IT General

When you go to a store looking to buy a current-gen PlayStation 5 console, you're faced with two possibilities: the base PS5, or the PS5 Pro. At least, in theory. The PS5 Pro has been very hard to find in stock lately, unless you turn to the resale market.

Besides the promise of more horsepower, it can be hard to suss out exactly what makes the PS5 Pro so different, especially with its hugely inflated price tag. With the promise of an enhanced Grand Theft Auto VI experience, though, many are wondering if they should bite the bullet and pick up Sony's most powerful console. Let's dive into the key differences between the base model console and its professional counterpart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony PlayStation 5 (digital edition) $599 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony PlayStation 5 Pro $899 at Amazon
  Learn More at Amazon SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' on PS5 vs. Xbox: What we know PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Price

The first and most important thing we need to discuss regarding Sony's two PS5 consoles is the price. Neither of them is cheap, but one of them is clearly a better value at this point in time.

That would be the base PS5, which starts at $599. It will play all of the same games as a PS5 Pro, including nearly every game released for PS4, and the controller is no different, either. We'll delve into some of the other differences in a bit, but you definitely shouldn't think of this as a last-gen console.

Now for the tough part: The PS5 Pro starts at a staggering $899, and that's just the MSRP. Because of the ongoing PS5 Pro shortages, you will likely have to pay even more on the secondary market.

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Storage Credit: Dustin Drankoski / Mashable

Now we're going to move on to the areas where the PS5 Pro has an unambiguous advantage over the base model. After all, they aren't charging you $899 for no reason.

One of the biggest reasons to get a PS5 Pro? It comes with 2TB of built-in storage, compared to just 1TB on any base PS5 model. Considering some games like GTA 6 can take up more than 200GB of storage space by themselves, a 2TB starting limit is a huge benefit for the PS5 Pro. You might think 1TB is a lot, and it's certainly adequate if you're really careful about deleting games you're done playing, but that base PS5 drive can fill up quickly.

To be clear, there is always the option to buy a base PS5 and expand the storage yourself, but that requires buying another SSD. I don't know if you've seen how much memory costs these days, but that could be a boondoggle in and of itself.

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Visual features

While expanded storage is nice, the real selling point of the PS5 Pro is that it's a more powerful console than the PS5. Again, it's not a full generational leap, and both consoles play the exact same games, but the PS5 Pro has access to more horsepower than the base model PS5, and there are some real benefits to that.

For starters, the PS5 Pro has access to PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR. This is an AI upscaling feature that can make supported games look substantially sharper than they would on a base PS5. There are also a bunch of games that have enhanced performance on PS5 Pro, and in some cases, you even get access to new graphics modes that enable perks such as 60 frames per second and ray tracing (which can also be improved on PS5 Pro) at the same time. Ghost of Yotei comes to mind as a recent example of that.

However, the onus is on developers to specifically add support for these special PS5 Pro features, meaning that the list of PS5 Pro-enhanced games is in the dozens, not the hundreds. In the rare instances when Sony decides to actually release first-party exclusives, you can usually count on those to have some kind of PS5 Pro benefits, but otherwise, most games are going to be roughly the same across both consoles.

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Physical media support

Last but definitely not least, the PS5 Pro does not come with a disc drive at all. Neither does the $599 base model console, for that matter. If you want a PS5 with a built-in disc drive, you need to spend $649 for a base model with one. Given Sony's recent disdain for physical discs, the inconvenience here might be by design.

That doesn't mean starting-price PS5 or Pro owners have no options, though. You can always buy the official disc drive attachment...for an additional $80. Aside from costing more, it also juts out from the console in a somewhat unpleasant-looking way. None of this is ideal, frankly, but that's what you need to do if you want to keep buying physical games or Blu-ray discs as a PS5 owner.

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It's been a tough year for e-readers (and all tech) with prices on the rise, so we finally needed some good news. On Oct. 1, Amazon released a redesigned collection of Kindles that we simply couldn't wait to try out. The first to be released is the flagship Kindle. It's the entry point into Amazon's e-readers and the most affordable.

The Kindle (2026) now features a flush-front design with either a plastic or an aluminum backing, and in this new batch of Kindles, Amazon is embracing color with the e-reader available in ube, graphite, alpine sky, and seaglass green. So I got my hands on the newest Kindle to experience the design changes and put it to the test.

Update Nov. 11, 5:00 a.m. ET: Since first publishing this review, we've encountered an issue with the back panel of the Kindle coming apart when removing it from a case. This is part of the overall redesign to make the back panel easily removable so you can replace the battery. We have changed our scoring of the device, lowering its user-friendliness score to a 4 and overall score to a 4.3.

What's changed between the Kindle 2024 and 2026 models The 2026 Kindle (right) has some notable design changes from the 2024 Kindle (left). Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

There weren't many changes between the 2022 and 2024 Kindles, but this launch brings much bigger changes that you can actually see.

The 2026 Kindle now has a flush front compared to the 2024 model's raised border around the screen. This provides a uniform look across all Kindles from the basic model all the way up to the Scribe.

In addition to a flush front, the design team behind the Kindle moved its power button. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

A smaller change, but one that I'm more than thrilled to see, is that the design team moved the power button on the Kindle to the side of the device. While it's just a small detail, my colleague Stan Schroeder pointed it out in his Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021) review, and I did the same in my 2024 Kindle review.

Otherwise, many of the e-reader's specs are the same between generations. The device still has a six-inch screen with 300 ppi resolution and a built-in front light. It has up to six weeks of battery life, but it is not waterproof, nor does it have an adjustable warm light.

It's unbelievably lightweight

The first thing I noticed about the new Kindle is just how featherlight it is — I almost thought the box was empty. Luckily, it was not. Amazon dropped the weight of the basic Kindle by 18 grams (.66 ounces). While it doesn't seem like much, it's a noticeable difference when holding the device.

The 2026 Kindle is lightweight and easy to tote around in any bag, Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

This lighter weight makes all the difference, especially when traveling. My first weekend with the Kindle, I packed it in my carry-on bag, and it barely added any weight. It tucks nicely into small pockets, too. While it isn't quite palm-sized like a trendy Boox Palma or Xteink X4, it's Amazon's smallest e-reader and still extremely portable. Plus, you can hold it for hours at a time without your arm aching.

Kindles keep getting faster and faster You can't beat the clear, crisp screen on the 2026 Kindle. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Every time Amazon releases a new batch of Kindles, it claims the new e-readers are faster than the previous generation. The 2026 Kindle is supposedly 30 percent faster than the 2024. While I can't verify that exact amount, I can confirm that these are speedy devices. Books open quickly, and pages turn swiftly. Since I spent so little time waiting for things to load on the Kindle, I had more time to read, which was smooth and easy on the eyes.

The front light on the Kindle is clear and bright (though I do wish it had adjustable warmth like the Paperwhite), and the display responds quickly. When I changed the font size, it took less than a second to adjust. The screen is responsive and definitely seems to open faster than previous models, especially when tapping through the options along the bottom of the screen to adjust your progress status.

What it's missing I still wish the Kindle had a warm light display and a waterproof rating. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The new Kindle is a really seamless reading experience. While I don't have many complaints, two things could make it a perfect e-reader. Since this is the entry-level Kindle, Amazon keeps affordability top of mind, which does mean there are sacrifices. There's no warm light on the basic Kindle, which would reduce blue-light strain on the eyes. Plus, I wish it were waterproof. I'm a beach reader, so the basic Kindle certainly won't be a summer companion for me, as I wouldn't want to put it near a splash zone.

However, adjustable warm light and waterproofing are both features on the Paperwhite, so we really can't fault the base model for not having them. If those are non-negotiables for you, upgrade to the Kindle Paperwhite.

The issue of the back panel Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Testing is always ongoing here at Mashable, as we never want our reviews to be based only on first impressions. After using the Kindle for several weeks, I went to remove it from its case when the frame pulled apart. The back panel on the new Kindle is designed to be removable so users can replace the battery.

While I love the intention behind the design choice, in execution, the back panel comes apart whenever I remove it from the case, which exposes the innards of the device. This isn't an isolated case, as I've found instances of Kindle users on Reddit and TikTok who have experienced the same thing with the 2026 Kindle.

An Amazon spokesperson commented on the issue of the back panel saying, "Your Kindle is designed to open along the edge of the display in order to replace the battery. If the back panel shifts when you remove a case or cover, press it firmly back into place on all four corners and along the edges, and keep reading."

Luckily, the back panel coming apart only occurs when removing it from a case, so as long as you're not frequently taking it on and off, this shouldn't be a persistent issue. And even if it does come apart, it doesn't affect the performance of the device. However, we do think this impacts the overall structural integrity of the device and hinders the user experience, which is why we lowered the user-friendliness score on the device from a 5 to a 4.

Is the 2026 Kindle worth it? While the 2026 Kindle isn't an essential upgrade, it's an improvement over previous generations. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Amazon's latest Kindle is an exceptional e-reader. It's lightweight and compact, quick and responsive. Sure, it has a couple of misses, like no warm light, no waterproof rating, and the precarious back panel, but those are for the sake of affordability, according to Amazon. At $149.99, it's Amazon's cheapest e-reader. It's also the same price as the 2024 model, so if you're deciding between the two, go for the new 2026 Kindle.

However, if you're looking to upgrade from another Kindle model, I don't think you necessarily need to run out to grab it, especially if you have a 2022 or 2024 model. However, if you want to use the Kindle Click, you will need to upgrade to a 2026 (or 2024) Kindle.

Amazon Kindle (2026) $149.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal based on our independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for our readers, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: For a limited time, sign up for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet from $30 per month with a voice line and AutoPay and get a month on them plus up to $200 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard.

Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Get a month on T-Mobile plus up to $200 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard. Get Deal

T-Mobile has dropped an offer on its 5G Home Internet that's much needed ahead of the upcoming holiday season. For a limited time, you can sign up for a plan starting at $30 per month (with a voice line and AutoPay bundled) and get up to $200 back as a virtual prepaid Mastercard. That's not all, either. They're also offering a month on them when you take advantage of this offer.

In total, three T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plans are available with this offer: Rely, Amplified, and All-In. With the former, you can enjoy download speeds up to 354 Mbps, while both Amplified and All-In get you up to 498 Mbps. All three offer upload speeds up to 55 Mbps. The latter plan also includes additional perks, such as Advanced Cyber Security and a gateway upgrade after three years.

If you're curious which plan is the best fit for you and your online activity, it's worth checking out T-Mobile's plan page to learn more.

SEE ALSO: We found 45 early Black Friday deals already live: Get $200 off MacBooks, 53% off Bose headphones

As for the money-back part of this deal, you may get up to $200 credited to your virtual prepaid Mastercard when you sign up.

This offer is only available for a limited time. If you've been hoping to sign up for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, now is the time to do it.

Legal disclaimers:

• Rate Plans: plus taxes and fees

• Month on Us: via bill credit; plus tax

• Up to $200 Back: Allow 7 weeks from rebate submission

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller stock: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $99.99 at Nintendo Shop Now Amazon Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $99.99 at Amazon Shop Now Target Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $99.99 at Target Shop Now Best Buy Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $99.99 at Best Buy Shop Now GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $99.99 at GameStop Shop Now

We have been tracking live inventory updates for the new Zelda Switch 2 console, but the matching special-edition Pro Controller gamepad has become just as elusive. Instead of sitting on store shelves, the standalone controller is vanishing within seconds of going live online, turning into one of the most frustrating gear hunts of the entire holiday season.

With preorders completely cleared out and launch day behind us, landing one now means playing the restock waiting game. Digital storefronts might look completely barren, but stock is still quietly trickling through distribution pipelines in surprise, unannounced micro-waves.

If you want to get your hands on it the next time it is in stock, here's what's going on across different major retailers.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller stock right now

Before you start jumping between tabs, bookmark these retailer pages to catch surprise drops:

• Amazon — Sold out from Amazon directly.

• Best Buy — Online drops occur in waves via a digital waiting line, with scattered walk-in stock available at select physical stores.

• GameStop — Web orders are off, so your best bet is to walk in and check directly with your neighborhood store.

• Nintendo Store — Sold out online. You can add it to your wishlist to get notified if Nintendo opens another batch.

• Target — Sold out online, but early-morning in-store pickup options occasionally go live depending on local truck deliveries.

Why Walmart is not on our list

You will notice Walmart is missing from our quick-buy links above. While the controller has a product listing on the site, stock sold directly by Walmart for the official $99.99 list price is completely gone.

Every buy button currently active is run by third-party marketplace resellers charging inflated, price-gouging sums. Do not pay those prices. If you search Walmart on your own, always filter the seller option to "Walmart" so you only see genuine retail inventory.

Why is the Zelda Pro Controller selling out so fast?

The feeding frenzy is directly tied to the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2. The ground-up remake reworks the 1998 classic with upgraded visuals, modern camera controls, rearranged dungeon puzzles, and a full orchestral score. Long play sessions in sprawling dungeons feel more natural on a traditional, ergonomic gamepad than on standard Joy-Con grips, making this matching controller the first thing players want on their desks.

Supply is also tight across the board. In an interview about launch shortages, Bill van Zyll, Vice President and General Manager of Nintendo Latin America, admitted that the company had underestimated worldwide demand for the Zelda 40th-anniversary collection. While he confirmed that replenishment plans are underway for the hardware, software, and special controller, Nintendo has not committed to specific restock dates or shipment quantities.

Until the production lines catch up, expect store inventory to pop up in quick, random bursts rather than steady, predictable drops.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 $69 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon What comes with the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller?

The special-edition Pro Controller gamepad features decorative illustrations and subtle gold patterns inspired by the wider Zelda universe. It carries every modern upgrade found on the standard generation-two pad. You get built-in motion sensors for precision bow aiming, HD Rumble 2 for detailed vibration feedback, an integrated amiibo scanner, and a capture button for grabbing screenshots on the fly.

Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo also added a dedicated C button to open the Switch 2 GameChat hub, remappable GL and GR shortcut buttons on the back grips, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, and up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge. Best of all, it works across the entire Switch family, including the original Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, Switch Lite, and the new Nintendo Switch 2.

How to beat the bots and improve your chances of finding stock

Landing a surprise drop comes down to speed and a little bit of prep:

• Dodge third-party marketplace sellers: Sites like Walmart and Amazon let outside merchants charge whatever they want. Always check the "Sold and shipped by" label to ensure you are buying from the actual retailer at the $99.99 list price.

• Save your checkout information beforehand: Taking the time to type in a security code or shipping address during a drop will cost you your cart. Keep your profiles logged in with default payment methods saved.

• Do not refresh Best Buy's waiting line: When Best Buy runs a drop, it puts shoppers into an automated queue. Hitting refresh resets your spot and sends you to the very back of the line.

• Check physical stores in the morning: Online checkout bots can wipe out digital inventory in seconds. Visiting Target, Best Buy, or GameStop right when doors open often turns up fresh shipment boxes that never made it onto website listings.

Will the Zelda Switch 2 Pro controller get restocked for Black Friday?

Most signs point to yes.

Retailers love using limited-edition hardware and themed accessories as digital bait during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is very likely that stores are sitting on a handful of units reserved specifically for holiday sales events.

The catch is that Black Friday restocks are pure chaos. You are up against overloaded checkout servers, holiday gift shoppers, and scalper scripts all hitting the site at once. If an "Add to Cart" button flickers live on Amazon or Best Buy before the holiday rush officially starts, take the shot immediately so you don't have to fight the crowds later.

Finding one right now is definitely an endurance test, but holding out for that $99.99 list price beats paying double to a reseller every time.

SAVE $20: As of Nov. 11, Amazon has the Lenovo Legion Gaming Laptop Backpack GB800 on sale for $79.99. That's 20% off its $99.99 MSRP and its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Gaming Laptop Backpack GB800 $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon

Planning on hauling your laptop around over the holidays? I bet some new scratches and corner dents aren't on your Christmas wish list. Enter: Lenovo's Legion GB800, a capacious laptop backpack that can fit a hefty 17-inch gaming PC. (In other words, it's plenty roomy enough for a MacBook Pro and some other travel essentials.)

Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon has the Lenovo Legion GB800 on sale for only $79.99, or 20% off its typical retail price of $99.99. Data on the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel shows that it's never been cheaper before.

If it happens to sell out on Amazon, check Lenovo's website: At the time of writing, it was matching this Legion GB800 deal and offering free shipping. (Amazon's stock ships faster, though.)

Some more details about the Legion GB800: It opens a full 180 degrees in the front and back so you can easily reach your belongings. It has a whopping 19 "precision pockets" for your phone, chargers, water bottle, and other accessories. It's water-resistant, and it comes in both black and light gray.

A cursory look at the Legion GB800's Amazon reviews reveals high praise for its sturdy construction and cushy interior. One customer also noted that it "smells good," which isn't something I've ever heard someone say about a backpack before. Intriguing.

TL;DR: Simplify your AI workflow with The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle, on sale now for just $47.99 (reg. $1,811.99) with code DEAL20 through Nov. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle $47.99
$1,811.99 Save $1,764   Get Deal

Not every AI model is equally good at everything. One might be better for research, another better for writing, and yet another helpful for creating images. If you want to improve your AI workflow, the Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle provides five tools to tackle a wide range of projects and access multiple models.

Say goodbye to your AI subscriptions and snag The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle for only $47.99.

Get a whole lineup of AI tools for just $48

ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini might be the first AI model that comes to mind, but there are countless options. The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle brings many of them to you — providing five lifetime tools ready to help with everything from basic questions to image generation.

First up in this bundle? 1ForAll AI Pro, which helps you tackle text, voice, image, and video generation. This tool uses models from OpenAI, Google, AWS, Azure, and Luma to handle your voice cloning, PDF-to-speech, and unlimited text processing needs.

Need help with queries? PromptBuilder Starter is a Chrome extension that helps you craft perfect prompts optimized for 10 different AI tools. This lifetime license even gives you up to 5,000 queries per month for life.

AskAnyModel AI is there to give you a wide range of answers from up to six different AI models at once. Ask your query and check out results from models like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and more — all side-by-side so you can easily pick the best one for your needs.

If you could use a little more time back, Voibe is here to serve as your very own voice-to-text transcription service, saving you time on typing. Dictate into Word, Outlook, Gmail, Google Docs, Slack, and more, on both Mac and Windows devices.

Leelo AI completes this bundle of AI tools, and if you’re a content creator, you need this one. It’s a voice-to-text narration partner that helps you create audio for everything from audiobooks to social media. It’s capable of generating speech in 142 languages, all with authentic accents.

Snag the Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle for only $47.99 with code DEAL20 now through Nov. 15.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: A one-year Costco Gold Star Membership is $65, and new members receive a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + $45 Digital Costco Shop Card   Get Deal

Groceries, gas, and household basics account for a large share of most family budgets. Buying those staples in bulk may help that money go further each month. If you want to start shopping that way, you can join Costco as a new Gold Star Member for $65 and receive a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card.

Groceries, gas, and more with one membership

A Costco Gold Star Membership lasts one year and works at Costco warehouses worldwide, at Costco Business Centers, and on Costco.com. Costco has more than 500 warehouses across the U.S., and members can shop brand-name products from Kirkland Signature™, Dyson, KitchenAid, LG, and more.

Your membership reaches past the grocery aisles, too. Gold Star Members can fill up at a Costco Gas Station, pick up prescriptions at Costco Pharmacy, and book an eye exam at Costco Optical. Costco Hearing Aid Centers and Costco Travel are also open to members.

Each membership includes one Household Card for an individual who lives at your address. That second card lets one more person in your home shop on the same membership, at the same warehouses and online.

New members receive the $45 Digital Costco Shop Card by email within two weeks of redeeming their membership. If the email doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder. You can use the card at a warehouse or on Costco.com, and you don’t have to spend the full $45 in a single trip. Costco doesn’t accept Digital Costco Shop Cards at the Food Court, and you can’t exchange the card for cash.

This promotion is for new members and for former members whose memberships expired more than 18 months ago. After checkout, you’ll receive a redemption code and instructions by email right away. You need to redeem that code by Jan. 31, 2027, and Costco limits the promotion to one per household. Shoppers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico can purchase it.

Give your grocery budget more room with a year of Costco. Join Costco as a new Gold Star Member for $65 and receive a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card. Promotion ends Dec. 20, 2026.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is being sued after firing an employee shortly after she objected to an alleged mandated suicide pledge. The dismissal also came within weeks of her revealing her cancer diagnosis.

SEE ALSO: Binance hacked, billions in crypto stolen

EF is a non-profit that supports the cryptocurrency platform Ethereum. Filed to the District Court of Colorado on Nov. 4, the complaint claims EF fired Protocol Support team lead Kayleen Fulton (also known as Nixo) after she coordinated a collective letter opposing a suicide pledge all employees had been directed to affirm. The "Source Seppuku License" had been included in a document entitled "The Ethereum Foundation Mandate," which was distributed to all employees on Feb. 25:

"By inclusion of this license, the author, maintainer, editor or (re)distributor (the 'actor') of this software SHALL uphold the following pledges:

To always make freely available and publicly accessible a full and accurate copy of the source code and associated documents of this software, including all modifications hereto by the Actor.

To take his or her own life with a sword upon failure to uphold any of the pledges in this license, or upon modification or removal of any part of this license.

May we ritualistically fall on our own swords if we fail to uphold our solemn promise to Ethereum and the Infinite Garden."

Multiple EF employees allegedly objected to the license, one noting that a colleague had just killed themselves in 2025. These criticisms prompted EF's board to revise the mandate. However, rather than remove the Seppuku License, the finalised 38-page mandate issued on March 13 reportedly reformatted it into a Comic Sans-style font, made it less prominent, and illustrated it with cartoon cats and an anime girl pointing a gun at the reader.

Credit: The Ethereum Foundation

EF employees were allegedly given until March 25 to pledge their commitment to the mandate via an online form, with failure to do so considered a resignation. EF co-executive director Bastian Aue reportedly did state that the mandate's reference to ritual suicide was not intended to be literal, however did not remove it from the document.

"Employees were thus asked to accept, on management’s word in a chat thread, that a clause the board had just spent a week redrawing rather than deleting did not mean what it said," read the complaint.

Fulton refused to sign the pledge, and worked with colleague Trent Van Epps to draft a letter to EF's board voicing their objections. Signed by several dozen other workers, it reportedly stated that while they agreed with the mandate's "general direction," they could not agree to it as it stood.

"We will continue to perform the duties with which we are tasked and do not resign," read the letter Fulton emailed to all EF staff on March 25. "Many of us have signed the commitment to the mandate under duress in fear of losing their jobs and livelihoods. We consider their responses on the poll to be coerced and meaningless."

Aue allegedly told staff that he accepted the letter as committing to the mandate while voicing "frustrations with the process and form." However, EF fired both Fulton and Van Epps on April 6, less than two weeks after the email was sent, reportedly with no cause given. While none of the letter's other signatories were immediately dismissed, the complaint states that most had resigned or been fired by September.

The Ethereum Foundation Mandate is currently available on EF's website, including the Source Seppuku License.

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

Fulton and Van Epps' termination came within an hour of Aue allegedly issuing a company-wide statement on how to raise concerns, including use of tone. In it, he reportedly stated that if employees' confidence in EF was shaken, "it is likely better for both you, the EF, and Ethereum if you look for a way to contribute to Ethereum from outside the EF."

According to the complaint, EF board member Vitalik Buterin subsequently told Fulton in May that "if you reward making a stink with outcomes, then everyone will know that essentially making that kind of a show both internally and externally is the way to cause outcomes inside of the EF."

"Mr. Buterin’s account… explains [Fulton's] termination as a deterrent: the organizers of the Protocol letter were removed so that the remaining staff would learn that organizing does not 'cause outcomes inside of the EF,'" claimed the complaint. "Defendants acted intentionally, willfully and wantonly, with malice, and with reckless indifference to Ms. Fulton's federally and state protected rights."

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

The lawsuit claims Fulton had never been criticised for her work, and that her supervisor had rated her performance at EF as "greatly exceeding expectations" seven months prior to her dismissal. Her termination also occurred amidst her cancer diagnosis, which she was informed of on March 19 and disclosed to EF on March 24. Fulton considers this diagnosis as a parallel motivation for her termination, as Aue allegedly stated during her dismissal that a cancer patient would could not offer the "exclusive and energetic focus" EF required from employees.

"Ms. Fulton has suffered and continues to suffer emotional distress, anxiety, humiliation, and loss of professional standing as a result of being fired in the first weeks after a cancer diagnosis, without explanation, by an organization that had just ordered her to affirm a suicide pledge, while facing the loss of her health insurance during treatment, and then being given three days to sign away her rights or lose even the health stipend she had been offered," read the complaint.

Fulton alleges EF violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, and is seeking backpay and lost benefits, frontpay in lieu of reinstatement, punitive damages, and compensation for emotional distress. Mashable has reached out to EF for comment.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

Mix the teen-girl ferocity of Yellowjackets with the moral panic of The Crucible, dress it up in a blinged-out Juicy Couture tracksuit, and you'll get The Body.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's AI-powered search lets you search by your mood

The beguiling new series from Netflix and creator Quinn Shephard (Under the Bridge) whisks viewers into the halls of St. Mark's Catholic School in 2004, where the school's all-girl dance team is about to face a reckoning of Biblical proportions.

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What's The Body about? Nnamdi Asomugha as Father Franklin and Sofia Wylie as Grace in "The Body." Credit: Netflix

In the lead-up to Regionals, the St. Mark's Lions have recruited a new dancer, devout Grace (Sofia Wylie), to fill in for injured performer Maddie (Shirley Chen). But one good audition doesn't mean she automatically makes the team. Grace has to be initiated first. And what better place to do it than at a Halloween party at an abandoned convent known as Devil's House?

There, Lions captain Anya (Kristina Bogic) and her best friend Elise (Sara Boustany) cook up a perverse communion, where they swap the body of Christ (communion wafers) for the body of Satan (ecstasy pills). Then, they playfully beg the Devil himself to take Grace's soul as a sacrifice for a victory at Regionals.

Of course, it's all in good fun. But by the end of the night, Grace has fallen into a coma, and Anya finds herself relying on outsider Lisbeth (Geena Meszaros) to help cover up the team's tracks. Now, the Lions must close ranks to cover up their dark secret.

As strange visions begin to plague the team members, they have to face a disturbing possibility: Did they actually summon Satan?

SEE ALSO: The best comedies streaming on Netflix right now The Body spins an irresistible sapphic tale of Satanism and Catholic guilt. Kristina Bogic as Anya and Sara Boustany as Elise in "The Body." Credit: Netflix

For the most part, The Body keeps the possibility of the Devil's true involvement ambiguous. Anya, who has the most to lose if the truth comes out, is haunted by visions of Grace. But are these apparitions truly Grace speaking from beyond the veil? Or just a manifestation of Anya's guilt? And are her teammates actually seeing Grace too? Or just claiming they've had visions, Crucible-style? (While The Body doesn't invoke Arthur Miller's play by name, Shepard's 2017 feature directorial debut Blame centers on high school rivals reading The Crucible, making The Body feel like a natural extension of her prior work.)

Instead of putting together a full mystery box to provide a definitive answer, The Body prefers to examine the impacts of this stressful situation on the fraught ecosystem that is the Lions dance team. The visions become a kind of social currency. Those who "receive" them feel as if they've been "chosen" by Grace. Those who haven't wonder why Grace hasn't visited them (or fake visions of their own to join the club).

The effect on the viewer is a slippery one, placing us in a constant state of debate. Should we put our faith in Grace and the supernatural? Or should we recognize that Grace is being used as a step on the rung to popularity and assimilation?

Amidst this growing hysteria, a fraught triangle forms between Anya, Elise, and Lisbeth. Anya and Elise's hangouts frequently cross the line between platonic friendship and attraction, but Anya's Catholic guilt prevents her from truly accepting her desires for Elise. Her inability to commit fully to her friend drives a wedge between the two. So when Anya needs help on Halloween, it's not Elise who's there, but Lisbeth.

Coming from an intense religious background — complete with speaking in tongues and snake handling — Lisbeth is on a mission to make new friends and get on the dance team at any cost. If that means sowing further discord between Anya and Elise, so be it.

The Body has high school drama in spades. The ensemble of "The Body." Credit: Netflix

The tension between the three serves as the delicious dramatic engine that powers The Body. With Blame, Shepard already proved herself adept at dissecting the cruelties teen girls can inflict on one another. She continues that study here, with the help of her three excellent leads. Bogic excels as the increasingly frazzled Anya, melding high school archetypes like "popular princess with a heart of gold" and "mean girl" into a character who feels grounded.

Boustany instantly electrifies the screen as TV's next Cool Girl. Her sardonic affect recalls Sophie Thatcher's memorable performance as Natalie in Yellowjackets in the best possible way.

Meszaros catapults between sympathetic and downright scary. Her Lisbeth is as slippery and unpredictable as the snakes the character once handled. Together, the trio leads a talented ensemble of young performers whose dynamic feels ripped from a high school hallway.

That dynamic elevates The Body, with every Lions practice or locker room debrief bursting with rich interplay between the team. Each insult and loaded glance feels real. And when The Body truly lets its girls loose — be it through underhanded backstabbing or violent rituals — the results are vicious and captivating. Even as The Body spirals towards a series of nebulous, even frustrating loose ends, its core characters keep the ship afloat.

Through it all, The Body walks a mesmerizing tonal tight rope. The series is primarily a psychological thriller, turning high school hallways into claustrophobic nightmares where any slip could be game over for the Lions. The claustrophobia extends to The Body's examination of religion as a controlling force. Anya struggles with internalized homophobia. Lisbeth's mother (Louisa Krause) berates her daughter for straying from God. Thanks to this emphasis on religious guilt, images of Christ on the cross soon begin to feel more like signs of judgmental surveillance than of salvation. Crucifix necklaces feel more like weights on the soul than signs of faith.

The Body balances these headier debates about religion with its dark comedy sensibilities. Look no further than the rude sniping between rival dance groups, each with their own highly suggestive, yet supposedly faith-based dance routine. (The Lions' routine, set to Kylie Minogue's "Confide in Me," breaks up the girls' gyrations with a lift in the shape of a cross.)

The Body's attention to nostalgic, early 2000s details is also one of the show's biggest blessings. AIM chatrooms and killer needle drops abound. Plus, the show's title cards are gloriously bedazzled, Juicy-style.

Between these elements and a throbbing choral soundtrack, there's a transgressive fun to The Body's aesthetic, and to the series as a whole. Atmospheric, unsettling, and amusing in equal parts, The Body is nothing short of a devilishly good time.

The Body is now streaming on Netflix.

If there's one thing The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power loves more than a wizard, it's a wizard with a secret identity.

In Season 1, the series introduced the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), who later became known as everyone's favorite Middle-earth wizard: Gandalf. In Season 2, The Rings of Power also brought in another wizard: the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds), who rules over the Eastern land of Rhûn. While the show kept his true name shrouded in secrecy throughout Season 2, it wastes no time revealing it in Season 3, and the answer is a fairly deep-cut character from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium.

SEE ALSO: Did 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' just reveal the Witch-king of Angmar?

In a discussion with the Secret Fire (voiced by Allan Corduner), the creative force behind all Middle-earth, Gandalf learns that the Dark Wizard's name is actually Pallando. Like Gandalf, he is an Istar, or "Wise One," who was sent to Middle-earth to help win the fight against Sauron (Charlie Vickers). According to the Secret Fire's handy-dandy exposition dump, Pallando arrived in Middle-earth with a partner. But his ambitions led him to kill his wizard buddy, a move so vile it cursed Rhûn and turned it into a desert wasteland.

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That's a lot of lore to take in. Like a lot of characters and plot in The Rings of Power, not all of Pallando's story is actually canonical to Tolkien's work. However, several bits and pieces of it are, including the character of Pallando himself. Here's what you need to know.

SEE ALSO: Who is Khamûl in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'? Who is Pallando, the Blue Wizard?

In the history of Middle-earth, the Valar sent five Istari to Middle-earth. The most familiar of them are Gandalf the Grey, Saruman the White, and Radagast the Brown, all of whom appear in varying degrees in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

The two remaining wizards were known as the Blue Wizards, or Ithryn Luin, so named for the blue of the robes they wore when arriving in Middle-earth. The Rings of Power captures that blue in its flashback to their arrival, as well as in the stone of Pallando's staff. According to Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, their names are Pallando and Alatar, although in later works he also called them Morinehtar and Rómestámo.

In a 1958 letter, Tolkien wrote, "I really do not know anything clearly about the other two [Istari]," explaining the gap in details between the Blue Wizards and their Istari compatriots — a gap that The Rings of Power is excited to fill in.

Tolkien did not write that Pallando killed Alatar, nor did he write about Pallando setting up shop in Rhûn. However, he did write in the same 1958 letter that he believes Pallando and Alatar were sent "as emissaries to distant regions, east and south." The pair's involvement in Rhûn does fit within that statement, then.

In that letter, Tolkien also wrote, "I fear that they failed, as Saruman did" in their quest to curb Sauron's rise, and that he suspected they founded "secret cults and 'magic' traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron." Again, The Rings of Power's take on the Blue Wizards technically fits the bill here. Pallando's corruption and murder of Alatar would mark an abject failure of their quest, and he did end up founding his own cult out in Rhûn.

Where The Rings of Power is truly moving away from Tolkien's work is Gandalf's new quest to remind Pallando of his true purpose in Middle-earth. Will he succeed in bringing the one Blue Wizard left back into the light? Plus, now that both Blue Wizards are accounted for (RIP Alatar, we never knew you), what are the odds The Rings of Power introduces the two remaining Istari in its coming episodes? I don't know about you, but I'm officially on Saruman and Radagast watch.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes Wednesdays.

Somebody call Éowyn, because The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power may have just unveiled the Witch-king of Angmar.

SEE ALSO: Who is Khamûl in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'?

The first four episodes of The Rings of Power Season 3 introduced new key players in the battle between good and evil in Middle-earth. Among them are the Nazgnagôl, or Ring-servants, human men who have received a ring of power from Sauron (Charlie Vickers). The rings will eventually corrupt their spirits, turning them into the undead Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths, from J.R.R. Tolkien's work.

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The most powerful of the Nazgûl is the Witch-king of Angmar, head of the Ringwraiths. Like most of the Black Riders, the Witch-king of Angmar's origins are unknown. His second-in-command, Khamûl the Easterling (Zubin Varla), is the only Nazgûl to be named in Tolkien's legendarium. Tolkien also wrote that three Númenóreans became Ringwraiths, although he leaves any further details out. That means The Rings of Power has a lot of leeway when it comes to crafting backstories for any of the Nazgûl, including the Witch-king himself. In Season 3, episode 2, The Rings of Power appears to put that backstory in motion, heavily hinting that the Witch-king is none other than Southlander Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin).

How could Theo be the Witch-king of Angmar?

Introduced in Season 1, Theo has always had a complicated relationship to the darkness of Middle-earth. Look no further than his discovery of and fascination with the broken orc sword hilt that eventually triggered the eruption of Mount Doom.

Theo's connection to darkness only grows in Season 3, when he and the Middle-earth men of Pelargir, grown sick of Númenórean rule, take Sauron up on his offer to receive a ring of power. Sauron forces the men to fight to the death to decide who will bear the ring, but once he notices the scar from the dark blade on Theo's arm, he steps in to kill his final competitor and gift Theo the ring.

SEE ALSO: The Dark Wizard's true identity in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is a Tolkien deep cut

Thanks to the sword mark and some good old-fashioned black magic, Sauron learns that Theo and his long-dead father are the latest in a line of an ancient noble house that once swore to serve Mordor. According to him, that stewardship came with "certain powers" passed from father to son.

Naturally, that revelation is a lot for Theo to take in, as is Sauron's claim that his late mother Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) killed his father upon learning of his ties to Mordor. As Theo struggles to process his family history, Sauron tells him: "You have it in you to be a conqueror. A sorcerer. A king."

The pairing of "sorcerer" and "king" all but screams "Witch-king" to Tolkien fans in the know. That wording can't be a coincidence, especially since, as soon as Theo pops the ring on, he's on track to becoming a Nazgûl. That means Theo is one of eight potential candidates to become the Witch-king of Angmar. (Remember, Khamûl is second-in-command to the Witch-king, taking him off the board.) He seems an especially likely candidate given Sauron's whole speech about Theo's mysterious inheritance, and again, the deliberate use of "sorcerer" and "king" in quick succession.

Of course, there's always a chance that this is just Sauron doing what he does best, which is deceive. Maybe he's just spinning a tale to seduce Theo fully over to the dark side. Yet the wording is too purposeful for this to be a total fake-out. The Rings of Power has also invested so much time in Theo and his ties to Middle-earth's darkness. For the Witch-king to be anyone else at this point would feel far less earned.

Plus, The Rings of Power has pulled a comparable move before when it came to heralding the arrival of a classic Lord of the Rings character. In Season 1, it used a Lord of the Rings film quote to imply that the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) is Gandalf, before revealing it outright in the following season. Chances are, the "sorcerer" and "king" lines are similar examples of not-so-subtle foreshadowing, and if Theo doesn't wind up the Witch-king of Angmar, I'll eat my hat. Or rather, my very pointy, very fashionable Nazgnagôl helmet.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes Wednesdays.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3, the villains are running the show.

Sauron (Charlie Vickers) is comfortably in control of most of Middle-earth, and he's got a whole host of allies to help him keep a firm grip on the world. Among these allies are the Nazgnagôl, or Ring-servants: human men who have pledged themselves to the Dark Lord and received a ring of power in exchange.

SEE ALSO: Did 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' just reveal the Witch-king of Angmar?

The title of "Nazgnagôl" is a show-only invention, but it does come rooted in J.R.R. Tolkien's works. Anyone who's read Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings or watched Peter Jackson's film adaptations knows that the nine men who accept Sauron's rings eventually lose their humanity and become the Nazgûl, Ringwraiths at Sauron's command. Think of The Rings of Power's Nazgnagôl as the first step in that transformation. They've already got the black cloaks down. Next up? Corruption and an eternal life of undead servitude. Fun!

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Over the course of its four-episode premiere, The Rings of Power Season 3 introduces several Nazgnagôl. Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) believes one of them to be the king of the Lossoth, who live in the far north of Middle-earth. Later, young Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) accepts a ring and becomes a Nazgnagôl himself, sparking Witch-king rumors in the process.

SEE ALSO: The Dark Wizard's true identity in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is a Tolkien deep cut

But The Rings of Power puts extra emphasis on one Nazgnagôl in particular: Khamûl (Zubin Varla), an Easterling in Rhûn who seeks to buck the Dark Wizard's (Ciarán Hinds) authority. Unlike many Rings of Power characters, or the title of Nazgnagôl itself, Khamûl is canonically part of Tolkien's work. Here's how this mysterious newcomer fits into Tolkien's larger legendarium.

Khamûl is the Witch-king of Angmar's second-in-command.

Khamûl is the only named Nazgûl in Tolkien's work, although he isn't explicitly named in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Instead, Tolkien dives into his background in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, where he reveals that Khamûl is second-in-command to the Witch-king of Angmar. He's also known as the Shadow of the East and the Black Easterling, each title alluding to his origins in Rhûn.

Unfinished Tales also highlights Khamûl's specific role in the Nazgûl's hunt of for Frodo Baggins in The Fellowship of the Ring. He's the Nazgûl who seeks out Frodo in Hobbiton and who almost catches Frodo and his friends at Bucklebury Ferry. Darn that pesky water for getting in the way.

In the Third Age, Sauron also sent Khamûl to hold the fortress of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood, which features in the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings and played a large part in Jackson's Hobbit trilogy.

All of these events are thousands of years away when Khamûl dons his ring in The Rings of Power. As soon as he does, though, his fate is sealed, and he's in for thousands of years of serving Sauron and playing second fiddle to the Witch-king of Angmar — whoever that may be.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes Wednesdays.

The best early Black Friday tech deals: Best gaming deal Nintendo Switch 2 $469 (save $30) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $229 (save $70) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $200) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Kindle Bundle: 16GB Kindle, Kindle Click, and Knit Fabric Cover $190.97 (save $34) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer $159.99 (save $20) Get Deal Best creator-approved deal DJI Osmo Pocket 3 bundle with DJI Mic Mini $450 (save $82) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Oura Ring 4 $249 (save $100) Get Deal Best TV deal 85-inch Hisense E7 Cinema Series QLED 4K TV $898.99 (save $301) Get Deal Best Amazon deal Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $72.99 (save $82) Get Deal Best outdoor tech deal Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 $1,999 (save $1,100) Get Deal

You've dug out the winter clothes, the neighbors are putting up Christmas lights, and the stores have eggnog back on the shelves. In the world of shopping, that means it's almost time for Black Friday. If you've shopped the holiday sale period before, you know deals drop ahead of the actual Friday after Thanksgiving. That's great news if you have tech gifts on your list this year.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday home improvement deals save big on power tools, smart lights, home security, and more.

We're still a few weeks away from Black Friday, but we've scanned the ads and compiled a list of the best tech deals we'd buy ourselves before the official sale. Not only will some of these be great for using during the Thanksgiving break, but you'll also be on the team of early shoppers, which can often mean the best selection without shipping delays.

Check out Mashable's full Black Friday coverage as we keep a close eye on fresh deals.

The gaming console of the year at a $30 discount

Somehow, Woot is selling the Nintendo Switch 2 for a $30 discount, while it remains at full price everywhere else. Since Woot deals tend to sell out, hop on this one right now if you're interested. Grabbing the Switch 2 will put you in line for spending the holiday break with the new The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Amazon Prime members get free shipping at Woot.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $469 at Woot
$499 Save $30   Get Deal at Woot A comfortable pair of earbuds for holiday travel

It's hard to beat the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) if you're searching for a pair that won't become bothersome after hours of wear. On Mashable's list of the best earbuds, the 2nd Gen QuietComfort Ultra earn their namesake as the most comfortable. The noise cancellation is excellent, and the adaptive ANC is great if you still need to tune into your surroundings. Consider these an early Christmas gift for yourself if you'll be taking off on holiday travel or need some solid earbuds.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen).

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen, Midnight Violet) $229 at Amazon
$299 Save $70   Get Deal at Amazon A great MacBook for both students and professionals

At $200 off, the M5 MacBook Air is sitting at the same sale price we saw during October Prime Day. The MacBook Air proves itself to be a great machine for everyone, from students and professionals to frequent travelers. It's slim, lightweight, and comes with a stunning display and a powerful M5 chip.

Read our full review of the M5 MacBook Air.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon A Kindle bundled with the new Kindle Click

Without making a peep, Amazon hiked the prices on all Kindles this year. While that's annoying and so on par for 2026, we do have something new and exciting in the e-reader world — the Kindle Click. The remote page-turner means you can now turn pages with your hands under the covers or while simply relaxing on the couch.

Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon has bundled the new Click with the latest 16GB Kindle and a knit fabric cover. While we do hope to see more Kindles go on sale soon, potentially at deeper discounts, this is a top Kindle deal for the time being.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Bundle: 16GB Kindle, Kindle Click, and Knit Fabric Cover $190.97 at Amazon
$224.97 Save $34   Get Deal at Amazon The glass Ninja Crispi air fryer

The Ninja lineup of kitchen appliances and gadgets consistently impresses. Take, for example, the new Ninja EverSear cookware, which rivals top brands but comes at a much better price. But if you or someone on your Christmas shopping list needs an upgraded air fryer, the Ninja Crispi is everything you want. With PFAS-free glass containers, the Ninja air fryer can reach up to 450 degrees for perfect crisping of your favorite meals and snacks. Plus, the glass containers come with lids, and they're dishwasher-safe.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer $159.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon A DJI bundle for vloggers

From pro level to just starting out, DJI continues to prove it's a brand designed for creators. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth's review of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 explained it's the gold standard for vlogging cameras. DJI has now released the Osmo Pocket 4, but you're looking at spending a lot more than the sale price of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 paired with the DJI Mic Mini, which is on sale for $450.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 bundle with DJI Mic Mini $450 at Amazon
$532 Save $82   Get Deal at Amazon A smart ring for tracking fitness goals in the new year

If you have 2027 health goals and don't love wearing a watch, a smart ring is a great alternative, and the Oura Ring 4 is on sale for $249 before Black Friday. The smart ring tracks sleep, activity, stress levels, heart rate, and plenty more to provide deeper insight into health and wellness. Plus, it gets up to eight days of battery life on a single charge. Keep in mind you'll want to sign up for Oura's subscription plan to get the full benefits, which costs $5.99 per month or $69.99 per year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring 4 $249
$349 Save $100   Get Deal A budget tablet for upgraded streaming

If you're squinting to watch shows and YouTube videos on a phone, give your eyes a treat with the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet. It's already on sale for 53% off, bringing the 10-inch tablet down to just $72.99. The 32GB storage is great for downloading shows, books, and games for travel or lounging around at home.

It's also a great option for kids if you're looking for something more affordable than iPads.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $72.99 at Amazon
$154.99 Save $82.00   Get Deal at Amazon Hisense 85-inch TV for holiday movies and family gaming sessions

Deck the halls with a massive 85-inch Hisense TV. No one in your house will complain about the ability to watch Christmas movies on the giant display in UHD 4K. Gamers will also appreciate the 144Hz refresh rate, which is ideal for watching sports over the holidays.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense 85-inch Hisense E7 Cinema Series QLED 4K TV $898.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $301   Get Deal at Amazon The ultimate backyard upgrade

We have robot vacuums to take care of cleaning the floor inside, but plenty of us still dread hauling out the lawn mower and turning our white sneakers an ombre green shade. Instead of battling the lawn again next spring, make the upgrade to a robot lawn mower while the Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 is on sale for the best price we've ever seen at Amazon.

The Mammotion is designed to tackle yards with a range of obstacles, such as roots, dips, rocks, and tennis balls the dog left out. It can run for up to 175 minutes on a single charge, covering up to 0.75 acres.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mammotion Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 $1,999 at Amazon
$3,099 Save $1,100   Get Deal at Amazon

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

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

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

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

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

Uncertainty.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DOUBT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Hairy.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BUSHY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Rule.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 11, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

REIGN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Respond.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

REPLY

Final Hurdle hint

Cunning.

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

GUILE

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

UPDATED: Like many an MCU movie before it, VisionQuest's finale continues Marvel's proud tradition of mid-credits scenes teasing the franchise's future, including one that's set to shake up the game in Avengers: Doomsday.

SEE ALSO: 'VisionQuest': Your guide to every AI character in the MCU's newest show

VisionQuest's first mid-credits scene offers a look at what might be next for one of the the show's leads, should the series get a season 2. Its second mid-credits scene is far buzzier, teasing the return of a beloved MCU figure, just in time for Avengers: Doomsday. Here's what happens.

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What happens to Ultron in VisionQuest's mid-credits scene?

VisionQuest's first returns to the site of the show's final battle: Horton Manor. There, Phineas Horton (Paul Bettany) created the world's first synthetic man, all those decades ago.

In the final battle, Horton's grandson Virgil (James Spader), aka VisionQuest's sinister Client, perished at the hands of Ultron (Spader). Before he died, Virgil shot synthezoid Jocasta (T'Nia Miller), who was based on the consciousness of his former partner Josephine Carrington (also Miller). But Jocasta may not be gone for good.

SEE ALSO: Marvel teases 'Zodiac' spy thriller. Here's what fans are theorizing.

The mid-credits scene shows Ultron residing at Horton Manor, now in his human form thanks to Josephine's nanobot technology. (He's trimmed the beard, though.) Since his human form mirrors Virgil's, has Ultron assumed Virgil's identity to live among humans? Or is he remaining fully himself?

One thing's for sure: Ultron is still holding onto Jocasta. Literally: He's holding the drive that contains her code.

As he holds it, he takes a contemplative beat. The music swells menacingly. Then he walks off screen. To do what? VisionQuest certainly doesn't tell.

Perhaps he's getting ready to rebuild and reboot Jocasta, so the pair can finish their dream of ruling the world. Whatever his goal, the foreboding music suggests that it may have been a mistake to let Ultron hang around.

Dr. Doom resurrects Wanda Maximoff in VisionQuest's second mid-credits scene.

VisionQuest's second mid-credits scene takes things all the way back to the climax of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, when Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) used her Scarlet Witch powers to bring down Mount Wundagore, sacrificing herself in the process.

After replaying Wundagore's collapse, VisionQuest flashes forward to the present, when a hooded figure lifts the rubble off of Wanda's corpse.

"Scarlet Witch, awaken," he says. "Your power will be mine."

A green glow illuminates Wanda's face, and she wakes with a gasp, officially bringing the Scarlet Witch back into play in the MCU.

The hooded figure is undoubtedly Dr. Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). In the extra scenes shown in Avengers: Encore, he pulls a similar move on Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), telling him he's here to "collect" him before spiriting him away in a mysterious green glow. Is Dr. Doom building an army of the most powerful Avengers? If so, his team is already looking pretty stacked.

In the VisionQuest finale, Tommy Maximoff (Ruaridh Mollica) appeared hopeful at the possibility of getting his mother back, somehow. Surely this is the worst case scenario, right?

Will VisionQuest get a Season 2?

So far, Disney has not renewed VisionQuest for a second season.

Aside from Loki and Daredevil: Born Again, it's rare that Disney renews the MCU's live-action series. Based on that precedent, the chances for more VisionQuest are very slim.

However, that doesn't mean we won't see these characters again. WandaVision spawned two "sequel" series in Agatha All Along and VisionQuest, so the story of Ultron or Billy (Joe Locke) and Tommy could continue in a new series. Obviously, Wanda is being set up to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which means a family reunion could occur sooner rather than later.

Currently, the only live-action MCU series in development is 2028's Zodiac, so it's unlikely we get any further Ultron updates before then.

UPDATE: Nov. 11, 2026, 6:37 a.m. EST This article has been updated to include information about "VisionQuest"s second mid-credits scene, which was not in the screener given to press.

VisionQuest is now streaming on Disney+.

Like the synthezoid at its center, Marvel's VisionQuest contains multitudes. It's a genre-bending adventure, a reflection on flawed father-son dynamics, and an ambitious attempt to tie up the loose ends of the so-called WandaVision trilogy. But seemingly above all else, it's a sequel to no one's favorite Avengers movie, Avengers: Age of Ultron.

SEE ALSO: 'VisionQuest': Your guide to every AI character in the MCU's newest show

VisionQuest brings James Spader's evil Ultron back to the MCU, and at first, I wasn't complaining. Spader's gleefully villainous performance is one of the sole bright spots of Age of Ultron. It holds up just as well in VisionQuest, with Spader chewing the hell out of every withering one-liner.

Then came VisionQuest's finale.

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Ultron tries to destroy humanity again in VisionQuest's finale.

Episode 7 revealed that the show's main villain, the Client, was also played by James Spader, meaning Ultron's human avatar is modeled after him. Turns out, the Client is Virgil Horton, grandson of Phineas Horton (Bettany), creator of the world's first synthetic man.

Virgil was once the partner of Josephine Carrington (T'Nia Miller), whose consciousness was used to create the synthezoid Jocasta (Miller). As the two worked on their revolutionary AI tech, they coded themselves into their work, explaining why Ultron's human avatar looks like Virgil. Now that Virgil has apprehended both Vision and Jocasta, he plans to put his mind in Vision's body so he and Jocasta can live together forever, using their nanobot tech to rule over all of humanity.

Neither Vision nor Jocasta wants this future, so they team up with Tommy Maximoff (Ruaridh Mollica) to defeat Virgil. In the chaos, Virgil shoots Jocasta, who subsequently throws Ultron's drive into the nanobot swarm, unleashing him in his physical form. His first move? Killing Virgil in a feat of Spader-on-Spader violence.

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Endgame Encore' sets up 'Doomsday' with 4 new scenes. Here's what happens.

In one fell swoop, Ultron dispatches VisionQuest's Big Bad, leaving a villainous void ready to be filled. That's a role Ultron is all too happy to step into, and so begins VisionQuest's endgame: Ultron's nanobot swarm flying towards London, ready to implant itself in its citizens and kill them from the inside out.

For a series that tried to twist and bend the rules of what a Marvel show could be, this final showdown is frustratingly familiar, right down to Vision and Ultron duking it out in their synthetic forms. Yes, Ultron can dissipate into a cloud of nanobots now, but that doesn't change the fact that this feels too much a rehash of an Avengers film that came out 11 years ago.

Under this sheen of familiarity, even the best parts of VisionQuest's climax feel like a drag. In a callback to WandaVision, Vision tries to use the power of sitcoms to help Ultron process his grief over losing Jocasta. Ultron hijacks the program, resulting in a 500-episode montage that comes with its fair share of clever sight gags, along with a catchy theme song. ("Don't kill the world!")

Yet all the montage really does is remind us of how perfectly WandaVision was able to parody sitcoms. More than that, it reminds us of the power of good episodic television, something every Marvel show has tried to capture, before almost always falling short and feeling like a truncated eight-hour movie instead. With its Age of Ultron-meets-therapy climax, VisionQuest is no exception, even if it has its fair share of highs. (Tommy's awkward running around the table in the finale will live in my head for a while.)

What's next for VisionQuest?

VisionQuest is the last new MCU show on Marvel's docket until 2028's Zodiac, and aside from Loki and Daredevil: Born Again, live-action MCU series don't have the best track record of renewal. Still, that doesn't stop VisionQuest from signalling to a future for its characters. Tommy connects with his long-lost twin Billy (Joe Locke) and heads back to New Jersey with him by the season's end. Could the pair be part of a young Avengers team down the line, or will the MCU leave them by the wayside, along with other potential young Avengers like Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld)?

Tommy also asks Vision if there's any way they could potentially bring the late Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) back, reuniting the entire WandaVision family. Meanwhile, Ultron is still out there, along with Jocasta's hard drive. Both sequences suggest that neither women are truly gone from the MCU — if only VisionQuest gets the opportunity to explore further. In the meantime, though, its final impression is a mixed bag: a combination of some truly inventive world building, marred by the insistence on replaying a decade-old story.

VisionQuest is now streaming on Disney+.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 11, 2026 Folk meaning

The traditional culture and lifestyle of ordinary people.

Herbal meaning

Of, relating to or made from herbs or plants.

Holistic meaning

Dealing with, treating or considering a whole system, structure, or person rather than focusing exclusively on individual, isolated parts.

Traditional meaning

Something handed down, practiced or believed across generations.

Air mattress meaning

A bed that's pumped with air.

Bubble meaning

A small, hollow globule of gas or air trapped inside a liquid.

Tire meaning

A rubber wheel covering that's filled with air.

Whoopie cushion meaning

A prank device that fills with air and makes a farting sound.

Green meaning

A golf course.

Rough meaning

Not smooth, even or exact.

Sand trap meaning

A hollow pit filled with sand that poses a hazard for golfers.

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Tee box meaning

The designated flat starting place for every hole on a golf course.

Afternoon meaning

The period of day between morning and night.

Patoot meaning

A term of endearment.

Rheostats meaning

A resistor used to control the flow of electric current in a circuit by changing its resistance.

Shredder meaning

A device used to shred paper.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like to hit the green.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 11, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Healing

• Green: Take a swing

• Blue: Blow it up

• Purple: Same front to back

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Kinds of medicine

• Green: Parts of a golf course

• Blue: Things filled with air

• Purple: Ending in palindromes

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1249 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of medicine: FOLK, HERBAL, HOLISTIC, TRADITIONAL

• Parts of a golf course: GREEN, ROUGH, SAND TRAP, TEE BOX

• Things filled with air: AIR MATTRESS, BUBBLE, TIRE, WHOOPIE, CUSHION

• Ending in palindromes: AFTERNOON, PATOOT, RHEOSTATS, SHREDDER

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're a fitness instructor.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 11, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Work it out

The words are anatomy-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words involve parts of the body.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Muscle Group.

NYT Strands word list for November 11

• Bicepts

• Obliques

• Muscle Group

• Pecs

• Lats

• Quads

• Hamstrings

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Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're spiritual.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 11, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To anoint.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter S appears twice.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BLESS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.