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TL;DR: Greece vs. Turkey in EuroBasket 2025 is available to live stream for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The second EuroBasket 2025 semi-final is going to be absolutely electric, with Greece taking on Turkey for a place in the final. NBA stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Alperen Şengün are going head-to-head as this passionate rivalry takes center stage.

If you want to watch Greece vs. Turkey in EuroBasket 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Greece vs. Turkey?

Greece vs. Turkey in EuroBasket 2025 takes place at 2 p.m. ET on Sept. 12.

How to watch Greece vs. Turkey for free

Greece vs. Turkey in EuroBasket 2025 is available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream EuroBasket 2025 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 Spain

4. Visit RTVE

5. Live stream EuroBasket 2025 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 taking advantage of these offers, you can watch Greece vs. Turkey in EuroBasket 2025 without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the tournament for free.

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

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking free streaming sites, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Spain

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Greece vs. Turkey in EuroBasket 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

Dark scenes being too dark is a common frustration of avid TV watchers. The ironic point of contention famously sent Game of Thrones fans into a spiral when the 2019 episode, literally titled "The Longest Night," was borderline indecipherable. The cinematographer said it back then, and it's worth reiterating now: The cinematic content isn't always too dark. Your TV just isn't tuned properly.

It's the same reason why Skinamarink didn't hit as hard for me when other people were mesmerized by it. It's partly my decrepit 2018 4K Roku TV's fault for being basic — of course, it's true that some TVs render dark scenes better than others. But past making sure the room is as dark as possible, there are ways to toggle your current TV settings to optimize dark content.

SEE ALSO: How to make your robot vacuum work better: 3 setup tips to do right now

If you're a big film person still rocking with a super outdated LED TV, your best bet is to upgrade to OLED at some point soon. But whether you're waiting for TVs to go on sale or are convinced that your current TV has potential to improve, there's no harm in tinkering — your TV's default or AI-enhanced settings could actually be doing you dirty. And in most cases, the changes don't even require a nitty-gritty understanding of TV specs.

Select viewing modes vary by brand, and some newer models may let you get more granular than older models. (Samsung's Shadow Detail bar, for example.) But there are a handful of universal tweaks that can be made to most TVs to make dark scenes look better:

Turn off any light sensors

Some TVs try to correct their own displays by assessing the lighting in the room and adjusting their brightness, shadows, and highlights accordingly. Many folks find that ambient light sensors in their TVs actually wind up overcompensating for dim environments, brightening the screen so much that the picture becomes inaccurate (and, physically, a headache to look at). Reddit sees several queries about how to optimally handle a TV's auto-dimming setting or light sensors, to which many Reddit users have a short, sweet solution: Just turn it off.

SEE ALSO: Review: I can't stop playing my Switch 2, a fabulous follow-up to an all-time legend Turn off HDR

HDR, or high dynamic range, is a technology that can "translate" color and contrast data from the original source (what was originally seen through the camera lens) that a more basic technology, like SDR (standard dynamic range), can't fully interpret. The biggest advantage here is that certain content can get brighter and more contrasted. That's awesome for scenes that are supposed to be vivid, or watching a football game where the field is green and the jerseys are saturated.

But because it relies on your TV to output high nits of brightness, HDR isn't one-size-fits-all magic. For dark scenes, HDR is often a disadvantage. The reliance on backlight and hyper-fixation on differentiating black and white hues often have low-light settings end up looking... gray. It's tricky when a show or movie you're watching flows back and forth between colorful and shadowy, so some calibration might be required to make the TV look better. PCMag's guide on how to calibrate your TV is super straightforward, though many people just have a professional come do it for them. (Mashable and PCMag are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

SEE ALSO: Disney sues Sling TV over new short-term TV passes

But at the end of the day, there's something so freeing about simply watching stuff in SDR. Standard dynamic range doesn't require such steep peak brightness, making it a much more comfortable situation for many low-to-mid-range TVs or dark scenes. Remember, 4K SDR is absolutely a thing. You can enjoy the resolution-related benefits of 4K upscaling without the risk of HDR creating overly-pixelated shadows in non-HDR content.

Not all streaming services even support HDR

It sounds obvious, but ensure that the content you're watching or playing actually supports HDR. This could even come down to the streaming service you're watching on. For instance, only Netflix's Premium tier offers HDR content, and Hulu doesn't have much content with the HDR badge outside of some Hulu originals. If you've been sitting through some borderline unwatchable stuff lately, it's quite possible that your newer TV is trying to force HDR on content that literally doesn't support it — a prime example of HDR makes things worse instead of better.

Experiment with Filmmaker Mode

When being viewed in the right environment, Filmmaker Mode gets dark scenes as close as possible to how awesome they'd look in a theater.

Like HDR, other modern picture processing features don't always do content justice. So, at its core, Filmmaker Mode is kind of exactly what it sounds like: There aren't any noise reduction or motion smoothing effects happening on the set of the movie IRL, so Filmmaker Mode essentially strips back those after-the-fact enhancement settings (that go too hard sometimes) to show the viewer what the filmmaker originally wanted to capture. Most TVs do allow settings like color and tone mapping to be tweaked, even if Filmmaker Mode is on, which can balance out some of the lacking vibrancy from automatic enhancements.

SEE ALSO: AMC movie tickets are 50% off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays now, BTW

If you're pro movie theater — and pro pitch black living room when movie nights do take place at home — try turning on Filmmaker Mode. And, if Filmmaker Mode has ever made your screen a little too dark, consider the lighting situation of that room. Even the glow of a dim vibey lamp can muddy dark scenes in Filmmaker Mode.

What TVs have the best dark scene performance?

OLED TVs are unanimously recommended for watching in any environment that's not broad daylight. Unlike QLED TVs, which are characterized by a layer of nanocrystals that reflect the light coming from behind them, OLED TVs don't use a backlight at all. OLED screens are made up of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, or self-lit pixels that can completely turn themselves off when the scene calls for shadows. This allows for deeper blacks and more contrasted dark scenes than what a QLED TV can achieve.

There aren't as many OLED TV options to choose from as there are QLED TVs, but the purchase decision is still a big one — OLED TVs are generally the most expensive type of TV. There are a handful of OLED models that consistently show up as "the best OLED TV" on Google, and they align with the few OLED TVs that people in r/hometheater on Reddit are always hyping up.

A few of the best OLED TVs to buy in 2025 Best budget OLED LG 65-inch B4 OLED 4K TV $1,299.99 Shop Now Best OLED TV for most people LG 65-inch C5 OLED 4K TV $1,599.99 Shop Now Best OLED TV for bright rooms Samsung 65-inch S95F QD-OLED 4K TV $2,799.99 Shop Now

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Sept. 12, 2025:

AcrossInk-squirting creature

• The answer is Squid.

Handbag

• The answer is Purse.

Wolverine's alias in "X-Men"

• The answer is Logan.

Enjoyed dinner at home, say

• The answer is Ate In.

Stuffed animal named after the 26th president of the United States

• The answer is Teddy.

DownSound of a cupcake hitting the floor, frosting-first

• The answer is Splat.

Common feature of a news article

• The answer is Quote.

Tried to convince

• The answer is Urged.

"Since you didn't hear me the first time ..."

• The answer is I Said.

Name in a breakfast restaurant chain

• The answer is Denny.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Access to Pornhub is in turmoil. Early in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws. In response, Pornhub banned visitors from those states from accessing their website. The same situation then took place in France, and although Pornhub is complying with the UK's age verification law, users are now required to provide personal information to access the site.

The situation is constantly changing, but you can stay one step ahead with a quick and easy hack. If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access adult sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

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 unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to your favorite site, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 streaming speeds free from throttling

• 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 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for just $24.97 (reg. $229) through Sept. 14 — no subscriptions, no recurring costs.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $24.97
$229 Save $204.03 Get Deal

If you’ve been tempted to upgrade to one of Microsoft’s latest Office releases, consider this: Office Professional Plus 2019 still has everything you need to stay productive at a fraction of the cost. While newer versions exist, this one-time $24.97 purchase (reg. $229) gets you a lifetime license — with no ongoing subscription fees.

Here’s what you’ll get with Office 2019:

• MS Word 2019 — Create polished reports, proposals, and everyday documents.

• MS Excel 2019 — Analyze data and manage projects with advanced formulas and charting tools.

• MS PowerPoint 2019 — Build engaging presentations with new animations and design options.

• MS Outlook 2019 — Manage email, calendars, and contacts in one place.

• MS Publisher and Access 2019 — Perfect for desktop publishing and managing databases.

• OneNote 2019 — Keep your notes, lists, and ideas organized.

New features like enhanced inking, better data analysis tools, and updated PowerPoint visuals make Office 2019 more than capable for most home or office setups.

Don’t pay monthly fees for features you don’t use. With this version, you’ll keep your workflow streamlined, your budget intact, and your software yours forever. Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2019 while it’s just $24.97 (reg. $229) through Sept. 14.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: A 2017 Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar is available Grade A refurbished for $324.97 (reg. $1,499).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch 2017 (Refurbished) $324.97
$1,499 Save $1,174.03 Get Deal

If you’ve been eyeing a MacBook Pro but don’t want to shell out four figures for a new one, this offer is worth a double take. For just $324.97, you can grab a Grade A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar (reg. $1,499) and get yourself back in the Apple ecosystem without the sticker shock.

This 2017 model has a lot to celebrate:

• Runs on a 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz

• 8GB of RAM and a roomy 512GB SSD

• 13.3-inch Retina display with 2560×1600 resolution and 500 nits brightness

• Touch Bar adds dynamic shortcuts at your fingertips

• Touch ID offers secure login and Apple Pay convenience

• Four Thunderbolt 3 ports for flexible connectivity

That combination means smooth multitasking for work, school, or home — whether you’re jumping between spreadsheets, editing photos, or streaming Netflix.

Weighing a little over three pounds, it’s light enough for commuting or slipping into a backpack, yet still packs Apple’s sleek aluminum design that feels every bit as premium as when it launched. And since it’s a Grade A refurb, you’ll get a laptop in near-mint condition, oftentimes indistinguishable from new.

At this price, it’s a budget-friendly option — whether you need a reliable backup, a travel-friendly machine, or your first MacBook Pro without the pro-level price. Get this like-new MacBook Pro while it’s $324.97 (reg. $1,499) through Oct. 5.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Want to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: BEST FOR ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year (save $15) Shop Now Best for Fox and Big Ten Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year (save $39.89) Shop Now BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month (save $30) Get Deal Best for channels Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop Now Best for affordability Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months (save $50.95) Shop Now BEST for INTRODUCTORY OFFER YouTube TV 5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months (save $99) Shop Now

Week 3 of the new college football season includes some really exciting matchups, including Indiana vs. Indiana State. Both teams are 2-0 going into this huge in-state college football head-to-head, so something has got to give at The Rock.

If you want to watch Indiana vs. Indiana State for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Indiana vs. Indiana State?

Indiana vs. Indiana State takes place at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 12. This game takes place at The Rock.

How to watch Indiana vs. Indiana State for free

Indiana vs. Indiana State is broadcast on BTN. Fans can live stream this game on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.

ESPN Unlimited (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year Shop Now

Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX

ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.

Fox One (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year Shop Now

Channels: Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network

Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.

FuboTV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.

Hulu + Live TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW

Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.

Sling (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network

Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.

YouTube TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV 7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW

YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.

How to watch Indiana vs. Indiana State from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Indiana vs. Indiana State from anywhere in the world 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 the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

5. Watch Indiana vs. Indiana State from anywhere in the world

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan 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 (with money-back guarantee).

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

The dictionary entry for "bleak" should just be the entirety of Stephen King's The Long Walk.

The first novel King ever wrote (although not the first to be published), The Long Walk presents a dystopian America where every year, 100 young men participate in a grueling walk across the country. Fall behind or veer off the road, and they'll get shot by the soldiers driving alongside them. The last walker standing wins untold riches and a wish the government must fulfill, but can that truly make up for all he's lost over the course of this death march?

SEE ALSO: 'The Long Walk's brutal ending, explained: Who wins?

With a concept like that, it's no surprise that reading The Long Walk mimics the arduous trials its protagonists face. King is relentless in his depiction of the boys' suffering, and the same goes for The Long Walk's film adaptation, directed by Francis Lawrence, who's helmed every Hunger Games film but the first.

Given Lawrence's involvement and the government-mandated death games of it all, it's tempting to draw comparisons between The Long Walk and the Hunger Games franchise. But The Long Walk is a far more pared-back dystopia, trading the pageantry of the Capitol and its elaborate Hunger Games arenas for the empty simplicity of the open road. However, that simplicity proves to be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it allows Lawrence to hone in on his talented young cast as their characters go through hell in a span of days. But on the other, the simple nature of the walk leaves weak characterization and overly on-the-nose storytelling nowhere to hide.

The Long Walk is bleak to the point of exhausting. Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, and Ben Wang in "The Long Walk." Credit: Murray Close / Lionsgate

Written by JT Mollner (Strange Darling), The Long Walk makes some changes from King's novel. The number of walkers is halved to 50, while several characters are cut entirely. The film's protagonist remains Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman), but the film gives him a more revolutionary reason for participating in the walk than the novel, one that's tied to his late father's relationship to the current military regime.

Despite these changes, Mollner and Lawrence remain steadfast in their commitment to the novel's grimness. Aside from 10 minutes of pre-walk prep and a few quick flashbacks, we're on the road with the walkers the whole time. For early stages of the walk, you might think you're just watching high school boys bonding on a cross-country hike. Garraty introduces himself to fellow walkers like Peter McVries (David Jonsson), Hank Olson (Ben Wang), and Arthur Baker (Tut Nyuot). They chat about their families, rib each other about sexual fantasies, and reveal what they'd wish for if they win. But don't be fooled by their banter.

SEE ALSO: Stephen King posts a list of his 10 favorite movies

Every so often, the film breaks up its long walk and talks to remind viewers — and the walkers — that this is do or die. Participants get brutally shot, and from the film's first, jaw-shattering kill, Lawrence leaves nothing up to the imagination. At first, the gore is shocking, but as The Long Walk trudges on, the walkers' deaths become a sick, demoralizing routine.

The pattern of deaths risks getting monotonous, but Lawrence leans heavily on the psychological horror of the walk as much as he does on its physical effects. Forget violence: The dread that seeps in as a walker realizes his body is failing him proves far more impactful than any gunshot. After almost two hours of being immersed in this string of deaths, you may find yourself begging, "Enough already!" The Long Walk, however, does not let up, trapping you in a never-ending nightmare of bloodied feet and fraying minds.

The Long Walk's storytelling can be frustratingly thin. Mark Hamill in "The Long Walk." Credit: Murray Close / Lionsgate

The Long Walk cannot subsist on brutality alone, though. And unfortunately, much of what surrounds it fails to make a mark.

Aside from its core four of Garraty, McVries, Olson, and Baker, The Long Walk's characters are paper-thin. Wild card Gary Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer) is a stereotypical King bully on the verge of snapping. Curly (Roman Griffin Davis) is young, Rank (Daymon Wrightly) is anxious, Collie (Joshua Odjick) is stoic. There's not much more to them than those descriptors, and while that flatness may come with the territory of writing a film with 50 characters (49 of whom are marked for death), it also threatens to turn the boys into nothing but the cannon fodder the soldiers who gun them down believe them to be.

Where The Long Walk's wider ensemble is underdeveloped, elements of its messaging about its dystopian America tend to be over the top. Periodically, the authoritarian leader known simply as the Major (Mark Hamill) rolls up on his truck to rasp encouraging speeches. Thanks to the walkers' work ethic, he claims, "we will be #1 in the world again!"

SEE ALSO: 'The Long Walk' trailer brings Stephen King's brutal dystopian novella to life

The Trumpian allusion rings chillingly true in the current political climate, but there's not much else to the Major beyond that. His speeches, like the walkers' deaths, become repetitive to the point of numbing.

The same thinness plagues the world of The Long Walk itself. Rolling wheat fields and deserted townscapes do a nice job building out the desolate, economically depleted America of the film. Yet each glimpse of the people who inhabit these landscapes feels less like organic world-building and more like immaculately staged, on-the-nose portrayals of poverty. A man and his daughter perched on a tractor feel less like eerie spectators than they do an awkward attempt at an "American Gothic" redux. One walker jokes that all that they're missing is a pitchfork, but the artificiality of the scene dilutes the dystopian reality of the film.

David Jonsson, Cooper Hoffman, and the cast of The Long Walk shine. Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson in "The Long Walk." Credit: Murray Close / Lionsgate

The Long Walk's issues would likely feel even more glaring if it wasn't for the talents of its cast, who quickly gel as brothers-in-arms on their march towards the end. Hoffman makes for a naturally sympathetic lead, especially in scenes when he encourages other walkers to keep going. Wang brings much-needed humor to The Long Walk's relentlessly dark proceedings, yet it's his descent into hopelessness that truly sticks with you.

But it's Jonsson — also the highlight of 2024's Alien: Romulus — who steals the show as McVries. An ever-charismatic optimist who's fiercely protective of Garraty throughout the walk, Jonsson brightens every inch of the screen in a turn that should cement his star status. Together, he and Hoffman's dynamic as strangers-turned-fast friends proves to be the very human heart of The Long Walk. (While the film further explores the novel's queer subtext, it probably could have done without all the casual homophobia.) As dark and dour as The Long Walk is, the ways Garraty and McVries find hope in each other prove to be the light we need to see us through.

The Long Walk is now in theaters.

TL;DR: Live stream Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Bayer Leverkusen have endured a torrid start to the new Bundesliga season. Winless after two games, Bayer Leverkusen have now parted ways with Erik ten Hag. It can only get better at this point, but next they face a home fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt, a team that has started the season with two wins from two games.

If you want to watch Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt?

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga kicks off at 7:30 p.m. BST on Sept. 12. This fixture takes place at the BayArena.

How to watch Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt for free

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt 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 the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt 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 Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the Bundesliga before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• 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 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga for free with ExpressVPN.

Forget brat summer — Charli XCX is working on film star fall. Following hot on the heels of playing herself in the Gen Z comedy series Overcompensating, the British pop star hit the Venice film festival with 100 Nights of Hero, a fashion-forward fantasy romance from Julia Jackman. Then came the Toronto International Film Festival, where she appears in two more provocative films, Romain Gavras' eco-politics satire Sacrifice and Pete Ohs' Warsaw-set sapphic romance Erupcja. 

The dynamic party girl seems to be aiming her incredible energy at movie stardom. Yet Erupcja proves a shrewd choice in this quest, as it's a slimly plotted character drama with few characters and nothing in the way of flashy spectacle. 

Essentially, there's nowhere for Charli to hide. Co-starring with Polish American actress Lena Góra, the pop star must not only create a stirring onscreen chemistry, but also a shoulder a story of romance that is electric and reckless. 

Props to Charli. She nails it. 

Erupcja offers an intriguing love triangle. 

In modern Warsaw, a British tourist named Bethany (XCX) and her boyfriend Rob (Will Madden) arrive for a romantic getaway. You see, Bethany claims Warsaw is more romantic than Paris. But while Rob is eager to plot a course of swoon-worthy activities leading to a proposal, Bethany seems distracted. Unbeknownst to her beau, Bethany's been here before. Several times, actually, and in each of them she got ensnared with a local florist named Nel (Góra). 

Before she even knows Bethany is back, Nel seems to sense a change in the air. Who they are to each other will spill out over a fitful few days of stolen hours, hard drugs, and smirky sapphic longing. However, voiceover from an omniscient narrator (Jacek Zubiel), who is frank and nonjudgmental about these mixed-up lovers, gives sharper context of how these two collide and repel like magnets being flipped over.

As they bounce from nightclubs to house parties to Nel's apartment, they collide with other free spirits, like American painter Claude (Jeremy O. Harris). Meanwhile, poor Rob is repeatedly left in the dust, bewildered. 

Charli XCX is mesmerizing in Erupcja. 

Ohs, who last helmed the wry dark comedy The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick, builds a romance that is surreal and earthy, in the way of the French New Wave. His lovers are not glamorous or falling into dynamic or dreamy sex scenes. They're bumping around Warsaw with passion but little direction, fitting for the way his films are made. 

Once he's chosen a location, Ohs casts actors who will become collaborators in building the story scene by scene. He's got an outline, and then he, his crew, and the cast build while shooting. In this case, this makes for scenes that are clumsy but intimate, as if we're voyeurs, spying on a couple with more to say than either would ever dare. Góra and XCX create characters who share a wild streak, but have very different style and energy. 

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Guarded, Nel projects a gives-no-fucks attitude, but is quick to expose her soft heart when love comes up. She believes in second chances — and third chances and even fifth chances. And Bethany will take them all.

In unremarkable baggy T-shirts and shorts, Bethany has a cool confidence, but it quavers when a smiling, oblivious Rob proposes one agenda after another. Through the narrative voiceover that helps give subtle scenes of little dialogue more shape, one thing becomes very clear: Bethany is not in Warsaw for Nel as much as she's there to run away from Rob. 

Erupcja relishes those romances not made to last. 

The Polish-language title translates to "eruption," reflecting the strange phenomenon that helps Nel and Bethany's relationship burst forth again and again. Every time they get together, a volcano erupts. It's a bizarre joke between them that allows to escape their boring routines and everyday choices and be wild, reckless, and free. 

While Rob begins as an almost comically clueless boyfriend, Ohs and his ensemble give space for him to be a fleshed-out figure, whose heartbreak hits as Nel and Bethany reconnect. In that, both women have a chance for self-reflection. Is what they have fated? Is it a series of flings? Is it romantic? Toxic? Both? 

Shot with the kinetic yet poised cool of the French New Wave, this Polish production feels timeless. Its scenes playing out with enough specificity for audiences to hook in, but enough ambiguity that they can feel like a dream. There's a touch of fairy tale to that. Ohs keeps his characters curious and fluid, refusing to shove them into easy-to-define roles of hero and villain. Instead, Erupcja embraces the feral nature of love, messy and wondrous. 

In the end, Erupcja is a thundering rumble of drama and romance, leaving its audience excited and rattled. 

Erupjca was reviewed out of the World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. 

After six seasons, five Christmas specials, and three feature films, Downton Abbey finally ends where it all began: with the illusion of change. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing for longtime fans of the upstairs-downstairs drama, which debuted in 2010. Downton has always tried to have its cake and eat it too, with stories that nominally challenge the early 20th-century British aristocracy while also luxuriating in the premise. In its final act — a two-hour theatrical release by Simon Curtis, appropriately titled Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale — it brings more of the same to the table, but peppers it with just enough hints of nostalgia (and narrative finality) to make this umpteenth ending feel definitive.

SEE ALSO: 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale' trailer includes heartfelt tribute to Dame Maggie Smith

It's no secret that the series has long outstayed its welcome, having now played past the onscreen death of its most electric character: the witty, cantankerous Dowager Countess Violet Crawley. The Grand Finale is even dedicated to the actress who played her, Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away last year, and her absence is made palpable, both intentionally and otherwise. It’s an often unbalanced film, one that unfolds far too gloomily for such a wistful victory lap.

And yet, when the target audience consists entirely of people who have refused to abandon Downton Abbey, playing the hits becomes all too easy. The result is a film that’s impossible to hate if you’re already on-board with its conceit, aimed squarely at delightful fan service, and nudging a needle that has refused to move in nearly a decade, when the TV show originally came to a close. Is this really the final chapter? It may not even matter for a series that has, in some fashion, been bidding farewell to its audience (and to a way of life) ever since it first began.

What is Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale about? Credit: Rory Mulvey / Focus Features

While the Great Depression looms, the U.S. stock market crash of 1929 hasn’t yet made waves in Britain when the film begins (though it eventually factors into the plot). A Swing rendition of the show’s grandiose opening theme lures us through London’s West End, as a neon sign boasting a “1930 Revue” hovers overhead. A long, unbroken take welcomes the audience inside one of the theatres, where a song-and-dance performance enraptures the upper-class Crawley family: patriarch Robert (Hugh Bonneville); his American wife, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern); their happily married younger daughter, Edith (Laura Carmichael); and their scandal-ridden oldest, Mary (Michelle Dockery), who becomes involved with the mysterious financial advisor (Alessandro Nivola) of her American uncle (Paul Giamatti).

The Lords and Ladies of Grantham are accompanied to the theatre by their various footmen and ladies maids, who are all too happy to be sitting in the cheap seats, before the family heads backstage to catch up with one of the stars, Guy Dexter (Dominic West), and his “assistant” (see: lover) Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier), a former Downton butler. The film is funny and intriguing during this reunion — a brief “previously on” of sorts, since the last movie, A New Era, featured Guy using Downton as a movie set — and it involves the hilarity of Robert being scandalized by scantily clad actresses, and the nature of Guy and Barrow’s dynamic. However, this recap-centric introduction doesn’t last, and the film soon splinters in awkward ways, hurrying Barrow (the only character with an ostensibly happy ending) far into the background.

Much of the drama is split between the Crawley’s “London Season” and their opulent country estate — the setting of much of the series — but their two homes are so indistinct (including the kitchen and servant’s quarters) that it’s occasionally hard to tell who’s where. Mary, ever the socialite, is in the papers once again for her impending divorce, while her family (and her maids and butlers) try to protect and maintain her image — as is their holy duty. However, when all the characters finally converge at the family home, the movie finally stops hopping and skipping around in space and time, and settles into a familiar rhythm. 

Downton Abbey’s strange social dynamics are The Grand Finale’s charm.

Change is clearly coming to Downton. Gone is the age of class division, or so the series has been saying for 15 years (nearly 20 within the story). However, much more interesting than the Crawleys grumbling about having to give up their position for the millionth time is, as always, the striking downstairs drama of the working class dealing with this oncoming transformation, albeit as people who, by and large, seem to worship their social positions.

Credit: Rory Mulvey / Focus Features

The only time Downton featured anything resembling a radical or revolutionary was when the Crawley’s driver, the Irish Republican Tom Branson (Allen Leech) married into the family, and happily became part of the system when his wife was killed by a chronic case of actor contract negotiations (an illness that has long ravaged the ensemble). So, rather than running the risk of upsetting the now fine-tuned status quo, writer and show creator Julian Fellowes frames older members of the household as being in their professional twilight years.

Diligent head butler Charlie Carson (Jim Carter) has a day left before retirement. Head cook Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) is set to hand over the kitchen to the once-ambitious Daisy Parker (Sophie McShera), while the various other maids and footmen are set for a reshuffling of duties, and a blurring of social lines when it comes to who has a say in the town’s fair. But! There is to be one last major social event at Downton. One last fancy dinner, for which the old guard staves off obsolescence — one last mission, as it were — setting the stage of yet another instance of Downton’s clockwork catering.

A story with more respect for its working class characters might have broken this narrative mold a long time ago, but were anything to actually change onscreen, the show’s very premise would be immediately upset. The Downton estate has gone through radical metamorphoses, from war hospital to movie set, but everyone has their designated place in its regal hierarchy, as is the franchise’s escapist allure. There’s no opulence without an underclass, and although Downton Abbey has historical echoes (and in this case, an actual historical figure, in the form of Arty Froushan as playwright Noël Coward), it remains an ahistorical fantasy in which the tides of change are an inevitable, perhaps even superhuman, force untethered from the real concerns of working people — who aren’t just content with their place in the world, but seem to fight to keep the “old ways” intact.

SEE ALSO: 'Downton Abbey's most dramatic episodes, ranked

It is, in a realistic sense, tragic to see Daisy claim that she’ll one day move beyond service (something she’s been repeating since day one) while still being thrilled by her lofty position as the Crawley’s new cook. But this is Downton Abbey after all, and what would its Grand Finale be without the conservative melodrama of “the way things were”? Even Joseph Mosely (Kevin Doyle), the sad-clown former butler who has actually broken the mold and become a screenwriter, gets put in his place by their upper classes. But Doyle is such an incredible comedic talent that any trajectory but schadenfreude would have also felt inorganic. 

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is ugly, in more ways than one. Credit: Rory Mulvey/Focus Features

Downton’s biggest strength has always been its operatic whiplash; for instance, the drama of soufflé not setting in time was once contrasted with a rape-revenge narrative. The contours of The Grand Finale aren’t quite so extreme, but this lack of overt melodrama may be owed to a single missing ingredient: the fearsome, irascibly funny Dowager Countess. Without Dame Maggie Smith’s expert ability to balance realistic drama with ludicrous indignity, the rest of the cast is forced to work overtime to take on both these roles, and no one rises to the occasion. 

With both the character and actress having passed on, there was no respectful way to include Lady Violet in the proceedings, so the film instead opts to frame each of its scenes with a murky palette. It appears the Countess may have taken all the key grips with her to the other side, as the cinematography in neither interior nor exterior scenes seem to shape light in any meaningful way. It’s all enveloped in shadow, a strange decision for an ostensible soap-comedy of stiff upper lips.

This doesn’t seem accidental either, as the few moments where light does actually enter the frame always circle memories and recollections of Lady Violet, as though she had taken all the series’ light with her. It is, on one hand, thematically coherent, but it also feels like the entirely wrong approach for a film where memories of the Countess make up but a fraction of the story. More potent and pertinent are Robert’s fears of losing his status once and for all, an anxiety that seems to envelope that of losing his mother, so the movie’s gloominess ends up taking on an amusingly (if accidentally) political bent, as though the arrival of social change is akin to a suffocating darkness.

Credit: Rory Mulvey / Focus Features

For better or worse, this rare aesthetic departure from the series’ glitz and glamour results in its most extreme melodrama yet. It makes Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale the series’ ultimate paean to high nobility. And while it ends on an appropriately nostalgic note, recalling many of the series’ high points, its memories are so deeply entangled with its unchanging norms that its final moments — the movie’s rare bright scenes, bathed in golden light — sing the praises of wealth and status in hilariously wistful fashion. It lays the series bare, as if to say: This was Downton Abbey all along, a tale of devotion to the religion of capital and class, buoyed by characters so delightful they kept us coming back for more. If nothing else, its final chapter is refreshingly honest, if accidentally so.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale opens in theaters Sept. 12.

TL;DR: All Wallabies home games and fixtures against New Zealand are available to live stream for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are no easy games in the Rugby Championship. Every match is a huge test, as some of the best teams in the world come together to battle it out for Southern Hemisphere supremacy. That's great news for fans seeking top-quality competition.

The bad news is that this competition is difficult to follow for free. It's difficult, but there's always a way.

If you want to watch the 2025 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Rugby Championship?

The Rugby Championship is an international rugby union competition contested annually by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Each team plays six matches comprised of three home and three away fixtures.

South Africa are the defending champions. New Zealand have won the most titles (20).

When is the 2025 Rugby Championship?

The 2025 Rugby Championship takes place from Aug. 16 to Oct. 4. The full schedule is as follows:

• South Africa vs. Australia — Aug. 16

• Argentina vs. New Zealand — Aug. 16

• South Africa vs. Australia — Aug. 23

• Argentina vs. New Zealand — Aug. 23

• Australia vs. Argentina — Sept. 6

• New Zealand vs. South Africa — Sept. 6

• Australia vs. Argentina — Sept. 13

• New Zealand vs. South Africa — Sept. 13

• New Zealand vs. Australia — Sept. 27

• South Africa vs. Argentina — Sept. 27

• Australia vs. New Zealand — Oct. 4

• Argentina vs. South Africa — Oct. 4

Fans can live stream select fixtures from the 2025 Rugby Championship without spending anything.

How to watch the 2025 Rugby Championship for free

All Wallabies home games and fixtures against New Zealand are available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world can access this site with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Rugby Championship 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Rugby Championship 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2025 Rugby Championship without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch top fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Rugby Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $340: As of Sept. 12, the eero Max 7 mesh WiFi system is on sale for $1,359.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: eero eero Max 7 mesh WiFi system $1,359.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $340 Get Deal

Few things in life are as frustrating as a slow connecton. Laggy video calls, a Netflix show that won't stop buffering, and devices that just won't connect. It really makes you want to throw your router out the window. If you work from home regularly, have a lot of WiFi-connected devices, or need a solid connection for your workplace, this latest Amazon discount is one to carefully consider.

As of Sept. 12, you can find incredible deals on mesh router systems at Amazon, including this great deal on the eero Max 7 mesh WiFi system. Right now you'll find this product reduced to $1,359.99, saving you 20% on the original price. This discount is specific to the three-pack option, but you can find deals across all bundles.

SEE ALSO: The Fire TV Cube has dropped to under $100 at Amazon — save $40 and upgrade your streaming

A mesh WiFi system includes a main router and two nodes (satellites) placed around your home. They work together to eliminate dead zones, making sure you have reliable WiFi coverage all over your space. This model boasts WiFi 7 technology, so the router ensures fast and reliable connectivity for the entire household. The TrueMesh technology reduces dead spots and dropped signals, keeping your smart home running smoothly even when you’re away.

For coverage, enjoy an incredible 7,500 square feet of buffer-free connectivity and the capability to connect more than 200 devices.

Banish bad connections and get this mesh router deal from Amazon.

FREE IPHONE: As of Sept. 12, Verizon is offering up to $1,100 off any iPhone 17 with select phone trade-ins.

Earlier this week, Apple announced the new line of iPhones, including the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The new range goes on presale on Sept. 12, with the official launch date on Friday, Sept. 19. If you've been eyeing up these new iPhones, Verizon is offering a smart and free way to nab something for nothing.

The service provider is offering up to $1,100 (the cost of the iPhone 17 Pro) off a new iPhone 17 when you trade in your old phone and sign up for an eligible unlimited plan. Verizon says the trade-in can be in any condition, guaranteed.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 17 vs. Pixel 10: Which phone has the better display, price, and specs?

If this doesn't appeal to you, Verizon is offering more than just iPhone deals. Get up to $400 off a new Apple Watch when you trade in any eligible smartwatch on Unlimited Plus, or if you buy a new iPhone 17 Pro on Unlimited Ultimate with select trade-in, you'll get the Apple Watch Series 11 and iPad (A16) for free, the Apple Watch SE 3 or Apple Watch Series 11 for free, or $500 off the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

The new iPhone 17 lineup comes with Apple’s latest A19 chip, so these phones will all offer superfast performance. They also have the new N1 wireless chip that supports WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. All models have bright OLED displays with ProMotion up to 120Hz and an always-on option, while cameras start at 48MP with the Pro versions offering an ultra-wide and telephoto lenses up to 8× optical zoom. Storage begins at 256GB across the board, with the higher-end models going up to 2TB.

Get this Verizon iPhone deal before launch.

TL;DR: A wide range of free AI courses are available to take on Udemy. Find free classes on ChatGPT, Copilot, DeepSeek, and much more.

AI continues to develop every day. We're not yet at the stage where this technology takes over and we can all take a backseat, so until that time comes, we might as well learn more about the world of chatbots, AI agents, and machine learning. And fortunately, you can do exactly that without spending anything thanks to Udemy.

A wide range of free online courses on AI can be found on this popular learning platform. We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started. These are the best online AI courses you can take for free this month:

• A Gentle Introduction to Generative AI

• AI Art Generation Guide: Create AI Images For Free

• AI for Beginners: Learn The Basics of ChatGPT

• AI for Business and Personal Productivity: A Practical Guide

• AI for Students: Boost Learning & Research with Gen AI

• AI Fundamentals: From Basics to Generative AI

• AI in Agriculture: Practical Introductory Course

• AI Literacy Essentials: Working Responsibly with AI

• Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare

• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: Cursor, the AI-First IDE

• Become an OpenAI ChatGPT Master: Start Earning with AI

• ChatGPT Made Easy: AI Essentials for Beginners

• ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course

• How Smart People Use AI to Think, Lead, and Grow

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

• Master Generative AI for Developer Productivity With Pieces

• Master Generative AI: GPT, LLMs, Agents and Use Cases

• Prompt Engineering Mastery

• Training AI with Human Data, Explained for Annotators

• Worldbuilding AI Futures

These free online courses don't include certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but you still get unrestricted access to all the video content.

Find the best free AI courses on Udemy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Udemy Free AI Courses Learn More

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A map book.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

ATLAS

Hurdle Word 2 hint

All of them.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

EVERY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A safe.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

VAULT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A recording.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

VIDEO

Final Hurdle hint

To take legal action.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

SUING

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

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Marc Marquez has an extremely healthy lead at the top of the 2025 MotoGP standings, but fans are still hoping for some competitive racing as we approach the latter stages of the season. Marquez wasn't able to secure victory in the Catalan Grand Prix, meaning he'll need to wait until the Japanese Grand Prix for his first opportunity to seal the championship. But before that moment, it's all eyes on San Marino.

If you're interested in watching the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino?

The MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino takes place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino race starts at 8 a.m. ET on Sept. 14.

How to watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino for free

The MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a 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 Austria

4. Connect to ServusTV

5. Watch MotoGP 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 they do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for MotoGP?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• 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 — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino for free with ExpressVPN.

Wondering what's happening with the moon tonight? Wonder no more, keep reading to find out where we are in the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

Let's find out what's happening with the moon tonight, Sept. 12.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, Sept. 12, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous, and it is 71% lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

We're on day 20 of the lunar cycle, so each night the moon becomes less visible. However, for the time being, there's still lots to see. Without any visual aids spot many things, including the Mare Vaporum and the Kepler Crater.

If you have binoculars, you'll also see the Apennine Mountains, Gaessendi Crater, and the Mare Humorum. Add a telescope to your line up and you'll see the Apollo 11 and 16 landings spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Oct. 6. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

If you have a busy lifestyle, a cat can be a great pet. Because cats are independent enough to do their own thing when you're not around. The one thing you do need to be around for though, is feeding time. So, if you plan on being away for a couple days or if you've settled your cat into a meal routine, an automatic feeder is a smart investment.

An automatic feeder will ensure your cat eats on time — and to your schedule — with the right portions to ensure kitty is fit and healthy. Which is reassuring when you're not at home. We can't guarantee that an automatic feeder will mean your cat is chill about you leaving them home alone, but they certainly won't go hungry.

If you're new to the world of automatic cat feeders, here's some information that will help you decide what kind of machine will work best for you and your faithful feline, plus a round-up of the very best automatic feeders available right now.

What is an automatic cat feeder?

Let's get the basics under our belt (or collar, perhaps). An automatic cat feeder stores cat food and releases the food at set times, usually controlled by a timer or some kind of smart function. Some feeders can be set to provide once square meal per day, others — as you'll see below — can schedule 10 or more.

Do cat feeders use wet food or dry food?

It's a question worth asking before you commit to buying anything. And which type of food does your cat usually eat? Most automatic feeders dispense dry food, which is easier to drop through the automatic mechanisms. Plus, it's easier to clean up after with dry food than wet food. Wet food dispensers do exist but they require regular cleaning and a little more attention overall than dry food feeders.

How long can you leave a cat with an automatic feeder?

Ultimately it depends on the capacity on the feeder. Some will hold weeks' worth of food. But automatic feeders should never be a replacement for human interaction. Your feline friend could develop separation anxiety so pick one that suits their needs, such as one that allows you to leave voice recordings — yes, really, they exist — which is great for cats who are not used to being alone for long stretches of time.

Are cat feeders dishwasher safe?

Some of them are. If you'll be using the feeder often and have a dishwasher, look for dishwasher-safe containers or bowls so you aren't stuck hand-washing all the bits and pieces. If you're someone who often muddles up feeding times, pick a programmable feeder that will remember for you. If your cat will continue to snack all day long, choose a feeder that dispenses a specific amount of food.

What is the best automatic cat feeder?

To help you figure out which cat feeder is right for you, we've researched the best models and made a selection based on the kinds of features that cat owners care about. Whether you’re looking for a basic gravity feeder or a full-fledged product to program perfectly-timed meals, we’ve got the best automatic cat feeder options to fit your needs — and your kitty’s, of course. Just choose the, ahem, purr-fect one. 

These are the best automatic cat feeders in 2025.

Are you an allergy sufferer? Here's something you may not know: It's no just the outside world — all the pollution and pollen — that's aggravating your allergies and asthma. Dry air inside your home can also contribute to these irritating health issues. It can even cause dry skin. So don't just sit there and suffer. A humidifier could be the solution to all the coughing, sneezing, flaking, and general unpleasantness. 

According to research, humidifiers can help increase moisture indoors, especially when it’s cold outside and there’s more dry air swirling around. Humidifiers also have other benefits, such as increasing overall comfort at home, reducing congestion, and minimising bacteria. 

With so many options, it can be hard to find the right humidifier for your health needs. Especially if you're a first-time humidifier user. It's hard to know what makes one humidifier better than another. To the untrained eye they all look the same. So, before you buy, there are a few things to consider. Here's a quick guide and a round-up of the best humidifiers available right now.

How does a humidifier work?

A humidifier has a water tank that it draws moisture from, turning the water into mist or vapour and emitting it into the room. Ultimately, it increases the local humidity. Different humidifiers may use different tech, but that's the general idea.

Some humidifiers allow you to set a timed cycle (for example, four or eight hours), so you won’t have to constantly monitor their activity. Custom settings are helpful if you’re prone to allergies, asthma, or dry skin, so you can control how much mist and moisture the humidifier emits to make a room more comfortable. 

How big am area do humidifiers cover?

Size is important when you’re looking for a humidifier. The amount of moisture in the living room might differ from baby's bedroom, so keep size and coverage in mind when you’re browsing different models. For big rooms, opt for humidifiers that add moisture up to 1,000 square feet. Small rooms might require humidifiers with a moisture output of up to 80 millilitres per hour. A lot of it comes down to the size of the tank.

Keep reading and you'll see the humidifiers on this list range between 500 ml and 4 litres. The bigger the tank, the more space the humidifier is likely to cover.

Are humidifiers safe in the home?

Safety is important when looking for any appliance or device. Most humidifiers have an automatic shut-off, meaning they will operate consistently for a few hours until they run out of water. Spill-proof tanks are also great for safety, because you can add moisture without causing hazardous leaks or puddles. 

How much does a humidifier cost?

Appliances, including humidifiers, don’t always come cheap. But we've included a range of prices in this roundup. But before you drop big bucks, consider the type of humidifier — not to mention the price — that suits you best. You can always start with a cheaper model and level up once you decide whether it's worth the extra cash.

What is the best humidifier?

That's ultimately up to you. It depends on your home, lifestyle, and, well, moisture levels. But if you’re ready to tackle that dry air, we’re here to help you find the best humidifier for you and your humidifying needs.

These are the best humidifiers in 2025.