Mashable

Maintaining fitness and health is a constant struggle, with a lazy morning in bed often much more alluring than a sweaty gym session. As such, anything which might help encourage you and keep you on track can make a significant difference.

Here are four fitness gadgets that may help set you up for success in reaching your health goals.

SEE ALSO: Withings Body Comp smart scale review: For better or worse, I'm obsessed Withings Body Scan smart scale Credit: Withings

One of the keys to good health is consistency. Even so, it's easy to give up when the mirror doesn't seem to be reflecting any impact from your regular workouts. 

Withings' Body Scan smart scale helps address this challenge by measuring your body composition as well as your weight, showing you the progress that may otherwise be hard to see. Using handheld electrodes, the Body Scan utilises bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to determine your percentage of fat and muscle. This means that even if your weight seems stagnant, you can take heart in knowing that your heart work is still paying off in fat loss and muscle gains.

According to Withings, the Body Scan's handheld electrodes make it more accurate than the Body Comp smart scales, which measure body composition using the user's feet. Even so, either set of scales is suitable if you want to track trends in your muscle and fat percentage, which will be the most important data for many users. After all, fitness is a journey, not a destination.

Withings Body Scan smart scale $499.95 at Amazon
Shop Now R.A.D One V2 gym shoe Credit: R.A.D

Specialised gym shoes aren't technically a workout necessity. Countless people work out in ratty old trainers every day. Even so, thoughtfully selected footwear can make exercise more comfortable, as well as lower your risk of injury. As such, the R.A.D One V2 shoe is worth your consideration if you're looking to upgrade your gym gear.

Designed specifically for the gym, the R.A.D One V2 has a wide toe box for stability when lifting yet still fits snugly around the heel, offering a secure fit even for those with broader feet. It also has a noticeably grippy sole, ensuring your feet aren’t shifting as you strain yourself under your weights. Such grip makes the R.A.D One V2 particularly suited for activities such as CrossFit, though it's also a decent gym all-rounder.

The R.A.D One V2's aesthetics may not be for everyone, with a contrasting coloured wave pattern along the sides of the shoe. However, choosing a colourway in which the wave is the same colour as the shoe makes this much less ostentatious.

Opens in a new window Credit: R.A.D R.A.D One V2 $150
Shop Now Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Credit: Samsung

Fitness trackers have become ubiquitous gadgets for anyone interested in monitoring their health. Most measure data such as your heart rate and the number of steps you take per day, as well as track your exercise and sleep. 

The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 does all this, but takes it a step further (no pun intended) by introducing an antioxidant index. This intriguing new feature measures users' carotenoids, which are pigments found in plants. Simply press your thumb to the back of the Watch8, and its light-activated sensor will detect carotenoids in your skin, offering an indication of whether you're getting enough fruits and vegetables in your diet. (Spoiler alert: you probably aren't.)

Skin carotenoids have a high correlation to carotenoids in blood, which is widely used as an indicator of a person's vegetable intake level. Carotenoids' strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects play an important part in slowing aging, as well as cancer and chronic diseases, so you're definitely going to want to make sure you're keeping those levels up.

Though diet is a crucial piece of the health puzzle, it's difficult for fitness trackers to gauge. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8's antioxidant index offers a handy reminder to add more veggies to your plate, and might help make you more mindful of what you eat.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch8 $349.99
Shop Now WalkingPad C2 foldable walking treadmill Credit: WalkingPad

Incorporating enough movement into your day can be difficult when you work a desk job. As such, many health-conscious corporate slaves who work from home have turned to walking pads, grinding out their daily steps during their daily grind.

The WalkingPad C2 foldable treadmill is a good option to consider for this purpose, especially for anyone working with limited space. Its ability to fold in half means it can be neatly tucked away when not in use — albeit only under furniture that is significantly elevated off the ground. The walking pad measures over 5 inches (13cm) thick when folded, so storing it under a table may be more realistic than sliding it under a couch. Wherever you position it, the C2's foldable design means it won't have a large footprint of your living space. It also had a set of wheels on one end, so you can move it in front of your TV while you binge The Bachelor on the weekend. 

With a top speed of 6km/h, the WalkingPad C2 comes with a handy three-button remote control for adjusting the pace. It also has an auto mode which ostensibly detects your speed and adjusts accordingly, though Mashable's testing found it felt precarious and accelerated too quickly (which is particularly dangerous considering the C2 has no handlebars). Even so, manual mode is all you really need, and is enjoyable and easy to use. Combined with its ability to fold for storage, the WalkingPad C2 is a tempting choice for apartment dwellers.

WalkingPad C2 foldable walking treadmill Shop Now

TL;DR: Youbooks is a unique AI tool that combines AI models to write your book how you want it, and it’s only £37.05 for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks - AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription £37.05
£408.32 Save £371.27 Get Deal

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book but got stuck on where to start, Youbooks can help get you over that hurdle. This AI-powered platform helps transform your ideas into professional-quality non-fiction books, and right now, you can get a lifetime subscription for just £37.05.

AI can write your book

What makes Youbooks stand from other AI tools is its use of multiple AI models, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama, to craft well-rounded and coherent content. You can create massive manuscripts of up to 300,000 words, so whether you’re a content creator, educator, or entrepreneur, Youbooks gives you a solid way to bring your ideas to life.

You can even upload your own research, documents, or notes to steer the AI in the right direction and make sure the final product reflects your voice and expertise. Plus, Youbooks taps into real-time web research to pull in current facts and stats, keeping your book accurate and up to date.

You also have a lot of flexibility when it comes to style. You can set the tone and writing style you want, and once your book is ready, you own it completely. You’re free to publish, sell, or share it however you like.

With 150,000 monthly credits included (and the option to stack codes for more), there’s plenty of room to create.

It’s now only £37.05 to get a Youbooks lifetime subscription.

StackSocial prices subject to change

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

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

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

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

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

Attractive.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

HUNKY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To go fast.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 1, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SPEED

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The sound a duck makes.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 1 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 1, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

QUACK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Deadly.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 1 Hurdle Word 4 answer

FATAL

Final Hurdle hint

Not before or during.

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

AFTER

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

It's a half moon tonight, with the whole of the right side on display for us. Keep reading to find out what this means, and where we are in the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

See what's happening tonight, Aug. 1.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, Aug. 1, the moon phase is First Quarter. This phase occurs when the moon is half lit up. NASA confirms this, according to the Daily Moon Observation, it is 50% lit up tonight.

It's day eight of the lunar cycle, and the first moon in August. What can we see tonight? With the unaided eye, enjoy a glimpse of the Mare Serenitatis, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Mare Crisium. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, look to the top right. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, you'll see these on the bottom left.

With binoculars, you'll also see the Endymion Crater, the Mare Nectaris, and the Posidonius Crater, a lava-filled impact crater that's visible from the fifth to the 19th day of the lunar cycle. Add a telescope to the mix, and you'll also see the Linne Crater, Apollo 11, and Apollo 16.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on August 9. The last full moon was on July 10.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

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

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

Online privacy is in short supply, but that doesn't make it any less important. Your data is seriously valuable stuff, and you should be doing everything you can to protect it when navigating the online world. And if you watch porn, you should be even more vigilant.

We're going to take a wild guess that you'd prefer to be protected from the prying eyes of advertisers, your internet service provider (ISP), and your roommates when you're visiting porn sites. If that is indeed the case, you should consider investing in a VPN. These cybersecurity services also provide everything you need to unblock porn sites, circumvent geo-restrictions, and stream adult content anonymously.

What is a VPN?

VPNs provide powerful protection for your data and identity when you're online. VPNs offer this online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location), making all of your activity untraceable and secure. Incognito mode could never.

SEE ALSO: AdultFriendFinder is a borderline-porn hookup site that's stuck in the past

This concept can be difficult to grasp, so it can be helpful to think of VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware. It's all about anonymity and cybersecurity, and that's particularly important if you're watching porn.

Do you need a VPN for porn?

There are two key reasons to consider a VPN for porn: anonymity and access.

The first reason is perhaps the most important. If you're concerned about your ISP, housemates, landlord, or someone totally random accessing your data, you could probably benefit from using a VPN. Any sort of activity on an unsecured WiFi network leaves your private information and browsing habits exposed to the world, unless you're using a VPN. Even porn sites can track your activity if you're unprotected. Pornhub tracks IP addresses for example, which means it has the potential to collect information about your site usage. But with a VPN, your IP address will always remain hidden.

Remaining private and anonymous is the key argument for using a VPN for porn, but there's another point to consider concerning access to your favorite sites. If you're in a location that has a firewall up to block access to porn sites, you'll need to use a VPN to bypass these restrictions. VPNs hide your real IP address and connect you to a server in another location, meaning you can bypass firewalls to stream on your favorite sites from anywhere in the world.

What features should you consider when selecting a VPN?

There are a number of things to consider before selecting a VPN for porn. We have highlighted a selection of the most important VPN features to help you make a decision:

• Connection speed — VPNs generally produce a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept anything significant. Make sure you opt for a VPN that doesn't negatively impact your connection speed to the point that you can't stream porn without disruption.

• Encryption — There are different levels of encryption, and while it's important to take note of the grade provided by your VPN, the best services will all offer powerful protection for your data. This is obviously vital when navigating porn sites because you need to know that your data is secure.

• Number of connections — Leading VPNs let you connect an unlimited number of devices with the same account, while others limit you to just a single device. Prioritize services that offer multiple simultaneous connections so you can stay secure on all your devices at the same time. You might stream pornography on a number of devices, so it's best to secure everything with the same account.

• Privacy policy — This is something that some users might take for granted, but you need to pay special attention to the data-handling, storage, and usage practices of a VPN. These practices should be clearly laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't, you should not subscribe. Most VPNs require access to your IP address, online transactions, and browsing history, plus your personal details when you sign up. Your favorite VPN should not store these details under any circumstances, as that would negate the whole anonymity thing.

• Server network — The top VPNs provide access to literally thousands of geographically diverse servers. This is useful because you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming porn.

SEE ALSO: Lawsuit says Meta pirated and distributed porn to train its AI

You also need to consider things like price and subscription plans, but these features are a good place to start with your selection process. Once you've picked a favorite option, you can consider the wide range of subscription plans on offer from leading services. There should be something that suits everyone.

Should you use free VPNs?

The big question when it comes to watching porn securely is whether you need to pay for a VPN. The bad news is that, just as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with these cybersecurity services.

There are plenty of free versions of popular VPNs, and free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. The catch is that free versions usually come with limited data usage, meaning you can't really do any streaming or downloading. Free trials come with everything you get in a paid plan, but they obviously don't last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

Considering all of this, the best option for unblocking porn sites and streaming anonymously is with a paid subscription to a VPN. To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you will need to cough up the cash.

What is the best VPN for porn?

Based on our in-depth tests of the top VPN services, we're here to recommend the best VPNs for porn in 2025.

When you call a series Chief of War, you're setting an expectation for jaw-dropping battle sequences and wartime chaos. It's unsurprising, then, that Apple TV+'s new historical epic carries those in spades — and boy, do they deliver. From a horrifying beach invasion to an unforgettable volcanic showdown, Chief of War delivers enough adrenaline-fueled fight scenes to make you feel like you can run through a wall or two.

Yet for as much as those battles stuck with me — and granted, I'm a sucker for epic battles — it's Chief of War's lulls between storms that wound up sticking with me the most. Here, the series tells a tale about the corrupting power of prophecy, and about the compromises people make in order to ensure their survival. These themes undoubtedly heighten the stakes of Chief of War's spectacular battles, although they occasionally risk being drowned out by the spectacles themselves.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Aug. 1, 2025) What's Chief of War about? Jason Momoa in "Chief of War." Credit: Apple TV+

Co-created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, Chief of War aims to tell the story of the unification of Hawaii from an Indigenous perspective. The show's primarily Polynesian cast, led by Momoa, spends the vast majority of the series speaking in Hawaiian, while an army of cultural consultants worked behind the scenes to ensure cultural and historical authenticity. Their efforts, along with those of Chief of War's entire production team, create an immersive, stunning look back through time, as the series transports viewers to the Hawaiian Islands at the end of the 18th century.

As the series opens, the kingdoms of O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Hawai'i are trapped in a non-stop cycle of war. A prophecy foretells that one day a great king will unite the kingdoms and end these wars. However, that prophecy has only made kings believe that they'll be the ones to unite the kingdom, further exacerbating conflict.

SEE ALSO: The 38 best Apple TV+ shows, ranked

At the center of it all is Maui warrior Ka'iana (Momoa), one of many real-life figures who appear in the series. His introductory scene involves him lassoing then killing a full-grown shark. If that doesn't convince you how strong he is (or what kind of larger-than-life spectacle you're in for), I don't think anything else could.

Despite his strength, Ka'iana has no illusions that he is the prophesied king. Instead, those illusions belong to Maui's King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison), who kicks off a bloody campaign to unite the kingdoms. In this case, "unite" really means "brutally conquer and kill," all of which horrifies Ka'iana and leads him to desert Kahekili and Maui. Torn between kingdoms, traditions, and calls for war or peace, can Ka'iana help bring the Hawaiian Islands to a united future with as little bloodshed as possible?

Chief of War takes a thoughtful look at prophecy and the threats of colonialism. Luciane Buchanan in "Chief of War." Credit: Apple TV+

The prophecy at the center of Chief of War leads to some of the show's most fascinating developments. Kahekili approaches it with a religious fervor, slowly descending into madness the more he strives to accomplish what he believes to be his right. Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Hawai'i, counselors believe Kamehameha (Kaina Makua) to be the prophesied leader, pushing him towards conflict even as he prefers to choose peace. The two are polar opposites when it comes to prophecy, one actively trying to shape it to his will, the other taking his own course of action. Who is "correct" in their approach to shaping history? That's a question Ka'iana wrestles with throughout the season, especially as he reckons with his own relationship to war.

Described as "a chief of contradictions" by Kamehameha's wife Ka'ahumanu (Luciane Buchanan), Ka'iana sits at several crossroads. He's from Maui but comes to serve Hawai'i. He's a Chief of War who initially wanted peace. He's also one of the few Hawaiian characters to spend considerable amounts of time among Europeans and Americans. In that time, he learns to speak English and how to use a gun, a weapon that he comes to believe will turn the tide of war against Kahekili.

SEE ALSO: ‘The Naked Gun’ review: Liam Neeson is a comedy genius in this brilliantly stupid reboot

Ka'iana's quest to obtain more guns leads down discussions of trade, of letting Europeans and Americans come to the Hawaiian Islands. If he is to be victorious using guns, Chief of War hints, the price of his victory will be colonization. So even though the conflicts between the various kingdoms take place on an epic scale, there's also a sense of claustrophobia, as the show makes it clear that outside colonial powers are slowly closing in. That creeping fear permeates much of the show, especially the quieter moments when Ka'iana and his friends and family wonder at how much he's changed since his time among white people.

Chief of War's battles are great, but are they too much? Jason Momoa in "Chief of War." Credit: Apple TV+

For all its mulling on prophecy and the creep of colonialism, Chief of War also wants to knock your socks off with action. Hey, starting the show with a shark-killing scene sets the bar pretty high for the level of epic you're going to get. That level only gets higher and higher as the series continues, culminating in a literally earth-shattering battle that had me writing "this goes so hard" over and over in my notes. (Again, sucker for epic battles over here.)

But for a show where so much time is spent on debating whether war is the correct course of action, does Chief of War go too far when it comes to creating glorious spectacle out of blood and guts and gore? Are the lingering shots on throat-slitting and bone-snapping meant to shock and awe, or to remind viewers of the horrors of war?

Ultimately, a show can do multiple things at once, including hold those two truths simultaneously. There are certainly moments when Chief of War's violence stunned me into silence, like a massacre that emphasizes the perils of treating with colonial powers. And there are others that made me let out a big "hell yeah," even if they could feel a tad like they were undermining some of the show's broader themes. Look, sometimes you just need to see Momoa rip a man's tongue out with his bare hands.

You'll get plenty of both kinds of moment in Chief of War, and while the balance isn't always right, it's immediately engaging — and an undeniable landmark achievement for Polynesian representation.

Chief of War hits Apple TV+ Aug. 1.

TL;DR: Hurry and grab lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Windows at A$45 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows AU$45
AU$350 Save AU$305 Get Deal

Your credit card is exhausted from all of today’s subscription fees. While you probably don’t want to cancel Peacock and never see the ending of Yellowstone or say goodbye to two-day shipping with Prime, you could swap your Microsoft 365 subscription for a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

Instead of spending A$10 monthly (or A$107 yearly), you can pay once and use the apps as much as you’d like. For a little while longer, the Windows software suite is on sale for A$45.

What apps are included?

Microsoft Office 2019 isn’t the newest version available, but it’s the cheaper one for people who just need to use the apps and don’t care about what they look like inside. However, it does have a classic, timeless design.

Here's a list of the apps you get:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• OneNote

• Publisher

• Access

Differences between Microsoft 365 and a lifetime license

This purchase is a no-brainer if you aren’t taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s OneDrive storage, mobile app access, and cloud-based backups. Those just wanting the apps should be more than comfortable with a Microsoft Office download.

You might actually like this license more than the subscription. The apps are downloaded directly onto your PC instead of hosted on the cloud. While this does mean there are no built-in cloud backups, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of trying to work offline.

Plus, now that Microsoft added Copilot’s AI features to Microsoft 365, you might be looking for a way to escape them. Not everyone is crazy about having a virtual robot interfere with their work, and these classic apps won’t ever bug you about it.

The codes for this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows are limited, so get yours now while it's available for A$45 (reg. A$350).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

UPDATE: Jul. 31, 2025, 2:20 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to include the streaming details of "Alien: Earth."

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There's a new addition to the Alien universe and for the first time, it's in the form of a TV series. Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 8, nearly a year to the day after Alien: Romulus, the latest film in the Alien franchise, hit theaters.

Created by Noah Hawley, the Emmy-winning creator of Fargo and Legion, Alien: Earth is set in 2120, two years before the events of the 1979 original Alien movie. And this time it doesn't drag us to the deepest reaches of space — it brings extraterrestrial horror to our home planet.

Unlike many other film franchises, all of the Alien films currently live inside one streaming app — from the original to 2024's Alien: Romulus. As of Aug. 8, that will also include the Alien: Earth series. It's a modern-day streaming miracle, truly. Here are all the juicy details on how to watch the entire Alien franchise online (and in order).

How many Alien movies are there?

There are seven films in the classic Alien franchise, including the newest release, Alien: Romulus. Prior films include Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997), Prometheus (2012), and Alien: Covenant (2017). There are also two crossover films to add to your binge if you really want to complete the saga, although no one will blame you if you skip AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007). Then, of course, the new FX series Alien: Earth adds a new layer of lore into the mix.

How to watch the Alien films in order

Like any good franchise, the official release order of the films and new series differs from the actual narrative. The order you watch them is completely up to you. If you want to simply watch the whole franchise in release order, it would go like this:

• Alien (1979)

• Aliens (1986)

• Alien 3 (1992)

• Alien Resurrection (1997)

• AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

• Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

• Prometheus (2012)

• Alien: Covenant (2017)

• Alien: Romulus (2024)

• Alien: Earth (2025)

If you're more into the timeline jumps and lore of it all, you'll probably want to watch in chronological order. Though it's the newest film in the franchise, Romulus takes place somewhere in the 57-year gap between Alien and Aliens. And the new series is basically a prequel to the original Alien, set two years before. So story-wise, your marathon would go something like this:

• Prometheus (2012)

• Alien: Covenant (2017)

• Alien: Earth (2025)

• Alien (1979)

• Alien: Romulus (2024)

• Aliens (1986)

• Alien 3 (1992)

• Alien Resurrection (1997)

How to watch the entire Alien franchise online

Thanks to Hulu, you can watch every single Alien movie in one place — including the latest film Alien: Romulus, which made its streaming debut last fall. And while Alien: Earth is an FX series, it will stream simultaneously on Hulu — the official streaming home of FX.

It's becoming rare for an entire franchise to live on a single streamer, so you should definitely take advantage of your chance to enjoy an Alien marathon. Hulu subscriptions start at just $9.99 per month. Plus, there are plenty of ways to save on a subscription. We've rounded up all the best Hulu streaming deals below.

Is there a Hulu free trial?

New to Hulu or returning after a while? You can kick off your streaming with a free 30-day trial. That's the most generous of any streamer. Just remember that if you want to avoid charges, you'll have to cancel your subscription before the 30 days are up. If you choose to keep it going, it'll cost you $9.99 per month with ads or $18.99 without.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) Free 30-day trial, then $9.99 per month Get Deal The best Hulu streaming dealsBest Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) annual subscription Free 30-day trial, then $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

If you just want to save some money after your trial ends, you can sign up for an annual Hulu subscription instead of monthly and save about 16%. Hulu with ads now costs $9.99 per month, but if you pay annually, that monthly fee drops down to just $8.33 per month. Sure, you'll have to pay more upfront, but in the long run, it'll save you about $19.89 total.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 45% off Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney Duo Basic bundle: Hulu and Disney+ with ads $10.99 per month (save 45%) Get Deal

Want more bang for your buck? You can bundle Hulu with Disney+ (with ads) for just $10.99 per month. That's just $1 more per month and about 45% in savings for access to another entire streaming library. Even better, if you're a sports fan, you can add ESPN+ into the mix for just $16.99 per month and save 47% on all three streaming services.

Best for students: Hulu Student Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student $1.99 per month (save 80%) Get Deal

As long as you're a college student, you can sign up for Hulu for just $1.99 per month instead of the usual $9.99 per month. That's 80% in savings for the ad-supported plan. You'll just have to verify your student status using SheerID in order to secure the deal.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu (with ads) Free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal

T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next or any Experience Beyond plans now get Hulu with ads included with their plan for no extra cost. And that's on top of the already stacked streaming lineup of Netflix and Apple TV+. Just head over to the T-Mobile promo page and click on "redeem now" to claim your offer if you haven't already. You'll just have to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up.

Note: After your initial 12-month promotional period, you'll have to take action to keep your subscription alive.

Whether or not you believe in the real-life Ed and Lorraine Warren, it can't be argued that their movie counterparts have been successfully scaring audiences since 2013's The Conjuring.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have brought gravitas to the roles of husband-and-wife paranormal investigators across The Conjuring 2, and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. And now they're back with The Conjuring: Last Rites, which — counting the spinoffs and sequels of Annabelle and The Nun — makes for the ninth installment in this sprawling spooky franchise.

Michael Chaves, director of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II, takes the helm of The Conjuring: Last Rites. Set in 1986 Pennsylvania, this scary sequel centers on the case of Jack and Janet Smurl, who suffered the notorious Smurl haunting. As the story goes, a demon plagued their home for years. So, who better to call than the Warrens?

As teased in the trailer above, this dastardly demon brings destruction to the Smurl family. And the evil entity in The Conjuring: Last Rites is not new to Ed and Lorraine. It's a wickedness they've faced before. Now, it's back and after their daughter, played by Mia Tomlinson. This premise is sure to bring fresh scares and terror to this film series, so brace yourself for goosebumps.

The Conjuring: Last Rites opens only in theaters Sept. 5.

LinkedIn has joined the throng of social media platforms and companies silently removing protections for LGBTQ users, amid an increasingly dangerous time for transgender communities across the country.

The networking site removed a line from its hateful conduct policy that explicitly prohibited the misgendering and deadnaming of transgender individuals. Open Terms Archive first reported on the change, which was not announced publicly.

SEE ALSO: TikTok adds parental blocking and well-being 'missions' to its safety features

In the eyes of LGBTQ advocacy groups, explicit protections such as these are considered the bare minimum for companies seeking to protect LGBTQ users, and are used as a barometer in assessing a platform's willingness to protect historically underrepresented groups. According to GLAAD's annual Social Media Safety Index, which scores major platform policies on how they address anti-LGBTQ online hate, harassment, and disinformation:

Every platform should have public-facing policies that: protect LGBTQ people from hate, harassment, and violence on the platform; prohibit targeted misgendering and deadnaming on the basis of gender identity; prohibit content promoting so-called 'conversion therapy;' prohibit advertising content that promotes hate, harassment, and violence against LGBTQ individuals on the basis of protected characteristics; explain the proactive steps it takes to stop demonetizing and/or wrongfully removing legitimate content and accounts related to LGBTQ topics and issues; and explain its internal structures to best ensure the fulfillment of its commitments to overall LGBTQ safety, privacy, and expression on the platform.

In addition, LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft, removed mention of "race or gender identity" from its list of protected "inherent traits" that are monitored for potential harassment. These are the first changes to the hateful conduct policy since 2023, according to Open Terms Archive.

In a statement to Engadget, a LinkedIn spokesperson said the change doesn't reflect a difference in the company's "underlying policies," reiterating: "Personal attacks or intimidation toward anyone based on their identity, including misgendering, violates our harassment policy and is not allowed on our platform." They did not provide explanation as to why the wording was removed completely.

LinkedIn is just the latest to roll back previously strong protections. Most notably, Meta completely overhauled its hateful conduct policy to allow users to post previously banned divisive and harmful rhetoric — including the use of phrases such as "mental illness" and "abnormality" when discussing gender and sexual orientation — in the name of free speech. Meta's own independent Oversight Board called for the removal of discriminatory language in the company's updated policy. Advocates have called the move, and others like it, a direct attack on marginalized groups, a potential threat to public health, and even a "precursor to genocide."

With its treasure trove of ridiculous gags and a deadpan masterclass from Liam Neeson, The Naked Gun proves to be an inspired reboot of the classic Leslie Nielsen film series. So what was the secret to bringing The Naked Gun's inspired stupidity to life?

SEE ALSO: ‘The Naked Gun’ review: Liam Neeson is a comedy genius in this brilliantly stupid reboot

According to the actors, complete and total seriousness.

"To play each scene seriously, that was certainly a note for myself," Neeson, who plays Frank Drebin Jr., told Mashable in an interview.

"You have to play it seriously in order to be funny," added Pamela Anderson, who stars as femme fatale Beth Davenport.

Paul Walter Hauser, who plays Ed Hocken Jr., agreed, highlighting the importance of separating the characters' comedic circumstances with the actual emotions they're feeling.

"I try not to think about what is actually being said," Hauser explained. "And Liam, if you turn it on mute, he does look intense, and it looks like it could be an action film. Then you hear what he's saying, and you'll lose your mind laughing."

Check out the full interview above to hear more from the cast of The Naked Gun, including how Priscilla Presley, star of the original, sent Anderson a note before filming, and how Saturday Night Live legend Phil Hartman influenced Hauser's performance.

The Naked Gun is now in theaters.

If the internet loves anything, it's cute animals. But now, in the age of AI, you cannot trust the animal videos you see online.

You might've seen a recent viral video featuring bunnies jumping on a trampoline, seemingly captured via a home surveillance camera. It's adorable. And fake. Completely and totally fabricated via artificial intelligence.

Here's the AI video in question. It was seemingly first posted on TikTok by @rachelthecatlovers with the caption: "Just checked the home security cam and… I think we’ve got guest performers out back! @Ring.”

That video has racked up a whopping 203 million views on TikTok. Tech-focused site 404Media first pointed out that it was generated by artificial intelligence. As the site spotted, you can clearly see one of the bunnies spontaneously disappear in the midst of a jump, and the background of the video appears to be very static.

Still, the AI video does a really good job of disguising itself. For one, it's made to look like night-time surveillance footage, which means it's easier to hide AI artifacts and low quality. Second, it does look pretty good and incorporates sounds that seems to be real — bugs in the distance, springs squeaking as the bunnies jump. Third, it even tags Ring to make it seem like it was captured by a real camera. But it is, in fact, fake, even if it did fool lots of folks.

Ever since Google Veo 3 was released, it's become easier to make convincing AI videos with sound.

People are getting a little freaked out that they got fooled by AI, something they thought only happened to other, more gullible people. "This is the first AI that has ever got me," read a top comment. "[How] is this not real," read another. "A few years ago I was laughing at my mother for believing ai," read another.

The bunny video — while possibly the most believable — is far from the only AI-generated animal video to go viral. There seems to be a whole genre of fake videos of people cleaning barnacles off of whales, for instance.

Or here's a mash-up of all the silly, fake doorbell-cam footage of animals. Faux surveillance footage of animals seems to be a new genre of AI slop, unfortunately.

So if you see unbelievable animal footage out there, then maybe don't, you know, believe it.

Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis is one of this century's most confounding movies, a sci-fi epic that draws on Roman history, incorporated a live performance element in certain screenings, and featured a character named Wow Platinum (Aubrey Plaza).

But if you think Megalopolis is crazy — and it is, undoubtedly so — then you might be even more surprised by the story of its production. That's where Megadoc comes in.

SEE ALSO: 'Megalopolis' trailer pulled for using fake quotes from critics

Directed by Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas), Megadoc serves as a fly-on-the-wall look at the making of Megalopolis and Coppola's creative process. The documentary, which will premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, features interviews with Coppola, along with input from Eleanor Coppola, Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Nathalie Emmanuel, Dustin Hoffman, Giancarlo Esposito, Chloe Fineman, Shia LaBeouf, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Voight, Talia Shire, and Robert De Niro.

The first teaser for the film gives a very, very small taste of what to expect from Megadoc, including Coppola declaring, "No one I'm working with realizes how weird a movie this actually is."

Other than that, Megadoc's teaser isn't quite ready to spill its behind-the-scenes secrets just yet. Still, the information that is public about the production of Megalopolis is intriguing enough to act as its own teaser.

Megalopolis was Coppola's passion project for decades. When he couldn't find funding, he financed the film himself, spending $120 million. (It took in just over $14.3 million at the global box office.)

Production on the film proved tumultuous, with Coppola often shifting shooting plans on the spot. He fired Megalopolis' visual effects team, and many other members of the crew departed soon after.

Several female extras on the film also alleged that Coppola behaved inappropriately with them onset. Extra Lauren Pagone sued Coppola for civil battery and civil assault, as well as negligent failure to prevent sexual harassment. Months before Megalopolis' theatrical release, Variety also published a video of Coppola's alleged sexual misconduct, along with accounts from his accusers. Following the release of that article, Coppola sued Variety for libel, seeking $15 million in damages.

Following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Megadoc will open in select theaters Sept. 19.

South Park's Season 27 premiere didn't just stir up controversy — it stirred up big ratings for Comedy Central and Paramount+.

SEE ALSO: 'South Park's Trump-bashing Season 27 premiere has the White House fuming

According to a statement from Paramount, the episode, which featured a scene of President Donald Trump in bed with Satan, as well a hyperrealistic deepfake of a naked Trump, scored 5.9 million cross-platform viewers across Comedy Central and Paramount+. These numbers come from Nielsen, which defines the total number of viewers by global watch time divided by run time over the course of the first three days the episode was out, from July 24 to July 26.

The episode also earned South Park its biggest linear season premiere share since 1999 and was up 68 percent from from its Season 26 premiere. In addition, the episode brought in South Park's best season premiere rating since 2022.

The premiere went viral on social media as well, with Paramount claiming it's the "#1 most social episode ever for South Park." #SouthPark trended on X for over 12 hours (five of which were spent in the top spot), and at the time of writing this, the Trump deepfake PSA has raked in 4.4 million views on YouTube.

Following the premiere, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers bashed South Park in a statement sent to Variety, Rolling Stone, and The Hollywood Reporter among other outlets.

"This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," Rogers said in the statement. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country’s history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump’s hot streak."

For a "fourth-rate show," though, it's clear people are watching.

Amazon is investing in Fable Studio, the startup best known for a viral AI-generated South Park knockoff.

According to Variety, Amazon's investment (the amount of which was not disclosed) is going towards the startup's new streaming platform, Showrunner, which the company describes as the "Netflix of AI." Specifically, that means a streaming platform that lets users create shows with Showrunner's generative AI model.

In 2023, Fable Studio published a research paper about its SHOW-1 model that trained on South Park episodes and subsequently posted a 20-minute South Park-style clip entirely written, voiced, and illustrated by generative AI. Part of the video's virality was because it was posted during the SAG-AFTRA strike, which dealt with writers and actors negotiating protections against studios use of AI. The video was created without the permission of the South Park creators. Fable asserted in the research paper that it was an "experimental, non-commercial endeavor aimed at exploring the potential of artificial intelligence, voice synthesis, and deep learning technologies."

But now, Fable has launched a commercial endeavor with Showrunner that went live on Wednesday. The idea is for users to become the creators by generating their own animated shows or inserting scenes and characters into existing shows. Fable CEO and co-founder Edward Saatchi told Variety the company is pursuing partnerships with Disney and other Hollywood studios to license their IP for the platform.

The existing shows created by Showrunner include a Silicon Valley satire called Exit Valley that looks like Family Guy and a show called Everything Is Fine that has a Tim Burton-esque quality. It's unclear whether this is the result of licensing partnerships with copyright holders or from training data acquired without permission. Mashable has contacted Fable Studio for comment.

Showrunner is live in alpha mode on showrunner.xyz and Discord. Saatchi told the outlet that the platform is free to use and watch videos, but will eventually charge $10 to $20 a month for credits for users to want to generate new content.

A love triangle has been rich terrain for cinema of late, ranging from the tender Past Lives to the hot-as-hell Challengers to the clever Materialists — and that's just from married screenwriters Celine Song and Justin Kuritzkes!

But if you're looking for more sweetness with your spice, we recommend The Threesome. Directed by Chad Hartigan, this comedy scripted by Ethan Ogilby begins with some threeway sex, but spins into a funny and heart-filled tale of love, friendship, and the chaos of figuring out adulthood.

Set It Up's Zoey Deutch and The Little Mermaid's Jonah Hauer-King star as Olivia and Connor, two friends who've been doing the will-they-won't-they dance for a while. Then they meet the winsome Jenny (Ruby Cruz), and embrace the three-way chemistry for a night of casual group sex. But things get complicated when both women get pregnant, and the wider world all of a sudden knows about their private encounter.

I saw The Threesome out of its SXSW World Premiere and was charmed. This comedy embraces the messiness of modern love while never making its lusty lovers come off as clowns. Instead, it's an empathetic comedy that's equal parts warm and naughty. Plus, on top of the great chemistry of its three leads, The Threesome has got a supporting cast that includes Jaboukie Young-White, Josh Segarra, Robert Longstreet, Arden Myrin, Kristin Slaysman, Allan McLeod, and Julia Sweeney.

The Threesome opens in theaters on Sept. 5.

SAVE $38: The Marvel Legends Series Iron Man electronic helmet is on sale for $61.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $99.99. That's a 38% discount, and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marvel / Hasbro Marvel Legends Series Iron Man electronic helmet $61.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $38.00 Get Deal

Not to shock anyone, but Halloween is exactly three months away. Yes, somehow summer is coming to a close, and we'll soon be chest-deep in everything pumpkin-spice and then Halloween. If you're a Marvel fan, and you haven't decided on your costume for 2025, Amazon just decided for you, thanks to today's deal.

As of July 31, the Marvel Legends Series Iron Man electronic helmet is on at Amazon for $61.99, marked down from the normal price of $99.99. That works out to a savings of $38 for a 38% discount. It's also the lowest price Amazon has ever offered by a long shot.

SEE ALSO: Welcome back, Skelly: Home Depot finally unveils its 2025 Halloween collection

Sure, you could go with a basic Iron Man mask, but this Hasbro helmet includes light effects that'll make your costume come to life. As part of the Avengers Endgame movie collection from the iconic toy brand, the premium Iron Man helmet has a light-up visor which will illuminate Iron Man's eyes. Plus, it comes with a dimming feature.

Hasbro also considered the fit and comfort when designing the Iron Man helmet, making it adjustable for a better fit on more heads. The hinge at the top of the helmet is useful when opening or closing the helmet.

While it's on sale for the lowest price ever and way before the last-minute push to get a Halloween costume arrives, snag the Marvel Legends Series Iron Man electronic helmet from Amazon while it's just $61.99. Come October, you'll be set to win the costume contest.

SPEND $50, GET A $15 CREDIT: As of July 31, Amazon shoppers get a $15 credit when they spend $50 on household essentials, like cleaning supplies, batteries, laundry gear, insect traps, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Free $15 Amazon credit With $50 purchase of household essentials Get Deal

You have to buy household essentials anyway, so why not get some free money while you stock up?

As of July 31, when you purchase $50 worth of household essentials at Amazon, you'll get a $15 credit back. Just load up your Amazon cart with items from the promo page until you reach the $50 threshold. The offer will then automatically be applied at checkout and, once shipment is complete, you'll receive an email from Amazon letting you know that a $15 credit has been added to your account. You can use the credit on anything you want.

The list of products included in the promotion is lengthy, so there's a pretty high chance it includes items you regularly use and need to stock up on. Just to give you a little taste, there's STEM bug traps, Clorox wipes, Kleenex, toilet paper from many brands, dishwasher detergent, laundry pods, paper towels, baby wipes, all-purpose cleaners, batteries, trash bags, Ziploc bags, and so much more. I scrolled for 10 minutes and still didn't reach the end of the list.

It's worth noting that Target is running a similar deal, but you need to be a Circle member (which is free to join) to score the free gift card. With this Amazon promotion, you (surprisingly) don't even need to be a Prime member. You will, however, need an Amazon account to check out and receive your credit.

During a July 31 Nintendo Direct livestream, Nintendo teased a ton of upcoming games for the Switch 2 (and some titles for the Switch 1 as well). The event focused on Nintendo's partners, featuring games from companies such as Sega, Ubisoft, and EA Sports.

Perhaps the most exciting moment of the event came when Nintendo unveiled a new trailer for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. This hotly anticipated game is set in Hyrule (duh) and tells the story of “the canonical events that led to the Tears of the Kingdom game.” Nintendo says this game will be released sometime in the winter, with more details to come.

To watch the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment trailer, skip to 10:55 in the Nintendo Direct YouTube video. Plus, keep scrolling to learn about all the new games coming to the Switch 2 this fall and winter, most of which are available for preorder now.

The event featured teasers of upcoming titles like Hela, where you get to play as an adorable mouse and witch's familiar on a journey to heal his beloved mistress. We also got teasers for beloved titles like Apex Legends, Borderlands 4, and the Yakuza franchise.

Nintendo Direct: New titles coming to the Switch 2 A teaser from the 2026 title 'Hela'. Credit: Nintendo / YouTube

During the livestream, we learned about over a dozen games that will soon be available on the Switch 2, Switch 1, or both consoles. Some of the games are remakes of beloved titles (Yakuza Kiwami), while others have already been released for other consoles or PC gamers (Star Wars Outlaws).

From the weird to the wild to the familiar, here are the titles you'll soon be able to play. And if you still haven't gotten your hands on the Switch 2, we have more good news: Our long national Switch 2 inventory nightmare may finally be over. Simply put, it's a lot easier to find the Switch 2 in stock.

• Chillin by the Fire - July 31

• Apex Legends - Aug. 5

• EA Sports Madden 26 - Aug. 14

• Star Wars Outlaws - Sept. 4

• Cronos: The New Dawn - Sept. 5

• Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac - Sept. 26

• EA Sports FC26 - Sept. 26

• Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles - Sept. 30

• Borderlands 4 - Oct. 3

• Plants vs. Zombies Replanted - Oct. 23 

• Persona 3 Reload - Oct. 23

• Yakuza Kiwami 2 - Nov. 13

• Yakuza Kiwami - Nov. 13

• Battle Beyond the Limit — Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO - Nov. 14

• Octopath Traveler 0 - Dec. 4

• Hela - coming in 2026

• The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales - coming in 2026

You can preorder most of these games now at the My Nintendo Store.

Yes, I'm already thinking about Christmas. It's kind of my job — and I love my job. I love making gift recommendations, and since I get to try a lot of awesome products before they're released, I have a professional advantage. We at Mashable have pulled together a list of the tech gifts we think will be filling up Santa's sleigh this year. If you notice a considerable lack of Apple products, that's because we expect to see new Apple product launches in the fall, as per usual.

But there's a good reason to get a jump start on your holiday shopping this year. Yes, we're talking about tariffs. One economics professor we spoke to recently predicted that consumer tech products could increase in price by 20 percent in the coming months. So, if you're getting your shopping done way in advance, we've got some Christmas gift ideas for you.

We've already seen some incredible product launches so far in 2025, and not just the new Nintendo Switch 2 (which is finally easier to find in stock, thank goodness). We've also covered the launch of new headphones, earbuds, smartphone gimbals, and Legos galore.

Some of our gift ideas would work great for birthdays, but we also have gifts for gamers, unique gift ideas, and ideas for early adopters who want the latest tech.

Want to buy the gifts featured in the video? Just click the links below:

• Nintendo Switch 2 — $449

• Yoshi Mario Kart Legos — $14.99

• Donkey Kong Mario Kart Legos — $34.99

• Sony XM6 Noise-Cancelling Headphones — $449

• Panasonic Technics AZ100 HiFi Earbuds — $299

• DJI Osmo Mobile 7 smartphone stabilizer — $149

• DJI Mic Mini wireless microphone bundle — $169

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite — $159

• Panasonic Multishape men's multigroomer — $170

• Sony ULT Field 3 portable speaker — $198