Dr Disrespect unveiled game footage for his new shooter. It did not go well

Popular video-game streamer Dr Disrespect on Sunday revealed early footage from the first game of his new gaming studio, a first-person shooter titled Deadrop. People are already tearing it to shreds on social media.

The announcement comes months after Dr Disrespect announced the launch of the games studio he founded with Call of Duty and Halo veterans Robert Bowling, Quinn DelHoyo, and Sumit Gupta called Midnight Society. Disrespect founded the studio a year after he was permanently banned on Twitch for still unknown reasons and is now on a quest to create video games that rival the best FPS franchises.

Disrespect and Midnight Studios describe the game as "the world's first vertical extraction shooter" and early access has been given to fans who bought the $50 Founders Access Passes. And to be clear — more clear than the definition of a "vertical extraction shooter" — this is early footage and you can tell in the video below by the choppy framerate, poor gun mechanics, lack of animations, sound design, etc.

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However, what makes the reveal sting even worse was Disrespect's comments on the game in June. He stated in a now-deleted tweet that Deadrop "blows out anything from CoD engine." Subsequently, his bold claim was met with ridicule by fans. Some have compared it to a mobile game and others have described it as an arcade shooter you'd find at Chuck E. Cheese.

Tweet may have been deleted (opens in a new tab)

Tweet may have been deleted (opens in a new tab)

According to PC Gamer, Deadrop also serves as a way for Midnight Studios to sell NFTs. Players who have bought the Founder Pass have access to snapshot builds of the game that release every six weeks. These snapshots come with "procedurally generated NFTs of a character who serves as [the player's] in-game avatar."

Again, this game is in the very early stages of development, and it's very uncommon to show gameplay this early in the process for the obvious reasons seen above. A release date is far in the future for Deadrop so maybe Dr Disrespect will prove us wrong and the game will blow away our expectations. Maybe.

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No, Elon Musk. There's no conspiracy behind low engagement on Twitter. It's summer.

Elon Musk seems confused by what people do during the summer.

On July 30, 2022, Musk logged on to Twitter dot com with an important observation. 

Tweet may have been deleted (opens in a new tab)

"Interaction with almost all twitter accounts seem to be much lower in recent weeks & days," Musk tweeted. "Accurate?"

Many users in Musk's replies seemed to have agreed.

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Tweet may have been deleted (opens in a new tab)

Musk's tweet about low engagement on Twitter – with its 7,532 retweets, 1,512 quote tweets, and 125,344 likes – seems to have struck a nerve. It's unclear exactly what the Tesla CEO was trying to get at. However, based on Musk's previous vocal opinions about "free speech," bans, and censorship on social media platforms, it's clear how his followers were taking it.

Something nefarious is afoot. 

Many Musk faithful assume Twitter, the company that Elon Musk apparently pretended to want to buy and is now suing the billionaire over backing out of the signed deal to acquire it, is to blame for their tweets not receiving more interactions.

Is Twitter shadowbanning specific, ostensibly pro-Musk, users? Shadowbans are basically when a social media platform demotes accounts or specific content in its algorithm so they reach fewer users. Others questioned if Twitter was hard at work removing all the fake accounts and bots thanks to Musk's complaint (and his excuse as to why he wants to back out of his legally binding $44 billion contract with Twitter.)

Here's the truth. The reason you may be seeing less engagement on Twitter in July 2022 is because the Earth is conspiring with the Sun and its affecting the weather.

This is called Summer. 

The Northern Hemisphere of the Earth experiences this phenomenon during the months of June, through September. Days begin earlier and nightfall comes later. July, smackdab in the middle of that period, is often the hottest month of the year. Many people go outside to enjoy the warm weather and take part in outdoor events. Music festivals, barbecues, beach trips, and visits to the theme park are popular summer activities. People step away from long days working on their computers at their office desks, log off, and go on vacation.

"In past years, entire industries saw summer slumps -- or seasonal dips in sales or web traffic," wrote Pamela Bump, manager of content growth at HubSpot, in a 2021 report on this phenomenon. 

The report, published in July 2021 and updated the following September with additional data, compared last year's summer internet slump with the summer slumps from previous years. The only industry that didn't experience a web traffic downturn was leisure and hospitality because, obviously, people were using the online businesses in that field to plan trips and getaways. Post-COVID, that summer internet traffic slump appears to increase as individuals look to get out of their houses and make up for those lost summer getaways during the heights of the pandemic.

This isn't a new trend, and it's not relegated to just Twitter, either. A 2013 study by the social media analytics firm Fanpage Karma found that interactions on Facebook posts increased by 42 percent on average when there was bad weather compared to when there was good weather. A rainy day on a summer weekend could increase Facebook post interactions by as much as 90 percent.

There has been data showing that mobile web use – people surfing the web via their smartphones – has increased during the summer in recent years. But, people are most likely logging into their social media profiles to talk about their summer activities, not Elon Musk's latest tweet complaining about the lack of sex he's been having.

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​​"We’re seeing a 220% increase in conversations about music festivals during the summer," says Twitter, in a Twitter Insights blog post from the company's marketing department. Twitter finds that the type of conversations currently trending on the platform involves "summer anticipation and prep." Many users are focused on the summer activities they're experiencing or are excited about.

So, historically, as a result of SUMMER, many websites, platforms, and online businesses see a decrease in traffic. But, if it helps with your engagement numbers, Elon, I guess we can all pretend you're being shadowbanned by the sun.

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Best senior dating sites: Dating over 60 can actually be fun

Welcome to the no-bullshitting age of dating.

Dating at any age is awkward, scary, and often, a pain in the ass. True, being in the over-60 group may mean that more people your age are already off the market — but online dating can prove that the mature dating pool isn't dismal, even if your local one is.

It's quite normal to feel hesitant about making the jump to online dating as a senior. Finding a dating site that feels comfortable and natural is intimidating at any age. 20- and 30-somethings have a hell of a time finding a dating app that works for them — there are almost too many options. Late baby boomers (and early Gen X-ers) have a more straightforward approach.

Youth has another disadvantage that older singles may not have considered: Many people in their twenties and thirties just aren't ready to settle down. Developing a crush on someone is more likely to end with an awkward "situation-ship" rather than something serious. Most 60+ folks have been figuring this whole "love" thing out for longer than millennials have been alive. With life experience and possible previous marriages under your belt, you know the red flags and you know what you want.

SEE ALSO: For finding a serious relationship, these dating sites are the best

EliteSingles’ senior dating blog notes that most older individuals realize that life is just too short to play games and that older people take dating much more seriously than they did 40 years ago. Who cares if this person isn't your first (or second, or third) love? The potential for lasting love is what matters. As one person in the Reddit thread datingoverfifty suggests, if you want commitment, a site with a high barrier to entry — like eharmony, Match, or Elite Singles — could help to weed out people who aren't about to pay a high monthly price just to mess around.

Despite the added layer of seriousness, butterflies are still in your cards. You'll get giddy like a teenager, wait for them to call, and do a happy dance when they do, and first kisses will be just as tingly. And if you want to skip the heavy, emotional stuff altogether, just say that in your bio. There are plenty of other mature singles who are looking for anything from a casual hookup partner to a traveling companion or workout buddy. Many singles in their 50s and 60s have found more success (due to the sheer number of people) on apps with heavy millennial influence, like monster swiping app Tinder and Bumble — where women aren't bombarded by messages from men.

What should I consider when choosing a dating site?

What kind of relationship are you interested in finding? Before signing up for a single dating app, consider exactly what you’re hoping to find. Do you want a companion to spend time with as you head into retirement? Do you want someone younger who can keep up with your fast-paced lifestyle? Maybe you just want something casual and exciting (no shame!). Whatever it is that you’re looking for—there’s a site for it.

Site popularity: You might be tempted to sign up for niche dating sites in order to narrow the funnel in terms of your potential matches — but the more popular the site is, the better. Sites that have lots of users mean lots of chances to match with someone you click with.

Ease of use: Most apps and websites are pretty straightforward — but certain sites are much more clear and easy to sign up for than others. Certain sites will give you a multi-step sign-up with endless questionnaires to better match you—but there are many apps and sites that skip over all that and get straight into it if you just want to browse around.

Social media integration: Dating sites with social media integration are going to be your best bet in terms of making sure you’re chatting with real people and not bots or catfish. There are even websites available that only match you with friends-of-friends if you’re particularly concerned on that front.

Security: Like social media integration, dating app or website security should be top of mind when choosing a site. Make sure the site you’re signing into offers photo verification and the ability to block any unsavory members who might be looking for a target to take advantage of.

Budget: There are lots of free sites and apps out there — but the free version is often lacking in in-depth features and other aspects that make meeting someone easier. Consider how much you’re willing to spend per month before jumping into just any site.

What others are saying: Before you sign up for a dating website or app, it doesn’t hurt to read a couple of user reviews first. If the app or website has anything less than 3.5 stars you’ll probably want to steer clear.

So, what are the best dating sites for seniors?

Some of the websites we’ve noted down are for all ages with a senior option, and some sites are specifically for people over 50. All of the sites have free memberships, but to get the real in-depth features (like unlimited messaging or seeing photos), you'll probably need a paid account. From easy-to-use apps to more serious-minded dating websites, here’s to finding love later in life!

Here are the best dating sites for seniors in 2022. (Note that prices for dating apps and sites are constantly changing. We update regularly, but there might be minor price differences.)

Breathe easy, debris from China's largest rocket has burned up in space

The U.S. Space Command has confirmed that debris from a Chinese rocket has re-entered Earth’s atmosphere but does not pose a threat to populated areas of the globe. This is a relief to enthusiasts and concerned spectators alike who have been tracking the trajectory of the debris for the past few days and are worried it may cause physical injury, death, or property damage.

The New York Times reports that a Weibo post from the Chinese Manned Space Agency claims that most of the debris burned up on re-entry over the Sulu Sea, just southwest of the Philippines.

Sightings of the debris posted today by Twitter users in Borneo are surprisingly beautiful and resemble a meteor shower.

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The debris came from China's largest rocket, Long March 5B, which launched on Sunday, July 24. It was carrying a laboratory module for China’s space station, Tiangong, which is still under construction. This was the rocket's third flight and its second to drop debris. On its first flight in 2020, its booster fell and caused property damage on Western Africa's Ivory Coast.

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Skyscraper-sized asteroids are flying past Earth this weekend

Feel that gust of wind whipping by? Was it a summer breeze? Or could it have been the two, giant, building-sized asteroids whipping past the Earth this weekend? (It couldn't, but just imagine.)

The two space objects were documented by NASA, and will fly past — and safely miss! — our planet on July 29 and July 30, according to the space organization's trajectory estimates.

The first asteroid, labelled 2016 CZ31, flew past our night sky on the evening of July 29, and was measured at 400 feet wide. It traveled at a speedy 34,560 mph.

The second asteroid, an even larger space rock named 2013 CU83, will then zoom past on the evening of July 30 — it'll move at a much more gentle 13,153 mph. Both asteroids pass over us at more than a million miles overhead, many times the distance between the Earth and the moon, and well within safety measurements for these celestial bodies.

And these objects routinely pass around our planet, so don't fear the end of the Earth via hurtling space object just yet. Earlier this year, a mile-wide asteroid passed above the Earth 2.5 million miles overhead, closely monitored by NASA for everyone's scientific enjoyment and safety. Estimates say the next orbit of these particular asteroids will occur in January 2028.

You can also follow NASA's asteroid watch, which tracks the path of near earth objects (NEO's) as part of the agency's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.

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The best tablet to buy for your kid

Technology has changed a lot since you were small. Your kids have probably mastered the features on your iPhone better than you have. So it's fine to admit it: It'd be kinda sweet if they had something of their own so that your phone wasn't perpetually doused in mystery slime. But too many restrictions or a hard "no" to devices at all could do more harm than good.

Kids' tablets could be the healthy balance between giving your kids the access to tech that they want without turning them into the kid having a meltdown over Roblox in the grocery store.

What's going on in the world of screen time recommendations?

Kids' tablets go far past keeping them occupied during a long car ride or a boring family gathering.

Screen learning and screen time restrictions are increasingly popular points of study. Months and months of being penned up with little to do but stare at a screen hurled the issue to the forefront of parenting conversations. As it becomes clearer that remote learning and working aren't wearing off, screen time could become a daily hurdle for more parents than it was pre-pandemic.

Parents' questions often boil down to "how much is too much?" Though this is rarely met with a definitive answer, recent research can at least shine a light on best practices.

In April 2019, the World Health Organization issued much-anticipated guidelines around screen time for preschool-aged kids: One hour a day is the recommended maximum for children under 5. These suggestions are based on the idea that healthy cognitive development of young kids is built through face-to-face interaction. This lines up with recent research done at Vanderbilt University that suggests toddlers probably won't learn much from a screen, anyway.

But that learning disconnect often fades by age three. Just as they're mastering talking, kids are also grasping that the character on the screen represents a real person — and that that person is teaching them something. Dr. Carolyn Jaynes, a learning designer at LeapFrog, explains in an Inc.com article: "This content often uses strategies such as repeating an idea, presenting images and sounds that capture attention, and using child rather than adult voices for the characters.”

One project by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center (a non-profit run by the people behind Sesame Street) compared literary assessments of kindergarten through third-grade students who had used tablets at school. The students who used tablets saw higher test scores than those who didn't use tablets, and they were able to recognize 20% more vocabulary words due to an improved ability to recognize sounds and represent sounds as letters. A 2018 meta-analysis published in the Frontiers in Psychology journal found that the touchscreen learning effect was particularly beneficial for STEM through the memorable real-life experiments that physical swiping can mimic.

Can we blame them? Interacting with content makes for a richer and more memorable experience. It just feels more like playing, and it's not surprising that kids may be more willing to learn when it doesn't feel forced. Besides, playing and imagination are the building blocks for creativity and empathy — so playing Toca Boca instead of doing multiplication is still building real-world skills.

Dr. Michael Levine, founder of the Cooney Center, put some perspective on the difference between "learning time" and "mindless time:"

"The idea is not to have parents simply hand these devices over to their kids. Instead, the games and ebooks provide examples of hands-on activities that parents can do with their preschoolers in their kitchens and backyards to promote vocabulary and content knowledge in both languages, which helps build a solid foundation for life-long learning. ...Instead of pushing screens away, it’s time to put them to use in a thoroughly modern way.

So yes, tablets are a great learning tool as long as they're not a kid's main source of learning. Kids will always need to be comfortable reading print books and doing math by hand. No arguing there. But tablets provide some real opportunities for self-sufficient, interactive learning that kids will definitely utilize in the future of education revolving around laptops.

And sorry, kid-less people on Twitter who vow to never give their future kid a tablet — we can't hear you over the sound of our uninterrupted Zoom meeting.

Rethink the whole "gaming turns kids into zombies" mindset

There is even less official screen time guidance for adolescents. But one prominent area of interest is socialization.

Your kid who constantly wants to FaceTime a friend or squad up on multiplayer Fortnite might be onto something: A 2021 analysis by researchers at The University of Colorado Boulder uncovered some revealing relationships between social screen time and stronger peer relationships for kids between 9 and 10.

The ability to hold hangout sessions virtually became blindingly crucial in the era of social distancing — but with or without the possibility of meeting up in real life, different types of gaming and online hangouts (from the typical console or computer gaming, to live streams on Twitch, to VR) are essentially cemented as part of the modern growing up experience. And when not relied on as the only means of bonding, they can be legitimate socialization tools.

Video games, texting, and social media haven't shaken the negative side effects that quickly come to mind. But the analysis mentions that these loose correlations aren't necessarily causal, and that this study's findings in particular don't send a red flag that screen time effects are important at a clinical level.

How to choose the right tablet for your kid

Most tablets made specifically for kids will already be equipped with built-in parent accounts, timers, and pre-selected websites or apps that fall under appropriate age groups. Easy enough.

General-purpose tablets aren't a bad choice at all — many sites name the iPad as one of the best tablets for kids even though it's technically for everyone. You'll need to get creative to build a similar guidance net to the built-in parental controls that tablets specifically for kids bank on. Apple and Android have settings that can filter content or prevent purchases, but play-by-play supervision can be better achieved through a legit parental control app for iPads or Android tablets.

Osmo is a neat iPad and Fire Tablet snap-on that can make the family tablet more kid-friendly. Moving a piece in real life moves it on screen, creating a cool mashup of your typical tablet game, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving. Subjects include numbers, words, tangram, and art, plus extra packs for stuff like STEM or business-related math through a subject everyone cares about: pizza.

Credit: osmo

Things to consider when shopping for a kids' tablet:

• Screen resolution: Deciding whether HD, HD, or FHD will suffice depends on the number of movies they'll watch or games they'll play. 4K is probably unnecessary fluff.

• Storage: They'll probably have more apps than you do, and may need space for downloads like offline Disney+ movies, music, or some books for school.

• The intensity of parental controls: It's less panic-inducing to send your kid off with a tablet when you don't have to guess what content they're absorbing.

• Rugged-ness: Because kids are as destructive as they are adorable and you'll definitely feel better with a case that can handle some abuse.

Here are the best tablets to get for your kids in 2022:

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Yes, you can find a real relationship on free dating apps. These are the best ones.

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 older 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 "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. (Before the Tinder Swindler hype, in 2019, some guy on match posed as a millionaire and stole $80,000 from the woman he was talking to. In 2020, money lost to online "romance scams" hit a record high.) For what it's worth however, many free sites are just as big as paid ones on privacy and safety, requiring users to verify themselves through Facebook to increase transparency about age and first names. Plus, no paid sites have the safety features that Tinder does, which was 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 sites are mature, employed individuals who are ready to settle down. But nowadays, 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. Truly free apps let users access its key features as a baseline, and then offer paid perks such as the ability to see everyone who has swiped right on you or boosts for your profile for a certain amount of time. Free-but-not-really apps are the ones that are technically free to use, but where 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 get more control over your pool of potential boos, but they probably don't do much to expedite the grueling swiping process. When Tinder first 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 8 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 in 2022.

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'Weird Al' Yankovic retrospective 'Lights, Camera, Accordion!' is coming, thanks to 1984 Publishing

If you love parody songs, polkas, and the pure excellence of "Weird Al" Yankovic, you're going to love the upcoming book Light, Camera, Accordion! by Yankovic's drummer and photographer Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz.

The book cover for "Lights, Camera, Accordion!" Credit: Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz/1984 Publishing

Releasing November 15, 2022, from 1984 Publishing, the book features over 300 color photographs of Yankovic. Each photo is hand-selected from Schwartz's personal collection of 35mm photographs. Since they first met in 1980, he's taken over 20,000 images of the musician. The result is an expansive visual retrospective spanning 25 years.

The photo spreads in Lights, Camera, Accordion! reveal everything from studio sessions to concerts to more personal shots. And of course, the book is chock-full of behind-the-scenes looks at video shoots for iconic songs such as "Like A Surgeon," "Amish Paradise," and many, many more.

Behind the scenes on the set of "Amish Paradise." Credit: Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz/1984 Publishing

Schwartz grouped the photos by album, tour, and year, each section enhanced by anecdotes. Lights, Camera, Accordion! also has a foreword written by comedian Drew Carey, who Weird Al fans might remember starred in the music video for "It’s All About the Pentiums." The afterword is penned by Yankovic himself.

"Wow wow! I’ve seen most of these pictures before, but it's so nice to have them all in such good quality and in the same place," says Yankovic about the book. "Just a wonderful package."

The 256-page stand-alone hardbound copy of Lights, Camera, Accordion! retails for $40, but there will also be a limited edition box set that sells for $99. This box set includes alternative artwork and blue gilding, Schwartz’s signature, twelve 9”x12” prints, six postcards, a 35mm bookmark containing stills from the “Bob” music video, and other exclusive pieces of ephemera.

Pre-orders for the box set begin at 1 p.m. EST on Monday, August 1, 2022, at 1984 Publishing's website. The stand-alone edition is out November 15.

Snag a pair of Beats noise-canceling headphones for nearly half off

Save 49%: Good old over-the-ear active noise cancellation doesn't have to break the bank. As of July 28, the Beats Studio3 headphones are on sale at Woot for just $179.99, a $169.96 markdown from their $349.95 list price.

Forget books, pens, and paper — the real back-to-school essential is a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. Between noisy roommates, busy family homes, and that one guy that doesn't understand the concept of the library's quiet study room, a little ANC can save the day.

A nice pair of over-the-ear headphones usually offer the best version of ANC, and they also tend to come with a higher price tag. But as of July 8, you can pick up a pair of brand new Beats Studio3 headphones for just $179.99 at Woot. That's nearly $30 cheaper than their lowest price at Amazon and Walmart.

Don't let this sub-$200 price tag fool you — these headphones have plenty of competitive features. Obviously there's the ANC, but there's also the 22 hours of battery life (or 40 with ANC off). If somehow you happen to run out of battery or forget to charge them up, a 10-minute charge will grant you three hours of use.

The W1 chip also makes for easy pairing with any Apple device (that's why they're our top pick for iPhone users). Plus, they look great and they're comfy.

Only the red, desert sand, and forest green colors are available at this price. But students (or anyone, really) who want headphones that sound decent and come at a solid price point will want to jump on this Beats Studio3 deal before it's gone.

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Credit: Beats

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$179.99 at Woot (save $169.96)

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Head back to school with the Acer Aspire 5 laptop — it's on sale

SAVE $115: As of July 28, the Acer Aspire 5, one of our top picks for a student laptop, is on sale for just $274.99 at Amazon. That's 29% in savings and its lowest price to date.

Looking for a budget-friendly back-to-school laptop? Step away from the MacBook and consider a less showy option like the Acer Aspire 5. It's durable, portable, and reliable — and most of all, it won't break the bank.

The Acer Aspire 5 is already pretty affordable at just $389.99, but you can pick up the Core i3, 4GB RAM, and 128GB storage configuration for only $274.99 at Amazon.

The Aspire 5 (in a different configuration) is one of our top picks for a student laptop, particularly for its versatile port options (USB-C, USB 3.2, HDMI), great connectivity (WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5), and crisp 15.6-inch FHD display. Thanks to narrow bezels and a massive screen-to-body ratio, you'll have more space to work. The display is even equipped with Acer's BlueLightShield, which protects your eyes during late-night study sessions.

You'll feel confident carrying this baby around. Just don't forget to pack your charger, as its battery life isn't the best at just 8.5 hours.

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Credit: Acer

Acer Aspire 5 (Core i3, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD) (opens in a new tab)

$274.99 at Amazon (save $115)

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The best 2-in-1 laptops for enjoying the best of both worlds

While laptops and tablets are great on their own, sometimes you just need both — at once — without the hassle of having to carry around two devices all day.

Enter the hybrid laptop (or just "2-in-1 laptop"). It's a device that you can convert from tablet to laptop and back again with ease. They can flip and bend into alternate states, like portrait mode for drawing. Many also have touchscreen capabilities like tablets. You don't have to sacrifice quality with these laptops.

Why would I want a 2-in-1 laptop?

Simply put, a 2-in-1 laptop allows you to have the best of both devices at your fingertips. You can use the tablet to draw and take hand-written notes with a stylus, or you can use its touch-screen and gesture features for your day-to-day activities. But when you need more control or need to type something up, you can switch into laptop and keyboard mode. Best of all, these machines feature the computing power to run full-sized applications like Adobe Photoshop and more.

What size laptop should you get?

This really comes down to two things: Personal preference and lifestyle. If you're traveling often and usually have your computer on your back, 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 tech on the road with them, spring for a 15-inch screen with a bulky construction so you can have better Netflix and chill sessions.

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. (You can also check out our roundups for the cheap laptops that we think are actually worth it — here are our favorite laptops under $500, and the best laptops under $300.)

What should you look for in a 2-in-1 laptop?

Regardless of what you intend to use your hybrid machine for, a good one should strike a great balance between portability and usability. In other words, you’ll want something that can do what you need it to without being too bulky, difficult to convert, or heavy.

There are a lot of really good 2-in-1 laptops out there, but some of them have vastly different capabilities for different kinds of people. If you’re an artist or a designer, you’ll likely want a 2-in-1 laptop with a large screen for drawing or media viewing. If you’re on the go a lot, or if you’re a student, you might want something a little smaller that can easily fit in your backpack. If you’re a big writer or use your device for work, you’ll likely want something that feels more like a laptop. But if you’re going to use the tablet more than a keyboard, maybe a tablet with a detachable keyboard is a better option for you.

To help narrow down your search, we gathered up the very best 2-in-1 devices that can suit a variety of needs. Read on to check out our top picks, from budget models to high-powered machines.

What brand is best for 2-in-1 laptops?

Now that you have a better idea of what to look for in a 2-in-1 laptop, you can start narrowing down your potential options. We’ve made the process even easier by putting together this definitive guide to the best on the market.

We’ve compared all the top brands that you probably already have in mind like Microsoft, Dell, and Samsung, as well as other players you may not have thought of, like ASUS, Lenovo, and HP. 

We recommend carefully considering all these 2-in-1 laptops, and weighing each option up against your priorities and lifestyle.

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Netflix's 'Never Have I Ever' Season 3 trailer sees Devi and Paxton ruling the school

Well, friends, They've done it. Devi and Paxton have made their school entrance as an official couple. DAXTON IS HERE.

In Netflix's trailer for Mindy Kaling's Never Have I Ever Season 3, Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet) make their first appearance together following that huge Season 2 finale. But this season, Devi's gonna have to accept that relationships don't solve your own problems — including a new one who just walked through the door.

Never Have I Ever Season 3 is streaming on Netflix from Aug. 12.

Snag Roborock's newest self-emptier for under $500, plus more robot vacuum deals this week

UPDATE: Jul. 27, 2022, 12:20 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to include the best deals on robot vacuums from iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and more.

We've compiled the best deals on robot vacuums from brands like iRobot, Shark, and Ecovacs. Here are the ones to grab as of July 27:

• BEST BUDGET DEAL: The Shark EZ RV900 is a no-frills, efficient daily cleaner — $178 $299 (save $121)

• BEST SELF-EMPTYING DEAL: The new Roborock Q5+ goes to specific rooms and holds debris for seven weeks — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)

• BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The Roborock E4 can sweep and scrub your hardwood and tile for under $300 — $269.99 $379.99 (save $90)

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don't have time. Whether you detest the chore or get a little bummed when you can't have that satisfying dance with your Dyson, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.

Robot vacuums under $200

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Credit: Shark

Our pick: Shark EZ RV990 (opens in a new tab)

$178 at Walmart (save $121)

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Why we like it

Shark's EZ vacuum isn't decked out with features, but is an efficient daily cleaner for less than $200. It cleans in neat rows, doubling up on dirty areas that need more work.

More robot vacuums under $200

• ionvac Smart Clean 2000 — $95 $179.88 (save $84.88)

• Eufy Robovac 30C — $159.99 $259.99 (save $100)

• Eufy 30C Max – $169.99 $259.90 (save $89.91)

• Neato Robotics D6 — $199.99 $499.99 (save $300)

Robot vacuums under $500

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Credit: Roborock

Our pick: Roborock Q5+ (opens in a new tab)

$499.99 at Walmart (save $200)

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Why we like it

Roborock recently debuted a mid-range self-emptier to offset its other self-emptier, which starts at $949.88. The Q5+ is already seeing thousands of five-star reviews for its nimble navigation, floor coverage, and hearty suction. It also comes with a dock that deals with its own debris for seven weeks at a time.

More robot vacuums under $500

• Shark AI AV2001 — $249.99 $429.99 (save $180)

• iRobot Roomba i3 Evo — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Shark AI AV2501S — $404.40 $549.99 (save $145.59)

• Dreametech L10 Pro — $339.99 $489.99 (save $150)

• Eufy RoboVac X8 — $379.99 $599.99 (save $220)

• Shark IQ RV1001AE XL — $404 $599.99 (save $195.99)

• iRobot Roomba i4+ — $528 $649.99 (save $121.99)

• Shark EZ RV912S — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)

Robot vacuums under $800

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Credit: Samsung

Our pick: Samsung JetBot+ (opens in a new tab)

$528.95 at Amazon (save $270.05)

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Why we like it

Amazon's 34% discount on Samsung's Jet Bot+ is a gem of a find compared to the full price listed on Samsung's own website. The Jet Bot+ uses LiDAR to map your home and cleans by identifying the type of surface and amount of dust it's dealing with. The compact Clean Station holds up to a month's worth of debris.

Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops

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Credit: Roborock

Our pick: Roborock E4 (opens in a new tab)

$269.99 at Amazon (save $90)

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Why we like it:

Roborock's baseline vac also comes in a hybrid version. It brings precise, wide-spanning wet and dry coverage to your floors, using motion tracking to create an effective route and track where it has already gone. It can clean for up to 200 minutes before returning to charge.

More hybrids and robot mops on sale

• Dreamtech D9 — $209.99 $299.99 (save $90)

• iHome AutoVac Eclipse Pro — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

• Yeedi Vac Station — $369.98 $549.99 (save $230.01)

• Shark RV2001WD AI VacMop — $379.99 $479.99 (save $100)

• Ecovacs N8 Pro+ — $449.99 $649.99 (save $200)

• Roborock S7+ (renewed) — $749.99 $949.98 (save $199.99)

• Ecovacs T10+ — $749.99 $949.99 (save $200)

Are robot vacuums worth it?

The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you're not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from of your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having "first day clean" floors all the time?)

But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can't be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robovac that doesn't do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.

What to consider when buying a robot vacuum

• Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), with most current vacs ranging between 1,500 Pa and 3,000 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set a no-go zone around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.

• Floor type: Carpeting and high pile rugs will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.

• Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dustbins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.

• Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you'll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.

• Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what's accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.

• Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you'll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 200 minutes, which translate to about 500 and 2,800 square feet covered on one charge.

• App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you're not home. Low-end models that don't connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you're used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is back at its lowest price ever

Save $70.04: Make delicious dinners the easy way. Through the end of July 27, you can buy the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 multi-cooker for $79.95 at Amazon after a 47% discount. That matches its lowest price to date.

If space is limited in your kitchen, a multi-functional appliance is a good workaround. And when it comes to versatility, you can't go wrong with one of our favorite Instant Pots.

One of your best options is the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 multi-cooker, which is on sale for $79.95 at Amazon: the lowest price it's been since last Black Friday.

Our list of the best Instant Pots praises the Duo Plus for being both versatile and easy to use. This eight-quart model features nine total cooking modes, including pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, saute pan, and more.

The Duo Plus display also shows your cooking progress in real time and features 15 customizable programs for one-touch cooking. That includes quick controls for cooking soup, beans, yogurt, rice, and more. Possibly best of all, Instant Pots are easy to clean, with stainless steel sides and a dishwasher-safe lid and inner pot.

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Credit: Instant Pot

Instant Pot Duo Plus 8-quart 9-in-1 multi-cooker (opens in a new tab)

$79.95 at Amazon (save 47%)

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Meta is hiking the price of Quest 2 VR headsets by $100

If Meta's Quest 2 virtual reality headset has been on your shopping list for a while, you might want to pick one up before Aug. 1.

Meta has confirmed that the start of August will also mark the beginning of a new, pricier chapter for the Quest 2. Both models of the fully wireless VR headset are having their prices increased, with the 128GB capacity model jumping up to $399.99 and the 256GB capacity model jumping up to $499.99. They're still selling at their lower prices now, as of July 26, so you can save yourself the $100 if you act before the month is over.

Meta announced the news in a pair of tweets that clarified some of the thinking behind the decision. "In order to continue investing in moving the VR industry forward for the long term, we are adjusting the price of Meta Quest 2 headsets," the tweet reads.

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In a move that's surely meant to soften the blow, Meta added that new headset purchases will include "an offer to download" the popular rhythm game Beat Saber. A welcome bonus, as Beat Saber is easily one of VR's top "killer apps" at this point.

But it's a $30 game that's powered in part by in-app purchases that grow your music library — none of which you get for free — so it hardly offsets that $100 price hike. Especially since the Beat Saber freebie is only an option until the end of 2022.

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Meta lays out some of the thinking behind its decision in a related blog post. If you're looking for the short version, here it is: This stuff just costs more to make now, according to Meta.

"The costs to make and ship our products have been on the rise. By adjusting the price of Quest 2, we can continue to grow our investment in groundbreaking research and new product development that pushes the VR industry to new heights," the post reads. You can also expect to see prices increase on Quest accessories and refurbished headsets.

While Meta is correct in pointing out that the Quest 2 is "the most affordable VR headset with a comparable feature set on the market," that statement also slides by an important detail. So far, very little has come along to challenge the Quest 2. So there isn't a comparable wireless headset on the market, period.

The Quest 2's closest competitors are either considerably more expensive, as is the case with the $1,000-plus Valve Index and HTC Vive Pro 2; or they fail to measure up, with Sony's PSVR ($350) several generations behind the hardware curve and HP's Reverb G2 just plain costing more for a lesser experience. The Reverb G2, just like all the other competitors named here, delivers wired-only VR. So the Quest headsets are unrivaled in that sense, as the only fully wireless high-powered headset.

All of which frees up Meta to do whatever it wants with headset pricing and set the pace in turn for future releases. Given what's ahead in the VR space, that could be even more meaningful.

We know already that a successor to the Quest 2 is incoming. Meta's so-called "Project Cambria" is set to offer a higher-end VR experience than the company currently offers, with improved, full-color front-facing cameras that make "mixed reality" experiences more of a possibility on (and focus of) the new platform. By raising the floor pricing for Quest 2 hardware, Meta is setting Cambria up to launch at an even higher price.

It could work, given the lack of competition. But it's also impossible to ignore the fact that Meta announced the price hike news on the same day that Sony shared its latest look at the PlayStation VR2 headset. While that hardware can't compete on the wireless front — you'll need to connect it to a PS5 — its fundamental dependence on console hardware also makes more competitive pricing possible.