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Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 11, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 22:00

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

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 July 11, 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 July 11, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Bird-related.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter A appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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...

AVIAN

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.

Meta Removes A.I. Feature on Instagram After Days of Backlash

NYT Technology - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 20:56
Users and Hollywood agencies raised privacy and copyright concerns about the new tool, Muse Image.

A new voice dictation app just launched a lifetime subscription for $40

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 18:00

TL;DR: VoiceType is a new dictation software with up to 99.7 percent accuracy for up to 360 words per minute, and it’s only $40 for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: VoiceType AI VoiceType AI Voice-to-Text: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Words/Month) $39.97
$419 Save $379.03   Get Deal

Speaking is dramatically faster than typing, but dictation software has always been too unreliable to replace a keyboard for real work. VoiceType is a new voice dictation software that is up to 99.7 percent accurate and can transcribe up to 360 words per minute, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for $39.97 (reg. $419).

VoiceType runs in the background and works across every application on your computer. You can dictate into email, Notion, Linear, code editors, or anything else you already use without switching tools. As you speak, VoiceType auto-formats your text with proper punctuation and capitalization, and it’ll flag grammatical errors and suggest cleaner phrasing along the way.

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Tone Match adjusts VoiceType’s output based on which app you’re using, so an email draft reads differently than project documentation without you needing to make the manual edits. Whisper Mode picks up on quieter speech for when you’re working around other people, and context awareness helps reduce typos and misspelled names by paying attention to what you’re working on. You can even use VoiceType in different languages. It already supports over 35 of them.

VoiceType runs on macOS 11 or later and Windows 10 or later (64-bit only). Apple Silicon, Intel, and x64 Windows are all supported. You’ll need a working microphone and an internet connection for transcription. There’s no mobile app, so this is desktop only.

Over 650,000 people have already made the switch, and it’s not hard to see why. The unlimited plan even removes the cap on monthly word count, so you can talk through as many projects as you want.

Talk it out with your next project. Get a VoiceType AI Voice-to-Text Lifetime Subscription on sale for $39.97. Offer ends July 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple Sues OpenAI, Accusing It of Stealing Company Secrets

NYT Technology - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 17:08
The two companies struck a deal in 2024 to offer A.I. services on Apple devices, but their partnership has soured.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Everything we know so far

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 13:57

Last year, I said the ultra-thin Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was the best foldable we've ever tested. That means the rumored successor device has big shoes to fill.

After months of speculation, Samsung finally confirmed that it will hold a Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, where it will presumably announce its newest batch of foldable devices, among other things. While this means we haven't yet seen the follow-up to the Z Fold 7 in an official capacity, there's been enough reporting online to build a decent profile of the phone before its unveiling.

Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra so far.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Health app gets big refresh ahead of Galaxy Watch 9 release Latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra rumors: Price and release date

As mentioned previously, everyone expects Samsung to show off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in London on July 22. That means the phone will most likely launch shortly after that, as per usual. As for its price, last year Samsung charged $1,999 for the Z Fold 7, which was itself a $100 price increase over the previous model.

There haven't been any concrete reports about the price of the new Z Fold just yet, but based on the way things are going in the tech world, thanks to RAMageddon, it might be reasonable to expect an even higher price this year. If we're lucky, it might "only" be another $100 price hike. It's just hard to see it staying the same considering the market conditions right now.

Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold Wide, or Fold Ultra: Will the name change?

This is where things start getting a little confusing regarding the Z Fold series.

Multiple reports have suggested that the device will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, with the regular Z Fold 8 name going instead to a rumored third foldable that Samsung is allegedly going to announce at the show. More on that in a bit. Given that there have now been multiple official certifications referring to the device as "Z Fold 8 Ultra," we're going to stick with that name for the duration of this article, even though Samsung hasn't confirmed it yet.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Design This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

There have been a bevy of leaks all but confirming the existence of the new "Wide Fold" phone, alongside the Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Z Flip 8. Prominent leaker Sonny Dickson, for example, posted photos of some dummy units that very clearly show a new device that looks a lot like the Z Fold 7 next to one that looks like the Z Flip 7, and one that doesn't look like any Samsung foldable we've seen before.

Last year, the Z Fold 7 had a 6.5-inch outer display and an 8-inch unfolded inner display, and all signs point to Samsung maintaining a size profile similar to that for the Z Fold 8. What differentiates it from the "Wide Fold" phone is that the latter would have a smaller 5.4-inch outer display alongside a 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

You might wonder why Samsung is doing that. Well, that would be because Apple is reportedly working on an iPhone Fold to launch late this year with a wider design than book-style foldables like the Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Thus, Samsung's "Wide Fold" device is clearly gearing up to compete with Apple's handset. There have been leaked images of an iPhone Fold dummy case, and it does look a lot like the wide phone in the earlier Samsung dummy image.

So, expect a head-to-head battle between the Z Fold 8 Wide and the iPhone Fold Ultra later this year.

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

The Z Fold 7 was impressive last year because of its incredibly svelte size for a foldable; it measured in at just 8.9mm when folded and merely 4.2mm when unfolded, with a light weight of 215g. We don't yet know how much smaller the Z Fold 8 Ultra will be, if at all, but one Korean news report suggested it could be even lighter, coming in at 200g. That would be very exciting, as the thinness of last year's model was a huge reason it stood (and continues to stand) above most of the competition.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Specs

We don't yet know a lot about what will be inside the Z Fold 8 Ultra, unfortunately. But there is a little bit of info we can chew on for now.

Namely, the same Korean news report with the weight information also suggested Samsung could upgrade the battery cell from 4,400mAh to 5,000mAh. The battery life in the Z Fold 7 was really the only disappointing aspect of the device, so this would be a hugely welcome change. It could work in tandem with a new chipset, most likely a Snapdragon chip like the powerful ones seen in the Galaxy S26 line earlier this year.

That increased battery size might also come with up to 45W charging speeds, which would be lovely. Other than that, we don't know what to expect from the Z Fold 8 Ultra in terms of everyday performance. That said, the Z Fold 7 was quite a nice phone to use, so Samsung doesn't need to fix what isn't broken in that regard.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Cameras The camera array on the Z Fold 7. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Lastly, an intriguing update from Dutch outlet Galaxy Club suggested that Samsung could somewhat dramatically improve the rear camera array on the Z Fold 8 Ultra. For reference, the Z Fold 7 had a 200MP main shooter to go with a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 10MP telephoto lens.

If this report is to be believed, Samsung is keeping the 200MP lens, but upping the ultrawide lens from 12MP to 50MP, and the telephoto from 10MP to 12MP. It's hard to say without doing any testing how much of an effect that will have, but these new lenses should produce sharper images, at least in theory. You can probably also expect at least a few new AI image editing tricks this year, to go along with better hardware.

The reveal of the Z Fold 8 Ultra is still a couple of weeks away, but at least now we have a basic idea of what to expect from the phone, even if its name is confusing.

OpenAI is shutting down its Atlas web browser

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 13:41

Nine months ago, OpenAI announced the launch of its brand new web browser known as Atlas. Now the AI giant has announced it is sunsetting the product.

OpenAI's James Sun, a member of the product staff, announced a slew of OpenAI updates Thursday. These included the new ChatGPT 5.6 and a new desktop app called ChatGPT Work.

But then at the end of the announcement, Sun revealed that the company was shutting down Atlas — having learned what it could from user behavior. 

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

"All these capabilities were built on what we learned from Atlas users who took a leap of faith on a new browser," Sun said. "You taught us how agents can help make browsing and doing work on the open web better, and we are applying these learnings to these new products."

Atlas was the company's bid to build a browser with AI built in, via a ChatGPT integration. Users could prompt ChatGPT to interact directly with the web page they were currently on.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT’s AI market share slips to a historic new low

The new ChatGPT Work, meanwhile is basically Atlas plus.

ChatGPT Work focuses on AI agents. For example, users can provide ChatGPT Work with tasks involving documents or files, and the AI assistant will get to work on those tasks in the background. These include both local tasks and online tasks, which can be completed through ChatGPT Work's built-in web browser.

In short, the idea is that ChatGPT Work brings more AI functionality to users' computers, including Atlas' featureset, rendering a standalone web browser unnecessary.

OpenAI's current target date for shutting the Atlas browser down is August 9. 

Facebook and Instagram violate laws due to addictive design, EU finds

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 13:40

Sometimes it feels like the European Union is the only entity on Earth that's interested in reigning in big tech companies.

Case in point: On Thursday, the European Commission preliminarily found that Meta apps like Facebook and Instagram were in breach of the EU's Digital Services Act, on the grounds that they feature "addictive design." The commission noted features such as autoplaying videos, infinite scrolling, personalized recommendations, and more as evidence that these apps encourage users to keep using them.

Meta is facing a possible fine of up to 6 percent of its annual turnover, per CNBC. Given that this is a preliminary finding, there is presumably still time for Meta to get out of paying the fine.

SEE ALSO: Meta Ray-Ban glasses brick the camera if you mess with recording light

"We disagree with these preliminary findings, which don't accurately take into account the significant steps we’ve taken to protect teens," a Meta spokesperson told CNBC.

In fairness to Meta, the company did recently launch new settings for teen accounts across its services. With teen accounts, parents can block their kids from using the apps at night and set daily time limits. Meta also told CNBC that it "[shares] the European Commission’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive online experiences" and will continue to work with the organization.

The EU has been a watchdog for big tech companies for years, in the absence of much scrutiny from the U.S. government. Earlier this year, the EU also accused Meta of not doing enough to keep children off its apps, and it also just recently won a lengthy legal battle with Google over anti-competitive practices.

Watch China catch its first rocket booster — in a net

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 12:22

China flew and then recovered a new Long March rocket booster, a first for the country and a key step toward cheaper, reusable spaceflight.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported Friday that the Long March-10B rocket lifted off from Hainan Province and placed whatever it was carrying — the announcement did not say — into orbit on its debut flight. After the upper part of the rocket continued toward space, the booster — the powerful first stage that does the heavy lifting at launch — turned around and flew back toward Earth.

Instead of crashing into the ocean, the booster steered itself onto a special ship at sea, where a huge net caught it and left it hanging in place. Engineers described the system as the world's first cross-shaped, high-strength "arresting" net for rockets, paired with hooks on the booster that help it grab. You can watch a video of the booster's catch below.

Reusing boosters can sharply cut launch costs, let rockets fly more often, and give countries an edge in the intensifying space race. The United States — especially through companies like SpaceX — has pushed reusability for years, and China is now moving to match that capability. For national space programs and private companies, flying the same hardware again and again turns space access from a rare, expensive event into something closer to routine transportation.

SEE ALSO: A NASA spacecraft just woke up from a nearly yearlong nap

SpaceX first proved this kind of reuse was possible in Dec. 2015, when one of its Falcon 9 rockets launched satellites and then steered the first-stage booster back to a landing pad. The booster plunged back through the atmosphere, fired its engines to slow down, and touched down upright rather than falling into the ocean. 

Since then, SpaceX has proven it can also catch a Starship booster with giant mechanical arms, called "chopsticks," at the launchpad. Blue Origin also successfully landed a New Glenn booster on a barge about eight months ago — before the rocket exploded in May, resulting in a disastrous setback for the company. 

According to Xinhua, the Long March-10B's booster went through a six-minute "extreme return journey" after it separated from the upper stage. It coasted, adjusted its position, fired its engines to slow down, and used the air itself to brake before it reached the ship.

Waiting below was a large sea-based platform delivered in late 2025, Xinhua said. The vessel measures about 470-feet-long and 160-feet-wide. A tall tower anchors the net system, while sensors like LIDAR — a type of laser-based rangefinder — track the falling booster's path and angle in real time.

Rather than having landing legs, China's new system had the booster fly straight into a massive net. Specialized cables then absorbed the booster's energy and left it hanging motionless in the center, in a fully automated process, according to officials quoted by Xinhua.

Engineers say this catch approach lets them simplify the booster itself. By skipping heavy landing gear and other equipment, they can lighten the rocket and free up more room to carry satellites, the sources said.

A crowd watches a Long March-10B rocket launch in China's Hainan Province on Friday, July 10, 2026. Credit: Xinhua

The Long March-10B, a liquid-fueled rocket, stands over 200 feet tall and about 16.5 feet wide, according to Xinhua. It produces close to 1,000 U.S. tons of thrust at liftoff and weighs roughly 840 tons when fully fueled. In its reusable mode, it can carry up to 18 tons of cargo to low-Earth orbit — the region of space around the planet where many communications and Earth-watching satellites fly.

Chinese officials say the rocket targets the growing commercial launch market, where companies want to send up networks of satellites quickly and at lower cost. The Long March-10B can handle jobs like creating satellite internet constellations.

Chen Muye, from the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said the maiden flight marks a breakthrough in low-cost, heavy-lift reusable rocketry for China and is meant to boost the country's commercial space competitiveness. He added that the technology will also support China's future crewed rocket program.

The Bose SoundLink Max just dropped to its lowest price to date — buy for $249 at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 11:59

SAVE 38%: As of July 10, you can get the Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth speaker for $249 (down from $399) at Amazon. That's a 38% discount or $150 in savings.

Bose SoundLink Max $249 at Amazon
$399 Save $150   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Walmart

Fourth of July may be behind us now, but that doesn't mean the party has to stop. If you've been looking for a better way to listen to your tunes outside, we just found a deal you won't want to pass up.

Right now, you can get the Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth speaker for $249 (down from $399) at Amazon. That's a 38% discount or $150 in savings. This is also the lowest price we've tracked on this speaker to date.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best portable Bluetooth speakers take your music to-go

This speaker is built for portability. It has a soft, removable rope handle for easy carrying and an IP67 rating, so it's waterproof, dustproof, shock-resistant, and rust-resistant. You can bring it tailgating, to the beach, the pool, or even out in the rain without worrying about it short-circuiting or getting ruined. You'll also get 20 hours of continuous playback, plus a built-in USB-C port to keep your phone charged while the music plays.

The World Cup is leading to more meaningful matches on Feeld

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 11:38

The 2026 FIFA World Cup isn't just causing a spike in activity on Tinder — hookup app Feeld is experiencing changes, too.

While matching behavior remained stable, the app told Mashable that several host cities experienced increases in "meaningful connections" (matches where both users are actively engaging with each other, rather than just viewing profiles or sending a like) on match days.

Meaningful connections in Miami and Kansas City are both up nine percent, and Dallas and Boston are up seven percent each. Seattle and Houston have seen smaller increases, 4.3 and 2.8 percent, respectively.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

There are more visitors scrolling through Feeld overall: International users are up 72 percent in Atlanta and 15 percent in Dallas.

Feeld users may also notice a shift in profiles as the World Cup is underway. In New York City, there's been an 88 percent increase in daters mentioning soccer as an interest, with mentions of soccer, FIFA, and the World Cup up 97 percent year-over-year across the U.S.

International Feeld users are also adding new phrases to profiles that locals are seeing. International users are mentioning "GGG," or "good, giving, and game," 2.61 times more in Houston and 2.32 times in Dallas, compared with local users. Mentions of ethical non-monogamy, meanwhile, are 1.9 times more common with visitors than locals in Miami, and 1.6 times more in Dallas.

Feeld's 2025 RAW report found that sports were among Gen Z's 10 fastest-growing interests, so it's not surprising that the World Cup is impacting how daters are finding hookups.

"An emphasis on experiences, being sociable, and forging intimacy through structured activities and clubs helps understand why more people are vocal about sport," said Professor of Ethics at the University of Leeds, Dr. Luke Brunning, in a statement shared to Mashable.

"Add to that the growing representation of women in sport, as well as the visibility of nonmainstream sports on social media, and cultural emphasis on wellness, fitness, and health, and the stage is set for sport to take a more prominent place in dating."

Get a free month of streaming on Fox One with this BOGO deal

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 11:20

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE: Through July 19, when you sign up for a month of Fox One for $19.99, you'll get a second month for free. That means you'll keep $20 in your pocket and get two full months of streaming live sports and beyond.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One $19.99 for 2 months (save $19.99) Get Deal

Watching live sports is one of the most frustrating things about the streaming era. Well, that and how often we see price increases. But Fox One, the direct to consumer streaming service Fox launched last year, has made things a bit easier for sports fans.

For a limited time, you can get a month of the streaming service for free.

Through July 19, when you sign up for a month of Fox One for its usual $19.99 per month, you'll get a second month for free. That's two months of streaming for the price of one, saving you $19.99.

If you want to tune into the final matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026, this is the best way to do so in the U.S.

Fox is America's home for the World Cup, so if you haven't signed up yet, there's still time. Previously, the only way to watch live Fox channels without cable was through a pay TV provider like YouTube TV or Fubo, which cost upwards of $90 per month. Now, Fox One is the one-stop shop for the entire Fox TV portfolio, allowing you to tune into live local Fox stations, Fox Sports, FS1, and FS2. And $19.99 certainly beats paying $90.

Once the World Cup has wrapped up, you'll have access to select NFL games (including preseason), live Fox TV shows, Big Ten college football games, local news and weather, and so much more. If you don't want to stick around after the two-month promo period, be sure to cancel before your subscription auto-renews for the following month.

How to watch Japan vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 10:52

TL;DR: Watch Japan vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's week two of the 2026 Nations Championship, and we're getting another stack of northern vs. southern hemisphere fixtures.

Both Japan and Ireland scored wins last week and will enter this weekend's contest with some momentum. Japan scored the bigger win last week, beating Italy 27-10, but arguably had easier competition. Ireland finished with a two-point lead over the formidable Australia. But which team will keep the momentum going?

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Japan vs. Ireland?

Japan vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 11:10 a.m. BST on July 11. This fixture takes place at the McDonald Jones Stadium, Australia.

How to watch Japan vs. Ireland for free

Japan vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Japan vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

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

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch Japan vs. Ireland for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, 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 free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

National French Fries Day 2026 deals: Score free fries from McDonalds, Five Guys, Sheetz, Chick-Fil-A, and more

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 10:50

If you're not eating free fries this week, you're doing life wrong. Just kidding (kind of).

Friday, July 10, is National French Fry Day, which means a bunch of your favorite fast food chains are giving away free fries. While some require a minimum purchase of some kind or a (free) rewards membership, others require nothing but your will to face the crowds at a local establishment. Regardless, this is a made up holiday I, for one, can get behind.

If you're curious which fast food chains are participating in the free fry celebration, we have a running list below. Just be sure to check the details before rushing out to the restaurant of your choice.

Arby's

Arby's Rewards members can get a free fry of any size on July 10 with the purchase of a Cheesesteak online or in app.

Checkers & Rally’s

Celebrate National French Fry Day at Checkers & Rally’s from July 10 through 12 with BOGO free Famous Seasoned Fries of any size and $1 sauce trios.

Chick-Fil-A

From July 7 through 13, Chick-Fil-A is giving out free medium-size Waffle Fries as a reward in the restaurant's app. Just play the in-app "Spot the Cow" game to get the deal. It's limited to one fry reward per person.

Del Taco

July 10 through 13, you can score a free regular fry at Del Taco with with a $3 minimum purchase.

Five Guys

From July 8 through 10, customers who buy a burger, hot dog, or sandwich through the Five Guys app or Five Guys.com will get one free Little Fry. Sign in or create a Five Guys account and enter promo code FRYDAY26 at checkout to get the freebie.

Jack in the Box

Sign up to be a Jack Pack Rewards member if you're not already and you'll be able to grab a free fry of any size on July 10 with a minimum purchase of $1.

McDonald's

On July 10th, National French Fry Day proper, McDonald's is giving out free medium-sized French Fries to Rewards members. Just make a purchase of at least $1 through the McDonald's app to get the deal.

Sheetz

From July 10 through 16, Sheetz is giving away one free bag of fries with any purchase of $10 or more through the Sheetz app (under the OFFERZ tab). The freebie is limited to one per My Sheetz Rewardz member.

Wendy's

Are you a Wendy's Rewards member? Head to the app and make a purchase of at least $5 and you'll get a free fry in any size on National French Fry Day, July 10.

Whataburger

Whataburger rewards members can score a free medium fry with no purchase required on July 10. The offer is valid online or in the app.

White Castle

Head to White Castle on July 10 and pick up free Cheese Fries by using the promo code CHEESY when you place an online or in-app order.

Dreames newest vacuum mop basically pressure-washes your floors

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 10:48

TL;DR: You can grab the Aero Ultra Steam on Amazon or Dreame's website starting July 15 for $799.99.

If you're tired of scrubbing sticky kitchen floors or dealing with stubborn pet messes, Dreame's newest wet/dry vacuum mop is basically built to pressure-wash your house.

Launching on July 15, the Aero Ultra Steam is the latest flagship in the company's lineup and, according to an email from the brand, the first in its class to combine high-temperature steam, hot water, and foaming detergent into one seamless system. (I'm particularly excited for this release — I have two beagles and the Dreame L60 Pro Ultra robot vacuum has literally changed my life.)

SEE ALSO: Dreame's X60 Max Ultra Complete is the best robot vacuum for pet hair I've tested. Sucks that it's so expensive.

It features a "Tri-Force" cleaning system that hits your floors with 392°F SaunaClean steam for chemical-free sanitizing, dissolves tracked-in mud and other non-mentionables with 194°F ThermoRinse hot water, and dispenses a floral-scented FoamWash to neutralize 99 percent of pet odors. (And this is all at 30kPa, Dreame's most powerful suction yet.) It also uses a specialized TangleCut 2.0 scraper to keep the brush roller tangle-free — which is non-negotiable when you're constantly cleaning up hound hair.

The Aero Ultra Steam dispenses a floral-scented foam designed to neutralize 99 percent of pet odors while you clean. Credit: Dreame

Bonus: You'll get 100 minutes of runtime in Eco mode, and the super-slim 3.88-inch profile makes it super easy to reach underneath your couches (or wherever) without moving all the furniture.

You can grab the Aero Ultra Steam on Amazon or Dreame's website starting July 15 for $799.99.

How to watch Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 10:40

TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The second weekend of the 2026 Nations Championship lines up six big games, including Australia vs. France.

Both teams took very narrow losses in the first week, with Australia losing to Ireland and France losing to New Zealand. They both lost by just two points each. Now both teams are looking to make a comeback as they face off in Brisbane.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. France?

Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 8:40 a.m. BST on July 11. This fixture takes place at the Suncorp Stadium, Australia.

How to watch Australia vs. France for free

Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

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

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch Australia vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, 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 free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

You can now preorder The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 10:36

TL;DR: The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book is available for preorder ahead of its Jan. 26, 2027, release date.

If you've already cooked your way through The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook and are looking for a new offline hobby, it might be time to pick up a crochet hook. Random House Worlds just announced that its The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book is ready for preorder, so you have one more way to bring Pelican Town into the real world.

SEE ALSO: 'Stardew Valley' major update will let you marry its most hated character

The upcoming book includes 25 base patterns that can be used to create over 45 amigurumi figures. According to the publisher, there are projects for all skill levels — you can start with a basic Slime pattern and eventually work your way up to a "proposal-worthy" Mermaid Pendant. You can also stitch up an entire coop of different colored chickens, build a seasonal Junimo Hut, or recreate Mayor Lewis's iconic Lucky Purple Shorts.

The book doesn't hit shelves until Jan. 26, 2027, but if you want to secure a copy before you inevitably forget about it, the hardcover edition is available for preorder at major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble.

Where to preorder 'The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book' Barnes & Noble 'The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book' $29 at Barnes & Noble Pre-Order Here Amazon 'The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book' $32 at Amazon Pre-Order Here Target 'The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book' $32.49 at Target Pre-Order Here

How to watch New Zealand vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 10:33

TL;DR: Watch New Zealand vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's the second weekend of action in the 2026 Nations Championship. A stacked day of northern vs. southern hemisphere games kicks off with New Zealand vs. Italy.

New Zealand eked out a narrow win over France last week while Italy fell short to Japan. Can Italy take the opportunity to bounce back? Or are they walking into a heavy defeat at the hands of the mighty All Blacks?

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is New Zealand vs. Italy?

New Zealand vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 6:10 a.m. BST on July 11. This fixture takes place at the HNRY Stadium, New Zealand.

How to watch New Zealand vs. Italy for free

New Zealand vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream New Zealand vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

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

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch New Zealand vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, 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 free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

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

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

How Terrorist Groups Are Using A.I. to Gain an Edge in Battle

NYT Technology - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 10:10
A.I. chatbots are not just a propaganda tool for violent extremists but are aiding in bomb construction and attack planning, new research finds.

Audity reveals her the dream job that could lure her away from TikTok

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 10:09

Fans of Audity (aka Audrey Hopkins) know her for her jubilant energy, her explosive creativity, and her surprising illustrated mash-ups. Her character designs collide with unexpected inspiration points, like Pennywise and Tinkerbell, or her husband as a merman. And the results are digital drawings that are not only winsome but also inspiring followers (13.2 million on TikTok) to create kooky characters of their own.

Out of Vidcon 2026, Audity sat down with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko for a Creator Playbook interview. Here, she revealed how she became a content creator, what she does when she's hit an "art block," and the dream project that could lure her away from TikTok for a bit.

"I love [Dropout] so much," Audity shared, adding, "But Dimension 20, particularly. I want to draw the characters for a season of theirs. Honestly, I've told them before, I'll do it for free."

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage or see more of this year’s Mashable 101 to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna are here. See which ones best for you.

Mashable - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 09:09

These days, new versions of AI chatbots don't just launch; they're unshackled and released to the public following government scrutiny. OpenAI's new GPT-5.6 models were – like Anthropic's Claude Mythos and Fable – apparently too powerful to just launch; but now, after some tinkering, they're available to you, dear customer.

In practice, it simply means that the new GPT-5.6 models are very powerful and smarter than before. In its introductory post, OpenAI shared a bunch of graphs showing just how much better GPT-5.6 is than the competition, whilst using fewer tokens and generally costing less.

OK, great. But GPT-5.6 is not just one model; it comes in three distinct flavors: Sol, Terra, and Luna. So what do different kinds of users get, what should they pay for, and which models should they (mostly) use? Let's dive in.

Free users get (almost) nothing

Sorry; if you're not a paying customer, you'll have to make do with OpenAI's previous flagship model, GPT-5.5. Any sort of access to GPT-5.6 models requires a subscription of some sort. Fortunately, GPT-5.5 is still quite capable at most tasks, but if you want the best of the best, you'll have to cough up the dough.

There's an exception to this: Free and Go users can access GPT-5.6 through ChatGPT Work. More on that below.

If you're a Plus or Business user, you can only get Sol (the most powerful model) at medium and higher effort settings. There's another, higher level of performance called Sol Pro, but that's only available for Pro and Enterprise users.

In terms of availability per one million tokens, the prices are: $5 input and $30 output for Sol. $2.5 input and $15 output for Terra, and $1 input and $6 output for Luna.

SEE ALSO: Visa is connecting with ChatGPT to let AI agents automatically make purchases Sol, Terra, or Luna?

Why are there three models in the first place? Well, OpenAI always had a multi-tier model; for example, previously users were able to choose a "mini" version of the main model to get results done cheaper. Now, the model has been split into three tiers.

If you're a paying customer, you're free to use all three. But you know how it is in the world of LLMs: If you pick the smartest one, your usage limits will get hit faster (yes, there are always usage limits, even if you throw a ton of money at OpenAI).

In the simplest sense, GPT-5.6 Sol is the smartest model, Terra is in between (with roughly GPT-5.5 level of performance), and Luna is the cheapest, fastest, but also least capable of the bunch.

The breakdown is as follows: Terra is a "balanced" model for everyday work. That's the one you should be asking most of your questions. Don't underestimate it, though, as OpenAI claims it performs better than Anthropic's Fable 5 in some cases.

Luna is cost-efficient, and should be used for easy, non crucial everyday tasks; think recipes and movie recommendations. Again, OpenAI says it outperforms Anthropic's Opus 4.8 in some cases, so it's not a slouch, either.

Sol should be reserved for coding, deep research, planning, and cybersecurity: The most demanding tasks. Of course it comes at a (literal) cost: While OpenAI claims it spends less tokens than Anthropic's Fable 5, Sol will still hit usage limits a lot faster than the other variants.

Fun fact: If you ask GPT-5.5 about any of this, right now, it'll give you completely wrong answers. Hopefully OpenAI will fix this soon.

Wait, what's this ChatGPT Work thing, then?

Oh yeah, OpenAI also launched ChatGPT Work, which is a new agent in ChatGPT that can access and take actions on your apps and files, and work in the background until a task is finished. It's powered by Codex (OpenAI's software engineering agent) and GPT-5.6. Think about it as your buddy that will go through your emails and files, browse the web, fetch the relevant data, and create that presentation your boss wants before the day is done.

ChatGPT Work is rolling out to Pro, Enterprise and Edu users first on web and mobile; this will be expanded to Plus and Business users "over the next few days."

On the desktop, Work is available for everyone, including Free users.

Oh, and one more thing: The fact that ChatGPT Work has a built-in browser also means that OpenAI is sunsetting its standalone web browser, Atlas. Sorry.

How about GPT Live?

GPT Live is a new version of ChatGPT Voice and it will show up when you start talking to ChatGPT.

We've covered this in more depth here, but the bottom line is that GPT Live can listen and speak at the same time, allowing it to keep up a more realistic conversation.

Wrapping it all up

The new GPT-5.6 model is smart. It comes in three flavors: Luna, Terra, and Sol, with Sol being the most capable variant, Luna the most affordable one, and Terra somewhere in the middle. You can currently only get them on paid tiers, unless you're using ChatGPT Work on desktop. And ChatGPT Voice has also gotten smarter with GPT-Live underneath, a model that can listen and speak at the same time.

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