IT General

Windows 11's newest bug just made signing in so much harder

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 22:25

Windows 11 users are getting a frustrating new bug that completely hides the password sign-in option on the lock screen, making it incredibly difficult to log into their PCs. This isn't a total lockout, but it's certainly a massive headache if you use a real password.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why do some phones use these weird fast-charging USB cables?

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 22:00

For the longest time, smartphone battery life was a real issue. I remember my first few smartphones basically traveling with me from charger to charger. They would charge at my desk, charge in my car, and charge next to my couch. While phone battery life is now much better, the real revolution has come from fast-charging.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why do some phones use these weird fast-charging USB cables?

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 22:00

For the longest time, smartphone battery life was a real issue. I remember my first few smartphones basically traveling with me from charger to charger. They would charge at my desk, charge in my car, and charge next to my couch. While phone battery life is now much better, the real revolution has come from fast-charging.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best DJI deals still live after Black Friday: Record-low deals on mics, drones, power stations

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 21:49
The best Black Friday DJI deals at a glance: Best mic deal DJI Mic Mini $66 (save $53) Get Deal Best drone deal DJI Mini 4K Drone Combo $309 (save $80) Get Deal Best pocket camera deal DJI Osmo Pocket 3 $529 (save $270) Get Deal

Black Friday has come and gone again this year, but there's no shortage of discounts on premium tech now that it's time for Cyber Monday to take the spotlight. But the deals started even before the shopping events did. In fact, since the start of the month, we've been seeing a wide range of early-access deals on big brands like DJI. If you're looking for premium, DJI is a good place to start.

DJI features heavily in Black Friday sales, especially with the sale just a few days away. So far, I spotted discounts on the DJI Mic Mini, the DJI Osmo 360 camera, and the DJI Air 3 drone, just to name a few popular products. As Mashable has reported, a total ban on DJI drones in the United States could be implemented by the end of the year. With that uncertainty floating in the air, heavy discounts on DJI are needed now more than ever.

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the looming DJI drone ban in the United States

I've tracked down several DJI deals that have caught my eye for Black Friday and are still gong strong as of the weekend ahead of Cyber Monday. Check out my top picks below:

Editor's note: Currently, many DJI products are unavailable in the United States through official retailers, which is why we've included deals from third-party sellers at Amazon.

DJI Mic Mini

The DJI Mic Mini is a product that Mashable's tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, considers to be among the best Black Friday tech deals available right now. This wireless mic, which is a huge hit with content creators, has a helpful magnetic attachment that can be clipped onto a shirt. Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard also tested out the mic, and determined, "If you need any degree of portability with your mic setup, the DJI Mic Mini offers a lot of versatility, and for a great value. That makes it a solid option for making vlogs and TikToks, and for anyone who feels less than confident with their tech skills — once I plugged the receiver into my phone, the mics connected easily and started working with the camera app automatically."

This particular offer comes as a bundle which includes two DJI Mic Mini TX, one RX, and a few additional accessories.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX) $66 at Amazon
$119 Save $53   Get Deal DJI Osmo 360 Camera

If you're a content creator looking to add an action camera to your setup, this discount on the DJI Osmo 360 is well worth a look. Whether you're capturing footage during the day or night, it can support 8K/30fps videos for up to 100 minutes and offers plenty of space to hold everything (105GB of built-in storage, to be exact). Plus, it launched just earlier this summer, making this nearly $200 markdown especially impressive. (It's also out of stock on DJI's website.)

It even has a waterproof and cold-resistant design that's built to handle a variety of elements, so you don't have to worry about it getting damaged on shoot. This bundle comes with the Osmo 360 camera, an Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus (1950 mAh), a protective pouch, a lens cleaning cloth, a USB-C to USB-C PD cable, and a rubber lens protector.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo 360 Camera Standard Combo $357.49 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $192.50   Get Deal DJI Mini 4K Drone Combo

Drone deals are something the Mashable team is keeping a close eye on over Black Friday, and DJI is no exception. One of the best we spotted so far is on the DJI Mini 4K Drone Combo.

Mashable's team had hoped to see the Mini 4K drone go on sale, and while it did briefly drop down to $239, it has since gone back up to $299. However, if you're able to invest a bit more, the combo set is $80 off for Prime members, and comes with a shoulder bag, two batteries, and a propeller holder, making it more convenient to take on the go (and giving you an additional 31 minutes of battery life over the non-combo version). You'll also get access to the same 4K video and three-axis gimbal stabilization you would on the cheaper drone.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Drone Combo $309 at Amazon
$389 Save $80   Get Deal DJI Osmo Action 4

If you're looking for a cheaper action camera than the one listed above, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is also on sale right now at Amazon. It features a 155-degree FOV that supports up to 4K/60fps video recording and also features a durable build that's waterproof up to 18 meters and can handle cooler temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit). No matter where you decide to take it, this little camera is ready for the adventure.

This Standard Combo will set you up with the DJI Osmo Action 4, a battery, a quick-release adapter mount, a horizontal-vertical protective frame, a curved adhesive base, an Osmo locking screw, a Type-C to Type-C PD cable, a lens hood, an anti-slip pad, and a DJI logo sticker.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo $209 at Amazon
$299 Save $90   Get Deal DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station

A good portable power station can go a long way, and this is one of our favorites. We consider the DJI Power 2000 to be the best portable power station for content creators, as it "proved its worth as a multi-tasker, charging up a phone and camera battery and cooking dinner in the air fryer at the same time." It is currently sporting a nice coupon on Amazon, so you can save during Black Friday.

It's normally listed for $1,299, but this Black Friday deal shaves its price nearly in half, bringing it down to $699 (which amounts to a 47% discount). If you're a content creator or someone looking to have backup power at home or on the go, this powerhouse is a worthy pickup with its 15 ports and expansion up to 22.5kWh.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station $699 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $600   Get Deal DJI Osmo Pocket 3

For content creators shopping around over Black Friday, this is another camera deal to check out before the main event. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 vlogging camera features a one-inch CMOS sensor that can record up to 4K resolution videos at 120fps. It even features a touchscreen that can be rotated so you can choose to shoot horizontally or vertically.

There's a lot in this bundle to get you started. The camera comes with a protective cover, wrist strap, a handle with a 1/4-inch thread, and a Type-C to Type-C PD cable.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Vlogging Camera $529.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $269.01   Get Deal DJI RS 4 Mini Gimbal Stabilizer

If you're filming frequently, it's important to keep the camera you're using steady as you capture. The DJI RS 4 Mini Gimbal Stabilizer can help with that, and it's currently discounted at Amazon for Black Friday. This stabilizer can support mirrorless cameras, vlog cameras, and phones up to 2kg/4.4lbs. It also comes with everything you need to get started, including the DJI RS 4 Mini gimbal, a tripod, a quick-release plate, an L-shaped multi-camera control cable, a USB-C charging cable, and a screw kit.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI RS 4 Mini Gimbal Stabilizer $289 at Amazon
$369 Save $80   Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

The weird world of Kindle page-turner remotes

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 21:00

So you buy a Kindle and you think to yourself, "I sure would like to turn the pages from way over here, surely there's a solution for that?" Well, to my personal surprise, I have recently learned both that people who want to turn eReader pages at a distance exist (it makes sense when you think about it) and that Kindles in particular have no elegant way of achieving this goal. Hence, the existence of weird and wacky "Kindle page turners."

Categories: IT General, Technology

50+ of the best Black Friday TV deals still live: Samsung, LG, TCL, and Hisense at record lows

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 20:44

Don't have time to read a bunch of paragraphs? Use the table of contents dropdown to skip to the best TV deals in list form, categorized by retailer and size.

The best Black Friday TV deals still live: Best small TV deal Amazon 32-inch 2-Series Smart Fire TV $99.99 (save $50) Get Deal BEST 50-inch TV deal Hisense 50-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $199.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best 55-inch TV deal Hisense 55-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $499.99 (save $800) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $899.99 (save $1,600) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal TCL 75-inch QM6K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $697.99 (save $302) Get Deal Best giant TV deal Hisense 100-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $2,197.99 (save $1,300) Get Deal Best deal on The Frame Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV $897.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best OLED TV Deal Samsung 65-Inch S95F 4K OLED Smart TV $2,299.99 (save $1,000 + get a free $100 gift card) Get Deal

It's officially the best time of year to buy a TV. And you don't even have to wake up at 2 a.m., ready to throw fists in a Walmart. There are so many record-low Black Friday TV deals still live across the internet now that all of the big TV destinations like Amazon and Best Buy have officially kicked off their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales.

SEE ALSO: Streaming just got cheaper: Score Black Friday deals on HBO Max, Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and more

We're live tracking the best Black Friday deals on TVs every day through Cyber Monday. Find our recommendations organized by retailer and size below, including a heads up if a highlighted model has already sold out at another retailer (in other words, grab it ASAP). There's still plenty of time to shop with all these discounts live and ready to go, but you'll want to pounce if you don't want to miss out!

Psst: If you're not sure what to do with your old TV, you can recycle it at most Best Buy stores for free.

Best Black Friday deal on a small TV Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 32-inch 2-Series Smart Fire TV $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal Why we like it

While this mini TV won't win any awards for its display, it has all the essentials you need in an extra TV. So, if you're looking for a TV for your bedroom, kitchen, or small apartment, consider this popular Amazon TV. It's hard to argue with a $99.99 price tag, which seems like a mistake in the era of inflation and tariffs. The 2-series uses the Fire TV OS to get you connected to streaming services like Apple TV and HBO Max, and it comes with an Alexa voice remote.

Best Black Friday 50-inch TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 50-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $199.99 at Best Buy
$329.99 Save $130 Sold out at Amazon Get Deal Why we like it

This deal really highlights why we love the Hisense TV brand so much: you can get a QLED 4K TV for under $200. The QD6 model is a well-rounded budget TV that utilizes the Fire TV platform and features built-in Alexa, as well as Dolby Vision HDR and DTS Virtual X audio for better picture quality and crisper sound. It won't wow you quite like a premium QLED would, but you'll still notice a difference from the quantum dots — particularly when watching in the daytime. This 50-inch model is great for smaller living rooms, bedrooms, and apartments, and at $199.99, it's beating its Prime Day price by nearly $40 at Best Buy.

Best Black Friday 65-inch TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $899.99 at Best Buy
$2,499.99 Save $1,600.00   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not sure what size TV to get, we consider 65 inches to be the sweet spot for most folks. And our top pick for most people is TCL's QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV, thanks to its impressive brightness, stellar picture quality, contrast, shadow detail, and budget-conscious pricing.

"While this intensity of brightness makes the QM8K a solid choice for watching TV in daylight, its more-precise-than-usual backlights keep details crisp in a dark room. The new anti-halo effect is an effective fix for some of the blooming its predecessor experienced," Mashable's Leah Stodart notes. It's typically a $2,500 TV, but this Black Friday deal at Best Buy has dropped the cost of the 65-inch model down below $900. Amazon has the same model listed for $2 less, but as it comes from a third-party seller, we're more inclined to go with Best Buy.

SEE ALSO: If dark scenes are too dark on your TV, play around with these settings Best Black Friday 75-inch+ TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 75-inch QM6K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $697.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $302 Sold out at Walmart and Best Buy Get Deal Why we like it

Walmart's excellent deal on the TCL QM6K TV, which our friends at CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed the "best TV under $1,000 in 2025," is currently unmatched at Amazon or Best Buy. It checks all the boxes you want in a new TV: impressive picture quality with vibrant colors, smooth streaming interface (via Google TV), a high refresh rate for gaming (144Hz), and a killer price tag. At $698, this Black Friday deal not only beats its Prime Day price by more than $50, but it marks a new record-low. It's not quite as impressive as its QM8K sibling, but the QM6K is "a stellar mini LED TV for the low-to-mid-tier price range," as our team pointed out in our roundup of the best TVs for 2025.

Best Black Friday deal on The Frame Art TV Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV $897.99 at Amazon
$1,197.99 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

We think the 2025 edition of The Frame, Samsung's cult-favorite art TV, is probably the best TV of the year on balance. While you can find premium LG and Samsung OLEDs with better displays, they will cost a lot more, and they lack the cool factor you get with The Frame. This art TV is ultra-thin, blending perfectly into your home decor. It also has a very unique matte, anti-glare display. Often imitated but never equaled, The Frame is truly special, and this is one of the year's best Black Friday tech deals so far.

More Black Friday deals on art TVsBest OLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch S95F OLED 4K TV $2,299.99 at Best Buy
$3,299.99 Save $1,000 Comes with a free $100 gift card Get Deal Why we like it

While we do think the LG C5 is the best OLED TV you can buy right now, it's not necessarily the best Black Friday OLED TV deal. For example, the $1,399.99 "sale price" on the 65-inch C5 at Best Buy looks like an incredible deal until you realize that that TV has been $1,399.99 at Amazon since October. (Camelcamelcamel spills the price history tea once again.)

In terms of legit record-low discounts, the 65-inch Samsung S95F OLED's $1,000 discount is new for Black Friday, and you'll get a free $100 Best Buy gift card on top of that. The S95F is still one of our top OLED recommendations, mostly due to its anti-glare matte finish that's highly effective in bright rooms.

SEE ALSO: What is camelcamelcamel? Just our secret weapon for finding the lowest prices on Amazon. More Black Friday TV deals at Best Buy43-inch to 50-inch TVs55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and upMore Black Friday TV deals at Walmart50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs70-inch TVs and upMore Black Friday TV deals at Amazon43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and up85-inch TVs and up
Categories: IT General, Technology

Beats Solo 4 are only $79 at Walmart — cheaper than anywhere else

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 20:41

SAVE $50: The gray Beats Solo 4 wireless headphones are on sale for $79 over at Walmart. This is $50 less than their list price and $120 less than every other Solo 4 model's MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo 4 wireless headphones in drenched gray $79 at Walmart
$129 Save $50 The drenched gray color is a Walmart-exclusive. It's currently $50 cheaper than any other color of Beats Solo 4. Get Deal

While Black Friday is over, you can still find some deals lingering around, like these Beats Solo 4 wireless headphones. These headphones are perfect for those who love a little extra punch of bass in their sound. The battery life lasts up to 50 hours, and a 10-minute fast charge gives up to five hours of extra playback time, so that your headphones will always have fuel for you to use.

The headphones are also incredibly comfortable as the ear cushions are soft, yet durable, making them ideal for long-term wear. The customizable sliders ensure that you’ll be able to adjust the headphones to fit. The spatial audio and dynamic head tracking features make your audio more immersive, too.

Not only will you receive the headphones, but you’ll also get a carry case, a USB-C cable for charging, and a 3.5mm analog audio cable if you’d like a wired connection. These Walmart-exclusive Beats Solo 4 are currently on sale for $79 instead of the listed $129. However, every other color has a $199.95 list price and is on sale for $129.95. So this deal is even better than it looks on paper.

Be sure to check out other deals from Black Friday, as there’s still plenty to go around, especially within tech.

Shop the best Black Friday headphones deals from Walmart.

Shop the best Black Friday headphones deals from Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Last chance: Dozens of Lego sets just dropped to record-lows at Amazon after Black Friday

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 20:35
Amazon Lego Black Friday deals that are still live at a glance Best holiday-themed Lego set Lego Santa's Sleigh $23.99 (save $16) Get Deal Best Lego Ideas deal Lego Ideas The Insect Collection $40 (save $39.99) Get Deal Best Lego Advent calendar deal Lego Disney Frozen Advent Calendar 2025 $24 (save $20.99) Get Deal Best Lego Botanicals deal Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Building Set $44.99 (save $20) Get Deal Best Lego deal for advanced builders Lego Icons PAC-Man Arcade Building Set $188.99 (save $81) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars deal Lego Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Battle Droid $89.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best Lego Harry Potter deal Lego Harry Potter Mandrake Figure & Pot Plant $40.99 (save $29) Get Deal Best Lego Minecraft deal Lego Minecraft The Ghast Balloon Village Attack $55.97 (save $14.02) Get Deal

Legos are some of our favorite deals to check up on during Black Friday. Not only do Lego sets make for excellent stocking stuffers, building a set with family and friends during holiday get-togethers is a quiet way to enjoy some time together.

Black Friday is technically over but that hasn't stopped the deals from rolling in. We're seeing new record-low prices on dozens of Lego sets, and some of them only dropped to new lows today — the day after Black Friday. We suggest jumping on these deals soon (like now) if you see something you like. Lego set deals have a tendency to disappear in an instant (sometimes before we can even hit publish on these articles) so don't delay.

Here some of Amazon's best Lego Black Friday deals that are still live.

Best holiday-themed Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Santa's Sleigh $23.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $16.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Lego Santa's Sleigh build is sure to add to the holiday decor this year. This 343-piece set is designed for builders aged nine and up and comes with delightful holiday details like Santa min-figure with his naughty and nice list and a sleigh packed with toys.

Best Lego Ideas deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas The Insect Collection $40 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $39.99 note potential delayed shipping Get Deal Why we like it

The Lego Insect Collection is one of those most delightful builds for anyone who enjoys nature. It includes three insects — a life-size blue morpho butterfly, Hercules beetle, and a Chinese mantis. This Lego set usually sells for $79.99 but it's down to just $40 at Amazon after Black Friday. This is a new all-time low price by a long shot.

More Lego deals at Amazon
Categories: IT General, Technology

Please stop using Amazon and Google to run your smart home

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 20:30

Google and Amazon are particularly good at selling the smart home vision, but these platforms have some big drawbacks, too. Consider switching to or starting out with a more capable and reliable alternative, which will save you money and frustration in the long run.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon warns of major Black Friday impersonation scam targeting millions of users

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 20:14

Amazon is alerting its more than 300 million active customers to a widespread impersonation scam ramping up during the holiday shopping season. According to new reporting from the Asbury Park Press, the scheme employs fake notifications, malicious links, and fraudulent websites to deceive shoppers into divulging sensitive information, such as financial details or Amazon account credentials.

SEE ALSO: Social media companies to be held liable for financial scams under new EU rules

As the outlet explains, Amazon described the fraud in a Nov. 24 email obtained by Forbes, warning that cybercriminals are "targeting Amazon users by reaching out to try and get access to sensitive information like personal or financial information, or Amazon account details." The scam relies heavily on browser notifications pushed through compromised or malicious websites — a tactic that has become increasingly common as shoppers flood the internet in search of Black Friday and holiday deals.

The scale of the problem is significant. The Asbury Park Press cites data from FortiGuard Labs, showing that more than 700 malicious holiday-themed domains have been registered in the last three months, many using keywords such as "Christmas," "Black Friday," and "Flash Sale" to lure unsuspecting shoppers. These sites are being used to launch a variety of scam attempts, including:

  • Fake delivery or “account issue” messages

  • Too-good-to-be-true third-party deals advertised on social media

  • Requests for payment or account information through unofficial channels

With Black Friday deals in full swing, Amazon says staying vigilant is the best defense.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Black Friday earbuds deals still live: Latest price drops on AirPods, Sony, and Bose earbuds

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 19:48

Though we've been seeing great deals all month, the Black Friday sales event is now extending into Cyber Weekend. And with it, the best deals of the season. Already, we've seen popular Black Friday deals start to drop away. The AirPods 4 with ANC for $99? Back up to $139. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)? Back up to $249 at Amazon, though Best Buy still has them for $216, but not for much longer.

While we saw some early Black Friday earbuds deals last week, Thanksgiving week has brought plenty more record prices, with Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target hosting sales. Walmart and Amazon have the Apple AirPods 4 down to a new record-low of $69, Walmart had the AirPods Pro 2 down to $139 (they're now $199), and Amazon brought back its classic $35 Echo Buds with ANC deal (and it's already sold out). More premium releases are on sale too: The new second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are down to $249, and the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 are getting a rare markdown, hitting their lowest price ever at $222.99.

Best Black Friday earbuds deals at a glance: Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $249 (save $50) Get Deal Best open earbuds deal Shokz OpenDot One $139.95 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 $107.99 at Amazon (save $72) Get Deal Best AirPods Deal Apple AirPods 4 $69 (save $60) Get Deal Best Sony Earbuds Deal Sony WF-C710N $78 (save $51.99) Get Deal Budget Pick Raycon Everyday Earbuds $55.99 (save $24) Get Deal SEE ALSO: Mashable will send the best Black Friday deals directly to your phone — how it works

In this story, you'll find the best Black Friday deals still live on earbuds, including noise-cancelling earbuds, sleep earbuds, and sports buds. We'll continue updating this post through Cyber Monday, so check back if you're looking for more earbuds savings.

Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $216 at Amazon
$299 Save $83   Get Deal Why we like it

The second-gen Bose QC Ultra earbuds dropped this past September and got their first discount by the end of the same month, with a nearly $83 price cut. While they dropped to their lowest price yet on Black Friday, they're back at their $216 price from November. With their rich sound, excellent noise cancellation, and nearly unbeatable comfort, they're certainly a premium earbud, and on sale, an absolutely great value.

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

More noise-cancelling earbuds dealsBest open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

The Shokz OpenDots One are Mashable's favorite open earbuds for most people, but they can be tricky to catch on sale. In his review, Mashable contributor Alex Bracetti sang their praises, noting the sound quality that rivaled the more expensive Bose Ultra Open earbuds (also on sale), the 10 hours of battery life per charge, and great touch controls (which are not to be underrated, especially if you plan on using these earbuds while exercising).

Read our full review of the Shokz OpenDots One.

More open earbuds dealsBest sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds $107.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $72.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds aren't your only viable option for sleep earbuds, but at this sale price of $107.99, they may be the best value. While the newer A30 buds (also on sale) offer ANC and some white noise features, we don't think they necessarily justify a $72 price difference, making the A30 buds firmly an upgrade option, and the A20 buds the best option for most people. Even with just the passive noise cancellation, they were able to block standard nighttime sounds like noisy neighbors, street noise, and AC units. They're especially great if you plan on streaming audio.

More sleep earbuds dealsEven more Black Friday earbuds deals

Check out more Black Friday headphones deals still live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop trusting hotel Wi-Fi: Build this Raspberry Pi travel router instead

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 19:30

I use all sorts of software when I travel: a VPN, streaming music apps, cloud storage, and more. I turned my Raspberry Pi into a one-stop-shop travel router that combines all of those uses into one device, so I don't have to worry about them individually on my phone, laptop, or console.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Home Assistant integrations you're probably not using—but should be

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 19:00

Home Assistant includes a large number of native integrations that can do everything from allowing you to connect specific smart home devices to tracking daylight hours from sunrise to sunset, so your lighting automations know when to turn on and off. Here are some lesser-known Home Assistant integrations that are worth exploring if you're not already using them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Everything to know about Amazons 2025 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales: Official dates, best deals still live, and Prime perks

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 18:51

And just like that, Black Friday has come and gone. Amazon has officially moved on to Cyber Monday deals.

Amazon turned up and turned out some epic Black Friday deals. If the influx of deals in your inbox gave you hives, and you've yet to make a purchase, we're breaking down all of the details of Amazon's sale and what you should shop.

Amazon Black Friday deals at a glance: Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $248 (save $151.99 + get $30 Amazon credit with code SONYX30) Get Deal Amazon Kindle $79.99 (save $30) Get Deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 (save $450) Get Deal Ninja Slushi $269.99 (save $100) Get Deal Sony ULT Field 5 $194.95 (save $155.04) Get Deal Amazon 65-inch QLED Mini-LED 4K Fire TV $894.99 (save $195) Get Deal

Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year. What used to be a single day on the Friday after Thanksgiving has morphed into a full-blown holiday shopping season that starts far before the holiday itself and extends through December. But we're not complaining. Having more time to sort out your finances and shop is a blessing in a time when everything is outrageously expensive. That being said, Amazon has wiped its hands of Black Friday and moved on to Cyber Monday as of Saturday, Nov. 29.

Unlike its major competitors — Walmart, Best Buy, and Target — Amazon doesn't have a physical storefront where you can wait in line to score doorbuster deals. Amazon typically has the best prices of the bunch, and sometimes it will undercut its rivals by pennies or dollars, as if taunting them. Again, we're not complaining, because nothing beats shopping from your couch with a turkey hangover on Black Friday.

So, here's everything you need to know about the Amazon Black Friday 2025 sale, including the best Amazon deals already live.

When is the Amazon Black Friday 2025 sale?

The mega-retailer's Black Friday sale kicked off early on Thursday, Nov. 20 and will run through the end of the day Friday, Nov. 28. And as of this morning, it has officially wrapped up.

But honestly, most of Amazon's Black Friday deals last through Monday; they're just going by Cyber Monday deals. Yes, Amazon does do Cyber Monday as well. You've got time to shop, too. The official Amazon Cyber Monday sale runs through Monday, Dec. 1, which is when you can consider Amazon's Black Friday sale to be over.

SEE ALSO: Are Amazon's Cyber Monday prices better than Black Friday? Our shopping experts say the answer is clear. Does Amazon have better deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

Our shopping experts are unanimous — Black Friday is the best time to shop. If you're holding out for a last-minute price drop on Cyber Monday, don't hold your breath. Amazon does hold back a handful of deals for Cyber Monday (Cyber Week, really), but the biggest savings from the most popular brands were available on Black Friday. In fact, some products have gone up in price. The Apple AirPods 4 with ANC shot up from $99.99 to $139 now that Black Friday ended.

The verdict: Prices are usually lowest on Black Friday itself, though most deals will linger through Cyber Monday.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best tech gifts of the year, hand-picked by professional gadget nerds Best early Cyber Monday deals at Amazon

Amazon's Black Friday event didn't necessarily end, but was repackaged as Cyber Monday, so most of the sale is the same. It's packed with deals that range from today's best tech to kitchen appliances to toys that all the kids want under the tree this year. We've rounded up some of the best deals we've seen at Amazon for Black Friday and now Cyber Monday, but be sure to follow along with our shopping team's full coverage for a wider range of products.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99 + get $30 Amazon credit with code SONYX30 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle $79.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $30   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS 42mm) $339 at Amazon
$399 Save $60   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV Apple TV+ as Prime Video Add-On $5.99 at Amazon
$12.99 Save $7 $5.99 per month for 6 months (save $42) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 power station $349 at Amazon
$799 Save $450   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch QLED Mini-LED 4K Fire TV $894.99 at Amazon
$1,089.99 Save $195   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Unlimited get 3 months for $0.99 (save $34.98) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible Premium Plus $0.99/month for 3 months + $20 Audible credit Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Field 5 $194.95 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $155.04   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Slushi $269.99
$369.99 Save $100   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Govee Govee Smart Light Bulbs (pack of 4) $23.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $16.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Saros 10R $999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-quart Stand Mixer $349.95 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150.04   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy E28 Robot Vacuum Mop with portable deep carpet cleaner $699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Still looking for more deals? We have a much bigger running list of the best Cyber Monday deals at Amazon, broken down by categories like Apple products, headphones, TVs, kitchen gadgets, beauty tech, and more. If you're stumped on a good gift idea, you'll find one in there.

Do I need to be a Prime member to shop on Cyber Monday?

While some deals will be available to everyone, the best Amazon Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are always Prime exclusives. So, if you've somehow resisted and avoided signing up for Amazon Prime until now, then you can take advantage of a 30-day free trial that will take you through the holiday shopping season. After the trial ends, you'll be charged $14.99 per month. You can also sign up for Prime Access-only plans, which give you benefits like free shipping and returns, but no extra perks like Prime Video access.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sign up for Amazon Prime $14.99 at Amazon
30-day free trial Get Deal

Prime members get perks such as:

  • Exclusive Black Friday deals

  • Access to Prime Video

  • Amazon Music

  • Free Grubhub+

  • Free delivery and returns

Price check before you buy SEE ALSO: Best Buy's early Black Friday deals are live. As a shopping reporter, here's what I would buy now.

Just about every deal probably looks great upon first glance, but it's wise to do a few extra seconds of research, especially if it's a pricier investment. To confirm you're actually getting a good deal, head to camelcamelcamel to check on a product's price history. Just copy the Amazon URL into the price tracker, and you'll get full stats. On occasion, Amazon can make a deal look better than it actually is by inflating the list price. On the flip side, we've also seen Amazon post the list price as something lower than the recommended MSRP, which can spell an awesome deal for Amazon shoppers. The Mashable shopping team uses camelcamelcamel daily throughout the entire year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Used Mazda offering performance comparable to a new BMW 330i for $20k

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 18:30

If you’re chasing performance on a budget, the used car market holds some hidden gems. One $20,000 used Japanese sports sedan delivers acceleration that can rival, and in some cases surpass, a brand-new luxury competitor, offering surprising thrills without the sticker shock.

Categories: IT General, Technology

ChatGPT might be serving you ads soon, leak suggests

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 18:20

Looks like ads really are coming to ChatGPT.

In a post on X, Tibor Blaho, an engineer at AIPRM who has found leaks like these in the past, showed some coding from the ChatGPT Android app 1.2025.329 beta. It includes "new references to an 'ads feature' with 'bazaar content,' 'search ad' and 'search ads carousel.'"

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

If this comes to fruition, it means the free version of the ChatGPT app is about to get ads. This isn't new to search functions in general — you're probably used to seeing ads on Google, for instance.

ChatGPT has been reluctant to put ads on its app, instead opting for a revenue stream tied to subscriptions to its Pro version and access to its API.

However, the company is still not profitable. According to a report from HSBC, OpenAI won’t make money until 2030, and the company needs to find an extra $207 billion to power its growth plans in the meantime, Forbes reported.

This shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, said in a podcast over the summer that while the company hasn't "done any advertising product yet," that doesn't mean it's off the table. After all, roughly 800 million people use ChatGPT every week; that's a significant audience to target for advertising.

"I'm not totally against it. I can point to areas where I like ads. I think ads on Instagram, kinda cool. I bought a bunch of stuff from them. But I am, like, I think it'd be very hard to…I mean, take a lot of care to get right," Altman said at the time.

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Grab a Garmin Vivoactive 5 smartwatch for under $200 at Amazon before Cyber Monday 2025

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 18:18

SAVE $115: As of Nov. 29, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is on sale for a record low price of $184.99, down from its list price of $300. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Vivoactive 5, Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch $184.99 at Amazon
$300 Save $115.01   Get Deal

If you love the idea of a smart watch, but Apple watches just don’t cut it for you in the fitness or durability categories, you might be in luck this weekend. According to camelcamelcamel, this Garmin Vivoactive 5 GPS smartwatch is at a record low price right now. Garmin smartwatches hit a very precise sweet spot when it comes to smartphone integration and state-of-the-art fitness and wellness tracking. This particular model is designed with an AMOLED display and possesses a battery life that can last up to 11 days. 

Get to know your body better with heart rate tracking, morning report, fitness age, stress tracking, menstrual tracking, and Garmin’s proprietary Body Battery energy monitoring function. Track your sleep every night with acute attention to detail and accuracy. When you’re ready to get active, this watch has 30 built-in indoor and GPS-based sports apps like golfing, walking, running, HIIT, and more. The watch has a smooth silicone wrist band and a flat watch face designed to fit seamlessly into your daily life.

The watch is water resistant for up to 50 meters and possesses touchscreen capability in addition to customizable buttons on the side. Grab the Garmin Vivoactive 5 smartwatch on sale now, ahead of Cyber Monday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Black Friday deals still live on Advent calendars: Save on Kiehls, Lenox, Sephora, Lego, and Flaviar

Mashable - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 18:16

Advent calendars are some of our favorite Christmas gifts, and with Black Friday almost over, you're running out of time to order for the holidays. Some of the season's most popular Advent calendars have already gone out of stock, but there are still plenty of festive countdowns available.

Our favorite Advent calendars: Best Traditional Advent Calendar Lenox Treasured Traditions Days of Christmas Tree and Ornament, Set of 25 $149.99 (save $49.96) Get Deal Best Skincare Advent Calendar Kiehl's Advent Calendar 2025 $152 (save $140) Get Deal Best Lego Advent Calendar Lego Disney Frozen Advent Calendar 2025 $24 (save $20.99) Get Deal Best Beauty Advent Calendar Sephora Premium Makeup & Skincare Advent Calendar Gift Set $66.50 (save $28.50) Get Deal BEST FOOD COUNTDOWN Bonne Maman Advent Calendar $54.99 Get Deal BEST FOR CROCS LOVERS Crocs Holiday Advent Calendar 2025 $25 (save $24.99) Get Deal

Even better, thanks to the best Black Friday deals, you can find popular Advent calendars from top brands like Kiehl's and Williams-Sonoma on sale. Not every calendar will be on sale, but the best ones still represent a great deal, as they let you enjoy hundreds of dollars' worth of products for a lot less than you'd usually pay.

So, whether you're looking for the best beauty Advent calendars, calendars for kids, or something more traditional, we've gathered them all up into one place for you. Keep checking back as we move on from Black Friday and head toward Cyber Monday, as we'll keep adding more products as they go on sale — and crossing off the ones that go out of stock.

The best Advent Calendar to buy during Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Lenox Lenox Treasured Traditions Days of Christmas Tree and Ornament, Set of 25 $149.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $49.96   Get Deal Why we like it

You may have grown up with a traditional Advent calendar like this. The Lenox Treasured Traditions Christmas tree calendar is absolutely beautiful, and it comes with 25 ornaments to mark each day of the holiday season. This calendar has already sold out at Macy's and other retailers, and we think holiday shoppers just haven't realized that it's also available at Amazon. We recommend grabbing this one quickly, because it's selling fast!

Even more Advent Calendars on sale Opens in a new window Credit: L'Occitane A L'Occitane Advent Calendar $139 at Amazon
$238.50 value Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: E.l.f. E.l.f. Sleigh the Holidays Advent Calendar $95 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon ChapStick Advent Calendar $15.92 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $4.07   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Harry Potter Hogwarts Seasonal Surprises Advent Calendar $26.37 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $8.62   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Victoria's Secret The Victoria's Secre Bombshell 12-Piece Advent Calendar $150 at Victoria's Secret
$350 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Furby Minis Advent Calendar $11.06 at walmart
$24.88 Save $13.82   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Urban Outfitters Urban Outfitters Exclusive Beauty Advent Calendar $50 at Urban Outfitters
$160 value Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Kiehl's Kiehl's Advent Calendar 2025 $152 at Kiehl's
$292 value Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Sephora Sephora Premium Makeup & Skincare Advent Calendar Gift Set $66.50 at Sephora
$95 Save $28.50 $245 value Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bonne Maman Bonne Maman Advent Calendar $54.99 at Bonne Maman
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Crocs Crocs Holiday Advent Calendar 2025 $25 at Crocs
$49.99 Save $24.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Indulge Advent Calendar (12 Day) $129 at Lovehoney
$277.87 Save $148.87   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Astrid & Miyu Astrid & Miyu 12 Day Advent Calendar $550 at Nordstrom
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bluey Store Bluey: Awesome Advent Calendar Book Bundle $19.60 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10.39   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Funko Funko Pop! Countdown Calendar: The Nightmare Before Christmas $44.41 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $5.58   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: National Geographic National Geographic Gemstone Advent Calendar 2025 $20.49 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $9.50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dermstore Dermstore 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar $150
$300 Save $150 $888 value Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon National Geographic Magic Advent Calendar $16.49 at Amazon
$31.99 Save $15.50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Flaviar Flaviar Advent Calendar $199 at Flaviar
$269 Save $70   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: The Woobles toy workshop Toy to the World Advent Calendar $175 at Neiman Marcus
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig 24 Cups of Cheer Advent Calendar $19.99 at Keurig
$29.99 Save $10   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Credo Credo Beauty Vault Advent Calendar $140 at Credo
$175 Save $35 $416 value Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ulta Ulta Beauty x Mini Brands Advent Calendar $19.99 at Ulta
$39.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peppa Pig Store Peppa Pig George's Party Advent Calendar $11.69 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $13.30   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Tea Forte Tea Forte Advent Calendar $49 at Amazon
$70 Save $21   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Palais Des Thés Palais Des Thés Advent Calendar $27.93 at Amazon
$39.90 Save $11.97   Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Everyone wants Toyota's $10,000 truck, but nobody would actually buy it

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 18:15

You might have seen some noise on the internet among car enthusiasts about the Toyota Hilux Champ, a simple bare-bones pickup that many US customers clearly want.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 unique RSS reader apps for Windows to try this weekend

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/29/2025 - 18:00

RSS feeds used to be the premiere way to get personalized news delivered directly to you from your favorite websites prior to the rise of personalized algorithms on social media. Despite the fact that RSS feeds aren't quite as popular as they used to be, they are still my favorite way to keep up to speed on topics I'm interested in. Here are three RSS Feed apps from Windows.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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