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TL;DR: Skip the monthly fees — get a lifetime of ad-free, high-quality documentaries on MagellanTV for just $139.97 with code SAVE30 through February 23.

Are you tired of mindless scrolling and mid-quality content? If you're looking for content that actually teaches you something, MagellanTV delivers. With over 4,000 high-quality films and shows covering history, science, space, true crime, and more, this streaming service is for people who crave knowledge, not just background noise.

Unlike other platforms, MagellanTV is completely ad-free, doesn’t charge extra for 4K streaming, and is curated by award-winning filmmakers rather than algorithms. For a limited time, you can get lifetime access for just $139.97 (reg. $999) with code SAVE30 through February 23.

Most streaming services charge monthly fees that only get more expensive over time, but this deal locks in a lifetime of content for less than the price of a year of Netflix. With new documentaries added every week, you’ll never run out of fascinating deep dives into ancient civilizations, groundbreaking scientific discoveries, and gripping crime investigations.

Whether you’re watching on your TV, laptop, or phone, MagellanTV lets you stream anytime, anywhere — without ever having to sit through an ad.

If you're someone who values learning, exploration, and high-quality storytelling, this is your chance to own a premium streaming service for life with a single payment. No subscriptions, no renewal fees, just unlimited access to thousands of engaging documentaries.

Don’t miss out — this limited-time, pay-once offer to get a lifetime of MagellanTv for $139.97 ends February 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription $139.99
$999.00 Save $859.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Block out the noise and enjoy crisp, high-fidelity sound with these noise-cancelling wireless earbuds — now just $49.99 (reg. $69).

Ever try to enjoy your favorite song only to have the real world ruin it? Whether it’s a noisy café, a chatty coworker, or someone blasting a YouTube video at full volume in public (why do people do this?) — bad audio conditions can kill the vibe.

That’s why you need the Xpods Pro ANC True Wireless Headphones for $49.99 — they block out distractions and deliver crisp, deep sound with every listen.

Equipped with NoiseHush adaptive noise cancellation — these earbuds filter out background noise so you can actually hear your music, podcasts, or calls without cranking the volume to max. But if you need to stay aware of your surroundings, just switch to ambient transparency mode to let in outside sounds. Got an important call? The quad noise-isolating microphones make sure your voice comes through crystal-clear — even in busy environments.

Designed for all-day wear — these earbuds feature memory foam ear tips for a snug, ultra-comfortable fit. Whether you’re at the gym, commuting, or working from home — they stay put and feel barely there. Plus, with IPX5 waterproofing — they can handle sweat and light rain, so no excuses for skipping your workout.

Battery anxiety? Not with these. You’ll get up to 25 hours of total playtime — and if you’re low on juice, a quick 10-minute charge gives you two hours of playback. The wireless charging case even has a digital battery display — so you always know when it’s time to recharge.

Skip the overpriced big-name brands — these Xpods Pro ANC True Wireless Headphones bring the premium sound, noise cancellation, and long battery life you need for 28% off at just $49.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Naztech Xpods Pro ANC True Wireless Headphones $49.99
$69.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 19 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Pick your own prefix

These words are flavorful.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are prefixes for berries.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Berries.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 19

• Blue

• Rasp

• Straw

• Black

• Berries

• Huckle

• Elder

• Salmon

• Golden

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Swing away

• Green: Stadium food

• Blue: TN

• Purple: Team names

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Golf shots

• Green: Food served in a baseball helmet

• Blue: Tennessee teams

• Purple: Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #149 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Golf shots - CHIP, DRIVE, PUNCH, PUTT

• Food served in a baseball helmet - FRIES, ICE CREAM, NACHOS, TENDERS

• Tennessee Teams - GRIZZLIES, PREDATORS, TITANS, VOLUNTEERS

• Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my! - BEARS, LIONS, OH MY, TIGERS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

SAVE $200: As of Feb. 19, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is on sale for $899 at Amazon. This is an 18% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 9 Pro $899.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

You want a new smartphone, but you don't want it on a contract.

With Amazon's Daily Deals, you'll find lots of great discounts on smartphones, but we love this latest deal on the Google Pixel Pro 9. Just check out our review to see why we're such big fans. Not only is it on sale but it has never been priced lower than this.

SEE ALSO: Save $80 on the Apple Magic Keyboard at Amazon

As of Feb. 19, the Google Pixel Pro 9 is reduced to $899 from $1099. This deal is specific to the 256GB option but is available across all three colorways: obsidian, porcelain, and rose quartz.

It's a super-smart smartphone with a 6.3-inch OLED display with vibrant colors as well as the latest Google Tensor chip for fast, non-laggy performance. It benefits from triple rear cameras, making it the most powerful pixel camera yet, so you can enjoy high-quality video and even enhance your videos up to 8K with the video boost tool.

This model also features Gemini, Google's next-generation AI technology. It offers assistance with tools including advanced photo editing such as Magic Eraser and Face Unblur, enhanced voice recognition for dictation, and Google Assistant capabilities. It also uses real-time translation to allow for seamless language support in messaging or live conversations, and it even powers predictive text.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

SAVE $80: As of Feb. 19, the Apple Magic Keyboard is on sale for $269 at Amazon. That's 23% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Magic Keyboard $269.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

iPad accessories are a great way to upgrade your device. Whether you're feeling creative and looking to draw your next design with the Apple Pencil, or you'd like to transform your tablet into a laptop for work while on the move, you can more often than not find a great deal on Apple products at Amazon, including this latest deal on the Apple Magic Keyboard Case.

As of Feb. 19, you can upgrade your iPad for the lower price of $269, saving you $80 on list price. This deal is currently only available in black and is compatible with the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation).

SEE ALSO: Best Buy has knocked $100 off the 11-inch M2 Apple iPad Air

The Magic Keyboard is a great way to transform your iPad. It’s super easy to use — no charging or pairing needed — just snap it on and start typing. It features backlit keys for comfy, quiet typing, a built-in trackpad for gestures and precision, and even a USB-C port for charging.

It can be purchased in different languages, including Arabic, British English, Chinese (Pinyin), Chinese (Zhuyin), Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Swiss, Ukrainian, and US English.

Its floating cantilever design lets you find the perfect viewing angle. And when not in use, the keyboard folds up into a protective cover to help prevent any damage while on the move.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal.

How to watch "The Last Showgirl" at a glance: WATCH NOW Buy "The Last Showgirl" at Prime Video $14.99 Shop Now WATCH NOW Buy "The Last Showgirl" on Apple TV $14.99 Shop Now WATCH NOW Buy "The Last Showgirl" on Fandango at Home $14.99 Shop Now WATCH NOW Buy "The Last Showgirl" on Google Play $14.99 Shop Now

Feathers, rhinestones, and visually stunning cinematography draw you in from the get-go in The Last Showgirl, but the heart and soul of the outstanding cast keep you hooked. Pamela Anderson, in her ostensible comeback role, leads Gia Coppola's gripping Vegas drama about aging and resilience alongside other big names — Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Kiernan Shipka, Brenda Song, and Billie Lourd.

As Mashable's reviewer noted, there are "several strokes of smart meta-textual casting, resulting in an ensemble that grounds the movie's visual chaos in distinctly human melodies." It's no surprise the film has been nominated for several major awards.

As of Feb. 18, you can officially watch The Last Showgirl at home. Here's what you need to know.

What is The Last Showgirl about?

The Last Showgirl follows 50-something Shelly (Anderson), a veteran Las Vegas burlesque dancer, who learns from her boss, Eddie (Bautista), that her show is unexpectedly being closed down after decades of success. Lost as to what to do next, she strives to reconnect with her estranged adult daughter, Hannah (Lourd), who has often taken a backseat to her showgirl family.

Peep the official trailer below:

Is The Last Showgirl worth watching?

The Pamela Anderson renaissance alone is reason enough to watch The Last Showgirl. The largely positive reviews are just a bonus. Currently, the film has an 83 percent critic rating and 73 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it certifiably fresh. Unfortunately, it was snubbed by the Academy for any Oscar nominations, but it did earn nods at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and BAFTAs.

"Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl is a spellbinding film about aging, made with tremendous texture and soul," Mashable reviewer Siddhant Adlakha writes.

Read our full review of The Last Showgirl.

How to watch The Last Showgirl at home Credit: Roadside Attractions

The Last Showgirl originally opened for an awards-qualifying run in limited release, then opened nationwide on Jan. 10. Just a little over a month later, the Vegas drama is officially available to watch at home. You can purchase the film at video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV as of Feb. 18. It will also be available to rent for 30 days as of March 4. Though, with rentals, once you start watching, you'll only have 48 hours to finish.

Here are some quick links to buy the film on digital:

• Prime Video — $14.99

• Google Play — $14.99

• Fandango at Home — $14.99

• Apple TV — $14.99

Is The Last Showgirl streaming anywhere?

Currently, the only way to watch The Last Showgirl at home is to purchase it on demand, although it will also be available to rent as of March 4. No streaming details have been released yet, but we'll update this article with the information once it's announced.

Dune has become my go-to movie for testing soundbars. You can really judge TV speakers based on how that primal scream in the Dune score (you know the one) makes you feel.

“Huuh-hhhhh-yaaah, gohh-hyeh-ahhhhh!”

Does it enhance your enjoyment of the movie, or does it make you want to drop to your knees and pledge your allegiance to the Lisan al Gaib?

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a $999 premium soundbar from the smart home audio brand, and it promises unmatched surround sound thanks to the brand's new Sound Motion technology, which works with Dolby Atmos to fill the room with realistic, perfectly realized sound. Ah, but does it live up to that promise and justify the high price tag? I believe it does. Let's break it down.

Testing the Sonos Arc Ultra premium smart soundbar. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar specs

Sonos's new flagship soundbar, released in 2024, doesn't shy away from its premium status. It's an impressive piece of hardware, inside and out.

• Surround sound: 9.1.4 channel spatial audio

• Drivers: 14 (seven tweeters, six mid-woofers, one woofer)

• Amplifiers: 15 Class-D digital amplifiers

• Dolby Atmos sound: Yes

• HDMI eARC connection: Yes

• Microphone on/off switch: Yes

• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 5.3, Apple AirPlay 2

• Dimensions: 2.95 x 46.38 x 4.35 inches

• Weight: 13.01 pounds

Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar audio performance

I recently reviewed the $499 Bose Smart Soundbar, and in my review, I called Bose the audio equivalent of a boring Windows laptop from HP or Dell. It does the job, but you have to wonder about the branding and design, or lack thereof. If Bose is Windows, then that makes Sonos the Apple of the home audio world, even if it doesn't quite rise to the level of everyone's favorite fruit company.

SEE ALSO: Sonos Ace headphones are basically a personal surround-sound system: Our review

In terms of audio performance, the Arc Ultra impressed me. I tested this soundbar with sound-focused movies, including A Quiet Place: Day One, Dune, and Dune: Part 2. (Dune won the Oscar for Best Sound, and Dune: Part 2 was nominated for the same in the upcoming 97th Academy Awards.) While a single soundbar can't compete with the booming speakers you'll hear in a movie theater, this speaker gave me the closest match to that experience I've ever had in my living room.

Testing the Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable The Arc Ultra is almost as wide as my 65-inch TV. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Now, I wanted to test this soundbar without additional components. If you want the ultimate Arc Ultra experience, you'll need to pair it with a subwoofer and other Sonos speakers. (You can buy a bundle with these components for $2,396 at the Sonos online store.) But even without extra audio firepower, I could feel the bass in my chest. It really felt like sandworms were exploding out of the desert all around me. Still, if you consider yourself a cinephile or audiophile and want to go full bore, you'll need to fork over an extra $1,000 or more for the full home theater experience.

I also test new soundbars with my personal music testing playlist, listening to highly layered tracks from Michael Jackson, Florence and the Machine, and Radiohead. The overall sound clarity and balance were so good that I'll be using this as my home party speaker from now on. Thanks to two upward-facing drivers, this speaker really did fill my living room with sound, though it's not designed to deliver true 360-degree sound.

What about the dialogue enhancement mode? This is the only area where I wasn't 100 percent satisfied. To be clear, it absolutely did make dialogue clearer and easier to understand, and even the "Low" enhancement setting was good enough. However, I felt the overall sound balance when using this mode with TV was better with the Bose Smart Soundbar I recently tested.

Using the Sonos Speech Enhancement feature. Credit: Screenshot: Sonos Credit: Screenshot: Sonos Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar design: Pros and cons

Now, in terms of aesthetics, the Arc Ultra puts other soundbars to shame. Because of its size, you'll need a wide TV stand for it (it's also really hard to photograph, though that's more of a me problem).

I've written before that soundbars don't leave much opportunity for design, but Sonos proved me wrong. This is an attractive piece of hardware that cuts an impressive figure on my entertainment stand. I do have one quibble. As you can see in the photos below, this is taller than the average soundbar, and it comes just even with the bottom bevel of my Samsung flatscreen, which is not ideal.

I'd recommend mounting the Arc Ultra soundbar. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

I did encounter one big problem while testing this soundbar. When I tried to use the touch controls (on the left-hand side of the speaker, there's a touch-enabled volume slider), the soundbar flew up to max volume, and by the time I figured out how to turn it down, my ear drums were pounding. Of course, who's really using the touch controls on a soundbar?

Testing the touch controls... Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable ...and I'd recommend avoiding them. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Sonos Arc Ultra is super user-friendly

These days, anyone with a teensy bit of tech savviness should be able to set up a gadget like this in minutes. Even by modern standards, the Arc Ultra was effortless to connect. Unlike the Bose Smart Soundbar (which came with its own remote), it instantly synced with my TV and remote. This process literally required a single tap on the screen. Connecting Spotify, Amazon Music, and Alexa took just a couple of clicks in the Sonos app.

This speaker also adjusts its audio to match the architecture and acoustics of the room, a process Sonos calls Trueplay. Following the directions on the app, I was able to set this up effortlessly. The Sonos Arc Ultra is also compatible with the brand's Ace headphones, so you can easily swap the audio back and forth between the two with the press of a button.

I connected the soundbar to my TV with a single tap on my iPhone. Credit: Screenshot: Sonos Syncing third-party apps can be done with a few clicks. Credit: Screenshot: Sonos

I like that this soundbar doubles as a smart speaker. Even when the TV is off, I can use the voice control to check the weather or set timers. And for security-minded folks, a physical microphone on/off switch lets you cut power to the microphone, although I can't verify this with 100 percent certainty.

Besides the touch control boo-boo I mentioned already, I haven't had any issues using this speaker, which is why it got the highest user-friendliness score I've ever given a product as a Mashable reviewer: 4.9/5.

Unboxing the Sonos Arc Ultra. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Connecting the HDMI and power cables. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Is the Sonos Arc Ultra really worth $999?

I'm the perfect person to review Sonos's fancy new soundbar for a simple reason: I'm not a big Sonos fan at the moment. I had a very mid experience with the original Sonos Roam portable Bluetooth speaker, which had a tinny sound. I've also had problems with Sonos smart home speakers dropping WiFi connections for no reason.

So, I came into my Sonos Arc Ultra review very skeptical, but this soundbar won me over.

In the "Bang for your buck" category, I rated this product as a 4.7/5. That's because I actually think you need to spend more on a soundbar. If you aren't spending at least $400 to $500, then you might as well stick with your TV's speakers. And if you want a true home theater experience — and why else would you buy a soundbar — then you should be prepared to spend even more on a premium Sennheiser or Sonos system like this.

If you're already in the Sonos ecosystem (and even if you're not), the Arc Ultra offers movie theater-like sound in your living room. And thanks to the smart features and easy connectivity, you don't need to be tech-savvy to set it up and start listening. You can buy the Arc Ultra for $999 at Amazon, Sonos, and other retailers.

Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar $999.00 at Amazon
Shop Now

TL;DR: Live stream Pakistan vs. New Zealand in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The eyes of the cricketing world will be on Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates over the next few weeks, as the best ODI sides come together for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. It's going to be a festival of cricket, and it all starts with Pakistan vs. New Zealand.

If you want to watch Pakistan vs. New Zealand in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Pakistan vs. New Zealand?

Pakistan vs. New Zealand in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy starts at 4 a.m. ET on Feb. 19. This ODI takes place at the National Stadium.

How to watch Pakistan vs. New Zealand for free

The following platforms are offering coverage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:

• Australia — Prime Video (free with 30-day trial)

• India — Disney+ Hotstar

• New Zealand — Sky TV NZ

• Pakistan — Tamasha (free) and PTV (free)

• UK — Sky Sports

• USA — Willow and Sling TV

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is available to live stream for free in Pakistan. The free streaming platforms (Tamasha and PTV) are geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Tamasha or PTV

5. Live stream Pakistan vs. New Zealand for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Pakistan vs. New Zealand (plus every other 2025 ICC Champions Trophy game) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Pakistan vs. New Zealand in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free with ExpressVPN.

Humane's Ai Pin is about to become an expensive brick, with the startup set to discontinue service less than a year after the wearable AI gadget began shipping. It seems the fairy tale is over, and they can no longer deny that their golden carriage is actually a rotting pumpkin.

In a post to Humane's support website, the company announced that all of its Ai Pins will stop working in just 10 days. All Ai Pins will stop connecting to Humane's servers on Feb. 28, and all customer data will be permanently deleted as well, with users instructed to download anything they don't want to lose before then. Humane has also ceased selling the gadget effective immediately.

SEE ALSO: Three AI products that flopped in 2024

"We are writing to inform you that, effective immediately, we are winding down the consumer Ai Pin as our business priorities have shifted," read Humane's post. "Your engagement has meant the world to us, and we deeply appreciate the role you’ve played in our innovation journey."

Technically, the Ai Pin won't be completely useless. Humane notes that it will still offer offline features such as battery level. However, there's little point in checking how much battery is left on a gadget that only tells you how much battery it has left. Any of the Ai Pin's functions which require cloud connectivity will no longer work, including voice commands, AI responses — is basically anything you'd actually want to use the wearable for.

"We recognize that this may be an unexpected change, and we are here to support you," wrote Humane. This help is temporary though, as customer support for the Ai Pin will also be discontinued on Feb. 28.

Credit: Humane

You may be in luck if you bought a Humane Ai Pin within the last few months. Humane states that Ai Pins which shipped on or prior to Nov. 15 are eligible for a refund, as they'll still be within the 90-day return window. However, you must submit your refund request by Feb. 27. If you purchased the Ai Pin but it hasn't shipped yet, you'll be refunded and your order automatically cancelled. Humane's mandatory subscriptions will also be automatically cancelled, with prepaid months refunded proportionately.

Unfortunately, anyone who has had their Ai Pin for longer has little recourse. Once the Ai Pins stop working, Humane advises customers to dispose of them via an e-waste recycling program.

The Ai Pin's shutdown appears to be the result of HP acquiring "key AI capabilities" from Humane, which was also announced today. The $116 million acquisition includes Humane's AI-powered operating system CosmOS, a swathe of intellectual property, and key technical personnel. Said employees will form HP's new AI innovation lab HP IQ.

"Humane’s AI platform Cosmos, backed by an incredible group of engineers, will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms," HP's President of Technology and Innovation Tuan Tran said in a statement.

Humane's Ai Pin struggled from the start Credit: Humane

The Humane Ai Pin's sad, inglorious death may be sudden, but it's hardly a surprise. 

Initially made available for preorder in Nov. 2023, the Ai Pin aimed to supplant users' smartphones, and could perform functions such as taking photos, answering questions, and sending messages. Designed to pin to users' clothes, the then-$699 wearable was operated primarily via voice commands, and featured a tiny palm projector instead of a screen.

Unfortunately, issues began to arise before the Ai Pin was even released, with a promotional video showing the Ai Pin answering questions incorrectly. Though Humane quickly updated the clip, numerous other problems with the Ai Pin soon became apparent once users started getting their hands on the device in April last year. Users found the Ai Pin slow and frustrating to use, with issues ranging from broken music playback, to an unreadable projector display, to excessive heating up.

That isn't even to mention the problems with the Ai Pin's charging case, which was found to be a fire safety risk in June. Humane instructed its customers to stop using the charging case immediately, subsequently recalling it. Though the company initially offered replacements, in light of today's news it will now refund users "the portion of your original purchase price that was allocated to the Charge Case" instead.

Within less than five months from Humane's Ai Pins shipping, customers were reportedly returning the devices quicker than the company could sell them, and by October Humane had cut its price down to $499.

Humane reportedly began searching for a buyer within mere weeks of shipping the Ai Pin, aiming to sell for $750 million to $1 billion. While its $116 million deal with HP isn't nothing, it's still a far cry from those lofty ambitions. And though Humane was able to offload its software, it looks like HP wants nothing to do with the Ai Pin hardware.

Helium hard drives, a significant leap in hard disk drive (HDD) technology, offer promising improvements in storage density and power efficiency. The use of helium is the key to these advancements. Here's everything you need to know.

Most people feel pressure to push through fatigue, but skipping breaks leads to burnout, poor focus, and lower productivity. Recognize that recovery isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a strategy for long-term success. By taking intentional breaks, you can recharge your mind, boost creativity, and improve overall performance. Here’s how to make your breaks more effective. […]

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TL;DR: Through 23 February, Mashable readers can get lifetime access to FastestVPN PRO on 15 devices for just £23.78 (reg. £476.10).

Opens in a new window Credit: FastestVPN FastestVPN PRO: Lifetime Subscription (15 Devices) £23.78 at the Mashable Shop
£476.10 Save £452.32 Get Deal

Online security and privacy are both extremely important when it comes to using the internet, so having a reliable virtual private network (VPN) is always a smart idea. Whether you’re conducting online banking, working with sensitive data, or just want some added privacy, you could benefit from using a VPN.

FastestVPN PRO offers a comprehensive solution that not only helps protect your digital life but also enhances your online experience with a plethora of advanced features. And through 23 February, you can get a lifetime subscription to FastestVPN PRO while it’s on sale for £23.78 (reg. £476.10).

FastestVPN PRO lives up to its name by providing lightning-fast speeds with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. With access to over 350 high-speed servers globally, users can enjoy seamless browsing, streaming, and downloading without any lag or buffering. Whether you're accessing the internet from your Windows PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TV, or router, FastestVPN ensures a smooth and uninterrupted connection.

Using the WireGuard protocol, users experience secure and unhindered speeds of up to 10 GBPS on the fastest available servers. The inclusion of double VPN servers adds an extra layer of protection, encrypting your data twice for enhanced privacy. Plus, the Internet Kill Switch feature ensures that your IP address remains hidden even if your connection drops unexpectedly, preventing any potential breaches.

The inclusion of a NAT firewall and ad blocker ensures that your device is shielded from potential threats and intrusive advertisements. Additionally, the AES 256-bit encryption safeguards your data with military-grade protection, giving you peace of mind knowing that your information is secure.

This VPN is very user-friendly, making it accessible to users of all levels. The intuitive interface allows for easy navigation and setup, while the multi-device login feature enables you to protect up to 15 devices simultaneously.

Until 23 February at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can grab a lifetime subscription to FastestVPN PRO on sale for £23.78 (reg. £476.10) at the Mashable Shop.

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TL;DR: A Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac lifetime license is on sale for £31.73 (reg. £181.71) at the Mashable Shop.

It's a whole new year — the perfect time to upgrade your productivity. If you need to use classic Microsoft tools like Word and Excel on your MacBook, then this is your chance. Mashable Readers can get Microsoft Office for Mac lifetime device licenses on sale for only £31.73.

If you use a Mac for work or personal projects, this suite offers enhanced productivity. Why can't Apple produce a decent Microsoft Word alternative? We can't answer that, but we can help you get this classic software at a discount. Even though it’s a slightly older version of Office (the most recent version is the 2021 edition), it still packs a wallop with reliable features and well-loved apps. 

Office 2019 for Mac includes essential applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. These tools are designed to meet various needs, whether you're drafting important documents, managing work or home finances, creating presentations, or organising your email and calendar.

It also includes other favourite apps, including OneNote, for amplified note-taking in one central place. It also comes with Teams Classic 2019. 

One of the best aspects of MS Office 2019 is that it’s a one-time purchase. For £31.73, you get lifetime access to the suite without the need for recurring subscription fees, like you would with Microsoft 365. The license covers one Mac device, and it lasts as long as your device does.

This Microsoft Office deal won't last forever. Get Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac on sale for £31.73 (reg. £181.71) at the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac £31.73 at The Mashable Shop
£181.71 Save £149.98 Get Deal

TL;DR: Unblock porn sites like YouPorn with a VPN. The best service for unblocking free porn sites is ExpressVPN.

There are many locations around the world that block access to porn sites like Xnxx and XVideos. There are probably good reasons for these restrictions, but sometimes you simply want to access your favourite site at an entirely appropriate moment. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

If you're looking for the best way to unblock YouPorn for free fro anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock YouPorn for free

VPNs can help you access porn sites from anywhere in the world. By hiding your real IP address (digital location) and connecting you to a secure server in another location, you can trick these sites into providing you with access, even if there is a block in place over your network.

Unblock YouPorn from anywhere in the world by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to YouPorn

4. Unblock YouPorn

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

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free. However, many leading services offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By using these offers, you can unblock porn sites like YouPorn without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can temporarily unblock sites like YouPorn for free. This method can come in handy if you're travelling and frequently using unknown or unsecured networks.

What is the best VPN for porn?

When it comes to bypassing content restrictions, ExpressVPN leads the way. This high-speed service offers a wide range of streaming-friendly features:

• 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 always secure

• Fast streaming speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Unblock YouPorn for free with ExpressVPN.

Android gaming has changed a lot over the years, but some classic Android games have stood the test of time—and are even still available to download from the Play Store!

Every once in awhile, NASA publishes a photo of something in space taken by one of their probes. But how exactly do probes in deep space send those photos back to us on Earth? Well, it's actually pretty simple, and you use technology operating on similar principles every day without realizing it.

Valve's latest Source SDK update contains the full client and server code for TF2. The company has also confirmed that classic Source Engine titles will soon gain 64-bit binary support.

I bought my first ultrawide monitor back in February 2018. It was a game changer for me. I went from two 27-inch 16:9 monitors to one 34-inch 21:9 and absolutely loved it.

Did you notice what looks like a dislike button next to comments on your Instagram account? You're not the only one, but you are one of a select few.

Instagram is testing a new feature that would allow users to downrank comments that they don't like, be it because they're negative, harmful, or maybe just because they disagree with them, Social Media Today spotted. Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a post on Threads that the downrank button "gives people a private way to signal that they don’t feel good about that particular comment."

But it isn't like downvoting a comment on YouTube or Reddit because these won't be public, and there won't be a total downvote tally shown.

SEE ALSO: Is Instagram blocking the #Democrat hashtag?

"I want to be clear: this is a test, there is no dislike count, nor will anyone know if you tap the button. Eventually, we may integrate this signal into comments ranking to move disliked comments lower down. Our hope is that this might help make comments more friendly on Instagram," Mosseri wrote.

This isn't the first time Meta has tested out downvotes, and, as is true with many Meta tests, this doesn't necessarily mean the feature will come to Instagram widely any time soon — or ever. In true Meta fashion, this might just be another test to see how they're going to keep the platform safe, fun, and addicting without stepping on any political toes.