IT General

The Pixel Weather App is Coming to More Phones

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 21:41

Google finally made a real weather app for Android phones, but until now, it was limited to the Pixel 9 phones. Now, it's coming to other Pixel phones.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Thunderbird Mail for Android is Finally Out For Everyone

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 21:27

Mozilla promised a true Android version of its Thunderbird email client two years ago. The app is now finally out of beta and ready for everyone to try.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tegan and Sara respond to Jojo Siwa's claim of having invented 'Gay Pop'.

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 21:26
Tegan and Sara have been queer icons in the music industry for over 2 decades. So when Jojo Siwa claimed to be inventing 'Gay Pop' they responded.
Categories: IT General, Technology

AMD Confirms Next-Gen GPUs Are Coming

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 20:48

AMD has confirmed that its next-generation graphics platform, known as RDNA 4, will start appearing in upcoming gaming graphics cards in early 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Best Lightning Cables of 2024

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 20:30

Not all Lightning cables are equal. They are available with several different USB connectors, for example, and only some support fast charging. We've rounded up the best Lightning cables to suit all needs and budgets.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Macs with 8GB of RAM are finally dead: Apple makes 16GB the new standard

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 19:55

In recent years, whenever Apple launched base configurations of Mac devices with 8GB of RAM, the Cupertino-based tech giant faced backlash from consumers arguing that 8GB of memory is simply insufficient for today’s demands.

For example, when Apple outfitted last year's MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip, critics expressed disappointment that the entry-level configuration only offered 8GB of RAM.

"Apple has lost its mind," one Reddit user said.

When Apple dropped the M3 MacBook Air earlier this year with the same base configuration, it also sparked a spirited discussion on social media about whether 8GB of RAM is enough.

It's the end of the 8GB of RAM Macs. Credit: Razulation / Shutterstock.com / Canva

Whether Apple is concerned about support for Apple Intelligence (the new AI suite requires more memory bandwidth) or has actually been listening to critical feedback, it looks like the new batch of M4 MacBook Pro models now start with 16GB of RAM. The same can be said for the new M4 iMac and M4 Mac mini models that dropped this week, too.

The death of Macs with 8GB of RAM

Apple released the new M4 MacBook Pro models on Wednesday, and they all start with a minimum of 16GB of RAM. As mentioned, the recently dropped iMac and Mac mini also start with 16GB of RAM.

M4 MacBook Pro promo image on Apple's website Credit: Apple

Even the MacBook Air family now starts at 16GB of RAM, at no additional cost to consumers.

You know what that means? It's the end of an era.

Last year, Apple’s VP of Worldwide Product Marketing Bob Borchers claimed that “8GB [of RAM] on an M3 MacBook Pro is probably analogous to 16GB on other systems” because its machines make more efficient use of memory through advanced memory compression and a unified memory architecture. 

This comment didn't sit well with consumers.

"There is no way that having 8GB RAM will enable you to have the same performance as a machine with 16," Jordan Jackson said in a Reddit thread on the subject.

"8 gigs is an absolute joke if you ever consider doing something harder that a few Chrome tabs," another Redditor added.

As hinted earlier, we're not sure whether Apple Intelligence or customer listening has something to do with Apple's new 16GB of RAM standard, but we're not complaining.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Russia wants Google to pay a $20 decillion fine for blocking YouTube channels

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 19:46

Russia wants Google to pay an unfathomable amount of money in fines: $20 decillion, reportedly.
For the non-mathematicians out there, that is 2 followed by 34 zeroes.

The fine has been accruing and doubling weekly since 2020 after Kremlin-backed news services Tsargrad and RIA FAN won court cases over the blocking of their YouTube channels, wrote The Moscow Times, citing a report from the Russian news service RBC. The fine has also grown as 15 other channels have won cases against Google, bringing the total to — wait for it — 20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, Gizmodo reported.

Google has reportedly not paid the fines, which has led to the astronomical figure. Even if it wanted to, the tech giant could not pay what it owes. Estimates vary on how much money exists in the world, but it doesn't even come close to $20 trillion.

SEE ALSO: How a Monday Night Football mishap may have exposed deep problems with Google Search

To be clear, the exact amount Google owes has varied a bit from news source to news source. That's honestly to be expected, considering we're dealing with a practically hypothetical number of rubles that are then converted to dollars. The point is clear, however: It's an impossible amount of money.

Perhaps Google will have to cut back on nights out and avocado toast for a bit.

Categories: IT General, Technology

When will we know who won the 2024 election?

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 19:05

Less than a week out from election day, as many around the country send in their mail-in ballots or stand in early voter lines, Americans are anxiously hoping to know who will be the next president ASAP. 

Many pundits anticipate a quicker turnaround than the last presidential election, perhaps as early as Wednesday morning, but election experts — noting ongoing outcome-driven attacks on the veracity of ballot counting — want to hedge such expectations. 

SEE ALSO: The truth about voting machine security in the 2024 election Closer the race, longer the count

"The public perceives election results coming out fairly quickly, on election night or in the days after, but it has always been true that it has taken days or weeks to get official election results," said Chris Mann, director of research for the Center for Election Innovation and Research, a nonprofit that works with election officials to build stronger confidence in elections. "In order to get the official results, we have to count every single ballot. Making sure that is done properly, correctly, thoroughly, completely, it takes a while, and states have different processes."

Mann and others urge the public to understand that no two elections are alike, and a lot has been invested into the 2024 election that wasn't integrated into the 2020 process — this will speed up the count in some states, but that doesn't mean results will come out immediately. There are three important factors to understanding election results, he explained: First, just how close the result margins turn out to be; second, the technological factors used to tabulate results; and third, the electoral policies in each state. 

Of the bunch, said Mann, close margins are the most important factor in establishing a result timeline. An election with close margins requires more ballots be counted before an outcome can confidently be called by media outlets, which is what led to the near 5-day wait in 2020. 

Polls, of course, are already making educated guesses about the closeness of results in both the presidential race and other offices across the 50 states. But polls aren't actually projections about the winners and shouldn't be taken as such, according to experts. Instead, they try to capture and estimate voter attitudes. Intention, however, is slippery to capture, and voter opinion can change in a matter of minutes. Closer margins obscure these results even further, and may result in even more dedicated ballot counting. 

Tech investments speed up counts, but have limits

State-specific technology will also play a key factor in calling a winner. Since 2020, election officials have invested heavily in expanding updated and faster ballot counting machines and processes to speed up the tech's use. Machine upgrades in states like Wisconsin, for instance, will speed up day-of counting compared to the last go-round. 

"A variety of states, swing states and non-swing states, have invested in technology," Mann said. "If you ask election officials, or folks who closely observe elections, this election will be the most secure and transparent and well-run because there has been this investment in technology… We will be able to count ballots much faster than we have in almost any previous election across the country."

Technological innovations are bolstered by human-monitored processes, which can simultaneously speed up and slow down the counting process. And counting can't begin until ballots are verified, the most time consuming part of the entire tabulation process. Mann points to two important state policies that will determine when counting can take place. The first is whether or not a state allows what is known as "pre-processing," in which officials validate absentee and mail-in ballots ahead of time to speed up counting. 

Earlier this month, the CEIR published a report on the state of early, mail-in voting policies per state, outlining a shift to allow more pre-processing efforts among 43 of the 50 states. Michigan and Nevada, for example, will now participate in pre-processing, with Michigan allowing early voting for the first time in order to speed its reporting up. Notably, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania do not allow pre-processing, and Pennsylvania is expected to lag behind other swing states in reporting an official count. 

"Counting ballots takes time, and confusion around perceived delays can open the door to misinformation and unfounded doubts about the integrity of the count," the organization wrote. "Pre-processing reinforces election integrity and improves administrative efficiency. Beginning to process mail or absentee ballots before election day gives election officials more time to detect, investigate, and address potential errors or irregularities before election day."

The second state policy at play is the window of acceptance a state has for receiving ballots. States like California, Oregon, and Washington accept ballots postmarked on election day, which means contentious seats down the ballot may not be called for weeks. Federal law gives overseas residents and military members the same allowance, established in the 1980s. Even swift pre-processing may be swamped by day-of or post-election day ballots. "Election officials get a lot of ballots, and you can't pre-process something you don't have," said Mann. "So when the mail truck pulls up to the election office and unloads bags and bags of mail ballots that have just arrived, they again have to go through that whole process, even if they were allowed to process the ones that they had gotten days before, in advance."

Early voting has become an essential part of the pre-election day build up. Independent organizations like VoteHub attempt to monitor and track the amount of absentee and mail-in voting requests and returns for the public using web data, offering a scope to early voting. 

Tweet may have been deleted The election is safe, despite claims otherwise

But even with policies that support human or machine help, and a host of data insights, official ballot counting takes time. That time opens up room for voter anxiety and misinformation. From attacks on mail-in ballots to false claims about election technology, voters can anticipate a swell of false partisan claims circulating election day about the veracity of the count. "One thing that's really important to watch out for is how much of this information is driven by outcome," said Mann. "These are not principled attacks, but opportunistic attacks driven by outcomes, not about the process." 

Conflicting information may also sow doubt among voters. Mann encourages individuals to visit Vote.gov to get the most accurate information about their state's electoral process and officials, including how it declares a winner — the website has been revamped since 2020 to include even more resources for voters. Mann also points to CEIR's interactive guides that explain just how your ballot becomes a vote, what happens after a vote is cast, and how the media covers an election

Election day will be a blur of unofficial calls based on early polls and conjecture by major political parties, with election officials reassuring the public as much as possible. Media outlets will try to beat each other to the most accurate call, based on a calculation of the gap between candidates and the number of uncounted ballots left. Simultaneously, political leaders on both sides may be eager to urge on more counting, ask to halt the count to call a winner, or participate in a confusing combination of both, as was seen with the 2020 Trump campaign's scattered ideological stance to mail-in ballot counting

But one thing is certain: Your vote is secure. "Our elections will not be perfect. There will be power outages, there will be poll workers [who] oversleep and don't open the polls on time, but they will be as close to perfect as they have ever been," said Mann. "I'm 100 percent confident that it will be the best election that we have ever had, but it's also the election that's been under the most attack." 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Legos aren't cheap — snag 'em for 15% off at Target while you still can

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 18:16

GET 15% OFF: As of Oct. 30, you can get select Lego sets for 15% off at Target. Shop Star Wars, Disney, and more.

Our top picks: Best Lego Disney deal Lego Disney: Disney Duos (43226) set $38.24 at Target (save $6.75 ) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars deal Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars Yoda's Jedi Starfighter (75360) set $24.21 at Target (save $4.28 ) Get Deal Best Lego City deal Lego City Explorer Diving Boat (60377) set $19.96 at Target (save $3.53) Get Deal

Legos are an iconic toy that’s been around for ages — they’re loved by adults and children alike, but there’s just one problem: They’re kind of expensive. Some more elaborate designs will cost you $200 or more, depending on the theme and piece count.

SEE ALSO: Target's Black Friday plans involve a new 3-day sale on top of daily and weekly doorbusters

Luckily, Target’s offering up to 15% off Legos right now, so you can get your tots, friends, family members, or even yourself a sweet deal on these beloved blocks.

Here are some of the best Lego deals at Target right now:

Best Lego Disney deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Our pick: Lego Disney: Disney Duos (43226) set $38.24 at Target
$44.99 Save $6.75 Get Deal Why we like it

The Lego Disney: Disney Duos (43226) set has all the pieces (533, to be exact) to make eight collectible figures: Lumiere and Cogsworth from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Pua and Hei Hei from Moana, Nemo and Squirt from Finding Nemo and Meeko and Percy from Pocahontas. It also comes with little stands decorated to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary, which is a cute addition.

Best Lego Star Wars deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Our pick: Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars Yoda's Jedi Starfighter (75360) set $24.21 at Target
$28.49 Save $4.28 Get Deal Why we like it

The Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars Yoda's Jedi Starfighter (75360) set is a 253-piece Lego build with mini-figures of Yoda and R2-D2. Once built, Yoda’s Jedi Starfighter features an opening cockpit, two spring-loaded shooters, and adjustable wings — so kids can recreate all their favorite Star Wars space battle scenes.

Best Lego City deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Our pick: Lego City Explorer Diving Boat (60377) set $19.96 at Target
$23.49 Save $3.53 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re looking for a budget Lego set that’s still intricate enough for hours of imaginative play, the Lego City Explorer Diving Boat (60377) set is only $19.96. It has 182 pieces to build a small boat complete with three explorer mini-figures, a manta ray, hammerhead shark, crab, two fish, and two baby turtles. It’s the perfect starter set for kids getting into Lego City.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Watch Yankees fans disrupt Mookie Betts' catch, spark internet frenzy

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 18:07
The video of the moment Yankees fans ripped a ball from Mookie Betts' glove is pretty unbelievable. The internet loved joking about it.
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to enable Apple Intelligence on your MacBook

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 18:03

Apple Intelligence is the talk of the town and of high interest for anyone with an Apple device. While we've been gushing about our experience with Apple Intelligence on iPhone, we don't want you to forget that some Apple Intelligence features are available on Mac, too.

For example, if you record a conversation with the Voice Memos app, Apple Intelligence can step in with a transcription of it. It's very helpful — and that only scratches the surface of what Apple Intelligence offers to users.

But the question is, how do you enable Apple Intelligence on your Mac? Here are the steps.

SEE ALSO: 6 Apple Intelligence features you can try right now — and how to turn them on How to enable Apple Intelligence on Mac

To enable Apple Intelligence on Mac, you must have a Mac with an M1 chip. Plus, it must be updated to macOS Sequoia 15.1.

You can do this by going to System Settings (via Apple icon on the top-right corner) > Software Update. In the "Available Updates" section, check for macOS Sequoia 15.1 and click on "Restart now."

Apple Intelligence update via System Settings app Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This update will take about 20 minutes to install.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Next, you can enable Apple Intelligence by, once again, navigating to System Settings and clicking on "Apple Intelligence & Siri." Next, click on "Turn on Apple Intelligence" and follow the prompts.

Apple Intelligence features you can use on Mac

Now that you have Apple Intelligence turned on, you may be wondering which Apple Intelligence features you can use on your Mac. AI-powered perks include the following:

  • Writing assistance for adjusting your tone

  • Summarized notifications of your emails, texts, and more

  • A more conversational Siri

  • Webpage summaries

  • Natural language support for searching within the Photos app

  • Transcripts of audio recordings

To get started with Apple Intelligence, head over to Notes or Messages, type some text, and right click it, allowing you to receive some options on how to adjust the tone to your liking (i.e., friendly or professional). Plus, there's also a new Type-to-Siri feature that you can access by double-pressing the COMMAND key.

After exploring Apple Intelligence on your Mac, let us know in the comments how you feel about Apple's new suite of AI features.

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Sweethearts' trailer: Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga star in a Thanksgiving rom-com

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 18:00
"Sweethearts" premieres November 28 on Max.
Categories: IT General, Technology

Journey with Mario and the gang with 25% off 'Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door'

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 17:31

SAVE $15: As of October 30, get Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch for $44.99 at Woot. That's a 25% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot 'Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door' $44.99 at Woot
$59.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

The Nintendo Switch may soon be welcoming a successor, but that doesn't mean it isn't still worth adding to your collection. Especially if that means picking up an excellent remake that's a faithful love letter to the original. That's the case with the Switch remake of the 2004 GameCube classic Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, which you can get right now at a great price.

As of Oct. 30, get Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch at Woot for $44.99. That's $15 down from its normal price of $59.99 and a 25% discount. This is a physical edition, not a digital code, so you'll have to wait for the game to be shipped to you to play.

This remake gives the original game a graphical makeover with new animations, music, and other changes to bring it in line with other, more modern games. It adds new boss encounters, fast travel, and a variety of other surprises for new and old fans alike. It follows Mario and Princess Peach on the search for some lost treasure when Peach is suddenly kidnapped. It might be hard to believe, but Mario has to head off on a journey to save her.

Okay, yes, so Mario has to rescue Peach, but this time it's from a group of aliens. Except it's not your average Mario game, but a rich and full-bodied RPG that you'll absolutely love if you were a fan of the Nintendo 64 original Paper Mario or any of the follow-ups afterward. This is a great price to jump in with, or return to, if you experienced the GameCube original.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save up to 38% on video doorbells at Amazon to keep an eye on holiday package deliveries

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 17:18

SAVE UP TO 38%: Video doorbells from brands like TP-Link, Arlo, and ecobee are up to 38% off at Amazon.

Video doorbell deals at Amazon Best overall deal Arlo 2K Video Doorbell $79.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best deal under $50 TP-Link Tapo Smart Video Doorbell $49.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best wired doorbell deal ecobee Smart Video Doorbell $127.95 at Amazon (save $32.04) Get Deal

It's a shock when someone actually calls your phone, but when someone shows up at your doorstep unexpected is even more of a surprise. Instead of hiding in another room, a video doorbell allows you to check on your front porch from your phone. From the doorbell's live stream, you'll be able to tell if it's your Amazon delivery, the neighborhood kids, or someone you'd rather not encounter.

A video doorbell is also a great way to get immediate notifications when a package is delivered, instead of checking your Amazon account every few minutes. If you're ready for a doorbell upgrade that adds to your home security, check out these sales at Amazon during the week of Oct. 30.

Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: Arlo Our pick: Arlo 2K Video Doorbell $79.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With 2K video resolution, the Arlo Video Doorbell gets the job done perfectly, and it's currently 38% off at Amazon. Instead of the list price of $129.99, the Arlo is down to just $79.99. The Arlo focuses on showing you exactly what you'd want to see when checking on your front porch: a head-to-toe view with a 180 degree-wide angle.

With the Arlo app, you'll be able to get real-time notifications from motion alerts and live streaming. There's also a night vision mode which is especially great during darker winter months. The doorbell's weather resistance means it'll hold up in any weather.

Best deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: TP-Link Our pick: TP-Link Tapo Smart Video Doorbell $49.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Increasing your home's security system doesn't have to come with a huge cost. With Amazon's sale price, the TP-Link Smart Video Doorbell can be all yours for just $49.99, marked down from the list price of $69.99. While some video doorbells use 1080p resolution, the TP-Link uses 2K which means you'll have a sharper image to see fine details like faces or license plate information.

Instead of getting up to open the door, you can arrange for the doorbell to call your phone, allow you to answer the door with your smartphone.

A common downfall of video doorbells is giving you alerts that you don't need — like when the cat walks by. Instead, the TP-Link allows you to set specific activity zones to monitor for motion or people.

Best wired doorbell deal Opens in a new window Credit: ecobee Our pick: ecobee Smart Video Doorbell $127.95 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $32.04 Get Deal Why we like it

If you'd rather not worry about re-charging your video doorbell, check out the wired ecobee Smart Video Doorbell. Equipped with a 1080p HDR camera, the ecobee allows you to see a live view of your porch from your smartphone or tablet. You'll get a 175 degree vertical view and a 187 degree horizonal view of what's happening outside of your front door.

With the wired configuration, the doorbell can withstand outdoor temps that range from -13 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit while also being waterproof and dust proof.

The doorbell comes with everyone you'd need to install it yourself including mounting plates, two wire extenders, a chime adapter, and screws.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Largest U.S. healthcare data breach exposes medical records of 100 million customers

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 17:12

A staggering new update has confirmed that February’s UnitedHealth data breach has impacted over 100 million Americans, now marking it as the largest healthcare data breach in U.S. history. But the fallout extends beyond individual patients — it touches entire families, elevating the scope and scale of this unprecedented attack.

SEE ALSO: 23andMe data breach settlement could give up to $10K to victims

The revised figure was disclosed on Oct. 24 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, which updated its data breach portal to reflect the full breadth of the breach. While the attack occurred in February, this latest report is the first official accounting of the impact widespread.

For context, a ransomware group called ALPHV targeted UnitedHealth Change Health's payment processing system in February 2024. As reported by Forbes, the breach didn’t just expose data; it crippled critical services to hospitals, clinics, and medical practices nationwide, causing widespread operational chaos across the healthcare network.

UnitedHealth reportedly paid the ransomware hacker group $22 million in a desperate bid to recover the stolen data and halt further exposure. But in a bold move, the hackers reneged on the deal, pocketing the payout while keeping the data — leaving tens of millions of Americans' information dangling on the dark web.

Here's the statement that Forbes received from UnitedHealth regarding the breach:

“We continue to notify potentially impacted individuals as quickly as possible, on a rolling basis, given the volume and complexity of the data involved and the investigation is still in its final stages. Change continues to update the status of the event and we also issued the substitute notification via the wire. Most importantly, Change Healthcare is also in regular communication with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights and other regulators regarding our notification process. We are committed to notifying potentially impacted individuals as quickly as possible. We continually encourage consumers to reach out with questions and take the below steps"

If you suspect that you've been affected by this data breach, Forbes suggests that you monitor your bank and credit card statements, request a credit freeze, and keep an eye out for medical fraud (review insurance statements for any unfamiliar claims and services).

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon deal of the day: Get a gaming bundle that includes a month of Xbox Game Pass, a wireless controller, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for under $80

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 17:07
Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Oct. 30: OUR TOP PICK Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Core Wireless Controller, and 1-month Game Pass Ultimate Bundle $79.99 at Amazon (save $56.98) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 10 $74.99 at Amazon (save $65) Get Deal BEST HOME SECURITY DEAL Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd gen) $79.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Dyson Pure Cool TP4B $299.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Ninja Mega Kitchen System BL770 $99.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

With Black Friday still a month away and Prime Day in our rearview, there's no major shopping event dropping prices on products on Oct. 30. Instead, there are just deals for the sake of deals. And TBH, these are our favorite kind. If you're looking to save some money and tick off your holiday shopping list, now is as good of a time as any.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Oct. 30. Make sure to check out our picks from Oct. 28 and Oct. 29 if you missed them as well. Plenty of those deals are still live — including a record-low M2 iPad Air and the Beats Solo 4 back at their Prime Day price.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon / Microsoft Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Core Wireless Controller, and 1-month Game Pass Ultimate Bundle $79.99 at Amazon
$136.97 Save $56.98 Get Deal

As of June 2024, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play Xbox games (via cloud streaming) on compatible Amazon Fire TV Stick devices. In other words, you don't need to buy a $500 gaming console to play high-end console games. If you've been wanting to try it out for yourself, this bundle allows you to get started at a discount. It includes the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, a compatible Xbox wireless controller, and one month of Game Pass Ultimate for only $79.99. That's 41% in savings. When you're not gaming, you can stream all of your favorite shows and movies in 4K or display some artwork on your TV with over 2,000 pieces of museum-quality images. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the most advanced streaming stick in the Fire TV lineup, with WiFi 6E support, Dolby Vision (plus HDR, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG), Dolby Atmos audio, and 16GB of storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $74.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal

Released last Oct., the Fire HD 10 tablet is "lighter and faster than its predecessors, with a long battery life and vivid picture that makes it great for on-the-go entertainment," as Mashable reviewer SaVanna Shoemaker wrote in her review. It's a solid no-frills tablet that's great for browsing social media, watching your favorite shows, answering emails, and doing other daily tasks. As of Oct. 30, it's back down to just $74.99 at Amazon — that's 46% in savings and the same record-low it hit on Prime Day.

Read our full review of the Amazon Fire HD 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Arlo Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) $79.99
$129.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Our top pick for a doorbell camera, the Arlo video doorbell is an all-seeing camera that serves as a virtual doorman with a huge 180-degree field of view, motion alerts, night vision, and two-way audio. You can unlock even more features with the Arlo Secure plan, which you can test for yourself with a free 30-day trial. Install it with or without wires, depending on your preference. As of Oct. 30, it's on sale for just $79.99 instead of $129.99. That's 38% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Pure Cool TP4B Purifying Fan $299.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal

The Dyson Pure Cool TP4B works double duty keeping the air in your home fresh and cool. With its fully sealed HEPA filtration and Air Multiplier technology, it can keep dust, debris, pet hair, odors, gases, and other pollutants at bay. Plus, its integrated sensors keep you in the know about your air quality. It's a great home addition for season changes — especially when it's on sale for just $299.99 instead of $549.99. That's 45% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Mega Kitchen System BL770 $99.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you can't decide between a full-size blender and a personal one, the Ninja Mega Kitchen System offers the best of both worlds. Plus, it's 50% off as of Oct. 30, knocking it down to just $99.99 — the lowest price we've seen since last holiday season. It includes a 1,500-watt motor base, a 72-ounce blender pitcher, an 8-cup food processor bowl, and two 16-ounce single-serve to-go cups for your at-home and on-the-go needs.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Categories: IT General, Technology

MacBook Pro M4 is finally here: 3 new features that may make you upgrade

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 16:54

The M4 MacBook Pro is finally here. The M4 chip made its debut on the iPad Pro earlier this year, but now it's being housed in several refreshed devices, including the iMac, Mac mini, and now the MacBook Pro.

Curious to see how Apple spiced up the MacBook Pro this year? Read on to find out.

SEE ALSO: Here's where you can preorder Apple's new MacBook Pros with M4 chips (and 16GB of base RAM) M4 MacBook Pro: 3 new features that may make you upgrade M4 MacBook Pro Credit: Apple

The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro has a starting price of $1,599 and comes with the following specs:

  • Entry-level M4 chip

  • 16GB of RAM

  • 512GB storage

  • 24 hours of battery life

  • Available in Space Black

This marks three features that may make the new M4 MacBook Pro attractive for an upgrade. Firstly, it starts at 16GB, which means Apple is no longer stingy with memory for its base configurations. Secondly, the MacBook Pro's claimed 24-hour battery life rating is quite impressive. (The M3 MacBook Pro was rated for 22 hours of battery life.)

Thirdly, Space Black, a popular colorway that was only featured in the M3 Pro and M3 Max models last year, is now available for the entry-level configurations.

M4 MacBook Pro specs

On the M4 model, RAM can go up to 32GB and storage can go up to 2TB. There are also more expensive variants that include the more powerful M4 Pro or M4 Max chips, which substantially increase the price.

The 14-inch M4 Pro model, for instance, starts at $1,999, and as far as I can tell, the absolute minimum you can expect to pay for a 14-inch M4 Max model is $3,199.

The higher-end M4 chips can go all the way up to 128GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. There's also a 16-inch model with the same internal options, but of course, it's more expensive. The cheapest 16-inch model available starts at $2,499.

As far as ports go, the new MacBook Pros have plenty of options for users to choose from. There are no USB type-A ports on any of these devices, but the M4 model has three Thunderbolt 4 ports with support for external displays, an SD slot, a headphone jack, and an HDMI port.

The M4 Pro and M4 Max models upgrade those Thunderbolt 4 ports to Thunderbolt 5, but keep everything else the same.

In addition to Space Black, the new MacBooks are also available in Silver.

For more information about Apple's big week of refreshed devices, check out our Mac announcements hub.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Live your digital nomad fantasy with 14% off the ASUS ZenScreen portable monitor

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 16:18

GET $20 OFF: As of Oct. 30, you can get the ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor at Amazon for just $119. That's a 14% discount or $20 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS Our pick: ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor $119.00 at Amazon
$139.00 Save $20.00 Get Deal

If you travel a lot or work remotely, you may have found that there’s only so much screen space a laptop can provide (even the larger displays can feel constraining when you're trying to juggle multiple windows or tasks).

Enter a portable monitor. These little gadgets can double your workspace and make it easier to get work done or stay connected while on the go. And right now, you can get one of Amazon’s most popular portable monitors for 14% off.

SEE ALSO: I used this portable monitor with my MacBook Air for the first time — and now my setup feels complete

As of Oct. 30, the ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor (MB166C) is on sale for $119, marked down from $139. That’s $20 off the list price and a solid price for a lightweight, high-end display that can work with your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. (It also comes with a three-year warranty.)

The ZenScreen (MB166C) features a flicker-free, low blue light screen that’s easy on the eyes and a USB-C connection. It has a built-in tripod socket on the rear and a foldable sleeve, so you can use it however works best for you, whether it's propped up on a desk or table or held in your hands.

Bonus: It comes with three months of Adobe Creative Cloud.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has fallen to its lowest price yet at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 16:00

SAVE $158.56: As of Oct. 30, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra for $491.43. That's a 24% discount and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra $491.43 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $158.56 Get Deal

When you think of the word "Ultra" in relation to smartwatches, you probably conjure images of the Apple Watch Ultra. But that's not the only one on offer, which is good news for Android fans. Samsung has its own line of wearables, and its premium Galaxy Watch is one that's meant to be in direct competition with the Apple Watch Ultra. If you've had your eye on one for a while but wasn't sure when to lock yours in, good news: that day is today.

As of Oct. 30, you can get the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra for $491.43 at Amazon. That's $158.56 off its normal price of $649.99 and a discount of 24%. It's also the lowest price we've tracked on the watch so far, beating its most recent sale price in September.

This is Samsung's most premium smartwatch, and it comes with a wide variety of features – many of which you'll find on Apple's wearable. That includes fitness tracking that includes the ability to keep up with your workouts, sleep and heart rate tracking, and a variety of other sensors to stay in touch with your health. It can even offer fitness tips to help up your daily performance rating and a swath of other options beyond that.

This watch also comes with Galaxy AI capabilities that let you compare the day prior's performance and Energy Score, an amalgam of your heart rate, sleep and overall steps taken the prior day to see how much has changed and how ready you are for a similar physical day. Plus, it boasts 100-hour battery life that should help you stay on the go without having to stop and charge your watch. If you're ready for a wearable upgrade and you use the Android ecosystem, this is a great choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Treat yourself to 25% off Solawave at Ulta

Mashable - Wed, 10/30/2024 - 15:49

GET 25% OFF: As of Oct. 30, you can snag the Solawave 4-in-1 Radient Renewal Skincare Wand for just $126.75 at Ulta. That's a 25% discount and $42.25 off the list price. (It's still full price on the Solawave website.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Solawave Our pick: Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand $126.75 at Ulta
$169.00 Save $42.25 Get Deal

Black Friday is on the horizon, and retailers everywhere are gearing up for the season with pre-Black Friday sales and early bird deals. Even Ulta is getting in on the action with an Early Black Friday Deals event, where they’re offering up to 40% off select beauty products until Nov. 23.

One deal we couldn’t pass up is this 25% discount on the Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand. You can get the coveted Solawave skincare wand (granted, this is the upgraded version of the OG Advanced Skincare Wand) for just $126.75 at Ulta. That’s $42.25 off the original price.

SEE ALSO: The best beauty tech we've tested, from the Dyson Airwrap to SolaWave

This little skincare tool isn’t just a trendy beauty gadget — it actually works. “Immediately after using the red light therapy wand, I was surprised to find that I noticed a slight improvement in my skin,” Mashable’s RJ Andersen writes in their review of the OG Advanced Skincare Wand. “By the end of my second week, my skin was definitely looking better: A few hormonal acne scars on my chin had faded, the redness in my cheeks went down, and I swore to my partner that a broken capillary on my cheek had completely disappeared.”

But the Skincare Wand isn’t the only Solawave product that’s on sale. You can also score a deal on the Eye Recovery Pro Red Light Therapy Mask, the Neck & Chest Rejuvenating Red Light Therapy Mask, and the Bye Acne: 3 Minute Blue + Red Light Acne Treatment tool.

You'll have to act fast, though, as these deals are only available until Nov. 23.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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