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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 34 min 15 sec ago

Forget baby monitors, Hatch built a sleep coach for your newborn — where to buy

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 10:00

TL;DR: Hatch Baby, priced at $79.99, is a nightlight and sound machine that grows with your kid — plus three months of 1:1 chat with real sleep consultants. After that, it's $69.99 per year or $6.99 per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hatch Hatch Baby $79.99 at Hatch
  Shop Now

Hatch has spent years building sleep gadgets for adults — the Restore line of smart alarm clocks has quietly become a go-to for people trying to fix their bedtime scroll habit. Now the brand is turning that same playbook on the people who arguably need it more: babies who haven't figured out how to sleep yet.

Hatch Baby is available now for $79.99 in many colorways: beechwood, putty, mint, peach, and greige. The price includes three months of Hatch+, the brand's subscription tier that unlocks 1:1 chat with certified sleep consultants and Hatch's full library of sleep content.

Unlike a basic white noise machine your baby will outgrow, Hatch Baby works for four different stages of childhood:

  • Expecting — soothing lights and sounds to prep the nursery before the baby even arrives

  • Newborn — calming cues plus Smart Sleep Logging to start building healthy sleep habits from night one

  • 6 months — lullabies and Pink Noise, which Hatch says is linked to higher-quality deep sleep and tends to feel gentler on little ears than standard white noise

  • 2 years — Time-for-Bed and Time-to-Rise cues that teach toddlers when it's okay to get out of bed

The device is controlled through a "Big Button" you tap to start bedtime sounds, plus a twist dial for volume. There's also a soft nightlight built in for late-night feedings and diaper changes without flipping on the overheads.

The main feature is the support system layered on top of the hardware. Hatch+ includes 1:1 chat that blends AI and human expertise — Hatch AI Chat is available any time, while actual Certified Sleep Consultants are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, for more in-depth questions.

Keep in mind, this is sleep coaching, not medical advice. For health-related questions, you'll need your pediatrician.

Credit: Hatch How Hatch Baby works

More than a gadget, Hatch Baby is a complete sleep support system — offering Smart Sleep Logging with Nap Nudges, adaptive schedules, and milestone guides to help answer any midnight questions and keep the baby’s routine on track.

The built-in Tuck-Ins feature also adds a deeply personal touch by letting parents or distant family members record custom lullabies, stories, and bedtime messages to play directly through the device.

Everything runs through the Hatch app, which requires a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection (with Bluetooth as a backup), so you can start a sound, check a sleep log, or adjust a routine from another room — or another city.

Hatch+ subscription

The three months of Hatch+ included with purchase is not an auto-renewing trial — Hatch says it simply ends unless you opt back in. After that, you can keep going for $69.99 per year or $6.99 per month.

If you decide not to renew, you still get to keep the basics: lights and sounds, the Time-for-Bed/Time-to-Rise cues, Tuck-Ins from family, and phone playback. What you lose is the full subscription layer — the 1:1 Sleep Consultant chat, the Sleep Guides, premium stories and songs, dynamic lighting, and predictive schedules.

Every Hatch Baby purchase ships with the device and a power cord, weighs about 1.1 pounds, and comes with a 30-night bedside trial and a one-year warranty. It's also HSA/FSA eligible — a small but very real perk for parents already feeling the sting of nursery expenses.

Whether you stick with the full subscription or keep it simple with the free features, if it gets you even one extra hour of sleep, it’s worth every penny. Get the Hatch Baby for $79.99.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a refurbished MacBook Air with a Retina display for $268

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 10:00

TL;DR: This refurbished 2018 MacBook Air with a 13-inch Retina display and Intel Core i5 processor is on sale for $267.99 (reg. $1,399).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2018 (Refurbished) $267.99
$1,399 Save $1,131.01   Get Deal

This refurbished MacBook Air brings a Retina display, Intel Core i5 processor, and lightweight design to a much more approachable price. The 2018 13-inch model is on sale for $267.99 (reg. $1,399), with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for everyday computing.

The 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor is suited to common tasks such as browsing the web, editing documents, streaming, and basic photo editing. Its 13.3-inch Retina display has a 2560 x 1600 resolution, while True-to-life visuals make it useful for everything from working on presentations to watching movies. The laptop also has Touch ID for convenient device access and two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports for charging, displays, and compatible accessories.

The portability of this MacBook Air is one of its main advantages. This model weighs just over 2.5 pounds and has a slim profile, making it easy to carry between home, work, or class. The built-in battery is rated for up to 12 hours of web browsing or movie playback, while the 720p FaceTime HD camera, stereo speakers, three microphones, and headphone jack cover the basics for video calls and entertainment.

This MacBook Air is a practical option for students, remote workers, or anyone who primarily needs a portable computer for productivity and general use. It supports updates up to macOS Sonoma 14, though shoppers should keep in mind that this is a 2018 Intel-based MacBook and won’t have the newer hardware found in current models.

The laptop has a Grade A refurbished rating, meaning it should arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to no visible scuffing on the case. For shoppers who don’t need the latest MacBook and want to keep their budget under $300, this model offers a combination of portability, a Retina display and everyday performance.

Get this refurbished MacBook Air for $267.99 (reg. $1,399) while it’s on sale today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch the Bundesliga online for free

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 10:00

TL;DR: Live stream the Bundesliga for free on CazéTV, AbemaTV, and BBC iPlayer. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There's already a lot of football on the schedule. Fans quite simply don't have time to watch everything, but if you're making tough decisions about what to include on your watch list, the Bundesliga should be a priority. Is it the single best league in Europe in terms of overall quality? Probably not, but it's got a strong argument for being the most entertaining.

The big question every season is whether any team can compete with Bayern Munich for the title. Competing with a side stacked with elite talent like Olise, Kane, and Díaz is not easy, but the likes of Dortmund and RB Leipzig always have a chance. Could this season deliver a surprise winner?

If you want to watch the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Bundesliga?

The Bundesliga is Germany's leading professional men's soccer league. It features 18 clubs competing across 34 matchdays, including heavyweight teams like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

The defending champions are Bayern Munich.

When is the Bundesliga?

The 2026/27 Bundesliga season runs from Aug. 28 to May 22.

How to watch the Bundesliga for free

The Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on a number of streaming platforms:

  • Brazil — CazéTV (up to two live matches per week)

  • Japan — AbemaTV (two live matches per week)

  • UK — BBC iPlayer (select Friday evening fixtures)

These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Bundesliga from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the Bundesliga by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Brazil, Japan, or the UK

  4. Visit CazéTV, AbemaTV, or BBC iPlayer

  5. Watch Bundesliga fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but 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 Bundesliga without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams all season, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Bundesliga?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

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

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 80% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Ecovacs new flagship robot vacuum is certified to remove 97% of dust mite allergens — save $300 with launch offer

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 09:30

SAVE $300: Ecovacs' new flagship, the Deebot X12S OmniCyclone, is certified to remove 97% of dust mite allergens from the carpet. It self-washes, self-empties, and mops with fresh water — and it's $999.99 right now, 23% off its $1,299.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot X12S OmniCyclone $999.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $300   Get Deal

If you've been circling a robot vacuum purchase and waiting for a "real" discount to pull the trigger, this is it. Ecovacs just dropped its brand-new flagship, the Deebot X12S OmniCyclone, available for $999.99, down from its $1,299.99 list price. That's obviously the lowest price this model has been since it debuted

If you've got carpet, pets, or a dust mite allergy you've made peace with, this is the moment to stop scrolling and finally buy the thing. Most robot vacuums glide over your carpet and grab whatever's sitting on top. The X12S actually digs in. It's built with a sealed chamber specifically for extracting dust mite allergens from carpet fibers, and it's been independently tested (SGS-certified) to remove an average of 97.44% of them. 

Credit: Ecovacs

And instead of dragging a damp pad around and smearing dirty water everywhere, it feeds itself fresh water through 32 tiny outlets while a built-in scraper wipes the dirty water away in real-time — so you're not redistributing grime across your kitchen floor. It also pre-treats sticky, dried-on messes before it even starts scrubbing.

The suction is rated at 53AW, which means it's got enough pull to lift pet hair and debris rather than just push it around. And it's built to stop hair from wrapping around the brushes, which is the main reason robot vacuums die early.

The smartest part, though, might be how it handles carpet versus hard floor in the same run. When it senses a carpet, it lifts the wet mop roller and covers it, so it doesn't drag a damp pad across your rug and leave it soggy. It also charges itself every time it stops to wash its own roller, so a routine maintenance break doubles as a mini recharge.

Credit: Ecovacs

When it's done, it handles its own cleanup: no dust bags, no wringing out a mop — the base station empties the bin, washes the roller in hot water, dries it with hot air, and cleans itself. 

Grab the flagship Ecovacs robot vacuum while it’s $300 off at Amazon. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim this weekend

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 09:00

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17 is free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is also free with T-Mobile — claim by bringing your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro   Get Deal

Apple is right on the edge of a very big week. We're expecting news of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, plus the possibility of the base iPhone 18 and iPhone Ultra getting announced.

That's a lot, but you can save yourself heaps of work next week by simply heading to T-Mobile this weekend. Sure, there will be deals on the new iPhone range, but who knows whether you'll actually find decent value in the wake of RAMageddon. It's a tough landscape out there, so T-Mobile's free deals on the iPhone 17 might be the best you're going to get.

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free. All of these deals are live through the weekend:

  • iPhone 17e — free when you switch to almost any qualifying T-Mobile plan (no trade-in required).

  • iPhone 17 — free on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan when you turn in an eligible trade-in device.

  • iPhone 17 Pro — free when you bring your existing number over to an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in required).

T-Mobile requires you to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, along with a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. Are these really "free" deals when you need to pay something up front? It's a gray area, OK? Anyway, it's a small price to pay for the latest iPhone (for now).

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free this weekend from T-Mobile.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Lifetime ad blocker Labor Day deal: AdGuard is $14.97

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 08:00

TL;DR: Grab a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for $14.97 (reg. $169.99) through Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT and block ads, trackers, and malicious sites on up to nine devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $14.97
$169.99 Save $155.02   Get Deal

Labor Day weekend usually means more scrolling, more shopping, and more time staring at a screen. It also means more pop-ups, autoplay video ads, and trackers quietly logging what you click. A lifetime AdGuard Family Plan license clears all of that out for $14.97, a one-time payment instead of another subscription to keep track of.

AdGuard runs in the background across up to nine devices, covering phones, tablets, and computers for everyone in the house. It blocks display ads, video ads, and pop-ups in your browser and in most apps, and it strips out the trackers that follow your activity from site to site. It can also flag phishing and malicious sites before they load, and it includes parental controls for filtering content kids shouldn’t see.

The family plan price comes out to under $2 per covered device, with nothing to renew or cancel later. This deal is available to new AdGuard users, and codes must be redeemed within 30 days of purchase.

It’s a practical pickup for households splitting a handful of devices between parents and kids, or for anyone who’d rather stop paying a monthly fee to an ad blocker or privacy tool. The parental controls let parents filter what kids can access without installing a separate app.

Get a lifetime AdGuard Family Plan license for $14.97 before the Sept. 10 deadline and clear the ads and trackers off every device in the house.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Serie A online for free

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 08:00

TL;DR: Live stream Serie A for free on SportyNet and CazéTV. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

What do you look for when watching elite football? Do you need the speed and physicality of the Premier League? Do you yearn for the technical ability of La Liga? Or perhaps you love spotting young talent in Ligue 1?

If you are passionate about tactical discipline and defensive organization, Serie A is the league for you. Some of the world's best players have competed in this competition, including Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Paolo Maldini. The league isn't the powerhouse that it once was, but it still offers fascinating matchups week after week.

If you want to watch Serie A for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is Serie A?

Serie A is a professional football league in Italy and the highest level of the Italian football league system. The league is contested by 20 clubs, with each team playing 38 fixtures. Serie A is home to some of football's most successful clubs, including Juventus, Napoli, Inter Milan, and AC Milan.

The defending champions are Inter Milan.

When is Serie A?

The 2026-27 Serie A season will start on Aug. 22. The season will end on May 30.

How to watch Serie A for free

Select Serie A fixtures are available to live stream for free on SportyNet and CazéTV.

SportyNet and CazéTV are geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can unblock free live streams of Serie A from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of Serie A by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Brazil

  4. Visit SportyNet or CazéTV

  5. Watch Serie A fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but 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 Serie A without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams all season, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

  • 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 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 80% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream Serie A for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Schalke vs. Bayern Munich online for free

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 06:00

TL;DR: Watch Schalke vs. Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The new Bundesliga season began with a confident victory for defending champions Bayern Munich. They trounced Stuttgart 5-1 in their opening fixture, before beating VfL Osnabrück comfortably in the DFB-Pokal. Now they face Schalke, a team still seeking its first point of the season.

If you're interested in watching Schalke vs. Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Schalke vs. Bayern Munich?

Schalke vs. Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga kicks off at 8.30 a.m. ET on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at the Veltins-Arena.

How to watch Schalke vs. Bayern Munich for free

Schalke vs. Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Schalke vs. Bayern Munich for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Schalke vs. Bayern Munich for free by following these simple steps:

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

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit CazéTV

  5. Watch Schalke vs. Bayern Munich for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Schalke vs. Bayern Munich without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Bundesliga?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

  • 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 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Schalke vs. Bayern Munich for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for September 5, 2026

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 06:00

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

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

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

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

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

An ice cream measurement.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SCOOP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

The place.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

WHERE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Finely chop.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 5, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MINCE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Small path.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BYWAY

Final Hurdle hint

Affordable.

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

CHEAP

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Fiorentina vs. Torino online for free

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 06:00

TL;DR: Watch Fiorentina vs. Torino in Serie A for free on SportyNet. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Serie A has started without too many shocks, with the biggest clubs at the top of the table after two rounds.

Fiorentina are really struggling. They've lost both their opening games without scoring a goal. They've conceded seven. They'll be desperate to turn things around against Torino, a team that has also lost its opening games.

If you're interested in watching Fiorentina vs. Torino in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Fiorentina vs. Torino?

Fiorentina vs. Torino in Serie A kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.

How to watch Fiorentina vs. Torino for free

Fiorentina vs. Torino in Serie A is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Fiorentina vs. Torino for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Fiorentina vs. Torino for free by following these simple steps:

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

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit SportyNet

  5. Watch Fiorentina vs. Torino for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Fiorentina vs. Torino without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus additional Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

  • 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 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Fiorentina vs. Torino for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 5, 2026

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 04:00

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 5, 2026 Sway meaning

To swing from side to side.

Toddle meaning

To walk in short, unsteady steps.

Totter meaning

To walk unsteadily.

Wobble meaning

To move unsteadily from side to side.

Coo meaning

To make a soft bird-like sound.

Cobble meaning

A triangular orange and yellow treat, often associated with Halloween.

Honk meaning

A loud sound made by a car horn.

Warble meaning

To sing with rising and falling notes.

Bobble meaning

A repeated bouncing motion.

Hammer meaning

A tool used to bang nails.

Jug meaning

A large container for water.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Sleepy meaning

Feeling drowsy.

Cobble meaning

A round stone.

Pi meaning

The mathematical name for the ratio of a circle's circumference.

Tar meaning

Earth's natural satellite

Tort meaning

A civil wrong.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for September 5, 2026

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 04:00

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're an animal lover.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 5, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Informally known as

The words are related to animals.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe animal nicknames

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Critter.

NYT Strands word list for September 5
  • Peke

  • Gator

  • Chimp

  • Critter

  • Budgie

  • Rhino

  • Hippo

  • Rattler

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 5, 2026

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 04:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a sweet tooth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 5, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Shaky

  • Green: Animal sounds

  • Blue: You hit the nail

  • Purple: Sweet treats

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Move unsteadily

  • Green: Bird onomatopoeia

  • Blue: ___ head

  • Purple: Desserts minus last letter

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

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 #1178 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Move unsteadily: SWAY, TODDLE, TOTTER, WOBBLE

  • Bird onomatopoeia: COO, GOBBLE, HONK, WARBLE

  • ___ head: BOBBLE, HAMMER, JUG, SLEEPY

  • Desserts minus last letter: COBBLE, PI, TAR, TORT

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

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 5, 2026

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 04:00

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 5, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 5, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Watery.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

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...

SOUPY

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tesla launched Cybercab in Austin. Hours later, the feds launched an investigation.

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 00:18

Tesla threw a flashy party on Thursday to announce the start of its autonomous Cybercab service in Austin, but some of the wind was taken out of the company's sails when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced an investigation into the Cybercabs almost immediately after the launch.

Tesla’s Cybercabs are gold-covered robotaxis that seat two riders; the Cabs offer a luxe, roomy experience thanks to butterfly doors, a large Grok-enabled video screen, and the absence of a steering wheel and gas and brake pedals. The omission of the pedals and wheel is exactly why the NHTSA is looking into the Cybercabs, as the agency requires autonomous vehicles to have those back-up controls. 

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The Department of Transportation is considering dropping that requirement, and recently allowed Amazon-owned Zoox vehicles to operate without a wheel and pedals — but only after years of review and requests for information. Before they began offering rides, both Zoox and Cybercabs self-certified that their driverless cars complied with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

SEE ALSO: Waymo is launching its robotaxi in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa

"In the U.S., NHTSA establishes clear vehicle performance requirements," the agency stated in its investigation announcement. "In order for automakers to access the U.S. market, they must certify that their vehicles meet these standards – subject to oversight from the agency to confirm compliance. When certified vehicles appear to not adhere to these requirements, NHTSA conducts an investigation."

It’s unclear whether the NHTSA’s investigation, which it calls an audit query, will severely slow Cybercabs' expansion into markets beyond Austin. The Trump administration indicated that it is trying to balance a push for more autonomous technology with regular safety concerns. 

"NHTSA fully supports the safe development and deployment of automated vehicles. But as the federal regulator, we need to ensure that all of our laws are followed," NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison said in a statement. "Our approach of balancing innovation with safety oversight will allow the United States to maintain its global leadership in AV innovation."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Fall 2: Deadpoint ending, explained

Sat, 09/05/2026 - 00:00

Fall 2: Deadpoint is an unusual sequel in that the heroes of the previous film aren't at the center. As thoroughly detailed in our Fall ending explainer, only one of the two besties who climbed a 2,000-foot pole made it back to terra firma alive. And she only makes a brief appearance in the second film. However, Fall 2: Deadpoint does follow closely to the structure of the first film… until it doesn't. 

If you're wondering about that ending, we've got you covered. 

What is Fall 2: Deadpoint about? 

The sequel, written by Fall screenwriters Scott Mann and Jonathan Frank, focuses on Jax (Harriet Slater), the younger sister of the late Shiloh Hunter (Virginia Gardner). 

Jax is spiraling not only from grief but also from the surreal experience of seeing Shiloh (who was most often called Hunter in the first film) become posthumously famous as #fallgirl. But a college friend of her sister's, Luce (Arsema Thomas), has a radical plan for coping with such big emotions: Do a big, risky climb in Shiloh/Hunter's name. 

Why is it called Fall 2: Deadpoint? Harriet Slater and Arsema Thomas co-star in "Fall 2: Deadpoint." Credit: Lionsgate Credit: Lionsgate

Well, aside from the macabre tone the sequel's subtitle sets up, "deadpoint" is a climbing term. Paradigm Climbing describes a deadpoint as "the moment a climber's vertical or lateral velocity reaches zero, before reversing direction." 

Where does Fall 2: Deadpoint follow Fall?  Harriet Slater plays Jax in "Fall 2: Deadpoint." Credit: Lionsgate

Both films center on two young women who take on a perilously high climb in an attempt to overcome a past trauma. In Fall, Hunter urges Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) to climb the radio tower to get over the death of her husband (Mason Gooding), who died on her last cliffside climb. In Fall 2: Deadpoint, Jax and Luce climb a plank walk, 4,000 feet above sea level (so, twice as high as Hunter and Becky went). This trek is on the face of Thailand's Mount Kwan, and is said to end before a statue of a death dragon that will "eat your fears." 

Luce gets the idea for this particular adventure from Hunter's "fuck-it list," a scrapbook where she plotted out the stunts and climbs she'd perform for her online followers. This leads her and Jax to a bar in Thailand. There, the codename "Icarus on the rocks" (not a good omen) connects them with a non-native guide named Jon (Tom Brittney), who agrees to take them on the illegal climb for a steep fee that Luce says she'll cover. On top of the dangers of falling, this trek is more dangerous still because of reported rock slides. And then there's the added dangers around drug smugglers and the authorities determined to crack down on them and their mules. 

Much of that is added sequel flare. But Fall 2 hits some very familiar story points. Like Becky and Hunter before them, Jax and Luce see a vulture feeding on carrion in an ominous sign before their climb. They are warned they might suffer from "mountain bends," a version of altitude sickness that Jon says could cause "headaches, hallucinations, nausea, and worse." 

Once trapped on the mountain, they too will be trapped by a crumbling man-made artifice. In this case, a rock slide shatters the planks, leaving Luce and Jax stranded 4,0000 feet up. As for Jon, he goes missing during their scramble to dodge the falling rocks.

Then, like Becky and Hunter, the women will find their backpack of necessary provisions just out of reach. The steps to recover it might well give audiences flashbacks to Hunter's attempt to reclaim a backpack in Fall. And then there's actual flashbacks, giving backstory to Jax and Shiloh's dysfunctional sister bond.

Like her sister did in Fall, Jax will use a video recording device to try to find someone on the ground that can help rescue them. And once more, that won't be what does save them.

But, there will be a big twist, where the person who proposed the trip admits to a brutal betrayal of their companion.

What's the twist in Fall 2: Deadpoint?  Arsema Thomas takes a hard fall in "Fall 2: Deadpoint." Credit: Lionsgate

While Jax is Hunter's sister, it's Luce that follows in her footsteps. She has struggles that recall the events that led to Hunter's fatal fall, including an injury to her upper limbs while trying to recover the backpack. From there, audiences might well anticipate that Jax is having an experience like Becky's, having witnessed her friend's death and hallucinating the fallen friend surviving to get her to the end of the path. But Fall 2: Deadpoint's big twist is not that! 

The personal twist comes when Jax watches old footage from Hunter's video recorder of a group hang with Luce. That's when she (and we) learns the Luce she knows isn't the real Luce. Her name is Billie, and she'd never met Hunter. But after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, she found inspiration in Hunter's videos, which had a carpe diem vivacity. She's a fan.

When Billie saw Jax was selling Hunter's recovered vehicle, she wanted to buy it. But Jax didn't want to sell to a fan, so Jax did some light social media stalking and learned Hunter had a Black friend named Luce. She lied about her identity to buy the car, but then felt genuinely connected to Jax. So, she proposed the trip. 

Like Hunter, Billie was deceitful to her climbing partner. In the first film, Hunter's big reveal was she'd been sleeping with Becky's husband before his death. But Luce is not a hallucination. However, she will fall to her death all the same. 

How does Fall 2: Deadpoint end?  Tom Brittney plays Jon in "Fall 2: Deadpoint." Credit: Lionsgate

With Jon's talk about the necessity for the small oxygen tanks to prevent mountain bends, Mann and Frank set up the potential to retread the hallucination twist. However, ultimately, their script pivots to a more Hollywood action ending.

After attempts to get help have failed, Jax and Billie are surprisingly rescued by Jon, who helps them scurry up to safety. Viewers might well doubt that this is really happening, even as the reunited trio proceeds to the death dragon statue as if this were a happy ending. But then comes a new twist; after they cross a dizzyingly precarious rope bridge, the women learn that Jon was using them as unaware drug mules for fentanyl. 

He'd stored the drugs in the O2 tanks, which each client carried. He said he wasn't carrying one because he was essentially immune to mountain bends. But in truth, he knew the stiff penalties he'd incur should he be caught with drugs on him. Yet the jail time in a Thai prison would be nothing compared to what the dealers would do if Jon failed them again. He shows Jax he's already had two fingers severed for failing in his drug runs. One more failure, he warns, and they'd take his head. This is why he came back — for the drugs, not the girls. Still, he was planning to get them picked up in a helicopter and flown to safety. But he tells Jax that the price of that ride is a package of drugs. 

This lesson comes too late for Billie. She's so outraged by Jon's deception that she hollers at him and pitches her tank off the mountain. He's so incensed by this that he shoves her to her death. From there, Jax and Jon fight, which pitches them back onto that flimsy bridge. And ultimately, he'll fall (too), while Jax will get to the mountaintop, securing a ride home by handing over the drugs. 

Will there be a Fall 3?  Harriet Slater and Arsema Thomas co-star in "Fall 2: Deadpoint." Credit: Lionsgate

The ending of Fall 2: Deadpoint suggests so! 

Having survived the "Icarus on the rocks" of it all, Jax turns the page of the fuck-it list to another Hunter-planned adventure. This time, it seems she wants to go with Becky.

In the film's ending, Becky visits to her mailbox to find an invite for a memorial of Hunter. Naturally, it'll be a treacherous location. The music seems ominous, which might lead the audience to wonder: Is Jax looking to bury the hatchet with Becky? Or is she looking to confront her sister's childhood friend about her resentments and how Becky's last trip with Hunter led to the latter's death (and being treated like a DIY phone protector)? 

We'll have to wait and see. 

Fall 2: Deadpoint is now in theaters.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tetris hits back at Trump over knockoff game, warns White House about copyright infringement

Fri, 09/04/2026 - 22:46

The team behind Tetris, the classic 1984 puzzle video game, has responded to the White House over a knockoff game that the Trump administration released this week.

The statement from Tetris hits back against Trump's White House over its recently released Tetris clone, "Build the Wall." In its response, Tetris strongly hints that the company will "take copyright infringement very seriously."

"At Tetris, we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them," Tetris said in a statement posted to its official accounts on Instagram and X. "To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community."

The Tetris spoof was one of five games released by the White House on Thursday on a new government website address Arcade.gov. The playable web games are all clones of classic titles overlaid with different themes that promote Trump's policies. For example, "Build the Wall" pushes an anti-immigration agenda, urging players to "protect the border from the coming horde."

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The Tetris team amended their statement graphic with a few postscripts as well.

"P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall'," they said. "P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously."

Tetris isn't the first to push back against an association with Trump and float potential legal action. Countless musical artists have issued DMCA takedowns or cease-and-desists to Trump over the years for the use of their songs at his rallies or in campaign media.

Just last year, Pokémon Company International issued a statement distancing itself from a video posted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that used its intellectual property to promote the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.

"Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property," the Pokémon Company said at the time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These hikers relied on tech and AI. They had to be rescued.

Fri, 09/04/2026 - 20:32

Earlier this week, three young men with little climbing experience set out to summit Mt. Shasta, a 14,179-foot peak in California.

Their planned eight-hour ascent ultimately turned into a search-and-rescue operation and drew national attention for one reason: The men used artificial intelligence to help plan their climb.

"We relied too much on AI rather than our own critical thinking," the men reportedly said, according to a detailed account of the failed summit posted on Facebook by the U.S. Forest Service - Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

SEE ALSO: Reminder: Don't use Google Maps for hiking

Still, AI itself didn't doom their trip, National Forest Service lead climbing ranger Nick Meyers told Mashable.

Instead, the hikers' plans were like "Swiss cheese," riddled with holes. That meant challenges compounded along the way until their situation escalated into an emergency. Their reliance on AI, YouTube videos, and the mobile mapping app AllTrails to plan and complete their climb turned their journey into a disaster.

Meyers, who is also the director of the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center, said AI-related incidents on Mt. Shasta have "started to become a thing" this year as visitors have received incorrect information from AI. However, this is the first incident to involve 911 and a rescue, he noted.

"I think AI can be a great tool," Meyers told Mashable. "But I think when you're talking about entering into a risky environment, especially with nature, talk to a real person, or at least just fact-check the information you might get from AI."

How the hikers' summit plans fell apart

Meyers said AI correctly told the men that the summit should take eight hours. Per AI's guidance, they took enough food and water for that duration. It's unclear if AI suggested bringing additional supplies in case of an emergency.

Meanwhile, AI also recommended they eat simple carbs instead of fats because those "take too long to digest." Mountaineers, meanwhile, know fats can sustain long climbs that burn thousands of calories. Still, Meyers conceded, at least they had food.

What the men didn't account for was their own pace. Their ascent took double the anticipated time: 16 hours.

At two different points on their ascent, the group paused to consider turning back but decided to keep going despite "not feeling great."

Meyers said that their "mountain sense was just sort of lacking."

Navigation failures add up

The hikers also relied on AllTrails to navigate, but the phone battery died by the time they summited at 7 p.m. Their backup battery charger didn't work on the phone with the mapping app, which meant they mostly had to navigate by sight on their descent.

"If I knew I was at the top of a 14,000-foot peak, and I was going to be descending in the dark, you better believe I want to be keeping an eye on my battery so that I can use my map," Meyers said. "That was poor decision making."

Meyers noted that some hikers on Mt. Shasta make questionable choices when affected by exhaustion and altitude.

Rescuing the hikers

By 8 p.m. the hikers called 911 for directions. Soon after, at 11,500 feet, one of the hikers fell and injured his knee. Though he had a headlamp, he wanted to conserve its battery and relied on the light from his friends' headlamps.

At midnight, the group stopped to camp but had no food, water, warm clothes, or an emergency shelter.

Forest Service climbing rangers reached the group the next morning, at 9:30 a.m. Meyers wasn't in that party as he was coordinating a potential helicopter rescue from elsewhere.

In the end, the helicopter couldn't reach the hikers because of strong winds. The hikers, along with the climbing rangers, finally reached basecamp at 3 p.m. Siskiyou Search and Rescue members helped the group reach their trailhead, a trip that took an additional three hours.

Meyers said the Forest Service tries to use "the minimum means necessary" to get people off the mountain: "It's a tremendous amount of effort and resources to respond to a rescue."

'Breaking the unwritten rules' of climbing

Chris Carr, co-owner of Shasta Mountain Guides, said he's been "shocked and surprised" by how many hikers he's recently observed on Mt. Shasta making poor decisions and "breaking the unwritten rules" of climbing. That included people climbing without proper equipment and proceeding to the summit late in the afternoon, guaranteeing a descent in the dark.

He urges prospective climbers to know the "ten essentials" of mountaineering.

"Without a doubt, we are definitely seeing more people less prepared for this activity," Carr told Mashable.

He said perhaps more climbers have developed false confidence. Technology, he added, contributes to that because the "supercomputers in our pocket" can create a false sense of security.

Carr said if people consult AI to plan a trip like summiting Mt. Shasta, they should use it to identify the best resources for more information.

For Mt. Shasta, as an example, that could include calling a local outfitter or contacting the National Forest Service. Climbing rangers will talk to climbers about their trip. The National Forest Service website provides comprehensive information on what to know about climbing Mt. Shasta.

"It's good to feel the power of Mother Nature because it puts you in your place very quickly," Carr said. "I think many of us are removed from that and think that technology and equipment and all these advantages of modern age can get us through, where really we become very small, very vulnerable, very quickly."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Best Buys Labor Day 2026 sale is live: Shop deals on Sony headphones, gaming laptops, Chromebooks

Fri, 09/04/2026 - 20:24
The best Best Buy Labor Day deals at a glance Best Apple Deal 2025 Apple MacBook Air M5 $1,699 (Save $100) Get Deal Best Amazon Device Deal Amazon Fire TV Stick HD 2nd Gen $17.99 (Save $22) Get Deal Best Laptop Deal Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 2K Touchscreen Laptop $749.99 (Save $370) Get Deal Best Headphone Deal Bose QuietComfort Headphones $229 (Save $130) Get Deal Best Chromebook Deal Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 $579 (save $170) Get Deal Best Gaming Laptop Deal Lenovo LOQ 15 2K Gaming Laptop (Core i7 13650HX, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060) $1,149.99 (save $700) Get Deal

The last long weekend of summer is here, and so is the impulse to squeeze in one more cookout and one more round of shopping with some great discounts before fall truly sets in. Best Buy has already kicked off its Labor Day sale with several picks that you can shop right now through midnight on Sept. 7.

This year, a global memory shortage has pushed prices up across laptops, tablets, and streaming devices, so markdowns are going much further than they did a few months ago. If you're looking to pick up some sale-priced laptops, headphones, or even streaming devices, Best Buy has you covered with some great prices you won't want to miss out on.

To help you save, we've gathered all of the top discounts from the Best Buy Labor Day sale. Our editors' favorite products are marked with a 🔥 emoji.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy 2025 Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 at Best Buy
$1,799 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 is a great choice for most users when it comes to Apple laptops. The configuration Best Buy has discounted comes loaded with a powerful setup to handle just about any task. You get a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 24GB of unified memory, and a 1TB SSD, which is plenty of power for editing video or just keeping a few dozen browser tabs open. Plus, you'll get up to 18 hours of battery life per charge.

More Apple dealsBest Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Amazon Fire TV Stick HD 2nd Gen $17.99 at Best Buy
$39.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal Why we like it

This streaming stick plugs into any open HDMI port to put the current Fire TV interface on your TV so you can stream your favorite shows and movies anytime. It offers AI-powered search to help you figure out what to watch without scrolling endlessly through all your apps, and you get 8GB of storage plus free live TV channels alongside Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Most importantly, you can take your streaming apps with you just about wherever you go with this stick.

More Amazon device dealsBest laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 2K Touchscreen Laptop $749.99 at Best Buy
$1,199.99 Save $450   Get Deal Why we like it

This 16-inch 2K touchscreen laptop has plenty of real estate and power to help you be more productive or just spend time browsing online in comfort. It boasts an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD. The hinge also folds all the way back, so you can use it as a laptop, prop it up for watching something, or flatten it down straight for use as a tablet. It's a versatile piece of tech that you can legitimately take with you wherever you go since it can convert to the format you need most.

More laptop dealsThe top Chromebook deals at Best BuyBest headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Bose QuietComfort Headphones $229 at Best Buy
$359 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for great audio as well as overall comfort, these headphones are more than easy to recommend. Comfort is in their name, after all. They excel at noise canceling as well, with both Quiet and Aware modes for switching between full noise cancellation and keeping aware of your surroundings. They also offer 24 hours of battery life and enough earcup padding to stay comfortable through a long flight or lengthy listening sessions. When you're done with them, they fold down into the included case, so they're easy to pack as well.

More headphone dealsLooking for more Labor Day sales?
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Labor Day laptop deals to beat RAMageddon: Hand-picked deals on Apple, HP, and Dell

Fri, 09/04/2026 - 20:23
The best Labor Day laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 (save $100) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal HP OmniBook 3 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 (save $550) Get Deal Best Chromebook deal Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, 12GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $579 (save $170) Get Deal

The ongoing memory crisis means higher prices for the tech we've come to depend on. Laptops have been hit especially hard by "RAMageddon," with PC makers like Dell, Lenovo, and Acer raising prices to reflect rising component costs. Even Apple marked up its MacBooks by at least $100 apiece this summer. (Gone are the days of the $599 MacBook Neo.)

The current state of the market makes shopping sales feel all the more important. Your last big chance to snag a deeply discounted laptop before Black Friday comes with this weekend's Labor Day sales. Below, we've rounded up the best Labor Day laptop deals we could find, including discounts on MacBooks, Windows laptops, and a very nice Chromebook we've tested.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 at Amazon and Best Buy
$1,799 Save $100   Get Deal

The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air is our favorite MacBook for college students, as it's super portable and a little cheaper than its 15-inch brother. It's a fabulous ultraportable with a crisp, colorful display, amazing speakers, and blazing-fast performance. This upgraded model, with 24GB of RAM and a terabyte of storage, should last you well past graduation. Amazon and Best Buy currently have it on sale for $1,699, or $100 off.

Heads up: If you have a valid student ID, you'll get $100 off and a free $100 gift card if you buy this MacBook directly through the Apple Store during its Back to School sale (live through Sept. 24). However, it won't ship until late September or early October. If you need it sooner, Amazon (with Prime) and Best Buy were both advertising next- or two-day shipping at the time of writing.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M5).

More MacBook dealsBest Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook 3 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 at Staples
$1,149.99 Save $550   Get Deal

The OmniBook 3 16 is a slim, big-screened laptop with a mind-blowing battery life of over 40 hours per charge. It's the longest-lasting laptop we've ever tested in more than a decade of reviewing laptops. Just note that its Snapdragon X processor is best for everyday productivity tasks, not intensive app usage. This configuration with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage (a good daily driver combo) is 48% off at Staples for Labor Day. For reference, HP's website lists the same model at $90 more.

Read Mashable's full review of the HP OmniBook 3 16.

More Windows laptop dealsBest Chromebook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, 12GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $579 at Best Buy
$749 Save $170   Get Deal

This premium Chromebook boasts an 18-hour battery life and a silky-smooth touchscreen display that can flip around 360 degrees. It makes a great MacBook Neo alternative for ultra-casual users who want a laptop that doubles as a tablet. Ahead of Labor Day, it's significantly cheaper than the Neo: Best Buy has it marked down to $579, or 23% off. That more than erases its $50 price hike from May.

Read Mashable's full review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514.

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