Technology

In the wake of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s killing, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer has called on the CEOs of Discord, Reddit, Twitch, and Valve to testify at an Oct. 8 hearing on online radicalization.

The hearing follows claims that the accused shooter — a 22-year-old white man from Utah — may have been influenced by extremist communities online. “Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence,” Comer said in a press release. “To prevent future radicalization and violence, the CEOs…must appear before the Oversight Committee and explain what actions they will take to ensure their platforms are not exploited for nefarious purposes.”

SEE ALSO: After losing their son, parents urge Senate to take action on AI chatbots

Federal investigators are still working to determine the shooter’s true motivations, though Robinson's mother told police he learned left of center politically, according to USA Today. Bullet casings recovered at the scene carried meme-laden inscriptions referencing Helldivers 2, anti-fascist themes, and furry culture jokes from 4chan. While early theories pointed to online radicalization, leaked Discord logs paint a far murkier picture of a young man whose friends describe as apolitical, more interested in video games and guns than ideology. A Reddit spokesperson told Mashable their internal review has so far turned up no evidence that the suspect was active on the site.

Earlier this week, Utah Governor Spencer Cox reported that the shooter remains uncooperative, but lawmakers are pressing ahead with scrutiny of the platforms. These hearings have become a familiar ritual in the United States, where mass shootings are frequent and tech companies are regularly accused of enabling extremist networks. Discord and Twitch were both investigated by state attorneys general after the 2022 Buffalo shooting at a supermarket.

Discord, for its part, has already signaled it will cooperate. "We have received the Committee’s invitation and welcome the opportunity to testify," a spokesperson told Mashable. "We continuously engage with policymakers on these critical issues and look forward to continuing this important dialogue next month."

SAVE $35.97: As of Sept. 17, Amazon is offering three months of Kindle Unlimited for free to Prime members who have never subscribed previously. Usually $11.99 per month, that's just shy of $36 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Unlimited Kindle Unlimited free for 3 months (save $35.97) Get Deal

The Libby app is truly a blessing to readers, but the lengthy wait times on popular titles are the pits. If you're an avid reader and like to stay on top of the latest and greatest releases, Kindle Unlimited is the way to go. Sure, it costs a monthly fee, but if you're a new subscriber, you can get three months for free.

As of Sept. 17, Amazon is giving three free months of Kindle Unlimited to Prime members who have never subscribed previously. It's typically $11.99 per month, so that's $35.97 in savings. While Amazon hasn't specified an end date for the promotion, we expect it to last at least until the Prime Big Deal Days event (Oct. 7 and 8).

Kindle Unlimited unlocks instant access to millions of books in nearly every genre imaginable, including the soon-to-be major motion pictures Regretting You by Colleen Hoover and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, and other popular titles like Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. It even includes thousands of audiobooks and magazine subscriptions. And the best part? You don't even need a Kindle device to access Kindle Unlimited (although we highly suggest grabbing one). Just download the Kindle app and you can read on any device — your laptop, smartphone, iPad, or web browser.

Your subscription will automatically renew at full price — $11.99 per month — once the three-month promotional period ends. So be sure to set a reminder to cancel if you want to avoid those charges. Although, like me, there's a good chance Kindle Unlimited will keep you hooked.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC as a lifetime license for $169.97 (reg. $249.99) — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote with no recurring fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC: Lifetime License $169.97
$249.99 Save $80.02 Get Deal

If you’re tired of paying subscriptions for tools you use every day, here’s some good news: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is now available as a lifetime license for Mac or PC. That means one payment and full access — no monthly fees, no recurring charges.

Why upgrade:

• Word — New Focus Mode, Smart Compose, and research tools.

• Excel — Dynamic Arrays, AI-powered insights, and data visualization.

• PowerPoint — Record presentations with video/voice and enhanced storytelling features.

• Outlook — Better search, accessibility tools & stronger security.

• OneNote — Capture, organize & collaborate effortlessly.

• Performance Boosts — Faster, smoother handling of large files.

• Modern Interface — Consistent Fluent Design across all apps.

• Collaboration tools — Real-time co-authoring, Teams integration, version history.

• AI enhancements — Intelligent suggestions, natural language processing, smarter analytics.

• Work offline anytime — Full access without relying on the cloud.

Office 2024 gives you the latest features professionals rely on — with the simplicity of a one-time purchase.

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC for just $169.97 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Summer I Turned Pretty may have aired its series finale, but there's still more story to tell.

On Wednesday, just hours after The Summer I Turned Pretty's final episode dropped and Belly (Lola Tung) made her final choice between Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), Prime Video announced that The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie is in the works. The movie will serve as the supersized finale for the series. The Summer I Turned Pretty author and showrunner Jenny Han is set to both write and direct.

SEE ALSO: Why Conrad from 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' is the internet’s ultimate summer crush

"There is another big milestone left in Belly’s journey, and I thought only a movie could give it its proper due. I’m so grateful to Prime Video for continuing to support my vision for this story and for making it possible to share this final chapter with the fans," said Han in a press release.

What will The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie be about?

Story details for The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie are under wraps for now, but Han's statement gives viewers a clue. She mentioned a "big milestone left in Belly's journey." What could that be?

Well, The Summer I Turned Pretty series closes with — spoiler alert! — Belly choosing her first love, Conrad Fisher. In that way, it follows Han's books, but there is a key element of their ending missing: their wedding!

The final book in the series, We'll Always Have Summer, ends with Belly and Conrad's wedding, and with Belly reading the letter Susannah (Rachel Blanchard) wrote for her to read on her wedding day. However, the wedding is missing from The Summer I Turned Pretty's finale, meaning that Belly and Conrad's wedding is likely going to be the "big milestone" Han mentioned.

When is The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie coming out?

The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie doesn't have a release date yet. However, Lola Tung and Christopher Briney are both confirmed to be reprising their roles as Belly and Conrad.

The Summer I Turned Pretty is now streaming on Prime Video.

Android 16 has been officially available for a few months now, but the beta program is still going strong. The second beta for the upcoming quarterly release (QPR2) has just been released for Pixel phones, and it has some cool goodies.

Your Discover feed always gives you a healthy feed of news and articles—you might've even reached this very post through Discover. Now, though, it's about to get a lot worse.

Sci-fi movies are typically saturated with aliens, space travel, distant galaxies, and other mind-bending science fiction.

Right now, you can get a Lisen retractable USB-C charger for just $10 on Amazon. This is a massive 50% discount off the usual $28 price. You can also save an extra $4.20 with the on-page coupon, making this a shockingly low price for a 45W charger that eliminates cable clutter.

Marketing plays a role in the modern game, pushing a narrative and getting in your face more than others. The same spending on the budget might not be possible from every manufacturer out there. One particular car brand doesn't occupy as much limelight but, however, still continues to deliver rock-solid cars, impressing both those who write about them and those who buy and enjoy them. That brand is Honda.

Upcoming horror film Good Boy takes familiar haunted house tropes and filters them through an unlikely perspective: that of its canine star, Indy.

SEE ALSO: 'Good Boy' review: What if a dog were a horror movie hero?

The film sees Indy (the real-life family pet of Good Boy director Ben Leonberg) and his owner, Todd (Shane Jensen), move into a vacant family home in the countryside. The vibes in the house are immediately off. Not only can Indy sense an invisible presence, he also receives haunting visions of the home's previous owner's death. As Todd threatens to succumb to a similar fate, it's up to Indy to thwart the malevolent spirits lurking in the house and save his owner.

Indy the dog has earned rave reviews for his performance ever since Good Boy's world premiere at 2025's SXSW festival. Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko singled him out in her review, writing: "Indy is just a star from his first frame. His dark eyes, floppy ears, and sweet expression make him instantly lovable. But more than that, he is so game for whatever Leonberg directs him to do. Staying and staring into an eerie abyss? Jumping into action? Reacting to a burst of blood? Racing to Todd to protect him? Indy is a good boy, through and through."

Indy's star power is on full display in Good Boy's latest trailer, which puts him in all sorts of peril. Of course, seeing a dog in that amount of danger leads to one question: Does the dog die?

You'll have to see Good Boy yourself to discover Indy's fate. (Or you can spoil yourself with our handy guide.)

Good Boy hits theaters Oct. 3.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

The 8Bitdo 64 Bluetooth Controller is on sale at its lowest price ever, knocking 31% off the price. It's now just $28 on Amazon, down from its usual $40. This controller will remind you of the old days on Nintendo 64 and is great for emulation.

I spent years trying to find the perfect note-taking app and came close with Google Keep. For a while, this app provided everything I was looking for and then some. However, as my needs began to expand, I slowly outgrew it.

Logitech G just revealed two new gaming mice in its PRO Series. The Pro X Superlight 2c is a smaller version of the popular Pro X Superlight 2, while the Pro X2 Superstrike comes with a brand new, industry-first click technology that supposedly will be a game changer for players.

Apple's latest flagship iPhone isn't quite on store shelves yet, but the first reviews are up.

A handful of tech reporters have posted their initial reviews for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the biggest and most expensive handset in the iPhone 17 lineup. Mashable will also have one up soon, but in the meantime, let's go over what everyone is saying about the beefy new phone. Between its controversial design, battery life, cameras, and more, critics have a lot to say, and very little of it is negative.

SEE ALSO: The iPhone 17 has officially landed. Here's how and when you can preorder all 4 phones. iPhone 17 Pro Max review roundup

Here's what everyone is saying about the new iPhone, which runs the just-released iOS 26.

The new design is winning people over How do you feel about cosmic orange? Credit: CNET

One of the more controversial aspects of the iPhone 17 Pro Max has been the design. Apple re-engineered the phone from previous models, housing many of its components in a new camera plateau that extends horizontally across the phone's rear. It's certainly more bulky-looking than before. The new orange color scheme has also been divisive, as is the lack of a black color option.

That said, the reviews I read indicated that critics more or less came around on the design. Mark Spoonauer of Tom's Guide had kind things to say about it.

"Apple took a risk with the iPhone 17 Pro Max redesign, and I actually think it pays off. What was just a camera bump in the top left corner is now a mammoth camera bar that Apple calls the plateau," Spoonauer wrote. "Some may not like it, but to me, it actually feels more Pro."

Apple also added a new aluminum frame to the phone's exterior, and Cherlynn Low of Engadget noted that this should make the phone more durable. She noted that her iPhone 16 Pro experienced a bad fall with some cracks recently, but the 17 Pro Max is unlikely to suffer the same fate.

"With its aluminum frame protecting the edges of the rear and back, there is little chance the iPhone 17 Pro will break in the way my iPhone 16 Pro did. Its screen is now protected by Ceramic Shield 2, so if it fell flat on its face it should still be able to survive the impact," Low wrote. "The rear is a bit more vulnerable, since the three cameras still protrude slightly from the plateau, but those are covered by the same sapphire crystal that previous models were."

As for the new orange color, that's a matter of personal taste, but it should be noted that critics generally liked that, too.

The selfie camera is the star

Across the board, reviews have been kind to the iPhone 17 Pro Max's trio of 48MP rear cameras. However, that's normal and expected. One thing that really stood out is how much reviewers liked the new Center Stage selfie camera.

Patrick Holland of CNET, which is owned by Mashable publisher Ziff Davis, noted the improvements made to the selfie camera, including the ability for it to zoom out and take bigger group shots.

"There's a new selfie camera on both Pro phones that Apple calls Center Stage. It not only takes 18-megapixel selfies, up from 12 megapixels on the 16 Pro, but you can hold the 17 Pro vertically and take a horizontal selfie thanks to a new square image sensor." Holland wrote. "You can press an onscreen button to change the orientation, and there are even settings that will auto-rotate and auto-zoom out for group shots."

Patrick Holland of CNET takes a selfie with the iPhone 17 Pro. Credit: CNET

Over at Engadget, Low noted that she was skeptical of Center Stage at first, but was quickly won over after using it in a number of different scenarios.

"I was all the more persuaded when I paired Center Stage with a timer or remote control of the selfie camera and placed the iPhone 17 Pro Max on a table," Low wrote. "A group of seven or so friends and I gathered in front of the device and watched it flip into landscape mode as more of us got into the scene. It has been helpful in a number of unexpected ways."

Big battery life

Part of Apple's rationale for the new camera plateau is that it could house more components, such as the phone's upgraded battery. According to the early iPhone 17 Pro reviews, the battery part was not BS.

Take it from Julian Chokkattu of Wired. In that site's review, Chokkattu noted that you can easily get through a day without charging your iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Credit: CNET

"In real-world testing, I haven't worried about battery life on either of these phones. I'm using the Pro Max right now, which has more than 5 hours of screen-on time (SoT) and 55 percent left in the tank. I hit nearly seven hours of SoT on the iPhone 17 Pro, and it still had 30 percent left," Chokkattu wrote. "Much will depend on what you're doing—hours of gaming will deplete the cell much faster—but I think there's a good chance you might not have to charge your iPhone every single day anymore, especially with the Pro Max."

Lance Ulanoff of TechRadar also had very positive experiences with the battery, but cautioned that we might have to wait a while before we have real, detailed metrics on the iPhone 17 Pro Max's battery performance.

"Now, in my experience, I went over 30 hours (it's rated for 39 hours) before I needed to charge the phone. However, I think it's too early to make a final assessment on battery life," Ulanoff wrote. "I know my phone is busy copying 30,000 emails, updating photo libraries, and more background tasks relating to initial setup."

In summary, it sounds like Apple nailed the things it needed to nail with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, at least according to these initial reviews. Mashable will have a review of our own up in due time, so stay tuned for that.

We all have a junk drawer filled with inaccessible cables. Fortunately, you don't need to run out and buy a fancy organizer. The ideal solution may already be lying around in your kitchen.

Nothing just gave everyone a sneak peek at Nothing OS 4.0, the upcoming Android 16 update for its phones. While an exact release date hasn't been given, we can expect the upgrade to come with things like an Extra dark mode, and visual and functional improvements.

TL;DR: Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a lot of significant matchups in the Champions League this week, but Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea might be the biggest of the bunch. Both sides will be looking to progress comfortably from the group stage and perhaps even challenge for the trophy, so an opening round win would set things in the right direction.

If you want to watch Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea?

Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 17. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea for free

Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea for free 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea 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 access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 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 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

The U.S.'s TikTok ban has been pushed back yet again by President Donald Trump.

Trump has declared that December 16, 2025 is the new deadline for TikTok and its China-based parent company Bytedance to come to an agreement to sell off the app if it wants to continue to operate in the U.S.

Earlier this week, Trump and members of his administration shared that there was a "framework" for a deal with China to sell off TikTok. However, at the time, details surrounding the deal were scarce. 

According to a new Wall Street Journal report, though, it appears that the deal would see 80 percent of TikTok's ownership go to a consortium that includes Trump allies such as Larry Ellison's Oracle, Andreessen Horowitz, and Silver Lake. The other 20 percent of the company would still be owned by Chinese stakeholders. It appears that China would continue to hold on to the technology behind TikTok, such as its much sought after algorithm, and would license it to the new U.S. company.

The TikTok ban received bipartisan support from Congress due to alleged national security issues. Trump, who supported the ban during his first term in office, however, had a change of heart after claiming TikTok helped his 2024 presidential campaign to victory.

The December 16 deadline is just roughly one month short of the one-year anniversary of TikTok briefly going dark as a result of a U.S. ban going into effect.  In January of this year, TikTok blocked U.S. users from accessing the app before Trump, who was in the midst of his inauguration weekend, extended their deadline.

Trump has extended TikTok's deadline multiple times and his administration appeared to be striking a harsher tone with the company over the summer in order to get a deal finished.

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back with a stellar lineup of groups stage fixtures, including Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid. Arne Slot's side have made a perfect start to the new season, but Atlético Madrid is always a tough test. The likes of Antoine Griezmann and Julián Alvarez will be looking to cause problems for the home side.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid?

Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 17. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid for free

Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid for free 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 Ireland

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid 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 access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 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 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $900: The Nebula Cosmo Laser 4K projector is on sale at Amazon for $1,099.99, down from the standard price of $1,999.99. That's a 45% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nebula Nebula Cosmo Laser 4K projector $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $900 Get Deal

The evening temps might be getting crisper, but it's not time yet to head indoors for the season. We still have plenty of great movie night opportunities while cozied up under blankets this fall. If you're looking for a top-tier movie experience either outside this fall or inside this winter, check out this epic deal at Amazon.

As of Sept. 17, the Nebula Cosmo Laser 4K projector is on sale for $1,099.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,999.99. That's a massive 45% discount that takes $900 off the price. It also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Giving off a major 2,200 ANSI lumens, the Nebula Cosmo Laser 4K projector does not need to wait until dark to get the show started. And no one will be complaining about the 4K UHD display. Pair these features with its overall weight of about 10 pounds and a convenient carrying handle, and you have something that might steal the show from your TV.

Take the Nebula Cosmo in the backyard for movie night, set it up in the living room, pack it along to a friend's house, or use it in the office for work. It's not quite as portable as the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector, but you're in for a nicer display and significantly higher lumens.

SEE ALSO: Score the Hisense 65-inch E6 Cinema Series QLED 4K TV for its lowest-ever price at Amazon

Displaying up to 150 inches, the Nebula Cosmo Laser 4K is ready for all types of viewing, and the built-in speakers aim to please with Dolby Audio. You'll be able to connect your favorite shows and movies via a Bluetooth connection, a USB stick, or an HDMI.

The Nebula Cosmo Laser 4K projector can also be a great choice for those who live in an apartment and don't want to mount a TV to the wall. Plus, when it comes time to move, it's infinitely easier to pack up a 10-pound projector compared to a TV.

While it's on sale for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon, upgrade to the Nebula Cosmo Laser 4K projector. Streaming the best fall shows will feel incredible on a 150-inch display.