laptop with you while traveling, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet productivity bundle could be ideal for streamlining the process. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can grab the bundle for 30% off.

Carrie Bradshaw is a narcissist. She's a terrible friend. She's delusional. She's the problem. She's problematic. Gen Z can't handle her.

The internet has been throwing around these opinions since Sex and the City arrived on Netflix, ushering in a new wave of Carrie Bradshaw discourse nearly 26 years after the groundbreaking HBO series premiered. The show and its iconic heroine still strike a chord with viewers. Gen Z icon Olivia Rodrigo even weighed in during one of two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, wearing a bedazzled tank top that read "Carrie Bradshaw AF." (The second night, she donned another embellished tank; this one said "And just like that.")

SEE ALSO: Why the internet stans Ireland

Sex and the City has long been a source of inspiration for meme culture, something Sylvia Sierra, associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies at Syracuse University, attributes to the breadth of material fans have to play with. "People get really into referencing media where they can imagine themselves in that world," she told Mashable. Throughout its six seasons, viewers get immersed in Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte's lives as single women in New York City, and each episode includes memorable characters like Charlotte's friend who steals her baby name and oddball plots like Miranda crushing on a sandwich. 

There are longstanding Sex and the City memes, like refashioning the structure of Carrie's voiceovers to fit the current moment — starting with popular Carrie-isms like "I couldn't help but wonder" and "And just like that." Carrie's outsized reactions are also endlessly reposted to react to headlines, especially when that news concerns New York City.  

Recently, a new meme has emerged: Big is moving to Paris. It's mainly used to illustrate how consumed Carrie was by her own problems, specifically her relationship with Big. Twitter / X users write out a conversation in the voices of the three other protagonists of the show, ending with Carrie announcing, "Big is moving to Paris." For instance, after an earthquake shook New York City one user wrote: 

Charlotte: It was 4.8 on the Richter scale!

Miranda: The Richter scale is a totally outdated method for measuring magnitudes and everyone knows it.

Samantha: Let's just say it wasn't the only thing making my walls shake this morning.

Carrie: Big is moving to Paris

Similar posts circulated after the solar eclipse. Soon, Carrie announcing Big's move left the confines of Sex and the City's world making other popular characters, like Dune's Paul Atreides, say "Big is moving to Paris."

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Unlike other often-quoted moments, Carrie never actually says, "Big is moving to Paris." In the now infamous Season 2 episode that finds Samantha taking the girls to a S&M-themed restaurant, Charlotte getting involved with a shoe salesman with a foot fetish, and Miranda sleeping with an exhibitionist — that's real television — Carrie breaks down at brunch with the girls. Big casually told her he might move to Paris for seven months. At brunch, she says, "I wanted to kill him. And he's standing there giving me the 'what's the big problem' eyes."

She doesn't even say "Big is moving to Paris" in the next episode when the girls stage an intervention with Carrie for excessively talking about their breakup.

Despite its absence, the phrase gets at a central tension of the series.

Why we're still talking about Carrie Bradshaw

The meme "tickled" Sienna Axe, a 23-year-old in Seattle, so much that she changed her display name on X to "Big is moving to Paris." It just made sense, she said. "I saw 'Big moving in Paris' and I was like, yeah Big is moving to Paris. She's always saying that shit," Axe told Mashable. "The world could be ending, and Big would still be moving to Paris and that would still be the most important thing in the world to Carrie Bradshaw."

Axe first got hooked on the show after watching it with her mom, specifically the episode after Carrie and Big broke up and she has a brief fling with an overzealous jazz musician. "I thought it was just so crazy that I sat down and watched the rest of the show," she said. 

Katherine Morgan, a 30-year-old writer and Powell's Books employee in Portland, Oregon, recently wrote a thread defending Carrie against her critics but still laughed at the "Big is moving to Paris" meme. "She does that a lot when someone has news or is talking about current events and then she refocuses the conversation on Big," she said.

Tweet may have been deleted

In 2013, writer Emily Nussbaum examined how Sex and the City played with the romantic comedy form by pushing back against viewers' desire to identify with Carrie. For The New Yorker, she wrote, "It switched the romantic comedy’s primal scene, from 'Me, too!' to 'Am I like her?' A man practically woven out of red flags, Big wasn’t there to rescue Carrie; instead, his 'great love' was a slow poisoning. She spun out, becoming anxious, obsessive, and, despite her charm, wildly self-centered—in her own words, 'the frightening woman whose fear ate her sanity.'"

One could argue that Carrie's reaction to Big moving to Paris exemplifies Big's poison driving her to insanity. As one X user wrote, "This is the most down bad anyone's ever been btw."

Tweet may have been deleted

"​​People often look to the media for examples of how to behave and do things in their everyday life and what personalities to have or behavior to enact," said Sierra. Memes are a way for viewers to negotiate those examples. "People use memes to circumscribe the boundaries of what is acceptable and isn't acceptable." 

The "Big is moving to Paris" meme rejects Big's hold over Carrie. "They're distancing themselves [from Carrie] and communicating that this is not what we want to be by ridiculing and laughing about that character," said Sierra. 

"There's so many stereotypes, and ideologies embedded in the media that we consume. In this case, it's a stereotype about a certain woman who's very self-centered. When you recirculate it, you're bringing that stereotype to mind, but by making fun of it, you're rejecting that way of being, and presenting an ideology that's not acceptable," she continued.

By making fun of it, you're rejecting that way of being, and presenting an ideology that's not acceptable.

But even during Sex and the City's cultural heyday, Carrie and Big's relationship was a point of contention for fans. In 2002, Joke Hermes, a professor of media, culture, and citizenship at Inholland University, conducted a study of conversations about the show on Jump the Shark, an internet forum for discussing when a television show fell off. "People reacted strongly against the Carrie and Big storyline early on," Hermes told Mashable. 

Like Sierra, she sees the memes as reacting to something bigger than just the characters. "[Carrie and Big] explore women's condition. We have the jobs we want to do, we are our own women, and then there's this old dream of finding the right guy to be a complete person, which is — as we used to say in the 1980s — the complete myth of patriarchy," said Hermes. "It's an ongoing discussion about how we think about men and women today and whether we're still invested in thinking about femininity and masculinity as total opposites."

It's easy to reject Carrie, but there are those like Morgan who embrace her chaos. "It's freeing to have a model for being loud and wrong because sometimes you have to be a little bit loud and wrong and say what you think so your friends can correct you," Axe said. Being loud and wrong is an essential part of growing up, and in an era where so many women are growing up publicly — whether that be Rodrigo or your average TikTokker in NYC — Carrie Bradshaw is relatable. When Rodrigo calls herself "Carrie Bradshaw AF" she's embracing the messy side of love and womanhood.

While the internet continues to wrestle with issues we've failed to resolve in the past 26 years via Carrie and Big, every New York City transplant on TikTok will continue to battle it out to be "the next Carrie Bradshaw."

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm) $433.30 at Amazon (save $265.70) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Samsung 75-Inch The Frame LS03B Series QLED 4K TV $1,895 at Amazon (save $1,102.99) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Amazon Echo Buds with wired charging case (2nd gen) $54.99 at Amazon (save $65) Get Deal BEST SECURITY CAMERA DEAL Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $77.99 at Amazon (save $51.99) Get Deal BEST COMPUTER DEAL Mac Mini (M2 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

In the highly oversaturated world of e-commerce, Amazon consistently comes out on top — not just because of its convenience, but largely due to its array of deals. If you're a sucker for a sweet discount, we've scoured the lengthy list of daily deals at the mega-retailer and handpicked some of the most impressive ones we could find. While it may not be a major shopping holiday, there are plenty of price drops on big-name products, including the Apple Watch, The Frame TV, and Echo Buds.

Here are the best Amazon deals of the day for April 17. And don't miss out on our picks from April 15 and April 16 — many of those deals are still live.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Amazon deal of the day: Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm) $433.30
$699.00 Save $265.70 Get Deal

If you've had the Apple Watch Series 9 on your wishlist since its debut, your patience has been rewarded with an all-time low discount. Despite its rocky start to the year (Apple removed the blood oxygen sensor from its watches due to a patent dispute), the Series 9 is alive and thriving. It comes with a few fancy new features like Double Tap and a 2,000-nit display, which makes it more readable in sunlight (one of Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder's favorite features). The 41mm version with GPS and cellular connectivity is typically $699, but you can save 38% as of April 17 and snag it for just $433.30.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-Inch The Frame LS03B Series QLED 4K TV $1,895.00 at Amazon
$2,997.99 Save $1,102.99 Get Deal

Thanks to Samsung's The Frame TVs, gone are the days of staring at a boring black rectangle on your wall when your TV is switched off. These TVs feature a unique ambient "Art Mode" that displays paintings and photos when the QLED screen is not in use. Many images come pre-loaded onto the TV, but you can also upload your own or subscribe to Samsung's Art Store for more options. The 75-inch version is down to an all-time low price of $1,895 as of April 17 — that's 37% off its usual cost.

Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $77.99 at Amazon
$129.98 Save $51.99 Get Deal

If you're looking to add a second set of eyes outside of your home, the Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera lets you see what's happening in crisp HD at any time of day. It features 700 lumens of motion-triggered illumination and two-way audio, plus advanced motion detection via the Blink subscription plan. At 40% off, it's back down to its all-time low price of $77.99 (reg. $129.98).

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Buds with ANC (wired charging case) $54.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal

Some of our favorite wireless earbuds, the second-generation Echo Buds, are on sale at Amazon for just $54.99 as of April 17. While that's not the lowest price we've seen — that honor goes to the $49.99 deal from March 2022 — it's still an incredible deal on a pair of noise-canceling earbuds. Compared to the first-generation duds, Amazon's second iteration "deliver good sound quality, effective ANC, and a slimmed down build." Mashable's Alex Perry was impressed with them upon testing, calling them "a steal for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of ANC without setting their wallet on fire."

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Mac Mini (M2 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499.00 at Amazon
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Snapchat users will now see a ghostly image hovering over their AI-generated images, as Snapchat joins other Big Tech companies using watermarking tech to battle AI misinformation and deepfakes.

Images made using Snapchat's AI tools, like the app's extend tool and its recently launched Dreams feature, will be stamped with a transparent watermark (Snapchat's ghost logo) once it's exported or downloaded off the app. Users receiving AI-generated images may also see the ghost logo and the app's "sparkle" AI icon.

SEE ALSO: Is AI good or bad? The answer is more complicated than 'yes' or 'no.'

Currently, Snapchat marks AI-generated content, included text conversations with its My AI chatbot, in various ways. Images created using Dreams are accompanied by a "context card" that explains the feature and generative AI. My AI conversations and the extend tool uses "contextual" icons, like the sparkle symbol, to

"We also take great care to vet all political ads through a rigorous human review process, including a thorough check for any misleading use of content, including AI to create deceptive images or content," the platform wrote. "The addition of these watermarks will help inform those viewing it that the image was made with AI on Snapchat."

Along with the new transparency tool, Snapchat also committed to ongoing AI literacy efforts. So far, that just entails a generative AI FAQ available on its Support Site.

"While all of our AI tools, both text-based and visual, are designed to avoid producing incorrect, harmful, or misleading material, mistakes may still occur," the company wrote. "Snapchatters are able to report content, and we appreciate this feedback."

AI watchdogs say watermarking technology isn't a sure fire solution, however, even as tech's big players hinge their user-side bets on it.

In February, OpenAI announced it would be adding metadata watermarks to images generated by DALL-E 3. Google launched its SynthID, a tool that adds similarly invisible watermarks to AI images, in August. Youtube, meanwhile, is enforcing penalties against users who don't use its labelling system for digitally altered content.

By now, everyone has likely seen Boston Dynamics' robots.

The company's videos, usually showcasing what its Atlas hydraulic robot model could do, pretty much always go viral. Yes, these videos show off the incredible technological accomplishments of a company that has created a humanoid robot that can do parkour. But, the videos were popular due to the quirky nature of the robot. Atlas would slip! Atlas would fall over. Sure, some of Atlas's movements could be a bit dystopian – a sneak peek into a world where robots rule over humans – but Atlas also kind of looked like a Disney/Pixar creation.

But, earlier this week, Boston Dynamics surprisingly bid farewell to Atlas, retiring the beloved humanoid robot model.

But I don't believe anyone was quite expecting what Boston Dynamics had in store for us next.

The all-new Atlas

On Wednesday, just one day after the retirement of Atlas, Boston Dynamics uploaded a video announcing the all-new version of Atlas, a fully electric robot.

The new Atlas clearly has a brand new design. It's now slimmer, looking more like an actual human body-type. And it has a round head, something missing from the old Atlas' structure. In an announcement, Boston Dynamics says it is teaming with Hyundai to roll out real-world commercial uses for Atlas.

But, the video that Boston Dynamics released to introduce the world to the new Atlas certainly was a choice. It's giving off T-1000 from Terminator 2 vibes as opposed to the quirky kids movie feel of the old Atlas.

The video starts with the new electric Atlas lying on a mat. Suddenly, his legs rise and invert, landing almost crab-style. The legs then lift the rest of the robot's body up like something straight out of a Japanese horror movie. Its head suddenly spins, like Regan from The Exorcist, to face the camera. With its torso and arms still facing the wrong direction, the robot starts walking towards the camera. Atlas' torso then flips around to face forwards and the robot stops in front of the camera. After a second, each section of the body begins to spin away from the camera and Atlas loudly marches off.

Boston Dynamics doesn't really show off too much in the video — in terms of real-world capability anyway — so we still have to wait to find out if the new Atlas will amaze audiences in the way that the old one did. The company usually does deliver though, with each of its robot models proving to be better than the previous iteration.

But, there's no denying that Boston Dynamics has chosen a pretty creepy way to introduce the world to the new fully electric Atlas. John Connor, please standby.

Need to backup your iPhone? As a rule of thumb, you should always backup your computer — and that same rule applies to your iPhone, too.

Trust us. We've lost data, files, and other digital media before by not regularly backing up our device. You never know when you'll lose your iPhone.

Backing up your iPhone is easier than ever. In the early days of the iPhone, it use to be annoying to pull out the wire, connect your iPhone to your computer, and go through the iTunes backup process. Now, you can simply use iCloud.

How to backup iPhone

All it takes is the tap of a button to backup your iPhone now. And you can set up your device to automatically make regular backups, too. Let's walk through this simple process.

1. Go to Settings and tap your Apple ID name at the top Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 2. On the Apple ID screen, tap on iCloud. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 3. Under the Device Backups section, tap on iCloud Backup Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 4. For automated backups, make sure the 'Back Up This iPhone option' is switched on. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 5. To backup your iPhone immediately, tap on the 'Back Up Now' option. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot

Note: iCloud does not include photos and videos in your iPhone backup. Those media files are stored separately in iCloud Photos.

Apple gives iPhone users free 5GB of iCloud storage. For some users, this will be enough. For others, they'll have to upgrade to an iCloud+ paid plan. Both your iPhone backup on iCloud and your iCloud Photos share the same storage space, so make sure you have an appropriately sized plan that has enough storage space for your photos and latest iPhone backup.