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 SAVE $50: As of March 29, the brand-new 2025 MacBook Air with M4 chip is available for $949 at Amazon. That’s $50 off its regular price of $999. I don’t know who’s asleep at the wheel over at Amazon, but they’ve got the just-released 2025 MacBook Air with the M4 chip sitting pretty at $949. Yes, already. Yes, somehow still in stock. This is the kind of deal that feels like it should come with a countdown timer and dramatic music. Apple just announced the M4 chip, and we’re already getting a discount on a MacBook that has it baked in. This version comes with 16GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage—aka the sweet spot for anyone who wants a laptop that won’t flinch when you open five apps and 28 tabs at once. It’s fast, smooth, and just obnoxiously good at everything.
SEE ALSO:
The best Apple deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale: New iPads and M4 MacBook Airs are already on sale
The design hasn’t changed much from last year’s MacBook Air, but when something already looks this sleek and weighs practically nothing, I’m not complaining. The Midnight finish? Gorgeous. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display? Still serving up a billion colors like it’s trying to show off. Apple also upgraded the webcam to a 12MP Center Stage camera, which is perfect for video calls where you want to look like you have your life together. Add in three mics, four speakers, and Spatial Audio, and you’re basically set to produce a podcast without trying.
What really gets me is that the M4 chip is supposed to make this laptop even more efficient, with up to 18 hours of battery life and full support for Apple’s new Intelligence features. I can barely make it through a day with my current setup without needing a charger and a nap. This is a brand-new laptop. It should be sold out. It should definitely not be on sale. And yet, here it is. Sitting in my cart. Waiting for me to make one slightly irresponsible (but entirely justified) purchase. | ↑ |
 SAVE $70: As of March 29, 2024 MacBook Air with M3 chip, 24GB RAM, and 512GB SSD is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That’s $400 off its usual $1,499 list price. I thought this one would vanish from Amazon faster than a Lightning cable port. 2024 MacBook Air with the M3 chip is not only the newest kid on the block, but this particular config (24GB RAM and 512GB storage) is a power user’s dream. And yet, somehow, it’s still up for grabs for $1,099. That’s $400 off. I checked twice. This is the kind of laptop that makes my current one look like a potato with a keyboard. The new M3 chip boasts an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, which is Apple’s way of saying, “Go ahead, open 43 Chrome tabs and Photoshop at the same time. We can take it.” I genuinely think this MacBook is overqualified for my Google Docs and occasional Netflix, but that’s not stopping me.
SEE ALSO:
The best Apple deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale: New iPads and M4 MacBook Airs are already on sale
What makes this deal even more ridiculous is the 24GB of unified memory. That’s the kind of RAM you usually only see in developer builds or MacBook Pros that cost as much as rent. Pair that with 512GB of SSD and you’ve got a machine that keeps up with your ambition, or your TikTok editing habit. No judgment here. It’s also stunning. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports a billion colors, which sounds excessive until you see your desktop background and suddenly feel something. The Starlight finish is classy without screaming “look at me,” and it’s absurdly light at under half an inch thick. Toss it in a tote bag and go pretend you work at a café like the rest of us. Retailer: Amazon Model: 2024 MacBook Air (M3) Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Memory: 24GB Unified Memory Storage: 512GB SSD Processor: Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU Battery Life: Up to 18 hours Extras: Touch ID, Spatial Audio, 1080p camera Battery life is listed at up to 18 hours, which is code for “yes, you can skip packing the charger.” Plus, it has the usual perks like Touch ID, a 1080p FaceTime camera that doesn’t make you look like a potato, Spatial Audio, and enough microphones to host a podcast you’ll never finish editing. MacBooks don’t usually go on sale this soon after launch, and yet this one’s hanging out on Amazon like it isn’t one of the hottest laptops of 2024. If it disappears tomorrow, I won’t be shocked. I’ll just be annoyed I didn’t click “Buy Now” fast enough. | ↑ |
 SAVE $70: As of March 29, Apple AirPods Max are available for $479.99 at Amazon. That’s $70 off their regular price of $549 during Amazon’s Spring Sale. I fully expected the AirPods Max to be wiped from Amazon’s shelves the second the Spring Sale went live. People love these headphones. They’ve got Apple’s seal of luxury, every tech influencer has raved about them, and they come in colors with names like “Starlight,” which sounds more like a candle scent than a gadget. And yet they’re still in stock. I’m stunned, and also one impulsive click away from owning them. At $479.99, you’re saving $70 off the list price, which is basically a miracle for Apple gear. I’ve been side-eyeing these for a while, waiting for a rare sale like this. The price isn’t the lowest ever, but it’s close. For a product this popular, I’m not waiting around for a unicorn discount that may never come.
SEE ALSO:
The best Apple deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale: New iPads and M4 MacBook Airs are already on sale
Apple packed these with features that make me feel like I’ve been listening to music with rocks in my ears until now. The sound is crisp and immersive thanks to the H1 chip and Spatial Audio, and they block out noise like they’ve got a personal vendetta against background chatter. I could probably sit on a plane next to a crying baby and still enjoy my moody playlists in peace. Comfort-wise, they don’t just sit on your head — they lounge there. The memory foam ear cushions feel like tiny pillows for your ears, and the mesh canopy is far more breathable than the hoodie I refuse to take off.
If you live inside the Apple ecosystem like I do, the seamless syncing between devices is the kind of sorcery that actually justifies the hype. Pop them on, and your iPhone, MacBook, and iPad play nice without you lifting a finger. I love when my tech just works. The Starlight color is the one on sale right now, which works out because I’m a sucker for anything that looks like it belongs in a fancy tech museum. Other colors are still available too, but they’ll cost you a bit more, because fashion has a price. I honestly thought I’d be writing about these being sold out. Instead, I’m writing while inching closer to the “Buy Now” button. This deal might not last, and I’d rather have regrets about the purchase than regrets about missing it. | ↑ |
 SAVE $100: As of March 29, the iRobot Roomba Q011 is on sale for $149.99 at Amazon. This is a 40% saving on the list price. We'll always be shouting about robot vacuums here at Mashable, especially now, when you can find great deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. If you've been shopping around for something for a while, the name Roomba won't be new to you. And as of March 29, we've found you an incredible deal at Amazon on the iRobot Roomba Q011, now down to just $149.99. This model has a three-level cleaning system that delivers customizable suction for carpets and hard floors. It comes with smart navigation that cleans in neat rows, dodges furniture, and steers clear of stairs or any other obstacles in your house. And for those hard-to-reach corners and edges, the Edge-Sweeping Brush won't miss any dust buildup. Controlled from the iRobot Home App, you can do things like schedule cleans while you're away from home, check to see where it has cleaned, and more. And with up to 120 minutes of cleaning on one charge, if it doesn't manage your whole house, it'll return itself to the charging station to reboot. This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so if you don't want to miss out, move fast. | ↑ |
 SAVE $320: As of March 29, the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop is on sale for $379.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you 46% on the list price. We're big fans of robot vacuums here at Mashable. Anything that reduces your chore list is a plus in our book. So, with Amazon's Big Spring Sale currently underway, we've been tracking all the best vacuum sales for you to enjoy, and this latest on the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop deserves your attention. As of March 29, you can take home this impressive model for $320 less than usual, now $379.99. This is a great vacuum because it doesn't just pick up dirt; it mops your floors, too. It uses Sonic Mopping to scrub hard floors 100 times per minute, and if you know it's about to encounter an extra deep stain, head to the app and initiate Matrix Mop to get 50% better stain cleaning in certain spots. This vacuum also boasts an impressive precision matrix grid, meaning it takes multiple passes over dirt and debris to ensure it is all removed. And the smart features don't end there: the CleanEdge Detect system uses blasts of air and corner recognition to remove debris from edges and corners pulling the debris into the cleaning path. Plus, there's no need to manually map out the path for this vacuum because it uses 360-degree LiDAR vision to learn your space, detect obstacles, and pick up dirt. Like all high-end vacuums worth shouting about, this machine self-empties, self-charges, and holds up to 60 days' worth of dirt, limiting your work even further. The base is bagless, so it is both useful and environmentally friendly as it eliminates the need for waste bags. This is only a limited-time deal at Amazon, so act quickly so you don't miss out. | ↑ |
 SAVE $147: As of March 29, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is on sale at Amazon for $832.99. That's a 15% discount on the list price, and the lowest it's ever been. There are still a few days left of the Amazon Big Spring Sale, and you can find discounts on pretty much anything. Whether you're after a new TV, new earbuds, or a new phone, there really is something on sale for everyone. And if a new phone is top of your list, we've found a fantastic deal on the i Phone 15 Pro Max, currently at its lowest-ever price. As of March 29, you can save 15%, as it is now down to $832.99. This deal is specific to the 1TB storage option, but you can find discounts across all models. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a top-tier phone. It’s got a titanium frame, so it’s lighter but still super durable if you're someone who likes to drop it a lot. The camera quality is next to none, boasting a 10x zoom lens and 48MP main camera. It's built with the new A17 Pro chip, making everything run fast and smooth, whether gaming or texting. It's also one of the most impressive iPhone batteries, promising to last all day. And you can enjoy work, play, streaming, and all sorts on the clear 6.7 inch Super Retina XDR display screen. This great deal will end with the Big Spring Sale on March 31, so don't miss out. | ↑ |
 If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game. Strands 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. 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. NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Power plantsThe words are related to food. Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words are vegan foods. NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical. NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is VeganProteins. NYT Strands word list for March 29
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, a nd 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 yesterday's Strands. | ↑ |
 Aliens aren't terraforming Mars, but one of NASA's rovers just found something with a strange texture that might entice a cauliflower lover to do a double-take. Curiosity, a Mini Cooper-sized lab on wheels, was ambling over rugged terrain a few days ago this March when its navigation camera spotted some Martian rocks unlike any others. The scientists leading the rover's expedition say they've never seen anything quite like this on the Red Planet. "Oh my glob," the anthropomorphic Curiosity account posted on X. "What are these lumpy rocks?" But Curiosity wasn't the only one with a geological mystery. At the same time, roughly 2,300 miles away on the other side of the planet, Perseverance found bumpy rocks of a different kind, calling to mind the famous " Martian blueberries" discovered by the Opportunity rover in 2004. 
Curiosity took close-up pictures of a strange bumpy rock it discovered on Mars in March.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS
Since its mission launched in 2011, Curiosity has traveled about 352,000,020 miles: some 352 million whizzing through space and another 20 over the rusty-dusty terrain. Right now it's on its way to an unexplored part of Gale Crater, called a "boxwork" region, which likely necessitated warm groundwater to form eons ago. Often outshined by its younger twin rover Perseverance, Curiosity stole back the limelight earlier this week for a monumental discovery based on one of its rock samples. Within it, researchers detected the largest organic molecules yet on Mars, suggesting the chemistry needed for life may have progressed further on the Red Planet than once thought. The molecules, which contain long chains of carbon atoms, could be pieces of fatty acids, key ingredients for Earth life. Though the organic molecule find, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, isn't proof of life, it does encourage scientists that other more complex molecules linked to life could still be on Mars. Previously, researchers have been skeptical over whether such evidence could remain on the planet after millions of years of radiation and environmental changes. Suffice to say, Curiosity is not to be underestimated in its scientific value. The team gave Curiosity's new rocks official names — Manzana Creek and Palo Comado — and took pictures for the record. The leftward rock in the image at the top of this story has jagged, vertical surfaces and "a lot of crazy rough texture," according to the mission journal. 
Perseverance discovered a bumpy rock on the rim of the Jezero Crater in March.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / LANL / CNES / IRAP
"The rocks were shaped by a combination of wind and water over time, resulting in the cool textures we see today," Abigail Fraeman, Curiosity's deputy project scientist, told Mashable. Perseverance's bumpy rock, on the other hand, looks a little more like a cluster of miniature peas than cauliflower. It's covered in millimeter-scale beads, some pierced with tiny pinholes. The rover found the rock, officially dubbed St. Pauls Bay, around the rim of Jezero Crater. And it seems both rovers' sightings have flummoxed their humans. "What quirk of geology could produce these strange shapes?" wrote Alex Jones, a researcher working on the Mars 2020 mission team, in a blog post. 
A Martian rock, dubbed St. Pauls Bay, stands out in gray in a field of reddish-brown terrain.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU
Spherical features can form on rocks when water flows through them, creating concretions of minerals over time. But they can also form in other ways, like in volcanic eruptions and meteorite strikes. When droplets of molten rock are thrown into the air by volcanoes or impacts, they cool as they travel, hardening in little balls. Scientists will continue studying the rocks using the tools available to them on the rovers, but such finds reinforce the desire for NASA to bring samples back to Earth for more rigorous studies. Right now the space agency is trying to figure out how to save its Mars Sample Return mission, the plan to fly home bits of rock, dust, and air collected by Perseverance. NASA will spend the next year working on engineering plans for two potential new approaches that are considered less complicated and expensive. | ↑ |
The new 2025 Roombas just changed everythingThis would have been a very different article to read had you stopped by any time before March 2025. Before then, iRobot and Shark were both kind of plateauing in terms of the variety of their respective lineups. It was like a competition to see who could be the most mid — especially compared to the robot vacuums announced at CES. But the lukewarm rivalry got interesting when iRobot went rogue and overhauled the whole Roomba fleet outside of its typical schedule (the company had previously been saving its big product drops for late summer). The new batch consists of eight new Roombas falling under four different umbrellas: the Roomba 105 or 205, or Roomba Plus 405 or 505, ranging in price from $299 to $999. (This may or may not be a last ditch effort to save the company from a reportedly bleak financial situation.) These Roombas are so new that I haven't gotten to test them out at home yet. But just based off of descriptions and prices, iRobot seems to have patched up several weak spots in the lineup and prioritized budget friendliness without skimping on features that consumers really care about, like smart mapping in even the cheapest models. And up until iRobot's March 2025 announcement, neither iRobot nor Shark measured suction power in Pascals (Pa) like most of their competitors do. iRobot finally made the switch, but Shark still insists on keeping an air of mystery by solely comparing suction power to other vacuums in its own family tree. (That's what iRobot was doing with its older models, too.) Shark has also been known to make claims like "50% better suction than the best-selling iRobot. Whatever that means — the weakest Roomba is probably technically one of its best sellers. Where iRobot and Shark agree: Being weird about suction power disclosurePinning down whether iRobot or Shark robot vacuums are stronger is always a challenge, and not just because each offers multiple different vacs with different levels of power at different prices. The two longstanding brands aren't keen on using the standard unit of Pascals (Pa) to measure suction power like the Roborock and Eufys of the world are — an effort that could only be perceived as a secret pact to make my life as a robot vacuum reviewer more difficult than it needs to be. Instead, both Shark and iRobot like to keep their suction power comparisons within their own families. For instance, they might say a new model offers "x times the suction power" that an older or more basic model of theirs does. iRobot did originally float the idea of switching over to Pa with its March 2025 releases, but actual Pa numbers are still hard to track down online. Where Roomba wins: Small obstacle avoidance and more models to fit more needsiRobot simply has more robot vacuums, and that variety alone gives it a leg up on Shark. More models to choose from means more opportunities to customize the features and budget to a shopper's main goals for automated cleaning. Let's say you're willing to pay a little extra for a premium robot vacuum that achieves the most hands-off experience possible. iRobot has several options with features that make a robot vacuum increasingly self-sufficient, including mopping pads that automatically lift over carpet, self-empty docks that also wash and dry the mopping pads, and small obstacle avoidance cameras. 
The Roomba Combo 10 Max has a retractable mop that lifts over carpet.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
The new Roomba Plus 405 Combo has two spinning mopping pads — a first for iRobot.
Credit: iRobot
But floor type is far from the most impressive thing the smarter Roombas recognize. All j series Roombas, the Roomba Combo 10 Max, and the Roomba Plus 505 Combo all have small obstacle avoidance technology, which solves the main gripe that many robot vacuum non-believers have: robot vacuums get stuck so often that they're more trouble than they're worth. These Roombas use a special camera system to help them recognize and avoid small obstacles that less-advanced robot vacuums would typically eat, like a phone charger, extension cord, rogue sock, or pet waste. I first experienced this sense of relief when reviewing the Roomba j7+ and Combo j7+, and it was never easy to get back into the habit of pre-tidying when trying another robot vacuum that didn't have that. I'd easily sacrifice more intense cleaning for a robot vacuum to have the brain cells to do that. One of the coolest parts about the Roomba lineup is that you can mix and match several of these features to stay within a certain budget. You can skip all of the other fancy features while still bringing home small obstacle avoidance with the standalone Roomba j7 for as little as $299 on sale, or try out the space-saving DustCompactor design with or without mopping for under $500. Even the cheapest 2025 Roombas guarantee LiDAR-powered smart mapping and 70 times (read that again) the suction power of the 600 series Roombas, which were the go-to base tier Roombas two years ago. I'd just like to say that I basically called iRobot's most recent move in an older version of this piece from spring 2024, saying that "iRobot would also be wise to drop a more budget-friendly option with carpet-centric suction power." People sticking to a certain budget shouldn't inherently have to settle for a rinky-dink cleaner, and iRobot finally realized that that's the piece that was missing in its entry-level tier. Where Roomba loses: The ultra-affordable end of the spectrumPlummeting earnings one month, a random revamp of the entire Roomba line the next month — if we're trying to read between the lines, I'd say it became glaringly obvious that people were getting sick of Roombas costing a lot but not doing enough. While the 2025 Roomba releases do show that iRobot is pandering to the value-minded crowd harder than ever before, the cost-per-feature situation is still stiff in the $400-and-under category. Is it too overpriced, too late for iRobot? For instance, I think that the perfect starter robot vacuum is one with smart mapping and self-emptying — suction can be pretty basic. In Roomba world, the cheapest option for this is the Roomba 105 + AutoEmpty Dock, going for $449.99. In Shark world, the same capabilities can be secured for $329 at full price. Then, iRobot's $200 to $300 assortment is almost comically Not Worth It. In April 2024, iRobot fumbled a low-hanging opportunity to right the disappointments of its budget section. Admittedly, the $249.99 Vac Essential, $274.99 mopping Roomba Combo Essential, and slightly more expensive self-emptying versions do provide a more powerful clean than the older 600 series. But the cheap Roomba's fatal flaw remains: they still don't have smart mapping, a feature I feel is ~Essential~ in any robot vacuum. A handful of Sharks at the same prices with comparable suction power do smart map. 
The Roomba Combo 2 Essential was more of a pain than a help in my apartment.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
Sure, all of these base-tier Roombas do go on sale often. You could technically score the absolute cheapest Roomba for around $130 or a mopping, self-emptying Roomba for $280. But settling for no specific room cleaning just isn't worth it, especially when a similar wad of cash could get you way further if you were buying a Shark (or a Eufy or a Dreame model). In my experience, just hitting "go" and letting a robot vacuum clean aimlessly is a recipe for coming home to a robot vacuum lost under the bed. The zigzag pattern feels like a hit-or-miss guessing game made more annoying by getting stuck and missing spots on the floor that I'd rather just hit with my Dyson stick vacuum, anyway. Where Shark wins: Spot cleaning and affordabilityShark has been much more in tune with what the average person is willing to spend on a robot vacuum. The brand consistently offers core capabilities like smart mapping and mopping at lower prices than its Roomba counterparts — a level of cost-effectiveness that should be particularly enticing to strict budget shoppers or first-time robot vacuum owners. Shark's more approachable price points don't necessarily mean it skimps on cleaning performance, though. I have both my beloved cordless Dyson and, for Mashable testing purposes, at least one robot vacuum at my fingertips at all times. I get a true sense of any given robot vacuum's value when an unexpected mess within a room in my apartment needs to be taken care of right now. So my favorite thing that I've noticed about Shark robot vacuums is that they make spot cleaning easier than Roombas do. While the iRobot app insists that you create and name an official cleaning zone, even if this is a one-time thing, Shark lets you skip the labeling charade to drag and drop a square on your map in the designated spot cleaning tab. It's just one step, but there's something to be said for streamlining. Shark also gets a bit more nitty gritty with the spot cleaning itself. This all started with its Matrix line from 2023, which introduced Matrix mode. These Sharks clean in a grid pattern, approaching the area several times from multiple angles to grab anything it may have missed in the first pass or two. iRobot and Shark can duke it out over suction power on paper all they want, but in my testing, I found the low and mid-range Shark models (like the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 and Shark Detect Pro) to be much less likely to leave a rogue crumb or pile of hair behind than the 600 series, Essential series, and lower-end j series Roombas. During regular vacuuming, Sharks in Matrix mode dish out 30 percent better carpet cleaning than the older RV Shark models. For the 2-in-1 Shark models, Matrix mode also works with mopping when the mopping pad vibrates 100 times per minute to scrub at stains that would likely not budge when wiped with a stationary cloth. Matrix mopping came in clutch for keeping up with the constant layer of shoe prints by my front door. 
The Shark RV2300, which comes in a cute gray color.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
Shark even extends the Matrix cleaning mechanism to its cheapest robot vacuum, making it one of our favorite — if not the favorite — budget-friendly robot vacuums in 2024. The Shark RV2310 and Walmart-exclusive Shark Matrix RV2300 and RV2300S are incredibly reliable robot vacuums for the price, often on sale for $199.99 for the standalone version and $299.99 for the self-emptying version. (If this model is sold and shipped by a third party rather than Walmart when you click, we'd advise waiting until more stock from Shark itself comes in.) I experienced no noteworthy issues with navigational accuracy when sending the Shark RV2300 to specifically sweep my bathroom or Matrix clean the floor surrounding the kitchen counter, which is an area I dragged and dropped in the app on a case-by-case basis. Though the suction power is expectedly just OK, it was enough for surface-level daily upkeep of the big, visible debris. In September 2024, Shark finally caught on to the whole "self-sustaining mopping pads" thing with the release of the Shark PowerDetect line. And naturally, even the most premium Sharks debuted at $1,199.99 and $999.99 — several hundred less than the Roomba with self-washing and drying mopping pads (at the time). 
The Shark PowerDetect robot vacuum with NeverTouch Pro dock.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
This is the first mopping Shark that knows to stop mopping on carpeted areas without you having to specifically designate so. For good measure, the PowerDetect is also equipped with large wheels that hoist the vac over carpet to keep it dry during mopping mode. Those hydraulics also helped the PowerDetect to be one of the only robot vacs I've tested to not swirl my bath rugs up every single time. Where Shark loses: Small obstacle avoidanceShark's shortcomings stem from sparseness in its family tree and a long wait period between product drops that often have it playing catch up with other brands. The existing Shark models are also a little more basic than some of the Roombas, especially mid-tier ones. For instance, the one big thing Shark was missing forever was a premium hybrid robot vacuum that could wash and dry its own mopping pads. That gap was finally closed when Shark released the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro in September 2024. But small obstacle avoidance is the other premium robot vac feature that's come to simply be expected in vacs near the $1,000 point, and Shark's NeverStuck technology still hasn't mastered it yet. A handful of Roombas, most of them reasonably priced (at least when on sale), do check the small obstacle avoidance box. This means that things like cords, pet toys, laundry, and slippers aren't really on a Shark vac's radar yet. And you have to be around to clear the floor of those before sending a Shark out. Maybe you don't mind that, maybe you do — depending on how seriously you're taking the hands-off approach in your robot vacuum search. One Roomba counterpart, the $649.99 (or $499 on sale) Roomba Combo j5+, also self-empties, mops, and maps, and does the last part with small obstacle avoidance built in to take on a job even if the floor is a little chaotic. Compared to the other main brands like iRobot, Roborock, Eufy, and Dreame, who all have more than one botvac with small obstacle avoidance tech, it wouldn't hurt Shark to prioritize small obstacle avoidance across multiple models in its next product drop. Similarly, only one hybrid Sharks automatically stops mopping when carpet is sensed. This means vacuum and mop mode aren't possible at the same time in the other 2-in-1 Shark Matrix models, and a person needs to manually attach the water tank to switch to mopping mode. With Matrix Mopping being such a solid feature, it's a bummer that it can't be deployed more freely. 
The most advanced non-mopping Shark does way less than the most advanced non-mopping Roomba.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
Though I was satisfied with the floor coverage, thoroughness, and mapping accuracy when testing the $599.99 Shark Detect Pro, it seems overpriced for the negligible differences between it and a regular old self-emptying Shark. "Detect" sounds like it should refer to the capability to detect phone chargers or socks, but alas, it's actually talking about a feature that increases suction when an edge, corner, or extra dirty spot is detected. This is nice, but heightened corner coverage isn't major enough to justify $600, especially when there are several Roombas in this price range that also work harder on dirtier spots, as well as mop and avoid small obstacles. | ↑ |
 Amazon's Big Spring Sale is in full bloom, bringing sitewide discounts on a huge range of items. While the sale is billed as a seasonal event packed with deals on outdoor gear, spring cleaning necessities, and home decor, the Mashable Shopping team is also seeing steep price cuts on Apple devices, laptops, headphones, and other tech. The Big Spring Sale is Amazon's first major savings event of the year, and it's more than three times longer than the retailer's flagship Prime Day sale in July. It's also unlike Prime Day in that it's not exclusive to Prime members — though they do get access to a handful of special markdowns.
SEE ALSO:
350+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, selected by Mashable's team of experts
Strategic shoppers should know this: While some of Amazon's spring sale deals are limited-time " daily drops," most of its offers will be live throughout the entire sale. Here's how long it's scheduled to last. How long is the Amazon Spring Sale?Amazon's Big Spring Sale is a full week long. (For comparison's sake, Prime Day is just a two-day affair.) When does Amazon's Spring Sale end?The 2025 Amazon Big Spring Sale will end at 11:59 p.m. PT on Monday, March 31. That's 2:59 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1 for shoppers on the East Coast. When is Amazon's next big sale?Amazon hasn't announced its next major savings event at this point, but it will almost certainly host a sale over Memorial Day weekend in late May. Stay tuned. The best Amazon Spring Sale deals you can get right now
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 Nothing feels as good as a deep, genuine laugh. It's an expression of joy! It's a workout. It's a sign that you're having a good time. Netflix has a dazzling selection of comedy movies that put that good-time feeling on demand. Whether you're craving action-spiked shenanigans, quirky coming-of-age adventures, awkward humor, stranger-than-fiction silliness, madcap musical numbers, or crime with a spree of laughs, there's a perfect pick for you. And we've made singling it out all the easier by highlighting the most hilarious below. Here are the funniest movies now streaming on Netflix. 25. Logan Lucky
Adam Driver, Channing Tatum, and Daniel Craig are mid-heist in "Logan Lucky."
Credit: Trans-Radial Pictures / Kobal / Shutterstock.com
Returning to his love of a wacky heist, Ocean's Eleven helmer Steven Soderbergh delivers fresh thrills and laughs with this 2017 gem, which is absolutely stacked with a dazzling cast. Channing Tatum and Adam Driver star as the Logan brothers, who come from a family supposedly cursed to baffling misfortune. But could their fate be turning when older brother Jimmy (Tatum) concocts a convoluted scheme to steal millions from a bustling race speedway during their biggest event of the year? Younger, one-armed brother Clyde (Driver) will be his right-hand man. Their spunky hair-stylist sister Mellie (Riley Keough) will be their getaway driver. Now all they need is to break out the infamous safecracker Joe Bang (Daniel Craig with a daffily entertaining Southern accent), and bring on his Bible-thumping brothers (Brian Gleeson and Jack Quaid) as backup. Also starring are Katie Holmes, Dwight Yoakam, Sebastian Stan, Seth MacFarlane, and Hilary Swank. Divulging anything more about this Southern-fried romp would be to spoil the fun. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor How to watch: Logan Lucky is now streaming on Netflix. 24. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Eddie Murphy is back as Axel Foley.
Credit: Netflix
Eddie Murphy returns as wise-cracking Detroit police officer Axel Foley. 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III, this sensational sequel sees Foley returning to Los Angeles to fight a new foe, reunite with old friends, and reconnect with his estranged daughter. Reprising their supporting roles are Beverly Hills Cop co-stars John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot. New to the crew is Taylour Paige as Axel's hard-headed daughter, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a local ally, Nasim Pedrad as a flustered real estate agent, and Kevin Bacon as a smirking antagonist. The sparks will fly. The punchlines hit powerfully. The soundtrack is fire. And just like that, the heat is back on! — K.P. How to Watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix. 23. Between Two Ferns: The Movie
Credit: Adam Rose / Netflix
Zach Galifianakis' awkward celebrity interview web series Between Two Ferns might not seem like fodder for a full-length movie, but Between Two Ferns: The Movie goes double meta by presenting his success on Funny or Die as an insult to the actor's intention to host a "serious" interview show. Galifianakis the character sets off to correct the assumption that his original show is a joke by interviewing even more celebrities, like John Cho, Keanu Reeves, Gal Gadot, Tiffany Haddish, and more. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter How to watch: Between Two Ferns: The Movie is now streaming on Netflix. 22. Do Revenge
Credit: Netflix
Looking for a revenge flick that pays tribute to teen classics like Mean Girls, Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and more? Then check out Do Revenge, a dark comedy sure to join the canon of iconic high school movies. Students Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor ( Maya Hawke) couldn't be more different... apart from the fact that both have major bones to pick with people who ruined their reputations. They decide to team up and execute one another's revenge plans, which leads down a winding road of morally dubious choices, snappy one-liners, and excellent outfits. Mendes and Hawke have great chemistry, but it's Sophie Turner who damn near steals the show in a bit part that simply must be seen to be believed. * — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter How to watch: Do Revenge is now streaming on Netflix. 21. Always Be My Maybe
Credit: Netflix
What if the one who got away got a second chance? Back in the day, Sasha and Marcus were tight as a slap bracelet. But one fumbled night in a sweaty backseat seemed to shatter their future together. Fifteen years later, she's a world-renowned chef and he's — well — he's working for his dad's HVAC business and playing with his band on the side. Still, fate arranges for them to reconnect, which could mean Marcus (Randall Park) has a shot to show Sasha (Ali Wong) how he feels. Comedy ensues as the stakes get high when Keanu Reeves crashes the party, being all weird and hot and having the audacity to be Keanu Reeves! This Nahnatchka Khan-helmed laffer also boasts appearances by James Saito, Charlyne Yi, Karan Soni, Daniel Dae Kim, and Michelle Buteau. * — K.P. How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix. 20. Dolemite Is My Name
Credit: François Duhamel / Netflix
Chronicling the true story of late comedian Rudy Ray Moore — also known as Dolemite — this Eddie Murphy vehicle is worth every minute of viewing. An outrageous showbiz comedy, Dolemite Is My Name is at once a poignant look at the life of an underdog and an unbelievably good time. With supporting performances by Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, and more, this biopic offers more beat-for-beat joy than many of its fictional counterparts. Sensational, aspirational, and electric: You'll love it. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter How to watch: Dolemite Is My Name is now streaming on Netflix. 19. The Polka King
Credit: Netflix
Sometimes true crime can lead to some pitch-perfect dark comedy. This is the case for this outrageous offering, which stars Jack Black as infamous scammer/local celebrity Jan Lewan. Black brings all the rock star panache you need to understand how Lewan could be so beguiling to the Pennsylvanian retirees who surrendered their savings to the self-proclaimed Polka King. Screenwriters Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky gave this story of fraud and showmanship shape. But they wisely trusted in the local flair of the terrific 2009 documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King to provide some of the wildest lines of dialogue. Plucking directly from interviews with the friends, family, and victims of Jan Lewan, this comedy feels stranger than fiction but is jaw-droppingly real. Salty supporting turns from Jenny Slate, Jacki Weaver, and Jason Schwartzman bring added fun. * — K.P. How to watch: The Polka King is now streaming on Netflix. 18. The Mitchells vs. The Machines
Credit: Netflix
Sony Pictures Animation has given audiences such daring and dynamic animated movies as Surf's Up, Hotel Transylvania, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This zany 2021 release centers on a family who's battling back the robo-apocalypse with togetherness, internet savviness, and a wall-eyed pug named Monchi (voiced by social media icon Doug the Pug). The Mitchells' adventure into chaos begins when daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) is poised to go off to college. Desperate for one last family-unifying road trip, her dad (Danny McBride) piles the whole family into his beater of a vehicle, unknowingly charting a fateful route into heroics. Co-directors Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe infuse Katie's excitable perspective throughout the film by working in internet memes, social media-style reactions, and blitz of bonkers visuals. It’s a bold move that might alienate some viewers but has largely won the acclaim of critics and kiddos. * — K.P. How to watch: The Mitchells vs. The Machines is now streaming on Netflix . 17. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Credit: Netflix
Writer/director Rian Johnson follows up his critically heralded whodunnit with a sequel that's even more explosive than Knives Out. Southern gentleman/detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back, drawling deductions and whipping out witticisms, much to the chagrin of a group of wealthy and conniving friends. It was supposed to be a murder mystery weekend where homicide was just a game. But when tech scion Miles Bron (Edward Norton) brings together his closest friends and worst enemy, real blood will be spilled, and the game is afoot! Joining in on the comically chaotic fun are Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Jessica Henwick. — K.P. How to watch: Glass Onion is now streaming on Netflix. 16. The Forty-Year-Old Version
Credit: Jeong Park / Netflix © 2020
The Forty-Year-Old Version isn’t just any film about a struggling New York artist, but one about a Black female playwright who’s continually held back from creating something authentic to her perspective. Radha Blank's autobiographical directorial debut, which she also wrote, produced, and stars in, is a searing, funny, and unabashedly honest look at the compromises Black creatives are pushed to make in a world dominated by whiteness. A teacher approaching her 40th birthday, Radha (Blank) gets the chance to produce one of her plays — only after she refuses to write a slave musical. But forced to change her vision to appease white audiences, Radha considers a totally different medium to express herself: becoming a rapper. The Forty-Year-Old Version may be one of the most slept-on Netflix originals, and it’s a shame we've yet to see another film from Blank since, itself an indictment of an industry that fails to continually platform raw and honest Black storytelling. * — Oliver Whitney, Freelance Contributor How to watch: The Forty-Year-Old Version is now streaming on Netflix. 15. Vampires vs. the Bronx
Credit: Netflix
Want a movie that's got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx. Oz Rodriguez's PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and an influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and '80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch full of rewards. * — K.P. How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix. 14. The Breaker UpperersThis hidden gem comes from New Zealand, the fertile comedy ground that gave us Taika Waititi, Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do in the Shadows. Waititi collaborators Jackie van Beek, James Rolleston, and Jemaine Clement team up for a deeply quirky buddy comedy about two long-time besties with a bonkers — but brilliant — business model. Need someone to dump your partner so you can avoid a messy confrontation? Call on Jen and Mel (co-writers/co-directors/co-leads van Beek and Madeleine Sami). For a reasonable fee, these fearless Breaker Upperers will impersonate police officers, play pregnant, or even fake your death to help you ghost an ex. Whatever the shenanigans, van Beek and Sami sparkle. Booming with wild humor and big heart, this comedy is guaranteed to leave you cackling. * — K.P. Where to watch: The Breaker Upperers is now streaming on Netflix. 13. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Credit: John Wilson / Netflix
With its reputation for wacky musical numbers, the Eurovision Song Contest is ripe for parody. Luckily for Eurovision lovers, the contest gets the send-up it deserves in this gloriously goofy flick starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. They play the Icelandic musical duo Fire Saga, who find themselves in the Eurovision spotlight. There, they discover that the famed competition is a world of cutthroat competitors, glitzy costumes, and many, many bops. Eurovision Song Contest is full of larger-than-life characters and ridiculous humor, but it's also teeming with Eurovision references that will have fans laughing and cheering. For every "Jaja Ding Dong," there's a joyful Song-A-Long — and both are great! Pair all that with pitch-perfect comedic performances from Ferrell and McAdams, and you have a comedy that will both have you in stitches and win your heart. (Best of all, if you weren't a Eurovision fanatic before seeing this movie, you'll definitely be one by the time it ends.) * — B.E. How to watch: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is now streaming on Netflix. 12. Hit ManRichard Linklater and Glen Powell reunite for Hit Man, a rom-com that is killer in all sense of the word. Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor whose side gig as an undercover hit man leads to an unexpected meet-cute with would-be client Madison ( Andor's Adria Arjona). The pair's connection (and electrifying chemistry) sparks a delightful game of false identities, reinvention, and twisted love that toggles between hilarious, thrilling, and sexy at a moment's notice. Oh, who am I kidding; sometimes it's all three at once! * — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix. 11. BarbieGreta Gerwig was fresh off of her Little Women success when she took on this 2023 project about the world's most iconic doll. Gerwig, who co-wrote the script with frequent creative collaborator and husband Noah Baumbach, ended up with yet another smash hit on her hands, raking in award noms and massive box office earnings — all while conducting the sweetest and most exhausting-seeming global press tour ever. Margot Robbie slips into the titular role like a perfectly molded pink pump, while Ryan Gosling offers hilarious (and also Oscar–nominated!) support as her confusedly devoted Ken. As Barbie stumbles into the real world and charts a course toward Pinocchio-esque self-actualization, Gerwig adds oddness and effervescence to every corner of day-glo Barbieland – raise your hand if you're partial to Weird Barbie, played with deranged glee by Kate McKinnon. But it's not all goofball antics and beach-off musical numbers; the feminist, humanist message burns bright for such an old-fashioned little plaything. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter How to watch: Barbie is now streaming on Netflix. 10. Notting HillRom-coms are deceptively difficult to get right, so why not just steal the plot from a classic, update it to modern times with a pair of big-league charmers in the lead roles, and hope for the best? That formula doesn't always work, but when it does, you get something like Roger Michell's Notting Hill. Richard Curtis' script riffs on the plot of Roman Holiday, but instead of Audrey Hepburn as a princess slumming it up around town with a journalist played by Gregory Peck, here we've got a charismatic American movie star (Julia Roberts) who meets-cute in London with a local floppy-haired bookshop owner played by Hugh Grant. The movie follows the rom-com playbook to a tee — there's even a supercharged chase to the airport at the end! — but Roberts and Grant really have marvelous chemistry, and Michell surrounds them with a rogue's gallery of British character actors having a hoot. (Rhys Ifans as Grant's flatmate is a particular standout.) In the end, we're all just girls standing in front of boys asking them to love us! — J.A. How to watch: Notting Hill is now streaming on Netflix. 9. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Credit: Netflix
Our pals Wallace the inventor and his loyal pup Gromit have been running around for nearly four cracking decades now, but this their latest adventure (and only their second feature-length film, after 2005's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) proves they've lost not a whit of their vim and verve. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl happily proves to be yet another gut-busting bit of British whimsy from Aardman Animation head Nick Park and his team of clay-playing creatives. Vengeance Most Fowl sees our cheese-loving duo facing down a familiar foe – the diabolical penguin mastermind Feathers McGraw, who was last seen being sent off to imprisonment in the City Zoo in the classic 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Hacking into Wallace's latest invention, a garden gnome robot named Norbot that he's created to do all of the yardwork, Feathers builds himself an army of killer gnomes all programmed to do his bidding. And he wants nothing more than to bid adieu to his nemesis Wallace! — J.A. How to watch: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is now streaming on Netflix. 8. Wicked Little Letters
How to watch: Wicked Little Letters is now streaming on Netflix. 7. Shiva BabySome people find this 2020 cringe comedy from writer-director Emma Seligman to be so stressful that it stops being a comedy altogether, to which we give a hearty boo. Sure, it's one of the most claustrophobic experiences you can have outside of an escape room that's caught on fire, but Rachel Sennott is a comic genius who spins every moment of horror into gold! Before the two teamed up again in 2023 for the LOL-worthy Bottoms, Seligman and Sennott gave us this small-scale story of college student Danielle who is attending a Jewish funeral reception where absolutely everything goes wrong. Sitting shiva is never a party, but Danielle's parents (a brilliantly funny Fred Melamed and Polly Draper) are hard on her case. Then her ex-girlfriend Maya (an equally funny Molly Gordon) shows up, and that's awkward. What else could go wrong? Glad you asked! Danielle's secret side gig as a sugar baby is jeopardized when her main client (Danny Deferrari) shows up with his shiksa wife and their newborn baby. Now throw all of this drama into the smallest three rooms you can imagine, all stuffed with the loudest people eating the driest crackers you have ever seen, and enjoy! — J.A. How to watch: Shiva Baby is now streaming on Netflix. 6. Saturday Night
Credit: Hopper Stone / Sony Pictures Entertainment
Unjustly overlooked at release in the fall of 2024, this frantically funny romp from Juno and Young Adult director Jason Reitman details the 90-minute lead-up to the very first episode of Saturday Night Live in October of 1975. The ensemble cast is packed, with Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd, Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman, Matt Wood as John Belushi, Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris, and Kim Matula as Jane Curtin. Add Gabriel Labelle as Lorne Michaels, the man with the wild and crazy plan himself, and the fact that this movie managed to only be 90 minutes long with all of these characters (plus a dozen more I don't even have room to list) is a real miracle in itself. Plenty of people do get shafted time-wise — notably, most of the women, which is pretty crappy the show's own track record shafting women back in the day — but Saturday Night definitely captures the chaos and hilarious mayhem that Michaels managed to funnel into a comedy revolution. — J.A. How to watch: Saturday Night is now streaming on Netflix. 5. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among ThievesStraddling the line between a faithfulness to the decades-old RPG and introducing mainstream audiences to its world with a deft touch was always a big ask, but co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (who also share writing credits with Michael Gilio) did better than anybody expected to be possible with this 2023 adaptation. Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, and Justice Smith as a band of merry wizards and what-nots hunting down an ancient relic, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is très goofy, but lovingly so. It's honestly a very good time at the movies! Unfortunately, shifting release dates and other factors led D&D to kinda bomb at the box office. But now that the movie has landed on Netflix, our communal chance to right this infernal wrong has arrived. Let's all slip into our wizarding robes and watch this movie dozens of times, spread the word to all of our friends, and roll the eight-sided die on an improbable sequel! — J.A. How to watch: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is now streaming on Netflix.
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 Looking to fuel up your Netflix queue with some high-octane action? Whether you're a fan of wild Westerns, cunning detectives, high-swinging superheroes, ravenous zombies, rowdy thieves, or hard-hitting heroines, Netflix has a movie pitch-perfect for every kind of adrenaline seeker. We know scrolling through the streaming app can be a chore when all you want to do is Netflix and chill. So, we've taken out the hard step by highlighting the most stunt-stuffed, battle-powered, high-speed films the streamer has to offer. Here are the 25 best action movies on Netflix, streaming right now. 25. Mad Max: Fury Road
Credit: Village Roadshow / Kobal / Shutterstock
Reports of a chaotic, sprawling shoot in the desert that drove everybody involved (including co-stars Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron) to the brink, Fury Road dispelled worries of a disaster the second people that actually laid their eyeballs on the black magic George Miller had crafted. A world-expanding mash-up of his earlier trilogy starring Mel Gibson, Fury Road is also a streamlined dream of propulsive action. It's just a single chase scene, really, one that doubles back on itself, ending where it started. And it's pure cinema, total sound and fury, like a riff shredded by the Doof Warrior himself. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter How to watch: Mad Max: Fury Road is now streaming on Netflix. 24. UpgradeThe always-welcome Logan Marshall-Green stars here as Grey, an auto mechanic who gets sucked into a nefarious world of cyber-horror when a car crash leaves him paralyzed and his wife dead. Implanted with an untested computer chip that can control his limbs and "fix" his paralysis, Grey's mind starts communicating with the technology, which in turns starts egging him on. After all, why just walk when you can be a kick-ass super-soldier? Needless to say, as in any good RoboCop spin, the corporations are not to be trusted when it comes to our best interests. — J.A. How to watch: Upgrade is now streaming on Netflix. 23. Spider-Man 2Landing two years after the first flick with Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), his spider bite, his twisty romance with Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst), and all that good stuff, Sam Raimi's sequel found itself with dramatically higher stakes and a most excellent new villain in Dr. Otto Octavius, played with operatic gusto by Alfred Molina. The vertiginous battles between our hero and his multi-armed antagonist across the New York skyline remain a thrill today because yes, they still look super cool. (Raimi kept them bright and cartoony enough that they look timeless.) Spider-Man 2 is also a classic also because Raimi and his actors made us really feel for the characters and their messed-up relationships, all tangled up in a destructive web of their own spinning. — J.A. How to watch: Spider-Man 2 is now streaming on Netflix. 22. Land of BadOn paper, Land of Bad seems fairly generic at first glance. A ragtag group of soldiers (portrayed by both Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth, American Gods star Ricky Whittle, and former Gilmore guy Milo Ventimiglia) find themselves stranded behind enemy territory in the Philippines and they must, you know, get the heck out of there. Russell Crowe plays "Reaper," a drone pilot who provides air support to the group on the ground by yelling into a telephone a lot. This is nothing we've not seen before! And yet the movie's actually a solid B-movie slice of old-fashioned action movie entertainment. The film is directed and co-written by William Eubank, whose previous credits include one of the most underrated action-thrillers of recent times, 2020's Underwater with Kristen Stewart. Like that film, Land of Bad doesn't rewrite its genre, but it does bring the action and thrills efficiently and well. — J.A. How to watch: Land of Bad is now streaming on Netflix. 21. SniperA somewhat forgotten slice of 1990s action entertainment starring at-the-time B+ actors, Sniper would make for a great double feature with Land of Bad. This one stars Tom Berenger and Billy Zane as a pair of mismatched military snipers dropped into the Colombian jungle together; they're tasked with killing a drug lord, but they don't know or trust each other just yet, so everything goes wrong until they learn that old saw about team work making the dream work. A tale as old as time, really! But director Luis Llosa (who'd go on to make the also super fun flick Anaconda four years later) has created a well-oiled machine of exactly what we're here for. And the bullet shots — where Llosa's camera follows the path of a fired bullet toward its target — were considered super cool and creative at the time, setting the stage for The Matrix's revolutionary Bullet Time effects in 1999. — J.A. How to watch: Sniper is now streaming on Netflix. 20. The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Credit: Shutterstock
Is there anything more surprising than an old TV show that everybody had forgotten about getting turned into a terrific and enormously cinematic movie experience five decades later? (Maybe a video game movie that actually works?) Guy Ritchie somehow pulled it off with this 2015 spy romp, which stars Henry Cavill as the debonair C.I.A. agent Napoleon Solo, who's forced to team up with his KGB counterpoint, Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). The plot, as they always inevitably are in such instances, is all convoluted nonsense. But to his credit, Ritchie embraces the fun that can be had in that. Basically, the two spies are trying to rescue the daughter of a nuclear physicist (Alicia Vikander) before she falls into the hands of evil yet fabulous siblings Alexander and Victoria (Italian hunk Luca Calvani and a deliciously diabolical Elizabeth Debicki). So while Daniel Craig was off making 007 all tortured and gloomy, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. recalled the sillier Technicolor escapades of superspies in years past, only to unceremoniously flop at the box office for its efforts. It really shouldn't have. — J.A. How to watch: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is now streaming on Netflix. 19. Kraven the HunterOkay. So you're probably thinking, "Why is a movie with a 15% on Rotten Tomatoes on a best-of list? Is Netflix really so thin on good action?!" I hear you. But look, while Kraven the Hunter is not a great film, or even a good one, it is wildly fun. And the action is a major part of that! This Spider-Man spinoff centers on the comic book villain Kraven the Hunter (Aaron Johnson), but makes him less a poacher and more a bad-guy hunting vigilante. And along the way, there's other Spidey characters haphazardly looped in, like Aleksei "The Rhino" Sytsevich (Alessandro Nivola), Calypso ( Ariana DeBose), and The Foreigner (Christopher Abbott). But the real fun comes in some fight scenes so violently that Sony's sheer reckless rebellion in the face of MCU PG-13 standards is worth the watch. Like, Kraven bites off a dude's nose. And that's not the climax of a fight. Come on. You want to watch that. — K.P. How to watch: Kraven the Hunter is now streaming on Netflix. 18. The UnionMark Wahlberg and Halle Berry team up for an action-comedy that is surprisingly charming! He's a Boston everyman who works construction by day and by night hooks up with local hotties (including his former seventh-grade English teacher). She's a globe-trekking secret agent — and his high school girlfriend — who shows up at their old dive bar out of the blue to invite him in on a secret mission. Together, they're working for The Union. Explosive espionage action blends with rom-com chemistry as Wahlberg and Berry delve into car chases, gun fights, and plenty of bouncy banter. J.K. Simmons brings gruff bravado, while Evil's Mike Colter delivers breathtaking swagger. Full of thrills, fun, and verve, The Union is a great pick for movie night at home. * — K.P. How to watch: The Union is now streaming on Netflix. 17. Dune: Part TwoStarting up not long after where the first film left us, Dune: Part Two follows princeling on the run Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he traverses the twinkling spice-laden sands of the desert planet Arrakis. On one arm is his mother, the pregnant space witch Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), and on the other is warrior gal-pal-with-benefits Chani (Zendaya). Hunted by the pasty Harkonnens (now including Austin Butler's lithe madman Feyd-Rautha) Paul must learn to embrace his terrifying destiny, one worm at a time. While Denis Villeneuve's Oscar–nominated blockbuster sequel packs a truly awesome punch on the biggest screen you can watch it on, with the loudest bone-rattling sound system to lean into those Hans Zimmer bass notes, it remains a great watch at home on your couch too. Just proof that the French-Canadian writer-director gets just as much juice from his wide cast of stellar performers and plotting as he does from his much-lauded visuals and soundscapes. — J.A. How to watch: Dune: Part Two is now streaming on Netflix. 16. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel FComing back onto the scene 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III flopped, this fourth installment of the comedic crime-solving adventures of Detroit police officer Axel Foley has no right to be as good as it is. Not only did screenwriters Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten have to manage how public opinion has shifted when it comes to cops who play by their own rules, but also how to approach Axel's wise-cracking sense of humor that traditionally put just about everyone in its crosshairs. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F manages both in a way that gives fresh life to the character without casting aside the fans who loved his wild ways. As I wrote in my rave review, "Eddie Murphy is as good as ever as Axel Foley." Plus, he's got his old friends, like John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot back and in action. It's an absolute blast to see all these energies colliding, and yet there's room for newcomers, like the dynamic Taylour Paige and the ever-solid Joseph Gordon-Levitt, both of whom prove to be compelling foils to the ever-quipping Murphy. "In the end, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F isn't just a great sequel, or an awesome action-comedy; it might just be the most entertaining movie of [2024]." * — K.P. How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix. 15. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among ThievesWant something fun, funny, and full of adventure? Then you'll be game for this rollicking movie, based on the long popular and controversial role-playing game. Chris Pine stars as bard Edgin Darvis, who's on a quest to reclaim his lost daughter and an ancient relic that might bring back his deceased wife. At his side is a motley band of heroes who include a potato-loving barbarian (Michelle Rodriguez), a self-conscious sorcerer (Justice Smith), a shapeshifting druid (Sophia Lillis), and an almost annoyingly glorious paladin (Regé-Jean Page). Together, they'll have to battle beasts, as well as a traitorous rogue (Hugh Grant, perfectly cast) and a ruthless necromancer (Daisy Head). Written and directed by Game Night's creators Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (along with Michael Gilio on screenplay), Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves not only boasts a sparkling sense of humor and plenty of thrilling combat but also a treasure trove of Easter eggs for D&D fans. — K.P. How to watch: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is now streaming on Netflix. 14. Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return in "Bad Boys: Ride or Die."
Credit: Frank Masi / Sony Pictures
Nearly 30 years after their first adventure as cop buddies Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back with the Bad Boys' franchise's fourth installment. Bad Boys For Life co-helmers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah also returned, bringing their high-octane brand of action into a stunt-packed epic about loyalty and redemption. When the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) gets dragged for alleged ties to corruption, it's up to Mike and Marcus to find the truth and clear his name. In her review of this action-comedy, Mashable contributor Monica Castillo praised this rousing return, writing, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die is an entertaining reminder of what made the original movie work all those years ago." — K.P. How to watch: Bad Boys: Ride or Die is now streaming on Netflix. 13. Damsel
Credit: John Wilson / Netflix
Netflix has invested big in Millie Bobby Brown. Not only has the English ingenue been leading Stranger Things for years, but also she's becoming an outright action star through movies she has headlined and produced for the streamer, including a pair of Enola Holmes adventures and the fearsome fairy tale Damsel. Here, Brown stars as Elodie, a dutiful damsel destined to wed a handsome prince (Nick Robinson)! But rather than happily ever after, her deceitful groom pitches her into a dragon's pit. However, that's far from the end of her story. She'll fight her way to salvation and vengeance, one fiery sequence at a time. In her review, Mashable's Belen Edwards wrote, "Boasting some inventive twists and a heartfelt lead performance from Brown, Damsel may not be groundbreaking fantasy, but it is a thrilling ride." — K.P. How to watch: Damsel is now streaming on Netflix. 12. RRRYou've never seen an action movie quite as bombastic or as bromantic as RRR. Director S.S. Rajamouli draws loosely from history to tell the story of Indian freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.). Over the film's three-hour runtime, the two unwittingly face off in the search for a kidnapped girl, become the best of friends, and square off against villainous English colonizers. Any of RRR's action sequences would be the pinnacle of a lesser action movie, but the film seems determined to outdo itself with showstopper after showstopper. Take when Raju faces down hundreds of protesters and wins, or when Bheem fights a tiger bare-handed. Would you believe me if I told you those happen within the first 20 minutes? The action — and the movie — only get more awesome from there. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter How to watch: RRR is now streaming on Netflix. 11. The Harder They Fall
Credit: David Lee / Netflix
Put 'em up, as this is hands-down one of the best action movies in the Wild West. Directed by Jeymes Samuel, The Harder They Fall defiantly redefines the predominantly white Western, boasting an incredible cast of Black stars: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo. A tale of heroes and villains, the film follows Nat Love (Majors) on his quest for revenge against the formidable Rufus Buck (Elba). But he'll have to make his gunslinging way through "Treacherous" Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (Stanfield) first. Even before the opening credits roll, you'll fall hard for this one. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor How to watch: The Harder They Fall is now streaming on Netflix. 10. Enola Holmes
Credit: Netflix
Sherlock Holmes's much cooler little sister is an overlooked young action hero in Enola Holmes. Based on author Nancy Springer's popular book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries, the film puts the great detective's savvy 16-year-old sibling on the case, played with energetic spoonfuls of gumption by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. She's set to solve the greatest mystery of her young life: to find her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter) through a series of deliberately cryptic clues — all while breaking the fourth wall and confiding in the audience, thanks to Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer and His Dark Materials' Jack Thorne's sharp screenplay. Stepping into the footsteps of her famous brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and avoiding those of her stuffier misogynist brother Mycroft (Sam Claflin), Enola's case leads her on a wild ride through Victorian-era England, with more than a few fistfights and butts to kick along the way. And lucky for you, the sequel is even better. — S.C. How to watch: Enola Holmes is now streaming on Netflix. 9. They Cloned Tyrone
Credit: Netflix
With this 2023 release, co-writer/director Juel Taylor pulls plenty of inspiration from Blaxploitation. John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris star as a drug dealer, a pimp, and a sex worker who undercover a nefarious conspiracy that's happening underneath their neighborhood. Taylor and fellow screenwriter Tony Rettenmaier weave in wild twists, fly fight scenes, irreverent humor, and swaggering style for what our critic called "a propulsive comedy-thriller with weight." As bold as it is star-studded, you won't want to miss They Cloned Tyrone. And stay for the credits, trust us. — K.P. How to watch: They Cloned Tyrone is now streaming on Netflix. 8. Kill Boksoon
Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix
Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-yeon) is a single mother who often finds herself at odds with her teenage daughter. She's also a highly skilled and successful assassin. Kill Boksoon is a fantastic action film that sees its main character head straight from a brutal killing to the grocery store so she can get dinner on the table. It's one hell of a hook that sucks you in immediately. The fight scenes are hypnotic and the cinematography ambitious and exciting. It's a gripping thriller that makes plenty of space for the complex emotional reality of its characters. * — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor How to watch: Kill Boksoon is now streaming on Netflix. 7. Triple Frontier
Credit: Netflix
This Netflix adventure has Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal coming together as a group of former Special Forces who plan an elaborate heist in South America. But after things get out of hand, their survival skills are put to the ultimate test. Putting a talented cast in a tension-filled scenario, Triple Frontier is the type of gritty thriller that's hard to turn away from. — Brooke Bajgrowicz, Entertainment Fellow How to watch: Triple Frontier is now streaming on Netflix. 6. Okja
Credit: Netflix
Blending drama with fantasy/adventure and weaving in a very real message about the horrors of the meat industry, Bong Joon-ho's Okja is a beautifully unique creature feature, striped with action. The film follows Mina (Ahn Seo-hyun), the granddaughter of a farmer in South Korea who has spent the last 10 years rearing a genetically modified super-pig called Okja as part of a breeding project spearheaded by a grim U.S. corporation. This movie is dark in places, magical in others, and poignant overall, asking us to stop and reflect on the dark side of an industry the majority of us are complicit in. Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal make for an entertaining pair of villains, too. * — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor How to watch: Okja is now streaming on Netflix. 5. Da 5 Bloods
Credit: Netflix
Spike Lee copters audiences back to the Vietnam War with Da 5 Bloods, a daring film that's part drama, part war movie, and part heist flick. Named for a squad of Black U.S. Army soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, Lee's critically heralded 2020 joint follows this band of brothers through a treacherous war zone, then rediscovers them in a present where they're seeking to uncover the past — and a big payday. Sequences of brutal battles, narrow escapes, and high-tension hijinks make Da 5 Bloods an enthralling watch. Though inspired by history, it's impossible to predict where Lee's story will lead. Our guides on this intense journey through time, loss, war, and brotherhood are Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and the late Chadwick Boseman. Together, they and Lee create an American war film that can't be missed. — K.P. How to watch: Da 5 Bloods is now streaming on Netflix. 4. Army of the Dead
Credit: Netflix
Sometimes all you want is to grab hold of that action-o-meter and crank the dial, hard, to a solid 11. Army of the Dead more than delivers on that front, opening with a musical montage of guns and exploding body parts — and it only gets gorier from there. Zack Snyder's story follows a band of mercenaries hired to steal $200 million from a casino in Las Vegas. The problem? Vegas has been invaded by zombies, the city is quarantined, and the military is planning to blow the entire thing up with a tactical nuclear strike. The sprawling cast includes Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, and Ana de la Reguera, as well as a digitally added Tig Notaro. What follows is a gloriously silly romp that refuses to take itself too seriously, propelling us through a series of explosions and bullets while the story twists and turns through a 148-minute runtime that feels oh, so much shorter. — S.H. How to watch: Army of the Dead is now streaming on Netflix. 3. The Old Guard
Credit: Netflix
Folks looking for that summer blockbuster thrill, search no further than The Old Guard. Based on the superhero comic books of the same name, director Gina Prince-Bythewood's movie sucks viewers into a slick, well-crafted world of action and narrative that isn't particularly unique but delivers its formulaic pieces with enough precision to keep you invested. Charlize Theron crushes as the ass-kicking leader of an immortal warrior fight crew, with performances by Harry Melling, Marwan Kenzari, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Veronica Ngo, Matthias Schoenaerts, and more.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter How to watch: The Old Guard is now streaming on Netflix. 2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Gwen Stacy and Peter B. Parker in "'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."
Credit: Sony Pictures
The Spider-Verse movies continue to raise the bar for superhero movies, and it’s hard to imagine one better than the latest installment, Across the Spider-Verse. The sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse manages to have even more dazzling animation, more jaw-dropping action sequences, and even bigger doses of clever humor. Miles Morales is a little bit older (and taller) than when we last saw him, but he’s having a rough time now that he’s hardly seen Gwen Stacy and the rest of his Spider-People crew. A new villain enters the picture, majorly upping the stakes for Miles and the fate of the whole Spider-Verse. We also meet a handful of new characters voiced by some truly delightful actors, like Issa Rae’s badass pregnant Spider-Woman, Oscar Issac as Spider-Man 2099, Daniel Kaluuya’s rocker Spider-Punk, and Karan Soni as Spider-Man India. While the sequel clocks in at two hours, every minute is bursting with entertainment. — Oliver Whitney, Contributing Writer How to watch: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now streaming on Netflix. 1. Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla chases a boat.
Credit: Toho Company Ltd / Everett / Shutterstock.com
You don't know Godzilla until you see Godzilla Minus One. The American movies featuring the classic kaiju go for huge monster-versus-monster face-offs, bogged down by tedious human characters. But writer/director Takashi Yamazaki reclaims the Japanese icon with a movie that gets the balance between rampaging monster action and human drama just right. Set near the close of World War II, Godzilla Minus One proves a fascinating tale of atomic age terror. Ryunosuke Kamiki stars as a kamikaze pilot who first flubs his mission, then crosses paths with the giant lizard with atomic breath. Survivor's guilt torments him, even as he cobbles together a found family of fellow survivors. This cast of characters is dynamic, making the scenes of simple home-cooked meals just as satisfying as sequences of town-trampling destruction. Actually, one deeply informs the other. Because while the movie's jaw-dropping special effects rightfully won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it's the emotional impact of them that makes this Godzilla hit harder than any contemporary. Even on the small screen, you'll be in awe. * — K.P. How to watch: Godzilla Minus One is streaming on Netflix . * denotes the entry comes from a previous Mashable list. UPDATE: Mar. 27, 2025, 12:00 p.m. EDT This list was first published on May 24, 2020. It has since been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix. | ↑ |
 TL;DR: Learn 14 different languages at your own pace with a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning, now on sale exclusively through StackSocial for just $124.99 with code LEARN through March 31. Fancy yourself a lover of languages? Whether you're fluent in five or trying to stay fluent in your second, learning languages is a fun pastime that's great for your brain. If you're ready to pick up a few more, get a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning with access to all 14 of their language options for just $124.99 (reg. $599) with the exclusive StackSocial code LEARN through March 31. Learn languages at your own pace with this lifetime subscriptionWe put our poor brains through a lot. Want to give them a boost? Learning new languages helps your brain form new neural connections while your existing ones are strengthened. This Babbel Language Learning deal lasts for life, so you can continuously keep building those connections forever. Babbel lets you tackle their 14 language options in a way that works with your busy schedule. Their 10-15 minute sessions can be tackled in line at the grocery store, on your lunch break, or right before you nod off to sleep. It's a far cry from the boring Spanish classroom in high school, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, researchers at City University of New York discovered that novice learners picked up the equivalent of one semester of Spanish with just 15 hours of Babbel's learning strategy. Pick up some knowledge on your smartphone or tackle a lesson or two on your laptop. Babbel syncs your progress across devices, so you can always pick up right where you left off. And there are three learning levels offered, beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so you can keep your skills sharp. Their advanced speech recognition technology helps you with pronunciation as you progress. And Babbel's AI conversation partner is a great way to work on skills in real-time. Learn German, start speaking Swedish, or immerse yourself in Italian. There are 14 languages to choose from, and this lifetime subscription lets you tackle them all. Get a lifetime subscription to all languages with Babbel Language Learning for just $124.99 (reg. $599) with StackSocial's exclusive code LEARN through March 31. StackSocial prices subject to change. | ↑ |
 TL;DR: Only while supplies last, you can buy Microsoft Office for $54.97 and get Windows 11 Pro free (normally a $418 value). Watching web pages spin endlessly? Dealing with apps crashing? Before you spend your weekend laptop shopping — or throw the thing out the window — consider that it might be the software, not your machine, weighing you down. Upgrading your operating system can speed things up, and a fresh download of Microsoft Office can give you new tools for work, school, or home projects. Right now, you can get Windows 11 Pro free with Office priced at $54.97 until we sell out of codes. We have fewer than 75 left in stock. How this deal worksThis is a two-for-one Microsoft offer with no coupon required. Simply complete your purchase, and you’ll receive an email almost immediately after with download links and software activation keys for both Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro. We recommend upgrading to Windows 11 Pro first for the most seamless setup. This deal comes at an opportune time, with Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 later this year. Or, if you currently have the free version of Windows 11 Home, this adds additional features like remote desktop access, hard drive encryption, and Hyper-V. You’ll also get the AI-powered assistant, Windows Copilot installed right onto your computer. Created from a custom version of ChatGPT-4, it’s like having a paid version of the world’s favorite chatbot at your service to answer questions, generate content, or make images. Once you’re acquainted with the new operating system, download Microsoft Office for Windows. The 2021 suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Punisher, and Access — all downloaded to your PC for lifelong use. Don’t miss your chance to get this Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro bundle deal, now $54.97 (reg. $418). No coupon is needed to get this price. StackSocial prices subject to change. | ↑ |
 TL;DR: These VPN routers are selling out fast: Save $69 and get free shipping while supplies last. Instead of paying for digital VPNs each month, some people are switching to this VPN router, which only requires a one-time payment. The Deeper Connect Air portable VPN router may actually give you more features and security than what you’re currently paying for. They’re hot items and hard to keep in stock, but we have them for $149.97 with free shipping right now (reg. $219). How do VPN routers work?Using these routers is a lot less complicated than it sounds. Simply plug the router into your USB-C computer for power, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, select a server from over 150,000 options, and pair up to five devices. Then, each paired device is protected with military-grade encryption. Essentially, this means that your browsing activities, downloads, and other data are broken into smaller pieces that cannot be read by anyone who isn’t supposed to be viewing or tracking you. Another thing this lifetime VPN router can do is unblock content on your streaming services. All you need to do is connect to an overseas server where the show or movie you want to watch is available, then open Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ to watch it. The Deeper Connect Air will also block ads as you stream — yes, even if you don’t pay to eliminate them on your subscription services — which we think is worth the purchase price alone. Get a VPN with no subscription fees while we still have these routers in stock at $149.97 with free shipping (reg. $219). No coupon is needed to get this price. StackSocial prices subject to change. | ↑ |
 Scientists have spotted a defiant galaxy. Located nearly 1 billion light-years from Earth, the galaxy 2MASX J23453268−0449256 is a spiral, like our home the Milky Way. Yet it does something galactic researchers only thought possible in much more massive elliptical galaxies, which form through mergers of galaxies: It hosts an enormous supermassive black hole that emits powerful jets of energy into space — the type that would wreak havoc and destabilize such a spiral galaxy. "This discovery upends conventional wisdom, as such powerful jets are almost exclusively found in elliptical galaxies, not spirals," Suraj Dhiwar, a researcher at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in India who coauthored the new study, told Mashable. The research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Spiral galaxies are often considered too delicate to support the kind of extreme black hole activity seen in this galactic system, Joydeep Bagchi, an astrophysicist at Christ University in India who led the research, told Mashable. But this galaxy maintains its well-ordered spiral structure in the face of extreme blasts of energized particles and radiation from a black hole billions of times the mass of the sun, as you can see in the Hubble Space Telescope imagery above and below. "This discovery upends conventional wisdom." Black holes themselves — so gravitationally powerful not even light can escape their grasp — produce no radiation or light. But galactic material can rapidly spin around black holes, forming a vibrant "accretion disk" that radiates light. And sometimes material falling into a black hole can be rerouted into two giant jets, firing in opposite directions out into the universe. 
The Milky Way (bottom) compared to the larger galaxy 2MASX J23453268-0449256.
Credit: Bagchi and Ray et al / Hubble Space Telescope
The cosmic quandary of the expansive spiral galaxy 2MASX J23453268−0449256 calls for more telescopic investigation, the researchers emphasize. "It forces us to rethink how galaxies evolve, and how supermassive black holes grow in them and shape their environments," Dhiwar explained. So far, observations gathered by the Hubble Space Telescope, the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array reveal that the galaxy doesn't only have an orderly, tranquil spiral appearance. It also maintains a bright nuclear bar-shaped mass of stars near its core (as many spiral galaxies do) and an undisturbed outer stellar ring — home to some vigorous star formation. 
Imagery from a radio telescope show two colossal jets shooting out from the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy 2MASX J23453268−0449256.
Credit: Bagchi and Ray et al / Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope
The unusual circumstance of galaxy 2MASX J23453268−0449256 also has relevance to our galaxy. While the central supermassive black hole in the Milky Way, called Sagittarius A*, is much smaller and currently dormant, it could (one far-off day) awake. A mighty gas cloud or small dwarf galaxy could accrete around the black hole, providing the fuel needed for powerful jets of radiation to blast through our galaxy. These rapidly moving particles could pose a danger to planets. "If such jets were to form and be directed toward our solar system, they could potentially strip away planetary atmospheres, increase radiation exposure, and even trigger a mass extinction event on Earth," Bagchi said. Life on Earth has indeed thrived over eons, and eventually bounced back following mass extinctions. But might another, stoked by our massive black hole, be in the cards? Grasping how such active black holes behave in spiral galaxies can help us not just grasp the fate of our galaxy, but others. "Ultimately, this study brings us one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos, reminding us that the universe still holds surprises beyond our imagination," Dhiwar said. | ↑ |
 You've never seen unicorns quite like those at the center of Death of a Unicorn. Not the sparkly, sweet unicorns of modern-day pop culture, these are primal beings with sharp fangs, killer horns, and a bloodthirsty need for revenge. They're movie monsters in the vein of Alien's Xenomorph or Jurassic Park's T. rex: larger than life and utterly captivating, even as they make mincemeat of their victims. It's no wonder, then, that creature features like Alien and Jurassic Park also served as inspiration for writer/director Alex Scharfman's unexpected monster movie. That inspiration extends to the execution of the monsters themselves, which the film brings to life through a combination of practical puppetry and digital effects. To learn more about how Death of a Unicorn's enchanting beasts came to life, Mashable spoke with Scharfman about historical and real-world inspirations for the film's unicorns, and why it was necessary for the film to use puppets. Death of a Unicorn's unicorns are rooted in centuries of history.
Jenna Ortega films "Death of a Unicorn" with the foal puppet.
Credit: A24
Death of a Unicorn centers on lawyer Elliot (Paul Rudd) and his daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega), who accidentally run over a unicorn on their way to a retreat with Elliot's wealthy employers, the Sackler-like Leopold family. While the Leopolds plan to exploit the dead creature's magical healing properties, art history major Ridley turns to the past — including the Unicorn Tapestries from the Middle Ages — to prove why that path would be a bad idea. Similarly, Scharfman turned to historical depictions of unicorns to inform their appearance in the film. "I was interested in recontextualizing unicorns and subverting our modern expectations, which are all relatively recent," Scharfman explained. "The idea of the rainbows and white horse, that's only 50, 75 years old. If you go deeper, there were a lot of different associations with them, so that really informed a lot of the creature design." 
One of the Unicorn Tapestries featured in "Death of a Unicorn."
Credit: A24
There are three unicorns in the film: Elliot and Ridley's victim is the foal, while its parents, the mare and the stallion, attack the Leopolds in order to get their child back. Each came with its own set of inspirations.
SEE ALSO:
'Death of a Unicorn' trailer promises Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, and murderous mythical beasts
The foal is the smallest of the bunch, with its white fur and goatee making it the closest unicorn, visually, to that depicted in the Unicorn Tapestries. More goat-like overall, Scharfman described it as being most similar to medieval unicorn descriptions. "And if you really want to go back deeper, a lot of those accounts were based on animals off the Tibetan steppe, like kiangs and chiru," Scharfman said. If the foal is the most goat-like of Death of a Unicorn's trio, then the mare is most equine, closer to a contemporary unicorn. Meanwhile, the stallion is the largest and most ancient of the bunch. At the end of the day, we wanted the creatures to feel real. "It's this big, bruising brute of a creature that is based on a lot of older accounts of unicorns where they were being conflated with rhinoceroses, since Indian rhinos have one horn," Scharfman said. "That's kind of believed to be what the first written account of a unicorn was, someone describing an Indian rhino to a Greek who'd only understood African rhinos, which have two horns and are slightly different." Another ancient touchpoint for the stallion? A specific translation of the Old Testament. The King James Bible follows the Latin Vulgate in translating the Hebrew word re'em into unicorn. However, re'em actually refers to wild oxen, including the now-extinct aurochs. Their spinal geometry served as a reference point for the shape of the stallion. "You take all these references and all these historical accounts, and then at the end of the day, we wanted the creatures to feel real," Scharfman said. The unicorns in Death of a Unicorn are inspired by nature.
The foal puppet in "Death of a Unicorn."
Credit: A24
In order to ground the unicorns in reality, Death of a Unicorn's design team pulled inspiration from real horses, including Clydesdales for their shape, Icelandic horses for their shaggy fur, and Belgian Draught horses for their almost "bell bottom"-like hoof shape. Other animals entered the fray as well. Lion tails inspired the unicorns' tails, adding a predatory edge to their movement. Their vicious teeth, meanwhile, were modeled on those of mandrils and wolves — all the better to snarl with, after all. "[We were] trying to pull from nature as much as possible so that it didn't feel like we were just creating a monster in a lab, but rather it felt like something you believed could exist," Scharfman said. "A unifying umbrella over all of that was that they're almost like Ice Age creatures in terms of their aesthetic." Still, this reliance on nature didn't stop Death of a Unicorn from incorporating more fantastical elements into its unicorns, a combination of subverting and satisfying audience expectations. "A general design principle and rule of mythology of the creatures is that we're playing a game of telephone with the past," Scharfman explained. "Today we might associate unicorns with purple and rainbows, so we made their blood purple, and we gave the meat and the blood a little bit of iridescence." We're playing a game of telephone with the past. Wētā Workshop developed early unicorn concepts for the film, then Zoic Studios designed the creatures and completed the film's digital effects. For shooting, Budapest-based special effects studio Filmefex built Death of a Unicorn's many practical puppets. Death of a Unicorn's practical puppets are total "movie magic."
Puppeteers man a unicorn puppet in "Death of a Unicorn."
Credit: A24
For Scharfman, practical effects played a large part of his pitch for Death of a Unicorn; that way, it could remain in conversation craft-wise with his original creature-feature inspirations. The film combines practical and digital effects, but even in scenes where the unicorns are rendered entirely digitally, Scharfman kept the puppets on set as a reference point. "It's invaluable to have the practical element there in terms of giving an actor something to perform against," he told Mashable. And what practical elements these unicorns are! Massive, fur-covered rigs (with all the longer hairs individually punched in), these unicorns were manned by multiple puppeteers at once. According to Scharfman, it took three to four puppeteers just to control each unicorn head, but rigs of individual elements like hooves or snarling jaws could be operated solo, as hand puppets. The puppeteers were also involved in the actual building of the puppets, giving them an intimate knowledge of how they worked. 
The foal puppet in "Death of a Unicorn."
Credit: A24
Scharfman recalled falling under the spell of the foal puppet during one of the film's first scenes, when Elliot and Ridley approach the dying unicorn. "That puppet was incredible. It breathed, its neck moved, it had leg twitches," Scharfman said. "One of those things Guillermo del Toro talks about is how early in the movie, you need to sell the illusion. That was something we definitely were conscious of. That opening scene with the unicorn, the first time you see it really needs to do a lot to make you believe it. I was blown away, and I'd been watching [the Filmefex team] construct the things over months." That illusion held throughout shooting. "You stop looking at the puppeteers, and you just start looking at the creature in the eye as if it's real," Scharfman said. Even during early cuts of the film, Scharfman and editor Ron Dulin sometimes forgot to remove the puppeteers in frame, as they were so focused on the unicorns. The unicorns' spell persists, it seems. "It's just movie magic, completely," Scharfman said. | ↑ |
 Outside my apartment’s living room during work hours, there’s a regular cacophony: revving motorcycles, emergency sirens, honking horns. I love working from home, but a quiet oasis it is not. That's when I seek restorative, calm bliss from an unlikely source: YouTube. The age of being extremely online has produced many unusual meditative practices. Many of us apparently enjoy singing bowl TikToks. Others prefer Spotify's spa-like sounds, or their "deep focus" study playlists. But lately I've come to see YouTube as the most effective option. The world's largest video service has hundreds, if not thousands, of channels claiming to offer white noise and calming music. Nearly all have accompanying images with equally soothing zen vibes, even the AI generated ones. The variety of options is astounding and eclectic, far more so than any white noise machine. To list just five: Birds chirping, waves crashing, gentle electronica beats, the calming engine noise of 24th-century spaceships, the sounds of the DisneyWorld monorail snaking around theme parks. (For many of us, staying on the monorail without plunging into the world of hectic rides is the most soothing thing imaginable.) Many of these channels run for hours on end and manage to soothe without being redundantly annoying. One plus for videos like this, in my experience: Even without the $13.99 a month YouTube premium service, these content-light channels are rarely interrupted by ads. Take a video on the Cafe Relaxing Jazz Music channel entitled “Warm Jazz Piano Music with a Sweet Cup of Coffee.” The easy listening jazz runs for nearly two hours. Staring at the steam wafting off its coffee mug can induce a trance-like state. More suggestions for your white noise YouTube starter kit: View Escape takes visitors on a "journey to distant locations - particularly those in space." I can recommend the Blade Runner-esque sounds emanating from "Ambient Echoes overlooking Cyberpunk City." You may often wish to return to the channel's imagined bedrooms of spaceships with large windows. Unseen engines gently whir as planets and stars pass by. MyTranquilitee baby.murcielaga "It feels like what I lived when I wasn’t afraid of being alone, or in the dark, or in the cold, or in the open," one commenter wrote in the channel's "For Peaceful Nights" video. Disney Parks We're also partial to the 4 Hours of Monorail Ambience — don't worry, the whining children and screaming parents have been excised. Please stand clear of the doors, Por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas, the monorail says simply, as you drift at a distance from the happiest place on Earth. Severance — Music To Refine To feat. ODESZA The electronica-infused music certainly has more fast-paced moments than the aforementioned channels, but for some, that's the perfect noise diffuser. And you can keep the music on for your transition to outie life. | ↑ |
 TL;DR: Keep track of important property with the KeySmart® Smart Card, a slimmer tracking option that works with Apple's Find My app. A three-pack is now just $79.97 (reg. $119.97) through March 30. Looking for an AirTag alternative that actually fits in small compartments? The KeySmart SmartCard improves upon the bulky shape of the AirTag, offering a sleek alternative that works with wallets and other tight spots. Right now, you can snag a three-pack of KeySmart SmartCards for just $79.97 — making them under $27 a piece — with free shipping. But act fast; this deal lasts only one more day through March 30. Keep tabs on important items with this three-pack of KeySmart SmartCardsLooking for a way to easily find your passport? What about your wallet? The KeySmart SmartCard lets you keep track of your possessions via Apple's Find My app, just like an AirTag. But unlike AirTags, these actually fit in super thin places. The KeySmart SmartCard measures just 2mm thick, roughly the size of two credit cards. This lets it easily slide into wallets, luggage, pet carriers, or other small compartments. Aside from fitting in more items, this sleeker stature makes this a more discreet tracker. It's a great option if you're hoping to track things without bringing extra attention. The KeySmart SmartCards offer an IPX8 rating, besting the AirTag's IPX67 rating and allowing them to be submerged in water for longer (one hour in 3.3 feet of water, to be exact). This makes it a great tracking choice for items that may have to brave the elements. When powering the KeySmart SmartCard back up, its rechargeable battery works with a Qi-enabled wireless charger. This is another benefit, making it easier and more eco-friendly to recharge than the AirTags, which require entirely new batteries. Find important items by checking your phone with the KeySmart SmartCard, now $79.97 (reg. $119) for a three-pack for just one more day. StackSocial prices subject to change. | ↑ |
 LOWEST-EVER PRICE: As of March 29, the 55-inch Samsung Q60D TV is on sale for $479.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. This deal saves you 38% on list price. We can't think of a better way to spend your weekend that perusing the best deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale. OK, there are plenty of better ways to spend your free time. You could be watching paint dry, which honestly at this point sounds a little more interesting than scrolling through thousands of deals. Let someone else do the work whilst you enjoy yourself. Save the hassle and check out the latest deal on the 55-inch Samsung Q60D TV. This premium TV is on sale or $479.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. This deal saves you 38% on list price, or $300. According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, this impressive TV has never been cheaper. The Q60D is a great mid-range TV featuring object-tracking sound and a Pantone Validated dual LED panel for better color accuracy. It's got a lot of the same great features of more advanced models without the huge price tag. If you're looking for real value from the Amazon Spring Sale, this deal offers that in abundance. Get the best-ever price on the 55-inch Samsung Q60D TV in the Amazon Spring Sale. For more deals like this, check out our roundup of the best TV deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Mashable's favorite deals from the Amazon Spring Sale
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 If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine. There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown. An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle. If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered. Hurdle Word 1 hintA type of syrup. Hurdle Word 1 answerMAPLE Hurdle Word 2 hintUsed to text and call. Hurdle Word 2 AnswerPHONE Hurdle Word 3 hintTwo-legged stand. Hurdle Word 3 answerBIPOD Hurdle Word 4 hintPart of common sorority names. Hurdle Word 4 answerKAPPA Final Hurdle hintA pessimist. Hurdle Word 5 answerCYNIC If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more. | ↑ |
 TL;DR: For one more day only, Mashable readers and Mac users can save £32 on the PDF Expert Premium Plan lifetime subscription — pay just £75.72 (reg. £108.18) through 30 March. There’s nothing wrong with Adobe Acrobat…until you realize you’re paying for it constantly even though you really only edit a couple of PDFs each month. If you want a program you can own with a one-time payment, check out this Adobe Acrobat alternative. The features are nearly identical, except it’s £75.72 (reg. £108.18) for life — even if you upgrade your Mac. Fair warning, this is your last call, as this discounted price ends on 30 March. More about PDF ExpertThink of it this way, after a few months, this software practically pays for itself when compared to expensive alternatives like Adobe Acrobat. Here's what you can do with PDF Expert.
Get a PDF editor with no monthly fees for your Mac, now £75.72 (reg. £108.18) for a limited time. StackSocial prices subject to change. | ↑ |
 Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. 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. 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. Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Apologetic. Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter R appears twice. Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S. 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... SORRY. 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. 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 yesterday's Wordle. | ↑ |
 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. 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. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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. Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
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 #657 is... What is the answer to Connections today
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections 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 . 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 yesterday's Connections. | ↑ |
 Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans. Like the original Connections, 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 the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. What is Connections Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. 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. Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
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 Sports Edition #187 is... What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections 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 . 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 yesterday's Connections. | ↑ |
 Save $120: As of March 28, you can grab the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 projector for just $379.99 at Amazon. At this price, you'll be saving 24% on the projector's $499.99 list price. Maybe you don't have the room for a TV or maybe you prefer some portability when deciding where to watch your favorite shows — in either case, you deserve better than using your laptop. Portable projectors can be a great solution to this problem, but they aren't exactly cheap (especially in comparison to the price of a TV). However, during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, Anker's Nebula Capsule 3 projector is down to its lowest price ever, at just $379.99.
SEE ALSO:
350+ of the best live deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale, picked by Mashable's team of experts
If you've never used a projector before, you should expectation set that the picture won't be as bright or as a clear as that of a TV — that's normal, especially in the this price range. Specifically, in terms of picture quality, the Capsule 3 supports 4K input and has a native 1080p resolution. However, you can get a much bigger picture that maxes out at 120 inches, and the option to move your projector wherever you like, especially with the Capsule 3, which weighs less than two pounds, and has an on-board battery that can stream up to two and a half hours of video and eight hours of audio. It's also incredibly easy to turn it on and start streaming content, thanks to its autofocus and auto keystone features, and of course, the built-in Google TV and Netflix. The LED light won't give you the absolute best picture quality you can find on a projector out there, but as our sister site PC Mag (also owned by Ziff Davis) puts it in their review, "Just a little bigger than a soda can, the 1080p Anker Nebula Capsule 3 projector delivers more-than-acceptable quality plus robust audio, making it an excellent mini projector." | ↑ |
 X owner Elon Musk announced late Friday that the social media site had been sold ... to xAI, Musk's own Artificial Intelligence company. "xAI and X’s futures are intertwined," Musk posted on X. "Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent ... this will allow us to build a platform that doesn’t just reflect the world but actively accelerates human progress." xAI purchased X in an all-stock transaction, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The AI company is now valued at $80 billion, with X valued at $33 billion, which includes $12 million in debt. Musk purchased X, then known as Twitter, for $44 billion in October 2022. What does this mean to the X user? Likely that AI will be integrated more fully into the X experience. The social media site has aggressively pushed its generative AI chatbot, Grok, on users since it launched in 2023. Musk also changed its terms of service shortly after the November election, requiring users to agree to have AI trained on their tweets. In announcing the sale, Musk claimed X has 600 million "active users." He didn't say "monthly active users," which experts believe to be almost half that number. The now-private company has shed millions of users by multiple measures since Musk's purchase, and is projected to lose millions more in 2025. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This story is developing... | ↑ |
Best Shark FlexFusion deals
Best set for the basics
Best FlexFusion for the most attachments
 Amazon has brought plenty of beauty tech deals live for its spring sale, but one of the best (and rarest) ones we've spotted this week isn't actually available on the retailer's site. Coinciding with the Big Spring Sale is SharkNinja week, which allows customers to save 20% on orders over $200 with the code SN20. That means that the Shark FlexFusion, which starts at $349 and goes up to $399 depending on the model, is getting a rare discount. If you've been waiting to catch it on sale, now's a good time to grab it — the promo code is valid through March 31 at 2:59 a.m. ET (and at the time of writing, one model has sold out).
SEE ALSO:
350+ of the best live deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale, picked by Mashable's team of experts
If you're not familiar with the Shark FlexFusion, it's essentially an even more versatile Shark FlexStyle that can heat style with and without air. This is especially useful if you want to style day two hair, or hair that's no longer wet, as styles will hold better thanks to the heat element. It is worth noting that Shark FlexStyle attachments cannot be used with the FlexFusion or vice versa — though they're similar, at the end of the day they are different hair tools. Depending on which model you get, the FlexFusion comes with three or four different attachments. At the time of writing, here are the models that are on sale:
Along with the discount, each of these FlexFusions comes with a free travel case. For an even more in-depth breakdown on the differences between these tools, you can check out our additional coverage on the Shark FlexFusion. | ↑ |
The best laptop deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale at a glance:
Best MacBook deal
Best Windows laptop deal
Best gaming laptop deal
Lenovo Legion 5i (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
$1,399.99
(save $200)
 While Amazon isn't normally the best place to score laptop deals on any given day, it tends to beef up its selection and ramp up its discounts for certain sitewide sales it puts on throughout the year. Prime Day and Black Friday are the main ones, of course, but don't sleep on the retail giant's Big Spring Sale, either. Amazon's seasonal savings event is now on from March 25 to 31. Though the event technically revolves around warm-weather essentials, Amazon is sneaking in a handful of laptop deals starring discounts of up to 30%. That includes record-low prices on the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite processor, our favorite Windows laptop, and the brand-new M4 Apple MacBook Airs, which only just debuted a couple weeks ago.
SEE ALSO:
350+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, selected by Mashable's team of experts
It's not a huge selection, but if the featured models have the specs you need, this is a good time to buy: The next big savings opportunity on the horizon for laptop shoppers is Memorial Day weekend in late May. Read on for our running list of Amazon's best Big Spring Sale laptop deals. We'll continue to update it with the latest pricing and availability as the event continues, so check back often. Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices, while Best MacBook dealsMacBook Air
MacBook Pro
Best Windows laptop deals
2-in-1 laptops
Best gaming laptop deals
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Amazon Big Spring Sale: Best sex toy deals
Best bullet vibrator deal
Best clitoral suction vibrator
Best G-spot vibrator
Best male sex toy deal
Best lube deal
 OK, so I wouldn’t usually recommend shopping at Amazon for sex toys, but Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has a few good deals on legit sex toys and products that you can trust. (They're few and far between, but I've included some non-Amazon deals at the bottom of this post.) Most aren’t marked with red “Spring Sale” badges, but the discounts are still worth a look — a discount’s a discount, right? Some standout brands I found include plusOne, LELO, and Tracy's Dog. Tons of lube is discounted, too, including some from Überlube and Astroglide. Here are the best sex toy deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale that are worth adding to your cart ASAP: Best vibrator dealWhy we like itIf you’re new to sex toys, a simple bullet vibrator, like this one from plusOne, is a great place to start. PlusOne is one of the most affordable sex toy brands out there, and they’re made with body-safe silicone. You can find this brand in just about any drugstore and Target, so you know it’s legit. The plusOne Bullet Vibrator is waterproof, has 10 vibration settings, and is small enough to bring anywhere. It’s pocket-sized (three inches long) and can fit right in your makeup bag or purse. It comes with a pin charging cable (you’ll get two hours off a single charge) and a finger sleeve, which may be helpful for people who struggle to hold smaller toys. More vibrator deals
Best male sex toy dealWhy we like itTENGA is a leader in the male sex toy space. (They’re the company that makes the TENGA Egg, which would be a super cute Easter gift.) Right now, the TEGA Spinner is on sale for $21.58. That’s not a huge discount, but it’s a good price for a reusable toy with more than 6,000 reviews on Amazon. Many of the reviewers say that this product helped their marriage, aided in penile sensitivity, and helped with erectile dysfunction. (Tons of reviewers also mentioned that it’s “like the real thing.”) And, there are a surprising number of wives who reviewed the toy, saying it amped up their sex lives. Note: Lube is a non-negotiable with this toy. So stock up! More male sex toy deals
Best lube dealWhy we like itYou can’t really use any sex toy without lube. I mean, you can, but it’s likely going to be uncomfortable, and you can risk damaging your sex toy or your intimate bits, depending on what it’s made from. If you’re looking for a latex-safe lube that’ll last, the Überlube Home and Travel Bundle is on sale for $35.63. (My favorite lube is SUTIL Rich, but they’re not pushing any deals right now). This bundle includes one Überlube Silicone Base Lube (55 ml) and one travel-sized Überlube Silicone Lube (15 ml) in a pretty red casing, so no one knows what’s in your bag. More lube deals
Deals that aren’t on Amazon (but are still worth checking out)While the Amazon Big Spring Sale is our main focus here, there are tons of sex toy sales happening outside of the Bezo-sphere. Here are the best sex toy deals you can find on the internet today:
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Top kitchen deals at Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Best coffee maker deal
Best air fryer deal
Best blender deal
 In case you haven’t heard, Amazon’s hosting its first big sale of the year: The Amazon Big Spring Sale, which officially kicked off on March 25. It’s basically like Prime Day, but everyone can take advantage of the deals, not just Prime members. Plus, it's a week long.
SEE ALSO:
Amazon Prime members can save $10 on two Grubhub orders of $20 or more with this promo code
As you'd expect, the sale is chock-full of discounted products across a wide range of categories, including kitchen and home goods. From high-end espresso machines to air fryers and everything in between, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is a great opportunity to upgrade your kitchen setup or snag some early Mother's Day gifts. Here are our top picks for the best kitchen deals to shop for during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Best coffee maker dealWhy we like itYour daily coffee habit may not be the reason you can't afford a house in this economy, but it does add up over time. If you're looking to make coffee at home but aren't quite ready to jump into the territory of the $500 Breville espresso machines all over your FYP, the Nespresso Vertuo offers plenty of flexibility at a fraction of the cost. The Vertuo makes both coffee and espresso machines with Nespresso pods, which can be recycled. The addition of a milk frother is great for any espresso drinks you may want to jazz up, and the machine's thin profile means it takes up less space than a traditional coffee maker. More coffee maker and espresso machine deals
Best air fryer dealWhy we like itAdmittedly, we're not huge fans of Our Place's famous Always Pan, but that doesn't mean you should count everything from the brand out. Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino owns and loves this air fryer, and while it was originally gifted, shares that she would've bought it at full price. Why? It doesn't just air fry: it can toast, reheat, bake, broil, and has a compartment to add water and steam your bakes (not unlike the internet- famous Balmuda toaster). Along with all that versatility, you'll get an air fryer basket, baking tray, and toasting rack — plus a cute retro design that makes the countertop space it takes up feel more earned. More air fryer deals
Best blender dealWhy we like itSmoothie season is just around the corner, making it the perfect time to invest in a high-quality blender. Vitamix blenders are known for their ability to blend basically anything, plus their long life spans (hence, the higher price tag). This Ascent model hasn't dipped below $600 since December, making it the first time this year it's hit this price. The smart blender not only comes with five programmable settings but also a base that can detect the container size and adjust those settings automatically. Stand mixer deals
Instant Pot deals
Blender deals
Water bottle deals
More kitchen deals
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The best Apple deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Best MacBook deal
Best AirPods deal
Best iPad deal
Best Apple Watch deal
 If you're looking for discounted Apple products, Amazon is a reliable place to grab them year-round. However, during its Big Spring Sale, running from March 25 to 31, we're keeping our eyes peeled as even more deals go live. While the sale focuses primarily on " springtime favorites" like outdoor furniture and garden supplies, last year's inaugural BSS did bring some tech deals. Best of all, exempting a few exclusive offers, most deals are available to all customers, regardless of their Prime membership status. So far, we have spotted deals on new releases like the M3 iPad Air, 11-inch iPad, and M4 MacBook Airs. In addition to iPads, we also found a $400 markdown on the M3 13-inch MacBook Air and $170 price cut on the Beats Studio Pro. Again, while these deals aren't officially tied to the spring sale and can be found at other times of the year, these are still solid prices for any of these items. We'll continue updating this post as the sale progresses, so check back if you're looking for the best Apple deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices. Best MacBook dealWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the M4 MacBook Air. Apple just dropped the M4 MacBook Air, and even at full price, we think it's a really good deal. In a divergence from last year's Air pricing, Apple started its 13-inch model at just $999 — with an M4 chip and the RAM upgrades Apple gave all its laptops last fall, this is the best value we've ever seen on an Apple laptop. Amazon slashed another $50 off the price, which, while admittedly not a jaw-dropping discount, helps make a great value even better. The biggest downside to this laptop is that it might be a little short on ports for some users, and then it tops out at a 60Hz refresh rate, but if you can work with that, the M4 Air is an excellent deal. More MacBook and Mac dealsMacBook Air
MacBook Pro
Mac
Best AirPods dealWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the AirPods Pro. For Apple users, the AirPods Pro are an excellent pair of noise-cancelling earbuds, with some of the best noise cancellation and sound quality in the game. As the USB-C Pros near their second year anniversary, we can't say they're without a doubt the best on the market — their battery life could be better, for instance — but their age works in their favor for this price drop down to $169.99, which certainly makes some of their flaws easier to look past. We have seen these earbuds drop to $154 during Black Friday season, but we haven't seen that deal return since, making $170 the next best deal to grab them at. More AirPods deals
Best iPad dealWhy we like itThe M3 iPad Air just hit the market earlier this month, but you can already grab it for $50 off. At the time of writing, the previous generation Air costs even more on Amazon at $599 (though you can grab it on sale for $499 at Best Buy). Beyond the chip upgrade, this iPad features plenty of Apple Intelligence integration, from the Photos and Notes apps, to the Writing Tools feature that uses ChatGPT. Though we've yet to test this tablet hands-on for ourselves, the M2 Air is our favorite iPad for most people — we imagine the M3 Air will follow suit. More iPad dealsiPad
iPad Air
iPad mini
Best Apple Watch dealWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10. The Apple Watch Series 10 only came out this past fall, making this $100 off deal especially impressive. Along with its larger wide-angle OLED display, Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder found this smartwatch to be lighter than its predecessors, with an ultra-fast charge time. This watch generation introduced fitness features like a depth gauge, sleep apnea detection, and a Vitals app, but it's worth noting those features aren't exclusive to the Series 10. However, if your Series 6 has been on the fritz for a while, or you've never owned an Apple Watch, $299 is a solid price to grab Apple's latest smartwatch. More Apple Watch deals
Even more Apple deals
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 SAVE $600: The 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is on sale for just $1,399.99 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale — its lowest price ever. Other Surface devices and accessories are on sale for up to 26% off during the event, which runs through March 31.
The best Microsoft Surface deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale at a glance:
    Amazon's Big Spring Sale may be themed around seasonal buys (think cleaning supplies and outdoor gear), but the retail giant seems to be using the event as an excuse to discount a bunch of tech in its inventory, too. I'll allow it: Mashable's favorite Windows laptop has dipped to its lowest price ever in an unprecedented Big Spring Deal. As of March 28, Amazon has the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage marked down to just $1,399.99, taking 30% off its $1,999.99 MSRP. According to data on the Amazon price-tracking site CamelCamelCamel, this beats its Black Friday price by an easy $100. What's more, Amazon's Surface Laptop 7 deal trounces competing offers at Best Buy and the Microsoft Store itself, which had the same configuration listed for $1,499.99 at the time of writing. I expect Amazon's discount to hang around until the Big Spring Sale ends on March 31, FYI. For some more context, this Surface Laptop 7 configuration is a Mashable Choice Award-winning Copilot+ PC that lays claim to the longest battery life in our laptop testing database at over 23 hours per charge. (It lasted even longer than the M4- and M4 Pro-powered Apple MacBook Pros.) Former Mashable tech editor Kimberly Gedeon gave it a fantastic 4.8/5 rating in her review, applauding its "sleek, urbane design with excellent build quality," its "fun" AI features, and its strong performance. It notched the second-highest Geekbench 6 score out of all the Windows laptops in our database, coming in right after the $4,485 Lenovo Legion 9i, a lavish gaming laptop — super impressive. For shoppers who'd prefer to spend less than $1,000, Amazon had two entry-level configurations of the Surface Laptop 7 and Microsoft's Surface Pro 11 on sale at the time of writing, too. Their Big Spring Deals put them at $901.13 and $882.81, respectively, taking at least 25% off their $1,199.99 MSRPs to achieve their best prices since Black Friday 2024. (They're also beating competing deals at Best Buy and the Microsoft Store itself, which are selling them for $999.99 apiece.) Both of these Surface devices sport a Snapdragon X Plus processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, making them modest upgrades from their base models with 256GB of storage. For its part, the Surface Pro 11 is a lightweight hybrid CoPilot+ PC with a 13-inch LCD HDR touchscreen, a built-in kickstand, WiFi 7 support, and a rated battery life of up to 14 hours per charge. I'd put the money you're saving from Amazon's deal toward a Surface Pen or a Surface Pro Keyboard for it, both of which are sold separately. Conveniently, you could save 20% by bundling them as part of a Big Spring Deal at the time of writing. The Snapdragon processors powering these guys are ARM-based CPUs, by the way; the biggest reason not to buy them would be if you foresee compatibility issues with your printer or go-to apps. Microsoft announced Intel versions of both Surface devices in late January, which don't have this problem, but they're pricier business-oriented models, and I haven't spotted any deals on them yet. | ↑ |
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals at a glance:
Best Kindle deal
Best Apple deal
Best headphones/earbuds deal
Best robot vacuum deal
Best smart home deal
Best kitchen deal
Best outdoor deal
Best book deal
 Amazon is springing a bunch of seasonal deals on shoppers. The retail giant is hosting its second-ever Big Spring Sale from Tuesday, March 25, through Monday, March 31, ushering in discounts on "end-of-season winter items" and "springtime favorites" across more than 35 categories, per its press release. Each day of the weeklong sale features "themed daily drops" on top of new limited-time offers. The Big Spring Sale is Amazon's first major savings event of the year — and unlike its flagship summer Prime Day sale, the deals aren't exclusive to Prime members. Most of them, anyway: Prime members get access to a handful of special offers, which are identified with a "Prime Spring Deal" badge. Need help sifting through the noise? Mashable's shopping experts are keeping track of the best deals available at Amazon throughout the Big Spring Sale. (Our sister site CNET has extensive coverage of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, too.) With eight years of experience covering Amazon's sales under our belts, we've developed a tried-and-true deal-hunting methodology to find hidden gems among the retailer's myriad listings. We cross-check prices with Amazon's competitors, track pricing trends, and vet products' value based on our hands-on testing, and we only recommend what's most worth buying. You can read more about our deals coverage here. Below, we've got a running list of Amazon's best Big Spring Sale deals on smart home devices, Apple gadgets, robot vacuums, outdoor gear, kitchen appliances, books, and much more. Check back daily to see what else we find. Best Kindle deals
Bundles
Best Apple dealsAirPods
Apple WatchesApple Watch Series 10
Apple Watch SE deals
Apple Watch Ultra deals
iPadsiPad
iPad Air
iPad Pro
MacBooksMacBook Air
MacBook Pro
Macs
Apple accessories
Best TV deals43-inch to 50-inch TVs
55-inch TVs
65-inch TVs
75-inch and 77-inch TVs
85-inch TVs and up
Projectors
Streaming deals
Best laptop dealsFor deals on MacBooks, scroll back up to the "Apple deals" section. Windows laptops
2-in-1 laptops
Gaming laptops
Best tablet dealsFor deals on iPads, scroll back up to the "Apple deals" section. Amazon Fire tablets
Android tablets
Best headphone and earbud dealsHeadphones
Best earbuds deals
Best unlocked phone dealsSamsung Galaxy phones
Google Pixel phones
Motorola phones
Best vacuum dealsRobot vacuums
Robot vacuum mop combos
Stick vacuums
Best home dealsAir purifiers
Bedding and mattresses
Rugs
Echo smart home devices
Home security equipment
Smart bulbs
Smart light switches
Smart plugs
More home deals
Best cleaning supplies deals
Best kitchen dealsAir fryers and countertop ovens
Blenders and food processors
Coffee makers
Drinkware
Instant Pots and multi-cookers
Rice cookers
Stand mixers
Best fitness tracker deals
Best beauty tech dealsHair dryers
Hot tools
Multi-stylers
Skincare tech
Best pet dealsAutomatic litter boxes
Automatic pet feeders
Best outdoor deals
Best power tool deals
Best gaming dealsPlayStation games
PlayStation hardwareHeadsets
Accessories
Xbox games
Xbox hardwareConsoles
Controllers
Headsets
Nintendo Switch games
Nintendo Switch hardwareControllers and accessories
Memory cards
Best Lego deals
Best book dealsFiction
Non-fiction
Best Pokémon deals
Best digital deals
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 Bob the Drag Queen has wowed us on multiple stages: RuPaul's Drag Race, The Traitors, We're Here, Dimension 20' s Dungeons and Drag Queens, and now as a first-time author. Here, he shares the journey of writing his first novel, Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert, which follows what happens when the historical abolitionist collaborates with a modern-day record producer to tell her story through song. Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert is available now. Медиа: | ↑ |
 SAVE $59.99: As of March 28, the PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin automatic litter box has a $59.99 coupon during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, bringing it down to $339.96. Self-emptying litter boxes of the coveted egg shape typically require setting $600 to $800 aside — a steep ask for the average person when other recurring cat supplies keep adding up. But there's an affordable hidden gem amongst the Litter-Robots and Leo's Loo Toos of the world. The PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin is already much more approachable at $399.95 when it's not on sale, but Amazon's Big Spring Sale has delivered a nice little $59.99 coupon to tack on. Now $339.96, you could technically buy two ScoopFree SmartSpins for less than the price of a single Litter-Robot 4. That's also $60 cheaper than the next-best automatic litter box deal live during this sale, the Petkit PuraMax 2 for $399.99. Compared to the PetSafe ScoopFree automatic litter box I have, which is still shaped like a flat rectangular litter box, the SmartSpin offers more privacy for your cat (if they like the covered box setup) and a generally less... litter box-y aroma and aesthetic for whatever room it's in. Though the ScoopFree I have does successfully scoop the solid waste out of sight, the spots where my cats have been peeing become very visible in the dissolving crystal litter after a while. In the hollowed-out egg design, though, the litter tray isn't out in the open at all. Once the cat does its business and leaves, the SmartSpin starts spinning and sifts the soiled clumps into an enclosed bin in the bottom. All you'll have to do is replace the liner about every two weeks, and PetSafe includes three months' worth of replacement liners with your purchase. | ↑ |
 SAVE $400: As of March 28, the Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni robot vacuum is on sale for $399.99 during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. It's a full 50% off of the MSRP of $799.99 after a 38% flat discount plus an extra $100 coupon.
Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni robot vacuum with self-empty and mop-washing station
$399.99
at Amazon
$799.99 Save $400 As fire as my favorite robot vacuum deal at Amazon's Big Spring Sale is, $800 is still kind of steep for a robot vacuum at the end of the day. For those looking to spend less, consider the similar Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni. Hear me out. After a combination of a steep flat discount and a casual $100 coupon tacked on, you can secure many of the same high-end specs of my beloved Roborock Qrevo Master for $399.99. That's a full 50% off its usual $799.99, and also a full 50% cheaper than the sale price of the Qrevo Master. First things first: A robot vacuum and mop combo that not only self-empties, but self-washes and dries its own mopping pads is a rare find under $400. (A quick look at the full list of the best robot vacuum deals at this Amazon spring sale will tell you that.) The fact that the Ecovacs Deebot N30 makes that cut is impressive on its own, as is the fact that the mop design in question consists of dual spinning pads. But there's another huge feat here. The N30 Omni takes the cleaning efficacy a bit further by clocking 10,000 Pa of suction power. That's identical suction power to the Roborock Qrevo Master I just mentioned ($799.99 on sale, as a reminder) and 3,000 Pa stronger than the Eufy C30, the only other robot vac with a mop-washing station under $400 on that list. While the N30 Omni doesn't supply the livestream pet camera that the Qrevo Master does, it still offers small obstacle avoidance to steer clear of phone chargers or shoes. If you're on a strict budget, this is the bang for your buck to jump on. | ↑ |
 SAVE $32: As of March 28, you can get the Loftie smart alarm clock for $127.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount and a $32 price cut. If you’re not a morning person or you share a bed with someone who isn’t, you might want to look into getting a smart alarm clock. Unlike traditional alarms, these little gadgets feature white noise, meditations, and other soothing sounds that can help you fall asleep, and they offer gentler wake-up methods that prevent you from starting the day on the wrong foot. (I actually have the Hatch Restore 2 on my nightstand, and I love it.) And right now, you can get the Loftie smart alarm clock for $127.99, down from $159.99. That’s a discount of 20% or $32. The Loftie smart alarm clock doubles as a sound machine. There are more than 100 free tracks, including breathwork, white noise, nature sounds, and sound baths. What makes it unique, however, is that it has a two-phase alarm system. The first alarm gently lulls you awake, and then, nine minutes later, a second alarm gets you out of bed. It has other features, too, like a dimmable display, a sleep timer, and a night light. You can also use it without WiFi, which is great if don't want another device connected to the internet. | ↑ |
 The Pixel 9a now has an official release date. According to Google, the Pixel 9a will finally hit store shelves in the U.S., Canada, and UK on April 10. Google officially announced the Pixel 9a, the latest member of its Pixel 9a smartphone lineup, last week. The made-for-AI, camera-bump-less smartphone seems like a real steal at $499. However, there were issues immediately after Google's announcement. The Pixel 9a was originally supposed to be available for pre-order on March 19 and hit store shelves on March 26. Based on those original dates, the Pixel 9a should've already launched, with early adopters having the device in hand by now. However, shortly before the Pixel 9a was announced, Google postponed the release date to an unspecific April date and dropped the pre-orders completely. The Verge later confirmed that the delay was due to a "component quality issue" that Google discovered which affected a "small number" of Pixel 9a devices. The whole issue kind of made for an awkward rollout, as Google was left announcing a new current-generation device that appeared ready for retail but without a release date. Still though, this timeline of events was likely preferably to Google having to fix the component issue with the device already in consumers' hands. After stumbling out of the gate, Google is getting right back on track with the Pixel 9a. Mashable already has a comparison published between the Pixel 9a and the base Pixel 9 model, and we'll have a hands-on review of the Pixel 9a when it's out. So, stay tuned for more Pixel 9a coverage. | ↑ |
 UPDATE: Mar. 28, 2025, 2:30 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with current pricing/availability and one new deal. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is its first major savings event of the year, and probably the last one on its calendar until Memorial Day weekend in late May. Knowing that (and the current state of the economy), the pressure is on for the retail giant to offer a slew of deals that translate into serious savings this week. In its press release, on its homepage, and on its landing page for the event, Amazon has advertised Big Spring Sale discounts of up to 40% — not too shabby. However, Mashable shopping experts have been combing the sale since it started Tuesday, and we've spotted a few dozen products that are at least 50% off.
SEE ALSO:
350+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, picked by Mashable's team of experts
We've compiled a list of said deals below. Everything is half off or more, so you're saving at least as much as you're spending. We'll continue to update it as we find more hefty deals, so check back often. As things currently stand, the biggest tech discount we've seen is on the Roborock Q7 Max, a robot vacuum/mop combo that's sitting at a record-low price of $189.99. (Ignore its $299.99 sticker price on Amazon: According to the Roborock website, it actually retails for $599.99. Shoppers save 68%.) The biggest discount overall has gone to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S copies of NBA 2K25, which are now $19.93 apiece — that's 72% off their $69.99 MSRP. Note: Tech dealsEarbuds
Smart home devices
TVs
Vacuum dealsRobot vacuums
Stick vacuums
Outdoor deals
Travel deals
Fitness deals
Gaming dealsPlayStation games
Xbox games
Nintendo Switch games
Beauty deals
Book dealsFiction
Nonfiction
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 After ChatGPT-generated images in the style of Studio Ghibli drew criticism online, OpenAI has shared a response addressing the backlash. OpenAI released native image generation in GPT-4o earlier this week, with a live demo showing CEO Sam Altman and OpenAI staffers using ChatGPT to turn a selfie into an anime-style image that looked a whole lot like the unique and painstakingly crafted animated films of Studio Ghibli. Soon, Studio Ghibli-style versions of memes, selfies, and family photos, all automated by ChatGPT, went viral on X. Altman himself turned his X profile picture into a Studio Ghibli-esque image of himself and directly mentioned the distinct style in an X post, writing, "wake up one day to hundreds of messages: 'look i made you into a twink ghibli style haha.'" This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The viral moment quickly turned into questions of copyright infringement and IP theft as users wondered whether OpenAI trained GPT-4o on Studio Ghibli films without permission. But the larger issue that troubled many users was how the artwork of Hayao Miyazaki's studio, which famously hand-paints almost every frame of their animated films, could be quickly automated and commodified for the purpose of promoting a new OpenAI product. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This was especially prescient given Miyazaki's stance on AI-generated work based on a clip that went viral where Miyazaki expressed his disgust, saying, "I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself." This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. In response, OpenAI has addressed the criticisms sharing the following statement to Mashable:
OpenAI did not address our questions of whether OpenAI had a pre-existing licensing partnership with Studio Ghibli or whether Studio Ghibli films had been included in the training data. The technical distinction that theoretically lets OpenAI off the hook is that ChatGPT can generate "broader studio styles" but not individual styles of living artists. Indeed, when asking ChatGPT to generate a Hayao Miyazaki-style animation of an uploaded image, ChatGPT denied the request, saying it "violates our content policies." Replacing Hayao Miyazaki's name with "Studio Ghibli" in a new prompt successfully complied with the request. 
Asking ChatGPT to create a Hayao Miyazaki style animation gets rejected, but asking for a Studio Ghibli style animation grants the request.
Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / OpenAI
According to OpenAI's GPT-4o system card, which outlines the model's ethical and safety challenges, "The model can generate images that resemble the aesthetics of some artists’ work when their name is used in the prompt." The section goes on to say, "We opted to take a conservative approach with this version of 4o image generation, as we learn more about how 4o image generation is used by the creative community." But it's unclear how unquestioningly granting requests for Studio Ghibli-style animations is a conservative approach. The system card section also specifies, "We added a refusal which triggers when a user attempts to generate an image in the style of a living artist." So, there you have it folks. You can ask ChatGPT to create an image in the style of a studio, but not a living artist. Miyazaki's work can be appropriated if you plug in the name of the studio that he founded, but not his own name. | ↑ |
 If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That line of thinking could have saved Facebook a lot of trouble, but the social media site owned by Meta seems to be returning to its roots anyway. One of the most striking changes Facebook made was to change its famous Feed. Instead of only seeing your friends, it began showing ads and recommended content. Now, years later, the Friends Feed is returning — kind of. "Connecting with friends has been a part of Facebook since it launched," the company wrote in a news release. "Over the years, Facebook evolved to meet changing needs and created best-in-class experiences across Groups, Video, Marketplace, and more, but the magic of friends has fallen away. We’ll be adding several 'OG' Facebook experiences throughout the year, beginning with the revamped Friends tab." Those "OG Facebook experiences" include a new Friends tab to "make it easier for people to find their friends’ content on Facebook." This tab will only show your friends' stories, Reels, posts, and requests, instead of being mixed in with other recommended content. You can pin the Friends tab so it's easier to access by going to your profile picture, clicking "settings & privacy," navigating to "settings," and clicking "tab bar," before customizing the bar and clicking "Friends" to pin the tab. "Social media should feel social," Meta wrote. "In that spirit, we’ll be adding more fun, simple experiences to help you connect and share on Facebook throughout the year." | ↑ |
 SAVE UP TO 37%: The Amazon Big Spring Sale has air purifiers on sale from brands like Coway, Dyson, LG, Shark, and more.
Best air purifier deals during Amazon's spring sale
Best overall deal
Best Dyson deal
Best air purifier for design
 We have plenty to celebrate in the spring, like flowers, warmer weather, sunshine, and great discounts during the Amazon Big Spring Sale, which runs through March 31. Unfortunately, spring also comes with a tint of dread for those of us who suffer from seasonal allergies. Equipping your home with an air purifier is one of the simplest ways to cut down on allergens and dust in the air. Just in time for spring allergy season, Amazon has discounts on some of the best air purifiers during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. You'll be able to find the best model for your home or apartment based on the size of your space and the design you prefer. Even if you don't deal with spring allergies, an air purifier is great for keeping indoor air clean if the area you live in is prone to wildfire smoke, or you deal with pet allergies. They can also be perfect for getting rid of odors from cooking. Boiled down, every home could benefit from breathing in cleaner air. Here are some of our favorite air purifier discounts to shop during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Best overall dealWhy we like itThe Coway Airmega 200M wastes no time when it comes to cleaning the air. In a 316 square-foot space, the Coway takes under 13 minutes to completely filter the air or under 30 minutes in a space up to 874 square feet. Coway designed this model with three layers of filtration with an initial pre-filter to capture hair and dust mites, which leaves the important HEPA filter cleaner for tasks that include filtering out pollen, germs, viruses, and fine dust. The Coway Airmega 200M usually costs $229.99, but it's discounted to just $155.87 as part of the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Be sure to snag the white colorway to score this sale price. Best Dyson dealWhy we like itDyson is the master of manipulating airflow, making some of the best fans, purifiers, and hair dryers we've ever used. The Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1 HP10 lives up to the brand's high standards, offering HEPA filtration, a fan for warm nights, and a heater for chilly winter days. This three-in-one model usually sells for $529.99, but it's discounted to $399.95. The 25% discount means you'll be saving an impressive $130. Aside from incredible performance, the Dyson comes with a remote control, which is one of the most convenient features that not all air purifiers can claim. It also comes with oscillation up to 350 degrees, and the fully sealed HEPA filter gives you reassurance the air is cleaner. Night mode is also great, since it lowers the display lighting and sends the purifiers into its quietest operation mode. Instead of buying a fan to keep you cool in the summer and a portable heater to warm up a chilly bedroom in the winter, the Dyson is here to do both, and it'll purify the air while keeping you at a comfortable temperature. Best air purifier for designWhy we like itWhile plenty of air purifiers come with HEPA filters, not many get high marks when it comes to overall appearance. If you're interested in keeping indoor air clean thanks to a purifier that's also aesthetically pleasing, the LG PuriCare AeroTower is a great option. The tower design makes it look more aligned with an interesting piece of furniture instead of a piece purely for function. Its slim build means it's also great if you don't have much floor space to dedicate to an air purifier. The LG PuriCare also gets extra credit for being certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly, a program run by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. This certification means this model is especially great for those who deal with seasonal allergies or asthma. The NanoFiber True HEPA used in this model can trap 99.97% of particles that tend to cause trouble like dust, pollen, and smoke. More air purifier deals to shop at Amazon
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 SAVE $145: As of March 28, the Dreame D10 Plus robot vacuum and mop combo is down to just $254.99 at Amazon during the Big Spring Sale. That's 36% off the usual cost and its lowest price ever. The price of a new robot vacuum that also mops can come with a bit of sticker shock. Our favorite model (the Roborock Saros 10R), for instance, costs $1,599.99. But here's the thing: even that expensive combo robovac isn't perfect. If you just want something that can tidy up your floors and you're not picky, we suggest opting for something more affordable, like this Dreame D10 Plus. Usually pretty reasonable at $399.99, you can pick up the Dreame D10 Plus for even cheaper during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. As of March 28, it's down to just $254.99. That's 36% off and its best price ever. It even beats its Black Friday price by $5. The Dreame D10 Plus robot vacuum and mop combo certainly isn't the fanciest model around, but it's great for its price. The 6,000Pa suction power is pretty average in this price range. It packs a 150ml clean water tank with three flow settings to select from, so it can give your floors a little scrub after sucking up all the gunk. It's battery life is pretty solid at 285 minutes, plus it's equipped with smart mapping, obstacle avoidance, and voice assistant support. A bonus, particulary at this low price, is that it comes with a self-emptying base that can hold up to 90 days' worth of debris before needing your attention. Once it finishes cleaning, it'll head back to its base to charge and dump any dust, crumbs, or dirt it collected. While it's not going to wow you like a $1,600 robot vacuum, the Dreame D10 Plus gets you a lot for your money. And if you grab it during the Big Spring Sale, you'll pay the lowest amount possible. Looking for a specific model on sale? Check out our running list of the best robot vacuum deals from the Big Spring Sale. | ↑ |
 You can't completely turn off Google's AI Overviews, but users have discovered a profanity-laced workaround. If you add "fuck" or a variation of the word to your Google search, it turns off the AI-generated summary at the top of the page. The origins of this hack are unclear, but LA Times reporter Keri Blakinger posted a TikTok about it in early March, saying she had heard about it from an episode of the Scriptnotes podcast. But it appears to have originated from a Jan. 27 Tumblr post by user flootzavut, who wrote, "Swear in your search request. I know it sounds ridiculous, but the most effective way I've found of it not doing the AI summary is just to add 'fucking' go [sic] my search." I tried it, and it works like a charm. When searching "what's the most expensive car," I got the usual AI Overview response at the top of the search results that I've gotten in the habit of automatically scrolling past. Then I added "fuck" to the end of my query and received a blissfully AI-free results page. I still got the usual mix of featured snippets (written by humans and including site links) and AI-generated summaries in the People Also Ask section of the page, so the hack only turns off AI Overviews. But at least the main results page is rid of AI clutter. 
No fucks given.
Credit: Google
Fucks given.
Credit: Google
A note of caution: when using this hack, be careful of how adding the f-word can augment your search entirely. Inspired by my current obsession, season three of The White Lotus, I discovered that adding "fuck" or "fucking" to a search for "the best Thailand resorts" returns verrrry different results than what I was looking for. The reason why this hack works is likely due to Google Search's safety guardrails, which make AI Overviews a very prim summarizer. Google's AI model Gemini is probably trained not to respond when certain trigger words are included in the search. Users who commented on Blakinger's TikTok post shared that adding "-AI" to your search also works. So, you're essentially telling Gemini not to respond. While there's no "off" setting for AI Overviews, there are other workarounds too, which Mashable and our sibling site Lifehacker have written about. But swearing at Google Search is by far the funnest way to do it. | ↑ |
 SAVE $100: As of March 28, Amazon Big Spring Sale shoppers can snag a cordless Levoit vacuum for $249.99, or 29% off. Now that spring is here, it's time to get serious about spring cleaning. Thankfully, Amazon's Big Spring Sale is currently underway, and features plenty of deals and discounts to help you get your home looking spotless for the season. Any respectable spring cleaning setup needs a good vacuum, and this cordless model from Levoit is on sale for $249.99, down from $349.99 during the Big Spring Sale. That's $100 off, or a 29% discount. Don't wait on this one, because it'll most likely be going back to its regular price once the sale concludes on March 30. While Levoit is most well-known for its highly rated air purifiers, the brand also sells vacuums that employ similar allergen-filtration features so you can keep the air in your home fresh. The LVAC-300 is a powerful, multi-surface vacuum that has a built-in HEPA filter for capturing many of the particles at home that could be making your spring allergies act up. It also has a one-hour battery life, and an anti-tangle brush that pet owners will appreciate. Add one to your cleaning closet for just $249.99 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, saving you $100. | ↑ |
 Imagine for a moment that unicorns were real, but don't resemble the fanciful fillies illustrated in children's books of Lisa Frank school supplies. Instead, they are feral creatures, with mighty muscles, sharp fangs protruding from a screaming maw, and a horn so girthy and sturdy it can run through a man's ribcage like a broadsword. These are the beasts that ferociously frolic in the wild A24 comedy Death of a Unicorn. The directorial debut of producer Alex Scharfman ( Resurrection, Blow the Man Down), Death of a Unicorn will unfold a tale of wonder, greed, and unicorn carnage (unicarnage?) with a humor broad and dark. A crackling ensemble made up of Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, Will Poulter, Jessica Hynes, and Anthony Carrigan play a cast of eccentric characters, sharply painting a world of class conflicts within a remote but luxurious estate in the Canadian Rockies.
SEE ALSO:
Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega and the 'Death of a Unicorn' cast reveal when their minds were utterly blown
The result is a movie that's hilarious, horrorific, and strikingly sincere — albeit uneven. Death of a Unicorn lays down a gory and goofy anti-capitalism parable.
Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd have a fatetful car accident in "Death of a Unicorn."
Credit: A24
What would you do if you encountered a real live (or dead) unicorn? In this strange circumstance, art history major Ridley (Ortega) drops to her knees in awe of its glowing gold horn…and oozing purple blood. Her corporate lawyer father Elliot (Rudd) goes into panic mode, hoping to cover up the unicorn's existence to save himself any hassle. But his employers, the wealthy Leopold family, look at the corpse of a mythic beast and see only dollar signs — and it's their sprawling estate on which the unicorn dies. Like the notorious Sacklers on which they are based, the Leopolds have built their financial empire on pharmaceuticals. With their patriarch Odell (Grant) on the verge of death by cancer, they’ve called their trusted lawyer Elliot to help them map out the company’s future. But when Ridley and her dad accidentally discover that the unicorn's blood can cure their respective acne and allergies, the Leopolds practically drool at the possibilities. Swiftly they assemble the wealthy maniac version of a unicorn chop shop, filing down the horn to see what else this extremely rare creature might yield. Consider it a metaphor for fracking, blithely destroying the natural world to build wealth for the 1%. But this was no lone unicorn, and when its paranormal parents come looking for their slain foal, all hell — and quite a lot of guts — will break loose. While the Leopolds believe they are entitled to anything on their land, especially a unicorn corpse that could cure cancer, Ridley argues for the sanctity of the creature, begging them to surrender the baby back to its family. Meanwhile, Elliot is torn between his desire to make his daughter happy and his determination to appease his obscenely rich clients. None too subtly, Death of a Unicorn becomes a battle not only between man and beast, environmentalism and capitalism, but also for Elliot’s soul. Unicorn violence is wickedly fun.
Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd look horrified in "Death of a Unicorn."
Credit: A24
Scharfman, who also wrote the screenplay, relishes turning the beloved mythical creature into a creatively rampaging monster. Sure, the first kill is pretty straightforward, involving a well-aimed horn right through a human spine and out his belly like an Alien chestburster. But as the night goes on, these unicorns will crush, snap, gore, bite, and kick their way to revenge. Each kill is gushy with blood, offering not only sick spectacle but also some political catharsis. Here, the Haves get theirs. Out of its SXSW world premiere, some critics have dinged the film’s unicorn designs, not for their aesthetic, but for the clumsiness of some of the computer animation. However, detailed animatronics are also used, creating a textured monster who is glorious on the big screen. Personally, the CGI bits didn’t bother me. The rougher seams are often hidden in scenes of fog and shadow. Frankly, those that aren’t make the film feel scruffy in a way that suits its midnight movie sensibility. Will Poulter and Richard E. Grant are outrageous standouts in Death of a Unicorn.
Tea Leoni and Richard E. Grant play posh villains in "Death of a Unicorn."
Credit: A24
The cast is stacked with rightly heralded performers. From hitman comedy series Barry, Carrigan pops up as a much yelled-at butler, who is often silent yet steadily hilarious in his reactions. As the trophy wife of the Leopolds, Leoni so revels in playing an oblivious, entitled, white woman that she might very well end up on the next season of The White Lotus. By sharp contrast, Ortega shakes off the stoicism that made her iconic in Wednesday and instead embraces a wide-eyed vulnerability that often results in moving tearfulness. For his part, Rudd, who plays a role written for him, seems almost too daffy dad at times. It's almost as if Elliot is in a broader comedy. But this might be design, intended to draw attention to what a clown Elliot is, constantly capering to please his wealthy patrons. Maybe his performance is supposed to feel frantically false. Among the cast, however, Grant and Poulter provide the most steady hilarity. Grant, an Oscar nominee who’s never had a bad performance, is deliciously devilish as this profit-seeking patriarch. He is able to vacillate between frail and philosophical to rejuvenated and wrathful with ease, making his characters grizzly comeuppance all the more satisfying. (The audience at SXSW roared with excitement for this particular slaughter.) As for Poulter, who co-starred in Sackler-inspired TV drama Dopesick, he is electrifying. At the beginning of the film, his character Shepherd is a cheerfully bro-y and vaguely braindead heir, whose biggest concern is whether swim shorts are proper attire to view a dead unicorn in. But as new levels of greed unlock, this untalented but much encouraged douchebag grows into a megalomaniacal villain, as mesmerizing as he is infuriating. Poulter, like his onscreen father Grant, is extraordinary at balancing malevolent and madcap. Shame Scharfman's balancing of sincere and silly is not so keen. Where Death of A Unicorn falters is in its exposition. Inspired by The Unicorn Tapestries from the Cloisters, Scharfman creates an amusing and cheeky twist on classic unicorn lore. However, the characters go over and over information that's pretty swiftly explained in its introduction. A similar redundancy occurs in the tragic backstory of why Ridley and Elliot are estranged. While their shared trauma and eventual opening up leads to one of the film's most touching moments, the path there is full of loops that cause the momentum of the unicorn mayhem to drag. Still, both Death of a Unicorn and Mark Anthony Green’s recently released Opus are positive signs of A24's cinematic mission. While both are being criticized for being a bit wonky, they also offer unique and excitingly bizarre visions, blending genres fearlessly to tell stories personal and political. While not every step is solid, these journeys are nonetheless exhilarating in their originality and weird whimsy. In the end, Death of a Unicorn is a monster movie that is riotously funny, unapologetically dark, and ultimately heartwarming. Death of a Unicorn is now playing only in theaters nationwide. UPDATE: Mar. 28, 2025, 12:20 p.m. Death of a Unicorn was reviewed out of its premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival, on March 10, 2025. The article has been updated to include the latest theatrical options. | ↑ |
 SAVE $210: As of March 28, get the Eufy Robot Vacuum C10 for $269.99, down from its usual price of $479.99. That's a discount of 44%. Tired of trying to keep the carpets clean with daily, fruitless vacuuming? Leave that chore behind and employ a robot to do it. And not one that just sweeps and picks nothing up. One that can deep clean your floors and give you some peace of mind that they're actually getting scrubbed. As of March 28, get the Eufy Robot Vacuum C10 for $269.99, down from its usual price of $479.99. That's $210 off and a discount of 44%. The C10 is a powerful vacuum with 4,000 Pa of suction in addition to a rolling brush that can sweep up pet hair, dirt, crumbs, and debris with panache. It uses laser and infrared navigation to figure out where it's going without your input as well, with automatic avoidance to keep it from crashing into the walls and other items in your home over and over. And if you need to set up a specific route, you can do that and set up other options within its accompanying app. There's a lot the vacuum can do on its own, actually, including emptying itself. It can return to base and empty the debris into its 3L dust bag, which you only need to replace every 60 days. Plus, with its slim and lightweight body, you can move it and maneuver it wherever it needs to go without having to worry about transporting some hulking piece of plastic. If you're tired of dealing with vacuums, cordless or stick or otherwise, this is your solution. Just make sure you nab it fast as it's a part of the Amazon Big Spring Sale. | ↑ |
 Garmin has new AI features for its fitness app, but you'll have to pay to access them. On Thursday, the smartwatch maker popular with sports and fitness enthusiasts announced Garmin Connect Plus, a new paid subscription tier for its Garmin Connect smartphone app. The main selling point for the app's premium version, which shows health and fitness data, is a suite of new AI features. The features, dubbed Active Intelligence, provide "personalized insights and suggestions throughout the day based on health and activity data," according to the press release. The more subscribers use Garmin Connect Plus, "insights will become more tailored to them and their goals," the announcement continued. Garmin didn't share much else beyond how AI will provide insights and suggestions, or what those insights and suggestions are. But Garmin has deemed Active Intelligence worthy enough to charge for it, which is a departure from its previous stance on paywalls. Access to Garmin Connect data has been free compared to competitors like Whoop, Fitbit, and Oura, which require paid subscriptions or offer a premium tier. In 2023, Garmin launched Outdoor Maps Plus, charging $50 for access to more advanced mapping features. Looking back, it's a sign that Garmin was already moving away from its free-data-for-all attitude. That said, existing health data and features on the Garmin Connect app will still be free. So rest assured, the data you're already tracking won't be put behind a paywall — for now, at least. Garmin faces steep competition in the health and fitness market. There are the above-mentioned wearables — Whoop, Fitbit, and Oura. Plus, Google Pixel, Samsung, and Apple all have their own smartwatches with health, fitness, and AI-powered features. Meanwhile, Strava is increasingly popular as a subscription-based fitness app. If you want to try out Garmin Connect Plus, the company offers a free 30-day trial. After that, it's $6.99/month or $69.99/year to access the premium features. | ↑ |
 Nintendo is obsessed with dominating news headlines this week, huh? Thursday's surprise Nintendo Direct livestream bundled a bunch of game announcements together with the news that Nintendo would launch its own mobile app for daily news-breaking purposes. Well, the first Nintendo Today! news drop is here, and it's a big one: The live-action The Legend of Zelda movie will come out on March 26, 2027. 
I'm glad I downloaded an app for this.
Credit: Screenshot: Nintendo
You might be thinking, "There's a live-action Zelda movie?" Well, yeah. Nintendo announced the project back in late 2023 with director Wes Ball (of The Maze Runner trilogy) attached and no other information about it. We still don't know anything about casting, but at least now we know when it's supposed to come out. Some kind of Zelda movie was probably inevitable after the huge success of the 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie, but one has to wonder how exactly it will work. Zelda series protagonist Link famously doesn't speak out loud in the game, and I doubt they would adapt the recent Echoes of Wisdom game with Zelda as the main protagonist this soon after its release. Over the years, there have been plenty of big fantasy epics out of Hollywood, but Zelda isn't really Lord of the Rings. It might be hard to get a big emotional climax out of Link figuring out how to solve a puzzle with a boomerang. Still, as we wait for the Switch 2 Direct next week, we might as well ponder. Maybe Chris Pratt can star in this one, too. | ↑ |
 SAVE $22: During Amazon's Big Spring Sale, shop the Soundcore Q20 wireless headphones for just $43.99. That's $22 off of $65.99 for 33% savings. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is well underway. Luckily, the deals are staying consistent, so there's still time to score hundreds of dollars of savings on headphones and speakers. While there are some sweet savings to find on big ticket items from Bose or Sony, it's also an ideal time to save on budget items. The Soundcore Q20 wireless headphones are a good value at their standard $65.99, and now they're on sale for $43.99, or 33% off. They have active noise cancellation paired with memory phone ear cups for a design that truly blocks out the world. These headphones can go for days, with up to 40 hours of battery life with ANC turned on. And if you're a bass lover, you can use the BassUp feature on the headphones that'll crank up the bass. Normally $65.99, the Soundcore Q20 wireless headphones, are already a pretty good price for all you get. But during the Big Spring Sale, they're an even better price of $43.99. That knocks off $22 for 33% savings. | ↑ |
 SAVE $7: As of March 28, the Stanley IceFlow 30-ounce tumbler is down to just $28 at Amazon during its Big Spring Sale. That's 20% off its usual cost of $35 in the navy, plum, cream, and tigerlily plum shades. Although the TikTok hype has mostly died down, Stanley still makes stellar cups. The quality has never wavered. If you don't care about what's popular amongst the teens, the Stanley IceFlow 30-ounce tumbler is a great choice — and it's on sale. Typically $35, the Stanley IceFlow 30-ounce tumbler is down to just $28 at Amazon as of March 28 during its Big Spring Sale. That's 20% in savings on select color options: navy, plum, cream, and tigerlily plum. Like the other buzzworthy Stanley cup, the IceFlow tumbler is double-wall vacuum insulated, leakproof, car cup holder-friendly, and dishwasher safe. It'll keep ice for up to two days and stay chilled for at least half a day. Plus — and this is the best part — it has a super convenient, ergonomic, rotating handle to make it easy to tote around and a flip-straw lid. Ultimately, convenience and quality matter more for staying hydrated than keeping up with influencer culture — although it does help that you can select from a handful of colors to match your personality. Is $28 still a lot of money to spend on a cup? Sure, but it's better than $35 and this thing is virtually indestructible. You won't need to buy another water bottle like, ever, thanks to Stanley's lifetime guarantee. | ↑ |
 SAVE $29.01: As of March 28, you can get a four-pack of Apple AirTags for just $69.99 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, or about $30 off the original price. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is just about halfway over, but the deals are still going strong. If you're one of those people who is constantly losing their phone, keys, wallet, or another essential item (don't worry, we do too), you'd definitely benefit from some kind of portable tracker. Thankfully, AirTags exist. It just so happens that during the Big Spring Sale, Apple AirTags are heavily discounted — you can get a four-pack of the pint-sized trackers for just $69.99, which is $29.01 off the original price. $69.99 still isn't cheap, but you'll be happy you made the investment next time you misplace something important.
SEE ALSO:
Every single Apple Watch Series 10 has dropped to a record-low price during Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Not only are AirTags convenient when it comes to size, but also in how you use them. All you need to do is connect the AirTag to your iPhone or iPad, and then you can keep track of wherever it is using the Find My app. That's all there is to it. Each Tag also has a built-in speaker that can play a tone to aid you in your search, and also features a Lost Mode that notifies you whenever the Find My app detects the device nearby. Ensure you never have to worry about losing your stuff again — pick up a four-pack of Apple AirTags during Amazon's Big Spring Sale and save $29.01. | ↑ |
 SAVE $30: As of March 28, get the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds for $119.99 at Amazon, down from their normal price of $149.99. That's a discount of 20%. If you're a light sleeper, you probably know the struggle of trying to get some shut-eye and absolutely failing. Just as you drift off to sleep, there's some sort of noise that jars you awake. The end result? You're tired, cranky, and fed up. No one wants that. And if you don't want to wear earplugs, there's no really great solution to keep this from happening – unless you want to invest in something better: earbuds. As of March 28, get the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds for $119.99 at Amazon. That's $30 off their normal price of $149.99 and a discount of 20%. These buds help you block out any noise that might be keeping you awake, and help you get through the night without interruptions. They offer a pressureless fit for side sleepers, so even if you aren't on your back all night, you don't have to worry about being jostled awake since one fell out due to your position. They offer a custom sleep playlist for you to listen to, and come with multiple ear and wing tips to make sure you get the most comfortable fit possible. And they're also lightweight and easy to adjust to your ear before locking them in for an all-night fit. They come with a charging case that gives you 10 nights of sleep, with 14 hours of playback in Sleep mode and 10 hours with Bluetooth. That's 80 hours of listening and 55 hours of streaming content, according to Anker, with a fully charged case. If it's time for a full night's sleep, it's time to try something a little different, but grab them fast since they're part of the Amazon Big Spring Sale. | ↑ |
 SAVE $80: Shop the Lenovo Tab M9 for its lowest price ever of $69.99, down from $149.99. Save $80 on the tablet when purchased at Best Buy for 53% off. Or get it at Amazon for the also great price of $79.99.
Best Lenovo Tab M9 deals
Best Buy
Amazon
Amazon's second annual Big Spring Sale kicked off this week (it runs through March 30) to bring a shower of deals across categories. The tech savings are pretty good — we've spotted savings on Macbooks and iPads. But don't fear, Android users, you can get in the deals game too. The Lenovo Tab M9 is a worthy competitor in the tablet field. With a nine-inch display, it's a perfect canvas for streaming and with a long battery life, offering up to 13 hours of video playback, you can watch on the go. It possesses a MTK G80 Octa Core processor and 32GB of storage, making it a decent set-up for gaming and browsing. Plus, it comes with a Google Lens camera so you can capture moments on the go. Admittedly, 32GB isn't a great amount of storage, considering Apple just upped its iPads base storage to 128GB. However, the Lenovo is just half the price of the iPad, so some sacrifices might have to be made. Usually starting at $149.99, the Lenovo is over half off thanks to Amazon's Big Spring Sale. But the best deal is actually at Best Buy. Right now, you can find the Lenovo Tab M9 for just $69.99, saving you $80 off for 53% savings. That's the lowest price ever on the device. But if you prefer to shop it at Amazon, you can find it for $79.99 during the Big Spring Sale. That saves you $70 off, a great deal if Best Buy hadn't beaten the price. | ↑ |
 SAVE $50: The Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum is on sale for $149.99 in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, saving you $50 on list price. We know that Dyson deals make a lot of noise during major shopping events like the Amazon Spring Sale, but not everyone wants to drop hundreds of dollars on a vacuum. Where is the love for the budget-friendly vacuums? We're providing the love, because we think we've lined up the best cheap vacuum deal from the Big Spring Sale. As of March 26, the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum is on sale for $149.99 in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, saving you $50 on list price. It's not got all the advanced features that you might get with a Dyson or Shark, but this vacuuum gets the job done. Frankly, we think the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum represents good value for money at full price, so a $50 discount is hard to ignore. It even has LED lights on the front so you can quickly spot dust and dirt, a feature that is usually limited to the more expensive models. Save $50 on the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum in the Amazon Spring Sale. | ↑ |
Best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals on self-emptying robot vacuums
Budget pick
Best self-emptying deal with self-washing and drying mopping padsa
 Unless you're really trying to save space on the floor, there's little reason to not opt for a self-emptying robot vacuum these days. Automated vacuuming likely means more frequent vacuuming, and more frequent vacuuming means faster dustbin filling. And at this point, that shouldn't be your problem. Automatic dustbin emptying has become such a mainstream robot vacuum feature that a ton of self-emptying robot vacs are solidly in the sub-$500 range — and even more models join that club when there's a big sale event. The latest one happens to line up perfectly with spring cleaning season: Amazon's second Big Spring Sale is happening from March 25 and March 31. And Amazon is extremely well-versed in robot vacuum deals. With record-low prices popping up from the sale, your budget could wind up covering even more convenience-related features than you originally expected — further minimizing the amount of time you spend doing maintenance-related tasks for the vacuum. If you're set on a robot vacuum that mops, many self-empty docks in the list below also have water tanks and fans for self-washing and drying of the mopping pads after each use. I'm tracking the best deals on self-emptying robot vacuum deals ahead of Amazon's sale below. Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices. Best self-emptying robot vacuum deal ahead of Amazon's Big Spring SaleWhy we like itWhen my favorite robot vacuum from 2024 drops to a new record-low price, of course that's the deal I'm going to recommend. But the deal looks even better when put in context with a 2025 Roborock that I'm testing right now. Compared to the 2025 Saros 10R, which goes for $1,599.99, you'd be getting a premium Roborock from 2024 with almost all of the same features for half the price. The Qrevo Master obviously empties its own dustbin, but it extends that automated maintenance to automatic mopping pad washing and drying (plus automatic water tank refills) in that same dock. In my experience, this self-sustaining mopping pad situation makes me way more likely to actually use the robot mop — because otherwise, I end up forgoing a mopping cycle all together because I don't feel like washing the dirty pad by hand all the time. The Qrevo Master also brings home premium features like flexible corner and edge mopping, automatic mop lifting when carpet is sensed, and a livestream pet camera. Its 10,000 Pa of suction power isn't as juicy as the 20,000 Pa on the pricey Saros 10R, but it's still more powerful than most other vacuums in this list. More self-emptying robot vacuums on saleRobot vacuums that mop
Robot vacuums that don't mop
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 UPDATE: Mar. 28, 2025, 9:00 a.m. EDT This post has been updated with even more deals under $25 from Amazon's Big Spring Sale.
Best deals for under $25 in the Amazon Big Spring Sale:
Best Lego deal
Best security camera deal
Best book deal
 In case you haven’t noticed, life has become expensive. From eggs to gas to pretty much everything in between, the cost of living has skyrocketed, leaving many of us feeling the pinch. Luckily, even as inflation squeezes our budgets, there are still opportunities to find great deals, especially with Amazon and its never-ending sales. We’re covering the Amazon Big Spring Sale, which runs from March 25 through March 31. While the main event is underway, there are tons of deals under $25 that are worth grabbing. Here are our picks for the best items to scoop up during the sale that won't break the bank. Best Lego dealWhy we like itAnyone who's ever fallen down the Lego rabbit hole knows it's not the cheapest hobby out there. While none of the popular Lego Botanicals have dropped in price on Amazon so far, this simple sunflower set is on sale for under $10, making it the second-cheapest deal on this list. They're the perfect way to celebrate spring all season long. Best security camera dealWhy we like itWhenever I leave my apartment, I prop up a tiny off-brand camera to keep an eye on my pups. It’s not the best, but it’s enough to give me peace of mind. If you’re looking for a more reliable indoor security camera, the TP-Link Tapo 1080p Indoor Security Camera is only $14.99 at Amazon. That’s 35% off the sticker price and just a few cents off from the all-time low. The Tapo camera can send you instant push notifications whenever movement, a person, or a crying baby is detected. It has night vision, two-way audio, and high-definition 1080p video. And at under $15, it's a budget-friendly way to keep an eye on your home. Best book dealWhy we like itWe’re usually all about gadgets, but sometimes, it's nice to take a break from screens and dive into a good old-fashioned book. The hardcover version of Atomic Habits by James Clear is only $9.66 right now (with an on-page coupon), down from its usual $27 list price. That’s way cheaper than what you’ll find it for on the shelves. If you prefer the Kindle edition, that’s on sale for $12.99. Atomic Habits is one of the most popular self-help books of the last few years, with over 20 million copies sold. It’s all about building better habits, one tiny change at a time — the perfect read if you're trying to make improvements in your life. More deals under $25
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 UPDATE: Mar. 25, 2025, 7:20 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with the latest Apple Watch deals live during Amazon's spring sale.
The best Apple Watch deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale at a glance:
Best deal overall
Best budget pick
 Amazon is hosting its second-ever Big Spring Sale from March 25 to 31, its first major savings event of the year. While the sale mainly revolves around deals on warm-weather essentials and cleaning products, the Mashable Shopping team is also seeing it prompt some of the season's best prices on Apple devices, including the fruit company's latest wearable: Every configuration of last fall's Apple Watch Series 10 is now on sale at its all-time low, saving shoppers up to $120.
SEE ALSO:
200+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts
Those interested in a different model will have to be less picky or more patient. The second-gen Apple Watch SE is $80 off across the board — a discount that brings the cellular version down to its lowest price on record, but not the GPS-only variant. (It's still $20 away.) Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is only $30 to $64.11 off on Amazon, depending on the color and band style. We've previously seen it drop by $80 to $120, so hold off on buying it for now. Don't worry about monitoring prices yourself — we've already got it handled. Read on for our running list of the best Apple Watch deals on Amazon during its Big Spring Sale, which we plan on updating regularly as the event progresses into next week. Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices. Apple Watch Series 10 deals
Apple Watch SE deals
Apple Watch Ultra deals
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The best Amazon Big Spring Sale headphones and speaker deals:
Best headphone deal
Best earbuds deal
Best Bluetooth speaker deal
 Amazon's Big Spring Sale is officially here. While the sale, which runs from March 25 through 31, focuses mainly on more seasonal-centric items like grilling equipment and gardening supplies, last year we saw plenty of headphones and speakers deals go live during the week-long event. And this year appears no different. Overall, we don't expect as dramatic markdowns as Amazon tends to offer during Prime Day or Black Friday. But since most of this sale is open to all shoppers — not just Prime members — it's a decent time to double-check your shopping list, whether you're in the market for a new TV or some Tile trackers. We're seeing price drops from most major headphones and speaker brands, including Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, JBL, and Apple. A few have even fallen to record lows. We'll continue to update this list throughout the Big Spring Sale, so check back for any new deals that drop. Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices. Best headphones dealsWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. The Mashable team tests a lot of headphones — and it's no secret that we love the Sony WH-1000XM5s. Not only did our reviewer give them a nearly perfect rating, but also the coveted Mashable Choice Award badge of honor. They also made our list of the best headphones for flying, best noise-cancelling headphones, and best headphones overall. If you're looking for solid battery life, comfortable ear cushions, customizable sound, impressive noise cancellation, and outstanding sound quality, these babies check all the boxes. Grab a pair in smoky pink or silver during the Big Spring Sale for just $249.99 — that's 38% in savings and the lowest price to date. More headphones deals
Best earbuds dealsWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. The best noise-cancelling earbuds we've tested and our favorite earbuds for travel, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, are hella impressive. They check all the right boxes: long battery life, easy connectivity, comfortable and secure fit, and unbeatable noise cancellation. Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth writes, "Bose's noise cancellation is so good that I often use these earbuds when I'm not even listening to music." At $219, they're not exactly cheap, but that 27% discount certainly beats paying the full $299. More earbuds deals
Best Bluetooth speaker dealsWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the JBL Charge 5. The JBL Charge 5 tops our list of the best Bluetooth speakers as the ultimate all-rounder. "It’s rich, dynamic, and surprisingly clear with a decent bass that fills the room without overpowering the rest of the audio," our reviewer writes. Other perks are its impressive 20-hour battery life, sturdy build, and ability to charge other mobile devices via USB-A (even if it's playing music). While it's not down to its best price ever, it's not every day we see it drop down to $119.95. More Bluetooth speaker deals
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The best Amazon Big Spring Sale noise-cancelling headphones deals:
BEST NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES DEAL
BEST NOISE-CANCELLING EARBUDS DEAL
BEST SPLURGE
BEST BUDGET PICK
 Amazon's Big Spring Sale is making a comeback this season. The official sale runs from March 25 through 31, though deals started popping up well before (and will likely stick around well after) the formal dates of the event. It's the Amazon way. Many of our favorite noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds are getting the Big Spring Sale treatment — including top brands like Bose, Apple, Beats, and Sony. If you have spring travel plans or just want to quiet out the chaos of the current news cycle, now's a great time to add a pair to your cart. Mashable's shopping team is keeping an eye on the best noise-cancelling headphone deals at Amazon throughout the Big Spring Sale. We'll continue to update this running list with the latest pricing and availability, so check back later this week if you don't see what you're looking for. Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices. Best noise-cancelling headphones dealWhy we like itRead our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. We are massive fans of the Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones and for the first time, you can pick up a pair (in smoky pink or silver) for only $249.99. That's 38% in savings and the lowest price to date. Mashable Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern tested these babies out and gave them a nearly perfect rating, as well as a Mashable Choice award. They feature impeccable sound quality, impressive noise cancellation, customizable sound, 30 hours of battery life, comfy ear cushions, and an ambient mode that helps you stay grounded in reality. We've tested tons of headphones at Mashable and the Sony WH-1000XM5s regularly come out on top. More noise-cancelling headphones deals
More noise-cancelling earbuds deals
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Best Amazon Big Spring 2025 deals under $50:
Best smart home deal under $50
Best earbuds deal under $50
Best speaker deal under $50
Best tablet deal under $50
 Amazon is serving up a wide variety of deals during its Big Spring Sale, with a selection of great offers akin to what you might find for Prime Day. That goes double for sales on tech and adjacent categories. If you're looking for a new pair of earbuds at a great price or even a new tablet, you can snag some surprisingly great deals during the event. You just need to know where to look. We've done the legwork for you, so all you have to worry about is kicking back, relaxing, and getting your shop on. Check out some of the best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals under $50 we've found so far below, from streaming devices to earbuds and everything in between. We'll continue to update it as the sales go on, as there are additional deals being added every day. Keep checking back for additional updates. For a running list of Mashable's favorite deals for under $200, check out our breakdown here. Smart home deals under $50
Streaming device deals under $50
Earbud deals under $50
Headphone deals under $50
Speaker deals under $50
Bluetooth tracker deals under $50
Charging accessory deals under $50
Security equipment deals under $50
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The best iPad deals ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale:
Best iPad deal
Best iPad Pro deal
Best iPad Mini deal
Best iPad Air deal
 Spring has sprung over at Amazon, with the retailer throwing a Big Spring Sale from March 25 to 31. So far, this sale has included quite a few Apple deals, so if you've been hoping to scoop up some new tech from Apple at a low price, this will be a great time to do it. And for a running list of our favorite deals, check out this rundown. At the start of the sale, quite a few iPad models have been discounted, includes the 10th gen iPad, the iPad Air, iPad Mini, and iPad Pro. We've included some of the best iPad discounts that have caught our eye below, and will continue updating this list with the best discounts as they go live. Best iPad dealWhy we like itThis is one the best iPad deals available at the moment. The 10th-gen iPad — with the A14 Bionic chip, 64GB of storage, and WiFi — is currently down to $269. This is $80 off its list price of $349. We consider this tablet to be the best iPad on a budget, saying in our roundup of the best iPads that "The iPad (10th generation) doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it's a testament that Apple can still produce good entry-level tech." If you're not looking for anything fancy and want a tablet to cover the basics, the 10th-gen iPad will get you where you need to go. And at this price? It's definitely worth picking up. More iPad dealsiPad
iPad Air
iPad mini
iPad Pro
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 Amazon's decision to ghost its acquisition of iRobot in January 2024 hasn't kept Roombas from participating in any of Amazon's big sale events. Its now-live Big Spring Sale (from March 25 to 31) has been no different, though Roomba deals have been trickling in slower than robot vacuums on sale from other brands. Either way, Amazon's Big Spring Sale might not be the wisest time to buy a Roomba this year. It just so happens that iRobot casually completely overhauled the Roomba lineup in the middle of March, with a fleet of new Roombas becoming available to purchase just two days before Amazon's sale starts. This heavily deviates from iRobot's typical release schedule. Could it be an attempt to mitigate iRobot's increasingly bleak financial situation as of late? Unclear, but I do know that iRobot finally closed most of the gaps its previous lineup had, feature-wise and cost-efficiency wise — so opting for one of those may be a smarter purchase, even if they're at full price. Only a few older Roombas on sale now would be a worthwhile purchase over these new packed ones (especially when robot vacuums on sale from Roborock and Dreame have more features for less money). I'm tracking the worthwhile Roomba deals at Amazon's Big Spring Sale below, and will give a specific shout out if any deals pop up that'd be worthwhile over another brand. Note: Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price at Amazon. Best Roomba deals at Amazon
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Best Amazon Big Spring Sale AirPods deals at a glance:
Best deal overall
Best over-ear headphones deal
Best budget deal
 We're midway through Amazon's Big Spring Sale (which runs through March 31). For those who haven't checked out the mega retailer's deals yet, there's still time. If you've been waiting for Apple products to drop to low prices after the holiday season, this is your chance to scoop them up for less. AirPods, in particular, are seeing some pretty solid discounts during the Big Spring Sale. Everything from the ultra-expensive AirPods Max headphones to the latest AirPods 4 are on sale for up to 32% off. In fact, a few AirPods have made the cut of our running list of favorite deals from the event. We're tracking all the best AirPods deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale below. We'll add any new deals as they drop. Best AirPods Pro dealWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2. Apple's AirPods Pro 2 have plenty to offer, including active noise cancellation, hearing protection options, personalized spatial audio, and so much more. If you've had them on your shopping list, they've dropped down to $169.99 at Amazon, making them a much better dealt than the $199 they typically sit at. Best AirPods Max dealWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the Apple AirPods Max. If headphones are more your style, the AirPods Max with USB-C are also on sale right now ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale. They've dropped down $69.01 from their list price of $549 to $479.99. If you've had your eye on them, this is a great time to pick them up. We think they're a worthy investment as well, stating in our review that "the AirPods Max check off almost all the boxes for what makes an excellent pair of headphones: great sound quality, ideal battery life, easy controls, and a stylish design (sans Smart Case)." Best AirPods 4 dealWhy we like itCheck out our full review of the Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation. If you aren't into the higher price tag of the AirPods Pro, the AirPods 4 are a good option that'll go easier on your wallet, especially with Amazon's $30 markdown. While we have seen these earbuds drop all the way down to $138.99, this 17% discount is still a solid deal. Note that you won't get the silicone ear tips found on the AirPods Pro, but you will enjoy the top of the line sound quality and Active Noise Cancellation Apple's become known for. More AirPods deals
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The best Macbook deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale at a glance:
Best MacBook Air deal
Best MacBook Pro deal
 Amazon doesn't offer a ton of great discounts on a huge selection of laptops year-round, but shoppers can always count on it for MacBook deals. It's never difficult to find a current or recent-gen configuration on sale there at any given time, at prices that often give Best Buy a run for its money. (That's usually where you'll see the best laptop deals across all categories — Windows, Chromebooks, gaming laptops, etc.) Amazon's MacBook deals tend to get especially good during its major sitewide sales, and with its second-ever Big Spring Sale now live from March 25 to 31, we're not surprised to see discounts of up to $400 popping up across the Air and Pro lines. That includes $50 price cuts for the brand-new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs, which launched just a few weeks ago on March 12. As we approach the halfway point in the sale, we're pleased to see the deals are holding strong. (For a running list of our favorites, check out this rundown.)
SEE ALSO:
350+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, selected by Mashable's team of experts
Shoppers interested in a beefed-up MacBook Pro will be happy to hear that two 16-inch configurations have gotten $30 cheaper since the Big Spring Sale started Tuesday: The starting M4 Pro and M4 Max configurations have fallen to their lowest-ever prices of $2,199 and $3,099, respectively. If they're out of budget, hold tight in case lesser variants get the same treatment later in the week. (The cheapest 14-inch M4 model was chilling at its all-time low of $1,395 earlier this month; it's now $4 pricier. C'mon, Amazon!) Whether you decide to buy now or hold off for a few days, bookmark this page: Mashable's Shopping team is keeping track of the best MacBook deals on Amazon all throughout the Big Spring Sale. You can check out our current picks below. Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices. Best MacBook Air deals
Best MacBook Pro deals
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 Once upon a time, kids (and kids at heart) longed for the biggest present in the pile. But size doesn't matter when picking out the best tech gifts. Some of the year's top gadgets are small enough to fit inside your pocket, and thanks to digital downloads, many popular gaming gifts take up no physical space whatsoever. Our tech gift guide includes some of the best new releases of the year, most of which we've written about and reviewed. From the new Nintendo Switch OLED Mario Red Edition to new Amazon devices, we've focused on the gadgets our editors really loved this year — the true drool-worthy I can't believe you got this for me gifts. Here are over 50 of Mashable's favorite gift-worthy gadgets and tech gifts. | ↑ |
 SAVE $30: As of March 28, the Fire TV Cube is on sale for $109.99 as part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale. That's 21% off its list price of $139.99. Amazon's own products have seen some nice discounts during the Big Spring Sale, including a few of its streaming devices. Alongside the HD, 4K, and 4K Max streaming sticks, the Fire TV Cube has received a price drop of 21% in the sale event. If you've been looking for a high-quality streaming upgrade, this deal is definitely worth a look. Amazon's Fire TV Cube is on sale for $109.99 as part of the Big Spring Sale. Normally it retails for $139.99, so you're saving $30 with this deal. The Fire TV Cube is a worthy pickup.
SEE ALSO:
350+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, picked by Mashable's team of experts
Featuring WiFi 6E support and an octa-core 2.0 GHz processor, the Fire TV Cube is a powerful little device that offers smooth streaming for your favorite shows and films. They'll look crisp and clear with support for 4K Ultra HD. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR, and Dolby Atmos audio to really give you the cinematic experience in your own home. Not to mention, with Alexa you can control the device with just your voice. This deal on the Fire TV Cube may not stick around for long past Amazon's Big Spring Sale, so act fast to pick it up for $109.99. Outside of its streaming devices, there are a few more deals on Amazon products that are worth checking out right now. In our roundups of the best Echo deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale and the best Kindle deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale you can see a few more of our favorites. | ↑ |
Where to stream 2025 March Madness online for free
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 It's March Madness season, and we’ve made it to the Sweet 16. All eyes are on the nation’s best teams in college basketball as they fight for a spot in the Elite Eight. Houston Cougars vs. Purdue Boilermakers is sure to be a good watch as the first and fourth seeds try to clinch a spot in the Elite Eight. Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson has yet to lead a team to an NCAA National Championship, so the pressure is on as they attempt to secure a victory for Houston. Purdue has also never won a National Championship game, so both teams are looking to make history this year. If you want to watch Houston vs. Purdue for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need. When is Houston vs. Purdue?Houston Cougars vs. Purdue Boilermakers starts at 10:09 p.m. ET on March 28. This Sweet 16 game takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium. How to watch Houston vs. Purdue for freeHouston Cougars vs. Purdue Boilermakers airs on TBS. It is possible to access TBS with streaming services that offer free trials:
By making the most of these free trials, you can watch Florida Gators vs. Maryland Terrapins (plus more March Madness games) without actually spending anything. How to watch Houston vs. Purdue from anywhere in the worldIf you're traveling outside of the U.S. during March Madness, you might need to use a VPN to unblock live streams of Houston vs. Purdue. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of Houston vs. Purdue from anywhere in the world. Live stream 2025 March Madness from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport from anywhere in the world, for a number of reasons:
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Where to stream 2025 March Madness online for free
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 It's March Madness, and we’re down to the Sweet 16. The tournament has been nothing short of eventful, with tons of action-packed games that have kept college basketball fans on their toes. The championship game is one day close,r and we’re eager to see who will take home the trophy. In this week’s Auburn vs. Michigan Sweet 16 game, these rivals will go head-to-head in one of the tournament’s most highly-anticipated games. As the top-seed, Auburn is under a lot of pressure to secure the victory against fifth-seed Michigan. Auburn Forward Johni Broome has been dominating the court throughout the season, leading the team in average points, rebounds, assists and blocks. If you want to watch Auburn vs. Michigan for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need. When is Auburn vs. Michigan?Auburn Tigers vs. Michigan Wolverines starts at 9:39 p.m. ET on March 28. This Sweet 16 game takes place at State Farm Arena. How to watch Auburn vs. Michigan for freeAuburn Tigers vs. Michigan Wolverines airs on CBS. It is possible to access CBS with a range of streaming services that offer free trials:
By making the most of these free trials, you can watch Auburn Tigers vs. Michigan Wolverines (plus more March Madness games) without actually spending anything. How to watch Auburn vs. Michigan from anywhere in the worldIf you're traveling outside of the U.S. during March Madness, you might need to use a VPN to unblock live streams of Auburn vs. Michigan. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of Auburn vs. Michigan from anywhere in the world. Live stream 2025 March Madness from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport from anywhere in the world, for a number of reasons:
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free)
$139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
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 Some genre movies grow and transform. Others, like Jaume Collet-Serra's The Woman in the Yard, metastasize. What begins as streamlined (if slightly unbalanced) modern folk horror soon bloats into a half a dozen different films, heat-welded jankily together as they build to a confoundingly distasteful finale. Oddly enough, it might have been easier to swallow had it also been visually drab. That The Woman in the Yard looks as good as it does — in service of a uniquely executed conceit appearing midway through — makes it all the more of a waste. What Collet-Serra does with light and shadow is often marvellous, and could have resulted in a contemporary horror classic had much else around these aesthetic flourishes worked as intended. Instead, what we’re left with is a deftly performed family drama sandwiched between as many different spooky concepts as found within The Cabin in the Woods. The major difference is that Sam Stefanak's script is entirely straightforward, rather than satirical, making for some head-spinning disconnects. What is The Woman in the Yard about?
Danielle Deadwyler, Peyton Jackson, and Estella Kahiha in "The Woman in the Yard."
Credit: Daniel Delgado Jr. / Universal Pictures
At its core, The Woman in the Yard is about grief — wait, where are you going? Hear me out. The film doesn't necessarily disguise this theme or make it abstract in the vein of modern "prestige" horror, but rather, presents it nakedly in its opening scenes. Recent widow Ramona (Danielle Deadwyler) wakes up in a daze in her rural Georgia home, her leg still broken from the road accident that recently killed her husband. She's having trouble paying the bills, so the power to her isolated farmland fixer-upper has been cut. Her adolescent son Taylor (Peyton Jackson) and elementary school-aged daughter Annie (Estella Kahiha) help out where they can, even if that means cooking up a culinary nightmare involving Doritos and eggs. The trio tries to keep their heads above water, even in the noticeable absence of patriarch David (Russell Hornsby), a charming and ambitious man we meet in flashbacks and in the videos Ramona mournfully rewatches. Collet-Serra's directing is at its most even-handed in these calm, domestic moments, during which an empty dining table chair comes to represent the family's loss, which clearly weighs on the struggling mother (though less so on her children). Ramona's attention frequently wavers, and before she knows it, a woman in a black veil (Okwui Okpokwasili) is seated in an ornate chair at the edge of her front yard. More than any theme or emotion, this mysterious figure represents a conundrum, and a much more novel horror premise than the trio dealing with a recent death. With their phones dead and no one around for miles, do they confront her or simply leave her be? Eventually, Ramona steps outside to make contact, which is when things start to get eerie — in some ways that suit this setup, and other ways that very much do not. No, really, what is The Woman in the Yard actually about?
Credit: Universal Pictures
Good horror movies are rarely set during the day, and in The Woman in the Yard, things don’t start popping off until the late afternoon, when the mysterious figure begins casting lengthy shadows that gradually approach the house. Collet-Serra and cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski (known for his work with Ari Aster) turn the space around Ramona's home into a visual sandbox, where light and darkness interact in unexpected ways. Sometimes a shadow is a looming threat. Other times, it has weight and interacts with the physical world. That's creepy, and it's also cool as hell. However, the subtle horrors of the woman's somber presence, as she inches towards the family, become very quickly subsumed by additional ideas and gimmicks that pile up far too quickly. The woman needn't represent anything to be imposing, and had she embodied perhaps one or two themes or concepts troubling Ramona, the result would've at least been functional. Instead, she veers between ominous presence, omniscient soothsayer, child kidnapper, animal murderer, retroactive flashback demon, and more, depending on what a given moment demands. At first, she forces wedges between the remaining family members, pushing them to confront lies and half-truths surrounding David's death, but it isn't long before the movie starts dipping its toe into flimsily established metaphysical horrors, which have little bearing on the existing premise. Before you know it, The Woman in the Yard has flirted with possession, mirror worlds, temporal displacement, and an unfortunate mental health metaphor that unfolds in some pretty ghastly ways. The Woman in the Yard zigzags right off the rails.
Credit: Daniel Delgado Jr. / Universal Pictures
Usually, a standout performance or two might save a dwindling movie. Deadwyler performs admirably as a mother trying to keep her family together through a tragic situation. Okpokwasili makes for an imposing presence, and newcomer Jackson is a pleasant surprise as a boy trying to figure out his place as the man of the house (even though much of his dialogue is spent trying to CinemaSins-proof the movie and explain why the family can't just leave or make a phone call). However, no amount of emoting is enough to stay such a choppy, unpredictable course. The Woman in the Yard causes significant narrative whiplash with each question it answers, though none of its conclusions are satisfying. As soon as it establishes the mechanics of its ghostly villain — for instance, the way she uses and moves through shadows — there's some other power lurking around the corner, resulting in a random string of chase scenes where tension can't possibly be established, because neither the family nor the audience have any idea what they're up against. What the woman represents is vague enough that her symbolism doesn't matter, at least at first. Her funeral attire makes her a specter or reminder of death in the abstract. That's really all you need. However, by the time the movie pulls back its final curtain — after several… well, calling them "twists" would be generous — the woman actually does come to embody something rather morose, but not in a way the movie establishes beforehand. With concept upon concept thrown at the wall to see what sticks, the movie crescendoes in some bafflingly wrong-headed moments that Collet-Serra hasn't carved out the time to approach with the requisite care. On one hand, horror ought to be a visceral embodiment of one's biggest fears, but on the other, The Woman in the Yard verges on genuinely irresponsible with its casual framing of something realistically tragic and painful. Then again, reading this finale also requires intuiting dozens of minor clues which feel like they're from entirely different movies. The Woman in the Yard presents these far too quickly and carelessly, to the point that most audiences are likely to come away thinking they’ve watched an open, unresolved ending, even though this likely isn't the case. How a movie likes this comes to exist, in such preposterous form, is a mystery unto itself — one far more interesting than what ends up on screen. | ↑ |
Where to stream 2025 March Madness online for free
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 It's March Madness season, and we've reached the Sweet 16. There are plenty of action-packed games in store for this week as the top teams in college basketball face off for a spot in the Elite Eight. With the Final Four just a week away, fans are clinging to their brackets, hoping they made the right picks. Second-seed Tennessee and third-seed Kentucky will play a Sweet 16 game that fans have been waiting eyeing up. The Wildcats have a whopping eight national titles. Players like Otega Oweh and Amari Williams have been a strong force on the team this season and hope to lead their side to another victory this week. If you want to watch Tennessee vs. Kentucky for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need. When is Tennessee vs. Kentucky?Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats starts at 7:39 p.m. ET on March 28. This Sweet 16 game takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium. How to watch Tennessee vs. Kentucky for freeTennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats airs on TBS. It is possible to access TBS with streaming services that offer free trials:
By making the most of these free trials, you can watch Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats (plus more March Madness games) without actually spending anything. How to watch Tennessee vs. Kentucky from anywhere in the worldIf you're traveling outside of the U.S. during March Madness, you might need to use a VPN to unblock live streams of Tennessee vs. Kentucky. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats from anywhere in the world. Live stream 2025 March Madness from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport from anywhere in the world, for a number of reasons:
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free)
$139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
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 It's always difficult to predict who will die and who'll survive on The White Lotus, but after Jon Gries' interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! we have a horrible feeling that Greg/Gary may live to fight another day. Speaking to Kimmel about how he found out he'd be returning to the show (creator Mike White text him), Gries makes an off-hand remark that could have wider implications for how Season 3 ends for his character. "I hope he...I hope he...you know, has a good ending for me somewhere," says Gries, before quickly adding on: "I dunno, maybe this year, you never know." Maybe we're reading too much into this, but the first part of that sentence seems to imply that Greg will still be alive at the end of Season 3. When will Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) get the justice she deserves?! | ↑ |
 LOWEST-EVER PRICE: As of March 27, the 65-inch LG G4 OLED TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,996.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. This deal saves you $400 on list price. TV deals always make a lot of noise during major shopping events like Amazon's Big Spring Sale, but some make more noise than others. As of March 27, the 65-inch LG G4 OLED TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,996.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. This deal saves you $400 on list price. According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, this impressive TV has never been cheaper. So if you've been waiting for the right moment to upgrade to OLED, this is it. Stop what you're doing and make the move. LG's OLED technology creates a truly amazing watching experience with stellar picture quality illuminated by over 8 million self-lit pixels. Brightness Booster Max technology also magnifies each individual pixel for luminous quality that shines with every detail. It's like nothing you've seen before. Don't believe us? Check out the reviews on Amazon. Get the best-ever price on the 65-inch LG G4 OLED TV in the Amazon Spring Sale. For more deals like this, check out our roundup of the best TV deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale. | ↑ |
 SAVE $50: As of March 28, the Sonos Era 100 smart speaker is on sale for $199 in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. This is 20% off its usual list price of $249. Since it kicked off on March 25, Amazon's Big Spring Sale has had a variety of exciting tech deals to check out. If you've been keeping an eye out for speaker deals, there are plenty worth taking advantage of at the moment, including from some big name brands. The Sonos Era 100 smart speaker is a deal that's really caught our eye. I'm a very big fan of this speaker and definitely think it's worth picking up at this discounted rate. The Sonos Era 100 is currently 20% off in Amazon's Big Spring Sale, bringing its price down from $249 to $199. Both the black and white speakers are marked down to this price, so you can choose the speaker that best suits your style.
SEE ALSO:
350+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, picked by Mashable's team of experts
The Sonos Era 100 boasts excellent sound quality no matter if you're using it to play music or to create a surround sound setup with a Sonos soundbar. It's my favorite speaker to use with the latter, making for an incredible all-around audio experience when I'm watching movies or shows. It's also a great size, just compact enough to fit on a bookshelf or the corner of a table. If you've been looking for some speaker upgrades for your home, the Sonos Era 100 smart speaker is worth every cent. Don't miss out on this deal in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. There are plenty more speaker deals to check out during the Spring Sale, particularly on Bluetooth speakers. You can see a few more of our favorites in our roundup of headphones and speaker deals live from Amazon's Big Spring Sale. | ↑ |
 The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe. With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it. So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered. Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, March 28, 2025: AcrossLike crackers after the box is left open
Targets of facial cleansers
Patronized, as a restaurant
House occupied by a Presbyterian minister (yes, there's a word for this!)
Material that's an anagram of 1-Across and 4-Down
DownBombards with texts, say
The "z" in x + y= z
Stadium's covered counterpart
Most's opposite
Lauder in the beauty aisle
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands. Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword. | ↑ |
 SAVE OVER $20: As of March 28, Levi's Women's cinch baggy jeans are on sale in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Get 30% off their list price for a limited time. Looking to give your closet a springtime refresh? Now's your chance to stock up on a selection of new threads with some great deals available in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. According to our sources at Amazon, there has been a lot of interest in cinch-waist jeans during this event. That makes sense, because baggy jeans are back. We've been seeing them all over TikTok. There's a nice selection of cinch-waist baggy jeans on sale right now that are worth a look. Our personal favorites are the Levi's Women's Cinch Baggy jeans, which are 30% off their list price of $79.50, down to $55.65. If you're curious to see more baggy jeans on sale right now, particularly from Levi's, you can see a full list of options here. These jeans are a stylish addition to your wardrobe, and they're made even better with a discount like this. Levi's normally come with a hefty price tag, so sales like this are a great opportunity to score the biggest styles of the moment at a price that's much kinder on your wallet. The Levi's Women's Cinch Baggy jeans come in two different colors that are on sale right now, so you can choose between a standard denim color (called Chasing Dreams) or a much lighter option (called Never Going to Change) for $55.65. There are plenty more options to look through as well during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Have a look through Amazon's big list of jeans deals and scoop up the Levi's Cinch Baggy jeans while they're still available at this low price. Looking for more of the best discounts available during Amazon's Big Spring Sale? For an overall look at the best deals across a variety of categories, check out our roundup of 350+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale to see our favorites from the sale event so far. | ↑ |
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 SAVE $30: As of March 28, the Apple Pencil Pro is on sale for $99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's a 23% saving on the list price. The Apple Pencil Pro is the latest in Apple's range of stylus pens. Released in 2024, the new and improved pencil features an impressive list of upgrades and new features. And as we hit the midpoint of the Amazon Big Spring Sale, you'll find a $30 discount on this popular stylus. This is a more advanced model than previous editions, with much-improved control. By just rotating the pencil you can change the brush or pen tool settings mid-drawing. The squeeze interaction is also new and allows users to change modes or activate tools simply by squeezing the pencil.
SEE ALSO:
This Amazon Spring Sale deal on the Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum is one of the best we've seen
The Pencil Pro also includes haptic feedback. This clever feature essentially mimics the feeling of writing or drawing on real paper, delivering subtle vibrations to match the activity being performed on the iPad. Similar to the Apple Pencil 2, the Pro can be charged wirelessly by magnetically attaching it to the side of compatible iPads. According to Apple, the Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad Air 11-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Air 11-inch (M2)iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad Air 11-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), and iPad Air 11-inch (M2). Find this deal in Amazon's Big Spring Sale now. | ↑ |
 Save $350: As of March 28, the Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum is on sale for $549.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's a saving of 39% on list price. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is the perfect excuse to finally upgrade to the robot vacuum you've been dreaming of. They make your life SO much easier, but we get it: anything that makes our lives that much easier doesn't come without a cost — and for many high-end robot vacuums, that cost is a pretty hefty price tag. Luckily for everyone involved, the impressive Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum has a hefty discount in the Amazon Spring Sale, bringing it down to its lowest-ever price. As of March 28, this robot vacuum is now down to $549.99, saving you 39%. If you're not convinced, this vacuum need only speak for itself. Standout features include self-emptying functionality, AI obstacle detection, carpet detection, and voice reminders. If you have an Alexa device, it'll even work with voice control. And it doesn't just pick up dirt, this model also mops your floors, as well as self-cleans and refills, so your work is always done. We've given it the full review treatment, so you can see just how much we love it. If you have a pet, then the detangling brush will be your favorite feature. The roller brush rotates in reverse, and the Pro-Detangle Comb flips down to loosen and remove hair that's wrapped around the roller brush so you don't have to. Score. This deal won't stick around forever, so head to Amazon's Big Spring Sale now to grab this great discount. | ↑ |
 SAVE $580: As of March 28, the DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station is available for $419 at Amazon. That’s 58% off its regular price of $999 during the Amazon Spring Sale. I’ve wanted a portable power station that doesn’t sound like the airport runway and doesn’t require a PhD to operate. DJI must’ve been listening. The DJI Power 1000 is currently $580 off at Amazon, bringing it down to $419 from its usual $999. This deal is so good I’m thinking about camping (and I don’t even like camping). This thing charges fast. Like, full battery in 70 minutes fast. It hits 80% in just 50 minutes with a standard AC outlet, or you can plug it into a solar panel and still get topped up in 80. I think that's pretty generous for a 1024Wh beast that can power your laptop, camera, and probably a small village.
SEE ALSO:
The best Apple deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale: New iPads and M4 MacBook Airs are already on sale
What really sold me is how quiet it is. At 23 decibels, it’s certified whisper-level silent. I’ve heard louder air purifiers. If you’re working in a van, filming in the wild, or just hate noise pollution, this is a solid win.
It's rugged too. The LiFePO4 battery can handle up to 4000 cycles and still keep going, which means it’ll probably outlive your car. DJI even throws in a three-year warranty (and lets you bump it to five years). Honestly, I appreciate the commitment to overachieving. If you're tired of choosing between sketchy off-brand power banks and noisy generators, this deal feels like a real upgrade. I’ll take clean power, peace and quiet, and an excuse to ignore emails in the woods. | ↑ |
 SAVE $35: As of March 28, Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds are available for $44.99 at Amazon. That’s 44% off their regular price of $79.99 during the Amazon Spring Sale. I’ve tested enough budget earbuds to know the usual drill: decent sound, good battery life, and noise cancellation don't usually come together at a budget price point. But Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are different. Amazon has them for $44.99 right now (down from $79.99), and I honestly don’t know how they’re pulling this off. These things reduce ambient noise by up to 98%, and the ANC adjusts independently depending on where you are. I want my tech to be smarter than me, but not in a condescending way, and these earbuds walk that fine line beautifully. The sound is also surprisingly rich — Soundcore’s dual-layer drivers make everything from podcasts to playlists sound like I have better taste than I do.
SEE ALSO:
The best Apple deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale: New iPads and M4 MacBook Airs are already on sale
Battery life? Wild. You get 10 hours from the earbuds and 50 total with the case. And if you somehow forget to charge them (I always do), a 10-minute top-up gives you four hours of mercy listening. I think all devices should offer this kind of forgiveness.
Fit-wise, they’re pretty much weightless. They’re smaller than Soundcore’s older ANC models and shaped to nestle into your ears like they want to be there. I wore them through a Zoom call, a walk, and a doomscroll session without even noticing. Plus, the app lets you tweak the EQ and controls if you’re feeling fancy. In my opinion, $44.99 is a steal for what you’re getting here. I’ve paid more for earbuds that did way less and looked like Bluetooth-era leftovers. If you’re even thinking about upgrading, this deal is a green light with fireworks. | ↑ |
 Another day, another story about the Trump cabinet's impressively lax digital security. Following on from the Signal group chat leak, we now have a growing number of blunders to add to the list, from Venmo lists to passwords and personal details. "This scandal won't be going away anytime soon, because Mike Waltz has made a key strategic error: Being an idiot everywhere at all times," says Stephen Colbert in the Late Show clip above, referring to the recent Wired report that national security advisor Waltz had left his Venmo friends list public for all to see. "So who were Mike Waltz's Venmo buddies? A bunch of politicians, a couple lobbyists, as well as some of his personal vendors like real estate agents, a tailor, and doctors. He's Venmo'ing his doctor? My man, if your doctor takes Venmo, that ain't a doctor." Colbert goes on to talk about another recent report from Der Spiegel that revealed the personal data and passwords of top officials – including Mike Waltz – were accessible online. "These are our highest ranking security officials!" says Colbert. "I don't think we should trust these people with anything top secret. Hell, I don't think we should trust these people with anything Pop Secret." | ↑ |
Where to stream 2025 March Madness online for free
5-Day Free Trial
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 We're in the middle of March Madness and ending the week with the Sweet 16. College basketball fans are in for a treat as they watch the nation’s best teams battle it out for the top spot and championship trophy. The second-seed Michigan State and sixth-seed Ole Miss will go head-to-head this week. Michigan State top scorer Jaden Akins and Forward Jaxon Kohler are the ones to watch, but Ole Miss powerhouse Sean Pedulla has been dominating the court this season. If you want to watch Michigan State vs. Ole Miss for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need. When is Michigan State vs. Ole Miss?Michigan State vs. Ole Miss starts at 7:09 p.m. ET on March 28. This second-round game takes place at State Farm Arena. How to watch Michigan State vs. Ole Miss for freeMichigan State Spartans vs. Ole Miss Rebels is available to watch on CBS. It is possible to access CBS with a range of streaming services that offer free trials:
By making the most of these free trials, you can watch Michigan State vs. Ole Miss (plus more March Madness games) without actually spending anything. How to watch Michigan State vs. Ole Miss from anywhere in the worldIf you're traveling outside of the U.S. during March Madness, you might need to use a VPN to unblock live streams of Michigan State vs. Ole Miss. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of March Madness from anywhere in the world. Live stream March Madness from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport from anywhere in the world, for a number of reasons:
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The best Amazon Big Spring Sale book deals at a glance:
Best overall book deal
Best sci-fi book deal
Best non-fiction book deal
Best fiction book deal
 Amazon sales are notorious for offering steep discounts on robot vacuums, Apple devices, tablets, and headphones. We're seeing plenty of sweet discounts in these categories now that the Amazon Big Spring Sale is underway, but we're also jazzed to see so many great deals in other categories — including books. Nothing compares to the joy that comes from sitting in the warm spring air with a good book. Plus, these sale prices make this the perfect time to stock up on books for summer vacation. Check out these great book deals at Amazon if your bookshelf is feeling a bit bare after winter hibernation. The Big Spring Sale runs from March 25 through 31, so we'll update the list with any new deals that drop throughout the week. Best overall book dealWhy we like itThe 50th annual Hunger Games is about to begin, and we're here for it. The latest novel in the saga, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, is the fifth book in the Hunger Games series, which just released on March 18. A beloved character from previous novels, this latest story in the realm takes us along with Haymitch Abernathy as his name is called to serve as tribute for District 12. Get ready for 400 pages back in the Panem universe by grabbing Sunrise on the Reaping for $19.59 in hardcover, down from the list price of $27.99. Best sci-fi book dealWhy we like itRyland Grace wakes up feeling groggy and confused. Once he figures out what his name is, he might be able to progress in figuring it all out. Anyone who enjoyed Andy Weir's hit sci-fi book The Martian is bound to love Project Hail Mary. The paperback version is on sale during Amazon's Big Spring Sale for just $13.98, down from the standard price of $20. Grabbing this title now is a great idea since you'll want to read Project Hail Mary before the motion picture starring Ryan Gosling hits theaters in 2026. Best non-fiction book dealWhy we like itAlthough Atomic Habits isn't a brand new title, it's worth a read anytime — or a re-reading. Since the hardcover version is 56% off in the Amazon sale, there's no excuse not to add this title to your bookshelf. Author James Clear uses the 320 pages to dive into bad habits, good habits, change, goals, and more. If 2025 is your year of change, Atomic Habits is a great place to start. Best fiction book dealWhy we like itOne of the best-selling thriller books of 2024, The God of the Woods by Liz Moor e, is 43% off at Amazon, bringing the hardcover book down to just $17. Moore takes us back to summer camp in 1975 when early one morning a counselor realizes someone is missing from their bunk. It's not an ordinary camper. The missing teen is Barbara Van Leer — the daughter of the family that owns the camp. The complex thriller takes us down many storylines that weave together into the perfect thriller that's nearly impossible to put down. More fiction book deals
More non-fiction book deals
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The best Target Circle Week deals at a glance:
BEST DEAL OVERALL
BEST GIFT CARD DEAL
BEST TECH DEAL
BEST TOY DEAL
BEST HOME DEAL
BEST BOOK DEAL
 It's almost been a year since Target launched its Target Circle 360 membership. What better way to celebrate than with a sale? Unsurprisingly, this one-year anniversary celebration happens to fall alongside Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Coincidence? Never. We knew the mega-retailer wouldn't pass up the chance to compete with Mr. Bezos. Enter: Target Circle Week. "We are thrilled to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Target Circle 360 with our best Target Circle Week yet," said Cara Sylvester, Target's executive vice president and chief guest experience officer, in a press release. "Target Circle members will receive the biggest deals on thousands of items from the latest in spring style to everyday favorites that are always on the checklist." Target Circle Week is an exclusive savings event for Target Circle members, held multiple times a year. Non-coincidentally, it tends to occur at the same times as major shopping events at Amazon, like Prime Day and Black Friday. Here's everything you need to know about the competing spring sale at Target. When is Target Circle Week?As a shock to nobody, Target Circle Week will overlap with the Amazon Big Spring Sale (which runs March 25 to 31). Circle Week officially kicked off on March 23 at 3:00 a.m. ET and runs through March 29, delivering seven days of exclusive deals. The discounts will be available to Target Circle members on the Target app and website, as well as in stores. How to sign up for Target CircleTarget Circle Week requires a membership to shop, but unlike Prime or Walmart Plus, Target Circle is free to join. Here's how:
Early access for Target Circle 360 membersFor the first time, Target Circle 360 members will get early access to select deals 24 hours before they open to all Target Circle members. Target Circle 360 members can shop the following deals before anyone else:
Target Circle 360 is a paid membership that offers unlimited same-day delivery from Target, access to a curated marketplace of other retailers and grocers via Shipt.com, free two-day shipping on eligible items, and other exclusive benefits and experiences. Typically $99 for the year, memberships are on sale for just $49 from March 16 through 29. That's 50% in savings. Best Target Circle Week dealsTarget Circle Week will feature deals on "must-have spring items," which coincidentally encompasses just about everything from home essentials and beauty products to books and toys. Mashable's shopping experts will be following the Target Circle Week sale closely and updating this list with any new noteworthy deals that drop through March 29. Here's a look at some of the best featured deals. Peacock Premium dealAnother first for Target Circle Week: three free months of Peacock Premium. Thanks to a special, limited-time partner perk, new and returning Peacock subscribers can sign up for the ad-supported tier at no cost from March 9 through March 29. Conveniently, Wicked started streaming on March 21 on Peacock — just saying. Of course, once the three-month promotional period expires, you'll be charged full price (currently $7.99 per month), and your subscription will auto-renew monthly. You can cancel anytime to avoid further charges. Target's Deal of the DayAs stated in the press release, Target Circle Week will bring back the customer-favorite "Deal of the Day." Limited-time unique deals will pop up (and then disappear) for members to shop. Similar to Amazon's Lightning deals, they'll only stick around for 24 hours. Keep an eye out for these exclusive discounts each day of the sale. So far, we've seen the Instant Pot 7-in-1 Rio Wide down to $79.99 from $129.99 and 25% off Hearth & Hand with Magnolia home products. Here's a sneak peek at some of the upcoming deals:
Gift card reward deals
Best Target Circle Week tech deals
Best Target Circle Week toy dealsBest Target Circle Week home deals
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A peek at the best stick vacuum deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale:
Best under $200
Best self-emptying deal
 There are two types of spring cleaners in the world: The ones who wish they could unwind while the job is done for them, or the ones who classify a deep clean as their ideal unwinding activity. In terms of floor care, the latter group is probably eyeing up a manual vacuum over a robot vacuum, and Amazon's Big Spring Sale is a great time to get one on sale. Amazon's selection of stick vacuum deals exemplifies the diversity of solid, affordable options in between the rinky-dink Dyson dupes on TikTok and pricey Dysons themselves. Amazon actually isn't a great place to find Dyson vacuums on sale — Walmart or Dyson's own website are way better bets for Dyson, while brands like Shark, Samsung, and Tineco flood Amazon. Below, I'm tracking the best cordless stick vacuum deals through the end of the Big Spring Sale, which runs March 25 to 31. (Though if you're open to automating this chore, I'd recommend considering the robot vacuum deals at Amazon, too.) Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices. Best stick vacuum deal from Amazon's Spring SaleWhy we like itSelf-emptying robot vacuums are way more common than self-emptying stick vacuums, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. After all, you shouldn't be saddled with the task of manual dustbin emptying just because you happen to prefer manual sweeping. Shark gets that, even if Dyson still doesn't. This Shark Clean & Empty is like a diet version of the Shark PowerDetect and Shark Detect Pro cordless vacuums that I've tested. Like those slightly pricier models, it automatically adjusts suction power based on floor type and automatically empties its debris into the docking station where it charges. It also comes with a motorized hand tool — a crucial addition if you'll also be cleaning pet hair off of furniture. More stick vacuums on sale
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Best early Kindle deals
Best Kindle deal
Best Scribe Deal
Best kids deal
Best Kindle Scribe bundle deal
Best Kindle Colorsoft bundle deal
 After weeks of anticipation, Amazon's Big Spring Sale is finally here, running from March 25-31. This seasonal sale brings deals on springtime favorites for a little refresh as we exit winter. As expected, this sale is bringing discounts on Amazon's flagship devices. Our favorites, as always, are Amazon's Kindles. Having tried nearly every model in the line-up, we can safely say that Kindles are fantastic e-readers, well suited for anyone, whether you're an avid annotator or shopping on a budget. But let's temper your expectations. The deals are good but unexpected. We're seeing no deals on our preferred Kindles, the basic model, Paperwhite, and Paperwhite Signature Edition. Instead, Amazon has marked down its Kindles with a little more flair, like the Colorsoft and Scribe. And while the sale is more limited than expected on Kindles, we can say that the deals are great. Like lowest price ever great. Here are the best deals on Kindles to shop during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Best Kindle DealWhy we like itIf you're looking to buy a Kindle during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, the best savings are on the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. This is the first color Kindle, which debuted in late 2024. While we've yet to test this e-reader, we have high hopes for the device as the rest of the Kindle line-up is stellar. This will be a particularly good e-reader for graphic novel readers, who want the convenience and portability of the device, but still want to enjoy every detail in color. It has some great specs, including 32GB of storage, auto-adjusting warmth and brightness, and wireless charging, in the same vein as the Paperwhite Signature Edition. The Colorsoft is 20% off during the spring sale, bringing it down to $224.99. That's the lowest price the Kindle Colorsoft has reached, saving you $55. More Kindle bundle deals
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 Get ready, because Amazon's Big Spring Sale is finally here. Running from March 25 to 31, the event will mostly feature deals on spring essentials and outdoor items, but that doesn't mean it'll be completely devoid of tech deals. Case in point: A bunch of tablets are on sale during the event, including some fan favorites. So far, we're finding some pretty decent discounts on iPads, Amazon Fire Tablets, and others that we think are worth giving a look. If you (or your kid) are in need of a new tablet, check out our favorite deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale below. And stay tuned to our coverage throughout the event, because we'll be updating you on all the best deals as soon as they pop up. iPad deals
Amazon Fire tablet deals
More tablet deals
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 2025 is going to be a huge year for gaming. That's fantastic news, but it also means that you're probably going to be spending a lot of money on gaming-related things over the next few months, whether it's individual titles, accessories, or even new consoles. You know what we're going to say next: That's why it's a good idea to keep your eyes open for a big sale to give your bank account a break. Thankfully, Amazon is swooping in to save the day with yet another Big Spring Sale. Taking place from March 25 to 31, the sale features tons of deals on mostly spring essentials and outdoor products, but gaming discounts are also making an appearance in a big way. Read on for a list of our favorite gaming deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale below, including price cuts on consoles, games, accessories, and plenty more. PlayStation game deals
PlayStation hardware dealsHeadsets
Accessories
Xbox game deals
Xbox hardware dealsConsoles
Controllers
Headsets
Best Nintendo Switch game deals
Nintendo Switch hardware dealsControllers and accessories
Memory cards
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 Only a few years ago, astronomers heralded the discovery of a rocky world circling the sun's closest space neighbor, Proxima Centauri. The star, just four light-years away, is known as a red dwarf, or M-type, and is quite different from Earth's own. Although the exoplanet, Proxima b, orbits extremely close — a year there is only 11 Earth-days — its star's relatively smaller size and lower temperature could mean this world has the right conditions for liquid water to pool on its surface. But a new study may have dashed scientists' hopes that the alien world could support life. The star’s flares are much more violent than previously thought, the researchers say, potentially obliterating the planet’s air. Not having an atmosphere, which traps important gases like oxygen and water vapor, may render a planet uninhabitable, even if it were otherwise an Earth doppelganger. "Our Sun’s activity doesn’t remove Earth’s atmosphere and instead causes beautiful auroras because we have a thick atmosphere and a strong magnetic field to protect our planet," said Meredith MacGregor of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, one of the authors, in a statement. "But Proxima Centauri’s flares are much more powerful." 
The sun's nearest stellar neighbor, Proxima Centauri, likely clobers any orbiting exoplanets with radiation, a new study finds.
Credit: ESO / M. Kornmesser illustration
The study relied on the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, or ALMA, a telescope in Chile that can detect light at radio and millimeter wavelengths. During 50 hours of observations, the team saw 463 flares, which occur when a star's magnetic field tangles, compresses, and causes an explosion. Such a blast releases a torrent of radiation. Some of the flares only lasted a handful of seconds, but the strongest ones were so powerful that they could destroy a planet's atmosphere over time, according to the research. The paper was published in The Astrophysical Journal. The study suggests Proxima Centauri's flares are much more frequent and extreme, likely because it is fully convective. That means unlike the sun, which has layers that behave differently, Proxima Centauri's entire structure moves like a boiling cauldron of water. The result is a magnetic field that is always jumbling and snapping, releasing enormous bursts of energy. If the researchers had only studied the star's activity in visible light wavelengths, they wouldn't have gotten a complete picture of the high-energy particles Proxima Centauri releases, MacGregor said. 
Scientists will continue to study the habitability of worlds orbiting red dwarf stars through a major James Webb Space Telescope campaign.
Credit: ESO / L. Calçada illustration
"When we see the flares with ALMA, what we’re seeing is the electromagnetic radiation — the light in various wavelengths," she said in a statement. "But looking deeper, this radio wavelength flaring is also giving us a way to trace the properties of those particles." Though Proxima b may be nothing more than an irradiated rock, scientists are continuing to look at rocky worlds outside the solar system, specifically those closely orbiting small red stars, to determine whether they can hold onto atmospheres. Despite red dwarfs being the most common stars in the Milky Way, nobody knows whether these planets can host air. A massive James Webb Space Telescope campaign will home in on a dozen nearby-ish planets over the next two years to try to answer that question. The program, first reported by Mashable, budgets about 500 hours of observations on Webb, along with about 250 orbits of ultraviolet observations with the Hubble Space Telescope, to help characterize the host stars' activity. Néstor Espinoza, an astronomer heading up the campaign's implementation, said it's a high-risk, high-reward program. "If you found out that none of them have atmospheres, that would be pretty sad, but also pretty interesting," he told Mashable last year. "It would mean that our planetary system is actually really, really special." | ↑ |
 TL;DR: Outfit your PC with a license for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for just $29.97 (reg. $229) through March 30. When something has serious staying power, you know it's good. And what's been around longer in the computer world than Microsoft Office? These go-to programs got us through school in the '90s and '00s, and they're still helping us tackle our 9-to-5s today. Rediscover the power of these beloved apps with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license. It's just $29.97, $200 off the usual price, now through March 30. These Microsoft Office apps have always been there for usIf you've been living without Microsoft Office staples, you're in luck. You can rekindle your love for these classics with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 license for less than $5 an app. You'll get lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher and Access on your PC with this deal. It's an instant delivery and download, so right after purchase, you'll have your software license keys and download links to get started. Wondering why you would want to go vintage with this 2019 version? Though it's not the newest, it's the most cost-effective. By owning your license, you avoid monthly subscription fees that Office 365 requires. You can also easily work offline, a great option for those who spend a lot of time traveling. And there's no reliance on the cloud, offering better security and more control over your data. Despite being an older version, all documents made with Office 19 are fully compatible with Office 365 and Office 2021. This Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 license is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019, so it's a great option if you haven't yet moved to Windows 11. Secure your own license for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for just $29.97 now through March 30. StackSocial prices subject to change. | ↑ |
 TL;DR: Get access to 1TB of secure and private data storage with this lifetime subscription to Koofr Cloud Storage, now $119.97 with code KOOFR through April 27. Trying to consolidate your monthly subscription expenses? If you're tired of shelling out a small fortune on your cloud storage solution, a swap to Koofr Cloud Storage can help. Keep 1TB of your important data safe for life with this deal on Koofr Cloud Storage, now just $119.97 (reg. $810) with code KOOFR through April 27. Stop the madness of monthly cloud storage feesKoofr is a trusted cloud storage option that's been around since 2013. And though it may not have the same brand recognition as the big names, there's another thing it doesn't have — monthly storage fees. With Koofr, you can secure a lifetime subscription for 1TB and pay once. That's enough room for 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million PDF files. There are other great perks to swapping to Koofr, like their unique Koofr Duplicate Finder feature. It finds and removes duplicate files, helping save you time and freeing up space. And you don't have to worry about data tracking — your files will be encrypted both during transfer and rest. They even make moving your files from your former storage provider a breeze. Koofr features convenient integration with other external cloud accounts so that you can connect and access your files from Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, and OneDrive easily. Store 1TB for life for the one-time low price of $119.97 (reg. $810) with code KOOFR through April 27 with this Koofr Cloud Storage lifetime subscription deal. StackSocial prices subject to change. | ↑ |
 TL;DR: Learn the native language before your next trip abroad with this lifetime subscription to all languages with Rosetta Stone for just $179.99 (reg. $399). With spring break just around the corner, vacation season is about to commence. If you've got big plans for the summer or beyond, you can make your trip even more memorable by learning the local language. It's easier than ever with Rosetta Stone. A lifetime subscription to all 25 languages offered on Rosetta Stone is available now for just $179.99 (reg. $399) right here for a limited time. Learn languages for life with Rosetta StoneWhat do NASA, Calvin Klein, and TripAdvisor have in common? They all have trusted Rosetta Stone with language learning for the past 27 years. Rosetta Stone has a trusted, immersive training method that teaches you new languages the way you learned your native one as a kid — starting out with matching words and pictures. After working with images, you'll gradually move on to their interactive lessons that use Rosetta Stone's proprietary speech-recognition technology. It analyzes the words you say 100 times a second and offers instant feedback so you can improve your pronunciation as you go. Hoping to use your new skills on a trip? Rosetta Stone starts you out with basic conversational skills on topics like shopping, ordering, or taking a taxi, so you should have a good foundation by the time the plane touches down. This award-winning interactive software is yours for life, so you can learn languages one at a time forever... and even conquer all 25 offered if that's your goal. Secure your lifetime subscription to all 25 languages on Rosetta Stone for only $179.99 here for a limited time. StackSocial prices subject to change. | ↑ |
The best ways to watch 'Queer' at a glance:
BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION
BEST DEAL OVERALL
BEST AD-FREE DEAL
BEST FOR STUDENTS
BEST BUNDLE DEAL
GET MAX FOR FREE
GET MAX FOR FREE
 Challengers' titillating sexual tension made for a major hit in early 2024, and Luca Guadagnino and Justin Kuritzkes teamed up once again for Queer. An adaptation of the 1985 novel by William S. Burroughs, the A24 film is yet another sexually explosive and emotionally infuriating tale from the duo. "Queer is a languid journey that meanders through flirtations, fucking, dream sequences, and willfully anachronistic music to chart a passionate but also baffling tale of unrequited love," writes Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko in her review of the A24 period drama. Starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, Queer made its theatrical debut in November 2024 — just seven months after Challengers. Though it may have earned less hype from the internet, it still nabbed a handful of award nominations. For those who missed it in the theaters, it's now available to watch at home. Here's everything you need to know. What is Queer about?Based on William S. Burroughs’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, Queer is a scintillating and steamy tale set in 1950s Mexico City. It follows William Lee (Daniel Craig), an American expat in his late forties who fuels his sense of loneliness with booze, bravado, and loveable loser pal Joe (Jason Schwartzman). When he meets Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey), a young student visiting the city, it's a stirring and intoxicating connection that forces him to come to grips with his own sexuality. Check out the official trailer: Is Queer worth watching?"Queer is both visually lush, sexually explosive, and emotionally infuriating. It is not a journey that leaves our hearts full, but open and aching," Puchko writes. However, it's certainly worth watching. The film holds a 77 percent critic rating and 65 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, it earned Daniel Craig Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and SAG Award nominations. Sadly, his performance was snubbed at the Oscars, which is a shame because Puchko says, "Craig is mesmerizing as Lee, swanning from catty gossip sessions to carnal encounters to body-rattling withdrawals and psychedelic splendors. It's easy to be beguiled by his charms, including a suave sex appeal made less intimidating by his tendency toward silliness." Read our full review of Queer. How to watch Queer at home
Credit: A24
Queer made its theatrical debut on Nov. 27, 2024, and just a month and a half later, it hit digital retailers. You can buy or rent the film from on-demand sites like Prime Video or Apple TV+ for $19.99 or $5.99. Note: rentals give you 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish once started. Here are some quick links to purchase or rent Queer:
Is Queer streaming?Queer made its streaming debut on Max on March 28. Thanks to a multi-year output deal between A24 and Warner Bros. Discovery, all of A24's recent theatrical releases have landed on the streamer. There, you'll also find recent films like We Live in Time, Heretic, A Different Man, and soon enough, Y2K and The Brutalist. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few ways to save money on your plan. We've rounded up the best Max streaming deals for you below. The best Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on Max with ads annual subscriptionA Max with ads subscription costs $9.99 per month, but you can knock the price down to $8.33 per month by paying for a year in advance. If you're in it for the long haul, the annual subscription goes for $99.99, which ends up saving you about 16%. Of course, you can also just sign up for a single month at $9.99 and cancel once you've watched Queer. Best Max deal with no ads: Save 16% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscriptionHate dealing with ads? The same annual deal applies: save 16% by committing to a yearly plan of one of the Max ad-free tiers. You can choose either the Max Ad-Free or Max Ultimate Ad-Free plan. The basic ad-free tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.17 per month), while the Ultimate tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). Both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, but the Ultimate tier comes with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited planThe best way to score Max for free is by switching your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month unlimited plan. Max with ads — a $9.99 per month value — is included for no extra charge on this plan. Once you sign up, just head over to the Max app, choose Cricket as your provider, then enter your Cricket credentials to log in. Boom — you're free to watch whatever you want, whenever you want, including Queer and any other A24 film on Max. Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket's website to learn more. Best Max deal for DoorDash users: Free Max with ads with DashPass annual planWith a DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month), you'll unlock Max with ads for free — along with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on DoorDash orders. That's a $9.99 per month value for $0. Eligible Subscribers must activate their Max subscription in their DoorDash account. Don't want ads? You can upgrade for a discounted rate. Best Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max with adsCollege students can get an entire year of Max with ads for just $4.99 per month instead of $9.99. That's 50% in savings. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS to retrieve the unique discount code that will drop the price. And don't share your code, as each unique code can only be used once. Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% offIt may not be the cheapest way to get Max, but you can get more bang for your buck if you choose a streaming bundle deal instead of a single service. For only $16.99 per month (reg. $25.97), you can sign up for Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with ads or $29.99 per month (reg. $48.97) without ads. That's up to 38% in savings for access to three full streaming libraries. | ↑ |
 Space is phantasmagorical. Astronomers using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope to survey distant galaxies spotted an unusual, chance phenomenon called an "Einstein ring." It's not an actual object, but a warped, mind-bending optical illusion. "The picture features a rare cosmic phenomenon — an Einstein ring. What appears to be a single, strangely shaped galaxy is actually two galaxies far apart," the European Space Agency explained online. The effect, created by " gravitational lensing" and theorized to exist by Albert Einstein over a century ago, occurs when the mass of a foreground galaxy warps space and time, like a bowling ball sitting on a mattress, causing light emanating from the galaxy located in near-perfect alignment beyond it (from Webb's view in the cosmos) to become warped. The closer galaxy, in effect, creates a lens. In the image below, the foreground object is a massive, egg-shaped elliptical galaxy, and in the background is a spiral galaxy (like the Milky Way) that appears wrapped around the elliptical galaxy. Amazingly, even though the spiral galaxy has been profoundly contorted, you can still see bright star clusters in the galaxy's stretched spiral arms. 
An Einstein ring recently captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Credit: ESA / Webb / NASA / CSA / G. Mahler // Acknowledgement: M. A. McDonald
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Einstein rings created by gravitational lensing are not just cosmic eye candy. This ring was captured during the Strong Lensing and Cluster Evolution (SLICE) survey, which seeks to identify such distant galaxies that have been naturally magnified by massive foreground galaxies, or clusters of galaxies. "Objects like these are the ideal laboratory in which to research galaxies too faint and distant to otherwise see," ESA explained. It's a clever way to combine the capability of the most powerful space telescope ever built with the natural magnifying power of the universe. The Webb telescope's powerful abilitiesThe Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. It's also examining intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system. Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and may for years to come: - Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror, meaning Webb has six times the light-collecting area. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. The telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021. - Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared space telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't. "It lifts the veil," said Creighton. - Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find? "We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, previously told Mashable. | ↑ |
 Death of a Unicorn's Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Téa Leoni, Will Poulter, and Richard E. Grant describe the moments in their life when their lives changed forever. Death of a Unicorn is now in theaters. Медиа: | ↑ |
 Here's an experiment to try at home: Listen to a sports podcast, scroll social media, or use an app with native ads, and see how many times you encounter an ad for online gambling. The double dare version of the experiment is to attempt it during March Madness, a weeks-long college basketball tournament in the U.S. during which people are expected to gamble a whopping $3.1 billion. That's up from $2.7 billion last year, according to the American Gaming Association. While the ad trackers and algorithms curating any individual digital experience might not expose them to gambling-related marketing, the level of ad spending across the industry has skyrocketed in recent years. Sports betting effectively became legal in the U.S. following a 2018 Supreme Court decision. Online sports better advertising units jumped from just under 250,000 that year to around 2.5 million in 2023. Meanwhile, there's evidence that problem gambling may be on the rise. A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found there were 23 percent more Google searches in the U.S. for terms related to gambling addiction help-seeking between January 2016 and June 2024. In an accompanying editorial, two experts wrote that " gambling must be recognized as a public health problem," and that sports betting is specifically more harmful than other types of gambling products, like lotteries. The house, as they say, always wins. So how could someone who's exposed to gambling marketing, or is developing a gambling addiction, acknowledge the urge to make a bet but let it pass? Experts say mindfulness, the practice of observing your thoughts with curiosity but without judgement, can be a helpful tool. "With mindfulness, you learn to disassociate yourself with those impulses and just appreciate that they're impulses and they're not something you have to do," says Dr. Nigel Turner, an addiction expert with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. "You learn to let it go." Can mindfulness help with gambling?Turner, who co-authored a 2021 report on mindfulness-based prevention to problem gambling, describes this strategy as "urge surfing." You imagine an impulse as a wave that may seem strong, but will ultimately pass. Turner says it's important to remember that people gamble for a variety of reasons that make sense to them. A mindfulness approach encourages curiosity and self-compassion — instead of feeling shame or frustration because you struggled with the urge. Gambling urges may manifest in a variety of sensible-sounding ways. Someone may enjoy the mechanics of a certain game. They might view betting as a form of problem-solving: if they win enough, the proceeds could pay for their education or a down payment on a new home. And for some, gambling provides an escape from painful feelings and experiences. But as the brain habituates to gambling, it can become a maladaptive routine. Mindfulness can address that, too, by helping someone challenge the "automatic thinking" that characterizes addiction. For problem gamblers, that might sound like, "If I keep losing, I'm due to win." Turner says that often people experience such a thought, then place a bet without pausing to evaluate why or how it occurred to them in the first place. It's tricky, he adds, because the brain is "terrible" at understanding random chance, and gamblers typically have a "strong illusion of control." "It's very easy to fool yourself into believing that you have figured out the odds, that you know somehow more than all the other people betting on it," Turner says. Why 'mindful gambling' is a deceptionResearch on gambling and mindfulness is limited. Still, Turner points to a general consensus in the field of addiction that mindfulness practices have a positive effect on people's coping skills and recovery. He's even advocated for players to learn about mindfulness. One major brand has given gamblers its own version of that education. In 2023, the online casino BetMGM created an explainer on how to mindfully gamble, including tips for staying in the present moment and remaining calm regardless of whether you win or lose. It also suggested that mindful gambling can help players better focus and learn their games of choice by analyzing "patterns, trends, and probabilities more effectively." Turner, who reviewed the content when Mashable shared it with him, said this statement was a "misrepresentation of what mindfulness is about." Turner said that the content seemed more like an "advertising gimmick" that could actually encourage people to gamble. While some of the suggestions were good, others felt deceptive, Turner added. In their problem gambling report, Turner and his co-authors included breathing and meditation practices, exercises to develop emotional awareness, and worksheets designed to help people identify triggers and high-risk situations. There are, however, limits to relying on mindfulness to resist gambling advertising and combat urges. The gold standard for addiction treatment, including for problem gambling, is cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of intervention that helps patients better assess and manage their thoughts. Turner also acknowledges that some people — particularly those with a history of trauma — don't find mindfulness to be an effective solution. Turner says that people experiencing problem gambling should seek mental health care, and consider mindfulness as complementary to that treatment. Signs that indicate you need help include spending more money than you can afford and believing that you'll win and get rich. Young adults, problem gambling, and mindfulnessYoung adults may be particularly at risk of problem gambling, says Amaura Kemmerer, a licensed clinical social worker and director of clinical affairs for the college mental health and wellness company Uwill. If you're young and experimenting with newfound freedoms, then have direct access to gambling on your phone, or if you're exposed to the industry's wave of advertising, you may be more vulnerable for high-risk behaviors. Research also suggests that sports books in particular appeal to young audiences, who consider betting a leisure activity. The issue has become pronounced on college campuses. Kemmerer says that some students experience consequences related to betting on major sports events like March Madness. Within that period, demand for mental health services often increases. Typically, college students might feel anxious, depressed, or stressed, or they're experiencing related academic problems. Problem gambling can emerge as an issue in sessions with a counselor or therapist. When a mindfulness practice positively affects other aspects of well-being, like improving sleep and decreasing anxiety and depression symptoms, Kemmerer believes it can also help reduce high-risk behaviors. "You're getting to students before there's really any kind of identified problem, or when that problem is very early on and it's easier for a young person to make small adjustments so it doesn't become more problematic," Kemmerer says. If you experience gambling problems, call the 24/7 National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 for free, confidential support. You can also access the National Council on Problem Gambling's website for more help and information, as well as a list of international resources. | ↑ |
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