Technology

On Windows, when I want a command line, I can choose between the native PowerShell or install the Windows Subsystem for Linux. I prefer the latter when I'm on Windows. Here's why I reach for a Linux shell instead of PowerShell.

You’re using your Chromebook wrong. There, I said it. If you’re just using your Chromebook to browse Facebook and check email, you’re leaving so much on the table.

SAVE $14: As of Aug. 15, get the Anker 735 Charger Nano II (65W) for $25.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $39.99. That's a discount of 35% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker 735 Charger Nano II (65W) $25.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $14.00 Get Deal

No one wants to deal with multiple bricks and cables when keeping their electronics charged. That's why if you're looking to pick a charger up, a compact model that can handle multiple items at once is a great idea. You can grab a fantastic one from Anker right now that we've praised multiple times before here at Mashable today from Amazon at its lowest price ever, just in time to head back to school.

As of Aug. 15, get the Anker 735 Charger Nano II (65W) for $25.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $39.99. That's a discount of 35% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C300 portable power station is $100 off right now at Amazon

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth called this wall charger "indispensable", naming it his "go-to" whenever he's away from his desk. It uses GaN technology for fast charging with less heat, and it comes with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. That means it can handle juicing up an iPhone, a pair of headphones, and a laptop all at once, or whatever mix of tech devices you have at once. That's a timesaver if you're a heavy tech user.

It's quick and efficient when it comes to charging, and it's much smaller than even the power brick that you're supplied with when you grab a new MacBook. In fact, it can get a laptop back up to speed at about 65W, which means you'll be sitting around waiting for it to get back to 100% for a much shorter time period.

If speed and efficiency are what you're looking for in a charger, this is one you'll want to invest in fast, especially at its lowest price.

For many, the INDEX-XMATCH combination in Excel is the go-to method for retrieving a value from a dataset. However, you can also use this dynamic duo to perform two-way lookups, returning a value at the intersection of a specified row and column.

SAVE $160: As of Aug. 15, the Dyson V8 Absolute cordless vacuum is on sale at Walmart for $359.99. That's over 30% off its list price of $519.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V8 Absolute cordless vacuum $359.99 at Walmart
$519.99 Save $160 Get Deal

If you loathe vacuuming, there's a good chance it's because you've never used a Dyson stick vacuum. Dysons are designed to make cleaning your floors an effortless job. It's probably no surprise, but we're big fans. If you're looking for an entry-level model, our top pick for those with smaller homes and on a budget, the V8 Absolute, is currently on sale for $160 off.

As of Aug. 15, you can get the Dyson V8 Absolute for only $359.99 at Walmart and Dyson.com. That's over 30% off its list price of $519.99.

When it comes to stick vacuums, Dysons are the top dog. Their cleaning prowess, superior suction, lightweight design, and attachment variety justify their hefty price tags. The Dyson V8 Absolute features a powerful motor that unleashes 115 air watts of cyclonic suction, a 40-minute run time, and five different attachments and cleaner heads for versatility: the Motorbar cleaner head, crevice tool, combination tool, hair screw tool, and Fluffy Optic cleaner head. The latter is part of what makes this the "Absolute" model; it's specially designed for gently getting tough dirt off of hard floors.

The V8 features two power modes: powerful mode, for daily use, and max mode, made for those higher-volume jobs. And of course, like all Dyson stick vacuums, it transforms into a handheld for seamlessly reaching tough spots and getting into small spaces.

Save over 30% on the Dyson V8 Absolute at Walmart while you can. For what it's worth, the non-Absolute V8 model, which includes one less cleaning attachment, is $30 more at Amazon. In other words, this is a great value.

Roblox is once again the target of online child safety advocates, as it faces another lawsuit that claims the platform is "choosing profits over child safety."

SEE ALSO: I 'dated' Character.AI's popular boyfriends, and parents should be worried

The lawsuit, file by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, alleges the platform has "knowingly and intentionally" failed to institute "basic safety controls" that have exposed young players to predatory behavior and child sex abuse materials. Murrill also alleges the platform has failed to properly warn parents of potential dangers children face when playing Roblox.

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In a series of tweets posted to X, Murrill claimed the platform was "perpetuating violence against children and sexual exploitation for profit" and called many of the site's gaming worlds, which are built by users and played by millions of children around the world, "obscene garbage." Murrill also posted several images of what were allegedly publicly available game experiences hosted on the platform, including "Escape to Epstein Island" and "Public Showers." Similar legal actions have been taken against other popular social media platforms — including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat — amid growing concern for youth online safety and mental health.

"The assertion that Roblox would intentionally put our users at risk of exploitation is categorically untrue. Every day, tens of millions of people around the world use Roblox to learn stem skills, play, and imagine and have a safe experience on our platform," a Roblox spokesperson said in a comment issued Friday. "We dedicate vast resources to supporting a safe infrastructure including advanced technology and 24/7 human moderation, to detect and prevent inappropriate content and behavior — not only because it's important to us but because it is such a critical issue and so important to our community.

"We dispute these allegations and we remain committed to working with Attorney General Murrill to keep kids safe. While no system is perfect, Roblox has implemented rigorous safeguards — such as restrictions on sharing personal information, links, and user-to-user image sharing — to help protect our community. Unfortunately, bad actors will try to circumvent our systems to try to direct users off the platform, where safety standards and moderation practices may differ. We continuously work to block those efforts and to enhance our moderation approaches to promote a safe and enjoyable environment for all users."

The company also released an official statement outlining its commitments to child safety.

Roblox has been on a mission to reform its image following a series of reports claiming the online gaming site is dangerous for young children, allegedly because it failed to curb a network of predatory adult users. In 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed against the platform on behalf of parents, claiming the company falsely advertised its site as safe for children.

Since then, Roblox has introduced a swath of new safety features, including extensive blocking tools, parental oversight, and messaging controls. The platform recently introduced selfie-based age verification for teen players — in the lawsuit, Murrill claims a lack of age verification policies makes it easier for predators to interact with children on the platforms. Earlier this year, the platform joined other social media companies backing the newly passed Take It Down Act, which establishes takedown policies and repercussions for publishing non-consensual intimate imagery, including deepfakes.

UPDATE: Aug. 15, 2025, 6:05 p.m. This story was updated with an official statement from Roblox.

Kodak says its not going out of business, despite rumors of an imminent demise and brutal statements in its Q2 earnings report.

After posting its latest SEC filing, the company insisted it is still alive, saying recent reports of impending doom are "inaccurate" and "reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of a recent technical disclosure."

SEE ALSO: Review: The best travel camera for every type of photographer

Kodak said this in a statement clarifying its financial position after forward-looking statements in its 10-Q filing was picked up by several news outlets.

"Kodak has debt coming due within twelve months and does not have committed financing or available liquidity to meet such debt obligations if they were to become due in accordance with their current terms," said Kodak, which reported roughly $500 million in debt. "These conditions raise substantial doubt about Kodak’s ability to continue as a going concern."

The gloomy outlook led some outlets to interpret this as the end of the road for the 130-year-old U.S. company, which pioneered mainstream camera and film production. But Kodak quickly issued a statement to "set the record straight," saying it "has no plans to cease operations, go out of business, or file for bankruptcy protection." In short, Kodak says the obituaries were premature.

Instead, Kodak says its financial plans for the upcoming year will enable it to pay off its debts on time, including obligations to its pension fund.

A Kodak engineer created the first digital camera, all the back back in the '70s. But over time, Kodak failed to capitalize on its technical innovations, betting instead on its film business and letting competitors move in on its market. Other photography companies, notably Japanese camera makers like Nikon and Fujifilm, rose to prominence as go-to digital cameras for amateurs and professionals alike.

More recently, Kodak diversified its business to manufacture chemicals and pharmaceutical ingredients. "We believe our business is stable and self-sustaining," Kodak said of its ongoing operations.

Carrie Bradshaw is going to be just fine.

If you've watched the final-ever episode of HBO Max's And Just Like That..., you'll know that too. If you haven't, you should probably avert your eyes — spoilers ahead.

The ending was, in my opinion, the perfect send-off for Carrie — a full circle moment, ending nearly three decades on our screen, just as she started: single.

The finale opens with Carrie dining solo in a futuristic Japanese restaurant featuring robots and menus on tablets. When she places her order, a member of staff places a cuddly toy tomato named Tommy as company, the consolation prize, so she doesn't have to eat alone.

SEE ALSO: 'And Just Like That…' Season 3 dabbles in dating app fatigue

Carrie is rightfully affronted by this, and as a frequent solo diner, I happen to agree with this justified outrage. Eating on our own is actually a luxury that many people do not have: parents wrangling active kids at dinnertime will attest to this, I'm sure. Being able to sit in complete silence and enjoy your food in blissful silence? It's heaven-sent, frankly.

In the previous episode of AJLT, the first half of the finale, Carrie handed in her manuscript to her editor, who declared it a "romantic tragedy" that the protagonist ends up alone. Again, rude. What's tragic about choosing yourself? What is this chasmic void that suddenly needs filling?

After the solo dining-shaming incident, Carrie declares, "Apparently, not only is it tragic for women to be alone in the past, it's also an issue in the future."

It's an episode that wrestles with the endings we've been conditioned to crave. Seema questions whether she really wants marriage, or if she's just spent her whole life being told she should aspire to so-called matrimonial bliss. "Do I really want it, or am I just programmed for it?" she asks as she and Carrie watch a bridal fashion show. Meanwhile, Charlotte and Lisa grapple with the realities of marriage versus the fantasies they had before entering it. The message seems to be: wedded "bliss" isn't exactly all it's cracked up to be.

Credit: Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Max

I, and many others, were hoping for this ending. After years of centering men, Carrie is finally putting her own needs first. In this final season of the show, we endured several episodes of Aidan being a truly abysmal partner. And somehow, Carrie kept coming back for more — until she finally snapped (which was a long time coming). Aidan asked for a hell of a lot in that relationship, namely waiting for him for five years in a state of celibacy, in an empty furniture-less apartment, waiting until he was finally available. Carrie isn't even sure how often she should text Aidan, seemingly because she doesn't want to bother him or be too needy. Girl, are we for real with this cool girl behaviour? "DUMP HIM," I screamed at my television after every episode. And thankfully, the message seemed to get through when she got tired of his possessive, jealous bullshit.

Of course, while all this Aidan nonsense was happening, many of us were also urging her to sleep with the sexy British downstairs neighbour. Sure, he's a curmudgeon who won't let her wear her signature heels around her flat (oppression!) — but he's charming. When Carrie says, "I’ve never experienced a man see me as smart first," I feel sad. How is it possible that a woman with seven bestsellers and an illustrious writing career spanning several decades is still having her intellect diminished?

"Carrie Bradshaw, you're a thing," Duncan announces mid-epiphany as if he's somehow only just discovered this. Have you been hiding under a rock? Too busy writing about Margaret Thatcher to see the icon you have in front of you? Anyway, despite his charms, it's also a no from me on this one.

By the penultimate episode, it was clear that there were no worthy contenders in the race to win Carrie's affection. It was high time to stop catering to men's needs, bending and breaking yourself to suit their demands, and not being seen for all that you are. Do we really want our girl to settle for less than she deserves?

SEE ALSO: Goodbye Carrie Bradshaw, our messy, relatable queen

What's interesting about Carrie's attitude in the final episode is her willingness to admit that she's previously looked to aloneness as an impermanent state, a means to an end — the end being the man.

But we see Carrie begin to question: What if she just stands still for a while and doesn't try to "fix" her singleness by bringing a man into the picture?

Carrie tells Charlotte, "I've never lived alone without the thought that I wouldn't be alone for long."

"I have to quit thinking 'maybe a man,' and start accepting 'maybe just me.' It's not a tragedy, it's just a fact," she adds.

But, I'd go as far as to say that "just me" isn't just a fact, it's a triumph. And there's no "just" about it. Carrie, on her own, is Carrie at her best.

As Barry White's "My Everything" plays at the closing scene of the episode, Carrie's voice tells us, "She was not alone; she was on her own."

If we contrast that line with Carrie's parting words in the final episode of Sex And The City, there's a very stark contrast:

"Later that day, I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous."

Carrie knew it then, back in 2004: The real love story all along was the one she had with herself. Anything else is just an added extra.

The complete series of And Just Like That... is now streaming on HBO Max.

Tesla is set to lose out on an easy, major source of revenue thanks to President Donald Trump's administration — you know, the one for which Elon Musk was once the right-hand man.

The passage of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill cut tax incentives for electric vehicles, as well as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements. All automakers were required to hit these CAFE requirements, but if they couldn't, they were allowed to purchase carbon credits from companies like Tesla, which had a surplus. These carbon credits became a billion-dollar source of revenue for Tesla, bolstering the EV maker's earnings even as Tesla sales plummeted.

InsideEVs wrote a detailed piece on the implications of the Big Beautiful Bill for Tesla, and in short, these credits have made Tesla $11.8 billion in revenue over the last decade. That money helped Tesla stay afloat.

“These regulatory credit sales are the reason that Tesla exists today,” Gordon Johnson, an analyst with GLJ Research, told InsideEVs.

Musk himself said he wanted all credits to be cut as recently as last year.

Reuters wrote about the credits in July and noted that "this income segment is crucial for Tesla's finances, having been the main driver of its profit in the first three months of the year." Without the credits, Tesla would've reported a loss in Q1 of 2025. And about half of its Q2 operating income — which took a steep, 42 percent drop year over year — came from credits.

The credits are basically free cash for the EV maker, and they're now set to entirely disappear. Meanwhile, Tesla sales continue to drop globally amid, well, everything going on with Musk. And don't forget about the end of the $7,500 EV tax credit that helped U.S. buyers afford electric cars in the first place.

Despite the difficulties it may cause, Musk himself called for the end of all EV subsidies as recently as last year.

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The billionaire Tesla chief might feel differently now, but it seems he will get his wish.

SAVE 47%: As of Aug. 15, you can get the Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead vacuum cleaner for $199.99, down from $379.99, at Walmart. That's $180 off.

Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead Canister Vacuum $199.99 at Walmart
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As the owner of two beagles, I can tell you a powerful vacuum isn't a luxury — it's a necessity. The problem is, the best brands (we're looking at you, Dyson) often come with a hefty price tag that can feel out of reach. That's why this deal from Walmart immediately caught our eye.

As of Aug. 15, you can get the Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead vacuum cleaner for $199.99, down from $379.99, at Walmart. That's a 47% discount, saving you $180 and getting you into the Dyson family for less.

SEE ALSO: How to make your robot vacuum work better: 3 setup tips to do right now

The Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead vacuum cleaner comes with four additional tools, including a Turbinehead tool that adjusts for carpets, rugs, and hard floors. This model also features a 360-degree handle for easy maneuvering and a clever self-righting mechanism, so if it gets knocked over, it picks itself right back up. Plus, it uses Dyson's Radial Root Cyclone technology to suck up stubborn pet hair, dander, and other debris, even from thick carpeting.

The time has come to bid farewell to Carrie Bradshaw, the patron saint of looking for love in all the wrong places. The final episode of And Just Like That... brings to a close the reboot, which viewers balk at yet somehow can't look away.

Since first gracing our screens in 1998 in the very first episode of Sex and the City, Carrie's (Sarah Jessica Parker) place in popular culture has been firmly cemented as the complex, romantic, independent, vulnerable, and at times infuriating single gal about town. Despite the shortcomings of both Sex and the City and And Just Like That..., it feels emotional to be saying goodbye to Carrie (well, again). Over the years, she's been a dependable companion to us single gals, those finding themselves in the Wild West that is modern dating, the diehard romantics, the unlucky-in-loves, and people who've had their heart broken.

SEE ALSO: Why the ending of 'And Just Like That...' is a total triumph

Several generations of viewers (myself included) have looked to the four female leads of SATC as an alternative Myers-Briggs personality test — "I'm such a Carrie!" "I'm Charlotte-coded, but a Samantha at heart." 27 years since that first episode, Carrie Bradshaw's impact is still being felt. Sex and the City discourse is alive and well on TikTok, resuscitated by a new wave of Gen-Z viewers streaming the show on HBO Max. In mainstream pop culture, the SATC references have been ever-present; in the last year, Gen Z icon Olivia Rodrigo wore a bejewelled top with the words "Carrie Bradshaw AF" while performing at Madison Square Garden, and in "Nissan Altima," our Grammy-winning Swamp Princess, Doechii, rapped, "I'm like Carrie Bradshaw with a back brace on."

As Carrie's final ever on-screen appearance (until the next reboot at least) arrived, I couldn't help but wonder: What is the enduring appeal of this character?

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in 1998, the year "Sex and the City" first aired. Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

As a millennial 30-something looking for love, Carrie Bradshaw has long occupied a space in my heart. Growing up in the 2000s, I watched SATC in my bedroom on terrestrial TV (remember that?) before I'd even so much as kissed a boy for the first time. Is this how my thirties were going to be? I wondered as a teen. Not having a boyfriend had never looked so glitteringly fabulous.

As a millennial 30-something looking for love, Carrie Bradshaw has long occupied a space in my heart.

Like many women, this show continues to stay with me as I grow older. In my twenties, I visited New York and did a Sex and the City tour of Manhattan, posing for photos outside Carrie's apartment building at 245 East 73rd Street (although the actual brownstone is in the West Village), stopping for cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, and sipping a Cosmopolitan at Scout, the bar Steve (David Eigenberg) and Aidan (John Corbett) owned together. The SATC fan pilgrimage was rendered all the more poignant because I was going through a heartbreaking chapter of my own, being ghosted by a man I had feelings for, and mulling over whether or not to send the dreaded paragraph to him (I did in the end).

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When I'm going through heartbreak or even just a confusing dating experience, I turn to this show for comfort, for answers, for validation. Even now in my mid-thirties, I see myself in Carrie in her refusal to settle for a relationship that's lacking in the kind of love she deserves. "I'm looking for love," Carrie declared in the final episode of Sex and the City. "Real love Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love."

Let's not ignore Sex and the City's problematic moments

Despite her importance to fans, it's impossible to gloss over the fact that Carrie is a deeply flawed character. She's self-involved, lacking in accountability, selfish, and has a habit of flaking on her friends, even in their time of need. But there's a larger problem.

Like many sitcoms from the '90s and '00s, there are aspects of Sex and the City that do not hold up through a modern lens. The lack of diversity is one of the most glaring downfalls of the series. The four protagonists are white, privileged, cisgender, and their experiences (at least in the original show) are centred around dating and sleeping with men. Racist, reductive stereotypes rear their ugly head throughout the series. In a rare inclusion of Black characters, Season 3, episode 5 sees Samantha (Kim Cattrall) date record label executive Chivon (Asio Highsmith) in a portrayal that has not aged well at all. All in the space of one episode we get hypersexualised discussion of Chivon's penis, references to Black culture as "urban," and the depiction of Chivon's sister Adeena (Sundra Oakley) as a controlling "angry Black woman". It is a mess of an episode.

Again, in Season 3, episode 18, titled "Cock-a-Doodle-Do," deals with two sets of noisy neighbours for Carrie, but in doing so, appears to liken Black trans sex workers lives as akin to those of caged chickens. Throw in Carrie putting on an AAVE accent at the end of the episode, and I got to thinking: were any Black or trans writers present in the writing room? (There weren't.)

When And Just Like That... launched in 2021, viewers got the sense that those criticisms surrounding diversity had been heard. Co-creator Michael Patrick King brought in a more diverse writers room, including writers Samantha Irby, Keli Goff, and Rachna Fruchbom. Irby told Vogue in 2021, “I was a huge fan of Sex and the City back in the day. But there were some moments where I was like, If there had been a Black writer in the room, this would have probably played differently." Goff told Deadline that King was "open to really listening" to the writers.

New friends Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury), Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker), Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez), and Dr. Nya Wallace (Karen Pittman) were added to the girl gang in an attempt to fill the chasm that Samantha's absence left behind. One storyline running across all three seasons is Charlotte's child Rock's (Alexa Swinton) gender identity. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) leaves Steve and begins exploring her queer identity. But, despite clear efforts to make the show more inclusive, the show overall felt jarring for many viewers who wanted more from the reboot.

Nicole Ari Parker, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarita Choudhury, Cynthia Nixon. Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images Sex and the 'complicated single girl' representation

What was it about Carrie that captured the collective attention of viewers in the late '90s and 2000s?

Over the past few decades, "single girl" representation has come a long way, bringing complex, sometimes problematic, relatable, and realistic single women to our screens. Hannah, Jessa, Marnie, and Shoshanna from Girls, Issa Dee in Insecure, Abbie and Ilana in Broad City, Mindy in The Mindy Project, to name a few.

SEE ALSO: 12 single TV characters who'll always have a place in our hearts

The "sad single girl" trope doesn't really have a place on our screens anymore, but we've also lost our cultural fixation on the need for our single girls to be likeable, palatable to male viewers, role models to women. They can just be. But it hasn't always been that way.

The New Yorker's Emily Nussbaum wrote a piece in 2013 examining the complicated legacy of Sex and the City, and highlighted the new era of complicated single woman representation that the show ushered in. Nussbaum argued that our four SATC heroines were markedly different from the "you-go-girl types" such as That Girl, Mary Tyler Moore, and Molly Dodd.

"In contrast, Carrie and her friends — Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte — were odder birds by far, jagged, aggressive, and sometimes frightening figures, like a makeup mirror lit up in neon," wrote Nussbaum.

From left to right: Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. Credit: Getty Images

"And, with the exception of Charlotte (Kristin Davis), men didn’t find them likable: there were endless cruel jokes about Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Carrie as sluts, man-haters, or gold-diggers. To me, as a single woman, it felt like a definite sign of progress: since the elemental representation of single life at the time was the comic strip “Cathy” (ack! chocolate!), better that one’s life should be viewed as glamorously threatening than as sad and lonely."

What will become of Carrie Bradshaw's legacy?

Where do we go from here? Will Carrie's legacy live on beyond the show, the movies, and the reboot? While we might not be getting any new episodes of And Just Like That..., Carrie won't be disappearing from our screens. Sex and the City and And Just Like That... are shows that viewers will return to time and time again. Diehard fans embrace the totality of her character, flaws and all — they don't embellish or pretend she's perfect.

Dylan B Jones, co-host of So I Got To Thinking podcast, tells Mashable that Carrie embodies a desire "that lurks inside all of us — the freedom to live and behave like an absolute dickhead and somehow get away with it."

"She taps cigarette ash onto pristine carpets, slops martinis onto beautiful floors, turns up late on no sleep to fashion shoots, cheats and lies her way through relationships and somehow still comes out of it beloved by all who behold her. She embodies selfish oblivion, and that, for many of us, is the unattainable 21st century dream," says Jones.

Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall on location for "Sex and the City: The Movie" in 2007. Credit: Getty Images / Brian Ach/ WireImage

Maiia Krylova, founder of @carriebradshaws_outfits, an Instagram account dedicated to Carrie's enviable wardrobe, says Carrie's legacy will endure "because she represented more than fashion, she was the voice of freedom, imperfection, and the magic of being a woman."

"She gave us permission to embrace contradictions: to be vulnerable yet strong, romantic yet independent, glamorous yet relatable. Through her, women saw that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be extraordinary and that our stories, with all their flaws and detours, are worth telling," Krylova tells Mashable.

Carrie as a character will stay with us, I think, because she holds an at-times unflattering mirror up to us. When she's on good form, we gleefully declare we're "such a Carrie," but when she fucks up (which she so often does), we feel a keen disappointment. And yet, we carry on watching. She's like a friend we can't help but forgive.

As Big once said: "You're worth a million bucks, Bradshaw." It was one of the rare occasions that I actually agreed with him.

SAVE $100: As of Aug. 15, get the Beats Solo 4 headphones at Amazon for $99.95, down from their usual price of $199.95. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Beats Solo 4 $99.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $100.00 Get Deal

It's that time again: back to school. If you're sending some of the family back to class, or you're heading there yourself, one useful thing to add to your shopping list is a good pair of headphones. There are tons of models to choose from, sure, but if you're looking for an over-the-ear option, a pair of Beats headphones usually means you've got an excellent pick on your hands. And you can save a significant amount of money on a pair right now.

As of Aug. 15, get the Beats Solo 4 headphones for $99.95, down from their usual price of $199.95, at Amazon. That's $100 off for a discount of 50%, and just a couple of dollars away from their lowest price ever.

SEE ALSO: I found the exact headphones Taylor Swift wore to announce her new album — and they're on sale

These headphones are perfect for long listening sessions, whether that means bopping along to your favorite tunes, podcasts, or having conversations with others. They boast a lengthy listening time of up to 50 hours, as well as high-quality sound with Personalized Spatial Audio. That means they can make you feel like you're right in the middle of the music, thanks to their head-tracking ability.

They're also built with an ultralight frame that includes super plush ear cups so they're comfortable for wearing all day or through lengthy meetings. When they're low on charge, you can also utilize their FastFuel feature to get five hours of playtime back with just 10 minutes of charging.

Now's a great time to grab a pair of these solid headphones, especially since you can save so much on them right now.

SAVE 15%: As of Aug. 15, you can get the Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker (two pints included) for $169, down from $199, at Walmart. That's a 15% discount and a $30 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja CREAMi (NC300) $169 at Walmart
$199 Save $30 Get Deal

Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a frozen treat — and it's even better when you can make it fresh at home.

As of Aug. 15, you can get the Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker for $169, down from $199, at Walmart. That's a 15% discount and a $30 savings.

SEE ALSO: The Ninja Swirl is even better and more fun than the original Creami

The Ninja CREAMi is one of Mashable’s Hype Test subjects. Our shopping reporter, Samantha Mangino, says it’s ideal for meal preppers who like to experiment with new flavor combinations and control the ingredients in their frozen desserts.

“The Ninja Creami is fun to use; I get the hype,” writes Mangino. “Rather than going on a trip to get ice cream, you're having a little adventure in your kitchen. If you're a planner and/or an ice cream fanatic, the Creami will be a delightful addition as you plan your pints of the week.”

It has five built-in programs for ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, lite ice cream, and mix-in options. Just prepare your base, freeze it overnight, and process it through the machine. The re-spin function gives you the option to make it even creamier after your first pass, and it’s also the trick for making leftover frozen treats from previous batches soft and scoopable again.

Hurricane Erin became the first hurricane of the 2025 season on Friday as it continues its journey across the Atlantic.

The National Hurricane Center is currently predicting the storm to turn north and curl away from United States east coast without ever making landfall. Spaghetti models, which represent a collection of predicted paths generated by multiple computer models, currently support these predictions.

However, the NHC predicts the storm is likely to bring several inches of rain to Puerto Rico and encourages residents there to monitor Erin's progress.

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As of Friday morning, Hurricane Erin has reached 75 mph sustained maximum wind speeds. It's currently located 460 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands and is traveling west-northwest at 18 mph, according to the 11 a.m. ET Friday NHC forecast.

The latest forecasts, updated multiple times daily, can be tracked online on the National Hurricane Center website.

SAVE $24: As of Aug. 15, you can grab a four-pack of Tile Mate trackers at Amazon for just $59.99 instead of $83.99. That's 29% in savings and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Life360 Tile Mate Bluetooth trackers (4-pack) $59.99 at Amazon
$83.99 Save $24.00 Get Deal

In the chaos of back-to-school season, it's easy to misplace things. If your kids (or you) are regularly losing their backpacks, keys, water bottles, lunchboxes, musical instruments, and other essentials, Bluetooth trackers are a must-have. And for a limited time, you can grab a pack of trackers for the whole family for a steal.

As of Aug. 15, a four-pack of Tile Mate Bluetooth trackers at Amazon is on sale for only $59.99. That's nearly 30% off the usual cost of $83.99 and its lowest price on record.

One of the OGs in the Bluetooth tracker world, the Tile Mate has gone through quite a few upgrades over the years — and it's still one of our favorites. While many trackers are specific to Apple, Samsung, or Google, Tile is device agnostic and uses its own network (via the Life360 app). That makes it a great choice for households with both Android and Apple devices.

The thing is, because the Tile network is less developed than Apple's or Samsung's, the Bluetooth range is a bit smaller (only 350 feet). That doesn't mean it's not great at finding things; it just means it works better for finding household items rather than lost luggage. Attach them to things like keys, backpacks, lunchboxes, or whatever else is constantly getting misplaced. Then just press a button on your phone, and you can ring the tracker to find it. Or you can even press a button on the Tile Mate itself if your phone is the thing that's gone missing.

Got kids who walk home from school or the bus stop? The Tile Mate can also serve as a silent alarm, thanks to an SOS feature that alerts loved ones if they're in danger.

It may not be the first thing you think of on your back-to-school shopping list, but Tile Mate Bluetooth trackers can help lessen the chaos of the season. Grab a four-pack for under $60 while you can.

SAVE 23%: As of Aug. 15, you can get the soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker open-ear headphones for $99.98, down from $129.99, at Amazon. That's a 23% discount and a $30.01 savings.

soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker open-ear headphones $99.98 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.01 Get Deal

Tired of headphones that either cover your whole head or plug up your ears? We found a great deal on the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker, our favorite ear-hook headphones to date.

As of Aug. 15, you can get the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker open-ear headphones for $99.98, down from $129.99, at Amazon. That's a 23% discount and a $30.01 savings.

The AeroFit 2 feature an open-ear design that rests comfortably on the ear without entering the ear canal. (This is a huge plus for me personally, since my AirPods almost always fall out.) The adjustable ear hooks make it easier to bring the sound closer without blocking the ear canal, and you can get a max boost of 7.5dB.

SEE ALSO: The new Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are dropping at the end of the month: What to know

They’re not noise-cancelling, but for the price, they’re still a solid choice for anyone who can’t stand traditional headphones. You’ll also get 10 hours of playtime on a single charge (which is extendable to 42 hours with the wireless charging case).

One of the coolest features of these headphones is that they have a free AI translation function that supports 100 languages with real-time response. To use it, you’ll need to download the Soundcore app to version 3.8.7 or later and make sure the earbud firmware is updated to the latest version.

SAVE UP TO 28%: As of Aug. 15, Stasher reusable food storage bags are on sale for up to 28% off at Amazon in a variety of sizes and colors — just in time for back to school season.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stasher Stasher Back-to-School Sale Up to 28% off select bags Shop Now

A new school year doesn't just bring new teachers, friends, supplies, and classes. It also brings an opportunity to make different choices. This year, you can make more environmentally-conscious decisions in your household by swapping your single-use sandwich bags for silicone ones that can go in the dishwasher.

Our favorite reusable food storage brand, Stasher, is having a back-to-school sale via Amazon. As of Aug. 15, you can save up to 28% on these sustainable bags in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Stasher is a Shark Tank-famous brand known for its colorful, yet slightly expensive, bags and bowls. You may get a bit of sticker shock at first glance. However, if you take into account how much you spend on throw-away Ziploc baggies throughout the school year, the price is more justifiable. It also helps that prices are slashed by 20% or more on several options.

The bags are made from durable platinum silicone, which is heat resistant up to 425 degrees, food-safe, and free of BPA, latex, and phthalates. Beyond keeping your kids' lunches fresh and intact, Stasher bags can be used in the freezer, microwave, boiling water, and even the oven. Then just toss them in the dishwasher after each use. It might be a bit of a lifestyle change at first, but this swap can really make a difference.

Here are some of the best Stasher bag deals at Amazon during the back-to-school sale.

• Stasher Sandwich bag — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Stasher bags 2-pack (1 Sandwich and 1 Snack) — $16.79 $20.99 (save $4.20)

• Stasher bags 2-pack (1 Cup and 2 Cup Bowl) — $21.51 $26.99 (save $5.48)

• Stasher Stand Up Mid bag (56-ounce) — $19.99 $23.99 (save $4.80)

• Stasher bags 3-pack (1 Cup, 2 Cup, and 4 Cup Bowl) — $35.06 $48.99 (save $13.93)

• Stasher bags 4-pack (1 Half Gallon, 2 Sandwich, 1 Snack) — $46.74 $54.99 (save $8.25)

• Stasher bags 4-pack (1 Stand Up Mid, 1 Half Gallon, 1 Sandwich, 1 Snack) — $52.72 $65.99 (save $13.27)

• Stasher bags 7-pack (1 Stand Up Mid, 1 Half Gallon, 1 Stand Up Mini, 2 Sandwich, 2 Snack) — $83.99 $104.99 (save $21)

SAVE $12: As of Aug. 15, get the Dreamegg White Noise Machine for $19.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $31.99. That's a discount of 38%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dreamegg White Noise Machine $19.99 at Amazon
$31.99 Save $12 Get Deal

It's time to head back to school, and whether it's you hitting the books or your kids who will soon be roaming the halls, going back well-rested is important. What better way to lull yourself or the kids to sleep than with a white noise machine? It's a super simple way to help you drift off to dreamland or improve your sleep quality. Or, it can be used as a way to help everyone focus on their studies. If you'd like to bring home one that's affordable just in time for the new year, you can shop this Amazon deal.

As of Aug. 15, get the Dreamegg White Noise Machine for $19.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $31.99. That's $12 off and a discount of 38%.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals to shop this week feature plenty of impressive back to school savings

This ultra-portable white noise machine offers 21 different sounds, from soothing heartbeats for the little ones to ocean noises to keep you stress-free and focused. It has white noise, sure, but it also has fan sounds, thunderstorms, and even a vacuum cleaner option for variety. It'll play for hours to help you get to sleep and stay that way, thanks to its 1,800mAh battery. You can leave it on for guided study or de-stressing sessions, whatever works for you.

If you're putting the device in a bedroom, it's highly visible at night with glow in the dark buttons, simple controls, and a child lock to help keep little hands from changing the sound or timer when it's set and ready to go. Most importantly, it's so small you can take it or put it anywhere in your home since it doesn't need a power cord to run.

It's the perfect time to invest in a white noise machine, and this one is an excellent price, so make sure you grab it before the bell rings on the first day of school.

SAVE 33%: As of Aug. 15, you can get the Birdfy AI smart bird feeder for $134, down from $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount and $66 in savings.

NETVUE by Birdfy AI Smart Bird Feeder with Camera (Yellow) $134 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $65.99 Get Deal

If you’ve had your eye on the Bird Buddy, but aren’t sure about the price, we found a deal on one of its competitors that offers comparable features at a lower price.

As of Aug. 15, you can get the Birdfy AI smart bird feeder for $134, down from $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount and a $66 savings. Note: This deal is only available with the on-screen coupon, so be sure to click it before adding anything to your cart. At this price, it would make a great gift for the holidays.

SEE ALSO: Bird Buddy's new pollinator cam is a Kickstarter hit: I got to see it in person

The Birdfy feeder has an 1080p HD camera and is IP65 waterproof, so you can check in on your avian visitors no matter what Mother Nature has planned. There’s even a built-in infrared night vision feature that makes it easier to see nocturnal bird activity.

With AI alerts and manual squirrel control, you can get real-time notifications sent straight to your phone whenever a squirrel appears, and you can scare it away directly from the app with flashing lights, sounds, or even your own voice through the microphone. Plus, all your adorable bird videos and photos are kept safe in NETVUE's secure cloud storage.

If you have to have a Bird Buddy, they are having a sale on their website right now where you can get up to 38% off select feeders. But, they’ll still run you more than the discounted Birdfy AI.

After 15 years, Warby Parker's signature Home Try-On program will soon be kaput. The eyewear giant is discontinuing the try-before-you-buy service that made it famous at the end of 2025 as it expands its brick-and-mortar presence and leans into virtual tools, it announced on a quarterly earnings call this month.

Since Warby Parker's inception in 2010, shoppers have been able to order up to five frames to try on at home for five days. The process, which was completely free (including shipping and returns), made it easier to buy glasses online.

In its 2021 IPO, Warby Parker said Home Try-On was "very unique to our business. It is a viral brand awareness program that pays for itself as we maintain an exceptionally high conversion rate from Home Try-On purchases."

SEE ALSO: Google's 'Try it on' AI shopping tool impressed and mortified me, and now you can try it too

Now, Warby Parker is phasing out the program in favor of in-person and digital experiences. The company cut the ribbon on its 300th store in July and plans to open "shop-in-shops" at five Target locations in the second half of 2025, with more in the works for 2026.

"The vast majority of recent home try-on customers live within 30 minutes of a Warby Parker store," said co-founder and co-CEO Neil Blumenthal on the earnings call. "As we've scaled and Home Try-On has become a less meaningful driver of our e-commerce business, and as we have seen strong growth from customers directly purchasing glasses online and in our stores, we've decided to sunset the program at the end of this year."

For customers who don't want to venture out, Warby Parker offers a Virtual Try-On feature online and recently launched an AI-powered shopping assistant called "Advisor" in its iOS app. The latter is seeing "very strong adoption in terms of engagement and sales," leading to less of a need for Home-Try On, said outgoing CFO Steve Miller on the call.

I'm a previous Warby Parker customer and Home Try-On user, and I haven't received any communication from the brand about the program ending — nor has it been posted on Warby Parker's website or social media accounts. Warby Parker's Home Try-On program was still available at the time of writing, though only 91 of its 296 styles were eligible.

Warby Parker is the second retailer to scrap a home try-on program this year. In January, Amazon ended its "Try Before You Buy" perk for Prime members, which included clothes, shoes, and accessories, citing its limited scope and a rise in shoppers' use of virtual tools.

UPDATE: Aug. 15, 2025, 9:15 a.m. EDT When reached for comment, a rep for Warby Parker referred Mashable to a transcript of its Q2 earnings call. This story has been updated with additional context from that call.