12 of the best Squarespace templates for artists, painters, and creative types

There is a point that comes in the career of almost every artist: you’ve made all these works and feel like you are not doing enough to show them off. A strong website is an essential part of marketing yourself as a creator and, with templates that allow you to drag together different website elements visually instead of through coding, Squarespace is often the platform that creative types opt for.

SEE ALSO: Best Squarespace templates for mobile websites

We’ve taken a look at the templates that fit the needs of a range of different artists — from the painter to the musician, from the artist looking to simply show off work to the studio that needs to sell prints or schedule art classes.

Is Squarespace good for artists?

Yes! The combination of beautiful templates and no-web-experience-needed entry point has for years made Squarespace a popular choice for artists who desperately need a website but do not know much about coding or design. A majority of the templates on the site are built primarily with images in mind and make it incredibly easy to show off your painting or drawings. But if you happen to be a sculptor, a musician, or another kind of artist not mentioned on this list, fear not as there is almost certainly already a template for you as well.

Which website features are most important for artists?

While that will depend on what type of work you do and how you want it to look, a few core functions are necessary for anyone looking to draw attention to a creative portfolio. Knowing how many images you’ll want to display, as well as how you want them displayed, will allow you to make a few basic decisions about overall layout. After that, the possibilities are endless so take time to think about what it is you’ll need. While some artists just want to display a portfolio, others will want their site to have a blog, a podcast, or an online store where they can sell their work.

Here are our top picks to get you started.

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Best Squarespace templates for mobile websites

If you ever had to pinch-and-zoom your way around a website, trying to press microscopic buttons just to get to the next page, then you probably know how important it is that your website can adapt to the small screen. Squarespace is a website design and hosting platform that ensures that every one of its 90+ templates will resize itself for a legible mobile experience, but some templates offer even more options with customizable features you can play with just for the mobile version of your website.

Among these templates, some of the mobile features are pretty basic and come down to adjusting font size. But others, such as any of the 40+ templates within the Brine template family, offer many ways to tweak the mobile version of your website and give your phone-holding viewers a strong first impression.

Do Squarespace websites work on mobile?

Every Squarespace template is built off the concept of responsive design, which changes the dimensions of your website as viewers adjust the size of their browser or switch devices to read your content from a tablet or phone. On mobile, all of your content will stack vertically, eliminating the need to pinch, zoom, or scroll horizontally. Aside from making your site easier to use, there are many benefits to having a mobile-optimized website, such as having a higher SEO indexing priority and the opportunity to take advantage of some mobile-only customizations.

How to make a Squarespace website look good on mobile

When you’re using your desktop to design your website, the first thing you should do is adjust the size of your browser so you can preview how design elements will shift in the mobile view. If you’re using spacer blocks on the desktop version of your website, bear in mind that these will disappear in the mobile version as the priority is to stack each element vertically. When deciding how to layout your website, you should think about the potential reader who has just arrived and where they are coming from. Did they click through from your Instagram profile or find one of your blog posts on Google? Because everything on mobile is stacked vertically, you should put your most important information at the top of the page every time.

SEE ALSO: Here are the best Squarespace templates

If your website features many photos, you should also consider uploading them at reduced file size, since large-format images can cause your mobile site to load more slowly. (Peep our picks for the templates that photographers will love here.) Squarespace recommends keeping your page under 5 MB to make sure it loads quickly and if you are using your website for blogging, you can also toggle on Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) to quicken the pace of how fast your posts load.

What is the best Squarespace template for mobile websites?

We selected some of our favorite Squarespace templates for mobile websites, not just from the all-star Brine family, but also other templates that may have features better-suited for your business.

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Need a laptop that won't break the bank? Here are the best options for under $300.

A new laptop is always a big investment, one that you'll likely need to make every few years to keep up with ever-changing technology. You might even put it off after an initial browse when you start to see how pricey a new laptop can get, as well as the sheer volume of how many options are out there.

But you don’t always need to break the bank to get a suitable laptop — there are plenty of affordable models out there for less than $300 (because buying a laptop shouldn’t need to cost more than your rent).You’ll still have a huge range of products to choose from if you’re only looking to spend a few hundred bucks. And if you just need another device to check email on, browse YouTube, or pull up recipes, — not all of us are gaming or editing the next Oscar-winning film, after all — maybe a budget laptop is all you need.

Cheaper laptops may not have all the features of top-of-the-line computers, but you can still get reliability and the basic features that you’ll be using every day.

SEE ALSO: So your kid needs a laptop — here are the best options

Each individual will find different specs to be their priority. Depending on what kinds of tasks you’re hoping to accomplish with your new laptop, maybe a larger screen display is what you’re looking for. Perhaps if you’re the kind of worker who enjoys taking your laptop to the corner cafe, or a student who needs something cheap that will get them through a day of classes, battery life is super important. Maybe you’re looking for a place to store all your photos and documents, in which case, more storage space is what you’ll have in mind. A commuter may value a lighter laptop over a heavier machine, for ease of transport. It’s all up to the individual, and just because you’re looking at a lower price point doesn’t mean you don’t have all of these options available.

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 sweet Netflix and chill sessions. If you're getting a gaming laptop, you should probably "go big or go home," as well.  

Most of the best laptops under $300 are on the smaller size when it comes to screens, with many clocking in around 11.6 inches — though there are starting to be more out there that measure in at 14 inches or even larger at 15.6 inches.

What am I losing by getting a cheap laptop?

Laptops in the $300-or-below price range are not going to be good for PC gaming. You won’t get a 4K resolution display or a refresh rate higher than 60Hz. RAM is going to max out around 8GB, which isn’t bad but also isn’t spectacular. You’re also unlikely to get more than 500GB of storage space.

In this price range, laptops are going to be best for web browsing, word processing, Zoom calls, and streaming. Bells and whistles-wise, don’t expect a ton of extras like touch screens or backlit keyboards to come standard on every model — though a few of them certainly offer one or the other. As long as you don’t expect more than something serviceable — which is all some of us need! — you’ll be fine.

But 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.

Rather than just making a few purchase suggestions and sending you on your way, we're going to equip you with some knowledge that'll help you be a more informed laptop shopper. You know all that computer jargon of processor-this and gigahertz-that — we'll explain it all in terms that anyone can understand.

Whether you’re looking for a machine for school, work, or fun, you can find a laptop that can handle the basics for less than $300. It may sound impossible in today’s world, and that’s why we’ve listed our favorites for you below. Here are our favorite models at that price point.

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Yes, you can find a real relationship without paying for dating apps

Finding your soulmate is priceless. Sure. But do you have to use a paid site to find a real relationship? Does a monthly fee really weed out people who aren't taking the process seriously?

This wasn't really an issue before 2012, but the Tinder-led surge of 30-second profiles and instant access to all single folks within 10 miles gave sites with tedious personality analyses and upscale subscriptions a run for their money — literally.

Vox said what we're all really thinking: "At what point in the completely nightmarish process of online dating does one decide that it’s worth spending money on making that experience slightly less terrible?"

Is it worth paying for a dating site?

According to Reddit and Consumer Reports, not really. This Consumer Reports survey found that free sites actually scored better than paid sites on this when it came to overall satisfaction because they're a "better value." Unless you're absolutely lost without those heavy-duty matchmaking algorithms, many free sites still offer the questionnaires, detailed bios, and compatibility ratings that indicate red flags and users you wouldn't get along with.

There's no one dating site that everyone is particularly psyched about. Swiping exhaustion and creepily persistent users are an omnipresent part of all online dating. Sorry, but a paid subscription isn't a metal detector that pulls all of the upstanding, faithful singles up out of the crowd. When there are sites that can offer millions of users for free and success stories to prove they work, why not try them before spending $40 per month elsewhere?

A hefty price point doesn't guarantee the absence of fakes or catfishes, either. (In 2019, some guy on match posed as a millionaire and stole $80,000 from the woman he was talking to.) Many free sites are just as big on privacy and safety, requiring users to verify themselves through Facebook to increase transparency about age and first names. No paid sites have the safety features that Tinder does, which is the first of the Match Group apps to offer 911 assistance and location services to make meeting a stranger safer.

The aesthetic experience certainly isn't what your money is going toward, either. Many of the older, subscription-based sites have been slow to modernize their UX designs, still relying on the very 2000s style of bombarding you with notifications for every wink, message, and whatever else.

Can you actually fall in love with someone online?

We've all accepted that online dating is great for finding a friend with benefits, but telling family members that it's getting serious with that person you met online still takes convincing. However, recent studies show that meeting online can foster a pretty reliable romantic foundation.

A 2017 study cited in the MIT Technology Review found that people who meet online are more likely to be compatible and have a better chance at a healthy marriage if they decide to get hitched. Another study found that heterosexual couples who met online were quicker to tie the knot. These stats don't take anything from correlation to causation, but they do make the case that people who sign up for dating sites that require thoughtful responses are in a better spot to settle down.

There's an unspoken assumption that people on free dating sites are young, horny people with no disposable income and that people on paid dating site are mature, employed individuals who are ready to settle down. But eharmony, Match, Tinder, and OkCupid have rather similar age demographics, all with surprisingly close splits between people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

Which dating sites are actually free?

Waters get muddied when basically every damn dating site has some sort of paid and free version. True free apps let users do all of this as a baseline, and then offer paid perks such as the ability to see everyone who has swiped right on you or boosting your profile for a certain amount of time. Free-but-not-really apps are the ones that are technically free to use, but you have to pay to do just about anything including read or respond to messages.

Premium memberships of freemium apps are an affordable way to give more control over your pool of potential boos, but they probably don't do much to expedite the grueling swiping process. When Tinder released Tinder Gold, it beat out Candy Crush as the Apple Store's top-grossing app. People were that willing to pay to see who swiped right on them. That might be handy knowledge if you're looking to get laid, but it's hard to tell if it would help find someone that you like enough to share your life with. No one I know has kept a paid version of a free app for more than a month.

At any rate, there's a certain serendipitous feeling that comes with the possibility that, out of the millions of users Hinge could have shown you that day, your soulmate popped up in the crowd of 10 likes you can give out per day (compared to the unlimited likes that come with Hinge Preferred).

These are the best free dating sites for finding a serious relationship:

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Tackle your horror movie list with Sony's bang-for-your-buck OLED TV on sale

Save $500: As of Sept. 30, the 65-inch model of Sony’s A80J 4K OLED TV is 22% off at Amazon, dropping it to a record-low price of $1,798.

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There are two groups of shoppers with their eye on an OLED TV: OLED veterans and those shopping for baby’s first OLED. Sony’s not-top-tier-but-still-great OLED model, the A80J, is a top contender for the latter group. The 65-inch model is seeing a huge discount of $500, which brings it down to $1,798 — its lowest price ever at Amazon by far.

Credit: Sony

Aside from the saved money, there’s still a lot to be squeezed out of Sony’s next best OLED. First and foremost, the A80J harnesses the same processing power of the pricier A90J flagship. Through the new Cognitive Processor XR, these Sony TVs survey the frame in real time to optimize details and specific objects that (they think) would draw our attention. These customized adjustments on make-or-break visuals like tone or background light depending on the angle from which a scene is filmed.

Credit: Sony

Sony 65-inch A80J 4K OLED TV

Buying Options

$1,798 at Amazon

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Nikola signs deal to build hydrogen fueling stations across North America

EV automaker Nikola has signed a memorandum of understanding with Opal Fuels to build and operate hydrogen fueling stations across North America. Under the preliminary agreement, the two companies will work to co-develop the technology necessary to accelerate the adoption of fuel-cell electric vehicles. They also plan to explore the use of renewable natural gas.

Initially, they say they plan to focus on infrastructure for private shipping companies before looking at whether it makes sense to make something similar available to the public. To date, Opal has built more than 350 renewable natural gas stations.

“Today marks another important step forward in Nikola’s stated energy infrastructure plans and its focus on providing hydrogen fueling services to customers,” said Pablo Koziner, the president of Nikola’s energy and commercial operations.

The announcement comes just months after federal prosecutors indicted Nikola founder and former executive chairman Trevor Milton of fraud. Among other allegations, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused Milton of falsely claiming the company was producing hydrogen at four times less than the market rate.

via engadget.com

Corsair's first gaming monitor is the 32-inch, 1440p Xeneon

Corsair is getting into the monitor business with its first gaming display. The Xeneon 32QHD165 has a 1440p, 32-inch display that has a refresh rate of up to 165Hz. There's support for AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync technology, and the company claims the monitor has a 1ms response time.

The IPS LED screen uses quantum dot tech and has 400 nits of brightness, with 100 percent sRGB, 100 percent Adobe RGB and 98 percent DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. The Xeneon has thin bezels and 178-degree viewing angles, both horizontally and vertically.

Corsair says the monitor is integrated with its iCue and Elgato Stream Deck software to make it easy to change settings on the fly, depending on what you're using the Xeneon for. As for connectivity, expect dual HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 slot, a pair of USB-C outlets, two USB 3.1 ports and, best of all, a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Xeneon 32QHD165 is available now in North America, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, France and several other European countries. It doesn't come cheap, however. The monitor costs $800.

via engadget.com

Save up to $30 on dog DNA tests for Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

Amazon has several dog DNA tests on sale as of Sept. 30:

• Embark Breed ID Kit — $99 (save $30)

• Embark Breed + Health Kit — $169 (save $30)

• Wisdom Panel Essential — $89 (save $10.99)

• Wisdom Panel Premium — $129.99 (save $30)

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There comes a time in every rescue or mixed-breed dog owner's life when you begin to wonder: What's this mutt? (See also: Are they actually part dachshund, or have all my wiener jokes been way off-base?)

You can find out exactly what makes your pup unique by picking up a dog DNA test, which screens for different breeds and genetic markers using a simple cheek swab (obtained by you at home, then mailed in). Many will also pick up on potential health risks, which can be a total game-changer down the road as far as vet bills go.

Amazon is kicking off Adopt a Shelter Dog Month by offering up to $30 off popular kits from Embark and Wisdom Panel, two of our absolute favorite companies in the pet DNA test game. (Not sure which one's best for you and Fido? Click here.) Here's the lowdown:

Embark

Developed by scientists at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Embark's research-grade DNA genotyping platform tests for more than 350 different dog breeds, types, and varieties, with results down to 5% of your dog's total makeup.

The entry-level Embark Breed ID Kit comes with a detailed family tree, along with access to an online canine relative finder that lets you connect with other dogs that share some DNA with your pooch. It usually sells for $129, but at the time of writing, you could score it on sale on Amazon for just $99 — a 23% savings. That's only $3 away from its all-time-low price there, FYI.

Credit: Embark

Embark Breed ID Kit

Buying Options

$99 on Amazon

For about $70 more, you can upgrade to the Embark Breed + Health Kit that further includes screening for over 200 genetic diseases (like MDR1 drug sensitivity) and more than 20 physical traits (like coat patterning). Amazon will give it to you for just $169, which is 15% off its suggested retail price of $199.

Credit: Embark

Embark Breed + Health Kit

Buying Options

$169 on Amazon

Wisdom Panel

Wisdom Panel lays claim to the world’s largest dog DNA database and recently revamped its breed detection system with the help of experts in population genetics from 23andMe and AncestryDNA. Its tests now screen for over 350 breeds and varieties, too, with a precise mix reported down to an impressive 1%.

Its base (but not basic) Essential kit includes testing for over 25 potential medical issues and more than 35 traits, along with a multi-generational family tree. Amazon's currently pricing it at $89, which is just over 10% off its $99 MSRP.

Credit: Wisdom Panel

Wisdom Panel Essential

Buying Options

$89 on Amazon

Want even more health insights? Opt for Wisdom Panel's Premium kit instead to unlock more than 180 additional tests, a genetic diversity score, and a carrier status report (with the option to discuss all results with a licensed vet for free). Typically $159.99, you can get it on sale at Amazon for only $129.99 — a 19% savings.

Credit: Wisdom Panel

Wisdom Panel Premium

Buying Options

$129.99 on Amazon

Explore related content:

• Best pet deals: DNA kits, dog food, and more

• 10 chew toys, as reviewed by my dog

• What every dog owner should know about biodegradable poop bags

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Jake Gyllenhaal was directed from a van for his latest film — and he has thoughts

While filming The Guilty, Jake Gyllenhaal had to be directed by Antoine Fuqua from a van due to COVID-19 precautions — but it ultimately helped the film.

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'Monster Hunter Rise' heads to PC on January 12th

After debuting on Nintendo Switch toward the start of the year, Monster Hunter Rise is finally making its way to PC. The latest entry in Capcom’s much-loved action RPG series will make the jump to Steam on January 12th, 2022, the publisher announced on Thursday.

It looks like PC fans can look forward to a thoughtful port. Not only will the Windows release include all previously available content for the title, but Capcom has also promised it will allow you to play the game at 4K with an unlocked framerate and on widescreen monitors. Additionally, the PC version will feature optimized keyboard and mouse controls and much sharper textures than you’ll find on the Switch release. Lastly, Monster Hunter Rise’s upcoming Sunbreak expansion will arrive on both Switch and PC sometime in the summer of 2022.

Ahead of the game’s January 12th release date, Capcom will release a Steam demo of Monster Hunter Rise on October 13th. It will include all 14 weapons types found in the final game, allowing players to get a good sense of what Rise is all about.

via engadget.com

Keep tabs on your pet with the Whistle Go Explore — save $25 for a limited time

SAVE $25.99: As of Sept. 30, the Whistle Go Explore pet tracker is $25.99 off (a savings of 20%) at Amazon for a limited time. Pick one up for $103.96.

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Being a pet parent is as rewarding as it is anxiety-inducing. If you're like us, you view your pet as your literal child, and you would do anything to ensure their safety. Being the perfect caretaker is a bit of a high bar to reach for, though. Luckily, there are a few accessories out there that may be able to get you just an inch closer to that "pet parent of the year" title. 

SEE ALSO: 10 chew toys, as reviewed by my dog

One of those accessories is a pet tracker, and one of our favorites, the Whistle Go Explore, is $25.99 off at Amazon for a limited time. (Looking for something a little more budget-friendly? Check out the Tractive GPS.)

An endlessly helpful (and cute!) collar accessory. Credit: Whistle

The Whistle Go Explore is a must-have collar accessory for pet parents who prefer to stay in the loop. Think Fitbit, but for pets (sidenote: Whistle's product photos mainly feature dogs, but the Go Explore is totally suitable for cats, too). The device's main function is GPS tracking, but also offers in-depth health monitoring for things like overall activity, sleep quality, habitual behaviors, and more. A subscription to Whistle's service even allows you to send all of that information to an on-demand vet whenever you need. The tracker also boasts a 20-day battery life, as well as a built-in light for late-night walks. 

If you want to be the best pet parent you can be, the Whistle Go Explore isn't a bad place to start — grab one at Amazon and save $25.99.

Credit: Whistle

Whistle Go Explore

Buying Options

$103.96 at Amazon

Explore related content:

• The best GPS dog trackers that help you keep tabs on your pet around the clock

• 6 of the best pet cameras for keeping tabs on your cat or dog

• Don't do all the cleaning yourself. Here are the best robot vacuums for pet hair.

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Blue Origin is a ‘toxic environment,' current and ex-employees say

A group of former and current Blue Origin employees have accused the company of fostering a "toxic environment." In an essay written by former head of employee communications Alexandra Abrams and 20 co-authors, the group claims some senior leaders at Blue Origin "have been known to be consistently inappropriate with women."

The essay states that one executive has been reported to human resources multiple times for sexual harassment. Another former exec used condescending language to women and inappropriately enquired about their personal lives. The group says that person had a "close personal relationship" with Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and was only removed from the company after groping a female subordinate.

"We found many company leaders to be unapproachable and showing clear bias against women," the group wrote. "Concerns related to flying New Shepard were consistently shut down, and women were demeaned for raising them." The essay details several instances of how men and women are treated differently at New Origin, such as one man receiving a going-away party after being fired and a female leader who was let go being ordered to leave the premises right away.

"The workforce dedicated to establishing this future 'for all' is mostly male and overwhelmingly white," the group said. "One-hundred percent of the senior technical and program leaders are men."

Joe Raedle via Getty Images

The group details other concerns, such as Blue Origin ignoring safety and environmental issues. The authors say, for instance, that despite the company's mission to "build a better world," none of them "has seen Blue Origin establish any concrete plans to become carbon neutral or significantly reduce its large environmental footprint."

They say that "professional dissent" is stifled, with CEO Bob Smith asking one of the group not to make it easy for workers to ask questions during company-wide town halls. The essay's authors state that Smith asked for a list of "troublemakers or agitators" within the company so that senior leaders could "have a talk" with those in their divisions.

On top of that, the essay makes reference to history's worst space race between Bezos, Elon Musk and Richard Branson. "Competing with other billionaires — and 'making progress for Jeff' — seemed to take precedence over safety concerns that would have slowed down the schedule," the authors claimed.

The group concluded the essay by saying that Bezos and other Blue Origin leaders should be held to account and learn how to run a company that's respectful and responsible. "In our experience, Blue Origin’s culture sits on a foundation that ignores the plight of our planet, turns a blind eye to sexism, is not sufficiently attuned to safety concerns, and silences those who seek to correct wrongs," they wrote. "That’s not the world we should be creating here on Earth and certainly not as our springboard to a better one."

A Blue Origin spokesperson sent the following statement to Engadget:

Ms. Abrams was dismissed for cause two years ago after repeated warnings for issues involving federal export control regulations. Blue Origin has no tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind. We provide numerous avenues for employees, including a 24/7 anonymous hotline, and will promptly investigate any new claims of misconduct.

via engadget.com

Get Sennheiser’s PXC 550-II wireless noise-canceling headphones cheaper than AirPods Pro

Save $190: As of Sept. 30, the impressive Sennheiser PXC 550-II wireless headphones are on sale for $159.95, down from $349.95. That's a 54% savings.

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Good pairs of wireless noise-canceling headphones typically cost $300 or more, and the Sennheiser PXC 550-II headphones are no exception. But, every once and a while, there comes a deal that drops the price down so much, you almost have to impulse buy.

As of Sept. 30, the Sennheiser PXC 550-II wireless ANC headphones are on sale for $159.95, down from their original price of $349.95. We did the math for you: That’s $190 or 54% off. For reference, AirPods Pro are $197 at the time of publishing, meaning this pair of over-ear headphones with better noise cancellation is actually cheaper.

Credit: Sennheiser

The noise cancellation on these headphones adapts to your surroundings to block out annoying background noise wherever you are. To turn on the ANC, just move the switch on the right ear cup and choose between two levels of noise cancellation. The music controls also live on the right ear cup, and you're able to play/pause, skip forward and backward, fast forward and rewind within songs, adjust volume, and take calls.

To get the best deal on the Sennheiser PXC 550-II headphones, head directly to Sennheiser's website and score them for $190 off. Amazon has them for only $180 off.

Credit: Sennheiser

Sennheiser PXC 550-II wireless noise-canceling headphones

Buying Options

$159.95 at Sennheiser

Explore related content:

• Best noise-canceling headphones for blocking out the outside world

• Which wireless earbuds have the best sound? These are our top picks.

• Look to sound quality and battery life when shopping for new headphones

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This fat bear's before and after photos are stunning

Welcome to Fat Bear Week 2021! Katmai National Park and Preserve’s brown bears spent the summer gorging on 4,500-calorie salmon, and they've transformed into rotund giants, some over 1,000 pounds. The Alaskan park is holding its annual playoff-like competition for the fattest of the fat bears (you can vote online between Sept. 29 through Oct. 5). Mashable will be following all the ursine activity.

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Otis is an aging bear, but a profoundly wise one.

The Katmai bear, numbered 480, is around a quarter-century old with missing teeth. He arrived at the salmon-rich Brooks River, home to the livestreamed explore.org webcams, a month or so late this year. He looked gaunt.

But Otis, famously successful at catching fish with a tried-and-true, unflashy fishing strategy, rapidly persevered. Over the course of around seven weeks, he transformed from a bear with a visible ribcage to one of the fattest of the fat bears.

"He's certainly made up for lost time," Mike Fitz, a former Katmai park ranger and currently a resident naturalist for explore.org, told Mashable. "He's gained an incredible amount of body mass in about seven weeks."

All the fat bears have impressive summer transformations. But the images below show his particularly stunning 2021 change.

Otis' impressive summer transformation. Credit: n. Boak / C. Spencer / Nps / explore.org

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Otis clearly knows how to survive the long, harsh Alaskan winter hibernation, where bears subsist off their fat stores. An old brown bear is 20, and Otis has already far eclipsed that. He has a stationary approach to fishing, where he sits for hours in the same spot beneath the waterfall, as opposed to dashing in the water or standing atop the waterfall for leaping salmon like many other bears. Some might interpret this as Otis acting lethargic or disengaged.

But no. It's wise. He wastes little energy while catching bounties of calorie-rich fish over the long run.

"I like to describe Otis as a master of energy economics."

"Otis is extremely patient when fishing," Fitz previously told Mashable in 2019. "I like to describe Otis as a master of energy economics. He uses his patience and experience to make a huge profit in calories while expending little energy."

Otis' profit is often huge. He's a three-time Fat Bear Week champion, though other formidable bears have bested him over the past few years.

SEE ALSO: The female fat bear that's as dominant as the big, bad male bears

Otis' first Fat Bear Week match-up is happening Thursday, Sept. 30. You can vote on fatbearweek.org, or this Woobox link if the primary site — due to voting popularity impacting the page — is down.

Your vote matters.

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Congress slams Facebook over Instagram's effects on kids' mental health at hearing

"InstaGREED."

That's what U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) claimed the IG in Instagram really stood for at a Congressional hearing on Facebook's effects on children's mental health.

The Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection grilled Facebook's global head of safety, Antigone Davis, on Thursday over the company's own research. The documents were leaked to the Wall Street Journal, which found that "Instagram is harmful for a sizable percentage of [teens], most notably teenage girls."

Senator Markey wasn't finished with Instagram with his play on words either. "Instagram is that first childhood cigarette meant to get teens hooked early," Markey said.

The Senator from Massachusetts pressed Facebook's Davis on whether the company would promise not to include features such as "like" numbers and follower counts on any service marketed towards children. Social media markers of popularity have created problems among kids, such as issues with depression and anxiety.

However, the Facebook representative would not commit, saying the company would continue to research the issue.

In response, Senator Markey recommended that Facebook fire all its researchers paid to look into the issue if the company felt like more research was necessary. "This is pretty obvious to every mother and father in our country," Senator Markey said.

Markey followed up by asking Davis about banning influencer marketing to kids, another policy suggestion that Facebook did not commit to at the hearing.

The Senator criticized Facebook's global head of safety for not having answers to what he deemed to be very obvious lines of questioning.

But Davis' lack of an answer opened up an opportunity for Senator Markey to bring up the KIDS Act, a piece of legislation that he's reintroducing that takes aim at children's online content.

The KIDS Act enacts protections for online users under the age of 16 at the federal level. It would ban companies from using certain features, such as auto-play or push alerts, on platforms targeting children. It would also prohibit certain types of content, including influencer marketing media where hosts try to promote and sell products to children.

"If Facebook has taught us anything, it's that self-regulation is not an option," Senator Markey said.

Subcommittee chairman Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined Markey early in the hearing with harsh criticism for the social media company as well.

According to Blumenthal, his Congressional staff set up its own experiment and created an Instagram account identifying as a 13-year-old girl. He explained to Davis that the account was inundated with recommendations for "extreme dieting" and eating disorder content within a day.

Prior to the hearing, Facebook released some data from its research in order to defend itself. Facebook has insisted that the data has been misconstrued by the media and that its own research actually shows Instagram helped teens with issues such as loneliness, anxiety, sadness, and eating disorders.

However, the fallout from this research has led Facebook to halt plans to release an Instagram Kids for children under 13.

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Get your kitchen ready for autumn at Ninja's Fall Sale

Need a kitchen upgrade? Peep our favorite deals from Ninja's Fall Sale as of Sept. 30:

• OUR TOP PICK: Ninja Foodi 8-qt. 12-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer — Save $37.49 with code FALL15

• BEST FOR COFFEE LOVERS: Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System — Save $26.99 with code FALL15

• BEST FOR SOUP SEASON: Ninja Foodi Cold and Hot Blender — Save $23.99 with code FALL15

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Summer cooking is pretty hands-off. Between BBQs, cold salads, and iced drinks, you don't need much to create tasty meals when it's warm out. But with fall quickly approaching, heartier, cozier foods like roasts and soups will soon become the norm.

If your kitchen isn't quite set up for the more intensive cooking that fall brings, don't worry. As of Sept. 30, you can get your kitchen ready for cozy autumn meals with Ninja's Fall Sale. With up to 15% off basically everything, you'll be able to score deals on everything from coffee makers and air fryers to pressure cookers and blenders. Check out the full sale at Ninja, and read on for our favorite deals.

OUR TOP PICK: Ninja Foodi eight quart 12-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer — Save $37.49 with code FALL15

The holiday season is quickly approaching and there's no better way to get meals on the table fast than with a top-notch pressure cooker. This Ninja Foodi is a 12-in-1, and features functions for pressure cooking, air frying, steaming, slow cooking, yogurt making, searing, baking, broiling, dehydrating, sous vide, reheating, and warming. The eight-quart capacity is ideal for cooking for a group, and accessories like the deluxe reversible rack allow you to layer food and cook more at a time — like up to eight chicken breasts at once.

Code FALL15 will score you 15% off the retail price of the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL, and you'll also get a skewer stand for free — a $19.95 value.

Credit: Ninja

Ninja Foodi 8-qt. 12-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer

Buying Options

$212.50 at Ninja

BEST FOR COFFEE LOVERS: Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System — Save $26.99 with code FALL15

Never choose between hot and cold drinks again with this 2-in-1 Ninja brewer. Instead of waiting hours for cold brewed tea and coffee, this machine makes it in just 10-15 minutes by brewing over ice at a low temperatures. It features a warming plate, a huge 50-ounce carafe, and a fold-away milk frother that allows you to make cafe quality drinks with hot or cold milk. It's also ideal for customizing your drink experience, with six different sizes, five different brew strengths, and an option to select your tea type, so it's brewed at the correct temperature to preserve the taste.

Credit: Ninja

Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System

Buying Options

$153 at Ninja

BEST FOR SOUP SEASON: Ninja Foodi Cold and Hot Blender — Save $23.99 with code FALL15

Why typecast your blender as a smoothie making machine when you could be cooking in it? This hot and cold blender is ideal for the start of soup season, and allows you to heat the contents in minutes — ideal for hearty soups, melty chocolate, or rich fondue. It also has a 1400-peak-watt motor base, so blending frozen cocktails and smoothies is as easy as pressing a few buttons.

Credit: Ninja

Ninja Foodi Cold and Hot Blender

Buying Options

$136 at Ninja

Explore related content:

• Instant Pot vs. Ninja Foodi: We compare the top kitchen gadgets

• The best blenders for smoothies, soups, and everything in between

• The best high- and low-tech coffee makers to help you get your caffeine fix
  

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This could be ASUS’ long-rumored RTX 3070 with Noctua fans

For months there have been rumors that ASUS has been working on the stuff of nerd dreams: an RTX 3070 GPU with built-in Noctua fans. This week, an ASUS employee in Vietnam prematurely posted images and information about the collaboration on Facebook. Wccftech first spotted the listing, and managed to download images of the GPU before ASUS took them down, giving us a good look at the chunky 3D card.

Wccftech

If you're not familiar with Noctua, the company consistently makes some of the most efficient and quiet fans you can buy for a PC build. It's also known for its signature brown and beige color scheme, which, as you can see, is on full display here. Oh, and the card looks like Noctua's owl mascot. Good stuff.

The same employee who posted images of the GPU also said it would cost about 26 million đồng (approximately $1,100). In other words, it will very likely have a higher MSRP than the RTX 3070 Founders Edition, which ostensibly sells for $499 — but good luck getting at that price with the current global chip shortages. And that's the GPU market in a nutshell at the moment. OEMs like ASUS know they can charge extra for RTX 30 series cards because the demand for NVIDIA's latest GPUs is so high.

via engadget.com

Razer's new entry-level gear was made for streaming newbies

Razer is looking to lower the barrier to entry for live streaming with a budget webcam and capture card. Streaming newbies can add a video feed of themselves to their broadcast with the Kiyo X USB webcam.

As with a lot of current games, you can choose between optimizing your webcam feed for fidelity or framerate with 1080p 30 fps and 720p 60 fps options. The auto focus feature should keep the image sharp and you can adjust settings on the fly. With the Razer Virtual Ring Light app, you'll be able to use the glare from your monitor as a lighting source.

Razer

Also new is the Ripsaw X capture card. It can capture footage at up to 30 frames per second in 4K. Razer says the device delivers "near-zero latency" through its HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0 connectivity. You can hook it up to a camera with HDMI output to use it as a high-end webcam, or capture gameplay from a console.

These are more budget-friendly versions of other Razer devices, such as the Kiyo webcam, which has a built-in light ring, and the 60 fps-capable Ripsaw HD capture card. Kiyo X costs $80, while Ripsaw X will run you $140. Both are available now from Razer's website and they'll ship on the next business day.

via engadget.com

The 2021 Game Awards ceremony takes place on December 9th

This year's edition of The Game Awards will take place on December 9th. As always, you'll be able to stream it live in up to 4K on dozens of platforms. After last year's online-only event, Geoff Keighley's show will once again have an in-person audience. The ceremony is returning to its old haunt of the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

As always, The Game Awards will feature world premieres and new title announcements, as well as some musical performances. In addition to looking toward the future, the ceremony will reward the talent behind the best games of 2021 with awards across a bunch of categories. The Game Awards will also offer fans free playable game content and a way to interact with the show on some streaming services.

“We are very excited to return to the Microsoft Theater for a special night to celebrate the past, present and future of video games,” said Keighley, who is creator, host and executive producer of The Game Awards. “Our goal is to bring the entire community together to celebrate the most powerful form of entertainment in the world, and recognize emerging voices that represent the future of the medium.”

via engadget.com

The tech you need for truly hands-free cleaning

There are enough high-tech robotic cleaners on the market right now that no busy human needs to be vacuuming or mopping in 2021 — especially if your domicile doubles as your office.

While they all promise to zoom around and clean your floors without any snags, how many really deliver on their glossy selling points in real life? Some lesser models clumsily bump around your furniture, spin around dust, or get completely thrown off by a dog toy in their path.

Looking at what was out there, ECOVACS set out to advance home automation by making robotic cleaners work for every family. These robotic cleaners actually work like the laser-wielding, sci-fi robots we’ve been waiting for since grade school to do our chores and make our lives easier.

The vision: to design intelligent machines that can handle life’s dirty work, so you don’t have to. Compared to less tech-savvy housekeeping bots, these rolling clean freaks work quietly and efficiently, and they can easily navigate an obstacle course of slippers, chairs, and cords, where other robotic cleaners get tripped up.

For truly hands-free chores, these next-gen robotic cleaners are also fun to watch when your brain needs some time off. Here are some ways ECOVACS has made robotic cleaners smarter.

Most robotic vacuums get stuck, tangled, and run into things on the floor

The latest generation DEEBOTS have advanced TrueDetect and AIVI technology for optimized mapping and obstacle avoidance. This robotic cleaner can “see” the way your phone does. For facial recognition, your smartphones use 3D-structured light technology. Like your phone, the robotic cleaner uses this same tech to scan for objects, getting a fast and accurate 3D image of the space — down to the millimeter. The ability to detect and get around hurdles — like that pile of cords on the floor — is 10 times more exacting than infrared technology.

Taking this one step further, the DEEBOT T8 AIVI has a built-in camera and AIVI (artificial intelligence and visual interpretation) capabilities, which enable it to store and recall memories of objects and analyze how to best clean around them.

Random navigation means Inefficient cleaning and missed spots

Advanced mapping makes cleaning more efficient, fast, and customizable. ECOVACS has pioneered the most advanced navigation technology, LIDAR, found in its TrueMapping technology. TrueMapping has evolved from “laser navigation” to “aerospace-level laser navigation,” using direct time-of-flight (dToF) laser sensors.

They’ve integrated the same cutting-edge technology that powers self-driving cars and drones into their robotic cleaners. These mighty, floor-cleaning machines use continuous, 360-degree laser scanning to sense depth and create a precise map of the floor in seconds. As a result, the bot doesn’t miss spots or need to go over the same area again (and again, and again).

Compared to other laser technologies, dToF performs with twice the range and quadruple the accuracy. It can detect objects as small as 2mm (that’s pretty much the height of two stacked pennies) and performs well in brightly lit or dark rooms. These super-advanced bells and whistles enable custom cleaning, such as creating keep-out zones or adjusting settings to clean differently on various surfaces.

It only vacuums and doesn’t mop — or, if it does have dual functionality, it spills water on rugs and carpets

OZMO combines vacuuming and mopping — with all-important carpet detection — for simultaneous cleaning in one sweep. Multifunctional appliances save time and get more done with a single machine — without taking up precious closet space. In 2017, ECOVACS was the first to market a robo-vac and robo-mop in one product for the ultimate robotic cleaner. Their patented OZMO technology is now a standard feature, which removes up to 99.26% of bacteria from floors, according to a Japanese research lab. These nimble machines can auto-detect carpet, so you don’t end up with a sopping mess — including along your carpet’s edges.

High-powered vacuums are noisy

ECOVACS found the perfect balance of high-power suction and low-level noise — even at up to 2,600 Pa, you don’t need noise-cancelling headphones to think while your robotic cleaner is working. When it comes to how much a robotic cleaner can suck up, Pa stands for Pascal, or the unit for measuring atmospheric pressure. To give you a sense, 2,000 is high; 2,600 is superpowered. They’ve taken the volume down a notch but kept the cleaning power amped way up.

You have to pick up the robot in the middle of cleaning to empty the dustbin

Another area in which ECOVACS have led the way is auto-empty stations: DEEBOTs were the first laser-equipped robots at retail to come with this handy feature. Models with a + sign next to their name can conveniently self-empty their dustbin into the station for months of maintenance-free cleaning. They also have hypoallergenic dust bags to prevent allergies.

To learn more about the features and benefits of ECOVACS DEEBOT models, visit MeetDEEBOT.com.

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Cooking for a group? This XL air fryer is on sale for less than $60.

Save $50.50: Grab the Ultrean XL Air Fryer for just $59.49, down from $109.99, at Amazon as of Sept. 30. That's a 46% savings.

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A budget air fryer can seem like a great purchase — until you realize that the two-quart basket won't really cut it for feeding a group of more than two. And how exactly are you supposed to roast a chicken in there?

Usually, a larger air fryer can cost you at least $100, but as of Sept. 30, the Ultrean XL Air Fryer is on sale for just $59.49 at Amazon. The XL refers to its spacious six-quart basket (which you can also throw a grill plate in) that comfortably makes enough for three to five people, so no more working your way through a bag of frozen chicken tenders in multiple batches (honestly, what a time to be alive).

While this air fryer is also great for baking and roasting, it does boast an 8-in-1 functionality that, in this writer's opinion, is a little bit misleading. The eight actually describes the eight preset buttons you can use to make a whole chicken, fish, chicken legs, shrimp, steak, fries, toast, and cake. It's not a useless feature, and there are different types of cooking required among those foods, but not so vastly different that you might independently deem this fryer an 8-in-1. Basically, if you're looking for that air fryer that'll also serve as your pressure cooker, dehydrator, oven, emotional support appliance, etc, you might want to look elsewhere.

However, if you're in the market for an air fryer that makes large batch cooking easy, the Ultrean XL might just be the one for you. As some nice bonuses, its exterior looks high-end and its basket is dishwasher safe, so you'll save even more time after your one-batch air fry is done and it's time to clean up. That convenience, paired with this price, makes the deal on this air fryer one that's hard to beat.

Credit: Ultrean

Ultrean XL 8-in-1 Air Fryer

Buying Options

Save $50.50 at Amazon

Explore related content:

• The best air fryers for making crispy food faster than the oven

• You're using your air fryer all wrong

• How does an air fryer work?

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All the 'Sopranos' storylines to know before watching 'The Many Saints of Newark'

The cast of The Many Saints of Newark, plus Sopranos creator David Chase, brings us up to speed on all of the context you need before going into the Sopranos prequel.

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YouTube bans all anti-vaccine misinformation, removes 'Disinformation Dozen' channels

The internet's biggest anti-vaxxers are losing a major platform where they spread their falsehoods about vaccines.

On Wednesday, YouTube announced a major update to its medical misinformation policy that will see the Google-owned platform ban all types of dangerous anti-vaccination content.

As a result of the policy update, YouTube has banned prominent anti-vaxxers, such as Joseph Mercola and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from its service. Mercola and Kennedy are part of a group that misinformation researchers have dubbed the "Disinformation Dozen."

Earlier this year, the Center for Countering Digital Hate and Anti-Vax Watch released a report detailing how just 12 prominent anti-vaxxer influencers are responsible for around 65 percent of “anti-vaccine content” on major social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

The Disinformation Dozen gained widespread attention over the summer after President Joe Biden referenced the report when criticizing Facebook while talking to reporters.

YouTube's latest policy update expands on the company's existing COVID-19 misinformation rules.

"We’ve steadily seen false claims about the coronavirus vaccines spill over into misinformation about vaccines in general, and we're now at a point where it's more important than ever to expand the work we started with COVID-19 to other vaccines," said YouTube in its statement.

YouTube's new vaccine misinformation policies prohibit "content that falsely alleges that approved vaccines are dangerous and cause chronic health effects." The platform will also no longer allow false claims about vaccines related to disease transmission or contraction and misinformation related to "substances contained in vaccines."

The new policy specifically mentions some long standing falsehoods within the anti-vaxxer movement concerning vaccines being used to track or monitor individuals or vaccines causing autism, cancer, or infertility.

The video platform says it worked with "local and international health organizations and experts" to create these new rules surrounding vaccines.

YouTube has struggled with how to handle COVID-19 content since the earliest days of the pandemic. In March 2020, prior to the lockdowns in the U.S., YouTube demonetized all content about the novel coronavirus. Creators who were making videos about COVID-19 during that time could not make money from them via YouTube's Partner Program.

Just weeks later, YouTube reversed that decision and allowed creators to monetize COVID-19 content.

The evolution of YouTube's current medical misinformation policies can be traced back to the end of last year. In an effort to curb misinformation from spreading in the months before the vaccines became available, YouTube banned COVID-19 vaccine misinformation in October 2020.

YouTube says it has removed more than 130,000 videos found in violation of its COVID-19 vaccine misinformation policies since last year.

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Google Lens is coming to Chrome on the desktop

You no longer have to point your phone at your computer screen if you want to use Google Lens on your computer. As part of a string of updates, Google has revealed that Lens will be available for Chrome on the desktop in the "coming months." You just have to right-click on a website, choose to search with Lens and select the part of the page you want to examine. After that, you'll get results relating to the content you highlighted. Needless to say, that could be helpful if you're trying to identify an animal or a hot new jacket.

There are some upgrades coming to Lens on your phone. An update in early 2022 will let you ask a question after snapping a photo. If you need to know how to repair a part on your bike, for instance, you'll get results even if you don't know what that part is. The Google app for iPhones, meanwhile, will let you search for products within images.

This is a not-so-subtle effort to boost Google Shopping. You might be more likely to buy apparel or bike parts if you can identify them, after all. Even so, the expansion could make Lens more useful as a general search tool, not just for special circumstances.

Inspiration can strike at any time. ⚡ Soon you'll be able to use #GoogleLens to instantly search for products within images while browsing on the Google app on iPhone. And psst… Lens is coming to Chrome on desktop too 👀 #SearchOnpic.twitter.com/HTQCz7sjoO

— Google (@Google) September 29, 2021

MUM, our advanced AI model, is coming to #GoogleLens early next year. You’ll be able to snap a photo AND ask a question, which can be helpful in those moments you need to fix a broken part and have no idea what it is 🤷🔧 #SearchOnpic.twitter.com/cmedce3dB2

— Google (@Google) September 29, 2021

via engadget.com

Google wants to streamline the tricky process of assigning addresses in rural areas

There are many places in the world that don't have an address system, which can restrict the opportunities available for people who live and work in those areas. Without an address, you can't get mail or packages, nor can you vote or sign up for bank accounts, for example. Emergency responders can't even find you easily if you don't have an address. Google's open-source Plus Codes system has been around since 2015 to help assign addresses to places, matching a series of letters and numbers to a set of latitude and longitude coordinates.

But, according to Google, "previously, creating addresses for an entire town or village could take years." The company is releasing a new tool today called Address Maker that would make mass generation of these codes easier for governments and organizations. Google said that governments and non-government organizations (NGOs) in Kenya, India, South African and the US are already using Address Maker, "with more partners on the way."

Anyone can enter one of these codes, which look like "P2J5+7C," into Google Maps and see where that place is or get directions. For people who already have existing addresses that are long or complicated, these could be helpful in making sure your contacts find you at the correct spot. If you've ever tried to send a package to an industrial area in a country you're not familiar with, you'll probably find Plus Codes helpful, too.

Google

Address Maker is a free Android app and shorted the previously years-long process to a few weeks, Google said. Based on an animated render, it appears you can outline segments on a map and add addresses for multiple structures within the area at once. You can check out Google's page for more help, especially if you're part of a local government or NGO.

via engadget.com