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TL;DR: Live stream the Bundesliga for free on CazéTV, AbemaTV, and BBC iPlayer. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Soon enough, there is going to be a lot of football on the calendar. Fans quite simply don't have time to watch everything, but if you're making tough decisions about what to include on your watch list, the Bundesliga should be a priority. Is it the single best league in Europe in terms of overall quality? Probably not, but it's got a strong argument for being the most entertaining.
The big question every season is whether any team can compete with Bayern Munich for the title. Competing with a side stacked with elite talent like Olise, Kane, and Díaz is not easy, but the likes of Dortmund and RB Leipzig always have a chance.
If you want to watch the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Bundesliga?The Bundesliga is Germany's leading professional men's soccer league. It features 18 clubs competing across 34 matchdays, including heavyweight teams like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
The defending champions are Bayern Munich.
When is the Bundesliga?The 2026/27 Bundesliga season runs from Aug. 28 to May 22.
How to watch the Bundesliga for freeThe Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on a number of streaming platforms:
Brazil — CazéTV (up to two live matches per week)
Japan — AbemaTV (two live matches per week)
UK — BBC iPlayer (select Friday evening fixtures)
These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Bundesliga from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the Bundesliga by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil, Japan, or the UK
Visit CazéTV, AbemaTV, or BBC iPlayer
Watch Bundesliga fixtures for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the Bundesliga without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams all season, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for the Bundesliga?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport for free, 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 always 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 — 80% 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 a money-back guarantee).
Live stream the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Get an AcePDF Converter and Editor lifetime license for just $29.99 and handle PDF editing, conversion, OCR, forms, and file management in one app — no recurring subscription required.
Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker AcePDF Converter and Editor: Lifetime License $29.99PDFs have a habit of turning simple tasks into extra work. Whether you’re editing a contract, converting a report to Word, or extracting text from a scanned document, switching between multiple tools gets old fast. AcePDF Converter & Editor brings those features together in one application with a lifetime license.
The software handles both PDF conversion and editing, making it easy to convert files to and from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, HTML, and text while preserving layouts, graphics, and hyperlinks. Built-in batch conversion also helps speed up larger projects.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!One of its most useful features is OCR (optical character recognition). Instead of treating scanned PDFs as static images, AcePDF can recognize text so you can edit, search, or reuse content without starting from scratch. It also lets you create and fill PDF forms, annotate documents, add watermarks, compress large files, and password-protect sensitive information.
Document organization is just as straightforward. You can merge multiple PDFs, split files into separate pages, rotate pages, extract images, or unlock password-protected documents you already own. The latest version now offers full feature support on both Windows and Mac, making it easier to work across platforms.
AcePDF has also earned 4.4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, reflecting positive feedback from users looking for an all-in-one PDF solution.
If you work with PDFs regularly, replacing multiple utilities with a single lifetime license can simplify your workflow and eliminate another recurring software subscription.
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StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get five years of memoryOS for $149.99 (reg. $749.95) and learn scientifically backed memory techniques.
Opens in a new window Credit: memoryOS memoryOS Expert Plan: 5-Year Subscription $149.99Forgetting names, passwords, or key details can be frustrating, but remembering more isn’t always about trying harder. The memoryOS Expert Plan: 5-Year Subscription is designed to help users strengthen memory using proven techniques instead of simple brain games, and it’s currently on sale for $149.99 (reg. $749.95).
Unlike many memory apps that focus on quick puzzles or daily challenges, memoryOS teaches methods used for centuries. At the heart of the platform is the Memory Palace technique, also known as the Method of Loci, which helps organize information in a way that’s easier for your brain to store and retrieve. The app combines that approach with spaced repetition, gamified lessons, and interactive virtual Mind Palaces to make learning feel more engaging than boring and repetitive.
memoryOS focuses on long-term recall rather t
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!han short-term practice. The platform also includes guidance inspired by a World Memory Champion, helping users gradually build stronger memorization habits through structured lessons instead of expecting results overnight.
The skills users will learn can be integral in a wide range of situations. Students can use the techniques while preparing for exams; professionals can remember presentations, names, or certification material; and lifelong learners can retain new information with greater confidence. Even everyday tasks like recalling little but important details can become a less stressful with consistent practice.
According to memoryOS, more than 100,000 users have used the platform, with participants seeing an average 70 percent improvement in memory recall. While individual results will vary, the emphasis on established memorization techniques gives it a different focus than many traditional brain-training apps.
If you’d like to spend less time trying to remember and more time actually recalling important information, the memoryOS Expert Plan: 5-Year Subscription is available for $149.99 (reg. $749.95).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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 hintHue.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerCOLOR
Hurdle Word 2 hintRepresentative.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 6, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerAGENT
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Hurdle Word 3 hintBulgy.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 6, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerBULKY
Hurdle Word 4 hintShady.
Hurdle Word 4 answerDODGY
Final Hurdle hintStick food.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerKEBAB
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 a new lunar phase tonight, the Third Quarter, which means the Moon is now halfway between the Full Moon and New Moon phases. During this stage, exactly half of the Moon's surface appears illuminated from Earth,
What is today’s Moon phase?As of Thursday, Aug. 6, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in the Third Quarter phase, with 48% of its surface visible.
Without any visual aids tonight, there's still a chance of seeing the Oceanus Procellarum, the Copernicus Crater, and the Tycho Crater. If you have a pair of binoculars, these will help you see the Gassendi and Clavius Craters and the Mare Humorum. If you have access to a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Schiller Crater and the Fra Mauro Highlands.
When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.
What are Moon phases?The Moon's appearance changes throughout the month as it orbits Earth, completing one full lunar cycle approximately every 29.5 days, according to NASA. During that journey, the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are constantly shifting, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated surface is visible from our perspective. That's why we see the familiar sequence of phases, from a slim crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the pattern begins again.
The eight phases are:
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.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched baseball.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Pitcher stat sheet
Green: Ultras
Blue: Reads like an NFL team
Purple: Types of pools
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Stats for a Pitcher, Abbreviated
Green: Show of Support in the Crowd
Blue: NFL Teams, Minus the "ERS"
Purple: ___Pool
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #682 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Stats for a Pitcher, Abbreviated: ER, ERA, W, WHIP
Show of Support in the Crowd: BANNER, FLAG, SIGN, TIFO
NFL Teams, Minus the "ERS": COMMAND, PACK, RAID, STEEL
___Pool: BRACKET, LAP, PRIZE, SWIMMING
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 6, 2026The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 6, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 6 PipsNumber (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.
Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.
Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.
Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 6 PipsGreater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.
Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.
Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.
Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.
Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 6 PipsNumber (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.
Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.
Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically.
Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.
Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.
Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love ancient history.
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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 6, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Child's play
Green: They have tracks
Blue: Italian monuments
Purple: Mesh material
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Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Classic wooden toys
Green: Places with lanes
Blue: Iconic Roman landmarks
Purple: Places with nets
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 #1152 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayClassic wooden toys: ALPHABET BLOCKS, CUP-AND-BALL, JACOB'S LADDER, LINCOLN LOGS
Places with lanes: BOWLING ALLEY, FREEWAY, SUPERMARKET, SWIMMING POOL
Iconic Roman landmarks: COLOSSEUM, PANTHEON, SPANISH STEPS, TREVI FOUNTAIN
Places with nets: BARCLAYS CENTER, FISHING BOAT, HOCKEY RINK, TENNIS COURT
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 have a green thumb.
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 MashableBy 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 August 6, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Blossoming forthThe words are related to plants.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe colorful plants.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Brainstorming.
NYT Strands word list for August 6Hawthorn
Magnolia
Flowering Tree
Redbud
Cherry
Dogwood
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 chronic complainer.
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 August 6, 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 August 6, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A complaint.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
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 G.
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...
GRIPE
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.
Samsung's newest batch of foldable phones doesn't officially launch until Aug. 7, but they're evidently doing quite well for themselves already.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra are breaking the company's pre-order records for foldables, according to data that Samsung shared with Mashable. Samsung confirmed that pre-orders in the United States are outpacing the previous Z series record by 30 percent, with the Z Fold 8 (the newest member of the lineup) accounting for nearly half of all pre-orders.
The numbers suggest that foldable phones could finally be ready to break through to the mainstream. Interestingly, the Z Fold 8 is the wider design that matches the rumored shape of the unconfirmed iPhone Ultra Fold. With the apparent success of the Z Fold 8 and Apple set to join the market with a similar device, the smartphone market could soon get a major shakeup.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy users complain of battery drain and overheating after updateSamsung also noted that three times as many Flip users are switching to the larger Fold phones than in previous generations. Considering the nearly $1,900 price tag for the Fold 8 and the $2,100 price of the Z Fold 8 Ultra, that's significant. (Yes, the prices are high, but hey, that's true of everything in tech right now.)
This trend appears to be consistent outside of the US, too.
South Korean customers pre-ordered 1.44 million units over a seven-day period prior to launch, while SamMobile reported that pre-orders are higher than ever in Europe, too. People are clearly vibing with what Samsung is doing.
It's quite the development for the foldable phone market, which first emerged less than a decade ago. Early versions of these phones were expensive, sometimes gimmicky, and featured extremely visible creases in the displays. However, in recent years, foldables have gotten a lot better, and early adopters have identified lots of use cases for folding displays that go beyond gimmicks. Despite this, foldables have mostly remained a niche product.
You have two more days to pre-order the new Galaxy Z Series, which will be officially released in the US on Friday.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 $1,899.99 at SamsungSAVE $40: As of Aug. 5, the Beats Studio Pro are on sale for $159.95 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $159.95 at AmazonShopping around for new headphones? Well, you're in luck, because as of Aug. 5, every color of the Beats Studio Pro is on sale at Amazon, saving you up to $40. The biggest discount is on the sand gray pair, now down to $159.95 from $195.95. However, the other colors aren't far behind, with deep brown, black, navy, and sandstone priced at $169.95.
Unsurprisingly, these Beats headphones deliver seriously impressive audio. They support USB-C lossless audio with optimized sound profiles, as well as 3.5mm wired playback, while different noise-canceling modes let you choose the level of focus you want. There are Active Noise Canceling (ANC) and Transparency modes, letting you switch between total blocking and staying aware of your surroundings.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!They're also designed with comfort in mind. The UltraPlush over-ear cushions mean you won't feel uncomfortable during long listening sessions. Which is ideal, because with these headphones you'll get up to 40 hours of battery life. Heading out the door in a rush? With just a 10-minute Fast Fuel charge, you'll get up to four hours of playback, so you'll be ready to listen even when you're not prepared.
Head to Amazon to score this headphones deal.
Flock cameras are supposed to help police track cars. In Winona, Minnesota, police are now trying to track down the cameras themselves.
All eight license plate readers operated by the Winona Police Department disappeared sometime between July 29 and Aug. 1, according to police. Officers discovered the thefts after one noticed that the system had not recorded any recent activity. When police checked the four locations where the devices had been installed, they found the mounting poles cut near the base and discarded in nearby weeds. The camera equipment was gone.
Two flock cameras had been positioned at each of the four locations along highways entering and leaving the city. Replacing every unit and its pole will cost approximately $3,000 each, leaving the department with an estimated $24,000 bill.
Winona is only the latest Minnesota community to find its Flock equipment damaged or missing.
At least five devices were stolen and another was damaged in Duluth during June and July. In Plymouth, one was found in pieces beneath its pole, while another had its power cord cut. Similar incidents have also been reported in Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Anoka County.
SEE ALSO: What are Flock cameras and why are they so controversial?Most of those cases remain unsolved. One theft in Faribault, however, resulted in an arrest — prosecutors charged a 42-year-old man after he allegedly removed a reader from a 10-foot pole and brought it to a local shop. According to the criminal complaint, the man had previously told an acquaintance that the devices could "track him coming and leaving the city" and allegedly said, "I think I might take one."
Police later recovered the equipment from his garage with black tape covering its lens.
That case provides one possible explanation for why someone might target the technology, but Winona police have not connected their thefts to the larger anti-surveillance movement. Police Sgt. Nicholas Quimby told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Aug. 4 that philosophical opposition and an attempt to sell the components were both motives.
The fight over Flock is moving beyond MinnesotaThe thefts arrive as Flock Safety faces growing scrutiny over the reach of its nationwide surveillance network.
Its automated license plate readers photograph passing vehicles and convert the images into searchable records. Depending on the device and agency, those records can include a car’s plate, location, make, model, color, body type, and distinguishing features such as bumper stickers or roof racks, as Mashable previously reported.
Police departments say that information can help them locate stolen vehicles, find missing people, and identify cars connected to crimes. Flock says approximately 120,000 of its devices are now used in more than 6,000 communities across 49 states.
But the scale that makes the system useful to police is also what concerns its critics. A single reader captures a car at one moment. Thousands of them can allow law enforcement agencies to piece together where someone traveled, even if that person is not suspected of committing a crime.
Questions have also emerged about who can search the information and how widely it can be shared. Investigations have found local license plate data being accessed for immigration enforcement, while mounting cases of police misuse have raised concerns about officers searching for people for personal reasons.
Those concerns are increasingly reaching city halls. Since the beginning of 2026, approximately 23 city councils have voted to cancel, reject, not renew, or deactivate Flock systems. In Minnesota, Columbia Heights voted in June to end its agreement with the company after residents objected to the technology.
The debate is spreading elsewhere. On Aug. 5, two Connecticut state senators asked cities and towns to pause new installations while the state inventories the readers already in use. Their request followed crowded public meetings and calls for greater oversight of how vehicle data is collected and shared.
At the same time, new allegations are giving residents more reasons to question who has access. Two police officers in Ohio recently resigned after internal audits uncovered possible misuse of the city’s system. Department records indicated that one officer searched the same license plate 53 times over six months, sometimes without listing a related case number.
Flock says vandalism puts communities at riskFlock maintains that its technology gives police time-sensitive information that can help solve crimes and locate people in danger.
"People have every right to make their voices heard," spokesperson Courtney Terlecki told the Star Tribune. She argued that damaging the equipment can eliminate an investigative lead or prevent officers from receiving an alert related to an AMBER Alert, a missing-person case, or a violent crime.
Civil liberties groups are encouraging opponents to take their concerns to their local governments. On Aug. 1, the American Civil Liberties Union launched a national “Get the Flock Out” campaign with instructions for organizing through public records requests, petitions, and city council meetings.
Winona officials have not said whether the cameras will be replaced. But with more communities reconsidering Flock and lawmakers weighing new restrictions, the debate over where these cameras belong is far from over.
BookCon returned from its hiatus in April 2026. It was a rousing success, quickly selling out tickets and major news breaking at the event, including the announcement of a new Divergent book. By the end of the weekend, 2027 BookCon dates were dropped, but there's an update for next year's convention.
ReedPop, the organizers behind BookCon, just announced that BookCon will now run for three days in 2027. Returning to the Javits Center, BookCon will take place April 9 to 11. The extra day means there will be even more panels, authors, and workshops to attend — and maybe a better chance at snagging tickets.
"The passion of our fans and the storytelling community found at BookCon 2026 was beyond our wildest dreams, and we can’t wait to bring the event back even bigger next year,” said Jenny Martin, Event Director, ReedPop. “Our team has been hard at work reviewing the feedback we received from attendees and partners after this year’s show, and we are excited about the changes and improvements we are bringing to the 2027 event, starting with the expansion to three days of programming, signings, and shopping."
Last year's event welcomed bestselling authors including Rachel Reid, Veronica Roth, Andy Weir, and Rufi Thorpe. While authors for next year's event have yet to be announced, ReedPop is promising an even bigger BookCon.
When I was growing up, there were few words more devastating than "poser."
I still remember getting called one during my freshman year of high school after showing up in a pair of DC skate shoes. It didn't matter that I genuinely liked them. Someone decided I hadn't "earned" them, that I was trying on an identity that wasn't really mine. Two decades later, I still remember how much it stung.
The internet has always had a vocabulary for sniffing out inauthenticity. First, it was "poser." Then came "try-hard," "hipster," and, more recently, "NPC" and "industry plant." Now there's a new favorite: "larper."
SEE ALSO: Chat, are we cooked? A guide to internet slang in 2026.The word originally referred to people who participate in live-action role-playing (LARP), dressing up as fantasy characters and acting out fictional worlds. But online, "larper" has taken on an entirely different meaning. Today, it's one of the internet's quickest ways to accuse someone of performing an identity instead of living it — someone who watches a single anime and suddenly presents themselves as an expert, a self-proclaimed cinephile who only knows the films everyone else loves, or a creator who adopts an entirely new personality because it's trending online.
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.In other words, Gen Z and Gen Alpha didn't invent the idea of calling someone fake. They just gave it a new name.
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So what is a "larper"?Originally, a LARPer was exactly what the acronym suggests: someone who participates in live-action role-playing, dressing up as fantasy characters and acting out fictional stories with other participants.
There's nothing inherently negative about the term. For thousands of people, LARP is simply a hobby. It's a chance to touch grass and step into another world for a weekend.
Online, though, the definition has evolved. Calling someone a "larper" rarely has anything to do with fantasy role-playing. Instead, it's become shorthand for someone who's seen as performing an identity rather than genuinely inhabiting it.
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.One of the top definitions on Urban Dictionary describes a "larper" as someone who "does something that is way out of their capability but genuinely thinks they can do it," adding, "Dude, stop Larping."
The specifics change, but the accusation stays the same: You're playing a role.
How "larper" escaped fantasyLike so much internet slang, "larper" didn't suddenly appear out of nowhere. It slowly migrated from one corner of the internet to another.
The term circulated for years in gaming communities and online forums before gradually becoming part of internet slang. By the early 2020s, it was commonly being used to describe people perceived as performing expertise, status, or entire identities — whether in politics, tech, fitness, or fandom spaces.
Eventually, the internet realized the joke worked almost everywhere. Now, almost any identity can become the subject of a "larper" accusation. Spend enough time on X, Twitch, or Reddit, and you'll eventually find someone accusing another fan of larping as a weeb, a lifelong gamer, or a movie buff because they only recently discovered the hobby.
Why "larper" feels different from "poser"In many ways, "larper" is simply the modern evolution of "poser."
But there's an important difference. Being called a poser usually meant you didn't belong in a particular scene. Maybe you wore the wrong band shirt. Maybe you couldn't name three songs from a band you just discovered. Maybe you bought the skateboard but never learned to ollie.
"Larper" goes a step further. It doesn't just question whether you belong in a community; it questions whether your entire identity is authentic. That's a particularly powerful accusation in an internet where identity itself has become content.
A particularly powerful accusation in an internet where identity itself has become content.Platforms don't just encourage us to share what we do. They reward us for becoming instantly recognizable. You're encouraged to cultivate an aesthetic, develop a niche, build a personal brand, and make your personality legible in the span of a few seconds.
The result is feeds full of hyper-specific identities: The person who suddenly becomes a Formula 1 expert after one season of Drive to Survive; the coffee enthusiast who buys a $500 espresso machine and starts lecturing everyone about extraction; the self-described music snob who first heard of a band a month ago but now acts like they've been there since the beginning.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Some of those identities are completely genuine. But the more polished they become, the more audiences begin looking for evidence that they're just performances. Of course, "larper" isn't always aimed at people who are obviously faking it. Across social media, that skepticism has turned into a kind of gatekeeping, where enthusiasm itself becomes suspect. New fans, beginners, and people discovering a hobby can all find themselves dismissed as "larpers" before they've had the chance to simply enjoy being new.
Featured Video For You How F1 became a global obsession The internet has become obsessed with authenticityThe rise of "larper" says less about fantasy role-playing than it does about the internet itself.
After years of influencer culture, personal branding, carefully curated aesthetics, and now AI-generated content, people have become increasingly skeptical of what they see online. It's no longer enough to ask whether a photo is edited or whether a video is sponsored. The question now is whether the person behind the account is authentic in the first place.
Ironically, that expectation has created a new kind of performance. Creators are no longer rewarded just for looking polished; they're rewarded for looking real. Vulnerability, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and carefully curated "messy" moments have become just as valuable as glossy perfection.
That's what makes "larper" such a potent insult. It's accusing someone of performing authenticity itself. Calling someone a "larper" has become one of the internet's quickest ways of saying, I don't believe the person you're pretending to be.
But aren't we all performing a little?The problem, of course, is that the internet asks all of us to curate our identities.
Whether you're posting your latest read on Goodreads, documenting marathon training on Strava, sharing concert photos on Instagram, or building a career on LinkedIn, you're making decisions about what to share and what to leave out. Every profile is, to some degree, a performance.
So where does self-presentation end and "larping" begin?
One person's authentic passion is another person's carefully constructed persona.There's no obvious answer. The line between genuine enthusiasm and performative identity is deeply subjective, shaped as much by who's watching as by what you're posting. One person's authentic passion is another person's carefully constructed persona.
Maybe that's why the word has exploded now. Growing up, being called a poser made me wonder whether I belonged. Being called a "larper" asks a different question altogether: not whether you belong, but whether the version of yourself you've chosen to share was ever real in the first place.
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For millions of TikTok users, protection from harmful content spirals depended on which side of an experiment they landed on.
A confidential internal document obtained by Bloomberg Aug. 4 found that TikTok excluded 10 percent of its U.S. users from an algorithmic safety update in early 2022. At the time, that would have amounted to roughly 15 million people.
Among them was Chase Nasca, a 16-year-old from Long Island who died by suicide in Feb. 2022.
TikTok’s subsequent review found that Nasca’s account had become trapped in a filter bubble filled with videos about suicide, self-harm, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness. Because he was part of the control group, the report said, TikTok’s strategies for disrupting those repetitive recommendations "did not take effect on this user by design."
Why did TikTok leave millions without the safeguard?TikTok had already acknowledged that its algorithm could show users too much of the same troubling material back in 2021, when the company announced that it was testing ways to break up repetitive recommendations involving subjects such as extreme dieting, sadness, and breakups. One video might not violate its rules, TikTok explained, but seeing similar videos repeatedly could create a harmful viewing experience.
The company’s solution came with an experiment. By early 2022, TikTok had reportedly introduced the updated recommendation system for 90 percent of its U.S. users while keeping the remaining 10 percent on the older version.
That split allowed TikTok to conduct a backtest, a form of A/B testing that compares what happens when one group receives a feature and another does not. Technology companies regularly use these experiments to test new products and design changes. In this case, however, the feature was intended to protect users from potentially dangerous content.
According to Bloomberg, TikTok wanted to see whether breaking up filter bubbles would affect daily active users and other important engagement measurements. The company’s internal report described the choice as a "delicate balance" between user safety and its ability to measure the effect on those metrics.
TikTok told Bloomberg that the experiment was intended to confirm whether its safety changes were working. The company said it has since refined its testing practices, although it did not explain what those changes were.
What did TikTok find when it examined Nasca's feed?TikTok did not review Nasca’s viewing history immediately after his death. The company began looking into his account more than a year later, after Bloomberg contacted it back in March 2023 for an investigation into how the platform affected young users.
Once TikTok reconstructed his feed, the scale of the recommendations became clear. The company analyzed 7,563 videos served to Nasca during the final two weeks of his life. According to Bloomberg, 73 percent shared themes involving mental health struggles, suicide awareness, loneliness, relationships, or sadness.
Many of the videos did not violate TikTok’s rules individually, but together they created exactly the kind of repetitive pattern the company’s safeguard was designed to interrupt. Nearly 10 percent did violate policies against content that promotes or normalizes suicide and self-harm, and Nasca continued receiving suicide-related videos during the final hours of his life.
TikTok concluded that his account had fallen into a filter bubble and recommended shrinking the control group from 10 percent to less than 1 percent. That would still have left at least 1.8 million U.S. users without the safeguard, according to the report. Its teams also proposed limiting participation to seven days instead of the previous six months-to-one year.
What did TikTok tell Congress?TikTok completed the 2023 internal review just as the company was preparing to publicly defend its safety record. Two weeks later, CEO Shou Chew appeared before Congress to answer questions about the platform’s data practices and its effect on children.
Nasca’s parents watched from the gallery as lawmakers played examples of videos that had appeared on their son’s account. Chew told lawmakers, "safety and wellness — in particular for teens — is a core priority for TikTok." He also said the company had "a commitment to transparency."
The questions continued after the hearing. In its May 2023 written responses, TikTok acknowledged using A/B tests to evaluate strategies intended to break up filter bubbles involving suicide and self-harm content.
When lawmakers asked TikTok to list every case in which algorithmic A/B testing had harmed users, the company did not identify any. Instead, it wrote that "the safety of the TikTok community is of the utmost importance" and described how its Community Guidelines applied during testing. It did not mention Nasca or the experiment identified in its internal review.
Elsewhere in its answers, the company wrote, "TikTok does not believe that use of the platform has caused users to commit suicide."
Responding to Bloomberg’s latest reporting, TikTok said it was "deeply committed to the safety and well-being of users," particularly teenagers. "Our hearts break for any family that experienced a tragic loss," the company added, pointing to its detection systems, enforcement teams, and continued investment in trust and safety.
The findings add to TikTok’s mounting legal pressureThe disclosure comes as courts are beginning to test whether social platforms can be held responsible for design choices that allegedly harm young users. Thousands of lawsuits are moving through state and federal courts, while TikTok recently settled three cases shortly before they were scheduled for trial.
Nasca’s family is also appealing the dismissal of its wrongful death lawsuit against TikTok. The newly reported document is currently under court seal, leaving open questions about whether it could eventually become part of that case or other litigation involving the company’s recommendation system.
The consequences could stretch beyond any one lawsuit. As lawmakers, regulators, and courts take a closer look at how platforms protect young users, TikTok’s internal review offers a rare glimpse into how the company weighed safety against the metrics that keep people scrolling.
If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.
A recent FCC decision could severely stunt the growth of any list of the best robot vacuums that pops up on Google.
Top robot vacuum brands like Roborock and Dreame typically release new robot vacuums multiple times throughout the year. But the FCC's ban on foreign-made mobile robots, which includes robot vacuums, will prevent U.S. shoppers from buying any of them. No new Sharks, no new Roombas... the mainstream market would pretty much be swept.
The ban won't touch robot vacuums that are already in circulation. As is the case with foreign-made drones, exemptions are technically possible for future releases. Manufacturers could circumvent the ban by getting special approval from the government, which will decide whether or not their particular robot vacuums are a security threat.
Hypothetically, it's hard for shoppers to conceptualize just how slim pickings could get. But how are the brands themselves taking the news? I reached out to the impacted robot vacuum brands that I regularly test at home. Here are the official statements given to Mashable via email so far:
Shark“Our Shark robot vacuums currently sold in the U.S. will continue to be available for sale, use, and support. Regarding future models, we are evaluating our best options, but as a U.S.-based company we believe we are well positioned to navigate the process to continue to launch new models at competitive prices as we always have. We are closely monitoring developments and evaluating next steps as more information becomes available. We remain committed to serving our consumers and keeping them informed.”
Eufy"We are aware of the FCC’s recent update. Based on our current understanding, the new rule does not affect the continued availability, use, or support of products we currently sell in the United States. Those products remain available and will continue to receive updates and customer support.
Like others across the industry, we are seeking further clarity on how the rule will be applied to future products, and we will keep our customers informed. We remain committed to complying with all regulatory requirements in every market where we operate."
iRobot"We are aware of the FCC's recent action and are working with them to better understand its implementation and potential impact. We remain committed to serving our customers and will share updates as more information becomes available."
Narwal"Narwal products already certified and sold in the United States are not affected by the FCC’s action. Our customers’ robots continue to work, remain fully supported, and current models remain available at retail. We are reviewing the announcement and the conditional approval process, and we remain committed to serving our U.S. consumers. The security and privacy of our customers’ homes is foundational to the ethos of the Narwal brand, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that."
This story is developing and will be updated if more statements are received.
TL;DR: Now through Aug. 16, you can get up to 32% off DELTA power stations and solar bundles.
Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow Save on EcoFlow Delta 3 Series Get up to 32% off Get DealIf your local grid is unreliable at best (living on the East Coast, I've learned to never trust the grid), or if you're just trying to get ahead of hurricane season, EcoFlow is running a sale on its DELTA line of power stations, solar panels, and home backup bundles.
SEE ALSO: I tried the Jackery FridgeGuard portable power station: It's both functional and prettyThrough Aug. 16, you can save on standalone units and disaster prep bundles via Amazon and EcoFlow's website. The high-capacity DELTA Pro is down to $1,899 (a 32% discount), while the DELTA 3 Ultra is on sale for $1,399. Bonus: If you spend over $900, you'll automatically get a free 20W charger.
If you miss the sale window (from indecisiveness or whatever), Amazon is keeping a separate batch of hurricane season deals live through Aug. 24. During that time, you can get the DELTA 3 Classic for $469 or the DELTA 3 Max for $899, and they'll throw in a free 160W solar panel if you spend over $1,500.
Waiting until the forecast looks bad is usually the worst time to buy emergency gear, so it's worth checking these out now.
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