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Ring is at last addressing some of its longstanding privacy issues by limiting its access to your security camera videos. The Amazon brand has introduced a TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) security strategy that it claims will improve privacy for your footage while still enabling a raft of smart home features.

A ton of Grand Theft Auto VI footage has leaked in August. Rockstar has, in a moment of rare transparency, acknowledged the leaks and confirmed their authenticity. But there's still the matter of the big "Extended Look" that's set to air on Netflix on Thursday.

With so many gameplay videos swirling around the internet already, it's easy to forget that Rockstar's first official glimpse at GTA VI gameplay is happening this week. You'll need a Netflix account if you want to see it at 3 p.m. ET, but it'll go up on YouTube at 9 p.m. ET, too. We still don't know exactly how long the footage will be or what it will entail, but presumably, it will show, in some detail, how the game actually plays.

Here are three major things I want to see from this extended look on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Rockstar breaks silence on 'heartbreaking' GTA VI leaks The game's other protagonist

Early marketing for GTA VI has all but confirmed that the game has two protagonists, a couple named Jason and Lucia. It very much seems like the game is going for a sort of modern-day Bonnie and Clyde thing, which is a novel hook for GTA. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Lucia has been almost entirely absent from the leaked materials so far as of publication.

We've seen brief glimpses of her in cutscenes, but whoever is leaking all that footage is seemingly totally uninterested in playing as her. I suppose there's a chance she's not actually playable, but man, that would be a huge disappointment, as GTA hasn't had a playable female protagonist in its main story since the series blew up on the PlayStation 2.

Considering GTA V had three protagonists, it's likely that VI has two. I'd like an answer to the question of Lucia's playability more than almost anything else in the extended look on Netflix.

Literally anything that wasn't already in GTA V

Another bummer of the leaks so far is that they've been almost entirely focused on things you could already do in other GTA games.

I frankly didn't need a leaker to tell me I could beat up civilians, steal cars, and visit strip clubs. I've been able to do all of those things in GTA games for nearly 30 years. One leak featured a playable basketball mini-game, which is fine, but you could also play tennis and golf in GTA V. Other leaks have briefly showcased mechanics such as cars needing gas and cops being able to recognize the player character's current appearance. Those are neat ideas, but again, the leaks don't do a great job of showcasing how they actually function within the game's design.

This game is coming out 13 years after the previous entry in the series. I need to know what has taken that long besides making beach towels look super detailed. Will this game build on the depth of NPC interactions that were possible in Red Dead Redemption II? Will it bring any original ideas to the table? I'd love to know that by the end of the Netflix presentation.

A glimmer of hope that the writing is good this time

By far the most important (and honestly maybe least likely) change I'd love to see in GTA VI has to do with the writing. I used to enjoy the sense of humor in GTA games, and then I turned 16. By the time GTA V came out, I was all the way done with Rockstar's grating, juvenile, and sometimes outright hateful satire of American culture. To be clear, satirizing America is fine and necessary, but not the way the old GTA games do it.

What I want to see more than anything else in the Netflix footage is a sign — just one — that things have changed. I know better than to expect a fully woke GTA game, so I'd settle for something that's a little more self-serious, heartfelt, and focused on its characters. Red Dead Redemption II wasn't perfect, but it showed a way forward for writing in Rockstar games. I hope GTA VI follows that path.

Apple has started rolling out ads inside Apple Maps, the company confirmed to 9to5Mac on Tuesday. The launch began in the past few days and will continue to roll out to all users in the coming weeks.

So what will this look like in practice? A screenshot circulating online shows a sponsored listing for a bagel shop in the Suggested Places feed, marked with a small blue "Ad" badge to distinguish it from unpaid results, such as the seafood restaurant listed right below it.

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Per 9to5Mac's report, ads show up in two spots. Before you search, a sponsored listing can appear at the top of Suggested Places. After you search, an ad can surface within your results when it's relevant to the query.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces new $899 M6 Mac mini and $5,499 M5 Ultra Mac Studio

The rollout follows Apple's original announcement back in March alongside Apple Business, its new platform for company device management, email, and customer outreach. Apple said at the time that ads would launch this summer in the US and Canada, allowing businesses to bid for placement during key search and discovery moments. Google does something similar with its Maps platform and has handled promoted pins and sponsored search results for years.

Notably, there's no setting to turn the ads off, though Apple maintains that users' interactions with Maps ads aren't linked to their Apple Accounts or shared with third parties.

Reaction on Reddit has been sharply negative. A thread on r/apple discussing the rollout drew hundreds of comments lamenting the loss of the ad-free simplicity that set Apple Maps apart from Google's more feature-rich alternative. Many commenters argued that introducing ads undercuts one of Apple Maps' main selling points.

Other commenters pointed to Apple's growing ad footprint across the App Store and Apple News as evidence of a broader pattern, with several arguing that a company charging premium prices for its hardware and services shouldn't need to rely on advertising at all.

For now, ads on Maps are limited to iPhone and iPad in the U.S. and Canada — but given how quietly and quickly this rollout happened, they may not remain limited to those devices and markets for long.

Too many people treat Ethernet cables like an afterthought. You use whatever cable is included with your router, or you buy a random Ethernet cable off of Amazon without verifying whether it actually suits your needs. The thing is, what actually separates budget cables from premium ones isn't obvious from the outside. If you test a premium cable against one that is super cheap, you'll end up with a pretty different experience, but you woundn't know that from just looking at them.

In typical Milwaukee fashion, your favorite cordless power tool brand just unveiled several exciting new tools that are still coming later this year. If you need or want more tools, and who doesn't, new Milwaukee products are on the way and will absolutely be worth the wait.

SAVE $7: As of Aug. 26, the 30-ounce Owala FreeSip Sway water bottle is on sale in select colorways for $27.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $34.99. That matches the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala FreeSip Sway (30 ounce) $27.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $7.00   Get Deal

We all know chugging down the ounces is good for us. Our physical bodies depend on water to survive, and yet, most of us are on the struggle bus when it comes to actually staying hydrated. It's one of life's greatest mysteries as to why we have trouble consistently consuming a tasteless beverage to keep our bodies healthy and happy. One small improvement, however, is getting a water bottle you actually like. A Mashable favorite is on sale today for a nice 20% discount.

As of Aug. 26, the 30-ounce Owala FreeSip Sway water bottle is on sale in select colorways for $27.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $34.99. That matches the lowest price we've seen.

When it comes to finding the best water bottle, Mashable staffers are all in on the Owala FreeSip. Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino has owned her FreeSip for years. In her review, she wrote, "The Owala FreeSip lives up to its promise of both a sippable and chuggable water bottle. The best part to me is that, unlike other bottles with a straw that I've used, the FreeSip has a cover for the spout. That way, when you're out and about in the world, it's safe from germs and bacteria."

SEE ALSO: The Ninja HydraSense is a compact countertop water filtration system that removes up to 99% of stuff you don't want to drink

Today's sale price of $28 applies to the 30-ounce version, and you have your choice of several colorways. The Owala does an excellent job of keeping cool drink chilled while also being leakproof. That makes it a great travel companion knowing it won't spill in your backpack or tote. But keep in mind the Owala FreeSip is not designed for hot beverages.

Since it's a staff favorite at Mashable and it's on sale for a great price, consider making the upgrade to the Owala FreeSip Sway water bottle. It's perfect for back-to-school season and getting a fresh start with hitting daily hydration goals.

It's been over 20 years since I had to compile a Linux kernel, and that's because the boxed copy of Red Hat Linux someone gifted me wasn't going to work with my PC back then without adding stuff that is standard today.

SAVE 28%: As of Aug. 26, you can get the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box (24 boosters) for $119.99, down from $167.76, at Amazon. That's a 28% discount, or $47.77 in savings.

Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box (24-Packs) $119.99 at Walmart
$179.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon

Getting into Magic: The Gathering can feel intimidating if you don't know the rules or how to build a winning deck. (Seriously, some of those picnic tables got heated when I was in undergrad.) But if you want to grab a friend and just start playing, the game's Jumpstart format can help you learn as you go.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2026: Best retailers, market prices, deals, and upcoming releases

As of Aug. 26, you can get the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box (24 boosters) for $119.99, down from $167.76, at Amazon. That's a 28% discount, or $47.77 in savings.

Jumpstart boxes are made for quick, casual matchups. Instead of drafting cards one by one, you just open two of the 20-card boosters, shuffle them together, and you have a ready-to-play deck. The box comes with 24 boosters in total, and each one includes all the land cards you need to get started.

With 51 different possible Marvel Super Heroes themes floating around in this set, you can mash up your favorite heroes and villains to create wild combos. Reviewers also say that this box is a great way to hunt for cards like Dr. Doom, Vision, or Scarlet Witch.

My movie collection has been through many iterations. It started life on VHS, then moved to DVD, before I ripped all those DVDs so that I could stream them using Jellyfin. I always planned to get a Blu-ray player one day so that I could keep a physical collection in higher quality. I hoped that eventually Blu-ray players would come down in price, but it looks like that's just never going to happen.

TL;DR: Watch Al-Ahli vs. Auckland in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Cup may have only just ended, but FIFA is already onto the next tournament: the Intercontinental Cup.

Played for the first time just two years ago, the Intercontinental Cup is a relatively new addition to world soccer, like a global version of the Champions League. It features top teams from all six FIFA confederations. The 2026 edition of the tournament begins with Al-Ahli vs. Auckland in the African–Asian–Pacific Cup playoff, a clash between two of the biggest teams from the Saudi Arabia and New Zealand leagues.

If you're interested in watching Al-Ahli vs. Auckland in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Al-Ahli vs. Auckland?

Al-Ahli vs. Auckland in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup kicks off at 2 p.m. ET on Aug. 26. This fixture takes place at the King Abdullah Sports City.

How to watch Al-Ahli vs. Auckland for free

Al-Ahli vs. Auckland in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Al-Ahli vs. Auckland for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Al-Ahli vs. Auckland 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 CazéTV

5. Watch Al-Ahli vs. Auckland 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 Al-Ahli vs. Auckland without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on CazéTV, 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 Al-Ahli vs. Auckland for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in La Liga for free on CazéTV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026/27 La Liga season promises to be an exciting campaign, even at this early stage. And the second week of action includes Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad.

Real Madrid had a strong start, beating Espanyol 2-1 in their season opener. That performance included a goal from England's World Cup star Jude Bellingham. Real Sociedad took an opening game loss to Betis, so they're looking to come back with a win — but Real Madrid will prove tough opposition thanks to the combined firepower of Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior.

If you're interested in watching Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in La Liga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad?

Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in La Liga kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Aug. 26. This fixture takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu.

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad for free

Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad in La Liga is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad 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 CazéTV

5. Watch Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad 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 Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for La Liga?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on CazéTV, 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 Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: IKEA and Xbox teamed up on Yxstaby, a nine-piece gaming furniture collection featuring a rolling TV stand, a toolbox that doubles as a laptop stand, a side table for controllers, a monitor stand, and a stool modeled after an Xbox thumbstick. It launches in IKEA stores and online Oct. 1.

Gaming doesn't happen in one dedicated room anymore — it happens at the kitchen table, on the couch, and everywhere in between. IKEA and Xbox built an entire furniture collection around that reality, and it's arriving this fall.

The collection, called Yxstaby, is the result of a collaboration between designers from both companies, who spent time visiting gamers' homes to figure out what a gaming setup needs to do. The idea: furniture that makes room for play when it's happening, and disappears back into everyday life when it's not.

"How people play at home has shifted, and it is as much about relaxing and connecting with others as it is about performing, which changes what the space has to do," said Philip Dilé, product design developer at IKEA of Sweden, in a statement.

Credit: IKEA / Xbox Nine pieces built around real gaming habits

The nine-piece lineup leans on small, practical fixes for common gaming annoyances:

• A rolling TV stand — the first of its kind for IKEA, it rolls to wherever the game is happening and comes with storage for gear on the back, then rolls away when you're done

• A toolbox — keeps controllers, cables, and hardware organized, with a lid that doubles as a laptop stand, so a dining table can become a gaming station and then just go back to being a dining table

• A side table — rolls to wherever you're sitting, giving controllers a spot besides the arm of the couch, plus space to charge behind sliding doors

• A monitor stand — raises one or two screens to a comfortable height, with storage underneath and holders for a phone, headphones, and a controller

Beyond the functional pieces, the collection also leans into Xbox's controller design for its look:

• A D-pad cushion and platter — a soft cushion and a matching stainless steel platter, both shaped like the Xbox controller's D-pad

• A mirrored display box — shows off a controller (or other collectibles) from every angle

• A thumbstick stool — built from Xbox's actual 3D design files, it's shaped like a giant thumbstick and even tilts the way a real one does when you sit on it

Credit: IKEA / Xbox

The whole collection sticks to a muted white, black, and beige palette with pops of green marking storage spots for gear, so the pieces are designed to blend into a room you already have rather than look like a gaming setup bolted on.

Yxstaby was unveiled at Gamescom this month and launches in IKEA stores and online from Oct. 1. Availability may vary by market.

The most useful smart home sensors perform routine tasks like measuring temperature and humidity or detecting sudden movements. But there are a lot of weirder sensors that you might not have thought of that can make your home feel futuristic.

I grew up with cell phones that didn't really care if you dropped them several times a day, so I just never got the desire to put phones in cases. Early smartphones were very fragile, but times have changed, and getting a case for your flagship phone is now truly optional.

SAVE OVER $170: The Creality K1 Max 3D Printer is on sale for $548.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $719. That's a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Comgrow Creality K1 Max 3D Printer $548.99 at Amazon
$719 Save $170.01   Get Deal

The 3D printer may be the printer of the future, but thanks to a heavy discount on the Creality K1 Max 3D Printer at Amazon, the future is very much now. This printer boasts speeds up to 12x faster than other 3D printers and uses AI technology to ensure you get the best-quality models with every print job.

As of Aug. 26, the Creality K1 Max 3D Printer is marked down to $548.99, a 24% saving off the regular list price of $719. Stock for this 3D printer is running low, so you might need to act fast.

SEE ALSO: The Segway Navimow i110N robot lawn mower is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $300+

This printer is built with AI LiDAR, which scans the first layer of your model and detects any issues. It will then pause the printing job and alert you to any issues, which effectively prevents it from printing defective models. There's also an AI camera for spotting debris and obstructions, while giving you real-time monitoring and time-lapse filming.

In terms of speed, it prints at 600 millimeters per second, with an acceleration of 20,000 millimeters per second. It's packed with even more tech and features, making this a great deal for anyone looking for an advanced 3D printer.

Don’t miss the Creality K1 Max 3D Printer with 24% off — now priced at $548.99 for an overall saving of $170.01.

I've bought a lot of cordless power tools over the years that have come and gone, but one has remained: this trusty old blue Ryobi drill. It's a workhorse that I've owned for over 20 years, and here's why it outlasted everything else.

After a week of Grand Theft Auto VI leaks, Rockstar Games has finally addressed the Cyberleek situation, calling it "heartbreaking."

In a rare public statement posted to its X account, Rockstar acknowledged the leaks and confirmed that they do, in fact, show gameplay footage of GTA VI. Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software, previously acknowledged this fact in a string of subpoenas filed to unmask the culprits. In the statement, Rockstar took an apologetic tone for how long it has taken not only for the game to come out, but for Rockstar to show the game, too.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"It would be an understatement to say that having videos of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay leak in this way has been heartbreaking for our team, and this is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time," the statement said. "We are very sorry that everything has taken as long as it has — from getting the game finished (nearly there!) to sharing more details and official gameplay, and providing the community with everything you want to know."

Unfortunately for Rockstar, the leaker known only as Cyberleek appears unfazed, releasing a fifteenth gameplay clip online shortly after Rockstar issued its statement on Wednesday morning.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 Cyberleek update: Everything leaked so far, what might be next

The statement went on to say that the company knows it needs to "exceed your expectations" with the big, official gameplay reveal on Netflix on Thursday. That is still happening as scheduled, and will hopefully show much more of the gameplay, plot, and characters than the Cyberleek videos, which have mostly depicted the protagonist Jason beating up NPCs and stealing cars.

And by Nov. 19, when the game comes out, hopefully none of this will have mattered.

Music icon Cyndi Lauper is this week's guest on Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware and honestly, it's a feast to remember.

In the foodie interview podcast released Wednesday, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and forever New Yorker sat down with the Wares for her favourite meal of borscht, with fig and almond tart for dessert.

Between bites, Lauper unpacked everything from her Sicilian family upbringing, her major hits like "True Colors" and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," the realities of making marinara, documentary Let The Canary Sing, the lawsuit with her band Blue Angel, her favourite New York restaurants (Le Veau d’Or, Lucien, Frankie's), and her charity which advocates for the rights and health of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people.

"The only time that I really felt and cried was at the first women's demonstration when everybody wore pink hats, and I saw these young girls with these signs, "Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights." And I used to get in trouble for talking about feminism!" says Lauper in the video above.

Honestly, my kingdom for a seat at this table.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices.

It's fair to say that streaming has completely revolutionized the way that many of us consume media. While streaming offers convenience, there are some key reasons why owning physical media is still superior.

If you have kids, you'll know how too much screen time can seem to affect your kids' mood and behavior. During the school year, limiting their screen time is fairly easy to do as they're not at home for most of the day. During the summer break, the kids are at home a lot more, so I built a chore tracker for my kids that rewards them with screen time.