IT General

Every Android user has used the Google Play Store at some point, but what you might not know is that the Play Store app has a background service that is constantly running in the background. This background process is called “Google Play Services,” and it has access to everything on your phone.

The difference between Wear OS skins is not as evident as it is between Android skins, but it's there. Now, though, it's increasingly getting more marked, as Google is slowly but steadily removing its apps from third-party watches. The latest one is Google Clock.

UPDATE: Oct. 30, 2025, 5:32 p.m. Meta confirmed to Mashable that Threads ghost posts appeared in web searches after the 24-hour expiration period and that the issue had been fixed as of Oct. 30. "We found a bug that let expired ghost posts appear in web searches," said Meta spokesperson Jocelyn Jones. "We've fixed the issue, and ghost posts are back to resting in peace where they belong: only the original poster can see them in their archive. We apologize for the scare."

Be careful what you "ghost post" on Threads because it might actually live on forever.

It appears that at least some ghost posts — the new Threads feature Meta launched this week that automatically deletes posts after 24 hours — are being scraped by Google, making them searchable. While writing about the internet’s reaction to the feature, I tested this by plugging text from several screengrabbed ghost posts into Google Search. In multiple cases, I was able to find cached versions of those posts still appearing in search results.

Here’s a screenshot showing the text from Mark Zuckerberg’s own ghost post announcing the feature.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Here's another screenshot of a Google result for what appears to be a ghost post from the Threads account @hi.nixson.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Here's a Bluesky post, included in my initial article about the internet's response, that shows screenshots of those original ghost posts.

Everyone is Ghost Posting! Ghosting?

[image or embed]

— jack 🎃🍂 (@j4ck.xyz) October 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM

Here's a post on X, also included in my original story, featuring a screenshot of a ghost post from journalist Ben Werdmuller about Meta's alleged history in Myanmar.

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

Here is a screenshot of that post, which appears to be archived in Google results.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

When you try to click on any of these Threads posts, however, you’re met with a mostly blank page and an error message that reads, "Sorry, something went wrong. Try again." That tracks, since the posts themselves automatically disappear from Threads after 24 hours.

To be clear, not every ghost post appears to have been scraped. I tested text from several screenshots shared on launch day, and while some showed up in Google Search results, others didn’t.

Of course, no one should expect a ghost post — or any post, for that matter — to truly vanish. Screenshots exist, after all. If you say something offensive, controversial, or just plain spicy online, it's safe to assume it'll live forever somewhere.

Still, it’s surprising to see that Threads' "disappearing" posts might linger on Google, even after they’ve technically been deleted.

For a while, recertified hard drives were the secret weapons of anyone who wanted to do some self-hosting at home or run a large NAS, but recently the prices on these drives seem to climbing, making them much less of a good deal.

Google Maps is an extremely useful tool that millions rely on for driving and navigation instructions, but if your phone runs out of battery, you're in trouble. Smartphones have several battery-saving modes users can take advantage of, but now it sounds like Google's busy building its own ultra-low-power mode specifically for Maps.

A collection of 16 books centered around Raspberry Pi projects is available for only $18 dollars on Humble Bundle. The normal price for all 16 books would be $357. If you're looking to learn the ins and outs of developing a Raspberry Pi, this is a great place to get started.

If you have a Meta Quest headset, you can now use it as a multi-monitor setup for a Windows PC without third-party software. The app Mixed Reality Link is now available for most Windows 11 PCs.

As a South African, and despite it practically being our national sport, I'm not much one for patriotism or national pride. Yet, sometimes a fellow countryman does something so undeniably cool that I can't help but feel a little undeserved secondhand smugness.

Tesla's Robotaxi service officially went live in late June of this year in Austin, Texas. Since then, Elon Musk's much-touted autonomous driving taxi system has already seen quite a few crashes — and that's with a human safety monitor onboard.

According to a new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla Robotaxis have crashed four times since September. The most recent incident involved a robotaxi crashing into a "fixed object" while inside a parking lot, according to the EV news site Electrek, which noticed the updated crash information.

Recent Texas state law requires companies like Tesla to have a human safety monitor inside its Robotaxis due to its specific level of autonomous driving. These safety monitors are provided a killswitch to take over the vehicle in case something goes wrong with Tesla's self-driving system.

The NHTSA is a U.S. government agency responsible for enforcing motor vehicle regulations. Autonomous vehicle companies are required to report crashes to the agency within five days of being informed of these accidents. 

SEE ALSO: Feds investigating Tesla’s ‘Mad Max’ mode

The NHTSA requires automakers to share information regarding incidents with autonomous driving (ADS) vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The latter is what's typically found in regular Tesla vehicles with its Full Self-Driving system. However, robotaxis like Waymo's autonomous vehicles or Tesla's recently launched Robotaxis fall under the ADS category, marking this the first time Tesla has filed such reports under that designation.

With the two companies now operating ADS vehicles, Electrek compared the NHTSA incident reports between Tesla and Waymo. The outlet found that Tesla Robotaxis were involved in significantly more crashes per miles driven, despite Waymo vehicles not requiring a human safety monitor like Tesla Robotaxis. 

According to Tesla, Robotaxis have traveled 250,000 miles since the service launched in Austin in late June. Waymo's vehicles have traveled 125 million miles since the company launched its autonomous vehicles.

Breaking down the data, the report finds that Tesla Robotaxis crash approximately once every 62,500 miles. Waymo vehicles, which have been involved in 1,267 crashes since the service went live, crash approximately every 98,600 miles. And, again, Waymo does not have human safety monitors inside its vehicles, unlike Tesla's Robotaxis.

As Electrek points out, Tesla redacts a lot of information from its NHTSA reports, whereas Waymo provides more details about the crashes its cars are involved in. So, what exactly happened is unclear in many cases involving Tesla Robotaxis.

But, with the data we do have, it seems like Waymo has thus far bested Musk's Tesla when it comes to the more accurate autonomous vehicle system.

The iPhone 17 has been out for a little over a month now, and for some people, that's enough time to break their phones. If you already broke yours, the good part is that Apple is finally selling parts for these new phones. And in a pretty quick span, all things considered.

Samsung finally launched its Galaxy XR headset this month, so now everyone wants to know: What's the battery life like?

While Mashable has yet to perform nuanced battery testing of our own, we at least have official spec sheets to go off of right now. The big question is how the Galaxy XR's battery life compares to the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3, the two most mainstream competitors to Samsung's headset in the U.S.

Without wasting any more time, let's get into it.

SEE ALSO: Samsung reveals key features of upcoming Galaxy S26 smartphones Galaxy XR battery life compared to Apple Vision Pro

First, let's establish a baseline. Samsung's headset is rated for up to two hours of general use, and up to 2.5 hours of video playback. That's going to be our main point of comparison going forward.

As for Apple, the company actually, technically sells two versions of the Vision Pro now: One with an M2 chip, and one with a newer M5 chip. This matters because the two versions have slightly different rated battery capacities. The M2 version has the exact same "two hours of normal use and 2.5 hours of video playback" rating as the Galaxy XR. The M5 version, meanwhile, is rated for 2.5 hours of use and three hours of video playback.

So, in other words, Apple wins here if you buy the newest model.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy XR: How and where to get it Galaxy XR battery life compared to Meta Quest 3

Meta's device is a little different from the other two listed here because it has a built-in battery, instead of relegating the battery to a separate puck that you keep in your pocket. Other than that, though, the differences are minimal, as the Quest 3 is rated for 2.2 hours of use on a single charge. That puts it right in the same territory as Galaxy XR, but on a device that costs more than $1,000 less than the Galaxy XR.

Of course, there are other factors at play. Samsung's device is more advanced than the Quest 3 in terms of processing power, display quality, and number of sensors. That it holds up to the same level of battery life as Quest 3 despite doing so much more is perhaps a point in its favor. Still, don't expect to get more than three hours of use out of any of these devices.

Meta has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the tech giant violated copyright laws by downloading thousands of adult films to use in AI training.

The lawsuit was brought forth by adult film company Strike 3 Holdings and Counterlife Media in July, stating that they had discovered nearly 3,000 instances of Meta downloading copyrighted videos using hidden IP addresses. The lawsuit alleged the downloads were then used to train Meta's Movie Gen, Llama, and other video-based AI models. Strike 3 asked for $359 million in damages and a permanent ban on Meta's use of its materials.

Meta has now responded, arguing that the allegations by Strike 3 Holdings are "nonsensical and unsupported" — an attempt to extort Meta by making erroneous copyright claims — and that the company has no proof the videos were used to train AI.

SEE ALSO: 'Perfect predator': When chatbots sexually abuse kids

Insisting it was unaware of any illegal downloads, the company says that the torrenting began in 2018, before the company started researching multimodal models and generative video. The flagged videos, which were only intermittently accessed, therefore must have been downloaded for private consumption, Meta asserts, not to train its systems at large.

In the motion, Meta argues Strike 3 failed to provide any evidence of its claims that individuals used hidden IP addresses to download material or that employees involved in Meta's AI project could be implicated. "The far more plausible inference to be drawn from such meager, uncoordinated activity is that disparate individuals downloaded adult videos for personal use,” wrote Meta. The company has requested that the court dismiss the lawsuit on such grounds.

Meta has weathered several copyright-based lawsuits related to its AI systems in the past, including a joint lawsuit by noted authors whose works had been pirated to train the Llama model. It also recently overhauled its chatbot policies for teens, following an investigation that found chatbots had been allowed to engage in romantic and sensual conversations with young users and generate sexually suggestive images.

"We don’t want this type of content, and we take deliberate steps to avoid training on this kind of material,” a Meta spokesperson told Ars Technica.

OPPO Find N5, Huawei Mate XT Ultimate, Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, vivo X Fold5, Honor Magic V5 — these are some of the best foldable phones on the market, but you can't get them in the United States, at least not officially. How come?

A second monitor is one of the most potent productivity boosters for Windows users, but sometimes your computer fails to see the extra display.

T-Mobile is making a major change to how customers can manage their bills when they fall behind, and it's forcing everyone onto its app. Starting today, T-Mobile will no longer allow customers to set up a payment arrangement over the phone, in a retail store, or through the automated phone system.

The brand-new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is currently available at a surprisingly low price. It’s on sale for just $320 at Woot, which is a massive 36% discount off the original price of $500. This is a chance to get a high-end smartwatch with a classic rotating bezel design.

Microsoft is making big changes to how its Xbox business runs, and while much of that strategy is still assumed or rumor at this point, what's not in question is that the traditional Xbox console is dead. A tacit admission that Nintendo and Sony can't be moved from their dominant positions in the console market.

The allure of a one day, door busting sale is no more. Shopping events which used to be a 24-hour marathon have now extended into multi-day events. On Oct. 30, Target officially announced its Black Friday sale, and it's coming way before Nov. 28.

The big-box retailer is launching its early Black Friday sale Nov. 6 through 8, three weeks before actual Black Friday. The early deals are a response to consumer wants, according to Target, based off McKinsey data that showed two-thirds of consumers are eager to start holiday shopping before Black Friday.

And to be fair, it makes sense considering how late Black Friday falls this year, nearly the latest it can fall in the year. But these early deals don't mean that Target is skipping out on standard Black Friday, they're still hosting a Black Friday sale on Nov. 28.

But if you're one of the 66% looking to get started on holiday shopping, here are the deals to look forward to.

Early Black Friday deals coming to Target Opens in a new window Credit: Target Target Black Friday Sale Target's early Black Friday sale runs Nov. 6 through 8. Get Deal

Leading up to the sale, Target has provided a preview of all the deals coming to their early Black Friday sale on Nov. 6 and 8. Based on the list, we're not seeing a ton of tech deals, instead the sale is focused holiday decor and toys. Here's what to expect:

• 40% off pajamas

• 40% off women & kids' sweaters

• 40% off select holiday decor and lights

• 40% off Lego

• 40% off Champion

• 40% holiday sheets

• Up to 50% off small appliances & floor care, including Ninja

• Up to 50% off select toys, including Barbie, FAO Schwarz and Hot Wheels

• 30% off women's and men’s Levi’s clothing

BUY IT FOR $59.99: Mattel's official Steve Nicks Bella Donna Barbie is the Best Buy drop for Thursday, Oct. 30. The doll has been sold out at Mattel's website and various retailers since its release on Oct. 21, so this could be your one chance to find it in stock. As of 12 p.m. ET, there was 36% inventory left for this drop.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mattel Stevie Nicks Barbie $59.99 at Best Buy
Buy it via the Best Buy mobile app Shop Now

Just like a white winged dove, the Stevie Nicks Bella Donna Barbie doll made a fleeting appearance at a few major retailers on its release date, Oct. 21, 2025. It sold out almost immediately after, only to be spotted again as price-gougers resold their supply. Now, Best Buy is offering a second chance to buy the Stevie Nicks Barbie at its real price of $59.99, for one day only on Oct. 30. She became available for purchase at 11 a.m. ET.

All you need to participate in Best Buy Drops is the Best Buy mobile app — that's the only place that drop items show up. Then, you can add the daily spotlighted item to your cart and check out like usual. All Best Buy drops have limited inventory, displayed through a status bar indicating the percentage that's already been claimed. Considering the Bella Donna Barbie was such a hot commodity upon original release, it'll probably be a similar story at Best Buy.

SEE ALSO: The best women-centric and feminist horror movies

"The timeless face of a rock and roll woman" in the most tangible sense, the official Mattel collab successfully recreates the essence of 1981 Stevie. We're talking full biblically-accurate Bella Donna garb: The flow-y white dress with big sheer sleeves, iconic platform boots, and feathered top hat are all present, complete in a mystical album cover-themed box that you'll have no problem leaving sealed. The intricate details have all been approved by the muse herself — Nicks even posted a sneak peek of the doll's boots on Instagram ahead of release.

Fans who were able to snag the doll on Oct. 21 can't help but unbox their prized possession on TikTok. RIP, Misty Day from American Horror Story: Coven. You would have watched these like they're ASMR.

But this isn't the first time we've seen a Stevie Nicks Barbie, though it is the first based on her solo career. The first, a Rumours-inspired doll styled just as meticulously as this one, came out back in 2023. You were lucky if you got your hands on one of those at a normal price, too — now, it can pretty much only be found on reselling platforms like eBay for upwards of $300. Scorned hopeful buyers from two years ago, your chance for redemption awaits at Best Buy.

Google is finally starting the rollout of its all-new Gemini for Home voice assistant to its lineup of smart speakers and displays. The big promise here is that Gemini is far more conversational and capable than the current Assistant, and if you have a compatible speaker, you can use it.