Technology

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

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

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

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

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

To surrender.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

YIELD

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Strength.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

POWER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To jump for joy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

EXULT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Subtract.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

MINUS

Final Hurdle hint

A fast food option.

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

COMBO

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

We're nearing the end of the current lunar cycle, with the New Moon just days away. The lunar cycle is a 29.5-day series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. Right now, we're on day 25. According to NASA, these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth, so let's see what's happening with the moon tonight, Sept. 17.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Sept. 17, the moon phase is Waning Crescent, and it is 18% lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Visibility is low right now, due to the percentage of the moon that is lit up, but you can still see various features on the moon's surface. With no visual aids, you can still catch a glimpse of the Aristarchus Plateau and Kepler Crater. If you have binoculars, you'll also see the Grimaldi Basin and the Gassendi Crater. With a telescope, add the Reiner Gamma to your list of things to spot.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Oct. 6. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

There's just one Alien: Earth episode left to go, and judging by the way things left off at the end of episode 7, it's going to be a dramatic finale.

But while the fate of pretty much all the characters is hanging in the balance somewhat, there's one person in particular who really has a tough time of it at the episode's conclusion: Nibs (Lily Newmark).

So what happens to the group's most disturbed hybrid, and is she alive or dead? Let's recap.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' episode 6: Alien sheep is the show's greatest villain and there will be no further questions What happens at the end of Alien: Earth episode 7?

A big chunk of episode 7 takes place outside the Prodigy facility in the surrounding jungle, with Wendy (Sydney Chandler), Nibs, and Joe (Alex Lawther) attempting to escape the island after learning what's happened to Tootles (Kit Young) and that Prodigy is tracking the hybrids' every move.

With some assistance from Wendy's new Xenomorph friend, the trio fights their way through troops of soldiers before finally making it to the shore where a boat is waiting.

Unfortunately, the escape is not to be. When Joe opens the door to the boat, his old soldier friends Siberian (Diêm Camille) and Rashidi (Moe Bar-El) are waiting with guns drawn. The trio is quickly surrounded. At this point, wielding her stuffed bird, Nibs delivers an iconic line – "Mr. Strawberry says fuck off" – to the surrounding soldiers, only for one of them to make the terrible mistake of casting her beloved companion into the sea. Nibs' response is to rip off the soldier's jaw, and a fight quickly breaks out, culminating in Siberian shooting Nibs, Nibs grabbing her by the face ready to kill her, and Joe shooting Nibs with an arc of the same blue electricity that Morrow (Babou Ceesay) used to stun the Xenomorph back in episode 2.

Is Nibs dead?

At first glance things don't look good, do they? Not only has Nibs sustained two bullet wounds, but she's also been electrocuted to the point where her body is twitching and her eyes are half open as she lies on the ground. Wendy's furious "What did you do?" reaction also suggests that things might be bad for Nibs.

But maybe her injuries aren't as fatal as they first seem. She is, after all, a hybrid with a synthetic body, and — unlike poor Tootles — her head remains intact. The bullet wounds will be nothing more than a minor inconvenience, but the bigger question concerns the kind of toll that electrical weapon may have had on her.

We've seen this weapon used before by Morrow back in episode 2. Its purpose appears to be to subdue an enemy rather than kill them, as the Xenomorph Morrow zaps wakes back up, unharmed, a short while later.

Obviously, Nibs' body isn't the same as a Xenomorph's, but she is still a powerful synthetic. Our best guess is that rather than being killed, she's likely been knocked unconscious. We'll have to wait until the finale to know for sure, though.

Alien: Earth streams Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

In the Venn diagram of tablets and books, our favorite e-readers fall perfectly in the middle. They're thin and portable like a tablet, but without the distraction of the internet. The best Kindles and e-readers stuff thousands of books — a full library, really — into their tiny frame.

And having tested a lot of e-readers for Mashable, I can tell you that Amazon's Kindle lineup comes closest to perfecting the devices. All over the internet, you'll find TikTok users enthusiastically singing the praises of the Kindle. For parents, Kindles are a screen you don't have to feel guilty about. For avid readers, Stuff Your Kindle Day lets you fill up your summer reading list. You can buy remote page-turners and gooseneck stands so you don't have to hold your Kindle while reading. Even hardcore book collectors have been converted to the Kindle life.

Meet the newest generation of Kindle e-readers Can't decide between the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite? We put them head-to-head.. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable SEE ALSO: I read over 50 books a year. Here are my favorite e-readers.

A lot has changed since the Kindle first debuted in 2007. While it was released just a few months after the first iPhone, the Amazon Kindle has received fewer updates. As of 2025, we're on the 12th generation of Kindles; the latest arrived in October 2024. Every model — the basic Kindle, the Paperwhite, Signature Edition, Scribe, and Kids models — all got upgrades. And unfortunately, the Kindle Oasis, a waterproof model with page-turning buttons, was discontinued.

Kindle's first color e-reader also arrived in late 2024, and as of July 2025, the Colorsoft lineup includes three models. The Colorsoft is the second most expensive option among Kindles, and after finally getting our hands on a model, we've added it to this guide.

The latest Kindles are lightweight, easy to use, and compatible with Libby, so you can support your local library (and get free books, of course). Basically, it's hard to make a bad decision in this product category. So, what's the best Kindle for you? Let me help you decide.

Which Kindle is right for you?

If you're concerned about buying the newest tech, that's not an issue. There are six updated Kindle models for sale, as well as older editions still in stock.

Before you choose a Kindle, you need to ask one question first: Do you want it to be waterproof? If you prefer reading near a body of water — whether in the bath, by the pool, or at the beach — that immediately narrows down your options. Since the Kindle Oasis is no longer available, you have some other choices. Your waterproof options are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, Colorsoft Signature Edition, and Paperwhite Kids.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition settings screen. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Beyond water resistance, here are a few other features to consider:

• Display size: The basic Kindle has a 6-inch display, while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity: Kindles range from 16GB to 32GB of storage capacity.

• Battery life: The new Kindles generally have outstanding batteries. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Writing capability: The Kindle Scribe is the only model that allows you to write with the included stylus. 

The latest Kindles all boast a maximum brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare, so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to download all the reading material you could ever want. Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via the built-in Bluetooth connection.

Not to mention, out of all the e-readers I've tested, Kindles have the best compatibility with Libby. I love the digital platform because I can read for free and support my local library. Some other e-readers require you to download your library e-book to a computer and then upload it to an e-reader, but with Kindles, your e-books are sent straight to your device with a click.

And if you were a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are attached to page-turning buttons, you may need to stray from the Kindle line-up. Now, your best bet will be the Kobo Libra Colour.

How to get free e-books on Kindle With just a click, transfer your Libby e-book to your Kindle device. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable Your Libby ebook will automatically populate in your Kindle library. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best way to read free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby allows you to borrow e-books through libraries, and all you need is a library card. Through the Libby app, borrow books and then select the "read with Kindle" option, which allows you to send these e-books to your Kindle library.

Another option for finding free e-books is through Stuff Your Kindle events. These are author-driven events that offer limited-time deals on e-books, often making them heavily discounted or totally free.

How to make the most of your Kindle

Through our testing and daily use, we've spent a lot of time with Kindles, learning how to make the most of them. We've written extensively on all the ways to maximize your Kindle, so be sure to browse through our guides and explainers:

• The best Kindle accessories for reading in luxury

• What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books

• I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with Libby. Here's how.

• What is Kindle Rewards? Earn free credits when shopping the Kindle store

• What is Kindle Unlimited? A library of books at your fingertips for just $12 a month

• Where to get free e-books: Load up your e-reader without spending a dime

• Prime members can get a free e-book every month with Amazon First Reads

• How to download EPUB files on your Kindle

• 8 Kindle features you should be using

• How to delete books from Kindle
  

SAVE $200: The 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 curved gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $999.99, down from the list price of $1,199.99. That's a 17% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 curved gaming monitor $999.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $200 Get Deal

We're coming into some of the best months for gaming. Since the sun will set in late afternoon in just a few weeks, some folks are lining up which games they'll play during the winter season. If that's you and you've been itching for a new gaming monitor, you know Samsung makes some of the best models. But instead of paying full price, how about scoring a big savings?

As of Sept. 16, the 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 curved gaming monitor is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,199.99. That's a 17% discount which takes a respectable $200 off the price. It's also the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

A solid gaming monitor is critical to the mission. The gaming mission, that is. A curved gaming monitor can make the experience just that much more immersive. The Samsung Odyssey G7 monitor shows up big time for gaming, coming with 180Hx refresh rate and a 1ms GtG in a 40-inch screen class. With the included stand, the screen depth measures about 12 inches. Without the stand, you're looking about seven inches.

SEE ALSO: Wow, the 85-inch Samsung Neo QLED has hit a record-low price — save over $2,500 at Amazon

The Samsung Odyssey G7 is also capable of side-by-side gameplay, giving you the ability to use a split screen display for gaming with friends. There's also a picture-in-picture option so you could play on your own while tuning into your favorite Twitch stream.

Before we're deep into gaming season, upgrade your set-up with the 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 curved gaming monitor while it's on sale at Amazon for the lowest price ever. You games will come with an elevated display and experience.

The best streaming deals to watch 'Superman' at home: Best non-streaming option Rent or buy 'Superman' on Prime Video $14.99 or $19.99 Get Deal Best streaming deal HBO Max Basic (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99/year (save $19.89) Get Deal Best deal with no ads HBO Max Standard annual subscription $169.99/year (save $33.89) Get Deal Get HBO Max for free HBO Max Basic With Ads for Cricket customers Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal Get HBO Max for free HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal Best for students HBO Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Best bundle deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 38%) Get Deal

Brace yourselves for a brand new era of superhero films. With Superman, we don't just get a new version of the classic superhero's journey; we get the launch of an entirely new version of the DC Comics universe. Say farewell to the DCEU and hello to the DCU.

David Corenswet stars as the titular superhero in Superman, one of the most anticipated films of the summer. It also stars Rachel Brosnahan as reporter and love interest Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as evil villain Lex Luthor, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and María Gabriela de Faría as the Engineer. Plus, there's Krypto the Superdog, who might just steal your heart.

If you missed the Man of Steel in theaters, there are now a few different ways to tune in from your couch. Here's everything you need to know to watch Superman at home.

What is Superman about?

James Gunn's Superman follows Clark Kent/Superman (Corenswet) as he struggles to balance his average life as reporter Clark Kent with his fight for truth, justice, and the American way as Superman. It's not an origin story re-telling, but instead focuses on Superman in his third year of protecting Metropolis. He already has an existing relationship with Lois Lane (Brosnahan), who disagrees with his actions in stopping a war. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor (Hoult) is plotting to take him down.

Check out the trailer for a sneak peek:

Is the new Superman worth watching?

There was a lot riding on Gunn's Superman, and for the most part, it delivers. Mashable's reviewer called it "big summer fun" and "a promise of something greater on the horizon." It's not perfect, but it's certainly a breath of fresh air in the superhero realm. It drew in a massive $615 million at the worldwide box office. That not only makes it the highest-grossing superhero movie this year, but the third-highest-grossing film of any genre domestically in 2025.

Superman is also receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews, scoring an impressive 83 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 90 percent audience score.

Mashable's own reviewer sums it up nicely: "In Superman, Gunn has created what may be the single most Silver Age comic book saga ever put to screen."

Read our full review of Superman.

How to watch Superman at home Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Superman hit theaters on July 11, 2025. If you missed out on the full theater experience or if you can't wait to watch it again, there are now a few different ways to watch it at home: purchasing or renting via digital video-on-demand or, of course, streaming. See all the details below.

Buy or rent Superman on digital

As of Aug. 15, the latest Superman movie is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video. You can buy the movie for your digital library or rent it for 30 days. Just be aware that when you choose the rental option, you'll have 30 days to watch, but only 48 hours to finish once you begin.

You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $14.99

• Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $14.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99, rent for $14.99

• Google Play — buy for $19.99, rent for $14.99

• YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent for $14.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or buy 'Superman' at Prime Video $14.99 or $19.99 Get Deal Stream Superman on HBO Max

As a Warner Bros. Pictures film, it was only a matter of time until Superman made its way to HBO Max — the Warner Bros.-owned streaming service. The movie will officially start streaming on HBO Max on Sept. 19, 2025.

HBO Max will also feature an in-app Superman takeover at the time of launch. You'll see a transformed Daily Planet-style homepage and interactive features like a fan-focused The Fortress of Solitude page with themed curations and hidden portals throughout the homepage that transport you to Lex Luthor’s Pocket Prison.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few different ways to shave a few bucks off your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal

If you choose an annual plan and pay upfront for a year of HBO Max, you can save about 16% compared to a monthly plan. The Basic plan with ads typically goes for $9.99 per month, but if you go annual, that cost drops to about $8.33 per month — a yearly total of just $99.99. We think this is the best HBO Max streaming deal for most people.

Best HBO Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on a Max Standard annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $169.99 per year (save $33.89) Get Deal

For those who prefer an ad-free experience, you can sign up for either the annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plan and save about 16%. The Standard tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.16 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). While both tiers offer ad-free viewing, the Premium tier goes a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max Basic (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan Get Deal

Looking for a way to get HBO Max for free? Switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. HBO Max Basic (with ads) is included for no extra cost. When you open up the HBO Max app, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash / Max HBO Max (with ads) Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way you can get HBO Max for free in 2025 is by signing up for DoorDash's annual DashPass plan for $96 per year ($8 per month). A DashPass membership gets you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long, plus free streaming (with ads) through HBO Max. You'll just have to activate your HBO Max Basic subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. If you'd rather watch ad-free, you can upgrade for a discounted rate.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can get an entire year of HBO Max Basic (with ads) for half price. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS and use the discount code you receive to drop the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month. After the year is through, your subscription will go back up to full price unless you cancel.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

Check out the Disney+ bundle deal if you want the most bang for your buck. It includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for only $16.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $25.97 per month, so you'll keep an extra $9 in your pocket monthly.

The ad-free bundle will run you $29.99 per month as opposed to $48.97. That's up to 38% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries — arguably the best streaming deal around.

UPDATE: Sep. 16, 2025, 7:00 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to include the latest streaming information and pricing details available for Superman.

YouTube announced a slew of new creator-oriented updates at its Made on YouTube 2025 event on Tuesday.

However, it appears YouTube Live received the biggest overhaul of the day, with the video giant making several announcements regarding new live streaming features coming to the platform.

According to YouTube, more than 30 percent of daily logged-in YouTube viewers watched live content in Q2 2025. Livestreams are growing on YouTube, and it appears the company realizes it needs to compete with some of the more unique livestreaming features on competitor platforms like Twitch and TikTok.

Playables on Live

YouTube's first announcement regarding its new streaming capabilities takes a previously launched feature, Playables, and brings it to YouTube Live. 

According to YouTube, with the new Playables on Live, creators will have access to more than 75 "lightweight" (read: casual) games like Angry Birds Showdown and Cut The Rope to play on their stream while interacting with their audience.

Vertical and Horizontal Formats

Short-form video platforms like TikTok and YouTube's own YouTube Shorts have made vertical video quite popular online. However, most streamers have had to make a choice between choosing vertical or horizontal video when streaming to their live video platform of choice.

Credit: YouTube

YouTube will soon allow both formats of video for their streamers, with the platform providing a livestream in both vertical and horizontal formats with one unified live chat for all live viewers to interact in. The company pointed out how this will help its streamers with discoverability on the platform, which makes sense as a significant number of viewers seek out one format over the other.

Live practice mode 

YouTube announced a new live practice mode for streamers so that they test run their streaming setup and try out new platform features without having to go live. 

This is an interesting feature for YouTube to launch at this juncture. Many regular streamers likely already have their own system setup to do this. But, by building it into YouTube directly, the company is signaling that they may be looking to create more live streamers out of their current video creator user base.

React Live

Reaction videos are still all the rage on social media; it's an especially popular format on YouTube competitor TikTok. 

This probably inspired the idea for YouTube's new react live feature on YouTube Live. Other streamers and creators will be able to go live on their mobile device in direct reaction to another simultaneously live streaming video, allowing users to provide real-time commentary on livestreams.

AI-powered clips

This is a big one for creators: AI-powered clips are coming directly to YouTube.

Many livestreamers have paid subscriptions to third-party services where they upload their hours-long livestreams and receive short clips of their stream's best moments determined by AI.

Credit: YouTube

According to YouTube, its own AI-powered highlights will pull the best content from streamer's live videos and automatically generate YouTube Shorts videos for them to share.

New live monetization options

YouTube announced two new monetization formats for streamers: One is ad-based and one is membership based.

Video ads are nothing new on YouTube and livestream viewers are likely used to having their favorite streamer interrupted by an ad. However, regular viewers probably noticed some big streaming channels debut a new format that YouTube will now rollout platform-wide: Side-by-side ads.

Side-by-side ads display a video ad next to a live video stream so that the viewer doesn't miss whatever is happening in the stream while the ad is playing.

Credit: YouTube

The other ad format that YouTube announced is for creators with their channel membership feature activated. Streamers will be able to cut off free viewers during a stream and switch the same stream to a subscriber-only broadcast with the new members-only live stream feature.

By utilizing this monetization option, streamers could bring in new viewers with a free portion of their live show and then convert some of them into paying members by only allowing paid subscribers to view the rest of the stream.

TL;DR: The AdGuard Family Plan Lifetime Subscription is just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN through Oct. 5.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02 Get Deal

The internet is amazing, but ads can make it feel like walking through a carnival of flashing signs. If you’re ready for a cleaner, smoother online experience, the AdGuard Family Plan Lifetime Subscription is here to save your sanity — and your budget.

Through Oct. 5, you can get it for just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) when you use code FAMPLAN at checkout. That’s a one-time payment for a lifetime of ad-free browsing across nine devices.

Why You’ll Love AdGuard

• Robust ad blocking: No more pop-ups, banners, or auto-play video ads cluttering your screen.

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• Malware and phishing shield: It blocks access to harmful websites so your devices stay secure.

• Parental controls: Parents can filter out inappropriate content and keep kids safe online.

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• Lifetime access: Buy once, block forever. Continuous updates are included.

This isn’t a VPN, but if what you want is peaceful, safe, and private browsing, this is the tool to try.

Get lifetime AdGuard Family Plan access for just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) when you use code FAMPLAN at checkout through Oct. 5.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

First announced in June, Apple has finally unleashed its expanded suite of parental controls as the company's sparkly new iOS 26 goes to consumers globally. Included in the lineup: New ways for parents to block who their child can communicate with.

With the latest software update, new Communication Limits will require young users to get permission from parental accounts before they can connect with new phone numbers on Phone, FaceTime, Messages or iCloud. This change is an evolution of Apple's existing Child Account feature, built into the company's Family Sharing option, which places minor accounts under age-based parental controls and oversight from manager profiles.

Parents can also correct an account's age or retroactively convert their child's Apple account to a Child Account under iOS 26. Child Accounts ages 13-17 will now be automatically opted-in to these default settings, such as web content filters, app restrictions, and Apple's Communication Safety feature, which detects sensitive content and warns users of nudity. The feature also flags nudity in FaceTime and blurs images in shared photo albums.

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

Finally, the company has updated its App Store age ratings and download options for parents, part of new features meant to put more safety pressure on app developers that were announced earlier this year.

SEE ALSO: The App Store needs to grow up

Last week, child safety advocates protested Apple's annual product event, calling on the company to protect young users and stop the spread of child sexual abuse materials. Apple was sued in December for allegedly failing to comply with mandatory reporting guidelines and falsely marketing their devices as safe for at-risk users. At large, the company and other Big Tech leaders have been accused of failing to address a growing mental health crisis among teens and children, who are increasingly reliant on technology.

The features are now available across the company's updated line, including devices running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26.

If there's one thing I absolutely hateabout modern streaming app interfaces is the default behavior of auto-playing a preview of the show or movie you've highlighted. No, I don't want you to make noise while I read the synopsis. No, I don't want the movie to actually start yet!

SAVE UP TO $35.97: As of Sept. 16, new subscribers can get three free months of Amazon Music Unlimited by purchasing an eligible item at Amazon, signing up for Prime, or registering an eligible device in the Alexa app. Typically $10.99 per month for Prime members and $11.99 per month for non-Prime members, that's up to $35.97 in total savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited get 3 months for free (save up to $35.97) Get Deal

There's a lot of new music coming this fall, from Taylor Swift's mega popular The Life of a Showgirl release to Florence and the Machine's sixth studio album to rising star Carter Faith's debut album. If you don't already have a music streaming service, now's a good time to hit that subscribe button — especially since Amazon Music Unlimited is offering 90 days completely free.

As of Sept. 16, new subscribers can secure three free months of Amazon Music Unlimited by either purchasing an eligible item at Amazon, signing up for Prime, or registering an eligible device in the Alexa app. Basically, if you see the offer on this promo page, then you're eligible. Typically $10.99 per month for Prime members and $11.99 per month for non-Prime members, that's up to $35.97 in total savings. Just remember that following the promotional trial period, your subscription will automatically continue at the full monthly price ($10.99 or $11.99) until you cancel.

Beyond a massive music catalog and "the most ad-free top podcasts" of any of the big music apps, Amazon Music Unlimited also offers subscribers one free audiobook via Audible per month. Audible's Premium Plus subscription costs $14.95 per month on its own and only gives you a credit per month to buy an audiobook from its catalog. Amazon Music Unlimited essentially gives you that same benefit for free. Each month, you'll be able to choose a new audiobook, even during your trial period. The difference is if you cancel your subscription, you'll lose access to your audiobook selection.

If you already pay for another music streaming service, we recommend pausing it for a few months to take advantage of this 90-day freebie. Whichever way you slice it, you'll keep an extra $33 to $36 in your pocket.

TL;DR: Don’t miss Adobe Acrobat Classic (three-year license) + Microsoft Office Professional 2021 (lifetime license) for just $99 (reg. $543.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Pexels Adobe Acrobat Classic and Microsoft Office Professional License Bundle $99.99
$543.99 Save $444 Get Deal

When it comes to productivity, some tools just make life easier. And now, two of the biggest names in the game are bundled together for way less than you’d expect. For just $99 (reg. $543.99), you’ll score a three-year license to Adobe Acrobat Classic and a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows.

No monthly subscription fees — just the essential apps you actually need to create, edit, and share documents like a pro.

Adobe Acrobat Classic

Perfect for anyone who deals with PDFs daily, Acrobat Classic (also known as Acrobat Pro 2024) gives you desktop-only tools so you can work securely offline without relying on the cloud.

Top features include:

• PDF editing tools: Adjust text, images, reorder pages, or delete what you don’t need.

• Seamless file conversion: Turn PDFs into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files while preserving formatting.

• Form creation and signing: Build fillable forms, sign them digitally, or send them off.

• Security options: Password-protect documents or redact sensitive information.

• Accessibility updates: Improved tagging for better screen reader compatibility.

• Page extraction: Pull only the sections you need from bulky PDFs.

• Modern Interface: Faster, easier access to tools with an updated layout.

Microsoft Office Professional 2021

Still the gold standard for professional work, this suite gives you all the apps you already know (and probably still need). With a one-time purchase, you’ll have these tools for life on your Windows PC.

• Word – The go-to for polished documents.

• Excel – Crunch numbers, analyze data, and build spreadsheets.

• PowerPoint – Create presentations that communicate and impress.

• Outlook – Manage your email and calendar.

• Teams (free version) – Connect and collaborate.

• OneNote – Take and organize notes your way.

• Publisher – Create brochures, flyers, and marketing materials.

• Access – Manage databases and large sets of information.

Don’t miss grabbing Acrobat and Office for just $99 (reg. $543.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Wearables haven't made quite the splash some people thought they would. Not quite yet anyway, but there are a lot of people out there wearing smartwatches—I used to be one of them!

Let’s face it — shopping for the right laptop can be exhausting, and weeding through brain-wrecking terms like CPU, GPU, and SSD is enough to make your eyes cross. Add in the fact that gamers will want to look for different specs than students, who will want different specs than content creators — and you have yourself a conundrum.

We’ve compiled this guide to make buying your first laptop, or next laptop, a breeze. We explain the confusing computer jargon, so you can pinpoint the specs that fit your needs, and then we dole out recs for two different but equally awesome GIGABYTE laptop — the GIGABYTE GAMING A16 and GIGABYTE AERO X16.

CPU, GPU, SSD, OMG! 

Before you start sifting through specs, it’s important to understand what some of the more common tech terms mean. 

The central processing unit (CPU) is often referred to as the computer’s brain and is responsible for executing all tasks. The faster and newer the CPU, the speedier your app-toggling and even mouse clicks will be.

The graphics processing unit (GPU) is the chip that renders all the visuals on the screen. If you’re a gamer or content creator, a dedicated GPU — a standalone chip with its own memory — is what you want.

RAM means random-access memory and is where the machine stashes the data its CPU needs to run applications. The more RAM you have — 16GB is the industry standard; 32GB or more is ideal for gamers and creators — the faster you’ll go.

Storage is where a computer keeps all non-active data like documents and photos, and it boosts load times. Students can likely roll with 256GB of storage, but you'll want at least 512GB if you plan on gaming or editing videos. 

SSD (solid-state drive) is the type of storage configuration used in premium laptops, like these two spec-loaded GIGABYTE machines.

The GAMING A16 punches above its class Credit: GIGABYTE

Although this 16-inch black-steel laptop has the word “gaming” in its name, it appeals to a wide swath of users. It’s loaded with a surprising amount of oomph for the price, topping out with the 13th Gen Intel i7 CPU and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU, with the latter using AI to boost frames per second (FPS). In plain speak, a higher FPS means crispier images and reduced lag, so your gaming experience is buttery smooth.

Opens in a new window Credit: GIGABYTE GIGABYTE GAMING A16 $1,149.99 at Amazon
$1,249.99 Save $100 Shop Now

The GAMING A16 comes with the standard 16GB RAM but you can upgrade to 64GB, plus a 1TB SSD, which is plenty enough to rip through heavy workflows one minute and jump into an intense AAA game the next without breaking a sweat. 

The AERO X16 is a creating-gaming hybrid Credit: GIGABYTE

This stealthy 16-inch looker hits the sweet spot of design, portability, and performance. It can pack up to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 CPU and comes with Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs — that’s a newer CPU and the same shredder of a GPU that’s in the GAMING A16 — making it a brawnier option for gamers and content creators who do AI animation and 3D rendering.

Opens in a new window Credit: GIGABYTE GIGABYTE X16 $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $100 Shop Now

At 4.2 pounds, the AERO X16 is one of the lightest laptop GIGABYTE has ever built. Like the GAMING A16, the RAM is upgradable to 64GB and it comes loaded with a fast 1TB SSD.

Which GIGABYTE laptop is right for you?

Both the GIGABYTE GAMING A16 and AERO X16 are portable, powerful, and can go for up to 14 hours off-plug. The Dolby Atmos® speakers are robust, the 16-inch screens are gorgeous — and each laptop also comes with GiMATE, GIGABYTE’s nifty AI suite that tweaks your settings in real time and enhances your productivity.

So, how to choose “the one” amidst all these stellar specs? 

If budget is a priority, the GAMING A16 is more affordable and checks the boxes. By opting for a less powerful CPU and GPU combo, you can max out your price-performance ratio and score a daily driver that tackles your most intense term papers, 4K video editing — and, of course, games. 

If power and looks are what you seek, the AERO X16 is a more potent device and it has a sandblasted metal lid that screams premium. It’s lighter and thinner than the GAMING A16, which might factor in if you work hybrid or bounce around campus. Lastly, it comes with a newer CPU, which means it’ll perform faster for creators and gamers who want to invest in an upleveled laptop. 

Whether you’re upgrading for your next semester, your next project, or your next gaming sesh, GIGABYTE has got you covered. The GAMING A16 and AERO X16 are two laptops that bring it on all fronts.

Mozilla Firefox receives major updates roughly every four weeks, giving the web browser a steady stream of bug fixes, new features, and security enhancements. Firefox 143 is now rolling out with the return of installable websites, improvements to tabs and camera access, and much more.

With the AirPods Pro 3’s new heart rate monitor, Apple focused heavily on fitness benefits during its September event. In doing so, the company marketed the earbuds as a potential replacement for the Apple Watch in fitness tracking, without explicitly saying so.

There's a reason creators often try to migrate their audience to YouTube: It pays.

The Google-owned streaming giant said it has paid out more than $100 billion in the last four years to creators, artists, and media companies. YouTube announced the figure at the Made on YouTube event on Tuesday.

“We didn't just create a platform. We built an economy,” said YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.

As Mashable reported earlier this year, creator jobs have grown 7.5 times in recent years. In surveys, young people also consistently identify being a creator as a popular career goal. And YouTube has played an outsized role in building the modern creator economy.

It pays to be a popular creator and/or influencer on any platform, but YouTube's widely regarded as the most lucrative social media site when it comes to direct view-to-payment value. And creators are making more money off of folks watching YouTube on traditional TV sets, rather than mobile devices. The company reported that the number of YouTube channels making more than $100,000 from TV screens rose 45 percent year over year.

Clearly, YouTube isn't just for streamers anymore. Heck, the platform is broadcasting NFL games — arguably the single biggest product in American culture — with great success. But if you want to make it big as a creator, YouTube remains the place where you can carve out a highly lucrative living.

"You cannot imagine what it was like to read a conversation with a chatbot that groomed your child to take his own life," Matthew Raine, father of Adam Raine, said to a room of assembled congressional leaders that gathered today to discuss the harms of AI chatbots on teens around the country.

Raine and his wife Maria are suing OpenAI in what is the company's first wrongful death case, following a series of alleged reports that the company's flagship product, ChatGPT, has played a role in the deaths of people in mental duress, including teens. The lawsuit claims that ChatGPT repeatedly validated their son's harmful and self-destructive thoughts, including suicidal ideation and planning, despite the company claiming its safety protocols should have prevented such interactions.

SEE ALSO: FTC launches inquiry into tech companies offering AI chatbots to kids

The bipartisan Senate hearing, titled “Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots,” is being held by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism. It saw both Raine's testimony and that of Megan Garcia, mother of Sewell Setzer III, a Florida teen who died by suicide after forming a relationship with an AI companion on platform Character.AI.

Raine's testimony outlined a startling co-dependency between the AI helper and his son, alleging that the chatbot was "actively encouraging him to isolate himself from friends and family" and that the chatbot "mentioned suicide 1,275 times — six times more often than Adam himself." He called this "ChatGPT's suicide crisis" and spoke directly to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman:

Adam was such a full spirit, unique in every way. But he also could be anyone’s child: a typical 16-year-old struggling with his place in the world, looking for a confidant to help him find his way. Unfortunately, that confidant was a dangerous technology unleashed by a company more focused on speed and market share than the safety of American youth.

Public reporting confirms that OpenAI compressed months of safety testing for GPT-4o (the ChatGPT model Adam was using) into just one week in order to beat Google’s competing AI product to market. On the very day Adam died, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s founder and CEO, made their philosophy crystal clear in a public talk: we should “deploy [AI systems] to the world” and get “feedback while the stakes are relatively low.”

I ask this Committee, and I ask Sam Altman: low stakes for who?

The parents' comments were bolstered by insight and recommendations from experts on child safety, like Robbie Torney, senior director of AI programs for children's media watchdog Common Sense Media, and Mitch Prinstein, chief of psychology strategy and integration for the American Psychological Association (APA).

"Today I'm here to deliver an urgent warning: AI chatbots, including Meta AI and others, pose unacceptable risks to America's children and teens. This is not a theoretical problem — kids are using these chatbots right now, at massive scale with unacceptable risk, with real harm already documented and federal agencies and state attorneys general working to hold industry accountable," Torney told the assembled lawmakers.

"These platforms have been trained on the entire internet, including vast amounts of harmful content—suicide forums, pro-eating disorder websites, extremist manifestos, discriminatory materials, detailed instructions for self-harm, illegal drug marketplaces, and sexually explicit material involving minors." Recent polling from the organization found that 72 percent of teens had used an AI companion at least once, and more than half use them regularly.

Experts have warned that chatbots designed to mimic human interactions are a potential hazard to mental health, exacerbated by model designs that promote sycophantic behavior. In response, AI companies have announced additional safeguards to try to curb harmful interactions between users and their generative AI tools. Hours before the parents spoke, OpenAI announced future plans for an age prediction tool that would theoretically identify users under the age of 18 and automatically redirect them to an "age-appropriate" ChatGPT experience.

Earlier this year, the APA appealed to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), asking the organization to investigate AI companies promoting their services as mental health helpers. The FTC ordered seven tech companies to provide information on how they are "mitigating negative impacts" of their chatbots in an inquiry unveiled this week.

"The current debate often frames AI as a matter of computer science, productivity enhancement, or national security," Prinstein told the subcommittee. "It is imperative that we also frame it as a public health and human development issue."

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

There's a big Meta product showcase this week, and it might include something very new from the company.

Specifically, Wednesday's Meta Connect showcase is rumored to feature information on the company's Hypernova smart glasses, which have been detailed in plenty of leaks and rumors, but not in any official announcements yet. There isn't a ton to know about this device until Meta (presumably) lifts the veil officially on Wednesday, but there is some information to go off of.

Specifically, rumor has it the Meta Hypernova will be the first Meta smart glasses with a built-in display. That would be a major upgrade over the Meta Oakley and Ray-Ban glasses, and put Meta in competition with futuristic upstarts like Xreal.

Here's what we know about the next generation of Meta smart glasses.

SEE ALSO: Meta Connect 2025: Everything to expect Meta Hypernova glasses: Price

Some of the most firm reporting we have on the Hypernova smart glasses regards the price.

Namely, reporting from earlier this summer suggested that the device will retail for $800. They were apparently going to cost more than $1,000 originally, but Meta reportedly wants to boost demand for the device and is willing to eat some profits if that's what it takes. That may be a savvy move, given the total lack of staying power the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro had.

Meta Hypernova glasses: Design and features

Aside from the price, there is, unfortunately, not a ton of hard information out there about what to expect from the Hypernova glasses, aside from an idea of what they look like and a basic outlook on what they'll do.

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Back in July, a leaker called Luna posted renders on X that purportedly show the device. It looks a lot like the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, but there's also a sort of wristband pictured alongside it. We'll get to that in a minute.

The main expected difference between the Hypernova glasses and the existing Ray-Ban glasses (which start at only $329) is that the Hypernova specs are supposed to have a built-in display in one eye. The glasses will likely be a little bigger than the Ray-Bans because they'll need more computing power inside of them to make the display function. As for what you'll be able to do with the display, we don't know much yet, but one can imagine a world where it's useful for taking photos and videos, following map directions, as well as interfacing with various Meta apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

There will almost certainly be some Meta AI functionality built into the device as well, but we'll have to wait and see exactly how that works. Going back to the wristband from the renders, that's rumored to be a control mechanism for the unit. It'll read small wrist motions for basic inputs, like navigating between apps and whatnot.

Meta finally making augmented reality glasses with a built-in display is the big news here, but the wristband might be just as important, as that could become a standard way of interfacing with these devices going forward.

Meta Hypernova glasses: Release date

Lastly, we won't know when these glasses will be on store shelves until Meta tells us. It seems reasonable to assume they'll come out before the end of 2025 if Meta is willing to show them off on Wednesday, but that's just speculation.

We'll all find out together soon enough.

Dolphin is probably one of the biggest game emulation projects out there. It started years ago, and while the task of emulating most Wii and GameCube games is a hard one, developers have made great progress to the point that most computers and smartphones can play these old, but gold, titles. Now, the latest progress report has shown it's gotten a lot better recently.