IT General

First announced in June, Apple has finally unleashed its expanded suite of parental controls as the company's sparkly new iOS 26 goes to consumers globally. Included in the lineup: New ways for parents to block who their child can communicate with.

With the latest software update, new Communication Limits will require young users to get permission from parental accounts before they can connect with new phone numbers on Phone, FaceTime, Messages or iCloud. This change is an evolution of Apple's existing Child Account feature, built into the company's Family Sharing option, which places minor accounts under age-based parental controls and oversight from manager profiles.

Parents can also correct an account's age or retroactively convert their child's Apple account to a Child Account under iOS 26. Child Accounts ages 13-17 will now be automatically opted-in to these default settings, such as web content filters, app restrictions, and Apple's Communication Safety feature, which detects sensitive content and warns users of nudity. The feature also flags nudity in FaceTime and blurs images in shared photo albums.

SEE ALSO: After losing their son, parents urge Senate to take action on AI chatbots

Finally, the company has updated its App Store age ratings and download options for parents, part of new features meant to put more safety pressure on app developers that were announced earlier this year.

SEE ALSO: The App Store needs to grow up

Last week, child safety advocates protested Apple's annual product event, calling on the company to protect young users and stop the spread of child sexual abuse materials. Apple was sued in December for allegedly failing to comply with mandatory reporting guidelines and falsely marketing their devices as safe for at-risk users. At large, the company and other Big Tech leaders have been accused of failing to address a growing mental health crisis among teens and children, who are increasingly reliant on technology.

The features are now available across the company's updated line, including devices running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26.

If there's one thing I absolutely hateabout modern streaming app interfaces is the default behavior of auto-playing a preview of the show or movie you've highlighted. No, I don't want you to make noise while I read the synopsis. No, I don't want the movie to actually start yet!

SAVE UP TO $35.97: As of Sept. 16, new subscribers can get three free months of Amazon Music Unlimited by purchasing an eligible item at Amazon, signing up for Prime, or registering an eligible device in the Alexa app. Typically $10.99 per month for Prime members and $11.99 per month for non-Prime members, that's up to $35.97 in total savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited get 3 months for free (save up to $35.97) Get Deal

There's a lot of new music coming this fall, from Taylor Swift's mega popular The Life of a Showgirl release to Florence and the Machine's sixth studio album to rising star Carter Faith's debut album. If you don't already have a music streaming service, now's a good time to hit that subscribe button — especially since Amazon Music Unlimited is offering 90 days completely free.

As of Sept. 16, new subscribers can secure three free months of Amazon Music Unlimited by either purchasing an eligible item at Amazon, signing up for Prime, or registering an eligible device in the Alexa app. Basically, if you see the offer on this promo page, then you're eligible. Typically $10.99 per month for Prime members and $11.99 per month for non-Prime members, that's up to $35.97 in total savings. Just remember that following the promotional trial period, your subscription will automatically continue at the full monthly price ($10.99 or $11.99) until you cancel.

Beyond a massive music catalog and "the most ad-free top podcasts" of any of the big music apps, Amazon Music Unlimited also offers subscribers one free audiobook via Audible per month. Audible's Premium Plus subscription costs $14.95 per month on its own and only gives you a credit per month to buy an audiobook from its catalog. Amazon Music Unlimited essentially gives you that same benefit for free. Each month, you'll be able to choose a new audiobook, even during your trial period. The difference is if you cancel your subscription, you'll lose access to your audiobook selection.

If you already pay for another music streaming service, we recommend pausing it for a few months to take advantage of this 90-day freebie. Whichever way you slice it, you'll keep an extra $33 to $36 in your pocket.

TL;DR: Don’t miss Adobe Acrobat Classic (three-year license) + Microsoft Office Professional 2021 (lifetime license) for just $99 (reg. $543.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Pexels Adobe Acrobat Classic and Microsoft Office Professional License Bundle $99.99
$543.99 Save $444 Get Deal

When it comes to productivity, some tools just make life easier. And now, two of the biggest names in the game are bundled together for way less than you’d expect. For just $99 (reg. $543.99), you’ll score a three-year license to Adobe Acrobat Classic and a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows.

No monthly subscription fees — just the essential apps you actually need to create, edit, and share documents like a pro.

Adobe Acrobat Classic

Perfect for anyone who deals with PDFs daily, Acrobat Classic (also known as Acrobat Pro 2024) gives you desktop-only tools so you can work securely offline without relying on the cloud.

Top features include:

• PDF editing tools: Adjust text, images, reorder pages, or delete what you don’t need.

• Seamless file conversion: Turn PDFs into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files while preserving formatting.

• Form creation and signing: Build fillable forms, sign them digitally, or send them off.

• Security options: Password-protect documents or redact sensitive information.

• Accessibility updates: Improved tagging for better screen reader compatibility.

• Page extraction: Pull only the sections you need from bulky PDFs.

• Modern Interface: Faster, easier access to tools with an updated layout.

Microsoft Office Professional 2021

Still the gold standard for professional work, this suite gives you all the apps you already know (and probably still need). With a one-time purchase, you’ll have these tools for life on your Windows PC.

• Word – The go-to for polished documents.

• Excel – Crunch numbers, analyze data, and build spreadsheets.

• PowerPoint – Create presentations that communicate and impress.

• Outlook – Manage your email and calendar.

• Teams (free version) – Connect and collaborate.

• OneNote – Take and organize notes your way.

• Publisher – Create brochures, flyers, and marketing materials.

• Access – Manage databases and large sets of information.

Don’t miss grabbing Acrobat and Office for just $99 (reg. $543.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Wearables haven't made quite the splash some people thought they would. Not quite yet anyway, but there are a lot of people out there wearing smartwatches—I used to be one of them!

Let’s face it — shopping for the right laptop can be exhausting, and weeding through brain-wrecking terms like CPU, GPU, and SSD is enough to make your eyes cross. Add in the fact that gamers will want to look for different specs than students, who will want different specs than content creators — and you have yourself a conundrum.

We’ve compiled this guide to make buying your first laptop, or next laptop, a breeze. We explain the confusing computer jargon, so you can pinpoint the specs that fit your needs, and then we dole out recs for two different but equally awesome GIGABYTE laptop — the GIGABYTE GAMING A16 and GIGABYTE AERO X16.

CPU, GPU, SSD, OMG! 

Before you start sifting through specs, it’s important to understand what some of the more common tech terms mean. 

The central processing unit (CPU) is often referred to as the computer’s brain and is responsible for executing all tasks. The faster and newer the CPU, the speedier your app-toggling and even mouse clicks will be.

The graphics processing unit (GPU) is the chip that renders all the visuals on the screen. If you’re a gamer or content creator, a dedicated GPU — a standalone chip with its own memory — is what you want.

RAM means random-access memory and is where the machine stashes the data its CPU needs to run applications. The more RAM you have — 16GB is the industry standard; 32GB or more is ideal for gamers and creators — the faster you’ll go.

Storage is where a computer keeps all non-active data like documents and photos, and it boosts load times. Students can likely roll with 256GB of storage, but you'll want at least 512GB if you plan on gaming or editing videos. 

SSD (solid-state drive) is the type of storage configuration used in premium laptops, like these two spec-loaded GIGABYTE machines.

The GAMING A16 punches above its class Credit: GIGABYTE

Although this 16-inch black-steel laptop has the word “gaming” in its name, it appeals to a wide swath of users. It’s loaded with a surprising amount of oomph for the price, topping out with the 13th Gen Intel i7 CPU and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU, with the latter using AI to boost frames per second (FPS). In plain speak, a higher FPS means crispier images and reduced lag, so your gaming experience is buttery smooth.

Opens in a new window Credit: GIGABYTE GIGABYTE GAMING A16 $1,149.99 at Amazon
$1,249.99 Save $100 Shop Now

The GAMING A16 comes with the standard 16GB RAM but you can upgrade to 64GB, plus a 1TB SSD, which is plenty enough to rip through heavy workflows one minute and jump into an intense AAA game the next without breaking a sweat. 

The AERO X16 is a creating-gaming hybrid Credit: GIGABYTE

This stealthy 16-inch looker hits the sweet spot of design, portability, and performance. It can pack up to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 CPU and comes with Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs — that’s a newer CPU and the same shredder of a GPU that’s in the GAMING A16 — making it a brawnier option for gamers and content creators who do AI animation and 3D rendering.

Opens in a new window Credit: GIGABYTE GIGABYTE X16 $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $100 Shop Now

At 4.2 pounds, the AERO X16 is one of the lightest laptop GIGABYTE has ever built. Like the GAMING A16, the RAM is upgradable to 64GB and it comes loaded with a fast 1TB SSD.

Which GIGABYTE laptop is right for you?

Both the GIGABYTE GAMING A16 and AERO X16 are portable, powerful, and can go for up to 14 hours off-plug. The Dolby Atmos® speakers are robust, the 16-inch screens are gorgeous — and each laptop also comes with GiMATE, GIGABYTE’s nifty AI suite that tweaks your settings in real time and enhances your productivity.

So, how to choose “the one” amidst all these stellar specs? 

If budget is a priority, the GAMING A16 is more affordable and checks the boxes. By opting for a less powerful CPU and GPU combo, you can max out your price-performance ratio and score a daily driver that tackles your most intense term papers, 4K video editing — and, of course, games. 

If power and looks are what you seek, the AERO X16 is a more potent device and it has a sandblasted metal lid that screams premium. It’s lighter and thinner than the GAMING A16, which might factor in if you work hybrid or bounce around campus. Lastly, it comes with a newer CPU, which means it’ll perform faster for creators and gamers who want to invest in an upleveled laptop. 

Whether you’re upgrading for your next semester, your next project, or your next gaming sesh, GIGABYTE has got you covered. The GAMING A16 and AERO X16 are two laptops that bring it on all fronts.

Mozilla Firefox receives major updates roughly every four weeks, giving the web browser a steady stream of bug fixes, new features, and security enhancements. Firefox 143 is now rolling out with the return of installable websites, improvements to tabs and camera access, and much more.

With the AirPods Pro 3’s new heart rate monitor, Apple focused heavily on fitness benefits during its September event. In doing so, the company marketed the earbuds as a potential replacement for the Apple Watch in fitness tracking, without explicitly saying so.

There's a reason creators often try to migrate their audience to YouTube: It pays.

The Google-owned streaming giant said it has paid out more than $100 billion in the last four years to creators, artists, and media companies. YouTube announced the figure at the Made on YouTube event on Tuesday.

“We didn't just create a platform. We built an economy,” said YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.

As Mashable reported earlier this year, creator jobs have grown 7.5 times in recent years. In surveys, young people also consistently identify being a creator as a popular career goal. And YouTube has played an outsized role in building the modern creator economy.

It pays to be a popular creator and/or influencer on any platform, but YouTube's widely regarded as the most lucrative social media site when it comes to direct view-to-payment value. And creators are making more money off of folks watching YouTube on traditional TV sets, rather than mobile devices. The company reported that the number of YouTube channels making more than $100,000 from TV screens rose 45 percent year over year.

Clearly, YouTube isn't just for streamers anymore. Heck, the platform is broadcasting NFL games — arguably the single biggest product in American culture — with great success. But if you want to make it big as a creator, YouTube remains the place where you can carve out a highly lucrative living.

"You cannot imagine what it was like to read a conversation with a chatbot that groomed your child to take his own life," Matthew Raine, father of Adam Raine, said to a room of assembled congressional leaders that gathered today to discuss the harms of AI chatbots on teens around the country.

Raine and his wife Maria are suing OpenAI in what is the company's first wrongful death case, following a series of alleged reports that the company's flagship product, ChatGPT, has played a role in the deaths of people in mental duress, including teens. The lawsuit claims that ChatGPT repeatedly validated their son's harmful and self-destructive thoughts, including suicidal ideation and planning, despite the company claiming its safety protocols should have prevented such interactions.

SEE ALSO: FTC launches inquiry into tech companies offering AI chatbots to kids

The bipartisan Senate hearing, titled “Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots,” is being held by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism. It saw both Raine's testimony and that of Megan Garcia, mother of Sewell Setzer III, a Florida teen who died by suicide after forming a relationship with an AI companion on platform Character.AI.

Raine's testimony outlined a startling co-dependency between the AI helper and his son, alleging that the chatbot was "actively encouraging him to isolate himself from friends and family" and that the chatbot "mentioned suicide 1,275 times — six times more often than Adam himself." He called this "ChatGPT's suicide crisis" and spoke directly to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman:

Adam was such a full spirit, unique in every way. But he also could be anyone’s child: a typical 16-year-old struggling with his place in the world, looking for a confidant to help him find his way. Unfortunately, that confidant was a dangerous technology unleashed by a company more focused on speed and market share than the safety of American youth.

Public reporting confirms that OpenAI compressed months of safety testing for GPT-4o (the ChatGPT model Adam was using) into just one week in order to beat Google’s competing AI product to market. On the very day Adam died, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s founder and CEO, made their philosophy crystal clear in a public talk: we should “deploy [AI systems] to the world” and get “feedback while the stakes are relatively low.”

I ask this Committee, and I ask Sam Altman: low stakes for who?

The parents' comments were bolstered by insight and recommendations from experts on child safety, like Robbie Torney, senior director of AI programs for children's media watchdog Common Sense Media, and Mitch Prinstein, chief of psychology strategy and integration for the American Psychological Association (APA).

"Today I'm here to deliver an urgent warning: AI chatbots, including Meta AI and others, pose unacceptable risks to America's children and teens. This is not a theoretical problem — kids are using these chatbots right now, at massive scale with unacceptable risk, with real harm already documented and federal agencies and state attorneys general working to hold industry accountable," Torney told the assembled lawmakers.

"These platforms have been trained on the entire internet, including vast amounts of harmful content—suicide forums, pro-eating disorder websites, extremist manifestos, discriminatory materials, detailed instructions for self-harm, illegal drug marketplaces, and sexually explicit material involving minors." Recent polling from the organization found that 72 percent of teens had used an AI companion at least once, and more than half use them regularly.

Experts have warned that chatbots designed to mimic human interactions are a potential hazard to mental health, exacerbated by model designs that promote sycophantic behavior. In response, AI companies have announced additional safeguards to try to curb harmful interactions between users and their generative AI tools. Hours before the parents spoke, OpenAI announced future plans for an age prediction tool that would theoretically identify users under the age of 18 and automatically redirect them to an "age-appropriate" ChatGPT experience.

Earlier this year, the APA appealed to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), asking the organization to investigate AI companies promoting their services as mental health helpers. The FTC ordered seven tech companies to provide information on how they are "mitigating negative impacts" of their chatbots in an inquiry unveiled this week.

"The current debate often frames AI as a matter of computer science, productivity enhancement, or national security," Prinstein told the subcommittee. "It is imperative that we also frame it as a public health and human development issue."

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

There's a big Meta product showcase this week, and it might include something very new from the company.

Specifically, Wednesday's Meta Connect showcase is rumored to feature information on the company's Hypernova smart glasses, which have been detailed in plenty of leaks and rumors, but not in any official announcements yet. There isn't a ton to know about this device until Meta (presumably) lifts the veil officially on Wednesday, but there is some information to go off of.

Specifically, rumor has it the Meta Hypernova will be the first Meta smart glasses with a built-in display. That would be a major upgrade over the Meta Oakley and Ray-Ban glasses, and put Meta in competition with futuristic upstarts like Xreal.

Here's what we know about the next generation of Meta smart glasses.

SEE ALSO: Meta Connect 2025: Everything to expect Meta Hypernova glasses: Price

Some of the most firm reporting we have on the Hypernova smart glasses regards the price.

Namely, reporting from earlier this summer suggested that the device will retail for $800. They were apparently going to cost more than $1,000 originally, but Meta reportedly wants to boost demand for the device and is willing to eat some profits if that's what it takes. That may be a savvy move, given the total lack of staying power the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro had.

Meta Hypernova glasses: Design and features

Aside from the price, there is, unfortunately, not a ton of hard information out there about what to expect from the Hypernova glasses, aside from an idea of what they look like and a basic outlook on what they'll do.

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Back in July, a leaker called Luna posted renders on X that purportedly show the device. It looks a lot like the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, but there's also a sort of wristband pictured alongside it. We'll get to that in a minute.

The main expected difference between the Hypernova glasses and the existing Ray-Ban glasses (which start at only $329) is that the Hypernova specs are supposed to have a built-in display in one eye. The glasses will likely be a little bigger than the Ray-Bans because they'll need more computing power inside of them to make the display function. As for what you'll be able to do with the display, we don't know much yet, but one can imagine a world where it's useful for taking photos and videos, following map directions, as well as interfacing with various Meta apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

There will almost certainly be some Meta AI functionality built into the device as well, but we'll have to wait and see exactly how that works. Going back to the wristband from the renders, that's rumored to be a control mechanism for the unit. It'll read small wrist motions for basic inputs, like navigating between apps and whatnot.

Meta finally making augmented reality glasses with a built-in display is the big news here, but the wristband might be just as important, as that could become a standard way of interfacing with these devices going forward.

Meta Hypernova glasses: Release date

Lastly, we won't know when these glasses will be on store shelves until Meta tells us. It seems reasonable to assume they'll come out before the end of 2025 if Meta is willing to show them off on Wednesday, but that's just speculation.

We'll all find out together soon enough.

Dolphin is probably one of the biggest game emulation projects out there. It started years ago, and while the task of emulating most Wii and GameCube games is a hard one, developers have made great progress to the point that most computers and smartphones can play these old, but gold, titles. Now, the latest progress report has shown it's gotten a lot better recently.

I don’t want an iPhone Air, I’m buying the iPhone 17 Pro instead. The Air’s drawbacks just aren’t worth it to me; I don’t want an ultra-thin body at the cost of battery life and camera.

Now that Samsung has finally started officially rolling out the big One UI 8 update (based on Android 16) for the Galaxy S25 series, we're learning more about when other devices will get it. Yesterday, Samsung confirmed the launch, and now we have a full release schedule for dozens of devices.

Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney are hiding some serious secrets in the trailer for the upcoming thriller, The Housemaid.

Based on the bestselling novel by Freida McFadden, The Housemaid is directed by Paul Feig. Feig is no stranger to pitting two big-name actresses against each other in a twisted tale, having helmed 2018's Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick–led A Simple Favor and its 2025 sequel, Another Simple Favor.

SEE ALSO: 2025 fall movie preview: Every upcoming film you ought to know about

In The Housemaid, Sweeney stars as Millie, a young woman trying to escape her troubled past. She finds potential sanctuary with the wealthy Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried), who hires Millie to be her family's live-in maid.

At first glance, the Winchesters — which includes Nina's husband, Andrew (Drop's Brandon Sklenar), and their young daughter — are a picture-perfect family. But it's clear that something strange is lurking beneath the surface. Why does Nina have a dollhouse of her own house, complete with a model doll of Millie? Why does the trailer feature Nina holding a bloody shard of mirror while smiling her best horror movie smile? What's truly going on behind closed doors in the Winchester household?

Millie also seems to have some secrets of her own, dropping her nice girl act and rolling her eyes the second she makes it out of Nina's view.

For a full taste of the twists and turns that await in The Housemaid, check out the full trailer above, which features a sinister take on Sabrina Carpenter's hit single "Please Please Please."

The Housemaid hits theaters Dec. 19.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

TL;DR: Live stream Real Madrid vs. Marseille in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of really interesting matchups in the first round of Champions League group stage fixtures, but Real Madrid vs. Marseille might be the best. Real Madrid have made a perfect start to their La Liga campaign, but Marseille will be a tough test for Xabi Alonso's side.

If you want to watch Real Madrid vs. Marseille in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Real Madrid vs. Marseille?

Real Madrid vs. Marseille in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 16. This fixture takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Marseille for free

Real Madrid vs. Marseille is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Marseille 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Real Madrid vs. Marseille for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 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 access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Real Madrid vs. Marseille (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Marseille in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Making friends in an online world can be tough. But thankfully, there are some video games that are perfect for making friends and having a blast. If you love hanging out and using your voice when gaming, these eight titles are perfect for you.

TL;DR: Live stream Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal in the Champions League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The qualification rounds are done, and now the Champions League group stage is here to throw together some fascinating matchups. There are a number of really interesting games in the first round of fixtures, including Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal. Thomas Frank's team have started the new Premier League season strongly, and they'll be looking to do the same in this competition.

If you want to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal?

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 16. This fixture takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal for free

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal in the Champions League is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Champions League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

5. Live stream Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal for free on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 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 Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, 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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Stream Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

If you have a lot of cash to spend and want the best of the best when it comes to flagship smartphones, Apple and Samsung both have intriguing options on offer this year.

I'm referring, of course, to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. These are the highest-end and most expensive traditional (read: non-foldable) phones Apple and Samsung currently manufacture. While a lot of competing smartphones can feel a little similar at times, these two handsets actually have some interesting points of divergence from one another.

Here's how they compare.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 17 vs. Pixel 10: Which phone has the better display, price, and specs? iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Price

Our first difference has to do with sticker price. The iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299.

You'd think that would be the end of the conversation as far as price is concerned, but it should be noted that there is one variant of the iPhone 17 Pro Max that's far more expensive than even the priciest S25 Ultra. Specifically, if you get it with the highest storage capacity available, the Pro Max will run you $1,999. That's two grand. By comparison, the biggest storage capacity model of the S25 Ultra is "merely" $1,659. There's a reason for that, as we'll discuss momentarily.

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Specs Samsung rounded the corners this year. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Here are the iPhone 17 Pro Max's basic specs:

• 6.9-inch display with 2868x1320 resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 3,000 nits peak brightness

• A19 Pro chip

• 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB storage

• Battery rated for up to 33 hours

• Rear cameras: 48MP wide/48MP ultrawide/48MP telephoto with 8x optical zoom

• Front camera: 18MP

And here are the equivalent specs for Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• 6.9-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 3120x1440 resolution

• 2,600 nits peak brightness

• Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor

• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• 5,000mAh battery

• Rear cameras: 200MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom

• Front camera: 12MP

Alright, there's a decent amount to discuss here. Let's start with the displays. Both are pretty similar in terms of size, resolution, and refresh rate, though it must be acknowledged that the iPhone 17 Pro Max's screen is brighter at peak brightness. If you're an outdoorsy type, the iPhone might be a better option in that regard.

Beyond that, the main reason why the most expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max costs so much more than the most expensive S25 Ultra is storage capacity. Apple's handset goes all the way up to 2TB of internal storage, while Samsung's tops out at 1TB. That's a pretty big feather in Apple's cap this year and Samsung can't really compete with that yet. Hardcore mobile photographers and videographers might lean towards iPhone for that reason.

One extremely noteworthy advantage that Samsung can claim over Apple is the inclusion of the S-Pen stylus with every S25 Ultra phone. The phone has a built-in charging slot for the stylus, and it works natively and smoothly with apps and interface elements. Apple does not include a stylus with any iPhone models at this time. If you prefer to use a stylus, the choice here is easy.

There are also some pretty big differences in terms of cameras, but hold onto that thought for now.

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design How do you like the new look? Credit: Apple

The Galaxy S25 Ultra looks a lot like its predecessors. The rear camera array is three lenses stacked vertically on top of each other without any kind of bump housing them, just like previous S-series phones. Samsung did round the edges for S25 Ultra, which makes it a more pleasant phone to hold than the previous model was. S25 Ultra comes in seven colors: Grey, Whitesilver, Silverblue, Black, Pinkgold, Jadegreen, and Jetblack. Officially, those all also have the word "Titanium" in front of them, but you get what I mean.

Apple went back to the drawing board for the iPhone 17 Pro Max's physical appearance. It still has the same triangular camera array as before, but now the lenses live in a big, rectangular bump called the "plateau." This has been controversial since the phone was announced, as many find it unpleasant to look at. Of course, that's a matter of personal taste. The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in just three colors: Silver, Cosmic Orange, and Deep Blue.

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance and battery life

It's not really possible to directly compare performance on these two phones right now because we haven't properly tested the Pro Max yet. They also have totally different chipsets, with Samsung relying on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip while Apple's phone is fueled by the in-house A19 Pro. Samsung's phone performs just fine and, if history is any indication, Apple's will, too. There may be marginal differences, but we can't say that for sure just yet.

Battery life is also an interesting topic here. Apple has not revealed exactly how big the iPhone 17 Pro Max's battery is, but it is rated for as many as 33 hours on a single charge. Samsung's phone has a 5,000mAh cell inside of it that is rated for as many as 31 hours on a charge, though it topped out at around 27 hours in my testing. Your mileage may vary.

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Cameras Meet the new camera plateau. Credit: Apple

Since we haven't properly tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max in any capacity yet, it's not possible to say for sure which handset has a better set of cameras. Numerically, though, there are some interesting differences.

Apple packed a trio or 48MP lenses onto the rear array of the Pro Max this year. Notably, the telephoto lens offers up to 8x optical zoom and what Apple calls 16x "optical-quality" zoom range. The selfie camera has also gotten a boost to 18MP with a wider field of view than previous models, enabling selfies with larger groups of people.

Samsung wins the numbers game this year, if nothing else. Its main shooter is a whopping 200MP, while the other two come in at 50MP. The selfie cam is only 12MP, though. Samsung's optical zoom only goes up to 5x, though you get up to 100x digital zoom. In my testing, I found that zoom shots looked good up to around 30x on the S25 Ultra. We'll see how the iPhone 17 Pro Max compares when it's in our hands.

Fiverr, the online freelance gig marketplace, is planning a major downsizing of its staff as the company pivots to AI, the company's CEO announced in a jargon-filled letter to employees.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the layoffs will eliminate about 30 percent of the Fiverr workforce.

“The resizing and refocusing effort will allow Fiverr to go after growth opportunities as a leaner organization with an AI-native infrastructure and mindset," Fiverr wrote on its investor relations page.

Fiverr first launched in 2010 as an online gig marketplace where writers, musicians, visual artists, and other freelancers could offer their services for just $5. Soon after, Fiverr expanded its offerings, allowing freelancers to provide multiple tiers of services and charge more than $5 for their gigs.

In the Sept. 15 letter to employees, Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman also said that the changes needed to become an “AI-first company” will be “painful”:

Today, we are launching such a transformation for Fiverr, to turn Fiverr into an AI-first company that's leaner, faster, with a modern AI-focused tech infrastructure, a smaller team, each with substantially greater productivity, and far fewer management layers. 

This transformation requires a painful reset, and as we make it, we will be parting ways with approximately 250 team members across the different departments, resulting in a smaller and flatter organization. This is possibly one of the toughest decisions that I have had to make, especially as Fiverr is such a magical place with a strong sense of belonging and mission-driven culture.

Recently, Fiverr has begun promoting AI use among its freelancer community. Earlier this year, for example, Fiverr announced a new program called Fiverr Go, which allowed its gig workers to train AI on their own work in order to automate their creations with AI. The company promoted this new AI service through a series of ads featuring character actor Brett Gelman, best known for his role on Stranger Things.

In a company-wide email from May of this year, Kaufman bluntly warned his staff about the company's pivot to AI.

“AI is coming for your jobs," Kaufman wrote to his employees. "Heck, it’s coming for my job too. This is a wake-up call.”

In recent years, Fiverr's community of freelancers has criticized the growth of users on the platform who are fulfilling gigs with generative AI.

"Is AI destroying the REAL creators?" asked one freelancer on Fiverr's community forums last year after noting their business on the site had been down.

Fiverr appeared to downplay concerns about AI in an ad it released in October 2024. The ad features a cheery musical number called "Nobody Cares," referring to Fiverr's claim that nobody cares if a freelance artist or creator uses AI. 

Now, in the pursuit of AI, Fiverr will lay off 250 of its employees.