<![CDATA[ Tomsguide ]]> (2024)

Build strength, stability and focus using this 10-minute yoga routine and one of the best yoga mats to find your flow.

“This is a short ten-minute energizing yoga flow practice for more strength, stability and focus that really gets you expanded and grounded,” the Breathe and Flow yoga duo says. It’s a great way to start your morning or throughout the day if you sit for prolonged periods at a desk.

Below, we share the short but effective 10-minute routine, plus some of the benefits of a yoga flow practice.

Watch Breathe and Flow’s 10-minute yoga routine:

Bre and Flo are qualified yoga teachers, certified in functional movement screening and animal flow and are also Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialists. In short, they know a thing or two about yoga and how to move for maximum efficiency.

This particular routine is recommended for anyone who needs to fit movement into the day, Flo says, not dissimilar to the technique of exercise snacking.

You’ll start at the back of your mat in a standing forward fold, which gives you the chance to bring focus to your breathing and set yourself up for the routine. Aptly named yoga instructor Flo recommends activating your ujjayi breath, which means inhaling and exhaling through your nose.

It’s a type of cleansing yoga breath used to slow the heart rate and build heat in the body by sealing your lips and creating a slight restriction at the back of your throat. It’s one of the things I wish I had known as a yoga beginner sooner, but only use it if you feel comfortable.

I describe this practice as slow and strong rather than the fast-paced transitions of vinyasa; this will test your ability to use your strength, control, balance and focus to drive movement, hold muscles under constant tension and boost stability over time.

This is a smart way to focus on form, transitions and building intensity if you only have a short amount of time to get your yoga fix. Moving slowly also means paying more attention to what your body is doing and how your muscles feel during each posture — something we should do more often during any exercise to improve muscular activation and contraction and build our neuromuscular pathways.

Is doing 10 minutes of yoga a day enough?

Although exercise snacking — a trend that involves adding short bouts of exercise into your daily routine — seems like a fad, there’s some evidence (like this study published in Exercise and Sports Science Reviews) that suggests bursts of vigorous exercise lasting as little as 60 seconds could improve your cardio fitness.

Although this 10-minute yoga session wouldn’t be classified as “vigorous,” building a consistent yoga practice, however long, has plenty of benefits. Yoga can build flexibility, boost mobility, strengthen joints, muscles, bones and ligaments, increase feelings of mindfulness and reduce anxiety and low mood, helping to build mental strength.

It’s amazing what an hour of yoga can do for your body, but consistency is crucial for hitting your physical or mental health goals. Making exercise feel more approachable and accessible can breed consistency, whether you want to build strength, lose weight, or anything in between. If splitting up your exercise throughout the day or week improves consistency, then yes, 10 minutes is beneficial.

One study published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests yoga can be useful for improving health and “lifestyle-related health conditions,” citing the frequency of home practice as more important than time spent practicing or how many classes someone takes. Even 10 minutes could pack some health benefits.

Can yoga help you lose weight?

Any form of exercise can help support weight loss, but a yoga practice alone is unlikely to blitz calories. You’ll need to consider other lifestyle changes like quality sleep, diet and moving more often throughout the day. Besides, there are many other benefits of yoga to be gained.

If weight loss is one of your goals, faster-paced practices like vinyasa, power, Rocket and hot yoga could increase your heart rate and make classes more challenging. For example, a study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that 60 minutes of vinyasa flow burned similar calories to brisk walking.

More from Tom's Guide

• I did 60 minutes of hot yoga for 6 months, and here's what happened to my body
• Who needs weights? This 5-move bodyweight workout boosts core strength and torches every major muscle group
• Pilates instructor says this standing resistance band workout will strengthen every major muscle in 25 minutes

August is flying by and the new school semester will be here before you know it. For consumers, that means now is the time to shop this season's best back to school sales.

High on many students' shopping lists is a new laptop. While buying a new laptop can be expensive, this week's back to school laptop deals are making it cheaper than ever. In fact, outside of Black Friday — back to school season is when I see the most laptop deals. And these aren't just any deals, but aggressive discounts on some of the best laptops that have graced the Tom's Guide testing lab.

Below, I've rounded up 19 of the best back to school laptop deals you can get right now. Whether you're looking for the best laptop for engineering students or the best student computer, my roundup includes deals on Windows machines, budget Chromebooks, and the latest MacBooks. These machines are suitable for work, play and anything in between.

Quick Links

• Acer Chromebook 315: was $299 now $179 @ Best Buy
• Asus VivoBook 15: was $379 now $309 @ Amazon
• MacBook Air 13 (M2): was $1,099 now $799 @ Amazon
• MacBook Air 13 (M3): was $1,099 now $849 @ Amazon
• HP OmniBook X Copilot+ PC: was $1,199 now $999 @ HP
• Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ PC: was $1,299 now $1,099 @ Dell
• MSI Vector GP68HX 16: was $2,099 now $1,799 @ Best Buy

CoPilot+ PCs

Windows

MacBooks

Chromebooks

Max is one of the best streaming services in part because it's always adding critically acclaimed movies. This August, that rule has no exception.

However, I will admit that this month the pickings are slimmer than most. Only five newly added movies meet the 85% "fresh" threshold on Rotten Tomatoes this month — just two cross 90%. So you're going to want our help to narrow down which movie to watch on your next movie night.

The good news is that, despite the limited selection, there's a lot of range to these five movies. There's everything from foreign romantic comedies to psychological thrillers, and even a beloved animated fantasy movie that works for the whole family.

So without further ado, here are the five new to Max movies with 85% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes this month.

'Amelie' (2001)

I know some of you may start scrolling to the next film after seeing "French-language romantic comedy" but I promise you shouldn't. Yes, there's heavy use of accordion in the trailer, but rest assured this is one of the most successful French films ever made.

"Amélie" stars Audrey Tautou as the titular Amélie Poulain, a lonely Parisian waitress from a tragic sheltered upbringing. One day she discovers an old metal box of childhood memorabilia hidden in the wall of her apartment, and she goes on a quest to track down the boy who owned it and along the way bring happiness to those she passes on her journey. Come for the Oscar-nominated heartwarming story. Stay for Amélie's complex schemes to make people happy.

Genre: French-language romantic comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Stream it now on Max

'A Bigger Splash' (2015)

Starring Tilda Swinton as world-famous rock singer Marianne Lane, "A Bigger Splash" is a must-watch for fans of director Luca Guadagnino's most recent hit "Challengers."

In this tense drama filled with love triangles and romances old and new, Swinton's Lane is recovering in Italy with her lover Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) after surgery, which has caused her to lose her voice. Their romantic getaway begins idyllic, but the arrival of Lane's former lover — and Paul's former mentor — Harry (Ralph Fiennes) turns paradise into Hell. Further complicating things is Harry's daughter Pen (Dakota Johnson) who comes with Harry to Marianne and Paul's Italian island villa.

Genre: Psychological drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
Stream it now on Max

'Beetlejuice' (1988)

It's never too early to put a bit of spooky in your life. And with this movie's sequel "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" debuting at the Venice Film Festival later this month, you'll want to watch this Tim Burton classic faster than you can say “Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse.”

Starring Michael Keaton as the titular Betelgeuse (pronounced Beetlejuice), this movie is loaded with acting talent. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis play Adam and Barbara Maitland, a recently deceased couple forced to spend the next 125 years haunting their country home in Winter River, Connecticut. So when Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones), Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara) and Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) suddenly move in and start changing everything, the Maitlands call on Betelgeuse to rid them of the Deetzes. This ghoulish comedy is a must-watch on Max this month, or any month it's available.

Genre: Fantasy horror comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
Stream it now on Max

'Down Terrace' (2009)

"Down Terrace" stars real-life father and son duo Robin and Robert Hill as fictional father and son Karl and Bill. Any tale about father and son dynamics is bound to be fraught with a bit of drama, but when your dad is a local crime boss just released from prison and you're in the family business, that's definitely a complicated relationship.

Rest assured, this crime movie isn't just about family dynamics. There's plenty of betrayal, violence and even murder over the movie's 93 minutes. While chances are you didn't see "Down Terrace" given its $9,812 box office haul, you won't want to miss it. Critics overwhelmingly praised it as a surprisingly comedic and effective crime drama.

Genre: Crime drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
Stream it now on Max

'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)

This month, I saved the best movie for last. "How to Train Your Dragon" stars Jay Baruchel as Hiccup, the 15-year-old son of the Viking chieftain Stoic (Gerard Butler). Their village of Berk is subject to frequent dragon attacks. But when Hiccup meets Toothless, he adopts the adorable Night Fury dragon against his father's wishes.

More from Tom's Guide

• New on HBO and Max in August 2024 — all the new shows and movies to watch
• Max just announced 19 new and upcoming shows
• How to get Max for free —here are 4 ways

Everything from your smart speaker to your favorite chatbot could sound awfully familiar one of these days. Meta is reportedly reaching out to celebrities to have them contribute their voices to future AI projects.

Shared by the our sister site Tech Radar, the social media giant is offering millions of dollars to various celebrities in exchange for the rights to use their voices to train AI voice clones. Some of the mentioned names include Awkwafina, Judi Dench, and Keegan-Michael Kay.

The voices are meant to be used in the digital assistant product MetaAI, reports the New York Times. Allegedly, Meta is in talks with many of the big talent agencies in Hollywood.

As of this writing, it is unclear how many famous individuals are being considered for the project or who might actually sign up. Sources told the Times that Meta could pay millions in fees to any actors that do agree.

It may be a hard sell, since the Screen Actors Guild just went on strike last year against Hollywood studios over a number of issues including protections against AI labor or AI likenesses. That said, there are reports from unnamed sources that SAG-AFTRA has reached an agreement with Meta on terms.

A Bloomberg report claimed that Meta is looking to lock down celebrity voices before the company's Connect 2024 event in September, mostly so the company can have time to develop AI tools utilizing the voices in time for the event.

What the company wants to do with the voice rights is unclear at this time.

Last year, Meta unveiled a bevy AI characters based on celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady and Paris Hilton who leant their faces to AI characters — Snoop Dogg as a DND Dungeon Master or soccer star Sam Kerr as a calming, free-spirited friend. Those chatbots were text-only and have since dropped their celebrity faces.

AI and actor voices is not without controversy. Earlier this year, OpenAI revealed GPT-4o with a voice option that sounded suspiciously like Scarlett Johansson. That voice was removed after Johansson moved to take legal action against the AI firm.

And as of this writing, SAG-AFTRA is specifically on strike against video game companies over disagreements regarding worker protections involving AI. The union is seeking protections for both voice actors and motion-capture performers.

More from Tom's Guide

• I drove a remote control car using the Meta Quest 3 — and it's the closest I'll ever get to NASCAR
• I tested Gemini vs ChatGPT vs Claude vs Meta Llama — which AI chatbot wins?
• I tested Meta Quest 3's Travel Mode on a 15-hour flight, and it puts Apple Vision Pro to shame

Looking for today's Connections answers?The Connections answers on August 7 for puzzle #423 takes a leap after a few days of similar difficulties, with the Connections Companion rating this puzzle's difficulty at 3.3 out of 5.

Every day, we update this article with Connections hints and tips to help you find all 4 of today's answers. And if the hints aren't enough, you'll find all 4 answers below, with the category titles and the correlating words. Plus, we're including a reflection on yesterday's puzzle, #422, in case you're reading this in a different time zone.

Spoilers lie ahead for Connections #423. Only read on if you want to know today's Connections answers.

Alternatively, visit our how to play NYT Connections guide for tips on how to solve the puzzle without our help.

Today's Connections answer — hints to help you solve it

Unlike our guide to today's Wordle answer, where we recommend the best Wordle start words as your strategy, solving Connections relies on identifying connecting categories among 16 words. Each category's difficulty level is represented by a color; yellow is the easiest grouping, and purple is the most challenging. Once you've made 4 mistakes in your guesses, the answers will be revealed, so hints can be helpful.

If you need hints to solve the groupings, then here are the themes of each, based on the order of difficulty:

• 🟨 Yellow: Cram
• 🟩 Green: Restaurant jobs
• 🟦 Blue: Electromagnetic spectrum
• 🟪 Purple: Things with bits

These hints should get you at least some of the way towards finding today's Connections answers. If not, then you can read on for bigger clues; or, if you just want to know the answer, then scroll down further.

Here's a larger hint: I would start with positions at an eatery and then consider rays and waves. After that get to filling up things that have bits.

Today's Connections answers

So, what are today's Connections answers for game #423?

Drumroll, please...

• 🟨 Cram: Jam, pack, ram stuff
• 🟩 Restaurant jobs: Cook, dishwasher, host, server
• 🟦 Electromagnetic spectrum: Microwave, radio, visible, x-ray
• 🟪 Things with bits: Bridle, byte, comedian, drill

I managed to go down the line with today's puzzle which is always satisfying when it happens. More often than not I am surprised at what the NYT Games crew consider a green or blue category compared to others.

Yellow was an easy spot with jam, pack, ram and stuff. I think ram is a tricky word here as I don't think most people will consider it as a word that means to cram.

Green was pretty easy after that with cook, dishwasher, host, and server. I will say that I fell for the computer trap as I tried to make server, byte, server and host work. It did not.

I had been minding the electromagnetic spectrum from the beginning, but wasn't considering visible until I got to the last eight words. It became obvious that visible fit better with microwave, radio and x-ray than the last four.

Purple makes sense and feels like one you should get far earlier with bridle, byte, comedian and drill. Which I think is a mark of a good purple when the answers provoke the feeling that you should've known.

Yesterday's Connections answers

Reading this in a later time zone? Here are the Connections answers for game #422, which had a difficulty rating of 2.7 out of 5, according to the Connections Companion.

Today felt about right for a 2.7 difficulty rating.

I did take an early strike with yellow because I had fog instead of dandelion. In my mind the connection was things describe as cottony. Also, I was picturing the yellow dandelion and not the ball that kids blow everywhere. Swapped the two and got cloud, cotton ball and sheep.

For the most part, I immediately think test subject when I see guinea pig. So, it was a quick find to see participant, subject and volunteer.

I have taken issue with some of the categories in recent days so disapprove, mind, object and protest stuck out. It helps that three of them were next to each other with the way the grid fell.

Purple became the rote fill with "bull" horn, "fog"horn, "matter"horn and "shoe"horn. I like this one. As mentioned above it did make me think of Foghorn Leghorn that ornery southern rooster of Looney Tunes fame. Off to watch some cartoons.

Need a bit of help with NYT Strands today? Today's puzzle theme — "Oh, oh, oh!" — is maddeningly cryptic, and still pretty tough when you've figured out the link.

Below, we've compiled some useful hints for Strands #157, as well as the answers, should it come to that. We'll start off with some clues, before building up to the full answer for Strands #157, so read on if you need a little help.

Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for Strands #157.

Today's NYT Strands answer — Today's theme and hints

The official theme for NYT Strands #157 is... "Oh, oh, oh!"

And here's an unofficial hint from me: "Soundalikes."

If you're still in the dark, here are some useful words to give you those valuable clue tokens:

• CRAM
• MARCH
• CHEAT
• TALES
• CHART
• ARTY

Still struggling? The spangram will give you a hint about the connection word. Today, it starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'.

Scroll down to find out what it is...

It's RHYMETIME.

Today's Strands answers

So, what are today's Strands answers for game #157?

Drumroll, please...

• DOUGH
• WHOA
• AVOCADO
• MISTLETOE
• RAINBOW
• CHATEAU

...and the spangram was RHYMETIME.

Strands #157

“Oh, oh, oh!”

🔵🟡🔵💡

🔵🔵🔵🔵

Hi Strands fans. This one was a toughie. "Oh, oh, oh!" is maddeningly cryptic, but I got kind of lucky by quickly finding DOUGH in the top-right corner.

I grasped that this was about things that rhyme with 'oh' - and got the spangram of RHYMETIME from bottom to top next - but even then this was a bit of a struggle.

It wasn't helped by me finding WHOA in the bottom left, but initially spelling it WOAH. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to try an alternate spelling, but even afterwards, I was a bit stumped and had to use a clue. The clue revealed the anagram of VAOCOAD, which I unpicked into AVOCADO.

Three remained, and it was a bit like pulling teeth, difficulty-wise. MISTLETOE was the only one remaining on the left side of the board, so that wasn't too tough, but the right segment was immensely tricky, even though I saw the two answers likely ended with "bow" and "eau" to fit the rhyming brief.

The former, it turned out, was RAINBOW. And that left a clear path to make CHATEAU with my remaining letters.

Well, I found that one really tough, but maybe that's just me! Hopefully tomorrow's will be more straightforward.

Yesterday's Strands answers

Reading this in a later time zone? You can find the full article on yesterday's Strands answers for game #156 right here.

Moving a mattress by yourself is no easy task, especially if you have a larger size bed, but it can be done. Here we’re sharing some handy tips for how to move a mattress alone without damaging your bed or yourself.

Knowing the right way to do it is essential for protecting your mattress from damage. This is doubly important if your bed is still within its trial period because if you want to return or exchange it down the line, it will need to go back in pristine condition.

If your mattress is over eight years old or it’s starting to sag and feel uncomfortable, it might be time to buy a new mattress instead. Our guide to this year's best mattresses contains our top recommendations for all sleepers, and we expect many of them to be discounted in the Labor Day mattress sales too. For now, here's how to move a mattress by yourself without damaging it...

How to move a mattress by yourself

Before you start the process of moving your mattress, you'll first need to prepare your space, the mattress and yourself. We advise getting everything you need together beforehand so that you can get on with the job instead of pausing to go and get extra supplies.

Before you start the process, make sure to remove any bedding including sheets, mattress toppers and pillows and set them aside.

What you'll need

• Mattress bag
• Tape
• Bubble wrap (optional)
• Tie down straps
• Cardboard
• Tape measure
• Dolly

1. Measure your mattress and new space

Before you get started, measure the dimensions of your mattress and the space in which it needs to pass through to make sure that there’s enough space to safely move it. If you’re moving it down the stairs, measure any parts of the ceiling that may drop down so you know you have a safe route.

2. Clear your route

You’re going to be moving this mattress without any help so you need a clear path from where your starting point is through to the end. Make sure that you move anything out of the way that you may bump in to and take in to account the size of your mattress too, you may need a little bit of extra room to get it through, especially if you’re getting it up or down stairs.

3. Cover your mattress

The easiest way to cover your mattress is to use a mattress bag. If you can remember when your mattress was first delivered it would have been in a big plastic wrap. Well, thats exactly what a mattress bag is and the thick plastic means that your mattress won’t get marked or scuffed during your move.

Start by standing your mattress on its side and gradually shimmying the mattress into the bag. You can buy mattress bags that have a zip to secure it inside which are easier if you’re able to find one.

You can buy them in all available mattress sizes from Amazon or hardware stores. If you don’t have a mattress bag then you can cover it in bubble wrap be sure to get all parts covered including the edges as they are where you’re most likely to scuff it.

4. Reinforce your mattress with cardboard

Larger-sized mattresses and those that are made from memory foam or springs may be floppy which can be difficult when you’re trying to move them. You can use cardboard to help reinforce the edges and make it firmer so it’s easier to move. Using old cardboard boxes or cardboard sheets, place them on the sides of the mattress and secure them using tie-down straps.

5. Place the mattress on a dolly (optional)

This step depends on where you’re moving your mattress to, if you’re moving it outside of your home and loading it into your vehicle then you’re going to need some help.

We recommend using a dolly, which is a four-wheel platform surface that can be used to transport bulky items like mattresses. Load your mattress onto the dolly and wheel to your vehicle, remember to apply the brakes so it doesn’t roll away when you try to lift it off.

If you’re able to lie it flat in your car or van, don’t stack anything on top of it as you don’t want to risk causing sagging. Also ensure the mattress is secure in your vehicle and won’t move around whilst you’re travelling. You can use blankets or pillows to cushion it.

Things to avoid when moving a mattress by yourself

1. Don’t lift with your back

When you’re moving your mattress by yourself you must practice good health and safety protocols as otherwise you’re going hurt yourself. Always lift with your legs not your back to avoid injury.

When you lift, bend your knees and keep your back straight. Also avoid twisting your body whilst lifting and carrying your mattress as this will put strain on your back and joints. Instead, pivot your feet if you need to change direction.

2. Don’t bend or fold your mattress

Unless you have a traditional innerspring mattress, try to avoid bending or folding your mattress to fit it in your car or van. Bending your mattress if it’s made from memory foam could cause the layers to crease, tear and lose their shape. This then leads to even the best memory foam mattresses becoming lumpy, uneven and uncomfortable.

3. Never drag your mattress

Even if you have packed your mattress really well dragging your mattress can cause scuffs, tears to the fabric, water damage if you go through puddles and potentially damage the internal layers.

Other ways to move your mattress

If you’re getting rid of your mattress, you can donate it to a charity and arrange for it to be picked up. You could also list it on Facebook Marketplace or CraigsList and state that the collector needs to transport the mattress.

Also research whether your local area has mattress collection services. Many municipalities have days for larger items to be collected, although many places will require you let them know when you’re leaving it out.

If you’re keeping your mattress, whether you’re moving it to another room or to a new home you could ask friends, family or even neighbours to help you move it. You could also hire a professional to move it. Professionals will take away the heavy lifting and do it all for you often delivering it to the room of your choice too.

And if you are buying a new mattress, why not look for a mattress company that offers mattress removal? Saatva, the brand behind the Saatva Classic, one of this year's best hybrid mattress, offers free white glove delivery which includes free old mattress and bed removal.

Today’s best mattress sales

• Saatva mattresses: up to $600 off
• DreamCloud mattress: up to 50% off
• Nectar mattresses: up to 40% off
• Helix mattresses: 20% off + free pillows
• Casper mattress: 20% off all beds
• Emma mattresses: up to 55% off
• Tempur-Pedic: 30% off cooling beds
• Brooklyn Bedding mattresses: 25% off sitewide
• Purple mattress: get up to $300 of free bedding

The more we learn about how AI is built the more reports pop up of companies using copyrighted content to train AI without permission.

NVIDIA has been accused of downloading videos from YouTube, Netflix and other datasets to train commercial AI projects.404 Media reports that the company was using the downloaded videos to train AI models for products like the company's Omniverse 3D world generator and "digital human" efforts like the embodied AI Gr00t project.

When reached by email, NVIDIA told Tom's Guide that they "respect the rights all of content creators" while saying that their research efforts are "in full compliance with the letter and the spirt of copyright law."

"Copyright law protects particular expressions but not facts, ideas, data, or information," their statement read. "Anyone is free to learn facts, ideas, data, or information from another source and use it to make their own expressions."

They also made the case that AI model training is an example of free use with using content in a transformative purpose.

Netflix declined to comment, but YouTube does not agree with NVIDIA's assessment. Jack Malon, YouTube's Policy Communications Manager, pointed us to comments made by CEO Neal Mohan in April to Bloomberg, saying that "our previous comments still stand."

At the time, Mohan was responding to reports that OpenAI was training its Sora AI video generator on YouTube videos without permission. He said, "It does not allow for things like transcripts or video bits to be downloaded, and that is a clear violation of our terms of service. Those are the rules of the road in terms of content on our platform."

This isn't even the first time this summer that NVIDIA has been accused of scraping YouTube. Several big companies, including Apple and Anthropic, were reportedly pullng information from a massive dataset called 'the Pile' which feature thousands of YouTube videos, including popular creators like Marques Brownlee and PewDiePie.

Ethical concerns raised...and dismissed

404Media reports that employees who raised ethical or legal concerns were told by managers that the practice had the greenlight from the "highest levels of the company."

“This is an executive decision,” Ming-Yu Liu, vice president of research at NVIDIA, replied. “We have an umbrella approval for all of the data.”

Apparently, some managers kicked the can down the road, saying that the scraping was an open legal issue that the company would deal with later.

YouTube and Netflix videos weren't the only datasets reportedly scrapped by NVIDIA. The company is also said to have pulled from the movie trailer database MovieNet, libraries of video game footage, and the Github video dataset WebVid.

It may be that scraping creates opportunities for poor data to make its way into model training since companies appear to be grabbing whatever they can.

Bruno Kurtic, CEO of Bedrock Security, suggests it can create poor models, "Given the very large scales of data used, manual attempts to do this will always result in incomplete answers, and as a result, the models may not stand up to regulatory scrutiny."

He went on to suggest that AI building companies should provide an auditable "data bill of materials to highlight where the data they trained on came from and what was ethically sourced."

It is one way that companies could solve their AI issues, but when everyone is scraping everyone else, what data is clean?

What isn't fair game?

Allegedly, some of the videos used by NVIDIA were from a huge library of YouTube videos marked as only for academic purposes. This usage license specifies that the videos are only meant for academic research. Apparently, NVIDIA claimed that the academic library was fair game for commercial AI products.

YouTube parent company Alphabet isn't immune to criticism of scraping the internet for AI models. Last summer, Google released a plan to use all "publicly available information to help train Google’s AI models and build products and features like Google Translate, Bard, and Cloud AI capabilities.”

It is safe to assume that anything posted to Google platforms like YouTube were considered fair game but also anything posted at the internet at large.

At the time a Google spokesperson told Tom's Guide, "Our privacy policy has long been transparent that Google uses publicly available information from the open web to train language models for services like Google Translate. This latest update simply clarifies that newer services like Bard are also included. We incorporate privacy principles and safeguards into the development of our AI technologies, in line with ourAI Principles.”

The implication being that any public post made at any point in time is fodder for Google's own AI ambitions.

The full 404 Media report has far more details and is worth a read.

More from Tom's Guide

• 79 best Netflix shows to stream right now in August 2024
• YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV: Which cable alternative wins?
• Nvidia is all in on AI at Computex 2024 with new Copilot features and tools

Firm mattresses are a great choice for back, stomach and heavier sleepers who need extra support throughout the night.But if your mattress is too firm and you’re craving plush comfort, we’ve got some tips for how to make a firm mattress softer.

What’s too firm for one sleeper is perfect for another, but sleeping on a mattress that’s too firm could be affect your sleep quality, leaving you tossing and turning at night and waking up with aches and pains. Most people sleep well on medium-firm mattress as they offer a good balance of softness whilst still being supportive enough to keep your spine in a neutral position.

If after trying our tricks to make your firm mattress softer you decide that it's still too hard for your body and sleep position, then consider buying a new and softer mattress. Our guide to this year's best mattresses for all sleepers contains our top-rated recommendations for different budgets. Now is a good time to buy too as this year's Labor Day mattress sales and deals are nearly here.

How to tell if your mattress is too firm for you

When choosing a new mattress there are a lot of options when it comes to firmness levels. How firm should a mattress be? Well, that’s down to your own individual sleep style. Typically, side sleepers benefit more from softer mattresses whilst back and stomach sleepers benefit from the firmer end of the scale.

But there are some signs that the mattress you’ve chosen is too firm. Waking up with aches, pains and stiff joints, especially if you haven’t done in the past, is the number one sign that your mattress is too firm for you.Also, if you’re feeling numbness in your limbs it could be due to restricted blood flow caused by pressure points from your mattress being too firm.

Changing sleep positions a lot throughout the night is also a sign that your mattress isn't contouring your body and relieving pressure points. Look out for visual signs too – when you lie on your mattress there should be some degree of sinkage around the shoulders and hips. If there’s no movement, your mattress may be too firm for your body.

How to make a firm mattress softer

1. Add a mattress topper

One of the easiest ways to change the feel of any bed is to add a mattress topper. Many of this year's best mattress toppers are capable of turning a firm mattress in to a softer, more comfortable sleep haven.

Mattress toppers come in a variety of materials and thicknesses so you can customize the level of softness you need. Memory foam toppers are designed to contour your body to offer pressure relief to your shoulders, hips and other pressure points. Whilst feather and down toppers offer more luxurious comfort.

2. Adjust your bed base

The type of base you use for your mattress can have a big effect on the feel of your bed. If you have a slatted base then wider slats can often make the mattress feel softer. You may also wish to opt for a sprung slatted base as this will add a little bounce whilst still retaining the support that your firm mattress offers.

3. Warm your bed up

If you have a memory foam or hybrid mattress with a top layer of foam then warm your mattress up before you hop in. Foams, in particular memory foam react to heat and become more malleable when they’re warmed up which means it’ll feel a lot softer. So layer up your mattress with plenty of blankets and pillows to warm up the surface.

Remember never to apply direct heat to your memory foam mattress such as a hair dryer or heater unit. Whilst memory foam responds well to some warmth, direct heat can cause the foams to become damaged and misshapen resultingin them loosing all its supportive qualities.

4. Rotate your bed

When we sleep in the same spot night after night the mattress can start to breakdown which changes the feel of your bed. Try to rotate your mattress 180-degrees at least every six months. Although, when your mattress is new, you should rotate it a little more often whilst it settles in. Rotating your mattress on a regular basis helps keep the mattress surface even.

Some mattresses can also be flipped, flipping your mattress has the same effect as rotating it. But if your mattresses is constructed with layers or has zoned support, you cannot flip it, check with your mattress brand instructions before flipping.

Should you give your firm mattress time to soften up?

If you’ve only had your mattress a couple of weeks, give it time to soften up. Memory foam and latex mattresses especially can feel firmer when they’re new but over time they start to soften naturally.

If your mattress still feels uncomfortable after six weeks of sleeping on it and you have a sleep trial included in your purchase then arrange a return and choose something softer. If you want more information on how to return a mattress in a box then you can read about it in our guide.

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The legendary sports docuseries returns, this time taking a look at the ups and downs of the historic NFL franchise during the 2024 off-season. Here's how to watch "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for free.

For the first time in its twenty-plus year history, sports docuseries “Hard Knocks” is following the Chicago Bears. The five-episode series promises an “unprecedented, in-depth perspective [...] as the team prepares for the 2024 season”, with cameras going behind the scenes at The Bears during this vital pre-season period.

There’s much to cover too, with the team going through somewhat of a shake up after the offensive coaching staff, including coordinator Luke Getsy, were fired at the start of the year. 2024 will be the 105th season for the franchise, with pre-season clashes already underway.

There’s also more “Hard Knocks” to look forward to this year, with the debut of a new off-season spin-off, which, for its initial season, will follow the New York Giants.

Ready for some season prep with The Bears? Read on to find out how to watch "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears” online and from anywhere.

How to watch 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' online in the U.S.

How to watch 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' online in the U.S.

Maxis no. 1 on our best streaming services list for its vast, high-quality library, including all of HBO’s prestige series like "Game of Thrones", "The Last of Us" and "Succession", plus recent offerings among the best Max shows such as "True Detective: Night Country" and "House of the Dragon".

Watch 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' from anywhere in the world

How to watch 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' from anywhere with a VPN

If "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" isn't airing where you're currently located, that doesn't mean you have to miss the show while you're away from home. With the right VPN (virtual private network), you can stream the show from wherever you are.

We've evaluated many options, and thebest VPN you can get right now isNordVPN. It meets the VPN needs of the vast majority of users, offering outstanding compatibility with most devices and impressive connection speeds. You can try it risk-free for 30 days if you take advantage of NordVPN's no-quibble money-back guarantee.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect toin the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the U.K. and want to view a U.S. service, you'd select a U.S. server from the location list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to your streaming service app — so Max, for example — and watch "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" online from wherever you are in the world.

Watch 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' around the world

Can I watch 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' online in Canada?

There's currently no word on when "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" might air in Canada.

Those on vacation away from Canada will need one of the best VPNs to log in back home to use Crave as it will be geo-blocked when not at home.

Can I watch 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' in the U.K.?

Previous seasons of "Hard Knocks" have aired on Sky in the U.K., but there's currently no word on when "Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" might arrive.

When the series does land in Blighty, we'd expect it to also be available to watch via the Sky Go app, which is available on smartphones, computers, games consoles and a host of TV streaming devices.

Not a Sky subscriber? Plans currently start from £26/month.

Alternatively, Sky content is also available to watch with a subscription to the broadcaster's pay-as-you-go service Now. Prices start from only £6.99/month.

Those on vacation away from the U.K. will need a good streaming VPN to log in back home to use Sky Go or Now as they will be geo-blocked when not at home.

Can I watch 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' online in Australia?

There's currently no home for the "Hard Knocks" franchise in Australia and that includes "Training Camp with the Chicago Bears".

If you're an American viewer travelling Down Under you can use a VPN to log in back home and stream the sports doc as you normally would.

All you need to know about 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears'

'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' trailer

'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears' episode guide

All episodes air on HBO and Max at 9 p.m. ET / PT (2 a.m. BST / 11 a.m. AEST Weds).

• Episode 1: Tuesday, August 6
• Episode 2: Tuesday, August 13
• Episode 3: Tuesday, August 20
• Episode 4: Tuesday, August 27
• Episode 5: Tuesday, September 3

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