IT General

I have been using Fedora as my daily driver for years now. In fact, it's been so long that I don't even remember exactly when I switched to it, and I really like it. I have tried several Linux distros over the years, including Ubuntu, but I always find myself coming back to Fedora. Part of that comes down to personal preference. I have always felt that Ubuntu is a little bloated, and even when I tried it again recently, I couldn't quite shake that feeling. Fedora just feels cleaner to me, particularly in how it handles the GNOME desktop.

NFC tags are a simple and effective way to trigger smart home automations. You can scan a tag with your phone to do things such as turning on lights or starting timers, but there are plenty of uses you might not have considered.

Apple has changed its trade-in values once agin. While many of the company's products now offer more during trade-ins, several key products — including some iPhone Pro versions — are now worth less when you turn them in. Apple hasn't publicly explained why it changed trade-in prices today, but it arrives amidst over seven updates in the past year alone, including its most recent update in late October.

Most Android phones come loaded with apps you never picked and don't always want. I got tired of working around them, but I didn't want to just delete or deactivate them. That is why I went to open-source replacements on F-Droid. These apps cover the basics without asking for an account.

Room lighting often clashes with what is happening during a movie, but keeping a room completely dark isn't feasible for most, either. A TV backlight kit like the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite adds reactive lighting behind your set, making the spectacle of watching movies all the more immersive.

Microsoft Outlook users have experienced widespread disruption on November 12, with hundreds of thousands reporting problems accessing Microsoft's email service.

GPU prices are a bit of a sad joke right now, so much so that many people turn to handhelds. And even before things got this bad in the PC hardware market, the Steam Deck was a popular alternative for people who wanted versatile gaming in a small footprint.

We've been talking about OLED TVs as the ultimate TV display technology for years, and they've finally become affordable enough that many of us can bring one into our living rooms.

Updated on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 1:45 p.m. ET — Microsoft initially described the issue as primiarily affecting mailboxes "in the Americas." However, in an update posted to X, the company acknowledged other services and locations were also affected.

"While we're working to mitigate impact, we've confirmed the issue may affect Microsoft 365 service connectivity for users in any region, more information will be provided in the Microsoft 365 admin center under EX1550543." The company added, "a portion of infrastructure is experiencing elevated load across multiple regions, which is likely contributing to the connectivity errors."

Thousands of Microsoft Outlook users reported an outage on Thursday afternoon, with user error reports for Microsoft products spiking sharply.

The platform DownDetector showed error reports spiking around 12:30 p.m. ET. By 1:12 p.m. ET, the service had received more than 130,000 reports, indicating serious problems with the popular email service. Virtually all Microsoft services showed elevated error reports, including Microsoft 365, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft Teams.

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of DownDetector

At this time, it's not clear if those reports are related to an Outlook outage or indicate that these services are also down.

However, there are signs of a more widespread problem. Case in point: The Microsoft service status page was not loading for Mashable reporters, as of this writing.

However, the Microsoft 365 Status account on X posted a message acknowledging an outage at 12:54 p.m. ET: "We're investigating reports of users experiencing issues accessing Exchange Online mailboxes through multiple connection methods in the Americas."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Outlook previously experienced a widespread outage in August. At the time, the company cited a "misconfiguration issue that prevented authentication components from deploying correctly.

This is a developing story...

Even the most open and trusting person in the world would tell you they aren't comfortable with people snooping through their phone. There is nothing wrong with wanting a little bit of privacy. With our phones becoming more integrated into our personal lives, they tend to contain more sensitive information that you wouldn't just want anyone seeing. Sometimes, this can make things a bit awkward when someone asks to use your phone for something.

Over the past four years, Roku tried to convince you that the company behind your TV stick should also guard your front porch. This awkward side hustle appears to be coming to an end.

Many of us are traveling this holiday season and need a comfortable, spacious backpack to carry our laptops and other items. Oakley's Blade 30L Backpack is a stylish choice with all the space you can ask for. Get it now on Amazon at 40% off and make your travels easier.

Jensen Huang officially resigned as Nvidia CEO on Thursday morning, a seismic event in the tech industry.

Nvidia is one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a nearly $4 trillion valuation, and Huang was the company's original CEO and co-founder. The company's board of directors shared a CEO transition plan on its website, saying Huang has also resigned as president and as a member of the board, effective immediately.

The company's CFO, Colette Kress, will serve as interim CEO, while also maintaining her CFO responsibilities. The board has begun searching for a new CEO, looking both inside and outside the company.

The tech industry has been closely watching Nvidia and its stock ever since news first broke by the New York Times that Huang had not one, but two affairs, including one with an accused Chinese spy. Nvidia chips provide much of the compute that powers the fast-growing AI industry, and so Huang's alleged entanglement with a possible Chinese spy wasn't just a typical executive PR scandal, but a national security issue.

The story is still developing, so keep checking back at Mashable for the latest Nvidia news and live updates.

The Jensen Huang affair: What happened

Last Friday, New York Times and Financial Times reported dropped a bomb on the tech industry. The publications reported that Huang had an affair with a woman the U.S. intelligence community believed to be a Chinese spy. China disputed these accusations, of course, but the Times reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally wrote a memo alerting President Donald Trump to the situation in the spring.

On Nov. 8, Huang posted a personal message to the Nvidia website, admitting to and apologizing for the affair.

"I owe my family and all of you an apology," Huang wrote. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry."

It was unclear whether Huang would be able to hold on to his position as CEO, and the Nvidia board of directors announced it had opened an investigation into the incident.

Huang's second affair

But on Wednesday, news of a second affair may have sealed Huang's fate. The New York Times reported that Huang had another extramarital affair with another Nvidia executive who reported to him. The Times identified that executive as Kimberly Powell, Nvidia's vice president of healthcare.

This is a developing story. The latest Nvidia news will be posted live on this page...

SAVE $71.99: Normally $179.99, the Shark Glossi 2-in-1 Blow Dryer Brush is marked down to just $108 during Walmart's Black Friday sale — a new all-time low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Glossi 2-in-1 Blow Dryer Brush (Liquid Gold) $108 at Walmart
$179.99 Save $71.99   Get Deal at Walmart

In the battle of the premium blow dryer brushes, Shark's Glossi handily beats the Dyson AirSmooth on value. (We find that to be a common thread in our Shark vs. Dyson comparisons.) The AirSmooth comes in at $250, while the Glossi — which doubles as a heat styling brush — retails for only $180. That's a $70 difference.

Right now, that gap is even wider. Walmart has the Glossi on sale in a flashy "liquid gold" finish for 40% off during its first Black Friday Deals event. Through Nov. 15, shoppers can score it for the record-low price of $108.

Nasha Addarich Martínez of Mashable's sister site, CNET, spent a few months testing the Glossi on her long, very thick hair earlier this year. It wound up cutting her drying time by 70 percent and produced long-lasting results. "It's become my go-to for quick, sleek blowouts," she wrote.

Psst: Walmart's Black Friday Deals event also features one of the best Shark FlexStyle deals we've ever seen. Other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy had better bring their A-games once they start their own holiday sales next week.

The best Disney+ deals at a glance: Best long-term deal Disney+ Premium annual subscription (no ads) $214.99 per year (save $42.89 per year) Get Deal Best bundle deal Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu and Disney+ with ads) $11.99 per month for 6 months (save $12.99 per month) Get Deal Best deal for Verizon customers Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) $12 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal Best way to get Disney+ for free Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan (save $21.49 per month) Get Deal Another bundle deal Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (with ads) $21.99 per month (save $13.98 per month) Get Deal

Avengers: Endgame returned to theaters earlier this season to get audiences ready for the December release of Avengers: Doomsday. It features new footage that bridges the narrative between the two films, which Mashable's Belen Edwards graciously broke down for anyone who doesn't have the time for a rewatch.

For those who missed the latest theatrical experience or just want to watch Endgame again in preparation for the new film, be sure to watch the Encore edition when it hits streaming this week. As Edwards puts it, "It's the same tale of the Avengers battling Thanos (Josh Brolin) and trying to reverse his catastrophic snap, only this time, there are a few extra scenes tacked on at the end that tease what's to come."

Here's when and where to watch Avengers: Endgame Encore, as well as a few different ways to save some money on streaming.

How to watch Avengers: Endgame Encore Credit: Marvel Studios

Avengers: Endgame Encore makes its streaming debut on Disney+ on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. That gives you plenty of time to stream it in preparation for the Avengers: Doomsday theatrical release.

Disney+ has also assembled a "Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday" collection on the app if you want to host a pre-release marathon at home.

Not yet a Disney+ subscriber? A standalone subscription starts at $12.49, but we've rounded up a few of the best ways you can save some money on the streaming service below.

The best Disney+ streaming dealsBest Disney+ standalone deal: save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ Disney+ Premium annual subscription (no ads) $189.99/year (save $37.89) Get Deal

You can save over $42 on a Disney+ subscription on its own by signing up for an annual plan upfront. The yearly plan without ads will cost you $214.99 per year, which breaks down to $17.92 per month instead of the usual $21.49 per month. That's 17% or a total of $42.89 in savings. When you check out, be sure to select Disney+ Premium, then "annual" to secure the discount for the year. Unfortunately, there is no annual plan available for the cheaper ad-supported tier.

Best Disney+ bundle deal: save up to 52% on Hulu and Disney+ Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) $11.99/month for 6 months (save $12.99/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu Disney+ and Hulu Premium (no ads) $19.99/month for 6 months (save $22.99/month) Get Deal

Disney's bundle deal with Hulu is currently cheaper than paying for Disney+ on its own. For six months, you'll get both Disney+ and Hulu with ads for only $11.99 per month or without ads for $19.99 per month. Either option essentially gives you one streamer for free. After your first six months, the plan with ads will go up one dollar and the plan without will go up $3.

You could also throw HBO Max or ESPN into the mix for a three-part bundle. We've rounded up some other bundle options below for comparison.

More bundle deals:

• Disney+ and Hulu for Students — $6.49/month $12.99/month (save $6.50/month)

• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) — $12/month with select Verizon plans $21.99/month (save $9.99/month)

• Disney, Hulu, HBO Max (with ads) — $21.99/month $35.97/month (save $13.98/month)

• Disney, Hulu, HBO Max (no ads) — $34.99/month $61.47/month (save $26.48/month)

• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) — $21.99/month $38.97/month (save $16.98/month)

• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle — $35.99/month $53.97/month (save $17.98/month)

Best way to get Disney+ for free: get the Total ALL ACCESS plan Opens in a new window Credit: Total by Verizon Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total Wireless ALL ACCESS plan (save $21.99 per month) Get Deal

Total Wireless customers on the $65 per month prepaid ALL ACCESS plan can enjoy Disney+ Premium (no ads) for free. No terms or trial periods; just keep your account in good standing. That's an $21.49 per month value tacked onto your phone plan for no extra cost.

With only a week to go until Grand Theft Auto VI launches, multiple companies are trying to get in on the zeitgeist in different ways.

Earlier this week, we covered Logitech's new policy of giving employees PTO to play new video games, and now, Kalshi wants to turn playing GTA 6 into work for someone. In a LinkedIn job posting that the prediction market claims is totally real, Kalshi is seeking out someone to obsessively play and livestream GTA 6 starting at launch on Nov. 19, with the end goal of figuring out how best to optimize the in-game economy, while also analyzing the amount of productivity lost in the real world due to people taking time off to play it.

SEE ALSO: The best console deals for 'GTA 6': Where to buy PS5 and Xbox ahead of launch day

This "GTA 6 Researcher" job also entails releasing a weekly research report on the in-game economy, and requires at least a decade's worth of "sweaty gaming" experience and three years of streaming experience. You'll also need to have a good streaming setup, with all the equipment and whatnot. For what it's worth, Kalshi lists compensation at $100,000 to $120,000 for a fixed project fee, with a $15,000 fee upon completion of the project.

The job may understandably sound enticing to many, especially when factoring in the listed compensation. However, it sounds like a whole lot of work that you'd possibly be doing entirely by yourself, and it could also be a great way to make the act of playing GTA 6 as not-fun as possible. Speaking from personal experience: Doing something you love for work is still work, at the end of the day.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

Google Pixel phones and watches are de facto “official” Android devices, offering the first taste of what’s to come to Android, along with a slew of exclusive features you won’t find anywhere else.

I've often found myself wondering where all the used space on my Windows 11 PC was actually going. Windows 11's built-in Storage page gives me plenty of useful data, but I had to jump between categories and wait for calculations to finish before I could piece together the full picture.

If you've ever had a problem with your MacBook, iPhone, or Apple account, a quick Google search for a fix likely sent you to a relevant thread on the Apple Support Community at discussions.apple.com, where Apple customers tried to help their fellow Apple fans out.

That won't be the case anymore.

On Tuesday, Apple announced that it would be closing down the Apple Support Community, the official forum for Apple customers looking for help from other Apple users with their Apple products. 

Apple disabled posting in the Apple Support Community on Tuesday. The platform is still viewable in a read-only state. However, the forums will be shuttered for good on Nov. 20.

A prompt now appears at the top of the Apple Support Community website and all of its posts with Apple's announcement of the forum's closure:

"The Apple Support Community will permanently close on November 20, 2026. Starting today, the site will no longer accept new posts and is available in a read-only state. 

You can continue to find trusted guidance and support on the official Apple Support site. 

We want to thank the community members who have contributed their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products."

Anyone who has ever had an Apple product likely found themselves on the Apple Support Community at some point. Even if they didn't sign up to ask a question themselves, the answer to their question likely existed in the Apple Support Community archives, helping numerous customers avoid reaching out directly to Apple's official support.

The forum launched in 1998 as the Apple Tech Exchange. According to MacRumors, the forums went through numerous name changes over the years, going by Apple Discussion in 2000, before the company finally settled on the Apple Support Community in 2022.

The last post on the Apple Support Community appears to have been published by a user looking for help with their Apple account at 5:41 p.m. on Nov. 10. One last reply was posted in the thread minutes later at 5:49 p.m. Apple appears to have moved the forums to a read-only state shortly after that.

Apple reportedly told MacRumors that "it decided to sunset the Apple Support Community after a careful evaluation of strategy and customer needs."

What if you need help with your Apple products going forward? Apple suggests that you contact its official support directly.

SAVE $200.99: As of Nov. 12, the ruby red Shark FlexStyle Air Multi-Styler & Drying System is on sale for the record-low price of $199 during Walmart's Black Friday sale — a 50% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle Air Multi-Styler & Drying System (Ruby Red Diamond) $199 at Walmart
$399.99 Save $200.99   Get Deal at Walmart

Need a no-fail Christmas gift idea for your wife, girlfriend, mom, or sister? Several Mashable staffers swear by the Shark FlexStyle, a popular multistyler with a unique swiveling base that works like a regular hair dryer. Our reviewer deemed it the best Dyson Airwrap dupe available.

We've spotted a lot of great deals on the FlexStyle so far this holiday season, but this one takes the Christmas fruitcake: During Walmart's first Black Friday Deals event, live now through Nov. 15, a ruby red FlexStyle that comes with five attachments, a heat mat, and a carrying case is on sale for just $199. That's a whopping 50% off its typical retail price of $399.99, and a new record low.

For some added context, the FlexStyles that we typically see on sale for $199 are basic sets that only come with four attachments — that's it. (Shark sells its Airwrap rival in a lot of different bundle options.) Needless to say, it's difficult to see any other Black Friday FlexStyle deals beating this one. If I didn't already own a FlexStyle, I'd add it to my cart immediately.

This particular FlexStyle launched in February as part of Shark's Marilyn Monroe Collection, released in honor of the late actress's 100th birthday. Its sparkly red finish also feels apt for the holidays. It's a limited-edition colorway, so don't expect it to hang around for too much longer — especially at this price.