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TL;DR: The iPhone 17 Pro is available for free with T-Mobile. You can claim by switching to an Experience More or Experience Beyond unlimited plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free when you switch to an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in required). Shop Now

Look, we know the iPhone 17 Pro isn't exactly the shiny new kid on the block. It has spent the last nine months dominating our social media feeds thanks to that distinct camera module and the viral Cosmic Orange finish. But the iPhone 18 launch is looming, and that means carriers are officially entering clearance mode. This is the time for savvy shoppers to shine.

If you don't care about having the absolute newest phone, T-Mobile has launched a massive late-cycle push on this current-gen handset. For a limited time, you can secure the iPhone 17 Pro for free. And you don't even need to trade anything in to qualify.

To score the iPhone 17 Pro for free, you just need to switch carriers and activate a new line on T-Mobile’s Experience More or Experience Beyond plans. If you're already an existing customer, you can get the exact same deal by trading in an eligible handset (like an iPhone 15 Pro) on those same plans.

It's important to note that T-Mobile doesn't just hand over an $1,100 phone without strings attached.

The retail price is financed over 24 consecutive monthly statements, and T-Mobile applies a promotional credit each month to bring that specific line item down to $0. If you decide to bounce to another carrier or try to upgrade early to the iPhone 18 in September, those monthly credits vanish instantly. You will be stuck footing the remaining bill for whatever is left on the phone's 24-month payment cycle.

It was recently announced that only iPhone 17 Pro users will get some of iOS 27's AI tools. If you really want to experience Siri AI's most advanced features, it might be time to upgrade.

Score the iPhone 17 Pro for free with this latest offer from T-Mobile.

TL;DR: All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer/ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, which recently announced it's an Official Tournament Supporter of the event in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

The world has stopped for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are welcoming the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Lamine Yamal are likely to steal the spotlight, but new stars always shine brightly in this prestigious competition.

It's going to be a wild ride. We're still making our way through the first round of group-stage fixtures, but we've already been treated to some stellar performances from top names. The best moment of the tournament so far? Cape Verde's stunning 0-0 draw with Spain is tough to beat. Messi's hattrick against Algeria is also up there.

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

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, 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 another location, meaning you can livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

If you're looking for the best VPN to stream the FIFA World Cup, ExpressVPN recently announced that it's an Official Tournament Supporter of the event in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. ExpressVPN was already our go-to recommendation for sports streaming, and now it's also the exclusive VPN supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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 BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) 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 FIFA World Cup without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sports is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for accessing live sports on free streaming platforms, 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

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Based on my extensive hands-on testing and expert input, I’ve picked the best sexting apps to keep your flirtiest, dirtiest chats truly private — whether you're messaging a partner, a hookup, or a verified creator.

Because sometimes the anticipation of a hookup is even hotter than the main event. In my experience, sexting is the ultimate form of digital foreplay. It’s the glue that keeps long-distance relationships from falling apart, the spark that stops long-term couples from feeling like roommates, and — for all you singles out there — the safest way to test sexual chemistry before you ever meet up in person.

If it feels like everyone is sending spicy texts these days, you're not wrong. Some studies show that up to 88 percent of American adults have engaged in sexting at some point in their lives. For many, it's become an essential means of connection, and research shows that sharing intimate pictures can evoke, demonstrate, and reinforce trust.

But if you're going to share that side of yourself, you need to know it stays between you and the recipient

You've heard of safe sex. But what about safe sexting?

Remember: You can't (and shouldn't!) trust your most intimate moments to just any app. As fun as the buildup is, the sad truth is that no one ever knows for sure if their private photos will stay private once they hit send on standard messaging platforms. Sliding into the DMs on a standard social media app might feel like spontaneous fun, but in 2026, your digital footprint is forever. Plus, with Meta cracking down hard this April (wiping out Instagram accounts and posts just for hinting at sexual expression), it's obvious that mainstream platforms are becoming hostile territory for your spicy chats. If you're going to share that side of yourself, you need to know it stays between you and the recipient.

As one of Mashable's dating app experts, I've spent the last three years testing dozens of platforms to find the best and most discreet apps for the job. My highest priority is always user safety. I also spoke with security expert Gary Orenstein with Bitwarden, who stressed that for sharing intimate content, "privacy features cannot be optional — they’re essential." He recommends looking for apps with three key features: end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and screenshot detection.

For years, our number-one recommendation that hit all three of those marks was Confide. But with the app officially shutting down, Signal has become my new gold standard for secure messaging. While its "Screen Security" setting prevents screenshots on your own device, it doesn't prevent someone else from taking a screenshot of your chat on their device. However, its open-source encryption and foolproof disappearing messages still make it one of the safest options for sending nudes.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to sexting

Whether you're looking for an encrypted vault to text your long-term partner, a sex-positive platform to explore new kinks, or a secure space to find someone entirely new, there's a platform out there that won't compromise your privacy. If you believe in safe sex, you should practice safe sexting, too. Here are the apps I trust to get the job done.

Recent updates to this guide:

• Confide: I’ve moved this back to the #1 spot. Its privacy tools (like screenshot-proofing) just give it the edge over everything else right now.

• Lovense Remote: I added this as the winner for "Group Sexting." It's also the best way for couples (and polyamorous folks) to sync Bluetooth toys for long-distance play.

• FetLife: Added as "Best for Kink." It’s less of a standard app and more of a social network, but it remains the go-to place for finding niche communities.

What about other sexting sites?

You've probably seen other "best of" lists recommending apps I've left off. That's intentional. My goal is to recommend platforms where you can make connections, not just burn cash.

Here's why a few popular names didn't make the cut:

• A note on "paid operator" sites: Many sites marketed for sexting (like InstaBang, Arousr, and SextLocal) don't primarily connect you with other real users. Instead, they often use "chat operators" to keep you talking and paying. While there's nothing wrong with a paid fantasy, I don't consider that mutual sexting. My list focuses on apps for real, user-to-user interaction (with the exception of SextPanther, which connects you with verified adult performers).

• Couple's apps: You also won't find apps like Between on this list. While it's a private messenger for couples, it lacks the specific features that make sexting fun. If you want to level up your digital intimacy, my picks (like We-Vibe and Lovense) are much more interactive.

My top pick for most people is the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, a mid-range model with a large 1200p display, great battery life, and enough power for any basic everyday task. It's not the nicest Chromebook you can buy, but it meets the needs of the average Chromebook user for just $479 (or less — it's almost always on sale).

My complete guide to the best Chromebooks includes other picks for splurgers and kids, so keep scrolling. If you aren't sure whether a Chromebook is right for you, check out my explainer on how they're different from regular Windows laptops and MacBooks.

What's new

In June 2026, I replaced the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 with the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 as our top pick. The former now costs a whopping $999 after a $250 price hike this spring, so it's way too expensive to recommend. (Thank the global RAM shortage.) For that money, you might as well buy an on-sale MacBook Air.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 also got slightly more expensive in recent months, bumping from $699 to $749. That's a high but not totally unreasonable number, so I've made it our top splurge pick.

What's on deck

Google recently announced the Googlebook, a new category of built-for-Gemini laptops that will succeed Chromebooks soon. We don't know much about them yet, but we do know that Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo will make some of the first models, which are set for release sometime later this year. It sounds like they'll be more expensive than Chromebooks: Google said Googlebooks will have "premium craftsmanship and materials."

So where does that leave the Chromebook? Don't start planning a funeral just yet. John Maletis, Google's VP of Product Management for ChromeOS, told the tech site Chrome Unboxed that Chromebooks will continue to get 10 years of automatic updates. Plus, some models will be able to run Googlebooks' new Android-based operating system. "A lot of the newer devices, we will be working on an ability for customers to migrate over," Maletis said.

How to choose the best headphones

We won't beat around the bush: There's no definitive "best" product here. Sure, elite audio brands put out high-quality products across the board, but even within each of those brands, you'll find different tiers of products. Some will deliver better value, and some will deliver better hardware and active noise cancellation.

All this to say, the best pair of earbuds or headphones largely comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use them. Some listeners swear by over-ear headphones, while others prefer the minimalism of earbuds — one is not necessarily better than the other. Athletes who like to use headphones at the gym will appreciate waterproof materials and the best open earbuds, while frequent fliers will prefer devices with long battery life, comfort, and portability. Finally, music lovers and audiophiles will want to invest in premium features like a custom equalizer, spatial audio, or best-in-class active noise cancellation.

To help you pick your pair, we tested all of the headphones in this guide (and a lot that didn't make the cut). Here, you'll find the top headphones of 2026 for noise cancellation, music, price, and wired connections.

What about wired headphones?

We focused primarily on the best wireless headphones for this guide. While wired headphones have their fans, wireless headphones are just more convenient for most of us. If we had to pick, we'd recommend the Marshall Mode earbuds as our top wired pick. Some of us are also fans of Apple's EarPods.

Other headphones we've tested

Most recently, we tested the Marshall Monitor III, JBL Tour One M3 headphones and the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC, and though they had their merits, fell short of winning the best of the best spot on this guide.

We've also tested the Sonos Ace headphones and Dyson OnTrac headphones. And while we loved them both for sound quality and noise cancellation, they fare in the way of AirPods Max — left out of our recommendations for their high price points.

In the testing pipeline

For our future updates, we're testing out more budget noise-cancelling earbuds and headphones.

Recent updates to this guide

• March 2025: We've designated the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds as the most comfortable ANC earbuds and crowned the Sony XM6 earbuds as the new best noise cancelling earbuds.

• December 2025: We replaced the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds, which are no longer available, with the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 sports earbuds.

• December 2025: We removed the Marshall Mode wired earbuds, as they're frequently out of stock.

• December 2025: We added the Sony WH-CH720N Noise-Canceling Headphones as the best headphones under $100.

• December 2025: We added the Sony XM5 headphones, originally released in 2022, as our new honorable mention pick.

DeepSeek isn't being banned in the U.S. — at least, for now.

Reuters reports that the Trump administration is holding off on adding the Chinese AI company to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Entity List, allowing it to continue doing business in the country for the time being.

SEE ALSO: DeepSeek V4 is here: How it compares to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini

The Entity List is a list of foreign entities upon which the U.S. government has imposed trade restrictions, citing national security concerns. Being added to this list essentially means the end of your ability to do business in the country. The Trump administration previously added Chinese tech giant Huawei to the Entity List in 2019, blocking the company's U.S. operations. 

That list was poised to get much longer, with DeepSeek reportedly just one of over 100 companies approved for addition to the Entity List last year. However, sources told Reuters that the U.S. government is postponing this to avoid further aggravating its increasingly tense relationship with China. As such, it isn't clear if or when DeepSeek will be added to the Entity List.

DeepSeek reportedly raised over 50 ​billion yuan ($7.4 billion) in its first funding round earlier this week, and is now valued at over $50 billion. In comparison, U.S. rivals such as Anthropic and OpenAI have been valued at $965 billion and $852 billion respectively. Unlike them, DeepSeek makes its frontier AI model available as open-source, allowing anyone to download, use, and modify it for free under an MIT license. 

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?

New York previously banned DeepSeek from government devices last February, also citing national security concerns, while Texas did the same the month prior.

The U.S. government has expressed increasing concern about foreign technology in recent years, accusing private companies such as TikTok and DJI of being controlled by the Chinese government. In March, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned all new foreign-made routers from entering the country —  impacting essentially all all routers. In addition to outright bans, the U.S. government has also imposed high tariffs on Chinese goods such as electric cars, keeping them out of the country.

In a similar vein, the U.S. government has also imposed restrictions on exporting American technology to China, with NVIDIA going from dominating 95 percent of China's advanced chip market to having zero market share. Though NVIDIA has been approved to sell throttled chips made exclusively for China, the Chinese government has reportedly placed its own restrictions on their import.

Trump spent quite a bit of time bragging about the size of his recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — but these days it's the color that's attracting the most attention.

In a nutshell, the pool has turned green. Warm weather has caused algae to sprout, putting a dampener on the $14.2 million project.

In the clip above, Jimmy Kimmel has the perfect response: "You know he promised he would drain the swamp, instead he's spent $14 million of our dollars building a new one."

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 17, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 17, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 17 Pips

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

Less Than (9): Everything in this space must be less than 9. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 17 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 17 Pips

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

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this orange space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

In uncertain times, one of your most important responsibilities as a leader is to give people a reason to keep moving forward. But hope doesn’t come from ambitious visions or optimistic promises alone. If your aspirations outpace what people believe is possible, trust erodes. To inspire sustained effort, you need to ground hope in reality—connecting a better […]

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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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Tangy.

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

ZESTY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A visitor.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 17, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GUEST

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To light up.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 17, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TORCH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A riding horse.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

STEED

Final Hurdle hint

Purpose.

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

POINT

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

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to iScanner is on sale for $24.97 (reg. $199.90). Available for iOS and Android.

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $24.97
$199.90 Save $174.93   Get Deal

If your office scanner takes longer to warm up than your morning coffee, it might be time to rethink your setup. iScanner turns your iPhone or Android device into a fully portable scanner, and a lifetime subscription is just $24.97 (reg. $199.90).

The iScanner app handles the documents you deal with in your daily work. Including contracts, tax forms, receipts, handwritten papers, ID cards, and lengthy reports. Scans export as PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT; essentially, whatever format best fits your workflow is available. It’s a useful tool for remote workers, students, freelancers, or business owners who need to fill out paperwork quickly without being tied to a desk. For anyone who already relies on their phone for productivity tools, it fits right into that routine. 

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

This tool goes well beyond point-and-shoot scanning. Built-in text recognition tech can read documents in 20+ languages. This turns your scanned files into searchable and editable documents rather than just static image captures. The app is also ad-free and fully secure, which is important to prioritize when you’re handling any kind of sensitive information – especially when that info belongs to clients or coworkers.

There’s a PDF editor with annotation, e-signature, and file merging tools, plus a handful of extra modes that might be more handy than you’d expect: a math problem solver, an area measurement tool, and an object counter you can use for anything from home inventory to stocking shelves.

You’ll also get 200 MB of cloud storage included in the subscription price, and any future updates will be covered under the lifetime access.

Get an iScanner Lifetime Subscription for $24.97 (reg. $199.90).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The New Moon has now passed, meaning the lunar cycle is beginning again. Over the coming nights, the Moon will gradually become more visible in the evening sky as a thin waxing crescent starts to reappear.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, June 17, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 14% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

After several nights of darkness, there is finally some surface features visible again tonight. Without any visual aids, you'll be able to see the Mares Fecunditatis and Crisium. And with binoculars or a telescope, you'll also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it travels around Earth. As a result, we see the Moon appear in different shapes over the course of a month, from slender crescents and half moons to a bright Full Moon. This repeating sequence of phases is known as the lunar 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. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last 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.

Hayley Kiyoko's journey to her feature directorial debut, Girls Like Girls, began in 2015. That's when the Disney child star turned singer/songwriter released the track "Girls Like Girls," and its subsequent viral video, which Kiyoko co-helmed with Austin S. Winchell. 

More than a music video, "Girls Like Girls" played like a short film, complete with credits that revealed character names: Coley, Sonya, and Trenton. In 2023, this love triangle would be fleshed out in the pop star's debut novel, also titled Girls Like Girls. 

Now, after a decade of living with this story of sapphic longing and first love, Kiyoko delivers an earnest and poignant coming-of-age movie with Girls Like Girls. 

Girls Like Girls is a low-key drama of first love and heartache.  Credit: Dan Power / Focus Feature LLC

Set in 2006, Kiyoko's debut feature has a healthy dose of nostalgia for the early age of internet. The soundtrack features Tegan and Sara's yearning-rich "Speak Slow," Imogen Heap's electro ballad "Hide and Seek," and AIR's trippy "Sexy Boy."

The teens in Girls Like Girls have cell phones, but instant messaging on a bulky PC is how sheepish 17-year-old Coley (Maya da Costa) prefers to reach out to her crush, the femme and fun party girl Sonya (Myra Molloy). 

New to town in the thick of summer, Coley is killing time at a diner alone when she first spots Sonya, who's radiant in her laughter and adored by her circle of friends. With one shared glance, Sonya ushers Coley into their world, where house parties rage, lakeside hangs are recurring, and sapphic flirtations are only for when Sonya's boyfriend, Trent (Levon Hawke), isn't around. 

Kiyoko captures the easy swoon of young love with montages of the two girls finding their way into each others' arms, then breath. But as confident as Sonya seems, she wilts anytime someone begins to suspect that she and Coley are more than just friends. Having brought her own baggage to this cozy Oregon town, Coley finds the push and pull of Sonya's affections overtaking her vision of herself. Grieving over the loss of her mother and living with the estranged father (Zach Braff) that she barely knows, Coley fears that if Sonya can't love her, she's doomed to be unlovable. 

Girls Like Girls offers space for gay girls figuring it out.  Credit: Dan Power / Focus Feature LLC

For Coley and Sonya, their attraction to each other is so simple and natural that they don't initially question it. They follow it — slowly and joltingly, but keenly.

In the privacy of Sonya's girly bedroom or her family's backyard pool, they find sanctuary to explore who they are together. Like the short film inspiration from 2015, Girls Like Girls deftly captures the longing in a stare, the excitement in a stolen touch. 

As she did in the music video, Coley sports an oversized jean jacket and the very mid-2000s tattoo-choker, made of swirls of black plastic that stretch around the wearer's neck. She rides a bike, busted up, but hers. And, as teased on the book's cover, a key moment still happens poolside — though without the beat(ing) after. (Do stay through the credits for a post-cred scene worth waiting for.)

A change from the first incarnation, Girls Like Girls is less about the violence queer people can suffer from homophobes, and more about choosing joy over the fear of violence and alienation. Because while Sonya initially seems impossibly cool and untroubled, as Coley gets closer, she realizes her crush is surrounded by friends she can't trust to be herself around. So Coley is faced with the choice of who she wants to be in this new town, and if that means being a fool for love. 

Myra Molloy and Maya da Costa make a compelling pair.  Credit: Dan Power / Focus Feature LLC

Molloy could teach a class on how to flip her hair. Her breezy grace and flirtatious energy make her instantly recognizable as That Girl. Sonya makes being a teen girl look easy. She exudes joy and cool, and even when you find out it's a facade, you envy her ability to produce it. 

Sonya is a go-getter who practically drags Coley into her friend group, her pool, and her kiss. Meanwhile, Kiyoko scripts her protagonist to be almost infuriatingly passive. She's so afraid of making a wrong move, Coley is like a shadow in her own life, following behind Sonya, afraid to be in the light. Cleverly, this is actually how Coley's dad is framed for the first half of the film — as a shadow.

For several sequences, I stared into the frame at the middle-aged man speaking softly in a dim room, trying to see who he was. This staging reflects how Coley sees her dad, as someone distant and unknown. As they grow closer, he will come into the light. And she will follow, metaphorically, and blossom. Da Costa performs this evolution with aplomb.  

The romance and tenderness found in Kiyoko's music videos throbs in Girls Like Girls. She breaks from creaky conventions of queer coming-of-age tales by rejecting scenes of violence or social ostracizing that once seemed required. Her heroine is soft, too, not pursuing but being pursued. And her ending is not a promise of eternal devotion, but a small win that feels huge for a girl in love. 

Girls Like Girls opens in theaters on June 19.

Android 17, Google's latest model of mobile operating system, is officially available — at least for owners of Pixel phones.

Google also released a new Pixel Drop and the latest operating system for its smartwatches, Wear OS 7. There's a lot of new features, so let's dive into what's coming to your devices.

Android 17

Android 17 is now available for Pixel phones. The operating system will roll out to other Android devices through the rest of the year.

The new Bubbles feature in Android 17. Credit: Google

Here are the three main new features available in Android 17.

• Bubbles: Users can open any mobile app as a pop-up "bubble" rather than in full screen mode — meaning you can manage multiple apps more easily. There's also a new Bubble bar interface at the bottom of the screen that will keep your recent bubbles organized and accessible.

• Screen Reactions: Dual webcam and screen recording is really popular on desktops and laptops these days, especially for walkthroughs and tutorials. Google is bringing that experience to Android devices, allowing users to record via their selfie camera and capture their phone screen at the same time. 

• Foldable gaming mode: Have a foldable Android device? This mode lets you turn one half of the foldable screen into a digital gamepad, while playing a game on the other half.

Android 17 also brings new security and parental control capabilities. The new operating system has more location-sharing controls, Live Threat Detection, Advanced Protection improvements, and a "Mark as lost" feature in Find Hub.

Parents can also set screen time limits, and filter out content, without needing to link a Google Account first.

Foldable Gaming mode in Android 17 Credit: Google June Pixel Drop

The latest Pixel drop for Google's Pixel phones is also out — and this one is chock full of AI features.

• Gemini Omni: Users can edit their videos by just chatting with the AI chatbot. Remix images and videos, or just start from scratch with nothing but a text prompt. You can also create a custom AI avatar that looks and sounds like you — then insert it into any scene.  

• Lyria 3 in Gemini: Google is also bringing its latest music generation model, Lyria 3, to Pixel phones. Users can choose the style, the tempo, or even upload an image to inspire a song.

Google is also bringing minor upgrades to certain PIxel models. This latest Pixel Drop brings Google's speech-to-voice translation with AudioLM feature to Pixel 10am devices. Android Quick Share, which provides AirDrop capabilities with iPhones, is now available on Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a devices.

Take a Message has also now rolled out to all compatible Pixel devices in the U.S. The feature provides Custom Greetings, which lets users record a personalized outgoing message — and gives voicemail transcriptions when you miss a call.

And, of course, Pixel phones get all the new features that come along with the new Android 17.

Wear OS 7

Own an Android smartwatch? Here's what's new on your device.

• Android Live Updates: Smartwatch users can now view Android Live Updates directly from their wrist. This feature can be used to track sports scores, food delivery arrival times, workouts, and more. 

• Control other devices: Users can now control other Android devices from their wrist. Wear OS 7 lets you access what's playing on your headphones or home speakers. Users can view photos snapped with their smartglasses instantly on their smartwatch.

• Emergency Sharing: If your Pixel Watch detects a fall, a car accident, or a loss of pulse, your Pixel device will now immediately contact emergency services and notify a user's emergency contacts.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has given the internet plenty to talk about on the field, but one of the tournament’s best side quests is happening far from the stadiums.

As international fans travel between host cities, their off-field discoveries have become one of the tournament's most charming online trends. The 2026 World Cup is being played across 11 U.S. cities, nearly half of which are in the South. An additional 25 communities are also hosting national teams at base-camp training sites, including stops like Greensboro, Chattanooga, Columbus, and Spokane.

SEE ALSO: The World Cup's breakout star is a duck in a tiny Mexico jersey

In practice, that means visitors are not just passing through the usual tourist hubs, but winding up in grocery stores, gas stations, college towns, and chain restaurants — posting wide-eyed reactions to the parts of American life locals usually move through without thinking twice. 

Among the trend's breakout figures is @FreddyLA7, a German fan whose World Cup road trip through the South has turned into a rolling tour of Americana — and amounted to over 600,000 followers in the process. Since landing in Atlanta, he has documented stops at Taco Bell, Stranger Things filming locations, Walmart, and Waffle House (which was a “10/10”).

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After hearing Ella Langley repeatedly on local stations, he posted that the country singer had become "basically the soundtrack" of the trip, and it went so viral that he got invited to see her perform. He even met the Mayor of Houston and has gotten many online shoutouts from Republican lawmakers. 

But @FreddyLA7 is far from the only viral visitor. Swedish fan Elsa Thora treats ranch dressing, grocery-store snacks, and yellow school buses like major discoveries.

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Fans from the UK have posted their first encounters with Erewhon and a high school football field that looked like it was right out of a "movie set." Scottish fans in Boston have embraced tailgates, while Japanese fans have documented bottomless chips and salsa. Irish fans have salivated over Raising Cane's. Even the size of American stadiums has become part of the fascination.

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Not every part of the World Cup travel experience has been as easy to romanticize. From price gouging that's alarmed even the Mexican president to confusing, jammed transportation to reports of missing tickets, many fans and lawmakers have an issue with FIFA.

Access has been another barrier: fans, family, and even referees from several qualifying countries have struggled to enter the country. Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar Dias, who goes by his nickname Vozinha, became a breakout star (and gained over 8 million followers on Instagram) after making seven saves in Cape Verde's 0-0 draw against Spain. Following the shocking match, he said his mother couldn't attend because of visa issues and costs.

Still, those frustrations haven't stopped the off-field experiences from becoming a defining part of the tournament. The World Cup runs through July 19, leaving plenty of time for more visitors to find America’s unofficial attractions…and post all about it. 

Telemetry apps that log throttle position, brake pressure, and lap times have mostly lived in the sports car world. Porsche's Track Precision app and Chevrolet's Performance Data Recorder both built loyal followings among enthusiasts who wanted hard proof, not just a feeling, when it came to lap times, G-forces, braking points, and cornering lines.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime license to AcePDF Converter & Editor for just $23.99 with promo code EXTRA20 through June 28 during Deal Days and ditch ongoing PDF software subscriptions.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker AcePDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License $23.99
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PDFs have a way of turning simple tasks into unnecessary projects. You just want to edit a form, convert a file, combine a few documents, or pull text from a scanned page, and suddenly you’re bouncing between multiple apps, free tools with limitations, and subscription prompts.

Instead of piecing together a workflow from several different programs, AcePDF Converter & Editor puts those tools in one place. Through June 28 during Deal Days (our version of Prime Day), you can grab a lifetime license for just $23.99 with promo code EXTRA20, which is a pretty compelling alternative to paying monthly for occasional PDF work.

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What makes it useful is that it goes beyond basic file conversion. AcePDF can:

• Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, text, JPG, and PNG

• Convert Word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and images into PDFs

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• Add comments, annotations, watermarks, and shapes

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• Extract images from PDFs with a single click

The software works on both Windows and Mac, including Apple Silicon devices, and supports batch processing if you’re working through a pile of files at once. It also includes updates and can be installed on up to two devices.

For anyone who deals with contracts, forms, invoices, reports, resumes, or just the occasional stubborn PDF, having a dedicated tool can save a surprising amount of time.

During Deal Days, you can get a lifetime license to AcePDF Converter & Editor for just $23.99 with promo code EXTRA20 through June 28.

Want to see more deals? Peruse the full Deal Days collection.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Avoid a dreaded dead battery with the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: GoCable GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable $21.99
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Want to start traveling a little lighter? The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable takes the place of eight different gadgets in one, helping you stay organized, powered up, and prepared wherever you go.

Right now, you can snag one for just $21.99 while supplies last.

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Whether you’re heading on vacation or just to the office, keeping up with all your cords can feel like a full-time job. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable ensures you have a Type-C, a Type-C+, and an Apple Lightning connector at your fingertips at all times. It pops onto your keyring so you can stay powered up wherever you go.

The GoCable features magnetic cables that stay nice and organized, with no untangling required. All you need to do is add a power bank or wall adapter to charge your devices.

It’s super efficient with 100W ultra-fast charging and high-speed file transfers, and you can see the real-time charging status with the LED power display.

Aside from keeping your devices charged up, the GoCable also comes equipped with a bottle opener and a safe-proofed hidden cutter that makes it easy to open packages. It also has a carabiner clip, so it’s easy to attach to anything and keep nearby.

Make life easier with the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

TL;DR: The Babbel Language Learning lifetime subscription is down to $159 with the StackSocial code LEARN, giving users access to 14 languages forever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $158.99
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Learning a new language isn’t easy, but it also might not be as hard as some apps make it seem. If memorizing vocab lists isn’t working for you, check out Babbel. They take a more practical approach to teaching, and there’s even an AI conversation partner who can help you practice your pronunciation.

Normally, a Babbel lifetime subscription would cost $299, but right now it’s on sale for $159.

Babbel gives you lifetime access to courses in 14 different languages, and the format is designed to fit into real life. Each lesson takes around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can actually stick with it whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just squeezing in some study time between meetings.

Here are a few of the included languages:

• Spanish

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And that’s just the beginning.

Unlike other apps that focus heavily on word games or repetitive matching drills, Babbel centers its content around practical conversation topics. You’ll get lessons on travel, shopping, business, culture, and more, all developed by expert linguists and backed by academic research.

Speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation, while the new AI-powered conversation partner lets you practice speaking in real time.

Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons ahead of time.

You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and jump between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort.

Use code LEARN to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for only $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Argentina vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage games is coming to an end, and we're finally getting a chance to see the defending champions. Argentina face off against Algeria in their opening game, a match they'll be expected to win without too much hassle. That being said, anything can happen in tournament football.

Argentina will be captained by Messi, set to make his 200th international appearance. Can he lead his side to another title? It all starts here.

If you want to watch Argentina vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Argentina vs. Algeria?

Argentina vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 16. This fixture takes place at the Arrowhead Stadium.

How to watch Argentina vs. Algeria for free

Argentina vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX 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 ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Argentina vs. Algeria for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Argentina vs. Algeria for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Argentina vs. Algeria (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

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 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Argentina vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.