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TL;DR: Upgrade to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 through May 31 and secure a lifetime license at a steep discount from the usual $199 price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

An outdated operating system can make even a solid PC feel slower and more frustrating than it should. Windows 11 Pro refreshes the experience with a cleaner interface, improved multitasking tools, stronger security features, and better overall performance — and right now, the upgrade costs less than takeout. Through May 31, you can grab a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license for only $9.97 instead of the standard $199.

Windows 11 Pro comes loaded with a sleek, streamlined interface, improved multitasking tools like Snap Layouts, and enhanced security features, including TPM 2.0, BitLocker, and Smart App Control. It’s built for professionals, creatives, and everyday users alike. Gamers will also appreciate support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, delivering ultra-realistic graphics.

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But the real game-changer is Copilot. This built-in AI assistant helps you work faster by summarizing web pages, generating text or images, opening apps, adjusting settings, or even suggesting code — all without leaving your workflow.

Why this deal on Windows 11 Pro is worth it:

• Lifetime license for just $12.97

• No support for Windows 10 as of October 2025

• Built-in AI assistant Copilot for smarter daily productivity

• Advanced security and pro-level tools

• Seamless design optimized for multitasking and collaboration

• Supports Microsoft Teams, Widgets, and touch-enabled devices

Don’t wait to grab a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license while it’s $9.97 (reg. $199) until May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Panama in a 2026 International Friendly for free on the CazéTV YouTube Channel. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Cup is looming large on the horizon. Competing sides only have a small window to build momentum and try something new, so the International Friendlies on the schedule are really important.

Unlike most World Cups, Brazil are not going into this tournament as favorites. Could lower expectations make life easier for Carlo Ancelotti's side? Preparation begins with a fixture against Panama at the Maracanã Stadium.

If you want to watch Brazil vs. Panama in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brazil vs. Panama?

Brazil vs. Panama kicks off at 5:30 p.m. ET on May 31. This fixture takes place at the Maracanã Stadium.

How to watch Brazil vs. Panama for free

Brazil vs. Panama is available to live stream for free on the CazéTV YouTube Channel.

The CazéTV YouTube Channel is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can access this free live stream with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can access free live streams on CazéTV from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Brazil vs. Panama for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Stream Brazil vs. Panama for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Brazil vs. Panama without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for CazéTV?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Brazil

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Brazil vs. Panama for free with ExpressVPN.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To postpone.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

DELAY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A seat.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 31, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

STOOL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Fragile.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 31 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 31, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FRAIL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To assume.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

POSIT

Final Hurdle hint

Transit line.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

METRO

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

It's the Full Moon tonight, and the second this month. This means it is a monthly Blue Moon, which occurs roughly every two or three years.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, May 31, the Moon phase is Full Moon. Tonight, 100% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Tonight, with just your naked eye, you'll be able to spot the Mare Vaporum, Copernicus Crater, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars you'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Grimaldi Basin, Posidonus Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. Finally, if you really want to see more, a telescope will help you see the Apollo 14 landing spot, the Linne Crater, and the Caucasus Mountains.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through a repeating pattern of eight distinct phases. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the portion illuminated by the Sun changes as it moves around the planet. This is what creates the different shapes we see in the night sky, from thin crescents to half Moons and the full Moon. Together, these phases form the lunar cycle:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Finland in a 2026 International Friendly for free on ZDF. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Preparation time is almost over. The 2026 World Cup kicks off next month, meaning participating sides need to build momentum and gain clarity on their best 11. That's the situation Germany find themselves in as they face off against Finland — it's all about coming into this summer's tournament with confidence.

If you want to watch Germany vs. Finland in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Finland?

Germany vs. Finland kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on May 31. This fixture takes place at the MEWA Arena.

How to watch Germany vs. Finland for free

Germany vs. Finland is available to live stream for free on ZDF.

ZDF is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can access free live streams on ZDF from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Germany vs. Finland for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit ZDF

5. Stream Germany vs. Finland for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Germany vs. Finland without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ZDF?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Germany vs. Finland for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love bright colors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 31, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bright-colored

• Green: Playing pool

• Blue: Popeye

• Purple: Timber

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things that are yellow

• Green: Billiard terms

• Blue: Slang for a sailor

• Purple: Kinds of wood plus "S"

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 #1085 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things that are yellow: BUTTER, PIKACHU, RUBBER DUCK, SCHOOL BUS

• Billiard terms: BREAK, CUE, POCKET, RACK

• Slang for a sailor: JACK, SALT, SEA DOG, TAR

• Kinds of wood plus "S": SASH, SOAK, SPINE, STEAK

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 31, 2026

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

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a traveler.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 31, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Places to go

The words are related to travel.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe travel sites.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Tourism.

NYT Strands word list for May 31

• Museum

• Beach

• Tourism

• Castle

• Market

• Restaurant

• Momument

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a musician.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 31, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 31, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A piece of music.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ETUDE

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.

TL;DR: ChatPlayground gives you access to 20+ AI tools like GPT and Claude, lets you send prompts to multiple tools, and has a lifetime subscription on sale for $60 through May 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $59.97
$619 Save $559.03   Get Deal

Picking the right AI model for a task used to mean opening five different tabs and running the same prompt five different times. Most people end up paying for one subscription, defaulting to it out of habit, and wondering why the outputs feel inconsistent. ChatPlayground AI puts GPT, Claude Sonnet 4, Gemini 1.5 Flash, DeepSeek V3, Llama, Perplexity, and more AI models in one interface, lets you enter a single prompt, and shows you the results side by side so you can pick the best one. A lifetime Unlimited Plan is on sale for $59.97 right now (reg. $79).

The side-by-side comparison completely changes how you use AI for serious work. Instead of guessing which model handles a task best or burning through your daily limits trying to find out, you run the prompt once and choose the output that works. That matters most when you’re prompt engineering, drafting content, debugging code, or researching something where accuracy is non-negotiable.

Beyond comparisons, the platform includes prompt engineering tools to refine and optimize prompts for better results, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved conversation history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation for creative work.

The Unlimited Plan removes message limits entirely, so it’s a great fit for teams running experiments or using AI heavily throughout the day. Priority access to new models and features is included, along with priority customer support. Available to both new and existing users, with unlimited devices supported and updates included. It runs on the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Instead of paying monthly for a single model and hoping it handles everything, why not get them all for life?

Until May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a ChatPlayground AI lifetime subscription on sale for $59.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

May is double the fun for Full Moon and space fans because we’re getting two in one month. The first took place on May 1 and the second will be on May 31. This phenomenon is called a Blue Moon. And no, that doesn’t mean it’ll actually turn the color blue, it’s just a somewhat rare occurrence. You might say, “once in a blue moon”...

What is a Blue Moon?

According to NASA, a Blue Moon is when a full moon shows up twice within the same calendar month. The lunar cycle (the process of the Moon orbiting the Earth) lasts about 29 and a half days, which is slightly shorter than most months. This means that every so often the timing lines up like it does in May, with a full moon right at the start of the month and another at the end. It’s not especially common, only happening roughly every couple of years. This is a monthly Blue Moon.

There are also seasonal Blue Moons. These occur when four full moons fall all within one season, instead of three which is what usually happens.

When is the Blue Moon in 2026?

The Blue Moon in 2026 will occur on May 31. According to Time and Date, it will peak around 4:45 a.m. ET.

How often does a Blue Moon occur?

Blue Moons are fairly uncommon, as the saying goes. NASA says they occur roughly every two or three years.

When is the next Blue Moon?

Royal Museums Greenwich tells us that the next Blue Moon will be May 20, 2027. This will be a seasonal Blue Moon.

Breaking news: The 007 series is popular.

Sarcasm aside, it sounds like longtime Hitman series developer IO Interactive has a bonafide hit on its hands. The company announced in a press release that the newly released 007: First Light video game sold 1.5 million units in its first 24 hours of availability, beating the record for the fastest-selling game IO has ever made. That's not a small achievement, given the company's previous success over the past decade with the excellent Hitman reboot trilogy.

Perhaps making this sales success even more impressive is the fact that First Light is not, in any way, tied into the James Bond film series. The protagonist is a new, younger version of Bond played by TV star Patrick Gibson, rather than by Daniel Craig or any other previous Bond actor, and aside from some cameos by the likes of Lenny Kravitz and Gemma Chan, most of the game's central cast is made up of series newcomers who are primarily TV actors. That doesn't make them any less talented or qualified to be in the game, of course, but it does make the game stand out from previous movie-star-studded 007 video game efforts like Everything or Nothing.

It also doesn't hurt that the game, at least based on the first few hours that I've played, is really good. If you like James Bond, you should probably check it out. If these sales figures are to be believed, though, you probably already have.

Meta is looking to give customers even more ways to wear its logo on their bodies.

The Information reported that Mark Zuckerberg's company is planning to develop and test an "AI pendant," which would most likely be something you clip on and wear so that it can use an on-board microphone to record everything you say throughout the day for the purpose of generating AI summaries, just in case you ever need that. The description of the device is not entirely speculative, as Meta recently acquired a company called Limitless that was responsible for a device literally called "Pendant" that did exactly those things.

SEE ALSO: What do you get with Meta and Instagram's new $3.99 subscription plan?

Beyond that, The Information reported based on an internal Meta memo that the company plans on releasing several new pairs of smart glasses by the end of 2026, to go along with a possible enterprise-focused subscription service called "Wearables for Work." The subscription part is not a surprise, given that the company just launched consumer-focused payment plans for apps like Instagram and WhatsApp this week.

Anyway, the internal memo referenced four glasses models to be released this year, all under the following codenames: Modelo, Luna, RMB2 Refresh, and Mojito VIP. "RMB2 Refresh" is obviously another Ray-Ban model, but the others are more mysterious. Expect plenty of AI features and possible privacy concerns to be included in those glasses, if nothing else.

TL;DR: Live stream Gauff vs. Potapova in the 2026 French Open for free on France TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 French Open has served up major surprises, particularly in the men's singles. Both No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Novak Djokovic were stunned by unseeded players, which led them to leave Roland-Garros unexpectedly early.

The women's field isn't quite as open, as world No. 4 Coco Gauff will be keenly aware, though No. 2 Elena Rybakina has already been eliminated, so Gauff — the defending women's French Open champion — may feel confident about claiming the title for a second consecutive year.

Before she gets to the title she'll have to get past a third-round match against No. 28 seed Anastasia Potapova. Can the 25-year-old Austrian knock out Gauff and cause yet another upset?

If you want to watch Gauff vs. Potapova in the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Gauff vs. Potapova for free

Gauff vs. Potapova in the 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on France TV.

France TV is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Connect to France TV

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Gauff vs. Potapova in the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

If you prefer Windows, the 2025 Acer Aspire 16 AI is pretty easy to recommend. It has an impressive battery life, a backlit keyboard, a good mix of ports, and a healthy amount of RAM. It's the fastest sub-$900 laptop for multi-core tasks like video editing (by a hair).

For those who can spend a little more, last year's ultraportable Asus Zenbook A14 is my favorite laptop under $1,000. Conversely, if you're trying to spend less than $500, go with the Acer Chromebook Plus 516.

What's new

I revisited this guide in May 2026 to verify our top picks' pricing and availability, which remain stable.

What's on deck

Acer announced a new cheap laptop called the Swift Air 14 at Computex 2026, a tech trade show in Taiwan. It has an all-metal build and starts at just $699 with Intel's new Core Series 3 processors, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 120Hz display, making it a very strong MacBook Neo competitor. It's set for release this August.

IMO, a Windows laptop or Chromebook is doing a good MacBook impression if it has above-average performance, battery life, and build quality. (Again, those are the main hallmarks of a modern Apple laptop.) I'll add some extra qualifiers depending on the exact Mac model:

• MacBook Air alternatives should be super lightweight and portable

• MacBook Neo alternatives should cost well under $1,000

• MacBook Pro alternatives should have a crisp, rich 120Hz display and enough power for intensive tasks like video editing

I've been reviewing laptops for Mashable since 2023, so in compiling this guide, I combed through my testing database to see if any recent models fit the bill. I also called in several newer releases that looked promising and spent several weeks reviewing them this spring.

In the end, I selected six options from Asus, Acer, and Dell that make the best MacBook alternatives for 2026 buyers. I also included a fallback for those who want to stay within the Apple ecosystem.

Other contenders to consider The Asus ExpertBook Ultra is so pretty — and sooo expensive. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Asus ExpertBook Ultra is a stunning and shockingly thin ultraportable. It has tons of ports, an 18.5-hour battery life, and MacBook Air-level multi-core performance (with incredibly quiet fans). It also has the best display I've ever seen on a Windows laptop: It's a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen with a 30 to 120Hz refresh rate, 1,400 nits of peak HDR brightness, and a matte finish. So what's the issue? It costs $3,599.99 (!) with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and its build quality doesn't match its premium price. When I gently squeezed the right side of my review unit's base, it made a questionable clicking noise.

Not giving the ProArt GoPro Edition a 120Hz display was an odd choice on Asus' part. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The special-edition Asus ProArt GoPro Edition bundles MacBook Pro-rivaling multi-core performance and 128GB of RAM in a rugged convertible design. But at $2,999.99, it's expensive for a creator laptop without a 120Hz display and dedicated graphics (though its iGPU is pretty powerful). A standard Asus ProArt PX13 with the same processor but half the RAM retails for $2,799.99, which is still a hard sell compared to your other options. Fingers crossed that both models go on sale for way cheaper later this year.

I haven't tested it yet, but the new Framework Laptop 13 Pro is a repairable MacBook Pro alternative. I'll update this story once I or one of my colleagues try it.

One is allied with Anthropic. The other is tied to OpenAI. They’re both spending millions to influence the midterms, and they’re leaving a trail of fearful candidates and canceled ads in their wake.

Marshall’s Heston 60 is a good soundbar for smaller rooms, especially if you want your speaker to make a visual statement. Marshall’s styling is, after all, in a category of its own, with its guitar amp-inspired looks and timeless Marshall flair. However, thanks to its surprisingly powerful output, plus an optional wireless subwoofer, this snazzy speaker can easily fill larger spaces, making it a great option for those on the fence about buying a full-size soundbar.

Like its much bigger sibling, the Marshall Heston 120, the Heston 60 commands a premium price ($699) compared to its nearest competitors, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($499), and the Bose Smart Soundbar ($549). In return for that bigger spend, you can expect a unique combination of features, style, and performance.

SEE ALSO: Marshall Heston 120 soundbar review: Massive TV sound from a rock’n’roll legend

The Heston 60 isn’t my go-to choice for a small-footprint Dolby Atmos experience, but for everything else, it rocks.

Marshall Heston 60 review: Design Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Depending on the product, Marshall’s amp-inspired design can go from wild to mild. The Heston 120, with its top-mounted, knurled knobs, has a real look-at-me vibe, while the Heston 60 is a little more demure: it trades the knobs for nearly flush brass-toned buttons.

You still get the black (or cream), faux-leather cabinet, the distinctive Marshall logo, and a salt’n’pepper fabric grille (the ‘fret’ in Marshall-speak), and it still looks great.

SEE ALSO: The Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar is the closest I've gotten to movie theater sound at home

The lack of knobs is partially a proportional thing — they’d look a little odd on the Heston 60’s smaller frame — and partially a practical thing. When wall-mounted (which you can easily do thanks to the included wall-mount grommets), the Heston 60’s controls face forward, not up, and sit at the bottom edge, where knobs would just look weird, poking out into space. Another benefit to going knobless: fewer visual distractions.

Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Speaking of distractions, the Marshall Wi-Fi app lets you alter the brightness of the control panel LEDs. That’s not a big deal when the Heston 60 is sitting on a surface, but when wall-mounted, it’s essential, as those little lights will be shining right at you.

Cleverly, both the control panel and the Marshall script logo are magnetic. When you swap from flat to wall-mounted, you can reposition both pieces so the Heston 60 retains its looks.

Yes, you can decide not to affix the Marshall logo, and no, it doesn’t have magnets.  They’re behind the grille (I mean fret), so you won’t be able to stick the logo to your car, your fridge, or any other metal surface unless you use glue.

Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Another clever feature for wall-mounting is the removable back compartment cover. It acts as a cable guide, ensuring you always get a clean install, regardless of which way you place the speaker.

At just over 2.5 inches tall, it should tuck under almost any stand-mounted TV. Partially blocking the top of the speaker shouldn’t be a problem, but leave the sides unobstructed — the angled, side-firing drivers need room to do their job. 

Repairability didn’t strike me as being very important on the massive, 15.5-pound Heston 120 — I figure most folks won’t be moving it once they set it in place — but the Heston 60, at just six pounds, is a relative featherweight. You might well want to move it from room to room, in which case, being able to replace the fret, end caps, drivers, and even the circuit boards could be a bonus.

Marshall Heston 60 review: Set up Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

If all you want is TV sound, setting up the Heston 60 is dead-simple: plug the speaker into your TV via an HDMI cable and then plug it into the wall with the power cord (both are included in the box). You can control the volume using your TV’s remote.

To get the most out of the Heston 60, however, you’ll need the Marshall Wi-Fi app (gold icon, not silver). It will walk you through the process of connecting the Heston to your Wi-Fi network (vital for Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Tidal Connect, etc.), download any required software updates, and prompt you to complete the soundbar’s built-in room correction process, which takes less than two minutes.

Credit: Marshall Credit: Marshall

Because the Heston doesn’t ship with its own remote, the app is also the way you’ll control the speaker’s source (HDMI/Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/Aux-in), EQ, and sound modes (music/movies/night/voice) from your sofa.

While the app is easy to use, it can suffer from long communication lags. If I left the app (say to start a stream from Spotify or Tidal) and then returned, it could take the Marshall app up to 10 seconds to reconnect to the Heston 60.

Marshall Heston 60 review: Connections and controls

On the back panel, you’ll find an HDMI-ARC/eARC port — standard for soundbars these days — and two far less common connections: a 3.5 analog input and a wired subwoofer output.

I’ve gotta give props to Marshall here. Most compact soundbars are treated as TV speakers with Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth if you want to play music. With the 3.5mm input, the Heston 60 can be connected to a turntable or literally any audio source that has an analog output.

The sub-out is even more beneficial. While the Heston 60 is designed to pair wirelessly with the Heston Sub 200 ($599), the sub output lets you use any powered subwoofer with an RCA input. This could save you a lot of money, as used powered subs are readily available for far less than the price of Marshall’s wireless unit.

The port that baffles me somewhat is the USB-C. On the Heston 120, it’s a handy power supply for stick-style streamers that plug into that speaker’s HDMI inputs. Since the Heston 60 doesn’t have any HDMI inputs, I’m not sure what you’ll use it for. Maybe recharging your phone?

Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

The Heston lacks an Ethernet jack, but it supports Wi-Fi 6. With Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, UPnP, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect, the Heston 60 can connect to almost any music source. And with native decoding of AAC, Mpeg4, ALAC, FLAC, LPCM, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, and WMA9, it will play almost any content you throw at it.

Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs provides ad-hoc audio streaming from a mobile device.

The top controls are intuitive and easy to use, with dedicated buttons for source, play/pause/track skipping, volume, and sound mode. Then there’s the “Prog.” button, which I assume is short for “programmable.” No idea why Marshall labeled it that when, in reality, it’s how you access your stored preset. And yes, I mean preset, singular. In the Marshall app, you can pick a currently playing source from Spotify or an internet radio station from the embedded Airable feature to be associated with that programmable button.

There’s no power button. Once you plug it in, the soundbar is on all of the time. It will switch to a low-power standby mode when it hasn’t been actively used in a while.

Marshall Heston 60 review: For movies and shows Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Under the hood, the Heston 60 sports 7 discrete drivers (five full-range, plus two woofers) and amps. That’s more than both the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Bose’s Smart Soundbar, which only have five powered drivers apiece. The key difference is Heston 60’s ability to process low-frequency effects (LFE) in a 5.1-channel arrangement (Beam is a 5.0 system and the Smart Soundbar is 3.0.2).

When it comes to watching movies, this translates into a much more gutsy sound than you’d expect from a compact bar. Marshall sent me the Heston Sub 200 to try out, and there were times when I’d forget that the Sub 200 was unplugged from the wall — such is the Heston 60’s low-end punch.

There’s excellent energy and presence throughout the rest of the frequency range as well. The Heston 60 excels at creating big, cinematic sound. It’s not perfect, however. The speaker seems to struggle to keep soundtrack elements from overlapping and interfering with each other. This is most noticeable with dialogue. In scenes where two characters are speaking, without much background sound, voices are clear and intelligible. When the background gets busy, like in the bombing run scene from Unbroken, speech can get muddied. You can use Voice mode to help with this, but the higher you boost this setting, the more you lose the lower frequencies that make movies so enjoyable.

Credit: Marshall

I’m not sure, but I suspect this is tied to Marshall’s use of five full-range drivers and no tweeters. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 uses a central tweeter and offers better overall dialogue clarity.

There are also times when the Heston 60 seems confused about how to process that amazing low-end. During the Aston Martin chase scene from No Time To Die, there were moments when I expected to hear a thump or thud (and didn’t) and moments where I heard them and hadn’t been expecting any.

Speaking of No Time To Die, that same clip is one of my go-to references for Dolby Atmos testing, along with select scenes from Dune and Ford v Ferrari. All of these scenes demonstrated that the Heston 60 can fully deliver on the emotion of these movies, but spatial effects — most notably height channel sounds — are limited.

This isn’t unusual for a compact speaker with no dedicated height drivers. The Heston 60 (like the Beam Gen 2) has to virtualize any height channel content, a tough challenge, especially when the same drivers are being used to generate all of the other sound you’re hearing. It also means there’s no way to goose the height channel levels to help out.

Still, even though there’s not much in the way of added height, the Heston 60 generates a decently wide soundstage, which goes a long way to creating a sense of immersion.

Marshall Heston 60 review: For Music

Like its bigger sibling, the Heston 120, the Marshall Heston 60 is a great music speaker. The energy, bass response, and overall emotional impact it imparts to movies translates beautifully to music.

Once again, the Heston’s dual woofers are the main ingredient, lending a resonant quality to all music styles. The warmth and tone remind me a lot of the Sonos Beam Gen 2, but with an extra level of musicality. 

I really like the Heston’s default Music mode tuning, which sounds better the louder you play, but each mode can also be tweaked using the Marshall app’s equalizer.

Credit: Marshall

Unfortunately, the Heston 60’s music performance can be like Jekyll and Hyde, depending on the format and connection method. Normally, Google Cast is the most reliable way to stream high-quality audio, but doing so from Amazon Music on an iPhone produced abnormally low volume levels.  

Direct streaming (Tidal Connect/Spotify Connect), AirPlay, and Bluetooth were all more reliable and sounded great.

Dolby Atmos Music is another quirky situation: make sure the Heston 60 is set to Movie mode. Atmos Music has an extremely low level in Music mode. The soundbar defaults to Music mode when the source is set to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or line-in, so if something sounds amiss, check the mode and try one of the other settings.

The Heston 60 will play Dolby Atmos Music tracks, both from TV or streamer-based apps like Apple Music, Tidal, or Amazon Music, or directly via Tidal Connect. Ordinarily, Atmos Music on a capable soundbar is a treat, with an expanded soundstage and (depending on the mix) intriguing use of 3D space. Similar to the Heston’s Atmos performance with movie content, you just don’t get the same level of immersion that you would with a higher-end speaker like the Heston 120. Moreover, on the Heston 60, Atmos Music tends to exhibit sharper, more sibilant highs than conventional stereo.

It’s worth noting that, as great as the Heston 60 is as a standalone music speaker, it can’t compare to either Sonos’ or Bose’s multiroom functionality, and the lack of any music management within the Marshall app means the Heston is simply an endpoint for your favorite streaming apps. Still, if you want a soundbar that can do vinyl, the choice is clear — neither the Beam Gen 2 nor the Smart Soundbar can connect to turntables.

Marshall Heston 60 review: Sound adjustments

Built-in room calibration is another bonus for such a small speaker like the Heston 60, though don’t expect to be wowed by the result. Depending on your room size, shape, and furniture, you may get a new EQ curve that keeps the bass levels from becoming overbearing (or may give them a slight tweak). In my TV room, it didn’t make any difference at all.

If you’re not happy with the calibration, you can repeat the process or disable it entirely.

Each sound mode gives the speaker a different tuning. Music tends to be the most neutral, while Movie emphasizes highs and lows. Night reduces dynamic range for low-intensity viewing, and Voice de-emphasizes lows and lower-mids while boosting speech frequencies.

If you don’t love the sound of a specific mode, you can tweak it using the custom EQ feature. These tweaks then become associated with that mode and will stick around even as you move from one mode to another.

Is the Marshall Heston 60 worth it?

At $699, the Marshall Heston 60 is one of the most expensive compact soundbars you can buy. Its closest competitors, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Bose Smart Soundbar are priced up to $200 lower (and get regular discounts throughout the year).

An up to 40 percent premium over these two excellent speakers is a lot to justify, and I’m not sure that the Heston 60 does so.

For its size, it produces big, bold sound for both movies and music, and its built-in woofers deliver stronger bass than the Beam or the Smart Soundbar. I really like the flexibility of being able to add any subwoofer, and having an analog input increases the Heston’s versatility. It’s also hard to deny that Marshall’s iconic design makes a classy addition to any room — it doesn’t look like your average soundbar.

And yet, the Heston’s Dolby Atmos effects aren’t significantly better than the Beam or Smart Soundbar, and for some things, notably dialogue clarity, expandability, and multiroom audio, these two competitors have the edge.

To seriously consider the Heston 60 over these alternatives, you need to value all of its unique features, not just some of them. If that sounds like you, the Heston 60 is very easy to recommend. It may not be the perfect compact soundbar, but no other speaker offers its particular mix of style, sound, and features.

Marshall Heston 60 soundbar $699.99 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy See It at Marshall Headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Heston Sub 200 $599.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Marshall Heston 60 review: Just the specs

• Dimensions: 28.74 x 2.68 x 4.88 inches

• Wall-mountable: Yes, wall-mount included

• Remote included: No

• Number/type of drivers: 7 (5 full-range, 2 woofers)

• Number/power of amps: 7 class D (2 x 25 watts, 5 x 5 watts)

• Channels/configuration: 5.1

• Ports: HDMI eARC, 3.5mm AUX-in, sub-out, USB-C

• Wired/Wireless networking: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6

• WiFi streaming platforms: Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA

• Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, LC3

• Audio codecs: MPEG-4, ALAC, FLAC, LPCM, Ogg, Vorbis, WMA, WMA9 

• Audio formats: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS-X

• Expandable: via Auracast

• In the box: soundbar, HDMI cable, power cable, Quick-start guide

• Colors: Black, Cream

Seven months after Heated Rivalry debuted on HBO, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody has opened Off-Broadway. Catering to fans who can't get enough of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, the musical hits the biggest beats of the TV show, with the occasional half-hearted jabs at its quirks. But overall, this parody is less about Jacob Tierney's wildly popular adaptation of Rachel Reid's smut hockey novel, and more about playing to the fans — and not just fans of Heated Rivalry itself. 

Theater adults will likely chuckle at nods to Gypsy, Little Shop of Horrors, The Full Monty, and more. For instance, the book by Dylan MarcAurele begins by taking a page from Titanique.

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody focuses on a diva, not the hockey dudes. Cherry Torres, Ryann Redmond, and Ryan Duncan play Susans in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

This parody begins not by introducing the rival hockey pros but three fans of Heated Rivalry, all named Susan. They sing about how watching "gay hockey players with big butts having sex" gives their boring home lives much-craved spice. And they can't wait to welcome you into the fandom. 

The structure of this parody seems pretty clearly cribbed from the Off-Broadway parody of Titanic, which is now a four-time Tony-nominated Broadway show. Both center on a female narrator who is eccentric, passionate, and can sing like a pop diva rather than the lovers at the heart of the story. In Titanique, that's the musical's co-creator Marla Mindelle. In Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody, it's Ryann Redmond, who plays the Main Susan. 

Redmond delivers a delicious drag performance that exaggerates the stereotypical Heated Rivalry fan that's gotten a lot of attention since the show came out. Susan is middle-aged, white, straight, loves gay smut, and has a Midwestern accent as thick as ambrosia salad. Like the show itself, Susan is a parody done with great affection. And Redmond is remarkable in the role, giving plenty of heart to deeply silly original songs, as well as references to other musicals, like Gypsy ("It's Rose's turn!").

Bolstering her are fellow Susans, played by Cherry Torres and Ryan Duncan; the latter seems to be channeling John Roberts' internet icon mom, down to the frizzy red wig and penchant for sweat suits. Together, this trio plays most of the supporting roles in the musical, including Shane's mom, Ilya's dad, smoothie-maker Kip, movie star Rose, and Kip's co-worker Maria. What about Shane's dad? Well, there's a joke that he's so boring he's been cut, but the other excuse is he's off looking for his phone charger! (IYKYK.) 

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody gives one audience member a chance to be a star.  Cherry Torres and Ryan Duncan play Maria and Kip in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

You might have clocked I didn't mention Scott Hunter, the closeted captain of the New York Admirals whose big moment of kissing Kip after winning the Stanley Cup gives Ilya the courage to say the line: "I'm coming to the cottage." 

Well, in this parody, he's not played by one of the cast. Instead, they pull an audience member up on stage to play Kip. As Susan, Redmond declared, "Tonight, the role of Scott Hunter will be played by one of you." And the night I attended, the "you" selected was New York Times contributor Tim Teeman.

He was handed a script and thrust into the meet-cute where Kip (Duncan) meets Scott at the smoothie shop, while Maria mostly says "girl" over and over. Teeman was game to play out seven pages of dialogue, as Duncan flirted and swooned. And it was a charming gambit that reflects the popularity of working in the audience on Broadway shows like Titanique, Every Brilliant Thing, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball. 

However, the sheer goofiness of this bit reflects how every bit of Ilya and Shane's romance is handled.

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody has sex but no heat.  Jay Armstrong Johnson and Jimin Moon play Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

Perhaps it's too much to expect a swiftly made musical parody to capture the uniquely thrilling onscreen chemistry of Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. But Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody doesn't really try. 

The couple's meet-cute over a cigarette feels stiff in the hands of their Ilya (Jay Armstrong Johnson). And while the show gets sillier from there — including a song number about how Ilya's big butt has been a burden he's carried and been ostracized for all his life — Johnson fails to rise to the level of Storrie's cheek. 

Jimin Moon fares better as Shane, heightening the hockey pro's social awkwardness to comical proportions that feel reflective of rom-com daffiness. The song "This Fuck Felt Different from the Last Fuck" plays hilariously because of Moon's earnestness, treating the spicy lyrics as if they are a Disney princess "I wish" song. But he's better paired with Redmond, who plays his bawdy beard Rose. Together, they score laughs with his wide-eyed shock at her frankness, which is bolstered by Redmond's sensational pipes. 

Ryann Redmond and Jimin Moon play Rose and Shane in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

In scenes of sex and seduction, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody favors cheap laughs, employing dummies to act out frantic fucking. The actors may look the part of Ilya and Shane, but they can't recreate their chemistry. So, what we're left with are jokes about douching and zany reenactments of the show's most pivotal scenes. 

Curiously, the one song from Heated Rivalry's soundtrack the parody uses is t.A.T.u.'s "All the Things She Said," with Johnson and Moon singing a bit before the full track blares in the small theater, turning the vibe to night club. This club scene that drove fans wild is treated with some reverence, aside from two Susans playing bump-and-grinding party girls who seem oblivious to their dancing partner's disinterest. Yet the intensity of this moment is lost, even with the familiar song, because of an abundance of silliness and a lack of heat between its leading men. 

Frustratingly, the bits of Heated Rivalry that the fandom loved for their charming silliness — like Shane's pain-killer-addled plea for Ilya to come to his cottage — are not memorably interpreted. So the final act falls flat, despite the best efforts and intense enthusiasm of the Susans. 

While some parodies can give a fun new spin on the source material (see Puffs), others can get too caught up in their own cleverness to appease fans (Exorcistic: The Rock Musical). Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody falls in between.

Jimin Moon plays Shane Hollander in "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody." Credit: Matthew Murphy

The audience on the night I attended howled with laughter throughout, whether the jokes were about sex, the show, hockey, or just playing the audio from Storrie's early days on YouTube.

Admittedly, I struggled to enjoy the show because of some horrendous technical issues. First off, my seat on the right-hand side of the Culture Club theater was not listed as an obstructed view. However, between the columns in the tight space, the compact size of the stage, and the very tall man who sat in front of me, I spent much of the musical craning my neck and wiggling around trying to see what was going on. For instance, during the show's climactic cheeky moment, a seeming nod to The Full Monty's Broadway finale, I couldn't see anything — despite seeing plenty being the whole point. 

The other issue was a loud, mechanical humming that came from a massive in-room air conditioner. I did go see this on an abruptly scorching day. But letting this unit run throughout the show meant the performers were in a battle against the shockingly loud, droning white noise. With no intermission and sold-out shows, I had no option but to sit and try my hardest to see and hear as much as I could. Admittedly, this might be why the only song whose lyrics stuck with me is the opening about "gay hockey players with big butts," which is reprised at the end. 

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody is now playing Off-Broadway.

TL;DR: Watch Canada vs. Finland in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships final is calling to Canada and Finland, but only one team can make that showpiece event. Canada have looked like the team to beat for much of this tournament, but Finland will pose a serious threat in this semi final.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Canada vs. Finland?

Canada vs. Finland in the 2026 IIHF World Championships starts at 2 p.m. ET on May 30. This fixture takes place at the Swiss Life Arena.

How to watch Canada vs. Finland for free

Canada vs. Finland in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to live stream for free on IIHF.TV.

IIHF.TV is not available in some locations due to regional broadcasting restrictions (blocked locations listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Connect to IIHF.TV

5. Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream Canada vs. Finland plus every other fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Ice Hockey World Championships?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

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• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Canada vs. Finland in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price of $1,599.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

We're constantly tracking the best deals from the world of tech, but it's quiet out there at the moment. It's rarely like this, but we're in a weirdly peaceful period between Memorial Day and Prime Day right now. So should we give up on securing huge price drops? Absolutely not.

There are still some truly impressive deals to consider, especially if you're shopping for a drone. For a limited time, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off and really close to the record-low price for this premium model.

There are ongoing conversations surrounding DJI imports in the U.S., but current retail stocks are cleared for consumer purchase. And it looks like retailers are trying to shift stock ahead of the summer.

If you're looking to jump into aerial content creation without a steep learning curve, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a smart entry point. This drone's omnidirectional obstacle sensing radar with ActiveTrack automation gives beginners the freedom to capture cinematic shots without the worry of crashing your $1,099 investment.

Secure a massive price drop on the DJI Mini 5 Pro at Amazon.