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TL;DR: Get 5 years of flowkey Classic for $67.99 (reg. $899) through Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Flowkey flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan (5-Year Subscription) $67.99
$899 Save $831.01   Get Deal

If learning piano is one of those goals that keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your “things I want to do” list, flowkey offers a way to practice without committing to a traditional lesson schedule. Flowkey’s interactive piano learning platform combines guided courses with songs you can learn at your own pace, and a five-year Classic subscription is currently $67.99 (reg. $899) through Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

The app listens as you play and provides real-time feedback on your notes and chords, helping you catch mistakes as you practice. Its Wait Mode can pause your progress until you hit the correct notes, while slow-motion playback and looping let you spend extra time on difficult passages. You can also practice each hand separately and follow synchronized sheet music while watching video lessons from professional pianists.

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The song library includes more than 1,000 classical and public-domain pieces, with music from composers including Bach, Debussy, Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and Liszt. Arrangements are available across beginner, intermediate, advanced, and pro levels, so you can choose versions that match your current abilities rather than jumping straight into something that’s above your skill level.

Aside from individual songs, flowkey Classic includes courses covering music theory, chords, sheet music and foundational techniques such as hand positioning, playing with both hands and basic rhythms. The subscription works across laptops, phones, and tablets, and the platform is available in 11 languages!

This deal is worth a look if you’re more interested in building a consistent piano habit rather than squeezing in lessons through a short trial period. Whether you’re starting from scratch or getting back to an instrument you haven’t played in years, the five-year subscription gives you the time you need to learn lessons and songs at your own pace.

For a limited time, flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan is available for $67.99 (reg. $899) through Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay $39.97 for a 5-year AdGuard VPN subscription and lifetime access to the AdGuard Family Plan (reg. $439.39) — but only through August 16.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard VPN + Ad Blocker Family Security Suite $39.97
$439.39 Save $399.42   Get Deal

Nobody wakes up excited to manage another digital subscription. This AdGuard bundle offers a simpler setup: Pay $39.97 once for five years of AdGuard VPN and lifetime access to the AdGuard Family Plan. Regularly $439.39, the bundle is available at this price for just one more day.

AdGuard VPN encrypts your internet connection to help keep browsing activity and transferred data more private, particularly when using unfamiliar networks. Its zero-logging policy means the service says it does not collect browsing activity or internet traffic.

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

The VPN supports up to 10 simultaneous device connections, making it practical for a household with phones, tablets, and computers. Subscribers receive unlimited data and access to servers across more than 60 locations, with apps available for major platforms, including iOS and Android.

The second half of the bundle tackles everyday browsing clutter. AdGuard blocks banners, pop-ups, video ads, and other interruptions while helping limit tracking by activity analyzers. It also warns against potentially harmful or phishing websites.

Parents can use the included controls to restrict access to inappropriate content, while the family license extends coverage across multiple personal devices. That combination can make browsing cleaner for adults and more manageable for children without piecing together several separate tools.

Order through Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get this AdGuard VPN and Ad Blocker bundle for just $39.97 (reg. $439.39).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

Waking up in a stranger's moving vehicle is anybody's idea of a nightmare, and it's exactly how we meet Lena (Dakota Gorman) in Hellcat. But it's not where we leave her.

Writer/director Brock Bodell's feature film debut careens through 90 minutes of nail-biting threats, leading to a wild conclusion that will have you howling. The spoiler of it all has had critics finding ways to describe the film without giving anything away.

"Over and over, critics danced around the secret at the heart of the film, but none would reveal it," Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko writes in her spoiler-free review. "Now, having seen Hellcat, I understand not only the secret it keeps but also why my friends and colleagues kept mum."

SEE ALSO: 'Hellcat' review: Abduction horror gets sensationally hairy

But now, the film is out on Shudder, and we can talk about it. What happens at the end of Hellcat, and what does it all mean? We recommend watching the film first, then coming back here for the analysis. Because major spoilers ahead.

What is Hellcat about? Dakota Gorman as Lena in "Hellcat." Credit: Shudder

In a truly horrific scenario, Nashville woman Lena finds herself trapped in the trailer of a man who introduces himself — through an intercom embedded in a taxidermied coyote head — as Clive (Todd Terry).

"You've been infected," Clive says, and he's right. Lena has a wound on her upper arm, and from it spreads black veins indicating infection. He insists he's a "good" and "honest man" who found Lena wounded at her campsite, bandaged her wounds, and confined her in his trailer. Lena doesn't remember what brought her to this place, so all she has to go on is Clive's narrative and what she finds in the camper.

Featured Video For You Willem Dafoe talks 'Late Fame' and how he approached his viral photo shoot

Investigating her moving prison, Lena finds raw, bloody meat and syringes full of sedative in the fridge. She discovers a locked room fitted out with a blood-stained bed, thick shackles, and bars on the windows, and in the bed is another woman (Liz Atwater). Every last awful discovery suggests Clive to be a sadistic villain.

SEE ALSO: 'Hellcat' clip gives a creepy clue about the movie's spooky secret Who is the other woman in Clive's trailer? Liz Atwater as Holly in "Hellcat." Credit: Shudder

Early on while she's exploring the trailer, Lena finds a photo of a woman holding a little girl. Through the intercom, Clive reveals that's his wife and their daughter, Holly. It's Holly who was locked up in the back, though Lena won't realize this until the final act. What Clive tells her is that his daughter was "attacked" when she was at college. "She don't see eye to eye with her old man these days," he says. "Things just… changed between us."

This reflects Lena's strained relationship with her own father, who doesn't know how to talk to her after the passing of her mom. But the bigger change between Clive and Holly is that the latter is a werewolf. After she was bitten in college, her dad began locking her up and sedating her during full moons to keep her from hurting herself or anyone else. When he failed and Lena got bit, he abducted her too. And he doesn't tell Lena the truth about Holly, because he's trying to protect his daughter above all else.

However, as Holly is moved from the rolling prison to the passenger seat of her father's pick-up truck, she pushes back against his plan. She says, "I know you want to help, but it can't be this way."

What's Clive's plan? "Hide the silver." Credit: Shudder

Knowing the infection spreads fast, Clive is headed to a specialist, one Dr. Jancowski, who is "the top research physician at Stanford, who lost his license because some Berkley nutjobs didn't like him testing on animals." They've been driving for four hours across Tennessee, from Nashville to Knoxville, where Dr. Jancowski is said to be a veterinarian at the dinner show at amusement park Golly World, and their only hope of helping Lena. Clive insists, "He's as legit as they come."

Clive is a big believer in cryptids and the paranormal. His camper is littered with such literature, including Celestial Delights sci-fi comics, books on alien abductions, and a book on werewolves titled The Bite That Drips, written by Jasper Deville. He's even self-published his own book, Transformance, which Lena also finds in the trailer. So, when seeking some advice after Lena bites Clive, he turns to an expert, calling to Deville's (James Austin Johnson) midnight radio show, We’re Out There.

This is how Clive first heard about Dr. Jancowski. But when he tells Deville, "I've got a were," the broadcaster's confident on-air persona shudders. And unfortunately for Clive, the host breaks the news to him off-air that Dr. Jancowski is fictional. "I kind of thought you knew what we were all doing here," Deville says. "This ain't exactly NPR."

Before the show's over, a new threat enters in the form of another caller, who claims he's spotted Clive's trailer on the road and recommends to Lena "hide the silver."

What happens at the end of Hellcat? Hold onto something, Lena. Credit: Shudder

Urged by Holly, Clive lets Lena loose in the middle of nowhere. There, she flags down a cop (Jordan Mullins) and asks for a ride to the hospital. However, the officer's intentions are far from noble. He soon reveals he’s the creepy caller from the radio show — and he’s a big fan of Clive's writing on werewolves, showing Lena his own copy of Transformance.

The cop calls into We're Out There, announcing he's "got the were in my cruiser" and is "going to take care of this." Clive, of course, is tuning into his favourite show at this very moment, which is convenient for Lena, as her former captor becomes her only hope. When Clive and Holly catch up to the cop, a battle ensues. Lena escapes the cruiser, Clive is shot, and the cop is killed.

It's not over though, as the full moon rises, and Clive guides Lena through sudden, blood-boiling labour. It’s pure horror, cut with shots of the full moon, as Lena gives birth to a tiny little werewolf. It seems the infection impacted her unborn child, not Lena.

Lena and Clive have a moment, in which he explains he "didn’t mean to scare" her, before passing out, in what looks like his final breath. With her baby in her arms, she wanders back to the road, where Holly pulls up in her dad's truck.

Forming an unlikely little were-family of three, Lena, Holly, and the cub have "no earthly idea" where they’re going. We’re left to watch them drive away, with only the trailer’s license plate, "HELLCAT," to reflect on.

Is Clive dead? Or...

But hark! What's this? Hellcat cuts to Clive, sitting by the lake in the morning light, seemingly sleeping instead of dead. We hear the sounds of a ukulele, crashing waves, and happy giggling, the sound of a memory perhaps. And it's interrupted by a horrible gasp, like a monstrous awakening.

Earlier in the film, Lena managed to bite him in an attempt to escape. Since then, Clive has feared that might turn him too. Does this final gasp mean not only that Clive is not dead but also that he and Holly now have something more in common?

We'll keep an eye out for confirmation, or at least news of Hellcat 2.

Hellcat is now streaming on Shudder.

If it wasn't already obvious from politics and entertainment, the Baby Boomers, born between the years 1948 and 1964, aren't ready to go quietly into retirement or give up the pursuits of youth. In fact, many of them are rekindling their romantic flames: a whopping 20 percent of them have tried dating apps, according to Pew research, and they spend just under 40 minutes a day testing their luck like the rest of us.

Don't expect to find the Baby Boomers on Tinder, though. For long-term dating, the Boomers are more likely to use age-appropriate dating services like OurTime or SeniorMatch, or larger, more general-purpose dating sites like eharmony, according to Axios. 

But there's an entire cohort of older daters who aren't focused on the search for a long-term partner but still want to connect, and they're increasingly doing so on retro dating directories like AdultFriendFinder. 

Opens in a new window Credit: AFF AdultFriendFinder   Learn More

Here's why these services are winning back the Boomers:

No swiping games

Senior citizens aren't immune to swipe fatigue. In fact, according to research by Forbes Health, roughly 69 percent of Baby Boomers are experiencing app burnout, with the primary reason given being "inability to find a good partner." 

But what happens when you ditch the swiping mechanic entirely? The AdultFriendFinder experience doesn't rely on a matchmaking system, even though it does offer one as well. Instead, AdultFriendFinder creates organic communities in chat rooms, discussion boards, story comment sections, and webcam rooms, where you can initiate a conversation with someone who catches your eye or impresses you with their writing, or you can be the one attracting others.

For Boomers tired of endlessly swiping with minimal results, retro dating directories are a phenomenal alternative.

Large Boomer representation

Dating sites and apps typically cater to a younger crowd, for the obvious reason that younger people are more likely to be single, but that can make life tough for older daters looking to match with people in their age range or generation. 

Retro dating directories like AdultFriendFinder, which has been around since 1996, when the youngest Boomers were in their early 30s, have managed to retain or recapture a larger cohort of older singles, which means you'll actually get results when you set your age filter to 55+, especially if you live in a city.

AdultFriendFinder has been tight-lipped about its exact user demographics, but my current Online Now page gives a good representation of what you can expect to find in a large metropolitan area in North America: out of 12 featured profiles, six are over the age of 40, four are over the age of 50 and two are over the age of 60. 

Bare naked honesty

One major gripe about dating apps, across all age groups, is how difficult it is to accurately assess other people's intentions. In a landmark article from earlier this year titled "Dating Burnout: Why the Apps Exhausted Everyone," the authors identified "evaluation labor" as a major causal factor. Does the person you're talking to really like you? Do they really want "something serious" or are they secretly chasing something casual?

If you've spent any time on Hinge, Bumble, or any of the popular dating sites like eharmony or PlentyOfFish, you know that this kind of questioning is pretty much unavoidable in these contexts. People aren't always fully honest about their intentions, or, even worse, they don't always know what they want. 

But AdultFriendFinder is a major exception. On this platform, people feel free to be totally transparent, so much so that it's entirely common to come across full frontal nudity in profile photos, or extensive lists of kinks and turn-ons. And for the generation that basically invented the Summer of Love and letting your freak flag fly, there's a lot of appeal in this naked honesty. 

Paid memberships filter out unserious daters & bots

The free dating apps definitely have a lot to recommend them, but there's a sneaky benefit to using a paid dating service like AdultFriendFinder: it's easier to filter out fake accounts or unserious daters. 

Sure, it's free to create an AFF account, but if you actually want to talk to people one-on-one, you need to upgrade to a paid subscription, and that extra step filters out a lot of half-committed daters or would-be scammers. And considering approximately one in six Boomers has fallen victim to an online romance scam, this built-in filter adds some serious peace of mind.

In the end, the Baby Boomers are just as susceptible to swipe fatigue as the rest of us, and they're actively looking for a more community-based approach to online dating.

Portable power stations are great for camping, van adventures, content creator assignments, or the worksite. If you live in an area that’s prone to power outages, a portable power station can keep your phone charged, your CPAP machine on while sleeping, and some can even power the refrigerator, so you won’t have to worry about food spoilage. 

Portable power stations come in tons of varieties. Some are great for camping, while others weigh hundreds of pounds, power an entire house, and really push the limits of what we could consider portable. The market has seen significant expansion in the last few years, and we have tons of great models to choose from these days, so you're allowed to be as picky as you’d like about the power provided, port options, and nice extras. Here are Mashable’s favorite portable power stations.

Being a woman on the internet has never been easy, but trying to find a genuine connection on a dating app in 2026? It’s exhausting. Between the emboldened creeps, the "swipe fatigue," and surprisingly convincing AI profiles, it's enough to make you wonder if applying for Love Island is the more sane alternative. (Spoiler alert: it's not.)

The reality is, dating right now comes with a unique set of challenges —especially when it comes to safety. A 2026 survey from SSRS found that 55 percent of women believe meeting someone in person from a dating app is unsafe, compared to just 30 percent of men. We’re dealing with a constant barrage of low-effort "hey" messages, unsolicited dick pics, men who are definitely married, and the underlying safety concerns men just don't have to think about. It’s enough to make you want to swear off dating entirely and just get another cat (no judgment here).

And can we address one of the biggest myths floating around Reddit? The idea that women "don't want sex" or aren't on these apps for casual hookups and sexting is nonsense. We want pleasure, fun, and intimacy just as much as anyone else. The problem isn't our sex drive — it's the delivery. There's a world of difference between a guy who knows how to flirt like a normal human being and someone who leads with unhinged, aggressive messages. When men show up with respect and basic social awareness (the bare minimum, fellas), we're more than happy to match that energy.

But despite the challenges, dating apps do work. SSRS reports that 37 percent of U.S. adults have used a dating app, and 50 percent of users have ended up in a committed relationship with someone they met online. The key isn't giving up and hoping for an old-fashioned meet-cute; it's finding the best dating apps for women that prioritize your safety, respect your boundaries, and help you filter out the nonsense.

SEE ALSO: What's dating in 2026 like? Single women tell all.

Fortunately for you (and my sanity), navigating this mess is literally my job. As Mashable's resident dating expert for the last three years, I've put dozens of dating apps and websites to the test. From classics like eharmony to sex-positive newcomers like Pure, I tried them all. I did the swiping, verifying, and blocking to figure out what actually works. So whether you want a serious relationship, a casual hookup, or just an app that puts you in control, I've found the options genuinely worth your time.

The dating apps I'd skip (and why)

You'll probably notice a few popular apps are missing from my list. That’s intentional. Part of my job is to filter out the platforms that aren't worth your time, money, or sanity — especially when safety is a top concern for women. An app doesn't get my recommendation just because it's well-known; it has to be effective, trustworthy, and populated by real human beings. Here are a few I think women should skip.

• Plenty of Fish (POF): I know this one still shows up on a lot of lists, but in my experience, it feels like a low-tech ghost town. POF launched way back in 2003, and both the interface and user experience feel completely dated. After testing it out, I (along with tons of Redditors) can confirm that it's plagued by spam accounts, ghost profiles, and paywalls that hide basic search filters. Your time is much better spent elsewhere.

• "Hookup" sites (like BeNaughty, Fling, Kasual): You've probably seen ads for sites promising instant, no-strings-attached fun. Based on my research and endless user complaints, I strongly advise women to steer clear. Many of these platforms are notorious for dubious billing practices, aggressive bot networks designed to keep you paying, and a complete lack of message moderation — creating an unsafe environment where harassment and catfishing run rampant.

Open-ear earbuds sit on the exterior of the ear, but they also come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are specifically designed for working out, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are an especially popular pick, thanks to their sound quality and color options, but at $299, they're hardly the most affordable option.

Plus, since the Bose Ultra Open came out in 2024, big audio brands like Sony have released open earbuds of their own, while Shokz has introduced noise reduction into the category for the first time. To help you find the best open earbud models available in 2026, we tested the latest options from Soundcore, Sony, Shokz, Bose, and more.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best wireless earbuds we've ever tested What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds let you get as close as possible to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds, which sit in your ear canal, open earbuds sit just outside your ears (as the name would suggest). Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook, while others opt for an ear cuff.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:

1. They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of your surroundings. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

2. For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

3. The hooks and cuffs (along with general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping you in place and alert while you're working out, working, or simply existing in the world.

What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?

As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.

Also, thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 I'd buy

That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our best picks for sound, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds and Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds, even have spatial audio features that work surprisingly well.

Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) will be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.

Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel especially light, it's something to keep in mind.

How to wear open-ear earbuds

Open-ear earbuds come in three major styles: cuff, ear hook, and bone conduction. How you wear them depends entirely on which style you have. Cuff earbuds "clip" onto the ear, not unlike a piece of jewelry, generally around the area right above the earlobe. Ear hook earbuds have a hook situated around the back of your ear and a speaker component situated right over your ear canal. Finally, bone conduction earbuds sit right behind the ears, with a band that goes around the back of the head to hold them in place.

Regardless of the style, its important to adjust the exact positioning of your open earbuds to see which offers the best sound, especially as the wrong positioning can deteriorate the quality.

For a visual representation of what wearing a cuff-style earbud looks like, you can check out our open earbuds explainer.

What about bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.

Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:

What's next in our testing pipeline

The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. We recently added the Sony LinkBuds Clip and Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro to this guide.

In addition to the earbuds that made our initial guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is also free with T-Mobile — qualify by bringing your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro   Get Deal

Samsung and Google have completely taken over the tech news cycle with a flood of new foldables, smartwatches, smart glasses, and flagship phones, leaving Apple fans stuck in the annual pre-launch waiting room.

We know talk of the iPhone 18 is exciting, but you don't actually have to wait for Apple's next keynote to score a major upgrade. Between soaring component costs and global RAM shortages that are driving up retail prices across the board, T-Mobile is softening the blow by rolling out a set of limited-time free iPhone 17 offers.

If you want the simplest entry point into the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 17e is currently free when you switch to almost any qualifying T-Mobile plan, no trade-in required. For those eyeing standard flagship specs, the iPhone 17 is completely free over 36 months on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan when you turn in an eligible trade-in device. And if you want the flagship iPhone 17 Pro for free, simply bring your existing number over to an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in required).

All of these deals are live through the weekend.

T-Mobile requires you to pay local sales tax on the full retail value of the phone upfront, alongside a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. Your savings are then applied as monthly bill credits spread over 24 to 36 months.

Paying a small fee in upfront taxes and fees to walk away with a brand-new iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro remains one of the highest-value carrier plays on the market this weekend. You know it makes sense.

TL;DR: Watch Manchester United vs. Milan in a 2026 pre-season friendly for free on SportyNet. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of really interesting pre-season friendlies taking place this weekend, but Manchester United vs. Milan is probably the best of the bunch. Manchester United are an intriguing prospect under Michael Carrick, and here they come up against their last coach, Ruben Amorim.

If you're interested in watching Manchester United vs. Milan from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Manchester United vs. Milan?

Manchester United vs. Milan in a 2026 pre-season friendly kicks off at 10:45 a.m. ET on Aug. 15. This fixture takes place at the Tarczyński Arena.

How to watch Manchester United vs. Milan for free

Manchester United vs. Milan in a 2026 pre-season friendly is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream Manchester United vs. Milan for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Manchester United vs. Milan for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit SportyNet

5. Watch Manchester United vs. Milan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Manchester United vs. Milan without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for SportyNet?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Manchester United vs. Milan for free with ExpressVPN.

The Moon's visibility is still fairly low as it begins to return following the New Moon. If you're interested in some moon-gazing, check back again tomorrow.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, Aug. 15, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Crescent phase, with 8% of its surface visible.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon doesn't look the same from Earth every night. As it travels around our planet, it moves through a lunar cycle that takes roughly 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The changing positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon affect how much of the Moon's sunlit side we can see, creating the different phases. Over the course of the cycle, the Moon progresses from a narrow crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before starting the sequence over again.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

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

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

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

It's 2026 and times are good for low-effort consumers. Yes, you can get pretty much anything you want by just tapping and swiping of your smartphone: Your shopping, your favourite takeaway, your high-ticket tech, even — our personal favourite — a hot date. And why shouldn't you? Online dating is nothing new. Apps and websites have dominated the dating world for the best part of 20 years. In fact, some sites go all the way back to the mid-1990s. But things are constantly evolving in the world of app-based dating.

According to our favourite sex-perts at Lovehoney — the progressive sex toy brand that sells everything from lingerie to lubricants and dildos — we're living in horny-but-wholesome times. Lovehoney has named 2026 "The Year of Pleasure."

That doesn’t mean quick-and-easy pleasure from one-night stands and flings. It may come as some surprise, but research says that one-night stands are on the out. Would-be daters are now cruising for "purposeful pleasure" and "meaningful connections." That means hookups with substance — flings that mean something. Yes, we're still hooking up, but we're getting more selective about who we hookup with and why. So, it's important to get the right dating app because each app offers something a little different. And you need the right tools to find the right date.

To help you get started, we’ve looked at the top apps and taken advice from sex and relationship experts.

What to know before you swipe

Before you start downloading apps, it’s good know just how to approach online dating. Our advice is to be 100 percent honest about who and what you’re up for. And maybe give a pass to the mainstream dating apps that are more about romance and happily ever afters (the likes of eharmony, in other words). The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the best free options will have features like profile verification to keep you safe.

Our main advice though is to stick to apps which are purpose-built for hookups, casual fun, and satisfying your kink (whatever that kink might be). It can be freeing, not to mention productive, to be open about specific desires. The ways in which we understand sex and relationships are changing all the time — just looking at fast-growing "heteroflexible" sexuality — and hookup apps allow you to explore curiosities with no judgement or social anxiety.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, whether it's the chance to explore a new sexual frontier, a friends-with-benefits situation on the reg, or an old school one-night stand (the one-night stand might be going out of fashion, but it’s still hella fun as long as it’s safe and on your terms).

Whatever your desire, we’re here to help make it happen. This guide to the best hookups apps is based on Mashable’s own real-world testing, expert input, and general experience. We’ve broken down each of the best hookup apps available right now, with an option for every type of dater and every dating desire.

These are the best hookup apps for 2026.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you know your logos.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Tired

• Green: Sections

• Blue: Words within words

• Purple: Also words within words

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Exhausted

• Green: Segment

• Blue: Ending in units of length

• Purple: Ending in synonyms for follow secretly

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1160 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Exhausted: BEAT, FRIED, SPENT, WORN OUT

• Segment: LEG, PHASE, STAGE, STRETCH

• Ending in units of length: CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT, LANYARD

• Ending in synonyms for follow secretly: BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL, SOUNDTRACK

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 13, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you double up a vowel.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 15, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 14, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Not tight.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one recurring letter.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

LOOSE

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

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

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you know a bit of trivia.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 15, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Sacred space

The words are related to religion.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe Christian church.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is In Church.

NYT Strands word list for August 15

• Pews

• Altar

• Bible

• Pulpit

• In Church

• Candles

• Hymnal

• Lectern

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

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

HBO Max doesn't let up when it comes to documentaries, and has had some serious standouts this year already, not least of which is Monsters of God, the ongoing saga of the illegal reptile trade that's 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

TL;DR: On sale for just $41.99, this bundle includes Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and 15 coding courses, but the 97 percent discount ends after August 16.

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Visual Studio Professional 2026 is a 64-bit integrated development environment built to handle large solutions and demanding workflows. Developers can create .NET and C++ applications for Windows, Linux, and containers, build cross-platform apps with .NET MAUI, and design responsive web interfaces in C# using Blazor.

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Hot Reload applies code changes while an app is running, so you spend less time restarting projects after every edit. IntelliCode and built-in AI features provide context-aware completions, refactoring assistance, and code suggestions designed to reduce repetitive work and catch potential problems earlier.

CodeLens brings test status, references, authors, recent changes, and commit history directly into the editor. Live Share also lets teammates collaborate in real time without requiring everyone to clone a repository or install every dependency first. Integrations with GitHub, Azure, and other DevOps workflows help projects move from development to deployment more smoothly.

The included training bundle gives newer developers a place to begin and experienced programmers room to expand. The 15 multi-lesson courses cover OpenAI fundamentals, Python 3, C++ for beginners, practical JavaScript projects, and other useful coding topics.

This is not a stripped-down consolation package. It is a professional development environment paired with structured instruction at an unusually low one-time price.

Don’t miss getting Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2026 + a 15-course Learn to Code Certification Bundle for just $41.99 through Aug. 16.

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The new Google Pixel 11 was just unveiled this week. This usually prompts some consumers to question how Google's latest smartphone stacks up against Apple's current generation iPhone. 

However, this isn't really the most apt comparison. Because the phones run different operating systems, owners of either device may be reluctant to switch ecosystems in search of greener pastures.

The real head-to-head is between the Google Pixel 11 and its most direct Android rival: Samsung's latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26. Let's put these two Android devices head-to-head.

Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Price

With the cost of technology rising amid global shortages of semiconductors, memory, and storage, price is likely front of mind for many consumers.

Both the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 start at $899 with 256GB and 12GB of memory.

Currently, the Google Pixel 11 is only available via pre-order and the Samsung Galaxy S26 has been out for a few months. Consumers are looking to purchase a new device immediately may therefore be able to find discounts on the Galaxy S26 right now. If they don't mind waiting, both smartphones will likely be priced similarly once the Pixel 11 is readily available in stores.

SEE ALSO: Tech editors react to the Made by Google event and new Pixel device features Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Specs

Both the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 offer some real processing power. These are the flagship smartphones from two of the leading Android device manufacturers, after all.

The Pixel 11 is powered by Google's latest custom chipset, the Tensor G6, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which has been optimized for Galaxy smartphones. With AI features being a major selling point for both devices, processing power is going to matter a lot.

So, which is more powerful? While the Tensor G6 is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Tensor G5, experts have shared their disappointment in the chipset's capabilities. Don't get us wrong, Google has undoubtedly been able to optimize its own chipset specifically for the Pixel 11's Gemini-powered features. However, based on the performance benchmarks currently available, the Galaxy S26's Snapdragon 8 processor takes the clear lead in areas including CPU performance, gaming, and battery life.

Aside from the chipset powering each smartphone, the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 are quite similar specs-wise. Both devices run Android. Both have a 6.3-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate, although the Pixel 11 has an OLED display and the Galaxy S26 sports an AMOLED display. Both smartphones are quite similar in size, although the Pixel 11 is 0.1 inches taller than the Galaxy S26. 

In addition, both models offer 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Perhaps the most noticeable differences are their batteries and weight. The Pixel 11 has a 4,985 mAh battery, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S26 has a 4,300 mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is also nearly a full ounce lighter than the Pixel 11.

SEE ALSO: I tested iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra cameras Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Cameras

Smartphone cameras are a huge selling point, and both the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 deliver four of them: three rear-facing cameras and one selfie camera.

The Pixel 11 has a 48MP wide-angle camera, while the Galaxy S26 has a 50MP camera. The Pixel 11's ultrawide camera is 13MP, while the Galaxy S26 sports a 12MP ultrawide camera. The Pixel 11 has a 10.8MP telephoto camera, while the Galaxy S26 has a 10MP telephoto camera. The Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 have 10.5MP and 12MP selfie cameras, respectively.

As one can see, the camera specs on both devices are quite similar and the slight differences will be barely noticeable to most. The real comparison may come down to each phone's software features. The Pixel 11 has features such as Camera Looks and Magic Capture, while Galaxy AI offers its own photo-editing tools.

One notable difference, however, is video resolution. While the Samsung Galaxy S26 can record video in 8K, the Pixel 11 is limited to 4K recording.

The debate between Unraid and TrueNAS feels as strong as the debate between Plex and Jellyfin. The thing is, while Plex and Jellyfin solve a very similar problem, Unraid and TrueNAS aren't solving the same problem at all. In fact, they're very different at the core, so make sure you pick the right NAS OS for your specific use case.

Open-source software usually gets recognized for the big, obvious wins, like replacing a cloud storage subscription or a password manager. What gets less attention are the smaller, oddly specific problems that software can fix just as well. Mostly because it doesn't occur to us that an app exists for it.

Our top mobile and health tech editors from PCMag, CNET and ZDNET share their thoughts on Google's Made by Google Pixel event hosted by Trevor Noah. What were the coolest features on the new Pixel devices, and what felt like a dud?