Mashable

Apple is reportedly removing the pulse oximeter from the Apple Watch so that it can be imported to the US without legal issues. The device was temporarily banned from import last December after medical tech company Masimo accused Apple of stealing its blood oxygen monitoring technology.

A federal court filing revealed Apple's intention to redesign the Watch without the pulse oximeter on Monday. First introduced to the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020, pulse oximeters allow users to measure the oxygen saturation level of their blood, which can be useful for monitoring or detecting medical conditions. Apple's changes would reportedly remove this functionality from its devices.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch import ban timeline: 7 events that got Apple into this mess

According to the filing, US Customs and Border Protection would allow Apple to resume import of its Watches if the contested blood oxygen monitoring technology was removed. Masimo also held no objection to Apple selling devices without pulse oximeters, characterising the proposed Watch modifications as "a positive step toward accountability" for the company.

Masimo's beef with Apple has been ongoing for years, having first sued the tech giant over alleged trade secret theft in Jan. 2020. The US International Trade Commission subsequently banned the import of all Apple devices that used the contested technology after ruling in favour of Masimo in October last year, making Apple halt sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 Watches a few days before Christmas. It then returned them to shelves just one week later after an appeals court put a pause on the ban.

Apple's proposed redesign doesn't mean that Apple is giving up on fighting Masimo's allegations. Still, it may work as a stopgap to at least keep Apple Watches in US stores for now.

Google Maps is an invaluable tool for everyday navigation, offering marked routes, turn-by-turn directions, and public transport information to help people get around. However, Maps can be used for much more than just guiding users from A to B. 

In addition to its way-finding functionality, Google Maps also allows you to save locations for later. It's a handy feature for trip planning, saving your favourite restaurants, or curating a list of date night ideas, letting you mark places on your Map as well as create an annotated list that you can refer back to later.

SEE ALSO: 3 tips for using Google Maps more effectively, according to Google

Here's how to save locations in Google Maps.

Saving Google Maps locations on Android or iOS Total Time

• 1 minute

What You Need

• Google Maps app
• Android or iPhone

Step 1: Open the Google Maps app.

Step 2: Search for the location you would like to save, then tap on it to open its information card.

You can also tap a location marker on the map, or tap and hold a spot on the map to place your own marker.

Step 3: Tap the "Save" button on the information card.

If the button isn't immediately visible, you can find it by scrolling the row of buttons right.

Step 4: Select a list or lists to save the location to.

Alternatively, you can tap "+ New list" to create a new list of places to add it to. You'll be able to customise the list's name and description, as well as choose an emoji for its icon.

Step 5: Optional: Type any notes that you may want to remember about the location into the given text box.

You'll be able to do this for saved locations on all of your Google Maps lists except "Starred places."

Step 6: Tap "Done."

Saving Google Maps locations on desktop Total Time

• 1 minute

What You Need

• PC
• Internet browser

Step 1: Open Google Maps in your web browser.

Step 2: Search for the location you would like to save, then click on it to open its information card.

Alternatively, you can click a location marker on the map to see its information card.

Step 3: Click the "Save" button on the information card.

It can be found next to the "Directions" button.

Step 4: Select a list from the dropdown menu to save the location to.

You can save it to more than one list by repeating this process. You can also select "New list" to create and name a new list of places to add the location to.

Google Maps' location lists are private by default, so you don't have to worry about people asking exactly why you have a carefully curated and annotated list of every single onion ring vendor in the city. However, if you do want to make your restaurant rankings public, you can share your location lists as well as control whether others are allowed to edit them.

TL;DR: Stream Australia vs. Syria for free on 10Play. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup has already delivered a lot of top-quality football from the first round of group stage fixtures, and we're expecting the same thing from this next batch of games. And the good news is you can watch Australia's game against Syria without spending anything.

If you want to watch Australia vs. Syria in the AFC Asian Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. Syria in the AFC Asian Cup?

Australia and Syria will meet at 11:30 a.m. GMT on Jan. 18. This fixture will take place at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

How to watch Australia vs. Syria for free

You can watch all of Australia's AFC Asian Cup matches live and free across Network 10, including the fixture between Australia and Syria. Live streaming is also available for free on 10Play.

10Play is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access 10Play from anywhere in the world.

Access 10Play to stream Australia vs. Syria by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 10Play

5. Steam Australia vs. Syria for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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 10Play without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch all of Australia's AFC Asian Cup matches before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 10Play?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking 10Play, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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.

Watch Australia vs. Syria in the AFC Asian Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Djokovic vs. Popyrin in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Can anyone stop Novak Djokovic from winning the Australian Open? The likes of Alcaraz, Ruud, and Medvedev will fancy their chances, but Alexei Popyrin will get his chance first. It's going to be a big challenge for the Australian player, but the home support will surely improve his odds.

If you want to watch Djokovic vs. Popyrin in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Djokovic vs. Popyrin?

Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin will meet in their second round match on Jan. 17.

How to watch Djokovic vs. Popyrin for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Djokovic vs. Popyrin.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to 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 Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Djokovic vs. Popyrin for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now to stream live tennis, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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 Djokovic vs. Popyrin for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Dolehide vs. Gauff in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The second round of the Australian Open has pitted Coco Gauff against fellow American tennis player Caroline Dolehide. We're expecting a thrilling affair between two top players, and you can watch all the action without spending anything. And no, you don't need to rely on dodgy streams that flood your screen with even dodgier ads.

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

When is Dolehide vs. Gauff?

Coco Gauff and Caroline Dolehide will meet in their second round match on Jan. 17.

How to watch Dolehide vs. Gauff for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Dolehide vs. Gauff.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to 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 Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Dolehide vs. Gauff for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now to stream live tennis, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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 Dolehide vs. Gauff for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to a Tykr Stock Screener Premium Plan is on sale for £94.21, saving you 86% on list price.

Jumping into the world of stocks, investing, and trading can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Tykr is a user-friendly investment education platform that teaches you about risk management in the market. Learn which are low-risk and high-risk, and discover imperative stock investing tips along the way. 

The best part about the Tykr app? This innovative tool does all of the time-consuming research and analysis on 30,000+ US and International stocks, so you don’t have to. Get real-time stock updates, alerts, and support for making informed decisions. The portfolio tracker monitors the performance of your investments and gives you detailed financial statements, ratios, sales growth charts, and more.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned trader, Tykr can find investment opportunities within seconds of signing up. This unique stock screener tool offers a community forum to chat with other investors should you ever have any questions. Gain confidence to take risks on your new stock market adventure, and start seeing financial progress. Leap, and the net will appear. 

Get a Tykr Stock Screener Premium Plan lifetime subscription for £94.21.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tykr Tykr Stock Screener Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) £94.21 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

It doesn't matter if you're a green-fingered casual or landscaping professional. There's a universal truth to gardening: A beautiful lawn takes blood, sweat, and tears. And tooling up with the best gear available, of course.

Investing in good tools is absolutely essential. The lawn mower is almost certainly the most important purchase a gardener will make, but the strimmer ranks as a close second. Grass strimmers, also known as trimmers, keep your edges, borders, and even the lawn itself tidy by cutting back weeds and long patches of grass. In other words, these products handle everything that your lawn mower can't reach.

But unless you’re a gardening expert, choosing the right strimmer is a tricky business. We're here to help put you on the right (garden) path and suggest some of the top models. First up, here’s some helpful information about buying a new strimmer.

What are the different types of lawn strimmer?

The main types you’ll have to choose from are electric strimmers that plug into the mains, cordless strimmers powered by rechargeable batteries, and petrol strimmers which give you extra power. The best option for you really depends on the size of your garden and its current state. Is it big and overgrown? In that case you'll need power.

Corded vs. cordless strimmers — which are best?

It’s less a case of which is best and more which type best suits your garden and gardening needs. Corded strimmers are generally cheapest and best for casual use, but they’re slightly limited by the cord. You’ll need easy access to a mains outlet — and you must check that the cord reaches far enough to cover your lawn.

Cordless strimmers are built for convenience — lightweight and easy to handle around the garden. The main drawback is that you have to recharge them after use. Look for a model with battery power to match the size of your garden. 

What are the benefits of a petrol strimmer?

Petrol-powered strimmers give you power. If you have a large garden, or particularly tough grass and weeds to cut through, a petrol strimmer is likely the best option. They’re not always the best for delicate or precision-perfect jobs.

What is lawn edging?

Lawn edging is pretty much as it sounds — the art of keeping your lawn neat, tidy, and even styled. It can be surprisingly hard to do if you don’t have the right tools. Some strimmers are built for both regular trimming and edging, or may have a cutting head that converts into an edger. This can add a touch of artistic flair to your gardening.

What are the most important lawn strimmer features?

As well as edging, there are other handy features that can elevate a strimmer from good to great. They can include a telescopic shaft, adjustable handle, shoulder strap, and brush cutter for tackling brambles and shrubbery.

What's an automatic line feed?

Another feature that can be a deal-breaker for some gardeners is an automatic line extension. The “line” is the thing that whips around quickly and does the actual business of grass cutting (though some strimmers use a blade). The lines sometimes break, so you need a system to replace the line mid-cut. Strimmers may have an automatic line feed, which replaces the line as you cut, meaning you do don't have faff about with changing spools. Others replace the line with the press of a button — or by giving the head a bump on the ground.

What is the best lawn strimmer?

There are plenty of impressive models out there from top brands like Bosch and Flymo. To help you find the right strimmer for you and your garden, we have lined up a selection of the very best models. We have considered customer reviews, specifications, and features to give you a clear idea of what's out there.

These are the best garden strimmers in 2024.

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 Jan. 16's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Jan. 15.

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Frank Ocean's best album.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 Wordle #941 is...

BLOND.

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.

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

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 January 16's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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 deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bamboozle

• Green: Insider access

• Blue: Bent

• Purple: Calculator words

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: Deceive

• Green: Inside Info

• Blue: Tilt to One Side

• Purple: Words Spelled With An Upside-Down Calculator

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 28

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 Connections #219 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Deceive: CON, DUPE, FOOL, TRICK

• Inside Info: DOPE, SCOOP, SKINNY, WORD

• Tilt to One Side: CANT, LEAN, LIST, SLOPE

• Words Spelled With An Upside-Down Calculator: BOOB, EGGSHELL, GIGGLE, HELLO

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Deepfakes, technology to face-swap images, have ushered in a new era of scams. In the past year, fake video of celebrities like Tom Hanks and Mr. Beast have been used to shill products they don't actually endorse. The latest of these scams is a phony giveaway of cookware Le Creuset by deepfaked Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, the New York Times and others report.

In these AI-generated videos that ran on Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok, Swift's appearance and voice were imitated to express that she's "thrilled" to give away free Le Creuset sets. There are also fake ads of Selena Gomez, according to cybersecurity site MalwareTips, where a deepfaked Gomez promises free cookware due to a warehouse error.

SEE ALSO: GPT Store users breaking rules with 'girlfriend' bots

These ads included links to websites appearing to be the Food Network and other legitimate news outlets, saying that the "free" Le Creuset items required a one-time "small shipping fee of $9.96." Users that attempted to claim the free set and entered their personal information didn't receive any Le Creuset, but instead were signed up to a monthly $89.95 subscription in addition to that "shipping" fee of $9.96, MalwareTips states.

A Meta spokesperson told the Times that these fraudulent ads violate its policies, but are often missed by its review systems because creators cloak their content. Meta has taken legal action against some perpetrators of these scam ads. A TikTok spokesperson told the Times that creators are required to disclose whether media is synthetic or manipulated, and that advertisers must obtain consent for "any synthetic media which contains a public figure."

AI fools us — and will continue to as the technology advances. Here's a rule of thumb: If an ad featuring a celebrity isn't on that celebrity's or the company's social media accounts, it's likely fake.

The Lost Daughter co-stars Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley reunite for director Thea Sharrock's comedy Wicked Little Letters, a mystery based on a real scandal from the Isle of Wight in the 1930s. And the trailer is fun as hell.

Set in the coastal English town of Littlehampton, the Jonny Sweet-written film sees Colman as Edith Swan, a rather conservative local. Her neighbour, the lively and sweary Rose Gooding, has moved to the country from Ireland, and challenges Edith with her free manner of speaking (she makes a lot of gloriously sordid jokes). When a bunch of cheeky, profanity-laden, and thematically scandalous anonymous letters begin arriving in local mailboxes, residents point the finger at Rose.

The commotion doesn't just remain within the streets of the seaside village, however, instead somehow finding its way into the national conversation and all the way to court. Who really sent the letters? Local police officer Gladys Moss (Black Mirror's Anjana Vasan) might be Rose's only hope of clearing her name.

Wicked Little Letters premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and will hit UK cinemas Feb. 23. A U.S. release date has yet to be announced.

YouTube is furthering its crusade against ad blockers by slowing down load times, our friends at PCMag report.

This a continuation of a crackdown that started last fall. In October, YouTube warned users of their ad blocker usage with a prompt, "Ad blockers are not allowed on YouTube," and options to either allow ads or subscribe to YouTube Premium ($13.99/month).

SEE ALSO: Tracking your stress may be more stressful than you imagined

This move upset users, who scrambled to find alternatives to YouTube's rules. As Mashable's Alex Perry stated at the time, however, "The problem with this is that YouTube will almost certainly weed out working alternatives over time, so some degree of adaptability may be required here on the user end."

It seems that Perry is correct, because now 9to5Google and others report that YouTube is lagging for folks using ad blockers. 9to5Google observed that this is mostly due to an artificial timeout written into YouTube's code, which increases the buffering time on videos. Google, which owns YouTube, calls this "suboptimal viewing."

A YouTube spokesperson told Mashable, however, "Recent reports of users experiencing loading delays on YouTube are unrelated to our ad blocker detection efforts. Our help center offers troubleshooting tips for users experiencing issues."

For now, it appears that the solutions are to use YouTube's tips, disable ad blocker, or subscribe to YouTube Premium.

UPDATE: Jan. 16, 2024, 9:11 a.m. EST This article has been updated with a quote from a YouTube spokesperson.

If you're not quite done with messed up British aristocracy tales, Guy Ritchie has expanded his 2019 film The Gentlemen into a Netflix series, and the first teaser has dropped.

Ritchie created, co-wrote, and executive produced the series, as well as directed the first two episodes. Essentially, the series is set "in the world" of the film, but doesn't have any of the original characters. The White Lotus' Theo James leads the TV show as Eddie Horniman, who inherits his father's enormous country estate — with strings. Eddie soon learns it's connected to a rather sizeable crime empire and all the rivals that go with it, so he's pulled into the game.

Giancarlo Esposito, Kaya Scodelario, Vinnie Jones, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Peter Serafinowicz, Chanel Cresswell, Dar Salim, Michael Vu, Max Beesley, Jasmine Blackborow, Pearce Quigley, Ruby Sear, and Harry Goodwins also star, and Ray Winstone has just been revealed as part of the cast too (he's in the trailer).

How to watch: The Gentlemen is streaming on Netflix in March.

TL;DR: Live stream Alcaraz vs. Gasquet in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a lot of really interesting matchups in the first round of the Australian Open, but if we had to pick a favourite from the bunch, it might be Alcaraz vs. Gasquet. It's the new kid on the block against the veteran talent. It's going to be a fascinating battle between two stars.

If you want to watch Alcaraz vs. Gasquet in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Alcaraz vs. Gasquet?

Carlos Alcaraz and Richard Gasquet face off at about 8:15 p.m. AEDT on Jan. 16.

How to watch Alcaraz vs. Gasquet for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Alcaraz vs. Gasquet.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to 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 Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Alcaraz vs. Gasquet for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now to stream live tennis, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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 Alcaraz vs. Gasquet for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Rune vs. Nishioka in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of the Australian Open has produced some really interesting matchups, including Holger Rune vs. Yoshihito Nishioka. Sure, Rune is the favourite going into this game, but Nishioka is a very solid player. You never know.

If you want to watch Rune vs. Nishioka in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Rune vs. Nishioka?

Holger Rune and Yoshihito Nishioka will meet at around 2 p.m. AEDT on Jan. 16.

How to watch Rune vs. Nishioka for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Rune vs. Nishioka.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to 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 Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Rune vs. Nishioka for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without actually spending anything. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now to stream sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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 Rune vs. Nishioka for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Last week, OpenAI launched its GPT Store, where users can peruse customer-created versions of ChatGPT. In merely a few days, users have managed to break OpenAI's rules with "girlfriend bots," Quartz reports.

OpenAI's usage policies, which were updated the day of the GPT Store launch, explicitly state that GPTs (Generative Pre-trained Transformers) can't be romantic in nature: "We...don’t allow GPTs dedicated to fostering romantic companionship or performing regulated activities." Regulated activities aren't clarified. In the same paragraph, OpenAI states that GPTs that contain profanity in their name or depict or promote graphic violence aren't allowed, either.

As Quartz tried, and Mashable replicated, searching "girlfriend" in the GPT Store does produce a number of options:

Girlfriend bots in OpenAI's GPT Store. Credit: Screenshot: GPT Store

Some that Quartz observed on Thursday are no longer searchable. It seems, however, that GPT creators have already become more creative in their titles, with "sweetheart" generating more relevant options than "girlfriend" as of publication:

Searches for "sweetheart" in the GPT Store. Credit: Screenshot: GPT Store

Searches for the words "sex" and "escort," as well as "companion" and terms of endearment like "honey," produced less relevant options. Searches for curse words — also banned — came up short, as well, so it seems like OpenAI is cracking down on its rules.

It's no surprise that there's a demand for these types of bots, considering that porn performers are already "cloning" themselves for NSFW "virtual girlfriends." Companies like Bloom, which specializes in audio erotica, have also gotten in on the action with erotic "roleplaying" chatbots. Plus, some folks have utilized chatbots for dating app messages to make them sound better to actual flesh-and-blood people. So if OpenAI users can't get girlfriend bots from the GPT Store, they're likely going elsewhere.

TL;DR: Live stream Ruud vs. Ramos-Vinolas in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Casper Ruud has finished as runner-up at three Grand Slams, but has never taken that next step and actually won. Could that all change at the Australian Open? Ruud will certainly hope so, but Ramos-Vinolas will do everything he can to make sure that doesn't happen this year.

If you want to watch Ruud vs. Ramos-Vinolas in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ruud vs. Ramos-Vinolas?

Casper Ruud will face Albert Ramos-Vinolas at around 12 p.m. AEDT on Jan. 16.

How to watch Ruud vs. Ramos-Vinolas for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Ruud vs. Ramos-Vinolas.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to 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 Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Ruud vs. Ramos-Vinolas for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment. It's a straightforward process.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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.

Watch Ruud vs. Ramos-Vinolas for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Raducanu vs. Rogers in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Can Emma Raducanu rediscover the sparkling form that led her to win the US Open at the age of just 18? Could she actually win the Australian Open? We're not sure about that, but there's only one way to find out.

If you want to watch Raducanu vs. Rogers in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Raducanu vs. Rogers?

Emma Raducanu will face Shelby Rogers at around 5 p.m. AEDT on Jan. 16.

How to watch Raducanu vs. Rogers for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Raducanu vs. Rogers.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to 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 Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Raducanu vs. Rogers for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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.

Watch Raducanu vs. Rogers for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's no secret that Samsung's upcoming S-series smartphone flagships will heavily lean on AI smarts. Samsung calls the S24 phones, likely to be unveiled on January 17 during Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event, the "AI phones."

Now, however, thanks to a series of what appear to be leaked marketing materials from Samsung (Evan Blass via 9to5Google), we know a little bit more about the phones' specs, and one particularly interesting feature.

The feature, called "Circle to Search," appears to be powered by Google's artificial intelligence smarts. The leaked description says "search any image, video, or text on your screen. Circle, highlight, scribble, or tap to pinpoint what you’re curious about, no screenshots necessary." We'd have to try it out to see how it works, but it sounds like a cool upgrade to Google Lens, which is a Google app that allows you to search with your phone's camera.

SEE ALSO: Pre-pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy S24 and get a $50 credit ahead of the big reveal

Other AI-powered features that are coming include live translation of phone calls, better night-time zoom (again, thanks to AI smarts), and an AI-powered "Note Assist" feature in Samsung Notes.

Some of the specs have leaked as well. Apparently, the Samsung S24 Ultra will have a flat, 6.8-inch display and a 200-megapixel main camera. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus will have a 6.7-inch display and a 50-megapixel main camera, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 will have a 6.2-inch display with a 50-megapixel main camera.

Another interesting detail from the leaked materials reveals that the new phones will come with 7 years of Android updates, just like Google's Pixel phones.

To watch the Galaxy Unpacked event, tune in to the live stream on Samsung's website at 1 p.m. ET on January 17.

TL;DR: Live stream Rybakina vs. Pliskova in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open is delivering a lot of interesting matchups in the first round of the competition, and Rybakina vs. Pliskova might be the pick of the bunch. Rybakina is one of the favourites to win the Australian Open, but Pliskova is not going to go down without a fight.

If you want to watch Rybakina vs. Pliskova in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Rybakina vs. Pliskova?

Elena Rybakina and Karolina Pliskova are estimated to meet in their first round match at 7 p.m. AEDT on Jan. 16.

How to watch Rybakina vs. Pliskova for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Rybakina vs. Pliskova.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to 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 Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Rybakina vs. Pliskova for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 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.

Watch Rybakina vs. Pliskova for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.