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For a long time, pirate site blocking was regarded as a topic most U.S. politicians would rather avoid. This remnant of the SOPA defeat drove copyright holders to focus on blocking efforts in other countries instead. Those challenging times are now more than a decade old, and momentum is shifting. After more than forty countries around the world instituted site-blocking measures, U.S. lawmakers may be more receptive to revisiting the topic. This week, MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin announced that the movie industry group is going to work with Members of Congress to enact judicial site-blocking legislation in the United States. The RIAA will likely join this effort, as music industry groups have joined similar blocking efforts in other countries too. The site-blocking quest is undoubtedly going to fill plenty of headlines in the U.S. media, as it remains a hot topic. That’s quite a contrast to what we see in other countries, including the UK, where similar measures have been in place for many years. UK Site Blocking Lull Following requests from movie studios, record labels, publishers, sports leagues and broadcasters, hundreds of websites are blocked in the UK today. This translates to many thousands of domain names, as proxy sites and backup domains are also included. The precise number of websites and associated domains, including their variants and IP addresses, is difficult to report accurately due to a lack of official documentation; certainly, the shifting nature of dynamic blocking doesn’t make reporting any easier. The UK mainstream press hasn’t shown much interest in the topic in recent years. When the MPA obtained the first-ever blocking order against a cyberlocker two years ago, the BBC didn’t even mention it. Meanwhile, UK blocking efforts have expanded considerably, not just by numbers, but also in scope. Without any public announcement, search engine Google joined the effort and since 2022, the company has voluntarily removed domain names from UK search results if these are covered by existing ISP blocking orders. We uncovered these Google delistings by accident and the involved parties subsequently confirmed this blocking expansion. However, Google itself remained quiet for a long time, perhaps due to its previous anti-blocking stance. 17,317 Flagged URLs Google’s delisting of pirate sites in the UK remains ongoing today. There are no official announcements on this front, but the search engine’s transparency reports published by Lumen provide some insight into this activity. For example, we can see that music industry group BPI reported 1,470 pirate site URLs to Google this month, asking the company to delist them entirely. The BPI added the relevant court orders to all requests and Google complied by removing most domains from its UK search results. Looking further back, we can see that BPI has asked Google to delist 17,317 URLs from its search engine over the past two years. These requests are separate from regular takedown notices, as the full domains are completely removed from search results. Inflated Numbers The 17,317 figure is significant but requires nuance. It includes various proxy subdomains as well as subdomains of stream-ripping services. The latter are used to actively evade Google removals and site-blocking itself. In addition, the BPI has a habit of occasionally double-listing domain names in their requests, or submitting identical domain names in multiple requests. This further inflates the totals. Caveats aside, it’s probably safe to say that thousands of domain names have been delisted by Google in response to site-blocking orders. These domains provide, or at least used to provide, access to hundreds of pirate sites. This includes The Pirate Bay and many of its proxies, which have been completely stripped from Google’s top results in the UK. Needless to say; if site-blocking legislation eventually makes its way to the United States, we can expect to see similar efforts there. However, we don’t think that will happen so quietly. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

The debate over whether copyright infringement cannibalizes legitimate media consumption has been dragging on for several decades now. The issue has been researched extensively with both positive and negative effects being reported, varying based on the type of content and the ‘piracy’ source, among other variables. By now, most experts would agree that watching a new blockbuster on a pirate streaming site isn’t going to magically benefit legitimate sales. However, there are many more nuanced types of copyright infringement, where ‘unauthorized’ use is more likely to have a positive effect. TikTok Pirates For example, when a viral clip from a TV series is making the rounds on social media platforms, one could argue that this serves as free advertising. At the same time, this clip is not a direct substitution for the full series, which means that the infringing use can be an opportunity, not just a threat. To test this hypothesis, researchers from Peking University examined the impact of short and condensed TV show clips posted on Douyin, the Chinese TikTok. Rightsholders typically object to this type of unauthorized use, but is that wise? The goal of the research was to see whether these ‘pirated’ clips have any effect on legitimate consumption. The researchers used a natural experiment around a massive enforcement spike that started around April 2021, when rightsholders criticized Douyin/TikTok for the infringing activity, which triggered a wave of takedowns. “In April 2021, over 500 actors and actresses, together with more than 70 major companies and organizations in the industry, protested against copyright infringement on short-form video platforms. They called for platforms like TikTok to actively detect and remove unauthorized film and television content,” the researchers recall. In response, the Chinese TikTok removed countless problematic clips. The researchers used this ‘natural’ event to see if the takedowns impacted legitimate streaming activity of TV shows on iQIYI, one of China’s most popular subscription streaming platforms. The researchers analyzed whether the mass takedown event impacted demand for subscription-only ‘VIP’ shows in any way. Non-VIP shows, which are freely accessible to all, acted as a control variable, since these were not the focus of the takedown campaign. Infringing Clips as Free Promotion After analyzing the data, the researchers found that popular TikTok clips indeed have a significant effect on legitimate consumption. Taking these ‘unauthorized’ clips offline actually decreased legitimate views. “Our empirical results reveal a positive effect of TikTok condensed clips on streaming services demand. Specifically, we observed that the boycott event led to an approximately 3% drop in the number of views for the original VIP content on the focal streaming platform,” the researchers write. “[S]hort-form condensed clips could be viewed as user-generated samples of original video works. They produce positive spillovers by enhancing the visibility of TV series and attracting interested viewers to the full-length content on streaming services,” they add. This conclusion is quite intuitive in a social media world where ‘influencers’ are widely used to promote content. For some entertainment industry executives, however, it will require some mental gymnastics to fully grasp that seemingly infringing content can be a good thing. The results also put question marks around the widespread upload filter technologies, that aim to prevent the unauthorized use of video and music. While full copies are never a good thing, small clips may be beneficial in some cases. “Although streaming platforms may be suffering declining engagement these days, our results show that among various kinds of alternative contents on short-form video platforms, user-generated condensed clips might not be foes but actually friends,’ the researchers note. Not all TV Shows Benefit In addition to this overall conclusion, the researchers found some interesting moderating variables. Apparently, not all short clips have equal promotional value. TV series with more complex plots, which are harder to summarize in clips of a few minutes, benefit most from social media clips. Translated into genres, the data reveals that ‘crime’ and ‘fantasy’ shows gain more from this type of social media promotion than ‘romance’ or ‘family” shows. According to the researchers, this makes sense as ‘condensed’ clips of complex shows are less likely to act as a replacement for the full show. “Given the constraints of condensed clips of only a few minutes in length, it is highly impractical to include every twist and turn for crime and fantasy genres, making them less susceptible to replacement by condensed clips,” the researchers note. In a similar vein, unauthorized clips of highly rated shows tend to have more promotional value than those that feature shows with bad ratings. This also makes sense, intuitively, as a teaser of a bad show might put potential viewers off and vice versa. These and other results are explained in detail in the full paper titled Pirating Foes or Creative Friends? Effects of User-Generated Condensed Clips on Demand for Streaming Services, which will be published in the academic journal Marketing Science. — Yang, Guangxin and Zhang, Yingjie and Liu, Hongju, Pirating Foes or Creative Friends? Effects of User-Generated Condensed Clips on Demand for Streaming Services. Available at SSRN From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

Way back in 2010, Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN embarked on a mission to have The Pirate Bay blocked in the Netherlands. Ziggo, the country’s largest ISP, had been asked to implement a DNS and IP address blockade but when BREIN’s overtures were declined, legal action ensued. Ziggo was subsequently joined by XS4ALL, a rival ISP which also opposed site-blocking measures. After The Court of The Hague decided that blocking all customers from accessing The Pirate Bay went too far, BREIN dug in for the long haul and prepared for a full trial. In January 2012, BREIN emerged victorious. At the time, downloading copyrighted material was still considered legal in the Netherlands, but the uploads associated with BitTorrent were always illegal, tipping the case decisively in BREIN’s favor. Years of appeals and intense legal action followed, including a trip to the Supreme Court and a referral to the EU Court of Justice. In 2017, after the CJEU effectively found The Pirate Bay itself illegal, the matter continued to be fought tooth and nail, sucking in other ISPs, KPN included. This particular chapter was almost over, but another one had begun years earlier and was only just getting warmed up. Pirate IPTV Takes the Netherlands By Storm Tackling pirate IPTV services has been a BREIN priority for a number of years. Providers, sometimes extremely large ones, have fallen as part of BREIN’s investigations, but the anti-piracy group is just as much at home targeting sellers, resellers, and set-top box vendors. BREIN has tackled hundreds of these entities over the years, picking up landmark judgments on the way. For ISPs like Ziggo and KPN, the existence of bandwidth-hungry pirate IPTV consumers might’ve once been good for business. Today, however, sales of broadband subscriptions constitute just part of their overall product range. In common with BREIN’s clients active in the movie and TV show production and distribution business, selling access to legal content represents an important revenue source for companies that today are much more than ‘just’ an ISP. Increasing numbers of pirate IPTV users can be directly linked to fewer sales of legal TV packages, the ISPs argue. In an ideal world the ISPs should be selling these to the majority of their customers, but reports suggest that’s becoming increasingly difficult. Interests of BREIN and ISPs Align Reports vary but it’s believed that around 1.5 million Dutch households currently subscribe to a pirate IPTV service. With a total population edging towards 18 million, that’s a sizeable figure. It pushes the Netherlands close to the top of the most prolific pirate IPTV consumers list for the whole of the EU where there is no shortage of competition. With the interests of BREIN and those of the ISPs suddenly aligned, it appears that all three are now speaking the same language. According to a report published at Ad.nl (paywall), pressure on sales has led the previously warring factions to call on the state to take a stronger line against the runaway growth of illegal IPTV. The Public Prosecution Service is seen as a potential ally but according to the report, the service has doubts about taking a tough approach. Larger pirate IPTV services are the usual targets when the state considers criminal prosecutions. Beyond that, it’s suggested that action against intermediaries or end users should be tackled by entities like BREIN, under civil, rather than criminal law. Raising Awareness Raising awareness among consumers is seen as an area that could yield results but as the figures show, awareness of what makes pirate IPTV services attractive to consumers is already widespread. Typically available for up to 90% cheaper than official services, pirate IPTV services deliver most content offered by dozens of individual legal services, bundled into a single subscription package with all content readily accessible from the same place. Rightsholders’ definition of awareness focuses on the potential downsides; financing criminal organizations, fueling other types of crime, malware, and set-top boxes capable of stealing banking credentials, among other things. For some consumers this type of messaging may have the desired effect but in ‘underground’ circles, where the grapevine and shared experiences rule, none of these issues carry much weight. At least, not enough weight to tip the scales against savings of up to 150 euros per month. Future Cooperation That BREIN, Ziggo, and KPN now appear to agree on the need to tackle IPTV services is logical, if a little unexpected. BREIN’s activities that require the assistance of local ISPs rarely run smoothly. Ziggo, for example, refused to forward piracy warning notices to its customers, leading to yet another face-off in court, from which Ziggo came out on top. That being said, BREIN will likely appreciate any alignment and, as the site-blocking ‘Covenant’ currently in place shows, cooperation isn’t impossible, or even out of the question. In all likelihood, it’s simply a matter of timing. Image credits: (1, 2) From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

It’s no secret that the Motion Picture Association (MPA) views site-blocking measures in the United States as the logical next step in their perpetual campaign against piracy. Working with U.S. Congress members, the plan is to propose judicial site-blocking legislation that will see local ISPs compelled by law to prevent consumer access to pirate sites. A similar but broader effort failed in 2012 but twelve years is a very long time; in the tech and internet world, it’s almost forever. In the years since the rise and fall of SOPA, the MPA has been the driving force behind site-blocking legislation around the world, modeling dozens of partner countries in the shape of its vision for blocking in the U.S. At this year’s CinemaCon ‘State of the Industry’ event at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said that the United States now has plenty of catching up to do. “It’s long past time to bring out laws in line with the rest of the world,” Rivkin said, a reference to the MPA’s substantial body of overseas work it now hopes to replicate back home. Preparation for the Big Site-Blocking Push After reliving the high points of 2023 – Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and the portmanteau of the moment, Barbenheimer – Rivkin turned to the bottom line. The MPA’s top man reported box office revenues in the U.S. and Canada up 20 percent on the previous year, and up nearly 30 percent abroad. An unquestionably great achievement, especially without protection from site-blocking. But while tradition allows for generous helpings of creative imagery in support of the magical silver screen, financial positives are dwelled upon only fleetingly; the fairy dust is quickly dispersed, bringing reality into sharp focus. Commentary explaining why the figures aren’t as good as they sound, or will take great effort to maintain, helps to calibrate expectations. After assuring everyone they’re in this together, and whatever needs to be done will be done, because that’s what Hollywood does, the groundwork to support demands for new legislation are carefully laid. It’s a tried and tested system that really does work; Rocky Balboa’s unbreakable determination in 2021 mid-COVID, a home/mobile entertainment market up 24 percent in 2022 and a billion at the box office in the first quarter. Avatar: The Way of Water surging past $2.3 billion in global ticket sales, Top Gun: Maverick at $1.5 billion and still plenty of jet fuel left in the tank. Then a short pause as the tension builds for the annual stark reminder; American creators are under attack, just as they were last year, the year before, and every year before that. We have no illusions about the scope and the severity of the problem……The challenges are as daunting as they are uncertain….. One of the biggest existential threats to our collective future. Used during the last three CinemaCons, the warnings above won’t be enough this year. Not at a time when Congress is listening. Piracy is Visible, Behind The Scenes Lies Worse Piracy rhetoric usually finds itself delivered in a way that counters notions of stability based on reported business successes. When an urgent drive for new legislation is imminent, there’s no room for complacency and at CinemaCon the nature of the threat left nothing to the imagination. “Remember, these aren’t teenagers playing an elaborate prank. The perpetrators are real-life mobsters, organized crime syndicates, many of whom engage in child pornography, prostitution, drug trafficking, and other societal ills,” Rivkin informed the audience. And it’s not just big companies facing immediate threat; the entire country is at risk. “They operate websites that draw in millions of unsuspecting viewers whose personal data can then fall prey to malware and hackers,” Rivkin said. “In short, piracy is clearly not a victimless crime.” People shouldn’t go about their work in fear, however. They should listen to a story first. Telling a Compelling Story Rivkin told CinemaCon that the MPA focuses on two pillars: Protecting content and the people who produce it, which together pave the way for the industry to reach even bigger audiences worldwide. “To make that happen, we need to keep doing what we do best: telling a compelling story,” the head of the MPA explained. “When I head to Capitol Hill in DC or State Capitols throughout the country, for example, I paint a picture of the ways our productions bolster communities: how film and television support 2.74 million American jobs; how production comprises 122,000 businesses; and how our incredible industry boasts a trade surplus with nearly every nation on earth. Today, our job involves another plotline countering a central threat to the security of workers, audiences, and the economy at large: Widespread, digital piracy. “This problem isn’t new. But piracy operations have only grown more nimble, more advanced, and more elusive. These enterprises are engaged in insidious forms of theft, breaking laws each time they steal and share protected content. These activities are nefarious by any definition, detrimental to our industry by any standard, and dangerous for the rights of creators and consumers by any measure,” Rivkin warnned. Mobsters, organized crime syndicates, child pornographers, prostitution, drug trafficking, malware and hackers. Hundreds of thousands of jobs stolen from workers and tens of billions of dollars from the U.S. economy, “including more than one billion in theatrical ticket sales.” As stories go, it’s as compelling as a synopsis accompanying a good film on Netflix which promises and then delivers, exactly as advertised. Or a bad one, where the exciting stuff appears in the synopsis yet somehow never makes it into the movie. Regardless, the MPA has a plan, one that will protect content, protect creators, return a potential one billion dollars to theaters, and by extension, keep all Americans safe. Blocking Piracy Websites As outlined directly to the audience at CinemaCon: The MPA’s Site-Blocking Plan. So today, here with you at CinemaCon, I’m announcing the next major phase of this effort: the MPA is going to work with Members of Congress to enact judicial site-blocking legislation here in the United States. For anybody unfamiliar with the term, site-blocking is a targeted, legal tactic to disrupt the connection between digital pirates and their intended audience. It allows all types of creative industries – film and television, music and book publishers, sports leagues and broadcasters – to request, in court, that internet service providers block access to websites dedicated to sharing illegal, stolen content. Let’s be clear: this approach focuses only on sites featuring stolen materials. There are no gray areas here. Site-blocking does not impact legitimate businesses or ordinary internet users. To the contrary: it protects them, too. And it does so within the bounds of due process, requiring detailed evidence establishing a target’s illegal activities and allowing alleged perpetrators to appear in a court of law. This is not an untested concept. Site-blocking is a common tool in almost 60 countries, including leading democracies and many of America’s closest allies. What key player is missing from that roster? Take a look at the map behind me. It’s us! There’s no good reason for our glaring absence. No reason beyond a lack of political will, paired with outdated understandings of what site-blocking actually is, how it functions, and who it affects. Yet experiences worldwide have now answered these concerns and taught us unmistakable lessons: Site-blocking works. It dramatically reduces traffic on piracy sites. It substantially increases visits to legal sites. Simply put, this is a powerful tool to defend what our filmmakers create and what reaches your theaters. To show what site-blocking could achieve in the United States, Rivkin homed-in on a site that has thus far proved impossible to shut down, one that was highlighted in a House Subcommittee hearing last December. FMovies Comment Reveals More Than Just Site-Blocking There’s little doubt that FMovies represents a primary enforcement target for Hollywood, or rather it would be a target if authorities in Vietnam wanted to do something about it, which apparently they do not. While obviously a negative for Hollywood, when advocating for site-blocking legislation, FMovies is a lobbying gift on a golden platter. “One of the largest illegal streaming sites in the world, FMovies, sees over 160 million visits per month and because other nations already passed site blocking legislation, a third of that traffic still comes from the United States”, Rivkin explained. The 160 million visits per month estimate seems conservative and may have been measured in February when the site experienced an unexplained dip. In January, FMovies received almost 198 million visits and in March, traffic was returning to normal levels of around 192 million visits per month. However, Rivkin’s follow-up comment to the theater-focused audience at CinemaCon may be an indication that the MPA has more on its mind than just blocking. “Imagine if those viewers couldn’t find pirated versions of films through a basic internet search. Imagine if they could only watch the latest great movies when they’re released in their intended destinations: your theaters. If we had site-blocking in place, we wouldn’t have to imagine it. We’d have another tool to make that real,” he said. Memories of SOPA: “Blocking Didn’t Break The Internet” Rivkin mentions the SOPA defeat in 2012 by citing one of the key claims by the opposition. They warned that eventually, one way or another, blocking would end up “breaking the internet” but a dozen years later, Rivkin noted that the “internet is doing just fine.” While that is still likely to be a hot topic for debate in the coming months, Rivkin’s search engine comment deserves more attention. Search engine removals or deindexing by companies such as Google don’t automatically happen just because a site is blocked by ISPs in a particular territory. What we know from blocking in Europe is that Google will remove sites from its results if a blocking order exists against a site, even if Google isn’t named in the order. In the SOPA era, that would never have happened, and certainly not voluntarily. Times Change, But By How Much? In today’s environment, there seems to be no obvious obstacle to prevent Google from doing the same, should site-blocking become available in the United States. If that type of cooperation does become the standard, perhaps Google will cooperate when it comes to blocking sites that use its DNS too. We don’t know what Google is thinking and it could go either way. What we suspect is that a re-run of 2012, with the entire tech world united in opposition to SOPA and blocking in general, seems much less likely today. The MPA could tip the scales even further in its favor by telling more detailed stories about the real-life mobsters and organized crime syndicates behind pirate sites it will actually name, in public, with supporting evidence. If not for the sake of Hollywood, bringing the child abuse, prostitution, and drug trafficking to an end might be the biggest PR coup ever seen. As the basis for a box office record-breaker in which Hollywood itself stars, would be all the more tempting, especially in the absence of piracy. Image credit: Stockcake From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

In a complaint filed at a Nashville federal court last spring, Universal Music, Sony Music, EMI and others, accused X Corp of “breeding” mass copyright infringement. The social media company allegedly failed to respond adequately to takedown notices and lacks a proper termination policy. “Twitter routinely ignores known repeat infringers and known infringements, refusing to take simple steps that are available to Twitter to stop these specific instances of infringement of which it is aware,” the complaint alleged. Motion to Dismiss X vehemently disagreed and filed a motion to dismiss the case, hoping to shut down the legal battle at an early stage. The attempt was partially successful; last month, the court dismissed the music companies’ direct and vicarious copyright infringement claims. The labels’ contributory infringement claims were partially dismissed. Judge Trauger concluded that X can’t be held liable for making it very easy to upload infringing material or for monetizing pirated content. These characteristics are not exclusive to infringing material and apply to legitimate content too, she argued. However, some elements of the contributory infringement remain intact and the lawsuit will continue on those grounds. Among other things, this includes claims that X’s repeat infringer policy was inadequate and that it willingly turned a blind eye to pirating users, especially those who have a blue checkmark. “Particularly striking is the allegation that X Corp. enforces its copyright policies less stringently against individuals willing to pay for its ‘verified’ service,” Judge Trauger wrote in her order. X Answers Complaint With the case moving forward, X was required to formally answer the complaint, which it did yesterday. In a 29-page response, X denies any wrongdoing, including allegations that its repeat infringer policy is inadequate. The music companies’ claim and the concise reply from X shown below are exemplary. Claim: “Twitter has not adopted, reasonably implemented, nor informed subscribers or account holders of, a policy to terminate users engaging in repeated acts of copyright infringement.” X’s Response: “Defendant denies the allegations in Paragraph 154 of the Complaint” In response to other allegations, X notes that the music companies are quoting and paraphrasing out of context. This includes a statement from X owner Elon Musk, who previously criticized copyright law and stated that an overzealous DMCA is a “plague on humanity“. This is how that statement was used by the music companies in their complaint. From the complaint X notes that this was taken out of context. The company doesn’t mention how, but the music companies didn’t mention that Musk was responding to a news article about a bill that would limit the copyright protection term for rightsholders including Disney. “Defendant admits that Plaintiffs purport to characterize, paraphrase and quote, selectively and out of context, a post by Elon Musk, and that the content of any such post, considered fully and in context, would speak for itself. Defendant otherwise denies the allegations in Paragraph 182 of the Complaint,” X writes in its answer. Affirmative Defenses Aside from denying the copyright infringement allegations point-by-point, X’s formal answer to the complaint doesn’t respond in detail. This is typical for this stage of the proceeding. The answer does, however, raise a series of affirmative defenses. For example, it counters that the remaining contributory liability claim is barred because any copyright infringement was “innocent and not willful.” In addition, X describes the requested damages, which in theory could reach $250 million, as “unconstitutionally excessive and disproportionate”. Some of the Affirmative Defenses X’s response to the complaint isn’t the endpoint, it kicks off the rest of the proceeding where both sides will have to argue their positions on the merits. There is a case management conference scheduled for next month, where the court will likely set a trial date. — A copy of X’s answer to the music companies’ complaint is available here (pdf) From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

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The Philadelphia music festival was called off in 2023 for “severe circumstances outside of production control”View the full article

TL;DR: Stream Northampton Saints vs. Munster in the European Rugby Champions Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN. From the Six Nations to the Gallagher Premiership, there has been so much free coverage of live rugby this season. It has been a real treat for fans, and the free games are still coming. This time it's the European Rugby Champions Cup in the spotlight, as two strong sides come head to head. If you want to watch Northampton Saints vs. Munster in the European Rugby Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need. When is Northampton Saints vs. Munster?Northampton Saints vs. Munster kicks off at 12:30 p.m. BST on April 7. This fixture takes place at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton, England. How to watch Northampton Saints vs. Munster for freeNorthampton Saints vs. Munsterwill be broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting from 11:50 a.m. BST on April 7. You can also live stream this fixture for free on ITVX. ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access ITVX from anywhere in the world. Unblock ITVX by following these simple steps: Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN) Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more) Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK Visit ITVX Stream Northampton Saints vs. Munster for free from anywhere in the world Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to ITVX without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to stream Northampton Saints vs. Munster before recovering your investment. What is the best VPN for ITVX?ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing ITVX from anywhere in the world, 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 Up to eight simultaneous connections 30-day money-back guarantee A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Stream Northampton Saints vs. Munster for free with ExpressVPN. View the full article

TL;DR: Stream Catalans Dragons vs. St Helens in the Betfred Super League for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN. We're still in the early stages of the Betfred Super League season, but St Helens and the Catalans Dragons are already making a big impression. Both sides have started strongly, making their upcoming matchup a tantalising prospect for fans of rugby league. If you want to watch Catalans Dragons vs. St Helens for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need. When is Catalans Dragons vs. St Helens?Catalans Dragons vs. St Helens kicks off at 8:05 p.m. BST on April 6. This fixture takes place at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan, France. How to watch Catalans Dragons vs. St Helens for freeCatalans Dragons vs. St Helens will be broadcast live on BBC Three, with coverage starting from 8 p.m. BST on April 6. You can also live stream this fixture for free on BBC iPlayer. BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world. Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps: Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN) Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more) Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK Visit BBC iPlayer Stream Catalans Dragons vs. St Helens for free from anywhere in the world Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to stream Catalans Dragons vs. St Helens before recovering your investment. What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world, 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 Up to eight simultaneous connections 30-day money-back guarantee A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Stream Catalans Dragons vs. St Helens for free with ExpressVPN. View the full article

TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from Harvard University are available to take for free on edX. AI is coming, whether you like it or not. You could handle these first steps into a brave new world with panic and fear, or you could learn how to harness this technology. The choice is yours, but edX makes the decision a lot easier. This online learning platform hosts free courses on Python, Javascript, and of course, AI. And better yet, these online courses are delivered by famous institutions like Harvard University. You could become a Harvard student without ever leaving home. We have lined up the best free online courses from Harvard University on topics like Python, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity: Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature Applications of TinyML Building Personal Resilience: Managing Anxiety and Mental Health CS50's Computer Science for Business Professionals CS50's Computer Science for Lawyers CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python CS50's Introduction to Computer Science CS50's Introduction to Cybersecurity CS50's Introduction to Game Development CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python CS50's Introduction to Programming with R CS50's Introduction to Programming with Scratch CS50's Understanding Technology CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript Data Science: Capstone Data Science: Inference and Modelling Data Science: Machine Learning Data Science: Productivity Tools Data Science: R Basics Data Science: Visualization Deploying TinyML Energy and Thermodynamics Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles Fat Chance: Probability from the Ground Up Fundamentals of Neuroscience Part 1 Fundamentals of TinyML High-Dimensional Data Analysis Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health Introduction to Data Science with Python Introduction to Digital Humanities Introduction to Probability Justice Leadership: Creating Public Value Leaders of Learning Machine Learning and AI with Python Managing Happiness Masterpieces of World Literature MLOps for Scaling TinyML Modern Masterpieces of World Literature Remote Work Revolution for Everyone Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking Shakespeare's Life and Work Statistics and R Super-Earths and Life Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market The Health Effects of Climate Change The Path to Happiness: What Chinese Philosophy Teaches us about the Good Life Using Python for Research You don't get a verified certificate of completion with these free courses, but that's the only catch. You can still enroll and start learning at your own pace. So what do you have to lose? Find the best free online courses from Harvard University with edX. Opens in a new window Credit: Harvard University Harvard University Courses Free at edX Get Deal View the full article

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone is on sale for £143.27 with code ROSETTA. Your special someone might be fluent in the language of love, but that may just be for you to hear. For talking to practically everyone else in the world, they'll have to study up, and Rosetta Stone may be the place to do it. With beginner to expert lessons for 25 different languages, Rosetta Stone is a fun, adaptable way to learn a new language, and you can get it for life for only £143.27 with code ROSETTA. There's more than one way to learn a language, so Rosetta Stone gives learners options. Users can try out their pronunciation with advanced speech-recognition technology that gives live feedback. Or they can brush up on their vocabulary with reading, writing, and listening exercises. This subscription lasts for life, which means your Valentine can take all the time they want to learn a new language, or a few new ones. There are 25 total, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Filipino, Japanese, Swedish, and so many more. Get a lifetime of language learning with Rosetta Stone for only £143.27 with code ROSETTA. Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone (Lifetime Subscription) £143.27 with code ROSETTA Get Deal View the full article

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 3'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. Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle. 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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. 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:A single length of hair. Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no letters that appear twice. Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter P. SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?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 Wordle #1019 is... PLAIT. 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. Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article. View the full article

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 3's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends. Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media. Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try: Yellow: The standard Green: Moves in Texas Hold'em Blue: Skin conditions Purple: US States shortened Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories: Yellow: Benchmark Green: Poker Actions Blue: Skin Types Purple: Starts of US States Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle. Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions. Drumroll, please! The solution to Connections #297 is... What is the answer to Connections todayBenchmark: BENCHMARK, GAUGE, STANDARD, YARDSTICK Poker Actions: BET, CALL, CHECK, FOLD Skin Types: COMBINATION, DRY, NORMAL, OILY Starts of US States: KENT, MARY, MASS, WASH Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections. View the full article

When it comes to breaking YouTube records, you've probably heard of MrBeast and his record of most subscribed individual creator on the platform. MrBeast also once held the record for most viewed YouTube video in a 24-hour period after one of his uploads from August 2023 received nearly 60 million views in a day. MrBeast's 24-hour view record would quickly be bested by the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI trailer which dropped just this past December. The GTA 6 trailer garnered more than 74 million views to grab that record from MrBeast. But it seems like no one will be breaking the new record-holders view count any time soon. On Monday, April 1st, 2024, the popular messaging platform Discord dropped a video announcing a new "Loot Boxes" feature. While the "feature" existed, Discord wasn't serious about it. It was an April Fools' Day joke. Discord Loot Boxes have already been removed from the platform. But, somehow, Discord's 18-second April Fools' Loot Boxes video received more than one billion views in a 24 hour period. Yes, you read that correctly. One billion views. Credit: YouTube The video received so many views, it actually got stuck at 628 million views at around the 16-hour mark as YouTube struggled to keep up with the count before updating to 1.4 billion at around the 24-hour mark. To really drive this new record home, Discord beat the record by around 1.3 billion views. How did this happen?So, how did Discord achieve this impossible feat? The company is being coy about it on social media, posting "oops" on Elon Musk's social media platform X on Tuesday in a vague reference to the video. Discord also posted a few snarky replies to some users who commented on the post. Mashable reached out to both Discord and YouTube for comment but have yet to hear back from either company. We will update this piece if we do. However, one software developer named Marvin Witt shared a very convincing breakdown of what likely happened. Basically, it appears Discord may have accidentally (or purposefully?) created a "working YouTube view bot" as Witt described it in a thread on X. Here's what went downWhen Discord pushes out a new feature, the platform often pushes out a pop-up announcement for users on the bottom right-hand corner of both the desktop app and web app. Discord did this for the Loot Box joke feature on April Fools' Day. Witt shared a screenshot of the pop-up. Mashable can also confirm that we saw this pop-up when logging into Discord on Monday morning. According to Witt, who also runs an independent news and updates resource about Discord, the Loot Box video from Discord was embedded in this pop-up via an iframe. "Loot Boxes have arrived!" the pop-up reads. However, as Witt shows, the YouTube video was not viewable for users unless they hovered their mouse over the pop-up message, in which case the video would then pop-up from the message like toast in a toaster oven. Discord's 18-second YouTube video was apparently auto-playing on loop in the background of the app while users spent countless hours messaging their friends or even just letting their computer idle. So, that leaves one more question: Did Discord do this on purpose? There's some pretty convincing evidence from Witt that it was indeed an accident. On his X account, Witt posted a screenshot of a Discord post from a "high up developer" working at the company from April 1st. "How the fuck is this video getting so many views," it says. Later in the day, some users started to notice that the pop-up's code in the Discord app had been changed to fix the issue, switching from the YouTube video to a video file. However, as Witt noted, many of the views were coming from users who kept Discord open and weren't actively using the app, meaning the problem would remain until those users updated the app, or the pop-up message no longer appeared because April Fools' Day was over. The Discord Loot Box video will likely become the source of much debate within the YouTuber community too, since there will inevitably be controversy about whether the record should count. Even if it does, there's likely to be a huge asterisk on this record. Either way, Discord set out to fool everyone on April Fools' Day. It appears they did that, but not in the exact way they had planned. View the full article

The corona isn't the only thing optimistic eclipse chasers will try to see when the moon completely covers the sun over parts of North America next month. Spectators will have a wee chance of seeing a comet with the naked eye or a standard pair of binoculars during the total solar eclipse on April 8. Comet 12/P Pons-Brooks, which makes an appearance in the inner solar system every 71 years, will have its closest approach to the sun just two weeks after the eclipse on April 21. The timing of the visit means it could be visible in the temporary twilight that comes with a blocked sun. The key will be whether the comet — a space snowball — will undergo a sudden flare-up called an outburst a day or so before, said Tony Farnham, an astronomer with expertise in comet activity at the University of Maryland. "Its forecasted brightness is right at the limit of most people's ability to see that brightness, and that's in a dark sky," Farnham told Mashable. But "The thing about this comet is that it has a history of going into outbursts, a couple of which have actually been fairly large." SEE ALSO: How the 2024 solar eclipse will be different from the last During the eclipse, the moon will cast its shadow across the continent, starting on Mexico's western coast at 11:07 a.m. PT, according to NASA, arcing from Texas to Maine, entering Canada through Ontario, and exiting on the Atlantic Coast from Newfoundland at 5:16 p.m. NDT. Major U.S. cities in this corridor, known as the "path of totality," will include Dallas, Indianapolis, and Cleveland. Totality is a rare opportunity for residents to see the sun's glowing corona, the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, usually swamped out by the much brighter solar surface. The peak moment will last up to four minutes and 28 seconds for the tens of millions of people viewing it in the shadow's path. Comets can be spectacular astronomical events in their own right. They are enormous balls of ice, dust, and rock that formed in the outer solar system, left over from the early days of planet formation about 4.6 billion years ago. Their ice starts to disintegrate as they get closer to the sun, converting instantly from a solid to a gas, skipping over the liquid phase. That process creates their signature tails, millions-of-miles-long debris trails of vaporizing material. Hundreds of years ago, comets were considered bad omens. Today, scientists know these icy bodies as time capsules of the ancient solar system. Some astronomers believe comets brought water and organic compounds — a.k.a. the building blocks of life — to early Earth. Comet 12/P Pons-Brooks, which makes an appearance in the inner solar system every 71 years, will have its closest approach to the sun just two weeks after the eclipse on April 21. Credit: Dan Bartlett In the months leading up to April 8, eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler has already mentally begun planning out his precious 4.5 minutes of totality. "I'll make a quick look for that comet," he said. "But I won't spend more than 10 seconds or so doing that." This large comet — which could have a nucleus up to 21 miles wide — has been compared to Star Wars' Millennium Falcon or a devil with horns for its unusual shape. Experts don't fully understand what's causing this distortion of its coma, the gas cloud around its nucleus. The last time Pons-Brooks, recently nicknamed the "devil comet," swung by was in 1954. Comet Pons-Brooks shares the sky with the Andromeda galaxy on March 5, 2024. Credit: Gianluca Masi / Virtual Telescope Project How to find Comet Pons-Brooks during the eclipseRecently, the comet was popping in on the galaxy Andromeda in the early evening sky. But during the eclipse, it should be near Jupiter. To locate it, Farnham recommends looking to the left of the totally eclipsed sun. About a hand's length away should be Jupiter, which will look like a bright point of light, like a star. Using the planet as a reference, you may find the comet nearby while scanning around it with binoculars. "If you look up in that vicinity and you see something fuzzy, that's the comet," he said. "If you look up in that vicinity and you see something fuzzy, that's the comet." Remember that it's safe to use regular binoculars to look at a solar eclipse when the sun is completely concealed, but never during a partial eclipse, even if only the rim is exposed. Direct sunlight can also damage the optical parts of a camera, binoculars, or telescope — including the filters on protective solar eclipse glasses, if a person wears them while looking through one of these devices. Stargazers watch for Comet NEOWISE northwest of L.A. during twilight on July 19, 2020. Credit: David McNew / Getty Images Still, astronomers are tempering people's expectations for catching a glimpse of Pons-Brooks. Nalin Samarasinha, a senior scientist and comet expert at the Planetary Science Institute, said the peak magnitude of Halley's Comet was around the same in 1986 as is predicted for this one on April 8, and he was unable to see Halley with the unaided eye in a predawn sky, a similar lighting condition to a total eclipse. "I really doubt it will be a naked eye object (at least not with my eyesight)," he wrote in an email. But for people planning to take pictures during totality, Samarasinha said it's worth trying some long exposures with a wide-angle camera, as Pon-Brooks might make a faint photobomb, particularly if it undergoes an outburst. The moon blotting out the sun during a total solar eclipse. Credit: Alan Dyer / VW Pics / UIG via Getty Images What causes a comet outburst?Though scientists don't know the exact cause of outbursts, one possibility is that heat waves from the sun make their way into a crack or pocket in the comet's nucleus, causing volatile gasses to then vaporize and shoot out material in a burst of energy. Another possibility is that as the comet evolves, a cliff or escarpment may form on the nucleus, exposing fresh material that then becomes active. The ever-changing dynamics are what drew Farnham to studying comets in the first place: They're full of surprises. He plans to travel to Central Texas for the eclipse, and he will take a glance over for Pons-Brooks. "If you see something, great, but if you don't, the real story here is the eclipse," he said. This story originally published on March 9, 2024 and has been updated. View the full article

As brands, tech giants, and consumers navigate the boom of AI-integrated tools, nonprofits are trying not to fall behind. Google, one of Big Tech's AI front runners, is lending a hand. Unveiled on March 28, the new Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI seeks to empower more "high-impact" nonprofits with generative AI support via funding, technical training, and mentorship during what is essentially a six-month Google crash course. Each of the nonprofits are already experimenting, or planning to integrate, AI-powered tools into their work. The participating projects include things like AI-powered assistants and coaches built using Large Language Models (LLMs), AI-powered search interfaces, and chatbots based on non-English Natural Language Processing (NLP) models. SEE ALSO: Israel reportedly using facial recognition and Google Photos to conduct mass surveillance in Gaza Google.org has already funneled cash into AI-powered projects for good, including experimental efforts like HomeTeam, an AI-powered veterans mental health training program built by Reflex AI. In November, Google unveiled its AI Opportunity Agenda, a set of policy recommendations and action items for supporting global AI integration. The agenda notes AI's potential in "solving big social challenges" and recommends building a "global AI Corps" that can build an AI-ready workforce, in addition to opening up other grant and training streams for businesses and organizations. Google followed up its agenda with the European AI Opportunity Initiative (and Google.org fund), providing "a range of foundational and advanced AI training to support vulnerable communities, startups, and everyone." Google is exploring AI (and its profitability) across industries, like its recent investments in consumer health tech, AI-powered healthcare tools, and the medical field at large. The accelerator launches with its first cohort of 21 nonprofits, spanning various industries and AI use cases, including initiatives from major global players like the World Bank. See the full list of accelerator participants and their AI tools below. Benefits Data Trust, a nonprofit helping low-income individuals access government benefits, is building an AI-powered assistant for caseworkers and front-line workers. Beyond 12, a tech nonprofit supporting college students in underserved communities, is creating a generative AI-powered College Coach for first-generation college students and students from under-resourced communities. CareerVillage, a community hub for professional and student advice, is expanding of its AI Career Coach for underrepresented individuals. Climate Policy Radar, a tech nonprofit providing NLP tools for climate research access, is designing an AI-enabled search interface for its climate law and policy database. CodePath, a nonprofit focused on diversifying tech careers, will provide AI tutoring and mentorship solutions for personalized career support to underserved communities. EIDU, a digital learning nonprofit, is building a generative AI-based personalized tutoring and other services for students in low- and middle income-countries. Full Fact, a misinformation and fact-checking organization, will introduce a generative AI fact-checking tool that analyzes and summarizes large volumes of health misinformation. IDinsight, Inc., a social impact advisor, provides generative AI-powered responses to health-related inquiries from new or expectant mothers in South Africa. Jacaranda Health, a nonprofit providing support to government hospitals, uses an NLP tool trained in African languages to provide digital health services to mothers. Justicia Lab, a nonprofit that designs digital solutions for immigrant justice, is building an AI assistant that provides customized legal guidance to immigrants on the path to citizenship. Materiom, a nonprofit universalizing regenerative materials, is building a generative AI tool for entrepreneurs building and testing compostable biomaterial recipes, intended to cut down on packaging and textile waste. mRelief, a nonprofit startup connecting people to government assistance, is creating an AI assistant that helps individuals apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Opportunity@Work, a labor and employment nonprofit, is exploring AI-powered research into non-degree career paths, helping workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs). Partnership to End Addiction, an addiction prevention, treatment and recovery nonprofit, is building out AI-powered addiction support services for families, including training simulations and quality assurance tools. Quill.org, an open source digital education platform, will launch an AI-powered writing and reading comprehension feedback for students. Tabiya, a tech nonprofit addressing global youth employment, operates a generative AI tool that provides employment advice and job matching to jobseekers in low- and middle-income countries. Tarjimly, a tech nonprofit providing language services to humanitarian organizations, currently offers AI-powered translation to support human refugee advocates. U.S. Digital Response, a tech solutions nonprofit helping governments and other public entities, has designed a language access tool intended to help reduce barriers to unemployment insurance. The World Bank is developing a generative AI tool to help policy makers more quickly and effectively extract research findings. Want more stories about how AI fits into your life? Check out Mashable's AI @ Work and AI @ Home series. View the full article

Save up to $600: Bring home one of these Ecovacs robot vacuum and mop combo units for up to 50% off at Amazon. The Best Splurge The Best Overall Deal Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $599.99 at Amazon (Save $600 ) Get Deal Best Premium Hybrid Robot Vacuum and Mop Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $799.99 at Amazon (Save $750 ) Get Deal Best Midrange Robot Vacuum and Mop Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop $649.99 at Amazon (Save $450) Get Deal The Budget Pick Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $349.99 at Amazon (Save $300) Get Deal Need some help with spring cleaning? Then it's time to enlist a robot to do all your dirty work. As of April 2, you can save up to 50% on select Ecovacs robot vacuum and mop combo units. From budget-friendly units with LiDAR navigation to premium devices with voice control and bespoke designs, there's a robot vacuum on sale with your name on it — and they're all heavy-duty devices eager to take on your workload. Below, check out the latest Ecovacs robot vacuum and mop combo unit deals at Amazon. Best deal overall: Ecovacs Deebot T10 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $599.99 at Amazon $1,199.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal Why we like itThe Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is a great all-rounder that can help clean up both big and small messes. It can vacuum and mop in one go, thanks to its 5000Pa suction and rotating dual-mop system. First, it'll suck up dirt and debris, then scrub deep to remove stains. It can automatically empty itself into its 3L sealed reservoir as well as wash its mop pads, too. It even hot dries them after cleaning so they don't smell like mildew. With voice control, two-way video calling, and advanced LiDAR tech, this robot vacuum is an excellent option to unleash on the grime in your home, and for a significant discount. Best premium robot vacuum and mop: Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $799.99 at Amazon $1,549.99 Save $750.00 Get Deal Why we like itThe Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni is a sleek, shiny robot vacuum and mop combo that's more than effective at clearing dirt and ground-in stains from your floors. It boasts 5,000Pa suction power and the same rotating mopping system from other Ecovacs units to get your home squeaky clean, whether it's vacuuming or mopping. Plus, it uses AIVI 3D technology to first identify obstacles and then avoid them as well as TrueMapping, a laser-based navigation system, to scan your home and make sure it knows exactly where it's going. Combine all that with voice commands, app-based controls, automatic emptying and mop pad cleaning, and a sleek deisgn, and you've got a smart gadget that you'll want to show off to others. Best midrange robot vacuum and mop: Ecovacs T20 Omni Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop $649.99 at Amazon $1,099.99 Save $450.00 Get Deal Why we like itDespite its midrange status, the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop still packs an auto-lift mopping system, which makes it a hybrid robot vacuum and mop to watch. It can lift its own mopping plates up to 9mm off of the floor when it detects carpet to make sure the moisture only gets on hard flooring. Plus, it has 6000Pa of suction power to help suck up all the crumbs and dirt hiding in your floor. It also uses LiDAR and 3D mapping to make detailed, custom images of your home for better, more precise cleaning. The budget pick: Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $349.99 at Amazon $649.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like itThe Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is a cheaper option, but it's still worth picking up if your home is bereft of robot workers. It can detect and avoid your carpet when it works on mopping your home, and it uses 3800Pa of suction power to clean up small and large messes. It also uses LiDAR to map out your home so it knows exactly where it's going. It's missing some of the auto-emptying features and voice commands of the pricier Ecovacs robot vacuums, but at this price it's definitely worth adding to your roster of cleaning products. View the full article