Technology

OpenAI announced its unreleased reasoning model won the gold at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), igniting fierce drama in the world of competitive math.

While most high schoolers blissfully enjoy a break from school and homework, top math students from around the world brought their A-game to the IMO, considered the most prestigious math competition. AI labs also competed with their LLMs, and an unreleased model from OpenAI achieved a high-enough score to earn a gold medal, according to researcher Alexander Wei who shared the news on X.

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The OpenAI model got five out the six problems correct, earning a gold medal-worthy score of 35 out of 42 points. "For each problem, three former IMO medalists independently graded the model’s submitted proof, with scores finalized after unanimous consensus," according to Wei. The problems are algebra and pre-calculus challenges that require creative thinking on the competitor's part. So for LLMs to be able to reason their way through long, complex proofs is an impressive achievement.

However, the timing of the announcement is being criticized for overshadowing the human competitors' results. The IMO reportedly asked the AI labs officially working with the organization verifying the results to wait a week before making any announcements, to avoid stealing the kids' thunder. That's according to an X post from Mikhail Samin, who runs the AI Governance and Safety Institute nonprofit. OpenAI said they didn't formally cooperate with the IMO to verify their results and instead worked with individual mathematicians to independently verify its scores, and so it wasn't beholden to any kind of agreement. Mashable sent a direct message to Samin on X for comment.

But the gossip is that this rubbed organizers the wrong way, who thought it was "rude" and "inappropriate" for OpenAI to do this. This is all hearsay, based on rumors from Samin, who also posted a screenshot of a similar comment from someone named Joseph Myers, presumably the two-time IMO gold medalist. Mashable contacted Myers for comment, but he has not publicly confirmed the authenticity of the screenshot.

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In response, OpenAI researcher Noam Brown said they posted the results after the IMO closing ceremony, honoring an IMO organizer's request.

In a follow-up post, Brown clarified that the IMO reached out to OpenAI two months earlier for participating in a different version of the test called Lean. OpenAI declined, because they were "focused on general reasoning in natural language without the constraints of Lean," and Brown said they "were never approached about a natural language math option."

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Meanwhile, Google DeepMind reportedly did cooperate with the IMO, and announced this afternoon that an "advanced version of Gemini with Deep Think officially achieve[d] gold-medal standard at the International Mathematical Olympiad." According to the announcement, DeepMind's model was "officially graded and certified by IMO coordinators using the same criteria as for student solutions." Read into that statement as much or as little as you want, but the timing is hardly coincidental.

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Others may follow the Real Housewives, but the proper decorum of elite math competitions is the high drama we live for.

UPDATE: Jul. 22, 2025, 11:28 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with an additional information from a statement by OpenAI researcher Noam Brown.

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.

On July 15, during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron appeared on the kiss cam, embracing Kristin Cabot, the company’s head of HR. It would have been a cute candid moment if not for the fact that the pair immediately tried their absolute best to hide from the camera.

SEE ALSO: The Coldplay CEO cheating scandal makes memes out of misery

Within hours, the footage was online. Within a day, internet sleuths had identified both parties. By July 19, Byron was out of a job. What happened in between was a modern-day morality play starring a lot of doxxing, corporate statements, and the unrelenting content machine of online drama.

Yes, cheating is bad. However, the internet gets very, very weird about cheaters, and in this particular case, the social internet is gleefully making memes out of misery. Still, it’s hard to look away. And as someone who couldn't look away, here’s a full breakdown of how it started, how it spiraled, and where it stands now.

It started with a TikTok: July 15-17

On July 15, Byron and Cabot attended a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium, where they appeared on the kiss cam and quickly tried to scurry away after their alleged affair was revealed to the crowd. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin laughed and remarked, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy." The camera then cut to a red-faced woman standing beside them, visibly squirming with discomfort.

Internet sleuths quickly put the pieces together. By July 17, the video had blown up on TikTok, with 10.4 million likes and over a million shares. A new pop culture moment was born, which meant a lot of memes and floating talking heads breaking down the situation. The worst of which involved AI deepfakes of the CEO lashing out at the crowd for catching him cheating.

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Exactly how the internet identified Byron and Cabot isn’t clear, but according to 404 Media, it likely involved a mix of publicly available facial recognition tools and social media research. In the days after the 15-second clip went viral, the names of Byron, Cabot, and their spouses (or ex-husband in Cabot's case) spread across TikTok, Reddit, X, and — perhaps most awkwardly — LinkedIn.

For context: Byron was the CEO (now former) of Astronomer, a New York–based data analytics company that specializes in AI. Cabot was the company’s "Chief People Officer," which is just a corporate euphemism for Head of HR. While Astronomer wasn't widely known, until now, the company has previously been granted unofficial unicorn status, meaning it's a tech startup valued at $1 billion or more.

A phony apology: July 17

Over the weekend, social media voyeurs traded screenshots of an alleged apology statement issued by Byron on July 17. However, according to a report in The New York Post, this apology is fake, and Astronomer would later issue a statement denying its legitimacy.

The widely shared "apology" struck a regretful tone and ended in a cheesy Coldplay lyric (“As a friend once sang: ‘Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you.’”). In short, it was the kind of story that was too good not to share, even if it turned out to be completely false.

The Coldplay kiss cam moment achieves peak virality: July 18-present

In the days that followed, the discourse turned increasingly toxic. Social media's pursuit of justice often brings out its worst instincts. That’s not to defend or condemn Byron or Cabot, but platforms like X quickly devolved into a mess of misinformation, including fake statements attributed to Byron and even a rumor that he planned to sue Coldplay.

Some accounts even tried to drag the third person seen in the video — the visibly uncomfortable woman standing next to Byron and Cabot — into the mess. In doing so, they ended up falsely identifying and shaming an entirely unrelated woman, adding another layer of reckless collateral damage.

Other corporate entities even joined in on the fun, including NEON, the Philadelphia Phillies, and, somehow, the most tone-deaf of them all: the NYC Department of Sanitation. "Cameras are everywhere," the account said.

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As their messy private lives became painfully public, bettors at Polymarket found a new obsession. On July 18, trades began popping up with titles like "Andy Byron out as Astronomer CEO by next Friday?" and the "Astronomer Divorce Parlay" — a multi-leg trade requiring all outcomes to hit for a payout. In this case, it hinged on both Byron and Cabot getting divorced. The odds peaked at 21 percent after Byron’s wife removed his last name from her LinkedIn profile, before settling around 14 percent at the time of this writing.

This brings us to July 19, and hopefully, the end of this mess. Around midday, Astronomer’s official LinkedIn account posted a statement apologizing to clients for the media chaos Byron triggered and confirming his resignation as CEO.

"Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI," the statement read. "While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not."

It’s easy to write this off as just another viral cheating story, but it also says a lot about how quickly the internet can turn real people into punchlines, tabloid bait, or worse — prop bets. The machine doesn’t really care who’s right or wrong. It just wants something new to chew on. Here's hoping next month's pop culture moment is a little less dystopian.

The best Apple deals you can shop this week Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 (save $150) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 (save $80) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 (save $50) Get Deal

Prime Day was crazy this year. There were so many great deals on Apple products (I was genuinely surprised by the number of record lows we saw). If you're feeling a little FOMO because you missed out, don't worry — you still have a second chance. Plenty of post-Prime Day deals are still live at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, just in time for back-to-school shopping.

From MacBooks to iPads, here are the best Apple deals we could find for the week of July 21.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is still at its Prime Day price. It’s on sale for $849 (saving you $150) at Amazon and Best Buy. That’s a damn good deal for a MacBook, even if it is an Air. With an M4 chip, 16GB unified memory, and 256GB SSD storage, it’s ideal for students, commuters, or anyone else who’s on the go and needs a laptop that can keep up.

More MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,049 $1,199 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,245.12 $1,399 (save $153.88)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,589 $1,799 (save $210)

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are miraculously still on sale for $169 at Amazon (Best Buy isn’t matching this price). If you’re going on a flight or public transportation, these are the earbuds you want. With up to twice the active noise cancellation (ANC) of the previous generation, and an adaptive audio feature that allows you to blend outside noise with your music, you can tune in or out however you like.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $119 $129 (save $10)

• Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $168.99 $179 (save $10.01)

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal Why we like it

You can still get your hands on the Apple iPad 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) for $299 at Amazon. But there is a catch: This price is only for the pink, silver, and yellow 128GB model. If you want the blue version, it’s going to cost you an extra $20. Still, it’s a pretty good deal for an iPad, especially if you’re open to bright colors.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $499 $599 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 256GB) — $599 $699 (save $100)

Deals on Apple accessories and more

• Apple AirTag — $22.98 $29 (save $6.02)

• Apple Pencil (USB-C) — $69 $79 (save $10)

• Apple Pencil (1st Generation) — $78.91 $99 (save $20.09)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 $99 (save $19.02)

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple Magic Keyboard and Case (iPad Pro 11-inch) — $261.73 $299 (save $37.27)

• Apple Magic Keyboard and Case (iPad Air 13-inch) — $287.09 $319 (save $31.91)

Samsung's latest tablet-style foldable phone is full of possibilities.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is finally here, and I think it's the best foldable Samsung has produced yet. Samsung made this year's edition of its more expensive foldable the thinnest and lightest it's ever been, with two huge displays and lots of versatility in what you can do with them.

Although a new CNET survey says the majority of people are not interested in owning a foldable phone, you still naturally may be wondering what sets this phone apart from something more conventional, like a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or an iPhone 16. Allow me to explain. While some of these features have been available on foldables for some time and aren't new this year, they still showcase what a Z Fold can do for you that most other devices can't.

SEE ALSO: Review: The incredibly thin Galaxy Z Fold 7 is my favorite Samsung foldable yet 3 things you can do with a Z Fold 7 that you can't do with an ordinary phone

Of course, there are more than three unique things you can do with a Z Fold 7, but these three in particular are worth highlighting.

Read books and watch videos much more comfortably

The biggest Z Fold 7 selling point for me, if I were a person with $2,000 to drop on a new phone, would be the immense amount of screen real-estate on the 8-inch unfolded inner display. Unfolding this phone turns it into a miniature tablet, which winds up being more comfortable to hold than just about any regular tablet I've ever used. It's almost exactly the right size, and thanks to the new lighter weight of the Z Fold 7, it's not laborious to hold at all.

Obviously, this comes with some big advantages. Personally, for me, I find it immensely useful for watching YouTube videos and anything else that's similar on the go. The display is just so much bigger than my iPhone 16 that it's not even really worth comparing the two. I love sitting in bed and watching stuff on the Fold 7. While I'm admittedly not as literary as I should be, it's also great for reading books, as you can imagine. I've also heard the same for reading digital comic books, but that's pretty far afield of my interests, so I can't confirm that.

Go hands-free

Samsung's foldables have featured something called "Flex Mode" for years, which is what happens when you bend the foldable display between 75 and 115 degrees, causing whichever apps you're using to adapt to that angle. The end result is that you can use or look at the phone in a hands-free way while it sits on a flat surface in front of you.

The use cases for this are numerous and readily apparent. If you want to sit back and watch a video, you can do so using just the top half of the inner display. If you want to take a hands-free photo and you have a flat surface at the ready, just go for it, player. You definitely can't do this with a regular phone.

SEE ALSO: Why I’d consider a Galaxy Z Flip 7 over an iPhone 17 this year Go split-screen

Last but certainly not least is a feature that's also been part of the Galaxy Fold family for years: Split-screen view for multitasking.

It's as simple as it sounds, as you just open two apps at once and watch as they occupy the unfolded inner display at the same time. The increased screen real estate of a tablet-style foldable opens up tons of usability opportunities related to split-screen view. Dragging and dropping files between apps is eminently useful, for example, and one new feature of the Z Fold 7 in particular is the ability to generate AI creations in one app and drag and drop them to another in split-screen view.

Like I said, there are more things you can do with these phones, but these are the three most immediate benefits you get from purchasing a Z Fold 7 over something more conventional.

SAVE $100: As of July 21, get the 11-inch Apple iPad Air with M3 chip for $499. That saves you $100 for 17% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, 128 GB, WiFi) $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100 Get Deal

We're still recovering from Prime Day 2025. Amazon brought four days of big deals, and while the sale officially ended on July 11, we haven't stopped seeking out the lingering deals. During the sale, the 11-inch iPad Air reached its lowest price ever of $479. Post sale it bounced back up to its full-price, but now just a few weeks later, it's already on sale again.

As of July 21, the Apple iPad Air, 11-inch model, is back on sale for $499. That's just $20 short of its lowest price ever, still providing ample savings. If you missed out on the initial savings, you won't want to skip this deal, which provides $100 off for 17% savings.

Apple's iPad Air got a 2025 upgrade as the tablet now comes with the M3 chip, a powerful processor that basically makes this tablet a laptop. The liquid retina display offers a gorgeous backdrop so you can stream with crystal clear resolution, or for creative professionals, it's the perfect canvas for illustration, video-editing, or graphic design. It's compatible with the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard to create a full work station on-the-go.

Grab the 11-inch Apple iPad Air for just $499 at Amazon and save $100.

SAVE $100: The 13-inch Apple iPad Air M3 (128GB, WiFi) is on sale at Amazon in select colorways for $699, down from the normal price of $799. That's a 13% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 13-inch Apple iPad Air M3 (128GB, WiFi) $699 at Amazon
$799 Save $100 Get Deal

The depths of summer can only mean one thing — it's way too hot out. If you'd rather not use a personal fan and slather yourself in sunscreen before you walk out the door, you might be staying indoors streaming shows or working on projects. A tablet could be awesome for that. There's a nice deal at Amazon today on one of Mashable's favorites.

As of July 21, the 13-inch Apple iPad Air M3 (128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $699 at Amazon in purple and starlight, marked down from the normal price of $799. That's a 13% discount.

On Mashable's list of the best iPads, the Apple iPad Air earns the top spot as the best model for most people. "It will be your new go-to device for streaming, reading, or creative projects. And if you plan on using your tablet as a substitute for a laptop, it'll work for that, too, especially when paired with the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air or Apple Pencil. It's fast, moves smoothly between apps, and has a stunning high-definition display," wrote Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino.

SEE ALSO: Save $10 when you spend $50 or more on school supplies at Amazon

Apple released the iPad Air with the upgraded M3 chip in spring of 2025 in an 11-inch version and 13-inch model. The larger 13-inch display could be more suitable for creatives or those who plan to use the Magic Keyboard. But who'd be mad about streaming summer favorites on a 13-inch screen instead of an 11? This model comes with 128GB of storage for your movies, shows, music, and more.

While it's on sale for $699 instead of the regular price of $799, snag the purple or stardust colorway of the Apple iPad Air. Grab it now before the rush of back-to-school shopping takes hold.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

You can run a lot of old software on a modern Mac using Apple’s Rosetta 2, but native Apple silicon versions are even better. Thankfully, a surprising amount of old games already have native versions that run on modern Macs.

Have you ever wanted to connect multiple audio devices to your Windows 11 machine for playback? If so, we have some potentially good news. Similar to how you can share audio between two devices from your phone, Microsoft is finally working on a similar feature for Windows 11.

For savvy shoppers, finding a good deal isn't enough. After you've hit checkout, if you find a better price elsewhere, price matching policies can be the key to maximizing your savings. At many big box stores, retailers offer price matching, AKA, if you find a product at a better price elsewhere, a retailer matches the cheaper price. Target was one of the biggest retailers to offer price matching, but that comes to an end on July 28.

As reported by Retail Dive, Target is ending its price-match policy. Previously, the retailer allowed customers to price match products at the time of or within 14 days of purchase. Target did restrict where customers could price match from, only matching Amazon or Walmart prices. But as of July 28, Target will end its price-match policy completely, joining the likes of those same retailers — Amazon and Walmart — as big name brands without price-match guarantees.

In a statement to Retail Dive, a spokesperson for Target said that customers, "overwhelmingly price match Target and not other retailers," implying that customers were already finding the best price at the retailer.

However, the change in policy comes in the face of looming price hikes due to tariffs. Reddit users claiming to be Walmart employees took to Reddit to detail the price hikes on everyday products like cocoa powder, which have jumped nearly 80% in price. Reporting from Business Insider showed that similar products faced the same increase in prices.

So what does this mean for consumers? Price matching helps shoppers in a crowded retailer market. It serves as a savings safety net; if you were to purchase a product at one retailer and find it cheaper at another, you could price match it to get the extra savings. Without these policies, it leaves the responsibility on the consumer to do the research ahead of time to ensure the most savings.

Target shoppers still have time to enjoy the retailers price-match policy before it comes to an end on July 28.

D-Day veteran "Papa" Jake Larson, who became a beloved social media star later in life, has died at 102.

Born in Minnesota in 1922, Larson enlisted underage in the National Guard, later surviving German gunfire in Normandy in 1944. In his 90s, he began sharing stories of his time at war and experiences with fallen comrades, capturing millions of hearts on TikTok and making global headlines.

In an interview with the AP, Larson spoke about the horrors of war, urging world leaders to "make peace." Just three weeks ago, he co-won an Emmy award with journalist Christiane Amanpour for their interview marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Larson would often call himself "the luckiest man in the world."

His granddaughter McKaela Larson announced Larson's passing on social media, writing to fans, "Please know, he went peacefully and was even cracking jokes til the very end."

Following the news, tributes to Papa Jake trickled in from across the United States. Towns in Normandy paid homage to the veteran too; Larson had made repeated trips to the region to commemorate D-Day.

"I am so thankful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all," Larson's granddaughter continued. "You meant the world to him. As Papa would say, love you all the mostest."

A judge has permanently dismissed a class action lawsuit against Amazon's Prime Video streaming platform.

In a complaint filed in February 2024, plaintiffs alleged that the service's sudden addition of ads constituted an illegal stealth price increase. But US District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein shut the case down last week, saying that the addition of commercials didn't constitute a price change and were instead a modification to the existing subscription package.

The court said that Amazon's terms and conditions specify that Prime's package could change over time.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Video ads to double, report says

"Amazon's introduction of advertisements to Prime Video was not a price increase; it was a benefit modification, and such modification was specifically contemplated and authorized by the parties' governing agreements," the judge ruled. She had previously disagreed with the case a few times already. Plaintiffs are no longer allowed to try their hand at the case again.

So ads on Prime aren't going anywhere. In fact, we're likely to see more. In June, an exclusive report from Adweek showed that Amazon will soon double its ads. To avoid this, users can opt to pay an extra $3 a month.

PS5 ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION RESTOCK: Pre-orders for the limited-edition PS5 30th Anniversary DualSense controller are live now at PlayStation Direct for $79.99, with a release date of September 9, 2025.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony PlayStation 30th Anniversary DualSense controller $79 at PlayStation Direct
Pre-order Here

Listen up, fellow '90s kids: The limited-edition PS5 30th Anniversary DualSense controller is live for pre-order now at PlayStation Direct for $79.99.

But, as always, there are a few caveats. Demand is already incredibly high, and I very quickly found out that anyone who enters the site now will be put in a virtual waiting room. (I got in in about three minutes, so it's not too bad, but definitely something to be aware of.) A word of advice from the page itself? Your spot in the queue is secure, so resist the urge to refresh your browser or open more tabs — it won't help you get in any faster. Just have your PSN Sign-In ID and payment details ready for when you get through.

SEE ALSO: Run, don't walk: The Nintendo Switch 2 and 'Mario Kart World' bundle is back in stock at Target

For gamers in the U.S., pre-orders are for the 30th Anniversary DualSense controller, priced at $79.99. (The U.K. had a more extensive drop earlier today, which included a PS5 Slim Bundle, the PlayStation Portal, and the DualSense controller.) This is a pre-order, so it won't actually ship until its release date on September 9, 2025. Note that there's a limit of one controller per order, and a charging cable isn't included in the box. This first wave requires a PlayStation Plus membership, but a second chance for everyone else is coming on Wednesday, July 23.

You’ll still need to act fast if you want to lock in a pre-order. Sony has confirmed that quantities are "highly limited," and this controller is a hot ticket item. We expect pre-orders to sell out quickly — good luck!

The president of the United States is gleefully posting AI slop on the internet, imagining a world where one of his predecessors is imprisoned.

President Donald Trump posted the video on his website Truth Social. In the AI-generated video, Trump is sitting with former President Barack Obama at the White House — a scene reminiscent of their real, awkward meetings — before agents come in and abduct Obama. The AI-generated Trump smiles as Obama is hauled off to prison, shown behind bars in an orange jumpsuit.

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While behavior like this from a sitting president may have once been shocking, it's not surprising that Trump would latch onto AI-generated attacks toward Obama. He's posted frequently about his predecessor since Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claimed there was evidence that the Obama administration promoted the idea that Russia interfered with the 2016 election.

The timing of the Truth Social post and the claims from Gabbard are interesting, considering liberals and many MAGA diehards alike strongly criticized Trump for keeping Jeffrey Epstein's files under wraps. The president was even ratioed on Truth Social over his comments on Epstein, which feels nearly impossible. The handling of Epstein's files — and Trump's long-documented friendship with the deceased financier famously charged with sex trafficking of minors — have become a real problem for the president.

So now, a few days later, we have Trump gleefully imagining Obama's arrest. When in doubt, it feels like a safe tactic for the president.

SAVE $154: The Sonos Ace headphones in black are on sale at Amazon for $295, marked down from the normal price of $449. That's a 34% discount and a new record-low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Ace (black) $295 at Amazon
$449 Save $154 Get Deal

Prime Day is now long gone but the sale prices haven't quit. Some items are still chilling at their lower prices even though the event ended ten days ago. Plus, a few special items have just hit a record low. If you're searching for high-quality headphones that don't come with a major price tag, check out this new deal at Amazon.

As of July 21, the Sonos Ace headphones in black are on sale for $295 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $449. That works out to a 34% discount that takes $154 off the price — an extra $4 off compared to the sale price we spotted last week. This $295 sale price the best Amazon has ever offered.

Launched in 2024, the Sonos Ace headphones mark the brand's first venture into headphones. Mashable Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews Miller Kern tested them out, and left feeling impressed overall. One of the biggest negatives Kern mentioned was the high price point, which is now dramatically lower thanks to today's sale.

"I’ll admit I’m not the biggest audio snob, but testing headphones for a living definitely makes me aware of the differences between good sound quality and outstanding sound quality," wrote Kern in her review. "Other headphones I’ve tested pale in comparison to Sonos Ace when it comes to sound quality."

While the usual $449 price point of the Sonos Ace puts them pretty high up on the pricing scale, scoring them for $295 feels a lot more reasonable. For comparison, the brand new Sony XM6 headphones sell for close to $450 and our beloved Bose QuietComfort Ultras are $449.

The Sonos Ace are especially great if you have Sonos soundbar at home that pairs with the Ace, including the Sonos Arc Ultra, Arc, Beam, or Ray. This features moves sound output from the soundbar to your headphones for a movie viewing experience like none other.

Since they're down to a record-low price at Amazon of $295, consider gifting yourself the Sonos Ace headphones. Kern wrote, "I would recommend Sonos Ace to people who 1) are true audiophiles who value incredible sound quality above all else, and 2) have a Sonos ecosystem at home and will use the TV audio swap feature with their Sonos Ace and soundbar." If that's you, now is a great time to buy.

The best headphone and speaker deals to shop this week

• Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds — $24.99 (List Price $39.99)

• JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker — $99.00 (List Price $129.95)

• Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker — $99.00 (List Price $149.00)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $278.00 (List Price $349.99)

• JBL Bar 300 5.0ch Compact Soundbar — $449.95

• Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones   — $38.00 (List Price $59.99)

For a limited time, you can snag the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15.6" HD Laptop for an astonishingly low price of just $160 at Best Buy. That's a massive $90 in savings off its regular price of $250, making this an absolute steal if you're in the market for a new laptop, and it's set up with Windows 11.

SAVE $140: As of July 21, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for just $159.99 — officially its lowest price ever. Shop now at Amazon and save $140 for 47% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $159.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $140 Get Deal

If you're not an iPhone user, you've still got plenty of options when it comes to smartwatches. Sure, Apple Watches garner a lot of the hype, but if you're an Android user you need an alternative. Samsung's Galaxy Watches are your best bet. And right now is the best time to buy one of Samsung's smartwatches.

As of July 21, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 just dropped to its lowest price ever. Normally $299.99, this smartwatch has dropped in price down to $159.99. That's nearly 50% off, and saves you $140.

Earlier this month at Samsung Unpacked, the brand announced that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic are coming on July 25. While this new generation of Samsung smartwatch will have the brand's most advanced features yet, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is still an exceptional model.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is made for wellness. Not only does it cover the basics like activity tracking and heart rate monitoring, but with Galaxy AI, it produces a daily energy score so you know when it's time to recover or when to push your daily workouts a little further. Not to mention, it's also a fantastic sleep tracker for round-the-clock health monitoring.

Don't miss out on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 at its lowest price ever. Shop at Amazon now, and grab it for just $159.99.

Microsoft has issued an emergency fix in its SharePoint software after hackers began exploiting a vulnerability to carry out widespread cyberattacks.

On Saturday, the company issued an alert saying organizations using the software should apply security updates immediately. SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365 was not hit by the attacks.

The Washington Post first broke the news, saying that the hacks were being used to launch an attack on targeted U.S. and international organizations. These attacks, conducted on both businesses and some federal agencies, saw hackers stealing sensitive data and passwords.

"We’ve been coordinating closely with CISA, DOD Cyber Defense Command and key cybersecurity partners globally throughout our response," said a company spokesperson in a statement.

Known as a "zero-day" attack, the threat is the result of a previously undetected vulnerability. Tens of thousands of servers were put at risk, according to CNN.

The Switch 2 is more than a decent successor to the highly popular original. It packs enough improvements to warrant a higher price, and a larger, 1080p screen is a most welcome upgrade. While I like what Nintendo did with it, I’m not planning to board the Switch 2 train anytime soon. Here’s why.

Open source developers are building an emulator called felix86, which allows you to run x86-designed software on RISC-V processors, and they recently showed off some AAA games being played through their emulator using Steam. It's a big step for the still-emerging world of RISC-V computing and gaming, specifically.

SAVE $350: The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $349.99, down from the standard price of $699.99. That's a 50% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 $349.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $350 Get Deal

Now that we're over halfway through summer, we're all trying to squeeze in as much enjoyment as possible. That means chores are set aside in exchange for outdoor movie nights, trips to the beach, and clutching our personal fans like never before. If you're in this camp and would love to ignore cleaning your floors, check out this Amazon deal.

As of July 21, the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $349.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $699.99. That's a 50% discount that takes a massive $350 off the price. It also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

The world of robot vacuums has gone wild over the last few years and we now have thousands of models to choose from. Shark has been a standout option that tends to hit the sweet spot between quality and affordability. When Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth tested out the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 back in 2023, he was impressed. It even earned a prestigious Mashable Choice award.

"The robot vacuum space may be dominated by iRobot and Roborock, but Shark has quietly released one of the best robot vacuums we've tested," wrote Beck Werth in the review. Shark uses impressive mapping technology that makes this model plenty functional when combined with its cleaning power. Plus, the self-emptying charging base can hold up to 60 days worth of debris.

SEE ALSO: Act fast to score the Roborock S8 Max Ultra robot vacuum for its record-low price

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 also earns a spot on Mashable's ranking of the best Shark robot vacuums, coming in as the best budget robot vacuum that also mops. A note-worthy feature of this Shark robot vacuum model is its Matrix Clean technology with auto-detects areas that need extra cleaning and uses a grid pattern to clean, rather than a once-over.

When Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart tested the Shark's cleaning power, she noted, "In my testing, I watched the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 successfully clear crumbs near the kitchen counter, kitty litter in my bathroom, and minor drops on hardwood or tile several times — messes that similarly-priced Roombas I tested couldn't conquer in one pass."

Shark says this model is also pretty great for pet owners since it's designed to suck up pet hair with the self-cleaning brushroll.

While it's an impressive robot vacuum and mop combo when at full price, it's an even better option when it's 50% off. Before the sale price disappears, snag the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 while it's down to $349.99 at Amazon. Once you employ the help of a robot, you'll never go back.

The best home and kitchen deals to shop this week

• Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $139.99

• Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — $159.95 (List Price $179.99)

• Birdfy AI Smart Solar Powered Bird Feeder with Camera — $159.99 (List Price $249.99)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $379.95 (List Price $499.99)

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop With Self-Emptying Base — $419.99 (List Price $699.99)