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Why Did AOL Wait Until Now to End Dial-up?

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 23:00

On September 30, AOL switched off its internet dial-up service for good, and anyone still using its dialer software or the special Shield browser would find their internet no longer works.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch I Know What You Did Last Summer at home: Now streaming

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 23:00
The best Netflix deals at a glance: BEST FOR T-MOBILE CUSTOMERS Netflix Standard (with ads) Free for those on Go5G, Experience Beyond and Experience More plans (save $7.99/month) Learn More BEST BUNDLE DEAL Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $7.98 per month) Learn More BEST FOR XFINITY CUSTOMERS Netflix Standard with ads, Apple TV+, and Peacock Premium $15/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $13.97/month) Get Deal MOST AFFORDABLE PLAN Netflix Standard with ads $7.99 per month Learn More

How about another horror legacy sequel to round out the summer? The hook-wielding killer from the hit '90s slasher film is back to torment a new group of pretty young friends with a dark secret. The latest I Know What You Did Last Summer isn't just a reboot, though — it's a sequel with some iconic faces. The legendary Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt are back to tap into our collective love of '90s nostalgia and slasher films.

I Know What You Did Last Summer also stars Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, and Austin Nichols.

The sequel slash reboot hit theaters in July and became available to watch at home as of Aug. 26 via digital on demand. Now it's finally streaming — just in time for spooky season. Here's everything you need to know to watch — including how you can watch for less.

What is I Know What You Did Last Summer about?

Part reboot, part sequel, I Know What You Did Last Summer borrows the 1997 original's basic plot. In the fishing village of Southport, North Carolina, a group of teens accidentally kills someone and covers it up. They think they've gotten away with murder until a mysterious, hooded, fishhook-wielding stranger starts stalking them down. This time around, however, the guilty teens seek out survivors from the first film — Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.) — for help.

Check out the trailer below:

Is I Know What You Did Last Summer worth watching?

The slasher legacy sequel earned around $65 million at the global box office. While it has definitely succeeded against a reported budget of $17 million, it struggled to find its audience compared to other legacy sequels like 28 Years Later and Final Destination: Bloodlines. The reviews are largely mediocre, as it currently holds a 36 percent critic rating and 68 percent audience rating at Rotten Tomatoes. To be fair, the original also has pretty low scores.

For what it's worth, Mashable's own reviewer had mostly good things to say about I Know What You Did Last Summer. In his review, Jason Adams cheered, "Here, Robinson's film leans into the fun of horror legacy, playing to the strengths of the '90s original and throwing curveballs at a new generation. It's all a learning process: When life stabs you, you strike a pose in your designer jeans and vintage rock tee and stab it the hell back, baby."

Read our full review of I Know What You Did Last Summer.

How to watch I Know What You Did Last Summer at home Credit: Sony Pictures

As of Oct. 16, there are a few ways you can watch I Know What You Did Last Summer at home: buy it or rent it on digital for as low as $5.99 or stream it. See the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

I Know What You Did Last Summer is available as of Aug. 26 to buy for $14.99 or rent for $5.99 at digital-on-demand retailers. Make note that if you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film, but just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

Stream it on Netflix

Given Sony Pictures' and Netflix's agreement that gives the streamer first dibs, it comes as no surprise that I Know What You Did Last Summer makes its streaming debut on Netflix on Oct. 16. That's actually earlier than we anticipated, based on other recent Sony Pictures films (like Heart Eyes and Paddington in Peru), likely so that it's available to watch ahead of Halloween.

Netflix doesn't offer free trials, nor does it allow you to share an account (unless you pay for an extra user), so you'll need your own Netflix subscription to stream I Know What You Did Last Summer. Fortunately, Netflix has a few membership tiers; all three options will grant you access.

Watching Netflix with ads is the most affordable option at $7.99 per month. If you want to eliminate ads, the price jumps up to $17.99 for a Standard subscription. Finally, there's a third tier called Netflix Premium that costs a steep $24.99 per month and will let you watch on four household devices at once (as opposed to the other plans' two devices) in 4K Ultra HD + HDR with no ads.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix subscription Starting at $7.99 per month Learn More The best Netflix deals

Before you sign up for Netflix, check the deals below to see if you're eligible to score a subscription for free — or at least at a discount. Be sure to check the terms for more details.

Best Netflix deal for T-Mobile customers Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Standard (with ads) Free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal

T-Mobile customers on most Go5G plans, as well as Experience Beyond and Experience More plans, get ad-supported Netflix Standard for free (reg. $7.99 per month) as long as their account remains in good standing. You need to have two or more lines of any type of Go5G or Magenta plan or at least one line of Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, Magenta MAX, Experience More, or Experience Beyond.

If you're eligible, you'll have to manually activate your subscription by logging into My.T-Mobile and selecting Manage add-ons. Once there, add Netflix in the Services section and you'll be prompted to either create a Netflix account or sign in to an existing one. T-Mobile will then take care of your Netflix bill each month. Check out the terms and FAQs on the promo page.

Best Netflix deal for Verizon customers Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / HBO Max Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan Get Deal

As of December 2023, Verizon customers with myPlan can get a Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) for just $10 per month ($7.98 per month in savings). A $17.98 value, that basically gets you Netflix Standard with ads for free. Eligible Verizon customers include those on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plans. After enrolling in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Verizon's support page has all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.

Best Netflix deal for Xfinity customers Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV+ / Peacock / Netflix Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Premium, and Apple TV+ $15 per month with Xfinity StreamSaver Get Deal

Last year, Comcast announced its Xfinity StreamSaver package, which includes Netflix Standard with ads ($7.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month), and Apple TV+ ($9.99 per month). Current and new Xfinity Internet or TV customers can add the StreamSaver bundle to their existing services for only $15 per month. Usually, it costs $28.97 per month for all three subscriptions, so you'll save about $13.97 monthly with this package deal.

UPDATE: Oct. 16, 2025, 5:00 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest streaming details and prices for "I Know What You Did Last Sumer."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why “It Just Works” Isn’t True Anymore on the Mac

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 22:00

Using a Mac is generally much less of a headache than using a Windows PC or a Linux system. No driver hunts, being sabotaged by updates, or any of the myriad little problems the more open operating systems have.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jingle Bell Heist trailer: Olivia Holt and Connor Swindells join forces and fall in love

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:48

Working at department stores during the holiday shopping season should come with hazard pay. Barraged by giddy children hyped up on too many sweets, anxious parents determined to get the perfect gift, and bosses who are total Grinches, these workers too often get too many bad days for too little in return. That's the case for beleaguered handyman Nick (Connor Swindells) and harried retail-worker Sophia (Olivia Holt). So, they decide it's time for a Jingle Bell Heist.

Written by Abby McDonald and Amy Reed, this Netflix holiday original follows its thieving antiheroes as they devise a plan to rob the London department store where they've been ripped off. The goal is a big Christmas Eve score. But while planning their scheme, these two begin to want each other for Christmas. It's an inside job with plenty of holiday cheer.

Lucy Punch, Peter Serafinowicz, and Poppy Drayton co-star in this curious addition to Netflix's ever-growing holiday lineup. Are you ready to have your heart snatched by these beguiling thieves?

Jingle Bell Heist premieres on Netflix on Nov. 26.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Jurassic World Rebirth: Heres when the dino revival is streaming

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:45
The best streaming deals to watch 'Jurassic World Rebirth' at a glance: WATCH NOW Buy or rent 'Jurassic World Rebirth' on Prime Video $19.99 or $29.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Buy or rent 'Jurassic World Rebirth' on Apple TV+ $19.99 or $29.99 Get Deal WATCH LATER Peacock Premium yearly subscription $109.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal WATCH LATER Peacock Premium for Students $2.99/month for 12 months (save $8/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $3.99/month (save $7/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER Peacock Premium for Active Military and Veterans $3.99/month (save $7/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER Peacock Premium for Teachers $3.99/month for 12 months (save $7/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER FOR FREE Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal WATCH LATER Peacock Premium Get $3 or $5 cashback per month with World or World Elite Mastercard Get Deal

The Jurassic Park franchise roars on in 2025 with Jurassic World Rebirth — one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. Besides a new star-studded cast, we're most excited about the return of Jurassic Park's original screenwriter, David Koepp.

Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One), it stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as a group of people who should know better than to mess with dinosaurs so casually. Nevertheless, they seek out the beasts, and all chaos ensues.

Jurassic World Rebirth landed in theaters July 2, but if you missed it on the big screen, you can officially watch it at home this fall. Here's everything you need to know, including when and where it's streaming.

What is Jurassic World Rebirth about?

Set five years after Jurassic World: Dominion, Rebirth follows an extraction crew (Johansson, Bailey, Ali, and Friend) on an expedition to the original research facility for Jurassic Park. Their mission? To procure DNA from the dinosaurs deemed "too dangerous for the park" for a medical advancement worth trillions.

Check out the official trailer below.

Is Jurassic World Rebirth worth watching?

The last two Jurassic Park movies — Fallen Kingdom and Dominion — were loathed by critics, including Mashable's own, despite making over a billion dollars. So, the bar is set pretty low.

For what it's worth, though, Mashable film critic Kristy Puchko calls Jurassic World Rebirth "the best of the new batch of movies."

"In the end, Jurassic World Rebirth is a rocky ride. Some bits are absolutely exhilarating, while others feel like a chore. But unlike the humans in this franchise, the humans of our world just cannot tire of these incredible beasts, happy to shell out ticket money to get as close as we might to their enormous majesty. And this film, including its hilariously calamitous opening with its requisite kill, will deliver, feeding both all our yearning for excitement and our need for escapism," she writes in her review, adding, "It’s not better than the original, but it’s the closest we’ve come."

Like most of the other Jurassic Park movies (aside from the original), it has a relatively low critic score overall on Rotten Tomatoes, with a solid 70+ audience score. Translation: People can't get enough of these on-screen beasts.

Check out our full review of Jurassic World Rebirth.

How to watch Jurassic World Rebirth at home Credit: Universal Pictures

There are a few different ways you can watch Jurassic World Rebirth at home. You can buy it or rent it on digital for as low as $5.99, or you can stream it on Peacock. See the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

Jurassic World Rebirth is available as of Aug. 5 to buy or rent at digital-on-demand retailers. Just be aware that with rentals, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it instead, then it's yours to keep with no watch limits.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

Stream it on Peacock

As a Universal Pictures film, it comes as no surprise that Jurassic World Rebirth will make its streaming debut on Peacock on Oct. 30. The digital-to-streaming arc of other recent Universal films (Drop, Wicked, The Woman in the Yard) was between two and three months, so this release is right on par.

Don't have a Peacock subscription? You can sign up for as low as $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without (thanks to a recent price hike). Before you get ahead of yourself, though, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming dealsBest Peacock deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

If Peacock isn't running any sort of special, the best Peacock deal for most people on any given day is the annual subscription deal. You'll get 12 months of streaming for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. While a monthly subscription with ads costs $10.99 per month (which adds up to $131.88), a yearly subscription will only run you $109.99 (which breaks down to about $9.17 per month). That's about 17% in total savings. For those who prefer watching without ads, you'll pay $169.99 per year (which breaks down to about $14.16 per month instead of $16.99).

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn More

Xfinity customers should check the eligibility details below before signing up for Peacock, as you might be able to score a subscription without paying a cent. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible to get Peacock for free through Xfinity. You can also head to Xfinity.com for more details.

  • Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

  • NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

  • New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students: Save $8/month for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $2.99 per month for one year (save $8 per month) Get Deal

Students can shave $8 per month off a Peacock Premium subscription for an entire year — that's a total of $96 in savings. You'll need to verify your student status via SheerID and retrieve the unique promo code to knock the cost down to just $2.99 instead of $8.99. Just note that it can only be used once, and after the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price again.

Best Peacock deal for first responders: Save $7/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $3.99 per month (save $7 per month) Get Deal

First responders and medical professionals can secure a Peacock Premium subscription at a discounted rate of $3.99 per month by verifying their professional status via SheerID. Unlike the student deal, however, it's not limited to a year. If you continue to meet verification qualifications, you can renew your subscription at the discounted rate each year — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and receive a new promo code. Learn more about eligibility terms and requirements.

Best for active military and veterans: Save $7/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Military $3.99 per month (save $7 per month) Get Deal

Active duty U.S. military service members, Reservists, National Guard members, veterans, or U.S. military retirees can also get Peacock Premium for a discounted rate of $3.99 per month, so long as you can prove your military status using SheerID and continue to meet requirements. You may need to revalidate your status to renew the promotion each year.

Best for teachers: Save $7/month for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Teachers $3.99/month for 12 months (save $7 per month) Get Deal

Educators who can verify their status on SheerID can also score Peacock Premium for just $3.99 per month instead of $10.99. However, the promotion is limited to a year. Once the promotional period ends, you'll be charged full price, so be sure to cancel before the year is up.

Best for Instacart users: free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

You'll unlock a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) by signing up for Instacart+ ($99.99 per year). That's on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. Oh, and here's a pro tip: If you're new to Instacart+, you'll get a free two-week trial to test the waters. That means you can watch Jurassic World Rebirth and plenty more for free if you wait until the streaming debut to sign up. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged.

Best for Mastercard holders: Get up to $5 back per month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Mastercard Peacock Premium Get $3 or $5 cashback per month with World or World Elite Mastercard Get Deal

If you sign up for Peacock using an eligible World or World Elite Mastercard, you'll automatically receive a monthly statement credit of $3 for Peacock Premium or $5 for Peacock Premium Plus. That ultimately drops the price of the Premium tier back to $7.99 (its former price before the most recent price hike) and Premium Plus down to $11.99 per month. Learn more about eligibility requirements on the promotional page. The offer ends on Dec. 31, 2025.

UPDATE: Oct. 16, 2025, 3:45 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest streaming details and pricing for "Jurassic World Rebirth."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Firefox Will Continue to Get New Feature Updates on Windows 10

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:28

Earlier this week, Windows 10 officially reached the end of its free support life. But just because Microsoft is pulling back doesn't mean your favorite browser is. There’s good news for Firefox users still clinging to Windows 10.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Bundle Up: Apple TV and Peacock Join Forces With a New Streaming Package

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:24

NBCUniversal and Apple have announced that starting next week, the powerhouse media companies will offer the "Apple TV and Peacock Bundle." It combines both streaming services into one package, giving people who already want both services a single lower monthly bill.

Categories: IT General, Technology

OnePlus' Android 16 Update Is Here, But It Looks Suspicious

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:20

Android OEMs copying the iPhone is nothing new. But typically, that's something we see in Asian countries, not really in phones we see stateside. The latest version of OxygenOS might have you thinking differently, though.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Instagram Teen Accounts: Is it just PR?

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:04

On the same day Meta showcased its latest AI gadgets, Brandy Roberts stood outside its headquarters mourning her daughter Englyn — who was just 14 when she died after watching a “how-to” suicide video on Instagram. Brandy wasn’t there as an activist. She was there as a grieving mother demanding answers. Inside, Mark Zuckerberg fumbled through live demos of glitchy smart glasses and AI tools. Outside, grieving families demanded accountability. Meta’s silence spoke volumes: Growth over grief, product over protection, optics over safety. 

Meta’s failures aren’t new. Back in 2019, approximately 440,000 minors received follower requests from accounts previously flagged for predatory behavior. Since then, the company has focused on convincing users and lawmakers it can police itself — launching promotional campaigns like Instagram Teen accounts despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

Instagram Teen Accounts were marketed as a breakthrough in youth safety — with AI age detection, nudity filters, and location alerts. But independent audits found only 8 of 47 safety tools were effective. Teens still encountered sexualized content, self-harm imagery, and predatory behavior. Meta’s updates seem to be more about perception than protection.

New reporting from Heat Initiative, ParentsTogether Action, and Design It For Us reveals the dark reality of the teen experience on Instagram Teen accounts. Surveying 800 users aged 13–15, the report found that nearly half encountered unsafe content or unwanted messages in just the past month. Half said Instagram’s algorithm recommended suspicious adult-run accounts, and 65 percent hadn’t seen a single "take a break" notification — a feature Meta touts as a screen-time safeguard. These findings underscore a growing pattern: Meta’s promotional campaigns promise peace of mind, but the lived experience of young users tells a story of persistent exposure to harm. The discrepancy between marketing and reality isn’t just misleading — it’s dangerous.

And now, Heat Initiative and ParentsTogether Action have released a video showing exactly what kind of content teens are served on Instagram Teen accounts — content so inappropriate that even sharing it for advocacy feels ethically fraught. Watching these clips, I felt the same discomfort that Meta should feel every time its algorithm pushes similar material to millions of young users. If it feels wrong to show these videos to adults for advocacy, why does Meta feel justified in serving them to children at scale?

Platforms like Meta will continue to exploit their users — especially children — until we, the users, reclaim our power and demand a better digital community. One that values connection and public good over profit.

I left Instagram after witnessing parents like Brandy protest in NYC. It wasn’t easy — most of my friends stayed. But each month, I’m reminded that I have the power to choose platforms that value me, not exploit me. I do it for my younger self. For future generations. For the survivors I love. And for the children who can’t be here.

So next time you see organizations or influencers partnering with Meta, ask yourself: Is this about safety or optics? Just yesterday, Meta claimed its Instagram Teen experience would now be "guided by PG‑13 movie ratings." But the Motion Picture Association quickly clarified it was never consulted and called Meta’s claim "inaccurate." Once again, Meta borrows credibility it hasn’t earned, using trusted labels to mask persistent harm. When PR becomes the product and partnerships become shields, we owe it to ourselves — and our children — to look closer.

This article reflects the opinion of the writer.

Lennon Torres is a Public Voices Fellow on Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse with The OpEd Project. She is an LGBTQ+ advocate who grew up in the public eye, gaining national recognition as a young dancer on television shows. With a deep passion for storytelling, advocacy, and politics, Lennon now works to center the lived experience of herself and others as she crafts her professional career in online child safety at Heat Initiative. The opinions reflected in this piece are those of Lennon Torres as an individual and not of the entities she is part of. Lennon’s substack: https://substack.com/@lennontorres1

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurry and Get This 144 Hz Hisense 85-Inch TV for 36% Off

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:00

You can currently score the massive 85-inch Hisense QD7 Series QLED 4K UHD Google Smart TV for a major 35% discount. This huge price cut slashes the TV's original price of $998.00 down to just $648.00 at Walmart. That's a great deal for an enormous smart TV with a native 144Hz refresh rate.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Want to Save Money on Streaming? Try This

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:00

When streaming apps were first introduced, they provided an escape from the rising prices of traditional cable TV. Now that streaming has largely replaced cable, we're once again faced with increasing prices, along with the added challenge of navigating which apps we need to view our favorite shows and movies.

Categories: IT General, Technology

OneNote Just Got a Big Improvement for Touchscreens

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 20:43

OneNote on Windows will automatically bring up the touch keyboard when you tap the page canvas on touch-enabled devices. This is a huge win for anyone using a tablet or 2-in-1 device like the Microsoft Surface, as it makes typing instantly faster and more seamless.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Still havent seen The Substance? Heres how to watch it at home.

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 20:40
How to watch 'The Substance' at a glance: BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Rent 'The Substance' on digital $5.99 at Prime Video Get Deal BEST MUBI DEAL Mubi annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $119.88/year (save 33%) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Mubi for Students Free 30-day trial, then $9.99/month (save $5/month) Get Deal Best HBO Max deal HBO Max Basic annual plan $99.99/year (save $19.89) Get Deal Best for students HBO Max Basic for students $4.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Get HBO Max for free HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers (save $9.99/month) Get Deal Get HBO Max for free HBO Max Basic with Ads Free with Cricket Supreme Unlimited Plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal

"Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?" So asks The Substance, Coralie Fargeat's sophomore feature, winner of the Best Screenplay award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and 2025 Best Picture Oscar nominee. While it's been streaming on Mubi for the past year, the body horror romp is broadening its streaming horizons this fall.

The Hollywood ageism satire stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid, and positive word of mouth made the horror movie a surprise hit. If you still haven't seen it — or if you want to rewatch it this spooky season — here's everything you need to know about how to watch The Substance at home and online, including when and where it's streaming and the best deals to save some money.

What is The Substance about?

The Substance stars Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister who's fired from her fitness TV program for the unforgivable crime of aging. Battling with crippling Hollywood ageism, she's introduced to a new drug known as "the Substance." A single injection is all it takes for Elisabeth to be reborn as the beautiful and youthful Sue (Margaret Qualley), who then begins her own rise through Hollywood.

Of course, there's always a catch. The Substance forces you to split time between your two bodies; Elisabeth must spend exactly seven days as herself, then seven days as Sue. When she messes with the balance, things get...bloody.

Check out the official trailer:

Is The Substance worth watching?

The Substance has become the most successful box office release for arthouse distributor and streamer Mubi. The bold and bloody film created a ton of buzz, with audiences giving it a 74 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics' rating is even more impressive with a glowing 89 percent.

"Audaciously gross, wickedly clever, and possibly Demi Moore's finest hour, The Substance is a gasp-inducing feat from writer-director Coralie Fargeat," the critics consensus reads on Rotten Tomatoes.

While Mashable's own reviewer wasn't a big fan, writing that the "horror sci-fi plot of The Substance feels incomplete," most reviews are very positive. The film even earned itself a nomination for Best Picture at the 2025 Academy Awards.

Just be warned, many folks will be squirming in their seats over the amount of blood and gore. It is a body horror movie, after all.

How can I watch The Substance at home? Credit: Mubi Buy or rent on digital

The Substance made its digital retail debut on Oct. 31, 2024, meaning it's available for purchase at video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV+ for $19.99. The film is also available to rent for just $5.99. With rentals, you'll get 30 days to start watching, but just 48 hours once you begin.

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

Stream it on Mubi or HBO Max

As a Mubi original film, Mubi has been the exclusive streaming home for The Substance since it made its debut on Oct. 31, 2024. While Mubi is definitely a worthy subscription for cinephiles, it's not generally in most people's streaming lineups. So we were thrilled to learn that the movie has now made its way to a new streamer as of Oct. 10, 2025: HBO Max. This Halloween season, the campy body horror gem is finally available to a wider audience.

Mubi subscriptions start at $14.99 per month, while HBO Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month. We've rounded up a few ways to save some money on both streamers below.

The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal

You can save about 16% (compared to a monthly plan) if you choose an annual plan and pay upfront for a year of HBO Max. The Basic plan with ads typically goes for $9.99 per month, but if you go annual, that cost drops to about $8.33 per month — a yearly total of just $99.99. We think this is the best HBO Max streaming deal for most people — although, if you cannot stand ads, the Max Standard annual subscription is the next-best deal at $169.99.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max Basic free with Cricket Supreme Unlimited Plan Get Deal

Want to get HBO Max for free? Switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic (with ads) for no extra cost. When you open up the HBO Max app, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash / HBO Max HBO Max (with ads) Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way you can get HBO Max for free in 2025 is through DoorDash's annual DashPass plan, which costs $96 per year ($8 per month). A DashPass membership gets you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long, plus free streaming (with ads) through HBO Max. Just activate your HBO Max Basic subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. If you'd rather watch ad-free, you can upgrade for a discounted rate.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can enjoy an entire year of HBO Max Basic (with ads) for half price. Verify your student status with UNiDAYS and use the discount code you receive to drop the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month. Once the year is through, your subscription will go back up to full price unless you cancel.

Best Mubi streaming dealsBest overall: Save 33% on an annual Mubi subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi logo Mubi annual subscription 7-day free trial, then $119.88/year (save 33%) Get Deal

If you're a movie lover and want to stick around to enjoy more than just The Substance, you can save 33% by paying for a year of Mubi upfront. An annual Mubi subscription costs $119.88 per year, which breaks down to just $9.99 per month instead of the usual $14.99 per month. You'll still get a seven-day free trial to kick off your subscription as well.

Best for students: Save $5/month on Mubi student subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi logo Mubi for students 30-day free trial, then $9.99/month (save $5/month) Get Deal

Students really get the winning deal here. If you can prove your student status, you can sign up for Mubi for free for 30 days, then get a discounted subscription for just $9.99 per month. That's $5/month cheaper than a typical subscription. Plus, with 30 free days, you'll have plenty of time to watch The Substance and lots of other films before even paying a cent.

UPDATE: Oct. 16, 2025, 2:40 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest streaming information regarding "The Substance," as well as the latest deals.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Smart TV Is Spying on You With Three Letters You’ve Never Even Heard Of

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 20:00

At this point, you're probably pretty used to the idea that your smartphone tracks what you do and shares that information with various companies. It's a little depressing, but it's become a fact of life. However, what about your TV?

Categories: IT General, Technology

OpenAI announces well-being advisory group, as the company claims to have mitigated safety concerns

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 19:43

OpenAI has formed an advisory council to monitor user well-being and AI safety, the company announced this week. The eight-person group will be tasked with defining standards for healthy AI interactions across age groups.

The announcement came alongside an X post by CEO Sam Altman stating that the company has been able to successfully mitigate the "serious mental health issues" posed by the use of its products — Altman then went on to explain that ChatGPT would begin to allow more adult content, including erotica, in chats. OpenAI is currently facing its first wrongful death lawsuit, following allegations that ChatGPT played a role in the death by suicide of a young teen.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic’s latest AI model, Claude Haiku 4.5, doubles down on speed and safety

Council members include academics from Boston Children’s Hospital's Digital Wellness Lab and Stanford’s Digital Mental Health Clinic, as well as experts in psychology, psychiatry, and human-computer interaction.

"We remain responsible for the decisions we make, but we’ll continue learning from this council, the Global Physician Network, policymakers, and more, as we build advanced AI systems in ways that support people’s well-being," the company wrote in a blog post.

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Last week, YouGov published a survey of 1,500 Americans that found just 11 percent were open to using AI to improve their mental health. Only 8 percent of respondents said they trusted the technology to be used in this space.

Broadly, generative AI companions have raised serious concerns among mental health experts, including the rise of what has been coined AI psychosis among chronic users of chatbot companions. AI companies have continued to launch mental health products, as more and more Americans turn to AI to answer mental health questions and receive support from digital stand-ins — despite a dearth of evidence that could prove its efficacy.

Federal regulators are investigating the role of generative AI and chatbot companions in the growing mental health crisis, as well, especially among teens. Several states have banned AI-powered chatbots advertised as therapeutic assistants. In the last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills that attempt to regulate AI and its societal impacts, including mandating safety reporting for AI companies and protocols that protect teen users from exposure to sexual content. The latter law, SB 243, also requires companies institute a system for addressing suicidal ideation, suicide, and self-harm.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Tried Running My VPN 24/7—Here’s What Happened

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 19:30

I decided to find out what it’s like to keep a VPN on all the time—whether streaming, gaming, or doing online tasks. What I learned went beyond just better privacy: there were definite perks, some frustrations, and a few surprises. Curious about living with a VPN always on? Here’s my experience.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Suspects use Apple AirTag to track, ambush Florida couple

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 18:51

Apple's AirTag device has a knack for saving people from serious headaches, but as one Florida couple found out, it can also be used for nefarious means.

A couple in the Tampa area fell victim to an attempted abduction at their home after two would-be captors allegedly planted an AirTag on the couple's SUV, tracking them to their house, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (via the New York Post). The two suspects, Odardy Maldonado-Rodriguez and Luis Charles, approached the victims as they exited their car and forced them inside the garage at gunpoint.

Luckily, a home alarm went off and the suspects fled shortly thereafter. Police then came and found the AirTag underneath the SUV. Both suspects were tracked down, arrested, and charged with multiple crimes, including armed kidnapping, armed burglary, and illegal installation of a tracking device.

How to know if an unwanted AirTag has been planted near you This is what the alert looks like. Credit: Apple

This is obviously a terrifying situation that could theoretically happen to anyone, so fortunately, Apple has a potential solution for it:

  1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services

  2. Turn Location Services on

  3. Scroll down and go to System Services, then turn on Significant Locations

  4. Turn on Bluetooth

  5. Go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications

  6. Turn on Allow Notifications

Once you've done all of that, you should be eligible to receive an alert on your phone anytime an unknown AirTag is on or near you. Tapping the push notification will open Find My, which will give you some assistance in finding the AirTag so you can remove it.

Of course, that's just for iPhone users. Android users also have the ability to be alerted about unwanted tracking devices. Here's how to do it:

  1. Go to Settings > Safety & emergency > Unknown tracker alerts

  2. Turn on Allow Alerts if it's not already turned on

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tired of LibreOffice? The Open Source ONLYOFFICE Just Got a Big Update

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 18:49

The open source office application ONLYOFFICE had its first point release since June on Wednesday, and it comes with a bevy of new features for its "Desktop Editors" suite of apps. They include a document recovery function, faster spreadsheet functions, and PDF annotation tools.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Are Venmo and PayPal down? Users report issues on October 16 for payment services

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 18:35

UPDATE: Oct. 16, 2025, 2:08 p.m. PayPal acknowledged a Thursday outage in a statement to Mashable, but said the problem has been fixed. "PayPal and Venmo experienced a brief service disruption that has since been resolved," a spokesperson wrote in an email.

UPDATE: Oct. 16, 2025, 12:59 p.m. EDT The number of user-reported issues for PayPal and Venmo dropped off precipitously on Down Detector, indicating the problem had been resolved. The payment services' status page indicated all services were operational.

Both Venmo and PayPal saw a spike in user-reported issues on Down Detector on Thursday, Oct. 16. That signaled the payment services could be having issues.

(Disclosure: Down Detector is owned by Ziff Davis, which also owns Mashable.)

PayPal and Venmo are part of the same company, so it tracks that both might experience problems at the same time. I was able to access Venmo on my phone at about 12:25 p.m. ET, but there remained a number of complaints online from folks who could not do the same.

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Users began reporting issues with the payment services on Down Detector at around 11 a.m. ET. PayPal's status page indicated all its services, including Venmo, were operational at about 12:30 p.m., but it remained unclear if all users' issues were actually resolved.

This story is developing and will be updated as necessary...

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tor Browser Says 'No Thanks' to Firefox's AI Features

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 18:34

Tor Browser 15.0a4, which is the latest alpha release, is available now, and one of the biggest changes is that it removes various AI features that Mozilla has been integrating into Firefox. This is a great change from the trend of AI chatbots and machine learning being baked into your browser.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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