Mashable
How to watch Aston Villa vs. Bologna online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Aston Villa vs. Bologna in the Champions League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Aston Villa have been enjoying themselves in the Champions League. They've won their first two games without conceding a goal, including a famous victory over Bayern Munich. And now they face Bologna, a team that has only picked up a point so far. Aston Villa will be favorites to win this one, but anything can happen in the Champions League.
If you want to watch Aston Villa vs. Bologna in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Aston Villa vs. Bologna?Aston Villa vs. Bologna in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 22. This fixture takes place at Villa Park.
How to watch Aston Villa vs. Bologna for freeAston Villa vs. Bologna is available to live stream for free on Tabii.
Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Aston Villa vs. Bologna on Tabii by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Turkey
Sign in to Tabii
Watch Aston Villa vs. Bologna for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Aston Villa vs. Bologna (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Tabii?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tabii, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Turkey
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Aston Villa vs. Bologna in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League for free on RTL ZWEE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Football fans are in luck, because the Champions League returns with another batch of incredible games. The third round of fixtures has thrown together some massive matchups, including Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund. This is a repeat of last year's final, so fans will be delighted to hear that you can live stream this huge game without spending anything.
If you want to watch Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund?Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 22. This fixture takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
How to watch Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund for freeReal Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund is available to live stream for free on RTL ZWEE.
RTL ZWEE is geo-restricted to Luxembourg, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Luxembourg, meaning you can unblock RTL ZWEE to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Luxembourg
Sign in to RTL ZWEE
Watch Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for RTL ZWEE?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTL ZWEE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Luxembourg
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch AC Milan vs. Club Brugge online for free
TL;DR: Live stream AC Milan vs. Club Brugge in the Champions League for free on RTL play. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The great thing about the new Champions League format is that we're getting more big games between the biggest clubs. It's probably not great for the players and their busy schedules, but dedicated fans are winning.
AC Milan are taking on Club Brugge in the third round of fixtures. AC Milan are still looking to secure their first point in this season's competition after tough defeats to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen. Despite the difficult start, they will be confident of beating Club Brugge at home.
If you want to watch AC Milan vs. Club Brugge in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is AC Milan vs. Club Brugge?AC Milan vs. Club Brugge in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Oct. 22. This fixture takes place at the San Siro.
How to watch AC Milan vs. Club Brugge for freeAC Milan vs. Club Brugge is available to live stream for free on RTL play.
RTL play is geo-restricted to Belgium, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Belgium, meaning you can unblock RTL play to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream AC Milan vs. Club Brugge for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Belgium
Sign in to RTL play
Watch AC Milan vs. Club Brugge for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream AC Milan vs. Club Brugge (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTL play?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTL play, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Belgium
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream AC Milan vs. Club Brugge in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk online for free
TL;DR: Watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League is back with another batch of massive games between Europe's elite clubs. There are a number of interesting games to keep tabs on, including Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk.
Arsenal are unbeaten in this season's competition, and will be confident of securing another victory at home. Shakhtar Donetsk are still looking for their first win. Could they upset the odds at the Emirates Stadium? There's only one way to find out.
If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk?Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League starts at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 22. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.
How to watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk for freeArsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (plus more Champions League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
Fans from outside the UK will need to use a VPN to watch the Champions League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:
Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Prime Video?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
Rosanna Pansino cracks open an apparently moldy Lunchly
It seems folks might be getting a surprise when they open their Lunchly — and it's not a kids' toy or special dessert. A new video from a food YouTuber showed them apparently discovering mold in the Lunchable rival from popular creators MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI.
Rosanna Pansino, a popular food YouTuber with 14.5 million subscribers, posted a video on Sunday trying out Lunchly. And in that video, which has already racked up more than half a million views, she says she discovers mold in the cheese of the Lunchly. We obviously cannot independently verify Pansino actually discovered mold — it is something you could fake — but she does explicitly state in the video description that the "video is not faked."
You can watch the 20-minute video for yourself.
Pansino sets up a video comparing Lunchly to Lunchables. It's a sensible idea for a video, considering Lunchly is basically a YouTuber-endorsed version of the classic kids' meal. Lunchly has "Fiesta Nachos," "The Pizza," and "Turkey Stack 'Ems," all of which come with MrBeast's Feastables chocolate and a bottle of Paul's Prime drink.
SEE ALSO: MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI are launching a Lunchables rivalIn the video, Pansino appears to open a pizza Lunchly only to discover what seems to be mold on the shredded mozzarella cheese, despite the packaging saying it was good for another couple of months. Upon assembling the mini pizza with the moldy cheese, Pansino gags and again states she did not fake the mold.
"It's so much mold, this is terrible," she says in the video. "I just want you guys to know I did not fake this. I was honestly going to go over nutritional facts and differences between the two."
Later in the video, Pansino compares a moldy Lunchly to one that was not moldly and points out that the seal might not have been tight on the one that apparently produced mold. Other videos online have claimed to show mold on their Lunchly's cheese, indicating perhaps this is not an uncommon problem.
None of the creators behind Lunchly have addressed the mold claims online. The company responded to a request for comment but saying only that its products are thoroughly inspected.
"All Lunchly products go through a stringent review process to ensure the quality and safety of its products," a Lunchly representative told Mashable in an email. "That process consists of multiple inspections and approvals, including that of the USDA, before any product can even leave the manufacturing facility."
UPDATE: Oct. 22, 2024, 9:34 a.m. EDT This story was updated to include a statement from Lunchly.
How to watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The NBA is back, and it's back with a bang. The Boston Celtics are hosting the New York Knicks in an absolutely massive season opener, and you can see how things unfold without spending anything.
The defending champions will be confident of starting strongly behind the support of their fans, but the Knicks have been circling the top teams for a few years now. This could be the year that they make the jump, bolstered by the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns.
If you want to watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks?Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 22. This game takes place at TD Garden.
How to watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks for freeBoston Celtics vs. New York Knicks is available to live stream for free on Ran.de.
Ran.de is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks for free on Ran.de by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Germany
Visit Ran.de
Watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Germany
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.
Apple iPad mini 7 review: Beefed up and ready for AI
Look, I'm not even mad.
Apple's new iPad mini, now in its seventh generation, looks the same as the last one, and while it brings a number of small upgrades across the board, none of them will knock you off your feet.
It's hard to blame Apple for not doing more, though. Even though it launched three years ago, the 6th generation iPad mini was a massive upgrade that brought a completely new design, with a larger display, new Touch ID, and a new camera, among other improvements. The 7th generation iPad mini merely builds on that same design, but brings a new chip, more starting storage, and compatibility with Apple's (yet unreleased) Apple Intelligence features.
Apple iPad mini 7 priceThe price for the Apple iPad mini 7 is the same as before, starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi version with 128GB of RAM, and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant.
If you want 256GB of storage, you'll have to add $100 to the starting price, and if you want to max it out at 512GB of storage, that'll cost you another $200 compared to the starting price. You can also add the Apple Pencil Pro to the mix for $129, and Apple's Smart Folio cover will cost you an additional $59.
Apple iPad mini 7 designYou'll need a keen eye to notice the differences between the iPad mini 7 and the previous one, but they do exist. The choice of colors is now Space Gray, Blue, Purple (lighter than before), and Starlight. The Pink variant is no longer available. Apple sent me a Starlight-colored unit, so I can't say how the new colors look in person. I did get the Smart Folio in Sage, which to my eyes appeared more like lime, and I liked the color a lot.
The iPad mini 7 I reviewed was in Apple's old Starlight color, but I really digged the Smart Folio's Sage color. Credit: Stan Schroeder / MashableThere's another minor difference here: The previous version had an "iPad" inscription on the back, whereas the one on the new one says "iPad mini." Nice if you, like me, are a fan of the iPad mini.
Other than these details, no one will be able to tell that you have the brand new iPad mini. Sorry.
Apple iPad mini 7 specsThe new iPad mini is powered by Apple's A17 Pro chip (the same one that powers the iPhone 15 Pro), which gives it some gaming-related features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and enables (upcoming) AI features. Starting storage is 128GB, and you can now get the iPad mini with 512GB of storage, which wasn't available until now. There are also indications that the new iPad mini has 8GB of RAM, which doubles the previous model's 4GB of RAM.
Other tidbits include faster USB-C data transfer, Bluetooth 5.3 support, and Wi-FI 6E connectivity — all meaningful upgrades, though most users probably won't notice much of a difference. The cameras — a 12-megapixel shooter on the back, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the front — are mostly the same as before, with the most notable upgrades being Smart HDR 4 support.
The camera is mostly the same, but Apple Pencil Pro support is new. Credit: Stan Schroeder / MashableThe big takeaways here are the big RAM increase and 128GB of starting storage, which is a huge upgrade as 64GB (the starting storage on the previous generation) was just cutting it way too close for comfort if you have a couple of games installed.
The new chip is a big improvement over the previous version's A15 Bionic, but it's a pity that the new iPad mini doesn't have Apple's latest mobile processor, the A18 Pro which is found in the new iPhone 16 Pro. The company probably decided to cut costs on this one, but it does make the new iPad mini just a little less future-proof.
I tested my unit with a combination of news apps, Chrome, Books, X, and Blizzard's Hearthstone. Everything felt sufficiently fast but don't expect iPad Pro performance; this is still a phone chip running things, and even a fairly simple game such as Hearthstone will push it pretty hard on high settings.
Apple iPad mini 7 battery lifeI didn't have the iPad mini 7 long enough to properly test battery life, but Apple rates it the same as before (19.3 Wh battery, up to 10 hours of surfing on Wi-Fi, and up to nine hours of surfing on cellular), and I didn't notice much of a difference compared to the previous version.
For a day, I used the iPad mini as a secondary display, next to my 16-inch M1 MacBook Pro, and it did struggle to keep up. But in more typical usage — which for me is light reading and a bit of gaming, mostly at home — battery life was never an issue.
Apple iPad mini AI supportApple made its life incredibly complicated with the belated launch of Apple Intelligence. The company's most important product, the new iPhone 16, launched without it. As for the iPad mini, it will launch at the same time as iOS 18.1 which brings some AI features, but it wasn't available at testing time.
SEE ALSO: 5 most useful features of iOS 18 public beta — and how to use themTo complicate matters further, Apple Intelligence isn't currently available in Europe and China, and it won't be arriving there until 2025 (the UK is the exception here; Apple says AI is arriving there in December). Being in Europe, I have no access to it (unless I go through a number of convoluted steps to enable it), and it would be unfair to test a new device running beta software.
This means that all I can say about AI is that this is the first and currently only iPad mini that supports it, and that it is coming soon (in the U.S.). Features will include Writing Tools, which can rewrite, proofread, and summarize your texts, a smarter Siri, Clean Up tool for photos, Genmoji, and integrated ChatGPT, among other features.
When AI launches, the iPad mini will get some cool writing enhancements. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable Apple iPad mini Pencil Pro supportThe iPad mini 7 supports Apple Pencil Pro, with all the bells and whistles such as hover and squeeze. I don't have a need for Apple Pencil, and it seems to me that a heavy user would also prefer a larger canvas to draw on, so an iPad Pro would be a better option. Furthermore, the asking price of $129 for the Pencil Pro is a bit steep when compared to the $499 price of the entry-level iPad mini.
Still, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this feature. I tested the Pencil Pro with the new mini, and it worked as advertised, and it's nice to have the option to use the company's best Pencil together with its smallest tablet.
Is the iPad mini 7 worth getting? It says "iPad mini" on the back now. Nice. Credit: Stan Schroeder / MashableAbsolutely.
If you're new to the iPad, and you want the most compact one around (or any compact tablet), the new iPad mini 7 is the best choice. If you already rock the iPad mini 5th generation or earlier, it's also a no brainer; the new one looks better and is a lot more powerful. And if you own the previous, 6th generation iPad mini, it could also be worth upgrading, but if it's still fast enough for you and you don't care much about the AI features, you'll be OK if you sit this one out.
Why the Cate Blanchett film 'Rumours' is a reference to the iconic Fleetwood Mac album
Meta is testing facial recognition to fight celebrity scams
The days of Tom Hanks having to issue Instagram warnings about fake AI videos of himself may hopefully be coming to an end.
Facebook and Instagram owner Meta is now working on facial recognition techniques to try and curb the rise in "celeb-bait scams", as well as help users recover their accounts quicker.
SEE ALSO: Ray-Ban Meta Glasses can be used to dox strangers via facial recognition, according to Harvard students. Here's how to protect yourself."We’re testing a new way of detecting celeb-bait scams," wrote Meta in a blog published on Monday. "If our systems suspect that an ad may be a scam that contains the image of a public figure at risk for celeb-bait, we will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad to the public figure's Facebook and Instagram profile pictures. If we confirm a match and determine the ad is a scam, we’ll block it. We immediately delete any facial data generated from ads for this one-time comparison, regardless of whether our system finds a match, and we don’t use it for any other purpose."
The post went on to say that Meta has had success in early testing phases with a small group of celebrities. "In the coming weeks, we’ll start showing in-app notifications to a larger group of public figures who’ve been impacted by celeb-bait letting them know we’re enrolling them in this protection. Public figures enrolled in this protection can opt-out in their Accounts Center anytime."
As well as combatting scams, Meta confirmed it's also testing out video selfies as a means of aiding access recovery for anyone with a compromised account, not just famous people. "The user will upload a video selfie and we’ll use facial recognition technology to compare the selfie to the profile pictures on the account they’re trying to access," wrote Meta. "This is similar to identity verification tools you might already use to unlock your phone or access other apps."
The company confirmed that facial recognition data is immediately deleted after the comparison is made.
Most ADHD daters feel misunderstood, Hinge says
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is often misunderstood. ADHD isn't a product of laziness, stupidity, or "bad parenting," as former Mashable reporter Jess Joho wrote. Rather, it's a brain disorder that can impact executive function, attention, hyperactivity, emotional regulation, and more. For ADHD singles trying to use dating apps, the condition can have a huge impact on their ability to find a partner.
That's what Hinge found in its new Love and ADHD D.A.T.E. report, with survey findings from over 60,000 global users, including 9,000 with ADHD. A majority (82 percent) of Hinge users with ADHD are seeking a relationship, but 75 percent feel misunderstood by their matches. Two areas where ADHD daters may struggle are responding to potential dates and navigating small talk, according to the report.
SEE ALSO: TikTok's retro dating dance trends harken back to the days of courtship ADHD daters (not) responding to matchesForty-three percent of Hinge daters with ADHD often forget to respond to matches, and 32 percent feel misunderstood when matches assume they're not interested due to slow responses. This might be compounded by the fact that 71 percent of Hinge daters expect their matches to respond within a day, and those who do are more likely to go on a date.
When asked what makes it hard to respond to matches, 45 percent of respondents forget, and the same amount said a conversation feeling repetitive and boring makes it difficult. Meanwhile, 40 percent said feeling overwhelmed is another barrier.
"I wish my matches understood that when I forgot to respond, it wasn't due to a lack of interest — it was just that my brain often got overwhelmed or distracted," said content creator Tarah Clark, who was quoted in the report. "When someone sent a gentle reminder, I appreciated it. A follow-up message helped bring the conversation back to the forefront of my mind, and I was always happy to continue chatting."
Credit: HingeHinge's director of relationship science, Logan Ury, shared some tips for daters with ADHD in terms of responsiveness:
Be upfront about your communication preferences from the start.
Reduce friction — meaning, make it easier for yourself to respond. If you're more responsive on iMessage than Hinge, for example, exchange numbers with a match.
Set reminders.
Shift to talking on the phone or FaceTime. This can help prevent a prolonged "talking stage."
Ury also shared tips for neurotypical daters:
Don't make assumptions. You don't know why someone isn't responding!
Keep an open mind.
Appreciate honesty.
Get on the same page. If you don't know how to read someone's behavior, ask them about it.
Daters with ADHD were 31 percent more likely than neurotypical daters to report that they don't like making small talk. Small talk — about someone's day or the weather — can feel boring and unstimulating. They were also 38 percent more likely than neurotypical daters to find it difficult to keep conversations going, with half of ADHD daters preferring to get to know a match in person.
SEE ALSO: Flirting IRL is having a major pop culture moment"So much of my personality is physical — my big facial expressions, how my body moves when I speak, how I always need to be doing something with my hands. It feels easier to me when I can connect in-person," said BookTokker Alexis Anunson, who was quoted in the report.
Here are Ury's tips for ADHD daters on navigating small talk:
Showcase your interests on your profile. Talking about what you care about can be more exciting than discussing your day-to-day.
Keep a list of questions on your phone to ask matches.
Get to a date faster (when you're both comfortable).
And for neurotypical daters:
Bond over shared interests.
Be open to exploring something new.
Embrace the differences of others.
For LGBTQ daters with ADHD specifically, 64 percent worry about saying the wrong thing. "Often, there are stigmas associated with being either LGBTQIA+ or having ADHD, but for people who are at the intersection of those identities, even messaging a match can cause anxiety," commented Hinge's love and connection expert Moe Ari Brown.
Brown encourages these daters to celebrate themselves, honor their strengths, and find ways to communicate that work for them. Similarly to Ury's example, if messaging overwhelms you, try a phone or FaceTime date instead.
While three in four ADHD daters feel misunderstood by matches, Hinge found that 63 percent of neurotypical daters do, too. Maybe with these tips, we can all move forward with fewer assumptions about the people in our phones.
Steve Martin and Martin Short's Seth Meyers interview quickly turns into a brutal roast
Elon Musk and Tesla sued by 'Blade Runner 2049' producers
Elon Musk is getting sued again, this time by the production company behind Blade Runner 2049.
Alcon Entertainment filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on Monday with the U.S. District Court, naming Musk, Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery, and accusing them of using copyrighted images to create AI-generated stills to promote Tesla's new "robotaxi" aka "Cybercab".
The complaint alleges the defendants requested permission to use a still from Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 to promote the fully autonomous electric vehicle at the livestreamed "We, Robot" event at the Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California on Oct. 10. However, Alcon said it refused permission and "adamantly objected" to the use of the image or "suggesting any affiliation between Blade Runner 2049 and Tesla, Musk or any Musk-owned company."
Then, the company alleges, Musk and Tesla "used an apparently AI-generated faked image to do it all anyway."
SEE ALSO: Musk is gutting X's blocking feature — why this change is dangerousAlcon's filing accuses Musk and Tesla of feeding the requested image from Blade Runner 2049 along with images from the same scene into an AI image generator and "directed the AI to make a lightly stylized fake screen still", which it then displayed at the globally livestreamed event for 11 seconds (for which the production company says Musk had "no credible reason").
The images, Alcon describes, are taken from the "most memorable sequences" of Blade Runner 2049, when Ryan Gosling's character K arrives in the desert ruins of Las Vegas — it's the area that's bright orange thanks to nuclear destruction. "The sequence follows K as he leaves the spinner and walks in his trench coat or “duster” toward and through the misty orange urban desert ruins, often viewed by the camera from behind or in silhouette," Alcon describes.
You can see in the Tesla presentation below around the five-minute mark that Musk indeed names Blade Runner onstage during his keynote while an undeniably Blade Runner-esque image is on screen, with the words "Not This" appearing in the upper left corner. "You see a lot of sci-fi movies where the future is dark and dismal. It's not a future you want to be in," Musk said. "Like, I love Blade Runner but I don't know if we want that future. I think we want that duster he's wearing but not the bleak apocalypse."
Alcon has described Musk and Tesla's copyright infringement as "a bad-faith and intentionally malicious gambit" to "make the otherwise stilted and stiff content of the joint WBDI-Tesla event more attractive to the global audience and to misappropriate Blade Runner 2049's brand to help sell Teslas." The company also said Musk's use of Blade Runner 2049 imagery was "hardly coincidental" as "the only specific Hollywood film which Musk actually discussed to pitch his new, fully autonomous, AI-driven cybercab" — given the film prominently features a futuristic, AI-powered, driverless car.
But the suit gets more personal than mere copyright in the filing, with the company calling Musk "problematic" himself, and declaring it "did not want Blade Runner 2049 to be affiliated with Musk" or any of his companies. "Any prudent brand considering any Tesla partnership has to take Musk’s massively amplified, highly politicized, capricious and arbitrary behavior, which sometimes veers into hate speech, into account," the filing reads.
Alcon also pointed out it was in negotiations with car brands around its in-production Prime Video Blade Runner 2099 TV series, and that Musk's actions could "cause confusion among Alcon’s potential brand partner customers."
The production company is seeking damages for "economic theft" and aims to "to pry Musk and his co-Defendants away from Alcon’s Blade Runner 2049 brand and goodwill" under the United States Copyright Act and the Lanham Act.
Mashable has reached out to Alcon Entertainment, Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery for comment.
The best VPN for the Fire TV Stick
We know you're here to find out about the best VPNs for the Fire TV Stick, but first we should explain that the Fire TV Stick is, well, a little stick that you can plug into your HDTV to stream over 10,000 apps, games, and Alexa skills, including Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Netflix, and more. You can also use it to gain access to millions of websites like YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit.
As an added bonus, you can launch apps and control your content with the Alexa Voice Remote that comes included with your purchase. Just ask for the content you want and Alexa responds. It's as easy as that.
Amazon Prime members get access to even more content options. They get unlimited access to Prime Video, which features thousands of movies and TV episodes at no additional cost. Plus, Prime members can add over 50 premium channels such as Discovery and Eurosport Player.
With all of that content, how could there possibly be a problem? Well, a lot of the shows and movies are just out of reach due to geo-blocking, meaning that certain programmes are only available from a particular location. This can be down to content licensing agreements and broadcast rights, and there doesn't immediately seem to be anything you can do about it. Well friends, we have a solution to this annoying issue.
An effective way of getting around content blocking is to use a VPN. These services can hide your real location when you're online, meaning you enjoy everything that the Fire Stick has to offer without any restrictions.
What is a VPN?Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide protection for your online information by creating a private network that hides your real IP address. All of your activity is untraceable and secure, because all of your online traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel. Nobody can view or access anything within the tunnel, meaning everything is protected against online threats like hackers, viruses, and malware.
Do you need to use a VPN?VPNs are effective security tools that provide protection for your sensitive information. The online world can be a dangerous place, so it's important to stay safe out there. Investing in a VPN is a quick and easy way of protecting your data and identity. VPNs might be designed for cybersecurity, but there is another reason you might consider subscribing to a service. These tools can be also be used to access blocked sites.
VPNs hide your real IP address and connect you to a server in another country, meaning you can watch all your favourite content from that location. There is so much content out there that can be accessed with the help of a VPN, and it all comes down to bypassing geo-restrictions. VPNs are kind of like keys to the online world, granting you access to more of the shows and films you love.
What is the best VPN for the Fire TV Stick?At this point you're probably sold on the idea of using a VPN with your Fire TV Stick, but which VPN is the best option for you? We have tried to help you out by highlighting a selection of the very best VPNs, including popular services like ExpressVPN and PureVPN.
There should be something for every user and every budget in this list, and all you need to do is pick a favourite. Consider all of these options and weigh them up against your set of preferences. The top choice should become clear.
These are the best VPNs for the Fire TV Stick in 2024.
The best VPN for Windows
It's important to stay secure when browsing online, and while you can take measures to be aware of where you're browsing and what you're doing, using a VPN is the best way to guarantee your cybersecurity.
What is a VPN?Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide protection for your data and identity when you're online by creating a private network that hides your real IP address. This means that all of your activity is untraceable and secure. Try thinking about VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware.
Do you need a VPN?A good quality VPN will block any nefarious traffic coming your way, while also keeping your browsing history private from your ISP and anyone else trying to snoop on your activities. Using a VPN also means you can conduct activities such as checking your online banking while connected to public WiFi, without worrying that you're leaking valuable information.
If you're looking for a VPN for Windows, you'll need a fast service that remains secure. A "no logs" policy and a kill switch are also vital. These ensure that your VPN doesn't track what you do, and that your connection drops if the VPN connection fails, respectively. For Windows 10, it's also useful to have an app that's simple to use.
What is the best VPN for Windows?We have tracked down all the best VPNs for Windows 10, and stuck to VPN services that have apps that are easy to get to grips with, while still offering advanced features for those who want to dip under the surface to make tweaks. You can pick from leading services like CyberGhost VPN, Private Internet Access, and ExpressVPN.
These are the best VPNs for Windows in 2024.
The Apple iPad Mini is down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon
SAVE $150: As of Oct. 22, the Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen) is on sale for $349.99 on Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price on Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen) $349.99 at Amazon$499.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal
There's always a lot of excitement when Apple announces a new model. Most recently, the tech-obsessed have been digging into the specs of the new Apple iPad Mini, with most of the discussion centering on the addition of AI smarts.
That's great, but we're not here to talk about that. We're here to talk about the deals that drop on older models following the release of a new model. Savvy shoppers know that the best time to shop on Apple is just after pre-orders on a shiny new model are available.
SEE ALSO: The new iPad mini is already on sale at Walmart — save $15 on preordersAs of Oct. 22, the Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen) is on sale for $349.99 on Amazon. This deal saves you $150 on list price. And better yet, this is the lowest price we've ever seen on Amazon. This deal is available on Pink, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray colorways. The choice is all yours.
Secure the best price on the Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen) at Amazon.
This luxury massage chair is at its lowest-ever price on Amazon
SAVE $620: As of Oct. 22, the MassaMAX 2024 4D massage chair is on sale for $1,849 at Amazon. That's a 25% saving on list price, and the lowest its ever been on Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: MassaMAX MassaMAX 2024 4D Massage Chair $1,849.00 at Amazon$2,469.00 Save $620.00 Get Deal
Is there anything more relaxing than treating yourself to a massage? An hour of total relaxation, peace, and, if you opt for the sporty variety, agonizing pain (we know, it's worth it in the end). If you want to invest in your relaxation and take that feeling back home, check out this deal on the MassaMAX 2024 4D massage chair.
As of Oct. 22, this incredible massage chair is reduced to $1,849 from $2,496. Not only that, but it's the lowest it has ever been priced at Amazon, so you know you're getting a great deal.
This massage chair features advanced air-soothing airbags and 4D massage technology. This aims to mimic the experience of a real-life, human massage. As well as this, it has three different levels of airbag pressure, five techniques, and 32 airbag points. It also features an interesting zero-gravity design. This allows for different inclination angles as, according to MassaMAX, when the knees are higher than the chest, it can help reduce spinal compression and improve blood circulation.
SEE ALSO: The best massage guns for percussive therapyIf that wasn't enough, you'll also get foot rollers, an airbag massage that soothes the legs, and a backrest that can stretch the whole upper body.
Tech-wise, it features voice control, a TFT touch screen for ease of use, as well as a Bluetooth speaker so you can play your favorite music when relaxing. Just tell your chair what you want, and the AI will kick in and start the program. There are 15 preset automatic massage programs available, and customization options let you create a personalized experience.
If you're feeling relaxed just reading about this chair, head to Amazon as this is a limited-time deal.
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 20, 2024
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, October 20, 2024:
AcrossLuggage IDThe answer is Tag.
The answer is Mona.
The answer is Pinky.
The answer is Angle.
The answer is Wise.
The answer is Tongs.
The answer is Ankle.
The answer is Gaye.
The answer is Mini.
The answer is Paw.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 20
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for October 20's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 20 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 20 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A situation that could be dangerous.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
DICEY.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 18Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 20
Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 October 20'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.
Tweet may have been deletedEach 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.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers 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 October 20 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: News writing
Green: Loud
Blue: Table Tennis
Purple: Homophones
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Bit of Newspaper Writing
Green: Noisy Disturbance
Blue: Table Tennis Needs
Purple: Homophones of Coordinating Conjunctions
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 #495 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayBit of Newspaper Writing: ARTICLE, COLUMN, FEATURE, STORY
Noisy Disturbance: CLATTER, RACKET, ROW, RUCKUS
Table Tennis Needs: BALL, NET, PADDLE, TABLE
Homophones of Coordinating Conjunctions: BUTT, FORE, OAR, SEW
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 October 19Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's 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 yesterday's Connections.
This Pocket LCD Microscope is worth additional screen time
TL;DR: Get the kids away from YouTube and let them explore with this portable LCD microscope, on sale for just $69.97 (reg. $100) through October 27.
If you're tired of trying to get the kids off those screens, offering a beneficial screen alternative could help. Step into a world of discovery with the Portable Handheld Pocket LCD Microscope, a tool designed to inspire curiosity and bring the hidden wonders of nature to life. It's on sale for just $69.97 (reg. $100) through October 27 and could make a terrific holiday gift.
This handy microscope is the perfect companion for kids and adults alike. It offers an educational alternative to traditional screens. Whether examining leaves in the backyard, observing tiny insects, or inspecting coins, this compact device allows you to explore the microscopic world in a whole new way.
The built-in four-inch LCD screen eliminates the need to squint into a lens. Instead, the crisp display presents the micro-world clearly and directly in front of your eyes. With its 2MP camera and 1080FHD picture quality, everything from plant life to small electronic parts comes to life (not literally).
This microscope magnifies objects up to 80 times their original size, providing stunning clarity for every little detail that would otherwise be impossible to see with the naked eye. It also features eight adjustable LED lights.
Perfect for both outdoor adventures and indoor exploration, this microscope weighs only 220g, making it truly portable. It comes with a wrist strap and carrying bag, so kids can take it with them on walks, trips, or even school field trips. And thanks to its built-in 2,000mAh rechargeable battery, the adventure doesn’t need to end quickly — you can keep exploring for hours.
Whether you're a parent hoping to spark a love for science or an adult seeking a practical tool to get a closer look at things, this portable LCD microscope delivers both fun and functionality.
This portable LCD microscope is on sale for just $69.97 (reg. $100) through October 27.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay Portable Handheld Pocket LCD Microscope with 4" Screen $69.97$100.00 Save $30.03 Get Deal