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The Terrible TV Trend That Needs To Die With The Buffy Reboot

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Recently, Hulu canceled a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer show, which understandably upset fans. After all, they had been waiting decades to see more of their favorite ‘90s icon kicking butt onscreen. Plus, many of those fans are now parents, and they were hoping to use the new show as a way of introducing kiddos to their own childhood.

Personally, though, I was a bit relieved to see the new show get canceled. Because Sarah Michelle Gellar was the only returning cast member and she was barely in it, I worried that it would be Buffy in name only. Plus, I worried that the absence of the original creative team meant the new show wouldn’t have the old magic. Mostly, though, I’m hoping the death of this new Buffy show leads to the death of the most annoying trend in media: the television revival.

Rise Of The Revival

These days, streaming platforms (especially Netflix) are increasingly filled with absolute slop. You know the kind: original content that is either play-by-numbers melodrama, CGI schlockfest, or both. This has led audiences to stream more of the content they loved growing up. Unsurprisingly, this primarily consists of classic TV shows, which now function as so much more than nostalgia. They are our comfort food and security blanket all rolled into one, something many of us increasingly turn to now that the world (both streaming and otherwise) is turning into such a hellscape.

Obviously, it didn’t take network executives very long to realize they were sitting on a golden opportunity. When shows from yesteryear are more popular than ever on streaming, it’s a no-brainer to revive them with a completely new show. More often than not, these feature actors who haven’t exactly been very busy (like David Duchovny and even Patrick Stewart) lately and are happy to relive their television heyday. Best of all, networks can deploy these revivals on the very same streaming platforms their biggest fans use, meaning they don’t have to worry about broadcast restrictions, sponsors, or any of the other drama that comes from network television.  

On paper, TV revivals seem like a great idea for actors, networks, and fans. What could possibly go wrong, you ask? As it turns out, everything.

Few Diamonds, Plenty Of Rough

Before anyone yells at me, I do want to acknowledge the obvious: there are some really great TV show revivals out there. David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return was a masterpiece of staggering, often heartbreaking genius. Fuller House was full of great nostalgia and crowd-pleasing moments for anyone who grew up quoting “You got it, dude.” If you can ignore that annoying ending, the Veronica Mars revival was a great reminder that Kristen Bell’s titular character is one of the best protagonists in television history.

Make no mistake, though: these good revivals are the exception, not the rule. Streaming platforms are littered with revivals that fizzled out because they could never match the quality of the original show. Frasier, for example, brought back only the title character while changing the setting and premise of the series; unsurprisingly, it was canceled after two seasons because what fans wanted was more of the original show’s ensemble brilliance. Conversely, The X-Files brought back plenty of characters, but the writing revealed there was nothing really left to do with everyone’s favorite pair of spooky FBI agents.

Similarly, the Murphy Brown revival was a dud because its quaint ‘90s political sensibilities just didn’t work in a world where both politics and the discourse surrounding it have completely changed. Heroes Reborn just served as a sloppy reminder of what we already knew: that Heroes should have ended after Season 1. Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life provided exciting new reasons to scream at Rory about her increasingly terrible life decisions. Let’s not forget the Night Court revival, whose attempts at comedy were just as dead on arrival as, well, a huge chunk of the original cast!

Killing Franchise Reputations, One Show At A Time

patrick stewart picard

So far, I’ve covered two kinds of TV revivals: the ones that are mostly solid and the ones that are completely awful. But there’s a secret, third kind of revival: the ones that are both bad and good. That ‘90s Show, for example, was actually starting to show promise when Netflix killed it. Star Trek: Picard served up two completely awful seasons before finally turning in a fan-favorite final season. Will & Grace, meanwhile, started out strong, but that final season was so limp that I can only imagine Jack making a crude joke about it.

For fans of the original shows, these revivals are just as bad as the completely terrible TV reboots. That’s because they sully the reputation of the original show while wasting our time. Why even bring back Captain Picard after nearly two decades, for example, if it will take another couple of years to give him a good season? Speaking as a huge fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, I’d have preferred if this show had never gotten a revival. If I wanted to see one of my favorite shows reduced to a mediocre action fest filled with out-of-character performances, I don’t need Picard; I can just go rewatch Star Trek: Nemesis.

No More, With Feeling

While the creators are hoping to shop it to a new platform, the Buffy show is currently dead. With any luck, this will be the final nail in the coffin for the TV show revival. With any luck, the Powers That Be will finally get the message that audiences no longer have any appetite for halfhearted remakes of shows that were once great.

Hopefully, this will lead to the creation of brand-new IPs, a pleasant alternative to producers lazily strip-mining the hits of yesteryear. As always, viewers need to realize how much actual power they wield over the various corporations and streaming platforms that keep bringing these franchises back to life. If you really want to see fresh ideas return to the small screen, the solution is simple: stop streaming these crappy revivals and stick to physical media for your nostalgia fix. Otherwise, the modern adage remains true: if you keep watching slop, they’ll just keep making it!


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Everything we know about iOS 27 ahead of WWDC 2026

Every year, Apple reveals a big new iOS update at WWDC that brings tons of new features to your iPhone. And we’re fully expecting to learn about iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, the final Apple developers conference of the Tim Cook era.

When the iPhone 18 launches in September, it’s widely expected that it’ll ship alongside iOS 27, as is usually the case with every new iPhone and every new iOS iteration. Apple still hasn’t officially shown off iOS 27 yet, but there have been plenty of reports and leaks about what to expect from the mobile OS update. Here’s everything you need to know about iOS 27 right now.

iOS 27: Which iPhones will support it?

To start, we should establish which iPhones will actually be able to run iOS 27. Every year, Apple phases out an older generation of devices, and a recent leak suggested that the following phones will be phased out this year:

That means anything older than an iPhone 12 is probably not going to be able to run iOS 27. It’s a tough business, but that’s just how it works. Apple can’t keep everyone happy forever.

In addition, iOS 27 is sure to bring updates to Apple Intelligence, including a new AI Siri. Keep in mind that not all iPhones support Apple Intelligence, which is only compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, and newer Apple smartphones.

iOS 27: All about AI Siri

Easily the biggest feature coming to iOS 27 that we know of right now is the long-awaited AI-powered overhaul of Siri, Apple’s iconic voice assistant. It was supposed to happen a long time ago, but internal delays have pushed its most likely debut timeline to the launch of iOS 27.

On a basic level, what’s changing here is that Siri is going to be turned into an AI chatbot with its own standalone app and with the ability to incorporate what’s on the screen and personal context into responses, with the additional ability to perform actions between and within apps themselves. It’ll be powered primarily by Google’s Gemini model, though rumor has it that users will be able to use third-party models for Siri and other Apple Intelligence features, too, if they so desire.

While Siri is getting its own app, that doesn’t mean the way you interface with Siri will change that much, necessarily. A report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicated that Siri in iOS 27 can still be activated by a wake word or by holding down the power button, same as ever, but there will also be a new interface built into the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. You’ll be able to make queries by swiping down from the top of the screen, and an additional swipe will bring you straight to the new chatbot interface for Siri.

Gurman’s report included some more tidbits about how Siri will play with the Photos and Camera apps, too. For instance, Photos will get the ability to use generative AI to add elements to photos that aren’t already there, while the users will be able to snap a photo in Camera and instantly reverse image search it on Google. In summary, Apple is looking to catch up to the competition when it comes to having a sophisticated AI chatbot that lives in your phone, and it sounds like iOS 27 might finally bring us to that point.

iOS 27: Other AI features

Apple’s new iOS revision might focus largely on integrating Siri into the Apple Intelligence ecosystem, but what about the already existing Apple Intelligence features in iOS? It turns out some of those will be improved with iOS 27, too.

For example, a separate Mark Gurman report claimed that Image Playground and Genmoji will both get significant boosts to image quality in iOS 27. There will even be a new feature allowing users to generate custom phone wallpapers with AI. Outside of image generation, it sounds like there will also be a way for users to create custom app shortcuts using natural language prompts with Siri.

Beyond that, Writing Tools will apparently be infused with more AI juice. It’ll supposedly be better at offering feedback for things like syntax errors, not just basic spelling mistakes. We’ll need to see this in action to truly judge how well it works, though.

iOS 27: What about Liquid Glass?

Last year, the Liquid Glass design language introduced in iOS 26 really ruffled some feathers. That said, you should probably not expect any major changes on that front.

This information comes, once again, from Gurman at Bloomberg. He says Apple is not planning on making any sweeping changes to Liquid Glass, which isn’t terribly surprising. While plenty of folks may not be huge fans of the design language, that fact doesn’t appear to be driving people away from iPhones to any significant degree. In fact, the opposite is happening; iPhone sales are better than ever right now.

All of that is to say that Apple might add some more customization options to Liquid Glass, but don’t expect to be able to turn it off or anything like that.

iOS 27: App changes

As always, iOS 27 is certainly going to bring some other miscellaneous changes to various first-party apps. We don’t yet have a comprehensive list of every change to expect, but there are a couple of intriguing reports out there.

For instance, users will apparently be able to create custom widgets within the Camera app, giving them more fine control over which buttons appear on screen by default when opening the app. Weather is also getting a “Conditions” panel when looking at a page for a specific location. You’ll be able to flip between information panels on things like wind and rain there.

The Wallet app is also reportedly getting a pretty interesting new feature that will allow users to create custom passes. It’s called “Create a Pass,” and it will allegedly be able to scan photos of things like movie tickets and gym memberships in order to create a digital pass that lives in the Wallet app. While lots of services have built-in support for the Wallet app, there are also plenty that don’t, and this feature could help bridge that gap.

iOS 27: Don’t forget about the iPhone Fold

Lastly, we’d be remiss not to mention the iPhone Fold. There isn’t a lot of concrete information yet about how iOS will adapt to the long-rumored device, but one has to assume that iOS 27 will, to some extent, work a little differently on the foldable iPhone. Actions like app multi-tasking, for example, will probably be possible on the iPhone Fold, meaning iOS 27 will need to natively support that sort of thing.

Not every iOS revision is a big overhaul, but if nothing else, it sounds like iOS 27 will drastically change how users interact with Siri. In that sense, this could be one of the biggest iOS updates in a while.


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DJI Avata 360 review: How does this drone compare to the Antigravity A1?

DJI officially launched the Avata 360 this March, expanding its camera drone lineup with the company’s first 360-degree offering. The latest addition to DJI’s popular Avata series, the Avata 360 is a direct rival to the Antigravity A1 360-degree drone released last December. Yet while Antigravity was first off the launch pad, it’s still the new kid on the block. DJI has been a favourite of drone enthusiasts for years, with many having eagerly awaited the brand’s first 360 drone.

Now that the DJI Avata 360 has finally arrived, the question is whether the wait was worth it. 

DJI Avata 360: Build

A rear photo of the DJI Avata 360 with a battery inserted.


Credit: A. Yeo

At first glance, the Avata 360’s build bears strong similarities to the DJI Avata 2 released in 2024. Both sport solid, lightweight bodies made from high-quality grey plastic, with few moving parts aside from their camera gimbals and four propellers. Guards around these propellers help to protect them from damage, adding another layer of security on top of the Avata 360’s obstacle avoidance system. Measuring 246 millimetres x 199 millimetres x 55.5 millimetres, the Avata 360 is longer but slimmer than the Avata 2, with three anchor points attaching its propellers to its body instead of two. 

The Avata 360 feels sturdier than the significantly smaller Antigravity A1 as well, with the latter featuring foldable arms and unshielded propeller blades. While the A1 isn’t flimsy, the Avata 360 certainly seems more likely to hold up in a collision if the two were to go head-to-head. It even has a removable lens protector to shield it during storage.

The DJI Avata 360 with lens protector installed.


Credit: A. Yeo

However, this superior durability comes at a cost to the Avata 360’s weight and classification. Unlike the Antigravity A1, DJI’s 360-degree drone requires registration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly, as it weighs in at around 455 grams. Meanwhile, the A1 just squeaks in under the FAA’s 250-gram limit — no doubt an intentional design choice to make life easier for budding drone pilots.

The Avata 360 is still lightweight enough that it isn’t more burdensome to carry about than the portable A1. Each drone can be bundled with a padded sling bag, though the Avata 360’s isn’t quite large enough to comfortably fit both its folded landing pad and the optional DJI Goggles N3 (more on this below). 

Even so, having to register the Avata 360 is a nuisance. Whether the hassle is worth it will depend on what you want out of your drone. Newcomers and hobbyists may not want to bother with such matters, while serious drone users are less likely to be put off by the extra step needed to fly the Avata 360.

DJI Avata 360: Image quality

A closeup of one of the DJI Avata 360's lenses.


Credit: A. Yeo

The Avata 360’s allure is clearly its 360-degree video capability, with a top resolution of 8K at 60fps (though reduced to 4K once reframed to 2D in the DJI Fly app). The drone also allows you to switch to a single-lens mode for more traditional filming, which reaches up to 4K at 60fps.  For comparison, the Antigravity A1’s highest 360-degree video resolution is 8K at 30fps — half the Avata 360’s frame rate. DJI’s higher frame rate is particularly attractive for producing smooth, beautiful slow motion footage, which is a notable strength for a camera drone shooting wide landscapes.

Both drones use two lenses and two sensors to achieve their 360-degree recordings. However, the Avata 360 has slightly larger 1/1.1-inch square CMOS sensors compared to the A1’s 1/1.28, enabling greater dynamic range and low-light performance.

The Antigravity A1’s video quality is already impressive enough for the average person, and certainly nothing to complain about. However, for professionals and prosumers who are looking to squeeze the most out of their footage, the DJI Avata 360 offers a welcome little upgrade. 

A screenshot from the DJI Avata 360.

A screenshot from DJI Avata 360 footage.
Credit: A. Yeo

As always, 360-degree video is a double-edged sword. It allows you to frame and edit after the fact, meaning you don’t have to decide exactly what to focus on while filming. However, this also makes editing the footage more complex and time-consuming. The Avata 360 aims to streamline this process through the DJI Fly app, which enables you to trim, add keyframes, apply filters, and otherwise edit your footage. 

DJI Fly also includes an in-app tracking feature, which will allow you to draw a box around a subject and have the frame automatically follow it. Though it did lose track of a bird when it flew directly above the Avata 360, Mashable found that the DJI Fly app’s tracking largely does a good job of keeping the subject centred. It isn’t exactly the eye of an auteur, but it gets the job done with minimal fuss, leaving you free to finesse other aspects of your footage.

DJI Avata 360: Controls and performance

DJI RC 2 remote controller resting on a table.


Credit: A. Yeo

While the Antigravity A1 can only be operated using its included headset and motion controller, the DJI Avata 360 offers two control options. Pilots can use either the DJI RC 2 remote controller, which features two joysticks and a screen that displays the drone’s point of view, or connect the Avata 360 to the DJI Goggles N3 and RC Motion 3 controller. Released a few years ago, both options can be purchased separately or in a bundle with the Avata 360. They are also compatible with previous DJI drones, offering added versatility for those interested in building a fleet.

Flying the DJI Avata 360 with the RC 2 controller is fairly straightforward. Touchscreen options allow you to automatically launch and land the drone, while buttons on either side enable quick recording. Two joysticks control the Avata 360’s elevation, orientation, and flight direction, enabling a smooth flight. 

The DJI Avata 360 resting on a table with the DJI RC 2 remote controller in the background.


Credit: A. Yeo

Mashable was surprised to find that, though we found the Antigravity A1’s motion controls the most intuitive for users without much experience with drones, we actually preferred the RC 2 controller to the DJI’s motion controller and goggles. While headsets have the benefit of providing a clear, glare-free viewing experience, they can be a hassle to put on and take off. Importantly, they can also hinder visual line of sight, which is an FAA requirement when flying drones for recreation. The RC 2 is a quick grab and go option, can be used without a spotter, and at 700 nits the screen is bright enough that it’s clearly visible even in direct sunlight.

It’s also worth noting that the DJI Goggles N3 can’t be adjusted for your glasses prescription, though fortunately it is large enough to fit over glasses. In contrast, Antigravity A1’s headset has diopter adjustment supporting prescriptions ranging from +2.00 to -5.00, as well as interpupillary distance adjustment. 

Both Antigravity and DJI’s goggle designs are comfortable to wear. The A1 goggles’ configuration is admittedly more fussy than DJI’s, requiring you to hang the battery from your neck like a necklace and run a wire up to the headset. However, this setup does make the A1’s headset delightfully light, and is easily forgotten during operation. DJI’s more streamlined design doesn’t look as dorky, mounting its battery on the strap at the back of the head to balance the weight of the front, but is heavier and more likely to slip.

The DJI RC 2 remote controller with its antenna folded in.


Credit: A. Yeo

At 42GB, the Avata 360 has more than double the A1’s modest 20GB of onboard storage. Both also offer a microSD card slot if you want extra space — which, if you’re shooting a significant amount of 360-degree video, you’ll probably need.

DJI states that the Avata 360’s swappable batteries handle approximately 23 minutes of flight per charge, though Mashable found this to be a generous estimate. Fortunately the drone will automatically return to its launch site to land if its power drops too low, but you’ll likely want spare batteries on hand if you want longer flying time. We swiftly chewed through our spares during testing, ending flying sessions sooner than we’d have liked — though this is also a testament to how much fun it was to fly the Avata 360.

The DJI Avata 360 in the grass next to its bright orange landing pad.


Credit: A. Yeo

Interestingly, the DJI Avata 360 had some trouble sticking the landing during Mashable’s testing. Though placed in the centre of its bright orange landing pad for take off, it repeatedly missed the mark when instructed to return home. Instead, the drone would gently lower itself a few feet from the target, landing in the grass near the landing pad. In contrast, the Antigravity A1’s automatic landing returned it to its much smaller landing pad every time, even deploying adorable landing gear.

It isn’t a reassuring indication regarding the precision of the Avata 360’s navigation, and gives us pause about relying too heavily on its automatic anti-collision or homing features. Even so, the drone’s off-centre landing isn’t a fatal flaw, as you’ll typically want some safe, clear space around your entire launch area regardless. You should be keeping your drone within visual line of sight as well, so you can intervene if it does choose an inappropriate landing spot. 

DJI Avata 360: Pricing 

The DJI Avata 360 drone next to a DJI RC 2 remote controller and three batteries in a charging hub.


Credit: A.Yeo

Though the DJI Avata 360 began rolling out globally from April, it still isn’t available on the company’s official U.S. website. The U.S. government’s hostile stance toward DJI has significantly hindered the company’s business, making it difficult for those in the country to get their hands on many of its devices. As such, getting a DJI Avata 360 in the U.S. will require going through an unofficial third party at present.

This availability issue gives the Antigravity A1 a notable edge over the DJI Avata 360 for U.S. consumers. However, the considerable difference in cost does a lot to mitigate this apparent advantage.

Though there is no official U.S. pricing, in Australia the DJI Avata 360 costs $AU799 ($574) for the drone and one battery, and $AU1,159 ($833) for that plus the DJI RC 2. The $AU1,619 ($1,164) Fly More Combo also includes a sling bag, charging hub, and two more batteries, while the Motion Fly More Combo is the same but swaps out the RC 2 for the DJI Goggles N3 and RC Motion 3 controller. Meanwhile, the Antigravity A1’s base bundle with headset, motion controller, and one battery costs $1,599 — several hundred dollars more than the Avata 360’s most expensive bundle. 

The A1 is still a great option particularly for new or casual drone pilots, and its lower weight means it’s subject to fewer flight restrictions than the Avata 360. But if you’re after a more affordable, heavier-duty 360-degree drone that’s suited to prosumers and professionals, hunting down the DJI Avata 360 may be worth it for you.

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Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 29, 2026

Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if have a good ear.

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

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

A sharp sound.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter C.

The Wordle answer today is…

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today’s Wordle is…

CLANG

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

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

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

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

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