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It’s almost springtime (regardless of what the weather might suggest), and Amazon’s Big Spring Sale will be here before we know it. This year, it’s running from March 25 to March 31 (the same dates as last year's sale), and shoppers can expect discounts on tons of products across just about every category.
SEE ALSO: I've tested 100+ sex toys. Here are the 15 most mind-blowing toys I've ever owned.One category you won’t see Amazon advertising, however, is sex toys. They’re literally not allowed to promote these items in their major sale pushes (I'm so done with the censorship), but that’s OK — because I know exactly where to look to find the best deals.
Wait, I thought buying sex toys on Amazon wasn’t a good idea?OK, so you all probably already know how I feel about buying sex toys on Amazon: it’s usually a bad idea. BUT, there are ways to get legit deals on premium sex tech without compromising on product safety or quality.
Here are a few quick pointers:
Never buy from sketchy third-party sellers (that’s where I come in!).
Always, always check for official brand storefronts to double-check product authenticity and warranty info.
Do NOT buy anything that’s made with “jelly” or “rubber.” Anything porous is a no-go.
Read the reviews! If a product has zero reviews or the reviews look suspiciously generic, move on.
When in doubt, buy directly from the manufacturer’s website.
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale sex toy deals you can buy right nowTo help you out, I went through hundreds of pages of products and hand-selected a list of high-quality sexual wellness items that are not only on sale but also safe for you to use.
Best overall Opens in a new window Credit: Satisfyer Satisfyer Pro 2 $48.40 at AmazonSatisfyer is famous for its suction toys and right now you can get the Satisfyer Pro 2 for just $48.40 (a 31% discount). This brand also leans into just about every holiday sale, so you’ll usually see its top vibes discounted during these promotional periods (especially Prime Day and Black Friday).
This toy looks like a face massager/cleaner, but it's actually a super-powerful suction toy designed to provide clitoral stimulation through non-contact pressure waves. (The company is pretty much known for its suction/airpulse tech.) This particular toy (which I own) has more than 61K reviews and a 3.9-star rating.
At under $50, it’s definitely worth considering if you’re into indirect clitoral stimulation. It’s also really easy to hold (which is always a plus).
Best budget pick plusOne vibrating bullet $8.99 at AmazonAs far as the best “deal” goes, you can’t go wrong with the plusOne vibrating bullet. PlusOne is a well-known (more affordable) sex toy brand that’s widely recognized for its no-frills toys. (I own a ton of plusOne toys.) They lack bells and whistles, but they’re reliable, and I haven’t had any complaints about the orgasm-inducing efficacy of their vibrators.
I chose the bullet vibe because it’s only $8.99. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal elsewhere. Plus, it has more than 7K reviews — one of which says, “For such a compact toy, it's surprisingly powerful and definitely worth having.” Can’t argue with that.
More Amazon Big Spring Sale sex toy deals worth consideringTracy's Dog OG Dual-vibe — $29.99 $39.99 (save $10)
plusOne dual rabbit vibrator — $33.97 $39.99 (save $6.02)
Tracy's Dog Bumpa 3-in-1 anal vibrator — $44.99 $49.99 (save $5)
Tracy's Dog Passion Kit — $45.99 $49.99 (save $4)
Looking for lube? Check out LubeLife, Astroglide, and pjur.
At a SXSW panel titled "Your First 90 Days as a Creator," leaders from the creator partnership teams at Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube shared best practices for creators just starting out. They also shared common mistakes made by new creators, along with insider tips on how to get the almighty algorithm's attention.
The panel was hosted by Antonia Alakija, a creator economy strategist and Meta and TikTok alum herself, and featured advice from:
Julia Hamilton Trost, head of creator partnerships at YouTube
Brooke Berry, head of creator development at Snapchat
Katie Sollenberger, head of the Scaled Partner Activation team at Meta
All the experts work with early-career creators to help them grow their following and careers.
So, based on their advice, here are the biggest mistakes creators should avoid in their first 90 days and beyond.
Chasing trends can be cringe“I think it's understanding right out of the gate, don't hop on every trend just because it's a trend. And just because it's trending, it doesn't mean you need to make something about it,” Berry said.
“You need to identify trends that make sense for you to participate in, and that you feel confident that you can execute with a unique perspective or execute in a certain way that's different.”
Trost also urged creators to use AI and other tools to monitor the life cycle of viral trends.
SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators shaping the internet in 2025“Where are you in the life cycle? Are you going to come in at the end and kind of be cringey because, you know, the trend is over? Does it really make sense for your audience?”
Finally, Sollenberger urged creators to follow the 70/30 rule.
"So we say [at Instagram], like 70/30. Seventy percent of your content should be original, and then roughly 30 percent [should be] trends... For the most part, you need to move fast with a trend, like, within the first 24 hours. If it's everywhere, it’s already too late.”
Not planning ahead for brand dealsYou probably won't get any brand deals in your first 90 days, but it's never too early to start planning for success.
"Your public profile, for example, is your home on Snapchat," Berry said. "If a brand is looking to hire you for an opportunity, and you don't have, say, Stories, and there's nothing to showcase the consistency of the type of content or formats they can see themselves plugging into, they're going to move on to the next person.
So you want to make sure that you have content that supplies the type of opportunity you're trying to attract. - Brooke Berry, head of creator development, Snapchat"So if you were someone who [says], ‘I want to do more travel brand deals,’ but there's no travel content on your profile, they're going to go to the next person. So you want to make sure that you have content that supplies the type of opportunity you're trying to attract."
Not knowing which metrics really matter in 2026This is something I heard over and over again at SXSW: follower counts aren’t as important as they used to be. What really matters now? Engagement metrics. How many views does your average video or Reel get? On YouTube, how long are people watching your videos before dropping out? How do they find your content?
For Instagram and Reels, Sollenberger also had some specific advice for new creators.
“First, make sure that you switch to a professional or creator account if you haven't already. That's free, but it unlocks a range of insights at both the account and content level. And then I would say, take a look at the past month and look at your top three best- and worst-performing posts. Understand commonalities across those and then also look at when your audience is most active and make sure that you're posting then.”
All the panelists agreed that knowing how to read the data will be key to growing your audience.
Crucially, Sollenberger had some advice on influencing the Instagram algorithm.
“Send and share rate is a really good metric, because if your audience is sending your content, reposting your content, that's a signal to the algorithm to distribute it to non-followers,” Sollenberger said. “And then I also think it's good to similarly look at reach for non-followers, so you can understand how well the algorithm is distributing your content.”
On Snapchat, Berry said watch time is also a critical metric for getting the Discover feed to notice you.
“The creators and the Snap stars you see surface on that page, it's going to be heavily attributed to watch time, so that is the metric that you guys want to pay attention to as you guys are evaluating your Snap content," Berry said.
Misunderstanding consistency"Post consistently!" This is probably the most common advice for new creators, but it means different things to different people and on different platforms.
“The algorithm rewards consistency, and so any breaks really kill momentum,” Sollenberger said about Instagram. She also shared the best advice I’ve heard yet on consistency as a creator: “Specifically, pick a posting cadence that you can sustain on your worst week, not your best week.”
For Snapchat, where you can post shorter, unedited clips, Berry said consistency is crucial as well. “You're not going to find success on your public stories posting one or two Snaps, and then that's kind of it. People who are getting service on the Discover feed are posting anywhere between 20, 60, 100 times a day, sometimes. But they are posting consistently.”
Berry did clarify that creators don’t need to post 20-100 Snaps a day to break through the algorithm, and that consistency will look different creator to creator. The key, she said, is to train your audience so they know when to expect your new content.
“Specifically, pick a posting cadence that you can sustain on your worst week, not your best week.” - Katie Sollenberger, Scaled Partner Activation, MetaTrost echoed that advice.
“The cadence of when you post is more important than how often you're posting. So with YouTube, if you want to do it once a week, you pick that, and your audience starts to learn. ‘OK, I'm going to come on Thursdays for new content.’" She added, "That cadence is more important than having a huge volume of content.”
Not using Trial Reels and other toolsThe big social platforms all have tools and features that let creators try out new content formats or poll their audiences. On Instagram, Trial Reels in particular are a good tool for testing new topics and formats.
SEE ALSO: Meta creates tool to prevent rampant Reels content theft“So I hear consistently from newer creators that they're hesitant to experiment because they don't want their family or their friends to see certain topics or see them testing in new areas. And that's literally why we built this product. So with Trial Reels, the content goes to your non-followers first, and if you hit, you can convert it to your grid. If it doesn't work, it's just a learning," said Sollenberger.
Start with Shorts and Reels, not long-form videosMultiple creators have told me that in today’s oversaturated creator space, beginners should start with short, vertical videos. That’s especially true of YouTube, where audiences expect long-form videos to be highly polished.
“I talked a lot of creators here this week at SXSW, who came in and said, ‘OK, Shorts is how I came into YouTube,” Trost said. “You might want to start with Shorts, and that's easier to create. Long-form takes time and more of a commitment.”
One of the biggest YouTubers of all time shared the same advice at another SXSW panel on the creator economy.
“I think that you have to have a short-form presence to begin with now,” Rhett McLaughlin, of Rhett & Link fame, said. “I mean, even we rely on discovery and rediscovery via TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts…So I think that the discovery process for a lot of creators I know who have kind of started in the past couple of years is: You pop on TikTok or Reels, then figure out how to translate that into long-form. That makes a lot of sense.”
And McLaughlin’s advice echoes exactly what Mrwhosetheboss, aka Arun Maini, told me last year when I interviewed him: Start with Shorts until you see some success.
"Make [YouTube] Shorts in your spare time, and you'll realize very quickly, either this isn't for you, it's too time-consuming, you hate editing, you hate being on camera, or you've got something here, and you love the feedback cycle, and you can get better very quickly," he said.
Trying to be a general lifestyle creator We have bad news for the aspiring Alix Earles of the world. Credit: Cindy Ord/VF26/Getty Images for Vanity FairThe era of the generalist influencer is over, Berry believes. “I cannot stress it enough,” Berry said at the panel.
"I feel like, really strongly about this. I'm actually gonna kind of yell at everybody because I feel strongly about this, but I do think the internet is oversaturated. We are. We are moving away from being a generalist creator. Even saying you're a travel creator is generalist; saying you’re a food creator is generalist. Tell me you’re a travel creator who specifically spends 24 hours in cities. So, niche wins, specificity wins. It's OK to have multiple interests, but you need to have defined lanes within those interests and developed formats within those interests.”
SEE ALSO: There's never going to be another Alix Earle, creator experts sayHowever, new creators may need to experiment until they identify their niche.
Sollenberger and Instagram call this the T-shaped approach. Cast a wide net at first, then narrow in on what works.
So, is all hope lost for the next aspiring Alix Earle? Not quite, Alikaja told me in an interview after her panel.
“My theory is that once you go really deep, then you can become kind of like that Alix Earle personality. But to just become a personality, I think that might be a little bit different process now," she said.
Honing in on a specific niche has other benefits, too.
“You have to start with what you love and branch from there," Berry said.
Amazon's Big Spring Sale is upon us. It officially kicks off on March 25 and runs through March 31 this year, but as always, many deals have arrived a bit early to the party. Specifically, some of Amazon's own devices are already down to record lows that match Black Friday.
It only makes sense that Amazon would drop the biggest deals on its own devices, given that it's an Amazon sale, after all. While Echo devices, Fire TVs, and Blink cameras are already seeing steep discounts, Kindle, Fire tablet, and subscription deals are still pretty scarce. We're excited to see what else the mega retailer has in store as the official sale nears.
For now, we've rounded up all the best Amazon device deals ahead of the Big Spring Sale 2026. Stay tuned for more to come.
Best Amazon subscription deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited free for 3 months (save $11.99/month or 12.99/month) Get Deal Why we like itAmazon's major sales are always an excuse for the retailer to offer extended free trials or discounted prices for its membership subscriptions. While there will likely be a Kindle Unlimited and Audible trial deal during the Big Spring Sale, the only live subscription deal so far is on Amazon Music Unlimited. Through April 16, you can get three free months to test the waters. Beyond unlocking a massive music catalog that you can listen to on-demand and ad-free, you'll also get access to ad-free podcasts and one free audiobook per month. It auto-renews at $11.99 per month for Prime members and $12.99 per month for non-Prime members unless you cancel.
Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Studio $189.99 at AmazonAmazon dropped four new Echo devices last fall specifically built for Alexa+, including the new super-powered Echo Studio smart speaker. This is technically the Studio's first update in six years, though it's a much different design than its predecessor. According to Amazon, you "can't find any smart speaker that sounds this amazing at this size." It packs Dolby Atmos and spatial audio into a Death Star-like orb that fits in the palm of your hand. It's even powerful enough to give your TV a boost. The speaker saw its first-ever discount during Black Friday, and that same discount is back ahead of the Big Spring Sale.
More Echo dealsAmazon Echo Pop Kids — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)
Amazon Echo Spot — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)
Amazon Echo Show 5 — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)
Amazon Echo Dot Max — $74.99 $99.99 (save $25)
Amazon Echo Show 8 — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)
Amazon Echo Show 11 — $169.99 $219.99 (save $50)
Amazon Echo Show 15 — $254.99 $299.99 (save $45)
Amazon Echo Show 21 — $349.99 $399.99 (save $50)
Amazon's 4-Series Fire TVs aren't the most advanced in the brand's lineup, but they are the most popular. These TV models are for those who don't require a ton of bells and whistles. If you just want a decent looking TV that's great for streaming, the 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV is an excellent value — especially now that it's back down to its best price ever. It was redesigned in 2025 to sport an ultra-slim bezel, a new quad-core processor for speedy navigation, and Alexa+. It also packs 4K UHD picture quality with support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Sound, and Omnisense technology that wakes up the TV when you enter the room to show you artwork or your favorite comfort show.
Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Fire TV Stick deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $17.99 at AmazonAmazon practically gave away the Fire TV Stick 4K Select during Black Friday season, so we're hoping to see a return of the $9.99 discount price during the Big Spring Sale. Even if we don't, its current discount price of $17.99 is still pretty dang great. It's the newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup and delivers 4K quality with HDR10+ support, the plug-and-play design you know and love, and a new operating system called Vega. It also offers support for Alexa+, Amazon Kids+, Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, and NordVPN.
More Fire TV dealsAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25)
Amazon Fire TV Cube — $99.99 $139.99 (save $40)
Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $199.99 $329.99 (save $130)
Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $279.99 $459.99 (save $180)
Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $719.99 $819.99 (save $100)
Amazon 65-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $749.99 $849.99 (save $100)
Amazon 75-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $1,249.99 $1,499.99 (save $250)
Fire tablet deals
Amazon Fire 7 Kids — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids — $175.99 $219.99 (save $44)
Kindle deals
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Bundle — $202.97 $222.97 (save $20)
Like-new Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition — $206.99 $279.99 (save $73)
Blink deals
Blink Mini 2K+ — $25.99 $39.99 (save $14)
Blink Video Doorbell — $35.99 $69.99 (save $34)
Blink Outdoor 4 — $43.99 $79.99 (save $36)
There's never going to be another Alix Earle. That's what creator experts told Mashable at SXSW 2026.
That's not because Earle has an especially unique personality or brand. It's because discovery algorithms on apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have dramatically changed. On top of that, the market is wildly oversaturated with aspiring creators, inspired by the likes of Earle, MrBeast, and streamer IShowSpeed.
And that means the next Earle will lose out as more niche creators get picked up by algorithms. That's according to creator economy expert Arthur Leopold.
SEE ALSO: How content creators are redefining Hollywood's power structure“If you think about platform algorithms four years ago — very different from where they are today. I don't believe there will ever be another Alix Earle-type short-form creator who reaches mega, mega, mega celebrity status.
Leopold sat down with us at a diner in downtown Austin during SXSW to talk about the creator economy. Leopold co-founded Agentio, a programmatic creator advertising platform, and he works closely with big creators like Rhett & Link.
"In this diner, four years ago, five years ago, if we all picked up TikTok, probably every single person in this diner would have seen an Alix Earle-type piece of content, right? But now the algorithms have gotten so good that you look at everyone in this diner, you could all scroll TikTok and Reels and probably no one here would see anything the others see.”
Brooke Berry, head of creator development at Snapchat (and a popular creator herself), said something very similar at a panel on what new creators should do in their first 90 days.
The era of the generalist influencer is over, she believes. “I cannot stress it enough,” Berry said at the panel.
"I feel really strongly about this. I'm actually gonna kind of yell at everybody because I feel strongly about this, but I do think the internet is oversaturated. We are. We are moving away from being a generalist creator. Even saying you're a travel creator is generalist; saying you’re a food creator is generalist. Tell me you’re a travel creator that specifically spends 24 hours in cities."
In an oversaturated creator market, having a unique niche or voice is key, Berry said.
"So, niche wins, specificity wins. It's OK to have multiple interests, but you need to have defined lanes within those interests and developed formats within those interests.”
And at a SXSW panel with Rhett & Link, Leopold explained why it's not easy to shift from niche to mainstream content.
“And now the algorithms have gotten so good that it is so rich. It's like the vegan chicken nugget maker in Iowa, and she has a great community, I'm sure, but the MrBeast-ification of that, I think, is going to be very, very hard [to break through to the mainstream]," Leopold said.
SXSW 2026 ends on Wednesday, but you can still catch up on our coverage from Austin, where our reporters have been talking to Caleb Hearon on the red carpet, trying weird AI VR games, and trying out Darth Vader chambers.
There are few home categories that Shark doesn't have a stake in. Floor care has been its bread and butter for a while, of course. But skincare, hair care, and and air care, too? It's Dyson-level variety at this point. And when it comes to deals during major Amazon sale events, there are typically more good Shark deals than good Dyson deals.
SEE ALSO: The Shark vs. Roomba debate is stale in 2026, but at least Shark is trying to revive its robot vacuum lineAmazon's 2026 Big Spring Sale is no different. We're tracking all of the best early deals on Shark vacuums, carpet cleaners, hair stylers, air purifiers, and more live ahead of the sale's March 25 kickoff — and the list is already pretty massive. We'll be updating this story as more deals on Shark devices trickle in. (Fingers crossed for a legit CryoGlow red light mask deal.)
Best Shark vacuum deal Shark Clean & Empty BU3521 $249 at AmazonIt'll be hard for any spring vacuum deal to beat this Shark Clean & Empty model as the best affordable stick vacuum setup. It automatically empties itself and charges every time you hang it back up on the dock (which also acts as built-in storage). That means you're starting every cleaning session with an empty dustbin, and that means you'll have unmistakeable visible proof of the gunk that's been sucked up in the room at hand.
It's not Shark's most powerful self-emptying stick vacuum, but it is currently half the price of Shark's most powerful self-emptying stick vacuum. Weighing in at just under six pounds, this Clean & Empty model is lighter than most cordless vacuums out there — including 30 percent lighter than the popular Shark Vertex Pro, which doesn't come with an auto-empty dock.
What about Shark robot vacuum deals?The Shark robot vacuums on sale so far are decent if you really want a Shark, but I hesitate to hit full send on recommending one unless it's the PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1: The best Shark robot vacuum right now. The $1,299.99 robot vacuum and mop combo with blacklight stain detect hasn't even been out for a month, and the chances of it seeing a discount this soon are iffy. If you have $300 or $600 to spend on a robot vacuum this spring, there are more value-packed robot vacuum deals from other brands live at Amazon.
More early Shark Big Spring Sale dealsRobot vacuums
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 with Self-Empty Base — $299.99 $699.99 (save $400)
Shark Stratos 2-in-1 with NeverTouch Base — $549.99 $999.99 (save $450)
Cordless vacuums
Shark Pet Cordless IX141 — $149.99 $299.99 (save $150)
Shark PowerDetect Pet Plus with Auto-Empty System — $399.99 $599.99 (save $200)
Shark Stratos IZ862H — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)
Shark Vertex Pro IZ662H — $269.99 $449.99 (save $180)
Hair tools
Shark Glossi — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)
Shark SpeedStyle — $159 $229 (save $70)
Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex (4 attachments) — $189 $229 (save $60.99)
Shark FlexStyle (3 attachments) — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)
Skincare devices
Shark FacialPro Glow with DePuffi — $349 $399 (save $50)
Upright and portable carpet and upholstery cleaners
Shark StainForce Cordless Stain System — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)
Shark StainStriker + Chemical Tool — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)
Shark StainStriker HairPro — $129.99 $159.99 (save $30)
Shark CarpetXPert Upright Carpet Shampooer — $199.99 $249.99 (save $30)
Air purifiers
Shark NeverChange (250 sq. ft.) — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)
Shark NeverChange (650 sq. ft.) — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50 plus get $10 Amazon credit)
Shark NeverChange (1,400 sq. ft.) — $319.99 $399.99 (save $80 plus get $16 Amazon credit)
We're just a few days away from Amazon's Big Spring Sale — which kicks off on March 25 and runs all the way to March 31 — but quite a few deals have already begun to appear. For Apple users, this includes some very nice discounts on Apple Watches. If you've been hoping to pick up one of these sleek smartwatches, without dropping the full amount on them, both Series 11 and SE 3 models are on sale right now.
We've gathered up just a few of our favorite early Apple Watch deals available at Amazon right now, so you can save on the ones that catch your eye. As we get closer to the sale's official start, we'll update this with more deals and price adjustments as they happen, too.
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!Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop the sale, but Prime members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.
Best early Apple Watch Series 11 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] $299 at AmazonThe Apple Watch Series 11 is a smartwatch we think very highly of, earning a spot on our list of the best smartwatches as the 'Best Apple Upgrade', and this $100 discount on the 42mm with GPS model is well worth taking advantage of. It marks its lowest-ever price point at the retailer, so what better time to grab it?
Mashable's Stan Schroeder, who reviewed it, said its worth upgrading to for the battery life alone. He said, "Even if you already have a Series 10, which has nearly all the same features, the new Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t require you to charge it mid-day in order to keep it going through the night. With the new Sleep Score feature, this is more important than ever." Multiple versions of this smartwatch are on sale right now as well, which you can see below.
More Apple Watch Series 11 deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS + Cellular 42mm] $399 at AmazonThe Apple Watch SE 3 is a great choice for those who just want the basics of a smartwatch. It landed on our list of the best smartwatches as the 'Best for most people' because, "In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, it has the same S10 chip inside the Ultra 3, the same water resistance as the Series 11, and all the necessary features you're looking for in a smartwatch — all for $150 less than the Series 11."
Ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, its 40mm model has dropped down to $219. That saves you $30. It's not the only one on sale right now, though. Below we've included a few more versions of the SE 3 that have been discounted at the retailer, so you can scoop up your preferred model and save some cash.
More Apple Watch SE 3 deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 44mm] $249 at AmazonBMW put all the electric vehicle makers on notice with the near-universally loved BMW iX3, its first "Neue Klasse" electric car. The mid-sized SUV wowed reviewers with best-in-class range, slick entertainment, and smooth driving, prompting more than 50,000 people to pre-order it without even trying it out.
But many car enthusiasts love BMW for its sporty sedans, meaning that the BMW i3, the first "Neue Klasse" electric sedan, is equally as important for the company.
(Note that this BMW i3 is an electric counterpart to the BMW 3 series, and not a successor to the original BMW i3, a compact, electric city-dweller that BMW stopped selling a few years ago).
The headlights are very recognizably "Neue Klasse", but this is a far sportier car than the BMW iX3. Credit: BMWAt first glance, the BMW i3 doesn't disappoint. Unveiled on Wednesday in just one configuration (for now), the BMW i3 50 xDrive has dual electric motors with a power output of 469 hp. BMW's sixth-generation eDrive tech, with BMW's Heart of Joy computer fine-tuning the driving experience, should provide a smooth and sporty ride (BMW hasn't shared performance figures yet).
Credit: BMWBut the BMW i3's biggest highlight is the range, which is up to 440 miles per EPA standards, and up to 900 kilometers per Europe's WLTP standards, handily beating every Tesla out there. Equally impressive is the 400 kW charging enabled by the 800-volt architecture, which can get you up to 400 km of range in just 10 minutes.
The interior is very similar to that of the BMW iX3, with a 17.9-inch, oddly shaped central display, and the Panoramic Vision display stretching along the entire length of the windshield. Credit: BMWAt 187.4 inches in length and 73.4 inches in width, the BMW i3 is pretty close to the BMW 3 (and Tesla's Model 3, which is probably its biggest electric rival). The look, however, is very much "Neue Klasse" and a pretty big departure from BMW's current ICE lineup (though, also, a nod to BMW's original Neue Klasse models from the 1960s).
This means you can forget about BMW's oversized radiator grille; instead, the grille is near invisible, blending into the two angry-looking black strips that also host the headlights. In the rear, BMW thankfully stops just a few centimeters short of blending the taillights into a horizontal line which appears to be everywhere these days.
SEE ALSO: BMW launches 'Neue Klasse' iX3 EV with massive range, new infotainment systemInside, it's very similar to the iX3; you get a 17.9-inch central display, a full-length Panoramic Vision display stretching along the entire bottom of the windshield, plus an optional 3D head-up display. And yes, the steering wheel has the ultra-techy, four-spoke design, though you can also get an optional M Sport, 2-spoke wheel.
The BMW i3 goes into production this August, with deliveries starting in the fall. We don't know anything about the price, though; for reference, the BMW iX3 starts around $60,000 in the U.S.
Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan's outstanding crime-comedy Deadloch earned every last skerrick of high praise for its debut season. Described by Caitlin Welsh for Mashable as "the feminist Australian buddy-comedy-murder-noir you didn't know you needed" and "Broadchurch crossed with Letterkenny, but with way more lesbians," Deadloch carved out its own glorious TV niche in 2023.
In Season 2, directed by Beck Cole and Gracie Otto, polar opposite detective duo Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami), trade in Lutruwita (Tasmania) for the crocodile-populated waters of Australia's Top End, with a second season that’s just as consistently hilarious, sharply constructed, and deeply Australian as its first. With more twists and turns than a Viennetta, McCartney and McLennan's series spins overused murder-mystery tropes into something new: a breath of fresh, hot, thick, mid-summer air, if you will.
SEE ALSO: 34 bloody excellent Australian horror movies that'll mess you up (and where to watch them)Deadloch once again proves it's one of the best crime-comedies on TV, with new overlapping cases, suspicious locals, and impeccable insults you’ll scramble to write down. Ultimately, thank fuck for this show.
What’s Deadloch Season 2 about? Dream team. Credit: Prime VideoHaving solved the murder investigation in the titular town of Deadloch in Season 1, Eddie and Dulcie decided to head north, all the way to Garramilla (Darwin), Larrakia country. Here, in Season 2, Eddie seeks answers for the fate of her former partner, Bushy, whose death doesn’t sit right with her.
However, there’s quite literally something in the water in the small Northern Territory town of Barra Creek — no really, it's a dead crocodile with a body part in its mouth. Whose is it? Which locally famous and/or pet croc is it? Does it have anything to do with missing backpackers who a local tour guide says "got Wolf Creeked"? Dulcie and Eddie head to the one-pub, one-caravan park town, where crocodile-based tourism is a territorial business and where Eddie just happened to grow up.
Their investigation won't be easy though, with hurdles including zero resources, sexist and showy detectives running their own dodgy investigation, as well as the diabolically dominant Darrell family (led by the scene-stealing Nikki Britton as Amber Darrell) and their croc tour rivals, Land of Crocs, led by a Hemsworth in extremely small shorts as schmucky celebrity wildlife presenter Jason Wade.
Good grief. Credit: Prime VideoWorking out of a storage space filled with snakeskins, Eddie and Dulcie will also need help from new faces including deadpan local journalist Leo Lee (a hilariously understated Jean Tong) who is "dangerously bored in my job," and old friends including Deadloch gem Abby Matsuda (the ever-delightful Nina Oyama), who thankfully has made it to the Top End's forensics team.
Madeleine Sami and Kate Box serve up comedy excellence, leading an impeccable cast The gang's back together! Credit: Prime VideoSupercharging Deadloch with their signature sharp comedy writing, McCartney and McLennan once again contrast Redcliffe and Box as sublime buddy cops.
With the fish-out-of-water factor flipped this season, Dulcie sweats through her new environment — through brash conversations, unbridled sexism, Eddie's unconventional police work, and heat that’s "thicker than Clag." While Eddie was the sore thumb sticking out in Deadloch, Dulcie’s the odd one out this time, supported by her sanguine wife Cath (a delightfully funny Alicia Gardiner), who is frankly bored out of her brain in Barra Creek.
As the core dynamic of the show, Box's level-headed agitation once again clashes with Sami's audacious candor, and it's TV gold. Eddie wrestles with her return to her hometown "full of shitcunts," facing old nemeses and a profanity-charged family reunion. Sami's comedic excellence remains top tier, bringing depth and heart to Eddie beneath her abrasive personality, whether she's getting mad at someone for not knowing a Neil Diamond song, seeing blood over croc poachers, or dropping clangers like "he's not my boss and neither are you so stiff clitties."
Shari Sebbens in everything, please. Credit: Prime VideoNewcomers to Deadloch this season are also a welcome bunch, from the ever-talented Shari Stebbins as no-nonsense ranger Miki Evans to Hemsworth perfectly cast as Jason Wade, a Steve Irwin-meets-Bear Grylls-channelling showman who, along with his "Boys," made me want to jump into a croc-filled river.
Talijah Blackman-Corowa is a deadpan delight as Gen Z-staring shop attendant Alira; Ling Cooper-Tang and Ursula Yovich don't miss a beat as bar owners Lynn and Mary; and Genevieve Morris and Steve Bisley seem to have a great ol' time as local cop Pat and cranky local Frank, respectively. Plus, musician Kira Piru makes a two-second appearance which had me in stitches.
Deadloch remains extremely, specifically, gloriously Australian *plays "Agadoo" and instantly remembers the dance (yes, there's a dance)* Credit: Prime VideoNo doubt about it, Deadloch remains a deeply Australian show — from killer king python lollies only available in bulk to the country's undying love for Black Lace's 1984 hit "Agadoo," place names like Dickie's Knob and the incessant small talk about how bloody hot it is ("I could steam a dumpling in my cooch," Eddie (obviously) says). This level of specificity in the show's comedy hopefully doesn't feel alienating as much as intriguing to viewers outside the country, but it might help to have an Australian around to explain the Blue Heelers references.
However, it's not just McCartney and McLennan's superb writing and the cast's comedic excellence that makes Deadloch so wonderfully Australian. Stunning landscape shots from director of photography Rob Marsh and cinematographers Katie Milwright and Simon Ozlins showcase the extreme beauty of Larrakia country, across red earth and eucalyptus trees. In addition, the season's core pub, the Barra Creek Tavern, is a masterpiece of production design from Helen O'Loan, right down to the coaster.
Having Deadloch back on our screens makes me want to air punch through the thickest Top End air. If you're not watching this show, as Eddie would say, "you're up shit creek without a snorkel."
Deadloch is streaming on Prime Video March 20.
Perhaps we should change the title of Spider-Man: Brand New Day to Spider-Man: Mental Health Day, because goodness knows Peter Parker (Tom Holland) needs one.
At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) cast a spell that made everyone forget Peter's existence. The spell saved the multiverse, but it left Peter completely isolated, even from his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon).
SEE ALSO: 'Dune: Part Three' teaser is here to get you back on the Timothée Chalamet trainSpider-Man: Brand New Day picks up four years after the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it's clear that isolation has never gotten easier for Peter. In the trailer, he watches social media videos of MJ and Ned's first day at MIT and continues to yearn for their company — especially when they become his neighbors.
As if the crushing loneliness weren't enough, Spider-Man: Brand New Day also sees Peter going through some serious physical mutations including developing organic webs. For help on that matter, he goes to another expert on painful superhero transformations: Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo).
Bruce isn't the only MCU favorite to make an appearance in the trailer. Frank Castle/The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) is also in the mix, sassing Peter in a high-stakes car fight. Plus, villain Scorpion (Michael Mando) from Spider-Man: Homecoming is back, just one of many frightening bad guys Peter faces off with in the trailer.
Notably missing? Sadie Sink, who's confirmed to star in an as-yet undisclosed role. IGN speculates that she appears briefly in the trailer as a character in a long coat and grey hoodie, who seems to be a powerful psychic. Could this be our first look at the MCU's take on Jean Grey?
Will Peter find his way back into MJ and Ned's lives? What is happening to his powers? And how will Spider-Man: Brand New Day set up Avengers: Doomsday? We've got to wait until July to find out.
The fact that there's still an active Lord of the Rings group chat after 25 years is a testament to the close bond of hobbits.
In the Late Show clip above, Elijah Wood reveals to Stephen Colbert that he still speaks to his fellow cast members every day, and that their group is called "Shire Folk".
"Dom [Monaghan] retitled it 'Shire Folk'. It was 'The Hobbits', but he was like, 'Ah, it's too on the nose.' And we text each other every day," says Wood. "We do the New York Times Mini Crossword, so we share our scores on there."
Deeply wholesome.
We really can't remember a better time for finding free food deals.
First we got a wide range of Pi Day food deals, then came the St. Patrick's Day offers, and now we've got a load of March Madness deals to consider. These deals are live throughout the big NCAA Division I tournament, so even if your bracket is completely busted, you can at least score some free or heavily discounted food. In fact, some deals actually require a busted bracket.
We've checked out everything on offer from the likes of TGI Fridays, Buffalo Wild Wings, Grubhub, and more. Check out our favorite deals below.
March Madness 2026 food dealsApplebee’sGet $0.50 boneless wings between March 17-22 and April 4-6. To qualify, order to-go or for delivery.
Buffalo Wild WingsScore a 20 Wing Value Bundle on tournament days. This includes 20 boneless wings, large fries, four dips ranging for $17.99-19.99, or the same bundle with traditional wings for $21.99-24.99. These bundles are available for takeout or delivery online or via the Buffalo Wild Wings app.
Dave & Buster’sScore $1 wings for orders of 10 throughout the tournament. For the first round on March 19-20, you can also get $5 Lime Time ‘Ritas and $5 drafts.
Dickey’s Barbecue PitUntil April 6, customers can get $10 off packs when they use the code DRIBBLE online or in the mobile app.
GrubhubGrubhub has a number of March Madness deals:
Buffalo Wild Wings:
Round of 16/Final — $15 off $50+orders (March 24 to April 6)
KFC:
Round of 16/Round of 8 — $5 off $15+ orders (March 26-31)
Semifinals/Fina — $5 off $15+ orders (April 3-7)
Little Caesars:
Full Tournament — free Extra MostBestest Pizza on $50+ orders (now through April 30)
Taco Bell:
First/Second Round — free Chalupa Supreme on $20+ orders (March 20-21)
Round of 16/Round of 8 — free Chicken or Cheese Quesadilla on $22+ orders (March 27-29)
Semifinals — free Beefy 5-Layer Burrito on $22+ orders (April 4)
Final — free Regular Nacho Fries with purchase of any taco on $20+ orders (April 6)
Wendy’s:
First/Second Round — free Jr Bacon Cheeseburger Biggie Bag on $20+ orders (March 17-23)
Semifinals/Final — free Dave's Single on $20+ orders (April 4-6)
From March 19-22, rewards members who spend $20 will get a free Fried Waffle Wedge Basket.
Hungry Howie’sHungry Howie’s is offering a Large 4-Topping Pizza for just $9.99. This offer is available exclusively online using the promo code BBALLPZ from March 23 to April 6.
Insomnia CookiesInsomnia Rewards members can score a buy-one, get-one-free warm Classic cookie with any purchase. To qualify, simply turn up in-store wearing college apparel between March 17-20.
Lazy Dog RestaurantUntil April 6, use the code MARCH with online orders of a Wings Party Pack for $5 off.
Little CaesarsUntil April 5, Uber Eats customers can get a tournament bundle from Little Caesars that includes two ExtraMostBestest Pizzas and a 2-liter PepsiCo beverage for $15.
Round Table PizzaBetween March 26-29, get 16% off any Large or XL Pizza using the code RTP444. From March 28-31, use the code RTP588 for $8 off any Large or XL Pizza. From April 2-7, use the code RTP699 for $4 off a Large or XL Pizza.
SmashburgerFrom March 17-22 and April 4-7, get BOGO burgers and Big Dog. Between March 26-29, get any single burgers or Big Dogs for $6.
TGI FridaysUntil April 6, bring your busted March Madness bracket to get a free six-pack of wings (boneless or traditional). If you have a 100% perfect bracket on April 7, bring it to score a year of free wings (limited to a single redemption per month).
The pendulum isn’t shifting. It’s shifted.
As we enter year two of the second Trump administration, mainstream brands are becoming more comfortable working with conservative creators and shifting ad dollars to apolitical creators. That’s what several experts on the creator economy told me at SXSW 2026.
Last year, Business Insider reported that blue-chip advertisers were embracing right-wing outlets like Fox News and The Daily Wire. Fox News told Business Insider at the time it had onboarded 125 new large advertisers following Trump’s election. The publication reported that companies feared that “avoiding conservative platforms [was] a risk to their brands,” while others wanted to avoid “signaling a political allegiance on either side of the aisle.”
Now, experts say the same shift is happening in the fast-growing creator economy, where advertisers spent an estimated $37 billion in 2025, according to IAB.
“There’s certainly a level of comfortability with conservatives, no doubt. Look at the mainstream brands who support all the channels today, right?” said Arthur Leopold, CEO and co-founder of Agentio, a programmatic creator advertising startup, in an interview at SXSW.
“If you even consider how much the pendulum has swung, five years ago, if you were a brand and you didn't have the pride flag during June...” Leopold told me, "There would be little boycotts and national news would be covering that X, Y, Z brand doesn't have a pride flag. But now you think back to last year, and you barely saw that, right? So there's been a desensitization to politics and how brands respond to it on social. And because of that, brands care a little bit less about whether they are working with a Ben Shapiro or Meidas Touch.”
Conservative media is home to hundreds of proudly right-wing podcasters, YouTubers, and streamers. And let’s not forget about the right-leaning manosphere. While these creators have always received deals from conservative-aligned brands like Black Rifle Coffee, many are no longer off-limits to mainstream brands.
At the same time, that means proudly progressive creators are sometimes losing out on dollars they used to count on.
Creators often earn limited income from monetization programs on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. Typically, brand deals are essential to building a sustainable career as a creator. So, if progressive creators who are outspoken on LGBTQ+ rights or climate change can’t secure partnerships, their voices could disappear from your feed.
SEE ALSO: The unseen risks creators face when they get political“These are amazing, amazing people. Incredible freaking people, but there are brands that feel like they shouldn’t be supporting them. Whereas, two years ago, everyone did,” Leopold said.
Antonia Alakija, a creator economy strategist and Meta and TikTok alum, told Mashable she’s definitely seeing brands seek out more apolitical creators.
“I think before it was OK to have more of a social perspective or moral perspective. I'm seeing brands choose creators who don't really speak to those topics and don't have a brand aligned with either side, just because of the polarization and opinions going on right now. So, I would say, in terms of creator selection, I'm definitely seeing that," Alakija said.
Brooke Berry, head of creator development at Snapchat, told Mashable that creators who are having a hard time finding deals because of their political beliefs shouldn’t feel like they need to silence themselves. Instead, they should find other formats and topics to create alongside their more outspoken content.
“I had one of my reality TV star creators say, you know, on another platform, it's hard for him to sometimes find deals, because he does speak out a lot and has very specific views," Berry said. "But that's when I told him, you don't have to necessarily stop what you're speaking about, but you need to identify content formats within other areas. Like, he's into fitness, he's on the spectrum, he has high-functioning autism, and he talks a lot about those. Find the formats within that that brands can plug into.”
However, being too outspoken can still impact a creator’s ability to secure deals, as Mashable has reported before.
“Even sometimes when you do do the apolitical stuff, if you do even have a roster of any political stuff, that could get in the way of opportunities, in this era specifically,” Alakija warned.
Leopold told me there are, of course, hard lines for companies. Whether on the right or left, extreme opinions or controversies are often unattractive to brands, for obvious reasons.
“If there are creators who might be way too controversial or have said something that could be damaging for a brand, we have to be honest with that, and we wouldn't onboard them. We are a closed platform, right?” Leopold told me. “And the brands can also say, ‘Hey, we want to work with creators that are more aligned to certain causes, political or otherwise. You know, we are a brand looking for a highly male audience and success on channels like Ben Shapiro's. So, OK, well, there are similar channels, like maybe outdoor lifestyle channels or apolitical channels that have a similar audience.”
The trend to support apolitical and conservative creators is troubling for left-wing creators trying to carve out a living in the increasingly crowded creator economy.
However, that’s the thing about pendulums.
They always swing back eventually.
The quotes in this story have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.
TL;DR: Until March 31, get two months of Paramount+ for $2.99 per month. Watch every March Madness game for under $6 with this limited-time offer.
Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ (2-Month Subscription) $2.99 per month until March 31 Shop NowMarch Madness is finally underway. College basketball is great all season long, but the real fun starts in March.
It's at this point that a lot of dedicated and casual fans seek out ways to watch the tournament. And as if by magic, Paramount+ just dropped a stunning deal to help you follow the action for less. Until March 31, you can get two months of Paramount+ for just $2.99 per month. The offer is available to new and returning subscribers and applies to monthly plans only.
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!Paramount+ is the streaming hub for CBS-broadcast March Madness games. CBS will air March Madness games from the First Round, Second Round, Sweet 16, and Elite Eight. It's worth noting that the 2026 men’s Final Four and NCAA national championship games will air on TBS, but you can still watch a huge number of games with Paramount+ and CBS. And for under $6, this really is a great deal for sports fans.
Watch select March Madness games for under $6 with this limited-time Paramount+ offer.
Saturday Night Live UK is mere days away from launching, and we now have the first ever promo — featuring SNL royalty Tina Fey herself.
In the clip above cast members Celeste Dring, Hammed Animashaun, Larry Dean, George Fouracres, Jack Shep, Ayoade Bamgboye, Al Nash, Paddy Young, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, and Emma Sidi sit around discussing how they're going to promote the show, when Fey suddenly floats down from the ceiling — in full Mary Poppins regalia — to give them advice.
SNL UK will follow the same guest host format as the original, with Fey hosting in the first week (with musical guest Wet Leg) followed by Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed (with Wolf Alice and Kasabian, respectively) in the upcoming weeks.
Saturday Night Live UK is live on Sky One this Saturday at 10 p.m. BST, and available on streaming service NOW.
As Israel and the U.S. launched an attack on Iran in late February, which quickly spilled into a region-wide war, betters on prediction market platform Polymarket have been monetising on the prospect of a nuclear weapon detonation.
In a since-deleted market on the platform, Polymarket users were betting on the chances of a nuclear weapon strike in 2026. But who is gaining from these bets, and is the issue more than ethical?
Prediction markets are online platforms where people can place bets on pretty much everything — from how much a Pokémon card would cost to how many times Elon Musk is going to post on X on a given month, to who would win Best Picture at the Oscars. There are even bets on whether or not Jesus Christ will return by 2027.
The most popular prediction platforms in the U.S. right now are Kalshi and Polymarket, both headquartered in New York City, but there are many others; just these two are worth $11 billion and $9 billion, respectively.
Prediction markets aren't new, but they really erupted around the 2024 U.S. presidential election. In New York, billboards on Times Square showed live bets people were placing on the election's outcome. In recent months, people have placed predictions on Polymarket on the length of the U.S. government shutdown and whether or not the U.S. would strike Iran. A user on Polymarket, notably, even placed a bet that Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro, would be ousted by the U.S. hours before it happened. The prediction earned the better $400,000, but it also raised a lot of questions about insider trading among government officials.
Insider trading is illegal in the U.S. under federal law. Kalshi has prohibited insider trading and has regulations that allow individual users to be tracked and investigated. But Polymarket does not have such rules around tracking. It's also technically not even approved in the U.S. but it still can be accessed using a VPN, so the platform's ability to check who placed which bets is limited.
FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on March 18-21. This Romance Book Blast, hosted by Indie Author Hive, is offering free romance books for your e-reader.
The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule was completely wild at the start of this year, to the point where we needed a break. We got exactly what we wanted, and now we're ready to jump back into a busy period after weeks of nothing.
The latest Romance Book Blast, hosted by Indie Author Hive, is offering participants the chance to download romance books without spending anything. And everything that you download is yours to keep forever, so this is your best opportunity to stock up ahead of the summer. We're sure you've got some serious reading planned for the coming weeks and months, so you'll need some material.
SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-readerLooking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.
When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?This Romance Book Blast takes place on March 18-21. Unlike a lot of 24-hour giveaways, this event gives you the opportunity to properly take stock of your options and download the titles you know you want to read. There's no need to panic.
Which ebooks are free?This Romance Book Blast offers free (or heavily discounted) romance books from a number of sub-genres, including dark romance, small-town romance, fantasy, paranormal, romcom, sports romance, and more. Anyone can participate in this event: Kindle and Kobo readers can download these romance books for free.
Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.
The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at AmazonThese popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase.
TL;DR: Secure enough cloud storage forever with this 100TB lifetime subscription Internxt Cloud Storage deal, now only $974.97 through March 31.
Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB $974.97Whether you’re a content creator, a heavy-duty data user at work, or you just like documenting your kid’s every move, you know all too well the pain of keeping up with your storage needs. Maybe you have dozens of external hard drives lying around, or you’re paying a small fortune to keep things in the cloud? Internxt Cloud Storage offers a much better solution.
Right now, you can secure a whopping 100TB of space with this lifetime Internxt Cloud Storage subscription for just $974.97 until March 31.
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!If you want to put an end to constantly needing to upgrade your cloud storage space and spending more and more money each month, it’s time to check out Internxt Cloud Storage. This cloud storage option lets you pay once and own 100TB of space outright.
Aside from offering you a more affordable option, Internxt Cloud Storage also provides serious privacy. While other companies access and profit from your data, Internxt uses end-to-end encryption that prevents anyone, including Internxt itself, from viewing it. They are also GDPR compliant, audited, and verified by Securitum.
If you’re already storing your data with a big company, Internxt offers easy cross-platform compatibility. User-friendly apps for Android, iOS, web browsers, and desktop make it simple to grab your content from anywhere. They also offer speed without any limits, so you’ll get the best performance out of your connection.
Get this 100TB lifetime subscription Internxt Cloud Storage deal for just $974.97 until March 31.
Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get a Grade A/B refurbished Apple MacBook Air (2017) for $199.97 (reg. $999).
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $199.97If you’ve ever wished you had a second laptop for travel, coffee shops, or everyday browsing, you’re not alone. Carrying your primary computer everywhere can feel risky — and buying a brand-new MacBook just to have a backup isn’t exactly budget-friendly.
That’s why refurbished models like this Apple MacBook Air (2017) can be a smart option. It’s available for just $199.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time with free shipping.
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!The MacBook Air has long been known for its thin, lightweight design, which makes it especially convenient for working on the go. This model features a 13.3-inch display with a 1440×900 resolution, giving you plenty of space for documents, browsing, and streaming.
It runs on a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 128GB SSD storage, which is well-suited for everyday tasks like email, writing, spreadsheets, video streaming, and web browsing. The SSD storage keeps things running smoothly, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity make it easy to stay connected and transfer files. You’ll also get up to 12 hours of battery life, which is helpful for flights, long workdays, or study sessions.
This refurbished model carries a Grade A/B rating, meaning it may show light cosmetic wear but remains fully functional.
At this price, it’s a practical way to add a portable extra computer to your home, travel bag, or workspace. Get this Grade A/B refurbished Apple MacBook Air while it’s $199.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time with free shipping.
Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Imagine it's Friday night and you're alone with nothing to do. Out of a combination of boredom and loneliness, you decide you're going to use the internet to score a hookup, if not for this weekend then hopefully for next.
What's your best plan here? What site or app offers you the greatest chance of success? In the wild world of online dating, two names stand above the crowd when it comes to keeping things casual: Tinder and Adult Friend Finder, and while both are veterans of the online dating game, they also take very different approaches to connecting strangers.
Is one inherently better than the other? Not necessarily, but one might be better for you, depending on what you're looking for and how you want to go about your search. To help you pick your best hookup option, we've broken down some of the key differences between Adult Friend Finder and Tinder.
Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Tinder Tinder Learn More Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder for hookupsBy reputation, both of these options are notoriously hookup-focused, so we're off to a good start there, but they operate in entirely different ways and attract very different people, so it's important to understand the differences.
Do you prefer an app or website?Tinder began as an app and will remain an app, but Adult Friend Finder is one of the few dating websites that never opted for native smartphone support. If you prefer to do your swiping on the couch or on the toilet, you'll automatically gravitate to Tinder, but if you don't mind using a computer to score your next hookup, you'll probably appreciate the richer feature set of Adult Friend Finder, including chat rooms, discussion boards, and live webcam broadcasts.
SEE ALSO: All your Hinge questions, answeredFrom a hookup perspective, Tinder's algorithm-driven approach is somewhat limiting, since the only way to speak to someone is to match first, whereas Adult Friend Finder is more generous in its approach, allowing you both the traditional match-first-and-then-talk approach while also offering you more public spaces to interact with people based on shared interests. If you're looking for the fastest possible connection, AFF is probably the way to go, but if you can be patient, Tinder's ability to serve up an endless array of nearby singles shouldn't be underestimated.
The cost of using both servicesIf you're cash-strapped or just feeling stingy, it's worth knowing that, while both services can be used for free, Tinder is the better option for people who don't want to submit their credit card information. With a free Tinder account, you can browse, swipe, match, and talk to people, all without ever having to commit to a subscription fee. A free account on Adult Friend Finder only allows you to create a profile, explore the public areas, and interact with people in group settings. If you want to talk to someone one on one through AFF, you'll need to upgrade to a Gold membership.
That being said, if you really want to make the most of both services and maximize your chances of scoring a hookup, the premium membership tiers do offer some valuable features. Tinder has three subscription Tiers — Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum — that offer unlimited likes, the ability to "boost" your profile in the search results, and even, at the highest tier, the ability to message people you haven't already matched with or see people who like your profile. Tinder uses a dynamic pricing model, depending on your age, gender and location, but you should expect to pay between $4.99 and $9.99 in the United States for a Plus membership, and above that for the higher tiers.
SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answeredAdult Friend Finder's Gold membership costs between $19.95 and $39.95 per month, depending on the length of the subscription you opt for, and it really helps the site shine. A premium membership unlocks one-on-one messaging, upgrades your search options, and gives you insights into who is checking out your profile, which makes finding a hookup much more efficient.
The user demographicsAnother major difference between Tinder and Adult Friend Finder, and one that can make or break your hookup search, is the demographic data. Both Tinder and AFF skew male, with Adult Friend Finder clocking in at approximately 65 percent male, 35 percent female and Tinder posting even more lopsided numbers, with roughly 75 percent of its users identifying as male. But that's not even the most important demographic statistic.
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So which option offers your best chance for success? If you're younger, or if you live around a lot of younger people, like in a city or college town, you're probably better off fishing in Tinder's waters, but if you're in your 30s or 40s and still looking for something casual, Adult Friend Finder has the most options for you.
NVIDIA revealed NVIDIA DLSS 5 on Monday, a new rendering model that uses AI to add "photoreal lighting and materials" to video game graphics. The internet immediately hated it, criticising DLSS 5 for erasing games' intentional artistic styles by basically adding an "AI slop filter." Now CEO Jensen Huang has responded to DLSS 5's critics, stating that they are "completely wrong."
SEE ALSO: Nvidia DLSS 5 games list: Every supported title we know so farDLSS 5 was unveiled during the NVIDIA GTC keynote, accompanied by a video showcasing the AI tool in action. Displaying clips from games such as Resident Evil Requiem, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield, the video compared graphics in their original state to with DLSS 5 turned on, the AI giving them a more photorealistic look.
"DLSS 5 is the GPT moment for graphics — blending handcrafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the control artists need for creative expression," Huang said in a press release.
Gamers lambast NVIDIA DLSS 5 as 'AI slop filter'Unfortunately, gamers aren't sharing Huang's enthusiasm for NVIDIA's new real-time neural rendering model. Many noted that the photorealistic style DLSS 5 applied to the game footage in the demonstration video modified the games' original style, and completely changed characters' appearances to the point where some considered them virtually unrecognisable.
NVIDIA's X post announcing DLSS 5 was swiftly inundated with replies criticising the tool, with derision also filling the comments of the demonstration video on YouTube.
"DLSS5 makes this look like an AI generated dating profile picture used to scam an old person in another country," said X user @GamersNexus, sharing a screenshot of Resident Evil Requiem character Grace with DLSS 5 applied. "Just looks like every other AI generated image of a 'person.' No character or soul to it. Art loses what makes it impressive when it all looks like generated slop."
"Giving games an AI filter is an insult," wrote @kalaelizabeth. "Those aren't even the same characters what the hell."
"Like what's the point?" said @thethiny. "Artists spend hours perfecting a model for you to come and replace it with AI Faces? I seriously hate this so much."
"This looks horrifically bad, nobody wants an AI slop filter on top of their games," wrote @SynthPotato. The post has over 107,000 likes at time of writing. NVIDIA's post has 66,000.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. NVIDIA CEO calls DLSS 5 criticism 'completely wrong'NVIDIA has now attempted to reassure players and clarify exactly what DLSS 5 does, claiming that it won't override games' art direction. Responding to the backlash during a GTC Q&A, Huang insisted that DLSS 5's generative AI doesn't remove artistic control from game developers, but instead allows them to use it as a tool. Developers will be able to direct and "fine-tune" the AI so that it adheres to their artistic style.
"[A]s I have explained very carefully, DLSS 5 fuses controllability of the geometry and textures and everything about the game with generative AI," said Huang, as reported by Tom's Hardware. "It's not post-processing, it's not post-processing at the frame level, it's generative control at the geometry level… This is very different than generative AI; it’s content-control generative AI. That’s why we call it neural rendering."
The official NVIDIA GeForce YouTube account has responded to criticism in the DLSS 5 announcement video's comments section as well.
"Important to note with this technology advance — game developers have full, detailed artistic control over DLSS 5's effects to ensure they maintain their game's unique aesthetic," NVIDIA wrote in a pinned comment. "The SDK includes things like intensity, color grading and masking off places where the effect shouldn't be applied. It's not a filter — DLSS 5 inputs the game’s color and motion vectors for each frame into the model, anchoring the output in the source 3D content."
Posting on X, NVIDIA's global PR director Ben Berraondo stated that the Resident Evil Requiem DLSS 5 demonstration was worked on by developers Capcom. Starfield developer Bethesda Game Studios also wrote on X that its "art teams will be further adjusting [DLSS 5's] lighting and final effect to look the way we think works best for each game. This will all be under our artists’ control, and totally optional for players."
"With DLSS 5 the artistic style and detail shine through without being held back by the traditional limits of real-time rendering," Bethesda Game Studios' executive producer Todd Howard said in a statement on Monday. "We’re excited to work with this new technology and look to bring DLSS 5 to Starfield and future Bethesda titles."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Even so, gamers remain unappeased, turning their ire onto the executives promoting NVIDIA's AI tool. Though developers may be able to prompt or direct DLSS 5, using AI to alter an image is not the same as manually creating it themselves.
"Todd realizing he doesn't have to update the prehistoric creation engine because now he can simply fake good graphics with a snapchat filter," wrote @sean_gause.
"If you want to upgrade graphics, hire talented artists to do it instead of using technology that exploited YOUR OWN STUDIO'S COPYRIGHTED WORK — which they originally did without your consent, regardless of you choosing to sell your soul now — that will only wipe out all creative direction in exchange for mid AI slop that no one wants to look at," wrote @homemadehooplah.
It isn't clear what datasets NVIDIA used to train DLSS 5, or how it may have obtained them. However, training AI models is a fraught area, with multiple companies having been accused of using stolen or misappropriated data.
NVIDIA's DLSS 5 becomes grotesque memeNVIDIA's side-by-side comparisons showing off its DLSS 5 model have quickly transformed into a meme. Social media users are sharing images of well-known characters, comparing them with similar yet very different versions that ostensibly have DLSS 5 applied. These DLSS 5 versions are often grotesquely detailed, or have been heavily altered to have generic, highly airbrushed features reminiscent of aesthetics in pornography.
Several independent game developers have gotten in on the joke as well.
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