IT General

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 7's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 7 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Has possession of something.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter O.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

OWNER.

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

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

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

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

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

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 September 7's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 7 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: Photo editing

• Green: Golf equipment

• Blue: Just bought a fish

• Purple: Iconic horse imagery

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: Ways to Transform an Image

• Green: Things Used in Golf

• Blue: Aquarium Purchases

• Purple: Logos with Horses

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 today's Connections #454 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Ways to Transform an Image: CROP, FLIP, ROTATE, SCALE

• Things Used in Golf: BALL, DRIVER, GLOVE, TEE

• Aquarium Purchases: FILTER, PUMP, ROCKS, TANK

• Logos with Horses: COACH, GODIVA, MUSTANG, POLO

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.

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

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

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

What do rapper Megan Thee Stallion and Kansas City Chiefs' star tight end Travis Kelce have in common?

They both starred in Pepsi's revival of its iconic "We Will Rock You" ad.

WATCH: Megan Thee Stallion and Travis Kelce in new Pepsi commercial

This year's Pepsi commercial, inspired by the upcoming Gladiator II film, is a three-minute long commercial called "Make Your Gameday Epic" — and it's set in a Roman Empire stadium where Megan Thee Stallion is watching a Spartan match of the Super Bowl winners from her throne.

In addition to Kelce, NFL players Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, and Justin Jefferson make an appearance, as well as White Lotus actor Jake Lacy and Fargo star Lamorne Morris.

If the theme of the commercial seems familiar to you, that's because it's a recreation of the iconic 2004 commercial that starred Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Pink. Both commercials feature the highly recognized Queen song "We Will Rock You."

The connection was made by many fans immediately and met with mixed reactions. While some viewers applauded the commercial and thought it was a touchdown, others disagreed with the company's choice of remaking the video.

Tweet may have been deleted

Tweet may have been deleted

One commenter under the YouTube video stated "I’m switching to Coca-Cola."

There are moments in life that break us to pieces, but not quickly, like a hammer hitting a vase — in a slow but unavoidable way, like a crack in a window. It's only a matter of time before the glass will give way, leaving you wrecked and wide open to a world that keeps on moving regardless. Sharp Corner is about such a moment, where an inexplicable event slowly shatters the psyche of an average family man who previously thought himself content. 

Written by Jason Buxton and Russell Wangersky, Sharp Corner is a lean but gripping psychological thriller than explores fear, anxiety, and how a societal double standard can leave men in a unique disadvantage when it comes to processing trauma. So who better to headline this movie than Ben Foster? This American actor has delved powerfully into these themes in previous roles, such as the wild-card brother of Hell or High Water, the anti-social father of Leave No Trace, and the hardened soldier of The Messenger. 

Ben Foster plays a father in crisis in Sharp Corner. 

Mild-mannered, middle-aged Josh McCall (Foster) is a loving partner to his intellectual wife Rachel Davis-McCall (High School's Cobie Smulders) and a playful parent to his young son Max (William Kosovic). Their first night in their new home in suburban Canada, Josh gently tucks his kid into bed, assuring him that there's nothing to fear in this unfamiliar setting. Next, Josh and his wife christen the living room with some hasty but spirited sex. But then disaster strikes. 

Before the opening title card even hits the screen, a car's tire flies through the big display window, shattering glass and shooting past Rachel's head before landing with a terrifying thud. A car has crashed dramatically in their lawn. While Rachel races to soothe their crying child, Josh stands looking out the window, pantless and powerless, his bare ass facing us while he gazes upon a horrifying new reality. 

Everyone in the family is dealing with this shocking incident in their own ways. Rachel avoids conversation around it and buries herself in caring for her child, who is finding bits of busted reflector as he plays in the yard. But this leaves Josh with no one to talk to about his fears. He had considered himself the family's protector, but it was only dumb luck they too weren't hurt that night. So, Sharp Corner follows his slow-burn quest to reclaim a sense of control, first through understanding the cause of the accident, then by educating himself on life-saving tools like CPR. But more fatal crashes on the titular turn make this increasingly difficult, pushing Josh into disturbing behaviors to reclaim his identity.

Sharp Corner's deep-set empathy makes its horrors hit harder. 

Often, when media discusses toxic masculinity, they're addressing macho men who refuse to acknowledge their own emotions. Ben is not that guy. He's desperate to talk about what happened, but he can't find a place where he feels safe to do so. His wife doesn't want to hear it. His friends aren't prepared to go from wine recommendations to trauma-dumping, and he doesn't trust a stoic psychiatrist, who has a dog named Drake.

So, like a lot of people grappling with anxiety and post-traumatic distress, Josh throws himself into action. He creates projects to prevent further crashes, and when that fails, he is desperate to be prepared to save a life when the need arises. Maybe that can restore his sense of self? Maybe that can save his family from falling apart? Foster's nuanced performance — tension rippling under his skin and need gleaming through his eyes — makes this terror feel at once extraordinary and achingly common. 

Yet as empathetic as Sharp Corner is, binding us to Josh in moments he can't share with anyone, it doesn't paint his wife as an uncaring nag or a cliched villain. She too is grappling with this jolting realization, not only that their dream home is a suburban nightmare but also that death can be random, and stupid, and on your front lawn over and over. Though hers is a much smaller role, Smulders comfortably shoulders the character work of Rachel, her careful words hitting with precision. Her tone shifts from direct and annoyed, when the two adults are alone, to guarded yet cutting when they're with their son. Together, they create a couple that feels real — and really on the brink of splitting up.

Sharp Corner packs a punch without packing in gore.

The script is crisply realized, keenly charting Josh's downward spiral as he surrenders everything to his desperate need to reclaim a sense of power in a world that's made him feel impotent and futile. Buxton, who also directs, wisely trusts in Foster and Smulders to ground the film's drama. It helps he keeps the home's aesthetic clean and cozy in cool blues and grays, so the carnage outside — with its streaks of yellow dome lights and red reflectors and blood — is all the more jarring. Yet the deaths are largely off-screen, or when they're shown, are done so with a mindfulness towards graphic bodily harm.

Buxton isn't seeking to sensationalize these moments. He gives us just enough to understand why Josh can't shake them. So, we too struggle to focus as others talk to him about mundane things like school pick-up and work assignments. But how far would we walk in his shoes? That's the terrifying question Sharp Corner asks in a third act that is ruthlessly plotted. 

Focused so intently on the inner turmoil of its ego-ravaged hero, Sharp Corner is leanly executed. But Buxton and Wangersky seems to lose faith in their audience in the second act, offering a sequence where a psychiatrist basically spells out what Josh is going through (though she's not knowingly talking about him). Despite this detour, the finale regains momentum. Ultimately, a smart premise is poignantly brought to life by Foster and Smulders, making for a psychological thriller that is nerve-rattlingly tense and a family drama that is unapologetically gutting.

Sharp Corner was reviewed out of its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. 

In American media, a man cheating on his wife is often a source for tears, screaming, vengeance, murder-based TV shows, or one of the greatest concept albums of all time. So, when this American movie critic sat down for the Chinese documentary Mistress Dispeller, I brought my societal expectations with me, thinking I knew what I was in for. I was very, very wrong, but I found real pleasure in what this curious film offers instead. 

Hong Kong-born filmmaker Elizabeth Lo follows "mistress dispeller" Wang Zhenxi as she engages with a client, a middle-aged wife in China who is distraught that her husband has taken a younger mistress. The wife, called Mrs. Li in the film, tearfully unfurls her suspicions and the evidence that has brought her to this moment. But even as she is hurt, she explains ardently how kind her husband is, sharing a story of how he takes special care when cooking for her mother. 

This dizzying mix of feelings — anger and love — in the film's first act establishes the emotional complexity that is knit throughout Mistress Dispeller, which isn't interested in blame or salacious details. Instead, this remarkable documentary engages its audience through an earnest empathy with all three parties, and a daring openness between subject and filmmaker that is absolutely stunning. 

Mistress Dispeller is most shocking in how much its subjects share. 

How Mr. Li's affair has impacted his own life, as well as the lives of his wife and mistress, is revealed through simple scenes of day-to-day life. A woman getting her hair cut at a salon may seem mundane at first glance, but then you see the tear snaking out of her eye and down her cheeks as her expression struggles to stay stoic. More engaging, though, are the numerous dining scenes, where two (or three) of these subjects sit across from each other as an unblinking camera shoots them in profile. 

At first, it seems Lo is capturing only a casual conversation. But when Mr. Li looks from his companion into the camera's lens, we're reminded that he knows he's being watched. And yet, even then, he shares his secrets. Similarly, his mistress, Fei Fei, will open up in front of Lo's lens, defending her love of her married boyfriend, and even welcoming the crew to follow her away from date night and into her working day. Here, the polished, pale make-up and frilly, coquettish dress she wore to impress her man is gone, replaced by a cleaner face and simple streetwear as she zips around on a scooter unglamorously delivering frozen food. 

Lo doesn't lean on talking-head interviews or a narrator to step us through this story. She lets the words and actions of this tangle of people speak for itself. And while we may blanch at the feeling of voyeurism perhaps inherent in a documentary that delves into the nitty-gritty of a marriage in peril, a simple promise makes Mistress Dispeller extraordinary. 

Consent is key in Mistress Dispeller. 

In the opening credits of the film, a title card proclaims: 

"Everyone agreed to participate both at the beginning and end of production, as their understanding of the film and mistress dispeller's role evolved over time." 

What Mr. Li and Fei Fei think they're being filmed for initially isn't clear, as Wang's involvement with them begins undercover. Collaborating with Mrs. Li, she is introduced to the husband as a friend. Steadily, as she grows in his confidence, he opens up about Fei Fei, and introduces the two, calling Wang a "cousin." All the while, Wang is getting to understand each side of this love triangle, not to strategize the fastest way to break it up but the most compassionate way.

Operating without judgment, Wang aims to understand how Fei Fei came to be involved with Mr. Li, why he was drawn to her, and what they and Mrs. Li want now. She works the case like a psychological detective, determining motive through clues and covert interrogations involving badminton matches and mani/pedis. As she comes to see the messy emotions that built this puzzle of love and pain, she invites us to understand them too as the fly on her wall. It's an extraordinary thing, watching these people in moments of heady infatuation, crushing betrayal, and deep confusion, all while they know they're being filmed. The subjects' awareness of the cameras might mean there's a level of performance at play. But as they get to know Wang, it's easier and easier to believe the cameras they once stared at become just another piece of furniture as they chart their way forward. 

Mistress Dispeller is gorgeous to behold. 

Lo also serves as the director of photography and co-editor on the film, and deserves praise for every role. As a director, she smartly hangs back, allowing the subjects to tell their story however they see fit. With editor Charlotte Munch Bengtsen, she takes what might be thought of as B-roll and assembles them into pieces that neatly construct a challenging narrative that has no real villain. As a cinematographer, she captures scenes of domestic simplicity, like a lunch together between husband, wife, and undercover mistress dispeller, with a keen eye for detail.

Along with a meditative pacing that gives big feelings room to breathe, there's often a charming symmetry in the framing, which not only makes for a pleasing image but also bolsters the film's emotional focus on balance. There is never only one side to a story, and the equal weight shared in such staging subtly reminds the audience of this simple, but often overlooked fact. 

This sense of balance is made all the more impactful in a finale where Mrs. Li and Fei Fei finally meet; conflict seems inevitable, but it won't play out like American media would have us expect. And yet, Wang sits at just of the center of the frame, not to take sides but to even out the power dynamic at play. Even without melodramatic moments of gnashed teeth and bellowed accusations, Lo's moving film captures heartache and humanity viscerally. More incredibly, through the story of one real marriage confronting an affair, she urges her audiences to reconsider the biases of shame and blame we've taken in through scads of more salacious media. It's not that Mistress Dispeller is preachy — far from it. Instead, this doc makes showing all sides look so easy that you might well wonder why it's not done more often. 

In the end, Mistress Dispeller is a marvel: elegantly constructed, ethically created, and thought-provokingly humane. 

Mistress Dispeller was reviewed out of its North American Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

We are just days away from Apple's big annual September event, and the rumors surrounding the iPhone 16 — along with other potential announcements — are flying.

If you're in the market for a new pair of AirPods, you'll soon have a few more choices. According to a new report, Apple is planning on releasing two different models in the new AirPods 4 line that will likely be announced at the September 9 Apple event.

These new AirPods models will look more like Apple's premium wireless earbuds, AirPods Pro, and come with new features. One model will reportedly even have a charging case with a built-in speaker. 

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max leak: Video camera rumored to get this upgrade

This new AirPods report is a bit different from some other rumors out there as it comes from a source with a great track record: Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman.

Two new AirPods 4 models on the way

To be clear, this product launch would release a brand new middle tier of AirPods, as the higher-priced AirPods are not a replacement for the higher tier AirPods Pro.

Apple currently still sells the older second-generation AirPods as an entry-level pair of wireless earbuds. The current generation AirPods 3 acts as a mid-tier device. With the AirPods 4, it appears Apple is looking to make the two levels in the AirPods line official and current with two new releases to replace both the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3.

According to Gurman, both AirPods 4 models have been redesigned to look more like the AirPods Pro. For example, the new AirPods 4 should have much shorter stems than the current generation of AirPods, like the AirPods Pro has. Gurman says that the AirPods 4 also have improved audio quality as well as a new charging case. Both AirPods 4 models will drop the lightning cable and will have USB-C charging as well.

Speaking of charging, Gurman says that Apple recently discovered a software bug that was the culprit for AirPods battery life drain issues. Apple has reportedly fixed the issue in time for the AirPods 4 launch.

So, what's the difference between the two upcoming AirPods 4 models? Gurman reports that the higher end AirPods 4 – the mid-tier AirPods when accounting for AirPods Pro – will receive a premium charging case with a built-in speaker. The purpose of this speaker is to make it easier for users to find their AirPods with Apple's Find My feature but its unclear if the case speaker will have any other utility. 

Gurman says that the mid-tier AirPods 4 will also come with noise cancelation that rivals the AirPods Pro, which the entry-level model will lack.

Future AirPods updates

There's also a brand new AirPods feature in the works, according to Gurman, although it may not be ready in time for launch at the Apple event. Apple has reportedly been working on hearing health features, codenamed Yodel, that will turn AirPods into a hearing aid replacement. Yodel will also have a hearing test feature as well.

As for any new updates for the AirPods Pro or even the AirPods Max headphones, Gurman says not to expect anything at the Apple event this year.

A new AirPods Pro with a new design and better noise cancellation is expected next year. An AirPods Max update with new colors and USB-C charging is also expect to come later.

'The Front Room' actors Brandy Norwood and Kathryn Hunter break down the many layers and themes incorporated in the film.

Microsoft Bing now has more power to scrub AI-generated or deepfake images, a form of nonconsensual intimate image (NCII) abuse, from appearing on the search engine, as the company announces a new nonprofit partnership.

A collaboration with victim advocacy tool StopNCII, Microsoft is supplementing its user-reporting with a more "victim-centered" approach incorporating a more in-depth detection process, the company explained. StopNCII, a platform ran by UK nonprofit SWGfl and the Revenge Porn Helpline, offers individuals the ability to create and add digital fingerprints (also known as a "hash") to intimate images, which can then be tracked to remove images as they appear on certain platforms.

Based on a pilot that ran through August, Microsoft's new system harnesses StopNCII's database to immediately flag intimate images and prevent them being surfaced in Bing results. Microsoft says it has already "taken action" on 268,000 explicit images.

StopNCII's hashes are used by social sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Snapchat, and Reddit, as well as platforms like Bumble, OnlyFans, Aylo (owner of several popular pornography sites, including PornHub), and even Niantic, the AR developer behind Pokémon Go. Bing is the first search engine to join the partner coalition.

SEE ALSO: Scammers are using pictures of your home to amplify sextortion threats

Google, also struggling with nonconsensual deepfake content, has taken similar steps to address the appearance of deepfake images in Search results, in addition to nonconsensual real images. Over the last year, the company has been revamping its Search ranking system to lower explicit synthetic content in results, replacing the surfaced results with "high-quality, non-explicit content," the company explained, such as news articles. Google announced it was also streamlining its reporting and review process to help expedite removal of such content — the search platform already has a similar system for removal of nonconsensual real images, or deepfake porn.

But it has yet to join StopNCII and utilize its hashing tech. "Search engines are inevitably the gateway for images to be found, so this proactive step from Bing is putting the wellbeing of those directly affected front and center," said Sophie Mortimer, manager of the Revenge Porn Helpline.

Microsoft has similar reporting processes for real-images based NCII abuse, as well as strict conduct policies against intimate extortion, also known as sextortion. Earlier this year, Microsoft provided StopNCII with its in-house PhotoDNA technology, a similar "fingerprinting" tool that has been used to detect and help remove child sexual abuse material.

SEE ALSO: How Big Tech is approaching explicit, nonconsensual deepfakes How to report intimate images with StopNCII

If you believe your image (explicit or non-explicit) is at risk of being released or manipulated by bad actors, you can add your own fingerprint to StopNCII for future detection. The tool does not require you to upload or store personal photos or videos to the site. Instead, images are retained on your personal device.

1. Visit Stopncii.org.

2. Click on "Create your case" in the top right corner.

3. Navigate through the personalized prompts, which gathers information about the content of the image or video.

4. The website will then ask you to select photos or videos from your device's photo library. StopNCII then scans the content and creates hashes for each image. The hashes are then sent to participating platforms. No images or videos will be shared.

5. Save your case number, which will allow you to check if your image or video has been detected online.

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

The best streaming deals to watch NFL games in the 2024-2025 season: BEST PRIME VIDEO DEAL Prime Video only (no Prime membership) $8.99 per month (save $6 per month) Get Deal BEST PARAMOUNT+ DEAL Paramount+ Essential annual subscription $59.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST SLING DEAL Sling Season Pass (Orange + Blue + Sports Extra) $199 for four months (save $92) Get Deal BEST YOUTUBE TV DEAL YouTube TV Free trial, then $64.99 per month for four months ($72.99 per month thereafter) (save $32) Get Deal BEST FUBO DEAL Fubo TV Pro plan $49.99 for your first month, then $79.99 per month (save $30) Get Deal BEST PEACOCK DEAL Peacock Premium annual subscription $79.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST ESPN+ DEAL ESPN+ Annual Plan $109.99 per year (save 15%) Get Deal

It's that time again. A new NFL season is upon us and with it comes all sorts of new streaming struggles. Notorious gatekeepers of their broadcasts, watching NFL games has become a tangled web of subscriptions — even for those who still have cable. But we've sorted out all the complicated details for you. If you're wanting to watch your favorite teams battle it out this season without cable, here's everything you need to know — including the cheapest possible way to do so (legally).

How to watch NFL games during the 2024–2025 season

Since no single network owns the rights to every game, watching your favorite teams isn't as cut and dry in the NFL as it is with other sports. And now with streaming services throwing hats in the ring, even cable TV subscribers will need a few extras to catch every game.

Here's the general schedule each week for the 2024–2025 season.

• Thursday Night Football kicks off the week exclusively on Prime Video (starting week two)

• Sunday afternoon games air on CBS for AFC teams and FOX for NFC teams

• Sunday Night Football games air on NBC and stream on Peacock

• Monday Night Football games air on ESPN and ABC/ESPN+

• NFL Network will also broadcast seven different games throughout the season

• Netflix is set to broadcast two games on Christmas Day this season

If you don't have cable, you have an abundance of options for watching games live. If you're a casual fan, you can simply invest in a digital TV antenna to catch local games and nationally broadcast games live on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. Beyond football, a digital antenna will also grant you free access to local news, nationally broadcast events like the Grammys or Oscars, and other network programming. If you're reasonably close to your local TV stations, you should be able to pick up at least the four main networks. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to access ESPN.

You can also sign up for a live TV streaming service to get access to local networks, plus a ton of other channels. Live TV streaming services can be pretty pricey, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck. This option will get you ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN in most markets. No need to be close to your local TV stations.

With either option you choose, you'll still have to sign up for Prime Video if you want to watch Thursday Night Football games. You can also utilize streaming apps like Peacock and Paramount+ to watch many regular season games. It's all up to you and how many games you want access to. Below, we've rounded up the best streaming deals for each streaming service required to watch football games this season.

The best football streaming deals for the 2024–2025 NFL seasonThe best Prime Video deals for Thursday Night Football

In addition to Thursday Night Football games, Prime Video is also set to stream a playoff game this season during Wildcard weekend. Prime members get access to Prime Video included in their subscription, which runs you $14.99 per month. If you're new to Prime, you can even score a free 30-day trial before you'll owe a monthly fee. Here are a few other ways you can save some money.

Best for long-term viewing: Prime Annual (save 22%)

Enjoy the perks of a Prime membership, including access to Prime Video, for an entire year with a Prime Annual subscription. Rather than paying a $14.99 monthly fee, you'll pay $139 up front. That ends up saving you about 22%, knocking the price down to about $11.59 per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime Video Annual $139 per year (save 22%) Get Deal

Most affordable: Prime Video only (save $6 per month)

If you don't want all the extra perks of being a Prime member, you can simply subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service for just $8.99 per month. That's $6 per month cheaper than a full Prime membership. Naturally, Amazon makes it unnecessarily complicated to sign up for Prime Video alone. When you go to sign up for a subscription, you'll have to select the option to "see more plans" or "change plans" and navigate to the option for Prime Video on its own. Like a Prime membership, you can still cancel whenever you please with no strings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime Video only $8.99 per month Get Deal

Best for those under 24: Prime for Young Adults (save 50%)

Amazon's Prime Student subscription has now evolved into Prime for Young Adults. Those between the ages of 18 and 24, as well as college students of any age, can now score a free six-month trial to Prime. After the trial period is up, it'll cost just $7.49 per month — that's 50% in savings. You'll have to verify your age or student status, but after that, the world of Prime is your oyster.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime for Young Adults Free 6-month trial, then $7.49 per month Get Deal The best live TV streaming deals for NFL Sunday games

Sunday afternoon games are broadcast on either CBS (for AFC teams) or FOX (for NFC teams). While CBS is accessible without cable through Paramount+, FOX is only accessible through a live TV streaming service like Fubo, YouTube TV, Sling, or Hulu + Live TV. Live TV streaming services are notoriously expensive, but we've found a few different deals currently live for the start of the NFL season. Here are our top picks.

Best for AFC games only: Paramount+ Essential annual subscription (save 17%)

Paramount+ is one of the most affordable streaming services at just $7.99 per month with ads. However, you can score it for even cheaper by opting for an annual subscription for $59.99. Slash 17% off when you pay for a year up front. That knocks the monthly cost down to just $5 per month. Just note that Paramount+ only gives you access to in-network AFC games via CBS.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ annual subscription $59.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

Best for students who want to watch AFC games: Paramount+ for students

Students who want to watch in-network AFC games can score a Paramount+ Essential subscription for only $5.99 per month. That's 25% cheaper than a typical Paramount+ subscription. You'll just have to verify your student status to unlock the deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ for students $5.99 per month (save 25%) Get Deal

Best live TV streaming service deal: Sling Season Pass (save $92)

If you prepay for four months of Sling Orange, Blue, and Sports Extras, you can save $92 with Sling Season Pass. The Blue package gets you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, and NFL Network in local markets, while the Orange package gets you access to ESPN. With the Sports Extras add-on, you'll also get access to NFL RedZone, where you can see every touchdown that happens on Sunday afternoons. It'll cost you $199 for four months of Sling Season Pass, which is significantly cheaper than any other live TV streaming service. Just be sure to check your local market to ensure you'll have access to the channels you need.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Season Pass $199 for four months (save $92) Get Deal

Best YouTube TV deal: $64.99/month for your first four months (save $32)

YouTube TV is one of our favorite live TV streaming options. It will give you access to all the networks you need to watch Sunday afternoon games in your network, as well as Sunday night and Monday night games — NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, NFL Network, and ESPN. For a limited time, YouTube TV is offering new users a discount on their first four months of service. Plus, you can kick things off with a free trial. It usually costs $72.99 per month for the base plan, but you'll pay just $64.99 per month (save $32) for your first four months.

Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $64.99 per month for your first four months, then $72.99 per month (save $32) Get Deal

Best bang for your buck: Get Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ all for $76.99 per month

While other live TV streaming services might be a little cheaper, Hulu + Live TV comes with the most bang for your buck. You'll pay $76.99 per month and get access to the live TV channels you need to watch NFL games, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). For comparison, YouTube TV is $72.99 per month and includes a similar live TV channel lineup, but no extras. Fubo is $79.99 per month and features a slightly wider channel lineup, but still no extras.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV (with Disney+ and ESPN+) $76.99 per month Get Deal

Another live TV streaming deal: Take $30 off your first month of Fubo

Fubo isn't our first pick for a live TV streaming service, simply because it's too expensive. However, the streamer is currently offering new subscribers their first month at $30 off. That knocks the Pro plan down to $49.99 for your first month ($79.99 per month thereafter) and the Elite plan with Sports Plus down to $69.99 for your first month ($99.99 per month thereafter).

Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo Fubo TV Pro plan $49.99 for your first month, then $79.99 per month Get Deal The best Peacock deals for streaming Sunday Night Football

If you don't have access to local networks via a live TV streaming service or a digital antenna, you can still tune into Sunday Night Football on NBC by signing up for Peacock. Week One's game in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, Sept. 6 will also be streamed on Peacock. Subscriptions start at just $7.99 per month, but we've rounded up a few ways you can save.

Best for long-term viewing: Peacock Premium yearly subscription (save 17%)

Peacock is already pretty affordable at $7.99 per month, but even that can add up quickly on top of every other streaming service. You can knock that price down to just $6.67 per month by paying for an entire year up front. A yearly Peacock Premium subscription is just $79.99 per year, which ends up saving you about 17% overall.

Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium yearly subscription $79.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

Best for students: Peacock Premium Student Discount (save $6 per month)

Students wanting to tune into Sunday Night Football can score a Peacock Premium subscription for only $1.99 per month for an entire year. That's $6 cheaper than a typical Peacock subscription. You'll just have to be able to prove your student status through SheerID.

Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $1.99 per month for one year (save $6 per month) Get Deal

Best for first responders: Peacock Premium for $1.99 per month

With annual first responder verification through SheerID, first responders (public or private) can get Peacock Premium for just $1.99 per month. Upon verification, you'll receive a unique promo code to use when subscribing to Peacock. That will knock $6 per month off your total cost for the streaming service.

Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders $1.99 per month (save $6 per month) Get Deal

Best Peacock third-party deal: Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ (save $7.99 per month)

If you subscribe to Instacart+ for free grocery delivery, which costs either $99 per year or $9.99 per month, you'll get a free Peacock Premium subscription included. Just log in to your Instacart account, select your Instacart+ membership, then "unlock special offers" and activate the Peacock offer. You'll get redirected to Peacock's website, where you can sign in or create an account to activate the benefit.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ subscription (save $7.99 per month) Get Deal The best ESPN+ deals for Monday Night Football

In order to watch Monday Night Football games on ESPN, you'll need a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN (see deals above). In order to watch Monday Night Football games on ABC, however, you can use ESPN+. The Week Seven match-up between the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals will also be available exclusively on ESPN+. ESPN+ does not give you access to games broadcast on ESPN. It's all very confusing, I know. ESPN+ regularly costs $10.99 per month, but here are a couple of ways you can save money on your subscription.

Best for long-term viewing: ESPN+ Annual Plan (save 15%)

Opt into ESPN+ for an entire year and it'll only cost $109.99 instead of $10.99 per month, which adds up to $131.88. That saves you 15% overall and gives you access to plenty more than just Monday Night Football if you're a sports fan.

Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN+ ESPN+ Annual Plan $109.99 per year (save 15%) Get Deal

Best bundle deal: ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu (save 44%)

If you want more bang for your buck than ESPN+ on its own, you can bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for just $14.99 per month. That's just $4 more per month than getting ESPN+ on its own. Sure, that's a lot to pay for select Monday Night Football games, but it will get you more for your money than most other streaming deals.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ / ESPN+ ESPN+ with Hulu and Disney+ $14.99 per month (save 44%) Get Deal What's the cheapest way to watch the most NFL games this season?

Good question. If you want to watch in-market games and nationally broadcast games mainly, the cheapest way to do so would be to sign up for Sling Orange + Blue (granted your market includes all local networks), Paramount+, and Prime Video for a grand total of $71.98 per month. If your market is included in the Sling packages, this will give you access to FOX, ESPN, NBC, ABC, CBS (via Paramount+), and Prime Video. You could also add Netflix into the mix in December if you want access to those two games for $6.99 (per month). If you add Netflix to the total, December would run you a little more at $78.97.

Here's the breakdown:

• $55 per month for Sling Orange + Blue — Sunday afternoon games on Fox, ESPN, NBC, ABC (check that your market is included)

• $7.99 per month for Paramount+  — AFC games on Sunday afternoons

• $8.99 per month for Prime Video — Thursday Night Football

• $6.99 per month for Netflix — two games in December

For out-of-market games, things get a bit more complicated. And expensive. NFL Sunday Ticket is one of the only ways you can watch every out-of-market game, but it's outrageously expensive ($479 per year) and we cannot in good faith recommend it. Another option would be to sign up for a VPN and attempt to use a different location with any of the live TV streaming services above. For more information about VPNs and how to watch the NFL 2024–2025 season from other countries (or pretending to), check out this article on bypassing geo-restrictions.

Winona Ryder fills in the gaps for her iconic character, Lydia Deetz, between the original Beetlejuice and the long-awaited sequel.

22% OFF: As of Sep. 6, get a Levoit Air Purifier for just $69.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 22% and $20 off its regular price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Levoit Air Purifier $69.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

Waking up with a stuffy nose? Having trouble breathing around your home? You might be in need of an air purifier. These handy devices can cut allergens and pollen from the air in your house and help you breathe easier. Whether you want to filter out things like smoke or pet dander or you just want to have a more sanitary environment, an air purifier is a great buy for anyone. And there's one on sale right now that's well worth bringing into your home.

As of Sep. 6, you can get the Levoit Air Purifier at Amazon for just $69.99. That's $20 off its normal price of $89.99 and a discount of 22%.

This particular model is a fantastic choice for larger rooms and areas. It can clean up to 915 sq. ft., which means it's best for positioning in living rooms, larger bedrooms, or areas where there's a lot of foot traffic in and out of the house. It refreshes air 5 times per hour and uses an activated carbon filter to trap 99.97% of dust, pollen, and airborne particles. Plus, it's super quiet, going down as low as 24dB so it won't disturb you when it's running. You can even turn off all the onboard lights when it's time for bed so the display won't disturb you as well.

Control the unit with the accompanying VeSync app so you can set it and forget it no matter where you are in the world. Plus, it's compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can go hands-free without even having to use the app if you don't want to. It's all meant to be extremely convenient so you can just focus on having a fresher, cleaner home.

Breathe in that crisp air now that fall is on the way, but don't dilly-dally on snagging this deal. It likely won't be around for long.

PRE-ORDER HERE: As of Sept. 6, the soundtrack for the hit film Challengers is available for preorder on vinyl. The bundle costs $33.98 and comes with some extras in addition to the vinyl disc, including collectible trading cards, set photos, and more. Pick up yours today and get it on Nov. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony 'Challengers' Original Score vinyl at Amazon
Pre-Order Here

Challengers was an amazing film in its own right, but how can you talk about everyone's favorite horny tennis movie without mentioning that incredible score? Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have once again served us an absolute ace.

If you also can't get enough of those high-energy synths during the film's title track, we think you'll be excited for this: You can now pre-order the Challengers Original Score on vinyl. Pick up a copy today and get it delivered on release day, Nov. 1.

SEE ALSO: How to watch Sinner vs. Draper in the 2024 US Open online for free

This vinyl bundle not only comes with the iconic score, but also with some fun little extras. You'll get some cool on-set photos from the movies' shooting process, collectible trading cards for each of the films' main characters, and a Phil's Tire Town bumper sticker. For $34, that's not a bad deal. At the time of this writing, you can pre-order your vinyl at Amazon, Rough Trade, Milan Records, and Black Screen Records. Get yours today and channel your inner Tashi, Art, or Patrick on Nov. 1.

Sex toys have undergone an impressive rebrand over the last decade. Once hidden in back rooms, vibrators and other toys are now proudly displayed in UK stores like Tesco and Boots, sold by online retailers ASOS and Boohoo, and found on the nightstands of 82 percent of women, according to a report by Bedbible. Famous women from Dakota Johnson to Lily Allen have endorsed them, too.

Men, however, don't seem to be as involved in the sexual wellness revolution. There is a dearth of stats on how many men use sex toys for solo pleasure. You'd be hard-pressed finding a penis stroker in your local supermarket, and I doubt Hollywood actors will be lining up to endorse Fleshlight any time soon. So why is there such a cultural difference between gendered toys? 

SEE ALSO: Predictions for sex in the future that some will love — and some will hate

The sex tech market is now worth over $35 billion, but until recently, something was missing from the conversation: sex toys for men. Sure, the likes of sex dolls and Fleshlights have been knocking around for a while, but they don't hold a candle to the female sex tech advancements of the last few years. Even Lovehoney, the UK's biggest adult toy retailer, offers only 332 men's toys out of 1,052 listed online. 

Enter: Tokyo-born Tenga, a brand eager to change this, bringing Japan's celebrated male sex toy culture to the US and U.S.

Male masturbation shame

The desire for men to self-pleasure with toys is undeniably there. Tenga — who mainly make sex toys for men (women's toys are sold via their sister brand Iroha) —  found that 44 percent of British men want to give them a go for solo play. 

Rather, the problem lies in the stigma attached. Tom, a 27-year-old warehouse manager, loves using sex toys but keeps it a secret from his girlfriend. "It's a weird thing. My girlfriend wouldn't mind me masturbating, but I think she'd freak out if I told her I used a Fleshlight," he says. "There's a massive double standard with sex toys. It's not weird for her to own one."

Zachary Zane, author of memoir and manifesto Boyslut and a sex educator at Fun Factory, agrees. "[Male] sex toys often get a bad rep, especially for solo male masturbation. There's this idea that only perverts, losers, or guys who can't get laid use male masturbators, but this is ridiculous."

Elisabeth Neumann, a sexologist and user research manager at Lovehoney says the reason Lovehoney don't have as many sex toys for men as women is partly because they centred their offering around problems in the bedroom, like the orgasm gap. This is fair enough, since that gap is a wide one. 

Lovehoney did tell Mashable they're expanding their male sex toy range with four new launches planned in the coming years, but this cultural shame stigma surrounding men using sex toys even impacts research and development. 

There's this idea that only perverts, losers, or guys who can't get laid use male masturbators, but this is ridiculous. - Zachary Zane

Neumann explains that test panels and feedback is a huge part of developing new toys at Lovehoney, but in some of their trials, "men have shared feelings around the negative connections they feel are associated with them using sex toys. Whilst women link sex toys to 'self-care,' they view men using them as 'lonely' or 'needy', which is a shame to hear."

She notes, like Zane, that this notion is also ridiculous. "We know [from internal research] that less than one in five people buying a male sex toy are single, so male sex toy use has nothing to do with loneliness." 

Topher Taylor, a sex toy developer, sex educator and brand manager at Clonezone, says that an aversion to solo sex toy use (or talking about it) has a lot to do with gender roles — the cultural scripts we're assigned to follow in society based on our assigned genders. An aversion to using male sex toys or even talking about them is wrapped up in toxic masculinity, he says, because men are not encouraged to embrace sensuality, tenderness, or even just pleasure.

This is perhaps why gay and bisexual men do not share this problem, with 78.5 percent of queer men using sex toys, either alone or with other men. "A lot of sex toy shops are at the centre of the LGBTQ+ community or are owned by queer people," Taylor explains, adding that queer people often have to explore their sexuality alone as they learn who they are, which makes them generally more sexually open. To be queer is to have already broken gender roles; they don't quite apply. 

Men's gender roles don't allow for self expression or playfulness — both required for making masturbation truly fun — so the idea of treating yourself to a toy-based solo session is pretty hard to get your head around. So, how do we change that? 

Normalising male pleasure 

In Tokyo, the situation couldn't be more different. Tenga is a relatively well-known brand in Japan for a masturbator, with its brand recognition rate of around 80 percent in Japan, which is comparable to Apple's brand recognition in the UK. "Most people in the city either own a Tenga toy or know all about them," says CEO Koichi Matsumoto.

Male masturbation and the toys that enhance it are normalised across Tokyo's sex shops. From Wild One in Shibuya to M's Adult Department Store and even the convenience store chain Don Quixote, sex toys are on display next to household items. Tokyo feels like a parallel universe where sex toys aren't shameful, and straight men embrace them for their sexual pleasure.

Wild One owner Atsushi Naito notes that Tokyo's sex toy industry has almost the opposite problem. The city has long had a positive outlook on sex and self-pleasure for men. "Before sex toys were a thing, men were always using something extra to masturbate. They used to take old, congealed pot noodles and use them as a sex toy," he laughs. "We've come a long way since then."

He adds that it's less common to see women shopping for sex toys on their own; they usually purchase with a male partner, whereas men of all ages shop for their own toys.

Naito is working to make his shop more inclusive by advertising female toys and creating a welcoming atmosphere for women and queer people. The shop's entrance, a striking half-vulva, half-penis sculpture surrounded by pride flags, reflects this effort.

While other countries like the USA and most of Europe see a lot of love for sex toys for masturbation from men as well (that's according to Tenga and sex toy brand Hot Octopuss), Britain's male sex toy industry is lagging behind. 

SEE ALSO: Etsy to ban sale of most sex toys, explicit content, and more

Part of the deal with getting British men into sex toys is encouraging them to think beyond just cumming from masturbation, Zane says. "There's this 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' idea where if you can successfully orgasm by using your hand, why would you purchase a toy?" 

So men are missing out on the enhanced self-care and self-pleasure experience many women use masturbation for. "Sex toys feel absolutely freakin' incredible and can enhance all aspects of masturbation, not just the orgasm," he adds. And men can start to look at masturbation as an experience rather than a means to an end. 

Sex toys in relationships 

It's worth noting that this celebratory ethos didn't emerge from nowhere. Sure, Tokyo has long had a positive sex culture for men but designers like Matsumoto have also taken specific steps to cultivate it. There are the crazier ideas like filling a rocket with Tenga cups and launching it into space for publicity, to creating a sex education platform for teens, and even ditching the Japanese word for masturbation at their HQ — "Onanī" — because its linked to shameful Christianity-based sex ideas, instead opting for the English. Education extends to the shopfloor too, with staff at Tenga's own stores trained to speak sensitively to customers. It's efforts like these that create a movement. 

Sex toys are on most guys' nightstands in the country — as standard as a lamp or a book. "Most women would not be bothered about seeing a Tenga toy in their boyfriend's bathroom," Matsumoto says. "They have come to expect it." 

This is another moment where Britain can take a leaf out of Japan's book. Another part of the problem is women feeling uncomfortable with their partners using toys, according to both Taylor and Zane. There are no statistics available on how many women feel discomfort with their male partner's sex toy use, but it feels like a Mumsnet complaint about a woman finding their husband's sex toy goes viral for all the wrong reasons every few months.

Tom added that he thinks his girlfriend would be upset about his sex toys because "there's something seedy about toy use for men. It's like I'm wanking into a fake vagina, and that's an uncomfy thing for some women to think about."

SEE ALSO: Most adult creators use AI in their work, new data says

33-year-old customer support agent Ben* also tells Mashable his girlfriend "straight up kicked off" when she found his Fleshlight. "It was one of their porn star ranges [where the 'vagina' of the Fleshlight mimics that of a famous porn star's] and she felt like it was cheating," he tells Mashable.  

Taylor points out that "a good person should never shame their partner for communicating a consensual and safe desire" and anyone who disallows or expresses disgust in their partner's masturbation habits (regardless of gender) urgently needs to interrogate those thoughts. However, the way male sex toys are typically designed can give every right to complain.

Sex toy design differences 

Matsumoto says male sex toys, including in Japan, typically look like a "vagina in a can." 

"It's an uncomfortable thing," he adds. The look and function of these gadgets, which reduced women to body parts, are just for the one percent," he explains. "I wanted to create something that would appeal to the other 99." 

That's why Tenga's packaging for their disposable range of 'unis', 'cups', and 'eggs' as well as their reusable products ('puffy', 'bobble', 'flip' and 'orb') are technology-based, more reminiscent of a fancy car part than a genital, inspired by Mastumoto's background as a mechanic. 

Taylor says these choices make a huge difference, adding that brands like Tenga as well as Hot Octopuss and Lovense have also done a great job of adopting sleek designs that remind you of tech items like headphones or smart speakers. "It's more appealing and stops the idea that you can [commodify and] objectify [female genitalia]. And they sell really well," he says.  

It's something Lovehoney is carrying into future male sex toy designs too, with Neumann adding they want to "think broader and move away from the simple idea of reenacting penetration and encouraging male testers to not see their toy as a replacement for a companion."

A better future for male sexual wellness is certainly taking shape. Tenga has ramped up its efforts in the UK, setting up pop-ups in various stores, including Selfridges, which they say are more about changing attitudes towards male toys than anything else. Outside of sex toys, startups like Mojo (a community for men overcoming erectile dysfunction) and GASM (an app for male sex and dating advice) are blooming. More men are also practising self-care than ever, of which masturbation is a staple. All this points to a very welcome positive outlook for male sexuality. And the less shame men have around sex toy use, the more options they'll have available. 

* Names of some contributors have been changed to protect their identities.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Sept. 6: OUR TOP PICK Soundcore Life Q20 noise-cancelling headphones $39.90 at Amazon (save $20.09) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Shark AI Ultra Self-Empty XL robot vacuum $299.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal BEST TRAVEL DEAL Tile Mate $17.99 at Amazon (save $7) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Soundcore Space A40 earbuds $50.15 at Amazon (save $29.84 with on-page coupon) Get Deal

Plenty of Labor Day deals lingered at Amazon well into the week, but as we head into the weekend, things are a bit more scarce. Not to worry — we still found a few discounts worth adding to your cart.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Sept. 6, including top brands like Anker Soundcore and Shark.

If none of these particularly speak to you, be sure to check back at our picks from Sept. 4 and Sept. 5. Many of those are still live — including $130 off the Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED Fire TV and a record-low price on our favorite budget-friendly gaming laptop.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Life Q20 noise-cancelling headphones $39.90 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.09 Get Deal

Our favorite budget noise-cancelling headphones for travel, Anker's Soundcore Life Q20s are already a fraction of the price of most noise-cancelling headphones. But with this 33% discount, they're practically a steal at just $39.90. That's a new record low (by a whole eight cents). The Q20s may not have the best noise cancellation on the market, but what they lack in ANC power, they make up for in actual power. These babies will last you up to 40 hours in ANC mode and 60 in standard mode. As Mashable's Bethany Allard put it, "Overall, these headphones epitomize the word decent — but that's not a knock against them at all."

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AI Ultra Self-Empty XL robot vacuum $299.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

Join in the robot vacuum revolution without breaking the bank by snagging this half-price deal on the Shark AI Ultra. It's our favorite budget Shark vacuum with a self-empty dock, and it's back on sale for just $299.99 at Amazon. Equipped with LiDAR vision, it can map each room in your home for a precise clean that avoids obstacles. Plus, its self-cleaning brushroll will prevent pet hair from getting tangled up. The included XL base can also hold up to 60 days of dirt and debris (the largest capacity in the Shark lineup), keeping your cleaning routine hands-off for a couple of months at a time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Mate $17.99 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $7.00 Get Deal

Traveling this fall? Do yourself a favor and grab the Tile Mate to accompany your luggage. It's one of our favorite Bluetooth trackers, and it's on sale for $17.99 as of Sept. 6. That's 28% in savings. Attach it to your suitcase, camera bag, keys, phone, wallet, or anything else you'd rather not lose and keep eyes on your gear from afar. We've tested these tiny squares and found that they excel as Bluetooth item finders for both iOS and Android users. If you decide to pay for a Tile Premium subscription, you can even unlock extra features, like notifications when you leave items behind and item reimbursement for things that remain lost.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds $50.15 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $29.84 with on-page coupon Get Deal

With 50 hours of battery life, customizable adaptive noise cancellation, and a fast-charging feature that gives you four extra hours of listening in 10 minutes, the Soundcore Space A40 are pretty powerful at full price. On sale, they're a total steal. Our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) tested them and found that they "fit securely, deliver strong audio performance, and offer excellent battery life," ultimately outshining Anker's older top-rated models. As of Sept. 6, they're down to just $50.15 with an on-page coupon — that's just a dollar shy of the lowest price on record.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

50% OFF: As of Sep. 6, get 50% off Calm Premium. Alternatively, new Calm Premium users can try 4 months for free through LinkedIn.

Opens in a new window Credit: Calm Calm $34.99
$69.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

Stressing out about the upcoming election? Feeling not so great emotionally in general? There's an app for that. No, really. Calm is an app that exists to help you do just that: calm down and de-stress. This self-care service is all about helping you take care of yourself so you can take a minute to relax, stay centered, mindful and not lose your head. And right now is the perfect time to try it out thanks to a great deal you can snap up.

As of September 6, you can get 50% off a year of Calm Premium, which makes it just $34.99, down from its usual price of $69.99. Alternatively, if you've never tried Calm Premium before, you can try it for 4 months for free thanks to an offer from LinkedIn. From now through October 30, you can experience what the app has to offer by signing up for the trial through your LinkedIn account. When the offer ends, your membership will auto-renew for $69.99 yearly, so if you're not interested in staying with Calm, be sure you remember to cancel it.

Calm gives you access to over 50,000 minutes of content and tools created to help you better manage anxiety and stress. You get narrated stories and exercises taught by experts and content creators with soothing, warm voices that may even help you get better sleep, with specialized Sleep Stories created just for that purpose. If you've ever wanted to fall asleep to the dulcet tones of Harry Styles' voice, Calm has you covered there too. Create healthy mindfulness habits, take care of your body, and much more with premium Calm.

Grab this discount while you can, as it looks to be a limited-time deal. It's time to start prioritizing your mental health and taking care of you.

SAVE $80: As of Sept. 6, you can get an LG 27-inch monitor (27MP400-B) for just $99.99, down from the MSRP of $179.99, at Amazon. That's a 44% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 27-inch monitor (27MP400-B) $99.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Sometimes, your laptop screen just won’t cut it (think design projects, video editing, or long work hours). Thankfully, we live in a tech-first society where you can transform your tiny laptop screen into a full-on desktop computer by hooking it up to a standalone monitor.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming monitor for upgrading your visuals

Right now, you can get an LG 27-inch monitor (27MP400-B) for just $99.99 at Amazon. The listing price is $129.99, but we found this same monitor on the LG site for $179.99, so you’re actually saving $80. That's 44% off.

This monitor features a three-sided, virtually borderless design, a 75 Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync to reduce screen tearing and stuttering, and a special reader mode to reduce eye strain. It’s also wall-mountable for a more flexible setup.

GET $30 OFF: As of Sept. 5, you can get a Ninja Air Fryer Pro for just $89.99, down from $119.99, at Amazon. That's a 25% discount of $30.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 (5QT) $89.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

With football season in full swing, you might be wondering how you’ll feed your crew without missing the game. Pizza delivery is always an option, but what if you’re hungry right now? With an air fryer, you can whip up crispy, mouthwatering snacks in a fraction of the time it takes to wait for delivery.

As of Sept. 5, you can get a Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 (5QT) for 25% off at Amazon, bringing the price down to $89.99 from $119.99. That’s a $30 discount.

SEE ALSO: These air fryer Super Bowl recipes will keep you stuffed during the Big Game

This air fryer features air crisp technology so you can have your faves frozen to crisp without the oil in minutes. It also has a 5-quart capacity — big enough to cook up to four pounds of French fries or chicken wings. The 4-in-1 functionality means it can air fry, broil, roast, and dehydrate.

You’ll also get a recipe book with 20 air fry recipes right out of the box and corresponding cooking charts.

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Draper in the 2024 US Open semi final for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from the UK with ExpressVPN.

Tennis fans in the UK will be desperate to follow the progress of Jack Draper in the US Open. You can watch his massive semi-final clash with Sinner on a number of paid subsciption services, but what about free alternatives? This is where we can help.

If you want to watch Sinner vs. Draper in the 2024 US Open for free in the UK, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sinner vs. Draper in the 2024 US Open for free in the UK

Fans can live stream the 2024 US Open for free on these platforms:

• Australia — 9Now

• New Zealand — TVNZ+

These streaming services are geo-blocked, but anyone in the UK can access these sites with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ from the UK.

Live stream Sinner vs. Draper in the 2024 US Open 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 Australia or New Zealand

4. Visit 9Now or TVNZ+

5. Watch Sinner vs. Draper in the 2024 US Open semi final for free in the UK

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of Sinner vs. Draper without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every US Open match before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the US Open for free in the UK, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia and New Zealand

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Sinner vs. Draper in the 2024 US Open semi final for free in the UK with ExpressVPN.

UPDATE: Sep. 6, 2024, 11:20 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with an additional preorder listing at Best Buy.

Quick links: Best Buy Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Ultra7 256V, Intel Arc graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 Pre-order Now Dell.com Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Ultra7 256V, Intel Arc graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 Pre-order Now

Dell's smallest XPS machine is getting upgraded with Intel's new "Lunar Lake" processors, and preorders are now live.

The American tech giant announced Tuesday, Sept. 3, that its new XPS 13 laptop will feature fresh Intel Core Ultra 200V CPUs with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for seamlessly handling AI functions like content generation and editing. It can be configured with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.

The base configuration was up for preorder at Best Buy and on Dell's website for $1,399.99 at the time of writing, with delivery as soon as Oct. 2 and Oct. 15, respectively.

AI isn't new territory for the XPS 13: Dell has been selling a "CoPilot+ PC" version of the thin 13-incher with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X series CPU since mid-2024. This new model will support the same Windows AI features, but it should be slightly better at optimizing them with up to 48 Tera Operations per Second of AI performance (or TOPS) compared to the Snapdragon chip's 45 TOPs. And, more crucially for most people, it won't run into the same Arm-related app compatibility issues.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best laptops of 2024, tested by Mashable staff

Beyond its CPU, the new XPS 13 is basically identical to its predecessor: Its keyboard and glass haptic touchpad both span edge to edge, and it's available in the same monochromatic Graphite and Platinum finishes. It's also still upgradable with a tandem OLED display (à la Apple's latest iPad Pro), a brighter and more power-efficient option than a traditional OLED display. This OLED model is just 0.58 inches thin and weighs 2.6 pounds, while the FHD+ and QHD+ configurations clock in at 0.6 inches and 2.7 pounds.

Dell said the XPS 13 will offer up to 26 hours of battery life with an FHD+ display, which is up from 18 hours in the previous Intel-powered model but a one-hour downgrade from the Snapdragon version — on paper, at least. (As with any laptop, that may pan out differently in testing.)

No word yet on whether Dell's other 14- and 16-inch XPS laptops will be getting the same Intel Core Ultra 200V series treatment. When asked about their fate, the company's rep told Mashable that "[it's] Dell policy to not discuss future products and roadmaps."

Plenty of horror films have moments that stay with you, but there aren't many with final images as disturbing as Starve Acre's.

The entire last act of Daniel Kokotajlo's movie — based on Andrew Michael Hurley's novel of the same name — is intense, so much so that you may be struggling to make sense of what in the rabbit-nurturing heck you just witnessed.

To try and help piece together the final happenings of this '70s Yorkshire-set horror, we've broken down all the key questions below, from the legend of Dandelion Jack to what really happened to that poor little boy.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best horror movies of 2023, and where to watch them What's Starve Acre about?

After their young son Owen (Arthur Shaw) dies from an asthma attack, Richard (Matt Smith) and Juliette (Morfydd Clark) both experience strange happenings while struggling to deal with their overwhelming grief. On a sabbatical from the university where he teaches, Richard digs in a nearby field to try and uncover the remaining roots of a legendary tree written about in his abusive father's diaries.

While digging Richard discovers the skeleton of a hare, which he boxes up and takes home — only to find that the creature seems to be slowly regenerating itself whenever he looks at its remains alone.

Juliette, meanwhile, is haunted by depression, guilt, and visions of her son, leading her to be open to a visit from local medium Mrs Forde (Melanie Kilburn).

A troubled family. Credit: BFI What happens at the end of Starve Acre?

The remains of the hare completely regenerate, and the now-living creature comes back to the house after Richard and Juliette try to release it into the wild. Juliette becomes obsessed with it, believing it to be the manifestation of a Pagan spirit the locals called Dandelion Jack.

Richard, meanwhile, uncovers the remains of the perfectly preserved "Whistling Tree" that his father was obsessed with. His colleague Steven (Robert Emms) comes to help him dig, but Juliette has a vision that Steven has come to take the hare away from her. She takes a knife and murders Steven, before persuading Richard that Dandelion Jack has come to give them a second chance after their son's death.

In the final moments of the film, Richard kills Juliette's visiting sister Harrie (Erin Richards), providing Dandelion Jack with the third sacrifice needed to complete the legend and cross over from the spirit world.

What's the local legend about Dandelion Jack?

Hang on a minute — who's Dandelion Jack? And what exactly is this local legend? We get glimpses of the story in the writings of Richard's father Neil, but the most concise explanation comes from Richard himself when he tells his colleague what the Whistling Tree is meant to be.

"The womb of nature," says Richard. "The pagan's entrance to the spirit world."

One of these spirits is Dandelion Jack. The legend goes that three human sacrifices are needed to open the doorway and let him in: a child, a woman, and a man. In this case Owen is the first sacrifice, then Steven, and then finally Harrie.

What really happened to their son, Owen?

Before he dies, Owen speaks about Dandelion Jack, using the spirit's other name, Jack Grey. He says Jack Grey has been "whistling" to him. The implication is that Dandelion Jack's spirit is able to influence and communicate with members of Richard's family in an attempt to free himself from the spirit world, first telling Owen to do bad things and then causing his mother not to intervene while he's having an asthma attack.

"When Owen had the asthma attack, I didn't freeze up," Juliette tells Richard towards the end of the film. "I had a moment of clarity that we'd be better off without him. And that was thanks to Jack."

It seems as though Dandelion Jack's spirit was pulling the strings all along, with the goal being to make Owen his first sacrifice.

Juliette treats the hare like a new child. Credit: BFI What's the deal with the hare?

The hare seems to be a physical manifestation of Dandelion Jack. Richard discovers the remains while digging near the buried Whistling Tree (the doorway to Jack's spirit world), and the hare regenerates after Owen — the first sacrifice — has been made.

Whether the hare is Jack's final form is unclear. The film ends at the moment when all three sacrifices have been made, and Juliette has just begun to "nurture" (ick) the hare like a child.

Maybe it's for the best that we don't stick around to find out what happens next.

Starve Acre is currently showing at UK theatres.