Technology

A large collection of Apple memorabilia has gone up for auction, including a sealed first-generation iPhone, a prototype iPod, and Steve Jobs' 8th grade science fair project. 

The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction Part Two is currently live on RR Auction, featuring 212 items primarily from the tech giant's history. Marking half a century since Jobs and Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple in the former's California home, the auction provides a look at a few early iterations of gadgets that are now ubiquitous in the U.S.

SEE ALSO: Original iPod prototype was almost as big as a MacBook

Among these is an iPod development prototype, labelled the "Stealth iPod." This prototype allowed engineers to work on refining iPod's hardware and software, while still obfuscating the gadget's design during its secret development. The Stealth iPod is thus considerably larger than the version that went into production, measuring in at 8.5 x 12 x 2.5 inches.

Also up for auction are various documents and paraphernalia from throughout Apple's history, including bank statements from the year it was founded, a 1976 cheque Jobs made out to a circuit board manufacturer, and a few signs and displays featuring the old rainbow Apple logo.

Credit: Mashable Composite: RR Auction

Some of the items for sale come from Steve Jobs' stepbrother John Chovanec, whose mother Marylin married Jobs' father Paul in 1990 — five years after Jobs was ousted from Apple. Chovanec told RR Auction that while Paul had proudly preserved memorabilia from across his son's life and career, Jobs had been disinterested in keeping them after he died in 1993. As such, Jobs allowed Chovanec to take them instead.

"I told him several times about the school project display and that my mom really wanted him to have it," said Chovanec. "Steve would tell me to leave it where it was [at the family's California home]. I finally told him my mom was adamant as it was stressing her out so if he wasn't going to take it, I was going to take it to my house. This was the first time I had debated with Steve and received an intense look from him. He responded, 'Fine, but I don't want to be bothered about it again.'"

Chovanec thus held on to Jobs' 8th grade Cupertino Junior High School project on silicon-controlled rectifiers, and has now put it up for sale alongside various other items from the tech exec's life. These include a note Jobs wrote to his father on a NeXT business card (his venture after Apple), a 1984 Macintosh computer, a 1979 Apple II computer, and a rainbow Apple logo suncatcher.

Credit: RR Auction

This is the second Apple anniversary auction held by RR Auction this year, the first having listed 142 items in January. Of these, the item that attracted the highest bid was an Apple-1 computer prototype board, which ultimately sold for $2.75 million. Released in 1976, the Apple-1 was Apple's first product, back when it was known as the Apple Computer Company.

Similarly, the highlight of the current auction is a fully functional Apple-1 computer, which originates from the second batch Apple ever produced. RR Auction's listing notes that the computer's manual even has the name "Steven Jobs" pencilled in near the Apple Computer Company's mailing address, "apparently as a note identifying whom to contact at Apple." One of just 50 computers in its run, the Apple-1 comes with original documentation, all components and accessories needed to operate it, and is housed in a modified Smith Corona typewriter case.

As of writing, the highest bid on the Apple-1 is sitting at $225,500. This is also the top bid in the current auction, outstripping Steve Jobs' signed business card by over $100,000. Of course, both items are likely to sell for much more as bidding heats up closer to the auction's end. The Apple auction kicked off on July 24, with bidding on all items to close on Thursday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. EDT / 4:30 p.m. PDT.

Credit: Mashable composite: RR Auction

Though primarily focused on Jobs and Apple, the auction includes a few artefacts from other companies as well. Various displays from Twitter's offices are available, dating back to before Elon Musk took over and rebranded the platform to X. There is also a prototype Atari gaming console, and a flag from Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

SAVE $50: As of Aug. 20, the Bambu Lab P1S Combo is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon. That's a 9% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bambu Bambu Lab P1S Combo $499.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $49.01   Get Deal

The Bambu Lab P1S Combo is currently on sale at Amazon for its best-ever price, so if you've been looking for a 3D printer deal, don't miss out. As of Aug. 20, it's down from $549 to $499.99, saving you $50.

This 3D printer supports multi-color and multi-material printing with up to 16 different colors when connected to a Bambu Lab AMS. This makes it a great choice if you're looking to create more detailed and colorful designs.

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It offers printing speeds of up to 500 mm/s and acceleration of 20,000 mm/s², so you significantly reduce the time spent waiting for prints to finish. That's more time to be spent creating new designs. It also has a fully enclosed design, helping to improve print performance.

But the best part? It can be set up in about 15 minutes, with a user-friendly design that makes assembly straightforward. You don't need to be an expert or have advanced experience with 3D printers to use and set this up; it's designed with complete beginners in mind.

Supported filaments include PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET, ABS, and ASA; PA and PC are also supported. Carbon and glass fiber-reinforced polymers are not recommended.

Get this 3D printer deal at Amazon right now.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising 3-Pack Blister is on sale for $24.99 at Amazon, down from its $29.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Triple Pack (3-Pack Blister) $24.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $5   Get Deal

As far as trading card expansions go, Pokémon’s Chaos Rising has become much easier on the wallet since its May launch, and Amazon has now brought one of its smaller sealed buys down to its lowest-ever third-party price. 

As of Aug. 20, the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising 3-Pack Blister is available for $24.99 at Amazon through third-party seller The Sports Card Zone. Against the $29.99 list price, that cuts $5 from the total for a 17% discount, with free delivery currently scheduled for Aug. 24-26 at the time of writing. What’s more, as confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest-priced listing we’ve seen from a third-party seller on Amazon. 

That also puts each of the three Chaos Rising booster packs at roughly $8.33 before factoring in the included Charmeleon foil promo card. Each booster contains 10 game cards, one Basic Energy, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. It's a better deal than the $37.72 Amazon price we spotted for the same blister back in May.

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Those three packs will give you the chance to pull Chaos Rising’s most valuable chase cards, currently worth up to $195 — including the SIR and MHR versions of Mega Greninja ex, Cinccino ex, and Mega Floette ex. Alternatively, you can also buy any of Chaos Rising’s cards from TCGplayer directly to save yourself some time. 

Speaking of three-pack blisters, you can also buy the Pokémon TCG’s Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister for under $25. For even more packs at a reasonable price, the six-pack Perfect Order Booster Bundle is on offer at $10 off. 

The full lineup of free phones at T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 Free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Get Deal Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed). Get Deal Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience Beyond plan. Get Deal Google Pixel 11 Free when you activate a new line on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed). Get Deal Google Pixel 11 Pro Free when you trade in your eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan. Get Deal Motorola Razr Free when you activate a new line on an Experience More plan (no trade-in needed). Get Deal Motorola Razr+ Free when you activate a new line on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed). Get Deal

Getting a new phone usually means paying for it, one way or another. But right now, T-Mobile is handing out some of the biggest names in the mobile game — the iPhone 17, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Pixel 11, Razr, and more — On Us, for $0 upfront. And you don't necessarily need a trade-in to get there — some of these deals just require a new line, or a new line plus porting in your number from another carrier.

The catch is that "On Us" here means the cost is paid off through monthly bill credits over 24 to 36 months. As long as you stick around for the whole term, you'll never pay for the device itself. Switch carriers or downgrade early, though, and the rest of the balance comes due right away.

Our favorite free phone deal at T-Mobile Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free with any-condition trade-in on Experience Beyond (up to 36 months of bill credits). No trade-in? Still free with a new line and port-in on Experience Beyond or Experience More. Get Deal Why we like it

What makes the iPhone 17 Pro deal stand out is how many paths there are to finding real value:

• Any trade-in + Experience Beyond: Free, no conditions on the trade-in's condition

• No trade-in, but porting your number: Still free with a new line on Experience Beyond or Experience More

• On a 55+, Military, First Responder, or Student Perks plan: Up to $900 off with trade-in (new line/port-in required on the discounted plans, trade-in alone works on Experience Beyond)

• Trade-in only, no new line, on Experience More/Beyond: Up to $830 off

• New line + trade-in on most plans: Up to $730 off

• Trade-in on a savings-tier Experience Beyond plan: Up to $630 off

• Trade-in on most other plans: Up to $300 off

• Legacy Simple Choice plan + trade-in: Up to $150 off

• Switching carriers and porting your number: An extra $800 back via prepaid Mastercard, stackable with your device discount

Bottom line: whatever your current T-Mobile setup looks like, there's almost certainly a version of this deal that gets you to $0 or close enough.

It's rare to see this many flagship phones from so many different brands — Apple, Samsung, Google, and Motorola — all free on the same carrier at the same time. If any of these phones have been on your radar, this is about as good a moment as you're likely to get to make the jump for free.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've been to a hockey game.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: EPL teams

• Green: Famous Houstonians

• Blue: Types of counts

• Purple: Songs after a score

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: London Soccer Clubs

• Green: Houston Sports Stars, Historically

• Blue: Can Come Before "Count"

• Purple: NHL Goal Songs

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #696 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• London Soccer Clubs: ARSENAL, CRYSTAL PALACE, FULHAM, TOTTENHAM

• Houston Sports Stars, Historically: BAGWELL, BIGGIO, MOON, OLAJUWON

• Can Come Before "Count": FULL, HARD, PITCH, SILENT

• NHL Goal Songs: CHELSEA DAGGER, HOWL, LITHIUM, SHOUT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 20, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 20, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 20 Pips

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 20 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 20 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

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

The Moon is looking brighter than it did just a few nights ago. Tonight, it reaches its First Quarter phase, when half of the Moon’s visible surface is illuminated.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, Aug. 20, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in First Quarter phase, with 52% of its surface visible.

Without any visual aids, tonight you can see the Mares Crisium, Tranquillitatis and Fecunditatis. With binoculars you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater, Posidonus Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. A telescope will also help you spot the Apollo 17 landing spots, the Rima Hyginus, and the Descartes Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon goes through a series of phases that cause its appearance to change as seen from Earth. As the Moon orbits Earth, it goes through a lunar cycle that takes about 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon determine how much of the Moon’s illuminated side is visible from Earth, creating its different phases. Throughout the cycle, the Moon changes from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before repeating the cycle once more.

The eight phases are:

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. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last 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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you still have your HS yearbook.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 20, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Spilt Superlatives...

The words are related adjectives you might find in a yearbook.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe idioms/phrases that describe someone that's excellent.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is You're The.

NYT Strands word list for August 20

• Bees

• Knees

• Cats

• Pajamas

• Very

• Best

• Gold

• Standard

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you've been stuck in an overhanging fog.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 20, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 20, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Low visibility likely caused by fog.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

MURKY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Stop me if you've heard this before: "I don't have enough time in the day." I don't have the stats, but I'll go out on a limb to say that 99% of us, including myself, have muttered that common phrase before. In my case, I talk about not having enough time when it comes to streaming. I watch a lot of shows for work, but I struggle to find things to stream when pressed for time. That could mean having some time during a lunch break or needing to wind down before bed, for example.

TL;DR: Through August 23, you can get Microsoft Office for life for only $42.97 (reg. $219).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $42.97
$219 Save $176.03   Get Deal

Software subscriptions are only a good option if you won’t be using the apps for long. For apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that you’ll be using indefinitely, buying them outright is a much smarter option. Right now, you can even pick up a lifetime license for Microsoft Office on sale for only $42.97. That’s less than half the price of a single year of Microsoft 365, but this offer ends soon.

Most people have been using Microsoft Office long before cloud apps and browser-based alternatives became the norm. With this deal, you can install the full Office suite on a single device for lifetime use at home or at work without worrying about monthly renewals, annual price hikes, or surprise charges down the line.

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This license includes all the core apps most people actually rely on: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. That means drafting documents, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing email, and organizing notes using the full desktop versions of each app. Unlike free alternatives or web-based tools, you get access to the complete feature sets, which makes a difference when you’re working on longer documents, detailed spreadsheets, or presentation-heavy projects.

Once you purchase, your license key and download links are delivered instantly, so there’s no waiting around to get started. Microsoft also includes lifetime customer support, which can be helpful if you ever need assistance with installation or troubleshooting.

Instead of committing to yet another recurring subscription, this one-time purchase lets you snag software you’ll likely keep using for years.

Get Microsoft Office for life on sale for only $42.97. Sale ends Aug. 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

NASA's Hail Mary attempt to rescue a falling spacecraft has failed, leaving scientists to grieve the eventual loss of a key space telescope later this year. 

The space agency hired Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies to build a small servicing spacecraft to push the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory about 150 miles higher, into a safer orbit. The contractor had less than a year to build and plan the urgent mission. Their rescue craft, called LINK, launched on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket on July 3. 

But ongoing problems with LINK's "attitude control" system — the orientation equipment — since then mean the mission will not capture and boost Swift as planned, officials announced Wednesday. 

The demise of the NASA spacecraft, which will likely burn up in Earth's atmosphere in a matter of months, will eliminate a crucial telescope for catching brief, one‑time‑only events in the sky. In its absence, scientists will have fewer tools to chase the most powerful explosions in the universe, called gamma-ray bursts, as well as black hole flares and changing comets. 

"This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting," said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman in a statement. "The team moved with extraordinary speed to give Swift a chance to carry out more science while advancing capabilities America will need for satellite servicing in the future."

SEE ALSO: NASA: SpaceX rocket crash made basketball court-size moon crater

For nearly two decades, Swift was on the lookout for gamma-ray bursts, brief blasts of high‑energy light that can outshine entire galaxies for a few seconds. It launched in 2004 into low-Earth orbit, a few hundred miles above the planet, and was only supposed to run for two years. 

Swift outlived predictions and became the go-to first responder for ephemeral cosmic events over the years, whipping around in less than a minute to new targets of interest.

Though the observatory had been going strong, with all of its instruments still in good shape, a combination of solar storms and a thickening upper atmosphere dragged the spacecraft down and made it unstable. That quashed earlier hopes that it could continue working into the 2030s. 

Katalyst officials said the team will still try to carry out a close flyby with LINK, short for Lightweight In-space Navigation and Kinematics, to test navigation and docking techniques for future satellite servicing missions.

"We took on this high-risk, high-reward challenge and are proud of the milestones we reached along the way. We have already learned a tremendous amount," said Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee in a statement. "Now our job is to turn those lessons into something durable — building a repeatable playbook to inform future rendezvous and proximity operations and satellite servicing."

NASA repeatedly described the effort as a "first‑of‑its‑kind" mission on an unusually short timetable. They have framed the project as a step toward an era where future spacecraft might include standard attachment points and replaceable parts, so small robotic "space mechanics" can fix or refuel them instead of letting expensive hardware burn up in the atmosphere. 

"NASA should be willing to move quickly and take smart risks when the potential return is worth it, and that is exactly what we did with this mission," Isaacman said.

Since Hayden Panettiere’s death at 36 on Aug. 16, fans have been revisiting the actress’s life in public — from her childhood roles and Heroes fame to her candid discussions of addiction, motherhood, and postpartum depression.

SEE ALSO: Tributes flow online for 'incredible light' Hayden Panettiere

One allegation from the final months of her life is now drawing particular outrage.

While promoting her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere claimed that Neutrogena tried to end its longtime partnership with her after she publicly discussed experiencing postpartum depression. Her representative prevented the brand from immediately dropping her, she said, but her contract was not renewed the following year.

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Fans are turning their anger into calls for a boycott.

A Reddit post targeting Neutrogena has received more than 7,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments, while many other X and TikTok posts accuse the company of punishing Panettiere for speaking candidly about her mental health. Neutrogena’s own social media accounts are also being flooded with comments from people promising to stop buying its products.

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The actress began appearing in Neutrogena advertisements in the mid-2000s, eventually becoming closely associated with the brand’s cleansers and acne products.

Then, in September 2015, less than a year after giving birth to her daughter, Kaya, Panettiere appeared on Live with Kelly and Michael. During the interview, she said she could relate to her Nashville character’s struggle with postpartum depression.

"There’s a lot of misunderstanding," she told the hosts, describing the condition as painful and frightening. "Women need a lot of support."

Panettiere later explained that she had not arrived at the interview planning to discuss her own mental health. The subject came up, and she answered honestly. However, Panettiere later said that those comments put her relationship with Neutrogena in jeopardy.

During a May appearance on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, Panettiere said she received a call informing her that the company wanted to fire her for violating a morals clause in her contract.

"Of all the things that they would fire me over, this was the last thing I thought they would fire me over," she said.

Her representative pushed back, Panettiere recalled, preventing Neutrogena from immediately ending the agreement. But she said she understood that the relationship was effectively over, and that the company did not renew her contract the following year.

What hurt most, Panettiere said, was how quietly the decade-long partnership ended. Panettiere recalled receiving no goodbye or acknowledgment from the people she had worked with at the company.

"I remember that really breaking my heart," she told Shetty.

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Panettiere repeated the allegation in her memoir and in a May interview with The Hollywood Reporter. By telling the story publicly, she hoped other companies would think twice before treating someone similarly.

Neutrogena has not discussed Panettiere’s claims or publicly explained why its partnership with the actress ended. The company also did not respond to requests for comment from multiple outlets when the allegations first attracted attention in May.

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After Panettiere's death, the anger has spread well beyond angry X posts and compilation videos on TikTok.

As boycott calls continue to flood social media, shares of Neutrogena parent company Kenvue — which also owns Tylenol, Band-Aid, and Aveeno — fell more than 2 percent on Monday, giving the backlash even more momentum.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

CachyOS has earned a reputation for being fast, but because speed is easiest to benchmark in frame rates, it’s often discussed in the context of gaming too.

At a glance:

GTA VI will be a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S console exclusive at launch, with no confirmed PC release date. Given Rockstar's history, a PC port seems likely to arrive eventually, but PC gamers should brace for a wait that could stretch well into 2027 or beyond.

The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on Nov. 19, 2026, but PC players will have to wait. Rockstar has confirmed that the game is console-only at launch, with no PC version officially announced.

Rockstar and Take-Two haven't given an official reason for skipping PC at launch, but a few factors are typically cited when publishers stagger releases this way.

Console hardware is standardized, which tends to make optimization more straightforward than building for the huge range of PC configurations. Some industry data has also indicated that consoles generate higher per-unit revenue, giving publishers an incentive to front-load console sales.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 leaks: Map and gameplay potentially revealed

A more cynical take is that Take-Two could just be double-dipping, hoping fans who can't wait for the PC launch will buy the console first, then buy the PC version later. A PC Gamer poll found that 39 percent of respondents said they're fine waiting for a port rather than needing it on day one, suggesting a meaningful share of the PC audience isn't treating the delay as a dealbreaker.

However, there could be another, less finacially motivated reason for all of this.

Speaking to YouTuber KiwiTalkz, former Rockstar producer John Ricchio explained that building for consoles first and scaling up to PC is technically easier than the reverse, since consoles have fixed, predictable hardware. According to IGN, Ricchio said it's simpler to start with tighter constraints and add polish later than to build a PC-first game and then try to trim it down to fit console limitations.

This wouldn't be the first time Rockstar has held back a PC release. If you look at several past Rockstar games, you can see that there's a significant amount of time between the console launch and the PC port.

Grand Theft Auto 4 was released in April 2008 and didn't reach PC's until that December. Grand Theft Auto V was released in Sept. 2013, and its PC counterpart was released 19 months later in April 2015. Red Dead Redemption 2 arrived on PC roughly a year after its console release.

The one exception was Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, which launched simultaneously across platforms in 2021. Based on that track record, a GTA VI PC port, if it follows the usual pattern, could be a year or more away.

Have an Amazon Fire TV device? Well, you just got Alexa+, Amazon's AI assistant, for free — whether you like it or not.

On Wednesday, Amazon announced that the company would now include Alexa+ at no cost with every Fire TV device.

This includes the current-generation Amazon Fire TV Sticks, the Fire TV Cube, Amazon Ember smart TVs, as well as other smart TVs by third parties, such as Hisense, TCL, and Panasonic TVs running on the Fire TV operating system.

Amazon says Alexa+ will roll out to all U.S. customers with a Fire TV device automatically. Users will not have to take any action or download any additional apps.

Previously, the only way for users to access Alexa+ was to subscribe to Amazon Prime or pay $19.99 per month specifically for the AI assistant service.

The Alexa+ AI assistant provides users with ways to interact with the movies and TV shows that they are watching or find new content based on their entertainment preferences. Users can ask Alexa+ for specific film and television recommendations based on genre, cast, year of release, and more. Users can also ask Alexa+ questions regarding the content they are currently viewing. 

Alexa+ can also perform other tasks, such as providing real-time weather updates or sports scores. Users can connect Alexa+ to other smart home devices. With this utility, Alexa+ can broadcast your Ring camera feed on your smart TV or even lock a door with a paired smart lock.

According to Amazon, Alexa+ is already a hit with users. Amazon says that Alexa+ customers "have nearly twice as many conversations on Fire TV as they did with the original Alexa." The company claims that millions of customers already use the service. Amazon says that Alexa+ recommendations have improved too, with customers picking the AI assistant's top recommendations "over 40% more than they were with the original Alexa."

Amazon is now looking to expand on that user base exponentially with the new rollout to all Fire TV users. In doing so, Amazon follows in the footsteps of other Big Tech companies like Google, which also grew its Gemini user base by rolling out its AI features to its existing product offerings at no additional cost to users.

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Meta’s smart glasses have officially become so controversial that even Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) doesn’t want them around. Well, at least not the consumer version.

In a memo issued Aug. 18, acting ICE Director David Venturella told employees that Meta’s camera-equipped glasses count as personal body-worn cameras and therefore cannot be worn in federal workplaces.

"The use of Meta Glasses or similar devices could unintentionally capture, record or transmit sensitive information, potentially compromising privacy and legal protections," Venturella wrote, according to The New York Times.

The rule applies to all ICE employees, not only agents conducting raids or interacting with the public. It also covers similar personal devices capable of recording audio or video.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson emphasized that the agency is not introducing a new policy. "Personally owned body-worn cameras and unauthorized recording are prohibited, as they always have been," the spokesperson told The Times. Meta declined to comment.

SEE ALSO: Meta’s smart glasses have a new look and the same privacy problem

ICE and Border Patrol personnel have repeatedly been spotted wearing their own Meta smart glasses during immigration operations and protests. A March investigation by The Independent found sightings of DHS agents wearing the glasses in at least six states. In some cases, agents appeared to use them to photograph or record members of the public.

Footage examined by 404 Media showed a Border Patrol agent recording an immigration raid with the glasses’ indicator light illuminated, despite DHS rules that bar employees from recording with personal devices.

The issue isn’t simply that the glasses contain a camera. ICE already has an official body-camera policy that governs when agency-issued devices should be activated, how their footage is stored, and when employees can review recordings.

The problem with employees bringing their own smart glasses is that ICE loses control of the footage. Recordings could end up on a personal phone or pass through Meta’s platform, leaving the agency with little oversight of who can access them, whether they are preserved as evidence, or what other sensitive information they might capture.

Those concerns are hardly unique to ICE. Meta's glasses look similar to ordinary Ray-Bans but can capture photos and video from the wearer’s point of view. A small white light is supposed to signal when the camera is recording, though critics argue that the indicator is easy to overlook — and can potentially be circumvented.

That discreet design has helped turn the glasses into a privacy nightmare. Creators and pickup artists have used them to film strangers for social media content, sometimes attracting millions of views before the person recorded knows the video exists.

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The backlash has moved beyond angry comment sections (where many have dubbed the glasses as "pervert glasses"). Businesses, court systems, and conferences have begun restricting camera-equipped glasses, while Apple has reportedly delayed introducing its own version as it develops additional privacy protections and tries to distinguish its product from Meta’s.

The irony is that DHS wants smart glasses of its own. Its fiscal 2027 budget proposal sought $7.5 million for new enforcement technologies, including prototypes capable of providing agents with real-time information and biometric identification. Democratic senators urged the department to abandon the plan, citing the risk of agents scanning people without their knowledge. DHS has not detailed how the glasses or their data would be managed.

For now, ICE employees will have to leave Meta’s glasses at home. But the next pair agents wear could come directly from the government...and know far more about the people standing in front of them.

You no longer need a subscription just to make use of advanced AI on your Amazon streaming stick or TV set. Amazon is making Alexa+ available on Fire TV devices for free, saving you the expense of either a Prime or Alexa+ subscription.

With AI chatbots like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini becoming our go-to thinking partner/co-worker, more often than not, we use them extensively. Like many, I love using Claude (web or app), especially for high-value tasks such as brainstorming ideas, solution architecture for apps, document generation, or data analysis. However, as a free-tier user, I frequently hit the rolling 5-hour session limits.

20 years ago, the computers in your car mostly handled fuel injection and ignition timing, shifted the transmission, and triggered the anti-lock brakes when something went wrong. Each one ran on a dedicated chip, wired to do exactly one job, and nothing changed unless a mechanic swapped the part.