Entertainment
Want to learn coding? Do it for just $38 with this all-in-one bundle.
TL;DR: Take your coding skills to the next level with the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle for just $37.97 (reg. $1,999.99) with code COURSE30 now until Aug. 2.
$34.97
$1,999.99
Save $1,965.02
Whether you’re learning to code for work or just mastering this skill as a hobby, the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle sets you up for success. This combo gives you the education you need, plus software that makes the process easier.
Right now, you can score it all for only $37.97 with code COURSE30 through Aug. 2.
Mashable Deals
These days, you can master new lucrative skills without even setting foot in a classroom. This Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle gives you all the tools you need — from the software to the lessons.
Start with Learn to Code with Python 3 taught by Joseph Delgadillo, a best-selling technology instructor ready to show you the ins and outs of coding. These courses were made with beginners in mind, so you don’t need any prior knowledge. He’ll also show you how to learn coding languages like C++ in just four hours, so it’s a great option for busy schedules.
Once you have a good foundation in coding, thanks to these classes, put it into practice with Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026. This software comes equipped with AI integration that helps you write high-quality code.
Type less and code more thanks to IntelliCode, and see a ranked list of next best suggestions as you go. You’ll have CodeLens, which shows you important information about your code to make the process easier.
Mashable Deals
You have two more days to save on the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle and get it for just $37.97 with code COURSE30 until Aug. 2.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
New York sues Kalshi, claiming its unlicensed gambling
On Friday, New York state filed a lawsuit against prediction market platform Kalshi, claiming that it’s operating as an “unlicensed gambling business.”
The Office of Attorney General Letitia James found that Kalshi is an illegal prediction market that exposes New Yorkers to “serious personal and financial risk,” according to a press release. The lawsuit seeks fines, the forfeit of all illegal gains, and restitution to members.
The suit claims that Kalshi’s prediction markets meet the legal definition of gambling “because the outcomes of the events on which its users are betting are uncertain and outside the control of the bettor or hinge on a game of chance.” But the platform hasn’t obtained a license from the New York State Gaming Commission. It also states that Kalshi is available to adults aged 18-20, while New York law requires users to be at least 21 to bet on sports.
“Kalshi has chosen to ignore New York’s gaming laws, which exist to protect consumers, prevent problematic gambling, deliver funding for critical public services, and ensure that every company plays by the same rules,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in the press release. “This choice has consequences, and working closely with Attorney General James, New York is taking action to stop this illegal behavior and bring Kalshi into compliance, because no company is above the law.”
Mashable Light Speed
“No matter what they call themselves, prediction markets like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple. By ignoring our laws, Kalshi is running an illegal operation and harming New Yorkers in the process,” James said in the press release. “We are taking them to court to uphold our laws and protect New Yorkers.”
Friday’s lawsuit comes after New York sued Coinbase and Gemini for similar allegations in April. It also comes after Kalshi sued New York state in Oct., according to CNBC, following New York’s Gambling Commission’s cease-and-desist letter to the company. A judge denied the company’s request for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against the commission in July.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an agency of the federal government, has now sued New York, as it considers prediction markets to fall within its jurisdiction. “Rather than seek reasoned answers from the courts, Letitia James and New York seek to force an unprecedented, sudden shutdown of prediction markets nationwide,” CFTC chairman Mike Selig posted on X. “The [CFTC] has already sued to stop this and will continue to defend its jurisdiction.”
“It’s sad to see this type of political theater from the leadership in our own state,” a Kalshi spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. “States can’t just shut down a federally licensed exchange… We love New York, we love New Yorkers, and New Yorkers love our product.”
Entertainment
Google rolls back AI Google Earth feature a day after launch
After Google added its AI image generator, Nano Banana, to Google Earth on Thursday, it reversed its decision a day later.
Google announced the addition of Nano Banana 2 into its mapping platform, presumably to help users generate infographics about a site, see what it looked like historically, generate real estate ideas, and other use cases. Instead, as 404 Media observed, it made it very easy to inject misinformation into Google Earth, including making it appear like a nuclear strike had hit a location or that protests had taken over Google’s offices.
On Thursday, Google seemed to try to smooth out the kinks, sharing on Thursday night on X that “every image created with Nano Banana in Google Earth includes the SynthID digital watermark, so if someone is unsure about an image, they can ask the Gemini app or use Lens in Search to see if the image was AI-generated.” It also stated that it prevents image creation on “harmful topics.”
Mashable Light Speed
However, come Friday afternoon, Google announced on X that it was removing the feature:
We know that people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world. We’ve seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes, however we’ve also seen people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies. So we’re rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails. It’s important to note that generated images didn’t appear in the main Google Earth experience for others to see and were watermarked as AI generated.
The backlash to the initial decision was quick. Replies to the rollback post on X include Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch saying, “You guys are living in a complete bubble. Step outside Silicon Valley for two seconds and you’ll realize no actual human wants AI sludge crammed into every corner of every product. Touch grass. Talk to actual people.”
Another top reply read, “There is 0 chance that no one on your development team didn’t raise exactly this concern.”
Topics
Artificial Intelligence
Google
Entertainment
NYT Pips hints, answers for August 1, 2026
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you’re stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play Pips
If you’ve ever played dominoes, you’ll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we’ve shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don’t necessarily have to match.
The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you’ll run into across the difficulty levels:
-
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
-
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
-
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
-
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
-
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 1 Pips
Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 1 Pips
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.
Mashable Top Stories
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.
Not Equal Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 1 Pips
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.
Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.
Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-3, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.
Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.
Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
