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Hyundai thinks it has found a solution to one of the biggest problems holding EVs back. Its first extended-range electric vehicle is due in 2027, promising more than 600 miles of total range by combining electric motors with a gasoline engine that works as a generator.

For the past week, a mystery leaker calling themselves Cyberleek has been busy posting gameplay clips from the unreleased video game Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most highly anticipated video games of all time.

So far, the leaker has shared only brief, spoiler-free glimpses of cutscenes or gameplay footage showing the game's world and mechanics, but on Wednesday, that changed. Shortly after Rockstar Games issued a statement about the leaks, Cyberleek made good on a threat to release clips of the game's prologue featuring the playable character Lucia Caminos. Cyberleek posted four and a half minutes of the Lucia prologue in a Telegram channel and promised to release more footage featuring Lucia soon.

The video shows a flashback featuring Caminos in prison, which isn't itself a spoiler. The original GTA 6 trailer, released two years ago, showed Caminos in an orange jumpsuit, as did an official image released by Rockstar Games. However, Cyberleek's latest video goes further by revealing plot details about the character's experiences in and out of prison.

This official still shows the character Lucia in an orange prison jumpsuit. Credit: Rockstar Games

That's all we're going to say about that particular clip, as we don't want to spoil the game for anyone. However, official details about the game were also revealed today by Dazed magazine, providing even more information about how Lucia fits into GTA 6.

The exclusive preview feature in Dazed reveals that players will be able to switch seamlessly between the protagonists Jason Duval and Caminos, who is described as "a fighter fresh out of prison." Dazed reported that players can have the characters act independently or as a couple.

For gamers trying to avoid GTA 6 spoilers, consider this your warning: Cyberleek has stepped up their campaign and is actively sharing spoilers.

For an official, Rockstar-approved preview of the upcoming game, tune into the extended look that premieres on Netflix tomorrow.

There’s a certain thrill in opening a brand-new phone. You peel off the plastic, transfer your photos, sign in to your Google account, and start taking your first picture. But in all that excitement, we often forget to check a few important settings that can make our phone better.

The universe really wants me to buy another external hard drive or sign up for an online storage service. I currently have a Western Digital My Passport, with 1 TB of storage. I should have bought a second one before the AI boom, but I never got around to it. I'm kicking myself for that (poor) decision right about now. So, now I'm going to try to save all of that data. But we have a big problem: the price for storage media is higher than ever, and I'm not sure how many read/write cycles this drive has left in it. So I improvised a solution that, surprisingly, worked.

Linux has never been short of ambitious projects. Some became major parts of the ecosystem, while others disappeared after only a few years. What makes some of them worth remembering is not simply that they were popular. They represented ideas that made Linux feel experimental, unusual, and genuinely exciting.

Apple has finally sent out invitations for its next hardware event, titled "Surprise and shine," set for Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park.

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This year's keynote carries extra weight beyond the usual hardware reveal as it will be John Ternus' first Apple product event as CEO, following Tim Cook's planned exit from the top job. Ternus is set to take over on Sept. 1, and given his background in running hardware engineering, some reports suggest Apple's industrial design group is being pulled closer to the center of decision-making under his leadership.

SEE ALSO: Meet incoming Apple CEO John Ternus: Everything to know

For the hardware itself, all signs point to a narrower lineup than usual, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max all expected to headline, alongside Apple's first foldable phone, widely rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra. Missing the event, however, will likely be the standard iPhone 18, 18e, and next-gen iPhone Air, which are reportedly being pushed to a spring 2027 event instead. New Apple Watches are also expected to make an appearance.

Here's everything we know heading into the keynote.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

Per Mashable's ongoing iPhone 18 coverage, Apple is expected to keep this launch focused on its Pro model iPhones.

In terms of design, the Pro models aren't expected to stray far from last year's look. In Mashable's rumors thread, leaks suggest a couple of tweaks rather than a full overhaul, including a smaller Dynamic Island cutout and a more unified, single-tone back glass in place of last year's two-tone finish.

Color-wise, Apple will mix up this year's finishes to include a silver, dark gray, light blue, and a new shade called "dark cherry."

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Under the hood, the Pro models are expected to move to Apple's A20 and A20 Pro chips, paired with a new C2 modem that could bring 5G satellite support and an N2 chip aimed at improving WiFi and AirDrop reliability. Korean outlet The Bell has also reported that Apple plans to standardize RAM across the Pro lineup at 12GB, doing away with the base-versus-Pro memory split that's defined recent generations. Battery life should get a boost too, with capacity expected to land around 5,000mAh, which will appear the norm for the lineup.

The "biggest" change is within the camera. Several rumors have called the changes among the most significant camera hardware upgrades in the iPhone's history, due in part to a larger telephoto aperture and the introduction of variable aperture. That said, leaker Ice Universe has suggested the variable-aperture system might be exclusive to the Pro Max, leaving the standard Pro without it.

The Pro Max is also rumored to be very slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor, a tradeoff tied to fitting in a bigger battery.

iPhone Ultra A hypothetical rendering of the iPhone Ultra. Credit: Mashable / Zain bin Awais

The event's biggest wildcard is Apple's first foldable phone, widely expected to be called the iPhone Ultra (previously referred to in our reporting as the iPhone Fold). In our rumors guide on the Ultra, we noted that while Apple hasn't confirmed the device, code references in the iOS 27 beta, including strings tied to fold angles and screen states, plus macOS 27 features for resizing iPhone-mirroring windows, have made its existence something of an open secret.

Early testers cited by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reportedly liked the device's hinge quality and more iPad-like interface, though they were less impressed by the missing telephoto camera.

Expected specs, based on analyst and supply-chain reporting:

• A book-style design with a roughly 7.8-inch inner OLED display and a 5.5-inch outer display

• Touch ID rather than Face ID

• Four cameras total — two rear, one inner, one front-facing — though without a telephoto lens

• A liquid-metal hinge intended to improve durability

• A price above $2,000, with some estimates around $2,399

• A battery of at least 5,088mAh

Analysts, leakers, and even Gurman have been going back and forth for weeks about when the Ultra will actually release. Some reports say that the Ultra will be announced but won't hit shelves later, similar to the iPhone X. Others, like Gurman, have pushed back on this.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

Rounding out the hardware slate are reports that the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are also expected in September, likely with new health and fitness features and fresh color and band options rather than a major redesign this cycle.

It'll be a more substantial overhaul that may include a return to ceramic cases. Apple is also exploring a screen-free model for the minimalist wearable market, targeting late 2026 or 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

How to watch the iPhone 18 event

Apple's event kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, with a livestream on Apple's website and YouTube channel for those not attending in person.

Mashable will be there on the ground, so look out for our coverage and hands-on impressions once the keynote wraps.

Want an adjustable desk? Then Secretlab's Labor Day sale is for you, offering $100 off the MAGNUS Pro desk.

Hands-free highway driving has grown from a novelty feature into a full subscription business over the past decade, with GM's Super Cruise and Ford's BlueCruise combining for more than 1.8 billion hands-free miles driven so far. Both systems handle steering, acceleration, and braking on compatible highways with a driver-facing camera to confirm the person behind the wheel is still watching the road.

Leaked gameplay clips of Grand Theft Auto VI keep appearing on the internet.

After a few clips came out over the weekend and into Monday, there are now even more circulating online, courtesy of the now-notorious leaker known as Cyberleek. As Rockstar and Take-Two step up their efforts to find and stop Cyberleek, clips keep coming at an even more rapid pace.

On Wednesday morning, Rockstar broke its silence on the situation, calling the leaks "heartbreaking" for its team. Around the same time, Cyberleek posted yet another gameplay clip, then soon followed it up with a four-and-a-half-minute video of a prologue featuring Lucia Caminos, the second playable character in the game. In recent days, Cyberleek has been threatening to release clips featuring Caminos, and the leaker teased further GTA 6 leaks featuring the character.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 makers subpoena X, Google in hunt for Cyberleek

We're not going to embed or link directly to any of these clips, but they are easy to find on social media. The most recent Cyberleek videos include:

• A clip of the player exploring a nightclub with scantily clad women

• A clip of protagonist Jason riding a bicycle on a beach packed with civilian NPCs

• A clip of Jason looking around a fictional video game retailer, complete with a bunch of fake video game boxes

• A clip of Jason stealing a hotrod and being chased by the police, as well as a short cutscene featuring Lucia

• Four and a half minutes of Lucia's prologue, featuring Lucia in prison and minor story spoilers

That brings the total number of leaked GTA 6 clips to 16, at the time of publication. To be clear, their authenticity has not been totally verified, but Rockstar's recent statement and parent company Take-Two's legal efforts to identify Cyberleek go a long way in confirming the clips are legit. In subpoenas, Take-Two has referred to the Cyberleek videos as "stolen content" and "leaked gameplay videos."

As a reminder, Rockstar is set to officially show an extended look at GTA VI gameplay on Netflix on Thursday.

UPDATE: Aug. 26, 2026, 3:30 p.m. EDT This story was originally published on Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. ET; we have updated this article with information on the latest Cyberleek videos and a statement issued by Rockstar Games.

Of all the Linux commands, rm is notorious. It's easy to completely wipe out your system with one mislaid rm command as root. I knew not to, but I ran that command on purpose anyway. Here's why.

Apple has finally announced the date, time, and tagline for its annual iPhone launch event. The company said today that a "Surprise and shine" Apple event will take place on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT, and viewers will be able to watch the keynote live on YouTube, the Apple website, and Apple TV. At the event, Apple is widely expected to release the new iPhone 18 lineup, as well as a foldable smartphone, rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra.

As with past events, Apple released artwork to promote the occasion, which shows the tagline and the Apple logo with a glowing neon effect. The image evokes the white neon glow of the Siri AI beta announced earlier this year at WWDC 2026.

Guess what Apple will release in September in our Big Guessing Game: Apple edition. Enter now for a chance to win!

A Mashable reporter also received an invitation to the Apple event, and we'll be reporting live from Apple Park. The invitation reads, "Surprise and shine. Please join us in person for a special Apple event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park."

Credit: Apple / Stan Schroeder

The company declined to provide any additional information on the "special event," and we didn't expect them to. But we do have some idea of what Apple's working on.

Apple traditionally hosts an event in early September to announce the new iPhone lineup and other products. At last year's September keynote, Apple announced the iPhone 17, the Apple Watch Series 12, and the AirPods Pro 3. However, we expect this year's event to be unique in several ways, as the tagline seemingly suggests.

First, long-time Apple CEO Tim Cook is scheduled to step aside on Sept. 1 to make way for incoming CEO John Ternus, who currently works as Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. This will be Ternus's first keynote, and the world will be watching to see how he sets the tone for a new era at Apple Park.

Second, Apple could release the first-ever foldable iPhone, the biggest change to the iPhone in years. Apple's smartphone competitors have been making foldable phones for years, but Apple has so far left the market to Google and Samsung. However, that's not unusual for Apple. The company didn't release the first smartphone or MP3 player, but when it finally entered the market, the company crushed the competition.

SEE ALSO: Apple is reportedly preparing iPhone price hikes (because of course they are)

Finally, the Siri AI beta will take one step closer to a public release, bringing Apple into the AI era at last.

We will be very interested to see if history repeats itself with the folding iPhone, or if the device goes the way of the Vision Pro.

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

SAVE $90: Normally $199, the black Nothing Headphone (a) are on sale for just $119 at Amazon and Best Buy today (Aug. 26) — an unprecedented 45% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Headphone (a) $109 at Amazon
$199 Save $90   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Headphone (a) $109 at Best Buy
$199 Save $90   Get Deal

Looking for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that just won't quit? Earlier this month, Mashable's audio experts crowned the Nothing Headphone (a) their top pick for long battery life. They last up to 75 hours with their ANC on and 135 hours (!) without; most headphones we tested previously maxed out around 60 hours.

Your timing is excellent, by the way: There's never been a better time to buy the Headphone (a). Today, Aug. 26, Amazon and Best Buy are both running 24-hour deals that bring the black pair down to just $109 — nearly half off their usual price of $199. They've never been cheaper since launching in March.

The Headphone (a) have "that quintessentially Nothing retro-look," our reviewer said. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Battery life aside, Mashable's Bethany Allard loved the Headphone (a)'s "perfect" physical control buttons, unique retro design, and good sound quality. (You might just need to adjust their equalizer in the Nothing X mobile app. Allard said they can be a bit bass-heavy right out of the box.) Allard actually recommends them over the flagship Nothing Headphone (1), which sound a little more balanced but fit uncomfortably and cost more, she said.

"The Nothing Headphone (a) is the best pair of headphones from Nothing, and one of the best pairs of mid-range headphones available to get, thanks to their solid all-around performance and standout battery life," Allard wrote.

If you don't like the black colorway, you can pick up the Headphone (a) in white, yellow, or pink for $119 at Amazon and Best Buy today. That's still a solid 40% savings.

As anti-AI sentiment continues to spread, one tech industry leader is now floating an idea for how to deal with it.

In a 6,000-word essay posted on his Gates Notes website, billionaire and former Microsoft head Bill Gates explains his fears about artificial intelligence and offers a few proposals for addressing them. Gates also discussed his concerns in a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times.

One of the most notable ideas Gates proposes is a new tax on AI, which he calls the "token tax." 

As Gates explains, businesses pay payroll taxes on human employees. However, if AI replaces a worker's job, that same company gets to write the purchase off as a business expense.

"The tax system nudges you toward replacing people with machines," Gates says, explaining how his previously proposed robot tax would also play a role alongside the AI-specific tax.

SEE ALSO: Bernie Sanders proposes bill to give the public a 50% stake in AI companies

Gates says the tax would help slow the impact of AI's growth on labor and that the money it raises could be used for job retraining and building a stronger social safety net. He also says that the tax could be set up to avoid affecting "purely beneficial uses of AI," which he describes as "making medicine and education cheaper."

In addition to the tax, Gates also proposed "Human Reserved" jobs, which would be set aside specifically for human beings. Gates classified jobs that workers would have difficulty transitioning from as potential Human Reserved employment. He also proposed that jobs requiring a human touch, such as caregiving, should be Human Reserved.

We might set something aside as Human Reserved for economic reasons. For example, we may do it because allowing machines to take over a certain role will displace a large number of people who can’t easily change jobs. You can’t tell a 55-year-old who has worked in construction their whole career that they need to go work at an elder care facility and expect them to find it fulfilling.

Sometimes the decision to make something Human Reserved will be driven by other factors. In health, for example, imagine a robot giving you the awful news that you have an incurable disease. There’s no technical reason why it couldn’t. Yet it shouldn’t.

For years, executives within the AI industry have talked about how the technology will dramatically change the job market and put people out of work.

“Entire classes of jobs will go away and not come back,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously stated.

"You should be worried about where the technology we're building is going," warned Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who has said AI could "wipe out" half of all white-collar jobs.

A study found that tens of thousands of jobs were lost due to AI last year, and economists are warning that more AI job losses are on the way.

Now, many people are revolting against AI. Companies are facing backlash from consumers over "AI slop." Data centers are deeply unpopular on both sides of the aisle. Even some politicians are now taking stances against data center construction due to anti-AI sentiment among their constituents.

Some within the AI industry, such as Altman, are suddenly backtracking on their previous dire warnings about AI and jobs. It will be interesting to see how AI leaders like Altman and Amodei react to Gates's essay, and if proposals like this can make a dent in rising anti-AI sentiment.

SAVE $100.01: The TCL Note A1 Nxtpaper Tablet is on sale at Amazon for $499.98, down from the normal price of $599.99. That's a 17% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL Note A1 Nxtpaper Tablet + cover and stylus $499.98 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100.01   Get Deal

In bad news for the week, Kindles saw price hikes to the tune of at least 25% pricier. That's not ideal if you had your eye on one of Amazon's e-readers. But in better news, we have a handful of worthy alternatives, and a particularly versatile model is on sale.

As of Aug. 26, the TCL Note A1 Nxtpaper Tablet is on sale at Amazon for $499.98, down from the normal price of $599.99. That's a 17% discount.

If you've been going back and forth between getting a new tablet or an e-reader, you don't have to decide. The TCL Note A1 Nxtpaper does both. It comes with TCL's Nxtpaper Pure display which is designed to mimic reading a physical book thanks to the reduces glare and enhanced clarity.

The TCL Note A1 has an 11.5-inch screen that's capable of displaying 16.7 million colors. TCL mentions that's a significant upgrade from the 60,000 colors on a standard color e-ink reader. But it does much more than serve as an e-reader.

SEE ALSO: Kindles just got more expensive, but the Kobo Clara Colour is on sale for under $160

The TCL has eight microphones for a 360-degree voice capture function that can give you AI meeting or lecture summaries. You can then easily share recordings or notes to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. This model of the Nxtpaper comes with 256GB of storage and a 120Hz refresh rate.

On top of the tablet, this deal includes some great extras like a flip case, stylus, extra stylus tips, and a polishing cloth. Snag the TCL Note A1 Nextpaper Tablet bundle for under $500 at Amazon and get a tablet, e-reader, and AI notetaker all in one.

SAVE 23%: As of Aug. 26, you can get the Apple AirPods 4 for $99, down from $129, at Amazon. That's a 23% discount, or $30 in savings.

Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy

I recently lost my AirPods, and I miss them so much. None of my backup headphones read my texts to me, which is a feature I desperately need back. If you're also in the market for a replacement, the Apple AirPods 4 are $99 at Amazon right now.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best headphones of 2026: We tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

That's right. As of Aug. 26, you can get the Apple AirPods 4 for $99, down from $129, at Amazon. That's a 23% discount, or $30 in savings. While this isn't the lowest price we've seen (they're usually $69 during Prime Day and Black Friday), it's still a really good deal.

The AirPods 4 have a shorter stem for a better fit, improved audio for phone calls, and a smaller USB-C charging case that gives you up to 30 hours of battery life. They're not noise-cancelling, but they do support Siri interactions, letting you respond by nodding "yes" or shaking "no."

First, you watched a series of great movies on Paramount+ with runtimes under two hours. Now, we're cutting that runtime to 90 minutes or less, meaning this list is for people who are strapped for time and need something quick.

SAVE 64%: Lovehoney's 2026 sex toy advent calendar lineup just went live. You get five countdown options (7, 12, or 24 days) starting at $129, with savings up to 64% on big-name toys like the Womanizer Starlet 3 and We-Vibe Moxie+.

OK, I'm usually pretty strict about not celebrating holidays early (looking at you, Starbucks — premature pumpkin-spicing is a crime). I won't put my tree up or even start shopping until after Thanksgiving, while my sister is out here buying presents in July. But when I saw that Lovehoney already dropped its 2026 advent calendars, I knew it was worth the early mention. You can't use a countdown calendar unless you buy it ahead of time, after all.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 100+ sex toys. Here are the 15 most mind-blowing toys I've ever owned.

This year, Lovehoney brought back five different boxes, ranging from seven-day teasers to full 24-day countdowns. Whether you're looking for a couples kit or a solo treat (honestly, buy the 24-day box for yourself — I def. support that!), these deals are way too good to pass up.

Each calendar saves you 56% to 64% off the retail price of the toys inside, so you'll get top-notch stuff from Womanizer, We-Vibe, and Arcwave for a fraction of the cost.

Here's a quick breakdown of what's in this year's lineup:

Lovehoney Romance Advent Calendar (7-Day) Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Romance Advent Calendar (7 Day) $129 at Lovehoney
$291.91 Save $162.91   Get Deal

The Lovehoney Romance Advent Calendar (7-Day) has up to seven days' worth of goodies, including full-sized toys (like the We-Vibe Moxie+, which is worth $149 on its own!), games, and accessories. There's also a remote-controlled bullet with two interchangeable sleeves for couples' play.

This little box is ideal for couples who want to add a little ~spice~ to their bedroom routine without spending a fortune. If you don't like surprises, you can read the full product list on the Lovehoney site, but if you do, I'll keep the content list brief!

Lovehoney Indulge Advent Calendar (12-Day) Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Indulge Advent Calendar (12-Day) $129 at Lovehoney
$191.87 Save $62.87   Get Deal

The Lovehoney Indulge Advent Calendar (12-Day) offers a bit more for the same price. But unlike the box above, this gift set is designed specifically for female pleasure.

You'll get 12 days' worth of fun, including a rechargeable mini wand vibrator, the Lovehoney Indulge (worth $89.99), and other cute add-ons like water-based lube and a crystal butt plug.

Lovehoney Enjoy Advent Calendar (24-Day) Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Enjoy Advent Calendar (24-Day) $129 at Lovehoney
$216.77 Save $87.77   Get Deal

If you don't want to spend over $129, but you want a wider variety of toys, the Lovehoney Enjoy Advent Calendar (24-Day) is your best bet. Somehow, Lovehoney is letting this 24-day advent calendar go for $129.

It's filled with full-sized toys, like the Womanizer Starlet 3 (worth $85), and has a ton of kinky items, including nipple clamps, a feather tickler, a paddle, and bondage rope.

Lovehoney Couple's Advent Calendar (24-Day) Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Couple's Advent Calendar (24-Day) $219 at Lovehoney
$389.77 Save $170.77   Get Deal

For those of you who don't mind spending $200+, the Lovehoney Couple's Advent Calendar (24-Day) will get you two premium toys — the Womanizer Liberty 2 (worth $109) and the We-Vibe Sync Lite (worth $99) — along with a bunch of other goodies like an aluminum crystal butt plug (can't recommend a crystal butt plug enough, honestly), massage oil, a cock ring lasso, ankle and wrist cuffs, and more.

Lovehoney Luxury Advent Calendar (24- Day) Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Luxury Advent Calendar (24- Day) $369 at Lovehoney
$539.75 Save $170.75   Get Deal

OK, last but certainly not least, we have the Lovehoney Luxury Advent Calendar (24-Day). This box is the most expensive of the bunch ($369), but it also includes top-dollar toys, like the Womanizer Enhance (worth $169) and Arcwave Zing (worth $149). One of my faves? The candy cane glass dildo — nothing says "festive" like a candy cane shoved up your ass.

You'll also get anal beads, a cock ring, tons of vibrators (like, more than four), and fun kinky items like a sex position card game and bed restraints.

Brave is doing what Mozilla won't. Mozilla hasn't innovated in years. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of waiting. I have limited options, yet Brave ticks the right boxes. Here are the reasons I left Firefox behind.

Ever since launching its app in April, cruising platform Squirt (aka SQ Dating in the App Store) has been adding new features to entice Grindr and Sniffies users to hop on and get off.

Its latest update includes a brand-new feature called "Places." The feature lets you broadcast your current location or flag where you'll be within the next hour. You can tag yourself at public spots like the gym, a local bar, or the beach so guys know you're out and ready to hang. (It's kind of like if Grindr's "Right Now" and Sniffies "Share a Spot" feature had a baby.)

SEE ALSO: Gay dating app Sniffies just got $100 million from Match Group

Squirt also revamped its Cruiser Listings — a cornerstone feature that's been on the site for over two decades — with real-time check-ins. You can signal when you've arrived at a location, or flag that you're heading there later in the day. Every listing now pulls user-submitted data to display active check-ins within a 45-mile radius.

"Squirt has always been about making Real-Life meetups happen," Rob Fisher, Director of Product Development and Customer Success, said in a press release. "With our new check-in features, members can let guys know where they are or where they're headed, see who's nearby, and turn a little curiosity into something more. It's a faster, more spontaneous way to find where the action is and be part of it."

To kick things off, Squirt is being generous and giving all members unlimited access to view active check-ins across every Cruising Listing for a limited time.

Parents will soon be able to remotely access Uber drivers' phone cameras to monitor their teen riders.

The new safety feature, announced Aug. 25, expands on existing parental controls through the ride sharing giant's teen accounts. When available, parents can choose to "check in" on their teen's ride using the driver's on-device camera and mic. Both the teen rider and the Uber driver are notified when live streaming is turned on, according to the company, and streams end as soon as rides are completed.

SEE ALSO: New Zealand to ban social media for kids under 16

In a statement to Mashable, Uber further clarified that live video is only accessible if the Uber driver has turned on the company's Record My Ride feature and enabled live streaming. Apart from a front-facing camera and microphone, there are no specific device requirements for drivers eligible for teen rides choosing to activate live streaming. Drivers can opt out at any time by turning off live video on their account.

The app will notify a parent if live streaming is paused due to an unstable connection or technical error, Uber said. In addition, only linked accounts can view live streams during an active trip.

Teens have already had the option to turn on audio recording during their trips. Similar to the app's audio recording feature, Uber says live streams remain encrypted, so videos cannot be viewed by parents, teens, or drivers after a trip is complete.

Credit: Uber Credit: Uber

Uber launched teen accounts for riders aged 13-17 in 2023, offering default safety features and trip monitoring for guardians on family accounts. The company has partnered with the National PTA, Safe Kids Worldwide, and the live tracking app Life360. Family features later expanded to Uber Eats, allowing teens to request food deliveries through their supervised accounts.

Uber has faced accusations that the company has not done enough to prevent sexual assault and other violent incidents against riders, including a recent lawsuit that found the company liable for a woman's rape after the app's automatic safety provisions failed to flag the ride as dangerous. In June, the company announced it was instituting stricter background check requirements and permanent bans for offending drivers.

Live video is currently being piloted for riders in several cities, including Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, Portland, San Antonio, Cleveland, and El Paso. It will rollout to the rest of the U.S. over the coming weeks.