‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ trailer looks incredibly chaotic

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

The first full trailer for Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has just arrived, and it looks just as chaotic as the title implies. It seems that messing with alternate universe isn’t without consequences.

With Benedict Cumberbatch returning as the titular sorcerer, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows on from the interdimensional shenanigans of Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home. It will also catch up with played by Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff for the first time since WandaVision — and she does not appear to be doing well.

“You break the rules and become a hero. I do it, I become the enemy,” the Scarlet Witch tells Doctor Strange, possibly referring to the events of her miniseries. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

The trailer also gives us our first glimpse at Xochitl Gomez in action as America Chavez, as well as the return of Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Benedict Wong.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness portals into theatres May 6.

Western Digital lost 6.5 billion gigabytes of flash storage at the worst possible time (for you)

Western Digital

If flash memory wasn’t already pricey enough before, it may get even more expensive now.

According to data storage manufacturer Western Digital, the company has lost 6.5 billion gigabytes of flash storage due to contamination during production. Converted to other storage units we’re looking at around 6.5 exabytes or 6.5 million terabytes. That’s a lot of flash storage. 

The cause of the contamination is currently unknown. The issue was first discovered late last month at two Japanese manufacturing plants that produce NAND chips run by Western Digital’s partner, Kioxia.

So, how does this affect you?

According to market research company TrendForce, Western Digital makes up about 30 percent of the total flash storage market. The firm says that this contamination can cause the price of NAND, which is the main component in faster and newer solid-state drives (SSDs), to skyrocket by 10 percent.

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Who gets called a ‘tech worker’ is the big question for 2022

The timing of this contamination could not be worse for consumers. Supply chain problems combined with other issues, such as cryptocurrency mining, have caused shortages for all kinds of computer components. Along with graphics cards and processors, data storage like hard drives and SSDs have also been hit hard, causing prices for consumer products to rise and the products themselves to be difficult to find.

As of now, it’s not clear if any products that hit the market were affected by contamination or if any recalls will be necessary. In a public statement, Western Digital said its currently working towards resuming production at its facilities.

10 truly great war movies on Netflix

A collage of soldiers

When the times get tough, the tough get going. Perhaps that’s why it’s such a heart-pounding pleasure to watch war movies. In these films, we witness not only brutal battles but also the bravery and resilience of heroes and survivors. Their stories might be steeped in tragedy, violence, and horror, but nonetheless, they rally to fight back.

Whether set on foreign shores or many years ago, these war stories hit home with characters’ journeys powerful and profound. If you’re looking for something thrilling, heart-wrenching, inspirational, or even hilarious, we’ve got you covered.

Here are the top 10 war movies on Netflix streaming now.

1. Da 5 Bloods

Five Black men stand in a circle, wearing modern attire and looking concerned.


Credit: Netflix

Spike Lee directs this riveting Vietnam War drama, which swings between past and present. Delroy Lindo, Norm Lewis, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and the late Chadwick Boseman star as the titular quintet, who buries gold bars while serving overseas in the Army. Decades later, they return to Vietnam, not only for the treasure, but also to bring back the remains of one they lost. Along the way, they’ll run into shady characters, familial conflict, and explosive twists. Jonathan Majors, Mélanie Thierry, Paul Walter Hauser, and Jean Reno co-star in this critically heralded 2020 release.

How to watch:  Da 5 Bloods is streaming on Netflix.

2. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl

Sharan Sharma directs this heartwarming biopic, which focuses on a glass-ceiling shattering heroine of the Kargil War of 1999. From a young age, Gunjan Saxena (Janhvi Kapoor) dreamed of flying the skies as a pilot, but the path for women in India to achieve this dream had not been fully charted. She faced doubters, derision, and blatant sexism as she climbed the ranks in the Air Force, finally making history as the first female officer of the Indian Air Force to fly in a combat zone. With earnest drama and a bouncy soundtrack, this 2020 Netflix original takes audiences through her inspirational story and into the battles between the Indian and Pakistani forces.

How to watch: Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is streaming on Netflix. 

3. The Patriot

Two American soldiers from the Revolutionary War stand side by side.


Credit: Andrew Cooper/Columbia Tristar/Kobal/Shutterstock

Following Independence Day and Godzilla, action-auteur Roland Emmerich teamed with Braveheart‘s Mel Gibson for an American Revolutionary War epic. Gibson and Heath Ledger star as a father and son who join forces with the Continental Army to overthrow the merciless British, in particular, a cruel colonel played by Jason Isaac. Loaded with sweeping battleground sequences, history-inspired heroics, and moving moments of melodrama, The Patriot packs a punch.

How to watch: The Patriot is streaming on Netflix. 

4. War Machine

Celebrated for his gritty dramas The Rover and Animal Kingdom, Australian writer-director David Michôd threw critics for a loop with his dark 2017 satire, based on Michael Hasting’s non-fiction book The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan. Brad Pitt stars as a bombastic general, charged with the rebuilding effort in Afghanistan. During his mission, he will face skepticism, scorn, and outright opposition from enemies, allies, and government officials. Funny and thought provoking, this curious comedy also boasts appearances by Anthony Michael Hall, Topher Grace, and LaKeith Stanfield.

How to watch: War Machine is streaming on Netflix.

 5. Apocalypse Now Redux

A white man with war paint on his face peeks out of a lagoon.


Credit: Zoetrope/United Artists/Kobal/Shutterstock

One of the fascinating films where the production has drawn as much attention as the movie itself, Apocalypse Now was its own war for director Francis Ford Coppola. Filming in the Philippines, he and his crew endured military-related delays, punishing weather, health emergencies, and the recasting of the hero two weeks into shooting. Then, leading man Martin Sheen brought his own demons to the already trouble production. Even achieving the final cut of the 1979 film was a battle. So in 2001, Coppola revisited his Academy Award-winning Vietnam War movie to create a cut closer to his heart of darkness. The result was Apocalypse Now Redux, a director’s cut 20+ years in the making with 49 more minutes of footage.

How to watch: Apocalypse Now Redux is streaming on Netflix. 

 6. The Beguiled

A white woman in period attire stands in the foreground, while an injured man lurks behind her.


Credit: B Rothstein/Focus Features/Kobal/Shutterstock

Often war stories look to the frontlines, but writer/director Sofia Coppola’s 2017 stunner focused on the homefront of the American Civil War. Based on Thomas P. Cullinan’s novel of the same name, The Beguiled centers on a girls school in Virginia, where the unexpected intrusion of a Union soldier spurs feelings of lust, jealousy, and wrath. The grim lesson learned is that the violence of war won’t be contained to the battlefield. Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning starred in the slow-burn thriller that wowed critics and earned Coppola the Best Director award out of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. 

How to watch: The Beguiled is streaming on Netflix. 

7. 300

Adapted from the Frank Miller and Lynn Varley comic, Zack Snyder’s 2006 war epic follows the 300-strong contingent of Spartans — led by King Leonidas I (Gerard Butler) — that defended ancient Greece from a Persian invasion, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) in 479 B.C. Both the comic and the movie are based on the real-life Battle of Thermopylae. But in both adaptations, the story is secondary to the presentation.

Snyder’s signature style of artful framing and conscious formal play is splashed across every frame of 300. (Who can forget that famous slow-mo kick?) For all the intense violence, this is a  stunningly beautiful film as well as one of the first that nailed the artistic sensibilities of an action-heavy comic book. Snyder may be a controversial fave, but 300 remains one of the most impressive expressions of his innate talents to date. And it makes for a genuinely gripping war movie.—Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: 300 is streaming on Netflix. 

8. Beasts of No Nation

A young Black boy looks worried.


Credit: Netflix

Based on Uzodinma Iweala’s novel of the same name, this war drama explores the horrific plight of child soldiers. Abraham Attah stars as Agu, a young West African boy who is ripped away from his family and conscripted into the militia of a charismatic but demanding Commandant (Idris Elba). To survive, Agu must forge a path of violence and blood, machete first. Written, directed, and shot by Cary Joji Fukunaga, this riveting drama won praise for its powerful storytelling, while Elba scored a Golden Globe nod for his striking portrayal.

How to watch: Beasts of No Nation is streaming on Netflix.

 9. Outlaw King

A handsome bearded man wears chainmail.


Credit: Netflix

Chris Pine headlines this action-studded biopic about the 14th-century Scottish King who was the underdog in a war against the massive and mighty English forces. Directed by David Mackenzie, this epic drama ushers audiences back to Middle Ages warfare, where chainmail, heavy armor, and swords clashed. Critics lauded the humanity webbed throughout this war film and cheered Pine’s captivating portrayal of a legendary historical figure.

How to watch: Outlaw King is streaming on Netflix.

10. Stripes

Stripes is like a funny Full Metal Jacket. The 1981 comedy follows friends and professional losers John Winger (Bill Murray) and Ryan Ziskey (Harold Ramis) as their crumbling adult lives compel them both to enlist. We spend the first half of the movie getting to know Stripes‘ colorful cast of miscreant recruits, including John Candy’s lovable rube, Dewey “Ox” Oxberger. When sent to Italy, the ostensibly-trained band of misfits led by Winger and Ziskey race right up to the brink of an international incident — of their own creation. Hijinks ensue.

Stripes is a classic comedy from the ’80s featuring three legends in Murray, Ramis, and Candy alongside a stellar cast that also includes Warren Oates, John Larroquette, Judge Reinhold, and, in one of his earliest film appearances, Bill Paxton. —A.R.

How to watch: Stripes is streaming on Netflix.

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How to correct Siri’s pronunciation

The Siri button illuminated on the iPhone screen.

As hard as Siri may try, Apple’s digital assistant just can’t get the hang of some names.

As someone with a difficult-to-pronounce last name, I understand. But you can give Siri a helping hand.

If you already know that the iPhone’s AI struggles with certain names you can go straight to their entry in your Contacts list. Or you can filter the request through Siri’s voice commands: “Change how you pronounce [insert contact’s name].”

Once in the Contacts app, click on the person’s entry. From there:

  1. On the top right corner, click “Edit.”

  2. Under the Notes section click “add field.”

  3. From there you can add the phonetic spelling for the first and last name. (This is more for you to remember next time you bump into someone than it is for Siri.)

  4. For training Siri, click “pronunciation spelling” for either the first or last name. (You should use the phonetic spelling of the name for this field, as well.)

Screenshot of Siri suggesting to open the contacts app.

Say my name.
Credit: Sasha Lekach / Mashable

Options within the "add field" section on a contact's listing.

Say it right.
Credit: Sasha Lekach / Mashable

To train Siri to stop saying my name the way it’s spelled (it usually comes out sounding like “Le-catch”), I typed in how it sounds: “Lek-itch.” My first name Siri manages to leave unmangled, so I don’t have to give it guidance.

Now that the pronunciation field is part of my contact entry I can change it directly from the “edit” page.

Screenshot of my contact card on an iPhone.

Say it with me now!
Credit: Sasha Lekach / Mashable

It’s not always glamorous, but spelling it out for Siri helps the digital assistant pronounce names closer to what they are.

Marvel’s ‘Daredevil’ and other live-action shows are leaving Netflix soon

A still from 'Marvel's Defenders' on Netflix. Three people sit side-by-side in a subway, viewed through one of the subway car's windows.

If there’s any future for Marvel’s Defenders, it’s going to unfold somewhere other than on Netflix.

Multiple live-action TV shows that tell stories set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are leaving Netflix at the end of February. The list includes all of the Defenders shows: So, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron First, The Punisher, and The Defenders. But Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the network series whose existence predates the Defenders, is also leaving at the same time.

Pay a visit to any of those series pages on Netflix and you’ll see a note about how they’ll only be available to watch until Feb. 28. What happens to them after that is unclear.

The smart money is on the whole bundle heading over to Disney+, which is the current home for pretty much all things Marvel. Both Agents and the Defenders stories are part of the MCU, and fans who have kept up with recent Marvel movie and TV happenings know that the studio is still thinking about Daredevil and his friends. There’s also some Marvel stuff on Hulu — a Disney subsidiary — but Disney+ seems like a better bet given the MCU connection.

SEE ALSO:

Disney and Marvel can use all of Netflix’s Defenders now, but should they?

The shows were originally created as part of a deal that made Netflix the distributor of Disney’s MCU-connected serial programming. But all of that came to an end in 2018 when Netflix’s Marvel productions were all canceled as Disney prepped for the 2019 launch of its own streaming Netflix competitor: Disney+. The shows are presumably leaving Netflix now because whatever deal that kept them there is expiring.

Mashable reached out to Disney for more specifics on what’s happening with the content that’s leaving Netflix. Even if these are all surely headed to some Disney-owned platform at some point, we don’t know if that will be an immediate shift or not. We’ll update this story when we get some specifics back.

TikTok’s ban on misogyny and misgendering attempts to clean up For You Pages

The TikTok logo on a smartphone and on a red background.

TikTok has long prohibited hate-speech and violence on its social video platform, but a recent update is getting more specific about what can and can’t be posted on videos.

The China-based tech firm ByteDance, which created and owns TikTok, updated its community guidelines with new ban-worthy offenses on Tuesday. The change targets content that’s aimed at offending LGBTQ users broadly as well as trans users specifically.

Now, content containing anti-LGBTQ commentary including deadnaming (the practice of using a trans person’s birth/former name), misgendering, and support for conversion therapy is banned. Posts that include misogyny, which is hate or prejudice against women, are also banned. In a blog post, TikTok characterized the changes as “adding clarity on the types of hateful ideologies prohibited on our platform.”

TikTok said these types of posts, and others, won’t surface on users’ For You pages, which recommends content based on past views. Ideally, any offending posts will be removed swiftly before circulating. A UK study last year found anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and misogynistic posts and other forms of hate are widely circulating on the platform.

Enforcing these new bans is where it really matters, as TikTok creators have consistently called out. ByteDance has come under scrutiny before as a Chinese company operating under a less-than-tolerant government.

SEE ALSO:

The age of TikTok feminism

One account is flipping common misogynistic commentary on its head. Lilly Brown and co-host @kimbersprings present the “Fresh New Tits” mock-podcast on TikTok where the two women playfully and cleverly insult men’s hair, value, genitalia, and ask, “Are men too emotional?” It’s a more subtle take on what is typically seen in podcasts and streamed videos, including blatant misogyny.

Another account, @carefulthefloorismarlava, questions if TikTok will actually do anything about rampant transphobia on its platform even after updating its guidelines.

Tumblr adds yet another way to pay creators

The Tumblr logo on a phone, resting on top of a keyboard

Tumblr is trying once again to keep creators on the platform — and encourage more bloggers to sign up — by launching its second monetization feature in eight months.

The new tip jar feature allows users to tip their favorite creators on the platform. All you have to do is select the “Tip” tab on a post you want to tip, then choose the amount you want to give — up to $100. You can send it anonymously or add a message and see who else has sent tips on the same post. The tip jar is already available to all users in the U.S., and is going to be extended soon. Tumblr isn’t taking a cut from the payments, which will go through Stripe, although credit card fees will still apply.

This feature comes eight months after the launch of Tumblr’s Post+, a subscription service that allows creators to charge users for some exclusive content. So for the tip jar, fans can tip an individual post and can choose how much to give; Post+, on the other hand, is a recurring payment fans give to creators who provide exclusive content in return.

Post+ starts at $3.99 per month, with additional tiers at $5.99 and $9.99 per month. You can use both Tumblr Tips and Post+ simultaneously.

SEE ALSO:

Finally, now you can pay for Tumblr posts with Tumblr Post+

It’s not entirely clear how successful Post+ has been, but adding another monetization tool so soon is a fascinating move for the platform.

“We aren’t disclosing our numbers, but we can share that, with the open beta, we opened the funnel to a much broader audience and gleaned more insights, especially from international creators. These newly discovered learnings will help us prepare for a full launch later this year,” Bohdan Kit, Tumblr’s head of product for subscriptions, told TechCrunch

These tools are likely set up to increase users. The platform lost almost a third of its users after banning porn in 2019, and is still struggling to attract more people. About half of all users on Tumblr are Gen Z and they spend about 26 percent more time on the platform than other users, according to Tumblr. But it’s unclear how many people are on the site every day. 

Sebastian Stan honors his ‘Gossip Girl’ roots in a sweaty ‘Hot Ones’

A still from the YouTube series

There are a lot of reasons to like actor Sebastian Stan.

Maybe you know him for his role as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Or maybe you’re a fan of his outrageously fun stint as the titular Mötley Crüe drummer in Hulu’s Pam and Tommy. Heck, maybe he’s even “the Hot Tub Time Machine guy” to you.

There’s merit in each of these respective Stan-doms. But in a new episode of Hot Ones, the actor gets a chance to single out one of his most faithful — and longest enduring — fan groups. Yes, I’m talking about those of us who remember him as Upper Easter Sider Carter Baizen from the CW drama Gossip Girl.

“What would you say is the biggest difference between a fan who recognizes you on the street from your Marvel work and a fan who recognizes you from Gossip Girl?” host Sean Evans asks at 6:02.

“Well, Gossip Girl, you know…” Stan replies with a smirk. “They’re very loyal, the Gossip Girl fans. I mean, they really have to be. They love the show. They’ve studied it. They have wild questions about that character. It’s just interesting to me how I still get that once in a while. But you really have to go dig to find out about Gossip Girl. But, their loyalty, yeah. That’s a good one.” (Regrettably, Evans did not ask Stan if he would ever return as Carter for the Gossip Girl revival. But we can dream.)

SEE ALSO:

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Stan’s Hot Ones debut also includes behind-the-scenes tidbits from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, more details on the upcoming horror flick Fresh, and a moment when Stan boldly professes his love for whole milk.

“I haven’t had a lot of spicy food in my life,” he says at the beginning of an episode that’s ultimately pretty tough. “This is probably going to be most of it right now.” I wonder how much spicy food Carter has eaten.

How to turn off comments on TikTok

Screenshots of how to turn comments off on a TikTok video

Sometimes, the best part about TikTok is the comment section — and other times it’s a cesspool of trolls. For when you’re faced with the latter, thankfully there’s a fairly simple way to turn comments off on a TikTok video.

Start by creating your video and click next. You’ll be taken to a page where you can tag people, add hashtags or links, and, when you’re ready, post it. The easiest way to ensure that no one will comment on it is to set the button that says “allow comments” to the off position. But, if you don’t remember to do this and, instead, allow comments, there’s still a way to fix it.

If you just want to turn the comments off on an individual existing TikTok video that’s already been posted, here’s how.

SEE ALSO:

Mega commenters are the best part of TikTok

Navigate to your profile

Click the bottom right “Profile” icon to head to your profile. There, you’ll be able to see all the videos you’ve posted.

Screenshot of my TikTok profile

First, head to your profile
Credit: Screenshot/ TikTok/ Mashable

Choose your options

Click the 3-line icon on the right underneath the comment button. Scroll all the way to the right, and click on “Privacy settings.”

Screenshot displaying the options on a TikTok video

Now, head to privacy settings
Credit: Screenshot/ TikTok/ Mashable

Turn comments off

Under “Privacy settings,” you’ll see four choices: You can decide who can watch the video, and if comments, duets, and stitches are allowed. If you don’t want anyone to comment on your TikTok video, tap the toggle icon to turn comments off.

Screenshot displaying the comment and privacy options on a TikTok video

Finally, turn off the comments
Credit: Screenshot/ TikTok/ Mashable

If you decide that you don’t want anyone at all ever commenting on any of your TikTok videos, or if you want to only allow comments from friends on any of your TikTok videos, you can make this choice at the profile level, too.

Navigate to your profile

Click the bottom right “Profile” icon to open up the associated menu. There, you’ll be able to see all the videos you’ve posted.

Screenshot of my TikTok profile

First, head to your profile
Credit: Screenshot/ TikTok/ Mashable

Go to your settings

Tap the 3-line “hamburger” icon in the top right of your profile page, which will show you two options: “Creator tools” and “Settings and privacy.” Click “Settings and privacy.” Then, choose “Privacy” once more — it’s the second option underneath “Manage account.”

Screenshot displaying the options on a TikTok profile

Navigate to your privacy page
Credit: Screenshot/ TikTok/ Mashable

Head to your Comments settings

Screenshot displaying the options on a TikTok profile

Finally, make your bulk comment decisions
Credit: Screenshot/ TikTok/ Mashable

Scroll down the page, and under “Safety,” you’ll see “Comments.” Choose that and you’ll be taken to a list of global settings that you can tweak for all your future videos. You can set it so everyone, just friends, or no one can comment on your videos. You can also create individual word filters, make it so comments don’t post until you approve them, and have TikTok automatically scan for spammy or offensive comments.

Ah, sh*ts: ‘Wordle’ is phasing out NSFW words

A smartphone showing a person playing Wordle.

If it’s NSFW, it’s not safe for Wordle. Following the sale of Josh Wardle’s popular online puzzle game to the New York Times, certain words have been removed from the game’s dictionary. It’s the first move in a multi-step process to prevent offensive guessing.

“Offensive words will always be omitted from consideration,” a representative for the New York Times told Mashable via email (h/t Polygon). “As we have just started Wordle’s transition to The Times website, we are still in the process of removing those words from the game play.”

Plenty of naughty guesses can be played for now, including obvious classics like “DICKS” and “SHITS.” But some words that can be read as derogatory no longer register as allowable guesses. This includes a slew of sexist insults and/or compliments, such as the commonly used “BITCH.” Try it and Wordle will respond with a screen-shaking “Not in word list” notice, before forcing you to guess again.

A screenshot from 'Wordle' showing that you cannot guess some curse words.


Credit: Screenshot: Wordle

It’s unclear how Wordle‘s new management is defining “offensive” and we don’t know when the dirty dictionary audit will be complete. (A representative for the New York Times declined to comment on either matter.) But the decision poses interesting questions about censorship and the gatekeeping of language, especially considering it comes from one of the world’s foremost newsrooms.

SEE ALSO:

Here’s why we can’t stop playing ‘Wordle’

Those looking for another puzzler to give their “FUCKS” to should try out Lewdle. This variation on Wordle challenges players to guess “rude” five-letter words in six tries or fewer; think “BOOBS” or “BALLS.” Alternatively, there’s the cursing-focused Sweardle, which uses four-letter swear words (e.g.”CRAP”) and gives you up to four guesses.