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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.

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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 postpone.

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

DELAY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A seat.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 31, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

STOOL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Fragile.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 31 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 31, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FRAIL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To assume.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

POSIT

Final Hurdle hint

Transit line.

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

METRO

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 the Full Moon tonight, and the second this month. This means it is a monthly Blue Moon, which occurs roughly every two or three years.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, May 31, the Moon phase is Full Moon. Tonight, 100% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Tonight, with just your naked eye, you'll be able to spot the Mare Vaporum, Copernicus Crater, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars you'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Grimaldi Basin, Posidonus Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. Finally, if you really want to see more, a telescope will help you see the Apollo 14 landing spot, the Linne Crater, and the Caucasus Mountains.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through a repeating pattern of eight distinct phases. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the portion illuminated by the Sun changes as it moves around the planet. This is what creates the different shapes we see in the night sky, from thin crescents to half Moons and the full Moon. Together, these phases form the lunar 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. (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.

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Finland in a 2026 International Friendly for free on ZDF. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Preparation time is almost over. The 2026 World Cup kicks off next month, meaning participating sides need to build momentum and gain clarity on their best 11. That's the situation Germany find themselves in as they face off against Finland — it's all about coming into this summer's tournament with confidence.

If you want to watch Germany vs. Finland in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Finland?

Germany vs. Finland kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on May 31. This fixture takes place at the MEWA Arena.

How to watch Germany vs. Finland for free

Germany vs. Finland is available to live stream for free on ZDF.

ZDF is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can access free live streams on ZDF from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Germany vs. Finland 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 Germany

4. Visit ZDF

5. Stream Germany vs. Finland for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 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 Germany vs. Finland without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games 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 streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ZDF?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

• 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 $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Germany vs. Finland for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love bright colors.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 31, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bright-colored

• Green: Playing pool

• Blue: Popeye

• Purple: Timber

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things that are yellow

• Green: Billiard terms

• Blue: Slang for a sailor

• Purple: Kinds of wood plus "S"

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1085 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things that are yellow: BUTTER, PIKACHU, RUBBER DUCK, SCHOOL BUS

• Billiard terms: BREAK, CUE, POCKET, RACK

• Slang for a sailor: JACK, SALT, SEA DOG, TAR

• Kinds of wood plus "S": SASH, SOAK, SPINE, STEAK

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 31, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a traveler.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 31, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Places to go

The words are related to travel.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe travel sites.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Tourism.

NYT Strands word list for May 31

• Museum

• Beach

• Tourism

• Castle

• Market

• Restaurant

• Momument

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a musician.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 31, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 31, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A piece of music.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ETUDE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

TL;DR: ChatPlayground gives you access to 20+ AI tools like GPT and Claude, lets you send prompts to multiple tools, and has a lifetime subscription on sale for $60 through May 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $59.97
$619 Save $559.03   Get Deal

Picking the right AI model for a task used to mean opening five different tabs and running the same prompt five different times. Most people end up paying for one subscription, defaulting to it out of habit, and wondering why the outputs feel inconsistent. ChatPlayground AI puts GPT, Claude Sonnet 4, Gemini 1.5 Flash, DeepSeek V3, Llama, Perplexity, and more AI models in one interface, lets you enter a single prompt, and shows you the results side by side so you can pick the best one. A lifetime Unlimited Plan is on sale for $59.97 right now (reg. $79).

The side-by-side comparison completely changes how you use AI for serious work. Instead of guessing which model handles a task best or burning through your daily limits trying to find out, you run the prompt once and choose the output that works. That matters most when you’re prompt engineering, drafting content, debugging code, or researching something where accuracy is non-negotiable.

Beyond comparisons, the platform includes prompt engineering tools to refine and optimize prompts for better results, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved conversation history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation for creative work.

The Unlimited Plan removes message limits entirely, so it’s a great fit for teams running experiments or using AI heavily throughout the day. Priority access to new models and features is included, along with priority customer support. Available to both new and existing users, with unlimited devices supported and updates included. It runs on the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Instead of paying monthly for a single model and hoping it handles everything, why not get them all for life?

Until May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a ChatPlayground AI lifetime subscription on sale for $59.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

We all get the urge to find a fun fling at one time or another, but not everyone wants to dish out money to make it happen. If you're strapped for cash or you just want to keep that credit card firmly in your wallet, know that there are a lot of great free hookup apps and sites that offer results without you having to pay a premium for membership. 

That said, not all free dating services work in the same way, and they don't always offer the same level of freedom. They're still businesses, after all, and still looking to turn a profit. They will entice you will free fun while hiding some of their very best features behind a subscription — which they hope will tempt you to go further and sign up for that paid membership. 

SEE ALSO: Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder: How they compare as hookup apps

To help you navigate the world of hookup apps and sites as a non-paying user, here's a handy guide on the top dating services — and all the best features you can get for free.

Tinder

Tinder's mega-popularity probably has a lot to do with how well it has balanced its free and premium features. As a non-paying user, you can create an account, fill your profile with up to nine photos and videos, and then swipe to match and chat with singles in your area.

In other words, you can use Tinder's basic features without opening your wallet. But restricting yourself to a free account is exactly that — restricting. This includes an ad-laden UI and a limited number of swipes over 12 hours. OK, so it doesn't sound too bad on paper — until you spend an hour left-swiping and finally find the profile of your dreams, a person seemingly created to pique your interest, only to realise that you've run out of likes.

To get the most out of a free Tinder account, we recommend splitting up your swiping time into morning and evening sessions, to minimize the impact of their 12-hour right-swipe restriction. If you score a decent match by using this strategy, you're all set and probably won't need to upgrade your account. But if you're dissatisfied with how many matches you find, it could well be time to explore Tinder's Gold and Platinum tiers, as these unlock some matchmaking cheat codes, including one monthly profile boost to increase your visibility, plus the ability to see who has liked your profile and message accounts you haven't already matched with. 

AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder is one of the most restrictive dating services for free members. Not only will you not be able to speak to another person one-on-one with a free account, you won't even be able to view other users' profiles without stumping up some cash for monthly paid membership. 

Don't be put off, though. If you're looking for fast thrills online, a free AFF account still has its upside. For one thing, AdultFriendFinder is less a dating service than an entire sexy ecosystem, complete with live webcam shows, chat boards, adult-themed picture contests, and a whole lot of erotic storytelling. You can access and even take part for free, so whether you want to passively observe the live webcam feeds or test your writing skills out in the streamy fiction section, you have good options.

SEE ALSO: AdultFriendFinder vs. Snapchat: Which is better for sexting?

On the other hand, if you want to use AFF to actually find a potential partner in your local area, you really need to upgrade to their paid subscription, which not only unlocks expanded search features and the ability to communicate one-on-one with other members, but also upgrades the quality of the photos and videos you see, which is worth the expenditure alone.

Grindr

Like Tinder, Grindr is very generous to non-paying users. With a free account, you can create a profile, search out and chat with other nearby people, and even create a private photo album and send a single photo. In one sense, Grindr is even more generous to its free users than Tinder: It allows you to match with one person outside of your immediate location per day, which gives you a little taste of the app's reach and capabilities.  

Best of all, for those desperately eager to connect, Grindr allows free users two Right Now sessions per week, which functions as a kind of temporary (one hour, max) status update to nearby users also in Right Now mode. Don't forget, Grindr is all about the fast hookup. 

It's not all upside, though. Like Tinder, Grindr subsidizes its free user features by serving up relentless ads, which definitely impacts the user experience, while also limiting their profile's reach to "local" Grindr users, which basically means accounts within your immediate vicinity. If you're in LA or Manhattan that's not necessarily a problem, but if you're using the app in a small town or remote area — which likely means a smaller queer population — it can mean fewer hookups. 

SEE ALSO: Grindr users love this city for queer travelers in 2026

If that's a problem for you, you can opt for either the Grindr XTRA or Grindr Unlimited subscriptions to unlock quality-of-life features. These include the ability to send more expiring photos, a larger grid to explore, and even the ability to see who has viewed and liked your profile. 

Pure

In many ways, Pure is the most intriguing hookup app out there. It's a true innovator of design and interface, which makes it no surprise that it's the most popular app for Gen Z singles. Unfortunately, it's extremely restrictive in the scope it gives to free users. Unless you're a woman, that is.

On Pure, male and non-binary users have to pay to unlock the app's most useful features, while women get unrestricted access to the app for free. Before you cry foul, though, remember that most dating apps skew heavily male (Tinder users may be 75 percent male, for example), so by enticing women with a free membership, Pure can keep a relatively even gender split among its users. That's a good thing, right?

As a free user, you'll be able to create a profile and fill out all the necessary information, as well as a list of your kinks. But you can't respond or chat one-on-one with other users, which so you're essentially locked out of the app's most fun and interactive features. 

Unlike with Tinder, Grindr or AFF, Pure really does require a paid subscription to be at all useful — if you're not a woman, that is.

May is double the fun for Full Moon and space fans because we’re getting two in one month. The first took place on May 1 and the second will be on May 31. This phenomenon is called a Blue Moon. And no, that doesn’t mean it’ll actually turn the color blue, it’s just a somewhat rare occurrence. You might say, “once in a blue moon”...

What is a Blue Moon?

According to NASA, a Blue Moon is when a full moon shows up twice within the same calendar month. The lunar cycle (the process of the Moon orbiting the Earth) lasts about 29 and a half days, which is slightly shorter than most months. This means that every so often the timing lines up like it does in May, with a full moon right at the start of the month and another at the end. It’s not especially common, only happening roughly every couple of years. This is a monthly Blue Moon.

There are also seasonal Blue Moons. These occur when four full moons fall all within one season, instead of three which is what usually happens.

When is the Blue Moon in 2026?

The Blue Moon in 2026 will occur on May 31. According to Time and Date, it will peak around 4:45 a.m. ET.

How often does a Blue Moon occur?

Blue Moons are fairly uncommon, as the saying goes. NASA says they occur roughly every two or three years.

When is the next Blue Moon?

Royal Museums Greenwich tells us that the next Blue Moon will be May 20, 2027. This will be a seasonal Blue Moon.

Breaking news: The 007 series is popular.

Sarcasm aside, it sounds like longtime Hitman series developer IO Interactive has a bonafide hit on its hands. The company announced in a press release that the newly released 007: First Light video game sold 1.5 million units in its first 24 hours of availability, beating the record for the fastest-selling game IO has ever made. That's not a small achievement, given the company's previous success over the past decade with the excellent Hitman reboot trilogy.

Perhaps making this sales success even more impressive is the fact that First Light is not, in any way, tied into the James Bond film series. The protagonist is a new, younger version of Bond played by TV star Patrick Gibson, rather than by Daniel Craig or any other previous Bond actor, and aside from some cameos by the likes of Lenny Kravitz and Gemma Chan, most of the game's central cast is made up of series newcomers who are primarily TV actors. That doesn't make them any less talented or qualified to be in the game, of course, but it does make the game stand out from previous movie-star-studded 007 video game efforts like Everything or Nothing.

It also doesn't hurt that the game, at least based on the first few hours that I've played, is really good. If you like James Bond, you should probably check it out. If these sales figures are to be believed, though, you probably already have.

Meta is looking to give customers even more ways to wear its logo on their bodies.

The Information reported that Mark Zuckerberg's company is planning to develop and test an "AI pendant," which would most likely be something you clip on and wear so that it can use an on-board microphone to record everything you say throughout the day for the purpose of generating AI summaries, just in case you ever need that. The description of the device is not entirely speculative, as Meta recently acquired a company called Limitless that was responsible for a device literally called "Pendant" that did exactly those things.

SEE ALSO: What do you get with Meta and Instagram's new $3.99 subscription plan?

Beyond that, The Information reported based on an internal Meta memo that the company plans on releasing several new pairs of smart glasses by the end of 2026, to go along with a possible enterprise-focused subscription service called "Wearables for Work." The subscription part is not a surprise, given that the company just launched consumer-focused payment plans for apps like Instagram and WhatsApp this week.

Anyway, the internal memo referenced four glasses models to be released this year, all under the following codenames: Modelo, Luna, RMB2 Refresh, and Mojito VIP. "RMB2 Refresh" is obviously another Ray-Ban model, but the others are more mysterious. Expect plenty of AI features and possible privacy concerns to be included in those glasses, if nothing else.

TL;DR: Live stream Gauff vs. Potapova in the 2026 French Open for free on France TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 French Open has served up major surprises, particularly in the men's singles. Both No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Novak Djokovic were stunned by unseeded players, which led them to leave Roland-Garros unexpectedly early.

The women's field isn't quite as open, as world No. 4 Coco Gauff will be keenly aware, though No. 2 Elena Rybakina has already been eliminated, so Gauff — the defending women's French Open champion — may feel confident about claiming the title for a second consecutive year.

Before she gets to the title she'll have to get past a third-round match against No. 28 seed Anastasia Potapova. Can the 25-year-old Austrian knock out Gauff and cause yet another upset?

If you want to watch Gauff vs. Potapova in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Gauff vs. Potapova for free

Gauff vs. Potapova in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on France TV.

France TV is geo-restricted to France, 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 France, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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 France

4. Connect to France TV

5. Watch the 2026 French Open 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 pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Gauff vs. Potapova in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

If you prefer Windows, the 2025 Acer Aspire 16 AI is pretty easy to recommend. It has an impressive battery life, a backlit keyboard, a good mix of ports, and a healthy amount of RAM. It's the fastest sub-$900 laptop for multi-core tasks like video editing (by a hair).

For those who can spend a little more, last year's ultraportable Asus Zenbook A14 is my favorite laptop under $1,000. Conversely, if you're trying to spend less than $500, go with the Acer Chromebook Plus 516.

What's new

I revisited this guide in May 2026 to verify our top picks' pricing and availability, which remain stable.

What's on deck

Acer announced a new cheap laptop called the Swift Air 14 at Computex 2026, a tech trade show in Taiwan. It has an all-metal build and starts at just $699 with Intel's new Core Series 3 processors, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 120Hz display, making it a very strong MacBook Neo competitor. It's set for release this August.

IMO, a Windows laptop or Chromebook is doing a good MacBook impression if it has above-average performance, battery life, and build quality. (Again, those are the main hallmarks of a modern Apple laptop.) I'll add some extra qualifiers depending on the exact Mac model:

• MacBook Air alternatives should be super lightweight and portable

• MacBook Neo alternatives should cost well under $1,000

• MacBook Pro alternatives should have a crisp, rich 120Hz display and enough power for intensive tasks like video editing

I've been reviewing laptops for Mashable since 2023, so in compiling this guide, I combed through my testing database to see if any recent models fit the bill. I also called in several newer releases that looked promising and spent several weeks reviewing them this spring.

In the end, I selected six options from Asus, Acer, and Dell that make the best MacBook alternatives for 2026 buyers. I also included a fallback for those who want to stay within the Apple ecosystem.

Other contenders to consider The Asus ExpertBook Ultra is so pretty — and sooo expensive. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Asus ExpertBook Ultra is a stunning and shockingly thin ultraportable. It has tons of ports, an 18.5-hour battery life, and MacBook Air-level multi-core performance (with incredibly quiet fans). It also has the best display I've ever seen on a Windows laptop: It's a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen with a 30 to 120Hz refresh rate, 1,400 nits of peak HDR brightness, and a matte finish. So what's the issue? It costs $3,599.99 (!) with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and its build quality doesn't match its premium price. When I gently squeezed the right side of my review unit's base, it made a questionable clicking noise.

Not giving the ProArt GoPro Edition a 120Hz display was an odd choice on Asus' part. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The special-edition Asus ProArt GoPro Edition bundles MacBook Pro-rivaling multi-core performance and 128GB of RAM in a rugged convertible design. But at $2,999.99, it's expensive for a creator laptop without a 120Hz display and dedicated graphics (though its iGPU is pretty powerful). A standard Asus ProArt PX13 with the same processor but half the RAM retails for $2,799.99, which is still a hard sell compared to your other options. Fingers crossed that both models go on sale for way cheaper later this year.

I haven't tested it yet, but the new Framework Laptop 13 Pro is a repairable MacBook Pro alternative. I'll update this story once I or one of my colleagues try it.

Being a woman on the internet has never been easy, but trying to find a genuine connection on a dating app in 2026? That can feel like a part-time job you actually pay to do. Between the emboldened creeps, the "swipe fatigue," and surprisingly convincing AI profiles, it's enough to make you wonder if applying for Love Island is the more sane alternative. (Spoiler alert: it's not.)

The reality is, dating right now comes with a unique set of challenges. There's the constant barrage of low-effort "hey" messages, the unsolicited dick pics, the men who are definitely married, and the underlying safety concerns men just don't have to think about. It’s enough to make you want to swear off dating entirely and just get another cat (no judgment here).

But despite the challenges, dating apps do work. Connections happen every day, and a 2025 survey from SSRS found that nearly 39 percent of all U.S. adults have used dating apps. However, among current users, only 38 percent are women. Yes, that means the odds are a little stacked against you, but don't despair. The key isn't giving up and hoping for an old-fashioned meet-cute; it's finding the best dating apps for women that prioritize your safety, respect your boundaries, and help you filter out the nonsense.

SEE ALSO: How to get over a breakup

Fortunately for you (and my sanity), navigating this mess is literally my job. As Mashable's resident dating expert for the last three years, I've put dozens of dating apps and websites to the test. From classics like eharmony to sex-positive newcomers like Pure, I tried them all. I did the swiping, verifying, and blocking to figure out what actually works. So whether you want a serious relationship, a casual hookup, or just an app that puts you in control, I've found the options genuinely worth your time.

The dating apps I'd skip (and why)

You'll probably notice a few popular apps are missing from my list. That’s intentional. Part of my job is to filter out the platforms that aren't worth your time, money, or sanity — especially when safety is a top concern for women. An app doesn't get my recommendation just because it's well-known; it has to be effective, trustworthy, and populated by real human beings. Here are a few I think women should skip.

• Plenty of Fish (POF): I know this one shows up on a lot of lists, but in my opinion, it's a low-tech dating app ghost town. POF launched way back in 2003, and the experience and interface feel dated. After testing it out, I (along with tons of Redditors) can confirm that it's filled with bots and scammers. I think your time is better spent elsewhere.

• "Hookup" sites (like BeNaughty, Fling, Kasual): You've probably seen ads for sites promising quick, no-strings-attached fun. Based on my research and countless user reviews, I'd advise women to steer clear. These platforms are notorious for being overrun with bots and having questionable billing practices. More importantly, the lack of verification and moderation often creates a sketchy environment where harassment and fake profiles are rampant.

Open-ear earbuds sit on the exterior of the ear, but they also come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are specifically designed for working out, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are an especially popular pick, thanks to their sound quality and color options, but at $299, they're hardly the most affordable option.

Plus, since the Bose Ultra Open came out in 2024, big audio brands like Sony have released open earbuds of their own, while Shokz has introduced noise reduction into the category for the first time. To help you find the best open earbud models available in 2026, we tested the latest options from Soundcore, Sony, Shokz, Bose, and more.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best wireless earbuds we've ever tested What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds let you get as close as possible to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds, which sit in your ear canal, open earbuds sit just outside your ears (as the name would suggest). Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook, while others opt for an ear cuff.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:

1. They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of your surroundings. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

2. For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

3. The hooks and cuffs (along with general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping you in place and alert while you're working out, working, or simply existing in the world.

What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?

As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.

Also, thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 I'd buy

That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our best picks for sound, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds and Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds, even have spatial audio features that work surprisingly well.

Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) will be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.

Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel especially light, it's something to keep in mind.

How to wear open-ear earbuds

Open-ear earbuds come in three major styles: cuff, ear hook, and bone conduction. How you wear them depends entirely on which style you have. Cuff earbuds "clip" onto the ear, not unlike a piece of jewelry, generally around the area right above the earlobe. Ear hook earbuds have a hook situated around the back of your ear and a speaker component situated right over your ear canal. Finally, bone conduction earbuds sit right behind the ears, with a band that goes around the back of the head to hold them in place.

Regardless of the style, its important to adjust the exact positioning of your open earbuds to see which offers the best sound, especially as the wrong positioning can deteriorate the quality.

For a visual representation of what wearing a cuff-style earbud looks like, you can check out our open earbuds explainer.

What about bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.

Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:

What's next in our testing pipeline

The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. We recently added the Sony LinkBuds Clip and Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro to this guide.

In addition to the earbuds that made our initial guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.

Who says birthday celebrations need to stick to one day? In the wise words of Parks and Rec: Treat yourself. And you should be treating yourself all month long. But don't worry, that doesn't mean spending money. If you, like me, have spent hours online watching people's birthday freebie hauls, it's time to do one yourself.

With birthday freebies, you could plan a day that gets you a free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So, where does one get all these birthday freebies? We rounded up over 50 places to collect all your free birthday rewards.

And if you think these are too good to be true, your inclination might be to run. Most retailers and restaurants require you to sign up for their rewards programs to earn your birthday freebies, and some require a minimum annual spend. But with a little planning, you can guarantee yourself a birthday full of free stuff — just make sure to read the fine print and sign up early.

Food and beverage birthday freebies At Cheesecake Factory, score a free slice of cheesecake on your birthday. Credit: Getty Images / WoodysPhotos

• Applebee's: Members of Club Applebee's enjoy a free dessert on their birthday. Not to mention, you get a free appetizer when you sign up for the club.

• Auntie Anne's: On your birthday, Auntie Anne's Rewards members enjoy a free pretzel. Keep in mind, you must make at least one purchase annually to qualify.

• AMC: AMC Stubs Insiders enjoy a free large popcorn during their birthday month. But for Premiere and A-List members, enjoy a free large popcorn and a large fountain drink during your birthday month.

• Baskin-Robbins: Baskin-Robbins Rewards members enjoy a free scoop on their birthday after their first qualified purchase.

• Benihana: For members of Benihana's Friends with Benefits rewards program (which also includes STK Steakhouse, Kona Grill, RA Sushi, Samurai, or Salt Water Social restaurants), enjoy a $50 birthday reward to use toward a birthday meal.

• Buca Di Beppo: Join Buca Di Beppo's eClub and get a free Colossal Brownie Sundae on your birthday.

• Burger King: With Burger King's Royal Perks program, enjoy double rewards during your birthday month and a free item on your birthday. You'll earn 20 points (or "Crowns" as BK calls them) for every $1 spent, which can be redeemed for even more free stuff.

• Buffalo Wild Wings: As a member of Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin' Rewards, enjoy a free six-piece wing on your birthday.

• Cava: For fans of Mediterranean cuisine, join Cava Rewards and get a freebie on your birthday. Members enjoy their choice of a free drink, pita chips, or dessert.

• Cheesecake Factory: Join Cheesecake Rewards, and on your birthday, get a free slice of cheesecake or a layered cake.

• Chili's: Sign up for My Chili's Rewards and enjoy a free molten lava cake on your birthday.

• Chipotle: We see free chips and guac in your future. At Chipotle, join the restaurant's reward program and enjoy a free birthday reward.

• Cinnabon: Cinnabon Rewards members enjoy a free 16-ounce cold brew on their birthday.

• Cold Stone Creamery: For Cold Stone Creamery Rewards members, receive a birthday coupon. The reward will be sent seven days before your birthday and is redeemable until seven days after your birthday.

• Crumbl Cookies: At Crumbl Cookies, Silver Tier and above rewards members enjoy a free single cookie voucher on their birthday.

• Dairy Queen: Members of the DQ Rewards get a coupon for a free treat on their birthday, but you must spend at least $1 in the 45 days prior to your birthday, so plan ahead.

• Denny's: Your birthday breakfast is covered at Denny's. Members of Denny's Rewards enjoy a free Value Slam on their birthday.

• Domino's: At Domino's, loyal customers of Domino's Rewards enjoy a free birthday gift. The gifts vary and may include a free medium pizza, free lava cakes, or a discount.

• Dutch Bros Coffee: Score a free drink on your birthday at Dutch Bros when you download the app. For existing app users, your free drink will appear on your account on your birthday. If you download the app on your birthday, then the birthday reward will appear the next day. You have 30 days to redeem your free birthday drink.

• Dunkin' Donuts: While Dunkin' doesn't give out free drinks or donuts on your birthday, they will give you extra points. Dunkin' Rewards members get 3x points on their birthday, which you can redeem later for free food and drinks.

• Edible Arrangements: If you love sending Edible Arrangements, then you'll be gifted back on your birthday. Members of its rewards program receive a free box of dipped fruit on their birthday.

• IHOP: For pancake lovers, sign up for IHOP's International Bank of Pancakes rewards and collect points to receive a free full stack of pancakes on your birthday.

• Jamba Juice: A sweet but nutritious birthday treat could come from Jamba Juice, as Jamba Rewards members receive a free birthday smoothie.

• Jersey Mike's: How about your birthday served Mike's Way? Join Jersey Mike's email club and get a free birthday sub — as long as you've purchased a regular sub within the past year.

• Jimmy John's: Join the Jimmy John's rewards program and enjoy a free sub on your birthday.

• Krispy Kreme: Donut lovers need to be in Krispy Kreme's rewards program, which gets you a free birthday donut.

• LongHorn Steakhouse: On your birthday, you deserve a steak dinner, and LongHorn thinks so, too. When you join LongHorn's eClub, you get a free dessert or special coupon on your birthday.

• McDonald's: Receive a free medium fry at McDonald's on your birthday by downloading the McDonald's app and joining My McDonald's Rewards.

• Moe's Southwest Grill: Members of Moe Rewards get a free cup of their famous queso or guac as a birthday treat.

• Nothing Bundt Cakes: Join Bundtastic Rewards to receive a free Bundtlet cake on your birthday.

• Olive Garden: When you sign up for Olive Garden's email list, you'll get a coupon for free dessert on your birthday. Unlimited breadsticks, salad, and free chocolate lasagna certainly sound like the perfect birthday meal.

• Panera Bread: Members of MyPanera rewards get a free treat on their birthday: a muffin, cookie, pastry, or bagel.

• Papa John's: For a sweet birthday treat, join Papa Rewards. You'll be treated to a free dessert on your birthday.

• P.F. Chang's: At P.F. Chang's, get a free appetizer or dessert as a member of the restaurant's rewards program. That means your birthday lettuce wraps could be totally free.

• Pinkberry: Froyo is making a comeback. Pinkcard members get a free small yogurt with toppings on their birthday.

• Pizza Hut: Sign up for Pizza Hut's reward program and get a reward of breadsticks or cinnamon sticks on your birthday. Just make sure your birthday is added to your profile.

• Red Lobster: Go for the cheddar bay biscuits and stay for the free birthday reward. Joining Red Lobster's rewards gets you a free birthday dessert.

• Red Robin: A burger could be on the house when you go to Red Robin on your birthday. To qualify, sign up for Red Robin Royalty and spend $10 prior to your birthday.

• Ruby Tuesday: Enjoy a free burger or Garden Bar entree at Ruby Tuesday on your birthday when you sign up for Ruby Rewards. Just sign up in the app or online.

• Sbarro: Pizza lovers get a free XL NY Slice at Sbarro on their birthday. To get the reward, you must have a Sbarro rewards account and have the Sbarro app downloaded.

• 7-Eleven: You don't have to wait for free slushie day on 7/11. With 7Rewards, get a free small slushie on your birthday, too.

• Shake Shack: For a sweet birthday treat, add your birthday to your Shake Shack account and receive a free milkshake on the big day.

• Starbucks: As a member of Starbucks rewards, get a free drink or snack on your birthday.

• Subway: As a card-carrying member of the Sub Club, you'll enjoy a free cookie on your birthday, yum!

• Taco Bell: Join Taco Bell's rewards program and climb the tiers throughout the year to get a free birthday surprise. Earn 250 points and get to the restaurant's Hot Tier, and the birthday reward will be all yours.

• TGI Fridays: At TGI Fridays, not only will you get serenaded with a birthday song, but you'll also enjoy a free birthday dessert. To redeem, you must be a member of Fridays Rewards.

• Waffle House: Waffle lovers need to join Waffle House's Regulars Club. Joining gets you coupons and a sweet birthday treat.

• Wingstop: When you sign up for a Wingstop account, receive a free birthday reward to celebrate.

Retail birthday freebies You can't miss going to Sephora during your birthday month. Credit: Getty Images / Erik McGregor

• Aerie and American Eagle: For a new birthday 'fit, join RealRewards by American Eagle and Aerie and receive a $5 birthday reward. Rewards are sent out seven days prior to your birthday.

• Anthropologie: AnthroPerks members get a free discount and treat on their birthday. To redeem, you must be an AnthroPerks member at least 16 days prior to your birthday, as your code will be delivered two weeks from your birthdate.

• Bath & Body Works: Start a new year smelling right with Bath & Body Works. Create a rewards account and receive a free birthday surprise.

• CVS: If you have a CVS card, your ExtraCare membership will get you a $3 reward on your birthday. Just go to the CVS app to claim.

• DSW: Treat yourself to a new pair of shoes. As a member of DSW's VIP program, you'll receive a $5 gift certificate to use during your birthday month.

• Kendra Scott: Insider members get 50% off one fashion jewelry item and 25% off an item from the fine, demi-fine, home, or sunglasses collections.

• Miniso: Birthdays are a big deal at Miniso. Rewards vary locally, with some locations offering a free blind box (up to $25 in value) while others give a 20% off coupon to use during your birthday month.

• Old Navy: Climb the ranks of Old Navy's rewards program, and you and a family member could enjoy a reward on your birthday. Core members receive a birthday bonus, while Premier members (who spend $350+ annually) get a birthday bonus to share with a family member. Meanwhile, Old Navy card members get a birthday bonus to share with three family members.

• Sephora: Sephora's birthday gifts are iconic. During your birthday month, Sephora Insiders receive a free gift to redeem in-store or online.

• Stanley: For the Stanley Cup enthusiasts, it's time to sign up for the Stanley Club, which gets you a free birthday gift.

• Target: What's better than a discount on things you already need? Target Circle members get a 5% discount on their birthday.

• Total Wine: You could drink for free on your birthday thanks to Total Wine. &More rewards members get a free birthday deal, which could be a free bottle of wine.

• Ulta: Ulta Rewards members also get some pampering on their bdays. Just sign-up with your email and put in your birthday, and you'll get a treat when the big day rolls around.

• Victoria's Secret: All VS and Pink rewards members, regardless of tier, receive a $10 reward on their birthday.

• Yankee Candle: For candle lovers, there's Yankee Candle's Fragrance Family rewards. When you sign up with your email and input your birthday into your profile, you'll receive a birthday gift.

Marshall’s Heston 60 is a good soundbar for smaller rooms, especially if you want your speaker to make a visual statement. Marshall’s styling is, after all, in a category of its own, with its guitar amp-inspired looks and timeless Marshall flair. However, thanks to its surprisingly powerful output, plus an optional wireless subwoofer, this snazzy speaker can easily fill larger spaces, making it a great option for those on the fence about buying a full-size soundbar.

Like its much bigger sibling, the Marshall Heston 120, the Heston 60 commands a premium price ($699) compared to its nearest competitors, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($499), and the Bose Smart Soundbar ($549). In return for that bigger spend, you can expect a unique combination of features, style, and performance.

SEE ALSO: Marshall Heston 120 soundbar review: Massive TV sound from a rock’n’roll legend

The Heston 60 isn’t my go-to choice for a small-footprint Dolby Atmos experience, but for everything else, it rocks.

Marshall Heston 60 review: Design Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Depending on the product, Marshall’s amp-inspired design can go from wild to mild. The Heston 120, with its top-mounted, knurled knobs, has a real look-at-me vibe, while the Heston 60 is a little more demure: it trades the knobs for nearly flush brass-toned buttons.

You still get the black (or cream), faux-leather cabinet, the distinctive Marshall logo, and a salt’n’pepper fabric grille (the ‘fret’ in Marshall-speak), and it still looks great.

SEE ALSO: The Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar is the closest I've gotten to movie theater sound at home

The lack of knobs is partially a proportional thing — they’d look a little odd on the Heston 60’s smaller frame — and partially a practical thing. When wall-mounted (which you can easily do thanks to the included wall-mount grommets), the Heston 60’s controls face forward, not up, and sit at the bottom edge, where knobs would just look weird, poking out into space. Another benefit to going knobless: fewer visual distractions.

Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Speaking of distractions, the Marshall Wi-Fi app lets you alter the brightness of the control panel LEDs. That’s not a big deal when the Heston 60 is sitting on a surface, but when wall-mounted, it’s essential, as those little lights will be shining right at you.

Cleverly, both the control panel and the Marshall script logo are magnetic. When you swap from flat to wall-mounted, you can reposition both pieces so the Heston 60 retains its looks.

Yes, you can decide not to affix the Marshall logo, and no, it doesn’t have magnets.  They’re behind the grille (I mean fret), so you won’t be able to stick the logo to your car, your fridge, or any other metal surface unless you use glue.

Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Another clever feature for wall-mounting is the removable back compartment cover. It acts as a cable guide, ensuring you always get a clean install, regardless of which way you place the speaker.

At just over 2.5 inches tall, it should tuck under almost any stand-mounted TV. Partially blocking the top of the speaker shouldn’t be a problem, but leave the sides unobstructed — the angled, side-firing drivers need room to do their job. 

Repairability didn’t strike me as being very important on the massive, 15.5-pound Heston 120 — I figure most folks won’t be moving it once they set it in place — but the Heston 60, at just six pounds, is a relative featherweight. You might well want to move it from room to room, in which case, being able to replace the fret, end caps, drivers, and even the circuit boards could be a bonus.

Marshall Heston 60 review: Set up Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

If all you want is TV sound, setting up the Heston 60 is dead-simple: plug the speaker into your TV via an HDMI cable and then plug it into the wall with the power cord (both are included in the box). You can control the volume using your TV’s remote.

To get the most out of the Heston 60, however, you’ll need the Marshall Wi-Fi app (gold icon, not silver). It will walk you through the process of connecting the Heston to your Wi-Fi network (vital for Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Tidal Connect, etc.), download any required software updates, and prompt you to complete the soundbar’s built-in room correction process, which takes less than two minutes.

Credit: Marshall Credit: Marshall

Because the Heston doesn’t ship with its own remote, the app is also the way you’ll control the speaker’s source (HDMI/Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/Aux-in), EQ, and sound modes (music/movies/night/voice) from your sofa.

While the app is easy to use, it can suffer from long communication lags. If I left the app (say to start a stream from Spotify or Tidal) and then returned, it could take the Marshall app up to 10 seconds to reconnect to the Heston 60.

Marshall Heston 60 review: Connections and controls

On the back panel, you’ll find an HDMI-ARC/eARC port — standard for soundbars these days — and two far less common connections: a 3.5 analog input and a wired subwoofer output.

I’ve gotta give props to Marshall here. Most compact soundbars are treated as TV speakers with Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth if you want to play music. With the 3.5mm input, the Heston 60 can be connected to a turntable or literally any audio source that has an analog output.

The sub-out is even more beneficial. While the Heston 60 is designed to pair wirelessly with the Heston Sub 200 ($599), the sub output lets you use any powered subwoofer with an RCA input. This could save you a lot of money, as used powered subs are readily available for far less than the price of Marshall’s wireless unit.

The port that baffles me somewhat is the USB-C. On the Heston 120, it’s a handy power supply for stick-style streamers that plug into that speaker’s HDMI inputs. Since the Heston 60 doesn’t have any HDMI inputs, I’m not sure what you’ll use it for. Maybe recharging your phone?

Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

The Heston lacks an Ethernet jack, but it supports Wi-Fi 6. With Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, UPnP, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect, the Heston 60 can connect to almost any music source. And with native decoding of AAC, Mpeg4, ALAC, FLAC, LPCM, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, and WMA9, it will play almost any content you throw at it.

Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs provides ad-hoc audio streaming from a mobile device.

The top controls are intuitive and easy to use, with dedicated buttons for source, play/pause/track skipping, volume, and sound mode. Then there’s the “Prog.” button, which I assume is short for “programmable.” No idea why Marshall labeled it that when, in reality, it’s how you access your stored preset. And yes, I mean preset, singular. In the Marshall app, you can pick a currently playing source from Spotify or an internet radio station from the embedded Airable feature to be associated with that programmable button.

There’s no power button. Once you plug it in, the soundbar is on all of the time. It will switch to a low-power standby mode when it hasn’t been actively used in a while.

Marshall Heston 60 review: For movies and shows Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Under the hood, the Heston 60 sports 7 discrete drivers (five full-range, plus two woofers) and amps. That’s more than both the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Bose’s Smart Soundbar, which only have five powered drivers apiece. The key difference is Heston 60’s ability to process low-frequency effects (LFE) in a 5.1-channel arrangement (Beam is a 5.0 system and the Smart Soundbar is 3.0.2).

When it comes to watching movies, this translates into a much more gutsy sound than you’d expect from a compact bar. Marshall sent me the Heston Sub 200 to try out, and there were times when I’d forget that the Sub 200 was unplugged from the wall — such is the Heston 60’s low-end punch.

There’s excellent energy and presence throughout the rest of the frequency range as well. The Heston 60 excels at creating big, cinematic sound. It’s not perfect, however. The speaker seems to struggle to keep soundtrack elements from overlapping and interfering with each other. This is most noticeable with dialogue. In scenes where two characters are speaking, without much background sound, voices are clear and intelligible. When the background gets busy, like in the bombing run scene from Unbroken, speech can get muddied. You can use Voice mode to help with this, but the higher you boost this setting, the more you lose the lower frequencies that make movies so enjoyable.

Credit: Marshall

I’m not sure, but I suspect this is tied to Marshall’s use of five full-range drivers and no tweeters. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 uses a central tweeter and offers better overall dialogue clarity.

There are also times when the Heston 60 seems confused about how to process that amazing low-end. During the Aston Martin chase scene from No Time To Die, there were moments when I expected to hear a thump or thud (and didn’t) and moments where I heard them and hadn’t been expecting any.

Speaking of No Time To Die, that same clip is one of my go-to references for Dolby Atmos testing, along with select scenes from Dune and Ford v Ferrari. All of these scenes demonstrated that the Heston 60 can fully deliver on the emotion of these movies, but spatial effects — most notably height channel sounds — are limited.

This isn’t unusual for a compact speaker with no dedicated height drivers. The Heston 60 (like the Beam Gen 2) has to virtualize any height channel content, a tough challenge, especially when the same drivers are being used to generate all of the other sound you’re hearing. It also means there’s no way to goose the height channel levels to help out.

Still, even though there’s not much in the way of added height, the Heston 60 generates a decently wide soundstage, which goes a long way to creating a sense of immersion.

Marshall Heston 60 review: For Music

Like its bigger sibling, the Heston 120, the Marshall Heston 60 is a great music speaker. The energy, bass response, and overall emotional impact it imparts to movies translates beautifully to music.

Once again, the Heston’s dual woofers are the main ingredient, lending a resonant quality to all music styles. The warmth and tone remind me a lot of the Sonos Beam Gen 2, but with an extra level of musicality. 

I really like the Heston’s default Music mode tuning, which sounds better the louder you play, but each mode can also be tweaked using the Marshall app’s equalizer.

Credit: Marshall

Unfortunately, the Heston 60’s music performance can be like Jekyll and Hyde, depending on the format and connection method. Normally, Google Cast is the most reliable way to stream high-quality audio, but doing so from Amazon Music on an iPhone produced abnormally low volume levels.  

Direct streaming (Tidal Connect/Spotify Connect), AirPlay, and Bluetooth were all more reliable and sounded great.

Dolby Atmos Music is another quirky situation: make sure the Heston 60 is set to Movie mode. Atmos Music has an extremely low level in Music mode. The soundbar defaults to Music mode when the source is set to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or line-in, so if something sounds amiss, check the mode and try one of the other settings.

The Heston 60 will play Dolby Atmos Music tracks, both from TV or streamer-based apps like Apple Music, Tidal, or Amazon Music, or directly via Tidal Connect. Ordinarily, Atmos Music on a capable soundbar is a treat, with an expanded soundstage and (depending on the mix) intriguing use of 3D space. Similar to the Heston’s Atmos performance with movie content, you just don’t get the same level of immersion that you would with a higher-end speaker like the Heston 120. Moreover, on the Heston 60, Atmos Music tends to exhibit sharper, more sibilant highs than conventional stereo.

It’s worth noting that, as great as the Heston 60 is as a standalone music speaker, it can’t compare to either Sonos’ or Bose’s multiroom functionality, and the lack of any music management within the Marshall app means the Heston is simply an endpoint for your favorite streaming apps. Still, if you want a soundbar that can do vinyl, the choice is clear — neither the Beam Gen 2 nor the Smart Soundbar can connect to turntables.

Marshall Heston 60 review: Sound adjustments

Built-in room calibration is another bonus for such a small speaker like the Heston 60, though don’t expect to be wowed by the result. Depending on your room size, shape, and furniture, you may get a new EQ curve that keeps the bass levels from becoming overbearing (or may give them a slight tweak). In my TV room, it didn’t make any difference at all.

If you’re not happy with the calibration, you can repeat the process or disable it entirely.

Each sound mode gives the speaker a different tuning. Music tends to be the most neutral, while Movie emphasizes highs and lows. Night reduces dynamic range for low-intensity viewing, and Voice de-emphasizes lows and lower-mids while boosting speech frequencies.

If you don’t love the sound of a specific mode, you can tweak it using the custom EQ feature. These tweaks then become associated with that mode and will stick around even as you move from one mode to another.

Is the Marshall Heston 60 worth it?

At $699, the Marshall Heston 60 is one of the most expensive compact soundbars you can buy. Its closest competitors, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Bose Smart Soundbar are priced up to $200 lower (and get regular discounts throughout the year).

An up to 40 percent premium over these two excellent speakers is a lot to justify, and I’m not sure that the Heston 60 does so.

For its size, it produces big, bold sound for both movies and music, and its built-in woofers deliver stronger bass than the Beam or the Smart Soundbar. I really like the flexibility of being able to add any subwoofer, and having an analog input increases the Heston’s versatility. It’s also hard to deny that Marshall’s iconic design makes a classy addition to any room — it doesn’t look like your average soundbar.

And yet, the Heston’s Dolby Atmos effects aren’t significantly better than the Beam or Smart Soundbar, and for some things, notably dialogue clarity, expandability, and multiroom audio, these two competitors have the edge.

To seriously consider the Heston 60 over these alternatives, you need to value all of its unique features, not just some of them. If that sounds like you, the Heston 60 is very easy to recommend. It may not be the perfect compact soundbar, but no other speaker offers its particular mix of style, sound, and features.

Marshall Heston 60 soundbar $699.99 at Amazon
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  Shop Now Marshall Heston 60 review: Just the specs

• Dimensions: 28.74 x 2.68 x 4.88 inches

• Wall-mountable: Yes, wall-mount included

• Remote included: No

• Number/type of drivers: 7 (5 full-range, 2 woofers)

• Number/power of amps: 7 class D (2 x 25 watts, 5 x 5 watts)

• Channels/configuration: 5.1

• Ports: HDMI eARC, 3.5mm AUX-in, sub-out, USB-C

• Wired/Wireless networking: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6

• WiFi streaming platforms: Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA

• Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, LC3

• Audio codecs: MPEG-4, ALAC, FLAC, LPCM, Ogg, Vorbis, WMA, WMA9 

• Audio formats: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS-X

• Expandable: via Auracast

• In the box: soundbar, HDMI cable, power cable, Quick-start guide

• Colors: Black, Cream

Seven months after Heated Rivalry debuted on HBO, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody has opened Off-Broadway. Catering to fans who can't get enough of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, the musical hits the biggest beats of the TV show, with the occasional half-hearted jabs at its quirks. But overall, this parody is less about Jacob Tierney's wildly popular adaptation of Rachel Reid's smut hockey novel, and more about playing to the fans — and not just fans of Heated Rivalry itself. 

Theater adults will likely chuckle at nods to Gypsy, Little Shop of Horrors, The Full Monty, and more. For instance, the book by Dylan MarcAurele begins by taking a page from Titanique.

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody focuses on a diva, not the hockey dudes. Cherry Torres, Ryann Redmond, and Ryan Duncan play Susans in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

This parody begins not by introducing the rival hockey pros but three fans of Heated Rivalry, all named Susan. They sing about how watching "gay hockey players with big butts having sex" gives their boring home lives much-craved spice. And they can't wait to welcome you into the fandom. 

The structure of this parody seems pretty clearly cribbed from the Off-Broadway parody of Titanic, which is now a four-time Tony-nominated Broadway show. Both center on a female narrator who is eccentric, passionate, and can sing like a pop diva rather than the lovers at the heart of the story. In Titanique, that's the musical's co-creator Marla Mindelle. In Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody, it's Ryann Redmond, who plays the Main Susan. 

Redmond delivers a delicious drag performance that exaggerates the stereotypical Heated Rivalry fan that's gotten a lot of attention since the show came out. Susan is middle-aged, white, straight, loves gay smut, and has a Midwestern accent as thick as ambrosia salad. Like the show itself, Susan is a parody done with great affection. And Redmond is remarkable in the role, giving plenty of heart to deeply silly original songs, as well as references to other musicals, like Gypsy ("It's Rose's turn!").

Bolstering her are fellow Susans, played by Cherry Torres and Ryan Duncan; the latter seems to be channeling John Roberts' internet icon mom, down to the frizzy red wig and penchant for sweat suits. Together, this trio plays most of the supporting roles in the musical, including Shane's mom, Ilya's dad, smoothie-maker Kip, movie star Rose, and Kip's co-worker Maria. What about Shane's dad? Well, there's a joke that he's so boring he's been cut, but the other excuse is he's off looking for his phone charger! (IYKYK.) 

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody gives one audience member a chance to be a star.  Cherry Torres and Ryan Duncan play Maria and Kip in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

You might have clocked I didn't mention Scott Hunter, the closeted captain of the New York Admirals whose big moment of kissing Kip after winning the Stanley Cup gives Ilya the courage to say the line: "I'm coming to the cottage." 

Well, in this parody, he's not played by one of the cast. Instead, they pull an audience member up on stage to play Kip. As Susan, Redmond declared, "Tonight, the role of Scott Hunter will be played by one of you." And the night I attended, the "you" selected was New York Times contributor Tim Teeman.

He was handed a script and thrust into the meet-cute where Kip (Duncan) meets Scott at the smoothie shop, while Maria mostly says "girl" over and over. Teeman was game to play out seven pages of dialogue, as Duncan flirted and swooned. And it was a charming gambit that reflects the popularity of working in the audience on Broadway shows like Titanique, Every Brilliant Thing, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball. 

However, the sheer goofiness of this bit reflects how every bit of Ilya and Shane's romance is handled.

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody has sex but no heat.  Jay Armstrong Johnson and Jimin Moon play Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

Perhaps it's too much to expect a swiftly made musical parody to capture the uniquely thrilling onscreen chemistry of Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. But Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody doesn't really try. 

The couple's meet-cute over a cigarette feels stiff in the hands of their Ilya (Jay Armstrong Johnson). And while the show gets sillier from there — including a song number about how Ilya's big butt has been a burden he's carried and been ostracized for all his life — Johnson fails to rise to the level of Storrie's cheek. 

Jimin Moon fares better as Shane, heightening the hockey pro's social awkwardness to comical proportions that feel reflective of rom-com daffiness. The song "This Fuck Felt Different from the Last Fuck" plays hilariously because of Moon's earnestness, treating the spicy lyrics as if they are a Disney princess "I wish" song. But he's better paired with Redmond, who plays his bawdy beard Rose. Together, they score laughs with his wide-eyed shock at her frankness, which is bolstered by Redmond's sensational pipes. 

Ryann Redmond and Jimin Moon play Rose and Shane in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

In scenes of sex and seduction, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody favors cheap laughs, employing dummies to act out frantic fucking. The actors may look the part of Ilya and Shane, but they can't recreate their chemistry. So, what we're left with are jokes about douching and zany reenactments of the show's most pivotal scenes. 

Curiously, the one song from Heated Rivalry's soundtrack the parody uses is t.A.T.u.'s "All the Things She Said," with Johnson and Moon singing a bit before the full track blares in the small theater, turning the vibe to night club. This club scene that drove fans wild is treated with some reverence, aside from two Susans playing bump-and-grinding party girls who seem oblivious to their dancing partner's disinterest. Yet the intensity of this moment is lost, even with the familiar song, because of an abundance of silliness and a lack of heat between its leading men. 

Frustratingly, the bits of Heated Rivalry that the fandom loved for their charming silliness — like Shane's pain-killer-addled plea for Ilya to come to his cottage — are not memorably interpreted. So the final act falls flat, despite the best efforts and intense enthusiasm of the Susans. 

While some parodies can give a fun new spin on the source material (see Puffs), others can get too caught up in their own cleverness to appease fans (Exorcistic: The Rock Musical). Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody falls in between.

Jimin Moon plays Shane Hollander in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

The audience on the night I attended howled with laughter throughout, whether the jokes were about sex, the show, hockey, or just playing the audio from Storrie's early days on YouTube.

Admittedly, I struggled to enjoy the show because of some horrendous technical issues. First off, my seat on the right-hand side of the Culture Club theater was not listed as an obstructed view. However, between the columns in the tight space, the compact size of the stage, and the very tall man who sat in front of me, I spent much of the musical craning my neck and wiggling around trying to see what was going on. For instance, during the show's climactic cheeky moment, a seeming nod to The Full Monty's Broadway finale, I couldn't see anything — despite seeing plenty being the whole point. 

The other issue was a loud, mechanical humming that came from a massive in-room air conditioner. I did go see this on an abruptly scorching day. But letting this unit run throughout the show meant the performers were in a battle against the shockingly loud, droning white noise. With no intermission and sold-out shows, I had no option but to sit and try my hardest to see and hear as much as I could. Admittedly, this might be why the only song whose lyrics stuck with me is the opening about "gay hockey players with big butts," which is reprised at the end. 

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody is now playing Off-Broadway.

TL;DR: Watch Canada vs. Finland in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships final is calling to Canada and Finland, but only one team can make that showpiece event. Canada have looked like the team to beat for much of this tournament, but Finland will pose a serious threat in this semi final.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Canada vs. Finland?

Canada vs. Finland in the 2026 IIHF World Championships starts at 2 p.m. ET on May 30. This fixture takes place at the Swiss Life Arena.

How to watch Canada vs. Finland for free

Canada vs. Finland in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to live stream for free on IIHF.TV.

IIHF.TV is not available in some locations due to regional broadcasting restrictions (blocked locations listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Connect to IIHF.TV

5. Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream Canada vs. Finland plus every other fixture before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for the Ice Hockey World Championships?

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