UPDATE: Mar. 17, 2022, 4:25 p.m. EDT This list has been updated to reflect pricing and availability as of March 17.

• BEST SAMSUNG DEAL: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro, a nice alternative to the similarly priced MacBook Pro — $509.99 $999.99 (save $490)

• BEST GAMING DEAL: Razer Blade 15, a powerful gaming laptop that’ll keep you playing on the go — $1,665.99 $2,599.99 (save $934)

• BEST 2-IN-1 DEAL: Asus Chromebook Flip C434, an affordable 2-in-1 for those who want the basics of a laptop and a tablet at once — $405.99 $569.99 (save $164)

What’s better than a great laptop? A great laptop that’s cheap. Nowadays, even budget machines can pack the punch to carry you through whatever’s on your to-do list, whether it’s work, watching Netflix, or endlessly browsing social media. If you’re looking to pick up a new laptop but don’t necessarily want to drop your life savings in one go, we’ll be compiling a list of the best deals on cheap laptops right here, each and every week.

Best Samsung deal

Why we like it

We love Apple, but MacBooks aren’t the only laptops out there. The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro is a nice alternative to the similarly priced MacBook Pro, with a stunning display, a speedy 11th-gen Intel Core processor, a 20-hour battery life, WiFi 6E support, and a sleek, ultra-thin design.

Best gaming deal

Why we like it

The Razer Blade 15 Advanced model is packed with solid internals that’ll work well for PC gaming newbies and seasoned players alike. Under the hood, you’ll get a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H processor with up to 5.0 GHz max turbo and 8 cores, as well as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card that has the power to run some pretty visually intense games. The 300Hz screen provides buttery-smooth frame rate performance and offers full HD visuals within a bezel-less display. It’s all housed within a thin, compact body that you can take anywhere.

Best 2-in-1 deal

Why we like it

Having your laptop and your tablet in one place is a convenience you need in your life. The Asus Chromebook Flip C434 is a fantastic budget 2-in-1 device, with speedy performance, a full HD touchscreen, and components that should be able to handle all of your daily tasks.

More great laptop deals

• Apple MacBook Pro 2021 — $1,749 $1,999 (save $250)

• Asus ROG Zephyrus QHD Gaming Laptop — $1,549.99 $1,849.99 (save $300)

• Asus Chromebook Flip C434 — $405.99 $569.99 (save $164)

• Asus Vivobook 15 F515 — $399.99 $449.99 (save $50)

• Asus VivoBook Flip 14 — $399.99 $479.99 (save $80)

• Alienware x17 R1 Gaming Laptop — $2,199.99 $2,499.99 (save $300)

• MSI GE75 Raider Gaming Laptop — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

• Dell Vostro 7510 — $949 $1,827.14 (save $878.14)

• Dell Inspiron 3510 — $498 $568 (save $70)

• Dell XPS17 9710 — $1,999.99 $2,249.99 (save $250)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio — $1,499.99 $1,799.99 (save $300)

• Asus Vivobook — $329.99 $449.99 (save $120)

• Lenovo Flex 5 — $599.99 $849.99 (save $250)

• Lenovo IdeaPad 3 — $169.99 $219.99 (save $50)

• Lenovo IdeaPad S340 — $699.99 $799.99 (save $100.99)

• Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop — $1,169 $1,279 (save $90)

• Acer Swift 3 — $645.95 $849.99 (save $204.04)

• Acer Predator Triton 500 SE Gaming Laptop — $1,399.99 $1,749.99 (save $350)

• Acer Predator Triton 300 SE Gaming Laptop — $999.99 $1,349.99 (save $350)

• HP 14 Laptop — $249.99 $289.99 (save $40)

• HP Pavilion 15-inch gaming laptop — $845.88 $899.99 (save $54.11)

• HP 15-inch Laptop — $538.98 $659.99 (save $121.01)

• HP Chromebook 11 — $139.99 $259.99 (save $120)

• Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 — $178 $249.99 (save $71.99)

• MSI Delta Gaming Laptop — $1,299.99 $1,599.99 (save $300)

How to shop for a new laptop:

Choosing a laptop is entirely dependent on what you’ll be using it for. Beginner laptop owners need something user-friendly and straightforward, frequent travelers need something light with a long battery life, designers and gamers need top-notch 4K graphics and quick central processors, and everyone needs something that will last. 

The first thing you should do is ask yourself a simple question: PC or Mac? This is an important question, as it’s going to make a world of difference in what you can and can’t do with your computer. Are you a gamer? A video editor? A business professional? An Apple device owner? The answer to any of these will probably point you towards your final answer. If you’re constantly buying the new iPhone every year, editing YouTube videos, recording a podcast, or other creative endeavors of the sort, your best bet may be a Mac laptop. Apple obsessives will be happy with their Mac’s compatibility with their other Apple products, and everyone can benefit from Macs’ propensity to have better virus protection than that of a PC. 

That brings us to the perks of picking up a PC. You can still complete a number of creative projects on a personal computer, but where PCs really shine are their options for customization. PCs are much easier to upgrade part-by-part, as they aren’t constrained to Apple-manufactured products (like Macs). And because there is a seemingly endless supply of PC manufacturers, there are a lot more options from what brand you chose, to the software you buy, to the type of graphics card you pick out for your gaming rig. Yes, gamers should always go the PC route — they are far more powerful than what a Mac laptop can handle, and also give you the option to connect VR headsets, if you’re into that sort of thing.  

What size laptop should you get?

This really comes down to two things: Personal preference and lifestyle. Personal preference is self-explanatory, really — do you like having a huge display, or do you prefer something more compact? Lifestyle is where practicality comes into play. If you’re traveling often and usually have your computer on your back in some way, you’re going to want to go with something more light and compact (thin, 11-inch models will most likely be the best). But if you’re a huge movie buff who doesn’t normally take their laptop on the road with them, spring for a 15-inch (and higher) screen with a bulky construction so you can have epic Netflix sessions. If you’re getting a gaming laptop, you should probably “go big or go home,” as well.  

How much should you spend on a new laptop?

This is much more subjective, and at the end of the day, it’s really going to come down to your budget. But, if money isn’t the number one concern for you, you should really think hard about what you’re going to use your laptop for. Need a device with lots of power under the hood and bountiful storage space? Aim for something in the $800 and beyond range. Only using your laptop to edit the occasional Google Doc? Then you can probably get away with spending way below the $500 mark. In other words, don’t blow your savings if you don’t need to. And if you’re looking to go all out, meaning buying a laptop with every bell and whistle imaginable, you can get a monster of a machine for somewhere closer to $2,000.

Are cheap laptops worth it?

You know the old saying: You get what you pay for. But thanks to the technology boom of the last few decades, a cheap laptop can actually take you pretty far and won’t break down immediately. It’s all about knowing which one to select. Depending on what you use your laptop for the most, staying stingy might be your best option. Check out our roundups for the ones that we think are worth it — here are our favorite cheap laptop models under $500, and the best under $300.  

What does it mean when a laptop is certified refurbished?

Don’t let the words “refurbished” or “renewed” scare you away — these types of devices are usually perfectly viable options and can end up saving you a lot of money without sacrificing much of anything.

A refurbished device, in its simplest terms, is a product that has been bought, but then returned for some reason. Notice that we didn’t necessarily say that it was returned due to some sort of fault on the device’s part. While that can certainly be true in some cases, it isn’t always. Oftentimes, a certified refurbished laptop never even left its original packaging.

While yes, saving money is a huge benefit of buying a “refurb,” it’s far from the only reason to consider getting one. What’s great about refurbished devices is that they undergo rigorous performance tests to ensure that they are still in good condition (sometimes more strictly than the stuff coming right off the production line). There’s also a chance that any refurbished laptop you buy may have been so lightly used, that it could almost be considered brand-new (just way cheaper).

We’re big fans of buying refurbished gear for kids, especially when it comes to electronics. If you’re shopping for a laptop for a kid who is under the age of 15, then refurbished is really the way to go. For kids of high school age and beyond who are a bit more careful with their digital gear, then a new laptop isn’t as risky. Of course, it depends on the kid.

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UPDATE: Mar. 17, 2022, 3:55 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest 4K TV deals, including an 85-inch Samsung QLED TV for under $2,000.

• The Samsung 85-inch Q70A Series QLED TV pulls vibrant Quantum Dot technology across a huge screen for an immersive theater experience —  $1,999.99 $2,699.99 (save $700)

• The Sony 85-inch X91J 4K TV is your most affordable path to Sony’s full-array LED panel (plus, it’s massive) — $1,999.99 $2,799.99 (save $800)

• The TCL 65-inch 4-Series TV is a solid big screen option for under $500 — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)

Large 4K TVs no longer have to cost an exorbitant amount of money. These high-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions are actually affordable for regular consumers. And to make them even more budget-friendly, we’ve gathered up the best deals on 4K and QLED TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more.

Samsung TV deals

Why we love it

You know when you’re in the movie theater and the audio sounds like it’s coming from the direction of the action on screen? The Samsung Neo QLED TV does that, too. On top of Object Tracking Sound, the QN800 has 8K resolution (double the pixels of 4K) and super thin bezels to seal in that immersive theater feel.

More Samsung TVs on sale

• Samsung 43-inch The Sero Rotating QLED TV — $1,499.99 $1,999.99 (save $500)

• Samsung 50-inch 7 Series 4K TV — $379.99 $479.99 (save $100)

• Samsung 55-inch Q60A Series QLED TV — $699.99 $849.99 (save $150)

• Samsung 55-inch Q70A Series QLED TV — $849.99 $1,099.99 (save $250)

• Samsung 65-inch TU8300 Curved 4K TV — $649.99 $799.99 (save $150)

• Samsung 65-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,799.99 $1,999.99 (save $200)

• Samsung 75-inch Q70A Series QLED TV — $1,599.99 $2,299.99 (save $700)

• Samsung 75-inch QN8000 Neo QLED 8K TV — $2,999.99 $3,499.99 (save $500)

• Samsung 85-inch Q70A Series QLED TV —  $1,999.99 $2,699.99 (save $700)

• Samsung 85-inch QN8000 Neo QLED 8K TV — $3,999.99 $4,999.99 (save $1,000)

LG TV deals

Why we love it

In 2021, LG dropped a mid-range line of 4K TVs features its NanoCell tech: a method of amping up color depth through an extra light filter. In 2022, we’re seeing that line become even more affordable. The 70-inch version of the NanoCell 75 Series is actually officially cheaper than the 70-inch version of a non-NanoCell 4K TV from LG.

More LG TVs on sale

• LG 43-inch UN6955 4K TV — $295 $348 (save $53)

• LG 50-inch UP8000 Series 4K TV — $399.99 $479.99 (save $80)

• LG 55-inch NanoCell 80 4K TV — $596.99 $799.99 (save $203)

• LG 65-inch B1 Series OLED TV — $1,596.99 $1,796.99 (save $200)

• LG 65-inch A1 Series OLED TV — $1,349.99 $1,599.99 (save $250)

• LG 65-inch C1 Series OLED TV — $1,746.99 $2,499.99 (save $753)

• LG 70-inch UP8070 4K TV — $799.99 $899.99 (save $100)

• LG 75-inch NanoCell 75 4K TV — $899.99 $1,099.99 (save $200)

• LG 75-inch 99 Series QNED TV — $2,996.99 $3,496.99 (save $500)

• LG 83-inch C1 Series OLED TV — $4,799.99 $5,299.99 (save $500)

• LG 86-inch 90 Series QNED Mini LED TV — $2,699.99 $3,299.99 (save $600)

Sony TV deals

Why we love it

Opting for the X91J over the X85J (the most affordable TV in Sony’s 2021 lineup) secures full-array local dimming, which squeezes a stretch of individual LEDs behind every point of the LCD panel. This adds precision, vivid color, and deeper shadows to the focal point of each scene rather than relying on LEDs around the edges.

More Sony TVs on sale

• Sony 43-inch X80J 4K TV — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150)

• Sony 50-inch X85J 4K TV — $649.99 $799.99 (save $150)

• Sony 55-inch X85J 4K TV — $748 $999.99 (save $250.99)

• Sony 55-inch X80J OLED TV — $1,398 $1,699.99 (save $301.99)

• Sony 55-inch A90J OLED TV — $2,199.99 $2,799.99 (save $600)

• Sony 65-inch X85J 4K TV — $898 $1,199.99 (save $301.99)

• Sony 65-inch X80J OLED TV — $1,798 $2,199.99 (save $401.99)

• Sony 65-inch A90J OLED TV — $2,999.99 $3,799.99 (save $800)

• Sony 75-inch X80J 4K TV — $949.99 $1,099.99 (save $150)

• Sony 75-inch X95J QLED TV — $2,199.99 $2,999.99 (save $800)

• Sony 85-inch X85J 4K TV — $1,799.99 $2,199.99 (save $400)

Other TV deals from TCL, Vizio, and more

Why we love it

Peak moving season is here. TCL’s 4 Series is solid, affordable model for your new place — especially if you’re looking to upgrade to something bigger than 55 inches. Its brightness levels and pops of colors are great for binge-watching, though picture might get laggy during high-graphics gaming. Your purchase comes with three free months of Apple TV+.

More TVs from TCL, Vizio, and more

• Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $319.99 $469.99 (save $150)

• TCL 50-inch 5-Series QLED TV — $429.99 $599.99 (save $170)

• Vizio 50-inch M7 Quantum Series 4K TV — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)

• TCL 55-inch 4-Series 4K TV — $359.99 $499.99 (save $140)

• Amazon 55-inch 4 Series 4K Fire TV — $349.99 $519.99 (save $170)

• TCL 55-inch 6-Series Mini LED QLED TV — $699.99 $949.99 (save $250)

• Vizio 58-inch V-Series 4K TV — $399.99 $529.99 (save $130)

• Hisense 65-inch A6G 4K TV — $479.99 $599.99 (save $120)

• Amazon 65-inch Omni Series 4K Fire TV – $499.99 $829.99 (save $330)

• Hisense 65-inch U8G ULED TV — $999.99 $1,249.99 (save $250)

• Vizio 70-inch V-Series 4K TV — $599.99 $699.99 (save $100)

• Hisense 75-inch U7G ULED TV — $1,099.99 $1,499.99 (save $400)

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TikTok has welcomed Wordle with open arms.

The simple word puzzle game that captivated the internet, spawned numerous imitations, and got snatched up by the New York Times for a seven-figure payout, is the subject of a growing trend of people who post videos and livestreams of their games on TikTok.

It’s a natural pairing. Half the fun of playing Wordle is talking about it. Bragging about your streak, strategizing over which word to start with, analyzing the probabilities of letter combinations… There’s so much to discuss. It makes sense that playing Wordle has made its way to the highly engaging social media platform. Plus, people like watching other people play games — just look at the success of livestream gaming platform Twitch, which made $2.2 billion in 2020. 

And, sure, people are also playing Wordle on Twitch, but it’s a less casual vibe. In comparison, creators have gained a Wordle following on TikTok not because they’re expert-level gamers, but because they’re deeply relatable. Kenny Haller (@kennyhaller), a 22-year-old Twitch streamer and content creator from New York, first started playing Wordle on Twitch. But then he posted an edited version of that video on TikTok.

With the first guess, Haller establishes that the word starts with “s.” But the next four guesses are excruciating as he tries and fails to come up with the right word, talking through his process the whole time. On the fifth try, he finally comes up with correct word (“sugar”) and laughingly says, “I’m so dumb, I’m so bad at video games.” That video now has 4.7 million views. 

Undoubtedly, anyone who has played Wordle has experienced a moment like that, where the word is so seemingly obvious, but you just can’t see it. Since that video was posted about two months ago, Haller has made videos everyday about Wordle or Wordle clones. He now has 80,000 followers. “The response has honestly been crazy,” Haller said. 

To be fair, Haller is pretty good. He usually gets the answer within two or three guesses. He starts with words that have commonly used letters; he tests out different words and letter combinations by filling in the blank spaces with “x” as a placeholder. But being a Wordle creator isn’t about being good. It’s about tapping into people’s obsession with the simple puzzle game. 

TikTok favors the passionate. And Wordle passion seems to transcend any kind of content strategy. Even people who aren’t content savvy professionals like Haller have gained viral attention from their Wordle TikToks. 

Stephen Stallings, a music supervisor from New York, discovered Wordle through his love of games. (He grew up watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune with his grandmother.) “I talk a lot in my videos about using ‘r, s, t, l, n, e’ as kind of a basis,” he says. “All just comes from a childhood full of Wheel of Fortune,” where that’s the classic first-letter selection.

Maybe try “h” instead of “l”?
Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @wordletips

Way back in January when Wordle was just gaining momentum, Stallings won an early game with two guesses by starting with the now established strategic word “adieu.” He decided to make a TikTok account so he could post a video about it and share Wordle tips. About a week after Stallings started @wordletips, he was interviewed for The New Yorker about his account. Now he has over 70,000 followers and 1.4 million likes. 

On TikTok, the hashtag #wordle has over 647 million views, populated by people sharing the screen (via split screen or green screen) with the iconic grid. There are videos of Wordle streaks ending in devastating fashion and fiery discourse about the best starting word, including one from @domskibop, who unapologetically says, “If you start with ‘adieu’ on Wordle everyday, you’re a coward.”

“I’m not a person who is good at social media. I come from the MySpace era where social media was not even a thing,” said Stallings, 32, who is married with a 4-year-old child and a dog. “So, it was never like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna use all my best TikTok strategies to try to blow this up,’ it was just like, ‘I’m gonna post dorky content on TikTok.”’ 

Intent on making the game as fair as possible for everyone, Haller and Stallings both take pains to avoid spoilers for themselves and others. Haller says he changes the date on his computer so that he can play a day in advance and then restricts that answer in his settings so people can’t spoil it in comments of the corresponding video. Wanting to prevent people from posting spoilers, Stallings declined to share any details about his method.

The word “adieu” is suddenly a lightning rod for controversy.
Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @wordletips

Stallings attributes the overwhelming interest in his account to like-minded people who are “process-oriented” and enjoy understanding how something is done. But there’s also something about TikTok that makes it the perfect medium. When Stallings created his TikTok account, he also made one for Instagram (also @wordletips), but it hasn’t received the same viral traction — it currently only has 352 followers. 

“I think Instagram is more about sharing an aesthetic,” he said, whereas TikTok is more “ideas-led” and “more of a public forum” where it’s about discovering new things and connecting with new people. 

Haller has a similar take. “I think my videos, and that of many Wordle creators, are very relatable to the average player,” he said. “You watch us go through the same struggles of not seeing an obvious word. Or the joy of getting it right on the last guess.”

Those are the vicarious moments that Wordle fans live (and play) for.

By now, you’re likely familiar with the horror stories featuring bad actors using Apple’s AirTags to track, monitor, and outright stalk individuals. But this issue isn’t unique to Apple’s tracking device. In fact, well before the company even released AirTags, if a person wanted to track a lost item, they’d likely go with Tile.

On Thursday, Tile announced the launch of its new anti-stalking feature that can be found within its mobile app. The feature, known as “Scan and Secure,” will allow anyone — even those who do not own a Tile tracking device — to scan for unknown and unwanted Tiles.

The free app is available on both iPhone and Android devices. Users will need the latest version of the app. Certain permissions, such as Bluetooth, Location Services, and Precise Location will need to be activated in order for the “Scan and Secure” feature to work.

According to TechCrunch, the feature doesn’t provide a way for a user to find the exact location of a Tile that’s within their immediate vicinity. Instead, a user will need to remove themselves from the area and travel some distance away from their original location in order for the feature to work. In addition, the feature will not work if you remain in your location or travel to a busy area like a crowded public space where other Tiles could interfere with the scan.

Tile says that for the most accurate results, a full scan can take up to 10 minutes. Tile recommends multiple scans as well to ensure the original scan doesn’t pick up the wrong device from a passerby.

The app will allow users to save their results when an unwanted device is found so they can provide the information to law enforcement if necessary. 

When comparing Tile’s new “Scan and Secure” with the AirTag security updates that Apple released in February, Tile’s feature comes up short. Apple, for example, provides iPhone users with a proactive warning message when the device detects that an unknown AirTag has been following a user. Tile, on the other hand, requires that users take action and manually conduct a scan.

As an originator in the tracking space, it’s a little surprising that its taken this long for Tile to roll out such a feature, too. Apple first launched its AirTags in April 2021. Tile’s history goes back to 2012, with its first tracking devices rolling out shortly after.

But the move is still very much welcome. Hopefully, with the two biggest players in the space taking these safety issues seriously, nefarious uses will become less and less common.

Heineken wants to have its metaverse beer and drink it, too.

The brewer is the latest company, and second beer manufacturer, to jump on the metaverse bandwagon with its Thursday release of Heineken Silver — a “virtual beer” that the company insists is, yes, as dumb as it sounds. For starters, Heineken is quick to let everyone know, you definitely can’t drink whatever this new thing is.

“Our virtual beer is made only from the freshest pixels: no malt, no hops, no yeast, no water, and also, no beer,” the company explains. “The result? An unusual & inaccessible premium lager with a tech and meta finish that no one can enjoy.”

In fact, you can’t do much of anything of substance at the company’s new digital brewery located in Decentraland, also unveiled Thursday, other than wander around and watch a boring executive talk. But you can, with the help of Heineken’s marketing department, snap and then share some screenshots with (wink wink, nudge nudge) the “cool and relevant hashtag: #awesomeheinekenmarketingstunt”

How do you do, fellow metaverse kids?
Credit: Screenshot: Deventraland

Lest metaverse diehards miss Heineken’s knowing self-effacement, Bram Westenbrink, the global head of Heineken brand, is here to redirect their attention.

“Our new virtual beer, Heineken Silver, is an ironic joke,” Westenbrink is quoted as saying in a Heineken press release. “It is a self-aware idea that pokes fun at us and many other brands that are jumping into the metaverse with products that are best enjoyed in the real world.”

The digital future’s so bright, Heineken’s metaverse DJs gotta wear beer-can shades.
Credit: Screenshot: Decentraland

Maybe unlike real beer, consumption of the virtual Heineken Silver leads to improved judgement — at least when it comes to how seriously we should take buzzword-heavy Next Big Things like the metaverse.

Tech conferences are back, baby. Sort of.

That’s according to Google, which on Wednesday announced that its annual developer conference, Google I/O, is scheduled to take place on May 11 and 12, 2022.

“We’ll be back live from Shoreline Amphitheater for this year’s #GoogleIO,” wrote Google CEO Sundar Pichau. “Join us online May 11-12”

Tweet may have been deleted

Notably, this year’s Google I/O website suggests but doesn’t clearly confirm that 2022’s conference may have some in-person element along with an online stream.

“Join I/O live from Shoreline and online May 11-12, 2022,” notes the site.

We reached out to Google to determine whether or not attendees will be showing up in the flesh at Shoreline this year, and a company spokesperson clarified that developers and press should not plan on physically attending the event. Actual, real in-person attendance will primarily be restricted to Google employees and partners.

Google I/O was straight up canceled in 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the world, “out of concern for the health and safety of our developers, employees, and local communities—and in line with ‘shelter in place’ requirements by the local Bay Area government.”

Tweet may have been deleted

This year, apparently, will be different. Probably. Assuming, of course, no surprises get in the way.

UPDATE: Mar. 16, 2022, 3:43 p.m. PDT This story was updated to include confirmation from Google that in-person attendance at I/O will be restricted to Google employees and a limited set of partners.

In any other context, astronomers would call this isolated, sunlike star “boring” — as nondescript as its serial number name.

But NASA scientists plucked HD84406 from its obscurity 260 light-years away, giving it an important place in history: The U.S. space agency used it to confirm the optics work on the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope, the preeminent conservatory in the sky.

With the announcement Wednesday was the release of a crystal clear photo of the star found in the constellation Ursa Major. It’s a little too faint to see with the naked eye on Earth, but through Webb, it’s a beacon of light, flaming red with large spikes.

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The telescope has come a long way since its first snapshot in February, showing 18 separate golden blurry blobs representing a star. NASA promised further calibration of the instrument would refine its capability to make the star look like a star.

The new photo was a delivery on that promise. One could easily read the subtext of a midweek news conference:

See? We told you so.

“All the sleepless nights I’ve had and kind of the worries I’ve had, they’re all behind us now, ” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s science mission directorate.

Tweet may have been deleted

The telescope captures infrared light, which is normally invisible to human eyes, said Marshall Perrin, Webb’s deputy telescope scientist. Engineers toned the black-and-white data in a red filter to better show off the visual contrast of the star. The sharp pointy structures radiating from the center are the result of Webb’s hexagonal mirror segments and the arms that hold the secondary mirror. They affect the way the light travels, causing diffraction.

“You see that most intensely when you have a very bright star,” Perrin told Mashable during the briefing.

The Webb team finished the so-called “fine-phasing” stage of telescope alignment on March 11. NASA officials said every optical measurement they have checked and tested thus far is performing well or better than expected. No critical issues have come up that could taint future photography.

Webb, a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, will observe some of the oldest, faintest light in the universe. The powerful telescope will study a period less than 300 million years after the Big Bang, when many of the first stars and galaxies were born. Scientists also will use it to peer into the atmospheres of planets outside our solar system, called exoplanets. Discoveries of water and methane, for example, could be signs of potential habitability or biological activity — main ingredients of life.

Astronomers anticipate the telescope will facilitate a golden age in our understanding of the cosmos, providing never-before-seen snapshots of space billions of light-years away for 10 to 20 years.

The James Webb Space Telescope can now take clear images of the night sky.
Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn

The photo released Wednesday was meant as a proof of concept. The ones coming this June, in full-resolution with scientific data, will be meant to dazzle. NASA hasn’t disclosed what celestial targets will be among the first photos.

But this first sharp look at deep space has already made scientists giddy with excitement. Webb’s optics and Near-Infrared Camera are so sensitive that galaxies and other stars appear in the background of the HD84406 shot.

“There’s no way that Webb can look for 2,000 seconds at any point in the sky and not go incredibly deep.”

“You can’t help but see those thousands of galaxies behind it. They’re really gorgeous,” said Jane Rigby, a project scientist. “There’s no way that Webb can look for 2,000 seconds at any point in the sky and not go incredibly deep.”

NASA has more work to do to get the observatory in shape for performing all of its scientific functions. Over the next six weeks, the team will align other instruments on the observatory.

But they’re priming space lovers for fireworks.

“This is going to be the future from now on,” Rigby said. “Wherever we look, it’s a deep field.”

Instagram launched its latest attempt to quell the concerns of parents and guardians Wednesday: its brand new Family Center — a one-stop shop with teen safety tools, parental monitoring, and educational resources for those worried about teen safety on the app.

The Family Center connects all of Instagram’s online safety resources in one spot. The site includes an education hub, which provides Instagram-specific safety explanations; conversation guides for guardians to discuss digital safety and wellness; and external resources from partner organizations like The Trevor Project and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Most interestingly, the Family Center allows parents to closely monitor accounts using a single dashboard. The dashboard provides access to insights and usage on profiles that have provided you access — you can visit Instagram’s explanation of supervised profiles to learn more about these settings. Guardians can see how long supervised accounts are active on the app, will be able to set time limits, can monitor who follows and frequently interacts with the account holder, and get alerts from users when (and why) they report another account or post that appears in their feeds.

The new tools were originally announced in December, and are hosted by Instagram’s parent company, Meta. For now, teens have to approve supervision within the settings on their own account. Instagram will introduce a way for parents to set up supervision outside an account’s settings in the future. Supervision is automatically removed from an account when the owner turns 18.

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In a blog post about the newly added features, head of Instagram Adam Mosseri wrote that the announcement was “the first step in a longer-term journey to develop intuitive supervision tools, informed by experts, teens and parents.” The initiative was co-created by a safety advisory board, which includes representatives from online safety organizations around the world, as well as a collaborative group made up of teens, parents, and other youth safety advisors.

Mosseri said in a video posted to his Twitter account that Instagram’s Family Center would continue to grow and change as it’s used, and that the company receives feedback from parents and teens. “We know parents are busy, and there’s a lot to do in day-to-day life, so we want to make sure these tools are as easy to use as possible,” Mosseri said.

The intent is to create collaborative, supportive relationships between parents and app users. “Encouraging informed parental engagement in their children’s digital presence is an important way to support young people’s wellness online,” wrote Dr. Michael Rich, director and founder at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Digital Wellness Lab, in a statement from Instagram. “Parents can support and monitor their children’s gradual increase in independence as they demonstrate responsible and safe use, with respect for others and for themselves.”

While that’s a noble goal, it’s also a limitation for the new features. They put a lot of power and responsibility in the hands of parents, who have to be prudent enough to have continuous, active conversations about digital safety with their kids. The tools are also inherently preventative instead of fixing the harm already caused by the app’s use. And what about teens and kids who don’t have any guardian supervision, but are still at high risk for abuse and psychological harm online?

Last year, Instagram and Facebook came under fire for a lack of action in protecting young users from abuse and inappropriate content, even after discovering that the app’s usage led to negative mental health outcomes for teens. Concerns grew alongside a similar reckoning with the ever-growing app TikTok, which continues to churn up concerns for user safety. In December 2021, Instagram representatives, including Mosseri, had to testify in Congress, speaking to the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security about teen safety and industry regulations.

There’s also a question of consent. Will these tools be as effective if teens don’t feel comfortable sharing their experiences on the app with their parents, or if parents take over as account monitors without the consent of their children? Where do you draw the line between fostering independence and trust, versus keeping teens away from danger on an app like Instagram?

Instagram hopes that the safety tools found in the Family Center, especially educational resources about creating healthy digital boundaries and habits, can start users on that path toward safer, healthier usage. The company’s future plans include allowing parents and guardians to apply the Family Center tools across all Meta accounts, the addition of even more safety monitoring tools, and a rollout of the same safety features to Quest VR in the coming months.

It’ll be quite the test of trust between the app and its parent company, worried guardians, and teen users themselves.

If you want to talk to someone or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, Crisis Text Line provides free, confidential support 24/7. Text CRISIS to 741741 to be connected to a crisis counselor. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Here is a list of international resources.

Get ready for some hard conversations.

On Wednesday, Netflix announced an upcoming test which is sure to cause drama amongst the account-sharing set. The streaming service said that, over the next several weeks, it will begin prompting some people who share accounts outside of their immediate household to pay extra to continue doing so.

“Members on our Standard and Premium plans will be able to add sub accounts for up to two people they don’t live with — each with their own profile, personalized recommendations, login and password — at a lower price,” read the announcement in part.

Notably, the sub-account test is for now limited to subscribers in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it will remain there. When pressed, Netflix would not provide specifics on any plans to expand the test beyond those three countries. Netflix would also not confirm how many users live in the countries subject to this test.

“[Accounts] are being shared between households,” noted Netflix’s Wednesday announcement, “impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members.”

According to the streaming giant, the additional sub accounts will be priced at 2,380 CLP in Chile, 2.99 USD in Costa Rica, and 7.9 PEN in Peru. Netflix also said it will test out a new profile transfer feature, which will allow users to move their entire profiles — think recommendations and viewing histories — to new paid Netflix accounts. (Picture breaking up with a romantic partner, and taking your piece of the Netflix account with you.)

The mostly unregulated practice of account sharing has, up until this point, practically defined Netflix and its streaming competitors. Any challenge to that is sure to put fear in the hearts of users — as it did March of 2021 when Netflix forced some users to verify they had ownership over an account.

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Importantly, Netflix’s Terms of Use clearly state that the “Netflix service and any content accessed through our service […] may not be shared with individuals beyond your household.” In other words, Wednesday’s announcement merely represents Netflix enforcing its existing terms.

That may come as a surprise to some users, though. That’s because what, exactly, constitutes a household in the eyes of streaming services is often rather nebulous. Netflix confirmed that it defines a household as people living together at the same property — no ex-roommates, far-off siblings, or best friends need apply.

Like we said, get ready for some hard conversations.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, but things are potentially looking up for Starlink.

Ookla, purveyor of the internet speed measurement tool Speedtest, released its latest satellite internet quarterly report on Wednesday, measuring the final three months of 2021. While median download speeds are still below fixed broadband, Starlink came closer than it ever has to replicating quality home internet with a median download speed of 104 megabits per second, or Mbps.

(Note: Ookla and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

The other two main satellite internet providers in the U.S., Viasat and HughesNet, came in at 21Mbps and 20Mbps, respectively. Starlink did see plenty of median speed variance in different locations around the U.S. Per Ookla’s report, south Florida got nearly 200Mbps while parts of Oregon got only about 65Mbps. The median speed for all fixed broadband providers was 131Mbps, so even the best satellite service has some catching up to do.

Still, for Starlink’s median speeds to exceed the FCC’s definition of broadband (25Mbps or higher) even at the low end is potentially encouraging for the future of satellite internet, whether it comes from Musk or not. Now it’s just a matter of stability as the service grows. Starlink’s median speeds actually decreased in the middle of last year as the service got more customers. There’s also the issue of price, with the fastest Starlink service tier costing $500 per month.

So…yeah. Perhaps Starlink works well, but that doesn’t mean it’s especially accessible just yet. But hey, if you’re in Miami and don’t trust your local broadband ISP, maybe hit up Starlink.