IT General

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 11 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add to 9. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 11 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 11 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add to 9. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 6-5, 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.

Apple has teamed up with Issey Miyake to launch the iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knitted, stretchy bag for your iPhone (and other smaller items).

Known for pricy, often-stretchy, sometimes very avant-garde pieces of clothing, Issey Miyake is a fashion company founded by the late Japanese designer, who also happened to designed Steve Jobs' legendary black turtleneck.

In an announcement posted Tuesday, Apple says the iPhone Pocket has "the qualities of the original pleats by Issey Miyake," as designer is synonymous with pleated fabrics. The iPhone Pocket's fabric appears to be very stretchy, and Apple says that when stretched, the open textile allows the users to peak at their iPhone display, meaning you'll be able to check notifications without removing your phone from the Pocket.

SEE ALSO: 10 of the best wallet phone cases for iPhone 17 and iPhone Air The fabric does look nice. But that price tag... Credit: Apple

The iPhone Pocket is designed to be worn in a number of ways; you could wear it as you would a handbag, strap it around your body, or tie it onto a bag. It's available in two basic designs: a short strap, which is available in eight colors, and a long strap, which is available in three colors.

The iPhone Pocket is designed to be worn in a variety of ways. Credit: Apple

We have questions about the iPhone Pocket's construction and of course, price. Yes, it's a stretchy sock with a cut-through, but if you look closer you will see that the ribbed construction is quite nice, and the fabric is probably of better quality than a regular sock.

The price tag, however, is such that we can already see people making their DIY versions of these: $149.95 for the short strap design, and $229.95 for the long strap design.

The iPhone Pocket will be available starting Friday, Nov. 24, in Apple Store locations and on Apple.com in France, Greater China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the U.S.

Featured Video For You 5 iPhone photography tricks pros use

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025:

AcrossVillain's counterpart

• The answer is Hero.

California governor Newsom

• The answer is Gavin.

Home to Prada (and pasta)

• The answer is Italy.

Shipping company with a purple-and-orange logo

• The answer is FedEx.

Three-pointer, in basketball lingo

• The answer is Trey.

DownHard person to please

• The answer is Hater.

Get around

• The answer is Evade.

"Inside Out" girl

• The answer is Riley.

Deep black gemstone

• The answer is Onyx.

"Today is a ___. That's why it's called the present" (cliché)

• The answer is Gift.

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

We're still in the waning phase of the moon's cycle, which means the moon is getting smaller each night. We're not quite at the Third Quarter, we’re just before it, so you’ll see a fading half-moon. The left side is shrinking, but there's still enough lit up that we can spot some exciting features.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Nov. 11, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 57% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

So, what's visible in the sky tonight? Even with nothing but your eyes, you can make out the Aristarchus Plateau, Mare Imbrium, and Tycho Crater. Grab some binoculars, and you’ll also spot the Alphonsus Crater, Gassendi Crater, and Clavius Crater. If you’ve got a telescope, you’ll get an even closer look at the Apollo 14, 15, and 16 landing spots.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes an orbit around Earth roughly every 29.5 days, passing through distinct phases along the way. These phases happen due to the shifting angles between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. From our perspective, the Moon may look fully bright, partially lit, or entirely dark, though the same side always faces us. The difference is in how sunlight reflects off its surface, forming a regular pattern called the lunar cycle.

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The latest game capturing the imagination of the gaming community — and bleeding into wider gaming culture — is Arc Raiders. The newly released multiplayer extraction shooter from Embark Studios, the team behind the slick and chaotic The Finals, has seemingly struck gold with Arc Raiders despite the game living in one of the most niche corners of the shooter genre.

Boasting more than 300,000 players in its opening week, Arc Raiders warrants some context. It’s a PvPvE extraction shooter — a format popularized by Escape from Tarkov — and, traditionally, not exactly friendly to casual players. Yet somehow, Embark has pulled off something rare: a game that’s visually stunning, mechanically tight, and challenging without feeling punishing. It’s approachable, but not watered down.

So whether you’re a dad of two trying to make the most of a few hard-earned hours, or a solo gamer looking for one title worth your time and money, here’s the rundown on whether Embark Studios’ Arc Raiders deserves a spot in your library.

Where to buy Arc Raiders STEAM Arc Raiders $39.99 Shop Now PLAYSTATION STORE Arc Raiders $39.99 Shop Now What is Arc Raiders? Credit: Embark Studios

Arc Raiders is the latest release from Embark Studios — a third-person extraction shooter set in a post-apocalyptic version of Italy. Humanity has been driven underground after a mysterious AI force and its mechanical army, known as the “ARC,” took control of the surface. In the underground settlement of Speranza, brave scavengers known as “Raiders” venture topside in search of resources to trade, craft, and sell — all in an effort to keep their fragile community alive.

That’s the core setup, and it’s really all you need to know before diving in. As an extraction shooter, each session gives players a limited window — around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how far into the waves you go — to scavenge as much as possible before extracting. Simple enough, except the surface isn’t exactly welcoming. ARC robots roam the landscape in a variety of deadly forms: flying Wasps that harass from above, hulking Bombardiers that rain destruction from afar, and the nightmarish, spider-like Leapers that can ruin a run in seconds.

And then there are the humans. Other players are out there too, fighting for the same loot — and whether they become allies or threats is entirely up to you. You can drop in solo or with a squad of three, and the game’s proximity chat lets you communicate (or deceive) fellow Raiders in real-time. Just be careful who you trust.

Once you’ve filled your pack with enough salvage, it’s time to extract back to Speranza using one of several evacuation elevators scattered across the map. Make it out alive, and your hard-earned loot turns into the resources needed to keep going — and, hopefully, to survive another trip topside. Die, and well, you lose everything.

What's fun about Arc Raiders?

Part of the fun of Arc Raiders — and what separates it from traditional PvP shooters like Battlefield or Call of Duty — is that when you die, you lose everything. This "wipe" mechanic is what gives every encounter, whether against ARC machines or other players, its razor-edge tension.

Many players will go entire rounds without firing a single shot simply because they don’t want to risk it. If the loot they’ve collected is too valuable to lose, every shadow becomes a threat, every sound a reason to panic. That high-stakes, heart-in-your-throat feeling is what makes extraction shooters so beloved by hardcore fans — and equally why most casual gamers avoid them. Dying and losing everything can be deflating, especially in games like Escape from Tarkov, where the mechanical complexity borders on full-blown military simulation.

That’s where Arc Raiders strikes a smart balance. Embark has streamlined the extraction shooter formula without watering it down. Before each round, players can build loadouts based on four augments: Loot, Tactical, Combat, and Free. Each one changes your playstyle — Loot increases inventory space for scavenging, Tactical adds more Quick Slots for items like grenades or bandages, and Combat boosts survivability for players looking to fight instead of flee. You can carry two weapons and stash one item in a “Safe Pocket,” which guarantees you won’t lose it if you die.

Unlike Tarkov, gear in Arc Raiders doesn’t define your survivability. Armor and cosmetics are largely aesthetic, serving more as a monetization hook for Embark than a gameplay factor. The result is a simpler, faster-paced experience that retains the intensity of extraction shooters while lowering the barrier to entry.

Be very afraid Credit: Embark Studios

On top of the fun, kinetic combat loop, Arc Raiders absolutely nails its sound design. It’s one of the game’s cornerstones, according to Embark, and it shows. The spatial audio is incredible — every creak, echo, and explosion matters as it can alert ARC machines and other players to your position. The flutter of birds overhead, the clank of your wrench breaking open a loot box, the hiss of gunfire slicing past your ear — it all feeds into a sense of tension and place that’s unmatched. This game is best played with headphones, not speakers.

That said, Arc Raiders is far from a single-player experience. Even if you’re running solo, you’ll inevitably bump into other players — and not all of them share the "peace and love" vibe the community has been trying to cultivate. With the game’s rising popularity, it’s also become a content farm for Twitch streamers who love using proximity chat to lure players into false alliances before shooting them in the back. Betrayal is part of the immersion, sure, but it can get old fast.

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And since Arc Raiders is a live-service game, most of the fun is player-driven. There are quests that nudge you through the game’s sandbox and lore, giving structure to each run, but ultimately, the experience is what you make of it. Maybe that’s rolling with a squad to chase PvP firefights, or sneaking through solo raids to gather materials for crafting upgrades back in your workshop. It’s a true "choose your own adventure" setup — which is both its greatest strength and, for some players, its biggest turn-off.

Is Arc Raiders worth it?

Yeah, I’d say it is. Embark Studios has managed to create one of the most approachable extraction shooters to date without compromising the tension that defines the genre. The mix of PvPvE chaos, stunning sound design, and the sheer adrenaline rush of every topside run makes for an experience that’s as beautiful as it is brutal. The Unity-powered visuals pop, the gunplay feels crisp, and when everything clicks — when you barely survive a firefight and extract with seconds to spare — it’s genuinely exhilarating.

That said, it’s not for everyone. As a live-service game, Arc Raiders relies heavily on player-driven fun, and solo players may hit burnout sooner than squad-focused groups. Add in the occasional backstabby streamer, and it’s clear this world isn’t exactly friendly. But for players craving high-stakes tension without Tarkov’s punishing complexity, Arc Raiders hits a rare sweet spot.

In short: if you want something that rewards patience, planning, and just a touch of paranoia, Arc Raiders is absolutely worth a buy, especially if you’ve got a good headset and a couple of friends to brave the surface with.

You can download Arc Raiders for $39.99 via Steam or the PlayStation Store.

When deciding whether or not you need an air purifier at home, you're not off the hook just because you don't check The Big Boxes like having intense allergies or living in a wildfire-prone area. There are pollutants and respiratory system irritants accumulating in everyone's home simply from living there. Like the air quality index in your weather app but for inside, the new Dyson HushJet air purifier tells you exactly how much invisible gunk is floating around in the room (then captures it).

For the past few months, I've noticed sporadic recurring cold symptoms, like a constant runny nose and sneezing a lot. I work from home, and while I try to go for a walk every day, there are admittedly days that I don't go outside at all — telling me that the call is coming from inside the house. Pair that with my recent plunge down a TikTok rabbit hole about microscopic mold at home, and you've got yourself a full-blown spiral about needing to breathe cleaner air.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best vacuums for pet owners, from powerful hair pickup to built-in livestream cameras

The timing lined up well with the September 2025 release of Dyson's most powerful and quietest air purifier for small spaces. That'd make any apartment-dwelling pet owner's ears perk up, and I had to try it and validate my own concerns. After just a week with the Dyson HushJet running 24/7 in my apartment, things are a lot less stuffy around here — both my sinuses and the air in the apartment itself.

Dust and mold spores love living rent-free in your home

Indoor air isn't clean by default just because there aren't giant smoke stacks puffing out gray fumes right outside your window. It's probably common knowledge that dust forms from the dead skin cells that we shed every day, as well as pollen brought in from outside, fibers from rugs or clothes, dander and fur from pets, and other yucky, random tidbits. That's what you're breathing in every day, and it can build up in your lungs over time, even if the effects aren't blatant right at this moment.

Given that I review robot vacuums for a living and given how often I get roasted for my chronic daily vacuuming habits, I'm fairly certain that I vacuum far more often than most people do. I use a cordless Dyson stick vacuum with a laser that quite literally points out where the dust is, and my floors still accumulate a layer of dust over a mere 24-hour period.

SEE ALSO: What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair? My cats and I have been testing options at home.

Mold spores are similarly invisible and similarly inevitable. These natural fungi thrive around moisture and tend to hang out in humid spots like AC units or near the washing machine. Different people may be more or less sensitive to mold spores, but again, not great to inhale all the time.

My apartment has particularly poor airflow due to zero windows in the kitchen, poor ventilation, and absolutely useless bathroom fans. Then, the mugginess seems to make odors linger longer than they normally would. If someone makes food, the smell hangs around. If I need to empty the drawer in the automatic litter box, you can smell it the second you walk in the door — and it's my biggest fear to be one of those cat owners whose house smells like a litter box.

The Dyson HushJet's 360-degree Electrostatic filter and Activated Carbon filter can deal with all of these, capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns. For reference, a strand of human hair is about 70 microns wide, while the tiniest mold spores and specks of dust can be less than 1 micron.

How is the Dyson HushJet different from other air purifiers?

The Dyson HushJet strictly projects air upwards from a funky nozzle on top, rather than from around the sides like most canister air purifiers. Like the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, the concentrated flow of air allows for higher velocity (and subsequently, faster purification). In true Dyson fashion, the HushJet has the futuristic, mechanical vibe that its stick vacuums do. If the top reminds you of an engine, you're right — the star-shaped design mimics jet engine hush kits to produce high-powered "wind" while dulling the roar.

The air purifier's design allows for powerful airflow at a low volume. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The filter can last up to five years. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Air pollutants in the room are captured from every angle, though (not just through the top). While you can personally adjust the HushJet's settings to the noise level and purification strength that you want, you can also opt for auto mode. Dyson's Autoreact technology adjusts airflow based on the amount of pollutants sensed every few seconds.

The cylindrical filter is nearly as big as the whole machine itself, which you can reveal by pressing the two buttons on the side to lift the top part of the purifier off. It'd be really easy to change the filter in this thing, but you won't have to worry about that for a while — the Dyson HushJet's Electromagnetic filter is supposed to last for five years.

Does the Dyson HushJet work?

I sensed a decrease in stuffiness very soon after plugging in the HushJet. While I developed some nose blindness to the apartment's stale air while sitting in there all day, I definitely noticed it when coming back inside after a long walk. But even 24 hours of constant HushJet usage made it feel fresher in here. Since I've been trying to cut back on candle usage due to some paraffin paranoia, my home simply smelling like nothing is kind of a dream. Now, a week later, every roommate in the apartment has agreed that cooking smells and cat smells aren't loitering like they used to. The one roommate who eats meat can make bacon without the two vegetarians (who sorely miss BLTs, BTW) having to smell bacon for the next 12 hours.

But you don't just have to base the HushJet's performance on vibes alone. You can see the scientific proof through the live particle tracker, both in the app and on a little LCD screen on the front of the machine. The screenshots below just reflect the progress in my living room within the HushJet's first day.

My apartment's air quality right after setting up the HushJet. Credit: Screenshot: Dyson My apartment's air quality within a day of using the HushJet. Credit: Screenshot: Dyson

I knew I wasn't overreacting. I KNEW OUR AIR QUALITY WAS VERY POOR.

I also appreciate that airflow adjustment can be done from my phone or with physical buttons on the purifier, depending on which gadget I'm closer to. It's way better than having another remote lying around.

Just how hushed is the Dyson HushJet?

To fully live up to the "hush" in HushJet, I think that the purifier should be unobtrusive during daily activities, even on full power. Because otherwise, yeah, any air purifier can technically be hushed if you leave it on the lowest setting — at $349.99, you should be able to take advantage of the machine's full purification potential without having to put up with a constant drone in the background.

Well, Dyson wasn't fronting with this name. The Dyson HushJet is seriously very quiet. Like, I've had to check and make sure it didn't come unplugged or something.

From airflow levels one through four or five, the HushJet is essentially silent. Unless I were to put my ear directly up to the machine in a totally noise-isolated room in a completely unnatural, fabricated situation, I can barely tell a difference between the noise levels of the lower half of the spectrum. If you drag the bar in the app up to levels six through 10, a very faint hum fades in. But even level 10 is notably quieter than the highest setting on the Molekule Air Mini that I've tried, and a world of difference between the airplane takeoff rumble of my parents' Coway Airmega Mighty.

How is this floor air purifier significantly quieter than... Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable ...this mini wall air purifier? Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I set my HushJet up in the living room corner right by the couch to see how noticeable it was while watching TV or working at my desk, which is right behind the couch. I never even noticed the noise during the day unless I was specifically listening for it. As any horror fan would during October, I watched a shit ton of scary movies from the couch during my first week with the HushJet. At airflow level five, the sound didn't drown out any dialogue or ruin any pre-jump scare ambiance.

I also brought the HushJet into my room before bed a few times. I'm a major white noise person, and leaving the HushJet on overnight felt like a much healthier alternative to turning my wall AC unit on (and probably blowing dander and dust around) just for the noise of the fan. It's also way better than using my phone to play thunderstorm sounds all night — I really don't want "white noise for babies" to be my top song in Spotify Wrapped again.

SEE ALSO: Shark FacialPro Glow review: My first 24 hours of pore de-gunking and sculpting were definitely successful

The HushJet's 10 levels of airflow offer a lot of noise level customization. I'm not a parent, but air levels one through five are genuinely so soft — dare I say soothing — that I think it'd be great for a quiet nursery.

I used the Decibel X app to measure the noise level of the Dyson HushJet compared to the dishwasher murmur. When holding my phone right up beside each, the HushJet gave off 38 decibels on level three (just slightly louder than a whisper), 45 decibels on level five (equivalent to a quiet library), and 60 decibels on level 10 (equivalent to normal conversation). The dishwasher hit 57 decibels up close. If you have a robot vacuum, those HushJet numbers are way quieter than the average roar of suction power (between 65 and 70 decibels) and a self-emptying dust bin (between 70 and 75 decibels).

And remember, these numbers just reflect how loud these devices would be if your ear was less than an inch away. You'd obviously usually be a few feet away from the HushJet.

Downsides: The HushJet just works for one room at a time

The Dyson HushJet has a relatively small coverage area for the price. The HushJet's 203 square foot max is really only purifying a single room for $349.99. The Shark NeverChange Compact Pro that we tested can cover 250 square feet for $179.99, while the popular Levoit Core 600S can cover nearly 3,000 square feet in an hour for $319.99. Granted, more high-capacity purifiers definitely don't have the quiet aspect going for them. The Coway Airmega Mighty sounds like a plane taking off sometimes, and it's nice that the HushJet doesn't make you sacrifice peace and quiet.

SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling headphones we use and love

The Dyson HushJet is also nearly as expensive as the $379.99 Blueair Comfort Pure 3-in-1 that we tested and loved. They're similar in size, but the Blueair can also cool or heat the room.

Since the HushJet can only tackle one room at a time, many people will probably want to move it back and forth between rooms as needed, like I did. But unlike many compact floor purifiers that have handles or a strap, there's no great way to pick the HushJet up. You just have to lift from the bottom, but at least it's super lightweight — it only weighs about seven pounds.

Is the Dyson HushJet worth it?

I think the Dyson HushJet is worth the splurge, especially for small spaces. I genuinely noticed fresher air in my stuffy apartment within the first day, and less sneezing for no reason after a full week of use. After giving up on the Molekule Air Mini+ for being unforgivably loud on the highest setting, the Dyson HushJet's quiet operation has been blissful. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an air purifier for a nursery or to double as a white noise machine overnight.

Because the HushJet's filter lasts for up to five years, it's the first air purifier I can see myself using long-term. If you don't trust yourself to buy new filters every six months, the Dyson HushJet is the perfect lazy person air purifier.

Dyson Hushjet Purifier Compact (White/Silver) $299.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $50   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Best Buy

SAVE $161: As of Nov. 11, the Hisense 50-inch E6 Cinema Series is on sale for $218.99 at Amazon. That's a 42% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 50-inch E6 Cinema Series $218.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $161   Get Deal

Black Friday is technically still a few weeks away, but you don't need to wait until the end of the month to snap up impressive deals. Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have their events underway already, and Amazon has announced its discounts will begin on Nov. 20. However, there are already some early deals popping up that are catching our eyes. And if you're looking for a new TV, this deal on the Hisense 50-inch E6 Cinema Series is not one to ignore.

As of Nov. 11, this TV is on sale for $218.99, saving you $161. Not only are you saving over $100, but it is down to its lowest-ever price. You really can't beat that. So, if your old TV has packed in and you can't wait until Black Friday begins, this deal is a great one to score early. This price is for the 50-inch model, however all size options of this TV are on sale. From 43-inch all the way to 100-inch, all of these TVs are discounted by at least $100.

SEE ALSO: I found 30+ early Black Friday tech deals I'd recommend to friends and family: Save on Apple, Samsung, DJI

It has QLED color technology and it uses quantum dots to produce over a billion shades for a much more realistic viewing experience. Its Total HDR Solution supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, and HLG, giving you deep blacks and vivid brightness. And as the name would suggest, this TV promises an almost cinema-like experience. This is thanks to the Dolby VisionTM HDR and Dolby Atmos which combine cinema-grade picture and sound for an immersive experience.

On the inside you're getting the Fire TV OS, so you have a great and easy to use interface that puts live channels and apps right at your fingertips. You'll also get Alexa voice so you can search through streaming platforms, ask questions, and do pretty much anything hands free.

Get this great TV deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $402: As of Nov. 11, the Anker Solix C1000 is on sale for $497.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 $397.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $401.01   Get Deal

It’s officially the month of big discounts. With Black Friday just a few weeks away, many retailers are already launching their early deals, giving you nearly an entire month to save. Amazon's Black Friday event doesn't technically get underway until Nov. 20, but if you look hard enough, you'll find some impressive deals already live. And if you've been on the hunt for a power station, this deal on the Anker Solix C1000 will definitely catch your eye.

As of Nov. 11, this power station is now priced at $397.99. That's half off, and over $400 in savings ($402, to be exact). This is the lowest it has been priced, so Black Friday or not, this is a bargain.

SEE ALSO: I found 30+ early Black Friday tech deals I'd recommend to friends and family: Save on Apple, Samsung, DJI

The Solix C1000 provides up to 2,400W of output through 11 ports, with Anker saying it can power up to 99% of common appliances. This applies to use at home, in an RV, or for keeping you powered while camping. It can keep a refrigerator running for 14 hours, a laptop for 17 hours, and a router for 52 hours.

It charges fast too, perfect if you need to use it with minimal notice. In 43 minutes it can reach 80% battery, and full in just under an hour when using an AC input with UltraFast recharging through the Anker app. It also supports solar charging with up to 600W Fast Solar Recharging that can fully charge the device in around 1.8 hours.

Pick up this power station deal from Amazon ahead of Black Friday.

As Mashable's tech editor, I get early access to a lot of really cool products. I also have a pretty deep knowledge of the coolest new gadgets, from the latest virtual reality tech to everyday fitness trackers and new Apple laptops. I've also been covering Black Friday sales since 2019, and I have a very good idea of what goes on sale, what kind of discounts to expect, and which deals you can safely skip. So, now that retailers are rolling out all their early Black Friday tech deals, I'm curating this guide to the best savings of the season.

In this guide, you'll find all the Black Friday tech deals I'd actually recommend to my friends and family. Before recommending a Samsung QLED TV or Anker charger, I'll first make sure that the price is actually a good deal. Online retailers are notorious for exaggerating their sales, but I've done the work for you to find the biggest genuine discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and beyond.

So, keep checking back as I add new discounts on the season's best gadgets, toys, wearables, and tech gifts. I've personally tested many of the products in this guide, while others have been tested by other Mashable reporters. If you see a deal in this story, it's because I'd truly recommend that product — and at that price — to my loved ones.

The Apple Watch SE 3

Apple just launched the new version of its starter smartwatch in September, and it's already earned a spot in my guide to the best smartwatches of the year. The truth is, while we also loved the longer-lasting Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra Watch 3, the new SE 3 is the right pick for the vast majority of people. This is a true lifestyle smartwatch that also does double duty as a fitness and sleep tracker. Plus, it even has an always-on Retina OLED display. At Amazon, you can pick up this smartwatch for $199.99, a 20% discount ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal at Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones

Bose recently released a new version of its flagship noise cancellers, and in our review of the headphones, we noted that the new model is nearly identical to the original. However, the new version will set you back $449, which is a big ask in this economy. The Gen 1 version are still some of the best, most-comfortable headphones in the world, and ahead of Black Friday, they're on sale starting at just $299 (if you go for the limited-edition plum colorway at Amazon). While it's possible these headphones might get a bigger price drop come Nov. 28, they're already at a record-low price.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 1) $329 at Amazon
$429 Save $100   See It at Amazon See It at Amazon See It at Walmart Rechargeable Electric Hand Warmers

Alexa informed me that New York City faces its first freeze warning of the season, and now I'm mad at her. However, I do have something to keep the chill away. I've been using and recommending these cute electric hand warmers for years, and they're one of my favorite undiscovered gems at Amazon. They're one of my go-to stocking stuffers, and they'll keep your hands toasty and warm all winter long. If you're looking for tech deals under $25, this is my personal recommendation.

Opens in a new window Credit: Orastone Orastone Electric Hand Warmer $17.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $12   Get Deal Samsung's famous art TV

I've said it before: Samsung's cult-favorite art TV, The Frame, is the best TV in the world. This super-thin TV doubles as an art gallery for your living room, adding to your home's decor instead of distracting from it. The 2025 model of The Frame has a fancy new AI processor, as well as a magic-like matte, anti-glare display. While you can catch this TV on sale at any retailer you like, Amazon currently has the best price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED Art TV $997.99 at Amazon
$1,197.99 Save $200   Get Deal Stock up on Anker chargers

I'm a big fan of Anker's charging products, especially the brand's GaN turbochargers, sold under the name Anker Prime. These are the chargers I personally use to charge up all the devices I test, and they can charge multiple devices at once without breaking a sweat. And if you travel frequently, check out the brand's new portable laptop charger. Slip this into a backpack or purse and you can charge up your laptop or phone on the go.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Prime 6-in-1 USB C Charging Station, 140W $59.99
$109.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Portable Laptop Power Bank $91.99
$134.99 Save $43.00   Get Deal DJI's cult-favorite wireless microphones

If you're a content creator or vlogger, then you've probably heard of DJI's famous pocket mics, currently 46% off at Amazon. These wireless mics replace the awkward wired lavaliers of the past, and they clip on to your shirt or collar magnetically. There's a reason you can spot these microphones all over TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube. I've personally tested these microphones, and they've been a huge help to the Mashable video team at live events.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini $99 at Amazon
$169 Save $70 Best-seller at Amazon Get Deal Re-up on Apple AirTags

Look, the best Black Friday deals aren't always super exciting. This is your chance to stock up on products you need. Case in point: Apple AirTags are currently 50 cents away from their lowest-ever price. At Amazon, a 4-pack is 34% off, and you'll pay just $16.25 per tracker. Using ultra-wideband technology and Apple's Find My network, there's no better way to track lost items.

Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $64.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $34.01   See It at Amazon See It at Adorama See It at Walmart Eufy robot vacuums

Eufy has impressed me this year. The brand may not have quite the name recognition as iRobot in the vacuum space, but you'll find Eufy robot vacuums all over Mashable shopping guides. If you're looking for a budget self-emptying vacuum without lots of unnecessary bells and whistles, try the Eufy C10 Robot Vacuum, which I've personally tested. Our vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, has also been impressed by the Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop, which she named one of the best cleaning machines of the year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy C10 Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum $197.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $22   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400   Get Deal A nearly perfect $99 smartwatch

In our review of the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro, we said that the British brand should be charging three or four times as much. Instead, they've lowered the price, as this smartwatch is getting regular discounts to $79 before the holidays. This smartwatch has a superb AMOLED display and excels as both a fitness tracker and sleep tracker. At this price, this is easily one of the best Black Friday tech deals of 2025.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing CMF By Nothing Watch 3 Pro $79 at Amazon
$99 Save $20   Get Deal A shockingly affordable flatscreen TV

As much as I love Samsung's The Frame, I know not everyone can afford to drop $1,000 on a new TV. Fortunately, you can count on Black Friday doorbuster deals if you need a TV on the cheap. And now that big box retailers start all their Black Friday sales early, you don't have to wait in line on Thanksgiving night. Over at Best Buy, you can grab 50-inch smart TVs starting at just $179.99 and 4K 65-inch TVs starting at $329.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 50-inch F50 Series 4K LED Smart Fire TV $179.99 at Best Buy
$299.99 Save $120   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Toshiba Toshiba 65-inch C350 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $329.99 at Best Buy
$529.99 Save $200   Get Deal A Roku streaming stick

If a new smart TV isn't in your budget this year, that doesn't mean you have to be locked out of the latest streaming apps. Access everything from Amazon's Prime Video to Apple TV and Spotify using this affordable streaming stick from Roku. You'll still have to pay for all those apps, but it's still a lot cheaper than buying a new TV.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025 $29 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.99   Get Deal A new Lenovo gaming laptop

This is the exact laptop I've been using to play Cyberpunk: 2077 for the first time. And over at Lenovo, it's on sale for the very reasonable price of $864.49, a 27% discount from the retail price. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 GPU, it can handle intense gaming. While it's considered a mid-range gaming laptop and it doesn't have an OLED display, it's got all the processing power you need to play all the games you love.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo LOQ 15 gaming laptop (15-inches, AMD Ryzen 7, RTX 5050) $864.49 at Lenovo
$1,189.99 Save $325.50 Use code AMDSAVE10 Get Deal A Nintendo Switch 2 bundle

Over the summer, it was almost impossible to find the new Nintendo Switch 2 console in stock. Thankfully, that's no longer the case. While we haven't found any official discounts on the Switch 2 console yet, you can find some Switch 2 bundles in stock at Amazon, Walmart, and GameStop. We expect this handheld to top many Christmas gift wishlists this year, so grab these while you can.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle $499 at Amazon
  Get Deal A Blink home security camera

Amazon always discounts its devices for big sales, and right now you can grab the popular Blink Mini 2 security camera for just $17.99, a 55% discount. We don't expect this product to get any cheaper come Thanksgiving, so go ahead and stock up and protect your home.

Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Mini 2 Security Camera $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal A powerful portable power station

The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is one of our favorite portable power stations for camping or emergency home use. Our reviewer called this Mashable Choice award winner "a superior product at an affordable price." Right now, it's available for its lowest price ever at Amazon (give or take a penny), making this a smart Black Friday tech deal to shop early.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station $397.99
$499 Save $101.01 Mashable Choice Winner Get Deal Save on video games at Walmart

As part of its early Black Friday sale, Walmart has tons of video games on sale. You can score new titles like Madden NFL 26 and Borderlands 4, or play back old favorites like Grand Theft Auto V.

Opens in a new window Credit: Take Two Borderlands 4 $49.99 at Walmart
$69.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: EA Sports EA Sports Madden NFL 26 $59.95 at Walmart
$69 Save $9.05   Get Deal Best Black Friday tech deals to watchLast-chance savings on DJI drones

As Mashable has reported, a total ban on DJI drones in the United States is very likely to be implemented, possibly by the end of the year. For professionals and hobbyists alike, DJI drones are pretty much the only name in town, and so the ban would be a huge blow to the drone community. During recent Prime Day events, we've seen DJI's popular consumer drones get heavy discounts. So, while they're not on sale yet, we're watching these potential Black Friday deals very closely.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Drone $299 at Amazon
  Get Deal Oura smart rings

We're big fans of Oura smart rings at Mashable. Our reviewer praised Oura for its great balance of health, fitness, and sleep tracking metrics, and there's a reason these smart rings are beloved by many pro athletes. We're currently testing the brand's newest models, and we fully expect the popular Oura Ring 4 trackers to go on sale for Black Friday. Keep an eye on the Oura online store. In the meantime, go ahead and order an Oura Ring sizing kit for just $10 at Amazon.

Oura Ring 4 $348.97 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Target More early Black Friday tech deals Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds $84.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $44.01 We used to get excited about $99 AirPods, but somehow, the price of these wireless earbuds keeps getting lower. Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet $49.99 at Target
$99.99 Save $50.00 For some reason, this popular kids' tablet is cheaper at Target than Amazon. While we expect Amazon to drop its prices to match eventually, early shoppers should head to Target. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V9 Motorbar $269.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $330 This is just a ridiculously low price for a Dyson vacuum. Amazon has more early discounts on Dyson if you're willing to spend a little more. Get Deal SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3 Pro AI True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, Noise Cancelling, Sound Optimization, Real-Time Interpreter, Redesigned Comfort Fit, Silver [US Version, Amazon Exclusive 2Yr Warranty] $179.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $70 Samsung's answer to the AirPods have everything you want in a pair of wireless earbuds: a slick design, advanced AI features, and impressive ANC. See It at Amazon Nothing Headphone (1) ANC Headphones $254 at Amazon
$299 Save $45 We favorably reviewed the new Nothing Headphone earlier this year, and this is your chance to pick up the retro-yet-futuristic looking cans on sale. See It at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple M4 MacBook Air (13 inches, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.99 at Amazon
$999 Save $249.01 For students or professionals in need of a new laptop, the newest Macbook Air is surprisingly affordable. Powered by M4 silicon, it's also lightning fast. You can grab this 2025 model laptop in four colorways. Get Deal Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones $98 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $81.99 Sony's mid-range noise-cancellers may have a boring name, but these Mashable-tested headphones won't let you down. See It at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Tablet (11 inches, 64GB, Android) $148.94 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $71.05   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Victus 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop (AMD Ryzen 7, RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $549.99 at Best Buy
$899.99 Save $350   Get Deal

Fall 2026 was the planned drop date for the second generation of the super thin iPhone Air, but the wait will likely be longer, according to a report from The Information (via The Verge).

Unimpressive sales of the iPhone Air — which debuted in September as the thinnest iPhone ever — are to blame for the delay, the report claims. Spring 2027 may be more realistic, when Apple plans to release the iPhone 18 and 18E.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone might soon be able to send photos via satellite connection

The iPhone Air currently features the powerful A19 Pro chip, along with a 6.5-inch ProMotion display and a titanium frame. The second-generation iPhone Air is expected to be thinner, feature a stronger battery, and possibly include a vapor chamber.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Not a smile.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

FROWN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Uncertainty.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 11, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DOUBT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Hairy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 11 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 11, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BUSHY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Rule.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 11 Hurdle Word 4 answer

REIGN

Final Hurdle hint

An answer.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

REPLY

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

Tesla is having a very tough year. Sales are down, the brand has been tarnished in the eyes of some customers by its CEO Elon Musk, tax credit incentives that brought in consumers have now expired — what else can go wrong?

How about two major program managers leaving the company in a single day?

On Monday, two Tesla executives who headed up major product initiatives separately announced that they were leaving the company: One who leads the Cybertruck program and one who leads the Model Y program.

Siddhant Awasthi, head of Tesla's Cybertruck program, announced on LinkedIn early Monday morning that he was departing the company. Awasthi's story is inspiring, as he first joined Tesla eight years ago and worked his way up the company ladder to finally head up Musk's vision for an EV truck.

"I recently made one of the hardest decisions of my life to leave Tesla after an incredible run," the now-former Cybertruck chief wrote on LinkedIn. "Eight years ago, when I started as an intern, I never dreamed I’d one day have the opportunity to lead the Cybertruck program and bring it to reality."

It's unclear why Awasthi has left the company and, based on his post, it does appear to be on good terms. 

However, Cybertruck has certainly not lived up to Tesla's expectations. As The Verge notes, a recent Cybertruck recall notice from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that only 63,619 Cybertrucks have been sold since the vehicle's launch in 2023. Musk once bet that the future of Tesla depended on the company selling 250,000 Cybertruck vehicles per year. Tesla is nowhere close to doing that. In fact, interest in the Cybertruck has waned since the company claimed that it received 250,000 pre-order deposits in 2019.

Awasthi was later joined in his departure from the company by Emmanuel Lamacchia, the head of Tesla's Model Y program. 

"After 8 incredible years, I'm moving on from Tesla," Lamacchia wrote on LinkedIn. "What a journey it's been... from leading NPI for  Model 3 and Model Y variants to becoming the Vehicle Program Manager for Model Y, the best-selling car in the world!"

Lamacchia, who was the Model Y chief for the past four years, did lead the team behind Tesla's most successful vehicle. So, again, it does not appear any of these departures were performance-based.

If anything, it is concerning that Tesla is losing two talented leaders at the tail end of what has been a tumultuous year for the company. Pair these departures with Tesla's sales numbers and the recent news that Tesla is now looking to roll out a rental car service for Tesla vehicles, and it looks like Tesla could be in for a very bumpy 2026 as well.

You'd be forgiven if you didn't know that acclaimed octogenarian author Joyce Carol Oates — author of Them and Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been — is a prolific, excellent poster. Yes, as in someone who posts online. But she is, and has long been.

Billionaire Elon Musk recently discovered this fact on X, his very own platform. And now he's beefing with Oates, or at least trying to prove he is definitely Not Mad. So...what happened? Let me explain.

Why is Elon Musk mad at author Joyce Carol Oates?

In short, Oates surgically owned Musk on X. She quote-tweeted a post about Musk and wondered what joy or meaning he derived from life.

She wrote:

"So curious that such a wealthy man never posts anything that indicates that he enjoys or is even aware of what virtually everyone appreciates— scenes from nature, pet dog or cat, praise for a movie, music, a book (but doubt that he reads); pride in a friend’s or relative’s accomplishment; condolences for someone who has died; pleasure in sports, acclaim for a favorite team; references to history. In fact he seems totally uneducated, uncultured. The poorest persons on Twitter may have access to more beauty & meaning in life than the 'most wealthy person in the world.'"

It was a devastating read on the world's richest man. It quickly went very viral. Musk didn't love it. He posted about it because Musk posts constantly. He called it "demonstrably false." He said, "Oates is a liar and delights in being mean. Not a good human." He claimed, "Eating a bag of sawdust would be vastly more enjoyable than reading the laboriously pretentious drivel of Oates."

You know what they say about which dogs holler and why.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What's the latest with the Musk vs. Oates beef?

To be clear, of course, there have been instances of Musk saying he enjoyed things in culture. Journalist Ronan Farrow this year spoke about how Musk appreciates — and often greatly misreads — science fiction.

But if you parse through Musk's timeline, you do see a picture of someone who mostly posts to boost his companies, air grievances, and shitpost about political stuff. It'd be super weird to see him posting about Monday Night Football or Taylor Swift's new album. (Though, he did post about Swift's private jet and offered to father a child for her. So...yeah.)

But since the Oates debacle, Musk seemed hell-bent on proving he likes stuff, which is kind of funny in and of itself. He's been replying to posts about movies, just saying things like "good movie." People have been joking about Oates, 87, getting to Musk, especially on left-leaning Bluesky.

Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon so hard he's spent the last day posting about movies he hasn't seen in 15 years

[image or embed]

— Razzball (@razzball.bsky.social) November 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM

[image or embed]

— leon (@leyawn.bsky.social) November 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM

Joyce Carol Oates just pulverized him, didn’t she?

[image or embed]

— Helen Kennedy (@helenkennedy.bsky.social) November 10, 2025 at 1:49 PM

one of the funniest parts about Joyce Carol Oates going viral for nuking Elon Musk is that he absolutely needed someone tell him who Joyce Carol Oates is

— Godspeed You! Bluesky Emperor (@andrewpaul.bsky.social) November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM

late to this but i feel like an underrated part of the musk meltdown over joyce carol oates accusing him of not reading is this musk reply that makes it clear he has never read anything by joyce carol oates

[image or embed]

— Will Oremus (@willoremus.com) November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM

For the uninitiated, Oates has long been a True Poster. There are articles about it. She's even put her foot in her mouth multiple times, a sign of someone who simply cannot help posting online. (Speaking of, please don't search "Joyce Carol Oates' foot" — she once tweeted a truly gross, super viral picture of her foot overtaken by poison ivy. Again, a True Poster.)

Since the original post, Oates has intermittently posted about Musk, while also discussing literature and cats. "Truly, it was out of curiosity: why a person with unlimited resources exhibits so little appreciation or even awareness of the things that most people value as giving meaning to life," Oates wrote.

So, it's actually not that weird that an Oates vs. Musk beef popped up this week. But it is great entertainment.

SAVE $126: A like-new Amazon Kindle Scribe (64GB) is on sale at Amazon for $278.99, down from the normal price of $404.99. That's a 31% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-new Amazon Kindle Scribe (64GB) $278.99 at Amazon
$404.99 Save $126   Get Deal

The darkness has arrived. When we pushed the clocks back, sunset moved up by an hour and that means it's completely dark by 5 p.m. for much of the U.S. If that leaves you feeling ready for bed by 6 p.m., you've probably considered cozying up on the couch with a good book. If you're one to take notes while reading this month's book club pick, there's a certain Kindle with features you'll like and it's on sale today.

As of Nov. 10, a like-new Kindle Scribe (64GB) is on sale for $278.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $404.99. That works out to a 31% discount that takes a nice $126 off the norm. It's also the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon. The current model of the Kindle Scribe with 64GB of storage is listed at $449.99 which means today's refurbished deal saves $171.

Kindles are some of the best e-readers on the market and buying a refurbished model is a great way to dive into e-books on a discount. On Mashable's list of the best Kindles, the 2024 version of the Kindle Scribe earns the top spot as the best model for taking notes. That applies for both students, professionals, and casual readers. Students can take advantage of note-taking in the margins of class-assigned books and even textbooks. Book-club members will be able to mark favorite sections and important passages for discussion.

The Kindle Scribe comes with a Premium Pen for all your note-taking desires. You can also access PDFs and documents on the Kindle Scribe, as well as books, so you'll be in great shape for marking up any text.

SEE ALSO: Before the holiday rush, snag a like-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for the lowest price ever

Amazon equipped the Scribe with an anti-glare display that measures 10.2 inches. Its thin dimensions and lightweight nature makes this a travel-friendly device that'll be great for taking to campus, to a work meeting, or on upcoming holiday travel.

While it's sitting at an all-time low price, snag a refurbished 64GB Kindle Scribe that's in like-new condition. Amazon offers the same warranty on this model as it does on new Scribes. They also upgrade software and test the battery, giving you extra reassurance when buying a pre-loved model.

SAVE $600: As of Nov. 10, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon. That's 46% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni $699.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $600   Get Deal

Robot vacuum deals are always popular over busy shopping periods like Prime Day and Black Friday. We're already looking out for big discounts, and we're expecting a lot of offers to drop throughout the next few weeks. That being said, we might have already come across the best early Black Friday robot vacuum deal. It's certainly going to be tough to beat.

As of Nov. 10, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon. That's 46% off the list price and the best-ever price for this model. You could find the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni for over $800 over October Prime Day, so this price drop really is significant.

SEE ALSO: Score the Roborock Q7 M5+ robot vacuum and mop for its best-ever price ahead of Black Friday

There isn't much that this premium robot vacuum can't do. It vacuums, mops, and cleans itself, so there's not much for you to do. It offers strong performance on carpets and more effective removal of dust, pet hair, and debris. It also has anti-tangle brushes which prevent hair from wrapping around the rollers, making this a strong option for pet hair.

Score the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni robot vacuum for its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

SAVE $20: As of Nov. 10, the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro is on sale for $79 at Amazon. That's the best-ever price for this popular smartwatch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $79 at Amazon
$99 Save $20   Get Deal

The Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro was released in July 2025, and we've been shouting about it ever since. Seriously, we like this smartwatch a lot. In our review, we said it "looks, feels, and functions like a smartwatch that costs hundreds more." So we're even more impressed when you can pick up this impressive smartwatch for its best-ever price at Amazon.

As of Nov. 10, the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro is on sale for $79 at Amazon. That's the best-ever price for this popular smartwatch according to camelcamelcamel. Every color is down to this record-low price, so pick from orange, ash grey, dark grey, and light green. I'm not going to point you in any particular direction, but damn that light green colorway looks great.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch SE is down to under $190 ahead of Black Friday

Mashable's reviewer praised the sleep tracking accuracy, battery life (nearly two weeks), dual-band GPS tracing for athletes, intuitive design, and advanced workout metrics. To get all of that and more for $79 feels unfair, but we're not complaining.

The only question is whether we'll see anything better as we approach Black Friday. Looking at the price history, this was the same price over October Prime Day. That tells us that we're unlikely to see anything better, so if you're interested, you should jump on this limited-time discount.

Score the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro for under $80 at Amazon.

TL;DR: Save hundreds on a lifetime subscription to PromptBuilder’s AI prompt engineer tool that helps you build better prompts and get more out of AI.

Opens in a new window Credit: PromptBuilder PromptBuilder - AI Prompt Engineer: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $199
$1,764 Save $1,565   Get Deal

You know that moment when ChatGPT spits out something so off-base you wonder if it even read your message? It’s not that the AI is broken; it just needs clearer instructions.

PromptBuilder helps you bridge that gap, turning your half-formed thoughts into sharp, optimized prompts that deliver exactly what you meant. With it, you can stop wasting your time arguing back and forth with ChatGPT and get better outputs the first time around. Grab lifetime access now for $199 (reg. $1,764).

SEE ALSO: Lawsuits allege ChatGPT use led to suicide, psychosis

How PromptBuilder works for you:

Let’s say you’re a social media manager trying to come up with clever captions for a holiday campaign. Instead of typing vague requests like “write fun Instagram captions for Christmas,” open PromptBuilder:

1. Choose a ready-made template.

2. Add a few details about your brand, business, or what you want included. PromptBuilder translates it into a professional-grade prompt that works across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other top AI tools.

3. Boom — you’ll get better, brand-friendly options.

Or, maybe you’re a content creator experimenting with DALL-E or Stable Diffusion. You can get image prompts tailored to your ask without wasting your credits or tokens on outputs that are nowhere close to what you need.

Once you find prompts that work for you, make sure to save and organize them right within PromptBuilder so you never have to start from scratch again.

Get your PromptBuilder AI prompt engineering tool here for $199 (reg. $1,764).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: For a limited time, you can get a Headway Premium lifetime subscription on sale for $39.99 (reg. $299.95).

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If your ‘to be read’ (TBR) list keeps growing faster than your free time, Headway might be your new favorite app. It turns best-selling books into quick, engaging summaries you can finish in minutes. And right now, you can snag lifetime access at the lowest price we’ve ever seen.

Since you only have to pay once and not every month, you can enjoy the app at a relaxed pace. No need to feel like you’re ‘wasting money’ if you take a day away.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone might soon be able to send photos via satellite connection

Inside the Headway app, you’ll find summaries of titles in productivity, business, self-improvement, psychology, and more. You can also opt for the audio option if you’d rather listen to them while commuting or cleaning up around the house.

The app also includes personalized learning paths and spaced repetition tools, which can be useful if you’re trying to build new habits or retain key concepts from books.

This kind of reading isn’t for everyone — it won’t replace the depth of a full book or the joy of leisurely reading. But if your TBR list is longer than your calendar allows, or you’re looking for a way to sample a book before committing, it could be a time-saver.

And while there are other book summary apps out there, many charge ongoing monthly fees or limit content without a subscription. With Headway, you’re getting full access for life, for less than what most platforms charge in a single year.

Get your Headway lifetime subscription now while it’s still $39.99 (reg. $299.99). No coupon is needed to get this price.

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The generative AI bubble may or may not be about to burst, but the technology could still be a game changer for organizations around the world. And, according to recent data, nonprofit organizations are still trying to hop onto the AI wave.

SEE ALSO: Lawsuits allege ChatGPT use led to suicide, psychosis A majority of nonprofits are interested in AI 

Compared to other tech-forward spaces, the nonprofit industry has been much more hesitant to dive into AI and its pitch of humanless efficiency. Broadly, nonprofits have been slower to adopt AI as a universal helper or to deeply integrate it into their work, keeping AI segmented away from public work. 

But as the tech has evolved — and in some ways acquiesced to the concerns of privacy experts and tech watchdogs  — nonprofit leaders are more eager to accept AI's offer to help. It may soon become necessary.

In addition to historic funding and infrastructure barriers, American-based nonprofits are weathering new attacks on federal funding sources under the Trump administration. Federal leaders have resorted to intimidating organizations, questioning their motives as part of the administration's "anti-woke" agenda, which now extends to the country's AI innovations. In August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that directed agencies to rewrite grant making policies for 501(c)(3) organizations, allowing agencies to terminate funding if it doesn't "advance the national interest."

Meanwhile, a 2025 report by Candid, the global nonprofit fundraising platform, found that 65 percent of nonprofits expressed interest in AI. Most nonprofits communicated being at a "beginner familiarity" with the tech. A recent survey by social good software provider Bonterra found more than half of its partner nonprofits had already adopted AI in some form, and a majority said they were interested in using it soon.

Tech nonprofit organization Fast Forward, with support from Google's philanthropic arm Google.org, recently surveyed more than 200 nonprofits that had already adopted AI in their work. The report showed that smaller organizations (less than 10 employees) were utilizing the tech the most, starting with their own chatbots and custom LLMs trained on public data. Most implemented it only in internal operations — and had been using AI for less than a year. 

Guidance on AI safety and responsibility is still a major problem

While interest and adoption has grown, AI developers and tech funders haven't kept up with the needs of nonprofits. Organizations still navigate major gaps in training, resources, and policies that preclude AI's effectiveness in their work. Candid found that only 9 percent of nonprofits feel ready to adopt AI responsibly, and a third couldn't articulate a connection between AI tech and accomplishing their organization's mission. 

Half of the organizations were worried that adopting AI could exacerbate inequalities that they themselves address within their work, especially among those serving BIPOC communities and people with disabilities. "Folks hold the desire to explore and to understand," wrote Candid in its findings, "but the support systems have not caught up."

These concerns were also expressed among nonprofits that have already adopted AI. Bonterra's survey found that nearly all nonprofits were worried about how AI companies could use their data. A third of the nonprofits said unresolved questions about bias, privacy, and security are actively limiting how they use it.

"With AI adoption on the rise, it’s critical for organizations to remember to prioritize people over data points. AI should be used to support a nonprofit's mission, not the other way around. For nonprofits and funders, this means that AI adoption must take on a people-first perspective that is grounded in transparency, accountability, and integrity," Bonterra CEO Scott Brighton told Mashable. "Social good wants to use AI ethically, and that means giving them guidance on how to approach data collection, ensuring human oversight over all decisions, and protecting private information."

Surveys have shown that very few nonprofits have internal AI training budgets, internal policies, or guidance for the organization's use of AI, most often due to a lack of infrastructure to sustain them. Nonprofits also expressed concern over the potential impact of automation on their work, high costs, and the lack of training resources for already overburdened staff — concerns that have existed for years as AI has become mainstream. 

"The reality is that nonprofits can only do what funders allow them to do within their budgets," explained Fast Forward co-founder Shannon Farley. "Funders play an important role in helping to make sure nonprofits have the funding to prioritize AI equity and accountability."

Especially at the smallest level, nonprofits are still being cautious about AI — and deferring to their communities in its implementation. Fast Forward found that 70 percent of nonprofits "powered" by AI used community feedback to build their AI tools and policies as government regulation lags.

"At the end of the day, nonprofits don’t care about AI, they care about impact," said Fast Forward co-founder Kevin Barenblat. "Nonprofits have always looked for ways to do more with less — AI is unlocking the how."

Few things can ruin a Stranger Things binge quicker than buffering. It happens from time to time on a Fire TV Stick. It's often a temporary glitch, but if it keeps happening, you'll want to try out these steps to fix it.