Technology

Get an OtterBox wireless charging stand for an insanely low price at Woot

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 18:37

SAVE 85%: As of June 20, you can get the OtterBox 15W MagSafe wireless charging stand, cable, and power adapter bundle for $14.95 at Woot. That's $85 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox 15W MagSafe Wireless Charging Stand, Cable, and Power Adapter Bundle $14.95 at Woot
$99.95 Save $85 Get Deal

Love it or hate it, we're all a little dependent on our phones these days, right? They're our alarm clocks, social calendars, and even our wallets. But without power, they're useless. There's never been a better time to upgrade to a MagSafe wireless charging stand for under $15.

As of June 20, you can get the OtterBox 15W MagSafe wireless charging stand, cable, and power adapter bundle for $14.95, down from $99.95, at Woot. That's $85 off for an 85% discount.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025: Dates and deals

This compact charging stand features fast charging, a fingerprint-resistant finish, and includes a 20W wall charger and a 6.6-foot USB-C cable in the box. No more messy cords — just set your iPhone or other compatible device down and get a quick and easy charge. It's even small enough to take on the go.

The best tech deals to shop this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

Take $200 off the Lenovo Legion Go at Amazon and game on the go

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 18:32

SAVE $200: As of June 20, get the Lenovo Legion Go for just $499.99. That's a discount of 29%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Lenovo Legion Go $499.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $200 Get Deal

It's hard to find time to play games as an adult. There's always something going on, some responsibility to handle, or emergencies that you have to face. Mobile gaming is a good alternative, but sometimes you want good, tactile controls and a powerful system to handle it. A handheld gaming PC is your answer. And while you could get a Steam Deck, there are tons of alternatives that give you more leeway in terms of what you can install and play outside of the Steam architecture.

As of June 20, get the Lenovo Legion Go at Amazon for $499.99, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's $200 off and a discount of 29%.

SEE ALSO: Prime Gaming is adding 6 free games today ahead of Prime Day

Mashable's Alex Perry reviewed the Lenovo Legion Go and said it's "one of the better entryways into PC gaming you can get right now." They praised it as "pound-for-pound the best one of these handheld gaming PCs to date."

This model has a 1TB SSD and an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor in addition to an 8.8-inch 144Hz display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution that makes your favorite games look fantastic. It has 512GB of storage with an SSD so you can download multiple titles, and a special selection of ports that you can use to connect to external displays, add controllers, and more. Plus, it can charge up quickly to 70% in just 30 minutes thanks to its rapid charging ability.

It boasts a 10-point Gorilla Glass touchscreen to make navigating easy, as well as a 2x2W speaker system to help immerse you in your games. And it comes with a year of Legion Ultimate Support out of the box, should you need any assistance with tech support.

If you're looking for a good Steam Deck alternative or just a way to play your PC games on the go, this is an excellent place to start.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Using ChatGPT to write? MIT study says theres a cognitive cost.

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 18:15

Relying on ChatGPT significantly affects critical thinking abilities, according to a new study.

Researchers from MIT Media Lab, Wellesley College, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design conducted a four-month study titled "Your Brain on ChatGPT" and found users of large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's chatbot "consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels."

This included the participants' decreased brain activity, a weaker sense of authorship, and inability to remember what they wrote — which even continued when they weren't allowed to use an LLM.

SEE ALSO: I'm a college writing professor. Here's what AI still can't do

Anyone who uses ChatGPT for writing may have drawn similar conclusions; the point of using LLMs, after all, is to automate the work and outsource the critical thinking effort. But with this MIT study, there's now scientific evidence showing that relying on ChatGPT and other LLMs can impair memory and learning. It's worth noting that the study, published June 10, surveyed a small group and has not yet been peer-reviewed, but according to an interview with Time, the lead author Nataliya Kosmyna felt it was important to publish the study as is, given the rapid adoption of genAI, particularly in education.

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

"What really motivated me to put it out now before waiting for a full peer review is that I am afraid in six to eight months, there will be some policymaker who decides, 'let’s do GPT kindergarten.' I think that would be absolutely bad and detrimental," said Kosmyna. In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to promote "AI literacy and proficiency of K-12 students," so the urgency to understand how ChatGPT is affecting our brains is all too real.

The study divided 54 participants into three groups with the task of writing SAT essays over the course of three sessions. One group used ChatGPT ("LLM group"), another group used Google search ("search engine group", and the third group wasn't allowed any tools ("brain only.") In an additional fourth session with 18 participants, the LLM group was tasked with writing an essay without ChatGPT and the brain only group was allowed to use ChatGPT. Researchers measured the participants' brain activity while they wrote the essays using electroencephalography (EEG), analyzed the essays using Natural Language Processing (NLP), and had the essays scored by AI and human graders.

SEE ALSO: College professors don't know how to catch students cheating with AI

Among the many discoveries detailed in the length paper, researchers discovered a stark decrease in the LLM group's "alpha band connectivity" which measures the brain's cognitive abilities like memory and language processing, compared to the brain only group.

This was evident when the participants were asked to quote from the essays they had written. "LLM users significantly underperformed in this domain, with 83 percent of participants reporting difficulty quoting in Session 1, and none providing correct quotes," reads the study.

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

In the fourth session, where the group previously using ChatGPT had to write an essay without it, the participants continued to struggle with quoting anything from what they had written. "LLM group's poor recall and incorrect quoting is a possible indicator that their earlier essays were not internally integrated, likely due to outsourced cognitive processing to the LLM," the study reads.

This suggests that the participants weren't really retaining what they wrote or took from ChatGPT. In fact, by the third session, the researchers reported that most of the essays from the LLM group were mostly copied and pasted responses from ChatGPT with "minimal editing."

Another effect researchers measured was the perceived level of "ownership" or belief that they had fully conceived of the essay. Compared to the brain only group, which consistency claimed almost full ownership, the LLM group "presented a fragmented and conflicted sense of authorship," with some claiming, full, partial, or no ownership whatsoever.

While it might be tempting to offload work into LLMs like ChatGPT, as this study shows, there could be long-term cognitive consequences.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Slash $850 off the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Series gaming monitor at Woot

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 18:05

SAVE 45%: As of June 20, you can score the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Series (G95SD) curved gaming monitor for $1,049.99, down from $1,899.99, at Woot. That's a 45% discount and a $850 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Series (G95SD) $1,049.99 at Woot
$1,899.99 Save $850 Get Deal

If you’re a serious gamer, you need a serious monitor. I’m talking ultra-wide, curved, and packed with features to give you the most immersive and competitive experience possible. Yes, monitors like these are expensive, but I just found an Odyssey G9 Series at Woot for $850 off. That’s more money in your pocket, which means you can spend that saved cash on games or other hardware.

As of June 20, you can score the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Series (G95SD) curved gaming monitor for $1,049.99, down from $1,899.99, at Woot. That's a 45% discount and a $850 savings.

SEE ALSO: When does Amazon Prime Day end? Here's how long you have to find the best deals.

The Samsung 49-inch Odyssey (G95SD) Series OLED curved gaming monitor has a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time. This means you’ll see fast-paced action and quick on-screen movements clearly with less blur, judder, and ghosting. With a wide 32:9 screen in Dual QHD resolution and 110 pixels per inch, you’ll be able to spot enemies lurking in dark corners or hiding in the distance. (The purer black levels provided by OLED tech will help with that, too.)

The glare-free tech helps reduce distracting reflections, so you can stay focused during intense play, even when the lights are on. And with a Gaming Hub, you can access cloud gaming services without downloading anything or needing extra storage.

The best early Prime Day deals to shop this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

10 Best Tactical RPGs for Final Fantasy Tactics Fans

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 18:00

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a remake of the original Final Fantasy Tactics. This game is a vast improvement over the original, but there are plenty of other games you will enjoy if you were interested in FFT that tend to get overlooked.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Store it all, then take it anywhere with this 1TB flash drive

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:32

TL;DR: The Dual USB-C + USB-A 3.2 High Speed Flash Drive is pocket-sized and ready to hold 1TB of data for only $69.97 (reg. $109.99) until July 20.

Ready to clear up some space on your smartphone? If you’re trying to offload files without getting tangled up in monthly cloud storage fees, this Dual USB-C and USB-A 3.2 High Speed Flash Drive will do the trick.

This sleek and speedy flash drive can store up to 1TB of data within arm’s reach, and right now it’s on sale for $69.97 (reg. $109.99) through July 20.

This sleek flash drive makes cloud storage optional

Sure, cloud storage is great. But what if you want your precious memories saved locally? These days, you don’t have to depend on those clunky external hard drives. The Dual USB-C and USB-A 3.2 High-Speed Flash Drive lets you store 1TB of data, clearing up space on your devices without taking up room in your bag or pocket.

This flash drive weighs just 3.84 ounces and fits right in your pocket. It’s also waterproof, dustproof, and features an anti-drop design. The advanced chip technology also offers enhanced performance and reliability, so you can rest easy knowing your data is safe and secure.

The Dual USB-C + USB-A 3.2 High Speed Flash Drive is easily compatible with smartphones, tablets, and laptops alike thanks to the dual USB connectors. It also lets you transfer files speedily, thanks to lightning-fast read and write speeds of 20-30MB/s.

Clear up space on your devices and secure your data for good with this Dual USB-C + USB-A 3.2 High Speed Flash Drive, now just $69.97 (reg. $109.99) until July 20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackSocial Dual USB-C + USB-A 3.2 High Speed Flash Drive (1TB) $69.97
$109.99 Save $40.02 Get Deal


Categories: IT General, Technology

Steam Now Has an Overlay Performance Monitor

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:28

Steam has added a new performance monitoring tool to its in-game overlay, giving you information about how your games are using your computer’s resources. This should help you spot potential performance problems, although it is currently in beta.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get 30% off Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury and snag its free Switch 2 upgrade

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:23

SAVE $18: As of June 20, get 'Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury' for $41.99, down from its usual price of $59.99 on Nintendo Switch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot 'Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury' $41.99 at Woot
$59.99 Save $18 Get Deal

The Switch 2 is finally here, and there's a ton of great games to play on it. But if you're still looking to catch up on your Switch backlog, the new system makes that fun, too. There are a ton of free updates available for older Switch titles, and you can download them to enhance games you might already have. And if you missed out on any, like one of the best platformers on the system, it's a good time to grab them now since there's additional free content to use. Case in point: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, which you can get on sale right now.

As of June 20, get Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury for $41.99, down from its usual price of $59.99 on Nintendo Switch. That's $19 off and a discount of 30%.

SEE ALSO: All the Switch 2 games that you can buy (and actually play) right now

The free Switch 2 upgrade gets you HDR support and other graphical improvements, which is great if you're looking to experience the game for the first time or play through it again.

Mashable's Adam Rosenberg praised this adventure, which is technically two games in one, as a "reissue of an excellent game that never got the love it deserved". It's a re-release of a title that originally debuted on the Wii U with added content in the form of Bowser's Fury, an open world adventure that combines Mario action with fun, cat-themed island that you can explore as the popular plumber and his friends.

"Bowser's Fury is something truly different, and all the more special for it," Rosenberg wrote. "It's a Mario that is both immediately familiar to pick up and play but also maybe a bit unapproachable and high learning curve-y at first as you work to understand how all these new concepts weave into the familiar. And it's a full game, with all the bonuses and secrets and extras fans have come to look for."

It's a great price to snatch up the game either way right now, so grab it before it's gone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet is the cheapest its ever been ahead of Prime Day

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:22

SAVE $65: As of June 20, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet is down to just $54.99 at Amazon. That's 54% off its list price of $119.99 and a new best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet $54.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $65 Get Deal

If a basic tablet that won't break the bank is what you're after, it's hard to beat the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus —  especially since it's on sale ahead of Prime Day.

As of June 20, the Fire HD 8 Plus with 32GB of storage is down to just $54.99 at Amazon for Prime members. That's 54% off its list price of $119.99 and a new record-low price for the tablet. Although it is possible, it's hard to imagine the device dropping any further in price for Prime Day. Not a Prime member? You can sign up for free for 30 days (if you're new or returning), which will also unlock access to most of the deals on Prime Day proper. And nothing is stopping you from taking advantage of the Prime perks for free, then cancelling before your trial is up.

SEE ALSO: Save almost $100 on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 for a limited time at Amazon

It's worth mentioning that the Fire HD 8 Plus has recently been replaced by the new Fire HD 8, but that'll cost you another $45. If money's tight, the older HD 8 Plus will still get the job done. It lasts about 13 hours per charge, packs 3GB of RAM, features an aluminosilicate glass display, has a hexa-core processor that's 30% faster than the previous model, and offers USB-C charging support. Ultimately, it's a "great introductory tablet for anyone interested in entertainment functions like streaming, social media, and reading on the go," Mashable's reviewer writes.

As far as budget-friendly tablets go, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus checks all the right boxes. It's not going to wow you, but for only $55, does it really need to?

The best laptop and tablet deals to shop this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

I Use These 9 Open Source Mac Apps Every Day

How-To Geek - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:15

macOS has a wide range of quality open-source apps to choose from, and I couldn't do without some of them. They're powerful and feature-rich, and a lot of them are slicker and better designed than you might expect. These are the open-source Mac apps that I use all the time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Meta Oakley smart glasses revealed with an assist from Steph Curry

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:15

On Friday, Meta announced the upcoming launch of its newest smart glasses, part of a collaboration with Oakley. The Oakley Meta HSTN will be available for preorder starting July 11 and they’ll retail for $499.

A press release states, "Our first product for athletes and fans alike, Oakley Meta HSTN (pronounced HOW-stuhn), based on the HSTN style of Oakley glasses, combines bold aesthetics with cutting-edge tech."

Meta calls the new wearable AI Performance Glasses, and they have some key differences from the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses that are already available.

Some of the key upgrades with the Meta Oakley glasses include:

  • A longer battery life: Eight hours (or 19 hours on standby).

  • An improved camera: The smart glasses offer Ultra HD 3K video.

  • Onboard AI assistant: Users can “get answers to a range of questions.”

Credit: Meta

Like the Meta Ray-Bans, the new glasses will have an IPX4 water resistance rating and come with a charging case. Users can use the Bluetooth smart glasses to listen to music, take pictures, and record video.

We knew these glasses were coming, and Meta finally unveiled its collaboration with Oakley in a splashy video campaign on Friday. The video featured athletes such as Stephen Curry and Kylian Mbappé, as well as several surfers and skateboarders.

In the promo video, Curry says, “This is gonna change everything.”

Credit: Meta / YouTube Credit: Meta / YouTube

OK, Curry.

That’s a bold, hyperbolic claim, but in line with comments made by Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is a big believer in smart glasses — the founder has even predicted this technology will one day replace mobile phones.

Zuckerberg has been the biggest booster of Meta’s smart glasses, and he often wears the glasses during panels and events. Like other leading tech companies, Meta is investing heavily in its smart glasses tech.

Samsung and Google are both working on their own smart glasses technology, both separately and together. Apple is also rumored to be exploring smart glasses.

Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Oakley Meta HSTN AI Performance Glasses $499 at Meta
Preorders start July 11 Learn More
Categories: IT General, Technology

Thieves stole almost 3,000 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles in $1.4 million heist

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:05

Thousands of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles — well over $1 million in merchandise — were stolen from the back of a truck in a stunning heist.

A semi-truck driver noticed this week that 2,810 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles were missing from the back of their vehicle during an inspection in Bennett, Colorado, authorities said.

Authorities said the thieves stole "several pallets" of Switch 2 consoles, and that the total heist was worth $1,402,190 in retail value. The driver said they were en route to a Game Stop in Grapevine, Texas, WGAL reported.

"The theft was discovered in the town of Bennett, so the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office is taking the lead on the investigation," Anders Nelson, a public information officer with the office, told CBS News. "Through the investigation, if we determine that it happened in a different location, we'll obviously work with the correct jurisdictions on this investigation."

SEE ALSO: The best Nintendo Switch 2 deals you can get right now

The Nintendo Switch 2 was released to much fanfare and has proven quite difficult to actually purchase amid high demand. The new console sold 3.5 million units in just the first four days, a record pace that caused Nintendo to bump its total sales projections to 20 million units by March 2026.

If you can get your hands on it, it might be worth forking over $499 for the Switch 2, however. Mashable's Alex Perry called it a "fabulous follow-up to an all-time legend" in his review.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to shoot 4K video on iPhone just like Danny Boyle did for 28 Years Later

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:01

I have a confession: 2002's 28 Days Later was the movie that sparked my obsession for zombies during my teenage years. I loved that movie, and so I'm dying to see the latest chapter, 28 Years Later, when it hits theaters on June 20. A lot has happened since director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland's original flick came out, including the launch of the iPhone in 2007. When I first saw 28 Days Later, my cell phone had a retractable antenna.

For the sequel, Boyle actually used iPhones to help make the movie. As Boyle recently told Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko in an interview for our video podcast Say More, the director deployed iPhones shooting in 4K video mode for pivotal scenes in the movie. (Boyle isn't the first director to use iPhones while making feature-length movies, from Sean Baker's Tangerine to Steven Soderbergh's Unsane.)

Featured Video For You Say More: Danny Boyle reveals the tech and origins of '28 Years Later's most shocking moments

In the behind-the-scenes photo below, you can see a custom-made camera rig featuring 20 iPhone 15s, which was used to shoot "bullet time" scenes in 28 Years Later. As Boyle told Mashable, there are actually distinct advantages to shooting movies with an iPhone.

"They're lightweight. They do now record at 4K, which, when you make your own videos, you have to put a special setting in to make it 4K because otherwise your cloud storage would be just ginormous for every little video that you made," Boyle said. "But they allowed us to visit places, remote places in the UK, with a very light footprint."

Behind the scenes of "28 Years Later." Credit: Sony Pictures

So, while you might not have Boyle's plethora of devices or a custom-built rig, how can you shoot in 4K video mode on your own iPhone? It's actually incredibly easy.

SEE ALSO: Watch Stormzy's short film 'Big Man' shot on iPhone 16 Pro How to shoot 4K video on iPhone

Essentially, the key to shooting 4K video on iPhone is activating it in your device's settings. The precise steps might vary depending on the type of iPhone you have, but in general, it's a simple process.

By default, your iPhone usually shoots HD video (1080p) at 30 frames per second. On my iPhone 15 Pro, I can change my video settings in the upper-right corner of the Video mode. Look for symbols that say "HD" and "30."

The HD version of me. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Do I look more or less handsome in 4K? Don't answer that. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

By tapping on "HD," your camera should switch to "4K" mode instantly. On the iPhone 15, you can also update the frame rate, choosing from 24 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps. The higher the frame rate, the higher the video quality and the smoother the motion in the video. And if you have an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max, you can jack those settings all the way up to 120 fps.

Be warned, 4K video files are "ginormous," as Boyle put it. How large? According to Apple, one minute of 4K video at 60 fps will be 440 MB large. Your efforts will also cost you precious battery life, so plan accordingly.

Save this video mode for special occasions, such as when you're filming the long-awaited sequel to your 2002 horror masterpiece.

For other advanced camera settings, go into your iPhone's Settings, select Camera, and select Record Video. There, you can toggle HDR video on and off, lock white balance, and make other adjustments.

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

And that's it. Apple makes the entire process relatively painless once you know what you're looking for.

So, what's stopping you from making your own legendary horror film trilogy?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save almost $100 on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 for a limited time at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 16:54

SAVE $80: As of June 20, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are $169, down from $249, at Amazon for a limited time. Pick up Apple's popular noise-cancelling earbuds at a hefty discount while you still can.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal

We know a lot of people are hesitant to hop on product bandwagons, but Apple's AirPods line is popular for a reason: They're genuinely some of the best earbuds out there. That's why when you see a pair on sale, it's best to jump on them.

As of June 20, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are $169, down from $249. That's $80 off. This is most likely a limited-time deal, so if you've been thinking about picking some up, now is a good time to go for it.

SEE ALSO: AirPods to get 3 exciting new features

What makes the AirPods Pro 2 so great? For one, they synergize perfectly with your smartphone if you're an iPhone user, which brings a level of convenience that makes the earbuds well worth the investment. You'll also get high-quality noise cancellation, personalized spatial audio options, different audio modes, and plenty of other features that'll greatly enhance your overall listening experience.

Pick up a pair at Amazon and save almost $100 while you still have the chance.

The best headphones and speaker deals to shop this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

Cut your screen time — not your connection — with the NanoPhone

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 16:38

TL;DR: Enjoy all the perks of your phone in shrunken form with the NanoPhone, now for just $109.99 (reg. $199.99).

Tired of bulky phones that offer constant distractions? The NanoPhone offers a minimalist alternative — it’s compact, practical, and designed to keep your life simpler.

At the size of a credit card, this pocket-friendly device helps you stay connected without the lure of a giant screen. And right now, you can get one for just $109.99 (reg. $199.99), while supplies last.

Shrink your screen and sharpen your focus with the NanoPhone

It’s easy to see why we’re all glued to our smartphones — they’re almost the size of a tablet these days, and filled up with tons of distractions. Go back to basics with the NanoPhone, a compact yet fully functional device with 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity. Make calls, video chat, take photos, and use all your favorite apps, just on a much smaller, less addictive scale.

Pair the NanoPhone with Bluetooth devices to enjoy seamless connections with your headphones or smartwatches. It has a lengthy battery life and was made to withstand everyday wear and tear.

The NanoPhone works with your existing SIM card, so you don’t even need to buy an extra data plan. It can tag along anytime you want to travel light — whether you’re going for a run, hitting the gym, or heading out for the evening. It’s also great to tuck away as an emergency backup phone.

Downsize your screentime with the NanoPhone, now for only $109.99 (reg. $199.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: NanoPhone NanoPhone - A Miniaturized Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! $109.99
$199.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Pornhub is restored in France — for now

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 16:36

Pornhub is accessible in France again, following a suspension of the country's age verification law.

The law went into effect earlier this month. It states that porn sites must install a third-party technical system to verify users' ages beyond a "yes or no" checkbox. This requires a credit card or a government ID. On June 16, the Administrative Court of Paris suspended the law until it's deemed legal under EU law, European news site Euractiv reported.

SEE ALSO: Why age-verification bills for porn sites won't work

According to the EU's "country-of-origin principle," established by the 2002 E-Commerce Directive, a country can't regulate a company based in another EU state unless a specific process is followed, including notifying the host country and the European Commission, Digital Watch Observatory reported. The French government believes it has followed this process by notifying Cyprus, where Aylo (owner of platforms like Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube) and XHamster is based, and waiting three months before implementing the law.

The question is whether France notified the European Commission.

Pornhub blocked itself in France on June 4 due to the law. Now, it has restored access in the country, Aylo told Mashable.

"While important questions about the implementation of the law in France are being considered, we maintain that French citizens deserve regulation that will prevent children from accessing adult content and that can be effectively enforced," Aylo stated over email. "They also deserve that their privacy and sensitive data be protected. Again, we believe the current approach faces significant challenges in achieving these important goals."

The statement goes on to say that adult content is on hundreds of thousands of sites, not the few that France singled out like Pornhub. "The court's decision to suspend the order, based on questions about compatibility with the EU's country-of-origin principle, provides an opportunity to reconsider more effective approaches while we await the Court of Justice of the European Union's final ruling," it stated.

Aylo advocated for device-level filters to block minors from accessing porn, citing privacy concerns of on-site age-verification. It also states, "We are determined to be part of this solution and want to collaborate with government, civil society and tech partners to arrive at an effective device-based age verification solution."

France's digital minister, Clara Chappaz, posted on X that she's committed to enforcing age verification and that it is a priority.

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

In the U.S., Americans are waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court on whether Texas's age-verification law is unconstitutional. This will set a precedent for these state laws around the country, where around a third now have similar statutes. Free speech advocates have told Mashable that age-verification won't work due to the ability to shield one's real location with a VPN. An initial study out of NYU suggests that age verification doesn't work for similar reasons.

After Pornhub exited France, Proton VPN saw a 1,000 percent surge in sign-ups in 30 minutes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Flamengo vs. Chelsea online for free

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 16:33

TL;DR: Live stream Flamengo vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Club World Cup continues with Flamengo vs. Chelsea. Both sides won their first fixtures 2-0, so we're expecting an interesting battle between two strong teams. Which side will end up on top of Group D?

If you want to watch Flamengo vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Flamengo vs. Chelsea?

Flamengo vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 2 p.m. ET on June 20. This fixture takes place at Lincoln Financial Field.

How to watch Flamengo vs. Chelsea for free

Flamengo vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by following these simple steps:

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

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access to DAZN

  4. Visit DAZN

  5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Flamengo vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Flamengo vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Power up your work and projects with Microsoft Office 2024, now $90 off

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 16:23

TL;DR: Give your productivity a boost with this Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License for just $159.97, now until July 20.

Whether you’re juggling work projects, managing a small business, or trying to organize your personal life, Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business has essential tools to help you get things done. And right now, you can get a lifetime license for Mac or PC for only $159.97 — that’s $90 off the regular price of $249.99 — until July 20.

Work, create, and collaborate with Microsoft Office 2024

Who couldn’t use a little productivity boost these days? Let Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business help you tackle things both personally and professionally, with its dependable apps, some of which have been around for decades.

Microsoft Office 2024 offers a blend of old favorites and newer additions, all ready to help you stay organized, create content, and collaborate with others seamlessly. It comes with five apps, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, which can be downloaded directly to your Mac or PC as needed.

This isn’t the Microsoft Office you used on your ’90s desktop computer. This version includes new features such as recording presentations with voice narration and videos in PowerPoint, an updated accessibility checker in Outlook, AI-powered suggestions in Word, and advanced data analysis and visualization tools in Excel.

If you plan to work with others, you can take advantage of new collaborative tools such as co-authoring, enhanced commenting, and deeper Microsoft Teams integration.

Save $90 on this Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License, dropping the price down to $159.97, now through July 20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $159.97
$249.99 Save $90.02 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Get the Energizer 293W Portable Power Station for its lowest price ever at Woot

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 16:23

SAVE 77%: As of June 20, you can get the Energizer 293W Portable Power Station for just $69.99, down from $299.99, at Woot. That's a 77% discount and $230 in savings. Plus, that's the lowest price we've ever seen it at.

Opens in a new window Credit: Energizer Energizer 293W Portable Power Station $69.99 at Woot
$299.99 Save $230 Get Deal

Summer is officially one day away (though Mother Nature seems to think it’s been here for weeks), which means camping trips, beach days, and more outdoor activities are probably in your future. And as great as it is to unplug from the digital world, it’s always a good idea to have some backup power handy in case of emergencies.

If you’re looking for a portable power station that won’t break the bank, we found a deal that’s almost too good to be true. As of June 20, you can get the Energizer 293W Portable Power Station for just $69.99, down from $299.99, at Woot. That's a 77% discount and a $230 savings. Plus, that's the lowest price we've ever seen it at.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025: Dates and deals

The Energizer 293W Portable Power Station holds enough juice to power small appliances (like blenders, fans, and projectors) and charge essential devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It also has a built-in wireless charging pad and LED light with SOS functionality. According to the manufacturer, it can power a 55-inch TV for 4.5 hours or a WiFi router for 19 hours on a single charge.

You can connect it to an MPPT solar panel, charge it via the 12V DC car port, or use a wall outlet. You’ll also get a protective travel carry bag with two storage compartments, an AC adapter, and a 12V car outlet adapter.

The best tech deals to shop this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

A new version of iPhones default ringtone has surfaced

Mashable - Fri, 06/20/2025 - 16:14

A new version of the iPhone's "Reflection" ringtone has been found in the iOS 26 beta.

Reflection has been the default iPhone ringtone since the iPhone X, and for the vast cohort of users who don't bother to change it (me included, though I always keep my iPhone on silent), it's the most recognizable iPhone ringtone.

Now, X user @8810cfw has found a new version of the Reflection ringtone in the iOS 26 beta code. Named "ReflectionAlt1-EncoreRemix," it's definitely a ringtone, with a recognizable, simple melody, that has some similarities with the original Reflection but is also a bit more...mellow? Check it out on X.

SEE ALSO: A foldable Apple iPhone is nearly ready for production, new leak reveals

This doesn't necessarily mean Apple plans to replace the original Reflection with the new one, or even that it plans to offer the new Reflection variant to users (although it's a pretty big possibility given that the iOS 26 public beta is weeks away, and new iPhones are launching in a couple of months). In fact, the ringtone is hidden in the iOS 26 developer beta, meaning it's not possible to set it as your ringtone in your iPhone's settings.

As MacRumors noted, the iOS 26 beta also lets you set a custom ringtone without the annoying step of using GarageBand, though it's unclear whether that's connected to the new Reflection ringtone.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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