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Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 9, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 9, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 9 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 51-5, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 9 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 9 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 22-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this red space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically.

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a car collector.

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 July 9, 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: Sober

• Green: Media outlets

• Blue: Floor coverings

• Purple: Car types

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Non-alcoholic designators

• Green: Music publications

• Blue: Kinds of rugs

• Purple: Pontiac models

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

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1124 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Non-alcoholic designators: NA, SPIRIT-FREE, VIRGIN, ZERO-PROOF

• Music publications: BILLBOARD, PITCHFORK, ROLLING STONE, SPIN

• Kinds of rugs: PERSIAN, PRAYER, SHAG, THROW

• Pontiac models: FIREBIRD, G6, GRAND PRIX, TRANS AM

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 9, 2026

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

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a full beat.

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 July 9, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the lips

The words are related to beauty.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe mouth makeup.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Kiss and Makeup.

NYT Strands word list for July 9

• Stick

• Liner

• Stain

• Gloss

• Kiss and Makeup

• Balm

• Tint

• Plumper

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.

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

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 July 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 9, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To change.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

AMEND

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.

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.

YouTuber turned feature filmmaker Curry Barker's indie horror movie Obsession has been a surprise hit of the season. Not only has it surpassed box office expectations, raking in over $400 million globally, but it has also become the highest-grossing Focus Features film ever.

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Leading lady Inde Navarrette's performance as Nikki has been celebrated by audiences and critics alike (including Mashable's own Kristy Puchko). Even horror icon Stephen King said he can't stop thinking about the film's blend of horror and humor.

If you missed out on the twisted flick in theaters, it's officially available to watch at home this month. But you'll have to hold off a little longer for its streaming debut. Here are all the details you need to know to watch Obsession.

What is Obsession about?

Obsession is a classic case of "be careful what you wish for." It follows lonely young man Bear (Michael Johnston) who's crushing on obsesssing over his friend Nikki (Navarrette). He's not very skilled in talking to women, let alone dating, so when he gets his hands on a "One Wish Willow" that promises to make his dream come true, he wishes for Nikki to love him more than anyone else. As you can imagine, things don't go as planned.

Check out the official trailer below.

How to watch Obsession at home Credit: Focus Features

As of June 30, Obsession is available to watch at home. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $19.99, or you can wait a little while to stream it on Peacock. See all the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

A little over a month after its theatrical release, Obsession made its digital debut on June 30, 2026. That means you can buy or rent the movie from on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep and watch forever.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

• Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• YouTube — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Stream it on Peacock

While we don't have an exact streaming release date yet for Obsession, we do know that it will make its debut on Peacock. The NBC Universal streaming service is the first stop for Focus Features films out of the theater. Based on other recent Focus Features films (Song Sung Blue, Hamnet, Bugonia), we can make an educated guess that Obsession will be streaming in August 2026 on Peacock.

Note that Focus Features' licensing deal gives Netflix a 10-month streaming window after the film's initial Peacock debut, before sending it back to Peacock. If you have a Netflix subscription, you could wait a little longer and stream Obsession without having to sign up for another service.

While the cheapest Peacock subscription costs just $7.99 per month, it unfortunately won't grant you access to theatrical releases. Instead, you'll need at least Peacock Premium, which costs $10.99 per month. Before you sign up, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

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Paying for a year of Peacock Premium or Premium Plus up front can save you up to $33.89. Premium (with ads) costs $10.99 monthly, which adds up to $131.88. If you pay for the annual plan, however, it'll only cost you $109.99 — a savings of $21.89.

Likewise, the Premium Plus plan costs $16.99 per month, which adds up to $203.88. The annual plan, on the other hand, costs just $169.99 — a savings of $33.89. You'll essentially be getting two months of streaming for free by opting for an annual subscription.

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If you're an Xfinity customer, there's a good chance you can get Peacock for free. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible (head to Xfinity.com for more details):

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

• NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

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Both students and young adults (ages 18 to 24) can take $5 per month off a Peacock Premium subscription all year long. Verify your student status or age through SheerID, and you'll receive a unique promo code to knock the price down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Just note that once the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price unless you cancel.

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First responders, medical professionals, teachers, and military personnel can all unlock Peacock Premium subscriptions (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying professional status through SheerID. Those who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew their subscription at a discounted rate each year. Prices are subject to change year to year.

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An Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. You'll even get a free two-week trial to kick things off. If you time your trial to match up with the release of Obsession on Peacock, you can easily watch it for free. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount. We recommend setting a calendar alert to remind you.

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One of the best ways to score streaming services for free is by signing up for a Walmart+ membership. With a $98 Walmart+ subscription, you can choose either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential as a free perk — and you can switch every few months. Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value, the $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Of course, you'll also get free shipping with no order minimums, fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events.

TL;DR: Send unlimited files of any size with lifetime access to Transfr Pro for $79.97 through July 19.

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If your work involves large files, you’ve probably run into upload limits, expired download links, or another monthly subscription just to send a project. Transfr Pro takes a simpler approach: unlimited file transfers, professional sharing tools, and a one-time payment instead of recurring fees.

Through July 19, you can get lifetime access to Transfr Pro Fast & Secure File Transfer for a one-time $79.97 (reg. $499).

Designed for freelancers, photographers, videographers, agencies, designers, and anyone who regularly shares large files, Transfr Pro lets you send files of any size without the restrictions that often come with traditional file-sharing services. Instead of juggling multiple upload services, everything happens in one browser-based platform.

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It also goes beyond basic file delivery. Built-in Send & Track analytics show when recipients view or download your files, along with transfer activity and visitor locations. If you’re waiting on client feedback or confirming a delivery, those extra insights can save a few follow-up emails.

Files are protected with end-to-end encryption, and the platform runs on GDPR-compliant European infrastructure developed by the team behind Drime. You can also customize transfer pages with your own branding, preview supported files before download, and store shared files for up to 60 days.

One thing worth noting: this isn’t a cloud storage replacement for long-term archiving. It’s designed primarily for fast, professional file delivery and collaboration.

If you regularly send creative projects, presentations, videos, or other oversized files, Transfr Pro offers a practical alternative to subscription-based transfer services.

Get lifetime access to Transfr Pro for a one-time payment of $79.97 (reg. $499) through July 19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

FIFA officially has Bieber fever.

The World Cup governing body and the action platform Global Citizen announced July 8 that Justin Bieber will co-headline the World Cup final halftime show on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. He'll share the stage with Madonna, Shakira, and BTS in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

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The 11-minute show will also feature Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus, the Staten Island elementary school choir, performing alongside Coldplay. The show is also set to feature Sesame Street characters, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, and other Muppets, as part of the broadcast's education-focused message. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin is curating the performance.

"The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can," Bieber said in a statement. "I'm grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it's already helping expand access to education for children around the world."

The halftime show is the first of its kind in FIFA World Cup history. While major soccer events often include opening ceremonies or pre-match performances, FIFA is introducing a halftime performance for this year's final.

The show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to expand access to education and soccer for children worldwide. According to Global Citizen, the fund has already raised more than $50 million. Throughout the tournament, $1 from every ticket sold to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches is being donated to the fund.

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Bieber's addition expands a lineup that already included several major global artists. Madonna, Shakira, and BTS were previously announced as headliners for the show back in May, while Burna Boy brings another connection to the tournament through "Dai Dai," the official song of the 2026 World Cup, which he performs with Shakira.

"The FIFA World Cup is one of the few moments that truly brings the entire world together," Burna Boy said in a statement. "To represent Africa on the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show is a privilege and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly."

The announcement has not been universally embraced, especially among soccer fans who already feel this World Cup has been "Americanized," especially with the addition of brand-sponsored hydration breaks that interrupt the usual rhythm of matches. Adding a Super Bowl-style performance in the middle of the New Jersey final feels, to some, like another step in that direction.

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That experiment will get its first test next week, and FIFA is hoping they don't have to say "Sorry."

Between match attendance and the sheer number of viewers watching at home or at fan events, there's no doubt that this year's World Cup is going to break many records.

However, this latest record-breaking achievement from the 2026 World Cup is truly astonishing.

According to Google, Google Search saw its highest usage ever on Tuesday immediately after Argentina scored the winning goal in its comeback victory against Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16 match. This moment surpassed all prior Google Search usage periods in the company's near-28 year history.

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"Google Search broke all prior usage records and saw its highest usage in history right after Argentina scored their winning goal in yesterday’s match!" said Google SVP of Knowledge & Information Nick Fox alongside the exploding head emoji in a post on X. 

Google confirmed to Mashable that the measure is based on the number of search queries per second that occurred on its search engine during the game, immediately following Argentina's third goal.

Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, were on the brink of elimination as Messi and the rest of the team were losing 2-0 up until the 79th minute of the game. Argentina pulled off a miraculous comeback, scoring three goals within 14 minutes, with the winning goal scored in the third minute of extra time after the 90th minute.

Google tells Mashable that the top search query after Argentina’s winning goal was “argentina vs egypt,” with users ostensibly searching for results of the match.

SEE ALSO: Hyundai's Atlas robot debuts on the biggest stage of all: The World Cup

Google also shared global Google Trends data with Mashable that shows other search queries that contributed to the record-breaking Google Search usage after Argentina's third goal.

In addition to “argentina vs egypt,” these queries include:

• argentina x colombia 

• how many world cup goals does messi have

• who else is playing in the world cup today

• how many world cups have argentina won

• what is it called when a player hits another player in game

• is it messi's last world cup

• where is the final world cup game being played

• how many assists does messi have in world cup 2026

• who is the best football player in the world

• who will argentina play in the world cup

As you can see, there was clearly lots of interest in Messi specifically, who scored the second goal and was credited with the assist for the first goal. Messi's goal was his eighth overall in this World Cup tournament so far. Also, based on the search data, it appears many users thought Argentina would go on to face Colombia next. However, later that day, Switzerland eliminated Colombia in penalties.

There is still plenty of World Cup left — and plenty more records to potentially break — with four quarterfinal matches, two semifinals, and then the final game left to go.

Argentina will now face Switzerland next on Saturday, July 11.

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has finally completed its first voyage in front of critics, and the early reaction is basically: find the biggest screen near you.

The first social reactions to Nolan's adaptation of Homer's epic arrived after the film's London world premiere and early press screenings. The movie, shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, opens in theaters July 17.

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That last part is not just marketing copy. The Odyssey is the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX cameras, and Nolan's commitment to scale appears to be a major part of the early conversation. The nearly three-hour film was shot across six countries, including Morocco, Greece, and Iceland, with real ships, practical effects, and large-scale crowd scenes. Matt Damon, who stars as Odysseus, called the experience "much harder than anything I've ever done."

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The movie follows Odysseus after the Trojan War as he tries to return home to Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and their son, Telemachus (Tom Holland). Along the way, because this is The Odyssey, there are gods, monsters, witches, temptation, punishment, and the kind of journey that has been tormenting high school English students for generations.

Zendaya plays Athena, while the stacked ensemble also includes Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal, Samantha Morton, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, and Benny Safdie.

Early reactions suggest Nolan has leaned fully into both the myth and the machinery needed to make it feel enormous, with the cast matching the scale around them. Holland, Damon, Hathaway, Leguizamo, Pattinson, and Nyong’o have all received praise for their performances.

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For movie lovers online, the first reactions are exactly what they were hoping to hear.

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Not every reaction around The Odyssey has been glowing. Before the first critical reactions arrived, Nolan's film had already become the latest blockbuster pulled into an online fight over casting, historical accuracy, and what counts as loyalty to a centuries-old text.

Some of the backlash has focused on the film's ensemble, including Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, Elliot Page as Sinon, Himesh Patel as Eurylochus, and Travis Scott as a bard. Right-wing commentators have accused Nolan of modernizing the story too aggressively, with Elon Musk repeatedly criticizing the film's casting and claiming Nolan had "desecrated" Homer's epic to appeal to awards voters, prompting a response from Tom Holland (the historian, not the actor).

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Other complaints have been about the film's look and language, including costumes some viewers called anachronistic, American accents, and Holland's Telemachus referring to Odysseus as his "dad." Nyong'o, for her part, has defended Nolan's approach, stating she supports "the version of this story that he is telling" and that the cast is "representative of the world" in a recent interview. Notably, Nolan has cited Emily Wilson's more modern 2017 translation of the Greek epic as one of his many inspirations.

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All of this buzz, both good and bad, arrives with unusually high expectations. The Odyssey is Nolan's follow-up to Oppenheimer, the 2023 blockbuster that won Best Picture and turned a talky, three-hour biographical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer into a genuine pop-cultural event (with a little help from Barbie). The Odyssey cost $250 million to make, and box office forecasters expect it to open between $80 million and $130 million in the U.S. and Canada.

The hype has been building for a while. Select IMAX tickets went on sale a year in advance and were snapped up quickly. Now that the first reactions are out, the message from critics and film journalists is fairly consistent: This is not the movie to casually half-watch later on a laptop while answering emails.

Odysseus may be trying to get home, but we'll be trekking toward the nearest IMAX.

Erling Haaland has become one of the 2026 World Cup’s biggest characters in China, and not just because he keeps scoring.

The Norwegian striker has spent the past few weeks dominating the field, terrifying defenders, and helping push Norway deep into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But online, especially on Chinese social media, he has become many other things: a “Nordic Cyborg,” Majin Buu, a goofy giant, a Viking warrior, and, somehow, the romantic lead on Love and Deepspace.

The fixation has been building for weeks. In early June, Haaland became a global brand ambassador for Walovi, the international arm of Wang Lao Ji, a popular Chinese herbal drink brand. The campaign featured Haaland speaking Mandarin in scenes built around football, summer heat, and a jingle that plays on the sound of his name.

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Chinese fans quickly ran with it.

Since joining Weibo, China’s major microblogging platform, and Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, a month ago, Haaland has amassed over 1 million followers on Weibo and more than 5 million on Douyin. Hashtags related to the striker have also generated hundreds of millions of views on Weibo, where fans have been clipping his ads, remixing his image, and turning him into a running joke.

A lot of the appeal comes from how different Haaland is on the field versus online. On the field, he’s a 6-foot-5 Manchester City forward with a mechanical scoring record. Online, Chinese fans have nicknamed these two personalities: “Nordic Cyborg” on the pitch, and “Habao” or “Baby Ha” off of it.

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One of the most unexpected versions of Halaand has been...a digital love interest? The popular Chinese sci-fi romance mobile game Love and Deepspace lets players form relationships with fictional male characters, and fan-made Haaland posts have styled him like a collectible love interest and comparing him to the characters players already know.

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The romance-game jokes are only one corner of the larger Haaland meme boom in China. Fans have also turned him into a Viking, an anime hero, and the subject of song edits built around his name. One popular fan song, “Haaland (Ha Ha Ha),” is set to the tune of “Moskau,” the 1979 track by German Eurodisco group Dschinghis Khan.

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These aren't the only versions of Haaland circulating online.

Last week, a video circulated on X appearing to show Haaland sitting in a restaurant, eating, then flinching at his own reflection. One post sharing the clip racked up more than 31 million views in a matter of days. The video was debunked — fact checkers traced the original footage to a slapstick skit by Chinese comedian Jin Long, posted to TikTok in mid-June, with Haaland’s face later swapped in using AI.

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But, Haaland himself makes these digital depictions easier to believe. His own social media presence is famously unpolished, especially on Snapchat, where he posts casual selfies, filters, jokes, Q&As, and strange little updates that give fans more material to work with.

He also engages in many of the memes, leaving comments on edits and AI footage.

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He is not the only footballer getting AI treatment. Videos have reimagined Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and David Beckham as K-pop idols, complete with idol styling and choreography.

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There is plenty more content that has kept the internet entertained during the past few weeks of back-to-back World Cup programming, some with full scripts.

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At this point, the World Cup has a knockout bracket and a fan-edit bracket. Haaland seems to be doing pretty well in both.

Meta smart glasses automatically disable recording if users attempt to disable the devices' recording indicator light, the company has revealed in the wake of mounting privacy concerns.

Announced in a blog post on July 7, the safety feature detects when a user has tampered with or covered the wearable's capture LED, a blinking white light on the edge of the frame that alerts others the wearer is using the glasses' camera.

If the light is no longer visible, Meta says, the glasses will disable use of the camera until the device detects the light is visible again.

SEE ALSO: Meta’s smart glasses have a new look and the same privacy problem

The safety feature is available immediately on second generation devices. It will roll out across the line of wearables — including the new Meta Glasses by Kylie line — and is mandatory for all device users.

Mark Zuckerberg's company is also going after third-party sellers who advertise devices with disabled LEDs, including banning accounts on Meta platforms.

Meta's line of sleek smart glasses have sparked online debate about the ethics of filming others in public without their express consent. On the one hand, the glasses' hands-free video has revolutionized content creation, making it easier than ever to film yourself on the go. But on the other, they have led to a sub-genre of content featuring rampant harassment of people, mainly women, in public spaces.

Critics note the easy-to-miss LED is a key problem, and have urged Meta to update its devices with more explicit indicators.

But in the blog post, Meta explained its rationale for the small white light — which offers the "best combination of visibility and [user] experience" during both day and night filming.

As for why the device couldn't make a recording sound audible to anyone in the vicinity of a recording? "It’s simply not practical to make that sound be heard at a distance," claims the company.

SEE ALSO: Enter the Mashable Big Guessing Game to win a new Apple Watch

Meta is facing a fresh wave of criticism over a new AI image generator — which encourages users to generate AI images using other people's public photos.

On Tuesday, Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Meta, introduced an AI tool called Muse Image, created by its AI division, Superintelligence Labs.

Muse Image is available via Meta's AI app, as well as WhatsApp and Instagram Stories. According to Meta, Muse Image "uses advanced reasoning to understand complex prompts, seamlessly blending multiple photos into high-quality creations you can download and share anywhere."

So far, so normal — but the AI image generator also lets users @ mention a specific Instagram account within the Meta AI app in order to add that Instagram account to the Muse Image creator.

In other words, Muse Image can add an Instagram user to their AI creations without the Instagram user's awareness. 

"Tagging a username lets Meta AI use public photos to build a visual that’s ready to post," Meta says. Any public Instagram profile can be used by Muse Image, unless that user explicitly opts-out.

Not surprisingly, privacy experts and watchdog groups are criticizing Meta over the feature. The nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen called the feature "an egregious invasion of user privacy."

"Meta has once again chosen the creepiest possible path," said J.B. Branch, the Public Citizen's director of federal AI governance and technology policy, in a statement. "People should not wake up to discover their face has become raw material for someone else's AI experiment.

"This is another invasion of consumers' privacy. Instead of asking for meaningful consent, Meta quietly defaults users into the system and buries the opt-out in account settings. It’s a playbook we've come to expect from a company with a long history of putting its business interests ahead of the public."

How to opt-out of Meta's Muse Image

Speaking of opting-out, there are two ways to make sure your public Instagram images and likeness aren't used by the @ mention Muse Image feature.

If your Instagram profile is set to private, Instagram respects that privacy setting as Muse Image requires access to Instagram account's public photos in order for the tool to generate AI images. Muse Image will inform a user that they cannot use your Instagram account likeness if they try to @ mention your account to generate an image.

If you have a public Instagram profile, however, you do now need to opt-out in your account settings.

Open the Instagram app on your phone. Head to your Profile. From there, tap the menu button in the top-right hand corner and then tap on Sharing and Reuse. On that page, scroll down to the "Allow people to reuse your content on Instagram and with AI features at Meta" section.

There are two settings, Posts and Reels, each with their own toggle. Turn both of them off if you don't want Meta's AI tools to use either your Posts, which include images, or your Reels, in order to generate content for Muse Image.

When it comes to Emmy snubs, the Mashable team is most dismayed by Dropout walking away with nothing in this morning's nominations.

Game Changer isn't just a program on Dropout; it's also a fitting description of the platform itself. CEO and game show host Sam Reich has been rewriting the rules of Hollywood with labor practices that include paying for auditions and profit-sharing. Plus, with his comedy collaborators, he's launched inventive TV shows like Game Changer, Dimension 20, and Very Important People.

And yet the Television Academy has recognized none of the above.

SEE ALSO: Dropout is a game-changer for comedy and creators

Earlier this year, for Mashable 101, I interviewed Dropout stars, including Reich, Brennan Lee Mulligan, and Vic Michaelis. As Michaelis said of the indie streamer's Emmy nomination potential, "It does really feel like we are at a tipping point right now."

Michaelis, who performs across several Dropout shows and hosts the comedy show Very Important People, noted, "The Oscars are moving to YouTube," and "There's a podcast category now for the Golden Globes. Things are starting to change." 

So, what happened?

Why did Dropout get snubbed at the Emmys?

Last April, Variety reported that Dropout had submitted for 11 categories for the Emmy Awards. Very Important People was submitted for Outstanding Variety Series, and Michaelis for Lead Comedy Actress. Meanwhile, Game Changer pitched for Outstanding Game Show and Outstanding Host for a Game Show, for Reich. Other submissions were in the creative Emmys categories, including direction, costumes, make-up, and picture editing.

For Dropout fans, this seemed like a strong strategy. On Very Important People, Michaelis plays a version of themself who is a desperate journalist, seeking to impress at all costs. Each week, as they welcome a new surprise guest — a prosthetics-covered comedian who improvises a character "on the spot" — Michaels is challenged to create an arc with her collaborator, while keeping in character and going off the rails for comedy greatness wherever possible.

Who did get nominated for the Emmys Dropout was aiming for?

The make-up accomplishments alone should have made Very Important People a lock. But instead, the nominations for Outstanding Makeup For A Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program went to Dancing with the Stars, the Oscars, and Saturday Night Live. This hints at an issue critics of the Emmys have pointed to over and over: The Emmys favor legacy over innovation.

This year, the Emmy nominations for Outstanding Variety Series went to The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Week with John Oliver, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Saturday Night Live. Each is an institution for comedy, leaving no room for the new voices that are cracking up audiences.

Outstanding Game Show nominees include Celebrity Family Feud, Jeopardy!, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Once more, all legacy shows.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nominees are Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary, Ayo Edebiri for The Bear, Elle Fanning for Margo's Got Money Troubles, Lisa Kudrow for The Comeback, and Jean Smart for Hacks. None are underserving of this honor. But all are in more traditional comedy shows than what Michaelis creates with the VIP team.

Outstanding Host for a Game Show nominees include Steve Harvey for Celebrity Family Feud, Ken Jennings for Jeopardy!, Colin Jost for Pop Culture Jeopardy!, Jimmy Kimmel for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Martin Short for Match Game. No real surprises, but also in this bunch, no one who hosted a different game every week and then unexpectedly became a contestant when his collaborators turned the tables. (See the epic "Samalamadingdong," and tell me Jost could pull that off.)

SEE ALSO: Dropout's Brennan Lee Mulligan knows he can't win. But could that be about to change? Dropout defies easy categorization.

In an interview with Mashable, Reich spoke about the challenge of picking episodes for submission that would get across what makes Game Changer special.

At the time, he said, "'Rulette' is a pretty good bet. It's very funny, [a] very well-celebrated episode. It's very in the spirit of our show, despite even feeling a little bit basic for the show. It's like a great introduction to our show, and it's almost traditional enough that your average Emmy voter could look at it and go like, 'Oh, I understand how this is a game show like the game shows I'm used to, and how it's different.'"

A similar debate went into where to submit Very Important People, a parody talk show. As Michaelis put it, "Do [our shows] fit perfectly into those boxes? No."

But as Dropout grows, it seems the Emmys are an almost inevitable next step. And some progress has been made for creator representation, as fellow Mash 101 honoree Kareem Rahma’s "Subway Takes" earned an nomination in "Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama Or Variety Series."

It took years for the Emmys to acknowledge the excellent shows coming out of streaming studios like Netflix over traditional broadcast programs. Now, indie streamers like Dropout are facing that same uphill climb. How will it take for the Television Academy to recognize the incredible craftsmanship, creativity, and comedy that's coming out of Dropout? At least one more year.

Craving desert power with a side of devastation? Then you're in luck, because Warner Bros. has released a new trailer for Dune: Part Three.

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender' trailer: The Gaang is all grown up, and there's a new airbender in the mix

The film concludes director Denis Villeneuve's acclaimed sci-fi trilogy, which took Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) from young duke to Emperor of the universe. His ascent was paved with bloodshed, and by the looks of the trailer, his reign is no less bloody. (Dune Messiah readers know that Paul and his followers' jihad claims a whopping 61 billion lives.)

Dune: Part Three takes place 17 years after the end of Dune: Part Two, which saw Paul become Emperor, meet his future wife Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), and lose his lover Chani (Zendaya). In a huge deviation from Frank Herbert's novels, Chani fled into the desert after witnessing Paul's brutality, setting up a major rift between the two.

In addition to focusing on Paul and Chani's evolving relationship, Dune: Part Three brings several key new characters into the fold.

Irulan will take on a much more prominent role, as will Paul's sister Alia (Anya Taylor-Joy). Now an adult, Alia must reckon with the extraordinary powers she gained when her mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) drank the water of life while pregnant. Also joining the cast of characters is Face Dancer Scytale, who can shape-shift thanks to genetic alterations from the Bene Tleilax order, and who's apparently got a plan to kill Paul and usher in a regime change.

Finally, Jason Momoa returns, but not as the late Duncan Idaho. Instead, he's Hayt, an artificial human, or ghola, also created by the Bene Tleilax.

To witness these characters in action and witness what's next for Paul and Chani, check out the full trailer above.

Dune: Part Three hits theaters Dec. 18.

Connor Storrie just earned his first Emmy nomination — but not for the role that turned him into one of the internet's newest heartthrobs.

The 26-year-old actor received the nod Wednesday for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. That was for hosting Saturday Night Live earlier this year.

While many fans had hoped to see Storrie recognized for his breakout performance as Ilya Rozanov in Heated Rivalry, the queer hockey drama wasn't actually eligible for the Primetime Emmys — because it was entirely financed in Canada.

SEE ALSO: 'Heated Rivalry' star Connor Storrie embraces childhood YouTube videos as 'self-acceptance'

Still, the nomination felt like a victory to fans, many of whom celebrated it as overdue recognition for an actor whose career has skyrocketed since Heated Rivalry premiered. Over the past year, Storrie has gone from breakout star to awards-season regular, appearing at the Golden Globes, making his Met Gala debut alongside co-star Hudson Williams, landing luxury campaigns with Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co., and preparing for the show's anticipated second season.

While Heated Rivalry couldn't compete at the Emmys, it dominated Canada's awards season, taking home 16 Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Drama Series. Because Storrie is American, he wasn't eligible for an individual acting prize there either, making Wednesday's nomination his first major acting nomination tied to the Heated Rivalry era, even if it came through an unexpected role.

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Fans were quick to celebrate the news, with many joking that the universe had found a loophole to honor the actor after Heated Rivalry was shut out of eligibility. They also declared they couldn't wait to watch "Emmy-nominated Connor Storrie" return for Heated Rivalry Season 2.

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The excitement also reignited calls for broader recognition of Heated Rivalry, with fans lamenting that one of the year's most talked-about new dramas couldn't compete at the Emmys because of eligibility rules rather than a lack of acclaim.

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The moment also seemed like a full circle for the actor, who spent his adolescent years uploading videos to YouTube under the name "Actorboy222," chronicling his ambitions of making it in Hollywood. On Wednesday, many pointed out that the younger version of Storrie had finally gotten the recognition he'd always dreamed about.

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Whether or not Storrie takes home the trophy, the nomination marks another milestone in what's been a meteoric rise. With Heated Rivalry already renewed for a second season and production expected to begin soon — not to mention an A24 project in the works — fans won't have to wait long to see him back on screen, Emmy nominee status included.

SAVE $200.99: As of July 8, get the GoPro MAX2 Action Camera for $299 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $499.99. That's a discount of 40%.

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If you've been trying to figure out the best way to capture all your action-oriented footage this summer, your phone is a great option, but a GoPro is an even better one. There are several models out there, but we've found one that's on sale that you won't want to pass up.

As of July 8, get the GoPro MAX2 Action Camera for $299 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $499.99. That's $200.99 off and a discount of 40%.

SEE ALSO: GoPro unveils new action cameras with 360-degree video and inbuilt light

No matter what you're getting up to throughout the rest of the summer, the GoPro MAX2 can be your constant companion. Not only can it film a 360-degree view in 8K resolution, but it's small enough to travel anywhere you do. Whether you're surfing, swimming, jogging, or climbing throughout the rest of the year, you can take it with you to capture every single feat you pull off.

Use the accompanying app to get the best possible footage, edit within the app, and put together a highlight reel of your perfect, active summer. And if you're planning on being by the water all season long, don't worry about getting it wet. It's durable and waterproof up to 5 meters, so you're covered.

This is a great way to share everything you're doing throughout the season, with a durable and perfectly portable camera that's built for an active lifestyle. You can use it long after summer has come and gone, so splurge on one now and see how you can capture some positively sweet footage all year round with it.

If you're not eating free fries this week, you're doing life wrong. Just kidding (kind of).

Friday, July 10, is National French Fry Day, which means a bunch of your favorite fast food chains are giving away free fries. While some require a minimum purchase of some kind or a (free) rewards membership, others require nothing but your will to face the crowds at a local establishment. Regardless, this is a made up holiday I, for one, can get behind.

If you're curious which fast food chains are participating in the free fry celebration, we have a running list below. Just be sure to check the details before rushing out to the restaurant of your choice.

Arby's

Arby's Rewards members can get a free fry of any size on July 10 with the purchase of a Cheesesteak online or in app.

Checkers & Rally’s

Celebrate National French Fry Day at Checkers & Rally’s from July 10 through 12 with BOGO free Famous Seasoned Fries of any size and $1 sauce trios.

Chick-Fil-A

From July 7 through 13, Chick-Fil-A is giving out free medium-size Waffle Fries as a reward in the restaurant's app. Just play the in-app "Spot the Cow" game to get the deal. It's limited to one fry reward per person.

Del Taco

July 10 through 13, you can score a free regular fry at Del Taco with with a $3 minimum purchase.

Five Guys

From July 8 through 10, customers who buy a burger, hot dog, or sandwich through the Five Guys app or Five Guys.com will get one free Little Fry. Sign in or create a Five Guys account and enter promo code FRYDAY26 at checkout to get the freebie.

Jack in the Box

Sign up to be a Jack Pack Rewards member if you're not already and you'll be able to grab a free fry of any size on July 10 with a minimum purchase of $1.

McDonald's

On July 10th, National French Fry Day proper, McDonald's is giving out free medium-sized French Fries to Rewards members. Just make a purchase of at least $1 through the McDonald's app to get the deal.

Sheetz

From July 10 through 16, Sheetz is giving away one free bag of fries with any purchase of $10 or more through the Sheetz app (under the OFFERZ tab). The freebie is limited to one per My Sheetz Rewardz member.

Wendy's

Are you a Wendy's Rewards member? Head to the app and make a purchase of at least $5 and you'll get a free fry in any size on National French Fry Day, July 10.

Whataburger

Whataburger rewards members can score a free medium fry with no purchase required on July 10. The offer is valid online or in the app.

White Castle

Head to White Castle on July 10 and pick up free Cheese Fries by using the promo code CHEESY when you place an online or in-app order.

SAVE 52%: As of July 8, you can get the Skullcandy Crusher Evo wireless Bluetooth headphones at Amazon for $99.99, down from $209.99.

Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless Over-Ear Headphone $99.99 at Amazon
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If you're looking for a pair of budget headphones that don't sound like budget headphones, you should check out Skullcandy. While I don't think everyone wants to physically feel their music vibrating against their head (especially if you're easily overstimulated), there's definitely a market for it.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best headphones of 2026 — we tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

Right now, you can get the Skullcandy Crusher Evo wireless Bluetooth headphones at Amazon for $99.99, down from $209.99. That's a 52% discount or $110 savings. It's also just a few bucks above their all-time low of $94.99.

These over-ear headphones feature patented "Multi-Sensory Crusher Bass Technology," which is just a fancy way of saying that they have extra dual bass drivers that let you physically feel your music and movies. If the idea of skull-rattling bass sounds a bit too intense, you can use the Skullcandy app to run a quick hearing analysis to auto-adjust the sound profile specifically for your ears.

The Crusher Evo are also built for travel; just fold them in half and throw them in your bag. You'll get up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge, plus an additional four hours of listening time from a quick 10-minute charge. They also feature a built-in microphone and on-device buttons, so you can answer calls, adjust the volume, or skip tracks without pulling out your phone.

SAVE $510: The Segway Navimow i110N robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $789, down from the list price of $1,299. That's a 39% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

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Life is short. Unless you get joy from mowing the lawn, it's a tedious task that genuinely never ends. In the same way that we've employed robot vacuums to keep the floors clean inside, a robot lawn mower can take care of keeping the grass well maintained outside. Check out this Amazon deal on a robot lawn mower.

As of July 8, the Segway Navimow i110N robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $789, marked down from the list price of $1,299. That's a 39% discount that takes $510 off the normal price. It's the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: Combat power outages this summer with $200 off the Bluetti Apex 300 portable power station

Without requiring a perimeter wire fence, the Segway Navimow will tackle mowing lawns of up to a quarter of an acre. It uses RTK+ vision to navigate its way around your yard, mowing to your desired height between 2 and 3.6 inches. Its cutting width measures 7.1 inches, and it'll mow for up to 120 minutes per charge.

From the app, you'll be able to set a mowing schedule, as well as monitor recharging status, and set up zones within your yard. Tell the Navimow to mow the backyard once a week and the side lawn once every 10 days. Plus, Segway mentions the maximum sound from the robot mower is just 58 decibels. For comparison, Segway says some push-style mowers reach 90 decibels.

Spend the rest of summer enjoying a well manicured lawn instead of working away on keeping it mowed. Since the Segway Navimow i110N robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for the lowest price we've ever seen, now is a great time to make the upgrade.

From Nia DaCosta's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, to Curry Barker's Obsession, to Sam Raimi's Send Help, and Lee Cronin's The Mummy, 2026 has had no shortage of gloppy, gory carnage for horror fans. But graphic violence and buckets of blood alone aren't enough to make for a satisfying or even scary film. Sadly, the team behind Evil Dead Burn missed the memo, which is wild because Raimi and Cronin are both producers on this one.

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

Evil Dead Burn director Sébastien Vaniček broke through in 2023 with Infested, a goosebump-inducing creature feature about a wickedly aggressive nest of spiders taking over an apartment building. For his crack at the Evil Dead franchise, Vaniček reteamed with his Infested co-writer Florent Bernard, crafting a story similarly vicious, violent, and thin on character development.

However, since the 2013 Fede Álvarez reboot of Evil Dead, the ties to the original trilogy have gotten thinner and thinner as this franchise limps along. Yes, the evil dead rise, beckoned by an ancient artifact. They cause chaos and lots of grisly assaults on everyday friends and family. And they may be beaten down, but they're never truly out — not as long as audiences will still come to theaters to see the barrage of blood, guts, and bile.

What is lost in these subsequent sequels are the humor and heart that Raimi and his leading man Bruce Campbell (also a producer on this sequel) brought to the original trilogy, to thrilling effect. Those movies were wild, not only for their outrageous violence but also for the sheer glee of their audacity.

Decades later, I can still remember the shock of seeing those trees chasing after Cheryl, the thrill of seeing Ash battle with himself in the mirror, and the excitement when his chainsaw arm revs into action. Yet all the sequels that followed lack this macabre silliness. This twisted glee keeps Raimi's filmmaking fresh even in 2026. (Again, see Send Help.) Without it, no matter what edgy horror filmmaker they plug and play into the franchise, the result is a sequel that feels tedious, gray, and soulless.

SEE ALSO: Rachel McAdams' highly rated survival thriller 'Send Help' is now streaming — how to watch it at home What's Evil Dead Burn about? A Deadite stands on a boat in "Evil Dead Burn." Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Vaniček and Bernard thrust audiences into a nondescript rural vacation home, where an American family is grieving the loss of their eldest son, Will (George Pullar). With some help from a Deadite, Will dies in a car accident after fleeing a public argument with his French wife Alice (Souheila Yacoub) at their — uh — restaurant.

Okay, to be clear, his mom Susan (Tandi Wright) insists it's a restaurant. But the only scene set there begins with an extreme close-up on a Black woman's behind as she shakes it for the camera, which then tilts up to reveal a packed dance floor, flooded with writhing bodies, red mood lighting, and loud music. So, does Susan not know her son as well as she thinks she does? Or is Will's restaurant less about the French cuisine he reportedly adored and more about overpriced cocktails and nightclub vibes? It doesn't really matter because nothing in Evil Dead Burn does.

These movies are about the hapless folks who are plagued by Deadites, usually through an idle mistake or no fault of their own. Raimi has made magic with this premise even beyond the franchise. (Drag Me to Hell is still a wild ride.) In the case of Evil Dead Burn, Will's younger brother Joseph (Hunter Doohan) accidentally unearths a hidden artifact that awakens the evil dead. How? Well, he was doing research for his novel, of course!

Maude Davey in "Evil Dead Burn." Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Yes, it's a cliché that the sensitive guy is an aspiring author. Evil Dead Burn is full of such clichés, with little else to build character. So, we meet restaurateur/nightclub owner Will, who is belligerent to his French wife Alice, who we know is deep because she likes taking black-and-white photographs. And Joseph has a girlfriend Thya (Luciane Buchanan), who presumably has interests beyond him. But before we'll learn any of these, she's turned Deadite. C'est la mort.

Also in the mix are Joseph and Will's sneering mom Susan and glaring dad Edgar (Erroll Shand), and their one-legged grandmother Polly (Maude Davey), who has dementia. Polly might be intended for comic relief, but the closest she comes to a joke are bits about her memory loss and racism.

Souheila Yacoub is engaging, but can't elevate this mess of a movie. Souheila Yacoub plays Alice in "Evil Dead Burn." Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Were the first three Evil Dead movies a mess? Absolutely. But Bruce Campbell, with a lantern-shaped jaw as outsized as his charisma, made that mess undeniably entertaining. He was electrifyingly alive in moments serious, scary, and deeply stupid. The vibe of Evil Dead Burn never allows Yacoub to showcase such range.

Instead, she is a woman gripped by grief and trauma, forced to play nice to in-laws who openly resent her — and then try to murder her with an array of homewares and power tools. Why does she stick around, even before the Deadite business begins? Evil Dead Burn will not even attempt to get that deep into a motivation. So, her in-laws spew not only spittle, blood, mashed potatoes, and more blood, but also vile sentiments about her and her not-so-loving relationship with Will.

There might have been a version of this where the barbs were witty in their cruelty, like in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? or Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? There might have been an execution where the characters felt distinct instead of people-shaped wallpaper, set up only to be torn to shreds. But Vaniček shows no interest in complexity, depth, or genre-bending.

The most lively moments of the film have nothing to do with the central characters. The film opens on a fishing trip, where two friends (Keanu Karim and Victory Ndukwe) razz each other before their hobby turns to homicide. Later, a carefree crematorium employee (Shyamal Singh) dances to a rap song while going about his duties, moments before being brutally slain offscreen. These are lively, enjoying laughs and something specific before being ripped into ribbons, which is more than can be said for the family at the film's core. However, it is troubling that all these tertiary characters set up for early slaughter are people of color, as is the first victim in the house, whose face is battered until all that's left is a row of teeth and mush of blood and brain.

Into all this, Yacoub brings a Final Girl resilience. To Vaniček's credit, he doesn't slide her into a skin-tight white tank top or otherwise offer an outfit that urges audiences to leer at her body, even as it's being abused. Dressed in a simple sweatsuit, she wears her weariness plain from the start, even at her husband's sparsely attended funeral. But as the family around her crumbles into pain or possession, she grits her teeth and drags us all through Evil Dead Burn's grueling final act. She's compelling. But a film so resolute in dealing in cliché and cruelty only gives her so much room to play, explore, or shine.

Raimi unknowingly built a sandbox in the 1981 Evil Dead, one he'd return to twice more, twisting horror into comedy, outrageousness, and epic action. He found his voice in those films. But given the same chance, a new generation of horror filmmakers (Fede Álvarez with 2013's Evil Dead, Lee Cronin with Evil Dead Rise, and now Sébastien Vaniček with Evil Dead Burn) have delivered movies that are mean, ugly, and lifeless. They are more interested in shocking than they are provoking us to revel in the weird space where humor and horror collide. Instead, they are just a pastiche that lacks the color, creativity, and verve of the original trilogy. So, yeah, I'm bored.

Evil Dead Burn opens in theaters on July 10.