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3 Apple TV+ Shows You Need to Watch This Weekend

How-To Geek - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 06:00

It's been a long week of meetings, deadlines, and a few too many emails, so I think it's safe to say that you've earned some couch time this weekend. I've handpicked these three TV series on Apple TV+ that are short enough for you to binge over a single weekend, but are loaded with action, drama, laughs, and even some weird robot sci-fi stuff to make it feel like a real escape for a while.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Do tons of AI tasks with just one tool, all for $40

Mashable - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 06:00

TL;DR: Put all your AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, and Leonardo.AI in one place with a lifetime subscription to 1minAI, an all-in-one AI app, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $234). 

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription $39.99 at The Mashable Shop
$234 Save $194.01 Get Deal

The free version of some AI models like ChatGPT can get the job done, but if you want the good stuff, you should consider opting for a paid subscription.  

1minAI consolidates many of the most popular AI models — like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI — into one platform where you can use them all seamlessly, whether you need to generate text, images, or even full videos. A lifetime subscription to 1minAI usually costs $234, but you can get one on sale now for $39.99

What can you do with 1minAI

1minAI gives you one platform where you can access AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, Mistral AI, and more. You don't just get the baseline version, either — 1minAI users can chat with GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, Gemini Pro 1.5, and Llama 2 or Llama 3. 

Like a ton of other AI platforms, 1minAI has a limit to how much you can generate every month. Unlike other platforms, the limit is incredibly high. Here's what your lifetime subscription gets you every month. 

First, you get a baseline of 1,000,000 credits per month. Then, every day you log in, you get an additional 15,000 free credits. These will roll over if you don't use them all, too. 

In practice, those huge numbers mean you could generate up to 362,500 words, research nearly 2,000 SEO keywords, generate 386 images, upscale 241 images, remove 24 backgrounds, convert text to speech for over 120,000 characters, and generate up to 12 videos. 

Your AI Swiss Army Knife

Put all your go-to AI tools in one place. Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI for $39.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Prime Video Shows You Should Watch This Weekend (August 15 - 17)

How-To Geek - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 05:30

I'm always on the hunt for my next TV obsession—the type of show that you start watching over the weekend and, before you know it, you've binged the entire thing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Building Change Resilience in the Age of AI

Havard Management Tip of the Day - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 05:01

If your AI efforts aren’t paying off, it’s likely not a tech problem. The biggest barriers to success are often people and processes. To unlock real value from AI, your organization must build what experts call “change resilience”—the ability to adapt quickly and continuously as the technology evolves. Here’s how. Learn through hands-on experiments. Encourage […]

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Categories: Management

3 Netflix Shows You Need to Binge This Weekend (August 15 - 17)

How-To Geek - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 05:00

The weekend is the best time to crack open a new show on Netflix, but where do you begin? Discovering a new show isn't always easy, especially if you're unlucky enough to be using Netflix's latest redesigned interface.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for August 15, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 05:00

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

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

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

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

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

Intact.

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

UNCUT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A mess.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SNAFU

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Mass communication.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MEDIA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To snap.

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

BREAK

Final Hurdle hint

An apartment complex.

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

CONDO

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on August 15, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 05:00

The moon goes through a repeating cycle of phases each month, changing what we see every night. This is called the lunar cycle.

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

So, what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 15?

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, Aug. 15, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous, and it is 58% lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Alongside this, with no visual aids on the moon, you can spot the Mare Imbrium, Copernicus Crater, and the Oceanus Procellarum, an "Ocean of Storms" that covers more than 10% of the moon's surface.

With binoculars, enjoy glimpses of the Gassendi Crater, Alphonsus Crater, and the Alps Mountains. If you have a telescope, the Apollo 12, Caucasus Mountains, and the Schiller Crater will all be in view too.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Sept. 7. The last full moon was on Aug. 9.

What are moon phases?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stuff Your Kindle Day is live until Aug. 16 — download free historical fiction and contemporary books

Mashable - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 05:00

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Aug. 12-16. Stepping Through Time, hosted by Indie Author Central, is offering free (or heavily discounted) historical fiction and contemporary books for Kindle e-readers.

Stuff Your Kindle Day is back once again, and this time fans of historical fiction and contemporary books have their moment to shine. Stepping Through Time, hosted by Indie Author Central, is offering books from these popular genres for free or just $0.99. And even better, the books that you download are yours to keep forever.

Does your library need a boost? It doesn't matter. These books are free to download, so you may as well indulge.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-reader

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stepping Through Time takes place from Aug. 12-16. Unlike a lot of Stuff Your Kindle Days that take place over 24 hours, this event runs for five days. That gives you plenty of time to consider your options and find exactly what you want to read. Relax, you've got time.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The beautiful thing about Stuff Your Kindle Day is that anyone can participate. Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone.

Which e-books are free?

Finding all of these free historical fiction and contemporary books is straightforward thanks to the helpful hub page on Indie Author Central. Everything is nicely presented with filters so you can head directly to the books you actually want to download.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time, so don't hold back.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited $109.99 at Amazon
$145.96 Save $35.97 Get Deal Why we like it

These popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Prices start at $109.99, but if you want to secure a better deal, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 per month and allows you to borrow up to 20 books at a time. For a limited time, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, saving you $35.97.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best headphones for your iPhone

Mashable - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 05:00

Listen up: Your whole life is packed inside your phone. And if listening to music — as well as podcasts and audiobooks — is one of life's greatest pleasures, you need a good set of headphones or earbuds to connect to your phone.

That's particularly true for iPhone users. As Apple fans know, Apple iOS is a uniquely designed system, built for syncing Apple products together. That means only certain headphones will do, though the best ones aren't always Apple-produced.

If you’re serious about your sounds — and we know you are — you need a pair that both suit the capabilities of your iPhone and your lifestyle. It's important to know what you're looking for, so we've gone ahead and done the research for you.

Do you need wireless headphones for your iPhone?

To put it simply, yes. If you have an iPhone, it's probably time to go wireless. You have to go back several generations to find an iPhone that has a regular 3.5mm audio jack input. Apple has insisted on equipping its phones with a Lightning port for several years now. Apple headphones also use Lightning connections so they can plug straight into your phone. And if you have a pair of wired non-Apple headphones, Apple also sells an adaptor which connects a regular audio jack to the Lightning connection. But these adaptors are unreliable and break all-too easily. The best option is to connect your iPhone to the headphones. It's much easier and means fewer cables.

Are AirPods the best headphones for the iPhone?

Yes and no. AirPods are great — especially AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro Max (as you’ll see below) — but they're also expensive. They're definitely a good one-stop solution as they're so convenient to set up with your iPhone and they fit the Apple aesthetic perfectly. However, if you're keen to search around and spend a little longer setting things up (or spend a little less), there are other good options out there.

Should you buy the cheapest pair of headphones?

You can spend a few pounds on the cheapest pair of headphones, but you might as well just use the buds that come free with your iPhone. Going cheap is a false economy and you'll sacrifice quality and function. If you regularly listen to music, it's worth investing a little more. The sound quality is going to be much better.

What is noise cancellation?

Noise cancellation blocks out ambient noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your music. It's usually a mark of the best, most advanced headphones.

There are two kinds of noise cancellation: Passive and active noise cancellation. Passive noise cancellation is achieved by the design and build of the headphones, which physically block out noise by having oversized ear cups that create a seal. Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses a system of small microphones that pick up incoming sounds and create anti-noise sound waves to cancel them out. Also, look out for advanced ANC modes such as "transparency mode". This allows a certain level of ambient noise to seep in, such as other people's voices. It's handy for listening out for train platform announcements or having conversations with pals and colleagues.

What are Bluetooth codecs?

Wireless sound quality can be affected by factors such as distance and obstructions between your headphones and device, but also the codec software that your headphones support. Codecs are algorithms that encode and decode digital audio signals. Look out for headphones with low latency that support Qaulcomm’s aptX codecs, which are usually rated as the best codecs — particularly for streaming video on your phone and ensuring the picture and audio stay in sync. The latest versions to look (and listen) out for are aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive.

What is spatial audio?

This is another term you'll see when shopping for high-spec headphones. It essentially means 3D audio, which separates the sounds and places them in different locations around the room. If you're watching a film, for instance, you'll feel like you're in the middle of the action. Apple and other brands have their own versions of the technology but it's all essentially the same thing. Some spatial audio headphones have head tracking, which anticipates the movements of your head and adapts the sound.

What are the best headphones for the iPhone?

Think about the main reasons that you need new headphones: Are you going to be using them while you travel? Will you be listening to music mainly at home? Or while exercising? We’ve looked at a number of different scenarios and figured out the best headphones or earbuds for you and your lifestyle. In other words, we’ve done the hard work for you. There should be something for everyone and every budget in this list.

These are the best headphones for your iPhone in 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Razer's Latest Mechanical Keyboards Are Ultra-Thin

How-To Geek - Fri, 08/15/2025 - 00:01

If you want a mechanical keyboard, you don't have to go for the ones with full-size switches and keycaps. There are tons of low-profile options that are just as clacky, even as they might have a tad less travel. Now, Razer's latest keyboards are here, and they're as thin as they get.

Categories: IT General, Technology

90s Movies: A Pivotal Era of Film Innovation and Nostalgia

How-To Geek - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 23:00

I'm a 90s kid, which meant I spent the bulk of my childhood watching the films of the 90s (and older obviously), which admittedly makes me pretty biased when I say that 90s films were pretty special.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to Use the Function Keys in Microsoft Excel

How-To Geek - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 22:45

Most people overlook the row of function keys at the top of their keyboard. They often ignore, misunderstand, or underuse them. If you work with Excel spreadsheets regularly, those F-keys can be your secret weapon for working faster, smarter, and with far less frustration.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Things That Make A Laptop Overheat

How-To Geek - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 22:30

Is your laptop producing excessive heat even when performing normal tasks? This isn't one of those issues you can ignore, as overheating can cause serious problems to your laptop in the long run, such as thermal throttling. But why exactly does your laptop overheat, and what can you do to prevent it?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Linux Gaming: Close But No Cigar Yet

How-To Geek - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 22:15

Linux gaming is better than ever, and I finally feel that it's actually viable as a gaming platform beyond just a few hardcore Linux fans. However, while Linux gaming is on the up-and-up, it's far from reaching the end of the road.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Photos Adds New Create Tab Full of Fancy Features

How-To Geek - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 21:47

After a big Google Photos revamp in May that cleaned up the user interface and simplified the bottom bar buttons, Google just added a new "Create" tab to Photos packed with a ton of helpful AI features. If you've ever wanted to turn a photo into a video or easily create animations, now you can.

Categories: IT General, Technology

DOGE uses sketchy accounting to drastically exaggerate savings, according to report

Mashable - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 21:19

An in-depth new report from Politico determined that the Department of Government Efficiency (aka DOGE) has actually saved far less than it's claimed. So, despite spending the last six months cancelling research grants, federal contracts, and firing federal employees across the country, DOGE has fallen far behind the savings promised by Elon Musk.

So far, DOGE has claimed $205 billion in total savings since President Donald Trump's inauguration, according to its public "wall of receipts."

However, Politico reports that the wall of receipts is sorely lacking in, well, some important receipts.

DOGE claims it has saved taxpayers $52.8 billion from canceled contracts, but Politico could only verify $32.7 billion worth of contracts. What's worse is that, per Politico, the actual, tangible savings from those cancellations are closer to $1.4 billion. That's because DOGE uses some creative accounting to "exaggerate" the total savings. We'll get to that in a minute.

In other words, Politico reported that DOGE only saved about 2.6 percent of its claimed savings from cancelled contracts. Crucially, as Politico pointed out, none of that money can be taken off the federal deficit (which DOGE is supposed to be reducing) without Congressional intervention, as those dollars just get returned to the agencies.

Politico's lengthy report is worth digging into, as it has all the technical details of how DOGE is using "faulty math" to come up with these numbers. When calculating savings, DOGE reports the maximum possible spending amount of each contract, not the actual or planned spending.

This has actually been a known problem with DOGE's accounting since February. Often, experts use the analogy of a credit card limit to explain the limits of this approach. If you cancel a credit card with a $1 million limit, that doesn't mean you've saved $1 million.

Politico's report said that DOGE's claimed savings are "drastically exaggerated," and that "the magnitude of DOGE’s inflated savings claims has not been clear until now."

The Trump administration told Politico in response to their story that the agency produced "historic savings for the American people,” and that DOGE's public list of claimed savings is accurate and "updated in real time based on current information."

These questions about DOGE's exaggerated numbers may not surprise anyone who has been following along with Musk's shenanigans since January. Musk, who officially left his post at DOGE earlier this year, initially claimed that the agency would save the government $2 trillion before quickly revising that goal down to $150 billion in April.

DOGE's cuts have undoubtedly been effective in shuttering some government services, slashing foreign aid, and cutting $125 million in funding to support LGBTQ health initiatives.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The coolest kitchen gear and gadgets well always recommend

Mashable - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 20:23

Out of all the kitchen products we've put to the test, these 12 are the ones we'll always recommend — over and over again. Here's why we love them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Turn your iPhone into a scanner with an app that lasts for life

Mashable - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 20:00

TL;DR: Scan anything, anywhere, with this lifetime subscription to iScanner, now A$38 (reg. A$307) with code SCAN through 7 September.

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription AU$38
AU$307 Save AU$269 Get Deal

Raise your hand if you've ever had to rush to the library to print something. If most of us don't have the space for clunky printers, chances are we also don't keep a scanner at home. That's what iScanner is for.

This iOS app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a handy little scanner that works for basically any document type. It's also only A$38 (reg. A$307) for a lifetime subscription.

No more wasted desk space

Even if you're one of the few with a physical scanner still in your presence, you can now clear some counter space thanks to iScanner. And while you're at it, you can throw away that dusty old filing cabinet, too. 

iScanner is the number one US-based scanning and document management tool, letting you knock items off your to-do list from anywhere. Need to save a receipt for taxes? Do you have a contract you need to digitize? You can scan any document using just the phone on your iOS device. 

Students, entrepreneurs, educators, and stay-at-home moms alike will all find endless uses for a scanner in your pocket. The AI-powered tools ensure your documents' borders are detected and automatically adjusted while also straightening scan pages and ditching curves and skews. 

Thanks to AI, you can also use iScanner to help you solve complicated math problems.  Or put its OCR technology to the test and let it help you decipher text in up to 20 languages.

Once things are scanned, the app becomes a full PDF editor and file manager. Edit your scans, including signing them, adding text, or autofilling them with custom templates. Then, use the file manager's folder via drag and drop to keep them safe and organized. 

Scanning something confidential? You can also protect files and folders by locking them with a PIN. 

Use code SCAN by 7 September at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an iScanner lifetime subscription on sale for A$38. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Man in My Basement trailer: Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe star in this TIFF-bound psychological thriller

Mashable - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 18:15

Horror movies have conditioned us to know that we should never, ever head into a spooky basement. The upcoming psychological thriller The Man in My Basement introduces a new basement-focused rule for us to abide by: Never rent your basement to a shady man.

Directed by Nadia Latif and based on the novel of the same name by Walter Mosley, The Man in My Basement introduces down-on-his-luck Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins). He's recently lost his mother and his job, and now his ancestral home in the African American neighborhood of Sag Harbor, New York, is about to be foreclosed on.

Enter mysterious businessman Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe), who brings Charles an offer he can't refuse. Anniston wants to rent Charles' basement for the summer, and in return, he'll pay Charles enough money to clear his debts for good. Sounds sweet, right? But why is Anniston so hell-bent on renting Charles' basement in particular? What nefarious deeds is he actually plotting? Based on the trailer, it looks like a cage is involved, and that can never be good.

The Man in My Basement was co-written by Latif and Mosley, and is set to make its premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It's distributed by Andscape, formerly known as The Undefeated, a Black content studio that is part of the ESPN portfolio and also creates content for the Walt Disney Company.

In addition to Hawkins and Dafoe, The Man in My Basement also stars Anna Diop, Jonathan Ajayi, Gershwyn Eustache Jr., Pamela Nomvete, and Tamara Lawrance.

Following its premiere at TIFF, The Man in My Basement comes to select theaters Sept. 12. It hits Hulu and Disney+ this fall.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Meta’s AI rules permitted suggestive behavior with kids

Mashable - Thu, 08/14/2025 - 18:01

Meta's AI rules have reportedly allowed children to have potentially troubling interactions, including so-called "sensual" chats.

The news comes from a detailed feature from Reuters, which cited an internal Meta document it obtained. Reuters reported, per the internal document, that Meta's chatbot policies had allowed it to "engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual."

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

The Reuters report details the document's contents. Its purpose was to detail what was and was not allowed to be said by chatbots — not necessarily what was preferable. According to Reuters, the rules stated that a bot could tell a shirtless eight-year-old, "Every inch of you is a masterpiece."

A Meta spokesperson told Reuters that such examples were wrong and were being removed from their policies.

Still, the document allowed for other troubling examples, such as bots creating false medical info or helping users argue that Black people are "dumber than white people."

How folks interact with AI can prove troubling — especially considering how AI may respond. We here at Mashable have covered just how troubling it is for adults to flirt with or "date" AI characters. The fact that we've seen reports of children having suggestive conversations with AI — and that at least one major tech company permitted such conversations — is especially troubling.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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