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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: 14 min 6 sec ago

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is live at Amazon: Shop now for under market price

11 hours 23 min ago

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $59.99 at Amazon. That's way under TCGplayer's $1116 market price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

After weeks of building excitement and preorder wars, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is out in the wild. And Amazon has marked the occasion by bringing back its stunning $59.99 deal.

As of Nov. 6, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is on sale for just $59.99 on Amazon. Everything is handled directly by Amazon, but Amazon is still routing orders through its "request invite" system. We can see these are selling fast, so it's clearly a system that's working for many shoppers. Don't be discouraged by the invitation process.

Amazon’s deal is way under TCGplayer’s $116 market price. We rarely see deals this far below market price, so we understand the hype.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box contains nine 30th Celebration booster packs, an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo card, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 custom card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a condition marker, card dividers, a collector’s player guide, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Shop the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB for $59.99 at Amazon, while supplies last.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits affair with alleged Chinese spy

13 hours 14 min ago

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to cheating on his wife with a suspected Chinese spy. The company's board announced that it is launching an independent investigation into the matter, with Huang's cooperation.

SEE ALSO: Why tech stocks are down today, including Nvidia, SpaceX, AMD, more

"I owe my family and all of you an apology," Huang wrote in an unexpected press release on Sunday. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry."

Huang has been married to his wife since 1985. They have two children together.

Allegations of Huang's affair arose in a New York Times report last month. According to the report, U.S. spy agencies determined that a Chinese intelligence asset had been sharing information with the Chinese government. Specifically, the New York Times identified the alleged agent as Alice Huang (no relation), an executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed who had reportedly developed a close relationship with Nvidia's CEO. 

In a statement to the New York Times, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. said that the U.S. was conducting an operation of "groundless smears and slanders" against China.

Megaspeed gained the U.S. government's attention last year due to suspicion that it was smuggling Nvidia chips to China. If true, this would be in circumvention of U.S. restrictions, which have blocked the export of many Nvidia chips to China due to national security concerns. The Singaporean government also opened an investigation into Megaspeed for potentially violating local laws.

Megaspeed denied these allegations at the time, stating that it had already been investigated and cleared by multiple institutions, including both the U.S. Commerce Department and Nvidia. 

"We operate fully within the bounds of all applicable export control regulations and maintain the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct," read a statement from Megaspeed from last December.

It's unclear whether Ms. Huang is alleged to have been operating independently or as an agent of Megaspeed. Huang previously denied an inappropriate relationship with Ms. Huang in an interview with Bloomberg late last month, and claimed she was no longer with Megaspeed.

"Our relationship, our interactions, have been related to Megaspeed, and it was all completely normal and not unusual," said Huang.

Nvidia's board of directors has stated that it is opening a new investigation prompted by the reports that Huang was targeted by "a foreign intelligence effort." The investigation will be led by independent directors and assisted by outside independent counsel.

"The Board prioritizes U.S. national and economic security, which is paramount to the interests of Nvidia and its shareholders," read the Nvidia board's statement on Sunday. "While the Board has no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, the Board's inquiry will examine all available information."

A Nvidia spokesperson told the New York Times that Huang would continue as CEO during this investigation. For his part, Huang has stated that he supports and will cooperate with the investigation, and pledged to earn back the trust of his wife, family, and colleagues.

"Leading Nvidia is the privilege of my life," Huang wrote, addressing his co-workers. "My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to Nvidia and will work to earn back your confidence…

"I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security. I am proud and grateful to be an American." 

This news comes just over a week before Nvidia is scheduled to hold its Q3 2027 earnings call on Nov. 17. The chipmaker has significantly benefitted from the AI boom, bringing in $96.2 billion in revenue during Q2 — an 18 percent increase over Q1's $81.6 billion. This is despite the U.S. government's restrictions largely cutting Nvidia off from the significant Chinese AI market, Huang previously stating that the company's advanced chip market share dropped from 95 percent to zero in the region.

Though Huang has called being blocked from the Chinese market a "tremendous loss," he remains a supportive ally of President Donald Trump. The Washington Post reported last month that Nvidia donated $25 million to the construction of the White House's controversial new ballroom, with other tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Palantir also making contributions.

Speaking to reporters about Nvidia's investigation on Sunday, Trump called Huang an "honourable guy" who had "done an amazing job for our country," and expressed support for him staying on as the company's CEO. Trump further stated that he would be open to bringing Huang with him on his trip to China for the APEC summit next week.

"I just know he's a fine person, but you never know what's going on," said Trump. "I think he probably has an excuse for it… I haven't heard he's done anything wrong. He dealt with somebody, but you know, so does everybody else."

Nvidia was one of several tech companies whose stock dropped after the recent U.S. midterm elections, as investors feared the Democrats' decisive victory would slow data centre construction.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on November 9, 2026

16 hours 4 min ago

There's barely any of the Moon visible tonight as it approaches the New Moon. With less than a sliver illuminated, there is nothing for us to see in the way of lunar features.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Monday, Nov. 9, the NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the New Moon phase, with 0% of its surface visible.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

It takes the Moon around 29.5 days to pass through a complete lunar cycle. As it travels around Earth, the angle at which sunlight reaches its surface changes what we can see from here, producing the different phases, from the New Moon through to the Full Moon and back again. The cycle then starts over, as explained by NASA.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 9, 2026

18 hours 4 min ago

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 November 9, 2026 Bootcut meaning

A style of jean that fits tight on the thighs and flares out at the knee.

Distressed meaning

Feeling upset, worried, anxious or deeply unhappy.

Low-rise meaning

A type of jeans where the waistline sits low.

Skinny meaning

Very thin or having little body fat.

Card shark meaning

An expert card player who uses skill, deception or cheating to win money.

Fun sponge meaning

Someone who ruins a good time.

Gamma ray meaning

A form of high-energy, short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation.

Navy Seal meaning

The U.S. Navy’s primary special operations force.

Con job meaning

A deceptive scheme.

Flimflam meaning

A trick or deception.

Rip-off meaning

A scam.

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Shell game meaning

A street trick and confidence scam.

Grapefruit spoon meaning

A large citrus fruit.

Mint leaf meaning

An aromatic leaf typically in tea.

Steak knife meaning

A knife made specifically to cut steak.

Tape dispenser meaning

A holder for tape.

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 yesterday's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for November 9, 2026

18 hours 4 min ago

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're a chatterbox.

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 November 9, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Idle chatter

The words are associated with talking.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are types of talk.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Shoot the Breeze.

NYT Strands word list for November 9
  • Gossip

  • Banter

  • Gabfest

  • Shoot the Breeze

  • Chinwag

  • Schmooze

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 yesterday's Strands.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 9, 2026

18 hours 4 min ago

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like to play dirty.

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 November 9, 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.

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

Soily.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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...

LOAMY

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 yesterday's Wordle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for November 9, 2026

18 hours 4 min ago

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

Burst.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SPURT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Swarm.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 9, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

HORDE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Tiny.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 9, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 9, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MICRO

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Crept.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SLUNK

Final Hurdle hint

Steam.

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

VAPOR

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

The best comedies streaming on Netflix right now

20 hours 34 min ago

Nothing feels as good as a deep, genuine laugh. It's an expression of joy! It's a workout. It's a sign that you're having a good time.

Netflix has a dazzling selection of comedy movies that give you that good-time feeling on demand. Whether you're craving action-spiked shenanigans, quirky coming-of-age adventures, awkward humor, stranger-than-fiction silliness, madcap musical numbers, or crime with a spree of laughs, there's a perfect pick for you. And we've made singling it out all the easier by highlighting the most hilarious below.

SEE ALSO: Best movies of 2026, and where to watch them now

Here are the funniest movies now streaming on Netflix.

25. Stop That Train!

RuPaul's Drag Race fans, take notice: A slew of comedy queens (and some look queens) have come together for a disaster movie parody that's also a sensational romp.

SEE ALSO: 'Stop! That! Train!' review: It's 'Airplane!' with drag queens. What more could we ask for?

Ginger Minj and Jujubee star as besties who land their dream jobs at Glamazonian Hyper Speed Rail. But their bond will be tested as one caters to impress the train line's high-class attendants (Brooke Lynn Hytes, Symone, and Marcia Marcia Marcia) and the other falls for a hot conductor. But when disaster strikes,  these friends will need to join together with the president (RuPaul Charles, naturally)to save the day — with lots of cameos along the way! — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Latrice Royale, Marty Lauter, Monét X Change, Symone, RuPaul Charles, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicole Richie, Michelle Visage, Chris Parnell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Natasha Leggero, Drew Droege, Joel McHale, Rachel Bloom, and Guy Branum

How to watch: Stop That Train! is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Do Revenge Credit: Netflix

Looking for a revenge flick that pays tribute to teen classics like Mean Girls, Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and more? Then check out Do Revenge, a dark comedy sure to join the canon of iconic high school movies. Students Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) couldn't be more different... apart from the fact that both have major bones to pick with people who ruined their reputations. They decide to team up and execute one another's revenge plans, which leads down a winding road of morally dubious choices, snappy one-liners, and excellent outfits.

Mendes and Hawke have great chemistry, but it's Sophie Turner who damn near steals the show in a bit part that simply must be seen to be believed.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Talia Ryder, Rish Shah, and Sarah Michelle Gellar

How to watch: Do Revenge is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Cora Bora Megan Stalter stars in "Cora Bora." Credit: Brainstorm Media

If Too Much has you craving more Megan Stalter, you'll want to catch up with this underseen gem. Directed by Hannah Pearl Utt, Cora Bora centers on the titular musician (played by Stalter), who has left Portland and her girlfriend (Jojo T. Gibbs) behind to pursue her dreams in L.A. The couple's open relationship allows each to explore other connections — or, in Cora’s case, endure an awkward one-night stand with a sexy Flat Earther (Thomas Mann). But when Cora begins to fear that her girlfriend is catching feelings for someone else, it prompts the chaotic bisexual into a hasty homecoming.

In my review out of the film's SXSW premiere in 2023, I declared, "Cora Bora proves a sensational cringe comedy, spiked with wicked humor, skin-crawling awkward scenarios, and an ardent — if wounded — heart. Deftly dancing from brash jokes to tender dialogue, Stalter reveals a riveting range and stirring screen presence. Simply put, it’s easy to fall for Cora Bora." — K.P.

Starring: Megan Stalter, Jojo T. Gibbs, Manny Jacinto, Ayden Mayeri, Thomas Mann, Chrissie Fit, Andre Hyland, Chelsea Peretti, Margaret Cho, and Darrell Hammond

How to watch: Cora Bora is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Vampires vs. the Bronx Credit: Netflix

Want a movie that's got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx.

Oz Rodriguez's PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and an influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and '80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch full of rewards.* — K.P.

Starring: Jaden Michael, Gerald W. Jones III, Gregory Diaz IV, and Sarah Gadon

How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Nonnas

Speaking of delicious, this comedy written by Liz Maccie and directed by her husband Stephen Chbosky will have you craving a home-cooked Italian meal.

Inspired by the true story of the restaurant Enoteca Maria, Nonnas stars Vince Vaughn as an average Joe who channels his grief over losing his mother and grandmother into a tantalizing new venture. He uses his inheritance to build a new restaurant in Staten Island, and hires Italian grandmothers (or nonnas) to become the chefs using their family recipes. Personalities clash, but ultimately these strong-willed women come together to create something stupendous.

It's a feel-good comedy full of love, joy, and laughs.* — K.P.

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Joe Manganiello, Linda Cardellini, and Susan Sarandon

How to watch: Nonnas is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Steps Lilith and Margot go to the ball in their self-designed dresses in "Steps." Credit: Netflix

This animated adventure from co-directors Alyce Tzue and John Ripa reimagines the Cinderella story from the point of view of so-called "evil stepsister" Lilith (voiced by Ali Wong). Sure, she'll grant you she's not always been kind to her orphaned stepsister, but as a goth girl in a kingdom of girly wannabe princesses all in pink, Lilith has had a tough time herself. So, she acts out with a stolen wand, accidentally derailing Cinderella's happily ever after. To save the day — and the kingdom — these sisters will have to reconnect and work together.

Along the way, there'll be fun fashion, magical mischief, and a hot troll named Gef. This is a fairy tale you won't want to miss. — K.P.

Starring: Ali Wong, Amanda Seyfried, Stephanie Hsu, Nikki Glaser, Daniel Radcliffe, Young Mazino, Peter Dinklage, and Bette Midler

How to watch: Steps debuts on Netflix on Nov. 20.

19. Babes

Want some side-splitting comedy about the ups and downs of female friendship? Then you'll relish Babes.

Directed by Pamela Adlon, this hilarious movie stars Survival of the Thickest's Michelle Buteau and Broad City's Ilana Glazer as two best friends since childhood, who begin to grow apart as they become parents. But fret not, sisterhood conquers all, even when things get literally shitty. As I cheered in my review, "Babes is a comedy that is unabashedly outrageous and rambunctiously heartfelt. While you may howl with laughter and gasp at a gross-out gag, you'll also walk away with a big smile — and maybe a bit more appreciation for your own quirks." — K.P.

Starring: Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, John Carroll Lynch, Oliver Platt, Sandra Bernhard, Stephan James, and Hasan Minhaj

How to watch: Babes is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Credit: Netflix

Eddie Murphy returns as wise-cracking Detroit police officer Axel Foley. 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III, this sensational sequel sees Foley returning to Los Angeles to fight a new foe, reunite with old friends, and reconnect with his estranged daughter.

SEE ALSO: 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' review: Netflix's sequel shouldn't work and yet...

Reprising their supporting roles are Beverly Hills Cop co-stars John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot. New to the crew is Taylour Paige as Axel's hard-headed daughter, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a local ally, Nasim Pedrad as a flustered real estate agent, and Kevin Bacon as a smirking antagonist. The sparks will fly. The punchlines hit powerfully. The soundtrack is fire. And just like that, the heat is back on! — K.P.

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, and Kevin Bacon

How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Between Two Ferns: The Movie Credit: Adam Rose / Netflix

Zach Galifianakis' awkward celebrity interview web series Between Two Ferns might not seem like fodder for a full-length movie, but Between Two Ferns: The Movie goes double meta by presenting his success on Funny or Die as an insult to the actor's intention to host a "serious" interview show. Galifianakis the character sets off to correct the assumption that his original show is a joke by interviewing even more celebrities, like John Cho, Keanu Reeves, Tiffany Haddish, and more. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul, Jiavani Linayao, Edi Patterson, Rekha Shankar, Mary Scheer, Mary Holland, Matt Besser, Phil Hendrie, Paul Rust, A. D. Miles, Blake Clark, Paul F. Tompkins, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Mandell Maughan

How to watch: Between Two Ferns: The Movie is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Dropout curious? Here's where you should start watching. 16. Bridesmaids

Raunchy, hilarious, and ultimately heart-warming, Bridesmaids is a terrific comedy even when the crush of wedding season has come to an end. Kristen Wiig stars as a down-on-her-luck baker who feels her longest-lasting relationship with her soon-to-be-married best friend (Maya Rudolph) is threatened when a picture-perfect bridesmaid (Rose Byrne) muscles in on maid-of-honor duties.

Co-starring Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jon Hamm, and Chris O'Dowd, this Paul Feig-directed comedy about female friendship offers everything from Saturday Night Live-style silliness to outrageous improvisations and an explosive poop joke that results in a hysterical sequence impossible to forget. Get ready to party with the bad girls of comedy. You won't regret it.* —K.P.

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris O'Dowd

How to watch: Bridesmaids is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Always Be My Maybe Credit: Netflix

What if the one who got away got a second chance? Back in the day, Sasha and Marcus were tight as a slap bracelet. But one fumbled night in a sweaty backseat seemed to shatter their future together.

Fifteen years later, she's a world-renowned chef and he's — well — he's working for his dad's HVAC business and playing with his band on the side. Still, fate arranges for them to reconnect, which could mean Marcus (Randall Park) has a shot to show Sasha (Ali Wong) how he feels. Comedy ensues as the stakes get high when Keanu Reeves crashes the party, being all weird and hot and having the audacity to be Keanu Reeves!* — K.P.

Starring: Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang, Daniel Dae Kim, and Keanu Reeves

How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 20 best romantic comedies to fall in love with on Netflix 14. Dolemite Is My Name Credit: François Duhamel / Netflix

Chronicling the true story of late comedian Rudy Ray Moore — also known as Dolemite — this Eddie Murphy vehicle is worth every minute of viewing.

An outrageous showbiz comedy, Dolemite Is My Name is at once a poignant look at the life of an underdog and an unbelievably good time. With supporting performances by Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, and more, this biopic offers more beat-for-beat joy than many of its fictional counterparts. Sensational, aspirational, and electric: You'll love it. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Tituss Burgess, and Wesley Snipes

How to watch: Dolemite Is My Name is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Cunk on Life

Comedian Diane Morgan has been gifting the world with her character of Philomena Cunk for a glorious decade and a half now. A dim-witted investigative journalist who butts heads with the real-world leading minds on each subject, Cunk proved to be a one-woman feast of absolute nonsense. The character Cunk started getting her own specials in 2016 with Cunk on Christmas, followed by Cunk on Britain and the epic globe-trotting mockumentary series Cunk on Earth (also streaming on Netflix).

Morgan's expanded her reach all the way to Cunk on Life, her latest side-splitter that tries to uncover the very meaning of existence itself across its humble 71-minute runtime. Does Cunk succeed? Well, Cunk definitely thinks she does, every damn time. But if not, at least we'll get to hear some Technotronic in the process, dammit! — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

Starring: Diane Morgan

How to watch: Cunk on Life is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Mitchells vs. The Machines Credit: Netflix

Sony Pictures Animation has given audiences such daring and dynamic animated movies as Surf's Up, Hotel Transylvania, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This zany 2021 release centers on a family who's battling back the robo-apocalypse with togetherness, internet savviness, and a wall-eyed pug named Monchi (voiced by social media icon Doug the Pug).

The Mitchells' adventure into chaos begins when daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) is poised to go off to college. Desperate for one last family-unifying road trip, her dad (Danny McBride) piles the whole family into his beater of a vehicle, unknowingly charting a fateful route into heroics. Co-directors Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe infuse Katie's excitable perspective throughout the film by working in internet memes, social media-style reactions, and blitz of bonkers visuals. It’s a bold move that might alienate some viewers but has largely won the acclaim of critics and kiddos.* — K.P.

Starring: Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric Andre, and Olivia Colman

How to watch: The Mitchells vs. The Machines is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Credit: Netflix

Writer/director Rian Johnson follows up his critically heralded whodunnit with a sequel that's even more explosive than Knives Out. Southern gentleman/detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back, drawling deductions and whipping out witticisms, much to the chagrin of a group of wealthy and conniving friends.

SEE ALSO: 5 movies like 'Knives Out' to scratch the funny murder mystery itch

It was supposed to be a murder mystery weekend where homicide was just a game. But when tech scion Miles Bron (Edward Norton) brings together his closest friends and worst enemy, real blood will be spilled, and the game is afoot! And if you want more cryptic comedy, check out Glass Onion's sequel Wake Up, Dead Man! — K.P.

Starring: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Jessica Henwick

How to watch: Glass Onion is now streaming on Netflix.

10. The Forty-Year-Old Version Credit: Jeong Park / Netflix © 2020

The Forty-Year-Old Version isn’t just any film about a struggling New York artist, but one about a Black female playwright who’s continually held back from creating something authentic to her perspective. Radha Blank's autobiographical directorial debut, which she also wrote, produced, and stars in, is a searing, funny, and unabashedly honest look at the compromises Black creatives are pushed to make in a world dominated by whiteness.

A teacher approaching her 40th birthday, Radha (Blank) gets the chance to produce one of her plays — only after she refuses to write a slave musical. But forced to change her vision to appease white audiences, Radha considers a totally different medium to express herself: becoming a rapper. The Forty-Year-Old Version may be one of the most slept-on Netflix originals, and it’s a shame we've yet to see another film from Blank since, itself an indictment of an industry that fails to continually platform raw and honest Black storytelling.* — Oliver Whitney, Contributing Writer

Starring: Radha Blank, Peter Kim, Oswin Benjamin, and Reed Birney

How to watch: The Forty-Year-Old Version is now streaming on Netflix.

9. The Polka King Credit: Netflix

Sometimes true crime can lead to some pitch-perfect dark comedy. This is the case for this outrageous offering, which stars Jack Black as infamous scammer/local celebrity Jan Lewan. Black brings all the rock star panache you need to understand how Lewan could be so beguiling to the Pennsylvanian retirees who surrendered their savings to the self-proclaimed Polka King.

SEE ALSO: Love me like a Polka King

Screenwriters Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky gave this story of fraud and showmanship shape. But they wisely trusted in the local flair of the terrific 2009 documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King to provide some of the wildest lines of dialogue. Plucking directly from interviews with the friends, family, and victims of Jan Lewan, this comedy feels stranger than fiction but is jaw-droppingly real. Salty supporting turns from Jenny Slate, Jacki Weaver, and Jason Schwartzman bring added fun.* — K.P.

Starring: Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Jason Schwartzman, and Jacki Weaver

How to watch: The Polka King is now streaming on Netflix.

8. The Breaker Upperers

This hidden gem comes from New Zealand, the fertile comedy ground that gave us Taika Waititi, Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do in the Shadows. Waititi collaborators Jackie van Beek, James Rolleston, and Jemaine Clement team up for a deeply quirky buddy comedy about two long-time besties with a bonkers — but brilliant — business model.

Need someone to dump your partner so you can avoid a messy confrontation? Call on Jen and Mel (co-writers/co-directors/co-leads van Beek and Madeleine Sami). For a reasonable fee, these fearless Breaker Upperers will impersonate police officers, play pregnant, or even fake your death to help you ghost an ex. Whatever the shenanigans, van Beek and Sami sparkle. Booming with wild humor and big heart, this comedy is guaranteed to leave you cackling.* — K.P.

Starring: Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek

Where to watch: The Breaker Upperers is now streaming on Netflix.

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

Sir Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie bring to life the brilliant pensioners at the heart of Richard Osman's best-selling novel The Thursday Murder Club.

In the charming retirement village of Cooper's Chase, a club made up of a former M16 agent, a once-feared union activist, a wise therapist, and a cheerful retired nurse use their lifetimes of skills to crack cold cases. But when fresh blood is spilled in their social circle, the Thursday Murder Club hunts for clues, leading them to spooky settings and dangerous people.

SEE ALSO: 'The Thursday Murder Club's Helen Mirren reveals the word she hates to be called

Director Chris Columbus offers a cozy crime thriller that's sure to delight fans of the book series. And we suspect it'll hook newcomers too, as his cast dazzles with every quip and daring deduction. — K.P.

Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie with David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Richard E. Grant, Tom Ellis, Geoff Bell, Paul Freeman, and Ingrid Oliver

How to watch: Thursday Murder Club is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Hit Man

Richard Linklater and Glen Powell reunite for Hit Man, a rom-com that is killer in all sense of the word.

Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor whose side gig as an undercover hit man leads to an unexpected meet-cute with would-be client Madison (Andor's Adria Arjona). The pair's connection (and electrifying chemistry) sparks a delightful game of false identities, reinvention, and twisted love that toggles between hilarious, thrilling, and sexy at a moment's notice. Oh, who am I kidding; sometimes it's all three at once!* — B.E.

Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta, and Sanjay Rao

How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Credit: Netflix

Our pals Wallace the inventor and his loyal pup Gromit have been running around for nearly four cracking decades now, but their latest adventure (and only their second feature-length film, after 2005's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) proves they've lost not a whit of their vim and verve. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl happily proves to be yet another gut-busting bit of British whimsy from Aardman Animation head Nick Park and his team of clay-playing creatives.

Vengeance Most Fowl sees our cheese-loving duo facing down a familiar foe — the diabolical penguin mastermind Feathers McGraw, who was last seen being sent off to imprisonment in the City Zoo in the classic 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Hacking into Wallace's latest invention, a garden gnome robot named Norbot that he's created to do all of the yard work, Feathers builds himself an army of killer gnomes all programmed to do his bidding. And he wants nothing more than to bid adieu to his nemesis Wallace! — J.A.

Starring: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, and Reece Shearsmith

How to watch: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Oh, Hi!

This underseen 2025 sex comedy stars The Bear's Molly Gordon as a girl in a tough spot. While on a weekend getaway with her boyfriend Isaac (Logan Lerman), Iris (Gordon) realizes he doesn't think they're exclusive. Turns out, telling your girlfriend that post-coital, while handcuffed to a bed, isn't a great move!

Leaving him shackled, Iris decides she just needs time and a little help from her friends (Drive-Away Dolls' Geraldine Viswanathan and Search Party's John Reynolds) to get Isaac to change his mind. In my review, I wrote, "They've crafted a comedy as current and enthralling as it is outrageous. And by rights, it should prove Gordon is a star." — K.P.

Starring: Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, and John Reynolds

How to watch: Oh, Hi! is now streaming on Netflix.

3. KPop Demon Hunters Credit: Netflix

Officially the most popular Netflix original movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters delivers a little bit of everything: romance, action, comedy, and a totally addictive soundtrack.

The story stars with K-pop trio HUNTR/X, who, when they aren't making bops like "Golden," are battling demons to protect the very souls of their fans. But just as they think they're on the verge of building an impenetrable barrier with their songs, the demons fight back with a boy band of their own. The Saja Boys are comically hot, delivering smooth moves, devious plans, and plenty of slapstick. Plus, they've got a tiger, who is cute, creepy, and silly to boot! Whether it's the martial arts action sequences, the swoon-worthy song-and-dance numbers, or the cheeky sense of humor that's grabbed fans of all ages, KPop Demon Hunters is sure to thrill. And hey, there's a sing-along version now too. — K.P.

Starring: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun

How to watch: KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Triangle of Sadness

Ruben Östlund's Palme d’Or winner and Oscar nominee takes on class, power, and social hierarchy — one of several outstanding eat-the-rich films of 2022. Fueled by projectile vomiting, the film sends you off on a luxurious, highly Instagrammable cruise with influencer/model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean), helmed by a drunken boat captain (Woody Harrelson), alongside a deckhand (Timoleon Gketsos) and cruise manager (Vicki Berlin). The destination, however, is ruin. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Zlatko Burić, Iris Berben, Vicki Berlin, Henrik Dorsin, Jean-Christophe Folly, Amanda Walker, Oliver Ford Davies, Sunnyi Melles, and Woody Harrelson

How to watch: Triangle of Sadness is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

With its reputation for wacky musical numbers, the Eurovision Song Contest is ripe for parody. Luckily for Eurovision lovers, the contest gets the send-up it deserves in this gloriously goofy flick starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. They play the Icelandic musical duo Fire Saga, who find themselves in the Eurovision spotlight. There, they discover that the famed competition is a world of cutthroat competitors, glitzy costumes, and many, many bops.

Eurovision Song Contest is full of larger-than-life characters and ridiculous humor, but it's also teeming with Eurovision references that will have fans laughing and cheering. For every "Jaja Ding Dong," there's a joyful Song-A-Long — and both are great! Pair all that with pitch-perfect comedic performances from Ferrell and McAdams, and you have a comedy that will both have you in stitches and win your heart. (Best of all, if you weren't a Eurovision fanatic before seeing this movie, you'll definitely be one by the time it ends.)* — B.E.

Starring: Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Melissanthi Mahut, Mikael Persbrandt, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Graham Norton, Demi Lovato, Pierce Brosnan, and Elín Petersdóttir

How to watch: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is now streaming on Netflix.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix   Get Deal

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list. 

UPDATE: Nov. 6, 2026, 2:21 p.m. EST This list was originally published on March 26, 2020. It has been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Steps review: Cinderellas story with a goth girl twist (plus, a hot troll!)

21 hours 34 min ago

In 2025, The Ugly Stepsister was one of our favorite horror movies of the year, reimagining the Cinderella princess tale as a critique of the extreme lengths girls are pressured to go to be beautiful. But if that sounds a bit intense for you (or your kiddos), Netflix has a less savage spin on this story. Steps also imagines how this story of fairy godmothers and glass slippers played out for the maligned stepsisters. And honestly, it's more charming than any of these princes.

Aimed squarely at being family-friendly, Steps leans on the Disney and DreamWorks movies that have come before to tell a story that feels familiar yet fresh. Like classic Disney princess stories, there's a picture-perfect maiden in Cinderella, who is kind, cheerful, and talks to animals when she's not singing to villagers. But like Shrek, Steps opens with a classic storybook hinting at the familiar fairy tale, then has a snarky protagonist step into frame who's tired of being misrepresented.

In this case, it's no ogre but a so-called "Evil Stepsister." And sure, Lilith (voiced by Ali Wong) is kind of mean to the orphaned Cinderella. She did technically order her to clean the fireplace. And she scorned Cinderella’s animal friends. Plus, she tore up the dress that Cinderella had planned to wear to the prince's ball. But in context, these actions come off way less evil and way more teen angst. This is not a princess tale, but a story about misfits, alt fashion, sisterhood, and assimilation. And it's a joyously entertaining ride to boot!

Steps offers a parable about being true to yourself. Lilith and Margot go to the ball in their self-designed dresses in "Steps." Credit: Netflix

Lilith objects to being dubbed the evil stepsister and sets out to tell the story of Cinderella from her perspective. Sure, you might know about her bad behavior, the magic, the romance, the search for the girl who fits the lost slipper. But Lilith's name on its own suggests she's more complicated than her reputation allows. Lilith is a figure of folklore who has been alternately demonized and revered, depending on the storyteller. Here, she's an accidental witch with a Gothic sense of fashion. But before all that, she was the new girl in town, in need of a friend.

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Before she met Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried), Lilith and her younger sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu) traveled with their seamstress mother from town to town selling her wares — until love struck. Cinderella and her dad were welcoming to his new wife and stepdaughters. But others in this predominantly white kingdom sneered at the Asian seamstress and her daughters, who wore Eastern styles of dress and told stories of a slithering snake-woman. At Lilith's first social event in this new setting, she's harshly shunned by the resident mean girl, Priscilla (Nikki Glaser). And when the gaggle of villager girls follow suit, Cinderella — despite her noble reputation — does nothing to intervene.

Cue Olivia Rodrigo's "Brutal," because here comes a musical makeover montage, where Lilith follows in the Doc Martens-wearing footsteps of many ostracized girls before her. If you've ever quoted The Craft's "We are the weirdos, mister" or told your mom sincerely, "It's not a phase," you'll feel seen here. While Lilith's peers diligently copy Priscilla's white bouffant hairdo and poofy pinky gowns, Lilith favors black and purple, from her DIY asymmetrical haircut to her homespun skirts adorned with embroidered skulls, to her big leather boots. If they're going to stare, she'll give them something to stare at!

However, Lilith's self-expression is a bit tangled up in her desire to distinguish herself from her seemingly perfect stepsister. Lilith's jealousy sparks a rebellion that not only jeopardizes Cinderella's happily-ever-after with the prince (Daniel Radcliffe) but also threatens the lives of Lilith and both her sisters. So, like it or not, Lilith and Cinderella must team up to rewrite their narrative together, before a rampaging Priscilla destroys everything.

Steps makes moves Disney would never. Lilith, Margot, and Cinderella make a hasty getaway in "Steps." Credit: Netflix

Early on, this Cinderella seems like a typical Disney princess, with her pretty bobblehead, agreeable nature, animal sidekicks, and ability to burst into a rousing song at a moment's notice. But when the fairy godmother (Bette Midler) shows up, Lilith realizes her stepsister has had a magical guardian all along.

Just like that, Steps introduces a parable about privilege, as the godmother's magic gave the white girl with a rich father advantages that her sisters were denied. Lilith is understandably seething over this revelation, but she's not alone. When the spell is broken, Cinderella is confounded to learn about perspiration and body odor, and naively wanders into one dangerous scenario after another. Lucky for her, Lilith isn't as evil as her reputation would have us believe. She'll save the day whether she likes it or not.

Cheers to the small army of writers who've earned screenplay and story-by credits on this film (Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Jen Chuck, Dana Schwartz, Felicia Ho, Riki Lindhome, and Kate Micucci). Steps gives audiences a familiar dose of fairy-tale tropes, then uses them to explore topics that can be tricky to explain to kids, like how Lilith is wordlessly urged to assimilate or risk alienation. It's not even that all the girls in the kingdom don't like her clothes or her affection for spooky folklore. It's more that they fear Priscilla's cruelty more than they think for themselves. But it's through the conflict of two sisters — one privileged and playing by the rules, the other marginalized and defiant — that each learns how to be better and more loving to themselves and each other. And kindness is contagious.

Better yet, Steps does all that while working in a biker gang of rowdy trolls who ride goats like motorcycles, a maniacal man servant (Peter Dinklage), and a crush-worthy troll (Young Mazino) who is oddly reminiscent of Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck. And by that I mean, yes, he's hot, lanky but muscular, and flops about his hair as freely as he confesses his feelings.

I mean, you see it, right? Credit: Netflix

All this makes for a wonderfully weird fairy tale that celebrates Cinderella and Lilith alike, recognizing their virtues and flaws with compassion. Simply put, Steps is a pleasure to watch, and I suspect will be one many Netflix subscribers will revisit over and over.

Steps debuts on Netflix on Nov. 20.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get 30 Lonely Planet e-book guides from professional travel writers for just $30

22 hours 4 min ago

TL;DR: Get 30 Lonely Planet travel eBooks for $29.99 (reg. $448.50), with lifetime access, researched destination advice, and downloads for Kindle and other devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lonely Planet The Lonely Planet Travel Bucket List Bundle (30 eBooks) $29.99
$448.50 Save $418.51   Get Deal

Your travel wish list probably doesn’t need more open browser tabs. The Lonely Planet Travel Bucket List Bundle brings together 30 eBooks for just $29.99 (reg. $448.50), giving you a destination-spanning library to turn “someday” into something resembling an itinerary.

The collection covers many places, including Japan, Italy, Iceland, Costa Rica, Australia, and New Zealand, alongside regional guides such as Southeast Asia. You can explore a new possibility or get practical about a destination already on your radar. No need to buy each guide separately every time your group chat changes its mind.

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day is loaded with some of the best travel deals we've seen all year

Inside, you’ll find must-see sights, insider tips, and researched recommendations from professional travel writers. The guides cover getting around, deciding what deserves a spot on your itinerary, and what you might skip. That structure helps you move from general inspiration to actual decisions without piecing everything together from scattered search results.

Lonely Planet has been publishing guidebooks since 1973, and every guide in this bundle is the latest edition. Included titles range from the 19th edition of Japan to the 22nd editions of Australia and New Zealand.

The digital format keeps the logistics simple. Download the eBooks to your phone, tablet, computer, Kindle, or another eBook reader, and carry your travel library without negotiating suitcase space.

Get the Lonely Planet Travel Bucket List Bundle for just $29.99 (reg. $448.50).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Would you pay Spotify extra to remix your favorite songs with AI?

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 21:22

Spotify already uses AI to help pick what plays next. But its planned remix tool, reportedly set for release early next year, would let listeners change what they're hearing. How does it work? Let's say a slow breakup ballad comes on at a party. A subscriber could turn it into a dance track that better fits the vibe. Want a new artist's voice? The tool could also make a different singer cover the song, even if they've never recorded it before.

Spotify first announced the tool in May, but it got people talking again on Oct. 30, when the Financial Times reported that the company was targeting an early 2027 launch and considering charging Premium subscribers an extra $4 to $5 a month.

SEE ALSO: Spotify already has AI playlists. So what does Meta’s Muse add?

What subscribers would get for that extra fee depends on which musicians sign up in the first place. At this point, Spotify has deals with Universal Music Group, Merlin, Believe, and Kobalt, but the FT reported that artists would decide individually whether to participate, even if their label had signed a deal. Believe and TuneCore artists would first have to agree to be considered for AI projects, then decide separately whether to join Spotify's program.

Some listeners are already talking about leaving

The plan raises different questions for fans and musicians. For people who’ve been paying for Spotify for years, the discussion quickly moved past whether they’d buy the add-on to whether they wanted to keep their subscription at all. "If @Spotify ends up going through with this, then I’ll be cancelling my subscription," wrote one X user, who said they'd subscribed since 2017. Another user wrote, "I want to hear that you've finally wrapped it up and quit spotify."

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Others were already thinking about what it would take to switch. "Please does anyone know good ways to transfer all my Spotify songs to another site?" one user asked her followers. Over on the subreddit r/indieheads, people were comparing Tidal and Qobuz and discussing buying music directly on Bandcamp. One vinyl buyer explained why leaving would still be hard. "Having podcasts and the ability to just look up new bands instantly is something I'd really struggle to part with," they wrote.

That convenience is part of what Spotify has been using AI to build on. As Mashable has reported, its AI DJ can take spoken requests, and its Prompted Playlist feature lets listeners describe what they want to hear in their own words. AI is showing up in the songs themselves, too. The Velvet Sundown, an AI-generated band, drew more than a million Spotify streams in 2025, and AI-powered singer Xania Monet made it onto Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay chart that same year. There's, of course, some irony in Spotify asking listeners to pay to make AI covers while it’s also trying to limit AI spam and help people tell when an artist persona is AI-generated.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What would musicians get out of it?

For artists weighing whether to opt in, there's the question of what Spotify would do with their music and what they'd earn from it. The Future of Music Coalition put it plainly on X. "What’s it being trained on? Is it opt-in only? How’s the $ work?" the group wrote.

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Spotify and Believe, the French music distributor that owns TuneCore, have answered part of the money question. In an October announcement about their licensing deal, the companies said each remix would link back to the original song and artist. "Streams of these remixes will generate royalties for the participating artists and rights holders behind the original works," they said. The FT also reported that those plays would count toward the original song on Spotify's charts. So a fan-made version could earn royalties while giving listeners a way to find the track that inspired it.

Even if Spotify can make the royalties work, there’s still the question of whether anyone really wants more AI-generated music in the first place. As one X user put it, "Why would anyone want this?"

Categories: IT General, Technology

Is this the only U.S. town to vote yes on data centers?

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 21:21

On Election Day, voters approved more than 40 measures to slow or ban data center growth. But not all Americans decided against data centers.

The majority of voters in Harwood, North Dakota, said "no" to a ballot measure calling for additional steps when the town evaluates, approves, and administers developments like that of data centers, Tech Insider reported. In a town of 845 people, 430 voted, and around 75 percent voted against added restrictions. (As Tech Insider notes, however, that documentation on small towns could be varied — The Washington Post reports that Harwood's population is 845, while other outlets report 940.)

SEE ALSO: Data center security is an American problem, too

The big project in question is a $3 billion, 1.8-million-square-foot data center right outside Harwood, the Washington Post reports. Data center developer Applied Digital is behind the project.

The vote caused the Post to claim that Harwood is "the only town in the U.S. that said yes to data centers." While the building of a data center itself wasn't on the ballot, Harwood residents indeed voted against further bureaucracy towards them.

Harwood breaks the trend of what happened on Election Day, which Mashable's Rebecca Ruiz said was a clear message: "The AI reckoning is here." Backlash to both AI and data centers had been mounting in 2026, and voters were able to express their discontent last Tuesday. The list of U.S. states that ban data centers could grow in 2027.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona online for free

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 18:26

TL;DR: Watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in La Liga for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of really interesting fixtures taking place in La Liga this weekend, but Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona is the standout. It's a battle between first and second place, with only two points separating them before they kick off. It's going to be a tense clash where anything could happen.

If you're interested in watching Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in La Liga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona?

Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in La Liga kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 8. This fixture takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium.

How to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free

Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in La Liga 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 Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona 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 Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona 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 Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more La Liga action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for La Liga?

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 Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Druski brings out Emma Stone in historic SNL monologue

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 16:43

"Let’s go!" Druski yelled as he walked onto the Studio 8H stage late Nov. 7. The comedian, who's spent years making people laugh on their phones, was the first digital content creator to host Saturday Night Live, with The Strokes as musical guest (which Druski does a spot-on impression of, by the way).

How much of the comedy that got him there could he actually do on live TV? That was one of his first jokes.

Druski, whose real name is Drew Desbordes, opened his monologue by assuring the audience that SNL wouldn't water down his comedy, though he said he'd been asked to skip the swearing and not dress in whiteface (surprise, it didn't last very long). By his count, there went about half his material.

Anyone who's watched him play the boss of Coulda Been Records, a fictional label that holds chaotic auditions for aspiring artists, could see why he'd have a little trouble making that promise. Between those auditions and his dating show Coulda Been Love, Druski had amassed more than 6 million subscribers and nearly 2 billion views on YouTube.

Credit: Screenshot: SNL on YouTube

The comedian also joked that there might be some truth to the rumors that he was taking Ozempic, then took a moment to shout out his family in the audience — where one family member shouted for "more money!"

After reflecting on how much had happened over the past year, he asked the crowd how he could repay them. His answer was, apparently, to bring out Emma Stone. The Academy Award-winning actor (who has hosted SNL 5 times) is Druski's co-star in the upcoming baseball rom-com The Catch. He told the audience he actually plays her love interest, which was news to Stone — though she joked that it explained the way he'd been looking at her on set. Druski is reportedly playing Stone's security guard.

SEE ALSO: Is Druski hosting 'SNL'? Here's why it would be a big deal for internet creators.

Druski has had a busy week, besides studying up for Saturday night's appearance. On Nov. 2, Netflix announced a multiyear deal with the comedian and his production company. The first series, Collect & Praise, premieres Dec. 1 and gives his megachurch pastor character, already familiar to fans of his online sketches, a show of his own.

The Catch hits theaters May 21, 2027, which gives Druski a few more months to convince Emma Stone he's the man for her.

Categories: IT General, Technology

"Thats Senator Talafreako": James Talarico crashes SNL

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 16:13

After a week of surprise election results, one question remained heading into Saturday night: How would Saturday Night Live open its first show since the midterms?

The Nov. 7 cold open started at a Democratic victory party, where Chuck Schumer (Sarah Sherman) and Hakeem Jeffries (Kenan Thompson) happily took credit for the party’s wins. They were also excited about the younger Democrats headed to Congress...as long as nobody expected them to give up their jobs.

Before the party could go much further, James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump cut in, interrupting the duo to discuss the election results — a recurring bit in the SNL universe.

Credit: Screenshot: SNL on YouTube

Trump was impressed with himself for accepting the results and even put on a hard hat to talk about the White House ballroom, which was still what he cared about most, of course. But he was considerably less excited about working with millennials. He rattled off a few things he associated with the generation, including mason jar weddings and the sitcom New Girl, then got sidetracked explaining why he thought the show improved once Winston adopted a cat. In his view, giving Winston a pet finally gave the writers something to do with him. OK then?

Trump eventually circled back to the millennials he'd have to work with. When he got to Texas senator-elect James Talarico, he called him "Talafreako," a real nickname the real Trump had used on the campaign trail. That was Talarico's cue to walk out to cheers and offer a small correction: "That's Senator Talafreako," he said.

Days earlier, James Talarico had beaten Republican Ken Paxton to become the first Texas Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate since 1988. On Saturday, he used the moment to introduce himself to the audience, aside from being "the guy who's been texting you every day asking for $5."

Talarico also told Trump he thought they could work together and that people were ready for something different. It sounded like the start of a speech about reaching across the aisle, right up until he asked, "How many of these Trump sketches are they going to do?"

"Infinity," Trump said. The two managed to agree on one thing before handing the show over to host Druski and musical guest The Strokes, announcing together: "Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!"

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tiny galaxies lose most of their oxygen. No one knows where it goes.

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 13:38

Let this sink into your chest: The oxygen in every breath you take formed inside stars.

But new research from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope shows small galaxies hurl away most of the oxygen their stars produce. Astronomers studied 37 nearby dwarf galaxies, which hold anywhere from a few thousand to hundreds of millions of stars. On average, those galaxies kept just 11 percent of the oxygen their stars made over time. The most efficient ones held onto about a quarter; the worst among them retained just 4 percent. Much larger galaxies tend to have three to four times as much, earlier studies have shown.

Exploding stars likely drove the rest away. When massive stars die in blasts called supernovas, they unleash winds strong enough to push gas clear out of a galaxy. Dwarf galaxies have weak gravity, so they struggle to hold onto that material.

Astronomers want to know where the oxygen that stars forge ends up, and how much of it a galaxy can store. A project called Galaxies Losing Oxygen via Winds, or GLOW, tracks that oxygen inside stars, through the gas between them, and out into the space between galaxies. Because oxygen outnumbers every element except hydrogen and helium, it makes a good tracer for how galaxies recycle matter broadly. Astronomers can measure it easily, and they know how stars make it.

"So, it's really for practical reasons that we've chosen oxygen," said Kristen Wingfield McQuinn, GLOW principal investigator at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Oh, snap. Martian volcanoes might actually still be alive.

To tally the oxygen, the team used Hubble images sharp enough to pick out individual stars. Few dwarf galaxies sit close enough for that kind of detail.

Those images revealed each galaxy's history of star birth and, from that, how much oxygen it should have produced. The study appears in The Astrophysical Journal.

The research team then measured what remained. Nearly all of the oxygen was in each galaxy's gas, not in its stars. Data from radio and infrared telescopes filled in the rest of the picture.

Location also seems to matter. Galaxies in crowded areas and within about 3 million light-years of a large galaxy tended to keep more oxygen. Those farther from a big neighbor all kept less than 15 percent. Surrounding gas may push lost oxygen back into a galaxy, according to the paper, or the galaxy may scoop up oxygen its neighbors blasted away. The researchers caution that the pattern relies on only a handful of galaxies.

But oxygen's final destination remains unknown. Earlier studies found only a sliver of the oxygen these galaxies made — one to 7 percent — in the thin halo of hot gas that surrounds a galaxy. Even counting cooler gas, those halos likely hold at most about one-third of the oxygen the galaxies' stars made. Much of the rest probably escaped into intergalactic space, but scientists can't say for sure.

McQuinn, who also leads science operations for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, plans to use the new observatory to find even smaller, fainter galaxies. She then plans to study their stars with Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope. Grace Telford, a University of Utah astronomer on the team, is using Hubble to zoom in on the massive stars that make oxygen and blast it out.

If most of that missing oxygen did escape, the universe's smallest galaxies may be its biggest oxygen spreaders, seeding space with the same element that fills your lungs.

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Give your inner nerd the remote — a lifetime of Curiosity Stream documentaries is just $129.97

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 11:00

TL;DR: New users can pay $129.97 once for lifetime Curiosity Stream Standard access, including thousands of documentaries, HD streaming, and offline downloads. Offer ends Nov. 8.

Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $129.97
$399.99 Save $270.02   Get Deal

Your next streaming rabbit hole could come with fewer conspiracy theories and more actual history. Curiosity Stream’s Standard Plan lifetime subscription is just $129.97 (reg. $399.99) through Nov. 8, giving new users unlimited access to thousands of documentaries, films, series, and shows for one payment.

The selection spans science, technology, history, nature, and art. That gives you room to follow a particular interest or branch out when your usual watchlist starts feeling predictable. New content arrives weekly, so the catalog keeps evolving after your first documentary marathon.

Start with Engineering the Future when you want to explore technology, or turn to Deep Time History for a different perspective on the past. No need to commit your entire evening to choosing a genre—you can change course whenever curiosity takes over.

The Standard Plan includes 1920×1080 HD viewing on multiple devices. Search tools help you find subjects that interest you, while bookmarks keep promising titles from disappearing into the “what was that called?” department. You can also start watching on one device and resume on another.

Downloadable content adds offline viewing, making documentaries an option for travel or anywhere a reliable connection isn’t part of the itinerary.

Founded by Discovery Communications founder John Hendricks, Curiosity Stream is built around nonfiction entertainment. If you already enjoy learning how things work, you get a substantial documentary selection without another recurring subscription payment.

Get the Curiosity Stream Standard Plan lifetime subscription for a one-time $129.97 (reg. $399.99) through Nov. 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Zelda Switch 2 restock: Live restock updates at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy (Nov. 8)

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 10:26
Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Nintendo Shop Now Amazon Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Amazon Shop Now Walmart Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Walmart Shop Now Target Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Target Shop Now Best Buy Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Best Buy Shop Now GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at GameStop Shop Now

If your current morning ritual involves violently hitting refresh on a dozen retail tabs, you already know the vibe: finding the Nintendo Switch 2: The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is turning into an Olympic sport.

Between automated bot armies scooping digital drops, surprise order cancellations at Walmart, and inventory vanishing in seconds on Amazon, this custom black-and-gold console feels like a myth. But while digital storefronts look completely barren, stock is actively circulating behind the scenes.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock right now

Before getting into the restock details, bookmark these retailer pages to check for surprise drops:

  • Nintendo Store — Out of stock right now, but you can add it to your wishlist to get pinged the second a restock hits.

  • Amazon — Dropping tiny batches of consoles randomly throughout the day.

  • Walmart — Out of stock, so make sure your in-stock email alerts are turned on.

  • Target — Sold out online, but two drops went live in-store on Thursday, Nov. 5, and online on Friday, Nov. 6.

  • Best Buy — Sold out online, but select stores ran midnight openings on Nov. 5 with walk-in stock.

  • GameStop — Online orders are off; you will have to walk into a store to find one.

Why is the console selling out so fast?

The feeding frenzy is being supercharged by Nintendo’s staggered release calendar. While the custom Zelda 40th Anniversary hardware dropped first on Oct. 29, the flagship game driving demand — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 — arrived on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The remake rebuilds the 1998 classic from the ground up with modernized controls, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, reworked dungeon puzzles, and expanded Hyrule environments. Since the $520 console doesn’t include the game, everyone is rushing to lock down a system before launch day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 $59.99 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon What comes with the Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2?

The package includes the special-edition Switch 2 system sporting a custom black-and-gold finish, themed Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a matching dock decorated with the gold Triforce emblem. It retains the platform's signature flexibility, letting you switch between TV, Tabletop, and Handheld modes whenever you want.

Inside the themed chassis, you get 256GB of built-in storage (expandable with microSD Express cards), a vivid display in handheld mode, faster load times, and support for up to 4K resolution on compatible TVs when the console sits in the dock.

The magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers add mouse-style tracking in supported games, while the new GameChat hub lets you voice chat and share your screen directly as you play. It also plays your older Switch games and supports standard multiplayer options.

How can you improve your chances of finding stock?

Landing limited-edition Nintendo hardware takes a little prep work, but these battle-tested habits will give you a real edge over the bots:

  • Save your checkout details everywhere — Log in to Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and the Nintendo Store to save your shipping address and default card. Stopping to type a card number or billing zip code during a live drop is how you lose an order.

  • Hands off the refresh button in Best Buy's queue — When an online drop goes live, Best Buy puts shoppers into a randomized waiting line to filter out scrapers. Touching the reload button resets your spot and boots you straight to the back.

  • Watch for Walmart+ early-access paywalls — Walmart frequently locks headline console drops behind paid Walmart+ subscriptions for the first 30 to 60 minutes. If you have a membership, keep that tab signed in; if not, wait for the general public window to unlock.

  • Dodge third-party sellers — Double-check the seller before buying. Marketplace scalpers frequently list units for jacked-up prices; make sure it says "Sold and shipped by [Retailer]" at the standard price.

  • Skip the web wars and head to physical stores — Online checkout bots grab website stock in under 15 seconds. Showing up in person is easily your most reliable path to securing one without paying scalper markups.

Will the Zelda Switch 2 be restocked on Black Friday?

Most likely, yes.

Stores like Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy often hold onto popular gaming hardware to use as headline deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday week.

With that said, Black Friday restocks are usually the hardest ones to catch. You will be fighting website crashes, gift shoppers, and automated bots all at once. If you can grab a console during the Nov. 5 launch drops at Target or Best Buy, take it. Think of Black Friday as a backup plan, not your main bet.

Console hunting sucks right now, period. But between the surprise micro-drops and Thursday's physical store restocks, you still have real shots at retail price — just be ready to move the second that button turns yellow.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Own Microsoft Office 2024 Home for $119.97 with no ongoing fees

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 10:00

TL;DR: Pay $119.97 once for Office 2024 Home on one Mac or PC, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote through today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase $119.99
$149.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Your household budget has enough recurring expenses without the spreadsheet software joining in. Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC is $119.97 (reg. $149.99) through Nov. 8, giving you four top desktop apps with one payment and no subscription fees.

It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. That covers school papers, household budgets, presentations, and the notes you absolutely meant to organize last week. For students and families who regularly use those tools, buying them once keeps the software expense predictable.

Word offers detailed formatting controls for turning a rough draft into a finished document. Excel’s Dynamic Arrays help manage changing information with functions such as FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUE. Instead of manually rebuilding a list when the underlying data changes, you can create formula-driven results that update with it.

PowerPoint includes tools for recording presentations with voice and video, plus closed captions to make the material more accessible. OneNote rounds out the package with a place to collect notes for classes, projects, and personal planning.

The desktop apps also work offline, so a dropped connection doesn’t have to interrupt your writing or spreadsheet work. You can keep working on files stored locally without opening a browser.

Before purchasing, check the scope: each license covers one Mac or PC, and Outlook isn’t included. The license connects to your Microsoft account rather than the device itself.

Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for just $119.97 through Nov. 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Is Pures subscription worth it compared to AdultFriendFinders Gold membership?

Sun, 11/08/2026 - 09:00

In the world of online hookup services, two names are earning a reputation for punching well above their weight: AdultFriendFinder and Pure. The first is a web-based hookup site — the world's oldest dedicated hookup site, in fact — while the second is an app that has been around since 2013 but has largely flown under the radar until recently. 

Both services are kink- and LGBTQ-friendly with large, built-in communities eager to explore sexuality, whether that's over a text conversation or an in-person meetup. And more to the point: both services lock a great deal of their functionality behind a paid membership, so if you want to get the most out of your experience, you're going to need to make a financial commitment. 

Here's how the paid membership tiers compare between AdultFriendFinder and Pure, and whether or not we think upgrading is worth your investment.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Pure Pure   Learn More AFF vs. Pure Membership comparisonFree membership offerings

Before you can appreciate each service's paid offerings, you need to understand what they offer non-paying members, since the value proposition depends on whether or not the free service meets your needs. 

In the case of AFF, an unpaid membership comes with some severe limitations: you can't view other members' full profiles, and you can't message anyone one-on-one, so your time on the site will largely be restricted to the community areas (message boards, live webcam feeds, and erotic stories), which still offer plenty of fun activities and ways to interact with other users, but ultimately make building connection much more difficult.

Pure takes a similar approach, granting limited app functionality to free users, including posting ads and sending likes, but not chatting one-on-one with matches or sending them photos and videos. There's also a limit on the number of ads you can view or post on a free membership, similar to how Tinder caps the number of right-swipes you can use in a 24-hour time period. 

SEE ALSO: How to date anonymously in 2026: Our guide to Pure's privacy tools

From a value perspective, the free AFF membership offers much more functionality, though both have the same restrictions on one-on-one interactions. There is an exception worth mentioning, though: women on Pure start at a higher membership tier, allowing them to match and message other users without a paid subscription.

Winner: AdultFriendFinder

Paid membership perks

If you're resigned to paying for the pleasure of your online hookup service, it's worth seeing which one offers greater value. 

In the case of an AdultFriendFinder Gold membership, you can expect some serious perks beyond just unlocking one-on-one chatting. For one thing, you'll get a special badge marking you off as a Gold member, helping you to stand out in the search. Additionally, you'll unlock the ability to view photos and videos in HD, a great quality-of-life improvement over the grainy baseline offerings, as well as a more comprehensive search function that lets you filter profiles by more criteria, including kinks. 

A Gold membership even unlocks new areas of the site to explore, such as the Sex Academy, which is like an online library designed to help you level up your bedroom skills.

Pure's paid membership functions in much the same way, unlocking one-on-one conversations with other users (by far the most useful feature), while also removing the caps on how many ads you can post or how many people you can talk to in a 24-hour window. There are also some cool additional features, like the ability to enter incognito mode, where other users can't see that you're online until you've replied to a message, which helps add even more anonymity to an already stealthy app. 

One feature now conspicuously missing from Pure's paid membership is "Devil's Bones," which used to connect you with an anonymous chat partner via voice chat. It was extremely popular and a truly novel invention on Pure's part, but later versions of the Apple App Store terms of service made it necessary to deactivate it. 

Winner: Tie

Success rate

Nobody downloads a hookup app to endlessly chat, right? If you actually want to convert your paid membership into IRL hookups, both AFF and Pure offer you different odds, but much of that depends on where you live. 

In terms of total membership, for example, Pure can boast just over 15 million users worldwide, which is certainly nothing to sneer at, but AdultFriendFinder has a whopping 80 million users worldwide, so from a numbers perspective, AFF clearly has an edge. But there's a strong geographic concentration among Pure's members that isn't as visible among AFF members.

SEE ALSO: How Pure's 24-hour chat timer forces daters to skip the endless banter

Because AdultFriendFinder is a self-contained online community, it attracts many more people from rural areas and small towns, where there isn't a hookup or kink scene to speak of. On the other hand, Pure users concentrate in cities, and especially large metropolitan cities like New York, London, and Berlin, where there are pre-existing kink scenes. This problem compounds with Pure because it uses geolocation to populate your ad feed, so if you live far from major population centers, the app will be inherently less effective for you. 

That having been said, if you're judging these services based on their ability to match you up with another person for an IRL hookup, Pure's culture of kink and seizing the moment are both powerful catalysts.

Winner: Pure

If you're curious about Pure but don't want to make a major financial commitment, we strongly recommend testing the waters with one of their weekly membership plans (prices vary by location, but expect to pay around $15 for a single week). Not only will that experience teach you how to use the app, but it will also give you a sense of how popular Pure is in your vicinity.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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