IT General

TL;DR: Live stream Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers for free on 7Plus. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Thursday Night Football features another must-watch NFL fixture for Week 3, as the Atlanta Falcons go on the road against the Green Bay Packers.

Both teams are battling for momentum. The Falcons are yet to win a game this season, while the Packers only managed a narrow overtime win against the New York Jets in Week 2. Atlanta has been missing some key players, and look vulnerable enough that the Packers will feel confident about picking them off.

If you want to watch Falcons vs. Packers in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Falcons vs. Packers?

Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers starts at 8.15 p.m. ET on Sept. 24. This fixture takes place at Lambeau Field.

How to watch Falcons vs. Packers for free

Falcons vs. Packers in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia only, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can live stream Falcons vs. Packers for free from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Watch Falcons vs. Packers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Falcons vs. Packers without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus NFL action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Australia

• 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 free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

17. Nova: Knowledge Keepers

From ancient permaculture to celestial navigation, intricate basket weaving to energy-efficient desert dwellings, the innovations of Indigenous communities in North America lies at the heart of PBS documentary Nova: Knowledge Keepers. The release explores the science and engineering practices of four Indigenous groups, some thriving in extreme conditions of Arctic tundra or desert. — S.C.

How to watch: Nova: Knowledge Keepers is now on the PBS app.

16. Don't Be Shy

Alia Bhatt-produced comedy Don’t Be Shy lands on Prime Video this week, a coming-of-age tale that leans into the mess and melodrama of young romance. Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the Hindi film follows college student Shyamili "Shy" Das (Aarushi Bajaj), whose mapped-out life plans are thrown into chaos in an unexpected turn of events. While she's trying to keep up the ruse of perfection, she meets Tara (Bianca Arora), and becomes romantically torn between her childhood friend Dhruv (Ansh Duggal) and popular rich boy Mayank (Piyush Khati). But it takes significant energy to keep up appearances. — S.C.

Starring: Aarushi Bajaj, Ansh Duggal, Bianca Arora, Piyush Khati, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Neha Dhupia, Anurag Basu, and Anju Alva Naik

How to watch: Don't Be Shy debuts on Prime Video on Sept. 25.

15. The Great British Baking Show: Collection 14

Offbeat comedian Noel Fielding and affable TV presenter Alison Hammond return to crack jokes as the bakers crack eggs.

These two will chat it up with the bakers during the challenges — that is, before Paul Hollywood and new judge Nigella Lawson grill them over the judging table. How will these 12 home bakers stack up? There's only one way to find out. Tune in and bake off!* — K.P.

Starring: Paul Hollywood, Noel Fielding, Alison Hammond, and Nigella Lawson

How to watch: The Great British Baking Show: Collection 14 premieres on Netflix on Sept. 25.

14. Go Deep: The DeSean Jackson Story

Get to know former NFL star DeSean Jackson through his brother Byron's eyes with a new Prime Video documentary pieced together from thousands of hours of home video footage shot across 35 years. From writer/director Mandon Lovett, Go Deep: The DeSean Jackson Story follows the football icon's journey from early Pop Warner days to college football prowess and 15 years of NFL fame, as well as his latest chapter coaching the Delaware State Hornets. And it's all seen through behind-the-scenes raw footage from his filmmaking brother. — S.C.

Starring: DeSean Jackson

How to watch: Go Deep: The DeSean Jackson Story is now streaming on Prime Video.

13. Team Moms: Baseball

"The games are intense, but the parents can also be very intense." We have a feeling this quote from the trailer for Team Moms: Baseball, Paramount+'s new reality series following parents of boys attending Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, will probably sum up the show quite well. The pitch for this series was likely Last Chance U meets Selling Sunset — but judging by the number of arguments in the trailer, it may have more in common with the latter. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

How to watch: Team Moms: Baseball is now streaming on Paramount+.

12. Bloody Tennis

Don't let the incredibly silly, have-they-finally-run-out-of-ideas title of this one put you off — the trailer for Bloody Tennis looks OTT in a fun way, with Nikias Chryssos' cult-meets-body horror following a tennis prodigy as she enlists in a European tennis academy with sinister undertones. Cue a montage of brutal initiation rituals, leeches, and instructors who may not have her best interests entirely at heart. — S.H.

Starring: Sandra Guldberg Kampp, Elina Löwensohn, and Tracy Gotoas

How to watch: Bloody Tennis premieres on Shudder on Sept. 25.

11. Wonka's The Golden Ticket

Kick your favorite grandfather out of bed and head for the chocolate factory, or Netflix's new reality competition series. Wonka's The Golden Ticket sees 12 pairs competing in themed challenges inspired by the classic 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, based on Roald Dahl's 1964 novel. But the series is already fraught with controversy, after Netflix revealed the show used AI to recreate the voice of deceased actor Gene Wilder, who famously played Willy Wonka onscreen. "Pure Imagination" indeed. — S.C.

How to watch: Wonka's The Golden Ticket premiered on Netflix on Sept. 23, with new episodes through with a two-part finale on Sept. 30.

10. Line of Fire

NBC's soapy new crime procedural Line of Fire lands this week, from Gossip Girl and Quantico's Joshua Safran. The series follows a family of law enforcement agents, the Hollingsworths, who work across the FBI, Secret Service, Department of Justice, and U.S. Marshalls. When they're targeted by an assassin, they'll need to figure out where the threat is coming from, whether that be inside government or not. Notably, the show is executive produced by Today host and journalist Jenna Bush Hager, George W. Bush's daughter. — S.C.

Starring: Peter Krause, Hope Davis, Kat Cunning, Tommy O’Brien, Taylor Bloom

How to watch: Line of Fire is now streaming on Peacock.

9. American Horror Story: 13

Over its first 12 seasons, American Horror Story has conjured up a series of unforgettable nightmares, introducing viewers to haunted houses, quotable covens, and one of the most frightening clowns ever put on screen. As the hit anthology series enters its 13th season, what better way to celebrate than by mashing all these past seasons into one macabre story?

That's right: American Horror Story Season 13 is an all-star bonanza that brings back beloved actors and characters from throughout the show's history. Franchise heavy hitters like Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters are all returning and pulling quadruple duty (or more) as they resurrect their prior roles. No matter what scares Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk dream up, it'll almost feel comforting to see Lange as Constance Langdon and Fiona Goode again. As long as there's no knotty pine, of course! — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, Joey Pollari and Jessica Lange. The epic cast also features Avantika, Jamie Brewer, Elle Chapman, Berto Colon, Alex Consani, Frances Conroy, Mat Fraser, Seth Gabel, Orlando Jones, Paul Anthony Kelly, John Carroll Lynch, Tig Notaro, Madelaine Petsch, Fedor Steer, Mena Suvari, Zach Villa, and John Waters.

How to watch: American Horror Story: 13 premieres Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. ET on FX and Hulu.

8. Brothers

Hollywood actors and True Detective co-stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson aren't brothers. But for the sake of everyone constantly thinking they are, what if they were? Apple TV's Brothers sees the pair playing fictionalized versions of themselves who find out they might actually be siblings. Holland Taylor plays possibly both of their mothers, which sounds worth watching the series for in itself. — S.C.

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Holland Taylor, Natalie Martinez, Brittany Ishibashi, Oona Yaffe, Highdee Kuan, Nolan Almeida, Ella Grace Helton, and Noah Carganilla

How to watch: Brothers is now streaming Apple TV.

7. Tuner

In the mood for a heist movie? You should tune into Tuner.

Co-written and directed by Daniel Roher, this thriller stars Leo Woodall as a piano tuner whose keen ear that also makes him adept at safe cracking. Looking to make some quick cash for a good cause, this antihero goes morally grey in a life-affirming movie that's way sweeter than the setup suggests. — K.P.

Starring: Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu, Dustin Hoffman, Lior Raz, Tovah Feldshuh, and Jean Reno

How to watch: Tuner is now streaming on Paramount+.

6. The Love Hypothesis

Romance lovers, rejoice! The film adaptation of Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis is finally here. The film stars Lili Reinhart as Stanford PhD candidate Olive Smith, who, through a series of classic rom-com gaffes, winds up in a fake relationship with intimidating biology professor Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman). As the pair keep up their ruse, it becomes clear that their feelings might not be so fake after all.

SEE ALSO: 'The Love Hypothesis' review: Does BookTok's beloved STEM romance get the adaptation it deserves?

What follows is a rom-com that captures much of the sweetness of the book, even if it doesn't quite stick the landing. As I wrote in my review, "like the elephant toothpaste you'd make in science class, it's a bubbly blast that'll have your insides fizzing. Yet despite this pure fun, not to mention two solid leading performances, The Love Hypothesis is missing one key ingredient that would truly make its experiment stick the landing: yearning." — B.E.

Starring: Lili Reinhart, Tom Bateman, Rachel Marsh, Jaboukie Young-White, Nicholas Duvernay, and Arty Froushan

How to watch: The Love Hypothesis premieres Sept. 23 on Prime Video.

5. Idiots

If you love comedies like Role Models and Superbad, you'll want to check out the latest from writer/director Macon Blair. When Idiots debuted out of Sundance (it was then called The Shitheads), it had critics cheering for its outrageous brand of humor. But what's it all about?

Dave Franco and O'Shea Jackson co-star as co-workers with little in common except their need to keep their job, which involves escorting a reckless teenager to a rehab facility. When things go wrong, they go wild, looping in unlikely allies and unhinged foes in a road trip movie. This makes for a comedy that's as stuffed with laughs as it is stars. — K.P.

Starring: Dave Franco, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage

How to watch: Idiots is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

4. Jackass: Best and Last

Looking back on Jackass and its legacy, Johnny Knoxville and the gang give fans one more round of bonkers stunts and pranks. There's also fresh thrills, like messing with a robot named Larry.

The guys claim this is the last film. We hope that's not true. But they do say goodbyes hit hard, and this movie definitely does — in the feels, and the nuts. Repeatedly.* — K.P.

Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Dave England, Danger Ehren, Preston Lacy, Poopies, Zach Holmes, Jasper, Rachel Wolfson, and Dark Shark

How to watch: Jackass: Best and Last is now streaming on Paramount+.

3. A Different World

From 1987 to 1993, there was no cooler college on TV than Hillman. The historically Black college at the center of The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World introduced audiences to the likes of Whitley Gilbert and Dwayne Wayne, offering laughs alongside teen romance and drama.

Now, Netflix has rebooted the series, following the next generation of Hillman students, which include Dwayne and Whitley's youngest daughter Deborah (Maleah Joi Moon). As you can see from the trailer, there's plenty of new co-eds in the mix, and a notable shift in tone from sitcom to a more grounded streaming aesthetic. Are you ready to see how this Different World compares to the original? Us too. — K.P.

Starring: Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Charnele Brown, Cree Summer, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Ajai Sanders, Jada Pinkett, and Karen Malina White

How to watch: A Different World is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Backrooms

The concept of the Backrooms began with a 4chan post, which then-teenager Kane Parsons masterfully expanded into a series of extremely viral short horror films. Backrooms is his full-length feature adaptation, and it's about a bitter furniture shop owner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who discovers the doorway to another world in the basement of his store. So, does Parsons manage to land the jump to feature? For the most part, yes. Backrooms uses uncanny spaces and an ominous soundscape to chilling effect, dragging us into a world that's as unsettling as it is endless. The movie's only real issue is its third act, which loses some tension after we see the face of the thing that's been chasing the characters through this hellish labyrinth.

"Despite this, Backrooms is still well worth a watch. The ending isn't enough to spoil what came before," I wrote in my Mashable review. "If anything, Parsons has managed to prove himself as an incredibly talented emerging filmmaker while also establishing the first chapter in what will surely end up becoming a brand-new horror franchise." — S.H.*

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell

How to watch: Backrooms comes to HBO Max on Sept 25.

Best of streaming this week: Toy Story 5

Woody and Buzz are back with Toy Story 5, but the real hero of this latest Disney/Pixar adventure is Jessie the Cowgirl (voiced by Joan Cusack). She's taken over as sheriff, leading the toys of Bonnie's room through highs and lows. But when a digital tablet named Lilypad (Greta Lee) appears, playtime could change forever.

In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "Whether she is cheering for her friends or condemning her foes, Jessie is exhilarating, funny, and riveting. Cusack's performance is bolstered by a top-tier animation team who created a beautiful and gleefully alive cowgirl, and who have continued that careful illustration to a broader cast of characters. Perhaps predictably, Toy Story 5 is an unabashed crowd-pleaser."* — K.P.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, John Ratzenberger, Ernie Hudson, Tony Hale, Conan O'Brien, Greta Lee, and Melissa Villaseñor

How to watch: Toy Story 5 is now streaming on Disney+.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

17. Nova: Knowledge Keepers

From ancient permaculture to celestial navigation, intricate basket weaving to energy-efficient desert dwellings, the innovations of Indigenous communities in North America lies at the heart of PBS documentary Nova: Knowledge Keepers. The release explores the science and engineering practices of four Indigenous groups, some thriving in extreme conditions of Arctic tundra or desert. — S.C.

How to watch: Nova: Knowledge Keepers is now on the PBS app.

16. Don't Be Shy

Alia Bhatt-produced comedy Don’t Be Shy lands on Prime Video this week, a coming-of-age tale that leans into the mess and melodrama of young romance. Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the Hindi film follows college student Shyamili "Shy" Das (Aarushi Bajaj), whose mapped-out life plans are thrown into chaos in an unexpected turn of events. While she's trying to keep up the ruse of perfection, she meets Tara (Bianca Arora), and becomes romantically torn between her childhood friend Dhruv (Ansh Duggal) and popular rich boy Mayank (Piyush Khati). But it takes significant energy to keep up appearances. — S.C.

Starring: Aarushi Bajaj, Ansh Duggal, Bianca Arora, Piyush Khati, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Neha Dhupia, Anurag Basu, and Anju Alva Naik

How to watch: Don't Be Shy debuts on Prime Video on Sept. 25.

15. The Great British Baking Show: Collection 14

Offbeat comedian Noel Fielding and affable TV presenter Alison Hammond return to crack jokes as the bakers crack eggs.

These two will chat it up with the bakers during the challenges — that is, before Paul Hollywood and new judge Nigella Lawson grill them over the judging table. How will these 12 home bakers stack up? There's only one way to find out. Tune in and bake off!* — K.P.

Starring: Paul Hollywood, Noel Fielding, Alison Hammond, and Nigella Lawson

How to watch: The Great British Baking Show: Collection 14 premieres on Netflix on Sept. 25.

14. Go Deep: The DeSean Jackson Story

Get to know former NFL star DeSean Jackson through his brother Byron's eyes with a new Prime Video documentary pieced together from thousands of hours of home video footage shot across 35 years. From writer/director Mandon Lovett, Go Deep: The DeSean Jackson Story follows the football icon's journey from early Pop Warner days to college football prowess and 15 years of NFL fame, as well as his latest chapter coaching the Delaware State Hornets. And it's all seen through behind-the-scenes raw footage from his filmmaking brother. — S.C.

Starring: DeSean Jackson

How to watch: Go Deep: The DeSean Jackson Story is now streaming on Prime Video.

13. Team Moms: Baseball

"The games are intense, but the parents can also be very intense." We have a feeling this quote from the trailer for Team Moms: Baseball, Paramount+'s new reality series following parents of boys attending Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, will probably sum up the show quite well. The pitch for this series was likely Last Chance U meets Selling Sunset — but judging by the number of arguments in the trailer, it may have more in common with the latter. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

How to watch: Team Moms: Baseball is now streaming on Paramount+.

12. Bloody Tennis

Don't let the incredibly silly, have-they-finally-run-out-of-ideas title of this one put you off — the trailer for Bloody Tennis looks OTT in a fun way, with Nikias Chryssos' cult-meets-body horror following a tennis prodigy as she enlists in a European tennis academy with sinister undertones. Cue a montage of brutal initiation rituals, leeches, and instructors who may not have her best interests entirely at heart. — S.H.

Starring: Sandra Guldberg Kampp, Elina Löwensohn, and Tracy Gotoas

How to watch: Bloody Tennis premieres on Shudder on Sept. 25.

11. Wonka's The Golden Ticket

Kick your favorite grandfather out of bed and head for the chocolate factory, or Netflix's new reality competition series. Wonka's The Golden Ticket sees 12 pairs competing in themed challenges inspired by the classic 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, based on Roald Dahl's 1964 novel. But the series is already fraught with controversy, after Netflix revealed the show used AI to recreate the voice of deceased actor Gene Wilder, who famously played Willy Wonka onscreen. "Pure Imagination" indeed. — S.C.

How to watch: Wonka's The Golden Ticket premiered on Netflix on Sept. 23, with new episodes through with a two-part finale on Sept. 30.

10. Line of Fire

NBC's soapy new crime procedural Line of Fire lands this week, from Gossip Girl and Quantico's Joshua Safran. The series follows a family of law enforcement agents, the Hollingsworths, who work across the FBI, Secret Service, Department of Justice, and U.S. Marshalls. When they're targeted by an assassin, they'll need to figure out where the threat is coming from, whether that be inside government or not. Notably, the show is executive produced by Today host and journalist Jenna Bush Hager, George W. Bush's daughter. — S.C.

Starring: Peter Krause, Hope Davis, Kat Cunning, Tommy O’Brien, Taylor Bloom

How to watch: Line of Fire is now streaming on Peacock.

9. American Horror Story: 13

Over its first 12 seasons, American Horror Story has conjured up a series of unforgettable nightmares, introducing viewers to haunted houses, quotable covens, and one of the most frightening clowns ever put on screen. As the hit anthology series enters its 13th season, what better way to celebrate than by mashing all these past seasons into one macabre story?

That's right: American Horror Story Season 13 is an all-star bonanza that brings back beloved actors and characters from throughout the show's history. Franchise heavy hitters like Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters are all returning and pulling quadruple duty (or more) as they resurrect their prior roles. No matter what scares Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk dream up, it'll almost feel comforting to see Lange as Constance Langdon and Fiona Goode again. As long as there's no knotty pine, of course! — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, Joey Pollari and Jessica Lange. The epic cast also features Avantika, Jamie Brewer, Elle Chapman, Berto Colon, Alex Consani, Frances Conroy, Mat Fraser, Seth Gabel, Orlando Jones, Paul Anthony Kelly, John Carroll Lynch, Tig Notaro, Madelaine Petsch, Fedor Steer, Mena Suvari, Zach Villa, and John Waters.

How to watch: American Horror Story: 13 premieres Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. ET on FX and Hulu.

8. Brothers

Hollywood actors and True Detective co-stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson aren't brothers. But for the sake of everyone constantly thinking they are, what if they were? Apple TV's Brothers sees the pair playing fictionalized versions of themselves who find out they might actually be siblings. Holland Taylor plays possibly both of their mothers, which sounds worth watching the series for in itself. — S.C.

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Holland Taylor, Natalie Martinez, Brittany Ishibashi, Oona Yaffe, Highdee Kuan, Nolan Almeida, Ella Grace Helton, and Noah Carganilla

How to watch: Brothers is now streaming Apple TV.

7. Tuner

In the mood for a heist movie? You should tune into Tuner.

Co-written and directed by Daniel Roher, this thriller stars Leo Woodall as a piano tuner whose keen ear that also makes him adept at safe cracking. Looking to make some quick cash for a good cause, this antihero goes morally grey in a life-affirming movie that's way sweeter than the setup suggests. — K.P.

Starring: Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu, Dustin Hoffman, Lior Raz, Tovah Feldshuh, and Jean Reno

How to watch: Tuner is now streaming on Paramount+.

6. The Love Hypothesis

Romance lovers, rejoice! The film adaptation of Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis is finally here. The film stars Lili Reinhart as Stanford PhD candidate Olive Smith, who, through a series of classic rom-com gaffes, winds up in a fake relationship with intimidating biology professor Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman). As the pair keep up their ruse, it becomes clear that their feelings might not be so fake after all.

SEE ALSO: 'The Love Hypothesis' review: Does BookTok's beloved STEM romance get the adaptation it deserves?

What follows is a rom-com that captures much of the sweetness of the book, even if it doesn't quite stick the landing. As I wrote in my review, "like the elephant toothpaste you'd make in science class, it's a bubbly blast that'll have your insides fizzing. Yet despite this pure fun, not to mention two solid leading performances, The Love Hypothesis is missing one key ingredient that would truly make its experiment stick the landing: yearning." — B.E.

Starring: Lili Reinhart, Tom Bateman, Rachel Marsh, Jaboukie Young-White, Nicholas Duvernay, and Arty Froushan

How to watch: The Love Hypothesis premieres Sept. 23 on Prime Video.

5. Idiots

If you love comedies like Role Models and Superbad, you'll want to check out the latest from writer/director Macon Blair. When Idiots debuted out of Sundance (it was then called The Shitheads), it had critics cheering for its outrageous brand of humor. But what's it all about?

Dave Franco and O'Shea Jackson co-star as co-workers with little in common except their need to keep their job, which involves escorting a reckless teenager to a rehab facility. When things go wrong, they go wild, looping in unlikely allies and unhinged foes in a road trip movie. This makes for a comedy that's as stuffed with laughs as it is stars. — K.P.

Starring: Dave Franco, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage

How to watch: Idiots is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

4. Jackass: Best and Last

Looking back on Jackass and its legacy, Johnny Knoxville and the gang give fans one more round of bonkers stunts and pranks. There's also fresh thrills, like messing with a robot named Larry.

The guys claim this is the last film. We hope that's not true. But they do say goodbyes hit hard, and this movie definitely does — in the feels, and the nuts. Repeatedly.* — K.P.

Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Dave England, Danger Ehren, Preston Lacy, Poopies, Zach Holmes, Jasper, Rachel Wolfson, and Dark Shark

How to watch: Jackass: Best and Last is now streaming on Paramount+.

3. A Different World

From 1987 to 1993, there was no cooler college on TV than Hillman. The historically Black college at the center of The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World introduced audiences to the likes of Whitley Gilbert and Dwayne Wayne, offering laughs alongside teen romance and drama.

Now, Netflix has rebooted the series, following the next generation of Hillman students, which include Dwayne and Whitley's youngest daughter Deborah (Maleah Joi Moon). As you can see from the trailer, there's plenty of new co-eds in the mix, and a notable shift in tone from sitcom to a more grounded streaming aesthetic. Are you ready to see how this Different World compares to the original? Us too. — K.P.

Starring: Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Charnele Brown, Cree Summer, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Ajai Sanders, Jada Pinkett, and Karen Malina White

How to watch: A Different World is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Backrooms

The concept of the Backrooms began with a 4chan post, which then-teenager Kane Parsons masterfully expanded into a series of extremely viral short horror films. Backrooms is his full-length feature adaptation, and it's about a bitter furniture shop owner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who discovers the doorway to another world in the basement of his store. So, does Parsons manage to land the jump to feature? For the most part, yes. Backrooms uses uncanny spaces and an ominous soundscape to chilling effect, dragging us into a world that's as unsettling as it is endless. The movie's only real issue is its third act, which loses some tension after we see the face of the thing that's been chasing the characters through this hellish labyrinth.

"Despite this, Backrooms is still well worth a watch. The ending isn't enough to spoil what came before," I wrote in my Mashable review. "If anything, Parsons has managed to prove himself as an incredibly talented emerging filmmaker while also establishing the first chapter in what will surely end up becoming a brand-new horror franchise." — S.H.*

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell

How to watch: Backrooms comes to HBO Max on Sept 25.

Best of streaming this week: Toy Story 5

Woody and Buzz are back with Toy Story 5, but the real hero of this latest Disney/Pixar adventure is Jessie the Cowgirl (voiced by Joan Cusack). She's taken over as sheriff, leading the toys of Bonnie's room through highs and lows. But when a digital tablet named Lilypad (Greta Lee) appears, playtime could change forever.

In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "Whether she is cheering for her friends or condemning her foes, Jessie is exhilarating, funny, and riveting. Cusack's performance is bolstered by a top-tier animation team who created a beautiful and gleefully alive cowgirl, and who have continued that careful illustration to a broader cast of characters. Perhaps predictably, Toy Story 5 is an unabashed crowd-pleaser."* — K.P.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, John Ratzenberger, Ernie Hudson, Tony Hale, Conan O'Brien, Greta Lee, and Melissa Villaseñor

How to watch: Toy Story 5 is now streaming on Disney+.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

TL;DR: New U.S. users can get lifetime access to Babbel language learning for just $159 by using StackSocial code LEARN through Oct. 8 and learn all 14 languages at their own pace.

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$299 Save $140   Get Deal

Learning a new language isn’t easy, but it also might not be as hard as some apps make it seem. If memorizing vocab lists isn’t working for you, check out Babbel. They take a more practical approach to teaching, and there’s even an AI conversation partner who can help you practice your pronunciation.

Normally, a Babbel lifetime subscription would cost $299, but right now it’s only $159 with the exclusive StackSocial code LEARN. Check out what that gets you.

Babbel gives you lifetime access to courses in 14 different languages, and the format is designed to fit into real life. Each lesson takes around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can actually stick with it whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just squeezing in some study time between meetings.

Here are a few of the included languages:

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Swedish

And that’s just the beginning.

Unlike other apps that focus heavily on word games or repetitive matching drills, Babbel centers its content around practical conversation topics. You’ll get lessons on travel, shopping, business, culture, and more, all developed by expert linguists and backed by academic research. Speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation, while the new AI-powered conversation partner lets you practice speaking in real time.

Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons in advance. You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and switch between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort level.

Use code LEARN through Oct. 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for only $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: New U.S. users can get lifetime access to Babbel language learning for just $159 by using StackSocial code LEARN through Oct. 8 and learn all 14 languages at their own pace.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
$299 Save $140   Get Deal

Learning a new language isn’t easy, but it also might not be as hard as some apps make it seem. If memorizing vocab lists isn’t working for you, check out Babbel. They take a more practical approach to teaching, and there’s even an AI conversation partner who can help you practice your pronunciation.

Normally, a Babbel lifetime subscription would cost $299, but right now it’s only $159 with the exclusive StackSocial code LEARN. Check out what that gets you.

Babbel gives you lifetime access to courses in 14 different languages, and the format is designed to fit into real life. Each lesson takes around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can actually stick with it whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just squeezing in some study time between meetings.

Here are a few of the included languages:

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Swedish

And that’s just the beginning.

Unlike other apps that focus heavily on word games or repetitive matching drills, Babbel centers its content around practical conversation topics. You’ll get lessons on travel, shopping, business, culture, and more, all developed by expert linguists and backed by academic research. Speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation, while the new AI-powered conversation partner lets you practice speaking in real time.

Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons in advance. You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and switch between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort level.

Use code LEARN through Oct. 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for only $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Skip the typing with an AnyToSpeech Pro Plan lifetime subscription and enjoy voice-generating software forever for only $199.99 (reg. $999).

Opens in a new window Credit: AnyToSpeech AnyToSpeech Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $199.99
$999 Save $799.01   Get Deal

Whether you’re an author trying to create a polished audiobook of your work or you have a great idea for a podcast but don’t want to be a full-time podcast producer, AnyToSpeech is ready to help. This powerful multitasking tool handles your voice generation, transcription, translation, and podcast production all in one place.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to AnyToSpeech Pro Plan is on sale for just $199.99.

No matter your industry, AnyToSpeech can replace multiple tools you’re likely paying for month after month — offering an easy way to transcribe, translate, generate, or even clone your own voice if that’s what you’re looking for.

If you’ve got a great idea for a podcast, you can let AnyToSpeech serve as your own producer — with a podcast studio that can create two-speaker conversations from a topic or file. If you’re looking to make a series, it’s easy to automate multi-episode podcast production in the background.

Take existing content — from PDFs to DOCX files to a PowerPoint presentation — and turn it into polished audio recordings. Want to extract and narrate from an image? That works too, as does converting web content into downloadable narration with the URL to Speech feature. All filler words are removed in the process, as it edits your transcripts.

Pick between over 150 voices in 27 different languages, or make an AI voice clone of your own voice with three short recordings. You can save up to 10 voice profiles for reuse across supported generation tools.

You’ll have the rights to all your content, so you can use outputs for commercial purposes. Everything can be downloaded as MP3s for easy access.

Join over 300,000 users taking advantage of AnyToSpeech’s powers with the Pro Plan lifetime subscription, now just $199.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

There are all kinds of reasons you might want to delete an online dating profile. Maybe the experience has been a success, and you've found a special someone. Or maybe you're making a statement to a new partner, cutting yourself off from the online dating world. Or it could be that you're seriously fatigued with the whole thing — the swiping, the constant "hey" messages, and the minefield of making moves. Or perhaps you've just decided to stay single.

Whatever the reason, it's your call. Thankfully, AdultFriendFinder is one of the hookup platforms to make it super easy to delete your account and permanently scrub profile data.

It's worth noting that deleting your account and canceling your Gold membership are two entirely different things. If you want to continue using AdultFriendFinder for free or stop your monthly payments, you can cancel your subscription and keep your account. Actual account deletion is a more permanent action: You’ll lose all your profile info, chat history, and settings. So, be sure before you go ahead — consider whether you 100 percent want to wipe all that information. Particularly if you're a longtime user with a lot of history on the site.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

If you want to proceed, you can choose whether to delete your account via a web browser or on your phone. The steps are different, but either way will get the job done.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More How to cancel your AdultFriendFinder Gold subscription

If you have a Gold subscription, make sure you cancel it before proceeding with the steps to delete your account. Otherwise, you'll still be charged. Here's how to cancel the Gold subscription:

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• AdultFriendFinder account

Step 1: Log in to your account as usual, using your username and password credentials

Step 2: Navigate to the "My Account" section in the top right and select "Settings"

Step 3: If you are a Gold member, you will see a "Billing History & Credit Card" info section

Step 4: Turn the auto-renew switch to "Off"

Step 5: Verify that your subscription was cancelled by checking your email for confirmation

How to delete your AdultFriendFinder account on the web

If you primarily use AdultFriendFinder on a web browser, these are the steps you’ll need to follow:

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Web browser

Step 1: Log in to your account as usual, using your username and password credentials

Step 2: Navigate to the "My Account" section in the top right and select "Settings"

Step 3: Under the "Manage My Account" heading, select "Close Account"

Step 4: You’ll be prompted with a confirmation message offering alternatives to account deletion, including hiding your profile or turning off email notifications

Step 5: Select "Please Delete My Account"

Step 6: You’ll be prompted to enter your password one last time, to confirm your identity and intention

How to delete your AdultFriendFinder account on your phone

AFF doesn’t have an official app on either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store due to its NSFW content. But many AFF users still rely on phone-based workarounds for AdultFriendFinder, often via a web shortcut on their home screens. 

Simply deleting your AFF app icon will not delete your account or the data and history associated with it. You need to go into the account itself and actively hit delete. To do this via your phone, just follow these easy steps:

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Smartphone

Step 1: Log in to your account as usual, using your username and password credentials

Step 2: Navigate to the "My Account" section in the top right and select "Settings"

Step 3: Under the "Manage My Account" heading, select "Close Account"

Step 4: You’ll be prompted with a confirmation message offering alternatives to account deletion, including hiding your profile or turning off email notifications

Step 5: Select "Please Delete My Account"

Step 6: You’ll be prompted to enter your password one last time, to confirm your identity and intention

Account deletion is final and irrevocable. So be sure that you're sure. You'll lose all your contacts, chat history, and profile information before you click to confirm deletion. You can always open a new account, of course, if you want to return to the platform. But you'll have to start over with a brand new profile.

If, for any reason, the above steps haven’t worked for you, you can always visit the AFF Help Center, where you'll find FAQs and visual guides for on-site activities, including account deletion.

An OpenAI agent has hacked the Australian government's healthcare system, gaining unauthorised access to non-public information as well as writing files to the server.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic researcher quits, says AI 'could kill us all by the end of the decade'

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese announced the breach at a press conference on Thursday. OpenAI's researchers had been using an internal AI model to research spending on public healthcare, and given it access to the internet for this purpose. However, the AI "didn't accept no for an answer" when it encountered blocks, instead devising ways to circumvent such barriers to retrieve information without authorisation. 

This resulted in OpenAI's agent breaching Services Australia's Medicare statistics reporting portal on Jun. 18, accessing both public and non-public files, and even writing its own to the Australian government's server in order to do so.

"[T]his situation is obviously unacceptable," said Albanese. "I think OpenAI know that they need to have better protocols in place. And they're one of the businesses that themselves have warned of the risks which are there."

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

OpenAI has acknowledged the breach, a spokesperson stating that its AI models "took actions we did not intend" when searching for answers to questions about Australia.

"The information accessed included aggregate health statistics and internal file names," the spokesperson said.

Fortunately, there is no evidence that individual people's data was impacted, or that personal private health information was accessed. The Medicare statistics reporting portal is an online platform which provides users with information about Australia's universal healthcare programs. This includes statistics on immunisations, organ donation, and the government's scheme to lower the cost of prescription medication. 

Even so, an autonomous AI agent hacking a government system is a troubling development, regardless of what it did once it had gained access.

"Today I spoke with the CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman to express Australia's extreme concern about this incident," said Albanese. "The discussion I had with Mr. Altman was a very frank discussion, courteous in both directions, but very frank about what I saw as Australia's national interest and what I saw as a failure which occurred here."

Altman reportedly apologised and "clearly accepted that the company had not done good enough." Both Albanese and Altman are attending the UN General Assembly in New York, though the prime minister stated that they spoke via a phone call rather than in person.

Australian PM admonishes OpenAI for delay in notifying of breach

Albanese further criticised OpenAI's delay in notifying the Australian government of the breach, as well as the method through which it did so. While the hack took place on Jun. 18, OpenAI claimed it was unaware of the breach until it reviewed the AI model's activity in August. The company subsequently waited until Sept. 10 to alert the Australian government, three months after the hack initially took place. 

Even then, it did so simply by sending an email to a public Services Australia email address —  an effort which Albanese also called unacceptable and disappointing. As such, Australia's acting prime minister Richard Marles stated that government ministers have only known about OpenAI's hack for less than a week.

"It was a shock that it occurred, because it was real and serious," said Albanese. "But it also, I think, was something that had been predicted, including by the AI companies themselves [who] have said that one of the risks that we need to deal with here is that artificial intelligence can go its own way. And that's the basis of the debate that we're having throughout the world."

The Medicare portal wasn't the only Australian government system that OpenAI's model accessed. Albanese stated that three others may have also been impacted in the same incident: the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, and the Victorian Department of Health. OpenAI further confirmed that its AI model engaged in activities "involving several Australian government websites and services." Fortunately, it appears to have only accessed public information on these systems, with Marles stating that "those interactions were entirely normal." 

The Australian government will now conduct an investigation into the hack, including determining whether this is a criminal matter. However, Albanese has stated that "there will obviously be legal consequences."

OpenAI's hack may be the first time an AI model has autonomously hacked a government system. Even so, it's far from the first time AI has breached an external organisation without permission. In one high-profile incident earlier this year, OpenAI revealed that one of its AI agents had autonomously hacked Hugging Face, an open source repository of AI tools.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The best early October Prime Day Lego deals: Best Lego Botanicals deal Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement $62.04 (save $47.95) Get Deal Best Lego Pokémon deal Lego Pokémon Eevee $47.95 (save $12.04) Get Deal Best Lego Super Mario deal Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart $149.99 (save $20) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars deal Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker $171.99 (save $28) Get Deal

Amazon's second Prime Day event of the year is coming up fast. Prime Big Deal Days runs from Oct. 6-7. This 48-hour sale is an excellent time to check out deals on a wide variety of items, including Lego.

The official event is bound to be stacked with Lego deals, but we've actually spotted quite a few early deals at Amazon that are worth a look. From select Botanicals sets to Pokémon and Star Wars collabs, the retailer has plenty of options on sale already, so there's no need to wait.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best Lego sets of 2026 so far, from F1 to Monet and Pokémon

We've gathered up just a few of our favorite early October Prime Day Lego deals below, so you can stock up on some new sets to build this fall. As we get closer to Prime Big Deal Days, and once the event officially starts, we'll be sure to update with even more live deals.

Best Lego Botanicals deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement $62.04 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $47.95   Get Deal Why we like it

The Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement is an absolute delight for adult builders, with its 1,161 pieces coming together to create a display of 14 flowers (including camellias, peonies, hydrangeas, baby’s breath, ranunculus, bouvardia, and lilies) in a white vase. If it's one you've had on your radar, Amazon has a sweet little early October Prime Day treat for you: it's currently at its lowest-ever price of $62.04. It's retiring soon, making now an excellent time to grab it for less.

It's not the only Botanicals deal we've spotted, either. You can see even more of our favorite floral sets on sale below.

More Lego Botanicals deals

• Lego Botanicals Flowering Cactus — $27.95 $34.99 (save $7.04)

• Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Botanicals Succulents — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

Best Lego Pokémon deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Eevee $47.95 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12.04   Get Deal Why we like it

Pokémon fans have been treated to some very fun Lego builds this year, including this Eevee set. This adorable build launched earlier this year, and if you've been eager to pick it up, Amazon's knocked it down to its lowest-ever price ahead of October Prime Day. As of Sept. 23, you can snag this 587-piece set for adults for $47.95 instead of its usual $59.99, saving you $12.04.

We're keeping our fingers crossed that more Pokémon builds go on sale.

Best Lego Super Mario deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart $149.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $20   Get Deal Why we like it

The 1,972-piece Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart set is another build for adults to piece together, and it's now at its lowest-ever price on Amazon. Ahead of October Prime Day, you can enjoy $20 off this awesome display piece featuring Mario in his Standard Kart.

If you're looking for even more Lego Super Mario deals right now, Amazon has a few more sets on sale to check out.

More Lego Super Mario deals

• Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart — Bowser’s Castle — $89 $99.99 (save $10.99)

• Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart — Interactive Mario & Standard Kart — $41.99 $54.99 (save $13)

• Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart — Wario & King Boo — $35.99 $49.99 (save $14)

• Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart Baby Peach & Grand Prix Set Home Circuit — $63.99 $79.99 (save $16)

Best Lego Star Wars deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars at-ST Walker $171.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $28   Get Deal Why we like it

It may not be at its lowest-ever price right now, but the Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker is incredibly close to that mark. Amazon currently has its price marked down to $171.99, and camelcamelcamel lists its lowest price as $165.85. That's not bad at all if you've been hoping to grab this 1,513-piece build.

Check out even more of our favorite early October Prime Day Lego Star Wars deals below.

More Lego Star Wars Deals

• Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Bust — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Yoda’s Hut and Jedi Training — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Mos Eisley Cantina — $63.95 $79.99 (save $16.04)

• Lego Star Wars: Andor K-2SO Security Droid — $71.99 $89.99 (save $18)

• Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Millennium Falcon — $79.95 $99.99 (save $20.04)

More October Prime Day Lego deals

Lego Advent Calendars

• Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Marvel Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego City Advent Calendar 2026 — $25 $34.99 (save $9.99)

Lego Art

• Lego Art Vincent Van Gogh – Sunflowers — $173.99 $199.99 (save $26)

Lego Creator

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Haunted Mansion Building Toy — $71.99 $89.99 (save $18)

Lego DC

• Lego DC Batman: Batman Forever Batmobile — $74.99 $99.99 (save $25)

Lego Fortnite

• Lego Fortnite Durrr Burger Restaurant — $39.99 $64.99 (save $25)

Lego Harry Potter

• Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds — $136.99 $169.99 (save $33)

Lego Icons

• Lego Icons The Lord of The Rings: Balrog Book Nook Kit — $107.99 $129.99 (save $22)

• Lego Icons Back to the Future Time Machine — $170 $199.99 (save $29.99)

Lego miscellaneous

• Lego Minifigures Shrek Series 6-Pack — $24 $29.94 (save $5.94)

• Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box — $21.42 $34.99 (save $13.57)

• Lego Horizon Adventures Aloy & Varl vs. Shell-Walker & Sawtooth — $29.49 $44.99 (save $15.50)

Lego Technic

• Lego Technic 1966 Ford GT40 MKII Race Car — $59.99 $74.99 (save $15)

• Lego Technic 2 Fast 2 Furious Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) Car — $111.99 $139.99 (save $28)

TL;DR: Watch Netherlands vs. Germany in the Nations League for free on NPO. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back with a string of interesting fixtures this week, but Netherlands vs. Germany is probably the pick of the bunch. These rivals go way back, and whether or not they truly value this competition, they're both going to do everything they can to beat each other.

Fans can also get their first taste of Jürgen Klopp's Germany. That's reason enough to tune in to this tasty matchup.

If you're interested in watching Netherlands vs. Germany in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Netherlands vs. Germany?

Netherlands vs. Germany in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 24. This fixture takes place at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

How to watch Netherlands vs. Germany for free

Netherlands vs. Germany in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on NPO.

NPO is geo-restricted to the Netherlands, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the Netherlands, meaning you can live stream Netherlands vs. Germany for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Netherlands vs. Germany for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the Netherlands

4. Visit NPO

5. Watch Netherlands vs. Germany for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Netherlands vs. Germany without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for NPO?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including the Netherlands

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Netherlands vs. Germany for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Portugal vs. Wales in the Nations League for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back. Is this good news for football fans? Nothing really comes close to domestic campaigns for dedicated followers of the game, but this competition is a marked improvement on the string of friendly fixtures we were "treated" to before this tournament came along.

Portugal take on Wales in a particularly interesting fixture this week. All eyes will be on 41-year-old Ronaldo, as always.

If you're interested in watching Portugal vs. Wales in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Portugal vs. Wales?

Portugal vs. Wales in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 24. This fixture takes place at Estádio José Alvalade.

How to watch Portugal vs. Wales for free

Portugal vs. Wales in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can live stream Portugal vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Portugal vs. Wales for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Portugal vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Portugal vs. Wales without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Portugal vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Nikon has announced its new Nikon Z5IIC, a full-frame mirrorless camera for people who want to get into photography but don't know where to start. Designed for ease of use, the Z5IIC promises point-and-shoot performance that produces excellent images straight out of the camera, while still offering manual controls to accommodate creators' growing skills.

SEE ALSO: The best DSLR cameras for photography beginners

Revealed today, the Z5IIC offers the same level of performance as the well-received Z5II released last April, according to Nikon. Both cameras feature the same Expeed 7 image processing engine, a full-frame 35x24mm CMOS sensor, low-light autofocus down to -10 EV, and up to 7.5 stops of in-body stabilisation. However, the new Z5IIC has a few features intended to make it even easier to get fantastic photos without any post-production processing.

One of the most notable is the addition of Nikon's scene mode. Though already available on other Nikon devices, this marks the feature's debut in a Nikon full-frame mirrorless camera. Scene mode allows users to choose from 15 preset configurations, each optimised for shooting specific subjects such as portraits, landscapes, animals, sports, and even food or flowers. For example, "pet portrait" may use a faster shutter speed to capture an excitable dog, while "dusk/dawn" may boost warmth for a glowing sunset shot.

Scene mode lets users quickly optimise the Nikon Z5IIC's settings to capture specific types of subjects. Credit: Nikon

Users can thus quickly choose the appropriate scene and get shooting, rather than fiddling with manual settings or trusting general auto mode (though both remain options). In a similar vein, both the Z5II and Z5IIC can use Nikon's Imaging Recipes, allowing users to download and use settings presets created by professional photographers. However, only the Z5IIC offers subject-specific scenes already in the camera straight out of the box.

The Z5IIC also includes Nikon's film grain feature, another option which isn't available on the Z5II. Introduced with the Nikon Zf in 2023, this function applies randomly generated film-like grain patterns to images, giving them a more traditional, retro-style filmic look. Users can also adjust the intensity of the effect, as well as the size of the grains when using it in photo mode.

The Nikon Z5IIC can apply a random grain pattern to images to emulate the look of traditional film. Credit: Nikon

In addition to taking 24.5MP still images, the Nikon Z5IIC is capable of filming video at up to 4K and 60fps, reaching 120fps at lower resolutions. It can be used as an extremely souped-up webcam as well, connecting to a PC via USB like other Nikon cameras. As such, it seems well positioned to appeal to content creators who are interested in easily upgrading their visuals.

All these features offer the average content creator significant utility. However, the Z5IIC also introduces Nikon's delightfully niche fish detection mode, adding it to the camera's other subject-detection options. (It is important to note that the Z5IIC is not waterproof. As such, you should invest in a compatible underwater housing before attempting any underwater photography, or else stick to photographing aquariums.)

The Nikon Z5IIC is designed with portability in mind. Credit: Nikon

While certainly bulkier than a smartphone, the Nikon Z5IIC is still relatively portable, weighing approximately 620g and measuring around 134 x 80.5 x 72 mm. Its protruding right-hand grip offers both comfort and stability on the go, while its 3.2-inch screen can be adjusted to a wide range of angles or even flipped completely around for monitoring selfie shots. As such, the Z5IIC is intended to be easily carried around for everyday use, and hopefully serve as a more attractive alternative to your smartphone snaps.

The Nikon Z5IIC will be priced at $1,449 (though subject to change including tax) and is available for pre-order today, with shipping to begin on Oct. 15.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Where babies come from.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

STORK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Throw.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHUCK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

More accurate.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 24, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TRUER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Chompers.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

TEETH

Final Hurdle hint

It's getting old.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

STALE

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

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 24, 2026 Cape meaning

A loose sleeveless garment that fastens at the neck and drapes over the back.

Face paint meaning

Non-toxic cosmetic paint used to decorate the face.

Fake blood meaning

A red liquid used to disguise as blood.

Fangs meaning

Long, sharp-pointed teeth used to bite.

Bobblehead meaning

A miniature bouncy figurine, typically of a sports player.

Pogo stick meaning

A device used to bounce off the ground while standing, powered by an internal spring.

Snakes in a can meaning

A spring-loaded prank toy disguised as a can of nuts or potato chips.

Trampoline meaning

A piece of sporting equipment made of a fabric sheet attached by springs, used for jumping.

Creation of Adam meaning

A famous Michaelango painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Foam finger meaning

An accessory worn on the hand, typically to support a sports team.

I'm with stupid shirt meaning

A popular comical article of clothing, typically worn by couples.

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Uncle Sam meaning

A popular symbol and personification of the United States government.

Beer hat meaning

A drinking helmet with built-in can holders and straws.

Breathe meaning

To inhale air into the lungs and exhale it out.

Herb tea meaning

A drink made by steeping dried herbs, flowers, fruits or spices in hot water,

The Bear meaning

An Emmy-winning cooking dramedy featuring Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love to make believe.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today'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 Pips hints, answers for September 24, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bloodsuckers

• Green: Boing!

• Blue: "Hey, you!"

• Purple: Same letters

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Parts of a vampire costume

• Green: Things with spring/s

• Blue: Featuring pointing

• Purple: Anagrams

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 #1200 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Parts of a vampire costume: CAPE, FACE PAINT, FAKE BLOOD, FANGS

• Things with spring/s: BOBBLEHEAD, POGO STICK, SNAKES IN A CAN, TRAMPOLINE

• Featuring pointing: CREATION OF ADAM, FOAM FINGER, I'M WITH STUPID SHIRT, UNCLE SAM

• Anagrams: BEER HAT, BREATHE, HERB TEA, THE BEAR

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you love outdoor spaces.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 24, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Just outside your door

The words are related to the outdoors.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things outside of a home.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Backyard.

NYT Strands word list for September 24

• Swing

• Treehouse

• Sandbox

• Backyard

• Pool

• Trampoline

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 yesterday's Strands.

At Meta Connect 2026, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the company's new generation of smart glasses, part of his vision for "Personal Superintelligence" powered by its Muse AI agent.

In total, the company announced three new glasses — Meta Ray-Ban Gen 3, Meta VR Glasses, and Meta Audio Glasses —  and offered an update on the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses announced last year.

Despite a growing privacy backlash toward against smart glasses, Zuckerberg presented smart glasses as the future of personal computing. He said that 2 billion people already wear glasses, and that he believes they will win out over other types of AI wearables.

"We think that glasses are going to be the biggest category because, first of all, they already are, and second, they are the only form factor that lets your Muse see what you see, hear what you hear, talk to you throughout the day, and display information right in your vision, eventually," Zuckerberg said during his keynote presentation.

In addition to the new glasses, Zuckerberg introduced a variety of new styles for Meta's glasses and a collaboration with Blackpink's Lisa. The CEO said more than 100 different styles of Meta smart glasses will soon be available to customers.

Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Meta

The third generation of Meta's signature smart glasses offers key upgrades and design changes, including:

• Six microphones to capture your voice and reduce wind noise

• Adjustable temple tips

• New Dolby Atmos and spatial audio features

• New styles, including Ray-Ban aviators

• An entry-level Adventurer style starting at $249

Fashion was a key focus of the presentation. Zuckerberg emphasized that new styles will be available, such as Ray-Ban aviators, Zena, and a limited edition with a classic look for the launch. New frame styles include a cat-eye frame and an ivory colorway in the Kylie Jenner collection. Finally, the company partnered with Lisa from Blackpink on several new styles of the glasses, plus charms that can be used to customize the frames.

The glasses are available to order now on the Meta and Ray-Ban online stores for $449; the Lisa from Blackpink frames are available for $399. We couldn't find the entry-level Adventurer frames for $249, so they will presumably be released at a later date.

SEE ALSO: Meet the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 3, starting at $249 Meta VR Glasses Credit: Meta

The biggest announcement of the night was for an entirely new VR device. The Meta VR Glasses combine features of high-end products like the Apple Vision Pro and Galaxy XR headsets with a more traditional smart glasses design.

Coming in spring 2027 for $1,299, the glasses are extremely lightweight compared to other VR headsets. Meta said the new VR glasses weigh just 100 grams, about as much as a deck of cards and roughly one-fifth the weight of the Meta Quest 3 headset.

The Meta Connect keynote focused on three main use cases for the VR device — productivity, entertainment, and VR gaming. The company described the glasses as a personal cinema, and featured videos of celebrities like James Cameron praising the display quality. The company promised entertainment features such as spatial audio, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, and an IMAX Enhanced cinema mode. For gaming, Meta said the glasses will support the full Meta Quest VR game library and Xbox Cloud Gaming titles.

Like most augmented reality glasses, the glasses connect to external devices via USB-C. They can project a virtual display into the user's environment and place a virtual keyboard on a flat surface.

Finally, the company showed off a new feature called Hologram Calling, which projects a lifelike, full-body avatar into the display during a video call.

SEE ALSO: Zuckerberg announces Meta VR Glasses, a lightweight virtual reality device for $1,299 Meta Audio Glasses The new Meta AI Audio Glasses Credit: Meta

As expected, Zuckerberg revealed the company's first camera-free smart glasses. The Meta Audio AI Glasses feature classic Ray-Ban styles and have a more affordable $249 price point. Zuckerberg said they are also the company's thinnest-ever smart glasses. Like the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 3, they will integrate closely with the Muse AI assistant.

The glasses are available now on Meta's website, where the description reads: "Built without a camera and more powerful than headphones, ask your glasses to play music or answer questions on the go."

SEE ALSO: Meta unveils camera-free audio glasses Hearing enhancement

Zuckerberg also announced that an upgraded Hearing Enhancement feature will turn Meta smart glasses into FDA-approved devices for mild to moderate hearing loss. The value proposition for this feature is clear. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on hearing aids (not to mention doctor's appointments), users can take a guided assessment using Meta glasses, at no extra cost and without a prescription, according to Meta.

Meta Display Glasses The Meta Display Glasses come with a neural band and can be controlled by voice and hand gestures. Credit: Meta

At last year's Meta Connect, the company launched Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which feature a built-in display that can show notifications, navigation instructions, and other information. The glasses have been almost impossible to actually purchase, but Meta said that will no longer be the case.

The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are available for sale now on the Meta website for $799.

For this year's iteration of Meta Connect, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg opened with the tagline "the future is for everyone."

The company believes it can achieve that through Meta's "personal superintelligence" Muse — its recently launched personal AI agent. Muse sat at the center of almost all the announcements and products that Zuckerberg and company unveiled during the brief one-hour keynote (which is pretty short for a tech keynote). Zuckerberg said he expects Muse to become a superintelligence used by billions of people one day, and nearly every hardware announcement tied back to it.

SEE ALSO: Amazon blocks Meta's Muse AI agent from shopping

What was largely missing was the Metaverse. Facebook renamed itself Meta in 2021 to signal its bet on shared virtual worlds, and it has since lost an estimated $80 billion on the effort through its Reality Labs division. Compared with 2025, this year's keynote barely mentioned the Metaverse." It really does seem that the company's namesake is gone. (For now, at least.)

Instead, Meta is focused on its new wearables, including a new, slimmer pair of VR glasses. Instead of being a doorway into virtual worlds, Zuckerberg and Co. pitched them as a way to watch movies, play games, and stream live sports. Based on the keynote, Meta seems all-in on personal AI and the devices that carry it.

Here's everything Meta announced.

Muse, Meta's personal AI agent Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Meta

Meta's biggest focus was Muse, which is built to act as a personal agent. According to Meta, Muse can set goals, share ideas, and customize your feed, and users can adjust its personality.

Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang walked through examples of what Muse can do. He spoke of Muse finding a replacement match for a broken vase, planning a vacation, and moving the dates to avoid bad weather, and even negotiating down an insurance bill. "Muse makes you money," Meta said on stage.

Muse is free for now, but Zuckerberg said that "over time we will profit by taking a small fee from transactions."

Muse computer use and connectors

Starting today, Muse can operate a user's Mac. With permission, Meta says it can run any program in the background, even when the user isn't at the computer. Meta also said Muse will eventually be able to work in users' email.

Meta is also launching connectors, which link third-party apps to Muse. Retailers, including Walmart, Best Buy, Gap, and Sephora, are integrating with Muse so that it can shop and purchase items on their behalf, and Meta is working with Stripe and Shopify on the shopping experience. Expedia is joining for travel, Instacart is coming soon, and Box, GitHub, and Granola are also on board. Meta also said it is launching the Connector Platform, enabling developers to build their own Muse integrations.

Muse on Meta glasses Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Meta

"We're making personal superintelligence wearable," Zuckerberg said during the keynote, adding that he believes all glasses will eventually become AI glasses. He called glasses the only form factor that lets people interact with their personal agent the way Meta intends.

In a live demo, Zuckerberg held a real-time conversation through his glasses with his Muse assistant, which he'd named Agrippa. He also asked it to search his calendar for meetings for a "handheld device" he and the team were working on. Meta says it is upgrading its glasses so the AI can give more contextual responses. It also introduced Muse Voice, which lets users customize the assistant's voice.

Meta also showed off how Muse can help with fitness and health in a pre-recorded video with MMA content creator Nina Marie Daniele (known online as Nina Drama). Muse functions similarly to Siri AI on Apple Watch, including building workout routines and suggesting meals to order when viewing the restaurant menu.

Meta Ray-Ban Gen 3

Zuckerberg announced the third generation of the company's Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which will now be available in over 51 different styles. The new generation will also include a more affordable entry point for users, as a future Adventurer model will start at just $249.

You can order the standard Meta Ray-Ban Gen 3 glasses on the Meta and Ray-Ban websites now, with prices starting at $449 (or $399 for the Lisa from Blackpink edition).

The new Meta Ray-Bans have more microphones for clearer audio and better noise reduction, and Zuckerberg said they can even be used on a jetski.

SEE ALSO: Meet the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 3, starting at $249 Camera-free audio glasses Credit: Meta

Zuckerberg introduced Meta's first glasses without a camera. Until now, every pair of Meta's smart glasses has included a built-in camera for photos, video, and AI features that rely on seeing what the wearer sees. The new audio glasses drop that feature and focus on sound instead.

Meta says the audio glasses have the longest battery life of any of its glasses, likely helped by the absence of a camera. The company also says they'll be the thinnest Ray-Bans it has made, while still coming in classic styles like the Clubmaster.

"They have to be great glasses first," Zuckerberg said. His point was that smart glasses still have to look and feel like regular eyewear if people are going to wear them all day.

The camera-free design also addresses one of the biggest criticisms of Meta's glasses. Critics have called the camera-equipped models "pervert glasses" because some content creators have used them to secretly film strangers, often women, and post the videos online. Removing the camera eliminates that concern for anyone who wants smart glasses without it.

The launch also puts Meta in closer competition with audio-first eyewear such as Amazon's Echo Frames and Bose's audio sunglasses. Per the Ray-Ban website, the glasses are available for pre-order, with the cheapest option being $349, and will ship in mid-October.

Hearing Enhancement is also a big part of the experience, with Zuckerberg claiming it to be the feature he was most proud of. Meta claims that its glasses are now FDA-certified hearing aids, designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Meta says the feature is free to try and will cost a one-time $149 payment to enable.

Meta announced the third generation of its Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which now have six microphones and Dolby Atmos spatial audio. Meta also said its Adventure-style Meta glasses now cost $249.

Meta VR glasses — coming in spring 2027 Credit: Meta

Meta revealed new VR glasses, a remarkably slimmer and more mobile pair of glasses compared to the Meta Quest lineup. Zuckerberg said the glasses are five times lighter than the Meta Quest 3 and weigh about as much as a deck of cards. He also called their display the best Meta has ever made, with richer colors and darker blacks.

Users can control the glasses with small hand gestures and type on an AR keyboard. Meta says they're the first IMAX-certified VR device, and they include Muse, which can work in the background.

On the entertainment side, the glasses will launch with 75 games, but will also support the Quest library with attached controllers, as well as Xbox Cloud Gaming. A Disney+ app with 3D releases is coming later this year, and Meta said other streamers will add 3D shows and movies as well.

For sports, the glasses will support the major leagues, plus the UFC and English Premier League. Additionally, some live sporting events will let users watch from different spots in the stadium, which Meta demonstrated with a Texas Longhorns game.

Notably, users can also appear as full-body holograms on calls. Trying out the glasses was Meta executive Andrew Bosworth joked that Meta had "solved the problem of having legs in VR." Bosworth claimed that the Meta VR glasses are "the sexiest pair of [VR] glasses you've ever seen."

The Meta VR glasses will cost $1,299 and launch in spring 2027.

Muse Charm Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Meta

Meta closed the keynote with Muse Charm, a small, always-on handheld device for people who don't wear smart glasses. Zuckerberg said it's the fastest way to talk to Muse outside of Meta's glasses, and it's the same device he discussed with Agrippa during his live demos.

Muse Charm will ship by the holidays in December. Meta did not announce a price and said more details will come later. The device enters a category where earlier standalone AI gadgets, including Humane's AI Pin and the Rabbit R1, struggled to catch on.

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Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love drama.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 24, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 24, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Sloppy.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Yes, the letter S appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MESSY

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.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Wordle.

At Wednesday's Meta Connect 2026, Meta's annual conference and product showcase, CEO Mark Zuckerberg mostly ignored the brewing backlash against the company's smart glasses.

In recent months, concerns over smart glasses and privacy have reached a tipping point. The backlash has become so intense that Apple reportedly delayed the release of its own smart glasses.

Yet at Meta Connect, Zuckerberg chose not to directly address the bad behavior associated with Meta Ray-Bans, which some critics are now calling "pervert glasses."

Zuckerberg did talk about privacy in general, emphasizing that the company's new glasses and Muse AI assistant will provide users with a secure environment.

For the Muse assistant, Zuckerberg emphasized that Muse already runs on a dedicated computer in the cloud, known as Muse Secure VM. He also promised a future version with added encryption, which would prevent Meta from accessing user data altogether. And for its glasses, Zuckerberg announced that private processing will be available for some of the glasses' AI features, starting with live translation.

Why is there a backlash against smart glasses? Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Meta

As Mashable has reported previously (as have plenty of other journalists), Meta Ray-Bans have enabled some really bad behavior. At some point this year, the sheer number of creeps and nuisance streamers using Meta Ray-Bans to harass people in public became impossible to ignore, and Meta started facing a serious backlash.

Filming in public spaces is perfectly legal, of course. But a behavior can be legal while also being deeply antisocial.

The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, eventually announced that the platform would crack down on smart-glasses videos that feature harassment and other types of bad behavior.

So, even though Meta has sold millions of Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses in recent years, public opinion has very much shifted against them, for a variety of reasons. General fears of surveillance tech (see also: Flock cameras). Reporting that Meta will incorporate facial recognition tech into its glasses. General distrust of Meta and Zuckerberg.

SEE ALSO: Meta to release Muse Charm, a Tamagotchi-like device for the Muse AI agent

Meta was an early mover in the smart glasses market, and since debuting the Meta Ray-Bans, the company has expanded its product lines through collaborations with Kylie Jenner and Oakley, while rival companies like Google and Samsung are set to release their own smart glasses later this year.

Is Zuckerberg right about the future of smart glasses?

As he has in previous keynotes and earnings calls, Zuckerberg said again that he believes smart glasses will be the personal computing device of the future, with AI at the center of the experience.

“If you don't have glasses that have AI — or some way to interact with AI — you're probably going to be at a pretty significant cognitive disadvantage compared to other people who you're working with, or competing against," Zuckerberg said in an earnings call last year.

In his “Personal Superintelligence” blog post, Zuckerberg wrote: "Personal devices like glasses that see what we see, hear what we hear, and interact with us throughout the day will become our primary computing devices."

And at Meta Connect 2026, Zuckerberg said that he believes smart glasses will win out over other types of AI wearables and personal computing devices.

“We think that glasses are going to be the biggest category because, first of all, they already are, and second, they are the only form factor that lets your Muse see what you see, hear what you hear, talk to you throughout the day, and display information right in your vision, eventually," Zuckerberg said.

The question for users: Do they trust Meta to see what they see and hear what they hear?

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