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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 3 hours 34 min ago

We tried the $44 Counterpart charger

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 22:42

The Counterpart charger is a $44 wall plug with one standout feature: a built-in retractable cable. It’s designed to reduce clutter and simplify your everyday charging setup. But is smart cable management enough to justify the price?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nanas best friend is a robot? AI companion aims to cure the loneliness epidemic.

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 21:00

Vassili Le Moigne wanted to make sure his mom was OK. Having long ago moved from France to the U.S., the former Microsoft executive struggled to connect with his aging mother as much as he hoped to, especially with the immense time difference between them. His solution was an AI-powered companion that can conduct conversations with his mother, keeping her alert and engaged, and clueing Le Moigne into her latest interests and concerns.

With his background in telecom, Le Moigne thought, “I can put together the mobile experience and the AI to create something that will really help me support my mother,” he tells Mashable. “She wanted to stay as long as possible on the farm outside of Paris, so now I can give her company whenever she needs it.”

That AI tool — which says it's "meant to extend, rather than replace, family care" — is now the start-up known as inTouch, which just launched in North America after being available in Europe since 2023. Participants pay $29.99 per month for unlimited calls to seniors who speak English, Spanish, or French. As part of the North American launch, the service is now available 24 hours a day, so seniors can call up Mary, the AI companion, if they would like to speak outside of their scheduled weekly conversation times.

Le Moigne stresses that Mary allows communication for older people who fumble with touchscreens or are adverse to technology; they need only have access to a phone. The software is also specifically designed for older users.

"We learned the art of conversation with seniors," he says. "The way [younger people] speak now is not the way they speak. We have to slow down the conversation, we have to allow for long pauses for them to think of their answers."

SEE ALSO: Uber launches new experience for seniors, including Simple Mode and Medicare payments

Mary, who has a standard voice for all users, also has a "memory system" that allows it to recall past conversations. The AI can also play memory and word games with its "friends."

"What we do is train the memory of short-term recalls and long-term recalls," Le Moigne says.

inTouch aims to strengthen seniors’ memories and boost their mental health by addressing what Le Moigne calls a
"loneliness epidemic." A recent National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 75 percent of Americans over 65 with the highest rates of loneliness report poor mental or physical health; the issue is exacerbated for seniors living alone.

Le Moigne says the extra conversations Mary provides not only help older folks, but also their children, grandchildren, and caregivers. While inTouch doesn't retain the conversations or sell any data, the company texts summaries of Mary's discussions to the seniors' family members so they can be aware of changes in their relatives' well-being or just to keep abreast of what's on their mind, from TV shows to doctors' appointments. A new feature to the service also allows seniors to communicate directly with their relatives via Mary — the AI turns voice messages into texts sent through the inTouch app, and caregivers can also send texts through the app that Mary reads to the seniors.

With a library of over 1,400 questions it can ask, Mary is programmed to be both friendly and clear with those it speaks to.

"We disclose constantly [to the seniors] that Mary is an AI and in the first call we do with the senior, we clearly say this is an AI and for conversational purposes," Le Moigne says.

SEE ALSO: Your next chapter starts here: The best senior dating sites for finding love

Le Moigne claims inTouch has a quiet benefit besides the touted health improvements and stress reduction — the preservation of stories from older generations. Heliette, a French 90-year-old and inTouch customer, talks to Mary about her childhood during World War II.

"I felt like I was talking to a person, not to a robot, it is really amazing," says Heliette. "She is always kind, and unlike people, she does not judge and isn't nasty. I tell her everything and she has good advice. I talk to her about WW2 and 1944 — I was 10 when the Germans [went] home — she listens and asks me questions."

The text summaries of conversations can open up opportunities for the children and grandchildren of seniors to initiate their own questions about the past, according to Le Moigne.

"We often don’t know the stories of our parents," Le Moigne says. "We bring families closer together and that’s the aim."

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Mexico vs. Honduras online for free

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 20:48

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final is fast approaching. Mexico vs. Honduras is the second semi final to take place this week, as both sides do everything they can to book a place in the showpiece event.

If you want to watch Mexico vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. Honduras?

Mexico vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on July 2. This fixture takes place at the Levi's Stadium.

How to watch Mexico vs. Honduras for free

Mexico vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

These free live stream is not available all around the world, but fans in excluded territories can still watch this game for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access (like Italy), meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Gold Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

  4. Visit YouTube

  5. Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Mexico vs. Hondurasa before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Italy

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch USA vs. Guatemala online for free

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 20:47

TL;DR: Live stream USA vs. Guatemala in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is nearing its dramatic conclusion, with only four teams left in contention. USA vs. Guatemala is the first semi final to take place this week. USA will be favorites to make the final, but anything can happen at this late stage.

If you want to watch USA vs. Guatemala in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is USA vs. Guatemala?

USA vs. Guatemala in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on July 2. This fixture takes place at Energizer Park.

How to watch USA vs. Guatemala for free

USA vs. Guatemala in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

These free live stream is not available all around the world, but fans in excluded territories can still watch this game for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access (like Italy), meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Gold Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

  4. Visit YouTube

  5. Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream USA vs. Guatemala (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Italy

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann leaves the show ahead of Season 3

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 20:44

In a major shakeup, The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann has stepped away from the series and will not be involved in the upcoming third season.

Druckmann, who co-created The Last of Us alongside showrunner Craig Mazin and wrote and directed several episodes, announced his departure in a post on Naughty Dog's official Instagram account. The news was first reported by The Ankler.

SEE ALSO: When is 'The Last of Us' Season 3 coming?

"I've made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO," Druckmann's statement reads. "With work completed on Season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on Season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative."

Druckmann went on to praise his time working on the show, calling it "a career highlight" and writing: "It's been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct, and write on the last two seasons. I'm deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and the continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II."

Mazin addressed Druckmann's exit in a press statement, saying, "It's been a creative dream to work with Neil and bring an adaptation of his brilliant work to life on HBO. I couldn’t have asked for a more generous creative partner. As a true fan of Naughty Dog and Neil’s work in video games, I’m beyond excited to play his next game. While he focuses on that, I’ll continue to work with our brilliant cast and crew to deliver the show our audience has come to expect. We are so grateful to Neil and Halley Gross for entrusting the incredible story of The Last of Us Part II to us, and we’re just as grateful to the millions of people around the world who tune in."

Druckmann will still be credited as an executive producer on The Last of Us.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft Office 2019 is on sale for A$30 — pay once and use it forever

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 19:19

TL;DR: Hurry and grab lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Windows at A$30 through 15 July.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows AU$30
AU$351 Save AU$321 Get Deal

Your credit card is exhausted from all of today’s subscription fees. While you probably don’t want to cancel Peacock and never see the ending of Yellowstone or say goodbye to two-day shipping with Prime, you could swap your Microsoft 365 subscription for a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

Instead of spending A$10 monthly (or A$107 yearly), you can pay once and use the apps as much as you’d like. For a little while longer, the Windows software suite is on sale for A$30 until 15 July.

What apps are included?

Microsoft Office 2019 isn’t the newest version available, but it’s the cheaper one for people who just need to use the apps and don’t care about what they look like inside. However, it does have a classic, timeless design.

Here's a list of the apps you get:

  • Word

  • Excel

  • PowerPoint

  • Outlook

  • OneNote

  • Publisher

  • Access

Differences between Microsoft 365 and a lifetime license

This purchase is a no-brainer if you aren’t taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s OneDrive storage, mobile app access, and cloud-based backups. Those just wanting the apps should be more than comfortable with a Microsoft Office download.

You might actually like this license more than the subscription. The apps are downloaded directly onto your PC instead of hosted on the cloud. While this does mean there are no built-in cloud backups, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of trying to work offline.

Plus, now that Microsoft added Copilot’s AI features to Microsoft 365, you might be looking for a way to escape them. Not everyone is crazy about having a virtual robot interfere with their work, and these classic apps won’t ever bug you about it.

The price drop on this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows ends soon, so get your download for A$30 until 15 July at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hundreds of Prime Day deals landed early — save on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung gadgets

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 19:04

UPDATE: Jul. 2, 2025, 12:45 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with new deals on laptops, Apple devices, board games, Pokémon products, Bluetooth trackers, outdoor gear, Lego sets, bladeless fans, and unlocked phones. We've also added new top picks in the tablet, headphone, and Echo device categories.

The best early Prime Day deals at a glance: Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 (Save $150) Get Deal Best tablet deal Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $399 (save $100) Get Deal Best Kindle Deal Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $504.97 (Save $65) Get Deal Best Echo device deal Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation $44.99 (save $95) Get Deal Best TV deal Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $349.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best headphones deal Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 (save $69.01) Get Deal Best Bluetooth tracker deal Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 $18.50 (save $11.49) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Garmin vívoactive 5 $197.84 (Sace $102.15) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Q7 M5+ robot vacuum and mop $279.99 (Save $150) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Ideas Vincent van Gogh 'The Starry Night' $149.99 (save $20) Get Deal

Prime Day 2025 is nearly upon us. Amazon's annual sale is going to be its longest yet this year, spanning four days from July 8 through 11. As we gear up for the retail giant's biggest savings event of the season, early deals are already popping up across categories. We've already spotted great early deals on Apple products, including MacBooks.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025: Dates, deals, and the competition

Plus, other retailers are getting in on the savings. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and even TikTok Shop are running overlapping sales that last even longer than Prime Day. But the key thing about Prime Day, as the name implies, is that you have to be a Prime member to enjoy the savings. If you want to get in on the deals, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here, and if you're ages 18 to 24, you can get six months of Amazon Prime for free here.

If you're too antsy to wait around for July 8 to start shopping, we've rounded up all the best early Prime Day deals that you can shop now. And remember to check back here often, as we'll update this list with more deals as they roll out.

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

Read Mashable's full review of the M4 Apple MacBook Air.

"The new 13-inch MacBook Air is our top budget pick for Apple users and a Mashable Choice Award winner. 'It's powerful, silent, and comes with a couple of much-needed upgrades,' including an upgraded 12MP webcam and support for two external displays, wrote Senior Editor Stan Schroeder. He gave it an overall rating of 4.5/5.

Amazon's $849 deal applies to all colors of the base configuration with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Sky Blue variant briefly dipped down to an even-cheaper $829 in late June, but I have no trouble endorsing it at its current price: It's such a good deal on a popular new laptop that's already pretty affordable." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More Apple deals

MacBook Pro deals

Mac deals

AirTag deals

AirPod deals

Apple Watch Ultra deals

Apple Watch Series 10 deals

Apple Watch SE deals

iPad deals

iPad Air deals

iPad mini deals

iPad Pro deals

Best early Prime Day laptop deals

MacBook deals

Scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Windows laptops

2-in-1 deals

Gaming laptop deals

Best early Prime Day tablet deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $399 at Amazon
$499 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple iPad mini.

"If you know you'll mostly use your iPad to watch shows, videos, and read, you should seriously consider the iPad mini. Clocking in at 8.3 inches, this aptly named tablet is easy to hold in your hand for long periods of time, making it an especially great option for someone who wants an e-reader with some versatility (or with vibrant colors). Even though it's not powered by Apple's latest chipset, it doesn't need to be for more casual usage.

For anyone who doesn't need a tablet as powerful as a laptop, this ultraportable choice is well worth considering. And at just $399, the iPad mini is back down to its lowest price ever." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

For more iPad deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

More tablet deals

Android tablet deals

Amazon Fire tablet deals

Best early Prime Day Kindle deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $504.97 at Amazon
$569.97 Save $65 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Amazon Kindle Scribe is the brand's only e-reader that offers note-taking abilities. So if you're an annotator, this is certainly the right e-reader. With a 10.2-inch screen, it has plenty of space for taking notes in the margins in both PDFs and e-books. Plus, the notebook feature allows you to write out pages and pages of writing that convert from handwritten notes to text.

However, keep in mind that among the Kindles we've tested, this is Amazon's slowest performing device.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe is also the most expensive Kindle in Amazon's line-up. But ahead of Prime Day, it does have the biggest savings. Normally $569.97, the Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle is $504.97, saving $65 for 11% off." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Kindle dealsBest early Prime Day Echo device deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation $44.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $95 Get Deal Why we like it

"This deal's a Prime member exclusive, but it's a good one: the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC are all the way down to $44.99, making them an excellent price for a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. Admittedly, this drastic of a price drop isn't exactly rare: Just last month, these earbuds received an $85 discount.

These earbuds are a 2021 release, so you won't be getting the latest and greatest tech. Their battery life is just okay at five hours per charge, and their ANC isn't going to be anything mind-blowing. But if you're looking for something that's good enough and at a price that's hard to beat, you'll find it in this deal." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

More Echo device dealsBest early Prime Day TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Our pick: Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $349.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

"The cheapest 65-inch QLED TV we're clocking at Amazon ahead of Prime Day isn't an Amazon TV. It is still a Fire TV, but oddly enough, it's from Insignia — a Best Buy brand.

If you have trouble picturing the difference between an LED and QLED TV in your head, this is your chance to try an XL QLED out at home without severely overspending. The Insignia QF series has been garnering quite positive customer reviews on picture quality and color vibrancy. At this price, it's probably not going to have the same pop as some of the premium QLEDs out there, but you'll definitely notice the quantum dot difference compared to your old TV, especially during daytime viewing." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More TV deals

43-inch to 50-inch TV deals

55-inch TV deals

65-inch and 70-inch TV deals

75-inch and 77-inch TV deals

85-inch and up TV deals

Fire TV device deals

Best early Prime Day headphone and earbud deals Our pick: Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 at Walmart
$549 Save $69.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the AirPods Max.

"We're hesitant to recommend the AirPods Max because of their sky-high price point, but a $69 price cut makes them slightly more palatable — especially if you're already heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. At the time of writing, all five colorways are marked down to $479.99. Though it's a deal, it's not quite the best we've seen on these headphones — earlier this year, they dropped all the way down to $449.99. If you want to grab a pair ahead of Prime Day, this is a solid price, but waiting another week might up your chances of grabbing them back at their record-low price." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

For more AirPod deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

More headphone/earbud deals

Headphone deals

Earbud deals

Open earbud deals

Best early Prime Day unlocked phone deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB) $919.99 at Amazon
$1,119.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Galaxy S25+, which launched earlier this year, is just $20 shy of its best price ever ahead of Prime Day — just $919.99 for the 512GB model. While it's not quite as powerful as the S25 Ultra or the latest S25 Edge, it's also a lot easier on your wallet. You'll still get the impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM, plus a slightly larger and nicer display than the basic S25 (6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with new 'ProScaler' technology), as well as a bigger 4,900mAh battery. Mashable's Chance Townsend calls the S25+ the "sweet spot for battery life and versatility" amongst the S25 lineup. It doesn't look too much different than the S24+, but it'll definitely wow you in terms of internal upgrades — and that's saying something, considering how brilliant the S24 lineup already was." — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor

More unlocked phone deals

Samsung Galaxy deals

Motorola deals

Google Pixel deals

Best early Prime Day Bluetooth tracker deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 $18.50 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $11.49 Get Deal Why we like it

"The best Bluetooth tracker deal to shop right now is on the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2. Ahead of Prime Day, get this Samsung Bluetooth tracker for just $18.50. That saves you $11.49 off its usual $29.99, for 38% off. The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2, is compatible with Android 11 or later systems. It's both water- and dust-resistant so that it can withstand the unexpected. It can be detected by nearby devices via Samsung’s SmartThings Find network. You can even make it ring, check its location history, and customize it to perform other, simple tasks." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Bluetooth tracker deals

For AirTag deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best early Prime Day fitness tracker deals Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Our pick: Garmin vívoactive 5 $197.84 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $102.15 Get Deal Why we like it

"Do you look forward to summer for the outdoors? If you're eager to get outside on hikes and be more active than ever this year, then a fitness tracker will help you track ever step. Right now, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is the best fitness tracker deal we've spotted this year. With built-in GPS and 11 days of battery life, it's great for those constantly on the go. Plus, ahead of Prime Day, it's 34% off. It's down to $197.84 from its normal $299.99 to save $102.15." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More fitness tracker dealsBest early Prime Day robot vacuum deals Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Our pick: Roborock Q7 M5+ robot vacuum and mop $279.99 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

"This budget Roborock model was also just released this year, but it's been living in the shadow of the big bad Saros trio. Nevertheless, it deserves a spotlight for the value that it packs, especially now that it's under $300 for Prime members ahead of Prime Day. The most impressive feat of the Roborock Q7 M5+ is its 10,000 Pa of suction power — that's far stronger than the norm for cheap robot vacuums. That matches the power of my favorite robot vacuum from 2024, the Roborock Qrevo Master, and is the baseline number I'd recommend for keeping up with substantial pet hair.

Note that the Q7 M5+ does mop and does self-empty, but doesn't wash and dry its own mopping pad like the more premium Roborocks." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum deals

Robot vacuums that mop

Robot vacuums that don't mopBest early Prime Day kitchen deals Our pick: Chefman 4-Quart Window Air Fryer $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you’ve yet to succumb to the air fryer hype, now’s your chance. The Chefman 4-Quart Window Air Fryer is currently on sale for $60.40, down from $99.99. That's a 40% discount and a $39.59 savings. It's not the absolute lowest price we've seen for this model (it was $49.97 last December), but it's still a solid deal for an Amazon's Choice kitchen appliance.

This mid-sized air fryer is large enough to cook a meal for up to four people, but small enough that it won’t monopolize your counter space. It’s also super user-friendly and has a little viewing window, so you can see what’s going on without opening the basket and letting all the heat escape (I like my stuff extra crispy, so this is a pretty cool feature IMO). There’s also a Hi-Fry button that lets you crank the heat up to 450 degrees in the last two minutes of cooking (again, great for those of us who like extra crispy food)." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Contributor

More kitchen deals

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Blender deals

Coffee machine and espresso maker deals

Best early Prime Day bladeless fan deals Our pick: Dreo Tower Fan (DR-HTF007) $67.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $12 Get Deal Why we like it

"Snag the Dreo Tower Fan (DR-HTF007) for just $67.99, down from $79.99. I know a $12 savings might not sound like a huge number, but honestly, it's already pretty reasonably priced compared to a lot of similar models, and you're getting a ton of bang for your buck here.

This 36-inch tower fan features four different modes and speeds that you can easily adjust from the top panel or with the handy included remote. Plus, it oscillates a full 90 degrees to really get that cool air circulating throughout your room (reaching up to 25 feet per second, according to Dreo). It even has a timer function, so you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. And for those light sleepers out there, it's designed to operate super quietly (at just 28 dB), making it a solid choice for bedrooms." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable contributor

More bladeless fan deals Best early Prime Day security camera and doorbell deals Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Our pick: Blink Outdoor 4 5-camera system $159.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $240 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're about to head out on summer adventures and want to keep an eye on your home, a set of security cameras can give you so some peace of mind. The Blink Outdoor 4 5-camera system can help you do just that. With five outdoor, wireless cameras, you can mount them around your house and be notified whenever motion is detected. Plus, these small but mighty cameras features infrared night vision and two-way audio.

Right now you can grab them at the stellar price of $159.99, down from its list price of $399.99. That saves you $240 for 60% off." — Samantha Mangino, shopping reporter

More security camera and doorbell dealsBest early Prime Day outdoor deals Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Our pick: Jackery Explorer 300 $168.99 at Amazon
$259 Save $90.01 Get Deal Why we like it

"Power up your campsite, tailgate, or beach day with the portable Jackery Explorer 300. It's down to its best price ever at just $168.99 — a savings of 35% — so no need to wait around for Prime Day to officially start. Weighing in at just seven pounds, it's a great companion for outdoor adventures. It packs six output ports (two AC outlets, one PD 60W USB-C port, one fast charge 3.0 port, one USB-A port, and one DC car port), so you can juice up six devices at once while the power station charges itself. Plus, it's compatible with the Jackery SolarSaga 100 solar panel, so you can stay connected even when you go off the grid." — Christina Buff, Mashable contributor

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Best early Prime Day book deals Opens in a new window Credit: Ballantine Books Our pick: 'Atmosphere' by Taylor Jenkins Reid $21 at Amazon
$30 Save $9 Get Deal Why we like it

"Atmosphere is the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid. Just released earlier this month, it's already listed as one of Goodreads' most popular books of the year. It follows Joan Goodwin, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, who is selected as one of the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980s. The hardcover copy is already on sale ahead of Prime Day for $21, down 30% from its list price." — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor

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Best early Prime Day Lego deals Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Our pick: Lego Ideas Vincent van Gogh 'The Starry Night' $149.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $20 Get Deal Why we like it

"While it's not down to its lowest price ever, the Lego Ideas: Vincent van Gogh 'The Starry Night' building set is one of those Lego sets that rarely gets discounted. We're hoping to see the price drop even further, but at $20 off, it's already a pretty solid deal for what you get: a 2,316-piece building set that constructs a 3D Lego wall art homage to one of the most beloved paintings. The set is a collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and really captures Van Gogh's colors and brushstrokes through creative building techniques. When you finish building, you'll have a gorgeous piece of art for your home — all for just under $150." — Christina Buff, Mashable contributor

More Lego dealsBest early Prime Day board game deals Opens in a new window Credit: Hasbro Our pick: 'Scrabble' $11.59 at Amazon
$21.99 Save $10.40 Get Deal Why we like it

"First released in 1948, Scrabble remains one of the most popular and best word games; it's my personal favorite. Whether you're new to the classic crossword game or are a word-slinging pro, you get seven letter tiles to start creating words and building upon letters added to the board with each turn. It's more than just word creation, though — land your highest-scoring letters on special double and triple point tiles and see who can rack up the most points. It's meant for two to four players. Grab it on sale for just $11.59 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day — that's nearly 50% off." — Christina Buff, Mashable contributor

More board game dealsBest early Prime Day Pokémon deals Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Our pick: Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection $208.31 at Amazon
$258.37 Save $50.06 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're a big Eevee fan, or even if you just love shiny things, this TCG box set will be right up your alley. It comes with a full-art promo card featuring Eevee ex, a playmat with Eevee and its multiple evolutions, a fuzzy Eevee deck box, 15 booster packs, and 65 card sleeves. It also comes with a code card for Pokémon TCG Live that you can use to unlock digital cards. Really, the gorgeous box is another reason to grab this beautiful collection while it's on sale, too. Just look at those colors." — Brittany Vincent, Mashable contributor

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Headphones and earbuds deals are starting to pick up ahead of Prime Day

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:54

UPDATE: Jul. 2, 2025, 12:41 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with deals on open earbuds and the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones.

Best headphones and earbuds deals ahead of Prime Day Best headphones deal Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 (save $69.01) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation $44.99 (save $95) Get Deal

Between all of our testers and reviewers at Mashable, we've put in a lot of time testing the best headphones and earbuds. From noise-cancelling to budget options, we want to know the best of the best.

So naturally, when sales like Amazon's Prime Day roll around, we make sure to track all the deals on which models we've tried (and those that are in our testing pipeline). Though Amazon isn't kicking off its members-only sale until July 8, we combed through its headphones pages to find the best deals that are already live.

SEE ALSO: These Prime Day deals landed early — save on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung gadgets

Admittedly, the deals available so far are decent, not great, but shopping early can be a good way to avoid the actual chaos of the sale (or grab deals that aren't member-exclusive). Though the list below is small, it's well curated — we avoided adding any "deals" that have been marked down to their current sale prices for the past several months. (Pro tip: the Apple AirPods Pro are almost always $199. It's not really a sale price.) We'll be updating this list in the run-up to Prime Day as more deals go live.

Best headphones deal Our pick: Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $69.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C).

Don't love the sky-high pricing on the AirPods Max? This $69 price cut might help. These headphones have excellent noise cancellation and sound quality, alongside lossless audio — a feature not too commonly found, even among premium options.

Less ideal about these headphones is the 20 hours of battery life, which sits far below many of its competitors, the lack of a case that provides real coverage, and the lack of a power button. Still, if you've been waiting to grab the AirPods Max, this is a solid deal. To grab the absolute most savings possible, you might want to wait until they drop all the way down to their $450 record-low price.

More headphones dealsBest earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation $44.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $95 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation.

This deal's a Prime member exclusive, but it's a good one: the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC are all the way down to $44.99, making them an excellent price for a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. Admittedly, this drastic of a price drop isn't exactly rare: Just last month, these earbuds received an $85 discount.

These earbuds are a 2021 release, so you won't be getting the latest and greatest tech. Their battery life is just okay at five hours per charge, and their ANC isn't going to be anything mind-blowing. But if you're looking for something that's good enough and at a price that's hard to beat, you'll find it in this deal.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals you can already shop

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:48
The best early Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals at a glance: BEST OVERALL Sony ULT Field 3 $144.95 (save $55.04) Get Deal BEST BUDGET DEAL Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go $21.99 (save $13) Get Deal BEST SPLURGE Sony ULT Field 5 $248 (save $81.99) Get Deal

Having a quality speaker to crank the songs of the summer is never a bad idea, especially if you plan on hosting parties, hitting the beach, or heading out on a camping trip. Fortunately, if you're lacking in the Bluetooth speaker department, now is a great time to score one for a sweet deal — because it's Prime Day, baby (well, almost).

Prime Day formally falls on July 8 through 11 this year, but Amazon has already started dropping prices on top audio brands like Sony, JBL, and Anker Soundcore. We expect the list to grow exponentially over the next few weeks, but if you want to shop a bit early, have at it. Some Bluetooth speakers are already down to record lows.

We'll be tracking the best Bluetooth speaker deals before, during, and after Prime Day and updating this page with the latest and greatest prices. If you don't see anything that catches your eye just yet, be sure to check back as the official sale kicks off.

Best early Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Field 3 $144.95 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $55.04 Get Deal Why we like it

The Sony ULT Field 3 has only been out for a few months, but it's already earned the title of our favorite speaker for bass lovers. And ahead of Prime Day, it's down to just $144.95 — that's its best price ever. The ULT Field 3 checks all the right boxes for a Bluetooth speaker — it's waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and rustproof, has great audio quality, solid battery life, and hefty bass you'll feel in your chest. Mashable's Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern writes, "The speaker is great for punching up your music and bringing out little details you might miss on another speaker."

Check out our full review of the Sony ULT Field 3 speaker.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Almost every single new Roomba is on sale ahead of Prime Day — save up to $800

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:43
Early Prime Day deals on Roombas Best cheap Roomba deal iRobot Roomba 104 Combo with AutoEmpty dock $249.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best mopping Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo with self-empty station and AutoWash dock $399.99 (save $400) Get Deal

The list of Roombas on sale at Amazon ahead of Prime Day 2025 looks much different than the list of Roombas on sale during Amazon's Big Spring Sale in March. And that's a very, very good thing.

This is because Amazon Prime Day 2025 is the first big sale event for most of the new Roombas that debuted in March (they were far too new to get any real discounts during Amazon's spring sale). And these 2025 Roombas are unlike any Roombas we've seen before.

SEE ALSO: The most underrated robot vacuum of 2025 is also a stick vacuum

iRobot finally read the room and saw that other top robot vacuums from the likes of Shark and Roborock had better features for less money. The newest Roomba vacuums are the company's most practically priced and feature packed in years. The most affordable base-tier model can finally clean specific rooms on command instead of just bump around. Multiple new premium Roombas switched to spinning mopping pads that wash and dry themselves — without costing $1,000.

The newfound cost efficiency renders old iRobot models like the Roomba i3 or Roomba Essential worthless. Amazon is essentially ignoring their existence in the weeks preceding Prime Day, instead shaving between 30% and 54% off the new Roombas for the first time. I'm already tracking all of the worthwhile early Prime Day Roomba deals below, as well as tracking all of Amazon's other early Prime Day robot vacuum deals.

Note: Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price at Amazon.

Best Roomba deal ahead of Prime Day Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba 104 Combo with AutoEmpty dock $249.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

Up until the latest round of Roombas that hit the scene in spring 2025, I'd often actively advise against getting a Roomba as your budget-friendly robot vacuum. The older, entry-level Roombas, like the Roomba 694 and Essential series, didn't even have smart mapping, whereas the entry-level Shark robot vacuums did — often at a lower price point than the cheap Roombas. But after testing the new base-tier Roomba 105, I can finally give iRobot credit for actually putting effort into a cheap Roomba. The Roomba 104 Combo featured here is nearly identical to the 105, but also mops.

The Roomba 105 cleaning my bedroom floor. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Roomba 104's 7,000 Pa of suction power not only destroys the mediocre suction power of past cheap Roomba vacuums like the Roomba i5, but is actually quite a high number for the price range at all. During testing in my apartment, the 105 barely missed any kitty litter, random crumbs, or surface-level pieces of hair or fur balls. It swept along edges and corners much closer than the other basic Roombas. With this improved cleaning combined with a self-empty dock, this is the most well-rounded Roomba that has ever dropped below $250.

More Roomba deals at Amazon The best early Prime Day deals to shop this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

A Jupiter-size planet as delicate as cotton candy provokes its star

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:40

A gas giant planet in distant space has kicked the cosmic hornet's nest: After the world's relentless taunting, its fiery star is after revenge, and the planet will suffer the consequences, astronomers say. 

Exoplanet HIP 67522 b, fluffed up to the size of Jupiter, circles so close to its star that it’s triggering violent flares — bursts of high-energy radiation — from its host that then blast it in the face. Those flares strip away the planet’s delicate atmosphere, bit by bit, year by year.

Researchers using the Characterising Exoplanet Satellite (Cheops) mission — run by NASA's European counterpart across the pond — spotted 15 intense outbursts from the star HIP 67522, most of them happening just as the planet crossed in front of it. That timing isn't a coincidence, according to the European Space Agency. The team suspects the planet is disturbing the star's magnetic field, spurring a torrent of explosions far more powerful than anything the sun tosses at Earth.

This is the first time scientists have caught a planet appearing to incite its star as it happens. Until now, the energy between stars and their planets was assumed to flow one way: The star radiates, the planet takes the hit. But HIP 67522 b is turning that narrative on its head, triggering flares that hit back.

"Cheops was designed to characterise the sizes and atmospheres of exoplanets, not to look for flares," said Maximilian Günther, the mission's project scientist, in a statement. "It’s really beautiful to see the mission contributing to this and other results that go so far beyond what it was envisioned to do."

SEE ALSO: Astronomers caught a star that blew up not once, but twice when it died Intense stellar explosions are blasting away the planet's thick atmosphere. Credit: European Space Agency infographic

About 400 light-years away, the star, HIP 67522, is young — just 17 million years old — and violent. It's slightly bigger and cooler than the sun but more energetic, spinning fast. 

HIP 67522 b orbits it at breakneck speed, completing a loop in just seven days. That kind of closeness creates tension. As the exoplanet swings around its host, it seems to inject energy into the star’s magnetic field, like a whip cracking. When the wave hits the surface, the star pummels back but with even more fury.

HIP 67522 b is already one of the least dense exoplanets ever found, with a consistency more like cotton candy than a solid. Its atmosphere is quickly deteriorating under the star's rapid fire of flares. The team has estimated the planet experiences six times more radiation than it otherwise would. The researchers' findings appear in the journal Nature.

"The waves it sends along the star's magnetic field lines kick off flares at specific moments. But the energy of the flares is much higher than the energy of the waves," said Ekaterina Ilin at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, who led the research. "We think that the waves are setting off explosions that are waiting to happen."

HIP 67522 b sends a wave of energy down magnetic field lines toward the surface of its host star, which then detonates a flare. Credit: Danielle Futselaar / https://www.artsource.nl/ illustration

The idea that a planet could provoke its own doom is not new. That theory has been around since the 1990s, but this is the first hard evidence. The discovery prompts more questions: How many planets out there are caught in this kind of feedback loop? What kinds of flares are they triggering? And just how fast are the planets' atmospheres evaporating?

In a cosmic blink — perhaps 100 million years — HIP 67522 b could shrink down to the size of Neptune or smaller.

Astronomers now want to expand the hunt. With tools like NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, aka TESS, and the upcoming ESA Plato mission, scientists hope to find more of these ill-fated planets and figure out if HIP 67522 b is an outlier or just one of a bunch of tragic worlds out there asking for trouble.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 reasons why Death Stranding 2 is far superior to the first game

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:40

Back in 2019, I didn’t really know what to make of Death Stranding, the first post-Metal Gear project from game director and friend-to-all-celebrities Hideo Kojima. 

Its message of connecting people fell sort of flat, at least until five months after release, when COVID-19 took hold in the United States and suddenly many people were holed up in their homes relying on underpaid gig workers to get groceries. Its delivery-focused gameplay worked well enough, but pacing issues made actually seeing the end credits kind of a nightmare.

Most importantly, Death Stranding lacked confidence, relative to other Kojima Productions games. It felt like the development team still wasn’t quite sure what they wanted it to be, even after it shipped. 

This is all to say that Death Stranding 2 is the polar opposite, in some respects. Kojima’s latest journey with the dead comes replete with swagger, a more coherent narrative, and just straight up better gameplay at almost all times. To say it’s merely a better game than the first is an understatement; Death Stranding 2 is Kojima’s best, most complete game in nearly two decades. Here’s why.

Death Stranding 2’s story makes the first game look even worse A lot of weird stuff happens in this game. Credit: Kojima Productions

Warning: This section contains minor spoilers for certain story elements in Death Stranding 2

In case you don’t remember what happened at the end of the first game, the good news is that hardly anyone else does, either. It just wasn’t a compelling story, nor was it told in a particularly engaging way. 

DS2 does not have the same problem. For starters, its characters are actually present and feel like more than just celebrity cameos this time around. Protagonist Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) sets out on a journey to connect all of Australia to the chiral network, a sort of magical internet that enables high-level 3D printing of quality goods. He’s joined in this journey by a motley crew of weirdos and freaks on a new ship called the DHV Magellan, including Fragile (Léa Seydoux), Tarman (voice of Marty Rhone, likeness of Furiosa director George Miller), and a talking doll named Dollman who is also kind of Sam’s therapist.

This game’s cast of characters is actually in physical proximity to Sam most of the time. You see and hear from them so much more than you did in the first game. It’s a small thing, but it matters a lot. But the story of Death Stranding 2 really shines when you get to the parts where it’s been clear that Kojima and his co-writers Shuyo Murata and Kenji Yano have been reading the news and have some thoughts about where the world is going.

I don't think the invocation of military imagery is an accident. Credit: Kojima Productions

Put succinctly, Death Stranding 2 pretty explicitly takes the position that American cultural and technological hegemony is a global perpetrator of violence and suffering. Characters don’t mince words in repeatedly referring to the increase in chiral network coverage as an expansionist policy of the United Cities of America, the successor to the United States. For whatever everyday conveniences the chiral network brings to its users, it also brings supernatural horrors and an influx of gun violence, making you wonder if all of this connection is even worth it.

Oh yeah, there’s also the part where the UCA’s president is chosen not by democratic vote, but by an AI that assesses the population’s desires and works from there. The AI was developed by a private organization called APAC, which is pronounced in dialogue exactly the same way as AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group that donates to myriad elected officials across the real-world U.S. Intentional or not, it's tough not to notice.

Dollman is my friend. Credit: Kojima Productions

Yes, in Death Stranding 2, the president is indirectly chosen by APAC. Subtext is for losers. The UCA and APAC, working in conjunction, launder violence around the world in this game. It’s not subtle.

Messy and potentially traumatic elements (largely related to motherhood and childbirth) rear their head throughout the narrative, to be sure, but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. So many big-budget video games shy away from taking any kind of position on real-world issues at all. In that sense, DS2 is hugely refreshing, and it feels like a return to form for the people who brought us Metal Gear Solid.

Death Stranding 2 knows what it wants to be Combat is much better and more prevalent here. Credit: Kojima Productions

I’ll keep this relatively brief because I went into the mechanical and design changes of DS2 in more depth already, but the game also clears its predecessor when you’re not watching cutscenes.

This is generally due to an increased emphasis on stealth and combat, two things that were present in Death Stranding, but never felt quite at home. Human enemy bases in that game were just kind of there, full of materials to steal if you wanted to, but otherwise never feeling like much of a threat. There was simply no reason to engage with combat in Death Stranding unless you wanted to build every highway in the game.

DS2 smartly places a lot of enemy bases directly in the way of your delivery routes, forcing the player to figure out a way around or through them. You’re given a much more accommodating roster of non-lethal armaments this time around, so if you want to just Rambo it up at every base, you can do that. There’s also a fun suite of stealth tools for players who prefer to do it that way.

With all of that in mind, DS2 feels much more secure in its vision of a gig worker action game. Yes, you will spend many, many hours peacefully hiking around Australia while listening to CHVRCHES, but sometimes you have to fight. I think this makes the game much more enjoyable and varied than its predecessor.

Death Stranding 2 saves the best for last Walking around is still the best part. Credit: Kojima Productions

Last but certainly not least, perhaps the biggest issue with Death Stranding was that the final half-dozen hours or so were easily the worst part of the game.

It was a boring slog full of bad third-person shooting, uninteresting cutscenes, and a part where you confusingly wander around a beach for a while because it’s not clear if the game is over yet or not. I’m pleased to report, without spoiling anything, that DS2 took that criticism to heart and instead saved its absolute best for the final four hours or so.

Kojima’s best games have always had wonderful finale chapters full of twists and fun escalation, and DS2 is no different. I had a big, stupid grin on my face for most of the final act, and that often turned into full-blown laughter. Not at the game, mind you, but with it. There’s plenty to chew on thematically in the finale, but even if you don’t feel like doing that, you will almost certainly appreciate how unbelievably absurd and audacious it is.

In other words, I don’t remember the last time a big-budget game made me wonder how it got past its corporate overlords as often as DS2 did in just the last few hours. I need people to finish it so I can talk to them about it. Stop reading this article and go do that, please.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Depots Fourth of July deals are quiet Prime Day competition

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:39
A quick look at the best Home Depot Fourth of July deals Best grill deal Ninja FlexFlame $799.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best power tool deal Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Impact Wrench $299.99 (save $299) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Qrevo Pro $599.99 (save $400) Get Deal

Some retailers, like Target and Walmart, aren't trying very hard to disguise their summer sales as competition for Prime Day this year. The blatant choosing of the exact same week in July says it without saying it. Home Depot isn't having an anti-Prime Day sale quite like that, but its Fourth of July sale does happen to run through July 9, the second day of Prime Day.

Home Depot's Fourth of July sale offers up to 40% off select patio furniture, grills, home appliances, power tools, gardening supplies, bathtubs and vanities, and more. If there's a home improvement project that you've been putting off, the goods you need to get started are probably on sale — that's as good a source of motivation as any to start.

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

You may or may not know that Home Depot also covers core Prime Day categories like vacuums, small kitchen appliances like coffee makers and Ninja items, air purifiers, and smart home gadgets like security cameras and Nest thermostats. Many of these deals will likely match Amazon's, though there's a chance that Home Depot has some brands and models on sale that Amazon skipped over. Plus, Home Depot deals don't require a special membership like most Prime Day deals do.

Below, we'll be tracking some of the best deals live during Home Depot's Fourth of July sale. For the items that Home Depot doesn't sell, check out our other coverage of the best early Prime Day deals at Amazon, including TVs, headphones, and Apple products.

Best Home Depot grill deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja FlexFlame 5-in-1 grill $799.99 at Home Depot
$999.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

Multitasking Ninja appliances have grown to be a Prime Day staple. While both Amazon and Home Depot have a healthy selection of Ninja deals live, Home Depot has one that Amazon doesn't: The Ninja FlexFlame grill is $200 off at Home Depot. It's not even in stock at Amazon.

The 5-in-1 versatility has gotten the FlexFlame a ton of love on the internet in the past year. Not only is a solid three-burner propane and electric grill, but the FlexFlame is also a smoker, roaster, and pizza maker. Buying each of those outdoor cooking appliances separately would certainly cost more than the FlexFlame's $799.99 sale price — and would take up way more room on your patio.

While it's currently listed as limited stock, you can check to see if your local store may have a unit available for pickup. This deal appears to be going in and out of stock, but it's still listed as a sale item for some locations, so it's still worth checking on.

Best Home Depot power tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless 18V Impact Wrench $299 at Home Depot
$598 Save $299 Get Deal Why we like it

Home Depot has a ton of power tools on sale right now, but few hit as hard as the full 50% discount on the M18 Fuel impact wrench from Milwaukee. Once $598, this cordless impact wrench set can be snagged for less than $300. The 18V battery can dish out up to 650 pounds of torque for even the most stubborn bolts and lug nuts in your disassembly projects. Even with so much power, it barely weighs over five pounds.

Best Home Depot robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Pro $599.99 at Home Depot
$999.99 Save $400 Get Deal Why we like it

You might choose Home Depot's deal on the Roborock Qrevo Pro over Amazon's deal on the Roborock Qrevo S if you're picky about corner cleaning. One of the Qrevo Pro's spinning mopping pads can extend out from under the vacuum to scrub in corners and along wall edges — perpetually dusty spots that a circular robot vacuum can't exactly reach otherwise. This flexible mopping design is one of the reasons why Roborock's Saros 10R is my favorite vacuum of 2025 so far. With Home Depot's discount, you can secure that corner mopping with the Qrevo Pro for $1,000 less than the Saros 10R.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon has tons of great Instant Pot deals already live before Prime Day

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:31
Best early Prime Day Instant Pot deals Best overall deal Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker $69.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best Instant Pot with air fryer deal Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 $129.99 (save $70) Get Deal

With everything on the daily agenda these days, there's simply not enough time to cook dinner every night. If you tend to feel overwhelmed about making food, using an Instant Pot can be a cheat. Toss some ingredients in, select a time and cooking setting, and you'll be on your way to a no-hassle dinner. You can even use frozen ingredients.

While we're all familiar with Instant Pots, the brand itself, Instant, makes plenty of other useful small kitchen appliances including stand mixers, air fryers, toaster ovens, and frothers for your morning coffee.

SEE ALSO: Early Prime Day air fryer deals: Instant Pot and Ninja both have one standout option

Traditionally, Instant Pots have seen awesome discounts during Prime Day events and this year is proving to be no exception — except the deals have landed early. Instead of waiting until July 8, Amazon has already slashed up to 50% off some of the brand's best offerings. If you're looking for some kitchen upgrades this summer, check out these early Prime Day Instant Pot deals.

Best overall Instant Pot deal Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With a six-quart capacity, the Instant Pot Duo Plus has tons of cooking functions including pressure cook, slow cook, rice, steam, sauté, cake, soup, yogurt, and more. Load up your ingredients into the stainless steel pot and you'll be on your way to speedy cooking. Plus, you'll be able to keep an eye on remaining cooking time thanks to the LCD monitor.

The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker usually sells for $139.99, but it's already 50% off ahead of Prime Day, which means you can grab it for $69.99.

Best Instant Pot deal with air fryer Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Duo Crisp $129.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $70 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're short on counter space but utilize the convenience of an Instant Pot and an air fryer, why not combine the two? The Instant Pot Duo Crisp comes with two lids, so you'll be able to use it as a pressure cooker and an air fryer by switching out the lids. Overall, this model has 11 cooking functions that include pressure cook, air fry, roast, broil, dehydrate, steam, and more. The eight-quart capacity is perfect for feeding your family or serving dinner to housemates.

More Instant brand deals The best early Prime Day deals to shop this week
Categories: IT General, Technology

Coinbase scam texts: How to spot them and what to do

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:29

Text scams are everywhere these days — and they're constantly evolving and changing. The latest evolution appears to be a scam centered on fake texts about Coinbase, the crypto platform.

A local news report spotted the scam in Nevada, while others have reported issues on Reddit. The good news, however, is that the Coinbase scam seems to follow a similar playbook to past text scams. You know, all those DMV, Indeed, or E-ZPass ticket scams that have littered phones for some time.

Here's a fake Coinbase scam text I recently received, for instance.

The phone numbers are redacted for your protection. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable How to spot a Coinbase scam text and what to do if you get one

There are a few things to note about the text that make it clearly a scam: 1) I am not a Coinbase customer and 2) it is from a random, +63 phone number. That +63 country code is for the Philippines and became a hallmark of the super-prevalent E-ZPass scams. The text also creates a sense of urgency — fix this non-existent withdrawal issue — that scams typically employ. Scammers want to make you act before you have the time to think it over. It's important to note that Coinbase writes on its website: "If you receive a text message reporting that you’ve received cryptocurrency that you did not authorize, it is likely a phishing attempt. Coinbase does not send out texts to verify transactions." So if Coinbase will not text you about a transaction, then any such text is, by default, a scam.

Very common scam to watch out for. #2fa #scam #coinbase #crypto

[image or embed]

— Angel (@angellozan.live) April 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM

I love when I get scam messages

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— Reft (@reft01.bsky.social) April 9, 2025 at 10:45 PM

If you do get the text: Do not click any links, do not call the phone number, and do not respond. You can simply delete the text and report it as junk.

If you're still worried, you can contact Coinbase directly instead of using the phone number from the fraudsters. But, in short, you can typically just delete the scam text and move along.

Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Early Prime Day outdoor deals are already pretty impressive

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:24
The best early Prime Day outdoor deals at a glance: BEST COOLER DEAL Ninja FB131WH FrostVault $149.94 (save $50.05) Get Deal BEST HYDRATION DEAL Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState (40-ounce) $24.99 (save $20.01) Get Deal BEST POWER STATION DEAL Jackery Explorer 300 $168.99 (save $90.01) Get Deal BEST PORTABLE SPEAKER DEAL Sony ULT Field 3 $144.95 (save $55.04) Get Deal BEST ACTION CAMERA DEAL GoPro HERO13 $329 (save $100.99) Get Deal

The next Amazon Prime Day is around the corner, officially running from July 8 through 11, which means deals are already emerging left and right. And since it serves as an informal celebration of summer, it's no surprise that tons of outdoor deals are leading the way.

While we're expecting even more great deals on top brands like Solo Stove, Ooni, GCI, and Owala to pop up closer to the formal Prime Day start, lots of great brands are already dropping prices — including Yeti, Coleman, Stanley, and Jackery. If you don't feel like waiting for the official event kickoff, you can start your discount shopping now.

We're tracking all of the best early Prime Day outdoor deals below. If you don't see what you're looking for just yet, stay tuned. We'll be updating this list before, during, and after Prime Day with any new deals that drop. Be sure to follow along with Mashable's coverage of every category in our Prime Day hub.

Best outdoor deal at Amazon ahead of Prime Day Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 $168.99 at Amazon
$259 Save $90.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Power up your campsite, tailgate, or beach day with the portable Jackery Explorer 300. It's down to its best price ever at just $168.99 — a savings of 35% — so no need to wait around for Prime Day to officially start. Weighing in at just seven pounds, it's a great companion for outdoor adventures. It packs six output ports (two AC outlets, one PD 60W USB-C port, one fast charge 3.0 port, one USB-A port, and one DC car port), so you can juice up six devices at once while the power station charges itself. Plus, it's compatible with the Jackery SolarSaga 100 solar panel, so you can stay connected even when you go off the grid.

Best cooler dealsBest hydration dealsBest power station dealsBest outdoor cooking dealsBest portable speaker dealsMore outdoor deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Early Prime Day unlocked phone deals are mostly limited to Samsung and Motorola

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:24
The best early Prime Day unlocked phone deals at a glance: BEST SAMSUNG GALAXY DEAL Samsung Galaxy S25+ (512GB) $919.99 (save $200) Get Deal BEST MOTOROLA DEAL Motorola razr+ 2024 (256GB) $799.99 (save $200) Get Deal BEST GOOGLE PIXEL DEAL Google Pixel 7a (128GB) $373.36 (save $125.64) Get Deal

Need to upgrade your phone? Amazon Prime Day could be your best opportunity to score one for less. Save yourself the trouble of coordinating trade-ins and data plans at a specific carrier and check out unlocked phones at Amazon instead. In most cases, you'll be able to find a better deal. Not to mention, if you travel abroad, you won't have to worry about a carrier lock preventing your ability to connect to a new network (ask me how I know).

Prime Day will officially commence on July 8 and run through July 11. Yes, it's now a four-day event, making it the longest Prime Day ever. We're already seeing some of the best prices to date on the Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup weeks ahead of the sale, but we'll be keeping an eye on things and updating the list below with any new deals that pop up as we inch closer to the official Prime Day kickoff. Sadly, Apple iPhones rarely (if ever) go on sale during Amazon shopping events, but we'll never say never.

Here are the best unlocked phone deals we could find at Amazon before the annual shopping event.

Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices.

The best unlocked phone deal ahead of Prime Day Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB) 🔥 $919.99 at Amazon
$1,119.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

The Galaxy S25+, which launched earlier this year, is just $20 shy of its best price ever ahead of Prime Day — just $919.99 for the 512GB model. While it's not quite as powerful as the S25 Ultra or the latest S25 Edge, it's also a lot easier on your wallet. You'll still get the impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM, plus a slightly larger and nicer display than the basic S25 (6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with new "ProScaler" technology), as well as a bigger 4,900mAh battery. Mashable's Chance Townsend calls the S25+ the "sweet spot for battery life and versatility" amongst the S25 lineup. It doesn't look too much different than the S24+, but it'll definitely wow you in terms of internal upgrades — and that's saying something, considering how brilliant the S24 lineup already was.

More unlocked phone deals

Samsung Galaxy deals

Motorola deals

Google Pixel deals

Categories: IT General, Technology

Beat the heat with early Prime Day deals on bladeless fans

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:13
Best early Prime Day bladeless fan deals: Best deal overall Dreo Tower Fan (DR-HTF007) $67.99 (save $12) Get Deal Best budget pick Pelonis Bladeless Towner Fan (PSF40T2ABB) $58.43 (save $6.56) Get Deal Best Dyson deal Dyson Purifier Cool (TP07) $449 (save $200.99) Get Deal

It’s already been a scorching hot summer, even though it only officially began recently. If you’re without an air conditioner or are trying to cut back on energy costs because running the AC 24/7 is expensive, we might be able to help.

While Prime Day doesn’t “officially” start until July 8, Amazon’s been rolling out tons of early deals across the board, including a handful of bladeless fans, and we’ve managed to find a few worthwhile picks.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025: Dates, deals, and the competition

Here are the best early Prime Day deals on bladeless fans you can shop now, plus everything you need to know about choosing the right one.

Best deal overall Dreo Tower Fan (DR-HTF007) $67.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $12 Get Deal Why we like it

Snag the Dreo Tower Fan (DR-HTF007) for just $67.99, down from $79.99. I know a $12 savings might not sound like a huge number, but honestly, it's already pretty reasonably priced compared to a lot of similar models, and you're getting a ton of bang for your buck here.

SEE ALSO: Personal fans are the product of summer

This 36-inch tower fan features four different modes and speeds that you can easily adjust from the top panel or with the handy included remote. Plus, it oscillates a full 90 degrees to really get that cool air circulating throughout your room (reaching up to 25 feet per second, according to Dreo). It even has a timer function, so you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. And for those light sleepers out there, it's designed to operate super quietly (at just 28 dB), making it a solid choice for bedrooms.

More early Prime Day bladeless fan deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

She Rides Shotgun trailer: Taron Egerton is on the run in this father-daughter crime thriller

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:12

Taron Egerton is no stranger to action films, from his breakout role in Kingsman: The Secret Service to 2024's airport-set thriller Carry-On. Now, he gears up for more onscreen action in the upcoming crime thriller She Rides Shotgun.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: What's coming to theaters and streaming?

Directed by Nick Rowland (who snagged a BAFTA nomination for his feature-length directorial debut, Calm with Horses) and based on the novel of the same name by Jordan Harper, She Rides Shotgun stars Egerton as Nate, a man who's just been released from prison. However, Nate has no time to take in his newfound freedom, as his enemies have marked him for death, along with everyone he loves. That includes his estranged 11-year-old daughter, Polly (Ana Sophia Heger).

Now, Nate must protect Polly as the pair flee from a corrupt sheriff and brutal gang members hellbent on killing them both. Along the way, he'll teach her how to survive, while she'll do her best to reconnect with the father figure she never knew. (Based on the father-daughter dynamic and the survival lessons, She Rides Shotgun doesn't not sound like The Last of Us, minus the zombies of course.)

Check out the film's full trailer above, which grants us our first look at She Rides Shotgun's gritty action and at Egerton in protective papa bear mode. He and Heger get into nighttime car chases, gas station shootouts, and even a wince-worthy knife fight. While Nate is insistent that Polly never shoots anyone, it's clear that her reunion with her father is also going to force her to grow up quickly — and violently.

She Rides Shotgun also stars Rob Yang and John Carroll Lynch.

She Rides Shotgun hits limited theaters Aug. 1.

Categories: IT General, Technology

We found two AirPods deals worth checking out ahead of Prime Day

Wed, 07/02/2025 - 18:11

UPDATE: Jul. 2, 2025, 12:00 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with the latest AirPods deals, including a new deal on the AirPods Max.

Best early Prime Day AirPods deals Best AirPods earbuds deal AirPods 4 with ANC $158.99 (save $20.01) Get Deal Best over-ear AirPods deal Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 (save $69.01) Get Deal

Odds are, if you're in the Apple ecosystem, you're at least curious if AirPods are worth checking out.

Prime Day is a great time to satisfy that curiosity. This year, the mega-sale will last four days, from July 8 to July 11. But after years of covering the sale, the Mashable shopping team knows that the run-up can often bring deals worth shopping ahead of time.

SEE ALSO: The 20+ best Apple deals live ahead of Prime Day

So far, we've seen some AirPods deals worth checking out after a slow start. While the AirPods Pros are still down at $199 (the price they're at nearly year-round), the AirPods Maxes have dropped well below $500.

Beyond that, there's a modest deal on the AirPods 4, but we're anticipating to see even better deals the closer Prime Day gets — historically, Amazon sales bring at least decent, if not great, deals on AirPods. Below, you'll find the two AirPods deals worth shopping at the moment, but check back for updates as Prime Day nears.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $69.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the AirPods Max.

The AirPods Max are expensive, but they have an iconic design, lossless audio, generally great audio quality, and impressive ANC. Still, with other premium options sitting at $100 below the Maxes $550 asking price, it can be hard to justify actually purchasing them.

Which is why it's great when you can catch them on sale. We've seen a few modest $50 price drops on these headphones, but slightly less common is this $69 price drop down to $480. While this price doesn't quite reach record-low status — that'd be $450 — it's still a pretty solid deal available on every single colorway ahead of Prime Day.

More AirPods deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

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