Technology

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for 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 today: Hints and answers for August 4 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's The Mini crossword answers for August 4, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A merger.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter N appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter U.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

UNION.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4

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

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

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

Alexandr Wang, the new Chief AI Officer at Meta, announced on Friday afternoon that Meta will license Midjourney's "aesthetic technology" for future Meta products and models. Midjourney is best known as an AI image generator, though it can also create short videos.

Wang announced the news in a series of posts on X.

"Today we’re proud to announce a partnership with @midjourney, to license their aesthetic technology for our future models and products, bringing beauty to billions," Wang wrote. "This technical collaboration between our research teams is part of our effort to team up with the best companies in the industry whose work and expertise complements our own. We are incredibly impressed by Midjourney. They have accomplished true feats of technical and aesthetic excellence, and we are thrilled to be working more closely with them."

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Wang is the new leader of Meta's AI efforts. The 28-year-old wunderkind is the founder of Scale AI, which Meta recently acquired in a $14.3 billion deal, per CNBC. The acquisition was part of a billion-dollar AI talent spending spree, as Zuckerberg poached engineers, researchers, and executives from rivals like ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.

More recently, Meta announced a hiring freeze, part of an internal restructuring of the company's AI efforts, which Zuckerberg has said will deliver superintelligence to the world — a bold promise.

The partnership with Midjourney is one of Wang's first big public moves as the company's first-ever Chief AI Officer.

So far, Meta's AI image and video generation tools have lagged behind competitors. Like Grok Imagine from xAI, a simple scroll through the Meta AI app will show images and videos that look like the kind of output generated by old models like DALL-E two or three years ago.

In comparison, Midjourney has far more advanced image and video models, which is likely the "aesthetic technology" mentioned in Wang's statement on X.

AI-generated images and videos from the Midjourney Explore feed. Credit: Screenshot: Midjourney AI-generated images and videos from the Midjourney Explore feed. Credit: Screenshot: Midjourney

The Meta AI app allows users to share images and videos with the world, and it's full of generic AI slop and apparent intellectual property violations. Midjourney's feed looks much cleaner and more sophisticated, though the company was recently sued by Disney and Universal for IP infringement, with the suit calling Midjourney a "bottomless pit of plagiarism."

A typical AI-generated image from Meta AI. Credit: Screenshot: Meta AI An AI-generated image of Michael Jackson on a unicorn recently posted to the Meta AI app. Credit: Screenshot: Meta AI

Earlier this year, Midjourney introduced a new AI video tool, which allows users to easily turn images into short video clips.

By leveraging Midjourney's latest tools and models, Meta will be able to catch up to rivals like Gemini and ChatGPT.

The partnership is another reminder that Meta's internal AI technology has a long way to go to achieve the superintelligence predicted by Zuckerberg.

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.

Eden is the cinematic re-imagining of the real accounts of several survivors who formed an impromptu commune in the Galápagos Islands. The film is set on Floreana Island, which was uninhabited until 1929, when Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) and his partner Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby) arrived from Berlin. Their goal was to live together in isolation while creating the manifesto intended to shepherd humanity into its next stage of evolution.

The film is set several years into their residency on Floreana, when a family of three arrives on the island: Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Brühl), Margaret Wittmer (Sydney Sweeney) and Heinz's son Harry (Jonathan Tittel). They had read about Ritter and Strauch and were looking to start their lives anew, away from the modern civilization they felt had abandoned them. Tensions arise once it becomes clear that Ritter has no desire to share the island with others. Tensions explode once a third, more chaotic group arrives lead by the Baroness, Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas). Tensions turns to violence as food supplies begin to dwindle. What once was an island of possibilities turns into a hell of survival.

Ron Howard calls Eden "a cautionary tale. One of the most searched phrases on the internet is 'off the grid.' And I think that fantasy of just getting the hell out and leaving it behind and just getting back to something simple, it's very relatable. And that's what these characters did. So here's a case study... It's a thriller born out of the answer to the question of, well, what would it actually be like to take that sort of leap and leave the romance behind? And, oh, here's some people who did it. Well, have a look, see how well that went."

Eden is now in theaters.

I dislike change as much as the next person, more actually, according to my psychiatrist, yet it seems it's fans of the popular tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons that hate it most of all. My social media is flooded with complaints about changes to the rules and lore of the game, so clearly there are some pretty deep schisms in the hobby.

The best deals to watch college football without cable: BEST overall ESPN Unlimited (with Hulu and Disney+) $29.99 per month for 1 year (save $15) Get Deal Best for Fox and Big Ten Network games Fox One annual subscription $199.99 per year (save $39.89) Get Deal BEST cable alternative deal YouTube TV Free 10-day trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months (save $99) Get Deal Runner-up cable alternative deal Sling Season Pass (Orange, Blue, Sports Extra) $329 for 5 months (save $50.95) Get Deal MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK Hulu + Live TV (also includes ESPN and Disney+) Free 3-day trial, then $82.99 per month Get Deal Best Fubo deal FuboTV Free 7-day trial, then $54.99 for first month (save $30) Get Deal BEST FOR CBS BROADCASTS Paramount+ Premium $119.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST FOR NBC BROADCASTS Peacock Premium $109.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

The 2025 college football season kicks off Aug. 23 with a matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State in Dublin for Week 0. Thankfully, there are no sweeping conference changes or shake-ups this year, which is a relief after the scrambling that happened prior to last season. The 12-team playoff format is still in place, but the seeding of the teams will differ from last year. There are also some minor rule changes to combat the faking of injuries and to timeouts in overtime. No biggies, though. The most complicated thing about the 2025-2026 NCAA football season is figuring out how to watch your favorite team.

Don't worry; we've got you covered. Keep scrolling to learn how to watch college football without cable in 2025, which channels you're going to need, and the best ways to get them.

Can I watch college football games without cable?

Yes, you can watch every college football game without cable. The only problem is that you may need a patchwork of streaming apps, depending on which teams and how many games you want to watch. The 2025 college football season will be broadcast across an array of local channels, specialty sports networks, and even a couple of streaming services.

Newly launched streaming services from ESPN and Fox are really changing the game this season. ESPN's direct-to-consumer subscription now encompasses the full suite of ESPN networks and services for $29.99 per month, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX. Meanwhile, Fox One is a one-stop shop for the entirety of the Fox TV portfolio. It costs $19.99 per month and includes access to Fox News, Fox Sports, Fox Weather, FS1, FS2, Fox Business, Fox Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), local Fox stations, and Fox Network. These two apps alone will give you access to the majority of college football games this season, and as of Oct. 2, you'll be able to bundle them together for a discounted rate.

A live TV streaming service or cable replacement will give you the most comprehensive channel selection overall, but will also cost you the most money (i.e., YouTube TV or Fubo). You can also subscribe to a standalone service like Peacock or Paramount+ if you just want to casually tune into a few games throughout the season. As the cheapest option, it's also the most limited.

TL;DR: You get what you pay for.

What channels are college football games on?

Before you decide on which live TV service or streaming app you need to watch NCAA college football games, you need to know which networks your team(s) plays on. Check the conference list below to see which channels and streamers will air games for each conference in 2025. Not sure which conference your team is in? Check out the list over at ESPN.com.

• American Athletic Conference (AAC) — ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+

• Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) — ABC, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, The CW

• Big 12 — ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, Fox, Fox Sports 1, TNT

• Big Ten — Big Ten Network, CBS, Fox, Fox Sports 1, NBC, Peacock

• Conference USA — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+

• FBS independents — CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN+, NBC, Peacock

• Mid-American Conference (MAC) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+

• Mountain West Conference (MW) — CBS, CBS Sports Network, Fox, Fox Sports 1, truTV

• Pac-12 Conference — CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, The CW

• Southeastern Conference (SEC) — ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, SEC Network, SEC+

• Sun Belt Conference — ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+

What are the best streaming services for college football? Can you watch football without cable? It's complicated. Credit: Pexels / cottonbro studio

As I mentioned above, the best streaming service for college football depends on your team and budget. The best streaming apps for live sports run the gamut of pricing — from eight bucks per month to a monstrous $100 per month. The more you pay, the wider selection of games you'll have access to.

The best live TV cable alternatives include YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling. Sling is the most affordable of the bunch, but gives you access to a more limited live channel selection, while YouTube TV, Hulu, and Fubo offer hundreds of channels but cost a bit more. ESPN and Fox One offer a wide selection of games at a mid-range price point, making us more inclined to recommend these services for most people. We haven't had the opportunity to test these new streaming services out yet, but they certainly sound promising. You can also watch limited live games on Peacock, Paramount+, and HBO Max — some of which will exclusively host games this season.

It's a bit confusing, but at least it's not as difficult as figuring out how to watch every NFL game this season. To help with your decision, we've rounded up the best streaming deals for college football fans. You can also check out the complete broadcast schedule on the NCAA website.

The best live TV streaming deals for NCAAF 2025Best overall: ESPN Unlimited bundle Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited plan (with Hulu and Disney+) $29.99 per month introductory offer Get Deal

Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX

ESPN's newly launched Unlimited plan gives you access to the entirety of ESPN's suite of networks and services. For college football, you'll have live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. That's a pretty big chunk — nearly 50 percent — of the channels you'll need to tune into games this season. The Unlimited plan on its own costs $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can get the Unlimited plan bundled with Disney+ and Hulu for the same cost. That ultimately gives you Hulu and Disney+ for free for a year.

Come Oct. 2, you'll also be able to bundle ESPN and Fox One together for just $39.99 per month ($9.98 cheaper than paying for both services separately).

Best for Fox and Big Ten Network (B1G) games: Fox One annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One annual subscription $199.99 per year (save $40) Get Deal

Channels: Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network

Fox conveniently launched its first streaming service the same day as ESPN's new Unlimited plan. It also offers a direct-to-consumer streaming model, giving subscribers access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network throughout the college football season. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan for $199.99 instead. Also, as noted above, you'll be able to bundle Fox One with ESPN come October for the ultimate sports streaming deal.

Best cable alternative deal: $49.99/month for your first 3 months of YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV Free 10-day trial, then $49.99/month for first 3 months (save $99) Get Deal

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW

The best value for a live TV cable alternative, YouTube TV gives you access to over 100 live channels. Those include most of the ones you need to watch college football games live — NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, as well as specialty networks like Fox Sports 1, and SEC Network. For a limited time, YouTube TV is offering new users a discount on their first three months of service. Plus, you can kick things off with a 10-day free trial. The base plan usually costs $82.99 per month, but you'll pay just $49.99 per month (save $99) for your first three months.

Runner-up cable alternative deal: Sling Season Pass Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Season Pass (Orange, Blue, and Sports Extra) $329 for five months (save $50.95) Get Deal

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network

By prepaying for five months of Sling Orange, Blue, and Sports Extra in the Sling Season Pass, you can save about $51. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, while the Sports Extra package unlocks access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more. It'll cost you $329 for five months of Sling Season Pass, which is significantly cheaper than any other live TV streaming service (about $66 per month). Just be sure to check your local market to ensure you'll have access to the channels you need.

Best bang for your buck: Get Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN together Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV (with Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN) Free 3-day trial, then $82.99 per month Get Deal

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW

While other live TV streamers might cost a little less, Hulu's live TV service definitely offers the most bang for your buck. You'll pay $82.99 per month (after a three-day trial) and get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN Unlimited (all with ads). For comparison, YouTube TV is also $82.99 per month and only includes the live channels. With ESPN's new Unlimited plan, you'll unlock access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more.

Best Fubo deal: Take $30 off your first month of Fubo Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV Fubo Free 7-day trial, then $30 off your first month Get Deal

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW

Fubo isn't our first choice for a live TV streaming service, but we do like that it takes sports seriously. With a Pro subscription (the most affordable tier), you'll get access to most college football broadcasts for $84.99 per month. You can also upgrade to 4K with the Elite plan, but it'll cost $104.99 per month. Either way, you can test the waters for seven days before you pay and, for a limited time, take $30 off your first month.

Best for CBS games only: Paramount+ Premium annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ / Showtime Paramount+ Premium annual subscription $119.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

Channels: CBS

If your team is in the Big Ten or plays on CBS and you're only a casual college football fan, a subscription to Paramount+ Premium is probably the best option. Paramount+ Premium allows you to tune into live CBS broadcasts of nearly two dozen Big Ten games, including a weekly, Saturday afternoon Big Ten game, starting Saturday, Aug. 30. It's regularly $12.99 per month, but you can save 17% by paying for a year upfront. That knocks the monthly cost down to just $9.99.

Best for NBC and Peacock games: Peacock Premium yearly subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

Channels: NBC, Peacock

Similar to Paramount+, Peacock offers simulcasts of games airing on NBC throughout the 2025 season. Plus, Peacock offers exclusive broadcasts as well. In order to watch live games, you'll need at least the Premium plan, which starts at $10.99 per month. You can save about 17%, however, by paying for a year upfront. That knocks the monthly price down to about $9 per month.

More Peacock deals:

• Peacock Premium Student Discount (save $8 per month)

• Peacock Premium First Responders Discount (save $7 per month)

• Peacock Premium Teachers Discount (save $7 per month)

• Peacock Premium Military Discount (save $7 per month)

• Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ (save $7.99 per month)

SAVE $37: As of Aug. 22, the Kindle Paperwhite (refurbished) is on sale for $106.99 at Amazon. That's the best-ever price for this like-new model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Paperwhite (Like-New) $106.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $37.00 Get Deal

Just because something has been pre-owned doesn't make it any less beautiful, OK? Shame on you for judging refurbished products so harshly. Everything deserves a second chance, including Kindles.

As of Aug. 22, the like-new Kindle Paperwhite is on sale for $106.99 at Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price for this refubished model according to camelcamelcamel. So if you've been staring at that list of books you'd like to read, this deal could provide the push you need to start making some progress through the pile.

SEE ALSO: Stuff Your Kindle Day is live until Aug. 16 — download 100s of free historical fiction and contemporary books

So can you trust a refurb? According to Amazon, this Kindle is "refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new and comes with the same limited warranty as a new device." Do you really need something brand-new when you've got assurances like that? Get over yourself.

The new Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon's fastest Kindle yet. It has an ultra-thin, glare-free design, and a single charge can last for up to 12 weeks. Plus, it's waterproof. So you don't need to worry when reading in the tub, pool, beach, or whatever watering hole you find yourself in this summer.

Get the best-ever price on the Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon.

SAVE $80: As of Aug. 22, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are still down to $169 at Amazon. This is 32% off their list price of $249, saving you $80.

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

Who needs a big sale event to save on AirPods? Quite a few of Apple's earbuds have been sitting at low prices lately, including AirPods Pro 2. If you've been looking to pick up these earbuds at a reduced rate, you can score them for $169 right now at Amazon.

This is a 32% discount on their list price of $249, saving you $80. This deal price on the AirPods Pro 2 is also only $20 away from the best price we saw for the AirPods Pro 2 over Prime Day, so it's still a decent pickup at this price. And who knows how much longer this deal will stay live, so act fast to pick them up at this low price.

SEE ALSO: The 5 best noise-cancelling earbuds include the most comfortable buds I've ever worn

AirPods Pro 2 offer great sound quality thanks to the H2 chip, alongside noise-canceling features to help you keep any outside noises from interrupting your listening. Active Noise Cancellation completely blocks out sounds, Transparency mode lets some sounds in, and Adaptive Audio works as a combination of the two to give you the best listening experience no matter the environment.

We consider the AirPods Pro 2 to be the best earbuds for Apple users in our roundup of the best earbuds to buy in 2025. So why wait to pick them up? Don't miss out on the AirPods Pro 2 down to $169 at Amazon.

Between now and the end of November, many residents in the Southeast United States are focused on one concern: the potential for hurricanes. The beginning of hurricane season creates significant stress and uncertainty for everyone. People in coastal and inland regions begin preparing for potential effects when tropical storms and hurricanes intensify as they pass over warm ocean waters.

AOL has recently announced that it will discontinue dial-up internet services, including its associated software, before the end of the year. This announcement left many shocked that dial-up internet hadn’t been completely phased out over a decade ago. It may be easy to assume that the only remaining customers are those who forgot to discontinue their subscription or weren't able to. As surprising as it is, however, there are still people and businesses actively accessing the internet in this antiquated fashion.

For those who put a lot of effort into managing their eBook library, the latest Calibre update (8.9) is here to make your life a little bit easier. It might not be a major overhaul, but it brings some quality-of-life improvements you’ll appreciate the next time you dive into your book collection.

You may have heard people on social media platforms use terms like "unalive" when they mean "kill" or "Yahtzee" when they mean "Nazi". These are euphemisms for words that are related to sensitive topics, and if you stumble upon one of these videos it can feel like you're hearing another language entirely.

If you're sick and tired of too much clutter on your iPhone's home screen, you can hide the app names by using a hidden iOS 18 feature that not a lot of users know about. I made the switch several months ago, and I absolutely love how it makes my iPhone's screen look less busy.

Ever find yourself looking for a recently downloaded file or trying to find that screenshot you just took? It’s not always easy depending on which operating system your device uses.

We're still living in a world of individualization, along with a thirst for technology among younger buyers. Sports sedans like the Elantra N slot in nicely to cater to that thirst, and Hyundai has done well to seize that opportunity. The Sports Sedan occupies a ever-shrinking slice of the car market; does it still warrant focus from manufacturers?

FFmpeg is the powerful open-source media encoder, decoder, and all-purpose framework for media files. Even if you haven’t used it directly, you’ve probably used an app that relies on it. Now, it has received a major update with the release of FFmpeg 8.0.

After being sued by Oura, smart ring maker Ultrahuman is suing right back, alleging a similar violation.

Ultrahuman, which has similar health and fitness tracking capabilities as its competitor, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Finland-based Oura in India's Delhi High Court on Thursday.

"Oura has blatantly copied Ultrahuman’s advanced intellectual property including women’s health features, circadian health tools, and glucose monitoring platform thereby benefiting from Ultrahuman’s investment in public health without a license to do so," Ultrahuman alleged in a press release announcing the lawsuit.

It's the latest salvo in the legal battle of the smart rings.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

Oura sued Ultrahuman and RingConn for patent infringement in the U.S., saying the rivals copied key features such as its curved battery to fit the ring shape and advanced sensors. Oura claims its competitors purchased Oura rings to reverse engineer them and study their inner workings. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) initially ruled in favor of Oura's infringement claims, but a final decision is still to come.

In response to the new suit in India, an Oura spokesperson said in a statement to Mashable, "Ultrahuman’s lawsuit in India has no merit and is a blatant attempt to distract from their decisive U.S. defeat. The International Trade Commission ruled unequivocally that Ultrahuman infringed on ŌURA’s intellectual property, blocking all of their smart rings—and components—from the U.S. market through exclusion and cease-and-desist orders."

Earlier this year, Ultrahuman argued that certain components of its smart ring have actually been around for years, and Oura only recently secured the patent to take on competitors. "This isn’t a dispute over years of secret R&D," Ultrahuman said in a blog post about the lawsuit. "It’s about a very recent patent purchase now being wielded to limit the choices ring-wearers like you have..."

Ultrahuman's lawsuit against Oura centers around a patent granted by the India Patent Office that the company says protects the unique smart ring architecture of its Ring AIR smart ring. It alleges that Oura's Ring 4 infringes on this patent by copying these protected elements and further profiting from this with a subscription-based service.

"Companies that replicate Ultrahuman’s breakthroughs only to lock them behind mandatory subscriptions are anti-innovation and anti-consumer," the press release continued.

UPDATE: Aug. 22, 2025, 2:06 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with a statement from Oura.

I'm pretty sure Ryan Reynolds could make a root canal fun and entertaining. And if you needed more proof beyond the actor's sassy, foul-mouthed antics as Marvel's Merc with a Mouth, Deadpool, then do yourself a favor and check out Underdogs.

SAVE $40: As of Aug. 22, get the Sonos Roam 2 for $139 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179. That's a discount of 22%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sonos Roam 2 $139 at Amazon
$179 Save $40 Get Deal

If you're the type of person who likes to take music on the go, a good portable speaker is a must-have. You can enjoy all your favorite songs or podcasts wherever you roam, turn anywhere into an instant party, and set the vibe in a matter of minutes. But while they might seem a bit pricey to invest in, there are some that are actually quite affordable. The Sonos Roam 2 speaker is one of them, and it also delivers in the quality department.

As of Aug. 22, get the Sonos Roam 2 for $139 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179. That's $40 off and a discount of 22%.

SEE ALSO: The best portable Bluetooth speakers in 2025

You can take the Sonos Roam 2 with you anywhere you go. It's small, lightweight, and waterproof, which makes it one of the better options if you decide to travel with it. It's also dustproof, so you can head to the beach, the dunes, or wherever life takes you without having to worry about whether your speaker will get damaged. It's good to go with that IP67 rating, so the party can come along with you.

It has a rechargeable battery that can get you up to 10 hours of listening time per charge, as well as Sonos Voice Control and Alexa support. That means you can change songs or mix tracks up without having to use the app or on-device controls. And the speaker itself is nice and loud, so sound can carry and the dancing doesn't have to stop.

There's still some summer left, so you can take this speaker to the beach with you for one last hurrah, then put it on a shelf for listening at home. It's versatile enough to make it a good year-round buy, especially when it's discounted like this.

The best Bose soundbar deals as of Aug. 22: Best budget option Bose TV Speaker Soundbar $163.45 (save $115.55) Get Deal Best mid-range option Bose Smart Soundbar $399 (save $100) Get Deal Best splurge Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar $699 (save $200) Get Deal

Built-in TV speakers are hardly something to write home about. If your TV's sound system doesn't quite live up to its picture quality, we highly recommend adding a soundbar. With football season around the corner, boosting your sound system ensures you won't miss a single call on the field (even when you kind of wish you did). Beyond sports, a soundbar can also help you actually hear the dialogue in those quieter scenes of your favorite shows and movies. It's a worthy addition to your entertainment setup, whether you spend 100 bucks or close to $1,000.

One of our favorite audio brands, Bose, offers options for every budget — and as of Aug. 22, they're all on sale. We've broken down the deals below to help you make the right choice. One of these options even tops our list of the best soundbars from any brand.

Best on a budget: Bose TV Speaker Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose TV Speaker $163.45 at Amazon
$279 Save $115.55 Get Deal Why we like it

A solid introductory option, the Bose TV Speaker adds some serious sound in a small, but mighty package. It delivers balanced and natural-sounding spatial audio while enhancing dialogue for clarity. The simple plug-and-play design allows you to get it up and running in no time. Connect up to three devices through the inputs, or even pair your phone and use it as an external Bluetooth speaker. As of Aug. 22, the budget soundbar is down to only $163.45 instead of $279. That's its lowest price on record at 41% off.

Best for most people: Bose Smart Soundbar Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Smart Soundbar $399 at Amazon
$499 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Bose Smart Soundbar.

"For most users, I think this soundbar hits the sweet spot in terms of features, sound, and value for the dollar," wrote Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth in his review of the Bose Smart Soundbar. The mid-range option tops our list of the best soundbars, thanks to its powerful sound, AI Dialogue Mode, pronounced bass, wide connectivity options, smart assistant support, and compact design. AI Dialogue Mode detects speech in audio streams to make it clearer amongst background noise, which our reviewer said "offers hope to anyone who's become a little more reliant than they would like on closed captions." Usually $499, you can save $100 on this immersive soundbar as of Aug. 22.

Best splurge: Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar $699 at Amazon
$899 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

For those looking to splurge on high-quality sound, we suggest the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, which is the next step up in Bose's range. We haven't had the opportunity to test it for ourselves, but our sister site PCMag (also owned by publisher Ziff Davis) spent some time with it and called it "a powerful one-piece soundbar that delivers big sound with plenty of spatial audio detail, and ample audio streaming features." It earned their coveted Editors' Choice award and a glowing 4.5 out of 5 stars. It looks just as sleek and simple as the more budget-friendly options, but is packed with features like AdaptiQ, which allows the soundbar to measure your room's acoustics and adjust the balance for optimal sound and spatial imaging based on where you sit. It also packs nine total speakers — including two upward-firing — compared to the Smart Soundbar's five.

As of Aug. 22, you can grab the top-of-the-line Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar for $699 instead of $899. That's 22% off. While the white colorway has been cheaper before, this is the lowest-ever price on record for the black option.

SAVE $200: As of Aug. 22, get the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station for $1,099. That saves you $200 for 15% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200 Get Deal

Don't have a standby generator? That's not a problem — usually. But when a storm comes through and takes out the power, it can leave you hanging in an emergency situation. If investing in a standby generator is out of reach, then a portable power station is a more attainable option. DJI, the brand behind our favorite drones and vlogging camera, also makes portable power stations that keep your lights on in a pinch.

As of Aug. 22, the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station, is $200 off at Amazon. Normally $1,299, it's down to $1,099, bringing the price down 15%.

SEE ALSO: The best Jackery portable power station deals will help you stay powered up in a pinch

The DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station has 3000W of power and can even provide power to multiple appliances at once. It includes four AC outlets, four USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, and two SDC ports. It comes to 80% charge in 55 minutes when connected to grip power, but it can also charge to 100% in 75 minutes with solar power. While it can be a crucial source of back-up power in an emergency, it's also great to bring camping or on an RV road trip.

Get the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station for $1,099 at Amazon now and save $200 off.