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Showing posts from June, 2026

The Owala FreeSip is back down to its Prime Day price

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Save 20%: As of June 29, grab the Owala FreeSip (24 ounces) for just $23.99 at Amazon. Typically, this bottle costs $6 more at $29.99. Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala FreeSip ...

Xbox is pushing back on claims that PS5 is outselling it 8-to-1 in GTA VI pre-orders

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In a follow-up with Windows Central, an Xbox spokesperson explicitly said IGN's data doesn't represent pre-order data. The representative added that Microsoft has seen record orders, and that people should wait for "real data" instead of clicks on affiliate links. Read Entire Article from TechSpot https://ift.tt/XonCKup via

House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 2 finally answers one of the big questions from last season

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Warning: Contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 2. It's always nice to see a familiar face in House of the Dragon , even if said face is rolling across the floor of the Great Hall minutes after reappearing on our screens. We're talking, of course, about Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), the former Hand of the King who's had quite the spectacular fall from grace since Season 1. But what exactly happened to him, and where has he been all this time? It's been a while since we last saw him, so let's recap. SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 family tree: How the Targaryens, Velaryons, and Hightowers connect What happens with Otto Hightower in Season 3, episode 2? After Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith) stroll into King's Landing to seize control, the latter pays a visit to the dungeons. "If you would, my prince," says a man holding a torch. "A gif...

Australia is doubling max fines for social media ban violations

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Australia's teen social media ban has been in effect since December , and the government's verdict on how it's going is pretty clear: not well enough. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced this week that Australia will double the maximum penalty for violating its social media minimum age law, raising the fine ceiling from $AUD49.5 million ($US33 million) to $AUD99 million ($US68.2 million). The government is also moving to expand the eSafety Commissioner's powers to compel platforms to hand over evidence of what they're actually doing to keep under-16s off their services. SEE ALSO: The next social media ban? Austria looks to block kids under 14 from social media The news comes roughly six months after Australia's Online Safety Amendment Act took effect, banning platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X, and YouTube from allowing users under 16 to hold accounts, as Mashable previou...

YouTube says the secret to success is not their algorithm, its your audience

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Much of the talk at VidCon 2026 focused on how long-form horizontal content is at the forefront of rewiring the traditional Hollywood model. On a panel about convergence , Pocketwatch CEO Chris H. Williams declared, "If it works on YouTube, it'll work anywhere," pointing to The Besties' crossover success on Hulu and, soon, Amazon Fire TV Stick. A recurring topic across panels was how streamers like Hulu, Amazon, and Tubi are recruiting creators, acquiring their YouTube libraries, or funding original content. But what does it take to make a video go viral on YouTube in 2026? That was the question Vidcon attendees had in mind as they sat down for the panel titled Decoding the Algorithm: What Your Audience Actually Wants on YouTube. Presented by YouTube , this three-person panel featured YouTube Creator Liaison and Head of Editorial Rene Ritchie, YouTuber Katarina Mogus, and YouTube Senior Director of Growth and Discovery Todd Beaupré. SEE ALSO: ...

Audity credits her success to her muse and keeping things fun

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Audrey Hopkins (aka Audity or AudityDraws) has grown a fan following by chasing her love of character design and not taking her art too seriously. Her 13.2 million followers on TikTok revel over her imaginative mash-ups, like re-imagining Disney villains as Disney princesses or turning Bluey characters into human incarnations. But her greatest muse has been her husband, Richard Conley . She's drawn him as a merman, Sailor Moon, Handsome Squidward, and many more creative characters. All to the delight of her audience and Conley himself, who collaborated with her on an inspiration app, called Wanna Draw , which generates mash-up ideas for artists of all sorts. As someone who has enjoyed Audity's art, mischievous sense of fun, and high-energy online persona, I was elated to sit down with her at VidCon 2026 to discuss her journey from character designer to a thriving content creator. Audity next to her illustrated...

Uber announces stronger background checks for drivers

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Pressured by recent lawsuits claiming Uber didn't do enough to prevent sexual assault, the ride-sharing company has announced stricter background check requirements for drivers. "After listening to a wide range of feedback, we’ve broadened the criteria for convictions that permanently disqualify someone from driving or delivering with Uber," the company wrote in a recent blog post . "Our goal is to build the safest platform." SEE ALSO: Meta is pushing for social media exclusions in new child safety regulation The new review process expands on existing driver requirements, permanently banning drivers with convictions that "may be sexual in nature." The new rules also disqualify drivers with misdemeanor or felony stalking and strangulation-related offenses because they "can be predictors of future violence," Uber explains. The company says the changes were influenced by recommendation...

The Besties are coming to Amazon Fire this summer

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The Besties have been crushing it on YouTube with 2.98 million subscribers. Their show, which features sleepover-style excitement and spooky stories suitable for kids, is now available on Hulu . And at Vidcon 2026, Mackenzie Turner and Lael Hansen announced a partnership with Amazon Fire that'll put them on that streaming platform by the end of summer. In the panel The Convergence is Here: What Happens When a Creator's Social Content is a Big Streamer's Pipeline?, The Besties were joined by Pocketwatch CEO Chris H. Williams, Global Head of Partnerships at Amazon's Fire TV Channels Dan Green, and NorthStar Media Group producer Ivana Kirkbride, who moderated the session. On the panel, they discussed how a creator like The Besties might move their libraries onto streaming services, with the help of companies like Pocketwatch. Then, in the middle of the panel, Green confirmed The Besties would make their Amazon Fire debut this summer, and Williams concurred, dropping the r...

15+ board game deals to grab before Prime Day ends tonight

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Prime Day isn't over yet. With the sale in its final hours, there are still plenty of deals worth adding to your cart — and they're not all tech deals . If you're looking for something to occupy your time indoors this summer, we've found over 15 board games on sale for up to 45% off. That includes many classics like Candy Land and The Game of Life , as well as cult favorites like Ticket to Ride and Azul . Below, we've rounded up some of our favorite Prime Day board game deals still live . The sale ends tonight at 3 a.m. ET, so be sure to snag these deals as soon as possible. The best Prime Day board game deal Opens in a new window ...

Nothing Phone (4b) announcement incoming — but theres a caveat

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A new Nothing Phone is on the way and you won't have to wait too long to find out more. On Thursday, the British design firm posted a video that ostensibly showcases some teaser images of their upcoming smartphone, Phone (4b). The post, published on X, mentions July 7, all but announcing that's when the official unveiling will take place. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Wondering what the difference is between this Nothing Phone (4b) and the Nothing Phone (4a), currently on sale? Essentially the Phone (4b) will be a more affordable model of the Phone (4a) — just as Google makes the Pixel 10 and the lower-priced Pixel 10a model. The video that Nothing posted does show some design differences between the Nothing Phone (4b) and the Nothing Phone (4a). "Phone (4b) blends a unibody design and clear camera bump of Phone (4a) Pro with the Glyph Bar from Phone (4a) to create a minimal rear design that feels distin...

Game designer Sandy Petersen recalls how Quake's development "broke" id Software

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id Software and GT Interactive released Quake in 1996, marking a significant evolution in the first-person shooter genre just three years after Doom. Sandy Petersen, one of the studio's original designers from the Doom era, said that developing the first "true" 3D FPS took a heavy toll on the team. Read Entire Article from TechSpot https://ift.tt/FQzHYRq via

What is the most commonly used password?

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It takes less than a second to crack the world's most popular password. Do you know what it is? Read Entire Article from TechSpot https://ift.tt/rMwfpOa via

Erling Haaland’s Snapchat is giving World Cup fans something else to cheer for

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Erling Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world, but at this FIFA World Cup , he is not just going viral for his goals...he is going viral for his Snapchat . The Norwegian star has 2.5 million followers on the app, where he posts like a fan account, a tourist, a meme page, and a bored friend answering questions from his couch. This content is even funnier coming from Haaland, who is spending the majority of his time on the pitch making defenders’ lives miserable. On the field, Haaland is already one of the tournament’s dominant players. Through Norway’s first two matches, he has scored four goals, putting himself near the top of the Golden Boot race alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé . His two goals against Senegal helped Norway win 3-2 and qualify for the knockout stage in its first World Cup appearance since 1998. He, of course, posted about the win on Snapchat. Cre...

Europe's digital euro is one step closer, designed to cut out Visa and Mastercard

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The European Parliament said the digital euro can be used to make both online and offline payments to merchants across Europe. Online payments would be processed through an account-based system, while offline payments would function more like cash, with transactions conducted directly via local storage devices such as smartphones. Read Entire Article from TechSpot https://ift.tt/e51kpwI via

New Apple AirTags are finally on sale at Amazon — save $10 on Prime Day

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SAVE $10: As of June 23, the Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale for $89 at Amazon. That's a 10% discount on the list price. Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 4-Pack (2nd Generation) ...

The Sony WH-1000XM6 and AirPods Max 2 lead the best deals on headphones ahead of Prime Day

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Best early Prime Day headphones deals Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM6 $398.00 at Amazon (save $61.99) Get Deal Be...