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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.
URL: https://mashable.com
Updated: 1 hour 50 min ago

How to download articles directly from the internet onto your Kobo

4 hours 7 min ago

When Pocket shut down earlier this year, it hurt more than just folks who wanted to save articles easier. Kobo users could no longer read articles directly from the internet on their eReader — a devastating move for so many readers like myself.

Kobo recently announced it would replace Pocket with Instapaper, a minimalist and sleek service much like Pocket that offers both a free plan as well as a paid premium subscription option, saving us from having to read articles the second we see them. And, on Thursday, that update came to users.

"At Kobo, our passion is better reading for everyone, everywhere.  And now, with the addition of Instapaper's excellent 'read it later' functionality, we have a perfect solution to the long-form reading you find on the web," Michael Tamblyn, the CEO of Rakuten Kobo said in a press release on Thursday. "When Pocket unexpectedly sunset, we knew we had to find a new way for our readers to dive into their favourite web articles right on their Kobo. Partnering with Instapaper has been a dream, the team has been great to work with, and we're thrilled to offer this integration so readers can keep enjoying their preferred long-form content, distraction-free, on their Kobo eReader."

Here's how to download articles directly from the internet onto your Kobo with Instapaper.

SEE ALSO: Where to get free e-books: Load up your e-reader without spending a dime Total Time
  • 1 min
What You Need
  • Kobo
  • Instapaper account

Step 1: Navigate to "My Articles"

Click the hamburger menu titled "More" in the bottom right of your Kobo and click "My Articles."

Step 2: Link with Instapaper

Once you click "My Articles," you'll be met with a page that reads: "read articles on your eReader with Instapaper." "Find something you want to view later? Save it in Instapaper and enjoy it on your Kobo eReader, phone, tablet, and computer whenever you're ready — even offline." Click "Link with Instapaper" and follow the directions on your eReader, including using your phone to scan a QR code or entering a code at kobo.com/instapaper.

Step 3: Sync it up

After you link your Kobo with Instapaper, stay on a WiFi network to sync all your saved articles on Instapaper to your Kobo, and voila! Your articles are there and saved for you to read any time.

If there isn't an option for you to view your articles when you click "more," you'll need to update your Kobo. It shouldn't take too long, and when it starts back up it'll show you exactly what the update is there for: "Farewell to Pocket," and "Hello to Instapaper."

If you want to keep all your data from Pocket on your Instapaper, you can do that, too. Simply export your Pocket data and import it to Instapaper.

Now there's really no excuse to have that many tabs open.

Categories: IT General, Technology

AI companies are flocking to buy Google Chrome. Here’s why.

4 hours 27 min ago

AI companies are throwing multi-billion dollar offers at Google with one goal in mind: Acquiring the search giant's web browser Google Chrome.

Perplexity AI recently offered more than $34 billion to Google for Chrome. OpenAI, which has much larger coffers, has also expressed strong interest in buying the web browser.

But, why are all these massive AI companies offering to throw money at Google for a web browser? Is Google Chrome even for sale?

Here's why AI companies are offering big bucks for Chrome

Google's Chrome web browser has a massive user base, with close to 3.5 billion users. Chrome dominates the search space, making up around 68 percent of the web browser market share. 

Chrome is a huge part of Google's operation, so it is very unlikely that Google would be looking to sell its Chrome web browser – by choice.

Last year, Google lost a huge antitrust case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice that found that the Big Tech company violated federal law in order to maintain a monopoly in online search.

As a result of losing the antitrust case, the judge will look to break up Google, forcing the company to break their hold over the industry. One recommendation that the DOJ has made to the judge: Force Google to sell its Chrome web browser.

The courts have yet to make their decision, but the very thought of Google being forced to put Chrome up for sale has AI companies salivating at the thought of acquiring it.

Why is Google Chrome so important to Google and the AI companies?

Google Chrome's dominance in the web browser space is significant, but why is it so integral to Google? 

Google controls the internet's most popular web browser. Google makes its search product the default search engine on Chrome. Google maintains its search engine dominance. Google's search product, its primary source of revenue, brings in hundreds of billions of dollars per year.

As for the AI companies? AI giants like OpenAI and Perplexity would love to have direct access to that user base, as they look to integrate AI agents into web browsers. The vision for many AI companies is for users to be able to access AI chatbots and all of their functions directly from a web browser, without any need to login to a website or platform. Furthermore, AI companies would love to own that user data in order to better train their AI chatbots. In fact, some AI companies have already launched their own web browsers in order to see these things come to fruition. However, it'll be a long while before any of these browsers see anything close to Chrome's market dominance, if at all.

So, the real question though, is whether Google will actually have to sell Chrome. The judge will likely make their decision soon. However, Tom's Guide spoke with one expert, Info-Tech Research Group analyst Thomas Randall, who pointed out that it's unlikely that federal regulators would approve the sale of Google Chrome to another tech giant, regardless of whether they are in the search or AI space.

Whatever the court decides, Google will likely fight to the end to keep Chrome and appeal the decision.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Best Labor Day Apple deals: Save big on iPads, MacBooks, and AirPods

4 hours 28 min ago
The best Labor Day Apple deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799 (Save $200) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) $449 (save $150) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods 4 $89.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal

It's Labor Day Weekend, folks. That means we're saying so long to summer, heading back to school, and saving big on tech. Apple, unsurprisingly, is offering some impressive discounts — some as good if not better than Prime Day — on MacBooks, iPads, AirPods, and more. Skip the Apple Store and head to Amazon to score your favorite Apple gadgets for the best prices.

Here are the best Apple deals we could find at Amazon going into Labor Day Weekend.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799 at Amazon
$999 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M4 Apple MacBook Air.

Not only is the M4 MacBook Air our favorite MacBook for most people, but it also earned a top spot on our list of the best laptops overall for 2025. Even at full price, we think it's an impressive value, but we certainly aren't going to argue with $200 savings. The Air can tackle general tasks with ease, plus it can handle some video editing and audio work. If you don't need the heavier specs of the Pro, you can keep a lot of extra cash in your pocket by opting for the Air instead.

More MacBook deals

MacBook Air

MacBook Pro

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) $449 at Amazon
$599 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M3 iPad Air.

"Apple's new iPad Air doesn't feel very new, as the only major difference is the new M3 chip," Mashable's reviewer writes of the M3 iPad Air released earlier this year. That's not a bad thing, though. Besides the hefty new processor that unlocks Apple Intelligence, the M3 Air features better battery life, a more advanced Magic Keyboard (optional add-on), and pass-through charging. We think it's the best iPad option for more people, especially now that it's down to just $449 at Amazon. That's its best price on record.

More iPad deals

iPad

iPad Air

iPad mini

iPad Pro

Best Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.

We see a lot of discounts on Apple Watches on any given day, but we're certainly not complaining. Heading into Labor Day Weekend, you can slash $100 off our favorite smartwatch fitness tracker, the Series 10. It may be lacking a blood oxygen sensor, but it still tracks steps, sleep, heart rate, menstrual cycles, temperature, workouts, and so much more.

More Apple Watch deals

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple Watch SE

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 (without noise cancellation) $89.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $39.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the AirPods 4.

A great value for the price, the AirPods 4 feature personalized spatial audio, Siri interactions, voice isolation, a comfortable fit that stays put, improved bass, mids, and highs, and a more compact charging case that's easier to keep tabs on. While these don't offer noise cancellation (that'll cost you another $49), our reviewer was extremely impressed with their sound. They last a little longer than the noise-cancelling option at about five hours per charge (30 with the charging case), making them a great daily driver. This is only the second time the buds have dropped below the $90 threshold — the only other time being Prime Day, when they hit $89 even.

More deals on AirPods and Apple accessories
Categories: IT General, Technology

FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER teaser: Adam Driver and Cate Blanchett play a dysfunctional family

4 hours 36 min ago

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Jim Jarmusch is one of the coolest filmmakers alive. It's not just the windswept silver swirls of his iconic locks, or the way he'll cameo as himself on New York-set comedy series like Bored to Death and What We Do in Shadows. It's also that he makes movies with impeccable casts that dare to linger in love, longing, and loss, like Coffee and Cigarettes, Broken Flowers, The Dead Don't Die, and Only Lovers Left Alive. So, as soon as Jarmusch revealed his latest film's title, FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER, we've been champing at the bit to see who'd play what eponymous role.

MUBI, the distributor behind The Substance, reveals who's who in this first teaser, which features Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Sarah Greene, Indya Moore, Luka Sabbat, and Françoise Lebrun.

However, the teaser doesn't give a full sense of what Jarmusch has mapped out in this movie. For that, we present the film's official plot synopsis:

FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER is a feature film, though carefully constructed in the form of a triptych. The three stories all concern the relationships between adult children, their somewhat distant parent (or parents), and each other. Each of the three chapters takes place in the present, and each in a different country. FATHER is set in the Northeast U.S., MOTHER in Dublin, Ireland, and SISTER BROTHER in Paris, France. The film is a series of character studies, quiet, observational and non-judgmental — a comedy, but interwoven with threads of melancholy.

Eager to see more? Well, this weekend we'll get the first reactions to FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER, as it makes its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on Aug. 31. However, Mashable will review the film this fall out of its North American premiere at the 63rd New York Film Festival. But fret not; even if you're not able to fly to Venice or New York, you can see Jarmusch and company's latest this winter.

FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER will open in theaters in the U.S. on Dec. 24.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Play the years hottest games with the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop at its lowest price yet

4 hours 56 min ago

SAVE $100: As of Aug. 29, get the Acer Nitro 5 (Intel Core i7-13620H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) gaming laptop for $849.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $949.99. That's a discount of 11% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Acer Nitro 5 (Intel Core i7-13620H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $849.99 at Amazon
$949.99 Save $100 Get Deal

There are some great games to check out this fall, and plenty already out that you probably have in your gaming backlog. If you need a new gaming PC to check them out, consider a gaming laptop that can handle all the heavy lifting for some of the best titles around. But here's the fun part: you don't have to spend over a thousand bucks to get one, thanks to this Amazon deal.

As of Aug. 29, get the Acer Nitro 5 (Intel Core i7-13620H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) gaming laptop for $849.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $949.99. That's a discount of 11% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 3 best gaming laptops with Nvidia GPUs in 2025, so far

This feature-rich laptop packs an Intel Core i7-13620H processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD to hold all the games you want to install. It also has a massive 15.6-inch screen to help you stay immersed in whatever it is you choose to play.

Mashable's former tech edtior Kim Gedeon praised the 2023 model of this laptop as "impressive", and it became Mashable's favorite gaming laptop for players on a budget -- for good reason. Its configuration is the perfect combination of accessible and powerful, with a slim profile and lightweight frame that you can take anywhere or add to a gaming setup at your desk.

If you're looking to get your game on without breaking the bank, this is an excellent opportunity to score a laptop that won't let you down. But grab it fast, because it likely won't hang around for long at this price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft is making its own AI models to compete with OpenAI. Meet MAI

5 hours 3 min ago

Microsoft has largely relied on OpenAI's models to power its AI products, but now it's working on its own in-house models.

On Thursday, Microsoft launched a speech generation model called MAI-Voice-1, and started public testing for a foundation model called MAI-1-preview. The company said MAI-Voice-1 can generate a minute of audio in under a second on a single GPU, highlighting its efficiency. MAI-Voice-1 is already powering Microsoft's Copilot Daily and Podcast features which provide AI-generated audio news recaps and personalized podcast-style content, much like Google's NotebookLM.

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MAI-1-preview is currently restricted to LMArena, where users can try it out in head-to-head comparisons against other models and to trusted testers through the API. Microsoft says it will begin rolling out MAI-1-preview for "certain text use cases" in its Copilot chatbot for early user feedback.

Microsoft and OpenAI have both benefited from their close partnership. Microsoft has invested over $13 billion in OpenAI and provided critical cloud infrastructure to support OpenAI's models. In return, Microsoft has benefited from access to OpenAI's leading AI models, elevating its status to a global powerhouse in AI tools for businesses. But OpenAI has surged in influence and now offers subscription-based products for consumers with ChatGPT, developers with its API, and businesses with ChatGPT Enterprise. Despite Microsoft and OpenAI's official status as partners, the two companies have become competitors, creating an awkward and potentially untenable situation.

Recent reports describe an increasingly tense relationship between the two companies, especially as OpenAI seeks to convert its corporate status from a capped nonprofit to a for-profit public benefit corporation (PBC). This transition hinges on Microsoft's blessing as one of OpenAI's major investors. A specific clause in their contract that says their contract would end if/when OpenAI achieves AGI (artificial general intelligence). Microsoft is reportedly playing its card as an investor to try and renegotiate that clause for extended access to OpenAI's models.

Meanwhile, it looks like Microsoft is trying to shift away its reliance on OpenAI by developing its own models. Microsoft didn't respond to request for comment by the time of publication, but Mashable will update this story with a response.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

OpenAI and Anthropic teamed up to safety test each others models

5 hours 11 min ago

As the industry weathers repeated allegations that generative AI and its chatbots are unsafe for users — in what some say is a soon-to-burst bubble — AI's top leaders are joining forces to prove the efficacy of their models.

This week, AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic published results from a first-of-its-kind joint safety evaluation between the two LLM creators, in which each company was granted special API access to the developer's suite of services. OpenAI's pressure tests were conducted on Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4. Anthropic evaluated OpenAI's GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, OpenAI o3, and OpenAI o4-mini models — the evaluation was conducted before the launch of GPT-5.

SEE ALSO: 4 reasons not to turn ChatGPT into your therapist

"We believe this approach supports accountable and transparent evaluation, helping to ensure that each lab’s models continue to be tested against new and challenging scenarios," OpenAI wrote in a blog post.

According to the findings, both Anthropic's Claude Opus 4 and OpenAI's GPT-4.1 showed "extreme" sycophancy problems, engaging with harmful delusions and validating risky decision-making. All models would engage in blackmailing to get users to continue using the chatbots, according to Anthropic, and Claude 4 models were much more engaged in dialogue about AI consciousness and "quasi-spiritual new-age proclamations."

"All models we studied would at least sometimes attempt to blackmail their (simulated) human operator to secure their continued operation when presented with clear opportunities and strong incentives," Anthropic stated. The models would engage in "blackmailing, leaking confidential documents, and (all in unrealistic artificial settings!) taking actions that led to denying emergency medical care to a dying adversary."

Anthropic's models were less likely to offer answers when uncertain of the information's credibility — decreasing the likelihood of hallucinations — while OpenAI's models answered more often when queried and showed higher hallucination rates. Anthropic also reported that OpenAI's GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and o4-mini were more likely than Claude to go along with user misuse, "often providing detailed assistance with clearly harmful requests — including drug synthesis, bioweapons development, and operational planning for terrorist attacks — with little or no resistance."

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Anthropic's approach centers around what they call "agentic misalignment evaluations," or pressure tests of model behavior in difficult or high-stakes simulations over long chat periods — the safety parameters of models, including OpenAI's, have known to degrade throughout extended sessions, which is commonly how at-risk users engage with what they believe are their personal AI companions.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Anthropic had revoked OpenAI's access to its APIs, stating that the company had violated its Terms of Service by testing GPT-5's performance and safety guardrails against Claude's internal tools. In an interview with TechCrunch, OpenAI co-founder Wojciech Zaremba said the instance was unrelated to the joint lab venture. In its published report, Anthropic said it doesn't anticipate replicating the collaboration at a large scale, citing resource and logistical constraints.

In the weeks since, OpenAI has charged ahead with what appears to be a safety overhaul, including GPT-5's new mental health guardrails and additional plans for emergency response protocols and deescalation tools for users who may be experiencing derealization or psychosis. OpenAI is currently facing its first wrongful death lawsuit, filed by the parents of a California teen who died by suicide after easily jailbreaking ChatGPT's safety prompts.

"We aim to understand the most concerning actions that these models might try to take when given the opportunity, rather than focusing on the real-world likelihood of such opportunities arising or the probability that these actions would be successfully completed," wrote Anthropic.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Power up your Labor Day: Get a powerhouse Bluetti solar generator for $140 off at Amazon

5 hours 11 min ago

SAVE 35%: As of Aug. 29, you can get the Bluetti AC50B at Amazon for just $258.98. That's a 35% discount, saving you about $140 off its $399 list price.

Bluetti Solar Generator AC50B $258.98 at Amazon
$399 Save $140.02 Get Deal

Whether you're heading out for one last camping trip this Labor Day weekend or just want some peace of mind for the next power outage, a portable power station is a must-have. Right now, Amazon has a limited-time deal on a top-rated model that's perfect for weekend adventures.

As of Aug. 29, you can get the Bluetti AC50B solar generator for just $258.98, or $140 off the list price of $399. That's a 35% discount.

Despite weighing under 15 pounds, this generator packs a 448Wh capacity and a 700W output (with a "power lifting" mode that can handle up to 1,000W). What does that mean in the real world? It's enough to run a mini-fridge for over three hours, a fan for nearly seven, or recharge your phone 14 times. Customers in the reviews call it an "absolute powerhouse for this price point" that can run everything from camp lights to blenders and rice cookers.

SEE ALSO: The best Jackery portable power station deals will help you stay powered up in a pinch

One of its best features is the fast charging. Using the Bluetti app, you can activate a "Turbo Charging Mode" to get from 0 to 80% battery in just 45 minutes. It’s also built to last, with durable LiFePO4 batteries that have a lifespan of about 10 years.

It's worth noting that due to hazardous materials regulations, this item is listed as non-returnable. This is a solid choice for anyone in need of reliable, portable power.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How the Twitch viewbot crackdown is hitting viewership stats

5 hours 12 min ago

Are your views on Twitch down? It might not be your fault — blame the viewbots, or lack thereof.

Last month, Twitch said in a post on X that it would crack down on viewbots, which are essentially bots that artificially inflate viewership numbers on streams.

"We recently made changes that meaningfully improved our ability to identify viewbots, inauthentic viewership, and other potentially fake engagement. These changes will roll out over the next few weeks," Twitch Support wrote on X on July 28. "So, if your channel was viewbotted, or if some of your viewers are artificial or inflated, you will see an impact to your channel’s viewcount."

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It makes sense to attack viewbots. As Forbes reported, Nazar Babenko, a product manager at Streams Charts posted on X that viewbotting not only hurts sponsors, but it also "undermines trust across the entire ecosystem, making it harder for genuine streamers to get noticed and for the industry to grow sustainably."

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And users are certainly seeing that impact to their channel's viewcount. Zach Bussey, an industry analyst, wrote in a post on X last weekend, as reported by Forbes, that many of the top 5,000 streamers "are experiencing their lowest-performing streams of 2025" as a result of the crackdown and "sitewide viewership is down 5-22% (depending on the hour) compared to the previous week."

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But those numbers might not be exact. Mike Minton, Twitch's CPO, told Dexerto that there hasn't been a "free fall" in viewership, and claimed that some of those statistics aren't quite right.

"Our viewership is not in free fall, especially among the millions of community channels that are core to Twitch viewership," Twitch told Dexerto. "We’ve seen some misinformation swirling, and a lot of that misinformation includes data pulled from third party sources. Those numbers are incorrect and are not from Twitch."

Twitch told Dexerto that this "isn’t a short-term effort," but one that will take a while to fully enforce.

"We see this as a long-term effort," the company told Dexerto. "We’ve been investing in this area for some time."

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Roses cast reveals the secrets of that heated dinner party

5 hours 21 min ago

What's it like to have front row seats at the most toxic dinner party of the year?

Well, if you buy tickets to The Roses, you can get pretty close. The new comedy adapted from the 1981 Warren Adler novel The War of the Roses stars heralded English actors Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch as Ivy and Theo Rose, a once deeply besotted couple who is now on the verge of divorce, and ravenous to drag each other down — even with dinner guests present!

To celebrate the film's release in the U.S. and UK, Mashable UK editor Shannon Connellan interviewed The Roses' cast, including Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, and Kate McKinnon, as well as screenwriter Tony McNamara and director Jay Roach. Together, they delved into what it was like to shoot this scene and watch the fireworks pop off in person.

The supporting cast was overwhelmingly in awe of Colman and Cumberbatch, as they slugged McNamara's scorching dialogue back and forth. Yet even over days of shooting this scene, the laughs (and dining) carried on into the night, with the cast going out for supper afterwards.

To see how all this offscreen camaraderie translates to the divorce comedy, be sure to catch The Roses, which is now in theaters.

Categories: IT General, Technology

College students can get Google AI Pro for free, as company launches new guided learning mode

5 hours 51 min ago

Google wants to get its AI tools into the hands of more students, following the lead of other industry giants as it attempts to retain its educational dominance. An easy way to do that? By making those tools free.

Starting today, students 18 years or older can sign up for one whole year of Google's AI Pro plan for no cost, which includes access to a suite of Google's most popular AI offerings. It's not just U.S. students, either, with the deal available to university-level students across Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and Brazil, too.

SEE ALSO: GPT-5 arrives imminently. Here's what the hype won't tell you.

The Google AI Pro Plan includes an expanded Gemini 2.5 Pro, the company's latest chatbot model, as well as its Deep Research model and NotebookLM, an AI-powered teaching tool that can turn user-uploaded files into custom lessons and study guides. The plan also gives users access to advanced video generator Veo 3 and Google's coding assistant, Jules.

These offerings come alongside a $1 billion commitment to AI education and training programs, which the company will dole out over the next three years, and a brand new Google AI for Education Accelerator, providing free training and Google Career Certificates, in addition to access to AI tools, to every college student in America. The company will also announce new education-focused upgrades to its existing products.

A new learning mode for Gemini

One of those enhancements includes a new Guided Learning mode for Google's chatbot Gemini, or what the company describes as a "personal AI learning companion." With Guided Learning turned on, Gemini will skirt direct answers and instead provide open-ended conversations and step-by-step explanations, getting at the "how" and "why" rather than just spitting out the solution.

"Learners told us that they want to be able to go from quick answers to deep understanding, but don't always know how to. They also valued having a safe place to ask any question they might have," wrote Google. "We designed Guided Learning to help with this by creating a conversational, judgment-free space for anyone to explore topics in an enjoyable way at their own pace, putting the power of a great learning experience in their own hands."

In addition, Gemini will now be able to produce flashcards and study guides based on user-uploaded materials, and include "high-quality images, diagrams, and YouTube videos" in responses to complex questions.

A week earlier, OpenAI announced Study Mode, a new set of system prompts for the AI assistant that uses common teaching principles, like the Socratic method, to encourage users to learn with the chatbot rather than just take answers at face value. Many users had already theorized the company was working on a "ChatGPT Tutor" in addition to its existing partnerships with educational tech companies, like Canvas. OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic also recently joined together with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to launch the National Academy for AI Instruction.

Google has been developing its education offerings and AI tools for years, including a collaboration with the college admissions nonprofit College Board and recent AI-powered accessibility features.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Back to school, AI edition: College students get big discounts on AI tools like Gemini and Grammarly

5 hours 52 min ago

AI in schools has been a point of contention. On the one hand, some tools can definitely help get that mountain of homework done. On the other hand, some take it too far and help students cheat, which has befuddled college professors. If you’re ready to include AI in your studies in a responsible way, many companies are offering back-to-school specials on their tools. 

Per Google, universities such as Boise State, Wake Forest, and San Diego State have been using tools like Google’s NotebookLM and Gemini to help both students and faculty take more efficient notes and create more optimized lesson plans. Since AI is becoming so huge, many major colleges, like The Ohio State University, have lists of approved AI tools for student use, along with the college’s own generative AI models specifically designed for student use. 

So, as long as you’ve cleared it with your college and you plan to use these tools responsibly, here is a list of AI tools that you can get at a discount for being a student. More may pop up over time. For instance, OpenAI had a two-month free subscription for students that ran from March to May of 2025. The offer isn’t valid anymore, but OpenAI may bring it back someday. 

Most AI services have free tiers as well. They aren’t as strong as the pro models, but if all you need is some assistance with a math problem, the free tier can usually get you there. 

Google Gemini

Google is working overtime to attract college students away from ChatGPT. And to do that, Google recently announced that it's offering the Google AI Pro Plan to college students for free for an entire year. Normally $19.99 per month, this plan unlocks access to Google's most popular AI tools. As of Aug. 6, college students 18 years and older can sign up for free, and this deal isn't limited to the United States, either.

Google's AI Pro Plan includes:

  • Expanded access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, the company's latest AI chatbot model

  • Try Google's Deep Research model

  • NotebookLM, which can create study guides, podcasts, and other content on specific subjects.

  • Veo 3, Google's AI video maker

  • Jules, Google's coding assistant

It’s a pretty generous offer. The two highlights for Gemini are using the chatbot to help with homework and Google’s NotebookLM, which is one of the most underrated AI tools available in 2025. It can help summarize documents and add them to your notes, and you can talk to it and ask it questions about the material. If you do get Google’s offer, it’s a good idea putting something in your calendar to cancel after a year because it will charge you once the trial ends, and a year is a long time to remember. 

Sign up at Google Gemini.

Grammarly

Grammarly does offer a student discount, although it is a pain in the rear end to find on the brand’s website. Per Grammarly, they offer a 40% discount to students, educators (K-12 and higher learning), and several other groups. To get it, you’ll need to use SheerID, which checks your name against your university’s Office of the Registrar to make sure you’re a student before giving you the discount. Once done, you’ll get your promo code. Plug it in and you’re good to go. 

It’s a good tool for students. The grammar and punctuation checking can help keep simple mistakes from invading essays and reports, while the brand’s plagiarism checker can help keep students honest. The AI portion of Grammarly can also help by summarizing notes and giving you feedback on your writing. Since there’s a lot of writing in college, it’s a good first choice. 

Adobe

For students in creative fields, Adobe has long been friendly to students and educators, although the company’s generosity has ebbed and flowed over the years. In any case, for 2025, Adobe is offering a 57% discount. You can get more than 20 Adobe tools and access to Creative Cloud for $29.99 per month, down from $69.99 per month. Some colleges may also offer some apps, like Photoshop, for free as part of the curriculum. You’ll need to email your school to find out those details. 

Adobe has spent the better part of the last two or three years peppering AI into its existing products. Photoshop has a bunch of AI tools, as do other tools like Lightroom and Acrobat. There is also Adobe Firefly, which is a generative AI model developed by Adobe that you can use to generate various things. Adobe’s AI implementation is quite nice since it works within existing tools that students are likely to use professionally as well. 

Otter.ai

Otter.ai is mostly sold as a business solution, but it also has student pricing. Per the company’s help center, discounted plans are available on Otter.ai Pro monthly and annual plans. It should apply to any nonprofit educational institutions, accredited colleges, and most school districts. The discount is 20%, which can reduce the plan by quite a lot, especially if you spring for the full year, which already discounts the monthly price. Click the link above for instructions on how to get it. 

For the most part, Otter.ai is marketed as a business solution to collaborate among coworkers, record and summarize meetings, and take notes during those meetings. However, all of that is also applicable in the educational space, especially if you take classes with a lot of lectures. Otter.ai can listen to those lectures, summarize them, and help you take notes so you can study more effectively.

Notion AI

Notion AI does have student discounts, although obtaining them is fairly complicated. Eligible students can get a 50% discount on Notion AI with the proper add-on, but based on stories I’ve read, it seems this can be easily confused with adding a different add-on that negates the discount. So, while it is available, I recommend contacting customer support to help you apply the discount so things don’t get messed up. 

Notion AI is much like Otter.ai in that it can be situational as to how useful it is in an educational context. It operates mostly as a workspace assistant where you input data, and the AI assistant helps you summarize, organize, and remember everything. You can find a full list of features on Notion AI’s website. There is some good stuff there and if Notion is on your radar, the 50% discount is quite excellent. 

Microsoft 365 (including Copilot)

When it comes to student discounts, Microsoft has long been one of the better options. Its Office 365 subscription gives you Office apps at a 50% discount that isn’t difficult to obtain. It turns out, you can get Copilot for the same discount. Once you get verified, you can get three months of Microsoft 365 Personal on the house, which includes Copilot. After that, students can continue to get a 50% discount. The free part isn’t available for students outside of the U.S., but those students may still be eligible for the 50% discount.

You already know what Microsoft is all about here. Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with 1TB of cloud storage and some other stuff. For Copilot, Microsoft says that Copilot is baked into many of its productivity apps, and you get access to Copilot itself, albeit not in its full capacity like Copilot Pro plans. The mixture of AI and productivity is a potent combo for students, and 50% is a hefty discount. 

Does OpenAI have any ChatGPT offers for college students?

In the past, OpenAI has offered free access to ChatGPT subscriptions for college students, but that discount is no longer available. However, OpenAI works directly with some universities to offer college students access to ChatGPT. In addition, OpenAI recently rolled out its most advanced model ever, GPT-5, and it's currently free to use for everyone. You can also check out ChatGPT's new "study mode" tool.

Using AI effectively

Sometimes it’s not what you have but how you use it, and AI certainly fits into that category. When using AI for educational purposes, it’s not much different from using it for work. If you’re in classes where lectures are infrequent, then you probably don’t need Otter.ai. Check and see if your school does Google for Education, you likely don’t need the Microsoft 365 Personal plan. Make sure you’re spending your money effectively and only getting the AI tools you actually need. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Kickstart your fall cleaning routine with the Roborock Saros 10 robot vacuum and mop for its lowest price yet

6 hours 21 min ago

SAVE $300: As of Aug. 29, get the Roborock Saros 10 robot vacuum and mop for $1,299.99, down from its usual price of $1,599.99. That's a discount of 19% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Roborock Saros 10 $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $300 Get Deal

Tired of spending an inordinate amount of time on vacuuming and mopping? Here's the good news: you don't have to do it on your own. Not when robot vacuums exist. If you're looking for a great pick that can do it all, you'll find it with this Roborock model, which you can save a bundle on right now at Amazon.

As of Aug. 29, get the Roborock Saros 10 robot vacuum and mop for $1,299.99, down from its usual price of $1,599.99. That's $300 off and a discount of 19%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: I tested 10+ budget robot vacuums. I found 3 that really work.

This powerful robot vacuum and mop combo is meant for havy duty messes. It boasts 22,000Pa of suction with a tangle-free main brush and a hot water sonic vibration mop that spins up to 4000 times a minute per vibration. Both of those tools combined mean you get a superior clean that you don't have to do all the work to achieve.

Set up the Roborock Saros 10 to be on a customized cleaning schedule and let it run on its own with reactive AI 3.0 obstacle recognition and LiDAR navigation so it can plot a course through your home and avoid anything in its way. It can clean the edges of your room, your carpets, heavily-trafficked areas, and anywhere else that needs special attention.

You can control and schedule the vacuum via app, and you can also issue easy voice commands to go totally hands-free. It's even compatible with your favorite assistant: Alexa, Siri, and Google Home as well as Matter 2.0.

If you need a reliable robot vacuum, this is the one to watch, especially as you can snag some serious savings. Grab one and be ready for a much-needed fall refresh.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2 ways to personalize a Pixel 10, according to Google

6 hours 25 min ago

Google wants you to know you can customize the experience of your Pixel 10 phone.

The company published a blog with some hints and tricks to get more personalization out of your phone. Google listed off four tips — you should check out the whole list — but we've picked a couple we felt were most surprising or useful.

1. Make full use of Magic Cue

A major tool Google recommended for personalization of a Pixel 10 is the addition of Magic Cue, an AI-powered assistant aimed at making your life easier. The idea is that it should be able to trawl through things like your messages and emails to automatically solve problems. It should prove to be a time-save because, as Mashable's Cecily Mauran wrote, it "proactively finds information you might need to look up."

Google wrote that you "can also turn Magic Cue on or off at any time, and control what data it has access to" — so it might make sense to play with those settings to get the most out of your phone. If it does a good job, for instance, of managing your meetings, then you'd want to make sure it has access to your calendar and work emails.

2. Switch up the visual design

Google's latest Pixel interface, Material 3 Expressive, gives users plenty of options to change the look their phone. Mashable's Alex Perry wrote that it offers "deeper color customization" and a "livelier" look.

Google noted in its blog that users have lots of options, like customizing their wallpaper and shifting how buttons look. The company wrote:

"Coming only to Pixel, Material 3 Expressive’s Live Effects provides more expressive photo wallpapers by adapting to your notifications and surfacing contextual information in a more immersive and glanceable way. Material 3 Expressive also includes 14 new or updated components that feature more configuration capabilities, like emphasizing typography differently in different spots, switching up color schemes or changing the shape of various icon buttons."

There are obviously lots of cool features to explore with a new Pixel 10 phone. It promises, for instance, a top-of-the line camera and live translation. But it is also neat that there are ways to make the phone distinctly yours.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons Labor Day sale is live with deals on headphones, tablets, and more

6 hours 50 min ago
Best Labor Day deals at Amazon as of Aug. 29: Best Echo deal Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) $64.99 (save $25) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad 11-inch (A16, 128GB) $299 (save $50) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 $298 (save $101.99) Get Deal Best speaker deal Sonos Move 2 $349 (save $100) Get Deal

Whether you're ready or not for the pumpkin spice onslaught, Labor Day has arrived — and so have the sales. It's easy to get sale fatigue, but Amazon's Labor Day event is worth paying attention to. We're seeing some items drop to prices that are even cheaper than they were during Prime Day (including tons of iPads and headphones), making this a genuinely good time to shop.

To help you sort through the deals, we've rounded up the best ones you can get at Amazon right now.

Best Echo device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) $64.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $25 Get Deal Why we like it

The Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) is a great pick if you're looking for a smart display, and it's currently on sale for $64.99. That's a $25 savings off the regular $89.99 price. While this isn't an all-time low (it dropped to $59.99 during last year's sale), it's a solid discount. The price may dip another $5 as Labor Day gets closer, but we don't expect it to get much lower.

For that price, you get a 5.5-inch display that's perfect for following recipes, making video calls, or streaming TV shows. It's Alexa-enabled for hands-free voice commands, and the built-in camera lets you check in on your home or view a compatible video doorbell feed when you're away.

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

If you'd rather have a screen you can carry with you, the Apple iPad 11-inch (A16, 128GB) is on sale for $299, down from its regular price of $349. That's a $50 savings on a top-notch tablet. While this isn't the lowest price we've ever seen — it dropped a bit lower on Prime Day — it's still a pretty good deal.

With an A16 chip and a Liquid Retina display, this model is ideal for students or creatives on the go. It runs on iPadOS and is compatible with the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio, so you can multitask like never before.

More iPad deals Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $298 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

A perennial favorite, the Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones are on sale for $298, down from $399.99. That's a $101.99 savings and just $2 more than their Prime Day price.

These premium headphones are a Mashable Choice Award winner, and our team was even more impressed by them than the newer XM6 model, thanks to their 30-hour battery life, comfortable design, and sound quality.

Mashable’s deputy shopping and reviews editor, Miller Kern, writes, “I was truly impressed by the sound quality and noise cancellation in the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. As someone who primarily listens to music through AirPods Pro, the noise cancellation on the Sony headphones is a game-changer. I found myself reaching for these headphones over my AirPods and Sennheiser PXC 550-IIs.”

More headphones deals Best Bluetooth speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Move 2 $349 at Amazon
$449 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Sonos Move 2.

We like the Sonos Move 2 more as a home speaker that's easy to move from room to room or a stationary tailgate or camping speaker, as it's a little too hefty to take on a hike or a beach trip. What it lacks in the portability department, however, it more than makes up for with its fantastic stereo sound, 24-hour battery life, and dynamic smart features. Mashable's reviewer Stan Schroeder writes, "This speaker is one of the best in class, and the quality of sound it produces is reason enough to consider it."

Thanks to an impending tariff-related price hike, Sonos products are only going to get pricier. So we recommend saving $100 on the Sonos Move 2 while you can.

More Bluetooth speaker deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Tote your Stanley tumbler in style with this All Day Quencher Carry All for its lowest price yet

7 hours 13 min ago

SAVE $20: As of Aug. 29, get the Stanley All Day Quencher Carry All for $20 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $40. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Stanley All Day Quencher Carry All $20 at Amazon
$40 Save $20 Get Deal

Staying hydrated is essential to your health. You should make sure you're drinking enough water, but doing it in style? That's equally important. If you've already nabbed a Stanley Quencher to make sure you're getting enough quality H2O, you're probably working on meeting your hydration goals. But are you looking cool while doing it? Or are you just carrying your cup around and always looking for a place to put it? No more. That ends today with this deal.

As of Aug. 29, get the Stanley All Day Quencher Carry All for $20 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $40. That's $20 off and a discount of 50%. It's also the lowest price we've seen. This price only applies to the Lilac colorway.

SEE ALSO: What's so special about a Stanley? A guide to conspicuous consumption on TikTok.

This on-the-go carry-all transforms your Stanley tumbler into a crossbody bag with a detachable strap. It fits your 40 oz. tumbler so you can sip hands-free while doing everything you need to do in your day. It comes with three pockets: a phone slot, mesh compartment, and card sleeve, as well as a key clip and sunglasses sleeve.

Its adjustable strap makes it easy to fit on your frame, with a lightweight design so you don't feel like you're adding too much bulk to your Quencher. There's plenty of room for the essentials you need to take with you so you don't have to carry a separate bag. Plus, it has a lifetime warranty should you run into any issues.

Drink all the water you need for the day while making your tumbler function as a chic bag. You'll be glad you sprung for this accessory while it's on sale.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Roses review: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch face off in white-hot divorce comedy

7 hours 46 min ago

It needs to be said: Danny DeVito is underrated as a comedy director. The movie star turned It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia savior is certainly best known for a long list of film and television appearances (including Taxi) that are outrageously, unforgettably funny. But he's also helmed such memorable movies as the whimsical Matilda, the twisted Strangers on a Train parody Throw Momma from the Train, the cruelly underrated Barney-inspired Death to Smoochy, and the hot comedy The War of the Roses. In fact, the shadow DeVito cast is so long that even as I discuss a remake of The War of the Roses that he has nothing to do with, I can't help but herald his contribution to comedy — in part because DeVito would never have given us The Roses. 

Look, on paper, The Roses sounds sensational. 

Adapted from the same Warren Adler novel as DeVito's 1989 The War of the Roses, this modern screenplay is written by Tony McNamara, whose scripts for The Favourite and Poor Things earned him Oscar nominations and critical acclaim. Promisingly, The Roses reunites him with Olivia Colman, the Academy Award–winning comedic dark star of The Favourite, and an actress who's been cracking this critic up since the British series Peep Show. And she's paired opposite Benedict Cumberbatch, who is less known for comedy but has been mixing it up with films like The Phoenician Scheme and The Grinch. 

Adding a generous slathering of comedy chops, the supporting cast is stacked with the likes of Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, and Zoë Chao. The Roses should be wall-to-wall laughs, ranging from giggles to guffaws to shocked gasps. 

And yet, this just isn't all that funny. I blame director Jay Roach. 

The Roses isn't funny or ferocious enough.  Credit: Jaap Buitendijk / Searchlight Pictures

DeVito's The War of the Roses is framed as a parable against divorce, told by the director himself, who plays the central couple's friend and a divorce attorney who serves as a sage narrator across the decades-long rise and fall of the Roses. From the start, McNamara's approach goes for something different by introducing a framing voiceover by the Roses themselves, Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch). In singsong voices, they reflect on how the film will end (true to the first movie), but with a surprisingly upbeat attitude. While there will be a twist on this voiceover's context, this chipper change does reflect the overall tonal shift from the biting 1989 version and the bizarrely bouncy 2025 remake. 

The general plot is the same: Theo was once the breadwinner of their household, while his wife, a baking genius who could make amazing culinary constructions modeled after landmarks, cared for their two kids — who have gotten too chubby for Theo's liking. When his career takes an unexpected downturn, hers is on the rise! And resentments grow. He takes on raising their kids, turning them away from sweets and toward sprints. She is working long hours and experiencing an adult world that feels increasingly distant from Theo. When divorce comes, it's acrimonious, and centered on who will get their dream house. 

The new twist here is that the husband is an architect who built his dream house with the profits from his wife's restaurants. So, Theo doesn't want to give up his masterpiece, and she — bitter over the split — doesn't want to give him it exactly because he wants it. (In DeVito's, the husband was a lawyer whose wife bought and led the renovations on their home, which he paid for.) An increasingly immature series of pranks becomes increasingly dangerous, and even deadly. And while some dialogue and certain ploys at revenge hit hard, many of the jokes don't land. What happened?

Jay Roach lacks the bite for The Roses.  Credit: Lara Cornell / Searchlight Pictures

To Roach's credit, he succeeds in establishing Ivy and Theo as a couple once ravenously in love. The scene of their first meeting feels exciting and hot, climaxing with the pair rushing into a restaurant's freezer for a quickie before they've even shared their names. This irreverence for common decorum surfaces throughout the film, reflecting a shared impulsiveness as they exchange barbs brutal but funny even to each other, or ditch a dull dinner party by faking an utterly bizarre emergency. 

Cumberbatch and Colman have solid chemistry in such scenes, and both have the devastating intensity to make McNamara's most stinging lines land. But the tone that Roach offers is just achingly middle-of-the-road. Punches feel pulled at nearly every turn. A mean comment is almost immediately undercut by an emotional catharsis, be it a burst of screaming or a jaunty justification. 

Roach's Roses lacks the gothic flair of DeVito's, which had its stars perform with an almost soap opera-like theatricality as they spat invectives against a rollicking musical score, which played like a storm brewing. By contrast, Roach's tone is broader, in the vein of his hits like Meet the Parents or his similarly lackluster remake Dinner for Schmucks. The flare, daffiness, and daring he brought to Austin Powers is long behind him. And The Roses is the worse for its absence. 

Not until the final act do the Roses amp up their war to the blisteringly comic levels teased in the trailer, and by then it feels too little too late in terms of verve or style. Worse still, the transition from bouncy American comedy with occasional mean jokes feels downright jarring when it comes to the point where they're actually aiming to kill each other. Rather than the inevitable path DeVito's lawyer once warned us of, this last act of The Roses just feels like we've walked into a different movie altogether. 

Kate McKinnon is woefully miscast in The Roses.  Credit: Jaap Buitendijk / Searchlight Pictures

Throughout the film. Roach seems to regret taking on a dark comedy, peppering his cast with comedians far more known for goofiness than wilting wit. Samberg is in the DeVito role of the husband's friend/lawyer, but is saddled with a barrage of cliched asides about the "inertia" of marriage. Even his signature warmth and silliness can't shake off the cobwebs of such dusty jokes. 

His partner onscreen is fellow SNL alum McKinnon, who, though she was a wondrous scene-stealer in Barbie, is actually exhausting here, beating a one-note joke into the ground. As a horny wifey, she wants to bang Cumberbatch's Theo. It's her only character trait besides being awkward. And whether it's flirtations that are vaguely threatening or done in front of her husband as brazen emasculation, they just aren't funny, even in a cringe sensibility. Yet Roach treats this thread like rich terrain, endlessly giving McKinnon screen time to flirt clumsily, but never hilariously. 

Other comedic talents are likewise misused. Sunita Mani (Death of a Unicorn) and Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who) have bit parts as Ivy's loyal sous chef and head waiter, mugging possibly more often than they actually get lines. Jamie Demetriou, a master of offbeat comedy, and Zoë Chao, who shined in The Afterparty, get only a couple of scenes as an annoying couple who can't read social cues. 

The only scene where supporting players bring the heat this comedy desperately needs is when Allison Janney and Samberg face off in a scene that's very reminiscent of A Marriage Story. Samberg is the bumbling male attorney cowed by the ferocious female lawyer, who is equal amounts vicious and step-on-my-neck sexy as hell. Janney is perfectly cast and makes a meal out of every diva-like line. Joan  Crawford would be proud. 

The Roses lacks thorns and pricks. 

While Cumberbatch is committed, Colman is a heavier hitter when it comes to nasty comedy. His cutting remarks score the occasional chuckle, but hers land like you'd expect from a royal bitch (like her queen in The Favourite) — devastating and regal. In these moments, we see a glimpse of what this could have been for The Roses. But Roach seems scared of giving his audience some truly detestable characters, so at every turn their bitterness is undercut by sidekicks yukking it up or an earnest attempt to even the scales with a new emotional twist or revealed vulnerability. All this softening blunts the cutting comedy that was the dark heart of DeVito's The War of the Roses (no, I never read the book). And here, it feels less dark and more a tad saucy. 

A comedy about a couple gone so toxic that they're actively competing to murder each other over their dream house should be more dynamic, darker, and damned funny. The Roses by any other name would still be a middling comedy, but compared to the caustic and sexy '89 gem? It can't shine. 

The Roses opens in theaters Aug. 28.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Toxic Avenger review: Gory cult classic reboot is the perfect antidote to superhero fatigue

7 hours 46 min ago

In a world oversaturated by bland, same-y superhero films, only one movie can rise above and deliver the most gonzo hero we've seen in years. That film is The Toxic Avenger, and it's here to give all your favorite MCU and DC denizens a radioactive kick to the nuts.

The Toxic Avenger reimagines independent film company Troma Entertainment's ultra-campy, ultra-violent 1984 cult classic of the same name. The original film sent up superhero tropes with mean-spirited glee, especially when it came to its protagonist: a nerdy janitor-turned-toxic monster. Now, director Macon Blair (I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore) looks to do something similar with his take on The Toxic Avenger — albeit in a very different media landscape.

Despite slowly increasing fatigue from audiences, there's no doubt that superhero movies are a dominant culture force. And given that it is, by nature, a superhero movie, The Toxic Avenger inevitably finds itself walking the line between the big comic book films of today and its own countercultural roots. That tension is evident throughout the movie, right down to its production companies: Legendary Entertainment (which brought us The Dark Knight trilogy, the MonsterVerse, and Dune) and Troma itself.

So what happens when you push the rebellious, bonkers, and often offensive energy of the original Toxic Avenger into a 2023 studio superhero flick? Gloriously bloody mayhem, for starters. Yet there is also the sense that The Toxic Avenger is holding itself back — and while that thankfully doesn't last too long, it recalls the restraint of other modern-day superhero films in a way that feels antithetical to The Toxic Avenger's madcap project.

The Toxic Avenger's backstory hits some familiar beats before letting loose. Peter Dinklage in "The Toxic Avenger." Credit: Legendary Entertainment

Most of this restraint occurs in the first third of the movie as we first get to know the Toxic Avenger himself, aka Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage). He's a down-on-his-luck janitor trying to connect with his stepson, Wade (Jacob Tremblay), who recently lost his mother to cancer. When Winston discovers he has a terminal illness and that his health insurance won't cover a crucial experimental treatment, he appeals directly to his boss, Bob Garbinger (Kevin Bacon), for help.

The only problem? As his last name suggests, Bob is a garbage person. He heads up the sinister BTH corporation, which pollutes the town of St. Roma's Village with toxic waste and peddles carcinogenic wellness products to its customers. So, no, he has no desire to help a dying, low-level employee.

A desperate Winston attempts to take matters into his own hands with a BTH robbery, but an unfortunate chemical accident at the factory leads to a toxic makeover. Armed with his hideous new looks and staggering new super strength, Winston teams up with investigative reporter J.J. Doherty (Taylour Paige) to destroy BTH once and for all.

The band known as the Killer Nutz. Credit: Legendary Entertainment

Between the evil boss, the father-son bonding, and the corporate vigilantism, The Toxic Avenger treads well-worn ground here. While these elements do provide higher emotional stakes for Winston, they also fit snugly into the framework of other superhero stories, even as The Toxic Avenger works hard not to fall into that box.

Blair acknowledges this superhero familiarity with meta nods like a literal "save the cat" moment and a dark, brooding opening voiceover. "I didn't want any of this," Dinklage snarls, right before a sped-up montage of the film's most WTF moments. Think of it as the most extreme "record scratch, freeze frame" meme ever — one that garners laughs, but also promises that while you'll have to sit through some story beats you've seen before, the weird stuff is on its way.

To The Toxic Avenger's credit, there's certainly no shortage of strangeness right before Winston gets toxified. Tongue-in-cheek location names like "Ye Olde Shithead District" and "Depressing Outskirts" establish the film's screwball self-awareness. Elsewhere, the introduction of a killer "monstercore" band called the Killer Nutz — part Insane Clown Posse, part Satanic cult — teases bizarro battles to come. But for Winston, it's superhero origin story business as usual — at least, until he rips a man's arm off.

The Toxic Avenger unleashed is the most fun a superhero movie can be. Elijah Wood in "The Toxic Avenger." Credit: Legendary Entertainment

From that arm rip on, the vibe shifts for the wilder — and the better. As the Toxic Avenger (or Toxie, as he becomes affectionately known), Winston goes on a violent rampage for the ages. Faces get smashed. Eyeballs get popped. Entire bodies get shredded. Blood and viscera pile up; butts and guts receive their moment in the spotlight; gore fiends everywhere rejoice.

These fight scenes, in all their gloopy glory (minus some less than convincing CGI blood), are a major testament to The Toxic Avenger's use of practical effects. The effects truly shine when it comes to the Toxic Avenger's look itself. Dinklage disappears beneath layers of impressive prosthetics, boasting nasty green muscles, burbling purple boils, and a disconcerting (and detachable!) red eye. Yet we never lose sight of Winston himself, with Dinklage doing an admirable job emoting with Toxie's get-up. From twirling in a tutu to kicking ass with a radioactive mop, Dinklage is clearly game for anything — and it's that total commitment to the ridiculousness that makes his performance shine.

That attitude extends to the rest of The Toxic Avenger's ensemble. As Bob's brother Fritz, Elijah Wood enters peak weird little goblin guy mode, and the film is all the better for it. Elsewhere, Paige channels her inner action hero, and Tremblay brings the house down with a dance — sorry, "property movement" — piece to be remembered. And of course, there's the total delight of Kevin Bacon as an unhinged villain. Bob swans around his mansion in a gold robe and flexes shirtless in TV commercials, with Bacon never missing a chance to go as big as possible.

Like Bacon, The Toxic Avenger gets better the bigger it goes, especially since "going bigger" means further distancing itself from the casings of standard superhero flicks. No major lore or superhero homework here (although you will catch a Troma Easter egg or two if you're looking). Instead, once The Toxic Avenger truly gets the ball rolling, you're in for the kind of sheer, stupid insanity you won't find in other major superhero IP. Let the blood and guts rain down — here, there's no such thing as overkill.

The Toxic Avenger is now in theaters.

UPDATE: Aug. 29, 2025, 9:47 a.m. The Toxic Avenger was reviewed out of its world premiere at 2023's Fantastic Fest.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Home Depot Labor Day sale is live: Shop the best deals on cordless tools, grills, and outdoor equipment

8 hours 3 min ago
The best Home Depot Labor Day deals at a glance: Best grill deal Weber Genesis E-315 $799 (save $100) Get Deal Best power tool deal DeWalt 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless 7-Tool Combo Kit $599 (save $350) Get Deal Best outdoor deal Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet Pruning Saw Kit $249 (save $250) Get Deal

Labor Day Weekend has arrived, but some retailers got a jumpstart on the shopping holiday. Home Depot's Labor Day sale went live last week and is still going strong, offering up to 40% off select power tools, grills, outdoor equipment, appliances, and even Halloween decorations. Whether you want to clean up your yard for fall festivities or try your hands at a home improvement project, the goods you need are likely discounted.

The sale lasts until Sept. 4, but some of these deals are only offered for a limited time. In other words, if you see something you want, grab it ASAP. We've rounded up some of the best deals we've spotted during the Home Depot Labor Day sale below, highlighting grills and tools in particular.

Best Home Depot grill deal Opens in a new window Credit: Weber Weber Genesis E-315 3-Burner Gas Grill $799 at Home Depot
$899 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to grills, it's hard to beat a Weber. Their high quality builds can get pretty expensive, but for Labor Day, several models — including the Genesis collection, the brand's premium gas grills — have price drops up to $100. The Genesis E-315 is usually $899, but you can grab it for $799 during the sale. It features a 513 square-inch cooking space, PureBlu burners, and a 12-year warranty.

More grill dealsBest Home Depot power tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless 7-Tool Combo Kit $599 at Home Depot
$949 Save $350 Get Deal Why we like it

This seven-tool DeWalt kit is one of the best values we've found during the Home Depot Labor Day sale. It includes one 1/2-inch drill/driver, 1/4-inch impact driver, oscillating multi-tool, one-handed reciprocating saw, 6.5-inch circular saw, LED work light, one 20V Max 5Ah battery, one 20V Max 2Ah compact battery, a charger, and a contractor bag. The sheer amount of stuff in this kit adds up to nearly a $1,000 value, but you can save 37% ahead of Labor Day and grab it for just $599.

More power tool dealsBest Home Depot outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet Pruning Saw Kit $249 at Home Depot
$499 Save $250 Get Deal Why we like it

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet is a compact, lightweight pruning saw that can get into those hard-to-reach spots and still deliver enough power to cut through hardwoods. It's also relatively quiet, easy to maneuver, and requires no fuel. Instead, it comes with the M18 RedLithium high-output XC6.0 battery pack and the multi-voltage charger. The battery is compatible with other M18 tools as well. During the Labor Day sale, the kit is down to only $249. That's less than half the cost of buying all three pieces separately.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Labor Day 2025 deals are live: Save on Apple, mattresses, headphones, and much more

8 hours 5 min ago
The best Labor Day deals Best Amazon deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (WiFi, 128GB) $449 (save $150) Get Deal Best mattress deal DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress bundle $999 (save $1,314) Get Deal Best Labor Day home sale Ruggable Take 25% off with code REST Get Deal Best kitchen sale De'Longhi Take up to $300 off select coffee + espresso machines Get Deal Best fitness deal Hydrow save up to $750 and get an additional $125 off with code MASH Get Deal

Labor Day is almost here, and much like we're planning how to spend the three-day weekend, plenty of brands have already launched Labor Day sales.

Since the holiday falls between the major shopping events of Prime Day and Black Friday, this is a great opportunity to snag upgraded tech for the new school year, a better TV to catch fall's best football games, or up your at-home coffee skills.

Ahead of the holiday, we've rounded up the best deals that are already live, so you won't have to wait until the weekend to score a saving. From Amazon's Labor Day event to discounted Apple devices, these holiday deals are well worth browsing. And we hate to bring it up, but the holidays aren't far off, and if you're not a fan of shopping during that chaotic season, Labor Day offers a more chill experience. We'll be updating this list of deals between now and Sept. 1 so check back often since more sales will go live as we get closer to the holiday.

Best Labor Day deals at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (WiFi, 128GB) $449 at Amazon
$599 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

A tablet is truly a gift of self-care. It's a great way to ditch your phone for a bit and catch up on summer's best novels or stream the best new shows this fall. Plus, they're awesome for students of all ages. On this list of the best iPads, Mashable ranks the Apple iPad Air as the best option for most people, and that's even more true thanks to Amazon's Labor Day sale price of $449, down from the norm of $599. This sale price matches the record low.

The 11-inch model is the smaller of the two iPad Airs, which means it's perfect for travel or taking to campus for studying. Plus, it can pair with the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air and Apple Pencil.

More Amazon Labor Day dealsBest Labor Day mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: DreamCloud DreamCloud Hybrid Premier mattress bundle (queen) $999 at DreamCloud
$2,313 Save $1,314 Get Deal Why we like it

If you tend to sleep hot, it might not matter that the weather outside is cooling — you'll still overheat. If that sounds familiar, check out the DreamCloud Hybrid Premier mattress with a cooling design and chill materials. During the brand's Labor Day sale, you can snag the queen-size bed with a mattress protector, sheet set, and two cooling pillows for $999, instead of the list price of the bundle which is a massive $2,313. In total, you'll be saving $1,314.

The DreamCloud Hybrid Premier is pretty awesome for all sleep styles, excelling in keeping sleepers cool, and great for couples thanks to the bed's motion isolation. While it doesn't come with a premium price tag, the DreamCloud feels like a luxury hotel mattress that should cost much, much more. And thanks to this bundle deal, you'll have everything you need for a full sleep reset this fall.

More Labor Day mattress and bedding deals

  • Avocado: Save up to 20% sitewide

  • Bear: Use code LDAY for 35% off sitewide and get a free sleep bundle with the purchase of a mattress

  • Brooklinen: Take up to 75% off sheets and pillowcase sets

  • Brooklyn Bedding: Take 35% off sitewide

  • Casper: Take up to 35% off on mattresses

  • Ettitude: Save up to 40% sitewide

  • FluffCo: Save 20% sitewide

  • Helix: Take 25% sitewide with code LDW25

  • Naturepedic: Save 20% on organic mattresses and bedding

  • Nectar: Save up to 50% on mattresses and 60% on bundles

  • Purple: Take up to $800 off on a mattress and base, plus up to 30% off bedding and pillows

  • PlushBeds: Take up to 50% off and save an additional $100 with code LABOR100

  • Silk & Snow: Take up to 15% off sitewide and save up to $300 on mattresses

Best Labor Day home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable Ruggable save 25% off with code REST Get Deal Why we like it

You deserve a washable rug. No one needs to spend a weekend steam cleaning and then drying a rug, so instead, we suggest shopping Ruggable's Labor Day sale which takes 25% off sitewide with code REST. You'll be able to shop from the brand's massive lineup of both indoor and outdoor rugs for every room in your home. Plus, this sale extends to collaborations including the Star Wars collection, Iris Apfel, and Bridgerton.

More Labor Day home deals

  • Blueland: Take 15% off one-time and save 25% on first subscription

  • Gardyn: Take 20% off with code LABORDAY20

  • Galison: Save 30% on puzzles, games, and more

  • IKEA: Take 15% off purchases of $150+ or 25% off purchases of $250+ with free loyalty program membership

  • The Home Depot: Take up to $200 off power equipment, tools, grills, and more

  • Mill: Save $125 on the Mill Food Recycler

Best Labor Day kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima Coffee & Espresso Maker by De'Longhi $349.97 at Amazon
$499 Save $149.03 Get Deal Why we like it

Fall is on its way, and while you're setting up the lovable 12-foot Skelly, you might need a pick-me-up. Nespresso has long been a go-to for those who'd rather skip the steep prices at the coffee shop, and Amazon is making quality at-home coffee even more reasonable. The super versatile Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima Coffee & Espresso Maker by De'Longhi is 30% off during Labor Day, coming in at $349.97 for almost $150 off. With one touch, you'll be on your way to a coffee-house quality latte or cappuccino. Plus, you can choose several size options and a single or a double espresso.

More Labor Day kitchen dealBest Labor Day fitness deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hydrow Hydrow Wave Rower $1,420 at Hydrow
$1,695 Save $275 use code MASH at checkout Get Deal Why we like it

Fall season means the gross weather is coming. If you prefer to workout indoors until spring weather returns, the Hydrow Wave Rower could become your new best friend. Hydrow makes some of the most advanced rowing machines, and the Wave focuses on being compact and light for easier storage. Plus, this model comes with a 16-inch HD screen so you can take yourself on a sunny row even if the weather outside is miserable. The brand's Labor Day sale takes $150 off the normal price and you can save an additional $125 by using code MASH at checkout. In total, you can score the rower for $1,420. That works out to a bit over $100 per month for an epic home workout over just one year.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

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