The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, May 4, 2024:

Across

What you need when you're on E

• The answer is GAS.

Spreadsheet rectangles

• The answer is CELLS.

Singer of "Dance the Night" and "Don't Start Now"

• The answer is Dua Lipa.

Plane Landing

• The answer is ARRIVAL.

A sweet course to take

• The answer is DESSERT.

Baby-bringing bird

• The answer is STORK.

Carry-___ (some pieces of luggage)

• The answer is ONS.

Down

Specifically customizes for

• The answer is GEARS TO.

Actress Janney who played C.J. Cregg on "The West Wing"

• The answer is ALLISON.

Small slices

• The answer is SLIVERS.

Breakthroughs for diseases

• The answer is CURES.

Creative Inspiration

• The answer is SPARK.

Pop

• The answer is DAD.

___-rock

• The answer is ALT.

Any time you shop for a new laptop, a lot of people are going to tell you the same thing: Just get a MacBook.

And you know what? We don't blame them. The best MacBooks are fantastic laptops, and while they don't afford you the freedom of customization that other brands offer, that's not something everyone will care about. At the end of the day, most of us just want a high-quality laptop that'll get us through work, school, and play with minimal fuss.

Although MacBooks can get a bit pricey — with some reaching into truly frightening territory — we're assuming that if you're here, you already have the budget for at least one of the current MacBook models (even if it's the cheapest one).

After testing out Apple's lineup of laptops, we're here to help you narrow down the choices and take home the Apple machine of your dreams. So, let's start shopping.

Your first big decision: Air or Pro?

When it comes to today's current lineup of MacBooks, you really only have two options: The MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air. So, which is right for you?

If you're a creative who is regularly pushing their laptops to the limit with demanding applications for video and photo editing, you'll want to aim for the Pro. The name of the game with the Pro line is processing power, and the latest iteration is the speediest and most performance-driven yet.

Now, if convenience and portability are your top priorities, then the Air is going to be most suited to you. It's thin and light, and it even comes in a 13-inch option if you're going to be lugging it around with you wherever you go. Plus, ever since the debut of Apple's M Series chips, the MacBook Air has become a pint-sized powerhouse. The most current model utilizes the M3 chip, so you won't be sacrificing all that much in terms of power.

Next up: Which generation?

This is going to come down to what you're willing to give up in performance, and in some cases, quality. But, whatever you do deem worthy of sacrificing, you'll be paid back in savings. For example, you can get a 2020 MacBook Air, which will bring you back to the M1 chip era, but you'll still be scoring an impressive laptop that frequently goes on sale for just $749.99. That's compared to the $1,299 price tag of the most recent Air, and the $1,599 asking price of the latest Pro.

So, if you've got a lighter budget, don't fret — you can still get a MacBook at an affordable price. Yes, you'll have to get an older model, but staying current is overrated. Older MacBooks are still very much worthy of your consideration, and they won't cost you nearly as much.

When is the best time to buy a MacBook?

The good news is that there's never really a bad time to buy a MacBook, especially if you're shopping for a previous-generation model with the M2 or M1 chip. Those tend to go on sale quite consistently at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for at least $150 off, if not more. Newer MacBook models aren't much harder to find at a discount at the very same retailers depending on the configuration you choose.

But to us, the best time to buy a MacBook is definitely during a big sale event like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday. That's where you'll get the real bargains on the coveted Apple laptops, as well as other Apple products. Another good time to grab a MacBook is any time a new model is introduced — it almost always comes with a price cut to the original model, which we just saw with the M2 MacBook Air and Pro.

So, what are the best MacBooks?

After testing out the latest Apple laptops, we think there are four MacBooks worth buying in 2024. Check out our top picks below, their pros and cons, as well as who we think would like each model best.

If someone had told NASA a decade ago that SpaceX would build a new ride for astronauts to get to the International Space Station before Boeing, the space agency might have laughed that person out of the room. 

NASA contracted both companies in 2014 to make spaceships. SpaceX, considered a startup at the time, not only got its passenger spaceship to the finish line first, it has carried 50 people to orbit, while Boeing has continued toiling with Starliner, the company's competing project that has yet to reach certification. Since SpaceX's Crew Dragon went into service in 2020, Boeing has played a veritable game of Whac-A-Mole trying to address one engineering problem after another, most recently flammable interior tape and parachute lines that didn't meet safety standards.

Why the legacy company has struggled with the spacecraft and suffered delays isn't all that clear. Answers from Boeing leaders have been at times stunningly opaque. 

"There's a number of things that were surprises along the way that we had to overcome, so I can't pick out any one that I would point to," said Mark Nappi, the company's program manager for Starliner. "This is a typical design and development type of program, and we've done a good job of getting us to this point."

But soon Boeing will have its chance at a redemption story. For the first time, NASA astronauts will fly inside the spaceship to orbit. Test pilots Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, who have each spent six months in space, will take Starliner to the station, a lab about 250 miles above Earth. 

Tweet may have been deleted

The launch atop an Atlas V rocket is scheduled for the night of May 6 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Barring bad weather or other last-minute snags, the spaceship could blast off as early as 10:34 p.m. ET.

"If something happens to Dragon, God forbid, then we're back to asking the Russians for rides. I'm not sure that the American public has the stomach for that."

The crew will spend about eight days at the station, checking out all the spacecraft systems, before climbing back in for the ride home. Rather than plop the astronauts into the ocean as SpaceX does, Boeing will bring them home to the Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. A system of parachutes and air bags will cushion the capsule's desert landing.

NASA has confidence in Boeing

Though a harrowing incident involving a panel blowing off a plane mid-air has sullied the Boeing name recently, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said he felt assured the troubles afflicting the company's aircraft division weren't a concern for this spacecraft, overseen by the company's defense and space division.

"This is a clean spaceship, and it's ready to launch," he said.

Despite Starliner's prior challenges, Wilmore and Williams said they are unfazed by the string of mishaps and setbacks. 

"If we could go back just three years and talk about the capabilities of the spacecraft, what it was then, as envisioned, and then where it's at now, after these discoveries and the rectification of fixing all of those issues that we found, it's really leaps and bounds forward," Wilmore told Mashable during a news conference this week.

Williams added that they've talked through the concerning headlines with their families. 

"I think they're happy and proud that we've been part of the process to fix it all," she said.  

Why NASA outsourced spacecraft construction

Ten years ago, NASA hired billionaire Elon Musk's relatively new rocket company and Boeing, paying SpaceX just $2.6 billion and the latter $4.2 billion, to build spaceships. The plan was to create a commercial space taxi market for getting astronauts to the station. 

And it made sense to award Boeing a hefty contract: It had already begun some work on a spacecraft, and the contractor is intertwined with NASA's history of human space exploration, beginning with Project Mercury. Those close ties were reiterated as recently as a week ago by Dana Weigel, NASA’s International Space Station program manager, who reminded reporters about Boeing's role in the space station itself. 

"This isn't the only Boeing-built spacecraft we'll operate from Houston's mission control," she said. "We are looking forward to [Starliner], but we're also really proud to be operating the ISS, which is the longest continuously operational spacecraft in human history."

Once the agency retired the Space Shuttle in 2011, NASA was forced to tag along on Russian Soyuz rockets from Kazakhstan to get crew into space. That might have been fine, but the United States was paying upward of $86 million per ride.

"We've not had the friendliest of relationships with Russia, particularly recently, and the head of their space agency said, 'Well, NASA can go get itself a big trampoline,'" Sven Bilén, an aerospace engineering professor at Penn State, told Mashable. "As an American, the inability for us to get to space on our own spacecraft was, to me, an embarrassment." 

The need for Russia to get Americans to space ended in 2020 when SpaceX's Crew Dragon had passed all of its tests for certification, but NASA never intended to have all its eggs in Musk's basket. After the Columbia disaster, it took 2.5 years for the United States to return to spaceflight. The agency has wanted at least two vendors, so there is always a backup if one were grounded for any reason, even as the space station program nears retirement in 2031. 

The need for a plan B became clear last year when a leak on the station forced the space agency to consider a contingency of loading all the astronauts in one SpaceX spaceship to get home, should an emergency evacuation be necessary. 

"If something happens to Dragon, God forbid, then we're back to asking the Russians for rides," Bilén said. "I'm not sure that the American public has the stomach for that."

Starliner's engineering problems and delays

Starliner's first flight carrying astronauts was actually targeted for a launch seven years ago. About two years later, in December 2019, Boeing was ready to send an empty Starliner up to the station for an uncrewed maiden voyage. The spaceship, however, never made it to the station, due to a software glitch that put it on the wrong orbit, and returned to Earth without completing its mission.

After a seven-month investigation, NASA ordered 80 corrective actions for Boeing before it could fly Starliner again. Meanwhile, SpaceX was completing the crewed test that Boeing is slated to conduct no earlier than Monday. 

The troubles only continued. Boeing set out to conduct another unpiloted test flight and geared up for a launch in 2021 when engineers found more than a dozen corroded valves in the propulsion system. Replacing those parts pushed the redo to May 2022. 

Starliner's second spaceflight was free of those major problems, but the streak of hardware issues wasn't over. Just before Boeing was going to test the spacecraft with astronauts, more problems surfaced during reviews in 2023, causing even more delays, including an extra drop test for a new parachute system. The team also removed about a mile of the flammable tape covering internal wiring in the spacecraft and replaced it, Nappi said. 

NASA officials said that despite the previous issues that have slowed Starliner's progress, the spacecraft has been rigorously vetted for launch readiness. Associate administrator Jim Free emphasized that the lives of Williams and Wilmore, as well as the other astronauts at the station, were most important.

"We don't take that lightly at all," he said.

Ukraine has unveiled an AI-generated spokesperson, Victoria Shi, to deliver official statements from its foreign ministry, according to The Guardian, marking a significant technological leap in diplomatic communication. The digital spokesperson was introduced in a social media presentation, where she appeared dressed in a dark suit, speaking and gesturing like a human.

Despite the innovative use of AI in her presentation, the foreign ministry emphasized that the content of Shi’s statements would be crafted and verified by human staff, not generated by AI. This ensures that the information remains accurate and reliable, while the AI component is limited to visual representation. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba highlighted that the use of a digital spokesperson is aimed at saving time and resources, allowing diplomats to focus on other crucial aspects of their work.

The spokesperson, whose name is derived from the words “victory” and the Ukrainian phrase for artificial intelligence, “shtuchniy intelekt,” was developed by the Game Changers team, known for their virtual-reality content related to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Shi’s appearance and voice are modeled after Rosalie Nombre, a singer and former contestant on Ukraine’s version of “The Bachelor,” who hails from the now Russian-controlled city of Donetsk.

To prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure the authenticity of the statements made by the AI spokesperson, the foreign ministry will accompany each of Shi’s presentations with a QR code. This code will link to text versions of the statements on the ministry’s official website, providing an additional layer of verification.

Shi is set to address various issues, including consular services, which have recently become a contentious topic in Ukraine. The country suspended such services last week for men of fighting age living abroad, a move that requires them to return to Ukraine for administrative procedures and potentially face the draft.

This initiative by Ukraine is the first of its kind in the world, positioning the country at the forefront of technological innovation in diplomatic services. By integrating advanced AI capabilities, Ukraine is not only enhancing its communication efficiency but also setting a precedent for how technology can be harnessed in governmental operations globally.

The post Ukraine introduces AI-generated spokesperson for its foreign ministry appeared first on ReadWrite.

TL;DR: Through May 5, get more accomplished with this Microsoft bundle featuring Office, Project, Visio, and Windows 11 Pro, on sale for $79.97.

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Technology is an ever-evolving beast, and we must keep up with the changes to avoid falling behind. This Microsoft bundle has the latest programs and a modern operating system that will help you increase your overall productivity.

The 2019 Microsoft Bundle includes Office, Project, Visio, and Windows 11 Pro. Through May 5, you can score this package on sale for $79.97.

The seamless interface makes navigation and multi-tasking easy. The Windows Co-Pilot AI assistant is the newest feature of Windows 11 that allows you to summarize documents, cue playlists, set reminders, and more. Creatives love the AI-powered Paint updates with simplified background removal, PNG support, and content generation capabilities.

This 2019 Microsoft Bundle is great for both personal and professional use — and it allows you to access your computer remotely. The Microsoft Information Protection integration secures your information from data leaks and viruses, so you never have to worry about your private information being compromised.

Windows 11 Pro is an easy way to upgrade your operating system and will continue to receive updates and exclusive features for life. Should you ever need assistance, Windows Hello for Business provides management tools for remote workers, multi-factor authentication, and support for certificate-based authentication.

Get this 2019 Microsoft Bundle featuring Office, Project, Visio, and Windows 11 Pro for only $79.97 until May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Whether it's an expertly curated soundtrack or a meticulously composed score, music for film and television plays a huge part in how we experience what we watch. But enjoying the work of music supervisors and composers doesn’t have to end when the credits roll. It can also double as a pulse-pounding playlist for a workout. If you love mixing up the music that fuels your fitness, songs from these movies and TV shows will give you more options for the next time you're ready to sweat. 

Ranging from hip-hop to hard rock, electronica to orchestral arrangements, there's something for everyone and every type of workout on this list. But remember: Movies — and their music — don't maintain their energy level at 11 for their entirety for reasons like pacing and budget. Not every song on these albums may be what you need at a particular point in your workout, so feel free to skip them. 

Here are the best soundtracks and scores to add to your workout playlist, plus the type of exercise they might match best with. 

1. Challengers

Ideal for: HIIT (high-intensity interval training) or... tennis, I suppose?

Best tracks: "I Know" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, "Yeah x10" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, "The Signal" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, "Challengers: Match Point" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, "Compress / Repress" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, 

Are we on a tennis court, or in a club? Challengers' techno score from Nine Inch Nails' Reznor and Ross has pounding beats that beckon you to move, making it feel more like the latter, and I'm not mad about it. Whether you're swinging a racket, your ass, or a kettlebell, these thumping songs make it difficult to sit still. 

There's plenty of athletic — and amorous — action in Challengers, with its story about a trio (Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist) who play with each other on and off the tennis court for more than a decade. Reznor and Ross' music underscores the intensity, urgency, and physicality of their connection and competition, making the audience's hearts race as much as the athletes. So, why not lean into that feeling and use Challengers' score for an intense workout like HIIT? "Yeah x10" and especially "Challengers: Match Point" will amp up your energy, so you can push extra hard for short bursts of time. Meanwhile, the stops and starts in tracks like "Challengers" and "Stopper" can feel a little jarring when you're really in the zone, but just think of them as a chance to take a little break before getting back into the action. If you can't get enough of Reznor and Ross' compositions (or you just want more songs for an endurance session), you can also listen to the Boys Noize remix of the score. 

Whatever you're doing, make sure you protect your knees, so you don't fall victim to Tashi's fate. 

How to listen: Challengers (Original Score) is now streaming on Amazon Music.

2. Peacemaker

Ideal for: Pumping iron or learning the dance sequence from the unskippable opening credits

Best tracks: "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam, "Come On Come On" by Nashville Pussy, "Love Bomb Baby" by Tigertailz, "Push Push (Lady Lightning)" by Bang Camaro

Like the Max TV show's titular DC antihero and the actor who plays him, these songs are all muscle. Peacemaker stars John Cena as the swole supe from James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, a boundary-blurring not-quite-baddie who questions whether the ends justify the means. Gunn himself curated the soundtrack, which is heavy with songs from the '80s sleaze rock genre — dripping with ego, radiating sexual energy, and smelling strongly of hairspray. 

If you choose this playlist from Peacemaker as your workout music, be sure to warm up your neck for all the head-banging you're about to do. These songs are perfect for lifting heavy and getting out your anger about the long wait for the second season of the critically acclaimed TV series to arrive. A few slower songs pepper the playlist, like "House of Pain'' by Faster Pussycat and "Home Sweet Home" played by Cena himself on the piano; they're perfect for resting between sets or contemplating the morality of your actions. The playlist has lots of bangers, but I wouldn't blame you if you just set the theme song, "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam, on repeat for the entirety of your strength session. (I may or may not have done this.)

How to listen: Music from Peacemaker is now streaming on Amazon Music.

3. 8 Mile

Ideal for: Boxing or any workout that needs a little extra motivation

Best tracks: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem, "8 Mile" by Eminem, "Wanksta" by 50 Cent, "R.A.K.I.M." by Rakim, and "Rabbit Run" by Eminem

When you want to square up against someone — whether it's in a rap battle or just against a heavy bag — the songs from 8 Mile will get you in fighting form. Eminem stars in the music-driven drama as Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith, an aspiring rapper whose journey often bears a resemblance to the hip-hop star's own early years just outside Detroit. The album features songs included in Curtis Hanson's film as well as tracks inspired by it, so in addition to a lot of Eminem, you will also get to sweat to 50 Cent, Nas, Rakim, Gang Starr, and Jay-Z. 

The pacing of a lot of these songs lends itself well to the rhythm of throwing punches in a boxing workout, whether you're shadowboxing, doing mitt work, or hitting a bag. They're full of angry energy, promising to fuel you even when you're starting to flag at the end of a round. Eminem's Oscar- and Grammy-winning anthem "Lose Yourself" is the first track, and there's no shame in playing it again when you're really struggling and need a little push. The stakes in your workout are likely a little lower than in the movie's rap battle, but you can still "lose yourself in the music."

How to listen: 8 Mile is now streaming on Amazon Music.

4. The Last of the Mohicans

Ideal for: A long run, which feels as unending as the love between Hawkeye and Cora

Best tracks: "Elk Hunt" by Trevor Jones, "The Kiss" by Trevor Jones, "Fort Battle" by Trevor Jones, "Promontory" by Trevor Jones

Based on James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel, The Last of the Mohicans is a sweeping romantic adventure set during the French and Indian War. This 1992 adaptation stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye, a white man adopted by the Mohicans, while Madeleine Stowe plays Cora, the woman he falls in love with and swears to protect. Michael Mann directed this critically acclaimed story of courage and sacrifice, which is also noteworthy for its ample supply of shots of Day-Lewis running through the frontier set to Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman's gorgeous orchestral score. 

Appropriate for the 18th-century setting, the music is Celtic-influenced, with some Indigenous drums and flute, as well as military marches, incorporating all of the elements of The Last of the Mohicans's plot. Composers Jones and Edelman's work is vibrant and thrilling, perfect for an endurance run when you shouldn't be going all out, speed-wise. You get bonus points for verisimilitude if you are actually trail running through the woods with your hair flowing loose behind you, à la Day-Lewis' Hawkeye. 

How to listen: The Last of the Mohicans (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is now streaming on Amazon Music.

5. Birds of Prey

Ideal for: Running fast and hard (like you're being chased by Rosie Perez across Gotham City)

Best tracks: "Boss Bitch" by Doja Cat, "Diamonds" by Megan Thee Stallion and Normani, "Smile" by Maisie Peters, "Bad Memory" by K.Flay

If you need to work out a little stress after a bad breakup (or anything that's got you down), consider Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey soundtrack your partners in crime. Margot Robbie's Harley has been there, thanks to being dumped by the Joker. No longer under his protection, she's now all alone in Gotham City, until she joins forces with an equally strong group of women. 

Filled with female voices and bad-girl energy, these songs from the DC Universe's Birds of Prey are perfect for a short, fast run where you're moving for speed. The tracks race between hip-hop, R&B, and multiple flavors of pop, offering options as wonderfully unpredictable as our heroine. Fair warning: The soundtrack kicks off at a sprint with the bold "Boss Bitch" by Doja Cat, so maybe start with an active warm-up to one of the comparably mellow covers later on the album, like "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" sung by Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary or ADONA's take on "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."

How to listen: Birds of Prey: The Album is now streaming on Amazon Music.

6. Godfather of Harlem

Ideal for: Climbing stairs (and regaining the top rung on the ladder)

Best tracks: "Been to War" by Swizz Beatz, DMX, & French Montana; "Hustle, Repeat" by Swizz Beatz and Jadakiss; "Murda" by Busta Rhymes and Bilal 

In bringing the real-life story of Bumpy Johnson to the small screen, Godfather of Harlem recruited Forest Whitaker to play the legendary crime boss who tried to regain his position at the top of New York's underworld in the 1960s after a stint in prison. Then the show stacked its soundtrack with hip-hop's finest, from Swizz Beatz to DMX, Jadakiss to Busta Rhymes, as well as Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, French Montana, and more.

The songs on the soundtracks for Godfather of Harlem's seasons generally aren't set to super fast beats, so they're better suited for more moderately paced (but no less difficult) workouts like climbing stairs, either using a machine or going up actual flights of stairs. "Been to War" by Swizz Beatz, DMX, & French Montana is a banger, full of intensity and reminding you that there are worse things than trudging up the steps, while "Hustle, Repeat" by Swizz Beatz and Jadakiss drills in the repetition of what you're doing.

Finally, "If I Should Die Tonight" by Swizz Beatz and Ronald Isley will feel especially appropriate if you struggle with the StairMaster as much as I do. 

How to listen: Godfather of Harlem: Season 2 (Original Series Soundtrack) and Godfather of Harlem: Season 3 (Original Series Soundtrack) are now streaming on Amazon Music.

7. Love Lies Bleeding 

Ideal for: Lifting heavy and posing pretty

Best tracks: "Turn Up the Heat" by Clint Mansell, "Pain Is Weakness" by Clint Mansell, and "I Fucking Love You, You Idiot" by Clint Mansell

Set in the '80s, this thrilling neon-noir stars Kristen Stewart and actress/real-life bodybuilder Katy O'Brian as lovers inadvertently drawn into the dark side of their scuzzy Southwestern small town. Stewart's Lou works at a local gym, where she meets O'Brian's new girl in town Jackie, who is training for an upcoming female bodybuilding competition. Love Lies Bleeding is moody, unnerving, and utterly compelling, with credit due to Clint Mansell's killer synth score that pulses underneath the action. "Pain Is Weakness" and "I Fucking Love You, You Idiot" even feature the sound of clanging plates for extra atmosphere.

These songs aren't for people who need loud beats and catchy lyrics to distract them from what they're doing. Instead, the Love Lies Bleeding score is perfect for being fully dialed into your movements and maintaining perfect form during weight lifting. It's also good for posing and admiring all your hard work in the mirror, just like Jackie does in the movie.

For those paying attention at home, I have indeed included two music options on this list for strength training because many people, especially women (and especially those in perimenopause), could benefit from regular strength training to maintain muscle and get stronger. That might change once they've seen Love Lies Bleeding and get a peek at O'Brian's absolutely insane traps and delts. But even if you don't covet her muscles, don't let that stop you from lifting: It's very difficult for women to get that big, requiring a ton of work, intention, and protein. So much protein. Where can I get more protein?

How to listen: Love Lies Bleeding (Original Score) is now streaming on Amazon Music.

8. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 

Ideal for: Indoor cycling or any workout that makes you feel like a kid again

Best tracks: "Sunflower" by Post Malone & Swae Lee, "Way Up" by Jaden, "Start a Riot" by Duckwrth and Shaboozey, "Elevate" by DJ Khalil

Few of us are lucky enough to be able to wear a super suit, so the fastest way for most people to feel "Invincible" is to get a good workout in, especially one set to a solid playlist. The hip-hop-heavy soundtrack for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse could be your route to feeling a little stronger. The 2018 animated film is the origin story for Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), a Black and Puerto Rican teen who takes on the mantle of Spider-Man after Peter Parker dies. 

The effervescent "Sunflower" by Post Malone & Swae Lee is perfect for a warm-up; slower-paced songs like "Hide" by Juice WRLD and Seezyn or "Home" by Vince Staples and Richie Kohan would be good for uphill intervals with increased resistance. "Start a Riot" by Duckwrth and Shaboozey and "Elevate" by DJ Khalil would be perfect fits for bursts of speed. Indoor cycling is decidedly less gravity-intensive than what Miles Morales is doing as he swings across New York City with his newfound powers, but unless you've been bitten by a radioactive spider too, this is a great form of exercise. 

How to listen: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From & Inspired by the Motion Picture) is now streaming on Amazon Music.

9. 300

Ideal for: CrossFit-inspired workouts or anything that requires both strength and stamina not to die

Best tracks: "To Victory" by Tyler Bates, "Returns a King" by Tyler Bates, "Fever Dream" by Tyler Bates, "A God King Bleeds," by Tyler Bates

If you take your fitness a little too seriously, then have I got the album for you and your workouts. (It is also an album for me, so no judgment.) Like your fitness routine and Zack Snyder's 2006 movie, Tyler Bates' score for 300 is intense. The hulking hit brings the ancient Battle of Thermopylae to life, pitting King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his band of Spartan warriors against the much-larger Persian army. Bates' compositions use Middle Eastern elements, powerful vocals, big drums, themes by classical composer Elliot Goldenthal, and a bit of electronic music, blending the mythic and the modern into one epic score. 

For most non-professional athletes, exercise shouldn't feel like life or death, but some people thrive on that level of adrenaline, which the 300 score will help fuel. If your motivation is either looking like a Spartan or being with someone who does, this album will definitely get your blood pumping while you're doing burpees, muscle-ups, and wall balls. Quieter songs like "Tree of the Dead" and "Goodbye My Love" are likely better suited for your cooldown, but do you even believe in doing that? (You should!) 

How to listen: 300 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is now streaming on Amazon Music.

10. Guardians of the Galaxy

Ideal for: Walking, or dancing like Star-Lord, if you prefer

Best tracks: "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone, "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

Can I hire James Gunn to create workout playlists? He's probably busy as the CEO of DC Studios, but between Peacemaker and Guardians of the Galaxy, the man knows how to assemble an energetic assortment of songs. His 2014 Marvel movie has one of the greatest character intros ever, when adult Star-Lord aka Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) dances to the funky beats of Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love" on the surface of a post-apocalyptic planet. "So he's an idiot?" says Rhodey (Don Cheadle) when he witnesses this while time-traveling in Avengers: Endgame. Yes, but he also has great taste in music, and the two are not mutually exclusive.

Peter's taste comes from a relic from his childhood on Earth: a mixtape of his mom's favorite songs, accurately called "Awesome Mix Vol. 1" (which is also its title on cassette). These classics serve as a source of joy to him, and it isn't just nostalgia. The assembled mix spans multiple genres, including Motown, pop, and rock, but the common thread is how much delight they bring. They're perfect for a walk on a sunny day or to push away the clouds. 

Note: There's no official soundtrack for the first Guardians of the Galaxy film streaming, but this playlist includes songs from the entire franchise. Go for an extra-long walk, and grin along with bonus songs like "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + the Machine, "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra, and "In the Meantime" by Spacehog. 

How to listen: Music from Guardians of the Galaxy is now streaming on Amazon Music.

Shopping for a new laptop is a tough task. With the sheer number of options, it's easy to fall into choice paralysis, where making a final decision feels impossible. If you're a creative type who needs a laptop for a very specific purpose — in this case, video editing — the stakes are even higher. Make the wrong choice, and it will really come back to bite you. You'll find yourself with a laptop that doesn't perform and end up in a deep financial hole.

To find the best video editing laptops, we reached out to Denver McQuaid, a creative marketing strategist who is also a seasoned VFX artist and video editor with a large following on Instagram and TikTok.

In an email conversation with Mashable, McQuaid walked us through the process of shopping for a great laptop for video editing. And after surveying the top laptops of 2024, there was one clear winner — the new MacBook Pro. Still, it's not the only laptop we have to recommend.

What makes a video editing laptop "good"?

With so many laptops offering wildly different features, it's important to narrow down which ones matter the most. In McQuaid's opinion, there are three qualities that a good video editing laptop absolutely needs: Speed, solid battery life, and a good display size.

Having a laptop that can process tasks quickly and efficiently is paramount for video editing. "[Speed] can be achieved in many ways," said McQuaid, "including RAM, hard drive write speeds, processor clock speed, and graphics rendering." Battery life is pretty self-explanatory — the less time you spend charging, the more time you'll have to actually work on your projects. When it comes to display size, McQuaid said the more you can see, the better. "I edit on a 13-inch [laptop], but often with an external monitor." He travels for work, so he uses a more lightweight laptop with a smaller screen, though he recommends newer editors go bigger. "I don’t regret it, but more screen space is always nice to have."

What are the best laptops for video editing?

Like we already said up top, the MacBook Pro was the clear winner as the best video editing laptop for most people. (Are you surprised? Probably not.) While the latest M3 MacBook Pro is your best bet, McQuaid told us that even older MacBooks will do the trick. He uses a 2019-era MacBook Pro that predates even the M1 chip, and it still works just fine for his needs. "MacBooks have some drawbacks, but the pros outweigh the cons in my opinion," McQuaid told Mashable. "The MacBook OS is more user-friendly and ideal for transferring files from computer to phone, or vice versa, especially iPhones."

Of course, we realize that not everyone wants to jump into the Apple ecosystem, so we have recommendations from outside the famous fruit company. Check out our picks below, all chosen with vigorous hands-on testing and expert advice.

TL;DR: Through May 5, get lifetime access to LazyApply Job Application Basic on sale for $59.97 (reg. $149).

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In today's super competitive job market, securing a job requires not only the right skills and qualifications but also an efficient approach to applying. The LazyApply Job Application Basic offers a lifetime license for only $59.97 (reg. $149), providing an invaluable tool for job seekers looking to streamline their search and maximize opportunities.

LazyApply Job Application is an automated tool designed to simplify the job application process, which can be more than helpful when you're already overwhelmed. You'll gain lifetime access to the automated submission of job applications across multiple platforms, including Indeed and LinkedIn. This tool is especially useful for those who want to apply to a high volume of positions efficiently and effectively.

Based on your information, the platform's AI automatically fills in your applications using advanced algorithms designed to bypass job platform blocks. It's made so that you only need to fill in your info once, and LazyApply takes it from there.

This basic plan lets you send up to 150 applications each day. You also get a daily analysis of your application performance to see how you are faring, as well as help creating a stand-out CV. Another helpful feature is the included weekly consultation call to check in and go over strategies. 

Whether you are actively seeking a job or would like to have this tool on hand just in case, it's a good time to check it out since it's on sale for a limited time.

A lifetime license to LazyApply Job Application Basic is on sale for $59.97 (reg. $149) until May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $20.03: Through May 5, delight in small wonders with a portable handheld pocket LCD microscope with a 4-inch screen on sale for $79.97, down from its regular price of $100. That's 20% off.

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Our lives move very fast, and it can be difficult to remember to slow down and enjoy the world around you. Take a closer look at the tiny wonders happening right in front of your eyes with a handheld LCD microscope. It's made to help you observe the intricate details of nature — and there's one on sale for 20% off today.

Through May 5, the Portable Handheld Pocket LCD Microscope with a 4-inch screen is on sale for $79.97, down from its regular price of $100. That's a discount of $20.03.

Open yourself up to the tiny world that can't be seen with the naked eye with this portable microscope. It features a handheld design that's easy to put in your bag or pocket for outdoor adventures. With a 4-inch LCD, eight adjustable LEDs, and 80x magnification, you can easily view your subjects — from insects to flowers and more — in great detail on a crisp, clear screen. 

This microscope features a 2MP 1080FHD picture quality and comes with a 32GB microSD card. This means you can record your findings and share them with others. It has a rechargeable 2,200mAh battery, multi-language support, and is compatible with both Mac and PC systems.

A fun activity for adults and kids alike, taking this microscope on an adventure can be another reason to get out of the house, off our screens, and enjoy the beauty of the natural world. The American Psychological Association reports that spending time in nature can help reduce stress and anxiety and create cognitive clarity — and we could all use a bit more of that.

Slow down and appreciate the finer details of nature with this portable handheld pocket LCD microscope with a four-inch viewing screen, on sale for $79.97 (reg. $100) through May 5.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Stream Game 1 of Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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The NBA playoffs are in a constant state of flux. The power balance is always shifting, as teams slowly show their true colours when it matters most. The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves strolled through their first-round matchups, firmly positioning themselves as favorites for the Western Conference, if not the whole thing.

If you want to watch Game 1 of Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Game 1 of Nuggets vs. Timberwolves?

Game 1 of the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves series starts at 6 p.m. CT on May 5. This game takes place at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

How to watch Game 1 of Nuggets vs. Timberwolves for free

Game 1 of the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves series in the NBA playoffs is available to live stream for free on Ran.de.

Ran.de is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Connect to Ran.de

5. Watch Game 1 of the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves series for free

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA playoffs before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing Ran.de to stream live action from the NBA playoffs, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Game 1 of Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Through May 5, this Learn to Code course bundle is on sale for just $39.97, so you can become well-versed in coding.

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In the rapidly evolving world of tech, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and conversational models like ChatGPT are busy transforming industries, from technology to healthcare. Understanding and leveraging these technologies can lead to career opportunities. This Learn to Code online learning bundle is designed to equip you with the skills needed to excel in the tech field. And it's on sale for $39.97 when you order through May 5.

Beginners and pros alike can benefit from the comprehensive nature of the fifteen courses in this bundle. Python is loved for being a beginner-friendly and versatile language. The Learn to Code with Python 3 course, which was designed with the absolute beginner in mind, helps you learn the basics, like strings, variables, IF statements, and more.

Since AI and ChatGPT are taking off and very popular, this bundle also includes courses that focus on them. CHATGPT Series: OPENAI Fundamentals 2024 gives users the knowledge to start harnessing the power of OpenAI. You'll understand the inner workings and come to grasp its current and future capabilities.

The course ChatGPT for Salesforce Development might also interest those looking to add AI and ChatGPT to their skillset. This course gives you the opportunity to use ChatGPT chatbot technology to enhance your productivity as a Salesforce administrator or developer. You'll also learn to use the ChatGPT chatbot to write Apex Triggers, Batch Apex, and more.

With over 200 hours of instructional content, this is an affordable way to learn Python (and more) from the comfort of your own space.

Get this Premium Learn to Code course bundle while it's on sale for just $39.97 until May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The world has gone Fallout mad as Amazon Prime’s TV rendition of everybody’s favorite post-apocalyptic video game really hit the spot. In turn, people have been coming back to the game in their droves and modding the living daylights out of it but there is a version of Fallout 4 that hasn’t had as much attention, and today we are putting that right.

Get your PCVR headset out – be that your Index, your Pimax Crystal, or even your linked-up Meta Quest 3 we are actually going into the Wasteland and we are going to make sure it looks the best it possibly can do. You can even get your Fallout backpack on if you want to really feel the part.

How to mod Fallout 4 VR

The official Fallout 4 VR version, just like the Skyrim VR edition can be modded to your heart’s content. One thing worth underlining right here is that PCVR takes a lot of juice, Your PC and headset will just melt if you try to get too silly when it comes to graphical boosts, so stay sensible and follow our lead. A lot of these mods will improve the experience, not necessarily make the game look photo-realistic.

As ever we are going to use Nexus Mods (whose prices for a premium account are rising quite dramatically next month so you might want to get in there quick – just sayin’. There you will find many more Fallout 4 VR mods than we are listing here so feel free to add more or swap out some of our suggestions to fit your circumstance more.

Best Fallout 4 VR mods

Rather than individual mods, we are going to start with a mod pack from AJC559 called the Top VR Experience. This is a 37GB download that will install a host of mods for you without any messing about. If you want a no-frills way to get your Fallout 4 VR modded, here you go.

Now onto the individual mods.

Full Player Body With IK

Description: FRIK brings the full player body to life in VR! Inspired by VRIK from SkyrimVR FRIK aims to bring the same level of immersion of having your body visible to Fallout 4 VR. Full body Inverse Kinematics has been implemented to animate the arms and legs based on your controller and HMD position.

This is a pretty much go-to mod and one of the first you should install. It’s been downloaded nearly 150,000 times with good reason.

 

FallUI HUD VR

Description: FallUI HUD for Fallout 4 VR improves the in-world displays for usage with Item Sorters.

• Features
• Add icon tag functionality to the item name display in the world
• Add icon tag functionality to the quick-loot menu
• Displays subtitles in FallUI style for item names and quick loot menu
• Format scrap components to be displayed correctly in the visible area
• Increases available display area for world item name display, so the item name, icon, and subtitle have more space
• Compatible with any Item Sorter

We all know Bethesda games come with janky UIs but we still love them. However, combine that with VR and they are borderline unusable. This clever mod redesigns them from the ground up and makes them VR-ready.

Sim Settlements 2

Not so much a VR mod but a mod that will make your Fallout 3 experience better. Sim Settlements 2 has racked up nearly three million downloads with good reason. It completely reimagines large swathes of the game and allows you to play it in a totally different way, managing your towns and settlements on a huge scale. It’s remit is worth pages on its own so check out the link and then download it, there is simply no reason not to.

Virtual Holsters

Description: Adds 7 virtual weapon holsters and a new weapon sheathing / equipping system which aims for a more realistic approach forcing the player to return a weapon to the holster it was drawn from before being able to equip another weapon.

Now this is more VR than the others. Virtual Holsters we can actually draw weapons from in a firefight, greatly increasing immersion. You get seven new slots and when your control is close to a holster you get a little buzz to let you know you are close. Clever stuff.

Insignificant Object Remover

Description: Safely removes insignificant objects to improve performance without visual degradation.

While the devs might tell you there is no such thing as an insignificant object they have coding, your PC and your GPU may well tell you otherwise. Downloaded over 1.5 million times this works a treat in VR as it releases just a touch of the pressure on your PC doing all the heavy lifting to your headset.

Be sure to check out all the other Fallout 4 VR mods while you are browsing Nexus.

The post The Best Fallout 4 VR Mods to make you think you are actually in the show appeared first on ReadWrite.

If your iPhone alarm hasn’t gone off recently, it’s not just you — it seems to be a widespread problem, especially among owners of the iPhone 15. In a viral Reddit post, one iPhone user described how he set “several sequential alarms” but only one sounded. “I woke up to find that my earlier alarms had all remained ‘set’ but failed to sound,” the user wrote. “None of these are recurring alarms, so they shouldn’t ‘reset’ themselves after going off.”

In the replies, other Reddit users noted that they were experiencing similar issues. “I’ve had the same thing happen to me, set the alarm and then nothing happened at the time it should have gone off but it showed that it was still active,” one Redditor wrote. “I also thought something was wrong with me when I somehow slept through all 10 alarms,” another replied.

During a segment on the TODAY show, the company said that it was aware of the issue and was trying to fix it. But in the meantime, there are a few things that you can do to ensure that you don’t miss those alarms.

How to fix the iPhone alarm problem

One simple fix for the problem is by going into Settings menu, then to the Sound & Haptics submenu, and making sure the volume button is turned all the way up. Another is making sure that your face isn’t turned directly towards your phone screen in case you’re accidentally triggering Face ID.

Meanwhile, outlets like the New York Post are advising readers to toggle the Standby Mode of their iPhones off via the sliding Standby toggle under Settings.

But the most common fix seems to be turning off your Attention Aware settings on your iPhone. You can do this by going to the settings app. then selecting the Face ID & Passcodes menus, and then turning off Attention Aware features. Whatever the cause for this problem is, hopefully it’s sorted before the iPhone 16 Pro is released.

Featured Image: Bagus Hernawan on Unsplash

The post Apple is fixing the worst thing about the iPhone’s alarms appeared first on ReadWrite.

A group of Democratic secretaries of state has formally requested that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, discontinue allowing advertisements that falsely claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen. According to the Associated Press, this collective, which includes the secretaries from Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Vermont, and Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, who does not oversee elections, expressed their concerns in a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The letter highlights the negative repercussions of allowing such content, including the erosion of public trust in electoral processes and the incitement of political violence. These officials argue that Meta’s policies are enabling extremists to amplify election denialism, potentially causing further harm to the democratic system. They urged Zuckerberg to reconsider the company’s stance and prevent any further damage by banning these ads.

Despite multiple reviews, recounts, and audits affirming Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, misinformation continues to circulate, fueled in part by former President Donald Trump’s persistent, unfounded claims of fraud. This ongoing narrative has not only polarized public opinion but has also subjected election workers to severe harassment and threats, leading to significant turnover in the profession.

The secretaries’ plea to Meta comes in the wake of a similar policy enacted by YouTube last year. The Google-owned platform decided to stop removing content falsely claiming U.S. presidential elections were fraudulent. However, YouTube and other platforms continue to grapple with the balance between freedom of speech and the prevention of misinformation.

Meta’s election integrity efforts

In response to concerns about its role in spreading misinformation, Meta has defended its efforts to protect elections globally. The company referenced its comprehensive plan for the 2022 midterm elections, which involves rigorous review protocols to remove content that violates its community standards, including misinformation about voting logistics and threats of violence related to electoral outcomes.

The letter was coordinated by the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State and reflects a broader political divide over how to handle misinformation on social media platforms. The ongoing debate touches on core issues of free speech, the role of tech giants in moderating content, and the integrity of the electoral process.

The post Democratic secretaries of state urge Meta to ban misleading election ads appeared first on ReadWrite.

Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), shared an ambitious vision this week for enhancing the platform’s news dissemination capabilities using AI. The proposed initiative, revealed through an email exchange with Big Technology, aims to synthesize real-time news with social media reactions into comprehensive, live updates. This novel approach could transform how news is consumed on X, making it a unique blend of reporting and public commentary.

The centerpiece of Musk’s plan is Grok, an AI chatbot on X, which is already experimenting with generating news summaries by aggregating posts from the platform. According to Musk, Grok will evolve to include more dynamic updates and better citations as more information becomes available. This AI-driven tool aims to provide “maximally accurate and timely information,” citing significant sources to create a more enriched user experience.

However, achieving this will not be without challenges. The AI must navigate complex issues such as accurate citation and avoiding the generation of misleading information — commonly known as “hallucinations” in AI parlance. Additionally, Musk’s strategy involves focusing solely on social posts rather than direct article content, which skirts closer to legal boundaries amidst growing copyright concerns in the AI industry.

If successful, Grok could significantly alter the landscape of news consumption on social media. It could serve as a gateway to deeper stories, potentially increasing traffic to original news websites. Josh Miller, CEO of The Browser Company, highlights the importance of robust citation practices in building user trust and stimulating curiosity. Similarly, Igor Babuschkin from Musk’s xAI team emphasized efforts to improve Grok’s citation capabilities to more accurately reflect original news sources.

The move could also have legal implications. Danielle Coffey, president of the News/Media Alliance, expressed skepticism about using only social commentary to summarize news, suggesting it might not sufficiently safeguard original journalistic content under fair use doctrines. This aspect is particularly poignant as major news publishers, including The New York Times, have initiated lawsuits against AI companies for similar practices.

Musk’s broader AI-generated news strategy on X

Despite initial steps that seemed to de-emphasize news on X, Musk’s detailed plan suggests a reaffirmation of news as a central feature of the platform. This could provide X with a competitive edge as other social media platforms, such as Meta’s Threads, move away from news content.

In essence, Musk’s vision for Grok on X is to create a synergistic platform where AI-generated summaries, grounded in user discussions and enhanced by continuous updates, offer a new way to engage with news. This approach aims to merge the immediacy of social media with the depth of traditional journalism, potentially setting a new standard for news aggregation in the digital age.

The post Elon Musk outlines vision for AI-driven news synthesis on X appeared first on ReadWrite.

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