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An iPhone displays the Ticketmaster app in front of a laptop showing the Live Nation logo.

Live Nation, parent company of infamous live event ticket platform Ticketmaster, has violated federal and state antitrust laws in its dominance of the market, a federal jury ruled Wednesday.

A judge will choose what remedy fits the crime, which could include forcing a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the New York Times reported. Live Nation will be ordered to pay monetary damages, as well.

The industry has been waiting for this decision for years, following the federal government's 2024 filing alleging the company uses "unlawful, anticompetitive conduct," including long-term exclusive contracts with venues and threats of financial retribution against venues and artists, to retain a "monopolistic control" over the live entertainment market.

"The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster," the initial filing read.

The move was partially inspired by extremely high ticket prices for popular, international tours and an outcry from the artists themselves, including Taylor Swift and her army of legally adept fans. Music industry giants, including Pearl Jam, have for decades attempted to break up Ticketmaster's control over live entertainment.

Live Nation has faced several legal battles related to its alleged market monopoly, including a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in September, which alleged that the company made billions off of deceptive ticket resale practices.

The Justice Department settled with Live Nation last month, a move that has been scrutinized by congressional leaders. But 34 states remained on the case, and their recent win may profoundly shift the industry.



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SANDISK storage device

You know the drill. Every once in a while you have to go through your devices and delete the photos, videos, and games eating up your storage so you can download new stuff and keep your device — and your productivity — flowing. 

The process can feel like a time suck, sure. But nothing kills momentum faster than trying to offload photos from your latest trip or client shoot and realizing you’ve got nowhere to put them. Or sitting down to build that awesome slide deck, packed with high-res images and videos, only to hit a "storage almost full" warning halfway through. 

If you think the only way to solve your storage conundrum is to upgrade your device, think again. Sandisk’s lineup of portable flash drives, internal solid-state drives (SSDs), microSD™ cards, and more lets you offload and safely store your files so you can keep shooting, editing, and creating your heart out. 

Check out this roundup of top Sandisk picks to help free yourself from storage anxiety.

Plug-and-stay USB-C storage

Credit: SANDISK
$219.99 at SANDISK
$274.99 Save $55
 

The SANDISK Extreme® Fit USB-C™ Flash Drive packs an incredible amount of data storage into its thumb-sized package, allowing you to effortlessly offload large files from your laptop, desktop, tablet, and other USB-C devices. 

Whether you want up to 64GB [1] or a full 1TB [1] of additional storage, this drive transfers files at read speeds up to 400MB/s [2] and helps to safely tuck them away, giving your device the space it needs to perform at its peak. It also checks the portability box. Just plug it in and leave it, and it’ll give you access to your data without having to rely on the cloud or unreliable internet speeds. 

An instant phone-storage hack

Credit: SANDISK
$134.99 at SANDISK
$174.99 Save $40
 

Think you need to buy a new phone to score more storage for your photos and videos? Nope. The SANDISK Phone Drive with USB-C is a game-changer for busy students, parents, content creators, videographers, or anyone else who lives on their phones but is constantly hitting walls with their device’s limited storage.

Available with up to 1TB [1] of space, just plug it into your compatible iOS or Android phone, quickly transfer files to your USB-C laptop or tablet at speeds up to 150MB/s [2], and get right back to shooting high-res photos and high-def videos on your now-freed-up phone. The drive also comes in four colors that match the iPhone 16 lineup. 

A boost for your gaming handheld console

Sandisk also delivers fast, reliable, and durable storage solutions designed to keep up with today’s powerful handheld gaming devices, making it easy for gamers to expand their libraries and play with confidence anywhere.

The SANDISK microSD™ Card for ROG Xbox Ally X is an ideal storage upgrade for your ROG Xbox Ally X or ROG Xbox Ally, engineered to match the power and portability of these handhelds. Available in up to 2TB capacities [1], this microSD card lets you carry up to 50 games [3] without juggling space.

Designed with full Xbox integration for seamless compatibility, it delivers up to 200MB/s transfer speeds [2] for quicker load times and smoother gameplay, plus high write speeds for speedy downloads and installs. Built tough with drop, shock, and X-ray protection [4], the new microSD card from Sandisk is certified, tested, and engineered specifically for Xbox and ASUS’ new handheld device, allowing gamers to take their library of games anywhere.

Credit: SANDISK
$99.99 at SANDISK
$111.99 Save $12
 

For other new, popular gaming handheld consoles, there’s the SANDISK microSD Express Card. This card is designed with fast read and write speeds, helping to reduce load times, speed up downloads, and enable access to large game files. 

Sandisk’s trusted reliability means your game library stays protected, whether you’re installing massive AAA releases or managing frequent updates. Built for durability, it’s ready for life on the go, from backpacks to travel cases. If you want storage that matches the power of your favorite handheld, this microSD Express Card is a smart upgrade.

This portable 4TB SSD can take it

Credit: SANDISK
$224.99 at SANDISK
$282.99 Save $58
 

You’re traversing the jungle — leafy or concrete — shooting tons of content and, suddenly, your phone runs out of storage and freezes up. Let the new-generation and very durable SANDISK Extreme Portable SSD save the day. Not only can you transfer 1,000 high-res photos from your phone to the drive in under a minute [5], but you can also safely store up to 4TB [1] of data on it, and the drive is drop, water, and dust-resistant [6].

You can access your files and projects from anywhere, no cloud access or WiFi necessary, while password protection and built-in 256-bit AES encryption [7] help keep your goods protected. Clip this pocket-sized storage life saver to your backpack or slide it into your cargo-pants pocket and get out there with confidence that you won’t run out of storage.  

Forget about having to upgrade your device in order to score more storage. Sandisk offers a range of easy to use and carry data-storage solutions for your compatible phone, laptop, tablet, or other device with the space it needs to perform.


Disclaimers from Sandisk

1. 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. 1TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Actual storage available to the user is less.

2. Speeds vary by product and capacity. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending upon host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.

3. Number of games based on an average of 36 GB per game stored on a 2 TB SANDISK microSD card for ROG Xbox Ally (X). The number of games will vary depending on file size, format, and other software and other factors.

4. Card only. See product packaging and www.sandisk.com/proof for additional information and limitations.

5. Based on internal testing with an average PNG file size of 30.4 MB; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.

6. Based on internal testing. IEC 60529 IP65: Tested to withstand water flow (30 kPa) at 3 min.; limited dust contact does not interfere with operation. Must be clean and dry before use.

7. Password protection uses 256-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 10+ and macOS v13+. Software download required, see www.sandisk.com/memoryzone.

SANDISK, the SANDISK logo, and SANDISK Extreme Fit are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. USB Type-C is a registered trademark of USB Implementers Forum.  All other marks are the property of their respective owners. Product specifications subject to change without notice. Pictures shown may vary from actual products.



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A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
Screenshots from TikTok and Instagram Reels of parents turning their kids' texts into emo songs using AI

Parents have long turned to social media to unload about the tiny indignities of raising teenagers. The difference now is that they can feed those texts into AI and turn them into pop-punk songs that sound like they were ripped from a 2007 Warped Tour compilation.

Across TikTok and Instagram, parents are using AI music tools like Suno to transform everyday texts from their kids into emo anthems. (Whether all of these creators are actually parents of teenagers is another question.) One moment, it's a daughter demanding Starbucks after school. The next is a full-blown post-hardcore song about forgetting gym shorts, insisting they are literally starving, or begging for a ride home.

The more you watch these videos, the more small details start to come into focus: the sheer amount of Starbucks American teens seem to consume, the way every minor inconvenience becomes a five-alarm emergency, or the casual use of "bro" and "bruh" when talking to parents. In song form, those habits become even funnier, turning ordinary teenage shorthand into lyrics that sound weirdly revealing about the way kids talk now.

There is also something very millennial about the trend. Many of the parents making these videos grew up on emo, pop-punk, and Warped Tour bands, which makes the songs feel a little less like random AI creations and more like affectionate parodies of the music they loved as teenagers.

Of course, as with anything involving AI, it's important you know the risks before partaking in the trend. Feeding private family texts into AI tools means handing over personal conversations — sometimes involving minors — to third-party platforms that may store that data, use it to improve their models, or keep copies of the generated songs.

Privacy experts have repeatedly warned that people often treat AI prompts as more private than they actually are, even though many companies reserve broad rights over what users upload. You may not think it matters much when the text is "pick me up from soccer practice," but it is worth thinking about before turning the family group chat into content.

And like so many AI trends right now, the actual technology almost feels secondary to the joke. What people are really sharing is not the amazement that AI can make music. It is the strangely universal realization that "Can we get Starbucks?” already sounds like the kind of lyric that would have shown up in a song about suburban teenage angst.



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Conversation around table

TL;DR: Unlock lifetime access to Babbel’s language courses across 14 languages for $159 with code LEARN.


Picking up a new language can feel overwhelming, especially if traditional memorization methods haven’t worked for you. Babbel takes a more practical, conversation-first approach, focusing on how people actually speak in real life instead of endless vocab drills. Its lessons are developed by more than 150 linguists and language educators, designed to help you understand not just words, but context, tone, and cultural nuance.

A lifetime Babbel subscription typically costs $599, but for a limited time, it’s available for $159 when you use the code LEARN.

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What you can learn with Babbel:

With this plan, you get unlimited access to lessons in 14 different languages, all structured to fit into your daily routine. Each lesson takes about 10 to 15 minutes, making it easier to stay consistent whether you’re commuting, traveling, or fitting in a quick session between tasks.

Some of the available languages include:

  • Spanish

  • French

  • German

  • Italian

  • Portuguese

  • Swedish

And there are even more to explore.

Instead of relying on repetitive exercises or generic, automated content, Babbel centers its lessons around real-world conversations. You’ll work through topics like travel, business, culture, and everyday interactions, all built by language experts and grounded in how people actually communicate. Speech recognition tools help refine your pronunciation, while guided dialogue exercises give you a more natural way to practice speaking.

Your progress syncs across devices, so you can switch between your phone and computer without losing your place. There’s also an offline option that lets you download lessons ahead of time. You can learn at your own pace, revisit previous material, and move between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels depending on your experience.

Use code LEARN to get lifetime access to Babbel for $159 ($599).

StackSocial prices subject to change.



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Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. PSG in the Champions League for free on Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.


The Champions League semi finals are calling. Well, they're calling for PSG after they raced into a 2-0 lead against Liverpool last week. In truth, the scoreline could have been much worse for Liverpool. They'll still believe that they can turn things around at Anfield, but they'll need to produce something truly special to stop PSG from scoring.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. PSG in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. PSG?

Liverpool vs. PSG in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 14. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. PSG for free

Liverpool vs. PSG is available to live stream for free on Prime Video (30-day free trial).

This free stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock Prime Video to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Liverpool vs. PSG for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit Prime Video

  5. Watch Liverpool vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Liverpool vs. PSG without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Liverpool vs. PSG in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.



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man using smart glasses for navigation

Many Silicon Valley heavy hitters are investing heavily in smart glasses, and a new report sheds light on Apple's plans to join the party.

The latest report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that Apple is currently testing four different designs for smart glasses, which would compete with the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses. Gurman says the product could be unveiled in late 2026 ahead of a 2027 launch.

A lot could change in that time, though Gurman has a very impressive track record of Apple scoops.

The Bloomberg report states that Apple is testing a variety of frame styles, such as rectangular, oval, and circular, as well as multiple color options. Some or all of these designs could be available upon launch if Apple smart glasses do come to market.

In addition, the glasses would feature unique oval camera lenses, oriented vertically, with lights, according to Bloomberg. Finally, onboard speakers would allow users to take phone calls and listen to music, similar to other AR glasses from companies like Xreal and TCL.

Based on previous reports, Apple will be making augmented reality glasses with a built-in display, similar to Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses and the unreleased Google Android XR glasses expected to be released later this year.

Presumably, by the time Apple smart glasses are released, Apple will have also introduced the long-awaited Siri AI upgrade. That could allow users to talk to Siri while wearing the glasses for voice control, help with navigation, or activate other AR features.

Meta-Ray Ban smart glasses sales tripled in 2025, per Reuters, but smart glasses have not yet gone mainstream the way smartphones, tablets, or laptops have.

Big Tech companies see this new form factor as a major potential opportunity (see also: AI wearables), but it's not yet clear how eager the average consumer will be to incorporate smart glasses into their daily life.

Apple may be better suited to introduce a new form factor than other companies based on its previous success with smartphones and MP3 players; however, the company's previous AR device, the Apple Vision Pro, has seen very lackluster sales.



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Wordle game on a smartphone

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love Christmastime.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Small and delicate.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ELFIN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.



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