IT General

There's moment in Fallout Season 2 that isn't directly an ode to the late, great David Lynch but it absolutely, 100 percent is.

In the very first episode of the second chapter, there's a fleeting scene that Twin Peaks fans might find unexpectedly heartwarming in the middle of this forsaken Wasteland. And it involves a damn fine cup of coffee.

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout 2' is full of game details. Here's a handy guide.

Late in Season 2, episode 1 of the TV adaptation of Bethesda's Fallout game franchise, we meet up with former Vault 33 overseer Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) who has trudged across the Nevada desert in T-60 power armor all the way to a massive underground Vault-Tec tower. It's completely devoid of life, instead a silent shell of a pristine office building.

Plus, Hank's got over 400,000 unread messages to attend to — it's been at least 200 years since anyone's checked them. With an aim for caffeination and his golden Pip Boy strapped on, Hank makes himself a pot of coffee and takes a sip — and if you don't think MacLachlan's character is about to remark that it's a "damn fine cup of coffee," you need to watch more Twin Peaks.

Featured Video For You What tech would the 'Fallout' cast steal from the show?

In this scene, MacLachlan could very well be paying tribute to his longtime friend and Twin Peaks/Blue Velvet/Dune director, who died at 78 in January this year. The actor has long been synonymous with the phrase after playing Agent Dale Cooper in Lynch's iconic mystery series. The FBI special agent insists on taking a moment for his daily brew, and giving oneself a daily present while investigating horrific crimes, preferring "two cups of good, hot black coffee" for himself.

While Hank doesn't actually utter the words despite subtle "say the line, Bart," teasing, there's definitely a smile and a pause — enough for Lynch fans to fill in the famous line themselves.

If you're a U.S.-based TikTok user who was anxiously counting down the days until the social media app was banned on Dec. 16, 2025, then there's good news. Christmas came early — you can start counting down the days until Jan. 23 instead.

Dec. 16 was, in theory, the latest deadline for TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, to wrap up a sale of its U.S. business. That was supposed to happen by law (the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act of 2024, if you're feeling formal) on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025; in fact, there was a brief shutdown.

The deadline has been extended four times, via executive order, since the Trump administration gained power on that date. The first delay took us to April 4, 2025. On that date, another executive order gave ByteDance until June 19, 2025 to sell. Then, guess what: a June 19 executive order pushed the deadline back until Dec. 16, 2025.

In the meantime, we seem to be no closer to a TikTok sale. By multiple accounts, negotiations have become bogged down, in part because the Chinese government takes a dim view of the U.S. strong-arming one of its companies and views the deal as leverage. Not to mention that a constantly-extended deadline isn't a real deadline at all.

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

Trump, who has repeatedly drawn attention to his own following on TikTok, may appear like he's tactically delaying the ban. But he's also keen to take credit for the possibility of a sale, and it doesn't exactly take an international diplomacy expert to see weaknesses in this game of hardball. You just have to know one of 2025's most popular political truisms: TACO.

Indeed, on Sept. 25, Trump issued another executive order directing the U.S. Attorney General to take "no action for noncompliance" against TikTok for "120 days from the date of this order" — which brings us to Jan. 23, 2026. Why? Because, Trump wrote, "a plan has been presented to me to undergo a qualified divestiture of TikTok’s United States operations."

That plan was said to involve a $14 billion sale of the U.S. arm of TikTok to a consortium including Oracle, which is led by Trump backer Larry Ellison. But no further details have materialized, and the Chinese government insists the sale isn't going ahead — leading to widespread confusion.

So will TikTok be officially banned in the U.S. on Jan. 23, 2026, 368 days after the original ban was said to go ahead? Your guess is as good as ours — but given the evidence of the past year, it probably wouldn't be wise to bet your life savings on it.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime of MagellanTV subscription access for $139.97, its lowest price to date, and explore thousands of ad-free documentaries across history, science, crime, nature, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription $139.97
$999 Save $859.03   Get Deal

If you’ve run out of documentaries on mainstream platforms, consider this price drop on a MagellanTV lifetime subscription. The service specializes in documentaries across history, science, nature, crime, and space, and it’s currently available for $139.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time.

MagellanTV is dedicated to documentaries, not sitcoms or reality shows. Every section is curated for viewers who prefer learning over laugh tracks. The library features more than 4,000 films and series, with playlists focused on major events, scientific discoveries, ancient history, and true crime investigations.

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MagellanTV works across mobile, desktop, and most smart TVs, and supports casting with Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, and other compatible devices. The platform is ad-free, with new documentaries added every week, making it a practical plus for viewers who go through content quickly.

If you want even more control over what you watch, MagellanTV’s built-in collections can help narrow down big topics into structured routes — like multi-part space exploration series, deep looks at ancient civilizations, or crime investigations that span decades. It’s the kind of platform that rewards curiosity, whether you’re watching occasionally or streaming something new every night.

The lifetime subscription, defined as 75 years of access, is most valuable for frequent documentary watchers, households that lean toward factual programming, or those already juggling multiple streaming services. Accounts support up to five devices, and purchasers have 30 days to redeem the code after purchase.

For viewers who have already worked through popular history and science series on mainstream platforms, MagellanTV offers a more specialized alternative for a one-time payment.

For compelling, fact-filled TV time, MagellanTV brings learning to your screen.

Sign up for MagellanTV now at its lowest price ever, $139.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time.

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Some people possess an innate talent for finding gifts on a budget. No matter the occasion (Christmas, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day) or recipient (wife, husband, boyfriend, teens, in-laws), they somehow nail it every time — winning the unofficial "best gift-giver" award among those who are lucky to know them. If you're not the most intuitive gift-giver, fear not. We've put together a list of the best gift ideas for under $50, from expected-but-useful stocking stuffers to cool items they definitely don't have yet. These unique budget-friendly gift ideas span such a variety of categories that you're bound to find something up their alley. You might even catch a few on sale.

ChatGPT Images doesn’t roll off the tongue like Nano Banana, but OpenAI finally has an answer for Google's uber-popular AI image editor. The company's "new flagship image generation model" is available now in ChatGPT Images and in the API under the model name GPT Image 1.5.

OpenAI has been on a tear recently, in fact. The company, which was rumored to be in a “code red” state following the launch of Google Gemini 3, launched GPT-5.2 last week. Today, OpenAI continues its counterattack against Google’s newfound momentum in the AI space with a rather large update to ChatGPT Images, promising to generate better images, edit images more effectively, and do so more quickly. 

“Whether you’re creating something from scratch or editing a photo, you’ll get the output you’re picturing,” OpenAI says in its announcement post. “It makes precise edits while keeping details intact, and generates images up to 4x faster.”

In addition to the update, which does not appear to have a catchy name like Google’s Nano Banana, OpenAI also launched a new Images tab within the ChatGPT app and browser. In addition to being a dedicated space to create images, the new ChatGPT Images also acts as a sort of discovery and brainstorming feed to give you ideas of what to create. OpenAI says that the new feature is “designed to make image generation delightful — to spark inspiration and make creative exploration effortless.”

SEE ALSO: These 6 Nano Banana Pro prompts are wild with the Gemini 3 upgrade

For general performance, the latest update seems like a refinement rather than something totally new. OpenAI says the new ChatGPT Image model will be more reliable, adhere better to user intent, and keep details more consistent across multiple outputs. That last bit has been a bit of a meme in the AI user community, and many have tried the 100x ChatGPT image trend to see what they come up with. 

OpenAI’s announcement post includes the full list of updates with GPT Image 1.5, plus some impressive examples of the new image model at work.

ChatGPT Images vs. Nano Banana

Nano Banana is the nickname for Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, Google's AI image generator. The tool has proven remarkably capable as a fast and easy-to-use AI image editor, and as its popularity has grown, Google has integrated it into Gemini, Google Photos, Search, and Messages. So, how does the new ChatGPT Images compare?

It took all of about 10 minutes, but GPT-Image-1.5 immediately took first place on LMArena’s Text-to-Image leaderboard, bumping Nano Banana Pro to second place. However, real-world examples so far have been a little mixed. 

I asked both Nano Banana and the new ChatGPT Images to edit the same photo, and received very similar results.

Using the same prompt and image, I asked both models to edit a photo of my car from nighttime to daytime.

The original image Credit: Joe Hindy

While both models earn a passing grade, Google's version looks better to my eye.

Left: The result from Nano Banana. Credit: Joe Hindy / Google Gemini Right: The result from ChatGPT Images. Credit: Joe Hindy / OpenAI How to try the new ChatGPT Images

Per OpenAI, the update is rolling out as we speak to all users, so it should be available to try immediately. In short, all you need to do is head to ChatGPT and look for the new Images tab. You can find the tool at chatgpt.com/images. As per usual, free users will have very limited access.

The new image model is also available in the OpenAI API, and you can check the pricing on the OpenAI website. So, developers and people with their own AI tools can start using it right away.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The successful Fallout TV series, based on the game of the same name, is back for season two as of December 16, 2025. Amazon did well to stick the landing last time around, so we’re looking forward to sinking our teeth into the next batch of episodes.

The artificial intelligence boom has become truly unavoidable, even for those who don't use AI in their daily lives at all.

Case in point: The world of personal computers, especially laptops and smartphones.

We're in the midst of a worldwide memory shortage, due in large part to the sudden explosion of AI data centers around the world and their enormous demand for these computer components. That's sparked an ongoing shortage of crucial hardware such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), Samsung DDR5 RAM, and SSDs. As a result, smartphone prices could rise 6.9 percent in 2026, according to a CNBC report on the memory shortage.

Now, Samsung has reportedly doubled the contract price of DDR5 memory drives. At the same time, Framework, makers of easily repairable, enthusiast-centric machines, just doubled prices on those exact components. And as suppliers hike prices on memory hardware, device manufacturers will most likely pass that cost onto consumers, experts say.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Forget the em dash — Redditors share 6 giveaways that something was written by AI

Samsung is hardly the only brand affected by the memory shortage. HP has warned that it will have to raise prices on its PCs starting next year because there just isn't enough memory to go around, per our colleagues at PCMag. The same goes for Lenovo and Dell, according to PC Gamer. In fact, RAM is in such short supply that some analysts are predicting laptop makers will push more low-performance 8GB RAM laptops on consumers in 2026 out of necessity. Either way, customers lose.

Additionally, it doesn't seem like there's an end date on any of this. Despite recent fears over an AI bubble, the AI industry is hardly slowing down. The need for more data centers could be indefinite, as far as anyone can tell.

All of this is to say that if you want a new laptop or PC, or even just parts for a PC, you better get to shopping now. That DDR5 RAM you need might cost a whole lot more in just a few months.

Steam Replay 2025 has released, giving players a detailed look back at their massive gaming hours from the past year. This annual wrap-up, which Valve first introduced in late 2022, has become a key moment for gamers. It's a good way to see where your free time went, at least.

From radroaches to deathclaws, there are a lot of things in Fallout that I'm happy don't exist in real life. But there are several elements of its sci-fi technology that I wouldn't mind having around for day-to-day use. Who wouldn't want a handy-dandy Pip-Boy on their wrist?

However, the cast and showrunner of Fallout have their own ideas about what technology they'd steal from the series.

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout' Season 2 review: Our introduction to New Vegas is a blast, and more relevant than ever

In an interview with Mashable, Fallout co-creator and showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet revealed she would steal cold fusion, the revolutionary, limitless power source introduced at the end of Season 1. That technology continues to play a big role in Season 2, as the forces of the wasteland jockey to control it — and the fate of the world.

Meanwhile, Aaron Moten, who plays Brotherhood of Steel Knight Maximus, would choose an item that's very on-brand for his character: the T-60 power armor suit.

"Just for getting groceries, or walking the dog," Moten joked. "Just the simple things in life, where you want to be impervious."

Walton Goggins, who plays the Ghoul/Cooper Howard, opted for a different route entirely.

"I don't like technology, you know? A phone depresses me. I'm going to be the only person to just say nothing," Goggins said. "You can have it, you can keep it! I don't want to live in that world!"

The response sounds like it came straight from Cooper Howard's mouth. "He avoids technology for sure," Goggins said. "He's an analog guy, which I think makes him so appealing, at least to me, anyway."

To learn more about the Fallout cast's technology of choice, and their favorite Fallout creatures, check out the full video above.

Fallout Season 2 premieres Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with a new episode every week.

AMD has just launched FSR Redstone, a collection of features made of machine-learning-based upscaling and frame generation, along with two other components—Ray Regeneration and Radiance Caching—that aim to improve ray tracing quality and performance. FSR Redstone looks promising, but not all's rosy.

Whether you’re heading home for the holidays or heading overseas for an epic ski vacation, when getting prepped for travel, you’re usually more concerned with having enough underwear and socks than with what’s on your phone if there’s a delay or cancellation at the airport.

Be honest now: how many random thumb drives do you have lying around the house? What about external SSDs?

Arguably, the biggest hurdle to switching from iPhone to Android is transferring all your stuff. It’s painless moving from iPhone to iPhone, but changing platforms is a different story. Oddly enough, Apple is taking steps to make it easier. You read that correctly.

Google just rolled out CC, a new experimental AI productivity agent powered by Gemini, designed to help you organize your daily life right from your inbox. This new tool comes straight out of Google Labs and should handle tasks and appointments.

Heading into 2026, new-car prices are high enough to make many buyers think twice. While used cars may seem like the safer bet, there are still some surprisingly affordable new options out there.

This season, you can jam to your favorite music with Spotify's holiday offerings, from playlists and festive mixes to features built to help you throw a perfect party. Whether you're collaborating with friends or crafting a curated playlist, Spotify has you covered.

SAVE $100: As of Dec. 16, the De'Longhi 15-bar manual espresso machine is on sale for only $99.95 at Amazon. That's a 50% price drop and its lowest cost to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi 15-Bar Manual Espresso Machine $99.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $100.00   Get Deal

Most espresso machines come with major sticker shock, so finding one for under $100 is a huge deal. Whether you're looking for a last-minute gift for less than $100 or you want to treat yourself, this De'Longhi espresso maker is on sale at Amazon for its best price ever.

Typically $199.95, which is already a pretty solid price for a countertop espresso maker, the De'Longhi ECP3630 manual espresso machine is on sale for only $99.95 at Amazon as of Dec. 16. That's 50% off and the lowest price we've ever seen on this model, beating its Black Friday price by a long shot.

While it's not loaded with extra bells and whistles, this sleek and compact espresso machine will definitely get the job done. And by job, I mean pumping out piping hot quality cups of caffeine on your countertop. It's equipped with an Italian 15-bar pump, a premium adjustable frother, and adjustable controls to modify to your taste preferences. There's no major learning curve like bigger, fancier machines. Choose from single or double espresso and select your milk setting, then create your own authentic coffeehouse favorite at home.

Everyone knows a coffee addict. This could be the perfect gift for that person in your life and it won't set you back hundreds if not thousands of dollars like some espresso makers would. Less than $100 for at-home daily espresso? That's just 33 double shots of espresso at Starbucks, to put it in perspective.

SAVE $90: On Dec. 16 only, the 15-inch touchscreen Skylight Calendar is on sale for $229.99 as the Best Buy drop of the day. That beats its $249.99 Black Friday price by $20 — get the rare deal in the Best Buy app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skylight Skylight Calendar 15-inch smart touchscreen calendar and chore chart $229.99
$319.99 Save $90 Find savings in the Best Buy app Get Deal

The best gift for a parent is ultimately the gift of less chaos. You could buy them AirTags, offer to watch their kids, or send them on a vacation. The ultra-helpful digital Skylight Calendar is one of Mashable's top gift ideas for moms and dads, and it's $90 off at Best Buy as the Dec. 16 drop of the day.

At $229.99 on Dec. 16 only, Best Buy's price beats the record-low $249.99 price tag we saw at Amazon during Black Friday. The 15-inch Skylight Calendar is currently full price ($319.99) at Amazon, so this near-$100 savings is rare.

You'll only see the sale price on the Best Buy mobile app (Best Buy drops don't show up in a web browser.) From there, you can add it to your cart and check out like usual. The catch is that all Best Buy drops have a limited inventory, with a live status bar keeping track of the percentage left. As of 12:15 p.m. ET, 75% inventory was left for the Skylight Calendar.

SEE ALSO: Last minute gift ideas: Save 15% on 15+ e-gift cards from Uber, Crumbl, Hulu, a ton more

Skylight can sync with Google, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo, and Cozi calendars to streamline schedules of multiple people to one communal device. Appointments, meetings, events, weekly chores, and even grocery lists can also be added right from the Skylight app, even if something pops up while you're not home. Everything can be labeled and color-coded for each member of the household.

But busy parents aren't the sole target audience for the Skylight Calendar — it's a life hack for literally anyone with a lot going on. Mashable contributor Jae Thomas, who is a journalist and editor, a dog trainer, and who works at a kennel one day per week, instantly felt more organized after bringing a Skylight Calendar into the weekly mix.

Thomas can confirm that yes, having a central hub like the Skylight is a worthwhile upgrade over merely sharing a Google Calendar with someone. "I find myself getting little hits of dopamine when I check things off my to-do lists, and it's easier for me and my partner to stay in sync on where we'll both be during the week. I truly wish I had this when we were sharing a car — it would have saved us many arguments and miscommunications about scheduling."

As 2025 comes to a close, there are certain iPhone accessories that I’ve used far more than others. While not all of these came out in 2025, these are my four favorite iPhone accessories.

SAVE $100.01: As of Dec. 16, get the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $599.98, down from its usual price of $699.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 14%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $599.98 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $100.01   Get Deal

Here's one indelible truth: No one enjoys spending all their time cleaning their floors. It's a thankless task, and it's one that always needs to be done if you want to keep a tidy house. Thankfully these days we have robot vacuums that can handle it all for you. If you're ready to offload all your cleaning tasks, you'll want to recruit these gadgets to do so.

As of Dec. 16, get the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $599.98, down from its usual price of $699.99 at Amazon. That's $100.01 off and a discount of 14%.

SEE ALSO: 7 gadgets to help keep your home clean, from robot vacuums to electric scrubbers

This Shark combination robot vacuum and mop can handle just about anything you ask of it. It has powerful suction for vacuuming through dirt, debris, and hair, and it can also mop up tough stains. It uses NeverStuck technology to help lift it over obstacles and across thresholds, and keeps the mopping pad held above carpets to avoid issues with getting water everywhere, too.

When your robot's reservoir is full, it can handle itself there, too, emptying its debris into a 60-day capacity bin and refilling its own water tank for up o 30 days. It also washes and dries its mopping pad afer every time it runs. That means minimal interactions with you so all you have to do is set a schedule and let it go.

With LiDAR mapping, a 3D sensor, schedule-making, and targeted cleaning options, you don't even have to figure out how best for your vacuum and mop combo to tackle messes. Just sit back, relax, and watch it go. And be glad this is no longer something you have to worry about actually doing.