Blogroll

Android Auto is one of the best features on our phones, especially while driving. Reaching a destination safely while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel is a big deal. However, there's nothing more frustrating than a laggy Android Auto experience, with a map that stutters, audio cutting out, or missed navigation instructions.

These days, new versions of AI chatbots don't just launch; they're unshackled and released to the public following government scrutiny. OpenAI's new GPT-5.6 models were – like Anthropic's Claude Mythos and Fable – apparently too powerful to just launch; but now, after some tinkering, they're available to you, dear customer.

In practice, it simply means that the new GPT-5.6 models are very powerful and smarter than before. In its introductory post, OpenAI shared a bunch of graphs showing just how much better GPT-5.6 is than the competition, whilst using fewer tokens and generally costing less.

OK, great. But GPT-5.6 is not just one model; it comes in three distinct flavors: Sol, Terra, and Luna. So what do different kinds of users get, what should they pay for, and which models should they (mostly) use? Let's dive in.

Free users get (almost) nothing

Sorry; if you're not a paying customer, you'll have to make do with OpenAI's previous flagship model, GPT-5.5. Any sort of access to GPT-5.6 models requires a subscription of some sort. Fortunately, GPT-5.5 is still quite capable at most tasks, but if you want the best of the best, you'll have to cough up the dough.

There's an exception to this: Free and Go users can access GPT-5.6 through ChatGPT Work. More on that below.

If you're a Plus or Business user, you can only get Sol (the most powerful model) at medium and higher effort settings. There's another, higher level of performance called Sol Pro, but that's only available for Pro and Enterprise users.

In terms of availability per one million tokens, the prices are: $5 input and $30 output for Sol. $2.5 input and $15 output for Terra, and $1 input and $6 output for Luna.

SEE ALSO: Visa is connecting with ChatGPT to let AI agents automatically make purchases Sol, Terra, or Luna?

Why are there three models in the first place? Well, OpenAI always had a multi-tier model; for example, previously users were able to choose a "mini" version of the main model to get results done cheaper. Now, the model has been split into three tiers.

If you're a paying customer, you're free to use all three. But you know how it is in the world of LLMs: If you pick the smartest one, your usage limits will get hit faster (yes, there are always usage limits, even if you throw a ton of money at OpenAI).

In the simplest sense, GPT-5.6 Sol is the smartest model, Terra is in between (with roughly GPT-5.5 level of performance), and Luna is the cheapest, fastest, but also least capable of the bunch.

The breakdown is as follows: Terra is a "balanced" model for everyday work. That's the one you should be asking most of your questions. Don't underestimate it, though, as OpenAI claims it performs better than Anthropic's Fable 5 in some cases.

Luna is cost-efficient, and should be used for easy, non crucial everyday tasks; think recipes and movie recommendations. Again, OpenAI says it outperforms Anthropic's Opus 4.8 in some cases, so it's not a slouch, either.

Sol should be reserved for coding, deep research, planning, and cybersecurity: The most demanding tasks. Of course it comes at a (literal) cost: While OpenAI claims it spends less tokens than Anthropic's Fable 5, Sol will still hit usage limits a lot faster than the other variants.

Fun fact: If you ask GPT-5.5 about any of this, right now, it'll give you completely wrong answers. Hopefully OpenAI will fix this soon.

Wait, what's this ChatGPT Work thing, then?

Oh yeah, OpenAI also launched ChatGPT Work, which is a new agent in ChatGPT that can access and take actions on your apps and files, and work in the background until a task is finished. It's powered by Codex (OpenAI's software engineering agent) and GPT-5.6. Think about it as your buddy that will go through your emails and files, browse the web, fetch the relevant data, and create that presentation your boss wants before the day is done.

ChatGPT Work is rolling out to Pro, Enterprise and Edu users first on web and mobile; this will be expanded to Plus and Business users "over the next few days."

On the desktop, Work is available for everyone, including Free users.

Oh, and one more thing: The fact that ChatGPT Work has a built-in browser also means that OpenAI is sunsetting its standalone web browser, Atlas. Sorry.

How about GPT Live?

GPT Live is a new version of ChatGPT Voice and it will show up when you start talking to ChatGPT.

We've covered this in more depth here, but the bottom line is that GPT Live can listen and speak at the same time, allowing it to keep up a more realistic conversation.

Wrapping it all up

The new GPT-5.6 model is smart. It comes in three flavors: Luna, Terra, and Sol, with Sol being the most capable variant, Luna the most affordable one, and Terra somewhere in the middle. You can currently only get them on paid tiers, unless you're using ChatGPT Work on desktop. And ChatGPT Voice has also gotten smarter with GPT-Live underneath, a model that can listen and speak at the same time.

An inefficient kitchen can really slow you down and become a source of frustration. With a 3D printer, you can overcome many of these frustrations—and you’ll wonder how you ever coped before.

Light is how we shape our living and work spaces. We can change the color, warmth, and intensity to our exact taste, and do it while using less energy than ever. GIGALUMI’s range of solar-powered lights is the perfect example of this. Whether you are illuminating walkways with pathway lights, adding a touch of nature with solar flowers, or making a statement with garden statues, outdoor spaces can be transformed into warm and inviting locations after the sun goes down.

TL;DR: Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Every Grand Slam could make a claim for being the biggest tennis event on the schedule, but Wimbledon has something special.

Maybe it's the fast-paced tennis on lush green surfaces? Maybe it's the crisp white outfits? Or maybe it's the copious amounts of champagne and strawberries consumed by fans? Whatever the reason, Wimbledon is hard to beat. And now that we're into the latter stages of the tournament, the action really is heating up.

If you're interested in watching Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is Wimbledon?

Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is the third of four Grand Slam tennis events each year.

The defending singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek.

When is Wimbledon in 2026?

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships is the 139th edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from June 29 to July 12.

How to watch Wimbledon 2026 for free

Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for Wimbledon, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of Wimbledon.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Sony’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus is here to help you beat the heat, bringing wearable cooling (and warming) tech to the U.S. for $259.99. The neck-worn temperature control device is currently out of stock at Sony, but you can sign up to get notified when it’s available again.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus Sensing Kit Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus $259.99 at Sony
  Learn More

With summer temperatures pushing into uncomfortable territory, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus takes a different approach to staying cool. Instead of carrying around a fan, this wearable temperature-control device sits around your neck and uses a cooling plate against your upper back to deliver a targeted way to manage heat.

This device can also warm you up during colder months, making it more of an all-season wearable than just a summer gadget. It uses built-in temperature and humidity sensors, along with Sony's control algorithm, to adjust cooling and warming based on your surroundings and preferences.

When paired with the included sensing device, it can detect both the temperature inside your clothing and the outside environment, allowing its Smart cool to warm mode to automatically switch between cooling and heating without needing constant adjustments.

Despite its compact design, Sony packs in plenty of practical features. The device uses two thermo modules that alternate intensity to maintain continuous cooling, while Smart cool mode can deliver up to 15 hours of battery life. A flexible neckband helps keep the cooling surface in contact with your skin, and the lightweight, discreet design is made to be worn under clothing without looking like you’re carrying a gadget around. When winter arrives, four adjustable warm levels let it double as a personal warmer.

Heatwave season is here — sign up to know when the Reon Pocket Pro Plus is back in stock.

Happy anniversary to Dropout's most mind-bending viral video: "Brennan Quits Dropout."

It was July 14, 2025, when Game Changer aired "Fool's Gold." In this episode, Dropout contributors pitched video concepts to a Shark Tank-like panel of investors. The goal: Make the most viral portfolio. The most viral video? Vic Michaelis' pitch for "Brennan's Exit Video."

Dressed like an American Girl Doll, Michaelis pitched that Brennan Lee Mulligan post a video to social media claiming he was quitting Dropout, Dimension 20, and Dungeons & Dragons altogether to dedicate himself to his passion for creating shoes for American Girl Dolls.

Over the past year, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko has interviewed Michaelis, Mulligan, and Game Changer host Sam Reich about this epic moment, which led not only to a TikTok video that had fans and newbies to Dropout freaking out, but also a Google Easter egg.

To toast the anniversary of this very silly video — that some people took very seriously — our Executive Video Producer Mark Stetson has compiled all that Michaelis, Mulligan, and Reich have revealed about the magic and mischief of "Brennan Quits Dropout."

Sure, they got snubbed by the Emmys. But we'll always have, "AAAAAH! THIS IS ME!"

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

For more interviews with Dropout's stars and other celebrities, check out Say More or our YouTube channel.

TL;DR: Razer has launched the Kraken Kitty V2 BT Cinnamoroll Edition for $139.99, a Bluetooth gaming headset featuring Cinnamoroll’s signature floppy ears, sky-blue design, plush cushions, and customizable RGB lighting.

Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Cinnamoroll Edition $139.99 at Razer
  Shop Now

If your gaming setup could use a little Sanrio sweetness, Razer has a new headset that might help. The company has launched the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Cinnamoroll Edition for $139.99, a Bluetooth gaming headset that swaps the usual cat-ear look for Cinnamoroll’s signature floppy ears, sky-blue styling, and Sanrio-inspired details. It’s the latest and final drop in Razer's Sanrio collaboration lineup.

The headset takes inspiration from Cinnamoroll, the popular Sanrio character known for his oversized floppy ears and cloud-like aesthetic, bringing that look to Razer’s existing Kraken Kitty V2 BT design. Instead of the standard cat-ear silhouette, this version features plush white and blue accents, character artwork across the headband, and a design made to stand out whether you’re gaming, streaming, or just listening to music.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The wireless headset keeps the Bluetooth connectivity of the original Kraken Kitty V2 BT and comes with ear cushions designed for longer sessions. It features customizable Razer Chroma RGB lighting on the earcups, letting you add your own lighting effects while gaming or streaming.

The Cinnamoroll Edition is part of Razer’s broader run of character-inspired gaming accessories, following collaborations featuring other Sanrio favorites like Hello Kitty and Kuromi.

Consider this your invitation to float into Cinnamoroll’s world — just with a headset, RGB lighting, and a lot more gaming involved.

Get the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Cinnamoroll Edition today.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is getting down to the pointy end, with only seven countries left in the running for this year's title. Almost all the remaining soccer teams are European, the sole exception being Argentina, which continues to represent South America.

Most of these contenders aren't surprising, as five of them are listed in the official FIFA Men's World Ranking top 10. However, in a competition where a single loss means you're out, there have been a few upsets in the lead up to the semi-finals, with a couple of underdogs making it further than expected.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

Here are all the teams still fighting it out in this year's FIFA World Cup, as well as the players to watch.

France: Kylian Mbappé Credit: Ulrik Pedersen / NurPhoto via Getty Images

France is already through to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals after beating Morocco 2-0 on Thursday, the two-time champion looking to make it a hat-trick. Though the semi-final match is set to take place next Tuesday, July 14, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, the team's opponent is still yet to be determined. Whether Spain or Belgium will go up against France will depend on which of the two teams comes out on top in their match Friday. 

Known as Les Bleus, the French national team has had an undefeated run to the semi-finals, beating Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), and Norway (4-1) in Group I before proceeding to the knockout bracket. Here they maintained their streak, defeating Sweden (3-0), Paraguay (1-0), and Morocco.

Featured Video For You How F1 became a global obsession

All eyes will be on forward Kylian Mbappé in the matches ahead. The captain of the French team is widely considered one of the best players at the World Cup — and even the world. Though Mbappé ranks Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo above himself, there's no denying that he's at least nipping at the soccer legends' heels. France's all-time top goal scorer has already set several records at this year's event, scoring the most goals out of anyone at this year's World Cup so far, and tying with Messi at 17 non-penalty goals across all his World Cup appearances.

While he suffered an ankle injury during the match against Morocco, Mbappé has reassured fans that he's "completely fine," and will hopefully be fully recovered by the semi-final next week.

Spain: Lamine Yamal Credit: Ayman Aref / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Nicknamed La Roja, Spain's national soccer team is set to play Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals this Friday, July 10, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Spain last won the World Cup in 2010, and it's one of the top-ranked teams in this year's competition, surpassed only by Argentina. As such, 2026 could very well be Spain's year.

Spain performed well in Group H, tying with Cabo Verde (0-0) before defeating Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0). Having since knocked out Austria (3-0) and Portugal (1-0), the Spanish team will now face Belgium for a spot in the semi-final against France next week.

The Spanish team's star player Lamine Yamal has recently recovered from a hamstring injury, stating before the World Cup that he was still working his way up to playing a full match. Even so, the 18-year-old right winger has already proven himself in previous tournaments, and is only expected to get better.

Belgium: Romelu Lukaku Credit: Nico Vereecken / Photo News via Getty Images

The Belgian team gained significant attention for trouncing Team USA 4-1 on Monday, kicking the Americans out of the FIFA World Cup on their own home soil. This was despite FIFA suspending U.S. star player Folarin Balogun's red card so he could play in the match, a move President Donald Trump claimed he was involved in. Now De Rode Duivels (the Belgian Red Devils) will play against Spain in the quarter-finals this Friday, hoping for the chance to face France in the semi-finals.

Belgium's national team kicked off its World Cup run with ties against Egypt (1-1) and Iran (0-0), before soundly defeating New Zealand (5-1). They continued to prove themselves in the knockout stage, taking out Senegal (3-2) before sending the U.S. national team packing (4-1).

Some football fans were skeptical that Belgium could defeat the U.S. with Balogun on the field, betting odds having favoured a win for the Americans after Trump's alleged intervention. Even after Belgium's victory, coach Rudi Garcia stated that "everyone thinks [they] are going home." Belgium is ready to prove these people wrong, with striker Romelu Lukaku expected to be instrumental in silencing the naysayers. Belgium's all-time top goal scorer, Lukaku scored a goal in each of the team's last three games at the World Cup after having come on as a substitute in all of them. This made him the first player in World Cup history to score as a substitute in four separate matches. No doubt he'll be keen to take on more records.

Norway: Erling Haaland Credit: Jean Catuffe / Getty Images

Norway's next FIFA World Cup appearance will be their quarter-finals match against England, scheduled this Saturday, July 11, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Reaching this stage is already the best result they've ever had at the World Cup — though of course they would like to go even further. Considering the talent on this year's team, it doesn't seem like an impossible dream.

Known locally as Landslaget, which simply means "the national team," Norway was also placed in Group I alongside France at the start of the tournament. Yet despite a 4-1 loss to Les Bleus, the team still made it to the knockout stage by defeating Iraq (4-1) and Senegal (3-2). Booting Côte d'Ivoire (2-1) and Brazil (2-1) from the competition, Norway will now have to beat England. 

SEE ALSO: A clip of Erling Haaland eating has gone viral. It's not real.

The top Norwegian player to watch is undisputedly Erling Haaland, whose name is often spoken in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo. Like Mbappé, Haaland has demurred when others have compared him to the soccer greats. Even so, the striker's achievements speak for themselves. Norway's all-time top scorer has racked up an impressive 60 goals in 53 senior international games, shooting his 60th in the World Cup match against Côte d'Ivoire. In comparison, Messi and Ronaldo took more than twice as many games to reach the same goal count.

England: Harry Kane Credit: Eric Verhoeven / Soccrates / Getty Images

Called The Three Lions after the animals on their team crest, England's national soccer team are set to take on Norway in their next game on Saturday. Both quarter-finalists are battling for a chance at the semi-finals, with the winner to go up against the victor of the match between Argentina and Switzerland.

England fought its way through Group L to get here, defeating Croatia (4-2), tying with Ghana (0-0), and besting Panama (2-0). It then took out the Democratic Republic of Congo (2-1) and Mexico (3-2) in the knockout bracket, leaving it three victories away from taking the Fifa World Cup championship.

SEE ALSO: Harry Kane's World Cup post-match interview goes viral for all the right reasons

The standout player on England's team is captain and striker Harry Kane, England's all-time top scorer. Kane has scored six goals at this World Cup, ranking fourth behind Mbappé, Messi, and Haaland. He previously won the Golden Boot award at the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well, given to the player who scored the most goals during the tournament. Kane has been having a stellar run recently, scoring a total of 73 goals in the 2025-26 season thus far —  second only to Messi's record set in 2011-12.

Argentina: Lionel Messi Credit: Marcel Bonte / Soccrates / Getty Images

The official FIFA Men's World Ranking currently lists Argentina as No. 1 in the world, with head coach and captain Lionel Messi widely considered one of the best players in the world. As such, they're expected to do very well in their quarter-final match against Switzerland on Saturday, July 11, set to take place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas, Missouri.

La Albiceleste dominated Group J, beating out Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), and Jordan (3-1), then continued their streak in the knockout stage by sending Cabo Verde (3-2) and Egypt (3-2) home. Argentina is now the sole non-European competitor remaining in the 2026 FIFA World Cup this year, though this certainly doesn't mean that it's an underdog.

SEE ALSO: Why is the internet rooting against Argentina?

Messi needs little introduction, with his name familiar even to those who only have a passing interest in soccer. Dubbed the greatest footballer of all time by numerous fans, commentators, and players, Argentina's all-time top scorer holds a slew of records and is constantly held up as an inspiration to other players. Messi was the first to win the World Cup's Golden Ball award for the tournament's best player twice, and has already set several new records during the course of this year's competition. These include scoring the most goals in World Cup history, a number which has since climbed further to 21, and being the first ever player to score in eight consecutive matches at the tournament.

Switzerland: Granit Xhaka Credit: Eric Verhoeven / Soccrates / Getty Images

Switzerland's national soccer team will have to slay giant Argentina to get past the quarter-finals this weekend. Taking out the top ranked team is a formidable task, particularly with Switzerland currently ranked at 19. Still, Nati have made an excellent show of themselves thus far, and it wouldn't be the first upset of this year's FIFA World Cup.

Placed in Group B, the Swiss team tied with Qatar (1-1) before beating Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-1) and Canada (2-1). In the knockout bracket, Switzerland pushed out Algeria (2-0) and Colombia (0-0, with a 4-3 penalty shootout). Now they're facing their biggest challenge thus far, up against Argentina for a semi-final spot.

While the Swiss team have expressed excitement about facing soccer icon Messi, they're even more eager to defeat him. Captain and defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka aims to lead them to that victory, having already brought Switzerland to its first World Cup quarter-final since 1954. While his position doesn't typically shoot goals, Xhaka has proven a skilled playmaker, breaking through opponents' lines and setting his teammates up for success.

For all things 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mashable's got you covered.

Linux newcomers in 2026 have a much easier time than people did 10 or 15 years ago. You no longer need to install Linux with one hand on a wiki page and the other hand praying to the bootloader gods. Most major distros now install cleanly, detect hardware well, and give you a working desktop in under half an hour.

When the first Echo Show smart displays were released, I thought they would be perfect for my smart home. Fast-forward several years, and I almost never use them for monitoring my smart home or controlling smart devices. In fact, I get more use out of an old Kindle.

I have a lot of storage for my Plex server—over 60TB, actually. However, even I sometimes run into space issues and have to find ways to free up hard drive storage without deleting things. That’s where Tdarr comes in, and here’s how I used it to free up over 7TB of space on my server.

Apple is reportedly working on adding camera sensors to a future version of AirPods -- and it’s not the only company putting cameras near our ears. CNET’s Bridget Carey explores what they could be used for and looks to one recent acquisition.

SAVE $30: As of July 10, the Lego Jaws set is on sale for $119.99 at Lego as part of its Insiders Days event. That's $30 off its usual price of $149.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Jaws (21350) $119.99 at Lego
$149.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Lego's Insiders Days event has started, and if you're a member, there are some excellent sets on sale. My personal favorite Jaws set is included in the bunch, and while it's currently on backorder at the retailer, it's well worth putting an order in since it's retiring soon. When it's retired, it won't be available to purchase anymore from Lego, so this could be your final opportunity to get it at a discount.

If you don't mind waiting — Lego's store page says it will ship in 60 days — this deal is pretty awesome for Lego Insiders. If you're a member — you can learn more here and it's free to join — you can score the Jaws set for $119.99. Usually it retails for $149.99, so this is a good opportunity to save $30.

SEE ALSO: Lego's Olivia Rodrigo collab just dropped: Where to buy, preorder details, price

I had an absolute blast piecing together this Lego set, and it's one of my favorite displays I have up in my house (you can check out my full breakdown of building it here). Recommended for adults, since it's quite a complex assembly, it comes with 1,497 pieces that create a diorama of The Orca boat sailing the seas with the huge shark on its tail. Of course, it also comes with three minifigures to complete the scene: Chief Brody, Matt Hooper, and Sam Quint.

Once you've finished piecing it together and it's ready for display, it also comes with a plaque printed with the film's most famous line: "You’re gonna need a bigger boat."

The offer is only available until July 12, so be quick.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

YouTube creators who playlist their videos can now easily turn them into shows.

Announced Thursday, the platform will now let anyone part of the YouTube Partner Program organise their video playlists into seasons of episodes, or create a new show using the tool.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

According to YouTube's support site, shows are defined here as "a collection of high-quality episodes with a clear connection across episodes." The platform provided some best practices for creators, including making sure the show has a "consistent story or topic" featuring the same hosts if possible, a "consistent look" with the same intro and thumbnail art style, and higher-quality video and sound.

Shows must have visuals (not just audio) and can be serial or non-serial, meaning they don't necessarily have to run chronologically. YouTube will default the running order by publish date, but you can edit this in YouTube Studio.

SEE ALSO: X's Live Studio aims to make livestreams easier for creators

YouTube noted that creating a show might be advantageous to creators for visibility in search on the platform, saying "shows may be eligible to appear in search as well as under 'Recommended shows' and 'Continue watching.'"

Want to make a show from your existing episodes? It's pretty easy.

How to create a YouTube show from a video playlist Total Time

• 10 min

What You Need

• YouTube account
• YouTube Studio
• existing YouTube playlist

Step 1: Sign in to YouTube Studio.

Head to studio.youtube.com.

Step 2: Click "Content" in the left side menu.

Credit: Shannon Connellan / YouTube

Step 3: Click "Playlists."

Credit: Shannon Connellan / YouTube

Step 4: Hover over your chosen playlist and tap the three dots for "Options."

Credit: Shannon Connellan / YouTube

Step 5: Tap "Add show features" and set a season number, then enjoy playing around with the show tools.

According toYouTube, "All videos from the selected playlist are added as episodes to 'Season 1' of your show. If you manually set the order of videos in your playlist, episode numbers are assigned based on your specified order. If not, episode numbers are assigned based on oldest to newest order by published date."

Step 6: Add artwork for the show.

You'll need to add texted poster art and can optionally add backdrop and title treatment art. YouTube has the resolution and file size specifications for these on its help page.

Step 7: Select "Done" when you're finished.

If you want to add a brand new show, in the top-right corner of YouTube Studio's lobby, click "Create New show." After adding all the details like description and art, you can save the show, then manage adding new episodes from the "Content" menu in the YouTube Studio lobby — click "Add content" to start.

If you want to edit the episode order (YouTube defaults to publish date), head to "Episodes" within your show and hover over the season or episode number, then tap the arrow pointing down to move things around.

If you're not sure where to even start, check out Mashable's In My Bag series for the gear you'll need to become a content creator. You can also visit our VidCon hub for inspiration, and meet the Mashable 101, the creators shaping digital culture right now.

Featured Video For You Natalie Tran says content creation made her a better filmmaker

I'm a musician with a small recording studio and a lot of complicated gear. Between keyboards, pedals, audio interfaces, amps, and recording software, there's usually more than one way to accomplish the same thing. Every time I add a new device, it takes time and patience to learn what it can do, how it fits into the rest of my setup, and which settings make the most sense for the way I work.

TL;DR: The 2026 Nations Championship is available to watch for free on ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be a special year for sport.

The schedule has been ridiculously busy this year. We've hardly had time to breathe between the Winter Olympics, T20 World Cup, and World Cup, and now the world of rugby has dropped a totally new competition to grab its share of the spotlight.

The Nations Championship is changing the game. This fresh tournament promises to deliver six rounds of elite matchups between top international sides followed by a blockbuster Finals Weekend. It feels like the Rugby World Cup without the filler.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is an international rugby union competition featuring 12 men's teams. The teams are divided into two pools of six (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere). Over two international windows, each team plays all the teams in the opposite pool once. Every team plays three games at home and three away.

After six rounds, a finals series will be contested over three days with each team matched against the same ranked team in the other pool to decide final placements.

When is the 2026 Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is the first edition of this competition. This year's tournament runs from the first round of fixtures on July 4 to the final on Nov. 29. The first round of fixtures is as follows:

• New Zealand vs. France — 8:10 a.m. BST on July 4

• Japan vs. Italy — 9:40 a.m. BST on July 4

• Australia vs. Ireland — 11:10 a.m. BST on July 4

• Fiji vs. Wales — 2:10 p.m. BST on July 4

• South Africa vs. England — 4:40 p.m. BST on July 4

• Argentina vs. Scotland — 8:10 p.m. BST on July 4

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free

The 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

Recently, single women told Mashable that dating in 2026 is, in a word, bleak. But that opinion seems to transcend gender. Take a look at any dating or dating-adjacent subreddit, and you'll find people saying that trying to find a partner sucks.

Posts range from users hating their dates to not having luck finding a date at all. A throughline between all these differences is an overwhelming dissatisfaction. Of course, these being people from Reddit, it's bound to skew negative, but it does at least say something about what dating is like for a segment of the population. 

SEE ALSO: The latest green flag? Not using AI, survey states.

Mashable reached out to several men on Reddit, all of whom chose to be anonymous to speak freely about their experiences (and, thus, we also have to take their takes with a bit of skepticism). And I chatted with men's dating coach, Connell Barrett, about his thoughts on what dating is like for men right now, too. 

The looksmaxxing dater

Wading through the muck of r/onlinedating, r/dating_advice, and other subreddits, I came across a post I believed was ragebait. I can't copy and paste it here now, as it has been deleted from Reddit, but to summarize: A young man asked for dating advice because the women in his orbit were overweight and "letting themselves go."

I reached out to this man, an 18-year-old attending the University of Florida, before his account was also banned from Reddit. I asked him if he believed what he said, or if he was ragebaiting (as some commenters believed). He told me he really believed this, and that it was a similar case when he went to high school. 

But how did he look himself, physically? "Pretty muscular," he told me over Reddit DM. "I was fat until I started taking reta," he said, referring to a weight-loss drug called Retatrutide that's not FDA approved, yet is available online by sketchy retailers, "and a couple months ago I started a steroid cycle."

That's not all this teenager did to "looksmax," or improving one's appearance, oftentimes with extreme measures. He listed the ways he does this to Mashable, including the Retatrudide.

1. Perm hair

2. Skincare

3. Invisalign

4. Melanotan II for tanning (also an unregulated drug — the Skin Cancer Foundation just issued a warning about Melanotan)

5. Teeth whitening

6. Penis pumping "for size gains" (A penis pump can make it look larger temporarily.)

7. Retatrutide 1mg "for lean bulk" once per week

8. Four IUs of Human Growth Hormone "taken before bed for better gains" (HGH is highly regulated and has a long list of side effects)

9. 300mg Testosterone enanthate per week intravenous (which is typically used for testosterone replacement therapy)

10. 20mg Anavar (a steroid) split into two doses twice per day

11. 5mg Tadalafil for erectile dysfunction

12. 1.2mg oral Finasteride and 3mg oral Minoxidol per day to prevent hair loss prophylactically

13. GHK-Cu peptide "for skin" (it's touted as anti-aging)

14. Accutane for steroid acne

15. Exercise and diet

"Also shaving face," he wrote. "Also, I take a beta blocker for high blood pressure from [steroids]."

This man is looksmaxxing in order to get a "harem of girls," he told Mashable, and cited the anime High School DxD as his inspiration. He said he still has no romantic experience, but he hasn't been on campus while looksmaxxing.

"I'm certain it is going to work though," he said. "Many looksmaxxes take lots of time to work."

For now, however, he considers himself an incel, as "any man who would like a relationship but hasn't got one is an incel." He plans on meeting "Stacies" and "Stacelites" (attractive and sexually active women, according to Mashable's incel glossary) on the University of Florida campus this fall through Tinder and frat parties.

"The pros of looksmaxxing will always outweigh any side effects," he said. When Mashable asked if this was all some sort of joke, he insisted it wasn't. 

"You don't have to be on an incel forum to be one," he said. "Not posting on forums doesn't mean you're not a genetic dead end."

Looksmaxxing and incel culture are tangential to the manosphere, a right-wing subsection of the internet that claims (among other things) that men are superior to women, but that men must look physically attractive and be high earners in order to obtain a desirable partner. 

Dating coach Connell Barrett said the manosphere is a place where many young men are lonely and confused, and don't know why they're alone. Then, manosphere figures come in and say, "You're not crazy…women are the problem."

"That is toxic," Barrett said, "it's a total poison being poured into the ears of young men, but it gives that young, lonely man an answer where he doesn't have to look at himself and say, 'You know what, I need to work on myself, I need to grow'...Instead, he gets to say the problem is women."

Why men are afraid to date

Not every man is an incel, of course, but the manosphere does tap into real anxieties and insecurities men have. 

"Men are more afraid than ever to talk to women in real life." - Connell Barrett

"The biggest thing that I see from men is that men are more afraid than ever to talk to women in real life," he said. They don't want to come off as creepy or get mocked on TikTok. There are a few reasons for this: social media surveillance and the fear of being cringe; a lack of social skills due to growing up online; and fears fueled by the MeToo era. 

When discussing MeToo and how to square men's fears of rejection with women's fear of physical assault (81 percent of women reported experiencing some sort of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center), Barrett said he makes sure his clients understand the latter. 

"I tell them, 'Look, I know you got your dating frustrations, but let's be honest…we don't have to worry about the same things women have to worry about,'" he said.

As a coach, Barrett also sees how insecurities can manifest as fear of dating and approaching women in person. He works on their beliefs, like teaching them that they are worthy of love, and then works with them to build confidence to speak to strangers in the real world. 

"Let's be honest…we don't have to worry about the same things women have to worry about." - Connell Barrett The daters who've given up

While the 18-year-old Redditor is looksmaxxing to get ahead, another man, a 35-year-old, said he "tried all the possible dating advice out there," like going to the gym, wearing better clothes and cologne, and improving education and social skills. He told Mashable over Reddit DMs that the only thing he hasn't tried is the "extreme" measures like surgery.

While he's on a number of dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Facebook Dating, Badoo, and Hinge), he said he's been rejected for 15 years and doesn't have high hopes. He's also not willing to put in as much effort as he once did.

A 30-year-old man Mashable spoke to over the phone, who commented on the r/OnlineDating subreddit that he gets around a match a year, and has gotten one date out of those matches a couple of years ago. (He texted that date for a bit after, but he said she kind of ghosted him).

This Reddit user tried meeting women through his social circles, but the options have been limited. Meanwhile, he does want a wife and a family.

When asked what's contributing to the trouble, he said, at the risk of sounding like "certain groups of people on the internet" (like incels), "if you don't have something that makes you remarkably attractive to women, there's not going to be a whole lot of signals of interest." He meant physical appearance or height; if you're on dating apps, he said, these are the metrics that matter.

Beyond looks, he believed there was a societal element to dating where people don't feel safe around each other anymore. "I fully understand why women don't feel safe around a lot of men," he said. "It makes sense why women are handling those interactions that way, but at the same time, that's filtering out the good men just as much as it is the bad."

This echoed what Barrett had been saying about how men are afraid to talk to women. "Society has changed the behavior of so many people, especially men, to look for love first and foremost on their phones, that most men are just not in the habit and hobby of going out into the real world," he said. And the universal thing he's hearing from men and women is that "pretty much everyone hates apps." Barrett has no problem with the apps — but said people don't fall in love on their phones. 

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Redditor said dating apps give the illusion of having lots of opportunities, and that combined with social media has risen expectations. "I think people do kind of have an inflated idea of what a reasonable expectation is for they can kind of expect out of a partner," he explained, "and so there's probably a lot less people that are perceived as potential partners, and we all kind of suffer from being on the outside of that."

"When you're looking for the perfect match, you probably miss a lot of people that would be pretty good ones." - 30-year-old Redditor

"When you're looking for the perfect match, you probably miss a lot of people that would be pretty good ones," he continued.

When discussing what dating is like for men overall, he said that, "There's a desire for better from a lot of people involved, but maybe a limited amount of willingness to change personal approaches to make it happen."

It's a cycle: Women are highly selective, and then have bad experiences with men — which is men's fault — and they get more cynical towards dating, and thus more selective, he said. 

"Women's solution is men need to be better so we actually want them, men's solution is women need to lower their standards, and neither of those is actually really a step towards either being more appealing to the other," he said.

He's also frustrated by what he calls "toxic positivity" content, and the idea that he's not behind. He wanted to have kids by 30, but he just turned 30 and is single. 

"It's not just like a loneliness or a wanting attention thing. There's actual bigger things we want in life that are impacted by this, too, and it's not as simple as this can happen when it happens," he said.

At the same time, however, he mentioned some things he could do, like get in better shape and be more aggressive about asking people out.

Barrett encourages men to go to any place where it's socially acceptable and reasonably normal to meet women, be it a bar on a Friday night, a gym, or a party. "People fall in love — or begin to connect — and eventually fall in love by meeting in person," he said.

And yes, men will have to deal with the fear of rejection, but as Barrett said, "Welcome to life."

Tiffany Haddish has used her Jimmy Kimmel guest-hosting platform this week to make fun of Donald Trump, so much so that she actually got a response from the White House.

But she isn't done just yet. In the clip above, the actor takes a parting jab at the president on her final night as guest host.

"I've had the best time this week, oh my goodness. I made some new friends, I told some jokes that pissed off the White House," says Haddish. "And now I can go back to making the president mad just by being a successful Black woman."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

If you have a Raspberry Pi and E-Ink display sitting unused, it's time to pull them out of the drawer. There is so much you can do with just those two pieces of tech, but I boiled it down to four projects that you can build this weekend for fun.