This year marks 20 years since Fellowship of the Ring was released, bringing audiences into the epic world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Now, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation have announced The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, a new movie set in Middle Earth.
The War of the Rohirrim is an anime film directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), produced by Joseph Chou (Blade Runner: Black Lotus) and written by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance). Philippa Boyens, one of the screenwriters of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, is a consultant on the project. Read more…
More about Lord Of The Rings, Entertainment, and Movies Tv Shows
We love Hayao Miyazaki’s fantastical films so much, we’ve decided to wax poetic about our favs — all of which you can stream on HBO Max right now. Read more…
More about Mashable Video, Studio Ghibli, Totoro, Miyazaki, and Hbo Max
People under 13 can’t sign up for Instagram because of federal privacy law, but that doesn’t actually stop most kids from signing up. Lying about your age online is an easy thing to do!
But Instagram says they have come up with a solution — that might also get some other kids interested and engaged at an earlier age. They’re looking into creating a platform called Instagram Youth.
“There is clearly a large number of people under the age of 13 who would want to use a service like Instagram. We currently do not authorize them to do that,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at a congressional hearing in March. And it’s true: According to a report from the nonprofit Thorn, 40% of kids surveyed under the age of 13 already use Instagram. Zuckerberg’s solution is to create an Instagram for kids, called Instagram Youth, with extra parental controls. We don’t know a ton about how the new platform would actually work, and so far, it’s just an idea. But it’s an idea many people consider to be bad. Read more…
More about Facebook, Instagram, Tech, and Big Tech Companies
When was the last time you saw a movie in the theaters?
If it’s been a while, it’s for good reasonMovie theater attendance dropped some 80% in 2020 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. And while some analysts predict a rebound, we don’t blame you for being skittish.
The good news is if you invest in a good set of speakers (and a bag of popcorn, of course!), you can definitely create your own little home theater. Before you invest though, there are some important factors to consider to fit your preferences and needs.
Stereo vs. surround sound
The first thing you’ll notice when shopping for speakers is this distinction. Stereo sound is created with a pair of speakers and is often the best option if space is limited in your home. Stereo is also a good starting point if you’re on a budget because you can always add to your speaker system later to create more of a surround-sound experience. If this is the case, give considerable thought to the quality of your center speaker — it plays about 60% of a film’s dialogue and much of its soundtrack. Read more…
More about Speakers, Home Theater, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Consumer Tech
IMAGE: Sonos
BEST WIRELESS OPTION
Sonos Beam 5.1 Surround Set
This wireless surround system is pretty much the best you can get.
Drivers: Two force-canceling drivers, four full-range woofers, and one tweeter
Stereo or Surround: Surround
Set includes: One soundbar (beam), two speakers, and one subwoofer
Color: Black or White
$1,359 from Sonos
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST STEREO OPTION
Q. Acoustics 3050i
These powerful, floor standing home stereo speakers look great in your living room.
Drivers: Two 6.5 inch woofers, 0.87 inch tweeter
Stereo or Surround: Stereo
Set Includes: 2 speakers
Color: Black, white, gray, or English Walnut
$839.99 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST SURROUND SOUND
Focal Sib Evo 5.1.2 System
Small and compact, this speaker system delivers incredible surround sound.
Drivers: 5” speaker driver and ¾ dome tweeter; 4” driver and subwoofer
Stereo or Surround: Surround
Set Includes: 3 satellites, 2 loudspeakers and 1 subwoofer
Color: Black
$1,490 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST OVERALL FOR HOME THEATERS
ELAC Uni-fi UB5 Bookshelf Speaker
These large speakers are an excellent choice if you’re setting up an epic entertainment system.
Drivers: 5 1/4 -inch woofer, 4 inch midrange cone, 1 inch tweeter
Size: 10.8 x 7.9 x 12.8 inches
Weight: 35.9 lbs
Color: Black
$579.98 from Amazon
IMAGE: Vizio
BEST BUDGET OPTION
VIZIO M-Series™ 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
The most affordable home theater surround sound system we could find.
Drivers: Nine total (Three mid-woofers and three tweeters in the soundbar, one midrange driver in each of the satellite speakers, six-inch driver in the subwoofer)
Stereo or Surround: Surround
Set includes: One soundbar, two satellite speakers, and one wireless subwoofer
Color: Charcoal gray
$349.99 from Vizio
IMAGE: Sennheiser
BEST SOUNDBAR
Sennheiser 5.1.4 AMBEO Soundbar with Dolby Atmos
This soundbar delivers amazing, realistic, emulated surround sound.
Drivers: Thirteen high-end drivers on the front, sides, and top of the unit (five tweeters, six longthrow woofers, two fullrange top-firing drivers)
AirPods are great and all, but have you heard of literally anything else?
Listening to music, podcasts, or audio books on your iPhone makes perfect sense given its origins are steeped in the old days of the iPod. To get the most out of your audio experience however, you really need a good set of headphones or earphones. The ones that come bundled with your iPhone just don’t sound as good as a dedicated pair.
It’s important to know what you’re looking for when seeking out the best headphones for iPhone. Here’s what you need to know and the best headphones and earphones for every scenario in life. Read more…
More about Tech, Headphones, Mashable Shopping, Consumer Tech, and Tech
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR EVERYDAY USE
AirPods Pro
Specifically designed for the iPhone, the impressive noise cancellation capabilities and a comfortable fit make these the easy choice.
Colors: White
Battery life: 5 hours
Truly wireless: Active Noise Cancellation
$249 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR COMMUTERS
Bose QuietComfort 20
Block out the outside world with these Bose SoundSport 20 headphones. But be warned: You will need a dongle.
Colors: Black
Battery life: 16 hours (Noise cancellation)
Wired: Active Noise Cancellation
$249 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR WORK
Beats Solo Pro
The active noise cancellation option in the Beats Solo Pro make these a great pair of headphones for tuning out coworkers (and then tuning back in when you need to.)
Colors: Black, Gary, Red, Dark Blue, Ivory, Light Blue
Battery life: 22 hours with Active Noise Cancellation on
Wireless: Active Noise Cancellation
$299.95 from Amazon
IMAGE: Walmart
BEST FOR IPHONE NOVICES
AirPods
Need a pair of solid, dependable wireless earbuds? The original AirPods won’t let you down.
Colors: White
Battery life: 5 hours
Truly wireless: No noise cancellation
$129 from Walmart
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR RUNNING
Jabra Elite Active 65t
The built-in accelerometer of the Jabra Elite Active 65t headphones make these a top option for runners.
Colors: Copper Black, Copper Blue, Gold Beige
Battery life: 5 hours
Truly wirelesss: No noise cancellation
$79.99 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR WORKING OUT
Bose SoundSport Wireless
A cable unites the earbuds so they always stick together, but you’ll be completely untethered from your iPhone and are free to run, jump, and climb with ease.
Colors: Aqua, Black, Citron, Power Red
Battery life: 6 hours
Wireless: No noise cancellation
$129 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR LISTENING TO MUSIC
Sony WH-H900N
Though we wouldn’t recommend wearing these Sony headphones for working out, they are stellar for your daily commute and can even be personalized to fit your audio preferences.
Colors: Black
Battery life: 28 hours
Wireless headphones: Active noise cancellation
$158.99 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
MOST COMFORTABLE OPTION
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
They may not be the latest model on the market, but this pair from Plantronics will stay comfortable on your ears for hours.
As the laptop market has grown over the last few years, Chromebooks have too often been shoved into a niche as a cheaper device that isn’t quite a full featured laptop but gives you a little more juice than a tablet. Well, guess what? Chromebooks have outgrown that label and it’s time to give them some real consideration as a primary laptop.
Here’s what is still true about Chromebooks. In general, they run smaller and lighter than your standard laptop. They run on Chrome OS, as opposed to MacOS or Windows. And they rely on connectivity a bit more than your average machine, with smaller hard drives that get supplemented with cloud storage. Read more…
More about Tech, Laptops, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Consumer Tech
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST CHROME OS EXPERIENCE
Google Pixelbook
The best-looking one of the bunch, the Pixelbook is an understandably pricey premium Chromebook that’s genuinely fun to use.
CPU: 7th Gen Intel Core processor
RAM: 8GB-16GB
Storage: 256GB-512GB
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Screen: 12.3-inch
Display: 2400 x 1600 FHD
$849 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR TRAVELING
Asus Chromebook Flip
A well-reviewed 2-in-1 with better specs than others at its price point, yet still small enough for any and every excursion.
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i3 Processor
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 64GB
Battery life: Up to 12 hours
Screen: 14-inch
Display: 1920×1080
$791.47 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
HP Chromebook 13
A high performance, sophisticated-as-hell Chromebook from HP that gives expensive traditional laptops a run for their money.
CPU: Intel Core m5
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 32GB
Battery life: Up to 8 hours
Screen: 13-inch
Display: 3200 x 1800
$279 from Amazon
IMAGE: Newegg
BUDGET PICK
Acer Chromebook 14
A huge FHD screen and 12 hours of battery, packed into a full metal body that’s built to last — all for significantly less than competitors.
CPU: Intel Celeron N3160
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 32GB
Battery life: Up to 12 hours
Screen: 14-inch
Display: 1,920 x 1,080
$209.99 from Newegg
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR ANDROID LOYALISTS
Samsung Chromebook Pro
A laptop that converts to a tablet and gives you the Android experience on a bigger screen, this convertible device is great for anyone who loves the Google Play Store.
CPU: Intel Core m3-6Y30
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 32GB
Battery life: Up to 9 hours
Screen: 12.3 inches
Display: 2400×1600
$499 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
GREAT FOR KIDS
Dell Chromebook 11
A little light on power and size, the Dell Chromebook 11 is made for students and folks who go light on laptop use.
CPU: Intel Celeron N3060
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 16GB
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Screen: 11.6 inches
Display: 1366×768
$136.80 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR THE SECURITY-MINDED
HP Chromebook x360 14c
A fingerprint reader and webcam security switch makes the HP x360 14c among the safest and most secure Chromebooks on the market
While laptops and tablets are great on their own, sometimes you just need both — at once — without the hassle of having to carry around two devices all day.
Enter: the hybrid laptop (or just 2-in-1 laptop). It’s a device that you can convert from tablet to laptop and back again with ease.
Why would I want a 2-in-1 laptop?
Simply put, a 2-in-1 laptop allows you to have the best of both devices at your fingertips. You can use the tablet to draw and take hand-written notes with a stylus, or you can use its touch-screen and gesture features for your day-to-day activities. But when you need more control or need to type something up, you can switch into laptop and keyboard mode. Best of all, these machines feature the computing power to run full-sized applications like Adobe Photoshop and more. Read more…
More about Laptops, 2 In 1, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Work Life
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST STYLUS
Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 15
This 2-in-1 laptop looks cool, is easy to use, and comes with a great stylus.
Storage: 512 GB
Memory: 16GB
CPU: Intel Core i7 Processor 1065G7
GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
$1,629 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST KEYBOARD
Lenovo Flex 2020
If you’re looking for a powerful, yet sleek 2-in-1 laptop, then look no further than the Lenovo Flex 2020 with its 14-inch touchscreen.
Storage : 1TB
Memory: 20GB
CPU: 10th Gen Intel 4-Core i5-10210U
GPU: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
$999 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST CHROMEBOOK
Asus Chromebook Flip C436
A useful, powerful, and adaptable Chromebook.
Storage: 128GB
Memory: 8GB
CPU: Intel Core i3-10110U
GPU: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
$782.09 from Amazon
IMAGE: Dell
BEST BATTERY LIFE
Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS is one of the few hybrids that can deliver high-working performance, as well as gaming chops in a trusty 2-in-1.
Storage: 256GB
Memory: 8GB
CPU: 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
$1,050 from Dell
IMAGE: Microsoft
BEST FOR ARTISTS
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Lightweight and versatile, the Surface Pro 7 has a crystal clear display that’s perfect for artists on the go.
Storage: 128GB
Memory: 8GB
CPU: Dual-core 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 Processor
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
$749.99 from Microsoft
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST FOR DRAWING AND SKETCHING
HP Spectre x360
This blazing fast 2-in-1 laptop doesn’t skimp on high-end specifications that are housed inside of a sleek and ultrathin package.
Storage: 256GB
Memory: 8GB
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor
GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
$1,429 from Amazon
IMAGE: Microsoft
BEST FOR TRAVEL
Microsoft Surface Go 2
A small and light laptop-tablet combo that’ll adapt to on-the-move lifestyles with no gimmicks.
Storage: 64GB
Memory: 4GB
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4425Y
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 615
$399.99 from Microsoft
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST DISPLAY FOR THE MONEY
HP Envy x360
A beautiful display at a decent price tag, along with a slew of other nice quality-of-life features that can stand up to pricier devices.
Storage: 1TB
Memory: 16GB
CPU: AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U
GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics
$1,049 from Amazon
IMAGE: Lenovo
BEST 360-DEGREE HINGE
Lenovo Yoga C940
The best of both worlds: Slim and light in tablet mode, and a solid machine when used as a traditional laptop.
Summertime always sees an uptick in fitness interest.
If you’re thinking about adding adjustable dumbbells to your home gym or workout routine as you come out of hibernation, then know this: There are a ton of options out there.
If the thought of scouring the internet looking at sets of adjustable dumbbells stresses you out, allow us to do the heavy lifting for you. There are a few features you should consider before taking the plunge on a new set of weights. The following criteria can help narrow down your options:
Adjustability. You’ll want to look for a set of adjustable dumbbells that are actually easy to adjust. If you find yourself missing the clanking of metal that you’ll typically hear in a gym, the traditional pin-lock set of dumbbells may be right for you. Or maybe you’re looking to incorporate weights into your H.I.I.T. (High Intensity Interval Workout) routines, in which case the simple twist of a dial would be better. You’ll find both on our list, along with the pros and cons of each.
Weight settings. Another feature you’ll want to think about is the minimum and maximum weight settings offered. Why spring for a heavier set when you could easily find one in your desired weight range? The set used by serious weight trainers won’t be suitable for beginners or someone looking to rebuild muscle while recovering from an injury. It’s also important to look at the increments in which you can adjust the weights. Lucky for you, we’ve already done the research and have solid options in a variety of weight settings. Read more…
More about Fitness, Mashable Shopping, Culture, and Work Life
IMAGE: Bowflex
BEST OVERALL
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells
Some of the highest-rated adjustable dumbbells on the market offered at an affordable price.
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020 — $1,189.97
Alienware Area-51m R2 Gaming Laptop — $1,949.99
Alienware m17 R3 Gaming Laptop — $1,599.99
PC gaming is said by many to be the best way to play video games. In a lot of ways, that’s true — high-end gaming computers pack more graphical and processing power than any home console does, and they offer a level of freedom in terms of customization and game choice that you’re just not going to find anywhere else. But when it comes down to it, starting your foray into PC gaming can be extremely complicated, especially when you’re new to all of this. Read more…
More about Gaming, Laptops, Pc Gaming, Mashable Shopping, and Tech
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST OVERALL
Razer Blade 15 Advanced
The Razer Blade 15 is like the Apple MacBook Pro of gaming laptops — sleek, powerful, and cutting edge.
CPU: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10875H
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q Design
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display: 15.6 inches, 4K OLED
$3,300 from Amazon
IMAGE: B&H
BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY AMD-POWERED LAPTOP
Asus TUF Gaming A15
The Asus TUF Gaming A15 is the best AMD powered laptop that you’ll find at this price point, especially when paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU.
CPU: AMD 3rd Generation Ryzen 7
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 15.6 inches, 1080p
$999.99 from B&H
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST HIGH-END AMD-POWERED LAPTOP
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Looking for a balance between style and substance? You’ve found it. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is truly a pint-sized powerhouse.
CPU: AMD 3rd Generation Ryzen 9
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display: 14 inches, 1080p
$1,315 from Amazon
IMAGE: Amazon
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT GAMING LAPTOP
MSI GF63 Thin
Speedy and packing good components for the price, the MSI GF63 Thin gaming laptop makes for an ideal device to travel with.
CPU: Intel Core i5-8300H
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 15.6 inches, 1080p
$929.99 from Amazon
IMAGE: Best Buy
BEST BUDGET PICK
Acer Nitro 5
If you’re looking to spend the least money possible on your gaming laptop without buying an absolute clunker, the Acer Nitro 5 will satisfy on all counts.
CPU: Intel 10th Generation Core i5
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 15.6-inches, 1080p
$749.99 from Best Buy
IMAGE: Dell
BEST FOR CUSTOMIZATION
Alienware m15 R3
You could go for the base version of the m15 R3 and still have a great gaming laptop on your hands, but where it really shines is in its customization opportunities.
CPU: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 15.6 inches, 1080p
$1,580 from Dell
IMAGE: Dell
BEST PERFORMANCE FOR THE MONEY
Dell G5 15
The Dell G5 15 gaming laptop prioritizes raw performance over fancy features, which becomes totally worthwhile at such a low price.