IT General

Ive tested dozens of TVs, and $600 off the TCL QM8 is a great deal

Mashable - Wed, 12/04/2024 - 10:36

SAVE $600: As of Dec. 4, the TCL 65-inch QM8 QLED 4K TV is available for $899.99 at Amazon, a 40% discount off its usual $1,499.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM8 QLED 4K TV $899.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $600.00 Shop Now

While I was searching for perfect TVs with savage specs for gaming and movies, the TCL QM8 stood out for all the right reasons. Between its stunning picture quality, lightning-fast refresh rate, and innovative features, it checked every box and then some. If you've been waiting for a premium TV deal, now's your chance. Amazon has slashed $600 off the 65-inch model, dropping the price to $899.99.

Why should you care? The QM8 series is a flagship model from TCL's 2024 lineup. Its QD-Mini LED technology offers up to 5,000 local dimming zones, delivering impressive contrast and brightness. This TV makes every detail pop, from dossing to the latest blockbuster or gaming at full throttle (RGB makes you game faster, FYI). And with a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, it's ideal for any lighting environment, even those tricky midday glare sessions. We're looking at you blinds!

SEE ALSO: Ready to upgrade your smartphone? Grab the Samsung Galaxy A15 for less than $200

The TCL QM8 shines for gamers. Its Game Accelerator mode supports refresh rates up to 240Hz, giving you smooth, lag-free gameplay. Combining that with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, I can say this TV is a solid choice for console and PC gamers.

Do you just want a solid TV for streaming? TCL QM85 runs on Google TV, so all your favorite apps, such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and more, are ready to go. With Alexa compatibility and a handy voice remote too, controlling your entertainment has never been easier.

At $899.99, this price is tough to beat. According to CamelCamelCamel, this is the lowest price we've seen. But if history tells us anything, this deal could disappear fast. Don't wait until it's too late. TCL QM8 is a steal at this price. Get yours while you still can.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to unblock Xnxx for free

Mashable - Wed, 12/04/2024 - 10:27

TL;DR: Unblock your favorite porn sites with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites like Xnxx is ExpressVPN.

You might think you've got it all figured out, but access to your favorite porn sites is not always guaranteed. There are a number of locations around the world that will restrict your access to porn sites, which is probably a good idea. That being said, your right to online freedom is important. When the moment is right, you should be able to secure access to your favorite porn sites without hassle.

The good news is that there is a simple hack that can bypass geo-restrictions to unblock porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world. If you're looking for the best way to unblock sites like Xnxx for free, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Xnxx for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This quick and easy process bypasses geo-restrictions to access porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world.

Follow these simple steps to unblock porn sites like Xnxx:

  1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Xnxx

  4. Access Xnxx from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for bypassing content restrictions are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Xnxx without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can retain access to porn sites when temporarily away from home.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the best service for fast and reliable unblocking of porn sites like Xnxx, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy

  • Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Xnxx for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get lifetime access to your own personal AI robot for only £32

Mashable - Wed, 12/04/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: Harness the power of AI and get a lifetime subscription to AI MagicX on sale for £31.63 (reg. £256.24) for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: AI Magicx AI Magicx: Lifetime Subscription £31.63 at the Mashable Shop
£256.24 Save £224.61 Get Deal

Ever thought about having your very own robot that could help you do all the stuff you don't want to? While we're not offering one that can fold your laundry and do the dishes (yet!), there is a helpful AI generator and editor on sale today at the Mashable Shop

Imagine having a powerful AI tool at your fingertips that can generate high-quality text, stunning visuals, and professional designs with just a few clicks. Now you can with lifetime access to AI MagicX, on sale for £31.63 (reg. £256.24). No more staring at a blank screen or struggling with design software — now the robots do the heavy lifting for you.

Here are some of the services included with AI Magicx:

  • AI Logo Designer

  • MagicX Art Generator

  • AI Chatbots

  • AI Article Generator

  • AI Story Generator

  • Document Editor

What sets MagicX apart is its user-friendly interface and advanced capabilities. With this tool, you can easily and quickly create engaging blog posts, chat responses, social media content, marketing materials, and so much more. The AI-powered editor ensures that your content is not only visually appealing, but also grammatically perfect. You can use the design features to create stunning graphics and layouts without needing any prior experience.

By leveraging several different AI models, AI Magicx can save you on signing up for multiple subscriptions.

Score this great price on a lifetime subscription to AI MagicX on sale for only £31.63 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Meet the Eureka E10s robot vacuum

Mashable - Wed, 12/04/2024 - 04:50

Robot vacuums have become an increasingly popular tool for maintaining a clean and tidy home with minimal effort, and over the past decade, the market has grown increasingly competitive. One of the more recent major players in the game is Eureka, and if you're looking for a way to simplify your cleaning routine, the Eureka E10s Robot Vacuum might be the solution you need.

What is the Eureka E10s?

The Eureka E10s is a hybrid robot vacuum and mop from Eureka that offers up a range of new features designed to streamline household cleaning. As a mid-range offering (RRP A$1,099), the E10s has a lot going for it. Ultra-high precision laser navigation and a 2L transparent dust cup design help protect the environment and save you money by eliminating the need to purchase dust bags. It’s self charging, with 180 minutes of continuous battery life, 4,000pa suction power, and an operating volume of 65Db. It can automatically detect your floor type to avoid wetting the carpet, has a range of smart features and tools to help it navigate a wide variety of surfaces and spaces and a powerful app that is fairly straightforward.

Want to know more? We’ve got you covered. Here are all the key features that the Eureka E10s brings to the table:

Self charging, and self-emptying

The E10s takes care of recharging itself. When the battery runs low, it automatically returns to its charging dock and resumes cleaning when fully charged. This feature saves you from having to monitor the vacuum, ensuring it’s always ready for the next cleaning session without wasting energy. The 2L super-sized dustbin can store up to 45 days' days of dust and floor debris.

Smart mapping & controls

The Eureka Smart Mapping technology quickly learns the layout of your home, with a scanning speed of 3.5 seconds per square metre. This helps it to clean efficiently straight away, covering every key area, avoiding obstacles, and minimising missed spots. This also allows you to create custom zones to direct the vacuum’s behaviour within the app, like focusing on specific rooms or high-traffic areas in your home.

Multi-surface functionality

Whether your floors are hardwood, tile, or carpet, the E10s automatically detects the floor in a room and adjusts to handle them all. Its suction power adapts to the surface, delivering effective cleaning across different floor types, and it will lift its cleaning cloth to avoid wetting carpet. This versatility means you won’t have to worry about changing settings manually.

Accessibility

The E10s is designed to be user-friendly, and is complimented by an impressively simple app. Its automated features and remote controls make it easy for anyone to use, including older people, the technologically illiterate or those with mobility challenges. With just a few taps on the app or a simple voice command using Alexa or Google Assistant, you can keep your home clean effortlessly.

Designed with pets in mind

If you have pets, you know how quickly hair and dander accumulate. The Eureka E10s is equipped with strong suction and specialised brushes to collect pet hair effectively. It can help you keep floors free from fur and allergens, creating a cleaner environment for you and your family.

Small and quiet

With its slim design, the E10s can clean under furniture and reach tight spaces that traditional vacuums might miss. It also takes up very little storage space, making it a good fit for small homes or apartments where storage space is limited. It also operates with minimal noise, so it can clean during the day while you work or at night without disturbing your sleep.

Instead of requiring you to constantly change out the bag in the charging dock like other robot vacuums, the Eureka E10s features a self-emptying base station where a transparent, reusable dust cup is used instead. Emptying the dust container works similar to traditional cyclonic vacuum cleaners, and an in-built HEPA filter helps to hold most particles inside.

Key specifications Credit: Eureka Is the Eureka E10s right for you?

For households with pets, busy schedules, or for those just seeking more accessible cleaning solutions, the Eureka E10s is a robot vacuum worth considering.  While it may feel like a large upfront investment, a decent robot vacuum and mop can save you money over time on professional cleaning services. Additionally, keeping floors consistently clean can help prevent damage caused by dirt and debris, potentially extending the life of your floors. While it may not replace deeper cleaning methods entirely, it can complement existing cleaning routines and help users maintain a more consistently tidy home. You can pick one up on Amazon in Australia here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Top tech gifts for your the techie in your life

Mashable - Wed, 12/04/2024 - 04:30

The holiday season is here, and it’s time to find the perfect gift for the tech lover in your life. We know it can be tough to choose the right gift, especially with so many tech-savvy people out there. To help you out, we've put together a list of innovative and practical gifts that will make any tech enthusiast happy. From the latest gadgets to essential accessories, there’s something for everyone on your list. Whether they’re a coding whiz, a gaming guru, or a smart home enthusiast, you’re sure to find the perfect gift to brighten their holiday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tesla suspends Cybertruck production. Who could have predicted this?

Mashable - Wed, 12/04/2024 - 01:05

Elon Musk is having a terrible, no good, very bad week.

First a judge struck down a stock grant that Musk persuaded Tesla shareholders to give him, in part by threatening to leave the company. That grant, originally worth around $50 billion, would now be $100 billion, thanks to a post-election rally for the company whose owner went all-in for the next president.

$100 billion: even for the world's richest man, currently worth $333 billion, that's real money. The grant would have doubled Musk's lead over the world's second-richest man, Jeff Bezos, in the all-important billionaires list.

But news that is subtly worse for Musk's long-term prospects just leaked out of Tesla's Austin factory: Cybertruck production appears to be ramping down. Workers on the vehicle's assembly line have been told that there's no need to report to work for 3 days.

According to Business Insider, which has four sources on the factory floor, this comes on the heels of several similar slowdowns in October. Not to mention an increase in cleaning and training duties to fill their hours, and a sharp decrease in overtime offers.

Tesla hasn't yet commented on the reason for the slowdown, but this is not what you would expect to see from a carmaker with a hit on its hands. Automotive companies usually see most of their sales in the spring, when potential customers get tax refunds and driving conditions improve. So if Tesla execs were anticipating banner sales in a few months, the Cybertruck factory should be cranking right this minute.

You wanna buy a Cybertruck?

Instead, Cybertruck inventory seems to be backed up — never a good sign when your job as a business is to shift it. Especially not good if you had two million pre-orders, because it suggests nearly all of those pre-orders, bar 50,000 or so, weren't serious. (Which, given that potential customers only had to put down a $100 deposit, seems a likely outcome.)

Normally, you shift inventory by lowering price. Tesla has instead raised the average price of the Cybertruck (the cheapest trim vanished from its website in August), even as its 350-mile range turns out to be lower than Musk promised.

This isn't just a detail for car nerds to care about. Because if there's any non-Trump-related fundamental driving Tesla stock growth at the moment, it's the uptick in Cybertruck sales (while other Tesla models have seen flat or diminishing market share). Some 28,000 of the oddly angular vehicles were sold in the first 3 quarters of 2024, according to estimates by Cox Automotive (Tesla doesn't break out its sales figures).

Analysts, in the aggregate, expected 48,500 Cybertrucks sold this year, so that's not a bad showing — certainly better than rival electric trucks from Rivian and Ford.

But here's the $100 billion question: Will Tesla get anywhere close to selling 250,000 Cybertrucks a year? That's the production capacity Musk has insisted on, and effectively bet the future of Tesla on. Given that the Cybertruck isn't for sale outside North America — and given its trouble with regulators in Europe and China, it isn't likely to happen any time soon — Musk's bet is almost entirely focused on the U.S. truck market.

Two million pickups are sold every year, so it seems reasonable to assume Tesla can grab an eighth of that total. But can it? Or is reality about to overwhelm Musk's "if you build it they will come" approach?

The Cybertruck has seen six recalls in 2024, a massive number in the car business. The most recent was just this month — thanks to a faulty part that may cause, wait for it, a loss of power to the wheels.

SEE ALSO: The Cybertruck's failure is now complete

You have to squint really hard to see the Cybertruck as anything other than the butt of recall-related jokes. Every week seems to bring with it a new report of Cybertruck owner woes on social media, from an expensive case of leaking oil to a massive systems failure during an outing for a protein shake. This winter may bring worse news for Musk, judging by the Canadian Cybertruck owner whose vehicle died after two hours of use, while he was trying to defrost it.

At least there is one silver lining for Musk. If Cybertruck sales are falling off a cliff, and if they start to take Tesla shares down with them, at least the stock grant Musk missed out on will be worth less than $100 billion. The question is, will he?

Featured Video For You This quirky EV dates back to the 1940s
Categories: IT General, Technology

Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for December 3 (#541)

How-To Geek - Wed, 12/04/2024 - 00:01

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Excel Is Introducing a Compatibility System for Old Spreadsheets

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 23:51

Microsoft is adding a Compatibility Version system to Excel. This system should prevent new features and bugfixes from breaking old spreadsheets, though it may prove to be an annoyance for Office 2024 buyers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Parks and Recreations Jim OHeir reveals behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved show

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 23:13

Parks and Recreation is jam-packed with hilarious moments: from Jerry's "Fart Attack" to Leslie opening the door to reveal Andy stark naked. Jim O'Heir (Jerry Gergich) takes us through the stories that were happening around set that might be just as hysterical as the iconic on-screen moments.

Jim O'Heir's book, Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation, is on sale now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Threads is upgrading its search tools as Bluesky competition heats up

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 22:17

Threads, in its ever-constant attempts for relevancy, is adding more search tools.

"We’re making it easier for you to search for specific posts here," the Threads account posted in a post on Threads. "In the search bar, tap on the menu on the right and you’ll see the option to refine your search by a profile and date range."

The post said that the update is rolling out globally over the next few weeks. Some people might have access to it now, while others might have to wait.

"If you don’t see it yet, you will soon 🫶," the post read.

This comes at a time in which people are leaving X in droves after Elon Musk seems to be doing everything in his power to ensure the destruction of the app formerly known as Twitter. Users seem to be flocking to Bluesky, but Threads is far from vacant — and it's doing its part to try to keep people interested.

SEE ALSO: Threads might adopt Bluesky’s starter packs

Search might seem like a bit of a late addition to any social media app, but apparently not. Any additional feature that might be similar to the current internet darling Bluesky or our former lover Twitter is a clear option for Meta to consider adopting. Just a few days ago, Threads appeared to lean into Bluesky's Starter Packs. If that doesn't make you post on Threads, I don't know what will.

Categories: IT General, Technology

One of my favorite robot vacuums Ive tested this year is still at Cyber Monday pricing

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 22:07

SAVE $400: As of Dec. 3, the Roborock Qrevo Master robot vacuum with self-emptying and self-washing and drying mopping pad station is still on sale at its Cyber Monday price of $899.99 for Prime members. That's around 30% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Master $899.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $500.00 Cyber Monday pricing for Prime members Get Deal

Several Roborock Cyber Monday deals were so good that they sold out. This includes the $459.99 Qrevo S (now back in stock, but full price) that was Mashable readers' most purchased robot vacuum over Cyber Weekend and the $1,299.99 Qrevo Curv, which went viral and went out of stock in the span of a few days.

But a third member of the Qrevo family is one robot vacuum still at Black Friday/Cyber Monday pricing for Prime members. It happens to be the perfect happy medium price point between those other two models, and it also happens to be one of my favorite robot vacuums that I've tested in 2024. While you can, I'd recommend snagging the Roborock Qrevo Master on sale for $899.99, an intense $400 dip from its usual $1,399.99.

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

There are several reasons why I've picked the Qrevo Master as the best robot vacuum overall — a crown that also extends to the best self-emptying robot vacuum, the most detail-oriented robot vacuum and mop combo, and the best robot vacuum for corner cleaning. At this point, I'm recommending it to most people over the more-powerful Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, which is on sale for $1,499.99.

But in my opinion, what you lose slightly in suction power, you get back in more meticulous corner cleaning. This applies to both dry sweeping and mopping, the latter of which isn't even found with the pricier S8 MaxV Ultra. It's been the most likely hybrid model I've tested to successfully mop up drips and spills in corners or along door or cabinet edges, and this coverage is due to one of its spinning mopping pads being able to scoot out from under the vacuum. This provides a larger range of reach than what a mopping pad that just sits under a circular vacuum (that obviously doesn't fit nicely around edges) provides.

Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

There's also a FlexiArm for dry sweeping. Instead of relying on the traditional singular edge sweeping brush that don't do much more than fling debris the wrong way, this robotic arm also reaches out several inches and intentionally digs in corners with two smaller brushes.

After each cleaning session, the Roborock Qrevo Master returns to its dock to empty its own dust bin and wash and dry its own mopping pads. It can also clean specific rooms of your home through LiDAR-powered smart mapping, detect small obstacles like phone chargers, and keep an eye on your pets with a livestream pet camera.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You Can Play Games on Your Galaxy Watch—Here Are 9 to Try

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 22:00

Playing games on a smartwatch might seem impractical with its tiny display. But after trying it, I find it's an excellent way to kill some time while waiting at the dentist's office.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Cyber Monday deals still live in 2024

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 21:34
A quick glance at the best Cyber Monday deals: Best Apple deal Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) $499.99 at Best Buy (Save $50) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni $549.99 at Amazon (Save $250) Get Deal Best headphone deal Bose QuietComfort headphones $199 at Amazon (Save $150) Get Deal Best laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499 at Amazon and the Microsoft Store (Save $500.99) Get Deal Best tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus $149 at Amazon (Save $70.99) Get Deal Best e-reader deal Kobo Libra Colour $199.99 at Rakuten (Save $20) Get Deal Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best TV deal Hisense 75-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $449.99 at Best Buy (Save $250) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Gold) $349 at Best Buy (Save $100) Get Deal Best kitchen deal KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 at Target (Save $170) Get Deal

Black Friday, and now Cyber Monday, have come and gone, but the best deals live to see another day. However, you can still find tons of savings at Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon.

Truly, the sheer volume of deals is dizzying. You're in luck though, as we've done the leg work for you, noting as things go in and out of stock. We've been tracking the best Black Friday deals for weeks, finding the lowest prices on all the big names: Apple, Bose, Sony, iRobot, Dyson, Samsung, and more. And now is your last chance to save big.

We'll be updating this shopping guide hourly with the latest pricing and opportunities to save. Here are the top deals to shop post-Cyber Monday.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) $499.99 at Best Buy
$549.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the AirPods Max (Lightning).

"Best Buy came in hot last night delivering an eleventh-hour deal on Apple AirPods Max that brought them down to $379.99. While that deal has since expired, you can still find the headphones at Best Buy for $499.99, saving you $50.

These premium over-ear ANC headphones from 2020 'have excellent audio quality, easy-to-use controls, and good battery life,' wrote former Mashable Tech Reporter Brenda Stolyar. They've mainly stayed off our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones because their list price is so gosh-darn high. (Glasses-wearers and those with smaller heads may also find them uncomfy for long-term wear, but that's a more minor nitpick in the grand scheme of things.) They feel much more reasonable well under the $400 mark.

If you'd prefer the 2024 version of the AirPods Max, which have USB-C charging and come in different hues, you'll have to spend $80 more. For what it's worth, Apple's USB-C to Lightning adapter is $29.99." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More Apple dealsMacBook Air (13-inch)MacBook Air (15-inch)MacBook ProMaciPadiPad AiriPad miniiPad ProApple WatchesAirPodsAirTags and Apple PenciliMac and Mac miniBest robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy X10 Pro Omni $549.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Eufy's most all-encompassing hybrid vacuum is a rare option with a full self-cleaning station that actually performs almost every task sufficiently. There are some quirks to get used to, but it's way more hands-off than most robot vacuums in the same price range — especially if you can find it on sale." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum dealsRobot vacuum and mop combosBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones $199.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Bose makes some of the best headphones we've tested. The brand's QuietComfort line-up strikes the genius balance of sound quality and comfort. While the QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds are the most elevated Bose models, the basic QuietComforts are still great.

If you don't need spatial audio, but you do want sound that will make your music sound better, elevating drop beats and sick synth, go for the Bose QuietComfort headphones. The power button on the side is responsive, and the battery is insanely long. I wore these while taking the train from Boston to New York and by the time I reached my destination, they still had 50% battery life.

Normally, $349, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to $199. That saves you $150 for 43% savings." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More headphone and speaker dealsHeadphonesEarbudsBone conduction headphonesSpeakersBest laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499.00 at Amazon and the Microsoft Store
$1,999.99 Save $500.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

"Microsoft's Copilot+ PC has an even longer battery life than the new M4 MacBook Pros — it lasted nearly 23 hours in our testing — and it comes with AI features that 'make Windows fun again,' Gedeon wrote. She gave it a 4.8/5; it's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our current favorite laptop for most people, barring any app compatibility issues.

The upgraded configuration that Gedeon tested is a 13-inch model featuring a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It usually retails for $1,999.99, but Amazon and the Microsoft Store both have it listed for $1,499.99, or 25% off. That's its biggest discount to date." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More laptop and computer deals

For MacBook and Mac deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Windows laptopsChromebooksGaming laptopsBest tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus $149.00 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $70.99 Get Deal Why we like it

"iPads are flying out of stock post-Black Friday. The tablet deals taking centerstage on Cyber Monday, are from Samsung and Google. The best Android tablet to snag is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus, which is down to $149, knocking $70 off the price.

With an 11-inch screen and Dolby Atmos speakers, it's made for entertainment, streaming all your favorite shows. It comes with 128GB of storage and comes with Samsung's Quick Share, similar to Apple's AirDrop, except it works on both Android and iOS devices.

Grab it now, and save 32%." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More tablet deals

For Apple iPad deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Rakuten Kobo Libra Colour $199.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Kindle deals were the star of the show during Black Friday and Cyber Week. But Amazon didn't let the good prices linger a moment longer. If you're still in the mood for deals on e-readers, Kobos are still on sale.

Kobo's e-readers offer a tempting alternative to the Kindle. The Kobo Libra Colour is fantastic and having tested it alongside the Kindle Paperwhite, I'm a fan of both in equal measure.

Like the Kindle Paperwhite, it has a 7-inch screen, but it runs larger overall because it has one thing the Kindle does not: page-turning buttons. The buttons provide a nice grip for holding the Kobo Libra Colour. Out of all the e-readers I've tested, the Kobo Libra Colour is the easiest to use one-handed. Plus, it even offers a colorful display so you can enjoy graphic novels or multi-color in-book annotations.

Compared to the Kindle deals earlier this week, Kobo's sale on e-readers is more conservative, however, we'll take what we can get from these rarely on-sale devices. You can find the Kobo Libra Colour for under $200 ahead of Black Friday. It's down to $199.99, knocking $20 off the price.

More Kindle dealsMore e-reader dealsBest Echo device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The line-up of Amazon Echo devices is sprawling. You can find everything from a multitasking smart speaker to a touchscreen smart home hub. The absolute best deal on Echo devices right now is on the Amazon Echo Pop. This small but mighty device with a quality speaker and built-in assistant so you can play music just by calling out to Alexa.

Currently, it's down to $17.99 — its lowest price ever. That knocks 55% off the regular price for $22 in savings. We expect this price to hang around through Black Friday weekend." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Echo dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $449.99 at Best Buy
$699.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Cyber Weekend is all about huge discounts on huge TVs, and this 75-inch Hisense model is a perfect case in point: At just $450, it's far cheaper than any other TV of its size right now. (Walmart had a 75-incher listed for $378 during its first Black Friday Deals event, but it's long sold out.) The fact that it has a bright and vibrant QLED display, not a standard 4K screen, sweetens the deal even further.

At the time of writing, Mashable staffers were seeing different availability depending on their location. If it's out of stock near you by the time you read this, note that Best Buy also has a 75-inch Samsung 4K TV on sale for $549.99 (normally $749.99), a lingering doorbuster from its Black Friday sale — though it's not a QLED model." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More TV deals

TV deals are sorted by size, then price.

43- to 50-inch TVs55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch to 77-inch TVs85-inch TVs and upStreaming devices and media playersBest fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Gold) $349.00 at Best Buy
$449.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Oura Ring Gen3.

"The previous-gen Oura Ring is an excellent fitness wearable with heart-rate and blood oxygen monitoring, temperature and activity tracking, and a multi-day battery life — all wrapped up in a sleek, durable titanium design. It's on sale at Best Buy this Black Friday for $50 to $200 off, depending on the style and finish (starting from $249.99)." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More fitness tracker deals

For Apple Watch deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 at Target
$449.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're getting ready to whip up dozens of Christmas cookies, don't even think about doing it all by hand. Sure, it will be a great arm workout, but at what cost? Upgrade your kitchen tools ahead of the holiday season with the KitchenAid 5.5-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. It has twice the power of KitchenAid's standard tilt-head mixer and can mix batches of 11 dozen cookies at a time. This mixer is no joke.

For Black Friday, it's marked down to $279.99, saving you $170 for 38% off." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

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Multi cookers, air fryers, and ovens

Mixers, blenders, and ice cream makers

Coffee makers and drink makers

Miscellaneous kitchen deals

Best home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V12 Detect Slim $529.99 at Walmart
$649.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"I crowned the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Dyson's best bang for your buck when it was full price. Let that sink in while reading that the V12 Detect Slim is now $120 cheaper — up for grabs for less than $600 now — thanks to the Black Friday sale happening at Dyson's website.

For just $50 more than the Dyson V11's Black Friday price, the V12 Detect Slim brings aboard Dyson's absolute best feature: a green laser that highlights all the dust on the floor that you definitely would have missed otherwise. That's a no-brainer in my eyes. For plush carpeting, a motorized cleaning head is also included, and all debris collected is sent through a HEPA filter." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

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Cordless stick vacuums

Rugs, air care, bedding, and more

Cordless tools

Best mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nectar Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) $949.00 at Nectar
$2,286.00 Save $1,337.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"We’re shocked by how many mattress deals are popping off this year. While there are great discounts across the board, the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) has our vote as the best deal on Black Friday.

This 13-inch-thick mattress has twice as much pressure-relieving memory foam as the Nectar Classic, 60 percent more cooling, and is currently 50% off. With five layers of premium OEKO-TEX-certified materials, this mattress will provide an incredibly comfortable and supportive night's sleep. There’s also a 365-day trial and forever warranty, so if you don’t absolutely love it, you can return it." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Contributor

More mattress dealsBest Travel deals Opens in a new window Credit: Sandals and Beaches Sandals Black Friday Sale Save up to 65% when booking. Plus get one free night and a $1,500 credit. Get Deal Why we like it

Rather than opening your wallet for things you probably don't need this Cyber Monday, put your money toward experiences. Beaches and Sandals resorts are offering major savings on stays booked by Dec. 3. Get up to 65% off your stays, plus one free nights stay, in addition to receiving up to a $1,500 credit for a future stay — no code needed!

More hotel dealsCruise deals

  • Carnival Cruises: Black Friday + Cyber Monday sale. Save up to $900 per from. Plus, deposits just $50 per person and free room upgrades available.

  • Norwegian Cruise Lines: Black Friday Sale, 50% off cruises. Plus with the purchase of an airline ticket, your second guest flies for free. Use code CRUISEFIRST, and receive $250 free.

  • Princess Cruises: Cyber Weekend savings, get an up to $500 onboard credit and up to 50% off. Plus get your third and fourth guests free and 50% off deposits through Dec. 1.

  • Royal Caribbean Cruises: Black Friday Sale, up to $800 off cruises, end Dec. 1.

  • Viking Cruises: Holiday Sale, get free roundtrip airfare. Plus enjoy reduced fares and $25 deposits, through Dec. 31.

  • Virgin Voyages: Cyber Weekend deal, bookings as low as $99 per person per night.

Flight dealsBest streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount Paramount+ with Showtime $2.99/month for two months (save $20) Get Deal Why we like it

Typically $12.99 per month, you can score Paramount+ with Showtime for just $2.99 per month for your first two months. That saves you $20 total and gets you unlimited, ad-free access to the entire Paramount+ catalog, plus Showtime originals and movies (like Yellowjackets and The Curse), live TV with CBS, and college football.

Paramount+ is home to NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League matches, CBS originals like Ghosts, Survivor, and Big Brother, old Nickelodeon and MTV shows, and Paramount's latest theatrical releases like A Quiet Place: Day One and Smile 2 (coming soon). For just under $6, you can binge a whole lot of stuff over the next two months. After the promo period, the cost will jump back up to $12.99 per month, so be sure to cancel before that if you want to avoid charges. If you're not a Prime member, Paramount+ is also offering the same deal on their standalone streaming service.

More streaming dealsBest book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire $9.99 at Walmart
$19.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"It's safe to say that the Wicked craze is in full swing. Whether you're holding space for all the memes the press tour is delivering or already ready for your second in-theater watch, have you considered reading the source material? And we're not talking about The Wizard of Oz.

The musical is based on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the novel by Gregory Maguire, and if you, or the biggest Wicked fan in your life, are eager to dive deeper into the world, now is a great time to pick up a copy. For Black Friday, Walmart is offering 50% off the novel, bringing it down to $10.

Wicked not your thing? Don't sweat because the Black Friday book deals are endless. Explore more deals on fiction, non-fiction, YA, and cookbooks below." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More book dealsKindle book dealsBest gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' $40.08 at Walmart
$69.99 Save $29.91 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

"The stunning sequel to Breath of the Wild was one of Mashable's favorite games of 2023, and it's never been this cheap before. It actually sold out once at Walmart earlier in the week because of this deal, but it's back in stock at the time of writing. Note that it's only available in digital form, so you won’t be able to wrap anything, but you (or a giftee) will be able to start playing right away." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

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Under $50

Consoles

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Xbox

Nintendo Switch

Accessories

Best toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle (75362) $45.00 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $34.99 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Office Lego Set may have sold out at Walmart within a day or so of dropping, but we still have another favorite Lego deal to highlight. Star Wars fans will get a huge kick out of the Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle. With a rotating cockpit, signature red wings, and four figurines including bounty hunter and Sith, this is an action-packed set. Walmart's nearly 28% discount drops this set to $45, beating Best Buy's price by $13.99 on the same model number." — Gabriel Morgan, Mashable Contributor

More toys and games dealsLego dealsToy dealsBoard game dealsBest beauty tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $224.99 at Shark
$299.99 Save $75.00 25% off with code WICKED Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full review of the Shark FlexStyle here.

"We know the Dyson Airwrap is that girl, but the Shark FlexStyle gives it a run for its money. Our favorite Airwrap dupe is the Shark FlexStyle, providing the same experience for a fraction of the price.

Shark's Wicked edition FlexStyle is getting a special discount. With code 'WICKED' get 25% off the device. That saves you $75, whether you're buying for yourself or someone else." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More beauty tech dealsHair dryer dealsHot air styler dealsSkincare tech dealsHot tools dealsBest gift card deals Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart Instacart $100 gift card $85.00 at Best Buy
$100.00 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The deciding factor between going to the store to get groceries or getting them delivered is often the extra fees — even a few extra bucks can feel like enough of a roast to get you off the couch. Think of getting a $100 Instacart gift card for $85 like having a $15 tip or delivery fee covered for free.

More gift card deals

For more Black Friday coverage, check out our sister sites CNET, ZDNET, and PCMag.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These streaming deals are still live after Cyber Monday

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 21:10
Best Cyber Monday 2024 streaming deals still live Best overall Paramount+ Essential $2.99/month for two months (save $5/month) Get Deal Best bundle deal Paramount+ with Showtime $2.99/month for two months (save $5/month) Get Deal Best sports streaming deal ESPN+ $99.99/year (save $20) Get Deal

'Tis the season for streaming. Black Friday is one of the best times (if not the best time) to sign up for streaming services, as you can typically score some serious savings on monthly membership fees. In years past, we've seen Hulu offer 99-cent subscriptions and Max offer six months of streaming for $2.99 per month. And we're pleased to report that those deals have been resurrected in 2024.

With streaming prices skyrocketing over the past year, we're actually a bit surprised at how impressive some of the Black Friday deals were, but many of them are no longer in place following Cyber Monday. A few of them still persist, though — you can check those out below.

SEE ALSO: Book Travel Tuesday flight deals at Southwest, American, and more

We suggest you lock in these deals soon before prices go up again. For now, here are all the best Cyber Monday streaming deals that are still live. Just be aware that these deals are limited to new and returning subscribers only — as in, you once subscribed to Max, but canceled your subscription months back.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while struck-through deals were expired at the time of writing.

Best Cyber Monday streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential $2.99 at Paramount+
Get Deal

"Through Dec. 4, new and returning subscribers can still sign up for Paramount+ Essential or Paramount+ with Showtime for just $2.99 per month for two months. That's $5 per month, or 63% in savings, for the Essential plan, and $10 per month, or 76% in savings, if you choose the upgraded Paramount+ with Showtime plan. While we wish Paramount+ was a little more generous with their Black Friday deal this year like Hulu and Max, which offered $0.99 subscriptions for a year and $2.99 subscriptions for six months, we still think it's worth grabbing...If you choose the upgraded tier with Showtime (why wouldn't you while it's the same price as the Essential plan?), you'll also unlock access to the entire Showtime library and get to watch without ads." — Christina Buff, Freelance Writer

More Cyber Monday streaming deals still liveBest Prime VOD streaming deals

If you already have a Prime Video membership, members can get exclusive video-on-demand deals on some of the latest hit movies for Cyber Monday.

  • Twisters: Rent for $5.99 $9.99 (save $4) or buy for $14.99 $20.99 (save $6)

  • It Ends With Us: Rent for $5.99 $9.99 (save $4) or buy for $12.99 $19.99 (save $7)

  • City of Dreams: Rent for $2.99 $5.99 (save $3) or buy for $3.99 $9.99 (save $6)

  • Deadpool & Wolverine: Buy for $12.99 $29.99 (save $17)

  • Barbie: Buy for $7.99 $14.99 (save $7)

  • The Crow: Rent for $5.99 $19.99 (save $14) or buy for $9.99 $24.99 (save $15)

Featured Video For You 5 best Black Friday products to shop
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to turn your social profiles into hubs for charity

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:48

There's no denying the power of a skyrocketing social media post — millions of likes, views, or shares later, and people have suddenly built a fanbase, or raised tens of thousands of dollars, or finally reconnected with a long-lost friend. Social media, with all its ills, can still be a startlingly impactful tool.

The majority of us may never have a viral post change a life, but social media apps allow users to make small differences for causes that matter. From Facebook's full fundraising platform to Instagram's donation stickers, your social profiles can see frequent use as mini-donation centers for nonprofits and charities. And, in a small way, maybe that can help soothe the complicated relationship we have with social media as a whole. Here's how it all works within each app. 

SEE ALSO: How TikTok's 'Filter for Good' is raising money for Palestine Instagram

In 2020, the app removed a personal fundraising tool that allowed users to receive funds directly for personal causes or small businesses (basically an in-house version of a GoFundMe), but users still have a ton of options to raise money for outside organizations. To support a verified nonprofit or charity, account holders can host fundraisers on posts, in their Instagram bios, using Instagram's donation sticker, or hosting an Instagram Live for charity. 

As of October 31, 2023, all fundraisers for Australian, Canadian, UK, and U.S. nonprofits across Meta platforms are processed through the PayPal Giving Fund. This means that they are also guided by PayPal's rules for refunds or other issues, so make note.

Fundraising using Instagram posts and bios 

Instagram users can use posts and profile bios to create 30-day fundraisers for organizations of their choice. Just make a post as you normally would, by selecting the "plus icon" on either the Instagram home page or your profile page. Under the New Post settings — right below the options to add a location and an AI label to your post — select "Add Fundraiser" and choose your organization.

Credit: Meta / Instagram Credit: Meta / Instagram

The post will link to a donation site, and a fundraising notice will be added to your profile's bio. The link will stay live for 30 days; 100 percent of donations go directly to the organization.

Fundraising using donation stickers 

First, create a story on your personal profile by tapping the "plus" icon. Take or upload a picture — something relevant to your cause would probably be helpful. Before uploading, add a sticker by clicking the square smiley face icon in the top right corner of the post draft page. 

From there, simply click the sticker labeled "Donation" and scroll through or search for nonprofits and charities accepting donations on Instagram. Select the one of your choice. Click on the new sticker to change the name of your fundraising campaign, adjust your goal, or even invite collaborators.

Credit: Meta / Instagram Credit: Meta / Instagram SEE ALSO: Everything to consider before donating money Fundraising using Instagram Live

To start a fundraiser on an Instagram Live, hit that same "plus" button on your Instagram profile and select the "Live" option. Before starting your Instagram Live feed, select the "Fundraiser" icon on the left side of the screen (you might only see a small heart inside of a coin icon), and then choose your fundraiser. 

Credit: Meta / Instagram Credit: Meta / Instagram

Start your Live broadcast, chat with your followers, and raise money at the same time. During your Live, you can keep track of how many donations you've received by tapping the "View" button on the bottom of the screen and acknowledge donors by sending them "Waves" after they contribute.

TikTok

Any TikTok user 18 years or older can add a fundraising campaign to their profile bio or their posts themselves, which links followers to an in-app donation portal that keeps track of the campaign's progress. 

When making a TikTok post, users can easily add a donation option under "stickers." First, record or upload your video. Once finished, select the pink checkmark in the bottom right corner. On the next screen, select the square sticker icon below the add text tool. Click "donation" and add in your fundraising details.

To add a fundraising link to your profile: Go to your profile page, tap "Edit Profile," and scroll down to the "Nonprofit" section. Click to select your nonprofit and save your changes. A pink link will show up under your bio, alerting your followers that you're supporting an organization.  

Credit: Mashable / TikTok Credit: Mashable / TikTok

Users can also add their campaigns to TikTok LIVE broadcasts. Start a LIVE video by clicking on the "Create" (or plus) button at the bottom of your screen. Users can add a nonprofit before or after starting their LIVE.

To add a fundraiser before starting your LIVE, navigate to “Select Non-Profit” on the top left corner of your screen (TikTok calls this your "anchor link"). Choose the nonprofit you'd like to support, and a donation sticker should appear on the left side of the screen. Then simply hit "Go live" to start fundraising. To add a fundraiser during a broadcast, click the three dots arrow in the bottom right corner for more options. Then select "Support Non-Profit" to add a donation sticker of your choosing to your LIVE, which will allow viewers to donate while watching.

Unfortunately for those of us who use the app mainly to surf others' content, TikTok's LIVE fundraising tools are only available to users with more than 1,000 followers (and are at least 18 years old). Additionally, users must be 18 years or older to use TikTok LIVE gifts and send or receive gifts, and the feature isn't available everywhere. For more information on how to use TikTok LIVE, visit TikTok's support center.

Want more Social Good stories in your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today.

Facebook

Facebook's integrated charity platform, Facebook Fundraisers, allows users to raise money for nonprofits through their own profiles.

To start a fundraiser, log into your account and go to the account menu. (For app users, select the bottom right icon with your profile photo and three lines, or use the menu on the left side of your screen for desktop.) Scroll down to "Fundraisers" — you may have to select "See All" or "See More" to find it. The Facebook Fundraisers hub also can be accessed directly via facebook.com/fundraisers, or by searching "Fundraisers" in the mobile app or desktop site search bar.

Credit: Meta / Facebook Credit: Meta / Facebook

At the top of the Facebook Fundraisers page, select either the "+ Raise Money" menu option or "Select Nonprofit" button to being a fundraiser. Choose the organization you'd like to support, and you will be taken to a fundraising page where you can edit the campaign name, description, monetary goal, and even currency. Once your details are entered, create the campaign and revisit the Facebook Fundraisers page at any time to check your progress, post updates, and manage the fundraiser. The campaign will also be displayed at the top of your Facebook profile. 

Credit: Meta / Facebook

Take note: Facebook's fundraising tools vary by country.

UPDATE: Dec. 3, 2024, 2:43 p.m. EST This article was originally published in July 2023. It has been updated and recirculated.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Perplexity’s AI Shopping Agent Proves Unreliable in Early Tests

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:37

Perplexity AI, developers of the popular "answer engine" of the same name, recently debuted a shopping agent designed to purchase items through the chatbot interface. However, tests conducted by TechCrunch show just how far the agent has to go before it becomes a reliable online shopper.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft Is Trying to Fix the Windows App Store

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:35

Microsoft is rolling out updates to the Microsoft Store on Windows. These updates are aimed at making the store run better, changing the look, and helping manage your downloads and purchases.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What does it mean to decolonize your donations?

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:26

America was founded on much more than the idealistic notions of freedom and liberty. Its colonial beginnings included destructive individualism, capitalist exploitation, and white supremacy. Those ideals have influenced how our country operates today, shaping its political, social, and economic systems, including those that seem to do good on the surface.

Take, for example, our country's immense philanthropy industry and the accompanying ways we donate and support causes for social good. The billion dollar system wasn't an ahistorical design. It facilitates funders' political and social goals, which can include helping those they deem disadvantaged. Still, philanthropy was also originally built on generational wealth made through extractive labor that profited off of the lives of Black, brown, and indigenous communities, like oil drilling or agricultural slavery that built the fortunes of white families. Although that wealth may come from different sources today, the process of giving away that wealth — choosing who is fit to receive charity — upholds vestiges of colonization. And individual donors can replicate those systems in their own donation practices, too.

SEE ALSO: Decolonization is more than a meme or hashtag

Edgar Villanueva is the founder and principal of the Decolonizing Wealth Project and its project Liberated Capital, which operates a network of community members and donors to build equitable, unrestricted capital streams for communities of color around the country. Villanueva himself has worked in the field of philanthropy for almost two decades, and written two books about the subject, Decolonizing Wealth and Money as Medicine. As Villanueva described, it's easy for powerful, rich, and predominantly white donors to exert power over less advantaged actors within philanthropy (consider charities, fellowship programs, grant opportunities, and other nonprofits), and he connects this directly to colonization.

Centuries of economic privilege for white families has provided a bed of resource support for the rich and white to become leaders in this field. Predominately white philanthropic leadership upholds the lingering effects of colonization — things like systemic racism, racial wealth gaps, and educational divides between ivy league elites and the average American — through the ways charitable funding is controlled and shared, Villanueva explains.

He points to his own experience working for the philanthropic arm of a former plantation site."I just literally drove to work every day, to a former slave plantation, where I was responsible for giving away the wealth that this family had accumulated," he reflected. The money reaped from that system was still controlled by white benefactors, and it was now being used to help those they saw fit for it. And as a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, he also sees colonization play out in how charity has been used to control indigenous people — imposing "solutions" on communities without consulting on the members' actual needs and frequently ignoring the claim for tribal sovereignty.

"I know as an indigenous person that my healing is contingent on the oppressor also being a part of that healing process. I can heal on my own. But, so far, we can't heal as a community at large until we are all engaged in [decolonization]."

To decolonize your donations means you are taking an intersectional, historical look at how wealth's been generated and how it's now being redistributed to the same communities that built and died for it. In order to address the power of the wealthy few and our own internalized biases, every donor must be conscious of how their money impacts marginalized communities.

Part of that process is being more intentional in how you donate your own wealth. "Money is a proxy for years of colonization and oppression and intentional policy that has disenfranchised people of color and Black folks and Native folks in this country," says Villanueva. "But [money] can absolutely help to alleviate the suffering and the trauma that has been caused, as a result of how it was used before."

Here are a few big questions you should be asking yourself and the groups, foundations, or organizations you're donating to in order to decolonize your own donations.

Who are the decision makers?

Villanueva said that the racial wealth gap is in many ways a manifestation of how colonization has affected communities over generations, and the gap is deeply present in the philanthropic space. A report by philanthropy diversity initiative the D5 Coalition found that 92 percent of foundation presidents are white, and as of 2020, so are 83 percent of other executive staff in these organizations. "It's no surprise that the majority of those folks are white, because it's white folks who have had the economic opportunity boost because of policies and systems and are in the position to start foundations," Villanueva said. "When we do have the opportunity to bring people of color into some of those places, they are often from elite backgrounds. So there's a major disconnect that's happening in terms of who decides how resources are being used and where they go."

He explained that, historically, less than 10 percent of philanthropic giving goes to communities of color, representing how white privilege and wealth still operates in a system supposedly designed to benefit the underprivileged. "That's sort of a major byproduct of white supremacy and how it's been operating in this sector," he said.

He said when incorporating decolonization into your own donation practices, we should first turn our attention towards the people leading. Who is in charge of the organization and how is money distributed? Who is making these decisions on the behalf of the recipients. Is the board of this charity, grant-making board, or this nonprofit predominantly white? If so, why?

"If, at the end of the day, there's a white man somewhere who signs the checks and calls the shots, then you have to question how performative it is," Villanueva asked. "Are we really relinquishing power if we have programs that are doing things, but not taking a step back to let the community have self determination and sovereignty over these resources?"

"If, at the end of the day, there's a white man somewhere who signs the checks and calls the shots, then you have to question how performative it is."

Typically, you'll find this information on an organization's website — check out it's board of directors, read their biographies and their areas of interest, and be aware of who's being consulted to make decisions if the leadership doesn't reflect the groups receiving aid. Support causes you're personally aligned with, but look beyond just the big players. "I think that people should give where their heart is moved to give, toward the issues they care about. But within those issues — if you care about animals, if you care about children, education, or health — there are Black-and-brown-led organizations doing that work that you should seek out and try to privilege in your giving."

Where is the money flowing?

This question is two-fold and linear: Ask where the money came from, and where it's going. 

This fits into the decades-old idea of reparations, which shouldn't be thought of as a form of charity, said Villanueva. In his own personal example, the generational wealth from plantation land should be going to Black communities, preferably those in the immediate area or ancestors of former enslaved people, before they reach others. "Bringing that framework of reparations into this sector has been about examining where did this money come from in the first place? And on whose back and on whose land? What is the obligation to get it back? Not from a framework of making people feel guilty or shaming people," he said.

Philanthropy can use the case for reparations as a model for where to distribute funds: Where is the money going, geographically? Can funds, grants, or other resources be intentionally directed towards the communities who originally created the wealth, Villanueva asks?

Keep in mind how a nonprofit or charitable organization has decided to spread out its wealth in equitable, diverse ways. Consider looking at a nonprofit's community impact statements online to see how they envision their own goals and success. Find out more about how sites like Charity Navigator, Impact Matters, and GuideStar assess impact reports.

If a nonprofit led by the community its serving isn't reporting this information, don't immediately revoke your support, Villanueva says. "A lot of nonprofits really struggle around their capacity to do the storytelling and report back," he explained. "Allow organizations to tell their story of impact in their own way."

How is the money distributed?

When donating to a group or supporting a larger philanthropic initiative, consider the funding process. "How is power operating and who decides?" Villanueva explains. "Funders in their ivory towers can sort of create solutions for communities that are very detached from the realities of our people. And there's a forced assimilation that often happens, because of the power that foundations and donors wield."

This sense of assimilation can impact how organizations led by people of color apply for grants, how they propose and present solutions for their communities, and how their work is evaluated by power holders (or even individual donors). Just like in hiring processes, standards of white professionalism and culturally-relevant things like writing and speaking styles, influence how organizations are perceived by money holders. It's a kind of charitable respectability politics that can have a huge influence on a group led by Black, brown, and indigenous communities.

How are the people you're giving money to working to disrupt these barriers for people of color? For large philanthropies that support smaller organizations or individuals, note any parameters attached to funding, which can specify how a recipient can use the funds. How could those restrictions impact how resources get to people on-the-ground and limit their ability to address ever-changing needs? Villanueva thinks specifically about application processes, and how things like excessive paperwork, references, or other social requirements can limit diversity in the applicant pool. The Liberated Capital project has phased out a lot of the traditional application process for those seeking funding, relying on a committee made up of fellow Liberated Capital members to make decisions.

As an individual donor to nonprofits, make note if its programs are incorporating members of the community in decision-making processes and if they're open to alternative and culturally-relevant solutions to problems within their work — look at mission statements, organizational philosophies, and check out any partners listed on its website.

Ask how social networks impact a community's access to the funding, as well. Is the organization collaborating with other philanthropic or charity groups run by people of color with varying experiences?

Why are you choosing to donate?

The point of philanthropy, Villanueva said, is not to exact more control over marginalized groups. Donors should hold recipients accountable to a responsible extent, but exerting excessive oversight over your charity — eyeballing your money long after it's left your hand — can replicate these power imbalances by placing excess burden on people of color to prove themselves to a more privileged audience. "It perpetuates a narrative sometimes that people of color working in the nonprofit sector — our organizations — are not worthy. They can't be trusted. They don't have the capacity. I've heard those narratives for twenty years," Villanueva said.

In an analysis by nonprofit philanthropy advisors Echoing Green and The Bridgespan Group, researchers found that the amount of money earned by Black-led organizations receiving donations or applying for other philanthropic assistance was 24 percent smaller than white-led ones. And when it comes to funding given without restrictions to nonprofits, that difference jumps to 76 percent. That means that no-strings-attached money handed out by philanthropists is much more likely to be given to white groups.

As Villanueva explains, we've already spent generations controlling the way people of color and indigenous communities comport themselves, how they're allowed to interact with and exchange knowledge with each other, and how they can earn and spend their own money. To decolonize the way we donate, and the way we view philanthropy, is to relinquish that control and trust the recipients of our donations. 

That doesn't mean you shouldn't do your due diligence to make sure your philanthropy is actually going to reputable sources. But Villanueva encourages donors to interrogate why they feel the need to monitor certain donations over others. If you don't look into where the money you drop into Salvation Army buckets, why do you side eye the actions of mutual aid networks? Ask yourself: Who have you decided to trust, and why? And, he said, don't demand more labor from smaller organizations, especially organizations run by and for people of color, than you do from larger ones. 

Villanueva believes that money, which has exerted a traumatizing amount of control over communities of color, can also be healing. "If we've used money to harm, can we also use money to heal?" Villanueva asks. "If we're deploying resources and investing resources toward repair, then I do think that money can be used for a sacred purpose and be medicine."

This story was originally published in 2022.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple Music’s Yearly Recap No Longer Requires a Browser

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:24

You can now access your data-driven Apple Music Replay report in the built-in Music app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac instead of a browser, like before.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to Choose the Best (and Fastest) Alternative DNS Server

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:15

Your internet service provider offers its own DNS servers, which help you turn websites like www.howtogeek.com into their respective IP addresses. Your devices use those by default, but you can set your own preferred DNS servers for a bit of improved speed.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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