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Apple Event 2025: Last-minute iPhone 17 rumors tech nerds ought to know

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Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ event is less than a day away, and while the big stars of the show are mostly set in stone with the iPhone 17 (including the iPhone 17 Air), Apple Watch Series 11, and the AirPods Pro 3, the rumor mill is still abound about what else we might see Apple announce.

Based on the rumors we’ve seen, it won’t be anything major like a Mac release or new iPads. Those are generally reserved for later in the autumn or in the spring. However, there are quite a few products that surround the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods that are likely to make an appearance that we had only heard a little bit about before this week.

Here are some last-second rumors about other things that may come from the Apple event.

iPhone 17 battery capacity (and the iPhone 17 Air)

A Chinese regulatory filing may have outed the battery capacity of the iPhone 17 lineup. These numbers mostly line up with what we knew already, such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max crossing the 5,000 mAh boundary for the first time in iPhone history, finally joining competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The listing also shows the iPhone 17 Air. In case you're curious, the filing says that the iPhone 17 Air will sport a 3,149 mAh battery, which will be the smallest battery in the iPhone 17 lineup.

A magnetic Crossbody Strap and more iPhone 17 accessories

Rumors started circulating over the weekend of some new iPhone 17 accessories that may make their debut at Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ event. One such accessory is the Crossbody Strap, which is designed to work with Apple’s TechWoven cases, which are set to replace the brand’s FineWoven cases.

The idea here is pretty simple: there’s a loop on the TechWoven case that lets you attach the magnetic Crossbody Strap, which may also be compatible with AirPods. The rumor also says that the strap is magnetic across its entire length. This would allow you to carry your iPhone somewhere other than your pocket, which may be good if you’re wearing something without pockets.

Apple Watch SE 3 details

The Apple Watch SE hasn’t been updated since 2022, and the tech world fully expects to see the SE 3 debut tomorrow.

According to rumors, the updated watch will sport the same S11 chip that’s being used in the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, which would give it a similar set of features like on-device Siri processing that was missing from the SE 2. Other than that, rumors have been sparse. There was one that the SE 3 would get a plastic case instead of aluminum but Apple reportedly scrapped that one. It’ll also have fewer health features than the main watches to help reduce cost.

The M5-powered iPad Pro

Apple usually saves its iPad announcements for different events, but a noted leaker on X said that there was a chance that the M5-powered iPad Pro could make a guest appearance during the iPhone announcement. Usually, Apple saves the iPad announcements for springtime, so this would be highly unusual. Thus, take this rumor with a giant grain of salt.

However, there is something to this rumor. Apple announced the original iPad Pro on Sept. 9, 2015. That means the product is turning 10 years old, so Apple may use that as a reason to announce the latest iPad Pro earlier than normal. It also helps that iPadOS 26 is also slated to come out soon. This one is among the least believable rumors, but it’s still possible.

The AirPods Pro 4

That's not a typo — we have a new last-minute rumor regarding the AirPods Pro 4.

Yes, as we've said before, we fully expect Apple to reveal the AirPods Pro 3 alongside the iPhone 17. However, noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo posted a tweet on Sept. 6 that suggested the new AirPods Pro will get a fast sequel. Ming-Chi said the AirPods Pro 4 could arrive in 2026, way ahead of schedule.

The AirPods Pro 3 are expected to arrive with a bunch of improvements, including Apple’s new H3 chip, which should bring better sound quality and improved active noise cancelling. In addition, they’re slated for a new design, heart rate monitoring, temperature monitoring, and more.

Apple has a habit of announcing all sorts of stuff at these events, and there is always a chance that Apple pulls a fast one and surprises everyone. According to Bloomberg, there’s a chance the new AirTag 2 makes an appearance along with the rumored Vision Pro hardware refresh and potentially even a new Apple TV device, along with a HomePod mini. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.

For more Apple event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch.

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How to watch the 2026 winter sports biathlon online for free

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TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 winter sports biathlon for free on streaming platforms like 9Now, CBC Gem, and BBC iPlayer. Access these free streaming services from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.


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Credit: ExpressVPN

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

What a time to be a fan of winter sports. There's top-level ice hockey, curling, alpine skiing, and so much more taking place right now. It's actually difficult to follow everything, such is the packed nature of the schedule.

The likelihood is that fans are going to need to make some tough decisions over the next couple of weeks. We know that not everyone will have the time to track all the action, but if you have any time to spare, can we suggest that you check out the biathlon? There are few other sports that demonstrate such versatility. Athletes combine rifle shooting and cross-country skiing. The result is an extremely watchable event.

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If you want to watch the 2026 winter sports biathlon for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is the 2026 winter sports biathlon?

The international biathlon takes place from Feb. 8-21. Here's a full breakdown of what's on the schedule:

  • Mixed Relay 4 x 6km — 8:05 a.m. ET on Feb. 8

  • Men's 20km Individual — 7:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 10

  • Women's 15km Individual — 8:15 a.m. ET on Feb. 11

  • Men's 10km Sprint — 8 a.m. ET on Feb. 13

  • Women's 7.5km Sprint — 8:45 a.m. ET on Feb. 14

  • Men's 12.5km Pursuit — 5:15 a.m. ET on Feb. 15

  • Women's 10km Pursuit — 8:45 a.m. ET on Feb. 15

  • Men's 4 x 7.5km Relay — 8:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 17

  • Women's 4 x 6km Relay — 8:45 a.m. ET on Feb. 18

  • Men's 15km Mass Start — 8:15 a.m. ET on Feb. 20

  • Women's 12.5km Mass Start — 8:15 a.m. ET on Feb. 20

The great news for fans is that it's possible to follow events live without spending anything.

How to watch 2026 winter sports biathlon for free

The 2026 winter sports biathlon is available to live stream for free on a number of services:

  • Australia — 9Now

  • Austria — ORF

  • Canada — CBC Gem

  • France — France TV

  • Germany — ARD

  • Ireland — RTÉ Player

  • Italy — RAI

  • Spain — RTVE

  • UK — BBC iPlayer

These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 winter sports biathlon from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 winter sports biathlon 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 a location with free access

  4. Watch the 2026 winter sports biathlon for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the biathlon before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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).

Live stream the 2026 winter sports biathlon for free with ExpressVPN.

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How to watch Bad Bunnys halftime show online for free

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TL;DR: Live stream Bad Bunny's halftime show from the 2026 Big Game for free on 7Plus, TVNZ+, or Channel 5. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.



ExpressVPN logo

Credit: ExpressVPN

$12.99 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

If you're interested in watching the huge game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, you've come to the wrong place. We all know the real star of the show is Bad Bunny.

Spotify's most-streamed artist of 2025 will headline the Big Game's halftime show. Interested in live streaming this incredible event without spending anything? It's actually a pretty straightforward process. You might need to jump through a couple of hoops, but it's worth it. This is Bad Bunny we're talking about.

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If you want to watch Bad Bunny's halftime show from the 2026 Big Game for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

How to watch Bad Bunny's halftime show for free

Bad Bunny's halftime show from the 2026 Big Game is available to live stream for free on the following platforms:

  • Australia — 7Plus

  • New Zealand — TVNZ+

  • UK — Channel 5

These free streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, New Zealand, or the UK, meaning you can live stream the halftime show from the Big Game for free from anywhere in the world.

Follow these simple steps to secure access to the halftime show for free:

  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 Australia, New Zealand, or the UK

  4. Visit 7Plus, TVNZ+, or Channel 5

  5. Watch the halftime show for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming require a subscription, but leading VPN services also offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these deals to get access to live streams of the halftime show without actually spending anything. This is obviously a short-term fix, but you can watch Bad Bunny (and all the other performances) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the halftime show?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live events, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • 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).

Live stream Bad Bunny's halftime show from the 2026 Big Game for free with ExpressVPN.

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Microsoft Office 2024 for Mac and PC gets smarter with AI, now 60% off

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TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC is on sale for $99.97 through March 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, offering 60% off Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.



Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License

Credit: Microsoft

If your work revolves around documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and email, Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business brings those core tools together with updated features designed to keep everyday tasks moving efficiently. The lifetime license for Mac or PC is priced at $99.97, representing a 60% discount off the regular price, and ends on March 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Included are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook — the familiar lineup, installed directly on your device for both online and offline use. Office 2024 brings performance improvements across the whole software. In Excel, for example, working with large datasets or handling multiple workbooks is quicker and more reliable. For anyone who routinely works with numbers or builds reports, this added speed can make daily tasks less tedious.

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Content creation tools have also been refreshed. PowerPoint now supports recording presentations with voice narration, video, and closed captions, which is a plus for remote meetings, online classes, or sharing presentations after the fact. Word adds Focus Mode to help reduce distractions as you write, alongside AI-powered suggestions to sharpen up your prose. Built-in research features keep citations and references at your fingertips, so you can stay in the zone without switching tabs.

Microsoft’s Fluent Design system brings Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook a cohesive look and feel. Touch and pen support is now smoother on tablets and convertibles, and customizable templates and themes make it easy to create polished work without a designer’s eye.

Collaboration tools are built in as well. Real-time co-authoring allows multiple people to work on the same file simultaneously, with chat, comments, and version history helping track changes and feedback. Deeper integration with Microsoft Teams centralizes file sharing and communication within the Office environment.

Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is designed for users who already rely on Microsoft’s core apps and want updated features without changing how they work. For $99.97 through March 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, the current deal makes it easier to step into the latest version at a lower cost, especially if those tools are already part of your daily routine.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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