Mashable

Instagram just unveiled a much more restricted way for teens under 16 to use its app. Known as Teen Accounts, parent company Meta says its part of a "reimagining" of their platform for teens, in light of ongoing concerns about youth safety on the app — and they plan to apply it to all Meta platforms in the future.

A Teen Account is automatically set to private, with limits on who can message and interact with them. Accounts are placed under default content restrictions, as well, and the app will provide time limit notifications urging users to leave the app after 60 minutes. Teen Accounts are opted-in to an automatic, do-not-disturb sleep mode between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., silencing notifications and auto-replying to DMs. Sleep mode can also be adjusted to fully block a teen from using the app.

Users under 16 can also select specific topics they want to be served in the app's Explore page and post recommendations. Parents and guardians can be added to a Teen Account to monitor interactions, time limits, and settings — any changes to the default settings must be approved by a guardian.

SEE ALSO: Spotify is piloting a Premium membership tailored for kids

"Instagram Teen Accounts reflect the importance of tailoring teens’ online experiences to their developmental stages, and implementing appropriate protections," wrote Northeastern University professor Rachel Rodgers in the company's press release. "Younger adolescents are more vulnerable as their skills are still emerging and require additional safeguards and protection. Overall, the settings are age-specific, with younger and older teens being offered different protections."

Instagram has beefed up its teen safety measures in recent months, including a recent update that defaults all teen accounts into the most strict content control settings. But an investigative report by the Wall Street Journal found that underage users are still repeatedly shown sexually explicit and harmful videos via the app's tentpole video product, Reels. Young users weren't just encountering content outside of the app's moderation, they were also being served "more pornography, gore, and hate speech" than adults, according to internal documents from 2022 reviewed by the publication.

Teen users have also been known to lie about their ages to get around automatic restrictions. To curb this, the platform says it will ask for more frequent age verification, and will test a technology that "proactively finds accounts belonging to teens" next year.

Instagram will transition existing under-16 users into Teen Accounts over the next 60 days. Any teen signing up for a new Instagram account will immediately be placed into a Teen Account. The feature will go global in January.

Sony’s PS5 Pro announcement didn’t exactly land with a bang — more like a fizzle. With a lukewarm reception from potential buyers, it’s clear the focus is already shifting to what PS56 could bring to the table.

According to a report from Reuters, AMD is, once again, stepping up to design the next-gen chip for Sony’s upcoming console.

An exclusive report revealed why AMD was chosen over Intel to design the chip for Sony’s upcoming PS6. The key reason? Backward compatibility. Sources close to the decision revealed that ensuring a seamless gaming experience between the PS6 and its predecessor was a top priority for Sony — something the company doesn’t want to fumble after past missteps.

SEE ALSO: PlayStation shuts down 'Concord' two weeks after launch

Flashback to 2013: When the PS4 dropped, the lack of native backward compatibility with the PS3 was a massive disappointment for fans. Sony addressed this with the PS5 — and it looks like the company is determined to maintain that goodwill moving forward.

While the AMD deal feels fresh, insiders shared with Reuters that the agreement has been in place since at least 2022. Tensions between Sony and Intel reportedly stemmed from disputes over profit-sharing, with Intel wanting a bigger cut per chip sold. When asked about these negotiations, an Intel spokesperson declined to comment on discussions with Sony, but pushed back against the narrative that Intel "failed" to win the contract.

A long-term deal with Sony could have funneled upwards of $30 billion into Intel’s coffers, had it gone through. But in the end, AMD’s established relationship with Sony — and its experience designing chips for Microsoft’s Xbox — likely made it an easy decision for Sony to stick with the safer bet.

Note: We now have the official, in-depth review of the new AirPods 4 with ANC; here's how it fared while being used on a plane

I don't know what Sabrina Carpenter put in her "Espresso" tune to make it so addicting, but on the new AirPods 4, it sounds like it's been brewed to perfection.

To give you some background, the entry-level AirPods have always been sans active noise cancellation (ANC). If you wanted to block unwanted noise, you'd have to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2.

But then, the Cupertino-based tech giant dropped the fourth-generation AirPods on Sept. 9 at the "Glowtime" Apple event. In other words, the new AirPods 4 are now more "Pro" than ever. Not only do they have ANC, but they also have Conversation Awareness, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive Audio.

You may be wondering, "Is the ANC on the new AirPods 4 any good?" Let me walk you through my brief experience with them.

SEE ALSO: Apple gets FDA green light on AirPods Pro hearing aid mode Apple AirPods 4 hands-on

I had an opportunity to demo the new AirPods 4, and before I popped the earbuds in, I feared that they wouldn't fit.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I was one of those 'Is there something wrong with me?' AirPods users who had to purchase ear hooks to supplement my first-generation AirPods Pro because they kept falling out. (It seemed like everyone else had their AirPods Pro secured, but because my ears are an anomaly, I had trouble keeping them in.)

However, to my surprise, the AirPods 4 fit super snug. Shaking, tilting and bobbling my head, the AirPods didn’t move an inch. How could this be?

Secure fit

Apple said that it analyzed thousands of ear shapes and over 50 million data points using advanced technology to design a more secure and precise fit (for most people) on the AirPods 4. And let me tell you, whatever Apple did during its analysis, it worked — for me at least.

I've got a set of unusual ears, and despite their weird, atypical shape, the AirPods 4 had a tight fit in my canal without taking a tumble.

Some soreness

The only downside is that, after the demo, I did experience some soreness. Which part of the ear hurt a little? Well, I had to look it up because I don't know the name of this part of the ear, but apparently, it's called the "Crus of Helix"

No, it's not searing pain or anything. It's tolerable. But it was definitely sore when I took the AirPods 4 out after the demo. Again, this could just be a "me" thing.

Active noise cancellation is surprisingly good

Next, I fired up one of my favorite songs of the year: Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso." There was a white noise simulation in the demo room, similar to the drone of an airplane, and then I turned on active noise cancellation.

Whoa!

It was as if the noisy world around me disappeared, allowing Carpenter's sugary sweet vocals to take center stage. Even if you're not in a crowded room nor a noisy street, you don't realize how cacophonous your surroundings are until you turn on ANC. From the tick-tock of a nearby clock and distant traffic to the hum of an air conditioner to the buzz of a refrigerator motor, these environmental sounds negatively affect the immersion of your listening experience.

"Espresso" already sounds like a warm vanilla brew with a frothy finish, but with ANC on, it felt like Carpenter was serenading me in a cozy soundproof café while I sipped on a pumpkin spice latte.

Why was I blown away? Well, for starters, it's darn-near unheard of to find ANC in an open-ear design like the entry-level AirPods. The AirPods Pro 2, for example, have silicon tips that create a tight seal in consumers' ears, making it easier to block external sounds alongside ANC technology.

But open-ear designs like the AirPods 4 are tricky because they don't fully seal your ears, leaving 'em somewhat exposed. However, Apple managed to pull it off, thanks to a mélange of upgraded microphones, the H2 processor, and cutting-edge computational audio.

I'm eager to put the AirPods 4 to the test in more challenging environments, like airports, for example. The AirPods Max, in my opinion, are the best active noise cancellation headphones. It's unlikely that the AirPods 4 will be able to compete with the AirPods Max, but I'm curious to see whether it could be a portable alternative with some trade-offs.

The AirPods 4 come in two models: one with ANC and one without. AirPods 4 with ANC costs $179 via Best Buy while the model without it will set you back $129.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly gedeon / Mashable Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $179.99 at Best Buy
Pre-Order Here

Watch 'Inside Out 2' at home with these quick links: BEST DISNEY+ DEAL Disney+ Basic monthly subscription $1.99 per month for 3 months, then $9.99 per month (new subscribers save $8 per month) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Disney Duo Basic Bundle: Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) $9.99 per month (save 37%) Get Deal BEST FOR VERIZON FIOS CUSTOMERS Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free for 6 or 12 months with eligible Fios internet accounts (save up to $109.99) Get Deal BEST FOR TOTAL BY VERIZON CUSTOMERS Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan (save $13.99 per month) Get Deal BEST FOR VERIZON WIRELESS CUSTOMERS Disney Bundle: Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu, and ESPN (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $8.99 per month) Get Deal BEST NON-STREAMING DEAL Purchase 'Inside Out 2' on Prime Video $19.99 Get Deal

In 2015, Inside Out explored the emotions inside the head of a young girl named Riley (voiced by Kensington Tallman) as she was trying to cope with moving across the country. Nearly a decade later, Joy, Sadness, and the rest of the crew are back — along with some new emotions — to help Riley deal with puberty in Inside Out 2.

The Pixar blockbuster took the box office by storm earlier this summer and as of Sept. 25, you can finally stream the family-friendly film from the comfort of your couch. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Inside Out 2 at home.

What is Inside Out 2 about?

Pixar digs into the human emotion hellscape that is puberty in Inside Out 2, introducing a whole new slate of emotions to Riley's mind. Alongside Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), Anger (voiced by Lewis Black), Fear (voiced by Tony Hale), and Disgust (voiced by Liza Lapira), new emotions have emerged to help Riley navigate this difficult time — Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Envy (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). As Riley attends a hockey camp and is forced to confront some tough decisions about friends, the old emotions and new get into a power struggle, which leads to some emotional turmoil for Riley.

Get a sneak peek at the story in the trailer below.

Is Inside Out 2 worth watching?

Mashable's Belen Edwards described the film as "the rare Pixar sequel that truly earns its existence and deepens the message of its first film. And even though it may make you deeply, deeply, deeply anxious, it's also, quite simply, a joy to watch."

Other critics largely agree, with the film earning a 91 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences love it, too; not only did the film bring in a whopping $1.5 billion at the box office, but it also managed to maintain a 95 percent audience rating. Oh, and no biggie, but it also became the highest grossing animated film of all time.

Read our full review of Inside Out 2.

How to watch Inside Out 2 at home

Just two months after Inside Out 2's explosive opening weekend at the theaters, it became available to watch at home via video-on-demand sites like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can purchase the film for your digital library for $19.99.

It will also be available to rent at a later date — renting gives you 30 days to start watching the film and only 48 hours once you begin.

The benefit of purchasing the film, besides being able to watch it at your leisure, is the slew of bonus content you'll have access to. The digital version of the film includes an alternate opening, deleted scenes, behind the scenes of creating the new emotions, and more. However, if you'd rather stream Inside Out 2, keep scrolling to learn more.

As of Aug. 20, you can purchase the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — buy for $19.99

• Apple TV — buy for $19.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $19.99

• YouTube — buy for $19.99

When is Inside Out 2 streaming?

Much to our surprise, Inside Out 2 is set to make its streaming debut on Sept. 25 at Disney+. We were expecting Disney and Pixar to hold off on its release until later this fall, given its massive theatrical success, but we'll take the pleasant surprise!

You'll be able to watch Inside Out 2 and revisit the original film by subscribing to Disney+. Not yet a subscriber? Subscriptions start at $7.99 and we've rounded up the best ways you can sign up and save some money below. We recommend signing up ASAP, since prices for the streamer are rising in October.

The best Disney+ streaming dealsBest Disney+ deal for most people Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ Disney+ monthly subscription $1.99 per month for 3 months for new subscribers, then starting at $7.99 per month Watch Now

If you're only interested in watching Inside Out 2 and not sticking around, signing up for a single month of Disney+ is probably your best option. You won't technically save any money, but you also won't continuously waste money either — so long as you remember to cancel your subscription after watching. Disney+ with ads will only cost you $7.99 for a single month. If you want to cut out the ads, it'll cost you $13.99 for the month. Prices are expected to rise starting Oct. 17, so we suggest signing up ASAP to save.

If you're new to Disney+, you can also secure three months for just $1.99 per month (with or without ads) through Sept. 27. Run, don't walk!

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu + Disney+) $9.99 per month (with ads) Watch Now

If you're already a Hulu subscriber, you can bundle it with Disney+ (with ads) for only $9.99 per month. That's basically like getting Disney+ for only $2 per month, saving you 37% compared to paying for each separately. You can take things a step further and add Max into the mix for a grand total of $16.99 per month. Or, if you're more into sports, sub Max for ESPN+ for just $14.99 per month for all three. You'll have to deal with ads, but for the price, it's hard to beat. To watch without ads, you'll have to pay an extra $10 a month for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle and an extra $13 per month for the trio bundle with Max.

Like the Disney+ plan, the Disney+ Duo Basic bundle price is expected to rise from $9.99 to $10.99 per month. Likewise, the Trio Basic bundle with ESPN+ is jumping from $14.99 to $16.99 per month. We suggest signing up prior to Oct. 17 to pay less.

Best Disney+ trial Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free for 6 or 12 months with eligible Fios internet accounts (save up to $109.99) Watch Now

Verizon Fios home internet users on the 2 Gig Streaming or 2 Gig Complete package can score a free year of Disney+ Premium (no ads), while those on the 1 Gig Streaming or 1 Gig Complete package can sign up for six free months. Check your plan and read about eligibility terms over on the Verizon website to activate the offer.

Best Disney+ deal for Verizon Wireless customers Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon / Disney+ Disney Bundle: Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu, and ESPN (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $8.99 per month) Watch Now

Verizon Wireless customers can get a stellar deal on Disney+ through Verizon myPlan. Just add a Disney Bundle to your account through myPlan, which includes Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN (with ads). All three would usually cost you $18.99 per month, but by signing up through this myPlan deal, you'll only pay $10 per month.

Best way to get Disney+ for free Opens in a new window Credit: Total by Verizon Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan (save $13.99 per month) Watch Now

If you're a Total Wireless customer on the $60/month prepaid unlimited plan, you get Disney+ Premium (no ads) for free. No terms or trial periods. Just keep your account in good standing and you get Disney+ included with your account. If you cancel or switch your plan, your subscription will end as well. If you're on the $50/month prepaid unlimited plan, you can also score six free months of Disney+, which is plenty of time to watch Inside Out 2. Want to extend your trial? Just upgrade to the $60/month plan.

SAVE $30: As of Sept. 17, get the Fitbit Google Ace for $199.95, down from $229.95, at Amazon. That a discount of 13%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fitbit Google Ace (cellular, GPS) $199.95 at Amazon
$229.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal

If your kids have been bugging you for a smartwatch so they can be like all their friends, you don't have to cave and immediately buy an Apple Watch when there are great options that don't cost an arm and a leg. There's one especially great pick you can bring home for the younger members of your family right now for less, thanks to Amazon.

As of Sept. 17, get the Fitbit Google Ace (cellular, GPS) on sale for $199.95. That's $30 off its normal price of $229.95 and a 13% discount. This price currently applies to both the Mild Strange Arcade and Spicy Moovin colorways, which are aimed at kids with fun graphics and bold prints.

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wrist

Help your kids kick off their wearable journey, keep track of them, and let them keep an eye on their own activities with the Fitbit Google Ace. It comes with built-in cellular 4G LTE and GPS so you can see where your kids are at all times. They can also use their watch to call home without a smartphone, as long as you're paying for connectivity. It also boasts 16 hours of battery life with fast charging, so it can spring back up to 11 hours of power in as little as 30 minutes. In addition to School Time, which lets you limit gameplay on the unit, it also features Tap to Pay, so your kid can pay with their watch if they ever need to.

With built-in games and plenty of ways to interact with the world beyond fitness and activity tracking, this smartwatch is a great option for kids, but if you like to have fun with your wearables too, you might end up wanting to get your own. Either way, you'll want to grab it while it's on sale.

If you're a fan of audiobooks, Amazon has a great sale happening that'll save you up to 80% on some excellent listens. Here are a few highlights of the sale:

Best Audible audiobooks on sale at Amazon Best overall audiobook deal 'The Dutch House: A Novel' by Ann Patchett $6.99 at Amazon (save $17.30) Get Deal Best romantacy audiobook deal 'Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood' (part 1 of 2) by Sarah J. Maas $7.99 at Amazon (save $19.52) Get Deal Best history audiobook deal 'Our Man in Tokyo: An American Ambassador and the Countdown to Pearl Harbor' by Steve Kemper $7.99 at Amazon (save $17.20) Get Deal

Officially, autumn begins in just a few days. That means we'll take up debating about if candy corn is good or pretty awful. Following that, the sun will set at what feels like 2 p.m. If you're looking for a great way to pass some time during the darker nights of fall and winter, Amazon has a pretty great sale happening today. As of Sept. 17, hundreds of Audible audiobooks are up to 80% off at Amazon. Here are some of our top picks.

Best overall audiobook deal Opens in a new window Credit: HarperAudio 'The Dutch House: A Novel' by Ann Patchett $6.99 at Amazon
$24.29 Save $17.30 Get Deal Why we like it

In case you missed the 2019 bestseller, you can grab the audiobook version of The Dutch House: A Novel by Ann Patchett today for just $6.99 at Amazon. That works out to a 71% discount off the normal price of $24.29.

Not only is this consistently considered one of the best books of 2019, the audiobook is performed by the iconic Tom Hanks, making this listening experience all the more enjoyable. At almost 10 hours in length, today's deal means you'll be spending less than $1 per hour to listen in on this well-written novel.

Best romantacy audiobook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Graphic Audio LLC 'Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood' (part 1 of 2) by Sarah J. Maas $7.99 at Amazon
$27.51 Save $19.52 Get Deal Why we like it

If you've become a fan of romantacy lately, you're likely familiar with Sarah J. Maas. For just $7.99, you can listen in on the first part of Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by best-selling romatacy author Mass for a 71% discount off the typical price of $27.51.

Romance and fantasy take hold during the saga of Bryce Quinlan who's half-human and half-Fae. Life seems be going well until a her close friend is murdered and Bryce feels obliged to seek revenge.

Different from many audiobooks, Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood is a graphic audiobook, with a full cast of actors, sound effects, and cinematic music, which makes this particular listening experience incredibly enjoyable and immersive.

Best history audiobook deal Opens in a new window Credit: HarperCollins Publishers 'Our Man in Tokyo: An American Ambassador and the Countdown to Pearl Harbor' by Steve Kemper $7.99 at Amazon
$25.19 Save $17.20 Get Deal Why we like it

Audiobooks can be a great way of diving into history lessons. If you're interested in learning more about the years before WWII, you might find a great match with Our Man in Tokyo: An American Ambassador and the Countdown to Pearl Harbor by Steve Kemper. On sale at Amazon, the Audible audiobook version is just $7.99, marked down from the list price of $25.19.

Follow along with American ambassador to Japan Joseph C. Grew from 1932 when Japan began to fall into a crisis. Taking cues from Grew's diary of his time in Tokyo and correspondence from the U.S. embassy, Our Man in Tokyo sheds insight into the events and mindset that led to massive turning points in our world's history.

The older we get, the more complicated life becomes. Books shed their illustrations, puzzles grow from 10 pieces to 10,000, and everything in the world seems to demand so much more from us. As such, it's refreshing to see forms of simple childhood positivity that can still engage adults.

The Plucky Squire is an utterly charming puzzle adventure game targeted at all ages, and which revels in the wholesome power of friendship and picture books. Developed by indie studio All Possible Futures, it isn't out to issue a challenge, or frustrate you with searching for strategy guides or climbing leaderboards. It's just here to offer simple, straightforward fun — albeit with a metatextual twist.

The Plucky Squire tells a tale of adventure and art Credit: Mashable screenshot

The Plucky Squire follows the titular squire Jot as he embarks on a quest to defend the land of Mojo from the evil wizard Humgrump. Guided by DJ/sorcerer Moonbeard, Jot is also accompanied by his two childhood friends: artist/trainee witch Violet and drummer/mountain troll Thrash.

It seems like a relatively standard children's story. That is, until Humgrump discovers that they're all characters in a picture book, one whose narrative dictates that he will always lose. Thus, in order to break free from his story, the sorcerer breaks out of the book, spilling his minions onto the messy desk of creative 10-year-old boy Sam.

Jot's fight to defeat Humgrump isn't merely a matter of protecting Mojo though. It's also about saving the eponymous book The Plucky Squire, so that its pages can continue to inspire the young child who owns it.

Simple, straightforward Squire swordplay Credit: Mashable screenshot

Like many good adventure games, much of The Plucky Squire's gameplay involves running around and whacking things with your sword, whether they be enemies or foliage. Doing so yields light bulbs you can use to purchase new attacks, weapon upgrades, and development art to fill out your gallery.

I ended up with a surplus of light bulbs before the game's end, having maxed out all of Jot's attack skills by brutally assaulting every bush I saw. Even so, I only really used half of these skills, either throwing my sword or delivering a good old-fashioned blow to the cute rotund goblins that wished me harm.

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Dispatching enemies in The Plucky Squire is a straightforward affair, requiring little skill or tenacity regardless of whether you're in the book's top-down 2D world or have ventured out to the 3D environment that is Sam's desk. I barely had to turn my mind to factors such as attack patterns or dodging, as swinging my sword with reckless abandon was effective enough. 

This will undoubtedly be a boon to tired office workers who just want to feel like they're making decent progress in their limited gaming time. 

Credit: Mashable screenshot

Though the game has two difficulty options, I found its hardest setting still incredibly easy, and it never felt as though I was in any danger. Even when I took damage, I'd inevitably find a health-replenishing heart within seconds by whacking some bushes or a few more enemies.

There are no real consequences if you die either. If you're in the book, you'll be shown a page about Jot picking himself up to try again before you're returned to the fight (often with the enemy still missing whatever health you chipped off them). If you're outside of the book, you'll be placed back before the obstacle that killed you so you can have another run at it.

This keeps the game casual and stress-free, placing the real focus on The Plucky Squire's puzzles rather than its swordplay.

The Plucky Squire revels in minigames Credit: Mashable screenshot

The Plucky Squire crams in a veritable smorgasbord of gameplay ideas into its short, nine-hour runtime, yet they never feel overwhelming or out of place. Instead they lure players along with the promise of new discoveries, maintaining a delightfully playful atmosphere.

The game does of course involve platforming, with Jot having to navigate both side-scrolling environments in Mojo and wooden block constructions on Sam's desk. You'll have to sneak around at times to avoid enemies as well. However, some of The Plucky Squire's most interesting puzzles involved word games within the storybook's writing. 

Credit: Mashable screenshot

Similarly to 2019 game Baba Is You, The Plucky Squire allows you to reshape Jot's world and solve puzzles by literally swapping out words on the page. Creatures may change from tiny to huge or obstacles from metal to wood depending on how you alter the sentences describing them, allowing you to surmount impediments and continue on Jot's journey.

Jot eventually gains the ability to manipulate the book from the outside as well, turning pages, tilting it, and otherwise influencing the land of Mojo like an extradimensional god. This not only lets you move objects, but also pilfer nouns and adjectives from entirely different pages (though you're unable to stray from your current chapter). 

Credit: Mashable screenshot

I could have happily spent most of my time just jumping between pages and playing with words. Yet The Plucky Squire is further filled out with a plethora of minigames. From boxing to rhythm games to side-scrolling shooters, The Plucky Squire is like a sampler plate of all the arcade-style games you know and love. The game constantly introduces new minigames and mechanics even during its later chapters, with some only used two or three times before they're shelved in favour of the next shiny gameplay trinket.

These minigames do assume some knowledge. You're provided with no instructions before being flung into a bubble-matching game for example, with The Plucky Squire trusting you to identify the game's style and know what to do. Even so, failure is forgiving enough that it's fine if you take a moment to figure it out. The Plucky Squire has also put notable effort into making itself accessible, with minigames entirely skippable via a prominent option in the game's menu.

Credit: Mashable screenshot

Each minigame is uncomplicated enough that the fun few minutes you spend with each should be enough to leave you satisfied. Even so, I would still have liked the ability to revisit the minigames from the main menu. The aforementioned element-themed bubble game was a shot straight at my Neopets Faerie Bubbles nostalgia.

The Plucky Squire breaks out of its story yet stays within it Credit: Mashable screenshot

In addition to The Plucky Squire playing with its storybook setting via word puzzles, the game's premise is thoroughly sold by its art style. The world of Mojo is drawn in thick lines and bold, bright colours which evoke children's book illustrations, a distinctive look which contrasts with the more realistic and lineless art styles used for elements outside Jot's book. This in-universe discord is made even more apparent when said elements make their way into the book while still retaining their clashing art style.

The Plucky Squire has fun with its metatextual themes, even briefly nodding to the fact that it's a game at points. However unlike horror titles such as Doki Doki Literature Club or Inscryption, The Plucky Squire never gets truly unsettling or digs around in your game files, retaining its innocuous child-friendly spirit throughout. 

Credit: Mashable screenshot

The awareness of the nature of their universe doesn't daunt Jot and his companions either, who largely take it in their stride that the plucky hero can jump into a different dimension and manipulate their world from outside it. Issues of existentialism, fate, and the meaning of life do hover in the periphery, as the story's characters acknowledge that they are in fact characters — and most of them merely side ones at that. 

In this respect, Humgrump's refusal to succumb to his written role could easily be interpreted as inspirational if he were a more pleasant individual.

Credit: Mashable screenshot

Still, The Plucky Squire sticks to a simple script of clear good against evil, briefly acknowledging deeper issues but making clear that existentialist matters aren't the focus. This is a fun, lighthearted game about storybook characters escaping their book, and we aren't going to look too closely at the less sunny implications.

Recalling childhood wonder Credit: Mashable screenshot

The Plucky Squire isn't a particularly challenging game, or one that entices players to spend hours diving into its lore. You don't need to be a skilled gamer, or a Myst-level puzzle solver either. 

What you do need is a willingness to simply enjoy wholesome, childlike pleasures. The Plucky Squire is a clear appeal to adults who wistfully recall their days of crayons and cardboard, before the world seemed to get so dark and complicated. References to childhood classics such as Doctor Who and The Lord of the Rings sit alongside cheeky nods to the capitalist mechanisms underpinning children's media, finding joy in the same way Jot's friends continue to despite knowing the true nature of their world.

Not only are parents unlikely to mind their kids playing The Plucky Squire, they'll likely be the first to pick it up themselves for a dose of undemanding positivity after a long, hard day. The puzzles and combat may be relatively simple, but sometimes simple is exactly what's needed. And with a runtime of just nine hours, it'll only take a few after work sessions to play through to the end.

The Plucky Squire is out today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Sept. 17: OUR TOP PICK Samsung Galaxy Buds FE $67.99 at Amazon (save $32) Get Deal BEST SMARTWATCH DEAL Garmin vivofit jr. 3 $69.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal BEST UNLOCKED PHONE DEAL Google Pixel 8 (128GB, Unlocked) $499 at Amazon (save $200 + free Google Pixel Watch) Get Deal BEST PRINTER DEAL HP LaserJet M110w wireless printer $79 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal BEST MUSIC STREAMING DEAL Amazon Music Unlimited free for 4 months (with Prime) or 3 months (without Prime) (save up to $39.96) Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day is happening Oct. 8 and 9, which means we're only three weeks away from some of the lowest price of the season. In true Amazon fashion, however, deals are already rolling in. Brands like Samsung, Google, Garmin, and Amazon itself have dropped prices as of Sept. 17. While they're not officially considered early Prime Day deals, they're practically just as good.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these catch your eye, be sure to take a peek at our picks from yesterday, Sept. 16.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds FE $67.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $32.00 Get Deal

"The sound quality from the Galaxy Buds FE is unmatched for earbuds at this price range," Mashable reporter RJ Andersen wrote in her review of Samsung's earbuds, adding that even Apple users should consider them. Beyond the incredible sound quality, she was pleasantly surprised by the comfortable and customizable fit, solid battery life with even better noise cancellation, and of course, the affordable price. Regularly just $99.99, you can snag a pair of the Galaxy Buds FE for only $67.99 as of Sept. 17. That's 32% in savings and their lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vivofit jr. 3 $69.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

Hoping to get your kiddos moving in a safe and fun way? The Garmin vivofit jr. 3 may look like a fitness tracker for kids, but it actually unlocks an interactive experience that lets your little one explore the globe on an educational adventure. Its battery lasts for an entire year, so you don't need to worry about constantly throwing it on the charger, and its parent-controlled app can help you keep tabs on their activity, manage chores, give rewards, and set reminders. As of Sept. 17, it's also only $69.99 — that's 22% off its usual cost and just $10 away from its record-low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited free for four months with Prime (three months without Prime) Get Deal

If you're looking to switch up your music app, Amazon is offering four free months of its Amazon Music Unlimited service to Prime members (or three free months to non-Prime members). An official early Prime Day deal, Amazon Music Unlimited gives you access to on-demand music and podcasts ad-free with unlimited skips and the ability to listen offline. Plus, you'll get to experience HD and spatial audio. It typically costs $9.99 per month for Prime members and $10.99 per month for non-Prime members, so this deal saves you about $39.96 (with Prime) or $32.97 (without Prime). Note: this deal is only available for new subscribers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 8 (128GB, Unlocked) $499.00 at Amazon
$699.00 Save $200.00 free Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) with purchase Get Deal

The latest Google Pixel 9 got more expensive (along with everything else), which makes this deal on the still great Google Pixel 8 even better. Regularly $699, it's on sale for just $499 at Amazon. Not to mention, your purchase comes with a free Google Pixel Watch. That's nearly a $1,000 value for only $499 — a total steal. While the Pixel 8 may not be the most exciting phone on the market any more, it still offers a great camera, all-day battery life, a 120Hz refresh rate, a swanky chipset, and fancy AI features. If you have an older phone, it's a worthy upgrade. Just be sure to grab the deal before Sept. 21 to score the free Pixel Watch.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP LaserJet M110w wireless printer $79.00 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you print a ton of business documents and reports each month, the HP LaserJet M110w is a great value. On sale for only $79 — 39% off its usual cost — this laser printer can push out up to 21 black-and-white pages per minute. It's not the fanciest printer in the world, but it does offer wireless printing from any device and an app to eliminate repetitive tasks, scan to the cloud, and print and copy from your phone. If printing professional-quality black and white documents and reports is your main goal, you can't go wrong — especially at this price.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

A freaky occurrence where ChatGPT messaged users unprompted is just a bug.

OpenAI confirmed this to Futurism after a viral Reddit post showed ChatGPT initiating a conversation with a user. "Did ChatGPT just message me... first?" posted Redditor SentuBill with a screenshot of an exchange where ChatGPT allegedly asked the user about their first week at high school.

Reddit

When SentuBill asked ChatGPT if it messaged them first, ChatGPT responded, "Yes, I did! I just wanted to check in and see how things went with your first week of school. If you'd rather initiate the conversation yourself, just let me know!"

SEE ALSO: This restaurant used ChatGPT to create a pizza for its menu — and it became a hit

Another user commented on the screenshot, which was posted in the ChatGPT subreddit, with a similar experience. "I got this this week!! I asked it last week about some health symptoms I had," said a user who goes by fuggedaboudid. "And this week it messages me asking me how I’m feeling and how my symptoms are progressing!! Freaked me the fuck out"

Reddit

In a statement to Futurism, OpenAI said it has addressed the issue. "This issue occurred when the model was trying to respond to a message that didn't send properly and appeared blank. As a result, it either gave a generic response or drew on ChatGPT's memory."

The post quickly gained attention on Reddit and X, with users speculating whether it's an imminent feature related to the release of OpenAI's latest model, o1. The model, which is capable of advanced reasoning, is a level up from the previous GPT-4 models, because of it's ability to process multiple steps from a query instead of providing a response based on the statistical likelihood of the next word. It's considered to be the next step towards autonomous AI agents that OpenAI is reportedly working towards.

Tweet may have been deleted

But as some users correctly surmised, ChatGPT's unprompted message was related to the memory setting, which stores certain aspects of your life based on interactions with the chatbot. Nonetheless, the issue got users excited about what ChatGPT might be capable of in the future. "When ChatGPT can push a notification to my phone each morning with weather report, custom news, summary of work emails, and meetings, etc that will be insanely useful," said one Redditor.

So this time, ChatGPT's behavior was a mistake, but it indicates what the model is capable of — and just maybe, where ChatGPT might be headed in the future.

Score the Google Pixel 8 or 8a for up to $200 off at Amazon as of Sept. 17:

Best Google Pixel 8 deals Best Google Pixel 8 Deal Google Pixel 8 $499 at Amazon (Save $200 + free Google Pixel Watch (Wi-Fi)) Get Deal Best Google Pixel 8a Deal Google Pixel 8a $399 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal

The iPhone 16 is officially up for preorder, but if you aren't into getting the latest and greatest phones, you might be skipping it. If you still want to get a brand-new smartphone without paying brand-new iPhone prices, there are a couple of Android alternatives that can help you save a bundle: the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a. Right now, you can get both for a great deal at Amazon, and one even comes with a free smartwatch to boot.

If you're ready to drop some cash (but not an entire paycheck) on your new smartphone, the Pixel line is well worth exploring. Check out the great options you can save big on below and snag a new Android phone that you can show off this fall. Who said Apple devices were the only game in town?

Best Google Pixel 8 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Google Pixel 8 (128 GB) $499.00 at Amazon
$699.00 Save $200.00 Free Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) with purchase Get Deal Why we like it

The Google Pixel 8 boasts "strong performance" as well as "great cameras," according to Mashable's Alex Perry, as well as a 120Hz display and good battery life. This deal lets you snag one for $200 off, in addition to receiving a free Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) with your purchase. Just add both the phone and qualifying Pixel Watch to your cart to receive the discount. The Pixel Watch is currently $234.99, and usually retails for $279.99, so there are significant savings to be had here (a whopping $434.99) if you're planning on going with the Pixel 8.

Best Google Pixel 8a deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Google Pixel 8a (128 GB) $399.00 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Google Pixel 8a is $100 off, which is a great deal for a phone Alex Perry called out for its "excellent performance," as well as its 120Hz refresh rate and great battery life. It includes most of the features of the Pixel 8 "for cheaper," including a great camera array (same as the Pixel 7a), and its "elite performance" makes it worthy of its flagship status. If you're ready to get a new Android phone that's every bit as good as its more expensive competitors, this is a great bargain you won't want to miss out on.

Microscopic footage from the Nikon Small World in Motion 2024 winners uncovers the tiny worlds our eyes can’t see.

Prime Day can be overwhelming. No, scratch that, it is overwhelming. Amazon's big discount holiday features so many products and categories, that it can be tough to track down exactly what you need. And with the next Prime Day event coming in hot this October (officially happening on Oct. 8 through Oct. 9), it's prime time for us to bestow a little advice on how to shop it successfully.

We don't recommend buying everything you've ever wanted and throwing caution (and your wallet) to the wind, but if there's a good deal on something you need, you don't want to miss that, either. That's why it helps to know what to buy and what to avoid ahead of time. Mashable already has a hub for Prime Day coverage that can give you in-depth analysis of every shopping category you can imagine, but here are a few quick tips on things to buy and things to not buy as you parse through Prime Big Deal Days next month.

Deals we've already seen ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

• Apple AirPods Max — $449 $549.99 (save $100.99)

• Echo Show 8 — $104.99 $149.99 (save $45)

• Echo Hub — $144.99 $179.99 (save $35)

• Echo Show 5 — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)

• Amazon Music Unlimited — get 4 months free

• Amazon Fire HD 10 — $89.99 $139.99 (save $50)

• iRobot Roomba Q011 — $169.99 $249.99 (save $80)

• Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid headphones — $39.90 $59.99 (save $20.09)

• Sony ZV-IF camera — $398 $499.99 (save $101.99)

• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II — $177 $279 (save $102)

The best things to buy on Prime Day

While the Mashable Shopping team's bread and butter is recommending to you all the latest and greatest products on the market, sometimes you already know exactly what you want, and just need to know where it find it on sale. We can help you with that, too. Here's a breakdown of all our top categories that you should shop during October's Prime Day event if you want to score the biggest deals.

SEE ALSO: Yes, Amazon is hosting *another* Prime Day-esque event. Here's everything we know about Prime Big Deal Days. 1. Apple products

Buying the fruit company's flagship tech during Prime Day is a major hack. If you're already planning on buying some of the most notoriously expensive tech on the market, why not buy it at a discount? In light of Apple's latest drops and announcements, we expect to see markdowns on older model Apple Watches, AirPods, iPhones, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple products Shop Now 2. Amazon devices

It's no secret that the biggest discounts of Prime Day are usually on Amazon's own devices. Whether you're working on building out your smart home or you're finally ready to pull the trigger on a new e-reader, you can expect record-low pricing on Amazon Echo speakers, Echo Show devices, Kindles, and more. Just stay away from Ring cameras (more on that below).

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon devices Shop Now 3. Robot vacuums

There are good robot vacuum deals out in the wild all the time, but Prime Day almost always brings some of the biggest discounts on iRobot Roomba models, Shark vacs, and more big-ticket brands. We expect that iRobot will have the best deals, since the brand is now owned by Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot robot vacuums Shop Now SEE ALSO: Our top 4 robot vacuums for carpet and rugs, tested 4. Everyday essentials

Even if you're not planning on making a big tech purchase on Prime Day, it's an ideal time to score the household items you would buy even if they weren't on sale. From laundry detergent, to paper towels and diapers, there are almost always deals on home products you might toss in your cart on a Target or Walmart run. And with Prime shipping, your must-haves will be at your door ASAP so you can spend more time taking care of the house and less time shopping.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bounty / Colgate / Tide Home essentials Shop Now 5. Pet supplies

If you're a pet owner, you know the struggle of having to buy pet supplies like food, toys, grooming products, and more on a consistent basis. Luckily, Prime Day is the best time to stock up on pet stuff, especially from the Amazon Basics brand.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bedsure Pet supplies Shop Now 6. Drones and cameras

DJI drone bundles, Holy Stone drones, and GoPro cameras are almost a given for deals we expect to see on Prime Day. We've also spotted solid deals on cameras from Panasonic, Canon, Sony, and Nikon in the past — just in case you're finally ready to get serious about filming for your YouTube channel.

Opens in a new window Credit: Holy Stone Drones Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Canon Cameras Get Deal 7. Smartwatches

In addition to sweet Apple Watch deals, you can bet that Prime Day will bring steep discounts on Fitbits, Garmin smartwatches, and Samsung smartwatches. For reference, we saw the lowest price ever for multiple Fitbit models during last year's Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: Shop the best early Prime Day smartwatch deals, including the lowest price on the Apple Watch Series 9 8. TVs

You might not find the best deals on premium TVs during Prime Day, but it's a good time to get a deal on mid-budget Fire TVs. These won't be your showstopper living room TVs, but are great for your guest bedroom or kids' rooms. During last year's event, we saw an invite-only deal for the 43-inch version of a 4K Omni Series TV for just $99.99, and we expect to see even more cheap Fire TVs to come this year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TVs Shop Now 9. Headphones

After covering basically every Prime Day that's ever happened, we know with certainty which headphone brands will be on sale during the big event. Bose, Sony, Beats, AirPods, and JBL models will definitely see some solid discounts. During last year's Prime Day, we saw steep price drops on the QuietComfort line of Bose headphones, so we'll be looking out for sales on the latest QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Headphones Shop Now 10. Invite-only deals

Amazon has brought back its invite-only deals program for Prime Day 2024, and we expect to see something similar this October. In the past, we've seen invite-only deals on headphones, SodaStreams, and more popular items, so be sure to keep an eye out for when those go live (of course, we'll also remind you). You'll need to request access to these doorbusters ahead of time, and if you're one of the chosen ones, you'll be able to score those products at their sale prices.

Opens in a new window Credit: SodaStream Invite-only deals Shop Now 11. Nintendo Switch and gaming deals

Upgrading your gaming console and even buying new games feels like a drag — when you're doing it at full price, that is. Luckily, during Prime Day, you can catch markdowns on both. During last year's Prime Day, Nintendo's holiday bundle arrived earlier than expected, so we can't wait to see what this year's has in store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 'Mario Kart 8' Deluxe Bundle Shop Now Things to avoid on Prime Day

While Prime Day is chock full of good deals, there are some things you'll want to be wary of while you shop. Mashable covered all the things we recommend avoiding in detail, but here are a few quick tips.

SEE ALSO: What not to buy on Prime Day, from third-party scams to Ring cams 1. Third-party sellers

In general, you can trust things sold and shipped by Amazon. Third-party sellers tend to be less reliable, and you run the risk of buying counterfeit products. If a deal from a third-party seller seems too good to be true, it probably is.

2. Ring doorbells and cameras

The steep discounts on Ring cameras and bundles might be tempting around Prime Day, but we don't recommend anything from Ring due to privacy concerns. Not only are they easily hackable, but Ring is also notorious for giving people's info away without their consent. There are normally plenty of home security deals from other brands on Prime Day, and if you need a little guidance on the good ones, check out our guide to the best home security systems.

3. Anything you don't need

Like we mentioned before, it's best to use Prime Day as a way to get something you need at a good discount. What's not as advisable is buying things just because. Something you don't need or won't use is still something you don't need or won't use, no matter how good the deal is.

Amazon will dish out thousands of discounts during Prime Big Deal Days, its members-only "October Prime Day" sale (set for Oct. 8 and 9). But buyer beware: Not every "deal" is as good as it may seem.

It can be difficult to decipher what's worth your hard-earned cash and what's better to pass on. So we've rounded up a list of what not to buy on Prime Big Deal Days to help you shop wisely.

Avoid products sold and shipped by third parties

It's safest to stick to stuff that's sold and shipped by Amazon, rather than an obscure third-party seller. While many of them are legitimate, too many of them aren't. It's not worth the risk of getting scammed or buying a counterfeit item. (You do have some recourse under Amazon's "A-to-z Guarantee" in such cases, but that involves a whole eligibility and claims process.)

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon's October Prime Day sale: Official dates, the competition, and more

You can find out who's selling an item you're interested in by visiting its product page and looking just below its "Buy Now" button on the far right side. If you see two lines indicating that it "Ships from Amazon.com" and is "Sold by Amazon.com," you're good to go. It's covered by Amazon's refunds/return policy, and you'll deal with Amazon's customer service if you have any issues.

This laptop listing passes the sniff test. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon.com This one doesn't. Skip it! Credit: Screenshot: Amazon.com Any deal that seems too good to be true...probably is

There are a few different ways you can check if an item's sale price on Amazon is a legitimately good deal that's worth adding to your cart. One is by cross-checking the listing with its manufacturer's website to verify its MSRP; Amazon will occasionally inflate them to make discounts look steeper than they really are. We also recommend cross-checking sale prices at competing retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target, which will often match or beat Amazon's offers.

SEE ALSO: Yes, another Prime Day is coming. Here are the early deals to shop now.

The Amazon price-tracking website camelcamelcamel is an especially valuable tool during sales like Prime Big Deal Days. If you plug an item's Amazon listing into the search bar at the top of its homepage, you'll be able to see its going rate(s) over the weeks/months/years. The site occasionally misses short-term discounts, but it can give you a good general idea of whether or not a discount you see is actually as impressive as it seems.

Take this Rockland luggage set, for instance. In September 2024, Amazon put it on sale for $97.26, making it appear to be 56% off a $219 MSRP.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon.com

However, when we entered the luggage set's URL into camelcamelcamel at the time, we saw that it's rarely ever listed for that full price. In fact, it's been hovering around the $90 to $100 mark for literal years. That shined a new light on its "big discount."

Credit: Screenshot: camelcamelcamel.com

Here's another example: At $189.99 (down from $249), this seems like a great deal on the Apple AirPods Pro 2, right?

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

While they are a decent buy, camelcamelcamel tells us the AirPods 2 are regularly discounted to this price, so there's no need to jump the gun. In fact, it's worth waiting a few more weeks in case they return to their all-time low of $168.99 during Prime Big Deal Days.

Credit: Screenshot: camelcamelcamel.com Impulse buys: Just say 'no'

Just because something is on sale doesn't mean you have to buy it. Seriously. Yes, those dirt-cheap Echo Pops are pretty dang tempting, but do you actually, desperately need a new smart speaker?

Sure, FOMO is real, but so is buyer's remorse. In a 2023 Google survey of U.S. adults, nine out of 10 respondents said they've experienced buyer's remorse from impulse purchases, while 42 percent said they've regretted buying something simply because it was on sale. Be careful out there, folks.

Last, but not least: Stay away from Ring camera deals

We always see a ton of Ring deals pop up during Prime events, but we don't recommend buying any of the Amazon brand's home security equipment if you like your privacy and your neighbors. The company's recent history is mottled with security and data handling issues, including sketchy law enforcement partnerships. (It finally shut down the tool that let police publicly request footage without a warrant earlier this year, but we're still skeptical.) To quote the great Randy Jackson: "It's a no from me, dawg."

Your Apple Watch Ultra's Action Button just got a tiny bit more useful.

The customizable button that's only available on the most premium Apple Watch models got a neat upgrade in the new watchOS 11 update, which came out this week.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: I tested both for 13 days

Described in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Apple interface designer Taylor Carrigan and reported by TechRadar, you can now hold down the Action Button to switch between 11 different functions on the fly, using the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch Ultra. In other words you can change what the Action Button does without having to dig into the settings menu anymore.

Tweet may have been deleted

The 11 functions that you can switch between using this new feature are as follows:

• Recognize music

• Translate

• Voice Memo

• Accessibility

• Stopwatch

• Workout

• Waypoint

• Backtrack

• Torch

• Dive

• Shortcut

That's a pretty comprehensive list of things one might want to do at any given moment with their Apple Watch Ultra. Notably, the Translate app is new to watchOS with the 11 update, so that feature went from nonexistent to readily available at any moment this week.

Other watchOS 11 features include sleep apnea notifications, a new Vitals app with health data, and some new watch faces. It's available on Apple Watch Series 6 devices and newer.

SAVE $39.96: Prime members are eligible to sign up for 4 months of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited, which typically costs $9.99 per month, for an overall savings of $39.96. Non-Prime members can sign up for 3 months of free access.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Free 4-month subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited at Amazon
For Prime members; free 3-month subscription for non-members Get Deal

Amazon knows how to host a sale. In addition to the annual Prime Day sale in mid-summer, the retailer has been treating us to an October deals events, too. We just got confirmation that Prime Big Deal Days will happen again on Oct. 8 and 9 this year. But you don't have to wait that long to get some great deals, especially if you're looking to crank up the tunes.

As of Sept. 17, Prime members can sign up for four months of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited, which usually costs $9.99 per month, for a total savings of $39.96. If you're not a Prime member, you can snag three months of free access, saving $29.97 total. In either case, you'll need to be a new subscriber to cash in on the deal.

If you're looking for ad-free music streaming, Amazon Music Unlimited can be a perfect option. New subscribers are usually entitled to trying out the service at no cost for one month, but thanks to the early Big Deal Days sale, Amazon is offering Prime members the option to try it out for free for four months. Once your free trial is over, you'll automatically be billed the usual $9.99 per month rate — but you're free to cancel at any time.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Music Unlimited vs. Spotify Premium: A comparison

Prime Music Unlimited offers on-demand music with zero ads. That means your party playlist will no longer have an awkward ad-break. You can also get access to plenty of ad-free podcasts with Music Unlimited. Download songs to your heart's content and listen in while offline, like while en route to your childhood home for the holidays. Signing up now means you'll be able to stream all of your holiday favorites for free this year.

If you're not a Prime member, you can still get a nice deal here with three months of free access. However, after the trial, you'll be on the hook for a $10.99 fee per month. Now's a good time to look into the benefits of a Prime membership, since we're likely to see (more) Prime-exclusive deals drop during the lead up and main event of the Big Deal Days sale. An annual membership comes in at $139, while a monthly membership will cost you $14.99. Amazon Prime offers some nice benefits like speedy shipping, deals on ordering from Grubhub, free Kindle books, Amazon Prime streaming, and more.

If you're a Prime member and you've yet to try out Amazon Music Unlimited, you're eligible to sign up for a free four-month trial today. With a price of $0, there's really no reason to not take Amazon up on this offer, which'll have you enjoying ad-free tunes into 2025.

If you're already antsy about your Black Friday haul this year, just know that you'll likely be able to snag a bunch of your Amazon stuff early. Yup, October Prime Day is back for another round.

The event, officially coined as Prime Big Deal Days, is Amazon's Prime-exclusive fall sale event that falls right in the sweet spot between actual Prime Day in July and Amazon's Black Friday event (which will kick off with no time to breathe after Big Deal Days, no doubt).

SEE ALSO: Walmart vs. Amazon: Which retail giant has the best deals?

But with Amazon offering decent deals every day of the week year-round anyway, it's easy to get your wires crossed when it comes to the legit kickoff. We've got you covered with the full schedule, plus any other details you might need to know.

What time does Prime Big Deal Days 2024 start?

Considering the fall event is commonly referred to as "October Prime Day" (maybe even more so than its actual name), you've probably gathered that it's in October. Amazon announced official dates on Tuesday, Sept. 17: Prime Big Deal Days 2024 will start on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 12:01 a.m. PT and run through Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The deals run for two full days with new deals dropping as often as every five minutes throughout the event. While most deals that go live on the first day typically hang around through the second, some are time-sensitive, like lightning deals that have been fully claimed or a viral item that has sold out.

When does Amazon Prime Day 2024 end?

The 48-hour Prime Big Deal Days shopping period officially closes at 3:01 a.m. ET (12:01 a.m. PT) on Oct. 9, but many deals tend to linger for days (weeks, even) after. But again, if you're in the market for a very specific hot ticket item, we recommend grabbing it as soon as you see it on sale.

What are the best Prime Day deals?

Seriously, what even goes on sale for Prime Day? Everything?

Like the OG Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days is a great time to buy things like Apple products, robot vacuums, TVs, Ninja kitchen gadgets, headphones, and of course, Amazon's own devices like Echos and Fire tablets. But the mere presence of the discounts doesn't mean you should buy something you don't need just because it's on sale — it also doesn't mean every deal is a true steal. Our guide on what to buy and what not to buy on Prime Day lays out the items that actually pop off on Prime Day, plus a few common deals that aren't worth it.

Better yet, follow along with our coverage of the best deals (including early ones!) in every category to know what's worth adding to your cart in real time. If you're not ready to hit "add to cart" on anything just yet, treat yourself to food delivery: Prime members who are new to Grubhub+ (a free Prime membership perk) can get $10 off a $15 order with code PRIME10 through Oct. 7.

Deals we've already seen ahead of Prime Big Deal Days BEST EARLY MACBOOK DEAL Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal BEST EARLY HEADPHONES DEAL Anker Soundcore Life P3i $39.99 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal BEST EARLY ECHO DEAL Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) $104.99 at Amazon (save $45) Get Deal BEST EARLY ROBOT VACUUM DEAL iRobot Roomba j7 $299.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal BEST EARLY TV DEAL TCL 55-inch Q65 QLED 4K TV $319.99 at Amazon (save $280) Get Deal BEST EARLY KITCHEN DEAL Ninja Thirsti Sparkling Drink and Soda Maker $119.99 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal

We've also passed down our best tips on how to do your own deals scouring this Prime Day, from price trackers to our favorite Alexa shopping hack. We'll be updating all of our Prime Day guides as more intel comes in ahead of the sale, so be sure to check back.

Watch the trailer for Netflix's "Heartstopper" Season 3 starring Joe Locke, Kit Connor, and a cameo from Jonathan Bailey.

TL;DR: Live stream Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart in the Champions League for free on RTL play. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Real Madrid secured another Champions League title last season, making them the team everyone will want to beat this year. Stuttgart are first up for the defending champions. The German team won't go down without a fight, but any team featuring Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham is always going to be favorites.

If you want to watch Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart?

Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 17. This fixture takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart for free

Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart is available to live stream for free on RTL play.

RTL play is geo-restricted to Belgium, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Belgium, meaning you can unblock RTL play to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to RTL play

5. Watch Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTL play?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Belgium

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of Champions League fixtures has thrown together some really intriguing matchups, including Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb. Sure, Bayern Munich will be the heavy favorites in this clash. But Dinamo Zagreb will firmly believe that they have a chance of taking something off Vincent Kompany's team.

If you want to watch Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb?

Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 17. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb for free

Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Young Boys vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is a big moment for Aston Villa. Qualifying for the Champions League was a major achievement, but now the real test starts.

There are no easy wins in the Champions League, and Aston Villa will be well aware that Young Boys dumped Galatasaray out of the competition in the playoffs. Aston Villa might be favorites in this matchup, but they'll need to perform to secure three valuable points.

If you want to watch Young Boys vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Young Boys vs. Aston Villa?

Young Boys vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 17. This fixture takes place at the Wankdorf Stadium.

How to watch Young Boys vs. Aston Villa for free

Young Boys vs. Aston Villa is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Young Boys vs. Aston Villa on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Young Boys vs. Aston Villa for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Young Boys vs. Aston Villa (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Young Boys vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.