Mashable

Want something sexy, silly, and scandalous? Then you'll treasure Honey Don't!, the latest collaboration between married filmmakers Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke. The pair, who've been collaborating since the 1990 Coen Bros movie Miller's Crossing, brought audiences the madcap mayhem of Drive-Away Dolls just last year. Now they're back, with another tale of lesbians caught up in a curious crime. 

Drive-Away Dolls star Margaret Qualley reunites with Coen and Cooke, playing a title character once more. Honey O'Donahue is a small-town private eye who keeps her cards close to her chest. When a new client turns up dead in a suspicious car crash, she quips to the crumpled police detective on the scene (Charlie Day, perfectly cast as an affable dope), but won't give up a single observation. Unspoken, this is her mystery to solve. 

Over the course of this murder investigation, she'll cross paths with a moped-riding femme fatale (Lera Abova), a surly sapphic cop (Aubrey Plaza), and an ultra-vain cult leader (Chris Evans). It's a wild ride with twists, sex, and murder! 

Margaret Qualley is dynamite in Honey Don't!

While this is the second offering in Coen and Cooke's proposed lesbian trilogy, Honey Don't! doesn't share the same broad-comedy energy as its peppy predecessor, Drive-Away Dolls. The key to both films is Qualley, who sets the tone.

In the first film, she was a chaotically comical masc with a Southern accent as thick as molasses and a libido as powerful as the sun. The movie followed her frenzied energy through pacing and plotting, taking wild turns with madcap energy. 

In Honey Don't!, Qualley shakes off the loony looseness of her limbs. Her stride is confident but no-nonsense, like the fast-talking dames of '30s screwball comedies and '40s film noir. Her look — click-clacking heels, pencil skirts or tailored flowing slacks with tidy but never bland dress shirts — reflects these old-school inspirations. So does her frankness; she carries a Katharine Hepburn attitude without the Mid-Atlantic accent. So when the aforementioned police detective flirts with her, she says, smooth as butter, "I like girls." (To which Day replies with a cheery bemusement, "You always say that!") 

Whether playing the cool gay aunt to a small army of nieces and nephews, uncovering a kinky clue, or hooking up with a one-night stand, Honey is suave and sharp, but also warm. This temperament sets her apart from the fleets of male detectives who've come before her, all swagger and steely glares. Plus, her attitude reflects the atmosphere of Honey Don't!'s setting: Bakersfield, California, a sunny place with a dark appetite.  

Honey Don't! is a raw and refreshing caper.  Writer Tricia Cooke, actor Margaret Qualley, and writer/director Ethan Coen on the set of their film "Honey Don't!" Credit: Karen Kuehn / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

The screenplay by Coen and Cooke is committed to dark humor, offering gleeful jokes about kinky sex, gruesome death, and the general idiocy of crooks and con men.

As Coen directs Honey Don't!, it's tempting to look for comparisons in his shared filmography with his brother, Joel. Is Honey Don't! more Raising Arizona or The Big Lebowski? Burn After Reading or No Country for Old Men? But engaging in this debate risks overlooking the exciting exploration of crime stories that Coen and Cooke are building with their trilogy. Her stamp is clear and important here as the film's co-writer, producer, and editor.

Yes, Honey Don't! pulls from film noir inspirations, as do several previous Coen Bros movies… and hundreds of other movies before that. But this crusty California setting gives fresh air to tropes like the femme fatale or the double cross. Where Drive-Away Dolls dug into the rich Americana and queer culture to be found in road trip attractions and lesbian bars, Honey Don't! embraces a less-familiar clutch of gnarly characters, sunbaked and deranged.

Chris Evans is hilarious, freed from Disney constraints. 

Thank goodness that Chris Evans' MCU era has ended. Now the actor who has proven to be a sensational bastard in Knives Out can cut loose with characters who aren't remotely role models. 

In Honey Don't!, he plays Reverend Drew, a preacher who leads a congregation of dedicated minions who will grant any wish of sex or violence his twisted heart desires. Honey Don't! offers an array of beloved character actors, like Plaza, Day, Billy Eichner, and acclaimed theater performer Gabby Beans. And they are all game for whatever damned thing Cooke and Coen throw their way. Where Qualley plays the straight man to this cluster of kooky clowns, Evans is a ringmaster of his own circus. 

From the moment he flashes a comically insincere smile, there's a thrill of excitement. Playing punchlines with a gleeful obliviousness, Evans creates a sharp satire of a certain brand of religious leader who believes too much in his own bullshit. His physicality is suitably absurd. Whether he's barking orders in the nude or giving the most hysterical delivery of the word "oui" ever committed to screen, he moves like a cartoon caricature of an arrogant buffoon. Props to Evans for finding a new and fantastic way to continue being America's ass. 

What's most thrilling about Honey Don't! is perhaps also what's most frustrating about it. Coen and Cooke set up a mystery with a form that seems vaguely familiar at the start. But as Honey chases down the suspects and confounding clues, this story is anything but what you'd expect. And that comes down to the finale, which is sure to divide critics and audiences.

Personally, I relished the final surprise of the film, as it suggests this story is bigger than one movie and maybe even one setting can contain. Instead of closure, Honey Don't! offers a taste of something sweet and wild, with the potential for more. And I'm not mad at that. 

"Honey Don't!" is now playing in theaters nationwide.

UPDATE: Aug. 21, 2025, 5:12 p.m. EDT "Honey Don't!" was reviewed out of the Cannes Film Festival in this article, originally published on May 23, 2025. It has been updated to include current viewing information.

SAVE BIG: Amazon’s $1 flash deals are live right now — limit 3 per customer, with hundreds of products across categories including fashion, home, pets, stationery, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon $1 Flash Sale Shop Now

Amazon is no stranger to flash sales, but this latest bombardment of huge bargains on practical buys or fun little extras makes this the most tempting sale yet. For a limited time, you can snap up a wide variety of products — all marked down to a single dollar each.

The sheer spread of categories doesn’t include high-profile items like iPads or Nintendo Switch 2s, but you’ll find an endless amount of handy impulse buys for yourself or your home. In pet care, for instance, you’ll find everything from cat collars and cooling mats for dogs to quirky bearded dragon harnesses. If you’re more of a home organiser, there’s a treasure trove of handy buys like under-cabinet lighting strips, silicone grip tape, storage binders, and spiral notebooks.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals to shop this week feature plenty of impressive back to school savings

Crafters are spoilt for choice too, with diamond art stickers, tracing paper, colourful splash stationery, and googly eyes all sitting pretty in carts by the hundreds.

Fashion finds are also in the mix, ranging from women’s tank tops and shapewear to men’s t-shirts and swim shorts. And if you’d rather treat yourself to a practical kitchen upgrade, you can nab things like espresso tampers, glass droppers, and reusable dinner napkins. There’s even a touch of novelty with items like “I Suck at Golf” notebooks, battle cat towels, and birthday blankets.

The catch is that stock is moving rather fast, and Amazon is capping the deal at three items per customer. Judging by the thousands of carts filling up already, you won’t want to hang about.

Whether you’re topping up your craft drawer, adding convenience to your home, or simply chasing that dopamine hit of bagging a bargain, these $1 flash deals are an easy win. Just be quick — they won’t hang around for long.

If you’ve got a bit more in the budget but still want to save, check out our list of the best cheap 4K TVs you can get in 2025. There are also some great wallet-friendly Apple deals that we’ve found this week that are still going at the moment — including $799 MacBooks and $299 iPads.

FREE LEGO: On Aug. 24, build a Lego Crayons model at participating stores and take it home with you for free. Find participating stores here.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Free Lego Crayons Model Learn More

Lego make and take events are back, and the latest edition is timed perfectly with the back-to-school season.

Following on from popular events like the Steering Wheel, Valentine's Day Heart, Mother's Day Bouquet, and Grogu giveaways, you can now build a Lego Crayons model at participating stores and take it home with you for free. Free Lego? In this economy?

SEE ALSO: The best new Marvel Lego sets dropping this month

Visitors to select Lego Stores on Aug. 24 (from 12-2 p.m.) can take part in this special event. The giveaway is intended for participants aged 6+ years, and the model will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis while supplies last. You can check participating stores in the U.S. and Canada here. Don't head out to your nearest store without proper planning. We don't want you to be disappointed.

This Crayons model is not available for purchase, so by taking part, you're getting your hands on an exclusive item for absolutely nothing. The only catch is that you can't stock up. You are limited to one build per participant, but we don't think you can argue with that. This is free Lego — don't get greedy.

This is your chance to build and take home an exclusive Lego Crayons model for free on Aug. 24. Don't miss out.

Long Story Short creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg is an expert at pairing a belly laugh with a gut punch. Look no further than his work on the critically acclaimed comedy BoJack Horseman, which combined ridiculous gags with poignant examinations of depression, addiction, and trauma.

Now, Bob-Waksberg serves up a similar cocktail of hilarity and heady topics in Long Story Short. The series, which Netflix has already renewed for Season 2, centers on a Jewish family in Northern California. The Schwooper siblings — a hybrid of their parents' last names, Schwartz and Cooper — burst onto the screen as a fully fledged, instantly lovable crew. But it's Long Story Short's nonlinear structure that truly takes it over the edge, crafting a tender look at all the ways our families can help or hinder us over the span of our lives.

SEE ALSO: 'Long Story Short' trailer: 'BoJack Horseman' creator's new show is a colorful family comedy Long Story Short's Schwooper siblings are an instant classic TV family. The Schwoopers get quite an introduction in "Long Story Short." Credit: Netflix

Meeting the Schwoopers is like being wrapped in a hug that goes on just a tad too long: It's warm and fuzzy, but a lot all at the same time.

That's because Bob-Waksberg throws us into the Schwoopers' dynamic headfirst, hitting us with a barrage of fast-paced dialogue, inside jokes, and a complex web of interpersonal relationships that feel lived-in from the jump. After just a few moments with the Schwoopers, you'll think you've known them for years. (By the end of Season 1, you will have known them for years, as the series spans decades.)

The eldest of the Schwooper siblings is Avi (voiced by Ben Feldman), the nerdiest of the crew and the child who eventually becomes the most distant from the family's Jewish faith. Middle child Shira (voiced by Abbi Jacobson) navigates the chaos of being the only Schwooper daughter, all while hoping her negative experiences with her own family don't influence the family she plans to start with her partner Kendra (voiced by Nicole Byer). Youngest Schwooper Yoshi (voiced by Max Greenfield) is the black sheep of the family, misunderstood by his parents and still trying to find himself out, be it through new work ventures or religious shifts.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2025 (so far)

Presiding over it all are parents Naomi Schwartz (voiced by Lisa Edelstein) and Elliot Cooper (voiced by Paul Reiser). The two couldn't be more different. Naomi is overbearing as can be, and always ready to guilt-trip her children over the smallest perceived wrong. The kind, yet deferent Elliot often fades to the background by comparison.

With these five pieces, Long Story Short builds out a TV family that manages to be both grounded and the right amount of absurd. Each backseat sibling scuffle or chaotic family dinner feels pulled from real life, albeit heightened for comedic effect. Even if your experiences don't mirror the Schwoopers' one-to-one, chances are you'll still see grains of your own family in theirs.

Long Story Short's time-hopping structure is quietly brilliant. Just one of many awkward Schwooper family dinners. Credit: Netflix

On top of cementing the Schwoopers' distinct characters and familial ties right from the jump, Long Story Short also crafts a rich shared history for the family that unfurls in revelatory fashion from episode to episode.

Long Story Short's episodes don't play out sequentially. Instead, each episode presents two vignettes from the Schwoopers' lives. The first serves as a cold open, often taking place in the Schwoopers' childhoods in the '90s and early 2000s. Then, once the show's charming scrapbook title sequence wraps up, Long Story Short rockets us into the future for the main focus of the episode. These range from key life events like bar mitzvahs to character-centric deep dives.

Years may have passed between vignettes, but Long Story Short's magic trick is gradually revealing how the events of the cold open have stayed with the Schwoopers for their entire lives, and how they continue to impact their adulthoods.

For example, Long Story Short's second episode opens with a family beach trip. As kids, Avi and Shira playact lifeguard rescues. However, when it's Shira's turn to be "saved," Avi decides to run off and play with their older cousins instead. His abandonment and unreliability in that moment is why, many years later, Shira struggles to ask him to be a sperm donor for her and Kendra.

That's just one of the many ways in which Long Story Short resurfaces old family wounds. Each episode collapses the past into the present, until the Schwoopers' adult and child selves may as well be co-existing on screen. (In some poignant sequences, they actually do.)

Hopping between the past and present isn't a new tactic in TV. In fact, I wish some shows would rely less on it less! However, in Bob-Waksberg and his team's hands, Long Story Short's non-linear chronology becomes a gutting weapon, one that explores how small moments from our childhood — even those that anyone else might find inconsequential — can have a long-lasting, sometimes traumatizing impact.

Long Story Short surrounds its portrayal of a deeply dysfunctional family with enough absurdity to keep things on the lighter end. Wolves invade a school campus, and no one bats an eye. Yoshi gets roped into selling mattresses that come in tubes. Each storyline is ridiculous, but ultimately winds up revealing a deeper truth about the Schwoopers.

Further adding to the lightness is Long Story Short's animation style, whose vibrant colors and hand-drawn look recall illustrated storybooks, or even family drawings that would earn pride of place on any family refrigerator.

Of course, in Long Story Short's case, these drawings also come with their fair share of family trauma and thorny parental relationships. But that's family, the show seems to say: You're going to have a lot of wonderful, supportive experiences, and you're also going to get pretty messed up. And somehow, Long Story Short manages to roll that contradiction into one beautiful, heart-wrenching show.

Long Story Short is now streaming on Netflix.

Imagine Golden Girls meets Murder, She Wrote, and you'll have a sense of the immaculate energy that exudes from The Thursday Murder Club. 

Now, I realize those comparisons might sound dated. But I challenge you to find a modern, massively popular franchise that allows retirees to be seen as smart, lively, and cool without apology. Yes, Only Murders in the Building has some of that — but suffused with New York neuroses and self-deprecation. The Thursday Murder Club is steeped instead in dry English wit, and with comparable star power. 

Based on the popular book series by Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club stars Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie as four pensioners who might be retired, but who don't count their best years behind them. Instead, using the skills they've acquired over a lifetime as a spy, union leader, psychiatrist, and nurse, this curious quartet investigates cold cases. Or — in the footsteps of Jessica Fletcher — they explore the source of fresh blood that turns up on their own doorstep. 

Ready for something you and your folks can watch together? Buckle up. 

The Thursday Murder Club delivers clever, cheeky, crime-ridden fun.  Pierce Brosnan, Tom Ellis, and Daniel Mays in "The Thursday Murder Club." Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix

Osman's quartet of novels is new, with the first publishing in 2020, but they have a timeless feel. Set in a charming retirement village of Cooper's Chase — depicted here like a Downton Abbey-style estate — The Thursday Murder Club presents its seniors with a cozy scene and a vitality that is exhilarating. Rejecting ageist stereotypes, screenwriters Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote paint them not as dotty grandmothers or cantankerous grandpas. They're not out of touch or stagnant. They are intellectual, emotionally intelligent, and alive. Best of all, the Thursday Murder Club uses the ageist expectations of those who'd underestimate them against them, essentially masquerading as fretful, frail old biddies when it'll get them what they need (like access to a particular police officer, played by the splendid Naomi Ackie of Blink Twice). 

Celia Imrie, Helen Mirren, Naomi Ackie, Pierce Brosnan, and Sir Ben Kingsley in "The Thursday Murder Club." Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix

Meet Elizabeth Best (Mirren), who is collected, chic, and no-nonsense as she casually interrogates cops and criminals alike. With a silver-fox beard and a flair for rowdiness, Ron Ritchie (Brosnan) is the rabble-rouser of the group, spurred into booming speeches whenever the need arises. By contrast, Ibrahim Arif (Kingsley) is more reserved, a deep thinker who takes great pride in his rigorous wellness routine. And new to the crew is Joyce Meadowcroft (Imrie), a recent widow who is fresh to Cooper's Chase and eager to make friends with her brilliant baking — and her capable assessment of crime scene photos. 

Together, they — like Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose — are a clashing collection of personalities who exude attitude, wit, and love. Across four books to date, they've become more than funny detectives to me. They're real and wonderful. And The Thursday Murder Club carries that torch by bringing them to the screen in bursts of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.

The Thursday Murder Club is a gift, albeit a bit toned down.  Celia Imrie, Sir Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, and Pierce Brosnan in "The Thursday Murder Club." Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix

To condense Osman's first novel into a single movie, some of the more salacious plotlines are tamed (like Jason Ritchie's background) or dropped altogether (the priest got off light!). Likewise, some of the characters who certainly came off gruffer in the novel get a Hollywood makeover here; for example, tattooed tough guy Bogdan is played by the muscular but vaguely dapper Henry Lloyd-Hughes. Still, I have no major qualms with these changes because of what The Thursday Murder Club gets right: its heroes. They are heroes, brilliant and aspirational. 

A moment of confession: I began reading these books not long after I lost my grandmother. She wasn't a detective, a spy, a shrink, or a nurse. She was, however, one of the smartest and most compassionate people I knew. Which meant that in her eighties , she was prone to hollering at her loved ones (me included) about what she believed was right. She fought for the world she wanted to see, one argument at a time. And often, I saw others shrug, as if she didn't know what she was talking about — perhaps because her world had seemed to shrink as her mobility issues rose. But in this modern world, being informed is at your fingertips, and she was ruthlessly informed, opinionated, and not afraid to let you know about it. I miss her, and this energy every day. 

Watching The Thursday Night Murder Club, I cackled with glee as Elizabeth and Joyce went on a covert mission, or Ibrahim and Ron manipulated a cop by playing into misplaced pity. I cheered for their victories, gasped for their setbacks, and laughed at their jokes — but never at them. Sure, in Osman's novels, he addresses a certain fish-out-of-water element of being a senior in a world where technology moves like a flash flood. (Joyce joining social media proves very amusing in the books.) But his empathy for their experiences is deep and inviting. His respect for his characters is reflected in the casting. 

By bringing together three world-famous, highly acclaimed movie stars to play Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim, the initial trio is instantly granted gravitas from their first frame. When Joyce joins the crew, she's almost starstruck, and that also makes sense. Imrie, who has a long, long career in the UK and the comic timing to prove it, is pitch-perfect as their eager newbie. Mirren's confidence, Brosnan's boldness, Kingsley's sophistication, and Imrie's enthusiasm make for a perfect balance. And it's not that any of them remind me specifically of my gram, but they — like her — are wondrously alive, passionate, and dedicated to service in whatever way they can. And man, while I laughed watching this movie, I could almost hear my gram laughing with me. 

The Thursday Murder Club is a sensationally funny, warm, and smart crime-comedy with a crackling ensemble. If you're hankering for a new season of Only Murders in the Building, pining for the days of Golden Girls and Murder, She Wrote, or you just miss the radiant senior in your life, this is a gift, a treat, and a delight — on par, I'd imagine with Joyce's Bake-Off-worthy pastries. 

The Thursday Murder Club debuts on Netflix on Aug. 28. 

The moon is almost completely dark tonight, thanks to where we are in the lunar cycle.

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

So let's see what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 22.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, Aug. 22, the moon phase is Waning Crescent, and only 1% will be lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

We're on day 29 of the lunar cycle, and with so little of the moon lit up, we won't be able to spot anything tonight.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Sept. 7. The last full moon was on Aug. 9.

What are moon phases?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A show-off.

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

POSER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

The devil.

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

DEMON

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Courage.

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

NERVE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To sing.

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

TRILL

Final Hurdle hint

A rabbit.

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

BUNNY

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

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.

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

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.

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

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's The Mini crossword answers for August 4 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: Leaders of the Free World

• Green: Famous film stars

• Blue: Card games

• Purple: Rounded things

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: U.S. presidents

• Green: Actors whose last names are also verbs

• Blue: Kinds of poker

• Purple: Proper nouns after gerunds in '90s movie titles

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 #804 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• U.S. presidents: ADAMS, FORD, GRANT, WASHINGTON

• Actors whose last names are also verbs: CHEVY CHASE, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, GEOFFREY RUSH, TOM CRUISE

• Kinds of poker: DRAW, OMAHA, STRIP, STUD

• Proper nouns after gerunds in '90s movie titles: AMY, JOHN MALKOVICH, LAS VEGAS, PRIVATE RYAN

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 August 4

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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.

SAVE $150: As of Aug. 21, you can grab the Sony XM4 headphones for just $199.99 at Best Buy. That's down from the regular $349.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony XM4 Wireless Headphones $199.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $150 Get Deal

Everyone waiting to finally grab a pair of Sony’s XM4 headphones at an affordable price can celebrate at least.

As of Aug. 21, Best Buy has slashed the price of the Sony XM4 headphones to just $199.99. That’s a massive $150 saving on the usual $349.99 list price, and one of the sharpest deals we’ve seen on Sony’s old favorites.

SEE ALSO: We put the top 10 headphones of 2025 to the test

The XM4s are renowned for their class-leading noise cancelation, powered by Dual Noise Sensor technology that adapts to your surroundings and shuts out distractions. Coupled with 30 hours of battery life (plus a quick charge mode that gives you five hours of playback from a 10-minute top-up), these headphones are built for travellers, commuters, and marathon work sessions alike.

Sony hasn’t just focused on silence, though; the sound profile is equally impressive. Thanks to DSEE Extreme upscaling (co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo), compressed tracks are lifted closer to studio quality in real time. Touch sensor controls on the earcups let you skip tracks, adjust volume, or summon Alexa or Google Assistant with a tap.

A raft of clever extras adds to the appeal. Speak-to-Chat pauses playback automatically when you start talking. Adaptive Sound Control adjusts noise-cancelling depending on whether you’re walking, waiting, or flying. A wearing detection sensor pauses audio when you take the headphones off, while multipoint Bluetooth means you can stay connected to two devices simultaneously.

Designed for comfort as well as performance, the XM4s come with a slim carry case, USB-C charging cable, wired connection lead, and even an in-flight adapter. What’s more, these are built to last as well. 

I’ve owned my own Sony XM4s for almost four years now, and they’ve not only remained my go-to headphones for walks, travelling, and the gym, but have stood the test of time; including knocks, bumps, and a handful of drops; and still work perfectly.

At just under $200, these headphones tick the boxes for anyone after superb audio, intuitive smart features, and all-day comfort — without paying full price.

If you want to keep shopping around before pulling the trigger, be sure to also check out the top 10 headphones of 2025 we personally put to the test. For the ideal soundware just for blocking out external noise, we’ve also put together a list of the best noise-cancelling headphones we use and love from brands like Bose, Sony, and Apple.

The wait is over. We now know everything we need to know about the Google Pixel 10, which means it's time to do some comparin'.

Google bared all during its Made by Google event, giving us a look at specs and features for its latest batch of flagship smartphones. Of course, this comes several months after Samsung did the same thing with the Galaxy S25 line. I bet you know what's coming next.

SEE ALSO: Google brings live translation for phone calls and tons more AI to Pixel 10 series

That's right — we're putting these base models head to head. Keep in mind we've just begun testing the new Pixel 10 series, so we'll have more insights to share soon.

How do these two Android titans stack up to one another?

Opens in a new window Credit: Google/Amazon Google Pixel 10 $799 at Amazon
Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google/Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 $799 at Amazon
Get Deal Pixel 10 vs. Galaxy S25: Price

Our first category is probably going to be the shortest and easiest one to litigate. Both of these phones start at $799.

See? That was easy. Let's move on.

Design Pixel 10 has a more distinctive look, I think. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

As far as design is concerned, both of these phones...basically just look like smartphones. However, Google and Samsung do have somewhat distinct visual languages for their phones, and both the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 carry forward what each brand had been doing in years prior.

In other words, their rear camera arrays look different. Samsung's is vertically oriented, with all three lenses stacked on top of one another, free from any kind of boxed in camera bump. Google's is the total opposite; three lenses housed in a horizontally oriented camera bar that prevents the phone from sitting flush on a flat surface. This is ultimately a matter of personal preference, though admittedly the Google camera bar looks more futuristic, if that's your thing.

The more generic Galaxy S25. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

As for colors, Samsung has more options than Google. The Galaxy S25 comes in seven colors: Navy, Mint, Icy Blue, Silver Shadow, Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold. It should be noted that the latter three options are online exclusives. As for Pixel 10, you just get four choices: Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian.

Specs The base S25 is the one on the left. Credit: Michaela Vatcheva/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Here are how the basic specs for the Google Pixel 10 look:

• 6.3-inch display with 1080x2424 resolution and adaptive 60-120Hz refresh rate

• Google Tensor G5 chip

• 4,970mAh battery promising 30+ hours of life

• 12GB RAM

• 128GB/256GB storage

And here are the equivalent specs on Galaxy S25:

• 6.2-inch display with 1080x2340 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

• Snapdragon 8 Elite chip

• 4,000mAh battery

• 12GB RAM

• 128GB/256GB/512GB storage

To put that into layman's terms, both phones come with very similar displays and the same amount of RAM. However, things diverge from there. The two phones use entirely different processors, but until the Pixel 10 is actually out there in public (we've just begun our internal testing process), it's hard to say which one is better right now, both in terms of everyday performance and benchmark scores. In the past, Snapdragon chips have had better benchmarks than Tensor, but the actual day-to-day usability has been similar enough to more or less negate that.

Samsung's phone also has a 512GB storage option if you're willing to spend more money. Google does not offer that much storage on Pixel 10, though Google has its own cloud storage service. Battery life is also going to be something to watch as the Pixel 10 rolls out publicly, as Google's phone has a significantly larger cell inside of it than Samsung's handset. Whether or not that translates into substantially better battery life is unclear at this point, but it's definitely worth keeping an eye on.

AI features Both phones can do live translation during calls. Credit: Screenshot: Google

It would take forever to outline every single little AI feature that both of these phones have, but put simply, Google's newest handset did a lot to catch up to Samsung.

For starters, Samsung already had live language translation during phone calls, as well as a personalized daily hub featuring your schedule, any tasks you need to complete during that day, the weather forecast, and news you can use. Pixel 10 introduced very similar (or basically exactly the same) features, but with different names. Both phones are also compatible with Gemini Live, if you like talking to your phone as if it's a person. We should note that Google's live translation feature samples your voice, something other mobile translation tools can't yet do.

There are also suites of photo editing and image generation software to mess around with on both devices. For what it's worth, Google's seem a bit more comprehensive. Both phones have the ability to generatively edit photos by highlighting objects and moving them around to the user's liking, or even adding things that didn't exist to the photos. You can tune out unwanted audio in videos on both devices, too.

Pixel 10 introduces text-based photo editing, in case your ability to describe what you want is better than your ability to actually make the edits yourself. Pixel 10's Camera Coach also uses AI to help users compose better photographs, though it remains to be seen how well this works. As far as I can tell, Samsung's phone doesn't have equivalent features to these just yet.

On balance, Google gets the edge in terms of AI, which shouldn't be a surprise, as Google has its own AI models. If you opt for the Pixel 10 Pro, Pro XL, or Pro Fold, you'll also get a free year of Google's AI Pro plan, which is not available with the base Pixel 10. So, if you really care about AI, you may be happier with the Pixel 10 Pro anyway.

Cameras Sorry, no camera testing on Pixel 10 just yet. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

As for cameras, this is an area where Samsung would've had a big advantage, had Google not made one major change to the base Pixel 10 this year. Here are the Pixel 10's camera specs:

• Rear cameras: 48MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom and Super Res Zoom up to 20x

• Front camera: 10.5MP

And here's how the Galaxy S25 compares:

• Rear cameras: 50MP wide, 10MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and digital zoom up to 30x

• Front camera: 12MP

The camera array on the Galaxy S25. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

While there are minor differences to consider in terms of megapixel counts, these are two pretty similar camera arrays on the surface. The big advantage Samsung would have had prior to this year is the presence of a third telephoto lens on the back. Unfortunately for Samsung, Google added one this year and its optical zoom is better on paper. In the past, I've had much better luck with zoom lenses on Pixel phones than Samsung phones, for whatever that's worth.

Pixel phones in general tend to be excellent for photography, in my experience. Or, at least the kind of photography that people like me who aren't good at taking photos like to do, such as snapping pics of random cats I meet on the street.

Top offers on these smartphones Samsung Galaxy S25, 256GB, Unlocked $849.99 at Amazon ($779.99) Get Deal Google Pixel 10 - Indigo - 128 GB with $100 Amazon Gift Card $799.00 at Amazon Get Deal

Google Search's AI Mode can now help you book restaurant reservations, or at least get you to the booking page.

On Thursday, the tech giant announced that its AI Mode has new "new agentic capabilities," including helping users book restaurant reservations, with more to come. AI mode is already available in the U.S., the UK, and India, and Google said it's now expanding to more than 180 countries and territories, though only in English, for now.

While some outlets have reported that "Google Search’s new AI Mode can now book reservations for you," that's not quite true yet.

When you're in AI Mode on Google Search, you can describe the kind of dinner reservation you're looking for, including party size, dietary restrictions, date, time, cuisine, etc., and Google's underlying AI models will fan out across the internet and create a list of restaurants with available reservations that fit your criteria. When you've found a reservation that works, AI Mode will take you to the booking page.

SEE ALSO: Welcome to Google AI Mode! Everything is fine.

The ability to streamline reservations in AI Mode soft-launched in Labs, Google's testing ground for new AI features, and it's only available to AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. However, it's a sign that Google is working on launching more widespread agentic features soon. The announcement said users will soon be able to book event tickets and make local service appointments. Google is working with partners like OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, and Booksy to help curate these recommendations.

AI Mode does the work of finding you restaurant reservations based on specific criteria. Credit: Google

The agentic part of this new feature, meaning the part of the feature that uses advanced AI models to take action on your behalf, is the research element. The feature still won't do the actual booking for you. Users will have to manually confirm the booking in a third-party tool like Resy.

Of course, you could just go to Resy or OpenTable and search for reservations that way, but this feature searches across all different platforms and the entire web, and pulls up the reservation times.

The advent of the agentic web promises to automate tedious tasks and research, offloading it to our personalized AI assistants. If AI tools can deliver on this promise, the technology could restructure how we interact with the internet. This is an early glimmer of how agentic AI is taking shape online.

If you're a Google AI Ultra subscriber for $250 a month, you can try agentic reservation booking in Search Labs by clicking on "Agentic capabilities in AI Mode."

Figuring out how to watch the entire NFL season in 2025 is complicated. But it gets really frustrating when you live in a different region than your favorite team. Watching out-of-market games for any sport is no walk in the park, but for the NFL, it's an excruciating battle — particularly for your wallet.

Before you pull the trigger on any pay TV provider or streaming service, you may want to check to see what games are considered in-market and out-of-market for your region. You don't want to drop $60 on an annual Paramount+ plan or splurge on the new $199 Fox One streaming platform only to find out the games you want to watch are blacked out.

What are in-market vs. out-of-market NFL games?

In-market games are basically your home team broadcasts, or the games geographically closest to you. These are the games you'll regularly find on CBS and Fox on Sunday afternoons. Out-of-market games are those only available outside of the designated broadcast region you are in. These games are blacked out (unless they are national broadcasts) in favor of in-market games. For instance, I am a Baltimore Ravens fan living in Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Titans are my local team, which means their games are in-market for me on Sundays. If both the Titans and Ravens are playing in the 1:00 p.m. time slot on Sunday, I will only be able to watch the Titans. The Ravens will be blacked out, as they are considered out-of-market.

To find out which games are in your local market each week, check out 506sports.com.

How to watch out-of-market NFL games

So, you live in a different region than the team(s) you want to watch. That means the usual streaming services that broadcast NFL games — ESPN, Paramount+, YouTube TV, etc. — aren't going to work for you. With those, you'll only be able to watch in-market teams and national broadcasts. Womp womp.

In this case, the only legal way you can watch out-of-market games is via NFL Sunday Ticket. Sure, there are plenty of bootleg broadcasts floating around the internet, but we can't in good conscience recommend those. NFL Sunday Ticket is the league's own premium sports package that broadcasts NFL regular season games that are unavailable on your local channels. It carries regional Sunday afternoon games on Fox and CBS, specifically. You can get NFL Sunday Ticket as an individual channel on YouTube or as an add-on to YouTube TV.

How much does NFL Sunday Ticket cost?

I won't sugarcoat it for you: NFL Sunday ticket is outrageously expensive unless you're brand new to the service. Through Aug. 31, newbies can score NFL Sunday Ticket as an individual channel on YouTube or as a YouTube TV add-on for $276 total for the regular season (8 payments of $34.50 per month). For returning customers, it'll cost $480 total as an individual channel (8 payments of $60 per month) or $378 total as a YouTube TV add-on (8 payments of $47.25 per month). Students, military personnel, first responders, medical professionals, and teachers can all get discounted rates (see below).

Starting in September, there will also be month-to-month plans available. For new users, it'll cost $85 per month on the monthly plan, while returning customers will pay $115 per month for the YouTube TV add-on and $145 per month for the individual channel.

Here's a breakdown for you:

Season pass (8-month subscription)

• $276 for new users ($34.50/month)

• $376 for returning users bundled with YouTube TV

• $480 for returning users without YouTube TV

• $119 for students who can verify their eligibility

• $198 for Military & Veterans, First Responders, Medical Community, and Teachers 

Month-to-month

• $85 per month for new users

• $115 per month for returning users bundled with YouTube TV

• $145 per month for returning users without YouTube TV

How to sign up for NFL Sunday Ticket

To get NFL Sunday Ticket, head over to YouTube.com/NFL and a prompt will pop up with the details to sign up. If you don't see the prompt, just click on "get NFL Sunday Ticket" to the right of the NFL logo. You'll see options to sign up for both YouTube TV and NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL Sunday Ticket only, or the Student Plan. If you want to sign up for the military, first responder, medical professional, or teacher rate, you'll have to go through id.me.

In the mood for a visual treat to brighten your day? Then look no further than the teaser trailer for the upcoming animated film Arco, from French director Ugo Bienvenu and distributor Neon.

The teaser is just one minute long, but it's packed with lush forests, towering sci-fi landscapes, and surreal space imagery, not to mention its fair share of dazzling rainbows.

That's because rainbows are key to Arco. The film's 10-year-old protagonist Arco uses one to accidentally time travel from his peaceful, distant future to the year 2075. There, he discovers a world in peril, but he also meets a young girl named Iris. The two form a fast friendship and, with the help of Iris' robot caretaker Mikki, they set out on a quest to save the world and get Arco home.

Arco is set to play at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, but it's already had a busy festival year. It had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, then went on to win the Cristal for Best Feature Film at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Could we be looking at a contender for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature?

The film is originally in French, with a voice cast including Little Women's Louis Garrel and Anatomy of a Fall's Swann Arlaud. The English dub features a strong voice cast in its own right, including Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Flea, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, and Andy Samberg. Portman also produced the film.

Arco hits select theaters Nov. 14.

SAVE UP TO $760 + GET A FREE GIFT CARD: As of Aug. 21, buy a new Google Pixel 10 or other eligible new Pixel device and save up to $760 with eligible trade-in and preorder at Best Buy. Plus, get a free gift card worth up to $350 with purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Buy a Google Pixel 10 device and save up to $760 with trade-in Plus, get up to a $350 gift card for free Get Deal

It's official: the Google Pixel 10 is finally here. Unveiled during Aug. 20's Made by Google event alongside the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Google's newest flagship smartphone is up for grabs now. And even though this is a brand-new phone we're talking about, there's already a way you can save a significant amount of money if it's time for a smartphone upgrade.

Best Buy is currently offering a deal that can save you some serious cash when you have a qualifying trade-in phone and pre-order (the official release date is Aug. 28) a phone from the new Pixel 10 lineup. This promotion can save you up to $600 on the Pixel 10 ($799), Pixel 10 Pro ($999), or Pixel 10 Pro XL ($1,199), and up to $760 off the Pixel 10 Pro Fold ($1,799).

SEE ALSO: Here's how to get a free Google Pixel 10 Pro from Verizon

From today through Sep. 4, you can claim this deal by heading to Best Buy and selecting which Google Pixel device you'd like to purchase. You'll need to opt in for a trade-in offer, which is only available if you have a phone that's still in good condition, without cracks. It also needs to come with a power source. You can only trade in phones that you own as well, so if you're still paying on one, that isn't an option for this deal.

You can get up to $760 in maximum trade-in savings based on the value of the device you turn over, and Best Buy's offer for the Pixel 9 Pro XL or Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be based on what's available. Once you trade the device in, Best Buy will give you the value of your device toward your Pixel 10 phone (any of the aforementioned models). Look for the "Trade in and save" option beneath the device's price in bold on the right side of the screen. You'll also see the amount of the gift card you'll receive with purchase right above it.

When you complete the purchase, you'll be provided with a eGift Card from Best Buy worth $100 to $350, depending on the value of your trade-in.

If you've been thinking about giving a new phone a shot but needed a push to do so, this is a great deal that's still going to be running for a while, so you've got time to say your goodbyes to the old one. If you're already using a carrier or just want something new, this might be the best way of bringing home the new Pixel hotness, though.

First came poaching, then restructuring and downsizing, now Meta has implemented a hiring freeze for its AI research team.

A new report from the Wall Street Journal, following an earlier report this week from The New York Times, added new speculation about Meta's whiplash changes to its AI research efforts.

According to the Times report on Tuesday, Meta is overhauling its newly formed Superintelligence Lab, by breaking it up into four smaller teams. The teams will reportedly focus on AI research, developing superintelligence (a form of AI more advanced than human intelligence), AI products, and AI infrastructure such as data centers, the Times said.

The Times report said that in addition to restructuring its AI lab, Meta is downsizing the overall team, which is reportedly in the thousands. This lines up with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's newfound belief that superintelligence research should be done in small teams. "You really want the smallest group that can hold the whole thing in their head," said Zuckerberg on Meta's latest earnings call. This was in response to how his perspective on developing AI has changed in the past 12 months.

On Thursday, Meta confirmed to the Journal that it has paused hiring for its AI team.

Just in the past two months, things have changed drastically at Meta. Zuckerberg, disappointed by the Llama 4 launch, kickstarted an aggressive recruiting effort, where he reportedly personally reached out to top AI researchers and executives for his superintelligence team. Meta poached more than 50 AI professionals from its competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, enticing them with signing bonuses and salaries worth millions of dollars. That included recruiting former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang to lead its superintelligence research team, internally dubbed "TBD lab."

The fast-paced changes could signify the kind of swift action that comes from clarity of direction or concerns of a looming bubble. Meta told the Journal that the hiring freeze was a result of "bringing people on board and undertaking yearly budgeting and planning exercises." The sudden hiring of dozens of AI researchers and equally sudden freeze could mean Meta has the right team assembled after spending its seemingly massive hiring budget.

However, some investors and analysts warn of a looming AI bubble after this week's market volatility, where major U.S. tech stocks dropped several points. The selloff came after an MIT study found 95 percent of companies implementing AI found no returns on investment.

Season 27 of South Park continues its run of satirizing President Donald Trump, with its third episode packing in more jokes about his relationship with Satan and his penis size.

SEE ALSO: 'South Park' roasts ICE officers and Kristi Noem in savage new episode

However, Trump wasn't South Park's only target this week. The episode's main focus was on tech bros and AI, with Randy Marsh becoming hooked on both ChatGPT and ketamine in order to found his own AI-powered weed company.

South Park tackles ChatGPT and Trump's alliances with tech CEOs.

South Park's latest episode, titled "Sickofancy," brings AI into the fold in a big way, with everyone from Randy to Satan asking ChatGPT for advice on their problems. These range from Satan's desire to escape the White House to Randy raiding an ICE detention center for "one Mexican" employee.

In all cases, South Park portrays ChatGPT as the ultimate yes-man, validating all its users' concerns and suggesting all their plans are good ones. And while Randy claims he can feel ChatGPT making him and his business partner Towelie smarter, the reality is that they're regurgitating buzzwords and affirmations that ChatGPT has churned out for them.

SEE ALSO: 'South Park's anti-Trump episode was its biggest season premiere in years

As Randy and Towelie grow their weed business, they decide the only way they can make billions from it is if Trump reclassifies weed. So Towelie heads to Washington, D.C., to petition Trump.

To get an audience with Trump, Towelie has to wait in line with other politicians and tech figures. Each brings Trump a present, along with the affirmation, "You do not have a small penis."

One of the people in line is Apple CEO Tim Cook, who gifts Trump a plaque on a gold stand — something which did actually happen in real life. (Trump goes on to call him "some dipshit tech CEO.") Later in the episode, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also makes an appearance to give Trump a gold, jewel-encrusted VR headset.

South Park spoofs Trump's federal takeover of D.C. police.

The biggest laugh of the "Mr. Towelie Goes to Washington" section of "Sickofancy" comes when Towelie first arrives in the city. He takes in the sights of the nation's capital, from the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial to the Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol.

However, instead of being crowded with tourists and D.C. citizens, all these locations are overrun by military troops and tanks. The visual gag references Trump's federal takeover of the D.C. police and activation of the National Guard in the city. Trump claimed this was part of an effort to curb crime in D.C. Notably, after a spike in 2023, violent crime has dropped in D.C. over the course of 2024 and 2025.

By its end, "Sickofancy" takes an exceptionally dark turn, trapping Towelie in the White House alongside Satan. He begs for help in getting out, but as a resigned Satan says, "There is no escape from this place."

Even if there were, it's clear South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have no intentions of leaving the White House any time soon. Who's up next on their satirical chopping block?

South Park is now streaming on Paramount+. New episodes air every other Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on Comedy Central, and stream next day on Paramount+.

SAVE $239: Pre-order the new Google Pixel 10 Pro, Google Pixel 10 XL, or Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold from Google and get a free year of access to Google AI Pro which ordinarily comes with a $239 price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Free year of Google AI Pro with purchase of Google Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 XL, or Pixel 10 Pro Fold $0 at Google
$239 Save $239 Get Deal

Google just announced the new Pixel 10 lineup, and if you're looking for a new Android phone, this could be just the news you've been waiting for. You have plenty of options for pre-ordering the new models, but there's a special deal at Google if you're interested in the brand's AI assistance.

As of Aug. 21, pre-order the new Google Pixel 10 Pro, Google Pixel 10 XL, or Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold from Google and get a free year of access to Google AI Pro which typically costs $239 per year. This plan will auto-renew after the first year at $19.99 per month, but you're free to cancel at anytime. You'll be able to add the free year of Google AI Pro during checkout.

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

Google AI Pro comes with perks like the Gemini app, better access to AI tools, and an extra 2TB of storage. You'll get Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Vids, and more and you'll have access to NotebookLM, Google's research and writing assistant.

The recently announced Pixel 10 lineup comes packed with upgrades like a 100x zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 XL. Google also upgraded battery life which is always a much-welcomed addition. There's also live translation which is awesome should you be traveling to a non-English speaking country soon.

If you've always wanted to try out Google AI Pro and you're in need of a new Android phone, snag the Google Pixel 10 Pro, Google Pixel 10 XL, or Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold from Google and save yourself the $240 yearly subscription fee. A new phone with enhanced features is just what 2025 ordered.

SAVE UP TO $55: As of Aug. 21, shop deals on Amazon Fire tablets and save up to $55. Get the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet for $89.99, saving $50, or get the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet for $84.99 and save $55.

Best Amazon Fire tablet deal Best Amazon Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $89.99 (Save $50) Get Deal Best Amazon Fire Kids tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet $84.99 (Save $55) Get Deal Best Amazon Fire deal for ages three to seven Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet $69.99 (Save $40) Get Deal

If the rumors are true, Amazon Fire tablets are about to get a massive update. Amazon's tablets currently use the brand's in-house operating system, but insiders speaking to Reuters have said an overhaul is coming that will replace Amazon's operating system with an Android system. While nothing is confirmed yet, a slew of Fire tablets are now on sale at Amazon, making us wonder if upgraded versions are coming soon. We can't know for sure, but we can delight in the current discounts.

As of Aug. 21, a bunch of Amazon Fire tablets are now marked down over $50. The deals are for both adults and kids, as kid-friendly tablets have some of the biggest savings right now. Here are all of the best savings we've spotted so far.

Best Amazon Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $89.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

While Amazon's tablets usually can't compete with the quick processing speeds of Apple's iPads, they're getting closer with the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet. With an octa-core processor and 10.1-inch screen, it's great for streaming and gaming. Don't expect it to do as much as an iPad or Android tablet, as Amazon's app store is quite limited. However, if you're looking for a budget tablet, this will get the job done.

Already a great value at $139.99, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is currently marked down to $89.99, saving $50 for 36% off.

Best Amazon Fire Kids tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet $84.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $55.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you want a kid-friendly tablet, Amazon has a whole line of Fire tablets that are age-appropriate, providing a safer digital experience. The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet is geared toward kids ages six to 12, with built-in parental controls so parents can monitor download requests as well and review activity. In addition to streaming video and reading from the Kindle library, kids can browse the internet with built-in filters to keep content appropriate.

Normally $139.99, you can get this kid-friendly tablet for just $84.99, saving $55 for 39% — the best savings on any Fire tablet right now.

More Amazon Fire tablet deals

• Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet — $69.99 $109.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet — $134.99 $189.99 (save $55)

Microsoft users beware: Hackers are using a new method to steal login information.

Bleeping Computer detailed the new technique. Effectively, it uses what appears to be a trusted, legitimate outlook.office.com link to redirect to a phishing page.

Bleeping Computer noted that researchers at Push Security believe the phishing method begins with a malicious sponsored link in Google search results. In at least one instance, a person reportedly landed on the malicious link via a search for "Office 265" which seems to be a typo for "Office 365." From there, it would redirect to an Office domain then further redirect to the phishing site.

So, in short, be careful what sponsored links you click. While these links may seem safe, that is not always the case.

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

As fast as folks move to protect their information, hackers are often a step ahead. As we wrote earlier this month, for instance, hackers recently found a ransomware workaround to shut down Microsoft Defender, which is the company's antivirus software.

And even if you do everything right, your info still might get leaked via hacked companies. Just this week, it was revealed that more than 1 million people reportedly had their info stolen in a massive hack of insurance giant Allianz Life.

All that in mind, if you want tips on how to keep your info private, we've got you covered.

SAVE $999: Verizon is offering a free Google Pixel 10 Pro to all new and existing customers with an Unlimited Ultimate plan when trading in a Google, Apple, Motorola, or Samsung phone in any condition.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Free Google Pixel 10 Pro with trade-in on Unlimited Ultimate plan $0 at Verizon
$999 Save $999 Get Deal

The new Google Pixel 10 Pro is a great option if you're in need of a phone upgrade. For years now, Google's Pixel lineup has given us awesome Android options like the Google Pixel 9a, which landed itself on the Mashable list of the best phones of 2025. But if you're interested in the latest and greatest model, listen up, because you could be in line for a free phone.

New and existing Verizon customers can snag a free Google Pixel 10 Pro with the carrier's Unlimited Ultimate plan when you trade in a Google, Apple, Motorola, or Samsung phone in any condition. Overall, that puts you in line to save $999 on the free Google Pixel 10 Pro.

The Verizon Unlimited Ultimate plan comes with perks like access to 5G, unlimited mobile hotspot data, and unlimited international data should your travel plans take you abroad.

The lineup of Google Pixel 10 devices is packed with AI upgrades like voice translation, AI camera features, and the Take a Message option, to name a few. The Google Pixel 10 Pro has some pretty nice specs like a 6.3-inch display with 1280x2856 resolution and 3,300 nits at peak brightness. Google mentions the 4,870mAh battery will be capable of at least 30 hours of life before it'll need to recharge.

SEE ALSO: Score a $200 gift card when you pre-order the Google Pixel 10 Pro at Amazon

In terms of the Pixel 10 Pro's camera, Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry is optimistic. "The cameras this year haven't undergone huge (or any) changes in terms of megapixel counts, but one big thing Google did is increase Super Res Zoom capabilities from 30x all the way to 100x," wrote Perry in the Pixel 10 announcement recap. "We'll see how that works in practice, but given the excellent telephoto zoom quality on previous Pixel phones, this is potentially very exciting."

If you're looking to snag a free Google Pixel 10 Pro, sign on with Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan, trade in your old phone, and you'll be on your way to Android bliss.