IT General

Social media users seem to be getting sick and tired of AI-generated content on their favorite platforms. And the backlash against AI-created content, or "AI slop" as it's often referred to, is growing.

The big social media platforms appear to have noticed this anti-AI sentiment. Last month, for example, Pinterest launched a new feature that completely filters out AI content if users choose to do so.

Now, TikTok just announced that it is soon launching its own tools to help its users spot AI-generated content and see less of it if they choose to do so.

According to TikTok, the company is currently testing out a new content control in the "Manage topics" feature that will allow users to specifically adjust how much AI-generated content they see on the platform. 

SEE ALSO: How to vote for the TikTok Awards 2025 — plus date, nominees, and how to watch

The "Manage topics" feature already gives users the ability to tell TikTok's algorithm what type of content they want to see in the For Your feeds as it pertains to a specific content category like "Current Affairs," "Health & Fitness," or "Fashion & Beauty." The AI-generated content topic control is different then all those as it appears to be the first that spans all of TikTok's topic categories and explicitly deals with how the content is created. 

TikTok makes it pretty clear in its announcement that the company itself isn't anti-AI, saying it "believes AI can transform how people share their creativity, discover new passions, and stay safe on our platform, when used transparently and responsibly" and that it "invests in AI-powered experiences that create value for our community." 

However, the company also stresses multiple times that it's important to be transparent to users. 

To aid in that transparency, TikTok is also testing an "invisible watermarking" solution to help bolster its current AI label policies. TikTok says this "invisible watermark" will help "add another layer of safeguards to our current AI-generated content transparency measures." 

In addition to that, TikTok is also launching a new $2 million AI literacy fund and joining the non-profit Partnership on AI, which studies and develops best practices for ethical AI.

TikTok's AI content controls announcement may just open the floodgates for other social media platforms to filter out AI-generated content for users who choose to do so. In fact, the question may not be will they do it but which platform is next to do it?

Ready to start the day with intention or wind down for the evening? TikTok wants to be your go-to platform, no matter the time of day.

The video platform just announced new well-being features, including an "affirmation" journal for intention-setting, exercises for mindful breathing, and "soothing" sound generator that plays rain, waves, and white noise. The journal has 120 downloadable or shareable affirmation cards. One card reads, "I am free from the expectations of others and embrace my true self."

TikTok says the tools are meant to improve safety and well-being on the platform, particularly for teens.

Last year, more than a dozen states sued TikTok for its allegedly addictive algorithm. Internal documents made public last October showed TikTok fostered an environment that arguably prioritized its public image over effective policies to address teen mental health.

SEE ALSO: The content creators with the most TikTok followers - see the top 10.

Earlier this year, TikTok launched a meditation feature for teens that turns on by default at 10 p.m. In a blog post about the newest features, TikTok said that tens of millions of people have meditated using the tool after it was made available to all users.

In addition to the features, TikTok is introducing task-based activities called "well-being missions" related to optimizing sleep and screen time. Users participating in an eight week "sleep hours mission" can earn a badge when they abstain from the app at night or meditate during that time period. Completing tasks help them grow an in-app "well-being tree." A separate weekly screen time mission nudges people to check their usage stats.

The new features are available in the app's time and well-being space, which is accessible from the account settings page. The hub replaces TikTok's previous screen time management page.

TikTok said early testing results show that the latest features make its time and well-being space more attractive to users, who are returning more often than they did to the old menu.

Additional reporting by Chase DiBenedetto

You might not believe it, but there’s still a trace of moonlight tonight. It’s only the faintest sliver, so your chances of spotting anything on the surface are slim to none.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Nov. 19, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 1% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

There isn’t enough of the moon lit tonight to see anything. Once the next lunar cycle begins, it’ll start to come back into sight.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4, this will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a repeating lunar cycle that lasts about 29.5 days, according to NASA. They describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. While we always see the same side of the moon, the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes throughout its orbit. That’s why sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes disappears entirely (the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Every computer needs some form of antivirus protection. It’s an undeniable fact. For the perpetually online Australian, the reality of cyber threats is more immediate than ever. We’ve spent years warning our audience of this, but It's no longer enough to rely on basic, single-layer antivirus protection. As our lives become increasingly intertwined with the internet, from online banking and shopping to streaming and social media; a comprehensive, multi-layered security strategy is as essential as a lock on your front door. Modern threats demand a modern defence that wraps your data, identity, and devices in a protective blanket.

But the question still remains: “How much cyber security do I need?” Or if we’re being honest, the real question usually is: “How little cyber security can I get away with?”. Our typical answer to the question is simply to invest in a reputable security suite. Thankfully, you don’t need to go crazy with your security budget either, the 2025 market is incredibly competitive.

Modern cybersecurity software usually does a great job of combining the features you need into a single package, and we’ve looked at them all, with in-depth rundowns of what’s currently available for your reading pleasure from our PCMag Labs. But let’s look at some of the fundamental reasons why we give this advice.

Having solid foundations: Next-gen malware protection

At the core of any good security suite is robust anti-malware and antivirus protection, constantly scanning and helping protect your devices against infection. Today’s sophisticated threats, like file-encrypting ransomware, zero-day attacks that exploit unknown vulnerabilities, and subtle spyware, require more than just signature-based detection (which is a traditional, pattern-based form of security).

A premium security solution employs advanced, behaviour-based monitoring that watches for suspicious activity, effectively stopping emerging threats before they can execute. For PCMag readers, this means choosing a service that consistently scores highly in independent lab tests, ensuring you have a proven shield against viruses, Trojans, and the most aggressive malware strains. This bedrock defence should cover all your devices (PC, Mac, smartphones, and tablets), because a single weak link can compromise your entire digital life.

Securing your connection: Virtual private networks

Your home Wi-Fi might feel safe, but every piece of data you send or receive is potentially visible to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and, in some cases, malicious actors, especially when you use public Wi-Fi. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) becomes an indispensable tool.

A high-quality VPN establishes an encrypted, private tunnel for your data. This means your online activity, location, and personal information are masked, making it virtually impossible for eavesdroppers to intercept your communications. Beyond online privacy, a VPN is a must-have when you connect to public hotspots at airports, cafés, or hotels, transforming an inherently risky connection into a secure one. Look for a security package that includes a verified no-log VPN, ensuring you can browse, bank, and stream more securely with confidence that your data remains private. In 2025, The PCMag Editors’ Choice for Best Security Suite with a Full-Featured VPN is Norton 360 Deluxe. While plenty of popular security suites include VPN access, the offering from Norton is easily the most attractive. Read our full review here.

Avoiding scams: Advanced scam and phishing protection

Australians are increasingly targeted by sophisticated phishing campaigns and scam texts (smishing) or calls (vishing). These attacks often appear legitimate, impersonating banks, government agencies, or delivery services to trick you into clicking a malicious link or giving away login credentials.

Advanced security suites (Norton being another good example of this) now include dedicated Scam Protection technology. This uses advanced AI to analyse texts, emails, and social media links in real-time, helping to instantly identify red flags and warn you before you interact with a deepfake, a dangerous message or website. It’s an extra layer of intelligence that cuts through the noise of daily digital life to alert you to criminal intent, helping save you from falling victim to financial fraud or identity theft.

Keep the kids off the dark web: Parental controls

For families, the need for comprehensive security extends to the youngest users in the household. Growing kids in the modern era require a unique blend of safe exploration and responsible boundaries. This should make dedicated Parental Control tools an essential part of your digital defence. These tools go beyond simply blocking inappropriate websites. A robust system allows you to manage and schedule screen time across their devices, helping children maintain a healthy balance between digital and real-world activities. Features like content filtering and search supervision provide peace of mind by helping prevent accidental exposure to mature or harmful content, while activity reports offer insight into their digital habits. Integrating parental control tools with your main security package offers a unified approach to family digital well-being, helping keep devices secure while fostering safer online behaviour.

The integrated advantage

To wrap it up: a collection of disparate security tools is often complicated and leaves gaps. The future of protection for the security-conscious Australian lies in a single, powerful, and integrated solution that brings together award-winning antivirus, a no-log VPN, real-time scam detection, and dark web monitoring. Outside of being the best practice for security, it also just makes everything easier for the average punter. And for a simple, yet incredibly effective solution: we can comfortably recommend Norton 360 Deluxe.

An all-in-one approach simplifies your digital security, ensuring that your online life - from your device performance to your personal identity - are covered by one comprehensive, expert-backed service. In today’s hyper-connected world, that level of integrated defence is not just a luxury; it’s peace of mind. Check out all of our Editors’ Choice selections for 2025 here.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 19 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 19 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this orange space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this green space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 19 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add to 10. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this orange space must add to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this green space must add to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you like racing.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Wear to the pool

• Green: Nicknames

• Blue: Short, intense training

• Purple: Types of cars

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Swin Gear

• Green: NBA Player Nicknames

• Blue: HIIT

• Purple: ___Car

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

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: Sports Edition #422 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Swin Gear - CAP, GOOGLES, NOSE CLIP, SUIT

• NBA Player Nicknames - BOOK, JOKER, KAT, WEMBY

• HIIT - HIGH, INTENSITY, INTERVAL, TRAINING

• ___Car: FUNNY, INDY, RALLY, STOCK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections 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.

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 today's Connections.

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.

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

A principle.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

CANON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Quickness.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 19, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

HASTE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A mob.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 19, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MAFIA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

In front of.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 19 Hurdle Word 4 answer

AHEAD

Final Hurdle hint

Not right-handed.

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

LEFTY

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

Amazon's Black Friday 2025 sale is just around the corner. It officially kicks off on Nov. 20, a full week ahead of Thanksgiving, and runs through Cyber Monday on Dec. 1. But like most Amazon shopping events, deals started pouring in in early November on Apple products, Lego, outdoor gear, and lots of tech.

Avid shoppers keeping their eyes on exclusive deals can enjoy a breezy shopping experience throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday, thanks to Amazon's flexible payment options. Customers are no longer limited to debit and credit cards or Amazon gift cards. If you're an Apple loyalist, you can also use Apple Pay to make purchases on Amazon this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday shopping? Here's how to use your Visa gift card on Amazon.

Apple Pay is compatible with most — but not all — vendors on Amazon, making it even easier to secure deals in just a few taps. You can use it in place of a traditional card payment whenever possible by following the steps below.

How to use Apple Pay on Amazon

Step 1: Set up Apple Pay on iPhone. If you haven't already, add your debit or credit card to your iPhone's digital wallet to set up Apple Pay on your mobile device.

Step 2: Open the Amazon app.

Step 3: Add items to your cart and go to checkout. If your vendor accepts Apple Pay, you'll see it under payment options (you can use the method only if you have linked a card to your iPhone's Wallet app); select Apple Pay.

Step 4: Confirm your address and payment details.

Step 5: Once Apple Pay's payment authenticator pops up on your screen, use your Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate the purchase.

Step 6: Confirm payment to finish the process.

How to use an Apple Card to make payments on Amazon

If you choose to make a purchase from a third-party vendor that doesn't accept Apple Pay, you can work around it by using your Apple Card instead. The process is fairly straightforward.

Step 1: Make sure you add your Apple Card to the Wallet app on your iPhone by clicking on the + symbol.

Step 2: Now, go to the Amazon app.

Step 3: You'll find four clickable options at the bottom of the home screen. Start the process by clicking on the Account icon, which is right next to the homepage icon.

Step 4: A new app page will appear. Tap on Your Account to access account details.

Step 5: Scroll down on the page until you see the Payments section and click on Your Payments.

Step 6: Another page with all your linked cards and bank accounts will appear on the app. Go to the Wallet tab and press +Add.

Step 7: Click on Add a credit or debit card and input your Apple Card details.

Step 8: Finally, click on Add and continue to finish the process. Now, you can use your Apple Card to make purchases on Amazon.

Waymo has some competition in San Francisco — Amazon-owned Zoox just launched in the City by the Bay.

Zoox, known for its toaster-shaped, carriage-style vehicles that lack steering wheels, launched its Zoox Explorers program today. Explorers is an early initiative that allows riders to try Zoox for free, with the company hoping to elicit feedback on the experience. Riders are required to download the Zoox app and add their names to a waitlist. Once chosen for the Explorers service, riders can travel around select San Francisco neighborhoods, including SoMa and the Mission.

SEE ALSO: Smooth, silent, strange: What it's really like to hail a robotaxi

"Zoox has been testing our autonomous technology in San Francisco since 2017," Zoox CEO Aicha Evans said in a statement. "It's our home. A city of innovation and progress, with an amazing mobility ecosystem that we feel Zoox can really complement. We have seen incredible interest in Zoox in this market and are excited about this first step to bring our purpose-built robotaxi experience to more people."

Zoox began in San Francisco in 2014, before Amazon acquired the company in 2020 for $1.3 billion.

Zoox is currently operating a similar service in Las Vegas, where riders can travel for free to limited locations as a precursor to a more expanded service. Zoox has had few safety incidents since launching in Las Vegas in September, but was previously the subject of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe after sudden braking by the vehicles caused a crash, as well as injuries involving motorcyclists. Zoom officials stated that a program update resolved the ghost braking issue.

Driverless Waymos are already ubiquitous in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Waymo, part of the Google empire, recently announced that its vehicles will soon be able to ride on freeways in the areas where it currently operates.

SAVE $800: As of Nov. 18, get the LG 45-inch Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor for $899.99, down from its usual price of $1,699.99. That's a discount of 47% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon LG 45-inch Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor $899.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $800   Get Deal

Looking for an easy way to make your favorite video games pop? A new monitor will do the trick nicely. If you're ready to indulge in a new addition to your setup, it might be time to treat yourself to a massive display that can give you those improvements you've been craving, especially since you can get one for an excellent price right now at Amazon.

As of Nov. 18, get the LG 45-inch Ultragear OLED curved gaming monitor for $899.99, down from its usual price of $1,699.99. That's $800 off and a discount of 47%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best monitors in 2025

This massive 45-inch monitor boasts an 800R curve with a peak brightness of up to 1300 nits. It also has a 240Hz refresh rate with a 0.03ms response time, so your games are fast and smooth without lag. That all amounts to better play and even better-looking games in general. Of course, it's also compatible with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync, so you have improved frame sync on both PC and consoles.

Its OLED picture ensures deeper, darker hues as well as colors that pop. Additionally, low glare and a flicker-free display gives you a more crisp, clear look at what's happening on your screen. Because you absolutely need fewer distractions if you're getting your game on, after all.

This monitor is a great way to give your setup a leg up, especially at its significantly lower price, so grab it while you still can.

SAVE $401.99: The 55-inch LG Class B4 Series OLED 4K TV is on sale at Walmart for $698, down from the normal price of $1,099.99. That's a 37% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG 55-inch LG Class B4 Series OLED 4K TV $698 at Walmart
$1,099.99 Save $401.99   Get Deal

Now that it's dark by 4 p.m. and we're all ready for bed at 5 p.m., we're spending those remaining evening hours streaming our comfort TV shows. But not all TVs are worthy of your favorite shows and it's possible the bedroom TV's quality isn't quite as nice as the main TV in the house. If a TV in your home could use a 55-inch upgrade, check out this deal.

As of Nov. 18, the 55-inch LG Class B4 Series OLED 4K TV is on sale at Walmart for $698, marked down from the normal price of $1,099.99. That's a massive 37% discount that takes $401.99 off the list price.

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A 55-inch TV is ideal for a bedroom, smaller rec room, or a studio apartment. But just because it's not a massive 75-inch or larger TV doesn't mean it needs to skimp on quality. LG makes some of the best high-end TVs and this sale model is no exception.

The 4K LG TV uses the brand's α8 AI Processor which automatically detects what you're watching an adjusts to the best display possible. Plus, it could be an ideal model if you tend to move each year or once every few years since it only weighs 32 pounds with the stand.

SEE ALSO: This 100-inch Hisense QLED TV just hit a new all-time low

With a 120Hz refresh rate, four HDMI 2.1 ports, NVIDIA G-Sync, and AMD FreeSync Premium, you'll be in nice shape for gaming on this LG with most titles, including those on the Nintendo Switch 2. This model also comes with LG Channels which gives viewers access to over 300 free channels.

While it's over $400 off, upgrade streaming sessions with the 55-inch LG Class B4 Series OLED 4K TV at Walmart for under $700. Buying now means you'll avoid the major rush that'll happen later this week when Black Friday events officially begin.

TL;DR: AdGuard’s Family Plan gives you lifetime, device-wide protection from ads, trackers, and malicious sites for just $18.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $18.97
$169.99 Save $151.02   Get Deal

If you’ve ever tried to troubleshoot constant pop-ups, frozen web pages, or those suspicious “Download Now” boxes that definitely shouldn’t be clicked, you already know how messy the internet can get.

AdGuard’s Family Plan is one of the easiest ways to clean all of that up — quietly, consistently, and without forcing everyone in the house to become a cybersecurity expert.

SEE ALSO: Should you pay for a VPN?

For a limited time, you can grab lifetime access to the AdGuard Family Plan for just $18.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN through Nov. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Once you activate it, your protection never expires. That alone puts it miles ahead of the usual annual subscription shuffle.

AdGuard works on browsers, smartphones, laptops, tablets — pretty much anything your household uses. And this subscription covers nine devices. It blocks intrusive ads before they even load, cuts off third-party trackers, keeps sketchy phishing attempts out of your family’s path, and generally makes the web run faster and cleaner.

Gamers benefit from fewer laggy ad scripts; kids get a safer browsing experience with parental controls; and adults get fewer annoyances across the sites they use every day. What people appreciate most is that it runs quietly in the background. There’s no pop-up nagging, no complicated security dashboard that needs constant tuning, and no learning curve.

If you’re looking for a simple, affordable way to protect everyone’s devices while making the internet feel faster and less chaotic, this deal is one of the easiest wins of the season. Don’t miss grabbing lifetime access to AdGuard’s Family Plan while it’s just $18.97 (reg. $169.99) through Nov. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: If you’re tired of switching between different AI apps, the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan gives you a single lifetime workspace powered by all the industry-leading models for just $74.97 (reg. $540).

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $74.97
$540 Save $465.03   Get Deal

If you’ve ever tried to keep up with all the different AI platforms, you know how messy it can get. One app handles writing. Another can edit images. A different one processes audio. And don’t forget the video editor. Plus the PDF tool. Plus, the model that does translations. And on and on.

1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan basically puts an end to that AI chaos.

SEE ALSO: A new AI platform is giving lifetime access to ChatGPT, Gemini, and more

For a one-time payment of $74.97 (reg. $540), you get lifetime access to a single platform that brings together the top AI models — OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Anthropic’s Claude 3 family, Google Gemini, Meta’s Llama 3, Mistral, Cohere, and more — inside one interface that’s designed to actually streamline your work instead of giving you 12 more logins.

What makes it especially useful is that the platform doesn’t just offer chat. It offers tools — real tools — for the work people actually do every day.

You can generate blog posts, rewrite content, create brand-consistent social captions, run keyword research, summarize long PDFs, extract info from documents, make images, edit photos, clean up audio, and even work with video.

The best part? Because all these features are powered by multiple models, you can pick whichever one fits your task. Need factual precision? Try Claude Opus. Want a creative brainstorm? Use GPT-4o. Need speed? Haiku or Gemini Pro are good options.

And since the subscription is lifetime, you’re not crossing your fingers waiting for a renewal discount next year.

Pick up lifetime access to the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan while it’s just $74.97 (reg. $540).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Arduino boards are a popular choice for DIY electronics, but it's not always clear how to get started with building projects and programming. There's now one more solution to that problem: a new starter kit built around the UNO R4 Wi-Fi board.

Cloudflare suffered a major outage on Nov. 18, and it took many major platforms down with it. OpenAI, Spotify, X, and Canva were among just some of the websites and services that went down Tuesday morning.

Feel like you're experiencing deja vu? Well, you're not. 

The recent Cloudflare outage is not to be confused with the recent Microsoft Azure outage, which resulted in Xbox, Minecraft, and other platforms going down. And don't forget the other major incident that occurred in October, when issues at Amazon Web Services (AWS) led to Amazon, Reddit, Snapchat, and other big platforms going offline. It's also completely separate from the June outage, when Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Cloudflare took down swaths of the internet

OK, so the internet's biggest websites and platforms have been going down a lot lately. What's going on here? 

Why do so many websites go down at the same time?

Those big social media platforms, e-commerce websites, and gaming networks are all using the same few major service providers to host and deliver their content, with Cloudflare being one of them.

Cloudflare is one of the largest Content Delivery Networks (CDN), which is a system that manages web traffic. When Cloudflare functions normally, it manages web traffic and protects platforms from attacks.

"CDNs are distributed infrastructures that accelerate content delivery and enhance user experience by caching and serving web content closer to users," explained Angelique Medina, Head of Internet Intelligence at the network intelligence company Cisco ThousandEyes, to Mashable. "They essentially serve as the 'front door' to websites and applications, with users connecting to Cloudflare’s servers instead of those of its customers."

"When this 'front door' becomes unavailable, users lose the entry point to many sites and applications," Medina said. "Given the large number of customers and sites that they service, any meaningful disruption in their ability to deliver content could effectively render large parts of the internet unreachable to users."

Basically, the internet has consolidated, and we're all reaping the rewards of that consolidation.

“This isn’t just another technical setback," said Ramutė Varnelytė, CEO of IPXO, a leading IP resource management platform in Europe, in a statement provided to Mashable. "It’s further proof of how exposed [the] digital economy is to various malfunctions in just a few of the digital infrastructure service providers."

Are internet outages occurring more frequently?

Back in the earlier days of the internet, there were countless web hosting providers, and many companies even ran their own dedicated servers. Now, companies big and small are all utilizing the same few cloud service providers, whether it be AWS, GCP, or Azure. Cloudflare makes the internet even more vulnerable to disruption, as the company has no one-to-one direct competitor.

"The incident further emphasizes the inherent danger of the entire internet infrastructure relying on a few service providers," Varnelytė said.

But, is that it? And are these services really going down more than usual? According to Cisco ThousandEyes, which tracks outages and maps them, that's correct. Web downtime is actually not happening more than usual, even if it seems that way.

"Cisco ThousandEyes has not seen an increase in the frequency of service outages in cloud and other Internet infrastructure providers; however, the number of sites and applications dependent on these services has increased," Medina shared. "Because these services are increasingly a point of centralization — with a small number of companies handling large swaths of the Internet — if something goes wrong, it can lead to the disruption of many sites and applications around the globe."

In short, the number of disruptions isn't increasing. Rather, the shockwaves of individual incidents are getting bigger.

Self-hosting and homelabbing can be a great way to save money on subscriptions and reduce how much you depend on big tech companies for your essential services.

You don't need to pay to have something read out loud to you. The free tier of ChatGPT can read any text aloud in an impressively natural way. You can do it on your phone or desktop, and you're not limited to how long the text can be.

Meta has emerged victorious in its years-long legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission, which accused the company of maintaining an illegal monopoly over social networking.

In an opinion released Tuesday, Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., ruled that the FTC failed to prove its case. The agency first filed the lawsuit five years ago, arguing that Meta's ownership of Instagram and WhatsApp gave it outsized control over the market. But Boasberg wrote that even if Meta once held monopoly power, the FTC could not show that the company still "continues to hold such power now."

SEE ALSO: Apple rebukes Elon Musk’s App Store monopoly claims

Boasberg previously dismissed the case in 2021, saying the FTC did not provide enough evidence that Facebook, as the company was then known, had market power. The FTC later filed an amended complaint citing user metrics and comparisons to competitors like Snapchat, Google+, and MySpace, allowing the case to move forward. The long-delayed trial finally began earlier this year.

Meta's chief legal officer, Jennifer Newstead, praised the ruling in a statement to outlets, saying, "The Court's decision today recognizes that Meta faces fierce competition. Our products are beneficial for people and businesses and exemplify American innovation and economic growth."

At the center of the case were Meta's high-profile acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC sought to unwind both deals and argued that users lacked meaningful alternatives to Meta-owned platforms for connecting with friends and family.

But Boasberg sided with Meta's position that the social media landscape has transformed dramatically since the early Facebook era. Apps like TikTok and YouTube now compete for the same time, attention, and content, undercutting the government's monopoly claim.

"While each of Meta's empirical showings can be quibbled with, they all tell a consistent story: people treat TikTok and YouTube as substitutes for Facebook and Instagram, and the amount of competitive overlap is economically important," Boasberg wrote.

Large speakers, to put it bluntly, are a pain. They're difficult to find just the right place for, and it's even worse if you are in a small space. Smart speakers can be a decent solution, but their designs may not be to everyone's tastes. Sure, a black or white speaker is the norm, but it can still look bad sitting on a shelf, especially if your decor is set up in a way that's less tech-focused.

GitHub is the world's biggest software development platform and code repository, and right now it's having some problems. Even though the GitHub site and most web functions are working as intended, Git operations are failing for many people.