IT General

Explore how AI can elevate your 9-to-5 — and energize your 5-to-9.

You've chatted with ChatGPT and imagined with MidJourney, but you might still be wondering how AI can fit into your daily life. AI-powered devices like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop have some fantastic features that can really transform the way you work and have fun. Keep reading to discover how an AI-powered portable PC can boost your productivity and expand your creative horizons.

Performance

AI isn’t just a secret weapon for drafting emails or generating images — it’s also helping personal computers operate more efficiently. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is built around a Lenovo AI core, which incorporates the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra processor to balance energy use among key components like the central processing unit (CPU), neural processing unit (NPU), integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU), and random access memory (RAM) so that work (and play) gets done faster.

Tip: Does your work generate temporary files that pile up annoyingly and slow down your PC? Set up a cleanup schedule to automatically delete them and save yourself time spent trawling the trash bin. If you’re using Windows 10 or 11, Storage Sense can be configured to do this at an interval you set yourself: just go to Settings - System - Storage to activate it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition
Shop Now Security

Crafting your next big idea takes time, and you’ll want to keep it top secret until it’s ready to change the world. As data thieves are getting smarter, so are the lengths some makers are going to thwart them. Yoga Slim 7i’s AI Core includes Lenovo’s Trusted AI Controller (TAC), a device-level security solution designed to lock down personal files and keep them clear from unauthorized online attention.

Tip: USB flash drives are a common way for hackers to swipe data from your laptop when you’re not around. A small USB port lock, inserted into the drive when you’re not using it, is a simple way to prevent any unwanted entry. It’ll come with a key you can keep while you’re away from your PC.

Connectivity

Creatives know that inspiration comes from interaction with people, places, and thoughts. That means great ideas often arise when your computer isn’t in reach. For those times, the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition’s Smart Share feature can help you keep those big ideas pinned down until you’re ready to develop them fully. 

Using an AI virtual sensor, you can share photos captured on your Android or iOS smartphone instantly and securely to your laptop with just a tap. It also works in the other direction — sending and receiving texts using Intel® Unison™ when your phone isn’t at hand.

Tip: Are good ideas getting away from you? Organizing them consistently can be a big help. When you take down your thoughts, try sorting your notes by where you were when inspiration struck. Experts say that relying on spatial memory, your ability to store and recognize details about your environment will help you recall faster.

Longevity

Some laptops never leave their desks, but getting the most out of your device means taking it for a ride every now and then. AI has helped improve that, too. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition’s AI core balances battery usage to ensure you get the most out of your portable PC for longer. With a long-lasting power source, creating out in the real world, unattached to a wire, shouldn’t be too worrisome.

Tip: You probably knew you could extend your laptop’s battery life by turning down the brightness and closing unused programs, but were you aware that temperature matters, too? A battery’s internal chemistry works harder when it’s hot, so a cooling pad or other method to ensure good airflow can lengthen your PC’s time off the digital leash.

As AI grows in usefulness, it’s proving to be much more than a word or image generator: it’s a tool transforming computing and machine learning entirely. While there’s no replacing your creative mind, there are many ways an AI-enhanced laptop like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition can support you, making it a partner worth considering. 

Explore how AI can elevate your 9-to-5 — and energize your 5-to-9.

The tools of the creative trade are always changing. Just ask a 50-year-old graphic designer how they worked before Photoshop. We’ve come a long way since then; with AI in hand, artists of all stripes are now producing innovative work with fewer hurdles between their vision and the final product.

But the physical devices they use can still make a major difference. Whether you’ve been at it for years or are just getting your feet wet, an AI-ready laptop like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is intended to open up a world of possibilities, both fantastical and practical. See how creators can use AI to take their passions to new — and sometimes unexpected — places.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition $1,279.99 at Lenovo
Shop Now Designing with a digital muse

When design is your business, no two jobs are the same. One day, you’re defining the visual language for a nascent startup; the next, you’re recharging a hallowed legacy brand.

As you’re balancing ideas in your head, some mundane but crucial tasks might not get the TLC they need. We’ve all seen how messy an artist’s studio can get, and a digital workspace can generate datasets that are just as difficult to manage.

It can be tough to control the flow of inspiration; you’ve got great ideas, but how many fall through the cracks or don’t get enough time to truly cook before you can make them a reality?

AI-infused project management tools running on a Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition can help creative leaders better balance their ideation time with the equally necessary job of keeping it all in order. That could mean writing detailed proposals, making sense of customer reviews, or turning a big idea into real-world deliverables. Such tools also automate tedious tasks like transcription, help allocate resources, and can even draw on advanced analytics to help determine what’s useful and what isn’t. 

Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com - Yuri A

The Yoga Slim 7i’s Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 processor works the same way, balancing power allocation to maximize efficiency and put the laptop’s substantial digital brainpower to best use while preserving battery life. AI works best when it’s got real strength behind it, and a smart processor was built to deliver just that.

And when it’s time to spark fresh ideas, Smart Share can be your go-to tool. Lenovo’s AI-grounded device sync makes sharing files between your Android or iOS phone and your computer easy. An intriguing smartphone snap can be shared directly into your computer’s files, and it’ll be ready to inspire you when you need it.

A photographer’s pixel-pushing partner

In the professional photography landscape, skill and creativity go hand in hand, but efficiency is equally crucial. Today’s photographers are leveraging AI tools to reduce blur, streamline editing, and enhance their workflow, allowing them to focus more on their vision. 

An AI-enhanced PC can take this a step further, providing the power needed to tackle demanding tasks quickly and effortlessly. This means more time spent on creating stunning images and less on the technical side of things.

Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / Anuchit kamsongmueang

Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition’s 15.3-inch PureSight Pro display is built for the clarity and color that photo pros are after. Whether an image was snapped on a DSLR or fine-tuned with generative AI, this machine aims to reproduce it in lifelike quality on a screen big enough to see detail but not so big that it sacrifices portability. 

It's got the specs photographers dream about, like Delta E 1 color accuracy, 100 percent sRGB, and 100 percent P3 coverage, with Lenovo’s bespoke Auto Color Management to ensure this wide color gamut is reproducing your work to an exact degree.

Videographers can play here, too, with a 120Hz refresh rate that shines on the 2.8K display. The Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 processor comes in handy when tackling video edits on the move, and for those who work best with their hands, the touchscreen adds full-scale interactivity.

Soundscapes on smart technology

On a Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, Dolby Atmos Audio is custom-tuned to an array of four built-in speakers for clear, consistent playback. So, audio engineers and producers can get studio sound wherever they may be.

That’s crucial for a sector where AI looms large; engineers are increasingly using AI to automate once-tedious tasks, like taming out-of-control frequencies, reducing noise, and syncing up dialogue. 

Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / DCStudio

That’s the kind of efficiency that Lenovo aims for with the Yoga Slim 7i, with a processor working in tandem with bleeding-edge tech specs tuned specifically for creative jobs. Intel’s latest chipset was designed to save hours on editing, with speed and responsiveness that lets audio mavens focus on the sound, not the chatter.

Even if you’re not an audio pro, you’ll likely make good use of the noise-cancelling quad-microphone array during audiophile-worthy video and voice calls. And it’s got a battery that’s designed to last long, so all-night jam sessions can happen wherever the music takes you.

While AI is still growing in its capabilities, here and now, it’s empowering creatives to do what they do best — just better. Wherever your skills lie, there’s a good chance AI can make your work simpler and the results stronger. 

Consider a laptop like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, built to incorporate the best of AI with the processing power to keep it running smoothly. You’ll be ready to go further, no matter where inspiration takes you.

Believe it or not, my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is my favorite way to play games, but that doesn't make it a perfect gaming device. Some games feel awkward on a foldable phone, while others feel like a perfect match. Here are the genres that I find are the best fit for book-style folding phones.

Google has announced a bunch of new templates for Slides that could give your next presentation that professional polish without too much work.

I've been seeing spaghetti squash recipes all over TikTok — even Martha Stewart recently shared her own spin on it over on X.

Many of us love pasta — just not the refined carbs that often comes with it. And if there's one thing the internet loves, it's finding clever ways to keep the pasta vibes without the carb guilt.

Remember the zoodles trend? Everyone was shoving zucchini through hand-crank spiralizers to recreate spaghetti noodles. Then came Chickpea pasta, sending health-conscious foodies into a frenzy. Now, it looks like spaghetti squash is beginning to bubble up as the talk-of-the-town on FoodTok.

To be clear, spaghetti squash isn't some new discovery; it's been touted as a pasta alternative for decades. But search interest for the gourd-bashed dish has been getting a big spike this year, with a late October peak, according to Google Trends,

Spaghetti squash may be the new zoodles Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock.com

The zoodles obsession exploded in 2018, per Google Trends, but it looks like spaghetti squash has taken over.

TikTok creator SarahKraffty, for instance, shared her spaghetti squash recipe and the video garnered 1.2 million views. She calls it a "high-protein" alternative, though well-informed sources like Very Well Fit claim that spaghetti squash is not, on its own, high in protein. It is, however, a "low-calorie, low-glycemic food that provides fiber and important micronutrients including manganese, vitamin A and vitamin C."

It's worth noting, though, that SarahKraffty does add a creamy cottage cheese-and-pesto sauce to her dish — and cottage cheese is known to be high in protein.

A typical spaghetti squash recipe requires the following ingredients:

• One medium spaghetti squash (yes, it's actually called "spaghetti squash" due to its noodle-like, fibrous flesh)

• Olive oil

• Salt and peper

Cut the spaghetti squash length-wise, scoop and discard the seeds, brush the insides with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the halves inside the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and scrape the flesh to create spaghetti-like strands.

Traditional recipes suggest adding grated Parmesan cheese and a tomato-based sauce. SarahKraffty's dish features the aforementioned cottage cheese-and-pesto sauce, as well as plum tomatoes, red onions, and an Italian herbs and garlic seasoning mix. She also added ground turkey to the dish.

The TikTok creator ate the spaghetti alternative inside the pumpkin cousin, but you can scrape it out and put on a plate, too.

Social media's fixation with ditching carbs

Social media is buzzing with low-carb alternatives to pasta, from cauliflower rice to spaghetti squash, all in a quest to satisfy cravings without the carbs. But as Andrew Odegaard, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UC Irvine, pointed out, carbs aren’t inherently bad. The key lies in choosing high-quality carbs over low-quality ones, as they make up an essential part of our diet — federal guidelines recommend that 45% to 65% of our daily calories come from carbs.

Instead of cutting out carbs entirely, experts suggest swapping refined pasta for whole-grain options, which are typically higher in fiber and lower in calories. While it might sound cliché, moderation is indeed crucial. According to the Mayo Clinic, skimping on carbs can be as problematic as overindulging. The goal? Aim for balance and prioritize nutrient-rich, high-quality carbs.

Jerrod H., a Tennessee-based engineer with a history of designing 3D printable models, has released a new 3D printable case for the M4 Mac mini. It makes the Mini look like a shrunk down Mac Pro.

With the announcement of this year's Grammy nominations, Beyoncé has officially made history.

The music superstar picked up 11 nominations, the most of the year, officially becoming the most-nominated artist in Grammy history. On top of her 99 career nominations, Beyoncé is also the artist with the most Grammys ever (32), a lead she could very well extend on Feb. 2, 2025, during the next Grammys.

SEE ALSO: Social media feeds toxic fandoms. Is there a solution?

Beyoncé isn't the only artist with reason to celebrate this year's Grammy nominations. From the continued relevance of Charli XCX's brat to a surprise Beatles nomination, here are five takeaways from the nominations from the 2025 Grammy Awards.

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift will face off in top categories.

Women cleaned up at the Grammy nominations, with Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift all picking up nods for Album of the Year. (André 3000's New Blue Sun and Jacob Collier's Djesse Vol. 4 round out the list.)

Two of the biggest names from that list, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, will square off in key categories like Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. (Swift picked up six nominations to Beyoncé's 11 for her album The Tortured Poets Department.)

SEE ALSO: Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter': Who are the featured Black country artists?

But as Beyoncé's Grammy dominance continues, one question remains: Can she finally win Album of the Year, this time for her country-Americana opus Cowboy Carter? The award has eluded her for her entire career, to the point that she singles it out on the song "SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN'" ("A-O-T-Y, I ain't win"). However, given the Academy's love for the album, with seven different songs nominated in four genres, 2025 could very well be the year Beyoncé takes home the top prize. About damn time.

The Grammys clearly had a brat summer.

Charli XCX has been a steadily innovative artist for years now, but would you believe she only had two Grammy nominations prior to this year? (Both were for "Fancy," her 2014 collaboration with Iggy Azalea.)

SEE ALSO: Charli XCX's 'Brat and it's completely different but also still brat' is here and hype lives on

This year, though, Charli XCX picked up seven nominations. That's the power of brat, her internet-beloved album that spawned the brat summer phenomenon, powered Kamala Harris's Presidential campaign, and gifted us a banger remix album months after its release. Nominations include Album of the Year, Record of the Year (for 360), Best Pop Solo Performance (for "Apple"), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (for "Guess" with Billie Eilish), and Best Dance Pop Recording (for "Von Dutch").

Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan celebrate their breakout years.

2024 was the year of Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, two artists who have been releasing great work for years and finally reached superstardom over the summer. The two picked up seven nominations apiece, including Best New Artist, where they're the likely frontrunners.

SEE ALSO: Tegan and Sara share words of wisdom for Chappell Roan that they got from Neil Young

Sabrina Carpenter's other nominations include Album of the Year (for Short n' Sweet), Record of the Year (for "Espresso"), and Song of the Year (for "Please Please Please"). Chappell Roan's other nominations include Album of the Year (for The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess), Record of the Year, and Song of the Year (both for "Good Luck, Babe!").

The Beatles get a nomination with the help of AI.

The Beatles will compete against Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for Record of the Year thanks to the release of their final song, "Now and Then."

John Lennon wrote and recorded a demo for "Now and Then" prior to his death in 1980. But it's only just now being released thanks to AI technology, which separated his voice from the demo's instrumental. The two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, consented to the use of AI and were involved in the song's creation from beginning to end. They also sing and play instruments on the song themselves. The late George Harrison is also featured on "Now and Then," as it uses some of his older guitar recordings.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake's rap beef makes it to the Grammys.

If you needed any more proof as to who won the rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, look no further than this year's nominations. Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us" picked up five nominations, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rap Performance. Drake, for his part, has declined to submit to the Grammys in past years. Still, Kendrick Lamar's nominations here — and potential Grammy performance — are just another victory lap.

The Grammy Awards air Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.

If you need to make some business cards, but you lack experience with sophisticated design software such as InDesign and Photoshop, you can use Word's business card template. And if none of the templates tickle your fancy, you can make your business cards from scratch.

Apple wasn't too excited to do so, but it finally added RCS messages on iOS 18, paving the way for SMS to finally be a thing of the past. Now, one of the remaining compatibility issues is being ironed out.

Apple is launching its extended returns service ahead of the holiday season, enabling you to return an Apple product you purchased online as late as January 8.

You've never quite sure what food TikTok is going to obsess over next. One month it's cottage cheese in everything, the next it's a dense bean salad.

Right now TikTok is really into — of all things — onions. Most notably lots of folks are cooking a dish colloquially dubbed an "onion boil," which is effectively all the things you'd see in a seafood boil — lots of butter and seasoning — stuffed inside an onion.

SEE ALSO: The best TikTok food trends of 2024 (so far)

Videos of folks making onion boils have racked up millions of views. And it really is as simple as I wrote earlier: You core an onion, stuff it with butter, and season it to all hell. Then it is baked in foil for a bit and served. This TikTok from @stephpappas, for instance, racked up nearly 10 million views.

Or here's another from @thishealthytable that has some 3 million views.

To be honest — and this is my opinion — they kind of look like soggy gut bombs. But I imagine onion plus butter plus seasoning served over a starch — let's say rice — would be tasty.

Lots of folks in the comments of viral TikToks have pointed out onion boils are quite similar to a dish called a dolma, which is basically a stuffed onion. But the onion boils are quite simplified, relying only on butter and seasoning. But, because onions are in via the boil recipe, you can see folks basically doing a true dolma recipe and going viral as well.

So it's not just one onion recipe going viral — you might even say this trend has ... "layers."

Google Maps users with cars are getting even more customization options soon.

Four years(!) after Google introduced the ability to change what your vehicle looks like on the navigation screen, Google is expanding those options even further, per Android Police. An upcoming update to the Google Maps app will include the option to choose from five new car models — including a hatchback, a Jeep, and something resembling a Tesla — along with eight new colors, giving users more control than before over the visual representation of their car in the app.

SEE ALSO: Did Google accidentally leak its new AI tool that browses the internet for you?

Previously, users could only choose between four options: a regular arrow, a yellow SUV, a red car, and a green pickup truck. Now, they'll have eight vehicles (if you want to call the arrow that) and eight colors for each. It should be noted that Android Police was only able to access this on the iOS version of Google Maps, and even then, it's not widely available yet. Since Google makes Google Maps, it stands to reason that the Android version will get this update at some point soon, too.

Google Maps continues to be the de facto navigation app for a lot of folks, and Google keeps supporting it accordingly. The iPhone version got a redesign a few months ago, for example. Just remember that there are alternatives.

TL;DR: Live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Autumn Nations Series brings together the biggest international sides in the world of rugby. Outside of the World Cup, this series of fixtures offers the best chance of seeing the northern and southern hemispheres battle it out.

The biggest game from the second round of Autumn Internationals is surely Ireland vs. New Zealand. These sides last met in the World Cup quarter final, with the All Blacks coming out on top and crushing the dreams of the pre-tournament favorites. Can the Irish come out on top at the Aviva Stadium?

If you want to watch Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ireland vs. New Zealand?

Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series kicks off at 8:10 p.m. GMT on Nov. 8. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium.

How to watch Ireland vs. New Zealand for free

Ireland vs. New Zealand is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player in Ireland.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock Virgin Media Player. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Autumn Nations Series for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Ireland vs. New Zealand for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Autumn Nations Series without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand (plus more Autumn Nations Series fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series for free with ExpressVPN.

Finally some good news for iPhone and Android users in the same group chat. Emoji reactions, or Tapbacks, now work properly between iPhone and Android messages.

According to The Verge, which discovered this quiet update, when an Android user sends a reaction to an iPhone via RCS message, the emoji displays inline instead of as a separate message. The same goes for when an iPhone user reacts to a message sent from an Android.

SEE ALSO: The DOJ accuses Apple of a 'green bubble' problem. Here's why they're right.

We tested this out for ourselves with Mashable Tech Editor and resident Android user Kim Gedeon — and it worked for both of us. For iPhone users just make sure you have the latest iOS 18 update.

Emojis work normally between our resident Android user and this iPhone user. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable And it works for Android users too. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable

Incompatibly between iPhones and Androids, which cause the dreaded green bubble, have tested relationships for years. Androids rely on RCS messages, an end-to-end encrypted method that relies on connectivity provided by your carrier.

Apple uses its proprietary iMessage, an encrypted service that operates over Wi-Fi and cellular data networks, but it lacks seamless compatibility with RCS messaging. However, partly due to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which enforces interoperability of devices, Apple finally relented and enabled RCS message support with the iOS 18 update.

Unfortunately, while messaging between iPhone and Android is starting to feeling somewhat normal, the green bubble remains.

SAVE $50: The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are on sale for $179.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $229.99. That's a 22% discount and the first sale price we've seen since they launched in September.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 $179.00 at Amazon
$229.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Getting your hands on the latest version of any tech comes with some pretty great benefits. You'll be first in line to take advantage of better quality, longer battery life, and often better performance overall. The one downside, however, is that new models often come with a steep price tag. That's one of the reasons why seeing the latest and greatest model at first-time discount is exciting. If you agree, you'll want to listen in on this Amazon deal.

As of Nov. 8, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are $179.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $229.99. That's a savings of $50 or a 22% discount. It's also the first discount we've seen on the Buds Pro 2.

Freshly launched in September, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 aim to impress with better features than previous versions. For starters, the buds are lighter weight and offer better battery life compared to previous generations, getting up to 30 hours of listening time with active-noise cancelling enabled.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 also use Conversation Detection, which pauses your music, podcast, or audiobook and switches to Transparency mode when you start talking. That means instead of taking your earbuds out to chat with a co-worker or a neighbor, you can keep them in.

Mashable shopping reporter Dylan Haas also notes the Buds Pro 2 come with some updated functionality. "Most notably, Google's new Tensor A1 Chip allows for much better audio processing and active noise-cancellation (apparently it's two times stronger than the previous Pixel Buds)," writes Hass.

If you've been eyeing the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 since they came out in September but didn't find the price appealing, today's $50 discount helps. Ahead of the chaos of Black Friday sales, secure yourself some top-of-the-line earbuds and rock out to holiday tunes this season.

TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're quickly approaching the conclusion of the 2024 WTA Finals. There's a place in the final up for grabs as Sabalenka takes on Gauff in the second semi-final matchup. The Riyadh singles champion will win no less than $4.45 million, so this game really matters.

If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free

The 2024 WTA Finals are available to live stream for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand, including Sabalenka vs. Gauff.

If you're abroad for this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TVNZ+. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Sabalenka vs. Gauff without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every WTA Finals match before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WTA Finals for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Best early Black Friday fitness tracker deals Best fitness tracker deal Fitbit Charge 3 $69.95 (save $30) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm) $169.99 (save $160) Get Deal

2025 is nearly upon us, and we can already feel those New Year's resolutions brewing. If your resolution has anything to do with becoming more active, you may want to consider picking up a fitness tracker to assist you in achieving your goals next year. Luckily, Black Friday deals are already starting to rear their heads, so it's a fantastic time to pick one up at a discount whether you're looking for something more basic, or something high-tech like a smartwatch.

SEE ALSO: Home gym starter kit: Everything you need to work out from home

Below, take a look at our favorite fitness tracker deals we've found in the weeks leading up to Black Friday. Keep checking in with us, though — we constantly update our deals pages with new discounts as soon as they go live, so if you want to stay on top of it, stick with us.

Best fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 3 $69.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Fitbit is synonymous with the entirety of the fitness tracker category, and it's for a good reason: They work well, and they're affordable. The Fitbit Charge 3 has become even more affordable ahead of Black Friday — just $69.95 for the tracker, which is $30 off the original price. If you want to track your activity, stress, sleep, and more on a budget, the Fitbit Charge 3 isn't a bad place to start.

Best smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm, Bluetooth) $169.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Most people turn to the Apple Watch for their smartwatch needs, which isn't a bad choice, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 also might be something you want to consider. (You don't always have to go for the most popular thing!) It also packs in a bunch of great features like heart monitoring in addition to your usual activity and sleep analytics, and it's on sale for $160 off the usual price at Amazon. Pick one up ahead of the Black Friday season and secure those savings.

More early Black Friday fitness tracker deals

• Amazfit Band 7 — $44.99 $49.99 (save $5)

• Fitbit Inspire 3 — $69.95 $99.95 (save $30)

• Amazfit Bip 5 (46mm) — $74.99 $89.99 (save $15)

• Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 — $81.30 $89.99 (save $8.69)

• Fitbit Charge 6 — $99.95 $159.95 (save $60)

• Fitbit Luxe — $99.95 $199.95 (save $100)

• Amazfit Active (42mm) — $99.99 $109.99 (save $10)

• Fitbit Versa 4 — $119.95 $199.95 (save $80)

• Garmin Forerunner 55 (42mm) — $169.99 $199.99 (save $30)

• Fitbit Sense 2 — $179.95 $249.95 (save $70)

• Apple Watch SE, 2nd Gen (40mm, GPS) — $189 $249 (save $60)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch FE (40mm, LTE) — $219.99 $249.99 (save $30)

• Garmin Vivoactive 5 — $249.99 $299.99 (save $50)

• Oura Ring Gen 3 — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) — $329 $399 (save $70)

• Garmin Venu 3S (41mm) — $399.99 $449.99 (save $50)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, GPS) — $409 $429 (save $20)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (47mm, LTE) — $482.42 $649.99 (save $167.57)

A quick look at the best self-emptying robot vacuum deals ahead of Black Friday Best under $300 Dreame D10 Plus Gen 2 279.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ 399 (save $330.99) Get Deal Best hybrid deal with self-cleaning mopping pads Roborock Qrevo S 549.99 (save $250) Get Deal

The majority of robot vacuums you'll see on sale this Black Friday will be self-emptying ones, and there's a reason that feature is more common than not nowadays. Having a robot vacuum typically means you'll be vacuuming more often, and that means a fuller dustbin faster — but thanks to the universalization of the self-emptying dock, you won't have a hard time outsourcing dustbin duty for more than $300 or $400.

SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The guide to deciding which Roomba to buy on Black Friday

This wasn't the case even a few years ago, when automatic emptying was a feature reserved for the high-end robot vacs from a select few brands that were ahead of the game. Now, there are tons of options on both ends of the spectrum, including super affordable, compact options that barely take up more room than a non self-emptying option.

If your budget is a little more flexible, you can squeeze more out of your $500 to $1,000 during Black Friday and secure not only automatic emptying, but automatic water refilling and automatic mopping pad washing and drying. All of the big brands like iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and Eufy all have at least one robot vacuum and mop combo that deals with its own dust and dirty mopping pads all in the same dock, and we're expecting them all to get groundbreaking discounts for Black Friday 2024.

SEE ALSO: Why Eufy's X10 Pro Omni is the most surprising robot vacuum I've tested all year

In fact, prices have already started to drop weeks before Black Friday officially comes on Nov. 29, meaning you have plenty of options to treat yourself to automated cleaning amid Thanksgiving stress. I'm tracking the best self-emptying robot vacuum deals below and will be refreshing this list as more options pop up.

Best early Black Friday self-emptying robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q Revo S $549.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

I think of the Roborock Qrevo S as the diet version of my favorite self-emptying robot vacuum right now, the Roborock Qrevo Master. And unless you're one of the few open to spending $1,000 or more on a robot vacuum, you can probably deal with the Qrevo S skipping the Qrevo Master's fluff features like a livestream pet camera or extending side mop — especially when at $549.99, you could buy two Qrevo S vacs for the price of one on-sale Qrevo Master.

Buying the Qrevo S at Amazon over Roborock's own website also saves you an extra $50.

And anyway, the most important aspect about the Qrevo S is that it has that coveted self-washing and drying mopping pad feature baked into its self-empty dock. I also have to give Roborock credit for arming this Qrevo with the same dual spinning mopping pads as the Qrevo Master, which I feel do a more detailed mopping job than a singular pad that lays flat across the bottom of the vacuum.

More self-emptying robot vacuums (that don't mop) on sale

• iRobot Roomba i5+ — $279.99 $499.99 (save $220)

• Eufy L60 — $299.99 $398.99 (save $99 with on-page coupon)

• Eufy X8 Pro — $349.99 $649.99 (save $300)

• Shark Detect Pro — $349.99 $599.99 (save $250)

Self-emptying robot vacuum and mop combos on sale

• Dreame D10 Plus Gen 2 — $279.99 $399.99 (save $120)

• iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ — $399 $729.99 (save $330.99)

• Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300)

• Eufy Omni C20 — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150)

• Dreame L10s Ultra — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400)

• Roborock Q8 Max+ — $459.99 $819.99 (save $360 with on-page coupon)

• Yeedi M12 Pro+ — $599.99 $999 (save $399.01 with on-page coupon)

• Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch 2-in-1 RV2820YE— $649.99 $899.99 (save $250 with on-page coupon)

• Narwal Freo — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200 with on-page coupon)

• Eufy X10 Pro Omni — $699.99 $799.99 (save $100 with on-page coupon)

• Roborock Qrevo Master — $1,099.99 $1,599.99 (save $400 with on-page coupon)

SAVE $80: As of Nov. 8, you can get a Google Nest Doorbell for just $99.99 and save 44%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Nest Doorbell $99.99
$179.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Google Nest is one of the most advanced video doorbells around. With built-in smarts that differentiates people from animals, packages, or passing cars, the Google Nest Doorbell Wired keeps you abreast of the action. Notifications are sent wirelessly right to your phone. 

SEE ALSO: 4 futuristic AI features now common in home security devices

When you can’t be there in person, the Google Nest Doorbell will be your eyes, with live high-definition video and even night vision. If you miss a notification, it doesn’t, providing three hours of event history. This capacity expands to 60 days of event history with a subscription. 

Right now the Google Nest Doorbell Wired is available for $99.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy. Shop now and save $80. 

Two-way talk ensures that you won’t only get a glimpse of visitors, but you’ll also be able to chat with them. Give instructions to the dog walker or tell a delivery driver where to leave your package right from your phone. 

The Nest ecosystem works better together. Your Nest doorbell pairs with other Google Nest devices like smart speakers or a smart display, pair them up for even better communication with your doorbell.

If you know someone who eats, sleeps, games, and repeats — we don’t envy you when it comes to buying gifts for them. Even if you’re looking to upgrade your own setup, scrolling through the sea of specs can be exhausting. 

We’ve rounded up 15 picks for every type of gamer on your list, including yourself. Each of these gaming laptops, PCs, and Graphics Cards comes with its own unique perks, but they also have something in common: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs and NVIDIA DLSS 3, a breakthrough in AI gaming graphics that’ll knock any gamer’s holiday-themed socks off.

Pricing is controlled by the retailer and is subject to change, so you'll want to act fast.