Technology

Are you still tapping your thumbs on your iPhone’s screen to type? It might shock you to hear that there’s been a better way to type since iOS 13 was introduced in 2019.

Threads just introduced a new feature that makes watching live events feel way more connected.

Communities on Threads are "public, casual spaces where you can exchange unique perspectives and join conversations about topics like basketball, TV, and more," the social media site wrote in a blog post on Thursday.

Right now, the company is testing threads globally with the most active interests on Threads, including the NBA, the WNBA, TV Threads, and KPOP Threads. To join a community, simply search for it in the top right corner. If the category is a community, it will allow you to join by clicking "Join" in the top right corner — an easy tell is if there's a three-dot icon on a topic tag. To find your joined communities, click the hamburger menu in the top left of the app and it'll be added to your feeds.

SEE ALSO: Who is actually using Threads? Threads introduces communities Credit: Meta Threads

Each community gets its own custom Like emoji, which are, admittedly, cute. When you like a post on the Book Threads community, for instance, you'll see a stack of books; WNBA Threads is a basketball; AI is a lightbulb; KPop is a hand heart emoji. For now, it looks like you have to join the Threads community in order to see the custom emoji.

Not every interest has a community just yet, but Threads said there are "already over 100 to explore, with more coming soon." Threads said in their blog post that standout community contributors — users who "are among the most active and engaged users on the app and have helped establish communities around the most popular discussion topics" will receive special badges. Plus, the site said it is "working on ranking within communities and the For You feed so that you see the most relevant posts first."

View on Threads

This update shouldn't come as a complete shock. A few days ago, Social Media Today reported that some Threads users were invited to use the feature in beta before it launched, including As @rayofsuunshine and David Rushing, aka @yorush. In a post on Threads, Rushing said he's "really digging Communities on Threads" because "posts in the community feed stay on topic" which "makes it way easier to find relevant posts during live events — like primetime NBA games."

In response to Rushing's post, Adam Mosseri, the "head of Instagram and supporter of Threads," posted that while there is "still a lot of work to do" he's "really excited about communities on Threads."

Personally, I just wish we had communities when Liberty played the Mercury last month.

The best Prime Day board game deals Best board game deal Scrabble $8.69 (Save $13.30) Get Deal Best kids' board game deal Don't Break the Ice $9.99 (Save $7) Get Deal Best family board game deal Ticket to Ride $49.99 (Save $5) Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day event is right around the corner, taking place on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8. You'll be able to save big across categories that span the entire site, with discounts available on both days that you won't want to miss. But if you're looking to score some deals now, you don't have to wait, especially when it comes to board games.

There are a slew of early Prime Day deals on board games you can pick up right now, so if you've been looking for ways to level up your family game night or feel like getting into the hobby without putting up too much cash, now's a great time to do it and save on games like Scrabble, Twister, and much more.

We're tracking some of the best Prime Day board game deals below, so be sure to check back as we update the list with the newest sale prices that drop as Prime Day arrives.

Best Prime Day board game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Scrabble $8.69 at Amazon
$21.99 Save $13.30 Get Deal Why we like it

Scrabble is one of the most popular word games on the market, and for good reason. It's easy to learn but difficult to master, even if you have a large vocabulary. The classic crossword game gives you seven letter tiles randomly drawn at the beginning of the game that you use to place on the board to build words. Once the first word is down, players continue to build on those in place, using certain letter tiles that offer higher scores to see who can achieve the highest-scoring words. It's a race to see who can use up all of their tiles and score high, but also a challenge for even the most talented wordsmiths due to letter availability. Anyone can play, and getting Scrabble for less than $10 is a steal.

More board game deals

• Tapple — $19.97 $21.99 (save $2.02)

• KerPlunk — $14 $18.35 (save $4.35)

• Candy Land — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Monopoly — $12.29 $19.99 (save $9.70)

• Guess Who? — $12.99 $16.99 (save $4)

• Hungry Hungry Hippos — $12.99 $19.99 (save $7)

• Battleship — $12.49 $16.99 (save $4.50)

• Clue Escape: The World’s Fair — $9.49 $16.99 (save $7.50)

• Operation — $18.98 $19.99 (save $1.01)

• Taboo — $13.90 $19.99 (save $6.09)

• The Game of Life — $10.14 $21.99 (save $11.85)

• Twister — $14.34 $19.99 (save $5.65)

• Scattergories — $13.69 $19.99 (save $6.30)

• Clue — $13.79 $21.99 (save $8.20)

Since its 2011 premiere, Black Mirror has remained one of the most intriguing and captivating anthology series. Over seven mind-bending seasons, the dystopian spectacle explores the implications of advanced technologies on individuals and society as a whole, while blending relatable scenarios and thought-provoking sci-fi with real-world anxieties.

Online dating as a lesbian can be a joyous experience, but it can also involve having your space invaded by straight people or seeing your ex-girlfriends (and your ex-girlfriends' ex-girlfriends) show up in your feed over and over.

Over the decades, queer women have turned to personal ads, roaming bars, and word of mouth to find love. These days, it's not too different. From trying to find a date on WLW TikTok to entrapranureal lesbians creating new apps just for them, LGBTQ women are down to get creative to find their special someone.

Thankfully, in 2025, there are both niche and general apps where queer women can find a partner — whether for one night or for life. Which ones are the best dating apps for lesbians? We tested the most popular dating sites and apps and got some insight from our Dating & Relationships writers to find out.

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

In Mashable's recommendations below, you'll find both general dating apps and apps specifically for queer people. As the former appeals to the general population, you'll find more users in these spaces. The caveat, however, is that when you swipe on other women, you might find those coupled with men who are looking for another woman to have a threesome with (aka unicorn hunters). No judgment here, but that's probably not what you're looking for. Then again, people of all types are on dating apps like Tinder and Hinge. You never know who you may come across.

Then there are apps specifically for the community, like HER and Lex. If you yearn for a smaller dating scene, head for these apps. While there's no "Grindr for lesbians" — we go into why in the FAQ section — these apps are more like stepping into your neighborhood lesbian bar than an app like Bumble. 

You can also try multiple dating apps, as each one below has a free version. You can filter out which gender you identify with and are looking for, and sometimes, like in the case of OkCupid, there are many options to choose from.

Diving into the dating pool isn't easy, but the water's fine. Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

Most of us use cases on our phones, yet it's strange how often we protect our $1000 investments with a $10 piece of plastic. Instead of buying the cheapest case you can find, it's worth paying a little extra. It'll look better, last longer, and give your phone a lot more protection.

SAVE UP TO $100: Several items from the Home Depot's 2025 Halloween collection are on sale for up to 25% off as of Oct. 2.

Quick links: 5 ft. Long Grave & Bones LED Skelly's Cat $149 (save $50) Get Deal 5 ft. Grave & Bones Skelly's Sitting Dog with LifeEyes $199 (save $50) Get Deal 15 ft. Gruesome Grounds Giant-Sized Animated LED Worricrow $299 (save $100) Get Deal 15 ft. Grave & Bones Giant-Sized Animated LED Gally-Crow $299 (save $100) Get Deal 8 ft. Wide Gruesome Grounds Giant-Sized Color Changing Animated LED Wyvern $299 (save $100) Get Deal 3.5 ft. Animated LED Scarred Chucky Doll $199 ($30) Get Deal

Waiting for the Home Depot's halloween decorations to go on sale is a risky game. The home improvement retailer's spooky-season props are so popular that they often sell out well before October. (In 2024, I watched four of them sell out online within an hour and a half of their July launch. Now that's scary.)

This year, patient shoppers have been rewarded. As of Oct. 2, several marquee items from the Home Depot's 2025 Halloween collection are on sale for up to 25% off.

That includes the five-foot Skelly's Cat and Skelly's Sitting Dog, two new pets designed to sit alongside the Home Depot's iconic 12-foot skeleton ("Skelly"), which are both $50 off. A couple other giants, the 15-foot Worricrow and Gallicrow — creepier versions of a classic scarecrow — are both $100 off. That's a match of their Labor Day discounts, for reference.

An eight-foot Animated Wyvern with motion activation and color-changing lights is also enjoying a $100 markdown. Rounding out the roster is a 3.5-foot Scarred Chucky Doll that's $30 off.

SEE ALSO: Is the Home Depot's viral 12-foot skeleton a victim of President Trump's tariffs?

With 414 units still available for delivery at the time of writing, the Worricrow is the most at risk of selling out online. There were 562 Skelly's Cats, 561 Skelly's Dogs, 737 Galli-Crows, 716 Wyverns, and 711 Scarred Chucky Dolls left around 10 a.m. ET on Oct. 2.

Skelly itself isn't on sale, but it was still in stock at the time of writing... barely. Only 20 units were available for delivery the last time I checked. If it sells out online, you might be able to find it available at a Home Depot store near you.

Rapsberry Pi OS, the default operating system for Pi boards and computers, has a new major release. The new update is based on Debian 13.1 Trixie, with some design improvements, simpler controls, and more package options.

In a sudden, unannounced, and potentially fleeting move, Serif has made all of its Affinity iPad apps entirely free. This isn't a simple extended trial; users who move quickly can secure what appears to be a lifetime license for Affinity Designer 2, Affinity Photo 2, and Affinity Publisher 2.

SAVE 12%: To celebrate Taylor Swift's twelfth studio album The Life of a Showgirl dropping on Oct. 3, Uber is offering 12% off orange-colored items through Uber Eats and $12 off Uber Comfort rides with the code SHOWBIZ. The promo is valid through Oct. 5.

Opens in a new window Credit: Uber Uber Eats Save 12% on orange items Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Uber Uber Comfort Save 12% on rides using code SHOWBIZ Get Deal

We're mere hours away from Taylor Swift's twelfth studio album The Life of a Showgirl release and Uber is getting into the showgirl spirit with a few promotions for Swifties. While the album drops on Oct. 3, these promos run through the weekend, so listen up ladies and gents.

Save 12% on orange-colored items on Uber Eats

First up, Uber Eats has curated a collection of goodies in the quintessential showgirl orange. Users can save 12% on these goodies through Sunday, Oct. 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Items include everything from snacks to beauty products to pet accessories. The orange era collection will vary by location, but just to give you an idea, items available near me include orange Poppi, Lay's cheddar and sour cream potato chips, orange Nike running shoes, orange crafting beads for friendship bracelets, peach OPI nail polish, orange pet collars and leashes, orange Owala reusable cups, and more.

Save $12 on Uber Comfort rides

Whether you're hitting up an album release party at a local record shop or dive bar, heading to the movie theater for a screening, or just celebrating the album with some friends, you can ride in luxury with up to $12 off Uber Comfort rides. Uber Comfort offers newer vehicles to riders with roomier interiors, because as the company wrote in its press release, "showgirls deserve extra room and a flawless arrival.” User the code SHOWBIZ to knock up to $12 off your ride. This promotion is valid from Thursday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. ET through Sunday, Oct. 5 at 12:01 a.m. ET, so you're covered if you don't plan on celebrating until later in the weekend. The code is only valid for one ride per user on Uber Comfort and Uber Comfort Electric.

Stay tuned for more showgirl surprises

Uber is truly dedicated to the showgirl spirit this week and plans to drop more festive promos, in-app surprises, and even a chance to adopt a "showcat" in select cities. The company encourages Swifties to keep an eye on their Uber and Uber Eats apps all week for more ways to celebrate.

The iPhone 13 had been my main device since 2022, but this year I replaced it with the Google Pixel 10. I've been using Google's latest smartphone for over a month now, and unfortunately, I am regretting my decision to switch.

Dash cams are becoming an essential add-on for both private and commercial vehicles. Anything can happen out on the road or when your vehicle is parked somewhere, and insurance companies are incentivized to look for any reason to deny your claims. Not to mention that there are bad actors out there looking to commit insurance fraud at your expense!

If you're unhappy with Microsoft, you're not the only one.

The company behind the Xbox brand has raised a lot of ire in recent months for a lot of different reasons. It's a priority target for the BDS movement, there have been mass layoffs, and Xbox in general has had a hard time actually releasing new games that people want to play amidst all of that. And now, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $30/mo, a 50 percent price increase from what it used to be.

If you want to cancel or downgrade your subscription for any of the reasons above, here's how.

SEE ALSO: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is about to cost more — here's how to lock in a better price Xbox Game Pass price hike: How to cancel or downgrade your subscription

Helpfully, Microsoft has support pages on its website for all of this. You can cancel or downgrade your Game Pass subscription from either an Xbox console or a web browser. Here's how you do it on a console:

1. Press the Xbox button

2. Go to Profile & System

3. Go to Settings

4. Go to Account

5. Go to Subscription

6. Select "Cancel Subscription" or "Change Subscription"

If you want to do it on a web browser instead, here's how:

1. Go to Microsoft's Subscriptions website and log in

2. Find your subscription and select "Manage"

3. Select either "Cancel Subscription" if you want to cancel, or "Turn off recurring billing" if you want to downgrade

If you're trying to downgrade, after you turn off recurring billing, you should see a section that gives you other, cheaper subscription options. Pick the one that's best for you and go with God, as they say.

SAVE OVER $30: As of Oct. 2, the Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set is on sale at Amazon for $133.99. This is $31 (19%) off its list price of $164.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter $133.99 at Amazon
$164.99 Save $31 Get Deal

Ahead of its next big sale event, Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon has quite a selection of early Lego deals to look through. If you're a fan, it's a great time to shop for sets. One of our favorite deals to cross our radar before the October Prime Day sale is on the Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set, which is over $30 off at the moment.

More specifically, the Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set has received a $31 discount that's dropped it's price from $164.99 to $133.99. This price is also very close to its lowest-ever price of $131.95, so if you've been waiting for a good time to get it now is as good a time as any.

SEE ALSO: Target announced dates for its fall Target Circle Week. Duh, it's during Prime Day.

The Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set is a great pick-up for Dune fans. Its 1,369 pieces come together to create a Lego version of the Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter, complete with wings that fold out and flap and landing gear that can be deployed. It even comes with eight minifigures: Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Chani, Leto Atreides, Liet Kynes, Duncan Idaho, and Baron Harkonnen.

This set is also recommended for those aged 18 and up, but if you know a younger fan who really wants to build it, just give them a hand in the process. Who knows how much longer it'll stay down at this price, so be quick to grab the Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set for $133.99 at Amazon.

Alongside Lego sets being discounted, there are plenty more early deals to check out right now at Amazon. Have a look at our breakdown of 30+ early deals to shop now to see what else is available at the moment.

SAVE $45: As of Oct. 2, the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is on sale for $54.99 at Amazon. That's a 45% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

If you're impatiently waiting for a Prime Day bargain, wait no more. While the official event doesn't kick off until Oct. 7, you can grab a whole range of early Prime Day deals right now. Everything from fitness trackers to TVs and Fire tablets have already been reduced, and this new price on the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is hard to beat.

As of Oct. 2, this tablet is now at its lowest price all year. With $45 off the list price, you can now take it home for just $54.99. This price is for the 32GB model, and you can choose between black, emerald, or hibiscus colors.

This tablet is a great option, especially for the new low price. It has an 8-inch HD display that's perfect for watching movies, scrolling social media, and gaming. It even has a 5MP rear camera, so it's good for snapping pictures too.

The battery life promises to last up to 13 hours, so it's ideal for all-day use. It also comes with three handy smart tools to help you perfect your emails, summarize webpages, or even create custom wallpapers. Alexa is built in too, so you can ask it to play music, check the weather, manage your shopping list, or even control your smart home devices like a robot vacuum or light bulbs.

Get this tablet deal from the Amazon website.

A lot of people are afraid, intimidated, or outright angered by the thought of having to switch to an electric car. That's valid—the way these cars function is quite different. But once you've reconfigured your life around EVs, the frustrations of switching back to a gas-powered car are greater than you might think.

SAVE $120: As of Oct. 2, get the Shark FlexStyle for $279.99, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's a discount of 30% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shark FlexStyle $279.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $120 Get Deal

Looking for a quick and easy way to get salon-quality hair at home? You don't have to go all-out on something from Dyson or buy all the latest and greatest shampoos and conditioners. There's a more affordable option from Shark, which you can get ahead of Prime Day at a great price right now.

As of Sep. 25, get the Shark FlexStyle for $279.99, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's $120 off and a discount of 30%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Skip the salon with the Shark FlexStyle for its lowest price yet

This multi-styling tool comes packed with multiple different attachments that let you work with any type of hair. Whether you've got curly, straight, or wavy hair, it can help you volumize, smooth, dry, and style your hair no matter your needs. It's compact, light, and can provide low-heat styling while regulating temperatures 1,000x per second.

Mashable's Bethany Allard was impressed with the FlexStyle after reviewing it, praising it as"100 percent worth it": "Admittedly, I am someone who would much rather put more effort into their makeup than hair, but I found myself wanting to style my hair more often with the FlexStyle," she wrote.

There's no reason you have to stick to paying for expensive hair appointments every time you want a fresh blowout. Grab this Shark FlexStyle while it's on sale and have a good hair day every day.

Ohio's age-verification laws went into effect on September 30. But despite what you might read on Reddit, Pornhub is staying put in the Buckeye State.

Age-verification laws vary across states but typically require a visitor to a site that hosts explicit content to verify their age, beyond simply checking a box indicating they're over 18. In Ohio's in particular, any site that contains "any material or performance that is obscene or harmful to juveniles" must verify visitors' ages using one's photo ID or public or private data — like mortgage, educational, and employment records.

SEE ALSO: Porn censorship is going to destroy the entire internet

In many states where age-verification laws have been enacted, the tube site Pornhub has blocked itself due to the burden of complying with these laws. But Pornhub isn't blocked in Ohio, its owner Aylo told Mashable, nor has it enabled age verification measures.

Unlike other state laws in places where Pornhub removed itself, Ohio's law states that establishing age verification methods doesn't apply to a provider of an interactive computer service (under section 1349.10).

"As a provider of an 'interactive computer service' as defined under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, it is our understanding that we are not subject to the obligations under section 1349.10 of the Ohio Revised Code regarding mandated age verification for the 'interactive computer services' we provide, such as Pornhub," Aylo told Mashable in a statement.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 states that platforms aren't liable for content that users upload onto them.

Aylo goes on to state that it has publicly supported age verification for users for years. "However, we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults."

"Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and failing to meet these basic requirements," it goes on. It then advocates, as it has for years, for device-level filters in order to stop minors from accessing explicit content.

This summer, Pornhub announced that it will comply with the UK's Online Safety Act, its own version of age verification. Such laws have swept the U.S. and abroad (despite experts telling Mashable they don't work and will result in broader censorship), with Pornhub blocking itself in France due to its law as well.

While Pornhub is blocked from many states, Ohioans will be able to access it for the foreseeable future.

When you need a new power tool and wander into any big-box hardware store, you'll see all sorts of options on the shelves. Power tools come in various styles, brands, and price points. Do you own any of the blue Kobalt tools from Lowe's? Here's where Kobalt tools are made and whether they're worth buying.

YouTuber JerryRigEverything dubbed the iPhone Air a "ridiculously strong phone" — so much so that he needed a blowtorch to finish a disassembly.

JerryRigEverything famously breaks electronic devices to show viewers the guts of their favorite phones. His most recent video focuses on the Air, and if you've never seen a phone get blowtorched, well, I recommend it. It's pretty neat and a necessary step for removing a titanium exterior strip from the interior parts of the phone.

SEE ALSO: Review: The new iPhone Air is the sexiest iPhone I've ever tested

It's nearly hypnotizing to see the titanium turn bright orange as the torch keeps piling on the heat.

Breaking a phone by accident is never fun. But watching somebody do it on purpose? That's a great time.