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SAVE $500: As of June 16, the Roku 75-inch Plus QLED 4K TV is down to just $499.99 at Amazon. That's 50% in savings and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 75-inch Plus QLED 4K TV $499.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $500 Get Deal

Besides the sheer volume of TVs on the market, the confusing specs make buying a new TV a daunting task. Arguably the most important factor for many people, however, is how much it costs. If budget is at the top of your priorities list, check out this deal on a 75-inch Roku Plus QLED 4K TV.

As of June 16, the Roku 75-inch Plus QLED 4K TV is on sale for only $499.99 at Amazon. That's a borderline ridiculous $500 in savings. At half off its list price, it's officially down to its best price on record. That also makes it about $150 cheaper than our favorite budget QLED TV.

The Plus series is the mid-range Roku TV, falling in between the even more budget-friendly Select series and the upgraded Pro series. Specs-wise, there's a few things you need to know. The Roku Plus sports a QLED screen with local dimming and Dolby Vision. While it's considered an entry-level QLED model, it offers plenty of light output for viewing in bright environments. It's also equipped with 4K resolution and HDR10+ for a solid image quality and satisfactory color accuracy.

The smart TV experience is powered, of course, by Roku — our favorite streamer. It's delightfully simple to use and makes streaming all your favorite shows and movies a breeze. It also comes with the excellent Voice Remote Pro, which allows you to use your voice to find it when it goes missing between couch cushions.

It's worth noting that a brand-new Plus model just dropped with mini LED backlighting, but it'll cost you about $400 more. If you'd rather save some money, we doubt you'll be disappointed in the older model.

Save $200: As of June 16, the Apple M3 MacBook Air with 256GB of storage is on sale for $699 at Best Buy, saving you 22% on the $899 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $699 at Best Buy
$899 Save $200 Get Deal

Apple releases MacBooks on a pretty steady annual cadence, meaning that if you want to score an especially good deal, looking to last year's models can save you money.

Case in point: the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is currently on sale for $699 at Best Buy, down $200 from its $899 list price. At the time of writing, Amazon doesn't have this model in stock. According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, this MacBook's lowest recorded price at Amazon is $799, making this deal especially impressive.

Though it's a 2024 model, this laptop boasts plenty of impressive features that keep up with the current landscape. The 2025 M4 MacBook Air claims 18 hours of battery life — in their testing, our sister site PC Mag (also owned by Ziff Davis) found the M3 Air ran for a whopping 22 hours of use (though Apple claims the same 18 hours with the M3). In the press release for the M4 Air, Apple writes that the new chip is up "2x faster than the M1 model." For the M3 Air, Apple writes, the "new MacBook Air is up to 60 percent faster than the model with M1." In other words, the M4 chip doesn't bring that much more speed than the M3. (At the time of writing, the M4 Air is on sale, but still $150 more than the M3 laptop).

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks you can get in 2025: Should you buy an Air or Pro?

Beyond power and battery life, this laptop is incredibly lightweight at 2.7 pounds. It has relatively limited ports, with one MagSafe charging port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and one headphone jack. While you can only connect up to one external display with the laptop open, in clamshell mode it is compatible with two external displays. You get your choice of four colorways: midnight, starlight, silver, and space gray.

An Apple AirTag actually did some major good for a West London couple who managed to recover their stolen Jaguar E-PACE — without much help from the police.

As reported by the BBC, the couple’s £46,000 (roughly $62,000 USD) SUV was taken from their home in early June. Fortunately, they’d stashed an AirTag inside. After reporting the theft, they handed over the real-time location data to the police, expecting a swift response.

It didn’t come. Despite the tracker placing the car just nine minutes away, officers failed to act with the urgency the couple had hoped for. So, they took matters into their own hands.

The AirTag led them to a nearby residential street where the Jaguar sat, parked and intact. Reclaiming it wasn’t as simple as turning the key; they had to prove ownership and work with the software provider to reactivate the vehicle’s immobilizer system.

According to the BBC, the police didn’t follow up until a week after the couple had already retrieved the car and notified them of the recovery.

This story is a lighter moment in the complicated landscape Apple cracked open with the launch of AirTags in 2021. Since then, the tracking discs have been at the center of serious privacy and safety concerns, including their use in stalking and domestic abuse cases. Apple says it has built in several safety features to address this.

The most significant is that if someone spends several hours near an unknown AirTag, they’ll get a notification alerting them to its presence, whether they’re using iOS or Android.

GET $79 OFF: June 16th, the Jackery Explorer 290 Portable Solar Generator and battery bank is on sale for $170.99, down from its regular price of $249.99. Get it and save $79.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 290 Portable Solar Generator $170.99 at Best Buy
$249.99 Save $79 Get Deal

Backcountry expeditions and home emergencies both go better with a reliable source of power. The Jackery Explorer 290 Portable Solar Generator is built for just such occasions.

Right now, the Jackery Explorer 290 Portable Solar Generator is on sale at Best Buy for $170.99, get it now and save $79.

SEE ALSO: Get $270 off the Bluetti Solar Generator (AC70) at Amazon The best tech deals right now

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.00 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $799.97 (List Price $1599.99)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

This battery bank is built for solar power, so you can keep phones, laptops, and headlamps in play, even through extended periods off the grid. You'll need to get a compatible solar panel to use it that way however. Without a solar panel, it still works as a battery backup. Charge it from the grid or a car and carry it along in your trunk.

With a 290 Watt hour capacity, this bank is suitable for personal electronic devices and small appliances. As it uses a battery instead of a fuel burning engine, it's a quiet option that you can use in the campsite without disturbing nearby sleepers.

Act fast and get the Jackery Explorer 290 Portable Solar Generator for $170.99 at Best Buy and save $79.

Summer is outdoor season... but it's also too often disaster season. This portable battery generator will see you through chill camping trips and surprise disasters alike.

We are inching closer to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, and as such, the rumor mill has been circulating some new information about the devices. Samsung's new foldable phones are expected to launch this summer, and they may also come with more AI tools and some hardware improvements over their predecessors, according to a new leak.

The information comes from a post on X from noted leaker PandaFlash. For hardware, Samsung is likely keeping things simple. PandaFlash says that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will sport a new 200 MP camera, along with a new visual engine and logarithmic video. There is no word on the cameras on the Flip 7, but PandaFlash notes that it should also receive “improved photo quality," which is no surprise.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Potential hardware updates for the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7

The Flip 7 is also slated to get a slightly larger cover screen. This coincides with a prior rumor from Ross Young, which said the Flip 7 cover screen could be around four inches, larger than the prior 3.6-inch display on the Flip 6. Adorning that screen should be some pretty slick wallpapers with transition animations when unlocking the screen.

Both devices are also slated to be thinner, lighter, and more durable. PandaFlash’s information lines up with a comically brief and vague blog post from earlier in June, when Samsung proclaimed that the next Galaxy Z devices would be their thinnest and lightest yet. How much thinner or lighter each device will be remains a mystery, but an IceUniverse leak from May suggests that the device could be as thin as 8.9mm when folded and 3.9mm when unfolded. 

IceUniverse’s leak also predicts a 4,400 mAh battery in the Z Fold 7, which is the same as the Z Fold 6, while the Flip 7 will get a boost in battery to 4,300 mAh. 

New AI features in the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7

Per the norm in 2025, Samsung also intends to pack as much AI into these devices as it can. PandaFlash says that a significant percentage of Samsung’s next Unpacked event will talk about Google Gemini and the inclusion of Gemini Live, which launched on Android devices back in April. In addition, Samsung is expected to talk about new Galaxy AI features, Samsung XR, and Samsung’s Now Brief feature.

In terms of AI, the leaker states that Samsung could also announce new updates to its ProGen Visual Engine, a suite of AI photo and video tools that powers nighttime mode, telezoom, blur reduction, and more. Per the leaker, Galaxy AI will also power new Generative Edit photo features.

This all seems to fit in well with what we know already. Samsung has stated that the upcoming foldables will be the first Samsung devices to run Android 16 and One UI 8, although you can sample the latter on the Galaxy S25 series right now. In terms of release date, early July seems to be the consensus. Samsung launched its foldables on July 10 last year, so it makes sense that we would see a repeat performance this year. 

SAVE $1,199.99: As of June 16, you can get a free iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1,199.99 retail) when you open a new line on Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max $0 at Verizon
$1,199 Save $1,199 Get Deal

Usually, when the word “free” is thrown around, there’s a catch. But Verizon’s latest offer is actually legit, and it’s an incredible deal for anyone looking to switch carriers.

As of June 16, you can get a brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max for $0. It's an aggressive play by Verizon to win new customers, and a pretty good deal if you're eligible.

Even though the iPhone 16 Pro Max has been out for a while now, it’s still a solid choice for a smartphone. (It’s also a Mashable Choice Award Winner for its extra-long battery life.) You’ll also get a massive 6.9-inch all-screen OLED display and a powerful A18 Pro chip.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro Max hands-on: It's basically a 'phablet' at this point

To get the phone for “free," you have to sign up for a new line on Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan (which starts at $65 per month). When you buy the phone on a payment plan, Verizon applies $1,199.99 in promotional credits to your account, spread out over 36 months. That monthly credit completely cancels out the phone's payment, bringing its cost down to zero.

Of course, the main catch is the 36-month commitment. The phone isn't truly free if you decide to switch carriers before the three years are up. If you cancel your line early, you'll have to pay off the remaining balance on the phone. But if you're ready to commit, this is one of the best ways to get a flagship phone without the flagship price tag.

It may not be your imagination — YouTube might be slowing down your videos if you use an ad-blocker.

PCWorld spotted new rumors floating online on Reddit and elsewhere that folks using ad-blockers are seeing throttled speeds.

Now, to be clear, this has not been confirmed. But it's far from the first time folks have felt this way. Early last year, for instance, users saw degraded quality and performance when using an ad-blocker, which YouTube ultimately said was not its doing.

SEE ALSO: YouTube's war on ad blockers continues, now making ads truly unskippable

This go-round, users have reported seeing a pop-up message reading, "Experiencing interruptions?" That message reportedly led to a page which indicated ad-blockers could affect video playback. Still, this is not full confirmation that YouTube is slowing down your videos if you use an ad-blocker.

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

Mashable has reached out to YouTube for comment and will update the story if we receive a response.

Ads are obviously a major way YouTube brings in revenue and using a blocker is against its terms of service. Just this month it ramped-up the number of ads for users who pay $7.99 per month for its Premium Lite service.

WIN A FREE SAMSUNG GALAXY BUNDLE: Through June 24, when you reserve a 2025 Samsung 4K AI smart monitor at Samsung.com, you'll receive up to $100 off your preorder and be entered to win a free Galaxy AI ecosystem bundle with a Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Ring.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Save up to $100 on 2025 Samsung 4K AI smart monitor preorders Pre-order Here

Samsung's smart monitors are beyond impressive. Rather than just serving as a bigger screen to extend your workspace, they work double duty to serve as fully capable smart TVs. Earlier this month, the electronics brand announced the latest iteration of these brilliant monitors, the M70F, M80F, and M90SF — each equipped with premium 4K resolution, powerful AI features, and seamless connectivity. If you're in the market for one of these bad boys, you can get an exclusive discount when you reserve yours at the Samsung website. Better yet, you could win some free stuff.

Through June 24, when you sign up to reserve a smart monitor, you'll get up to $100 off when the preorder period goes live (June 24 - July 8), as well as the chance to win a Galaxy AI Ecosystem Bundle. The bundle includes a Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra — that's over $2,300 in Samsung swag for free if you're feeling lucky.

While Samsung hasn't released pricing information, we expect that the new M70F and M80F will retail between $300 and $400 like their predecessors. The M90SF — the most advanced monitor in the lineup — however, will likely be closer to $1,000. A discount of up to $100 on preorders could definitely be helpful.

All three of the new monitors boast AI-enhanced processors, as well as 4K resolution and industry-first built-in AI picture optimization. They're built to adapt to your needs through real-time visual optimization without needing a separate PC. There's a good chance it'll look even better than your TV.

If you want to be among the first to unlock Samsung's next-generation smart displays and work, play, and stream from a single screen, Samsung has opened up reservations. Sign up with your first and last name, email address, mobile phone number, and zip code to reserve your exclusive preorder discount. You'll also be able to participate in the sweepstakes to win the Galaxy AI Ecosystem Bundle. The winner will be drawn on July 2. Fingers crossed!

TikTok is bringing more generative AI features to its growing suite of tools for advertisers.

On Monday, the social media app introduced image-to-video and text-to-video support as well as a feature called Showcase Products, which lets digital avatars show or wear products.

TikTok's AI-generated ad tools are part of a larger trend seen across the industry that leverages generative AI's ability to quickly and easily pull together video ads at minimal cost. This is thanks to the widespread availability and advancement of AI models that can generate images, text, audio, and video from a simple prompt. Meta is also leaning heavily into genAI for advertising and reportedly plans to automate all ad creation with AI by 2026. And if you watched the NBA finals last week, you may have seen the unhinged AI video ad for Kalshi, which was made using Google's Veo 3.

TikTok's new features are part of TikTok Symphony, the existing collection of AI tools for advertisers. Previously, TikTok introduced AI-generated avatars, a virtual assistant for identifying trends and creating scripts, and AI voice dubbing. With image and text to video, advertisers can now upload an image or write a text prompt and Symphony will turn it into a video clip featuring these AI avatars.

Some of the digital avatars available for TikTok advertisers. Credit: TikTok

The Showcase Products feature builds on the existing avatar feature, so that they can now hold up a product, model an item of clothing, or hold up a phone showcasing an app. This feature, plus image and text-to-video support, will be available to advertisers globally in the coming weeks in the TikTok Symphony Creative Studio. So, prepare to see a lot more AI-generated ads on TikTok very soon.

Some of the digital avatars available for TikTok advertisers. Credit: TikTok

GET $100 OFF: As of June 16th, the Apple 2024 Mac Mini (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $499, down from its regular price of $599, for a savings of $100, or 17% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2024 Mac Mini (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100 Get Deal

Amazon keeps cutting the price of the 2024 Mac Mini. Apple's miniaturized desktop computer is chock full of power and boasts an extraordinarily small footprint. If you're looking to nab an M4 chip, this is one of the best and most affordable ways to do it.

Right now, the Apple 2024 Mac Mini (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is back down to $499, saving you $100.

SEE ALSO: Save $50 on the Apple Magic Keyboard at Amazon — its lowest price in 9 months The best laptop and tablet deals

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $174.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Android Tablet — $269.99

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2025, M4) — $986.95 (List Price $1199.00)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, 13.8-inch — $1,156.26 (List Price $1599.99)

• Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 chip — $1,429.00 (List Price $1599.00)

The inclusion of a new 2024 M4 chip means that this Mac Mini can leverage a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. With blitz-worthy processing speeds and the graphics capabilities needed to play games or 3D model, this desktop computer offers impressive power. The M4 chip is fortified with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Should you need more storage, the Mac Mini comes with three rear Thunderbolt ports, two frontal USB-C ports, an HDMI, and an ethernet port. With Thunderbolt's 40Gb/s transfer speeds, you can add storage, monitors, and more with minimal latency.

Currently, the Apple 2024 Mac Mini (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $499, for a savings of $!00. Get it now and save 17%.

The Mac Mini line has long been a favorite of creators: musicians use them on stages, scientists use them in labs, and regular folks use them as affordable home desktops. This deal is a great opportunity to get on board.

The debut of American Bitcoin, a mining firm backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., has heightened the ethical concerns swirling around the Trump presidency.

SAVE $70: Preorder the new Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds for $159 on Kickstarter, down from the normal price of $229. That's a 31% discount to score the new earbuds with upgraded features like active noise cancellation. The earbuds are set to begin shipping before August.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds (preorder) $179 at Kickstarter
$229 Save $50 estimated shipping before August Get Deal

Good sleep can be hard to come by, but Anker is aiming to ease the pain. That's especially true if you're not sleeping well because the dog is snoring, the birds are awake at dawn, or traffic is loud. Instead of using your daytime earbuds to mask the sound, the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds come packed with sleep-centric features, a comfortable design, and finally — active noise cancellation.

Mashable was smitten with the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds, earning them the top spot when it comes to the best sleep earbuds. But noticeably, they lacked active noise cancellation. Anker went ahead and blessed our good sleep by adding that this feature into the new A30 earbuds, which are set to begin shipping out before August.

As of June 16, you can preorder the new Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds via Kickstarter for $159, discounted from their standard price of $229. That'll save you $70. That's also cheaper than buying the Sleep A20 earbuds which are currently listed for their full price of $179.99 at Best Buy. You'll also lose out on heaps of new features we're looking forward to, including the active noise cancellation.

When comparing the new Sleep A30 earbuds to the older Sleep A20 earbuds, it appears that Anker went all-out with upgrades. Not only are we getting active noise cancellation, we're getting memory foam ear tips, and real-time adaptive snore masking audio. Yes, the earbuds use the included charging case (which is likely on your nightstand) to detect snoring and adjust sound accordingly.

In terms of battery life, the new Sleep A30 earbuds get nine hours per charge, which should be enough to get you through one night of restorative and restful slumber. With the included charging case, that bumps up to 45 hours. That means you can take off on a weekend away without needing to recharge. If you sleep for about eight hours each night, 45 hours means you'll only need to recharge every fifth day.

More upgrades compared to the older model come in the form of better sleep support. The Sleep A30s now come with a library of audio for sleep in addition to meditation and focus tracks. There's also more advanced sleep report metrics like sleep latency and a rating system.

Anker says they expect the new Sleep A30 earbuds to begin shipping out before August and delivery could take between one and two weeks, depending on logistics. If you're not willing to wait that long to get undisrupted sleep, you can snag the A20s from Best Buy for $179.99. They're still a great option, they just won't come with active noise cancellation.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds $179.99 at Best Buy
Get Deal

Preorders on Kickstarter for the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds are set to continue until July 6, but it's likely the $159 backing option will sell out. The next available tier is one pair for $179, which still saves you $50 compared to the list price of $229.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.00 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $799.97 (List Price $1599.99)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

Battery companies are slowing construction or reconsidering big investments in the United States because of tariffs on China and the proposed rollback of tax credits.

On Monday morning, the Trump Organization announced that it will be launching a Trump-branded smartphone and wireless service in September.

A press release for the new company promised that it would be "a transformational, new cellular service designed to deliver top-tier connectivity, unbeatable value and all-American service for our nation’s hardest-working people."

Trump Mobile also announced the launch of the T1 Phone, a gold-colored, made-in-America smartphone etched with an American flag that will retail for $499. The company's signature mobile plan, the 47 plan, will offer unlimited talk, text, and data for $47.45 per month.

Credit: Trump Mobile

Ever since the introduction of his "Liberation Day" tariffs, President Donald Trump has been pressuring Apple CEO Tim Cook to start building the iPhone in America. As Mashable has previously reported, a made-in-America iPhone could cost as much as $3,000, while Apple itself would potentially need to spend billions to create the domestic infrastructure needed to build its flagship smartphone in the United States.

Trump has targeted Cook with Truth Social posts, even threatening to place a 25 percent tariff on iPhones and other smartphones.

"Trump Mobile is going to change the game, we’re building on the movement to put America first, and we will deliver the highest levels of quality and service. Our company is based right here in the United States because we know it’s what our customers want and deserve," said Donald Trump Jr, EVP of The Trump Organization, in a press release.

The announcement was timed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the launch of President Trump's first campaign for president.

Once upon a time, U.S. presidents were expected to eschew investment and financial opportunities while occupying The White House to avoid conflicts of interest. In fact, the U.S. Constitution includes an Emoluments Clause, which explicitly prohibits the president from profiting off the office.

Former president Jimmy Carter even put his beloved peanut farm into a blind trust while he was in office to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. The Emoluments Clause is essentially enforced by the honor system; the Trump Administration has also interpreted the constitutional doctrine in novel ways.

The Trump Organization says a U.S.-based customer service team will be at the ready 24/7 to help customers switch to Trump Mobile. The plan also comes with a number of benefits to woo potential customers, including:

• 24/7 roadside assistance via Drive America

• Telehealth medical services

• Free International calling (more than 100 countries included)

• "No contracts, no credit check"

SAVE 45%: As of June 16, you can get the Bluetti Solar Generator (AC70) for $329, down from $599, at Amazon. That's a 45% discount and a $270 savings.

BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC70, 768Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup w/ 2 1000W AC Outlets (Power Lifting 2000W), 100W Type-C, Solar Generator for Road Trip, Off-grid, Power Outage (Solar Panel Optional) $569 at Amazon
$599 Save $30 Get Deal

You don’t have to be an outdoorsy person or an apocalypse prepper to want a solar generator. Honestly, with the unpredictable weather patterns and the issues I’ve had with constant internet outages, having a backup power supply feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity these days.

As of June 16, you can get the Bluetti Solar Generator (AC70) for $329, down from $599, at Amazon. That's a 45% discount and a $270 savings.

SEE ALSO: Anker 535 PowerHouse review: Is this power station the workhorse its name suggests?

This solar-powered generator features a 768Wh capacity, a 1,000W inverter, and a 2,000W power lifting mode, which means it can handle both small appliances and more power-hungry devices. With the included AC charging cable, you can charge it to 80 percent in just 45 minutes or 100 percent in 1.5 hours. If you're in a real pinch, you can charge it via the included car charging cable.

With the Bluetti App, you can monitor and control the AC70 from anywhere, giving you real-time information on power usage, charging status, and customizable settings. It’s also quieter than most generators, operating at under 50dB, so you won’t feel like you’re in an industrial zone.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.00 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $799.97 (List Price $1599.99)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

If you’ve tried to quit vaping nicotine once, twice, or even 10 times and just can’t kick it — you aren’t alone. Millions of young people use nicotine and many are trapped in a frustrating cycle of quitting and relapsing, although they want to quit for good.

One reason why quitting is so hard is that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances out there. And trying to go cold turkey, no matter how strong your willpower, almost always fails. In fact, young adults make the most quit attempts each year, but they’re also the least likely to use evidence-based quitting treatments available to them. Why? Historically, quit programs were never designed to reach Gen Z. 

That’s where Outsmart Nicotine comes in, a national campaign from Truth Initiative, the non-profit organization behind EX Program. It’s on a mission to reach young people with a clear message: you don’t have to do this on your own. Through free and confidential access to expert quitting tips, interactive tech tools, and 24/7 text support, EX Program is empowering millions to break the cycle of nicotine addiction — on their terms, with support that meets them where they are.

When it comes to quitting, science matters

For many Gen Z, it began with casually hitting flavored vapes at parties or during study breaks. But the truth is, as vapes became cheaper and stronger, their potential for addiction increased. Now, many young adults are trying to quit but don’t know where to begin.

EX Program was built to help you start – and stick with – a successful quit journey to break the grip of vaping, smoking, nicotine pouches, or any tobacco product. The science-backed digital solution was developed with the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and provides evidence-based methods to support anyone who wants to quit. Research shows that using EX Program can increase your odds of quitting by up to 40 percent.

How EX Program works

Breaking free from nicotine addiction means tackling both your physical addiction and behavioral patterns that can trigger cravings. Signing up for EX Program is free, and you'll receive daily text messages to support your unique quitting journey. Messages that, as one young participant put it, “always remind me why I'm quitting and how far I've come. It makes me proud to see.”

You'll also get access to a website filled with helpful information, tools to build new coping skills, insights into what your body and brain are experiencing, and support from the largest and longest-running quit community on the Internet, according to Truth Initiative. You’ll learn tried-and-true ways to manage cravings and replace old routines with healthier ones, which is so important.

Spoiler alert: Eating spicy peppers won’t stave off cravings on its own, but pairing it with expert advice from EX Program can help you manage them.

EX Community is key to a quitting victory

Trying to quit alone is tough, which is why the EX Community has your back every step of the way on your quitting journey. The EX Community includes thousands of current quitters and former smokers/vapers who are active on the platform to help answer your questions and cheer you on. Weekly blog posts from Mayo Clinic experts help you navigate what’s happening in your body and mind so you can make informed choices that support long-term success.

Think of the EX Community as the secret sauce to your success. Peer members can answer your questions about quitting, tell you ‘You Got This,’ and support you through tough moments and wins. One user shared that feeling part of a supportive community, especially when her friends weren’t going through the same thing, was “a HUGE help.”

Expert guidance can help give you different ways to think about quitting and ensure you have the most up-to-date science about addiction and quitting. However you use it, having a community reinforces the fact that you’re not alone. Even just reading in the EX Community can significantly increase your odds of quitting.

Quit medication and other tools

Another benefit of EX Program is that it offers trusted information about your Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) options. FDA-approved NRT products such as nicotine gum, lozenges, and patches are backed by science and, when combined with a program like EX Program, can double your chances of quitting. 

How they work is pretty simple: Your brain is used to receiving a certain amount of nicotine every time you vape, smoke, dip, or chew, and it gets angry when it doesn't get it. NRT products can help take the edge off, making it more likely you'll find a quit that sticks. 

EX Program doesn’t provide NRT medication, but it does offer advice on what might work for you and exclusive discounts to get FDA-approved nicotine gum and lozenges.

Ready to outsmart nicotine?

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Taken star Liam Neeson is no stranger to kicking butts and taking names, but slapstick comedy The Naked Gun is sure to put a new spin on the actor's very particular set of skills.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: What's coming to theaters and streaming?

The Naked Gun serves as a reboot of the Police Squad! TV and film franchise, which starred Leslie Nielsen as Detective Frank Drebin. In the 2025 film, Neeson plays Drebin's son, Frank Drebin, Jr. He's trying to live up to his father's legacy and stop Police Squad from getting converted into a Spirit Halloween.

Worried about whether this iteration of The Naked Gun can live up to the original's ridiculous sight gags and deadpan lead detective? Allow the film's creative team to lessen your fears. The Naked Gun is produced by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane and directed by Akiva Schaffer, one of the members of the Lonely Island and co-director of the mockumentary gem Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Schaffer wrote the film alongside Dan Gregor and Doug Maud (Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers).

The Naked Gun's trailer provides further proof of the film's silliness, with Liam Neeson ripping a man's arms off and promptly smacking him around with them. His gravelly seriousness in even the dumbest situations — like a high-octane rush to the bathroom — proves promising, as does Pamela Anderson's turn as the film's femme fatale. Watch the full trailer above for more gags, including Neeson absolutely slaying (literally and figuratively) in a schoolgirl disguise.

The Naked Gun also stars Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, and Danny Huston.

The Naked Gun hits theaters Aug. 1.

Stealing iPhones from a physical Apple Store is a crime that literally doesn't pay, thanks to Apple's anti-theft technology.

Looters who reportedly lifted the smartphones from the Apple Tower Theatre store in downtown Los Angeles were greeted with a blaring alarm and a message warning them to return the devices to their rightful owners, according to independent reporter Brendan Gutenschwager, who posted a video of the devices on June 10.

"Please return to Apple Tower Theatre. This device has been disabled and is being tracked. Local authorities will be alerted," the message on the iPhone display reads in Gutenschwager's video. In the clip, the devices are lying on the sidewalk before they're picked up by a police officer.

SEE ALSO: Samsung issues urgent warning to activate Galaxy anti-theft features

The iPhones were reportedly lifted from the Apple Tower Theatre store on June 10, a few days into citywide protests against federal immigration enforcement raids. In some places, looting and violence have erupted during protests, with people targeting stores including Apple, as well as Adidas and Shoe Palace, and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass imposing a partial curfew on the city. During the protests last week, the Los Angeles Police Department made multiple arrests for looting.

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The demo iPhones in Apple Store locations worldwide are equipped with special security software which locks the phone when carried out of the store, tracks its location, and notifies the authorities.

They will appear in only one part of the Meta-owned messaging service, it said. The move is potentially lucrative, while raising questions about user privacy.

If you noticed something new on WhatsApp today, you're not alone — the app just added some new features on its Updates tab, including channel subscriptions, promoted channels, and ads in status.

SEE ALSO: WhatsApp is getting usernames so you can finally stop sharing your phone number

"Today we’re introducing some new features for our Updates tab, which is home to both Channels and Status," Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, said in a blog post. "We’ve worked over the last two years to make this tab the place for you to discover something new on WhatsApp, and it’s now used by 1.5 billion people a day. We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm and also want to help admins, organizations, and businesses grow on WhatsApp."

Now, users can pay a monthly subscription fee to receive exclusive updates from specific channels. Channels can promote themselves to pop up on users' screens in an effort to help users "discover new channels" and, mostly, to help admins "increase their Channel's visibility." Finally, if a business is promoting its service in Status, users will be able to chat with them about their product or service.

Meta said this shouldn't disrupt the casual WhatsApp user who only uses the app to chat because the features will only appear on the Updates tab. The company also assured users that they have "built these features in the most private way possible." Everything is still end-to-end encrypted, and you can update your ad preferences in your Accounts Center.