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Are you still using a free VPN in 2025? You probably shouldn't be. The simple act of browsing the web, which most of us take for granted, is already fraught with potential vulnerabilities, from data trackers to malicious attacks. Installing dodgy software like free VPNs is just asking for trouble, and potentially giving bad actors a back door into your network. And while a basic Virtual Private Network (VPN) offers a foundational layer of protection by encrypting internet traffic and masking IP addresses, the modern threat landscape necessitates a more comprehensive solution.

So if you’re in the market for a new VPN. It’s important to know that for just a little more each month, you could unlock a whole host of digital-life-changing features. Here are a few of the key features you should look for:

Network Speeds

One of the most immediately noticeable benefits of upgrading to a premium VPN is the improvement in network performance. Unlike many basic or free VPNs that will usually slow your connection down, and impose invisible bandwidth limitations, paid services are typically engineered for speed and reliability. This reduces latency and maintains a fast, consistent connection for streaming and large file downloads. The performance aspect is crucial, as it removes the primary barrier to consistent VPN usage: turning it off because of lengthy load times, or slow download speeds.

Enhanced Security Features

Beyond the fundamental VPN features, a key differentiator of a premium service is its multifaceted security infrastructure. A standard VPN provides a secure tunnel for data, but it often doesn’t protect against external threats encountered on a website. Paid VPN packages integrate features like AI-powered protection against scams, phishing, and malware. It’s a layer of proactive defence that actively scans for and helps block malicious content before it can compromise a device, whether it's a PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone. This is a crucial addition in an era where social engineering and sophisticated phishing campaigns are increasingly common.

Password Managers

The inclusion of a robust Password Manager within your VPN simplifies the creation and secure storage of unique, complex passwords. The safest passwords are long, complicated text strings, far too complex to remember. Having a dedicated, encrypted vault to store these passwords is one of the safest ways to protect your accounts.

Parental Controls

For parents, the integration of Parental Control features is a major advantage. This functionality allows for the management of children’s screen time, content filtering to block unsuitable material, and provides insights into their online behaviour, such as their search terms and video viewing history. This capability transforms the VPN from a simple tool for individual security into a comprehensive, family cybersafety solution, offering a means to guide and protect minors in the digital realm.

Cross Platform Access

If you’re going to pay for a service, you would hope that you could use it across your various devices. Choose a premium VPN that works on both Mac and/or PC (depending on your stack), and also provides user-friendly access on your mobile devices and tablets via a dedicated app.

Tracker Blocking

Additionally, some premium VPNs offer built-in tracker blockers. These help to block tracking cookies that run on all sorts of websites. The result is a more private browsing session and a significant reduction in the volume of targeted advertising. This is where our current pick, Norton VPN Ultimate, really shines.

While a basic VPN provides a necessary level of data privacy, a modern, fully-featured VPN service like Norton VPN Ultimate is a transformative tool. By combining high-speed, reliable connectivity with integrated protection against malware, tracker blocking, and advanced security features. If you’re seeking even greater anonymity, advanced features like IP Rotation and Double VPN, where your connection is routed through multiple locations, offer a level of privacy that goes well beyond the capabilities of a standard VPN. On top of this, Dark Web Monitoring notifies users if their personal information is found on illicit marketplaces, providing a warning system for potential identity theft.

The investment in such a comprehensive solution is not merely about security; it is about reclaiming control over their digital life and ensuring a safer, more private, and more efficient experience for everyone in your household. For more information, check out the Norton Australia website.

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

To taint.

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

SULLY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Archaic.

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

MOSSY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Found in a burger.

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

PATTY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Unoriginal.

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

TRITE

Final Hurdle hint

Capable.

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

ABLED

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

It's a new lunar phase tonight, and day one of a new lunar cycle. There's still a few more nights until the moon is fully visible, but for now it's slowly coming back to us.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Oct. 22, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. This means that 1% of the moon will be lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

There's still too little of the moon on display tonight, so there's not anything to see on its surface.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

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.

The eight main moon phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

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

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

After 10 long months of rumors, teases, and hype, Samsung finally delivered on the Project Moohan promise with the launch of the Galaxy XR headset.

The new VR headset (or is it AR? Or XR?) is priced at $1,799.99, and the world finally knows the official specs and feature set. And they are impressive: 8K video playback, dual micro-OLED displays, and advanced AI features.

I got the chance to demo the Samsung Galaxy XR headset for Mashable recently, and had a lot of fun doing so. If you're considering investing in the pricey new device (it's half the price of the Vision Pro, so "pricey" is relative), I can share my early experience.

What is the Galaxy XR headset? Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Simply put, it's an advanced VR headset that offers both augmented reality and fully immersive 8K video and 3D experiences.

Some would argue that VR's best days are already behind it. Others would argue it never really caught on in the first place. Samsung thinks the best is yet to come, and it's betting big — as is Google, Apple, and Meta — that our lives won't be dominated by 2D screens forever.

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way right now. Apple introduced the Apple Vision Pro 18 months ago, and after an initial flash in the pan, it never really caught on. Could that be because of the whopping $3,500 price tag? Yes, duh. But Apple isn't giving up; indeed, it just launched a new version of the headset with an M5 chip.

So, now it's Samsung's turn. Today, Samsung launched its own headset powered by Google's Android XR (with an assist from Gemini). Crucially, Samsung is cutting Apple's price in half to significantly lower the barrier of entry, which is good. But it's not as low as headsets from Meta, which is bad (for Samsung).

Going hands-on (and head-on) with the Samsung Galaxy XR Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

I traveled to New York City in order to experience a guided demo of the headset. My Samsung tour guide walked me through a few different scenarios that show what the headset can do. Unfortunately, the experience didn't answer one of the most important questions I had — why do I need this?

We'll circle back to that point, but first let's discuss what this headset does well. I can verify that the Samsung Galaxy XR headset is a really compelling device.

Of the various VR/AR headsets I've tested in my years as a gadget reviewer, this is the most comfortable one yet. It's extremely lightweight, with an adjustable strap that tightens to the back of your head. I sport a ponytail, and that did not adversely affect my ability to use the headset comfortably.

The headset has a touch-sensitive strip on the right side of the headband, an action button on the top right-hand side of the headset, and a volume rocker on the upper-left side. Most of that is pretty standard. The headset feels light at 545 grams, which is a tad heavier than the Meta Quest 3, but practically svelte compared to the 750-gram Apple Vision Pro.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

Samsung also made a smart call to offload the battery to a cable-connected module you slip into a pocket. Samsung only promises two hours of battery (or 2.5 hours of video playback), which isn't great. But the battery can be charged during use, so there's that.

On the inside, there are dual 4K micro-OLED screens, each with 3,552 x 3,840 resolution. (With their powers combined, you can watch 8K HDR video.) I don't wear prescription glasses, so I didn't need corrective lenses fitted inside the headset. Some of my fellow media members did, and they were accommodated, so it's safe to assume you will be too.

When you first strap on the headset, you get a passthrough view of your surroundings (this device is loaded with pass-through cameras, eye-tracking cameras, and various sensors). You can tell it's digitized, but it's also very high-res and responsive, so there's no problem interacting with people on the outside. The primary way you interact with the headset is with hand gestures, which are intuitive — especially if you've used other headsets in the past. You'll use pinch gestures in the air to select and grab things, and a palm-facing gesture to bring up the main menu.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

From there, you can select any app you want to launch in the space around you. You can move them around and position them however you want. You can also pair up a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse if you want to work inside the environment. Most of the apps they showed me were fairly straightforward. In Google Maps, you can fly around and zoom in and out on buildings, or search for places. Personally, I took a tour of Wrigley Field before zooming over to my house in the Chicago suburbs.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

Now we get to what Samsung and Google (Samsung developed this headset and operating system with Google) call "AI spatializing." The two main apps I worked with were Google Photos (not my account) and YouTube, and both play heavily into the 3D spatialization ability (powered by Gemini AI, of course).

In Google Photos, you can spatialize basically any photo you've ever taken. That means the headset transforms any 2D photo into a 3D scene. Your subject moves to the foreground and appears right in front of you, while the background moves away. You can see depth in the photo. Notably, one of the photos was of a child crouched down and playing on a beach, and I could see one leg in front of the other, with a sprinkling of wet sand on his feet. It was, to be frank, remarkable.

It's exactly the type of "Oh, wow" moment you want in a device that costs almost $2,000.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

Later, I saw an old black-and-white photo of a man holding a baby, taken decades ago. Not only did Gemini spatialize this photo, but it also colorized it, turning it into a five-second video. This was mostly fine, but it had an uncanny valley vibe that was equal parts cool and creepy. Maybe that's just me.

Over on YouTube, Samsung showed us how we could edit our videos, add text and emojis, and spatialize them, and then upload them directly to YouTube. While the editor has a switch that allows you to upload in Spatial and 2D, YouTube itself will know what to show a potential viewer and serve up the appropriate version of the video. 

Meanwhile, using the power of AI, YouTube can spatialize videos on the platform — even those uploaded in 2D. One example I watched involved an Air Team and jet fighters. The jet stuck out from the background in a very cool way, but when the video cut to an interview on the windy runway, the AI had a lot of trouble figuring out how the long hair blowing behind the subjects should look, and, spoiler alert: it chose wrong. It did not look good.

That concluded my brief demo. I'm eager to spend more time with the device so I can properly assess the eye tracking feature and virtual keyboard. Alas, we'll have to wait for a full review.

The Galaxy XR headset has some limitations, for now Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

At launch, Samsung says the Galaxy XR will be ideal for stationary environments, like sitting on a couch. You can move windows around you 360 degrees, but you won't be able to walk with the headset on, like you can with the Vision Pro. That means no pinning of apps around your home like a timer over the stove, or a virtual TV in your living room. That also means no travel mode, which would make it possible to use on an airplane or in a car.

This is a big miss right out of the gate, and it makes the headset feel incomplete, which is hard to ignore considering the sticker price.

Second, AI is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, and that's both a good thing and a bad thing. It's a good thing because it will very nicely make up for the lack of native content at launch. The Google Play Store will have apps that are designated as "spatialized" or optimized for the headset. All other apps will appear as 2D windows, which is also acceptable, but less than ideal. Meanwhile, the AI is doing an excellent job filling that gap by spatializing things on the fly. But the lack of native entertainment content for the Galaxy XR is another big issue (one that it shares with the Vision Pro).

This is all more than enough to make me nervous about the Galaxy XR.

I still have one big unanswered question: Why?

Now, we get to the final question, and it's not one that a 30-minute demo can answer. Why does this headset exist?

At one point during my Galaxy XR experience, a colleague asked the quiet part out loud: "What are you going to do in this headset that you can't already do with a computer or a phone?" Personally, at my desk at home, I have three monitors that already cover about 135 degrees of my vision. Do I really need to cover the rest of my field of view in pixels, too?

If I'm out strolling around downtown, I'm not going to slap on a headset and ask where the nearest pizza place is — that's what my phone is for. Even AR glasses are a more compelling use case for most of the scenarios Samsung and Google walked us through. In one simulation, it showed a user standing in Brooklyn, looking at a bridge, and asking Gemini, "What can you tell me about this bridge?" I half-expected Gemini to say, "Well, first, take that damn thing off your face. You're in public for crying out loud."

But this is the hardest question to answer in any new product category. We're still waiting for a killer, must-use app, game, or immersive VR experience that only works on a headset. Beat Saber is cool, but it wasn't enough to make the Meta Quest a hit. Speaking of which, if you're not comfortable using hand gestures, there are two remote controls you can use that look very much like the Meta Quest remotes.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

These are all extremely hard challenges to overcome, and I won't really know who and what this is for until I'm able to put this thing through its paces properly. Suffice it to say, I came away impressed with my demo, and eager to keep looking for use cases for this device. But I also suspect that, like every headset that has come before it, this is a solution looking for a problem.

To be clear, Samsung and Google could still answer these questions and fix these issues. But they would have to be the first.

It's been a long time coming, but Samsung's alternative to the Apple Vision Pro and other VR headsets is finally here. Meet the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, aka Project Moohan, available now.

Originally teased at a Galaxy Unpacked event in January, the Samsung Galaxy XR headset was officially launched at a live Galaxy event on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Prior to its release, this futuristic headset was known by its codename, Project Moohan. It's available for purchase immediately at the Samsung online store for $1,799.99. A separate Galaxy XR Controller is available for $249.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy XR Headset $1,799.99 at Samsung
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"With Galaxy XR, Samsung is introducing a brand-new ecosystem of mobile devices," said Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung, in a press release. "Built on Android XR, Galaxy XR expands the vision for mobile AI into a new frontier of immersive and meaningful possibilities, allowing XR to move from concept to everyday reality, for both the industry and users."

Mashable had the chance to go hands-on with the headset at a pre-launch event, and you can read our first impressions of the new device.

Introducing the Samsung Galaxy XR headset Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

The headset is the first Samsung device in this category, and it packs dual 4K micro-OLED displays, powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform processor. There are a ton of sensors aboard the device, including two high-resolution passthrough cameras, six motion tracking cameras, four eye-tracking cameras, depth sensors, six microphones, and more. The tethered battery is good for up to two hours of general use or 2.5 hours of video playback.

After months of speculation, we can finally geek out over the official specs:

• Displays: Micro-OLED with 29 million pixels

• Resolution: 3,552 x 3,840

• Video playback: UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) at 60 frames per second

• Processor: Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform

• Refresh rate: Up to 90Hz 

• Field of view: 109 degrees horizontal, 100 degrees vertical

• RAM: 16GB

• Storage: 256GB

• Camera: 6.5 MP

• Weight: 545 grams (1.2 pounds)

• Special features: Iris recognition, Dolby Atmos, supports HDR10 and HLG video

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

The new Samsung headset was developed in partnership with Google and Qualcomm Technologies. It's powered by Google Android XR, which is "the first Android platform built entirely for the Gemini era," according to Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google. Google teased its own unreleased Android XR device earlier this year, though the demo didn't go as planned.

"Through our partnership with Samsung, Android XR will unlock entirely new ways to explore, connect, and create, building an open, unified platform for the next evolution of computing," Samat said in the press release announcing the product.

Availability, pricing, and launch deals Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

Galaxy XR is available now in the United States with a retail price of $1,799.99.  

While that's certainly a high sticker price, some early rumors put the price as high as $3,000. To make the headset more affordable (and avoid Apple's failure-to-launch problems with the Vision Pro), Samsung is offering some financing options and bundles to attract customers.

Samsung will offer a 24-month financing option, and customers who purchase the Galaxy XR in 2025 will get access to "The Explorer Pack," which includes a one-year membership to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, and "specialized XR content."

Samsung Galaxy XR headset: How it works Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

The Galaxy XR works like other VR/AR headsets. It has dual displays that create an immersive experience, while pass-through cameras are able to provide a live view of the user's surroundings, which can be augmented with various overlays and 3D graphics.

Samsung is also keen to emphasize the device's AI capabilities as well, and this may be a point of differentiation between the Galaxy XR and the new Apple Vision Pro. Since Gemini is at the heart of the headset, it's capable of multimodal computation. Gemini can be summoned at will to work with you to identify objects, locate places via search, and even spatialize previously 2D content like photos and YouTube videos. You can even utilize Google's popular Circle to Search feature with items you see in the world around you, which is an added bit of fun.

All this is done using hand gestures that are pretty intuitive to learn, in our experience. The controls are especially easy if you've used VR headsets in the past. The pinch gesture is the most common, and you use it to select items, grab and move them, resize windows, and more. Of course, the headset can track both hands so you can grab two spots in Google Maps, rotate them around, and zoom in, Minority Report style.

Credit: Mark Stetson / Mashable Credit: Mark Stetson / Mashable

Arguably, the most exciting announcement here, in addition to the long-awaited Project Moohan headset, is the promise of more XR devices to come, including XR glasses. If you've already dabbled with AR glasses, like XReal's new One Pro AR glasses, you can imagine the possibilities here. Imagine plugging in a set of glasses into your phone and getting a full XR display in front of you on the go.

Right now, virtually every big tech company is following Meta's lead and working on smart glasses, including Google and Apple.

For now, the Galaxy XR headset is the first Android XR device, and it comes at a relatively reasonable price point of $1,799.99. Granted, this is more than three times the cost of the Meta Quest 3, but it's also half the cost of the Apple Vision Pro. Overall, Samsung hit the right spot.

You can order the Galaxy XR headset starting today at Samsung's online store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy XR Headset $1,799.99 at Samsung
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SAVE $250: As of Oct. 21, the Apple MacBook Pro with the M4 chip and 512GB of storage is down to just $1,349 instead of $1,599 at Amazon. That's a savings of 16% and $50 cheaper than it was on Prime Big Deal Days earlier this month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,349 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $250   Get Deal

The best part about Apple releasing new products is that the older models tend to go on sale. For instance, now that the M5 MacBook Pro is here, you can score the M4 MacBook pro for $250 off.

As of Oct. 21, the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage is on sale for $1,349 at Amazon. That's 16% in savings and $50 cheaper than it was on Prime Big Deal Days (October Prime Day) earlier this month.

SEE ALSO: Review: With the new MacBook Pro (M5), Apple is just showing off

The 2024 M4 MacBook Pro is the most well-rounded laptop in Apple's MacBook lineup. Compared to the Air, it has a better display with a 120Hz refresh rate, cooler multi-tasking capabilities, nicer speakers, a better mix of ports, and an excellent battery life (16.5 hours). It's a bit more expensive, but it's also more of a beast, built specifically for creatives and professionals. It earned a 15,199 on the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, which beats our most powerful non-gaming PC laptop (the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7). As Mashable's reviewer Kim Gedeon wrote, "The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro basically said, "In your face!" to Windows laptops after they made noise with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip."

The price is not for the faint of heart, with the base model starting at $1,599. But with this $250 price drop, we're much more inclined to recommend it for more than just power users. The newer M5 MacBook Pro only offers iterative improvements and will cost you the full $1,599. Unless you're hellbent on getting the best of the best, we'd recommend going with the previous generation and keeping some money in your pocket.

SAVE $300: As of Oct. 21, get the 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor for $899.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,199.99. That's a discount of 25%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor $899.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Looking for a way to enjoy the biggest fall games at home? A new monitor that immerses you in your favorite titles can do the trick. If you're ready to spring on some tech that can help you do this, now's the time to head to Amazon and scoop one up: a gaming monitor that'll keep you in the middle of the action no matter what you enjoy playing.

As of Oct. 21, get the 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor for $899.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,199.99. That's $300 off and a discount of 25%.

SEE ALSO: The 4 best premium gaming monitors instantly level up your desktop — for a price

This curved gaming monitor boasts a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms GtG, all housed in a massive 40-inch body that'll take over your desk (in a good way). It has a screen depth of about 12 inches and a stand that comes in the box that you can adjust to your liking, though you don't have to use it. Without the stand, the screen depth drops to around 7 inches instead.

It's perfect for gaming in every form, including couch co-op with its massive real estate for split-screen titles. You can also use picture-in-picture to watch something else while gaming or to keep an eye on streamers or other content even while you're knee-deep in your favorite title.

Whether you're hanging out in your favorite FPS lobby or puzzling it out, enhance your experience with this massive monitor. You'll be happy that you did when you realize how deep you are in your game.

A new survey from British digital publication LADbible supports the notion that, for many young people, porn is their #1 sex educator.

In a survey conducted by LADbible and consumer insights company ResearchBods in September, 45 percent of around 5,300 18-29 year olds in the UK shared that porn was one of their main sources of information about sex. Seventy percent of Gen Z men reported that porn was their first exposure to sex. It's not surprising, then, that 77 percent want more resources to navigate porn and sex.

SEE ALSO: Why Pornhub won't be blocked in Ohio

Sixty-three percent of respondents said they saw porn before they were 16, and five percent before 10. Half of those people who watched before 10 (so, less than three percent) became daily viewers.

The survey release is in conjunction with the launch of For F*ck's Sake Productions, an in-house digital studio that will produce sex education content for young adults. LADbible partnered with musician and actor Jordan Stephens, sex education charity Fumble, men's health charity Movember, and self-guided therapy program Pivotal Recovery.

The latter, Pivotal Recovery, references "porn addiction" on its website, which isn't recognized by the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). A 2015 article in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors suggested that perceived porn addiction was psychologically distressing, rather than the porn use itself. Some of the recent LADbible survey findings suggest this as well: One in two men worry they consume too much porn, and 34 percent feel guilty after watching porn.

"We know porn is controversial. It makes headlines, half of us use it as sex education, and we're all comparing ourselves to what we see on those screens," Stephens said in the press release. He continued that he and his partners are on a "mission to get honest about porn."

Over three quarters (77 percent) of respondents watch porn regularly, while 12 percent reported to have never seen it.

This partnership between LADbible and others will also asking the UK government to "take action" about the impacts of porn on young adults, such as urging the government to consider mandated sex and relationships education by specialists, not teachers, for 16-18 year olds, and additional support for young people such as a national helpline or online hub for information about these topics.

According to the UK's government website, relationships and sex education became mandatory for all secondary school students in 2020.

"Porn can be a fun way for people to explore their sexuality, but it can become a problem when mainstream porn (typically free videos showing more hardcore and violent content) forms an idea of what real-life sexual intimacy should look like," CEO of Fumble, Lucy Whitehouse, said in the press release. "This is what we need to address — we need to speak about what's real, and what isn't — and we need to support young people as they explore their sexuality safely."

Good news! Elon Musk's X has heard the cries of third-party developers looking to access the platform with their apps and has introduced a new pay-per-use self-serve model instead of a one-time flat-fee subscription.

The bad news? Somehow, it seems more expensive than the previous one-time flat-fee subscription model.

On Monday, X's Developers account officially announced the beta launch of a pay-per-use API model.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"We are expanding a closed beta to both new & power users who want to ship amazing apps on X," reads the series of posts from @XDevelopers. "Our top focus is to enable builders by opening up our developer platform."

Since Elon Musk took over X, the company formerly known as Twitter, the platform has essentially lost its third-party app ecosystem. Twitter was once known as having the most robust third-party ecosystem of any major social media platform. But Musk's decision to turn the platform's free API into a mandatory subscription service — one with an original starting price point of $42,000 per month — dismantled that ecosystem. 

Long after many developers closed up their apps, X did introduce lower-priced tiers at $200 and $5,000 per month. However, many third-party app creators found that the lowest tier was more for hobbyists than an app with any semblance of a growing user base. And that $5,000 per month price was still out of reach for many devs.

So, what's the problem with a pay-per-use API?

The new pay-per-use model appears to be Musk and company's attempt to lure developers back. However, when developers saw the price for the pay-per-use model, it seemed that X's new API would be even more expensive than before.

Let's do some math.

Previously, at the Basic API tier, a third-party app could read 15,000 posts and publish 50,000 posts per month for $200. Under the pay-per-use model, a single post read costs $0.005 and a single published post costs $0.01. This means in order to read and publish the same number of posts as the previously $200 per month Basic API tier, a developer would now pay $575 per month.

X pay-per-use API pricing to match the limits previously provided under the Basic plan Credit: X

X API users fully utilizing the Pro plan will also find that it gets more expensive under the new model. Under that tier, an app could read 1,000,000 posts and publish 300,000 posts per month for $5,000. Under the new pay-per-use plan? That same usage increases to $8,000 per month.

As Mashable reported in June, X has already lost major customers over API pricing changes.

However, according to one X employee, the new pay-per-use model does not affect the Enterprise plans. One X Enterprise API customer also shared on the platform that the pay-per-use self-serve model is capped at the limits described above in the Pro plan, and apps that need more than that are required to sign up at $42,000 per month for the base Enterprise API plan.

It's certainly likely, depending on usage, that some developers will find the new pay-per-use model more affordable for their app's specific use case. It also looks like the new model can fill in a gap that's found between X's old $200 Basic and $5,000 Pro tier. Others, however, could find themselves paying more.

Before Musk took over X, Twitter could be accessed by numerous app clients, like TweetBot and Twitterific, providing tailored experiences for users. The platform was a must-have for any social media posting app, such as Later, putting Twitter right in the mix with even bigger social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. Twitter also used to be integrated into every single major video game console.

Since Musk's takeover, the vast majority of those integrations, including Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, have ended, likely due to the API pricing.

For developers nervous about a pay-per-use system, we should note that this is only a beta, and thus subject to further changes, hopefully for the better.

SAVE $402.99: As of Oct. 21, the LG 45-inch Ultragear OLED gaming monitor is down to $1,597 at Amazon. That's a savings of 20% or $402.99, marking its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 45-inch Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor $1,597 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $402.99   Get Deal

An inadequate monitor could be standing between you and a great gaming experience. If you're in the market for a new one and are willing to drop some dough, the LG 45 Ultragear OLED is on sale for its best price ever.

As of Oct. 21, you can get the LG 45-inch Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor for $1,597 instead of the usual $1,999.99 at Amazon. That's 20% or $402.99 in savings, marking its lowest price on record. Sure, nearly $1,600 is still a lot to spend on a monitor, but if you're seeking a big-screen gaming monitor, this is one of the best you can buy.

The LG 45GX950A-B made its debut at CES 2025 and LG claims it's the first monitor to offer a 5,120 x 2,160 pixel resolution on a 45-inch curved OLED screen. It features a 21:9 aspect ratio and an 800mm curve, which delivers an immersive gaming experience with more screen real estate. With Dual Mode, you can switch from 5K2K at 165Hz to WFHD at 330Hz, depending on what specific games require — epic visuals or ultra-responsive gameplay (FPS, racing, MOBA).

We haven't tested the monitor, but Mashable's sister site PCMag spent some time with it and called it "a beast of a monitor, and a must-have for gamers looking for an ultrawide panel to pair with a powerful GPU."

If you can afford it, you certainly won't be disappointed in the high-end LG 45GX950A-B gaming monitor — particularly if you're upgrading from a flat panel with a lower resolution and refresh rate. And FWIW, this is the best price you can find.

SAVE $800: The Bluetti Apex 300 is on sale at Amazon for $1,599, down from the standard price of $2,399. That's a 33% discount that's within one cent of matching the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 300 $1,599 at Amazon
$2,399 Save $800   Get Deal

It's spooky season and for some of us, that means 12-foot skeletons and Halloween yard decor that'll be the talk of the neighborhood. But occasionally spooky season means power outages. If that's as scary as it gets at your home, keep the lights on this year with a portable power station. A model that's ideal for home backup is on a major sale at Amazon.

As of Oct. 21, the Bluetti Apex 300 is on sale for $1,599 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $2,399. That's a 33% discount that takes a nice $800 off the price. It also comes within one cent of matching the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

While some portable power stations are great for taking along on a weekend camping trip, the Bluetti Apex 300 is ideal for use around the home or for off-grid life, thanks to its 2,764Wh capacity. It's also an excellent model since it's massively expandable. With extra Bluetti batteries, this beast can reach up to 58,000Wh.

SEE ALSO: One of my favorite portable power stations just dipped to a record-low price at Amazon

With just the Apex 300 itself, you're looking at 24 hours of keeping the refrigerator chilling during a power outage or keeping the WiFi router online for 500 hours. The Apex 300 can also be useful for yard work or for keeping the jobsite powered up.

Another major benefit of the Bluetti Apex 300 is its ability to switch between 120 and 240V with a single switch. It can even handle EV chargers.

Before the big storms arrive, get prepared with the Bluetti Apex 300 while it's on sale at Amazon for $1,599. That's just one cent more expensive than the lowest we've ever seen, which makes today's sale price your sign to make the move.

TL;DR: If you use a Mac and still don’t have lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2021, this $69.97 deal is a no-brainer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $69.97
$219 Save $149.03   Get Deal

If you’re a Mac user who’s tired of recurring subscriptions, we’ve got some good news: You can now own Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 for Mac — forever — for just $69.97 (reg. $219). No monthly fees. No surprise renewals. Just the full suite of Microsoft’s go-to productivity tools, available as a one-time purchase that installs on one Mac for lifetime use at home or work.

This version includes the essentials: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and even Teams (basic) — all tailored for the Mac experience. Whether you’re writing papers, running your business, balancing your budget, or presenting that brilliant pitch deck, these tools have you covered.

SEE ALSO: This wicked fast 2025 Sky Blue MacBook Air M4 is on sale for $999

Even better? This isn’t some pared-down version. It’s the full Home and Business suite, meaning you’re getting access to everything you’d expect from Microsoft Office — including powerful email tools in Outlook and robust data management in Excel.

Once installed, it’s yours for good. It’s connected to your Microsoft Account, not your device, so you can redownload it any time. And with instant delivery, you’ll get your license key and download links within minutes of purchase.

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2021 for just $69.97 (reg. $219) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple has released a new iOS beta, and this one brings a big change to Liquid Glass.

It seems Apple heard the critiques from Liquid Glass haters, and the new iOS 26.1 beta 4 offers a solution.

What's new? If you haven't downloaded the beta, don't worry. We'll tell you.

Liquid Glass opacity options

Easily the biggest addition to the iOS 26.1 beta 4 is the ability to toggle Liquid Glass. Apple brought an entirely new design to the iPhone with iOS 26 in the form of Liquid Glass, which incorporates lots of transparent elements into the UI.

While Liquid Glass's clear styling certainly has its fans, others prefer the less transparent design of old.

In iOS 26.1 beta 4, users can now go to Settings, then Display & Brightness, followed by the Liquid Glass option, and select a new "Tinted" option. This changes the opacity behind notification windows and other key features. It basically makes Liquid Glass less see-through, making it easier on the eyes for some users. It's the closest you can get to turning off Liquid Glass entirely.

While Apple did already provide Liquid Glass options in the Accessibility settings, this gives a more uniform set of options to users who just want a quick settings change.

Disable Lock Screen Swipe for Camera

Ever find yourself accidentally opening the Camera app on your iPhone due to how you're holding the device while it's locked?

Well, Apple has added a new settings option for you.

If an iPhone user currently swipes from right-to-left on their locked iPhone screen, it will automatically launch the Camera app without the need to unlock the device.

In iOS 26.1 beta 4, users can now disable that lock screen swipe for Camera entirely. Just go to the Camera options in the Settings app to toggle off "Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera."

UPDATE Wednesday, 12:15 p.m. ET: This story includes a statement from Amazon responding to the New York Times article.

Retail giant Amazon sees more robots and fewer human employees in its future, according to a blockbuster report in the New York Times.

Referencing employee interviews and internal documents, the Times found that the Seattle-based company hopes to replace more than a half million jobs with robots. The company’s goal, according to the documents, is to eventually automate 75 percent of its operations.

Currently, Amazon is the nation’s second-largest employer, with about 1.5 million workers around the globe. The company has been on a growth trajectory for years, especially once COVID hypercharged online shopping among the public. Even though Amazon is looking to drastically curtail hiring in the coming years, it still expects to sell twice as many products by 2033 as it does now.

SEE ALSO: AWS outage update: What happened yesterday and why

Many Amazon workers toil in giant warehouses spread around the world, boxing online orders and shipping them out around the world. But in a new facility in Shreveport, La. built with automation in mind, a thousand robots do much of the packing and shipping work, allowing Amazon to employ a quarter fewer employees than it would without the robots. In 2026, the Louisiana facility will only need half as many employees as it would have before the addition of robots, according to Amazon docs. The operation of the Shreveport facility will be replicated in approximately 40 facilities by the end of 2027. 

The company is already formulating a public relations push to soften the blow of reduced hiring, attrition, or even layoffs, according to the Times. Internal discussions revealed by the paper include greater community involvement by Amazon and changing corporate language from "automation," "AI," and "robot," to "advanced technology" and "cobot" (robots collaborating with humans). The company also reportedly hopes to increase messaging about the creation of new technical jobs tasked with keeping the robots running, though those jobs typically require more training and less human power.

Amazon executives, led by CEO Andy Jassy, are under pressure by Amazon’s board of directors "to do more with less," according to the Times.

"For years and years, they were really investing for growth, and in the last three years the company’s focus has shifted to efficiencies," Wall Street analyst Justin Post told the newspaper.

SEE ALSO: Is Amazon still delivering packages during the AWS outage?

Amazon’s decision to employ more automation — there are already a million robots at work for the company — will likely disproportionately impact minority workers, especially Black employees; Amazon warehouse workers are about three times as likely as a typical American worker to be Black, the Times reports.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel released the following statement in response to the Times article:

“Leaked documents often paint an incomplete and misleading picture of our plans, and that’s the case here. In our written narrative culture, thousands of documents circulate throughout the company at any given time, each with varying degrees of accuracy and timeliness. In this instance, the materials appear to reflect the perspective of just one team and don't represent our overall hiring strategy across our various operations business lines - now or moving forward. The facts speak for themselves: No company has created more jobs in America over the past decade than Amazon. We're actively hiring at operations facilities across the country and recently announced plans to fill 250,000 positions for the holiday season.”

For Amazon, the advent of automation potentially presents another upside for shareholders — the robots can’t unionize. The company has long had a strained relationship with organized labor, with the company in September letting go of 150 unionized drivers in New York, allegedly in retaliation for their participation in a workers’ strike. Amazon claimed at the time that the drivers weren’t "fired," but rather victims of canceled contracts with a subcontractor who employed the drivers.

Oct. 21 was a big day for streamers rising their subscription prices. Disney+ just implemented a price hike, as did HBO Max. Now Dropout is revealing a new pricing tier to their subscription service. But fans of the company that brings us such outside-the-box shows as Game Changer, Dimension 20, and Crowd Control might well expect Dropout CEO Sam Reich wouldn't go about this like his competitors.

Just months after upping their price by one dollar a month, from $5.99 to $6.99, Dropout has announced a Superfan tier. In a video released on Instagram and Youtube, Reich himself explained the new tier and that it came about because of the fans' reaction to the price hike in May. Far from complaining, many subscribers commented on Dropout's various social media accounts they'd happily pay more. So now you can.

SEE ALSO: 'Game Changer' smartly weaponizes its social media following in 'Fool's Gold'

"We think Dropout should cost about as much as a big sandwich," Reich explains, "On the other hand, we'd like your money. Dropout is becoming more expensive as as we make more shows and pay people more. And if we're going to take the next big step as a company into scripted and animation...we sure could use the additional support."

The Superfan tier comes with "no exclusive episodes, no early access to episodes, no free merch." Instead, the first tier will still give you access to all the shows you've enjoyed before. As for the Superfan tier — "Think of this as a Dropout Fan Club," he said, adding there will be a few "Patreon-style perks [like] a behind the scenes blog, where we go deep on the nitty gritty of how Dropout content is made, the opportunity to purchase, and yes, spend even more money on exclusive merch, and a first go at spending even more money on live events like such as Dropout Improv and Dimension 20 Live."

The cost of the Superfan tier is $129.99 a year. But for a limited time, Dropout's sign-up site is offering all the perks of Superfan for $97.49 for your first year.

"If you wanna pay us more, you can," Reich concludes. Otherwise, the first tier will do what it's doing, and Dropout still openly promotes sharing your password with friends. Or as Sam says, "You on a friends' account, you arguably have the best deal of all."

Artists are pulling their music off Spotify, and users are deleting their accounts in protest of the company's many controversial decisions.

Why are artists removing their music from Spotify?

Critics say Spotify's algorithm has turned music lovers into "lazy listeners," while artists argue the platform fails to fairly compensate them for their work. CEO Daniel Ek's investment in a company developing AI for military use has sparked further backlash. Most recently, Spotify faced public outrage for running recruitment ads for ICE — and refused to pull them.

In response, bands like Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Hotline TNT, The Mynabirds, WU LYF, Kadhja Bonet, Young Widows, and many others have left the platform, with most citing Ek’s ties to AI-driven defense tech as the final straw.

"We don't want our music killing people. We don't want our success being tied to AI battle tech," Deerhoof told NPR in a statement. "Deerhoof is a small mom and pop operation, and know when enough is enough. We aren't capitalists, and don't wish to take over the world. Especially if the price of 'discoverability' is letting oligarchs fill the globe with computerized weaponry, we're going to pass on the supposed benefits."

How to move your Spotify playlists to Apple Music and other music streaming apps

Listeners who have chosen to boycott the company are mostly moving over to Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal, but there are also options with Qobuz, Soundiiz, and Resonate.

One reason stopping some listeners from switching platforms is that all of their saved music — and beloved playlists — are on Spotify.

You have to use a third-party app like SoundDiiz or TuneMyMusic to transfer your playlists from Spotify to Amazon Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL, and Qobuz, but Apple Music lets you import music from Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, TIDAL, and YouTube.

Here's how to transfer your playlists and saved songs from Spotify to Apple Music.

Total Time

• 1 min

What You Need

• iPhone
• Spotify App
• Apple Music App
• Apple Music Subscription

Step 1: Navigate to Apps in your Settings

Open settings and scroll down to Apps

Credit: Mashable screenshot

Step 2: Navigate to Music

Scroll down and click "Music" in your apps

Credit: Mashable screenshot

Step 3: Transfer your music

Tap "Transfer Music from Other Music Services" at the bottom of your screen.

Credit: Mashable screenshot

Step 4: Transfer from Spotify

Choose "Spotify" if you're transferring from Spotify. It will direct you to sign into your account, and may ask you to approve the transfer.

Credit: Mashable screenshot

Step 5: Choose what to transfer and add to your library.

The final step! Choose what you'd like to transfer — songs, playlist, etc — and click "Add to library."

Credit: Mashable screenshot

When you're done, Apple Music might ask you to review alternatives. For me, a few songs that belonged on multiple albums — Yebba's Boomerang, for instance — required reviews.

Once you've made your selections there, you're all done!

Today, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Atlas, an AI browser with ChatGPT built in. It's now available globally on macOS for free, Plus, Pro, and Go ChatGPT users.

According to OpenAI's announcement, the browser is a step towards the company building a "true super-assistant." ChatGPT has long been rumored to be working on an AI browser, as Mashable reported back in July.

SEE ALSO: Sam Altman: ChatGPT will get more 'friendly' again, even erotically so

"With Atlas, ChatGPT can come with you anywhere across the web — helping you in the window right where you are, understanding what you’re trying to do, and completing tasks for you, all without copying and pasting or leaving the page," the blog post states.

OpenAI also shared a video previewing ChatGPT Atlas features on X and its website.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Atlas opens with a search bar where users can enter questions or URLs, while an "Ask ChatGPT" button can be clicked to open a sidebar on an existing tab. When writing emails or other documents, users can also use their cursor to highlight text, and ChatGPT will suggest edits.

ChatGPT memory is baked into Atlas, so users will be able to ask about what they looked up or worked on previously. Browser memories are apparently private to your account, and users can decide which sites ChatGPT can see. Both specific pages and the entire history can be cleared by users. You can also use Atlas Incognito, which signs you out of ChatGPT.

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of OpenAI

The recently introduced ChatGPT parental controls work in Atlas, and there are new parental control options, like parents turning off browser memories and agent mode.

OpenAI also claims in its blog that agent mode, which can navigate the web and perform tasks, is improved in Atlas. As an example, the preview video shows ChatGPT Atlast assisting users with making purchases on InstantCart. Agent mode in Atlas is available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Business users.

As part of new safety guards related to ChatGPT agent, it can't run code in the browser, download files, or install extensions. It can't access other apps on your computer, nor the file system, and it'll "pause to ensure you're watching it take actions on specific sensitive sites such as financial institutions." You can use the agent while you're logged out if you want to limit access to sensitive data.

SEE ALSO: The AI browser war is underway. Compare the top browsers from Perplexity, Opera, and more.

"ChatGPT's agent capabilities still carry risk," the blog post warns.

Atlas is available in beta for Business users, as well as for Enterprise and Edu users if enabled by the plan's administrator. Versions for Windows, iOS, and Android are coming soon.

How to try ChatGPT Atlas Total Time

• 5-10 minutes

What You Need

• Mac desktop
• ChatGPT account

Step 1: Download ChatGPT Atlas

You can download ChatGPT Atlas at the OpenAI website. It's only available for Mac desktop users for now.

Step 2: Sign into ChatGPT in Atlas

While you can use Atlas in incognito mode while signed out, when first setting up the browser, you need to log in to your ChatGPT account.

Step 3: Import data from another browser

You can bring over your bookmarks, history, and passwords over from another browser like Google Chrome or Safari.

Step 4: Allow Keychain Access

Keychain on Mac keeps track of sensitive data like passwords and encryption keys.

Step 5: Decide whether you want to enable memories

If enabled, Atlas will be able to recall what you searched and worked on previously.

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.

Kindle (2024) vs. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): Price

Our first category is the simplest. One number is higher than the other, after all.

In terms of price, the regular Kindle walks away with this one because it's $50 cheaper than the Paperwhite. Whatever other advantages the Paperwhite may have, it will never have that one.

Winner: Kindle (2024)

Kindle (2024) vs. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): Design Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Both devices are imminently recognizable as Kindles, and while one doesn't necessarily look cooler than the other, there are major size differences to consider.

Here's how the two Kindles stack up in terms of dimensions:

• Kindle (2024): 6.2-inch x 4.3-inch x 0.32-inch with 6-inch display

• Kindle Paperwhite (2024): 7-inch x 5-inch x 0.3-inch with 7-inch display

The Paperwhite is a good deal larger than the regular Kindle, which is its main selling point. It also has an adjustable front light with 19 LEDs, compared to the four LEDs on the regular Kindle. If you need a bigger and/or brighter display, the Paperwhite is the one to get. It also allows you to use a "warm light" option for a more pleasant reading experience in the dark.

Just know that you're going to sacrifice some weight along the way. The regular Kindle comes in at 5.56 ounces, while the Paperwhite is a relatively bulky 7.4 ounces. Plus, the 6-inch Kindle has a better hand-feel for reading marathons, but the Paperwhite has a bigger screen size for more words per page.

Overall, the Paperwhite has more going for it in terms of design.

Winner: Kindle Paperwhite (2024)

Kindle (2024) vs. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): Features Your Kindle library will appear exactly the same on both the Kindle (2024) and Paperwhite (2024). Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

This would've been a much more substantial conversation a few years ago. There was a time when the regular Kindle didn't even have a front light, which made the Paperwhite much more desirable by comparison. However, times have changed.

These days, the two devices' functionality is very similar. Both can read books (duh), play audiobooks via Bluetooth, and have screens that should look fine in sunlight due to a lack of glare. Unfortunately, both will display advertisements on the lock screen unless you pay an extra $20 for either Kindle.

Neither offer color, if you want that, you need to swing for the Kindle Colorsoft. Where the Paperwhite does have the upper hand is the adjustable screen warmth.

Because the two devices' basic functionality is so similar, this one is kind of a wash. You'll be fine either way.

Winner: Tie

Kindle (2024) vs. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): Storage

Spending a little extra won't get you extra storage. Both the 2024 Kindle and 2024 Paperwhite come with 16GB of storage, making this match-up a tie. 16GB may not seem like a lot of storage when you're thinking in terms of smartphones or tablets, but for e-readers, that's enough space for thousands of ebooks.

But if you want anything more than that, there's a substantially more expensive Paperwhite Signature Edition with 32GB of storage, but that doesn't help us here.

Winner: Tie

Kindle (2024) vs. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): Battery life

When it comes to battery life, the more expensive device is the better option.

Amazon rates the 2024 Kindle for six weeks of battery life on a full charge. As for the Paperwhite, the estimated battery life is double that, for a whopping 12 weeks. That makes the Paperwhite the pretty clear winner. Having to charge your e-reader every three months versus every month-and-a-half is a major boon.

Winner: Kindle Paperwhite (2024)

Kindle (2024) vs. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): Water resistance

Some people like reading at the pool, at the beach, or in the bathtub. Why not? It's super relaxing. If you're one of those people, there's a clear winner here.

The 2024 Kindle is not waterproof at all. Don't get it wet. The 2024 Paperwhite, meanwhile, has an IPX8 rating, which, according to Amazon, means it can survive for up to 60 minutes submerged in up to two meters of water. That seems like a fairly unrealistic scenario, so if you accidentally drop the Kindle Paperwhite in the bathtub, you won't need to buy another device.

Winner: Kindle Paperwhite (2024)

Featured Video For You Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which one is better?

With the release of the iOS 26.1 beta 4 update, both the critics and accessibility advocates can rejoice: Apple has made it easier for users to customize the Liquid Glass UI.

The Liquid Glass design, which drew some mild criticism from iPhone users transitioning to iOS 26, now offers the choice between Clear and Tinted modes. The update applies to both mobile and desktop users (read more about the macOS Tahoe 26.1 beta 4) and serves as a fallback option for those who had trouble reading the Clear version of the interface.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

To access the feature, beta users can go to the "Display & Brightness" menu under Settings to find the new Liquid Glass option. On Mac, it’s located under "Appearance" in System Settings. The Tinted option increases the opacity of the UI, which should make notifications and text easier to read.

It’s a welcome update, as many iOS 26 users complained about the interface's translucency — and it seems Apple has been listening. In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple said feedback from beta testers made it clear that users wanted more customization for Liquid Glass.

While the Appearance option won’t roll out publicly until the official iOS 26.1 update, it’s a far better solution than before. Since users can’t roll back to iOS 26 or disable Liquid Glass entirely, the previous workaround involved diving into Accessibility settings, reducing transparency, and tweaking the home screen color for a makeshift tinted look.

UPDATE Tuesday, 1:41 p.m. ET: With Amazon's AWS issues fully resolved, the online world was left to parse through the postmortem on Tuesday.

It's concerning and, yet, unsurprising to see how fragile the internet's ecosystem can prove. When a central pillar like AWS goes down, it topples large chunks of the internet with it. We've seen it before with Google Cloud, Microsoft, CrowdStrike, and others.

The modern internet is vast but delicate. As many news outlets pointed out, a few big tech companies hold vast market share, and when those services go down, the downstream effects can be troubling. And that's exactly how it played out on Monday.

UPDATE Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. ET: While Amazon's AWS services were fully restored by Tuesday, the fallout of the massive outage is still becoming clear.

Issues with a single service caused major disruptions to the basic things that make our lives functional. Canvas crashed, disrupting learning nationwide. Lloyds Bank customers lost access to their accounts. Some United Airlines flyers couldn't check in or view their reservations. People's alarms didn't go off. There are too many examples to list — it was a full meltdown.

To some, Monday was an example of Big Tech being too big. If an AWS outage can cause such widespread issues, that may be a problem.

"If a company can break the entire internet, they are too big. Period," wrote Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren on X. "It's time to break up Big Tech."

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UPDATE Monday, 8:20 p.m. ET: Amazon provided more updates on how it repaired its AWS services and noted, "By 3:01 PM [PT, or 6:01 p.m. ET), all AWS services returned to normal operations. Some services such as AWS Config, Redshift, and Connect continue to have a backlog of messages that they will finish processing over the next few hours. We will share a detailed AWS post-event summary."

UPDATE Monday, 5:05 p.m. ET: The latest updates from Amazon indicated its AWS services were progressing toward full resolution.

"Service recovery across all AWS services continues to improve," the company wrote. It noted it was continuing to "reduce throttles" on certain affected tools.

SEE ALSO: Amazon internet outage reactions hit full meltdown

UPDATE Monday, 3:41 p.m. ET: Amazon indicated its AWS services were well on the way to fully recovering.

"We continue to observe recovery across all AWS services," the company wrote. It did note customers may still face "intermittent function errors" with Lambda, its serverless compute service.

AWS saw a major outage in the early hours of Monday morning, a temporary recovery, and then further issues as the East Coast neared midday. You can read the full explanation of the outages in both the original story and our regular updates to this article, but, in short, any problem with AWS means major issues for large swaths of the internet. Sites and services such as United Airlines, Snapchat, McDonald's, Verizon, Venmo, and countless others all saw spikes in user-reported issues on Downdetector.

While the internet is vast, there are a few pillars — AWS perhaps chief among them — that can lead to large, disruptive downstream effects should they experience problems.

UPDATE Monday, 3:01 p.m. ET: Amazon said its continued efforts to remedy issues with its AWS services appeared to be working, noting it saw "decreasing networking connectivity issues," according to the most recent update on its status page.

Users still reported a relatively high number of issues with AWS on Downdetector, though many third-party services apparently affected by the AWS outage appeared to be recovering.

It's been a tremendously turbulent Monday for AWS. The popular cloud platform saw a major outage in the early morning hours, briefly recovered, and then experienced new problems around midday.

(Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.)

UPDATE Monday, 2:15 p.m. ET: Amazon said its efforts to fix its connectivity issues appear to be working. Its widely popular AWS cloud platform suffered renewed issues starting around midday, just hours after a major outage during the early hours of Monday morning.

The company wrote its "mitigations to resolve launch failures" were progressing and that it expected "launch errors and network connectivity issues to subside" as it worked to apply fixes more widely.

UPDATE Monday, 1:15 p.m. ET: Amazon wrote it was working to fix connectivity issues that arose midday Monday ET, hours after a major outage in the early hours of the day.

"We continue to apply mitigation steps for network load balancer health and recovering connectivity for most AWS services," read the latest update from the AWS status page.

Mike Chapple, an IT professor at the University of Notre Dame, said that further issues surfacing after the initial outage is not necessarily a surprising development.

"While this is disruptive, it isn't unusual. The process of fixing a serious IT infrastructure issue often creates new problems, and fixes often need to be rolled out across a large number of systems over time," Chapple said in an emailed statement to Mashable. "As engineers work to steady the system, operations slowly stabilize and things return to normal.  Think of it like a utility outage that occurs in a large city.  The power might flicker on and off a few times as repair crews do their work.  We're seeing something similar now with AWS."

SEE ALSO: AWS outage: Is Canvas down?

UPDATE Monday, 12:15 p.m. ET: Amazon said it was homing in on the underlying issue that caused renewed issues with AWS on Monday.

"We have narrowed down the source of the network connectivity issues that impacted AWS Services," read the latest update from the AWS status page. "The root cause is an underlying internal subsystem responsible for monitoring the health of our network load balancers."

It was not yet clear when outages and issues would be fully resolved.

UPDATE Monday, 11:45 a.m. ET: Amazon confirmed AWS was experiencing more issues late Monday morning, just hours after the issue was apparently resolved. The company wrote it was investigating "the root cause for the network connectivity issues that are impacting AWS services such as DynamoDB, SQS, and Amazon Connect," in its most recent update to the AWS status page.

Meanwhile, widespread service disruptions across the internet continued. User-reported issues have spiked for a number of popular services, according to Downdetector, including FanDuel, Snapchat, Apple Music, Asana, Verizon, and many more. The renewed AWS problems appeared to be significant and once again causing problems for large numbers of users.

A service disruption at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon's popular cloud hosting and data service, caused massive problems for internet users starting their workweek on Monday. Since AWS powers huge portions of the internet, the list of services and sites that suffered outages on Monday was pretty staggering.

According to user-reported issues at the site Downdetector, affected services include United Airlines, AT&T, Fortnite, Disney+, HBO Max, Signal, Snapchat, McDonald's, Verizon, Venmo, and many more. (Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.) Amazon services like Prime and Alexa were affected, too. In short: Almost anyone could've been affected in some way.

Nearly everything we own is internet-connected — our fridges are WiFi-enabled billboards — meaning an AWS outage can disrupt large swaths of lives.

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Nearing midday, it appeared the issue was over. But then Amazons's AWS Health Dashboard indicated problems had resurfaced.

"We have confirmed multiple AWS services experienced network connectivity issues in the US-EAST-1 Region," read an update around 10:30 a.m. ET. "We are seeing early signs of recovery for the connectivity issues and are continuing to investigate the root cause."

It appeared AWS was seeing issues again, though not on the scale of the outage in the earlier hours. Some services, such as Venmo and Boost Mobile, saw a corresponding jump in user-reported issues on Downdetector.

Amazon previously said that problem had either fully resolved or was resolving. Mashable reached out for comment and was directed to the AWS Health Dashboard. At about 6:35 a.m. ET the AWS Health Dashboard indicated the main issue was resolved, though problems may persist as things got up and running. That could, perhaps, hint at the new problems that surfaced.

"The underlying DNS issue has been fully mitigated, and most AWS Service operations are succeeding normally now," the 6:35 a.m. ET update read. "Some requests may be throttled while we work toward full resolution."

What caused the AWS outage?

The exact reason AWS initially went down remains unknown, but we have an idea. Services using AWS were unable to access DynamoDB, an Amazon-run database, because the Domain Name System (DNS) had a problem. The DNS effectively translates website names into IP addresses. So when Amazon wrote on its Health Dashboard that the DNS issue had been "fully mitigated," it's saying the real problem was fixed.

"Amazon had the data safely stored, but nobody else could find it for several hours, leaving apps temporarily separated from their data," Mike Chapple, an IT professor at University of Notre Dame, told CNN. "It's as if large portions of the internet suffered temporary amnesia."

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Rafe Pilling, the director of threat intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Sophos, told The Guardian that the incident didn't appear to be a cyberattack or anything nefarious, which is aligned with Amazon's statements.

"When anything like this happens the concern that it’s a cyber incident is understandable," he told the U.K. outlet. "AWS has a far-reaching and intricate footprint, so any issue can cause a major upset."

It's likely Amazon will, at a later time, explain what happened Monday further. It's unclear how the 10:35 a.m. ET "network connectivity issues" are related, if at all, to the initial issue with the DNS, though it feels reasonable to assume issues could arise as services worked to return to normal.

Why is an AWS outage such a big deal?

In short: AWS is a central pillar of the modern internet. Without it, things crash. As major companies gobbled up market share, it actually made the infrastructure on the internet remarkably fragile — an issue with AWS, or Google, or Microsoft, or Crowdstrike means issues for tons of users.

Advocates even argue that such reliance on these big players is a free speech issue.

"We urgently need diversification in cloud computing," said Dr. Corinne Cath-Speth, head of digital human rights organization Article 19, according to The Guardian. "The infrastructure underpinning democratic discourse, independent journalism, and secure communications cannot be dependent on a handful of companies."

The long and short of it: If something goes wrong with AWS, a lot goes wrong everywhere else.