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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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Celebrate your love of monster romance in the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 11:33

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Feb. 14. Monster Stuff Your Kindle Day offers monster romances featuring vampires, aliens, demons, and much more.

There were a number of Stuff Your Kindle Day events last year, but things are getting out of hand in 2025. Seriously, we're struggling to keep up with the frequency of Stuff Your Kindle Days right now. It seems like a new event drops every week.

We shouldn't complain, because this is great news for bookworms everywhere. Stuff Your Kindle Day provides an awesome opportunity to stock up on hundreds of books without spending anything. And the books that you download are yours to keep.

SEE ALSO: The best Kindles in 2025

The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is focused on monster romance books. Yep, you read that right. Monster Stuff Your Kindle Day offers romances that feature vampires, aliens, demons, trolls, orcs, and so much more. If that sounds like your thing (no judgement here), this is your chance to stock up.

Want to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule is incredibly busy in 2025. We had a couple of events in January, but February is on another level. The most recent event started on Feb. 10, with the Indie Only Book Club offering indie romance books for $0.99 or free until Feb. 14.

And now on Feb. 14, Monster Stuff Your Kindle Day is showcasing free romances that feature everything from aliens to cryptids

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The beautiful thing about Stuff Your Kindle Day is that anyone can participate. You don't even need to own a Kindle to get involved.

Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone, as you can also find these free titles on the Google Play and Apple Books apps.

Which e-books are free?

Sourcing all of these free monster romance books is straightforward. There's a helpful hub page with everything on offer listed out by category:

Take your pick and stock up. All of the listed titles could be yours for absolutely nothing.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books per month that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow, so don't hold back.

Shop Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited $109.99 at Amazon
$145.96 Save $35.97 Get Deal Why we like it

These super popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. They start at $109.99, a great price for those on a budget, but if you want to save even more, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited absolutely free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 per month and allows you to borrow up to 20 months per month. For a limited time, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, saving you $35.97.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Presidents Day deals in 2025: Sales on mattresses, TVs, and more already live

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 11:30

UPDATE: Feb. 14, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with additional deals from Samsung's Presidents' Day sale.

The best Presidents' Day deals already live: Best mattress deal Helix Sleep Save 25% sitewide + two free pillows with Helix Luxe or Elite mattress with code PRES25 Get Deal Best home deal Rugs USA Save 45% off sitewide w/ code PREZDAY45 Get Deal Best tech deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 (Save $80) Get Deal Best TV deal Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED 4K LS03D TV $899.99 (save $600 + save up to an extra $200 when you bundle with select speakers) Get Deal

Presidents' Day weekend isn't quite here, but retailers aren't waiting to drop deals.

The holiday, which officially falls on Feb. 17, historically brings deals on mattresses and home appliances, but you'll also find deals on laptops, headphones, and more, thanks to retailers like Best Buy, Samsung, and HP hosting sales. Amazon hasn't officially dropped its sale yet, but we've spotted some Presidents' Day-worthy deals from the mega-retailer.

SEE ALSO: Best 65-inch+ TVs for watching football: Top 3 to buy during February sales

Below, we gathered all the best early Presidents' Day deals that are already live. As the day approaches, we'll be adding more sales, so don't forget to check back.

Best Presidents' Day mattress deals Opens in a new window Credit: Helix Helix Sleep Save 25% sitewide + two free pillows with Helix Luxe or Elite mattress with code PRES25 Get Deal Why we like it

Podcast preferences vary, but one experience is universal for many listeners: hearing about Helix mattresses in an ad break at least once per day. But if you've ever talked to someone you know who actually has a Helix mattress, you've likely been informed that they are, in fact, comfy as hell. Helix's Presidents' Day sale is a good time to try one for yourself — get 25% off any mattress, which start as low as $999 for a queen after the discount. Each purchase also comes with two free pillows, plus a free mattress protector and sheet set with any Luxe or Elite mattress purchase.

More mattress deals

  • Amerisleep — Save $500 on any mattress

  • Avocado Green — Save up to 20% sitewide

  • Bear — Save 35% sitewide + two free pillows

  • Big Fig — Save $500 on any mattress with code PRES

  • Birch — Save 25% sitewide with code PRES25

  • Brooklyn Bedding — Save 30% sitewide with code PRESDAY30

  • Casper — Take up to 35% off Max Mattresses and 30% off other mattresses

  • DreamCloud — Save up to 50% on mattresses and 66% off bundles

  • Layla — Take up to $200 off mattresses and get two free Layla Pillows

  • Leesa — Take 30% off mattresses, plus free sleep bundles

  • Naturepedic — Take 20% off organic mattresses and bedding sitewide

  • Nectar — Save up to 50% on mattresses + $599 of accessories included

  • Nolah — Take 35% off sitewide, plus get two free pillows + $150 off BedJet 3

  • Purple — Save up to $900 on a mattress and a base

  • Saatva — Save up to $600 off mattresses

  • Tempur-Pedic — Save up to $500 on select adjustable mattress sets

  • Tuft & Needle — Save 20% on all mattresses

  • WinkBeds — Take $300 off mattresses

Best Presidents' Day home deals Opens in a new window Credit: Rugs USA Save 45% off sitewide w/ code PREZDAY45 Get Deal Why we like it

One of the rudest awakenings of adulthood is the price of rugs. Rugs USA's massive sitewide sale is a chance to get some stylish new floor coverings for way cheaper than usual — the up to 45% sitewide discount offers even more flexibility than the 30% off sale we saw at the beginning of the month. Categories on sale include designer collabs and spill-proof rugs, but our personal favorites are Rug USA's machine-washable rugs — some of the best Ruggable dupes out there.

Kitchen

  • KitchenAid — Save up to $100 off select countertop appliances, including stand mixers and attachments

  • Nutribullet — Save 20% sitewide with code PRESBLEND20

  • Made In — Save up to 25% on select cookware and accessories

  • Ninja Creami — $199.99 $229.99 (save $30)

VacuumsBedding, furniture, and more

  • Brooklinen — Save up to 20% off nearly everything sitewide (email required)

  • Overstock — Save up to 70% off, plus use the code PRESDAY10 for an extra 10% off

Beauty techBest Presidents' Day tech deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Apple's noise-canceling earbuds are a no-brainer when they're on sale. The AirPods Pro 2 are back down to $169, matching the second-lowest price we've ever seen on this pair — only to be beaten by a short-lived dip to $153.99 around the holidays. Past the impeccable ambient noise sealing, the AirPods Pro 2 have a solid six-hour battery life from a full charge.

More tech dealsGeneral

  • Best Buy — Save on laptops, TVs, major appliances, and more

  • HP — Save up to 81% on select products and get free shipping sitewide

TVsSoundbarsEarbudsHeadphonesTablets and e-readersLaptopsSmart homeSmartwatchesUnlocked phones
Categories: IT General, Technology

Stuff Your Kindle Day is back. How to get free indie romance books during this special event.

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 11:27

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Feb. 10-14. Hosted by Indie Only Book Club, this event offers free indie romance books in a variety of subgenres.

We were treated to a number of Stuff Your Kindle Day events last year, but things have got wild in 2025. Yes, that's right. Stuff Your Kindle Day is back again, offering free (or heavily discounted) books to the world. So stop what you're doing and stock up. This is your moment to shine.

Stuff Your Kindle Day provides an amazing opportunity to stock up on hundreds of books without spending anything.

SEE ALSO: The best Kindles in 2025

You're probably looking for the catch, but there isn't one. These author-organized events really do drop the price of e-books to absolutely nothing. And the books that you download are yours to keep.

This latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is focused on indie romance books. Hosted by Indie Only Book Club, this event offers romance books in a variety of subgenres. All of the books are discounted to $0.99 or nothing for the duration of the event.

Want to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule is absolutely packed in 2025. We've already had a couple of events in January, and February has a number of free giveaways. Treasure these moments, bookworms.

On Feb. 10-14, the Indie Only Book Club is hosting the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day. Indie romance books are discounted to $0.99 or free for the duration of the event.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The best thing about Stuff Your Kindle Day is that anyone can participate.

You don't even need to own a Kindle to get involved. Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone, as you can also find these free titles on the Google Play and Apple Books apps.

Which e-books are free?

Finding all these free indie romance books is straightforward thanks to Indie Only Book Club. There's a helpful hub page with everything on offer listed out for your convenience, with shopping links to Amazon.

There's also spice level information on the hub page, so you know exactly what you're getting yourself into with these titles. No surprises.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books per month that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow, so don't hold back.

Shop Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited $109.99 at Amazon
$145.96 Save $35.97 Get Deal Why we like it

These super popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. They start at $109.99, a great price for those on a budget, but if you want to save even more, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited absolutely free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 per month and allows you to borrow up to 20 months per month. For a limited time, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, saving you $35.97.

Featured Video For You Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which one is better?
Categories: IT General, Technology

TikTok is back in Apple and Googles U.S. app stores

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:18

TikTok is now available for download in the U.S. once more. Bloomberg reports that Apple and Google have restored the popular video-sharing app to the Apple App and Google Play stores as of Thursday evening, after it was initially removed in January. 

SEE ALSO: The new TikTok ban deadline looms: When it hits and what has to happen

While TikTok itself initially blocked U.S. users hours prior to the ban officially coming to effect on Jan. 19, the app quickly came back online after President-elect Donald Trump indicated he would not enforce the ban. The Biden administration had also stated they would not be enforcing it, "given the timing of when it goes into effect over a holiday weekend a day before inauguration."

Trump subsequently signed an executive order temporarily delaying enforcement of the ban as one of his first acts as President. In it, he stated his intent to negotiate a solution which would keep TikTok in the U.S. while addressing the national security concerns which prompted the ban.

Even so, TikTok was reportedly still unavailable in the iOS and Android app stores. Under the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act banning TikTok, Apple and Google could have been penalised for continuing to enable the distribution and updating of the app.

Trump's Jan. 20 executive order delaying the TikTok ban's enforcement did technically offer Apple and Android immunity as well, with the president ordering that no action be taken to enforce the Act for 75 days. However, the tech giants reportedly held off on allowing TikTok to return to their app stores until they received a Trump-ordered letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi pledging that the ban would not be enforced.

Mashable has reached out to Google and Apple for comment.

While companies no longer fear legal consequences for allowing people in the U.S. to download TikTok for now, it's still unclear exactly how Trump plans to resolve the issue. Recently, the president floated the idea of the U.S. government itself purchasing TikTok with the sovereign wealth fund he recently ordered be established. 

However, TikTok's parent company ByteDance has consistently maintained that no sale will go ahead, and that the divestment the U.S. government is demanding is "technologically, commercially, and legally infeasible."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Yellowjackets Season 3, episode 1 brings us back to the all-important pit

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:01

The pit! The pit! It always comes back to the pit in Yellowjackets.

We're officially back in the wilderness with the arrival of Season 3 of Showtime's teen cannibalism drama, and in episode 1, there's a throwback to the very first episode of Season 1. Yep, we've finally found the all-important pit, the site of the mystery Pit Girl's grisly demise.

Wait, what's the pit in Yellowjackets again? Always with the pit. Credit: Paul Sarkis / Showtime

In the opening scene of Yellowjackets Season 1, we see a girl running for her life through the snow as a wild rumpus echoes through the trees. She falls into a deep, stake-lined pit and is impaled. Importantly, she's wearing a heart-shaped necklace we learn originally belonged to Jackie (Ella Purnell). Jackie had given the necklace to Shauna (Sophie Nélisse), who then makes it a ritual item in Season 2, to be worn by whoever draws the Queen of Hearts card to be sacrificed and eaten. The identity of the necklace-wearing Pit Girl has yet to be revealed, but it's now clear that she drew the damned card.

SEE ALSO: In Memoriam: Who is dead on 'Yellowjackets'? Where do we find the pit in Season 3?  Though this moment was brutal, it was just a game. But the FORESHADOWING. Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Paramount+ with Showtime

Now, in the opening scene of Yellowjackets Season 3, we see a terrified Mari (Alexa Barajas) chased through the woods, a ruse revealed to be a mere game of "Capture the Flag." It’s both a clever throwback to Season 1's opening scene and a foreshadowing of what's ahead in this episode — and it's especially interesting as a lot of online theories point to Mari possibly being the Pit Girl, as it's still unclear whether she made it out of the wilderness.

About 25 minutes into the episode, we reunite with Coach Ben (Steven Krueger), who's been surviving solo in the wilderness after ditching the team last season, horrified by their pivot to cannibalism. He stumbles across a pit covered by wooden planks, and within it finds a cargo container under a tarp that's full of survival supplies. Best guess? It was probably dug by the hunter who owned the cabin the Yellowjackets took shelter in until it was burned down (more on that below). 

After pulling everything out of it, Ben re-covers the pit with the tarp, dirt, and leaves, then leaves bait on top of it, hoping for a deer to fall in. Later in the episode, having stormed off from camp after her fight with Shauna, Mari falls into the disguised pit and breaks her leg.

Featured Video For You The 'Yellowjackets' cast tries to define the show's "Wilderness" What's Coach Ben's plan?

Ben has had quite a time of it, what with having his leg amputated by a teen, experiencing emotionally draining hallucinations from starvation, and almost taking his own life. Ben finally fled the cabin in Season 2, horrified by the team's human feasts. He's been surviving by himself for months, through winter, spring, and now summer. But with his absence and open disdain for the team's eating of one another, he's also a prime suspect for the big event of the Season 2 finale.

As we see in a scene between Natalie (Sophie Thatcher), Taissa (Jasmin Savoy Brown), Gen (Vanessa Prasad), and Van (Liv Hewson), the team suspect Ben of being the one who burned down the cabin last season in retaliation for their cannibalism. They're still looking for him, but he's pretty much presumed dead by the Yellowjackets. But then we see the coach very much alive, setting small animal traps in the woods — clearly how he's been surviving this long.

When he sees it's Mari caught in the pit, not a deer, it's hard to judge Ben's reaction beyond pure shock. What's Ben's plan now? Will he succumb to the Yellowjackets' penchant for human haute cuisine? Will he capture or release Mari, and why? At this point, anything could happen.

But what we do know from Season 1? The Yellowjackets will eventually find the pit and line it with stakes.

Yellowjackets Season 3 is streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime from Feb. 14, with new episodes weekly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Yellowjackets Season 3, episode 1: Who brought that *very* convenient architecture book?

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:01

In the first post-credits scene of the season, Yellowjackets Season 3 takes us into the brand new wilderness base of our missing football team. And just look at those huts!

The last time we saw the Yellowjackets in the past they were huddled together in the snow watching their dark, spider-webbed cabin home of Seasons 1 and 2 burn. As Cat Steven's "Morning Has Broken" plays over this Eden-like alternative in Season 3, we see the team has been busy building their new spring home. Superbly constructed dwellings, woven from twigs, fibers, and other materials, encircle a campfire, the site dotted with chairs the team have hauled from the plane wreckage. There are some A-frame huts, some flat-roofed built with larger branches, and one exquisite pear-shaped hut with a circular opening. 

I'm sorry, who in this team is an actual architect, design expert, or studied survival training? These are exceptional!

SEE ALSO: In Memoriam: Who is dead on 'Yellowjackets'?

Having survived this long in the wilderness, it's not a surprise this team is able to construct sturdy dwellings — they've made their own clothes, period products, culty headresses, and makeshift altars, and served each other up for dinner. Misty has proven skills in first aid and DIY amputation, but she's never indicated any interest in nomadic shelter design.

The show answers this question for us, with the next shot a close-up of several tattered books, including a title called Art and Architecture of the Ancient World by G. Smyth, M. Garcia, and W. Parker, a book created for the show. The cover shows two images of huts, both similar to the Yellowjackets' structures. It looks like an old textbook, definitely a few decades old.

My question, however, is whose book is this? I reached out to the Yellowjackets production team for answers, but in the meantime there are really only two possibilities I can see.

Featured Video For You The 'Yellowjackets' cast tries to define the show's "Wilderness"

The first, one of the Yellowjackets found it in the cabin and valued it enough to rescue it from the flames when the team's temporary home was burned down in the Season 2 finale. The five books, though they look very battered, don't look burned, so if they were in the cabin, someone thought to grab them at the first sign of danger. But remember, Laura Lee taught herself how to fly a plane from the cabin's cursed library and look how that ended.

The second possibility is that someone brought the book with them on the plane, and either had it with them the whole time (and saved it from the fire) or retrieved it from the wreckage after the fire. Maybe the pilots (RIP) or Coach Bill (RIP) were really into art and architecture history? Was it a textbook of one of the students (though it seems a very old one)?

It's such a specific, useful book for the Yellowjackets to have in this moment of need, basically an instruction manual on sophisticated architectural techniques and climate-appropriate ventilation, right here in the wilderness — and we're shown it in close-up. Such a tome feels so convenient. But who does it belong to? WHO?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Yellowjackets Season 3: If you were disappointed by Season 2, just wait

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:01

In its first season, Yellowjackets' blend of survival thriller tropes, tantalizing mysteries, and the savagery of high school girls made it must-see TV. In its second outing, the show delivered some much-anticipated cannibalism and further explored the adult Yellowjackets' trauma. But wonky pacing and an unfulfilling 21st-century storyline meant that Season 2 couldn't reach the exquisite highs of Season 1. Was the show in decline, or was Season 2 just a misstep?

After watching the first four episodes of Season 3, the answer is unfortunately the former.

SEE ALSO: In Memoriam: Who is dead on 'Yellowjackets'?

Despite the occasional jaw-dropping moment, Yellowjackets continues to feel unmoored this season, especially when it comes to its adult timeline. Not only does the series have no clue what to do with several members of its ensemble — it also seems like it's just treading water until it can get to its terrifying Season 1 cold open.

What's Yellowjackets Season 3 about? Christina Ricci in "Yellowjackets." Credit: Colin Bentley / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Yellowjackets Season 2 ended with the teen Yellowjackets' cabin burning down — presumably at the hands of Coach Ben (Steven Krueger) — and the promise of a tough winter without shelter. Season 3 skips ahead to the summer, when the team has built a thriving commune complete with animal pens and exquisitely build shelters. In a speech celebrating the summer solstice, Van (Liv Hewson) catches us up to speed on what we missed in the time jump as well as the events of Season 2, a moment of self-mythologizing that also doubles as an eyeroll-worthy recap. ("Previously, on the Yellowjackets," Van says, in a meta nod that falls flat.)

Shauna (Sophie Nélisse), on the other hand, wants no part in Van's sanitizing of the horrors the team has endured (and committed) — understandably so, given the still-fresh loss of her baby. Her anger, which mostly manifests in fights with the ever-annoying Mari (Alexa Barajas, taking on a bigger role this season), will drive a wedge between team members and challenge current leader Natalie's (Sophie Thatcher, Companion) hold on power. Natalie, for her part, is in a precarious position: How can she protect Coach Ben while her teammates beg for his blood?

SEE ALSO: 'Yellowjackets': 10 burning questions we have for Season 3

In the present, the adult Yellowjackets grieve the loss of Natalie (Juliette Lewis). Well, Misty (Christina Ricci) does, at any rate. Aside from one scene of post-funeral commiseration, it seems like Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), Taissa (Tawny Cypress), and Van (Lauren Ambrose) have moved on fairly quickly. That most of the grief falls on Misty makes sense given her role in Nat's death, but the other Yellowjackets' quick moving on cheapens Season 2's biggest loss.

It's not like they even move on to more exciting things! Shauna has to deal with her daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins) prying further into what happened in the wilderness, as well as a mysterious new person trying to reach out to her. (Yes, the latter reads as an uninspired rehash of Season 1's blackmailing plot.) Meanwhile, Tai and Van rekindle their teen romance, but despite Cypress and Ambrose's solid chemistry, their arc feels like a boring, slow-moving side quest in an already unfocused present-day storyline. Take me back to when the adults were working together, instead of scattered.

Yellowjackets Season 3 doesn't know what to do with many of its characters. Tawny Cypress, Lauren Ambrose, Warren Kole, and Melanie Lynskey in "Yellowjackets." Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

The unfortunate adult Tai and Van storyline is just one symptom of Yellowjackets' biggest problem: a lack of understanding of how to use its ensemble cast. (A similar problem has befallen The White Lotus, another show with an underwhelming third season.)

In any ensemble show, there are bound to be characters who fall to the wayside. But in Yellowjackets Season 3, these characters are among those who were set up to play a huge role. Teen Tai and Van are often sidelined as much as their adult counterparts, making story elements like Shauna and Tai's Season 1 bond a distant (and much-missed) memory. Lottie (played by Courtney Eaton and Simone Kessell) also gets short shrift this time around. Without a cruel winter pushing the team to put their faith in the wilderness, teen Lottie has been pushed to the sidelines, where she attempts more vague, spiritual practices that, despite some ominous visions, seem more like filler than anything meaningful. And remember how adult Lottie was set up as a major new arrival in Season 2? You'd be hard-pressed to find anything remotely close to that impact in Season 3.

SEE ALSO: The 'Yellowjackets' cast tries to define the show's wilderness

Elsewhere, characters who get more airtime, like Melissa (Jenna Burgess) or Mari, struggle to stand out against the far more developed leads. One single joke about Melissa suddenly having a personality does not, in fact, a personality make! That disparity is even more clear when the two interact with Shauna, who remains the show's most fully-formed lead in both timelines. In the present, Yellowjackets dives deeper into her relationship with Misty, which results in scenes that, while fun, also remind us of all the rich interpersonal dynamics we could be having across the season if Yellowjackets knew how best to showcase its incredible cast.

Did Yellowjackets set itself up for failure? Sophie Thatcher in "Yellowjackets." Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Aside from its shoddy character work, Season 3 of Yellowjackets meanders even more than Season 2. Yes, there are a collection of episode-ending cliffhangers that will shock viewers, but don't expect Yellowjackets to do much with them — certainly not an intriguing kiss that feels more and more like wasted potential the further we get from it. Meanwhile, Hilary Swank, whose mystery role has been teased in Yellowjackets' trailers, doesn't even show up in the first four episodes.

The lack of propulsion feels extra egregious considering Yellowjackets' first-ever scene: the team hunting an unknown victim through the snowy woods as part of their ritualistic cannibalism. Said scene gives us a definitive ending point for the teen Yellowjackets' journey (aside from their rescue), but the show risks dragging its feet too long to get there. The Season 3 premiere even opens with a fake-out echoing that first hunt, so the show is aware how much we're craving that payoff. But three and a half years and two seasons have passed since that premiere, and as Yellowjackets continues to spin its wheels about what really happened in the wilderness, its momentum suffers.

Its present-day timeline suffers too, as the survivors are reduced to cryptic vagaries about "what we did out there" in order to surprise the audience about what other atrocities they committed as teenagers. There's only so much pussyfooting I can take, though, especially when Yellowjackets set itself such a high bar in Season 1.

In setting that bar — and specifically singling out that scene — Yellowjackets may have set itself an impossible task. Can it truly keep audiences invested in the show's many mysteries, several of which have remained mysteries since Season 1, over the course of its planned five-season arc? Based on the start of Season 3, with its unsatisfying character development and continued foot-dragging, it seems unlikely. Yellowjackets may already be running out of steam.

The first two episodes ofYellowjackets Season 3 are now streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime, with new episodes weekly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Yellowjackets Season 3 opening credits: All the clues you may have missed

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:01

Yellowjackets not only has one of the greatest opening credits sequences in TV, but it's also one you have to pay attention to. Because even though it's mostly the same each season, with Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker's "No Return" blaring, there are subtle differences — and some of those differences may contain clues for what's to come.

We've combed through the Season 3 opening credits to see what new shots have been added, and what that might mean.

SEE ALSO: In Memoriam: Who is dead on 'Yellowjackets'? A sketch of a body lying horizontally

It's brief, but there's a shot of what appears to be a sketch on a piece of paper. The image drawn looks like a body lying horizontally. What's this all about, then? To be honest, it's a pretty tricky one to decipher because it's so fleeting. Aside from the body, the only other things on the piece of paper are what look like three large spikes at the bottom of the page.

Could this be some kind of diagram? Maybe a plan for a trap? It's worth noting the design heavily resembles the pit seen in the opening of Season 1 – remember the mystery Pit Girl that gets impaled? – so maybe the sketch is the origin of that.

A playing card being drawn

We already know what this means, and it's nothing good. Back in Season 2, the Yellowjackets in the wilderness resorted to drawing cards in order to pick who'd be hunted and eaten next (a ritual they later repeat as adults at Lottie's wellness centre in the Season 2 finale). The shot of a playing card, the damning Queen of Hearts, being drawn suggests that we may see even more of this in Season 3.

Tai and Van about to kiss

Neither Tai (Tawny Cypress) nor Van (Lauren Ambrose) are in a great place in present day Yellowjackets, but in Season 2 they find some solace in each other. Judging by a brief shot of them leaning in to kiss each other in the opening credits, it seems likely their romance storyline will continue in Season 3.

Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Paramount+ A shot of the girls moving some wooden planks

Back in the woods in the past timeline, we see a glimpse of some of the girls — it's hard to make out who because it's an overhead shot — moving some wooden planks across the forest floor. It's possible they're building another pyre of some kind, but the flatness of the wood makes us think they're more likely covering something up. Maybe setting some kind of trap? Or even burying a body?

A shot of a girl floating in the water

OK, now this one is really hard to make out — but towards the end of the opening credits, there's another oh-so-brief overhead shot of what looks like a girl in a white dress against a dark background. Someone floating on a body of water? Maybe someone at risk of drowning? Too early to say, but maybe a clue for a scene to come.

Yellowjackets Season 3 is streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime from Feb. 14, with new episodes weekly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Severance Season 2, episode 5: Whats written on the note Dylan finds?

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:00

The memorial held for Irving (John Turturro) in Severance Season 2, episode 5, was memorable for a couple of reasons: 1) the deeply disturbing fruit head, and 2) the discovery made by Dylan (Zach Cherry) behind that poster.

But what exactly did the note he found say, and what does it mean?

We've dug into it all below...

SEE ALSO: You've got to hear Zach Cherry's 'Severance' Season 2 fan theory What's written on the note?

After Mark (Adam Scott) and Helly (Britt Lower) leave Dylan alone at the memorial, he finds a note behind the "Hang in There" poster on the wall — an image which resembles Dylan holding the switches in Season 1's finale, and words that echo the final words Irving says to him in Woe's Hollow at the end of episode 4. On one side of the note is a drawing of the long, dark corridor that outie Irving obsessively recreates in artworks. On the other side is a written message.

Credit: Apple TV+

Here's the full transcription, which basically amounts to a series of directions:

"From O&D, first turn right, all the way down the hall and turn right, turn right, turn left, down a long hall and turn left, turn left, turn right, right, left, left, right, right, left, right, left, left, right, right, left, left down long hall and turn right, then left, right, turn right one more time and all the way down a long hallway..."

So where do those directions lead, and why did Irving leave them behind in a note?

What does the note mean?

To understand the meaning behind the note, we need to revisit two earlier scenes in Severance Season 2: one from episode 3, and one from the start of episode 5.

In the first one, Irving revisits the department where Burt (Christopher Walken) used to work — the O&D (Optics & Design) referred to in the note. There he meets one of Burt's colleagues, Felicia (Claudia Robinson), who accidentally sees a drawing of the dark corridor that he's sketched in the back of his notebook.

"Who do you know about the Exports Hall?" she asks him. "We send a lot of shipments there. Used to go ourselves, but now they send a guy."

Irving's response, before the scene ends, is to ask Felicia where it is.

At the start of episode 5, meanwhile, we see a man pushing a trolley. He meets Felicia and another woman, presumably at O&D, where they hand him a tray of what looks like surgical or dental tools. The man is then seen swiping a card in a door that opens on a long black corridor — the same corridor from Irving's drawing — that ends in an elevator with a red down arrow. The man steps inside and the door shuts.

When we put all these moments together, it seems pretty clear that the note Irving has left for Dylan is a set of directions to this "Exports Hall". His outie was obsessed with it and his innie became obsessed with it, too.

Ms Casey walked down the "exports hall" in Season 1. Credit: Apple TV+ Where does the exports hall lead?

This isn't the first time we've seen that long, dark corridor. In Season 1, this is the corridor that Mark's wife, Ms Casey (Dichen Lachman) is sent to after she loses her job — a place then-boss Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) refers to as "the Testing Floor".

In a nutshell, Irving has unknowingly just given Dylan the key to solving the puzzle that Mark and Helly are trying to get to the bottom of: Where is Ms Casey?

Severance Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+, with a new episode every week.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get everything you need to master ethical hacking in one £28 bundle

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 07:00

TL;DR: Mashable readers can learn ethical hacking, penetration testing, and cybersecurity with lifetime access to 18 online courses, on sale for £27.85 (reg. £874.33) through 23 February.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle £27.85 at the Mashable Shop
£874.33 Save £846.48 Get Deal

This ethical hacking bundle offers a lifetime of learning for those eager to master this critical and in-demand skill set. With 18 courses and 132 hours of content, this £27.85 bundle (sale ending 23 February) covers a wide variety of cybersecurity topics, from beginner-friendly basics to advanced penetration testing.

Dive into practical lessons that teach real-world techniques, like exploiting vulnerabilities, safeguarding networks, and building custom tools using Python. Courses such as "Complete Python 3 Ethical Hacking" walk you through coding your own backdoor tools and automating repetitive security tasks, while "Hacking Wireless Networks" teaches you to identify and protect against vulnerabilities in WiFi environments. These are hands-on experiences tailored for those who want to go beyond theory and practice in safe environments.

For those interested in web security, the bundle offers in-depth training in tackling vulnerabilities like SQL injections and cross-site scripting, using tools like Burp Suite to run penetration tests and secure applications. You’ll also explore Metasploit, the industry-standard framework for penetration testing, giving you the skills to identify and fix system weaknesses.

Even if you’re just starting out, courses like "Ethical Hacker Certification" make it easy to build foundational skills while setting you up for certifications. Meanwhile, "Bug Bounty: Web Hacking" shows you how to earn money by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities for major companies.

Whether you’re an IT professional, a cybersecurity enthusiast, or a beginner ready to jump into the field, this bundle gives you the tools to succeed.

With a one-time payment of £27.85 (reg. £874.33), you’ll gain lifetime access to a wealth of knowledge and resources. Sign up for this comprehensive ethical hacking course bundle before 23 February and learn to protect, analyse, and improve systems like a pro.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

26 of the best Stanford University courses you can take online for free

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 07:00

TL;DR: A large selection of online courses from Stanford University are available to take for free on edX.

Ever heard of edX? This popular online learning platform offers up a wide range of online courses covering useful topics like Python, AI, communication, and much more. And some of these online courses are delivered by famous schools like Stanford University.

We have checked out everything on offer and got you started with a standout selection of online courses from Stanford University. And the best thing is that all of these online courses are available to take for free. The only catch is that these free courses do not include certificates of completion or graded assignments/exams.

These are the best Stanford University courses you can take for free this month.

For unlimited access to all course material, you'll need to upgrade for a small fee. But you can still learn at your own pace without paying anything, so there's nothing stopping you from enrolling.

Find the best free online courses from Stanford University at edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stanford University Stanford University Courses Free at edX Learn More
Categories: IT General, Technology

Captain America: Brave New Worlds end-credits scene, explained

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 04:00

Captain America: Brave New World breaks tradition with most of the recent MCU movies, delivering one end-credits sequence and skipping a mid-credits sequence entirely.

However, the end-credits scene does uphold a different recent MCU tradition: teasing more multiversal battles.

SEE ALSO: 'Captain America: Brave New World' review: Can Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie save the MCU from itself? What happens in the Captain America: Brave New World post-credits scene?

In Captain America: Brave New World's post-credits scene, Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie) visits the villainous Samuel Sterns/the Leader (Tim Blake Nelson) in the high-security prison known as the Raft. There, Sterns warns Sam of a major new calamity.

SEE ALSO: 'Captain America: Brave New World' brings adamantium into the MCU. Here's what that means.

"It's coming. I've seen it in the probabilities, seen it plain as day," Sterns tells him. "All you heroes, protecting this world — do you think you're the only ones? Do you think this is the only world? We'll see what happens when you have to protect this place from the others."

Who are "the others" Samuel Sterns mentions in the Brave New World post-credits scene?

As far as MCU end-credits scenes go, Brave New World's is fairly lackluster. Another vague multiverse tease? Groundbreaking.

But the mention of "the others" is a fascinating detail to latch onto, even though it's — once again — vague as can be. Who could Sterns be talking about?

Perhaps, since Brave New World spotlights the forming of a new Avengers team, "the others" will function as a counterpoint to that. Could it be a team of supervillains assembled by Dr. Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), confirmed to be the villain of Avengers: Doomsday? Or could the Avengers have to contend with evil variants of themselves once the multiverse threatens Earth? I say let them fight!

Captain America: Brave New World is now in theaters.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Captain America: Brave New World brings adamantium into the MCU. Heres what that means.

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 04:00

Vibranium may not be the top fictional metal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe much longer.

SEE ALSO: 'Captain America: Brave New World's end-credits scene, explained

That's because Captain America: Brave New World brings adamantium into the fold. The substance shows up in the body of the Celestial that emerged from the Indian Ocean in Eternals. Now, it's the cause of international conflict, as major world powers try to control the world's only known adamantium supply.

But adamantium is more than just a MacGuffin for Brave New World. It's part of the MCU's groundwork for introducing the X-Men in their upcoming projects — especially one in particular.

What role will adamantium play in the MCU?

Adamantium is the metal that reinforces Wolverine's skeleton. In the Marvel comics, it's a man-made substance, while in the MCU, it's naturally occurring within the Celestial.

Now that adamantium is in play, the MCU's own take on one of the most famous X-Men can start to take shape. (And no, for timey-wimey, multiversal reasons, Hugh Jackman's appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine doesn't count as the prime MCU universe's Logan.)

In Brave New World, U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) highlights adamantium's potential for technological and medical advancements, so perhaps Wolverine's origin story is already underway in some secret lab. Elsewhere, adamantium could provide upgrades to MCU characters' armor, or to iconic props like Captain America's shield.

The adamantium mention is far from the first time the MCU has teased the X-Men following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox. WandaVision reintroduced Evan Peters' Quicksilver (kind of). The Marvels' mid-credit scene showcased Kelsey Grammer as X-Men mainstay Hank McCoy/Beast, reprising his role from 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand and 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past. And of course, Deadpool & Wolverine was one long celebration of the Fox-era X-Men, complete with crazy cameos and an end-credits crawl paired with behind-the-scenes footage from the original X-Men films. But while that movie felt like a farewell to the X-Men we've come to know over the last few decades, Brave New World's adamantium mention feels like we're one step closer to meeting the MCU's iteration of the X-Men. After several years and quite a few projects' worth of teasing, I'd say we're ready.

Captain America: Brave New World is now in theaters.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple is advertising on Elon Musks X again

Thu, 02/13/2025 - 23:07

Over a year ago, Apple removed its ads from X after Elon Musk backed a series of antisemitic posts from far-right users on the social media platform. Around the same time, a new report found that ads from companies such as Apple were being served on pro-Nazi content on X.

However, since November 2023, when Apple stopped advertising on Musk's X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, a lot has happened. Namely, Donald Trump was elected president once again, and this time, Musk is essentially operating as his right-hand man.

Now, roughly 15 months after Apple halted its ad spend on X, Apple has returned to advertising on the platform.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk says he'll stop trying to buy OpenAI if it stays a nonprofit

MacRumors first noticed that Apple is currently running at least two different ad campaigns on X. One ad, from the official @Apple X account, promotes the company's Safari web browser. The other ad is being run on Apple's @AppleTV account for the Apple TV series Severance.

The ads currently do not appear on either of the accounts' X profiles. But that's not unusual for Apple. X allows advertisers to promote regular posts as ads, which would show up on their profile page, or run a post specifically as an advertisement, which does not appear on the advertiser's profile page. When running ads on X, Apple has always utilized the latter mechanism. However, for a user to observe these posts, X must serve the ads to them.

As MacRumors points out, although Apple paused its ads campaigns, Apple CEO Tim Cook and other Apple executives continued to maintain a presence on Musk's platform.

While Apple has resumed ads on X, it's unclear how big their current ad campaigns are. The Safari ad, for example, has just over 600,000 impressions as of publishing on Feb. 13. It was originally posted on Feb. 10. Other advertisers who previously left have returned at various points but with a significantly reduced marketing budget for ad spend on X.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Family Link gets a new look, more tools

Thu, 02/13/2025 - 22:00

Google Family Link is getting a design upgrade.

The control panel, which is available as an app, offers parents a way to supervise their children's activity on Android devices.

But keeping track of screen time, settings, and permissions could be confusing, especially for parents whose children have multiple devices, like a phone, tablet, and laptop.

SEE ALSO: Google Messages could get upgraded 911 emergency texting soon

Google announced Tuesday in a blog post that Family Link will now provide streamlined access to settings in a single "screen time" tab.

The tab brings together Family Link's screen-time management options and tools, including time limits. Parents can now also use the tab to control the "downtime" and "school time" settings, which curtail usage during certain time periods.

The existing Control tab has been updated so that parents can access, in one place, account data management, approval of app downloads, and blocking of websites.

Google is also launching the "school time" setting on Android phones and tablets next week, after introducing it on the Samsung Galaxy Watch for Kids and Fitbit ACE LTE last year.

This year, according to the blog post, parents will be able to use Family Link to approve contacts for the Galaxy Watch for Kids.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Report: Match Group dating apps conceal assault cases

Thu, 02/13/2025 - 19:54

A damning investigation from nonprofit news organization The Markup and Pulitzer Center's AI Accountability Network reports that Match Group (which owns major dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid) keeps records of users who are reported for sexual assault but doesn't take measures to properly ban them from the app network nor alert law enforcement or the public.

The case of Stephen Matthews is used as an example throughout the report. Matthews, a cardiologist, was reported for rape multiple times on Hinge, according to The Markup. Yet, his account remained up — and he was even made a "Standout" (a profile spotlighted for getting a lot of attention). Last October, Matthews was sentenced to 158 years to life in prison; a jury convicted him on 35 counts related to drugging and/or sexual assaulting 11 women between 2019 and 2023. Additional women accused Matthews of drugging and/or raping them that were not included in the court complaint, according to the report published today.

SEE ALSO: Meta-funded program teaches tweens about online exploitation

Despite women reporting Matthews on the app, his profile remained up. Why?

The Dating Apps Reporting Project, which published the investigation, said, "Match Group has known for years which users have been reported for drugging, assaulting, or raping their dates since at least 2016, according to internal company documents." While Match Group said in 2020 it was "committing to releasing our industry first Transparency Report for the United States for 2022," the company has still not yet published it.

In addition to this lack of transparency, the Project also found that Match Group doesn't have a robust enough system to ban bad actors, nor does it prevent users from re-signing up for the same app if it already banned them or signing up for another Match Group app. The researchers said they used various methods found online to see how easy it is for banned accounts to get back on the platforms.

"During multiple tests, we successfully created new accounts without needing to change the user's name, birthday, or profile photos," statistical journalist Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett said in the report. "The Markup did not test any methods that required significant technical knowledge and only utilized information that would be easily accessible to someone who did a cursory search of how to get around a ban."

Meanwhile, over the last few years, as Match Group's stock price declined, the conglomerate reportedly faced pressure to cut costs — and the Project said trust-and-safety operations were impacted as a result. The report said that the company resisted efforts to increase investigative measures and safety protocols as this could stall corporate growth, according to internal documents viewed by the researchers. Just one example is Tinder partnering with nonprofit Garbo on background checks in 2022, only for the partnership to end the following year.

"We recognize our role in fostering safer communities and promoting authentic and respectful connections worldwide," a Match Group statement to the Project read. "We will always work to invest in and improve our systems, and search for ways to help our users stay safe, both online and when they connect in real life."

It continued, "We take every report of misconduct seriously, and vigilantly remove and block accounts that have violated our rules regarding this behavior."

A Match Group spokesperson told Mashable:

Any report of sexual assault or violence is deeply concerning and should never happen — on our platform or anywhere. At Match Group, we are committed to continuously strengthening our safety efforts, investing in cutting-edge technology, and working closely with regulators and safety experts to protect our global community. 

The Guardian story [the report was co-published there] relies on outdated information and mischaracterizes the current state of Trust & Safety on our apps, overlooking the significant advancements, industry-leading tools, and the work of hundreds of employees across Match Group who prioritize user safety every day. Our teams across the company are dedicated to making dating safer and ensuring our users feel respected and secure.

Read the rest of the investigation into Match Group.

UPDATE: Feb. 13, 2025, 3:34 p.m. EST This story was updated with a quote from a spokesperson from Match Group.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Supercharge your Switch games with the 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller for its lowest price yet

Thu, 02/13/2025 - 19:44

SAVE $11.60: As of Feb. 13, get the 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller for just $38.39 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $49.99. That's a discount of 23% and its lowest price yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller $38.39 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $11.60 Get Deal

If you play a lot of Switch games, using Joy-Con controllers works well, and is even required for some titles. And most agree that the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is the Cadillac of peripherals, no matter what you're playing. But if you don't want to part with $70, there are still great options out there that feel just as good in the hands – and you can use them on other platforms.

As of Feb. 13, the 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller for Nintendo Switch is just $38.39 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $49.99. That's $11.60 off and a discount of 23%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

This controller is a versatile alternative to the Pro Controller from Nintendo, and it can be used with your PC, Android, Apple, and portable gaming devices. It has two back buttons, improved joysticks, and features custom profile switching so you can change up the button layout and then swap between users. With an enhanced grip, 4-way mode-swiching buttons, and rumble effects, it's everything you get with Nintendo's own version, but at a great discount.

The controller charges via USB-C and gives you up to 20 hours of playtime, so you don't have to keep swapping it out to charge while you're trying to cue up a game of Smash Bros. And it's appropriate to give your Player 2, because it's actually a good controller and not the one you save for company so you have an advantage. That means if you need a late Valentine's Day gift, this just might do the trick. Plus, having a second controller is always a good idea.

Categories: IT General, Technology

My Best Buy members get $100 off Dyson hair care tools — including the Dyson Airwrap

Thu, 02/13/2025 - 19:43

SAVE UP TO $120 ON DYSON HAIR CARE: My Best Buy members (free to join) can save $100 on Dyson hair care tools like the Dyson Supersonic and Dyson Airwrap. My Best Buy Plus and Total members (paid) can save $120 on the Dyson Airwrap.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap $499.99 at Best Buy
$599.99 Save $100.00 My Best Buy member pricing Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic $399.99 at Best Buy
$499.99 Save $100.00 My Best Buy member pricing Get Deal

Your hair deserves to be treated with respect, and kept safe from overheating. That's where Dyson hair care tools come into play. They focus on keeping hair healthy without inflicting heat damage. And if you're signed up as a My Best Buy member, you can save big on Dyson hair care tools today.

As of Feb. 13, My Best Buy members can take $100 of the Dyson Supersonic and the Dyson Airwrap. It's free to become a My Best Buy member. That brings the price of the Dyson Supersonic down to $399.99 from the normal price of $499.99, and the Dyson Airwrap down to $499.99 from the standard price of $599.99. My Best Buy Plus and Total members (paid tiers) can save $120 on the Dyson Airwrap. My Best Buy Plus comes in at $49.99 per year, while My Best But Total costs $179.99 per year.

SEE ALSO: Dyson's Valentine's Day gift to you: The Airwrap i.d. multi-styler in a gorgeous, limited-edition red velvet

If you're seeking out top-of-the-line hair care tools, Dyson is an obvious choice. The brand masters the art of airflow manipulation, giving us some of the best fans, vacuums, air purifiers, and hair care tools on the market. Of course, these tend to come with premium pricing, but thanks to these deals at Best Buy, you'll be saving at least $100.

The Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer uses advanced sensors to automatically adjust airflow and temperature, aiming to produce a natural shine while keeping the scalp healthy. Today's model at Best Buy comes with a complimentary storage case, which is super convenient for traveling. The bundle also includes five attachments for getting your desired look.

The Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long is designed for both straight and wavy hair, and it uses a powerful V9 digital motor to get styling just right. You'll get six styling attachments with the Dyson Airwrap to use in tandem with the Dyson Coanda styling effect, which uses air to attract and wrap hair onto the barrel or the brush surface.

If you're looking to treat yourself and your locks, snag the Dyson Airwrap or the Dyson Supersonic at Best Buy to save $100. If you happen to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member, you're in line to take $120 off the Airwrap. All in all, the discounts save your wallet and your hair's health.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tim Cook teases Apple launch next week, which might be the new iPhone SE

Thu, 02/13/2025 - 19:32

Apple CEO Tim Cook just confirmed rumors of an upcoming Apple launch next week.

In a post on X, Cook wrote, "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family. Wednesday, February 19," using a motion graphic of a silver shimmering Apple logo.

Tweet may have been deleted

Cook didn't specify anything beyond the launch happening on Wednesday, but Apple insiders believe it's a new version of the iPhone SE, which hasn't seen an upgrade since 2022, and possibly a MacBook Air with an M4 chip. The rumored iPhone SE 4 could come with Apple Intelligence thanks to an A18 chip, which also powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. It will also reportedly have a significantly larger display than the previous iPhone SE 3, going from 4.7 inches to 6.1 inches. Purportedly leaked images also show a matte black colorway and a single rear camera.

The M4 MacBook Air is likely on the way since Apple inadvertently confirmed this in files related to the macOS 15.2 Sequoia release, according to MacRumors. That could be announced next Wednesday or sometime later, but it's basically a matter of when.

Cook also didn't say what time to expect the announcement, which reinforces the prediction that the new devices will likely be in a press released instead of a livestream. Stay tuned for the drop on Feb. 19.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Gorge review: Romance and sci-fi clash in this Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller two-hander

Thu, 02/13/2025 - 19:00

If you're tired of online dating, why not try being stationed alone in a watchtower by a mysterious chasm? The latter method turns out to be surprisingly successful in The Gorge, as director Scott Derrickson's (The Black Phone) new sci-fi thriller doubles as the world's most unlikely meet-cute.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Feb. 14, 2025)

The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) and Miles Teller (Spiderhead) as two highly skilled operatives who connect across the titular gorge. But their love story isn't the only thing on their minds. Unknown horrors lurk in the depths below them, and it's up to the two of them to guard the gorge's secrets — even if they don't know them themselves.

These sci-fi and mystery elements create a fascinating puzzle for The Gorge to solve. It's a shame, then, that so much of the film's runtime is spent on a romance that ranges from inoffensively cute to horrifyingly cheesy, threatening to undermine The Gorge's intrigue at every turn.

What is The Gorge about? Anya Taylor-Joy in "The Gorge." Credit: Apple TV+

Most of The Gorge's first act focuses on U.S. veteran and elite sniper Levi (Teller), whose lack of meaningful connections to friends or family makes him the perfect candidate for a top-secret mission. For one year, he must man a watchtower on the Western edge of a mist-filled gorge in some undisclosed location. (He's recruited by a very mysterious and very underused Sigourney Weaver.)

As Levi learns from his predecessor, this gorge has been under surveillance since the end of World War II, with Eastern and Western forces collaborating to keep it in check. Given the unlikely allyship, it's clear that the creatures that live within — nicknamed "the Hollow Men" by a 1940s-era watchman — are enough of a threat to the world to warrant collaboration between the U.S. and Russia. Not enough to allow contact between the Eastern and Western watchtowers, though, as Levi is forbidden to communicate with his counterpart across the gorge.

SEE ALSO: 'Captain America: Brave New World' review: Can Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie save the MCU from itself?

But that's not going to stop his Eastern counterpart! Drasa (Taylor-Joy), a deadly Lithuanian sniper with ties to the Russian government, reaches out to Levi in a moment of loneliness on her birthday. Soon, the two have regular conversations thanks to the power of binoculars and written signs. It's not far from the "To me, you are perfect" scene from Love Actually. Or a good chunk of Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" music video. These communications are bubbly and sweet — but do they work in a movie like The Gorge?

The Gorge's romance feels out of place. Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy in "The Gorge." Credit: Apple TV+

I am not averse to The Gorge having a romantic element, since there is something quite touching about how Drasa and Levi break through their loneliness to find one another. Yet The Gorge doesn't let us sit in that loneliness long enough for their desperation for company to really resonate. This is especially true of Drasa, who gets almost no interiority during her and Levi's first months in their respective towers. The film's first few minutes do give us a sense of her family life and what she risks losing if she goes to the tower for a year, but the payoff there is negligible. Drasa's role, at least for the first half of the movie, is more to coax Levi out of his shell than to stand on her own two feet.

The courtship, too, rings false given Drasa and Levi's backgrounds. You're telling me these trained operatives would blast loud music or jam out on cutesy makeshift drum kits while on a covert mission that involves creatures who often gravitate towards sound?

SEE ALSO: 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' review: What if it's great, but I hate it?

Thankfully, at least some of their courtship feels earned, like a discussion of their sniping distance records. Elsewhere, a long-distance chess game (a nod to Taylor-Joy's role in The Queen's Gambit) is the right balance between funny, cutesy, and still feeling in touch with Levi and Drasa as characters.

The best portions of this love story come when the pair fight in tandem. After one of their first conversations, Drasa snaps from sweet to focused when she realizes Hollow Men are crawling up the Western side of the gorge. She jumps into action to protect Levi from afar, and he returns the favor moments later. Seeing how quickly these two gorge-crossed lovers have each other's backs does more for their love story than the entire Love Actually/"You Belong With Me" montage.

The gorge is the real star of The Gorge. Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller in "The Gorge." Credit: Apple TV+

Luckily, we get far more of Drasa and Levi in action once the contents of the gorge come to light. And what fun they are!

The Hollow Men make their first appearance fairly early on in The Gorge, looking like zombies crossed with the Green Knight from David Lowery's The Green Knight. But that first appearance isn't a case of The Gorge overplaying its hand too early. Instead, we're just getting started.

A dip into the gorge itself reveals a frightening world of body horror and genetic mutations, not too far off from Annihilation's trippy Area X. A sequence involving what I can only describe as a flesh tree is a standout, but The Gorge has its fair share of spooky, gloopy fun up its sleeve.

That fun especially comes into play in the film's latter half, which features some predictable plot twists but (maybe more importantly) also unleashes a whole load of "hell yeah" moments. (You'll never guess how they get back out of the gorge!) Taylor-Joy and Teller also prove way more dynamic to watch in action hero mode than in romance mode, especially since their action deepens their love story far more than their clichéd first interactions. (I'm sorry, I just can't get over the drum kits!)

With a first half hampered by a lackluster romance, it could be easy to write The Gorge off. But it's that second half, with all its carnage, that makes the trips into the depths a little bit worth it.

The Gorge premieres Feb. 14 on Apple TV+.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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