IT General

UPDATE: Dec. 10, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST This guide has been updated to reflect the latest pricing and availability.

There's definitely something to be said for the crisp handheld control of a powerful cordless Dyson. But if you're not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, why not outsource that tedious task? The best robot vacuums patrol your home to clear away dust, debris, and sometimes even stains on hard floors — no elbow grease required.

Are Roombas the best robot vacuums?

Though Roombas are really good robot vacuums, they aren't the only good robot vacuums.

iRobot dominated the robot vacuum realm from the early 2000s up until a few years ago, so it's no surprise that much of the general public forgets that "Roomba" isn't simply a generic term for any robotic vacuum.

But Roombas officially aren't in a league of their own anymore: You can't even Google "Roomba" without a question involving Shark robot vacuums popping up, and other brands like Roborock and Eufy have entered the chat with a fury. And I'm here to put some respect on their names.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

I'm regularly testing the top robot vacuums at multiple price points and comparing them to top performers from previous years, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. During the testing of each robot vacuum, I keep notes on their overall suction power and scrubbing efficiency (if it's a hybrid that also mops), self-maintenance features like self-emptying or self-washing mopping pads, smart mapping to specific rooms and navigation around obstacles, and the overall user experience.

After all that testing, I've narrowed down your shopping list to five options, all of which I've put to the test personally. Here are the best robot vacuums for every home and budget in 2024:

(While each vacuum's retail price is listed by default, I've also noted the most common sale price in "The Good" sections. And yes, robot vacuum deals can be found throughout the year — not just during a shopping holiday like Black Friday.)

As the new year draws ever closer, so too does the U.S. TikTok ban. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have now requested an emergency injunction, attempting to stave off the looming ban after a U.S. court of appeals upheld it on Friday. If this injunction is denied, TikTok will have to shut down in the U.S. by Jan. 19.

In a petition filed to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on Monday, TikTok asked that the U.S. ban on its video sharing platform not be enforced until the matter is addressed by the Supreme Court. Stating its intention to file an appeal, TikTok argued that it's likely the Supreme Court will opt to review and ultimately reverse Friday's decision.

SEE ALSO: Federal court ruling brings us one step closer to a TikTok ban

"[The Court of Appeals'] holding that the Act satisfies strict scrutiny is sure to attract the Supreme Court’s attention," wrote TikTok. "As speech restrictions have survived strict scrutiny only in rare and narrow circumstances, the Supreme Court will want to ensure that this Court’s decision has not diluted that critical standard."

Strict scrutiny is a legal standard which demands that laws which restrict free speech are narrowly tailored to advance a compelling governmental interest. Such laws must also be the least restrictive method of achieving this objective. TikTok has argued that the U.S. government failed this standard by allegedly passing the ban without considering less drastic alternatives.

Tweet may have been deleted

In deciding whether to grant an injunction such as the one TikTok has requested, courts consider elements such as whether the appeal is likely to succeed, as well as if parties will suffer harm if the injunction is not granted. 

TikTok's petition claimed that while the ban will cause it to suffer "extreme and irreparable harm," temporarily holding off will pose no danger to the U.S. or its national security. The company further noted that Congress already delayed the ban coming into effect for 270 days, which TikTok said indicated that "the asserted national security threat is not sufficiently imminent to forestall the completion of orderly judicial review."

"[T]he Government’s own defense of the Act at most asserts that China 'could' engage in certain harmful conduct through TikTok, not that China is currently doing so or will soon do so," wrote TikTok.

TikTok has also argued that it is within the public interest to grant a temporary injunction, as it is "one of the most popular speech platforms in America." If the Court of Appeals denies the injunction, Americans will lose TikTok just one day before Donald Trump's presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.

"The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok said in a statement responding to Friday's decision. "Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people. The TikTok ban, unless stopped, will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the U.S. and around the world on January 19th, 2025."

According to TikTok, a ban on the platform would cause small businesses to lose over $1 billion in revenue within just one month, while creators would suffer $300 million in lost earnings.

TikTok's petition has requested that the Court of Appeals make a decision on the injunction by Dec. 16.

Each year, Google’s Year in Search provides an uncanny snapshot of what captivated, worried, and inspired us. For 2024, the list of trending search terms is a reflection of a world navigating pivotal political moments, breakout cultural phenomena, and a steady stream of viral hits.

The 2024 U.S. presidential election dominated the charts, as former President Donald Trump secured a historic, second non-consecutive term. Love it or loathe it, his return to the Oval Office has reignited intense conversations, debates, and, yes, Google searches. Beyond the political maelstrom, pop culture juggernauts and athletic superstars carved out their own space on the leaderboard, with some of the year’s most defining moments fueled by viral artists, rising sports icons, and buzzy brand phenomena.

For those not inclined to wade through Google’s data dump, we’ve sifted through the noise to highlight the people, moments, and trends that truly shaped 2024’s search history. Here's a closer look at the year that kept our fingers glued to the search bar.

The top searches in the U.S.

As expected, the 2024 U.S. presidential election claimed the top spot as the most-searched term in the United States, closely followed by searches for former President Donald Trump, whose historic re-election has been the subject of intense interest and debate.

The buzz wasn’t all political, though. The New York Times' word game Connections grabbed the third spot, proving Americans are still as puzzle-obsessed as ever. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees managed to secure fourth place, primarily fueled by a thrilling playoff run and rumors surrounding their offseason trades. Vice President Kamala Harris grabbed the number five spot after stepping in as the Democratic nominee for president after sitting President Joe Biden stepped down.

The second half of the Top 10 Searches (U.S.) were as follows:

• Copa América

• Hurricane Milton tracker

• Olympic medal count

• Toby Keith

• Liam Payne

The most searched people of 2024

No surprises here: the top four most-searched people in the U.S. in 2024 were dominated by the presidential nominees and their running mates. Donald Trump claimed the top spot, followed by Vice President Kamala Harris, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and President Biden. However, the fifth spot offered an unexpected entry — Catherine, Princess of Wales.

The search surge for Princess Kate was likely driven by a dramatic and somber revelation early in the year. In January, Kensington Palace announced she had undergone abdominal surgery, sparking weeks of speculation about her health and whereabouts. It wasn’t until later that the Princess disclosed she had been quietly undergoing chemotherapy— a heavy story, to be sure, but one that captivated attention across the Atlantic.

Rounding out the rest of the top 10 were:

• Tim Walz

• Mike Tyson

• Jill Stein

• Usher

• Imane Khelif

Notable deaths

Sadly, 2024 also saw the loss of several prominent figures who left lasting marks on their industries and the lives of many fans. Leading the list was country music legend Toby Keith, whose passing in February prompted an outpouring of tributes and nostalgia for his storied career. Following closely in search interest were former One Direction member Liam Payne, whose death shocked fans worldwide, the polarizing O.J. Simpson, and rapper Rich Homie Quan.

Here's the rest of the top 10:

• Thomas Matthew Crooks

• Shannen Doherty

• Carl Weathers

• Richard Simmons

• Maggie Smith

Most searched actors

Unsurprisingly, the most-searched actors in 2024 reflect a mix of comedic icons, rising stars, and fan favorites dominating both screens and headlines. Topping the list is Katt Williams, whose viral and controversial appearance on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast landed him back in the spotlight. Jacob Elordi follows at number two, riding high on his breakout performance in 2023's Priscilla and Saltburn.

Glen Powell lands third, bolstered by his charm-filled rom-com streak and action-packed roles. Fourth is Jeremy Allen White, still basking in critical acclaim for The Bear. Shane Gillis rounds out the top five, his rise fueled by a mix of edgy comedy specials and a surprise host spot on Saturday Night Live, years after being fired from the cast.

Here’s the rest of the top 10:

• Hugh Jackman

• Barry Keoghan

• Adam Brody

• Ella Purnell

• Jodie Foster

Most searched musicians

The most-searched musicians of 2024 reflect a whirlwind of comebacks, controversies, and clashes. Topping the list is Usher, whose Super Bowl halftime performance, major tour announcement, and Vegas residency catapulted the R&B icon back into the limelight. In second place is Sean "Diddy" Combs, whose name dominated headlines due to a series of disturbing allegations that shook the music industry.

At three and four, Kendrick Lamar and Drake made waves with their fiery and deeply personal rap feud, which became the defining cultural narrative of the summer. Rounding out the top five is Justin Timberlake, whose year took a troubling turn following a high-profile DWI arrest.

Here’s the rest of the top 10:

• Ingrid Andress

• Sabrina Carpenter

• Drake Bell

• Chappell Roan

• Tracy Chapman

Weirdest Google Search trends of 2024

No Year in Search would be complete without diving into the wonderfully weird and oddly specific things people were curious about — and 2024 didn’t disappoint. One of the year’s most popular internet theories was the "burnt toast theory," a whimsical belief that small, seemingly unlucky accidents can lead to fortuitous outcomes. Think: your toast burning made you late to work, which kept you off the highway and out of a major collision. Equal parts philosophical and bizarre, it captured the internet’s imagination.

Parents, meanwhile, struggled to decode Gen Alpha slang. A standout query in the parenting category was, “Why do kids say sigma?" — a reflection of the endless generational battle to keep up with youth culture. On aesthetics, "mob wife" dominated as a top-searched vibe, a nod to bold and glamorous fashion inspired by cinematic crime queens. And when it came to defining trends, "demure" led the way as the U.S.’s top-searched meaning of 2024.

TL;DR: Save 80% on a lifetime subscription to Headway, an app that summarises books into 15-minute summaries. Get this app on sale for £47.06 (reg. £235.30) at the Mashable Shop.

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription £47.06 at the Mashable Shop
£235.30 Save £188.24 Get Deal

Is reading trendy? Well, yes — if TikTok’s growing BookTok community and Facebook book club groups have anything to say. If you want to join the conversation but can’t commit to reading full-length books, this is a clever solution.

Headway’s book summary app condenses what would normally be days' worth of reading into only 15 minutes. While you don’t get access to the whole book, you’ll get its key ideas and insights in easy-to-digest summaries. Get lifetime access at the Mashable Shop for £47.06 (reg. £235.30).

How many times have you seen someone share a book online and thought, ‘I should read that,’ but you knew you’d never actually get around to it? Headway changes your mentality completely since you now only need 15 minutes to absorb its message.

As you read or listen to summaries, the app learns what you like or dislike. From that, you’ll get personalised book recommendations, just like you’re in a real book club. 

Explore over 1,500 nonfiction book summaries and some fiction ones, too. There’ll be something new to check out whenever you open the app. You may even recognise a lot of these titles from your reading list: 

• Atomic Habits

• Total Recall (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s autobiography)

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

• To Kill a Mockingbird

• Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and It’s All Small Stuff

The Headway app also motivates you to come back with a daily learning streak, trophies and achievements, and challenges. You might take a 14-day Self-Confidence challenge, listen to the pre-selected books each day, and earn three trophies by the end. 

Get a Headway lifetime subscription for £47.06 (reg. £235.30) — an 80% discount from the usual price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

A new report by Human Rights Watch documents the continued exploitation of webcam models abroad, many of whom operate on popular sites like Chaturbate and are streamed by millions around the world — but aren't protected by either the platforms' Terms of Service or the larger labor movement.

An extensive documentation of webcam studio conditions in Colombia, the international human rights group's report outlines an increasingly abusive environment within webcamming studios hosted in cities like Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Palmira. The organization spoke to 55 studio-based webcammers, Colombian authorities, U.S. State Department officials, and anti-trafficking experts.

SEE ALSO: How porn performers feel about Trump, Harris, and Project 2025

Many of the models interviewed by Human Rights Watch and Colombian sex worker-led organizations La Liga de Salud Trans and Corporación Calle 7 Colombia recounted being coerced into "abysmal" sanitary and physical working conditions under constant surveillance, for periods of up to 24 hours. Even more recounted having never read or signed the Terms of Service of the platforms their content appeared on, with their accounts being made and overseen by the studios — guidelines that could offer them insight into further wage theft and sexual exploitation. For example, few of the webcam platforms offer protections for models to take breaks during live cam shifts. Studios reportedly pressured models into staying online for extended periods of time, using the threat of docked pay and decreased traffic.

Colombia has decriminalized sex work — a globally supported policy position among sex worker, labor, and human rights activists — and all of the models interviewed had consented to their work, yet adult content platforms, especially those in the webcam industry, continue to slip through the regulatory cracks and threaten the safety of models. “Sex workers deserve the same labor protections as all workers under international human rights law, but the billion-dollar webcam industry has largely avoided scrutiny for abuses in its supply chains,” writes report author and Human Rights Watch researcher Erin Kilbride. "Sexual exploitation is not inherent to webcam modeling, but our research indicates that the risk of exploitation in Colombian studios is extremely high."

Labor violations among webcam studio operators overseeing adult content models are well documented. While streaming platforms take anywhere from 50 to 65 percent of a model's earnings already, Human Rights Watch explains, studios like those documented in Colombia retain as much as 70 percent of what is paid out by the platform, reducing model earnings to meager numbers. In addition, many studios retain ownership of models' accounts, forcing them to stay with the studio or risk losing their followings and living wages. The organization reports that this is also a way for studios to circumvent verification systems that protect minors from entering the platform.

"Webcamming exists at the intersection of feminized labor, anti-sex work stigma, the informal economy, and the platform-mediated gig-economy. This combination makes it a ready site of multiple forms of labor exploitation," Human Rights Watch explains in the report. "Adult webcam platforms have remained largely immune to rebuke for their direct participation in and enabling of the exploitation of studio-based webcam workers."

It feels like just yesterday that illegal music downloads were going to destroy the music industry, until Steve Jobs showed us the way with the iPod and digital music sales. Today, music streaming is the most popular way to listen to your tunes, but it can be so hard to pick the right one, and once again I'm changing my service.

The holiday travel season is coming up, which means loads of empty homes and packages sitting on porches, ripe for the plucking. All the more reason to gift the people on your list, and yourself, a Ring security device that will shine a spotlight on dark places around the house, alert them to when someone’s lurking, and let them know when packages arrive, all in real time. 

Check out these top Ring picks that’ll keep tabs on their space while they’re at grandma’s — and they can uplevel their device’s capabilities with a Ring Home plan.

A Raspberry Pi "HAT" or Hardware Attached on Top is a simple upgrade component you can add to compatible models of Raspberry Pi computers to expand what they can do and make many different projects far easier than they were before.

By default, Windows 11 shows the Home page when you open File Explorer, unlike Windows 10, which displays the "This PC" page. However, you can configure File Explorer in Windows 11 to open the "This PC" page instead of the "Home" page.

Chrome has some essential security features that help protect your browsing experience, from enhanced protection against malware to performing an online safety check. Here are some simple settings I use to ensure I'm browsing safely on Chrome.

If you're hosting the holidays at your home, chances are you're going to have a lot more people using your Wi-Fi network than usual. There will be extra strain, but there are several things you can do to prepare your network for that, as well as keep it and everyone using it safe from risks.

We all have that one friend who treats their pet like it’s their child or best friend (or both). If you have one or more pet-obsessed buddies and are struggling to find them a last-minute gift for the holidays, we suggest getting them something that will also benefit their animal companion.

The best gifts for pet owners range from useful pet tech like pet cameras and GPS collars, to enrichment toys, comfy beds, and more. There are a whole lot of great pet products out there for every dog mom, cat dad, and every type of pet owner in between.

Below, we’ve pulled together a group of fantastic gift ideas for the pet owner in your life and we’re confident you’ll discover something here that your recipient will love. Now, go make your fellow pet parent’s day (and their pet’s day, too).

If you haven't been following the development of AI image generation tools, you may not be quite up-to-date on what they are capable of. The truth is that AI image generators can in fact create photorealistic images, and that's both amazing and deeply problematic.

One of the most highly-anticipated AI-related products has just arrived: OpenAI's AI video generator Sora launched on Monday as part of the company's 12 Days of OpenAI event.

OpenAI has provided sneak peeks at Sora's output in the past. But, how different is it at launch? OpenAI has certainly been hard at work to update and improve its AI video generator in preparation for its public launch.

YouTuber Marques Brownlee had a first look at Sora, releasing his video review of the latest OpenAI product hours before OpenAI even officially announced the launch. What did Brownlee think?

What Sora is good at

According to Brownlee, his Sora testing found that the AI video generator excels at creating landscapes. AI generated overhead, drone-like shots of nature or famous landscapes look just like real-life stock footage. Of course, as Brownlee points out, if you are specifically well-versed in how the surroundings of a landmark look, one might be able to spot the differences. However, there's not too much that looks distinctly AI-generated in these types of Sora-created clips.

SEE ALSO: How to try OpenAI's Sora right now

Perhaps the type of video Sora is best able to create, according to Brownlee, are abstract videos. Background or screensaver type abstract art can be made quite well by Sora even with specific instructions.

Brownlee also found that Sora-generated certain types of animated content, like stop-motion or claymation type animation, look passable at times as the sometimes jerky movements that still plague AI video look like stylistic choices.

SEE ALSO: 7 wild Sora videos blowing up social media after its launch

Most surprisingly, Brownlee found that Sora was able to handle very specific animated text visuals. Words often show up as garbled text in other AI image and video generation models. With Sora, Brownlee found that as long as the text was specific, say a few words on title card, Sora was able to generate the visual with correct spelling.

Where Sora goes wrong

Sora, however, still presents many of the same problems that all AI video generators that came before it have struggled with.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora is officially here

The first thing Brownlee mentions is object permanence. Sora has issues with displaying, say, a specific object in an individual's hand throughout the runtime of the video. Sometimes the object will move or just suddenly disappear. Just like with AI text, Sora's AI video suffers from hallucinations. 

Which brings Brownlee to Sora's biggest problem: Physics in general. Photorealistic video seems to be quite challenging for Sora because it can't just seem to get movement down right. A person simply walking will start slowing down or speeding up in unnatural ways. Body parts or objects will suddenly warp into something completely different at times as well.

And, while Brownlee did mention those improvements with text, unless you are getting very specific, Sora still garbles the spelling of any sort of background text like you might see on buildings or street signs.

Sora is very much an ongoing work, as OpenAI shared during the launch. While it may offer a step up from other AI video generators, it's clear that there are just some areas where all AI video models are going to find challenging.

OpenAI officially launched Sora on Monday, Dec. 9, and people are already testing its capabilities.

The company showed off its AI video generator last year before launching it during its 12 Days of OpenAI series of announcements. It was made available to the U.S. and lots of countries earlier today. Mashable's Cecily Mauran has all the details about the launch.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora is officially here

The general idea behind Sora is that, much like a chatbot, you give the AI tool a prompt, and it spits out results. But instead of text or images, you get videos. That is both pretty amazing and quite concerning.

There are already a number of videos created by Sora that are going viral online. Here are seven examples.

1. Here's an AI-generated news clip from Marques Brownlee, the popular tech YouTuber, who got to test Sora early. Tweet may have been deleted 2. Brownlee showed off Sora's impressive ability to create landscape videos. Tweet may have been deleted 3. Here is some fake historical video from Sora. Tweet may have been deleted 4. Here's a pelican on a bike...for some reason. Tweet may have been deleted 5. This person made a quick clip of Plato speaking. Tweet may have been deleted 6. Ever seen flying jellyfish? Tweet may have been deleted 7. The Roman Empire is definitely this dude's Roman Empire. Tweet may have been deleted

The tool from OpenAI just dropped, and there are already a number of videos out there.

Obviously, with time, folks will get the hang of Sora, and there will be more and more AI-generated video on our social feeds. Just be sure to stay on your toes and look out for fakes designed to fool you for nefarious purposes.

SEE ALSO: How to identify AI-generated videos

Since the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a lot more going on than the Pixel 9 Pro, it comes at a greater cost, and that's all the more reason to protect it with a case. Why leave it exposed to the elements? Why risk dropping it without protection?

ChromeOS 131 is rolling out now to Chromebooks with a few useful improvements. Namely, it introduces the new "Safety reset" feature, which feels like a light version of a factory reset.

Sora is here.

On Monday, Dec. 9, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that users in "most countries" will have access to its AI video generator, Sora — all you have to do is head to Sora.com and use your ChatGPT account.

This was the company's biggest announcement so far in its ongoing 12 Days of OpenAI event, in which it discusses new products every day for the first 12 business days in December.

"This is going live today in most of the world," Altman said during the livestream, adding that it won't actually go live in most of Europe or the UK. "If you have an open AI Plus subscription, you get 50 generations a month. If you have an open AI pro, you get unlimited generations in our sort of slow queue mode and 500 normal faster generations. You can also get fewer generations at the higher resolution. And anybody with any account can enjoy the feed."

The livestream also featured a demo of Sora, showing users how to check out videos made in Sora by scrolling through them in the "Featured" tab, which you can find under "Explore." OpenAI showed off how to prompt video, choose resolutions, length and aspect radio, and took viewers through how to use its new Storyboard feature.

"We're really excited to see what you all will create," Altman said. "We're really excited to see all of the new ways that this new kind of entertainment and tool will be used. You all did incredible work on this. I'm super proud of the team. I love the product."

Microsoft Office’s assistant Clippy lives as an unkind memory among those of us old enough to remember it, seventeen years after it disappeared for good. But I reckon Clippy was ahead of its time. It doesn’t deserve the bad rep it had back then, and I’ll explain why.

OpenAI has officially launched Sora.

On Monday, CEO Sam Altman immediately kicked off the livestream by announcing the Sora public release. As of today, Sora will be available today to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users in the U.S. and other countries — excluding the UK and countries within the EU.

SEE ALSO: Sora reportedly shipping as part of '12 Days of OpenAI' livestream marathon Tweet may have been deleted

Early last year, OpenAI introduced the AI video generator. But it has been quietly in development to a select group of testers, until being unleashed to the public today, allowing plenty of hype to build up in between. Early demos of Sora's photorealistic details and advanced sense of physics and accuracy has wowed AI enthusiasts. But it has also drawn controversy over how it got so good. OpenAI hasn't revealed what Sora was trained on, but reportedly transcribed over a million hours of YouTube videos, suggesting the AI video was trained on videos from the web without the credit or compensation of the video creators. Recently, a group of artists working as early testers for Sora leaked the API credentials in protest of what they call "art washing."

Perhaps, in an indirect response to criticisms that tools like Sora are exploiting and replacing the work of creatives, Flynn emphasized that "Sora is a tool" and an "extension for the creator behind it."

In the livestream, OpenAI product lead Rohan Sahai and product designer Joey Flynn wasted no time in sharing Sora's capabilities. The tool lives on a standalone website, sora.com, with an explore tab for discovering what other users are creating. By clicking into one of the videos, users can see the methods used to the create the video, such as simple text prompt, video or image extension, or Sora's storyboarding tool.

In the library tab, users can get started making their own video with a text prompt or uploading an image. From here, users can select aspect ratio, resolution up to 1080p, duration up to 20 seconds, and multiple variations of the prompt. There are also certain default presets like "stop motion" and "balloon world."

Sora also comes with a more advanced tool called Storyboard, which allows users to shape the video with specific directions. Storyboard bears a similar resemblance to other video editing tools with frame views on the bottom and various editing tools. Each "storyboard card" or frame can be generated from a text prompt or image upload. Users can use the recut feature to shift cards around, the remix feature to describe specific changes to the sequence, the loop tool to play the video on repeat, or blend to create a transition between multiple scenes.

In OpenAI's announcement, the company shared some of its safety measures. All Sora-generated videos come with C2PA invisible watermarks, and visible watermarks by default. Sora will block "damaging forms of abuse, such as child sexual abuse materials and sexual deepfakes," and limits uploads of people.

ChatGPT Plus users get 50 videos a month at 480p (or 720p for less videos) and ChatGPT Pro users get 10 times more usage.