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3 things to do with your old phone instead of trading it in
If you’re looking to upgrade to a new phone, your default solution for the old one might be to trade it in. The truth is, though, that most trade-in programs offer pennies on the dollar, so you’d only be getting a fraction of your phone’s actual value.
Why Linux is the go-to platform for developers and tinkerers
Linux fans like to dream of the day when Linux is a mainstream OS instead of a hacker's tool. As much fun and useful as Linux is, it seems that Linux will still be a "geek" OS. Here's why the Linux community should embrace this rather than fight it.
Your expensive SSD is slowly cooking itself: The $5 fix you need
NVMe SSDs are quickly becoming one of the most expensive components in a typical gaming PC. Yet despite their importance, many people ignore a crucial factor for performance and longevity: cooling.
BAFTA film nominations 2026: See the full list
Awards season can't be stopped, won't be stopped, with the nominations for the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards announced on Tuesday.
Following this year's Sinners-ruled Oscar nominations, the BAFTAs are also set to celebrate an outstanding 2025 in movies, with the nominations read by actors David Jonsson and Aimee Lou Wood, streamed on YouTube.
SEE ALSO: Oscars 2026: The biggest surprises out of the nominations listOne Battle After Another topped the BAFTA total nominations with 14, followed by Sinners with 13, and Hamnet and Marty Supreme with 11 each. British films that weren't as represented at the Oscars, including Pillion, 28 Years Later, The Ballad Of Wallis Island, and I Swear, saw much-anticipated nominations. Plus, Paul Mescal and Chase Infiniti made up for their Oscar snubs with their BAFTA nods for One Battle After Another and Hamnet, respectively.
Featured Video For You Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley reveal the real surprise in 'Hamnet'So, did your favourite film make the cut?
Best FilmHamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best British Film28 Years Later
The Ballad Of Wallis Island
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy
Die My Love
H Is For Hawk
Hamnet
I Swear
Mr Burton
Pillion
Steve
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director and ProducerPillion
The Ceremony
Eastman
A Want In Her
My Father’s Shadow
Best DirectorYorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia
Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Best Leading ActorRobert Aramayo, I Swear
Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B Jordan, Sinners
Jesse Plemons, Bugonia
Best Leading ActressJessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Best Supporting ActorBenicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Paul Mescal, Hamnet
Peter Mullan, I Swear
Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value
Best Supporting ActressOdessa A'zion, Marty Supreme
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Carey Mulligan, The Ballad Of Wallis Island
Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Emily Watson, Hamnet
Best Makeup and HairFrankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
Sinners
Wicked: For Good
Best Original ScoreHamnet
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Begonia
Frankenstein
Best Original ScreenplayI Swear
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
Sinners
The Secret Agent
Best Film Not in the English LanguageThe Voice of Hind Rajab
It Was Just an Accident
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sirat
Best Costume DesignFrankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
Sinners
Wicked: For Good
Best CinematographyFrankenstein
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Train Dreams
Best Children’s and Family FilmArco
Boong
Lilo and Stitch
Zootropolis 2
Best CastingI Swear
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best British Short FilmWelcome Home Freckles
Magid / Zafar
Nostalgie
Terence
This Is Endometriosis
Best British Short AnimationCardboard
Solstice
Two Black Boys in Paradise
Best Animated FilmElio
Little Amelie
Zootropolis 2
Best Adapted ScreenplayThe Ballad of Wallis Island
Bugonia
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
Pillion
Best Documentary2000 Meters to Andriivka
Apocalypse in the Tropics
Cover-Up
Mr. Nobody Against Putin
The Perfect Neighbour
Best EditingA House of Dynamite
F1
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Best Production DesignFrankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Best SoundF1
Frankenstein
One Battle After Another
Sinner
Warfare
Best Special Visual EffectsAvatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
How to Train Your Dragon
The Lost Bus
Outstanding Contribution to British CinemaClaire Binns
The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony will air on Feb. 22.
The Lord of the Rings turns 25: Here are 6 ways television paid tribute to cinema's greatest trilogy
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, where the filmmaker best known for horror took his own unexpected journey to bring J R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novel to life on the big screen. Each installment told the tale of Elijah Wood's Frodo Baggins, as the young Hobbit set out from the Shire to destroy the One Ring before its master could rise and cast his shadow over the world once more. Despite it being a seemingly impossible task, Jackson succeeded in creating not only a faithful adaptation but also cementing his trilogy as one of the best movie series ever made.
I used this open-source Microsoft tool to kill every annoying Windows shortcut
Shortcuts in an operating system or application can make or break the user experience, and frustratingly, Windows certainly has a lot you probably won't use. Luckily, there is a free, open-source app that lets you customize almost every single shortcut in Windows and most apps.
The bright and colorful Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees set is $10 off at Amazon
SAVE $10: As of Jan. 27, the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees (10373) has dropped to $54.99 at Amazon. This is $10 off its list price of $64.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Building Set (10373) $54.99 at Amazon$64.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal
Lego's Botanicals sets add a sweet splash of color to your home when put on display. And as an added bonus, these floral arrangements don't require any watering or maintenance. If you've been hoping to pick up a set to work on during these winter months, the delightful Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees (10373) are worth checking out.
The Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees normally come with a price tag of $64.99, but for a limited time they've dropped to $54.99. This saves you $10, but keep in mind that since Amazon has this set marked as a limited-time deal, it may not be live much longer. If you've had your eye on it, now is a great time to grab it for less.
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!Recommended for adults, the 709-piece Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees set allows you to piece together three different mini bonsai trees to put up on display. One of the trees you'll build is a ginkgo bonsai tree, which is blooming with bright yellow leaves. Then there's a black pine bonsai tree covered in green needles, and finally a wisteria bonsai tree with lovely lilac flowers.
Again, this limited-time offer may not be around for long, so don't miss out on this deal on the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees at Amazon.
If you're curious what other sets we think are worth your time right now, have a look at some of the best new new floral Lego sets or some of our top picks for the best Lego sets to give for Valentine’s Day.
How to use the internet to figure out what you’re into in bed
The following article contains an extract from Kink Curious: A Guide to Exploring Your Kinks, Dispelling Shame, and Staying Safe by Gigi Engle.
For many of us, getting kinky sounds very exciting. The idea of being tied up (or tying someone up) and spanking them into oblivion while wearing a leather corset and thigh-high boots is enticing, but we’re just not even sure where to begin with such a fantasy. This is because we have no idea if we’re actually into something or just like the idea of it. This disconnect can be further aggravated by feelings of shame and a lack of solid educational materials available for the kink-curious among us.
SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chatsFurther still, you might not even have fully formed fantasies or desires quite yet. It is possible (and normal) to have vague inklings of wanting to be submissive and degraded, but not be entirely sure how that would look for you. Or maybe you want to step into your power as a Dom who enjoys doling out spankings and punishments, but you’re scared sh*tless because you don’t know what kind of Dom you’d be or how you'd even be a Dom in the first place. And what kind of implements would you even want to use, anyway?
How do you begin to figure out what you’re into?Honestly, a lot of kink educational materials that are available kind of miss this piece of the puzzle: How do you begin to figure out what you’re into?
Now, you might be 100 percent sure what kinds of kink play you’re into and what you want to try, and that’s fantastic. But I would still invite you to look a bit deeper with conscious curiosity to figure out if there are more kinks you’re into that you’re just not aware of yet, understand what it is about your kinks that gets you going, and consider how you might want to explore these kinks in your own erotic life.
Another pivotal question worth pondering: How important are these kinks to you? You might not have the answer right now (and that’s totally OK!) but if you’re here reading this, you might have very strong kinky predilections. The first place to start is a little self-reflection.
Questions to ask yourselfHow important are my kinks?
Where do they fit into my identity as a human being?
How might my life or happiness be affected (or not affected) if I weren’t able to explore my kinks?
Understanding this can help you formulate a blueprint for how you want to incorporate kink into your life. For some people, kink is part of their sexuality. For others, it’s just something they take part in, according to Rea Pearson, a sex-positive BACP-accredited counselor and relationship therapist.
If your kinks are an essential component of your happiness and fulfilment, this isn’t anything to be ashamed of. It’s entirely valid. It’s just a matter of figuring out a way to incorporate them into your sex life in a way that works for you (and possibly a current or future partner).
Feel free to save this bigger existential question on the importance of kink until later down the road. You don’t need to have the answers yet. I only wanted to introduce it here so you could start to think about it as we unpack your desires.
Using erotic content for inspirationUsing porn and other erotic content is such an amazing way to start exploring different kinds of kink play and figuring out what gets you going.
It’s important that when we’re choosing erotic content, you’re looking for content that isn’t, well, sh*t. Mainstream porn (think free tube sites) is a form of highly stylized entertainment that is geared toward cis-het men. There are all kinds of questionable practices going on behind the scenes as well as in them. If you’ve ever watched a mainstream gang bang scene, you’ll probably know what I’m talking about. There is a lens placed on men dominating women, punish-f*cking them, with questionable consent (if consent is present at all).
Which is why we want to be sure that what we’re consuming is ethical. Now, you might be thinking: There’s an ethical way for me to watch a woman be turned into a human chandelier in a rope harness and be anally penetrated that is considered above board? Yes, this is correct.
With the rise of ethically made porn, stricter standards (standardized, fair pay for actors, STI testing, collaborations over scripts and scenes that take the actors’ boundaries into account, and so forth, just more human respect) are slowly being implemented in smaller indie studios. And this is super important for everyone involved—from the viewer, to the crew, to the actors.
Why is this important for you? Because you want to be sure that the kink content you’re consuming is high quality, with everyone enjoying themselves and practicing safely. Porn is not education — so don’t take it as a substitute for workshops, classes, or reading this book. This is meant to serve as inspiration.
SEE ALSO: Top 5 NSFW sites to learn what porn didn't teach you Ethical erotic content for inspirationOK, where do I find good ethically made material?
CrashPad Series
CrashPad Series is a queer, non-binary, and female-focused studio with authentic, playful, genuine connections and sexual expression with a diverse array of body types, presentations, identities, and expressions.
Royal Fetish Films
Royal Fetish Films is run by King and Jet Setting Jasmine and is setting a high industry standard in ethical porn with inclusive, beautifully made, and incredibly kinky content.
Bellesa
Bellesa is free-to-consume, curated porn made by and for women and femmes, with something for everyone, including plenty of kink.
Cheex
Cheex includes carefully curated erotic films from independent artists and production companies, plus erotic audio stories and educational resources with articles and interviews around sexual wellness and pleasure.
SPIT
SPIT incorporates photos, audio erotica, and videos from naked story time to partnered play, highlighting diverse sexual expression and taking viewers on an authentic journey through desire and exploration.
Erika Lust
Erika Lust produces movie-quality ethical porn and remains one of the top producers in the industry.
Dipsea
Dipsea is an audio erotica app with countless steamy stories and is a fabulous option for anyone who doesn’t enjoy visual representations of sex.
Afterglow
Afterglow is brand-new on the scene and offers inclusive, high-quality ethical porn for a wide range of desires.
You can also subscribe to OnlyFans creators that you particularly like. This is a great way to support your local sex workers — and find content that you want to see.
SEE ALSO: Your guide to audio erotica apps and websites Using journaling to explore desireJournaling is such a fantastic tool for figuring out what it is you’re into. Figuring out what you’re into is not about landing on a perfectly curated list of kinks or arriving at a fixed sexual identity. It’s about learning how to listen to yourself without judgment, letting curiosity replace shame, and giving your desires room to breathe. The internet can be a powerful mirror when used intentionally, reflecting back patterns, themes, and emotional truths you might not yet have words for.
What turns you on today may deepen, shift, or surprise you tomorrow.You don’t need to rush this process, and you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start exploring. Desire evolves. Context changes. What turns you on today may deepen, shift, or surprise you tomorrow. By pairing ethical erotic content with reflection and self-inquiry, you’re not just discovering kinks, you’re building a relationship with your own desire that’s rooted in awareness, consent, and self-trust. And that, more than any specific act or label, is the foundation of a fulfilling erotic life.
Kink Curious: A Guide to Exploring Your Kinks, Dispelling Shame, and Staying Safe by Gigi Engle, published by Jessica Kingsley, is out now.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo has hit its best-ever price at Amazon — save $500 right now
SAVE $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $1,099, down from the normal price of $1,599. That's a 31% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon$1,599 Save $500 Get Deal
Despite the FCC ban on foreign drones, you can still get yourself a DJI drone. The fine print of the ban explains that any drone already in the country are excluded from the new legislation, which means they're fair game for ownership and operation. However, that means stock is dwindling, so if you're searching for a DJI drone, check out this latest deal.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,599. That's a 31% discount that takes a hefty $500 off the price. It also matches the record low at Amazon.
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 DJI Mini 5 Pro is a premium drone and the Fly More Combo makes it just that much more appealing. The bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone itself, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. Boiled down, this is everything you'd want for an epic drone set-up.
In terms of performance, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a stellar model. It has a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can also go with 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming. DJI also made this model especially appealing for night flying thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function. DJI's ActiveTrack 360° technology is a must-have feature if you'll be filming moving subjects like a cyclist, skier, or surfer.
While it's still in stock and on sale for a record-low price, snag the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. The bundle is packed with advanced accessories while still being a perfect model for beginners.
The best sex and dating apps for hooking up
This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
If we can get a movie, an album, or Amazon purchase with the tap of a smartphone — hell, even get a takeaway delivered directly to your door — there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to get a date in the same way. Indeed, this is the age of on-demand apps and instant gratification. That’s hardly news. Online dating and dating apps have dominated the romantic landscape for the best part of 20 years. But things are changing within the online dating world.
According to the sex-perts at Lovehoney — everyone’s favourite progressively-minded sex toy brand — these are horny-but-wholesome times. They’ve declared that 2026 is "The Year of Pleasure."
That doesn’t mean one-night stands and flippant flings. According to research, one-night stands are on the decrease. Prospective daters are actually looking for "purposeful pleasure" and "meaningful connections". In other words, hookups that have some actual substance. We're still hooking up, but we're getting more selective. That’s why using the right dating app is so important. Every dating app has something slightly different to offer, and you need the tools to find someone you actually want to share your time (and more) with. Getting a date might be as easy as tapping your phone, but it has to be the right date. To help you, we’ve looked at the top apps and taken advice from sex and relationship experts.
What to know before you swipeBefore you start downloading apps, it’s good know just how to approach online dating. We advise that you’re completely up-front about who and what you’re looking for. And maybe pass on those mainstream dating apps that are all about romance and happily ever afters (we're looking at you, eharmony). The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the free ones should have features like profile verification to help keep you safe. But most importantly, be sure to stick to apps that are purpose-built for hookups, casual fun, and satisfying your kink. 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 chatsIt 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 fun as long as it’s safe and on your terms). Whatever you're after, we’ve got your back with this guide on the best hookups apps, all based on Mashable’s own real-world testing and expert input. We’ve broken down each of the best hookup apps, selecting an option for every type of dater and every dating desire.
These are the best hookup apps for 2026.
6 must-have car features for surviving extreme cold weather
I've spent a good part of my life commuting in cold weather, the kind where the roads aren't plowed yet and the forecast is already wrong. I've driven through blizzards, across mountain passes, and on mornings where the hardest part of the drive was just getting the car to cooperate long enough to leave the driveway. After enough winters like that, you stop thinking about cold as a seasonal inconvenience and start treating it as a mechanical stress test. It's also a big part of why I live in Florida now.
Stephen Colbert calls BS on Trump administrations response to ICE killing
Stephen Colbert's monologue on Monday had a far more serious tone than usual, with the Late Show host discussing ICE's killing of nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday.
"Masked government agents disarmed an American citizen and then executed him in the streets," says Colbert, describing what videos of the shooting showed despite what the Trump administration has tried to claim.
Colbert goes on to respond to Trump officials trying to reframe the shooting with contradictory statements, including Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino, who described the federal agents as "the victims" on CNN.
"Bulls***!" responds Colbert. "Masked secret police shooting innocent people with impunity in the streets are not victims. The only way they could ever even be considered close to victims is that they are, at best, weak-minded individuals full of anger who have been led to the darkness by Donald Trump and are now participating in an evil system that will stick to them like hot black tar for the rest of their lives."
Elsewhere, Jimmy Kimmel and Jon Stewart both had similar thoughts.
Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy booster packs are under $10 at Amazon
TL;DR: Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Packs are down to just $8.99 at Amazon. That's a 25% drop from their usual $11.99 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Pack $8.99 at Amazon$11.99 Save $3 Get Deal
Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy expansion is one of the best crossover expansions in recent years, and Amazon has cut the cost so you can jump right in for less. As of Jan. 27, Amazon has dropped Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Packs down to $8.99, marking their lowest price in the past 30 days and a solid 25% discount on list price.
Each Play Booster pack includes 14 Magic trading cards, with a rarity breakdown designed to keep openings exciting: 1-4 rares or higher, 3-6 uncommons, and 6-9 commons. Every pack also guarantees at least one Traditional Foil card, with a small chance of pulling a foil borderless mythic rare. These packs are fun to crack open, even if you’re purely collecting.
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 Final Fantasy set has been especially popular thanks to its massive scope, pulling characters, spells, and locations from all 16 mainline Final Fantasy games. That wide appeal has kept prices relatively steady across most retailers, making this Amazon dip notable. On TCGplayer, individual Play Booster packs are currently listed as low as $7.96, but those prices come with hefty shipping fees that can push the real total well past Amazon’s $8.99 asking price.
For more from the latest Magic: The Gathering sets, you can still score over $50 off the Magic: The Gathering Bloomburrow Play Booster Box at Amazon. What’s more, you can also get at least $14 off the new Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box.
Score the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $150
SAVE OVER $100: As of Jan. 27, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is down to its lowest-ever price of $399.99 at Amazon. This is $150 off its list price of $549.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (2025) $399.99 at Amazon$549.99 Save $150 Get Deal
If you've been thinking about buying a smartwatch but want an option with a bit more of a fashionable design, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is worth a look. This stylish smartwatch boasts a sleek design alongside plenty of health and fitness features, and it's on sale for a limited-time right now at Amazon.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (46mm) has dropped to $399.99 at Amazon, a $150 discount from its original list price of $549.99. What's even better is this marks a return to its lowest-ever price. You'll want to be quick, as Amazon has a timer counting down the hours on this deal.
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!No matter if you want the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic to help with your fitness goals or for health tracking, it's stacked with great features. Some of these include Advanced Sleep Coaching to give you a better idea of your sleeping patterns, a Running Coach feature to push you toward your running goals, and it can even track your vascular load by analyzing sleep, diet, activity, and stress levels. So not only will it keep you informed, but it looks good while doing it.
The timer is already counting down on this deal, so now is the time to scoop up the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for its lowest-ever price. Curious to see other smartwatches on sale? Amazon is also offering a nice discount on select models of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
VBA is dying, and Microsoft is building Excel's future without it
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) was long the undisputed king of the spreadsheet, but its dominance is finally waning. From security nightmares to the rise of modern tools, the era of legacy macros is coming to an end. It's time to embrace the new Excel.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani casually crashes Jimmy Fallons monologue to tell a joke
Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show is normally packed with celebrity guests, but it's not often one interrupts him mid-monologue to tell a joke.
In the clip above Fallon is running through a series of gags about how cold it is in New York City, when Mayor Zohran Mamdani suddenly appears next to the host to ask if he can "try one."
"It's so cold in New York City the rent froze itself," Mamdani says, nodding to his campaign promise of freezing rent for stabilised tenants. He then offered a serious message about the severe weather conditions. "But seriously, stay inside, stay warm, stay safe."
Clawdbot AI security risks you need to know before trying it
Updated on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 5:11 p.m. ET — Clawdbot has officially changed its name to Moltbot, for very predictable reasons.
Yesterday, we wrote about Clawdbot, a new AI personal assistant that's achieved viral status in Silicon Valley. Many AI agents have been criticized for over-promising and under-delivering, but early users are raving about Clawdbot. That would be impressive enough, but this open-source tool is also completely free — no purchase price, no subscriptions, no nothing.
So, what's the catch?
Clawdbot's creator Peter Steinberger is transparent about the fact that running Clawdbot comes with certain security risks. As he writes on GitHub, "Running an AI agent with shell access on your machine is… spicy."
Before you install Clawdbot and start running it on your device (or before you buy a whole new Mac Mini to power it), you should understand the security risks.
SEE ALSO: Clawdbot users are snapping up the Mac Mini — and it’s under $500 at Amazon What is Clawdbot?First, let's quickly explain what this tool is. Clawdbot is an AI agent that runs on your device. You can give it access to AI models like Claude or ChatGPT, as well as your email, Slack, browser, and calendar. Clawdbot also has an extensive memory, and it remembers your past conversations and preferences. Because it has wide-ranging access to your computer and apps, it's able to take proactive action and execute tasks.
As an open-source tool, you can download it and customize it for free.
Clawdbot AI: How secure is your data? Credit: ClawdbotWith Clawdbot, your system is as secure as your security practices. That might seem obvious, but stick with us.
Clawdbot isn't a normal piece of software, which is also why installing and running it isn't as easy as downloading Zoom or Microsoft Word onto your Mac or Windows PC. Beginners can find step-by-step instructions, but you'll need some technical competence to use it properly and keep it secure. That's because Clawdbot has the ability to read and write files, run commands, and execute scripts on your device. It can also control web browsers, giving it the ability to make purchases, reserve hotels, or check into flights.
In short, everything that makes Clawdbot unique and helpful also makes it potentially risky. Generally, AI processes that happen on your device are much more secure than cloud-based AI processes. In this regard, Clawdbot is a step up from many AI tools. However, its system-level access also leaves you vulnerable.
As Steinberger writes, "There is no 'perfectly secure' setup."
Prompt injection is one of the major risks, but there are others outlined in the Clawdbot security page on GitHub. Before using Clawdbot, be aware of risks such as:
Bad actors could use prompt injection to get Clawdbot to misbehave
Bad actors could use social engineering to get access to your private data and learn information about your device
It could make purchases you didn't intend
It could damage your device by rewriting important files
Luckily, you can find an entire guide to securely using Clawdbot, available for free on GitHub. There's even a security audit you can periodically run to make sure your setup is as secure as possible.
However, another word of warning: If terms such as config file, remote admin API, sandboxing, localhost, reverse proxy, and legacy models don't mean anything to you, then Clawdbot may not be the right AI assistant for you.
Jon Stewart goes scorched earth on Trump administration over ICE killing of Alex Pretti
Like Jimmy Kimmel and many of the other late night hosts, Jon Stewart's monologue on Monday was largely focused on ICE's deadly shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Over the course of 23 minutes, the Daily Show host unpacks what happened and the massive difference between the video footage and the Trump administration's description of events. Then, Stewart plays more footage of various officials on the right characterising Pretti as being at fault for carrying a weapon — the White House is now walking back this "deny and attack" tactic after public backlash.
"Are you f***ing kidding me right now? Are you saying that the problem was the guy had a gun? Are you saying that the guns are the problem?" says a stunned Stewart, before going on to give his view on what happened.
"They're lying. We saw it. And that's how brazen they lie, when they know we've seen the truth. That's how they lie when they know we know. Imagine how they lie when there's no evidence to contradict them? And that, more than anything, explains why Alex Pretti really was a threat. Because he was brandishing a weapon: A handheld aluminum, 1080p, 60fps, weapon of mass illumination. Because there is nothing more dangerous to a regime predicated on lies than witnesses who capture the truth."
How I make six figures on OnlyFans without taking my clothes off
OnlyFans has become synonymous with porn. So much so that, a few years ago, when the platform announced it was banning explicit content, it received such backlash that it reversed course.
But not all OnlyFans models have sex on camera — and some don't even get naked. Sophie Annaston is one of these creators, and she's built a six-figure-a-year business on the platform. (Annaston shared a screenshot of a month's OnlyFans earnings with Mashable to verify.)
SEE ALSO: What it takes to make six figures a month on OnlyFans, according to Tiffany Wisconsin"There's nothing nude on my feed," Annaston told Mashable. "I share try-ons," or videos of her trying on different clothes. "I'll share toy hauls — but my panties always stay on."
Annaston spoke to Mashable about how she scaled her OnlyFans so high while doing softcore and her many other streams of income.
From TikTok to OnlyFansAnnaston's fiancé actually got into content creation before she did. He started YouTube in 2017, and when the pandemic hit, he quit his full-time job; YouTube matched his previous salary, and he started making even more.
"That was really motivating for me," Annaston said.
At the time, she struggled to figure out what she wanted to do. During the peak of the COVID pandemic, she dropped out of school and quit her job to pursue a career on TikTok. While building her following, she began offering eBooks, such as an IBS Trigger Checklist, and eventually launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund a wellness journal.
Around two years later, she started posting to YouTube, where she had a Shein brand deal and tried on the site's bikinis. She became so overwhelmed with the response (100,000 views in two days, according to Annaston) that she deleted the video.
Around that time, a friend of hers told her how much money she was making on OnlyFans — so she asked her fiancé if it was OK to do it herself, and she set up her OnlyFans as a "call to action" for future YouTube videos. She kept uploading try-on videos and got millions of views, which really established her OnlyFans following.
Annaston kept posting on mainstream social media, kept up the wellness journal business, and independently published a book, called A Book About Wellness, in 2024.
"I want to have just a bunch of different directions," she said. "My OnlyFans […] allows me to fund creative projects," she said.
On top of all of this, Annaston has a Patreon page where she teaches other women the ins and outs of OnlyFans. "I have a female audience who really trusts me and values my advice on Patreon," she said, who find her from YouTube and even Reddit.
There, she writes in-depth articles about the psychology behind her OnlyFans strategy — topics include why posts work or don't, how to build a scalable strategy, and how she can do this without crossing her boundaries — those boundaries being nudity and sex on camera. So what does Annaston actually post on OnlyFans?
What Annaston posts on OnlyFans"I'm basically a big tease," Annaston joked, "which, for a lot of my fans, from what I've heard, is actually [more fun] than full visibility. So I focus on suggestive content, partial nudity."
"I'm basically a big tease."She'll post strip teases and get her fans to buy what she wears — like the viral $450 panty advent calendar from SKIMS. Annaston ran a fundraiser on OnlyFans for fans to buy; they did so "immediately," and she made content with that for the entire month of December.
Annaston posts PPVs (pay-per-view videos) a couple of times a week, and her fans can request videos, but she doesn't sell custom 1-1 videos.
And she doesn't use an agency or management like many top OnlyFans creators do; she's a one-woman show. So she answers messages on OnlyFans, but emphasizes that fans need to tip if they want her attention.
"Fortunately, it really works," she said, "and my subscribers love the fact that they know that they're helping me […] for all my creative projects. I'm not here buying a sports car or something."
Why not nudity?Porn and its creators are highly scrutinized in our society. Project 2025, a far-right blueprint for President Trump's second term, calls for porn to be banned and its makers imprisoned. And while no laws stating this have been passed yet, several have been introduced in the United States.
And online censorship of sexual content has been going on for longer than the release of Project 2025. Online sex workers (as well as LGBTQ creators, erotic artists, and other non-sex workers) have told Mashable over the years that their social media accounts have been banned or shadowbanned (deprioritized, unable to be searched for).
And since 2022, age verification laws have swept the United States and the Western world. These laws typically require proof of age like a government ID or a facial scan to view websites that host a certain amount of explicit content. This has resulted in a decrease in sex workers' income.
Between societal sex shaming and legislative censorship, it's no wonder that OnlyFans creators may not want to delve into porn. Even on YouTube, where Annaston racked up millions of views with try-on hauls, cracked down on this type of content in the last year. YouTube's nudity and sexual content policy states that even clothed genitals, breasts, or buttocks "that are meant for sexual gratification" can't be posted on the platform.
Annaston deleted several try-on videos with millions of views and discussed it in a separate YouTube video, calling it the "end of an era." (Annaston has a separate try-on YouTube channel that she's uploaded to recently, but usually she sticks to trying on pajamas.)
SEE ALSO: 'We're all sinners': the Conservative tradwife who does OnlyFansAnnaston said that if she started posting explicit content, she would lose out on other opportunities — which, given our prudish society, is likely true. In addition to OnlyFans, Annaston has brand deals, her wellness journal, and her Patreon.
"Working with brands, it is really fulfilling, being able to work with big brands and have a media kit and then just, have a book and a journal, and maybe down the road, I can have my book in bookstores, all these different things where it's like, if I, if I branched out into explicit content, extreme content, like, all those Things would just disappear out of my reach," she told Mashable.
There's a niche for everything, and while her niche of non-nude softcore is smaller, it exists — and she has leverage over not posting nude, she said.
"It's just a very slippery slope, because once you set expectations, your audience is going to feel entitled to a certain type of content, and then you kind of lose that leverage," she said.
Annaston doesn't shame explicit creators, though. "We're all in very different lanes," she said. "I don't try to compare myself to those types of creators, adult creators, celebrity creators, who have these huge built-in audiences."
Business success from an OnlyFans creatorAnnaston views her OnlyFans success the same way she views her social media success. "I think they're hand in hand," she said. "OnlyFans is an extension of my social media." And she believes success is determined by social media, not how extreme one's content is.
In business, she continued, the best way to learn is hands-on experience and trial and error. "There have been so many things I tried and failed," including a lash business, "and then I just found something that worked."
"I just found a way to branch out and not limit myself to just OnlyFans or just brand deals," she said.
And Annaston doesn't mind spilling her secrets, as she does on her Patreon. She said, "As much as I think I'm a very unique creator, I think, to some degree, anyone could replicate my strategy."
The DJI Mini 4K drone is down to a record-low price at Amazon — save over $70 right now
SAVE OVER $70: As of Jan. 26, the DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $225 at Amazon. That's over $70 off and the lowest-ever price for this drone.
Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Drone $225 at Amazon$299 Save $74 Get Deal
DJI drones are selling fast. Is this buying frenzy driven by the FCC ban on foreign drones? Or are shoppers simply buying up all these drones because DJI is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers? Both things are probably true.
With interest continuing to spike, we're keeping close tabs on the prices of these drones. Any discount is good right now, but a record-low price? We're all over it. As of Jan. 26, the DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $225 at Amazon. That's over $70 off and the lowest-ever price for this drone.
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 DJI Mini 4K really is a perfect partner for content creation. It offers crystal-clear 4K resolution and thanks to the three-axis gimbal, you can get cinematic-quality footage of all your adventures. The brushless motors enhance power and get you into the air at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters. You're probably not going to be climbing that high, but it's nice to know that you have the option.
This popular drone also has one-tap takeoff and landing, a simple return-to-home button, and an Intelligent QuickShots feature that automatically shoots professional-level videos. It's a sensible pick for drone newbies with a bunch of beginner-friendly features.
We don't expect stock at this record-low price to last long. Act fast to score the DJI Mini 4K drone on sale for $225 at Amazon.


