Feed aggregator

The U.S. has gone wild for Obsession. Writer/director Curry Barker's twisted horror movie about a wish gone wrong is not only a box office hit, but also the highest-grossing Focus Features release of all time. Audiences have screamed, critics have raved — especially over the impeccable performance of leading lady Inde Navarrette.

While the film centers on an aimless young man called Bear (Michael Johnston), it's Navarrette's cursed girl Nikki who's become the internet's obsession. When Bear wishes for his crush to love him more than anyone else, Nikki becomes a horrifically distorted version of herself, who lives only for his attention.

Today, Obsession comes to digital, and with it comes a featurette clip, in which the film's cast looks back on how Navarrette brought this harrowing portrait of being trapped by male desire to such vivid life.

SEE ALSO: Stephen King posts his 2-line review of 'Obsession'

As seen above, Johnston and fellow castmates Cooper Tomlinson and Megan Lawless share what it was like to be on set as Navarrette created Nikki. For her part, the heralded actress credits Barker with helping her work on finding the physicality for Nikki and her "uncanny valley" look. And he marvels that this scream queen was new to letting loose with a good yell.

Obsession is available for now available for purchase on digital. Obsession will be released on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-Ray and DVD on July 14. These options include more behind-the-scenes footage and a commentary track from Barker.

After a tough 2025, the news about the U.S. labor market has been trending positive, at least for the second quarter of 2026. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the week ending June 20 fell by 12,000 to 215,000, the Labor Department reported recently. That number beat analyst expectations of around 225,000 new applications, according to the Associated Press.

Even with the good news, around 7.3 million are still looking for work, according to May numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For many, the hunt for work begins with polishing one's resume and cover letter — and using AI to do so.

Employers and HR directors are also using AI to screen their large piles of CVs. So, what does AI want to see on your resume and cover letter? In the second edition of our series on making AI love your resume (check out the first story here), we connected with Shaun Pichler, Ph.D., a professor at the Department of Management at the College of Business & Economics at California State University, Fullerton. Pichler, also the senior editor of the Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology and co-editor-in-chief of Human Resource Management, walked us through the realities of the modern job search.

Many people assume AI does the first pass on most resumes and applications. Have you found that to be true?

Pichler: This really depends on the type of job and the employer. AI screening is more likely among entry-to mid-level roles as compared to, for instance, executive roles. It is also more commonly used among large employers of choice that receive high volumes of applications per vacancy. I wouldn’t say that AI does the first pass on most resumes and applications because recent survey data indicates that a little less than half of responding organizations use AI for recruiting in general. And it is common for recruiters to selectively review applications from referrals and other priority applicants without using AI whatsoever.

Does AI have a bias against AI-constructed CVs/resumes/cover letters?

This is an interesting empirical question. Since LLMs tend to prefer self-generated content, there is reason to posit that AI actually has a positive bias in favor of AI-constructed resumes. While there is one conference paper that found large language models prefer resumes created by themselves, there just haven’t been enough studies done on this topic to draw any meaningful conclusions, at least not yet — but give it a couple of years.

There are many websites that claim to help job seekers optimize their CVs for AI. With AI changing and adapting so quickly, can those sites still be trusted to know what AI wants?

There is very little verifiable evidence to suggest that a third-party vendor can meaningfully help a candidate optimize their resume for AI. My suggestion to job candidates is to use multiple LLMs, like ChatGPT and Claude, to help them with their resumes instead of paying money to a third-party vendor. My personal opinion is that this is a waste of money in most cases.

Any tips for people trying to retrofit their resumes for AI and make them stand out within the algorithm?

Yes, but my suggestions apply whether the resume is being reviewed by AI, a human, or both, which are to mirror the language of the job posting/description, highlight important keywords, quantify one’s experience when possible, and focus on job-relevant information. The key here is tailoring the resume to the job posting, something that can take a lot of time and can be streamlined by using AI, so long as the applicant gives an LLM adequate information, such as their resume alongside a narrative of their accomplishments, as well as the job posting.

If you're planning to upgrade your computer's memory or buy a new device soon, now may be the time to do it.

That's according to tech analysts who are sounding the alarm: RAM prices are about to rise by nearly 50 percent in the coming weeks.

According to a report from Jefferies Equity Research analysts, memory chip pricing is expected to rise between 40 and 50 percent in the third quarter of 2026 — between July 1 and September 30, in other words.

SEE ALSO: Thank the AI industry for tech price increases: See the full list

Hoping that relief is on the horizon, in the form of increased supply to meet the demand? Alas, that doesn't seem likely anytime soon either. 

Memory prices are expected to rise even further, between 30 and 40 percent more, in the fourth quarter (October through December). And it only gets worse next year; analysts project memory price hikes will continue with a year-on-year increase of 40 to 45 percent in 2027.

Memory chip manufacturers, like Samsung and Micron, have already sold a good portion of their output to companies building out AI data centers. That means fewer chips for consumers in the form of PCs, smartphones, and video game consoles. Demand from AI companies is skyrocketing, going far and beyond what the manufacturers can keep up with. 

As Mashable previously reported, Micron has warned that RAM shortages could last into 2028. In February, hard drive manufacturer Western Digital shared that its "top 7 customers" had bought out all of its storage supply for the year. In addition, the company said that these companies were already buying up its supply into 2028.

As a result of AI-driven shortages, consumer products have skyrocketed in price. Apple recently raised the price of its MacBooks by as much as $500. Gaming companies have also struggled with the shortages. Microsoft recently raised Xbox gaming console prices by as much as $150.

Recent leaks suggest that Sony will either have to sell its upcoming PlayStation 6 console at a minimum of $960 or push the launch date back into 2028 or even beyond that.

In short, RAMaggedon is well and truly here.

Love Island USA has become one of the internet's biggest reality TV obsessions over the past couple of summers, and its fans are doing a lot more than watching hot twenty-somethings couple up.

The reality dating show, which airs every night except Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock, gives viewers a near-daily stream of developments to analyze, from bombshell arrivals and public votes to recouplings, shifting loyalties, and the small villa moments that can turn one Islander into a fan favorite or send another into the internet's crosshairs. Fans track, post, and debate every change in the villa like it is a sport (with better swimwear).

So maybe it was only a matter of time before someone tried to put a market around all that forecasting.

Kalshi, the prediction market platform, has been offering Love Island USA contracts this season, giving users a way to trade on outcomes connected to the show, including which couple will win, which Islanders might be eliminated next, and which couples could finish in second or third place. They have also partnered with creators to launch a breadth of TikTok and Instagram ads.

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

"Because the fandom around Love Island is so popular, we knew our traders would be excited about getting in on the action," Kalshi spokesperson Laura Frank tells Mashable. "Trading on the outcome of shows like Love Island allows fans to feel like they're part of these moments."

According to Kalshi, Love Island USA markets brought in more than $20 million in trading volume across the first two weeks of the season, a major figure for an entertainment market. For comparison, the most recent Oscars race for Best Picture, one of the biggest awards-season betting events, drew about $25 million in volume. Kalshi’s Week 2 elimination market closed with $3.3 million traded, more than the $2.8 million traded on the winning couple market at the time.

The demand was not limited to an early burst of curiosity. Frank said trading has been "exceptionally popular," with total trading volume for Love Island U.S. and UK markets reaching nearly $40 million as of Monday, June 29. She said trades crossed $1 million in cumulative volume within the first week around the premieres and reached a single-day peak of nearly $3 million traded on June 11.

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

Currently, Kalshi's winning couple market has Trinity Tatum and Bryce Dettloff as heavy favorites, with an 80 percent chance of winning (both Melanie and Sincere and Zach and Kayda have a 33 percent chance of landing in the top three). There are also weekly elimination contracts — Amora and Kenzie were both priced around 56 and 37 percent in the Week 5 market.

Kalshi is not the only prediction market platform turning Love Island USA into something tradable. On Polymarket, users have also been able to trade on Season 8 outcomes, down to even what might be said during a specific episode (for example, the word "red flag"). A spokesperson from Polymarket declined to comment on their Love Island trading platform.

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.

Love Island is different from a traditional awards show or sporting event, though, because fans are not only watching from the outside. Sometimes, they shape what happens next.

Often, the producers prompt fans to vote for their favorite (or least favorite) cast members on the Love Island app, and each time, the fandom certainly mobilizes: The Love Island USA app crashed during both a June 9 and June 16 vote and later climbed to the top of the App Store.

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

When asked about the ethics and integrity of markets where users can influence outcomes through public voting, Frank says, "We draw a hard line against insider trading — it's prohibited on Kalshi."

She also says it has safeguards in place to detect suspicious activity on its platform. Kalshi uses Know Your Customer checks for everyone who trades on the platform, which Frank describes as "very similar (and more extensive) than signing up for a bank."

"When people trade, we use advanced AI surveillance technology that tracks for any irregular trading and investigates suspicious trading activity," Frank adds. "We go beyond looking at individual households and look at people’s social connections as well."

Prediction markets are expanding just as sports betting has become a massive part of American digital life. Americans legally wagered nearly $167 billion on sports in 2025, according to the American Gaming Association, and online betting has transformed how many fans experience games. Some states — like Illinois, Nevada, and most recently Michigan (as of June 29) — have placed bans or taxes on prediction markets as state governments debate whether to classify them as financial exchanges, gambling platforms, or something in between.

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

The sports gambling world has been built, for the most part, around men. Men are nearly twice as likely as women to report gambling-related problems, and sports betting has become one of the clearest examples of how quickly gambling products can move from occasional entertainment to an everyday phone habit.

So when prediction market companies start using pop culture, influencers, and reality TV to reach more women, it raises a question: Is this just another way for fans to engage with the shows they love, or is it opening a new pathway to betting addiction for an untapped market?

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.

According to Frank, there are "3x more female traders" in Love Island markets compared with other Kalshi markets, and "2/3 of new Love Island traders are women."

Kalshi and Polymarket have both experimented with pop-culture contracts and social media strategies that look different from a sportsbook ad during a football game, setting wagers on — for example — Taylor Swift's wedding venue, Dancing with the Stars cast members, or the Bachelor drama.

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

It doesn't mean every fan trading on these outcomes is treating Kalshi and Polymarket like a sportsbook. Prediction markets differ from betting platforms; their contracts are described as "event-based trading," where users buy and sell positions against each other rather than placing bets against the house. In that framing, a Love Island contract is less like a traditional sportsbook wager and more like a stock price fluctuating around a future event.

But for users, the actual experience can still feel familiar, potentially hooking a new prediction-market audience one recoupling at a time.

Beatbot's Sora 70 robot pool cleaner is a high-tech way to clean your swimming pool. CNET Video Producer, Stephen Beacham, tested it out for a week and shares his thoughts on what it's like to use the app-connected cleaning device. 

Timothée Chalamet has caught the sci-fi bug. Following the release of Dune: Part Three, the Oscar nominee will remain in the realm of space and aliens with Illumination's upcoming Not Alone.

SEE ALSO: 'Werwulf' trailer: Robert Eggers and Aaron Taylor-Johnson unleash the beast within

The film, out in April of 2027, marks Chalamet's animation debut. He stars alongside Selena Gomez, herself no stranger to animation thanks to roles in the Hotel Transylvania movies. The pair voice Joe and Fran, employees at Space Burst, a company working on a revolutionary rocket launch.

Not Alone's first teaser trailer highlights the budding romance between the two, complete with flirting, blushing, and the promise of a dinner date. However, Joe and Fran's love story gets derailed when Space Burst's rocket collides with an unknown object and begins hurtling back to Earth — and it's bringing aliens with it.

Up until this point, Not Alone's teaser is quietly sweet, with even a hint of melancholy at the threat of the rocket colliding with Earth. With the aliens' introduction, though, the trailer reminds us that this is an Illumination movie. And Illumination loves nothing more than its weird little guys. (See: the entire Minions franchise.)

Not Alone's weird little guys are a crew of Gumby-looking aliens. Unlike the Minions, they speak English — and they're all voiced by UK comedy royalty. Named Dunk (voiced by Rob Brydon), Welly (voiced by Diane Morgan), and Shirm (voiced by Jamie Demetriou), this alien trio is on the run from their home planet's zealous Officer Zandro (voiced by Brett Goldstein). They wind up hiding out in Joe's home. Will their presence help or hinder his chances with Fran? And how will this first contact end up impacting the rest of Earth?

Not Alone hits theaters in April of 2027.

FREE PHONE: As of June 30, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26+ from T-Mobile when you activate a new line or trade in an eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S26: Free with T-Mobile   Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new smartphone, your best bet right now is T-Mobile.

Whether you're looking to trade in your old device or want to start fresh with a new carrier, you can snag 2026's Samsung Galaxy S26+ for free. There are a couple of ways you can go about taking advantage of the deal, but either way you slice it, you're getting a phone that's normally $1,099.99 without having to nickel and dime yourself to death.

As of June 30, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26+ from T-Mobile when you activate a new line or trade in an eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. That means you can take your old device and trade it in (after consulting the list of eligible trade-in devices, of course) or simply opt to start up a new phone plan on either eligible option. Additionally, if you're already on Go5G Next or Go5G plans at T-Mobile, you'll qualify for the free phone.

SEE ALSO: The 5 best smartphones of 2026 so far: See if yours made the cut

But you don't just walk in and get a free phone or place a $0 order for the device. There are some fees that will apply. You'll receive 24 monthly bill credits for the device when adding a line or trading in an eligible phone on the qualifying plan of your choice. The only catch is, you'll need to pay taxes and a $35 device connection charge to complete the deal.

You can complete the deal online or in-store, so if you want the phone sooner rather than later, that's an option. Just be advised that you will need to pay a bit of cash in return for the spoils. If that sounds like a great deal to you (and really, it is), you can sign up right now and have your phone ASAP. And who doesn't want a free phone this summer?

Best REI 4th of July deals at a glance: Best camping deal REI Half Dome 2 Tent with Footprint $246.69 (save $82.31) Get Deal Best Yeti deal Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler $260 (save $65) Get Deal Best water sports deal Bote Aero Inflatable Paddle Board $399.99 (save $179.01) Get Deal

Prime Day ended last week, but we have plentiful 4th of July sales on the agenda this week. One of the most shoppable sales right now is the REI 4th of July sale. This annual event marks one of the retailers best sales of the year, and the timing couldn't be better now that we've realized what gear doesn't deserve to come along on this summer's camping adventures.

REI is a membership co-op that specializes in outdoor gear, but unlike retailers like Amazon, there's only a one-time lifetime membership fee of $30. Plus, if you sign up for a membership now, you'll get a free $30 member bonus card to spend on a purchase of $50 or more. The membership comes with great benefits like exclusive discounts, free shipping, and access to local events.

SEE ALSO: Shop for a new mattress during 4th of July sales when you can take up to 60% off

As someone who spends as much time as possible outside, I've scrolled the endless pages of REI's 4th of July sale to find the best deals I'd buy myself. Here are my top recommendations to shop during the sale. Keep in mind prices jump back to normal after July 6, so shop early to get the best selection.

Best camping deal Opens in a new window Credit: REI REI Half Dome 2 Tent with Footprint $246.99 at REI
$329 Save $82.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Every great camping adventure needs a great tent. With over 45 years of design, the REI Half Dome tent proves its worth in the outdoor. This model is designed to sleep two people during three seasons. It weighs a bit over five pounds packed, and it comes with an included rainfly and footprint. Durability includes using 7000-series aluminum poles, ripstop nylon for the rainfly, and breathable 75-denier polyester taffeta for the upper walls.

More camping deals

• Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System — $48.69 $64.95 (save $16.26)

• Dometic GO Hydration Water Jug (11 Liters) — $55.99 $70 (save $14.01)

• Marmot Sawtooth Sleeping Bag (Regular) — $144.73 $299 (save $154.27)

• Hest Foamy Sleeping Pad (Regular) — $263.19 $329 (save $65.81)

• Nemo Dragonfly Bikepack OSMO 1P Tent — $362.73 $519.95 (save $157.22)

• Big Agnes Wyoming Trail 4 Tent — $499.93 $999.95 (save $500.06)

Best Yeti deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler $260
$325 Save $65   Get Deal Why we like it

As a special deal for REI members, the 4th of July sale gives you access to 20% off any one Yeti item. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler. With the REI member discount, the cooler drops to just $260 in your choice of nine colorways. Yeti is well known for their durable coolers, and the Tundra 45 is large enough to hold 54 cans without ice or up to 37 pounds of ice. Plus, it has one removable dry goods basket.

If you're not in need of a large hard cooler, check out the rest of the Yeti selection that's also eligible for a one-item 20% discount during the sale.

Best water sports deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bote Bote Aero Inflatable Paddle Board $399.99
$579 Save $179.01   Get Deal Why we like it

It's hard to match the serenity of a calm summer evening spent out on the water. The Bote Wulf Aero inflatable paddle board with a paddle is on sale during the REI sale for $399.99, down from the standard price of $579 for a great 30% discount. At over 11 feet long, this SUP is great for beginners, and it's suitable for anyone who weighs up to 315 pounds.

When you're finished with chilling out on the water, the Bote deflates and easily stores in the included carrying backpack. That's great news for easy storage during the off season.

More REI 4th of July deals

• Fjallraven Pocket Bag — $30.93 $45 (save $14.07)

• Thermacell E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller — $37.39 $49.95 (save $12.56)

• Helinox HeliDrop Game — $59.89 $79.95 (save $20.06)

• Osprey Zealot 30 Pack — $83.73 $130 (save $46.27)

• Nemo Vantage 20 L Endless Promise Everyday Adventure Daypack — $97.73 $179.95 (save $82.22)

• Chaco Rapid Pro Sandals — $97.49 $130 (save $32.51)

• Coleman Snap 'N Go 55-Quart Collapsible Hard Cooler — $179.99 $240 (save $60.01)

• Cannondale Quick CX 3 Bike — $679.19 $849 (save $169.81)

Meccha Chameleon has become one of the breakout indie hits of the summer, racking up over 10 million copies sold since launching on Steam earlier this month, according to the developer lemorion_1224.

The newest and hottest friendslop game on the block sees players tackle a hide-and-seek party game that tasks "Hiders" with painting their bodies to blend into colorful stage backgrounds while "Seekers" race to find them before time runs out — a simple premise that's proven to be a hit for friend groups looking for chaotic multiplayer fun.

Meccha Chameleon is currently only available on PC via Steam. There is no confirmed release on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or mobile devices.

Is Meccha Chameleon on Xbox?

No. Meccha Chameleon is not available on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, and it is not part of Xbox Game Pass. No release date or porting plans have been announced.

Is Meccha Chameleon on mobile (iOS/Android)?

No. There is currently no mobile version of Meccha Chameleon, and no announcement has been made regarding a future release on iOS or Android.

Bending Spoons, an Italian company that bought aging internet companies like AOL, Evernote and Vimeo, is going public this week at a potential value of $19 billion.

Nvidia has reintroduced some old hardware to the market, but not at an especially agreeable price.

Tom's Hardware reported that Nvidia has quietly begun restocking the RTX 3060 graphics card series at some online retailers, such as Newegg. The 12GB card first launched in 2021 but had been off the shelves for some time as the company shifted its priorities to the newer 50-series cards. The only problem? This five-year-old card costs $339.99, which is not much less than a newer, more powerful RTX 5060.

SEE ALSO: Nvidia's RTX Spark is big news, but it's not for everyone

This is obviously meant to reduce the strain on the GPU market a bit by offering a PC component that, while not capable of supporting all the latest technical bells and whistles, would still be plenty good for playing most PC video games. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company would consider doing this back at CES earlier this year, and it has apparently made good on that promise. It just hasn't done so in a way that will save gamers very much money.

That is, unfortunately, just how things will go for the foreseeable future, as we suffer the consequences of RAMageddon.

Serena Williams is back at Wimbledon, which is not exactly a normal sentence to read in 2026.

The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion returns to Centre Court on Tuesday, June 30, for her first professional singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open. Williams, 44, will face 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint in the first round, marking one of the biggest early moments of this year’s tournament before she has even played a point.

Williams last played a Wimbledon singles match in 2022, when she lost in the first round to Harmony Tan. A few months later, she stepped away from tennis after the U.S. Open, describing the move as “evolving” away from the sport rather than retiring in the traditional sense.

Now, after easing back into competition through doubles earlier this month, she is returning to the singles draw at the All England Club. And this time, she has made it clear that the goal is not to recreate the pressure of her prime.

“As of now, I’m not nervous,” Williams said ahead of the match, adding that her expectation is to stay calm, take it easy, and have fun.

Read below for how to watch, match timing, and what to know about Williams’ Wimbledon return.

Where to watch Serena Williams at Wimbledon

Serena Williams’ first-round match against Maya Joint is airing on ESPN in the United States.

Viewers can also stream Wimbledon coverage through the ESPN app, with individual court streams available through ESPN Unlimited. ESPN coverage is also available through select live TV streaming services that carry the network.

Outside the U.S., Wimbledon coverage varies by country. In the U.K., matches are available across the BBC, including BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sport. International viewers can check Wimbledon’s official TV coverage guide for the broadcaster in their region.

What time does Serena Williams play at Wimbledon?

Williams is scheduled to play Maya Joint on Tuesday, June 30, as the third match on Centre Court.

Centre Court play begins at 8:30 a.m. ET with Taylor Townsend vs. Iga Świątek, followed by Alexander Blockx vs. Alexander Zverev. Williams vs. Joint will begin after those two matches are finished, so the exact start time depends on how long the earlier matches run.

As of now, the match is expected around midday ET, but Wimbledon scheduling can shift quickly.

Who is Serena Williams playing?

Williams will face Maya Joint, a 20-year-old Australian player who turned pro in 2021.

Joint is part of the younger generation that grew up watching Williams dominate tennis, which adds an obvious layer to the matchup. For Williams, it is a return to a court where she has made history. For Joint, it is a first-round match that suddenly became one of the most-watched of the tournament. No pressure.

When was Serena Williams’ last singles match?

Williams’ last professional singles match came at the 2022 U.S. Open, where she lost to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round.

Her last Wimbledon singles match came earlier that same year, when she lost to Harmony Tan in the first round. Since then, Williams has had a second child, expanded her business life, and largely moved into a post-tennis chapter before this comeback.

How many times has Serena Williams won Wimbledon?

Williams has won seven Wimbledon singles titles, with victories in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2016.

She has also won six Wimbledon women’s doubles titles with her sister Venus Williams. The sisters are expected to reunite in doubles at Wimbledon later this week.

SAVE UP TO 40%: As of June 30, get the Bose SoundLink Max and Bose SoundLink Micro portable speakers at Amazon for their lowest-ever prices.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose SoundLink Max $279 at Amazon
$399 Save $120   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose SoundLink Micro $79 at Amazon
$129 Save $50   Get Deal

Looking for a portable speaker to carry around to all your favorite places this summer? Here's the good news: you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get a great one. In fact, you're in luck even now that we're post-Prime Day. You can get some incredible prices on a couple of Bose's best portable speakers, with two options up for grabs at the lowest prices we've seen, in fact.

As of June 30, get the Bose SoundLink Max for $279 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399. That's a discount of 30% and $120 off. Alternatively, you can snag the Bose SoundLink Micro for $79, down from its usual price of $129. That's a discount of 39% and $50 off.

SEE ALSO: Don't wait — Bose QuietComfort headphones are just $179 after Prime Day

These are two speakers in two different sizes for your convenience, essentially. The Max is the larger option with bigger, more satisfying sound that's perfect for larger areas where you need rich bass and music to project. It has 20 hours of battery life and it's waterproof and dustproof as well, so whether you're heading to the beach or just someone's house, you don't have to worry about ruining it. It's large and rugged, with bombastic audio and a built-in AUX input to play tunes from a variety of sources.

Alternatively, the smaller SoundLink Micro is for taking to smaller areas, and it's ultra portable. It has a utility strap that you can use to slip into a pocket, play it straight from your hand, or attach it to a bag. It has 12 hours of battery life and a rugged, durable design that's also waterproof and dustproof, so it's also great for taking on the go. Plus, it has an extended Bluetooth range of up to 30 feet.

No matter which option you choose, there's a lot of audio power here for on-the-go listening, so be sure to grab one before the sales end.

The German company is doubling down on electric vehicles even as other automakers pull back after acknowledging billions of dollars in losses.

Of the four single women Mashable spoke to about dating in 2026, three had one thing in common: They're not on dating apps.

Or, at least, they're not active on them.

"I have Hinge," Kayleigh, a 23-year-old dancer living in Brooklyn, told me. "Do I use it, though? No." Kayleigh, like some other daters, opted to go by their first name only for privacy reasons.

SEE ALSO: The best dating apps for serious relationships

"I went on one Hinge date, and I was like, 'You're the most boring person I think I've ever met,'" she said. "Haven't been on one since."

None of the four daters I spoke to is thrilled about dating apps, including the one who is active on them. Daters, especially those looking for a long-term partner, are frustrated with the dating apps. That's nothing new, said dating coach Erika Ettin. But it seems the more technology meddles in our love lives, the more disconnected people feel. 

"There's never been more apps than we have today. There's never been more choices than today. We're so connected, but so disconnected," Mehak, host of the Love-ly podcast, told me. Love-ly is a podcast about dating, relationships, identity, and culture through the lens of immigrant identity.

Despite the obvious burnout, though, there is hope for dating — including on apps.

Want our dating and relationships stories and more in your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today.

The great opt-out of dating

In recent years, relationship and online dating expert Dr. Jess Carbino has seen more people "solomaxxing" or "self-partnering" — aka, staying single.

"This is consistent with larger trends related to loneliness, as well as relational cutoffs altogether," said Carbino, a PhD in sociology, who used to work as a sociologist for Tinder and Bumble. Americans have been reporting increased loneliness since before the COVID lockdowns, and the isolation and change in daily life afterward didn't help. Estrangement from family has also risen in recent years.

SEE ALSO: I haven't had a boyfriend for a decade. Here's what I've learned.

Carbino attributes opting out of dating to skepticism and cynicism. Men and women are wary of each other, she says. There's also a trend towards moralization, or the classification of certain behaviors as right or wrong. 

But why are young daters skeptical and cynical? Carbino believes that Gen Z hasn't dated before, doesn't know how to do it, and isn't dating as a result of their anxieties, preoccupations with technology, and the precarious financial position they find themselves in.

The socioeconomic status of young people (and older people) definitely hinders dating. Last month, WIRED declared that people can't afford to date, and the New York Times recently reported that rising costs are stopping people from having children, too.

"They're not perceiving themselves or others as being viable options."

Young adults are bowing out of marriage and partnership at a younger age "because they don't feel like they have the capacity to do that," Carbino explained. "They're not perceiving themselves or others as being viable options, and I think that's really consistent with demographic data we see in terms of the increased age at first marriage and childbearing."

Between 1980 and 2023, the median age of an American woman when she first marries has increased by 29 percent from 22.0 to 28.4, according to Bowling Green State University.

And then there are the cultural reasons behind going solo. Having a boyfriend has been deemed "embarrassing"; heterosexual women are pessimistic about their options, and they're not afraid to say so on social media. And that doesn't even touch growing political polarization between young men and women.

And daters continue to be frustrated by dating apps — and now AI is added into the mix. For several years now, the most popular dating apps (Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble) have been adding more AI features, such as Tinder's AI matchmaker, Chemistry.

"Nobody is for it," Ettin said of AI. "With it being so hard to make a connection in general these days, the last thing people want is more AI intervention to make it less personal, to make it less human."

Then there are the daters using chatbots to come up with messages for them (if not dating a bot itself). If someone is using AI to swipe and chat for them, "it doesn't bode well for a good partnership if someone's not putting in the work up front," she said.

26-year-old dater Moena, a PR professional, said AI in dating "kind of kills authenticity." As a Bumble user, she's curious about what the app plans on doing with AI in the coming months as it removes the swipe feature. But plenty of users have expressed their discontent with the move to AI online.

Even without AI, though, the disdain towards dating apps has been growing steadily. Looking at financial performance, Hinge has consistently increased direct revenue and paying users, but the same can't be said for Tinder and Bumble. The latter is considering even apparently considering a sale amid declining downloads. 

Overwhelm and underwhelm

For Mehak, who's not on apps right now, dating is simultaneously overwhelming and underwhelming.

Dating is simultaneously overwhelming and underwhelming.

It's "overwhelming because you know the apps never stop, you're constantly swiping, you're having the same conversation, you're going on first dates that do go somewhere," she explained, "but then they don't go somewhere, but it's also underwhelming, right?"

After awhile, dating all starts to feel the same. She enjoys dating — she loves people and is curious about them — but she's burnt out by the process.

Mehak, who's in her early 30s, said the difference between dating now and ten years ago is the amount of choice. She's also struggling with ambivalence: She wants to find her person, but she can't rush the process. 

"I've spent a lot of time trying to answer six-month questions on date two," she said. She asks herself questions like, Do I see a future with them? Is this my person? "As I'm saying this, I just laugh at myself, because I'm like, how would I possibly know?"

And while she sometimes goes out with friends to meet new people, she doesn't enjoy speed dating events, as they feel manufactured.

Kate Sime, who's in her early 50s, said dating apps have removed the human element of dating, and they foster an environment where everyone's disposable. Before she met her ex-husband at 27, she met her boyfriends through friends, at work, or by locking eyes with someone across a bar. But dating doesn't seem to work like that anymore. 

Sime also said a lot of singles events in London consist of throwing people in a room and giving them alcohol, so she wants to do something different. 

She's launching a business this autumn, Kasalyst, for heterosexual singles 35 and older in London. Kasalyst will host events with activities, be it wine tasting or a dinner party, and pair it with talks to help people through different elements of relationships, such as emotions or finances. She also plans on vetting people to weed out catfishes. 

Just looking for hookups

"Even at our age, people just want to hook up," Sime said. She and her friends have been on Hinge and Bumble, and when they share stories, they realize they've seen the same men on and off those apps over the past three years. 

"They're not actually seriously looking for relationships," she said. What she and her friends discovered is that the men brave enough to hit on them in bars tend to be married, and they're open about the fact that they're having affairs and have no intention of leaving their partners. And when they do leave — or get left — they download the apps right away.

"Women do the work, we do the therapy, we hang out with our girlfriends, we take time out, we heal, we go it alone, we grieve, we do things the right way, whereas men don't bother with that, and they just jump straight into the next relationship," she explained.

What's missing from these conversations? Tinder.

Moena said she's not currently on Tinder (she's on Bumble, Hinge, and Raya instead), due to its hookup reputation — which is exactly what its current CEO, Spencer Rascoff, wants to move away from. The other three aren't on Tinder, either. Tinder does have the largest market share among popular U.S. dating apps, though, according to Business of Apps. Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower also found that Tinder's mobile user base is on average 2.5 times the size of Bumble's.

Is there hope for daters?

Despite some young people solomaxxing for now, Carbino believes it's temporary. They're not resigned to being single forever. She'd like people to be more optimistic, "because there are many people out there who are looking and who are eager to meet someone."

And Mehak told Mashable she is optimistic — but she's noticed she gets fulfillment and confidence from her life, not from men's attention. She tries to make sure she pours into other aspects of her life so "dating takes up a very normal amount of space in my brain."

Kayleigh, the dancer, said she often meets people through the dance projects she does. She then knows she has shared interests, and finds it easier to start being friends with someone and seeing where it takes her.

And despite the ire toward dating apps, Ettin believed people would complain if they went away. Meeting someone isn't easy, she said — it takes a lot of time, energy, and sometimes money. A dater's attitude makes a difference.

"The apps aren't keeping people single," she said. "It's how people use them."

Some of Ettin's dating app tips include:

• Don't exchange phone numbers until you plan a date, so you don't fall into the pen pal trap.

• Treat your initial conversation like a funnel: Start broad and go more narrow. No "how's your day going?" That's boring.

• Meeting up sooner rather than later, in case they're a catfish or just a dud.

Carbino also encourages daters not to just drop someone due to imperfections, as "dump him" social media culture might suggest. Never tolerate abusive behavior, but there's a wide gap between a pet peeve or an ick and something truly harmful. 

"Many people who have been in romantic partnerships, whether they're heterosexual or not, know that people act in ways that are unattractive at times," she said. "Sometimes your partners are going to do things that you don't like and that are not pleasing to you, but that doesn't mean that they're a bad person."

"Honestly, the imperfections are what's really nice, because that's where you know the growth and introspection happens," she continued.

And if you really don't want to deal with another person's faults — or your own, let's be real — then maybe you should take a break from dating. You can always come back when you're ready. When asked if she had anything else to say about dating in 2026, Kayleigh said, "It's OK to be single."

Where to buy Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo collection sets: Olivia Rodrigo’s Vinyl $34.99 at Lego Pre-Order Here Olivia Rodrigo's Concert Moon $49.99 at Lego Pre-Order Here Olivia Rodrigo’s Secret Storage $79.99 at Lego Pre-Order Here Olivia Rodrigo's Dual Guitar $119.99 at Lego Pre-Order Here Olivia Rodrigo's Flower Bouquet $49.99 at Lego Pre-Order Here

Lego is basically handing Livies a whole new way to experience Olivia Rodrigo’s universe, brick by brick.

The brand-new Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo collection delivers five collectible sets inspired by her "Sour," "Guts," and "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love" eras. The three-time Grammy Award winner is the first musician to receive multiple dedicated Lego sets and the first partner to collaborate on a personalized Lego Botanicals set.

The full Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo collection officially launches globally on Aug. 1, but fans don’t have to wait to order. Preorders are already live, including Olivia Rodrigo’s Dual Guitar, Olivia Rodrigo’s Concert Moon, and the Lego Botanicals x Olivia Rodrigo Flower Bouquet.

Olivia Rodrigo isn’t just fronting another celebrity merch collaboration here. Rodrigo also played an active role in refining the designs. The collection is filled with details pulled from her world — from red megaphones and handwritten lyric notebooks to iconic performance moments and nods to her Filipino heritage.

If you're ready to get your hands on the new collection, here are all the details you need.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Vinyl Opens in a new window Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Vinyl $34.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here

The Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Vinyl turns Olivia’s music world into a collectible build with details fans will recognize right away. The 360-piece set includes signature symbols like her red megaphone, red lips, and butterfly motifs, along with an Olivia Rodrigo minifigure wearing a silver outfit inspired by her "Sour" tour look. There are also hidden references and little callbacks sprinkled throughout the build, and fans can spin the center of the vinyl to reveal extra stars and butterflies.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Concert Moon Opens in a new window Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego® Editions Olivia Rodrigo's Concert Moon $49.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here

The Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Concert Moon recreates one of the most memorable moments from Olivia’s "Guts" World Tour — the viral scene where she floats above the crowd on a giant moon. The 670-piece set includes a purple record player, spinning vinyl, and a brick-built crescent moon inspired by the live show.

Fans can turn a handle to make the vinyl and moon rotate, open hidden drawers for small keepsakes, and use a built-in holder to display things like concert tickets or Polaroids. It also comes with an Olivia Rodrigo minifigure wearing a glittery black outfit inspired by her stage style, making it feel like a mini concert display for your shelf.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Secret Storage Opens in a new window Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego® Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Secret Storage $79.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here

The Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Secret Storage gathers some of Olivia’s most recognizable symbols in one display-packed build. The 1,085-piece set is designed like a concert touring case and opens to reveal hidden compartments with items tied to her career, including a red guitar, a lyric notebook, a microphone, vinyl, and the signature red megaphone from her "Guts" era.

Fans will also spot a fun reference to the "Good 4 U" music video, with an Olivia Rodrigo minifigure in her iconic cheerleader outfit appearing inside a TV screen. Between the hidden Easter eggs and display-friendly design, this one feels like a mini scrapbook of Olivia moments in Lego form.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Dual Guitar Opens in a new window Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego® Editions Olivia Rodrigo's Dual Guitar $119.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here

The Lego Editions Olivia Rodrigo’s Dual Guitar turns Olivia’s music into a bold split design that reflects her softer and edgier sides in one build. The 1,228-piece set is shaped like a combined acoustic and electric guitar, inspired by her GUTS world tour and festival performances. It opens up to reveal hidden stage moments, backstage spaces, secret compartments, and Easter eggs tucked throughout the build for fans to find. Inside, there are two detailed Olivia Rodrigo minifigures complete with mini guitars, tour-inspired outfits, and new hair pieces.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Flower Bouquet Opens in a new window Credit: The Lego Group, Olivia Rodrigo x Lego® Editions Olivia Rodrigo's Flower Bouquet $49.99 at Lego
  Pre-order Here

The Lego Botanicals x Olivia Rodrigo Flower Bouquet turns the singer’s music and visual identity into a buildable floral display. The 400-piece set includes 11 Lego flowers, such as a purple rose, daisy, hellebore, and verbena, all built in her signature purple color palette.

Scattered throughout are small Easter eggs tied to her songs, visuals, and stage moments, including guitar-shaped petals, red cherries, butterflies, stars, and black heart details.

Preorders are now live. Waiting until Aug. 1? Bad idea, right?

SAVE $133: As of June 30, get the Samsung 1TB 9100 PRO SSD for $206.99 at Amazon. That's down from its usual price of $339.99, saving you over $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung 1TB 9100 PRO SSD $206.99 at Amazon
$339.99 Save $133   Get Deal

Storage is expensive. You can add that to a veritable treasure trove of other pricey PC parts and components that cost too much, especially RAM.

And it's only getting pricier, so the best time to get a hard drive, especially if you plan on playing some of the year's biggest video games, is now. Though Prime Day may be over, we still found a great deal on an SSD you can use to make sure you're ready for any game that comes your way, as well as photos, videos, or whatever you like to store on your computer.

As of June 30, get the Samsung 1TB 9100 PRO SSD for $206.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $339.99. That's $133 off and a discount of 39%.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is over: We found 10+ deals still live on microSD, portable SSDs, and hard drives to beat RAMageddon

This internal SSD is a whopping 1TB, so it offers plenty of storage space for gaming, photos, videos, files, or backups. It boasts read speeds of up to 14,700MB/s as well as random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS, which means it's zippy enough to recall files and help load content that'll serve you better than an external hard drive, if that's what you're in the market for.

The only downside here is, if you aren't as savvy with computers as you wish you were, you do have to install this SSD. So if you're uncomfortable with popping your case open and putting it in yourself, you may want to opt for an external hard drive instead. If that doesn't bother you though, this is an excellent offer for an SSD that will serve you well, especially if you're planning on future-proofing your setup.

Samsung is preparing a true onslaught of foldable phones this July, and now we've gotten our first detailed look at all of them.

Android Headlines posted the images on Tuesday, and even though these are technically images of cases that will be offered with these phones at launch, some of them do show the phones inside the case.

Perhaps the most interesting in this bunch is Samsung's rumored wide foldable phone. According to the outlet, this phone will actually be called the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. The successor of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and it will be positioned as the most advanced foldable phone Samsung has to offer. Finally, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the compact, flip-style foldable that follows the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

In the images, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a dual camera system on the back, and a punch-hole style selfie camera on the front. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 also has a dual camera on the back, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with a triple rear camera.

The cases on offer include a dark grey one with a kick-stand and aramid fiber-style pattern (this one comes in several color combos), several solid color cases including a white and a purple option, and a couple of joyful ones with cartoon character prints. The options are similar for all phones, though the aramid fiber cases are missing for the Flip phone.

SEE ALSO: Samsung to take on the iPhone Pro with the new Galaxy S27 Pro?

As for what these phones will actually be like, check out our overview of rumors and reports for both the ultra-wide Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

SAVE OVER $100: As of June 30, the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop (Core Ultra 7 Processor 256V, 16GB Memory, 1TB Storage) has returned to its lowest-ever price of $999.99 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition $999.99 at Amazon
$1,155.64 Save $155.65   Get Deal

If buying a new laptop has been at the top of your mind — whether for work, school, or fun — Amazon still has some solid discounts available after Prime Day. The Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop (Core Ultra 7 Processor 256V, 16GB Memory, 1TB Storage) is one of the best, down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

As of June 30, this Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon. That's just over $150 off its typical price of $1,155.64, but it won't be at this price for long. A timer has already begun on the store page that's counting down through June 30, so now is the time to take advantage of this deal before it's gone for good.

SEE ALSO: Laptop specs explained: A jargon-free guide to what's inside your computer

If you enjoy the portable feel of a laptop, the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition is the perfect fit for those on-the-go. It starts at just 2.82 pounds and features a thin design, which makes it nice and easy to slip into a bag or backpack to take with you on the commute. This particular model comes with 16GB of memory, a Core Ultra 7 processor 256V, and 1TB of storage, alongside up to 17 hours of battery life.

That's certainly not all, though. The Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition also has a beautiful screen, whether you're watching something or scrolling through a project for work. It boasts DisplayHDR True Black 500, 600 nits peak brightness, and WUXGA resolution at 60Hz so you can experience a smooth, sharp, and colorful picture.

This deal on the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop (Core Ultra 7 Processor 256V, 16GB Memory, 1TB Storage) runs out after June 30. Act fast to save at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: The LG 27GX790B-B 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon, down from its $999.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 27-Inch Ultragear QHD OLED Gaming Monitor $699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300 Get Deal

OLED gaming monitors are rarely where you go looking for budget upgrades, but Amazon’s latest LG UltraGear deal gives you a pretty serious price cut on one of the fastest 27-inch screens in LG’s current lineup. 

As of June 30, the LG’s 27-inch UltraGear QHD OLED gaming monitor (the 27GX790B-B model) is on sale for only $699.99 at Amazon — with a limited-time deal cutting $300 from its $999.99 list price. 

Shipped and sold by Amazon directly (instead of a third-party seller), free delivery is set for July 5 at the time of writing, or as soon as July 2 for Prime members. Amazon also shows a used “Like New” option for $664.99 through Amazon Resale, if you want to save as much as possible. Anyone wanting the new model directly from Amazon will want to stick with the $699.99 listing. 

This UltraGear is built around a 27-inch QHD OLED panel with a 2560x1440 resolution, giving you a sharper picture than 1080p without asking your PC to push full 4K. If you’re either new to PC gaming or upgrading from a much older rig, this is a very nice middle ground. 

If you’re the type who plays a lot of competitive games, you’ll be a big fan of LG’s Dual Mode: letting you switch between QHD at up to 540Hz or HD at up to 720Hz, depending on whether you care more about sharpness or pure reaction time. Add in the 0.02ms gray-to-gray response time, and games like Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League, Fortnite, and Valorant should feel seriously quick.

The OLED panel should also help with more cinematic games and streaming, with LG listing 335 nits of typical brightness, DisplayHDR True Black 500, UL Verified Perfect Black, and a 1.5M:1 contrast ratio.

That means if you’ll be playing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced or Grand Theft Auto VI in the future, you’ll be getting richer blacks, stronger contrast, and better detail in darker scenes than you’d expect from a more standard gaming monitor. 

For keeping frames extra smooth, the monitor also supports NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. DisplayPort 2.1, dual HDMI 2.1 ports, USB-C, three USB ports, DTS Headphone:X support, and height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments round out the package — so you have all the versatility you need to complete your new immersive setup and then some. 

If you fancy an extra QHD monitor, the 27-inch Odyssey G5 is now only $149.99 at Amazon. As for OLEDs, you can still grab the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 curved gaming monitor for its lowest-ever price.